Today brings us the first ever FRSHCLSV full-length album, courtesy of DC veteran MC/producer (and currently best known as one third of the Diamond District), yU. The album, Before Taxes was first released as a 7 track promo EP a few months back, but available here for the first time anywhere is the full 16 song version of album. The majority of the project was produced by the 1978ers (yU & Slimkat78), but it also features some guest production from Kev Brown, Oddisee & Bilal Salaam. yU is also joined by appearances from Finale, Grap Luva, OP Swamp 81 (Bilal Salaam & Da’Nedra), his fellow members in the Remainz crew, and more throughout the album.
Both yU and Slimkat78 are two extremely talented artists who have been making moves for years now. If you like what you hear, leave a comment and let me know and I’ll be sure to bring you guys much more from both of them in the near future.
2011 UPDATE: Over a year after this post – Before Taxes was released on CD. The album had already received widespread critical acclaim – including being highlighted in XXL‘s Chairman’s Choice column, as well the song “Fine” being licensed to both Gilles Peterson‘s Brownswood label & as a sample to dubstep producer Subskrpt – all from this original, free version. The label/retail version is a new master & mix that, in my opinion, takes away some of the grit & original appeal of the album. But, at the label’s request, we had to take down the free download of the original version of the album – so hopefully you got it while you still could.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Before Taxes Intro (feat. the1978ers) (prod. Slimkat78)
2. Beats&Rhymes From March 25 (Kick Styles) (prod. yU)
3. Almost Time (prod. Kev Brown)
4. Thought About It (prod. yU)
5. BreakDown (feat. & prod. Bilal Salaam)
6. Corners (feat. EyeQ) (prod. yU)
7. The Up & Up (feat. the1978ers) (prod. Slimkat78)
8. Close (feat. Isabella Banneker & the1978ers) (prod. Slimkat78)
9. Fine (prod. yU)
10. Lunchin’ (prod. Oddisee)
11. Native (feat. & prod. the1978ers)
12. Memory (feat. ERK) (prod. yU)
13. The Rock (feat. the1978ers) (prod. Slimkat78)
14. InTheReign (feat. EyeQ & Omun) (prod. yU)
15. MmHmm (instr) (prod. yU)
16. Brainwash (feat. Grap Luva, Finale & OP Swamp 81) (prod. Slimkat78)
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29 Comments
Dope.
Very nice, my good sir.
FRESHSELECTS.NET does it AGAIN!!!
This is ILL!! I’m diggin this.. This will be on rotation for a while and will give me some nice inspiration!! 606 entertainment / The Pacifics / Peep out the BEATS!!
Congrats on your first exclusive joint! IF you don’t mind, I’m gonna pass the link around to my peeps.
Give it up for FreshSelect Got damnit!!!! Freshselect!………Freshselect!!! Kenny you fresh fo real!!! Appreciate!!!
Once again, Kenny you’ve put me on to GREAT music. ***searches for more yU***
shit is real nice.
DL this the other day and finally getting around to listening to it. Very dope indeed, hope people don’t sleep on it.
yU is a renaissance painter with the lyrics. strictly sickness. the beats only add fuel to the fire…live wire hip-hop…get involved, y’all….
I really like this… Breakdown is my anthem today haha. loving it! Keep postin good shit!
Huge fan of this album. Good shit!
Number 2 on this is sooo ill!!!! Thanks for the post man!
really really really enjoying this. getting regular rotation on the pod. pleasantly surprised.
LUNCHIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Dope, good lookin out Kenny. This is going to get some major play on the Ipod…Respect
Diamond District album is rediculous.
OH, I just want to also say that DMV is very very slept on. Those guys really doing it out there.
YU…Remainz Crew…Diamond District…Low Budget…no jokes, no games…dope lyrics, dope beats
it’s like you read my mind… beyond dope these guys are handling they biz.
The Humble King has been at it for sooooo long, but you run into him on the Metro and he doesn’t let on that his goal in life is to make all wack rappers permanently retire.
DC heads who have been down since even the Remainz days… remember that dolphin joint from way back?!?
I’m really digging this album. Thanks, Kenny!
Been hearing good things about this across the internet and based on the Diamond District joint, I gotta hear this. Good looks maaaaayne!!
I know Oddisee and Kev and I can’t keep up with the music they release. I just heard about this today. DLing now and listening. THANKS!
ffffffffrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeessssshhhhhhhh!
Really excited about this – I was checkin the production credits for Diamond Districts “In the Ruff” and one of my very productions from the album is Slimkat78′s, which led me to this. Havent listened to this completely but the samples above leave little doubt to its excellence
“Breakdown” jont crank. Gets me through the day.
peace to the DIAMOND DISTRICT, real HIPHOP IS BACK like it never left in these 3 brothers…bumping “BEFORE TAXES” right NOW…peace yU…KEEP ON fam, the record is INSPIARING!
Been waiting for this. yU and the Diamond District fam all deserve props.
6 Trackbacks
[...] Last week the Diamond District album dropped and member yU hits us again with his solo LP, Before Taxes. Even though it is free, you can expect some very fresh music on here, just like In The Ruff. The album features production from Slimkat78, Oddisee, Kev Brown and more. If you have been paying attention at all to the current hip-hop scene, the DMV is definitely one place to watch for. Peep the album and tell us what you think! Props to KennyFresh.. [...]
[...] a couple of hours ago, Kenny Fresh hit us up with yU’s new joint, Before Taxes. Head on over there now and get yours like I got mine! Share and [...]
[...] Props to Kenny Fresh for releasing this album earlier this week as the first ever FRESHclusive album on FreshSelects.net. [...]
[...] Ladda ner Before Taxes hos Fresh Selects [...]
[...] to Fresh Selects on the [...]
[...] – YU (FEAT.SLIMKAT78 & ISABELLA [...]