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.)

Consequence - Uncle Rahiem (Video)



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

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.

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)

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)

The Return of Shortie No Mas

Sunday August 12th she came up to this radio show that I co-co host.

What I learned:

Plug One is to blame for her never releasing an album (I knew that
already though)

She hated "In The Woods" from Buhloone Mindstate, to the point of
crying after recording it.

Her forthcoming project features production from J-Zone, 9th Wonder, Jazzy Jeff and Da Beatminerz.

She still has it, download this podcast and hear a dope interview along with a few new songs and a mean live verse.

Be on the lookout

Shortie No Mas on Myspace.

Andre Benjamin is for the children of the world

This fell way below the radar. The Class Of 3000 original soundtrack is to kids what The Love Below was to adults who’ve been through the wringer with relationships. Adults will marvel at Dre3000’s master musicianship as he fuses jazz, classical, Hip-Hop, blues, funk etc. into songs that kids can jam to. Young folks won’t pick up on the subversive messages that slip through the cracks (i.e. racial tolerance on “The Crayon Song” and selling out on “We Want Your Soul”) which makes for a kids album that spans the generational divide. Dre even manages to keep it relevant to Atlanta’s culture, with the characters exercising the city’s slang, phrases and accents. This is edutainment in its purest form.

Enjoy:

http://www.zshare.net/download/3034084d031cda/

The Roots - Instrumentals

A collection of delicacies from the mind of one Ahmir K. Thompson and the Grand Negaz. If you listen close, you’ll get the full range of intricate sounds attempted with each nook and cranny minus a emcee over these beats.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SIA67BX0

M-Phazes Is The Future

He's a producer out of Australia of all places. I've heard the name here and there, but this one song has made me a believer. One of the best songs I've heard all year from Median's very dope new Relief In The Making mixtape which you should have already downloaded at djlowkey.com

Kenn Starr featuring Median and M-Phazes - Back At It Again

http://www.zshare.net/audio/29473344767a8e/

http://www.myspace.com/mphazes for more

Tearing down the myth that “Return Of The Mac” is a good album.

On the music discussion message board of my choice there lies this notion that Prodigy just put out a worthwhile solo disc. The same Prodigy we loved on The Infamous, Hell On Earth, Murda Muzik*, HNIC, Free Agents**, Amerikaz Nightmare***; just because Mobb Deep dropped a stinker with the G-Unit affiliated Blood Money and he’s back spitting hard over Alchemist beats folks have deluded themselves into believing he’s still the one. I have a close listening, discerning ear and I don’t easily buy into dreams. Much like the way I want Nas to put out completely solid albums in this day and age and I’ve accepted the fact that he’s lost the ability, Bandana P barely cares about this rap thing anymore. I have a set formula for what makes a good song: good beat + standard verse + decent hook = good song. You take Nore and your expectations for him, if the beat and hook are cool then he made a good song. By this line of reasoning Prodigy hasn’t been living up to the bar that he previously set for himself, and that’s when you should hang it up as a MC.

Perhaps P has never recovered from a depression brought on by the SummerJam screen, maybe his well documented physical ailments have debilitated him from really focusing or he could just be going through the motions of trying to maintain street respect knowing at the end of the day he answers to Curtis. In any case, I’ve played this album he put out on “The Graveyard” twice or thrice and while I tried to convince myself it was hitting the first time, it became more underwhelming with subsequent listens. I’m giving it one more spin just to be sure it isn’t me who’s tripping.

The Rundown:

Return Of The Mac – He’s spitting very hard, but saying absolutely nothing. It seems like he put no thought into the verses, just running with Busta’s “New York Shit” rhyme scheme and talking tough. I can say why people would be so enraptured in the beat that they’d consider this a great song.

Stuck On You – The beat/sample is killer, 8 years ago P would have done damage to this. He was actually spitting on the second verse, although he could have done better than “I got big jumpoffs that fit down my pants leg”

Mac 10 Handle – Again it’s very hard, but very empty of substance or originality. Not to mention how much this sample has been used.

The Rotten Apple – Boring from the beat to the verses

Take It To The Top – The beat makes the song, the hook is pretty strong. But he isn’t saying much

7th Heaven – He started off the first 4 lines rhyming I’m feelin’ good with I’m feelin’ good. Uninteresting overall

Bang On Em – Good beat, the verses didn’t hold my attention

Nickel And A Nail – Okay he was spitting here, no complaints.

Legends – He killed it here too.

Stop Fronting – The hook is classic cocky Prodigy, but the verses were kinda blah.

In sum I likely wont be revisiting this album again. Alchemist came through for the most part, but my ears say Prodigy mailed his performance in.

* - I don’t have a substantive verdict on this album, I played it like twice. But everyone loves it.

** - Criminally underrated

*** - The last time they really put their heart into it as a group.

Camp Lo is officially my favorite group of all time (3 new songs)

ATCQ will always hold the throne as my personal greatest rap group of all time (maybe I’ll do an entry on it soon), but Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede are my favorites. The first time I saw the video for “Cooley High” my mind was blown and when “Luchini” came out I knew I was buying Uptown Saturday Night the day it dropped. Cheeba has the voice, Suede has the lyrics and they always combine forces for abstract pieces of soulful wonderment.

If you missed their solid sophomore effort Let’s Do It Again, stop sleeping and go hunt it down. Last year they put out the Fort Apache mixtape (on ITunes I believe) and have recently dropped Black Hollywood. This winter they will be releasing a whole new album Another Heist under Ski Beatz’ company Redefinition Records and if you’ve heard the stellar “Trip For Two” you know it’s going to be crazy.

The 3 songs I’ve put up:
Soul Fever has that John Travolta Saturday Night Fever pointer finger in the air flavor, like Q-Tip said “the beat feels like a never ender”(off of Black Hollywood)

Sweet Claudine is a tale about a black girl lost, listen to the strings. It’s nothing short of beautiful (off of Black Hollywood)

I Couldn’t Care Less could be a club banger, about lost love (off of Fort Apache)

http://www.zshare.net/download/2875041322213d/

Black Hollywood is available now on Traffic Entertainment/Good Hands Records

Ski Beatz - Beatz, Rhymes and Samples

If you dont know the name Ski Beatz by now, you've been living in a cave the past decade. He's responsible for classic work by the likes of Jay-Z, Camp Lo, Sporty Theivz, and Pacewon's "I Declare War" amongst other bangers. This is a compilation of his career's highlights and samples he used done by JNOTA and DJ Raize, two good dudes I came up through some bulls**t with. Ski still has it nowadays, proven by this heart breaking Jean Grae joint on here.

Enjoy:
http://www.zshare.net/download/28021167239888/

Xzibit - 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz

I discovered this album in late 1998 by browsing the legendary Davey D's forums. It was all everybody was talking about, so I went out and copped it. There are a few cheesy joints but plenty of heat ("Chamber Music", "What U See Is What U Get", "Handle Your Business", "Focus", "Deeper", "Los Angeles Times"), and "Shroomz" was where I discovered the infamous "Funky Worm" sample. Lyrically Xzibit was focused and killing it, before he got the wack car detailing show on MTV.

http://www.zshare.net/download/2736028807461b/

The Knock (Unofficial Mix)

No concept that took much thought here, the essence of a hip-hop "banger" is the drums for me. This is just a collection of tunes and instrumentals I dig primarily from the mid-late '90s era, if you scrunch up your face or risk neck injury then my job is done. This is a mini Dilla tribute of sorts but there is heat from plenty of other sound providers.

Enjoy and leave comments.

http://www.zshare.net/download/27157796fc1bbd/

Skyzoo, Torae and DJ Premier need to form a group together

These two songs display incredible chemistry on the part of all three.
Skyzoo is a great street rapper with a dash of intelligence, I'm late on the bandwagon but he's been grinding it out for a few years now and will be dropping a new mixtape Corner Store Classic in the coming days. Torae shows great promise as well and I look forward to discovering more of his work.

"Get It Done" and "Click" http://www.zshare.net/download/2708107a761814/

Skyzoo's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/skyzoo
Torae's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/dayoungvet

Count Bass D – Dwight Spitz

Repping Nashville, TN Count Bass D is quite possibly my favorite slept on artist in the game. For over a decade now he’s held his own behind the boards (producing with machines and playing instruments) and on the mic. Anyone worth their weight in underground Hip-Hop is already aware as he carries family ties with the honorable MF Doom, J Rawls and other underground acts. This album features guest appearances by Doom, Edan, J Rawls, Rayna Shine (she’s ill, trust me) and Dionne Farris amongst others. Count’s rapping is a bit of an acquired taste to be deciphered but he kills it. His beats? Forget about it, next level. My boy Squeeg put me on to this when it came out (in 2002 I believe) and I’ve been a diehard fan ever since.

http://www.zshare.net/download/2638725ed452ad

Cru - Da Dirty 30



One of Def Jam's last "Hip-Hop" albums before they started chasing trends and/or letting Jiggaman and DMX carry them on their shoulders. "Pronto", "Just Another Case" and "Bubblin'" had New York radio on fire in the summer of 1997. Yogi, Chadio and The Mighty Ha brought it hard (no one else would dare sample Sade on a song about their "everlovin' bitch"), kept it true to the city's heart (we haven't heard Antoinette since) and just delivered a comedic smorgasbord full of bangers. It's a shame they never came back out, last i heard Yogi was down with Diddy's Hitmen team of producers.

http://www.zshare.net/download/2580949c5d9ef7/

An Open Letter To Talib Kweli

As a diehard fan you’ve thrown me for a loop for what has been nearly the past decade. I wont pretend to know every word of “The Manifesto” but when Black Star jumped off I was all the way on board. Everyone preferred Black Dante, but aside from his show stealing thunder on “Thieves In The Night” I always felt you held your own, even preferring you as my favorite half of the duo. Reflection Eternal? Forget about it, Train of Thought was pretty much heat all the way through. People claimed you were too commercial with “Waitin For The DJ” but it was a soulful club banger and I loved Quality ("Wont You Stay" is my second favorite Hip-Hop love song of all time) “Get By” is recognized as a universally certified classic at this point (the remix with Busta and Jay-Z did wonders) and your appearance on College Dropout’s “Get Em High” introduced you to an audience who was still sleeping and only knew you as “the nigga who did Get By”.

You were on the cover of XXL with Dave Chappelle, and Jigga’s infamous co-sign on “Moment Of Clarity” made the world stand on its ear. You were next in line to break through to the mainstream, already receiving the respect of heads in the know and working with commercial acts that were renowned for their artistry. What happened? I know of the well publicized Geffen debacle, but there’s no defending some songs on The Beautiful Struggle, that was your Nastradamus. For ’05-’06 you fell out of my good graces, releasing forgettable mixtapes and collaborating with “hard” rappers in hopes of expanding your audience. Although I’ve never been too tough on Strong Arm Steady, the Jean Grae & MF Doom affiliations have been a great look. Nonetheless I had written you off as a dude who had lost his hunger and traded integrity for a piece of shine (see: Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Nas on “You Owe Me”). Liberation dropped and I was intrigued enough to listen, happy that one half of Black Star still cared enough to attempt making a difference in music. You regained some of the lost love here, as this was a pretty thorough release.

Which brings me to the point of writing this: Your legion of fans are awaiting the forthcoming Eardrum and early hype from the press says you’re back stronger than ever. Can the once mighty champion of “real” Hip-Hop return to his roots, moving people to the light now that he’s nearly a household name? The answer is a resounding yes as you’ve come into your own with your most focused and complete effort in years. The soul is back in your music, no longer are you trying to make songs that can spin alongside G-Unit (“Back Up Offa Me”) or leaving your lane hopping in the Delorean to the future (“We Got The Beat”). Your craft has gone to levels previously unseen, managing a UGK collab that doesn’t sound like a New Yorker pandering to the South’s present reign on “Country Cousins” and "Soon The New Day", a tale of pulling women featuring Norah Jones sensually killing it over a Madlib beat. This is masterful achievement of things that just shouldnt go together on paper.

The album is a return to your roots without sounding like you’re stuck in the ‘90s as “Hostile Gospel” is one of the best songs in your catalogue to date, with Just Blaze incorporating classical music and the black church into his standard knock and you coming back for the people who need your message most. Then you even proceed to take it a level deeper and criticize religion from a worldview on “Hell”, this is topic material extending past the outer reaches of “I’m real Hip-Hop to the core.” However, avid supporters of that facet will be more than pleased as “Say Something” is lyrical murder with Jean Grae, Pete Rock produces “Electrify” (reminiscent of the late great Dilla’s classic soul phase) and KRS-One appears on “The Perfect Beat”. Never one to exclude the ladies, “In The Mood” finds Kanye meshing Roy Ayers with the subterranean, while Will I Am takes it to the clubs (all the while not sounding fluffy) on “Hot Thing”.

I’m glad to see you’re operating on all cylinders and having fun doing you once again rather than trying to fit a label-driven mold. Eardrum has heat for the streets, as well as Hip-Hop purists and anyone in between. Man, woman and child alike seeking to zone out, nod their heads, think and elevate will assuredly be moved by this work of art.

Signed,
Young H

P.S. – That “I don’t make music for my fans” rigmarole you said on The Roots website a few years back was cockamamie jive talk. On behalf of your sometimes fickle fan base, I thank you for this album. Now, stop toying with our emotions and stay at it like this. Blacksmith, keep it rocking.

Struggle & Swagger

Backstory: Maybe a year or so back, our fearless hero (always in search of creative inspiration) said to himself “I’m going through some things, let me put together some music for when I’m stressed out.” His problems weren’t that immense and his self-confidence always helped him pull through, thus Struggle & Swagger. It was just a working title that was scrapped, but then 2007 started kicking his ass in ways unimaginable.

What happens when:
- Your funds are low, you can barely pay your bills and there’s nothing in the fridge you really wanna eat.

- You’ve been waiting 2-3 weeks for this job to call you back with a start date, doubting if you’ve actually even been hired.

- It’s summer, you’re in a hot apartment with no AC and a fan would be a luxury.

- Your ex (who used to be one of your best friends) is coming at you with that “C. Grizz 9 to 5” fuck you attitude, because you’re not busting your ass to make her happy POST BREAKUP.

amongst other setbacks and disappointments you’ve experienced this year?

You go back to the drawing board

Typically I feel anything over 16 songs borders on overkill, so the original plan was to do 8 songs encompassing struggle and the other half swagger. But then all of that above and then some happened, so it’s 75% struggle and 25% swagger these days.

This is for anyone out there presently going through trying times. Let go of fear and keep pushing, we’re gonna make it.

http://www.zshare.net/download/25469394064b1a/

Shadowman: Miami's best MC that you probably havent heard.

Shadowman is from the south but he spits like a New York vet, and he stole the show on DJ Spinna's Beyond Real Experience Volume 2.

I was saddened to discover he just came home from a three year bid, which explains his absence all of this time.

http://www.zshare.net/download/24898759f609b5 - Three of his best songs: "Breathe", "My Style" and "Rap Shit".

For more, direct yourself to http://www.myspace.com/shadowman

Black Milk: Popular Demand - @@@@ 1/4
Phat Kat: Carte Blanche - @@@@ 1/4

It has been a little over a year since legendary track wizard Jay Dee departed the physical plane, leaving a void that wont be filled in not only his home city of Detroit, but Hip-Hop’s culture altogether. In his absence various unreleased recordings have surfaced, but soon will come the point when the last of Dilla’s seemingly endless work will be heard. While a handful of friends and affiliates have sworn to uphold the legacy, “The D” has the heaviest weight on its shoulders. Black Milk and Phat Kat have presently chosen to carry the torch, with their respective releases Popular Demand and Carte Blanche expected to reflect the soul and gutters of the Motor City.

Black Milk has followed in Dilla’s footsteps, wearing the hats of MC/Producer while equipped to make both look easy. Having started out behind the boards for Slum Village, he released the slept on Sound of the City in 2005 and has gone on to produce for the likes of Pharaohe Monch, Lloyd Banks and Canibus while still in his early 20s. Although influenced by Jay Dee, Black Milk’s hyper-soulful style of production is one that only he can lay claim to. Even more impressive is his confidence behind the mic; while Black has established a buzz for his beat making acumen, he wants equal respect for spitting as he takes a relentless approach with his lyrics. Popular Demand’s lead single “Sound The Alarm” (featuring Guilty Simpson) serves as a warning call that he’s arrived to stake his claim and the album doesn’t fail to shine light on the rest of his family from the 313, as he celebrates how far he’s come with Phat Kat on “Lookatusnow” and reunites Slum Village’s Baatin, T3 and Elzhi for the raucous “Action”. Black Milk defies convention with “U” as he manages the rare feat of making a love song that knocks without sounding soft., conversely “Three + Sum” breaks down the art of the ménage a trois without straying from his trademark sound. James Yancey would be proud as Black Milk fully espouses what some would see to be the contrasts of material flossing while keeping his art authentic.

Phat Kat is possibly the most monstrous MC to ever bless a Dilla cut, having long ago established his reputation for classic collaborations such as Welcome To Detroit’s “Featuring Phat Kat” and the “Dedication To The Suckers” 12 inch. Carte Blanche is more of the same as he holds onto the “If it aint broke…” adage for dear life. Diehard fans of Dilla and Phat Kat’s chemistry will take a welcome ride to the future with “Cold Steel” and “Nasty Aint It”, while “My Old Label” is an uncut raw banger and “Don’t Nobody Care About Us” has already come to be considered one of their quintessential works together. Black Milk (considered by many to be the next best thing out of Detroit) holds down production and vocally guest stars alongside T3 on the sinister “Danger”, and also comes strong behind the boards on “Cash Em Out”. Phat Kat’s primary drawback is he limits himself to battle raps (“I’m better/harder than you.”) or discussion of being a rapper (“F*ck a major label, I’m independent now.”) With even the sensual “Lovely” being based around meeting women at shows, there seems to be a lack of creative inspiration at hand with his verses. Vocally Phat Kat explodes on each track as if it’s the last time he’ll be heard but he lacks wit while riding his one trick pony, so he may need more diverse topic material to hold an audience’s attention in the future.

Detroit continues to blaze trails through the underground with Popular Demand and Carte Blanche. Black Milk is steadily grinding, rumored to be doing collaborative albums with Sean Price, Pharaohe Monche and West coast up and comer Bishop Lamont, while Phat Kat will likely be blacking out as long as there’s a mic present for him to rip. Here’s to the Dirty D’s further prosperity in representing its heart, struggle and pain through Hip-Hop.

Black Milk's Popular Demand is out now on Fat Beats Records
Phat Kat's Carte Blanche is out now on Look Records

My first time on the radio

http://tinyurl.com/2od59l

stay tuned...

Two Recent Heaters from Jazze Pha

Jazze Fizzle/Fenzell or whatever you call him has been kind of spotty the past few years, but he killed it with these tracks.

Young Dro: Fresh (listen past the drawl for how this man puts his words together) http://tinyurl.com/2a8m4s

Rick Ross: For Da Low - http://tinyurl.com/ypqd9x

Elzhi - Boomerang Slang

This was serious heat from his Witness My Growth mixtape.

http://tinyurl.com/23p8pb

There's only 1 week left

I wont go on and on about how this album has changed my life, because it totally might not have the same effect on you. But only a few select albums (Muddy Waters, Operation Doomsday, and Midnight Marauders) have gotten this much endless spin from me. I already know some of the songs verbatim and I still get amped every time I hear them. This has been my saving grace this spring, being played at least once a week if not more. Blu is a beast on the rhymes, Exile is a beast on production and this album is an experience to behold. I cant nearly afford to buy music right now, but I might purchase this anyway for the sake of supporting.

Here's a track by track rundown of the advance copy with ratings

1) My World Is - An introduction on who he is, what he's here to do and why he's here to do it. The "Blu...blu...my woooorld is blu!" sample is killing. - @@@@ 1/2

2) Simply Amazin - Murderous battle rapping, attacking the mic with reckless abandon. Boom bap heaven - @@@@@

3) Juice n Dranks - Blu and Ta'Raach (aka C.R.A.C. Knuckles) exchange heat over a laid back beat. This is cool, but not outstanding. - @@@@

4) Cold Hearted - An introspective winner about tough times he's seen with his family, the soulful singing of Miguel Jontel brings it all together wonderfully. It's a bit hard to understand what exactly his rhyming is about, it requires a close listen. - @@@@ 1/2

5) Good Life - A song about struggling towards betterment through the tough times. I can relate heavily to the first verse. - @@@@ 1/2

6) Blu Colla Workers - Again I can relate to balancing life, women and the work grind. Upsetting a woman because she feels like you arent doing enough? Yeah I relate. Amazingly enough this could work at a "backpack" party, it has somewhat of a club kind of vibe to it. - @@@@ 1/2

7) I Am - One of 2007's best Hip-Hop songs, period. The beat is a light piano but boy does it knock and the way Blu structures his verses with the vocal sample is nothing short of amazing. He breaks down his life as a man, as a person, as a MC, and all other facets not to mention shouting out De La Soul and naming books from The Bible. Wait until they namedrop where the sample comes from (listen close to the verses when the beat changes) - @@@@@

8) Dancing In The Rain - I always liked this song but DonDub (for the two shoes) made me an even bigger fan. An anthem for pushing on and holding your head through life's struggles. The guitar is beautiful - @@@@@

9) Party Of Two - As a man, I dont want to hear that many "girl" records from such a talented dude. But I can relate to lusting after someone, recently even. His rhymes were still on point and the beat is hitting. - @@@@ 1/4

10) No Greater Love - Forget about it, cancel Christmas. This song knocked Talib Kweli's "Wont You Stay" from the top spot as my favorite Hip-Hop love record of all time. I cant even put into words how this record affected me. The beat and rhymes came together on some personal earth shattering shit. - @@@@@

11) The Narrow Path - An anthem for every underdog out there. You wanna talk about knock? You wanna talk about spitting? - @@@@@

12) In Remembrance - Heavenly introspection, you cant listen to this without smiling. - @@@@@

13) First Things First - Another girl record, on some honest courting shit. It's cool, but again not exactly what I want to hear from him. - @@@@ 1/4

14) Soul Amazin - Again, it's hard to talk about a song like this without overhyping it. Donwill said it took him back to the first time he heard "It Aint Hard To Tell". This is beautiful though - @@@@@

15) Life Is A Gamble - This is strong, but it's hard to follow some of the other songs that are on the album. - @@@@ 1/2

16) The World Is - He pays tribute to Nas and Pete Rock, and sets out to save souls. A very strong closer breaking down the concept of the album's title. - @@@@@

Update: Peamobile just informed me that it drops July 31st, but it'll still be on Itunes next week. As well "Party of Two" and "Life Is A Gamble" arent making the final cut. All of that aside, cop it or regret sleeping later. You have no right to complain about the state of Hip-Hop when albums like this exist, this takes you back to the era of complete efforts on the part of rapping and prodction. This will likely be my #1 LP of 2007 and it's already landed a place in my personal all-time top 10.

Binky Fingers - Where's Calvin?

This was the unofficial follow-up to Little Brother's The Listening. Largely produced by 9th Wonder, Khrysis and Big Dho, this album spread through small circles of those in the know around 2003. He kind of came from nowhere and dropped this without much of a backstory at all, but the picture above puts rest to rumors that he was a Phonte/9th Wonder alter ego.

Binky Fingers is brilliant and hilarious once you give him a few close listens. You've never heard a MC like this, he sounds kind of like a combination of both members of Heltah Skeltah minus the violence and with a lot more humor.

This has to be the only Hip-Hop album with jazz scatting in a hook ("Hey Binky"), and wait until you hear Phonte's New Edition/BBD tribute on "Ladies Man". The skits are nothing short of great comedy as well.

I'm on the hunt now that I know he put out a mixtape in '04, and he's scheduled to resurface with a new album this year. For now, enjoy this gem.

The album - tinyurl.com/2bpamc

His myspace pages - http://www.myspace.com/binkyfingerslazarus http://www.myspace.com/lazarusbinkyfingers

Quincy Jones - Back On The Block (Revisited)

This was one of my favorite albums as a kid, in 2 years it will be 20 years old and for my ears it's timeless.

What does it have to do with Hip-Hop?

1) The opening title track has Melle Mel, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane who all killed their verses but Kool Moe Dee stole the show from everyone. The beat faded and he blacked out with

AN EVERLASTING OMNIPRESENCE
IS MY PRESENT
STATE OF BEING SEEING
THE UNPLEASANT

2) Jazz Corner Of The World - A mini rap lesson on a few jazz legends by Moe Dee and Kane. The vintage late 80's fast rap flow and actual samples of the artists they're running down, combined with the song "Birdland" that follows makes for an incredible experience.

Outside of Hip-Hop, this album had gems like Tevin Campbell's "Tomorrow" (when the saxophone solo and the choir comes in, FORGET ABOUT IT) which could motivate people 50 years from now, and the super adult "The Secret Garden" with Al B. Sure, James Ingram, El DeBarge, & Barry White which surely got your aunt's panties dropping back then.

Quincy Jones embraced the youth's popular culture, while blending many genres into cohesive excellence with this one.

tinyurl.com/2lrwjd

Early Candidate For Mixtape of The Year (No, not Kanye West)

Money back guarantee you'll never want to hear 'Ye, Camron and Consequence over "Gone" again (well you're getting this for di free, but you get what I'm saying)

Classic beats, great rhymes, DJ Premier's standard curmudgeon routine, you cant go wrong here.

Enjoy:
tinyurl.com/yoxnt5

Soundtrack To A Summer Fling

http://tinyurl.com/2k53x4

Enjoy and leave comments

(Track 8 made this the perfect cover)

Soundtrack To A Summer Fling - Liner Notes

For anyone who has ever heard or received a mix from me, a secret is I get my inspiration from autobiographical experience. Whatever I’m going through at the time, I try to organize and sequence a bunch of (good) songs around the topic. I do it to put people on to new music they haven’t heard and take them back to a good feeling when they heard older classics. For everyone who asks when something new is coming, if there’s nothing going on with me wont have a CD to make.

So far it’s gone like this (the better ones)

A Love Story (summer ’05) – detailing the rise and fall of my relationship at the time

I’m A Get A Bitch Number Tonight (fall ‘05) – Me getting back on the scene hollering at women

The Coldest Winter Ever (winter ‘06) – I got royally shitted on and heartbroken as soon as I tried to rebound.

All Praises Due (fall ‘06) – At a point where I felt the need to improve my ongoing relationship with the creator.


Soundtrack To A Summer Fling was made at a point where me and someone new just started digging each other a little while back. I went for two themes here, feel good music and exploring the (not so) innocence of getting to know someone for what may be a temporary thing. If you pay close attention there’s a beginning, a middle where things heat up and an ending.

How It All Came To Be: Really Blu & Exile’s “No Greater Love” is responsible for this project. I was shaken to the core by how ill the album Below The Heavens was at the same time I started interacting with the inspiration for the project. From there I scraped my my memory banks for songs that fit the mood, and came upon the PERFECT cover (you’ll understand in a minute) and solicited drops. One or two songs kind of lean more towards the female side, but it’s mostly good music that anyone with soul can dig.

Trial and Error: I scrapped a few songs - Che Grand’s “Trainspotting” was originally the opening song after the intro from its producer. “All My Time” by Paid & Live featuring Lauryn Hill was replaced by Count Bass D’s “False or True” which is way more flavorful. Little Brother’s “Nobody But You” was on the original draft, but that was a little more serious than what I was going for.


In sum: I’m not a “DJ”, don’t expect any incredible blends or scratching here but I think the songs flow well into each other if you play this without the annoying 2 second delays between tracks. I hope your summer is filled with love (you don’t have to be in love to have love for someone), fun and peaceful times with your newfound prospect or already existing significant other.

Move over, Doug E. Fresh



Cameron Giles is officially the world's greatest entertainer

How the mighty have fallen



i cant cop his album now

Edan and Skillz Ferguson - Fake Live Show

Edan: Cares about this Hip-Hop thing more than you and your favorite MC could ever hope to, the embodiment of upper echelon emceeing.

Skillz Ferguson: The other half of the best tag team duo you've probably never bothered to check for.

Witness what happens as they simulate a show for a crowd comprised of vocal sound effects.

www.sendspace.com/file/lo0i3m

Can it be that it was all so simple then?



Camron might be getting kicked out of Dipset today, this commemorates one of their greatest moments captured on film.

Sa-Ra – Style over Substance since 2004

For the past few years music enthusiasts have been looking for a reprieve from the mundane songs shoved down our throat by the radio. People have developed a sort of complex, where in looking for the “new” shit they will accept anything as good so long as it’s different. Sure someone has to break ground for any true impact to be made but what if it doesn’t sound like much? In my parents’ heyday there was nothing like Parliament Funkadelic, but at least they seemed to have some kind of a concept of what they were doing. The past few albums Outkast has picked up the reins of going left field and against the grain, but a lot of their music sounds like something.

Around 2004, MP3s began floating around of a demo from this group Sa-Ra (Creative Partners), the “cool” kids jumped right aboard questioning nothing while the sensible of us were like “Wait, these n*ggas just sound weird. This is what all the hype is about?” Then came the accompanying visuals, their dress code said “Look at us dare to take different to a whole new level” and anyone with a normal wardrobe checking for artists whose music stands out more than their clothing was probably thrown for an even bigger loop. Then Kanye West signed them to G.O.O.D Music and the buzz really skyrocketed, with ‘Ye being quoted as saying something to the effect of “I wasn’t gonna miss out on the next shit”. So being the unpaid blogger that I am, I wasn’t going to miss out on the chance to laud or trash their official debut The Hollywood Recordings since they’ve nearly eased their way to mainstream exposure.

1) Seagulls Intro – It’s alright, kind of electronic and non-descript @@@@

2) Hey Love - A Prince fanatic or a trendy chick would probably like this, but it’s not impressive like that - @@@ ½

3) Glorious* – This was the song my trendpals were gushing over 2 ½ years ago. I wasn’t impressed then and I’m still not. It actually sounds like a joint DJ Spinna did called “Intergalactic” if I’m not mistaken- @@@

4) So Special – This actually sounds like something, even though the melody in the production and vocals has Michael Jackson all through it. - @@@@

5) And If – This is alright, nothing special though - @@@ ½

6) Rosebuds – This was also on the demo from some years back. It’s pretty catchy. - @@@@

7) Feel The Bass* - I don’t know if this is supposed to be to 2010 what Planet Rock was to the early 80’s but this sounds like an experiment gone bad. Kweli probably did this for the check. - @@@

8) Not On Our Level – Their attempt at making a “jeep banger”. Nore’s verse is laughably bad if you ever enjoyed The War Report. - @@@

9) White (On The Floor)* - A hot mess designed to make you look cool in a Miami or New York club - @@@

10) Bitch* – This is about “Sa-Ra” as Sa-Ra gets. Everything I feel is wrong with this group is contained in this song. – I won’t even rate this one

11) Do Me Gurl – This is a heater even though it sounds weird. Maybe it’s the Pete Rock/The Words and Why drums. - @@@@

12) Ladies Sing – The lyrics are whatever, but the old school doo-wop vibe is kind of cool. - @@@@

13) Sweet Sour You – Also on Bilal’s never released sophomore effort Love For Sale. It’s really a @@@ ½ but B’s vocals take it to a @@@@

14)Tracy* – See what I said for Track 10. This was the song that officially made me include the * qualifiers.

15) Fly Away* – More weirdness featuring Erykah Badu - @@@

16) Lean On Me – Someone told Kurupt “Yo you gotta get with these cats they’re the future” or like Kweli he wanted a check. - @@@

17) Fish Fillet – If there was ever the myth that Pharaoh Monche can make your song better, this disproved it. - @@@1/2

18) Thrilla – This is a banger, Dilla went in with a vintage appearance. - @@@@

19) Hollywood (Redux) – One of the best songs on here, if they went this direction instead of trying to be pimped out fashionistas I would fuck with them a lot harder. This is them doing what works for them, a slow soulful groove. - @@@@ ½

That makes 7 out of 19 songs that I’m checking for, throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks doesn’t impress me. They need to produce for other artists and really carve a niche that’s all of their own or else they’ll wind up being the spaced out version of the Trackmasters.

If you need substantive proof of how weird they are, read any article you come upon.

*(If you like these songs you’re probably a hipster asshole, no two ways about it.)

Still one of my favorite songs of the year



This song is the reason I want to hear 50's new album, it's short, sweet, mindless thug banter. He didnt even personally come at Cam that hard, but 50 is the king of entertaining dis records. Make sure to look out for Yayo dancing on the motorcycle like it's jihad with the scarf around his face.

I'm A Get A Bitch Number Tonight


Long story short: I make these compilations that tell the true story of some point in my life, I give them out to my friends who usually appreciate my song selection etc. I'll expound more in the coming weeks as the hype builds for Soundtrack To A Summer Fling , but this was the unofficial prequel because I never knew at the time that I would do STSF.

It was around Fall of 2005 that I decided to compile hip-hop classics about pulling women, since I was getting back in player mode and the radio just wasnt doing it for me. The title comes from a moment of swaggered up brilliance uttered by the homey Donwill before he starts his verse on Tanya Morgan's "We Be". Since it was his phrase I asked him to host it, basically starting the whole thing off with an intro. After that Labor Day weekend he humbly sent me back a whole intricate story like "let me know what you think" and history was made.

Me on the song selection/sequencing. Don on the skits (I didnt write a word or give any ideas, that's all him) guest appearances by Ilyas, Von Pea, possibly a few Tanya Morgan lady affiliates and Jaye Swigga with the diva in charge-esque freestyle. It's a universally revered project with good times and good music for all.

Enjoy and feel free to leave commentary:
tinyurl.com/2cvrt7

Large Professor Instrumentals b/w Count Bass D - 2006 Some Music Pt. 2

Large Professor hearkens back to the era where (like Posdnuos said on "Rock Co.Kane Flow") the producer's name didnt need to be said on the track. "It Aint Hard To Tell" is a classic and 8 out of 10 people that go crazy when this song drops dont know who made the beat. Why? Because Large Professor never had a trademark or a signature sound, he just stayed humble and hit you over the head all through the 90's without getting the props garnered to Pete Rock and DJ Premier. He was the only guest producer on a Tribe album ("Keep It Rollin'" from Midnight Marauders) before they bought Dilla into the fray with the formation of The Ummah. If you've never heard Main Source's Breakin' Atoms, I feel sorry for your soul. He's been fresh on the beats and rhymes since a youngin (reportedly maybe even producing a majority of Eric B & Rakim's early masterpieces). Anyone trying their hands at making a difference behind the beats and rhymes simulteaneously owes a world of homage to this man.

Large Professor Instrumentals - http://tinyurl.com/22l5th

Count Bass D has never neglected to mention the influence that the Extra P has had on his career as a MC/producer. A close friend of MF Doom, Count is one of the most talented yet least recognized producers doing it. I wont start controversy, but the way Madlib's biggest followers are about him is how I am about this man. This was a Japanese import project released over a year ago that most of the world hasnt been blessed enough to hear.

2006 Some Music Pt. 2 http://tinyurl.com/23j5vg

The top 5 reasons you should have downloaded Che Grand's Fixtape by now

5) You've never heard someone narrate their own project with this much charisma.

4) He's developed from a hardcore rapper into the full package in a few short years: Humor, instrospection, flow, raps for women, battling, etc.

3) His appreciation for music extends far past rhyming over whatever the hottest Hip-Hop instrumental of the moment is. He'll spit over 80's classics, disco, house, jazz, whatever you give him and make the track all his. It's one of the most unique aspects of his artistry.

2) He singlehandedly caused a shift in my project "Soundtrack to a Summer Fling" (coming 5/22, shameless plug). "Trainspottin" was originally on there, but it's been replaced by something on here

1) The Lessondary is the future, and you already know I dont big up anything that isnt hitting.

http://tinyurl.com/2cetg3

The only reason I believe Hip-Hop Is Dead*

Albums like this wont get 5 mics in the Source or a XXL, let alone a review (magazinesneedmetoletthemknowwhatsgoodvertisement)

I'll keep it brief, but Blu will make any MC who considers themselves "nice" want to step their game up. Mos Def needs to hear this album and go back to trying to be one of the best. The scary part is Blu is in his early 20's with skill that says he's been here before. Oh yeah, his partner Exile blessed the hell out of him with the beats too.

The artist is Blu, the album is Below The Heavens. If you've ever called yourself a fan of classic Hip-Hop and want an experience that moves you, dont wind up sleeping.This is my favorite part of being a diehard fan of this, once or twice a year someone puts me on to something that blows me away (shoutout to the homie Von Pea).The sad part is maybe 5,000 people will wind up hearing this when 5 million need to.

*I generally hate this term more than any pop cultured cliche reference that's floating around. The man who made the album with this title still wound up suffering from part of what's wrong with the game: He didnt set out to make a classic, he just kind of winged it and wound up with a few bangers on an overall decent effort. That was just a marketing scheme on his part (albeit a successful one), now everyone has run amuck proclaiming "HHID" (I cant even stomach to type out that acronym aside from the title of this entry). It's alive and thriving so long as I'm listening to greatness and I have people to put me on, so that I can put others on which hopefully allows the cycle to continue.

Dont allow yourself to be distracted by that last paragraph, you need Blu in your life.

Mini Reviews - I will be doing these sporadically when a lot of product drops around the same time.

DJ Soul – Assorted Donuts: A tribute to Dilla, a few decent blends of classic verses over some of the Donuts album. I’m not impressed enough to listen again. @@@ ½

Devin The Dude – Waiting To Inhale: This album is vintage Devin with his standard brand of comedy, raunch, weed, lovelorn tales, southern funk and soulful hooks. Andre 3000 kills his verse on “What A Job”. This further cements why Devin is one of my favorite rappers. @@@@ ¼

Redman – Red Gone Wild: 5 years after Malpractice and he hasn’t lost a step. Another entertaining Funk Doctor Spot trip featuring the usual cast of Chris Tricarico, DJ Say What, Nasty Naj, the stick up man and Soopaman Lova. @@@@ ¼

Prodigy – Return of The Mac: Diehard P fans wishing he was still the rapper of old will use this album to forgive the Blood Money tragedy. For my ears it’s mostly empty thug talk with P going through the motions rather than still trying to make me believe he means it. Alchemist’s production didn’t quite blow me away either. @@@ ½

Young Buck – Buck The World: While the album has more substance than I expected, he should learn that there’s more to making a strong song than a good beat with a crunk hook. The highlight of the album is 50 Cent’s “Funeral Music” (the Camron diss) as a bonus cut. @@@@

Rich Boy – Self Titled: He isn’t talking about much, but Polow made sure he received strong beats and altogether it’s a well done album. I’ve played it once and definitely plan on spinning it more in the future. @@@@ 1/4

The first and possibly only masterpiece of 2007

After three listens I still I don’t fully understand this album enough to do a proper review. But I'll Sleep When You're Dead finds El-P raising the bar to a level that I cant see being topped this year. I used to write him off as a noisy king of the backpackers, but now he’s incorporated actual melody into his chaos to marvelous results. Part B-Boy, part apocalyptic visionary, part cynical critic, this is what happens when (Cannibal Ox's) The Cold Vein wakes up from an almost 6 year coma angry and totally devoid of hope. El-P has rewritten the book on multi-layering and broken into his own as a full fledged composer, managing to bring artists like Cat Power and The Mars Volta (neither of whom I'd probably give the time of day) to perfectly fit in his world. Do not attempt to listen to this album if you aren’t ready for your head to be taken to a different place. It’s nothing short of hard work perfected into brilliance, and most other hip-hop will pale in comparison until it dares to push the envelope like this while simultaneously succeeding at sounding good.