Kanye West - Christian Dior Denim Flow (ft. KiD CuDi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks & Ryan Leslie)

Kanye West - Christian Dior Denim Flow (ft. Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks & Ryan Leslie)

I find it hilarious when the entire blogosphere reacts to one happening, especially when it concerns something that essentially is the lifeblood of the business (yes, blogging is a business now). Leaks used to be throwaway tracks and stuff that you would release 10 years into your career for the diehard fans to eat up. Now, leaks pretty much power the hip-hop landscape, and naturally artists get angry. Kanye wasn't too pleased earlier this week with the leaks and turned the idea of GOOD Fridays into a Sad Wednesday with an announcement that he would be halting his free leaks on Fridays. Lo and behold, three days later, Mr. West unleashed a track for the Friday faithful. This time he brought CuDi (liking him less as a rapper since the Wale tiff), Pusha, John Legend, Lloyd Banks and Ryan Leslie (who apparently raps now?) along for the ride and turned them all into Dior whores over a dark, looming beat. All of them kill it, too. It's ironic that Kanye started getting all that flack when he canceled his series, but now every blogger has this up (including mine). Ahh well... Just another day in the neighborhood. Check the newest GOOD Friday track...

Lloyd Banks - Light Up Freestyle

Lloyd Banks - Light Up Freestyle

Is it safe to say that Lloyd Banks is one of the most underrated cats in the game? It seems like every time we count the man out, either due to 50's ego blotting out the sun or label woes (that should be a trending topic for rappers #labelwoes), Banks finds a way to jump start his career all over again. 'Beemer, Benz or Bentley' became an earworm this summer and now we're waiting on "The Hunger for More 2," which promises to be a hell of an album. Banks released this freestyle to Drake's 'Light Up' via ThisIs50 yesterday, and I'm in awe. Lloyd speaks on the state of the hip-hop game, his own personal issues and does some amazing work with his flow on the track. Hope we hear more heat from this man, because NYC rap is back on the way up from what I can tell...

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!!

Beemer, Benz or Bentley vs. Nissan, Honda, Chevy

In the days of old, when no one hopped on each other's beats like that, this wouldn't have happened. But, alas, this is the blogosphere, and no instrumental is safe. Lloyd Banks and Juelz Santana finally came out with the visuals for 'Beemer, Benz or Bentley,' but a few days after Joell Ortiz and Jim Jones (Dip Set seems like they're becoming the hip-hop mercenaries) did the same for 'Nissan, Honda, Chevy.' Do I smell some contention? I hope not, because while I'm inclined to give the nod to Banks and Juelz since it was originally their song, Joell & Jimmy's video was a tad bit iller, as is the concept. Not sure who's to blame either: the artists, the labels or idiotic producers who don't lock down their instrumentals. Regardless, both videos do their respective tracks justice. Which one do you guys prefer??

Top 10 Most UNDERRATED Mixtapes of the Year (8-7)

Honestly, this was a hell of a year in terms of music. So many new artists showed their talents through sound, and it was easy to get lost in the shuffle (get it?). We saw Drake, Wale, KiD CuDi & J. Cole all get their time in the limelight. All over the blogosphere, I'm seeing everyone's top 10, or 5 or whatever, mixtape lists, and I'm seeing the same fucking mixtapes over and over again. That doesn't sit well with me.What about all the artists, and more importantly, mixtapes that flew under the radar? What about the mixtapes without the huge promotion and big name features? What about those mixtapes you DIDN'T hear? Those questions end as we enter the new year. Dear Whoever is listing it's top 10 underrated mixtapes, as well as the #dopetracks (my Twitter fam knows I love that hashtag). We'll cross two names off the list every two days, and end next week with the most underrated mixtape of the year. Check out who chimed in at numbers 8 and 7, and keep it locked to Dear Whoever for numbers 6 through 1...

8. Lloyd Banks - Happy Birthday



Lloyd Banks - Happy Birthday

#dopetracks
Real Recognize Real
Me and My Strap
Hottest in the Hood (Remix)
Money Moves the World
Don't Come Around

I'm tired of heads who think Lloyd Banks is 50's little brother on the microphone, because honestly, Banks shits on 50 on wax. And that's a fact. His 'Happy Birthday' mixtape went under the radar in terms of the blogosphere (heads are allergic to gangsta shit these days), but lyrically, Banks is still the top dog from G-Unit. To top it off, the release was 2 CD's!!! Seriously, if you liked Lloyd Banks before, you'll love him even more. And if you weren't a fan before, you will be now...


7. Harlem's Cash - CASHifornication



Harlem’s Cash – Cashifornication

#dopetracks
Keep It Truck'n
Stank You
Ignint Shit
Ground Level
Beyond

Harlem's Cash is a MONSTER. Say it with me. A MONSTER. Along with that trademark Harlem flow (all my Big L fans know what I mean), Cash has lyrics for days. CASHifornication was a short mixtape, but it had enough firepower for two releases. Also, he does a great job with his vocabulary and his wording on this release. He's always working with (not against) the beat, and his beat selection was great (even though three of them were Drake joints). I can say that Cash is another one to watch out for in 2010, along with the rest of the Notherground camp (a few more might make appearances on the list; hint hint). Follow him on Twitter @HarlemsCash.