Lazy Bloggin': Heavy Rotation

[can you believe that's really a product - a laptop pillow]


..Here's what I'm rockin' to tonight, gettin' my lazy blog on..

Links in the Cbox --->




Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle (Clean Advance)

Track List:

01. Lark On My Go Cart [Prod. By Oren Yoel & David Appleton]
02. Blunt Cruisin' [Prod. by Oren Yoel]
03. I Love College [Prod. by Mike Carren & Ben Allen]
04. La Di Da [Prod. by Don Cannon]
05. Fallen [Prod. By Novel]
06. Be By Myself (Feat. Cee-Lo) [Prod. by Oren Yoel]
07. She Don’t Want A Man (Ft. Estelle) [Prod. By Oren Yoel]
08. Sour Patch Kids [Prod. By Oren Yoel]
09. As I Em (Ft. Chester French) [Prod. By Oren Yoel & David Appleton]
10. Bad Day (Ft. Jazze Pha) [Prod. By Oren Yoel & David Appleton]
11. Lions Roar (Ft. Busta Rhymes) [Prod. By Oren Yoel)
12. His Dream (Ft. Miguel) [Prod. By Oren Yoel]
13. Nothing You Can’t Do [Prod. By Nottz)




DJ Premier - Rare Play Vol. 2

01 DJ Premier - Rare Play Volume 2 Intro
02 Ol Dirty - Pop Shots
03 Smiley The Ghetto Child - Wake Up Call
04 Marxmen - Bloody Murdah
05 Pitch Black feat. Styles P. - Nice
06 Smooth B - Game Over
07 Gang Starr - Battle
08 Just-Ice feat. Big Daddy Kane - The Immortal
09 Rah Digga - Lesson Of Today
10 Kool G. Rap - First Nigga (Remix)
11 Big Shug - Crush
12 Bumpy Knuckles - P.A.I.N.E.
13 Paula Perry - Extra, Extra
14 Xzibit - What A Mess
15 MC Lyte - Wonder Years
16 Gang Starr - Tha Squeeze
17 Royce Da 59 - My Friend
18 Edo-G - Sayin Something

Random Hits:

Aim ft. Q-Ball & Curt Cazal - Force

Chrisette Michele - Notebook

Drake Ft. Lloyd - A Night Off

Keelay & Zaire ft. Slo Mo - Growin' Up

Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos - Superstar (Acoustic)

Swizz Beatz -I'm Cool

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

Congratulations

Congratulations - Drake

(Final Track on the CD Version of So Far Gone, a.k.a. the second best song next to "November 18th")

Uh..

Black hearts on my cardigan

At the crib telling ya girl that we should order in

And tell G to put his feet up on the ottoman

We just up against a buncha rappers I go harder than

Damn, I’m so catching and smarter than

A lotta these niggas, swear the coaches brought the starter in

Yeah, and I’m the type to tell ya daughter things

I flow high, don’t try and cut my water wiiings

I’m still myself

Suicide bars, I kill myself

Charge it to the game, I bill myself

And I don’t feel y’all but I feel myself

And to dough, tell ‘em I deserve a mazel tov

I’m rappin like a shepherd with the muzzle off

I’m next to blow, pause

And I can’t hear the critics talkin over the applause

Yeah, I try to tell ‘em Future let ‘em know

Send the haters all my love, X and O

I got a black box where suggestions go

But I don’t really give a fuck, it’s probably best you know

My reality is brighter than your dreams are

I got ya dream girl ridin in ya dream car

Yeah, and the visual is stunning

I hope they document what I’m becoming

Congratulations…

So what, you want an award or somethin?

I’m at the private airport, bored or somethin

I see nothing from afar but I’m far from nothin

Put on your poker face, I pull your card if ya bluffinnn

But I ain’t with the hard talk

I got a monopoly, catch me on my boardwalk

Like I said, we pull your card and find out you’re a Hallmark

Just know I’m breakin world records, no false start

I don’t see your point unless it’s gunpoint or somethin

My deal like Weezy first week, 1-point somethin

And my verse’s getting stupider

Wayne, if you’re on Mars, can you pick me up from Jupiterrr?

Phone blowin up so I’m cutting off my cellular

I’m a super star, know they’re on to my nebula

I will break a leg, break a arm and a fibula

When I break it down

When I, When I break it dooowwnnn

I hug and kiss the drum kick

I put the beat in my back pocket and just sit

But, you could never beat my ass, pause

Again damage y’all, again

Y’all, pretend that we all some men that get it on

And in,

I die before I lose ‘cause I was born

To win,

If he don’t fuck with y’all, then don’t bother him

And yes I fucked this game, but I won’t fall to them

It’s like, these days man I’m booked and I’m busy

Dad named me Drake, Foots named me Drizzy

They tried to tell me I’d be nothing like a protégé

But if you watched the VMA’s there’s nothing more to saaay

I got the key to happiness and all the copies

Remember this day like you bought a poppy

And damn, how I get so nice?

I just spent it all once, bout to get rich twice

Surprise party bitch, now it’s on and poppin

I always chose dough like it’s my only option

..‘Cause money always knows best

Chain-snatch flow, they say “Get it off yo’ chessst”

And I’m what all the fuss about

And if they talking, I bet I’m what they discussion bout

Hit me at the office, same extension

Consider me the reason y’all should pay attention

(Weezy Outro)

It’s Crack..

Hey-yo Drizzy, you shoulda said that on here.

Shoulda been like…

Congratulations… It’s crack!

Slow Far Gone..

Don't listen to anybody that knew me

'Cause to have known me would mean that there's a new me

And if they think I've changed, then it's like you coulda fooled me

..Grab your lean, syzurp, NyQuil, Tussin, or just some good ol' herbal medication and vibe out to Drake's So Far Gone Chopped & Screwed mixed by DJ Mr. Rogers.

The only complaint I have is on "November 18." I know Mr. Rogers had to stay true to his intentions but the track was fine with its original throwed flavor. Oh well, I'm feelin the rest of the tape.

Thanks to OctobersVeryOwn for the linkage, Enjoy!

Download:

Drake - So Far Gone Chopped & Screwed by DJ Mr. Rogers

Shit Popped Off..

.. all day today, so I had to bless these glorious innanets with some audio goodness.

Apparently, the leaked T.I. verse from his collab with Dre & Nas was a reference verse for Detox. How does shit like this leak, Dre? Get your camp together and talk strategy, this is just unacceptable when it comes to your high hopes for the album. For us bloggers though? Shiiiit, we love it. Keep 'em coming.

..And they do keep coming today as another T.I. verse from a reference version of "Shit Popped Off," another joint supposedly from Detox. With songs like these, Dre could put it out without spitting a bar, just on the production, and it'd be classic. T.I.'s pen game is on fire right now.

Other noteworthy leakage today includes unreleased Drake plus Clipse featuring Pharrell, new Lil' Wayne, Moxberg featuring Jadakiss, Colin Munroe featuring Young Buck (you read it right, Get Buck with the Unsung Hero) and a remix by 88-Keys, Pac Div, and RJD2.

Shouts to Khal, Ivan, Cipha Sounds, Shake & Meka, Sean, and Splash for the tracks, Enjoy!

Links over thurr --->

T.I. - Shit Popped Off prod. Dr. Dre

Drake - Congratulations

Drake - Friends With Money

Lupe Fiasco ft. Drake - Kick Push Remix

TreaZon ft. Drake - Tonight

Clipse - Pussy ft. Pharrell

Lil' Wayne - February 18th

Moxberg ft. Jadakiss - What The Game Made Me

Colin Munroe - Last Cause ft. 88-Keys (Cause N Effect Remix)

Colin Munroe ft. Young Buck - I'm Fine

Pacific Division - Mayor

RJD2 - To All Of You

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

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)

15 Hip-Hop Artists to Shine in '09

I shine, you shine..

Everybody on this list was grinding all throughout last year. You wanna talk hungry? These talented artists are starving like Mary Kate Olsen to make their mark, so 2009 will be their time to shine. Here are 15 up-and-comers that need to be on your rap radar ASAP (Haha, YN I see you, Fam!).

In Alphabetical Order:

6th Sense

Big Apple producer and rapper 6th Sense was all over hip-hop this year, from creating the Obama anthem "Ignite The People" to providing beats for Mick Boogie & Terry Urban's remixtapes Viva La Hova and 1988. As he started the new year off with "2-0-0-9," a reinterpretation of Common and Sadat X's "1999" featuring The Kid Daytona, Outasight, and Harlem's Cash, fans should expect big things this year from the multi-talented 6th.

88-Keys

Producer/MC extraordinaire 88-Keys dropped his debut LP Death To Adam to widespread critical acclaim. Mostly self-produced and executively produced by Kanye West, its a creative conceptual album about the ups (literally, lol) and downs of a relationship. Hip-hop heads will be talking about Keys' work well through 2009, let's see what else he can bring to the table both lyrically and sonically.

Asher Roth

Here's one dude that had a monumental year. The Pennsylvania wordsmith skyrocketed from virtual unknown to spitting in front of Jay-Z, churning out the Greenhouse Effect Mixtape with DJ Drama and Don Cannon, ripping one of the illest "A Milli" remixes, and performing the university-friendly anthem "I Love College" on Carson Daly. And he still found time to help save the world from terrorists (I know it was his guitarist, but he was there.) Signed to Steve Rifkind's SRC Records in combo with School Boy and Universal, Asher Paul Roth's got a bright future in rap and he doesn't need a degree.

Blu

Cali lyricist Blu has been at it for a while, receiving mad indie love for his '07 LP Below The Heavens with producer Exile. Last year he put out two solid collab efforts, The Piece Talks with Ta-Raach (as C.R.A.C. Knuckes) and Johnson & Jonson with Mainfraime, plus the So(ul) Amazing mixtape with DJ Heat. Already in '09 he's got the second installment of So(ul) Amazing out and I'm positive there's much more dopeness where that came from.

B.o.B.

Eclectic musician/rapper B.o.B. is one entertaining guy. I don't know which I enjoy more - the ATLien's talent on the mic on insightful bangers like "Change Gon' Come" with Asher Roth and Charles Hamilton and "Generation Lost" or his instrumental ability to construct crazy melodies like "Monster" and "Middle of the Day." The hilarious parody "Autotune" and transcendental "I'll Be In The Sky" were two highlights of my year, not to mention his appearance on Luda's "On Top Of The World" and the DJ Scream tape Who The Fuck Is B.o.B. Recent footage of him in the studio with T.I. got me ultra excited to check out his upcoming work.

Charles Hamilton

You couldn't go more than a couple days this year without the young'n Charles Hamilton's name on your favorite blogs, for better or worse. Looking beyond his quip with Soulja Boy and constant chatter, the Sonic-influenced Harlem native put out some dope material. His unique production style and smack-talk punchlines bombarded the blogosphere on numerous DJ Skee-hosted mixtapes like Sonic The Hamilton, And Then They Played Dilla and (my personal favorite) Crash Landed. It'll be interesting to see if his grind can translate into widespread recognition.

Colin Munroe

Toronto representative Colin Munroe is primarily a piano-playing singer but it'd be foolish to confine his sound. He's collab'd with Black Milk on his LP Tronic and Joell Ortiz on the extremely fresh "Piano Lessons," plus he's worked with Wale and Dallas Austin on the fly harmony "Will I Stay (Remix)." Munroe will try to ride off the strength of his debut mixtape Colin Munroe Is The Unsung Hero to enter '09 with a bang.

Donny Goines

I respect any MC whos motto is “If you don’t know my name, I’m not working hard enough.” Donny Goines is undoubtedly one of the hardest working dudes on the rise, dropping multiple lyrical onslaughts like “Wordplay” and “The Look” and various mixtape appearances. Goines’ year culminated in December with the release of his solid LP Minute After Midnight, pushed heavy on digital retailers across the ‘net, insisting that ’09 better know who he is.

Drake

Yeah, yeah I know what you’re thinking. “That dude from that wack ass TV show?” Don’t let that shit fool you, Drizzy is arguably the most beastly newcomer as far as lyrical content and delivery is concerned. And did I mention dude can sing, like, real well? Want proof? He spit outstanding, memorable verses on “Stuntin” and “Ransom” with Lil’ Wayne, put out killer mixtape Comeback Season and flexed his R&B muscle on “Still Fly” and “Replacement Girl” with Trey Songz. But when he stepped up on Kanye’s “Say You Will” instrumental for “Say What’s Real,” he knocked it out of the park – if it’s not one of your favorite reinterpretations of the year, you’re missing out. Mark my words: Drizzy will be the next phenom in '09, already announcing a new mixtape coming soon So Far So Gone and a tentative album Thank Me Later. Stay tuned!

Fashawn

Left coast lyricist Fashawn hopped on the scene, buzzin’ with his inventive lyrics and conceptual topics. Highlights of his ’08 catalog include the street-wear bible “Buyers Guide,” the metaphorical “Missing You,” and weekend anthem “Sunday Morning (Remix)” with K-OS. But he really caught my attention with his Higher Learning mixtape. In-your-face bangers like “Fortified Live (Remix)" and “Freedom” show Fashawn’s hunger – not to mention he’s one of the only cats out with a legit “Day N Nite” remix. I suggest you be on the looks for the Fresno, Cali MC’s debut LP One Shot To Kill.

Jay Electronica

Not your average Magnolia-raised rapper, Jay Electronica’s strength is his individuality. Many have made comparisons to Nas and Jay Elect’s boo Erykah Badu due to their shared characteristic of outright uniqueness, but it’s impossible to classify dude’s music. Though it came out in ’07, the genius “Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” nabbed the ‘Nawlins lyricist a strong cult following that spilled into ’08 with his Style Wars EP with the nonchalant jam “I Feel Good” and the real rap of “Renaissance Man.” To wrap up the year, Jay produced “Queens Get The Money” for Nas and leaked the verbal slaying “Swagger Jackson’s Revenge” among others from his demo tape. Though Jay isn’t likely to gain commercial success since the masses choose bars-and-hooks over intellectual rhymes, I guarantee he’ll be respected in hip-hop.

Joell Ortiz

In the fight to revive New York rap, Joell Ortiz is a serious contender. Brooklyn-bred MC Ortiz offered his pinpoint rhymes and neck-snapping punchlines on various heaters this year – Colin Munroe’s “Piano Lessons,” Talib Kweli’s “Hostile Gospel Remix” with Nina Sky and Blu, and most notably Joe Budden’s “Slaughterhouse” alongside Nino Bless and Crooked I. With an absurdly dope collab with Budden on “Move On” and many more tracks leaked off his upcoming Free Agent mixtape, Ortiz is determined to get the attention of the majors.

KiD CuDi

Valentine’s Day. My first listen to “Day N Nite,” and I was isntantly hooked. Still, it took til around October or November – on the strength of NBA Live and Entourage, nonetheless – for the Cleveland MC’s song to blow up. Meanwhile, while the haters were sleepin’, Plain Pat & Emile presented the world with his debut mixtape “A KiD named CuDi.” The free-flowing lyrics on “Man on the Moon (The Anthem)” and spaced-out demeanor of “Embrace the Martian” display the forward-thinking that inspired Kanye West to sign CuDi to G.O.O.D. and let him hop on 808’s and Heartbreak’s best track “Welcome 2 Heartbreak.” Now he’s in the studio putting the finishing touches on his much-anticipated LP Man on the Moon: The Guardians, dropping this Spring.

Mickey Factz

Forget Paul Wall’s irrelevant ass, Mickey Factz had the internet goin’ nuts last year with his quality weekly leaks. The Boogie Down Bronx native dropped the amped-up “Rockin N Rollin (Remix)” with the Cool Kids and stayed consistent day-in and day-out with jams like the insightful “The Understanding” and sneaker-holic joint “I Like Your Supras.” Don’t expect Factz to lose steam in ’09, he’s set to drop his 3rd “Leak” installment very soon at a blog near you.

Wale

I can’t really say much more that I already have about Washington, DC rhyme animal Wale. He dropped arguably the best mixtape of the year with “The Mixtape About Nothing,” sporting his flyboy wordplay, go-go influences and industry commentary on “The Plan,” “The Star,” and especially “The Conclusion.” He also shot a dope video for his ’07 hit “Nike Boots” and blessed tracks alongside The Roots, Young Chris, Brother Ali among others. Though some of his clever lyrics will go over the heads of commercial rap heads, Wale will continue his rise to hip-hop stardom equipped with a sweet record deal with Allido/Interscope and cosigns from Mark Ronson and Kanye West. I’ll be checkin for an upcoming tape Back to the Feature produced by 9th Wonder not to mention his debut LP.

So Far Gone

After hearing Drake outshine Wayne at times on Drought Is Over 6 (want proof, you say? listen to "Stuntin'"), I've checked a lot of dude's material and most of it is fire. His lyrics are real crisp and his wordplay is legit.

..Which is why I was dumb excited when Drizzy posted this weekend on October's Very Own:

"And so it begins...

This is the first piece of artwork for So Far Gone, my next OFFICIAL mixtape which is coming out in the next few weeks. The tape is a conceptual journey of my life since January 2008 and its my way of telling the stories that people want to hear in a more entertaining fashion. This particular piece is done by Oliver's boy Darkie and it's an adaptation of a classic cover from the international affairs magazine "The Economist"."

Check the creative cover up top - I'll definitely keep my ear to the street for this one, Stay up!