Thursday, January 31, 2008

Bow in the presence of greatness

For all the flack we took for being arrogant, Wash U really fell off after May '06. I got love for my alma mater, I might even buy a WU t-shirt while I'm here, but cot durn ppl. Cot durn...

Some blame it on ResLife policies, others on the dissolution of the Info Desk, maybe it's all that durn construction. I can't say cuz I'm not there. Either way, the state of black student life at Wash U is in shambles. What isn't suffering though, is the crime rate. For all my alumni readers, somebody recently got robbed outside of Mudd, between 7-7:30 one night. Yes, you read that right. Oh, and it was at gunpoint. Another nigga (or group of niggas) scaled the walls of HIG-E and got niggas for their computers, flat screens, and whatever random belongings Wash U students have by breaking in through windows and sliding glass doors. This occurred during the day in broad daylight.

If I'm lying, I'm flying.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Reporting Live from Neon Valley Street



Word on the digital streets is that our favorite "alien from outerspace", Janelle Monae is Diddy's newest Bad Girl. Will the remaining Metropolis Suites see the light of day? Will she be shelved longer than the ever-benched Cheri Dennis. Or will she clown with her 15 seconds and become the next "blog-turned-VH1 darling" (i.e. grammy nom'd Raheem DeVaughn, Wale, Feist and so on...)

Don't believe me? Ask SoulBounce. I don't know about y'all but I'm actually excited about this.

30 Pieces of Silver


So Weezy caught a charge from his Arizona bus incident, but it looks like there mighta been some snitches in his camp cuz Young Carter goes hard at an unnamed member (or two or three, who knows?) during his first show after the incident.

Remember happy Weezy?

Blipster Season has begun

I thought long and hard about putting these on the blog.

Gnarls Barkley - "Run"

Erykah Badu - "The Healer"
N.E.R.D. - "Everyone Nose"

In other news, I'll be in STL from Thursday to Saturday on TFA business. I'm sposed to be recruiting, but it'll be more of a fact-spreading mission to combat all the propaganda TFA spreads on college campuses. They especially want me to talk to colored people. That includes all you Negroes. STL heads, holler at me. Number's the same.

P.S. I have an expense account, so dinner's on me. :-)

P.P.S. And if anyone wants to holler at a ticket for BA on friday, do that too.

Friday, January 25, 2008

The "E" Stands for "Exploitation"

In case you didn't know, there's been a big hubbub lately between BET and The Boondocks. Long story short, Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder had an episode planned that harshly satirized BET. BET didn't get the joke and leaned HEAVY on the people pulling the strings at the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim to prevent them from airing it. BET won. Black people lost. They even went to such lengths as to pull every video clip they could find of the un-aired episode from YouTube a la Beyonce's face plant.

That's when it pays to know more viral video sites than YouTube. Here are two clips of the now infamous episode. Let's hope that the full episode sees the light of day sometime in the near future. There's no telling how long it'll take before Bob Johnson finds out about these other jawns so enjoy them while they last. I got the second one saved on my comp and if anybody has the first clip, holler at me.





BET, wake the eff up and get over yourself. When it comes to a rounded presentation of black culture, TV One and MTV have yall beat anyway (and sadly, that doesn't say much). Shoot, Fox News has yall beat.

It's like New York's been soft since Jay fell off

Daddy-O

Thursday, January 24, 2008

... Make The Blipsters Go Crazy!

Meet Colin Munroe, my verdict is still out on this Flashing Lights flip, but I've gotta commend him for a viral video done well...

I Believe in Santogold


You know the drill. I already made mention of her a few months back. She's the current cover girl of the cool kids music mag, The Fader. If M.I.A. is Lil Kim, Santogold is Inga Marchand (minus the deafness, anger issues, and legal drama.) Santi's also from Philly, but like all progressive musicians these days, lives in Brooklyn.

There's more, but for now, this is all you get. I may be a recovering music snob, but I'm still stingy. But really, if you look hard enough, it won't be difficult to find more of her stuff. The pleasure is in the doing.

Enjoy.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I Feel Like Dying...

So much for the Carter 3. But if Busta's recent mockery of the justice system is any indication, Weezy might get a slap on the wrist. Who knows?

And to think, right when Amy says "Yes, yes, yes," to rehab?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Bobby By The Pound, Whitney By The Ki'...



According to UK's Sun, she's finally checking herself into rehab accompanied by Mitch Winehouse. Hopefully she wont be the RnB Len Bias. [DMV 80's babies feel me...]

Monday, January 21, 2008

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Please. Stop.


Mike Jones felt it necessary to make 3 videos for this song. I thought this one was terrible enough by itself, but leave it to Houston's worst to find the bottom of the abyss. This one is by far the most inane and strangely very NSFW. It's time for retirement Michael.

281-330-8004. Let's all of us call Mike Jones and request that he stop.

Immediately.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Fresh Air

Solid releases from two artists who usually either hit or miss with me... Click the covers to download.


Monday, January 14, 2008

Baited Breath



Sometimes, I think me and the co-pilot David Kenneth are brothers from another. More Weezy.

Sorry For '07 (or the 2nd half specifically...)

I, like my partner-in-blog have been a lil dissuaded lately with a fellow we've come to know as "Styrofoam Cup Weezy".
After the flurry of ridiculous mixtape verses starting somewhere around Sqad 4 (shouts to Trey aka Bird tha Third), nearing perfection at Young Money Dedication 2 and carving a disturbingly appealing niche by blending lunacy with lyricism on Drought 3; I was sure Carter III would be the lost gospel of Thomas the apostle.

6 months of half-hearted, styrofoam-cup inspired lyrics would soon follow as Weezy's buzz continued to deafen amongst the hoods, hipsters and retards alike. Gotta admit... I wasn't feeling it.

Enter '08...

Either JR put the cup down or he longer feels like dying, because he's recently left me with 3 reasons to keep hope alive. As the greatest song ever made by a white person states, "Dont Stop Believing"

Rick Ross - Speedin Remix Feat. Birdman, Plies, Fat Joe, Gunplay, Brisco, Webbie, Gorilla Zoe, Flo-Rida, Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
Shawty Lo - Dey Know Remix Feat. Ludacris, Plies, Young Jeezy & Lil Wayne
Freeway - Step Back Feat. Lil Wayne

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Back to... Blonde?


"Amy, Amy, Amy" ...an aptly named Outro.

Shoutout to my cuzzo (that lives down the street, but I never see) for this. One day we'll run into each other, but prolly in Kentucky.

Oh, the irony:

I Like Them Scandinavian Girls


Ace of Base - "The Sign"

This song was great because, in addition to its inherent musical greatness, there were countless juvenile versions of it sung on playgrounds everywhere to demean social rivals. Swedes are good for something.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

My Mayor > Your Mayor



Newly inaugurated Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, shows Lil Wayne who's really the Best Rapper Alive.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

I'm not a thug, but I play one on TV

I saw these pics and had to post em. From The Wire's Season 5 Party in NYC last week.

To fans of The Wire, he's "Slim Charles". To natives of the DC metro "urea," he's Big G, the King of DC, and lead of the Bad Boys of Go-Go, BYB. And he's wearing a baby tee and a baby scarf. Somebody went Hollywood. (Jus kiddin, Big G. Just kidding.)


2nd from left is Marlo, but who's the dude all the way on the right? Wait, is that Bubs? HA! Bubs tryna get GQ! But let's be real. Hating aside, if you played a junkie on TV, and did it WELL, wouldn't you work extra hard to not look like a junkie in real life? Do ur thing Bubs.


Ok. Felicia Pearson aka "Snoop" is really a thug. Don't believe me? Read this. And that's why I'm not gonna joke on her.

But before I go, 4 Seasons of The Wire in 4 Minutes:

Music Snobbery is so '07


Estelle is poised to become the cause du jour for all blipsters in '08. She has a new album coming out next month, she's collaborating with Will.I.Am, Kanye, and is signed to John Legend's label. All the cool kids are gonna act like they've been listening to Estelle since "Free".

Eff the snobbery. I have been downloading Estelle ish since my pre-RA days at the WU, but being the anti-blipster blipster that I am, I'm gonna go ahead and bless yall with a few old joints from around the time her first album came out, back in '04-'05. Ruffle some feathers, ya dig?

(Sharebee was acting up, so I upped some of em to zshare)

Estelle - "Free"
Estelle - "Don't Talk"
Estelle - "Go Gone"
Estelle - "1980"
Estelle ft. Big P and Nathan - "Dance With Me"
Estelle ft. Talib Kweli and John Legend - "Freedom"

I'm above snobbery. Ironic, isn't it?

Now for some real unheard-of ish. The dude's name is Charles Hamilton. He has an affinity for things pink, which is pretty lame. He dresses like a high schooler who thinks he's cool, but isn't. For WU-heads, that means he looks like a certain person who shall remain nameless, before he went abroad to the UK, minus the jerseys. Either way, his music is still fun and creatively produced. Sonic the Hedgehog samples? Price is Right samples? KP & Envyi samples? YESSSSSSS!!!!

Charles Hamilton - Brooklyn Girls
Charles Hamilton - November 10th
Charles Hamilton - Wait Til I Get My Money Right

I'm your pushaaaaaaaaaa... We Got It, For Cheap.
"This is too much. You get it right? You get it? ...[Eff] it" (c) Wale

Lupe V. Rhymefest in a battle for Democratic Supremacy

Proof that rappers not named Jigga, have waaaaaaaaay too much time on their hands, but equal parts inspirational...

-From Rhymesfest's myspace blog

A conversation between Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco A lot of my comrades have been hitting me up for clarification on the discussion between myself and Lupe yesterday (Sunday, January 6, 2008). So, the following details exactly what happened so that no one gets it twisted.

WARNING: This is for intellectuals only! Please read thoroughly so that you won't miss any of our points. Let's start with the interview on SOHH.com that Lupe conducted that started this:SOHH Exclusive: Lupe Fiasco Bypasses Barack Obama, "I Want Hillary To Win"written by Danica DowOver the next month voters across the country will get to pick candidates for the two major political parties. In light of the official beginning of voting season in Iowa, SOHH caught up with Lupe Fiasco to see who he is throwing his support behind. "I'm not voting for anybody," Lupe told SOHH. "I don't believe in voting on that level. But I want Hillary [Clinton] to win," he says. Surprisingly, the Chicago emcee does not support the junior United States Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. "Obama doesn't really impress me like that," Lupe told SOHH. "It's not a shot at him but some of his agendas, the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.* He ain't gonna do nothing but perpetuate the nonsense that all the Presidents before have done, and what Bush is doing now. It's to the point now where the world is so twisted and so messed up that we need somebody to come in." Tonight's Iowa caucus marks the first major electoral event of the nominating process for the 2008 Presidential election by essentially voting on which candidates should represent their respective parties. Because of its "first" status, the Iowa caucus is especially influential in the process of electing the Democratic and Republican candidates. If Clinton takes Iowa, she is in a better position to win in the immediate state caucasses that follow. "I think Hillary will set an example for women all around the world and hopefully effect some change, as opposed to another man pushing for agendas and pushing policies," Lupe said. "I think even if she don't do anything, just the statement that it makes--that the United States is run by a women--would be so phenomenal for the world." At press time Senators Clinton, Obama, and John Edwards are in a statistical three-way tie according to most polls. [*Editors note: While all the major Democratic candidates--including Clinton, Obama and Edwards--say they would not remove military option off the table, when it comes to Iran, none have said they support the bombing of Iran.]===============

Then, here is the blog that I wrote to address it:Don't Let Your Arrogance Fuel Your Ignorance (SUPPORT BARACK!)Recently, a prominent Hip-Hop website asked an artist who they supported in the 2008 presidential primaries. Shockingly, their response was Hillary Clinton. Now, I'm not one to judge a person's political, religious or [even] artistic views; however, the reasons that this artist gave were so fucking erroneous and outrageous that it compels me to speak out, even if only to give fans the right information so that we are not following uninformed-ass rappers down the hole of 'abstract nothingness.'First of all, the facts:Barack Obama has stated he is not opposed to military action against Iran if they were persistent in their ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons; weapons being the operative word. However, he also states that as president, he plans to talk to Iran without preconditions about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith, as well. Barack Obama stated "I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hell-bent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior." This clearly does not describe the agenda of a candidate who supports 'the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.'I would be very interested to know if this particular artist even knows what Hillary Clinton's position is pertaining to military action against Iran; and, no, I'm not giving him the answer.Barack Obama being the only Black senator from Illinois automatically gives me a sense of pride and appreciation for his journey. Of course, for America to be flipped on its axis with a qualified woman president would be a significant milestone in this chapter of our country's history. But, I fail to see how a qualified Black man as president wouldn't be just as significant a milestone. Please, to all artists who dare to speak on political issues in this election: understand that Barack Obama won the Iowa caucus by inspiring more young people and women to vote than any previous presidential candidate. How could it not be impressive to see the new Bobby Kennedy of our day in the White House?In the words of Gabriel when he revealed the Holy Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the cave: "READ." Please do not let your arrogance be the fuel for your ignorance.Peace,Fest a/k/a EL CHE===============

Now, the following discussion is what took place on the Okayplayer message boards between myself and Lupe on his thread entitled "And furthermore nigga!!!!..." after someone on Okaplayer said "Damn Lupe, you going to respond to Rhymefest's post?"

Lupe responded with the following:not in public...thats wack...I'll call him tomorrow......unless we devise a sinister under the table plot to faux battle each other furiously over the topic via youtube only to bring more attention to our projects then take the ill gotten booty and buy Phantoms with it that we will then proceed to drive in the homemade videos made of the diss records also to be debuted on youtube...Then, I decided to respond to him. Here it goes:

Rhymefest:I'm responding to your post because you don't have my number.Please fam...don't let some of these people on the boards get the situation twisted for you. I'm not dissing or coming at you on any level. In fact, I love the song "Go Go Gadget Flow" off of your new album, and I encourage everyone to purchase The Cool. Chitown is on the rise! However, Barack Obama also lives in Chicago, and at the very least we have to not put out information that is wrong or can be misconstrued by people on the outside OR the fans that love, listen, and follow what we say.As a brother, all I'm asking you to do is tell the people that you really don't know what Barack Obama's position is on Iran, or at least not when you did the SOHH interview. In my original post, I did not mention your name or the actual source of the interview. Just to let you know, my mission is not to down you, but to big up Barack Obama.If you or anyone else supports any other candidates such as Hillary Clinton, Ron Paul, or whomever---I think that those are all fine candidates; I just find it irresponsible to tell untruths about any of them.Lupe, please tell the people Barack Obama does NOT support bombing Iran.

Lupe:In Response To Fest...Have no fear...the misconstruding bias that exists in the OKP doesn't affect me to the point of turning on my people in a negative way...even when my people are the ones misconstruding it...let me first reinforce my stance on national politics and the American System based on a mispractice and abomination of true democracy...i have no faith in it...never have, never will...a mindset instilled at a very young age by a pro-active, Black Panther party promoting, revolutionary father and a very intellectual damn near anarchist mother with more than enough facts to back it up...I've been around politics and politicians my whole life...got the baby pictures with The Honorable Harold Washington to prove it...Recently i was just honored alongside Hillary Clinton as one of shining stars of Cook County (if u didnt know she from around the way as well)...I know and have seen what this system is capable of both good and bad...some of my peeps are state reps and the such...if that even means anything to the pointI say this to let you know first off I'm educated in the process...so much so that I dont agree with it..more importantly I wasnt out to slander Obama...If it was misinformation that I received then I apologize on behalf of the source but like I said I am still going back to recheck the validity of the source...if that is not his stance now then so be it...my opinion of Hillary being in Office over Obama is merely because she is a woman and I believe the act of a woman leading the strongest nation in the world will have unforeseen side effects and may act as a catalyst for change the world over more so than that of a black man...is that a fact? NO...does it even really matter? NO...they both still tow the line and champion the ideals of their respective party...which is flawed in its nature (The Party Line that is)...For Example...Continuing the fruitless and very illegal and very oppressive and very repressive also very very expensive "War On Terror" was one of the first things off his lips @ the Iowa victory speech FACT!!!...Just like all the candidates would've said if they would have won...I say this because they are all the same...Race has nothing to do with it...see Condelezza Rice & Colin Powell (or any of the other black leaders in Africa that continue to rape and pillage the motherland and its people just like the white british & dutch did)...its about Justice and Equality and I dont hear Justice and Equality from any of these canidates that are on the forefront...not even Hillary...I'm not impressed...Im not impressed like i was impressed by Malcolm or Martin or continue to be impressed by Chomsky or Cornel West...I dont hear true Social Equality...I hear traditional American Democracy & retorhic (i dont think I spelled that right) which is my brother nothing but bullshit...in closing I think that if I said all that in response to SOHH it might have been clearer that Lupe Fiasco doesnt even support the system as a whole so what he thinks of the candidates who are running to head it up isnt even relevant...maybe I'm wrong..maybe it will be the start of a renaissance that will change the face of the world and we will be blessed with Social Utopia or maybe my nigga got the blessing of the Iluminatti and is just meant to bring us one step closer to having a chip in our fucking heads...either way I'm good..as long as there is the word of Allah (SWT) and the leadership of his prophets that will always reign supreme...Men build castles of sand even when rain is sure to come...Blessings and Godspeed in your struggles for truth...Salaam...I'm still callin too!!! hahaha

Rhymefest:First of all...All praise IS due to God, and I thank God that we're able to have this type of dialogue ESPECIALLY in hip hop. However, I was not born into a political revolutionary family like you. My father was a crackhead alcoholic. My mother was 15 years old when I was born. I was raised around gang members. So personally, when I hear Barack Obama speak about hope and its audacity, that is a message that I can relate to. Being raised on the Southside of Chicago under the conditions that many of us are subject to, I haven't had the opportunity to become desensitized to the political and social ramifications of a Black president. My brother, it does mean something. I don't believe that Barack Obama is the 'same ol' same'. Did you know that in a recent poll 69% of whites think it's possible for a Black president, while only 47% of Blacks thought it was? This suggests to me that our cynicism and disbelief will surely be the death of us. I believe in Allah and all of his prophets. However, I believe God also sends messengers in the form of parents, community leaders, and yes---politicians. Barack Obama speaks against lobbyists and their influence on the political system and candidates. Did you know that his campaign was funded not by lobbyists with corporate agendas, but by individuals like you and I? Considering the millions that he has raised, a lot of individuals believe in the audacity of his hope.Lupe, this can be a great moment for us; even though I know you don't have my number, I will still expect your call, LOL.It seems to me as if you're not sure if change can or cannot happen. Our recent successes, and Barack's recent success in Iowa, is proof that with faith all things are possible.

Lupe:I admire your audacity in the face of your plights. My faith is where its supposed to be...with the Lord...trust my opinoins are molded not alone by political thought and high discourse around the house...but also by niggaz getting shot in my hallway, hookers turning tricks in the stairways we played in and finding heroin needles while playing football in the front yard...crooked cops and crooked aldermans with a different gang on every block...that would be the westside my friend...it happened to all of us...so i look for beacons of hope as well and where I see it is not in the face of a politician in this day and age...Sadly and Happily I see it where it's always been...in the face of the people!!!...as far as US who keep US back and are among the cynics and undesireables i wonder what the cleasing process is for US?...Ovens, Internment, re-education on the glorious mechanics of the system or how about Gauntanimo or what about censorship or just a good level of ignoring??? or quarantine them to the worst parts of town give them a shitty education and an econmomy based on narcotics, welfare and minimum wage and let them kill themselves in wars over obtaining luxury goods?...how do u handle your own kind who dont believe in what u beleve?...I guess we dont count cuz we dont vote becuz we dont believe in the hollow promises of liars and a system that has shitted on us for over 400 years using principles that our precious politicians and canidates still hold dear to this very day...a contract of social equality written by slaveowners...that deserves so many "fuck outta here's" it aint even funny...I pray for change...and change will come...i dont know in what form...is it Obama? maybe...God gave us the ability to have faith...He also gave us a brain...i like to use mine together sometimes...Salaam...

STAY PLUGGED!Peace,Fest a/k/a EL CHE
----------------------------------------------------------

I'm waiting for the youtube beef videos!!!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Sunday, January 06, 2008

It Goes Down Easy


Click the album cover


1. "Do You Feel Me" - Anthony Hamilton
2. "Love Is A Losing Game (Instrumental)" - Amy Winehouse
3. "The Rain" - K-Os
4. "Littlest Things" - Lily Allen
5. "My Song" - Labi Siffre
6. "Hello, It's Me" - John Legend
7. "So Sorry" - Feist
8. "Dear Santa Claus" - Bobby Womack
9. "Here's To Life" - Shirley Horn
10. "Lost and Found (Find Me) (Featuring Karen Briggs)" - Ledisi
11. "Hey Girl (Featuring John Legend)" - Estelle
12. "Only For You" - Eric Roberson
13. "Moon" - Emily King
14. "Static" - Kenna
15. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - Amy Winehouse
16. "The Visit (She Was Here)" - The Cyrkle
17. "The Colorado Trail - Dave Crusin

Real Niggas Light Candles Vol. 2. Click the album cover for the Mediafire link. If you can't already tell, niggas have upgraded since Vol. 1. Yes, that is the official album cover, courtesy of the 2nd half of the blog team, who, if you haven't also noticed, just dropped the newest edition of the much awaited Pure White Audio Mixtape below.

For those new to this, Real Niggas Light Candles is a mixtape produced by yours truly. No gimmicks, no scratches, no "Griddle Greazy!" or "Mr. Garr!" shoutouts. It is an eclectic mix of songs that span across genres but share a few unique qualities: they're smooth as maple syrup, soulful, and hella emotional for no cot durn reason. In other words, it's music you turn off the lights to and light some candles. Maybe you bun up with your boo. Why not? This is pretty much audio game. As always, sequence is important, so all you have to do is start at track one and press play. Ride it out to the end; I promise you'll enjoy it.

Last summer I said to open the windows and sit with the breeze. It's winter now, so I'll say curl up by the oven (cuz real niggas don't have fireplaces), dim the lights, light some candles and mellow out. Come back and lemme know what you think.

*Edit* Sharebee link as well. Aqui

Fresh For '08... You Suckaaaaaaaaaaz!

The newest installment of the Urban Renewal Series... Pure White Audio 2 mixed by yours truly, David Kenneth aka DJ Ken Paxton. 75 minutes of uncut raw. Click the cover to download.



ENJOY

DJ Ken Paxton - Payback Intro (I'll Erase Away Your Pain)
Freeway - Take It To The Top (Feat. 50 Cent)
Alicia Keys - I Need U
Styles P - Blow Ya Mind (Feat. Swizz Beats)
Erykah Badu - Honey
Amerie - Thats What UR Remix (Feat. Fabolous)
Lupe Fiasco - Paris, Tokyo
Pharell - Cheers (Feat. Clipse)
Chaka Khan - Disrespectful (Feat. Mary J. Blige)
DJ Ken Paxton - Benjamins Blend (Feat. Jackson 5 & Love Unltd Orchestra)
Sybil - Dont Make Me Over
DJ Envy & Red Cafe - Things U Do (Feat. Nina Sky)
Gina Thompson - Things U Do Reprise
Kanye West x Jay-Z - I Wonder/Diamonds Mashup
Alice Smith - Woodstock
Swizz Beats - You Know Your Boy Did That
Jesse McCartney - She's No You (Feat. Fabolous)
Lil Wayne - One Night Only
Twista - Pimp Like Me
Chris Brown x Wale - Kiss Kiss B'More Club Remix (Feat. T-Pain)
Kenna x Sleepy Brown - Say Goodbye to Love/Margarita Mashup (Feat. Big Boi)
Snoop Dogg - Sexual Eruption
Cheri Dennis - Portrait of Love (Feat. Yung Joc)
Stevie Wonder - Another Star
Daft Punk - Music Sounds Better
Will.I.Am - Impatient
Bonde do Role - Solta o Frango
Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
DJ Ken Paxton - Inspiration Interlude (Stereolab "Nowhere")
Janelle Monae - Violet Stars Happy
Scarface - Never
Mambo Sauce - Welcome To DC
Wale - Nike Boots Remix (Feat. Lil Wayne)
OutKast - Art of Storytellin 4 (Feat. Marsha Ambrosius)
Ghostface Killah - Supa GFK
Hi-Tek - Come Get It
John Legend - PDA
Estelle - Just A Touch
Kelis - Trilogy
DJ Ken Paxton - Schoolhouse ROCK! Outro

If you didn't cop the first PWA... here's your chance


Hello/Goodbye

2007 is over, and so every person in the blogosphere has given his or her less than 1-pence about the goings on of the past 12 months. Lists take time, and I'm not one to take something not given freely, so I'll just say my piece about a few things. First things first, last things last, let's get into it.

Album of the Year


Technically, the album was released in 2006, but that was across the pond. It didn't come out here in the States til March of '07. (Though the album isn't complete without "Addicted," which was nixed for the US version... puritans.) This album was better than any single work produced by anyone in 2007 (and prolly 2006). It had the best sequencing of any album I can think of. Each track bled into the other like chromatographic sorrow. Always serious, but never austere, the album was contemplative in a way that made bitterness taste like saccharine. What really made this great was that it was free of the hype machine of, say, an American Gangster, Graduation, or even The Carter III. It was made without consideration for critical acclaim, and any remix of one of her songs is always not as good as the original. Sadly, since she keeps refusing rehab, this might be her last real work of greatness, but who knows? If that turns out to be the case, she might have the best 2-album discography of any person since Biggie (posthumous albums notwithstanding).

Now 2007 began with Nas's December '06 declaration that Hip-Hop was dead, and so it would seem that throughout the year, people complained about the Soulja Boy's and Hurricane Chris's of the genre for killing it. Ironically though, I think 2007 was perhaps one of Rap's biggest years, artistically speaking. The underground is now overground as the taste of rap fans continues to mature. Niggas started making concept albums, some of which actually worked. UGK (RIP Chad Butler), Common, Kanye, Talib, Ghostface, Freeway (yes, Freeway... more in a bit), Lupe, and Jay-Z, made great albums alongside good drops from Khaled and Drama. Ringtone Rap survived much of the year, which, personally, makes me happy because hip-hop needs diversity, not homogeneity. Long live Ringtone Rap as long as it does so alongside Crack Rap, Lyrical Rap, Conscious Rap, Storytelling Rap, DipSet Rap (they deserve their own category), and all other made-up sub-genres.

The problem of the past few years was that there was only one form of the genre being broadcast extensively, (i.e. Ringtone Rap), and it happened to be the genre's most vapid niche. 2007 marked a period where, although sales spoke otherwise, the heartbeat of hip-hop was stronger than ever. Hip-Hop took over all of the 7 or so internets with real bloggers and fake ones such as myself using modems as soapboxes to champion and deride the latest song, artist, trend, or combination of the three. Real democracy always wins and gave many of the artists listed above their first ever number one albums while artists like Hurricane Chris and Soulja Boy locked down 106 & Park and every cell phone in America. The problem was, too many of us (myself included) were too busy Willie Lynch-ing to realize that Rap had spread out like fingers on a hand, each sound finding a place where it fit and gripping the freak out of it.

I can only hope for more of the same in 2008. This time last year, I put yall onto Wale, and 2007 saw him make the most moves of any unsigned artist since prolly Curtis Jackson and Jeezy made the mixtape game their personal marketing machines. Janelle Monae dropped the first of her Metropolis "Suites" and if you still haven't caught up to that, get your life in order.


Sadly, the Sleeper Album of 2007 is Freeway's latest, Free At Last. This album is great, front to back, and I'm not just saying this cuz I'm a Philly transplant. Freeway has always been a great rapper deserving of props he's never received, and Free At Last is no disappointment. It's solid work from a solid rapper. Sadly, it may end up the Hell Hath No Fury of '07, lauded by print and internet media, but sitting on the shelves of Best Buy collecting dust. I won't normally say this, but cop it. Give him your dough and keep Free out the kitchen. Crack kills in Philadelphia.

I guess the main event would be to say the Best Rap Album of the Year, but I'm not comfortable granting that title to anyone yet. The Cool just dropped, and no Lupe album can be truly critiqued until you've listened to it thoroughly, which in Lupe's case, means dozens of times. I will, however, say that American Gangster is in no way in the running. Practically every person has ranked Jay's last joint as top 3 if not number one in Best Of lists. They've obviously been drinking the party juice. It was a good album, his best complete effort, as in a sustained album crafted around a particular experience, since The Blueprint. It touches on the same material as Reasonable Doubt, but you can't compare the lyricism, introspection, and wit of RD with AG. The former is leaps and bounds above the latter, and that's not because AG is bad, it's just because Reasonable Doubt is so friggin great. Same goes for Blueprint. Jay is proving himself on The Blueprint, as though he's still not sure if he is what he claims himself to be, the GOAT. He still felt as though it was worth responding to what others said about him back then. Now, he thinks (rightly so), that it benefits them more than him to throw darts at those stoning the throne. Problem is, it takes that extra umph out his music, so Jay gets no consideration.

Common and Kanye, however, definitely get considered. First off, as far as production goes, no rap album came close to those two. 'Ye got his Dilla/Premo on for realz. Talib made the first album that I actually liked to listen to. I've never been a big Kweli fan, but Eardrum struck the right cord. Bad marketing though. "In The Mood" was a great grown up party record that shoulda been pushed harder than the Will.I.Am track. And am I the only person that thinks Hurricane Chris is a decent rapper? I'm not saying he's great, just decent. His flow on "Ay Bay Bay" and its remix was vicious and, aside from his proclivity to be barefoot in the club, the lyrics are alright. Good songwriting at least. *Shrugs* maybe I am, either way, keep it up Hurricane Chris aka Snoop from The Wire's stunt double. So yeah, I danced around the Rap Album of The Year. Oh well, let's give it Chicago. Common, Lupe, and Kanye can fight it out. Good work Chi-town, makes hypebeast rap palatable.


I've yet to say anything about the two most important artists of 2007: Lil Wayne and T-Pain. I was lucky enough to find one picture of both of them. Anyway, they were everywhere, and I ain't mad. Who else, other than Andre 3000, had the most memorable verses of 2007? Random Weezy lines were scrawled all over the hallways and stairwells of Tilden the last half of the school year. Weezy pre-styrofoam cup had us all worried that he could indeed become the Best Rapper Alive for 2007, and indeed, he almost was. Had the year ended in, say July or August, we'da handed over the crown. Da Drought 3 had the streets ON FIRE. He bodied Mike Jones's track so hard that when someone said "Mike Jones" other ppl were like "Who?" because they really didn't know who you were talking about, not cuz of any cute marketing ploy. Sadly, his interviews have become far more entertaining than his actual music, what with Martin Luther King, Jr. and murder comfortably in the same sentence. Weezy might be Rap's Amy Winehouse. Rehab might be in order for '08 Young Carter. T-Pain will hold it down for you till u get back.

What didn't T-Pain do in 2007? I think he almost cured AIDS, or at least helped spread it, buyin' drinks from bartenders, enjoying the good life while still being oh so hood. He may have had the best line/adlib combo with "She made us drinks to drink. We drunk 'em. (Got drunk.)" There is genius in simplicity people and time and time again, T-Pain reminded us of this. He's even staking his claim for 2008 with that Flo-rida joint. Can we just call it "Boots With The Fur" or "That sound T-Pain made when he talked about the chick going around the pole" instead of "Low"? It'd be so much better if we did. And what's better than a song featuring T-Pain? A video of a song featuring T-Pain dancing. That would include the Video of the Year.

Hello 2008. Goodbye 2007.

Word to Alexandre Dumas


In the spirit of diversity, signaled by the Obama win, and since Real Niggas Light Candles Vol. 2 drops today, I figured I'd keep it "ethnic" and smooth respectively for the Throwback of the Week.

Tolerance Fatigue


So Obama won in Iowa. But is America really ready for a nigger President? Someone who tells the crowd to "give it up" when acknowledging his wife? I mean, I'll be honest, winning among the corn fields of Iowa is a big deal for a black man because I'm sure there have been cross burnings in a few of the Iowan fields not desecrated by crop circles, but what happens if Obama gets the nomination? Will America suddenly be like "Oh ish... I voted for him, but I didn't think he would actually win" and vote for the white guy? Don't know. Not sure how much I care, but I do know you should watch the video.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Hail to the Redskins


I know we lost today to the Seahawks, but I'm at least happy we beat the Cowboys last week. Here on out, I'm rooting for New England and Green Bay, (only cuz I want Favre to beat the Cowboys and New England to make history).

Anyway, Wale flipped "Breakdown" with a Redskins version. Holler at it.

Brown, Yellow, Puerto Rican, or Hatian...


Calvin Harris - "The Girls"

aka 2007's best song you never heard of (unless you're into British music).

Loose Ends

The final Wale drop. A few gems, some other duds. I'm still sittin on other joints that may show up later, but for now, this is all you gets.

"Poem"

"Chicago Falcon"

"Star"

"Fish N Chips"

"Everything"

"Just Freestyle"

"Wake Up Call"

"Scion 1"

"Scion 2"

Mixtape Of The Year



ENJOY


"Drought" what!? If you aint heard this, you're not living. Mixtape of the year... and cover, HANDS DOWN.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Hot Potato

I Want Half

Eddie Murphy bags Babyface's baby mama. She must have a thing for men in touch with their feminine side.

That's How Ruff Ryders Roll

DMX goes gospel. That's right. This guy.

Sean Carter + Steve Jobs = $ean Carter + $teve Job$

Word on the internets is that Jay is teaming up with Apple to start a record company. This may be completely erroneous, but even if it is, let's revel in the possibility until we find out otherwise. If this is true then it would definitely be interesting...