You Want The Realness, Well, I Gotcha

This summer has been full of new music I've come across, and like always theres that music that passes and the occasional songs that stick. This isn't a tribute to those persay, but its a post displaying some of the songs I've encoutered during my 10 day stay in the Sunshine State and over the rest of my summer vacation. These mostly catchy tunes caught my ear and I guess are worth sharing. I'm talking about these songs that may not be getting the airplay they deserve, so you're not going to see any Shoulder Lean here.


Lupe Fiasco - I Gotcha
Media-named "Future of Hip-Hop" and Fader Magazine proclamined "Hip-Hop Wiz Kid" Lupe throws it down nice as usual. I'm definately looking forward to Food and Liquor, out September 19th. Catchy beat, classic Lupe. Keep 'em coming.

Rick Ross - Push It
Ross spits over a recycled Scarface beat. Worth Hustlin' status? - you tell me.

Ray Cash - Bumpin' My Music
Early Summer song, but it's still worth mentioning.

The Game - One Blood
I find the first single off his sophomore album, the Doctor's Advocate, to be impressive, but its no Hate It or Love It. I'm anxious to hear if the Cali Kid can do it again, even without the help of Fitty.

Young Jibbs - Do Your Chain Hang Low
It's the kids during the hook that really get me. Plus, no one can ever get enough of these songs devoted to bling.

Triple X - Hater Blockers On
Hater blockers, stunna shades, whatever. They're all sunglasses to me. You got 'em on?

Mims - This Is Why I'm Hot
Who knows why I enjoy this song. Maybe it's because I can relate. Love the sampling and display of different subgenres of hip-hop.

Talib Kweli - What I Feel
Love Talib, decent song.

Jurassic 5 - Where We At
"I heard brothas say J5, man, them niggas ain't shit." I beg to differ. Lyrical mastery.

Inspectah Deck - Do My Thing
It's good to see the Wu still alive.

Rhymefest ft. Kanye West - More
Another Chi-Town rapper and another good song. "The entire concept behind my project is to fight the wackness that 'rap' has become. There are enough people trying to be gangsters without me going that route. What we need in hip-hop right now are rappers who are both truthful and entertaining." -Rhymefest.com

Go Stupid, Dummy, Retarded

Being from the east coast, specifically the white middle-class town of Bristol, Connecticut, it seems that I am one of the rare fans of E-40 and other hyphy artists, and even rarer, I may be one of the only ones in the area to actually own My Ghetto Report Card.

Hyphy is not only a style of music, very reminiscent to the crunk music of the South, but it's a way of life. Ridin' the yellow bus, ghost ridin' the whip, stunna shades, thizz face, gas break dippin', side shows, etc.
The term is a combination of the words "hype" and "fly".

It began to emerge in early 2000 as a response from Bay Area rappers against commercial hip hop for not acknowledging the Bay for setting trends in the hip hop industry. Although the "hyphy movement" has just recently seen light in mainstream America, it has been a long standing and evolving culture in the Bay Area.

It is distinguished by gritty, pounding rhythms, and in this sense can be associated with the Bay as crunk music is to the South. An individual is said to "get hyphy" when they act or dance in an overstated and ridiculous manner. Contrary to popular belief, the musical aspect of the movement has very few similarities to Crunk music, as it is dictated by more uptempo beats and a techno sound. E-40 is seen by many in the Bay Area as the "door opener" to a much bigger movement yet to be exposed to the world in its entirety.
-Hyhpy, Wikipedia

Rip Mac Dre.

Here's a sampling of some of my favorite hyphy joints fro artists like E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Mistah FAB, and The Federation:

E-40 ft. The Clipse - Quarterbackin'
Mistah Fab ft. E-40, Turf Talk - Super Sick Wid It Remix
The Federation - 18 Dummy
The Federation ft. Keak Da Sneak, E-40, Turf Talk, San Quinn - Hyphy Remix
E-40 - Yay Area (This File Must Be Opened In iTunes)

Let's Slow It Down For The Ladies

You take those classic down south tracks and let us listen to 'em longer. It's an acquired taste, to say the least, and plays off the result of the illegal activities involving that purple drink going down in Houston, Texas.
RIP DJ Screw.

"I'm screwed up."
-Ludacris

Rick Ross - Hustlin'
Nelly ft. Chingo Bling, Paul Wall - Grillz Remix
Young Jeezy ft. Akon - Soul Survivor
Yung Joc - It's Going Down

The Only Thing Goin' Down Is His Career

Yung Joc has been gaining popularity on the mainsteam level, with most of his sucess attributed to his involvement in the rap group Boyz N Da Hood, while his street-cred is being constantly questioned, even as far as being named on one of the three wackest rappers by the Game himself, along with many other rap critics. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed It's Going Down and was even more satisfied when I discovered Like This with Marques Houston, which I personally consider one of the better rap and r&b compilations of the year.

Judging by Joc's newest release, I Know You See It, I see his future falling off to be eminent because of his elementary rap style and whack commercial beats.

The Pro's (The term's used loosley.)
Yung Joc - Its Goin' Down
Marques Houston ft. Yung Joc - Like This

The Con's (and I'm not talkin' fellonies.)
Yung Joc - I Know You See It
The Rest of New Joc City

Local Lyrcism

Our own JR Dirty, known as Dirty J to most, has put out his debut underground album, Down In The Cut. This unsigned local rapper recorded eight tracks which I'd love to share with you, for those sorry few who have not heard them yet. Along with so many others, I am looking forward to his second set of tracks which are rumored to be released sometime in September. Keep 'em coming Jordan.

"Rhymes tight, like rubberbands to the wrist."
"What they say about me, boy, I'm hot, I'm hot."
- JR Dirty


Down In The Cut:

1. I'm Hot
2. Pay Attention
3. Still Feel Me
4. Mandatory
5. I Don't Know
6. Ain't No Stoppin' Me
7. Come Holla
8. Get Money (Double Up)
*I'm not too sure about a few of the official track names so an educated guess was the best I could do. These files are to be opened in iTunes because of their format.

Wild for Idlewild

Anyone else looking forward to the release of Idlewild, and I'm not talking the movie? Well I can't wait to see what Kast has up their sleeves this time, and I'm just hoping that they don't end up letting me down, especially considering that this may be the last we see of the poet and the pimp together as one. It will be interesting to see if they can meet that HeyYa-level, although the 11 million Speakerboxxx/Love Below albums sold will be hard to match.

As you listen to the tracks you may notice what I noticed. As Big Boi keeps getting better, Dre continues to get frutier, but thats what we like about the pair, right? A catchy, new sound everytime they drop. Although it took twenty minutes for leaks like The Might "O" to be all over the internet and twenty days for it to hit the radio, I am always happy to keep sharing new shit from the fellas.

[Andre 3000] adds that he doesn't know how OutKast, with its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing sound, has managed to stay on top of its game for so long: "The only way I can explain how we've stayed on this long with switching and changing is, it's a power that we have nothing to do with. I mean, that's true. A lot of times I write lyrics and come up with melodies and music and write songs and I don't even know where it's coming from. So I guess it's because we're supposed to be doing it."
-HipHopMusic.com Interview


Idlewild's:
Outkast - The Mighty "O"
Big Boi ft. Scar, Sleepy Brown - Morris Brown
Outkast ft. Lil’ Wayne, Snoop Dogg - Hollywood Divorce
Big Boi ft. Scar & Sleepy Brown - The Train

Throwback Track:
Outkast - So Fresh and So Clean

A Tribute To Skateboard P

Although he has just released his debut solo album, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes is nothing new to the industry. He has helped produce primarly hit hip-hop tracks for major artists like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, the Clipse, and Slim Thug, among many others totalling more than 30 artists. His success with singles and releases, including those from his newest album, In My Mind, seem to be hit or miss with most listeners. With his unique beats and catchy lyricm Skateboard P has emerged as a highly talented entertainer.

On top of his musical exploits, Pharrell has dabbled into other fields including a clothing line, the Billionaire Boys Club, a skateboard line, Ice Cream Skate Line, to which he's signed professional skaters including his younger brother, and a record lable, Star Trak Entertainment.

"I put Snoop in the coupe, I put Slim in the Slab."
"Trust me, P is no pimp. See I got heavy pockets, so I walk with a limp."
-Pharrell Williams

Here's a sampling of some of my favorite new releases from the genius himself.

From In My Mind:
Pharrell - Raspy Shit
Pharrell ft. Slim Thug - Keep It Playa
Pharrell ft. Daddy Yankee - Mamacita (cut from the final release)
Pharrell ft. Kanye West - Number One

Other drops:
Ludacris ft. Pharrell - Money Maker
The Clipse ft. Pharrell - Mr. Me Too
Sleepy Brown ft. Pharrell, Big Boi - Margarita
Slim Thug ft. Pharrell - Already Platinum