We first came across Dubb Two-Zero on the classic Stalin-featuring Jacka track Never Blink. Now, thanks to Hollywood Douchebag Joseph Ruzer, we get this dope solo video from yet another Bay Area mobb music purveyor we’ll now be checking for.

‘Stressed Out’ is the archetypal Lil Blood track. It has featured on a number of compilations and mixtapes from the Livewire camp, not least our unofficial tribute to the gang, and perfectly captures his aura of raw, drug-numbed muffled pain. Blood’s long-awaited ‘Heroin Music’ album is coming soon.

More than anything, this remix of Bobby Brackins‘ smash ’143′ underlines the pulling power the rising star can muster. And as long supporters of the artist formerly known as Young Bob, it’s great to see him finally achieving the success he’s always deserved, crucially with good friend and producer Nic Nac still at the core of what he does.

Bobby Brackins ft. Paul Wall, Roscoe Dash, Dorrough & Ray J – ’143 Remix’ (Prod. By Nic Nac)

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Damn – now THIS is exactly what we needed. A fresh out Philthy Rich trading bars with E-40 whilst ‘Pac’s words stitch together what is sure to be a legendary Livewire/Sick Wid It collaboration. With 40 going as hard as he did on his recent LP and Rich feelin exactly like the title says, the anticipation for the upcoming ‘Trip’n 4 Life’ album is now sky high. With D-Dosia on the epic, walking beat and the ever-prolific Damon Jamal there once again to chronicle the moment, this is another reminder of why The Bay is soundtracking our 2010 in fine style.

This is The Jacka at his best, rocking that hypnotic sing-song flow, whilst Laroo goes hard as hell on the verse. From their totally dope album ‘Neva Be The Same (20 Bricks:Season One)‘, just try and get that hook out of your head.

More dusted beats, rhymes and visuals from Young L, reminding us why the future is in good hands.

There’s some things that just work. Keak Da Sneak over DJ Fresh‘s dope re-generated 80s grooves is one such thing. ‘Sneakacydal Returns’ is imminent and with Keak sounding hella focused and The Whole Shabang providing the soundtrack, it’s another essential Bay release in waiting.

Keak Da Sneak – ‘Maxi Pads’ (Prod. By DJ Fresh)

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This is more than a high point for Jovan Smith. While there’s no doubting the sense of achievement he’ll rightly feel for getting playlisted on MTV Jams as of this week and the impetus it will give people to outstretch their hands and pick Prenuptial Agreement up off the shelf, it’s actually the video itself, as ever slickly put together by Vinnie Hobbs and Niko P, that communicates the feeling that J. Stalin has finally arrived and people will actually properly pay attention.

Put on by Oakland vet Richie Rich, as he explains in our exclusive interview from last year, Stalin has always been his own biggest fan, promoting himself carpet-bomb style online and in the streets until people had no choice but to listen. And that’s what has always separated him from the pack and guided him into a leadership role for the best rap artists in West and East Oakland, who have coagulated under him, de facto Thizz boss Stretch and the Livewire Records/Town Thizzness banners.

Add in the fact that over the last few years he’s been housed on SMC Recordings and given room to develop and you have the inspiring story of someone who went from successfully selling candy to drugs to CDs to mp3s right before your eyes.

If we recommend anything this week, it’s that you get familiar with the back catalogue: the raw, cohesive all-Mekanix produced distorted trunk thumps of On Behalf Of The Streets, his first big moment on Gas Nation and the numerous mixtapes and street projects he’s put out in between.

Em Dubious from Thizzler On The Roof has been one of the hardest working men behind the scenes in Bay Area hip-hop this year, documenting dozens of artists for his Under The Bay interview series and putting together a mixtape featuring music from all his interviewees. This time around he catches up with Oakland’s Young Gully, who just released his Definition Of Gas mixtape and is preparing to drop an Oscar Grant tribute album with full consent from the Grant family. We posted the first leak earlier, have had an early preview of the ‘Grant Station Project’ and can confirm that it’s Gully at his best, speaking from the heart about something he’s extremely passionate about.

We’re so used to Stevie beasting tracks like his life depended on it, hearing him speak about losing his wife and seeing him at the cemetery with his daughter is a stark contrast, but makes us all the more excited for his upcoming ’80s Baby’ album, which drops in September.