Monday, December 3, 2007

Weekly Rap Up!!! (11-27-07-12-04-07)

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....)....

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8 Diagrams Vs. Ghostface











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 IN
TERVIEW (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 t
he 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 Bu
ilt 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 join
t 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 Reco
rd, 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 d
ownhill 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 lac
king 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. Th
at 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. se
e 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)
- CL
ASSIC!!!! 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 h
ook and Ghost kills the Rare Earth sample. (3/5)

5) Walk Around
- Signature Ghost as it again, droppi
ng 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 l
ike 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. Star
ks 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.)


Winner: Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab


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50 Cent on MTV Cribs, Dissing Everyone On Radio!!


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:

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1574770&vid=191245

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/


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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!

Download Cru's "Da Dirty 30" right here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/bex6zb



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Local Spotlight:

Stu Bangas - Stu Bangas Vol. 1


Check out Stu on My Space at: http://www.myspace.com/stubangas

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.

R.I.P Pimp C!!! You Will be missed.




















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