My Opinion

A very common 'opinion' in hip hop these days is that radio rap is whack. From Nas claiming he will 'roll to every station murder the DJ' on Hip Hop Is Dead to Ice T trashing Soulja Boy, there is a certain negative aspect that comes with selling out in hip hop that is different than other genres. While other artists avoid commercials, movies and endorsements, rap stars take them head on with little question to their credibility. But the second an artist makes a song that is a commercial hit, it's artistic integrity is questioned, and this is something that goes across all genres, but is incredibly prevalent in hip hop. 

Enter the song that attacks radio rap. These songs are a dime a dozen,  and often become as tired as the songs they attempt to attack. But the difference with this one is it has a beautiful DJ Babu beat to go with it. Rhymes by Bishop Lamont. 

DJ Babu ft. Bishop Lamont- My Opinion

Paris, Tokyo Remixes

Admittedly late on this one, but in case you haven't gotten your hands on these two remixes of Lupe Fiasco's super smooth jam Paris, Tokyo, well here we go. First we have the traditional remix with verses contributed by Pharrell, Q-Tip, and Sarah Green. Pharrell's lyricism is often found wanting, but his jazzy flow is perfect for this beat and he does a decent job. Lupe does a nice job closing this out too with a fresh, more upbeat, flow. 

If you rep the Midwest get a passport.

If you from Detroit get a passport. 

If you from Chi-Town get a passport.

So you can see the world. 

Lupe Fiasco ft. Pharrell, Q-Tip, Sarah Green- Paris, Tokyo Remix

Speaking of jazzy flows, there is a jazz remix of this song and it sounds good. So sophisticated. Listen to it wearing your Sunday best and sipping martinis. 

Lupe Fiasco ft. Chris & Denise Paultre

A Trillion

In spirit of the debates last night, I thought it would be appropriate to throw up a political track dealing with the current financial situation. This song is from Rebel Diaz as he tears into the financial bailout. Turns out, a lot of people don't like billionaires getting bailouts from Uncle Sam. Track Below. 

Is that really.....9 zero's? 

Nah homie it's 12. 

Rebel Diaz- A Trillion

Elzhi

More Detroit hip hop, this time from a member of legendary Detroit rap group Slum Village. Elzhi just released his new album titled The Preface and it took me a while to get my hands on it, but it doesn't disappoint. I love Detroit hip hop, it's so raw and Black Milk provides those Detroit beats on this album that sound so unique. The sound oozes out of your speakers, it doesn't sound sexy and it isn't in the typical sense, but Detroit isn't sexy so it fits perfect. 

Here's the album for download. 

And a few tracks. 

Elzhi- Colors

Elzhi- Guessing Game

Guilty Pleasures

Lately, there have been a couple songs that have drawn my attention that I normally wouldn't listen to, but for some reason that have found there way into my headphones lately. 

This first song is combines DJ Khaled with autotone, two of the most despised things in modern hip hop these days. I want to make it clear I like this song DESPITE Khaled, not because of him. But autotone I can tolerate, and this is autotone madness as Kanye and T-Pain combine for a song that uses it to death. I love Kanye's closing line though, which is why it's receiving play. 

Imma tell you like George Bush told me

Fuck ya'll ni**as I'm outta here. 

DJ Khaled, Kanye West, T-Pain- Go Hard

The next one I like for the beat, which is provided by Bangladesh, the man who brought you amilliamilliamilliamilliamillamillamillamilli, thats the Weezy song A Milli if you didn't get it. I'm conflicted about this song though, because while I love Busta, Officer Rawse has never really appealed to me besides the monster single from a couple years ago 'Hustlin' But the beat in this song is crazy. The bass dropping during Busta's verse makes this track worth a listen on its own. 

Bangladesh ft. Rick Ross & Busta Rhymes- Girls Love Me

On Top of the World

T.I.'s new album Paper Trail is rapidly approaching as it gets set to release 9/30, and you know what that means. Leaks of course. Apparently the whole album has leaked but me being the respectable music fan I am have refused to download it. Check out Luda's verse in this song. Ludacris is so underrated in todays hip hop scene. He has been so consistent but Wayne and T.I. get all the respect in the south and Luda is too often forgotten. You can't ignore him on this though as he beats T.I. on his own track. 

T.I. ft. Ludacris B.O.B.- On Top of the World

Love Lockdown Version 3.0

Usually I wouldn't be post more than once on the same track, but I'm making an exception for the drama that has surrounded Kanye's new single 'Love Lockdown' since it was debuted at the VMA's. First there was the live version, then the disappointing studio version, but now a new version has been released fresh with re-recorded vocals, which is a good thing because Kanye sounded like he was running a marathon in the previous recording. Don't expect Kanye to get of the aututone though, as he declared his love for it when he posted this song on his blog. 

So here it is, and it's much better. 

Kanye West- Love Lockdown

Copious Cool Kids

 
Ah the beauties of office internet. Normally it's a struggle to get the internet at my hostel to work long enough to squeeze one track in, but here at the glorious Berkeley Labs I breeze through uploading multiple tracks with ease, which is a good thing considering all the Cool Kids content of late. So much from the Chicago duo lately I can't keep up. All of this has been backing up, I apologize, but you have enough here to almost make a new Cool Kids mixtape. Plus a video for the debut single 'Delivery Man' off their upcoming album. Most of this stuff is unreleased, but still good. Should be familiar with these two so let's get to it. 

I'm a breath of fresh air with a pair of fresh dunks. 

The Cool Kids- Fresher Than You

The Cool Kids-Wasting Time

The Cool Kids- Track 7

The Cool Kids- Track 10

The Cool Kids- Gold Chain

'Delivery Man' Video

Universal Mind Control

I don't know how I didn't post this song earlier, but it has been dominating my Ipod for the entirety of this SF trip. Common once again teams up with Pharrell, but thankfully the original skateboard P doesn't get his own verse and thank the Lord his verse in 'Announcement' was an abomination. But this song bangs harder than most Common tracks and clearly shows that he is sick of the damning 'conscious rapper' tag. Clearly a dance track, it reminds me a lot of Afrika Bambaataa's 'Looking for the Perfect Beat'. A classic from the almighty Zulu Nation.

Common ft. Pharrell- Universal Mind Control 

Oh and here's a snippet of the video for the song, directed by Hype Williams. This video looks like it's going to be nuts. 

Black Milk

A great Detroit producer. He just released a mixtape of instrumentals that he put together that are pretty nice. Definitely good stuff with a relaxed vibe to it. I've been listening to it as I stroll the San Francisco streets at night. I'll throw up a track off that and another for good measure off his latest album titled Popular Demand. 

Black Milk- Purple Track 3

Black Milk ft. Guilty Simpson- Sound the Alarm

Breakdown

A refix of Wale's 'Breakdown' which was originally on the 100 Miles and Running mixtape a couple years ago, but I like this one more. DJ Infamous adds some real nice horns to give the track a celebratory feel but keeps the go-go drums. Plus Wale even mentions hyphy which coincides with my current residence. If I had dreads, I'd shake em, but the only white people with dreads are hippies and that just isn't me. 

Wale- Breakdown (DJ Infamous Refix)

Love Lockdown

This one definitely made my day/week. The new single that Kanye performed at the VMA's has been released and there have been rumors floating around this song all week so I was happy it came sooner rather than later. I was about to cave in and start listening to the live version, but I come back from lunch and am finally rewarded for my diligence for checking every hour. 

However, I do not think this is the cut that will actually be on whatever record, whether it's Good Ass Job or 808's and Heartbreak, Kanye is planning to release in December (I'm still hoping for Good Ass Job). The chorus sounds a little strange and it isn't the best recording in the world, but I think Kanye was in a hurry to capitalize on all the hype from the VMA's and him being the smart individual that he is hurried and put it out. It's still a definite jam though, and I'll probably give it multiple spins on my commute back to SF this evening. 

Kanye West- Love Lockdown

Weezy's Back

Not that he ever really left. He has still been putting out new/unreleased stuff like he never released The Carter III at all. Weezy has been all over the place this summer, whether it's blasting out of every radio in the city or every Ipod in the suburbs, you can't escape him. 

With that said, I needed a break from Weezy and I haven't listened to him much this summer, all this hype around him was just too overwhelming. But this remix has brought me out of hibernation. 

A Milli has probably been the most prominent track this summer, which surprised me cause when I first heard it I didn't think it would blow up like this, I thought it was a little to inaccessible, but shows what I know. 

Here's the remix as a DJ by Toy Selektah arranges it enough to change the feel but not the nature of the song. It's sped up a little and has some nice drums added to give it a more rhythmic feel, but it's still grimey like the original. 

Lil' Wayne (Toy Selektah Refix)- A Milli

Yancey Boys

As in J Dilla and his younger brother who goes by Illa J. Now yes Dilla has passed (R.I.P.), but that isn't stopping his little brother from using some of his beats, and they are family so I don't think this is going to turn into some Tupac type of thing where Dilla sells more after he's dead and then gets ripped apart by some crappy Blender article, but that's another story. 

On this one Illa J flows with fellow Detroit MC and friend of J Dilla, Guilty Simpson. 

Illa J ft. Guilty Simpson- R U Listening 

Illa J- We Here

Kanye and Wayne at VMA's

Both turned in very good performances, but without question the most anticipated was Kanye as he debuted a new track, which was enough to make this day a great one for me. But beyond this, the song titled Love Lockdown is set to be released within 24 hours, and I won't lie I'm checking Itunes about every 30 minutes hoping to catch it before I go to sleep. It's doubtful, but it's slated to be released Monday, so be on the look out!

Oh and how dope is Kanye? I have to say I didn't expect a track like this and I wasn't feeling it at first, but I've given it a few more listens. The only thing is I'm getting real sick of that autotone, but I have to wait to here the CDQ to get a good feel. 

Speaking of autotone, here T-Pain came out with Lil' Wayne. T-Pain did next to nothing, and Wayne delivered what seems like it was a dope energy filled few tracks despite his pants all the way off his ass the entire time. In Flint you get locked up over that. At least he wasn't rocking that top hat and sunglasses like T-Pain who for all intensive purposes was simply there for the name. 

Mikkey Halsted

Mikkey is an up and coming Chicago MC who I have heard pretty good things about. This mixtape has been a long time coming, and Mikkey has a nice little niche in the Chicago rap scene. No disrespect to Kanye, Common, or Lupe, but they are giants and there is something about the little guy that appeals to hip hop. Mikkey finds a nice spot and doesn't disappoint with this mixtape. It's not as poppy as Kanye and not as intellectual as Lupe and Common, but it's not simple rap either. Here's the mixtape in its entirety. 

Mikkey Halsted- My Life

Mikkey Halsted ft. Kanye & Common- Corner (Remix)

Ypsilanti

Yeah that's right, Ypsilanti. Few outside of MI probably know of this place, much less know how to pronounce it, but for now when I think of that strangely titled town between Ann Arbor and Detroit I think of 14KT's song with the same namesake.

14KT is a member of the Athletic Mic League, which hails from Ann Arbor, and this song is a nice little summer beat. Perfect for rollin' through the streets of Ypsilanti as the vocals crooning the cities name in a way that somehow manages to sound smooth comes in around half way through. 

Now you all know how to pronounce it too. 

14KT- Ypsilanti

The Recession

Young Jeezy's The Recession dropped yesterday and I was sure to go pick it up after work. I realized from the first time I played it that this wasn't the same Jeezy record as the past two. As a lot of rappers tend to do, he turns to a much more introspective point of view instead of reporting his environment, which if you haven't listened to Jeezy's two previous albums, has a lot to do with selling crack. 

But here Jeezy moves to addressing political issues with songs like 'My President', but he still has that drug rap mixed in which makes this album have a very unique feel. Don't worry the ad libs and synthetic beats that brought Jeezy to this point are still there in full. 

Considering I am kind of on vacation, I'll throw this up. 

Young Jeezy- Vacation

Can't Forget the D

Even though I'm out here on the west coast, don't think I've forgot about the gulliest state of all time.  What city represents said state? Detroit of course. And no one reps Detroit harder than Guilty Simpson, and in his new track titled 'Michigan Nights' he reps Detroit to the fullest. It's a track that I've been listening to a lot but it seems out of place as I walk around warm and sunny San Francisco. The chorus of 'Michigan nights I snuggle with heat' just doesn't seem appropriate in warm and friendly San Francisco. 

Guilty Simpson- Michigan Nights

SF

I have arrived in San Francisco where I will make it my home for over 2 weeks. It is a strange place that is not like the Midwest. All I will say is that when I asked the person who was at the front desk of my hostel if I could lock my luggage/clothes somewhere, they looked at me like I was crazy. Apparently theft does not exist here and it is a magical wonderland. I guess that forgot about Oakland. 

But anyways one of the things I think about a lot before I start a trip is not only what sneakers to take along, but also what song to listen to as I step off the plane and into a new city. I didn't want to be cliche and listen to 'Going Back to Cali' by Biggie, plus I had never really been to Cali. 

I also didn't want to listen to 'California Love' by Tupac, so played out. 

So I settled on a couple different things to incorporate my love of the Oakland's beautiful hip hop subgenre that is all about ghostriding and going dumb: Hyphy of course. 

So I decided to go with a new song from Stunnaman of the Pack. Now sure the song is lacking in lyrics, but the beat was perfect to step off the plane to and to emerge from the subway into downtown SF. 

Stunnaman- Picture Me Rollin'