Hip Hop Congress - UC Irvine

Who is Grande Marshall?

2012-02-09T02:03:00.000-08:00

Grande Marshall - Robert Earl

Not much internet coverage on this dude cause he is slowly coming up as we speak. He's from Philly & he is an example of that new hip hop style; Trill + Wavy = Trillwave.

There aren't too many tracks out by him and his mixtape "800" is long overdue. Once that tape is out, watch him rise & remember where you first heard him, HHCatUCI.
For now, check his Bandcamp here.

- Godfrey Clyde Axium Gozos.

Happy Birthday J-Dilla

2012-02-07T00:41:00.000-08:00

Couldn't skip a chance like this to post only SOME of the soul this man left behind.
Never will there be another.

RIP Jay Dee.

jesus∆

2012-02-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Never enough of this guy.

jesus∆ from aaronisnotcool on Vimeo.

NYC Kids

2012-02-04T16:48:00.001-08:00

West coast is in charge now, no doubt, however NYC is starting to finally get the light it deserves in the new school with people like ASAP Rocky, Smoke DZA, Action Bronson, etc, but theyre not the only ones around. Here go a couple names that might pop out of the east in the near future...

Perth Represent!

2012-02-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

In the city of Perth (look at the picture), population of about 1.47 million people, including me since I had to do the census when I studied abroad there last semester. With that many people you'd think that you would be able to find at least 10 people at a University to form a club around Hip Hop, but you can't. I'm not saying that Perth hates hip hop, just the University that I went to. But I digress, Perth holds many rap oriented concerts, with rap battles every month (but a ridiculous entrance fee), concerts from local rappers, concerts with rappers from America about every two months (still regret missing Wu Tang), and big all day concert events every so often. I personally only met a handful of people that openly listened to hip hop. One guy told me it was due to it being only a fad in Perth and it's not something you can club to, which made perfect sense.

Anyways, I honestly can't listen to Australian rap. I can't get over the accent. It's like how I don't like listening to Eminem because I don't like his vhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifoice. Don't get me wrong though, he kills it on the mic, but given the choice I don't listen to him. But I will still present to you guys, Australian Battle Rap. I mean, making fun of people is universal right? Actually, that's wrong. I can only understand so much when they start busting out British / Australian slang. You'll see what I mean when you peep the video down on the bottom.

If you want to check out more hip hop from Perth check out www.perthunderground.com.au

The Luther Burger

2012-01-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

In commemoration of Hip Hop Congress selling Krispy Kreme, I present the "Luther Burger". For those of you who watch The Boondocks, yes, this is the burger Grandad made for his restaurant. It consists of a 4lb burger, grilled onions, cheese and 5 pieces of bacon, all put between two Krispy Kreme donuts. According to Grandad, it was supposed to have been invented by "Mr. Luther Vandross" himself.

To relate this to hip-hop though, the opening of the Boondocks is by Asheru.

Google him for more songs.

Q, A$AP, CHIEF, PUSHA

2012-01-26T03:20:00.001-08:00

Tell me you have Schoolboy Q's tape Habits & Contradictions already.
Download it here if not.

Here's a track featuring A$AP Rocky.
Hands on the Wheel - ScHoolboy Q ft. A$AP Rocky

Oh, & some new A$AP visuals for his track "Wassup".
Wassup - A$AP Rocky

Chief Keep just got outta jail & is on house arrest; watch his buzz grow from here.
3HUNNA - Chief Keef

Oh yeah, the basedgod himself has remixed one of Chief's tracks so you know it's real.
Bang Remix - Chief Keef ft. Lil B the Based God

Pusha T goes in on Common's Sweet. They both hate Drake by the way.

Use the code "axiumgfrey" to get 20% off your next Karmaloop purchase!

Club Paradise Tour @ UC Davis

2012-01-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

When will UCI learn? People will pay for great artists. As soft as Drake is, I wouldn't hesitate to buy tickets to see A$AP and Kendrick.

ODB

2012-01-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Wu-Tang show in Anaheim last week was pretty dope. Though there were some random openers, the clan came on and didn't disappoint. Towards the end of the show Method Man decided to dedicate a song or two to a fallen member of the Clan ODB, 'Ol Dirty Bastard. ODB passed away back in '04, and though he had a few run ins with the law, his music still has a large presence today. His album ' Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version' is stacked with hard hitting instrumentals unique to the clan. If you have a few minutes I would suggest giving the album a listen even if you already have.

(ODB & Method Man)

ODB - Hippa to da hoppa

Aviv City.

2012-01-22T23:23:00.001-08:00

I have neglected my wednesday spot for a while, so just to start making up for it, a tape that is takin me to saturday on a sunday.

Cities Aviv - Digital Lows.

"Birds eye over cloud 9"

Coastin EP is also too sick:

Facebook I Tumblr I Bandcamp

Now that Tumblr has been mentioned, heres mine:

NineteenNyne-D Tumblr

I still love H.E.R.

2012-01-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

In 2006 with the release of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" came the Teriyaki Boyz with their movie titled song "Tokyo Drift". Many took them as a joke because the song is, for my lack of vocabulary, poop. In 2007, they released a single called "I Still Love H.E.R." with production by Kanye West. This song, more serious, is actually an ode to hip hop. Though most of it is in Japanese (which I don't understand), there are parts in English that are song titles of older hip hop tracks. The song name itself is a refernce to Common's "I Used to Love H.E.R.", but the H.E.R is a pun in Japanese where the H stands for honto (本当), E stands for ii (いい) (the i in Japanese is pronounced like the English E), and R stands for rap. Other references I have found are:
Nas - Memory Lane

Biz Markie - Just a Friend

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y.

Ahmad - Back In The Day

Naughty By Nature - OPP

Puff Daddy - It's All About the Benjamins

The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By

There are probably more, but that's all I've noticed. Check out the video and see if you can hear any. (Sorry, seems I can't embed the video.)

http://youtu.be/yVRbBpvdRRg

Old School Kanye and Phenom

2012-01-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

S.O.P.A. Gone?

2012-01-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

If you've been against the whole S.O.P.A. bill, you can breathe a sigh of relief. It is being reported by Darrel Issa, a House of Representative member, that the bill will not be taken to vote as intended by House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor. If you don't know what S.O.P.A. (Stop Online Piracy Act) is about, it's essentially a piracy bill that would hugely censor the Internet, such as on Youtube, Flickr, Vimeo, Twitter, and basically another social media outlet you can think of.

But the internet has spoken!

Massive internet protests were huge in retaining the attention of the House of Reps. Relentless tweets of #stopsopa and #blackout were trending on Twitter. Many Youtube Partners heavily vocalized their opposition to the bill, such as news analyst Philip De Franco, who is followed by a loyal audience of more than 2 million subscribers. And some websites, have blacked out, meaning for a substantial period of time their website were unavailable. A much larger blackout is planned for January 18th, as prominent websites such as Wikipedia, Mozilla, and Reddit plan to blackout for a 12 hour span.

Will the blackout still occur?

It depends. Has S.O.P.A. been definitely dismissed or has just it been shelved for now? What happens with P.I.P.A. (Protect IP Act), the equally evil version of the bill, over at the House of Senate?

With all that said, perhaps we don't need either. Nielsen SoundScan reported that for the first time since 2004, total album sales has increased from 326.2 million sales to 330.6 million sales. And not surprisingly, digital sales surpassed physical sales. Digital sales accounted for 50.3% of all album sales and increased a cool 8.4% from 2010.

Album sales will never be what they once were. But if S.O.P.A. and/or P.I.P.A. were to prevail, you can likely kiss 2011's margin of increase goodbye, as the online outlets that the government would be blocking (Twitter, Youtube) are the same outlets that artists use to promote themselves and their music.

(Check out the cool info graphic to see the rise of digital music from 2007-2009)

Here We Go

2012-01-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's late. Common comes back after Drake's "Stay Schemin" diss, let's see who lasts the whole ten rounds.

Hennessy Beach

2012-01-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Hennessy is a very famous drink quoted in rap lyric. Even Kaws, a world famous artist, did work for Hennessy. In light of Dom Kennedy and Curren$y's performance tomorrow Jan 13 in Pomona, this track is featured for its dedication to the cognac.

Cuban Linx

2012-01-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

In light of the upcoming Wu show next week, thought I'd post a few songs of which the crew members took part in, but arent necessarily popular.

Always putting out the hits, Raekwon's Only Built Four Cuban Linx is quite the collection of tracks, featuring a good amount of the others including m-e-t-h-o-d man.

Raekwon - Ice Water

Raekwon & Method Man - Ice Cream

Last but not least,

Raekwon ft Ghost Face - Heaven & Hell

The Untouchable Maybach Empire

2012-01-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

While we wait for Rozay's God Forgives, I Don't,
he blesses us with the mixtape Rich Forever. Make sure to download that.

Download here.

Massage Situation

2012-01-02T23:43:00.000-08:00

I'm sure some of you have watched adult swim on cartoon network from time to time even if it was just for a few seconds flipping through the channels but it seems to me that the music they play during their little infomercials is on point. Aside from a few dilla songs and songs I cannot distinguish or even grab my phone fast enough to shazzam it (since the little infomercials are like 5 seconds long) I've heard some stuff from a dude based right here in LA. Flying Lotus, or Steven Ellison experiments with a few genres but mostly wraps his music around hip-hop. Most of the stuff I've listen to from him I'd categorize it as a type of experimental instrumentals something like Nosaj Thing with a bit more umf (if that's a word). If you have a few seconds, or possibly minutes I'd give his youtubes a peep, especially if your interested in listening to something different.

Flying Lotus - Massage Situation ( Personal Favorite/ Featured on Adult Swim)

Happy 2012 Errybody

Rocky Rivera: Pop Killer

2012-01-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

["Married to the Hustle: Engaged in the Struggle"]

Hailing from San Francisco, Ca, Rocky Rivera has definitely been making an impact on not only the Hip Hop community, but the Asian-American community as well.

Taken from a Biography she posted on her Fan page:
"Rocky Rivera is a Hip-Hop journalist by day, MC by night, who found international acclaim by winning a Contributing Editor position on MTV's docu-series "I'm From Rolling Stone" in 2007. After lacking inspiration in the literary world, she decided to finally pursue Hip-Hop as a participant, not only as an observer, and began to fill the void with thought-provoking music that you can dance to. A dynamic perfomer who’s shared the stage with artists such as Zion-I, Blue Scholars, and Pacific Division, her all-lady crew consisting of DJ Roza and emcee Irie Eyez display a daringly different side of Hip Hop you have to experience to believe. Noted music critic Jeff Chang, author of Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation writes “My whole career has been about getting people to hear the stories that need to be heard, and I think her story really needs to be heard.”

Her debut album, “Rocky Rivera” is available NOW on iTunes, CD Baby and Amoeba SF & LA.

Download her latest project, "Pop Killer", at BeatrockMusic.com!
Her debut album, “Rocky Rivera” is available NOW on iTunes, CD Baby and Amoeba SF & LA.
Download her latest project, "Pop Killer", at BeatrockMusic.com!"

If you're interested in finding out more about Rocky, check out her about.me site below!
ROCKY RIVERA

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

With 2011 ending and 2012 being an election year I thought these would be appropriate

Top 5 Albums of the Year

2011-12-29T23:09:00.001-08:00

As 2011 ends, I would like to look back at my favorite albums of the past year. This was a great year for many breakout artists, but especially for Tyler, the Creator and OFWGKTA. We had a new Roots album, new Yeezy with Jay, breakthrough for J Cole, Kendrick Lamar. Lots of new artists this year, and so I'm looking forward to what's ahead in 2012.

5. Das Racist - Relax

Greedhead

This is a pretty controversial pick, as most people I know loved their mixtapes and hated their debut album, Relax. However, the production value is through the roof with songs such as "Relax", "Girl", and "Power." Das Racist could have easily created an album as easy to listen to as their mixes "Sit Down" and "Shut Up". Instead, they decided not to give a crap about anyone, and created an album that goes hard and all over it place. It's crazy, it's random, and it's hysterical. For all the flak they receive about being Joke Rap, they sure sound serious about their rap future. After all, they can't always keep singing about Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, can they?

4. Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

There's a reason why "Yonkers" has 30+ million views on Youtube in just 10 months alone. Okay, besides from the fact that it's psychotic, and weird (honestly, did you NOT think it was weird the first time?), it is also the perfect video to introduce the internet world to the twenty year old artist from Los Angeles. The album is mostly disturbing and dark, as Tyler constantly clashes with his inner thoughts and alter-ego's throughout the album. Now, this definitely isn't an album for the weak, as Tyler often has sick fantasies of rape, murder, Satanism, etc, but it is all fiction and just random thoughts in his mind (he even lets out a disclaimer in "Radicals"). In reality, Tyler is just a strange, rebellious, but perfectly normal dude who just wishes to hang out with his true friends more, watch Adventure Time, and even fall in love with the girl he can never have ("Her", which shows Tyler at his most vulnerable state). What ever could be wrong with that?

3. The Roots - Undun

Def Jam

Undun is a concept album centering around the life of fictional character Redford Stevens who ends up living a life of crime due to societies' inequalities. The entire album is reverse chronological so Redford meets his untimely end right away. It's a deeply engaging album, and at 38 minutes, is an album that is hard to take in, but can be easily repeated many times. Standouts include the single "Make My", which has BIG KRIT and Black Thought exchanging verses about the end of Redford's life, and the glorious 4-piece orchestral movement with Sufjan Stevens (folk, indie) starting it off, which makes for an amazing breathtaking end (or beginning?) to the album.

2. Phonte - Charity Starts At Home

Foreign Exchange Music

I'll admit I never listened to Phonte's stuff before his solo album, but I might have to after listening to "Charity Starts At Home." Standouts for me were "Not Here Anymore", which has Phonte bragging that he's still relevant in the game today, and that people miss him since he's not here anymore (he quit his group "Little Brother" which I will admit, I need to listen to afterwards). "The Good Fight" discusses what it takes to survive financially and has one of the realest lines depicting the current music industry: Go and live out your dreams that's what they telling / Fam in my ear and they all yelling / Keep it real Te and don't ever sell out / But how the f*ck you sell out when ain't nobody selling? "Charity" doesn't bring anything new to the plate, but it doesn't need to. Masterfully produced, perfectly sampled, and lyrically witty, this is one underrated album.

1. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

Top Dawg Entertainment

This album is seriously good. Once opener "F*ck your Ethnicity" dropped the beat, I was hooked. It's difficult to speak about so many issues in a solo debut album, but Kendrick pulls it off flawlessly. Issues dealing with racism, state of our medicated youth, 80s crack babies, Ronald Reagan Era, Hiiipower movement (Along the lines of "Thug Life"), vices, evils, and relationships, are just some of the topics presented throughout the album. But it's the message in second-to-last closer "Ab-Soul's Outro" that really hits home. He says, So the next time I talk about money, hoes, clothes, god, history all in the same sentence / just know I meant it, and you felt it / because you too are searching for answers. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

Honorable Mentions include: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up, Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter, A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP, Lil' B - I'm Gay (I'm Happy), Jay-Z/Kanye West - Watch the Throne, Cities Aviv - Digital Lows, Danny Brown - XXX

So any thoughts on your albums of the year? Willing to share? Leave a comment.

Happy New Year btw!

Junkies

2011-12-26T18:49:00.000-08:00

Madlib, stones throw producer extraordinaire, recently had a show down in LA which was part of a three show series he launched a few months ago. Though the flyer stated that J Rocc, yet another producer extraordinaire, was not going to be performing at the LA show, he was in fact there. To my surprise J Rocc can hold his own even when he is just opening up for Madlib. Some of the stuff he played, including old Beat Junkies stuff, was some of the craziest I have ever heard. J Rocc who is credited with founding the Beat Junkies has a style unique to himself, which, I think, show in some of the stuff that Beat Junkies came out with years ago. After some searching I was able to get a hold of their first albums, The World Famous Beat Junkies Vol. 1 & 2 and I wasn't disappointed.

Personally I think both albums have a sound that was a bit ahead of their time considering they came out in the mid to late 90s. The Beat Junkies crew incorporated crazy samples with instrumentals of their own and came up with a unique sound. After their initial success, they continued to make music as a group though as time passed most of the members went on to do both individual projects and some even matched up with other groups including The Visionaries and Dilated Peoples. If you're looking for some hard hitting instrumentals I would recomend you check out Beat Junkies first two volumes and even their other albums. From what I've read J Rocc is currently working on his own album so be sure to check back for that soon. Hope everyone had a Merry X mas and have a great new year.

Beat Junkies - The Session ; World Famous Beat Junkies Vol 1

Beat Junkies - The Visionaries ; World Famous Beat Junkies Vol 2

New York

2011-12-23T16:11:00.001-08:00

New York's new generation has evolved from previous generations, pretty exciting.

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire! Some NY hype! Huzzah video is explicit, beware!

Action Bronson is that dude!

Smoke Dza w/ an ASAP feature!

There's still a lot of people out there but these people stick out to me. Comment for any disagreements.

Echoes Of Silence

2011-12-21T22:55:00.000-08:00

Go get it

RIP SLIM DUNKIN

2011-12-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

I know Slim Dunkin is not a mainstream, well known, hip hop artist, but respects need to be paid to this Brick Squad Monopoly member. He was Waka Flocka's right hand. Even though people do no take Flocka's & the rest of BSM seriously, these are also people who have souls and have love for one another. Take the time to see from their perspective and how big it is to lose a brother.

check it

2011-12-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

Finally

2011-12-17T01:20:00.000-08:00

It's taking a while, but I am a gradually getting away from the trauma bestowed upon me by what is simply called Finals, so to cheer up I had tried to get back on the hippity hop. I know I may just be catching up with a lot of you, but I finally got the chance to watch Tribe's documentary. For the most part the documentary is used as an answer to a lot of the questions the members of the group are asked by friends, family, and fans.

Questions such as:

Will there be more Tribe shows?
Will A Tribe Called Quest ever be back?
Can there be another expected album?
What caused the group to break apart?
Why did Q-Tip go solo?
Is everyone in the group still friends?

The film works around every member of the group bringing about each members perspective, opinions, and story shifting between Q-Tip, Phife, Ali Shaheed, and Jarobi. Alongside the group members, several other artists come in to speak on their views of matters and Tribe's significant role in hip-hop.

In all the documentary works to tie up any loose ends that Wikipedia doesn't fulfill along with showing the information coming unfiltered straight from the sources themselves.

I recommend watching it if you haven't done so already and especially if you want to see the rise and ultimately falling out of what was and is one of the greatest musical groups of all time.

Really?

2011-12-15T21:00:00.001-08:00

It's real Drake & it's gross.

Ghostface Killah

2011-12-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

AKA "Thor Molecules aka Phantom Raviolis the panty melter aka Galaxy Knuckles aka the Hands of Zeus otherwise known as the high n exalted Cocaine Biceps n the mighty inventor of slaps nahmean."

One of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, is one of the hip-hop connoisseur who knows hip-hop from the 80's even to today's Drake, who he hates. His blog is always a great read, and you may visit it here.

Ghostface is found being interviewed by the also legendary Nardwuar, one of the greatest interviewers next to Diane Sawyer.

Learn something from this old head & go download Ironman & Supreme Clientele.

Hype

2011-12-15T13:25:00.001-08:00

Juicy J & Busta Rhymes. I'm sure those names ring some bells. Barney Stimson would consider them legend.... dary. But why are they signing to these new labels? Juicy J is now of Taylor Gang & Busta Rhymes joined YMCMB. Trying to stay relevant? It's kind of like MJ coming back to play for the Wizards. (MJ is still the greatest don't get me wrong) Just retire and keep that reputation you built! They have been both working with the new young talent.

Download one of Juicy J's new mixtapes, Blue Dream & Lean here.

He has features with of course his label mate Wiz, Kreayshawn, ASAP Rocky, Spaceghostpurrp, 2 Chainz, Casey Veggies, and of course Lex Luger on some tracks.

We trippy mane!

AHHHHHHHHHH

2011-12-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

is Tyga's signature grunt. Tyga of YMCMB & Last Kings is the buzz lately. If I was a DJ at a club, his discography is all I would play. Cause it is all about club bangers & Rack City Bitch, right?

Download his new mixtape #BitchimtheShit here. His album, Careless World is due January 24.

#NowPlaying

2011-12-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

[ #NP ]

A glance at some of the songs on my current Hip Hop playlist for Winter Break! Give these songs a quick listen if you've never heard of them!

All My Time -Lauryn Hill

Purple Crustation -J Dilla

They Reminisce Over You -Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

Us Placers -Lupe, Kanye & Pharrell

Party of Two -Blu

Steady -Cyne

At the Helm -Hieroglyphics

We Major -Kanye West

Party & Bullsh*t -Notorious BIG

Back in the Day -Ahmad

10 Thanx Fux

2011-12-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Ive been in america for 4 months now. I love it. First time i lived in another country away from my own, yet i felt at home, with a lot more excitement...and asians. Headed back home in 2 days and as you can imagine im excited for that. But im even more excited about coming back here after the winter break and keepin this shit rollin - hopefully with a new mixtape under my arm.
Before i left everyone kept telling me how funny would it be if i came back from america being overweight. I see why they say it, but wont happen. However my itunes cant fit into its jeans no more. Here goes 10 of the phat ass tracks & tapes ive been bumpin while i was here and that i cannot wait to show to the people back in Spain.
Therefore thanx fux for the HHC. See you on the other side. Bitchez.

Ol School Lives On.

Best.

XXL Freshman 2012 List LEAK!

2011-12-06T01:34:00.000-08:00

Looks like XXL's annual "freshman" list has leaked, and for another year, the list bears some questionable choices to hip hop heads. Don't get me wrong, I listen to some these artists daily, but these dudes are FARRR from Freshman. Maybe I should rephrase that: "IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!" Last year's HIP HOP CONGRESS URBAN ARTS FESTS HEADLINER Dom Kennedy should have been on this list last year. Wait, should have been on the list TWO years ago! Same with Chip, XV, and the Kid Daytona. As usual XXL had to throw some wack artists on there... (sigh, smh). When will XXL learn? Kreyshawn and Future? C'mon now. I can name 10 artists that are more deserving!

Aside from that, the list does mention a nice core of up and comers with big co-signs. Singer/Rapper Gerard Walker of Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang, Singer/Rapper Tory Lanez out of Toronto who Drake calls "his little brother," Stalley of Rick Ross' MMG, Say It Ain't Tone aka Big Sean's hype man, and Danny Goines who had his mixtape sponsored by Rocawear. Along side them are Midwest representers Rocky Fresh, Neak, and Marvo (Chicago), Streetz-n-Young Dueces (Milwaukee), Jon Connor (Michigan), and rounding out the list is Cali representer Moe Green (Vallejo/Bay Area).

I'm not too high on this list. I really feel like a lot of GREAT artists were left out AGAIN. These lists seem to get worse every year. Maybe it's time for me to send in an application to XXL Magazine..

Who do y'all think should have made the list this year? COMMENT!

'Chill' Music

2011-12-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

Here's some relaxing songs to get you through finals!

Elroy of Axum

2011-12-01T02:01:00.001-08:00

Yo here's something smooth for all y'all out there. A brand new song by an emerging artist that goes by the name Elroy of Axum. Though its not Hip Hop, its influenced. In short, Elroy describes himself as "a non traditional Hip Hop producer/Soul/Rock/Blues/Whatever the fuck else I'm feelin." I'm diggin this cats style, you remember I posted another one of his songs on the Artists of the Week: UC Irvine Hip Hop posts. Give the song a listen. Fans of real instruments should appreciate this, and the vocals are on point too.

The Day

Credits:
Elroy Of Axum(producer/guitar/mpk/song writer) & Ricardo Sparks(singer)
Featuring Venus Green(background vocals), Phil Harris(background vocals/chorus bass), J.Riff(chorus solo guitar), and Colby Abbot(saxaphone)

Fan page:
facebook.com/ElroyOfAxum

Twitter:
@ElroyOfAxum

Dilla Donuts

2011-11-29T10:45:00.001-08:00

A quick post as finals week approaches, but if you guys have not heard HHC will be doing a krispy kreme donut sale this week to celebrate the winter season. Oh and to fund raise of course.

Seeing that we are going to be selling donuts I thought it would be appropriate to share an album titled just that, Donuts. J dilla (James Yancey), or dilla as some called him composed this album over an extended period of time during which he was in and out of hospitals suffering from a rare blood disease. Though James was forced to a wheel chair towards the end of his life he never stopped working on his music. It is believed that some of the editing that James did for donuts was done in the hospital. Dilla remains a hip-hop icon to this day and after listening to the album its easy to see why. His unique combination of samples and instrumentals captivated his listeners for many years and are even attracting new ones to this day. I leave you with probably my favorite song of the album. If you have a chance to check the album out in its entirety I strongly recommend it.

J Dilla- Time: The Donuts of the Heart.

Artist Improvement Series - Vol 1 - The One Sheet

2011-11-27T22:51:00.000-08:00

In my experience with multiple music internships and constant artist interactions, I've seen many examples of good marketing of an artist's brand, image, and style as well as many horrendous ones. This is why I am introducing a new series on how to better promote yourself as artist to the world, so that you can apply to this yourself or to your friend who is trying to make it.

A one sheet, as you'll find out more about in the video, is an important but often underused technique of marketing yourself, as an artist, to music industry professionals such as A&R, PR, and talent buyers. Think of it as a resume, but more geared to aspiring musicians. Watch the video for more in depth information about one sheets and how it can create a great first impression when contacting such professionals who are well connected in the industry.

Hip Hop Therapy

2011-11-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

[Good Luck studying for FINALS!]

Remember that Hip Hop isn't only for entertainment purposes, it can be used as music therapy as well. If you ever find yourself stressing out for the next couple of weeks, or anytime after of course, just turn up your favorite album(s) and chill for a second! Winter Vacay is just around the corner, then it's just smooth sailing from there (:

Different Levels

2011-11-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

I kn0w I'm kind of late but Immortal Technique's newest edition is in. I actually am just listening to the album as I'm typing so if it's wack and you guys want to kill me for wasting your time then don't, blame the internet for forcing people to put up free stuff.

Here's the link to the website http://viperrecords.com/ go get that ish.

In completely other news which is also late actor/comedian/rapper Donald Glover just released his first album titled "Camp". For the most part it's actually a lot better than I expected it to be. He starts off the album pretty strong with the song Outside. The song pretty expresses the "outsider" standpoint as the song begins addressing his take on the stereotypical black family, how he was perceived by family and friends, and his movement from low to middle class. The rest of the album takes turns with slower songs like "Heartbeat" wear Glover talks about a past relationship to the up tempo punchline filled track "Bonfire". Do I recommend a listen? Yes. Do I recommend listening to it after The Martyr? No. But still give the two a listen and tell me what you think.

The Rap Board

2011-11-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

The website that will occupy the next 15 minutes of your life. At least.
For your entertainment only: click HERE

Artists of the Week: UC Irvine's Hip Hop Scene

2011-11-22T23:06:00.000-08:00

Wait... what? UC Irvine... and... Hip Hop? You rarely hear those two words in the same sentence. I understand: UCI is known for its renown research facilities, nationally ranked undergraduate/graduate programs, plethora of dance crews, bizarre (and by bizarre, i mean awesome) mascot, and abundance of asian students. It also should be known, that UC Irvine houses an emerging hip hop scene. Since 2001 HHC has been the only outlet for Hip Hop minds alike on campus and has brought numerous artists to rip the stage for UCI students and community members for free. So enough with the history lesson. The reason I am writing this post because I want to promote some of the artists that are current, or former Anteaters. All opinions aside, much respect to all the artists out there grindin' for what they love.

Azad Right:

This guy right here, if you haven't heard of him, you should. He's getting love from blogs all across the world and he's blowing up right before our eyes, recently opening up for Kendrick Lamar in LA and getting recognized by XXL mag. I'm not going to say much about him, other than you should definitely check out his music. Let's not forget where he started: here at UCI, where he graduated with a degree in Poli Sci. Show some love on Twitter @AzadRight and be sure to download Azad's "The Time Is Right" mixtape!

Nyne Dymondz:

Allow me to introduce you to Nyne D, an exchange student from Spain who is calling UC Irvine his home for now. If you visit the blog often, you might of read some of this dude's pieces. I've been working with this guy for a couple months now, and I am impressed more and more by his lyrical ability. Dude spits fire: "It's a cold world, there's no justice just ice." Not convinced? Download his EP titled "The Edge of Future" and show love on twitter @NyneDymondz

Ricky Rivera & The Duke:

Second year Business Economics student Ricky Rivera is an up-and-coming rapper out of the Bay Area, still finding his ways through the cuts of hip hop. Avid followers of the blog have probably read some of his posts as well. This guy has a knack for catchy hooks and clever punch-lines. Look for his debut project in the near future. I also want to recognize a rapper that goes by the name The Duke. A recent graduate from UCI and HHC alum, The Duke has been busy adjusting to post-college life, but continues to kick rhymes. Check out this collab the two of them did last year. Recorded in a dorm room in Middle Earth. What you know about that!? @ricknoflair @thedukeiv

Elroy of Axum:

HHC Alum, Elroy of Axum combines the beautiful sounds of blues, jazz, hip hop, r&b, and soul in his music. His unique sound soothes the soul and allows you to appreciate the various music forms. Check out his EP and follow @ElroyOfAxum

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://elroyofaxum.bandcamp.com/track/follow"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Follow by Elroy Of Axum&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

CJ White:

Freshman, Mechanical Engineering major out of Los Angeles. Yes, I said Mechanical Engineering major. CJ White aka J. Cole's little brother (if you ever see him, you'll know why I said that). For now, check out his track over a classic 9th Wonder beat.

Shawn Isaac:

If you ever watched MTV's True Life series "I want to be a Rapper," you might recognize this guy. As a 4th year UCI student Isaac has made his mark through various means. He caught my eye as a really intelligent guy, demonstrated by this video here. On top of being a student and entrepreneur, Isaac is a producer/rapper and has also been featured in Forbes magazine. Hit him up @realshawnisaac

Rocom:

Another example of the talent produced here at UC Irvine. Rocom, a rapper/producer, who also has a crazy skill for creating sick art pieces. His artwork has gained him a lot of attention outside fom the recognition he has received from his music. Follow @rocom

In The Bomb Shelter

2011-11-22T09:21:00.000-08:00

Aside from the world of hip hop, many producers these days like to experiment with stuff different from what they usual do. Being no exception to this tendency, Madlib (a bit of an underground producer) gave reggae a shot with his release of the "Blunted in a bomb shelter"
mix-tape.

I first heard of the mix-tape through one of my friends who happened to see it listed on amazon as an album neither of us had. Being the Madlib fan that he was he bought the album without hesitation knowing nothing of the music that was on it nor if it was worthwhile or not. As we would soon find out, the mix-tape provided us with hours of reggae madness without interruption, and it soon became my favorite one.

Blending tracks from Lee Perry to Gregory Isaacs this mix-tape does a good job at exposing the listener to a wide variety of reggae music with pretty sick transitions in the middle. As with other Madlib tapes the tracks are cut and presented only in a way that Madlib can spin but I think this only adds to the effect.

(Track 3 - Jungle Lion )

The mix-tape as a whole flows from first track to last with each track transitioning to the next rather easily. Overall I would recommend a definite check out to those interested in reggae with a twist.

(Track 20 - Sensimelia)

Bay Area Music

2011-11-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

In high school I’m sure everyone had three types of friends that could rap. The first one just straight out sucks and needs some serious help. The second one is pretty decent, but doesn’t want to take their skills seriously. And the third one has serious talent and you know they’re going somewhere in life. A.N.T Smith falls into this third category. A.N.T aka Young T-tha is a rapper out of the bay area.

Recently joining RKA (Rich Kid Academy), A.N.T has been coming up. If you guys haven’t checked him out yet, you can catch him on the last verse of the joint “Money All Day” produced by DJ Cook. The video is shown below.

Look out for his upcoming mixtape “All About A Dolla” coming soon.

If you guys liked that beat, you have to check out DJ Cook. T-tha and Cook have been in the studio lately and are cooking up something special (no pun intended). I’m not just promoting these artists because they are from my hometown, but I strongly believe they have legitimate talent. So join the movement and follow them at the following links.

T-Tha

Twitter: @macinassttha

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/tthadaddy15

DJ COOK

Twitter: @djcook510

Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/djcook

Mac Miller + Online Cult = Success

2011-11-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

Mac Miller sold an impressive 144,5000 copies of his less than impressive debut album "Blue Side Park". How?

By using the powers of the interwebz.

Social media was a driving factor in Mac Miller's success. It helped him become the first independently distributed artist to become #1 on the Billboard Charts since Snoop Dogg made his debut some 15 years ago.

He has 1.2 million followers on Twitter , 1.5 million likes on Facebook, and a cool 192,718,904 upload views on Youtube. Add that to a determined fan base who relentlessly post on forums and you've got quite a bit of buzz going.

Now could it be that he got lucky and picked a week where he didn't face any competition?

It's possible but not likely. Wale sold 166,000 copies with 42% of them being digital while J. Cole sold 217,000 copies with 43% of them being digital. Mac Miller sold 144,500 copies with 76% of purchases being digital.

Mac Miller has been creating buzz for quite a bit of time and it has finally paid off. It goes to show, it's not how big your record label is, it's how good your marketing team is.

Longevity

2011-11-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

[Paying Homage To THE ISLEY BROTHERS]

It is pretty rare to find well-respected/legitimate producers or artists in the Hip Hop and R&B industries who have not been inspired by or sampled songs released by the Isley Brothers. The songs to follow have been sampled off the quiet storm funk song Between the Sheets, which the American R&B/soul/funk band released nearly 3 decades ago in 1983. Although there are more songs that have sampled off of Between the Sheets (and almost all of the other songs released by the Isley Brothers), I limited the list to the few songs that I grew up with and knew other people would definitely appreciate, that specifically targeted this song. There's history to most of your favorite Hip Hop songs out there, so if you're ever curious about whether or not the music you were listening to was something you've heard before, or if it just sounds familiar, never hesitate to look into it, because you never know where its roots may take you back to. So here's to the Longevity of Hip Hop (btw, if you didn't catch that reference, Longevity was another song released by the band) and love of music; may it continue to inspire and allow the gifted few to create and recreate amazing music for years to come.

1991: A Tribe Called Quest

1992: Common

1994: Aaliyah

1994: Keith Murray

1995: Notorious B.I.G.

2002: Whitney Houston

2006: Tupac ft. Andrew 3000, Snoop Dogg, & Ron Isley

2007: Jay Z

2009: Drake

2011: Mac Miller

Take Care Review

2011-11-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I'm going to keep it short with an interesting read:

Aubrey Graham didn’t claw his way up through rap game like the legendary moguls before him. He grew up in a posh Toronto neighborhood. He attended an esteemed private academy. He had a bar mitzvah. Compared to the fictional Papa Doc, Drake’s street cred is lacking to say the least. But in reality, he had to grow up just as fast as any other kid who’s innocence was snatched away from them prematurely. His parents divorced when he was three, leaving him to deal with his mother’s debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. Much like Lenny Kravitz, he reconciled with the permanent social handicap of never being black or white enough. That’s where he found his hunger. You don’t need exit wounds or a prison sentence to gain respect — just raw talent — which has aged to a fine cream right before our eyes.
It’s damn near impossible to mature at the right pace as an entertainer with the voracious consumption of digital music. He felt rushed during the production of Thank Me Later. It served as aural catharsis for all the necessary growing pains that come with instant fame. Now his crew is getting bread. He’s back in Toronto. In more ways than I can count, Take Care is a farewell to the up-and-coming mixtape Drizzy and the beginning of a 25-year-old veteran having full command of his verbal arsenal.
Being the ladies man he is, it’s no surprise some of the standout tracks here are female driven. Producer Noah “40” Shebib (who’s been his main man since the Degrassi days) makes his impression felt on the piano-synth driven opener “Over My Dead Body” featuring some dynamite digital pipes from Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk. Kanye might even bow down to the presence of the colossal bass drums (reminiscent of “Heartless”) on the title track which tries to tie a nice bow around the Rihanna rumors that were inflamed by last year’s “Fireworks”. But with the exception of his pillow talk Elle interview, “Marvin’s Room” paints us a very real picture of the kind of trouble drunk dialing in the club can get you. The second half morphs into a trippy interlude spun with ridiculous ease by rising star Kendrick Lamar.
Contrary to popular belief, Take Care isn’t all that soft. The rap hand is deadly strong on gospel heavy “Lord Knows” featuring personal mentor and grunting extraordinaire Rick Ross. Mad props to big time guest producer Just Blaze who brings the Lord’s house down with an earthquaking children’s choir. “Practice” is a clever cover of YMCMB’s first major hit “Back That Ass Up” made all the smoother with an impressive range framed by distant accapella. Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) lays a soft and steady R&B track for him to put all the haters to bed: “You niggas gettin older/I see no threat in Yoda/I’m out here messing over the lives of these niggas/That couldn’t fuck with my freshman floata/Looking at that fucking chip on your nephew’s shoulder/My sophmore/They was all for it/They all saw it/My juniors and seniors will only get meaner”.
If you can take anything away from this sophomore effort is that this dude loves his Mom. Amidst a jangly somber piano backdrop we catch a poignant glimpse of critical moments in his career and how his better half has always managed to keep him grounded on “Look What You’ve Done”. This song retains absolute authenticity when you hear him talk about depositing all that money back in her checking account and finally putting her up in a nice apartment. Money might not be able to buy you happiness, but it sure as hell feels nice when you can pay back those few people who were with you since day one. He’s made peace with his past, paid his debts and only wants to move forward. The real question is will his rabid fan base let him?

Drake Take Care by para sute on Grooveshark

Get Involved

2011-11-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

Although unrelated to Hip-Hop, I still thought I would post some quick thoughts about a huge pet peeve of mine here at UC Irvine. Since day one of welcome week my freshman year, all I heard was "Irvine is so boring". Being a 4th year now, I've realized how much this school has to offer and it frustrates me to see other students complain about not having shit to do. Especially when they don't break out of their shell and take initiative themselves to see what they can do. From numerous dance teams to the greek system to political organizations, there is literally hundreds and hundreds of organizations to choose from. I can almost guarantee there is something on campus for every single person here at UCI.

Even worse is the school spirit here. Us students act like it's Irvine's fault, but I've come to realization that us, the students, are the problem. This sudden realization came from the fact that the Irvine soccer team is 8th in the nation, has a 2nd round bye in the NCAA tournament, and unfortunately it seems that 90% of the student body probably don't even know that. Why should this school do anything for us, when we don't reciprocate anything back to them (besides a lot of money)

Relating this to Hip-Hop, I know a lot of people were very disappointed with Shocktoberfest. Most people complaining were the one's sitting behind their computers doing nothing about it. Why not go out, join ASUCI and make an impact for the better? So before you ask yourself questions like "why is there never anything to do at UCI", "Why does SD get Drake and not Irvine?", maybe you should ask yourself if you've done anything to try and help change that.

If you want your time here at UCI to be worthwhile, make it worthwhile yourself. zot zot

Shook Ones & Halfway Crooks

2011-11-17T15:00:00.000-08:00

Prodigy & Havok are back at it after a few years and this Black Cocaine EP will make new listeners into new fans and old listeners happy that they back. No one goes harder than Mobb Deep. Bringin' that Queensbridge mean muggin hip-hop back for all y'all hipsters!

Download Here

BEEF ALERT

2011-11-16T21:47:00.000-08:00

YES!! We have beef brewing ladies and gentlemen! Okay, maybe not that Wescoast v. Eastcoast beef, but beef is beef and I'm not mad at it. Ludacris is getting back to his old IDGAF days as he goes in, presumably, on new schoolers Drake and Big Sean on his new track "Bada Boom". Long story short, the "beef" stems from both Drake and Big Sean commenting on the excess usage of the so called "Supa Dupa Flow" that Not-So-Big Sean popularized and Drake made ultra-mainstream ("Faded off the brown, Nino") You know, that #hashtag rap. Specifically, Drake commented on Luda's sub-par execution of the flow on Luda's single "My Chick Bad". And later, Sean agreed with Drizzy's assessment on MTV's Rap Fix:

“I think some artists just did it so wack man,” said Big Sean. “Every time I say names I get in trouble and it’s like I’m dissing, but some people used it wack. If he said Ludacris used it wack, hey.”

I know, i know "beef" ain't what it used to be people...but we gotta enjoy it while it's here. (And we'll ignore the fact that this all may be a lame attempt at promotion for Luda's mixtape/upcoming album). Although "I fill her up, balloons" wasn't exactly the illest line utilizing this flow, Luda wasn't just gonna let these young cats talk reckless without a response. Peep the vids...

"Bada Boom"

"Supa Dupa"

Some classic Luda that I'm posting cuz i feel like it...

The Weak Become Heroes

2011-11-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

I think one of the biggest misconceptions in hip-hops recent history is the lack of representation the listener has with the artists. Most of the time we cannot relate to them. Being in the hip-hop industry nowadays is no more then an excuse to talk about how you are in the industry, living off it, until the industry decides you're dead.

Leaving aside the usual commentary on how hip-hop changed, I think in a way we all seem weak when we listen to music about a person telling us how he lives better then us, when funny enough he lives like that because of us, because we buy his music & go to his concerts. Being a rapper seems to be a whole other level, they all want to be kings. That is when heroes like Mike Skinner (a.k.a. The Streets) step in the picture, because he is one of us. He doesnt talk about how women attack him wherever he goes, hes on the same lonely boat as us tryna figure out how to get the fit girl in the corner to not walk away...

A taker more than a seller

I know a lot of people will only see out of tune singing, senseless rapping and badly mixed/off beat instrumentals in his music, but i think Mike Skinner is a creative genius who can (and will if you listen closely enough) make any one of those small, unglamorous, drunk, insignificant moments that we all share but dont speak on, seem like a perfect topic to sing along to.

From garage, to 2-step, to grime, to funk, he covers everything with his characteristic yet normal and average joe english voice

Like wine, the old stuff is better...

To many of us in Europe (and many in the US im sure) he seems like one of those artists that simply weaves in and out of genres collecting fans along the way, who has an undeniable talent in pointing out the little things in life and giving them value, something so lost nowadays which i think is the reason for which you cant help but be curious and eventually enter 'stan' mode, no matter what you listen to or what subculture you belong to.

Im interested in seeing what usual hip-hop listeners in the US think of him and what would they classify him as. Especially after artists like Lil B are so upfront in the game for being so 'different' when Mike Skinner was doing what he does, a lot better and 10 years ago. Just in case you thought the swag element was fully out the picture...gotta love that sweater

MF Chops, Samples and All That Good Stuff

2011-11-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

As most of us already know, a large portion of the music we listen to today has been taken from some previous record or song (i.e. sampled) and revamped into something different. I myself was surprised when I first found out that a lot of my favorite songs that I listened to growing up were just samples someone took and layered some drums over. I make a disclaimer now that my purpose here is not to hate on people who sample for I myself sample as well. Rather, I wish to talk about an artist whom I’ve come to regard as a pioneer in terms of sampling yesterdays music and making it tomorrow’s anthem.

Many people can take a sample, chop it up and add a few kicks and snares but rarely does someone go beyond flipping samples to make an ordinary song into more of a production. Though not an entirely mainstream artist, MF Doom (a.k.a. Doom/ Viktor Vaughn/ King Geedorah) has often implemented small snippets of audio both before and after his track in order to give his songs more of a narrative feel.

Doom has often found these small snippets in anything from old cartoons to movie scenes and even television shows. As he explained in his recent interview while touring in Spain, a lot of the stuff he includes in his tracks come to him from many types of mediums. Certain audio clips that he has used have come to him rather quickly when he was composing the songs but for others, as he explains, he’ll just wait (months if he has to) until he hears exactly what he is looking for.

(Interview With Red Bull – Spain)

Lecture: DOOM (Madrid 2011) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

Incorporating relevant (or sometimes irrelevant) audio clips into a song gives the track greater depth and allows listeners to better understand exactly what the song is trying to portray. For example in the song titled “Just to make a buck” Doom preludes the track with an audio clip of two characters. In the clip, one of the characters is fed up with his countless failed attempts to make money, while the other character sternly reminds the first “there are all types of ways to make money”. Right after the clip the song begins and to our surprise (or maybe not) the song talks about money and its troubles.

In combining elements that are outside of the norm, Doom has managed to create stories that correlate throughout the entire production. Quite an amazing and unique MC, I am sure he’ll have much to look forward to in the future.

What's On the Radio?

2011-11-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

If you didn't read Lekh's post on Lil Wayne and mainstream media, then you should have...BUT to touch on what Lekh was saying, hip-hop has become so watered down by the media that it seems to fit a criteria now. I have lived in southern California my whole life and fully experienced the drastic step from Radio Disney to LA radio. However, kids these days don't get to fully understand that change as it seems Radio Disney and "LA radio" are synonymous now. Well, I guess I'm giving them too much credit because I mean Radio Disney actually plays music.

Now I know this looks like another "Mainstream Sucks" blog post, but for the most part I'm not that into classifying the separate categories of hip-hop. I couldn't care less if it's underground, mainstream, bay, southern, Lil B, old school, or whatever; as long as the music is good it doesn't really matter. Still, I do have a problem when radio stations are trying to tell me that the new LMFAO song is the hottest new hip-hop single out. But wait, these aren't just any radio stations, these are Los Angeles radio stations! The same LA stations that were once home to Snoop Doggy Dogg, N.W.A, Westside Connection and Cypress Hill are now focusing their attention on Lmfao, Katy Perry, Pitbull, Bruno Mars, and whoever the hell sings that Pa Pa Americano stuff. To be honest I don't expect the radio to play Blu or Emanon or even Murs, but there are plenty of southern California artists who are trying to make it big such as Nipsey Hussle, Casey Veggies, and Dom Kennedy who have to find other means of getting their music out because the radio would rather play songs that emphasize Rick Ross' growing asthma problem.

So, while you guys are tuned into 99.1 or Power 106 singing along to the four words in that latest electro techno "hip-hop" record, which is just great to dance to while you're sitting alone in traffic at 4:30pm, I'll be scrolling between 93.5 Kday and talk radio trying to get my fix of music.

Yancy Deron - LNDL

2011-11-13T20:34:00.001-08:00

Here at UC Irvine, Hip-Hop Congress always shows love from artists that
have helped the club in the past by blazing the stage with a FREE
performance. Last year at Urban Arts Fest, Yancy Deron was an opening act
for Dom Kennedy and Fashawn, but it won't be long till he is headlining
shows!

Check his latest video entitled "Antihaterism":

Be sure to download his EP "Live Now" at yancyderon.com and be on the look
out for the second part "Die Later" in early 2012! Feel free to check out
the website for the project to at LNDLiens.com

Wu-Tang is FOREVER

2011-11-13T13:06:00.000-08:00

November 13th is dubbed as O.D.B. Day

Being that I don't have much time to write a much more meaningful tribute

or a post something lengthy, I'm going to post a couple of videos and interviews that are related to the Bastard (RIP) himself.

Going Overseas

2011-11-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

I noticed many of us are trapped in this little bubble we call America. Everything on the radio, everything in the clubs, even most of our 'good' hip hop is from right here in America. So I thought I would enlighten you all with some international jams.

Canada

Australia

Amsterdam

Sweden

RIP Heavy D

2011-11-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

Dwight Arrington Myers, aka Heavy D, passed away November 8, 2011 at the age of 44. His music varied amongst different genres such as Hip Hop, new jack swing, R&B, and reggae fusion. Heavy D and the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown Records and eventually their debut, Living Large, was released in 1987. They gained even more fame by singing the theme song for the television program In Living Color and performing the rap for Michael Jackson's Jam. Heavy D began focusing on his acting skills, appearing in television shows before returning to the music charts with Nuttin' But Love. Heavy D performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards in Oct. 2011, which was his first live performance in 15 years. On November 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, Ca, Heavy D collapsed outside his home due to respiratory distress and that no foul play was involved.

Nas, Common and rap mogul Russell Simmons are among the stars leading the tributes to Heavy D, who has died at the age of 44. His passing has sent shockwaves through the hip-hop world and a host of stars have taken to Twitter to express their grief at the tragic news.

Nas writes, "RIP TO A REAL HIP HOP LEGEND HEAVY D!", while Common tweets, "Heavy D was...no...is one of Hip-Hops (sic) finest. Your art and contribution will live 4ever (sic) brother! RIP Heavy D".

A stunned Q-Tip writes, "This can't be true", and The Roots drummer ?uestlove adds, "Heavy D was a good friend & he'll be missed."

Rap mogul Russell Simmons states, "I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Heavy D. A long time friend and a beautiful person", and Sean Kingston calls him "One Of The Most Influential Rappers Of The '90s Era."

Even Hollywood was mourning the loss of the rapper, who made a handful of movie appearances - actor Samuel L. Jackson called him a "dear friend", adding "Fond memories of a truly cool brutha (sic)."

Heavy D had just returned from a trip to London, where he hung out with British singer Estelle and R&B star Ne-Yo.

A shocked Estelle tweets, "RIP. Heavy D. i can't believe that. I can't. Was just in London w (with) him", while Ne-Yo adds, "Man. I was just with Heavy D recently in London. Had I known it'd be the last time I'd see him, I woulda (sic) told him he was truly great."

A slew of other hip-hop stars, including hitmaker/producer Pharrell Williams, veteran hip-hop DJ Grandmaster Flash, R&B singer Brandy and rapper Nelly have also expressed their condolences online.

Meanwhile, Public Enemy star Chuck D insists his friend was "a hip hop god", adding, "He will always be remembered and I'm thankful for what he's done for hip hop culture."
Popular MC Heavy D, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital at around noon local time on November 8th with an unknown ailment. He was pronounced dead at 1 p.m.
The hip-hop star rose to fame in the late 1980s with his group Heavy D & the Boyz after they released their debut album,Living Large, in 1987. They went on to record the theme tune for In Living Color before Heavy D branched out as a solo act.
He released a total of seven studio albums throughout his career and scored hits with singles such as Got Me Waiting, Big Daddy and his cover of The O'Jays' Now That We Found Love, which was released in 1991.
He featured on Michael Jackson's song Jam and was among the stars who paid tribute to the late pop icon at October's Michael Forever event in Wales. The rapper also collaborated with the King of Pop's sister Janet on her hit single Alright.
He returned to the stage for the first time in 15 years for a special performance at last month's 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Heavy D enjoyed film success too, landing roles in films like Eddie Murphy's 1999 comedy Life and 2006 dance movie Step Up. He reunited with Murphy for a cameo in his new film Tower Heist.

When US Money Does The Talking & Europe Listens

2011-11-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

Sunday night. Listening to Drake's sophomore album 'Take Care', hoping to find something that makes me feel the way I did when I first heard the four tracks that kicked off 'So Far Gone'. Funny enough, I was getting close to that, much more than what I ever did with 'Thank Me Later', but then track no. 5 comes on.

The initial spacey sounds remind me of one of the songs I'd been hearing all summer whenever it came to that hungover moment of winding down at the beach. The featured Rihanna starts singing over a piano melody and just as I feared, it is literally the same song.
Jamie xx (from UK indie band The xx) produced an album in 2010 with no other than the legend Gill Scott-Heron. A GREAT album too ('We're New Here' is the name), mixing Scott-Heron's deep voice with just as deep bass and creepy yet beautiful melodies.
I think you see where this is going, Ill let you listen to the two and judge for yourself:

Jamie xx did assist in the production of Drake's version of his track, I dont blame him for the amount of money he must have got, however I cant help but think he let a great song of his get ruined and downgraded by the industry. Especially by the genre that I love the most.
Dont get me wrong, I love the fact that hip-hop producers are fishing out of America for material to sample, I dont blame them with the quality that you can find. Its flattering and a sign that Europe is doing their own thing in the right way. I just hate the fact that millions of people that listen to that song simply because it has Drake and Rihanna written all over it, will never really know about Jamie xx or Gill Scott and worst of all, will most probably think THEY copied it off Drake and Rihanna.
I guess its what my parents felt when I was 12 and used to listen to those Marvin Gaye sampled hip-hop tracks in my room, not knowing who Marvin Gaye was and they walked out saying 'this is older than what you think'. That is the difference though, back then there was a 20 year separation. With internet and segregated audiences the sampling has jumped and is actually contemporary, only separated by physical distance.
I even thought of sampling French electro group Cassius and their 'I Love U So' when I first heard it 2 years ago, any hip-hop head looking for something new would. But the prize goes to whoever makes it happen first and Watch The Throne were there to collect it:

They actually did it twice, UK dubstep producer Flux Pavilion got a juicy cheque ('check' in the US) for letting them use/water down his banging 'I Cant Stop'

Dont think its all recent, in 2007 Wale's career got the kickstart when he sampled French group Justice (who actually signed the previously mentioned Cassius to their Ed Banger label) and kinda copied the video too...

Im not going to fall into saying which ones are better (although Drake & Rihanna should have kept the fuck away - my opinion), or whether it is right to do this or not, as I believe a great way to develop creativity is by improving a previous product, all I wish is that people actually knew who deserved most of the recognition they misplace.
This also makes me wonder why such talented artists like Drake & Rihanna need to reach out to the other side of the globe for something that has already been made, knowing the great majority of their audience wont know the original and recycle it to then call it entirely theirs and give Jamie xx a small mention in the album credits...why not make something just as good or better that belongs entirely to them??
Its easier I guess, and they know money does the talking.
Speaking of money talking and as a final note, want to know where Eminems upcoming single was 'inspired'?? UK grime rapper Skepta uploaded his single in July to then have it removed off the net a day later without him even knowing because Jimmy Iovine & Interscope thought it would suit Em better...read it all HERE.

Has the Internet Ruined Hip Hop?

2011-11-09T00:26:00.000-08:00

The effect the Internet has had on hip hop is undeniably enormous. A recent article on the prominent Hip Hop website hiphopdx.com got me thinking about the reality of the Internet and the genre. In the past week, I have accumulated 7 mixtapes (A$AP, Freddie Gibbs, Nipsey, Pac Div, Lloyd Banks and The Jealous Guys) and 3 albums (Drake, Mac Miller, Wale). In addition, I added to my collection an instrumental tape from producer Clams Casino, Bobby Womack's 1973 "Facts of Life" album, and the original soundtrack to the popular N64 game "Bomberman Hero." So far I have been able to listen to three of them fully and thoroughly. Next week, I will probably download at least 5 more projects and the previous ones will probably be forgotten until further notice. And while the Internet has allowed fans of the genre to explore a wide array of artists within, it has also allowed artists the opportunity to self-promote their own music. Most recently, Mac Miller was able to reach the number 1 spot on iTunes as an independent artist. However, the Internet has also introduced us to artists that, I will not mention because I don't want to promote their names, but y'all know what I am talking about (visit WorldStar often and you'll see a few of them). So has the Internet had a positive or negative effect on the genre? I feel like overall it has been positive. Back in the day, people could only listen to music that was fed to them via radio stations, record labels, magazines, etc. Now, people can explore all types of artists, from old-school rappers, rappers from other countries, or even rappers in local cities that are flying under the radar. The Internet has ushered in a new generation of hip hop and with the power of the Internet, at least we know that Hip Hop is here to stay. Here is the hiphopdx article:

Right now you can probably listen to 99% of all the Hip Hop ever made whenever you havean Internet connection. If you can’t download it with a quick Googling, someone has probably posted it on YouTube. At worst, you can do this from a cell phone. To some readers, this is the only way you’ve ever known the experience. To others, these advances are an incredible convenience compared to how they used to get their music. It was not that long ago that today’s landscape was an inconceivable notion. We’re at a time now where Hip Hop fans weren’t just too young to remember the days of rewinding and changing sides, many were not even born yet. Hip Hop is getting old; some 40 years have passed since Kool Herc was deejaying block parties in the Bronx and 25 since the first Rap album went #1. The music, the artists, and the fans have come and gone like the seasons. The saying goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” While that’s true for a lot of aspects of Hip Hop, it certainly doesn’t apply to the listening experience.
Let me paint you a picture.

Imagine it is 1992 and you’re awaiting The Chronic instead of Detox. You read in The Source that Dre’s new single was dropping this month and you’re dying to hear it. While walking to school one day a car stops at a light and you hear a funky bassline, whining synths and Dr. Dre telling you it’s like this and like that. The light turns and the car starts driving so you break into a sprint to keep up and hear a little more of the song. Once you get to school and finish drying off in the bathroom, you ask everyone you know who listens to Hip Hop if they’ve taped the song off the radio or taped the video. Unsuccessful, you head home that night and sit by the radio with a blank cassette tape in the deck. Every time a new song comes on your finger hovers over the record button. No luck. The next day you hit the store the see if the new Source is out because they might write three sentences about the song, which will be very satisfying to read. A week later you find out your boy has the song on his new pause tape. Unfortunately, it is the dub of a dub of a dub of a dub of a dub. The static from the radio is minimal, but it’s got more hiss than a 30 foot python. Nevertheless, you listen to nothing but the song for two weeks straight. Your mom is pissed because you went through 18 batteries for your Walkman because rewinding every four minutes for hours at a time takes a toll. Cut off from getting new batteries you toss your dead ones in the freezer to get some more juice out of them. This is a daily operation.

Now fast forward for a moment to 2011. You’ve read 36 news updates on Detox in the last month, and the latest from Mr. Porter’s brother’s deaf roommate is that he says Dre told him the album’s release date using sign language. While walking to school you check HipHopDX to see if the new single has leaked yet. Sure enough, it has. You dig in your bag and grab your earphones and start streaming the song. As a whining voice requests a doctor, you read the comments on the song and see that 42% of people think this is the greatest song they’ve ever heard because Dre is the greatest producer ever and this is the newest song they’ve heard from him. 41% think it is the worst song they’ve ever heard because " Dre’s ghost producers suck worse than him" and "Eminem is a fag who raps about butt-fucking Dre." Eight percent of listeners are indifferent about the song because it’s a bit emo sounding, but they admit it’s a good concept. Four percent want you to know Lil Wayne is the G.O.A.T. and 5% want you to follow the hottest new artist you’ve never heard of on Twitter. You dig the song though so when you get home you download it from Nahright along with a dozen other new joints, hit some other blogs and download four new albums and three mixtapes. You listen to three of the new songs on your iPhone while you walk to your boys to play xBox. The next day you listen to Dre’s new song one more time before moving on to all the other new music you’ve got.
Obsessive collectors aren’t just at record conventions anymore.

This near unlimited access has had countless effects on Hip Hop music and the Hip Hop experience. Those are discussions that have been had or can be had another time. Certainly, a major outcome has been that fans typically have wider tastes because there's no risk to trying out a new artist or a new sub-genre. Except maybe your time and bandwidth.

While there were a handful of ways to learn about a new artist, radio, video or your friends, were only about the only free ways to actually hear someone new. The Source was reliable back then, but you still ran the risk of buying an album and learning that you wasted your hard earned money. There were the few enterprising record stores in each city that had listening stations and let you sample albums before your bought them. It was a wonderful system but things got tricky for those of us who abused the system. I would listen to no less than five albums per visit and quickly wore out my welcome. At best, you had to deal with clerks' dirty looks and annoyed sighs. At worst, you were denied. Plus, spending four or five hours in the store listening to albums wasn’t the best use of time. But that's what it was.

The more discerning purchasers such as myself also ran into another problem. Sometimes you would go to buy an album and it had already been opened because someone had listened to it at the listening station. I didn't want to buy that tainted copy, the fresh plastic wrap had already been ripped. That may seem incredibly trivial to those of you never took the packaging off a cassette or CD, but back when people bought those things there was nothing like getting home and cracking open that packaging and listening to an album for the first time while you read the liner notes for the first time. That was experiencing music. So a torn open and repackaged copy? No thanks. The real trouble came with independent releases where stores only had one copy. Dilemmas.

That was finding and purchasing the album, listening was an entirely different animal. Unless you had deep pockets you probably picked one or two new albums a month, for some, it was even less. It was not a rare thing to listen to an album for months on end. Young cats often wonder why the older generation cling on so tightly to the golden years of Hip Hop. It isn’t just the quality of the music from those years, it’s that we listened to these albums three or four times a day, every day, for months. Does that ever happen anymore? I sure don’t do it. The never ending stream of new music won’t allow it, and frankly, I don’t think my attention span does either.

None of this is to say the new generation missed out on better times, the system in 2011 is undoubtedly better. Unlimited, risk free access to any artist and the ability to carry 3,000 albums in your pocket with no AA back ups is nothing short of incredible. But what we’ve gained in convenience, we have lost in experience. We cannot possibly be as good of listeners as we used to be; it is too easy to skip that song we don’t like in the first 15 seconds, or skip that album after skimming the first few tracks. There are albums I absolutely love which I didn’t care for after five listens. Today, there is no way I would give that album five listens when I put five new albums on my iPod five days in a row. I’m sure I’m not alone there. You can’t help but wonder what things will be like 15 or 20 years from now. The times, they are a changin’.
J-23 is HipHopDX's Editor-At-Large. He was a full-time member of the staff since 2001, and has was DX's longtime Music Editor and Marketing Director. J lives in London, Ontario.

The Motion of the Ocean

2011-11-08T02:53:00.001-08:00

Nostalgia, Ultra by Frank Ocean has been on repeat on my playlist for a while now. Not only because I will be seeing him live next week, but his music relates to certain parts of my life right now.

Many listeners believe that Ocean doesn’t deserve the recognition he’s getting currently. The dude has only put out two mixtapes and is already featured on an album with Kanye and Jay-Z. My response to these listeners would be to go and suck a fat d**ck! I mean seriously, I haven’t heard any other newer artist that has better melodies than Frank Ocean. And for those of you who didn’t know, Ocean has written songs for artists like Beyonce, John Legend, and Justin Bieber. The below video is a song Ocean wrote for Beyonce called “I miss you”, and if you don’t think those lyrics are simply beautiful, there must be something wrong with you.

Not only are his songs good, but his videos are on point as well. They’re not your usual booty shaking videos (although I’m definitely not against booty shaking videos, so don’t get it twisted) but they actually are mentally stimulating. I’m not going to lecture all you readers on the meaning behind the song “Swim Good”, but for those interested you can look into it at the following link.

http://rapgenius.com/Frank-ocean-swim-good-lyrics

For those who missed the “Thinking About You” video you can check it out below, and see how more videos should have some sort of plot like this one.

If anybody opposes to my opinion, feel free to comment.

The Graf Is Back

2011-11-07T23:30:00.000-08:00

So if anyone missed it, HHC recently had a sort of collab event with Ambience in the park as a way to expose people on campus to another side of hip hop. After stretching a 20 foot piece of butcher paper across two trees in the park, and after managing to somehow tape it to said trees, the canvas was ready.

The overall atmosphere was rather relaxed and it was easy to see that everyone was enjoying themselves from the moment they arrived. After learning a bit about tagging from a few guys who have been doing it for a while, everyone was able to try it out.

Turned out that one of the guys was a painter who painted a pretty sick tree.

Overall I would say the event was a success. We accomplished what we set out to do, and im sure we will only make it larger and more successful in the future. Everyone came, sprayed some stuff and had a good time. That's what she said.

Hip Hop Mashups

2011-11-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm real busy with midterms so I'll do a quick post on some of my favorite hip hop mashups. Keep an open mind and listen to these:

Radiohead vs Kanye vs Lupe - Testify

Beck vs Nas - Life's a Bitch Loser

Notorious BIG vs Phantogram - Phantosize

“Well-Paid Slaves” ?

2011-11-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

[Hip Hop is Everywhere]

“Hip Hop culture is just like electricity. It can be used negatively or positively, but the same electric current that lights up your house can also electrocute you. It is the misuse of hip-hop culture that is used to attack our women and promote violence. We must encourage the proper use of our Hip Hop culture…”

– Civil Rights Leader, Reverend Al Sharpton (JET online)

I often think about why so many people have given up on Hip Hop and why many parents often associate it with gangbangers, promiscuous activity, and violent or deviant behaviors. Then the reality of it all settles in every time, that so many mainstream artists sell this exact image every day. Regardless of however many lyrically talented underground or mainstream artists there may be, hip hop has a certain stigma of being regarded as a genre of which its main focus seems to constantly revolve around this “money grubbing”, ‘thug life’, ‘b*tches, hoes, & tricks” lifestyle. Only on rare events does mainstream media publicize underground artists advocating for the awareness and hopefully the prevention of artists who use this industry strictly for a financial gain, bragging rights to earn street cred for their violence in the streets or other stereotypical reasons.

"Visualizin' the realism of life and actuality,

F*ck who's the baddest

A person's status depends on Salary" -A.Z.

“Don’t let some record executive tell you that cursing out your mama is in style. Anytime you perpetuate a slave mentality that desecrates women and that desecrates our race in the name of a record…I consider you a well-paid slave”. Along with the opening quote, recorded during a summit where he was joined by some of the industry’s superstars such as RZA, Master P, and Chuck D. Sharpton continues to illustrate the demeaning nature of artists who have “sold out” the industry

An example of a mainstream artist who has fallen in love with the idea of sampling or being inspired by other artists, but doesn’t necessarily rap about similar, less demeaning topics, is none other than Lil’ Wayne. Years after Outkast released “Jazzy belle”, the third single off of their album ATLiens, a song idolizing the female and “her temple”, Lil’ Wayne decided to spit his two cents over the original beat and took it on a wide turn in the opposite direction. While the original Outkast lyrics explain how a “Queen” should never be a hoe, and how this lifestyle is only a result they brought upon themselves, Lil’ Wayne’s rap utilizes the female body as an object in his song “Pussy, Money, Weed”. The title itself is the reason why so many people have such negativity towards Hip Hop, rather than staying open minded to the positivity it can bring to a person’s life.

Outkast: “Went from yellin crickets and crows,

b*tches and hoes, to Queen thangs”

vs.

Lil’ Wayne: “Sexual healing, I can be her religion.

And now shes kneeling, praying to the ceiling”

Although several artists choose the stereotypical lifestyle of a hip hop artists, there are still the "Godsends" who would rather educate their listeners about the realities of life. These artists exemplify a community of artists whose purpose isn’t to solely make money, but to spread their love for knowledge and growth amongst the masses. These are the artists who take Hip Hop by the reigns and help steer it down the more positive, lyrically valuable road.

Bad News Barnes -Blu (Lyrics below found at 1:27)

“Get a life ‘fore you get a mic

And get real ‘fore you get killed

Cause if you’re living like a slob at your mom’s and

You’re like 25

No job and you’re trying to get a deal

Most likely when you get one

All you’re about to do is kick dumb sh*t to young kids about how

Rims make the world go round

And how hoes are your homegirls now

And if you ask me that sh*t’s done

So go drown with that (bad news)”

P.s. Some of the songs used were suggested by my boyfriend, Charles Ignacio, during a discussion we were having the other day (:

Hip Hopracy: "Hip-Hop and the University Imagination"

2011-11-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hip Hop Congress Blog: November 5th, 2011 (Happy Guy Fawkes Day! )

Last week I made a trip out to the Claire Trevor part of campus and I had the pleasure of watching an exhibition called "Hip Hopracy." The show focused on educating the viewers on the roots of hip hop culture and how it traveled from parts of Africa such as Ghana and sprouted up in other countries such as Brazil in the form of dance. The evolution of hip-hop from the late 80s, 90s , and the past decade has affected the growth of other fields such as fashion, dance, and literature.

The main point of the show was how modern American culture is saturated with hip-hop elements and yet there still seems to be no direct credit given to the people who brought it over.

One of the speakers was Joe Knox, a leader of B-Boys Anonymous on campus here at UCI. He told his story of how he got into breakdancing and his definition of hip-hop. The rest of the panel featured African American scholars who sought to make hip-hop an established research subject at UCI Irvine and at other schools. Their belief is that if the subject matter is given proper analysis, then people would realize the massive contribution that immigrants, specifically African Americans, have given to society.

Breakdancing, Spoken Word Poetry, and Rap Battle were all cited as elements of hip-hop. The key point that I took out of the discussion was the importance of the cypher as a competitive foundation for the exchange of ideas and creativity that represents what hip-hop is all about. Without the cypher, true hip-hop is not possible. A circle of people coming together to express what's in their hearts and souls is a necessity for the growth of hip-hop and it's one of the things I feel should be the focus of our club.

OFWGKTADGAF Billboard Story

2011-11-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tyler, a skinny 19-year-old with a booming voice and a slightly gapped overbite, sits cross-legged on an unmade bed sheet in a Philadelphia hotel room. Over a tray of cinnamon sticks and a half-closed MacBook he gushes about his dreams (winning a Grammy Award) and heroes (Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes).

For hours Tyler remains tethered to one spot on the bed, yet he seems to be moving constantly. His imagination travels as he pretends to be a secret agent slowly coming to life. He shows off a sketchbook filled with his brightly colored marker drawings of doughnuts and cats, ideas for clothing designs and chicken-scratch poetry. Flipping to a portrait of a seemingly jolly, fat-faced man he pauses.

"That's a serial killer", he says. He's crazy. "He looks nice, but that's how they usually are."

Tyler himself is proof that first impressions are unreliable. The bright-eyed and buzzing teen is also "rap's most buzzed-about new star” and quite possibly an emerging threat to both decency-minded parent groups and the major-label infrastructure.

Known to fans as Tyler, the Creator (the superfluous comma is intentional), he's the founder of and de facto spokesman for Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, a Los Angeles-based collective of rappers, producers, skateboarders, filmmakers, designers and general miscreants, all in their late teens and early 20s. The 11 members on the recording side specialize in splattering today's adolescent experience onto tape. With that comes rebelliousness, profanity, intense insecurity, dense sarcasm, bizarre non sequiturs and a heartfelt honesty.

Earlier that night in Philadelphia, at a sweatbox known as the Barbary, Odd Future performed to a crowd of 300 kids. There was a full-scale punk energy level on both ends, complete with stage dives and fans screaming their lyrics "Fuck the fame and all the hype, G/I just want to know if my father would ever like me” and vulgar catchphrases "Kill people! Burn shit! Fuck school!” by heart. Many were wearing homemade OFWGKTA shirts.

When Tyler released his self-produced debut album, "Bastard", on his website in late 2009, it was mostly downloaded by friends and users of the message board of popular street fashion blog Hypebeast. Tyler reached out to a few of the bigger hip-hop blogs to post the tape and received little to no response. But after about six months, Odd Future awareness began to snowball, thanks to more free albums and a couple of unforgettably masochistic music videos for Tyler's "French" and then-16-year-old Earl Sweatshirt's drug binge fantasy." By the summer of 2010, Tumblr posts and Twitter retweets begot attention from media outlets like Pitchfork and the Fader. Public co-signs from Kanye West and Soulja Boy followed.

Blogs, I post that

2011-11-04T03:29:00.000-07:00

Check the videos out, its something us at HHC will be referencing often : )

ASAP ROCKY

2011-11-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

"I'm going to be real, my following is small. For it to be this small, I get a lot of love. I'm kind of afraid for when it gets big because that's when everybody who used to love you is going to hate you. It is what it is."

The quote above from an interview with Complex Magazine is a clear example of how artists know the risk of getting signed to a label gets them closer to losing old fans and being called a sell-out. This can be somewhat true of how Wiz Khalifa became a sell out with his album Rolling Papers (If people want to argue, compare Black&Yellow to Kush and Orange Juice and POTC tracks) . But why would such a good thing sell out? Being on Drake's upcoming tour hurting his image? Would you consider ASAP Rocky a one hit wonder like Kreayshawn? I'm here to let you think otherwise.

ASAP Rocky is blowing up and you all shouldn't sleep. After his release of the music video "Peso", his following rose and people started to spread the word of that "pretty motherfucker". But what is ASAP Rocky and his whole ASAP Mob about? That trill movement. ASAP, which stands for Always strive and prosper, relates to why Rocky and his crew live that purple life. Trill, a word created by Bun B and the late Pimp C of U.G.K. is a combination of the word true and real. This whole trill movement was popular in the South, mostly in Houston. The 2 most popular things about the trill movement are the following:

Purple drank
Chopped and Screwed

Asap Rocky's "Purple Swag" is pretty much an ode to U.G.K. and maybe even Slim Thug, Mike Jones (snippet of his voice in the song), and Three Six Mafia. Asap Rocky's music epitomizes Houston's chopped and screwed sound with his many references to mixing that codeine and 'methazine syrup with some Sprite and jolly ranchers on the bottom (don't ask me how I know).
Being from Harlem, his swag is that of Dipset mixed with a little Max B and Bone Thugz N Harmony flow, and of course that Houston Chopped & Screwed vocals. His fashion sense and knowledge is amazing, with his many references to Margiela, Alexander Wang, Bathing Ape, Nudies, Jeremy Scott Adidas, and other brands he is seen wearing. In all his work and appearances, he is seen rocking the brand Blvck Scvle, with owner Mega already dropping a new line in honor of ASAP. While his fashion is on point, his new mixtape is as well.
LiveLoveA$ap
The title of his very anticipated mixtape above (click link to download) is straight fire. I wish someone like Ghost Face Killah reviewed this shit on his blog cause I know he would agree. (Check out GhostFace's trill ass music blog here) Every track on here I could listen to for days. The production is amazing as well. The tracklist follows:
Palace (Prod. by Clams Casino) - This is the right way to start off the tape. It has that "Watch the Throne" swag on the beat for real. I mean, just focus on the beat for a bit, and you would be like damn, some King Louis the XIII Versailles Gladiator 'bout to go down shit. Then you understand why ASAP Rocky was probably like, we should name this shit Palace. Then the track just introduces who ASAP is and how this trill shit not from Houston but Harlem will make the world feel it his movement.
Peso (Prod. by ASAP Ty Beats)- Do I even have to talk about this track? This is the track that boosted Rocky to new heights. The visuals just killed it as well with so much swag. That Blvck Scvle everything, Supreme, Y3, Jeremy Scott Adidas, wtf. The line "Raf Simmons, Rick Owens usually what I'm dressed in" definitely shows Rocky knows his clothing. Then of course the song is about how he is always about getting those Pesos (money).
Bass (Prod. by Clams Casino)- The beginning of the song I recognized was from a video on World Star Hip Hop, pretty funny (link here). This is another amazing beat by Clams Casino. This song goes hard as fuck, maybe the second hardest song next to Brand New Guy. This song is Rocky turning from that "pretty motherfucker" into that Biggie after that Tupac beef music. He kills it.
Wassup (Prod. by Clams Casino) - This song is just a good song to vibe too. Its that type of song when you're driving home drunk with your friends from a party and someone plays this shit on the ipod and everyone just bops their head and looks at each other and says, "Wassup!?"
Brand New Guy (Feat. Schoolboy Q) - Hardest track on the tape with Q featured, damn! Talking bout new 9mm's, takin' yo bitch, and don't fuck with us cause we the new hip-hop.
Purple Swag Chapter 2 (Feat. SpaceGhostPurrp & ASAP Nast) - For all of you who don't know who SpaceGhostPurrp, SGP, is, he is purpler than Rocky can be. SGP's music is all self-produced and represents that Memphis Three Six Mafia type of shit. (Peep that shit here) Asap Rocky's flow begins to sound like that of Bizzy & Krayzie Bone of BTNH.
Get Lit (Prod. by SouFein3000) - This song epitomizes Bone Thugs and Harmony flow with some of that Chopped and Screwed feel. Good song to listen to when you're slizzard!
Trilla (Prod. by Beautiful Lou) - This the type of shit you feel when you at a function with some Old English 40's and some bad broads. Very trill track with that Houston, Memphis, and Mid-west type shit.
Keep it G (Prod. by Spaceghostpurrp) - This very trill track produced and featured Spaceghost is a trippy ass song. Good song to sesh to.
Kissin' Pink (Prod. by Beautiful Lou) - What you think the title means? Haha yeah, this song is an ode to get that girl across the room.
Houston Old Head (Prod. by DJ Burn One) - Personally my favorite for the underlying meaning behind the lyrics. Rocky talks about meeting with someone he looks up to who gives him advice about life.
Acid Drip (Prod. by SouFein3000) - Good visuals can come out of this song, like a commercial or a model doing some fly shit. Trippy song forreal.
Leaf/Take 1 (Prod. by Clams Casino ft. Main Attrakionz) - Asap Rocky is sick of all the bullshit in life, so he asks his homies to know that feel and sip some lean with him.
Roll One Up (Prod. by DJ Burn One) - Oh yeah, ASAP Rocky likes to smoke too. Roll one up for the big homie.
Demons (Prod. by Clams Casino) - A conscious track where Rocky thinks about life and hopes he doesn't fall to the vices of the world and fail in life.
Out of This World (Prod. by The Olympicks) - Very feel good, ASAP knows how to work the mic. A lot of name dropping but can still fuck with.

New Music 11/3

2011-11-03T01:13:00.001-07:00

Couple new projects from up-and-coming artists worth checking out:

A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Nipsey Hussle - The Marathon Continues

Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell

*I don't know what's up with all the American Flag imagery being used by rappers lately (remember the "Otis" artwork), but did anyone else catch the "Stankonia" allusion in the new A$AP Rocky mixtape cover? Also pays homage to Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and UGK on his tape.

Thizz In Peace

2011-11-03T00:31:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago, Drake dropped "The Motto" live on Power 106. It's a bonus track off his new album Take Care that is set to drop in two weeks. It features his boss, Lil Wayne and has CLUB BANGER written all over it. I know what your thinking(...*cool story bro...). But, in the songs opening verse Drake proclaims "I'm in the buildin' and I'm feelin' myself/Rest in peace Mac Dre I'ma do it for the Bay". This is of course a reference to the Westcoast Hip-Hop legend himself, Andre Hicks, aka Mac Dre. Random? Well...not really, as the track premiered on the 7th anniversary of Dre's death. Now, being from the Bay this just wan't no ordinary line. Sure, it's commonplace for rappers to pay homage to Hip-Hop legends that have passed, but it isn't everyday you hear a Mac Dre reference on mainstream radio. Especially from someone who isn't from the Bay, or the westcoast, or the south...but from Toronto.

"The Motto" ft. Lil Wayane--Mac Dre reference at 0.46

"Feelin' Myself"-Mac Dre

Now, there are some Mac Dre die hards that might not take to Drake's reference so favorably. Mac Dre die hards may question Drake's actual knowledge of the impact Mac had on not only Bay Area/Westcoast sound, but hip-hop culture as a whole. They might question whether or not he truly fucks with not just Hicks' undeniable impact, but his actual music. Does he actually have "Neva Seen" on his ipod??? And I get it, he's OUR guy. He's the guy who put the Bay on the map. He was hyphy before "Tell Me When to Go". He wore vans before "Vans". But, the thing people have to understand, his impact reached much farther than the confines of the Westcoast. When someone like Drake makes a reference like that, you know how many kids are googling Mac Dre the next day? It's an opportunity for his legend to grow and to gain the mass recognition he was so close to achieving before his death. As a Bay boy, I look forward to the day where the love and admiration for Hick's music and impact mirrors movements like that of Pimp C in the south.

I know a lot of people aren't familiar with his music, so here are some of my favorites. And if you are familiar, go head and vibe to it

"Neva Seva"

"Andre N Andre" ft. Andre Nickatina

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;How fly is this nigga?!?!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RxH9WhVcjbw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

How fly was this nigga?!?!

MANIAC

2011-11-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

“The guilty one isn’t the one who commits the sin, but the one who causes it”. From the new film “Maniac” starring Kid Cudi and directed by the infamous actor Shia LeBeouf, comes a horror film based off of the song “Maniac” from Cudi’s latest album. When I first saw this film I honestly was confused on what was going on. After watching it countless times, I have come to realize that this film was more beautifully directed than any Stanley Kubrick movie.

This film showcases Cudi and his friend playing as serial killers, and are followed by LeBeouf and his camera crew. If you have ten minutes to spare, go ahead and click on the play button.

Hip-Hop x Dubstep = Grime

2011-11-02T13:59:00.001-07:00

After my introduction at the first general meeting, people asked me what was that genre i spoke about briefly, grime is the name, my first recommendation is to turn up the bass & get with the lingo...

MCing has been very present in the UK for a long time, originally brought by jamaican soundsystems, MCs started to become more electronic when the rave phenomenon hit, making them spit hard and fast as hell over old school garage, jungle or drum & bass.
Catch a young Wiley or Asher D (who was featured in 50 Cents 'Get Rich Or Die Trying' film as a Jamaican named Antoine) spittin like crazy in a rave in an abandoned church, back in the day:

90's started to go by and the grime we know nowadays started to shape with names like Kano, Wiley, Dizzee Rascal or Frisco.

And in the recent years, the final bass punch came in when dubstep producers started to offer their tracks to MCs like P-Money, Newham Generals, JME, Foreign Beggars, Skepta, etc. Thats why you will see the producer name all over the track title like they were the artist.
To get an overall introduction to grime & a great playlist to work the fuck out to, get P-Money's 'I Beat The Tune' mixtape for free HERE

P-Money x Marco Del Horno & DJ Swerve

Foreign Beggars x Noisia

P-Money with one of dubsteps biggest acts right now, Magnetic Man (composed by Skream, Benga & Artwork)

And as a grand finale the hypest badman of them all...Tempa T x Chase & Status

If for any crazy reason you are still reading this I will assume you have a lot of free time, so if you want to learn more about the story behind this movement and hip-hops development in the UK, watch the 'Life Of Rhyme' documentary, in 4 parts on youtube. It is sick.

On a final note, Grime goes totally apart and in different lanes from the UK hip-hop acts like Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Devlin, Giggs, Chipmunk etc.
Most of them are pussies trying to copy american radio hip-hop. And fail. Miserably.

Das Racist is the New Kool G Rap

2011-11-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

You probably have heard of Das Racist if you were one of the 1.5 million who stumbled upon their hit song "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell," released nearly two and a half years ago. In the song, the two rappers of the group, Victor "Kool AD" Vazquez and Himanshu "Heems" Suri, annoyingly do a back-and-forth dialogue involving--you guessed it--a combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. This isn't the first time we've seen artists work on rapping based around comedy, as The Lonely Island, Beastie Boys, and even Lil' B, have done it all before.

But there's something deeply engaging about Das Racist's style that allows me to replay their songs over and over again. Their usage of witty wordplay (Cracker in the chocolate, that's human Pocky on "Rainbow in the Dark"), repetition (Yeah what's really good, what's really food, what's really good on the bizarrely titled "Chicken and Meat") and lazy delivery and flow (You should never argue with a lalalalalalalala you oughta know right now on "You Oughta Know") might throw some people off, but I think it's a breath of fresh air compared to what everyone is going for in today's hip-hop.

What is most intriguing about Das Racist, though, is their ability to meld together dance beats and samples with the history of hip-hop and our culture, seamlessly. By listening to a few verses on "Rainbow in the Dark" we can hear Heems and Victor rapping about, but not limiting themselves to, Joe Pesci, Stephen Hawking's It, cave-aged cheese, Mastercard, White Castle, T-Pain, Kool G, weed rap, and Don King. It's everything that is seemingly unconventional about hip-hop, yet Das Racist make it look like they've been experts in this field for years.

Even though they are labeled as "joke rap," if you look past their "Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" schtick, Das Racist are far from what we perceive them to be. To this day, I'm still not sure if it's all a big joke or not to Das Racist (We're not joking, just joking, we are joking, just joking, we're not joking on the aptly titled "hahahaha jk?"), but I know for sure; they're definitely serious about one thing: making really good hip-hop.

Das Racist has two free mixtapes out that you can still download here and here. Their album "Relax" was released September 13.

Top 5 Rappers I Can't Take Seriously Anymore

2011-10-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

It's not that they are lyrically incompetent or their production sounds like crap, it's the fact that deviations from a rapper's music career have gotten me to push the skip button whenever their song comes up on my iTunes. I used to like these artists but somewhere along the line I lost respect for them. Without further ado, here is my top 5:

5. Diddy

His name changes from Puff Daddy to P Diddy to Diddy were annoying but his public display

as a cutthroat boss and manager was broadcasted 1 too many times on TV. He hosted 3 seasons of "Making the Band" and 2 seasons of "I Want to Work for Diddy" where he tried to portray a hardcore businessman and after a while, it just got old and boring. His music after his MTV/VH1 stints was irrelevant to me and even some of his work on his early Bad Boy days was tainted.

4. Xzibit

Never was a huge fan of his work but I always respected his albums that brought him success such as Man vs. Machine and Restless.

But then he hosted the infamous MTV series called "Pimp My Ride" where he would help random people trick the cars from a piece of junk to an over-accesorized vehicle that was begging to be stolen. The show helped enforced stereotypes about hip hop like materialism and Xzibit did nothing to help it except gawk at how large the rims were or how many TVs they had fit into the dashboard. Also, his laugh was really annoying.

3. Waka Flocka Flame - Who am I kidding, I've never took this guy seriously.

2. MC Guru (R.I.P.)

This is the one that breaks my heart. I absolutely loved Gang Starr and all 6 albums the duo put out. Gangstarr really set a precedence for how duos should perform, with DJ Premier producing some of the illest tracks and Guru smoothly rapping on top of any beat.

Guru eventually parted ways up with Premo and went on to produce a moderately successful album series, Jazzmattaz Vol I-IV (with each release being less popular than the previous). What completely ruined his reputation for me was his album, Baldhead Slick & da Click. It was an atrocious attempt at trying to reinvent and redefine his career. In a nutshell, he basically became a commercial sellout by trading in his intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics for a more mainstream view on life that included drugs, violence, and women. I really wish I hadn't listened to Baldhead Slick & da Click as it completely lowered my respect for Guru's earlier work in Gangstarr. I guess ignorance really is bliss.

1. Ice Cube

Notorious for his influence on West Coast rap, Ice Cube set a standard for gangster rap. His hits such as "It was a Good Day" and "Check Yo Self" along with others, embodied the very real and hard lifestyle of living on the poorer side of town. It wasn't until very recently his reputation as a thug seemed to unravel.

Ice Cube starred in the family comedy film, "Are We There Yet?" and was a far stretch from rapping about guns and whatnot. The film was a success financially (raking in $80+ million) but received terrible reviews. In what was a monetary decision, Ice Cube made a sequel to the movie and even dragged out the concept into a TV series. But what ticks me off the most is how he returned to the rap game with boldly titled album "I am the West" as if he never starred in the PG film/tv series in the first place! Am I really supposed to forget all the childish content Ice Cube made and rebrand him as a thug?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Honorable Mentions: Ice T and Kanye West

Something I came across

2011-10-30T20:13:00.001-07:00

For a different taste, I want to share The LXD . These guys are pretty dope, especially with an orchestra in the background. The music has various elements you'll find that these talented artists surprisingly dance to to create a classy vibe. There's nothing like live instruments playing a live performance. I know there's not so much hip hop but open up more because this piece is definitely something to check out.

Why I dislike Lil' Wayne

2011-10-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

I try not to judge people, and let them appreciate the music they like. But this is why I dislike Lil Wayne. Firstly, I don't even think he's that bad. He has some clever lines, and great delivery (even with his annoying voice) But why is he at the top of the hip hop list? There are thousands of artists better (or at least as good) as him. What makes him so special? So when the only hip hop artist you hear on the radio is Lil Wayne, it does get quite frustrating when there is so much other talent the world needs to learn about. In fact, I don't think my anger should be directed toward Lil Wayne, as much as the mainstream media. When I argue with a Weezy fan, the question I get in response is 'Name me some better artists'. I respond back in alphabetical order with 'Aceyalone, Andre Nickatina, Atmosphere, Binary Star....'. The response back? "Uh, I've never heard of them". EXACTLY. And that's why I joined Hip Hop Congress, to show as many people I can what good hip hop is.

2011-10-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm a blogger, I see it as my right to put people up on game. Not just no ordinary game, but some real nigga shit. Now this website right here, this website right here (Katt Williams voice) is THE SHIT. It's called Rap Genius. I swear, I'm on this shit daily. It's really a simple concept: Put sometimes obscure/borderline incomprehensible rap lyrics in layman's terms. You know, so we normal, non chain bearing, regular life living people can finally understand! And I swear, this website breaks down EVERYTHING. From Juicy J to Blu. From Waka to Nas. Lyric by lyric and most of the time the analysis is right on point. I swear, my roomate and I were on here for the bulk of a Sunday afternoon deciphering Cam'ron lyrics. For all we know, this website just might of been concocted because of Cam'ron lol. "Whether buddist or budah, that's judist or juda I got luger to ruger, hit from Roota to Toota" ("Get Em Girls"-Cam'ron). Thank God for rapgenius...

http://rapgenius.com/

Thank You Based God

2011-10-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

You all have have heard of him before. "Lil' B". Even if you are not a fan of his music, you gotta admit having the urge to "cook" one time, or yell out "SWAG!" randomly. As a pop-culture figure, Lil' B's antics have become staples to this generation. Every Sunday you see a different football player doing the cooking dance after a touchdown, and how many times do you hear "swag" per day? Have you ever had a bad day? I suggest looking up "Thank You Based God" on Google Image search and tell me that doesn't make you LOL. Some people see him as a joke, but I see him a man merely making money for doing what he loves, and that's entertaining. I myself enjoy his music because I think once you get passed the "Ellen Degeneres" type songs, you will find that he can actually rap, actually raps about real life issues, and actually stands behind a message. He does what he wants and says what he wants because he doesn't let any of the constraints in rap hold him down, and I respect that. Many people hate him, many people love him. But no one really understands him. That is why I decided to make him the focus of my research paper for my Humanities class last quarter. Say what you want about him, but the paper got me an 'A' in the class. I couldn't help but saying "thank you based god." Here is an excerpt from my paper in which I attempt to apply social theory to the hip hop phenomenon know as the Based God (swag):

In this day of age, where everything is connected through the power of the Internet, it is not rare to see an average person become an instant world-wide celebrity in a matter of minutes. For this generation of teenagers, the Internet has become their go-to public sphere for socializing. It has become equivalent to the 1950s roller rinks and burger joints: a place where teens can gather online together to create their own private space and be free from the control of adults (Tapscott, 55). More than anything, these teens are online constantly sharing content with their peers through blogs and other social media outlets. This generation, often regarded as the “Net” Generation, has received a lot of criticism from the older generation of people. Some have even gone as far as deeming them “the dumbest generation.” But as author Don Tapscott explains in his book Grown Up Digital, this new smarter and quicker generation has the power to revolutionize aspects of society like no other generation. From politics to education, this generation is already beginning to “transform every institution of modern life” (Tapscott, 6).

One aspect of society that is feeling the change is the music industry, particularly the hip hop genre. Since its initial peak in the late 80’s, hip hop has been the one of the most, if not the most influential genre of music in America. But as Internet usage increased, the number of records sold subsequently did the opposite. Rather than paying for music, people were simply downloading the music from peer-peer networks free of charge (Tapscott, 4). As music executives brainstormed for new ways to sell records, members of the “Net” Generation were using the Internet to make a name for themselves without the assistance of these record labels. One particular rapper is twenty-one year old Brandon McCartney, more famously known as Lil’ B. His rise to Internet stardom began in 2008 when he began flooding the Internet with his music through the social media website MySpace.com. Creating over 155 music pages, all containing five to ten songs on each page, B was able to attract a substantial amount of followers. He would increase his popularity by releasing over 250 visuals for his songs on the popular site YouTube, while interacting with his 226,314 followers on Twitter and 114,845 fans on Facebook. Yet, listening to his music one would not understand why he is so popular. Many of his songs contain lyrics that are “questionable, profound, obscene, vulgar, outrageous and absurd”, and for the most part, lack any sort of substance or meaning (McCall). As NPR journalist Andrew Noz described it, “his rapping is close to horrible, sloppy and off beat or thematically incoherent.” Add that to the fact that he has never had a hit song played regularly on the radio and it is hard to grasp how he has sold out shows nationwide from Los Angeles to New York City. And while Lil’ B has garnered a large group of loyal fans, his music is one of the most criticized among the hip hop community. Some have gone the length to say his music is “ruining the future of hip-hop" and have labeled him as the “worst rapper ever.” Lil’ B, however, seems to “revel in the hatred,” purposely getting under the skin of people through his music and behavior. While it is not the first time a rapper has utilized shock-value tactics, Lil B might be the first to purposely offend those within the hip-hop community (Noz).
With his focus on his Internet counterparts, Lil’ B is not just another rapper. Rather, he is the representation of an entire generation. His rise to stardom and cult-like following is reflective of the characteristics manifested in the “Net” Generation and symbolizes a need for change in the assimilated themes commonly expressed in the hip hop genre. As a result, Lil’ B’s music and character becomes an artistic form of resistance that acts as a deconstructive critique on the values represented by hip hop’s ideological apparatus. To go along with his lyrics, his choice of attire is a radical shift from the traditional “masculine” figure regularly portrayed by hip hop artists, challenging gender roles and the common misconception that black males have to embody a “gangster” persona; thus bringing to light the stigma associated with homosexuality among the African-American and hip hop community. Lil’ B’s simple, yet confrontational approach to a previously cemented characteristic of hip hop artists has allowed him to challenge hip hop’s biggest taboo. At the same time, Lil’ B tackles the misogynistic themes so often expressed in hip hop lyrics through his outrageous and excessive lyrics, addressing a problem in hip hop that women have been decrying for decades but denied the voice. Lil’ B’s ignorant and anti-intellectual rants also work to undermine the egoistic characters and materialistic themes that hip hop artists have been representing in mainstream rap music.

October's Very Own

2011-10-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

From having trust issues to making headlines, Drake’s comeback since Thank Me Later is crazier than ever. Many people may dislike Drake, calling him a fake, because he raps about certain things, but says the opposite in his interviews. I don’t believe this makes him a fake, because when you think about it us students are the same way. We like talking about smoking weed and lean to our friends, but you’re not going to say that to your parents or announce it to the world. Drake’s listeners are his friends in that same sense. He keeps his music personal and current, so listener’s can relate to him. I mean let’s be real how many of you thought about an ex after hearing Marvin’s Room or started yelling out “I’m on one!” when your drunk?

Drake ~ Headlines (Official Video) from OctobersVeryOwn on Vimeo.

In my opinion Drake is one of the most original rappers out there. While most rappers out there are opening up their lamborghini doors, Drake opens up the Toronto Roger's Stadium in the Headlines video above. And for those of you that missed it here's the video of Drake performing on SNL last week.

Happy Birthday Drake and take care everybody.

Who is Nardwuar?

2011-10-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

And why is he the best interviewer on the web?

Nardwuar the Human Serviette, aka John Ruskin, is not your run-of-the-mill interviewer. He is known for having a exuberant yet awkward personality and also looks like a professional mini-golf player. He hails from Vancouver, Canada where he went to school for his undergraduate degree in history and currently has a weekly show at WFMU.

His interviewing style is intriguingly unlike any other field reporter. He composes massive research on his future interviewee and uses this insightful information to connect past experiences to present characteristics.

Often Nardwuar will present multiple gifts to the interviewee, not to suck up or anything, but to help the interviewee recollect important and influential moments. These gifts are often musical related gifts such as records, tapes, posters, etc. Often the interviewee will accept the gift and gladly spill insight into his/her past that no other interviewer could ever extract.

The majority of interviewees love Nardwuar because of his quirky personality and his accurate research. Some find it odd how he knows so much about the interviewee (Tyler the Creator thinks Nardwuar is with the Feds). Sometimes, Nardwuar can annoy and offend people such as Kid Cudi and Slipknot, but more often than not, the interviewee leaves in smiles and with a bunch of gifts.

Check out a couple interviews with Tyler the Creator and Casey Veggies and decide for yourself:

Chuuwee - Artist of the Week

2011-10-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

My artist of the week (and current favorite rapper) is Chuuwee (pronounced "chewy") hailing live from the city of trees aka the 9-16 Sacramento, California. Pretty much all I have been listening too lately. The first time I heard "French Inhale" I was hooked and now I can't stop listening to him (no homo). Chuuwee is an emerging star coming out the West and he's been getting massive coverage by blogs all over the net. With a "straight up style" and impressive display of lyricism, his combination of crazy sampled beats and witty lyrics combine to create clever stories reflecting the 90s era in which he was raised. His music is honest and easy to relate to. He's confident, yet not too braggadocious, and you can tell he's hungry to make it. I would highly recommend checking out his EP "Be Cool" and his mixtape produced entirely by Cook-n-Soul "The Date Tape." Be on the look out for Chuuwee's next project titled "Watching the Throne" which is set to be released in November 2011.

Check him out at

www.soundcloud.com/chuuweeoftus

chuuweeoftus.bandcamp.com

twitter.com/@chuuweetus

Top 5 Producers IMO

2011-10-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

I'm more of an instrumental kind of a guy. I hear the beat louder than the word. No disrespect
to acappella, but the beat keeps the rhythm and flow. It's basically the energy.

I don't blog much but I'll post my 5 top producers that have influenced what I look for in a beat.

5. Amp Live- His innovative and refreshingly energetic beats create a post West Coast hip hop sound. Songs like "Don't Lose Your Head" and "Coastin".

4. Just Blaze - He's been on game for the past decade and hasn't lost any game at all. Notable tracks like Fabolous - "Breathe" and Maino Feat. T-Pain "All the Above"

3. J Dilla - An enigmatic character in Hip Hop. Dilla's love-centric, creative productions, much like his behind-the-scenes approach, have an initially subtle appeal which perpetually grows the more you listen to it. Beats of "The Light" by Common and "Tainted" by Slum Village.

2. Dr. Dre - He mainly took over the past half decade and was pronounced the most successful commercial hip hop producer of all time. After starting his own label, Aftermath, Dre signed Eminem and later 50 Cent, producing for both on their way to multi-platinum statuses. His beats feature an addictive sound which is kind of like G-funk on blast. Notable Tracks like "California Love" by Tupac and "Nothin' But A G thang" by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg.

1. Kanye West - Yeah, he's a douchebag and auto-tune abuser but his samples are on point. He's been on Billboard charts for the past decade not even rapping, producing for a variety of artists. West proves that sometimes quality wins over quantity. Produced beats like "Go" by Common, "Overnight Celebrity" by Twista, and Izzo (HOVA) by Jay-Z.

Top 5 Artists of the week

2011-10-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

As a biology major, I don't know how to write at all,

so I'll stick to posting my top 5 artists that I'm listening to this week. In no
way am I proclaiming that these are the best rappers/singers, but instead am just introducing who I've been bumping on my Zune right now, hoping to show some new music

5. Bonobo -- Not classified as hip-hop, but Bonobo is one of my favorites right now, especially for studying. He's a British producer and DJ, who has some of the most elegant, yet simple beats I've ever heard. It does have that hip hop vibe and I think many hip hop heads can appreciate it, especially those who favor instrumentals. Favorite song - Recurring

4. The Dean's List -- Although not as lyrically talented as most 'underground listeners' would want, I can't get enough of the beats they spit on. From the east coast, they are not well known in SoCal, but once my friend showed me in the summer I couldn't get enough. Favorite Song - Valley Girl (Remix)

3. Kendrick Lamar -- Most of you have heard his name,

as he's being crowned as the best talent out of LA currently. If not, Favorite Song - HiiPower

2. XV -- This dude from Kansas needs to blow up already. Lyrically, I think he is underrated. Great beats & Great lyrics, what more can you want. Listen carefully to his lyrics and you'll see how clever and flawless he is with his delivery. Favorite Song - When We're Done

1. Theophilus London -- There are 2 reactions you can have to his music. Either you love it, or you will respond with 'WTF is this?' I had both reactions when I first heard his music. This dude is unique and bringing hip hop back. Unfortunately, his voice

is like Cudi's, so he will always be compared to him, even thou

gh he isn't even close to the same style on any level. Favo

rite Song - Humdrum Town or Flying Overseas or I Stand Alone or Why Even Try or Wine & Chocolates (yeah, i can't fucking decide)

Swag Ain't Dead

2011-10-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

NEWSFLASH (Okay, not really): But, we are currently living in the era of Swag. As much as you may want to fight it, swag is taking over and is taking no prisoners. The kids nowadays are raising there middle finger to the system and creating a lane where individuality is the focus. Rap about social issues? nahh Rap about love/romance? nahh. New schoolers like ASAP Rocky are rapping about drinking 40's, smoking weed, and fucking your bitch. And at the same time, getting signed to major record labels and gaining mass followings who are drawn to the...yeah you guessed it...SWAG. Peep aforementioned ASAP Rocky. #harlemworld

Top 5 Albums

2011-10-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

A lot of thought should go into someone's TOP 5 Hip Hop Albums, but I feel like a lot of people will base their TOP 5 on other people's list. That includes TOP Producers and TOP Rappers. Now, I got nothing but respect for the rappers from the past, and I will not hesitate to deem an album a CLASSIC if it is. For example, Nas' "Illmatic." Yeah it's a helluva album. The story tellin' of a young black man coming out of the projects of Queensbridge, New York gives you a first row seat of how it was at that time. It's hard for me not to put it in my TOP albums. But for me, I feel like your TOP albums should be based on the music that made a difference in your up-bringing, not what others think. In reality, I give a damn what other people think. Now "Illmatic" was released in 1994, meaning it was released when I was 2-years old. I can't put it in my TOP because I was not around to experience the cultural impact it had. Say what you want, hate on my choices, but these are some of the albums that I felt led me to love and appreciate hip hop for what it is. Listed below are the name of the albums and contributing rappers plus a link to the Samples used for the album. Enjoy. <1

1. Kanye West - College Dropout (http://samplesets.blogspot.com/2011/06/sample-set-169.html)

2. Common - Be (http://www.mediafire.com/?0qywvmotswvrynv)

3. Jay-Z - Blueprint 1 (http://www.hiphopisread.com/2009/09/blueprint-sample-set-2.html)

4. Cam'ron - Come Home With Me (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PZP6FMSE)

5. The Game - The Documentary (http://www.hiphopisread.com/2011/03/sample-set-167.html)

5. Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (http://www.hiphopisread.com/2008/10/lupe-fiasco-food-liquor-samples.html)

Booking Your Favorite Artists

2011-10-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

So you've got this awesome theme, perfect venue, and the ideal date to host the best concert/festival your city has ever seen. And all you now need is the right artist to headline the show.

So how do you book them?

The most common answer is to find the artist's booking agent, shoot him/her an brief email, and offer a respectable amount of money to play your show.

And 80% of the time the agent will reject your offer.

Now it's most likely that the artist is touring in a certain part of the world or not even touring at all, which is why the agent probably said "thanks but no thanks". But what if I said that you could have a sizeable chance at persuading the booking agent and even the artist to come play at your show? Well it's true, and this is how Paul Tollett, president of Goldenvoice, does it with Coachella (in one of my favorite interviews):

"I feel bad divulging this, but when you're talking to a band, you can't lead off with money. You'll be shot down almost every time. They know what kind of money they can get. You have to approach them with why they should get back together. We'll say, "There are thousands of people wanting to see you. You're still relevant, and you're the third most-asked-for band on the Coachella message board." I've had bands, including one this year that I won't name, confirmed before we even talked money."

This response was specific to reunion bands at Coachella but there are a couple things to take away from it:

1. Never mention asking price in the initial email - it makes it seem you are just interested in the services of the artist. Try to show genuine interest in the artist.

2. Have stats to back up your case. Booking agents and artists like to have confidence in the promoter, because when it comes down to the bottom line, they want the most possible tickets sold. So if you had sold 500 tickets to your last event or packed the house with just 2 weeks of promotion, then tell the whole world! (By the way...have you noticed a Facebook fan page for "Bringing Avicii to UCI"? The organizers of this event are trying to build an online fan base to persuade other student body executives to let a 170K concert take part in the Bren. But in order to do that, they need stats to prove that the concert will sell out and the Facebook page is just the start of the market research.)

And here a couple of personal tips coming from me that should bode helpful:

3. Sell your event! If you have an awesome venue or a great philanthropic cause then make sure the recipient of your email knows that. Artists do hundreds of shows every year, what differentiates yours?

4. Start early. The earlier you start planning the more likely the artist will be available and it increases the chance of booking the artist at a cheaper price.

So take this advice and rethink your first email or phone call you make, it just might be the deciding factor.

Paul Tollett interview - http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3ib95b33f49d5e464ad21c47ffed02dd08

HIP HOP CONGRESS PRESENTS: URBAN ARTS FEST 2011

2011-03-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

Performances By:

Hosted By: Nduka Unaka

When: Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 | 6:30PM

Where: UC Irvine: Student Center - Pacific Ballroom

Directions/Parking: Click Here!

Admission: FREE!

*This event is open to the public!

More Info:

FB Event Page: Click Here!

Pete Rock & Smif-n-Wessun - "Prevail" (f. Raekwon)

2010-09-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Smif-n-Wessun team up with the legendary Pete Rock to bring you "Prevail" featuring Raekwon. Stay tuned for Pete Rock and Smif-n-Wessun's Monumental LP.

Here's a classic:

Kanye West "Devil In A New Dress"

2010-09-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

More Kanye...

Kanye West | "Runaway Love" (Remix) f. Raekwon and Justin Bieber

2010-08-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

How do y'all feel about this?

Kanye West featuring Raekwon & Justin Bieber - Runaway Love (Remix) (Tagless) by Hypetrak

Kanye West | "Monster"

2010-08-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

So it seems Kanye has promised new G.O.O.D. music from now until Christmas. This week we have "Monster" featuring Mr. West, himself, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj. Not only is "Monster" one of the first releases under Kanye's "G.O.O.D. Music Initiatives," but it is also the second track off his upcoming project with Jay-Z titled Watch The Throne.

Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj - Monster by Hypetrak

Kanye West | "Power" (Remix) f. Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz

2010-08-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

"haan!"

Kanye West featuring Jay- Z and Swizz Beatz -Power (Remix) by Hypetrak

Original:

Kanye West - Power- Mastered version by suspencemusic

Nujabes & Uyama Hiroto - Homeward Journey

2010-08-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Long time no post. Thought I'd bring the blog back with a new beat by one of the worlds greatest producers, Nujabes. On "Homeward Journey," you can see Nujabes teaming up fellow Japanese producer, Uyama Hiroto, for a very beautiful, yet depressing track.

Apparently there are plans to release some of Nujabes music later this year or sometime in 2011.

Nujabes, Rest in Peace.

AFTA-1 | FORM

2010-06-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

AFTA-1 "FORM" Limited Casette Tapes from Erok (Ek5obition) on Vimeo.

AFTA-1 cuts his painting into pieces as he completes the final step in the production of his new album/art project, FORM 100 Limited Edition Cassette Tapes, dubbed and hand designed 1 by 1. All including a 4" x 4", 1/100th of the original covert art, painted on 36" x 48" canvas.

More: http://afta1.com/love...

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://afta1.bandcamp.com/album/f-o-r-m"&amp;amp;gt;1. Prelude To MeMeaningWE by AFTA-1&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Fashawn | Ode to Illmatic [Mixtape]

2010-06-12T16:02:00.001-07:00

Haven't listened to this yet, but it should be interesting.. haha

Download: Fashawn - Ode to Illmatic [Mixtape]

The Stuyvesants | Brooklyn's Finest

2010-06-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

It's finals week. Listen to The Stuyvesants. Do work.

Brooklyn’s Finest by Algorythm

Speak! | Beautiful Sounds for Interesting People with Fantastic Taste

2010-05-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Download: Speak! - Beautiful Sounds for Interesting People with Fantastic Taste

Artist(s) of the Week: Reflection Eternal

2010-05-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't know, Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek ARE Reflection Eternal.

Your artist(s) of the week = Reflection Eternal.
Why?
Revolutions Per Minute on sell Tuesday, May 11.
Just hyping y'all up :)

A track off of Reflection Eternal's 2000 album, Train of Thought:

A few tracks off of their next album, Revolutions Per Minute: