All-City Chess Club - I'm Beamin' (Remix)

All-City Chess Club - I'm Beaming (Remix)

In April, Lupe Fiasco tweeted about a remix to his single 'I'm Beaming' featuring a group he called the All-City Chess Club. The accompanying blog post I put up talked about a lack of group cuts in hip-hop. Lupe's collective, featuring Asher Roth (PIFF), Charles Hamilton (cool, but weird), Diggy (killed it), The Cool Kids (mehhh), B.o.B. (decent), Blu (NICE) and Dosage (1st time hearing him; somewhat impressed), delivers on that call with a bunch of verses over the original beat. I think the best part about the song is the fact that no one recycles flows or tries to mimic the other on wax. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but for a fan of all of the rappers on this track, it's a welcome surprise. No word yet (maybe ever) on whether there'll be another cut by the All-City Chess Club, but at least we know Lupe's not shelved anymore. Check the track out...

Asher Roth - G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's a New Day) [Music Video]

Hip-hop can seriously get depressing and upsetting at times. Even with so-called uplifting rappers, you get the sense that they're complaining about the wrongs of the world instead of being happy for the good in life. I suppose that's just the way the music, and essentially society is. That said, it's great to hear a rapper saying something truly positive, not in the Rev Run mold. Asher favors Matthew McConaughey in 'Dazed and Confused', but I suppose the look fits the track. Asher is working on his new album 'The Spaghetti Tree', slated to drop later this year. From the album title, it sounds like he's on another planet these days, but that's not even a bad thing. Check the video...

Dear Lupe Fiasco

It's funny how with one piece of news, hip-hop can look like it's reviving itself. Not that a hypothetical collab bringing the likes as (long breath) J. Cole, Asher Roth, The Cool Kids, B.o.B. Wale, Diggy, Charles Hamilton, Blue, and yourself, Lupe, would merit that kind of happiness. It's just that the last time I've seen a musical work in progress with so many dope names on it was.. never. Aside from Ski Beatz' tape (which still hasn't come out) and Young Money, no one's putting out good mixtapes or albums with a gang of MC's. It's all about the solo act, and pretty mediocres one at that. I remember when putting out a compilation meant everybody brought their A-game and not just their wallets. Then again, no one can really complain about that with you, or most of the artists slated to appear in the work, tentatively entitled "All City Chess Club." If there was ever a time for group and posse cuts a la 'Triumph,' 'Flava in Ya Ear,' '4,3,2,1', and 'Banned From TV,' it's definitely now. Hopefully your collective and Ski Beatz' situations work out. One thing though: What happened to Child Rebel Soldiers?? All this talk about collaborations and we're missing an epic one. Get to work on that after LASERS...

Asher Roth – Seared Fois Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry

Asher Roth – Seared Fois Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry

I was a bit dismayed at the lack of Asher Roth music in the first quarter of 2010. Apparently, Ash was listening in on my dreams and hip-hop conversations, because he put out a track the day after I talked to my boy AKZionz about him. Today he made another dream of mine come true by dropping 'Seared Fois Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry'. Upon looking at the title, it was easy to dismiss the PA native's newest offering. Yet, being an MF DOOM fan, food-titled albums and mixtapes have a special place in my heart. Ash doesn't disappoint in SFGWQ&C (writing that title again sucks), using some really, really, really DOPE (when I say dope, I mean DOPE x infinity) beats and using his trademark free-fire flow. Lyrically, he's back on his grizzy. I don't know what he was smoking, but he has me fighting off the hip-hop munchies while listening. He drops metaphor after metaphor after metaphor, and I still can't get enough. Don't waste your time thinking he's going to be talking about College and Blunt Cruisin, because this really a train of consciousness from Ash Roth. Check out the download, tracklist/back cover, #dopetracks, loosies & videos...



#dopetracks:
Ash and Dem
Con-fid-ence
I'm Eddy
Rik Smits
F*ck Your Ringtone, Dog
Toni Braxton

Loosies:
Outasight – Catch Me If You Can (Remix) f. Asher Roth
Asher Roth – Hot Wangs