Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Aloe Blacc - Billie Jean
I've been on Aloe since he was a rapper-slash-R&B cat.
Nice to see him blow with the [amazing] "I Need A Dollar" song... Now he gives us his version on Billie Jean, and in my opinion he can't do no wrong for the moment.
Soulful...
10 DEEP - Killin' Time
10.DEEP Killin' Time from 10.DEEP Skateboarding on Vimeo.
NY skating... dope.
Everyone looks crisp draped in 10Deep attire too.
Friday, 25 June 2010
Flashback Friday
This video footage is from shades of hip hop during the making of the n.o.r.e. album.
50 cent, Consequence, Punchline, Noreaga and Kid Carpi holding up the wall in the background. 1997... It's almost like this video captures the moment before Hip-Hop sold it's soul.
Funny to see that Fiddy has gotten slimmer while the rest of em have packed on the keys.
Dope cypher, it's great to get a glimpse behind the scenes and to get a sense of the awesome atmosphere and genuine excitement that surround Hip-Hop music at that time.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
General Steele - Amerikkka's Skemin'
Steele [of Tek-n-Steele aka Cocoa Brovas aka Smif-Wesson] laces a gutter beat with some deep Illuminati tainted lyrics.
Needless to say I'm extremely excited at the prospect of seeing Steele and the rest of the Boot Camp Clik murk it in Germany, this Summer. They came hard last time I saw 'em in Brussels.
I'm diggin' it...
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Grog Metal Head
Following the success of the KRINK metal ball point pens, GROG has released their version.Boasting a 4mm point that can write on just about anything.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Fashawn - Ode To Illmatic
Ok so here it is. Fashawn, the CA rhyme-smith has released a mixtape that is [as the title suggests] an Ode To Illmatic.I downloaded it a few days ago but decided to let it percolate before posting it to the blog. Here's the deal, I like Fashawn - he's good but I LOVE Illmatic. So "redoing" Illmatic in any way would instantly activate the cringe-factor, similar to when you hear some X-Factor contestant massacre a Marvin Gaye classic - no matter how well they might sing.
So for the first few listens I was uneasy. Fashawn lacks the buttery smoothness to his delivery that cemented Nas' debut a classic. However, that's not to say that it's bad by any means. In an age of mediocre Hip Hop mixtapes being released at a rate that by the time you've finished downloading one there's a new one out - which ultimately leaves a lot of them instantly forgettable - this one will probably stick around a while.
A particular favorite of mine is the reinterpretation of Life's Bitch, where Talib plays the role of AZ and absolutely murks it.
So on the whole, once you let it breath a little and give Fashawn a chance to be himself over the classic bangers and not expect to hear Nas the album really grew on me. The one gripe I do have is that [and I know I'm not alone with this one] along with Gangstarr's Moment Of Truth [RIP Guru] I can't help but mouth the lyrics to every track, cuts and all. So I did find my self attempting to complete the verses with Nas' original lyrics and feeling slightly put out when Fashawn dropped his knowledge instead.
Illmatic...
Download HERE.
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