It’s not every day that an MC lets you behind the curtain, as it were, into the songwriting process, so this fascinating clip from the BMI hosted event last weekend is really worth watching…

If you haven’t heard of Kutiman yet, you’re in for a huge treat. The highly talented DJ uses YouTube as his instrument, crafing amazing songs out of people’s self-recorded solo instrument videos. Check the track “I’m New”.

How else do you explain this clip by Die Antwoord? This had better not be a joke. I don’t think my heart could stand it. Rhyme-busting starts at about 45 seconds in.

William Michael Griffin Jr. or as you know him, Rakim. Born in Wyandanch, NY today in 1968, Rakim became one of the most influential, skilled, and all-around badass rappers ever. In case you need a refresher, here’s “I Ain’t No Joke” from 1987′s classic album, Paid In Full.

You can say what you want about KRS-One’s post-BDP work, but you can’t deny that this takedown of the autotune movement is an absolutely crushing song. Hip-hop needs less robots.

Oh, hip-hop. If there’s one thing the most American of musical forms is not known for, it’s self-restraint. A perfect place to see this in action is the album cover – that 5″x5″ square that sums up in a single image what the record is about. The following twenty covers are so amazingly…

Let’s get a little grimy for this collab between Australia hip-hop crew KillaQueenz and producers Rakkas Crew. “Double Up” is their latest single, which also features British rapper Lady Chann.

If you download one illegal mashup album today, make it this one. This epic conglomeration of the Beatles and the Wu Tang Clan is surprisingly listenable. 27 tracks, not a dud among them. Download it here.

The new album from RJD2 dropped this week, so let’s enjoy the first single, “Let There Be Horns,” complete with cool, surreal video.

Gil Scott-Heron is like the granddaddy of rap music. His spoken-word soul albums of the 60s and 70s are a huge influence on generations of MCs, and he’s still performing and creating today. “Me And The Devil” comes from his first new LP in thirteen years.