Souls of Mischief are back!
Their new album, Montezuma's Revenge, drops in just a few hours!
Preview + Support
Monday, November 30, 2009
Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity | Insomniacs Club
Souls of Mischief are back!
Their new album, Montezuma's Revenge, drops in just a few hours!
Preview + Support
Bandcamp: Hip Hop Is Read Approved
Word to the wise: I like Bandcamp. If you're a new artist that wants to pitch your music, Bandcamp is the way to go. No attachments needed; no horribly-tagged files to deal with. Just music, straight from the website. No BS. Bandcamp, again, is the way to go. Check out our sidebar's "Now Playing" section. Simple, right? Bandcamp. The way to go. Add a Twitter account with a strong following and you're on your path to success. Want me to hear your music? I might click your zShare/Limelinx/Usershare/Mediafire/Sharebee link - only if I know you. Otherwise, no dice. Bandcamp, please. I won't say it again.
Sincerely,
Guy who deletes most e-mails with attachments.
P.S. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but seriously, if I had a penny for every "media blast" I've received, I'd be swimming in... well, I'd be swimming in a lot of copper-plated zinc, quite frankly.
Sincerely,
Guy who deletes most e-mails with attachments.
P.S. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but seriously, if I had a penny for every "media blast" I've received, I'd be swimming in... well, I'd be swimming in a lot of copper-plated zinc, quite frankly.
Timbaland - Shock Value 2 | First Peek
I didn't think much of Timbo's first installment of the Shock Value series (check out my review from 2007), so my expectations for this record aren't too lofty to begin (especially after looking over the features; Miley Cyrus? Really, Timbo?). Might be worth a download though, if at least just to stay on top of the album's upcoming singles (we'll get into that later with a new DJ Raida-approved feature...). More info on the album below:
Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel - Fall of the Roc
Here's one of the highlights from Jay-Z & B.I.G. Pt. 1: it's a mix of Hov's verses from American Gangster's "Fallin'" with Beanie Sigel's beat (and select vocals) from "Run to the Roc" off his overlooked '09 album The Broad Street Bully. In the midst of Jay and Sigel's beef (which I hope either escalates or, preferably, resolves itself), this well-conceived mix is perfectly executed.
DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel - Fall of the Roc (Mix) [MP3]
From DJ Whiteowl's Jay-Z & B.I.G. Pt. 1
DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel - Fall of the Roc (Mix) [MP3]
From DJ Whiteowl's Jay-Z & B.I.G. Pt. 1
DJ Whiteowl & Massive Trip - Jay-Z & B.I.G. Pt. 1 | Download
I bumped into DJ Whiteowl by chance last summer; cool guy to meet. You might know his mixtape series Whiteowl Drop That. This right here is something different. It's mostly a blend tape, combining verses from Brooklyn's Finest, Biggie and Jay. Plenty of cool remixes here, check it out:
Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:
Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:
1. The Notorious B.I.G. - Hardcore (2:33)
2. The Notorious B.I.G. - Take It Easy 2010 (feat. Mad Lion) (2:17)
3. The Notorious B.I.G. - It's Like That Y'All (feat. Black Rob) (2:35)
4. The Notorious B.I.G. - King of N.Y. (3:21)
5. The Notorious B.I.G. & Jay-Z - Excistance (2:39)
6. The Notorious B.I.G. - Freestyle #1 (1:28)
7. Jay-Z - M.A.F.I.A. (2:01)
8. Jay-Z - Fire in the Eyes (feat. Michael Jackson, Method Man & Mos Def) (4:33)
9. Jay-Z - Rebirth (2:29)
10. Jay-Z - Transform (feat. Lil Wayne) (4:12)
11. Jay-Z - Fall of the Roc (feat. Beanie Sigel) (2:37)
12. The Notorious B.I.G. - Whatchugonnado (2:03)
13. The Notorious B.I.G. - Suicidal (2:11)
14. The Notorious B.I.G. - Floating in the Sky (Remix) (feat. KiD CuDi) (3:15)
15. The Notorious B.I.G. - The Big Apple (feat. Gravy & Busta Rhymes) (2:44)
16. Jay-Z - 700% (3:56)
17. The Notorious B.I.G. - Freestyle #2 (1:54)
18. Jay-Z - The Watcher (Whatchu Remix) (feat. Rakim) (2:28)
19. Jay-Z - Warm It Up, Jay (1:00)
20. Jay-Z - Me I Play (1:47)
21. Jay-Z - No Hooks (feat. 2Pac) (2:06)
22. The Notorious B.I.G. - Haffa Speaking from the Dead (2:31)
23. Jay-Z - Lick Shots (2:18)
24. DJ Whiteowl & Massive Trip - Outro (Jay-Z & B.I.G. Pt. 2 Coming Soon) (0:45)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Souls of Mischief - That's When Ya Lost | Insomniacs Club
Souls of Mischief are back!
Their new album, Montezuma's Revenge, drops this Tuesday!
Preview + Support
Snoop Dogg - Malice N Wonderland | First Peek
A follow-up to last year's surprisingly solid Ego Trippin', the Big Dogg's new album, Malice N Wonderland boasts production from frequent collaborators like The Neptunes, Scoop Deville and Battlecat, as well as Timbo and Lil Jon. Malice N Wonderland drops in a week, on Tuesday, December 8th. Check out the album's tracklisting, production credits, preview tracks and snippets below:
Clipse - Til the Casket Drops | First Peek
Virginia rap duo the Clipse first broke onto the scene in 2002 with their debut record Lord Willin'. Featuring the hugely-popular club tracks like "Grindin'", emcees Malice & Pusha T certainly raised some heads. In the midst of a series of acclaimed mixtapes, these crack rappers upped the ante with 2006's Hell Hath No Fury, earning heaps of praise from heads and hipsters alike.
Enter 2009, where the pressure is on for Pusha T and Malice more than ever before. Til the Casket Drops, their first album non-exclusive to Neptunes production, features equal participation from the likes of the Hitmen and DJ Khalil. Tracks that have already been released or leaked, like "Kinda Like a Big Deal", "Popular Demand (Popeye's)" and "Door Man" have sparked interest and hit The Tape Deck's radar. Now let's preview a few more tracks!
Enter 2009, where the pressure is on for Pusha T and Malice more than ever before. Til the Casket Drops, their first album non-exclusive to Neptunes production, features equal participation from the likes of the Hitmen and DJ Khalil. Tracks that have already been released or leaked, like "Kinda Like a Big Deal", "Popular Demand (Popeye's)" and "Door Man" have sparked interest and hit The Tape Deck's radar. Now let's preview a few more tracks!
Souls of Mischief - Montezuma's Revenge | First Peek
It's been a minute since I dropped a First Peek post, but I think they're great to keep your heads up for upcoming releases to look forward to. I'll try and post them more often, particularly since they'll work in union with my weekly In Stores Today drops. Hip Hop Is Read is great for music compilations, but I also want to work on turning this into a more opinionated blog. Moving on...
The Oakland-based rap collective Souls of Mischief is releasing Montezuma's Revenge, their highly-anticipated follow-up to 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution. If you've been listening to The Tape Deck, you've probably heard a few cuts from the album. Check below for Montezuma's Revenge's tracklisting, production credits (Prince Paul!), (more) preview tracks and a pre-order link. The album drops this Tuesday, December 1st. I haven't given it a full listen, but I will by Tuesday and offer my two cents.
The Oakland-based rap collective Souls of Mischief is releasing Montezuma's Revenge, their highly-anticipated follow-up to 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution. If you've been listening to The Tape Deck, you've probably heard a few cuts from the album. Check below for Montezuma's Revenge's tracklisting, production credits (Prince Paul!), (more) preview tracks and a pre-order link. The album drops this Tuesday, December 1st. I haven't given it a full listen, but I will by Tuesday and offer my two cents.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
O.C. - Born 2 Live | Insomniacs Club
Artist: O.C.
Song: "Born 2 Live"
Album: Word...Life (1994)
Producer: Buckwild
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Mos Def & Talib Kweli – History (Live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon = Yo! MTV Raps2K9
Lupe Fiasco - Enemy of the State: A Love Story
Like most e-released mixtapes, this one's ID3 tags were blah. Fixed 'em. How we do. Enjoy new Lupe. Lasers coming soon but not soon enough.
Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:
Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:
1. Lupe Fiasco - Enemy of the State: A Love Story (Intro) (0:44)
2. Lupe Fiasco - The National Anthem (Radiohead) (3:24)
3. Lupe Fiasco - All the Way Turnt Up (Travis Porter) (1:58)
4. Lupe Fiasco - Fireman (Lil Wayne) (2:33)
5. Lupe Fiasco - L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto Interlude (0:19)
6. Lupe Fiasco - Angels (Remix) (Dirty Money) (3:10)
7. Lupe Fiasco - So Ghetto (Jay-Z) (1:15)
8. Lupe Fiasco - Say Something (Timbaland) (2:47)
9. Lupe Fiasco - Thank You (Jay-Z) (1:53)
10. Lupe Fiasco - The One (Slaughterhouse) (1:30)
11. Lupe Fiasco - Popular Demand (Clipse) (2:00)
12. Lupe Fiasco - HP Skit (0:36)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Queen Latifah - I Can't Understand | Insomniacs Club
Artist: Queen Latifah
Song: "I Can't Understand"
Album: Black Reign (1993)
Producer: Tony Dofat
O.C. & A.G. - "2 for the Money" (Live in Brooklyn)
Produced by underrated beatsmith Showbiz, "2 for the Money" is one of the many notable tracks on Oasis: Together Brothers available in stores as of yesterday (and HHIR's New Album of the Week). Beat kinda sounds like "Street's Disciple", don't it?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Redman - Blow Your Mind | Insomniacs Club
Artist: Redman
Song: "Blow Your Mind"
Album: Whut? Thee Album
Producer: Erick Sermon
Quotable: "The kind of loops I sample from a James Brown group/
I give credit cause I'm cautious about lawsuits/"
Song: "Blow Your Mind"
Album: Whut? Thee Album
Producer: Erick Sermon
Quotable: "The kind of loops I sample from a James Brown group/
I give credit cause I'm cautious about lawsuits/"
Apathy Sets In | Politics as Usual
He hasn’t waved his wand and fixed the economy! He hasn’t gotten us out of Iraq and Afghanistan! He hasn’t fixed the health care system! Jeez, Barack Obama is such an asshole!
Only in our overly-medicated, A.D.D.-plagued society of wishy-washy idealists could you be so hysterical (double meaning there) and impetuous. If I hadn’t seen the above pic shared by nearly all of my Google Reader contacts, I probably wouldn’t be so peeved about it since I catch a good whiff of anti-Obama rhetoric just about every day. But I get pissed off by this shit.
The problem lies on both ends of the spectrum. On the right, you’ve got Reagan-worshippers who mourn their long-gone flag-bearer of conservatism. They resent the fact that Barack Obama is the left’s own Ronnie Wilson. They call him a Messiah to mock his followers – sometimes they’re right – while hypocritically dumping undeserved praise on Reagan as if he’ll rise up from the dead and take them to the promised land. Then on the left, you’ve got folks who aren’t really hip to the game of politics and the machine of Washington, D.C.; these people got caught up in the hype of the ’08 election and expected the world to change in January of ‘09. Well, it did change! Obama is popular all across the globe and Americans don’t have to throw a red maple leaf button on their traveling bags anymore. But it didn’t change that much. How drastic did you expect it to be? In just ten months? Really? I could never understand the basis for this blind flock of sheep’s otherworldly vision of the future. And that goes for the left and the right.
Here’s the scenario: Right-wingers are going batshit, hollering “gimme back my country” at town halls and left-wingers are down and out because they expect more from Obama. Shit. Meanwhile, Barack’s carrying a steady pace through the middle, just like he said he would, just like rational voters (thaaaat’s me!) anticipated from the get go. If your hope is fading already, you didn’t have much to begin with. That or your head was wedged so firmly up your ass, entangled in the t-shirts, bumper stickers, that catchy O logo and the plethora of celebs who showered their support. And now, to show your dissatisfaction with the Prez, you’re gonna buy another t-shirt. How… fitting. Wake your ass up to your own ineptitude, please!
When it comes to politics, I’m an outspoken guy. I’ve brought a lot of conservative friends and acquaintances down at otherwise cheery events (i.e. house parties, etc.). Sorry ‘bout that (really). I wear my political heart on my shoulder. Fuck a hipster douchebag t-shirt. For what it’s worth, I’m also one of those sorry saps who’s waiting on Barack to turn the heat up and put the pressure on. But I recognize that he walks a fine line on some Philippe Petit type shit. You should too. And if you knew what this game will do to you (whattup, Big), it’s that it crushes your spirit. So keep hope alive.
Have you called a local representative about health care? Have you shown your dissatisfaction with them? You know, the politicians who openly ignore the majority of their constituents who are crying out for the public option, bowing instead to big business. No? Of course not. You’re too busy buying an overpriced t-shirt.
You could be one of those Alex Jones-listening conspiracy theorists (*cough* Bol *cough*) who have valid issues to raise against Obama and how he’s continuing the policies of his predecessor. Hey, I fux with you more than the apatheists because at least you’re digging for truth. But I still think it’s too early to seal the book on the President just yet. The angry left does a great disservice to people who actually need affordable health care and folks who want to see their loved ones abroad come back home when we’re as hostile to the president as the right-wing is.
That’s how the right-wing always gets us when a Democrat is in power. They attack. We back down. But when they come to power, they stick together and put up an iron curtain. We attack. They attack us back. They don’t eat their own like we do. We should change that. The only thing fading is your own participation. Change that too.
Only in our overly-medicated, A.D.D.-plagued society of wishy-washy idealists could you be so hysterical (double meaning there) and impetuous. If I hadn’t seen the above pic shared by nearly all of my Google Reader contacts, I probably wouldn’t be so peeved about it since I catch a good whiff of anti-Obama rhetoric just about every day. But I get pissed off by this shit.
The problem lies on both ends of the spectrum. On the right, you’ve got Reagan-worshippers who mourn their long-gone flag-bearer of conservatism. They resent the fact that Barack Obama is the left’s own Ronnie Wilson. They call him a Messiah to mock his followers – sometimes they’re right – while hypocritically dumping undeserved praise on Reagan as if he’ll rise up from the dead and take them to the promised land. Then on the left, you’ve got folks who aren’t really hip to the game of politics and the machine of Washington, D.C.; these people got caught up in the hype of the ’08 election and expected the world to change in January of ‘09. Well, it did change! Obama is popular all across the globe and Americans don’t have to throw a red maple leaf button on their traveling bags anymore. But it didn’t change that much. How drastic did you expect it to be? In just ten months? Really? I could never understand the basis for this blind flock of sheep’s otherworldly vision of the future. And that goes for the left and the right.
Here’s the scenario: Right-wingers are going batshit, hollering “gimme back my country” at town halls and left-wingers are down and out because they expect more from Obama. Shit. Meanwhile, Barack’s carrying a steady pace through the middle, just like he said he would, just like rational voters (thaaaat’s me!) anticipated from the get go. If your hope is fading already, you didn’t have much to begin with. That or your head was wedged so firmly up your ass, entangled in the t-shirts, bumper stickers, that catchy O logo and the plethora of celebs who showered their support. And now, to show your dissatisfaction with the Prez, you’re gonna buy another t-shirt. How… fitting. Wake your ass up to your own ineptitude, please!
When it comes to politics, I’m an outspoken guy. I’ve brought a lot of conservative friends and acquaintances down at otherwise cheery events (i.e. house parties, etc.). Sorry ‘bout that (really). I wear my political heart on my shoulder. Fuck a hipster douchebag t-shirt. For what it’s worth, I’m also one of those sorry saps who’s waiting on Barack to turn the heat up and put the pressure on. But I recognize that he walks a fine line on some Philippe Petit type shit. You should too. And if you knew what this game will do to you (whattup, Big), it’s that it crushes your spirit. So keep hope alive.
Have you called a local representative about health care? Have you shown your dissatisfaction with them? You know, the politicians who openly ignore the majority of their constituents who are crying out for the public option, bowing instead to big business. No? Of course not. You’re too busy buying an overpriced t-shirt.
You could be one of those Alex Jones-listening conspiracy theorists (*cough* Bol *cough*) who have valid issues to raise against Obama and how he’s continuing the policies of his predecessor. Hey, I fux with you more than the apatheists because at least you’re digging for truth. But I still think it’s too early to seal the book on the President just yet. The angry left does a great disservice to people who actually need affordable health care and folks who want to see their loved ones abroad come back home when we’re as hostile to the president as the right-wing is.
That’s how the right-wing always gets us when a Democrat is in power. They attack. We back down. But when they come to power, they stick together and put up an iron curtain. We attack. They attack us back. They don’t eat their own like we do. We should change that. The only thing fading is your own participation. Change that too.
In Stores Today: November 24, 2009
Angie Stone - Unexpected
Worth it? Not as good as Mahogany Soul, but that's not much of a statement. Give Unexpected a shot if you're a fan. Otherwise check out her old stuff and keep it moving.
Birdman - Pricele$$
Wo... No.
Bill Cosby - The Cosnarati: State of Emergency
Worth it? You know, for all the rap-bashing Mr. Cosby -- one of my all-time favorite comics, so don't take this as disrespectful -- has done over the years, you'd think he'd co-sign something a little better than this! I mean... If you listen to the record, you can kind of understand why he put his stamp on it: this is so-called "conscious" rap. But it's not very good "conscious" rap. It reminds me of that CD that Cornel West put out, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations only this is much, much worse. If you've got some cash to spend, buy this instead. Trust me.
Boot Camp Clik - Triple Threat
Worth it? Why the hell not!? For under $20, you can be the proud owner of three great Boot Camp albums of the 00's: Sean Price's Monkey Barz, 9th Wonder & Buckshot's Chemistry and Smif-N-Wessun's Reloaded. This one's for the die-hard fans and the folks who missed out on the first go-round for these solid albums. Everyone else can save their hard-earned spinach.
Miles Davis - The Complete Columbia Album Collection
Worth it? The recession's still goin' on, right? Uhuh. So what the fluck is this? Truth be told, if I had the dough I'd throw myself at this ridiculous box set. This Amazon.com exclusive boasts 52 Miles Davis albums -- most of which I have (and you should think of getting) on MP3 -- released via Columbia Records over a span of 30 years. Each CD comes in a sleek vinyl-replica jacket and you get bonus stuff like a DVD, a book and unreleased goodies as well. Like I said before, be my guest if you've got the money. But even better, if you're stacked like that, why don't you go ahead and pay my utility bills as well!?
O.C. & A.G. - Oasis
Worth it? In a year where we've seen plenty of collabo records (KRS-One & Buckshot, Masta Ace & Edo G), we've also seen plenty of disappointment. Ahem... from those records. Sad, right? Thankfully, Oasis is one of the better albums to come out from this bunch of lackluster polly records from rap legends. Oasis gets a HHIRecommendation, but Runaway Slave and Word...Life get HHIReverence.
Rihanna - Rated R
Worth it? If you follow and read Hip Hop Is Read on a regular basis, then no. 'nuff said.
Various Artists - Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back, Vol. 1 & 2
Worth it? No. No, no, no! Don't get me wrong, the music is great, but it'd be a travesty to pay a record label that's making money from a legacy of the past while they shit all over it in the present. So don't! What I don't understand about this release is the wide range that they cover. On one disc you've got classic old school cuts like "This Is How We Do It", "Bring the Pain" and "911 is a Joke". The other disc is chock full of Rihanna, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. Huh? This entire set represents the depressingly sad decline of Def Jam Recordings.
Various Artists - Ultimate Death Row Box Set
Worth it? This'll set you back a cool $40, but hey, it's got a t-shirt! How can you go wrong? The difference between this and that Def Jam set is congruity. If you love West Coast gangsta rap, dive ride into this 3-disc collage.
Wiz Khalifa - Deal or No Deal
Worth it? If you're the type to go apeshit for Drake then by all means please familiarize yourself with the lesser-known -- but still relevant on the scene -- Wiz Khalifa. Your best bet is to check out his free mixtape, released just a few weeks ago, called Burn After Rolling. And then you have to decide... deal, or no deal.
Worth it? Not as good as Mahogany Soul, but that's not much of a statement. Give Unexpected a shot if you're a fan. Otherwise check out her old stuff and keep it moving.
Birdman - Pricele$$
Wo... No.
Bill Cosby - The Cosnarati: State of Emergency
Worth it? You know, for all the rap-bashing Mr. Cosby -- one of my all-time favorite comics, so don't take this as disrespectful -- has done over the years, you'd think he'd co-sign something a little better than this! I mean... If you listen to the record, you can kind of understand why he put his stamp on it: this is so-called "conscious" rap. But it's not very good "conscious" rap. It reminds me of that CD that Cornel West put out, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations only this is much, much worse. If you've got some cash to spend, buy this instead. Trust me.
Boot Camp Clik - Triple Threat
Worth it? Why the hell not!? For under $20, you can be the proud owner of three great Boot Camp albums of the 00's: Sean Price's Monkey Barz, 9th Wonder & Buckshot's Chemistry and Smif-N-Wessun's Reloaded. This one's for the die-hard fans and the folks who missed out on the first go-round for these solid albums. Everyone else can save their hard-earned spinach.
Miles Davis - The Complete Columbia Album Collection
Worth it? The recession's still goin' on, right? Uhuh. So what the fluck is this? Truth be told, if I had the dough I'd throw myself at this ridiculous box set. This Amazon.com exclusive boasts 52 Miles Davis albums -- most of which I have (and you should think of getting) on MP3 -- released via Columbia Records over a span of 30 years. Each CD comes in a sleek vinyl-replica jacket and you get bonus stuff like a DVD, a book and unreleased goodies as well. Like I said before, be my guest if you've got the money. But even better, if you're stacked like that, why don't you go ahead and pay my utility bills as well!?
O.C. & A.G. - Oasis
Worth it? In a year where we've seen plenty of collabo records (KRS-One & Buckshot, Masta Ace & Edo G), we've also seen plenty of disappointment. Ahem... from those records. Sad, right? Thankfully, Oasis is one of the better albums to come out from this bunch of lackluster polly records from rap legends. Oasis gets a HHIRecommendation, but Runaway Slave and Word...Life get HHIReverence.
Rihanna - Rated R
Worth it? If you follow and read Hip Hop Is Read on a regular basis, then no. 'nuff said.
Various Artists - Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back, Vol. 1 & 2
Worth it? No. No, no, no! Don't get me wrong, the music is great, but it'd be a travesty to pay a record label that's making money from a legacy of the past while they shit all over it in the present. So don't! What I don't understand about this release is the wide range that they cover. On one disc you've got classic old school cuts like "This Is How We Do It", "Bring the Pain" and "911 is a Joke". The other disc is chock full of Rihanna, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. Huh? This entire set represents the depressingly sad decline of Def Jam Recordings.
Various Artists - Ultimate Death Row Box Set
Worth it? This'll set you back a cool $40, but hey, it's got a t-shirt! How can you go wrong? The difference between this and that Def Jam set is congruity. If you love West Coast gangsta rap, dive ride into this 3-disc collage.
Wiz Khalifa - Deal or No Deal
Worth it? If you're the type to go apeshit for Drake then by all means please familiarize yourself with the lesser-known -- but still relevant on the scene -- Wiz Khalifa. Your best bet is to check out his free mixtape, released just a few weeks ago, called Burn After Rolling. And then you have to decide... deal, or no deal.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Nooooooo!!!!!
I don't know which is worse: the fact that we see the closet door and anticipate its fall while she's none the wiser, the actual hit to the head that this girl receives, or the fact that we receive enjoyment from watching children get hurt!
Still funny though...
Still funny though...
Video of a Hot Girl Belly Dancing to an Obscure Timbaland Sample
Need I say more?
Props if you can figure out the track Timbo used this for!
Hint: Think 2001 :D
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tupac Shakur – Still Overlooked
NOTE TO READERS: This post was written with the intent to refute Combat Jack’s XXL post titled “Tupac Shakur – Still Overrated”.
Was 2Pac the greatest emcee of all time? How about the greatest rapper of all time? There are different ways to look at this question, primarily because there are different ways to define “emcee” and “rapper”. KRS-One once wrote that “rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal/ emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people”. 2Pac did both. Biggie did only one of the two. Does that make 2Pac a better emcee than Biggie? Not necessarily. If you prefer to view an emcee in the more technical sense (i.e. flow, cadence, timbre, flexibility), Biggie was ahead of 2Pac by a long shot. But at the same time, Big’s subject matter was narrow as a grain of rice. It’s a shame these two brothers were – and still are – endlessly compared to one another when their styles were so diverse.
To compare Big and ‘Pac is natural, but leave their albums out of it. Big’s albums sit amongst East coast elite records like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, and The Infamous – gritty at heart. 2Pac’s albums, at least his earlier ones, fit more appropriately alongside provocateurs like Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. I say if you can’t appreciate an early ‘Pac record, you probably wouldn’t dig Death Certificate or Yo! Bum Rush the Show either.
Combat Jack’s point that 2Pac is overrated is not unsubstantiated. In fact, I’ve often said that 2Pac is overrated for all the wrong reasons and by the same token underrated or underappreciated for all the wrong reasons. He’s overrated by people who typecast 2Pac for songs like “Hail Mary”, “Hit ‘Em Up” and “California Love”; he’s underappreciated by people – like Combat Jack – who overlook amazing performances like Me Against the World’s “So Many Tears” and “Lord Knows” or the Above the Rim soundtrack highlight “Pain”. How could “Dear Mama” and “Old School” be the only good songs you take away from Me Against the World? In my book, ‘Pac’s soulfully-pronounced “ee” and “ah” vocals from “So Many Tears” are deeper and more profound than most rappers’ discographies. But maybe I’m just a stan, right? Maybe. So how ‘bout we take a step away from the music and discuss 2Pac’s background.
2Pac emerged from a family of Black Panthers and revolutionaries. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was hit with 150(!) charges of conspiracy against the United States. ‘Pac’s stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, was on the FBI’s most wanted list. Mutulu’s sister, Assata Shakur, escaped from jail and sought refuge in Cuba. This is where 2Pac comes from. As a youth, ‘Pac excelled in academic studies, taking up interests in acting and dance, as well as music and poetry. Socially conscious and aware from a young age, ‘Pac exhibited his egalitarian points of view. This is what 2Pac was about. For a generation that didn’t have a King or a Malcolm, ‘Pac was poised to fill the void that Jackson or Sharpton’s generational distance simply couldn’t.
In 1991, 2Pac was brutally assaulted by Oakland police. This took place in the same year as the Rodney King beating and as such didn’t attain the media attention it probably should have received. In 1992, a teenager in Texas, claiming he had been influenced by 2Pac’s music, killed a cop; Vice President Dan Quaylin (sorry, Quayle) even stepped in on the controversy, pinpointing 2Pac as a problem child and railing against his lyrics. This only fueled ‘Pac with more energy for his second record.
In 1993, 2Pac spotted a couple of drunk, off-duty officers harassing somebody. ‘Pac stepped out of his car and an altercation soon ensued. As told by Mopreme Shakur, ‘Pac got down on one knee and shot both of these cops in the ass. Literally, shot them in the ass. And he beat the case soon afterwards, dancing his way out of court. Now that’s gangsta. Later that year, ‘Pac was hit with a rape charge which, until his death, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing. On a posthumously-released track, ‘Pac spit: “Tell the world I feel guilty to being anxious/ Ain't no way in hell, that I could ever be a rapist/”. In 1994, 2Pac assaulted the Hughes Brothers at a music video shoot. He also dated Madonna for a while. Later on that year, 2Pac was gunned down in a recording studio lobby, hit by bullets on all angles of his body. As 2Pac was being wheeled off into an ambulance, he infamously greeted photographers with a present: the bird. That’s right. Bandaged up, being carted off by paramedics, ‘Pac was still ‘Pac.
So just to recap, in four short years, 2Pac assumed the role of Rodney King, Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson with a little bit of Malcolm X, all in one. Add to that, he essentially survived an assassination attempt. Add to that, ‘Pac was only 23 in 1994. I haven’t even gotten into 1995 and 1996. Yet.
In 1995, 2Pac served his prison sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility while his album, Me Against the World, reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts. 2Pac was and still is the only artist to go #1 while in jail. (Give it up, Gucci and Boosie, it’ll never happen.) The album also moved a quarter-million copies in its first week, a number unseen by any rap artist at the time.
1996 was the year that 2Pac became a supernova. He dropped All Eyez on Me, a vicious record with threat-filled bangers and anthems. “Hit ‘Em Up” was – and still is – the greatest diss record ever released. And the rest is history. 2Pac got shot up in Vegas, spent seven days in the hospital while the world prayed for him, and then he died at the age of 25.
It’s no surprise that 2Pac died at such a young age since he lived life at such an accelerated speed. No other rapper/emcee has a life story that even attempts to come close to ‘Pac’s. And I haven’t even discussed his cultural impact, his movies, or analyzed his music, let alone his poetic lyricism and unmatched passion. Overrated? I think not.
Was 2Pac the greatest emcee of all time? How about the greatest rapper of all time? There are different ways to look at this question, primarily because there are different ways to define “emcee” and “rapper”. KRS-One once wrote that “rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal/ emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people”. 2Pac did both. Biggie did only one of the two. Does that make 2Pac a better emcee than Biggie? Not necessarily. If you prefer to view an emcee in the more technical sense (i.e. flow, cadence, timbre, flexibility), Biggie was ahead of 2Pac by a long shot. But at the same time, Big’s subject matter was narrow as a grain of rice. It’s a shame these two brothers were – and still are – endlessly compared to one another when their styles were so diverse.
To compare Big and ‘Pac is natural, but leave their albums out of it. Big’s albums sit amongst East coast elite records like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, and The Infamous – gritty at heart. 2Pac’s albums, at least his earlier ones, fit more appropriately alongside provocateurs like Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. I say if you can’t appreciate an early ‘Pac record, you probably wouldn’t dig Death Certificate or Yo! Bum Rush the Show either.
Combat Jack’s point that 2Pac is overrated is not unsubstantiated. In fact, I’ve often said that 2Pac is overrated for all the wrong reasons and by the same token underrated or underappreciated for all the wrong reasons. He’s overrated by people who typecast 2Pac for songs like “Hail Mary”, “Hit ‘Em Up” and “California Love”; he’s underappreciated by people – like Combat Jack – who overlook amazing performances like Me Against the World’s “So Many Tears” and “Lord Knows” or the Above the Rim soundtrack highlight “Pain”. How could “Dear Mama” and “Old School” be the only good songs you take away from Me Against the World? In my book, ‘Pac’s soulfully-pronounced “ee” and “ah” vocals from “So Many Tears” are deeper and more profound than most rappers’ discographies. But maybe I’m just a stan, right? Maybe. So how ‘bout we take a step away from the music and discuss 2Pac’s background.
2Pac emerged from a family of Black Panthers and revolutionaries. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was hit with 150(!) charges of conspiracy against the United States. ‘Pac’s stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, was on the FBI’s most wanted list. Mutulu’s sister, Assata Shakur, escaped from jail and sought refuge in Cuba. This is where 2Pac comes from. As a youth, ‘Pac excelled in academic studies, taking up interests in acting and dance, as well as music and poetry. Socially conscious and aware from a young age, ‘Pac exhibited his egalitarian points of view. This is what 2Pac was about. For a generation that didn’t have a King or a Malcolm, ‘Pac was poised to fill the void that Jackson or Sharpton’s generational distance simply couldn’t.
In 1991, 2Pac was brutally assaulted by Oakland police. This took place in the same year as the Rodney King beating and as such didn’t attain the media attention it probably should have received. In 1992, a teenager in Texas, claiming he had been influenced by 2Pac’s music, killed a cop; Vice President Dan Quaylin (sorry, Quayle) even stepped in on the controversy, pinpointing 2Pac as a problem child and railing against his lyrics. This only fueled ‘Pac with more energy for his second record.
In 1993, 2Pac spotted a couple of drunk, off-duty officers harassing somebody. ‘Pac stepped out of his car and an altercation soon ensued. As told by Mopreme Shakur, ‘Pac got down on one knee and shot both of these cops in the ass. Literally, shot them in the ass. And he beat the case soon afterwards, dancing his way out of court. Now that’s gangsta. Later that year, ‘Pac was hit with a rape charge which, until his death, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing. On a posthumously-released track, ‘Pac spit: “Tell the world I feel guilty to being anxious/ Ain't no way in hell, that I could ever be a rapist/”. In 1994, 2Pac assaulted the Hughes Brothers at a music video shoot. He also dated Madonna for a while. Later on that year, 2Pac was gunned down in a recording studio lobby, hit by bullets on all angles of his body. As 2Pac was being wheeled off into an ambulance, he infamously greeted photographers with a present: the bird. That’s right. Bandaged up, being carted off by paramedics, ‘Pac was still ‘Pac.
So just to recap, in four short years, 2Pac assumed the role of Rodney King, Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson with a little bit of Malcolm X, all in one. Add to that, he essentially survived an assassination attempt. Add to that, ‘Pac was only 23 in 1994. I haven’t even gotten into 1995 and 1996. Yet.
In 1995, 2Pac served his prison sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility while his album, Me Against the World, reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts. 2Pac was and still is the only artist to go #1 while in jail. (Give it up, Gucci and Boosie, it’ll never happen.) The album also moved a quarter-million copies in its first week, a number unseen by any rap artist at the time.
1996 was the year that 2Pac became a supernova. He dropped All Eyez on Me, a vicious record with threat-filled bangers and anthems. “Hit ‘Em Up” was – and still is – the greatest diss record ever released. And the rest is history. 2Pac got shot up in Vegas, spent seven days in the hospital while the world prayed for him, and then he died at the age of 25.
It’s no surprise that 2Pac died at such a young age since he lived life at such an accelerated speed. No other rapper/emcee has a life story that even attempts to come close to ‘Pac’s. And I haven’t even discussed his cultural impact, his movies, or analyzed his music, let alone his poetic lyricism and unmatched passion. Overrated? I think not.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
XXL ♥ HHIR
So as you know by now, Hip Hop Is Read has been included in XXL's coveted Top 100 list. I'm honored to be a part (not apart - there's a difference, dum dums) of this and I'll be quick to scoop up a copy or two at newsstands, just like I did when Vibe gave me the same honor. It woulda been nice to have seen Rock the Dub in here, but you already know that...
Anyways, by now you've probably looked over the full list (immaculately compiled by ANIMAL), but you probably haven't seen the blurbs they included about each website! Here's what XXL wrote about Hip Hop Is Read:
Thanks again, XXL!
READ: XXL’s Official 100 Best Hip-Hop Web Sites, Pt. 1 (#-K)
Anyways, by now you've probably looked over the full list (immaculately compiled by ANIMAL), but you probably haven't seen the blurbs they included about each website! Here's what XXL wrote about Hip Hop Is Read:
hiphopisread.blogspot.comI guess that's my niche, ain't it? Samples, samples, samples! Well, we've got more samples (a decades' worth, to be exact *hint, hint*) coming your way, so stay tuned...
Ever wonder where rap’s hottest producers get their samples from? This gem of a site is like a virtual dig spot, offering compiled playlists of hip-hops’s original source material, minus all the digital dust, of course.
Thanks again, XXL!
READ: XXL’s Official 100 Best Hip-Hop Web Sites, Pt. 1 (#-K)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
In Stores Today: November 17, 2009
50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct
Worth the cream? You've gotta give it up to 50 for setting his own lane and not chasing radio. That being said, is it a good album? Yes. Better than Curtis? Definitely! Worth the money? Only if you're a Fiddy fan.
Edan - Echo Party
Worth the green? If you were waiting for a follow-up to Beauty & the Beat, this ain't it! This is basically a podcast. Great tunes, don't get me wrong. But I wouldn't crack the wallet for this one.
Felt - A Tribute to Rosie Perez
Worth the dough? Volumes one and two were produced by The Grouch and Ant, respectively. This one's all Aesop Rock, and his beats are noticeably more... intense. I like it. This one's worth the dough, but I suggest you preview it first. As always, Amazon offers super-helpful full-album MP3 snippets, but you can also find a leak out there... somewhere. :D
John Mayer - Battle Studies
Worth the cabbage? As Rizoh pointed out, John Mayer is open to you downloading his album to preview it before bringing the hammer down on your piggy bank. I say take the man's advice, because few musicians will share the sentiment.
Kid Sister - Ultraviolet
Worth the loot? Not my kinda thing, but I know a lot of people have been holding their breath for Ultraviolet's release. It's what you'd expect. Hyper-pop that doesn't really float my boat, but hey, to each his/her own. (It's definitely not as bad as this.) As always, an initial preview is your best bet.
Norah Jones - The Fall
Worth the cheese? Yes! The Blue Note Queen's gorgeous vocals over lush production = WIN. She'll probably win a Grammy or two (or more!?) for this one. Her best full-length, in my opinion, since Come Away With Me.
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Message to the Other Side
Worth the bread? Yes and no... This plays like a mixtape; and similar to Osirus: The Official Mixtape, ODB fans have heard most of this stuff already. Download it. Who's getting the money from it anyways (I'd really like to know)?
Rakim - The Seventh Seal
Worth the sheckels? Oy. I'd be lying to you if I said "yes", even though it's what I would have wanted to say, nay, SCREAM OUT. Rakim's eagerly-anticipated album is a bit of a snoozer. His lyrics and track presence are as strong as ever, but the production just doesn't stack up. Tell me this isn't wrong: The album's outro track, "Dedicated", samples No Doubt's "Don't Speak". For what it's worth, I actually used to like that song back in the '90's. And yeah, it's probably the kind of song that I'd mash up with a rap acapella (check my track record, I'm a track wrecker). But... c'mon, Ra'. Hip hop wanted something better than this... My suggestion? Download the album but buy a concert ticket (he might be swinging by a town near you!)
Worth the cream? You've gotta give it up to 50 for setting his own lane and not chasing radio. That being said, is it a good album? Yes. Better than Curtis? Definitely! Worth the money? Only if you're a Fiddy fan.
Edan - Echo Party
Worth the green? If you were waiting for a follow-up to Beauty & the Beat, this ain't it! This is basically a podcast. Great tunes, don't get me wrong. But I wouldn't crack the wallet for this one.
Felt - A Tribute to Rosie Perez
Worth the dough? Volumes one and two were produced by The Grouch and Ant, respectively. This one's all Aesop Rock, and his beats are noticeably more... intense. I like it. This one's worth the dough, but I suggest you preview it first. As always, Amazon offers super-helpful full-album MP3 snippets, but you can also find a leak out there... somewhere. :D
John Mayer - Battle Studies
Worth the cabbage? As Rizoh pointed out, John Mayer is open to you downloading his album to preview it before bringing the hammer down on your piggy bank. I say take the man's advice, because few musicians will share the sentiment.
Kid Sister - Ultraviolet
Worth the loot? Not my kinda thing, but I know a lot of people have been holding their breath for Ultraviolet's release. It's what you'd expect. Hyper-pop that doesn't really float my boat, but hey, to each his/her own. (It's definitely not as bad as this.) As always, an initial preview is your best bet.
Norah Jones - The Fall
Worth the cheese? Yes! The Blue Note Queen's gorgeous vocals over lush production = WIN. She'll probably win a Grammy or two (or more!?) for this one. Her best full-length, in my opinion, since Come Away With Me.
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Message to the Other Side
Worth the bread? Yes and no... This plays like a mixtape; and similar to Osirus: The Official Mixtape, ODB fans have heard most of this stuff already. Download it. Who's getting the money from it anyways (I'd really like to know)?
Rakim - The Seventh Seal
Worth the sheckels? Oy. I'd be lying to you if I said "yes", even though it's what I would have wanted to say, nay, SCREAM OUT. Rakim's eagerly-anticipated album is a bit of a snoozer. His lyrics and track presence are as strong as ever, but the production just doesn't stack up. Tell me this isn't wrong: The album's outro track, "Dedicated", samples No Doubt's "Don't Speak". For what it's worth, I actually used to like that song back in the '90's. And yeah, it's probably the kind of song that I'd mash up with a rap acapella (check my track record, I'm a track wrecker). But... c'mon, Ra'. Hip hop wanted something better than this... My suggestion? Download the album but buy a concert ticket (he might be swinging by a town near you!)
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