Wade Waters

Wade Waters are Haysoos and SoulStice. Together the duo crafted one of 2006’s best albums, Dark Water. The group wanted to try their best at delivering hip hop fans one of their biggest fantasies – AZ and Nas on a whole album together. The Maryland duo (although SoulStice is from Chicago) ended up making a great album which got the buzz going last year in Source, XXL, etc. AZ even featured on the track “Speak On It,” produced by Analogic. Check out the video for “Movement Music” below. Kanye would cry over this.

• Check out Wade Waters’ Myspace

Lil’ Mama

Lil’ Mama has been gaining a buzz in New York and around some blogs. She is a 17 year old who grew up in Brooklyn and Harlem. She began writing her own poems at the age of 10, and eventually put beats to them when she was only 12. She dances, raps, sings, and writes all of her own material. Notable heavyweights including Swizz Beatz have acknowledged her talent. Her debut record, Voice of the Young People, will be released this year on Jive. Check out the video for “Lip Gloss” below. The beat is the same throughout, but the tenacity inside Lil’ Mama is too good to be true. 106 & Park fans will welcome “Lip Gloss” very nicely.

• Visit Lil’ Mama’s Myspace

The Tongue

The Tongue is one guy from Austrailia, making incredible hip hop. He has only released one EP titled Bad Education, but he is working on his debut album, which should be out this year. Check out the creative video for “The Punch,” below.

• Visit The Tongue’s Myspace

Ecks

KRS-One has claimed Washington D.C. native Ecks to be the future of hip hop. Ecks first appeared on KRS-One’s “Take It To God,” but at the time he went as Professor Ecks. That was back in 2002. Now, Ecks has appeared on numerous mixtapes from Mick Boogie and Streetsweepers to name a couple. The DC MC will draw comparisons to Jay-Z.  He does the same ‘whoos’, ‘yesss’, and ‘chyea’ adlibs Hova constantly throws in his verses.

Benni Hemm Hemm

Iceland is usually associated with Sigur Ros or Björk , but Icelanders (?) should also welcome Benni Hemm Hemm with open arms. Benedikt H. Hermannsson is the centerpiece for the 11 people deep band. The band’s most recent album Kajak was recorded in Sigur Ros’ studio, Sundlaugin, in a quick four days. The album is loaded with anthemic horns, and beautiful acoustics, and the drums have the same bop of I’m From Barcelona’s Let Me Introduce My Friends. It also has the same kiddy feel Let Me Introduce My Friends has.

[MP3] “Skvavars”

[MP3] “Sorgartár”

Official Web Site .:. Myspace .:. Buy albums at Amazon