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.

I Guess I Musta Killed 'Em

So I just saw the sickly dark official video for one of Eminem's newest track, 3 A.M. The song exhibits Em gettin' back to his twisted, old school flow and is going to be on the tracklist for his newest album Relapse, which will be released on May 15th.

This album is highly anticipated being his first album since Encore in 2004, and you can check out the whole tracklist here. The video itself debuted Saturday night on Cinemax and features a excellently gruesome story line.

You can check out the music video here.

Also, take a look at the website that Em created for the reason of promoting the album?

Ballers With Them Thangs, We Call 'em Contractors

Records In Rotation.
5/1/09 (from 1/27/09)

Here's the next set of tracks from my playlist series. Soon enough, I'll be hittin' you guys with the freshest of music. Download all 22 of the tracks from the link below.

Busta Rhymes ft. Young Jeezy, Jadakiss - Respect My Conglomerate :: It really doesn't get much harder than this track. This is the perfect track to start this playlist with. This three heavy-hitters mesh so well together and you can't hate on that chorus, either.
Chamillionaire ft. Ludacris - Creepin' Remix :: This is a great taste of the work Chamillionaire is doing on Venom, which is set to drop in June. On this Creepin version, he teams up with Ludacris to spit over a dope remixed beat by producer Komplex.
Cory Gunz - Rotate Freestyle :: Cory flys through this track and it's hard to keep up. If you're feelin' this, check out kid go off the top here for DJ Green Lantern.
Crooked I ft. Sedrew Price - Kiss My Eyes Remix :: I think the flows of both Crook and SeDrew couldn't be anymore different, but combine the two lyricists over a rock beat and they do work. This track featured on A (2) Dope Mixtape: Cadillac Edition.
Drake - November 18th :: I used bump the dirty south alllll the time, so to hear this chopped and screwed track really sent me back. It's great hearing one of the dopest young guns do his thing over it.
Dyme Def - Def2TheRecord :: These guys sample game is retarded. They come correct with each release. Their fast flow keeps each track interesting and unique, even if they're all spelled as one word and with numbers.
Dyme Def - 3BadBros. :: Beastie Boys sample is a nice touch, and these three bad brothers from Seattle are been coming consistent and often.
Fashawn - Frank Lee :: This is the third Fashawn track posted up in the past few posts. This time, he takes us out of this world with a journey of another kind.
The Game ft. Wyclef Jean, Damian Marley - Enemy :: I'm sure this track will get plenty of rotations during the course of my summer. Game adopts that island flow nicely to match up Junior Gong and the Refugee. This isn't the best Game song around, but I figured I needed to post something from dude.
Gorilla Zoe ft. Jim Jones, Lil' Wayne - Lost Remix :: Not being a big Gorilla Zoe fan and even with Jim Jones on the track, I ended up liking this song. Lil' Wayne fits perfectly on this remix.
Japanese Cartoon - Heirplanes :: So the story behind this band is that they are rumored to be a Lupe Fiasco experimental side-project, but Wasulu officially denys all those claims. I definitely think this is Lu, but you can judge for yourself.
Slaughterhouse - Move On Remix
KiD CuDi - Sky High :: Cudi is at the top of his game right now. Of Kanye's Sky High Mixtape, this is a perfect way to kick off the mixtape. The sampling for the chorus is insane, and KiD Cudi used that as inspiration to flow as fine as he did.
Lil' Wayne ft. Pharrell - Ay Man :: These two emcees just work together. Pharrells verse is so, so fresh and Weezy just does his thing. Tell me Pharrell's flow doesn't sound like a young Juvenile on the track.
Pharrell ft. Lil' Wayne - Yes! :: I was really feeling this track when it first came out, but I think its the lesser of the two Skateboard P/Weezy collabs here. The dubstep-inspired beat here is out of this world.
Q-Tip ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Lil' Wayne, Renaissance Rap Remix :: One word to describe this: Wow. I can't get enough of Q-Tip and peep that line-up. Everyone goes at this track in their own unique way, and it comes together as a master piece. Keep your eyes out for Chef's Only Built For Cuban Linx II.
Rich Boy - Drop :: Take about dope. Just when you though Rich Boy was done throwin' d's that bitch, he comes back with a gritty track like this. The beat and the flow are unmatched by any other Rich Boy track. Can't get enough of this.
Saigon - The Rules :: Saigitty has a steady flow of new material right now. This is about everything you'd expect from this dude, and the chorus is fire on it's own.
Soulja Boy ft. Lil' Wayne - Swag On Remix :: I tend to hate on Soulja Boy, but the thing is, he can do it big from time to time. I might just like this song because it's exactly how I get out of bed every morning. Yet another Wayne remix, but he fits on this Soulja Boy track.
TI ft. Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean - Holla If You Hear Me :: TI hit us with so much before they shipped him upstate. Holla If You Hear Me was the latest in releases and the Snoop and Wyclef features make this a well-rounded, up beat joint.
Wiz Khalifa - All My Life Freestyle :: Jay Rock's All My Life gets reversed by the Wiz himself. He's got the same Wiz flow, and especially goes hard right before the chorus would break.
Wiz Khalifa - Turning Me On Remix :: Yet another Wiz freestyle from his mixtape game. If you're feelin' this, check out his first mixtape here.
Young Buck - Murda Call :: This is some new, tough Buck. "Something the internet to go crazy to," as he puts it. Let's see Fitty flow something like this these days.

Cop 'em all here:

This Is The Sound Of Throwing Pennies On The Ground

This track has been around for a while now, but I wanted to share it with those of you who haven't. The Cool Kids old-school feel and unique style keep them consistently putting out tracks that I cannot pass up. They released their first EP, The Bake Sale, in 2008, but Mikey and Chuck are set to release their first full studio album, When Fish Ride Bicycles, sometime in 2009. Definitely expect me to review the CD once it drops.

For now enjoy this joint which was featured in NBA 2K9.

The Cool Kids - Pennies

And if that ain't enough for you, peep the official video below, and be on the look out for future posts.

I've Been Slackin' With My Mackin'

UPDATE 4/29/09: So I got my second message from the recording industry, where they went again and took down a post I recently hit you guys with featuring an old playlist.  Well here is the repost with the link to download all of them at the bottom.

Records In Rotation.
4/17/09 (from 1/10/09)

Since I have neglected From A Young G's Perspective so much lately , I'm planning on hittin' you guys with a steady flow of music that I hadn't got to posting. I have playlist after playlist of dope tracks for you all to enjoy.

I'm gonna start posting a series of my current playlists in an ongoing series of posts entitled "Records In Rotation." Here's the first of these playlist featuring many dope tracks that I was listening to back in January.

Asher Roth - The Reading Rainbow Remix :: I know most of you only know Asher from his single, I Love College, but this song shows that there's so much more to the rookie rapper. Who doesn't love the nostalgic Reading Rainbow sample.
B-Real ft. Damian Marley - Fire :: This song is fire, just likes it's titled. B-Real, member of Cypress Hill, meshes well with the reggae stylings of Junior Gong.
B.o.B ft. Willie Joe - Hood Hop Freestyle :: B.o.B, the New Millenium ATLien, goes hard on this freestyle with a lesser but still decent performance from "Bay to the A" rapper Willie Joe.
Busta Rhymes ft. T.I., Akon - Number One :: Through the ages, it seems Busta Rhymes is just as dope and just as consistent now as he's every been. And it doesn't hurt when you have T.I. and Akon on the track that's good enough for the radio and my ipod.
Busta Rhymes ft. T Pain - Hustler's Anthem :: Another banger off Busta's eight album B.O.M.B., with yet another catchy hook by everybodys favorite singer slash rapper, T Pain.
Chamillionaire - The Evaluation :: I've been a long time fan of Chamillionaire's mixtape series, and on this track he takes to the couch and flows on his own psych evaluation.
Chamillionaire ft. Crooked I - Everything :: Another Mixtape Messiah 6 track, Koopa reps for Texas and joins up with underground hard-hitter Crooked I and they do some lyrical damage over Bun B's Pimp C tribute track You're Everything.
Cory Gunz - Ain't I Freestyle :: If you haven't heard the original, you need to listen up for LA, T.I. and Dro, so here it is. Gunz, who's fast hittin' lyricism, I think, can get pretty repetitive at times, does his thing here and doesn't disappoint.
Dyme Def - Dreamin' :: Dyme Def is a Seattle duo who I've been listenin' to more lately. This song showcases some of what they do, with their fresh, almost retro style, and I'll have more of their material, which is more fast-paced delivery, soon enough.
Fashawn - Freedom :: Fashawn did his thing on a Day'N'Nite remix here, which so much better than Jim Jone's bland re-verse, and this is another song displaying this young rappers unique style and skill.
Freeway - Don't Tell Me It's Over :: Freeway did what most artists wouldn't dream of. He took advantage of the internet peaking the interest of his fans by releasing a song a day in what he called The Month of Madness. This is the last official track, and like the majority of the others, Free keeps it 100, going in strong. You can cop the whole Month here.
GLC ft. Pimp C - Take It Off :: I haven't heard too much from GLC, but being from Kanye's
G.O.O.D. music label, you know there's gotta be something to him. With a too dope Too Short sample and a heavy rock beat, this track definitely hits hard.
Joell Ortiz ft. Joe Budden - Move On :: These two cats are two amazing underground rappers and one half of the supergroup, Slaughterhouse. It's no wonder two lyrical powerhouses like this can produce such a nice joint.
Joell Ortiz - Morning :: Just another track where Joell showcases his skills on the mic.
Kyle Lucas - Control Remix :: I don't know much about this kid, but he's signed with Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label. It seems that the internet heads like him, and the couple of tracks I've heard seem to live up to the hype.
Mos Def - Brooklyn Go Hard Freestyle :: When I first heard the live version of this, I was takin' back because Mos Def gives this song the flow it really deserves every second of play.
Saigon - No Problemz :: Some of you might recognize Saigon from his role on Entourage, but he's much more than just a rapper with a cameo. His dirty, hard-hitting flow is coupled on this song with a pretty dope deep which makes it a song that definitely gets more than a first listen.
Thr33zy McFly ft. At - I'm Krazy - I can't say that I know anything about either of these rappers, but I heard this song a while ago. It may not be a banger, but that beat has me hooked and Thr33zy has peaked my interest.

Click below to cop all the tracks:

Stay tuned for the next installment of Records In Rotation, coming real soon.

Some One Who Knows How To Get Money From Others

I'm out on a Thursday nights and I thought it only appropriate to post a song from the random play on iTunes that really caught my interest. The Game, who is one of my favorite rappers ever, and Nas, who is constantly considered as one of the greatest, if not one of New Yorks greatest, both appear on this more-than-dope track from Nas's 9th studio album, which was eventually titled Untitled because of politically-correct issues.

The song Hustlers is so, so dope, and I can't resist but post it. Both Game and Nas go real hard on it, and this song is definitely a current day hit.

Nas ft. The Game - Hustlers

Enjoy this song. On the real, it combines some of the best rappers of our generation.

I'm definitely trying to restore the Golden Age of Hip-Hop

These are the words of some vintage Kanye West circa The College Dropout.




Great Kanye interview and lines.


The College Dropout > 808s & Heartbreak

As We Proceed, To Give You What You Need

I introduce to you... Madcon.

I'm a guy who appriciates musicians who just fun to listen to. These two men, Tshawe Baqwa & Yosef Wolde-Mariam, who make up the group Madcon, have taken over my ipod. The group resides in Norway where they host their own tv show called, "The Voice of Madcon." They're music reminds me of someone else everytime I listen to them. I believe they have Outkast's funk, De La Soul's Soul sound and almost a combination of Will.I.Am and Wyclef Jean, kinda like a modern day Bob Marley. Plus it's refreshing not to hear rappers talking about spaceships, drugs, guns or anything in a typical hip hop song for that matter. Im still not too sure how to give links to these songs, so I'll leave you with a few recomended tracks.

Madcon- God Forgive Me
Madcon- The Sweetest Drug
Madcon- Liar
Madcon- Wolves
Madcon- Fuck You
Madcon- Wholehearted
Madcon- Doo Wop
Madcon- South Side
Madcon- Rapshit
Madcon- Oslo City (my favorite)
Madcon- In A Day
Madcon- Hustla
Madcon- Begging

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.

Cheers To The Future As We Toast To Life

I haven't been around these parts in a long while and I'm just hoping this post will put me back on your good sides. I feel like the rap industry is bumpin' right now, from all the commercial stuff being released to up and coming young dudes doing their thing. I'm hooking you up with a few tracks I've been listening to on my last couple of playlists.

Apathy - Swagger Like Us Freestyle :: I gotta show a little love for Connecticut artists. Apathy has been puttin' out doubt shit for a while and I need to always show love from the local artists.
B.o.B. - I'll Be In The Sky :: This dude has been puttin' out shit from the ATL from a while now, but you need to at least hear this song before you dismiss the dude. And tell me this song doesn't remind you of an Andre 3000 influence.
Big Boi - Dubbz :: Big Boi's first joint off the album was so much doper than this, but I'll give him the chance because I really want to see this album succeed.
Cassidy - Circumstances :: It's nice to hear something from Cassidy every once in a while. Couple that with some amazing Island music behind it and you've got an irresistible song.
Charles Hamilton & Joe Budden - Invasion Freestyle :: Charles is one of the shining stars of young rap. He's got it going on, and mix the kid with Joe Budden and you have a freestyle worth listening to.
The Cool Kids - Gold Chain :: Typical Cool Kids rapping about just how fly they are.
The Cool Kids - If It Rocks, Let It Knock :: I cant get enough of this groups simplified beats about lyrical style.
Devin The Dude - I Can't Make It Home :: This southern rapper can clearly tell a story and he makes it enjoyable to listen to.
E-40 ft. Turf Talk - Got Rich Twice :: Although Forty Water's new album isn't going to be worth listening straight through, this song makes us remember early 40 and why he keeps it hyphy.
The Game ft. DJ Khaled - Red Light :: This dope song doesn't even compare to the kid's newest album, LAX. It's definitely worth the listen.
Kardinal Offishall ft. Akon, Sean Paul, Twista - Dangerous Remix :: I had to throw this one on their from all those readers who still listenin' to the radio. You'll appreciate this remix as much as I did when I saw Sean and Twista were on it.
My Life - Killer Mike Freestyle :: Although the original song was most definitely the fire, this freestyles a nice change of pace talking of life in the streets in a completely different way.
Lil' Wayne ft. Mike Tyson - The American Dream :: I don't know exactly what mixtape this comes from, but Dwayne continues to produce gems like these. Mike's lines add so much to the song, too.
Ludacris ft. Chris Brown, Sean Garrett - What Them Girls Like :: This track comes from Luda's new album, Theatre of the Mind. It appeals to any rap fan's love of Ludacris' lyrics and every girl's dream of Chris Brown, as well.
Lupe Fiasco ft. Pharrell, Q-Tip, Sarah Green - Paris, Tokyo Remix :: It takes a lot to remix a Lupe song well. Adding an all star line-up of the musicaly-inclined Pharrell, the oldschool but still rockin' Q-Tip, and Chi Town's Sarah Green makes this laid-back remix outstanding.
Lupe Fiasco - Phat Joe :: This track is from a young Lupe and it reminds us of why did as well as he did in the industry.
Peedi Crakk - More Towels :: I've always been a fan of Peedi and it's upbeat tracks like these that keep me listening.
Rick Ross ft. T Pain, Glasses Malone, Birdman - Sun Come Up :: My one complaint about this song is Birdman's verse. It definitely brings the joint down, but I posted this anyways to spread the word of Glasses and his west coast lyricism.
Scarface ft. Lil' Wayne, Bun B - Forget About Me :: Every once in a while a real hip-hop track comes around that keeps you listening. The legendary member of the Geto Boys is accompanied by the entertaining Wayne and Bun B, who I can never get enough of. This track let's you know why some say the South is on top.
Shwayze ft. J.Conway, J.Rockwell - Buzzin' Remix :: A lot of people have been feeling this song and I don't blame them. A couple of unknowns jump on the remix and result in a laid back song.
TI ft. Justin Timberlake - Dead & Gone [Right Click, Save As] :: The Paper Trail is going to be nice. Tip reminices on this track about his fallen friends and keeps it real.
TI - Ready For Whatever :: A typical TI track, but no one is complaining.
TI ft. Rihanna - Livin' Your Life [Right Click, Save As] :: The first time I heard this song on the VMAs, I was hooked. From the sample, to Rihannas excellent appearence, to TI's consistent delivery, it's a great track.
Wale ft. Young Chris, Freeway, Beanie Sigel - Cypher :: Couple DC artist Wale with some of Rocafella's best and you have one amazing cypher. (See Cypher on Urban Dicitionary.)
Wale - Will I :: Another great track by this DC dude, telling a story of how he came up. He might not have as much national appeal as he should, but you have to recognize talent.
Wiz Khalifa - Hero Freestyle :: I've been feeling Wiz ever since I heard his Say Yeah joint. He's rising on the underground rap scene, and he impressively tears up Nas' Hero instrumental.
Wiz Khalifa - Ink My Whole Body :: Another song by Mr. Spacely. His love of tattoo's is lyrically expressed over this captivating track.
Young Buck - My Chevy :: Every since Buck left the Unit, he's been dropping track after track of glorious down south hip-hop. He does work on this song about doing work in his ride.
Young Jeezy ft. Nas - My President Is Black :: On a track that is reminiscent of the trend on Untitled, Jeezy talks about his perspective. The Nas feature wraps this jam up nicely. Definitley a song worth having.


And that's a wrap.

Dre Day Tragidy

My boy K-Rocks writes:

This past weekend Andre Young Jr., the son of rap legend Dr. Dre was found in his Woodland Hills home at the age of 20. The tragedy struck at the worst possible time, with the Dr. working on his latest and final album, "Detox." It's every parents worst nightmare to out live their children, but especially for someone like Dre, one man who is responsible for so many successful hip hop artists. He helped out the careers of rap stars like Eminem, The Game, and 50 Cent (unfortunately). He says it best himself:

"Who you think taught you to smoke trees?
Who you think brought you the oldies?
Eazy-E's, Ice Cube's, and D.O.C's
The Snoop D-O-double-G's
and the group that said mother-"Fuck Tha Police"
Gave you tape full of dope beats
to bump when you stroll through in your hood
And when your album sales wasn't doin too good
who's the Doctor they told you to go see?"

The only group to have such an impact on today's hip-hop, in my opinion, would be the Wu-Tang Clan, but Dre is only one man, and has done more in his career than most rappers could even hope. He has established his movie career with rolls in "The Wash" and "Training Day." I believe he has put together one of the most impressive resume in hip hop history.

I'll leave you with a few hits.
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg-Deep Cover
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg-Still D.R.E.
Dr. Dre-It's Like That [Supposed first single off Detox]
N.W.A.-Fuck Tha Police
N.W.A.-Express Yourself
Crooked I-Say Dre

Other tracks worth coppin':
Dr. Dre-Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang
Dr. Dre-California Love
Dr. Dre-Zoom
Dr. Dre-Forgot About Dre
Dr. Dre-The Next Episode
Dr. Dre-Bad Intentions
N.W.A-Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A-Dope Man
N.W.A.-Boyz-N-the Hood
N.W.A.-8-Ball

Props to my man, Orlando Magic.

Can't Even Trip Because I'm Laughin' At Ya

There are two reasons I came up with that would explain why you wouldn't find the following video as funny.

1. You don't know enough about about the Carters to understand their depictions in the video.
2. You are one of the millions of people who believe Lil' Wayne is "the best rapper alive."

For anyone that tried to see this video earlier and it didn't work, I re-uped the video for ya.

This video is from the same humorous brothas that brought you this masterpiece a while back.

Rubberband Stacks of Tracks

If you don't know how I operate when it comes to my music, once I get around to downloading tracks I do it all at once and make myself a new playlist, and I get the chance to, I post the tracks so I'm not the only one enjoying 'em.

I'm letting the readers in on a few of my past playlists since it's been a while. As you scan the last and check the tracks, you might find yourself sayin' that the tracks older, but remember so is the respective playlist.

Without further a due, here are those tracks, and be sure to check out the material I provide for you on the right hand panel.

Old
Busta Rhymes ft. Lil' Wayne, Ludacris - Throw It Up
Busta Rhymes - You Don't Want None
Common ft. Pharrell - Announcement
The Game ft. Keyshia Cole, Jadakiss, Bun B, Pusha T, Fat Joe, Young Buck - Pain Remix
The Game - Dope Boys
Gillie Da Kid - Do Ya Job
Killer Mike - 10 G's
Lil' Wayne - Never Get It
Memphis Bleek - No Drought
Mickey Factz ft. Fresh Daily - Keep Moving
Musiq Soulchild - Radio
Nas - I'm On
Nas - Sly Fox
Nas ft. Chris Brown, The Game - Make The World Go Round
Noreaga ft. Lil' Wayne - Still On The Run
Papoose - Brooklyn
Papoose - Straight Stuntin'
Pharoahe Monch ft. Erykah Badu - The Healer/Hip-Hop Remix
TI - Swing Your Rag
TI - What Up

Older
Busta Rhymes ft. Reek Da Villian, Spliff Star, Lil' Wayne, The Game, Big Daddy Kane - Don't Touch Me Remix
The Clipse - Fast Life
David Banner ft. Lil' Wayne, Busta Rhymes - La La La
DMX ft. Freeway - Where Ya Been
Jadakiss ft. Rashad - Bang, Bang
Jae Millz - That Cash
Kanye West ft. Colin Monroe, Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Santos, The Clipse, Jay-Z, Wale - Flashing Lights Remix
Lil' Wayne ft. Jay-Z - Mr. Carter
Lil' Wayne ft. Kanye West - Lollipop Remix
Nas - Hero
Rick Ross ft. Pharrell - Get Down
Saigon - Believe It
Styles P ft. Gillie Da Kid - Cannon
Styles P ft. Wyclef Jean - Understand Me
Three 6 Mafia ft. Pimp C - I Got
Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West - Put On

Oldest
Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross, T Pain, DJ Khaled - Cash Flow
Busta Rhymes - Where My Money
The Game ft. Keyshia Cole - Pain
The Game ft. Lil' Wayne - Who Run It
Hot Rod ft. Akon, Freeway - Hustleman
Lil' Flip ft. Jay-Z - Deep In The South
Papoose - Die Like A G
Pharoahe Monch - Broken Heart
The Roots ft. Dice Raw, Wahud Ahmad - The Grand Return
Swizz Beatz - Where The Cash At
TI - No Matter What
Young Buck - All Eyes On Me
Young Buck - My Interview



I should have one more playlist post for you lucky readers in a few days, plus I'll be working on starting up my Top 10 list yet again.

What Else Should A Brotha Do

Some call it hipster rap, others call it alternative. Whatever it is, Kidz In The Hall are a talented underground rap duo that have been putting out solid music since 2006. Earlier this year, they released the song Driving Down The Block, off The In Crowd, that I immediately saw as a certified banger.

I wasn't the only one with these positive thoughts, though. Rappers from every walk of the industry became interested in this jam and the group began to release a series of remixes, all of which I've brought to you today. Each of these following tracks have been boasted by the last few of my playlists.

Kidz In The Hall - Drivin' Down The Block
The song that made it all possible.

Kidz In The Hall ft. El-P - Drivin' Down The Block Remix
Rapper, producer, and founder of the Def Jux label, El-P, took the song, added his own verses, and flipped the beat to release an independent rap take on the track.

Kidz In The Hall ft. Pusha T of The Clipse, Bun B, The Cool Kids - Drivin' Down The Block Remix
This was the first remix to take major rappers and make this song all too hot. Note that two of the featured artists here are also featured on my Go Hard post.

Kidz In The Hall ft. Pacific Division, Tyga, Glasses Malone, Mistah F.A.B. - Driving Down The Block Remix
The final and most recent remix to date takes a West Coast twist on the track. This version features the most obscure rapping additions but the Left Coast feel is a nice touch.


This is all for the first post of many.
Much more to come, soon.

We Got It For Cheap

More specifically, we got it for free - freestyles that is.

These aren't freestyles in the sense that the artists are posted on the block rap battlin' off the top of their heads. These freestyles are when a rapper takes another brotha's track and spits a new verse over it. They might be doing this to bank off the tracks established popularity, because they liked the beat, or because they though they could do they track better than the original. Below are a few recent ones I've been listening to.

Joell Ortiz - Summertime In Brooklyn Freestyle :: One of the most unappreciated lyricists today.
Papoose - Live and Learn Freestyle :: Keep 'em comin', Pap.
Chamillionaire - Hero Freestyle :: Decent, but doesn't hold a candle to the Nas original.
Freeway - Hero Freestyle :: I needed to have this addition after the original post because Free goes that hard.
Peedi Crakk - Dey Know Freestyle :: Peedi Peedi > Shawty Lo.
Skyzoo - Dear Summer Freestyle :: Hipster rapper does well on Jay's older track.


And everyone and their mom did a freestyle over Dwayne's A Milli. This is a very small selection of 'em, and the winner is Jay.
Chamillionaire - A Milli Freestyle
Fabolous - A Milli Freestyle
Chris Brown - A Milli Freestyle
Jay-Z - A Billi

Grade-A Beef

G- G- G- G-unit is ga- ga- ga- grudging.

This all started when Fifty decided that it would be a smart move to kick another, more-talented artist out of his gang of rappers (i.e. The Game). He went and released Young Buck and then proceeded to show how much of a fool he was by starting beef with the former clique member.

As I recently informed you in my post, Go Hard, this down-south gangsta is rapping better than he's ever been, so he wasn't the best target for Curtis to attack, but to him the plan seemed full-proof. He released a year-old, taped cellphone conversation between him and Young Buck where Buck got emotional over his status in G-Unit to prove how much tougher he was than Nashville rapper.

In response, Young Buck, aided by The Game, lyrically tore 50 to shreads and left him a failure, and I believe Buck said it best when he stated, "The only people that tape conversations is 5-0."


Young Buck - The Taped Conversation
The Game - Taped Convo
Bonus: Young Buck - Terminate On Sight

Ready For Lift Off

A recurring theme in the world of rap and hip-hop is spittin' rhymes and metaphors about space and all things unearthly. These tracks aren't secluded to underground, nerdy rap artists and tracks. We see even mainstream and gangsta rappers with out of this word phraseology.

Extraterrestrials
Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy
DangerDoom - Space Ho's Remix
Deltron 3030 - Positive Contact
Jedi Mind Trick ft. Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

A More Familiar Species
Common ft. Pharrell - Universal Mind Control
Gucci Mane - My Plug Is An Alien
Lil' Wayne - Phone Home
Young Jeezy ft. Fabo - Spaceships on Bankhead

Go Hard

It's been way too long since I last hooked my readers up with what's hot and let 'em know what's not, and I'm going to try my best to make up for all that I have missed. Below, I've featured a few artists that I think are going real hard right now, in no particular order. These songs that I'm hooking you up with below fall into some of the playlist posts I plan on hittin' you up with soon.

Young Buck
I feel like since he was kicked out of the Unit, he has become a completely different rapper. His verses hit so much harder, everything about it is so much rawer, and you really get a feel for him as an individual rapper. He's regained his creative license and is no longer held back by those who have fallen off.

Soundscan
I'm Out Here
Move On
My Whole Life

The Cool Kids
These dudes keep peaking my interest with every jam they release. Each song has it's own individual retro feel that the duo consistently sticks to through both the beats and the bars, plus it helps to have a wardrobe this tight. From their newest EP, The Back Sale, to the recently downloaded That's Stupid Mixtape, Chuck and Mikey keep me wanting more. Who else could rap about bikes and Nikes and keep it so fresh?

Unos
A Little Bit Cooler
Mikey Rocks
Black Mags
Pump Up The Volume Remix

That's Stupid Mixtape
Rhapsody Commercial

Pharrell and N.E.R.D
After Mr. William's break from his group to explore a solo career, he returned to his funk/rock/dance/alternative/soul/experimental/hip-hop roots to begin work on the band's third full length album, Seeing Sounds. The overwhelming description of their style that I just left you with is the soul reason that their sound is so nice right now. I mean, it doesn't hurt to have a group that is two-thirds comprised of the production greats, The Neptunes. N*E*R*D is going hard right now and in a completely different respect than any other artist on this list.

Spazz
Lazer Gun Carying
Everyone Nose
Everyone Nose Remix (ft. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Pusha T of The Clipse)

Young Chris
You may or may not remember Young Chris as one half of the Roc-A-Fella rap duo, The Young Gunz (see Can't Stop, Wont Stop). Althought the group's commercial success was somewhat short lived, they remained on the label and recently, Young C started releasing a series of solo tracks. He, also, apparently plans on releasing his debut solo album this year, that I would definitely be interested in getting a hold of. His Philly roots are reflected in his lyricism that, I think, sometimes parallels the style of a young Jay-Z, himself.

Paradise (ft. Lil' Wayne)
You Don't Even Know
Party
Ride Out

Wale
This cat is the first rapper out of the DC/Maryland/Virginia area in a while to have potential to rise to national popularity in the industry since The Clipse and Pharrell. He's had the internet goin' nuts for a while now, and this online popularity has caught the ear of other respectful artists who featured him on a couple songs and got him some further recognition. His witty wordplay, unique delivery, and upbeat rhyme patterns make most every track he releases enjoyable.

Mr. Carter Freestyle
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (ft. Skyzoo)
Whole Time (ft. Young Chris)
The Crazy

Bun B
Bun B has been a highly respected rapper in the South for a long while now for his involvement in the Underground Kingz, or UGK, with the late Pimp C. The group had been putting out music solid music since 1987 - before I was born - but, sadly, it was after the passing of Bun's groupmate and long-time friend that he really began to shine. Jumping on featured track after track, he tore up countless verses, and with the release of his second solo album, II Trill, he solidified his place on this featured artist post.

Damn, I'm Cold (ft. Lil' Wayne)
Swang On 'Em (ft. Lupe Fiasco)
That's Gangsta (ft. Sean Kingston)
You're Everything (ft. Rick Ross, David Banner, 8 Ball & MJG)

Remember to check the plenty of upcoming posts.

How About A Hip-Hop President

Jay-Z called this in 2003 when, before Dirt Off Your Shoulders, he exclaimed,

"Turn the music up in the headphones.
Barack, you can go on, brush your shoulders off nigga, I got you."
- Jay-Z

Surviving The Times

So, being my first post, I figure I should start off by telling a bit about myself, but I don't want to. The way I see it, you can tell the man by what's going through his headphones. The one thing I will say is that I do not enjoy what I hear comin' out of other peoples speakers. The list goes on and on. Fortunately there are people like myself, and my best friend the Young G of many names, his most recent being Orlando Magic, who stay true to the classics.

I've got well over 500 songs prior to 1998, and I'm always finding new shit to pump through the speakers. Things by De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Naughty by Nature, Run DMC, The Sugarhill Gang, Kool Moe Dee, Eric B. & Rakim, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Jazzy Jeff. The list goes on and on.

When you're born after 1990, you miss out on all the good stuff. I'd like to end this with a quote from one of the best rap groups of all time, Run DMC.

"If you really think about it times aren't that bad.
The one that stretches for success will make you glad.
Stop playing, start praying, you won't be sad.
It's like that, and that's the way it is."

I'll leave you with some of the best classics you gotta check out:

Scenario - A Tribe Called Quest
Me, Myself, and I - De La Soul
Rapper's Delight - The Sugarhill Gang
Wild Wild West - Kool Moe Dee
Children's Story - Slick Rick
You Be Illin' - Run DMC
Brass Monkey - The Beastie Boys
Feel Me Flow - Naughty By Nature
Bonita Applebum - A Tribe Called Quest
My Melody - Eric B. & Rakim
The Magic Number - De La Soul
Bust A Move - Young M.C.
My Adidas - Run DMC
O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature
Awards Tour - Jurassic Five
Ain't No Half Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane
My Philosophy - KRS-One
Momma Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Humpty Dance - Digital Underground
Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty by Nature
Lets Get Married - Jagged Edge
Hypnotize - Notorious B.I.G.
You Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
No Diggity - Blackstreet
This Is How We Do It- Montell Jordan

Check me out here, too.

The Rhyme Has Come

You guys have been waitin' way to long for this, so I've decided that I gotta go big or go home. Well, since I'm stayin' right where I am, I've decided to go big.

Below I have some of newest tracks dating back less than a month ago, and I have ones that I've copped as recently as today. It's a dope combination of the underground and the commercial, the gansta and the backpack, the old school returning and the new school gettin' better.

First, I'll give you my Top 10 Tracks:
Big Boi ft. Andre 3000, Raekwon - Royal Flush | This is the first joint I've heard from Antwan's forthcoming solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot.
Fat Joe ft. KRS-One - My Conscience | This happens to be the dopest track off Joey Crack's new album and with old school strength, there's no going wrong.
The Game - Big Dreams | Fresh out of incarceration, The Game lets us now how tough he is, with another song about dreams.
Lupe Fiasco - Gold Watch | This just happens to be my favorite song of Lupe's The Cool.
Lupe Fiasco ft. Talib Kweli - After All | This song takes an older track "Just Might Be Okay," flips the beat, and adds a respectable verse by Talib. No losing here.
Sheek Louch ft. Styles P, Jadakiss - Gettin' Stronger | Gettin' strong is an understatement when the LOX comes with it better than ever.
Three 6 Mafia - I'd Rather | They get their message across, and the song definitely keeps playing in your head.
Wale ft. 45 Kings - Strings | There's something about his songs that is just contagious.
Wyclef Jean ft. Lupe Fiasco - Fast Car Remix | A peaceful island-based track that just gets so much more with the addition of the Lupe verse.
Young Chris ft. Peedi Crakk - 3, 2, 1 | This complimenting duo raps about the good life and enjoys it.

And I left you with another 26 joints:
Atmosphere ft. Stage One, St. Paul Slim, Muja Messsiah, YZ, Brother Ali, Toki Wright, Blueprint - Crewed Up | This is a dope track of some Mid-west underground rappers showin' us how strong they flow together.
The Cool Kids - A Little Bit Cooler | As a big fan of the Mikey and Chuck, this song comes just as tight as their earlier ones.
DMX - Already | The Dog returns from a hiatus to deliver us a decent track.
E-4o ft. Lil' Jon - Turf Drop | Hyphy and crunk music collide is this new class by Forty Fonzerelli.
Fabolous - Hey Papi Freestyle | It's been a while since Fab came out with something this good.
Fat Joe - Thank God For That White | He lets us know who he has to thank for his success.
Gnarls Barkley - Run | The new track is definitely way to catchy to leave out of the mix.
Ill Bill ft. La Coka Nostra - That's Coke | These boys tell us how that white is more than a drug, it's a culture.
Kidz In The Hall ft. DJ GI Joe - The Black Out | There last song I posted was so dope, it's amazing to see how close they come when bringing this one.
The KnuX - Cappuccino Remix | I don't know what it is about this group that had me listening to their original and their remix of this joint.
Lil' Wayne - I | This upbeat mixtape track shines in the wide catalog of Wayne tracks.
Lupe Fiasco ft. Young Jeezy, TI - Superstar Remix | Another remix of a Lupe track but with some an unexpected, southern rap cast.
Mickey Factz - Up High | A very Lupe-esque song, but I dig it.
Mickey Factz ft. Nakim - K-1 Attack | Mickey shows us that he can switch up the flow and still sound decent. Other dudes verse ain't bad.
Nappy Roots - Who Got It, Where's It At | This track from a country-rap group definitely strays from their older "Aww Naw."
Q-Tip - Midnight '08 | This old school and underground veteran comes strong with brand new music.
Red Cafe ft. Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Fabolous - Paper Touchin' Remix | A strong cast makes this song a remix that top the originator.
Rick Ross ft. T-Pain, Lil' Wayne, Fabolous, Red Cafe - The Boss Remix | Like the last track, this one brings it hard over Ricky Ross's new track.
Snoop Dogg ft. Too Short, Mistah FAB - Life Of Da Party | This is the best song of Snoop Dogg's latest album, and that's not saying much. Time to hang up the towel.
Swizz Beatz - Candy Green | It may be no "It's Me," but for a producer, Swizz really delivers.
Talib Kweli - Independent Hustle | A tribute to all those record labels and individual rappers doing it big and not getting all the recognition they deserve.
Tha Dogg Pound ft. Pharrell - Cheat | The sample is what originally drew me to this track, and DPG kept it coming.
Wale - Rain, Sleet, Snow | Up and coming D.C. rapper who takes to his Washington roots with upbeat background tracks to tightly flow over.
Young Buck - Hold On | I'm really into these slower, meaningful flows lately.
Young Chris - Rewind Freestyle | C's freestyles are always just are strong, if not stronger, as all his produced tracks.


I know it's been a while, but I hope no one's too disappointed after this re-up. So many posts in so little time. You can't complain when the music's insane.

Gettin' In Touch With Our Musical Roots

The Legendary Roots Crew, or more commonly know simply as The Roots, and one of the most successful underground rap groups in the history of hip-hop. They have been releasing amazing music for over twenty years now. They produce such deep, powerful rap lyrics with the aide of an in house bad and a hard hittin' jazz sound like no other.

The variety of styles that The Fifth Dynasty has released also points to how much of an artistic talent the group has. Even the former members of the group point towards the groups immense talent - they include renowned beat boxer Rhazel and hip-hop producer Scott Storch. Current member, and one of their most recognized figures, drummer ?uestlove, has a repertoire that includes DJing, music journalism, producing, and appearances on the Chappelle Show.

Well, from what I've heard so far, The Roots have done it once again. The crew will be releasing their tenth album since formation. I've been checkin' some of the singles and leaks around the internet, and from what I can see, this album is more than promising. Contrastingly from their last album, The Game Theory, the lines are going to be delivered over tracks that have a less rock feel, and many of them will have some strong artists joining them as features.

"I'm working on [album] number 10 right now — I want to be the first rap artist to actually make a good 10th record, that's my goal." -?uestlove

Get Busy (ft. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk, DJ Jazzy Jeff)
Rising Down (ft. Styles P, Mos Def, Dice Raw)
Rising Up (ft. Wale, Chrisette Michele)
75 Bars [Black's Reconstruction]
Birthday Girl (ft. Patrick Stump)

Now, we play the waiting game for the release of this album on April 29th.
"It's all in the music."

The Coincidence is Undeniable

Finding all the newest joints, as I attempt to do, is tough work, as you can see by the time that passes in between posts. As I was browsing recently though, I came across a new Wu-Tang track with RZA and Inspectah Deck. There was something about this track that just seemed all too familiar. Then it hit me... Undeniable of Mos Def's True Magic.

Below, I posted up both these tracks so you can see the similarities yourself.

RZA ft. Inspectah Deck - You Can't Stop Me | The track and the sample have a very old-school feel that's stays true to the Wu style.
Mos Def - Undeniable | Mos Def takes this sample and flips it in the best of ways.

Hope you like this, and all the other posts I'm blazin' one after another.
ABC, always be cool.