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The Hip-Hop Nerd Speaks!
Skills
DJ Premier has been an impressive piece of the Hip Hop puzzle for an amazing amount of time. It’s ironic that it’s December as I write this. That’s because Primo beats are just mad dope in the cold. Maybe it’s because every time I hear a Premier beat, the sounds automatically take me to the Big Apple.
The man is a legend. He’s worked with legends and gave them classics. He’s basically The Zen Master to rap’s MJ’s and Kobe’s (and some bench warmers. Can't lie.) While Timbo and Dre get their props due to massive sales and plays on radio/clubs etc., Primo deserves just the same amount (or more) than those iconic producers. Let the debate rage on.
I just added a few clips below to showcase some insight on the man, the myth, the legend. I’m out like a Gangstarr reunion.
Respect the Technique
It’s hard to keep the same job for more than 10 years. Actually, keeping it for 15 nowadays is kind of impossible. So, when you hear a master who’s still a master in the same job for 20 years and counting-you have to give props where they’re due.
Masta Ace has been in the game for as long as (or longer than) some of you all have been alive. If not, maybe you know who he is or probably bumped his tracks from “The Symphony” on. We always talk about longevity with emcees-from LL to Cube or even Jay, in some ways. But, to leave Ace out of the conversation is insane.
Not only has he been in the game for an asinine amount of years, but he’s been wine-ing it. Better every year. Winning it. Releasing classic or near classic albums of late, be it alone, following it up, or with his crew.
Those who know, know. And they respect. Eminem loves his style and he admitted that Ace made him want to rap. Those who surround him, like his brothers from the eMC admit to being in awe of a legendary artist and the acclaim pours in. These cats ain’t alone. He's gotten crazy far with his rhymes, 20 years and still going strong. How he got that far? It's called experience. There’s a real unique type of praise reserved for emcees who can stand the test of time with dignity and skill-and Ace deserves it.
So if you don't know-ask somebody, take a look around and cop those albums.
Peace Coach. Keep rockin'.
"Ain't nothin' like Hip Hop music. That's why we chose it.
And the world just can't refuse it."
Not Again!
Hip Hop is Dead.
The quote got old. Sure, when Nas said it, a real statement was made. But, afterwards, mad people overused it like poor folks' jeans. They wanted to act as if the statement was true and as if the sentiments hadn’t been known before-as if Com never loved H.E.R. The broken glass was everywhere. The message was known.
But, then reality sunk in.
That quote was closed minded. Not only did it refer to the culture as if only one element mattered, but it also bought a tombstone for a people who were not only alive, but kicking harder than ever. After all, around that time, great music was still coming from our beloved money grabbing genre. Even the Nas album was enough proof to show the culture was nowhere near dead. Nevertheless, the people ran with it. That was cool. Nas wasn't the first one with it. Yeah, others overdid it. But, that was the past.
Wait, it wasn’t? Go into messageboard, comment boxes or listen to rap interviews, and people still claim Hip Hop is dead. Or at least dying. But, it’s neither.
I saw an old comedian on TV this week noting that his feelings about the game echoed those Nas had when he dropped “Who Killed It?” It just sounded real foolish. The guy was old and out of touch but he was saying the rap world was dead, except for Kanye West. That's odd. The man gave up rapping to primarily sing on his latest (how you like that?) and he's your lone star in rap? Like I said, foolish. Generic answer.
I mean, how can it be dead? Everyday, I listen to incredibly ill Hip Hop. Not always classics. Often it’s new material. Just this afternoon, I played some great new material from a few West Coast acts that really had me enjoying the Cali sunshine, despite negativity in the air. So, how can the culture be dead?
I guess the T-Pain success and the proclamations of Wayne being the best just got enthusiasts to decide the entire culture must be under the Earth.
That’s the point. It is. It is under there. If anyone's claiming the game is dead, it's because they have yet to dig into the underground. Sometimes, I watch the video shows and/or listen to the radio. But, uninspired tired raps make me retire back to an underground world that some of you have been lucky to dwell in. Not saying good stuff isn’t above ground. Just sayin’ that if you think the culture is only about what is mainstream, you probably got the culture all wrong. Which means, you ain’t a doctor so you can’t diagnose or prescribe anything, because you haven't studied the history or the present world of rap. Pretentious or not, that's how the world works. I can't say "The Chess Game is Dead" if I haven't done research on the best chess players in the world. Well, I can...but then I'd sound mad foolish. Get the point?
The Hip Hop world has always been about what is underground, off the radar or below the surface. Sure, success is what made this culture what it is today. It’s what keeps this site running and it is to be respected-but that’s not where the culture ends. So, when I hear folks crying about the lack of hope in the game, it rings of closed minded/inaccurate assessment of a culture that is daily birthing the same incredible ingenuity it always has. I’m guilty of it sometimes, but the complaints are weak “like clock radio speakers.” Like Killer Mike said earlier this week, fans should stop complaining and start supporting.
Oh, There They Are!
Our (dope) boy Meka made some points about Latino rappers that got me thinking. Few can disagree with his point in stating that there are no front runners to fill the spot vacated by Pun Rios. However, I’m not here to refute that in any way. To me, that spot will never be filled. Period. There will be no predecessor. That term’s done. The things he made happen as he came up, the dreams he shattered and the super lyrical shots he threw will never return. No boomerangs. The game will never have another Pun.
But, the game is full of Latinos that can rap. True, few today are making a Bolt for the mainstream crown, but these emcees are running in their own lanes. No, they will not outsell Wayne or even make whatever countdown video show is still left on television these days. But, who cares? Honestly, the mainstream, top of the charts world hasn’t been awe-inspiring for awhile, aside from few interest points. So, not being the most popular has little to do with skill. And these Latinos have skills.
So, in an attempt to showcase some forgotten Latinos, some underground leaders and some virtual unknowns, I decided to put together a small compilation list of sorts. In no particular order, of course.
Joell Ortiz
Dr. Dre doesn’t make many mistakes, but he truly made one by not releasing this guy’s LP. Currently, there are few who see him bar for bar and in regards to sheer passion and raw mic presence, few touch his menacing prowess. Instead of that Aftermath debut, we’ll have to catch him on some mixtapes and the forthcoming LP from the 4 man crew that he’s got. (Just hope it ain’t Nevruary.)
“Listening to Hot 9’ like what do they got/ That I don’t\ With a blindfold\ I see everyone they say’s hot.”
He defines gutter. Every time he rhymes, he climbs up another notch. Hip Hop’s got his spine smothered. Well that’s more of his take on things, but the truth is, Joell is of a rare breed, spitting with so much passion that you could truly feel when he says that his “little man’s on his last Huggy/ It’s nothing to cook and the family’s mad hungry/ I’m huggin’ this Ave., money,” even if you disagree with dealin’. He notes this before asking God for assistance and forgiveness, in a way that forces listeners to vividly view the poverty and desperation experienced. “You can say I’m wrong. Just allow me to make these sales. You could punish me on the day I’m gone/ But right now, this is how I’m providing.”
"Latino." He’s that and he’s proud.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn3DSkLwX6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B6k4sbkuX8
Mike Mictlan
Minnesota’s got rap. So does Los Angeles. This Latino L.A. native/Minnie resident released an impressive tandem LP with LazerBeak as the Doomtree reps combined to produce Hand Over Fist. The collabo churned out more than one notable track. The best of those tracks, helps build upon this piece.
“Fuck that! A Mexican rapper can’t sell? Don’t sign me/This independent hustle pays off so we keep grinding/ But they say us Chicanos are too political/They’d rather see us in Low Riders actin’ stereotypical/Don’t get me wrong; I’ve been on the block/In the Low-Low watching Po-Po taking photos of tattoos on cholos/Ain’t nothing glamorous seeing your people being treated like animals/The ghetto is not fabulous…” –“L.A. Raiders Hat”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaReSAXyXAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toELT1uWDKU
Sick Jacken
If you don’t know about Psycho Realm, no one will blame you but some may hate you. They’ve built a devoted, ready to pummel you following in the underground for years, taking respect from various parts of the world and creating an identity that puts reality over everything. Harsh reality. Painful reality. Life’s reality. That same reality and pain can be heard over most of what Sick Jacken spits-whether it is over filthy distortion or clean production.
In his latest offering to the public, Jacken has teamed up with Soul Assassin DJ Muggs to release The Legend of the Mask and the Assassin. In it, you can still hear the fury, sadness, rage and authenticity over Muggs’ grippingly somber scenery.
“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/I can’t sleep like I’m battling meth/The Reaper creeps while I’m gasping for breath/I ask the Lord to forgive me for debt/When death comes and my soul leaves my body to rest.”
But even before this, as noise rang through the nonconformist radar fearing world, Jacken killed verses with gangster wit that Pun could appreciate, a rebellious attitude and intelligence to match. Over Alc’s percussion on Evidence’s “Born in L.A.,” Jacken showed that balance flawlessly.
“I’m just a pawn in that federal plan to get us all on/ a nice little high, shoot each other for crumbs/ One by one, dying from wars that’s won by none/ Some might come and make a bastard out of my son.”- “Born in L.A.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrypApesKD8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmvokwjMe_w
2Mex
From dusty old hard to find and hard to understand records to one of the most anticipated albums in the indie circuit. 2Mex and Mars Volta’s Ikey Owens teamed up to work on The Look Daggers debut, an album by both men that, although I have yet to hear completely, seems to carry tradition. The early releases have showcased the uniqueness that made Mars and Mex such favorites in their own circles while at the same time giving a new angle to both men and their catalogs.
But, for Mex, the road’s been long. He came up around one of the best under the pavement times in Los Angeles, a time and place that birthed ill poetic emcees who lived the good life of rhymes, laughter, and some extra freestyles. He still puts it down, adding his complex take on every day life and introspective narratives. He may be the hardest to like out of the bunch, with his manner of expression heavily reliant on symbolism and metaphorical prose but the man can spit with creativity and write with a heart on the sleeve and spit it like his life depends on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzSi7voW7Hc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdnTi6Bgan0
Tonedeff
This Cuban/Colombian man can rap. The man can write. The man can sing. The man can make beats. He can produce and lead a label. He’s done wonders for his QN5 posse with selfless leadership and ill musicianship to boot. One of the hardest working cats in the game and he’s still able to rip emcees a new career if they test.
From Archetype to group work to everything-he’s rarely fallen off on a track. Fast. Slow. Whatever. Emotional. Battle. Boastful. Whatever. The man can flow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpnOFLDA0RA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhxdzxevKO4
Pitbull
Say what you want to say about his music or his style, but the man has made hits. I couldn't care less about those hits, to be frank. But, I can respect some of what he's brought to the table. With his Cuban background, Pit has managed to shed some light on his roots and the struggle of his people. When he delves into the world outside of clubs, some artistry can be found in this guy. And of all these emcees here, Pit has had the most success and is one of the most prominent artists, at least on LA radio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyQNJnad_tE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm6kAblgJNM
These Men Also Deserve To Be Mentioned
Chino XL/Immortal Technique/ Emilio Rojas/Cypress Hill
Who am I forgetting?
Anyway, the fact is, I can’t name many Latinos who are ready to take the throne or make some countdowns. But, that shouldn’t matter if we’re flat out debating skill. These men can flat out rhyme and they deserve some shine for that.
Peace
Edit: To the question I asked in regards to forgetting emcees, many had their voices heard below. So, here they are:
Nino Bless/Term/CelphTitled/Cuban Link...keep 'em comin'. This ain't a definitive list, man. I'm not saying this is it and these are the only latino emcees in the game. So, stop that. Peace.
Crooked. Royce. Joell & Joe
There’s something about talent that drives folks away. It happened with Big L (before they killed him). It happened with AZ (and it’s still happening). It happened with Canibus (no album out, before the L shit). It happened with a slew of emcees. Talent but no shot. Skills but no bills. Or shots and deals taken away, inevitably bringing careers to a hault. I’ve interviewed emcees tired of the grind. Critical praise but no love in the charts and no radio play. Frustrated emcees on some D. Dot shit. No blame. The game does damage.
It makes you want to play GM sometimes.
You know, make your own label. Take the talented cats that couldn’t catch a break and form a united front. Genius. But it never happens. While Slug and Ali may have found that formula for success out in Minnesnowta, others just never got it. Unity helps. Cuban Link never really linked up with anyone (after Pun passed) and the world really never got to hear him. The same can be said for many emcees who were/are talented but never recognized. Chino XL. Razzy. You name ‘em.
It makes you want to play GM sometimes. You know, make your own team.
But the bull in the industry just kills those hopes. It just shanks at the heart of camaraderie and collaborative efforts. Competition, a true art in the game, becomes beef between cats that should be rhyming next to each other instead of at one another.
But the light bulb hits. Once in a great, great while, a light bulb hits and something good comes from the misery the label woes have created.
Forget the fake GM stuff. They made their own team. Thanks to some great intervention, the industry will be shaken up a bit. No beef. No rivalry. Simply raw raps. Ill lines. Good music. Competitive, but not damaging. (0-2?)
Royce. Joel. Joe. Crooked. 4 Head Monster. Slaughtering. On Slaught. Whatever. Let’s hope it doesn’t die down and dismantle. At least an album, guys.
So you don’t have to be a fake GM on this one. Go back to being a fan. Just hope the release date ain’t Nevruary and enjoy.
Barack Obama
Before we go into it. This is a feature that ran on HipHopDX in 2007. Back then, there was only hope for progress. There really was doubt. Read it. You'll see. Wordsworth, Naledge and everybody weighed in and most felt an extreme amount of doubt that America would elect a black President. It happened. But, it's always good to see the past. In this case, it's a look back at what Naledge, Phonte, Wordsworth, Punchline, and Champ felt when I spoke to them before the Democratic Primaries. Enjoy.
http://cdn.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.856/title.underground-report-barack-obama-edition/p.all
“My raps ignite the people like Obama.” - Common
Whether you love him or hate him, there is something about Barack Obama that has the world speaking. Some say, there is something about him that has the world listening. Either way, everyone and their favorite rappers have been voicing their views on the man.
This month, we sat down with various emcees to discuss Barack Obama. Phonte (of Little Brother), Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall), Wordsworth and Punchline (of EMC) and Champ (of Move.meant) got down with HipHopDX to speak on Obama, his chances of winning, his best and worst traits and what it could mean for the country if he is elected.
NALEDGE ON OBAMA
HHDX: What is your view on Obama?
NALEDGE: I have a different take on Obama being that I am from Chicago and was well aware of him long before his rise to national recognition. He is a man that truly wants to be all things to all people. He is representative of a new America. He is young enough to know the lyrics to an Ice Cube record yet old enough to remember the black power movement. He thrived in the melting pot that is Chicago and eventually the state of Illinois as a whole because he is able to streamline his ideas and make them appealing to all groups and classes of people. Ironically, it is this lack of a true bias that earns him criticism.
HHDX: Do you think he has a shot at winning?
NALEDGDE: I think he has a much better shot at winning in 4-8 years but he is a legitimate candidate right now. He will win the votes of young people and people who want to take a chance on something new and someone unlike most politicians. I see him as a shoe in to be the democratic vice presidential candidate. Obama has a great shot at winning.
HHDX:What do you feel is his best or worst trait?
NALEDGE: As I said, most of his positives can be framed as negatives. Many applaud his ethnic background as unique and others say he isn't Black enough. Some like his energy but say he is too young and inexperienced to be president. I personally feel he is too politically correct at times. Sometimes by offending none, you can lose the support of everyone because if everyone likes you, no one loves you.
HHDX: If he wins, what does it mean for the country?
NALEDGE: It means we'd rather have a black man in office than a woman. I mean other than his color; Obama fits the mold of every other politician. And many would say Obama plays the race card a lot less than he plays the class card.
HHDX: In your opinion, will we see a woman before we see a black man take office?
NALEDGE: Let me rephrase that. America would rather have a bi-racial Black man in office than a white woman. In that case…yes, that is a correct statement.
HHDX: Feel free to add anything you'd like about Obama here.
NALEDGE: He is a very classy man but whether class and flash translates to him being a great leader, I am unsure. Still, I do believe he is the best candidate out there simply because of his refreshing approach to moral issues. He has my vote by far. I would love to do some work with his campaign.
WORDSWORTH ON OBAMA
HHDX: What is your view on Obama?
WORDSWORTH: A possible solution to various things war-nation relations but they all are possible. It's like spades - you can have a definite ad not make your books and then have a possible that makes your books.
HHDX: Do you think he has a shot at winning?
WORDSWORTH: Yeah, I think he can definitely win. You can't think otherwise, when the unexpected pretty much has been happening in the world today.
HHDX: What do you feel is his best or worst trait?
WORDSWORTH: To be honest I don't know those but I do see that he's accepted across all racial boundaries. His intelligence represents him as the proper candidate. I say that from the manner in which I've seen him talk, but I don't know all of his stands on every view.
HHDX: If he wins, what does it mean for the country?
WORDSWORTH: It's going to have the country hoping that an answer without lies and diversions will be said. When it comes to poverty, war, hunger, and disease, I think people will believe the country can have some integrity.
HHDX: In your opinion, will we see a woman before we see a black man take office?
WORDSWORTH: Not sure, but sometimes I believe so because people know that Hillary has a history of running The White House alongside Bill. The comfort level of the people may be aroused by that than even the actual interest in the proper perspectives on the issues.
HHDX: Have you voted every year?
WORDSWORTH: Nah, I only voted [in the] last presidential election. [That was the] first time I did.
HHDX: Will you vote this time around?
WORDSWORTH: Yeah, I will.
PUNCHLINE ON OBAMA
HHDX: What is your view on Obama?
PUNCHLINE: I view him as the next black leader for the younger generation. I don't have a full understanding on his movement but I feel people are running with him only because he’s black. It takes more than color to choose a leader so I feel off the little knowledge I have on him, he seems fit for the position and good model leader.
HHDX: Do you think he has a shot at winning?
PUNCHLINE: Hell no! The planet has a tough choice. Pick a female or a Blackman? What you think?
HHDX: What do you feel is his best or worst trait?
PUNCHLINE: Best trait is his personality and what he stands for. Worst trait is he is black.
HHDX: If he wins, what does it mean for the country?
PUNCHLINE: It means the world is over. It means he will get killed or impeached. Somehow white people will leave the U.S. If Obama wins then we will not have as many rappers. Black kids will have a huge role model to look up to.
HHDX: In your opinion, will we see a woman before we see a black man take office?
PUNCHLINE: I feel so. It’s funny. Nobody else is talking about the 3rd candidate. That proves a woman will win. Right now just having a black candidate is supposed to be sufficient for black folks.
HHDX: Have you voted every year?
PUNCHLINE: No I haven’t. I have a weird theory on voting. It’s like voting for the lesser evil. End result is its still a bad choice either way.
HHDX: Will you vote this time around?
PUNCHLINE: I feel presidents are picked already. Some higher being knows how it’s going down. Just know whoever it is it will be someone good enough to pick up where Bush let off.
PHONTE ON OBAMA
HHDX: What is your stance on Barack Obama?
Phonte: I really don't follow politics as much as cats would think I do. From what I can tell, he has the charisma of Bill Clinton mixed with the good looks of JFK. That alone makes him a shoe-in for the hoes.....dude is aiight with me.
HHDX: What do you feel is his best or worst trait?
Phonte: His best trait is that he's very articulate and answers his questions in a very calm, measured, and reasonable way. He just seems to be a sensible cat. His worst trait is his last name. The conservatives gon’ be trynna link that nigga to Al-Qaeda come election time.
HHDX: Do you think he has a shot at winning?
Phonte: I think he has an honest shot at winning for two reasons: 1) Bush has fucked up so royally that most people are thinking, "okay, ANYBODY but him." And 2), America is a much more sexist country than it is racist, in my opinion. I truly don't think this country is ready for a woman to be president. I mean, if the average guy just thinks about how crazy, emotional, and irrational his wife/girlfriend can be and THEN imagines having that same woman IN THE WHITE HOUSE? Sheeeeeit.....she'd be wakin up and waging war on other countries just cause a nigga forgot to wash the dishes.....
And even furthermore, I don't think women want to see a woman elected president because deep down they all hate each other. Hillary Clinton could get elected, be standing in front of the White House looking radiant during the inauguration, basically making HISTORY, and it would still be a buncha bitter ass hoes in a corner talkin bout, "that bitch think she cute."
HHDX: If he wins, what does it mean for the country?
PHONTE: Personally, I'm of the George Carlin opinion that this country was bought, sold, and paid for long, long ago, and that the people in power know every single card they deal. So I honestly don't expect much to change. Either way, it will be interesting to watch.
CHAMP OF MOVE.MEANT ON OBAMA
I have a good friend who’s from Chicago. She put me up on him initially. We grew up together in Michigan and now she lives in Chicago. I was like, ‘Let me check this dude out.’ I started downloading his podcast. He has a podcast through iTunes. He talks about his position on various votes they have in the Senate and you hear his speeches that he makes at different universities around the country and things like that. The minute I started to listen to him, I was like “Wow.”
It’s funny because you’re so used to politicians not telling you the truth and not being straight up all the time. I just got to a point where I don’t even expect them to tell the truth. But, I was listening like, ‘I could be wrong, but this dude sounds like he’s actually telling me what he thinks, as opposed to just trying to tell me what he thinks I want to hear.’ So, as soon as I started listening, I was like ‘Wow, this dude is the truth.’
I looked into it more and bought his first book to get a little more background on him to see what he’s about. Thoroughly impressed, man! He’s the first candidate in my lifetime that I thought really had an opportunity to make some serious change. I’m really excited about him and I just hope he gets the nomination and I hope he gets an opportunity to actually run for the White House. I think he’d be an amazing president.
Does Scarface Suck?
"You ain't live it. You witnessed it from your folks' pad. Scribbled in your notepad and created your life."-S. Carter
Scarface was wack? Crazy, right? But in today's rap world, there would definitely be mad people saying that. There'd be a cry for the facts. Who is Oliver Stone? Was he a drug dealer? Does he have street cred? What does he know? Matter fact, who's Ben Hecht and who's Howard Hawks? While those seem like absurd questions, the same questions are asked of other kinds of writers: rappers.
Reality is seen as a major component in a rap career. If it ain't real, it ain't worth it. That seems to be the way the tables are rollin' nowadays. After this Rick Ross fiasco, everybody was quick to point out that dude was not real as if that's all that mattered. Now, I agree that lying about your past is enough to make heads shake, but is it wrong to spit rhymes that you didn't actually live if artistry is displayed and no claims of factuality are made?
Nas is arguably one of the greatest emcees ever. He wasn't some crazy kingpin druglord running Queens. Sure, he's rhymed about some insane stuff including the shoot outs, the drug game and made a theme for thieves. Jay accused Mr. Jones of watching the tales unfold from his folk's pad. That project window. But was it wrong of Nas to, let's say, not partake in the pitfalls of street life to document and create his artistic interpretation of the ills in The Bridge? Afterall, he's created some of the most profound rhymes in the history of the genre and some of the most creative and influential records the mainstream game has seen. I don't know Nasir like that, but if he did just write in the book of rhymes about what he saw, and not actually what he did, is it that bad? So what if "Undying Love" never happened-It doesn't make it any less ill. And if Ike with the Iverson jersey did not exist, would it change the symbolic usage of him in the songs? I don't care if he never drove while inebriated, "Drunk by Myself" is still a dope song. The artistry of it all means something important.
Now, I'm not saying reality doesn't play a role. "Dance" and "One Love" for instance, are just two examples of Nas digging into his own life for inspiration. Those songs, based on true events, allow for a deeper understanding of the artist, his life and his pain. True personal introspective connections are vital to the genre and the lyrical excellence within it. Don't get it mangled. Reality matters, too. But it shouldn't be the end all be all that many kids think it is. Kids think that if you didn't actually kill a man, you have no right to rap, which is sort of killing the game right now. Not only is being real in, it's being real crazy that's in. (On a sidenote, I can't stand when rappers work too hard to prove they are telling the truth. "Nah, I'm real." Saying that is about as real as a politician saying he/she don't lie. Go home with that.)
But, Nas isn't alone in this. See, I don't care if Sasha Thumper never actually stared at the stars above. I don't care if Face never sat alone in a four cornered room staring at candles, or if LL actually sometimes sat and stared at the walls, while his conscience called. I care less if Jay's parental unit got it on under an actual Sycamore Tree or if BIG actually handled a ball player's girl. None of that (in terms of whether they actually happened or not) means anything to me. But, they all made for some good music. Art.
In the end, that's what should matter most. Not who got the fattest vests or the illest gats. Not who got the nicest change or the dopest Range. Too much is made of that. Perfect rhymes. Perfect beats. Make the cipher complete.
Peace.
Sarah Palin Rap
Yeah. Sarah Palin. Rap.
Props to Amy for taking on the rhyme. Flow is better than some emcees out. Ha. All jokes aside, there is a certain aspect of the event that didn't quite fit.
Nevertheless, the allusion to "Hand on the Pump" was dope.
Check Her Rhyme:
my name is sarah palin you all know me
vice president nominee of the gop
gonna need your vote in the next election
can i get a ‘what what’ from the senior section
mccain got experience, mccain got style
but don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile
cause that smile be creepy
but when i be vp
all the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me
how’s it go eskimo
eskimos
tell me what you know eskimo
eskimos
how you feel eskimo
ice cold
tell me tell me what you feel eskimo
super cold
i’m jeremiah wright cause tonight i’m the preacha
i got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha
todd lookin fine on his snow machine
so hot boy gonna need a go between
in wasilla we just chill baby chilla
but when i see oil lets drill baby drill
my country tis a thee
from my porch i can see
russia and such
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
when i say ‘obama’ you say ‘ayers’
obama. ayers. obama. ayers.
i built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.
[ohhh]
mccain, palin, gonna put the nail in the coffin
of the media elite
she likes red meat
shoot a mull humpin moose, eight days of the week
[three gunshots]
now ya dead, now ya dead,
cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you
holdin a shotgun walk in the pub
everybody party, we’re goin on a hunt
la la la la la la la la
[six gunshots]
yo palin, i’m out!
In other news, Colin Powell has just endorsed Barack Obama. It's a surprise because Gen. Powell is a Republican with a lot of foreign policy experience. So, when everyone thought McCain would get an endorsement, Powell went on Meet the Press to give his nod to Obama. He also added that he did not feel Gov. Palin was ready to be in office and that he felt the tone of the Republican campaign was too negative.
Joe The Rapper
Salutations.
Awhile ago, I sat down and heard some mixtapes. I told some of my boys this dude had skills and that he'd be the future. Def Jam. No games. Vandetta time. Airplay. Crazy. Kid who called himself Mouse was nice. I mean, Metaphors. Storylines, Deep shit. The works.
Saw him blow up. First, he hit the MTV/BET/Radio market like crazy. Pumped them up. Deflation came when he lost his voice. After those things were resolved, label woes struck harder. Talk of a Jay feud. That Iverson/Jordan line. The Busta featured track didn't catch fire anywhere. Then other tracks got hot and they sounded just like it. The 112 jam didn't end up being a single. Take the L.
But then came the anticipation. "You are now listening to The Growth" would be the only time we actually listened to The Growth. More Jay beef lines. More anger. More depression. Funny thing happened. Dude just sounded better. Mood Music. Soulful. Just sounded fresher. Still with the punches. Still with similes. Just deeper. More somber. Tone got darker. Rhymes were Sean Daley and Nick Carter. Each passionate piece was just Felt. After that Nate Dogg track left heads shaking "no," The Growth wasn't going to drop. But instead, fans thought like Joe. Instead of Def Jam dropping The Growth, they dropped The Joe.
Regular Joe hit the tapes even harder. Pen kept moving. Rhymes kept flying out. A niche was found.
"They say he whines too much, he's too bitter. They call it complaining. I call it explaining."
Signed to Amalgam. Now, he's got two records about to drop. Padded Room. Half Way House.
Can't say he isn't confident. In a great piece done by our colleague Paul Arnold, Joe is on it.
"I have no doubt in my mind that I rap better than the majority of the rappers. That is a fact to me. That’s not even an opinion. So for me to try to bait other emcees, especially the emcees that we’re naming, c’mon Saigon? Like, he’s got his lane. He makes the music that he makes. He’s got his own little fan base. But can Saigon out rap Joe Budden bar-for-bar? Hell no! So I mean, c’mon man, that’s just bullshit. That’s something that he tells himself."
Anyway, that interview brings us to this. What do we expect from Joe now? Honestly, it's not hard to see. We (most who have praised his efforts on more personal mixtapes) expect more personal, deep, dark tracks mixed with great wordplay/metas/similes/punches and some great beat selection. So, when "Touch & Go" hit? Threw most heads off. I commend Paul Arnold for hitting him with that question about "Regular Joe." That's how most heads feel.
Honetly, you can't fault Joe for being Joe. That's what got him here. Club shit included. But, can't fault heads for wanting more of what actually made Joe a noteworthy artist since the debut hit. Songs like "Slaughterhouse" and "Dumb Out" just sound like Joe The Rapper at his best. After the label dilemma and the issues surrounding his departure from Def Jam, it's hard to picture a happy-go-lucky version of Budden. After all, it's the same man who said "I don't want to go to a lounge. I just want to lounge." That type of rhyme took him away from that "club/commercial rapper" and put him into a category with serious personal cats, a shift that really, truly catapulted him to respect amonst great emcees today.
So, while fans may wish Joe well. There's also a glimmering hope that he may hit us with that "Shit Didn't Go Well" rhyme over a soulful track to enhance the mood. Sad how we can truly appreciate an artist at his worst and turn away when that same artist is smiling. Art does that, though.
No one says "He whines too much" now. No one really thinks "He's too bitter." So, keep explaining, Joe.
Sarah Palin on SNL?
Sarah Palin will be on SNL, for sure. That's according to CNN.
While Tina Fey may have done a remarkable job playing Sarah Palin on SNL, nothing beats the real thing. So, Palin will make an appearance on SNL for a few laughs. Perhaps, it's the McCain campaign's idea of seeming to be "in on the joke."
Then again, it's the same campaign that sent her to a hockey game, only to be booed by hockey fans, who presumably didn't appreciate the "hockey mom."
I don't know if it's good or bad in terms of politics, but it can't be bad TV.
Palin seems pleased to be on and she claims to be looking forward to a face-to-face with Fey, who is most likely going to vote against her.
Odd. Maybe she doesn't get how bad this sounds, but here goes her soundbite.
"I love her, she's a hoot and she's so talented," Palin told AP. "It would be fun to meet her, imitate her and keep on giving her new material."
Banksy's Done It Again
Banky's essentially a known unkown who has managed to turn the art world on its head. With his brand of "street art," he made his name known and his stuff is now famous and expensive on a worldwide level. Now, he's decided to open up a pet shop, which is not a pet shop.
Instead, the shop is a spot where his art can be seen/appreciated. The shop includes work to criticize humans/animals and man's treatment of animals. Rare. Unique. Art.
Verse of the Day: GZA-Animal Planet x Verse 1
"Welcome to the Jungle where the cat loves to scratch
The rat squeals
And the polar bear feasts on the blubber of seals
The pack of wolves be scheming on a bunch of gazelles
Where the leopards grab the wilderbeast down by it's tail
You see the chimps they grow hips they hustle and sling in trees
Elephants for security that move tons of leaves
The bluebirds arrest parrots that love to talk
or eagles that stalk fresh-water trout under the wing of the hawk
You see the vultures pick the pocket of whatever remain
In the brain we watch but a shadow of the lion's mane
Whose roar is loud enough to take the stripes from a zebra
He camouflage his bets and his spots of a cheetah
Shouldn't gamble with a cheetah and not expect to get beat
You silly goose you know he move fast on his feet
Now you're neck deep in debt with a bunch of loan sharks
So you move on a colony of ants with aardvarks, you see
Most of the everglades controlled by the gators
It was crashed by the crocs who came years later
See the locusts had swarmed with the bees
the tick moved with the fleas
The dragonflies and the wasps shared with the seas
The crab and the leeches sucked your blood flow
And they laugh like hyenas when they out to catch dough
See a million mosquitos from the West Nile
Carrying the virus that made the boars less wild.
It's like a jungle sometimes."