Hus Kingpin & SmooVth - Paid In Full

I have owned multiple copies of the film, Paid In Full, all of which have either been lost or stolen. I prefer to assume the latter because it not only makes for a better story, but also speaks to the unique brand of cult fandom the film attracts; that it would be more larceny prone than other films, that a fan would reacquire it post-theft knowing the risk. Of late, Macapella has channeled the wave that made early Connection records sing universal. Now, he does the impossible, improving the "Paid In Full" beat. Hus and SmooVth follow suit.

Tha Connection - "Windz"

Hus Kingpin & SmooVth - "Cocaine Diaries" prod. by Ra

Baldwin's own Ra the Beat Archaeologist, who until recently worked primarily in Freeport but is now based out of Vegas, links up with SmooVth and Hus Kingpin, who's also known to bounce between East and West. Long Island's killing it on both coasts.

Tha Connection - Moon Water

In honor of tonight's super blood moon eclipse (which is happening right now -- go outside), here's Tha Connection's 2008 Goon Trax album, which was released at the time in Japan only. Now available via iTunes. For the record, Hus' opening verse one of his best to date, possibly.

Tha Connection - Universal Dominance

A few years before Hus Kingpin built Digi Crate Records to be the international platform it is today, he and SmooVth were working with a number of different labels including Libyus Music, Goon Trax, and Domination Recordings, which released The Connection's Universal Dominance in 2008 as a free download. Somewhat surprisingly, this album is still available to stream and download. And though Hus "tha" Kingpin and SmooVth "Dude" have clearly honed their skills since, the raw artistic talents were already there, as you'll hear. Also appearing on this album were several artists with whom Hus and SmooVth are still collaborating today, including rapper Rozewood and producers SciFi and DJ Kryptonite. Download Universal Dominance here.

Tha Connection - Splash Bros E.P.

Whether you call them Hus & SmooVth, Tha Connection or the Splash Brothers, the fact remains: Hempstead's Hus Kingpin & Sean SmooVth are back with another free release, this one dropping via Complex Magazine and streaming via Audiomack. If you want to download it via Audiomack, you'll have to connect their App to your Twitter or Facebook account. Alternatively, you can download the Splash Bros E.P. right here without any of that hubbub.

SmooVth and Rozewood Freestyle on WNYU Halftime Radio Show

Jazz and SmooVth at WNYU Radio Studio

Last night I happened onto Facebook only to learn my FB friend Sean SmooVth (better known simply as SmooVth, one half of Tha Connection) was about to appear on the WNYU Halftime Radio Show, so I tracked down the live audio stream, opened up Audacity and hit record ... something like we used to do with stereos and cassette tapes back in the day. Anyway, I got everything together just in time to record SmooVth drop a few verses live on the air. I was all ready to press stop and go to bed, but then Hus Kingpin and Rozewood called in from Cali, and DJ Eclipse convinced Roze to kick a freestyle (like a real one ... off the head) a cappella. As if that wasn't enough, Mike Raw of The UN called in too, at which point he and Jazz (Roc Marciano's manager, the guy with the sick beard pictured to the left) alluded to a new UN project coming soon. Mike Raw also said he'll be dropping a solo mixtape, featuring previously unreleased UN tracks, on Digi Crates very soon. So that happened.

For your listening pleasure, I've included the SmooVth and Rozewood performances below, followed by the full interview, in which you can hear all of the aforementioned for yourself and get some more information on upcoming releases from SmooVth and the rest of the clique.