tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44719072111064565792024-03-13T19:14:16.544-04:00Hip Hop is BledIt's in the veinsSean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-18640505815459045162012-04-09T23:12:00.001-04:002012-04-09T23:12:20.484-04:00Billy Joel's "My Life" Re-imagined By The Kickdrums/Machine Gun KellyIf <a href="http://thekickdrums.com/" target="_blank">The Kickdrums</a> aren't on your radar yet, they oughtta be. They're an indie rock group, I guess. Their sound blends with hip hop in a great way though, as the many collaborations with MCs on multiple albums will prove.<br />
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I like what the band did here in reworking <b>Billy Joel's</b> hit <b><i>"My Life"</i></b>. It's interesting. And, while I'm not completely sold on <b>Machine Gun Kelly</b> yet, he holds his own here. Check out both versions below.<br />
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Also, if you're really interested you can catch a music video for <b>Billy Joel's</b> <b><i>"My Life"</i></b> below. You may notice that the song used at the beginning of the video (<b><i>"Stiletto"</i></b> by <b>Joel</b>) was sampled for<b> Kool G. Rap's </b>classic <b><i>"Road to the Riches".</i></b><br />
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<b><i><br /></i></b>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-52790801700268134672012-04-04T22:51:00.000-04:002012-04-04T22:54:15.456-04:00Iron Solomon Branches Out With 'Monster'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you've ever heard <b>Iron Solomon</b> rap you know the guy's got bars. He's been on the battle circuit for years destroying damn near everyone in his path. It was inevitable that he would eventually take the next step and record an actual album. Well, here it is. The album is called <b><i>Monster</i></b>, and I guess it's meant to showcase the versatile talent that <b>Solomon</b> possesses, and hopefully be the jump off point to a successful career.<br />
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I had my doubts. And, after the first few tracks (<b>Kweli</b> feature aside) it seemed I was right to. The trouble with most battle rappers turned recording artists is that they can't write songs. They brag and boast, diss nobody in particular, and vomit punchlines without any cohesiveness or real direction. The concepts are thin at best, and the hooks are usually a single phrase repeated over and over. What works in front of a challenger while encircled by a crowd of blood thirsty hip hop heads is less interesting for 15 tracks on wax. There's been a long list of MCs that couldn't make the transition.<br />
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But, about midway through <b><i>Monster</i></b>, <b>Iron Solomon</b> started to find his groove. The battle-ready attitude gave way to a more thoughtful lyricist that actually had something to say. <br />
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<b>Solomon</b> could have just relied on punchlines hoping they would carry an album like they won him battles. But, he played it a smarter way. He knew that shit wouldn't fly and didn't try to force it. He used different rhyme schemes and deliveries throughout, focusing more on alliteration and consonance than metaphors and similes. As a result, <b><i>Monster</i></b> delivered much more substance. For that, he should be commended. This isn't the best debut I've ever heard, but <b>Iron Solomon</b> has proved that he's more than just a battle rapper. He's a versatile MC with the potential to be a notable, dynamic voice in Hip Hop for years to come.<br />
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Plus, he got <b>DMC</b> on his album. Top that rookies.<br />
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If you wanna check out some snippets and/or buy the album click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Explicit/dp/B0078XMYUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333592624&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a>, or find it yourself. Ha!Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-43523325163563141122012-04-01T20:44:00.001-04:002012-04-01T20:44:53.114-04:00Union - AnalogtronicsI just got finished listening to this album from <b>French</b> production duo <b>Union</b>. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of their beats from this album. I am, however, a big fan of the MC lineup they put together -<b> Kweli, MF Doom, Rapper Big Pooh, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi,</b> etc.<br />
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Here's a video to a track from it. <i><b>"Time Leak"</b></i> featuring <b>Talib Kweli</b> and <b>Sly Johnson</b>.<br />
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<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-54740745874409941762012-02-10T20:27:00.002-05:002012-02-10T20:27:47.156-05:00Brother Ali To Release Free Album<i>"Crab Cakes to Shakespeare"</i>. Ha. Nice. The great <b>Brother Ali</b> has a free album to offer up on <b>February 13th</b>. It's called <b><i>The Bite Marked Heart</i></b>. Here's a video from it. Song produced by <b>Jake One</b>. Happy <b>Valentine's Day </b>to all of us.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TFcUyzpgkyw" width="560"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-81409996236504538292012-02-10T19:01:00.002-05:002012-02-10T19:40:48.926-05:002Pac After Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For some reason, I pulled out <b>2Pac's</b> <b><i>Until The End of Time</i></b> CD today. Shortly after, I remembered why I shouldn't do that. There's so many corny beats and hooks added on to those songs posthumously it's ridiculous. It really amazes me what those involved put together, especially considering that for the most part they worked with <b>Pac</b> when he was alive (i.e. <b>Johnny "J"</b>, <b>QD3</b>). Although, to be fair, those tracks probably weren't his best songs either.<br />
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I don't know how many of you heard the bootlegged versions of the actual songs that <b>Pac</b> recorded, which later became much of what you hear on these albums. My older brother ordered the 16-disc collection from some website shortly after <b>Pac's</b> passing...I'm so thankful. Many were unmixed, and the sound quality wasn't great. But, they were 10x better the way they were. The label should've mixed and mastered them and left it at that (especially not editing out <b>Wendy Williams' </b>name while keeping <b>Jay's, Havoc's</b> and <b>P's </b>- dumb shit). If, for some reason they couldn't do that legally, they should have done it anyway and released them for free. Because these posthumous "interpretations" are an embarrassment to his legacy. That is all.<br />
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<b><u>Note</u></b>: The pic above is a poster I had on my wall growing up. Well, from age 14 or so to 22.Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-54787608969094460112012-01-31T17:57:00.001-05:002012-01-31T18:00:14.640-05:00De La Soul - "We Made It (Skit)"New <b>De La</b>. <b>Plug 1 & Plug 2</b> <i><b>Present: First Serve</b></i>. <i>April 2nd</i>. On <b>Duck Down Records</b>.<br />
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Goddamn that label has everyone worth talking about it seems.<br />
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Here's a video from one of the skits which serves as a teaser for the album. I know you probably don't like skits. Well, just remember that <b>De La Soul</b> and <b>Prince Paul</b> pretty much invented the skit on their debut album to further a theme and turn an album into something more cinematic. It was a bunch of other rappers that ruined it with their uninspired bullshit in years to come.<br />
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Who has two thumbs and can't fucking wait for this album??<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b style="background-color: black;">De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve -- The album out April 2nd. Watch the 'We Made It Skit' from the animated world of De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve. The video follows our heroes Deen Whitter and Jacob 'Pop Life' Barrow from their early days of laying down demos and mixtapes to hitting the big time, signing to Goon Time Records. </b></i></span></span>
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I love talking Hip Hop with people on <b>Twitter</b>. You never know when you'll come across someone who appreciates the art the way you do. <b>Aisha Behar</b> is someone I've conversed with a lot, and when I saw some of the photos she took at Hip Hop shows, I knew I had to share them with my circle as well. So, she sent a few my way. Below is a short write up about what it was like for her to be in the audience for a <b>Jean Grae</b> show (a treat I have yet to experience), and some photos she took while there enjoying herself. If you like what you see, you can follow her on <b>Twitter</b> @EeeshISDope. Enjoy.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i><b>I mean I really don’t even know where to start. A Jean Grae
show is unlike any other show I’ve ever been to. I had the pleasure to catch
Jean Grae a few months ago in L.A. at the Airliner when she was touring
promoting her ‘Cookies or Comas’ EP. What I liked most was that she makes
everyone feel as if we are all friends. In a packed venue, it was still a very
intimate show. She even makes sure no one takes pictures during the
performance, so that you can actually enjoy the show. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><i><b>The majority of the songs
were from ‘Cookies or Comas’, but some of the songs were songs I had never
heard, off the upcoming LP ‘Cake or Death’. With any other performer I probably
would’ve been a little turned off; due to wanting to hear songs that I knew so
I could sing along. However, with Jean songs it only makes me even more
impatient to listen to ‘Cake or Death’. Shout out to Mr. Len her DJ he is
amazing as well. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><i><b>She’s a witty, sarcastic, classy, intellectual, asshole. Who
brings with a vodka filled water gun on stage, performed the entire time with a
cigarette behind her ear, taught us how to two-step, and actually spent time
with fans after the show. What more could you possibly ask for? The Jean Grae
Experience is awesome! Enjoy the pictures I captured from this amazing show.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-22110618489341163982012-01-06T14:45:00.003-05:002012-01-06T14:46:32.500-05:00Apollo Brown & OC Announce Trophies<img src="http://img2.ymlp329.net/b8j9_VVS0450_1.jpg" /><br />
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I've been a fan of <b>OC</b> for a long time. Probably 15+ years. He's one of my favorite MCs and someone I always bring up when discussing the most slept-on in Hip Hop. He's definitely slept-on, though among serious heads he's considered a legend. Apollo Brown hasn't been on my radar for too long, maybe a year or two, but his production is amazing - refreshing, original, and a mix of sounds and genres that's purely Hip Hop in the end. Doesn't that sound funny?<br />
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<b>Apollo Brown</b> and <b>D.C.</b> producer <b>Oddisee</b> are two of my favorite beatsmiths right now. You can find both on my <i><b>Best of 2011</b></i> list (scroll down). <b>Brown</b> shows up in the <i>"top 25 albums"</i> section for his collaboration with <b>Hassaan Mackey</b>, <b><i>Daily Bread</i></b>; and in the <i>"songs"</i> section for a track with <b>Oddisee</b> rapping called <i><b>"The Times"</b></i>. <b>OC</b> shows up on the <b>DJ JS-1</b> album with a song dedicated to <b>DJ Roc Raida</b>.<br />
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Today it was announced that <b>Apollo Brown</b> and <b>OC</b> have completed a joint album together entitled <b><i>"Trophies"</i></b>, which is sure to make my top albums of 2012 by year's end. Needless to say, I'm excited. The release date is March 27, 2012.<br />
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Below an instrumental from <b>Brown's</b> <i style="font-weight: bold;">Clouds </i>project, which later became <i><b>"The Times"</b></i> after <b>Oddisee </b>recorded vocals, and the <b>OC/JS-1</b> song I mentioned earlier called <b><i>"Life"</i></b> which I happened to be listening to this morning before reading this news.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iAhJR3YGwak" width="420"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-6588462221014138262011-12-31T14:18:00.004-05:002011-12-31T14:18:53.269-05:00Best Hip Hop of 2011Happy <i>'End of 2011'</i> everyone. It's been a long, trying year for me. Things are always better than they could be though. This is a list of the music (released this year) that served as my life's soundtrack.<br />
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Because the line between albums, EPs, and mixtapes has been further blurred in Hip Hop, I just put together a list of my top <u>25</u> favorite projects of the year, an honorable mention list for other projects I recommend, and a list of some of my favorite songs (which I have conveniently included a <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TET5M3YR" target="_blank">link</a> for, if you're interested). I try not to be too negative on here anymore, as it's much more productive to talk about the things I like. But, there are a few disappointments that I felt I had to mention as well.<br />
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Try not to take the order too seriously. Good is good. But, please feel free to agree or disagree (if you dare. Ha!). And, do what you can to support the artists you like. See ya in <b>2012</b>.<br />
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<u><b>Top 25 Projects</b></u><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>The Roots - Undun</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>9th Wonder - The Wonder Years</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Money Making Jam Boys mixtape</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Mohammad Dangerfield</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva mixtape</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Atmosphere - The Family Sign</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Zion I & The Grouch - Heroes in the Healing of a Nation</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Skyzoo - The Great Debater</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Jean Grae - Cookies or Comas mixtape</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Jermiside - Live & Let Live</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Kendrick Lamar - Section 80</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>eLZhi - Elmatic</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Cunninlynguists - Oneirology</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Fresh Daily - The Quiet Life</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Random Axe</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>DJ JS-1 - No One Cares</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Focus - Music of the Misinterpreted</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun - Monumental</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown - Daily Bread</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Evidence - Cats & Dogs</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Phonte - Charity Starts at Home</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Tanya Morgan - You & What Army EP</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>J-Live - S.P.T.A.</b></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b><u>Other Notables (25 More Ha!)</u></b><br />
<i>Consequence - MOD 2</i><br />
<i>MC Esoteric - Boston Pharaoh</i><br />
<i>Fashawn - Higher Learning 2</i><br />
<i>Malcolm & Martin - Life Doesn't Frighten Me</i><br />
<i>80 Blocks From Tiffany's mixtape</i><br />
<i>Edo G. - A Face in the Crowd</i><br />
<i>Fly Union - TGTC</i><br />
<i>One Be Lo - Laborhood 1</i><br />
<i>Outasight - Figure 8 EP</i><br />
<i>Astronote - Weapon of the Future</i><br />
<i>The Doppelgangaz - Lone Sharks</i><br />
<i>Bad Meets Evil</i><br />
<i>STS - The Illustrious (STS is GOLD)</i><br />
<i>Casual - The Hierophant</i><br />
<i>Apathy - Honkey Kong</i><br />
<i>Rapper Big Pooh - Dirty Pretty Things/</i><i>Fat Boy Fresh Vol. 1 mixtape</i><br />
<i>yU - The Earn</i><br />
<i>A-Plus - Pepper Spray</i><br />
<i>The Away Team - Scars & Stripes</i><br />
<i>Torae - For The Record</i><br />
<i>Strange Fruit Project - A Dreamer's Journey</i><br />
<i>The Black Keys - El Camino</i><br />
<i>Self Scientific - Songs of the Blackhearted EP</i><br />
<i>Murs & Ski Beatz - Love & Rockets Vol. 1</i><br />
<i>M.O.P & Snowgoons - Sparta </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b><u>Disappointments</u></b><br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;">Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told</span></b></i> - This album got a love, but I think it's bullshit. You'd think after how ever many years it took to get this out he would've come with an undeniable classic. But, I'm denying it. The whole thing sounded thrown together to me, and was overall boring.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;">Lupe Fiasco - Lasers</span></b> - </i>Give me a fucking break.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;">Watch The Throne</span></b></i> - No doubt this album was a defining one of 2011. There is some good material on it, but lyrically I think it fell way short of expectations. Plus, <i><b>"Lift Off"</b></i> and <b><i>"Made in America"</i></b> are two of the worst songs I've heard all year by any artist.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Some Favorite Songs</u></b><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"25th Hour" - Reks (prod. by DJ Premier)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"AfriKingStyle" - Spec Boogie</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Back to Back" - Fresh Daily</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Beautifully Bad" - Idle Warship</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Black Hand Side" - Pharoahe Monch f/ Styles P. & Phonte</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Chewbacca" - Random Axe f/ Roc Marciano</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Dance Pants" - Recess f/ Donwill</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Daydreams" - Green Street f/ Donwill</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Designer Drugs" - Skyzoo</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Distractions" - Talib Kweli</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Dreamin' - Big K.R.I.T.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Epic Salutations" - Murs & Ski Beatz</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Fake I.D." - Consequence f. Q-Tip, Large Professor, & Havoc</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Fast Lane" - Edo G. (prod. by DJ Premier)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"For Certain" - Oddisee f/ Diamond District</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"I Used to be Vegan" - Zion I & The Grouch</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Kidnap Your Boyfriend" - George Watsky</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Make Some Noise" - Beastie Boys</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"I-10" - Murs & Whole Wheat Bread</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"One Time" - Rapsody f/ Tab One, Charlie Smarts & Phonte</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Palin/Vick" - MC Esoteric</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Put Some Money On It Remix" - Slaughterhouse f/ The Lox</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"R.I.P." - Jean Grae f/ Style P. & Talib Kweli</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Shady 2.0 BET Cypher" - Yelawolf, Slaughterhouse, & Eminem</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"The Times" - Apollo Brown f/ Oddisee</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"Whatever That's Mine" - Tanya Morgan</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"You Don't Like It (So What)" - Jean Grae</b></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Link: <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TET5M3YR" target="_blank">Favorite Songs of 2011</a><br />
<i><br /></i>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-13044596541505657962011-12-29T15:14:00.001-05:002011-12-29T15:41:22.933-05:00Hasan Salaam - Music Is My Weapon EPAfter the greatness that was the<b> Mohammad Dangerfield</b> project earlier this year (read about it <a href="http://hiphopisbled.blogspot.com/2011/04/mohammed-dangerfield.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>), I think it's safe to say that my ears are open to anything <b>Hasan Salaam</b> &/or <b>Rugged N Raw</b> are a part of. This especially goes to a philanthropic project aimed at helping the world through music<br />
<br />
<b>Salaam</b> recently put out an EP titled <b><i>Music Is My Weapon</i></b> which you can purchase on his website <a href="http://www.hasansalaammusic.com/" target="_blank">http://www.hasansalaammusic.com/</a>. Though the title is much more than a metaphor in this case. Instead of explaining the project here, click the video below and hear it from <b>Salaam</b> himself.<br />
<br />
Overall, I like the EP. It's 9 tracks deep, and most are pretty good. My favorite would probably have to be <b><i>"Shining"</i></b> which features <b>Salaam</b> alongside <b>Steele</b> (of <b>Smif 'N' Wessun</b>), <b>Reef The Lost Cause</b>, and <b>Chace Infinite</b> (the lyrical half of <b>Self Scientific</b>). My least favorite may have to be a track most others seem to like, <b><i>"AK-47"</i></b>, if for nothing else than its all-too-familiar subject matter. The personification of a gun is about as original in Hip Hop as the personification of Hip Hop itself (as a female), and I'm fucking tired of it.<br />
<br />
Listen to a preview on his website or <b>YouTube</b> and support his cause for under $10. Also, since 100% of proceeds from this album go to the village in <b>Africa</b>, consider picking up the <b><i>MoDanger</i></b> album as well, and put some well-deserved money in <b>Salaam's</b> pocket. Good Hip Hop needs to be supported.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r1anneIofr8" width="560"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-70258029693236711152011-12-29T15:03:00.001-05:002011-12-29T15:04:06.667-05:00Murs - "'67 Cutlass"Have you heard <b>Murs'</b> joint project with <b>Ski Beatz</b>, <b><i>Love & Rockets Vol. 1</i></b>, yet? If not, I suggest you check it out (as well as <b>Murs'</b> back catalog if you're not familiar - <b>Ski's</b> too, for that matter).<br />
<br />
Since becoming aware of him through his first collaboration with <b>9th Wonder</b>, <b>Murs</b> has quickly climbed into my favorite MCs list. Here is a video he put online recently for one of the tracks off of <b><i>Love & Rockets</i></b>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>"'67 Cutlass"</i></b> was descriptive enough to paint a clear picture without visuals, but this video, with animated additions, really succeeds at adding some humor to the song.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UchbPV-X8CQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-31924708726200073642011-12-25T21:33:00.001-05:002011-12-25T21:33:57.109-05:00Jingle Fucking BellsWell, would you check these two fucking weirdos out?<br />
<br />
For the xmas season, <b>Jean Grae & Mela Machinko</b> team up as the <b>Hellpit Faeries</b> to spread some holiday cheer with a <u>FreEp</u>. And, to top it off they shot this video <b><i>"It's the Most Fucking Wonderful Time of the Year"</i></b> with an <b>iPhone</b>. Merry Muthaphuckin' Xmas to all!!!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34188355?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/34188355">It's The Most Fucking Wonderful Time - Hellpit Faeries</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/warmedia">W.A.R. Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6f7h7pvnj7qnp9s" target="_blank">Jingle Fucking Bells FreEp</a>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-89119304222996830592011-12-21T11:03:00.002-05:002011-12-21T11:03:41.911-05:00Common Premiers Video On AMCAfter about two listens, I can say that I like the new <b>Common</b> album, <b><i>The Dreamer, The Believer</i></b>. It's definitely an improvement over the last two he put out. I wouldn't say he's going back to his roots or anything like that. The <b>Common</b> of old seems to be gone. Well, maybe just with the overall sound, not so much the lyrical content or approach.<br />
<br />
That's okay with me though. He had classics, sure. But, if I want that I can listen to those albums. There's no need to repeat it. I like when artists grow and try new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But, the risk is worth it. The risk is what can end producing something new that works.<br />
<br />
I finally watched this past week's episode of <b><i>Hell on Wheels</i></b> on <b>AMC</b>, which <b>Common</b> has a major role in. I like the show. Though I thought it was a big mistake for <b>Common</b> to premier (a sneak peak of) his new music video for <i><b>"Celebrate"</b></i> right after it ended. To me, it kind of hurt the integrity of the show, and of <b>Common</b> as an actor. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Hell on Wheels</i></b> after all is not <b><i>The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air</i></b> (remember when they premiered the video for <b><i>"Summertime"</i></b> after that show?). It is a period piece taking place in the mid 19th Century just after the <b>Civil War</b>. The audience spends an hour sinking into that reality only to be jolted out of it, out of the realness of the characters, when <b>Common</b> presents himself in a tuxedo at a present day party scene.<br />
<br />
If he wants to be taken seriously as an actor, on <b>AMC</b>, he should just act. There's no need to push the music on people. I think his people probably thought it would be good for him to reach out to the audience of the show who may not know his music. But, this is forced. Just branching out with the acting gets <b>Common's</b> name and image out to these new audiences. After putting himself out there though, it would have been wiser to sit back and let the audience come to him.<br />
<br />
All that said, <b><i>"Celebrate"</i></b> is a nice song and video, and a good choice for a single. Drop me a line here or on Twitter and let me know what you think. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8efjQGCfClc" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-76729781185862767982011-12-19T17:51:00.004-05:002011-12-19T17:51:37.995-05:00Undun - Short FilmDirected by <b>Clifton Bell</b>, this video offers us a visual interpretation of 4 songs from <b>The Roots'</b> new album <b><i>Undun</i></b>. While the story is told backwards on the album, this film depicts the events chronologically. I'm looking forward to the possibility of a full movie for the entire album eventually...this is a good teaser though.<br />
<br />
The more I listen to <b><i>Undun</i></b> the more I enjoy it. The story, at first, wasn't completely clear to me. But, it wasn't needed. The songs really have the ability to stand on their own without their larger concept attached. This makes it all the more impressive that <b>The Roots</b> were able to weave in a story. And, it's not just the verses from <b>Black Thought</b> and co. The band's music is thematic in and of itself, and adds to the richness of the story as it plays out.<br />
<br />
Definitely take a listen to <b><i>Undun</i></b> if you haven't yet. <b>The Roots</b> seem to get better as time goes on, and this album is no exception. They're trying new things and challenging themselves with their approach to music, and are continually producing the kind of work that sets them apart from the rest as the premier band and torch carrier for hip hop music.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/32534820?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/32534820">The Roots - UNDUN</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ghettonerd">The Ghettonerd Company, LLC</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-60280928943937611852011-11-09T12:13:00.001-05:002011-11-09T13:00:29.576-05:00My Thoughts On Heavy D<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhUt9q2ck9lkE2MC9ssVlsJIOivPEZ1LKpDdZ0Z8zHIH5Rl-eUmLaY00xlTUrHLH7xaGbYUPDu8UKw0snNY2J0UQMgbFufe8rK0SRmmr7rWXH1XogaEcDYSzyt3X7MuZ6rlkaO748bOM9/s1600/heavyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhUt9q2ck9lkE2MC9ssVlsJIOivPEZ1LKpDdZ0Z8zHIH5Rl-eUmLaY00xlTUrHLH7xaGbYUPDu8UKw0snNY2J0UQMgbFufe8rK0SRmmr7rWXH1XogaEcDYSzyt3X7MuZ6rlkaO748bOM9/s320/heavyd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was starting to post some
thoughts on <b>Twitter</b> last night. But, they were coming too fast and my signal
was choppy. Plus, there are much more important people to me that all of you
want to hear from more I'm sure. <b>D-Nice</b> had some good anecdotes. I'm sure<b> Hev's</b>
cousin <b>Pete Rock</b> did too. I'll have to check today. Apparently, <b>Heavy D</b>'s last
tweet of his own read "Be Inspired". Those are good last words, I
think. Words which serve to encourage others.</div>
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I was in my wife's car yesterday
afternoon, and one thing we had talked about was <b>Heavy D</b>'s appearance on <b>Law
& Order: SVU</b> recently. Literally ten minutes later I got a text that he
had died. It took me by surprise. I know the size was in his name, but <b>Heavy D</b>
wasn't really all that heavy anymore. When people are young (he was 44) and
healthy it's hard to imagine them dying. And, 44?!?! That was surprising too. I
think his first album came out in 1987. That would have made him 20 at the
time! He always seemed older to me though. Maybe because I was so young when I
started listening to his music.</div>
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I first heard <b>Heavy D & The
Boyz</b> on a song called <b><i>"We Got Our Own Thang"</i></b> off of his second album.
I didn't have the album. I had the 2nd volume of the <b>Yo! MTV Raps</b> compilation,
and it appeared on there. I was a very young kid, but I loved his rhyme style, and
the way he said <i>"diddly-diddly-dee"</i>. It was fun. It was something I
would practice too. In the early 90's, <b>Hev</b> started popping up everywhere.
He did the theme song to <b>In Living Color</b> (if you're not from that era just know
that EVERYONE watched that show), appeared on <b>Yo! MTV Raps</b> (which I watched
religiously back then), appeared as himself on <b>A Different World</b> and <b>The Fresh
Prince of Bel-Air</b>, and had an actual role for several episodes on <b>Roc</b> that I'll
always remember. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I ran out to buy
his 1991 album <b>Peaceful Journey</b> largely off the strength of his personality,
and the lead single <b><i>"Now That We Found Love"</i></b> featuring <b>Aaron Hall</b>. I
remember he wore a black jumpsuit that looked like a garbage bag in the video -
this was years before <b>Missy</b> wore something similar in her video. I'm not saying
it was fashionable, but it <i>was</i> memorable. I listened to this
tape over and over and over again. It was this album that helped me understand
a little more about how Hip Hop came together with DJs, Producers, MCs, and
samples. I also got to know who <b>Pete Rock</b> was, and how great it was to hear a
<i>'posse cut'</i> with a bunch of great rappers on the same song. <b><i>"Don't
Curse"</i></b> is still my all-time favorite. Raw beat. Dope verses. The song is
infectious to this day. And, <b>Big Daddy Kane</b> was my favorite MC at the time. So,
to hear him on a <b>Heavy D</b> song made me like <b>Hev</b> even more, I think. While <b>Heavy
D</b> clearly shined on the album, he brought in one hell of a supporting cast
including <b>K-Ci & JoJo</b> (way before they broke away from <b>Jodeci</b>), <b>Aaron Hall,
Kane, CL Smooth, Grand Puba, Q-Tip, </b>and<b> Johnny Gill</b> which rounded out the <b>Uptown
Records</b> sound he was putting out there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Heavy D</b> had a
light, fun, and soulful approach to Hip Hop even while others were getting more
and more street. He didn't try to keep up with trends. He, well, had his own
thang...going on. He hardly cursed (and encouraged other MCs not to on <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Don't Curse" </i>to show Hip Hop haters that they could do it, even if they didn't always want to), and that made older people accept him, and thus, be
more accepting of Hip Hop too. He was able to express himself anyway. Imagine
that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I won't sit
here and say he was the greatest rapper to ever pick up a microphone. He
wasn't (though he was underrated). But, he had style and personality to match his unique talent. He had
skills. He was nonthreatening and genuine. He positioned himself as a lover with many songs on each album about women (not bitches) and it worked. He drew people in and pushed Hip Hop culture forward. He developed new
talent (<i>"Heavy D and Who!?!?!?"</i>), produced great songs (<b>Beanie Sigel's</b>
<b><i>"Feel it in the Air"</i></b> is amazing), became a serious actor, and began
to record some decent reggae music as well.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Dwight "Heavy D" Myers</b>
was a real talent, and to hear his peers tell it, was a genuinely good person.
I will miss what he brought to the Hip Hop/entertainment industry, and I'm sure
his loved ones will miss the person they got to spend time with during their
lifetime. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>R.I.P. Heavy
Diddley-Diddley- D</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7iztp036z54" width="420"></iframe></div>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-73768947686692791622011-11-08T14:40:00.000-05:002011-11-08T14:40:13.816-05:00Tanya Morgan - Whatever That's Mine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcALR646Hb1EWzeFVYMy0E7oQg2S61D4RIciY-jP7a1-CFZUzg6Yb8aLxVXxAfdUTXDmtjFouzr29MP7iNCfLZVxuDDuV7xEl8WmcGJIykoZ67q1NXzLUK9P7e4cKMrN-h1CphTtk7MRPl/s1600/tanyamorgan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcALR646Hb1EWzeFVYMy0E7oQg2S61D4RIciY-jP7a1-CFZUzg6Yb8aLxVXxAfdUTXDmtjFouzr29MP7iNCfLZVxuDDuV7xEl8WmcGJIykoZ67q1NXzLUK9P7e4cKMrN-h1CphTtk7MRPl/s320/tanyamorgan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had to post this because I haven't been able to stop playing it since I saw it posted an hour or so ago. This is a new song by <b>Tanya Morgan</b> called <i><b>"Whatever That's Mine"</b></i> off of their EP, <b>You And What Army</b>, that'll be out November 22nd.<br />
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Click below to d/l.<br />
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<a href="http://donwill.me/2011/11/08/download-tanya-morgan-whatever-thats-mine/" target="_blank">http://donwill.me/2011/11/08/download-tanya-morgan-whatever-thats-mine/</a>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-75591814143227377462011-11-08T14:25:00.001-05:002011-11-08T14:26:08.880-05:00R.I.P. Joe Frazier<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red;">Word to Joe Frazier, got to do what pays ya!!!</span></b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/arGDnwaKzsk" width="420"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-29010799965132241752011-10-26T23:43:00.004-04:002011-10-26T23:43:54.829-04:00Jean Grae is a Jenius...You Idiots!!Check this out because <b>Jean Grae</b> is fucking awesome. Definitely the best female lyricist I've ever heard, and definitely up in the running with any male MC you could name. She's fucking amazing. If you haven't heard <b><i>'Cookies or Comas'</i></b> you're really missing out on some great Hip Hop this year. <b><i>'Cake or Death' </i></b>(hopefully) coming soon - but, I do not have the attention span of a gnat, so I'm still enjoying the rest of her catalog!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TbKYPU_4JOQ" width="560"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-73229865000398615502011-10-26T23:16:00.000-04:002011-10-26T23:21:18.113-04:00Action Bronson Makes a TV AppearanceWhat do you all think of <b>Action Bronson</b>? I got into him for a while. That <b>Dr. Lecter</b> album is pretty nice. Haven't felt some of his stuff lately - a joint called <b><i>"Muslim Wedding" </i></b>and a feature on <b>MarQ Spekt & Kno's</b> album for a song called <i><b>"Roadhouse"</b></i> had me underwhelmed. I tweeted about it, and he found it and retweeted it. I'm not sure why. I guess some people think it's funny to retweet negative comments about themselves -<b> Kweli</b> and <b>9th Wonder</b> come to mind. And, some others probably hope their "yes men" fans will defend them publicly. I did get one guy respond with "you buggin'!" Yeah, whatever. It's my opinion. But, some people latch on to someone and suddenly feel like they can do no wrong. <br />
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Anyway, I like <b>Action Bronson</b>. I wish him success. And, I'm exicted about the project he has coming with one of my favorite producer/DJs as of late, <b>Statik Selektah</b>. And, by the way, I love that more producers are bringing back this producing an entire album (or close to it) thing. <br />
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Below is a video from <b>Carson Daly's</b> show (yea, thankfully the Internet exists, right? I literally know one person that watches the show) where <b>Action</b> talks about some shit and freestyles. He used to be a chef too? Nice. Maybe we'll see him make an appearance on Chopped one day and knock out one of those annoying, pompous judges. <br />
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<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-39377260683979333612011-10-07T21:12:00.002-04:002011-10-07T21:15:11.547-04:00Talib Kweli at Occupy Wall StreetThis is too dope not to post up here. It's nice to see that our best and most loved and appreciated street poets in this Hip Hop genre are still out there spitting that real shit and representing for the average hard working people of this world. <br />
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But, the average people have allowed themselves to be brainwashed. Why? Because they're fucking busy. And, they're stressed. And, they need an escape. Bullshit feels like it grants that escape into a world that's more fucked up than our own. But, it's doesn't. And, it sucks too many of our good people into it, and makes them complacent. That's how those in power control us. And, they have. For too long. We trusted this 'representative democracy' to lead us using our will. But, it has failed us. Special interests with deeper pockets than our own took it over long ago. <br />
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But, it looks like people are finally starting to rise up, and stand up, for themselves. It's a beautiful thing. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. And, the bravery of citizens in other countries has inspired a lot of us here in America. If we keep it up, our elected officials are going to have to start truly answering to us. The true majority.<br />
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This right here from <strong>Kweli</strong> is beautiful...and it almost brings a tear to my eye. Check it out. <strong>Occupy Cincinnati</strong> is tomorrow. Peace. Love. Share. Change.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yGARxhHqimM" width="560"></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-74906563893723115402011-10-02T02:00:00.001-04:002011-10-02T02:00:10.628-04:00New Hip Hop Releases From North CarolinaThis week saw the release of several notable albums that are sure to be on the top of a lot of people's <i>'Best Of'</i> lists at year's end. And, another cool thing is that three of the artists are from <b>North Carolina</b>. That's something when a single state can dominate a week with three highly anticipated releases. Of course, I'm talking about <b>9th Wonder, Phonte,</b> and <b>J.Cole</b>.<br />
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<b>9th Wonder's</b> project <b><i>The Wonder Years</i></b> was probably the most impressive to me. It definitely had <b>9th's</b> signature production sound. But, it also had range. It had depth. He tried new things, and really built on what he has done in the past to make the most cohesive project I've heard all year.<b> 9th</b> hosted an impressive array of talented MCs and singers, and did a really good job of strategically sprinkling in his <b>Jamla</b> artists throughout. What really put The Wonder Years over the top for me was<b> 9th's</b> work with <b>Terrace Martin</b>, whose jazz sax added the perfect element to <b>9th's</b> musical backdrops. On the negative side, I still have to say that I don't get <b>Mac Miller's</b> appeal. He shows up here spitting rhymes that I find boring and forgettable.The good news is that even though this track didn't hold up lyrically, the beat and vocal arrangement still make it bearable.<br />
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<b>Phonte's</b> <b><i>Charity Starts at Home</i></b> is another great album from one of my favorite MCs of the last ten years. His flows are dope, his rhymes relevant and relateable, and the beats are always hittin' whether they come from <b>9th, Khrysis, Nicolay</b>, or anyone else. <b>Te</b> has an ability to understand how words relate to each other which few can match. My complaint with this one? "<i>New Tiggalo, New Tiggalo, New Tiggalo, New Tiggalo"</i>. That little saying was humorous the first time or two, but got extremely old after hearing it on every track. It even wound up coming off as a little pretentious in my mind.<br />
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The collaborations between <b>Phonte & 9th Wonder</b> on this and <b><i>The Wonder Years</i></b> just make it that much clearer to me that <b>Little Brother</b> needs to continue existing as a unit even though the members also pursue music individually. I felt<b> Pooh</b> was missed on these projects and it would have been nice to have them all on at least one track between the 2 albums.<br />
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I was also anticipating the debut album from <b>Jay-Z's NC</b> investment, <b>J. Cole</b>, especially since his verse over <b>Kanye West's</b> <i><b>"Devil in a New Dress" ("Villematic")</b></i> last year (or, was it earlier this year?). <b>Cole</b> seemed to get off to a slow start on <b><i>Cole World</i></b> to me, new tracks that were just ok and didn't really stick out to me were placed in between more well-known songs from previously released mixtapes.I like <b>Cole</b> because he spits like a young guy, but still has a depth to his content that makes him interesting. I didn't see this throughout like I did, on say <b>Fashawn's</b> debut. The deeper layer seemed to not appear until the later part of the album.<b><i> "God's Gift" </i></b>and <b><i>"Breakdown" </i></b>were solid, but was it weird for anyone but me that he referenced old<b> Bone</b> songs on two songs back to back like he did on these two? Was it weird for anyone else that he sang <b>Paula Abdul</b> lyrics on the next track <b><i>"Work Out"</i></b>? All of these things just made the album less than impressive to me. Not to say there isn't good stuff to be found here. I just hope it gets better the next time around. <br />
<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-80328643690085175012011-09-25T00:19:00.005-04:002011-09-25T00:30:45.144-04:00Styles P. Tracklist for Master of CeremoniesI just saw this tracklist posted up on a few sites for <span style="font-weight: bold;">SP</span>'s latest. I've seen a few different dates in <span style="font-weight: bold;">October</span>, but it's looking like the 4th is it now. Honestly, I care nothing about the features aside from track 6. Though, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pharoahe</span> just may end up doing the hook again, which would be disappointing to me - not that <span style="font-weight: bold;">"My Life"<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> isn't dope.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Styles P.</span> is, in my opinion, the most talented of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The LOX</span>, so I'm always interested to see what he puts together. By the way, if you're interested in hearing a collection of some of his older stuff, check out the <span style="font-weight: bold;">DJ Kay Slay</span>-hosted mixtape that was put out, shit, nearly a decade ago now. I think it's just called <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Best of Styles P.</span> (if not, you'll be seeing an update below tomorrow morning). I still pull it out once in a while. It's a great listen.<br />
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What do you think of this tracklist??<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-style: italic;">1 How We Fly f. Avery Storm<br />2 We Don’t Play f. Lloyd Banks<br />3 I’m A Gee f. Rell<br />4 Ryde On Da Regular<br />5 Keep The Faith f. Aja<br />6 Children f. Pharoahe Monch<br />7 Street Shit f. Sheek Louch<br />8 Feelings Gone<br />9 Harsh f. Rick Ross & Busta Rhymes<br />10 It’s Ok f. Jadakiss<br />11 Don’t Turn Away f. Pharrell<br />12 Uh-Ohh f. Sheek Louch</span>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-41101192227791554872011-09-18T00:03:00.009-04:002011-09-18T00:42:05.558-04:00The Academy Ft. Royce da 5'9", Bronze Nazareth, Sean Price, & K-Solo - "Let's Go"Holy Shit!!!<div><br /></div><div>I just got through listening to this track 5 times in a row. I couldn't stop spinning it back over and over. So many quotables on this one. It was released about a month ago. I had it in my iPod, but must've overlooked it until now. Whoa. </div><div><br /></div><div>I dig the summer anthems, the jazzy loops, and the feel good Hip Hop that comes with the season. But, when the weather starts to turn, I need this raw street shit in my ears again. There's nothing like it. This track, <b><i>"Let's Go"</i></b> hit me in the perfect mood. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Royce. Bronze Nazareth. Sean Price. K-Solo</b> (yea, I know. WTF?). This song comes off <b>The Academy</b>, a project being headed by <b>Kurupt</b>, and featuring a who's who of capable MCs from all over. Click <a href="http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2011/07/23/22849348.aspx">HERE</a> to read more about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The great thing about <b><i>"Let's Go"</i></b> is that each MC brings his A++ game, knowing they need to put in work to compete with the others. That's something you don't see all that often anymore. Too many MCs give away their weaker verses for compilation projects (save for <b>Statik Selektah</b> and <b>DJ JS-1</b>'s material). This is Hip Hop competition at its finest right here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Can't say I noticed <b>K-Solo</b> much yet, but <b>Bronze Nazareth</b> definitely held his own with some clever bars that have single-handedly restored my faith in <b>Wu</b>-affiliates. Of course, the shine really comes from<b> Royce</b> and<b> P</b>, as they had me skipping back again and again. This song is without a doubt going on my top favorite songs of 2011. Hip Hop always needs music like this. Enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d2YYm3_6Okg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-46467456743236106882011-09-17T23:18:00.007-04:002011-09-18T00:00:57.186-04:00Money Mayweather Loses at Hip HopThis fight should be getting underway now. <b>Maywether v. Ortiz</b>. I'm not watching. If someone I knew was ordering it I would watch, sure. But, I don't feel like shelling out the $$ to watch another challenger (even if he is a champion) likely go down at the hands of <b>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</b><br /><br />I don't think much of <b>Mayweather</b> as a person (of course, judging just by his public image). He seems like a grown child to me. Overly arrogant if only to cover up his massive insecurities. Claiming he doesn't care what people think of him all the while begging to be noticed by each and every one of them. But, the guy can fight. And, if you watch <b>HBO's 24/7</b>, you know that no one outworks him in the gym either. So, the dedication to be a winner has to be respected.<br /><br />But, one thing I found laughable during the<b> 24/7 </b>series was <b>Mayweather's</b> attempt at being a hip hop mogul. <b>Roy Jones Jr.</b> tried the same thing years ago, remember? Didn't work. Everyone that listens to hip hop and has money, it seems, also wanted to run a label at some point.<br /><br />The time has really passed for the hip hop record label mogul. That's not the way the business is anymore. The music gives more back to the individual artist for their hustle at networking and utilizing social media to get their work out there. And that change, due to Internet usage, has pushed some of the less creative business-wise (and often less talented musically) out of the game and made room for some that want to push the genre forward with new approaches to the music - the MCs, DJs, and Producers that have Hip Hop in their blood, not loud mouths looking for another hustle.<br /><br />The bullshit still exists. But, I see the tide turning as labels have less and less control of listener's ears. And, rappers like <b>Flo-Rida</b> being signed after their biggest song is a bad idea. And <b>Ray J</b>? Was he on the show because he's on the label? Another bad move. Even with the help of <b>50 Cent</b>, who seems to be around Mayweather, uh, <b><i>24/7</i></b>, I think what was shown on <b>HBO</b> is some of the last you will see from <b>Mayweather's <i>Philthy Rich Records</i></b>...depending on how many of his millions he wants to sink into making shitty club music.Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471907211106456579.post-27350850963162438702011-09-01T20:17:00.004-04:002011-09-01T20:53:03.500-04:00Blackroc 2 TrailerI kinda like the whole trailers-for-albums-like-they're-movies thing. It adds to the excitement a little, makes it interesting again for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> age where we don't often hold the liner notes to records and thumb through them studiously for the names and samples involved in its creation.
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<br />This one here for the new <strong><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Blakroc</span></em></strong> project is doing what it's meant to do, build anticipation. I'm definitely looking forward to most of these <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">MCs</span> contributing rhymes to the <strong>Black Keys</strong> music. Helluva lineup here.
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<br />Sean Juanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168843110708668130noreply@blogger.com0