so slightly past em, like the letter N

3 timbo tracks released off of BP3 + "forever"

2009-08-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

three timberland-produced tracks off the blueprint 3 were released the past couple days. it makes you wonder what timbo is doing to leak these when all the other tracks haven't seen the internet yet. i feel guilty downloading them but i can't let new jay-z music just sit there without me listening.

the first track that was released was "off that" ft. drake. many people were complaining when they only heard drake on the hook and not on a verse. like everyone else, i wanted to see drake have his own verse but i think he fits in well into the chorus. i like jay's flow on this track as well as his lyrics talking about how he's off all the old trends and on his new shit.

the second track released was "reminder". it sounds like an average timbo beat but fits the song well. the beat is dark and gloomy kinda as he gives a reminder to everyone who he is. he sends an apparent shot at joe budden in the line "remember those button ups, young hov, tell them ordinary joes to button up." i'm not sure if it was a shot at him but maybe. people have been hating on the chorus but i dont think it is to bad. it could be better but i'm not complaining.

the third track released today is "venus vs. mars" and it is definitely my favorite of the three. the lyrics in this one are so smart and the flow is so smooth. the chorus kinda sucks but all the lyrics make up for it big time. he first compares him and his girl to different things such as phones, computers, and basketball players. some of my favorite bars include:

"shawty like pac, me big poppa,
screaming hit em up, i’m screaming who shot ya"

"shawty like pepsi, me i’m da coke man,
body like a coke bottle, I crush it like a coke can"

"thought shawty was the truth, found out she was a cheater,
we were supposed to takeover, i caught her bumping ether"

heres the links to download these tracks: (download em but buy the CD on sept. 11!)
off that
reminder
venus vs. mars

andddd check out the new track "forever" from drake, kanye, lil wayne, and eminem
the hook is from drakes mixtape "so far gone" but all the verses are new and very good
i can't decide which one i like best yet but im impressed by all of them

download it: forever

good lyrics = longevity

2009-08-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

in this interview lupe is asked how important lyrics are to him. if you have listened to any of his music you should know that they are very important to him. he basically says that artists that aren't saying anything with their lyrics usually won't stay around for too long but positive lyrics can ultimately lead artists to have long lasting music such as nas or mos def. check out the quick video above.

what you think i rap for, to push a fuckin rav-4?

2009-08-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

Jay-Z MTV Music

after a few video teasers, the video for "run this town" was released today. it was directed by anthony mandler. although it was filmed in new york at fort trotten park, mandler said this to mtv news, "I wanted something that didn't fit into 'this is New York, this is a building or a street [you know]', I wanted it to feel more ancient. I wanted it to feel more European but on American soil. I didn't want it to have a framework, like, 'Oh, we're riding in New York.' "

"We wanted you to feel uneasy throughout the piece," he said. "We wanted there to be a constant layer of tension through the piece. Even in the way I shot — where the camera comes by Jay, it doesn't stop on him, it goes to Rihanna — there's kind of this chaos of revealing and covering and concealing. And things happen offscreen that you don't see."

this is one of the best videos i have seen in a long time. mandler did a great job capturing the tone of the song. he made it the video chaotic and rebellious and he definitely was able to keep my eyes glued to the screen. he was able to focus on jay, kanye, and rihanna at different times and in different ways during the course of the video. can't wait till september 11th....

blueprint 3 track list revealed

2009-08-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

the album that i have been most excited for all year is jay-z's blueprint 3. the official track list came out today and i was a little surprised by how many features are on there. the features include kanye, kid cudi, drake, jeezy, j.cole, mr. hudson, alicia keys, pharrell, rihanna, and swizz beats. i found it interesting that jay decided to put all these upcoming artists on his own album. drake, kid cudi, j.cole, and mr. hudson have gotten a lot of buzz this summer and i have become a big fan of all of them. when i saw the title "empire state of mind" i was a little upset that nas didn't get the feature but you can't get everything you want. some people will argue that there are too many guest appearances but i think we can all agree that jay has proved himself enough lyrically and can share the limelight with some new artists.

some people are upset that "jockin jay-z", "history", and "brooklyn we go hard" didnt make the actual album but i don't think it is that big of a deal.
the tracks im most excited for are "off that", "a star is born", "already home", and "hate".

blueprint 3 comes out sept. 11, dont forget to pick it up.

XV is the best rapper that you've never heard of

2009-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

donavan johnson, better known as XV, has the online hip-hop world going crazy. the kansas-born rapper has been getting hype everywhere for his mixtape "everybody's nobody". this is his 6th mixtape. its about time that people start giving this kid credit. XV classifies himself as a nerd being obsessed with video games, comic books, and action figures but his lyrics and style are finally making him stand out the way he wanted to. he says he is playing the same role he did in high school as he is in the rap game, a nobody begging to be a somebody. his next album "the kid with the green backpack" is about how people knew him in highschool. he made up a fictional planet called "planet squaria", which is a place where he says he departed to when he was 15 (hence the XV). i was blown away when i first heard this mixtape. to me he sounded like drake with a faster flow with the creativity of kid cudi and the lyrical talent of someone like kanye or wayne. he has a lot to say his his music and everyone should start listening.

download the mixtape "everybody's nobody" here

heres XV live in brooklyn:

mike posner is cooler than you

2009-08-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

mike posner, a junior at duke university, is bringing a new sound to hip-hop. he has a very unique style voice. his sound is popish mixed with hip-hop and r&b. he was originally a producer, but then got sick of just producing and decided to sing over his own beats. he interned at a radio station with big sean's best friend so he produced songs for him on his mixtape and did some songs with him on his own mixtape. in the interview with ihiphop down below, the guy interviewing him says that he can listen to his mixtape while he is with his boys and when he drops them off and picks up his girl, he can leave the same CD in. i think thats a good way to explain his music.

download his mixtape "a matter of time" here

my favorites: drug dealer girl, cooler than me, still not over you, smoke and drive, who knows

check out this performace with big sean:

heres the interview with ihiphop:

kanye's 10 best scene-stealing verses

2009-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

recently complex magazine released their top 10 songs where kanye is featured and steals the show from the main artist. i was realizing that kanye's features on songs are usually some of his best work. it might be beacause hes competitive and doesnt want anyone to beat him on anything hes on, but whatever it is, everyone knows they always have a potential hit when kanye gets on their record.

check out the complex list here

here is my top 10 (rap songs only):

10. Wouldn't Get Far - The Game ft. Kanye
the game actually has a couple good verses on this but kanye also brings it just as hard if not harder.

best line: pop quiz, how many topless, black foxes/did I have under my belt, like boxers.

9. Stay Up!- 88 Keys ft. Kanye
kanye is trying to bring 88 keys up in the rap game so of course he had feature on one of his songs, had to kill it of course though.

best line: try imagining something passionate/between you, cassie, and kim kardashin/maybe that will work when you get to hit that ass again

8. Kinda Like a Big Deal- Clipse ft. Kanye
this is kind of a tie here. i like pretty musch every verse in this song but kanye really brings it.

best line: i guess im like the black marshall meets jay

7. Back Like That (Remix)- Ghostface Killah ft. Kanye, Ne-Yo
this is an overall great song but kanyes verse makes it what it is.

best line: so ordered the kobe beef like shaquille o'neal/second I walked in, the whole room got still/i don't know how to put this but i'm kind of a big deal

6. Make Her Say- Kid Cudi ft. Kanye, Common
all the verses in this song are really good but kanye just take it to a new level.

best line: i got seniority with the sorority/so that explains why i love college/getting brain in the library cause i love knowledge

5. Maybach Music 2- Rick Ross ft. Kanye, Lil Wayne, T-Pain
he got the first verse and no one after that can top him.

best line: talkin bout how ya boy clothes is extra tight/i just remembered that my lime light extra bright/i hit the strip club and girls get extra hype/you hit the strip club and girls get extra dyke

4. Drink and My 2 Step (Remix)- Cassidy ft. Kanye, Ne-Yo
kanye comes on for the remix and of course does what he can to change this mediocre song to a great one.
best line: bartender pour a round I took a few sips/stumblin fallin down, i aint drunk thats my new step

3. Put On- Young Jeezy ft. Kanye
jeezy kills it but kanye makes the track that much better while saying some things made everyones mouth drop.

best line: cause when the jesus pieces can't bring me peace/sure i need at least just one of russell's nieces

2. This Way- Dilated Peoples ft. Kanye
this is one of my favorite songs of all time. the whole song is great and has another amazing feature by kanye.

best line: ima chicagoan til chicago ends/till we blow like chicago wind/ i dont know whats better, getting laid or getting paid/ i just know i'm getting one, the others getting away

1. Lollipop (Remix) - Lil Wayne ft. Kanye
this song has sick verses all the way through but in my opinion kanye beats wayne by far.

best line: tell a girl like doritos, thats nacho cheese/tell her friends like fritos, i'm tryin to lay/i can only have one and i ain't tryin to wait

some new videos from some rising artists

2009-07-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

the first video is "getcha some" by big sean. he is one of the newest members of kanye's record label, G.O.O.D. music. hype williams directed the video and kanye is featured in it. the video is real creative and kind of reminds me of the "good life" video. i've been listening to this song a lot lately and this video makes it even better.

check it:

the next video is jay sean's "down" ft. lil wayne. this song has been hitting the radio a lot lately. i like the way this one sounds and the video is pretty cool as well. there is some good dancing in it. lil waynes verse is one that everyone will know in a few weeks.

check it:

its the best day of the year girl

2009-07-21T20:37:00.001-07:00

when i first heard "birthday sex by jeremih, i kinda just thought it was another no-talented singer who used auto-tune to get them to the radio. i saw him perform the song on the "its on with alexa chung" show on mtv and realized that i was wrong about jeremih. he actually has a real good voice and can play the piano as well. i searched some more stuff on youtube and found this raw session he did. its pretty impressive so you should check it out. also heres some songs that are worth downloading.

must downloads:
break up to make up
raindrops
my sunshine

raw sessions:

rock the bells review

2009-07-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

yesterday i went to the rock the bells tour at the comcast center in mansfield, mass with my friend cip. this is my second year in a row going and i am planning on going again next year. they really bring in some good hip-hop artists. we walked into the place at about 3:30, right in time for k'naan, who i was really excited to see. he put on real good show even though not even half of the place was filled. he performed "ABCs", "take a minute", and "waving flag"-which are my favorite songs by him. during "waving flag" he got everyone to learn the chorus and everyone was singing by the end, he knew how to work the crowd. i think he gained a lot of fans after that performance.

next reflection eternal hit the stage. it was a chill performance mostly for the big fans of talib kweli. im really into his music but i dont think he would impress anyone who wasnt a fan of his already. he played the hits off the "reflection eternal" cd like "move somethin" and "this means you" and ended it off with "get by" which was awesome.

tech n9ne came on stage and brought a lot of energy. im not really familiar with much of this music but it wasnt bad. common played next and was one of my favorite sets of the day. he played all his hits from "i used to love h.e.r." to "universal mind control" he even did his verse in "get em high" which is one of my favorite verses by him. he also let his DJ scratch for like 10 minutes straight which was real cool. he was scratchin behind the back, and spinning around while mixing "10 crack commandments".

big boi was up next. he basically did his verse in every outkast song that you want to hear. he went back to "southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and performed a bunch of old stuff for the real fans. he then turned up to perform "i like the way you move" and "i be on it (kryptonite)". the crowd was getting more full and more excited for the rest of the show.

the roots came next and played a great set. it was very chill. everyone was basically just relaxing listening to them. ?uestlove could have done a set by himself with his drumming skills. the guy on the tuba went into the aisles and started playing while running past all the fans, which i thought was pretty cool. i was kinda dissapointed that they didnt play "you got me" but overall they did a good job.

after a little intermission, it was time for the main act: nas and damien marley. they are performing together to promote their upcoming cd "distant relatives". the place was packed now and the sky was finally dark. nas came out with "hip hop is dead" and everyone went nuts. he did almost everything off of "illmatic" which i was very happy about. when he brought out damian marley, they did "as we are"- the snippit they release about a month ago. their sound together is amazing. damian then performed his set which i wasnt familiar with at all but it was still good to hear. then nas came back out and performed all the hits: "i can", "got yourself a gun", "made you look", "rule", "if i ruled the world", his verse in "black president" and more. the highlight is when he did "one mic" he did it accapella with no beat except a small bongo drum. it made it real dramatic as everyone rapped the lyrics along with him. he didnt play "hero" but you cant get everything you want.

overall, the show was incredible. nas is definitely up there with jay-z, kanye, and lupe for the best performers ive seen. and when supernatural freestyled during the intermissions, it was pretty impressive. he told people in the front row to hand him stuff and he rapped about each thing such as a fake watch, camera, phone, lighter, and a blunt (which of course he lit on stage).

the next big thing from GOOD music

2009-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

GOOD music, kanye's record label, is made up of him, kid cudi, common, john legend, consequence, and more. all of these artists are huge right now. one artist that i think is going to blow up is mr. hudson, a blonde hair, blue eyed singer who is bringing something new to the label. his sound is soulful mixed with hip-hop mixed with pop...kind of hard to explain. ill let you decide what kind of music it is. his first single is "supernova" ft. kanye. his cd "straight, no chaser" is set to release on october 5th.

must downloads:
"supernova" ft. kanye, "everything is broken" ft. kid cudi, "anyone but him" ft. kanye

supernova download
everything is broken download
anyone but him download

check the "supernova" video:

MR HUDSON [FEAT KANYE WEST] - SUPERNOVA from MrHudson on Vimeo.

kinda like a big deal

2009-07-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

clipse, the duo from virginia, is releasing their third album "til the casket drops" on september 29th. the production from the neptunes, kanye, swizz beat, rick rubin, and dj khalil should provide us with some incredible beats. clipse is also going to be featured on kid cudi's new cd.

“We don’t care about sales. We don’t care about none of that shit. We care about making incredible music and locking in that fanbase and whatever comes from that is what it is. My fans don’t gravitate towards ringtone records. People want to hear us talk that shit and that’s what they’re always going to get. It’s always going to be lyric driven. If we do a club record it’ll be our style of club record. We got to bring you into our world. That’s what makes it so hard for the Clipse. We try to bring whole groups of people into our world and not all the time it’s understood. But when they do get it, it’s explosive. People didn’t understand “Grindin” at first. It took like nine months but once they got it, it was all over. That’s just what we focus on.”
-pusha T

thats what i like abut this group. they have their fanbase already, theyre not trying to make radio singles, theyre just being who they are and if their fanbase gets bigger then thats just a plus. this cd is definitely going to be worth checking out.

theyve already released a few tracks from the cd."im kinda like a big deal" ft. kanye, "all eyes on me" ft. keri hilson, and "im good" ft. pharrell.

check the video for "im kinda like a big deal":

to the screw-face n*ggas, what you on? get off that, get a goal and focus dog

2009-07-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

one album that i am really excited to hear is kid cudi's "man on the moon: the end of day" which is being released on august 25th. it is produced by kanye, plain pat, ratatat, will.i.am, etc. his sound is so different from any rapper out which makes me more and more interested every time i listen to him. his mixtapes "dat kid from cleveland" and "a kid named cudi" are two of the biggest mixtapes of the year. his melodies are what makes him so unique. listen to one song and you'll know what i mean. he can rap over just about any beat, something fast like "can i be" or somethin a lot slower like "the prayer". either way, he sends an important message- be yourself and dont worry about what other people are saying about you. he isn't trying to fit in, hes trying to stand out and hes doing a good job.

must downloads: down and out, the prayer, sky might fall, make her say, can i be, dat new new, switchin lanes

check this live performance @ the roots picnic in philly:

The Roots Picnic 2009: Kid Cudi from Zach Trumpp on Vimeo.

no one can touch drake right now

2009-07-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

drake is all over the radio, internet, and TV. he hasn't even released a CD yet but he is still one of the most talked about people of the summer. i first heard about drake last summer when my friend derek smith told me about him. he had been listening to his mixtapes and told me to download them. i downloaded them but did not actually listen until a few months ago. his lyrical skill is really amazing. he brings a new threat to the hip-hop game because he can rap over any beat and sing his own hooks. in this interview with DJ whoo kid, he talks about his performance at the BET awards, his torn ACL, jay-z's shout out to him, his romantic side, the "best ive ever had" video that kanye directed, and his acting career on degrassi.

check the interview:

i am really excited to see how "thank me later", his first CD, comes out. drake is one rapper who is definitely helping rap music.

the game, jay-z feud

2009-07-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

jay-z first performed this "blueprint 3 freestyle" in las vegas but then performed it again in chicago. he says...

“I ain’t talking about gossip/I ain’t talking about Game/I ain’t talking about Jimmy/I ain’t talking about Dame/Lets talk about facts/Dame made millions/even Jaz made some scraps/He could’ve made more but he ain’t sign his contract.”

check the video of the chicago show:

he simply dropped the game's name. i personally dont think it was a personal attack even though he has dissed game's bro jim jones on a track recently. the game said he wasnt going to respond but in madrid spain he got the crowd screaming "fuck jay-z" and proceeded to freestyle over "d.o.a."

check the video of the madrid show here:

personally i lost a lot of respect for game after this. he is clearly just stirring this controversy up to get some attention because his new material sucks. he hasnt came out with something worth listening to since "the documentary". i wonder how many fans chanting "fuck jay-z" were thinking in the back of their head "jay-z is one of the best rappers to ever live".

new 10.deep

2009-07-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

"10.Deep is one of the original New York streetwear brands. Through bold graphics and quality design, we create apparel that intelligently conjures thoughts of movements, individuals, and ideologies of days past and present. We seek to produce goods that neither sacrifice quality nor style. At 10.Deep our motto is simple: forget everyone and listen to yourself. Strength lies in the hands of an individual (10 fingers), not in the approval of one’s peers. "

from www.10.deep.com/info.html

im really liking the new stuff from this brand. they recently presented kid cudi's mixtape "a kid named cudi" and in support of kid cudi they released the "up there" t-shirt.

scott sasso, originator of 10 deep, explains the origin of the brand in this video.
check it:

you gotta put me on

2009-07-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

bobby ray (formally known as B.O.B.) just came out with this video for "put me on" off of his "B.O.B vs. Bobby Ray" mixtape. the song samples "bonita applebum" by tribe called quest. i really like his sound and i think he is gonna become real big real soon. the video is pretty creative and also has some cool dancing in it.

check it out:

lu don't moo no cow-words, you only heard lions

2009-07-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

lupe finally released the anticipated "shining down" ft. matthew santos, to itunes yesterday. i first heard a preview of this song when i saw him live at BC and at UNH and i couldn't wait to hear it. lupe doesnt dissapoint with this track. the lyrics can be interpreted in many ways but i think basically he is trying to say that he is back and is trying to change rap music. he is sick of all the autotune crap and he thinks we should be listening to insightful music that teaches instead of going around in circles saying the same shit in every song.

im gonna try my best to interpret this line by line...

chorus:
Look up in the sky
Now Look up in the sky
Look up in the sky
You thought I was down
You thought I was gone
Thought I wasn't around
I left you alone
But look up in the sky
Just look up in the sky
See that I'm everywhere, everywhere
Shining Down on you

the chorus is basically just saying that if you thought he was gone, hes not. hes just looking down on everything thats going on in the world and trying to improve things.

verse 1:
Well well,
Is that our little author?
Coming back, humming his hymns a little altered
Your attention; put back on the flow like a department of water
Take it off the door like little Walter
Chess? Yes. Baby, I'm Jerry Lawler
Rebel with a cause; outlaw with the laywer
Judge, jurry like a loo; Rap name Lupe but my daddy named me Warrior
This is his memorial.

in this verse he is saying that he is back, preaching what needs to be preached. he says our attention is put back on his flow like the water dept's attention is on the flow of water. he makes a reference to little walter, a blues singer who i'm not that familiar with. he says yes to "chess?" because he is the king like the wrestler, jerry "the king" lawler. he is saying that he is a rebel that has a purpose and an outlaw that can do whatever he wants cause he has a lawyer. his rap name is lupe but his dad named him Wasalu which means warrior. he is writing this song for his dad.

verse 2:
No, I ain't that nigga trying to get a liquor line
When I be scripting lines; want this petition signed.
It says I'm sick of dying; sick of this prison time
I really love my people; I'm sick of pimpin' mine.
Now if we autotune that shit
We can hear the songs from that opera groomed fat bitch
Tellin us not to pursue her, just to shoo her like a blacksmith
We're trapped, and moving round in circles like it's chap stick
And that's the same encircled way of thinking that we chat with
We'll rap this, around your head like a bandanna's fabulous
Used to wrap his hat's with, Rather be in F.E.D.S. instead of National Geographics
We'll I'm not having it now.

in this verse, the first four lines are in autotune. he says he doesnt want a liquor line like puffy and jay-z have. when he is rapping he just wants to get his point across. he says he is sick of dying, sick of prison time, he loves his people, and is sick of pimpin. all these things are too important to be sung in autotune. he says that if we keep saying important things in autotune then the "fat lady will sing" and no one will pay attention to lyrics anymore. he says that we're trapped in this trend of rap music and its making us not think in the real world. he says he is going to wrap this message around your head so you get it like the fabolous used to wrap bandannas around his hat. he thinks people would rather read FEDS magazine instead of national geographics and he is not down with that.

verse 3:
So I say hello and this is for the third time
To everybody out there who ain't ever heard of mine
And if you have then you know you ain't ever heard lying
Lu don't moo no cow words, you only heard lions
Not a facade cherisher, I'd rather have the scars
I don't idolize America, I'm dancing with the stars
Uh huh, All of them? Ya, they are too.
You look up and you see us shining down on you

in this verse he says that he is back for the third time (third cd). he says that if youve never listened to me or even if you have, you know i dont lie. he doesnt speak of things that are not important (cow-words) he only speaks the of important matters (loud like lions). he says he doesnt cherish the facades, an artificial front, he would rather have something that lasts (scars). he makes an american idol and dancing with the stars reference by saying he doesnt like whats going on in america and would rather be up in the sky looking down on everyone.

check out the song here

wale at bodega?

2009-07-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

when i saw the chillin video for the first time, i figured that the whole thing would be shot in DC, which most of it is. then out of nowhere, he walks into bodega. i had to make sure that the only bodega was in boston. its great that he reps a cool store like bodega.

check it out:

Wale featuring Lady Gaga - Chillin from UniversalMusicGroup on Vimeo.