The Notorious B.I.G. - "Who Shot Ya?"
If you live in the Philadelphia area and haven't checked out Boom 107.9 yet, then do yourself and get on that immediately. Forgot my iPod today so I was forced to listen to the radio, something I despise. Boom 107.9 saved me as "Who Shot Ya?" came thundering through my speakers. This is one of the meanest and dopest Biggie songs of all time. And of course it played a part in the Biggie/2Pac feud. It's hard to find great hip-hop in any commercial sense anymore, but when you do, there's nothing like it.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
The Original Lose Yourself
Eminem - "Lose Yourself (Original Demo Version)"
Eminem will release the demo version of "Lose Yourself" on the Shady XV compilation and the song has leaked. The beat is a lot more bare than the final version and the hook is slightly different. The lyrics are completely different and while still good, Eminem made the right choice picking the version that went on to win an Oscar. Definitely worth a listen. Found it interesting that Eminem himself said he forgot all about this first version. Wonder how it would've been received if this was the song he chose for the 8 Mile soundtrack?
Eminem will release the demo version of "Lose Yourself" on the Shady XV compilation and the song has leaked. The beat is a lot more bare than the final version and the hook is slightly different. The lyrics are completely different and while still good, Eminem made the right choice picking the version that went on to win an Oscar. Definitely worth a listen. Found it interesting that Eminem himself said he forgot all about this first version. Wonder how it would've been received if this was the song he chose for the 8 Mile soundtrack?
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Song of the Day
PRhyme - "Courtesy"
I don't know how I feel about DJ Premier being in a group not called Gang Starr, but his production has given Royce Da 5'9 his best solo songs so I'm open to this collaboration. This song ain't classic like "Boom" or "Hip-Hop" from these two, but it's still really dope. Premo brings his signature sound on the beat and Royce delivers in prime (sorry, had to) form. This album is looking promising.
I don't know how I feel about DJ Premier being in a group not called Gang Starr, but his production has given Royce Da 5'9 his best solo songs so I'm open to this collaboration. This song ain't classic like "Boom" or "Hip-Hop" from these two, but it's still really dope. Premo brings his signature sound on the beat and Royce delivers in prime (sorry, had to) form. This album is looking promising.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Why Jimmy Fallon & Harry Potter Are Good For Hip-Hop
The title of this post is not something I ever thought I'd say. But when Daniel Radcliffe went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Fallon brought up Radcliffe's love for hip-hop music and in particular lyrically challenging songs and then had Radcliffe perform. Now I thought Radcliffe would pick something more commercially accessible such as Twista's verse from "Slow Jams" or Busta's verse on "Look At Me Now" or even part of Eminem's verse on "Rap God," but Radcliffe's choice surprised me.
Given the mic to perform in front of the live audience, and of course the millions watching at home, Radcliffe chose Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" and delivered with precision. It was a true nod to what great lyricism and MCing is (Radcliffe held his own, but I'm speaking here of Blackalicious' Gift of Gab) and it was refreshing to see him pick a song that came out 14 years ago that the masses know nothing about.
I did a presentation on Blackalicous in my Music Appreciation class for college some 12 years ago. After talking about the group, I wrapped up the presentation by playing "Alphabet Aerobics" to a room of people who were presenting Mozart and Janis Joplin and the likes. But as a hip-hop nerd, it was too important to me not to present hip-hop as a true artform. It's so much more than rhyming words over a beat, it's a craft and there's no better example than Gift of Gab on "Aerobics." When the song ended people asked, what was that called again? It may've been a room of 20 people, but I was happy to share.
Back to Radcliffe. In a time when the biggest names being played on the radio all day, every day are Iggy Azalea and Bobby Shmurda (seriously, what's wrong with people!) Harry Potter himself opted to educate and give shine to a hip-hop classic and a group that is more than deserving of recognition. And that made me smile.
As for Fallon, he has six (don't quote me on that) installments of his "History of Rap" series alongside Justin Timberlake. And while I love the ode to the classics past and present (and that they're backed by the legendary Roots Crew), I'm hoping Radcliffe inspired Fallon to reach out to the legends of the genre to perform the next chapter. Maybe Big Daddy Kane or Rakim, or hell Nas was a guest recently, let him do it. Let Fallon and Timberlake be spectators, while the legends that grew this artform give a history lesson. I'm not saying Fallon and Timberlake aren't entertaining during these segments and any positive nod to hip-hop is good in my book, but let's give some shine to those that have molded hip-hop into one of the greatest forms of music there is today.
Or maybe have Blackalicious on as the musical guest. Now there's an idea.
Given the mic to perform in front of the live audience, and of course the millions watching at home, Radcliffe chose Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" and delivered with precision. It was a true nod to what great lyricism and MCing is (Radcliffe held his own, but I'm speaking here of Blackalicious' Gift of Gab) and it was refreshing to see him pick a song that came out 14 years ago that the masses know nothing about.
I did a presentation on Blackalicous in my Music Appreciation class for college some 12 years ago. After talking about the group, I wrapped up the presentation by playing "Alphabet Aerobics" to a room of people who were presenting Mozart and Janis Joplin and the likes. But as a hip-hop nerd, it was too important to me not to present hip-hop as a true artform. It's so much more than rhyming words over a beat, it's a craft and there's no better example than Gift of Gab on "Aerobics." When the song ended people asked, what was that called again? It may've been a room of 20 people, but I was happy to share.
Back to Radcliffe. In a time when the biggest names being played on the radio all day, every day are Iggy Azalea and Bobby Shmurda (seriously, what's wrong with people!) Harry Potter himself opted to educate and give shine to a hip-hop classic and a group that is more than deserving of recognition. And that made me smile.
As for Fallon, he has six (don't quote me on that) installments of his "History of Rap" series alongside Justin Timberlake. And while I love the ode to the classics past and present (and that they're backed by the legendary Roots Crew), I'm hoping Radcliffe inspired Fallon to reach out to the legends of the genre to perform the next chapter. Maybe Big Daddy Kane or Rakim, or hell Nas was a guest recently, let him do it. Let Fallon and Timberlake be spectators, while the legends that grew this artform give a history lesson. I'm not saying Fallon and Timberlake aren't entertaining during these segments and any positive nod to hip-hop is good in my book, but let's give some shine to those that have molded hip-hop into one of the greatest forms of music there is today.
Or maybe have Blackalicious on as the musical guest. Now there's an idea.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Song of the Day/New Release Tuesday
M.O.P feat. Busta Rhymes – "Broad Daylight"
M.O.P. dropped Street Certified today, a 9-song EP featuring the likes of Maino, Busta Rhymes and Mobb Deep. If you're familiar with M.O.P.'s music then there will be no surprises here. It's straight up mean street shit. M.O.P. doesn't dumb it down or try to go commercial at all through the 9 tracks. Just downloaded it for $7.99 from Amazon. I encourage you to do the same. Salute!
M.O.P. dropped Street Certified today, a 9-song EP featuring the likes of Maino, Busta Rhymes and Mobb Deep. If you're familiar with M.O.P.'s music then there will be no surprises here. It's straight up mean street shit. M.O.P. doesn't dumb it down or try to go commercial at all through the 9 tracks. Just downloaded it for $7.99 from Amazon. I encourage you to do the same. Salute!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Song of the Day
Ghostface Killah feat. Kool G. Rap, AZ & Tre Williams - "Battlefield"
New Ghost 36 Seasons drops Dec. 9. Another concept album from Ghostface following last year's excellent 12 Reasons To Die. Ghost brings Kool G. Rap & AZ along with him on this one. The production is handled by The Revelations and it sounds similar to Chamber Music. With Ghost's consistency I have no doubt this will be another feather in the cap of what has been a legendary career. And the album cover is just fantastic. Looking forward to Dec. 9.
New Ghost 36 Seasons drops Dec. 9. Another concept album from Ghostface following last year's excellent 12 Reasons To Die. Ghost brings Kool G. Rap & AZ along with him on this one. The production is handled by The Revelations and it sounds similar to Chamber Music. With Ghost's consistency I have no doubt this will be another feather in the cap of what has been a legendary career. And the album cover is just fantastic. Looking forward to Dec. 9.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Song of the Day
Eminem feat. Royce 5'9", Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf & Trick Trick - "Detroit vs. Everybody"
This song blew up my Twitter feed so I had to check it out. Statik Selektah on the beat and it's nice. It's not as amazing as everyone was saying, but definitely worth checking out if for no better reason than it's got Danny Brown spitting a verse before Eminem which to hip-hop heads is a breath of fresh air. Eminem's verse needs multiple listens as he's dropping so many punchlines that it's hard to keep up. Not his best, but it was better the second time I heard it. Have to say Big Sean may've had the best verse on the track and I didn't see that coming.
This song blew up my Twitter feed so I had to check it out. Statik Selektah on the beat and it's nice. It's not as amazing as everyone was saying, but definitely worth checking out if for no better reason than it's got Danny Brown spitting a verse before Eminem which to hip-hop heads is a breath of fresh air. Eminem's verse needs multiple listens as he's dropping so many punchlines that it's hard to keep up. Not his best, but it was better the second time I heard it. Have to say Big Sean may've had the best verse on the track and I didn't see that coming.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Song of the Day
Run The Jewels - "Jeopardy"
So Run The Jewels 2 happened and of course that's enough to get me excited. More hard beats and mean lyrics. It wasn't as good as the first, but that's not really fair. But when it comes to bringing that hard R2J sound "Jeopardy" displays it perfectly. Killer Mike's verse is so mean and the way the beat comes in midway through is so dope. This is just flawless hip-hop. You won't hear anything like this on the radio.
So Run The Jewels 2 happened and of course that's enough to get me excited. More hard beats and mean lyrics. It wasn't as good as the first, but that's not really fair. But when it comes to bringing that hard R2J sound "Jeopardy" displays it perfectly. Killer Mike's verse is so mean and the way the beat comes in midway through is so dope. This is just flawless hip-hop. You won't hear anything like this on the radio.
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