Behind the Boards Pt. 2: Just Blaze

Probably my favorite producer, Just Blaze never ceases to amaze me. When he's not busy playing video games and steps behind the boards, he has been known to make some of the greatest beats in Hip Hop. Him and Kanye were essentially in-house producers at Roc-A-Fella, and created the backdrops to anything 'Roc' affiliated, whether it was a Jay-Z release or a song from Beanie Sigel. With all due respect to Kanye (who is also one of my favorite producers), I'll take Just Blaze any day over him. It was tough to pick out my 10 favorite beats when his catalogue is so extensive, but here's what I chose...

1) Kanye West- Touch the Sky

Although Kanye usually does almost all the production on his albums, he had no problem handing the reigns over to 'Just' for "Touch the Sky." The triumphant horns, sampled from Curtis Mayfield's song "Move On Up," fit perfectly with the rest of Late Registration's 'orchestral theme.' The video is especially memorable, as most of Kanye's videos are, and the Pam Anderson appearance doesn't hurt, either.

2) Freeway- What We Do

Easily one of the greatest songs to come out under the 'Roc-A-Fella dynasty,' "What We Do" is a jam. Every single person rips it... Free, Jay, and Beanie all kill it over JB's production. My favorite line is probably when Jay-Z says, 'so I move keys, you can call me the piano man.' Not much more has to be said about this song except that it is fire.

3) Fabolous- Breathe

"Breathe"... one of the hottest songs of the decade. Seriously. Don't get me wrong, Fab did his thing on the track, but this beat is just silly. Stupid hot. This is probably in the top 3 of my favorite Just Blaze beats, and maybe top 10 or top 15 beats of all time.

4) Cam'Ron- Oh Boy

Everyone HAS to remember this song. This was one of my favorites from back in the day, which is no coincidence due to the fact that it came out around the time when 'The Roc' was killin' mainstream music. When The Diplomats signed to Roc-A-Fella, it was over. Cam'Ron, Juelz, and the rest of Dipset would never have to worry about working with lackluster producers, as Just Blaze and Kanye were officially in-house.

5) Jay-Z- Public Service Announcement

An absolute banger, period. This is the Jay-Z I know and love. Personally, I don't think Jay has been the same since The Black Album. Just Blaze hooks up one of the best loops, possibly of the decade. It's a sample of Little Boy Blues' "Seed of Love," and Jay sounds great over it. Probably one of my top 5 favorite Jay-Z songs.

6) Jay-Z- Show Me What You Got

While it's not one of the greatest lyrical showcases for Jay, it is a great showcase for Just's production. The beat is pretty epic, and the edition of live drums definitely helps. The video is the definition of 'big budget,' as it's shot in Monaco and features cameos from Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

7) Saigon- C'Mon Baby

The Greatest Story Never Told is still one of my most anticipated CD's (right up there with Detox) and "C'Mon Baby" is a reason why. Sai spits heat over one of Just Blaze's most raucous beats. People that have heard The Greatest Story Never Told have said that when it is released, it will go down as one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of the last 10 years. A big reason for that is Just Blaze producing 75% of the album. The video is pretty cool, and it features both Just and Swizz Beatz as well.

Saigon Feat Swizz Beatz - Come On Baby [HQ NEW]
Uploaded by PeteRock.

8) The Game- Why You Hate the Game

While, I'm not the biggest fan of The Doctor's Advocate, it did have some hot songs, including the magnum-opus ending, "Why You Hate the Game." It's a beautiful song, with Marsha Ambrosius on the hook, and NaS lending a hand as well. "Why You Hate the Game" might be a top 5 favorite Just Blaze beat, simply because of the large, grandiose scale of the song.

9) The Diplomats- I Really Mean It

"I Really Mean It" is by far my favorite Diplomats song, and it's one of my favorite beats of all time. I remember the first time I saw the video for "Dipset Anthem," which was a hot song in it's own right. Then it fades into "I Really Mean It," and the scene that follows is simply classic...

10) Jay Electronica- Exhibit C

The hottest Hip Hop song of '09, "Exhibit C" is too dope. It's one of Just's best beats in a while (partly due to the fact that he doesn't put out too much music these days) and Jay Elec absolutely massacres the song. If you haven't heard it by now, that is a FAIL on your part, but you can make up for it by checking it out below.

Honorable Mention: Cam'Ron- The ROC (Just Fire), Jay-Z- U Don't Know, Joe Budden- Pump It Up

Behind the Boards Pt. 1: The Trackmasters

As an aspiring A&R/producer, I closely follow who is responsible for creating the backdrops in the world of Hip Hop. There are loads of talented producers in Hip Hop, but in the coming weeks I'm going to highlight my favorites. One of my favorite production duos, that despite their numerous hits goes under the radar, is The Trackmasters.

Very few people can deliver those mainstream, yet still Hip Hop bangers like Poke and Tone. One of the reasons I love these guys is they have cross-over appeal, but they never sell themselves out. They always stay true to Hip Hop, but with their signature flavor, it adds an entirely different dimension to the music.

1) The Notorious B.I.G.- Juicy

Everyone knows "Juicy," and if you don't, you should just quit life. I shouldn't even have to go into detail about this masterpiece, as it is one of the greatest songs of all time- regardless of the genre... simply timeless. Most people aren't aware of the controversy behind the making of this song. Apparently, Puffy came over to Pete Rock's place one day, and Pete (who is one of the greatest Hip Hop producers of all time) was playing an unfinished beat that Puff thought was pretty hot. According to Mr. Rock, the next thing he knew, he heard that beat all over the radio, and that ended up becoming the classic cut that we know today, 'Juicy.' On Biggie's album, the song is credited to Puff Daddy and Tone, which most likely means Tone constructed the beat, and Puffy added in his various intricacies.

2) Destiny's Child- Independent Woman, Pt. 1

Without a doubt one of Destiny's Child's biggest songs, it jumped onto the Billboard Hot 100 charts in November of 2000, and held onto the #1 spot for eleven weeks. You may remember it as the lead single for the Charlie's Angels soundtrack. I don't even like Destiny's Child, but I have to admit this was a dope song.

3) Jennifer Lopez- Jenny From the Block (feat. Jadakiss & Styles P) (Trackmasters Remix)

I'm not gonna say this song made me a Jennifer Lopez fan, but the co-sign from Jadakiss and Styles definitely helped her establish a little bit of 'street cred.' The Trackmasters hooked her up with one of my favorite pop music beats of the 2000's. You may not necessarily be a J. Lo fan, but it's difficult to hate on this song.

(fast-forward to the :37 sec mark to get past the BS)

4) Will Smith- Miami

Miami... Easily one of my favorite songs of all time. Yeah I said it, OF ALL TIME. Every time I hear it, I smile and imagine myself on South Beach with some Latin honeys. The first half of the video is real hot, but it segues into a salsa-type scene that has grown on me over the years, but still doesn't compare to the first couple minutes. Even Eva Mendes makes an appearance in the video, during the 'beinvenido a Miami' part. This is probably my favorite Trackmasters beat.

5) Jay-Z & Mya- Best of Me, Pt. 2

Essentially a remix of Mya's song, "Best of Me," Poke & Tone once again hooked up a pop music artist with a hot Hip Hop-flavored beat. Jay-Z lends his hand to "Part. 2" and makes this into a banger. The beat is a standard late '90s style beat- dope drums, a thick bassline, and some piano notes layered over. It's very simple, yet often times simplicity and sparsity can be an artist's best ally.

6) R. Kelly- Fiesta (Remix)

"Fiesta (Remix)" is my second-favorite R. Kelly song, behind "Ignition (Remix)." Once again, Poke & Tone prove their remixing prowess with this now-classic cut. It was #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart for five weeks, and ended up becoming one of the biggest songs of 2001, and arguably the 2000's. This song is the reason Jay-Z and R. Kelly decided to work together to create their collaboration album, Best of Both Worlds. It's also the reason Best of Both Worlds was produced almost entirely by The Trackmasters.

7) 50 Cent- How to Rob

Off of his unreleased album Power of the Dollar, this is the song that put 50 on the map. One of the most infamous songs in Hip Hop, he described how he would rob some of the most famous names in the industry. A lot of people thought this was career suicide, but it turned out to be a brilliant move. 50 called out everyone from Puffy, to Jay-Z, to Timbaland, to the Wu-Tang Clan, and even the people that produced this song- The Trackmasters. Once it began to make waves, other MC's knew that 50 was no joke and needed to be 'dealt with.' Once Jay-Z dropped his comeback diss at the Summer Jam concert that year, it was on... and 50 began his run as one of the biggest acts in Hip Hop.

8) Jay-Z & R. Kelly- It Ain't Personal

My favorite song off of Best of Both Worlds, "It Ain't Personal" is a heartfelt song that is the definition of real. I'm not entirely sure if the lyrics are simply a metaphor, but I have a hunch Jay-Z is talking about his former mentor, Jaz-O. All I know is the song is real hot, and for whatever reason, I always find myself coming back to it.

9) NaS- If I Ruled the World

On the long list of classic NaS cuts, "If I Ruled the World" is brilliant. With Lauryn Hill on the hook, you can never go wrong. In 1997, it was nominated for a Grammy for 'Best Rap Solo Performance.' The video is dope, as it's directed by Hype Williams, who is one of the greatest 'big budget' music video directors of all time. The Trackmasters provided NaS with a glossier, more mainstream sound, as opposed to the rawness of Illmatic (which is my favorite album of all time).

10) LL Cool J- Paradise

Say what you will about LL Cool J, but if you really know his body of work, he easily stacks up as one of the greatest and most influential MCs of all time. His albums Radio and Mama Said Knock You Out are classics. However, most people (especially in my generation) know him for his R&B-type songs. I'd say "Paradise" is his best song of the aforementioned type. Amerie laces the hook, and the beat is the perfect compliment to the lyrics.

Honorable Mention: LL Cool J- Make It Hot, NaS- Rule

Who's Next? Pt. 6: U-N-I

Up until a few months ago I had never heard of U-N-I, but everywhere I went I kept seeing advertisements for their free cd. As soon as I saw the words "free cd," I knew I had to check it out. But truth is, that's not the only reason... every blog including nahright, 2dopeboyz, and illroots seemed to hype these guys up big time.

Hailing from Inglewood, CA, U-N-I has a style that brings back the glory days of Hip Hop, albeit with an updated, glossed-out funk style. I've listened to this mixtape/album quite a few times, and it's definitely dope. The production wears a little thin towards the end, but if this is any indication for their future, I'd say we have a lot to look forward to.

A Love Supreme

RE:Turn, RE:Unite, RE:Union

One of the CDs I'm looking forward to the most in 2010, is Reflection Eternal's (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, for those that don't know) second album. Their 2000 album, Train of Thought, has garnered an enormous cult following and is considered by many to be one of the best 'underground' CDs ever. While Talib has gone on to become known as one of the best MC's in the game, Hi-Tek has established himself as a great producer. Last time I checked he was signed to Dr. Dre's in-house production team over at Aftermath. Anyways, they've decided to break the new year off with a brand new mixtape to hold everyone over until March (when the new album, Revolutions Per Minute, drops). It's a mix of new material, some old classics, and unreleased cuts... nothing but great music.

The RE:Union

Here's the official video for "Back Again," the street single off of Revolutions Per Minute

Talib Kweli + Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal -Back Again-Vid Premiere

Reflection Eternal | MySpace Music Videos

It's colddddd in the D

One of my favorite producer/MC's, Black Milk, recently announced that he's coming out with a number of releases in 2010. Hailing from Detroit, he's made it a known fact that he means to continue the late J Dilla's legacy, while establishing his own. I'm a huge fan of sample-based producers like Just Blaze and Kanye West, but Black Milk's style is completely unique. His ability to chop obscure samples into something totally unrecognizable, yet dope, is what sets him apart from everyone else. Below I've posted the latest leak from one of his upcoming projects. It's classic Black Milk, so enjoy.

Black Milk- "Keep Going"

Take a look at a preview of Black Milk's upcoming releases in 2010, including the highly anticipated collaboration with Guilty Simpson and Sean Price, known as, Random Axe.

He's Baaaaaccccckkkkkkk

Back from a self-imposed hiatus, Charles Hamilton is back with his latest mixtape, Normalcy. I haven't listened to it all the way through, but it's great to see him back to doing what he does best. Love him or hate him, the kid can spit. And yes, while his antics from time to time are baffling, he makes good music, and that's all that matters.

Normalcy

*This is a .rar file, so you need a .rar expander to open it up. Once again, just google ".rar expander" and it should be one of the first links. It's free, and it takes two minutes to set up.

Also, check out the vid for "Charles Hamilton Is Back," below...

The Cool Kids + Don Cannon= Merry Christmas

As the New Year approaches, my excitement is growing just thinking about the sheer amount of potentially amazing CDs that could come in 2010. Included in that list is The Cool Kids' official debut, When Fish Ride Bicycles. While no release date has been set, The Kids have never failed to deliver great music. Once again teaming up with DJ/Producer Don Cannon, they've decided to drop a 4 song EP just in time for Christmas. As always, the music is fresh...

Merry Christmas

While you're at it, make sure you take a look at the official video for "Knocked Down," off the Gone Fishin' mixtape.

The 10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2010

As the 4th quarter of 2009 comes to a close, we can only look ahead to the future. And my God does it look bright. As good as this past year was (and it was pretty damn good), I think it's fair to say that 2010 could blow away '09. So without further ado, let's see why next year could be one of the greatest in Hip Hop history.

The Game- The R.E.D. Album

When Game announced that L.A.X. was going to be his last album, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who smelled 'BS' in the air. As soon as he announced that he would be releasing The R.E.D. Album, Hip Hop fans began to wonder what direction he would go in this time. Thus far we know that the album is going to be executive produced by Dr. Dre (which marks the first time they've worked together since his first album) and Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes. A virtual 'who's who' of producers are said to be contributing including Timbaland, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, RZA (!) and Polow Da Don. Since Dr. Dre is co-executive producing this album, hopefully it'll be a little more cohesive than his last two albums, which had one too many filler tracks.

Common- The Believer

Many fans (including myself) were disappointed with Common's last album, Universal Mind Control. While there were definitely some jams on there, it simply lacked the 'Hip Hop' feel that we've come to expect from Common. Well, consider this a return to form because Kanye is back as executive producer, with No I.D. and Twilite Tone (who produced the majority of the songs on Common's first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar). In a recent interview, Common stated, "we know that we want to do some raw Hip Hop. That's exactly the direction and feel we want, so that's the basis of it. 'Ye and I definitely know we want to do some pure Hip Hop." That's good news for the rest of us.

Dr. Dre- Detox

Ahhhh, yes... Dr. Dre's Detox. Is it real? Is it a myth? Well, the good news is that it is real, and there are rumors that it is near complete. Supposedly, it's going to be released after Relapse 2, but once again, the only person who really knows for sure is Dre. This is easily my most anticipated CD of all time, regardless of the genre. Armed with the usual suspects of the Aftermath production crew (Denaun Porter, Mel-Man, DJ Khalil, Dewaun Parker) as well as outside production from Timbaland and Just Blaze, I think it's fair to say that this album could be one of the greatest ever.

Eminem- Relapse 2

When Eminem declared that he would be releasing two CD's after quite a lengthy hiatus, I was skeptical to say the least. To say that I loathe album filler tracks is an understatement. I'll always take an album with 13 songs, that I can play all the way through, over a double-disc album that I have to skim through. Personally, I thought Relapse was a bit of a let-down. It was great to hear Em rhyming again, but once again, I found myself skipping a lot of the tracks just to get to the few that I liked. Dre's production, which is usually always on-point, seemed uninspired and lackluster. Fast-forward to the sequel, and we're set for what one writer claimed to be "The Dark Knight of Hip Hop album sequels." If Relapse was more along the lines of The Slim Shady LP, then Relapse 2 is The Marshall Mathers LP. Said to be more personal than his previous albums, Em said he went in an entirely different direction than originally planned since he decided to work with Just Blaze and Denaun Porter for the majority of the album.

NaS & Damian Marley- Distant Relatives

Shrouded in mystery, little is known about Distant Relatives, and that's exactly how NaS and Damian Marley want it. Meant to shed light on Africa, DR is more than just a collaboration of two great artists. Both Nasir and Damian have stated that they have looked for an opportunity to speak 'the truth' regarding Africa's standing in the world, and this is the opportunity to do so. Regardless of how you feel about the topic, one thing is certain... the music will be dope. Damian is doing most of the production, although I'm sure Salaam Remi and other past contributors will make appearances. Check out the EPK below for an exclusive peek at some new fire off the album.

NAS & DAMIAN "JR GONG" MARLEY DISTANT RELATIVES preview from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Drake- Thank Me Later

I'll admit, when I first heard about Drake, I was not impressed. It wasn't that the dude was bad, he was actually decent, I just didn't understand what all the hype was about. I still think he's way over-hyped, but after hearing "Fear," "Successful," and "Forever," I'm starting to believe in him a little more. Everyone and their mother is going to be featured on this album... it's said that Jay-Z, Eminem, Kid Cudi, Game, Pharrell, and obviously Lil Wayne are onboard. Most of the production is going to come from Drake's in-house producers Noah '40' Shebib and Boi-1da, but apparently Eminem, Dewaun Parker, and The Neptunes have made contributions as well. For more information, check out The Orlando Magic's recent post 'Thank Me Later.'

Madvillain- N/A

A few months ago, when word began to spread that Madlib and DOOM had finally hit the studio to work on the official sequel to Madvillainy, I'm pretty sure the Hip Hop world rejoiced. The first Madvillain album was nothing short of incredible, and Madlib and DOOM complement each other perfectly. Who knows when this album will get released, but representatives from Stones Throw said it's coming in 2010. If you're not familiar, you need to get familiar...

Lil Wayne- Tha Carter IV

With most of the attention on the upcoming Young Money and Drake albums, as well as Wayne's foray into the rock world with Rebirth, it's easy to forget about what we all know is coming somewhere down the line... The Carter IV. Obviously not much has been said about it, but Wayne recently announced that it will be released late in 2010. In the meantime, check out one of the most recent (and best) leaks off of Rebirth...

Ghostface, Raekwon & Method Man- Wu Massacre

Without a doubt one of my most anticipated albums, the minute I heard about this collaboration I was in near disbelief. First of all, with Raekwon signed to EMI/Ice Water, and Ghostface and Method Man signed to Def Jam, I had no clue how they could make this happen. Although details have not been announced regarding the label situation, apparently they have it all figured out as a release date has been set for February 9th, 2010. So far, word is Allah Mathematics and RZA are doing most of the production but that could change as more information comes out. And if you missed it, make sure you check out Meth Vs. Chef Pt. II.

The LOX- New L.O.X. Order

As a collective group, the last time we heard from Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch, otherwise known as The LOX, was way back in 2000 with their album We Are the Streets. Since then, all three have released albums, some better than others, but no one has ever denied their chemistry. Not a lot is known about this album, but it's safe to assume that the usual suspects from the Ruff Ryders crew will make appearances, and Swizz Beatz will be doing a vast amount of production. Recently, Diddy announced that The LOX re-signed to Bad Boy, and the new album will be jointly released with Interscope. This is also great news, because no matter what anyone says, Diddy knows Hip Hop; the dude executive produced all of Biggie's albums. With Puffy in their corner, expect The LOX to come out swinging.

Just in case ya'll forgot...

Give It To Me

If you've never heard of Rhymefest, he's an artist from Chicago, who released his first album Blue Collar back in 2006. He is a great lyricist and is also known for co-writing Kanye's Jesus Walks.

Here is the video for the song Give It To Me of his upcoming album El Che. Not only do I think the song is dope, but this could be one of my favorite video concepts in a while.

Meth Vs. Chef Pt. 2

After much anticipation, the first song from the upcoming Method Man, Raekwon & Ghostface CD has leaked online. The track, which is supposed to be a sequel to the first "Meth Vs. Chef," off of Method Man's first CD Tical, is a banger. And if this track is any indication of what's to come, then this album is going to be one of the best of 2010. Produced by Wu-Tang in-house producer, Mathematics, Meth and Rae trade bars over a grimy Wu flavored beat. However, one of the best parts is when Meth and Chef exchange 'yo momma' disses a la the song "Method Man" off of Enter the 36 Chambers... it's pure comedy, check it out.

"Meth Vs. Chef Pt. 2"

Good Music Has Arrived

As much as every Kid Cudi fan was excited for Man on the Moon: The End of Day, I could probably say I'm anticipating the Cudder LP ten times more. I'm about as excited for this as I originally was for The Clipse's 'Til The Casket Drops. In an interview he did with MTV News, Cudi talks about the album, saying "It's gonna be the complete opposite of what Man on the Moon was. Man on the Moon was so serious. This one is gonna be more playful and fun. It's about having a good time."



This makes me especially optimistic because I'm hoping for Cudi to take what originally attracted me to him, his impressive mixtape catalog, and use that same upbeat and progressively flow he has to the next level. According to Cud, he has already lined up Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, The Clipse, and Pharrell for the album, and I'm sure we can expect some involvement from Kanye - be it with a featured verse or production. He also mentions that he was looking to involve Green Day and Kings of Leon, as well.

Until then, we can only hope that he continues to release freestyles and features for all of us to enjoy alongside his mixtapes and album. A few days ago, he put out this freestyle over Vampire Weekend's Ottoman. The name Cudderisback is misleading though, because the creative Cudi never left.

Kid Cudi - Cudderisback

Cudi was also recently featured on the G.O.O.D Music remix of Consequence's Whatever U Want. The remix features a line-up of artists from Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label, and they all showcase their individual skills on the track.



Cosequence ft. Kid Cudi, John Legend, Kanye West, Big Sean, Common - Whatever U Want Remix

Expect the Cudder LP to be released by summertime, 2010.

Thank Me Later

Drake is argueably the rapper with the biggest buzz in the hip-hop industry right now. His talent and rise to popularity with the help of Lil' Wayne has made him quite successful very quickly. But with several mixtapes out to date, everyone is waiting on his freshman album, Thank Me Later.

The album is expected to release in March of 2010, so we will have to wait a few months before you can "buy two and claim you got it for your sister." According to Drake, in the below interview, his debut album is set to feature the likes of Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Young Jeezy, as well as a "mystery guest" who I hear is rumored to be Kings of Leon. With a line-up like that, this album has the potential to set the bar high early in the year for other hip-hop albums.

With at least four months until the albums release, I'll leave you with some real early Drake until we next hear from the kid. Not quite sure where this track is coming from, but it is circa 2006, around the time he released his first mixtape, Room For Improvement. His style remains the same, maybe with a little more emotion now, but this verse he serves up is pretty tight.

Drake ft. Nickelus F - When We Come Around

Another track that he recently released, comes from a studio session with Colin Munroe, who I featured here, but it doesn't seem to be featured on Thank Me Later. This track couldn't be any different from the early track above. Personally, this track doesn't really do it for me, but it's something to hold Drake fans out there over.

Drake ft. Colin Monroe - Runaway Girl

Review: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II

Review Scale:

1, 1.5= (Travesty, Abysmal)

2, 2.5= (Waste of Time, Below Average)

3, 3.5= (Average, Above Average)

4, 4.5= (Superior... Likely a top release of the year, Near Classic... Some minor flaws)

5= (Classic)

Much like Dr. Dre's Detox and Guns & Roses' Chinese Democracy, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II has attained a near mythical status. If you don't know the story about the first Cuban Linx..., you should. It is one of the best Hip Hop CD's of all time, and it single-handedly created the genre known as mafioso rap. Almost every Hip Hop song about hustling and drug dealing, post 1995, was most likely influenced by Cuban Linx.... Many debate whether it is the greatest album in the Wu-Tang discography, which is quite an honor considering other albums like GZA's Liquid Swords and Wu-Tang's first album, Enter the 36 Chambers, are also referenced as classics. However, Raekwon's efforts after the first Linx could be described as mediocre, at best. Immobilarity and The Lex Diamond Story lacked the fire of Rae's first album, and when word began to spread that he would attempt to make a Cuban Linx... Pt. II, fans were skeptical to say the least. Many feared he was no longer capable of making an album of that calibur, and in the process ruin the legacy of his 1995 classic. Well, I'm happy to say that those fears can be put to bed. Cuban Linx II is the best album of 2009, and one of the best of the decade. That may seem like a BOLD proclamation, but trust me, it is certainly worthy of that praise.

For this sequel, Rae enlisted some of Hip Hop's finest producers including, RZA, The Alchemist, J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Dr. Dre. Everyone does their part, especially Dilla who provides the rousing "House of Flying Daggers," and the head-nodder "10 Bricks." However, the most important contribution comes from Rae's partner in crime, Ghostface Killah. Just like the first Linx, Ghostface 'guest stars' as the slick talking Tony Starks. Once again, he does not disappoint. Making appearances on six tracks, he steals the show a few times, most notably on the wildly entertaining track, "Gihad." After one of Rae's standard crime stories, Ghost goes on one the most bizarre rants I've heard in some time. Long story short, he gets 'a little something' from his son's girl, his son walks in on them, and all kinds of fisticuffs ensue. I don't want to spoil it, so you'll just have to listen to it for yourself, but trust me- it is hilarious.

One notable part of Cuban Linx II is the number of non-Wu-Tang affiliated features. Jadakiss and Styles P show up on the raucous "Broken Safety," which is as vicious as it sounds. Jada spits some memorable lines including, "niggas in the yard got this on repeat, black, fuck saving Hip Hop we bringin' the streets back." Not to be outdone, Styles comes out swinging, "I used to move brown rectangles, roll you a blunt, then smoke you with death's angel." Another one of the finer moments comes when Beanie Sigel comes through on "Have Mercy." Beanie's voice, along with his lyrics, describe a man who has been beaten down and battered. You can feel his pain as he rhymes, "my days getting shorter, my nights getting longer, my cell getting smaller, my son getting taller. I exercise my mind, my body getting stronger, but my blood getting colder, heart getting harder." Even Lyfe Jennings comes through with a great hook on the Dr. Dre produced banger, "Catalina." Surprisingly, Dre's clean and glossy mixes work well with the rest of the album, which is quite grimy to say the least.

As I said before, there are very few flaws on this album, but I do have some minor gripes. It is a little disappointing to hear so many familiar beats and/or samples. If you listen to a lot of Hip Hop, you may have heard all of the Dilla tracks already ("10 Bricks"= "The Red" by Jaylib, and "Ason Jones" and "House of Flying Daggers" are on other Dilla beat tapes), "Sonny's Missing" is the beat used for one of Pete Rock's songs "Questions," and there are a couple other examples that aren't worth mentioning. That said, Raekwon adds such a great flavor to these songs, that it almost doesn't matter if you've heard these tracks used elsewhere.

Verdict: 4.5/5

This is what every Wu-Tang and Hip Hop fan hoped for- raw, uncut music. Raekwon does not disappoint and delivers one of the best albums in recent memory. Is it as good as the original? Not quite, but it is unfair to compare the two. Cuban Linx II more than holds its own, and only adds to Rae's (and Wu-Tang's) legacy. This album is not for the faint of heart, and must be heard from start to finish to truly appreciate.

Highlights: "Gihad," "Broken Safety," "10 Bricks"

Skip These: "Baggin' Crack" (which isn't even that bad, it just doesn't stack up to the rest of the album)

One of the Diddy types, da D-D-Dame Dash dudes

As big a fan as I am of Jay-Z, I gotta say I'm a bigger fan of the brains behind the former dynasty known as Roc-A-Fella... Dame Dash. Although, Dame has recently gone through some financial troubles, it's great to see him back in the lime-light. Currently he is executive producing the Blak Roc project, and working with other artists like Curren$y, Mos Def, Jim Jones, and Jay Electronica. Recently, Dame has done a lot of interviews which I found pretty interesting, not just because I'm a Dame stan, but he has some introspective thoughts regarding various projects and business ventures. Ch-Ch-Check it out...

Put Em On Up

A lot of great hip-hop artists seem to be releasing their newest albums soon, but one I haven't heard too much buzz about is Snoop Dogg's tenth studio album, Malice N Wonderland. I have to admit, I haven't heard an outstanding Snoop verse in a while so I came in skeptical, and a lot of this doubt probably stems from the train wreck that is Sexual Seduction.

But I digress. I was played a couple leaked tracks off Snoop's new album, and like I have been experiencing a lot lately, I just needed more. None of the tracks were real stand outs and I have come to expect more from an industry veteran like Snoop.

Then I heard Upside Down. The beat and concept might be a little radio, but he really goes in. This goes back to some vintage Snoop. He changes up his flow a couple times throughout and it adds to the changes you hear in the production, done by Terrace Martin. Although I haven't heard much Nipsey Hussle or Problem, they are featured on the song and don't do much to take away from the Doggfather's success on the track. When you think the track is over after three solid minutes of straight hip-hop, Nipsey comes in and provides us with one more final verse. Here's to a new party anthem.

Snoop Dogg ft. Nipsey Hussle, Problem - Upside Down

Going In Hard

Travis Barker has been releasing "remixes" on popular tracks where he goes in on the drums over the original track. With all that talent, it's not surprising that he takes many of these tracks to whole other levels. The first release I heard was Travis drumming over Crank That back in the day and I was even impressed with that one.

He recently went over Slaughterhouse's The One, and I was hoping for the toughness of the track and the strength of his drumming to come together, but was left wanting more. That was until he released his remix of Drake's Forever. The added percussion track does something for the track that I thought had lost a lot of it's buzz because of being over-played.

This remix definitely made me appreciate the track one more time around and gave the song a renewed life. And the video below really let's you see the effort he puts in to make his touch on the track successful.

Drake ft. Travis Barker, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Eminem - Forever Remix

Everybody Know Me

The internet is going nuts over Beanie Sigel's signing with 50 Cent after Rocafella and Jay-Z dropped him, but on the topic of G-Unit, we cannot forget those who left the clique to try and do bigger, better things.

I have a lot of respect for both Young Buck and The Game. They are both talented artists and lyricists in their own right and have been doing a lot of work post-G-Unit. The Game is coming out with his next studio album The R.E.D. Album - I've heard some leaks and am hoping that the album turns out better than what has been released so far. Althought I don't know of any upcoming Buck releases, he has been releasing tracks regularly.

The Game's Big Money is supposedly the first single off his next album. I recently heard the song and with such strong production from Cool and Dre, I was hoping he would do more with it. I hadn't heard much from Buck in a while, but he just released a track called Homecoming, a slower track depicting street life.

The Game - Big Money [Edit: Had it up, but had to remove the link due to copyright issues. It probably wasn't worth posting in the first place, anyways.]

Young Buck - Homecoming

Just The Underdog Barking

Joell Ortiz, one-quarter of the group Slaughterhouse has been putting releasing freestyle after freestyle on the internet, presumably trying to create some buzz. I'm a big fan of the Brooklyn lyricist and these freestyles only continue to show the work he was putting in. My favorite one so far is over The Clipse's Popular Demand, off Til' The Casket Drops, and even though Joell doesn't have popularity the Thornton brother's have, he still goes in on the beat. The second freestyle is over the beat for Fifty and Beanie's new release, I Go Off, that Mr. Evans just posted on. Keeping with the hard delivery that Beanie takes on the track, Joell goes bar for bar with a refreshing flow telling us how things are real for him.


Popular Demand Freestyle

I Go Off Freestyle

You Don't Want the Shooter? I'll Take Him...

So, as you may or may not know, Beanie Sigel recently released a diss track announcing his displeasure with how Jay-Z has managed his career. Essentially, as I see it, his relationship with Jay and "the R.O.C." is over. Quite honestly, it's kinda sad... it really is the end of an era. Roc-A-Fella's glory days were by far my favorite times in Hip Hop, and Beanie played a major part in that. Anyways, word is that Beanie is going to sign to G-Unit, which is a good look for him considering I'm pretty sure he was currently unsigned. All week long, the hype has been building for "I Go Off" which is the first, and most likely not the last, collabo between 50 Cent and Beanie. On some of the other blogs, the consensus seems to be split due to the enormous amount of 50 Cent haters. But all bias aside, the song bangs and it's good to hear Sigel spittin' fire.

What You Talkin' Bout (Jay-Z Diss)

I Go Off (feat. 50 Cent)

I Got My Degree From Professor X

Ninjasonik, reppin' Brooklyn, NY, is a group that recently caught my attention. They've been making noise on the independent music scene for about two years, but recently, Kanye West posted a video by these guys on his blog called, "Hold the Line (Darth Baño Remix)." Taking the beat from the song "Hold the Line" by Major Lazer, the front man from Ninjasonik goes on a 2 minute lyrical onslaught spittin' straight bars, with no hook. I was immediately drawn to it and bumped it multiple times in a row. Be sure to check out some of their other releases including the Tight Pants EP and Art School Girls. I gotta say the reason I'm really feelin' them is the message they send: be yourself. As corny as it may sound, there's way too much "following trends" these days in music, but these guys are completely original.

The Massacre...

On December 22nd (although I'll believe it when I see it), what is likely to be one of the best albums of the year will be release. Raekwon, Ghostface, and Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan, are releasing a collaboration album and you know it's going to be FIRE. There was speculation that such a project would never come to fruition due to the fact that Meth and Ghost are signed to Def Jam, and Raekwon is signed to his own independent label, Ice Water H20. Apparently, it is happening, and Wu-Tang stans can rejoice that such a monumental album will be released.

In anticipation of the album, two trailers have been released detailing what is dubbed as "The Wu Massacre." Based on the movie Se7en, the vids are entertaining and definitely help to build excitement for the collabo.

"The Wu Massacre Pt. 1"

"The Wu Massacre Pt. 2"

You Ain't Seen Paper Like This...

As December 8th approaches, my anticipation continues to build for the new Clipse album Till the Casket Drops. Recently, XXL Magazine reviewed the album, and according to the review it was very close to getting the coveted XXL rating. Today, another Neptunes-produced track called "Doorman" leaked online, and it's a banger. I've been bumpin' it all day and I'm still not sick of it. Granted, I am a Clipse stan, but I find it hard to believe that anyone could really hate on this track.

"Doorman"

Earlier today the Clipse released a video for the aforementioned song, so check it...

Clipse - Doorman Music Video - Til The Casket Drops Dec 8 from Malice of the Clipse on Vimeo.

Top 13 Hip Hop Albums of the Decade

Today, well known radio personality Peter Rosenberg released a list of his "Top 13 Hip Hop Albums of the Decade." As soon as I read his list, I immediately started thinking about what my 'top 13' would be. For the most part, I'd say Pete was spot on with most of his choices, but there are a few I was skeptical of (The Carter III? Come on now...). It's tough to put them in order, so I decided to just list them in no particular order. Check out both of the lists, and let us know what you think. Feel free to post your 'top 13' in the comment section...

Clipse- Hell Hath No Fury (2006)

Although Ludacris' Release Therapy won an award for 'best rap album' at the 2006 Grammy Awards, there's no question that the honor should have gone to the Clipse for their ferocious effort on Hell Hath No Fury. With the sonic duties left entirely to Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, the production duo known as 'The Neptunes' provided the perfect stripped-down, yet vicious backdrop for Malice and Pusha T to spit their coke-fueled stories. More than just 'cocaine-rap,' this album showcased a despair and frustration that could only have been generated by 4 to 5 years of label politics.

Jay-Z- The Blueprint (2001)

Jay-Z's second best album to date, The Blueprint was significant for a variety of reasons. First, it served as the coming-out party for Kanye West, who produced "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," "Takeover," "Heart of the City," and "Never Change." With the exception of Timbaland and The Trackmasters, Jay-Z enlisted Just Blaze, Kanye, and Bink! to create the backbone of his album- leaving it in the hands of three barely proven up-and-comers. The result was a soul-driven classic which has stood the test of time.

Madvillain- Madvillainy (2004)

When I first heard about this album, I was more than skeptical about taking a listen to it. One look at the cover, and all I could think was this must be the craziest sounding album ever. And I didn't mean that in a good way. After reading the review for it on pitchfork.com, I decided to check it out. What I heard was one of the most creative and wild albums I've ever had the privilege to listen to. Madlib's beats are some of the finest of his career and DOOM kills it. Much like DJ Premier worked perfectly with Guru, Madlib and DOOM are perfect for each other. To this day I still bump it, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out sometime in 2010...

Kanye West- The College Dropout (2004)

Kanye's first and best album. I don't care what anyone says, from top-to-bottom College Dropout is his best effort to date. With CLASSIC cuts like "Two Words," "Through the Wire," "Last Call," "Jesus Walks," and "Slow Jams," it is without a doubt one of the best albums of the decade. Sure, the skits along with a couple unnecessary tracks disrupt the flow of the album, but as a collective body of songs it is phenomenal.

Common- Be (2005)

Once again, Kanye adds some of his signature flavor to another great album. Be was the best Hip Hop album of 2005 (though The Documentary was close) and it resurrected (get it?) Common's career. Four years later, "The Corner" is still my jam. Kanye's production along with Dilla's two contributions ("Love Is" and "It's Your World") were the perfect palette for Common to spit his knowledge.

The Game- The Documentary (2005)

One of the best Dr. Dre executive-produced albums ever, from a production stand-point The Documentary is nearly flawless. Don't believe me? First track... "Westside Story"... second track... "Dreams"... third track... "Hate It Or Love It... fourth track... "Higher"... fifth track... "How We Do"... and I could keep going. Not to mention bangers like the Timbaland-produced "Put You on the Game" and heartfelt songs like "Start from Scratch" and "Don't Worry." If Game could have cut back on his "name dropping" and had shown a little more lyrical prowess, this is without a doubt a 4.5 star album.

Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II... (2009)

Is it too early to call this album a classic? Perhaps... but it is definitely the best Hip Hop album of the last few years (yeah, I said it) and the best East Coast album since The Black Album. Too many dope songs to mention, but without thinking too hard "Gihad," "Broken Safety," "10 Bricks," "New Wu," and "House of Flying Daggers" come to mind. Only mentioning these songs does not do this album justice, as there are very few flaws. It is a Hip Hop head's perfect album; a gritty, new-school Wu-Tang album with production from greats such as J Dilla, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, RZA, The Alchemist, and Scram Jones among others.

Jay- Z- The Black Album (2004)

Speaking of The Black Album... what was supposed to be Jay-Z's last album, is also one of his best. With a slew of top-notch producers including DJ Quik, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Eminem, and Rick Rubin (!), this would have been the perfect album to go out to. "What More Can I Say" is one of the greatest lyrical onslaughts I've ever heard... "with so many different flows, this one's for this song, the next one I'll switch up, this one will get bit up." There are so many heaters on this album, it's pretty ridiculous... "Public Service Announcement" and "Dirt Off You Shoulder" are the two that I always find myself going back to, but this album is one that you can listen to without ever having to press the 'fast-forward' button.

Ghostface Killah- Fishscale (2006)

Before Fishscale was released, Ghostface managed to create an incredible buzz by announcing that he would be teaming up with DOOM for production on his upcoming album. In addition to this revelation, he added that Pete Rock, J Dilla, and Just Blaze would be contributing as well. What followed was one of the best Wu-Tang albums of this decade, and what I believe resurrected Wu-Tang. With bangers like "R.A.G.U.," "Kilo," and "9 Milli Bros.," this was one of the best albums of 2006, and is one of my all-time favorites.

50 Cent- Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)

Get Rich or Die Tryin'... talk about a memorable debut album. "What Up Gangsta" has gotta be one of the best intro songs in Hip Hop, and what unfolds after it is nothing short of incredible. "Patiently Waiting," "Many Men," "In Da Club," "High All the Time"... If a few songs had been cut out, this would be a near-perfect album. One of my favorite lines will always be "you don't want me to be your kid's role model, I'll teach him how to buck them 380's and load up them hollows, have shorty fresh off the stoop, ready to shoot, big blunt in his mouth, deuce deuce in his boot." It's a testament to 50's brash, rebellious nature, and man is it entertaining...

Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

One of the greatest Hip Hop albums EVER... The Marshall Mathers LP, in Dr. Dre's words, is his most complete album as an executive producer. This album is a showcase of lyrics, top-notch production, and provocative stories. Everyone remembers the controversy surrounding it... I even remember my mom hesitant to buy it for me due to the firestorm of negative publicity it was getting in the media. Eventually she gave in and I'm happy she did because it quickly became one of my favorite albums. Cuts like "Stan," "The Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am," and "Drug Ballad" are just a few of the classic songs on this album. Through and through, this album in fire...

Little Brother- The Minstrel Show (2005)

When Little Brother dropped "The Minstrel Show," it was surrounded with controversy. First of all, a title like "The Minstrel Show" is bound to rile up some feelings (even though what they have to say regarding the title is absolutely true), but what followed between the group and TV-network B.E.T. was unreal. When the group released their lead single, "Lovin' It," B.E.T. would not play it because they claimed it was 'too intelligent.' When I heard this, I was shocked and offended. Talk about dumbing down for your audience... B.E.T. admitted to doing just that. It created waves within Hip Hop, with people discussing the topic left and right. "The Minstrel Show" wasn't significant just due to the controversy it created, it was and still is an excellent album. 9th Wonder cooked up some of his best beats, and MC's Phonte and Big Pooh crafted memorable lyrics to create one of the all-time great 'underground' albums.

Scarface- The Fix (2002)

I remember the first time I heard a Scarface song. It was the year 2002, and I was a young lad that happened to stumble across a cut called "On My Block." It became my favorite song for a couple months then I forgot about it. Fast-forward a few years later and somehow (I believe I read a similar "all-time Hip Hop albums list) I managed to hear about Scarface's The Fix. I had heard about him and his former group The Geto Boys, but hadn't listened to anything they'd done. The Fix is more than a collection of songs that accompany "On My Block," it is an unbelievable album. "Guess Who's Back," with Jay-Z (and produced by Mr. West), is an all time classic, and the entire package is one of the best Southern Hip Hop albums ever.

Honorable Mention: DJ Muggs & GZA- Grandmasters, De La Soul- The Grind Date, Jay-Z- American Gangster, OutKast- Stankonia

Review: The Blueprint 3

Review Scale:

1, 1.5= (Travesty, Abysmal)

2, 2.5= (Waste of Time, Below Average)

3, 3.5= (Average, Above Average)

4, 4.5= (Superior... Likely a top release of the year, Near Classic... Some minor flaws)

5= (Classic)

Finally, the long awaited album that every Hip Hop fan has been waiting for... Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 is upon us. Many questions have come up with few answers leading up to its release, "will is live up to the first Blueprint?", "how will it fare with no production from Just Blaze?", and so on. Well, there is good news and bad news... The good news is Jay can still rap around 95% of mainstream artists, and he's made an album that is accessible to both Hip Hop heads and casual listeners. The bad news is it fails to live up to the immense hype. Jay's lyrical prowess, while still superior, is clearly not what it once was. It could be due to the fact that he chooses to show how he's "grown" musically, or quite simply he's lost a little bit of his God-given ability with age. While there are plenty of elder statesmen that prove the latter theory wrong (Ghostface, Raekwon, NaS, Common...), you never know. That said, fans of Jigga will be happy to hear that there is plenty of heat on this album to go around.

The album starts off with a rousing intro, "What We Talkin' About," where Hov raps about how he's moved on from certain beefs, "I ain't talkin bout gossip, I ain't talkin' bout Game, I ain't talkin' bout Jimmy, I ain't talkin' bout Dame," and how he's transcended rap music, "I don't run rap no more, I run the map." The opening stretch of the album sets the tone for what should be a smooth ride. No I.D.'s triumphant horns on "Thank You" are the exact instruments you would expect for Jay to boast over, with lines like, "I was gonna kill a couple rapper's but they did it to themselves, I was gonna do it with the flow, but they did it with the sales."

The strong showing continues with "D.O.A." and "Run This Town," and things get real interesting with "Empire State of Mind." Absolutely one of Jay's all-time great songs (and that's saying something), it isn't because of his lyrics so much as the epic beat along with Alicia Keys KILLING the hook. However, things quickly take an unfortunate turn for the worst.

With the exception of "A Star Is Born," the middle-to-end of the album is filled with mediocre songs. Never in my life would I have thought that Timbaland, the man behind classic Jay-Z collaborations like "Big Pimpin," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Is That Your Chick," and "Snoopy Track" would have provided such lackluster, uninspired beats. While Jay's metaphors on "Venus Vs. Mars" are on point, the beat will bore you to death. "Off That" seems like a forced attempt to make a hit, and "Reminder" is ruined by a terrible hook.

Another gripe I have is with the Swizz Beatz produced "On to the Next One" which has one of the worst, grating beats I've heard in some time. I've attempted to listen to this song at least ten times, and still can't get through it all the way. It's hard to believe that Just Blaze (who doesn't make one appearance on this album) didn't have any heaters locked away somewhere to replace this garbage. "Already Home" and "Hate," while not terrible by any means, lack the replay value needed to make these tracks anything more than just mediocre.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Is it worth checking out? Certainly. But unfortunately, it simply doesn't live up to the hype. Timbaland's beats are incredibly generic, and the production is surprisingly lackluster compared to the polished bangers one would expect from a Jay-Z album. That said, I applaud the direction that Jay tried to go in, but it could have been executed much better. There are absolutely some great songs, (Empire State of Mind, A Star Is Born), but there are far more mediocre/filler songs than there should be.

Highlights: D.O.A. (Death of Autotune), Empire State of Mind, Thank You

Skip These: Off That, On to the Next One, Hate