Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Weekly Rap Up!!! (02-12-08-02-18-08)

KANYE SNUBBED AT THE GRAMMYS!!!

Well, not exactly (Kanye brought home awards for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group, and Best Rap Song) but I mean Herbie Hancock winning album of the year? Come on. Much respect and big ups to Herbie but out of all the albums in that category, Kanye deserved it the most like come on, this dude put out his first album in 2004 and since then has put out 3 classic albums each with its own soundscape, pushing the envelope every time!! For someone of this caliber and this consistency, there is no one more deserving of this honor than Kanye West period. Oh yea and to keep it completely real, is Herbie Hancock even relevant anymore?

KANYE WEST PERFORMING "STRONGER" at THE 2008 GRAMMYS:



KANYE WEST SONNING THE GRAMMY'S "YALL GONNA PLAY MUSIC ON ME?!?"



NAS AND KELIS ROCKING AN INTERESTING ATTIRE ON THE RED CARPET!!



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HARD COPIES ARE DEAD!!!!!


Over the weekend, Timbaland announced that he has just signed a deal with Verizon Wireless to create the first "mobile album" and will be exclusively available for V Cast (Verizon's mobile entertainment service) users. Timbaland is going to produce a song every month in 2008 with a different artist and each song will be avaliable as a full song, ringtone, and a ring back shortly after each song is finished. The first track will feature Keri Hilson and will be available shortly.

My take on this: I think its a brilliant idea with the way music is selling nowadays compared to ringtones. However, I think doing this is going to fuck up the ringtone game for the people who make bank off of ringtones cause like with everything, oversaturation kills markets and with new ideas, expect to see a lot of artists following in Timbaland's footsteps in 2008. Soon, you gotta ask yourself are hard copies even going to exsist anymore?!?!? Scary thought.

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GOING BACK TO THE ST.IDES DAYS?!? (WELL, SORT OF.)





Remember back in the days when St.Ides had commericals like this:




Well Smirnoff is hoping to produce a similar result with the recent recruiting of rappers: Common, KRS-One, and Q-Tip along with producers: DJ Prem
ier, Just Blaze, and Cool and Dre to build up promotion and awareness for their newest liquor line, Smirnoff Signature Mix.

Now listen to this brilliant idea, each one of these rappers is going to pair up with one of the producers listed to re-make one of their classics. DJ Premier and KRS-One will be pairing up for a re-make of "I'm Still #1". Common and Just Blaze w
ill be pairing up for a re-make of "The Light". Q-Tip and Cool and Dre will be pairing up for a re-make of "Vivrant Thing" (Ehhh, don't know how I feel about that one haha.) Only if record labels or ringtone companies thought of hot shit like this!!

The artists will perform their remixes at the launch for Smirnoff Signature Mix on Feb. 26th and the tracks will be available for free download at
Smirnoff.com. So look out for those!

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ITS ALL ABOUT THE GREEN!!!




With the recent upset of the Patriots losing the Super Bowl, I can only hope that my favorite team in sports of all time, the Boston Celtics take it back to the glory days and win us another ring! Its going to take more than the best record and defense in the NBA though especially with the recent transactions made by the Lakers (for Pau Gasol) and the Suns (for Shaq). The west just got a whole lot tougher and even though we are 16-0 against the Western Conference this season (Say word to defeating the Spurs on Sunday and we w
ere Garnett-less), those trades are def. something for us to worry about if we make it to the finals! I gotta say something a lot of people aren't saying and a fact that people are sleeping on, our bench is top 3 in the NBA at least!! Aside from James Posey, Tony Allen, Eddie House, and Glen Davis. Lets talk about Leon Powe and the standout games hes been having lately. In the past 4 games, hes been averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 boards and thats not even bringing up the week before last where he had his career high of 25 points with 11 rebounds. I really like how he's developing and I think he just may be taking Perkins' spot next year (if not sooner than that). For that discussion though, we also need to talk about Glen Davis and some of the breakout games hes had (specifically at the Pistons). However, Powe is def. at the top spot for me as far as the Celtics' bench goes right now without question and if the Celtics' bench gets any better than they already are and you add the big 3 on top of that, the NBA is gonna have a problem for years to come!

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Sleepwalkers'
Royal Flush - Ghetto Millionaire

Royal Flush's "Ghetto Millionaire" has got to be one of the most overlooked albums in Hip Hop ever. Nothing short of a classic!! I didn't check this album until years later and was heated I did. If you don't know who Royal Flush is, think a Queens MC who rhymes in the same vein as Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, and Mic Geromino. You might know him from his single "Iced Down Medallions" feat. Noreaga or "Worldwide" which are his biggest songs to date (both included on this album). Production on the album comes from: Hi-Tek, Buckwild, Ez Elpee, Da Beatminerz, and L.E.S. Again if you don't have it in your collection, get this one ASAP, otherwise, you'll be shaking your head later like I was as to why I didn't pick this one up!

DOWNLOAD HERE: http://www.mediafire.com/?53iuzd9kgsx

Friday, February 8, 2008

Diggin In The Crates (The Sequel Edition)

DOO WOP'S 95 LIVE PT. II (DA BOMDIGY)


Its only right that after I brought you the greatest mixtape of all time (Doo Wop's 95 Live) to now bring you the sequel and final chapter of the series. Among critics and Hip Hop lovers, this joint wasn't recieved as good as 95 Live but its still a 5 star tape and its still classic! If you don't already have this in your collection, its a must have!!

DOWNLOAD HERE: http://www.sendspace.com/file/8sejqd

TRACKLISTING:

Da Bomdigi Intro feat. Doo Wop, KRS-One, Treach, Keith Murray, Redman, Mobb Deep, AZ, Lost Boyz, Uneek, Smiff N Wessun, Mad Lion, Channel Live, King Just, and Buckshot
Busta Rhymes - Everything Remains Raw

GZA/Method Man - Shadowboxin

Biggie/Luke - Bust A Nut

LL Cool J - Hip Hop
Smoothe Da Hustler - Fuck What U Heard

Busta - Woo-Ahh

GZA/Raekwon - Investigative Reports

Smoothe Da Hustler - Broken Language

KRS-One - Rappaz In Danger

Raekwon - Incarcerated Scarfaces

Group Home - Living Proof

Blahzay Blahzay - Danger

Akineyele/Sadat X - Loud Hangover

Nine - Shit Hit The Fan

GZA/Ghostface/RZA - 4th Chamber

Lord Finesse/O.C./KRS-One - Brainstorm

Shyheim - See What I See

Junior Mafia/Biggie - Oh My Lord

Fat Joe/Ronnie (Bounce Squad) - Envy

Fugees - How Many Mics
LL Cool J/Fat Joe/Keith Murray/Mobb Deep/Foxy Brown - I Shot Ya (Remix)
AZ - Uncut Raw

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

ALL ELEMENTS IN HERE!!!!!

Big things for the team this year!!!

First off, J-Ronin has been nominated for 2 Justo Mixtape Awards!!

Best New Mixtape DJ: This Justo goes to the DJ who has been around but recently gained fame.

Underground Mixtape DJ:
(In honor of J-love )
In Honor of J-Love this Justo goes to the DJ who focuses on the underground scene.

Vote for him in those categories as well as your other favorites here:
http://www.themixtapeawardsonline.com/awards/voting.aspx

Make sure you pick up J Ronin's newest joint "All Elements Vol. 8" Hosted By Smiff N Wessun OUT NOW!!!

You can check it out streaming here: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/mixtape/id.347

$6.99 each including shipping in the US. $8.99 worldwide


Heres the stores its available in:

Boston:
UGHH.com
Bodega


Manhattan:
Fat Beats
Burkina


Brooklyn:
On Da Lo
Downtown Flavor


Queens:
Trackville
Hall of Fame
Alphas
165 Flavors
Numbers
Hot Waxx
Jamiaca Hot Music
Urban America Haircutters
Queens Flavor


Long Island:
Cop Shop in Smithtown


Look out for All Elements Vol. 9 (Hosted By Twista) coming sooner than you think!



Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Back for all you non-believers! (For good this time!)

OH HELL NAW!!!!!!!!
(MY LETTER TO THE PATS)


Wow. Is this really the way to kick off the year? You guys were fuckin 18-0 in the midst of a perfect season and you BLEW IT on the biggest game of the season against a WILDCARD team!! (I don't give a fuck what yall say about Eli Manning or how you think he plays. I've always thought he was an average quarterback and he still is. He made a miracle play, so what? Does that make up for all his interceptions?) To be the greatest team of all time in the history of the NFL and our recievers (Randy Moss) or cornerbacks (Asante Samuel) CAN'T even fight for the ball on a reception or an interception!!! To make that faget Don Shula shut up and his precious 72' Dolphins give it up for the NEW PERFECT!! THE 07' 19-0 PATRIOTS but nope, Mr. Belichick had to go for it on 4th and 13 instead of kicking a field goal which in essence would have brought this game into overtime and would have changed the momentum! I'm not saying all this because I hate the Pats, I'm saying this cause I'm pissed that our perfect season was ruined by an inferior team that didn't deserve this trophy at all! (No offense, New York)!! They got us though, THEY GOT US for one night and it was the night that counted the most!

GOOD LUCK NEXT YEAR PATS!!!



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Hip Hop Off To A Good Start in 08'


Looks like we are off to a good start in 08' with Big Mike, Clue, and Thoro bringing back the exclusive game and releases from promising upstarts Guilty Simpson and EMC (Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline, and Stricklin). The most notable of the two is Guilty's debut "Ode To The Ghetto". I first heard it by stumbling across an advance of the album and ever since, it hasn't left the deck. For those of you saying who the fuck is Guilty Simpson? Guilty Simpson is an MC from Detroit, Michigan who was (and still is) strongly affiliated with J Dilla and is now signed to Stones Throw (known for releases from Madlib, J Dilla, and MF Doom). It features production from the usual Stones Throw suspects (Madlib, J Dilla, and Oh No) along with Mr. Porter aka Denuan Porter (from D-12) and the legendary DJ Babu. Its def. a joint to pick up, so look out for it when it drops on March 25, 2008 and support Guilty!

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THE F IN FEBRUARY STANDS FOR FREE!!!

(FREE MIXTAPES)




50 is back with Whoo Kid and his G-Unit crew on the release of "Return Of The Bodysnatchers Vol. 1" and after my first listen, this joint was crazier than I expected!! "The Mechanic"?!?!?!?!?! WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I must have dropped the Funk Flex bomb on that record 20 times!! Repeat after repeat. Alright, you remember that scene in Boyz N The Hood when Cuba Gooding Jr. is walking home and dudes rolls up on him pointing the shotgun at him and that infectious west coast beat was playing in the background, tell me why Alchemist flipped the same sample that they used in Boyz N The Hood for "The Mechanic"!! I can't believe all these people hate on 50 and yet, hes one of the most consistent MC's ever!! Sure, his subject matter gets monotonous (Do we say Kool G Rap is whack? Think about that one.) but he always keeps that rawness and true essence of Hip Hop through his production and maintains the flow he started out with!


DOWNLOAD: DJ Whoo Kid and G-Unit "Return Of The Bodysnatchers (This is 50 Vol. 1)":
http://www.mediafire.com/?9xzwwjdmcnv





To be honest with yall, I've never been interested in checking out one of these "We Got It For Cheap" mixtapes (maybe I'll check this one out later) and I still haven't including this one but according to how classic people say this mixtape series is. I'd figured some of my readers would be interested or anxious to check this out.

DOWNLOAD: Re-Up Gang (Clipse, Ab Liva, and Sandman) "We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3":

http://www.zshare.net/download/71725387a07db3/

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Top 5 Joints Of The Week (2/5/08-2/11/08)

1.
50 Cent - "The Mechanic" (Produced By Alchemist)
2. Guilty Simpson feat. MED - "The Future" (Produced By Madlib)
3. Kool G Rap feat. Haylie Duff - "On The Rise Again" (Produced By DJ Premier)
4. AZ - "Fire" (Produced By Nottz)
5. Jadakiss - "Mornings Was Hashbrowns" (Freestyle)