Hip-Hop: From A Young H Perspective

2009-11-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

I never heard either Pete Rock & CL Smooth album in full until now.

Why? They were both exhausting. 14-16 songs a piece, many of which clock in around the 5 minute mark. I was a fan (“The Creator” remains one of my favorite rap records to date), but somewhere around 75% of the way through both albums I just lost interest.

I only recently sat through Mecca & The Soul Brother and The Main Ingredient so that I could join some secret fraternal brotherhood amongst “real” Hip-Hoppers, if you will. The debut was hard hitting and the beat change ups were cool, but being that I’m not a producer it didn’t quite hype the shit out of me. Pete Rock’s style was a bit rough around the edges for my liking (I much more preferred DJ Premier/A Tribe Called Quest at the time) and CL Smooth said a whole lot of nothing to me. “For Pete’s Sake” has always been my shit, “Straighten It Out” is an eternal classic, and T.R.O.Y. is classic as well but for me it’s never been the end all be all “THIS IS REAL HIP-HOP” song as so many proclaim. But I’m glad to have sat this album out finally as “If It Aint Rough It Aint Right” was pretty dope. That much said, Mecca & The Soul Brother sounds dated going into 2010.

Now that I’ve risked never being able to get a haircut in Mt. Vernon, let me express my fondness for The Main Ingredient. This was a much more enjoyable experience for me. Songs like “Carmel City”, “I Got A Love”, “Searching” and “Take You There” were all passable at a time when catering rap to women and being dope weren’t mutually exclusive ideas. The bars still weren’t potent, but CL Smooth performed adequate enough to accompany the smooth melodic backdrops he was given. Pete Rock went in pretty hard with the raps on “Escape” but moments like that were few and far in between. “Sun Wont Come Out” has always been my favorite song on this album and I consider it the quintessential Pete & CL song as Pete’s talking for the hook accompany CL’s random nothingness over that beautiful track. By “Check it Out”, I was ready to quit on this album but I fought through just to say I made it all the way.

Rumor has it Pete Rock & CL Smooth have put their old differences behind them and reunited, at least for the sake of temporarily touring. Their short lived run paints a picture of individuality and soul as they fused elements of that era’s jazzy and harder Hip-Hop, at a time when most chose one extreme or the other. That much said, I don’t need to have about 70% of either album in regular rotation.

2009-05-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati

Trust my word on this if you've never trusted it before.

Buy it now at Itunes

2009-05-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Consequences Of Asher Roth

Unlike that of other musical genres, Hip-Hop’s audience puts its talent under a magnifying glass that examines more than talent, it’s a double edged sword as we scrutinize erroneous details in a rapper’s background then decry when one’s reality isn’t rooted in struggle. While this image conscious state would cause some to find shame in clean and honorable pasts (i.e. Rick Ross’ former career as a correctional officer or Lupe Fiasco’s shunning of A Tribe Called Quest), Asher Roth hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia and presents the challenge of being happy, carefree and unabashedly white in a game fueled by what are generally perceived to be black interests.

Read the rest here

2009-04-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Tanya Morgan - The Beautiful Struggle

Amongst the legions who claim to “do it for the love” are a chosen few who place a higher premium on artistic authenticity than monetary gains and subsequently produce quality output deserving of major spotlight. Tanya Morgan’s story is one of hard work, dedication and unorthodox approaches towards reaching people who fell in love with Hip-Hop in its most captivating days of yore. The three man rap group has an undying penchant for creativity, having derived its moniker from the idealistic depiction of the woman Common painted on “I Used To Love H.E.R.” and cleverly putting their debut Moonlighting on promotional cassette tapes to coincide with the album’s plot of a tape being passed around and dismissed for not fitting within the closed minded parameters of consumer interests.

Read the rest here...

2009-04-09T16:41:00.001-07:00

Young H Radio Week 55 Episode 2

Musical Selections:
Jon Hope – The Most Important Song Of My Life
Lewis Taylor – Into You
The Co-Op – Don’t Know What It Is
Young Dro – House On Me
Black Milk – Mo Power
Uncut Raw – Throwback Sh*t
Rich Boy – What It Do
Common Sense – Real N*gga Quotes
TiRon feat Ayomari – My Wingman & Me
Black Spade – Her Perfume She Wore
Torae & Marco Polo – But Wait
U-N-I – Hammertime
Diz Gibran – Once Again
Chester French feat. Janelle Monae – Nerd Girl

Topic Of Discussion: Young H proves A Tribe Called Quest never fell off.

2009-03-25T11:08:00.001-07:00

Pete Rock - Soul Survivor Documentary

Thanks to the homey Dart Adams here is a documentary celebrating the chocolate boy wonder/soul brother # 1. Highlights include footage from the recording of Soul Survivor featuring Prodigy, Cappadonna, Heavy D, Raekwon, Ghostface, Black Thought, MC Eiht and others (peep Rahzel's rendition of "The Creator").

DepositFiles download

Megaupload download

2009-02-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

Doom - Born Like This Promo

Proof positive of why he's my second favorite MC of all time, to say I'm anticipating this album next month is a gross understatement.

Download

2009-02-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus in retrospect, 12 years later.

In 1997 I was a kid living in New York deeply entrenched into Hip-Hop, pretty much whatever the radio dictated is what was good. Between Bad Boy, Common, Tribe, De La, Wu-Tang, Capone & Noreaga, Jeru The Damaja, The Roots and others, whatever had that “east coast” sound is what I checked for. When The Source was still credible, I read about how Company Flow was redefining music as we knew it and wasn’t about to miss the boat. Always open-minded I headed to Fat Beats maybe two or three months after its release and bought the CD, ready for my mind to be blown. At the time, my 17 year old mind couldn’t comprehend it but I was pretentiously “open” in hopes that it would hit me, because after all anyone who really knew their shit was going crazy over this album (I’d come to learn a lot about how much weight critics actually hold over the years). In the end I only bumped it twice and I put it away for a rainy day, but I wouldn’t allow myself to accept that it had the slightest shred of wackness in it.

As Funcrusher Plus is about to be re-released this spring, I finally “get” the album if there’s anything to really get. The artists were pissed at the direction the culture was headed and went all the way left field, holding their nuts and giving the finger to the dreaded “industry” and it stands as a bold, angry statement that gave birth to the vermin known as “backpackers”. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it timeless (my personal views still don’t consider this a “classic” or something I would revisit multiple times yearly), but it’s pretty good when viewed in its proper capsule. I take no offense to isolating art that distinguishes the audience it’s intended for, but the off-putting part is (while perhaps unintentionally), this album set the tone for the all or nothing “the underground rules, the mainstream is bullshit” mentality still alive in the hearts of many today. I can certainly comprehend the need for something original that was dedicated to cultural preservation in light of the panic that Puff Daddy caused at the time, and I even understand how rappers who found cause for alarm had as much vitriol as this suite contains. I’m just glad I didn’t become a subterranean zombie, whereby I’ve always been able to think for myself and discern what sounds good to me from what doesn’t. More than anything, El-P, Bigg Jus and Mr. Len are to be commended for the infamous “Independent As Fuck” slogan that paved the way for many who would rise up through the ranks and stray from convention in getting their product out to the masses. In 2009 I recognize Company Flow’s staunch dedication to authenticity, the dagger-sharp lyrics and ingenuity of the whole package. But I’m not convinced that many of their biggest fanboys weren’t aboard merely because groupthink felt like the right thing to do as they took a united front and rebelled against the jiggy era.

2009-02-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

DJ Burn One & Pill - 4180: The Prescription

Pill is a member of Killa Mike's Grind Time gang and my my homegirl's artist. I'm always skeptical about doing favors, but I'm actually impressed by this mixtape. He raps the same material as any street rapper, but his voice is all his own and his pen game is stronger than your run of the mill dude coming out of the South.

Download Here

2009-02-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

Blu - HerFavoriteColo(u)r

Another of the many love/Valentine's Day themed projects to have come out today. It's low-budget, weird at points and Blu shouldn't be behind the boards for his production until he makes vast improvements, but it's free. Blu is still sharp as ever behind the mic, but due to technical drawbacks like the minimalist production and sound quality I dont see this having a great amount of replay value. maybe someone else will dig it a little more than I did.

Download

2009-02-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

J Period Presents: Q-Tip - The [Abstract] Best Volume 1

If you dont know by now, J Period is more than a DJ. He's a scientist of sorts, putting together tribute packages that can be considered collages greater than just mere tributes. He brings everything from exclusives to homemade remixes while doing great retrospectives of modern day legends. Past subjects of his have included Notorious B.I.G, The Isley Brothers, Lauryn Hill, Big Daddy Kane, The Roots, and Mary J. Blige, and this homage to Q-Tip's legacy once again proves why J Period leads the long pack of mixtape creators.

Download

2009-02-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 47 Episode 2 - The Valentine's Day Edition

Listen Here

Musical Selections:
Solange - Valentine's Day
Stevie Wonder - Make Sure You're Sure
Luther Vandross - Wait For Love
Al Green - Look What You Done For Me
Jill Scott - Slowly Surely
L.T.D. - Love Ballad
Murs - Break Up (The OJ Song)
Stephanie Mills - I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love
Danny! feat. Maria - Where You Goin
Devin The Dude - Just Because
Sade - Is It A Crime
Musiq Soulchild - Love
Charles Hamilton - The Honeymoon's Over
J-Live - The 4th 3rd
Talib Kweli feat. Kendra Ross - Wont You Stay

Topics Of Discussion - My good and bad history with love.

2009-02-13T04:52:00.000-08:00

Black Milk/Royce Da 5'9 - Losing Out video

Arguably song of 2008.

2009-02-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Wordspit The Illest - Not A Joke

Wordspit is a up and comer from East New York, Brooklyn showing a good amount of promise with this joint.

Check out "Not A Joke"

2009-01-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 45 Episode 2

Musical Selections:
8thW1 - Sound Quality Control
Chrisette Michelle - Epiphany
LL Cool J - Farmers Blvd
The Pharcyde - Somethin That Means Somethin
P Casso feat. Von Pea and Homeboy Sandman - Best In Show
Raekwon feat. Ghostface - Criminology 2
M.O.P. - Background Niggaz
U-N-I - Beautiful Day Remix
Black Moon - Ack Like U Want It
Trek Life & Oddisee - Get High
Random feat. Naledge - Exhale (Anything Pt. 2)
P Brothers - Blam Blam For Nottingham
Zo and Asylum 7 feat Ab - Crushing
School Of Beats - Got Something To Say
Ryan Leslie - Gibberish

2009-01-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Windimoto - Sinister Beauty

I typically dont ride for electronic/house music but my comrades Disco DJ and Scorpion have done well here.

Listen to the album and proceed to purchase it this Valentines Day if you're into it.

2009-01-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 44 Episode 2

Musical Selections:
8thW1 - Life
Mighty Joseph feat. Genesis - Out The Gate
Nice & Smooth - How To Flow
Snoop Dogg - Think About It
Juvenile feat. Turk - Welcome 2 The Nolia
Carl Anderson - Buttercup
Royce Da 5'9 feat. Rell - The Dream
Janet Jackson - Nasty
Devin The Dude - She Useta Be
Miki Howard - Love Under New Management
Jay-Z feat. Sauce Money - Face Off
Young Jeezy - What You Talkin' Bout
Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Outkast - Crumblin Erb
Von Pea - All Night Reprise

Topic Of Discussion: Mental slavery that exists to this day.

2009-01-24T17:57:00.000-08:00

Homeboy Sandman - There Is No Spoon Mixtape

I enjoyed this a lot more than Actual Factual Pterodactyl, which I also dug.

Download. (just left click)

2009-01-21T04:33:00.000-08:00

E.A.R.T.H. - Grassroots

This crew is from Cali with a universally progressive sound that draws from influences here, there and everywhere.

Here is their myspace and you can check out the album here.

2009-01-21T04:17:00.000-08:00

Nobody - What Album?

One of the great mysteries of the Hip-Hop world from the past few years.
Who is Nobody? Who produced this album? Everyone has a backstory to sell you, this is just Nobody.

What Album?

2009-01-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

Homeboy Sandman - Actual Factual Pterodactyl - @@@@

All manners of culture thrive off of creativity and the participants’ will to expand on prior accomplishments, thus Hip-Hop’s ongoing struggle to remain fresh and groundbreaking. With pushing the envelope comes the inherent conundrum tied to experimentation, whether an artist’s experimentation will be lauded for its ingenuity or dismissed for going too far against the grain. The burgeoning AOK Collective’s Homeboy Sandman finds himself in this very position, with a loud buzz throughout the underground and tastemakers upholding him as a crucial stalwart set to rise to greatness. With his sophomore release Actual Factual Pterodactyl, he has his sights set on claiming a spot amongst today’s up and coming elite.

To call Homeboy Sandman unique would be an understatement as there’s no box he neatly fits in. His biggest draw on the mic is amazing breath control, though he’s an acquired taste of sorts with a robotic voice employing a most unorthodox of styles flipping all manners of flow and harmony with his rapping. Topically he also can’t be contained to one lane, managing to come playful with “Food Glorious Food”, and painting a vivid picture of ghetto life with “City Darker (Monstrocity)” alongside the monstrous battle raps that are expected from any subterranean sensation. The album’s music toys with everything from Spanish jazz on the creative “Mambo Tail Tale” to alternative rock on “Wise Up” and even heavy metal on “God Fire Breathe” as he seamlessly takes ownership of any palette he’s provided.

With Actual Factual Pterodactyl, Homeboy Sandman manages to destroy every obstacle in his path using an array of vocal tempos as his weapon of choice. His left field risks and the versatility shown in the efforts he takes to expand boundaries will surely appeal to those who miss the days of vintage Def Jux releases. The albums dull moments are few and far in between as Homeboy Sandman’s presence is interesting to say the least, albeit confusing at points being that you never know the next trick he’ll pull out of his bag.

2008-12-16T01:21:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Best of 2008 Part 1 of 4

Musical Selections:

Danny! - Intro
Donwill - The Champ
X.O. - Intro
Torae - Somethin To See
N.E.R.D - Anti-Matter
J-Live - Simmer Down
Young Dro - Tropical
P Brothers feat. Res Connected - Shoot Em Down
Erykah Badu - Telephone
Wale - The Opening Title Sequence
Von Pea - Hell Yea
Lil Wayne feat. Robin Thicke - Tie My Hands
Che Grand - Girls Talk
Black Milk feat Royce Da 5'9 - Losing Out
Kidz In The Hall feat. Phonte - Paper Trail
T.I. - I'm Illy
Count Bass D - Dont Run Out On Me
Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones - Life Is Better

Topic Of Discussion: Personal recap of Winter 2008

2008-12-12T10:25:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 38 Episode 2

Tune In Here

Musical Selections:

D'angelo - Greatdayndamornin
Vicious - Nika
MF Grimm - Life and Death
Danny! - Charm
After 7 - Heat Of The Moment
Pete Rock feat.
Raekwon, Prodigy and Ghostface - The Game
Da Youngstas - Crews Pop
Murs & 9th Wonder - Push
Hi-Five - I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)
Real Live - The Gimmicks
Royal Flush - Family Problems
Oddisee feat.
YU - iHate Rap
Redman feat.
Oh No - Lay You Out
Styles P - Not To Be F*cked With
Basement Khemists - Correct Technique
Skyzoo - So Close
Ray Goodman & Brown - Special Lady

Topic Of Discussion: The importance of celebrating Kwanzaa's principles

younghradio@gmail.com to be added to the show's weekly mailing list

Go to the main page for past episodes

2008-12-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 38 Episode 1

Listen Here

Musical Selections:

De La Soul - Watch Out
UGK - One Day
Shyheim - On And On
8thW1 - Death Of A Slacker/The End To Begin
Slum Village feat. Frank N Dank - Get Ya Paper
Enchantment - Gloria
J-Live - All Of The Above
Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning (?uestlove remix)
Funkmaster Flex & The Ghetto Celebs - Nuttin But Flavor
Median - Give A Little Bit
Murs - 316 (Young H Edit)
Trunks - Devastator
Skillz - Imagine
Hot Boyz - Shoot 1st
Common Sense - The Bitch In Yoo
Slick Rick - Trapped By Me
Fat Joe's In Town
Musiq Soulchild -loveofmylife

Download and listen to other episodes here

2008-12-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 37 Episode 2

Musical Selections:
Quasimoto - Seasons Change
Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid
Little Brother - So Fabulous
Digable Planets - May 4th Movement
De La Soul - Wonce Again Long Island
Keith Washington - Kissing You
Run DMC feat. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Down With The King
Euricka - Diva Life (snippet)
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
T.I. feat. PSC - Limelight
8thW1 - Song Of Random Thoughts
Alkaholiks - Make Room
Torae - Wun, Tu, Thr3
Tony Terry - With You
Common Sense - Hungry

Topic Of Discussion: Gille Da Kid vs. Dirty Rik

Older episodes can be found here

2008-12-03T23:12:00.000-08:00

Common – Universal Mind Control - @@@

As an established rapper’s career goes through many transformations over the years, they may find themselves balancing the personal need for creative expression with the task of pleasing an audience’s previously set standards and expectations. Common’s loyal longtime followers have watched him go from a young regional upstart to a hungry battle rapper while growing into the personification of a spiritual B-boy and a hope for conscious mainstream Hip-Hop heroism in an industry where artists with little substance reign supreme. Common’s eighth album Universal Mind Control finds him at a crossroads as a household name mindful of both a legacy to uphold and new paths he wishes to explore.

Always bent on reinvention so as to avoid complacency and not become stagnant, Common’s latest experimental phase finds his music taking a more simplistic and fun natured approach, as he utilizes the help of The Neptunes and (Outkast producer) Earthtone III’s Mr. DJ. He never neglects to pay homage to our culture’s earlier days, as the lead single and album’s title track lends itself to reminders of Afrika Bambaataa’s Zulu Nation functions, while the rest of the album takes listeners on a more progressive minded journey without ever presenting a heavy handed agenda. Common’s latest recorded incarnation is partly that of a free spirited partying sex symbol, with the bouncy and playful “Punch Drunk Love”, the fashion shown runway sound of “Sex For Sugar” and the easygoing “Make My Day” all steering this project down more of a carnal road than any of his previous efforts. Eclectic in nature, other songs range in variety from “Announcement” which could work as a party starter in a club setting to the uplifting “Changes” dealing with our world’s ever expanding scope, the alternative “What A World” which is interchangeable with work crafted under Chad and Pharrell's N.E.R.D banner and the hypnotically electro-tinged “Everywhere”.

Common is to be respected for staying true to himself no matter the twists and turns he may take, as listeners strap in for a new sonic ride with each of his albums. However, Universal Mind Control is sure to result in a great lack of understanding between the artist's vision for what he would like his work to represent and the desires of diehard supporters demanding he stick to his prior foundation of making the “official” Hip-Hop that they’ve come to revere. This album is a risky jaunt straying from convention, thus it will be responded to with great debate as some will appreciate an effort breaking existent boundaries and others are likely to cry foul play, considering this new direction from an old favorite to be quite questionable.

2008-12-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 37 Episode 1

Listen Here

Musical Selections:

Count Bass D - Internationally Known
Camp Lo - Bubblin' (Anita Demo)
Mobb Deep - Temperature's Rising
Reach - Can Can
Babyface - It's No Crime
Wyclef - Bubblegoose
Clipse - So Fly (Now We've Had Her)
Denroy Morgan - I'll Do Anything For You
Guilty Simpson - I Must Love You
Cormega - Glory Days
MF Doom - Get 'Er Done
Common - Gladiator
Rakim - Show Me Love
Blu - Piece
Glenn Jones - Here I Go Again
Bush Babees - Remember We (Salaam Remi Remix)

Topic Of Discussion: Unrealistically high standards in the dating game.

Older Episodes Here

2008-12-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

Granted the topic material doesnt extend much further than "We have a new album coming next year, we know how to rap about drug dealing, we have a new clothing line called Play Cloths and we're realer than the rest of you rappers."

But they do it well.

Download Road To Till The Casket Drops

2008-11-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Week 36 Episode 1

cohosted by my good friend Ms. Pele

Listen Here

Musical Selections:
MC Breed feat. 2Pac - Gotta Get Mine
Reef The Lost Cauze - Big Deal
Force MDs - Love Is A House
Capone & Noreaga feat. Tragedy Khadafi - Stick You
Total feat. Puff Daddy - Kissin You Remix
Surface - Happy
Ced Hughes - Polite Rap Song
Raekwon feat. Fat Joe & Ghostface - Clientele Kidd Remix
Mobb Deep feat. Big Noyd & Rakim - Hoodlum
Jamie Lidell - What's The Use
B.O.B - Little Rascal
Dilla - Stop
State Property - Want Me Back
P Brothers feat. Boss Money - New Religion
Charles Hamilton - Lemme Know

2008-11-24T03:14:00.000-08:00

The P Brothers have brought back the east coast.

Take NYC underground veterans, producers hailing from the UK and the grittiest elements of street classics like Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, The Cold Vein and The War Report. The result is The Gas, one of this year's most under the radar efforts.

Highlights Include:
Late Night
Got It On Me
Digital B- Boy
Caviar

2008-11-21T20:46:00.000-08:00

Young H Radio Episode 35 - Tribute To The Roots

here

2008-11-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Von Pea

Take 1/3 of Tanya Morgan, leave him with free time and the instrumentals to a cult classic and you have
The Further Adventures Of Von Pea.

2008-08-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Large Pro - Main Source - @@@@ 1/2

In an age where today’s audience and run of the mill record labels are looking for the next catchy sensation, many previously established veterans continue producing material reflecting an undying love for an era where authenticity reigned supreme. For nearly two decades now, Large Professor has made it his mission to carry New York’s spirit through Hip-Hop’s various dominant pop phases such as jiggy and crunk to name a few. Despite industry setbacks Large Pro has kept his name present with guest appearances and production credits spanning both the underground and major releases. His latest album Main Source finds inspiration coming from his career’s original essence as Large Pro is continually determined to keep his legend alive.

The album finds Large Pro refusing to compromise his sound as he has always strayed far from convention and taken care to uphold his own set musical standards. He shows no care or desire for a presence on today’s radio as he employs his tried but true method of boom-bap aggression on "Hot: Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing", and stays in tune with the plight of the everyman as "Maica Living" details the rat race of the daily grind. Artistic purity has been a long running theme in Large’s work and he continues rolling with the “If it aint broke…” mentality as "Hardcore Hip Hop" and "Classic Emergency" both unleash fury in response to the culture’s present state of endangerment. While fully intent on staying rooted in the sounds of old with "Pump Ya Fist" and the funky "In The Ghetto", he also shows he can come up to speed with today’s scene on "Frantic Barz".

With Main Source Large Pro manages to prove that long standing pillars can remain relevant as he succeeds where other legends have failed to make marks of substance in this day and age. While the album’s only drawback is the lack of structured hooks, that doesn’t nearly take away from his concise understanding of the everyday Hip-Hop traditionalist’s need for music that serves of a reminder of when quality was far easier to come by.

2008-08-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

Asher Roth – The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1 - @@@

Purists generally decry the sad state of affairs where Hip-Hop seems to be the only musical genre leaving behind its relatively elder statesmen and failing to uphold established veterans. Meanwhile, casual fans find necessity in the figurative separation of chaff from wheat as corporate interests pander to the teenybopper video countdown era and the industry continues churning out new beacons of hope like clockwork. Asher Roth is the latest melanin deficient chap with a buzz and hopes of furthering former Loud Records chieftain Steve Rifkind’s reputation of having a wise and watchful eye for talent. The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1 hosted by Don Cannon & DJ Drama serves as Roth’s formal introduction to the world.

If the most genuine stories traditionally come as a product of a rapper’s experiences within his environment, Asher Roth’s authenticity can’t possibly be called into question. However, he is an anomaly of sorts as the life he knows best is a world far separated from whatever made Vanilla Ice presumably too cool for school, Eminem’s angst originating from the gutters of Detroit, and the New York street based stylings of 3rd Bass. Asher hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia, mainly fashioning himself the happy go lucky type who doesn’t take himself serious with this collection of remakes and verses over already popular instrumentals. While he employs a decent flow and can put his words together well, he doesn’t say really much of anything turning Jay-Z ‘s celebration of prosperity into a suburban jamboree on “Roth Boys”. Roth is no different from most rappers in coming off as his own biggest fan on “Cannon” where his vocals can be likened to Eminem the way Shyne sparked certain reminders of Biggie, but he’s hardly clever or engaging rather than zany and content to wearing his race on his sleeve. “The Lounge” is his most impressive effort, where he differentiates between his image and that of most rappers, but this project’s main theme is juvenile banter like the potty mouthed “Rub On Your T*tties” and “Gimme Your Box”.

With The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1, Asher Roth proves that alternatives to the norm don’t necessarily fall within the upper tier of quality music, as he demonstrates a serious incapability when it comes to making songs of substance. While he may make his mark throughout the burbs and potentially with the hipster crowd, time will only tell what shall become of an enigmatic white boy without street cred and the Interscope/Aftermath machine behind him.

2008-08-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know, I also host a weekly podcast.

You get to hear me talk (I think I'm funny and insightful) and play music (I have good tastes, I promise)

Here's this week's show and here's the page where you can get older episodes

But no one really cares.

2008-07-30T07:18:00.001-07:00

Skillz – The Million Dollar Backpack - @@@

With each passing year our culture thrives off of a need for fresh faces bringing novelty to the game and in 2008 for every act like Common who has maintained relevance since the early-mid 90’s, you can find four Black Moons struggling to hold on. [Formerly Mad] Skillz finds himself in just this position having had bad luck battling the corporate machine, as he’s faced obstacles like his debut From Where??? hitting stores the same day as seminal releases All Eyez On Me and The Score, and cutting deals with Rawkus Records & Timbaland that went nowhere just to name a few setbacks. After questionable career moves like entertaining a serious rap battle with Shaquille O’Neal and relegating himself to a role combining those of Peter Jennings and Dick Clark with his annual "Rap Up" series, Skillz has finally shifted his focus back to recording albums. His official sophomore release The Million Dollar Backpack is an artistic vision of caking up while simultaneously staying rooted in making music of substance.

Employing braggadocio is understandable as a process nearly as involuntary as blinking for a MC, and while anyone rapping should believe their shit bears no odor, Skillz comes off as cocksure to a fault. On the album’s opener “Where I Been” he opts to strut with “swag” rather than honestly detail the 11 year gap between his albums, while “Sick” is unoriginally reminiscent of Canibus’ antiquated “I been nice since…” raps and “Don’t Act Like You Don’t Know” featuring Freeway is a blatant bite of the guest star’s classic “What We Do”. Other low points include the uninspiring “So Far So Good”, his attempt at reaching women and clubs with “He Don’t Own Me”, and the bizarre “Crazy World” which would be better suited on a Broadway stage than a rap album. Infrequent celebratory moments come courtesy of stirring production from ?uestlove & James Poyser on “Hold Tight”, Bink’s “I’m Gon’ Make It” and “My Phone” which is still a PG rated rehashing of Biggie’s “Dreams”.

While some may give Skillz a pass for sounding “authentic” and having his heart in the right place, The Million Dollar Backpack finds him running Hip-Hop’s omnipresent risk of falling victim to one’s own hype. His essence is comprised of stale battle raps and a self-assured confidence that he assumedly believes will capture the hearts of the masses, ultimately finding him uninteresting with little new to say.

2008-07-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Spotlight on Shawn Jackson

I dont know much other than he's from the West coast and his album First Of All... has ample heat on it. He kind of reminds me of MCs from Detroit and his beats knock.

Soopafly
Fix Ya Face
Gold Medal Kids
Backstage
Go There With You

Shawn Jackson on Myspace

2008-07-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Nas - Untitled - @@@ 1/2

As Hip-Hop’s culture is rife with the theme of party and bullshit, art reflecting and responding to troubling times [a la Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On] is a rarity. While Nas is to be lauded as the primary MC taking a public stance on current events through major label music, he has run the risk of being considered an ambulance chaser of sorts with 2006’s Hip-Hop Is Dead campaign and the sudden rallying cry around the impact of the word nigger [to be assumed in lieu of the recent Don Imus/Michael Richards debacles]. His latest album now Untitled finds his sights set on the grand task of carrying four centuries worth of racial injustice on his back.

Coming as no surprise to his harshest of critics, Nas means well but he doesn’t quite execute in fully fleshing out his concept. The highlights include the promising "You Cant Stop Us Now" which leads off the album as a brief history of black life throughout the ages detailing everything from colonialism to the modern day persecution of Michael Vick, "Sly Fox" taking Rupert Murdoch's conglomerate to task, and Toomp (producer of Kanye West's "Big Brother", Jay-Z's "Say Hello", and T.I.'s "What You Know About That") delivering one of his standard cinematic centerpieces with "N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave And The Master)". Unfortunately the moments of focus are far and few in between as the album seems semi-autobiographical with songs like "Breathe" talking about how far he's come in his career, “Make The World Go Around” sounding like an "Esco" era Nastradamus outtake and the overproduced [by Polow Da Don] self-celebratory “Hero”, not to mention “Louis Farrakhan” where Nas overstates his importance drawing a parallel between himself and the Muslim figurehead. Other questionably odd moments include "Fried Chicken", personifying soul food while espousing its virtues and recognizing its dangers, "We Are Not Alone" tying revolution to UFOs, and "Black President" capitalizing on Obama winning the Democratic seat while questioning the candidate's dedication to the black community.

Untitled may placate diehard Nas fans who pray for the return of a Queenbridge soldier barely out of puberty, but those who aren’t so easily impressed may spot figurative chinks in the album’s armor. Nas has always been able to map out exciting ideas while taking a thinking man’s approach to his craft, but if he is to continue creating pieces based around themes perhaps more emphasis should be placed into his final output than the buzz built around it.

2008-06-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Danny! - And I Love H.E.R. - @@@@ 1/2

While most acts leave their career’s fate in the hands of others, (producers they’ll work with, management, label reps, etc.) the idea of a completely self-contained solo act within Hip-Hop has primarily gone unexplored. For the past few years South Carolina’s Danny! has impressively juggled the creative process of making music with business logistics on his own, going everywhere from The Grammys to receiving major press on the strength of sheer work ethic and drive. While legend has it D Swain was ready to quit Hip-Hop after 2006’s critically acclaimed Charm, the album scored him a EP deal with underground powerhouse Definitive Jux, and after returning to form with last year’s Danny Is Dead he is back with his fourth full-length LP, the conceptual piece And I Love H.E.R.

Danny is to be heralded for shirking all convention and sticking to his figurative guns, making the music that sounds good to him in hopes that traditionalists latch on. And I Love H.E.R. doubles as the soundtrack to what could be considered a boy meets girl a love story and the tale of an artist’s ups and downs trying to etch a path in an industry plagued by fickle fans, questionable politics, and media driven by popular style over actual substance. Danny’s work remains a bastion of creativity as he manages to convey the full range of human feeling from frustration on the album’s intro (Snippet) to going lighthearted on “The Groove” (Snippet) and expressing self-determination on the thematic “Never Change” (Snippet). While always mindful of maintaining a strong lyrical acumen, Danny covers all bases of Hip-Hop artistry from an advanced flow on “At What Price” (Snippet) to boom-bap on “Yoko Ono” (Snippet) and the introspective “Misery” (Snippet), clearly demonstrating he has mastered the aesthetics of our culture.

In a climate where the most successful artists cash in on the radio’s trends and casual listeners follow in tow, Danny’s brave endeavors find him footing the road less traveled. He has grown to be a symbol of quality work that comes from talent, passion and dedication to one’s craft, as And I Love H.E.R. is sure to resonate strongly with the everyday person using a discerning ear that has honed an affinity for Hip-Hop of the highest caliber.

Purchase And I Love H.E.R.

2008-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Critically Acclaimed Albums I'm Just Now Hearing Part 4

Souls Of Mischief - 93 'Til Infinity

In retrospect this album is really dated on the tip of production and rhymes. I'm not exactly willing to place it in the perspective of a time capsule either because Midnight Marauders and 36 Chambers dropped this year and still sound fresh. Maybe I'm biased against the West, the title track is forever golden though.

Download

2008-06-15T15:05:00.001-07:00

Critically Acclaimed Albums I'm Just Now Hearing Part 3

Royal Flush - Ghetto Millionaire

I really have no excuse for never hearing this album, and I'm actually embarrassed now that I have. When it came out I was stuck between Bad Boy/Jay-Z/Capone & Noreaga/Camp Lo/Wu-Tang/Mobb Deep and it slipped under my radar. I was up on "Movin’ On Your Weak Productions", "Iced Out Medallions" and "Worldwide" when they were getting big spin in New York, but that was the extent of my interest. I'm guessing he hails from somewhere around Queensbridge as he speaks the dunn language and sounds like descendant a cousin of Capone.

The album has slight missteps like "Cant Help It" which is doubly cheesy between the jacking the Force MDs "Love Is A House" for the beat and the Michael Jackson interpolation of the song's title on the hook, but there are timeless gems from the likes of Sha Money XL, Hi-Tek, and EZ Elpee.

Download

2008-06-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Critically Acclaimed Albums I'm Just Now Hearing Part 2

Deltron 3030

West coast veteran Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, producer extraordinaire Dan The Automator and DJ Kid Koala teamed forces for this concept album of sorts, placing Del 1022 years from today.

Heard all about it, slept hard thinking it was too weird for me but it turned about to be pretty damn good.

Download

2008-06-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

Critically Acclaimed Albums I'm Just Now Hearing Part 1

Playa - Cheers 2 U

I never would have checked for this, until a colleague of mine brought it back up. One of those albums everyone was crazy about, Timbaland did a bulk if not all of the production (the minimal flaw being it reminded me of what he did with Aaliyah and Ginuwine), at first I settled on it being cool music if you just had female company but songs like "Top Of The World", and "One Man Woman" made me decide to keep this for future listens.

Download

2008-05-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

Craig G & Marley Marl - Operation Take Back Hip-Hop (Review)

Longevity and respect are key attributes for anyone aspiring to cement a legendary place in Hip-Hop’s annals. While trends continue to come and go as the culture has become driven more by image than music, there have only been a select few (Masta Ace, Ghostface, arguably Redman etc.) who started in the “golden” era and wound up maintaining artistic relevancy throughout the years. Two decades after making an indelible mark in the game and scoring numerous accolades, Juice Crew veterans Craig G & Marley Marl have set out to drop science once more with the quite self-explanatory Operation Take Back Hip-Hop.

Craig G is to be commended as a Hip-Hop vigilante of sorts with a creative execution that extends further than strictly making music about rapping, addressing various scourges that have plagued the music industry (record labels, the internet, the radio) on “Quality Work” and impressively painting a picture of cultural armageddon with “The Day The Music Died”. Song concepts are a strong suit of this project, as Craig runs down how far he’s come from petty street crime on the autobiographical lead single “Made The Change”, serves a heartfelt love letter to music and the creative process of making it with “Just What I Need” and joins forces with Cormega to launch salvos against the ubiquity of studio thugs on “War Going On”. Good intentions aside, the album heavily falters due to Marley Marl’s stale and uninspired production, with “All Seasons” sounding like a Dr. Dre knockoff and the utter abomination of “Rock Dis”, serving a blow to the legacies of the albums main attractions as well as that of the Blastmaster KRS-One.

Craig G’s heart is in the right place as Operation Take Back Hip-Hop finds him nearly desperate in attempts of fleshing out his personal definition of authenticity. Unfortunately, most of this album’s tracks simply aren’t strong enough for him to carry forth a piece that hits on all cylinders. Long time followers will likely question both Craig’s ear for beats in this day and age and how much longer he will truly matter in the ongoing fight to keep quality music prevalent.

Rating: @@@

2008-05-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale EP (Review)

Art has begun to imitate the lifestyle of those pushing creativity’s envelope as hip (hop) culture continues thriving on all things fresh and new. The term hipster has come to be derided by detractors who place a negative connotation on the word as well as those in the life who take offense to its usage, as the prescribed faction finds no fault in believing they’re simply cooler than thou. With a group name that could double as ironic or one that takes itself too serious, The Cool Kids are at the forefront of this burgeoning albeit questionable movement. After a slew of critical acclaim and media exposure, The Bake Sale EP is the group’s latest offering in lieu of their present major spotlight.

As with most of today’s retro-sounding acts, The Cool Kids can justifiably be labeled as promoting style over substance, employing a fun yet minimalist approach not unlike that of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, or Kriss Kross in their heyday. Keeping in mind that braggadocio and self-confidence are surely nothing new in rap culture, the flaunting of fashionable footwear over strange sounding bass & percussion on “One Two” isn’t readily accessible for those outside of the insular hipster demographic. While supporters of the group cheer on the novelty of paying respect to the old school (the Rick Rubin homage “88”, and the Miami bass influenced “Basement Party” ) as well as their simultaneous focus on carving a new niche (“A Little Bit Cooler”), the group never seems to stray from a facade where they’re the life of the party whose aesthetics we should all aspire towards.

Compared to the many that perpetrate and build careers around fake imagery, The Cool Kids can’t be vilified for staying true to themselves. But all the same, Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish must suffer reproach for stylistically presenting a package that likely won’t resonate with anyone who doesn’t obsess over being a part of “the in crowd”. The Bake Sale EP would serve as a fine parody of self-deluded hipsters, but as actual product it should fail to move everyday Hip-Hop consumers who find themselves unconcerned with trendy hoopla.

Rating : @@ 1/2

2008-04-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

Decay - The Unlikely Villain mixtape

I'm tired, but since it's been a while since I've contributed anything to this place here goes.

MF Doom is my second favorite rapper of all time after Jay-Z.
Operation: Doomsday is my second favorite album of all time after Midnight Marauders.

Decay from the Uncut Raw crew (slap yourself if you slept on last year's First Toke) has put out this tribute mixtape flipping classic Doom tracks and fan favorites, in preparation for his forthcoming album The Unlikely Hero.

Download

2008-03-31T04:25:00.000-07:00

Young H Radio - Episode 2

Link

Shoutout to the 3 people who still care.

This life shit has been kicking my ass but I hope to be back into the swing of things with more real writing soon.

In any case, a new radio show will be done this Friday

2008-03-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Announcement : Knock of The Week has been formally replaced by

Young H Radio

Every Friday you'll hear me playing what I want to play and saying what I want to say.

This weeks music included Che Grand, Danny!, Wale, Jean Grae, UMCs, Cormega and more

(If I wasnt so lazy I would have painted the dude's face brown in the picture above)

You can still catch me every Sunday from 1-3 on radiovolta.org as a part of The Formula and check this blog for regular writing updates. This is just me not holding back a thing, talking almost reckless and playing everything I like, hope you enjoy.

2008-03-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

Knock Of The Week - Edition 11

Cru - Nuthin' But from Da Dirty 30 produced by Yogi

2008-03-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

The Official PMP (Worldwide) mixtape

PMP Worldwide is a networking company serving the purpose of connecting industry professionals to up and coming producers cooking up heat. This mixtape serves the dual purpose of a spotlight for instrumentals from sound providers on the come up, and a tutorial on the inner workings of the business with interludes from established veterans like 88 Keys and Hi-Tek. Highlights include Countdown by DJ RAD, Samp Banger by The Kickdrums, and Yesterdayz by Aeon.

2008-03-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

XM Radio/Subsoniq Dilla Day - Live Band Tribute

This past February 21st in our nation's capital, local artists and this band named The Players paid an incredible tribute to Jay Dee.

Download Here

2008-03-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Well, we've found the gay rapper

I'm not really cool with the whole Wendy Williams witch hunt thing, but dude is out and about with his on Myspace

Shotout to Brainchild on the lookout.

I'll be just fine so long as a scandal doesnt surface involving MF Doom and child pornography.

2008-03-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 10

Jeru The Damaja - The Bullshit from Wrath of The Math, produced by DJ Premier

(this applies to my life right now like you wouldn't believe)

2008-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Stop Sleeping Alert: School Of Beats

This is what I live for - aspirational spitting and crazy beats. If you're a fan of innovation that gives you that feel good reminder of the past, this is what you need to be checking for.

All I know is School Of Beats reps Washington DC and a few other parts of the country and they're definitely keeping it fresh for the underdogs. I plan to know more soon though as I'll definitely keep myself in the know with what they're doing.

Download their 3 projects
Lesson I : Orientation
Lesson II : Validation
Lesson III : The Progress Report

EDIT TO ADD: I bumped Lesson I today, and they've grown considerably since. I ride hardest for II & III, and I dont want any of my faithful readers questioning my ear.

2008-02-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

Big Sean is a future superstar to look out for

Big Sean, (not to be confused with an older version of Little Shawn from the early 90’s) is repping Detroit and signed to G.O.O.D Music. You already know Kanye has a good ear for talent, but that’s if *your* ear is in fact good.

Vocally he kind of reminds me of Median, but he raps about aspirations of women, getting money, and being fresh & successful. He has flow, lyrics, wit, everything you should love in a rapper. Plus his beats are pretty fresh.

Remember where you heard it first © DJ Clue (I’m not really first, but he isn’t getting the coverage I feel he deserves and that’s the purpose this blog serves. Didn’t mean for that to rhyme.)

9 songs from his mixtape Finally Famous

2008-02-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 9

M.O.P featuring Lord Have Mercy - Home Sweet Home off of Warriorz, produced by Nottz

(it's hard to believe this album is going to be 8 years old in October)

2008-02-29T07:55:00.001-08:00

This speaks for itself

2008-02-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

Black Milk is keeping Hip-Hop beautiful

For those of you who can afford to buy albums, if you trust my ear buy this!

Black is probably running away with the title for 2008 between this album, his forthcoming sophomore solo and the collab album with Guilty Simpson & Sean Price all set for this year.

2008-02-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

Jay-Z & Fela Kuti - Nigerian Gangster

Put out by Mike Love, a Chicago radio personality. I dont agree with dude's politics, but heat is heat nonetheless. I didn't know he was a producer, this could be a "Dr. Dre" kind of deal (what's the last song you think he really produced)

Download here

2008-02-21T23:47:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 8

Da Bush Babees - We Run Things (It's Like Dat) off of their debut Ambushed produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad

2008-02-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

To Whom It May Concern - It's Gilyard*

I'm not fashion conscious like that, but I know this label that Pharrell and Lupe have name dropped due to my former brief stint within the music industry.

Spun off from this site (plenty of leaks in the Through The Sieve section if you're into that sort of thing) and when my mans and them asked how to say it a few months ago.

*Unless there's a whole nother streetwear label that sounds the same that I've yet to hear of, but I'm pretty sure this is it.

2008-02-15T03:36:00.001-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 7

Pete Rock f/ Raekwon, Prodigy, and Ghostface Killa - Tha Game from Soul Survivor produced by the Soul Brother # 1, Chocolate Boy Wonder

2008-02-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's a miracle I didn't become a rapper

I've always sat on the sidelines as a fan/commentator but all of the following are true:

- My dad told me a story about hanging with a crew as a teenager. One dude in the crew had a younger brother that used to tag along with them, said younger brother became Rakim.

- My aunts and uncles (on my mother's side) went to school with EPMD as kids, my grandmother calls (Parrish) "Smith" a bum to this day.

- One of my uncles was tight with Craig Mack and proud as hell when he got on.

(if you havent gathered so much yet, my people are based out of Long Island)

- My parents met in college and somehow know Olu Dara (aka Nas' father). Summer 1998 me and my mom ran into him on 125th street. I told him I was about to go to FAMU, he said "You gonna have a lot of fun, but you gotta be in them books too" - I should have listened

- It's been told to me that at age 3 my dad took me to a Hip-Hop/jazz celebration and I knew who Fab 5 Freddy was.

- Me and my mom were in the "911 Is A Joke" video. You can see me for 5 seconds if you look close. I got paid $25 and thought I was rich.

2008-02-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

I'm starting up an anti-syrup movement

The other day I was listening to "Purple Rain" off of Beanie Sigel's The B Coming and realized I had to speak up on this issue.

Promethazine and codeine aka sizzurp/syrup/lean/purp/purple lotion or whatever you want to call it is the latest plague affecting Hip-Hop's culture. The syrup phenomenon was an underground thing until Memphis demigods Three 6 Mafia put out an anthem touting its supposed virtues. Rap legend Pimp C had a memorable guest appearance on that record and unfortunately the topic itself may have recently played a part in his untimely passing. One of my personal highlights from the recent Underground Kingz double album was "The Game Belong To Me" with a witty hook naming a hustler's goods by the public icons most associated with them - "I got Bobby by the pound/Whitney by the key/DJ Screw by the gallon..." (I'm waiting on someone to say "I'm selling that Amy Winehouse", it's gonna happen any minute now.)

If you've been living in a cave or all you play is D.I.T.C records, DJ Screw was a pioneer of Houston's scene and one of the first big names to die from this drink. I'm not 100% positive but I think the music on Screw's mixtapes was slowed down (if you're uncertain as to what I'm talking about, think back to the end of Kanye's "Drive Slow") to give listeners the feel of how songs sound when one is high off of the potion.

I don't have the first problem with what rappers do with their personal time outside of the booth. Slang cracks, pimp hoes, do all the recreational drugs you want, my issue comes when it starts to seep into the music. No one really believes Malice & Pusha T (or Jeezy for that matter) have any strips locked down, those are just creative roles being acted out. But on some level rappers need to realize that they have more influence than they might think, and some of what they're advocating is sending our people to early graves. Please believe if Jay-Z can make a man (who didnt already have sense enough) put on a dress shirt, that same man is probably also impressionable enough so as to try anything else that a "cool" rapper celebrates, including syrup.

You cant blame Hip-Hop for black on black violence or the disrespect of women, those ills of society are as American as apple pie and the Yankees winning the World Series. But I'd put good money behind the notion that things like this video

have added to the fallacy that (to borrow from Dave Chappelle playing Diddy) syrup is what's hot in the streets. You can argue Dipset was irresponsible to put out a liquor by the name of Sizzurp, but to my knowledge it was just purple in color with the original contents not involved, I'm pretty sure it would be illegal to sell anything close to the actual stuff in stores. Rumor has it this is also the drug of choice for the omnipresent Lil' Wayne, which gives cause to bars like "Damn right I kiss my daddy" and other nonsense he's prone to get over on people spitting nowadays.

By the time summer rolls around I'm gonna need a "Self-Destruction/We're All In The Same Gang" type record to come out in memoriam of Pimp C and everyone's verse (Devin, Scarface, Lil' Flip, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Bun B etc.) needs to be about putting down the styrofoam cup.

2008-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

I was there, and you should have been too

look at all of the Hip-Hop icons that were there. I wish I knew what Apani looked like so I could have thanked her for "Let Me Watch" (off of Viktor Vaughn)

2008-02-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Underground Hip-Hop has become pretty gay

A popular misconception when it comes to Young H is just because he doesn't listen to the radio, that he's a backpacker or super underground.

To clarify:
Young H loves good beats
Young H loves good lyrics
Young H has a pretty good ear for both, no matter if your label's Def last name is Jam or Jux.

Young H also loves women and frequents venues where you cant get in wearing a t-shirt and Timberlands (not that I'm opposed to that dress style, but there's a time and place for everything)

Lately I've been going out trying to support my local Hip-Hop community, and a lot of its inhabitants are lowlifes who want to stand around "keeping it real" and would probably become homosexual if that kind of thing were more widely accepted in this society.

Here's where I don't fit in:

- I don't drink beer (I'll have a little liquor here and there, but most of these spots dont even have a decent bar.)

- I don't like to celebrate Hip-Hop with random dudes I don't know and probably never would kick it with

- I don't smoke cigarettes or weed

- While I don't make it my point to get a number every time I step out to go somewhere, memorable eye candy is always a good thing and these scenes are severely lacking.

If the scene in your city is anything like mine, you'll be sure to find:

- MCs performing only to impress a small crowd, with no buzz outside of that local insulated community

- A 5:1 ratio of men to women, and just about every woman came with a dude who's on stage rapping that night. Not to mention the cutest girl in the room is a 7 at best.

- Songs about weed, how hard life is, and real hip-hop over murky beats.

- Ciphers in the corner where everyone is standing around huddled up and getting open off of rhymes that are off beat.

- The one dude outside at the end of the night politicking about the realities of real life, smoking a cigarette with one foot back against the wall. His man is acting like he's saying some deep shit too.

If Hip-Hop is something you do as a hobby because you love it, cool.

If it's a dream of yours, you should be chasing it harder than your weekly open mic. Artists like The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Common had sense enough to put on their businessman hats and go for theirs, actually proving good music can gain an audience.

Yes the radio is corny, but at least radio artists are making (corny) songs about women.

These underground cats need to listen to Babyface and learn something about romance, get haircuts and clean up their whole style. I love Hip-Hop with all of my being, but I'm not so engulfed that I've lost sense of what a grown man should be.

2008-02-07T23:21:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 6

Noreaga - Mathematics (Esta Loca) off of N.O.R.E (an album that was great for its time, but hasn't aged well at all) produced by (DJ) Clue & Duro

2008-02-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 5

Xzibit - Handle Your Business off of 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz

Produced by DJ Pen One, co-produced by Thayod Ausar

2008-01-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Return of Bandana P

Having come of age in New York's mid-90's era, you can bet good money I was into some vintage Mobb Deep. Memories include my man having The Infamous on CD the day after it hit stores (In 9th grade back then, that meant you had money) and begging him to let me borrow it so that I could dub it on tape, which was met with 15 seconds of skepticism and a "You better have it back tomorrow, with no scratches!"

Fast forward through the rest of that decade and the Mobb (along with the rest of their Loud labelmates) pretty much had the hard street flavor on lock, while Def Jam and Bad Boy battled for jiggy supremacy and Rawkus became the Mecca for disgruntled white boys. Then came a little known rapper with a little known Casio keyboard produced ditty named "Money, Cash, Hoes", with a little known line about New York being soft due to Calvin Broadus being the precursor to Osama Bin Laden. I remember listening to Funkmaster Flex the night the Dogg Pound video was being filmed, as he laughed about guns going off between rival crews and told everyone to chill. Prodigy's involvement in the East/West feud circa Capone & Noreaga's "L.A., L.A." remix found him spouting off in The Source, taking high offense to the little known rapper's proclamation that Death Row had turned the Rotten Apple to "shook ones".

As fate would have it, time told the tale of beef festering to the point that a little known event took place at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2001, something about a photo of someone in ballerina gear, maybe you've heard the story at this point. As if that wasn't bad enough a little known dis track called "The Takeover" came out (it's a rare gem, but worth finding if you can hunt it down), which rendered Prodigy nearly obsolete in the grand scheme of things. I say he was rendered obsolete not because of verse 1, 2 and 4's particularly scathing boasts of money that stacked higher than P's stature or jabs referring to dunn as Twinkle Toes, but because history will forever associate the song with the third verse that wasnt even about him.

An awkward chain of events followed where Prodigy made empty threats on the life of his little known adversary, and the past few years his catalogue has ranged from good (Amerikaz Nightmare/Free Agents/H.N.I.C) to in between (Return of the Mac) and awful (Infamy/Blood Money), amidst all types of controversy like gun charges and violent confrontations with other rappers, not to mention a self-leaked NC-17 tape of him and his wife. Just when I abandoned most of my hope, Prodigy has channeled the spirit of the great Ray Benzino and come back on a f*cking horse. The recent video for "ABC" featured P back on his grimy tip over a villainous Alchemist beat, and the other 3 new songs that have surfaced online (all linked below) have upped my anticipation of his next release, the sequel to H.N.I.C. I've recently developed a deeper appreciation for not only how cold he spits, but how he puts his phrases together.

Download Prodigy's 4 newest songs

2008-01-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Edition 4

De La Soul - Watch Out off of AOI: Bionix produced by Supa Dave West

2008-01-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Torae: Daily Conversation - @@@@ 1/4

Hip-Hop's golden age of the late '80's to mid 90's is often smiled upon and remembered as a time when New York had the dominant foothold and supreme cultural reign. While most of today's MCs (and fans) are complaining about the Southern takeover or (even worse) changing up to accomodate the radio's adaptation to the country's nether regions, a select few have taken it upon themselves to make a change and rep the east coast's essence. Coney Island's Torae saw his buzz go through the roof as he teamed up with Skyzoo for one of recent history's best 12 inches "Get It Done" b/w "Click" both produced by the ever so legendary DJ Premier. With the famished masses hoping for Tor to establish himself as a leader of today's new school, (no offense to Cut Monitor Milo, Charlie Brown or Dinco if they read this, but it's been a wrap for yall) his long awaited debut Daily Conversation has hit the streets for consumption.

Torae displays signs of being one of New York's next great MCs as he carries the complete package of flow, lyrics, confidence and topical material. The lead single "Callin My Name" is anthemic for all seriously aspiring MCs, detailing Tor's endless determination towards making himself known, while "Get It Goin" would fit perfectly if a whole genre arose from the Jay-Z coined term "black superhero music". One of his main strengths lies in versatility as he manages to sound at home on anything he's given to spit over, from Khrysis' homage to west coast bounce on "Somethin To See" to newcomer Eric G's channeling of M.O.P's energy on "Think About It" and "Switch" where he has fun flipping a variety of flows.

Overall, Torae is heavily gifted and making an indelible impression at a time when the east seemed headed down the path of obscurity. The only flaw to be found on the album is the overage of guest appearances, the majority of whom he outshines. Daily Conversation is a thorough introduction for Tor, with a return to great production accompanied by MCing that can lead to a restoration of prominence for the Rotten Apple.

2008-01-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

The Weekly Knock - Editions 1, 2 and 3

In hopes of keeping folks checking this blog, my plan was to drop a song that represented the term "knock" to me every Friday of this year. If I stay dedicated to this goal, I will have put up 52 songs by the end of 2008. I'm a bit behind so here goes Weeks 1, 2, and 3

Week 1: Slum Village - We Be Dem (Freestyle) - From Fantastic Vol. 1, produced by Jay Dee (you gotta love lines like "Hoes is givin me blows cause I'm a sexy man" from Baatin)

Week 2: Fat Joe - Part Deux - Off of Joe's sophomore effort Jealous One's Envy, produced by Domingo

Week 3: Lords Of The Underground - No Pain Off of LOTUG's sophomore effort Keepers of The Funk, produced by K-Def

There you have it The Weekly Knock Editions 1-3, see yall approximately next Friday if I can manage it.

2008-01-12T14:24:00.001-08:00

The number one rapper Young H doesnt care about in 2008

drumroll please...

This guy

My distaste runs so deep that I cant bring myself to type his rap non de plume. But you know him, he's made a career riding the coattails of respectable acts and making annual recap songs (this year's was particularly grating). I take this music shit too serious to continue giving him a pass when he once had such potential. I understand needing to keep your name hot in between albums, but he came out over a decade ago and has only had two albums to his name. You cant be serious, dude is written off with me unless he drops an undisputed classic this year and the chances of that are slim.

2008-01-11T11:30:00.002-08:00

Dear Haters: Hurricane Chris is nice

This is reminiscent of Lil Wayne before he oversaturated himself and drugs had him thinking it was okay to say anything in the booth. I'm almost interested in hearing this dude's album now.

2008-01-09T16:28:00.001-08:00

The Top 10 rappers Young H doesnt care about in 2008 Part 2

Continuing where we left off

5) Lauryn Hill

What is there to really say here? No one should care about Lauryn anymore. She was one of the best MCs in the world when The Miseducation dropped, but that was a decade ago. She ripped the hell out of the two songs where she rapped on the Unplugged album, but that was 7 or 8 years ago. People are holding onto hopes that she’ll come back and be as strong as she once was, it’s good to dream but she has more kids than solo albums at this point. I’m not a Byron Crawford asshole type blogger, so I say the following in all seriousness: let’s pray for her good health instead of having selfish demands for new material that could put a stain on what was once a great career. Ms. Hill lost her passion for making music, I've accepted that and you should as well. Kanye wishing her heart was still in rhyming and song dedications from Talib Kweli are good and dandy, but let's let sleeping dogs lie here.

4)Wyclef Jean

The Carnival was that shit, I even bought the album that came after that in good faith and I wasn't disappointed. I dont remember how the song sounded from a few years ago where he was riding around in a cab with Queen Latifah in the video but I think it was heat. That much said, it’s a wrap for dude at this point. He comes off as a confused Haitian who needs to be reminded he isn’t Jamaican (the T.I. “You Know What It Is” record), and one day watching VH1 Soul I saw he had a new song with Lil’ Wayne. I wasn’t shocked because that’s today’s industry standard if you need to appear relevant, but I think it was over a Wu-Tang beat (I’m not double checking youtube for that trash). He’s made his money and I guess he’s content having fun doing records with Shakira at this point, but that doesn't exactly fly with your man Young H.

3) Fat Joe

For the record I never heard his debut album with “Flow Joe”, but Jealous One’s Envy and Don Cartagena got heavy rotation from me when they dropped. I understand having to carry your crew after Pun’s passing, but jumping in pools with a blue chinchilla and lipstick on your cheek is decidedly not what’s hot in the streets. Ever since becoming a household name, he’s been another one on the long list of rappers who cant decide if they rep the streets or women, while Jay-Z was the only one versatile enough to wear both hats and maintain credibility. The past few years he’s been in a beef with 50, had “Lean Back” which was the biggest song the year it was out but that Terror Squad album still flopped, linked up with DJ Khaled (further indicative of how he’s stranded New York) and just become this cocky Latino who’s “hot” every few seasons, but Hot is the prefix behind radio stations who play bullshit. Joey Crack gets props for longevity but the second half of his career to date has been basura, papi.

2) Cassidy

I guess he has “the streets” locked down but that means absolutely nothing to me, because he doesn’t spit fire like some people give him credit for. He’s always been corny to me since “Hotel”, I guess “I’m a Hustler” was a club banger but he wasn’t saying much on it. "Drink & My 2 Step" would have become catchy if I allowed myself to hear it more than thrice. He had the nerve to fix his face and say Jay-Z needed to worry about their albums dropping on the same day this past November. I have homeboys who were impressed by bars like “Last dude tried to body Cass wound up with a body cast/I chop more bricks than a karate class”, yes those are actual bars he spit. STOP TELLING ME ABOUT THAT FREEWAY BATTLE, I'M NOT IMPRESSED. Swizzy worked heavily with The Lox and DMX, he knows what good street MCs are but I guess he’s invested in Cassidy to cash in with the 106 & Park audience.

The next entry will feature the esteemed title holder for the # 1 rapper Young H doesn't care about in 2008.

2008-01-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

The Top 10 rappers Young H doesn't care about in 2008 (Part 1)

Simply put, this list of people still generate public interest on some level and I don't understand why. For example Nas will make the list next year if Nigger isn't incredible, and Common is one more less than stellar album away from me feeling the same way about him.

Start the drumroll, and we're off...

10)Mos Def

Perhaps the biggest waste of potential we’ve seen in the post “Bad Boy vs. backpacker” era, Mos Def went from leading the underground to barely mattering after blowing up. I gave Mos the #10 slot because I still care about his career more than the other nine names that will follow. Black Star? Classic. Black On Both Sides? Classic. He’s a champion of sorts for black manhood, having proved you can get your money without being a jigaboo who sells destruction to your people. I’m not mad at the direction Black Dante has taken towards acting and hosting weekly celebrations of boho pastimes for HBO, I even applauded how he spread his musical wings on The New Danger, and his community outreach with Katrina efforts and the like has been truly commendable. But Tru3 Magic? That shit right there? That shit right there? © Katt Williams, dude completely lost me. It was an unfocused effort that came without artwork, he’s shown no signs of wanting to make groundbreaking music again, and that was 4th quarter of 2006. To paraphrase the great philosopher of our time Sean John Combs, “If Mos don’t give a fuck, fuck it why should I?” Supposedly he’ll be coming out again this year with at least a few songs produced by Kanye West, but I’m not holding my breath for a miracle.

9)David Banner

It truly hurts my heart not to care about David Banner anymore. His debut Mississippi: The Album really impacted me on a personal level when it dropped, as it was pure concern for our race and a conscious voice mixed in with the crunk music I had come to love attending college in the South. He intended for "Cadillac on 22’s" to change the world, and when that didn’t go over as planned he changed direction to become the sex crazed killing coon that the industry wants to see him be. I’ll give him one more shot with this next album he’s about to put out, but I don’t foresee Banner coming back with anything I’ll really be able to feel.

8)Ludacris

I know a good rapper when I hear one, and I’ve never been impressed by Ludacris like that. Don’t get me wrong, he makes possibly the best songs of any rapper that I don’t like and I’ll grant the audience that he’s one hell of an entertainer. Entertainment value is cool for what it is, but I don’t place a premium on that when it’s used to bamboozle people into taking you serious as an artist. Lyrically he doesn’t say a whole lot, his career has functioned as the dude who makes memorable songs for crowd participation when a DJ briefly mutes the record. He’s pretty much worn thin with me because I can’t see him doing anything he hasn’t already pulled off (the club record, hype record, girl take them panties off record). I know he did the “Runaway” song that won him the Grammy, but saying that a brief hiatus from comedic records qualifies Luda as a good MC is like giving Nore props for making a serious record (for the record I love Nore, but no one upholds him as one of the best doing it). Perhaps this all stems from the South not having many mainstream lyricists and people settling for lowered expectations. The new Usher record that I’ve heard all of 1.5 times isn’t making a strong case for your boy either.

7)Eve

I used to really dig this woman. Even though Black Thought wrote her lyrics on “You Got Me” she sounded fly, and her appearance on the "Butterflies Remix" was some dream wife shit. I enjoyed her debut album and appearances on the early Ruff Ryders compilations. Her introduction to rap was an incredible joint off of the Bulworth soundtrack, “Let Me Blow Your Mind?” Forget about it, that’s one of my favorite post golden age female records ever (Kim, Foxy, Eve, Trina, Jackie O, and whoever else). Taking on acting career and trying to come back hasn’t worked in her favor. The “Tambourine” record doesn’t ring bells over here (but I guess I'm with it if women like it in the club). Forgetting the streets and going the silly route, she’s earned her place in the “I don’t care” category.

6)Lil Kim

I haven’t really felt her after Hardcore, every album after that she’s been as good as the beat she’s given. “I Came Back For You” was heat, “Lighters Up” was a club banger, but she cant make complete albums anymore. Kim won’t fade away for anything, as she has a loyal female audience that rides for her no matter what. I guess she’s been good for sexual liberation (97% of black women age 24-30 know “Not Tonight” verbatim, I’ve seen it with my own eyes) but the quality of her music has greatly declined over time, and now she’s just coming off as an artist struggling to maintain relevancy not to mention a damaged woman with image issues. The song I heard from her forthcoming release produced by The ARE isn’t hitting to me at all.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3

2008-01-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

The results of the Top 11 things I wanted to see happen in 2007

As posted up a year ago

11) Another old head drops a classic - Jay-Z is technically an old head but American Gangster fell a little short of a classic. Grand Daddy I.U. put out an album this year with production from Marco Polo and Large Professor but I didnt hear it. I doubt it was a classic though.

0 for 1

10) Eminem goes back to being the best in the game - He was nowhere to be found in 2007 except on T.I.'s album, supposedly he's about to come back out though.

0 for 2

9) Talib Kweli makes a believer out of me again - Eardrum was damn good.

1 for 3

8) A new Joe Budden album that was worth the wait - I played Mood Muzik 3 once and I recall liking it, but there was no way it could have lived up to the hype.

1.5 for 4

7) Little Brother gets mainstream success - I love Getback, and I'm glad them boys didnt give up amongst all the adversity they faced. They put out an artistic winner, but industry bullshit kept them beneath where they should be.

1.5 for 5

6) Saigon & Just Blaze to be the 2007 hardcore Gang Starr - Moral of The Story was a great precursor to the album probably dropping this first quarter. Setbacks prevented my wish from coming true.

1.5 for 6

5) Kanye West tops Late Registration - I love Graduation, but no.

1.5 for 7

4) T.I takes his rightful place at Hip-Hop's helm since Jay-Z doesnt care for it anymore. - This was supposed to be the album that took Tip to new levels, his Blueprint if you will. I dug the album, but it fell a little short of his better work.

1.5 for 8

3) Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 to be better than Swift & Changeable (Ghost & Doom's album) as well as every Raekwon LP since the original -Neither of those albums came out.

1.5 for 9

2) We Got It 4 Cheap Volume 3 - Nope

1.5 for 10

The number one thing I want to see happen in 2007 (drumroll...)

1) Lupe Fiasco listens to Midnight Marauders - *sigh* He was so stubborn that he stuck to his guns on OKP and wound up messing up the words to "Electric Relaxation" on national TV. I know women that dont rap who wouldnt have dropped the ball like that.

1.5 for 11, that's 13.64%

2008-01-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

The top 12 things I want to see happen in Hip-Hop this year

12)Game causes more controversy – The rap game needs this man to keep things interesting, for two albums he’s received incredible production and been a brash unpredictable asshole. I can stand for him to not say Dre’s name anymore though.

11)Rappers stick to rapping – Acting careers, clothing lines, running record labels and whatever else takes the focus away from you getting busy in the booth. "If you’re a rapper, rap motherfucker." – Lyor Cohen

10)Foxy Brown puts out a release that is worth the wait – Between Inga’s loss of hearing/legal troubles and Eve’s acting career, Lil Kim undeservedly ran away with the mainstream female crown by default. For my tastes, Kim makes weak music nowadays and Foxy deserves a shot at proving she still has it. Ill Na Na and Broken Silence were bangers for their time and “Come Fly With Me” was the jam two years ago. I believe she can come back.

9)A new album from Juelz Santana – He’s quietly the most charismatic Dipset member when it comes to song making. He doesn’t show out in online video clips or get into beefs with anyone; it’s just his music that’s spoken volumes for him. When he’s in his zone and has chosen a good beat, his braggadocio is second to none.

8)Young Dro gains the respect he’s deserved – He’s one of the best new rappers going slept on. A lot of the Hip-Hop world blames the South for supposedly ruining music and just lump him in with every other run of the mill one hit wonder coming out these days. But if you listen to lyrics like I do and have an understanding of Southern culture/slanguage you’d have no choice but to respect this man’s spit game, in an interview he said his influences were Nas, Jay-Z and The Lox. The press needs to stop playing up his affiliation with T.I. and focus on the fact that he can rap. He’s a bit of lyrical content away from being up there with whoever we presently consider great.

7)Anything new from MF Doom – He’s been gone for far too long, and he’s left a nation of diehard followers thirsty for his return. The recent scandal involving him putting someone else in a mask at his shows has added to his mystery. Whenever he resurfaces (The Ghostface collab and Madvillain sequel albums are rumored to be next), we should be in for a treat.

6)Jay Electronica lives up to half of his buzz and potential – Just read this article, all of the praise heaped upon this dude and pay close attention to all of the projects he’ll supposedly be putting out. That’s a lot of pressure with proven acts we respect bowing at his altar, it almost reminds me of the pre Voodoo hype and we see how that’s worked out in the end. It’s been a week since Act II: Patents of Nobility was supposed to drop and it’s nowhere to be found. I’m holding on to faith that he isn’t another in the long list of “talk the talk” artists because he’s actually talented.

5)More respect for women – Let me start by saying Young H is a reformed pr0n connoisseur who still loves seeing asses shaking in clubs, I’m all for that. I’m also cool with a “bitch” or “hoe” thrown around in songs every now and then, but it’s recently become a lot worse than I can recall in previous years. Perhaps “Get Low” was the resurgence but this was the final straw for me. Yes there are women out here carrying themselves without much self-respect, but I don’t need you to make light of the bleak reality that you had fun while she hit you and your whole crew off. I’m getting to be a little too old to do anything more than frown my face when I hear things like this. Pac, the ever conflicted soldier still had enough sense to drop that Since we all came from a woman/got our name from a woman and our game from a woman… scripture on “Keep Your Head Up”

I also think that while club records were made for us to dance, they could use a little more substance than “Shake that fat ass and drop it to the floor girl/hoe/lil’ mama”. Dana Dane started off the classic “Nightmares” with Well I walked into the office, what did I see? A well shaped body with its back to me, that was a descriptive line in telling a story. LL explained to a series of women that he had to leave because their competition had bigger rear ends, it was a humorous concept and clever record that took at least a little bit of thought to write. 2 Live Crew was a group who made their name off of booty shake music, if that’s all your song is going to say in this day and age then you probably wont get props over here. I’ll give you the respect that it gets the women loose, but I can’t take you serious as an artist. I’ll contradict myself and say this much though: Yung Leak’s “Jiggle It” is still the JAM, I respect that he stayed in his lane and brought the rest of the world to Baltimore without sounding like the same regurgitated song over and over. For the record, I don’t see this changing because I have a working theory that says corporate suits live, die and thrive off of black ignorance and dissension. So I guess I’ll be a jigaboo dancing along and having fun knowing within me that it’s at least a little wrong.

4)Lil Wayne drops a classic – Okay Dwayne, you’ve made yourself the most prolific rapper in history doing more guest appearances and beat jackings than Busta Rhymes. But can you gain my respect and drop an album that will make the world stand on its ear, or will you just say whatever comes to your mind over whatever beats you’re given? Supposedly Kanye is executive producing this next album, so we'll see what it comes out sounding like. But I'm not holding my breath for a miracle.

3)The end of youtube rap – Most of the world is looking to be distracted and entertained by idiotic material. If your song has an accompanying dance that people can film themselves doing, chances are I don’t want you to have a career this year.

2)50 Cent keeps up his comedy routines – If you’ve missed it, there’s recent footage from Curtis being on tour overseas cracking jokes on the likes of Jay-Z, Fat Joe, Wu-Tang, Ja Rule, and Irv Gotti. Golden age backpackers are upset by this, but he has a natural knack for humor and I love it.

1)Detox to change the face of music as we know it – The way it’s been hyped, this album is supposed to be the end all be all. But if you know better like me, it will just be a lot of epic sounding beats by Dre’s ghost producers, with him and a gang of guest stars rapping about weed, bitches, cars and whatever other niggerish topics they can come up with. That’s if it even comes out this year.

2007-12-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

Disclaimer: I’m going to attempt a rational and unbiased review of this album regardless of the artist’s continual blatant disregard for my all-time favorite musical piece of work. I have a preconceived notion of what to expect from the songs I’ve heard and my knowledge of his thematic ethos, but I’ll throw all of that out of the window and listen with an open mind. Here goes nothing.
_____________________________________________________
To become a successful mainstream Hip-Hop artist while simultaneously going against the grain is a daunting task analogous to swimming upstream. Your label wants you to mimic whatever the present radio climate dictates, most of which has become catchy ignorance. Lupe Fiasco continues to throw all caution to the wind and march to the beat of his own drum, as he is determined to reach minds through carrying the flag for Kris Parker’s concept of edutainment. The Cool is Lupe’s sophomore effort following last year’s critically lauded albeit commercially disdained Food & Liquor.

The Cool serves the dual purpose of weaving a gang of random songs around the story of the character from his debut album’s song bearing the same name of this project. "The Coolest" could be interpreted as displaying what one of today’s “coolest” rappers would sound like spitting bars full of substance, as Lupe employs a flow and cadence that is eerily similar to that of Lil Wayne. Everything about the song rings dramatic from the piano and background vocals to the first person tale of Michael Young History. The heavy mood is tempered by "Paris, Tokyo" which is (what a song from A Tribe Called Quest might sound like in today’s day and age) about performing and traveling the world. "Hi-Definition" is the closest the album comes to a club banger or radio smash, but much like Food & Liquor’s “I Gotcha” the verses are too complicated for mass consumption. Lupe may wind up sneaking his figurative medicine into the applesauce with "Gold Watch", as the soulful guitar is destined to capture ears while he name drops a gang of materialism and nerd culture, leaving the audience wondering if the song is self-satirical or if he’s serious. "Hip Hop Saved My Life" is also easily digestible as he uses a seamless flow to tell the story of an aspiring MC from Houston. Welcome changes from his generally somber state come in "Go Baby Go", a fun N.E.R.D takeoff of sorts and "Fighters", the album’s emotional centerpiece where Lu presents himself to the audience as a vulnerable human being discussing his place in Hip-Hop and eulogizing family members.

For all of his efforts to bring us into understanding his world, the second half of The Cool still manages to alienate with topic matter more suited for arthouse cinema than a Hip-Hop release on a major label. "Streets On Fire" tells the tale of HIV’s impact on our community, and while "Gotta Eat" is lyrically brilliant Lupe comes off as trying too hard as he personifies fast food and details its effects on man. "Dumb It Down" is the account of his struggle to maintain strong lyrical content and reach people, but ironically it will likely succeed in polarizing the average listener. It is equally odd how he expects to achieve mass acceptance with "Go Go Gadget Flow" and "The Die", as he only serves to do the Midwest proud rapping in the same vein of Chicago veterans Do or Die and Twista. Lupe has trouble drawing the line between creativity and a bad idea as "Hello/Goodbye" is a rock number that will be received with open arms by the MTV2 audience and likely shunned by people drawn to the rest of the album.

Lupe Fiasco is to be commended for attempting to bring an alternative view to today’s mainstream, as The Cool finds him dropping many moments of genius over a wide range of hitting production. The downside is that his music runs the perpetual risk of preaching to the choir, as the means by which he delivers his message may go over the heads of those who need it most.

Rating: @@@@ 1/4

Afterthought: The album is far from the conceptual piece that the press release promised. My one listen heard only two songs telling the story of Michael Young History, and one of a character The Game.

2007-12-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

Mini-Reviews Part 1

As we approach the end of the year too much music is coming out (or leaking, if you will). In my quest to stay on top of whatever I'd consider fresh, here is brief rundown of what I've bumped recently.

Saigon : The Moral of The Story - This is the mixtape that's dropped before his long awaited debut The Greatest Story Never Told which is still without a set release date from Atlantic. Sai is the next coming of what Pac's conscious thug character represented, but he actually puts thought into his bars and he has a great ear for beats. - @@@@ 1/4
South, The West, The East Coast
Saigon Meets Just Blaze

Busta Rhymes & Mick Boogie : Dillagence - It's Busta doing what he does, if you don't care for him then you probably won't dig the rapping on this mixtape. The added thrill is it's in tribute to Jay Dee, using a lot of beats that you've probably never heard before. It fell short of the @@@@ 1/2 mark because Busta chose some beats to rock over that were a bit too left field, and I wasn't feeling guests like Rah Digga (she's fallen far from her Dirty Harriet days) and Cassidy. Get the whole thing here. - @@@@ 1/4

Kidz In The Hall & Mick Boogie : Detention - If you don't know by now you should, producer Double O and rapper Naledge have gone from Rawkus to Duck Down and are about to put out their sophomore release The In Crowd this March. Hush is the kind of music I need right now, grown man material over beats that are killing. A track from this mixtape has earned its way onto my Best of 2007 mix dropping later on this month. Not to mention the cover is incredible. Get the whole thing here. - @@@@ 1/2

6th Sense & Mick Boogie : Go For It - Dude asked me to check his material and I'm not mad. He has beats (He did "Think About It" off of Snoop's Blue Carpet Treatment), and he can rap too but I'm not crazy about his voice. His crew also leaves a little to be desired, but overall this is a highly ambitious project. Get the whole thing here. - @@@@

Bishop Lamont & Black Milk : Caltroit - I'm sorry, I'm a Black milk supporter but this was too n*gg*rish for me to sit through. Possibly I'm biased against the West Coast and whatever movement they're attempting to rebuild but I didn't get through more than 6 songs on this mixtape.

I'll be back with a part 2 to this later on in the week, because there's plenty new stuff I haven't checked for yet. I'll also attempt full write ups of some other new albums that are floating around.

2007-11-24T12:45:00.001-08:00

King E : J-Live/Roy Ayers "The Hear After" remix project

Still one of the best wordsmiths in the game today, J-Live seems to have hit a stumbling block when it comes to his ear for beats. He was once making music that was light years ahead of his peers with production from DJ Premier, DJ Spinna, Pete Rock, and 88 Keys amongst other greats and devout subscribers are dying for him to make a return to his classic days of old.

Many believe the junior full-length effort The Hear After was when J-Live started to slip. To the rescue came King E out of Springdale, Pennsylvania with a project that takes this album's acapellas over samples from Roy Ayers.

If you aren't familiar with Roy Ayers, your musical palate is pretty much malnutritioned. He's a master on the vibraphone and a genius producer/arranger/conductor in his own right as his music has always been chock full of soul, harmony, rhythm and all around goodness. If you're worth your weight in classic Hip-Hop knowledge, E Rule's "Listen Up" was a loop of Roy Ayers' hugest hit sped up. Ed O.G. and The Bulldogs' "Be A Father To Your Child"? Roy Ayers.

This project was a treat for me, as I knew most of the songs that were sampled. But even if you're unfamiliar you should wind up enjoying this as the blending of vocals and beats sound great.

Enjoy.

2007-11-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

Kamal The Abstract - Blue Girl

Hard to believe this song is 5 years old, it's still light years ahead of most "progressive" music that has come out since.

Enjoy

(Stay tuned, I should be actually writing about music again soon)

2007-11-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

Why Joe Budden is my favorite rapper at the moment

He is to the Hip-Hop generation's struggle what Donny Hathaway must have been for our people three decades ago. This is the first half of the Soul of a Fighter compilation that's made its rounds on the internet(the second half was Joe on the battle rap tip). If you're going through anything like I've been, you'll feel the pain in most of these songs. Joe Budden is to be commended for rapping about real emotions and situations that people go through, compared to most rappers who only give us flossing, violence, drugs and "I'm a better MC than you".

Enjoy

2007-10-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

Jay Electronica - My World (Nas Salute)

Jay Electronica is the future, point blank.
If you dont trust my ear by now, maybe you'll trust that of Just Blaze.
Erykah Badu cosigns him as well.

Enjoy

2007-10-14T17:38:00.001-07:00

Divine Mind - Good To Know

A gem that 99% of the world missed from the Shaman Works Family Files Vol. 1. I couldnt find a picture of the artists.

Download

2007-10-13T18:36:00.001-07:00

Just how bad are the new Ja Rule & Jeru The Damaja albums?

Let’s face it, while I was never crazy about Ja, and Jeru’s first two albums were stellar (for this we can thank a man who bears the same moniker as the lead singer of Coldplay and the darker half of Kid n Play) but I think we can all agree that they’re past their respective primes in 2007.

I champion the underdogs, so I’d really like to see both of them drop solid releases. Ja has to prove 50 didn’t completely knock the wind from his sails, and Jeru is fighting to show the underground he deserves recognition more than a decade after “Come Clean” and “Ya Playin’ Yaself”.

Let’s go to the tape, if we will

Ja Rule : Love Is Pain – Oh wow if someone from Bone Thugs didn’t ghostwrite “Free” then this is a major bite, there are even parts that take the melody from “The Crossroads”. Curtis is sitting back having a good laugh right about now. Maybe if I was 18 some of this would sound good (“The Countdown” is alright but I’m grown). I wanted him to come with it, he didn’t even pick terribly interesting beats. I couldn’t sit through most of the songs completely, he’s still the gravelly voiced thug baller and that personality wore thin a long time ago. “All I Need” manages to jack the concept of 2Pac’s “Me & My Girlfriend” and it re-hashes the Method Man/Mary J. Blige hook. “New York Is Back” features Jadakiss and Fat Joe, but it sounds like a Southern track. He didn’t even attempt an honest track about coming back to the game after being counted out. There are a few club bangers on here though. On the scale of trash-mediocre-good-great-classic this registers between trash and mediocre

Jeru The Damaja : Still Rising – “Oh shit, it’s not even wack” © Dame Dash on Kanye’s “Last Call”. Dude can still rhyme, he was given a decent selection of beats. It’s not classic material, but it’s solid for a Jeru release in 2007. This song “Juss Buggin” has him rhyming like he’s on helium, who cares what he’s saying the beat is CRAZY. There are a lot of good song concepts from introspection to righteousness and history. This will be a sleeper for the year. I'm glad to see he isnt washed up and is still sharp.

2007-10-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Tragedy Khadafi - True Confessions

This is an oldie but goodie, from the days when hard New York music could be heard on the airwaves. The Luther Vandross enthusiast in me was crazy about the "Never Too Much" interpolation. If memory serves me right, this won 5 nights on Angie Martinez's Battle of The Beats (he even predicted it would happen on the song). This was a time when "my net worth is 4 mil" was considered a boast. Look for this blog to have a review of this documentary of Trag's life at some point in the near future.

Enjoy

2007-10-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Weezy Jefferson is on *Everything*

I dont know who's responsible for this, but I dare you to keep a straight face. If you listen close you'll hear that these are actual freestyles, making it look like everyone's (least) favorite oversaturated rapper might not be as great as he claims. Dwayne Carter isnt really this simple with his, but he isnt much more complex either.

(For the record I'm a fan when he spits without the extra theatrics of different languages, voices and thoughtless punchlines. Given his recent track record, I can stomach him about 40-50% of the time nowadays.)

Enjoy - Drought 4: I Am On Everything

2007-09-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Top Shelf - 8/8/88

This is a concept album of sorts, the backstory is these are lost songs from 1988 recording sessions done at a studio called Top Shelf. The project features tracks from legends such as MC Lyte, Grand Puba, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, Dres from Black Sheep, Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, Doug E. Fresh, Masta Ace, and Craig G amongst others.

However, if you remember what these people sounded like in that era you'll quickly realize that this was recorded recently and just made to sound old school.

It's an interesting concept and a little uncomfortable at points because we're faced with the fact that some of these people are still rhyming way past their prime. The Smooth B song is downright unbearable, and Nice and Smooth was one of my favorite groups as a kid. The Craig G song struck me as the most impressive, it sounded like he really wrote it two decades ago.

In any case, here's a download.

2007-09-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Support young folks making good Hip-Hop (Part 4)

Artist: Skyzoo

Age: 24 or 25

Sounds like: A Reasonable Doubt era Jay-Z if he hung in front of Fat Beats all day.

Recent Project: Corner Store Classic (mixtape)

Background Information: Skyzoo is a wonder to behold in today’s era of New York street Hip-Hop. He’s braggadocious and he talks tough, but he’s quite lyrical to boot with a mean flow and topic material spanning from the inner conflicts of a drug dealer (“Stop Fooling Yourself”) to the state of our country (“America The Beautiful”). More impressively Skyzoo sets himself apart from his competition by not sounding like a carbon copy of anyone who’s already respected for their craft. Casual listeners would be quick to place him in the “heard it all before” box (as I did when I first heard him on Little Brother’s Separate But Equal mixtape), but his beat selection says his heart is true to the culture. He’s bridged the streets and the underground, spitting fresh gutter talk over production by the likes of 9th Wonder, Nicolay, Khrysis, M-Phazes, Jay Dee, Black Milk and Hi-Tek amongst others. His work ethic in the booth is impeccable and it’s begun to pay off with plenty of industry accolades, let’s hope Skyzoo plays a role in restoring New York’s place at the helm of cultural recognition.

Download your Skyzoo starter kit.

2007-09-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

Big Brother is watching

The story broke yesterday, Hovie's home.

The first song should be dropping today.

Personally, I think Def Jam is brilliantly figuring out how to sell albums in this turbulent climate, between the 50/Kanye competition and putting out a new Jay-Z album in conjunction with a big movie.

American Gangster, see yall in November.

2007-09-13T21:22:00.001-07:00

Live from the Young H Palace - HBO PPV presents: Curtis vs. Graduation

*The horns of the HBO theme song begin playing*

Jim Lampley: Live from the exotic suite & resort known as Young H’s bedroom, Curtis vs. Graduation. These are huge releases for Kanye West and 50 Cent, surely two of the most popular rappers on the planet. 50 is looking for his third consecutive platinum shipping release, while Kanye is looking to establish a spot in cultural supremacy, one that’s been a long fought battle.

Let’s go to The Tale of The Tape

Artist: Kanye West
Album: Graduation
Label: Rocafella
Release #: 3

Artist: 50 Cent
Album: Curtis
Label: Shady/Aftermath
Release #: 3

Now for the fighter introductions:

(“I Get Money” comes blasting through the speakers and 50 comes to the ring intensely focused on everything in front of him, not looking into the camera. He’s accompanied by ever-faithful sidekick Tony Yayo and Young Buck who’s ice grilling the cameras, threatening to inflict harm on anyone who acts up)

Jim Lampley: The title of 50’s latest album was borne out of Camron’s attempt at taunting him by using his government name, as if that was supposed to make him feel bad. Since 50’s release of the scathing “Funeral Music” earlier this year, Cam has pretty much been an afterthought much like Ja Rule after Get Rich or Die Trying. 50 has promised he would retire from making albums if Kanye’s first week numbers were greater than his.

(“Can't Tell Me Nothing” begins to play with the crowd chanting “Wait til I get my money right!”. Kanye confidently strolls down the aisle, seemingly unaffected by the pandemonium around him. By his side is Fonzworth Bentley reciting Kanye’s lyrics with a swagger that suggests maybe we should question his sexual orientation.)

Jim Lampley: It’s been an eventful two years for Kanye West since Late Registration dropped. He’s been quite a busy man: tempering his newfound success by throwing tantrums at award shows, and working with Common again on Finding Forever. Kanye’s singles from Graduation, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Stronger" have shown an improvement in his rap game. Oddly enough, as much as he’s accused of being self-centered, West has made note that his favorite song of the moment is 50's “I Get Money”.

Let’s go to Michael Buffer at the ring for the introductions
Ladies and gentleman: Live from Young H Palace, the world awaits and this is the moment the world has been waiting on...

LLLLLLLET’S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLE! *crowd goes wild*

Fighting out of the blue corner wearing a G-Unit bulletproof tanktop repping Southside Jamaica Queens, Interscope’s undisputed sales champion with a professional record of 2-0, Curtiiiiis “50 Cent” Jacksoooooon.

*light boo from the crowd, Tony Yayo stands up going wild in the front row with a 40 in his hand*

And in the red corner wearing something Beanie Sigel wouldn’t approve of repping Chicago, former Rocafella in house producer and 2 time champion of inspiration The Louis Vuitton Don, Kanyeeeee Weeeeeeeeest

Referee Mills Lane (who has come out of retirement and hosting daytime court shows for this momentous occasion) “Alright, I wanna see a clean fight, no hitting below the belt or doing anything you talk about on these rap records. You’re to obey my every command, let’s get it on!”

*50 and Kanye touch gloves*

Larry Merchant: Kanye West is very sure of himself, but sometimes you have to wonder if this self-confidence is really just disguising an inferiority complex, as he’s been an underdog his whole career.

*Round 1 Bell Rings*

Jim Lampley: 50 Cent has said people love Kanye because he’s an alternative to the villain, which sort of discounts the fact that Kanye makes good music. With every release, Curtis makes a habit of attacking anyone on his radar who could be considered competition.

Kanye comes out early with “Good Morning”, a continuation of his running analogy where phases of his career are like being in school. 50 effectively opens with “My Gun Go Off” in his typical fashion, singing about violence on the hook.

*Round 3 Bell Rings*

Jim Lampley: It’s still early in the bout but it seems 50 Cent wont be deviating from his bread and butter script, while we’ve heard him employ the concepts of “Man Down” and “I’ll Still Kill” time and time again somehow he manages to still sound fresh. However, judges may not look too kindly upon Akon’s appearance on the latter, as the Senegalese crooner can grate on one’s ears if he’s overused on a Hip-Hop track. Meanwhile Mr. West is showing he’s hell bent on celebrating his success and responding to critics with moving records like “Champion”, “I Wonder”, and “Stronger”.

Larry Merchant: 50 doesn’t seem to have much of a game plan, he’s just been kind of drifting through his career and coasting off of the success of Get Rich or Die Trying. You’ve gotta ask yourself, does he still care about making groundbreaking music at this point?

*Round 5 Bell Rings*

Jim Lampley: As the fight continues Curtis certainly hasn’t forgotten he has a large female audience that needs catering to. “Come & Go” finds him breaking down the art of a jumpoff over shrill strings, “Ayo Technology” is a continuation of Timbaland’s newfound techno phase that’s sure to be a hit in white strip clubs and “Follow My Lead” leans more towards the sentimental side.

Larry Merchant: *exasperated sigh* Killing, drugs and women. Come on 50, are you gonna show us anything else?

Jim Lampley: Kanye on the other hand has shown he’s a lyrical force to be reckoned with, spitting with fury on “Barry Bonds”. Overall he’s shown a good form with a high level of confidence exuded; if he can continue that he’s gonna cause problems for 50 Cent. However, he should be careful not to get too full of himself as the crowd is confused by “Drunk and Hot Girls”.

*Going into the 7th Round*

Jim Lampley: Harold, how do you score the bout after 6?

Harold Lederman: Well Jim, 40 – 36. Kanye West is ahead four rounds to two but it could go either way at this point. It might be a fight to the finish!

*Round 8 Bell Rings*

Jim Lampley: It’ll be a real test for 50 to see if he can maintain his face and stamina in the face of Kanye’s stunning swagger.

Larry Merchant: I think at this point all of those people counting on 50 Cent to win are a little bit nervous.

Jim Lampley: 50 Cent has been quoted recently as saying he thought Kanye West was a good producer and he left it at that, suggesting he didn’t consider Kanye a good rapper. Sage observers say he’s whistling in the dark, and that West’s skills have vastly improved over time.

Between sticking to his sing-song formula (“Amusement Park”) and “Dr. Dre” songs that sound like we’ve already heard them (“Straight To The Bank”) 50 runs the risk of falling behind on points. To his credit, few people thought that this fight could go to a decision in the wake of Kanye’s return but Curtis has held his own for the most part.

*Midway through Round 9*

Jim Lampley: 50 Cent has entertained the crowd with “Fully Loaded Clip” which juxtaposes Hip-Hop celebrities in love and his gun-toting, drug dealing grind…AND THE CROWD EXPLODES AT THE SYNTHESIZED SYMPHONICS OF “FLASHING LIGHTS”, KANYE WEST HAS COME OUT OF THE GATE FIRING SHOTS, 50 IS STUMBLING TRYING TO STAY ON HIS FEET.

Okay, Kanye has slowed down to a steady pace with the introspective “Everything I Am” and he’s gliding towards the finish line with “The Glory”. 50 is fighting back with the club banger “Fire”; “Peep Show” would have hit equally hard without the cheesy guest appearance from Eminem.

*Round 12 bell rings and the crowd explodes as 50 and Kanye come from their corners and touch gloves*

Jim Lampley: It’s been an exciting night of Hip-Hop, Jimmy Iovine and Jay-Z have to be pleased with their fighter’s performances tonight. The question remains: CAN KANYE SOLIDIFY HIS PLACE AT THE SEAT OF HIP-HOP’S THRONE?

50 opts to close out the fight taking it back to the streets sounding hungry like he did before he had a deal with “Curtis 187”, then he takes it back to the club with “Touch The Sky” (ironically the title of a hit single from his opponent’s critically acclaimed Late Registration.) Kanye delivers the heartfelt “Homecoming”, a tribute to his native land of Chicago and “Big Brother” paying homage to none other than the Big Homie Hovito himself

*Closing bell rings and the crowd stands cheering uproariously*

Larry Merchant: I’ve gotta say I expected better from 50 Cent, his performance tonight isn’t reflective of how one should defend their spot at the top.

Jim Lampley: Let’s go to Michael Buffer with the decision.

Michael Buffer: Ladies and gentlemen, here at the Young H Palace we go to the scorecards.

Young H out of Philly by way of New York scores the bout 116-112…

FOR THE NEW HIP-HOP CHAMPION OF THE WOOOOOOOOOOOORLD, KANYEEEEE WEEEEEEEEST

*The camera pans to Tony Yayo with a dejected look on his face*

Jim Lampley: Let’s go to Larry Merchant with 50 Cent.

Larry Merchant: 50, what went wrong? You came out here with a totally different intention from what wound up happening…

50 Cent: What do you mean? I gave it my best, he gave it his best. It wasn’t like he knocked me out, it was a good night for Hip-Hop.

Larry Merchant: The people seem to have spoken, and they prefer Kanye West. But Kanye himself has said you’re one of his favorite artists and he doesn’t want you to retire. Are you really quitting the game at this point?

50 Cent: I’m like this Larry, if the public demands another 50 Cent album they will get one. We’ll see, it’s too soon to say what the future holds.

Larry Merchant: Thank you 50, good luck. Jim, you’re with Kanye

Jim Lampley: Congratulations Kanye, it would seem you’ve made it at last. How does it feel?

Kanye: *cheesing big* I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN, WHEN EVERYBODY SAID I COULDN’T DO IT, I PROVED THEM WRONG. THANK YOU TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR, MY MAMA, JAY-Z, L.A. REID. CHI-TOWN WE HERE! WE ON THE MAP!

Jim Lampley: So what are you gonna do now?

Kanye: I’M GOING TO DISNEYWORLD! Nah I’m just playin, I always wanted to get on TV and say that though. Common just had a # 1 album, and as you can see I’m doing pretty well. We gon’ keep tryna bring yall G.O.O.D Music from now to infinity.

Jim Lampley: Thanks a lot, Congratulations again.

Folks, it’s been a star studded evening and a victory for Hip-Hop altogether. This is Jim Lampley signing off from the Young H Palace saying good night and thanks for watching.

(I rate Graduation @@@@ ½ and Curtis @@@@ ¼)

2007-09-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Support young folks making good Hip-Hop (Part 3)

Artist : Emoni Fela

Age: 16

Sounds Like : The future

Recent Project: Still Waitin' For The Bus

Background Information: I don’t know much besides the fact that she’s repping DC and advanced way beyond her years (as she puts it “i'm not ahead of my time.. you're just far behind on yours”), more cultured than people my age and can spit really well. I’m led to believe two of her biggest influences are Fela Kuti and Sista Souljah from what I gleaned on her page. The material I’ve heard deals with being a teenager, familial introspection, concerns of advancing Hip-Hop and the like.

I saw her perform a year ago at this event called "Can A Sista Rock The Mic?" and her sound has since advanced to be a little more experimental fusing a little bit of rock with her rhymes. Emoni was supposed to rock at the Red and Black bar in her hometown this past weekend but that whole evening went awry.

If you’re in DC you should already be up on game by now, as you can regularly check for her ripping stages in our nation’s capital, not to mention she’s traveled worldwide doing her thing. At this rate, Emoni Fela is destined to be one of a few restoring respect for female MCs, as the culture has largely become accustomed to viewing them as sexualized commodities.

A few songs I jacked from myspace. (I hope no one gets upset, but I enjoy sharing MP3s with people and I wasn’t able to find anything at my usual online haunts.)

2007-09-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Support young folks making good Hip-Hop (Part 2)

Artist: Danny!

Age: 24

Sounds Like: 1/3 Kanye West before he became famous (I know he hates that comparison but it’s true), 1/3 Lupe Fiasco if he didn’t take himself so serious and 1/3 nothing you’ve ever heard before

Recent Project: Danny is Dead EP – by far one of the freshest and most ambitious projects of the year.

Background Information: Danny Swain is a South Carolinian kicked out of college a few years back as the result of a grade changing scandal (this is addressed on “Clap Back”), he’s had a long running beef with some cat named Charlemagne, and has emerged from a battle with alcoholism to become a leader of today’s school. His introductions to the world were The College Kicked Out and F.O.O.D and while you were at home watching the 2007 Grammys, Danny was there (look between Justin Timberlake and the woman) because his album Charm was nominated for the Short List.

Danny is proof positive of the line that a true fan of all types of Hip-Hop walks. He’ll be putting out a project through Def Jux (as the winner of the label's MTVu affiliated Best Music on Campus contest) but he pays respect to his commercial peers shouting out Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, The Clipse and Papoose in his music, while never being anyone other than who he is. Once you listen past his soft spoken voice he’s very slick with a killer flow.

Further impressive is how Danny does everything on his own; aside from MCing he produces all of his own music, records, mixes, masters, clears samples, secures distribution, does all of his own promotions and so on.

A staggering amount of introspection coupled with battle rapping and a creative talent that’s constantly improving makes Danny one to watch out for.

Here's a collection of my favorite songs from Danny's discography.

2007-09-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Revisting The Massacre in preparation for Curtis

I had only played this album once when it came out. The anticipation at the time was too high, it had to be as good as Get Rich or Die Trying or I wasn’t trying to hear it. I spun it once then miscounted it as trash, but in retrospect it’s an extremely solid release. I’ll go as far as to say no songs are weak, it’s a 50 Cent/Aftermath album to the core (Dr. Dre sounding tracks/violence/party records/girl records etc.) In effect this will make me a lot more lenient when listening to the album that’s about to hit stores. The man has two undeniably good albums to his name and it isn’t fair to hold him to the standard of a debut borne from hunger and having a lot to prove. Ridiculous album cover aside, I give this album a @@@@ 1/2. I enjoyed it that much this time around.

2007-08-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

Support young folks making good Hip-Hop (Part 1)

As a famous drug addict once sang, "I believe the children are the future". Considering the aural equivalent of pork rinds and pig's feet that the present climate of radio feeds our youth, it's a wonder to find anyone under 25 influenced to make music that I'd find impressive. This mini-series is dedicated to shining a spotlight on youngins who I hope to see make a big difference in the scene.

Artist: Blu (pictured above him is his producer Exile)

Age: 24

Sounds Like: Nasty Nas pumped up after watching Rocky movies and listening to A Tribe Called Quest

Recent Project: Below The Heavens (what some are calling album of the year)

Background Information: Blu is a high school dropout on a divine mission to save souls and continue the legacy of dope music, while carrying Southern California on his back. He’s way ahead of his time, having created this album two to three years ago that’s leaving everyone in disbelief. What’s more astonishing is he just started listening to Hip-Hop and writing not long ago, and he already has skill that could land him a spot amongst the all-time greats. It seems to have been fate that he dropped an album like this for people like me who needed something to keep pushing them in the right direction. When the homie Donwill is excited at the prospect of working with you, you’re doing everything right.

Here is a collection of assorted songs featuring Blu that didn’t make his album.

(Yeah I've already talked about him twice in this blog, he's that serious.)

2007-08-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Consequence - Uncle Rahiem (Video)

from the highly slept on Don't Quit Your Day Job

2007-08-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

KRS One vs. Adisa Banjoko, Stanford University 2006

Last year a gang of esteemed artists, journalists, tastemakers and icons converged for The Artist is the Theorist: I Am Hip-Hop panel discussion on our culture. Plenty of knowledge was dropped from Dead Prez’s Stic Man, Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets fame, Boots Riley from The Coup and historian Davey D (If you happen to read this, we sat down and spoke at a Starbucks in Harlem a few years back thanks to Dove) amongst others.

The new class spoke with understanding and wisdom, while old schoolers Busy Bee and the Blastmaster KRS One really sounded lost and out of place within the context of today’s scene.
________________
Busy Bee on the difference between rap and Hip-Hop: We have a lot of good rappers out there. Young Jeezy , even Jay-Z (is not a Hip-Hopper) is a good rapper. (Busy must not have caught the “Can I Kick It” reference on "22 Twos", “I’m overcharging niggas for what they did to the Cold Crush” from “Izzo” or the line “Me myself and I on some Trugoy shit” from The Black Album’s My 1st Song)

To that I say: Hip-Hop is a noun, Rap is a noun and a verb. You get in the booth and rap, you’re a “rapper” plain and simple. You don’t Hip-Hop in the booth, you can live by your standards & ethics of what (real) Hip-Hop is, but at the end of the day you’re a rapper/MC (I guess I can agree with the idea that “MCs” care more about their craft than “rappers”) You’ve got it twisted if you don’t think Jay-Z is a MC just because he was about his business. His hustler facet accompanied by his slick way with words made him one of the best to ever do this.
__________________
As much as I respect Kris Parker’s status as a legend, he speaks “dumb shit” pretty fluent and it seems as if he’s fallen into the trap of believing his own hype as the clip at the end of this entry displays.

Quotables and related facts include:
“To be honest with you, fuck America… (it’s) not about asking the white man for nothing” (Show me the last time KRS-One wasn’t signed to a label owned by a white person)

Kris tried to go to visual arts school to learn graffiti and got mad because they didn’t teach it. That’s not “Hip-Hop”, you don’t go to school to hone a creative genius like breaking, writing rhymes, DJing etc. You get out there, apply yourself and make it happen.

Then came an inexplicable meltdown where he attacked cultural critic Adisa Banjoko, whom Kris felt personally slighted him by challenging his views in the press. KRS labels the man a FBI agent and enemy to the culture, physically threatens him and shortly thereafter follows that up with “I don’t deal with that, I have a declaration of peace”. Attempts at rationality were met with “Go talk with black folks somewhere else, this is Hip-Hop” as he was blinded by a self-realized delusion that he’s the representation of our culture.
_____________________
Busy Bee’s cosign of The Blastmaster’s lunacy shows just how far off base he’s become, as they suggest that to hold any relevance you had to have been there from jump.

“This discussion is about me…nobody in here is from the Bronx except KRS-One.”

Then he went so far as to nearly dis Busta Rhymes who started in the early ‘90s and has made a heavier impact artistically than he ever will.

KRS’ further ramblings
“If 50 Cent & G-Unit were here they’d put a gun to your backs.”

“Yall are having a conversation, this is our life. We live this, we don’t talk about it” – A panel should always respect its elders on deck, but you’re there to talk.

“You were not there when it started, I was” followed by “I’m not trying to separate myself” a few statements later.

“I came to the panel in the spirit of unity, I came to discuss Hip-Hop” followed shortly therafter by “I got the FBI behind me, I got the CIA calling me…I don’t have time to discuss this shit!”

“You can’t go to college then say you’re Hip-Hop, that don’t fly here.” – I mean…wow

“I’m not an artist…I’m an intellectual. I’ve written books…I’m a scientist, this is from empirical data that I’m giving you.”

Again, I respect KRS’ catalogue and hard work towards pushing people in the right direction, but this was a highly bizarre moment in time.

Related Links:
What I presume set KRS One off

KRS’ original response in writing

The clip from the panel

The Resolution

Finally, for the sake of comedy:

Busy Bee - “Suicide” – Big up Phonte for putting me onto this years back.

2007-08-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Elucid - Smash n Grab (mixtape)

If you're still sleep, Elucid is a beast who's down with the Loosie Music crew. Gravelly voice, abstract lyrics, hard spitting, he's one to look out for.

Smash and Grab (mixtape)

2007-08-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

Attainment:

Originally titled The Root Of All Evil, I made this for anyone out there on the paper chase. As fate would have it, I was perusing the beatmaker’s myspace page one day and The Lessondary came through in the clutch once again with the song that changed the name of the project (Track 2).

Attainment

I do this for yall, all comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Please stay tuned, by the end of the year I hope to put out:

I Could Still Get A B*tch Number (the sequel)
I Got A Story To Tell
Snap Music
Thank You Prince Paul (maybe, not quite sure on this one yet)