Friday, December 31, 2010

Kid Cudi - All Along

For my friend Tim...and for anyone else who's a fan of Cudi/stop motion/gremlins. This isn't an official video.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Hip Hop Related Xmas Gifts

HHIB Best of 2010 lists are coming soon...In the meantime, just thought I'd share with you the gifts I received this Christmas that are Hip Hop related:



This book from Russell Simmons is a few years old, I think. I've seen it in stores before. I didn't ask for it, but a relative thought I'd enjoy it, I guess. I'm sure I will. I always liked Russell (actually got to attend a speaking engagement he did at UC a few years back that was informative and inspiring), and the influence he's had on Hip Hop, on business, and on bringing the two together is unparallelled. I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two from this book that I can use in my future business endeavors.




This was on my Amazon Wish List. I keep stuff on there that I plan to buy throughout the year, and if i don't, I'm hoping someone else will. I wanted to support Joe Budden because he puts out some of the best and most thought out music in Hip Hop right now. He's not the kind of MC that's just about clever punchlines here and there, he really puts everything he is into his music. And that makes it worthwhile...and worth the purchase. Click here for my last post on MM4. Unfortunately, the store version isn't quite as good as the one I grabbed off the Internet. The song list is shorter, and a few of my favorite tracks are redone. It may take some getting used to. Still a great album though.




Lastly, Jay-Z's Decoded is something I was interested in reading since it was announced at least a year or so ago. So, I was glad to get it. I was surprised to find how well put together it actually was though. A lot of work was put into this book and it's obvious just flipping through.

The book is more than just some printed lyrics and the the story behind them, or an explanation of their meaning. It's a more in-depth autobiography that gives additional background and insight to the first autobiography - the music. I'm only a little ways into it. But, so far I'm enjoying reading about how certain relationships and situations influenced the verses, and I was surprised to find that there was even more to some of the lines that I didn't pick up on yet. Not so much the witty wordplay, but more so the use of certain words that help to reflect the overall mood of the character in the song. I'd definitely recommend this book to any fan of Jay-Z, and even more to those that don't yet appreciate his talent.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Gutter Rainbows



Tracklist for the new Talib Kweli album, supposedly available in January. Whoa.


1. After The Rain (produced by 88-Keys)
2. Gutter Rainbows (produced by M-Phazes)
3. So Low (produced by Shuko)
4. Palookas feat. Sean Price (produced by Marco Polo)
5. Mr. International feat. Nigel Hall (produced by S1)
6. I’m On One (produced by KHRYSIS!)
7. Wait For You feat. Kendra Ross (produced by S1)
8. Ain’t Waiting feat. Outasight (produced by 6th sense)
9. Cold Rain (produced by Ski Beatz)
10. Friends & Family (produced by E. Jones)
11. Tater Tot (produced by Nick Speed)
12. How You Love Me feat. Blaq Toven (produced by Blaq Toven)
13. Uh Oh feat. Jean Grae (produced by Oh No)
14. Self Savior feat. Chace Infinite (produced by Maurice Brown)

Friday, December 10, 2010

"Get Used To Us" - Before I Listen

"I'll let my record talk for me like a Preem hook" - Royce Da 5'9"

I'm about to check out this DJ Premier album. I'm a little disappointed in the track list though. He can literally get anyone he wants, but NYGz are on there like 5 times. Plus, "Sing Like Bilal" with Joell Ortiz has already shown up enough on Joell's mixtapes this year, and should have been left off of this album. I guess it's a producer's album to promote his label. But, still.

Actually, with someone like Premier, I have absolutely ZERO interest in him breaking new talent. I really only want to hear established MCs that I respect over his beats. I mean, think about it. When you talk about your favorite MCs, if they haven't worked with Premier yet, you say how great it would be if they did. If they have worked with Premier that work is pretty much always hailed as their best. So, is it too much to ask that he do albums for my handpicked artists?

Anyway, I'm sure this album turned out great, but hopefully not too short of what it could be. I am looking forward to the Teflon/Styles P. match up, and Premier cutting up records on the hooks. But, in terms of Premier v. Pete Rock, this has to hold up to Soul Survivor!

In all likelihood I'll probably end up making the purchase to support. If Premier doesn't earn your money, who does? As long as he leaves off all his drops. Maybe I'm crazy, but he has some of the most annoying drops of any DJ, and they haven't changed in like 15 years.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Toca Tuesdays W/ Kweli & Freeway

Talib dropped his Blacksmith Presents: The Community Mixtape the other day on the Internet. So, to promote I guess, he dropped by Tony Touch's radio show with Freeway to trade some bars. About to check out that mixtape myself. Any opinions?


Saturday, December 4, 2010

Von Pea F/ The Lessondary - Faded

Love this track. Not from Pea's Gotta Have It, the LP he released recently, but rather from "The Most Skulduggery Of Mixtapes", So Motivational, he dropped over the summer. The beat is gutter as fuck, and the way it fades out and comes back in is dope to me. The Lessondary is a pretty capable crew of MCs, and I'm looking forward to an album from them sometime soon. It's fitting to have this song/video recorded in a dirty basement - kind of reminds me of the house parties my friend's used to throw up in Clifton years ago. Enjoy.

Chali 2na - Step Your Game Up

New video from Chali 2na off his most recent album Fish Market 2. I'ma have to pull this one out again. 2na was always the most loved out of Jurassic 5, mostly b/c of his distinctive voice. But, the group as a whole really was phenomenal. They complimented each other so well, and that old school rhyme style of actually rhyming together really stood out among pretty much all the rest of today where everyone has a separate verse on a track. I saw them at a free show on UC's campus a few years ago, after the Power in Numbers album had been played in my car for at least three months straight. It was definitely one of the best Hip Hop shows I've ever been to. Their style really comes to life in a new way at a live show, that cannot be replicated adequately on a recording.

We need another J5 album, like yesterday. What the hell are the other members doing anyway? I see some mixes from the DJs once in a while, but the MCs seem to have vanished. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. If anyone has any info on them, pass it my way. I'd like to hear it. But, again, these are MCs that need to feed off each other - Chali 2na included - for them to really shine.