iPod Classics

[so classic]

You know that feeling. The feeling of a clean slate, a fresh start, an untouched pallette. That's how I felt yesterday when I finally scooped a brand new 120 Gig iPod after my iTouch got juxed.

It's like a new beginning, an empty canvas on which I can paint anything I want. And this one's got much more space than the last. So it's gonna be a tedius, painstaking process to add choice selections from my digital crates, but I'm in it for the journey.

I'll offer this invitation to come along for the ride, as I'm going to occasionally drop these posts chronicling some of my top iPod joints. Buckle up, it's sure to be bumpin'.




HFTB iPod Classics Part 1

Links in the CBox --->

A Tribe Called Quest - Find A Way - Find A Way CDS

Dr. Dre - Keep Their Heads Ringin' - Friday OST

Fashawn - Beautiful Day (Remix) (feat. Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Mickey Factz, Theo & Kes Kaos) - OnSmash & Nahright Present Higher Learning

Jadakiss - Letter To BIG ft. Faith Evans - Notorious OST

Kanye West - Good Life - Experience It All (Live from VH1 Storytellers)

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood - Legalize It - Out Louder

Mick Boogie & Terry Urban - Milli (Lil' Wayne - Wonder/Excel Mix) - Cornerstone #112

Q-Tip - Feva (UK Bonus Track) - The Renaissance

Red Cafe - Hottest In Da Hood - Hottest In Da Hood CDS

Wale - Ridin' In That Black Joint prod. Cool N Dre - This Is Hip Hop Presents: Wale - Collected '08

When I Get Older, I Will Be Stronger..

Wavin Flag - Knaan

..They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back...
Ooo

On to a throne
Stronger than Rome
A violent-prone
Poor people zone
But it's my home
All I have known
Where I got grown
Streets we would roam
Out of the darkness
I came the farthest
Among the hardest
Survival
Learned from these streets
It can be bleak
Accept no defeats
Surrender, retreat

So we strugglin
Fightin to eat
And we wonderin
When we'll be free
So we patiently wait
For that faithful day
It's not far away
But for now, we say

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

Is Hip-Hop Too Accessible?

So the homies Rizoh at The Rap Up and Sleezy Trees at Jump The Turnstyle posted this digital video tidbit of actor-turned-rapper Joaquin Phoenix. Apparently, the LIV Nightclub in Miami Beach's Fountainbleau Hotel actually let this bearded lunatic on a stage with a microphone and things got ugly. And I'm not just talking bout his grizzly adams.

First, Phoenix gets riled up by an antagonistic night clubber, then jumps off the stage to confront dude. You can't really see anything, but the fight isn't the point - it's the fact that a venue actually let him hop in the spotlight for this.

I'm not mad that he enjoys hip-hop music at all. Personally, it's cool to see people of all colors and levels of sanity appreciating and bumping this glorious art form. I truly believe that anyone can rock to it if they give it an honest listen.

It's just that he thinks he can participate directly in creating hip-hop music when he's not fit to, it's quite obvious. Not many people are. That's why it's golden when someone actually can.

But lately the game's been saturated by so many gimmicks and one-hit blunders that anyone with a laptop, ProTools and mic can claim to be an MC. Man, I bet Biggie, Jam Master Jay, Big Pun, Pac, Big L, J Dilla and all the other ultra skilled hip-hoppers we've lost are turning over in their graves right about now.

I'm merely ranting at this point, but I'll come back to my main point. MCs, DJs, Producers, Hip-Hoppers, Journalists, Bloggers, and anyone else down with the art, we need to institute some barriers to entry so that the quality is upheld in hip-hop. If not, we'll just be a loose community struggling to survive.


I wanna know what you all think. Is hip-hop too accessible? Should we be responsible for running checks and balances on MCs, DJs etc?


Almost forgot, here's some real tracks that get my stamp of approval. Keep on keepin' on, Peace!


3/12 Blog Hits:

Links in the CBox --->

Brother Ali - Talkin' My Shit

Drake - November 18th (Chuck Inglish Remix)

GLC ft. Kanye West & Keyshia Cole - We Don't Care [Unreleased]

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On Remix prod. Beatnick & K-Salaam

Saigon - Spit prod. Statik Selektah

Saigon - The Rules CDQ prod. Statik Selektah

Statik Selektah ft.-Kali, Glasses, Malone, Termanology- Rollin Down The Freeway

Tanya Morgan - So Damn Down

Listen To Me

.. 'Cause I'm not your typical blogger.

Unlike these dime-a-dozen, copy-and-paste, NMC-wannabe blogs, I refuse to post any music without listening to it first. The only time I don't is when I'm at work and I haven't had the chance to - and I always put a disclaimer up in this event.

As a result, I'm not one to half-ass my blogging. I wanna give my honest opinion, not just post up "exclusive" material that I blindly copy from another site. There's enough of those blogs flooding my Twitter feed and Google Reader that I've grown sick of 'em. All of 'em.

Where am I headed, you ask? I'm gonna continue my HFTB tradition of posting good music, kicks, events, videos, etc with my new Listen To Me series. And when it's not good, you're gonna hear it. Plain and simple.

Which brings me to today's topic of tunes that I've been circulating recently that I think y'all might enjoy. Let's get it.

Native New Yorker and sure-fire MC Emilio Rojas should be on your rap radar (What up YN), especially after his recent mixtape Recession Proof hit your favorite e-bodega.

Presented by DJ Noodles and Legend, the tape is packed front-to-back with Emilio's sharp rhymes and captivating versatility. Personally, I've been bumping "Keys to the City" for the past two days straight. I highly advise you not to sleep right here.

Sneak Peek:

Keys To The City (Prod. Midnite) - Emilio Rojas

Download:

Emilio Rojas - Recession Proof Presented By DJ Noodles & Legend

Indie rap vet Brother Ali returns to the scene nicely with his latest The Truth Is Here EP. The Minneapolis-born lyricist has laced the community with his heartfelt words and spiritual guidance for over a decade, and this project is no different.

With tracks like "Palm The Joker" and "Good Lord," Ali proves he'll forever be comfortable in his own skin, not bowing to industry mularky and rhyming how he knows best - from the heart to please his loyal fans. AndI'm proud to be one.

Sneak Peek:

Brother Ali - Palm The Joker (Audio MP3 Stream)

Check out Rhymesayers' website for more info.

And finally, to wrap this edition of HFTB's newly instituted Listen To Me series, is cross-country production duo Keelay & Zaire's newest album Ridin' High, which dropped yesterday. The Utah/San Fran rep and Virginia native, respectively, provide the sonic backdrops for smooth hip-hop grooves and funky R&B ballads on their first full-length disc.

I was hooked since I posted the album sampler, vibing to "Addicts For Real" with Tunji and "Trapped" with Supastition & Slo Mo and appearances from Phonte, Emilio Rojas, Blu and Planet Asia among others. Ridin' High is a definite must-listen.

Sneak Peek:

Click Here to listen to "Addicts For Real," shouts to DJ Booth.net

Download Ridin' High from iTunes, and support good muzak.

That's all for now, it's back to work for me. Enjoy!

Can I Kick It? Nike SB Holiday Edition

I know it's only March, but Nike SB wanted to give sneaker heads a taste of what's to come later in the year. They've announced their full line-up for Fall clothes, accessories, etc early as a motha, perhaps to entice consumers to save up a little for holiday shopping. It's a recession, we gotta budget, people!

Like usual, I'm especially excited for the Dunks so I've posted close-up pics of the new releases. If I had to choose, I'd go for the Low Obsidian/Charcoal. Put those on my early Christmas list. What about you?

Enlarge the pics below to peep the entire catalog, thanks to the NikeSB.org Forums for the heads up!

What do ya think...?

October - Full Catalog

Low Premium - Green Spark / Hoop Orange

Mid Pro - Royal Blue / Black

November - Full Catalog

High Premium - Varsity Red / White

Mid Premium - Dark Chocolate

December - Full Catalog

Low - Obsidian / Charcoal

On This Day We Become Legendary

R.I.P. Christopher Wallace

May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997

Biggie Smalls is Still The Illest

It Was All A Dream...

"Ayo" ..My Saturday Anthem

What a glorious day outside here in the Tri-State. Let's get the weekend poppin with my Saturday Anthem, the newest from Meth & Red.

Out of all of hip-hop's greatest duos - Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Gangstarr, Blackstarr, etc. - I've found the one-two combo of Method Man and Redman to be one of the most entertaining, hands down.

The razor sharp Staten Island MC and rambuncious Jersey lyricist are amongst my favorites because of their mix of rawness, flawless flows and humorous lyrics, plus a energy-packed live show to boot.

So when the two announced last year that they're creating both a Blackout 2 album and How High 2 in 2009, you could imagine my excitement. I've been patiently waiting for years for this to go down, and it's finally here. Chyea !!

And now, we've got (supposedly) the first single off Blackout 2 called "Ayo." It's the perfect track for Tical and Funk Doc to bounce back onto the scene in full stride, as their words bounce over a bass-heavy, horn-blasting instrumental.

Red's on his usual lyrical shit:

I got my swagger on and I feel great
Funk Doc be in the hood like enfamil cases
I network on MySpace real late
Hoping my apple make me another Bill Gates

And Meth comes in with the smoothness:

Another mic, another night, and the days end
Another heist, another kite in the state pen
My state been the shit, y'all dudes just break wind
(New York, nigga) Either you made mice or made men

This also reminds me about a post I spotted on Metal Lungies, digging up the footage to the Best Episode of Cribs, Ever featuring Redman's crib. I remember seeing this on the tube, he keeps it so real especially his shoe-box full of money. G'd up.

Keep the heat coming, fellas. Let's hope the rest of the album is this fire, Enjoy!

Link in the Cbox --->

Method Man & Redman - Ayo

5 Reasons Not To Be Excited for Relapse

I know I'm gonna catch hate for this one, but this is truly how I feel. Just for the record, I've been a huge Eminem fan since I heard "My Name Is" and explored Infinite so don't even think this is an opportunity to bad-mouth an MC that I don't like.

So yesterday, Aftermath etc put out the official press release recently that Em's next LP Relapse is scheduled for May 19th. Excited? I'm definitely not the least bit.


Here's why:

1. Em hasn't made a good quality, all-around album in almost a decade.

I still can't believe that it's been nine years since Marshall Mathers dropped. You remember that one, right? Sold over 1.75 mil its first week. "Real Slim Shady" ripped up the charts, "The Way I Am" spoke on the overwhelming pressure of pleasing industry execs, and "Stan" told the story of a crazed fan. Not to mention, it was packed with hidden gems like "Who Knew" and D-12 collab "Under The Influence."

Let's recall what happened after that. He put out Eminem Show in '02, and although it sold well, how many of y'all REALLY liked it on-the-whole? Sure, I appreciated Em's introspection on "Cleanin Out My Closet" and his amped-up demeanor on "Til I Collapse," but the majority of the album is cold garbage. "Without Me" was the corniest of all of his corny singles, "Drips" is a boring filler track, and the production throughout is just lackluster to say the least.

(Edit: Upon revisiting Eminem Show), it's not as bad as I remembered, I was a lil' harsh. I just like his first two better.)

And don't even get me started on 2004's piss-poor Encore. Even the tracks that I semi-liked ("Rain Man" and "Encore" with Dre and 50) were subpar compared what fans came to expect from the volatile MC. You know you've gone soft when a tribute song to your daughter "Mockingbird" is the best song on the album.


2. Eminem is no longer Slim Shady. And therefore, he's lost his shock value.

I know you're thinking "but they're one and the same, right"? Wrong. Slim Shady emerged early in Em's career as the deranged psychopath persona while Eminem/Marshall Mathers was the level-headed compliment.

We no longer hear purely murderous verses like on Infinite and songs like "Just Don't Give A Fuck," hilarious sexual references like on "As The World Turns," and all the other lunatic shit that made mothers across America protest his wild antics. We no longer get to hear about his struggles with Kim, infatuation with drugs, nothing. All we get now his Em trying to be funny. And that's not what made the rap game fall in love with him so many years ago.


3. "Crack A Bottle" is not that good. Period.

Sure, it's catchy. And Dre laced the beat. And 50's verse is decent. But honestly, the real reason people like this record is because we haven't heard a true single from Em in years. "Crack A Bottle" is soft, generic, and fully representative of the ignorance permeating hip-hop. Plus, Em's sing-song lyrics just make my ears bleed. It's like he lost his pinpoint flow recording 8 Mile soundtrack and just figures people will like whatever he puts out just because it's him. Maybe you, but not I.


4. He's already working on another Relapse album to be released later this year.

The fuck is this about? He's had 5+ years to put together a new album, and when he finally does, he's got to overshadow it by announcing a follow-up LP ALREADY? Am I the only one that thinks this indicates he's going to use the first Relapse as a teaser for what's to come on the second version?

I think the labels made a mistake by announcing this so early. It's almost like a premature excuse as to why Relapse is going to suck more than Karrine Steffans.


5. It's 2009. Eminem does not have the same effect on people nowadays, plain and simple.

Sure, true hip-hoppers will listen because Em began as a crazy talented whiteboy MC who came from nothing. And let's face it, he could spit with the best of 'em.

But, think about the real reason why Em became popular in the first place. It's because of his insane lyrical content, mainly the crazy topics he talked about. He used to piss so many people off when he slayed pop stars, shit all over public figures and urged the youth to rebel. Think about "Guilty Conscience," "Marshall Mathers," "Brain Damage," "97 Bonnie And Clyde" and "Bitch Please Part II."

Think about the singles that actually caused people to organize protests against him. Protesting against a rapper? You won't see that today because Em does not, and will not, have the same effect on people. He's lost his allure, for good.


..Now, I really REALLY hope that Em proves me wrong with Relapse. I hope he comes out and reaks havoc on the industry, shitting on anyone that gets in his way. But he won't. I've been disappointed too many times over the past couple of years to think any different.

I can feel it now, here comes the hate from the Eminem Stan-boys and girls... Bring it. I welcome it. But don't take this ish too seriously, you'll probably just be eating your words come May.

Then And Now

There's no question that Nas is among the elite lyricists in the game, past or present. Which is why I'm always intrigued to hear new material, especially when it reinterprets one of my favorite songs in his diverse catalog.

"If I Ruled the World '09," featuring Marsha Ambrosius and part of Smirnoff's Signature Mix, has a more mature Nasir updating the lyrics to his '96 banger for the times. Also, the new beat reminds me of 2008's "Hero," which is a very good thing.

So has Nas still got his magic touch of street poetics and gritty lyricism? Personally, I prefer the original because of the emotion Nas and Lauryn captured plus the video was insane, but I'm definitely vibing to the new version.

Nas spitting then:

Imagine smoking weed in the streets without cops harassin 

Imagine going to court with no trial 

Lifestyle cruising blue behind my waters 

No welfare supporters

More conscious of the way we raise our daughters 

Days are shorter, nights are colder 

Feeling like life is over, these snakes strike like a cobra 

The world's hot my son got not evidently 

It's elementary, they want us all gone eventually 

Trooping out of state for a plate knowledge 

If coke was cooked without the garbage

We'd all have the top dollars 

Imagine everybody flashin, fashion 

Designer clothes, lacing your click up with diamond vogues 

Your people holdin dough, no parole 

No rubbers, go in raw imagine law with no undercovers 

Just some thoughts for the mind 

I take a glimpse into time 

Watch the blimp read "The World Is Mine"

And, Nas rhyming now:

I don’t say I’m maintaining, that’s a lame’s language

Poor English, From a wise man I learned patience

Me not distinguished is like a fiend-less Queensbridge

I don’t say I’m grindin, ‘cause everything I do’s redefining

‘Cause when you know the streets to the science

Apply it very moderate to your business and watch you profit

Rap game, NBA, the NFL, the kids’ll yell

Will I win or fail or end up in a cell?

Nonsense, ‘cause they can grow to be part of the Congress

Be responsive to these inner city problems

Behind the tints with a chauffeur

I rep for the culture

Rep for the thugs and still see eye-to-eye with Oprah

I was a dream, a wisher with hope for

A better life for these kids while I’m sipping mimosa

I planned yo, used to watch a black and white Sanyo

Who’s the best? Next to me, they couldn’t light a candle

Looks like, despite the haters, Nas hasn't lost a step.

Thanks to Splash for the heads up, Enjoy!

Links in the Cbox --->

Nas ft. Marsha Ambrosius - If I Ruled The World '09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix)

Nas ft. Lauryn Hill - If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) [Original CDS]

Happy Birthday To Me

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, my friends. I took a little break from updating but I'll be back in full force tomorrow after I celebrate my 23rd today.

As far as gifts, all I want is an 80 GB iPod Classic to replace my stolen iTouch. I've been getting by using my BlackBerry for the time being but it's only got 8 GB of memory - way too limited for my taste.

The iPod, plus birthday love from my family, friends and e-homies (that includes you !!) is all I could really ask for.

Here's to many more great years !!