Voice of an Angel

You may or may not remember the group Floetry, which released their album Floetic back in 2002. The single, “Say Yes," was one of my favorites of the year and reiginited my love for R&B/soul like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Maxwell, and Jill Scott among others. Marsha Ambrosius, who is one-half of Floetry, has created quite a buzz on her own.

Marsha has been featured on various Hip Hop songs over the past few years including “Get You Some” off of Busta Rhymes’ 2005 album, The Big Bang, as well as “Why You Hate the Game” off of The Game’s 2006 album The Doctor’s Advocate. She has one of the best voices in music, and is a phenomenal songwriter. About a year ago, she signed to Aftermath and has been working on her new album with producers Dr. Dre, Focus…, and Just Blaze. Although it may be awhile until we hear her debut, recently she released a mixtape called Yours Truly, compiled by Don Cannon, and produced by former Aftermath in-house producer, Focus... MC's such as The Game, Busta Rhymes, and Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother make appearances. Definitely worth multiple spins!

Yours Truly

Alice Meets The Hood

Three Six Mafia is a rap group hailing from Tennessee made up up DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous. They are best known for their songs Stay Fly and Hard Out Here For A Pimp, which won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.



I saw this unofficial video a little while back on DCtoBC and definitely thought I should share it with the masses. I've seen videos like this before, but this one is definitely top notch quality. Not only is the Three Six song, Smokin' On The Dro, dope but the video just fits too perfectly.




Here's the video:



And the track:
Three 6 Mafia - Smokin' On The Dro

Who's Next? Pt. 3: Bishop Lamont

Although Bishop, has been doing his thing for a minute now, I still gotta put him on the "Who's Next?" list. This dude has released mixtape after mixtape and all of them have been hot. And we're not talking about mixtapes with re-used beats, we're talking brand new material with production from the likes of DJ Khalil, Black Milk, Scott Storch, 9th Wonder, Dr. Dre, and more.

Bishop, who hails from Carson, CA, is one of the premier artists working on Detox. One of the reasons you may not have heard more from him is because he's signed to the 'black hole' known as Aftermath, which is Dr. Dre's label. Aftermath has gained the reputation (and rightfully so) of being the 'best practice squad in Hip Hop' thanks to a roster that includes Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Bishop Lamont, Slim Da Mobster, Marsha Ambrosius, and once had Joell Ortiz, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Rakim. Dre, being the perfectionist that he is, rarely puts out music until he deems it 'ready' (case in point with his mythical album, Detox). The last few years, Bishop has been hard at work on his debut LP, The Reformation. Thus far, he's released two Dr. Dre produced songs, 'Grow Up,' and 'Hallelujah.' Both are dope, especially the sinister-sounding 'Hallelujah,' which features Xzibit on the hook. In true Aftermath fashion, information regarding The Reformation has been kept seriously low-key. But we do know that a virtual 'murderers row' of producers have worked on it including RZA, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, DJ Khalil, Scott Storch, Focus..., and Battlecat. Like Dr. Dre's Detox, I hope The Reformation gets released sooner rather than later, but for now we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

'Hallelujah' was leaked online about four months ago, and received a large amount of acclaim from bloggers and Hip Hop fans alike. The song was one of the hardest/hottest songs out, and still is four months later. Dr. Dre finally decided to step up his game from behind the boards. Hopefully the rest of the album can live up to the hype.

'Hallelujah'

'Grow Up' is the kind of song that Hip Hop needs. Basically, the moral of the song is... grow up. Whether it's Hip Hop, or everyday life, you gotta grow up. Armed with a real smooth Dr. Dre beat, it was definitely a breath of fresh air when it came out.

'Grow Up'

One of my favorite Bishop Lamont mixtapes is the Black Milk produced Caltroit. Released back in '07, it has features from Stat Quo, Dr. Dre, Guilty Simpson, Busta Rhymes, Royce Da 5'9", Glasses Malone, and other MC's as well. Definitely one of the top mixtapes released in '07.

Caltroit

Back when Don Imus said the infamous "Nappy Headed Hoes" quote, it created quite a firestorm. Bishop, like many other artists, decided to address this issue with his own controversial mixtape known as N*gger Noize. With production from Focus..., 9th Wonder, and Scott Storch, this mixtape was better than most albums...

N*gger Noize

Another heater, The Confessional was a gem that could have been an album if it were a bit more polished. Lamont recruited heavyweight producers like Denaun Porter, DJ Khalil, Mark Batson, Nottz, Danja, Scott Storch, Bink!, Focus..., and Tha Bizness.

The Confessional

Pope Mobile is another banger. The similar cast of contributors shows up like DJ Khalil, Focus..., 9th Wonder, Scott Storch, and Nottz, but this time legendary R&B producer Teddy Riley, Danja, and Dready Beatz put in work as well.

Pope Mobile

*FYI, MOST OF THESE FILES ARE .RAR, YOU NEED A .RAR EXPANDER TO OPEN THEM. DON'T BE INTIMIDATED IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT, JUST GOOGLE .RAR EXPANDER AND IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST LINK. CLICK ON IT AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE.

Still Got It 4 Cheap

As November 10th approaches, my anticipation builds more and more for the new Clipse album, "'Til the Casket Drops." With production from The Neptunes, DJ Khalil, Diddy's production crew known as The Hitmen, and features from Kanye, Drake, and Cam'Ron, the album is set to be one of the finest of the year. The latest issue of Complex Magazine, which is quickly becoming my favorite music/lifestyle magazine, has a great feature story on the Clipse.

Anyways, in case you missed them, I wanted to post the three singles that have been released thus far. The DJ Khalil produced, Kanye West assisted, "Kinda Like a Big Deal," is armed with a fiery lead guitar, and the usual lyrical finesse that we've come to expect from Pusha, Malice, and Kanye. The song is a banger! Next up is the club-ready "Eyes On Me," which showcases a much different sound from the Clipse. With it's shiny synthesizers, and Keri Hilson on the hook, it's clear that the Thornton Bros. are aiming for radio. I'll admit that I was skeptical when I first heard it, but after hearing it in a few clubs of late, my opinion has changed for the better. It's definitely a good look for them, but best of all may be "I'm Good." With Pharrell adding his signature falsetto, it's beginning to climb higher and higher up the charts.

There are some haters out there that aren't feelin' the new direction the Clipse are goin' in, but for what it's worth, it's a great change of pace. Especially after the incredibly dark, but phenomenal "Hell Hath No Fury," which was my favorite album of 2006. I expect big things from the Thornton Bros. on November 10th.

Kinda Like A Big Deal ft. Kanye West

All Eyes On Me ft. Pharrell and Keri Hilson

I'm Good

Who's Next? Pt. 2: J. Cole

Long before his coming out party on the song "A Star Is Born" off of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, J. Cole created quite a buzz by releasing his two critically acclaimed mixtapes, "The Come Up," and "The Warm Up." Once Jay-Z heard the song "Lights Please," J. Cole became the first artist to get signed to Shawn Carter's new label Roc Nation.

J. Cole graduated from St. John's University in New York City, and has stated that the reason he went to school was that he felt it was the only way to gain access to NYC. His goal was to get signed, and felt the best place to make a name for himself was in 'the big apple.' Originally, he had his sights set on producing for Jay-Z, even going as far as printing t-shirts that said "produce for Jay-Z or bust." Although he hasn't had the opportunity to produce for Mr. Carter just yet, he'll have plenty of opportunities as the premier artist at Roc Nation. To find out a little more background info about him, Complex Magazine had a great interview with him recently, and there's plenty to read about on J. Cole's website.

The first mixtape to discuss is his debut, "The Come Up." If it weren't for "The Warm Up" (which I consider to be the hottest mixtape out right now, although it's been out for a minute), "The Come Up" would be in near constant rotation. Not only is J. Cole's lyrical prowess on display, but he also showcases his production abilities on many tracks including the touching, "Lil Ghetto Nigga." Check It Out!

"The Come Up"

Now comes the mixtape that everyone seems to be talking about... "The Warm Up." I can honestly say it's the hottest mixtape of the year, and that's saying something with all the heaters that have been released of late. There are just too many gems here to speak of, whether it's "Lights, Please" or "'Til Infinity," the mixtape is fire through and through... an absolute must-have!

"The Warm Up"

Put You On The Game

If you're anything like me, you've been yearning for some new Game. He has been putting out some mixtapes, such as Code Red (Level Six), and although I haven't heard the whole thing, I got some tracks that I was put on to.

It's not the hottest Game work I've heard recently, but I figure it's something to hold me over until he comes out and wows us all again, like he did with My Life with Lil' Wayne. Take a listen to these gems below.

American Dream

NBA 2K9

These tracks are short, but sweet. American Dream is pretty solid, typical Game, but NBA 2K9 has a different sound to it, that I enjoyed.

Burn After Rolling

It seems like these days, especially with all the buzz about Drake's rise, people miss out on many young artists putting in the time and work to try to make it big. Or at least make a name for himself.

Some of you may remember Wiz Khalifa from his successful single Make It Hot, but several mixtapes and hopefully an upcoming album later, he's still doing his thing. Wiz is preparing to put out another mixtape, Burn After Rolling, and songs from the mixtape are already starting to show up.

B.A.R (Burn After Rolling) :: This is the smoothe, mellow raps that I've come to expect from Khalifa man. Definitely a perfect song to light it up and kick it to.

Airborn :: I just heard this yesterday and it's been in rotation since. Definitely worth the listen.

Let me know what you think. His mixtapes seem to be hit or miss and the original Star Power Mixtape is what turned me on to him in the first place. Hopefully this next collection of tracks he releases keeps me interested.

I Used To Have Hood Dreams

Drizzy Drake just released the video for his acclaimed cut, Forever. It is the final release of this song, that originally featured another Toronto artist, Kardinall Offishall. This version of the song is also featured on the upcoming Lebron Jame's documentary More Than A Game.

The video for this song is pretty dope, Lebron clips and all, and definitely fits the track. The versus on this song get progressively better so it's definitely something you should listen to all the way through. Drake does his sing, Kanye thankfully isn't singing, Weezy even impresses me, and Eminem is back on his grind, post-Relapse.

The video also features cameo's by Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, Joe Budden, and Royce Da 5'9" of Slaughterhouse, as well as producer The Alchemist, and Birdman.

Check The Video Here:


And if you have yet to cop it, here's the song itself:
Forever

The Official Sequel to Madvillainy... Coming Soon?!

As a fan of pretty much every artist on the Stones Throw roster and indie/underground hip hop, I am ecstatic to announce that Madlib and DOOM are back in the studio. Word from xxlmag.com is they're currently working on the followup to their 2004 classic, "Madvillainy." I remember when Madvillainy came out, I had no clue what the big deal was regarding the crazy looking dude with the gladiator mask. There was quite a buzz surrounding the album and everyone was telling me that DOOM was one of the hottest MC's out. I'll admit I was reluctant to check for it at first, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. The album did not disappoint, and to this day it's on my top 10 favorite albums list. I have no doubt that this new project will live up to the hype.

Dear Moleskin...

As I told ya'll before, Jay Electronica is one of the brightest up and coming stars in hip-hop. Word is he's currently in the studio with Just Blaze "on the reg" (thanks, Kenny Powers) working on his debut CD. If the mixtapes I posted in the Pt.1 segment of "Who's Next" weren't enough for you, here's a little teaser trailer that should add some fuel to that anticipation. It's a 1:45 second clip that apparently was filmed during one Jay's spiritual trips to Nepal. The beat is produced by Just Blaze, and it's right up Jay's alley: real different, real spiritual, real soulful... check it out!

"Dear Moleskin"

P.S. The rest of the "Who's Next" series is coming soon...

Spacely Sprockets

One half of the duo Capone-N-Noreaga, aka N.O.R.E. has been releasing tough tracks for ages now, but this newest addition to his discography is different. Just looking at the track and it's feature, I knew it was gonna be an interesting combination, but it does not disappoint. Getting KiD CuDi on the track was most definitely the first thing he did right. The beat just seems to put you in the mood for the song, too, and his flow of choice just falls into place. And he's flowed off gravity.

Definitely a song worth downloading. The tracks off his newest album Still On The Run Eating coming out September 15th which will also features the track Shoulder Move with Nina Sky, but I'm definitely feeling the CuDi-N-Noreaga collabo more.

Floatin' In The Sky ft. KiD CuDi

Bonus: Shoulder Move ft. Nina Sky

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.

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.