Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Why the Jay-Z / Wizards / Soulja Boy story is bad for Cavs fans.



I often read Henry Adaso's Hip-Hop posts on About.com. He recently posted this story about Jay-Z's latest participation in the Cavs vs. Wizards series. Therein, he notes the following line from the recent underground Jay-Z track where Hova references LeBron: "Who the f*ck is overrated? If anything, they underpaid him..."

Cavs fans have heard the rumbling for ages:
- Jay and LeBron's long time public friendship
- LeBron's use of the Roc-A-Fella dynasty hand gesture
- LeBron's contractual terms that (allegedly?) give him a nice bonus if he plays in New York
- LeBron's fitted Yankee cap during the Cleveland vs. New York American League playoff series
- LeBron's pinstripe shoes

And now you've got this to add to the list. Jay-Z knows what he is saying.

Translation:
"If anything, they underpaid him"
=
"When LeBron's contract runs out with the Cavs, please know that I'll take advantage of (a) my wealth, (b) my friendship with LeBron and (c) the fact that my team will be in Brooklyn, and I'll bring LeBron to the Big Apple where he will make more money than Cleveland (and Usher) can pay him - holla at ya boy."

Is Stern willing to get into the business of deciphering rap lyrics to find evidence of tampering? If so, I nominate myself for the job.

This is not a groundbreaking development. The writing has been on the wall for a while. This is just another nugget of evidence to prove that it is not just our imaginations. I've enjoyed watching LeBron on local broadcasts here in Ohio for many years. I better continue to do so while I can.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Underground Hip-Hop: An Overview, Volume 2

You probably won't see these artists on TV or hear them on the radio, but you should know about them nonetheless.

1. Akrobatik


Akrobatik hails from the Boston, Massachusetts area. He has worked with some great MCs, including: Talib Kweli, B-Real, Chuck D, Little Brother, Mr. Lif, Zion I, Freddie Foxxx and Blueprint. In addition, Akrobatik has had the backing of some top notch producers such as: Diamond D, Beatminerz, Edan and DJ Revolution. Akrobatik does a commendable job of coveying a story to the listener (see "Limelight" and "Cooler Headz" from the album Balance). He also provides some socially conscious commentary on tracks such as "Kindred" (from the album Absolute Value) where Akrobatik raps from the point-of-view of a slave:

It took me six years to build up enough courage to run,
And only six hours to be facing the barrel of a gun.

Not knowing if it's the last time I'd ever see my sons,

And that's punishment enough, still the pain has just begun.

A light flashes, leather from the whip lashes,

He's threatening to burn me in my own ashes.

Brown skin is now purple, it comes full circle,

When the pain that I'll endure is the pain I'll have to work through.

For now, my body lies listless,

Wishing that my wife wasn't forced to witness,

Wishing she wasn't forced to be master's mistress,

Wishing she wasn't forced to be under this distress.

How did we ever get into this mess?

We came from kings,

Now we're wearing rags, eating unmentionable things

The stings from the welts in my back make me want to attack

And be a martyr for blacks, but then the whip cracks,

And brings me back to reality,

Madness, brutality that leads to fatalities

And if he knew that I was reading his books and getting smarter,

It would only make him whip me harder.

Sometimes I thank God I never had a daughter,

But even if I did, in my death we'd connect through the pain,

Our souls kindred.



I won't provide further lyrics here, but the second verse is from the point-of-view of a Hurricane Katrina victim. WHY CAN'T WE GET SONGS LIKE THIS PLAYED ON THE RADIO?



2. Vakill

Vakill, from Chicago, is a monster on the mic. His punchlines and one-liners are outstanding and often require more than one listening before you can catch them all. Some examples:

My name is legendary on all blocks, spitting fireball rocks
Before they call pops, had bodies in walls and crawl spots

Hammers is all cocked

So many Makaveli mini-me's in the game it's a f***ing outbreak of small pacs
[Author's note: Get it? Small pacs / Small pox]
And beef is when everybody is not breathing so body me not even
Everybody is holding and probably not squeezing

And last year n****z albums did more flopping then a Vlade Divac season

~~~~~
Whether n****z feel me or not regardless style heartless foul
Spit in front of the hardest crowds

If they start booing I'm sticking fans Artest style

~~~~

The truth since my umbilical was chopped from my navel
Darkest cloud didn't go pop but I'm stable
Never been dropped from a label
I gage my career to a fat b***h at a buffet and brought a lot to the table
The games lets die first so f**k peace until I left my curse
And rookies claiming they the best since Big death died worst
B***h please you've yet to spit s**t that could f**k with a Left Eye verse
I'm sonning as long as the one in the sky hung
They say the good die young
Mostly over bulls**t and women that's high strung
But them same b***hes throwing me p***y like they runner-ups for the Cy Young

~~~
Vakill's style often revolves around the "I'm the best MC in the game" mentality. I realize that such an MC isn't for everybody. Some days, it's not what I want to hear. But when I am up for an extremely self-confident MC with matching skills, Vakill fits the bill.

Vakill - Worst Fears Confirmed


3. Brother Ali

Here is what I know about Brother Ali for sure: He is albino, he loves his son, he is Muslim, he reps Minnesota, and he is a great emcee. I have seen Brother Ali in concert once and he put on an outstanding performance. You can definitely tell that he is not in the Hip-Hop game to get rich quick. He does this for the love (and he does it well).

Brother Ali - Ear to Ear


Brother Ali is more socially conscious than 90% of the rappers in the genre today. He is definitely not afraid of criticizing the U.S. government in songs like "Uncle Sam G***amn":

You don't give money to the bums,
On the corner with a sign, bleeding from their gums,
Talking about you don't support a crackhead
What you think happens to the money from your taxes?
S**t, the government's an addict,
With a billion dollar a week "kill-brown-people" habit
And even if you ain't on the front line
When master yell "crunch time," you're right back at it
Plain look at how you're hustlin' backwards
At the end of the year, add up what they subtracted
Three out of twelve months, your salary pay for that madness
Man, that's sadness
What's left? Get a big @ss plasma,
To see where they made Dan Rather point the damn camera
Only approved questions get answered,
Now stand your @ss up for that National Anthem.

Allegedly, this song cost him his corporate touring sponsorship. But like I said, Brother Ali is in this for the love. He'll probably write a song about that corporate sponsor on his next album.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Underground Hip-Hop: An Overview, Volume 1

You probably won't see these artists on TV or hear them on the radio, but you should know about them nonetheless.








1. One Be Lo

On three separate occasions, I've had the good fortune of seeing this MC perform in concert. Hailing from Pontiac, Michigan, this wordsmith was once a member of the group Binary Star. His album, S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., does not disappoint.

One Be Lo - Cold World

2. Nicolay

Nicolay is a producer from The Netherlands. He collaborated with Little Brother MC Phonte' to create a group known as The Foreign Exchange. Their album, Connected, combines mellow production with Phonte's witty intelligent lyrics. According to rumor, the MC and producer never met when preparing the album. Instead, they allegedly exchanged beats and lyrics with each other via the internet.

Foreign Exchange (Nicolay & Phonte) featuring Rapper Big Pooh - Nic's Groove

3. Jean Grae

Maybe I'm just getting old, but it seems to me that the true female Hip-Hop MC is nearly extinct. There are some who still handle their business with class and respect (Missy), but most of the true MCs (who don't rely extensively on sex, drugs, sex, drugs, sex) have seemingly moved on to other endeavors (Eve, Latifah, Lyte).

Jean Grae is a breath of fresh air. Her style often reminds me of a mixture of Canibus and Eminem. She tells great stories through song, utilizes wonderful metaphors and similies, and uses wordplay as well as almost any female MC (and most male MCs) I've heard.* Talib Kweli apparently agrees that she's nice on the mic as he's signed her to his record label.

*I don't mean to short-change Jean Grae by comparing her to female MCs. She could smash most MCs period.

Jean Grae - Take Me

Saturday, April 12, 2008

My Top 10 L.L. Cool J Songs



























L.L. Cool J has had one of the most successful (and longest) careers in Hip-Hop. I thought I'd see what I could come up with if I tried to list my favorite 10 L.L. songs.

1. I’m Bad (Bigger and Deffer)

This is the first LL. Cool J song I ever heard, and it came across as a battle rap against the entire world. An endless number of bars from this track are embedded in my memory forever:

- “I’ll take a muscle bound man and put his face in the sand.”

- “I’ll make you say ‘Go LL’ and do the wop.”

- “Trend setter, I’m better, my rhymes are good, I got a gold nameplate that says ‘I wish you would.’”

- “So many girls on my jock, I think my phone is tapped.”

- “I’m like Tyson, icin’, I’m a soldier at war, making sure you don’t try to battle me no more / Got concrete rhymes, been rapping for ten years, and even when I’m bragging, I’m being sincere.”

- “Not bitter or mad, just proving I’m bad, you want a hit, give me an hour plus a pen and a pad.”

But by far, the most memorable lines for me:

- “They call me Jaws, my hat is like a shark’s fin.”

- “I’m the pinnacle, that means I reign supreme, and I’m notorious, I’ll crush you like a jellybean.”

- “…forget Oreos, eat Cool J cookies.”

They don’t make songs like this any more. L.L. comes across as a confident braggart, but he’s not really bragging about his cars, money, jewelry, drug kingpin experience, etc. He merely declares himself the best emcee in the game.

2. Around The Way Girl (Mama Said Knock You Out)

This song brings out such great memories. The Mary Jane Girls sample (“All Night Long”) lays the foundation for a feel-good song. As he has done on many of his songs, L.L. used this trackto endear himself to women without completely turning off (most) male Hip-hop heads.

In many ways the video seems humorous by today’s standard, particularly when L.L. Cool J participates in the choreographed dancing. That would kill most emcees' careers in today’s industry.

3. Jack The Ripper (All World)

Cool J is often known for being one of the best battle rappers ever. This diss track, aimed at Kool Moe Dee, utilized the kind of basic, but hard, beats that Def Jam was known for in the 1980s and early 1990s.

This may have been the greatest diss record of its time until Ice Cube later came along with “No Vaseline." Jack the Ripper was definitely the type of track that gave L.L. his reputation as one of the best battle rappers ever.

4. Mama Said Knock You Out (Mama Said Knock You Out)

“Don’t call it a comeback…” What’s wrong with a comeback? Before this record was released, many people thought L.L. Cool J was done. Much like “I’m Bad,” this track came across as a battle rap against the entire world, putting L.L. into an elite category of versatile emcees. The song also resulted in a Grammy win. Not too bad for a song inspired by his grandmother.

5. Hey Lover (Mr. Smith)

This one was geared for the ladies, but I could still appreciate it. Boyz II Men were really big at the time and all the ladies loved LL. I used to hope that singing the chorus could somehow equate me with LL or Boyz II Men in the eyes of the ladies. It didn't work.

6. Goin’ Back To Cali (Walking With A Panther)

Awesome horn riffs. Great scratching. Bass boom. "Bikini - small / Heels - tall / She said she liked the ocean." Rick Rubin on the production. Classic.

7. Doin’ It (Mr. Smith)

Even by today's standards, this song is massively sexual. In hindsight, the chorus is less than stellar: "Doin it and doin it and doin it well; Doin it and doin it and doin it well; Doin it and doin it and doin it well; I represent Queens, she was raised out in Brooklyn." Despite that flaw, this tune had an abundance of memorable lines and an infectious beat.

8. Loungin’ Remix (All World)

I was a bit disappointed with the clothing label name-dropping (Dolce Gabanna, Moschino, DKNY) in the first verse alone, but the collaboration with Total worked. L.L. mastered the art of making smooth tracks devoted to the ladies while still including lines that guys loved to repeat: "...Can't protect treasures when it's in a glass house / Soon as he turn the corner, I'm gonna turn that @ss out / Full blown, frontin' in the 6 with the chrome / Yo B, why you leave your honey all alone with me / Just because you blessed with cash / Doesn't mean your honey won't let me finesse that @ss..."

9. Ain’t Nobody (Beavis and Butthead Do America Soundtrack)

I can’t blame anyone for overlooking this song. Although there was a video with a few cameo appearances (Martin Lawrence, Gerald Levert, a couple of the Wayans, others), I’m not sure if anyone really saw it. Being a part of the Beavis and Butthead soundtrack probably did not help this song reach its target audience in the U.S. (The song was actually a #1 single in the U.K., thanks in large part to the Chaka Khan sample.)

10. Can’t Explain It (The DEFinition)

This song doesn’t necessarily have the reputation of the others. There was no video, but there should have been. This song was probably the best track on The DEFinition. L.L. plays the ladies’ man role on this track with his typical seductive lyrics. I guess if a formula works, you stick to it. The track is produced by Timbaland and would probably make my top 10 list of tracks produced by Timbaland.

Honorable Mention

Hush (The DEFinition)

Imagine That (The G.O.A.T.)

Boomin’ System (Mama Said Knock You Out)

Jingling Baby Remix (Mama Said Knock You Out)

Every Sip (The DEFinition)

Luv U Better (10)

Paradise (10)

Back Seat (14 Shots To The Dome)

I Need Love (Bigger and Deffer)

I Shot Ya (with Keith Murray, Foxy Brown, Fat Joe, and Prodigy) (Mr. Smith)

4, 3, 2, 1 (Phenomenon)

I Can’t Live Without My Radio (Radio)

Big Ole Butt (Walking With A Panther)

I’m That Type Of Guy (Walking With A Panther)

Rock The Bells (Radio)

The Ripper Strikes Back

Friday, April 11, 2008

My Top Ten Hip Hop Albums of 1995

I guess I'm feeling nostalgic. It's not the first time. I was hanging out with a friend recently and we started debating some of the best Hip-Hop albums by year. It was an easy task until we challenged ourselves to limit the list to three albums per year. The task instantly became MUCH harder. Nonetheless, I decided to give it a shot. (Of course, I'll be taking the path of least resistance by adding an honorable mention list.)

THE TOP THREE (in alphabetical order by artist)

Dogg Pound - Dogg Food


















I think Kurupt is one of the most underrated MCs in Hip-Hop. His rhymes schemes and vocal delivery are extremely unique. Also, Daz is one of the most underrated and unsung producers in Hip-Hop. He produced the majority of this album including: "Dogg Pound Gangstaz," "Ridin', Slipin' And Slidin',"Let's Play House," "Some Bomb A**...," "Reality" and "Do What I Feel."

Mobb Deep - The Infamous


















Thirteen years later, this is still one of those albums that I can listen to in its entirety from start to finish. Most of Mobb Deep's songs from this album were of the "macho" variety: "Right Back At You," "Cradle To The Grave," and of course "Shook Ones, Part 2." But this album didn't hit me for its lyrical content (which was fine), but I was taken in by the beats. They should have sold an instrumental version of this album. (If you know of one, please let me know where I can find it.) The piano from "Shook Ones, Part 2" is haunting. The chimes in "The Start of Your Ending (41st Side) are hypnotizing. The horns in "Up North Trip" are mellow and smooth. This album was (and is) a Hip-Hop gem.

2Pac - Me Against The World



















Take your pick of songs with this one: "Me Against The World," "So Many Tears," "Temptations," and of course "Dear Mama." This was 2Pac's first #1 album and first multi-platinum album. His previous albums were solid (especially 2Pacalypse Now), but Me Against The World catapulted Pac to superstardom.

SEVEN HONORABLE MENTIONS


Goodie Mob - Soul Food
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal
GZA - Liquid Swords
L.L. Cool J - Mr. Smith
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia
Luniz - Operation Stackola

OTHERS HIGHLY WORTHY OF DISCUSSION

8Ball & MJG - On Top Of The World
AZ - Doe Or Die
E-40 - In A Major Way
Masta Ace - Sittin' On Chrome
Twinz - Conversation