AKA Mr. Never Take A Day Off

By now, many of you have heard Jay-Z's D.O.A., or Death of Autotone. He says something on this track that many have been saying for a while now. The industry needs to make the move back the the real hip-hop that has been successful so far and get away from the ringtone rap trend with pseudo-sung choruses. Hov get's gritty on the track, and I think the instrumental it really shines.

Now to have a young, new artist like Asher Roth rap over the great Jay's standard track may seem a little far-fetched, but the rookie really does he thing. I definitely tend to enjoy what Ash puts out, and this track is no different. He delivers right straight through the song, much like he did on a Song Cry freestyle he did for DJ Semtex a while back.

Enjoy each track for what it is. I know I'm given both of them about equal rotation.

Jay-Z - D.O.A.
Asher Roth - D.O.A. Freestyle

Bonus: Asher Roth - Song Cry Freestyle

Who's Next? Pt. 1: Jay Electronica

People are always asking me who I'm listening to, who I think is the next big MC, etc. So, I've decided to put together my version of XXL's freshman class.

For those of you who don't know what this is, earlier this year XXL Magazine came out with an issue of who they believe are the top 10 young artists to watch this year. Over the next 10 days I'm going to do the same. Some of the MC's I name may not be as young as the ones in XXL, but they are up and coming, and mad talented.

The first artist I'd like to discuss is a man by the name of Jay Electronica. Jay is blowin' up on the internet, and people such as NaS and Just Blaze have co-signed him. In 2007, Jay got a significant amount of attention from a mixtape he put out called Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge).

The music comes from Jon Brion's soundtrack to the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Most interesting is the lack of drums on this "hip hop mixtape." However, once you listen to it you'll see why perhaps that's the way it should be.

Act 1: Enternal Sunshine

Notable Quotes...

"I took eternal sunshine and I looped it... no hook, no drums, just new shit."

"I ain't got time to argue with a rapper bout he ain't got rhymes that fuckin with mines. I'm tryin' to kill lucifer, so if i have to break cause a rapper in my face tellin' me that he the great, you can bet a shiny nickel i'll blast his mothafuckin' ass why past jupiter, couldn't be stupider. Fuckin' with the nucular mayan, aztec lion, aziatic black man from Zion."

The next mixtape worth noting is the "What the Fuck is a Jay Electronica" mixtape which came out back in 2008. Jay showcases his lyrical abilities, and the beats are a perfect backdrop for his voice.

What the Fuck is a Jay Electronica Mixtape

*I had a few quotes I wanted to write down from the first song "Spark It Up (Intro)" but then I realized that I would have ended up quoting the entire song.

However, if there is only ONE song to check out, it is by far and away "Exhibit A: Transformations" produced by the legendary Just Blaze. It came out towards the end of '08 and I still have not heard a hotter song since. It's that ridiculous. Line after line after line of quotables.

Exhibit A: Transformations

Notable Quotes...

"I spit that wonder rhymer shit, me and my conglomerates, shall remain anonymous, caught up in the finer shit... get that type of media coverage obama get, spit that kurt vonnegut... that blow your brain, kurt cobain, that nirvana shit..."

"It's the most poetical, Nat King 'Unforgettable', Clarence 13 extra large, rhapsody from Bellevue..."

I could probably quote this entire song, it's absolutely absurd. Check it out. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Striving for Perfection

After years and years of push backs and delays, Raekwon the Chef has finally released the tracklist and artwork for his long in the works magnum-opus, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. Needless to say I'm as excited about this album as a priest at an unsupervised day care (too far?). If you haven't heard the first Cuban Linx, you need to step your hip hop game up because it is known as one of the greatest hip hop cd's of all time. We're talking about legendary moments such as NaS' verse in "Verbal Intercourse," Method Man's hook on "Ice Cream," and Ghostface and Rae's "Criminology."

Cuban Linx II is set to drop September 8th, and you can bet it's gonna be one of the best hip hop cd's of the year with production from J Dilla (3 tracks!), Dr. Dre, Marley Marl, Pete Rock, Scram Jones, The Alchemist, and of course, RZA.

1) Return to the North Star (ft. Papa Wu) [Prod. by BT]

2) House of Flying Daggers (ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man) [Prod. by J Dilla]

3) Sonny's Missing [Prod. by Pete Rock]

4) Pyrex Vision [Prod. by Marley Marl]

5) Cold Outside (ft. Suga Bang & Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by Atl]

6) Godfather (ft. Inspectah Deck) [Prod. by RZA]

7) New Wu (ft. Method Man & Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by RZA]

8) Penitentiary (ft. Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by BT]

9) Criminology '09 (ft. Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by BT & RZA]

10) Fat Lady Sings [Prod. by RZA]

11) Canal Street

12) 10 Bricks (ft. Cappadonna & Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by J Dilla]

13) G-Hide (ft. Ghostface Killah) [Prod. by Necro]

14) Rockstar (ft. Inspectah Deck & GZA) [Prod. by RZA]

15) Catalina (ft. Busta Rhymes) [Prod. by Dr. Dre]

16) 40 Deuce (ft. Jadakiss & Styles P) [Prod. by Scram Jones]

17) Walk Wit Me [Prod. by Scram Jones]

18) We Will Rob You (ft. Slick Rick, GZA & Masta Killa) [Prod. by Allah Justice]

19) Have Mercy (ft. Beanie Sigel)

20) Surgical Gloves [Prod. by The Alchemist]

21) Nigga Me [Prod. by Dr. Dre]

22) Mean Streets (ft. Inspectah Deck) [Prod. by Allah Mathematics]

23) Kiss the Ring (ft. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa) [Prod. by Scram Jones]

24) Ason Jones [Prod. by J Dilla]

According to Raekwon's twitter, he will be releasing the official first single "House of Flying Daggers" in the near future.

*At long last, Raekwon has graced us with the J Dilla produced single off of OB4CL2, "House of Flying Daggers," featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man... Absolute Heat

http://www.zshare.net/audio/63431725afb12dc1/

Finally, The Hip-Hop Chronicle UK had a chance to listen to Cuban Linx II, and offered their review of the CD!

Turning Music To Gold

Hip-hop producer Alchemist just released his newest album Chemical Warfare. Although I haven't had a chance to listen to the album, the tracklist is full of some heavy hitting rappers from every walk of the industry and seems very promising.


One track I have had the chance to hear is a collaboration between Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes and the one and only Lil' Wayne. Weezy's purped-out chorus meshes up with Travis' great lyricism to make this track the bomb.


Alchemist ft. Travis McCoy, Lil' Wayne - I Know Your Name


Chemical Warfare, in stores now.

The Young Money White Night

Today's new rising star in the rap game is Aubrey "Drake" Graham. Drizzy just recently started buzzin' like the pizza man, and he continually impresses me with his versatility and flow. With the release of his hit, Best I Ever Had and the follow up with the joint Successful, he is looking more and more promising. Both these songs showcase his skill, but there's way more to this young up-and-coming artist than his first two singles. He has already released several mixtapes, the latest being Heartbreak Drake Pt. 2.

I'm bringing you his newest mixtape here along with a couple of early tracks I heard that really turned me on to this dude.

Heartbreak Drake Pt. 2

Standout tracks:
Juice
Successful ft. Trey Songz

And here are earlier tracks that deserve some rotation:
Ransom ft. Lil' Wayne
November 18th
Uptown ft. Bun B, Lil' Wayne
Congratulations

And I hope many of your can appreciate Kanye's vision in the Best I Ever Had video here.

Be sure to check out his debut album, Thank Me Later, which is sure to be fire, when it drops in late this year.

A Storms Brewin'

It's been a while since I've posted being busy with work and everything this summer. I've still been listening to a lot of great new music, but haven't had a chance to post any of it. While browsing through some new music, I heard Twista came out with a new album Category F5. Two collabos with two of my favorite rappers caught my attention right away and I'm letting you take an early listen.

Alright ft. Kanye West
Problems ft. Tech N9ne

I'm partial to the Tech N9ne feature myself. Enjoy them both though.