Ed. note: " I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out." - Bill Hicks
The knives were all out this week, with many of my favorite writers tearing Cruel Summer to shreds. It's not that it's that bad, it's just... not... uh... G.O.O.D.(?) Cruel Summer is essentially the lowest common denominator of Roc La Familia meets Watch the Throne, with extra grandiose. In essence, fuck this album. There, that's my review. Good night, folks! I'm kidding (minus the "fuck this album" part.) We've got a dope selection of entertaining Cruel Summer reviews lined up for this latestissue post, but there's plenty more great writing where that came from. As always, enjoy the only (free) hip hop (e-)magazine worth reading: the Rap Round Table. - I
Music Analysis & Reporting:
Dear Summer: An Open Letter to Kanye West About G.O.O.D. Music by Jeff Weiss
The Purple Tape: Only Built 4 Collectors by Oliver Wang
So Ruff: The 20th Anniversary of Redman's Whut? Thee Album by Dart Adams
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. city Listening Session by Colin Small
Boom Bap Can't Die; It's in the DNA by Amir Said (Sa'id)
Royal Renegades Week, Day 1 by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 2 - MC Boo and the Crew by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 3 - Madness Comes Back by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 4 - Royalty Strikes Back by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 5 - Final Blows by Werner von Wallenrod
Real Talk with R. Kelly... by Mobb Deen
Why Were Q-Tip and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Left Off ‘Cruel Summer’? by Andrew Martin
Azealia Banks: The Most Overhyped But Underrated Rapper Alive by Jeff Weiss
Is Hip Hop Losing It’s Credibility? by Jayy Ghost
Mobbdeen Goes to a Music Conference… by Mobb Deen
A History of Jay-Z's Most Surprising Non-Rap Moments by Khal
The Life & Death of the Frankenstein Rapper by Tony Grands
The Six Types of Interviews You Find in Hip-Hop Journalism by Drew Millard
Roc Marciano: Sweet Nothings by HL
The iPod Shuffle: Too $hort’s “Just Another Day” by Beware
Revival Tactics by Noz
Rick Ross, "Hold Me Back": Why This Song Sucks (There Are Zero Fat Jokes, So There) by Shea Serrano
Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, Blu and Exile, Nocando - LACMA - 9/20/12 by Eddie Cota
GOOD Music: New God Flow by HL
Light in the Attic Finds Old Records and Releases Them Like They're New by Jeff Weiss
Cormega: Street Essence by HL
Beat Traps: The Gaslamp Killer’s “Breakthrough” by Chris Daly
Album Reviews:
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by TRU Brain Trust
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jeff Weiss
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Henry Adaso
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Big Ghostfase
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Robbie Ettelson
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Andrew Winistorfer
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Max
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jayson Greene
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Slava Kuperstein
Lil Wayne - The Dedication 4 by Big Ghostfase
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Fred Castano
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Jesse Fairfax
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Nate Patrin
Kreayshawn - Somethin 'Bout Kreay by Carrie Battan
Homeboy Sandman - First of a Living Breed by The Company Man
Slaughterhouse – Welcome To: Our House by Craig Jenkins
Waka Flocka Flame - Salute Me Or Shoot Me 4: Banned From America by Andrew Martin
The Gaslamp Killer - Breakthrough by Nate Patrin
Colin Munroe - Unsung Hero by Jesse Fairfax
Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze by Mason Jones
Band of Horses - Mirage Rock by Steven Hyden
How To Dress Well - Total Loss by Colin Small
Interviews:
Uncovered: The Making of Raekwon The Chef’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Album Cover (1995) with Photographer Daniel Hastings by Ego Trip
The Bizarre Ride: An Interview With The Pharcyde’s Slimkid3 by Jacob Greene
Neek The Exotic - The Unkut Interview by Robbie Ettelson
Kreayshawn on Her New Album and the Worst Assholes on Twitter by Brian McManus
Compton Rapper Problem Wrote the Name of His New Mixtape in MDMA by Chaz Kangas
Answers for Questions Vol. 103 w/Blockhead
Watch:
Kendrick Lamar Freestyles on Funkmaster Flex
Music Video: Raekwon - Scroll
Music Video: Skyzoo - Jansport Strings
Music Video: Wyclef Jean - Amadeus
Music Video: Curren$y - Jet Life (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Wiz Khalifa)
Music Video: Alley Boy - Your Favorite Rapper (feat. Pusha T)
Music Video: C-Rayz Walz - Winter (Wonderland Glow Mix)
Music Video: Game - Celebration (feat. Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa & Lil Wayne)
Sadat X Kicks a Freestyle on #SwayInTheMorning
Kendrick Lamar Explains "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Album Cover
MPC Minute featuring DJ Premier & Pete Rock
MPC Minute featuring araabMUZIK
Nardwuar vs. Big Sean
Let My People Vote 2012 - Get Nana a Gun w/Sarah Silverman
The knives were all out this week, with many of my favorite writers tearing Cruel Summer to shreds. It's not that it's that bad, it's just... not... uh... G.O.O.D.(?) Cruel Summer is essentially the lowest common denominator of Roc La Familia meets Watch the Throne, with extra grandiose. In essence, fuck this album. There, that's my review. Good night, folks! I'm kidding (minus the "fuck this album" part.) We've got a dope selection of entertaining Cruel Summer reviews lined up for this latest
Music Analysis & Reporting:
Dear Summer: An Open Letter to Kanye West About G.O.O.D. Music by Jeff Weiss
The Purple Tape: Only Built 4 Collectors by Oliver Wang
So Ruff: The 20th Anniversary of Redman's Whut? Thee Album by Dart Adams
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. city Listening Session by Colin Small
Boom Bap Can't Die; It's in the DNA by Amir Said (Sa'id)
Royal Renegades Week, Day 1 by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 2 - MC Boo and the Crew by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 3 - Madness Comes Back by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 4 - Royalty Strikes Back by Werner von Wallenrod
Royal Renegades Week, Day 5 - Final Blows by Werner von Wallenrod
Real Talk with R. Kelly... by Mobb Deen
Why Were Q-Tip and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Left Off ‘Cruel Summer’? by Andrew Martin
Azealia Banks: The Most Overhyped But Underrated Rapper Alive by Jeff Weiss
Is Hip Hop Losing It’s Credibility? by Jayy Ghost
Mobbdeen Goes to a Music Conference… by Mobb Deen
A History of Jay-Z's Most Surprising Non-Rap Moments by Khal
The Life & Death of the Frankenstein Rapper by Tony Grands
The Six Types of Interviews You Find in Hip-Hop Journalism by Drew Millard
Roc Marciano: Sweet Nothings by HL
The iPod Shuffle: Too $hort’s “Just Another Day” by Beware
Revival Tactics by Noz
Rick Ross, "Hold Me Back": Why This Song Sucks (There Are Zero Fat Jokes, So There) by Shea Serrano
Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, Blu and Exile, Nocando - LACMA - 9/20/12 by Eddie Cota
GOOD Music: New God Flow by HL
Light in the Attic Finds Old Records and Releases Them Like They're New by Jeff Weiss
Cormega: Street Essence by HL
Beat Traps: The Gaslamp Killer’s “Breakthrough” by Chris Daly
Album Reviews:
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by TRU Brain Trust
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jeff Weiss
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Henry Adaso
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Big Ghostfase
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Robbie Ettelson
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Andrew Winistorfer
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Max
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jayson Greene
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Slava Kuperstein
Lil Wayne - The Dedication 4 by Big Ghostfase
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Fred Castano
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Jesse Fairfax
Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Nate Patrin
Kreayshawn - Somethin 'Bout Kreay by Carrie Battan
Homeboy Sandman - First of a Living Breed by The Company Man
Slaughterhouse – Welcome To: Our House by Craig Jenkins
Waka Flocka Flame - Salute Me Or Shoot Me 4: Banned From America by Andrew Martin
The Gaslamp Killer - Breakthrough by Nate Patrin
Colin Munroe - Unsung Hero by Jesse Fairfax
Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze by Mason Jones
Band of Horses - Mirage Rock by Steven Hyden
How To Dress Well - Total Loss by Colin Small
Interviews:
Uncovered: The Making of Raekwon The Chef’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Album Cover (1995) with Photographer Daniel Hastings by Ego Trip
The Bizarre Ride: An Interview With The Pharcyde’s Slimkid3 by Jacob Greene
Neek The Exotic - The Unkut Interview by Robbie Ettelson
Kreayshawn on Her New Album and the Worst Assholes on Twitter by Brian McManus
Compton Rapper Problem Wrote the Name of His New Mixtape in MDMA by Chaz Kangas
Answers for Questions Vol. 103 w/Blockhead
Watch:
Kendrick Lamar Freestyles on Funkmaster Flex
Music Video: Raekwon - Scroll
Music Video: Skyzoo - Jansport Strings
Music Video: Wyclef Jean - Amadeus
Music Video: Curren$y - Jet Life (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Wiz Khalifa)
Music Video: Alley Boy - Your Favorite Rapper (feat. Pusha T)
Music Video: C-Rayz Walz - Winter (Wonderland Glow Mix)
Music Video: Game - Celebration (feat. Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa & Lil Wayne)
Sadat X Kicks a Freestyle on #SwayInTheMorning
Kendrick Lamar Explains "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Album Cover
MPC Minute featuring DJ Premier & Pete Rock
MPC Minute featuring araabMUZIK
Nardwuar vs. Big Sean
Let My People Vote 2012 - Get Nana a Gun w/Sarah Silverman
