GRANDGOOD.COM: (http://grnd.gd/2CmEilU) This collection of music focuses on the independent voice in hip-hop, where the tension of selling records to mass markets tends to be less pronounced. This doesn't exclusively mean unsigned and you'll note some music from career musicians. But even with long term artists the songs we selected felt less encumbered. Because of my heavy hand you'll also have to deal with an east coast bias but yo that ain't necessarily a bad thing all the time, is it?

Thanks to <a href="http://www.djsheep.com/">DMC champion DJ Sheep</a> you can listen to the <a href="https://soundcloud.com/grandgood/grandgoodcom-standout-rap-2017-mixed-by-dj-sheep/">professionally mixed version</a> featuring 40 or so of the 55 tracks listed below, recorded live in one take on 2 turntables and a mixer at the Bulletproof Crates lab in Brisbane, Australia on New Years Day 2018. You can also stream a warm <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/grndgdcsstte/grandgood-standout-rap-of-2017-audiocast/">@cv_ tape version</a> and thereafter you might recall what it was like dubbing tapes for your close friends in '88. We also have playlists on soundcloud and youtube you can hit shuffle on (yea we know, but Spotify doesn't have most of the music).

Goes without saying but special thanks to the artists, we appreciate what you do. The Hip-Hop community suffered <a href="http://grandgood.com/category/qepd/rip/">great loss in 2017</a> and not enough can be said about the lost talent. At the same time, enthusiasm from young heads and old heads alike keeps it going. Lest we forget, many founding artists, like Coke La Rock pictured above, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/155302481@N07/albums/72157664169668918/with/24536074467/">continue to walk among us</a>.  So again, big up to all the artists but also the rest of the community of listeners, show promoters, podcasters, writers.... 

Special shout to Dj Sheep for lending his hand, literally. Peace to Ming for capturing stunning images of the legends throughout the year. And of course @CV_ for his dedication and influence. Participation is critical. Thank goodness for contemporary rap.

GRNDGD

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