Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3
Over the past two weeks this has been the topic that I have talked about the most amongst my friends. There are people I know who love it and people I know that did not think this album was up to par. I think BP3 is far from his Jay-Z's worst album: BP3 > Kingdom Come > In My Lifetime Vol. 1 > Blueprint 2. (Out of 11 albums, 4th from the bottom isn't bad right?) Everything else from Jay, I consider a classic or close to it.
I didn't like certain songs when it leaked, but it grew on me when I heard these same songs put together as an album. However, l still can't stand the hook on "Reminder" (even Jay said in an interview that it wasn't up to par & that he was about to cut it from the album) & o
My Top Songs off BP3
1. "Already Home" (if anyone else but CuDi was on the hook I prolly wouldn't like it as much) Lyrics are hard and I like how Jay-Z addresses things that has been said about him on this song.
1. (tied) "A Star is Born" (like the vibe of the song especially since i grew up on everything Jay-Z talks about in this song. It's like a mini-tribute to the rappers who have accomplished a lot from the time that Jay-Z has been in the game.)
2. "So Ambitious" (I feel like this is Blue Magic 2 with the Pharrell collaboration. This song is so inspiring, letting you know that whatever they say you can't do, prove them wrong & do it anyway.)
3. "Empire State of Mind" (You have to be from New York picture everything he's talking about vividly. I like Alicia on the hook too.)
4. "Hate" (KanYe & Jay-Z addressing haters on a song is really funny)
5. "On To The Next One" (This will be a club banger... I really like how Swizz samples "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice into the song.)
6. "Run This Town" (like the lyrical content & the beat, has a NY vibe to it also)
Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys)
KiD CuDi's Man On The Moon: End of Day
AS SOON AS I HEARD IT, it became in my Top 5 favorite albums of ALL TIME [1. The College Dropout, 2. Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 3. Marshall Mathers LP, 4. The Black Album/The Blueprint, 5. Common- Be, ...& then there was CuDi]
To be honest I like the whole thing. I think the "Enter Galactic" song could have been better but his lyrics are still there. I thought Common was the perfect person to commentate throughout his album & it is the most original piece of work I have heard in a long time.
My Top Songs off Man on the Moon: End of Day
1. "Solo Dolo" (This is my theme song, I can relate to it in every aspect.)
2. "Alive" (I am a big fan of Ratatat & the electronic vibe matches what CuDi does on the song)
3. "Hyyer" (This song is real mellow & if you get high, it would be the perfect song for you)
4. Rest of the album
Alive- Kid Cudi (featuring Ratatat)
I did not like that the album had a cliffhanger feel to it. It could have had a bettter ending or something. CuDi said that it's supposed to segue into his next album, but that will be two years from now. Overall, I really like it and I'm happy I bought it. It is very creative & I get CuDi's whole concept.
JAY IS TAKING A LOT OF SHOTS AT TRENDS IN HIP-HOP & LEBRON MAKES A CAMEO IN THE VID. THE D.O.A THEME DOESN'T SEEM TO BE STICKING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE WANT TO DANCE TO THEIR AUTOTUNED OUT [POP CHAMPAGNE & ARAB MONEY] RECORDS. BUT I'M WITH HOV ON THIS ONE.
Jay-Z - “D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune)”
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1. The Cool Kids- My new favorite duo until Outkast comes back out...I like them so much that I have every single track by them and not a single song is a flop. They've been getting buzz from being featured on game soundtracks, performing on late night shows and finally getting play on TV with their new music video: "Delivery Man". They are a MUST check out.
2. Asher Roth- I was a bit skeptical when I first heard this guy spit. I really thought he was just another Eminem wanna-be. But in fact, since I downloaded his mixtape "The Greenhouse Effect" and heard his name being mentioned more and more, I started to see what all the hype was all about and then I was on the Asher Roth bandwagon.
http://www.asherrothmusic.com/
3. Cory Gunz- The way this guy spits is incredible. His freestyles and rapping skills are underrated. If you heard the original "A Milli" version, it really outshined Lil Wayne's verses (which is probably Cory's cut didn't make the album). In spite of all, Cory has a bright future if he keeps putting his name out there and actually makes an album.
4. Curren$y- When I first heard Curren$y, I was not sold. But this was a while back when he was signed to Young Money/Cash Money (Lil' Wayne's record label) ...do you see where there's a pattern? (That's another blog post.) Anyway, I was forced by some friends to hear a song called "Modern Day Hippie". (I thought the song was trash at first). But, it grew on me and I wanted to download the song, but by that time, the song was old; so the only way I could get the song was to download his mixtape called "Fast Times At Ridgemont Fly". (Its in my top 5 mixtapes of the year for a single artist behind Ludacris' "The Preview, Nas' "The N*gger Tape", and The Cool Kids' "Cool Ass Ninjaz" and ahead of Asher Roth's "The Greenhouse Effect") It is a solid mixtape, where he redid some of his favorite songs from other artists in the game. I think some of his remakes might have been better than some of the original versions.
http://www.getrightmusic.com/2008/08/15/curreny-fast-times-at-ridgemont-fly/
5. Mickey Factz- Mickey Factz was an artist that was associated with The Cool Kids, so I had to check him out. He has the hungriness, that some of our VETERAN artists are missing, and his lyrics make sense :) There's not a bad track that I've heard from him either, but I haven't heard that much material from him though.
6. Wale- Wale has been on the underground scene in Baltimore/D.C. for a while now. He's just waiting for his time to shine or waiting for a big opportunity to be featured on a mainsteam track. I can compare his style to an artist like Lupe Fiasco.
7. Charles Hamilton- This guy brings comedy to his raps, which is what I personally like. Not a lot of people do it, but one person who does it well is Charles Hamilton. He has a song "Neh, Neh, Neh" [*bumps*] w/ Cory Gunz and they both kill it. Cory Gunz goes hard on the track but Charles is right there w/ him and just shows how his style and Cory's contrast, but at the same time the chemistry is there between the two. He also have a song called "Lacey Duvalle" where he talks about being with a porn star. His style is definitely in a word...different (but that's good).
http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=26249
8. Blu- I got put on w/ Blu by one of my colleagues (He's mainly an underground hip-hop DJ and I guarantee that I would be stuck mostly on mainstream rap if it wasn't for him). Anyway this guy can spit. His first album 'Below The Heavens" got a lot of buzz and Blu continues to put out tracks that I like. I can't wait for his next album, because he has a lot of potential.
http://www.myspace.com/herfavcolor
9. Kidz In The Hall- I swear when I 1st saw the "Drivin' Down The Block" video on BET, I was like who are these two clowns looking like they just came out of an 80's ad, and why are they on BET? So basically, the 1st time I heard it I got a bad impression. Then I went to their myspace and heard some tracks and listened to "Drivin' Down The Block" again... I was amazed. I ended up buying their album and I was not disappointed. They are very innovative with their music with a similar style to The Cool Kids but their rap techniques are totally different. I'm proud to say that they are a part of hip-hop's future.
http://www.myspace.com/kidzinthehall
10. Maino- HI HATER! No, but seriously....if you hated that track during the summer I can understatnd why. But Maino is more than a one hit wonder. He and Kay Slay have done plenty of mixtapes; and since I'm from Brooklyn, I've heard a lot of his music. He just keeps getting better. He has an album coming out soon and I'm looking foward to buying it (and so I can get a free hi-hater shirt. lol
http://www.atlanticrecords.com/maino
Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, Mickey Factz Freestyle
People Who Are Keeping Hip-Hop Alive
1. Lupe Fiasco- I don't know where the game would be w/o Lupe...thats all I have to say and if you don't have any of Lupe's material from mixtapes, "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor" or "The Cool"...you don't like real hip-hop.
2. Ludacris- Luda always comes back strong and ready to punch somebody's lights out. Like I mentioned above, "The Preview" is my favorite solo artist mixtape for this year. "Theater of the Mind" is going to be crazy and I already know what I can expect from Luda.
3. The Game- I think "LAX" is a classic...yeah I said it! I did not find one flaw in this man's album. It is solid from start to finish and you can bump it straight through.
4. Nas- "Untitled/Nas" was the one of the most anticipated albums of this year. I think it lived up to its expectations. I needed songs like "Hero", "Black President", and "Fried Chicken" in my life. I think Nas will continue to be one of hip-hop's best and keep hip-hop alive.
5. T.I.- I'm still debating if "Paper Trail" is T.I.'s best album, but that's because its so good. I think T.I. is doing a good job and has a few more solid albums in him.
6. David Banner- "The Greatest Story Ever Told" was more than what I was expecting. Not only is this man spitting lyrics hard, but he is independently making beats consistently for himself and other artists in the game.
7. Kanye West- Everyone that knows me, knows that Kanye is my favorite artist. The Glow in the Dark Concert has been very successful and Kanye will continue to reinvent himself each album as we grow on with him as an artist.
8. Black Thought/The Roots- It might not seem like it but The Roots are an essential piece to hip-hop (but they have been and will continue to be). The Roots put out "Rising Down" this year and I was shocked to hear that so many people had it and liked it. These guys are legends who still do shows for the people like it their first day.
9. Gnarls Barkley- What Gnarls Barkley does for me does for me is bring that emotion in a different way. Their songs are deep and I find both albums that they put out to be above average.
10. Ice Cube- Ice Cube is still doing his thing on his new album. Cube still spitting like he is still in NWA. His album "Raw Footage" is just what the album says...RAW!!! Cube just expresses his true viewpoints on tracks without holding anything back. I think he touches on everything that hip-hop and this nation is going through.
11. Killer Mike- Killer Mike came back out of nowhere with freestyles and many features on tracks. I would definitely have to say he's holding it down for the south.
People To Watch Out For The End of 2008- 2009
1. Outkast
2. Jay-Z
3. Ludacris
4. Eminem
5. Mos Def
6. Common
7. Lupe Fiasco
8. Busta Rhymes
9. Jadakiss
10.Fabolous
Comeback Kids???
Sauce Money- Ghostwriter for a lot of artists, Jay-Z put him on earlier in his career. Will it be his time to rise to the top?
Cam'ron- Will "Crime Pays" deviate from Cam's lazy ABC raps?
Dr. Dre- Will "The Detox" ever come out and can the Dr. come back after almost 10 years?
I was talking with a new friend named Foster and I promised to share some of the music I'm listening to at the moment. So, this is going to be a pretty random collection but there should be something for everyone.
I'm really into indie electro pop dance music right now. But I will always love southern rap music of the Texas variety - I grew up on it. There is just something great about hearing people rap and reference landmarks you know, have been to, and thus can visualize.
As always I try to listen to some stuff that is on the cutting edge, some stuff that is classic, and some stuff that I forgot was good.
Oh, and J.P. I know you are going to read this - there was no way you ever was going to beat me in the "most eclectic and diverse" music category. Ever.
You welcome, Art Star!
Adele - Chasing Pavements
The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose To Give It
The Black Ghosts - Face
David Banner - Cadillac on 22's (Screwed and Chopped)
DJ Lobsterdust - Baby Arrow (Marvin Gaye/Mary Wells/Album Leaf/Carpenters)
Drowning Girl - Tragic Romantic
DSR - Flow (Still Tippin)
The Faint - Worked Up So Sexual
Frog Eyes - Bushels
The Game feat. Kanye West - Wouldn't Get Far
Go Home Productions - Passenger Fever (Peggy Lee vs Iggy Pop)
Hot Styles feat Young Joc - Looking Boy
Jay-Z - A Billie (live)
M83 - We Own The Sky
Mariah Carey - Fantasy
Mos Def - Brown Sugar
Patti Smith - Gloria
Teenagers in Tokyo - Ending It Tonight
T-Pain - I'm N Luv Wit A Stripper (Remix)
True Pseudo - Freaking Me Out
Yo Majesty - Club Action (Billion Dollar DJs Spring Break Mix)
Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West - I Put On
One of the realest things my grandfather ever said to me was that the reason black folks can't lead anything is "because we don't listen and we don't do our homework".
One of the realest lines of poetry I've ever heard is by Black Ice, "when a nigga goes from not doin to doin, what can you tell him? not to be a nigga? shit I gots to be a nigga."
So maybe it comes as no surprise that Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded no contest today, agreed to resign as mayor of Detroit, and is going to jail.
The youngest mayor that Detroit has even seen taking office at age 31, lived a life that the hip hop stars he adored would be proud of.
There were mansion parties with strippers, baby mama drama, murder, sex, and of course, Moet.
Maybe all politicians behave like Kwame and it was about race. About jealousy. About a black man reaching the top too young, too quickly, too soon.
Maybe this is all just a set up.
Maybe it is all Sharpe James fault. People looked up to him. One of the best things that happened to Jersey.
Maybe Sharpe showed Kwame the ropes, just like a white man showed him the ropes.
Maybe the bigger they are....
If that is the case then Mims Hackett never had a chance.
Too black, too close, too Jersey.
Then William Jefferson found out that just because you share a name with a President doesn't make you Slick Willy.
Now they even trying to call Charlie Rangel a crook.
Harlem Charles - the hood's Barack before Jay-Z took that title on A Billie.
Maybe Barack Obama doesn't have any Chicago skeletons in his closet. Maybe he will actually be the ONE, and not just one other disappointment.
Maybe he won't have to ever pull a Mystical and say "Cuz all I can tell the police is, I am not a crook."
Maybe he won't be just another crooked black politician.
Maybe he won't be a nigga too.
