Straight Outta Kingston

p diddy helps me read better in the evenings, but doesn't help me sleep better at night

2010-03-01T22:39:00.003+11:00

allow me to explain

i wear glasses, and needing some better lenses i decided to add some fashion frames to the mix. by a process of elimination i ended up settling on a pair bearing the name 'sean john'. it seems that producer, sometime rapper, '90s icon, wannabe actor ("the world is ready for a black james bond". actual quote) and egomaniac puff daddy's reach with his clothing line extends to aiding those with less than 20:20 vision. i can now see clearer into the distance and read easier. cheers puffy! a pleasure to be adding to your fortune

our friend sean combs has however copped flak in the past for using a lot of fur in his clothing line, and his current collection does include some animal products (leather of course, but also jackets with a rabbit fur collar)

nice

but it appears he's added a selection of faux fur to some of his other items. so it seems i can sleep a little easier after all

anyway, enough about my appalling vision and the killing of animals for clothing. some videos

something relatively new. raekwon feat. inspectah deck and masta killa "kiss the ring"

elton john fans rejoice

and something a bit older but no less great. the roots feat. peddi peddi and bunny sigler "long time". best taken loud

enjoy

king tim

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers f. Has-Lo, Elucid, Nico the Beast - No Resolution 2

2010-02-11T11:43:00.006+11:00

It had to take something big to rouse me from my blogging sleep. I've been waiting for the release of this song for a while now. Elucid and Zilla are about as good as it gets in hip hop as far as I'm concerned. That Velvet Underground sample creates a kind of anxiety which Elucid and Nico use especially well.

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers f. Has-Lo, Elucid, Nico the Beast - No Resolution 2

Jay Electronica - Electrochemicals

2009-12-18T18:44:00.003+11:00

I finally got around to listening to Jay Electronica. I'm late but I've been making up for it over the last week by listening to heaps of his stuff. He might not 'save hip hop' but the mixtape is definitely one of the highlights of the year.

You should check it out if only for the song 'Dimethyltriptamine' where Jay's in the Tom Waits zone over a sick Dilla beat:

"Pigs with the heads of men spat acid
That lasered my third eye closed like lasik
A midget in the casket like a baby in the bonnet
With a bottle and a basset horn
Playing the theme song from Children of the Corn"

Classic.

Jay Electronica - Electrochemicals
From Think Differently through Passion of the Weiss

this blog referred to on another blog

2009-12-13T17:22:00.002+11:00

i don't know if you already know about this but...

Australia Loves Them Some Dingos, Curly Castro
http://beatgardensite.com/

nick's post about curly castro and dj ambush (dec 1) got picked up by the beat garden entertainment blog (dec 1)

well done my man!

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers - High Noon

2009-12-10T10:46:00.001+11:00

I like this from Douglas Martin's blog: "fuck all that “shameless promotion” shit; this video is objectively great."

Witness the Fitness

2009-12-02T10:36:00.002+11:00

I haven't listened to Roots Manuva's album Run Come Save Me for a couple of years at least. It's just one of those ones that's faded behind all the new music I've been listening to. But I'm just giving it a burn now and it's a really solid album. Dude has a sense of humour but also real honesty and a British accent, a recipe for success.

I remember when this was on Rage a bit. Good times:

Curly Castro & DJ Ambush Present Phatman and Likkle Bwoy

2009-12-01T08:52:00.008+11:00

I'm pretty late on this one but it's totally worth getting your hands on. It's the latest release from Zilla and Co's Beat Garden Entertainment. On the first listen I got a Champion Sound vibe. Curly Castro is great, he's got a wicked flow and I'd like to hear more of him. Check out the tracks Frankenstein, Keychains and Boxin'.

Curly Castro & DJ Ambush Present Phatman and Likkle Bwoy

More Blakroc

2009-11-16T08:24:00.000+11:00

Another Blakroc track, Dollaz & Sense f. RZA and Pharoahe Monch

You can see the videos of RZA doing his part and Monch doing his.

Specflix

2009-11-15T07:14:00.000+11:00

I really enjoyed Spec Boogie's Summer Movie Season videos. He's all done now and you can check the videos out at his website or you can download the audio. Good stuff.

Here's his Rocky III video, going in over Eye of the Tiger.

Black Thought - The Professional

2009-11-14T11:20:00.003+11:00

Black Thought - The Professional

Blakroc f. Mos Def & Jim Jones - Ain't Nothin Like You (Hoochie Coo)

2009-11-09T18:43:00.004+11:00

As Zilla said on his blog, Dame Dash is Saving Hip Hop.

I'm not really a fan of Jim Jones but this song definitely gets into a good zone.

Elucid - The Sub Bass Diet

2009-11-07T14:10:00.004+11:00

Elucid's album, The Sub Bass Diet is now available for download. Check it out. I've heard 6 of the tracks over the last few months and they're fantastic. As someone who loves 'lyrical' hip hop, Elucid is a bright light for me in 2009. He's doing something interesting with hip hop, not just looking back to 1994. It might take a few listens to catch what he's doing but it's worth investing the time in.

Elucid - Take Charge

2009-10-29T17:37:00.003+11:00

Elucid is so sharp. Love this new track.

Song and image found over at Rappers I Know.

Elucid - Take Charge

Dante Ross on ODB being ODB

2009-10-29T16:56:00.002+11:00

Great story:

Pinched from Miss Info.

Zilla Rocca, Has-Lo - Forever Freestyle

2009-10-28T16:27:00.005+11:00

It's been a bit of a ghost town around here lately. Sorry, my head's been elsewhere. Check out this goodness from Zilla Rocca and Has-Lo over a De La Soul beat. Looking forward to the 5 O'Clock Shadowboxers' Broken Clocks EP. Zilla and Elucid on one track. Bring it on!

Photo pinched from Liz Padova's FB album

Zilla Rocca & Has-Lo - Forever Freestyle

Sweet as bro

2009-09-28T20:46:00.000+10:00

I just got given this CD to review at work (along with Kid Cudi) and damn if it didn't take me by surprise. Smashproof's "The Weekend" is a top notch album full of club-ready production and neat rhymes. I know Scribe is the biz, but these NZ boy have put together a great effort.

Here is "Brothers", which was at number one in New Zealand for 11 weeks.

The rest of the album has absolutely great beats, and pretty good rhymes. Some of the tracks are at Timbaland's (before he got crap) level, Just Blaze, or even Kanye (circa Graduation, not 808s and Heartbreak). I'll have to give the rapping a bit more of a listen.

Elucid - Bear Trapz

2009-09-25T11:37:00.004+10:00

I've been meaning to post this for a bit but I'm lazy. Rock the Dub has put out Bear Trapz, Elucid's latest release. It's really refreshing to hear Elucid taking hip hop in a different direction but it's not easy listening. Creatively Elucid seems to be to be in a similar zone to Kool Keith but is less weird about it. Yum Yum is my favourite track, it's got a bit more structure and drive than the other two tracks but overall it's a great little release.

Nas - Got Ur Self a Gun

2009-09-22T16:46:00.001+10:00

Just been watching Sopranos and had to post this.

The last Jay-Z post for a bit

2009-09-07T00:23:00.000+10:00

Okay, so I know I've been talking a lot about Jay-Z recently, so this will be the last one in a while. But here some excerpts from the interview he gave XXL about The Blueprint 3. My favourite parts:

On attacking "gimmicky" Auto-tune use:

A trend is a trend. I follow trends. I set trends. Now, when a trend becomes a gimmick, it’s time to get rid of it. As far as hip-hop. Like, when they were saying “bling bling” on CNN, it’s time to never say that word again. It was just about the aggression of everything. I saw everyone, ’cause it was successful, following one path. You turn on the radio, and that’s all you hear. I’m not saying I hate T-Pain. What I’m talking about is a trend that’s becoming a gimmick. And if we continue down this path, we’re going to open the door for another genre of music. Same way when rock was doing hair metal it opened the door even wider for hip-hop to come through and put rock music in trouble for 10 years and more. Right now, there are a lot of indie bands coming out, which is making rock more exciting: the MGMTs and the Kings of Leons. You keep messing around, making generic music, people are going to start turning off one at a time. And if these guys [keep] making great music, guess what? [Fans are] gonna go to them. If you look back in the history of music, that’s what happens all the time.

On being conscious of his position as someone who stretches the subject matter in hip-hop:

Whether Kingdom Come was your favorite album or not, “30 Something,” you have to deal with that subject matter [in that song]. If [the target audience is] 15 to 25, that’s too narrow. What am I going to listen to at 26 and beyond? That’s a quarter of my life. That’s such a small slice of the pie. We have to expand the genre. I would love to listen to hip-hop all day. Of course, now there are other things making their way into my CD changer or iPod, because of the lack of material. It doesn’t speak to me. Everyone is speaking to the kids, thinking that’s the key to success. The sad part of it is that all these [rappers] saying it are 30 years old, at least. Sometimes 35. It’s misleading. It’s that lack of growth that will keep us in a certain place.

I think that, as long as the heart is in it. Because even if you miss it, it’s art. Like, Kool Keith, he may not sell any records, ever. But I think his type of art is needed, and there are people who follow his music.

On making "D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-tune)"

It really just happened in the studio. We were just having a discussion about the game and music and where everything is going. So No ID plays this track, and Kanye jumps up. Actually, Kanye gave me the idea. He jumps up and is like, “Man, this is hard. This is against everything.” I don’t know if he knew where I was going to take it, but he sparked the idea. I came back the next day and did the record.

Super keen yes. A bit more here.

Empire State of Mind

2009-09-03T09:25:00.005+10:00

I've heard good things about this song, but Kanye just posted it... and it's great. I actually got excited listening to it.

Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)

Soaring, very New York.

So, in other words, I'm excited for the Blueprint 3. Apparently it will be available in Australia on September 11, same date as the US. Although that could just be for the online store.

UPDATE: HA! Aziz Ansari, an American comedian who is on Parks and Recreation, does his own remix of Jay-Z's "Hate (feat. Kanye)". And it's classic.

"Eminem murdered you on your own s***"

2009-08-28T10:20:00.003+10:00

This track is why Eminem should get back to rapping on other people's tracks. He owned Jay-Z on 'Renegade', and on this (kinda forgettable) Drake track he shows his skills over Kanye and Lil Wayne.

Listen here.

This is how to get me buy a magazine

2009-08-28T10:15:00.004+10:00

Jay-Z, Eminem, the making of The Blueprint... and a bunch of other stuff. Damn XXL!

More info here.

Video: Raekwon ft. Deck, Meth and Ghost - House of Flying Daggers

2009-08-25T18:06:00.002+10:00

This is what youtube is for

2009-08-25T18:06:00.001+10:00

Breaking the silence

2009-08-19T17:26:00.002+10:00

Noz has done a cool photo essay comparing Reasonable Doubt with Blueprint 3. Check it.

Shuck and Jive

2009-08-07T11:06:00.002+10:00

Nas and Nick Cannon (aka Mr Mariah Carey) predict the future of hip-hop, with racist results:

Eat that watermelon indeed.

I've been listening to Nas' verse on 'We Major', off Kanye's Late Registration. It is an excellent piece. I just have never really got into him as a rapper. He's obviously insanely talented. But I just can't sit down and listen to heaps of his songs without getting bored. I guess it's me.

Raekwon's happy the internets like House of Flying Daggers

2009-08-01T17:19:00.000+10:00

Raekwon ft. Deck, Meth and Ghost - House of Flying Daggers

2009-08-01T09:17:00.006+10:00

I don't want to get my hopes up, I've been hurt before. But it's impossible to hear this song and not get a bit excited about OB4CL2. All Rae needs to do is make sure it isn't pushed back yet again. Oh, and it's produced by Dilla.

How old is this pic? This album has been 'coming soon' forever.

Raekwon ft. Deck, Meth and Ghost - House of Flying Daggers (from 2dopeboyz)

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers - No Fury (Zilla Rocca Remix)

2009-07-29T11:33:00.007+10:00

The rap Jack Bauer stays calm on No Fury. It's his remix of one of The Slow Twilight leftovers. The Black Keys sample almost approaches the blues but keeps restrained, so does Zilla. Honest, suffering but unbending. Absolute gold. It's up to 7 plays on my computer already and it gets better each time.

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers - No Fury (Zilla Rocca Remix)

If you haven't downloaded The Slow Twilight yet, do yourself a favour and hit the link.

Fashionably late?

2009-07-27T10:25:00.000+10:00

B.o.B is pretty cool. He's not blowing me away like Zilla Rocca, Kneel Knaris or Elucid are but I'm glad he's doing his thing. Anyway, it's been out for a while but I only just got around to checking his B.o.B. vs Bobby Ray mixtape, half rapping, half singing. He definitely has a good pop ear. It's light, it's fun, it's worth a listen.

B.o.B vs Bobby Ray Mixtape

Playing Catchup

2009-07-27T06:54:00.000+10:00

I must confess that initially I was a bit dubious about some of Elucid's latest stuff off his forthcoming The Sub Bass Diet. What can I say? I was wrong. They're definitely worth chewing on and listening to on decent headphones.

My Mayor is a Billionaire (BBC)
Stacey (Sucker for Love)
Laser Days
40Ds

All via Rock The Dub

Nosaj Thing

2009-07-26T18:22:00.003+10:00

It's not quite hip hop but Passion of the Weiss has gotten me into Nosaj Thing. I don't tend to listen to much electronic stuff but I really dig his music.

Check out his song Heart Entire and his remix of 50's I Get Money.

You can read a bit of a writeup on him here.

No I.D. on D.O.A.

2009-07-18T10:57:00.003+10:00

No I.D. talks about coming up with the D.O.A. beat. Worth watching just for his line at the end of the clip:

At the end of the day we all gon' sit back and eat breakfast in Hawaii.

Tornts ft. Billy Bunks - Mute That Hole

2009-07-16T16:10:00.002+10:00

Tasmania punches well above it's weight when it comes to Aussie hip hop. No one can come near Tornts and Bunks for clever, dark, dirty and nasty rap. Tornts rhymes with words that aren't there and with Bunks makes Tha Liks sound sober.

Spec Boogie - Akira

2009-07-16T14:13:00.003+10:00

Spec Boogie is back with another Summer Movie Season vid.

Rap around the world

2009-07-15T15:08:00.001+10:00

Check out this great video

Rappers from 30 different countries

Here's the list:
American: Missy Elliott
British: Lady Sovereign
Cantonese: LMF
Chinese: Wang Lee-hom
Croatian: Tram 11
Danish: Tue Track
Filipino: Parokya Ni Edgar
Finnish: Pikku G
France: Booba
Germany: Samy Deluxe
Greek: Stereo Mike
Hebrew: Shi 360
Hungarian: Ganxsta Zolee
Icelandic: Forgotten Lores
Italy: Frankie Hi-NRG MC
Japanese: Japanese Rap Sta
Korean: Yoon Mi Rae (Tasha/T)
Norwegian: Don Martin (Gatas Parlament)
Polish: Abradab
Romania: Daddy Caddy (Bug Mafia)
Russia: Михей (Mihey)
Slovenian: Murat & Jose
Spanish: Violadores del Verso
Swedish: Fronda
Swiss: EKR
Turkish: Ceza
Vietnamese: VNR
Wolof: Bad’s Diom

Elucid - However You Want

2009-07-15T14:36:00.003+10:00

Von Pea produced and posted a new Elucid track in promotion of Elucid's upcoming Sub Bass Diet album. I'm not completely convinced about Tanya Morgan but Von Pea is one talented dude. He's done great production work on this and on Spec Boogie's Summer Movie Season tracks.

Pic from Rock The Dub

Elucid - However You Want

Tonight's gonna be a good night

2009-07-13T17:07:00.002+10:00

This is not hip-hop - this is pop. But the Black Eyed Peas are doing it so well that I had to post it.I Gotta Feeling

I heard it on the radio and thought it was one of Kanye's G.O.O.D Music crew, like Mr Hudson or maybe Kid Cudi. When I searched for the lyrics at home I refused to believe it was the Peas. Anyway, that is a great pop song, and an even clearer statement that the BEP Empire has long left its hip-hop origins behind.

Question - what other artists have made this jump? From hip-hop to pop? Kanye has definitely been heading that way. Listen to Kanye and Mr Hudson's Supernova here.

Ca-Tash-Trophe

2009-07-08T15:51:00.006+10:00

I was just listening to Bird's Eye View by X to tha Z with J-Ro and Tash from Tha Liks. I love that song for two reasons, Diamond D's amazing beat and Tash's two verses. Tash is like the Redman of the West Coast, he's got that same quality about him that makes you want to fast forward to his verse. He always shines on guest spots:

Alkaholics back to fry ya extra crispy
With the skills that make the plots that try to diss me extra risky
Cause the time it takes to infiltrate and stop my forward motion
California will have broken off and fell into the ocean...

...Cause I drop the lyrics on ya from beneath the earth's surface
Where I write rhymes so fresh I try to bite my own verses

Solid gold.

Photo and link from Nah Right

Anyway, he's got some new stuff out for an upcoming album. I don't know if he can pull of a whole album but I always check for him. Tash ft. B-Real - How Hi Can You Get?

Three things you should know

2009-07-06T18:07:00.006+10:00

Since my little girl was born I haven't really had the space or inclination to blog much but there are a few things that deserve attention.

First, check this video from Elucid. Dude is a beast.

Second, if you haven't gone and downloaded the 5 O'Clock Shadowboxers album, The Slow Twilight, yet then do it now. This means you Nick Gauci, you'll love it. Read a great review for it at No Trivia.

Finally, I've been listening to Kneel Knaris' Going Sane in a Crazy World on repeat for about a month now-it's an amazing album. I've been meaning to do a review but it's hard to do it justice and being a dad has slowed me down a bit. Soon.

5 O'Clock Shadowboxers - The Slow Twilight

2009-06-23T16:34:00.000+10:00

Zilla Rocca and Douglas Martin = 5 O'Clock Shadowboxers. They've just released their album The Slow Twilight. Zilla's liner notes call it 'noir hop'. The indie-and-rock-influenced production is sort of meandering but engrossing and of course Zilla brings it with the words. Worth the dl for 'High Noon' and 'Bottomfeeders' alone but the rest is great too. Get it. Really different. Really good.

They've done a video for 'Weak Stomach'.

The most bangingest song

2009-06-23T14:25:00.001+10:00

Ohhhhhh hell yes

Lil Jon + Requiem For A Dream Theme + Crunk + Pastor Troy = My most favourite kickass song

Zilla Rocca - Raw to the Floor

2009-06-22T17:34:00.001+10:00

Zilla Rocca is great. You should check him out.

Outsidaz - Rah Rah

2009-06-20T17:07:00.004+10:00

The Outsidaz have always been among my favourites. Their humour, energy, and battle mentality were everything my teenage self wanted in a group. Check the video below and hit up Noz' post of Outz videos at Cocaine Blunts.

Spec Boogie - Enter the Dragon

2009-06-13T15:28:00.001+10:00

You've gotta check this out. So good.

Jay-Z - Death of Autotune

2009-06-07T12:02:00.001+10:00

Jay-Z - D.O.A

What might have been...

2009-05-25T14:26:00.004+10:00

By all accounts Busta's Back On My Bullshit is a dissappointment. It seems there was plenty of bullshit, just not much vintage Busta bullshit. I had high hopes originally but the mixtape forced me to lower my expectations. So this post is dedicated to what might have been:

Busta's still got it. I just wish 'it' made it onto the new record.

Kneel Knaris - Never Gonna Make It

2009-05-24T15:54:00.004+10:00

Going Sane in a Crazy World is out now, I just need to find someone who'll sell it to me (why no love for Australians Amazon?). Thankfully Government Names has another track to keep me going.

Photo nicked off his myspace

Kneel Knaris - Never Gonna Make It

Spec Boogie - Edward Scissorhands

2009-05-20T14:27:00.004+10:00

Spec Boogie is doing a Summer Movie Season mixtape. He's rapping over movie scores. This one's from Edward Scissorhands. The first one was from The Warriors. Good stuff.

Elucid - Progress

2009-05-16T10:07:00.005+10:00

Elucid is one of my favourite rappers. His Smash N Grab mixtape was a revelation to me. I was just listening to it this morning and reflecting that more than any rapper I've heard, he really gets the vibe of a beat and works with it to make something with depth. He's an artist.

Anyway, I'm always on the lookout for new Elucid and Khal just posted Elucid's Progress mixtape. It isn't exactly new, it's his stuff from 2003-2005, before Smash N Grab. I'm listening to it at the moment. So far (up to track 9) he's rocking more conventional beats. I like.

2009-05-16T07:44:00.001+10:00

I make sure everything remains raw

2009-05-10T21:11:00.009+10:00

A bunch of mixtapes worth checking have dropped lately. I haven't really kept up with them so try at your own risk but I bet there's at least a couple of good ones among them. (ht: Get Right Music)

I like what I've heard from Red and Meth's latest so far. Blackout 2 is out soon. This is definitely worth a listen.

DJ Green Lantern & Red and Meth - Lights Out

I'm still not totally sold on The Cool Kids but I've heard this 'tape is good. I've only heard a few tracks so far. It hasn't blown my mind.

The Cool Kids - Gone Fishing

Rae's Cuban Linx 2 is almost getting into Detox territory. Still, he's been working hard and the songs that've been leaking are strong. Check it.

DJ Absolut & Raekwon - Blood on Chef's Apron

Busta's new stuff is promising (if a bit ridiculous). I'm looking forward to listening to this one through.

DJ Scratch & Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not

A cool mixtape of Wu Tang and other golden age stuff. It's an education. Definitely check this one.

DJ Fricktion & The Lovesoul DJs & Wu Tang - The Golden Chamber

Ice Cube hasn't been the same since the mid 90s but he's got plenty of material for a best of mixtape. One of the best angry rappers.

Mr Peter Parker & Ice Cube - No Sleep 'Til Compton

Del - Get It Right Now

2009-05-07T07:31:00.001+10:00

A video from Del's Funk Man (Stimulus Package). If you like, download the album.

Eminem - 3am

2009-05-03T20:46:00.001+10:00

I have mixed feelings about this one. Some cool things but his tone is a bit grating. It's better with the video than without I think.

Kneel Knaris - Who's Watching Me

2009-05-03T16:04:00.004+10:00

I love discovering new music, last year Elucid was my new favourite even if Dooda wasn't impressed. This year it looks like Kneel Knaris is the one. I first heard his song 'Who's Watching Me' on No Trivia and I'm totally hooked. Its great Michael Jackson sample, tinny synth sound and Knaris' paranoia on wax all work brilliantly together.

His album Going Sane in a Crazy World is due out sometime this month. Read more about him here and here.

Kneel Knaris - Who's Watching Me?

it's the mf doom appreciation society

2009-05-01T22:23:00.003+10:00

i know i haven't posted for a while, and this isn't exactly new, but i got some more doom for ya'll raggedy asses

first something from the recently released jake one album. he's a producer so his 'white van music' is a bunch of collaborations, posse cuts and guest spots. it's a little up and down, but when you really look at it, it's better than 90% of the hip hop albums out there

jake one ft. mf doom - trap door

secondly, an outtake from the dangerdoom album 'the mouse and the mask' of a few years ago. such a strong track, i'm not sure why it didn't make the cut. it's just exciting to get more doom than you expect

dangerdoom - korn dogz

enjoy

king tim

Tell a friend

2009-04-30T11:38:00.000+10:00

Raekwon ft. Meth and Ghostface - New Wu

Hip Hop + Flute

2009-04-27T16:36:00.002+10:00

Check out this list from TSS of 5 great hip hop songs with flute samples. At least give the Ghostface one a try.

Microwave Mayonaisse

2009-04-27T16:29:00.002+10:00

Fan vid made by Dallas Penn. Pinched from tss. Doom is ridiculous right now.

2009-04-26T16:29:00.002+10:00

How big is your world? Brandon reviews a few new songs at No Trivia. Totally worth a read and listen.

Crazy

2009-04-26T12:06:00.001+10:00

J. Dilla ft. Black Thought - Reality Check

2009-04-20T09:30:00.004+10:00

Black Thought. Monster.

J. Dilla ft. Black Thought - Reality Check

"this is from Jay Stay Paid, a 25-track album, arranged by Pete Rock, of unreleased Dilla cuts featuring cats like DOOM, Raekwon, Illa J, Blu, Havoc, M.O.P. and more, all with Ma Dukes' blessing. I need this."

From rock the dub.

South Park vs Kanye

2009-04-12T16:33:00.003+10:00

South Park had a massive go at Kanye. It was very harsh.

This is how Kanye responded.

Crazy huh?

Asher Roth ft. Busta Rhymes - Lion's Roar

2009-04-12T13:54:00.002+10:00

It's my considered opinion that Asher Roth isn't all that. I don't know how it's happened but he's been hyped to death. However, Busta joins him on 'Lion's Roar' and the track is totally worth listening to for Busta's verse alone. He goes in hard.

Asher Roth ft. Busta Rhymes - Lion's Roar

Skillz presents hip hop confessions

2009-04-11T16:31:00.002+10:00

I confess that I'm not into Tupac at all and I'm not a huge fan of Biggie either.

Jermaine Dupri making some beats

2009-04-11T16:14:00.000+10:00

I'm a sucker for these kinds of videos.

Method Man & Redman ft. Saukrates - A Yo

2009-04-10T10:31:00.000+10:00

New Del The Funky Homosapien

2009-04-08T22:21:00.003+10:00

Everyone's favourite underground rap legend cousin of Ice Cube has just put out Funk Man (The Stimulus Package). You know it's going to be good when you hear the chorus "I'm so tight I'm smelling myself".

Eminem - We Made You

2009-04-08T08:58:00.000+10:00

Sounds like a pretty Eminem single. What do you think?

Busta Rhymes in his element

2009-04-08T08:52:00.002+10:00

In front of a fisheye lens with a large wardrobe. Beautiful.

Wockin' Wayne

2009-04-02T21:43:00.004+11:00

Not content with being the "best rapper alive", Lil Wayne is moving to rock. In an interview with Rolling Stone talking about his new rock album Rebirth, he gives this explanation for why he's tired of rap:

"The rock sh-- just comes from what my life is now. I've grown into this person," Wayne told the magazine. "I woke up one morning and had three or four women in my bed where I not only didn't know their last names, I didn't know the beginning letter of their first names. All I know is, they're the most beautiful women in the world, and I was in my own place, in whatever city I as in. And I could have thrown a dart at the map, and I'd probably have a place there too. I knew my driver was waiting downstairs for me. When my nose finally cleared from all the weed I had smoked, I smelled food in the kitchen and I knew it was my chef. Then I look on my phone and see a message and know it's from a popular woman everyone knows. And when I went in the studio that night, I couldn't just rap, 'Yeah, n---a ... .' "

So who knows what it's going to be like? I'm trying to get hold of 'Prom Queen' and 'Hot Revolver', the two tracks out so far, just so I can see what it's like.

OB4CL

2009-03-10T11:55:00.003+11:00

I did lots of driving while I was in Tas and the cd I had with me was Only Built 4 Cuban Linx so we spent some quality time together. It shouldn't be news to anyone that that album is amazing. You should go and give it a spin now.

Ice Cream

The rapping on this track is good but Meth totally steals the show. He's done some of the best hooks ever.

Protect Ya Neck

2009-03-07T14:46:00.006+11:00

The Wu boys are working hard at the moment:

First, Raekwon's flipped Jigga's Brooklyn (We Go Hard). Dude's definitely going hard at the moment, a stack of his OB4CL2 stuff has been leaking and if that album is ever actually released it should be great.

Raekwon - Staten (We Go Hard)

Next, Ghostface is looking out for the ladies. His Message from Ghostface is a response to the Chris Brown/Rhianna saga.

Ghostface - Message from Ghostface

Finally, Red and Meth are back at it. Hopefully they're working on another album together.

Method Man & Redman - Ay Yo

Still around

2009-02-25T16:44:00.004+11:00

Been a bit out of it lately. You should definitely listen to this:

MF Doom - Cellz

Kanye: Best beats and best clothes

2009-02-15T17:04:00.003+11:00

So Mr West thinks Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 will have the "best hip-hop beats of all time". Good to see he's set his sights low on this one.

But you never know, he might pull it off. I haven't heard the leaked songs yet so I've got no idea which direction he's pushing in, but I guess this album will sell a million in its first week, regardless.

And in other Kanye news, he reckons he 'dresses better than a lot of gay people'. Fair play to Kanye here, he's been pretty consistent about wearing what he wants to wear and not worrying about the comments. It's strange that he can be so secure in his manhood but so insecure in his need to be liked and admired.

The makings of a classic

2009-02-10T17:42:00.002+11:00

So apparently Mr Slim Shady has been recording since he stepped out of the public eye in 2005. He's got more than 300 songs, all ready for Relapse, which will be released in March (if Shady/Aftermath ever release any music ever)

Anyway, read this excellent profile from The Independent about Eminem and what sounds like one of the albums of 2009.

Swagga Like Us at the Grammys

2009-02-09T18:32:00.002+11:00

The performance is pretty cool and the video is worth watching if only to see M.I.A.'s pregnant ladybug costume.

Tornts Swearengen looking down on this deadwood town

2009-02-08T12:34:00.004+11:00

Tornts - Final Warning

'Ice heads are twisted Torvill and Deans with schemes up their sleeves'

Jay-Z + Radiohead = Jaydiohead

2009-02-07T13:05:00.004+11:00

This has been around for a while but I only just got around to checking it out. It's really well done. Check out the tracks 'Optimistic Moment', 'Dirt off your Android' and 'Ignorant Swan'.

Minty Fresh Beats - Jaydiohead

Kool Keith comes with another alias

2009-02-06T20:05:00.002+11:00

Kool Keith doing what he does best. This time he's Tashan Dorsett.

Tashan Dorsett - Indian

The Worst Hip Hop Album Covers

2009-02-04T16:46:00.004+11:00

There are some pretty special covers on the list. Here's a sample to get you into it:

What others do you think deserve a mention?

Classickness vol. 3

2009-02-04T07:41:00.002+11:00

This mixtape is awesome! It follows on from this one I posted last year. Psycho Les from the Beatnuts hosts this instalment. There's so much gold on here. It's got Wu Tang, Pacewon, Def Squad and a heap of others. Download it now. Do it.

And let me know what you think.

Classickness Vol. 3 hosted by Psycho Les

What's next? Sampling New Kids On The Block???

2009-01-29T12:22:00.003+11:00

I haven't been impressed with Flo Rida's rapping skills since he started every party last year with 'Low'. But the man sure knows how to pick a catchy beat.

His new single, "Right Round", samples 80s classic "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)", from Dead or Alive. And it's catchy as hell.

I question his rapping skills - but I can't question his ability to pick a hit.

Poor man's graf

2009-01-24T21:34:00.002+11:00

Tornts - Corrupt

2009-01-24T08:13:00.002+11:00

More menace from Tornts' new album.

RZA ft. Kool G. Rap, Ghostface & Tash Mahogan - Whar

2009-01-23T15:19:00.004+11:00

This track is off the RZA produced soundtrack of Afro Samurai Resurrection. I dig the soundtrack for season 1, it goes so well with hip hop.

RZA ft. Kool G. Rap, Ghostface & Tash Mahogan - Whar

Jay-Z - My President is Black Remix

2009-01-21T08:38:00.003+11:00

Jay-Z - My President is Black

The delivery is far from mindblowing but the lyrics are pretty clever.

My President is black my Maybach too
And I’ll be goddamned if my diamonds ain’t blue
My money’s dark green and my Porsche is light grey
I’m headed for DC anybody feel me?
My president is black in fact he’s half white,
So even in a racist mind he’s half right
If you have a racist mind you'll be alright
My President is black but his house is all white
Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk,
Martin Luther walked so Barak Obama could run,
Barrack Obama ran so all the children could fly,
So imma spread my wings you could meet me in the sky
I already got my own clothes, already got my own shoes,
I was hot before Barack imagine what I’m gonna do
Hello Ms. America, hey pretty lady
Red, white, and blue flag wave for me baby
Never thought I’d say this shit baby I’m good
You can keep ya puss,
I don’t want no more Bush
No more war, no more Iraq
No more white lies, my president is black

Ripped off RealtalkNY

B.o.B - I'll be in the sky

2009-01-17T18:43:00.000+11:00

Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca

2009-01-16T08:23:00.000+11:00

The Passion of the Weiss has an interview with Zilla Rocca. It covers the movie Bloodsport, things rappers cuddle and whether Zilla has ever been in space.

I meant to post this ages ago but if you haven't heard his mixtape Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca you should download it.

Here's a video (or photo montage) for one of the songs off the mixtape.

Ciecmate - Bird of Prey

2009-01-15T12:15:00.002+11:00

This song sounds like insomnia and energy drinks. It's off Ciecmate's Preemptive Strike mixtape. Good luck if you can find it anywhere.

New MF Doom

2009-01-14T09:35:00.003+11:00

I'd been wondering what MF Doom had been up to while he wasn't turning up to gigs. Working hard by the sound of it, this track is exciting.

MF Doom - Ballskin

Jay Smooth on Hip Hop Beef

2008-12-30T16:50:00.000+11:00

Tornts - Lost Highway

2008-12-29T20:49:00.003+11:00

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

2008-12-20T17:19:00.000+11:00

The song and the sample - Ghostface and The Delfonics

2008-12-20T12:54:00.002+11:00

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

2008-12-16T11:07:00.003+11:00

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...

2008-12-10T12:13:00.002+11:00

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

2008-12-06T12:53:00.004+11:00

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

2008-12-06T09:35:00.002+11:00

Telling it like it is

2008-12-05T15:05:00.013+11:00

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.