The first type of music I started with was "Memphis Rap". I didn't start with Tupac, or Wu-Tang, or even anything close to that. Every week I'm going to pick a Memphis rapper, and do a feature on him and/or her. To start this off, I'll start with Mc Mack.
Mc Mack, formerly of Prophet Entertainment, has an amazing flow, he spits some dope shit, and isn't that bad of a producer. He started out with Killa Klan Kaze, consisting of K-Rock, Scan Man and of course Mc Mack. I don't think they released a tape or a album together, but they did release a album under the name "The Kaze" but instead of K-Rock, he was replaced with Project Pat. Mc Mack and Scan Man were released from Prophet Posse when DJ Paul and Juicy J switched to Hypnotize Minds. Mc Mack and Scan Man went on their own, as Kami Kaze Inc. They release some dope shit, but... not all too often. Oh well. Well here is a Mc Mack album for you to check him out.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Featured Memphis Artist #1 - MC Mack
R.I.P. Sean Taylor
This is terrible. More terrible then most things. Normally I wouldn't feel this bad if someone I never knew lost their life, but under these circumstances this is terrible. Sean Taylor was shot in his home (home invasion style) and passed away today. The reason this strikes so hard is that the guy was finally setting his priorities straight. He may of had a few troubles in the past, but after having his kid supposedly he really changed (according to his teamates). Basically he had fucked around before and was finally making it up but got that taken from him. The other reason this is terrible is that he was a fucking amazing football player. I've enclosed a highlight video of him with this post that is just fucking nuts.
My condolences go out to his family and team.
-Josh
Monday, November 26, 2007
Johnson&Jonson - Powder And Oils (Advance) Review
Playdo:
Johnson&Jonson, made up of Blu(rapper of the group Blu & Exile) and producer Mainframe. I've never heard anything of Mainframe's, so here we go....
Intro - Twenty second intro of pretty much nothing.
Get High 3/5 - I really like this beat, nice, mellow, calming beat, something nice to chill to. ALTHOUGH I am really not feeling Blu on this song... WOW I was disappointed, he doesn't come with that really nice smooth flow at all, it feels forced to me.
The Only Way 3.5/5 - I like the sample used on this song, and Blu flows nice on this track, but nothing really standout.
Told Me 4/5 - I am really feeling this song, the hook is catchy, the beat is nice, I like how it switches up during the song. Blu comes nice and smooth and drops some pretty damn good lyrics.
Go For The Gusto Room (feat. BoBo Lamb) 3/5 - I like the tagteam rapping in this, I really like it when Blu does that style of rap, and he does come dope on the song! I'm not really feeling this beat... it's just too busy.
Wow! 4.5/5 - Wow! I'm really feeling this beat, it's sooooooo chiller, it amazes me. Blu rips this song, overall just a great song.
Half a Knot 3.5/5 - Ahh, I'm not too fond of this beat, it's too... distracting... although Blu does sound pretty damn good on this song.
God's In The Building (feat. Miguel Jontel) 3.5/5 - Miguel mostly sings on this song... Blu says a couple words? I don't really love Miguel's style of singing, although it's not as if he sounds bad. I really like this beat, overall, it's a decent song.
Bout It Bout It 5/5 - WOW, I love this song, dope beat, Mainframe and Blu tagteam on this song... and it just sounds amazing...
Look 3/5 - This is an ALRIGHT song, it's nothing standout. The beat is pretty nice, and Blu sounds pretty good on the song, but again... it's nothing standout.
Listen Baby 4/5 - Pretty damn dope instrumental track, I'm definitely feeling this one.
Been Such A Long Time 4/5 - I'm really feeling this song, Blu comes real nice. The sample is very chiller, and so is the beat, I just really like this song, this feels like something that I may be able to half-relate to.
Up All Night 2/5 - EH, I'm not really feeling this song... it doesn't feel neccessary on the album... I'm not feeling the beat too much... nor the chorus... not even Blu's rapping.
Up All Night (Remix) (feat. Cashius King) 3/5 - I really like Cashius King... and at least the beat is different from the original... This remix is a bit better.
La La La 3.5/5 - Hmmm... I am not a big fan of this beat, although I really really love Blu's flow on this song, it's very smooth... overall... a decent song.
Hold On John (feat. John Lennon) 5/5 - I really liked this song... what is there not to like? There's a nice chiller calm beat, and Blu's ripping it apart! Very catchy chorus, it's still stuck in my head. =\
Swear 4.5/5 - It took me a little bit to like this beat, I really didn't like it at first... Blu spits pretty damn dope.
"Marry with a ring, once had a fling with poetry, slowly had to leave her because the beat was taking over me"
Outro 5/5 - Hmm... DOPE SONG, nice way to end an album... DOPE BEAT, and both Mainframe and Blu come nice on the song... overall, just a dope ass song.
Nuts Hang (Bonus Track) 5/5 - Now I thought that this was a really good track... pretty dope beat, and Blu rips it a new asshole! Fucking Rights.
Upside Down Cake (Bonus Track) 4/5 - Pretty damn good beat.
Well, this was a good album, I really want to hear more of Blu, and I wouldn't mind hearing more of Mainframe. His production was pretty nice, and he came with some pretty damn dope beats. The album had some dope songs, some... not so much, and a couple pretty average tracks. Overall, for the album, I think it'd be a solid 4/5.
Andre Nickatina kids tell me where yo sister lives
I wasn't sure which artist I should feature first on this blog. I've got too many favorites, but I picked someone a lot of people have not heard. His name is Andre Nickatina, formerly Dre Dog and he's straight outta Frisco. I could give you a synopsis of his life, but thats boring and honestly not needed.
Basically he started off as Dre Dog and dropped the album "The New Jim Jones" (ironically one of the last albums of his I checked) I'm pretty sure he followed that up with I Hate You With A Passion (Don't quote me on that info) and then decided to change his name to Andre Nickatina. Not for any particular reason just because he liked the sound of it. Actually now that I think a little he mentioned another reason or two but finding the interview would prove to be challenging. He's managed to drop 16 albums total (officially atleast) and to be honest there is only one album I really don't listen too which would be Daiquiri Factory Cocaine Raps Vol. 2 even though the album has a couple amazing cuts. Baking Soda in Minnesota anyone? I believe he has done 3 albums with Equipto (another rapper from the bay) all of which are rather good. He has collaborated with some of the best in the bay including Mac Dre & San Quinn. Most of his beats are from what I call a super producer who goes by Nick Peace (this man has made too many hot beats). Nickatina is also a frequent collaborator of Smoov-E. Its a tough decision on which albums I should give to the public. I mean the guy has made some of my favorite songs spread out over 16 albums its a hard choice. I was originally going to go with I Hate You With A Passion and Tears Of A Clown, but I can't find the files for I Hate You With A Passion. I was going to put a link for These R The Tales but the upload failed me 3 times (actually I screwed it up everytime somehow).
http://rapidshare.com/files/72578514/Tears_of_a_Clown.rar.htmlAmazing album some of my favorite songs ever (Rap Gods, Last Breath Of An MC, My Rap World)
lets talk about some football
Don't know about the rest of you, but I watch NFL Football, not avidly like some people, but enough to be respected. I roll with the San Diego Chargers and also support Baltimore. I'm thinking every Monday or Tuesday I'm going to write a blurb about these two teams and maybe a little about some other teams or players around the league. I don't know if you noticed but these sentences end and kind of flow funny to me, or am I just crazy? You know now that i think about it this is a terrible week to start this seeing as I only watched half a game of football... Anyways I don't know if you guys caught the game between San Diego and Baltimore. I watched the first quarter with Clayton which was relatively unexciting. We flicked back during the second quarter to a completely different score which confused me terribly. Unfortunately we some how managed to pass out for 2 hours and missed the rest of the game. Of course before watching any football we had a fat morning sesh which fried my mind for the rest of the day (The night before didn't help at all either). Waking up to see San Diego win was a nice surprise though; but going home and putting up Christmas lights was not.
Top 5 Album Rotations
Playdo:
- Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People
- Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
- Cadence Weapon - Breaking Kayfabe
- The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride 2 The Pharcyde
- RJd2 - Since We Last Spoke
The Cadence Weapon album is just really nice to bump, I really like Cadence Weapon's rapping style, and this album is something that I love to play loud as fuck. If anyone could hook me up with a link for his Cadence Weapon Is The Black Hand mixtape, that would be AMAZING. My favorite song on this album is tied between "Sharks" and "Lisa's Spider."
I'm not too sure why I've listened to The Pharcyde album so much, it's just something I threw on a bunch, I think it may be one of my favorite albums. My favorite song on this album is "Otha Fish"
I love RJD2 as a producer, I think his instrumentals are amazing, I don't even mind his singing, this is just an album that has constant replay value for me. My favorite song on this album is probably "Making Days Longer" and close to it is "Ring Finger."
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Wu's come through
It seems like only days ago I was wondering when this album was gonna leak and sure enough 2 days later I've got it ripped and on my iPod. I've probably listened to the album about 6 times in the last couple days. I haven't really figured out if I've been to fucked up to properly listen to the album and my opinion is wrong, either that or its amazing; I'm assuming its more or less both. I'll give it a nice breakdown since I've waited so long for this.
Campfire (4/5): Method Man, Ghost, and Cappadonna tear this one to pieces, thats all I can really say. It's a tight beat, but didn't stand a chance against Ghost.Gonna have a ball mind as well pick a testicle.
Take it Back (4.5/5): I wanna give this a 5/5 but theres just something about it that I feel like I've heard this before. Of course everyone destroys this.
Get Them Out Ya Way Pa (3.5/5): When I first heard this I really, really did not like this song, but listening to it again I can change my mind mildly. Method Man just goes all out on this one. Masta Killa also spits pretty fucking dope and I often hate his flow but didn't mind him at all on this. This seems like the type of track that will grow on you as you go.
Rushing Elephants (4/5): I absolutely love this beat; its honestly one of my favorite beats I've heard recently. Raekwon actually somewhat delivers on this track. RZA tears this one up too.
Unpredictable (4/5): I was really close to giving this a 3, but the idea and rapping really makes up for some of the bullshit. There are some pretty random sounds that really didn't need to be included and the chorus is lacking. It feels like it had so much potential, yet it still feels like its been fucked with too much.
The Heart Gently Weeps (5/5): I remember the first time I heard Ghost's verse on this song and my mind just exploded. For what the song is trying to accomplish it does the job well. Method Man and Raekwon both have great verses, but nothing could fuck with Ghost on this.
Wolves (5/5): Easily one of the best songs on the album and in recent years. It sounds so fresh and new. (Something you don't get anymore) And on top of an amazing beat U-God just can't be fucked with, Meth can't be fucked with. Masta Killa doesn't spit on the same tier as them, but that doesn't take anything away from the song although the little breakdown with Masta Killa is a nice little touch itself.
Gun Will Go (4/5): My only problem with this song is the singing on it. A real chilled out, dark beat goes perfectly with Rae's new lazy flow and Meth just flows godly on this. It seems like the type of song I could see myself just going into another world while baked.
Sunlight (5/5): An AMAZING RZA solo. First time I heard it I knew it was the absolute shit. This is my favorite RZA "style" (Laid back, yet still so cool and just dropping bombs of knowledge). His flow and lyrics fit with the song's mood perfectly.
Stick Me For My Riches (3/5): Like a lot of the songs on this album I have no problem with the rappers, but the singing just kills me. I think I might have to cut the singing outof this song if I'm ever gonna listen to it again.
Starter (2/5): I couldn't stand this song at all. It gets a 2 solely because of a few ill lyrics. But aside from that this song should of just been taken off the album.
Windmill (4.5/5): Another dope posse cut. Feels a lot like Take It Back (to me atleast). I already know this is a song that will get a lot of play time. A lot.
Weak Spot (5/5): I'm not gonna lie, when I first heard this on the 8-Diagrams mixtape I almost shit my pants. This is the new Wu I envisioned. RZA just has fire pour out of his mouth his entire verse. Raekwon even tears it and GZA fits perfectly on the song, and the beat breakdown during his verse was just perfection.
Life Changes (5/5): Another song that leaked early that I fell in love with instantly. You can feel everyone's pain in the song. You always hear everyone in Wu talking about how much they loved Dirty but you can really tell how much he meant. A little odd Ghostface didn't have a verse. I guess RZA forgot to tell him. I'm not sure what the Asian dialogue at the end means, but I'd really like to find out.
Tar Pit (3/5): It almost sounds like a throwaway to me. I don't know what to say about this song. Its nothing special and I didn't enjoy it all that much.
16th Chamber (5/5): I found out that this was gonna be on the album ages ago, Aand I remember being so happy that we would get some vintage Wu. I wasn't expecting such low quality though. I mean I was looking forward to some raw shit, not bad sound. Regardless I love the track and I'll be playing it lots.
Final (4.5/5) Although the album has some great tracks, theres just a couple songs that are unlistenable. I'm impressed though I was expecting a few dope tracks and lots of filler but this is actually a great album. I have to say out of everyone Method Man, RZA, and Ghost seem to be spitting the best out of everybody.
http://rapidshare.com/files/71901242/Wu_Tang_Clan_-_8_Diagrams-Retail-2007-MOD.rar
I decided I'll even leave a link for everyone although if you can't find the album you best step up your bootleg game. I swear the picture and link weren't stolen. (Just kidding)
What I have to say about this album is, Wu-Tang is no longer for the children. This is an album that won't be recognized in 10 years, it's just another release of 2007. I say this because of lines like "Try and bring the sexyback like Timbaland and Timberlake."
That's not a line that in 10 years you'd be like... "OHHHH SHIIITTT."
To me this album is just.. somewhat disappointing... don't get me wrong, a bunch of dope songs, but it's nothing that flows... more like a mix I would burn or something.
