Photo Credit: Saga

With their well received collaborative LP Molotov now available, the East Coast/Midwest tag-team of Saga and Thelonious Martin head to the rapper’s stomping grounds of Brooklyn for album’s debut video, “Where We Live (Brooklyn).”

Directed by Surf School’s Infamous Oz, the visuals put the heart of the BK on full display as the rapper-producer video hit up some of their favorite spots. That includes getting a lil’ grimy with the local cats at the legendary Gleason’s Gym and, of course, diggin’ in the crates at Black Gold Records.

Watching these two hit up Brooklyn landmarks together and just kick it, further proves their chemistry, which is on full display throughout the LP. Of course, anyone can hear that chemistry on “Where We Live (Brooklyn),” which boasts Saga doing what he does best (rap with a purpose) over Martin’s ill flip of Ethel Beatty’s classic, “It’s Your Love.”

Molotov , which boasts features from Freddie Gibbs, Fashawn, and Rapper Big Pooh among others, is now available for stream and download through all major digital retailers via Saga 718/EMPIRE. The record is also available on wax, in a limited edition smoke vinyl configuration, through Coalmine Records.

Molotov (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/MolotovAlbum

Limited Edition Vinyl (Fat Beats): http://bit.ly/MolotovVinyl

Twitter:
• Saga 718: https://twitter.com/Saga718
• Thelonious Martin: https://twitter.com/KingThelonious

Saga Online: 
• Web: www.saga718.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saga718
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saga718music

Thelonious Martin Online:
• Web: http://www.thelonious.tv
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingthelonious
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelonious.martin

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The post #PeepTheVisual: Saga & Thelonious Martin – “Where We Live (Brooklyn)” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Molotov represents the best elements of its creators, Brooklyn rapper, Saga and Chicago producer, Thelonious Martin. The rhymes are potent and powerful, taking down everyone from cynics to haters, wack emcees, and inner demons. And the instrumentals serve to bring those words to life by way of head-nodding percussion, and slick sample flips.

Because it was crafted by one rapper and one producer, Molotov is especially effective, and have made it clear why their approach works so well, especially as a duo. The 12 tracks move in and out of each other seamlessly, while tackling a variety of sounds and subject matter, all with an effective supporting cast of notable features. Like the one-two punch of the straight-up banger “Karma,” which features a fired-up Freddie Gibbs, and the Fashawn-assisted lead single, “Yesterday.”

“With Molotov, it was about maintaining the level of quality I’m known for,” the producer says, noting that it all started with the two sending tracks back and forth. “As the project was coming along, we started building the proper chemistry to make this special.”

Saga agreed, calling the project’s conception “organic.” It was that unrestrained vibe that he says “allowed me to be free with my thought process, and write for the moment.” As a result, he was able to explore new and intriguing ideas, like how “chaos is the end result of a long process of inner discontent within our own lives.” And you can hear him eloquently rhyme about this subject on “Misunderstood,” his favorite cut on the 12 track LP.

And the music doesn’t stop with Molotov’s release in February. The album will also be available on vinyl in April, courtesy of Coalmine Records. This falls prior to the duo’s departure for Europe, where they will embark on a multi-city tour in promotion for the LP, in late May/early June.

Molotov is now available through all major digital retailers, via Saga 718/EMPIRE, and can be streamed right here in its entirety, courtesy of RESPECT!

The post RESPECT. The Album: Saga & Thelonious Martin – ‘Molotov’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With their highly anticipated collaborative album coming soon, Saga & Thelonious Martin drop their gripping and lyrically rich lead single, “Yesterday,” featuring a compelling guest verse from Fashawn.

The track truly exemplifies why so many heads are eager to hear the duo’s album, Molotov. Musically, you have Martin showcasing his production wizardry by combining slapping percussion with a crazy sample flip. It’s really yet another example of why the Chicago producer is one of the best doing it right now.

And the same goes for Saga, the Brooklyn-based rapper whose career continues to blossom. With that in mind, there’s extra potency to his rhymes on “Yesterday,” a track that dives deep into growth—both as an artist and as a man. Whereas he digs into the former with his book-ending verses, Fashawn passionately raps about being a young father who finds truth and power in his role as a parent. It makes for a truly engaging listen, and one that’ll leave you wishing Molotov was dropping tomorrow.

“Yesterday” can now be streamed right here courtesy of RESPECT., and is available for download as the first instant grat track off the iTunes pre-order for Molotov, which drops February 17 through all major digital retailers via Saga 718/EMPIRE. The album will be released on vinyl early 2nd quarter through Coalmine Records, just in time for the duo’s European tour.

Pre-Order Molotov (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/MolotovAlbum

Tracklist: 
01. Intro
02. Mongolian Cashmere
03. Yesterday (feat. Fashawn)
04. Misunderstood
05. Karma (feat. Freddie Gibbs)
06. Where We Live (Brooklyn)
07. Out There
08. Never Mind (feat. The Mind)
09. Not Today
10. All I Know (feat. Rapper Big Pooh)
11. They Don’t Know
12. Outro

Twitter:
• Saga 718: https://twitter.com/Saga718
• Thelonious Martin: https://twitter.com/KingThelonious
• Fashawn: https://twitter.com/fashawn

Saga Online: 
• Web: www.saga718.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saga718
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saga718music

Thelonious Martin Online:
• Web: http://www.thelonious.tv
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingthelonious
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelonious.martin

The post RESPECT. The Collab: Saga & Thelonious Martin – “Yesterday” (feat. Fashawn) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Before delivering the project’s lead single, the two have shared a teaser joint called “Infomercial (Freestyle).” The track features the BK-spitter doing his thing over one of the crazier joints off Martin’s exceptional 2016 release, Late Night Programming.

Given that the beat is a straight-up slapper, it’s only fitting that he complements it with equally nutty bars like: “So I’m layin’ in this pool and I’m waitin’ for my death/ And anyone who steps, is drownin’ in his depths/ Sacrificin’ like an aztec, knife to the heart/ The whole team, they bouncin’ like a bad check.”
For those who have somehow been sleeping on either of these cats, take this as your cue to get familiar. And then go and listen to their previous work, like Saga’s debut, From Out Of The Shadows (produced by Marco Polo), and Martin’s seemingly endless supply of top-tier beats and collaborations with everyone from Chance The Rapper, Mac Miller, Joey Bada$$  and Action Bronson.

Hit play on Saga’s “Infomercial” freestyle right here courtesy of RESPECT., and stay tuned for the official debut album leak. Molotov is set to drop Feb. 10, 2017, and will be available through major digital retailers (via EMPIRE). The album will be released shortly after on vinyl through Coalmine Records.

Saga Online: 
• Web: www.saga718.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Saga718
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saga718
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saga718music

Thelonious Martin Online:
• Web: http://www.thelonious.tv
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingThelonious
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingthelonious
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelonious.martin

The post Saga & Thelonious Martin Release – ‘Molotov’ (Album Announcement & “Infomercial” Freestyle) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Last time  we heard from Brooklyn’s Saga, the rapper dropped the insightful, Exile-produced “What You Want.” It was in anticipation of his then-upcoming tour of Europe, where he’d be opening for Asher Roth. And now that he’s back on our shores, Saga’s ready to drop new music and celebrate a successful jaunt across 17 cities.

That celebration comes in the form of “The Warrior,” a straight-up slapper bolstered by crazy rhymes and London producer Quincey Tones’ heavy instrumental. Saga actually debuted the track during his live shows overseas, and the international crowds ate it right up. As soon as the chant-centric hook hit, he had the crowd singing right along with him.

Of course, “The Warrior” isn’t all about it’s infectious chorus and banger of a beat. Saga commands your attention with every bar, spitting slick references to mentally and physically gifted warriors from throughout history. Chinese general/strategist Sun Tzu? Check. Serbian-American inventor/all-around genius, Nikola Tesla? Check. You get the point.

Like “What You Want” before it, this impressive track won’t find a home on any upcoming project from the Brooklynite. That being said, he does have a new effort in the works that’ll serve as his follow-up to last year’s Saga Ghanoush. We’ll just have to wait to hear that new material when it arrives. And hey, if it sounds anything close to “The Warrior,” it’s definitely worth the time he’s taking with it.

Check it out below and feel free to give us you thoughts.

https://soundcloud.com/rickcuebas/saga-the-warrior-prod-by

Buy/Stream-Links:
• iTunes: http://apple.co/24bCv5m
• Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Vm0azC
• Google Play: http://bit.ly/1Z5MiIU
• Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1sfSljw
• Tidal: http://bit.ly/1sTcht2

Twitter: 
• Saga: https://twitter.com/Saga718
• Quincey Tones: https://twitter.com/QuinceyTones

Saga Online: 
• Web: www.saga718.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saga718
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saga718music

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The post #MusicMonday: Saga – “The Warrior” (Prod. by Quincey Tones) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Rising Brooklyn rapper Saga has been on our radar for a minute, thanks in part to his work last year with famed producer Marco Polo (peep “Eye”). And the MC’s ear for fantastic beats is clearly as strong as it’s ever been, given that he’s teamed up with acclaimed Los Angeles beatsmith Exile for a fantastic new loosie, “What You Want.”

Like Saga’s previous releases, there’s more to this cut than his pure rhyming skills (and his ability to pick an ill, sample-flipping instrumental to complement his talents). He’s also dropping some serious knowledge for anyone who’s listening, especially as he rips into folks who just  bitch and moan rather than do anything about their lives. As he raps, “Instead of buildin’ up, they tearin’ it down.”

The concept behind “What You Want” is also perfectly captured in the track’s artwork, which features Wile E. Coyote, of Looney Tunes fame, with tears in his eyes. Presumably, he’s upset about another failed attempt at catching the Road Runner. But the thing is, he (like the cats Saga’s rapping about on the song) need to learn that it’s not the end result that matters; it’s what you experienced while getting there. In other words: life isn’t easy, so you need to learn to appreciate what you have (or just do something about it!).

“What You Want” is out now on all the major digital retailers (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) and serves as a reminder that Saga has some European tour dates coming up alongside Asher Roth. Click here to view his tour schedule: http://pasteboard.co/2joPUPR9.jpg

The post Listen to Saga’s Latest Offering – “What You Want” (Prod.by Exile) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Brooklyn’s promising Saga dropped off his latest visual demonstration for “Eye”. If you’ve been keeping up with our posts or have heard his latest From Out of the Shadows debut release you will notice, in just a handful of cuts, that he’s a flexible emcee. From gritty street tales to brutally honest every-day obstacles, he’s really gaining true hip-hop heads’ trust. Producer Marco Polo wasn’t playing around here either, as expected. Does he ever disappoint? Take a walk through Chinatown with Saga and enjoy yourself.

Don’t forget to grab/stream the Out of the Shadows release here – courtesy of AudioMack. Yeah, it’s free. If this is not apart of your digital collection you must re-evaluate your standards as a hip-hop fan. Just in case you missed the video for “The Strong” we’ve attached it below for you. Peace and love.

The post New: Brooklyn’s Promising Saga Drops Off His Latest Visual For “Eye” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.