rap.1070ice.shat,
-> #1069, chadraBrate ti si izgleda jedini koji zna shta u stvari slusha ali priznaj da je west
upropastio 2pac zbog koga je nastala komercijala u stvari nije on napravio
komercijalni rap on ga je strashno podigao ali to ne znachi da na west-u nema
dobrih pesama i kval;itetnih grupa i pevacha.
Chadra svaka ti chast ti znash shta slushash, samo predji na east -> shala,
slushaj sha ocesh.
Pozdrav,
Black hole "ANGEL"
rap.1072ica.z,
-> #1070, ice.shatRedman je najjachi ali chisto sumnjam da je neko od vas chuo vishe
od dve njegove pesme tako da... nema veze... a tupaca mozete da
poljubite u dupe jer se chovek obogatio i radio to iskljuchivo zbog
para (shto nije krio)... obogatio se i povukao...
a to shto ga izvesni ljudi mrze... ne znam... tako deluje...
privlachi simpatije u velikom broju ali i one druge...
rap.1073ica.z,
jebeno najjachi album...
* gangstarr *
daily operation
rap.1074ica.z,
dobar skener a? ;)
samo shto mu je trebalo 2min da ovo iskenira...
*Big Daddy Kane*
Daddy's Home
rap.1075gligo,
-> #1072, ica.z> a tupaca mozete da poljubite u dupe jer se chovek obogatio
> i radio to iskljuchivo zbog para (shto nije krio)... obogatio se
> i povukao...
Povukao? ;) Slazem se, u pravom smislu te reci...
>a to shto ga izvesni ljudi mrze... ne znam... tako
> deluje... privlachi simpatije u velikom broju ali i one
> druge...
Ne znam zasto neki ljudi mrze 2paca, ali sve vise slusajuci
B.I.G.-a, sve vise shvatam zasto je 2pac mrzeo biggia...
Ono, tata Harlema i Istoka, mnogo jace reci, rek'o bih gotovo
identicna 2pacova la-la-la produkcija i tu nije bilo mesta za obojicu...
Btw, ima finih diskusija na 'Source'-ovom sajtu, pa cak i tema
all eyez on me VS life after death, vredi checkirati...
rap.1076ica.z,
-> #1075, gligo> Ono, tata Harlema i Istoka, mnogo jace reci, rek'o bih gotovo
> identicna 2pacova la-la-la produkcija i tu nije bilo mesta za
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> obojicu...
glavni razlog zbog chega je tupac pljuvao po biggy-ju...
i jedan od razloga zbog chega totalno ne gotivim biggy-jevu
ekipu (Junior M.A.F.I.A.)... a ako je neko imao prilike da
odslusha 2pac-ov poslednji disk (nije album vec snimak posle-
dnjeg 2pac-ovog nastupa u radio emisiji) znace tachno o chemu
se zapravo radi... 2pac je dao gomilu dokaza i primera gde su
biggy, puffy i kompanija ispali pichke i jajare...
rap.1077ica.z,
Tupac - Changes
malo je komercijala i rechi su vec korishcene u nekim pesmama
iskljuchivo sa albuma 'R U Still Down?' to me malo nervira...
rap.1078ica.z,
zaboravio sam da napishem da je pesma
na 32kbps 44khz mono... nije bash neka
kombinacija ali jebi ga...
rap.1079ica.z,
WMA je neverovatan...
za tako mali fajl kvalitet je odlichan!
artist: Redman
song: Jersey Yo!
album: Doc's Da Name
48kbps 44khz mono
rap.1081gligo,
-> #1076, ica.z> glavni razlog zbog chega je tupac pljuvao po biggy-ju...
> i jedan od razloga zbog chega totalno ne gotivim biggy-jevu
> ekipu (Junior M.A.F.I.A.)...
Ne treba da ih gotivis, al' recimo poslusaj malo i drugu stranu
price, ono, poslusaj recimo biggiev odgovor 'life after death',
na 2pacov all eyez on me....
Ono, mozda malo subjektivno, ali domaci koji je 2pac postavio
sa duplim 'all eyez on me' albumom, biggie je sa svojim 'life
after death' definitivno odgovorio, mozda ga cak i prevazisao...
Pogotovo, volume 1, malo neiskren, ono, biggie ipak nije bio
krimi lik kakav je bio 2pac, al' vrlo dobro uradjen...
> se zapravo radi... 2pac je dao gomilu dokaza i primera gde su
> biggy, puffy i kompanija ispali pichke i jajare...
Pa navedi nesto, za nas sa jeftinijim ulaznicama...
rap.1082gligo,
-> #1079, ica.z> WMA je neverovatan...
> za tako mali fajl kvalitet je odlichan!
Koji program cita ovo?
rap.1083hooligan,
zaboravio sam da napishem ekstenziju...
ekstenzija je WMA kao i nekoliko proshlih...
48kbps 44khz mono
rap.1084hooligan,
-> #1082, gligo> Koji program cita ovo?
najnoviji winamp chita WMA
mozete ga skinuti iz confe pcutil/zvuk
inache verzija je 2.21
rap.1085ica.z,
Bone Thugs -n- Harmony feat. 2pac
* Thug Luv *
48kbps 44khz mono
rap.1086ica.z,
jel skida neko uopshte neshto od ovoga shto shaljem??? ;)
artist: O.D.B.
song: Shimmy Shimmy Ya
48kbps 44khz mono
rap.1087kvlada,
-> #1086, ica.zDa li na Sezamu igde postoji WinAmp 2.2 (ili veci)?
ili bar neki konventor iz wma u mp3 format?
rap.1088gligo,
-> #1086, ica.z> jel skida neko uopshte neshto od ovoga shto shaljem??? ;)
Hmm, onog baju Redmena WinAmp odbija da pusti, dal' je to
do toga sto je bilo prekida u transferu ili neceg drugog, tek
'Jerseyyo' kod mene ne sljaka...
'Changes' radi fino, al' sam njega skinuo odjednom, dakle...
A za info dal' neko skida fajlove koje uploadujes, komandi
za upload dodaj jedno /r i dobices onoliko sysmsgova koliko
je puta taj fajl preuzet.
rap.1090ica.z,
-> #1088, gligonemam pojma shto neradi redman... kod mene je sve bilo ok...
verovatno se neshto sjebalo pri upload/download-u ne znam...
artist: ice cube
song: tresspass
48kbps 44khz mono
btw. ne postoji nikav fajl tipa decript.ion ili file_id jer
me mrzi to da radim... inache ja sam grebovao svu muziku...
rap.1091ica.z,
-> #1087, kvlada> Da li na Sezamu igde postoji WinAmp 2.2 (ili veci)? ili bar neki konventor
> iz wma u mp3 format?
pronadji u conf>pcutil\zvuk... pregledaj poruke u ovoj temi od pre
dve-tri nedelje i naci cesh wmaudior.exe... to lepo instalirash i
uz pomoc winamp-a (2.21) mozesh da kompresujesh bilo koji format u
'wma'...
rap.1092robin.hood,
Ajde ako neko ima Hit 'em up od 2PAC-a neka poshalje !!
Hvala !
P.S. neka bude u nekom noramlonom formatu !!
ByE
rap.1093ica.z,
-> #1092, robin.hood> Ajde ako neko ima Hit 'em up od 2PAC-a neka poshalje !! Hvala !
> P.S. neka
> bude u nekom noramlonom formatu !!
pa brate shta ocesh? WMA nije normalan? ;)))
ja sam vec pisao o tome da je potreban winamp 2.1 inache ne vidim
drugi razlog zbog chega bi bio uskracen za to... ili je previshe
komplikovano pa ne mozesh da shvatish? ;))) ne znam neshto jeste...
rap.1094ica.z,
Ice Cube-ov najnoviji album 'War & Peace'
mnogo je jak, poslacu neshto od toga...
rap.1096robin.hood,
-> #1093, ica.z->pa brate shta ocesh? WMA nije normalan? ;)))
->ja sam vec pisao o tome da je potreban winamp 2.1 inache ne vidim
->drugi razlog zbog chega bi bio uskracen za to... ili je previshe
->komplikovano pa ne mozesh da shvatish? ;))) ne znam neshto jeste...
Ma pusti sad ti winamp nego poshalji ovo ako imash ! ako nemash , jebiga !!
Ali hvala u svakom sluchaju !! :)
ByE
rap.1097ica.z,
Upload bash propisno zajebava...
pokushavam po drugi put...
artist: ice cube
song: fuck dying
album: war & peace
rap.1100ica.z,
Ice Cube - War & Peace
94kbps 44khz mono
(spakovan mp3)
rap.1101ica.z,
artist: MC Ren
song: You Wanna Fuck Her?
album: Shock of The Hour
64kbps 44khz mono (mp3)
------------------------
najbolja njegova pesma
ne samo po meni...
rap.1102jexy,
Ako neko ima Sunshine, pesmu "Kokain" (valjda se tako zove) u mp3 neka salje..
ali stvarno samo saljite MP3 a ne VQF ili nesto drugo pa makar i sa smanjenim
kvalitetom..
rap.1103dzim,
-> #1102, jexy
> Ako neko ima Sunshine, pesmu "Kokain" (valjda se tako zove)
> u mp3 neka salje..
4431 kb zive vage je teshka a ja sam na 4800...
rap.1110ica.z,
ovo se slusha kod nas... ;)
JP or Straight Jackin - Digni ga
ko ne skine nece znati shta je propustio...
rap.1111darklord,
Evo par slika od Cypress Hill-a !!
BYe
cypress.gifrap.1113darklord,
evo josh
green7.jpgrap.1114darklord,
I poslednja za sad !
BYe
greenc~1.jpgrap.1115imangovski,
Ima li neko textove Rootsa?
rap.1116ica.z,
neko trazio josh neshto od JP-a?
Straight Jackin - Marijaana '98
rap.1117ica.z,
i opet...
Straight Jackin - Jahrastaffaraj '98
naslovna pesma albuma...
32kbps mono 44khz
(ranije nisam pisao ove podatke al' ajd')
rap.1118ica.z,
Cypress Hill - I Wanna Get High
44kbps 44khz mono
(u winamp-u prijavljuje stereo!?!?)
track length: 2:53
inache u WMA formatu je shto se moze
videti iz prilozenog...
rap.1119indi,
-> #1117, ica.zsalji bre u wma formatu, da se ne zezam toliko sa DLom
i uvek pisi info o pesmi :)
rap.1120jexy,
-> #1115, imangovski> Ima li neko textove Rootsa?
Da stvarno.. mogao bi to neko da prekuca..
rap.1121dzim,
-> #1120, jexy
> > Ima li neko textove Rootsa?
>
> Da stvarno.. mogao bi to neko da prekuca..
Da prekuca?
Don't be silly.
rootz.rarrap.1122dzim,
-> #1115, imangovski
> Ima li neko textove Rootsa?
Od Sepulture?
Ako da, bash si temu potrefio...
rap.1123senna,
-> #1122, dzim
Znash kako.. Repuje Max u slobodno vreme..
rap.1125brka,
21ST ROCKSTEADY CREW ANNIVERSARY
Folks are gearing up for the 21st Rocksteady Crew Anniversary which
is set to kick off this Thursday July 23rd in New York City and last
through Sunday July 25th. For those who don't know RSC is one of hip
hop's most enduring pioneering B-Boy Crews. They first garnered
national attention when they were featured in the movies Wild Style
and Flashdance. They took things over the top after they were
showcased in the movie Beat Street. Over the years, RSC have made
their mark by consistently doing things help preserve Hip Hop
culture.Their annual celebration is always off the hook and this
year should be no different. Scheduled to appear is a whos who in
Hip Hop including: Grand Wizard Theodore, Kool Herc, Evil Dee, Tony
Touch, Grand Master Caz, Cash Money, Tragedy, Dead Prez, Common,
Beatnuts, Coco Brovas, Helter Skelter, Black Moon, T-La Rock,
Fearless Four, Non-Phixion,The Arsonists, Mos Def, A.L., Jurassic 5,
Funkdoobiest, Click the Supah Latin and Rahzel to name a select few.
Hosting the event will be Bobbito The Barber, Chief Rocker Busy Bee
and Sway & King Tech.
The celebration will feature a B-Boy Battle, a panel discussion on
the Art Of Battling, and a free outdoor concert at Gaelic Park in The
Bronx. There will also be an International Turntable Federation Battle.
For more info hit up their website at http://www.rocksteadycrew.com.
rap.1126brka,
GANG STARR "FULL CLIP: A DECADE OF GANG STARR"
"One year after the release of their landmark album 'Moment of Truth,'
Gang Starr has dropped a two CD retrospective appropriately titled
'Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr.'
"Chock full of the visionary soundscapes that have made the duo legends
in the business of rap, 'Full Clip' is guaranteed to bust holes in your
speakers.
"It's been ten years since DJ Premier joined Gang Starr founder Gifted
Unlimited Rhymes Universal (a.k.a. Guru), to record the classic single
'Manifest,' a meshing of cuts and samples from Charlie Parker, James
Brown and Big Daddy Kane that almost single-handedly ushered in
jazz-rap and its cousin, acid jazz..." á--Mosi Reeves
-----
For the full review check
http://www.platform.net/pflash
rap.1127brka,
LIL KIM ZAVRSAVA NOVI ALBUM
Lil Kim fans watch out because the Queen B is finishing up her new
album. There is no title to it, but it will feature folks like Puff
Daddy [of course] and singer Grace Jones. It should drop in October.
Also in the works is The Notorious BIG tribute album 'Born Again'
which will feature unreleased tracks and remakes of some of his songs.
Featured artist include Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes and Will
Smith. Viola Wallace, BIG's mom will offer narration. I'm surprised
that Shyne won't be featured.
rap.1128brka,
WILL SMITH RADI NA NOVOM ALBUMU
The Fresh Prince Will Smith is working on a new lp with the help of
the Trackmasters. This time around Will is gonna step it up a notch
and drop some tracks with Slick Rick, Biz Markie, Sauce and old partner
Jazzy Jeff. Personally I would like to see Mr Smith hook up with Young
MC* and have those two do a song together. On a side note Will will be
clocking 20 million dollars for his role as Muhammed Ali in an upcoming
movie based on the boxing champ.
* Samo da vas podsetim ko je Young MC - U Sourceovom 100. broju, u
kategoriji 'Najgora hip-hop pesma svih vremena' na 5. mestu je
satajalo 'bilo koja pesma Young MC-ja'...
rap.1129brka,
DR DRE TUZI 'DEATH ROW RECORDS'
Dr. Dre is back in the news-this time for filing a lawsuit against
Priority Records and Death Row Records. Dre alleges that the recent
Priority-distributed Death Row album "The Chronic 2000" infringes on
a trademark held by Dre. As we all know Dre really made his mark in
hip hop when he dropped the classic '92 lp "The Chronic". He also
announced earlier this year that he was going to be releasing 'The
Chronic 2000' on his own Aftermath Record label. Shortly afterwards
Death Row announced that they would do the same. Dre is now seeking a
court injunction against the use of the 'Chronic' trademark. He also
wants profits from any products that utilizing the trademark. [mmm I
wonder if he's gonna come after Cypress Hill]. There has been no
comment from Priority or Death Row Records.
rap.1130brka,
DMC NAPISAO KNJIGU...
Darryl McDaniels aka DMC of Run DMC is getting set to drop a book on
all of us. The book which is untitled will deal with the "role" of the
role model and the truth about image. DMC says he wants to provide some
sort of alternative means of instruction to help counter all the high
tech drugs, sex and rock-n-roll that is being thrust in front of the
face of our youth. He also noted that he wanted to do some thing that
didn't come across as too preachy. For the past couple of years DMC has
been touring the college lecture circuit where he drops bombs about
respect, responsibility and role models in today's society. The book
is planned for release in mid-2000, while Run-DMC's new album, "Crown
Royal," is now due on September 28.
rap.1131brka,
NEKO ZARADJUJE NA NASOV RACUN...
Bad news for Nas Escobar as he has been the victim of a couple of recent
scams. In Gainsville, Florida a concert purported to be featuring Nas
was advertised on a local radio station. More then 200 tickets were
purchased before it was brought to light that the whole thing was a scam.
The faulty promoters bear the name Duck Down Entertainment which made
things believable for a couple reasons. The primary one being that Duck
Down is also a the name of a record label that is home to popular
underground groups like Heltah Skeltha and that entire Boot Camp Clic.
Gainsville police are looking into the business practices of Duck Down
Entertainment. Lets hope that the real Duck Down doesn't catch any heat
because of this scam.
The other thing affecting Nas is the fact that his yet to be released
album Nastradamus is being bootlegged. I got a copy a couple of weeks ago.
Nastardamus can be found on the internet and in certain record stores
where folks have gone so far as to press up vinyl copies.
rap.1132brka,
VREDI KUPITI NOVI ALBUM GRUPE PUBLIC ENEMY
PE definitely deserves their props for embracing the Internet. Their new
album 'There's Poison Going On In Here' is by far one of the best PE
albums I've heard in a long time. It reminds me of the PE from the
'Fight The Power Days'. We're talking funky head boppin' beats and
scorching lyrics. Chuck D has without a doubt stepped up his rhyme skills
in a major way. Last night when I played this before my show, heads who
are deep into lyrics were really digging Chuck's rhyme styles and more
importantly his lyrics. This is no hype, the lp is well worth the
purchase.
Since dropping their lp on the net at http://www.atomicpop.com, they've
gotten more then 200 thousand orders. You can't tell me the internet is
not the way to go.
rap.1133brka,
RAPPING 4TAY SNIMA NOVI ALBUM...
Rapping 4Tay is back in the studio recording a new lp entitled 'An
Introduction To Mackin'. He will be hooking up with Kurupt of Tha Dogg
Pound to help take this lp over the top. Thus far they've recorded a song
called 'Sweet Love'. Daz Dillinger will produce several tracks for the lp.
Right now 4Tay is enjoying the props he's been getting for his affiliation
with the TWDY Project. Folks may be familiar with the popular song
'Players Holiday' which features a stellar line up of Bay Area artists
including, Too Short, Mac Mall, Captain Save 'Em, Otis And Shug and of
course 4Tay. 4Tay promises the album to be the ultimate Bay To LA
collaboration.
rap.1134brka,
IZAZIVA LI HIP-HOP MUZIKA NASILJE...?
Stop Blaming Hip Hop
By Davey D
As we get ready to head on into the 21st century, it's important that
we clarify any misconceptions one may have of the great American art
form we affectionately call Hip Hop. First things first-Hip Hop does
not cause violence. Let me do my George Bush imitation. Read my lips
and repeat after me- 'Hip Hop does not cause violence! One more time
folks-say it loud like you mean it- Hip Hop does not cause violence.
There's some of you out there reading this who will have a hard time
doing this after all for a long time we've had the misinformed and
malcontent running around stating the exact opposite. 'Hip Hop causes
violence'. That was rapidly becoming the American mantra. Hip Hop has
been everyone's convenient scapegoat. Everyone from former Senator
and Presidential candidate Bob Dole to former Education Secretary
William Bennett has blamed Hip Hop for staining the moral fabric of
our society and corrupting our youth.
...
nasilje.txtrap.1135gligo,
-> #1134, brka> As we get ready to head on into the 21st century, it's
> important that we clarify any misconceptions one may have of
> the great American art form we affectionately call Hip Hop.
> First things first-Hip Hop does not cause violence. Let me do
> my George Bush imitation. Read my lips and repeat after me-
> 'Hip Hop does not cause violence! One more time
Brko, koja je sansa da ove vesti saljes malo cesce?
rap.1136brka,
-> #1135, gligo
> Brko, koja je sansa da ove vesti saljes malo cesce?
Ukoliko postoji interesovanje... sanse su velike. :)
Salim se - slacu od sada redovnije...
Pozdrav,
Aleksandar
rap.1137brka,
PREDSTAVLJAM VAM... DJ QBERTA
Reckin' the Turntablism Scene, DJ Qbert from Invisbl Skratch Piklz drops
some knowledge about ISP, Wave Twisters and more ... Here's what he had
to say :
TheScenes: Bless us with some history about yourself, when did you become
a turntablist?
Qbert: like in 1985
TS: Who or what inspired you?
Q: The sound inspired me to do it and mix master mike taught me my basics
since he started a month before i did.
TS: Tell us about "Wave Twisters", the ideals and inspiration behind it...
Q: The album i made is a soundtrack to the animated movie we are making.
You can see a chapter of the movie on the videotape, "turntabe t.v.
annual #2". there's a breakdown in our faq section of our site where
you can really see what i'm doing.
TS: What's the deal with ISP, the history and present?
Q: There's 5 of us in the crew (mix master mike, d-styles, shortkut,
yogafrog, and myself) who do things as a skratch band, solo, and do
all kinds or turntablist functions from mixing to performing to giving
seminars on skratch art. we also make instructional videos, remixes
with skratching and tons of other skratch related products in order to
progresss the art for everyone to enjoy.
TS: What does ISP have in store for the future?
Q: Upcoming ISP News and Projects to talk about! D-Styles will be
releasing his album from the great skratch asylum. When?
SKRATCHCON2000 - the first and only lecture, seminar, and
convention on the music, lifestyle, techniques, technology, and
future of the skratch dj arts. When? Where? Turntable T.V. 7.0
(2 hrs) - featuring the X-Ecutioners and many more
w / Dirtsyle Challenge added as bonus. When? Wave Twisters
The Movie - DJ QBert's album come to life! The first concept
album in Hip-Hop. Did you know if you play the album from
beginning to end, it's a story? If you didn't know, where
have you been? (Watch Turntable T.V. Annual #2 for a clip).
Release....When? Razorblade Alchohol Slide & Innerspace
Dental Commander w/instrumentals, remixes, new skratching and bonus
tracks Vinyl-Single/Skratch Record. When? DJ Flare Skratch Practice
(with special guests) CD . When? DJ Shortkut 3-cd release of his
latest mixworks. When? Dirtstyle Skratch Practice featuring the
world's greatest skratch djs all in one cd! When? "How To Skratch 2"
- The second installment to the most popular instructional Turntable
Mechanic Workshop! When? What new skratches will you learn? The
Vestax 07PRO ISP LTD Edition Mixer! Wait till you get
a load of this mixer! When? How much? ISP Slipmats. When?
New ISP, Dirtstyle, TTTV clothing designs.
When? There's more...trust us....there's a lot more.
TS: What are your personal plans for the future, any new solo projects
in the works?
Q: Of course
TS: As for battles, break it down for the heads, your first battle, your
favorite battle, worst battle, toughest competitor, etc...
Q: In a battle, i always tried to stick all the tricks i knew in the sets
i did. every battle was my favorite because we learned something from
each one. if i had to pick one, it would be isp vs x-men. the worst
one i had would probably be the world dmc 1991. it was my first time
going out of the country to perform and i was jettlagged and had no
practice for 2 days. so when i went up to do my thing it was real rusty
and it was like i was just warming up.
TS: Any closing comments for the people - enthusiasts and DJ's?
Q: Go take a look at our website skratchpiklz.com there's so much info to
help you out in there that i couldn't fit here. peace and blessings.
qbert.arjrap.1138brka,
CHARLI BALTIMORE - Cold As Ice -- Untertainment/Epic Records
Ocena: 7.2
Production: Terrance "TL" Lovelace, RZA, Chad Elliot, DJ Premier, Quran
Goodman, T-Mix, Teddy Riley, Fabian Hamilton, Havoc, Darrell
"Digga" Branch, John Forte
Guests Featured: Cam'ron, Tony Dutch & Ace Spade, Ghostface Killah,
Eightball, Rage, Gangsta Boo, Queen Pen, Da Brat,
Scarlet, Mobb Deep, Noreaga, Brotha, Billy Lawrence,
Rodney Ellis, Jeni Fujita, Miss Jones
The whole time she's been in the game Charli Baltimore has had to
prove that she had skills. First getting into the game through Biggie
being his lady, she hooked up with Lance "Un" Rivera and got on his
Untertainment label after Big passed away. After debuting on the "Woo"
soundtracks' "Money," the song had a sampled beat, ultra-commercial vibe,
and ghostwritten lyrics. Through that Charli hasn't fared too well with
the rap critics, myself included. Trying to make her way out of the frame
of "just another female rapper" sounding like Foxy Brown or Lil' Kim,
Charli Baltimore impresses with Cold As Ice. She proves to heads who
doubted her skills that she can come on point. While the album had it's
faults, Charli B-more showed and proved with her debut.
Charli Baltimore came better than expected on many of Cold As Ice's
tracks. Instead of making radio commercial records that many expected,
the album featured lots of songs with harder beats. Charli keeps up
with Ghostface Killah's fast-paced banter over ill RZA production on
"Stand Up." DJ Premier provides the music for "Everybody Wanna Know"
which came out alright and Charli spits ferocious rhymes on the
impressive "Angel's Dust." Cold As Ice has mad guest appearances from
other artists but she manages to control most tracks. Charli stands
beside Prodigy and Havoc and their dark sounds of Mobb Deep on
"Infamous." "Keep It Real" with Cam'ron is only alright, while the
pimptastic sounds of Mo Suave-A beats on "Pimp Da One U Love" with
Eightball and "Motherfuckas Don't Want It" with new Untertainment
talent Dutch and Spade do not really impress. She makes up for it with
a big rough all-female posse cut, "Thorough Sisters," featuring fully
loaded verses from Charli, Lady of Rage, Gangsta Boo, Queen Pen, Scarlet
and Da Brat over a beat led by a BIG vocal sample. Aside from the hard
tracks, Charli shows a more emotional side on "Have It All," where she
tells the losses of her father, Biggie, and her baby's father. While
the John Forte-produced beat needed work, Charli sounded sincere. She
tells off non-believers and player haters on "They," one of the albums
better cuts.
While the album surprised me with unexpected praise, that's not to say
Charli Baltimore's debut comes without complaints. The Teddy Riley-
produced first single, "Feel It," is a Jackson 5 inspired attempt at
radio play, but falls straight to the floor. Also one of the worst
posse cuts, "NBC," previously availible on last years "Rush Hour"
soundtrack, somehow ended up on the final version of the album as
well. "30 Miles From Baltimore" and "Making Love," a wild sex/love
song, can be passed up as well. Another complaint is the albums
inconsistentsy with the beats, since Digga seems to be the only
producer to return for many songs. While Charli Baltimore isn't
the greatest talent, she has more skills than she is credited for
and is a better lyricist than Foxy Brown and other females that are
large right now. She proves to the world she can get down on Cold As
Ice and showed me that there was more to meets the eye to Charli
Baltimore.
Review by David Ellis, August 2, 1999
charli_b.jpgrap.1139brka,
THE ROOTS - The Legendary (EP) -- MCA Records
Ocena: 7.0
Production: The Grand Wizards (The Roots)
Guests Featured: none
Release Date: July 20, 1999
It was about five months ago when The Roots hit us off with their
blazing hot fourth full-length album, Things Fall Apart. That very hot
album was The Roots biggest commercial success as well as one of the best
albums to hit thus far in the 9-9. While Roots fans are still happy about
that album and pumping it in stereos, with little hesitation the Philly
crew laces the world with a new 5-song EP. While this should barely feed
a Roots fans appetite, The Legendary should hold a fans attention until
late fall of this year when their live album, Things Come Alive, is
released.
This EP sounds like a compilation of Things Fall Apart throw-aways and
live songs from a show (one in Switzerland I believe, but I could be
wrong). The intro is just a mix of Do You Want More tracks, which is good
since it's gets you in The Roots mood. From then on it continues with
various songs thrown here in there. The best song on here is "The
Ultimate." This jazzy little joint is taped live from a show and features
an energetic Black Thought catching wreck with along with rowdy crowd
participation. You can really feel the energy from The Roots which has
gotten them claims as one of the best live shows around. While that is
the hottest cut around, "Table Of Contents Part 3," the third installment
of the introduction cuts to Things Fall Apart is okay, but not great.
Basic Roots, and proves that part 1 is the best of the series. What has
became a Roots project tradition is the "beatboxing over ?uest's drums"
tracks. "The Battle ?uestacula" has Scratch freaking some ill beatboxing.
The album ends with a live version of "The Next Movement." While an ill
joint indeed, and it sounds even better live, we have already heard it
before.
While The Legendary does come out nice, it really lacks not enough new
material to become a must-have. While the live songs will give you a
taste of what to expect on the live album (and made me really want to
check out Roots show), we've already heard sounds like a lot of this
music. This is only an EP however, so we cannot expect too much. As a
bonus, it also features video enhancements for the computer, which are
the music videos for "You Got Me," "The Next Movement" and "What They
Do" (one of my favorite videos). That and the fact that this only cost
about $7 make The Legendary something that you Roots fans should pick
up if you got some extra cash. People just getting into The Roots however
can pass on this and pick up any of their four other full-lengths.
Review by David Ellis, July 24, 1999
roots.jpgrap.1140brka,
EPMD - Out Of Business -- Def Jam Records
Ocena: 7.6
Production: Erick Sermon, Parrish Smith, DJ Scratch
Guests Featured: MOP, Busta Rhymes, Redman, Method Man, 8 Off Agallah,
215
Release Date: July 20, 1999
It's been over a decade since EPMD first hit the rap world off with
Strictly Business. Since then they've gave the world four other albums
and even broke up, but last year officially reunited with 1998's Back
In Business. Now it's '99 and EPMD are releasing what sounds like their
last album as a group (that's only rumors, as it's titled Out Of Business
because it's the final album of the millenium). Instead of changing up
their style, EPMD have followed the same basic formula for years. It's
always worked and has changed slightly with the times but Erick and
Parrish still kick tag team raps over funky-ass beats. Why ditch the
formula that's made them one of the best, most consistent and most
successful rap duos of all time?
The album starts up with a DJ Scratch produced intro, the only song on
the album not produced by either Erick or Parrish. The intro gets you
hyped for the album with it's live beat sampling the Rocky theme
(ala "Victory" by Big and Puff) and features some good verses. From
then on the album is full of funky jams. The E-Dub production on
tracks like "Hold Me Down" remind you of production he's done for
Def Squad. Funky cuts like "Right Now" and "Pioneers" are easy to
bump but are kind of light on lyrical content. Still, EPMD as a group
have good lyrical skill and their flows mesh together nicely so they
can flip the mic back and forth. The PMD beats don't seem to fare as
well as E-Dubble's as "Check 1,2" is kind of generic, "House Party"
really doesn't excite, and "Jane 6" is kinda weak and it seems they
only keep the series around because it's the classic EPMD way. Parrish
scores a hit with "Rap Is Still Outta Control" laying down decent
production on one of the few tracks that has a theme on the album.
Collaborations are also on point on Out Of Business. Instead of
letting everyone and their mother on songs, they limit the cameos and
when they do they come out well. "U Got Shot" features Hit Squad
cats 8 Off Agallah and 215 and has a quick mic toss session sound
led by an Ol' Dirty Bastard vocal sample from "Brooklyn Zoo." And
both versions of "The Symphony" are nice. "Symphony" will satisfy
fans of the rowdy-ass MOP (my personal favorite) while "Symphony
2000" features Redman, Method Man and newcomer Lady Luck. While
both versions are tight, Erick and Parrish use the same beat and
the same lyrics for both versions.
Despite a couple complaints, this album is what you'd expect from
the two that have been putting it down for years. Nothing
revolutionary but they don't really have anything to prove, and the
album is consistent. This should whet the appetite of any EPMD fan.
Pick it up early and get the bonus greatest hits disc, which is
better than the new album with all their older joints. Expect
Erick and Parrish to be making more dollars in the new millenium
as well.
Review by David Ellis, July 23, 1999
epmd_out.jpgrap.1141brka,
PUBLIC ENEMY - There's A Poison Goin' On -- Atomic Pop
Ocena: 7.5
Production: DTom E. Hawk, Flava Flav
Guests Featured: none
Release Date: May 19 on MP3
Most of you probably already know the story behind this album but I
am going to tell it anyway. A few months ago, Public Enemy posted
some MP3s on their site. When their label (Def Jam) asked the to
remove them, they refused. Not that long ago they announced that
there next album would be distributed exclusively by atomicpop.com,
where you can download it on MP3s for $8 or get an actual CD for
$10. It will hit stores next month.
The highlight of the album, like any Public Enemy album, is the
lyrics. They talk about a world where we are controlled like robots
by corporations who own our souls. Chuck D ties it into hip-hop by
saying that most artists are completely controlled by their labels
(that's why they make so much whack shit) and the people who buy
albums are robots too (that's why they buy so much whack shit). He
criticizes these artists by saying things like "What's rap got to
do with what you got?" and "I'm the opposite of Jiggy." As always
Chuck's lyrics are on point.
The beats are another story. They are crazy and all over the place,
which fits with the apocalyptic theme at first but after a while
starts to dig into your ear. The production finally slows down,
and gets where it should be, around track seven.
The other problem is that this album lacks diversity. All the
tracks are Chuck D spitting angry ass lyrics about the same theme.
Two tracks that stand out are "Crayola" and "I." In "Crayola" he
explains that radio stations play such whack music because they
are paid by labels. The chorus goes "Crayola, with that same,
same old shit/Crayola with that played playa shit." In "I" he
tells the disturbing story of a black homeless man. Flava Flav
also produces his solo cut "What What" which is exactly what one
would expect from Flava, a crazy ass song that is not half as
creative as he thinks it is.
Review by RFanselow, May 22, 1999
pe.gifrap.1142brka,
RAWKUS PRESENTS SOUNDBOMBING II - compilation -- Rawkus Records
Ocena:8.0
Artists Featured: Eminem, Pharoahe Monch, Shabaam Sahdeeq, R.A
the Rugged Man, The High & Mighty, Mos Def, Mad Skillz,
Company Flow, Diamond, Thirstin Howl III, Reflection
Eternal, Sir Menelik, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Common,
Medina Green, Dilated Peoples, Tash, Cocoa Brovaz,
Bahamadia, J-Live, Prince Paul
Mixed by: J-Rocc and Babu
Release Date: May 18
Rawkus Records promoted the hell out of their new compilation and
had us eagerly anticipating the discs release for months. With all
the promotion heads were expecting a lot from Soundbombing II, the
second Rawkus mix album featuring many new songs by top lyrical
talent. With musical contributions mainly be indepedent artists,
this compilation features all emcees with skills and manages to be
impressive and for the most parts people who buy this will be
impressed and have something that is enjoyable end to end. Filled
with jams from Rawkus artists Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Sir Menelik,
Company Flow, and High & Mighty, this compilation also features
efforts from Common, Diamond D, Eminem and others all wrapped
together in a tasty Beat Junkies mixed package.
Fans of the underground scene of New York will no doubt dig a lot
of this but this features such a wide mix of different shit it can
also turn on new heads looking for something different to a lot of
these artists. Highlights of Soundbombing II's tracks include the
Native Tongue-esque feel of "7XL," a Sir Menelik cut featuring
Brand Nubian reps Sadat X and Grand Puba, who drops a very tight
verse. "WWIII" is a collab between Organized Konfusion's (and
Rawkus Records solo artist) Pharoahe Monch and Shabaam Sahdeeq.
The results are a wild jam that is pretty hot. Other stuff I was
feeling was the hype Mos Def "Next Universe" and the calm Reflection
Eternal cut, where a cool Hi-Tek beat has Talib Kweli and Bahamadia
ride it. Not very hype but still nice. Also the choppy, robotic
sounding "Patriotism," based on the US of A, by Company Flow is
cool, though some might find the odd beat kinda wack. While the
good stuff does come a lot, the album does come with flaws. The
inclusion of "Crosstown Beef" from Medina Green was nice but the
song came out last year and I'd rather hear a new Medina Green
song. And what's with the badly sung hook which ruins the feel
of Pharoah's "Mayor" and why stop Thirstin Howl's "Brooklyn Hard
Rock" just as it was heating up.
Overall this is a nice mix of music and not as ill as it could have
been but I'm still checkin' for it hard. While Eminem surprisingly
only came average on the Beatminerz-laced "Any Man", and other good
but not great songs are on the album, there are really no wack cuts
on the album and chose a good way to represent "Soundbombing," as
Dilated Peoples and Tash of the Liks prove on their cut of the same
name. One complaint is the lack of J-Rocc and Babu getting real
busy on the scratching. They scratch at times but why get the
illest DJ's if they aren't gonna go nuts on the 1 and 2's? Fans of
these artists featured on here can't pass this up, people who aren't
really into them but want something dope should still listen to this.
Soundbombing II is hot shit.
Review by David Ellis, May 24, 1999
soundb.gifrap.1143brka,
SWAY AND KING TECH - This or That -- Interscope Records
Ocena: 7.0
Artists Featured: RZA, Tech N9NE, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch,
Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino XL, KRS-One, Dilated
People, Canibus, Gang Starr, Inspectah Deck, Heltah
Skeltah, Crooked Eye, Planet Asia, Jurrasic 5,
Eric B, Rakim, Main Source, Pete Rock, CL Smooth,
Chill Rob G, EPMD, Cash Money, Marvelous, Kool Keith,
Motion, Big Daddy Kane, Ill Advised, Rasheed,
Malik B, Black Thought, Dirty Unit, Chali 2NA,
Redman, Sonja Blade
Mixed by: DJ Revolution
Release Date: June 15
Sway and King Tech from The Wake Up Show have formed to combine some of
rap's hardest hitting and phatest artists to appear on their mixtape This
Or That. They have gathered so many well known artists and also some
underground shit so it reaches all sorts of fans but still remains dope.
This compliation also features exclusives and freestyles, along with
songs that have already been released but are either shortened or remixed.
It starts off with 4 skits that just say how bullshit hip hop and shiny
suits controll the industry and the hardworking dope cats aren't where
they are suppose to be. Then it leads into it's first song, "The Anthem",
also it's first single, featuring RZA, Tech N9NE, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe
Monch, Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino Xl and KRS-One. Although this song
is packed with MAD amounts of people, their verses aren't their dopest
and are pretty short, plus I would have liked to see a new RZA verse
instead of his verse from Bobby Digital's "Airwaves". Either way, it's
still dope. Other highlights off This or That are "Underground Tatics",
a nice cuts with Heltah Skeltah droppin some nice rhymes, the remix of
"They Reminisce Over You", the new Rakim cut "I Know You Got Soul",
"3 To The Dome" an excellent cut featuring Big Daddy Kane, Chino XL
and Kool G Rap, who steals the show with lyrics like "The Godfather
saga/hit you dead in the chest like shots of Vodka/Funer-als crowded!
like soccer while I'm watchin opera/Last like Sinatra, blast like
Binaca/Binoculars is how I'm watchin droppin from the chopper".
Some other joints I was feelin was The Canibus freestyle and remix,
both great lyrically, "NY NIGGAZ" where Guru spits about life in the
streets and what a sturggle it is to survive and it actually makes
you feel like your there when you hear it, and "1.9.8.6 REMIX"
featuring Advised & Rasheed along with Malik B and Black Thought,
who both come nice. Although this mixtape is dope, it is not perfect
and does have some flaws.
There are no bad cuts on this album but the production from King Tech
can range from dope to alright to not that good. On cuts like "Get You
Mad" by Slim Shady himself Eminem, the beat is kinda all over and it
kinda ruined the feel of the song but still came out ok. Plus, the
freestyle with Redman was just previously spit lyrics and I would have
rather seen him rhyme some new lyrics with Def Squad. The flaws though
are small and make this album worth buying. Compare this album to
"Soundbombing II" and it is as good lyrically but the production sets
that up as the better one. Plus, the songs on there are full length
and Sway and Tech only have a few cuts that are longer then 3 minutes.
Still, this album is worth getting. Pick it up if you want some REAL
hip hop and dope shit to listen to. This Or That lived up to my
expectations and even more. So check it out. You won't be dissapointed.
Reviewed by Kyle Hutchinson, June 17, 1999
rap.1144brka,
SPAJANJE LOUDA I RELATIVITY RECORDSA
Loud Records and Relativity Records have officially merged together.
The two big labels have come together as a result of Loud leaving it's
distribution from BMG and now being with Sony. The new Loud with the
addition of Relativity will be distributed in the US by RED and
internationally by Sony Music. Since the merger, the next albums to
watch out for are Mobb Deep's Murda Muzik slated for August 17, the
Beatnuts' Musical Massacre which has an August 31 date and Inspectah
Deck's long-awaited solo album, Uncontrolled Substance, on September 14.
The new roster between Relativity and Loud should have a good amount of
talent and could give Loud more credibility in the south. Relativity
brings the Beatnuts, all Bone Thugs-n-Harmony solo albums, Three 6
Mafia and its solos, Tear Da Club Up Thugs, and MOP among others.
Loud's already very talented roster includes Tha Alkaholiks, Raekwon,
Big Punisher, Xzibit, Dwellas, all who have albums scheduled to drop
between now and throughout 2000.
rap.1145brka,
EMINEM ISCASIO REBRA NA KONCERTU...
Eminem will miss some dates for the Vans Warped Tour after bruising
a couple ribs at a recent show. He said the corner of the stage was
wet and he slipped. After the show ended Em was taken to a hospital.
Eminem slipped in fell bruising his ribs at a recent show with Nas
and Redman. The injury is hardly anything to get worried about and
he's just fine but will miss the Pittsburgh and Philly dates of the
Vans Warped Tour.
rap.1146brka,
NOMINACIJE ZA SOURCE MUSIC AWARDS
Well we've all been waiting the second official Source Awards for
a while. The Source magazine, the biggest hip hop publication, is
doing its award show thing again, and this time it won't air in
the middle of the night. The show, which takes place at the
Pantages Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August 18th, will
air August 20 at 8:00 PM on UPN. The show has 12 catagories and
is encouraging fans to vote and you will be able to soon at The
Source's website, www.thesource.com. Here are the nominees for
the award shows.
Artist of the Year, Solo
""""""""""""""""""""""""
Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
DMX (Def Jam)
Master P (No Limit/Priority)
Busta Rhymes (Elektra)
Snoop Dogg (No Limit/Priority)
Artist of the Year, Group
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
Outkast (LaFace/Arista)
The Roots (MCA/Universal)
A Tribe Called Quest (Jive)
Gang Starr (Noo Trybe/Virgin)
Goodie M.O.B. (LaFace/Arista)
New Artist of the Year, Solo
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Big Pun (Loud/RCA)
Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse/Columbia)
Juvenile (Cash Money/Universal)
Noreaga (Penalty/Tommy Boy)
Eminem (Aftermath/Interscope)
New Artist of the Year, Group
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz (Codeine/Columbia)
Black Star (Rawkus)
Flipmode Squad (Elektra)
Harlem World (So So Def/Columbia)
Black Eyed Peas (Interscope)
Single of the Year
""""""""""""""""""
"Can I Get A... " - Jay-Z w/Ja Rule & Amil (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
"Ha" - Juvenile (Cash Money/Universal)
"Still Not A Player" - Big Pun w/Joe (Loud/RCA)
"Whatcha Gonna Do" - Jayo Felony w/DMX & Method Man (Def Jam)
"It Ain't My Fault" - Silkk The Shocker (No Limit/Priority)
"Money Ain't A Thing" - Jermaine Dupri w/Jay-Z (So So Def/
Columbia)
Album of the Year
"""""""""""""""""
Jay-Z, "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
DMX, "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" (Def Jam)
Outkast, "Aquemini" (LaFace/Arista)
8Ball, "Lost" (Suave House/Universal)
Lauryn Hill, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (Ruffhouse/
Columbia)
Master P, "MP Da Last Don" (No Limit/Priority)
Lyricist of the Year
""""""""""""""""""""
Big Pun (Loud/RCA)
DMX (Def Jam)
Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
Redman (Def Jam)
Dre of Outkast (LaFace/Arista)
Producer of the Year
""""""""""""""""""""
Swizz Beats
Beats By The Pound
Track Masters/L.E.S.
DJ Premier
DJ Scratch
R&B Artist of the Year
""""""""""""""""""""""
TLC (LaFace/Arista)
R. Kelly (Jive)
Mya (University/Interscope)
Brandy (Atlantic)
Dru Hill (Island)
Video of the Year
"""""""""""""""""
"I'll Bee Dat" - Redman, directed by Little X (Def Jam)
"What U See" - Xzibit, directed by Gregory Dark (Loud/RCA)
"Turn It Up" - Busta Rhymes, directed by Paul Hunter (Elektra)
"Is It You? (Deja vu)" - Made Men w/ Master P, directed by
Dave Meyers (Restless)
"What's It Gonna Be" - Busta Rhymes w/Janet Jackson, directed
by Hype Williams (Elektra)
Live Performer of the Year
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Outkast (LaFace/Arista)
Busta Rhymes (Elektra)
DMX (Def Jam)
Method Man/Redman (Def Jam)
The Roots (MCA/Universal)
Movie of the Year
"""""""""""""""""
"The Player's Club" (New Line)
"I Got The Hook-Up" (No Limit)
"Belly" (Artisan)
"He Got Game" (Touchstone)
The show should also include Russell Simmons recieving the
Lifetime Achievement Award, Kool DJ Herc, Afrika Bambaataa,
and Grandmaster Flash getting the Pioneer Award and Shaq as The
Source Sports Athlete of the Year Award.
source.gifrap.1147brka,
OBJAVLJEN PROGRAM NASTUPA NA DODELI SOURCE AWARDS
While most people reading this probably aren't too excited at all
over The Source's upcoming award show, the list of performers has
been announced for The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards. Unfortunatly
the performers list features the biggest names according to MTV
at least, with Puffy, Master P, DMX with the Ruff Ryders, Juvenile
and Nas scheduled to perform. Not exactly the list I myself would
like to see but the big name acts may bring in better ratings for
the show. The award show airs August 20 from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT on
UPN. Too bad we couldn't see Outkast and The Roots play at the show.
rap.1148brka,
VARIOUS ARTISTS LYRICIST LOUNGE, VOLUME 1 -- Rawkus records
Reviewed by Platform Partner ONE LOVE MAGAZINE
What do you get when you cross some of Hip Hop's greatest undergroung MC's
with the raw talent of up and coming mic wreckas and fiery tongues of the
spoken word magician? No, not the U.S. Government, but one of the best
Hip Hop compilations to evr hit this side of the border. This is true
Hip Hop in every sense of the word. Praise due to the producers of this
joint (who are unfortunately not named) for lacing these tracks with
some truly hypnotic next shit. Some of the standouts on disc one are
'Bring Hip Hop Back' by Cipher Complete, the acid tongue, spoken word
groove of 'Blood' by Sarah Jones, the commercially released first
single, 'Body Rock,' with Mos Def featuring Q-Tip and Tash, 'Da Cipher'
by Punch & Words, and 'Action Guaranteed' with O. C. and Ras Kass. The
production on this particular track reminds me of when Dionne Warwick
was trying to find her way to San Jose. On disc two, these joints just
had me all over the place on an emotional level. I didn't know if I
should pull out the church fan, shed a tear or nod my head like the
rest of the cats for fear of eternal damnation. You can't help but nod
your head to the spoken word cut 'Ohm' by Saul (Soul) Williams (the
humming intro alone had me purring like a kitten), or 'Mayday' by
Natural Elements and 'Holy Water' by D. V. alias Krist (this is Hip
Hop's negro spiritual). Again, Lyricist Lounge is tight on production
and on the lyrical tip. Let's make this one go platinum.
Brian Dargon
rap.1149brka,
BLACK STAR - Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star -- Rawkus Records
The years since the turn of the decade have seen rap morph from the
Afrocentric positivity of the Native Tongues to the blatant nihilism
of the gangster era, culminating in the murders of Tupac Shakur and
Christopher "Notorious BIG" Wallace-- events that have inadvertently
given rise to the well-masked self-loathing of the Jiggy Age and its
thug revisionist ambassadors.
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are not these men. Mos Def and Talib Kweli
are Black Star, named with a nod to Marcus Garvey and the idea of
salvation. Their target, though, is a rap music that seems to
cannibalize itself and its future. The chorus to "Definition," the
duo's first single, proclaims with disappointment, "It's kinda
dangerous to be an MC/They shot Tupac and Biggie-- too much violence
in hip-hop," over a revised BDP hook. In a time that's more concerned
with iced-down medallions than beaded ones, Black Star-- self-dubbed
"real-life documentarians"-- are pushing back, effecting a return to
the consciousness of the early '90s through a renewed commitment to
introspective and creative lyricism.
Unlike much of contemporary hip-hop, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are
Black Star requires a contemplative listen, away from the dancefloor.
Mixing the tools of jazz and spoken-word into their formula, they up
the ante for the wannabe rap philosophers whose fraud is exposed in
the face of true prophecy. Occasionally, the power of Black Star's
prose is undermined by the erratic perambulations of their
production-- jazz asceticism devolves into hollow, unmoving beats.
On the whole, though, the words of Black Star shine through,
whether its on the jacking-for-beats reworking of "Children's Story,"
the trash-talking "Hater Players," or the boisterous posse cut
"Twice Inna Lifetime." Like Rawkus counterparts Company Flow did
last year, Black Star come to the battlefield armed with a manifesto
of skills, not one hastily scribbled in the corners of $100 bills.
On "Respiration," Kweli challenges those who floss, "saying you
got pull when the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes."
More than a challenge to phony rappers, it's a wake-up call to
the public: it may be dangerous to be an MC, but it's even more
so to be blind to hip-hop's psychic violence.
Jon Caramanica
rap.1150brka,
DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - Who Got The Gravy?
Shock G, Humpty Hump, Money B, and the stew of Digital Underground
funkateers have recaptured their shockadelic, left-coast-inflected
hip-hop gumbo that, for a decade, was both misunderstood and
influential. While their debut album, Sex Packets, is a classic,
they are still remembered solely for the comedic Top 40 booty sound
of the Humpty Dance. After a couple of misdirected releases, Who Got
The Gravy? finds the crew returning to their ironic sex comedy,
double entendres, and creative liquid fat tracks. And the album is
seasoned with outstanding cameos from a diverse guest list including
legends like Big Pun, KRS, and Biz Markie-- the latter two dropping
their most inspired verses in years. With this unpredictable and
bouncing offering, the Underground slinking out of a middle-age
hip-hop career haze and into the realm of elder statesmen, along
side De La and others. Like Humpty says, "Never trust a big butt
and a smile."
Tom Constabile
rap.1151brka,
OUTKAST - Aquemini (BMG/Arista/La Face)
Probably the most creatively risky hip-hop album of 1998, Outkast's
third release, Aquemini, is also the year's best. Combining gospel
("Rosa Parks" and "Liberation"), electro ("Synthesizer," with
George Clinton), and psychedelic variations of funk, dub, and jazz,
Aquemini is a snapshot of the Dirty South's musical universe. It's
not without its missteps; "West Savannah", "Mamacita," and the
spoken word fantasy "Spottiottiedopaliscious" are disappointingly
uninspired efforts, and the decision to collaborate with Raekwon
failed to produce the anticipated sparks. Ultimately, though,
Aquemini succeeds in building a vision of a heterogenous "'nother
Black experience". In a sense, Outkast's survival as a unit
depends on proving that the player and poet can coexist in
harmony. Speculations about the group's future in the face of
Dre's recent excursions into Blaxentricity ("Is he in a cult/Is
he on drugs/Is he gay?-- Nigga I'm feeling better than ever,
what's wrong wit you?) fuel the album's state of the union
(confederacy?) addresses, " Return of the G" and "Aquemini."
Look past his fondness for sporting fur vests and bumblebee-
striped knee socks, and you'll see that Dre is trying to tell
us that he's elevated his game beyond the physical sphere.
While a million MCs kick the blunts/cash/hoes game, Dre "would
rather be a comet" talking about "time traveling, rhyme
javelins, somethin' mind unravelin'." Big Boi's no Pras, but
like with Lauryn, Dre's talent is so manifestly out-of-this-world,
it's absurd. For the time being, Outkast has managed to avoid
Fugee-itis, breaking us off a chunk of that Southern good shit.
Kem Poston
rap.1152brka,
HELTAH SKELTAH - Magnum Force (Priority)
Lacking the endearing ruffneck Brooklyn boyishness of their first
release, Magnum Force (Priority Records) finds Heltah Skelta in a
sophomore slump. Pervaded by mediocre definitions of thugness and
seasoned with a bit of bucktown stylistics for listenability, the
album sounds at first like it could be hot-- but it turns out to be
repetitive and, in the end, mediocre. Like the Cocoa Brovaz own
sophomore tragedy, Magnum Force points up the ill-effects of the
Duck Down posse's insistance on moving away from the Evil
Dee/Beatminerz militant music fusion of dark beats and bass with
dancehall and roots reggae's militancy, which once inspired the
crew's trademark sound-boy-burial phrasings. Instead, the music
is mostly uninteresting-- the tracks are fairly similar to each
other-- while the rhymes lack the brashness and originality of the
duo's earlier work. Sadly, the highlight of the album is an
unusually ill guest appearance by Method Man-- which made the
absence of appearances by familiar Duck Down brethen Buckshot
and Cocoa Brovaz all the more apparent.
Magnum Force will disappoint all the disciples of that early
Blackmoon reggae-inspired lyricism and riddims. They'll be
praying that the imminent reunion album of Buckshot, Evil D
and 5 Foot Shorty will return, for a new generation, to the
innovative sound that's defined Brooklyn's hip-hop for the
past five years-- a sound that is perhaps being best represented
right now by the mighty Mos Def, and not the crew that first
created it.
On a last note: the gun-toting art work is neither fresh nor
refreshing.
Tom Constabile
rap.1153brka,
RZA AS BOBBY DIGITAL AND METHOD MAN'S TICAL 2000
First, a little background.
The music industry struggles to redefine itself in the wake of
alternative rock's creative and commercial softness. Both "urban" and
electronic music have been hailed as "the next big thing." After a
year of mediocre hip-hop albums that nonetheless went or approached
platinum, many original disciples were hoping for a commercial release
that could reflect hip-hop's creative potential while still reaching
the masses. Tribe Called Quest fell short artistically and made many
sales on nostalgia. Outkast pooled a respectable national audience
with their fusion of southern fried linguistics with raw hip-hop
future-funk. But one crew was strangely absent from the mix,
apparently left behind after hinting, years before, at the current
upheaval in popular music: the Wu-Tang Clan. After a few disappointing
releases from younger members of the crew, Cappadonna and Killah
Priest, the first RZA solo project arrived around the same time as
Method Man's second album-- both striving to return not only Wu-Tang
but hip-hop itself to the standard of its roots.
Now for the review. Filter out the hype-- the music press eating
up RZA's Bobby Digital fictions; adoring women of all ages showing
up for Method Man's sex-symbol-layered horror show-- and you can
get a true view of both these artists' new albums. While crisply
produced and at times extremely inventive, RZA As Bobby Digital In
Stereo misses the mark it appears to be aiming for: "defining moment
in the history of modern music" and "guiding light of urban music in
the new millenium." On the other hand, the surpisingly raw Tical
2000 Judgement Day comes out of nowhere to deliver a satisfying dose
of elemental yin-and-yang a la Wu-Tang/kung fu-inspired metaphysics.
Incorporating the sonic destruction and groove deconstruction of
RZA under-producers 4th Disciple and Tru Master (and less groomy
cuts by Erik Sermon and the Trackmaster's Poke), Tical 2000 is what
Method Man's first album could have been: gripping, psychotic, at
times sexy, diverse-- a true Wu-Tang record. Highlights include
the infectiously militant minimalism of "Dangerous Grounds"; the
blues-inflected pain and dusted-thug vulnerability of "Break Ups
2 Make Ups" (featuring D'Angelo in a sequel to the world-smash
duet with Mary J. Blige, "You're All I Need To Get By"); and the
pounding, apocalyptic conclusion of "Judgment Day," which subtly
integrates the dark influence of drum-and-bass on American hip-hop.
Though disappointing, RZA As Bobby Digital In Stereo is certainly
worth owning and meditating on. The record has a few intriguing
moments-- like the international love poems in French, Italian,
Spanish, and an African dialect; and the orchestrated symphonics
of RZA's new, non-sample based groove machine. Overall, though,
the album falls short of the high-concept film soundtrack it sells
itself as, and seems somewhat incomplete. The listener is left to
wonder whether, in the end, the non-sample esthetic really can
produce more invigorating sounds than the sample esthetic does.
Tom Constabile
rap.1154brka,
PRINCE PAUL - A Prince Among Thieves (Tommy Boy)
Sure, it's cliche to declare an album a classic even before its
release-- not too mention wishfully grandiloquent. But such praise
has always been applicable to Prince Paul's music, and A Prince
Among Thieves deserves it as much as the previous work.
Returning from the edge of hip-hop obscurity, which he explored
with his previous solo album, Psychoanalysis, What Is It?, Prince
Paul now rises truly reborn from the ashes of a mid-career crisis.
Placing his commitment to innovation, ironic dark humor, and
experimentation above his own financial health, Paul holds nothing
back. This is hip-(h)opera incorporating cameos by some of the
great faded (Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz, Special Ed, Everlast), the
great new ights (Xzibit, Breez from the Jugganotz as the lead
character Tariq), and the most innovative (Kool Keith, De La,
Sadat). All play a thematic purpose in what becomes this
generation's 3 Feet High And Rising-- an album that draws you
in seductively to its own cinematic claims and narrative.
From the epic tension of a Western soundtrack to hip-hop's
greatest cocktail number, from a funky sermon to a heavy metal
hard rock rant by one of NYPD's finest, this masterpiece is the
strongest concept album in years. It will probably be above many
a head's head, but bolstered by the expertise of Tommy Boy
Records and a long form film, Thieves should undoubtedly be
embraced by many seeking something more from hip-hop then a
collection of unrelated, one-dimensional singles that artists
call albums, in the current corporate mainstreaming of the
hip-hop buzz. Prince Paul's us why albums we once called
LP's-- because each was something you put on and listened
to through to the end. A one-man Pink Floyd of inner city
drama, Paul reunites with his greatest sonic children,
De La Soul, on the album's first single "More Than U
Know"-- and continues to make us wonder why brilliance
can't always be this simple. Unforgettable, indelible,
and essential.
As far as the status of the Prince Among Thieves film: amidst
a slew of rumored hip-hop feature film projects (90% of which
sound deeply trifling), the thought of A Prince Among Thieves
making it that far becomes truly inspiring. Close friend and
collaborator Chris Rock recently acquired the rights to Paul's
feature-length screenplay for the project and he hopes to have
funding established before the end of the year. So pray to the
media gods.
Tom Constabile
rap.1155brka,
THE ROOTS - Things Fall Apart (MCA)
A new musical reality is becoming evident to most hip-hop listeners:
the artform that we used to call hip-hop is evolving, and sadly, it's
not for the better. For most true fans, the term "rap" seems to
describe most of the fodder that presently inundates the radio
airwaves and video shows. Even in his liner notes, ?uestlove from
the Roots describes a "dangerous pattern" that permeates "Black"
music: he notes that artists "create it, nurture it, elevate it,
then abandon it." Unlike most hip-hop crews, the Roots transcend
this pattern, and even elevate the artform to a new level.
Things Fall Apart is an extraordinary sound voyage that celebrates
the love and history of hip-hop music. Inspired by the Chinua Achebe
novel of the same name, The Roots aim their on-point instrumentation
and dope illadelph grooves at hip-hop heads, while delivering a
lyrical challenge to the rap industry. The album acts as a musical
allegory for the hip-hop nation; like Achebe's novel, which
illustrated the demise of African tribal tradition at the hands
of colonialism, Things Fall Apart acknowledges rap's modern
evolution away from the heritage and history established by
historically Black music forms. But with this new release, the
Roots have given a head bobbin', beat knockin' tribute that puts
the joy back in the game.
From the go, the Roots establish the tight, funky vibes
representative of their past albums and legendary live shows. Let
me tell you, this album has "classic" written all over it. "The
Next Movement," featuring DJ's Cash Money and Jazzy Jeff, has
the body movin', ass shakin' rhythm expected from any Roots
jam session. "Double Trouble" has guest Mos Def trading his
on-point, loopy style with the fierce rhymes of Black Thought,
whose growth into a top-rate MC is evident throughout the entire
album.
Some standout tracks include "Dynamite!", "Act Too (Love of My
Life)", and "Adrenaline!" "Dynamite," produced by Jay Dee from
the Detroit-based Slum Village crew, has the sharp feel that
could easily translate from the dance floor to chillin' at the
crib. ?uestlove's drum beats (which, for the record, are
masterful throughout the album) blend perfectly with a hot jazzy
vibe reminiscent of a sweaty Harlem speakeasy. "Act Too (Love of
My Life)" features Common droppin' verses on his straight-up deep
love for hip-hop (and don't sleep on his pointed criticisms on
players in the rap and media industriesÍ) "Adrenaline!" in my
opinion, is easily the dopest track of the CD. The song captures
the true essence of The Roots past, present, and future.
Listening to the hot beats, funky tempo, and unbelievable flow
from newcomer Bennie Siegal (who, with one freestyle, was signed
on the spot by Jay-Z for Roc-A-Fella), you can imagine yourself
crammed a-hundred-deep in a small-ass nightclub, funky as all
hell but happy to be getting your groove on.
The group keeps with tradition and ends with a piece from Ursula
Rucker, the Philly-based poetess who drops "The Return to
Innocence Lost," an extremely personal account of family loss,
abuse, and spiritual survival. Look out for any future releases
from this woman, she is an extraordinary talent. Overall, this
new release from The Roots is amazing. Giving a nod to past
influences while keeping an eye on the future of hip-hop,
the Roots asked us a while back if we wanted more, and with
Things Fall Apart, they fully delivered.
Saidah Blount
rap.1156brka,
ROB SWIFT - The Ablist
Turntablism as a source of full-length, home-listening material
is still relatively young. Often, those mind-blowing DJ vinyl
maneuvers-- performed by live, in battles, or on any number of
tablist videos-- don't translate well into an album. In fact,
without the visual stimulation of turntablist antics-- chopping
up beats, rhyming, forging musical hooks hibachi-style, using one
part attitude and two partss showmanship-- turntablist albums can
seem abrasive and chaotic, abstract and one-dimensional.
While 1998 was a year that did see a great deal of progress in
the turntablist album, with innovative releases from Q-bert,
Mix Master Mike, Future Primitive, and the new Om Records
compilation Deeper Concentration, few releases have truly
reflected the progress of the dirty, urban, street-soul sound.
But check out The Ablist, the new, second album from soul-child
Rob Swift, of the east coast's finest turntable consortium,
the X-ecutioners. Swift takes turntablism into new realms of
musicality and orchestration, by balancing his incredible
beat-juggling acumen with four enticing elements: live
intstrumentation, some excellent guest MC collaborations,
ironic and humorous soundbites, and a keen sense for sample
production based heavily on nuggets of jazz-funk, classical
and soul.
The result is perhaps the most accommodating and diverse
turntable album to date. With performances by NY hip-hop
band Dujeous?, the ever-seducing lyrical metaphysic Pharoah
Monch, and Dan The Automator (of Dr. Octagon fame), The
Ablist goes down thick like a double-bass and warm like
summer barbeque. Flute loops, some George Benson guitar
breezes, and a cocktail of memorable verses fuse smoothly
with Swift's manual rhythmic tactics, orchestration, and
sophisticated sense of sound and humor. The highlight is
the new single, "All That Skratching Is Making Me Rich,"
in which Rob squares off in a funk freestyle with the
free instrumental groove of NYC's own, Dujeous?.
Except for the unnecessary second acapella prison
freestyle, The Ablist is a stunningly complete and moving
album, at once recalling the wholesome fun and funk of
hip-hop in early '90s New York summer jams and looking
forward to yet undiscovered sonic realms.
Tom Constabile
rap.1157brka,
POOH MAN UHAPSEN ZBOG PLJACKE BANKE
A few years ago MC Pooh Man embarked on what appeared to be
a promising career within Hip Hop. His 3 albums including
the cult classic 'Life Of A Criminal' contained a number
of underground street hits as Pooh Man garnered a
substantial following. His big break for national stardom
came when he was featured on the sound track to the
movie 'Juice'. He quickly followed that accomplishment by
appearing in the movie 'Menace II Society'. Then suddenly
Pooh Man who's real name is Lawrence Lee Tate began to run
into big problems.
The first involved a libel lawsuit due to a song he
released entitled 'Racia' which detailed the sexual exploits
of an Oakland woman of the same name. Apparently Pooh-Man
along with fellow rappers Too Short and Ant Banks kept it
real by telling real life sex tales in this song. After this
got resolved, Pooh-Man had a big falling out with Too Short
and Ant Banks over money. Things continued to spiral when
Pooh got hooked on heroin. The result of that addiction
made local headlines when he was caught robbing a Walgreen's
store here in Oakland. He was sent away to San Quentin
prison for a few years. He got out and relocated to Modesto
which is located in Central California.
Recently the Oakland Tribune ran a story about a Modesto
crime spree in which a half a dozen banks and several
jewelry stores were robbed. The robbers using a stolen
Cherokee would roll through and make store owners and
customers lie down on the floor during these strong arm
robberies. Modesto Police formed a task force to combat the
robberies. A stake out was held and Pooh-Man was captured
along with 4 other suspects. He had been on parole for
the 1994 Walgreen's robbery. He is now inside a Modesto
jail with a $ 1 million dollar bail after leading police
on a wild chase and manhunt in which he knocked on the
door of a resident and literally stole the shirt off
the man's back in an attempt to allude police. Pooh-Man
was fleeing the scene of a bank robbery. Police and FBI
are still gathering evidence and clues to connect Pooh
to the other robberies during recent crime spree.
rap.1158brka,
OPET ODB...
Speaking of rappers in trouble. Everyone's favorite Hip Hop
troublemaker found himself behind bars after showing up to
court in Santa Monica, California. Old Dirty Bastard who has
secured the aid of OJ Simpson's former lawyer Robert Shapiro
was in town to face charges of illegally wearing a bulletproof
vest. He was supposed to make payments on the 150 thousand
dollars that was posted up for his bail. Apparently he had
not done so, so he was arrested on the spot and jailed. ODB
managed to get released and he headed back to New York. Just
when you think home boy would lay low he winds up getting
arrested and jailed again over the weekend. This time it was
the result of him running a red light in Queens NY. When
police pulled him over they discovered he was driving on
a suspended license. A quick search of ODB's red Mercedes
Benz convertible discovered marijuana and a substance that
the police believe is crack. Again ODB has been released on
bail. Someone please help this man.
rap.1159brka,
I BUSSA BUS U SUDNICI...
Finally while Pooh-Man and ODB are dealing with their legal
woes, they find themselves in good company with one of
Hip Hop's premier rap stars-Busta Rhymes. According to Lee
Bailey's EUR Report http://www.eurweb.com, a woman named
Jill Miskelly is suing Bussa Bus claiming that he's the
father to her child. According to her, the child is the
result of a one night stand that took place in January
1998. After paternity tests proved that Busta was the
daddy, he began making child support payments of $1,250
a month. However, home girl wants more - much more from
the platinum selling artist who hangs out and does videos
with superstars like Janet Jackson.
rap.1160brka,
PREKINUT KONCERT FOXY BROWN
Fox Boogie aka Foxy brown has been attempting to live down
her tumultuous reputation. Her recent cover story in Essence
Magazine revealed that young Inga Marchand has been maturing
both as an artist as well as in real life. Her recent tour
in which she actually showed up were steps in that direction.
Here in the Bay Area, fans had seen one too many flyers and
heard one too many announcements about Foxy Brown coming to
perform only to shell out money and find her not there. A
couple of years ago she was prominently advertised as one of
the main performers for KMEL Summer Jam. Hundreds of fans
were left angered and disappointed when it was announced
that 'she missed her plane'. Rival station KYLD got burned
by Fox Boogie when it was heavily promoted that she would
be appearing at their Bomb Concert. In between those two
shows there had been all sorts of promoters and venues
promising to have her appear only to have her be a no show.
It was no wonder less then two hundred headz showed up to
Maritime Hall the other week to see her wreck shop. This
was in spite of ticket giveaways and Foxy calling into the
radio station promising to get busy.
However, this time around Foxy did show up at SF's Maritime
Hall and put on a show that got mixed reviews. Some folks
thought she had a lot of charisma and held her own. Others
were disappointed in the fact that she would do short
snippets her hit songs before launching into freestyles that
was done acapella. As Foxy rocked the stage some one in the
crowd decided to slap his girl. Foxy caught wind of this and
promptly stopped the music and began to speak on how foul that
was.. She attempted to continue on when some one threw a water
bottle on stage. That was all it took-Foxy bounced and that
was it for the evening. Props to her for not letting such
foul behavior slide. Too bad the fans couldn't see her entire
show, but that's what happens when folks act up.
rap.1161brka,
POSLE OSLOBADJANJA VOJNIKA...
Reverend Jesse Jackson will holding his annual Rainbow PUSH
Coalition Conference this week. This year's theme is building
bridges and one of the highlights will be a gathering of Hip Hop
and rap artists, Black leaders, youth activist and cultural
critics. There will be an in depth discussion of Hip Hop and
it's influence on American culture. The scheduled topics of
discussion will be Hip Hop music and its influence in social
and political movements, artist responsibility in the community,
media portrayal and its responsibility and artist participation
in the business side of the industry. Scheduled panelist include
Fab 5 Freddy who will moderate, Rev Jesse Jackson, Dr C Delores
Tucker, BETs Joe Clair, Daddy O from Stetsasonic and yours
truly Davey D. Artist like Jay Z, Chuck D, Missy Elliott,
Foxy Brown, Mack 10, Queen Latifah, Sean Puffy Combs and C-Lo
of The Goodie Mob have been invited. For more information hit
their website at http://www.rainbowcoalition.org
rap.1162brka,
LUTHER CAMPBELL UHAPSEN
This has been a bad week for Hip Hop as a number of prominent
artist have had some major run ins with the law. The most recent
involves Luther Campbell from the 2 Live Crew who was charged
with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery after he
cracked a Jack Daniels bottle over the head of a patron blocking
his view of club patrons dancing.
rap.1163brka,
INTERVJU - GHOSTFACE KILLAH
Of all the alter-egos that make up the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah's
always seemed the darkest. The RZA plays/lives the role of the shape-
shifting guru, Meth does charismatic man-child, Rae street-savvy
hustler, ODB twisted loose cannon - but on Ironman Ghost came across
a more tormented soul, an anguished poet wrestling with his inner
demons on an album that often sounded more like an open wound. He was
frank about his pain, wore his heart very much on his sleeve, and
everybody fell a little bit in love with the big guy who had the
emotional intensity of a lonely child.
...
ghost.arjrap.1174brka,
Grafit na vozu u New Yorku.
Autor - 2MANY.
2many.gifrap.1175brka,
KRATKA BIOGRAFIJA KRS-ONE-a
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
One of the most-influential lyricists of all time, KRS-One began
his career in the '80s as the voice of hardcore hip-hop outfit
Boogie Down Productions. Throughout his decade-plus career, KRS
(b. L. Kris Parker) has managed to tread the line between
intellectual foil and street flamethrower even going so far as
to call himself, simply, 'hip-hop.'
After linking up with DJ/Producer Scott LaRock, the once-homeless
KRS-One pioneered an early flavor of 'gangsta rap,' creating the
classic Criminal Minded. The album featured the forever classics
"South Bronx," "The Bridge Is Over" and "The P is Free."
By 1987, KRS had adapted the nickname "The Teacher" due to his
political, some say preachy, consciousness-raising approach.
By 1990's Edutainment, however, sales began to slip as listeners
complained that KRS-One was teaching less and preaching more. In
1992, Boogie Down released Sex and Violence, a rap album that
aimed to raise spirits rather than awareness.
In 1993, KRS-One released Return of the Boom Bap under a first-ever
solo tag. The album featured KRS in collaboration with DJ Premier,
producing KRS' most inspired work since the late '80s. He continued
with 1995's self-titled effort and 1997's I Got Next, all released
on Jive Records.
Krs-One has also put together a number of positive hip-hop benefit
projects, including the Stop the Violence Movement, HEAL (Human
Education Against Lies), and his latest effort, the Temple of
Hip-Hop.
krsone.gifrap.1176brka,
BEASTIE'S SA (STARIM) NOVIM SINGLOVIMA...
The Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label has furthered their whole
hip-hop meets punk aesthetic nicely, and now the label has
decided to venture into the vinyl revolution with their latest
project. The Blow Up Factor is a series of hip-hop EPs and
Maxi-singles.
For their first Capitol-distributed release, Grand Royal will
release remixes of three songs featured on Hello Nasty,
including: an Adam Horowitz and Handsome Boy Modeling School
version of "Negotiation Limerick File," a Kutmasta Kurt re-work
of "Body Movin'," and a Prunes remix of "Putting Shame In Your
Game." There is also a live, video version of "3 MCs and 1 DJ"
on the eight-track EP. The street date for the project is
August 24.
The second release, which drops on September 21, is a maxi-single
from South Bend, Ind. duo, DJ Strictnine and Paranorm. "Mic
Reaction" will include a vocal and instrumental of the title cut
as well as "Human Ebola," "Planet Wicked," and "Psychological
Profiles." According to the group's website, www.paranorm.com,
the group plans to release an EP on their own label, Fistfulayen,
in the near future.
The series is ongoing, with more groups and projects to be
announced in the near future. Since the series is vinyl only,
distribution will be handled ADA not Capitol. Stay tuned for
more details.
Adam Matthews
beasties.jpgrap.1178darklord,
E,Brko ! :)
Ajde poshalji josh nesto u vezi Beastie Boys'a !
I ako znash mozda sta je sa 5-tim albumom Cypress Hill-a ???
BYe
rap.1179brka,
IMPERIJA UZVRACA UDARAC
By KET, Photos by Richard Lohr
My earliest memory of Def Jam was LL Cool J. It was a magical time
for me, a shorty from Brooklyn. I was discovering girls, playing
baseball, and really getting into Hip Hop. I was the kid on my
block that always had my box (radio, for you youngsters) attached
to my shoulder or next to me on the benches. In those days I was
listening to Mr. Magic and Chuck Chillout like everyone else;
taping every show. Joe's on Broadway was where I picked up the
record, "I Need a Beat" by LL. It was 1984 and Hip Hop wasn't
Hip Hop it was just rap music. Some kids from my block were
getting me into graffiti. At least appreciating it. I was on
cloud nine blasting LL while my stepmom screamed on me to turn
'that Black music off.' Man, those were the days. That was my
pre-high school summer.
...
defjam.arjrap.1181brka,
Chuck D...
chuck.jpgrap.1182brka,
Ja Rule...
jarule.jpgrap.1183brka,
DJ Red Alert...
redalert.jpgrap.1184brka,
DJ Spina...
spina.jpgrap.1185brka,
Xzibit...
xz.jpgrap.1187brka,
JUVENILE: SRCE I DUSA VOJNIKA
When I first saw the video for the smash single "HA", I
raised one eyebrow- curious about this spit-fire brothah
from way down dirty-deep in the South, Louisiana. The
presence on that screen that he manifested had a story
to tell and a life's destiny to fulfill, "makin' somethin'
outta nothin'/[he's] a paper-chaser with [his] block on
fire " The video provided insight into the life and
times of this soulja, who amidst the chaos of the
trenches in Magnolia (the crime capital of Louisiana)
has been comin' up through he ranks, talkin' his own
language, representin' his world, with a crazy sound all
his own. Now shit is on lock, and New York has been
feelin' it. New Orleans been knew, and its not only
because of the triz-irty million Universal Records deal,
but because of the music that displays the heart and
cahones that is truly Juvenile.
...
juvenile.arjrap.1190brka,
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Born Again
Bad Boy, July 27
Will include narration from his mother, Voletta.
Tracks:
- Dreams
- Tha Points (f/ Coolio, Redman, Busta Rhymes, Buckshot &
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)
- Real N****z Do Real Things
- Stay That B*tch (f/ Lil Kim)
- Cars and XXX (f/ Daddy U & Grand Puba)
- Dead Wrong
- Bustin Nuts (f/ Luke)
rap.1191brka,
LIL KIM - Notorious K.I.M.
Queen Bee/Atlantic, August 3
Tracks:
1. Intro - Definition Of A B*tch
2. Legitmate B*tch (f/ Mia X & Ghetto Twinz)
3. The Corrupt One
4. Do it Right
5. Make Em Extinct (f/ DMX)
6. Jerry Springer
7. Infidelity (f/ Jay-Z & Lil Cease)
8. Manifest My Skillz
9. Something To Bounce To (f/ E-40 and Suga T)
10. Nobody Else (f/ Brandy)
11. Jailbird
12. Cleopatra Jones
13. The Best Little Crack House
14. Crackdown (f/ Big Pun)
15. I Dismiss You
16. Take Caution (f/ Black Rob)
17. Get Crazy (f/ Busta Rhymes, Rah Digga & Rampage)
18. Revolution (f/ Grace Jones & Vanesa Del Rio)
19. Un's thugs (f/ Cam'ron & Charli Baltimore)
20. A Star Is Born (f/ Kelly Price)
21. Something To Go Out To (Outro)
rap.1192brka,
RAEKWON - Immobilarity State Of Grace Vol.1
Loud, June 29
Tracks:
- Five Borough N***as (f/ American Cream Team)
- Candyman
- Trading Places
- What Part of the Game
- Giant Size (f/ American Cream Team)
- Flawless Mic Mechanics
rap.1193brka,
LOUD BBS RHYME OF THE WEEK
Online Battles: Now You're Being Judged For Real
Here at Loud.com we've been paying close attention to all
you aspiring MC's who visit, and try to tear up, our battle
board. Some of ya'll seem to think you're nice with yours
so we've decided to make things official. As of today, a
select team of LOUD representatives will be picking a "rhyme
of the week" off the BBS. That's right, the cat with the
illest rhyme each week will be announced to the world,
along with his/her rhyme, on the site.
Don't get gassed and think we're gonna give you any prize
other than this public attestment to your skills, but don't
sleep on what it could get you. Not only will you have
proof of your lyricism to show any and all haters around
your way, but you may also have the chance to get put on.
Loud A&R's and other influential heads will be peeping
the weeks' winners (in fact they will be helping choose
them) and if somebody catches their attention he/she could
get signed. So keep on posting your rhymes and sharpen your
darts, 'cause now it's official.
This Week's Winner:
ConVerse
""""""""
Whoever knows or sees King Magnetic, tell him i came
callin!!!!!!
We can battle from Brooklyn, Baghdad, to Beirut/
or Bengladesh but you'd still need "www.loud.com" rhyme
recruits/with cyberoptically fatigue camoflauge suits/
Timberland Kevlar strapped with Intel Pentium III laced
boots/and equipped with the highest technological or
genetically spawned weaponry/spittin rounds of razor
sharp lyrics which i dodge with quick proficiency/
any cipha can step to me/ and become M.I.A.s due to
my metaphorical telepathy/ Desert Storm-type warfare
utilizin lyrical hardware telecasted on CNN/ to record
Magnetics delivery, faker than the hair on that old white
lady on TBN/ naturally on a higher plateau so he can
revel/ a lyrical rebel/ to even meddle/ his lyrics would
have to be on a telekinetic level/ might as well bang
your head against your monitor as if my ryhmes were
heavy metal/ but fuck an Aerosmith, this rap rhymesmith/
be spittin legendary shit, Herculean like Greek myths/
In this rigorous round my style deliver repeated hits/
and your demise is prophetic/take your repentence to
the pullpit/ and change your name to King Pathetic/
the same name on your throne I buried in deserted
quagmired quicksands on Pakistan/ then laugh at the
feeble search attempts of .1 percent of your worried
fans/ who summon search parties consisting of hip-hop
archeologists/ I'll tell you once Magnetic/ if your
styles pussy/ I guarantee you I'm its gynocologist...
rap.1194brka,
XZIBIT - 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
by Evil E
The dysfunctional member of the Likwit Crew, X to the Z has
dropped album numero 2. What does this kid have in store? One
of the dopest albums of the year. The album opens with the
Sir Jinx produced cut "Chamber Music", a cut that will knock
you on your ass. The samples of stomping (also heard on an
older school Ice Cube track) brings up a combination of cell
block stomping or an amped up bball arena, and the sparse
orchestra samples are dope as hell too. X gets on the mic
and rips it saying "like a nigga without legs, I ain't tryin'
to kick it". Next up is the buttery Bud'da produced "3 Card
Molly". If you haven't heard this song already, you are in
for a real treat. It's the first installment of the Golden
State Warriors, which is X, Ras Kass and Saafir. The next
jam "What You See Is What You Get" is the first single from
the album, and one of the best videos I've ever seen,
basically X calls out the fools and let's you know that what
you see is really what you get. He even picks up co-production
credits on the track. Track Five "Handle Your Business" has
a slower beat, very similar to "At The Speed Of Life", where
he advises you to "Handle your business, before it handles
you". Oh yeah, did I mention that dope ass hell Defari jums
in on the song as well. The message is definately heard on
the bangin' "Nobody Sound Like Me", nobody on the west can
really flow like X. Meth and Jayo Felony lend an assist on
"Pussy Pop". This song has dance club single written all
over it. It's nice to see a talented commercial song, not
the usual wack, recycled bullshit. "Chronic Keeping 101"
teaches ya the basics to keepin' ya chron. The old school
sounding "Shrooms" with a nice Funky Worm sample is so
tight. You just gotta hear it. "Focus" features a track with
another Aftermath in house producer DJ Glove. Another cut
that keeps the album moving. X decides to put all of his
work into the album and not fall into the filler routine, I
give him props for this. Bud'da drops another GEM on the
JAM "Deeper". It's ultra butter. With a smooth yet bangin'
drumb beat and a violin sample, claiming "Not radio, but
still going platinum". Right here I feel the message of
the album, this underground cat is here to take over doing
it his talented way. He's gonna blow it up with this album.
Explaining that the game is much deeper than we realize, I
believe him. Next up, welcome to LA..."Los Angeles Times"
from the Soul In The Hole soundtrack, an older song, but it
still hits. "Inside Job" has all the dramatics of an old school
Ice Cube or Public Enemy track. "Let It Rain" marks the only
track that the Liks get on, so does King T and E Swift
produces...yeah, I dig. A Likwit Allstars album would be dope.
Montageone drops the beat and lyrics on the final joint
"Recycled Assasins". All I can advise ya'll is pick this
album up. It's unbelievably dope. For a while I've seen
Xzibit as developing into the Common of the westcoast, and
he confirms this on the "Outro" having his pops jump on the
track. This album ranks up as the years best albums with
GangStarr, Goodie Mob, Big Pun, Black Eyed Peas and the
return of Public Enemy.
rap.1198brka,
LAURYN HILL - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
by Evil E
Damn, it's been a little while since this album first hit
my ears, about a week before it's street date, and I've had
a mixed bag of emotions for this album. At first I was
thinking what would have gotten me hurt up a few years ago,
that Lauryn Hill needs Wyclef. A few years ago, everybody
was saying that Lauryn should ditch the Fugees for a solo
act, but Wyclef dropped the incredible "The Carnival" which
is what finally deaded that talk. But Lauryn is a very
complex artist, that's why I waited a while before I was
going to bash the album. But I'm not going to at all, in
fact, this album reaches very brilliant levels...BRILLIANT!
Lauryn has developed like no other artist has. She has gone
from everybodys favorite female MC, to a big bad ass
beautiful, soulful queen. Right now I will say two things
about the album, the production is bomb. This is one of
those rare hiphop albums that has melody and harmony. One
of the best songs I've ever heard doesn't have her ripping
the Mic, but beautifully singing "Ex Factor". Damn, if I
could ever fall in love with somebody just on how their
voice sounds it would be her. When Ms. Hill sings to her
son on "To Zion" I am just sitting in awe. The beat is
dope, with strings actually playing a key part of the beat,
not just as a background in most hiphop joints. The lyrics
of this song are as deep I've ever heard recorded, especially
the first verse. Then Lauryn shows she's still got the
hiphop we all love on "Superstar" calling out the tired
ass hiphoppers, while singing. She sings to have all
musicians world wide to "Come on baby, light my fire"...
damn, I wish she was singing that to me. Even when she sings
the lyrics, she's dropping knowledge saying "I know you
think you got it all, by making other people feel small".
On Point! "When it Hurts So Bad" is another one of the
soulful offerings made by the Lady. One of the best
songs of the year "Everything is Everything" helps to
close out the album very nicely. Then there's a couple
of bonus cuts, and even a few I didn't mention to fill
out the album. I don't think many people will get this
album. It's way over the head of those looking for a
little gunz and glory, or maybe something about sex or
smoking blunts. It's about life and maturation. This is
one of those bomb ass albums that people will listen to
40 years from now to get pumped up to go see Lauryn on tour.
This is a very good album.
rap.1199brka,
EMINEM - The Slim Shady LP
by Gonzolez Shapiro
Everlast, Serch, Pete Nice, Miilkbone, and the Beasties; a
brief list of the white cats who proved more or less that they
can hold their own on the mic. Judging from Slim Shady, the
new addition should make more noise than any of the others to
date, for a number of reasons.
First, and maybe foremost, the drug/alcohol/sex/violence ratio
throughout the whole disc is sky high. In fact, this is the
kind of CD that scores of little snot nosed crumbsnatchers
will be listening to for the profanity alone. Frankly I am
amazed that no religious groups or the like have attacked
Eminem and his label for the wickedness therein.
But, itĺs all too easy to dismiss Slim Shady as complete
shock-value. The fact is, Eminem isnĺt just some fluke who is
clever with the foul words. His flow is tight, and everything
he says reeks with cynicism, sarcasm, and an ultimately darker
than dark sense of humor. Not everyone can sit back and laugh
about some of the shit he jokes about, but for those who can,
itĺs most definitely worth the ride.
I find that when I listen to Slim Shady, Iĺm indifferent about
the music for the most part. Not that itĺs bad, by any stretch.
My favorite track (which was originally on the EP) "Just Donĺt
Give A Fuck," has a minimalist creepy kind of thing going on,
and could just as easily be called the Slim Shady Anthem. "My
name is Marhsal Mathers, Iĺm an alcoholic (hi Marshal)/I have
a disease and they donĺt know what to call it/better hide your
wallet, Iĺm coming up quick to strip your cash/bought a ticket
to your concert, to come and whip your ass." The sound is
alright, but itĺs the lyrics that make the album.
Hip hop hasnĺt had any memorable storytellers since Slick Rick,
Biz Markie, and as far as Iĺm concerned, Kwest Tha Madd Lad.
Eminem switches up voices when necessary and tends to keep one
wondering what in gods name could come next. "Guilty Conscience"
tells of three guys in shady situations, one who is considering
robbing a liquor store, one who meets a young girl at a rave and
considers dropping drugs in her drink, and one who returns home
to find his wife in bed with another man. Dr. Dre and Eminem
play the good and bad parts of their consciences, respectively.
"97ĺ Bonnie & Clyde" (Just The Two Of Us on the EP) is a rather
chilling conversation between Eminem and his daughter Hailey in
the car on the way to the docks. Eminem explains to his daughter
why her mother is taking a "little nap in the trunk." "No more
fightinĺ with dad, no more restraining order/ no more step-dada,
no more new bruva," ill shit, truly. "My Fault" tells of how
he ends up at a party hanging with Susan, a chick who just
recently kicked heroin. She brings up that sheĺs considering
using again, when Eminem suggests she try Mushrooms instead.
However, she ends eating a tad too many, and serious drama
ensues.
On "If I Had," which incidentally sounds similar to "Suicidal
Thoughts" by Biggie at certain points, Eminem gets a little
too melodramatic. As does "Still Donĺt Give A Fuck," but this
one is more of a follow up, and reinforces that Eminem isnĺt
apologizing for anything. But they donĺt detract from the
tracks that really shine.
rap.1200brka,
NEWS FROM DEF JAM...
Ľ Watch for the movie Deep Blue Sea, coming out this summer,
starring LL Cool J along with Samuel L. Jackson and Michael
Rapaport. LL will also have a new track out based on the
movie, and a new album dropping sometime in November.
Ľ Be sure to check out the Violator Compilation coming out on
August 10th! It features new singles from Busta Rhymes,
LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Q-Tip, Noreaga, Flipmode Squad,
Big Pun, Fat Joe, Cam'ron, Mysonne, Cormega and Beatnuts!
This ain't no background music -- turn the knob all the
way up!
Ľ EPMD was featured in the Hip Hop Report of the July 25th
edition of The Los Angeles Times Calendar and in the July
24th edition of Billboard Magazine! Look for other features
in Blaze and Vibe!
Ľ Memphis Bleek will appear on 88 Hip-Hop's live show
starting Wednesday, August 18th at 10pm. Be sure to catch it!
Ľ Def Jam, Vibe, Spin and Blaze will proudly present Method
Man's and Redman's new album "Black Out!" at 9pm on
September 21st. There will be an online CD listening party
and chat with two of hip-hop's greatest characters!
Ľ As you probably already know, Method Man and Redman will be
collaborating to make "Black Out!", set to be released
September 28th. The first single "Tear It Off" will be off
of the movie soundtrack from In Too Deep starring Omar Epps
and LL Cool J.
Ľ Start thinking about what to ask Santa Claus for this
Christmas! Both Jay-Z and DMX are scheduled to have new
albums drop in late December!
rap.1201brka,
GENIUS/GZA - PRVA DVA SINGLA SA NOVOG ALBUMA 'BENEATH THE SURFACE'
MCA, 1999
Breaker, Breaker
""""""""""""""""
The return of the Genius is soon to come. MCA is dropping his new
album "Beneath The Surface" with the 12-inch "Breaker, Breaker"
as the first release. Judging from the sound of this brand new
material from the Genius, I'd say that there has been some
definate changes. The whole beat is laced by organ chords,
taking us through and it all sounds more brighter and clearer
than what I'd expected. But it works allright though. As the
indesputable MC that Genius is, we know that he'd never let us
down. "Breaker, Breaker" is here, working fine but I hope that
the entire "Beneath The Surface" album will take us to some new
level within the Wu-Tang. I expect nothing less from this Genius.
Score: 2/5
Publicity
"""""""""
Mathematics is handling the production of "Publicity", the B-side
of the "Breaker, Breaker" single. Quite reminding of the sound
from "Wu-Tang Forever", Math builds the entire track on the well
known violin strings. And I can say I like it, even though it
might not be something brand new and creative. Vocally, I think
Genius is takin' it all though. For those who ever doubted, he
does a definate come back and with his sharp lyrics he's this
time giving us his critic thoughts on Hiphop magazines. The
Genius is still in good shape, let's just hope he's giving us
the same mental depth on the new album as he did on his last
one.
Score: 3/5