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...

Freestyle Friday (8/20)

What's up people? Friday equals freestyles. I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of chat today, because you guys already know the deal. Today we've got a newcomer posted up. Mac Miller is an 18 year old Rostrum Records signee, and travelled to Tony Touch's studio for his famous Toca Tuesdays freestyle series on Sirius Radio. Mac just released his mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin Incredibly Dope Sh*t), which I overlooked after hearing two tracks. This freestyle says different. He might very well get another listen now, because he shut down Toca Tuesday. The second cypher is from Joell Ortiz on Funk Flex's spot on Hot 97. I knew this was going to be a problem when Flex mentioned Five Guys Burgers, and Joell didn't disappoint, going 5 minutes straight about the state of the industry. If anyone from Slaughterhouse blows up, it needs to be Joell. He's been the most consistent and best member of the collective for the past year. It's only right he get some shine. With cyphers like this, he needs to be on your radar. The third one is by an oldie but goodie: Charles Hamilton. Chuck hasn't been well recently (mad rumors of his mental health declining and drug problems), but that didn't stop the Harlemite from dropping 27 (yes, 27!) minutes of off-the-top wizardry. You can't deny this man's aptitude for rapping. If he isn't considered one of the best youngsters in the game, I don't know who is. For all of the bad times surrounding Charles, he can go bar for bar with the best of them. I wish Charles all the best, because such a talented soul should be in his best faculties. Check out all three cyphers and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (6/4)

What's up people!! Been slacking on the Freestyle Fridays as of late, so this week I had to make sure to post one. The first up is Charles Hamilton dropping by Shade45's radio show to chop it up with Tony Touch and spit off the dome. Chuck's Multihamitonization Project is going to need more ciphers like this if he wants to get back on the scene in full force. I guess being the only rapper out right now who can rap off the top of his head helps. The second freestyle is by Young Chris, who's slowly becoming a really really good rapper. He sounds like he's seriously been hitting the books and expanding his vocab, which you can't be mad at. I still have to listen to The Network 2, especially if Chris is going to be doing it like this. Check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever!!!

Freestyle Friday (4/16)

What's up people?! Friday means freestyles and we got 2dope ones coming today. The first one is by LLoyd Banks at Hot 97's studios. Everyone knows Banks is a freestyle bully (and championship recycler) coming with punchlines. Hopefully Hunger for More 2 doesn't disappoint. One question: why doesn't anything but his mouth move? He looks like he's gotten some Botox done or something. The second freestyle is from Charles Hamilton during his show at SOB's. People wonder why Charles Hamilton has a following. It's because of things like this that I believe Chuck should get more love than he does. The man freestyles, literally off the top, for 8 minutes. Not many other rappers can say that they do that. Whatever the case, check out the freestyles and happy Friday!!

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...

Charles Hamilton x B.o.B. - Paperboy

Charles Hamilton & B.O.B. - Paperboy

Chuck seems to be getting back in a groove, especially after putting out his 'last' mixtape, that was generally received with yawns. He and B.O.B. have been recording in Atlanta for the past week or so, and this is what they came up. I have to say that the beat is fire, first of all. Second of all, both Sonic and Bobby Ray seem to mirror each other well on wax, with their sounds meshing really well. I suppose it doesn't hurt that both of them are considered two of the more eccentric MC's from last year's Freshman 10. Hell, sometimes they even sound alike. Whatever the case, I'm hoping the two decide on the pairing being more than a one-track stand. Then again, we never know what to expect with these two guys. Check out their ode to rolling implements, money and non-sequitur laced rhymes...

ItsTheReal - Charles Discharged

Charles Hamilton had a hell of a year in 2009, to say the least. I kind of wrote the man off after the Normalcy EP came out, just because it didn't come hard enough and seemed like Chuck was too late in trying to recoup his career. Videos like this from ItsTheReal show not only that Charles might not be done, but also he has no problem poking fun at his mishaps. As a matter of fact, it's somewhat exciting to see that Charles is sober and ready to work again. Whatever the case, the video is hilarious. Check out Charles Discharged...

Dear Charles Hamilton

Charles Hamilton - Hockey Kitty

It's always a sad day when you realize a rapper you think is (or was) good has fallen off and probably won't be back on any time soon. Charles, when I saw you and Yung Nate perform 'Stutter' in 2006, I had no clue that you'd be the quintessential Moses of hip-hop, making it to the promised land, but not making it in. With this latest track off 'The Binge Vol. 3: Charles Hamilton’s Last Mixtape,' it seems like a late, ill-fated attempt to get back into the limelight after a year and a half of PR disasters. Yes, the sample is funny, but the beat is overused in the blogosphere and you didn't spit anything vicious. It's not like this is a new thing. 'The Normalcy Project' didn't come hard enough and was essentially a bust (yeah, I'm calling that). And of course last year you got cast as a liar on wax (re: the Dilla fiasco) and were thoroughly emasculated with video evidence (I hope you're not still friends with Brianna).

It's even more messed up considering you had a damn good lead single to cap off 2009, which most new artists can't hold a candle to. Ahh well, Charles, I suppose we can all remember the good times, and the quirky Sonic- addicted music we grew to love. This is needless to say at this point, but your demise could have been prevented with a lot more good counsel and earlier intervention (that mixtape of yours was fire, by the way) in terms of your drug problem. I wish you nothing but the best, Chuck. This isn't saying goodbye to your career, because honestly you've come a hell of a long way since last year. It is, however, an admission that your career is fizzling Charles. Either you need to get on a SERIOUSLY dope feature or back on your mixtape grind HARD. Then again, with the title of your upcoming work, it will have to be the former. Good luck, Chuck...

The Mailing List: December 2009 (#4)

4. Normalcy - Charles Hamilton



This past year, Charles Hamilton showed us what can happen when bad public relations and bad public relationships come together. The punch heard 'round the world derailed what was seeming like a nice career in the making. Match that with a lackluster first album and Sonic the Hedgehog got dropped like a bad habit from his label. However, as you can see from the picture, Charles Hamilton is back. The man has a new project in the works called 'Normalcy'. Lord knows he needs some of that after a hell of a year (not in the good sense). Check out some of the leaks and a video from the mixtape, which drops this week, and keep it locked to Dear Whoever for the release...

Charles Hamilton - Air Agains

Charles Hamilton – Loserville

Charles Hamilton – Charles Hamilton is Back