early graduation present

Kanye West's Graduation is shaping up to be the premier album of 2007 (it's only rival might be Common's Finding Forever, ironically with West's production talents). i was recently searching for any new information on the album after listening to his "Can't Tell Me Nothing" single for the 26th time today. i saw his Hype Williams-directed vid on Youtube yesterday thinking to myself, "damn, he already has a vid for this shit?" i kind of like the theme of the video in the sense that there isn't a theme at all. the video is suppose to evoke you listening to the lyrics rather than being amazed at the scenery. the club lights add to DJ Toomp's assisted atmospheric sound scapes. could it be Kon went the south route cause it's the flavor-of-the-month or because it's safe to the radio listeners? uh, maybe, but not entirely. i think it just might be he's a fan of Toomp's catalog (he's honestly the most consistent and decorated producer from the south right now). anyway, i read Kanye had a new mixtape, something like the prequel to Grad that was out. after searching i came across kanyetalk.com and in their forums they had the link. i think i'll save you the time by providing the link here. the mixtape is called Can't Tell Me Nothing (The Official Mixtape, Mixed by Plain Pat) and features tracks from the upcoming album, collaborative efforts with people like Lupe, Pharrell & Talib Kweli, and spots from his G.O.O.D. Music artists Common, Consequence, GLC, & Fonsworth. i'm listening to the tape as i write this so i can't give an opinion on it. if you're a Kon fan or just looking for something new, here's the link. enjoy:

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kanye west - can't tell me nothing (the official mixtape, mixed by plain pat)

the coast with the most

you know in all honesty i don't think there are that many classic southern hip-hop albums. at least not in comparison to the east coast. but even then there is a east coast bias when carefully placing albums with the certification of being "classic". i'm sure if you asked an east coast person what they think a classic album from the south is, they'll probably say something from OutKast over 50% of the time. shit, even then you have people debate which Kast album is the best. when i read interviews with southern artists or artists from other coasts i really don't hear a specific album mentioned from the dirty (Ridin' Dirty might be the exception). my brother told me one of the members from d4l said Goodie Mob's masterpiece Soul Food is one of their favorite albums. you know, for some reason, i find that hard to believe (now if they said ying yang i would be like "OK", now we're getting somewhere). but maybe i'm being hard on them. i like many different types of music, it ain't like i'll cater to one and stick to that particular one. all in all hearing my bro. tell me that shit was funny. so in conclusion, while on my continuing discovery of classic albums, instead of the old guaranteed, on every body's top ten list or whatever, i'm gonna try and dig deep and find the lost classics of yesteryear. these are the ones seldom heard and never really mentioned in current hip-hop circles. damn, maybe it all started for me with my recent discovery of Cru's lost one.

straight from the lip

Cru. or CRU. Or The Rhythm Blunt Cru. either way you get the picture of who i am talking about. what could i talk about this group that is clearly on every blog out there? (note: this sentence is straight sarcasm). or what i should be asking myself is why hasn't anyone talked about this group at all. it all started for me with the recent issue of scratch magazine and the feature on Cru's monster-of-an-album Da Dirty 30 (already provided links in previous posts, but it'll probably still be in the album rotation if need be). there they broke down some of the samples used on the album. i immediately grew interest because it stated Yogi produced all 30 fucking tracks. 30 tracks!!! i ain't seen that much dedication since Drama & Wayne (had to go there). i'm thinking to myself "i have to hear this". after acquiring the album i recognized "just another case". the melancholy sample, the whole summertime vibe, it's an instant classic, a reminder of that time you did whatever (to whoever, perhaps). my only regret was not getting this album when it came out. what's the excuse? did Def Jam put money into the project? i couldn't tell you but maybe it had something to do with the "shiny suits" and whatshit (even though they put out masterpieces compared to today's standards). i could give a break down of all the tracks and all that bullshit but i'm gonna save face and recommend this album to anyone with the slightest taste in hip-hop music. this is the only album from them, it ain't like i'm recommending their whole discography (wait, i think i am).

before or after? part 2

before...

...and after

trick question muthafuckas, Ghost Deini still one of the most consistent mc's in the game period. i think a helping from the goodie bag will win me my claim.

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ghostface killah - mighty healty (silk remix)

ghostface killah - the champ (original version)

ghostface feat. raekwon & cappadonna - wu is here

back from the grave with something to say

i'm back. it was a long time coming but anyway, let me start discussing some hip-hop shit. what's news? what's new? what's current. not my musical taste. i think i reached the point where i'm sick and tired of rap music (damn, a couple of months into this blogging shit and now i hate it). no, i'm still going to talk about classic hip-hop and shit i hold dear to my ears, but i think as far as current shit goes, i'm through with it. i remember i had an episode like this in 2004. i only bought two hip-hop albums: college dropout and street's disciple. i don't know what happened in '05 & '06 but i kind of went crazy and starting buying a whole bunch of shit. now i might go by the 10 year rule: if the shit ain't at least ten years old i ain't buying it. now i might have exceptions but hopefully i'm trying to set this goal where i don't buy at least 3 albums this year. bear with me cause these might be the 3 i do buy this year:

1. lil wayne: tha carter III

2. ugk: underground kingz

3. ????????????????? (can't think, uh, how bout a CRU Reunion album? :)-

p.s. i'm probably not going to do a review on Cru's classic album Da Dirty 30, but best believe i'm writing something on one of the most slept on albums ever.