New Audible Mainframe EP. Dope Music. Doper Cause.

It's saddened many of us around the hip-hop world when Audible Mainframe announced a few months back that they're done gigging for the moment. Anyone who's familiar with their regular shows in Boston (or, more recently, Los Angeles) would likely agree that they're one of rap music's great and consistent organic outfits - whether rocking their own tracks, or backing such esteemed legends as Slick Rick and Smif-N-Wessun (the latter of whom they re-made Dah Shinin' with a few years ago).

But Audible isn't taking a break for prima donna reasons. Audible front man MC Exposition was diagnosed with cancer out in Long Beach, and has since been back in Boston, where he's been receiving treatment with old friends and family by his side. That hasn't led him to stop writing and recording though. With his band members sending over beats and bass lines, Expo's kept his pen moving through it all. The VICtory Sessions Volume: 1 are the fruits of that labor, and, as per usual, the product is extra-inspired.

The EP can be downloaded for free. But that doesn't mean that you should snatch it up for nothing. Working off of ye old Radiohead model, Audible is asking heads to pay whatever they can - from nada to whatever you can swing. All proceeds go to helping Expo get back in show-rocking shape, which we're all hoping will come sooner than later. I spoke with him the other day, and, despite the non-stop hospital visits and obvious setabcks, dude sounds strong. But of course I already knew that from bumping The VICtory Sessions.

GET THE NEW AUDIBLE EP HERE