"The Project Pope" is an intriguing mixtape title; TRIFE & TAPEMASTERS Inc. drop it next week. Here's a pretty cool leak with B.O.B. TRIFE's new LP "BETTER LATE THAN NEVER" is due 7/21.
RFM truly fcuks with TAPEMASTERS. And! TRIFE graced MIKE TV's doc 'BACK 2 DA STREETS' a while back. Here's the trailer & another TRIFE leak, "WAR SCARZ." Peace 2 RYAN & The ORCHARD.
I know exactly why people scream 'Free So & SO' w/o regard for the facts in a particular case or a defendant's guilt or innocence; the 'justice system' been screwing brown people since its inception. However, I personally believe everything happens for a reason and there are consequences to actions. So I'm glad (judging from this interview at least) that MAX B is making peace with his fate.
CLICK TITLE 2 COP THE T. In general, AD has great T's.
Welcome to the new RUCK DOWN RECORDS! I'm a little late on this, but I can't pass up a chance to show you part of how DUCK DOWN continues to rejuvinate itself; this is a funny satire of SEAN PRICE's (aka RUCK) gorilla marketing tactics. It's the type of creative, cost effective Inter-vation that teaches us how entertaining & contextual indie hip hop can be.
In other news, CLICK TITLE 2 read my full interview with DUCK DOWN original/SMIF N WESSUN founder STEELE. It's a great read & you may even learn something from Mr. BUCKTOWN USA. Look down for 'WELCOME,' a new vid from STEELE's solo debut 'WELCOME TO BUCKTOWN,' in stores now. If I were you I'd subscribe to Youtube channels by DUCK DOWN & BUCKTOWN USA; you'll come across some cool stuff.
In our speed of light, A/V world Youtube is a smart way for new artists to engage the people with songs. And it's a major plus when the rapper can also edit videos as is the case here with Lucky 7 & "The Hidden Chamber." The hard-body beat is by emerging producer Squizzy.
"That really is an art form." Lol. Bad news America - Hip Hop continues to win; Kelly makes it official in this interview w/ DJ JS-1. He was with the lengendary ROCK STEADY crew and he was RAHZEL's partner for a while. He has produced for everyone from THE FRESH PRINCE to KOOL KEITH. CLICK TITLE 2 HEAR "Ridiculous" w/PHAROAHE MONCH & OC (BTW, isn't 'ubiquitous' being used a lot in raps lately?).
It's no surprise that JS-1's new LP is titled 'NO SELLOUT;' watch the interview and you'll see that the guy is Hip Hop to the core. If you're not sold, here's the guestlist for 'NO SELLOUT.'
KRS-One, Large Pro, Pharoahe Monch, Canibus, Sean Price, Blaq Poet, Killah Priest, Ill Bill, Kool Keith & Ced Gee (Ultramagnetic Mc's), Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, Chino XL, Sadat X, AG, OC, Craig G, CL Smooth, Edo G, Prince Po, Akrobatik, J-Live, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, Krondon, C Rayz Walz, Vast Aire.
Nutrageous, Copywrite, PMD, Rahzel, EMC (Masta Ace, Strick, Wordsworth, Punchline), Termanology, Torae, Pumpkinhead, Jak D, Big Noyd, Q-Unique, Brother Ali, Slaine, Virtuoso, Pack FM, Supastition. Block McCloud, Trez, Rugged Intellect, and DJ Premier.
Peace 2 MICHELLE & AUDIBLE TREATS.
BONUS: "Like This" w/LARGE PROFESSOR http://media.audibletreats.com/DJ_JS-1-Like_This_feat_Large_Pro.mp3
The D.M.V. Supplier, DJ ANONYMOUS, pumps out 'HOOD HITS' like they're going out of style. Number X is aptly named; I for one am sick of SWAG. It's ironic that in Hollywood and other places S.W.A.G. stands for Stuff We All Get - meaning free bees. We love double meanings and puns @ RFM, so I like to think that people running around looking for personal swag need only look inward. But I digress.
'SWAG FLU' has a little of everything that's hot because this DJ, man...this DJ is respected from Philly & Jersey to the DMV and straight down to ATL. 'SWAG FLU' highlights include Articulate's verse on "DOPEMAN RMX," with PUSHA T & Nicki Minaj, "STUPID RMX," "AIN'T I RMX," and "FOREVER" by Ghostface.
This here is an OT/HEAVYWEIGHT Ent. production starring M.REX. My favorite joint is "Space Age;" the repeat-ability of that song is incredible.
Peace to LO G the Street Referee. RICO LAW is up top somewhere. DJ GET EM KID...U GOT EM! Part two is coming soon. Look out for 'The Surreal Life,' starring Jesse Is Heavyweight & DJ Anonymous.
Ms. "Smile" deals with "The Fear" by lightly singing, "Fuck You," lol. The video is corky and seemingly inexpensive. Lily is quickly becoming an RFM favorite. We need more Nicki Minaj though. Maybe I'll hear her mixtape today. I feel like this song when it comes to Saturday blogging. Later.
These portraits, one being of my favorite artists, are by TATYANA FAZLALIZADEH. She's a dope Philly painter with intense work. Click TITLE 2 visit her very cool website.
P.S. - Here's some gratuitous SPIKE LEE/MJ & KB24 stuff. SPIKE truly inspires the RFM movement. My favorite shot in 'KOBE DOING WORK' is the back peddling pan of Kobe & Bruce Bowen's feet moving in total unison. Priceless!
"The Way You Want It" prompted a heated discussion between me & Jesse is Heavyweight about T.I.'s case. I don't know if he's an informant or not, but Jesse thinks he definitely is snitching. How do you get off with a year in prison and community service when you break federal gun laws, he asks? And here you have T.I. rapping "I'll be right back" on his new joint. Regardless, NOTTZ offers up a soulful cut and T.I. continues to show & prove on the m-i-c.
P.S.
The song speaks directly to the struggles of myself and some friends. I argued T.I.'s side becuase I sense a humbleness in his tone. "...but frankly I'm too blessed to walk around frowning looking all depressed." Peace.
Here’s Mariah Carey’s blazing hot new single “Obsessed,” our intro to her new LP, 'MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL,' coming 8/25. “Obsessed” is a clear answer to Eminem’s comical diss "BAGPIPES FROM BAGHDAD," a shot at Mariah and husband Nick Cannon. I appreciate Em’s flow & ill lyrics, but I’m glad she got back at him. I just don’t like the idea of Mr. King White Boy Rapper going at a Black power couple. Call me whatever, it just doesn’t ride.
We can probably take it with a grain of salt, but Mariah claims “Obsessed” is her all time favorite Mariah record. It sure sounds like she had a blast making it with The Dream & Tricky Stewart. Dream's like "MC the MC" at the start, lol.
My favorite Mariah line is “…It must be the weed, it must be the E/ cause you be poppin, heard you get it poppin.” Yeah! It’s all fun & games for Em to rip pop stars and playfully lie on his dick, but I’m waiting for some real emcees to get at him. Excuse my tangent, but it’s similar to the Jay vs. Mos Def idea; when you’re placed on a pedestal and no one challenges you, then you don’t feel compelled to get back in the gym and compete.
Jay-Z continues to inspire the urban music landscape. Got an email from this kid Articulate out of B-More who seems to be a jack of all trades (at least according to his site). He meshes a "DOA" sample, Max B vocals and that anxious B-More club tempo to create an infectious hip hop song called "The Illest Out."
The great thing about Mike TV & RFM is that we're open to all forms of hotness. We posted "The Illest Out" in lieu of a new Fiasco song, not because we're addicted to going left but because recycling doesn't sustain the hip hop environment. We feel about a lot of blogs the way Artic feels about some rappers...get original!
Click TITLE 2 LISTEN. Check out Articulate's official (and I do mean Official) site: http://itsartic.com/
Well Kobe Bryant and his LA Lakers bounce back from last years' debacle against Boston to win the 2009 NBA chip.
During Kobe's rookie year I was 12 years old and striving toward my own basketball goals. I drew a tremendous amount of inspiration from Kobe's game, attitude and general swag.
I may be reaching here, but as young Black men we look beyond our fathers, uncles and grandfathers for male role models who embody greatness. I know I did; Kobe & MJ were two of my heroes coming up. This post is just a small tribute to them.
Whooooo! EVE ripped it! JADA set it off just right: "Now you can let em know it's real where ever KISS at/ ya face get broke tho, iono who can fix dat/ might have to ask YE that/ I don't play dat."
I'm greatful JADA sent me this because it reminds me of like '98 RR ish, ya know? It's funny - this is one of the 'THE LAST KISS' joints that I skip; I hated the hook at first. The crew love makes it hotter.
P.S. - Clean versions are cool sometimes; the edits make this song feel like something that's banned from TV. DRAG came through and did his thing. X goes in at the end. But I feel SHEEK is a close 2nd to JADA.
So this is from KEELAY & ZAIRE's 'Prelude to a Drive.' They're tight producers. It's a really grungy video. I'm on my raw hip hop tip mostly because of Mos Def's warning shots @ Jay-Z. Isn't NIGHTCLUBBER LANG a wild hip hop name? You can be whomever you want to be in this game.
Click TITLE 2 hear "WE MADE IT" featuring Mario Dones. It's pretty hot. Shouts 2 Ms. McDevitt & AUDIBLE TREATS.
Lately I've been bashed by the streets for being too 'industry' and...this isn't an answer to that, lol. It may go unnoticed, but I support cats I came up with who can really rhyme. REDHEAD is such. He jacks NO ID's "DOA" & rips into movements that reject depth these days. Reminds me of the STEELE (of SMIF N WESSUN) interview I did; at one point he apologized for going too deep. Pause, lol.
You know what's cool about this piece? It was done like three months ago, but there's a timeless discussion here. And it shows just why SLAUGHTERHOUSE (joe budden, crooked i, royce da 5'9 & joel ortiz) is inching ever so close to becoming that official hip hop 'BOARD' that Jay-Z was pulling for in '06.
Cats love to argue about favorite verses and songs, but it's usually nonsensical and unproductive. I for one hate trying to talk hip hop with most ppl because they're not real music lovers. SLAUGHTERHOUSE has debates and real hip hop appreciation.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE debut LP coming next month via E1 Records.
Shouts to FOUNDATION MAGAZINE. I contribute to them. PSP = PHILLY SUPPORT PHILLY.
As usual AZ tries to make noise on the heels of a new Jay-Z single. I'm still an AZ advocate and my homies who were big on 'the old AZ' keep telling me he tries to sound like Jay too much. I still don't quite agree, but I have to wonder if he thinks Jay is like listening when he does these or if they have any contact at all.
AZ comes in after Jay on this track and says "You know who's now the greatest emcees alive/ Jigga, AZ and Nas"(this comes after he said "Nas got rich, ain't reach back/ I ain't riff yet" on his last LP). I know AZ is a standup soldier and all, but this seems like such a reach...unless him and Jay have some kind of relationship. PEACE 2 CLOCKWORK MUSIC INC. CLICK TITLE.
The teeth gritting on this one is in full effect! Wayne's engineer deserves a lot of props for the soundbytes throughout. Young Money's captain keeps it simple and funky. It's "THE MIXTAPE WEEZY," real rap.
P.S.
JACK's the ultimate super fan. And does KOBE really got MIKE? ...NAAAAAH!
First, I dig the "MIXTAPE WEEZY" line (lil jab). The song is black album material, I suppose. It's great production from a guy who's been grinding for a minute (NO ID). The guitar action is full. I just can't help thinking about that song on 'THE S. CARTER MIXTAPE' where Jay rhymes about how the 'BLACK ALBUM' is gonna take cats back to school. He's getting in a space now where he reeeeally doesn't have to aim for commercials...and the anti-hero feel in "DOA" is a smart move.
I love Jay's "Aaaaaaaaay Gooooodbyyyye" after each verse.
But, for the record, I listened to "Jumping Out the Window" about ten times the other day. It's all about how you do your particular auto-tune joint. I do feel "DOA" for our hip hop culture. Gotta set things straight every once in a while. WE NEED A BOARD! I'll be on it.
Another link is here http://www.mediafire.com/?lnqnzqmhnzd
In the 1st Episode of the Up Close & Personal series Joe Budden sits down with Nick and gives us his views on rival Mc's.
Directed & Interviewed by : Executive Nick Edited by : Frederick Orozco Filmed Exclusively at Fight Klub Studios
I'm posting this because it's well edited and contextual.
I'm posting this because I'm a big Joe Budden/Slaughterhouse fan and I've been a Meth/Busta fan since I started feeling hip hop. I needed more than a 'comment' space to weigh in on the brewing beef.
Joe may really be crazy like he says. I respect that he speaks his mind, but to be fair, he does have a group album coming next month, so this pub doesn't hurt. I think a lot of rappers are insecure, and they can't handle it when they're publicly challenged about rapping. They may be programmed to take it as a threat to their being; it very well may be considering the state of music sales and the adverse effects disses can have on a diminishing rappers' career.
Joe knows that rappers say things like 'he should get slapped' in the media just to be provocative. It surprises me that he's naive enough to think that Busta either does or doesn't have love for him based on the comments he made defending Meth against Joe.
I can see why folks say Joe is honest to a fault because his reaction to Busta seems like a total back down. I think Busta, of all rappers, would try to physically fight Joe. He has a recent history of 'reportedly' laying hands on people. I wonder who'd win? I wonder if Joe will have the guts to release his song response to Meth (and Busta?).
My man Corey from Philly recently sent me his little brother's mixtape (it's ill) and, having a keen eye for images, I was struck by the dopeness of the insert. The graphic image is such an underrated aspect of presenting hip hop product, but the cover art for KHEMIST's mixtape 'WEIRDO LANGUAGE' jumped out at me.
Peep the white light making KHEMIST glow like new dope artists should. The little chemistry letters add nice detail and compliment the artists' name. Basically, this image puts the kid on another plane...like he wants to perform on a higher level.
Aw man, this is so real for me & mine right now. It won't be long. Great beat by EXILE. "OUTER CITY" is a term Pac used in a famous interview (watch below). Fashawn is cool because he used 'Higher Learning' for a mixtape last year. And his new LP, 'BOY MEETS WORLD,' is out 9/1/09. Thanks to Kim & THE ORCHARD! CLICK TITLE 2 LISTEN.
It seems like J. COLE is the tastemakers' choice of the moment. A lot of industry ppl and fans like to think they have the same eye for talent as JAY-Z, so they hop on his new artists right away. This guy J. COLE is actually good though. He reps his town, which is really a war zone in many senses, and he doesn't sound like he's trying too hard. He can spit. He's got that coveted 'flow' everyone cherishes.
The video is like 'A Milli' because it's one continuous shot following J. COLE. No hook. This is great HIP HOP.
I'm MIKE TV & I don't just post anything @ RFM. This is about exposure for dope artists, hard working PR folks, and some of the SUPER TALENTED SOULS in my ORBIT. I'm a writer, journalist, film maker, song writer, and burgeoning actor. I go HARD. Come with me.
