Jay Smooth on Hip Hop Beef

Tornts - Lost Highway

Tasmania's own Tornts has just put out a new album, Hell's Burn. This is one of a couple of videos from his new stuff. He's rhyming lots more these days.



These are my favourite lines:

Fear and loathing in outer Melbourne
Sounding paranoid like Hunter Thompson
In a desert phonebooth
The Weasels are coming for me
Demon wings try to claw me

Genius.

This video makes me want to get an mpc

The song and the sample - Ghostface and The Delfonics

I love this Ghostface track, it's off The Pretty Toney Album.



Ghostface - Holla. He doesn't so much sample as just rap over the top of the complete song.



The Delfonics - La La Means I Love You

Holding down the blocks

This is awesome

20 Classic hip-hop covers recreated in Lego

(apologies if you've already seen it)

yeah, i don't like kanye west's music...

found this

i must confess i haven't heard many songs on the list but i'm down with the idea that rappers who can't sing, shouldn't

the most prominent rapper/singer of recent times is not on this list - cee-lo - and i don't like his music either. dangermouse should get back to producing mf doom (i do like his work on the new beck album though)

king tim

The song and the sample - Wu Tang edition

The song:



Hollow Bones - Wu Tang


The sample:



Is it Because I'm Black - Syl Johnson

I was sitting in a cafe earlier this year when they chucked on a Syl Johnson cd. It was great! It's been a bit of a gateway to soul for me. So many of his songs have been sampled over the years. RZA has definitely mined lots of gold from his albums. Another example is Different Strokes sampled on Wu Tang's Shame on a Nigga.

B.o.B - Autotune

Telling it like it is

Over the last month or so I've been listening almost exclusively to the Leaders of the New Cool mixtape. I've really enjoyed it and I haven't had the chance to talk to anyone about it yet so get ready for a spray.

The Knux remain a group worth checking out. You should buy their album Remind Me in 3 Days. So should I. Maybe you can buy it for me. ;)


I've tried out the Pacific Division before and been unimpressed but this time they totally won me over. They bring a Brand Nubian sort of style on the track Wake Up. More work needs to be done here.



B.o.B is cool. I'd seen his name floating around and never chased him up. Now I with I'd done it earlier. He's got something of The Teacher about him but is less preachy. He's just dropped a mixtape which I haven't listened to yet but that'll be my next port of call.



The Cool Kids are the most vacuous group in hip hop which quite possibly makes them the most vacuous group in music. Still, they've got their charm and 'Delivery Man' is enjoyable.


Some people laud Charles Hamilton as if he's the future of hip hop but I can't see it. He can be ok but is totally hit and miss.


I'd dismissed Mickey Factz before but this mixtape has given me some respect for him. When I listen to him I think of all that Kanye might have been. I don't think I'd get his cd but his presence on the 'tape is cool.


Tanya Morgan is a strange name for a group of three male rappers. I'm really into Tanya Morgan for Von Pea and I'd prefer it if Von Pea, Elucid and Spec Boogie teamed up as a group. Still, Tanya Morgan are worth a listen. Von Pea also has a mixtape for you to download.

race etc

i really wanted to add this song by akrobatik because i think its a really great sounding track

it is also notably quite a political song, dealing with african-american culture and its status in the u.s.. i was going to post it to tie in with the election (a tenuous link) but was a bit busy at the time

while i don't really feel qualified to comment specifically, i feel akrobatik makes some good observations, and points to great leaders in black history. specifically, harriet tubman, malcolm x, bob marley, nat turner, arthur ashe and martin (luther king)

so here's the track - check it out



full lyrics are here

king tim

the song and the sample

de la soul come from the era of sampling. by their own admission "sampling will never die for de la soul. there are too many unknown records, too many obscure records ... whether it be a be a jazz record or a sound effects record". they were one of the first acts to really go to town with the samples, with their first album '3 feet high and rising'. the fourth track 'cool breeze on the rocks' is entirely made up of samples with the word rock in the lyrics. and parenthetically, they were sued for the use of a particular sample, that in part led to the tighter regulation of sampling

anyway, de la soul have never been shy of bringing together dispirit elements of music into a hip hop format. this is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than on the title track to their 2004 album 'the grind date'. i remember when this song first came on the radio it just got me so pumped. the reason for this was it brought one of my favourite rap groups (de la soul) together for the first time with a favourite band from another sphere of music, '70s progressive rock, (yes)


>>>de la soul


>>>yes

i'd really got into yes through my dad's record collection, and knew the sampled song pretty well. it's called 'ritual: nous sommes du soleil' and forms the final part of the epic concept album 'tales from topographic oceans' based on a set of hindu scriptures. each track is a 20 minute piece comprising the entire side of a vinyl record. it's as awesome as it sounds



the mere fact that they managed to bring in this sample and make it work as a new track is amazing. de la soul, making something obscure and a bit geeky into a vital minor radio hit

so, here's the track (live, which does mean a bit of a loss in sound quality)



and, for your pleasure, the first part (less than half) of the sampled epic (also live)



do you have any other perfect song/sample combinations, where two of your favourite artists came together?

king tim

Mick Boogie - Leaders of the New Cool

It's been a while and I don't think I'll be posting regularly for a couple of weeks yet but here's something to keep you going.

Mick Boogie - Leaders of the New Cool

1. Mick Boogie - Intro
2. The Knux - Fire
3. 88 Keys - Bout To Bus
4. Treats Speaks…
5. B.o.B - I’ll Be In The Sky
6. Mickey Factz feat. Curtis Santiago - Automatic
7. U-N-I - Hollywood Hiatus (Cool It Now)
8. Charles Hamilton - It’s
9. Fashawn - Buyer’s Guide
10. The Knux - Bang Bang
11. Treats Speaks…
12. Fresh Daily & Homeboy Sandman - Swerve
13. Daytona & 6th Sense - Too Complex
14. Marky - Higher
15. Cool Kids - Delivery Man
16. Chip Tha Ripper feat. Naledge, Mickey Factz & Mic Terror - Next Up
17. B.o.B - Generation Lost
18. Tanya Morgan - Stay Cool
19. Charles Hamilton - Hell Boys
20. Treats Speaks…
21. Izza Kizza - Parking Lot Pimpin
22. Big Sean - Tomorrow
23. D-Black & Big Pooh - Top Of The World
24. Pacific Divison - Wake Up
25. Donnis - Dope Girl
26. Supreeme - Roni
27. The Knux - Cappuccino (Remix)
28. Nola Darling feat. Fresh Daily - Coco Rico

Back to the 80s

Another track has been leaked from 808s and Heartbreaks, and Kanye's not happy.

You can listen to 'Robocop' here

I've heard four tracks from the album so far, but I'm still not sure whether it's going to live up to the expectation that a Kanye West album now brings.One thing I haven't heard is any tracks from 50's new album. I found Curtis to be pretty disappointing. I'd be worried if I was 50. People have been stepping their rap game up. Kanye's been pushing the boundaries, Jay-Z has renewed vigour, Lil Wayne is in the form of his life, Game is coming out all heartfelt and emotional, Eminem is making a comeback, Ice Cube is back to gangsta rap... at this rate Dr Dre might even release Detox. But 50 kept doing the same old thing. It might still sell a few, but on the law of diminishing returns, he's going to lose sales if he doesn't do something to shake his performances up.

Lil Lil Wayne

Only in hip-hop?

"Lil Wayne announces son on the way, speculation on mother begins"

I just love that headline.

First impressions

The Passion of the Weiss has post on his impressions from the 808's and Heartbreak listening session. He's generally positive about it, reflecting on Kanye's new direction and how it will polarise his audience.

I think that if I'm going to listen to the album and not despise it I need to recategorise Kanye in my mind. He now lives in the same sort of zone as the Black Eyed Peas (although he's more extreme), hip hop tinged pop. Otherwise I'd judge it as hip hop and hate it.

Kanye West - Heartless

The singing and warbling continue with Kanye's newest single. How could he be so heartless?

Kanye West - Heartless

Eminem - I'm Having a Relapse

Of his new album Relapse. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It might as well be an Eminem Show era song.

Eminem - I'm Having a Relapse

Busta Rhymes - World Go Round

Busta Rhymes - World Go Round

Swimming in the mainstream

I don't mind a bit of mainstream gangsta pop rap. And Game does a pretty good job making a gangsta rap track with a poppy sound. Not quite as successfully as 50 Cent (or, painfully, Ja Rule), but Game has delivered a few crossover hits.

A friend gave me his most recent album, LAX, after they reviewed it for the newspaper. I've enjoyed listening to most of the tracks, even if he features more artists than songs. But the criticism that has always been leveled at Game is still in play here. Namely, that he drops waaaaaay too many names.

Let's have a run through of "Money", a track with a surprisingly cheesy and catchy hook.

Names dropped:
Kanye West (rapper)(in the first line)
Kobe Bryant (NBA basketballer)(indirectly)
Frank Lucas (70s drug kingpin, inspiration for American Gangster)
Baby (from Cash Money Records)
Slim (from Cash Money Records)
Pablo Escobar (Colombian drug kingpin)
LeBron James (NBA basketballer)
Shaquille O'Neal (NBA basketballer)
Flava Flav (rapper/reality tv star)(indirectly)
Deelishis (Flavor of Love 2 winner)
50 Cent (Game's old boss)
Snoop (fellow West Coast rapper)
Freddy Kruger (fictional serial killer)
Jason Voorhees (fictional serial killer)
Jacob (diamond salesman)
Dwight Howard (NBA basketballer)
Louis Vuitton (designer)
Alpo (Puerto Rican drug lord)
Martha Stewart (homemaking queen)
Tony Parker (NBA basketballer)

That's just in one song. And he doesn't really slow down at all for the rest of the album.

If you're looking for a great example of what Nick was talking about with the progression of rappers towards singing rather than rapping, track five, My Life feat. Lil Wayne, says it all. Wayne is there to sing the hook - the self-proclaimed 'Greatest Rapper Alive' doesn't provide a verse.

Black Milk - ELEC Mixtape

In preparation for his upcoming album. There's some great stuff on this tape with Busta, Pharoahe Monch and others as guests but Black Milk's flow is not totally doing it for me.

Black Milk - ELEC Mixtape

Rap's Post-Lyrical Phase

Brandon Soderberg has made a series of posts in reflection on Rap's Post-Lyrical Phase (pt II, III, IV). It's really interesting to see him trace through how rap lyricism has developed and think about the trend exemplified by Kanye and Weezy. It helps connect golden era fans with Kanye, Weezy and co. or at least understand the difference. Get your rap geek on.

Spec Boogie and Elucid Freestyle

These guys are just dope. I love the contrast between their voices.



The song playing at the start is 'Lessondary Nose' by Elucid, Che Grand, Spec Boogie and Von Pea. It's totally worth the listen.

The Knux interview

Check out this interview of The Knux with Jeff Weiss. They've got passion, creativity and lots of opinions and I like that. I'm looking forward to their album which is out 28/10.

Dancing with the stars

I thought Arab Money was pretty ridiculous to start with but the dance just perfects it. Now you need to video yourself doing the dance and upload it onto youtube.

Common - Universal Mind Control

You've come a long way Common. Off Universal Mind Control, due out 25/11.

M.O.P. and Sesame Street

A great combination. Also check out the remix video with Busta.

Elucid - Police and Thieves

This is a compilation of a bunch of songs released over the last few months by Elucid plus a few new ones. The quality is a bit mixed but Elucid is definitely worth checking for.

5 Things Naughty by Nature Have Given Us

thesmokingsection have just posted an article on Naughty by Nature. Good timing.

It's a set up by the feds they scoping us with they infrareds

My first cease and desist letter! Sorry Q-Tip for promoting your album.

Black Milk - The Matrix (ft. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price & DJ Premier)

Black Milk - The Matrix (ft. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price & DJ Premier)

Q-Tip live at Knitting Factory

If nothing else, watch from about 6:40 and see what happens when Busta hits the stage.


You can see the video for the original song here.

Taking it back - Naughty by Nature

I was listening to 19NaughtyIII this afternoon. I got it years ago for about $3 in a 2nd hand cd shop in Hobart. I've been listening to so much new music lately it was a relief to relax with something more familiar. Naughty by Nature seem to be largely forgotten these days but looking back, they had a pretty big impact in hip hop and had about a 10 year stretch (1989-1999) of doing great music.

Treach wrote Kris Kross' song 'Jump', Vin Rock is Mike Tyson's cousin and I don't know anything interesting about DJ Kay Gee. Treach was in the movie Juice (which was directed by a guy who directed some episodes of The Wire) along with Tupac and a bunch of other movies.

Check out my New Jersey playlist featuring Naughty by Nature, Redman, Outsidaz and The Fugees

Swimming in the Mainstream

Nick has been holding up this blog quite impressively, so I thought I should drop in to rep the mainstream a little bit.

I have not heard much from T.I. at all, aside from the occasional guest verse with Kanye, Destiny's Child and Justin Timberlake(!?). Anyway, here's a strange song he did with Rihanna, where he grabs the hook from the "Numa Numa" song that became famous on the internet a few years back - Live Your Life.

Surprisingly, his voice reminds me a bit of KJ-52, a (white) Christian rapper. I don't know much about T.I. apart from the occasional interview in XXL and the odd article online. I like what he tried to do with T.I. vs T.I.P., his alter-ego album. I don't know if it's worth checking him out much more, but the couple of songs I've heard, I reckon I could listen to his voice for a whole album.

Another thing I learned about T.I. that surprised me a bit is his close relationship with Eminem. Apparently Em's been giving him heaps of advice through all his legal troubles.

Mixtape Monday - GZA

J-Love and GZA have put this out to promote GZA's album Protools. It's like a best of, which when you're talking about GZA is pretty awesome. No one rips a final verse like him. This is pretty much an essential download.

GZA - Wordplay Master

The Knux - Bang Bang

• Try out Mixtube, create a playlist and post it in the comments. Or listen to mine.
• Download DJ Osk's Pete's, Rhymes & Life mixtape.
• What is Kanye West doing now?

Busta Rhymes - Arab Money

The song is ridiculous but at least it's more amusing than 'I Get Money' or 'Got Money'. I'm still no fan of autotune though. Apparently Busta left Interscope/Aftermath and is now with Universal Motown. The title of his album is back to B.O.M.B (Back On My Bullshit) after a spell as Blessed. It's set for Dec 9th which is the same date as 50 Cent.

Busta Rhymes - Arab Money

"I've got oil well money in the desert playing golf"

Mixtape Monday - Young Rap Mixtape

Sach O at ohword has put together a mixtape of mostly next generation mcs for your listening pleasure. These are his picks of the year. Ignore the cover art and check it out.

Young Rap Mixtape

1. The Cool Kids – 88
2. Kidz in the Hall ft The Cool Kids, Pusha T, Bun B & El-P – Drivin Down the Block (Mix)
3. FKI – Iggy Fresh
4. Pac Div – F.A.T Boy
5. The Roots ft Wale – Rising Up
6. UNI – K.R.E.A.M
7. Mickey Factz ft Skyzoo – Incredible (Mix)
8. The Knux – Cappuccino
9. B.o.b – Grip Yo Body
10. Mickey Factz ft The Cool Kids – Rockin n Rollin
11. Lil Wayne ft Fabolous – You ain’t got Nuthin
12. Kid Kudi ft Wale – Is there any Love
13. Jay Electronica – Retro Electro
14. Wale ft Bun B & Pusha T – Back in the Go Go
15. Lupe Fiasco – Paris Tokyo
16. AC – Freestyle
17. Elzhi ft Fat Kat – The Reason

Al Green samples + Wu Tang = Happiness

Jeff Weiss got to interview Al Green the other day. He also posted a list of Hip Hop's Greatest Al Green Samples and on his blog put up a few of his songs with their hip hop debtors.

Kanye back to 50

"I just woke up from a quick studio nap… I’ve been workin’ on 808s and Heartbreak about 16 hrs a day and Superman passed out for a little bit… I’m in hawaii but I’m still on NY time so I wake up mad early, do some business, blog, jog for an hour, play ball, eat and then hit the stu by noon. While approving the final cut for the Love Lockdown vid, I marvel at the fact that it was written less than 3 weeks ago. I’m very excited about the everything… I guarantee this will be 50’s favorite album of mine. This will be gangster’s album of the year."

Black Milk - Give The Drummer Sum

Off his upcoming album Tronic.

Black Milk - Give The Drummer Sum

Redman live with a band

The Funk Doctor Spock keeps it funky.

Dr Dooom - God of Rap

I've got mixed feelings about this. Keith's first Dr Dooom album is one of my favourites, I hope this new album doesn't tarnish the legacy but this first song isn't doing anything to allay my fears. Out 23/9.

Dr Dooom - God of Rap

50 Cent performs Love Lockdown

I don't generally have much sympathy for 50 Cent when has a dig at someone to promote his new album BUT I really don't like Love Lockdown.

Jay Smooth on Hipster Rap

Nas - It Ain't Hard to Tell

1994. Good times. Nas is half man, half amazing.

Kanye West - Love Lockdown

Kanye's next cd, due out on December 16th is apparently titled 808s & Heartbreak which I sort of like, much more than Good Ass Job anyway. But it's going to have to have more than a good title to win me over and Kanye hasn't made a good start, the single is truly awful.

Kanye West - Love Lockdown

Nine Inch Nailiens

Ill poetic has put together this mash up of Nine Inch Nails and Outkast. It's been pretty well done and I love the contrast between Outkast and NIN although I would have liked more pre-Fragile NIN. I have no idea how he came up with the idea to mix those two. The songs B.O.B. and Black Ice are the standouts for me.

Charles Hamilton - Free Download

I've heard of Charles Hamilton before but this is the first song I've heard by him. What do you think?

Charles Hamilton - Free Download

A sample of MF Doom

Here's a couple of MF Doom songs with their original production:

Madvillain - Accordian


De La Soul ft. MF Doom - Rock Co Kane Flow

Madvillain - Strange Ways
Madvillain - All Caps
Madvillain - Figaro

Brad Strut - Monopoly

This isn't his best work but this is Brad Strut's video for his song Monopoly. He's from Lyrical Commission, one of my favourite Australian hip hop acts.

It's pretty funny to see him glare into the mic, all hardcore, and say 'Monopoly'. A bit over-dramatic but a great beat.

Black Thought on Rap City

Black Thought is a steamroller.

Motion Man - Clearing the Field

On the title track Motion Man declares:

"Separate the mic from the man that's my job You're paralyzed because your beat-maker threw a lob pass"

Motion Man delivers on his part of the deal. Clearing the Field is unapologetically about displaying Motion Man's skill with words. The remarkable thing about this is that he pulls it off. There are plenty of MCs with skills but there aren't many who can make an album that's worth listening to from start to stop.

And Kutmaster Kurt for his part makes a great album. He doesn't send Motion Man any hospital passes; the album remains compelling throughout. His combination of hard beats, jazzy horns stabs and funky bass make the perfect backdrop for Motion Man to flow on.

"I'm 'bout it, 'bout it, you know I'm lyrical I don't beg for respect I'm slash-human, slash-whatever, it depends on the weather When I rain you drown, when I'm hot you scorch I drop that think-about style for you kids on the porch Kutmaster Kurt ballin' fly time like Jewel with rings When I'm feeling it I grab the mic like Lauryn and sing." - Straight Flowin' On 'Em

The guest spots are well chosen and executed. They're obviously not there to appeal to a mass market but because Motion Man respects them. They complement him well. Biz Markie on 'Hold Up' and E-40 on 'Reason 2 Panic' work particularly well with him.

One of the refreshing aspects of this album is the positive tone that it maintains. What I mean is that he doesn't use his skills to bitch about how even though he's better than your favourite rapper he's not getting the respect he deserves. Where he does touch on that sort of topic it's in a good natured way, as he puts it on the cartoon sounding 'I'm having a moment'. He just seems to have a great time with the album.

Aside from a bit of the typical misogyny Motion Man has produced a refreshing album. It wouldn't ever get much radio play but then it's not really aiming at that. Motion Man has something to bring and he brings it his own way.

Doomed

Illroots and Mike Waxx have lovingly put together an MF Doom mixtape. Doom's crazed, non sequitur rap is always worth checking and this mixtape is very well done. If you like this then I recommend you get Madvillainy which is a hip hop classic.

Roots Manuva - Let The Spirit

This is the third single from Roots Manuva's new album, Slime & Reason. The first two were a bit far away from hip hop for my tastes so although this isn't his best work I'm happy it's back in the ballpark. Also, he seems more wasted than Redman, not like the Roots Manuva of old.

RZA - 14 Deadly Secrets

From therapup:

14 Deadly Secrets is a special session where legendary producers break down the stories behind 14 of their hits. Listen as RZA dishes some behind-the-scene stories about 14 classics, including “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and “C.R.E.A.M.” Pay attention, school is now in session.

It's very cool to hear RZA in between songs talking about what was happening behind the music. RZA is amazing, definitely worth a listen.

There's also an older one with DJ Premier. I haven't checked it yet but I reckon it'd be worth a listen too.

Mixtape Monday - Loosie All-Stars

Elucid, Spec Boogie and Von Pea team up for the Champion Hoods mixtape, a celebration of mid 90s hip hop. They drop verses on classic instrumentals like Criminology, Last Dayz and Tonight's Da Night. All three rip some nice verses, their different voices and styles work really well together, plus the music is all top notch. Get it.

Loosie All-Stars - Champion Hoods

Labcabincalifornia - The Pharcyde

Labcabincalifornia evokes summer days and a less cynical time in hip hop. That shouldn't be surprising since The Pharcyde come from LA and dropped this album in 1995.

History sees this album as a disappointing second effort. Throughout it you can hear the group trying to come to terms with their initial success, with all the implications it had for them, taking them from virtual homelessness to relative wealth. Songs like 'Bullshit', 'Groupie Therapy', 'Somethin That Means Somethin' and 'Devil Music' all deal with those issues.

"Every time I step to the microphone I put my soul on 2-inch reels that I don't even own" - 'Devil Music'

The thing that strikes me is that album doesn't have a huge range, it maintains the same feel throughout. I guess this is partly why it didn't do very well, there aren't any songs that really stand out from the rest, musically or content-wise. The three singles, 'Runnin', 'Drop' and 'She Said' along with 'Somethin That Means Somethin' are all very good songs but don't quite take it to another level. However, it's not a bad zone to be in and the album is strong.

J.Dilla produced most of the album and gives it a consistent feel. The beats are tight, plenty of jazzy keys and easy to listen to. You're not really allowed to say anything bad about Dilla but this album doesn't give me anything bad to say. He's amazing.

Labcabincalifornia is a fun album. It doesn't start explosively or reach the heights of their first album but it rewards effort.


(Whenever I hear 'Drop' I want to walk along the street like they do in the video.)

Big Shug - My Boston

I first heard Big Shug on 'The Militia' with Freddie Foxxx and Gangstarr. He has a great presence on songs.

Big Shug ft. Singapore Kane, Termanology - My Boston

Supernatural doing what he does

If you've heard of Supernatural you know he's a crazy freestyler. If you don't you need to check this video of him rapping about stuff people in the crowd hold up:


Crazy.

Talib Kweli f. KRS One - The Perfect Beat

In contrast to Shai Linne:

Shai Linne - The Atonement

Shai Linne's words from the outro give an idea of what The Atonement is all about:

"What we've attempted to do with this project The Atonement, is by God's grace, through the medium of hip hop, bring to you that which is of first importance."

And that's what he does, starting with original sin on 'In Adam All Die' and moving through the crucifixion, resurrection, limited atonement and through to praise with 'Triune Praise'.

When it comes to words the dude's a beast. He's at his best when ripping a verse on theology of which 'Mission Accomplished' (a song about limited atonement!) and 'Were You There' are good examples. Shai goes in hard lyrically and that's the thing I appreciated most about the album.

"The way they treat the Lord of Glory is debased and it's vile
But you missed the point if you don't see your face in the crowd" - Were You There

But there are a couple of songs on the album that miss the mark for me. 'School Daze' and 'Jesus is Alive' jar a bit, 'Jesus is Alive' would be great with a different chorus because the current one gives it the wrong tone.

The album is also very heavy with interludes. Without them the 19 track album weighs in at 11 songs. These 11 provide more than enough content for a full album. Interludes were included for reflection but there's plenty of room for reflection once the album is finished. I want the straight rapping, that's where Shai is so powerful.

The production helps create the right mood for the album, it particularly works on 'Through My Eyes', 'Were You There' and 'Jesus is Alive'. For the most part it isn't amazing or adventurous but is solid and fitting.

I really dig this album. Not because it's flawless or I can listen to it from start to finish but because of what Shai is doing with it. It's beautiful to see hip hop used to honour God when it's mostly used to parade our disgrace. There's some profound stuff on this album which is more than you can say about most. He's already working on a new one and I'm looking forward to it.

A Public Service Announcement Concerning Cypress Hill

Let me say this and get it off my chest. Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom is way underrated. Sure, it's got none of the Hill's hits on it but it's brooding and eerie and paranoid and just works. It may have been a commercial failure and nearly seen the end of the group but I put this album on to listen to all the way through, which I don't for the others.

By the way, B-Real has signed a solo deal and is planning to release his first solo album early next year.

Pacewon & Mr Green - The Only Color That Matters is Green

Pacewon hasn't lost the ability to flip a rhyme or tell a story, throughout The Only Color That Matters is Green he breezes along without breaking a sweat. There are some great lines throughout the album, Pace still has words for wack rappers:

I wanna pack they cds up and sell 'em back
I paid $12, just gimme $7 back
I'll even take it back to the store and get it wrapped

Songs like 'The Eye of the Needle' show that he's not just the cocky young rapper he was on 'Cowboys' and 'I Declare War', he's older, faced struggles and it shows on the best few songs on the album.

It's been a long time comin', I seen a lot of evil,
Felt a lot of pain, and I lost a lot of people,
Did a couple of things I really didn't need to,
Hurt a couple people that I really didn't mean to.
If I could turn time back, I would treat em regal.
Matter fact, I'd treat everybody equal.
Then my world might just be so peaceful
And I wouldn't view it through the eye of a needle.

What dissappoints about the album is that it mostly dwells in the past. Pace too easily slips into his old groove, he could almost have written some of the songs 10 years ago. Lots of the other songs are filled with reminisces, some of them work but the total effect is to make him sound old. Then there's 'The Joker', a diss of Eminem, one of his friends in the early days. He dissed him before with 'Rap Music' which was a strong track. However, 'The Joker' just makes Pace come off bitter. It's not a great note to end the album on and it stands in contrast with some of the better songs which show Pace moving on and growing. Mr Green's beats are solid but owe too much to DJ Premier and the early-mid 90s.

Overall, The Only Color That Matters is Green is an album that looks back more than forward both in content and style. It's solid but it could have been much more.

Stand out tracks: 'She Can Be So Cold' (with the White Stripes), 'The Eye of the Needle', 'Hip-Hop'.

De La Soul article part 2

Reconstructing the De La Soul years with Prince Paul. This is a very cool interview, worth checking out.

Jay-Z, the Game and Beef

Apparently Jay-Z said something about The Game to a fan at Wimbledon. Then it turned out that he probably didn't. Whatever, The Game is up for beef anyway, he has an album to promote:

Now, if the man wants to wage a war of words or get into some type of beef, I’m all for it. It would be an honor to beef with Jay-Z. That’s one of the reasons I try to bait him, but he won’t bite.

The whole idea of battling someone has become a marketing strategy. The thing is, it's almost taken it back round to where it started, a test of who's the best rapper.

Alternatively, they could take it to the xbox.

De La Soul article

The Smoking Section has a cool article on De La Soul you should check out:

Forbes' Top Earners in Hip Hop of 2008

You can check out the article here.

The list:

1. 50 Cent - $150 million
2. Jay-Z - $82 million
3. P Diddy - $35 million
4. Kanye West - $30 million
5. Timbaland - $22 million
6. Pharrell Williams - $20 million
7. Swizz Beatz - $17 million
8. Snoop Dogg - $16 million
9. Dr. Dre - $15 million
10. Ludacris - $14 million
11. T.I. - $13 million
12. Lil’ Wayne - $13 million
13. Eminem - $12 million
14. Common - $12 million
15. Akon - $12 million
16. Jermaine Dupri - $11 million
17. Lil Jon - $11 million
18. OutKast - $10 million
19. Chamillionaire - $10 million
20. The Game - $10 million

I just missed out, must've come in at 21 or 22.

Mixtape Monday - Pharoahe Monch

This is Pharoahe Monch's mixtape from last year in anticipation of his album Desire. Check out Agent Orange, Let's Go and Gun Draws.

Download Mixtape | Provided by DatPiff.com

De La Soul Interview

A new album?!

"I be the most incredible, alphabetical, unforgettable..."

Yes you are Busta. This is awesome. Check it.

Busta Rhymes - Packin Them Things

Blueprint - The Weightroom

The first mixtape cd I got came free with a cd I ordered online. The cd is long since lost but based on songs from that cd I bought De La Soul's Grind Date, Prince Paul's Politics of the Business and just the other day Blueprint's The Weightroom. The Weightroom has a track on it called 'Time Management' which Simon will remember because we both loved it. It was the first we'd heard of Blueprint and his ridiculous braggadocio. We loved lines like:

'temporary insanity was the fuel behind my fury
I threw the book at the judge and got rushed by security'

That song was what first made me check for Blueprint who is part of a group called The Greenhouse Effect, you can download their album Columbus or Bust and you totally should. Anyway, I've finally gotten The Weightroom after all these years and I'm enjoying it.

Jockin' Jay-Z

It didn't take long, you can listen to the whole song now.

Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh)