The Art Of Storytellin'

Much of what is overlooked in the mainstream rap industry is an artist's ability to tell a story in their flow - a story that is coherent and enjoyable to listeners of all walks of life. Hip-hop is, as OutKast put it, the art of storytelling, and a song that is an amazing example of this is Slick Rick's Children Story. This track was so influential, even today we still see rappers taking this classic example of hip-hop and putting their own, fresh, new twist on the track.

Slick Rick - Children's Story

Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli) - Children's Story

Double O (of Kidz In The Hall) - Children's Story

Bonus: The Game - Compton Story

Gangsta Lovin'

As an up and coming Atlanta rapper, B.o.B is drawing attention because his raw southern flow that I see as a hybrid of Andre 3000 and T.I. He was featured on the track On Top of the World off T.I.'s newest album, Paper Trail. Below I've thrown together a compilation of his remix to T.I.'s joint, and a song off his ill mixtape, and the mixtape itself. Hopefully, you'll be able to hear more of this dude in the future.

B.o.B ft. T.I., Ludacris - On Top Of The World Remix :: This remix adds a genuine southern flavor to the track, that compliments Tip and Luda in the dopest of manners and reflects how southern rap influenced him growing up.

B.o.B - Use Your Love :: I'm throwing a bonus of the song he sampled, as well: The Outfield - I Don't Want To Lose Your Love

Who The Fuck Is B.o.B? Mixtape :: This is definitely a mixtape I can listen through from beginning to end. He is a talented artists who can flow, can lyricize, and whose production creates some amazing tracks.


Keep an eye out for this dude. Hopefully he'll make his way towards mainstream light.

A Very Young Hov

I had originally posted this a couple of weeks back, but the hip-hop police over at the record companies didn't like that I was sharing some of Jigga's new tracks with you. I took all the joints from Blueprint 3 off the post, but hopefully you'll still enjoy the low-key classics I'm here to share:

I'm sure many of you share my excitement for Jay's upcoming album, The Blueprint 3. It's great that another track from Hova's eleventh studio album leaked, but I find the song History [link removed] lackluster. Personally, I expect more from a man that's given the hip-hop industry so much to date. I can also honestly say it was not one of the songs I was the most anxious to hear, Swagga Like Us Pt. 2. For the time being, I will be leaving you with some rare cuts, some early classics, and some back-in-the-day freestyles. It's interesting to note how Hova's flow has shifted from his fast flows coming up to his more refined flow now, but he's always kept the same Young Hov flow.

The compilation of tracks includes:
Big L ft. Jay-Z - Homerun Hitters Freestyle
Jay-Z - 1991 Freestyle at Big Daddy Kane's Birthday
Jay-Z - 1993 Freestyle
Jay-Z - Addicted To The Game
Jay-Z - Can I Git It Open
Jay-Z - Dead or Alive, Pt. 2 (Tupac Diss)
Jay-Z - Early This Morning
Jay-Z - What's In A Name
Jay-Z ft. Rude Boyz - My Kind Of Girl
Jaz O ft. Jay-Z - Hawaiian Sophie
Jaz O ft. Jay-Z - Originators '99


You can download it here.


Just throw your diamonds in the sky until I get my next playlist up.