Scion A/V Presents: Runaway Interview from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

Last year a lot of folks asked me when we’re going to do History of Hip-Hop 2010 and I always sort of deflected the question, like “it’s too soon to have perspective on this stuff, let’s let it simmer and look back at it in a few years.” But the truth is (these are my confessions) I don’t feel personally engaged enough in new rap music to do it justice. There’s just too much to keep track of everything, and a whole lot what I listen to doesn’t work in the club (Action Bronson, Danny Brown), is too offensive to go on our monthly Rub Radio show for Scion (Odd Future, Danny Brown), is closer to R&B or club music than to rap (Drake), or has other DJs talking over it.

Plus when I’m driving around, my daughter is usually in the car and she makes us listen to Polish children’s CDs instead of Hot 97. Don’t get me wrong, I stay on top of it with the “rap songs that kill it in the club” and have my cute wordplay mixes and mashups edits, but more and more I find myself exposed to rap by DJ Eleven and guests who play The Rub like Nick Catchdubs, Grandtheft, Rico Uno and so forth. BTW if you want to know where my focus is as a DJ, look at my Top Ten charts from the last few years, and at the music we’re putting out on T&A and Young Robots.

However, there are plenty of good DJs who still do the work and definitely keep me on my toes; one of these is Matthew Africa. He’s just compiled two hours of his favorite 2011 raps, plus he has a great rap podcast with my favorite asshole heckler, Sergdun. These are especially good if you like West Coast rap, as they rep the Bay Area. I mean I would have at least put a Maino song on but what are you going to do.

TRACKLISTS ARE HERE (or after the jump)

The other folks I want to shout out are Southern Hospitality, they run a great blog and stay super focused on the new raps. So check them out.

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Scion A/V Presents: Fist Fight (Nacho Lovers) Interview from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

Scion A/V Presents: Fool’s Gold (A-Trak & Nick Catchdubs) Interview from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

Get up on new dance discoveries and party classics, mixed live by beloved Brooklyn selectors The Rub. This time Codes attacks the turntables with a bunch of exclusives from Slow Roast label mates Craze, Klever, Kill The Noise and JWLS, along with his own remixes, mixed and scratched impeccably. Whose house? CODES HOUSE

This show ran December 2011

Scion A/V Presents: Hercules & Love Affair (Andy Butler) Interview from Scion A/V on Vimeo.