On September 30, Brooklyn duo Heltah Skeltah will reunite for D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team). Set for release on Duck Down Records, it’s Rock and Ruck’s first album together since 1998’s Magnum Force.

Although the two haven’t issued a Heltah Skeltah project in a minute, the two have been busy. While fighting an attempted murder charge, Rock recently issued a mixtape, Shell Shock. Meanwhile, Sean Price (a.k.a. Ruck) continues to work on his third solo album, Mic Tyson.

“We didn’t try and get cute with this album and pick some ‘out da box’ beats and get on some philosophy sh*t. We did what we knew best and that was rhyme about the street, while of course infusing the humor that you know you’re going to get when you listen to our rhymes,” says the ever-forthright Sean Price in a press release. Guest appearances on D.I.R.T. come courtesy of Duck Down fam such as Buckshot and Smif N Wessun; beats arrive via Marco Polo, Evidence from Dilated Peoples, Khrysis from the Justus League and others.

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Chicago rap duo Kidz in the Hall has scheduled a release date for their second album. The In Crowd, their follow-up to 2006’s School is My Hustle, drops April 29 on Major League Entertainment/Duck Down Records.

“The In Crowd is going to solidify us as the best new group in Hip-Hop,” says rapper Naledge. “Our new album is the re-definition of the Kidz In the Hall sound and our experimentation with artist collaboration. The first album was a lot rawer and showed our potential for greatness, but The In Crowd is our greatness coming to fruition. We went out of our way to create an album that has something for everyone and is air-tight from beginning to end. This is a definite classic for the Hip-Hop lover.”

Them’s big words. While it remains to be seen if The In Crowd will be a masterpiece, or even a good album, it undoubtedly has an amazing guest list. True to the album title, Naledge and producer/DJ Double-O have gathered a clique of popular kids to help out. Masta Ace, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Camp Lo, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Sean Price and Buckshot lend support. In addition, there’s a bonus track, a remix of their well-received single “Drivin’ Down the Block,” that features Clipse and the fellow Chicagoans the Cool Kids.

The full track listing is below.

• 1. “Intro”
• 2. “Blackout” (feat. DJ GI Joe)
• 3. “Paper Trail” (feat. Phonte Coleman)
• 4. “Drivin’ Down the Block (Low End Theory)” (feat. Masta Ace)
• 5. “Lucifer’s Joyride” (feat. Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes)
• 6. “Snob-Hop” (feat. Camp Lo)
• 7. “The In Crowd” (feat. Tim William)
• 8. “Let Your Hair Down” (feat. Skyzoo & Lil Eddie)
• 9. “Midwest Thang Pt’s 1 & 2″ (feat. Black Milk, Guilty Simpson & Fooch)
• 10. “Mr. Alladatshit”
• 11. “Sean Na & Buck” (feat. Sean Price & Buckshot)
• 12. “Life I Know
• 13. “Drivin’ Down the Block” (remix) (feat. Clipse & the Cool Kids)

www.myspace.com/kidzinthehall

As most 9th Wonder fans know by now, Asylum Records has put the North Carolina producer’s major-label debut The Wonder Years on hold … for now. However, it’s full speed ahead for the second leg of 9th’s spring attack: a new album with Buckshot from Boot Camp Clik.

9th Wonder and Buckshot’s The Formula drops April 15 on Duck Down Records. It’s the follow-up to the duo’s 2005 collaboration, Chemistry. The project includes a few guests such as North Carolina singer Carlitta Durand, Talib Kweli and several members of M1 Platoon.

“Every song is dealing with a topic. Each track specifically has a formula,” says Buckshot in a press release. “I’ve always had a certain sound within Hip-Hop and 9th Wonder helps bring out my unique style. We share a comfort level that allows me to be at ease when it comes to recording and that natural sound translates into great music.”

Heads tend to scrutinize and fuss over 9th Wonder’s work; it’s why he’s one of the most influential producers to emerge this decade. Will The Formula meet his fans’ high standards? Check out the track listing below.

• 1. “Intro - The Formula” (feat. the Formula Crew)
• 2. “Ready (Brand New Day)”
• 3. “Be Cool” (feat. Swan)
• 4. “Go All Out” (feat. Carlitta Durand)
• 5. “No Future”
• 6. “Hold It Down” (feat. Talib Kweli & Tyler Woods)
• 7. “Whassup with U” (feat. Keisha Shontelle)
• 8. “Only For You (Lou)”
• 9. “Just Display”
• 10. “Here We Go”
• 11. “Throwin’ Shade”
• 12. “Shinin’ Yall” (feat. Arafat Yates & Big Chops of M1 Platoon)
• 13. “Man Listen”

www.9thwonder.com
www.myspace.com/9thwondermusic
www.myspace.com/bdithug

Not everyone realizes how popular the Duck Down family is. On the West Coast, heads mostly remember them for the impressive run of albums they generated in the early 90s, just before the jiggy era permanently consigned dusted hip-hop styles to the underground. But on the East Coast, Duck Down is a full-blown cult that’s highly admired for staying true to its core values of uncompromising street rap over more than a decade.

Smif-N-Wessun — also known as Cocoa Brovaz — may be the most popular group of the collective. Tek and Steele have cranked out a series of hits during its career, from its classic debut Dah Shinin to “Super Brooklyn.” Their fourth album, The Album, includes cameos from Rock from Heltah Skeltah and Joell Ortiz (on the first single, “Stomp Thru”) and beats from Tommy Tee, Ken Ring and others. As previously reported, it arrives amidst a heavy schedule for the mighty Duck Down Enterprises.

The Album drops October 23. The track listing is below.

• 1. “See the Light”
• 2. “Gotta Say It” (feat. Chuckii Star)
• 3. “Trouble”
• 4. “K.I.M. 200″ (feat. Loudmouf Choir)
• 5. “P.N.C. for Life”
• 6. “Gangsta Prayer” (feat. Million Styles)
• 7. “Stomp Thru” (feat. Rock & Joell Ortiz)
• 8. “Who Gonna Save Us”
• 9. “Still Fighting”
• 10. “Yeah”
• 11. “Movie”
• 12. “Can’t Stop”
• 13. “Can’t Feel My Face” (feat. Loudmouf Choir)
• 14. “Still Here”

www.myspace.com/smifnwessun

Nearly fifteen years after its launch Duck Down Recordings, the storied NY imprint founded by industry executive Dru Ha and Black Moon leader Buckshot, is poised to experience its biggest success since the days of Dah Shinin and “Leflah.”

Duck Down has recruited Koch as its distributor for several upcoming projects. The first will be Casualties of War, a collection of outtakes from Boot Camp Clik’s 2006 album The Last Stand and tracks spotlighting the label’s roster. It’s scheduled to drop on August 14.

Rumors have swirled for months that Sean Price, one-half of Heltah Skeltah and the hero behind this year’s underground hit Jesus Price Supastar, will soon sign with Def Jam. While that has yet to pass, Price is preparing a mixtape, Master P, for release on July 24. He has also begun work on a new album tentatively titled Mic Tyson, and has formed a supergroup with Detroit rapper (and Stones Throw artist) Guilty Simpson and rapper/producer Black Milk. The trio hopes to drop an album before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Buckshot is getting ready to drop the sequel to Chemistry, his 2005 pairing with former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder. The disc is called The Formula, and it should land sometime this fall.

Other projects on deck include Special Teamz, a supergroup including Boston vet EDO.G, former Kreators member Jaysaun and G. Slaine. Their debut, Stereotypez, features guest spots by Sean Price, Buckshot, Devin the Dude and Ill Bill. DJ Premier, Marco Polo and Jake One, among others, contribute beats. Stereotypez drops on September 25.

There’s much more music to come from Boot Camp Clik, including a mixtape from Steele (Hotstyle, due July 24) and other scheduled goodies. The crew will be out and about this summer, including a few dates on the Rock the Bells tour. You can check those out below.

Black Moon:

• 7/03: Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
• 7/18: Brower Park, Brooklyn, NY

Smif N Wessun:

• 7/24: Red Hook Park, Brooklyn, NY

Sean Price:

• 7/18: Brower Park, Brooklyn, NY

Boot Camp Clik:

• 7/28-7/29: Randall’s Island, New York, NY

7/03: w/Pirate DJs, DJ Apollo, Supreme, DJ Pause
7/24: w/dead prez
7/28-7/29: Rock the Bells w/Rage Against the Machine, Wu-Tang Clan, Erykah Badu, Rakim, Mos Def, MF Doom, Pharaoahe Monch, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Public Enemy, Felt, Living Legends, Brother Ali, Cage, Mr. Lif, Grouch & Eligh, Hangar 18, Blueprint, Luckyiam, DJ Hi-Tek, Mike Relm, C-Minus, Rocky Rock

Plug One review: Sean Price, Jesus Price Supastar

www.duckdown.com
www.myspace.com/duckdownrecords