Jay-Z told his guests at the Hayden Planetarium, there for a listening party to hear “Watch the Throne,†that it took him and Kanye West three tries (over nine months) to make this album. The third time was the charm.
Alternating between hard beats with raw raps and risk-free commercial tracks, the record sounds best when it gets tough. On the opener, “No Church in the Wild,†West philosophizes, “What’s a king to a god, what’s a god to a nonbeliever.†On a single spin, it’s a throwaway line in a catchy rap, but it’s a provoking question that gains power with subsequent listens.
Somewhere between sounding smart and sounding good lies the album’s top song, “Otis,†a tribute to the late Otis Redding. It’s fantastic that these two rap icons are introducing the soul legend to a new generation with extended samples from “Try a Little Tenderness†serving as the track’s foundation. It’s reminiscent of West’s 2004 single “Gold Digger,†which deftly sampled the Ray Charles hit “I Got a Woman.â€
“New Day†is also a highlight as the rappers ponder how they’ll raise their sons. Referring to his Hurricane Katrina run-in with George W. Bush, West says he’ll raise his as a “Republican, so they know he likes white people.†Jay adds, “My dad left me, and I promised never to repeat him.â€
“Watch the Throne†is neither West’s nor Jay-Z’s best, but count it as a success, especially getting two performers as dynamic and egomaniacal as this duo to mesh into a cohesive team.
I certainly don’t write as much as I’d like to on this here website of ours anymore (that will change), but for those who are reading this, I would really like to say thank you to those that showed real support to our movement (there are so many to shoutout, I’d much rather say thanks in this manner rather than leave out anyone).
This was never meant to be more than a blog….one that basically provides any and every thing that had to do with Hip-Hop. It wasn’t really until Jamoris‘ inclusion of a camera where things really began to expand into a full-fledged website. Yes, I know, it’s still a blog (hell, it’s still Blogger for that matter), but you’d be hard-pressed to find too many other “blogs” that provide everything that we do at the quality that we do. Among the things that have been added:
– Video production and editing: It’s crazy how a simple meeting with the homie Debo (who we currently look forward to seeing again) turned into a pretty dope relationship with The Board Administration. Our first video came from this — a fairly low-quality, extremely lengthy behind the scenes video for Black Cobain‘s ‘Air Force’ featuring Fat Trel & Tre. The videos had their flaws but did get (and are continuing to get) better as we improved our craft, to the point where we began to make actual music videos (Fat Trel gets the first nod there for his ‘Freeze Me’ freestyle, which was done in my kitchen at what may have been 4 in the morning). We’re even winning awards for documentaries now (shoutout to Tony Lewis Jr. and CommunPR)
– Interviews: The Board Administration gave us our firsts here as well, and since then we have been able to interview successful local artists like Phil Ade, RAtheMC and the number one artist Wale to (other) popular artists like Miguel, CyHi Tha Prynce, Big K.R.I.T. & even legends like Raekwon. Special thanks goes out to Samantha Luck for being a MAJOR part of this as a great interviewer as well as an great writer and journalist.
– VICE: This was Jamoris’ idea. And it works, whether I feel it had anything to do with Hip-Hop or not (and it does in a way, as far as the culture is concerned). Truth be told, there shouldn’t be too many complaints about working with beautiful women to begin with (haha).
– Mixtapes: This is actually a fairly unknown aspect of JUKEBOX:DC that was around from the beginning. I always liked to make these Hip-Hop mixes filled with songs that make you think more than anything, which is why I decided to call the series Streetz Reflexionz (or SRV — V as in Volume — for short). Hopefully some post-website supporters enjoy these, as all of the songs i chose for them were pretty important to me.
These are only a few additions, and there will be more, including more interviews, videos, editorials and mixtapes (by the way, SRV4 will be here shortly). We will also be moving into throwing Hip-Hop events, as well, so look out for those. Hopefully, with the help of others (George, Carrie, Eric, Corey and many more), there should be no stopping us as we continue to move forward.
Last but not least, I have to give a shoutout to D’Wayne & 3Nity Entertainment, whom we are now building with full time, so definitely lookout for them. The movement has only gotten better.
An antsy crowd seemed more than relieved when Fantasia, the Grammy-nominated songstress likened to the greats such as Aretha, Patti and Tina Turner, hit the stage for The Park Live last Thursday. The Southern belle, known to belt out tunes, melodies, beautiful sounds from the depth of her soul, donned a sexy wavy bob complementing her star-studded, short, curve-hugging dress. Nearly blinding jewels adorning her wrist and fingers were glistening as much as her toe nails, because you know, in true Fantasia fashion, she kicked those shoes off as soon as she reached for the mic.
Check out more after the jump.
After telling the bouncers to move out of the way so she could get closer to her fans, Fantasia pulled out hit after hit after hit, starting with “Selfish (I Want U 2 Myself)†and “Free Yourself†from her debut album. Even in a more intimate setting such as this, Fantasia did not sing, she sang. She didn’t tip toe in her space; she monopolized every inch of the stage, removed partitions that separated her and the crowd, and filled the venue with her electrifying powerhouse presence better than any artist I’ve ever witnessed.
A millisecond of “cool down†occurred when Fantasia asked the crowd, “Anybody had love like your momma’s collard greens and cornbread?†Screams and yells brought the momentum back up and it continued with a soulful fluidity as she sang “Collard Greens & Cornbread,†followed by “When I See You.†The latter sung a cappella.
“I’m on another level right now,†she announced in a short break. “I really don’t care what you say about me. Talk as much as you want… ‘cause now, I’m doing me,†she declared just before singing the empowering anthem “I’m Doin’ Me.†Continuing with a crowd favorite “Bittersweet†and closing out with “Hood Boy,†Fantasia took her audience on an amazing journey through her career and life. She sang it, showed it, and told it–she’s unstoppable and this is just the beginning.
Diddy now adds magazine curator / editor-in-chief to his already-impressive resume. He curated the material in Diddy Dirty Money, which is both a glossy print magazine and an interactive online experience, offering exclusive video, commentary and much more. Diddy mixes original content, including never-published photographs of him and his band members, Kalenna and Dawn with archived articles from his favorite publications.
“I’ve always loved art magazines and dope books. The DDM magazine gave us a chance to illustrate some of our personality and share pieces of some of the elements and people who have inspired our collective journey,” says Sean “Diddy” Combs. “Diddy Dirty Money features some of our all-time favorite articles, photographs mixed in with some of our own content… it’s an accurate glimpse into our respective lives.”
Other content includes Vibe magazine’s first-ever magazine feature on Diddy, as well as tributes to Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige and Hype Williams. One of the UK’s top music magazines, NME provides content for one of Diddy’s idols, music innovator and icon, David Bowie. Rare Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack photographs are also featured in the magazine, the late Hollywood legend inspires Diddy’s style and is another one of his all-time idols.
Esteemed photographer Jean-Paul Goude lends his celebrated Grace Jones imagery; shots emblematic of a style trend that courses through Diddy Dirty Money.
To buy a copy of Diddy Dirty Money and see first-hand what most inspires the timeless mogul of hip-hop, log on to MYMAG.com (http://www.mymag.com), preview and purchase for $12. Diddy Dirty Money will also be available at select Barnes & Noble locations nationwide as well as select newsstands on May 31st.
Saigon ditches his guttural steez to affirm fondness for mom on this colorful reimagination of the R&B masterpiece “If This World Were Mine.” Luther Vandross must be smiling in his grave
Both mom and grandma receive a lifetime achievement award from Beanie Sigel and Scarface in this epic mother appreciation song. The heart-tugging strings, courtesy of Just Blaze, complement the emotional tales.
Lines wrapping around the corners of NYC with teenagers screaming Taylor Gang. Overly excited fans filled the Roseland Ballroom with their herbal essences to see Pittsburgh’s own Wiz Khalifa. Khalifa finally arrived and rocked the stage with songs off of his new debut album “Rolling Papers”, and a few songs from his recent mix-tapes for his “O.G Taylors”. Overwhelmed with his success and happiness, Wiz got a bit emotional as he was performing and began to cry, “We finally here man”. He ended with the crowd favorite “Black &Yellow” and the “Taylor Gang” anthem as he bought his friends and family from Pittsburgh on to the stage along with him. The concert was a cloudy one but his presents just continued to shine through it all.
Buy Wiz Khalifa’s album “Rolling Papers†on iTunes now:
Wiz Khalifa has come a long way since his first album Show and Prove in 2006. Since then he was on the come up in HipHop. He made a lot of mixtapes like Prince of the City, Star Power, Flight School, Kush and Orange Juice and more up to his latest one called Cabin Fever. When Wiz Khalifa released his chart topping single ‘Black and Yellow’, he put Pittsburgh on the map. Wiz went from an underground rapper to a mainstream superstar.
Wiz has been hustling for years to get his big break; releasing mixtapes, selling out shows and using Twitter to build a fan base. When Wiz Khalifa shared the news about being signed to Atlantic Records, everyone couldn’t wait for his debut album, Rolling Papers.
When I listened to the album I noticed he has a variety of sounds on this album. He didn’t just do the Hip-Hop genre, there is also Pop. My favorite song on the album would have to be ‘No Sleep’. The song is very catchy. Rolling Papers is defiantly a celebration of his new fame.
The album is a celebration of Khalifa’s new fame and having a good time. Wiz’s album captures attention to mostly college age listeners. The album tackles topics like break-ups and outside pressures with a down to earth approach. The song ‘Get Your Shit’ is a perfect example. Wiz talks about the loss of a girl friend because she can’t handle what comes with Wiz’s new fame and all the women who are suddenly interested in him. His reaction was to just end the relationship. Other songs like ‘Rooftops’ and ‘Hopes and Dreams’ talks about how Wiz Khalifa back then was at the bottom and now he has reached his peak.
Overall, the album is a complete success as expected. There is not one song that deserves a skip. Makes you want to party and roll one every time.
We can all say that 2010 was a great year. We ended the year off right when Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Drake, Lil Wayne, Rihanna and others dropped their albums. Now that its a new year, there are new projects that everyone can’t wait for.
Read the rest after the jump.
The biggest one would be the Kanye and Jay-Z collab, “Watch the Throneâ€. When these two get in the booth they kill every song. On their own, they are hot, but put them both on one song, one album, they’re two times better. “Watch the Throne†is looking to be released on March 1st. Not only are people anxious for the Jay and Kanye collab, but also Lil Wayne’s “Carter IVâ€. In 2008 “The Carter III†sold over a million its first week. While behind bars at Riker’s Island, Lil Wayne’s album “I Am Not a Human Being†sold over 250,000 copies, making it a success in 2010. “The Carter IV†is expected to drop sometime this year. Collabs with Drake and Rick Ross and help from producers T-Minus and Bangledesh.
Now we all know Travis Barker from Blink-182, an amazing drummer, and made many appearances in music videos with other artist, including award shows, such as the MTV awards. This year Barker is releasing his first solo album called “Give the Drummer Someâ€. I have to say his collab list looks pretty serious. Features from Raekwon, Lupe Fiasco, Swizz Beatz, Lil Wayne and more. “Give the Drummer Some†will be released on February 22. While keeping his fans interested by dropping mixtapes like “Villematic†and “Friday Night Lightsâ€, J. Cole is finally releasing his debut album “Cole Worldâ€. Working with Jay-Z and producers like Elite and No I.D. Cole’s album is to be released in March.
Pittsburgh’s own, Wiz Khalifa makes his way into the Hip Hop spotlight. Ever since his mixtape “Kush and OJâ€, Wiz has taken the music media by storm, including working with artists like Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Rick Ross and more. By doing sold out shows, his fan base expanded tremendously, now everyone is Taylor Gang. The release of his hit single “Black and Yellowâ€, Wiz Khalifa landed the #5 spot on The Billboard Hot 100. After notifying his fans of the name of his upcoming album called “Rolling Papersâ€, Wiz leaked two new songs “Roll Upâ€, “Taylor gangâ€and “On my Level†which is getting a lot of buzz. “Rolling Papers†is going to be released on March 29. Affiliated with Wiz Khalifa, Currensy started off 2011 the right way by releasing “Return to the Winners Circle†mixtape, and is now releasing not one, but three new albums this year, “Muscle Car Chronicle, Pilot Talk 3, and Covert Coupeâ€.
The man who walked into Hip Hop without a label, but by one mixtape is coming back with a new album. Toronto’s own, Drake. “Take Care†is suppose to be released in March or April, which features Justin Timberlake, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and others. With the success of his sophomore album “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.Rager†Kid Cudi is coming back with a new album. This time it will be a little different. Cudi says his desire for rap is gone, but not music itself. Cudi is working with Dot Da Genius on an alternative album called “Wizard†which is suppose to be coming out sometime this year.
Lupe’s album “Lasers†is expected to be released on March 8. Dr.Dre’s “Detox†has been on the anticipation list for quite sometime and is finally being released in between this month and March. Collaborations from Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Skylar Grey, Nas and many more. Rick Ross’s “Teflon Don†did very well in 2010. Also his mixtapes has kept his fans on their feet. Now Ross returns with a new album “God Forgives, I Don’tâ€, expected to drop very soon. Ross already dropped a hot record with Drake called “Made Menâ€. Wale is currently working on a new album “Attention Deficit 2†which is going to be released in the summer of 2011. Wale recently released two new songs called “Break Up Song†and “The MCâ€.
After dominating the charts with her pop singles, Lady Gaga is coming back with another album called “Born This Wayâ€. Her little monsters can’t wait to hear her new album which it to be released May 23. Chris Brown is also coming back with his new album called “F.A.M.Eâ€, Forgiving All My Enemies. Chris has already dropped a single from the album “Yeah x3†and “Beautiful Peopleâ€. There is not a release date as yet, but will be dropping this year. After hinting his affiliation with Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music team, Pusha T who has made many appearances such as BET’s 2010 cypher, Saturday Night Live and the MTV Video Music Awards with Kanye West, Pusha T is most likely to release his debut album some time this year. Also a part of Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music label, Big Sean released a mixtape called “Finally Famous Vol. 3â€. Collaborating with Drake, Currensy, Chiddy Bang others is releasing his debut album “Finally Famous†some time this year.
With all of these new albums coming out this year, people will really be pleased. Personally, I am really excited for Wiz Khalifa and J. Cole’s album. Not just because I’ve been a huge fan of Wiz Khalifa since 2006, but this is this is his debut album from Atlantic Records! Take Wiz Khalifa back to “Prince Of the City†to Wiz now, you will see a huge change, not just lyrically but as an artist. I love how Wiz is loyal to all of his fans. He even has a clothing line apparel, where his fans can rock the latest clothes. Now J.Cole is Roc Nation’s rising star. J.Cole makes music that everyone and I mean everyone can relate to. I was very pleased with his last mixtape “Friday Night Lightsâ€. He speaks on things that are happening in the world today and people’s everyday situations. I feel that his album will be an absolute success. He came a long way. Well are you satisfied with the list? Who will have the top selling album? We’ll have to see as the year goes on. I love, we love Hip-Hop.
Admit it! We’ve all seen at least one person in public whom we wanted to issue a fashion citation(s). Yes, fashion is about self expression and wearing what you feel comfortable in, but let’s be honest, just because we like it and its available in our size, does NOT mean it will look great on us.
As you may know, this month will be a fashion extravaganza – due to the many fashion weeks taking place around the world. These weeks will be filled with fashion shows, in which you’ll notice several new and re-occurring trends for the Fall/Winter 2011/12 season. But let’s face it!… What looks good on fabulous runway models will not necessarily look good on the average person.
Miss E., a Senior Customer Service Representative in Las Vegas, NV enjoys checking out the latest trends at the many shopping malls that “Sin City” has to offer. When asked about keeping up with current trends and knowing what’s appropriate for her body, Miss E. said, “I’ll try it, and if it doesn’t fit, I’ll move to the rack on the left and keep it pushing…it just wasn’t meant to be…you have to be tasteful, not tacky.”
When embracing a trend that may not live up to its expectations, a fashionista will have the ability to take it and make it their own, in a tasteful manor. According to @Busythebee, a Fashion Assistant in Las Vegas, NV, “That’s what fashion’s about. When you find something you like, embrace it, and make it your own…your wardrobe becomes a walking mural.” When in doubt about an outfit selection, “look at blogs and websites to see how others dress it up, then try it for yourself.” says @Busythebee. On the flip side, Miss E. says, “If you’re not sure, ask for a second opinion from a stranger or someone of the opposite sex.”
The best way to make whatever you’re wearing a knockout; know your best assets and enhance them, and vice versa. No one’s perfect, but if you’re aware of what you’re working with, you can sure get pretty close or appear to be.
Regardless of the trend you’re trying to rock, if you’re not mindful of your body – or denial about your true size – your outfit can be a #FAIL! So remember, “Fashion is architecture: It is a matter of proportions.†– Coco Chanel
Fellow Hip-Hop head and floor seat sports junkieTerry decided to compile his top ten (and more) right down to the science of real estate. While it’s debatable (what great list isn’t), dude came all the way correct with this. I even admit to not have listened to a couple of mixtapes on the list (which he also included links for). Click here (or you can click the mixtape image above) if you have some time for a really good read. From Art Official Intelligence.
Check out this featured article from our affiliates over at Fashion Firm after the jump.
It All Starts From Within
Fashion. What is it? And where does it come from? For years those questions have been answered in a variety of ways while maintaining the common denominator; yourself.
If you think fashion is all about having loyalty to brands such as Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and other labels that the average consumer can’t afford, then you have it all wrong. Fashion is about self-expression through a series of fabrics, patterns, textures, and accessories (a plethora or a few classic pieces…depending on the individuals’ preference). Fashion isn’t determined by how expensive and/or busy your wardrobe is or isn’t, but the cohesiveness of everything from head to toe.
Once an individual’s style is defined, they tend to utilize something that serves as the foundation to their particular style as well as represent who they are. For example, bright colors, certain patterns, tons of accessories, or a key item. Marvin Micheaux, humanitarian/stylist from the Southside of Chicago, says his collection of watches speaks to people about his character . . . “they are timeless pieces that speak to multitudes. In a silent room in all black you will always hear my tick”. On the contrary, La’roc, fashion student at The Art Institute in Philadelphia, says her moccasins are her item of choice because they’re perfect for every occasion. “They’re my ‘get up and go’ shoe, kind of like Uggs but more urban chic”. Regardless of your style, fashion is “a direct representation of who you are,†says Micheaux. Following his statement was nothing more than the awesome quote by Coco Chanel, “I don’t do fashion, I am fashionâ€.
For those who are transitioning between personal fashion senses, take some advice from La’roc and “just be true to yourself, don’t be afraid to express yourself through your wardrobe, and have confidence in yourself. Once you have those key elements, you’re unstoppable”.
As aforementioned, fashion is all in what YOU make it to be. It can be simple or complex. But most importantly, make it about YOU and love it. With that being said, be confident in your fashion sense and if you’re not, look deep within yourself and change it because confidence is the ultimate accessory!
I heard on the radio that ReÌ€my Martin’s OMG Tour featuring the incredible Usher, and special guests Trey Songz and Miguel was something like foreplay. To summarize, the message was that men should send their women to be seduced, serenaded and stimulated so that they’ll be nice and ready when they come home. Hmmmm… Well as a journalist concerned with the people’s right to know the truth, armed with the duty to uncover any falsities that might be filling our minds via radio or any other form of media, I had to see for myself. Could this show actually do such a thing? I just had to know-for the people.
Read more after the jump.
The show began with the sky-rocketing Miguel. The rising star exploded onto the stage with the confidence of a veteran, so much so I wished that he had performed longer. He gave us hits off his new album, including “Sure Thing†and, of course, the title track, “All I Want is You.†His rocker appeal set him apart with his Mohawk, leather pants, neon orange sleeveless shirt exposing the cuts in his muscular arms, and an electric guitar in hand. I was sad to see him leave the stage, like “Hey, Miguel, where are you going? You can’t go yet.†But alas, he had to make room because there was more to come.
There was literally a countdown down to the next act. Trey Songz appeared after the stop clock projected on the stage’s screen reached its limit. “This right here’s a panty droppa…†played as he made his entrance. It was fitting considering “Panty Droppa†is the intro to his album Ready; and as the song played, he sang it sweetly and sensually as if to send a message that this was only the beginning.
Trey, wearing dark jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black textured leather jacket, went right into “Invented Sex,†“Jupiter Love,†then a change of pace with “Can’t Be Friends†and his rendition of “Love the Way You Lie.†Well, it’s nothing like making up with an old love or finding a new one after a break up, hence, the follow-up songs, “Love Faces†from Passion, Pain & Pleasure and “Neighbors Know My Name.†Yes, I was following the story line quite closely, as well as his costume change down to no shirt, after he ripped it off of his tattooed, chiseled chest. The denims remained on, but we all know what color his boxer briefs were. And, just like that, Trey was gone, finished his set, and yes, I was left wondering, “Why Trey? Don’t leave. We just started.â€
I expected to see the main attraction, Usher, do something dynamic on stage as his introduction. What I didn’t expect was for him to emerge from the middle of the Verizon Center floor, rise above our heads on a brightly lit glass platform, float over the crowd, and sing and dance in the air on his way to the stage. He started with “Monstar,†from his Grammy-nominated album Raymond V. Raymond and then took us all the way back to “Yeah!†from Confessions (2004).
Usher gave an amazing performance accompanied by his never-tiring dancers, booming pyrotechnics, all wrapped up in a theme that, to me, looked like an intergalactic military space camp. It worked. And with all the diaphragm-stretching song belting, sweat-inducing dancing, and sexy vibe giving, Usher still had it in him to beg. Yes, I said it right. He begged in the high pitch we love, “Don’t leave me girl!†in the middle of his selections. Can we say “swoon?†He let the crowd marinate on that for a minute before he sang “You Don’t Have to Call.†Reminding us of the treasures of the past, Usher went back and forth between his newer and older songs. After all, he’s 16 years in the game.
After his tribute where he literally filled the shoes representative of Michael Jackson, Usher continued to seduce with “Mars vs. Venus,†and “Nice and Slow.†From there it was hit after hit of his career, and the energy from him and the audience continued to build and build even until the very end when he performed “DJ Got Us Fallin In Love,†and finally “OMG.†This time, I didn’t question him leaving. He gave a full show and considering the very nature of all the performances, yes, I was ready to go “home.â€
So in answer to the aforementioned question, can/did this show serve as a form of foreplay, I would have to say, “Absolutely!†It stood up to the hype in every way. Miguel, Trey Songz, and Usher did half the work. I’m sure a lot of men were happy that night.
After walking into a small, dimly lit venue set for performing artists on a Tuesday night, the last thing on my mind was clothes. My focus was to study, pre-research D.C.’s hottest rappers before I actually interview them at a later date. But before the showcase and my preparation began, two passionate businessmen and a display of urban apparel captured my attention. My focus was diverted, but for good reason. I found a jewel and it’s called Dye City Sports.
Calvin Willis, co-CEO, designer, and sales rep, immediately piqued my interest in the colorful display of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and scarves encouraging me to check it out and see what I liked. And when I was too timid and proper to unfold a couple of shirts that I really wanted to pick up—I mean the set up looked so neat I really didn’t want to mess it up—Tyrone McClain, co-CEO, printer, and sales rep, gave me the go ahead. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll fold it back,†he laughed noticing my hesitation.
It’s one thing to like a product, but when the actual owners and producers are customer-friendly and lacking ego, it makes the company and its product that much more attractive. It was a no-brainer; I had to get an interview. Calvin took time away from his post, which was all throughout the venue networking with artists and other entrepreneurs, to give me insight into Dye City Sports.
Read more after the jump.
Samantha Luck: When and how did you start Dye City Sports? Calvin Willis: We started the company in 2000. I’ve always considered myself in the know of fashion. [Tyrone] propositioned me one day and said, “How would you like to take your fashion sense and start making your own clothes?†First, where we started was with a name. We bounced around for hours.
SL: What does the acronym D.Y.E. C.I.T.Y. stand for? CW: Designed In Young Eyes Created In Troubled Years. We incorporated the I and the Y, that’s why there’s a dot over the Y.
SL: Who is your audience? CW: My target audience is guys like myself. Guys from 16–36. Urban, fly, in the know of fashion. I want to reach an audience who may have never thought about an urban clothing line. I want to help people see that out of all chaos, there is some order. And those who may have perceived us as being ghetto or anything else can see that those people they considered ghetto or “hood,†can also be businessmen and professional. I want to be able to prove to the world that a young man from Northeast, D.C., can make it worldwide without falling into stereotypes.
SL: Tell me about the clothes for women. CW: We’re looking to make an expansion on what we’ve already done. We want to make our audience broader and include women. We want to kind of make a separate line, that way women can appreciate it. We don’t want it Dye City Sports, but Dye City’s Finest. I want them to feel as beautiful as possible but as comfortable as possible. I want women to understand that they don’t have to be what they see on TV to be beautiful.
SL: What’s the goal of the company? CW: We’re not looking for an overnight success. We’ve been working 10 years. People still don’t know who we are, but we still want people to be able to see us and think that we’re fresh, we’re new and at the same time, we’re used to this, we’re veterans.
SL: What is your size range? CW: Women: Small–1X. Men: Medium–3X. We make exceptions because it ain’t always about the sale, it’s about the customer. So don’t be afraid to approach us with something that can be perceived as outside the box.
SL: What items are you selling now?
CW: We have T-shirts, jackets (men only), scarves—several styles, simple and trendy.
SL: Can a customer have something custom made? CW: Yes, but that all depends on the time. If we’re in the middle of a large project then it’s kind of hard to do. But if we’ve already finished our whole line and say someone likes a design but in a specific color, we may be able to make that happen for them.
I actually built my reputation off of being able to match colors with sneakers. So if people have sneakers that they can’t find colors for, then I’ll make it happen for them. We’re extremely flexible. It’s about the customer. I actually enjoy what I do. And because I enjoy what I do, I can flex and bend to help other people out.
Ok, so…this is basically a conversation on Twitter that occurred between me and well-known producer Judah. I decided (after it seemed like we all agreed it would be a good idea to post) to throw this up here since there were some excellent points made in regards to DC Hip-Hop and succeeding within the industry as a whole. Enjoy after the jump.
Judah: To cultivate the growth of Hip-Hop coming out of DC, MD & VA, we need more DC, MD and VA artists on Nah Right, Rap Radar, All Hip Hop, etc.
Jon: Very tru, but here’s an idea: DC-Area artists could also support their own as far as Hip-Hop blogs as well.
Judah: Not enough. Plus, it wouldn’t hold as much weight as a Nah Right, etc. I have had www.forthedmvonly.com 4 2 years. I know…they do support [though]. At least on [my website] they do!
Jon: True, but I would say that we (me and you) don’t hold as much weight because we as a city don’t give each other that value. Not to twist it because we recieve support as well…I just see a lot of DC-area artists putting DC media behind others……and by media i’m not talking about the radio. That’s another story.
Judah: You lost me but point blank is the local artists support my site, but we need the world to support. The world supports Nah Right, etc.
Jon: I guess what I’m saying is that I believe the world, blogs, etc. don’t see us because we aren’t as united as the other cities…
Judah: Other cities aren’t UNITED either. They’re going through what we’re going through, too.
Jon: You would think so. All cities have that conflict, but we’re WAY worse for different reasons.
Judah: There’s no measure to the degree of hate, but this problem is everywhere, not just here, so that’s no excuse.
Jon: Not trying to make excuses. I’m merely stating an unavoidable issue. Until certain things are addressed, we will remain where we are in Hip-Hop. I’m open to hearing why this is just an excuse. We are the only city without an actual state. we can’t even collectively decide on what “DMV” actually is to represent it.
Judah: Who cares what the DMV actually represents. The DMV is over if you ask me. Shit is fucked up everywhere as far as Hip-Hop.
Jon: A lot of people care, apparently. I hear you on that fully though, believe it or not. But we’re not the majority.
Judah: I’ve seen 11+ years of Hip-Hop music develop here and the issues aren’t the obvious.
Jon: OK…what would you say the issues are?
Judah: Besides the declining sales and money in the game, the outside doesn’t respect you Hip-Hop wise. They don’t acknowledge our Hip-Hop arts. We are Go-Go thugs down here. I’ve sat with New York oG dudes that blatantly said New York industry niggas don’t fuck with DC niggas. [With] R&B we’re good, but Hip-Hop back in the day was comparable to the drug game and I hope you know the history [between] DC vs. NY in drugs. Now the fact that there’s strife amongst the local artists adds on to the pre-existing problem. So let me give u a break down of the dick riding industry: an artist gets on from Florida, California, Texas or the Midwest, what does the game do? Go and sign other artist from that region. When an artist gets on from here, did the industry sign any other artist? I’ll wait for an answer. (laughs) [Look at] Texas: Mike jones, then Paul Wall, then Slim Thug, then Chamillionaire and others…[look at] Florida: Trick Daddy, DJ Khaled, Cool & Dre, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, etc…[look at] Atlanta…do I have to name all the Atlanta artists that got deals after Atlanta blew up? [Now look at] DC…Wale and who else?
Jon: (laughs) See, I agree with that, but WHY is what I’m asking…are you saying it’s because NYC still hates us because of drugs and Go-Go? Does NYC even still hold that precedent with the South doing what its doing?
Judah: No, it’s not because of drugs and Go-Go today. In the early 90’s and late 80’s, yeah, but now, NO!
Jon: That’s where I was saying its because of us as a city…trust, I agree with the whole NYC issue, but I still feel that we are still messing it up for ourselves more than anything.
Judah: In my opinion, it’s various reasons: weak music, our reps are not respected, we bite other Hip-Hop fads, etc…our identity is weak as a city. I respect your opinion & you’re my brother, so respect, but regardless, if we weren’t messing it up for ourselves it would still be tough. The industry is the SOUTH! There wouldn’t be no industry right now if there was no New Orleans, Texas, Atlanta or Florida. They saved the game from New York.
Jon: Hmmm…so back then when we had an identity, we were hated by New York City who was running it…now we’ve lost our identity…I think I’ve just been enlightened.
Judah: The music back then was street, dark, slow, gangsta, real, accurate…now our artists sound like 95% of the artist on Nah Right. Listen to the music that Section 8, Smash Task, Hood Life, Percell Records and Chocolate City put out and see what we’ve lost.
Jon: How can we worry so much about unity when we need to worry about the identity we’ve lost trying to become everyone else…true.
There is a distinctive line between fact and fiction. Some indulge in the truth while others swim in fiction as if it werea vault full of gold and their name was Scrooge McDuck.
Fact:MC Hammer’s real name is Stanley Kirk Burrell.
Fact: 2 Legit to Quit is timeless. Yeah, you know the hand movements. Don’t play with me.
Fact: EVERYBODY was uncomfortable during that Pumps and a Bump phase (You were. Trust me)
Fact: Have you seen this?
These are things we know. We also know that besides his impact on pop culture and hiphop, MC Hammer will never escape three things. The Hammer Dance, Hammer Pants, and bankruptcy.13 Million dollars to be exact. So my question is….
How many cans did he have to recycle to afford to pay for not one, but THREE diss videos to Jay-Z?
Read more after the jump. The cans maybe fiction, but the fact that he probably had to rob Peter to Pay Paul to afford which is probably to date one of the lamest “diss†videos ever produced is just evidence of how far Mr. Burrell has fallen. Please, Hammer don’t hurt me. I’m just saying. The video starts off with Hammer entering a room full of “executivesâ€, one whom has taken to wearing his sunglasses on the back of his head ( good job on looking official, Daughtry) , while Hammer, who looks to have borrowed a suit from Goodwill talks on what is probably a Boost Mobile phone and also dons a pair of sunglasses. The “director†of the video makes sure to pan in on the “BeatsAudio†which unless Dr. Dre produced this video, which I DOUBT highly by theway, has nothing to do with nothing.
So as abruptly as he enters the “meeting†, that got absolutely NOTHING accomplished, he leaves to go “take care of somethingâ€. And by the “something”, we mean Jay-Z.
And for the love of Jesus (no pun intended) Hammer proceeds to find the most manboobingst- white tee-yankee fitting wearing Jay-Z lookalike (by lookalike, we mean no resemblance whatsoever) he could find to…CHASE through the woods. If you did not laugh when “It’s the Fire†was whispered as the “devil†juked and jived after Mr. Carter through the forest of failure, you have no soul.
Again, how many rolls of coins did he have to take to Coinstar to pay the dancers? Then…my God, comedy gold. 2:40: The All White Everything. He didn’t borrow that. That came from his own personal collection. Hammer has style.
Wait. Did he BAPTIZE HIM? Because, we all know you’re completely qualified to baptize someone; with you being a preacher and all (as the crowd commences the coldest of all side-eyes).
So Hammer has the power to stop the devil, now? Sure. Bet he wish he had the power to stop the government from seizing his property.
“If I knock on your door, boy, I bust you in the mouthâ€.Hammer, sir. SIR.
Apparently, Hammer didn’t intend for this to be a skit worthy of a spot on Saturday Night Live, which in turns means he failed. But beside the fact that he wasted a good five minutes of my life that I have no hopes of ever getting back, there has been no improvement to his lyrical skill, the video looks as UNmotivating and UNamazing as his last acting gig with Cash4Gold, and instead of insulting Jay-Z, he’s managed to make himself look…well I have no words.
If the only way you can return fire from a lackadaisical diss, is to bombard us with video after video of hopelessness, well then we don’t want it. Did you pay attention to the last man that dissed Jay-Z? Beans, and he can actually rap. And for Beans efforts, I actually LAUGHED. You have no business in a studio, nor pulpit, and hip hop should serve you a restraining order. If you could just kindly remove yourself from the premises, we shall have no problems.
To all of my fellow residents of the DC Metro Area (this includes the city AND its surrounding areas, PG, Montgomery, Arlington and Alexandria, etc): what is DMV? No, seriously…what is it? Here is my definition. As far as the rest of us, I can say that I have asked at least 10 people this question and I have gotten 10 different answers. Among them:
1) It’s DC, MD & VA…that simple. That means if you live in ATKINS VIRGINIA (go ahead and look that up) you are still part of the culture here.
2) It’s DC, Northern VA and PG and Mo. County (or some variation of this): this is what a lot of folks have said, basically keeping the boundaries true to form but replacing it with the new term. By that, it’s harder to dispute but in the end the term is still confusing because of number 1 and some seemingly saying…
3) It’s number 2 PLUS Baltimore: look, before anyone thinks this is some sort of diss, it isn’t. I love the city of Baltimore as well as the surrounding area, and the talent there is no different from here (and as far as being put on the map in Hip-Hop, they seemed ahead of the game). But this is the thing–they have their own identity as a city just as we do, and it’s a great thing when both cities come together. But we are not one entity, so when I hear one group of people break down the previous meaning, it ultimately gets negated every time a Baltimore or Richmond artist reps the DMV. Do you see where shit is getting confusing? No?
Read more after the jump.
Who is from where in this above video?
Another thing, actually let’s make it two:
1) I’ve gotten a lot of people thinking by me hating this term that it means I’m not feeling anything outside of the city lines as a part of the culture. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Wale IS DC. This is what I feel. He grew up in a place that allowed him to become just as much a part of the city and it’s characteristics as I did, plain and simple, but when we said he was doing it for DC, people shunned him because he lived in a Maryland suburb? Outkast are from East Point, GA. That doesn’t count? How about UGK? They’re from Port Arthur, TX. These are two examples of artists who both recognize where they’re from as well as the fact that they are a major part of the major cities they also represent. To add to this, anybody that learned from DC history is probably aware of the migration of lower and middle-income residents into the suburbs. You want to prove to me that you support our own? Let Wale say he’s from DC without so much as a word about it unless it’s of support. And let’s turn the topic around for a second…
2) We had an interview with Black Cobain, and I’m not sure if I had a true understanding of one part of the interview–he basically talked about how DMV is cool, but he’s here to rep VA. While he may not have meant it in this manner, it did bring up another part of the issue which bothers me a little bit…some people who are without a doubt a part of our city’s culture only identify with the area they are from exclusively (the Commonwealth state is an example) with no connection to DC whatsoever. To better explain my stance on that, I’m from Uptown (Hilltop to be specific). I associate with that first, but I recognize that it’s still a part of the area as a whole. Different neighborhoods in the area do have their characteristics (slang, style, whatever) but you put us all side by side, it’s very clear that we all come from the same place. Dipset rep Harlem but you know they’re a part of New York. My point is that I hope anyone that may have that mindset can see that although your “neighborhood” is in one of the two states, everything about you screams “District of Columbia” whether you want to agree with that or not. Don’t believe me? Go to [insert HBCU here] and see how much you stand out from the rest of the folks from the DC area.
At the end of the day, I know to most people reading this, I’m like the old guy that sits on the porch yelling at kids in the street all day. I may be…and I do understand that time brings change. But I’m afraid that we may eventually lose our identity. When I grew up, it seemed like we were damn near comparable to the kids who grew up in Staten Island (minus Wu-Tang): fairly isolated from the rest of the country and therefore one of the most unique. We have lost some of that identity, perhaps due to folks now falling in line with what they see on TV or hear on the radio more than previous generations ever did. Maybe the ones that came before me can correct me by saying that my generation did the same thing. Whatever the case, to blur us in with the areas that surround us so broadly is a bad idea to me that could potentially cause everything that was unique only to the Washington, DC metropolitan area to disappear.
The power of words, my friends. The power of words…
Me and Jay were speaking on this earlier…I was listening to DC emcee Fat Trel’s latest No Secrets (which is nice, by the way) and came upon a track early in called ‘Deep Thoughts’. Five seconds in I immediately think about Prodigy’s (of Mobb Deep) ‘Diamond’ from his classic H.N.I.C. Other Hip-Hop fans will also remember Joe Budden’s use of the sample (. Quite frankly it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a hundred others, this is a really sick sample.
With all this said, I had to throw these up here with the original, which is from a crazy timeless Syreeta (and Stevie Wonder) track ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’ from Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta.
While I had no real intentions to talk about this, I figure this is worth noting, since it could cause a bit of change: Method Man (who also got the Tila Tequila treatment during his and Redman’s performance, as you can see above) has told TMZ (where you can check out more photos of his injury) that he actually plans to sue for the injury:
“It’s not OK … I don’t condone throwing things at the talent while they’re performing. It takes a lot of heart and balls to continue performing after you’ve been hit in the faceâ€.
Look, not to turn Obama or anything, but let’s be clear: if you are Hip-Hop, then you have at least heard of the Insane Clown Posse (just ask Eminem). While not knowing about the juggalos specifically might be understandable for even a heavy Hip-Hop fan, Method Man has been in the industry for over two decades: you kind of have to have known what you were getting yourself into. With that said, he has every right to sue, and by doing so might actually have a larger effect on that whole movement as a whole. The day a juggalo leaves from that double wide with his sister that he’s married to only to attend a concert he can’t throw rocks in just might cause enough of a decline with that group to cause even Chino XL to crack a smile. So good luck with that…and unless a huge rap beef erupts over this, I (probably) won’t be posting anything else about it here.
August 21st, 2010, MidiEast studios in Alexandria, VA. A place with many different hats (the business has many other functions, such as a barbershop and a multimedia marketing arm) has become the setting for Uptown DC’s Kingpen Slim and his latest work, The Beam Up 2. His manager, P Stew, is out front cooking out for the attendees while Slim and producer J Buttah (along with the studio’s staff) try to get everything set up for the listening session. As we approach the start of said event, everyone (including myself) are all pretty attentive to the breakdown of what we are about to hear. And those who are reading this are probably laughing at the fact that I’m making this sound as if I’m about to hear The Blueprint 4.
All jokes aside, throughout said listening session I did my best to capture each song to the best of my ability (as well as the explanations of the music from Kingpen Slim and crew). I was going to do a drawn out preview, but I believe it will be more effective if I just post my notes (part of me wishes I just did this as a live blog, but quite frankly, I was way too engrossed in the musical orgasm I was experiencing. Pause). So, with that said, let’s get to it, shall we?
Read the rest after the jump.
The album is 15 tracks deep (12 tracks, with 3 bonus tracks), of which we heard all but one (the one we missed out on was the Gone remix with Malice). Most of the tracks were produced by J Buttah, with additional contributions from the likes of Mark Henry (no, not Sexual Chocolate) and Best Kept Secret (if you’ve listened to Wale’s The Mixtape About Nothing, then you should be more than familiar with them). His biggest introductory statement dealt with wanting to basically take his next Beam Up installment both further and in another direction from its predecessor. It was also noted that this album took him about a year to complete in comparison to 2 months for the first album. Any other information in particular was given in between songs.
The intro is called ‘Brand New Day’ (there is a feature but i missed the name, sounded like he said “Median”, no doubt I’m probably wrong) [This was later corrected as Midian]. Comes off somewhat like John Legend’s ‘Ordinary People’. Pianos come in heavy off break, base heavy, great voice from the feature. Talks about continuing his path, making it, adversity that’s he’s faced. There is a voicemail included from his grandmother where she is reading a prayer. Live instrumentation from flute and saxophone.
‘Big’ is the next track, was apparently inspired by Life After Death (so is it actually titled B.I.G.?). This record was produced by Trilogy. Recording of Biggie starts it off, heavy orchestrated opera type vibe follows. Synthesizer heavy, airy keys, “big cars, big rims, I’ma do it big” on the chorus. A lotta of bravado, Slight singing on bridge near the end.
Early thoughts are that this may be the greatest album I may ever hear from a local artist. Just giving you my thoughts. Moving along…
‘Gone’. Definitely familiar with this one. Very powerful record, personally very bewildered as to why it didn’t catch fire in the clubs, on the radio or on TV (though I have an idea, lack of support from DC area radio for a start).
‘One King’, he pretty much explains it as him having that respect for his peers in general while still destroying them. Starts off with a wah wah guitar (perhaps?), kind of east Hip-Hop feel with heavy bass. Talks about “standing alone, I’m on my own, there can only be one king”. Followed by P Stew sports analogy.
‘My Life Is A Movie’ is The Jim Jones track from the Ghost of Rich Porter, although even better because the track heard on the Jim Jones record had one verse from each, whereas this version also has two additional verses from Kingpen Slim. He speaks on his meeting Jones in New York, playing him beats, Jim loving this particular one. Beat holds similar vibe to previous track, talks about true life, his own, in general. Sick break down in production for chorus. References to casino “it’s a cold world like winter”, ginger, etc.
Speaks on next song, called ’21 Gun Salute’, being based on the situation in Jamaica regarding Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke (which makes this a favorite, as it hits close to home), likens it to Fabolous and Junior Reid’s ‘Gangsters Don’t Play’. Starts with news reports on Dudus. Heavy bass, DJ/toasting on chorus and bridges by Edley Shine (of Born Jamericans, remember?). We of course heard this track in a recent video trailer. Very big reggae vibe, dark but powerful melody.
‘Bulldozer’, gets into his playboy shit, version we hear isn’t finished (as I update this all after the fact, i believe this may be one of the few tracks DJ Buttah stopped and replayed so that we could hear the final version). Definite southern/strip club vibe, “let me take your clothes off” in chorus. Hoe theme, stunting, definitely should be played in a strip club. Someone singing for bridge and choruses, heavy synthesizers, drums reminiscent of classic Timbaland.
‘Cologne’, produced by Mark Henry, grown man fly shit. Very old school vibe (what sample is this?). Drums very heavy, though not as bass central. Each verse describes his feeling, illustration of a cologne he’s using, very creative.
‘Goosebumps’, tried a whole new flow (though you still know it’s him), comes in R&B like. Singing on chorus, more grown man shit, ladies will love it. “Give you goosebumps when I’m pulling on your hair” on chorus. P Stew calls it a smash hit record, placement, ad-libs, everything well placed (I’m no veteran on the radio but I agree).
‘For The Win’, they submitted it to ESPN, band horns start it off (I think they said Mark Henry did this?) Big school band sound (think ‘Drumline’), chanting on chorus, “the win, the win, the win…” Dancing by P Stew to illustrate record. Lots of sports analogies, could definitely see this on ESPN or, quite frankly, a Skins game.
Best Kept Secret production, ‘Toast’, talks about celebration, popping champagne. Uses the same sample as Ludacris and Common’s ‘Do The Right Thing’. My favorite on the album hands down. Plenty of punchlines, great lyricism.
Outro (12 tracks–I see everyone’s going for the shorter albums now, just a thought I had at that point). DJ Buttah made this beat 6 years ago, has live instrumentation. Song is the closest thing to a gogo vibe as far as drums, but defintely not a gogo record in the least. The beat continuously evolves upon further listen (you kind of see this in his production throughout the album. Ridiculous saxophone solo. P Stew explains how the intro could be outro and vice versa, further expounds by speaking on how everything stays continuous with the album.
Extra notes: there will be a Beam Up 3 to finish out the trilogy. Cringeworthy reference to “DMV” is made.
First Bonus: ‘Parties All The Time’. Party track (duh), drum and bass heavy, parties all the time loop in the background. Could be in the clubs like ‘Gone’ should’ve been. Produced by Cash Flow.
Second Bonus: ‘The Way You Move’. We heard this one already. Group cut with STS, Wale & Phil Ade. Nice old school sample, definitely uptempo. Welcome addition of STS, heard plenty of stuff from him (Sole Music), best known for his Roots collaboration (Right On). Everyone kills it lyrically, and I mean everyone.
That’s it. Beam Up 2 drops 8/31. My personal rating? It’s hard to give anything a perfect 10 score without sounding as if you’re bias (like I really give a shit), so I’ll give it a 9.999998. It’s that good. Hopefully we’ll score an interview in the near future.
Back in 1973 on the same date, the first house party was held in a small recreation room at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx, New York. Over time, these house parties became more popular, later moving to Cedar Park in the same neighborhood. This house party signified the birth of a movement and a culture, later referred to as Hip-Hop.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIP-HOP. RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
So, yeah, just thought I’d make mention of this…I’m not sure, but it’s very possible (thought with my skills unlikely) that there may be a post or two on here that’s a duplicate. If so, I do apologize…I’m currently in the UK (and Jamoris is currently in D.R. experimenting with hookers….naw, I’m only half joking), so unfortunately don’t have my trusty desktop like I usually do (yes, I need a laptop, sue me…in fact, by birthday is coming up, so feel free to purchase one for me). Anyways, forgive the potential higher-than-normal errors you may or may not be seeing (but probably not). Enjoy the site!
A little late but right on time “Trill OG”, dealing with the new label the Houston legend finally drops his third studio album. Bun B gives the fan 100% every time; he will not give his fans a half ass album. When you go out and get a Bun B album you know what you’re getting and grown to love. Some artist try to revamp there music and try to find a new sound, not Bun B if it isn’t broke why fix it.
On the record “Church!!!†he welcomes drake as the newest member to the family. I wonder does that mean maybe a new super group in the making. I know there will never be another UGK but Drake & Bun B will make a hell of a group Church!!! Bun B boasting on the record he is one of the best that ever did it. I can disagree with him plus when you got respect from a lot of your peers in the game. The first single “Countin Money All Day (feat Gucci Mane & Yo Gotti)”, the track features that beat you can only
Can only appreciate with some 15’s in back of car and choppers on the wheels,
You know that pimp shit? It’s a club banger that going have the south going nuts in the club.The Trill OG features a special track called “Right Now(feat Tupac, Pimp C & Trey Songz)”,it’s a pretty dope concept the track features a Tupac verse is from the 90’s ,a Pimp C’s from the 2000s and a current verse from Bun B. The engineer did an excellent job to mix the record and give the illusion that all four artist went in the booth to record the track.
The second single “Trillionare (feat T-Pain)”, am I the only one who is tired of this dude T-pain I thought the homie Jay-z killed Auto-tune last summer? The record is actually not that bad at all, it’s actually a good single that maybe do well on the billboard charts and become popular in mainstream American. The third single “Just like that (Young Jeezy)”, the record has two artists on the track who have been underrated their whole career. Bun B & Jeezy going back and forth on a dope ass beat, I swear when the record comes on you can’t help but to rock to it. Newcomer Drake is feature on two tracks on the album “Put it Down” & “Its Been Pressure”, the two artist work very well together and I really think they would make a very good group. The well-known magazine The Source has gave the album 5 mics in this month’s issue, which means they label the album flawless and an instant classic. I have nothing bad to say about the album, it a great album.
It’s about damn time; the bx rapper has finally hit another one out the park with the new album” The Darkside Vol. 1 which is his tenth studio album. Coming off two very bad albums with “Elephant in the Room” &†Jose 2â€, many felt the BX rapper has lost it and he was unable to put out a good album.
The first single “(Ha) Slow Downâ€, the record features Young Jeezy and sample from the intro of the street classic Belly. The sample has been over used in the industry in my opinion. Several rappers have recorded freestyles over the song’s instrumental, including The Lox, Talib Kweli, Shyne, Adil Omar, Game, Rick Ross, Nipsey Hussle, Raekwon, Jim Jones, and French Montana. The second single “If It Ain’t About Money”, the record is a nice summer record to blast in the ride with Trey Songz on the hook. The homie Trey Songz seems like he is all over everybody record these days. The record “Kilo”, might be the hottest song on the album with Cam’ron & The Clipse. Some other bangers on the album are “Rappers in Danger”,†Heavenly Father (feat Lil Wayne), and “Valley of Death”. Production on the This album proves the rapper isn’t finish and is able to make a good album. The album probably won’t sell well or chart well on the billboards but it’s the Fat Joe best work in years.
A while ago, I had the pleasure of being in the company of a good friend of mines, a diabolical lyricist and very knowledgeable hip hop enthusiast (www.tripod3xperience.com), who unbelievably was able to convince me to listen to a track off of Teflon Don.
It’s a known fact that I don’t have the greatest (like) for Rick Ross. His music never did it for me. Not to say that he isn’t a talented entertainer. He has an uncanny ability to ride a beat like it was the cousin of Seabiscut. Shall we call him Red Pollard?
My problem is a personal one. Besides the fact that he could wear every bra I own comfortably, it seems that he has been able to pull off one of the biggest done in broad daylight heist of reputation known to man. Just ten years ago, it was an industry standard to call a rapper on his B.S. If you can remember, when the two tyrants of hip hop bullied the truth into the public eye with so much tenacity, one would be foolish not to pay attention.
But I digress; because it Deeper Than Snacks. As I mentioned besides the famed BMF and MC Hammer, I had the pleasure of listening to. “MayBach Music Three”. People have a deep passion for all things Maybach Music, so my thoughts were; this HAS to be dope, despite my bias. Through a Clave-fatigued ear, said friend briefly dissected the track for me. Enough for me to go home, take what he said, amplify it and rip it to shreds.
YES. This track is DOPE. Listening to it upside down, backwards and forwards, you can’t deny the pure bag it up and sell it effect of this song. Collectively, for Two Minutes and 30 seconds Justice League musically assaulted our ears with smoothness that’d you wouldn’t expect to be found within a twenty paces of a Rick Ross album. I was impressed. Reverently, impressed. T.I and Kiss handle this track as if it were created just for them, and what the dopeage that is Erykah Badu does to the hook can only be described as “…..” (Yeah that’s pure vibe right there)
Then…. your two minutes and thirty seconds are up. Guess what happens? Officer Ricky shows up. While he was explaining it, I had to actually look down at the radio to make sure the track hadn’t ended and I was listening to the next song.
Everything changes. Live Band-Horn Heavy-Beat Smooth sample is GONE; Erykah is nowhere to be found; only a rasping heavily breathing, LOUD Ross on a track, throwing me out of the vibe I had found myself VERY comfortable in.
Why?
Do not get me wrong, the “Side B” of this track was still pretty hot. Ross does what he does best and flowed over the beat like silk; loud, bright, heavily patterned silk, but still silk the same.
But who was in charge? Who didn’t step forward and say “Don’t Blast! Here’s The Stash! This song is JUST fine how it is!” Another track called Maybach Music FOUR wouldn’t have hurt, if you’d just left this song by its lonesome. But then again, what do I know? It MUST be Deeper Than Rap.
