Ludacris - Bada Boom (Drake & Big Sean Diss)

I say this every few months and I'm back at this place again. I've been almost completely uninspired to post anything because I don't want to be the angry blogger that has nothing but negative words and energy to spread to everyone and the music that's being pushed out like fake Gucci purses on Canal St. in Manhattan will drive me straight over Bitter Cliff. There's a cycle that our beloved Hip Hop goes through every now and then when things just get repetitive and downright whack to put it into Layman's terms in order to be as blunt as possible. Yesterday I was thinking that as we get towards the end of 2011, there aren't that many memorable songs that stand out in my mind that I would keep in rotation until next year. Styles P and Jadakiss had hot joints. I get a heads up on Buk of Psychodrama and Marcia Ambrosius hurt the fragile male ego with one of the dopest lines of the year "I hope she cheat on you with a basketball player". Of course, Jay and Kanye are a given but I like the underrated and under appreciated.

This is actually about the much needed, good old fashioned, "I'm gonna take you out to the shed", lashings that are being handed down to the likeable, "you know, they do what they do", "I don't dislike 'em, it's just not my thing", "dude got a few jams", over appreciated rappers right now by Hip Hop heavyweight veterans. Not just cats that have been in the industry for a while, and bitter because time is running out. No, not by any means. These are individuals who are as sharp and viable as they were five years ago.

If you go back in the archives, you will find that it's no secret that I respect Drake for his success and his skill when he does rap, but there's always been something that made me keep him on the outskirts of a real Emcee and a face of Hip Hop. I'm not mad at anyone for being who they are and doing things their way, but I do have a problem with sucker isht.
(*Sucker isht consists of the following qualities and more that are reserved to possibly discussed at another time.)
1. Player Hating
2. Whining
3. Over emotional on a frequent basis when pretaining to relationships with the female gender
4. Having excessive amounts of over emotional outbreaks on a frequent basis when pretaining to relationships with the female gender
5. Too much singing on wax when not labeled as and R&B singer (See NeYo)
6. Not properly holding the mic
7. Lack of proper B-Boy stance or body definition when rocking the mic

I was and still am hoping that "Marvin's Room" was a clever way of explaining a situation where someone called a young lady that he is involved with a said these disrespectful, back door, foul mouthed, nearly obsene to a gentlemen, hater fueled, poisions against him. Time will tell that but, he has definately pissed off the WRONG person or people I should say. I don't really promote beef but I do promote battles and this seems to be at the in-between stages. More than anything, while I enjoy my doses of lighthearted, sometimes a bit corny, fill of just regular feel good music, I miss unfiltered, unmolested, Hip Hop with spitters and I don't think that Ludacris and Common of all people are the people you want jumpin in the booth just to do "rapperly harm" to you. The names are even an uneven match. This is just a case where a guy that people have let ride because he "does what he does" has began to unexpectedly started getting too comfortable behind the wheel, started feeling himself a bit too much and began texting while driving and is crossing lanes. Eventually, you have to get over from the fast lane and merge back to regular traffic with the people who have been taking the same route to work for a long time, they are never late, and have a comfortable 401k.

Drake was sprayed with the Ludacris buckshots for being too close to the main target Big Sean a he stating his version of the facts that he created a style that was actually used in the 90's by Q Tip, Cam 'Ron and others but, he may have put his own touch to it. I don't really know, I wasn't there. What I do know is styles are recycled in Hip Hop...even some of the other on he uses. In response to Big Sean's allegations that his style was improperly, and sub-parly used by the named Ludacris, the Mouth of the South who has brought consistant, percise, pure lyrics since 1999 responded with "Bada Boom" for Big Sean and Drake. I'm gonna Don King this and advise everyone to listen to "Bada Boom". I will say don't let the funny videos fool you.

Now I want to know how Drake pissed off Common so bad that he went back to being on the South Side of Chicago in '92. I guess because the Southside isn't dramatically overstated as being crime infested, or that Common hasn't overstated the hustle and street realities in his area that are comparible and at times understated than other famed Hip Hop neighborhoods and projects, or the fact that he usually plays an even temper when intelligently expressing the struggles of the hood and people as a whole, or the fact that most of us are so brain rotted that we miss the "real talk" that is being spit that, at one point, people thought he was soft. This was even after he shut down the legendary Ice Cube who was one of the most fierce on the mic at that time. Again, "what did Drake do to piss him off this bad" that he went in on a level that you almost never get out of Common. You will always get his ideas on whack rappers, clever shots at the industry as a whole, but this is a side that the semi-melodic, monotone, Drizzy probably doesn't want to see while facing a growing criticism of Sucker isht, repetitive topics, and growing lack of interest. Sure, his album will still do well and that's a great accomplishment, but as an artist you want your work to be respected by your peers and listened to a few years later. In any case, Common made a song called "Sweet" where he allegedly calls on the young Drake to harden up so to speak. What I will be interested in is if the YMCB star will respond, if so, will the response be nice and where does Common go from there.

I know KRS 1 is somewhere with a grape soda and popcorn in his hand smiling like a Cheshire cat enjoying the veterans take on the young bucks. This battle or beef is something that is needed so that:
1. People of the culture can be exposed to multiple styles of the artform
2. Different Hip Hop generations may listen to the same people at the same time
3. True lyricism can be brought to the fore front with other styles
Plus, I'm a bit frustrated with the Hokey Pokey songs right now. Nas' "Nasty" is honetly on of the best and most underrated songs of the year, and I almost never hear it when I'm in the car. I like live mix, Hip Hop radio. I want to hear the D.J. play some street records. Don't give me the mandatory slow it down for the ladies, and mandatory "the label is pushing this single", I want to hear what the D.J.'s play at home. I don't want to hear a stop and chop sing-song flow. Just rap sucka!

As always, TELL SOMEBODY!

The Darkside of The Windy City

This is a post that is past due, but right on time. I'm one who tends to pay attention to cultural attitudes and behaviors by region and how it relates to Hip Hop. Time is also a factor when digging into these studies. The Bronx is the home of Hip Hop and it emerged at a time when young Blacks and Latinos were expressing new freedoms, poverty, music and cultural change in the most urban setting in America. As we know, it wasn't long before other cities were listening and then branding their own styles that reflected their surroundings.

Fast forward 20 something years to the second residence of the Blues, Jazz, Soul, and the home of House Music and another style later dubbed "Ghetto House", Chicago has done Hip Hop it's own way for years. With the likes of R. Kelly, Common (one of my all-time favorite Emcees by the way), who in the past few years has gotten the notoriety that loyal fans have demanded and Kanye West who has been the face of the Windy City lately, it seems as if the doors should be open wide for a Hip Hop take over but that is far from the case.

You see, the Midwest is known for being that area of the country that's known for not being swayed easily on the new hype and excessiveness. Chicago specifically is a place where many Blacks migrated from the South (especially from Mississippi) from the early 1920's through the 1960's to find work and a new life in the city. The GM plants were thriving as well as the stock yards. The foundation of hard working and hustle minded individuals was put in place to last through the new millennium. What also was put in place was the origination of the black street gang. Gangs like the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Black P. Stones, 4 Corner Hustlers, Latin Kings, Black Souls, New Breeds, and hoards of their respective factions all originated in Chicago and set the mold for others. This is all history that ties directly to the Hip Hop attitude that started in the late 80's and early 90's and continues to this day. If you listen to Common seriously, you can hear it but you might not know what is is because it's almost like code talk. The Chicago that I'm talking about has next to nothing to do with mainstream, but has everything to do with respect.

When I turn on my Ipod, I have two Chicago playlists. One is the pop-rock band and the other is filled with artists who are the heart of the City. I mean groups like Crucial Conflict, Do or Die, Da Smart, E.C. Illa, Twista, Speednot Mobstas, Qualo, and the collective known as The Drama Ward that features Snypaz, Triple Darkness, and the group who may be the most infamous, Psychodrama. I'm sure that there will be some who have no clue about who I'm speaking of, but every one who has listened to the radio has indirectly heard Drama Ward. The triple time, sometimes staccato, rapid fire flow has been the flavor of the month for years, but it's home is the West Side of Chicago. You've heard Young Buk of Psycho Drama on Twista's "Adrenaline Rush" and Cam'ron's "Adrenaline Rush 2". The Legendary Traxxter is the primary source of the melodic, mob music production. From what I hear, when that stlye was being molded in the Chi, Buk was a part of Do or Die.

Since their first single that I can remember, "Magic", Psycho Drama has been utter royalty in the city. I remember when I first heard it, I was blown by the delivery that had a melodic undertone to it. I didn't know that years later while living in Atlanta, my homeboy was jammin' it too. The trio consists of Newsense, Psyde, and Young Buk who is another one of my favorite Emcees (Not to be confused with Nashville's Young Buck). Dude has a voice that could narrate a ghost story to turn your hair white. To this day, after nearly getting that national exposure when signing with Suave House in the late 90's they are as underground as ever, but well known and highly respected throughout the Midwest. The stories of everyday struggles with life, social issues, and Chicago style bangin' hit home with the common person who doesn't ride Bentley, but bubble and box-body Chevy's, Cadillacs, and maybe an older model Benz. While I think that they are frustrated with not having the opportunity to bring this side of the Chi to the masses on a scale like others from the city, I feel that they are satisfied with being able to be able to do what they feel is true to what the city is and be loved for it. What they do, along with the rest of The Drama Ward, is stay EXTREMELY Chicago, and incorporate the mind state and slang when speaking on the gang situations and other street situations but also speak on betterment of self. One of my favorite songs period is by Qualo feat. Turtle Banxx and Psycho Drama called "Revelations" (See my December 19th, 2010) and they spit it like a holy scripture. It's an observation of street situations and it's reported in an educated, highly poetic way. Lines like 4's, 3's, G's and TVL's, Stones, Kings, Mafia's even Neutrons catchin' shells, And cells gettin packed it's a Black Holocaust, so I'm giving these cops hell with cocktails that's Molotov". It's kind of like the classic situation where someone says "I know what's the right thing, but this is what I've got right now". That pretty much goes for many in the Chicago crew. It's not totally about bangin' they advise of the reprocussions of ones actions. Newsense has a classic line that explains their lack of nation wide presence that says "Competition can't fuck wit us, Cause they scared of us, And the industry will never be prepared us". I have a feeling that the industry might not be prepared for something like this. While you get awesome soul from No I.D., this is not necessarily the same Chicago. This is more street raw, but there is a concentrated focus on appealing th the everday person. In an interview, Newsense said that people just think that they're too wild and are liable to do something.

There a few things that make the music unique. One is the that hard working hustling attitude that I told you about. Another is the non swaying Midwesterner attitude that won't allow conformity to be accepted. Another is and one of the most critical is the generations of gang affiliation. Were are talking about the home of organized Black gangs. This is a place where when many of these cats were coming up, there were certain rules that you had to abide by whether you were active or not. This is how deep it goes. There was a mix tape series (a real cassette mix tape) called Chi-Bangin' by George the Jamma that had all of the hood songs that you could stomach on them. Years later, mine were lost and stolen so, I did an internet search and found Chibangin.com(no longer on the net) that had a link to TheTipCds.com and Chicagogangs.org
The streets are married to the music and that was probably never more blatant and evident than through the sounds of Crucial Conflict. Never had I'd heard such an outright display of bangin' on wax since the original album by the Bloods and Crips. If you thought it was about some country cats with overalls talking about rodeos, you missed the whole point. They call the West Side the Wild Wild West. What did you have in the Wild West? Cowboys, and if you mix that type of attitude with 2nd or 3rd generation relocated southerners you've got a recipe for anything goes. The most, I mean, the most outright display of street ties came in the form of "Break It To The Left" on their debut album. This was song that absolutely could have been a testimony of their affiliations, but was done so raw that I know people on the other side that didn't necessarily agree with their sentiments, but respected how they did it. There has never been a more gang-bangalistic (if that's a real word) group that I've known of. You can even cat Cold Hard of the group on the Willie Lloyd episode of American Gangster.
D.A. Smart is that old school veteran who is like the town historian. His classic single "Walk With Me" takes you on a journey through the entire city to outline do's and dont's and who runs each neighborhood. Even the Twista that you hear on mix tapes like "The Perfect Storm" when he teams up with Dawreck from Triple Darkness on "Darkness" is different. It's not the "Slow Jamz" Twista. I don't often use this phrase, but "real talk", this cat is really a beast on the mic. He's not just a street rapper, this cat is a real lyricist in the backpacker sense.

As I try to do with these posts, I'm giving a little history and putting someone on something that they may not have heard before. Check out DramaWardTV and Crucon08, on Youtube and search for some these artists. Also check out Chibangin.com
As always, follow me on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien or like my pafe on Facebook at Marcus.Obrien2

Who Really Rocked The Mic?

Last night, I watched the BET Awards and I have to say that they did not suck. While they didn't suck and were good except for the akward silence and lack of action during the first 30-45 seconds of his performance, I have to get to THE most important point of this post and that is phenomenal Kelly Rowland. Somebody, somewhere is saying to themselves "Damn, why in the hell did we keep her in the back so long?" Now I loved Destiny's Child as a group, love Beyonce as an artist and perfomer and can't take away any of her accomplishments but, I feel that there's always been something a bit fishy about why no one else in the group has had the same breakout success.

According to their old vocal coach, Kelly had the strongest voice in the group which says alot. What I've noticed through the years is when Kelly has a hot single and the album is about to drop, there's a major Beyonce single or album that drops at the same time to completely kill the steam that Kelly has going. Now I'm not implicating B in some type of sabotage plot, but somebody at Columbia and elswhere definately missed the boat on having two solo superstars on the roster. That is the epitomy of bad decision making. On the bright side, her performance was absolutely the sexiest thing that I've since.......coincidentally Beyonce's "Video Phone". Beyond my 3 minute lust fest, she just sang her ass off. It was absolutely a performance that will be remembered and will show the type of complete performer that she is and has been.

The second most notable performance for me was the second half of Rick Ross' performance featuring Ace Hood and Lil' Wayne. Ace Hood is a guy that I did not care much for when he first came out. I was unsure about how he got on Def Jam, the name brand of Hip Hop. Not many people change my mind, but this cat did it. "Hustle Hard" is simply hard as hell.

While the aware show was cool, I think that I'm more interested in Styles P's new song featuring Jadakiss called "It's Okay". They pulled a dynamic duo routine that other than Royce Da 5-9 and Emenim is unseen or unheard of in Hip Hop. The timing is seamless and flawless. Of course I've got the video below.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY and check out my man Actrite on Twitter @Actrite5 or on Facebook at Actrite Rawnoise!

Paranoia

Why are so many seemingly rational, sane, adults claiming that every successful person in the entertainment industry is a part of the Illuminati, or Boulee or any other nonsense, spooky witches brew, Davinci Code conspiracy group? People got a hold of a bit of information and ran far, far, away with it. My first encouinter with the "idea" was when Jay-Z and Beyonce were under attack. People made references to how many dancers were in the viseo and the positioning of the dancers. Big Daddy Kane had Scoop and Scrap love behind him and there was no mention of the Illuminati. Jay-Z wore all black and so did NWA but I don't remember any talk of it then either.

There have been "preachers" making You Tube videoes pointing out what this means in the video and how it relates to the devil and the secret society. I just wish some of these cats would spend more time learning and teaching the Bible so that when in church, I can learn a story from a bible as opposed to nonsense modern day street stories based on person opinion that generally result in personal financial gain. That same motivation for financial gain would have a grown man making videos about why Nicki Minaj wears colored wigs instead of a video why the building fund still hasn't repaired that air conditioner.

The notion that no one ever has an idea of what they want to to in life, takes the time to put in work and meet the right people at the right time and become successful is not feasable in an irratic mind state. Now, after becoming an entertainer, some of the things that people have to do to maintain their career may be less than upstanding and lack a certain amount of morals and strip one of a bit of dignity, but that is and has always been the nature of the business. The Hollywood starlet sleeping with the director or producer for the role, or songs being stolen to get the next hit has always been a part of the game.

This all comes to me as I'm watching a video where Jadakiss is talking about Lil' B. A comment by someone after the video was something to the effect of the Illuminati making Jadakiss work with Lil' B to stay relevant. "Huh!?" (With a Scooby-Doo voice and a scrunched face). People it's 2011, no secret society that has plans to control the world is making these people do these things. There may possibly some record execs that strongly mentioned it, or Jada might have just wanted to do it for his own personal reasons. The problem with Americans is that we are so gullible and easily convinced that these riduculous conversations keep happening. Someone in a black cloak drop off a few hundred thousnd dollars to do a song at my front door and watch my face be illuminated. And is Lil' B gay? I don't know and really don't care. If so, at least he admitted it. For all of the cats braggin' about how them or their mans n 'nem was "in that place" for so long, what do you think was going on with some of those cats while they were there?


Any way, I few months ago, I posted an article by an artist by the name of Actrite. I had a couple of his old mixtapes and shared a song that I liked. Apparently, through the means of social media and word of mouth, he found out about the article and thanked me for showing love and hit me with the first song from the new mixtape comin soon. It's an intentionally leaked version that is yet to be completed but listen to it and let me know what you think. The link is below.
http://www.box.net/shared/ynszmx9nrj

Does anyone know where in the world The Odd Future came from and how they became sooo hot without the mainstream push? I'll do some research and try to hit you with that the next time around.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY and check me out on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Marcus.Obrien2

My Random Thoughts

Today, I'm out and about and have some time to give more of my random thoughts that may or may not be popular in the mainstream circle. First, I'm not really looking for the Detox album right now. While I understand that Dr. Dre is a perfectionist and wants to do the right thing and put forth his best effort on an album as too many artist do not do, I'm tired of being toyed with. It's like the peak-a-boo game that you play with an infant. Except for in this case, there's a song here, a video there but we never get the full length revealing. Please release the album.

I am excited about the remix of "2Pac, Biggie and Big Pun's Back" feat. Meek Mill, Maino and Joell Ortiz.

The video vixen isht is a bit old. Who really has the time to sit down and remember these chicks and follow their life. It's almost like a requirement in Hip hop to learn these chicks. It's really really strange for so many pimps, macks, and hustlers to be chasing and obsessing over the same skanks. Not very player at all.

When will the bandwagon based, free marketing campaign for established designer fashion labels end? If I hear one more reference to Alexander Mcqueen or Louis reference, I may jump off of the GW Bridge. Hip Hop gives so much promotion to fashion and receives the a minute return. Somebody finds a designer that they like, then people start biting on wax, the people hear it, now all of the trick bag guys, model chicks, budding Hip Hop  moguls and groupies have give a designer a million in sales with no thank you. Of course that's not in all cases as Pharrell, Kanye, and Jay-Z have been able to breakthrough with high end jewelry, furniture, shoes and watches. I also have to shout out TIP for killing the fancy verse and naming our favorite high end labels almost making me feel hypocritical for expressing this thought.

I am diggin' Wiz Khalifa's music right now and am absolutely not mad at that Amber Rose thing. Of course people are gonna say "That's Kanye's old girl!" So what! You're girl or guy is somebody's old girl too. Have fun while it lasts homeboy! I'm just not sure about the Kwame Peroxide dye job.

I am feeling more of the Lounge/House/Ambient/Acid Jazz/ Trace/ House/ whatever other label people can add to the music that you will find in the bars and restaurants  in Manhattan, Buckhead in Atlanta and other trendy spots where the ladies where nice cocktail dresses and everybody looks about ten degrees cooler cause they wear all black. The kind of places where when you leave the place by yourself after a few drinks you know you've completely wasted your nigh and have to make that call to "Old Trusty" for a nightcap. The past few years it's become my calming agent when I go out on the town to the sleek bars. The music is cool, it's just hard to find on the internet because people have completely over complicated the labeling. So, if anyone has an idea of what I'm talking about, email me some info and I'll be absolutely grateful. I may give an update later but, I've arrived at the next destination so hit me on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien or on Facebook www.Marcus.Obrien.com
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The Many Styles Of Jaii

I know that's it's been a few weeks since I've updated the blog, but it's been for good and necessary reasons. Between doing stuff to pay some bills and getting a chance to work on some of my other passions, there's not been much time left over.

This weekend, I did find the time to make it over to the Grammercy section Manhattan for the video premiere of an up and coming slash experienced artist by the name of Jaii Stylez. Up and coming as he is not major, but experienced as he has worked plenty in the industry including providing background vocals for Chrisette Michele who gave the inspiration for his name.

I've seen him perform before, and was sent the information for the premiere, so I went cause I like what he's got going. He's got plenty of soul without limiting himself to being stuck in one genre. The EP of his that I have has him on his self-produced works as well as mixtape style tracks with him over other RnB songs. I've got a feeling it's a matter of time before he get's some serious attention as well as his management, Lucienne Management who selected the intimate Polar Lounge for the venue.

His first video "Everybody wants to be a star" directed by Tony Clomax is not only a good lead single but an excellent video in my opinion. Of course I've got the link for you but this is a cat to keep an eye out for in the future.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY and follow me on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien or friend me at www.Facebook/Marcus.Obrien2

Just My Favorite Isht On The Street Right Now

"Last of Dying Breed"

First up to bat for this installment of my independent artist special is Josiah Williams a 19-year-old aspiring actor from Milwaukee, WI and currently attends Bradley University as a Theater Performance major. Josiah was the first to send me his Bio and music. “Josiah has begun lyrical writing, and is currently working on two written lyrical collections; “Measureless Love” (R&B), and “UnCaged.” (HipHop/SpokenWord). Josiah released a mixtape, “The Preview”, highlighting his upcoming written work (09.06.10). His first studio album, “Last Of A Dying Breed”, will be released April 26th, 2011”.

What Josiah is offering is what I’m going to call “reconstructed” Hip Hop because while it’s spoken word, there’s definitely a Hip Hop base to it. It’s a reminder that poetry and Emceeing are intertwined and inseparable. He sent me a track called “Dream of Mine” which you can listen to by clicking the ReverbNation link below. More than the song that he sent, I liked a track called “Broken Dreams”. It’s Def Poetry Jam meets Rock and Roll and had a baby. Below are the links to his tracks.

"Dream Of Mine" - http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_7968403
"Facebook Fan Page" - http://www.facebook.com/jdeanwilliams
"Twitter" - http://twitter.com/JDeanWilliams

My Random Thoughts

While I am momentarily of a clear mind, I want to share a couple of thoughts before I lose them forever. There in no particular order so please try to stay with me. I'm still baffled by "The Based God" and even more so because I need to know what is Diddy's connection to him.

I want to showcase independent artists and let their music and talents speak for them so, I'll be doing certain posts featuring artists and providing you with their information. Now, I usually try to stay on the positive side of things because every person's art is meaningful to them and honestly, I don't want to be labeled as a hater (that's always the title you get when you don't like something). So, I will post it and I encourage everyone to give honest and fair feedback. I can do it, but some people are definitely not going to want to hear what I have to say, and that is what I didn't think about when I decided to do this. However, I feel that independent, up and coming artists need love too so I'm going to run with it. Be sure to check it out on Monday.

DJ Prostyle is killing me with his song selection during the traffic jam. The day of Raekwon's album release, he's playing the single "Rock and Roll" feat. Jimmy and Ghostface and cuts it off mid-song and plays Fabulous and Neo "Throw it in the Bag"?!! That's no longer on the playlist nor does it tie in with the first song. This type of DJ infraction is done on the regular so that was my last Traffic Jam with him for a while.

The hottest song that I've heard in weeks is Pusha T's "My God". FIRE!!!! The worst besides that little girl with the crazy mom has to be Jeremih and 50. I an need angry F dot 50 back fast and in a hurry!

I still need more followers on Twitter, friends on Facebook, and more artists with music to showcase. What I want to do is have some good conversation with the people like when President Obama sat down with the overzealous cop and angry Blackman with the beer at the White House.

Last but not least, I think I'm gonna get a bottle of Vueve Cliquot and pop in my Feist CD and chill. That's right, chill like Oran Juice Jones. I'd advise you to get with your guy or lady and do the same. Now go and TELL SOMEBODY!

www.twitter.com/THEMARCUSOBRIEN
www.facebook.com/Marcus.Obrien2
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Base God -Cook, Chef, Knife

This will definitely be the most awkward posting to date and maybe EVER that you will get from me. It's awkward because it deals with extreme whackness (whackness in the name of "positivity") that I would normally may not waste my time and developing arthritis to write about, but me and my inner passion for sociology, the human psyche, and Hip Hop commands that I attempt to understand what is going on in the Bay and this cat Lil B The Base God.

I knew who he was without knowing who he was when I first started hearing the buzz about him if that makes any sense. Late night You Tube or WorldStar video cruising brought me to him getting sucker punched by another young guy while doing an interview, which by the way was some sucker shit. I chalked it up to a Young Berg situation and forgot about the guy. I recently heard about him re-enacting a Kanye scene when receiving an award a little while ago and thought "I don't even know who Lil B is". The radio DJ's knew only a little bit more than me because they vaguely recalled him being in the group The Pack that made the Hyphy flavored song "Vans". At the time, I remembered the song a bit but not in much detail. The next mention of Lil B was when I was reading the XXL Freshman Class Issue and he was on the cover. I read the short piece and wondered (1) Who in the hell is this guy and (2) What in the hell is this cat doing that I’ve missed?

The first thing I did was call my 18 year old cousin who is in her freshman year in college, and made me sit down and watch every Soldier Boy and “Crank That” video there was, and there were at least a dozen of them. This was when he was killing the internet before the big breakout. She had no answer for me so I took to the internet. The first video that came up reminded me exactly of who the guy was. It was the sucker punched cat! I’m not really focused on that because isht happens and you move on. I focused on the music he was making. The tittles of some of the songs were “I’m Miley Cirus”, "Ellen Degenerous" and “Wonton Soup” which sounded interesting enough and he’s affiliated with Soulja Boy so curiosity got the best of me to take a listen. A lot of times random names as song titles go over well because there are generally creative minds behind them. I pressed play and didn’t know what to think. It was almost the most god awful thing that I’ve ever heard. The sound quality was horrible, the mix down was nonexistent, which I can deal with (Check the February archives to see the Actrite mixtape). The beat was aiight, but the lyrics were horrendous! I listened to about two more songs, but was not catching on to what was going on.

There was something that I did catch on to, and that was a style that was very reminiscent of the Bay where personality and style is the name of the game, a language that was unique to say the least that uses words like “based” and “cook” heavily in his obvious weed and whatever else induced rambling freestyles, self made videos, and a cult that follows his every move and completely understands everything that he’s saying and doing. If you’ve ever sat with a few 5 Percenters while they “build”, then you can imagine what the comment board was like on You Tube. From my description of the music, you probably won’t understand why these videos have anywhere from 60,000 to 1.6 million views. There are at least three of them that are past 1.5 million looks. Just like his homeboy Soldier Boy, the young guy killed the internet but still the same, the music that I heard was horrible.

This is where I enter sociology, the human psyche, and tie it in to Hip Hop. Jim Jones, not the Harlem-based Dipset affiliate, but the original cult leader Jim Jones was based out of Frisco. Jones had a way of captivating people and coaxing them in to following him all the way until they drank that cyanide laced Kool-Aid in that crazy mass suicide. If you know anything about the Northern California and the Bay and Hip Hop, you know that they live in their own world and are satisfied with it and proud of it. They have their own market where independents have always done extremely well. If you know this, you also know that they root hard for the home team. They have legends with cult followings. I had a homeboy who went back and forth from Oakland back in the day and put us on to M.C. Pooh, Dangerous Dame, and Mac Dre (The King of Hyphy) when he was really doing serious dirt and I thought it was for wax. Later I got Hip to E40 and the Click, Mac Mall, Coughnut and the IMP, Brotha Lynch Hung, RBL Posse, and my dude Dre Dog (The New Jim Jones). The thing that made these cats special is that they were and had characters and those characters built the solid following. This is what I thought when I was trying to find out why people like this isht. He followed the classic Bay Area approach to success. Then I thought about an old school veteran that I still listen to from time to time and that’s Kool Keith. Kool Keith starts with the Ultramagnetic MC’s in the mid 80’s but has had a solo career that has lasted as long as any “industry” veteran because his characters like Dr. Octagon and Black Elvis have a cut following that keeps him touring and a recording deal on an independent label. He’s completely random with song titles and formats much like new schoolers The Cool Kids. Sometimes, not fitting the format is what people want and flock to. Dre Dog openly professed his love for cocaine, did a cool backstroke in a pool of sins, hustling and the occasional robbery and such. The guy had a song called “Smoke Dope and Rap” where he jacked the beat in “Juice” where Q was looking for Bishop and went way to the left. It was pure entertainment.

Even after playing the role of the social scientist, I still hadn’t found out exactly what it was that made people flock to Lil B, so I did a Google search and found a website dedicated to him. It explained that he is only half serious on most of these the songs (and there are about 700 more to come), which could be a cop out for a lack of talent, but I read on. Apparently, his thing is to be “Base(d)” which is being totally free and clear minded when making songs so that whatever is on the mind at that time comes out and he is pure. It’s all about free consciousness, non-judgment, and having fun. To me, it sounds like the hippies have come back to Frisco and they have a huge stash of California’s finest! It talked about positivity and good vibes. That’s when I was like, “I get it, but I don’t really get it”. Why do the songs have to sound the way that they do in order to send that message out? Still yet, I took my reading and went back to You Tube to see if I missed something before I started blasting the young fella which, I usually don’t do because I’m one to let someone express their creative ideas – until they begin to stab my ears.

I listened to a couple of more songs and then I ran across a freestyle where my man was normal with the flow and was kinda nice. I scrunched my face and scratched my head and repeated it to make sure that I wasn’t buggin’. The very next video was much of the same as the last where the guy is spitting for real which threw me completely in a loop. The first thing that I said to myself out loud was “Why doesn’t this cat spit like this all of the time?” With that, I’d answered my own question. The website noted that he might be poking fun at the industry via an anti-establishment movement that he’s in the forefront of. It’s supposed to be far to the left and attract attention, and if you’re mind is free, then you will roll with it. This could be taken as genius, or again and excuse for whackness.

Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what to think because on one hand, there was some good mixed with some garbage. However, if the claims of being Base(d) is true, then it’s genius and it's wildly successful because my other young cousin in Dallas was at a Lil B concert this past Saturday and again, he is on the cover of XXL which is not official credibility to all, but it is a national magazine that could have chosen a thousand other young guys to be a part of The Freshman Class. Just like when everybody made a huge fuss about how Hip Hop Soulja Boy was not, my thoughts were young people are having fun like the grumpy older people are saying that they used to have. Now the older, so called rich rappers are beefing and shooting at each other. So I say, I probably won’t be downloading “Swag to the 6” but, I have to respect somebody who has the balls to simply freestyle and release it as a mixtape or album and really just do them. Also, we have to remember that there was a time when EVERYBODY outside of the culture thought that Hip Hop was garbage so, you may not like it and a lot of you won’t, but at least try to understand it.

As always, TELLSOMEBODY and hit me at www.Facebook.com/Marcus.Obrien2 or at www.Twitter.com/TheMarcusObrien

Death by the Manager

The night before last, I was invited to a watch an up and coming artist perform at a local lounge. His manager and I have mutual friends so I went to support her, see what her artist was about, and see what kind of networking I could do. The show was cool, but this is not really the story.

I’m not sure how many of you go to the lounges with the open mic/ poetry nights with the incense burning, Erykah Badu/Jill Scott spin offs that my Atlanta crew affectionately call the “Towelheads, because of the super Afro-centric head wraps, and the brothers that are the greatest at putting a thrift store outfit together, keep some organic body oils and only drink Guinness and Red Stripe. I can’t tell you how many nights I spent in those joints. My homeboy spent at least three nights a week in different spots like that while on the hunt for his big break. I call him the hardest working man not necessarily in show business. These are the places that the havens and nesting spots for tight circles of starving and struggling artist to hone their craft and hopefully make a big enough name for themselves to go on to the big leagues. The circles are real tight and sometimes getting on the list and having the MC stick to the list can make you want to forego the “love” in the place and get downright animalistic.

Over time, the “El Natural” brothers and sisters have shared some of the space with the educated and sophisticated starving artists. There is one thing that hasn’t changed though and that is the arrogance and the “I’m on the rise, so look for me at the top” attitude that these artists have. It’s really interesting how a weekly performance at the Apache Lounge converts to a 90 date European tour. Most people there are in the same position and the others are there simply to enjoy the show. This whole mindset is probably what kills the career of some of these artists before they get started.

In this case, it was the manager of the artists that may do them in. There was a band playing at this lounge; some young funky little cats that had this funk/rock type of groove. While they were playing, I thought about a friend of mine that’s a Hip Hop producer and was looking for some guys to come in and play some live bass and lead guitar on couple of songs. As they were leaving, I stopped one of the cats to ask him about “hiring” them for a studio session. Hiring is the key word here. He said to talk to his manager which is the business smart and respectable thing to do. I stopped his “manager” and asked about hiring them for a studio session. She asked me if I had a studio, which was not the topic of discussion but, I responded with the details of what my friend needed. She asked me if I had a business card and I stated not at this time but I have a couple of email addresses and a BBM that I can provide. She said that she had her business cards in the car and she would bring them in for me. Now immediately, I took this as the big blow off but she did come back. She gave the bartender big glossy photos of the band and something else. I figured that she was handling business so I waited and then I noticed that she was skating past me on the sly. This is what reminded me of that attitude that I was so familiar with from up and coming artists only this time it was from the manager.

The manager is supposed to have the best interest of the artists in mind and I suppose that being “hired” for a studio session is not in the best interest of the artist. Being hired means that you will be receiving money for services rendered; in this case playing some songs that brings immediate and possible future revenue to the artists, as well as expand their exposure by having their names posted on a piece of work in a different musical genre. Maybe she assumed because I didn’t have a business card on me that it made me less legitimate and that is understandable, but what you do is take the information that is provided or provide your information as you said that you would and then have a conversation to make an informed decision about furthering the relationship. This was a move that wasn’t very business savvy in my opinion but I hope these guys do well because I like what they have going on and their manager gets the Gas Face for offering something and then reneging. This is truly what you would call “Death by the Manager”.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY! Hit me at www.facebook.com/Marcus.Obrien2 or www.Twitter.com/TheMarcusObrien

Stalley ft. Rashad "SLAPP"

No words except for this is my new isht!

Heavyweight Title

The warning shots have been fired and the stage is being set to witness one of the BEST Hip Hop battles since Nas and Jay-Z (which in my seemingly unpopular opinion Jay won) with the possibility of a tag team match which I’ll get to later. What do you think about Jay-Z vs. Lil’ Wayne? I think I need to keep my internet game up and keep Kay Slay on my XM.

So I thought Jay might have been taking a shot at Wayne on him and Kanye’s H.A.M. with the “…really, you got baby (possibly Baby/Birdman) money, you ain’t even got my lady money” and yes, it seems that was absolutely the case. It was confirmed when I heard the interview with Wayne being asked about it and he simply stated “I can’t even box with the god about that…but I will use it to my advantage.” There’s two ways to use it to his advantage; be vocal about Jay-Z mentioning him or finding a way to use it for retaliatory purposes which I think is what will happen. We have to remember that Wayne wanted to and nearly signed with Jay until Baby backed the money truck up and they put that Young Money thing in place. Shortly after that Wayne was a little sore at Jay-Z and there were a couple of words but nothing major. Jay recognized him as being one of the best in the game. Not that Jay-Z has the say so on whom official, but it is a highly respected nod.

What we have to realize that good Hip Hop music often comes from competition, not conflict, but competition. I don’t see this as getting to the level of one of the infamous and frivolous beefs we often hear about, but it will be serious competition. What we also have to realize is that for years Jay-Z has been considered the heavyweight champ by most for years and for the past few years there have been considerable amounts of arguments that state Wayne is the young champ and in some circles THE CHAMP. It’s inevitable that this has to happen. It is interesting that Jay-Z starts hitting the body bag first. Lately, he may make a quick reference to something and let us put it together but this he openly threw a jab and said “it eat if you can”.

Wayne is the competition and has been on fire non stop for a few years and has a extremely heavy following in New York and the Tri State area. Jay has to do something to keep the title, hence, “Watch the Throne”. Now this may sound like one of those crazy conspiracy theories that I often mock but the timing is right and Drake may have unknowingly or wittingly set this up. Jay-Z and Kanye’s album, “Watch the Throne” is supposed to be released within the month if it hasn’t been delayed again. The obvious is that Wayne appears to be next in line for the “throne” if you will and is the biggest competition, so on a song like H.A.M., Jay should have and had to address it if he plans to stay in that spot for a while. But, a few weeks back Drake poked and made a joke about “hearing about a couple of guys making an album together” and something in the nature of the idea may have come from somewhere else implying that him and Wayne may have been in the works on the same thing. Of course he said it jokingly, but that is just enough to let the competition begin. If Wayne and Drake put out an album together, I hope it wouldn’t be on some battle isht because Wayne would be all by his lonesome on that. Drake is nice but there’s not enough raw beast in him to go a few rounds with those Jay-Z, Kanye, and Lil’ Wayne; however, I am looking forward to hearing a response from Wayne soon and seeing how this plays out for the next few months. This is what Hip Hoppers live for! This may take it back to 40oz of Crazy Horse and Billy Dee (Colt 45).

As Always, TELLSOMEBODY and follow me on Twitter @TheMarcusObrien and friend me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Marcus02

The Epitome of The "S" Word

This is the age where the word “Swagg” or “Swagger” is SO overused and misused. The notion of just having swagger is overrated because so many people have the idea that it replaces having talent. It’s really been embedded into the minds of newer Hip Generations that “Swagg” is the end all to be a successful rapper. I even heard a radio promo a while back where they were looking for new artists and the actually formed their mouth to say “Everybody knows that the industry is based on swag”! Just to let the uninformed know, it’s not a replacement but an enhancement and a quick fix for a more serious underlying issue – Whackness! I will check into rehab after this for saying the S word so much. It’s out of hand and must be stopped. All it really means is to have style and presence.

Camp Lo is still one of my favorite duos of all time and had the S word and rhymes to pass around three or four times. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t remember the song that put them on the map “Luchini – This is it”. That came out and it was so awkward because it didn’t fit the mold for anything that was going on at the time. There was Wu Tang, Death Row, Bad Boy, Master P, Redman and others that made Hip Hop balanced. What made it awkward was their delivery of their subject matter. It’s heavy on inference and metaphors. To really understand some of the things that were going on, it was mandatory to listen a few times. There were back stories and heavy references to diamond heists and other hustles and scams hence, the album title “Uptown Saturday Night” which was a 70’s movie starring Bill Cosby and Sidney Portier who had to outhustle the big time hustlers in the city.

Bronx bred MC’s Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suade shoot slick talk in its purest form. The wordplay these two cats have is superb and it’s matched with the swagger (in its intended meaning). It’s the kind of music you really want to listen to because there’s always a new jewel to find with every repeat. I listen to it and hear about weed selling, champagne popping, and endless women, but it’s presented in such a sophisticated way that you don’t sit back and think to yourself “I’m too old to be listening to this goofy isht”. It’s some cool isht. Beyond that, these cats spit hot fire like Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. I remember pulling up at a grocery store parking lot blasting this and the white guy who was parked next to me was getting into his car and just stopped. I got out and the first thing he said to me was, “It’s not just every day that you hear somebody ridin’ around bumpin’ Camp Lo”. I wasn’t surprised that he was white at all because of the four people that I’ve had a Camp Lo conversation with in the past few years, two of them were white. I was more surprised how random it was that somebody recognized it and made an extra effort to speak on it.

I don’t know the back story on the politics of their industry business dealings and why they have at least four studio albums that with the exception of “Uptown Saturday Night” received little to no mainstream buzz. A damn shame in my opinion because if we talk about Hip Hop duo’s of all time, they’re in the top 5 hands down if the criteria is based on solid material. They also released the “Short Eyes” EP in Japan that I heard about way after the fact. That’s how you get things done; send it overseas where people appreciate you. I say, when you get a chance look these cats up and YouTube them so you can get some spiritual enlightenment. All aspiring MC’s, take note and I’m not gonna tell you not to bite because I don’t think that this can be recreated, but I will say use this as how to guide to marry skill with the dreaded S word.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY and check the archives below this post. Friend me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Marcus.Obrien2 and Follow me on Twitter at @TheMarcusObrien

Cool Breeze-Whatcha Really Know About The Dirty South?

A few posts back, I posted a GRIMEY mixtape song by Acrite called “Get Em Up”. I’m almost positive that you don’t know who he is so look in the January archives to find the video link. But there was another song on the mixtape where he jacked Cool Breeze’s “Watch for the Hook”. The lyrics, CRAZY, but it made me think about Cool Breeze and how he had one of my favorite Highway CD’s of all time. See, I’m a guy that likes to see the land and get into the landscape and enjoy the sites and stop in on places I might not see any other time. I’m talking about places like Americus Georgia, Dothan Alabama, and Bradshaw Maryland. But anyway, I refuse to get on the highway without this CD because it’s just one of those albums that you just ride to.

Cool Breeze, Cool Cutta or Freddy Calhoun if you wanna go deep with it,is 1st generation Dungeon Family, (See the Archives for Aug 2, 2009) and an MC that is awkward in the sense that he doesn’t fit the mold of what most think a southern artist is. The first thing is that he didn’t curse on the album which is a rarity in Hip Hop. Maybe I had an edited version, but it was still hard as hell. There was dope slanging, car jackin’, plenty of slanguage and references that only people who are from ATL or who have been there for a while would understand and appreciate; However, the themes were universal because the dude is dope. The second thing is, my man is nice; he doesn't fall into the sometimes hypocritical view that is given of the South. You know how it goes, it rocks the club and everybody has a good time but at the same time “it’s garbage” conversation. Cool Breeze came from a camp of real rhymers and it shows.

His album, “East Point’s Greatest Hits” hit home for me because I lived in East Point for a while after I moved to Atlanta before moving to Jersey. East Point is technically a suburb of Atlanta but not really. Depending on where you’re at in the city, you may be across the street from the Atlanta or College Park city limits – both of which I once lived. From beginning to end, it hits hard. From the funky, funky, funky intro to the end, my man doesn’t just give you the average southern song that the industry feeds us; he gives classic ATL hustler/grown man talk with tight rhymes. This is the cat that actually coined the phrase “The Dirty South” on the Goodie Mob song “Dirty South” from the “Soul Food” album. My favorite song on the album besides “Watch for the Hook” and “Butter” would have to be “Hit Man” feat E.J. the Witchdoctor. The Organized Noize Production is superb like always. Yeah, It’s an old album but it’s definitely one that deserves at the very least a look on You Tube and a search on Amazon or I Tunes. Of course I’ve got a video, but do me a favor and TELL SOMEBODY about the site and follow me on Twitter at @TheMarcusObrien and friend me and like the page on Facebook.

See the archives below this article and comment by signing into Gmail or use “Anonymous”.

Say It Ain't So Kim!

I just want to believe that Lil' Kim is telling the truth about these "Black Friday" mixtape sales. I like Lil' Kim and she seems to be down to earth and respectable outside of this extremely strange issue that she has with Nicki Minaj that some people are calling an obsession. While listening to Power 105 New York, on air personality Charlamagne Tha God made the obsessive reference by saying that "when Nicki Minaj said 'which bitch you know made a million off a mixtape' that she decided to do that". He went on to talk about running with the "Pink Friday" theme and turning it into "Black Friday" which was entertaining as it flowed with his ribbing of Kim and could used to demonstrate obsessive behavior. The obsession theory could be thrown out there as one of those ridiculous conspiracy theories like the every successful entertainer is part of the Illuminati, or "there are 27 diamonds on his watch which is the date that an Egyptian ruler died so that means that he is claiming to be the ruler of a new dynasty" but there have been some instances that play into the banter. To Lil' Kim's defense, what she did makes sense in the spirit of Hip Hop Battles. Kim took the idea to rebuttal and refute.

Now that I've shed some of my thoughts, (and they are simply my thoughts) the point of this all is that Lil' Kim claimed to sell over 100,000 copies of the mixtape for $9.99 on Pay Pal in a little more than 24 hours. The price makes a difference because that is where the Nicki Minaj million dollar mixtape bitch reference enters the arena. The simple math of 100,000 x 10 = $1,000,000 gives fuel to the "obsession" fire because a parallel to Nicki is created with that. The disbelief of this feat takes a front row seat at the arena when a reported Pay Pal representative stated that one million dollars worth of transactions would trigger an audit by Pay Pal and shut down her site, and also that the site had only been visited only around 24,000 times. With that math every person who clicked in the site would have to purchase 4.16 albums. The representative did not specifically deny or back up Lil' Kim's claims, but if that information is accurate, it would be tough to believe that things happened the way her camp claims.

I have no personal stake in any of this, but it's Hip Hop, and I live for Hip Hop talk barbershop style and "this isht smells funkay". Yes, I meant Funkay with the ay cause that means a little more than funky. As I stated in previous articles about this, I don't understand why so much effort was put into this battle by Kim in the first place. But more than that, almost a year later with no significant progress, I don't know why she's still pursuing it. This would be the time to put out an album on her own accord while people are watching her and give her die hard fans something. To be real about it, "Romans Revenge" was a massacre. Kim's reply was solid and respectable, but not strong enough in my opinion. Right then is when she should have either let it be or maintained an onslaught all of the way until now; not sit back and then months later "here comes the mixtape". That's whack! She should have been killing her every Friday until "Black Friday" to put some pressure on. Nicki had no pressure and that's why no one has heard much from her about Kim since "Roman's Revenge. Again, I love Kim but, this is not a good move for a veteran and I hope that these numbers weren't skewed as the reports have been and that she just puts out some dope music.

As always, TELL SOMEBODY! Sign in with your Gmail account or leave a comment under "anonymous". Follow me on Twitter at @TheMarcusObrien

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Imjussayin

Imjussayin

A quick thought for the moment. Do you remember when people were hungry, you know starving? When everything wasn't so effortless? Every beat didn't take "about 5 minutes" to make and people did write rhymes. A time when you could hear in someone's voice that they meant what they said and it wasn't just cool to say, or people had their own style and it wasn't cool to completely sound like the next one because "that's the way the industry is movin' now"? What about when edgy was cool and it was alright to just spit and spit hard; not tough guy hard but be a beast without a dozen pauses in the rhyme like "Ah, Yeah, and other time wasting tactics. (See 6 ft. 7 by Wayne to see how to thoroughly GO IN). What about when cat's held the microphone like it meant something. You know, get in a stance like it was all out warfare instead of wobbling back and forth, and bouncing on one foot like a toddler about to piss on themselves. I quit downing people for what they do to make it in life; however, these are a few things that I'm tired of now. Right now is just a boring time in Hip Hop and it gives me too much of an opportunity to notice some of the ridiculous antics that go on. If this offends anyone I don't necessarily apologize, but it is a wake up call that I'm not the only one who feels this way so do something fly to prove us wrong. PEACE
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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Lyrical Combat (Hip Hop)

Send something fly and I'll post it!

Mixtape Massacre

I remember sometime between ’92 and ’93 my homeboy and DJ went to Pittsburgh to visit family for a couple of weeks, and came back with this crazy tape of these cats on some serious hood shit with this song called “Trapped in Homewood”. Apparently, they were Bloods from the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, which is just a small part of the equation. Besides them banging on wax, they jacked the “Dwyck” beat from Nice and Smooth and Gangstarr, slowed it down, put some drums on it, and sampled what I think was Tupac saying trapped for the hook with gunshots and other crazy stuff in the background. We rocked that tape to death until it mysteriously came up missing like most of the underground tapes we had.

They definitely had us in the pocket with that which is the power of the mix tape-keeping in contact with the streets. I don’t mean the streets as in every mix tape is pure gangster, but artist have the ability to relax on the industry water down and do some of the things that got them into the industry, or get noticed by the industry. The perfect example of that is 50 Cent. Some people hate him now and are sick of hearing him and some people love him like when he first came out. In the past couple of years, some of his videos and singles haven’t been my favorites, but his mix tapes stay in heavy rotation in the streets and I suppose provide decent money in between albums. French Montana was killing ‘em with the Coke Waves. It’s too bad Max B isn’t here right now to enjoy the success of it, I hope things work out for him though. The Affiliates got Atlanta poppin’ on the national mix tape seen but before that, DJ Jelly of the Oomp Camp held it down. In the Chicago you got the Drama Ward, CWall, and others that drop stuff that usually keep up their regional presence.

I just like the grit and hunger when artists are letting it out on wax for the absolute love of the music and to be appreciated by fans that don’t have Sound Scan numbers and radio play on their minds although radio has played a significant role in promoting the mix tape movement in the past few years. Prominent DJ’s like Whoo Kid, DJ Drama, K Slay, and Green Lantern not only sponsor volumes of mix tapes, but also have slots on major radio stations that keep us interested with exclusive songs, remixes and collaborations with artists that may never get a chance to work together under a label circumstance. Green Lantern put out “Pablo Doe” with Styles P, Uncle Murda, and Noreaga which is still one of my favorites. I remember riding through Newark and almost breaking my neck I was nodding so hard. It’s tidbits like those that keep my Hip Hop battery charged. We just need to make sure that the mix tape scene doesn’t get as diluted as the industry is due to the record execs attempting to cash in on what we make hot, and advise on what’s hot after the fact that they didn’t want to touch it in the beginning. That’s the same way they took over and altered Hip Hop in the first place, which has its pros and cons, but that’s another topic. I say support your favorite artists and Dj’s and pick up those mix tapes and help make some noise outside of the industry and keep things moving. And somebody please put me down on sown on some West Coast siht. As always, TELL SOMEBODY!

"Get Em Up" Actrite

I'm wildin' out this week. This is one of the illest songs that almost no one has heard. It’s on a super underground mixtape that I ran across a while back. This cat has a delivery that makes every line tie together so that it’s not just scattered thoughts being put together, it’s a conversation. He probably sat down and wrote this and knew what he wanted. It’s classic Hip Hop without the watered down hooks and lyrics. I think the cat’s name is Act Rite.

“Get your hands up sky high, like a liquor store robbery,
I’m retarded, bad with the flow, curled up and slobbery,
Decrepit in this b----, you know fu---- up in the frontal lobe, and I’m in frontin’ mode, keep flows tucked and stowed away, from spineless, snake-in-the-grass a—hole bastards like yourself, break in your room and steal the weed of your shelf,
Just to piss you off, now have a f------ up day, I don’t give a s--- what you got to say, I’m like furious an your Trey, ‘Put the mic down son’, and stay away from Dough Boy,
He got that s--- to make Cam’Ron and Jus Blaze say Oh Boy, You don’t wanna go boy,
I’ll shoot your dog wit B.B. guns and point it at your boy, see he runs, he aint that hard-
He B---- like that B---- but he only got two legs, I go to parties with white boys cause they keep them two kegs, for 22 personas and I quit f------ wit coronas, they kinda like chicks who only show tits in swimming pools and saunas,
I just want little something more fulfilling,
I’m a outfielder with no glove, I don’t catch feelings
And I aint Superman either b---- I don’t catch buildings,
Don’t dance either like Lionel Rich on ceilings,
Certain dealings and mishaps keep me leery of jibber dudes,
Niccas got 13 songs and 15 interludes, while I’m making bigger moves than Tsunami’s in Asia,
Wash out whack dudes like Tsunami’s in Asia,
I don’t think you heard me dog I’m tragic like Tsunami’s in Asia, For as many times as I said it I should have got paid son,
but NOPE, certain things that I do make me raise the,
Topic of devastation,
Cause that’s the only way to explain the,
Total lack of respect and disregard of your being,
I don’t give a f--- about you and that’s what you’re not seeing,
You’re far from original and definitely not g’ing,
We can ask your girl, your moms, your pops, and they will all be agreeing,
That you should quit early before I take drastic measures,
Mess up your life just for pleasure, I’m in to harmful endeavors,
I’m Off The Wall like Mike Jack, Jack Me like Janet Dammit,
Ain’t no button to push, no one knows of your panic,
Get ‘Em Up! -Actrite “Get ‘Em Up”