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!

"Hip Hop Junkies"

So, last night I was on my way to my weekly late night Wal-Mart visit. I like to go at night in order to attempt avoiding the crowds. You would think with 24 lanes to use, I would have more options than 3 lanes with about 5-6 people in front of me doing some serious shopping. All of that information is probably jibberish to you but ,I was sidetracked momentarily with the thought of destination, not the journey. The journey to my destination was the enjoyable part of the evening.

I couldn't take another fraction of a second listening to the radio playing the same songs that I'd heard earlier in the day as I ran errands. I'd decided before I left the house that I'd spare my self the anguish of being subjected to completely unnecessary repetition and go to the vault and pull out something that hasn't gotten any action in a while. My high school days of drinking 40oz Colt 45's and making underground tapes in my homeboys basement with the my 12 man, sometimes rowdy neighborhood crew must have guided my hand to Nice and Smooth's "Ain't a Damn Thing Changed".

There were crews and MC's from Harlem before these cats, but these dudes had swagger for weeks. People talk about the lyrics back then as if Socrates had grabbed the mic and put it down. Not exactly true. Through the years styles and lyrical content always evolved. As I see it, Greg Nice and Smooth B were a part of a transitional period as far as lyrical content. With some hints of the previous generations knick knack rhymes, they brought some wordplay and style the Harlem always brings to the table. When you think of Harlem you got Doug E. Fresh, Big L, Ill an Al Scratch, Diddy, Mase, Jim Jones; basically cats known for a certain amount of swagger. Nice and Smooth were right in line with the tradition. Smooth B was like the laid back dude with the slick flow as if he may have partaked in too many herbal sessions to raise his voice or care about any nonsense in the area. In "Hip Hop Junkies" he lets us know that he dresses warm so that he won't catch pneu-mo-nia; he's and diamond not a cubic zir-co-nia. Maybe not much on paper, but the easy going, pimp like voice and the pronunciation of every syllable to make the rhyme scheme tight made him a master craftsman of the flow. Greg Nice, also extrmely detailed with the pronunciation placed emphasis on expression. Greg Nice had the CRAZIEST echo since DMC. Not to be compared to one of the kings, because it was on a different plane. Greg Nice had energy to be passed around the room twice without being a cornball. "I knew a fat girl who broke the sca-le, you won't ta-le, I won't ta-le, clientele I must exce-l" is what he emphasizes on the on the track. They even broke out a Partridge Family sample to ride over the drums. I knew there was something familiar about the song when I first heard it on Rap City. I remember a night when I was watching Nick at Night or something when I should have been asleep for school the next morning and The Partridge Family came on. I bugged out like "these cats are nuts. Who does that?"

Of the two, alot of the time Greg Nice my favorite on the track except for on "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" and "Dwyck" with Gangstarr. Smoth B laid down a story of a lady friend with a "skiing" issue. You know the story, she spends the money wrecklessly, he gets her help and the problem continues. A story that may go on until the end of time. I've had the CD case for a while and just realized last year the Greg Nice produced most of the album. DJ Premier and Guru make appearances as well. You can propbably check them out on You Tube or just get it on I Tunes. Get it, sit back and enjoy. Once again, feel free to comment and spread the word.

Marcus Obrien

Bury The Animosity Over Jay-Z's DOA

I remember sitting in my cubicle at work and the girl next to me peeped over and said "I just sent you that new DOA son!!". So I checked my inbox, watched, listened as Jay-Z performed this CRAZY song talking about killing Autotune with T-Pain on the stage. I was left with my arms in the air in victory because I had been waiting on this. I didn't know it was going to come in this form. Immediately, I sent it to the girl next to me, thought to myself "there are some people who won't be able to release their next single" and called my people in Newark to see what they thought while my supervisor is wondering what in the hell is so exciting. And yes, it was in that order.

As you may or may not know, for the past few weeks there have been grumblings, small rants, side looks and downright anger over Jay-Z's new single DOA (Death of Autotune). For those who don't know, it's a program used in the studio to enhance and alter vocal performances made popular by T-Pain. T-Pain was and is wildly sucessful and often criticized for the use of the program. It's his thing and I'm not personally mad at it because he brought something original to Hip-Hop which alot of Hip-Hop "purists" claim is missing. He was obviously was not the first to use a vocoder for recording. Artist like Roger Troutman of Zapp, Teddy Riley, and rocker Peter Frampton were using the technique decades ago. To be frank, DJ Quick got busy with it on his West Coast Funk jams. So, the style has been around for a while but never used in the capacity that T-Pain has used and dominated it.

With the history lesson behind us, since T-Pain has popularized the sound there have been followers of the style that would resemble an Old West cattle drive. It's funny that with all of the biters only a small few that have been sucessful. Snoop had a jam with "Sensual Seduction" which was produced by ATL's Shawty Redd who had a stripper anthem of his own using a vocoder effect ("Drifter") which Snoop shouted out in his song. But Kanye West and Lil' Wayne have killed it with the approval of and collaboration with T-Pain which to me is righteous because in this age this IS his sound. Not to say that I've totally enjoyed every effort put forth by the Ye and Wayne using it but , they did do right by the style and had the blessing of the owner which is honorable. No knock against either one of them but, I tend to like it when they spit the heat that makes me believe that they are two of they best that there are right now and for a while in future. The problem that has arisen is too many people bought the cookbook for the same recipe. I'm not the one too be stuck on old school Hip-Hop so much that everthing has to sound like everthing before 1995. However, two points of that arguement that comes up are: originality and lyrical death to the biters which I tend to agree with. This is exactly what Jay is saying in this song and it's about time somebody turned up the heat and applied a suffocating full-court pressure to cough up the lameness. The molestation of our ears must end with horrendously whack songs from cats with no talent and nothing to say. But on top of that, they have audacity to present it to the public as if this is something that anyone needs to listen to ever in life. And DJ's playing it is like throwing away the rape kit.

If T-Pain can join Jay-Z on stage in New York for the debut of the song, no one should have anything to say except "Damn! I need to find a new cookbook!". Autotune has become a crutch as well as a henderence on creativity. The thought process has been reduced to "What is the sound that's poppin' and how can I re-create it?". I enjoy samples and fitting one liners that are bitten but, cleverly used. Complete style and technique being used without a mixtape being involved is a crime punishable by a 21 microphone salute to the chest area. The offended are not ready to come up with their own and it seems as if Jay has deeply wounded them and totally knocked, or should I say manhandled them off of their square.

There are avid Jay-Z loyalists. Ask me am I one? No. I simply believe pound for pound he is about THE best that has ever done it but I will save that for a later conversation. By me stating this, I want to dead the thought that this a pro Jay-Z session. Absolutely not. Simply stated, "Dude got busy on that isht". I whole-heartedly share his sentiments on the song. I would love for Rappers and or MC's to just spit rhymes and chill-out with all of the lollygag singing. It's cool to express what you need to but let's not take it overboard. Trey Songs, Neo, and other male vocalists do an excellent job fulfilling the ladies needs. If you break down the song he goes hard from beginning to end. Lines like "My raps don't have melodies, this should make jackers wanna go and commit felonies" and " I know we facing a recession but the music y'all makin' gonna make it a great depression". What??!! It's more than the lyrics. The concept and the track by Chicago bred NO I.D. make it a much needed Hip Hop gem. Jay has done his job of sending cats back to the kitchen and breaking monotonous whackness. And to that, I say THANK YOU Jay-Z. Feel free to express your thoughts and tell everyone you know to join us.