Death Certificate

     Ice Cube’s “Death Certificate” was and still is one of my favorite albums. It was Ice Cube without NWA, being mentored and produced by the Chuck D and the Bomb Squad, on some everyday street isht with a positive message to it. Cube married rowdy, gangster street mentality, with Islamic ideals, common sense, and righteousness. He found a way to take one side of the album to play towards the streets who wanted to hear the gangsterism, but with that, he put it in the air that “As you listen to this, pay attention to what is being said and decide if this is what you want for your life”. The other side directly addressed the issues and plainly stated what positive changes needed to made in the Black and Hispanic communities. The two were named the “Life” and “Death” sides, a concept that was genius and allowed him to give different points of views with without being considered contradictory with songs like “Dead Homies”, Steady Mobbin’”, "A Bird In The Hand", and “Givinupthenappydugout”.


    Now let’s get to the meat of this discussion, “My Summer Vacation”. The song is FAR from “Are We There Yet?” It basically tells a story about some cats from LA spreading their love for making money by bringing dirt cheap Cocaine to St. Louis and while setting up shop, running into a few problems and converting the locals to Bloods and Crips to make the process a bit simpler. The song hit home for me because I was in St. Louis often with friends and family and had a few experiences with the gangs; some cool, some not so much. What I didn’t know until I got older is that was the real reason why every time I went to Northwest Plaza, Saints, and rode through U-City the blue and red flags were so prevalent. Ice Cube was not only giving us an oral history lesson, he was spittin’.

    It all brings back good memories of good music and good times in one of my favorite towns. Of course I have the video below, so check that out, follow me on Facebook and on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien and TELL SOMEBODY. The link to the archives are below.

Dishonorable Hip Hop Honors

Although Tony Draper of Suave House Records was snubbed when the Pioneers of Southern Hip Hop were honored last year, nearly all of the inductees to the VH1 Hip Hop Honors have been deserving that I can remember. But for the last two or three years, I've been wondering how can one of the greatest Hip Hop duos of all time has consistently been left off of the guest list. Who had one of the coldest samples of "More Bounce to the Ounce", rocked the ill fisherman caps, brought us Redman, K-Solo, Das Efx, Keith Murray, Illegal, and had one of the livest DJ's in DJ Scratch. That team would be Eric Sermon and Parrish Smith, Eric and Parrish Making Dollars or EPMD for short.

I remember when they first came out, I took the bus to the mall with my walkman and bought the "Strictly Business" cassette and rocked it the whole way home. I must've played "You Gots to Chill" a million times that night. That album went gold which was big back then. On all of their albums they maintained the "Business" themes - Strictly Business, Business as Usual, Back to Business, which was fitting since they penned their own rhymes and handled a bulk of the production. Even during a break up of the Brentwood, Long Island duo, they maintained the "Business" theme.

What VH1 should do is handle their business and give proper respects to one of the all time great Hip Hop duos. How in the hell do you honor Def Jam and only have one verse of "Crossover". People need to know that after Run DMC, there was a tag team that held it down and made a way for some of the dopest MC's that the '90's saw. Eric Sermon even helped Shaq with his first album. So, I'm thinking that until this is done, VH1 is on some bull$#!* and I'm not rockin' with them until they have sobered up from the wack juice that they have been sipping honor EPMD. I would advise all Hip Hop heads to do as I do and write them and let's see what happens. As always, TELL SOMEBODY and follow me on Twitter at @TheMarcusObrien.

2010 Are You Ready?

   Alright, so it's the end of 2011 and so much music has and news has come, passed, been forgotten, and driven through the wringer that it's nearly impossible for me to maintain any sort of chronological history or all of the events of this year so I'll just touch on a few in short order.
 
 Fat Joe came with it on a SOLID album that had one of my favorite songs of the year "No Problemz". T.I unfortunately went back to jail but put together a good package to hold us over until he comes back. Also in regard to T.I, he smashed that verse on "Fancy" didn't he?.

WAIT, STOP THE PARTY! Swizz Beatz showed this year why he is "The Monster" by making the hit songs and remixes this year. He produced song's like "Roman's Revenge" for Emenim and Nicki Minaj which by the way was simply animalistic and made "the issue" between Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim official. You tell me your thoughts on the results of that. While speaking of Monsters, Nicki along with Kanye, Jay Z and Rick Ross transformed into beasts for one of the biggest songs of the year in "Monster". "First things first I'll eat your brain"! Who says that?! Oh yeah the video is below.

While mentioning Kanye, although I would have not liked for him to have apologized to Lucifer himself (George W. Bush) because the prick was unappreciative of the sentiment and as always too arrogant to even want to get Ye's name right, I understood where it was coming from. Also, I would like for Taylor Swift fans and non-fans to quit bitching and tell the girl to do what is proper and cut that man a check for new found popularity. Lastly, I would like to say that this cat has again fouind a way to create great music and be the biggest asshole ever to critics without spelling it out in ABC fashion, hense "Monster"

In other Def Jam stories, again the label whose foundation is Hip Hop lacks promotion of Hip Hop. While Rick Ross had the hottest summer seen by a Def Jam artist since Jay Z which BLAZING hot singles like "BMF" and "MC Hammer" the numbers didn't add up to the expectations. Gold is not the worst but Hip Hop was spoiled with Platinum plus for a few years. Big Boi, Redman and Ghostface who all put forth great works but promotion that is less than what Def Jam is known for doing for their premier Hip Hop Artists. With that being said, that WU Massacre was on fire, you know, grown people's rap. Ludacris made sure that he kept himself and Atlanta noticed by doing what he does best and rhyming.

Luda had some help from Gucci Mane and Waka Flaka who have made a foundation for themselves amist so many negative sentiments from individuals in the Hip Hop commuity. Some who may not have embraced their efforts in the beginning, have embraced their realistic ideals, loyalty to each other, and honesty. It's almost like Soulja Boy who "swagged" his way into another infamous year whether for the good or bad.

In Young Money news outside of Nicki Minaj, Lil' Wayne came home, got right to work and hit the streets with 6"7 which was much needed for him to get back into the swing and for me as I can't listen to anymore Drake songs. Before I'm labled as a hater, let me state that I like the rapper Drake. I just need new material because there has been an oversaturation of the market that I need a brake from right now.

The biggest comeback of the year is obviously Emenim who came back larger than King Kong. Everything that he's touched this year has been spotless and that's good for him. Good to see the asshole back in the race.

Mentions go to 50 and Jadakiss for "Dump", Yelawolf for being just that awkward in perception and that nice on the mic, Joel Ortiz for being that asshole rapper that I miss in Hip Hop, Ice Cube and Rev Run and the gang for bridging the gap on the BET Hip Hop Awards, Lloyd Banks for staying down and shining in a way that I didn't notice before, Dipset for bringing it back together, Bun B for holding up after a great loss and putting in great work w/ Talib Kweli, Talib Kweli and Hi Tek for Another album, Jay Electronica for providing verbal chess matches, The Cool Kids for staying off the beaten path and funky, Cali Swagg District for getting sexy ass grown women up out of their seats and wiggling perfectly, B.O.B for doing exactly what he wants to do and making it work, Dr. Dre for finally moving his finger toward the album release button after another 10 years, and Skillz for another Year End Rap Up which I know is coming, but haven't heard yet. Like I said, I can't remember everything so there may be an update but until then, TELL SOMEBODY and follow me on Twitter at TheMarcusObrien.

Apollo Kid

I have to take the time to put a little light on a MC with enough character to pass around the room twice and still have enough to give plenty of color to the album. He's a member of the Wu who rocked the Wally's, ill robes and a 6 inch high gold eagle arm bracelet. Call him Tony Starks or Ghostface but either way, you'll get the same ill flow and swagger. Who else would do a video eating an ice cream cone? We all know him from the Wu Tang Clan, but I'm thinking about some of the solo efforts he's put forth. I have to say that "Shakey Dog" on the Fishscale album is not only one of my favorite songs on the album, but one of my favorites period. The song is about a robbery set up that didn't go as well as expected. This cat is one of the best story tellers that there is in Hip Hop. Years ago my homeboy and I started calling Ghostface "The Great Describer" because we would listen to him and notice how he could give you a verse and a half simply giving you the set up for the story which includes describing everything and everyone in the room down to the shoelace, and that's what made "Shakey Dog" on Fishscale so hot. By the end of the song, I had to know what happened with the Spanish cat and Ghostface. There's not too many MC's that can keep people's attention with a story anymore, but this guy really does paint pictures with words and has hilarious lines to keep the listener entertained.

He's been on record as saying that he likes beats with soulful samples. What I would like to see is an album with production from the RZA, 9th Wonder, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Alchemist, Pete Rock, NO I.D., and see if there could be some type of clearance for a Jay Dee tack in there. I have no idea how much case that would take, but I'm sure that the end result would be BANANNAS! The Apollo Kids album is out now and I hope people support it cause it's good isht. Check out the link to "Shakey Dog" and as always TELL SOMEBODY!

HUNGRY!

Right now, I'm feeling that Joel Ortiz is just one of the illest cats around. Who could have taken arguably the spring and summer's hottest song, Beamer, Benz, or Bentley and stripped it down to the gutter with Nissan, Honda Chevy and make it fly. He spoke on hustler practices and techniques that only people have done it for real would know. Shots out to the Mickey D's Fish and Cheese! If you don't catch on to what I'm talking about listen again, and if you still don't get it, you never will. All year he's killed every remix he's been on and rapping like this is last year living and starving. I miss rappers who sound like their still trying to get it and haven't falling into the "I'm been living in the lap of luxury for years before rappin'" mode. Sometimes it's just refreshing to hear a blue collar rapper. With a new album out, and fire in the streets, much success to Brooklyn's Joel Ortiz. As always, TELL SOMEBODY!

Qualo Feat Psychodrama & Turtle Banxx - Gunshots, Warfare... Revelations

Now We Have A Battle

So, it seems as if the feud may have now become a real battle. After a summer full of accusations of shots on wax and verbal passes in interviews, we now have at least one direct hit fired by Lil Kim and one by Nicki Minaj. This has finally gotten interesting because this seemingly unnecessary squabble finally makes it to wax. If you ask why I say “seemingly unnecessary”, that would be because I truly don’t understand Kim’s animosity toward the newcomer for not paying enough homage to the queen. Everyone born before 1987 is probably aware of whom the Queen Bee is and what impact she made on Hip Hop in terms of female lyricists, style, and sexuality. After Salt-n-Pepa, she took over as being the sexy woman in charge of her destiny but what she added was a passion for high end fashion and downright raunchy topics that we couldn’t get enough of and that is what she is recognized for. I’ve provided a short essay on Lil’ Kim’s pedigree, to illustrate why I don’t understand her beef. Everyone knows who she is and anyone after that is automatically draw comparisons to her so; it is my position that there is no need to require so much praise. Nicki did a photo shoot that was very Lil’ Kim like. Hell, let’s just throw it out there, it had Queen Bee written all over it but it’s obvious that she was giving Kim a nod or maybe I missed something. Sometimes imitation is the greatest form of flattery hence - Biggie Smalls, Foxy Brown, Queen Bee. I don’t see any possible way that she and her people set up a shoot like that and didn’t know that it would draw a comparison or have Kim in mind when doing it. It’s almost like sampling a beat, it was hot so let me rock to it.
With all of the logic and history aside, let’s get down to the battle. Nicki officially fired first with Roman’s Revenge featuring Emenim which was monstrous. The production by Swizz Beatz was huge with lyrics that matched. There were a couple of lines that set the tone for the song and battle. The first was in character talking to herself saying “Nicki she just mad cause you took the spot, Word, that b—ch mad cause I took the spot? Well b—ch if you ain’t sh---in’ then get off the pot”…. and “so f-ck I look like getting back to a has-been, yeah I said it, has-been, hang it up, flat screen. These are pretty ballsy words for a new comer to speak to a veteran, but I’m not sure if tenure really means as much as people make it but I’ll get to that later. With Kim keeping the feud alive this summer and not having put any music out, it seemed as if this was going to be an absolute slaughter. That would not necessarily be the case.
Kim has come back with “Black Friday” which was released on Nicki’s self-claimed “Pink Friday”. I first heard it on Hot 97 New York and I was less than enthusiastic about the response. I felt that if Kim thought that she was sending subliminal messages in various songs, there should have been a tremendous amount of aggression shown because at that point, she had her back on the ropes. If you think of her verses on “Hello Good Morning” with Dirty Money or “Monster” with Kanye West where it’s been said they were meant for the Queen, those were two SERIOUS verses before “Roman’s Revenge” and the interview with Angie Martinez where Nicki compared the battle to “having to beat your children”. Kim’s words seemed to come of nonchalantly instead of fire which I believe that situation calls for. It seemed a bit lackluster but I wanted to hear it again so that I can be fair about things so I found the whole song on the internet. Apparently Hot 97 didn’t play the whole song and yes, it did get better. As the song went on, Queen Kim found her groove that was reminiscent to the old Kim and she took jabs at the youngster about things like being a Lil’ Kim clone and the name Minaj getting her a job. Invalid points like plastic surgery and gaining fame from sexuality were made by Kim but it was still a respectable comeback.
This is where I will go back to not letting tenure cloud my vision on a Hip Hop battles. During the Cannibus vs. LL Cool J, I was so stuck on LL being a legend and one of my favorites of all time that I wouldn’t admit that this was the one time in his career where he had decisively been defeated even though I knew deep down it was true. Alright, that was a bit dramatic and sensitive, but on real isht, Cannibus did rip LL a new one and at this point, round one or three depending on how you look at it victory goes to the challenger. Do I feel that it’s over? No. Do I think that it was total domination? No, but the Queen will have to come a bit stronger to win this one and I’m waiting to see if she will pull it off. As always fell free to comment, and TELL SOMEONE!

Blood in the Water

I was listening to Hot 97 New York the other morning and tuned in during a HEATED discussion about who the best Female MC is and Cipha Sounds stated that he felt it was Nicki Minaj which I feel is a fair statement, not because she’s new because that doesn’t mean much to me. The fact is she kills verses. I’m not talking about the popularity contest that happens in Hip Hop (which she is winning by the way), I’m speaking of lyrics and style.

Of course, this statement of opinion caused a whirlwind of hurt feelings and heated lashes to the tune of “she’s garbage”, she ain’t better than Lil’ Kim” and even a “her verses ain’t better than Eve’s “Love is blind” which made no sense since they were two completely different songs. I always hear these remarks and wonder, “what am I listening to that others are not”, and “why is the comparison to Lil Kim and not MC Lyte, Missy, Eve, or any other female M.C.”? It may be because she has a bit of the Lil’ Kim persona by being sexy and fashionable or it could be that Lil’ Kim is the only female that went so far out of the way to make an issue of what Nicki is doing. Kim is the Queen Bee hands down and most of us love her and respect her so she will always have that status so there was no need to go on her campaign. Her campaigning has finally led to a direct fire storm thrown in her direction from Nicki on her new song “Roman’s Revenge” with Eminem and it’s not looking so good for the queen.

Let’s just be real about the situation, “Hardcore” was and is still that joint, but after that there hasn’t had the consistency to truly hold a crown but because she claimed it and we love her, we ride with. I have no problem with that although I feel that Missy has been the most consistent with putting out dope isht pound for pound. But since that album, there hasn’t been an overwhelming amount of substance to hold the crown. Since the discussion is being regurgitated time and time again I will have to agree with Cipha Sounds. I’ll go so far to say the crown is being snatched off of her head. This verse may have been blatant but an argument can be made that Nicki has been killing this lady all summer long. There is not one Lil’ Kim verse that can match up to what she did on “Monster”. Cipha stated that he was Lil’ Kim’s DJ at one time and that she is his friend, but Nicki “bodied her” on this new song with Em and I am inclined to agree. People we have to get past what things were and what you are in tune with and simply give a high five when there is good shit going on.

I have yet to get a real answer on why Nicki is so whack other than “she is trying to be like Kim” or “her ass is fake”. I say print out the lyrics and read them one after another and then listen to the emphasis on words, character, style, and passion and if you feel that Lil’ Kim is still better; I’ll catch you when you leave the 12 step program. I’m about Hip Hop and I get technical at times, and this is a Technical Knock-out. What Kim has to do is make some hot music FAST because she can’t afford to let this tarnish her image. But for now, the heat is definitely on. Let’s see how the competition holds up. As always, feel free to voice your opinion and TELL SOMEBODY!

New Life

Lately, I've been feeling really good about the state of Hip Hop. Although there have been some posers, some extremely whack people attempting to make us believe that they are dope, and styles have changed. In the past couple of months, I'm elated to see that "The great dumb down" has been put to the side for the moment and allowed some good stuff to get through the barrier. Raekwon, Drake and Rick Ross have solid albums out, Nicki Minaj is strangling every track that breathes, Joel Ortiz is using other people's beats as a punching bag, Kanye West, Game, and TI are back and Fat Joe has the best work I've heard from him in years. I remember I saw an interview with Joe and he spoke about being successful in the industry and he talked about making the radio hits to stay relevant. It is true, but resulted in certain songs that I didn't particularly care for. With this album, some serious, serious, heat. This is what needs to played on the radio in my opinion. Please don't ever believe that every time I turn on the radio I want to hear some cat singing a duet or pouring his heart outm I've got Al B Sure cd's and XM Satellite for that. I suppose that since sales are down that people are formulating a new plan making the music that we've been missing for the past few years. Hopefully this is a pattern that will continue for a while. Feel free to comment and tell someone to tell someone.

Identity Crisis?

In Hip Hop, MC's have always portrayed and beefed up personnas, created monickers and alter egos, and compared themselves to a person that they admire. Ghostface, out of admiration and respect for Slick Rick broke out the crazy merch, Wallabee's and ego for milleniums. In the case of Rick Ross, I'm completely unsure of his motivation. When he first came out, I was turned off by the song "Hustling" because of the references to knowing "the real Noreaga". The whole song was over the top, but I figured that maybe he is painting the picture of someone in that position. At the time, there was a reported 1 million paid to drug kingpen Freeway Ricky Ross by the rapper Rick Ross for the use of the name. Totally respectful and honorable if you ask me. The ironic thing is that Freeway Ricky is now suing rapper Rick for the use of his name and likeness. I've stated previously that I didn't care for his music much before, but in the past two years or so, he has stepped his game up tremendously and I actually like the guy's music. I just want to know if my man his having an identity crisis. The references to thinking he's Scarface, Al Pacino, and more recently drug Kingpen Big Meech of BMF fame and Ex leader of the Gangster Deciples Nation Larry Hoover (which by the way is my jam) are entertaining and hilarious, but make me curious again. Is this all for entertainment purposes or is he for real about portraying himself as some type of street kingpen. After unecessarily hiding the fact that he was a Correctional 0fficer, this is getting to be a bit strange. I love my fair share of drug music because of the life experiences of my peers, and I understand the references to these street heroes that the street deciples look up to because hearing those names in the music that you listen to is the ultimate motivation. Again, I just want to know if his motivation is to tell the story poetically, or is it a true identity crisis. As always, you're feed back is welcome and tell somebody.

Number one spot

So once again, we have one of those popularity contests that they call a Greatest MC's list. What they tend to lack sometimes are great MC's. What they do have is who is hot right now and has an album out which I suppose makes sense since the new album hasn't dropped. Consistent since '99 and simply a BEAST on the mic but not on a list. This is one of my favorites because I used to groove when this Quincy Jones original came on in Austin Powers. A friend of mine was working with the same sample and when I heard this I called him in the middle of the song and said STOP!. "No one else will ever do justice to this beat again. This dude just demolished this song." We'll save the ongoing discussion of Hip Hop Being dead for another time (preferably when it is dead) because with cats like this around it will stay alive. Stay tuned because I'm searchin for another Luda gem but I don't know the real name of it but, it's a banger.

UTFO -Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me

Second Generation Hip Hop. I remember getting out of school and blasting this tape intil my mom came home from work. Kangol Kid had that serious Jerri Curl.

You're Lady Loves A Little Sexy Every Now And Then

If you read the profile, it said that I love music. Music period! I was working at a joint a while back and was riding with a coworker after the shift and we had tossed back a few. She got to talking about her long time boyfriend who no longer had the urge to have relations with her which was utterly strange to me because she was an attractive girl and cool as isht. Most guys would like a girl who worships your dirty drawers, takes care of business, party's hard, doesn't cheat and is a naughty girl at the right times. What was wrong with this cat. By the time we got to my house she was so pissed about the nerd not giving her any, she was trying to do away with every memory of him. So, she handed me this unopened CD and said "you can have it. He bought it for me". It was Feist, someone I'd never heard of before. I'm willing to listen to something new so I grabbed it, gave her a hug, told her to call an old flame so she can get some and went inside and fixed a Long Island Ice Tea for my lady and myself. Fellas, this is where you must pay attention. Remember in Baby Boy when the boyfriend was playing the right music for Jody's mom to set the mood and she loved it? That's what I'm going to do for you. Ladies, thank me later for putting you or your guy on something good. I popped in the CD while we sipped. This CD is some ice cold isht. I suppose it's considered alternative but she's got some soul. Enough soul that Kanye sampled her. It's something that you would hear at a Martini Bar or a intimate, trendy little nightspot. It's real groovy and extra sexy at times. This is when your at home, get some good food, no TV, low lights and cocktails. Get your bartender game up! Date nights, when your looking and smelling good, pop this in on your way to your destination. Get the nice big boy suite at the hotel with the Bose System and Vueve' Cliquot champaigne and let it ride. This is all of course, if this is a serious relationship or, if your just that kind of dude. My ladies you get the CD and put him on something. This can be your sexy thing just for the two of you. Either way, this helps get the job done! When I want to chill out and relax this is disk I look for. I usually don't give these kind of tips but I don't mind sharing. There's a link below for you to listen to my favorite song on the album. Ladies LOVE this song. Trust Me! You're welcome to comment and as always SPREAD THE WORD!

Feist - Leisure Suite

COOL ISHT!

Skillz feat. The Roots "Take It Back"

Hip Hop at it's finest. One of the best underplayed songs I heard last year.

DMX It Aint My Fault

DMX It Aint My Fault

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My Hip Hop is Alive and Beatin'

I've been in New Jersey for a few weeks and what I've found is the claim that Hip Hop is dead is only speaking in the industry sense. We've gotten so used to astronomical record sales that we've forgaotten how hard it really is to push gold and platinum. In the chase of duplicating past feats, records companies have pimped hard and let some "not so favorable" disasters make whoopie with the radio waves. So much in fact, that younger audiences believe what they're getting is the pure uncut and having no idea otherwise but, whatever I suppose.

All I can say is, I would like to thank the NYC DJ's and the kid New Era for keeping some good music in my life. I could sound like alot of grumpy old dudes and say "classic" Hip Hop but I don't want you to be confused about what I mean. Technically, "Classic Hip Hop Music" would be like KRS One said in Beef, the Bom Diggy Bang Bang rap. You know, the cats with fish net muscle shirts, leather pants and boots (which was fly for the time). But many styles have passed and are now considered classic. What I've heard lately is Styles P feat. Noreaga and Uncle Murda, Raekwon feat. Jadakiss and Styles P, new M.O.P music, Charles Hamilton, Albe Back feat. Fabulous (The cat from New York in the movie ATL) and the list goes on.

It's been good to hear music that's distinctive to a particuliar area of the country. You hear all types of songs from all over the country on Power 105, Hot 97, 98.6 which may be in Jersey (happened to catch it on the fly), and depending if your just west or south of Newark you may also catch a couple of Philly radio stations. The surprising factor is internet radio. There are a number of local internet stations that don't necessarily have to adhere to the playlist bore of some of the big stations. I had the opportunity to check out 999.3 the joynt www.993thejoynt.com in Newark with my fam DJ Ovadoze. He's on from 3-5 Mon-Thurs afternoons. They have a unique broadcast and allow unsigned artist to be heard as well. Watching internet radio being produced was new for me as was the sation manager's attitude towards me being there which I won't discuss at this time.

For whatever its worth to anyone else, in Jersey and across the Hudson in NYC my Hip Hop spirit has been lifted. I've been inspired to put in some late night shifts on the MPC. In fact, I haven't turned it off in three days because I don't want to miss a note that passes through the brain. I enourage you to go to You Tube or www.RapBasement.com and checkout the cats I mentioned and SPREAD THE WORD!

I Changed My Mind

A few months ago, we got new blood in the commercial end of the Hip Hop world. I say commercial because believe it or not, there is a bit of difference between the street and industry standards. In the streets without the industry pushing what the standard is in their eyes, I dont know how how much of the music that we listen to we would really embrace as good Hip Hop music. I don't particularly care for the 50 Cent singles that make the money and drive album sales, but whenever I'm in New Jersey/New York I see why he and the crew keep a following. It's because they keep the streets happy with bangin' mixtapes. That's one example of the difference. Nevermind what you might've thought people still have alot of love for the G-Unit there.

Without me knowing, Drake seems to have won many people over (in and out of the industry)with his slew of mixtapes. I first heard of him in the same fashion of the suburban dude who first heard Too Short "Born to Mack" in 1989. If you didn't catch it, the album came out a few years before. At any rate, I was late because "Best I Ever Had" was on the radio (not video yet) and I was like "it's alright" he seems to be consistent with his flow but he sounds like a cross between Wayne and Kanye. Later, I found that I'm the only person that I know who shared the thought. I heard more and more of the song and his name. I wondered "Who is this dude?". After I found out that he was affiliated with Lil' Wayne I thought maybe that is the reason for all of the hype because I just didn't see it. I asked my 19 year old brother in law and he just shrugged his shoulder with his head to the side saying "Dude is nice". I suppose at that point with him saying it so plainly, I just had to wait to see what he was talking about.

Fast forward a few weeks. I'm driving through Tampa and I hear "Successful" which gave me a second chance to be open and hear the man out. This time, I left behind the affiliations and Degrassi fame which could have been hard to overcome. The Hip Hop community is a little tough on a person without a rags to riches story. Or, I would imagine a story that involves Nickelodeon. But in all fairness, the tough guy background doesn't REALLY make a difference and he was able to make his way through the nonsense. I thought they guy just had good wordplay to put it in basic terms. I like all styles of Hip Hop but this was something for the regular dude; that's the guy who get's left out all too often because of being overshadowed by the black Bill Gates characters. Character's being the key word. At that point, I was able to really listen to the man in a non-judgemental way.

Since that Tampa trip, everything that I've heard from Drake has been solid and quite honestly damned good. I just heard "Forever" with him Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, and Eminem. With that lineup and Drake being up to bat first, it would have been easy to be lost in the mix but that didn't happen. No, I haven't gotten the album at this time but I don't think it would be a bad purchase. He's convinced me that there is more good music to come and I'm interested in listening. Like my brother in law said "Dude is nice" and I've changed my mind.
As always, please feel free to comment and Spread The Word!

Get Your Panties Out of A Bunch

It's been a week or so since I've last expressed my thought's to you. Not because there was nothing to talk about, it was that I was not sure about what I was going to talk about first. In my short absence of sorts, I've thought about all of the sensitivity in music right now. The individuals who "don't worry about" or "make the haters their motivators" are the same ones who can't seem to take constructive criticism and move forward in a civilized manner.

It's not that someone is a jealous because of your progress, it's just that a person or people do not particularly like your "artistic work". In some cases, it's really the fact that a certain group of individuals may feel that you suck to put it into layman's terms. When approached with anything less than praise sufficient for the Pope, artist tend to really blow their top. In alot of cases, every composition is not the best work put forth or, it may not be what the listener is in the market for at that time. I don't believe that is worth jap-out's, hay maker's or stabbings, clubbings, gunshots and the list goes on. If the criticism comes from another artist, either step your game up or issue a musical challenge or duo of sorts. Instant gratification will be awaiting.

Artist have the right and they should defend their work, as well as I believe that consumers have the right to express their opinions on a piece of work if they purchase it if it is done a respectful manner. However, the days of someone SAYING "Dog, that isht was whack" and because of that I'm "hating" and it might get physical is absolutely ridiculous and can't move forward into the next decade. If the artist is profitable and prospering, then nonsense jibber should be brushed off unless deep down you know you set us up with that garbage. Common said on the album "Like Water For Chocolate" "I wonder if these whack niggas realize they whack?". No. I don't believe they do. And that's okay. I may not like it, but someone does. Just the same, I don't like that isht and you think that I should. Just relax and chill out. So, let's live by the Tupac driven, "I don't give a ckuff" attitude and not really give a ckuff if somebody doesn't like your work. As always, feel free to express your opinions and SPREAD THE WORD!

Please Let The Family Out Of The Dungeon

Somewhere around the beginning of March of 1998, I moved to Atlanta, Ga. I was lured by the seemingly endless opportunities of success, African American upward mobility, mild climate and of course, Freak Nik ’95. Yes, I caught on to what was to be about the last descent year for the festival. I had never been to an event where 100,000 or more, younger well to do African Americans gathered in one city for an event with such a feeling of togetherness if you will. I’m sure from the stories that have echoed across the country you wonder how I can say togetherness. It’s easy. People who came just had too much fun to fight. There was so much food, partying, and alcohol most of the partygoers were in near-hippie mode. Why yes, there was loud music, street parties and women shaking their goods until the cows came home. Through all of the activities, people actually found the time to converse, network and enjoy the city.

Before my high school spring break trip to Freak Nik, my mother had plans at one time to move to the A and I often thought about what it would be like to live here. I’d listened to M.C. Shy D, Kilo, and Success and Effect. A lot of what was coming out of the A at the time was booty shake. The fast paced Africa Bambaata influenced dance rhythms that were and at the right party now, is still the hometown staple. But in 1994, something completely different happened in the Hip-Hop scene in the South, Atlanta particularly. It was new, and sort of a love child of genius and awkward. It was Outkast, and they introduced us to The Dungeon Family. Ahh, The Dungeon Family, a crew of MC’s, producers, poets, singers, songwriters who successfully balanced being street with politically aware. There was Big Boi and Andre, Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, Khujo, T-Mo (Goodie Mob), Rico Wade, Ray Murray, Sleepy Brown (Organized Noize), Mr. DJ, Big Rube, Cool Breeze, EJ The Witchdoctor, Joi, Back Bone, Slim Calhoun, C-Bone and later Killer Mike and Bubba Sparxxx. There was also Big Reese, Mello Capone and KP, who also headed up the Attic Crew that bought the likes of Cutty Cartel, Powlow, Mr. Mo (Jim Crow), The Youngbloodz, and T.I.

You’ve had the Wu-Tang Clan, Juice Crew, DITC Crew, Death Row, Drama Ward and numerous crews I could name but, this is a line up that is also worthy of respect and a bit of gratitude, especially in their hometown. This is why I’m absolutely flabbergasted that there is the minutest trace of any of their songs being played on ATL radio stations. I’m not the artist and feel offended by what I feel is the lack of homage being paid to the forerunners of the “new” Hip Hop sound of the South and Atlanta. With all of the songs recorded by the Dungeon Family, I think there should be enough to play some of their material fairly frequent without repetition. Instead of that so-so song that we’ll hear again in about an hour, I’d just like to groove to a little “Cell Therapy”. My first month in ATL, Goodie Mobs’ “Still Standing” had just been released. There were 3 of us in a one-bedroom apartment in College Park with the radio on all day, except to watch Good Times and Martin. Goodie Mob, Youngbloodz, and PA had to be the top played groups on all of the Urban Stations. Ludacris (known as Chris Luva Luva on Hot 97.5 ATL) and Poon Daddy kept the DF in rotation. Not to expect that stations will totally abandon the seemingly robotic format that “the man” pushing the buttons has set forth, I just feel it’s right to save some airtime for the local heroes. I may be forgetting the radio politics that sometimes dissatisfies more listeners than will be admitted, but this is how I feel and I don’t believe I’m alone. Feel free to let me know what you think and don’t forget to Spread The Word!