Literally a day ago I was talking about how I thought How I Got Over was going to be disappointing, and then it releases and it immediately supplants itself as the best record of 2010.  “Dear God 2.0” and “Doing it Again”, two songs I wasn’t really feeling, somehow are drowned out by the tighter songs and end up sounding better in their respective placements on the album.  Surround moderately good looking chicks around hot things, and they tend to look better due to the company they keep.

What more can you say about Hip-Hop’s most prolific group?  Yeah, I said it.  9-10 Lp’s at this point, this is the group dedicated to updating your definition of “what real Hip-Hop is.”  Their music spawns communities (Okayplayer) and brings joy to those that don’t even recognize how dope they are (clueless Jimmy Fallon fans).   

Rising Down to me felt like a mixtape with I believe 28 or so guest verses from so many different emcees.   Don’t get me wrong, I messed with a few tracks but it was all over the place.  HIGO has many emcee appearances, but The Roots stay within the fam, so it doesn’t sound forced and the album’s consistency doesn’t suffer.  Truck North, PORN, Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, and newcomer STS all show up on the album on multiple occasions.  The Roots enlist some 'outside help' who shine in them forms of Blu and Phonte, who both appear on two different tracks and on possibly my favorite track – “The Day.”  The album’s consistency and flow makes it such an incredible piece, it’s an album that’s incredibly enjoyable to listen to front to back.   Where Drake and Eminem fail, The Roots succeed with gusto.

The songs that really catch my eye include...well the majority of the f*cking album.  "Radio Daze" features another strong Blu verse, lush percussion and soft keys which cooperate with the emcees on the track.  Cats have been screaming for more P.O.R.N. since The Game Theory, this is the one of many tracks which features him rhyming and singing.  That dude needs to put out work already.  This track leads into a great track featuring Phonte, "Now or Never."  Who else to rhyme about opportunities than the ex-major label signee Phonte?  People forgot about Phonte Coleman, and this song is just further evidence of dude's talent.

The sureshot single I thought on this record has to be "The Fire" which sounds like it should have played preceding World Cup / NBA finals.  John Legend lends an inspirational chorus, with keys going hard.  In fact, the keys and Kamal grab your attention on this album.  I'm a fan of the Pian'er though, so I'm fine with the infusion of hard chords with lush percussion.  For example "Right On" featuring indie sweetheart Joanna Newsom - and that song just goes in.  This type of Hip-Hop shit just works like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  And since it's a Roots album, you have to hope that Black Thought is getting aggressive.  I felt his verses are tight, but his persona is subdued on the record, but it's not as bad as Rising Down.  I suppose you can't have Game Theory amount of rhymes - I imagine Black Thought is saving up the rhyme book for the Danger Mouse collabo - Dangerous Thoughts.   I do love how aggie he gets on the outro "Web 20/20" boom-bap joint with Truck North and Peedi Peedi.  

Like I mentioned before, "The Day" was my jammie on this album.  Blu, Phonte, and Black Thought going back n' forth on how they meditate and motivate each of their days.  Topic sounds kind of soft, but it comes off fresh as hell with another organic beat and a sultry chorus provided by Patty Crash.  Damn I've used lush, organic and similar adjectives mad times in this write-up - sounds like I'm talking about a damn salad, but that's how fresh this record is!  And the interludes put this album over the top.  ?uestlove and co. really paid attention to the details when it came to creating an album that just flows together.  "Dillatude" is absolutely perfect at setting the mood for "The Day" after the pounding "How I Got Over."

Where Eminem lost an entire fanbase of Hip-Hop heads, he somehow draws us back with some of the best lyrical delivery I've ever heard.  I won't say the content on each track is incredible, but he has cut out a lot of the foolishness that made Relapse sound like Eminem on drugs.  The product is an album that is a huge step forward from a career that hasn't lost its profitability (750K sold in first week, Recession Proof!) but has lost some in quality control.

From the South 

As soon as I write about The Roots having the album of the year, Big Boi may have dropped the Album of the Year - I just completed one listen through of Big Boi's long awaited Sir Luscious Leftfoot - The Son of Chico Dusty, and goodness have we missed Outkast - period.  I just broke down how I thought The Roots got the record of the year, and Big Boi in one swift listen has me questioning that entire premise.  I'm far too lazy to change my thoughts above, but I can show some love for Big Boi.  All of these acts brag about being original and it's apparent from "Daddy Fat Sax", "Patton", and "You Ain't No DJ" that no one quite does it like the Outkast crew.  No Andre 3000 sadly, but the beats on here are out of this world, and Big Boi comes correct.  My quick thoughts?  That's ten less dollars to spend on brews, and ten more to cop this. 

Rick Ross's album tracklist looks bonkers -  The Teflon Don features Drake, Jay-Z, Raphael Saadiq (!!), Cee-Lo, T.I., Erykah Badu, and everyone else relevant under the sun.  The production list is equally drool-inducing: Justice League, Inkredibles, Kanye West, NO I.D., and others.  No one selects EPIC beats like Rawse-eh.  Deeper Than Rap was last year's summer banger that came out of nowhere, and but I'm prepared and excited to peep this new album when it hits. 

Curren$y ft. Mos Def and Jay Electronica "The Day" - Produced by Ski Beatz, that supergroup I mentioned a year or so ago finally release a song that will be a part of Curren$y's upcoming LP - Pilot Talk.  Curren$y's verse is kind of lacking, but that beat is just plain ferocious. 

And for MJ:

Man, crazy that's been a year since his passing.  I found Aloe Blacc's rendition of "Billie Jean" as an especially funky fresh tribute.  Peep it below! RIP and REP D. Ellis and I'm out!

Wow this Timbaland album is "shock and aweful."

I always thought Shock Value I was good for its purpose.  It had clubby jams with pop appeal, but at least Timbaland delivered with the beats.  The new Shock Value II is not even an attempt at a Hip-Hop/pop CD, it's more of an attempt to make an album like the new Black Eyed Peas.  Except failed to even live up to that level.  Timbaland puts on his Euro-trash  production jacket and comes through with a CD which is frankly awful for what we expect out of Timbaland.  He has one dope Hip-Hop song "Say Something" with Drake, the rest of the album goes between pop stars of the moment like JoJo (not the member of Jodeci, that 15 year old girl), Chris Daughtry, and Miley Cyrus of all people.  And the lameness of the features don't stop, Timbaland is constantly on some autotune shit.  And the production?  Where can I cue a Pusha T "yuuccck"?  It's just not what we are used to from the Timbaland of old.  Timbaland said he has left Hip-Hop because his generation has left, but that's a very poor excuse.  Dr. Dre is still making beats.  Jay-Z is still rapping.  The older generation is doing just fine in Hip-Hop.  Truth is, Hip-Hop got over Timbaland in the past few years so now he has to go for this pop bullsh*t.  I'd much rather listen to the Lady Gaga / Drake mixtape for party joints these days anyhow.

Clipse hmmm...

After the previous Road to the Casket Drops mixtape, I was convinced this was going to be on par with OB4CL2 with a mainstream-clubbing twist.  Clipse always have their club joint or two, but they normally hit hard a la "Grindin'"  "I'm Good" isn't exactly my favorite joint, that kind of synth game comes off annoying.  However, I do mess with "Popular Demand."  Thank god Cam'ron is back rapping, I haven't had a good unintended chuckle in a minute listening to rap.  His ad-libs are pure comedy....DAAAAMN....CAAAAAAAM!!.  the album?  It reminds me exactly of Hell Hath No Fury in how strongly it starts.  It's sad that the very best verse is the first on the album with Pusha T crushing the building on "Freedom."  Ending a verse with "I own you all" is on some King Kong type shit, I'm all about it.

The beats that follow knock hard so I gotta give kudos to Pharrell / DJ Khalil.  "Popular Demand" / "Kinda Like a Big Deal" / "Showing Out" follow the intro track with great intensity.  Still something is missing from it being a true classic.  Yeah it bangs, but I don't know what separates this from OB4CL2.  Maybe it's because a rap album majority produced by Pharrell always ends up losing some of its Hip-Hop luster.  Clipse mixtapes are markedly more hardcore over different beats.  I think we all want an album that entirely sounds like "Freedom" with joints like "Popular Demand" as the mainstream b-sides as opposed to "Eyes on Me."  Clipse have tried to capture the hood and the hipster crowds, and I think have succeeded to some extent.  Don't get me wrong, this is up there as a top 10 album.  It has a certain uneven quality when trying to capture so many crowds, let's hope Pusha T will go solo and drop that classic record for the heads.

Tiger Tiger Woods Ya'll.

Dear god.  The apparent story of the decade is so frustrating on many levels.  First, Tiger Woods is cheating on his wife and somehow people are so shocked.  I don't know if it's because folks are naive about athletes or they attach a sense of purity to Tiger, but I was not surprised at all.  He is arguably the biggest athlete of our time.  Kobe Bryant, the heir apparent to MJ in basketball, got in trouble for cheating.  Why is anyone surprised?  Athletes are surrounded by stallions constantly throwing themselves at the athlete's feet.  It's like fishing with dynamite and playing with the mangled remains. 

An interesting point to look at is how little the media went after athletes like MJ for his infidelity.  Folks knew on the down low that MJ was creeping all around the country.  And everyone knew it. I knew it.  You knew it. Juanita Jordan knew it.  BUT, it wasn't reported on.  Why? I think back then, the public did not want to see their favorite athletes thrown in the mud.  Politicians and actors sure, but not MJ.  Kids loved MJ and I guess the public did not want to mess with that.  And if the public is against it, you know the media won't try to piss them off because they want their dollar.  Something changed and now apparently all the public wants is intimate details in people's private lives. 

That's frankly the most disappointing part about all of this.  We have become a country more fixated on figuring out how other people live than how we live our own lives.  Instead of watching another episode "For The Love of Ray J", work on your own reality.  Read a book.  Work out.  It'll make you feel better.  This advice does not apply to Jersey Shore on MTV, because that show is f*cking hysterical.  A guy hit a girl because her friends weren't into him...that's straight up Jerz!!

One more thing.  Girls hate Tiger because of his infidelity.  Guys hate Tiger because they are jealous.  Not because he is hooking up with hot girls, he already had that in his wife.  He is fulfilling every guy's fantasy: hooking up with trasiher, porn star versions of their wife.  Look at Tiger's roster, all bustier, trashier versions of his wife.  For some odd reason, that just appeals to us men!

Work has been busting my ass, with 9 days off coming soon I'll be able to write some more.  I'm out!!

RIP and REP D. Ellis

First and foremost, I hope ya'll are all having a Happy Thanksgiving with you and yours. 

Get at me Dog - Dogs are interesting in relationships.  Not to say I'm at the step to get a dog with a girl, but I do have the dog conversation with the lady friend from time to time.  I feel like she'll want some sort of cute small dog, while I want something more reasonable, like a wolf.  Her idea of a fun experience with a dog is talking it for a walk, while I want to hunt for Deer and store that sh*t in a freezer for the winter.  If in the future I am forced to get a small dog, I would need to toughen it up.  The best way to do that? Give it a customized Mike Vick jersey.  Yup, a canine in a authentic Mike Vick jersey will really show other dogs and dog owners that this little bastard is f*cking crazy.  Plus, it will prevent random folk coming up to your dog on the street.  No one wants to mess with a dog owner who would dress up their dog like their #1 enemy. 

I am hating on Madden 2010- As soon as I get comfortable with a playbook, those bastards have to switch up everything on me.  Before I continue, if you got any solid playbook ideas / running strategies, hit me up on the shoutbox.  I am getting crushed out there!  Madden is one of those interesting games that is essentially the same thing year to year, but you keep on buying the updates.  They say crack is addictive, Madden is just as bad.  Both make you neglect friends and family, responsibilities, and cost a boatload especially when you are crappy like me and enjoy gambling.  I am hating simply because I am garbage at it, help me out!!

50 Cent nabbing Tahiry after Joey's break up is comical - I don't know if I should big up Fif, but he seems like he enjoys dating rappers's ex's.  Some people are trying to toss him props, but he is really just picking up what Joe (amicably) put aside.  I think this makes Curtis look kinda weak, especially seeing what Joey picked up afterwards.  Cot daaaamn!! That pick up nets him the victory in the Saigon battle in overtime folks.  Good for Buddens, but I can't say I can name one track from his latest disc.  That might be a knock on me though.  Sadly, this move might end up being in Joe's best interest because it links him to a rapper who can go #1, even if it is in a negative light!  Then again...50 Cent released Before I Self Destruct which arguably has some strong material to a less than boisterous 125,000 sales total in the first week.  I think Rick Ross outsold him, he must be laughing his fat ass off.  It's crazy to see how far 50 has fell in the past few years.  You think folks are just sick of him talking shit and popping shots? 

Is anyone else wowed about what Obie Trice is doing with producer MoSs? - That capital 'S' in MoSs is annoying, and from henceforth I'll just refer to him as Moss.  Grammar issues aside, Obie Trice is getting his rap on all of a sudden.  Moss rolls with DJ Premier these days, and his greatness must be rubbing off on him.  The two tracks I heard with Obie Trice and Moss collabing are straight FIRE.  "I Am" (courtesy I am) features unique, hard-hitting drums and angry horns that scream hardcore.  These are the kind of beats that we hope Nas selects.  Obie seems to be rapping like he is pissed people forgot his name.  He express the hunger on the aptly titled "Got Hunger."  Switch the horns with strings, and you got another uptempo banger by Obie.   Special Reserve is the LP that Obie is about to drop with these tracks, and damn, it is summing up to be a banger.  I was always a fan of Obie as a mainstream emcee, and hopefully with Moss he can make an album worthy of the hype he once had as Eminem's #2 dude. 

I watched a little bit of that Lil Wayne doc...doesn't it feel he is trying to martyr himself? - I think it's scientific fact one man can only have so much sizzurp before catching the Pimp C.  Weezy rapped along the former member of UGK and you would think he would understand the ramifications of his drinking/drug abuse.  Apparently he doesn't.  Maybe he is trying to have his career end early so folks will launch him in that Biggie / Pac hierarchy of rappers.  Dying in your prime is a good way to go if you are trying to sell posthumous work.  I don't mess with Weezy too much because I find his whining style mad annoying these days, but he does have the capability to drop a heat rock.  It's just interesting witnessing the man kill himself slowly.  If I was in his entourage I'd tell him to slow the f*ck down with it, but I suppose I'd be doing it as well and too hammered to bring him to his senses.  Shoot, his management is probably waiting for the downfall to rake in that good "dead mc" dollar. I need to watch the entire thing and I will detail my thoughts then. 

When you are looking for great Hip-Hop, Slug & Murs just deliver - Aesop Rock produced the latest edition of Felt which just bangs per usual.  These two's exploits together on the Felt series do not get enough credit.  I didn't know Aes Rock had these kinda beats, I must have been sleeping on his abilities.  He got his baby El-P and Murs and Slug are perfect lyrical compliments of each other.  Both are indie as hell, Murs from a gangster perspective and Slug from that of a poet.  "Bass For Your Track" is a beat you'd expect on a Clipse record.  With Aesop Rock's production, the album takes a much darker tone as compared to the previous Felt.   These two seem to do this Hip-Hop shit effortlessly. 

OK enough for now, more updates later!

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Wow, it's hard to believe another year has passed since Dave's birthday.  Every Nov. 11th I have been trying to write something a bit more than average in commemoration of the homie.  This year crept up on me because I started a new job, and I honestly have put extracurricular writing to the side since, so I have not really had time to really sit back and think of a theme/topic for this piece.  But that's the difference between a real job and school life. 

It is the fourth birthday we have missed out on since his passing, and you can tell he had such a profound impact on his friends and community when I scour facebook and see everyone with this image above as their profile pic.  Hip-Hop does sound a bit duller, each girl I see a bit less beautiful/interesting, and each life in general a bit tamer without Dave's signature impression on each of those facets of my life.  We move forward though, because we gotta.  And it has been approximately four years since his passing, I see the facebook accounts of all of his friends and see where we are doing.  Teachers, Lawyers, Engineers, Jerks (Whattup Paul Walker... haha just playing), Creative writers (Whattup Paul once more), Businessmen, Emcees, DJ/Producers, Mothers, Fathers, and more.  I think each of us carry that positive influence Dave brought and have used it to push our lives forward in the many directions we chose.  And on that note, I present once more the dope tribute track by Haysoos and Kenn Starr produced by 9th Wonder.

“Sum Ish for Dave”
Kenn Starr and Haysoos prod. by 9th Wonder

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Exile should produce everything

If you want to come out with a debut album and Exile is not producing a strong amount of beats, there is a good chance you aren't doing it right.  Ok, that's a far stretch because Skyzoo hit his debut out the park, but getting DJ Exile beats for your album is a smart way to succeed in this rap business.  Since Below the Heavens, Exile's name has been attached to a strong buzz whether it be for Fashawn or Exile himself for instrumental escape Radio.  And this Fashawn record?  Yeesh, Exile just knows how to make an album full of beats that compliment an artist pefectly.  Fashawn is a bit more aggressive than Blu vocally, and the beats reflect that in my opinion.  Each beat is a head-knocker and has that vintage Cali-fresh underground feel.  And the whole record blends so well!  Ask Torae, Guru, and Kweli; having one producer create one sound for an album does wonders for album quality.  The beats here don't lend themselves to the conversation of "This beat is SO much better than anything else."  Exile does a good job of spreading the love throughout each beat, each track is dope for a different reason.  Exile is the thing of disconnected samples and piano loops and this record just ends up so lush sounding.  "Hey Young World", "Boy Meets World", and "Samsonite Man" feature some of that disconnected bounce that Exile is known for.

Fashawn is kind of like Blu, Jr.  I was a little disappointed in the content because it reminded me of the same tracks from Below The Heavens from being a blue collar worker, hard upbringings, splintered families, and being broke in hard times.  I preferred Blu's abstract steez that challenged the listener, and I especially enjoyed him try to deal with this conflict with his own spirituality.  That shit led to interesting music.  Either way, Fashawn dose not fail me because of his choice of content.  I was just hoping to something completely different from Below the Heavens, and in some places this album is night and day.  Some of the beats have a more hardcore element, probably matching his upbringing in the desolate city of Fresno.  "The Score", "Ecology", and "Why" are some of the harder sounding tracks on the album and they focus on Fash's tough youth.  I forget how young Fashawn is. For a 21 year old, his lyrical output is fire.  This is another example of why people need to stop sleeping on what the new West Coast is bringing to the table.  While Drake, Kid Cudi, Wale, etc get all the press and love as the new "blood" of Hip-Hop...none of them have dropped an album that's as good as this.   I have no idea how high this will climb up my Album of the Year charts, but it has definitely started somewhere in the top 5 region.  It has the mellow, hardcore, and everything in between done right.  Go buy this and thank Fashawn and Exile later.

You can preview the entire album here: http://www.myspace.com/fashawn  

Lil Wayne is going to Jail and other stuff

Weezy F. Jailbaby is going away for a year and the music world is upset for some reason.  The less autotune aka technical diarrehea verses from Wayne the better.  I know people are on dude's balls for his lyrical ability which he has shown on Carter III, but he LOVES crappy lazy autotune verses.  "D.O.A" is a moot track when Weezy gets away with autotune RAPPING.  Anyway, we all know a year away in jail does wonders for your career.  He has a few releases on the horizon and is still doing guest verses on everything.  The Young Money joint about having sex with everyone woman in the world has a cool beat, but features 3-4 rappers who use that autotune for their verses.  That shit needs to be illegal and charges need to be pressed.  That weapons charge will have to do.

Currensy x Jay Electronica x Mos Def  vs. Method Man X Raekwon X Ghostface Killah- Currensy claims that these 3 emcees are making an album together.  I believe that Currensy is putting in work, he releases more CD's than I can keep track of.  This Ain't No Mixtape is still in my top 5 this year too.  I just heard he released a CD when I was out of the country, I can't wait to listen to Jet Files.  Apparently MTV news sat with the Nawlins emcee and Currensy talked about working with the two other dues.  Jay Electronica is one of the most elusive dudes in Hip-Hop.  I'm not sure this dude isn't just some hologram.  He has an outstanding amount of respect for releasing a handful of singles.  I am skeptical that we'll see this anytime soon, since Jay Elec is elusive like Boba Fett, but this is somewhat exciting.

What is also exciting is the Method Man / Raekwon / Ghostface album dropping on Def Jam this December!  I think this is sort of rushed, considering Raekwon dropped a near-classic, and Method Man and Ghostface just released records as well.  Maybe they are trying to capture the recent rush in Wu hype?  I do not know, I would prefer to spread out the music so we aren't forced to long droughts without solid Wu music.  Oh hell, I'm not going to complain.  This album has the potential to be even better than OB4CL2!  Everything these 3 are on the same track (See "Yolanda", "House of Flying Daggers", "Buck 50"), some great music has been created.  We'll see how this album turns out, but it can't be bad right?

A book worth reading - http://nahright.com/news/2009/11/06/born-to-use-mics-reading-nas-illmatic/ - This book is co-written by an old Professor of mine at UCI, Sohail Daulatzai, and looks into everyone's favorite album, illmatic.  Pre-orders can be made on Amazon in December.  Sohail was a great Professor, he taught an advanced study of Hip-Hop that looked at the socioeconomic conditions that spawned the music.  It was definitely an informative and awesome class.  He mentioned that he was going to write a book on illmatic, and it is dope that he did it with such a respected author. Michael Eric Dyson is big time as far as getting Cable TV interviews, so I am hoping this book will blow up in the Hip-Hop community.  

Yo Internet, watch your pipes - A quick run through of LP's that slipped through the internet cracks....

50 Cent Before I Self Destruct - I am not going to lie, a few tracks on this album are pleasant surprises.  Fifty brings the hunger on songs like "Death To Enemies" on a Wu-esque beat where Fif' is at his best, killing all sorts of people over angry beats.  This is some of that mixtape 50 the world used to love.  The problem is, I don't think people want that old 50 either.  To me, 50 Cent is most entertaining when he is talking about how he invests money.  50 Cent's investment in Vitamin Water was genius and he writes books on making money, I wish he'd bring that to the table musically.  However, I do prefer some murderous NY sh*t over some sing-song bullshit.  "The Invasion", "Okay You're Right", "Crime Wave" make for a strong record.  50 then wants to take them to the club which is fine, because "Baby By Me" is pretty catchy. "Hold Me Down", "Gangsta's Delight", "Get It Hot" are kinda boring on a first few listens.  The album as a whole isn't bad, but New York has moved from 50 Cent back to Jay-Z.  People want "Empire State of Mind" not what 50 is offering.  You know what's wild?  It's 2009 and 50 Cent is an underdog with this album.  Who would thunk it?!  This guy threw a Plasma TV out of a room when the last album leaked, I wonder if he threw out a person this time?  50 Cent seems to be catching musical L's since he released that video game where he single-handedly wins the Iraq War.  He is still out there selling himself pretty well so you gotta respect that.

Wale Attention Deficit - DC's Hip-Hop Freshman finally is coming out with his solo record.  Wale grabbed everyone's attention rolling with Mark Ronson and being a dude with a nice mix of swag and lyrical prowess.  Mark Ronson brought Rhymefest to the mainstream a few years back and that album kinda flopped.  Living in DC now, it'd be great to see Wale succeed.  With a rapper blowing up, his neighbors start getting more buzz.  And ya'll already know how I mess with dudes like Kenn Starr / Oddisee / etc (pause).  This album has a heavy go-go percussion feel with production by Best Kept Secret all over the record.  "Pretty Girls" is a pretty catchy tune, but at times the chorus is a bit overwhelming.  I am a huge Mark Ronson fan when it comes to production (He did the Amy Winehouse album if you aren't up on Ronson), and he crafts a few possibly poppy tracks like "90210" and "Mirrors."  Ronson was the x-factor which I thought which would make Wale blow up, but he has relied on Cool and Dre and BKS a bit more.  The album has solid beats, but maybe misses the cohesiveness that takes albums like OB4CL2 over the top.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel like Wale would benefit from just one producer.  The go-go is hard to transition from, but I do think Wale brings the heat when it comes to rapping.  "Diary" is a strong track about a young girl lost, and he raps it like he lives it.  Wale is also a better metaphor rapper than Wayne in my opinion, the Brett Favre / Brett Hart Figure Four/Sharpshooter quadruple entendre on "Beautiful Bliss" almost gave me a aneurysm.  He is just straight up mad talented.  I do think this is a solid effort because it should be an album with a number of singles, we'll see how it is promoted.  I do think Wale is capable of better, but I will cop this to support DC.

Random Note about Freddie Gibbs - I was going to write something about the new Strange Journey Vol. 2 by The Cunninlynguists which is straight gully thanks to great production form Kno and a GEM from J-Zone, and I peeped the Freddie Gibbs featured track and had to pause on that.  Freddie Gibbs has garnered a lot of buzz/hype because of a New Yorker piece, Pitchfork reviews, and the general Internet buzz from those publications.  It struck me as interesting that Freddie, a hardcore emcee from the tough town of Gary, ID is getting a lot of respect from these hoidy-toidy magazines.  Anyhow, I agree with their love of this dude's music wholeheartedly.  He reminds me so much of a young Ice Cube, diagramming the problems he faces with a youthful exuberance and swagger you just don't see in Hip-Hop anymore.  What hardcore Hip-Hop seems to lack these days is genuine content.  You listen to Gibb's multi-syllabic lyrics, you don't feel its a stretch he is living what he is talking about.  I guess limiting the murderous raps to a reaosnable level coupled with talkin about dominating obstacles is refreshing compared to 50 Cent murdering entire city blocks.

Support the Homies

Haysoos Stand Tall EP - Going to end this post on a strong note, and post some free music from the homie Haysoos.  Haysoos has provided a free EP that features stuff he has done with Soulstice in the group Wade Waters including the banger "Rock Solid with Cuban Link.  Haysoos also has a few solo joints on there that are kinda hot as well!  Haysoos also included the D. Ellis theme song, so you know I got to big it up here although hella late, but better late than never. 

I have a lot to write about, but will get another update in a few days for sure.

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Skyzoo is your new underground champ

With all the hoopla over the new acts that have leaped on the scene like Drake / Kid Cudi / Wale, that signature NY sound seems skeptically missing.  It sounds like instead redefining that NY sound, he acquiesced to the emo/hipster approach with The Blueprint 3.  Torae/Marco Polo got my Itunes purchase because they went back to that true boom-bap sound and Skyzoo got that purchase for defining himself on some NY boom-bap shit over some of the best production I've heard this year on one album.  There's lots to talk about from the thumpig, addictive "The Opener" to the Nottz produced banger "Maintain."  I think first and foremost this album struck me as a truly autobiographical piece of work.  I can't remember an album that was so introspective.  Skyzoo is having a conversation out loud about himself and he is very good at it.  Couple that with amazing production and you have yourself a very stellar record.  I rarely outsource opinions, but my homie Landis wrote a STELLAR review of this record.  Click the link: http://www.crossphazer.com/?p=7391

I agree with him pretty much about everything, but I'd give it a 9/10.  This album stole listens from OB4CL2 and Blueprint 3 from the get.  I'm not even in a particular super-lyrical mood these days, but Skyzoo made an album that commands repeat listens.  You know people sleep on 9th Wonder but he does his damn thing on joints like "The Beautiful Decay", "Under Pressure", and "For What It's Worth."   Those horns on "Under Pressure" are legit, nothing sounds like the real thing.  I know I've been telling you to buy many albums as of late, but Sky really did his thing on this.  You have to commend an artist who knows how to put together an album with so many different producers that somehow results in a cohesive album.  I'm probably going to write a more detailed review when I have more time, but I just wanted to make a point that Skyzoo dropped a top 5 of the year caliber record.  That means you go buy it, sit back, and enjoy.  Duck Down Records have really done their job in 2009.  Apparently Survival Skills by Buckshot and Krs-One is amazing.   Rap Reviews gave it a 10/10 which is wyling.  I'm going to get on that right now actually...

Ghostface's album is fine, what's with the hate?

When the press came out for Ghostface's Wizard of Poetry, I was just hoping for a good album.  Def Jam hyped up the album as an R&B duet kinda record with a Ghostface flair.  I ended up really enjoying this album.  It surprisingly had an Al Green effect with all the straight up positive love joints.  Sticking out like a sore thumb in between joints about chasing the right jewel is the hilarious and obscenely over top "Stapleton Sex."  I mean who didn't bust out laughing hearing this?  It's a song about Ghost going in on a chick that maybe purposefully ends at around 2 minutes.  Ghostface ends the song / sex session by chanting "Don't touch me" which absolutely killed me.

Hilarity aside, there are some BEATS on here.  The intro "Not Your Average Girl" features a banger of a Scram Jones beat.  The next song might have the hardest beat on the CD with the horns.  Man, you just can't go wrong with well-placed horns.  "Do Over" is the first of two Raheem DeVaughn collabs, with the second being "Baby."  "Baby" has autotune but ends up being a dope song no matter what.  A joint about the birth of a baby being a joy in Hip-Hop?  That's a rarity and I think Ghostface delivers a solid track.  But songs like "Paragraphs of Love" really give this album a unique feel for Ghost.  Him and Estelle go back n' forth over a lush beat that has a soulful feel.  This LP feels like Ghostface went for a full record of songs like "Big Girl" and "Holla", not a bunch of "Bonnie and Clyde's"  This isn't his best album by any mean necessary, but it's a solid 4/5 effort.  It's a good, softer-side-of-Wu compliment to the deliciously hardcore OB4CL2. 

I really hate Sports...so what do I do now?

Those who read this site with reasonable frequency realize that I'm a huge Buffalo Bills fan and Houston Rockets fan.  Doesn't make much sense I know, I got family members in each city that took me to games.  This year is turning to a perfect storm of maybe the worst teams to watch ever.  I'll start with the Buffalo Bills.  A normally laughable organization is now moving from lovable losers to "damn, there is still a NFL team in B-lo?"  Their offensive line is patchwork like an AIDS quilt and to continue the metaphor, with a weakened line, Trent Edwards straight DIES every week.  And TrEdwards plays like a school girl.  He has two of the biggest WR threats in the league and can barely get them the ball.  I have to watch this team give up sack after sack on every poor offensive drive.  I'd rather watch that troubling rape scene in Deliverance weekly, at least then I'm not squealing as a fan.  And our GM and Coach?  Dick Jauron is a personification of beta male coaching.  Down two scores in the 4th he doesn't go for 4th and 1 at home.  I spend every Sunday watching each game and I've had to steadily drink more and more to cop.  Last week's loss to the Dolphins?  12 beers and 3 shots = one belligerent big R who instead of raging, goes straight home to lay around depressed.  I might need to lay off the Bills.  Normally the Rockets give me a good distraction from a poor NFL season but not this year.

The Rockets IR spots are basically a playoff-caliber team.  We lost Ron Artest, who seems to dickride LA like a Jon and Kate Plus 8 fan.  Instead we get Trevor Ariza who NEEDS a Kobe to be relevant.  Scola, Landry, Brooks, and Wafer might make this team fun but they are going nowhere in the playoffs.  Last year we lost T-mac and Yao, but I still got to see a team with MAD heart take the Lakers to 7.  It will be interesting to see how well they do, but I'm not holding my breath.

So without sports to take up my time...what should I do? I suppose I should write some more for the page, but cot damn I spend all day staring at the computer screen trying to come up with the proper way to phrase sentences.  Writing when I get home is not exactly appetizing.  I thought about working out but I have a steady lady.  I think peer pressuring her to work out more better serves my goals.  She still finds me attractive if I gain a few pounds and hell, her losing weight serves the shallow part of my personality.  Let's hope she doesn't check this page on the regular.

Being a new to 9-5, I am trying to find the best way to spend my time after work.  Staring at a computer, book, or TV just ain't doing it.  What do ya'll do that's a dope escape from work?  I'm thinking of getting into boxing or karate, but that shizz is dumb expensive.  This is a random rant.  I blame the Bills, that team gets me emo and introspective. 

Yo Congress, I'mma let you finish but the rest of the Western World knows how to run a Health Care system

I love my country don't get me wrong.  My problem is that both the Right and Left have no idea how to properly reform Health Care.  I like most people in this country think we AT THE LEAST need a public option to lower costs but much prefer a single-payer system or universal health care.  The health care lobbysists practically own congress.  The majority of this "reform package" subsidizes Health Insurance companies to "help" people.  So the people who we rely on to represent us are going to give MORE MONEY to health insurance companies who have done a bad job.

Here is why I liek Sports. For the most part when teams mess up, people get fired.  The health insurance companies that are in charge of our health care aren't doing their job.  Whether you are getting paid are not, the results are terrible.  40 million people or so don't have insurance. Millions more underinsured.  To say they aren't failing people means you are likely on their payroll.

And damn their payroll is legit.  You want to know why we don't even have a public option which is still no where as good as single payer?  When Democrats write these legislations, Health Care insurers are providing million dollar pens if you know what I mean.  Apparently the democrats who voted down a public option receive close to 19 million dollars from Health insurance lobbyists. 

My solution is to start a bribery/lobbyist organization funded by the people.  80% of the Democrats in this country support AT LEAST a public option.  If we could somehow collect 2-3 dollars from a majority of those people, don't you think that money would dwarf that 19 million dollar payoff?  It is frankly confusing how a simple majority (including conservatives) support a public option, yet no Republican Congressman is on board with health care reform.  They also have no ideas of their own, their stance is "Obama is for it, well fuuuuck that." 

People revel in our President's failure like it was their day job.  When Chicago lost the Olympics, conservatives in this country cheered because it looked like our President's failure.  If Obama comes down with the cold, I expect these morons to hit the streets with "Rhinovirus for President!" posters.  Being contrarian without any reason is apparently the definition of the modern conservative.  I'm hoping the media puts more pressure on Congressman to think with their heads and not with their wallets.

I'm starting to get back into the swing of things writing, look out for more soon

RIP and REP D. Ellis

It feeeeels so gooood to be back from the scoping the world.  After a month plus of seeing places like the Southeast Asia and the Middle East, I come back to the states to a slew of new music.  The Raekwon sequel, Jay-Z's third installment of the Blueprint series, and other joints.  First it seems the most important topic in this country unfortunately is this Kanye West - Taylor Swift nonsense.  Let me get into that right quick.

Kanye West needs to behave or else he'll be completely MJ'd by the media

I saw a copy of USA Today which featured Kanye and Taylor Swift on the cover with the title "Where has our civility gone?"  Wouldn't a picture of waterboarding be a better preface for that question?  When you have thousands of Americans comparing President Obama to Hitler and characterizing him as a witch doctor, you'd think there are more relevant examples of lack of civility.  But I digress, this is about Kanye West's turn from eccentric producer to social pariah over interrupting Taylor Swift's award at the VMA's.

Let's keep this in perspective.  This was a "jackass" move as the President so eloquently put it.  He interrupted a VMA award presentation, it wasn't even like he did it at an "important" award show like the Oscars or Grammy's which at least somewhat measure artistic credibility.  Not to knock the importance of the moment for Taylor Swift, but he didn't pull an ODB by interrupting a larger award show.  I imagine if ODB pulled that stunt (which was hysterical and awesome by the way), he'd be crucified by today's media.  However, I am surprised that Kanye is being treated like he drop kicked Taylor Swift.  Yes an innocent little girl lost her moment of shine, but is that really a crime worthy of all this press and hate?

I'm not defending his actions as acceptable and he is for sure a repeat offender with this egotistical nonsense.  But moving forward, what else can he do but say sorry?  He apologized publicly and to her directly as well.  She accepted, shouldn't we move forward?  Nope, we got reporters leaking the President's thought on the matter and it's still on 24/7 news coverage.  Congressman Joe Wilson got rebuked for his heckling of the President during a joint session, and you know Kanye is getting more press.

Saleswise, Kanye would be in trouble if he was releasing a CD soon. 14-16 year old white girls happen to be the biggest group (at least as of 2007) that buy Hip-Hop CD's and he basically insulted that entire group by jacking Taylor Swift's limelight.  Thankfully for him, I think that group is a rather forgetful bunch.  Kanye also doesn't rely on anyone else to make his music, so he has nothing to worry about musically.  Promotion wise, it seems people are quite salty at Mr. Fishsticks (that's a South park reference, kids). 

I am afraid we are seeing the media start to MJ Kanye's career.  To be "MJ'd" is to have the media hone in on a bad act to completely isolate him and make him look like a villain which in the end discredits the artist's career.  Kanye has obviously not been involved in any sexual controversies like MJ had to deal with, but he needs to recognize how much people are wyling on him for something like this and act accordingly.  The scopes are on him and people are looking for him to slip up to release the hounds once more to dead his career. 

I for one don't want to see this happen to Kanye.  He is one of the best artists in Hip-Hop and is responsible for incredible production on classic albums and has himself dropped three incredible rap records.  Hell, I even bought 808s because it was hella entertaining.  I'm hoping that his team is advising him to lay low and lay off the sauce and ego trips in public.  His outburst has allowed people to really attack him on a personal level.  Jay Leno asked him what his mother would have thought of his actions.  So Kanye interrupted some girls' moment of shine, that allows an interviewer to bring up his dead mother in such a fashion?  Shit, I thought that was FAR more offensive than his drunk outburst.  I guess that's my perspective as a music fan, and not a huge fan of celebrity chasing.  Taylor Swift has that Disney cash and will be fine even if Kanye ended his rant with "your music is shit, sweetie."  Which by the way is funny, because I can't name one of her songs even if I tried. 

I looked at the whole thing as Kanye being Kanye.  It was a funny outburst, it was like he was parodying himself by being so outlandish.  Instead it has turned into some hurricane of hate.  In the end, Kanye West will probably rebound.  As a fan of music, I give Kanye a lot of room, because he is one of the, if the not the most talented artist in Hip-Hop.  America apparently is not so forgiving so I'm hoping he gets his act together because I would hate for him to be pushed into obscurity.  We as music fans would be losing out on a lot of great material if that were to happen.

Enough of that, to bigger and better things like my stinging disappointment with Blueprint 3

Jay-Z's new ad campaign: Blueprint 3..at least it's better than Kingdom Come

Jay-Z's third full-length disc since his retirement in 2004 features an older MC who seems even more pressed to appeal to kids with this album. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with an album for the masses but Jay-Z's third installment of Blueprint is less about setting trends and more about following them.  The first Blueprint was classic because Jay-Z started trends by bringing that soulful sound to Hip-Hop with the help of Just Blaze / Kanye.  This album seems to jock on a hipster sound that spawned from Kanye and it just doesn't work on certain tracks.  Especially considering that Jay-Z released "Death of Autotune" as his first single.  That song is a middle finger to that tight pant style and yet I think he might have some autotune on "Hate" and "A Star is Born" on this album,.  The fractured message on this record coincidentally ended up in a fractured record.  The first half is FIRE, while the last half leaves the listener a little perplexed and wishing for a better effort.

"What We Talkin' About" features a lofty beat with Jay-Z on that lyrical tip that you wish filled the whole album.  Jay-Z goes from talking about his past dealings to the future and this the features the kind of introspective material that ends up being his best stuff.  The beat is uplifting, gotta thank funky synths and a good feature of Luke Steele from Empire of the Sun.  Followed by his joint is maybe my favorite track on the record "Thank You."  You know guys I'm fan of well-used horns, and Jay-Z does a good job of thanking everyone from the fans to the haters.  Although, he ends with a 9/11 metaphor which is kind of awkward.  Extended 9/11 metaphors aren't hot in the street, I'm sorry.

"Empire State of Mind" is a great anthem for NY and features some of the kind of production we expected to hear throughout the record.  Alicia Keyes knows how to hit a chorus and this song ends up being probably the most memorable moment on the album.  After this it gets kinda mehh.  "A Star is Born" is cool, but it sounds like a track Lupe would have done and done better.  I always approve of Wu Tang shouts, and Jay-Z chose wisely in giving props to all the dudes doing it right in Hip-Hop.  J. Cole's verse is fierce and is proof that he will be a name to remember.  It really feels like Drake and J. Cole are climbing to be the two biggest names in Hip-Hop once their debuts drop, and I'm okay with that. 

The album takes a clubby twist with joints like "Venus v. Mars" and "Off That."  I actually like both tracks, especially how Jay-Z's lyrical output on "Off That"  Surprising he chooses a club joint to get political, but I'm all for it.  However the Swizz Beatz and Neptunes track are just mehhh.  If you are trying to create a classic you can't include beats like that.  "Reminder" is just a throwaway beat that somehow ends up on the album. That chorus is annoying like an ex-gf as well.  "Hate" is interesting, but I'd prefer it to be on some mixtape shit.  And the album ends with some complete WHACKNESS with "Young Forever." You are really going to sample "Forever Young" and give it that kind of treatment?  I'm normally okay with sampling but not when it turns into travesties like this.  This was nonsense, if you hated "Beach Chair" you would want to commit murders after hearing this track.  It leaves the album off on a terrible note and makes you think that Kanye might have sabotaged this record with his beat selection.  Where is "Brooklyn go Hard" or "Jockin' Jay-Z", those joints went in.

The album has glimpses of what we wanted on tracks like "Thank You", "Real As it Gets", and "Already Home", but we were left with a lackluster effort. His description of Nas's career on "Takeover" apply to this album with 1/2 of the songs being great, and the other 1/2 being mehhh.  You can't expect to him start new trends with each effort, but Hova advertised this record as some "DOA" / all Hip-Hop shit and came hipster as f*ck.  Not a fan of that digression and it ends up translating to a decent at best album.  While I was disappointed with Jay-Z, Raekwon somehow met expectations and went beyond with this stellar follow up of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II.

Wu-Tang Clans fans stand up, it's time for a standing ovation

Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... II was on the most anticipated LP list of XXL in 2007.  Those two years as a fan I have been skeptical about any release date.  We had no idea what label it would be on, whether Dr. Dre would be instrumental in its creation, if Ghost would be all over it, and most importantly would it be a good album.  Thankfully Raekwon made an album that is worthy of the incredible legacy of the first edition of Cuban Linx.

When I got back from my trip around the world, the lady friend had this CD ready for me.  It was the first time since maybe I was a kid where my first listen of an album would be after the release date with a CD. It was a strange feeling being so excited to rip through that annoying plastic to get a first listen.  When I looked at the back of the album I saw the production listen adn it had me a little wary.  What made the first CD so great was the consistent production.  It's partly the reason I am not the biggest fan of Blueprint 3 but the Executive Producers (surprisingly including Busta Rhymes) made sure the album had a consistently dope, grimy sound.

If I could give this album a nickname it would be Gullymatic.  Every beat seems to be on some screwface sh*t and I am not surprised that J. Dilla had the best production on the album. However, I am shocked that J. Dilla's style out-Rza'd Rza.  The lead single "House of Flying Daggers" is an amped up joint that is reminiscent of "Triumph." Yes I took it to that Wu-Tang forever shit!  I have not felt that hype for a Wu-tang song in ages, it was the kind of music I hoped 8 Diagrams would have.  "Ason Jones" is a touching tribute to ODB which does feature some pauseworthy lines about kissing dudes, but that beat is amazing.  "10 Bricks" hit me like 10 bricks though, that beat took me back to Liquid Swords with it's hard guitar twang loop.  This album is a testament to Raekwon's ability to properly follow-up a classic and at the same time further solidifies J Dilla's legacy as one of the best beatmakers to ever do it.

Rza of course has some great input on this album.  "New Wu" has been out a bit for a minute and makes you think America NEEDS a Ghost, Rae and Method Man collabo LP.  The beat is soulful like syrup on a Otis Redding vinyl, kudos once more to The Abbot.  Who woulda thought Rza could carry a chorus sorta singing on that "Black Mozart" joint!  "Fat Lady Sings" rounds up Rza's impressive contributions.  Scram Jones is the dude though who should be getting more credit for his incredible beat for "Broken Safety" which features a hungry Jadakiss and Styles P.  And the Elton John sampled "Kiss The Ring", pffft fagedaboutit, that NEEDS to be the next single.

While we missed out on Nas on this LP, Jadakiss, Styles P, Beanie Sigel and the rest of the Wu Tang Clan HANDLE that absence with great guest verses.  Method Man's verse on "Flying Daggers" might be my favorite of the entire record. "Wu tang has you scarred for life...you can't forget the cuts."  Ghostface, the guest star as he should be, does his thing when called upon. His verses bring that trademark energy that balances so well with Raekwon's laid back steez. "Gihad" picks up right after the great collabo "R.A.G.U." where Ghost drops that  "she takes a bone like a ribeye steak at Ruth's Chris."  Beanie Sigel has been rapping about jailtime for years now and it still somehow doesn't get old as he steals the track from Rae on "Have Mercy."  This album is an important one for the Wu, and you can tell each emcee took their guest verses real seriously.

And what about Raekwon?  This album had 24 tracks and featured more solo joints than his debut LP.  "Surgical Gloves" is the Alchemist produced solo joint where Raekwon absolutely snaps on the beat.  "Baggin' Crack" goes hard in the whip, and Raekwon handles his business on the Dr. Dre produced "Catalina."  (Funny how the Dr. Dre beats might be the most mediocre on the record)  Raekwon is admittedly not my favorite rapper but he became a big name in Hip-Hop on his ability to make great LP's.  And that's what this is.  I can go track by track and explain how fierce/dope it is, but that would fill up like 24 pages.  All I wanted from this album was a great record. I didn't expect him to capture the excellence of the original purple tape but he somehow has done a bit of both.  The album is automatically AOTY top contender thanks to incredible beats that bang consistent even though a number of producers provided beats AND every verse is delivered with intensity. 

This album felt like some sort of illusion / oasis in the desert of music for the past few years.  The album was always on people's tongues but we never believed that it would be released and many thought if it did drop, it would be a disappointing effort.  This LP being 14-15 years in the making, Raekwon truly took his time with the follow up to a classic with an album that has had a huge impact on Hip-Hop.  I've had my friends change their profile pics to the OB4CL2 cover like it was Obama's face during the election time period.  Rarely in Hip-Hop do we see the underground underdog deliver the banger that gets the attention it deserves.  Glasses up and a toast to Raekwon who gave us another fantastic escape from modern day Hip-Hop and reality with slick mafioso tales over fantastic production.

Wow that was a massive post. Those were the three big stories though, next post on some great music that's out from Brother Ali (!!), Skyzoo, Che Grand, and more.

RIP and REP D. Ellis