A Rough Start

Raspy voice killa, The ilelst of the illa
Fly gangsta nigga, Stay blowin' a vanilla
Life's a bitch and if I ever meet her, I'ma tell her
Give it to anybody, on beat or a capella
-Jada, "We Run This"

Happy Valentine's Day to all the lovers out there, but right now I'm heart-broken. Somebody juxed my BlackBerry & iTouch from my whip last night while I was seeing Taken, which is a pretty damn good movie and I suggest seeing it.

Since insurance is taking care of a new Storm, I'm just real heated about the iTouch. But I'll brush it off, scoop up a 30 GB one soon. I've been wanting more memory so maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I'm goin to check some iPods out today and grab me a new external HD at Best Buy, might spring for the 1 TB Western Digital.

I wish I was in the spirit enough to post a mix or videos of some love songs, my bad folks. It hasn't been that fun of a start to my Valentine's Day/Presidents day weekend. If I'm ambitious later I'll do a lil' somethin but for now I'm just not in the mood.

And lastly, in sneaker and NBA-related news, did y'all hear about Kid CuDi gettin tased? Apparently, the fly Clevelend MC wanted to rock Jordans on stage at a Reebok-sponsored NBA All-Star party in Phoenix. Things got ugly, shit hit the fan and somehow CuDi got tasered in the midst of all this. Check the full story at AllHipHop, but details are scarce right now.

Got a couple assorted songs that leaked recently and a few of my favorites from the decent Jada tape and sub-par Drizzy tape. Newness compliments of the usual fam. Enjoy.

Jadakiss - Kiss My Ass

Drake - November 18th

Jadakiss - We Run This (Green Mix) [The Evil Genius flips Jada over the "Resevoir Dogs," "So Ghetto," and "What We Do Is Wrong" beats, classic.]

Drake - The Calm

Jadakiss - Big Dogg Status

Raekwon - Heat Rocks

Young Chris ft. Joe Budden - Freestyle

Donny Goines - Where Amazing Happens prod. 6th Sense [NBA Weekend Tribute]

U-N-I - Calender Girls [Snippet]

Finally, So Far Gone..

Arriving "fashionably late," here we've got the long-awaited mixtape So Far Gone from Toronto's own Drake.

Not much to say here, the music speaks for itself. I'm at work but I'll be sneaking in a listen when I can. What do y'all think?

Shouts to Drizzy himself for the link, Enjoy!

Download:

Drake - So Far Gone: An October's Very Own Presentation

Can I Kick It? All-Star AF1 Edition

So, the story goes that Nike Sportswear Design Director Jesse Leyva challenged accessory design Starks and sneaker guru DJ Clark Kent to come up with two different AF1's to celebrate the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend 2009. Easy enough, right? Except there's one caveat - the two had to pay homage to this year's host city, Phoenix.

And when I tell you they went in with these two colorways, they went in HARD. I'm not even gonna justify that with a pause, that's how serious these sneaks are. If I was a Suns fan, I'd be frantically searching for a pair.

Clark Kent's design features Phoenix Suns's signature orange and purp highlighted by different types of leather (even pebbled leather like used on a bball) for a sleek-yet-street look.

The real beauty is in the detail, as Sparks created specific designs for both colorways, each featuring a metal plate at the bottom of the laces with the words "East" or "West."

Check out some more shots below and big thanks to Nice Kicks for the info, Enjoy!

For Whom The Bell Tolls

It don't even matter 'cause
I ain't even mad at God
I just think the saddest part
Is I don't wanna go


This track leaked a while ago, and I'm feeling generous so I've posted the video as Evidence, Phonte, Blu* and will.i.am ruminate on their mortality on "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Plus, the video is so creative that I just couldn't pass it up.

For the record, Phonte and Blu *>>>> Whoever you think is under-rated as an MC. He's got the total package, no Boy George.

Thanks to OnSmash for the video, Enjoy!

[Edit: I'm buggin, who the fuck I think Tay was? Well, it's Blu]

The Champ Is Back Again

There's been chatter here and there about Jadakiss' Kiss My Ass (The Champ Is Here Part 2) presented by DJ Green Lantern, and it's finally here. How can you not be amped about new 'Kiss?

Listen as the slick-tongued Yonkers lyricist rips thru bangers like "Ten Toes Down" and "The People" with fellow D-Block rep Styles P plus Green puts his magic touch on "Letter to BIG" and "Who Run This."

Personally, I do think Jada is one of the nicest to grip the mic, but despite what he claims, he's not Top 5 (I bet She would disagree). Top 10, maybe, but there's still a lotta contenders out there. But not Top 5.. Yet, at least. Unless this album is Blueprint or Be status, then we can talk.

Either way, it's always exciting to hear new ish from Jada and the Evil Genius. Be on the looks for Jada's new album The Last Kiss coming March 10th.

Shouts to Meka for the info and link, Enjoy!

Download:

Jadakiss & DJ Green Lantern - Kiss My Ass (The Champ Is Here Part 2)

(Alternate Download Link)

You Could Find The Abstract..

.. Listening to hip-hop
Pops used to say it reminded him of bebop

Let's bring it back real quick to the days of pagers and shell-toes with the help of the highly-anticipated J.Period mixtape The [Absract] Best, a remixtape/compilation of Q-Tip joints.

Just glancing at the track list makes my mouth water for some good music - peeping appearances from Cannonball Adderly, Stevie Wonder, Beastie Boys, ?uestlove, Nas, J Dilla, Talib Kweli, Blu and more plus plenty of ATCQ classics and remixes.

Big thanks to Honey Soul for hooking up the link below. It'd be a shame if you didn't peep this one, Enjoy!

Download: J.Period - The [Abstract] Best

Track List:

1. J.Period f. Prince Paul, Questlove & Randy Watson– Rhythm (Scratch Intro)
2. Cannonball Adderly / Excursions Intro
3. J.Period f. De La Soul – Excursions (Tribute Remix)
4. Aquarius Interlude #1: Welcome
5. Q-Tip f. Busta Rhymes – Getting Up (DJ Scratch Remix) (The Renaissance)
6. Behind the Scenes: Ghetto Origins [Produced by J.Period]
7. What the Fuss f. Stevie Wonder (Shook Remix)
8. Queens Represent (Interlude)
9. Mobb Deep f. Nas & Q-Tip – Give Up the Goods (J.Period Remix) [Produced by Q-Tip]
10. Apache – Gangsta Bitch [Produced by Q-Tip]
11. ATCQ – If the Papes Come (Intro)
12. ATCQ – Check the Rhime
13. Behind the Scenes: Don’t Walk Away (Interlude)
14. ATCQ –Award Tour
15. Behind the Scenes: Award Tour (Interlude)
16. Hot Butter (Interlude)
17. J.Period f. Dres - Jazz Pt. 2 (Tribute Remix)
18. Behind the Scenes: We Got the Jazz (Interlude)
19. J.Period f. Blu– Jazz (Tribute Remix)
20. Skypager: Bob Power & Big Daddy Kane (Interlude)
21. Q-Tip f. Jay Dilla – Let’s Ride
22. Behind the Scenes: Bob Power You There? (Interlude)
23. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing (Remix)
24. Q-Tip – Move (The Renaissance)
25. Q-Tip – Breathe & Stop (J.Period Remix)
26. Respect to Phife Dawg (Interlude)
27. J.Period f. Consequence & Kid Cudi – Buggin Out (Tribute Remix)
28. ATCQ Consists Of…
29. Behind the Scenes: The Native Tongues (Interlude)
30. De La Soul f. Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, Monie Love & Queen Latifah – Buddy (Remix)
31. Respect to Ali Shaheed Muhammed (Interlude)
32. Q-Tip f. Busta Rhymes – N.T.
33. A Message From Talib Kweli
34. J.Period f. Questlove, Talib Kweli & Randy Watson – Youthful (Tribute Remix)
35. Q-Tip f. Amanda Diva – ManWomanBoogie (The Renaissance)
36. Chris Rock: Men vs. Women (Interlude)
37. De La Soul f. Q-Tip – Saturdays
38. De La Soul f. Q-Tip & Phife – Saturdays (Remix)
39. Q-Tip – She Likes to Move (J.Period Remix)
40. Dee-Lite f. Q-Tip – Groove Is in the Heart
41. Beastie Boys f. Q-Tip – Get it Together
42. Behind the Scenes: What Is Kapelka? (Interlude)
43. J.Period f. Skillz, Questlove & Randy Watson – What? (Tribute Remix)
44. Behind the Scenes: Busta Rhymes / Scenario (Interlude)
45. Busta Rhymes – Scenario (Unreleased Demo Tape)
46. Behind the Scenes: Hood R.I.P. (Interlude)
47. Hood – Scenario (Remix)
48. Aquarius Outtro
49. Behind the Scenes (Bonus): Reinvention (Kamaal the Abstract – A Million Times)

Never Sleep..

.. Cause sleep is the cousin of death.
-Nasir

Since apparently I'm an insomniac tonight, I've got nothin better to do than bless my loyal readers with some late-night music. Works out well for you, huh?

A couple announcement's first, ahem:

Drake drops So Far So Gone this Thursday, he leaked track with (who else?) Weezy F called "Ignorant Shit" over the instrumental from Jigga's American Gangster. If you ain't excited for Drizzy's third mixtape, shame on you. Peep October's Very Own for details and track list.

It looks like Raekwon means business this time about OB4CL II 'cause he's back on the map, first ripping thru 2 new joints - "Realer" with Maino and a remix to Serani's reggae riddim "No Games." Not that I predict these two will be on the album, but at least Rae's rhyming consistently again. Will 2009 be the year of the Linx? Only time will tell.

Finally, the good homie Hurricane Ivan hooked up this unreleased Tupac collabo with the Boot Camp Clik called "Initiated." Here, Tek n Steele and Buckshot flip verses alongside an older a capella from the Left Coast legend. Since Suge had him in the studio so damn much, I got a feeling Pac's got a lot more material for us to hear even after his death (R.I.P.), so I'm always open to new ish. Shit, new to my ears at least.

Other than that, we got new ones from 6th Sense & Outasight, Wale featuring Tre and Young Chris, Slim Thugga, Blu, Playboy Tre and B.o.B., and a fresh Green Lantern remix to Jadakiss' "Letter to Big." Oh, and that video up top is for Asher Roth's "I Love College" courtesy of OnSmash because I loved college, too.

Big ups to the usual suspects - Shake, Ivan, Eskay, KSY and Splash - plus October's Very Own for the Drizzy tape info, Enjoy!

Drake ft. Lil' Wayne - Ignorant Shit

Raekwon ft. Maino - Realer

Senari ft. Raekwon - No Games Remix

Tupac ft. Boot Camp Clik - Initiated

Outasight ft. 6th Sense - Rehearsal Tape

Wale ft. Tre & Young Chris - Nightlife

Slim Thug - Show Me Love

Blu - Amnesia

Playboy Tre ft. B.o.B. - We Are The Robots

Jadakiss - Letter to B.I.G. (Green Mix)

Lost And Damned

I'm not one to usually post video game-related news, but GTA IV is one of my favorites so I gotta rep right quick.

The good folks at Rockstar Games decided to drop a bomb on gamers with Lost and Damned, a new, download-only GTA IV episode for XBox 360 gamers on February 17th. I'm not huge into video games and all that, but I played this one non-stop.

For real. Niko was just merkin' off while DJ Premier and DJ Green Lantern laced radio stations with dope hip-hop for my drives 'round Liberty City.

..Speaking of DJs, part of reason I'm writing this is 'cause the music is handled by Statik Selektah. Y'all should know him from his red-hot '08 LP Stick 2 The Script. Definitely official.

Check out the trailer below courtesy of Mick Boogie and family, and look out for GTA 4 Lost and Damned available February 17, Enjoy!

[Edit: Two trailers have hit, the first one the character is a bike thief named Malc and the second is Billy Grey, the leader of a motorcycle gang. Good looks Kotaku.]

And The Grammy Goes To..

With the Grammy's starting within minutes, I'll give my choices for the ones I'm looking forward to. Then, I'll predict which ones are most likely to win.

Keep in mind, Weezy won 3 already. One for Best Rap Solo for "A Millie," one for best Rap Song "Lollipop" and Best Rap Duo/Group for "Swagga Like Us" as did T.I., Kanye and Jay-Z.

Plus, Ne-Yo scooped one for Best R&B song "Miss Independent."

And my boy 'Yeezy got his second with Estelle for Best Rap/Sung Performance for "American Boy."

The question is.. Who will win Best Rap Album?

What do y'all think?

Readyyy?

Go.

Best Rap Album
My Choice: Nas - Untitled
Most Likely to Win: Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
Winner: Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III

Record of the Year
My Choice: Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Most Likely to Win: M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Winner: Robert Plan & Alison Krauss - Please Read The Letter

Album of the Year
My Choice: Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
Most Likely to Win: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Winner: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

Song of the Year
My Choice: Estelle & Kanye West - American Boy
Most Likely to Win: I think this one's a toss-up, but Estelle & Kanye might have it or Adele with "Chasing Pavements"
Winner: Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Best New Artist
My Choice: Adele
Most Likely to Win: Jonas Brothers (unfortunately)
Winner: Adele

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
My Choice: Ne-Yo - Closer
Most Likely to Win: Kid Rock - All Summer Long (lame-ass Grammy's love a comeback)
Winner: John Mayer - Say

Best Pop Collab
My Choice: Jordin Sparks & Chris Breezy - No Air
Most Likely to Win: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Rich Woman (yuck)
Winner: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Rich Woman

Best R&B Album
My Choice: Al Green - Lay It Down
Most Likely to Win: Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
Winner: Jennifer Hudson

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
My Choice: Pat Metheny - Day Trip
Most Likely to Win: Brad Mehldau Trio - Live
Winner: Chick Corea & Gary Burton - The New Crystal Science

One Good Thing About Music

..When it hits, you feel no pain

I'm gonna wrap up my Marley birthday celebration with a list of my five favorite studio albums from the legend then a tribute mixtape from DJ Concept. I'll hook up the mixtape link below, but you're gonna have to go support Bob's legacy and cop the albums. Sorry y'all.

1. Exodus

Best Songs: Jamming, Natural Mystic, One Love (People Get Ready), & Three Little Birds

2. Natty Dread

Best Songs: No Woman, No Cry, Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), & Lively Up Yourself

3. Survival

Best songs: Africa Unite, Ride Natty Ride, & So Much Trouble In The World

4. Catch A Fire

Best songs: Concrete Jungle, Stop That Train, & Stir It Up

5. Burnin'

Best songs: Get Up, Stand Up, I Shot The Sheriff, & Pass It On

And here's DJ Concept's special tribute to the god, One [Good Thing About Music]: A Bob Marley Celebration:

Download Here

Track List:

Them Choose

Reggae Music Intro

Trench Town Rock [Live]

Natty Dread

Gonna Get You

Roots, Rock feat. Aerosmith

Duppy Conqueror [Fort Knox Five Remix]

Mr. Brown [Styles Of Beyond]

Dracula

Put It On

Could You Be Loved

Kaya

Herb Interlude

Hold Ya Head [Notorious B.I.G. feat. Bob Marley]

Johnny Was

Midnight Ravers

Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) [Live @ The Lyceum]

Catch A Fire

Revolution

Pimper’s Paradise

No More Trouble

Exodus

Unauthorized Biography Of Bob Marley [Shaun Boothe]

No Woman No Cry [Live]

Thanks to the homie Khal for the mixtape link, Enjoy!

R.I.P. Bob Marley

February 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981