Came across this video interview just posted up and Rae is asked about OB4CL2. Not only does he confirm that it still exists but hints at a Bun B collabo. Well that's the way I interpret it, why else would he say that.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Bun B on Cuban Linx 2?
Nas Inks Fila Endorsement Deal
I think that's a good look for son. It's a step up from those horrid Disciples kicks last year.
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Seated in a quiet corner of New York restaurant the Spotted Pig, Nas is drinking a glass of rose. He's dressed comfortably in jeans, Velcro-fastened sneakers and a white T-shirt featuring the image of a poster from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's "Thrilla in Manilla" fight. His black Rolls Royce is parked outside and he's awaiting a few cigars from his driver.
In here, the noise surrounding the rapper's new Def Jam album, formerly known as "N--ger," has faded, but Nas is still happy to discuss the grand implications of it all.
Since October, when Nas first announced his intentions for the album title, he has drawn all kinds of responses, ranging from the ire of African-American activist the Rev. Al Sharpton to the support of Def Jam chairman/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid. After certain retail distributors, which neither Def Jam nor Nas would identify, claimed they wouldn't carry an album called "N--ger," Nas rechristened it as an untitled project, starting yet another round of debate on popular hip-hop sites like nahright.com.
As the record nears its July 15 release, Nas is the first to admit he's not a one-man show. Def Jam, a unit of publicly traded company Vivendi, has to market this hot-button album while maintaining its market share, which raises the question: How do a corporation and an artist balance creative integrity with the bottom line?
THE MESSAGE REMAINS
"If I was the one watching all this s--t happen, I would want to see me ride to the end," says Nas, who promises that he hasn't changed or removed the album's incendiary commentary on race relations. "Except a lot of so-called black leaders were using my album as a platform for themselves. I would have been fighting not to get the 'N--ger' album out but to express myself, and that's not the fight I wanted. This album is about me and how I feel as a black man."
Nas' subject matter is rare for contemporary commercial hip-hop, which sells everything from mobile phones to fast food. The three hip-hop songs atop Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart -- Plies' "Bust It Baby Part 2" and Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" and "A Milli" -- focus on sex and braggadocio. But Nas says he recorded the album with entertainment as well as education in mind.
"I didn't want to 'n--ger' my audience to death," he says. "So 'Be a N--ger Too,' which I recently released a video for, isn't on the album. It didn't fit. The entire record deals with the concept, but ... I had to pace myself."
Throughout the album, Nas finds creative ways to address his subject. On the Busta Rhymes-featuring "Fried Chicken," Nas uses a woman as a metaphor for soul food and black people's attraction to deadly eating habits. ("Mrs. Fried Chicken/fly vixen/give me heart disease but still I need you in my kitchen," he raps.)
First single "Hero," featuring Keri Hilson, boasts anthemic synthesizers, a tuba, running keys and a swelling chorus as Nas explains why he changed the album title. Key lyric: "I'm hog-tied on the corporate side blocking y'all from going in stores and buying it/at first L.A. and Doug Morris was riding with it/but Newsweek articles startled bigwigs and asked Nas, why is you trying it?"
CAN CONTROVERSY SELL?
Newly minted Def Jam executive vice president Shakir Stewart says that while the company wholeheartedly supports Nas' creative vision, all parties understand the business implications of the original album name.
"Nas would not jeopardize his opportunity to get his music to the public," Stewart says. "He understands that we believe in intelligent freedom of speech, meaning whatever stance you take, be prepared for some accountability."
Stewart admits that distributors were the reason behind the album's title change but adds that Def Jam will not shy away from any future controversial singles or corresponding clips like the Nas-funded video for "Be a N--ger Too," which ends with a young black man hanged from a tree.
"Nas is a visionary," Stewart says. "Singles are a collective decision, and it's about picking the best music that demonstrates the album."
But on the marketing side, Def Jam senior VP of marketing Chris Atlas and marketing director Shari Bryant say the untitled project has been surprisingly easy to pitch.
"The funny thing is, we really thought the album was going to be a big issue," Bryant says. "We thought we'd just have to focus on the Nas brand. But when the title changed, the doors opened again."
Nas, meanwhile, has broken his tradition of sidestepping brand partnerships and brokered a one-year partnership with athletic apparel company Fila.
"My best friend Will and I loved Fila," Nas says. "It represented prestige and everything that was cool to us. When Will passed, we buried him in a black Fila sweat suit, so doing a deal with them has a lot of significance for me."
According to Fila president John Epstein, it was a natural match. "One of my executives spotted Nas shopping in our Manhattan store and struck up a conversation with him," Epstein says. "Nas isn't interested in selling out. He's interested in being true, and that fits with our brand."
Some may view Epstein as brave to co-brand his company with an MC who has pledged to examine America's racial struggles.
"I had some trepidation, and then I started talking to 16- to 20-year-old kids in focus groups," Epstein says. "They looked at me like I was crazy for not understanding his message of positive change. Nas is relevant to his followers, and I don't have to understand it as long as they do."
Back at the Spotted Pig, Nas has lit one of the cigars and is musing that he doesn't need to market himself like other artists. Perhaps his Muhammad Ali T-shirt boasting the phrase "The Greatest," or that rose, is getting the rapper riled up. Or maybe after more than a decade in hip-hop, he's just being honest.
"From Jay-Z to 50 Cent to Kanye (West), I've been around longer than all of them, and I don't need any of their marketing," Nas says. "The people are my marketing, and that puts me in a class by myself."
Brooklyn
Papoose - Brooklyn
I still don't know what he got against Queens. (?) Always trying to make us look like herbs. Fuck that.
Also: Papoose - Straight Stuntin'
Country Ass F***ed Up Town
Another random, funny video post.
LOL. This is proof that you can leave the hood but the hood will never leave you. The transition of voice between the first few seconds and the rest of the video is hilarious.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Aries Spears is Mad!
Aries Spears lettin' off on everything wrong in the game.
1) LOL @ "Southern Beat." Not even close....
2) LOL @ The Booger Song
3) LOL @ Aries' open challenge to Soulja Boy. I want that to happen! So in an effort to get it to happen, I am spreading this video onto my viewers.
I actually believe Spears can spit man. Hopefully he don't come with that clone shit but this would go down as a historic moment in Hip Hop if it does happen LMAO.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Bridging the Gap
Another Ali Vegas preview to Generation Gap 2.
If you follow my daily posts as the other 15,000 users do, you'd know everything he says as far as featured guests and production. And as usual, he kicks a real freestyle at the end of the video.
Tracklisting...
That's it I'm buying this album based on the track 'Hero' and the first joint sounds like it bangs. Can't wait to hear that! Queens needs that anthem baby !!!
01. Queens Get The Money (Produced by Jay Electronica)
02. You Can’t Stop Us Now (feat. Eban Thomas of The Stylistics & The Last Poets) (Produced by Salaam Remi)
03. Breathe (Produced by J. Myers & Dustin Moore)
04. Make The World Go Round (feat. Chris Brown & The Game) (Co-produced by Cool & Dre & The Game)
05. Hero (feat. Keri Hilson) (Produced by Polow Da Don)
06. America (Produced by Stargate)
07. Sly Fox (Produced by stic.man of Dead Prez)
08. Testify (Produced by Mark Batson)
09. N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave And The Master) (Produced by DJ Toomp)
10. Untitled (Produced by stic.man of Dead Prez)
11. Fried Chicken (feat. Busta Rhymes) (Produced by Mark Ronson)
12. Project Roach (feat. The Last Poets) (Produced by Eric Hudson)
13. Ya’ll My Niggas (Produced by J. Myers)
14. We’re Not Alone (feat. Mykel) (Produced by stic.man of Dead Prez)
15. Black President (feat. Johnny Polygon) (Produced by DJ Green Lantern)
Let's hear the collaboration bashing from you haters. Nas is still one of the GOATs so fall back.
LMAO
I told ya! This kid got showered in boos LMAO.
Damn I wish I could've caught this on TV! Oh well...at least we have the internet nowadays.
LOL at his Terminator accent as well.
Side Note: I wrapped up an 8 hr. session with Crhyme Fam last night. We got a couple of more joints done for various projects and whatnot. Nothing short of classics my friends. Look out for that !!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Name that Sample
1st 48th ft. Benzino & Nas - My Way
So I was forwarded to this new track Nas is featured on with 1st 48th and Benzino.
Truth be told, I always held a hope Nas would bless this sample (can you name it?) but this was executed horribly. Fire the engineer who recorded this.
Nas spits an insanely out of this world verse but the dude hugging this hook (turn his vocals down man!) takes away the quality of the track.
"Peace to my foes who really took it dead with the beef
Peace to them hoes who left they pussy hairs in my teeth"
EDIT: Shout out to BlackGottiNYC for correcting this error. This is actually a blend with a Nas verse from his track with Made Man called A Few Good Niggas on the Black Friday album.
That explains the horrible mixdown! LMAO
That's Dope!
So I came across this picture and realized damn...
That would have been dope had Nas put out the album on the expected date of July 1st.
I never even realized it was 7-1-8
Damn release date push backs.
Video: The Artistic Integrity
From that dude Wale. Off of that Mixtape About Nothing (which is digital crack might I add...)
Why's TMZ Keeping Tabs on Rappers?
From the Young Buck-G Unit phone altercation to the recent Ice T and Soulja Boy ramblings to Foxy Brown and Rick Ross to Jacob the Jeweler to Shaq dissing Kobe.
Don't they know that we don't care about that ish. That's why I refrained from posting any of that garbage. No more tabloid posts from me.
They must have gotten weary of chasing Paris, Britney, and Amy.
Not to mention, they're the rooks. Before them was eXtra, E! etc etc. At least there was some substance to those shows. It wasn't all speculation and paparazzi getting run over by vehicles. They actually had music and movie reviews.
NBA Draft 2008 Insights
I'm back to blogging mode today. I would apologize but why should I? Eff that....I'll just keep it moving.
I got to say that this Draft is probably the most I've been intrigued about since the Lebron-Anthony sweepstakes. Boy that night was quite spectacular especially after Detroit selected at #2 Darko Mili-who???
Anyway there is a lot of trade speculation with this draft, throw in some nice character issues and habits and what you get is the possibility of #1 and #2 trading slots. That's a bit of a reach but with this year's draft anything goes. I actually had a mock draft prepared to post up but I had to scrap that over the past 2 days.
In light of all the drama and speculation, I hope the Knicks trade their #6 up to #3 with Minnesota to draft OJ Mayo. Donnie and Dan got to do whatever they got to do man. All these players are bums on this squad. It's time to rebuild.
That's got to start with a star player at the head.
Eitherway, OJ is gone at #3 you can bet your lifesavings on that.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Big Poppa
A rare performance with Mr. B.I.G. on the Jon Stewart set. This comes courtesy of The Dope Boys. Quality is a little iffy, but who the eff cares...
For the Jay-Z haters, this is even more proof the camel straight jacked his style. Look at the fly shit Biggie was on. Tough......
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Doing the Right Thing?
So I'm reading the news as usual and come across this article that these two women who happen to be Muslim, were moved from sitting directly behind Obama at a campaign stop.
DETROIT -- A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama - and in front of TV cameras - at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarfs.
Hebba Aref said today that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who gathered to see Obama on Monday at the Joe Louis Arena when the groups they were with were separately invited by Obama campaign workers to sit behind the podium. But Aref said the campaign workers told members of both parties in separate discussions that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, weren't included in the invitation and couldn't sit behind the podium.
MORE: Michelle Co-Hosts 'The View'
PHOTOS: Fashion Set Holds Fundraiser for Obama
Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a campaign worker that she could not invite Aref because of "a sensitive political climate."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying such actions are "not the policy of the campaign."
"It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for this behavior," the statement read.
Aref said she replied by thanking Burton, but requested Obama apologize directly to her and Abdelfadeel, as well as invitations to sit behind him at a future campaign event. Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage said she was looking into the request.
"He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination," Aref said.
A message was left Wednesday morning by The Associated Press for Abdelfadeel.
Presidential campaigns routinely invite audience members they believe will enhance the image their candidate wants to convey on TV to stand behind the candidate at rallies.
Aref, who was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrants, said she had defended Obama during the primaries against a constant drumbeat of rumors that he was Muslim. Obama, a Christian, has said his grandfather was Muslim who converted to Christianity.
Obama also has been careful in denouncing the links, noting that some rumors about him also have been insulting to Muslims.
"I don't want to be called something I'm not, but I felt like ... everyone was treating this accusation of being Muslim as though it were some sort of crime or sin," Aref said.
She was grateful that the group she was with at the rally, which included her brother, Sharif, as well as non-Muslim colleagues of his, declined the invitation to take seats behind Obama after she was refused.
Still, she said, it was difficult to hear a Obama's message of unity among races.
"As he's saying it, I'm thinking, 'Well, wait a minute, I was obviously ... profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.'"
First of all, they're not wearing "head scarfs" you ignorant retards. It's called a veil. Scarves are thick with fabric as opposed to veil which is relatively very light.
....continuing, as an American-Muslim who also happens to be Egyptian, I understand the racial bias.
Obama is under scrutiny for not being Christian (or as the public likes to rephrase it "Obama is Muslim") and having two Muslim women in veils sitting directly behind him is sending the wrong message to this nation that views us as evils. So from a political standpoint, it makes sense.
But if Obama is really about unification - he needs to start with us first for a number of reasons.
I'll list the most important issue.....
1) It's becoming more apparent day by day that America is at war with Muslims than any country or organization. And the sacrifice we've taken as Muslims for the stereotyping is beyond fixable at this point. It's going to take a long time until we are justified in this country. Not because we aren't given the same rights but because we are prejudged by society. The government and media has put this aura over Americans as if being Muslim is an abomination.
If you don't like Arabs, that's a racial blunder but to take aim at a religious belief and assassinate us as a whole? When Islam is a global religion of ALL races!!??
This isn't racial prejudice - this is Religious prejudice.
So if there's anything Jews and Muslims can agree upon is that we are always being assassinated for our beliefs and yet we are at war with each other.
Sigh.....I'll never understand this world.
Barack Obama -1 on this one.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Taking a Look Back at God
...God Shammgod
What happened to this guy? I actually remember him catching flak over his mother given name. It's a shame because he was a perennial point position player. His ball handling and crossovers were beyond his years.
Also Wikipedia says that he is credited with teaching Kobe Bryant the crossover move? Hmm....
Monday, June 16, 2008
LL Cool James
In keeping with the LL theme this morning, here's a few clips the masters uploaded that I never transcribed to my readers. I don't even need to mention how vintage/rare these are - you should already know...
Return of the Sheep
...errh I mean G.O.A.T.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Tracklisting:
01. DJ Kay Slay & LL Cool J - Intro
02. LL Cool J - Hi Haterz
03. LL Cool J - Who Want It With The G.O.A.T.
04. LL Cool J - Zodiac Drilla
05. LL Cool J - 5 Boroughs
06. LL Cool J - Freestyle (feat. Sheek Louch)
07. LL Cool J - Laptop Gangstaz
08. LL Cool J - You Live & You Learn (feat. Papoose)
09. LL Cool J - I Cry (feat. Lil’ Mo)
10. LL Cool J - New York Gangstaz
11. LL Cool J - Sidewalk Executives
12. LL Cool J - Freestyle (feat. Grafh)
13. LL Cool J - The Truth (Throwback)
14. LL Cool J - Freestyle (feat. Nicolette)
15. LL Cool J - Clap N Revolve
16. LL Cool J - Paper (feat. Jiz & Lyrikal)
17. LL Cool J - Rock Da Pole
18. DJ Kay Slay & LL Cool J - Outro
Features look promising! I'll have to take a listen to this later today. LL is still a Legend in my book.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Before Just Blaze...
...put this sample back on the surface of popular culture, Wreckx N Effect were the OG artists to bless it. This must be perhaps the most lost popular single to ever exist. I remember when this was a smash single. You youngin's need to school yourselves on this one.
MC Serch Reppin' Tha Hood
I can't get enough of these rarities, so I might go on a video rampage who knows but in this one particular video MC Serch discusses the issues of white critics thinking he isn't proud to be white. Very interesting take from Serch- indeed.
Speaking of representation, my people need some standing up as well. I think Khaled need to holla at me at getting my Al Sharpton on.
Tragedy ain't Chinese?
Another random Vintage/Rare Sitdown with the Intelligent Hoodlum.
FREE TRAGEDY!
Mono Yapp: Desire
=
First stop was: The Investment.
Up Next: Desire
I'll keep this one short for the most part....
Oh the continuing battle between Quantity vs. Quality! Of course the obvious answer is Quality - But no no no, not so much in this instance. Even more so if you're an amateur.
Put it this way, practice makes perfect right? You want to have the best quality hit out there in the industry, but that is never going to happen without trial and error. Every great producer has gone through the ins and outs of this.
For me, quality is always numero uno in terms of priority but I am not going to agonize myself all night over one beat. If it takes too much energy, brain cells and time consumption to perfect JUST crafting the beat - then it means I'm forcing it too hard for people to like it. It's unnatural. Music has to come out spontaneously. And that spontaneity stems from your desire. This brings me back to The Investment editorial. I'll reiterate that time is of necessity when you are doing any type of music. And for the majority of the time desire often always comes up at the spur of the wrong moment. For example: in the shower, in bed, at work, on the train, etc. That's when your musical genius and juices start to flow. What you need to do is keep pushing your ideas more and more until you have full access to your MP, PC, whatever. Keep the light fused and then you can torch it on the beats. Otherwise...
I can't imagine scheduling myself to sit down and work on a new beat (Saturday 8 PM.)
Nope. Sorry, it doesn't work like that. I'd have to want to do it. Unless I'm touching up or editing previous work - you can't get me to do something for you on the spot if I'm not in that zone. Hats off to the few gifted people that can do it, but if you're anything of a common folk like me - you'll see it's not going to be productive.
Once you young lads learn to match desire with your music, it's a beautiful thing. It really is. I can only explain it to a certain extent. This is really one of those magical things where you have to be there to believe it.
So remember, don't sap your music by arranging when you want to do a track, do so on your own terms and when your soul opens up to it. The joy factor is a HUGE plus! You'll be more relaxed, you'll be more into it = the music will reflect and will be the by product.
Till next time,
Keep 'em Plugged.
A.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Last Millie Freestyle
I swear this is the last time I'm throwing up one of these only because it's Loso. Unless it's someone groundbreaking ripping this, you won't see me throwing up any of these freestyles anymore.
Fabolous - A Millie Freestyle
Video: Buy Me Lunch
New video from Blu and Ta'raach (C.R.A.C.)
They're collaborative album called The Piece Talks is in stores.
BK Bomber Mixtape
Sticking with the homey JO, here's a tape he just dropped a day or two ago.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Tracklisting:
1. Countdown Ft. Sha Stimuli
2. He’s Here Freestyle
3. Remember The Name Freestyle
4. Who Am I
5. Cipha Sounds Interview Freestyle
6. 125 Part 2 Ft. Sha Stimuli & Grafh
7. Letter To Obama [Studio Version](Prod. By DJ Green Lantern)
8. Who Shot Ya Freestyle
9. Hip Hop Remix Ft. Jadakiss & Saigon
10. Brooklyn Remix Ft. Cashmere Maino & Big Daddy Kane
11. Morning
12. We See Ya Ft. Tony Touch
13. 90’s Free Agent Freestyle
14. Changes
15. Lil Fun
16. For Me
17. Where I’m From Freestyle
18. Feel Good Ft. Cambatta
19. DJ Green Lantern Interview Freestyle
20. Latin Assassins Ft. Big Lou & Geolani
21. Warfare Ft. Joe Budden
22. Bodega
23. Top Of The Charts(Prod By The Faculty)
24. Ups And Downs(Prod By Statik Selektah)
25. Doin It 2005
26. Story To Tell
27. Here The Next Ft. Novel
28. Modern Day Slavery Ft. Immortal Technique
29. Brooklyn Bullshit
30. 125 Part 4 Remix (Prod By Guilty J)
Another Free 4 Free
If he's the free agent right now, it's only right that he kicks off a million frees for free.
Joell Ortiz - Relax Freestyle
Seriously though, this man puts in work! There's been so much material from him now, I haven't even been able to keep up and post it.
Back on that Q.U.
shieeeeeet. Wha wha? Channel 10 once again....
Hosted by Whoo Kid.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Tracklisting:
1. CNN News Intro
2. CNN - It’s A Body
3. N.O.R.E. feat. Swiss Beatz - Set It Off
4. N.O.R.E. - Get It In
5. N.O.R.E. - Body in The Trunk pt 2
6. N.O.R.E. feat. Jadakiss - Under The Bus
7. CNN feat. It’s Him - Whooo You
8. N.O.R.E. - U Aint A Gangsta
9. CNN - D.O.A.
10. CNN - Seduction Skit
11. CNN - Slingin Night N Day
12. N.O.R.E. - Phone Call To Heaven
13. N.O.R.E. - World Is Getting Smaller
14. CNN- I Shine
15. CNN - Hollywood
16. Outro
This is a dope mixtape!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
FukDatShhh.com Feature
Mark another one down.
A-MED and FukDatShhh.com Feature
...and for those who were sleeping....
A-MED and ICEDOTCOM Feature
A-MED and Lethal Music Feature
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Millionth Milli Free
From the most successful rapper bar none.
...Will Smith?
Damn. It's good to see the guy still spits LOL. Summertime is one of my favorite jams of all time.
Click Here to Listen in.
By the way, ain't he and Jazzy reuniting for an album? I doubt that's happening though, Will must be booked with his film career.