Friday, November 4, 2011

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 11/4/2011


Ed. note: My initial urge to suspend the Rap Round Table feature in light of Google's controversial dismantling of Google Reader was squelched by HHIReaders who asked me to reconsider. I have. The Rap Round Table lives on, but not without a brief comment on my decision (and my gripe with Google).

A "round table" is defined as a "conference or discussion involving several participants." In choosing the title "Rap Round Table", I felt it was appropriate not just to describe the content featured on the weekly posts, but to describe the process that went through aggregating the articles as well. I want to thank everybody who shared interesting articles with me over the years (I've been using Google Reader since it was upgraded from beta status in 2007) and introduced me to new writers and new perspectives; thank you to John Gotty, Jeff Weiss, Rafi Kam, Byron Crawford, Khal, Jaap van der Doelen, Jeff Rosenthal and anybody else I may have forgotten. Though each person I've just mentioned has been featured on the Rap Round Table, their contributions as writers weren't the only asset to this site's weekly feature.

My contacts on Google Reader contributed (i.e. shared) a solid 20%-40% of the articles posted on the Rap Round Table. That free flow of ideas is gone now. I follow all of these guys on Twitter but it just won't be the same moving forward. Consequently, this week's Rap Round Table just isn't the same either, despite my best efforts. Don't be evil, Google. - I


Music Analysis & Reporting:

The Greatest Hip Hop Producers of All-Time: Honorable Mentions, Part I by Jeff Weiss & Co.

The Greatest Producers of All-Time: Honorable Mentions, Part II by Jeff Weiss & Co.

Works of Art: Rap’s 33 Most Memorable Illustrated Album Covers by TSS Crew

A Story to Tell: Biggie Smalls & Narrative – “Get Money” by Abe Beame

Jay-Z 101: Georgetown Sociology Course Focuses on Rap Star by Chris Richards

The 10s | Make The Music With Your Mouth: 10 Beatbox Bangers by Stan Ipcus & Up North Trips

The 10s | MPC | MC x Producer Combination | Prodigy x Alchemist by Stan Ipcus & Up North Trips

Retrospective: Ice Cube’s Death Certificate by Jeff Leon

The Empty Ambitions of Wale by Jonah Bromwich

Nick Wiz - UGHH Exclusive? by Werner von Wallenrod

Crate-Digging with Dam-Funk ... at Best Buy by Rebecca Haithcoat

On Drake, Phonte & the Fear of Getting Murdered on Your Own Sh*t by David Dennis, Jr.

Donald Glover’s Odd Future As A Rapper and the Incoherence of Misogyny by Alyssa Rosenberg

Song of the Day: Freddie Gibbs - B.A.N.ned by Mobb Deen

Song of the Day 11/4/11 by Blockhead

Hip Hop Before the Internet by J-23

Ludacris: The Ace Ventura of Rap by Evan Nabavian

Erykah Badu: Queen Diva for the Hip Hop Generation by Patrice Evans

Is Lykke Li the Swedish Erykah Badu? by Patrice Evans

#WaleFlail by Noz

Live: Wale Brings Lots and Lots of Friends to the Highline Ballroom by Jeff Rosenthal

The Kids Are Alright: How Mac Miller Earned My Respect by Jake Paine

Audio: Amy Winehouse - “Like Smoke” feat. Nas (Produced by Salaam Remi) by Mobb Deen

What Do Devin The Dude and Boo Rossini Share In Common? by The Great Gats, B

RZA Says Eddie Griffin The Favorite to Play Ol’ Dirty Bastard In Upcoming Biopic by Kevin Jagernauth

Is A$AP Rocky’s Free Mixtape Worth $3 Million? by Noz

Live: Young Jeezy's Thug Motivation 103 Gets Closer to Seeing the Light of Day by Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Rap Artifact on Wax by Werner von Wallenrod

Vibes Player Roy Ayers Returns, DJ Anthony Valadez Unveils Mixtape by Jeff Weiss

Beyond Jay and Kanye's Throne: Ten More Regal Seats In Hip-Hop by Phillip Mlynar

Know Your L.A. Hip-Hop Dances: The Evolution of Krumping by Jessica A. Koslow

Album Reviews:

Wale - The Ambition by The TRU Brain Trust

Wale - The Ambition by Big Ghostfase

Wale - The Ambition by Adam Fleischer

Wale - The Ambition by Edwin Ortiz

Wale - The Ambition by Jayson Greene

Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell by Henry Adaso

Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell by Jake Paine

Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell by Neil Martinez-Belkin

Black Milk & Danny Brown - Black and Brown by Jayson Greene

A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP by Jesse Gissen

A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP by Alvin "Aqua" Blanco

Freestyle Fellowship - The Promise by Fred Castano

Freestyle Fellowship - The Promise by Luke Gibson

Jedi Mind Tricks - Violence Begets Violence by Andres Vasquez

Apathy - Honkey Kong by Max

M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by Erik Stabile

Lou Reed & Metallica - Lulu by Stuart Berman

Profiles & Interviews:

Question in the Form of An Answer: Frankie P (Hazy Nights In The Heights) by Dan Love

Drake Lists Favorite Albums of All Time by Sean Lynch

Uncle Louie Explains How He's Brought Old School Hip Hop Greats Into the Twitter Era by Nadya Nataly

Mac Miller Declares That His Fans Will Decide If He Ever Goes to A Major Label, Confirms Work With Q-Tip by Paul Meara

Meet the Manager Who's Proved Significant to the Careers of Snoop Dogg, Murs, Far East Movement & DJ Quik by Slav Kandyba

WTF/LOL/SMH:

Marry/F%ck/Kill Vol. 6 by Blockhead

J. Cole Goes to J. Crew (ft. Drake) by Mr. Bojangle$