Thursday, January 22, 2009

Saigon should just quit while he's behind

Case in point: Saigon's response to "Pain in his Life" which I detailed in a post below.

http://www.zshare.net/download/544672997f39150b/

Fuck it. I'm just gonna cut and paste my comment from another site cuz I'm lazy. But, some people were actually giving Saigon credit for this track, which surprised the hell out of me and made me respond while giving my opinion. And, of course, when I critique I get called a hater by some idiot that can't take anyone giving an honest evaluation. Again, I like Saigon and will definitely check out his album if it ever drops. But, battling just isn't his thing. So, going against Joe Budden of all people is just stupid.

"Wow, this is really bad. Most of you guys are being way too nice. Even the shit where he flipped the letter J for Joey's name was weak because it was a complete hack move. For those of you that don't know, check out "Death Blow" by Kool Moe Dee. He did that shit with LL. I like Saigon usually, but this battle is really showing how limited the guy's skills are".

Slaughterhouse

Looks like this Slaughterhouse group is for real. Here's some footage of them spittin live on Kay Slay's show (minus Crooked I). Joell's rhyme is actually from the D.I.T.C. joint I referenced in the last post. Hopefully an LP is on the way soon.

http://videos.onsmash.com/v/pa9is64CwzhdW62B

Also, a new version of "Move on" with all of Slaughterhouse.

http://www.zshare.net/download/545043051acbb33f/

Monday, January 19, 2009

D.I.T.C./Joell Ortiz

I was finally able to check out the new D.I.T.C. album, The Movement the other day. If you are a fan, I highly recommend picking this one up. It's nice to hear some new stuff from these guys, and they're doing their part in reviving NY. While it most likely won't be a commercial success, true fans of hip hop that seek out talented MCs/producers instead of waiting for someone to spoon feed it to them will appreciate what they have done and are doing. The surprise gem on this one that I wanted to mention though is "Air Ya'll". Produced by Lord Finesse and featuring only the vocals of BK emcee and non DITC member Joell Ortiz, the track took me by surprise when I heard a second and then a third verse from Joell; each one of them packed with his addictive delivery and potent lyricism. It seems Ortiz is collecting quite a few valuable co-signs from hip hop legends. Hopefully, this gets anyone who hasn't been paying attention to wake up. If his solo efforts weren't enough, Joell recently came together with Crooked I, Joe Budden, and Royce da 5'9" to form the collective known as Slaughterhouse. Hopefully we'll get an album from them this year that'll scare all of these lazy rappers into stepping their game up or bowing out altogether. Of course, I'd be satisfied with a solo from Joell though. In the meantime, check out The Brick: Bodega Chronicles, realeased in 07 while everyone was waiting on the Aftermath release that never came to be.

Joe Budden Vs. Saigon

Now, initially I thought this shit was just plain ridiculous. I like both artists, both clearly have skill. But, I'm getting tired of the constant 'battles' going on in hip hop because most of them are WWE - fake petty shit to get publicity for an album. On top of that, it's usually not about better skills - these rappers just wanna talk tough in someone's direction (see 50 Cent, for example). And with everyone beefing with everyone else, it just gets tiring. Why am I supposed to care? Just put out some good music!!
That's why it was so refreshing after Budden and Royce took a few light jabs at each other, they decided music would be better served if they joined forces. And with the two of them, plus Crooked I and Joell Ortiz, Slaughterhouse was formed - a group that has the potential to really help the cause of taking hip hop back to lyrical fury. A group like this nobody could keep up with. Needless to say, after hearing the couple tracks released already, I'm pretty pumped about this project.
But, now Budden decided to go after Saigon (stemming from a clever punchline in a Budden verse mentioning a current event with Sai that he took offense to - Sai started saying he would knock Budden out, and here we go again - WWE bullshit). When I first heard the diss "Letter to Saigon", I thought it was kinda dumb. While the lyrics were pretty good, the song was poorly structured and Budden's delivery sounded off. I thought that if this is all Budden was going to come with, why take the time at all?
Then Saigon's response came with "Underachiever". Again, I like Saigon a lot (except for all the crying last year). He has a lot of good material. But, he like Joe Budden, had label troubles that really held him (and hip hop) back. That being said, the song was pretty half-assed, busy calling Joey a fag and insulting his kid, rather than proving his lyrical dominance. Basically, it didn't get the job done. How long is this gonna go on for, I thought? I'm bored already.
But, then Budden came back to prove just how clever an MC he is. He released "Pain in his Life" today/yesterday (an allusion to a previous song by Sai called "Pain in my Life") and surprised everyone (including Sai no doubt) by showing how he just hustled his opponent like Billy Hoyle.
I hit play on this track and hear Budden proclaim that Saigon "fell for the mousetrap". It took me about halfway into the song to realize what he meant. Budden (childhood nickname "mouse" by the way) baited Saigon with a subpar diss initially to make him think that he could actually win. Saigon responded with his own that put me to sleep, and Budden responded at full force. And...unless Saigon can really pull something together I think it's safe to say that Joey bodied him on this track right here. Why?? Probably just for fun. A lyrical exercise.
Below are the lyrics delivered over the beat to "You, me, him, and her" (and thanks to 2dopeboyz for doing most of the work - I just made a few corrections):



It’s like a lose/lose already my rep ruined
How I beat dude we know will accept losing?
Underachiever was an underachiever
Almost thought that you would come with the Ether
I know he got niggas in his camp like “spaz on him”, gassin him, bafflin him
Real talk, some don’t wanna see ya
Scram shoulda put both hands around ya neck
Said you betta get ya head fucked from under the cleaver
I’m the one that’ll beast ya
You got a gut feeling you hot, I think you can’t stomach a fever
Can’t think of why a wack nigga want it with me for
I leave my mark on you like it’s one of ya features
Ask how I it feel to have Maino face
I’m way ahead man, this ain’t no race
Stop playing, I'm the bomb with the pen
I’m more like a bomb with no pin
How the fuck is Saigon gonna win?
He a loss of interest
Talking bout my son is senseless
So I make sure the dude can’t see, smell or hear
Can’t touch, can’t taste, now he defenseless
Cuz ain’t a bullet in this world he could bench press
Speak Tahiri, I'ma speak Austin
The one that’ll suck ya dick if you flossin
Game old bitch that everybody was tossin
The one that you literally begged for that abortion
So we both gone wild, see we both love hoes and that’s just our style
But Sai if you think it’s different my nigga you goin senile
I just kiss mine and yours is the mother of ya child
BLAOH! Shots peel at ya entourage
Nigga couldn’t get a deal on Entourage
How is it harder to be me?
If I lose in real life? But you can’t even win on TV
Me I’m probably iller, probably wit gorillas in ya lobby with the shotti and chinchillas
You a rapper or a bodybuilder?
I’ll have him in the E.R. with Doc trying to put him back together like a body builder
Please tell me why dude Just Blaze signed
Can’t even get a bassline outta BASELINE
Look at the new kid sounding stupid
Nigga I made Just more money than you did
The nerve of the loser
Keep trying to hide wack ass bars behind the work of producers
In the word of computers, is he M.I.A.
Cuz he been fell off like Yung Berg on the scooter
So him and his bas’ flow need to lay low
Couple red lights will ruin his whole stage show
And put him on my payroll
How he the Yardfather when I’m dictating where the grave go?
Been years, he’s taking L’s still
Turtle couldn’t help him, maybe a shell will
Don’t look like a winner to me
Small meal to a pitchfork, you lookin like dinner to me
Plus ya diss track sound like a beginner to me
Ya whole shine’s like a dimmer to me
Fight who nigga?
You betta know how we get it in Jerz
Velcro his tongue, hope dude stick to his word
Nigga you’ll be in an ally covered
And you don’t love the kids, you just want us to think that you Sally Struthers
I’ll pit you with the worse kind of men
Dudes who become everything they condemn
You’d think that jail learned him a lesson
Until he bragged bout everything he learned in jail
Nah, I don’t think his struggle is lackin
He did a long bid, came home and had trouble adapting
Afraid of adulthood, has trouble relaxin
No choices, had to try his hustle at rapping
Here’s a jewel, maybe you should put ya first disc out on Amazon
Before you go fronting when the camera on
And the poor fans kept the hope
But prison was the only place he was next to blow
So he calls me a fag like he homophobic
Cuz they had him on his knees like “homo, hold it!”
Run around, he screamin “O don’t poke it”
It’s a small world, how you think Joe don’t know it?
Guess there’s where the lies get deeper
Cuz he went in a tight end and came out a wide receiver
There’s bones in ya closet that you can’t hide
Ya fans know you went to jail, me I know why
Sai, you ain’t brollic enough
Somebody better play third wheel and try to stop the fuck
Cuz I’ll put it in 5th gear, like who he gonna threaten next?
Fill his whole body with metal, now he Weapon X
Had the upper hand from go
Shirt always off, “How Does It Feel”, D’Angelo to get naked like a down hooker?
My dudes outta town ‘ll book ya
Ya whole gangsta’s Brown Sugar
With no point to his vlog, had the world waiting
Flexing for ten minutes like he had a girl tape him
Just co-signed for you said you had a classic
Now he got no time for you, wrote you off on taxes
Now he lonely, vulnerable lookin soft
Tried to help him, I been in his shoes, I just took ‘em off
To put it simply, how could he offend me?
I can teach ‘em how to live real major on an indie
So picture dude upsetting me
Stop complaining and take control of your own fucking destiny
He blames radio, blames Atlantic
Craig Kallman, but I can’t blame ‘em they panicked
Nobody scared he’s like hockey, retired for a minute, came back and nobody cared
So for me to take this serious homes
Get Mook, Loaded Lux, Jin maybe Serius Jones
To help write your shit, make it brand anew
If not look for the nation to abandon you
Be mad at yourself and ask yourself
You know I’m a rap giant, why Plax yourself?
Dude went ahead, axed himself
He cut off his nose to spite his face, Mike Jacked himself
Bryan, how the fuck you think less of me?
When you easily the less MC
Thought it’d be fun but that’s deaded to me
This point im battling my own perception trying to beat what’s expected of me
Nino Bless said you was a bull too
But im in widescreen, I aint see that full view
I know how ya hoe ass felt
Make it so you can’t eat, put an extra hole in that belt
Ain’t a gain in site
Coco Chanel ain’t the only nigga that’ll put pain in his life
Dead weight, get ya head straight
Cut the track off, listen to ya thoughts, checkmate.

D/L: http://www.zshare.net/download/54339054bc723720/

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The truth is here, the truth is here!

To kick off this blog in the right way, and to let anyone that happens to come across it know how I feel about hip hop, it's artists, it's labels, and it's direction I thought it appropriate to begin with a verse from a man who can put it much better than I. For anyone unfamiliar with Brother Ali at this point, let me say I feel sorry for you. You're missing out on one of the greatest voices in hip hop in the last few years. Aside from a strong, commanding voice, smooth delivery, and well-structured, insightful lyrics, Ali brings something of value to hip hop that most in the mainstream are afraid to deliver - honesty. Through a life struggle that is at the same time unique and completely common, Ali delivers his truest thoughts, feelings, and stories of his life and the world he sees around him in a way that people cannot help but relate to because, well, it's the truth. He doesn't play the tough gangster, the drug kingpin, or the pimp/player (all of them millionaires many times over) to glorify himself and try to impress his impressionable audience.
While some rappers, once exposed, may fall back on the excuse that their music is no different from watching a movie - no one believes that Al Pacino is Tony Montana - the truth is that they desperately want people to believe that what they spit is their life. They need it to validate them. Not only are they uncomfortable in their own skin, they have no idea how to translate their actual life to paper in interesting ways, so they brag and boast the same old bullshit that everyone else does because it's easy. And, with little talent, low self-esteem, and a limited vocabulary it's the only way that they can make a song.
Thankfully, Brother Ali has no problem addressing these issues in hip hop. From the rappers putting out bullshit and calling anyone not praising it a hater, to the labels taking advantage of these broke wannabe stars with no knowledge or respect for hip hop to line their own pockets, Ali points out the problem and tries to encourage people to fix it.

The following is a verse from a song he recorded recently with Wale called "2nd Time Around". If you like the style, go pick up Brother Ali's The Undisputed Truth, the best album of 2007 in my opinion. Also, check for this song on The New Deal mixtape by 10 Deep & DJ Benzi, or the Brother Ali mixtape The Rope-A-Dope. Wale's The Mixtape About Nothing is another winner from 2008 as well, by the way.


rappers can’t clap me, jackers can’t gat me
original meaning of jazzy fat nasty
I don’t bite rappers lines, I bite the captain’s arm off
I don’t throw shots in the air, I throw that Molotov,
cocktail, reservoir dog my kinda arms
ya’ll scared to get that revolution poppin off
you really got the guns you claim in a track?
then my question for you is who you aiming em at?
you complaining that the rap police caught you with a gat under the seat
misdemeanored that 20 bag of weed
but little ol’ me with the few facts that I speak
the homeland security gaffled me overseas
closed my bank account and seized my guarantee
and ya’ll are sound scanning like 100 more than me
they kickin you off tour for freakin a chick or two
Verizon dissed me too, cuz I was too political
ya’ll are all safe and shit, ya’ll are not sayin shit
you just snap your fingers and dance and make your label rich
gotta pay back that advance, so they ain’t gave you shit
this is your chance to say something and you’re wastin it
people are starvin, you talkin bout ballin
can’t think of nothin more important than that jargon
100 different ways to describe diamonds sparklin
eighty percent of kids are listenin to ya’ll shit
I heard that statistic I almost cried
never wanted so bad for 2Pac to be alive
what the fuck happened to rap when
the gangsters are scared of upsetting their industry masters?
It ain’t my place to say and I hear all that
but fuck that, I live in the hood and we need ya’ll cats
so, as soon as I hear ya’ll on some real pro-black
then I will gladly go back to my EMO rap
they say the truth don’t belong to nobody, if you see it you speak it
it would be a sin to keep it a secret
so, if I need to breathe then believe that I mean it
quit tryin to be somebody’s boss and be a leader
if it wasn’t bad enough your labels are hoeing you
you can’t even scan, your fans are downloading you
there’s no connection, so they’re not supporting you
you ain’t never shed light on nothing that they going through
we ain’t buying CDs, we’re striving to live
and these artists don’t need me, they already rich
I ain’t hatin on you – rock them shines
just remember us from time to time when you drop them lines
rappers can’t clap me, jackers can’t gat me,
original meaning of jazzy fat nasty,
busy raisin babies and livin on tour
signing off Brother Ali, sincerely yours