Buff1- “Real Appeal” featuring AB
By Eric | June 16, 2009
‘Real Appeal’ is the third single from Buff1’s critically acclaimed sophomore solo album There’s Only One. Feeling more confortable as a solo artist, Buff1’s increased confidence is readily apparent as he playfully boasts about his knowledge of what women really want. Buff1’s mature lyricism is complimented by a chorus featuring ultra smooth vocalist AB, and production by A-Side Worldwide’s superproducer in the making, 14KT.
In his directorial debut, Jackson Perry, A-Side’s President (and member of Now On) delivers a high quality video that far outshines today’s standard straight-to-YouTube offerings. The classic black & white visual perfectly captures the song’s essence, managing to simultaneously be soulful, intelligent and tastefully seductive. This video for Real Appeal serves as a feather in Buff1’s fitted, proving that There’s still Only One.”
…dope stuff from ASide…one of the best cuts of ‘08!!!
Topics: Let's Talk About.....(Review Series) | No Comments »
….soon you’ll understand
By Eric | May 28, 2009
….in the meantime, Thaione Davis’ “Leaving Babylon“:
Topics: Let's Talk About.....(Review Series) | 1 Comment »
Welcome “Home” Ish (Digable Planets)!!!!
By Eric | May 27, 2009
Jake One’s new video from “White Van Music’s” most stellar track IMO, “Home”. Damn, could you imagine a solo LP from Ish produced by Jake One???? This video is just pure dopeness!!
Topics: Let's Talk About.....(Review Series) | 1 Comment »
“Put It In Ya’ System”
By Eric | May 23, 2009
1. “Massage Situation”-Flying Lotus
Taken From: Flying Lotus’ “Reset” EP
Yes ya’ll J. Dilla Lives on! At the helm for the production of my hands-down favorite track of 2009, Finale’s “Paid Homage” (R.I.P. J Dilla), Flying Lotus has had me diggin’ for everything that he’s dropped since he arrived on the scene in 2006 with his full-length debut, “1983″. Truth be told, if I was an up and coming emcee who truly wanted to get his or her name out there, Lotus is probably the first dude that comes to mind as we speak, whom I’d want to track down immediately! Recently, while scanning the internets to find more of Lotus’ material I came across his unheralded EP, “Reset”. Yes, there are some moments throughout Flying Lotus’ discography as well as on “Reset”, where his production may tend to be a little “too out there” for some, but when Lotus’ leans towards more traditional Hip Hop production the results can be awe-inspiring.
“Massage Situation” is on the same playing field as “Paid Homage” in terms of clarity, originality and “bump”-ability. Boasting a milky vocal sample that is spine tingling and trunk-rattling bass kicks, “Massage Situation” is bound to make you move no matter who you are. However, the real treat within the track arrives near the two minute mark as Lotus injects even more life into “Massage Situation” with the arrival of potent, electrifying synths that increase their intensity as the track comes to an “all to soon” close. Damn, (*shaking head*) …as I mentioned before, if Lotus sticks to strictly “Hip Hop” production quite a few of these producers out there may find themselves pushing burgers before it’s all said and done. Please, I beg you, do yourself a favor an introduce your mind to the world that is Flying Lotus, I can promise you that you won’t be let down!!
2. “Decision”-Busta Rhymes f. Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, Common & John Legend
Taken From: Busta’s “Back On My B.S.”
My dude Dart hit the nail on the head with his accurate take on Busta’s new LP, “Back On My B.S.” when he noted that on one track you’ll be nodding your head furiously and the next you’ll be questioning if this is even the same album that had you so in tune just minutes earlier. I attempted to sit down with “Back On My B.S.” late Friday evening and I’d be fronting if I didn’t admit that nearly half the tracks on this LP are “fast forward material”. I just don’t understand, with such a great chemistry in tact, why wouldn’t Busta chose to do an album solely with DJ Scratch behind the boards? Problems tend to arouse when Busta reaches out to producers like Cool & Dre, Jelly Roll (and by the way, Busta’s duet with soulstress Estelle, “World Go Round” should have been left on the cutting room floor) and even the “bonus” track with Bangladesh doesn’t do Busta Rhymes any favors whatsoever.
Thankfully, the Mr. Porter and Dr. Dre-laced “Decision” doesn’t fall to the waste side as the foursome of John Legend, Jamie Foxx, Common & Mary J. Blige along with Busta sound natural, not forced over this mid-tempo jawn that is supplemented with the signature STRONG bass line and smooth piano stabs that Dr. Dre has become so notable for. Even the the smooth vocal hooks courtesy of Foxx, Legend and Mary J. don’t deter from the “street” essence of “Decision”. Without question, the highlight of Busta’s “Back On My B.S.”
3. “Break Of Dawn”-H.I.S.D.
Taken From: Hueston Independent Spit District’s “Summer Sessions”
I gotta’ give credit where credit is due, props to Arasia at KevinNottingham.com and her in-depth review of “Summer Sessions” and for putting me on to the eight-man crew that originates from Houston, Texas. Prior to scoping Arasia’s piece I’d only heard heard H.I.S.D. mentioned once, as Von Pea of Tanya Morgan shouted them out during a recent interview. While I do agree that this album is extremely refreshing, Arasia blessing H.I.S.D.’s “Summer Sessions” with a 90/100 rating is extremely generous. In my opinion, “Summer Sessions” contains too many lyrical deficiencies to be held in the same light as Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise”. Ehhh, maybe an 80 (?) would have been more in the ballpark, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, right? I’m pretty sure that many of the albums that I’ve “reviewed” over the last few years have left readers asking: “What the hell is Eric thinkin’?” Regardless, H.I.S.D.’s “Summer Sessions” is re-emerging at the right occasion (”Summer Sessions” actually dropped in 2008), as this album is crafted for play for those scorching summer months ahead.
4. “The Rules”-Saigon & Statik Selektah
Taken From: “All In A Day’s Work”
During the opening moments of “The Rules”, Saigon states: “I used to right all them raps ’cause I was in jail, now that I’m out”…ehh, nevermind. In a nutshell, Saigon is essentially saying that since he’s got all these outside interests in his life right now, writing raps is not a priority anymore. Hmm, that’s good to know, because this is same cat who was considered the best that the underground had to offer a few years back, now he’s the same dude with a shelved album, produced by Just Blaze nonetheless, that will probably never see the light of day. So what does Saigon do? He records a “rushed” 11-track album in a 24-hour period with more fluff than flash. Really? Who even has “All In A Day’s Work” on their radar anymore? Thank you.
All is not lost on “All In A Day’s Work” though. One track that really separate itself from the pack of mediocrity is “The Rules”. Without glancing at the production credits for “The Rules” one could just as easily mistake the production for that of DJ Premier and not Statik Selektah. With Primo’s signature “Boom Bap” drums underlying a hefty piano sample, Statik jerks a Busta Rhymes vocal sample and slices up Soulja Boy’s “YOOUUUU” to perfection for the hook, a very nice touch I might add.
5. “Walk”-Finale
Taken From: Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise”
Point blank: Finale is my favorite emcee out there doin’ it at the moment. This cat is just born to emcee as it’s been a minute since I’ve heard someone with such a natural ability to captivate the listener. It’s really gonna’ be tough to dethrone Finale’s solo debut from it’s spot as the album of the year. With such a vast production line-up, the album such an enjoyable listen with many hills and valleys that command your attention.
This week I’ve been caught up in Finale’s “Walk”, produced by Dabrye, “Walk” is an Itunes only track as far as I know. Boasting futuristic production, Finale does his best to keep up with the track’s hectic pace and bounce and does so minimal effort. Damn, I can’t say it enough- Finale is the truth! Damn to Paul Pierce!
Topics: Most Played For The Week | 4 Comments »
“THOUGHTS” (*as “Let It All Hang Out” plays in the background*)
By Eric | May 18, 2009
1. “The Instant CLASSIC?” (Tanya Morgan’s “Brooklynati”)
Damn…damn…damn!!! I can’t even begin to express just how in awe I am of T.M.’s newest venture, “Brooklynati”. However, I will say this- I can’t help but capture a sense of Deja Vu when enjoying this instant CLASSIC. “Brooklynati” evokes vivid memories of yet another underground, cult favorite that has moved on to CLASSIC status, Little Brother’s “The Listening”. In fact, the Phonte and Brittany Bosco-assisted, “She’s Gone” (aka Without You) sounds as if it was actually crafted to pay homage to L.B.’s “The Yo-Yo” (from Little Brother’s debut “The Listening”). The overall “flow” and cohesiveness of “Brooklynati” rivals that of Blu & Exile’s “Below The Heavens” or some of De La Soul’s earlier efforts (woah Nelly, I’m not getting too carried away, am I?) Regardless, “Brooklynati” along with Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” are a few of the most well-rounded albums to drop in recent memory.
When you take into account the obvious chemistry between the three emcees (with all three being as equally charismatic and talented) along with outstanding production and well placed skits to boot, it’s hard not to get a smile on your face when Tanya Morgan is on the mic. However, it is extremely difficult to pure a sure-fire standout from “Brooklynati” as nearly all the tracks are just as equally impressive…it’s almost like picking a favorite from “Illmatic” or “Doggystyle” (oops, there I go again!?). Plus, the added guest appearances from Cincy’s Piakhan, (I TOLD you about this cat almost two years ago! Trust me, dude’s about to take off!) Blu, Kay from the Foundation, the Lessondary (Spec Boogie, Che Grand, Elucid & Jermide..who makes two guest stops on the album) and Kay from the foundation, don’t hinder the overall fluidity of the album one bit and if anything it only adds to the joyride that is “Brooklynati”.
Hip Hop is about paying your dues, and Tanya Morgan has been doin’ it for nearly a decade, it’s safe to say that their time has “Arrived” (see “Just Arrived”) and now the trio of Ilyas, donwill and Von Pea is “On (their) Way” to super stardom and not just notable underground status. While “hipsters” like Kid Cudi continue to receive all the glory and eventually “come and go” each year, cats really know what’s up with Tanya Morgan! These dudes are crafting the blueprint to success within the underground, rather than bursting out the gate with a sure shot smash Tanya Morgan has continued to strive to be complete artists, always willling to admit that there’s room for improvement. The maturation between albums is there, with each of the artists conducting very impressive and in downill’s case (see “Suburban Sprawl”) very innovative side projects prior to the finish of “Brooklynati”. It just feels like everything is coming together for Tanya Morgan with the release of this album, their time is now…and I’m happy as hell for ‘em. I just wish I hadn’t submitted my “Top 50 Albums Of The Decade” list to Jeff Weiss so soon, because T.M.’s “Brooklynati” would have most likely found itself running near the middle of the pack! Go cop it if you haven’t already, a true gem that will be looked upon in 5 years as a CLASSIC….book it!!
2. “Is “Philadelphia Freeway 2″ more “The Solution” that it is “Philadelphia Freeway” (Free’s debut)
Last week also saw the leak of the “Philly Freezer’s” follow-up to ’07’s somewhat disappointing “Free At Last”. Now, myself being from Pennsylvania, I’ve always been a big Freeway “guy”, I’d even go as far as to say that “Free At Last” was one of my most favorite albums of 2007, while many wrote the album off as a flop. Maybe so, but “Free At Last” made minced meat out of fellow Roc-alumnus, Beanie Sigel’s “The Solution”….now, that album was pure garbage. Sure, it had it’s “bombs”, but “Free At Last” also blessed us with glimpses of the “Philadelphia Freeway” (Free’s debut) on tracks like the Bink-laced, “When They Remember” and the Jake One-blessed, “It’s Over”. I can recall Ras Kass stating that Free’s debut was “Prison Music” and that it “got a lotta’ cats thru their bids”. Ras also went on to add that “Free owes me royalties for puttin’ ni*gas onto the joint in the pen”.
It’s a coincidence that Kazzy mentions “Philadelphia Freeway” in that context, because Free’s debut also dropped right around the time I was deployed in Baghdad for 18 months. Now, THAT album was an Iraq classic (you could also add Kanye’s “The College Dropout” and Young Gunz’ “Tough Luv” into that mix as well) !! I remember it like yesterday, strolling down to the gym to get a quick workout in (after standing in the chow line for like, what seemed 2 hours!) and Freeway would be blaring out of everyone’s shi*ty little speakers that you hooked up to your MP3 player (Ipod’s weren’t really pop off like they are now back in 2003). Sadly though, if I was a betting man, I’d have to say that “Philadelphia Freeway” will serve as the highlight of Freeway’s recording career. Not that the sequel to “Philadelphia..” doesn’t have it’s fair share of highlights, it just doesn’t hold a match to the young and hungry Freeway that shined throught on each track on his debut.
The first thought that popped into my mind after listening to “Philadelphia Freeway 2″ was that the album seemed somewhat rushed. I mean, prior to reading this, did you really know that Freeway had another album on the horizon? Yeah, me neither! While the production on this album is fairly nice, something is truly missing here. Most of the hooks on the album are provided by Freeway himself, perhaps the budget was too low for any guest appearances (the lone “guest” on the album is Sheek Louch, and the way that cats been putting out flops, it’s fair to say that he’s willing to hop on any track right about now), and a full album on Freeway-hooks tends to become very monotonous after just a few listens. Trust me, some of these hooks on the album are HORRIBLE, almost embarrasing to a certain extent. Here, check this winner from the horribly titled “Gotz 2 Be Tha’ Bomb” (no really, I know, the track’s title looks like a TLC leftover, right?):
“Mama said if you wanna’ do it/then do it/you gotz’ ta’ be tha bomb/you gotz’ ta’ be tha bomb/you gotz’ ta’ be Sadam Hussein on the rap game…you gotz’ ta be the bomb”…..(*shakes head*…honestly, I’m speechless..)
However, for just as terrible some of these tracks on the album are, you have blazers like the “Dynasty: Roc La Familia’-ish’”, “Crack Rap”, where Free recollects days where he sold crack to his own family (”if you don’t get it from me, you gon’ get it from someone else”) over a pulsating neck-snapper. I have yet to find the production credits for this album anywhere online yet, but if I had to put my money on it, I’d guess that “Crack Rap” was laced by either Bink or Just Blaze. “Street’s Won’t Miss ‘Em” is yet another track that capture the essence of “Philadelphia Freeway” along with Free’s ode to the Ice Cube CLASSIC, “It’s A Good Day”. You can find solace in knowing that no matter what, any Freeway album will at the minimum be at least, somewhat enjoyable due to Free’s charismatic, passionate delivery and his one of a kind voice. However, the real story hear is that “Philadelphia Freeway 2″ WILL NOT be released on Roc-A-Fella, but rather an independent, Fontana. Sorry Free, but you’re more than likely gonna’ have to take the “L” with this one, because the hierarchy at Fontana must not have paid too much attention to what is also dropping tomorrow…Em’s “Relapse”, Meth & Red’s “Blackout 2″ and Busta’s “Back On My B.S.”.
The sad reality of it all is of all four of the aforementioned pending releases, if I hadn’t yet heard “Philadelphia Freeway 2″, I more than likely would have purchased it before any of the others. Thank god for the internets! Worth the download, not worth the purchase..and it kills me to say that, coming from one of Free’s biggest supporters.
3. “Does Jay’s posthumous release “Jay Stays Paid” surpass “The Shining”?
Well, after peeping J. Rocc’s (World Famous Beat Junkies) 13-minute sampler of the album….needless to say, I’m lovin’ what I’ve heard thus far. One track in particular, that really gave me the “Oh” face, was the Black Thought-featured “Reality Check”. And before I begin my “rant” on just how extremely dope this track is, lemme’ just say that Black Thought has gotta’ be one of (if not the) best to ever do it on a frantic, uptempo track (see: “75 Bars” and “Don’t Feel Right” for even more proof) since Kool G Rap in his prime. Thought just completely zones out on this Dilla-blessed masterpiece that sounds somewhat like a sped-up version of Slum Villa’s “Conant Gardens” (from “Fantastic Vol. II”). The sampler also includes a quick glimpse of the Havoc of Mobb Deep and Raekwon featured, “24K Rap”, yet another banger that speaks volumes in terms of Dilla’s production talents but not quite on the level of “Reality Check”. The only track that really made me squirm in my chair a bit was the Lil’ Fame-featured “Bloodsport”, whereas Dilla’s groundwork is up to par with his earlier material, something about hearing Fame spit on a Dilla beat was somewhat unsettling to me. Also, judging from Fame’s lyrical performance on the track, you can get the sense that he isn’t truly in his comfort zone either…oh well, it was worth a shot, right?
Hell, score me a late pass on “Jay Stays Paid”, because I thought that this was the official released of Jay’s unreleased MCA “Pay Jay” which leaked last year sometime. I suppose the simililarity in album titles is what really threw me off, ehh? To be released on Nature Sounds on June 2nd, “Jay Stay Paid” is a 28 track collection of unreleased Dilla beats that where mostly tracked while Dilla was in his last days. The unreleased matererial was then later compiled by “Ma Dukes” (Mrs. Yancey) and placed in the hands of Pete Rock who mixed and arranged “Jay Stays Paid”. While the album is intended to focus mainly on Jay’s instrumentals, one can’t help but salivating after one glance at the contributing artists that appear on the track listing (Blu, Rae, Doom, Black Thought, Lil’ Fame and even Diz Gabran). Of course, you already know that copping this album when it drops is standard protocal for any Dilla release! June 2nd can’t arrive fast enough….
Topics: THOUGHTS | 4 Comments »
“On (Their) Way”
By Eric | May 12, 2009
Wooooo, just copped Tanya Morgan’s new LP, “Brooklynati” via Itunes morning. Bumped it in the headphones while taking the girls to daycare, this album is NIIIICE!!! More to come, in the meantime peep the album’s opener, “On Our Way” below:
“On Our Way” (click to listen)
Topics: Let's Talk About.....(Review Series) | 5 Comments »
“Put It In Ya’ System” (Most Played For The Week)
By Eric | May 10, 2009
1. “Clearer Hearing”-Skyzoo
From: “The Power Of Words” mixtape: Hosted by DJ Drama & Statik Selektah
“S-K-Y-Z-O-O”, how many times have we heard this brewing mixtape king in the making’s infamous moniker shouted out on numerous releases and guest spots over the last…damn, 3 years? While my opinion on Skyzoo may not be shared with my homie Trav, I’ve always felt that Skyzoo just needs that extra little….umph…to get him over the hill. Lyrically, Skyzoo has always been on point but something is missing and I just can’t quite seem to identify it. However, “Clearer Hearing” is a good starting point. Over a bare bones, simplistic production that is eerily reminiscent of the MC Lyte classic “Stop, Look, Listen” (courtesy of little know producer, Fatin “10″ Horton) Skyzoo delivers the extremely sharp, original metaphors that he’s become so well-known for. Now, if we can just get an album all will be gravy.
2. “Same Song And Dance”-Eminem
Taken From: “Relapse”
Ehhhh, I’m really on the fence with Em’s most recent leak “Relapse”. Honestly, I don’t know what to think about it, do I really wanna’ hear Em recollect the bouts with his Mother (once again) and Mariah Carey on what seems like every other track!? And, what’s up with Em switching up his voice? So much to the point, that it does tend to wear on your nerves a bit after a few listens. I bumped the album on at least three occasions from start to finish yesterday, and I’m still not sold…just yet. Yes, their are occasions where Em shows flashes of brilliance, yet others that leave you scratching your head like “when is dude gonna’ grow up?” or better yet: “maybe I’m getting to old for this sh*t”? Then, there’s a part of me that Eminem thinks: “F*ck it, I’ve mastered this lyrical sh*t, so much in fact, that I need to find ways (such as the different voice persona’s) to keep myself motivated”. Still, at the end of the day, “Relapse” is better than 3/4 of the stuff that comes across my airwaves. Sorry Em, it just comes with the territory.
On a good note, Dr. Dre’s production on “Same Song And Dance” would do the LabTechs proud as it gives new meaning to the term, “Beat The Speakers Up”. Jesus, I can see this one making it’s way to the dance floors quickly as “Same Song And Dance” is most definitely club-pump-worthy. Now, if only Em would lose the voice…again, all would be gravy.
3. “They Call This Hip Hop”-Classified f. Royce Da 5′ 9″ & B.O.B.
Taken From: Classified’s “Self Explanatory”
Classified, Royce and B.O.B.? Hmmm, I wonder where this connection stems from? Or better yet, who owed whom a favor here? Nah, don’t get it twisted because strangely enough this version of “Three’s Company” gets it right with a hard-hitting production and another classic verse form Mr. “5′9″. Matter of fact, I believe that I read somewhere that Classified will actually be touring with Royce and D12 this summer…hmm, would have never guessed it (*scratched head*). Be sure to peep Classified’s “Self Explanatory” as well, which puts Canada back on the map. By the way, this is supposedly Classified’s 11th (!) studio album, I don’t know what they put in the water up there that causes Classified and fellow Canadian, Moka Only to churn out albums at such a rapid pace.
4. “Memory Lane” (Remix)-Oddisee
Taken From: Oddisee’s “102″
Plain and simple, if you don’t know who Oddisee is by know, you’re about to find out in 2009 and approaching 2010. This extremely talented double threat has really stepped his game up this year with the relase of Diamond District’s “In The Ruff” as well as a slick EP with Peter Rosenberg, “A Roseberg Oddisee” that many of you probably missed out on (Get it HERE). Prior to the release of “In The Ruff” admittedly I’d been snoozing as well, but those days are over. After enjoying Oddisee’s “101″ & “102″ for the majority of last week, I’d forgotten just how dope his remix to “Memory Lane” was.
Featuring an almost protocol Biz Markie sample for a track entitled “Memory Lane” (”Now lemme’ take a trip down memory lane”), Oddisee rides the track with ease as a thick bassline serves as the backbone to this overlooked gem. Take it from me, listening to “Memory Lane” in your headphones just won’t do the production on this joint justice. There is an underlying, rolling bassline that catapults this track to “In The Trunk” status. Support Oddisee, this cat is one of a handful of artists in the underground that is poised for stardom and payin’ his dues in the meantime!!
5. “Forever”-De La Soul
Taken From: “Are You In?”/Nike + Original Run
Wow, this sh*t beats the hell outta’ the A-Trak and Aesop Rock tidbits that they contributed to the Nike + project. Even though “Are You In” isn’t truly an “album” per se, it’s still great to hear vintage De La for 10 full tracks on any given day. And while some of the production featured on this “soundtrack that caters to your run” is NOT vinage De La, “Forever” represents the trio of Mase, Dove and Pos in the truest sense. You gotta’ remember not every runner is gonna’ be prone to having De La bumpin’ in their headphones during a six mile run during the wee hours of the morning (i.e, my Wife’s been running about 60 miles a week for the last year and her top two tracks on her Ipod are: 1. “Lost!”-Cold Play, 2. “Sunday Morning (at least it the ?uestLove remix)-Maroon 5). Oh, and on a side note-cop the new Air Max 2009 joints, especially the neons. Trust me, those will be CLASSICS come 2015, get em’ while you can!
6. “Fuzzy Navel”-Floyd The Locsmif
Taken From: Floyd’s “Divine Dezignz #2″
Thank you Dart Adams for hipping me to this latest release from one of Hip Hop’s most overlooked and underrated producers, Floyd The Locsmif. My first exposure to the production mind of this ATL resident came in the form of “The Outskirts”, Flyod’s unofficial remixes of classic Outkast tracks. If my memory serves me correctly he actually dropped some material nearly two years ago that made it’s rounds on the interwebs (and it wasn’t Divine Designz #1 either), but I just can’t seem to track down the title of the disc. This time around, Floyd is sure to garner a bit more widespread attention with the release of “Divive Designz #2″.
With only appearances from Dave Ghetto (speaking of which, that Hustle Simmons album was waaaaay overlooked!) and Kam Moye aka Supastition, “Divine Designz #2″ grants “the Locsmif” the opportunity to showcase his production range, that up until now, has been under the radar for the most part. One listen to the electro-funk of “Fuzzy Navel” will soon change all that, as Floyd exemplifies the meaning of clarity and most importantly depth in the layers of his beats. While you won’t be able to find the album floating around in blogosphere for free DL, do as I did and shell over the 10 bones on Itunes, a purchase that is well worth it…to state it lightly.
7. “Royale”-tha Connection
Taken From: “Love Royale”
Right about now, the duo of Smoovth and Hus can do no wrong, at least in my eyes. With the forthcoming release of “Love Royale” (cop it when it drops June 5th) I’m sure that others will soon witness the progression that these cats have made within the last two years. The presence that tha Connection have on the mic when paired with Wu-Tangish’ (circa 1993) beats is a sure-fire formula for longevity in a field where so many careers are cut short. As many albums and remixes that Hus and Smoovth put out, one would normally tend to worry about market saturation, not with them putting out quality sh*t such as “Royale”.
Produced by Baker, “Royale” is the perfect intro for “Love Royale”. Smooth, yet hard enough for fans of underground East Coast Hip Hop, “Royale” could be best served for a quick “cool down” with your favorite beverage after a shi*ty day at work, or cruising in your “BMW counting your riches, lookin for bitches” (thanks Red Hot Lover Tone!). Plus, the Sade sample just pushed it over the top for me. Dare I say that “Royale” is the most elegant track to emerge from the hefty discography of tha Connection?
8. “Yesterday”-Krumb Snatcha
Taken From: Krumb’s “Hidden Scriptures”
Umm, did I totally miss the boat with Krumb’s “Hidden Scriptures”, or what? For some odd reason, when I downloaded this album last week I thought that is was the initial leak. Not the case, as “Hidden Scriptures was to drop back in January. Whatever the case, this album was surprisingly GOOD! Right off the bat, the one “beef” that I have with “Hidden Scriptures” is the track listing. “Hidden Scriptures” could have lost some dead weight, as my attention wondered on just a few select tracks (if you’re gonna’ name a track “The East Is Back”, you better pack a lunch!). However, Krumb’s lyrics have withstood the test of time, for the most part. After all, how many cats do you know that can have a noticeable “flub” (”Like Pizza Hut I gotta’ stay Noided”) and receive a “Hip Hop Quotable” in The Source for the same track (Gang Starr’s “Moment Of Truth”)?
Produced by the legendary (although, dude needs to pick it up a little bit, I’m afraid that he may tarnish his legacy with his hot/cold beats as of late) Pete Rock, “Yesterday” is the apex of “Hidden Scriptures. Matter of fact, this may very well be my favorite P.R. production since his collabo with Kurupt, “Yessir”. Fittingly, “Yesterday” also finds Krumb Snatcha revisiting his youth and pairs up quite nicely with Pete’s somewhat somber track. Be sure to give “Hidden Scriptures” a listen, I’m pretty sure you’ll walk away filling at least half full.
9. “Summer Chill”-JR &PH7 f. Edgar Allen Floe
Taken From: JR & PH7’s : Present “The Standard”
Yep, yet another solid LP that I slumbered on this year. With guest features from the likes of Pumpkinhead, Black Milk, Skyzoo, Guilty Simpson, Oddisee & Kev Brown (to name a few), the German production team of JR & PH7 have scored quite an eclectic collection of some of the underground’s finest to rock over their “9th Wonderish” soundscapes. With that being said, Justus League affiliate Edgar Allen Floe found himself right at home with the laid-back vibe of “Summer Chill”.
A track that is perfect for rolling out in that 90 degree Saturday afternoon with the windows down, “Summer Chill” is a track that just makes you feel good, even though Edgar’s lyrics on this joint reflect “good gone wrong” or “lessons learned”. One of the most “under the radar” lyricists in the J.L., Edgar Allen Floe steps out of the shadows of Little Brother with “Summer Chill”.
10. “Old Souls”-Grouch & Eligh f. Blu
Taken From: Grouch & Eligh’s “Say G & E!”
If I told you I’ve been up on the Living Legends crew for the last decade, I’d be lying through my teeth. Aside from Murs, who I’d never even ventured out to peep had it not been his collabo albums with 9th Wonder, my knowledge of the West Coast based crew is extremely limited. Matter of fact, with the exception of “Old Souls” I couldn’t even tell you much regarding Grouch & Eligh’s newest LP, “Say G & E!”. Honestly, what piqued my interest was the inclusion of W.T.R. favorite Blu on the mic as well as Flying Lotus’ contribution behind the boards (thanks to Finale’s “Paid Homage”).
Blu murders “Old Souls, point blank! However, the Flying Lotus instrumental adds a level of depression to the track, a slow prodding beat that just eats away at your soul but keeps your neck bobbing in the same instance (*pause*). Now, I guess I need to give the rest of “Say G & E!” a valid listen…if I could just get past “Old Souls”!
Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
“A Pipe Dream And A Promise” (a W.T.R. review)
By Eric | May 8, 2009
Purchase Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” via Amazon
“You always reminisce and go back ta’ things you do”-Finale (”Paid Homage”)
Listen to “The Waiting Game” f. Invincible prod. by Khrysis
So here we are, in the beginning days of May, nearly half-way thru 2009 ALREADY!! Can you believe it? I mean, I recall my Grandpa tellin’ me when I was a youth, “enjoy it now, cuz’ the days start to fly by in a flash when you hit 30″. Damn, truer words were never spoke, as this year-more so, than any other-it seems as if time is moving at a rapid speed. As I bumped Finale’s debut “A Pipe Dream And A Promise”, for the umpteeth time this week (namely “Paid Homage”), it seemed as if this album was just released yesterday, when in reality “A Pipe Dream..” has been causing a major ruckus for nearly two months (with April 7, serving as the album’s official release date). It’s just sad that I haven’t quite found the time, until now, to sing the praises of this totally unexpected breath of fresh air from one of the most promising young emcees “doin’ it right now” (pun intended).
“Develop”, the collaborative effort that featured the pairing of Finale with producer Spier 1200 surfaced around the later part of 2007 as part of the Rawkus 50 movement (if you’re not aware of what this was, this far into it’s stages “google it”, so many dope up and coming emcees and producers involved to say the least). While “Develop” did have it’s fair share of highlights, namely the Wordsworth & Invincible-assisted “The Ring”, nothing really blew me away…or at least to the effect that Finale’s debut has. Don’t get me wrong with a decent array of beats, Spier 1200 definitely did his thing on the production tip, as did Finale with his timely, unchanged delivery and a notebook full of memorable lines..it’s just that if you would have told me last year at this time that this relatively unknown emcee would emerge from one of the largest talent pools in Hip-Hop (Detroit) to drop what will arguably become the best album of 2009, I would have laughed at you. Let me repeat myself, SOLID album, no “A Pipe Dream And A Promise”.
Matter of fact, after bumping yU’s “Before Taxes” to death over the last week (as I mentioned in my most recent THOUGHTS, Finale makes a memorable appearance on the album’s closer, “Brainwash”, a track that also features a Grap Luva sighting) along with Oddisee’s “Mental Liberation” (cop it), I decided to also dig up Oddisee’s compilation of unreleased tracks, remixes and features, the heavily bootlegged “101″ & “102″ (not sure if these were official releases or not, although I did cop em’ on Itunes).
Okay, so I may be losin’ you a lil’ bit by now, but let me expound: I’m driving to my other office which is a 3-hour trek to the middle of nowhere, the University of Arkansas to be exact, and I’m bumpin’ Oddisee’s “101″ err…scratch that, (see what I mean by “time flies” and sh*t starts runnin’ together?) it was actually the “Don’t Sleep” remix, which appears near the end of the Oddisee album and…yet again, features another guest appearance by Invinicible (do I sense a potential collabo album in the near future? hmmm). Shortly thereafter, “Mental Liberation” had ended, I proceed to follow it up with Dela’s “Atmosphere Airlines” Vol. II (BTW, if you haven’t peeped Dela’s “Changes of Atmosphere yet…write yourself a late pass!) and I hear Finale yet again, and just as unexpectedly on “Motown 2K9″. I guess that point that I’m trying to accomplish here is that you may have skimmed over a Finale guest appearance or two in the past - case in point: “Motown 2K9″ - but after witnessing “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” that will NEVER happen again, I assure you!
By all accounts, one glance at the track listing, along with the notable producers involved, makes “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” a sure-fire classic, right? However, you know just as well as I do that we’ve seen it all before: up and coming emcees gets various co-signs (ahem, “throwaway” beats) from highly regarded beat makers and proceeds to drop a bullsh*t album filled with topics ranging from the newest Air Yeezy’s (Jesus, who in the hell would wear those out in public, really? Supras? same thing) to all his swag, cars, etc. Thankfully, Finale’s performance does not disappoint on his debut and in some instances (”Issues” & the Black Milk-produced “Motor Music”, which wasn’t one of the more notable beats I’ve heard from him as of late) his lyrical display outshines that of his producer’s performance behind the boards. CONSISTENT, Finale exemplifies the term as his flow doesn’t incorporate many hills and valleys within his no-nonsense, straight to the point delivery. Matter of fact, and I know this may be waaaay left-field here, but he actually sounds like a more lyrical 50 Cent on some of his tracks. Of course, we won’t hold that against Finale, as 50 could only dream of crafting an album half this dope.
The fast-forward material on “A Pipe Dream..” is virtually non-existent. If I had to cut out one track, being nit-picky, it would probably be the aforementioned “Motor Music”, not that it’s unlitenable by any means, it was just more of a let-down than anything else…especially considering the culprits. However, from the frantic, electro-boogie of “Waiting Game” (where J.L. affiliate Khrysis does his best Lab-Tech impersonation) to straight bananas, J-Dilla-laced “Heat” (Damnit, another M.O.P. sample? YESSSSS!!!!), the contributing producers laced Finale with some serious HEAT! I honestly don’t see another track this year bumping “Paid Homage” from my favorite track this year as this Flying Lotus produced thumper is so elegantly layered it gives me goosebumps with each listen, and it doesn’t hurt that it packs enough low-end to rattle your spine. If you’re searching for some of the best production in 2009, don’t stray to far you can find a healthy chuck of it, right on this album!
Well, it looks as if 2009 is taking a turn for the better (musically, at least) in the later half of the year. One could only hope that this is just the start of things for Finale, sophomore slump be damned! A truly refreshing and at times, breath-taking listen, Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” will not only go down as one of the more potent efforts on 2009, but also one of the better albums of the decade (a la, Blu & Exile’s “Below The Heavens)…you remember where you heard it first!
Topics: Let's Talk About.....(Review Series) | 1 Comment »
“Back Up In This…” (THOUGHTS & Most Played)
By Eric | May 2, 2009
First and foremost, let me truly apologize to all my “frequent” readers for not updating this site in soo long. I just took over the reigns at another office which involves a 3-hour commute and most of the time, me living out of a hotel from Mon-Thurs. (no fun). Secondly, I’ve been playing “Mr. Mom” for the last month (and the next two weeks) as my wife has to fulfill her commitment to the Armed Forces (ahh, the “two weeks” a year thing). However, after being home with the girls and trying to operate two businesses simultaneously, when evening time rolls around, I’m lucky to make it through a game of NBA2K8 without crashing out on the couch with my headphones blaring in my ears. With that being said, I’ve been able to peep quite a few new releases over the last few weeks (usually on my travels to and from work) and I’d like to shed light on a few of those albums that you may have skipped over….call it another “THOUGHTS” post if you’d like. Oh, and for all you little kiddies out there lacing my “C-Box” with bullsh*t, I’m gonna’ put it back up, but play nice…if you’re intent is to sit on a computer and drop ignorant sh*t on someone’s homepage that is visible to friends, family and co-workers, to someone you don’t even know? Well, how big of a man does that make you?
Well, it looks like Ohio has done it once again! One album that I consider my “go to” joint is Ill Poetic’s “The World Is Ours”, no matter what frame of mind I may seem to be in, this album seems to always give me the goosebumps with each passing listen. After listening to one of the most overlooked posse cuts of the last decade, Ill Po’s “As I See It” (f. Piakhan, Illogic and the gentleman to your left), I decided to check up on one of the track’s featured artists Huntor Prey a bit. Luckily, I peeped his MySpace and found a “warm-up” of sorts available as a free download. As a precursor to Huntor Prey’s forthcoming full-length LP, “Motion Sound Picture”, this promo EP has found itself amongst the “25 Most Played” songs on my IPod over the last month (and, I’m not talking about a particular cut either, I mean the WHOLE EP).
Raised in Toledo, Ohio, Huntor Prey follows a strong line of artists (producers and emcees) that have emerged from one of the most overlooked states in Hip Hop over the last few years. Produced entirely by the aforementioned Ill Poetic, this promo has me foaming at the mouth for the official release of “Motion Sound Picture” (Definition Music). One can only imagine that the album has to be up to par with Illogic’s “Diabolical Fun” (also produced by Ill Poetic), in terms of both lyrics and beats. For someone that lists influences that range from Island Soca Music to Nine Inch Nails all the way back to 80’s power chord classics, Huntor Prey is quite an eclectic character that packs a backpack full of potent lyricism intertwined with vivid imagery.
The track that has truly blown me away is the pulsating tones of “Eventually” (click to listen), which has recently served as my “get open” track for those mornings where I can barely drag my ass into the gym for 5 a.m. workouts. One listen to this Ill Poetic-laced gem and it’s easy to see why “Eventually” gets the blood flowin’ at a rapid pace. Plus, a lil’ hint of M.O.P. thrown into to spice up the hook never hurt matters much either, considering that the vocal sample originates from the folks responsible for “How About Some Hardcore”, “Stick To Ya’ Gunz” and “Ante Up”. However, after speaking with Ill Po recently, it is yet to be decided if “Eventually” or another stellar track from “Motion..”, “Cornerstore” (click to listen) will serve as the first single from Huntor’s debut. Whatever the case, there’s no denying that “Motion Sound Picture” is destined for success with Huntor Prey spittin’ verbal wizardry and the most slept-on producer in the game behind the boards. Grab the promo for “Motion Sound Picture” (free DL) HERE.
Ummm, is it just me or has there been an abundance of “FREE” downloads that are patterning out to be waay better efforts than some of the albums that we actually pay for from established veterans in the game? With the release of Diamond District’s (Oddissee, XO & yU) “In The Ruff” a few ago, and now yU’s free album, “Before Taxes”, it’s a safe bet that you might as well shell over some hard-earned coin for the official (as in pay for) release of Oddisee’s “Mental Liberation” (dropping May 5th) just on the basis of association alone. It should also be noted that Diamond District’s “In The Ruff” dropped as a “clean” version and we should expect a retail version available with added bonus tracks sometime very soon. Let it be know, I’ve been a huge fan of Oddisee’s body of work, both lyrically and on the production tip, and aside from the “101″ and “102″ compilations my exposure to fellow Diamond District members X.O. and yU was fairly limited. However, with the release of “In The Ruff” and yU’s ridiculously consistent “Before Taxes”, the DC area isn’t just gonna’ be known for “Go-Go” music anymore!
I first took in yU’s “Before Taxes” mid-week, and needless to say…well, I’d have to put this one up there with Finale’s “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” (Finale also makes an appearance on what may very well be one of the strongest cuts on “Before Taxes”, the album’s finale, the bouncy “Brainwash”), tha Connection’s “Trapeze” and Illogic’s “Diabolical Fun” as some of the best music that I’ve experienced this year. There’s very few albums that after first listening to them one time, especially with my hyper-active, ADD-havin’ ass, that I’d want to hear twice in succession. “Before Taxes” got me through my evening e-mail responses, a game of NBA2K8 and a walk with my girls the next morning with relative ease and lots of enjoyment. You know the feeling you get when you have THAT album that is so damn solid that you’re almost afraid to listen to anything else new, knowing that what you hear can’t light a match to what’s been scratchin’ that itch, “Before Taxes” has been that album to me. If I had to pick just one word that would best capture the essence of this very surprising release from one of Maryland’s finest it would have to be “REFRESHING”!
yU is THAT DUDE, instantly it’s easy to gravitate to his delivery and his voice, in particular on tracks like “Beats And Rhymes (From March 25th)” and the head-nodder supreme, the Oddisee-produced “Lunchin”. I mean, not even knowin’ dude and judging from his music, yU just seems like a real likable, down to earth cat that speaks truth from the heart. And while Diamond District pal Oddisee may have a very distinguishable and easily identifiable “twang” (for lack of better wording) with the way in which he spits, yU has that same Southern drawl in his voice that is even more pronounced, that meshes perfectly with traditional East-Coast boom-bap that takes you back to 1993 on cuts like “Corners” (f. EyeQ) and the ridiculous flip of James Brown’s “Funky Drummer”, “InTheReign”. What also struck me as very impressive was that the majority of the project was actually produced by the 1978ers (yU & Slimkat78), but it also features some guest production from Kev Brown, Oddisee & Bilal Salaam.
This album is as solid as a bar of gold, not one dull moment, let alone a throw-away track. If you thought Diamond District’s “In The Ruff” was worth the listen, you NEED to check this album out! Admittedly, as impressed as I was with “In The Ruff”, yU’s “Before Taxes” has made Diamond District’s effort somewhat of a distant memory to me. Yes, it’s that good! Scoop it up HERE as a free DL, and in cased you missed it grab “In The Ruff” as well.
As of late, it seems as if I’m able to stomach full-length instrumental LPs. Normally, my attention would tend drift without any lyrics or a hook and nothing but the beats to enjoy. However, lately I’ve been enjoying albums loaded with beats more so than any else out there. Of course, stellar efforts from the likes of 14KT (”The Golden Hour”) and Exile (”Radio”..can you believe he freaked sh*t straight from the radio? CRAZY!) have allowed me to venture outside of my comfort zone more frequently than usual. Plus, you really have to be careful with what you chose from, being that everyone out there has been re-releasing there own version of “Donuts” (with lukewarm results) since Dilla has left us. Honestly, when I saw a leak for Apollo Brown’s “Skilled Trade”, coupled with the Detroit affiliation and the 30-song track listing (ahem, “Donuts” anyone?) and even an “R.I.P. Dilla” track I’d passed on the album as just another “Donuts” wannabe gone wrong. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong…
Funny Story (not really): By now you’ve all heard, what I also consider to be the most stellar beat of the year, the second half of Finale’s “Arrival”, the opener from “A Pipe Dream…”. Being that the track was produced by two relative “unknowns” (at least to me), the first half of the track laced by V-Tech and the later half, by Apollo Brown, I hadn’t really done my homework to venture into the discography of the two. So, I guess it was Thursday, I stop at a local kicks spot in Little Rock (Rock City Kicks) and I hear these tracks blaring through the speakers that are giving me a Craig Mack face, so damn funky they stink. Now, what’s booming isn’t just a typical “beat” cd, these tracks are playing more as songs which by now has really got my attention. So I ask the owner, “Corey, who in the hell is this playin”? while pointing up at the speakers. With his thick Arkansas accent Corey turns to me and replies: “Awww man, that’s Apollo Brown, some beat CD I downloaded last year”. Now, mind you, Corey’s musical taste has always been somewhat mind-blowing to me judging from his appearance. Of course, this is coming from the same dude that’s out shopping for Crooks and Castles tees in a 3-piece suit, so who am I to judge when I’m a walking contradiction? Needless to say, Apollo Brown was the first thing I entered in my Google “search” bar when I returned home.
Upon downloading “Skilled Trade”, I was very impressed with the first dozen or so cuts when I first heard the album. Then..BOOM! The angelic vocal sample that reeled me in on Finale’s “Arrival” (or “Depature” if you wanna’ get technical) blessed my eardrums with it’s mother, “Invisible”. Ahh, now it all comes to fruition, no wonder this sh*t is so dope, it’s from the same cat who blessed Finale! No joke, Apollo Brown’s got some serious beats!! Displaying a nice range of samples, flips and techniques there’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing more from this Cleveland import by the way of Detroit City. Oh, and let’s make it 3 for 3 in the Free Download department today: Peep “Skilled Trade” HERE. “You’re Welcome! You’re ALL Welcome!!
Eric’s “Top 10″ tracks for April
Nope, this one just ain’t goin’ away! A crazy-slick emcee over an elegant, poignant production from Flying Lotus = A surefire CLASSIC!!
2. “Eventually” (see above for link)-Huntor Prey
I swear, I had this track on repeat for like a week at the gym! There’s just something goin’ on when the hook hits that elevates this track to another platform.
My, my, my…it’s hard to believe that the sample that fuels “My Life” was also the backbone for Mobb Deep’s “Trife Life”. Two totally opposite tracks, yet both very effective. Good to see that U-N-I is living up to all the hype they’re received in blogosphere over the last 2 years or so.
I made mention of Elaquent and his sick LP, “After Midnight” a few weeks ago in a previous “THOUGHTS” post. “Gobstopper” is one track that would have made Dilla proud.
5. “Fast Rapping Time”-Verbal Kent & Kaz One
Why????? Why??? Crafted in the same veign as Rakim classics, “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and “Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em”, Verbal Kent really caught me off-guard with this one, in a good way. But, at only 1 minute and 26 seconds long? It would be scary to hear what this would sound like if given a full three minutes or so. “Fast Rapping Time” while instantly gratifying, kinda’ gives you blue balls.
6. “Build Up”-Raydar Ellis & Quite Nyce
Now, this is how efficient Hip Hop can be. This track flows effortlessly as Raydar killed it on the prodution tip. Slick horns, potent drums and a well-placed Method Man sample make “Build Up” a winner. While “Champs vs. The League” was solid, had it sounded like this the finished product would have been totally different.
Yet another track that is all too short (clocks in at less than 2 minutes), but still gets the job done, Stat Quo’s love doesn’t venture too far from the formula that made “Let’s Get Higher” so damn irresistible. Stat is truly “king of the catchy hook”, too bad Stat is too much of an enigma, and his most recent digital release “Smokin’ Mirrors” wasn’t anything to write home about.
As the highlight of a free ep from the AMG label, “Touch” features the gritty-Wu-Tang (circa 1993) feel that I can only hope comes back to Hip Hop in due time. The 3-man crew of Ill Poetix has got me open with this joint produced by my dude Sci-Fi (whom some of you may recognize from his work with tha Connection).
I may lose all creditability I’ve ever had with this selection, and the most recent “Rutgers”/Twitter” incident won’t help Asher’s cause either, but damnit I freakin’ love this track. While Asher’s lyrics aren’t anything special in the least bit, Don Cannon hit the nail on the head with this heat-rock. Too bad he wasted it on Asher.
10. “Heaven Or Hell”-El Michels Affair
Now, this is some interesting sh*t right here! Rather than craft a “tribute” album that sounds exactly like it’s original, the El Michels Affair has done the Wu proper justice with their reworkings of Wu-Tang Clan classics such as “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Can It Be All So Simple” and even O.D.B.’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” (which is my least favorite track on the LP). The one cut that really stood apart from the rest was “Heaven Or Hell”. Man, you gotta’ give the RZA his due props, dude really has an open mind when it comes to sample selections. However, El Michels flipped this live, so elegantly that it surpasses the original in terms of clarity and adding their own little highs and lows to the track. This is a great album, pick it up if you haven’t already!!
Topics: THOUGHTS | 5 Comments »
“Most Played For The Week(s)”
By Eric | April 6, 2009
1. “Paid Homage”-Finale (click to preview)
While many have tried and failed to rework the classic, Dilla-produced “Fall In Love”, from Slum Village’s “Fantastic Vol.II”, under-the-radar production maestro Flying Lotus along with Finale has truly “Paid Homage” (pun intended) to one of the greatest producers of our era. “Paid Homage” isn’t just my “Most Played” this week, but this track is hands-down better than any single track that I’ve heard this year. So impressed am I by Lotus’ production on “Paid Homage” that I’ve proceeded to purchase both “1983″ and “Los Angeles”, two stellar releases that showcase the same depth and what Lotus himself categorizes as “headphone music” that appears on this instant classic. Clocking in at just 2 and a half minutes long, the only real beef I have with “Paid Homage” is that it’s entirely too short!!
Now, on the lyrical tip, lemme’ just say this…Finale is that dude! Yes, I’ve been in Finale’s corner since first hearing “Develop”, Finale’s collaborative effort with Spier 1200, and an album that was inclusive in the “Rawkus 50″ movement. Finale is an emcee’s emcee, if you catch my drift. Flaunting potent lyricism and a confident, but not overly cocky aura about himself, Finale has the “it” factor that is needed for a long, prosperous career in the industry. I don’t wanna’ speak on this cat too much, as I plan on reviewing Finale’s solo debut “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” later this week…uh hum, now that Villanova has freed me up a bit with their most recent shellacking at the hands of North Carolina. In the meantime, do yourself a solid and cop Finale’s album when it drops tomorrow!
Simply stated, Illogic’s lyricism and Ill Poetic’s stout production is a good combination like MC Lyte & Positive K. The pairing of “Ills” could not have selected a better track to serve as an opener for Illogic’s stellar LP, “Diabolical Fun”. Uptempo and hard-hitting, “What’s My Name?” is the type of track that you would expect to hear blaring from a high-end sound system at pre-game warm-ups during an NBA or College hoops event as this cut will most definitely get your blood pumpin’. I’ll admit, this one was an eye-opener for me, as I expected Ill Poetic to follow suit and keep the production to a subtle, mid tempo, much of what was witnessed on earlier Illogic albums and in many cases served as a second fiddle to Illogic’s deep and thought-provoking lyrics. However, “What’s My Name?” was a welcome and unexpected surprise that is very easy to digest.
3. “Knock Em’ Out”-Earatik Statik f. Sean Price
Wooooooooo!!! A track that serves as the defining moment to the second LP, the follow-up to 2005’s critically acclaimed “Feelin’ Earatik”, “The Good The Bad And The Ugly”, from the Chicago-based Earatik Statik, “Knock ‘Em Out” is in the same vein as M.O.P. classics such as “How About Some Hardcore” and “Ante Up” (well, maybe not on that level, not just yet anyway!). Flipping the sample most recently made popular by Kanye West and Cons to tha Quence with “Grammy Family” (Lou Rawls’ “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”), producer Kaz1 completely chops this sh*t to pieces and adds the ever so necessary hint of rolling drums to make this track a true neck-spasm inducing banger!! Of course, it almost goes without saying that “Knock ‘Em Out” also features a stellar, scene-stealing verse from resident sh*t-talker Sean Price who unleashes a flurry, of hilarious one-liners that we’ve come to expect from the man who penned such instant classics as “Onionhead”.
4. “Time Management Rebuilt”-Blueprint
Yes Sir, Ohio is in the house 1nce again!! This time around emcee/producer Blueprint follows up the success of last year’s EP “Blueprint vs. Funkadelic”, with an eight-track, instrumental excursion, “Sign Language”. Of course, many tend to associate Blueprint with quirky, producer RJD2 thanks much in part to their successful collaborative, catered to the underground, efforts (the “Unlimited” EP, “8 Million Stories” and “Things Go Better With RJ And Al”), and after one listen to “Time Management Rebuilt” you could make a case for whom was more influential on the other. Upon first listen, I thought to myself: “Damn, this sh*t sounds like an RJD2 beat”. Well, who knows? Just maybe, RJD2 has taken a page outta’ Blueprint’s little black-book of beats, which is the exact conclusion I’ve come to after listening to “Sign Language”. Of course, I use the term “listening” loosely when applicable to Blueprint, as both “Sign Language” and “Chamber Music” are more of an experience than anything else.
Whatever the case, this moody, neck-snapping, roller-coaster is just what the doctor ordered for those days when you’re stuck in hour-long traffic just trying to make it home in time to crack open a frosty after a long and tedious 10-hour work day. And, let it be known, “Starch” (from Blueprint’s “Chamber Music”) remains as the one and only track that I want to be played at my funeral.
5.”LoveLine(s),DedicatedToLastFe’vrier.”-Blu & Exile
Yesssssssssss!!! Are my dreams coming true? Is it possible that we’ll see a Blu-included edition of Exile’s “Radio” surface on the WorldWideWeb sometime soon? Awww man, just how dope would that be? I’m sitting here just salivating at the thought of it, Sh*t!! Essentially, that’s all that this track is as Blu flows so damn effortlessly over Exile’s “Love Line”. “Love Line” minus Blu is still dope, don’t get me wrong…but, would you take the BMW 7 Series with the sunroof or without it if you had the choice? See where I’m goin’ with this? “Below The Heavens” is a classic, and let’s be honest does Blu sound the same without Exile’s backing? I can’t front, much of the tracks that Blu’s leaked via his MySpace page or elsewhere have been…ehhh. I mean, Blu’s the sh*t lyrically, but when he spits atop a booming Exile production the end result is unmatched. Remember on “Below The Heavens” when Blu spit: “The new Pete & CL/Exile and B-L”? Man, let’s only hope that they don’t end up in a sh*t storm like that. Damnit, give us another “Below The Heavens” already!!!
Topics: Most Played For The Week | 6 Comments »