The words “respect” and “women” don’t usually appear in the same sentence when it comes to rap (unless you’re Queen Latifah), so it’s unfortunately remarkable that up-and-coming Arkansas emcee Epiphanyt decided to title his new mixtape “Respect Pt. 2 (Women)”. The latest in his ongoing “Respect” series, “Women” isn’t an unflinching examination of male-remale relations, for better and worse, fueled by Epiphany’s on point microphone work. Listen and download…

First, one of Young Money’s most promising talents Jae Millz has dropped a new mixtape, “The Flood”, and if you’re into that booming, Southern styled street lyricism, I guarantee you’re going to dig this one. But, as regular followers of the RefinedHype’s Twitter have probably already figured out, I’ve got an ulterior motive behind posting this - namely, share site fuckery. For better or worse, share sites like usershare, mediafire, zshare etc. have become an essential part of the online hip-hop game, and while all of them aggravate me to some level, I’m willing to live with most of them…except LimeLinx. Listen and download…

Sure the video for “On My Own” was sick, and Freddie Gibbs and Mikkey Halsted murdered their verses, but it was that symphonicly gritty beat I couldn’t get enough of, and every since then I’ve kept an ear our for new Chicago-based producer Maja 7th. Sure enough I started to hear the man consistently crank out fresh beats, and now, thanks to Maja and FakeShoreDrive, I’ve got all his best and latest work on one mixtape. “The Breakout” contains verses from Gibbs, Halsted, Naledge, Pugz Atomz, Juice and many more. Listen and download…

J the S and I have a lot in common. We’re both from Boston, both heavily tattooed, and both are deeply talented emcees. Ok, maybe not that last one, but you can’t blame me for trying. The point is, the widely heralded up-and-comer has just dropped his new mixtape “Wish You Were Here”, presented by DJBooth, 2Dope and IMKing, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. In addition to some always intense, often personal and occasionally hilarious lyricism from J the S, “Wish You Were Here” features guest verses from Jadakiss, Nipsey Hussle, Crooked I, Emilio Rojas and many more. Listen and download…

There’s a specific type of joy you feel when you discover new dope music, and today I’m feeling joyous about T-Shirt and Darvin Silva’s new freEP “Tan Face Children”. For all I know the duo has a huge following, but I’d honestly never heard of them when one of my most trusted hip-hop compatriots slid over a new track, “24 Frames”, with one of those “check out this shit’ looks on his faces. A minute later I was listening to one of the more creative cuts I’d heard in a minute, five minutes later I was downloading the new EP. Listen & download…

Like the Grammys, every year I get mad about XXL’s Freshman list and vow to ignore it next year, and then when it comes I spend hours doing in-depth breakdowns. I just can’t help myself. But regardless of your thoughts on who did, and who didn’t, deserve a spot in the top ten, one thing isn’t open for debate: DJ Whoo Kid’s “XXL Freshman Mixtape” is dope. Essentially a collection of some of the game’s brightest new talent, the XXL mixtape features new cuts from the likes of J. Cole, Fashawn, Freddie Gibbs, Wiz Khalifa, OJ da High in Calcium Rapper, and many more. Listen and download…

A lot of sites are trying to start their own freestyle series, but I think we all knew who did it first, and still does it best. Today RefinedHype’s partner site DJBooth.net dropped the fourth installment of its “In the Booth” series, a collection of exclusive freestyles from some of the games hottest emcees: Freddie Gibbs, YelaWolf, Phil Ade, Fly Gypsy, Jay Rock, Bekay and more. “In the Booth Vol. 4” is co-presented by Duck Down Records (more on that later) and is hosted and mixed by DJ Kitsune. Listen & download…

Fabolous is one of those emcees that confused the fu*k out of hardcore hip-hop heads. On one hand, he’s undeniably lyrical. In fact, I would argue that he’s got the best punchlines in the game. No contest. And yet he’s largely chosen to use those skills on fluffy radio hits about throwing various designer items into designer bags. Which is why, perhaps, hip-hop nation goes so crazy when he drops a mixtape like “There Is No Competition 2 (The Funeral Service)”. Hosted by DJ Drama, “The Funeral Service” is Loso with all the throw it in the bagging set aside. Listen and download…

Those of us no either end of the coasts (L.A. & New York) tend to forget about Denver when it comes to hip-hop, but in reality the Mile High city has no shortage of freshness, a fact DJ Low Key and Sounds Supreme know intimately. Having hosted a fresh hip-hop party for over three years, the dynamic Denver duo are celebrating their move to a bigger venue by dropping “The Solution Tape #1” mixtape. Hosted by U.N.I. and Ro Blvd, “The Solution” features music from some of the best artists to roll through their parties, including Kidz in the Hall, Tanya Morgan, Donwill, El Prez, Nneka and many more. Listen and download…

I know hip-hop’s still very much in the grips of VIPTSD (Vanilla Ice Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) but it feels like I have to do less and less explaining about white emcees lately, so let’s just concentrate on the music for now. Point is, Purple Ribbon All-Star (how’s Big Boi for a co-sign), Georgia native and often hilariously dope rapper Kyle Lucas is flooding the interwebs with his new “It’s Always Sunny in Marietta” mixtape, and it sounds so good I’m gonna have to jump in as well. Listen and download…