I hope you guys remember Illecism. We did a feature on him in February (click here)where I showed y'all one of the best freestyles I've ever seen; no seriously, top 3 I've heard (to put it in perspective, I heard this cypher in January and am still finding new punchlines). Here he goes in again on the freestyle tip, and you can tell dude has gotten better. His metaphors need at least two or three spins to hit you and his flow is so flexible. One question is how Nicatyne (the dude beatboxing) keeps up with Illecism. I feel like his mouth must be really sore after doing that for 5 minutes straight. Whatever the case, Illecism should be bursting onto the scene furiously in the coming months. Check the exclusive he blessed the blogosphere with while you're at it, too...
It's a damn shame that I have to right this letter. It's an even worse shame that I saw it coming a mile away. Drake, you've really managed to make one of the worst videos I've ever seen. Seriously, how long did it take you to film this? It seems like every day there was news or pictures of the video shoot. The way heads were hyping it up, it sounded like you and Kanye were making the next 'Thriller'. This turned out so much worse. I love beautiful women and large breasts just as much as the next man, Drake, but I think you took it too far. What does this video even have to do with being the best someone's ever had? It looked more like a promo for a gym membership than a music video. For what it's worth, Drizzy, I'll give you props for getting so far in your career, becoming a leech of Wayne's. That Young Money deal solidified it as well (Dear Whoever readers might not even need to vote, it's so obvious). It must feel great to water down your music to reach a greater fanbase when you and older fans both know you're better. Then again, all you really wanted was the money, the cars, the clothes, and the hoes...
If you had any doubt as to the best basketball movie of all time, then let me clarify: White Men Can't Jump is the pinnacle of basketball cinema!! Nike is paying tribute to the ebony and ivory of the hardwood by releasing two versions of the Hyperize in two colorways. No word yet on when and in what quantities, so keep posted. The first colorway for Sidney Deane, I wrote about a few days ago. The one for Billy Hoyle might be the hotter one though. Check the early 90s, white basketball player swagg (arggghhhh!!!) The tongue says it all...
Yesterday Trey Songz quietly released a new mixtape yesterday. It's aptly titled "Anticipation", in lieu of his upcoming 3rd album "Ready". Let me tell you this. Trey can not only sang (I said SANG not SING), but actually can spit bars, and pretty dope bars too. It's even more evident how nice Trey is when he melds the two, into a melodic menagerie of lyricism and flow. He shows you his creativity on songs like 'Showerlude' and his immense vocal range on almost every other song on the tape. Honestly, Trey might be damn close to taking the R&B crown later this summer when the new album drops. He's got the voice, the range, the lyrics and the charisma to take over, not to mention a dope single (I Need a Girl) to push him up until August. I guess we'll see soon if he's indeed "Ready." Until then, check the d/l link, the back cover and tracklist, and some leaks (Trey has seriously been on his grind!!)
Honestly there's not much more to say. The Kid Daytona has finally released his debut album (for FREE), "Come Fly With Me". I've leaked a few of the album tracks and bonus tracks in the past two weeks. Daytona's album is fire. His lyrics ooze bravado and he rides his beat better than most of the cats in the game right now. He also has good taste in features, with Mickey Factz laying down one of his best verses on 'The Groove' and Mike Maven doing guest vocals on 'Eye Know.' All in all, this is one of the best albums to come out this year, in a year where a lot of the big names have failed to deliver. I sense a changing of the guards in the hip-hop world, and Kid Daytona is right up there with the rest of the New School. Check the d/l link, my picks, the tracklist and a video of reactions to the album at the listening party for "Come Fly With Me," which was actually a few days ago. That's enough talk though. AYYYYYYYEEEEEEEE....
Cream of the Crop: Air Jordan The Groove Twilight Lately Eye Know Air Born
Cream of the Crap: To be honest, while some of the tracks came off weaker, none of them were sub par lyrically or total filler...
1. Just Fly {prod. 6th Sense} 2. Air Jordan ft. Harlem’s Cash {prod. The Government} 3. The Groove ft. Mickey Factz {prod. Deputy} 4. Honestly ft. Avriel Epps {prod. Cook Classics} 5. Twilight {prod. Jet Audio} 6. Contact! ft. Kardinal Offishall {prod. 6th Sense} 7. Flava Season {prod. Double 0} 8. The Minimum ft. Tiara Wiles {prod. 6th Sense} 9. In The Wind {prod. 6th Sense} 10. Lately ft. Amanda Diva {prod. Ill Bomb} 11. Eye Know ft. Mike Maven {prod. 6th Sense} 12. Perfect ft. Outasight {prod. 6th Sense} 13. Right Now Till Then {prod. 6th Sense & Frequency} 14. Air Born ft. Bun B {prod. 6th Sense}
Yes, this post is going to be scathing. Yes, some people are going to feel some kind of way. But the difference between myself an those people is that I don't give two shits...
Now that we got that out of the way, hello 'real hip-hop heads'. Put Atmosphere on pause for a minute and hear this. Above, is the New Boyz video "You're a Jerk," which displays a new dance craze from out West called jerking. While the video is simple and very fanciful in its production, its meaning beyond such is far removed from dancing and adolescent revelry. I can see you 'real hip-hop' heads cringing. You think that this video and the people responsible with it should be sentenced to five years under the tutelage of Joe Jackson. But not so fast.
For the past few years, as the blogosphere has expanded to an astronomical, I've seen a similar rise in you 'real hip-hop' heads. Touting the inferiority of anything sold in mass quantities, you eschew songs like the one above in favor of independent labels, unsigned hype and used record store flows. While such things are laudable, the spectrum of hip-hop delves farther than that. You real hip-hop heads fail to see that hip-hop is much more than an art form dominated by protest, introspection and grass roots. When hip-hop first began to take shape in the late 1970's Bronx (BX STAND UP!!!!), with songs like "Rapper's Delight" penetrating listeners' airwaves and 8-tracks, it was a music of celebration. Whether in discotheques or during summer block parties, rapping was a form of entertainment. Dancing, and b-boying towards the mid-eighties, was the physical force driving the audible revolution. With feet oscillating like project fans, dancers gave a visual interpretation of the merriment that accompanied early hip-hop.
With that said, I contend this: hip-hop is not one-dimensional!!! I'm tired of you self-righteous, preachy backpackers sucking the fun out of everything not from Stones Throw Records because it isn't 'real hip hop'. Stop closing your ears to everything remotely mainstream and then bitching over Twitter when Maxwell isn't the very first act at the BET Awards. Stop making it seem like hip-hop is this angry, constantly introspective teenager who's one kick in life is to inform everyone about the new Breakstra record and how he's better than everything in the mainstream (hip-hop is subjective, people).
If there's one thing that I've learned in my travels, it is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Younger rap fans listen to this music because it speaks to them. People say that if the youth of today listen to the New Boyz and Soulja Boy, then the future is doomed. I beg to differ. Young artists promote the purest form of creativity, only hindered by their own mentalities. Why clamp down on that, claiming that it's ignorant? Were you really listening to Jaylib and Little Brother when you were 13?? If so, then your childhood must have been incredibly dry, which I pity. What you 'real hip-hop' heads miss is that there's no shame in letting down one's hair for a while. Hip-hop isn't ignorant if it's focused on joviality. It is simply there for novelty. So to you 'real hip hop' heads, put down your backpack for a little while. I promise that if you dance for a little while, your hostility will dissipate, and hell, you might have some fun for a change instead of being a kill-joy for hip-hop. That's right. I said it. Real hip-hop heads are a kill-joy. See the value in all forms of rap, whether your respect the grind or not...
The results from last week's Census are in!! You guys are finally exercising your right to vote out here:
Are the Iranian election results fair or not? Yes 14% No 85%
From the votes, it's obvious you guys don't trust the Iranian government's coverage and handling of their general elections. To tell you the truth, I don't either. I feel like if there is such a dispute and a government wants to keep its dignity, revealing and explaining the election results could only help its credibility. All that the violence, secrets and shielding of the results are doing is making the Iranian government look more and more guilty of altering the voting in some way. If they were to come clean with everything, there would not only be a more peaceful resolution to be had, but the rightful leader would emerge. Although far-fetched such an occurrence would be a welcome one, especially if the U.S. doesn't have to get involved. Regardless of the results, I hope the violence stops soon...
Well, the wait is over: After weeks of speculation, Drake has chosen to go with the home team and sign with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records, according to a source close to the situation. The deal breaks down as a joint venture between Young Money and Cash Money, with Universal Republic distributing. Drake’s management was adamant that he should be viewed as an independent artist, although Universal will distribute the project.
It's official. Drake has signed to Young Money Records, in what was one of the most vicious bidding wars in rap. Atlantic, Universal Motown, Warner Music Group all reportedly put $2 million up front to sign the Toronto rapper. Yet all that is moot now that Drizzy Drake is now labelmates with Weezy F, who some say has influenced the direction of his music since collaborating with him in 2008. With that said, here's this weeks Census question:
Is Drake signing to Young Money a good or bad look?
GOOD!!! Drake wants the money, cars, clothes, and hoes, but better hyped to switch his name up to Drizzy F. Drake to honor his new CEO...
BAD!!! He's going for the independent vibe, but he's signed. That has contract litigation written all over it...
Vote in the Census in the tab above and let me know how you feel. Lord knows we need to do something to rinse our ears of "Best I Ever Had"...
What do bottlenosed dolphins, lions, baboons, African hunting dogs, kangaroos and Joseph Walter Jackson all have in common? They are all animals that have been known to kill and/or eat their young. Joe, we've know about how you used to abuse your kids during the 60's. Don't get me wrong; corporal punishment might have its place in certain, restricted venues. But when I saw this video, I nearly died. For a man who just lost his son, one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever seen, you seemed way too calm and eager to talk about other things. It's funny that you can even begin to talk about a new record company when nobody really cared about your musical ventures in the first place. They only reason your name was mentioned was because you beat the shit out of Michael as a kid. Shameless plugs aside, Joe, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. It's like the whole world is doing their mourning for you, while you sit back at award shows and collect checks from your kids' work. They say that you're supposed to bury your parents, not the other way around. For once, just once, I wish that tenet held true...
Hey, hey, hey!!! It's Music Monday. Today we've got two snippets from Lupe Fiasco's new album "We Are Lasers", which drops on an undisclosed date. Unfortunately, both of these are 30 seconds long, but from what we can hear, Lupe goes in on both of them, and the instrumentals behind both are dope. I hope he doesn't get his shit leaked again, though I'd love to hear some new Lupe. Dude has been slacking on his mixtape grind since the Fahrenheit 1/15 series. Check the d/l links for both leaks and the link for Lupe's L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto:
I'd eschewed watching BET for years up until this point. I wasn't happy with the direction the network was taking, particularly in the whole reality TV fad, the lack of music, and the utter ignorance of much of the programming. However, thanks to the multitude of updates on Twitter, I was basically sucked into watching a four-hour compilation of what Viacom really thinks of Black people. While it had its high points (see above), the negatives and utter stupidity overshadowed a lot of those. Regardless, BET you guys managed to keep my attention for four hours, despite me losing about 10% of my brain cells. Check my Live and Lame moments from the 2009 BET Awards.
PS: Don't take my viewership this year as me committing to watching this shit again next year. Please believe that if there's anything remotely more intellectually engaging, or even funnier, I will be flipping the channel.
LIVE!!!!
Now THIS looks like a summer blockbuster...
They brought me back to 1994 with this one, even though Keith Sweat sounded like he had throat cancer. BBD killed it though...
This was the only Michael Jackson tribute that really stood out. Ne-Yo seriously needs to join up with Hair Club for Men, but sang his ass off...
This one needs no explanation...
LAME!!!!
Not only was Drake's performance more boring than tea-time at Mr. Rogers (I know he was injured, but DAMN!!), Young Money with the exception of Weezy sucks at performing. Oh yeah, and Birdman, maybe you should learn your lyrics before you do a live performance...
They could have gotten someone better to cover this. Ciara has the voice of a pre-pubescent boy...
Okay, this was a live performance. It's just silly how much hype Jay's receiving for a sub-par song with a popular subject...
Fab needs some Red Bull or something. He looks more tired than the dude who introduced the O'Jays...
Sidney Deane is the best basketball player in film history. Yeah I said it. That's why Nike decided to make one of it's Hyperize colorways completely based off Sidney Deane (where's Duane Martin from "Above the Rim"?). I can't even begin to describe how dope these are, so just humor me and look at the pictures:
Sometimes things like this need to come out. Lupe laid down everything that would probably put the world in a state of utopia. He also made it seem like that type of thing is easy to instill in people. But maybe Lupe will be able to make progress on his new album, "We are LASERS." The first track, "Shining Down" is a banger and sounds like Lupe is back to the nasty Lupe, the one that crafts ridiculous metaphors and has quick-witted wordplay. Hopefully the rest of the hip-hop world can become lasers too. Check the cover for the single, "Shining Down," which releases on July 7th below:
I'm really feeling this. Pac Div hasn't blown up on the East Coast (we need to chill with the East Coast bias, people), but in the next few months we should be hearing a good deal from this trio. The track sounds like Chuck Inglish put his hands on it. Speaking of which, where have the Cool Kids been since "Gone Fishing" came out??
This is a hard letter to write. I'm so used to cynicism. But that's neither here nor there. Michael, you were an inspiration, a bastion of luminescence in what can sometimes be a very dark musical industry. From your explosion onto the scene in the 60's, to your growth in the 70's, to your rise to superstardom in the 80's to your iconic status in the 90's, there was never a person that saw you who wasn't touched in some way. In a music industry that spits up and chews up artists within months, you were really one of the last artists to have such a following, a worldwide "cult". Whereas some artists focused on making it to the next album, there was never a doubt in any minds that you would be poised to strike the music world with another dose of your lightning. That infectious voice, the dances that are forever linked to you and every track you ever blessed are a legacy that every musician, fan and person blessed to see your work will carry with them. Thinking back to every pop singer of the past 20 years, there is no one that can't trace some part of themselves to your legacy. While some focused on the misunderstandings that your decisions brought on, there's no doubt in my mind that your musical achievement, and better yet, your work as a humanitarian will shine through those clouds. Michael, you were simply the greatest; the greatest to do it, to have done it, and to ever do it. You will be missed sorely, and the spot you vacated in our hearts, minds and ears will never be filled. Rest in peace.
What made you think that this was a good idea? Even if you were successful at purporting any sort of positive sentiment of your song "Halle Berry", the lyrics about stealing another man's wife and degrading women in general would be hard to pass over. It's even worse considering that you threw on a suit and tried your best to sound professional and not like the half-coon, half-idiot we really know you are. I guess every rapper has aspirations of raising their bar to something other than opulence and fast women. I just think you're way too far removed from anything resembling political prowess to be one of those rappers. Here's a good question though: Which birdbrain in the Louisiana State Government shitted out this bright idea? Of all personalities to bring in for a legislative session, you're the one they decided upon. If that's the way Louisiana is run, I don't think I'll be taking a trip down there anytime soon. I'd rather have a governor who has affairs with Argentine women than one who thinks you're a good rapper.
I know everyone's been wondering what #1 would be for June's Mailing List, and why I haven't posted that shit yet. I got y'all, though. I just had to wait for the goods to come through. Here's #1:
1. The Kid Daytona - Come Fly With Me
So, if by now, you don't know who the man above is, take your hand off the mouse/trackpad/whatever you use, flatten it, raise it, and slap yourself. The Kid Daytona is the most underrated MC out right now. Left out of XXL's infamous "Freshman 10 " (half of them got left back, anyways), undermined by the Drake hype, and one of many MC's on the 'blog scene' (I like saying that shit), it's easy to see how Daytona could get left out of the loop by the masses. He hails from the Bronx, NY (BX STAND UP!!), and has been linked with Cipha Sounds and Busta Rhymes, who have both given him the thumbs up. His first two mixtapes were classical concept works. 'A Tribe Called Fresh' put out a new take on the hits from A Tribe Called Quest, while 'Daytona 500' brought in a menagerie of producers to remake Bob James' heavily sampled song, "Nautilus".
His credentials aside, Daytona is set to release his first full length album, "Come Fly With Me" on June 30th (I think Maino comes out that day too??). If his previous work is any indication of where he's going, the Kid Daytona should be the next to blow. Dude blends braggodocious lyrics, a laid back flow and his trademark "AYYYYYYYEEEEEEE" into a concoction of hip-hop prowess that rivals the big guns in the game today. Not to mention, his beat selection is great. Honestly, I'm not going to wax poetical about dude any more. Peep some leaks from his album "Come Fly With Me", which comes out on June 30th:
UPDATE: Just posted the new album cover above, as well as the tracklisting below!!!
1. Just Fly {prod. 6th Sense} 2. Air Jordan ft. Harlem's Cash {prod. The Government} 3. The Groove ft. Mickey Factz {prod. Deputy} 4. Honestly ft. Avriel Epps {prod. Cook Classics} 5. Twilight {prod. Jet Audio} 6. Contact! ft. Kardinal Offishall {prod. 6th Sense} 7. Flava Season {prod. Double 0} 8. The Minimum ft. Tiara Wiles {prod. 6th Sense} 9. In The Wind {prod. 6th Sense} 10. Lately ft. Amanda Diva {prod. Ill Bomb} 11. Eye Know ft. Mike Maven {prod. 6th Sense} 12. Perfect ft. Outasight {prod. 6th Sense} 13. Right Now Till Then {prod. 6th Sense & Frequency} 14. Air Born ft. Bun B {prod. 6th Sense}
Fuck NASCAR. Fuck Formula 1. Fuck any other driving series you've ever seen. Because this dude will destroy any of them with these types of skills. I don't even want to begin to describe the tom foolery that this man displays in a whip. To put it short and sweet, if I was a bank robber, he would be my getaway driver, hands down, point blank. Please check the automotive swag (*cringe*) out:
I guess the Brady Bunch wins. Did you guys really think you could hold it together for more than a few years with each other, considering you have a clan, not even a bunch anymore, of screaming sextuplets and twins? I guess Jon had a hunch it wasn't going to work, looking at how calm he was. Dude looked like he JUST got his doorknob polished and was trying to look serious, because for lack of better word, he's probably HYPED. Not only does he pick up a hefty check from TLC for the remainder of the show, he's not going to have to deal with that she-devil Kate. I know women are demanding, but DAMN!! Kate, you look like you had to give Jon permission when he needed to piss. Also, to tell you the truth, I don't think she really wanted that many kids, looking at how much she shouted and yelled at those kids. Some people can see money wherever they look, and she might be no different. When I saw the laundry list of free stuff they got, it made me want to try some genetic experiments of my own:
- Free beds - Front-loader washing machines - New furniture - Free solar panels for “Going Green” episode - Clothes from Gymboree and Gap - Mady & Cara birthday at American Girl Place (2 dolls and birthday package for 2 adults & 2 kids): $710 - Trip to Florida Key’s for Jon’s 30th birthday - Tickets to Dutch Wonderland amusement park: $309.50 - 1/2 an organic cow from Natural Acres Farm: $1,395.00 - Tickets to Philadelphia Zoo: $104.00 - Tickets to Walt Disney World: $654.00 per day - Utah house rental (estimate: $5,000), ski lift tickets $72 for six days), ski school lessons ($140 per child) - Upright piano, which they got rid of when they moved into their new $1.1 million home : $5,550-$6,350 - Violin: $100-$300 - Old house re-carperted - Crayola Factory Tour: $90.00 - Teeth Whitening (for Jon & Kate): $1,310 (average price for 2 adults) - Hair plugs (Jon): $5,200 (average cost) - Sesame Street Place tickets: $509.50 - Day with Thomas the Tank Engine: $180.00 - Beach trip to North Carolina, house rental, Jeep tour - Sight & Sound Christian theatre tickets: $236.00 - SkyBox at Phillies game - LegoLand tickets: $550.00 - San Diego Zoo tickets: $278.00 - Grand Wailea Resort (Hawaii) for 2008 vow renewal: Suites range from $725-$1,080 per night. - 2 purebred German Shepherd puppies: $1,000-$3,000 per dog - Please Touch Museum tickets: $150.00 - Giants grocery store: $5,000 in gift cards and a year’s supply of diapers
And that's just the documented stuff. Seriously, Jon and Kate, shame on you for bringing these kids into the world for profit (we all know you did it). Not only will your wallets greatly shrink, because viewers were enamored with the whole "family" image, but also your show won't make another season, so there goes the fame. Jon, you better start loading up on that fame-driven sex before you end up on Dancing With the Stars. Kate, I would honestly find another man to trap with impending pregnancy before your vagina turns into an endless abyss. As for the kids, like I said, it's a shame. I'll give it about twelve years before we hear about one of them OD'ing on morphine in some Hollywood back alley. I guess the Octomom really isn't that bad off. Then again, who am I kidding? These people are all evil. Hopefully TLC can find another slightly-deranged woman to impregnate with multiples. It at least makes for great TV when it's on the air, and great laughs when it comes crashing down due to infidelity...
