"Still Determined" will feature guest appearances from: Planet Asia, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Smiff N Wessun, Teflon, Meyhem (J Love's artist), and more guests (to be confirmed)
Production from: Moss, Bronze Nazareth, Kevlarr 7 (Of The Wisemen), Cosmo, and more.
Note: If you havent seen the video for the first single "Champion Rap" feat. Planet Asia...Go to my blog post "All Hail The Gold Chain" which is a blog post I made back in August and peep it or you could just search for it on You Tube by typing in "Sav Killz Champion Rap"
DOO WOP'S 95 LIVE (THE GREATEST MIXTAPE OF ALL TIME)
Amongst all the classic mixtapes, this one takes the cake right here!! This is the G.O.A.T of mixtapes period. Tony Touch's Power Cypha series aka 50 MC's is close but the reason why this mixtape takes the cake is because it combines freestyles, exclusives (from that time frame), and even Doo Wop's own twist on mainstream joints (Brandy's "Wanna Be Down").
Not only all that but this mixtape has the greatest mixtape intro of all time period (NO ARGUMENTS OR DEBATE). It is also the longest mixtape intro ever! The intro titled "New York's In The House" contains 100% exclusive freestylesONLY on this tape from from (in order):Doo Wop, Keith Murray, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Rampage, Fat Joe, Uneek, M.O.P, Guru, Wu-Tang Clan, and Ill All Skratch.
The tracklist is as follows:
New Yorks In The House (21 Minute Intro) feat. Doo Wop, Keith Murray, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Rampage, Fat Joe, Uneek, M.O.P, Guru, Wu-Tang Clan, and Ill All Skratch KRS-One - Ah Yeah M.O.P - To The Death (Remix) E.Bros - Funky Piano Nine - Redrum Ill Al Skratch - Don't Shut Down Jay-Z - In My Lifetime O.D.B - Brooklyn Zoo Method Man - What The Bloodclot Total/Biggie - Can't You See Black Moon/Smiff N Wessun - Headz Ain't Ready Frankie Cutlass/Fat Joe - Boricuas On The Set Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. II Group Home - Supa Star D&D All Stars - 1-2 Pass It Redman/Keith Murray/Erick Sermon - Cosmic Blast Redman/Keith Murray/Erick Sermon - Hows That Biggie - Gimme The Loot Smiff N Wessun - P.N.C Nas - One On One Redman - Can't Wait Lord Finesse - Check The Method Biggie - Big Poppa (Remix) Brandy/MC Lyte/Yo Yo/Queen Latifah - Wanna Be Down (Remix) Doo Wop/Fat Joe/Akinyele/Prettyboy Floyd/Lord Tariq - Wanna Be Down (Wop Remix)
Busy busy week, I know I missed the Diggin In The Crates column last week but tomorrow, I'm going to be bringing you something real special, one of the greatest Hip Hop mixtapes of all time that a lot of people don't even have. You shall see. A lot of tragic things went down in Hip Hop starting at the beginning of the week with Pimp C dying and Spice 1 being in critical condition. Its a shame what happened to these brothers which should serve as a reminder for yall to play it safe for the holiday season. Don't go doing some crazy shit that won't only hurt yourself but will also hurt the people around you. With that being said, on to it.............
Prodigy Offered A Deal By Police To Set Up 50 Cent!!!
Taken from hnic2.com, Prodigy explains his case in an interesting blog entry where he breaks down why he got arrested and how the pigs tried to get P to set up 50 Cent. Craziness!! Its a must read:
"what up my people, thanks for signing up and supporting ya G. On oct.27th 2007 me and a bunch a my dudes took alchemist out for his birthday. we went to this club in manhattan where (shareefa) an r&b artist on D.T.P. was having an album release party. when we got to the front door they told us we had to buy 5 bottles for $1,600 in order to get in the party. while they were telling us that bullshit, i looked over to my left and noticed the hip-hop task force standing in the street staring at me. i noticed a couple of them cause they arrested me before and told me i should get used to seeing them cause they had been assigned to MOBB DEEP / G-UNIT. Anyway, after we were finish laughing at the door people for trying to charge us $1,600 we walked back to our cars and drove back to alchemist crib. we were 3 cars deep. my bulletproof suburban was in the front, my lil' cousin JM's drop top benz was behind me, and GODFATHER plus his team was behind us in a hummer. While we were driving, my lil' cousin JM called me and said that the D's just pulled him over so i told him to hit me back when they let him go. Meanwhile the rest of us stopped to get some food while we waited for him. 20min later JM never called back, so i called him. He said he was all good and they let him go so i told him to meet us at alchemist crib. Godfather and his peeps decided to leave, so now its just me and alchemist. When i got to alchemist block i did an illegal u-turn so i could catch a parking spot not knowing that the hip-hop task force was following me the whole time in a yellow N.Y.C. taxi cab. (the 6y cab) The D's jumped out and told me to roll down the windows, i told them the truck was bulletproof and the windows dont roll down, so they opened my door. they told us to step out and began searching us. thats when 2 more un-marked police car's pulled up and just watched. Then the 2 dicks that pulled me and al started searching my truck without asking wich is called ILLEGAL SEARCH. Right about this time my lil' cousin JM pulled up in his benz, parked and then he walked over to where the D's had us. JM looked over at me a said that the un-marked car across the street was the car that just pulled him over 20min earlier. Thats when i realized that they pulled my lil' cousin car over first cause they thought i was in that car. JM had the flashy rapper looking car, a drop top benz with tinted windows and chrome wheels. Really no surprise the pricks and dicks is grimey as fuck, but when i was in my cell later that night i saw the true devil come out these niggas. All night they tried to get me to set up 50 CENT, they wanted me to plant guns in his car, plant drugs, or arrange a buy&bust. I was shocked how many times they tried and how many different detectives and ATF agents they tried to send at me. It was crazy. Then to top it all off, the same arresting detectives from the 6y cab got on the stand in my trial and lied to the Grand Jury saying that they saw me put a gun in the console box of my truck. THIS NEVER HAPPENED....STRAIGHT LIE That ruined my illegal search case. The D.A. in my case name is ZELETTA that lil' bitch boy was gonna play all my videos for the Grand Jury and paint a picture for them that woulda made me look like i was criminaly insane and a menace to society. i had to cop out to a 3 1/2 year sentence other wise i would have lost and got 15 years. I been threw alot of cases, Murder cases, Guns, Grand Theift, ect. I got away with so many crimes it's incredible. so me doing 3 1/2 aint shit compared to what i deserve. my time begins on JAN.9th so as i write this blog i got lil' over 20 days left on the street. i'm out here working hard as hell yo!!, i shot a video for every song on HNIC2 and also im shooting a reality show, all of wich will be on the FREE P DVD that come for free with my HNIC2 album. well thats all for now just had to get that out. i'm gonna be typing another blog about HNIC2 later tonight breaking down all the topics i'm touching on this time around. This is definitly gonna be a world changing revolutionary album. YA BOY P ON HIS SHIT RIGHT NOW check you later" - PRODIGYhnic2
Speaking of Prodigy, In March, Prodigy is dropping his sequel to H.N.I.C 2 which I've been waiting for for quite some time. I don't know about yall but in my opinion, "H.N.I.C" is a classic and I expect no less with this one. I had lost hope on P for a while but after hearing some of the stuff on H.N.I.C 2, I gotta say P might be back on his shit especially after hearing a song called "My World Is Empty Without You" where P touches on political issues, racism, etc.
Talks of Jay-Z leaving Def Jam have been going around like crazy this past week. Sources at or close to the label say "He wanted big, big money that was way out of sync with the realities of today's record business."
However, Jay-Z said recently in Entertainment Weekly: “Yeah, I think — I don't know. Let me not even say that. I don't know. We'll see how it goes. But seriously, it's not about money. That's really the last thing. Of course, as a person that does these type of things and puts his heart and soul into it — and it's effective, as the Grammys would indicate — you want to be compensated for what you do. But it's really not about money. It's really about the future of the music business, and not wasting anyone's time. I don't ever want to sit in a seat just to sit in a seat. I could be off doing something else that's beneficial to the future of the music business as well as myself. So it's not about money! I mean, you couldn't pay me enough. And I don't mean that in a cocky way.”
His contract runs out at the end of the month, a final decision still hasn't been made. Jay-Z's departure from Def Jam is defintely something we don't need right now. I mean, hes running arguably, the best Hip Hop label going right now where we saw GREAT albums from Ghostface, Kanye, Freeway, Redman (minus some of those whack beats he picked), and even the man Jay himself. He's doing a great job controlling the Def Jam empire and whos going to step in and do Jay's job if he does leave? L.A. Reid?!? If that happens, I promise you Def Jam will be done. L.A. Reid is not Hip Hop!!!!! So, Jay if your reading this (Kas prays haha), DO NOT leave Def Jam!! Hip Hop needs you to stay there especially after that Ghostface album. What major label especially one as big as Def Jam would authorize something that is as real and pure as Ghost's album to hit the streets. Come on!!! JAY-Z FOR PRESIDENT!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alchemist Prepping New Album "Chemical Warfare"
Alright, I know what most of yall are thinking these 3 questions:
#1 - Who the fuck is IGT?!? #2 - How come theres no album cover?!? #3 - Why should I check out this album?
#1: IGT is a 4 man group who was signed to Loud Records from 1998 to 2001.
#2: "Alpha And Omega" was never released due to the closing of Loud Records in 2001, so this isnt necessairly something you can sleep on but at the same time, if it did come out, I think people still would have slept cause IGT wasnt exactly the most prominent group on Loud Records at the time. #3: On production alone, you should check this album out. I mean we are talking production from Pete Rock, The Alchemist, Large Professor, Ez Elpee, and Mahogany. TRUST ME!! This may be the only time you ever see this album available. I spent 3 years of my life looking for this album.
Need I say more?!?
Why the large font? CAUSE YALL NEED TO STOP SLEEPING AND WAKE UP AND DOWNLOAD THIS MASTERPIECE!!!!!
You can check out IGT on My Space and what they are currently doing at: http://www.myspace.com/igtmusic --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Spotlight: WMS The Sultan
Producers are really doing it big out here. Gotta tip my hat off to WMS, I know what its like to get your beat placed somewhere major and Joe Budden's "Mood Musik 3" is DEF. MAJOR!!! You can gurantee most Hip Hop fans from the streets to the bloggers are gonna be bumping that joint. WMS has 4 beats on the project including "Talk 2 Em", "Dear Diary", "5th Gear", and "Roll Call" (which is featured on his website right now for your listening pleasure).
Shoutouts to: All the haters, the loyal readers, repdabean.com, the bostonrap.com message boards, facebook.com, myspace.com, everywhere that allows me to promote this blog. Good looks on the platform!
Until next week, I'm out....PEACE!!!
Remember though, tomorrow, for my "Diggin In The Crates" column, I'm hitting you with one of Hip Hop's most classic mixtapes ever that some of yall dont even have a copy of or can't obtain a copy of! Its gonna be major!!!!!
All I gotta say to start of my first edition of the Weekly Rap Up column is I told you, the Celtics would get the Cavs back and we ate em up and Pierce and Garnett weren't even our biggest weapons. Shouts to Glen Davis coming through hard in that game!! BIG BABY!!! haha.
Saigon Quitting The Game (My Public Note To Sai-Giddy)
Biggest Upset of 2007 by far. I mean, honestly, if your a Hip Hop head like myself, you know that Saigon was going to drop one of the best albums in the past 10 years!! Think of an album 90% produced by Just Blaze with outside production from just Scram Jones and Alchemist! Like what the fuck is this dude doing? He's bugging right now, I mean I know people go through trials and tribulations and I've felt them with the industry and its brought me to the bottom and its made me feel like I'm at the top but I've never quit the game even when a dude was flat broke eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for weeks just grinding, I didn't quit the game. I mean you are actually making some big money off this shit and you got a core fan base dude unlike a lot of other people still pulling off 9-5's and busting their ass to be in your shoes. My advice to you is to drop that album, my real, cause its only going to do you good and the Hip Hop world some good to hear something that could influence a whole new generation of great MC's. I'm sick of hearing the youth imitating Cassidy and Lil Wayne, its pathetic, un-inspiring and definitely not creative. We, as a culture need to get it in check cause at the rate this artform is going, our future kids are going to grow up with music about nothing and involving no talent which is going to influence even worse artists than we have now! People right now are prob. like why the fuck does Kas care this much about Saigon? I care about Saigon cause Saigon truly is Hip Hop's savior. Yup, I said it. Cause you need to understand that there isn't rookies coming out at his caliber and what hes capable of doing. He has the potential to make an album at the level of an"Illmatic" or a "Reasonable Doubt" especially with a producer like Just Blaze in his corner who is a fan first and understands Hip Hop music to the fullest. So all I demand in this letter is to at least hear "The Greatest Story Never Told" Drop that fam, don't let the game get you down cause the game needs that album and Hip Hop needs that album!! One!
Back to our regular scheduled programming (haha....)....
So, as yall know, there's been a lot of beef brewing internally inside the Wu-Tang camp. First was the video of Raekwon (being interviewed by Ms. Info) accusing the RZA of making an album (8 Diagrams) that wasnt going in the direction the rest of Wu-Tang wanted it to go ("Rza's tryin' to create too much of a orchestra, piano ...he's trying to do too much of this guitar shit like he got a guitar on his fuckin back," Raekwon said. "We don't want that and the fans don't know us for that.") and that the RZA owes him money and is not paying members in the group correctly and its been like that for years (Hmmmmm...really? I've never heard that one before haha. ;) The 2 part video interview is below!
RAEKWON/MISS INFO INTERVIEW (PT.1)
RAEKWON/MISS INFO INTERVIEW (PT. 2)
RZA responded to Raekwon on Tim Westwood's show on BBC Radio 1 (United Kingdom) insisting that he is a master producer who gave the album a great direction and that "8 Diagrams" is a nutrious meal compared to the fast food music that is coming out. Towards Raekwon, he claims he doesnt owe him any money by saying "I pay my bills!" Video of that interview below!
RZA ON BBC RADIO 1 (TIM WESTWOOD) RESPONDING TO RAEKWON!
Then about 4-5 days later, An interview from MTV with Ghostface comes out where hes dissing the album saying he, also like Raekwon didnt like the direction it was going. He even said and I quote "I dont give a fuck about it (8 Diagrams), So I havent even heard it." Ghostface (the most consistent member in the Wu-Tang Clan) not showing pleasure for his own group's project, alright, now im starting to get worried. VIDEO OF THAT BELOW!!
GHOSTFACE ON MTV DISSING "8 DIAGRAMS"
Alright so it all comes down to this, Wu-Tang Clan "8 Diagrams" vs. Ghostface Killah's "Big Doe Rehab" (I know they aren't out yet but don't worry, I'm copping em both ;) haha. So first up is...
Wu-Tang Clan "8 Diagrams"
1) Campfire - So first thing I'm thinking, damn, new Wu-Tang album, its been a minute, I cant wait to hear this joint. Hypnotic singing brings the track in and Meth and Ghost throw down lyrical darts over a laid back but hard backdrop laid out by the RZA. However, Cappadonna's lackluster rhymes waste up time that could have been used for a better Clan member's verse (Preferably, Raekwon). (3/5)
2) Take It Back - Raekwon kicks it off over the B-Boy/Disco throwback chops laid by DJ Scratch. Inspectah Deck and Ghost rip it as well. Once again though, U-God dissapoints (Ever since "Mr. Excitement" (one of the most laughable albums in Hip Hop history), the RZA should have known to sit this guy on the sidelines.) (4/5)
3) Get Them Out Ya Way Pa - First dissapointing beat I heard from RZA on the album so far. Very boring, think RZA combined with the Neptunes minus the hard drums. Once again, Meth comes through and murders this sleeper! Then comes, a uninspiring hook from Ghost and Rae, and boring verses from U-God and Masta Killa. (2/5) 4) Rushing Elephants - Here we fucking go!!!!!!!!! WU-TANG!!! WU-TANG!!! (KAS STARTS THROWING W'S UP!!!) hahaha. This is what I'm talking about Mr. Abbot (RZA)!! HARD orchestral backdrop with everybody (Raekwon, GZA ("We critisize producers til they joints are right/then acupuncture the track with pinpoints of life"), RZA, and Masta Killa all murder this joint. (5/5) 5) Unpredictable aka Thug World (feat. Dexter Wiggle) - Uhhhh....Way too much things going on in this beat. This is not what I expected from this song as "Thug World" was something that I thought was going to be on "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II", so I had high expectations for this song. If Raekwon was displeased with the album's production though, I'm sure RZA changed this beat. Inspectah Deck came through on this joint though despite the over-produced beat. (2/5)
6) The Heart Gently Weeps (feat. Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison, and John Frusciante) - At first, I gotta say, I heard this joint and I was like wtf? and wasn't feeling it but after a second listen at this joint, I thought it was amazing. One of the key joints on this album. Even though its not in the key of something Wu-Tang would do. Its def. in the vein of something that could be on a Ghostface album and if you remember prior to this Ghostface had a joint called "My Guitar" with the same sample. Ghost come through with the best verse on the whole album (2nd verse) with a combination of Kool G Rap esque storytelling and singing in tune with the sample. I'm sorry but I gotta give this joint a perfect rating. (5/5) 7) Wolves (feat. George Clinton) - LOL hahaha. This beat sounds like a leftover from the critically acclaimed "Mr. Excitement" album from U-God (hahahahaha). Method Man still came through and killed the beat. Signature George on the hook but this song is very out of place on a Wu-Tang album. Sounds like Gravel Pit Pt. 2 but worse. (1/5)
8) Gun Will Go (feat. Sunny Valentine) - Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww......My other favorite verse on the album comes from Raekwon who comes in to this track with a slow, murderous flow ("I will lace you, rip you, embrace you/put a nice dub of you up on your face, word to your mother, you can get chased"). I like the production RZA supplied on this joint too, its not overdone and I love how he put the slight changes in the chord progression on the verses. (4/5)
9) Sunlight - Dope beat supplied by the RZA, its just too bad that he left it all for himself. I would have liked to hear other members over this joint especially since its one of the best beats on the album. Regardless, RZA drops knowledge and give his praises to Allah over a errie, soulful backdrop and comes through with a decent one here! (3/5)
10) Stick Me For My Riches - This joint right here would make a next decent single for Wu-Tang. I think this may have done better in a time where fast hi-hats and singing hook's are in than "The Heart Gently Weeps". Hopefully, they use this for the next single. Everyone came through on this joint but supringinsly, Insepectah Deck lacked on charisma and flow on this track. Funny, because thats something that we never often have to say about Deck but I guess it happens to the best of them haha. (3/5)
11) Starter feat. Sunny Valentine and Tash Mahogany - Oh my fuckin god!! Nooooo!! Nooooo!!! Noooooo!!!! This is supposed to be a Wu-Tang Record, when did Will I Am come in and start giving you that Black Eyed Peas sound hahaha. This is def. one of the records Rae and Ghost were talking about. Dont even listen to this joint. For the love of god, next track, NEXT TRACK!!! hahaha. (THIS SONG IS SO BAD, IT DOESNT EVEN DESERVE A RATING, WHAT THE FUCK?, LOL)
12) Windmill - Oh shit. I hear that Gravediggaz"Diary Of A Madman" sample in the back. WU TANG!!! WU TANG!!! I thought this record was going to start going downhill after "Starter" but heres another hard joint where everyone comes through and kills it over a laidback guitar-sampled joint with the opera voice from "Diary Of A Madman" and vocal chops. One of the better joints on the album. (4/5)
13) Weak Spot - Raw but boring beat from the RZA lacking energy. However, The Wu-Tang are on a murdering streak right now cause they all killed this joint too especially Raekwon (damn whens Cuban Linx II dropping?) (3/5)
14) Life Changes - One of my favorite joints due to the soulful production laid by RZA. Thats what I like to hear, on a Wu-Tang album, that signature sound. That sample from Freda Payne on the hook is killing them too. This is the tribute track to ODB and it was laid down successfully, however its missing Ghostface and hes upset that he wasnt on it cause he claims RZA never asked him to get on it. If thats true, thats fucked up. (4/5)
15) Tar Pit - Whoaaaaaa....Get U-God out of here, put him in a Hip Hop retirement home. This is how you close out a Wu-Tang album, shame on you, I cant even get through the first verse. (1/5)
16) 16th Chamber (O.D.B Special) - A lost Wu-Tang track ripped off a tape with that classic 36 Chambers Wu-Sound that we love. Meth and O.D.B killing it. Classic of course! (4/5)
So overall, I think 8 Diagrams is a solid album but I can def. see what Ghost and Rae are talking about with some of the dissapointing production. However, ever since the first listen, this album has def. been growing on me a lot especially the key tracks I mentioned. If RZA came through like he did on the key tracks I mentioned, this album could have been better than solid but unfortuantley, RZA needs to get back into his zone for that to happen. I mean "State Of Grace" was one of the hardest beats I had heard in a minute and then you come through with some real lackluster beats on Wu-Tang's return album. What is going on? Now on to Ghostface's album...
Ghostface Killah "Big Doe Rehab"
1) At The Cabana (Skit) - Signature Ghostface skit that plays perfectly into the first track of the album. (NO RATINGS FOR SKITS)
2) Toney Sigel A.K.A. The Barrel Brothers (feat. Beanie Sigel) - Ghost is back again. The Hitmen come through on this joint chopping and distorting the guitars to make a hard, gritty backdrop for Ghost and Beanie to murder and by all means, these dudes murdered this joints! (4/5)
3) Yolanda's House (feat. Raekwon and Method Man) - CLASSIC!!!! INCREDIBLE!!! DOPE!!! All words that can be used to describe this joint. I previously heard this sample on Pharoahe Monch's "Never Walk Together" (which was left off his album "Desire") and I'm glad to finally hear someone use it on their album. Ghost, Rae, and Meth lay a story of exactly what the track title suggests, what happened at Yolanda's house and the result is a classic Ghostface joint. (5/5) 4) We Celebrate (feat. Kid Capri) - Harder Ghostface single than usual. Wasn't a fan of this joint at first but its better than "Tush" with Missy Elliot and "Back Like That" with Ne-Yo. Kid Capri comes through with the energy we know him for on the hook and Ghost kills the Rare Earth sample. (3/5) 5) Walk Around - Signature Ghost as it again, dropping a story about killing a man outside of a corner store for slapping his girl over a soulful beat laid down by Anthony Acid. (4/5)
6) Yapp City (feat. Trife Da God & Sun God) - The thing that I like about Ghost the most is the way he is able to display emotions in his rhymes, its like what hes talking about is really go down and someone just put a mic in front of him. For example, Ghost is sticking someone up in this song and brings you through the process ("Take your hoodys off, jackets, and watch/Before you put your hands on the wall, empty your pockets....") Scram Jones gave em the perfect one for this joint. Sun God (Ghostface's son) and Trife Da God come through killing it too!!! (5/5)
7) White Linen Affair (Toney Awards) (feat. Shawn Wigs) - Mr. Starks hosts his own award show on this joint with Shawn Wigs co-hosting. Very unique concept, I'm not a huge fan of the beat but its not by any means whack, I guess you could say its one of those beats that fits the concept. (3/5)
8) Supa GFK - Classic Ghost!!! Loving the "Superman Lover" sample. Shouts to Johnny Watson!! So I'm half way through this album at this point and im thinking to myself Can Ghostface ever make a bad album? Looks like Ghost has got another classic on his hand. Lets see how this plays out. (5/5)
9) Rec-Room Therapy (feat. Raekwon & U-God) - Make your scrunch face ladies and gentlemen!!! Weeeeeeeeeeewwww!!! This shit is hard!! Ghost, Raekwon, and U-God reminisce on their hustling days over an Issac Hayes sample flipped by producer, Baby Grand. Again though, U-God ruins a perfect track, what a sloppy verse! Please quit! haha. Hes the reason why this track doesn't get a perfect rating. (4/5)
10) The Prayer (Performed By Ox) -Ox does just that, sings out a prayer. Skippable skit. (NO RATINGS FOR SKITS!!)
11) I'll Die For You - Over a soulful backdrop laid by Puffy's Hitmen, Ghost gives praise to all the people that he would die for. (4/5)
12) Paisley Darts (feat. Raekwon, Sun God, Trife Da God, Method Man, and Cappadonna) - The Wu/Theordore clique track is always necessary on a Ghost album and they def. dont dissapoint. Over a raw sample from The Originals chopped up in a RZA-esque fashion, The Hitmen come through again. Everyone did their thing. (3/5)
13) Shakey Dog Starring Lolita (feat. Raekwon) - R.A.G.U collabo!! Classic!! These dudes need to come out with an album together like they were supposed too. What is going on with that? Ghost says hes working on Cuban Linx II next though, so hopefully, we hear a lot of Ghost and Rae on that joint. The best Wu-Tang members of the moment in my opinion (along with Meth, whos been killing shit lately). (5/5) 14) ! - A :37 second skit ending where the intro skit left off. (NO RATINGS FOR SKITS)
I'm not including the bonus tracks in this interview, all though, "Killa Lipstick" (feat. Method Man & Masta Killa) is ridiculous, check that one out!! "Slow Down" is hot too but I can see why Ghost gave both these joints the bonus track shun, they def. wouldnt have fit with the street vibe of this album. So, overall, 8 Diagrams vs. Ghostface, Ghostface prevails again and makes a better album than the group he is rooted from. Can this dude ever not drop a classic, right now he is the most consistent MC ever. I mean think about it, has he ever dropped a bad album? ("More Fish" doesnt count, and even that shit was decent.)
Anyone catch 50 Cent on MTV Cribs this past week? This dude was showing us technology thats not even available to us, what an asshole!! Gotta love 50 though! You can watch most of it streaming right here:
In other 50 news, he was on Shade 45 earlier this week and he had a lot to say about a lot of people. His targets: JAY-Z, NAS, DIDDY, KELIS, FAT JOE, and JA RULE. On Ja Rule: “That nigga Ja thought he had a chance. Let me tell you something That nigga thought he had a chance, son. That nigga was on the radio popping shit. Uh oh uh oh uh oh. Da na na na na na na na na. That shit is wack. That nigga is the worst right now. Word. It’s not even me no more. It’s you, homeboy. I ain’t even fucking you up no more. You fucked up. I was just laying low."
On Fat Joe: ”Let me just say something about Fat Joe. That nigga is cold as ice. That nigga’s the block of ice that sunk the Titanic. Cold as a motherfucker, man. The crackhouse! I’m on my way to a show in Munich, it’s sold out, and they don’t even know Fat Joe. That stupid nigga!" The whole interview can be heard here:http://www.zshare.net/audio/5305164ec41a3c/
Every week, I am going to bring you an album that I feel was slept on and is most likely out of print in my Sleepwalkers column. This week, I bring to you in my opinion, the most slept on album in Hip Hop EVER!!! This album is without a question, a classic and was yet not paid attention to by anybody.
Sleepwalkers Cru's "Da Dirty 30"
Cru consists of MC/Producer, Yogi (who produced the whole album), Chaddeo, and Mighty Ha. I really miss this group man, this was a 30 track album and was classic from start to finish and along with being the most slept on Hip Hop album of all time in my opinion. It is also one of my favorite albums of all time!! Guest features come from: The Lox, Ras Kass, Slick Rick, Black Rob (who murders his verse on "Wreckgonize") and Anthony Hamilton. Cyrus Tha Great put me on to this album around the time I first met him where he expressed to me that this was his favorite album of all time next to The Fugees' "The Score" and Group Home's "Livin Proof". I remembered hearing of it but like everyone, I slept on it as well. So I'm thinking how can an album with 30 tracks be so good? THATS A LOT OF JOINTS! I seeked it out and found out it was OOP (Out Of Print), so I had to download it, and once I downloaded it, I fell in love with this album. Think A Tribe Called Quest but with a harder, grittier street edge. Thats as best as I can describe Cru and all I can say is do yourself a favor and listen to this album cause if you haven't, you are MISSING OUT big time!
So, this concludes my first edition of the Weekly Rap Up. First off I gotta give a big shoutout to Brady for coming through in the almost dreaded game vs. the Ravens. THANK GOD, THE PERFECT SEASON STAYS ALIVE!!!! Shoutouts to all my supporters, The Backcourt Squad, All Elements, All my friends and family that hold me down daily, RepDaBean.com, and last but not least, all my peoples locked down behind those walls (HOLD YOUR HEAD!!) and that aren't able to be with us today.
