DOWNLOAD: Hits From The Blog: A Few Overlooked Gems From 2011 (COMPILATION)

Note to aging NYC golden era rappers, this is how you hark back to your glory days without emberrassing yourself and/or boring me to tears.

DOWNLOAD: AZ – Murda On The Daily (prod by Boomshell)

I usually don’t consider message board interactions to be good blog content but couldn’t pass this one up. After facing some criticism on his own fan forum, Cormega speaks out on his recent brief guest feature on a Lil B song. 10 pages of back and forth follow, spinning out into a wider range covering homosexuality in music, religion, Malcom X, Biggie and Eddie Murphy… and somewhere amidst all that you can find a few insights into the minds making up a (admittedly small) cross-section of modern ‘true-school’ rap fans. Key detail to consider: it doesn’t seem like most of the detractors have actually heard the song in question (you can hear it here).

Mega’s first post is this:

Theres a lot of younger rappers who dont study there history especially sadly in my own city. Theres young dudes who never heard of or listened to Kane or G Rap,Lil B is NOT one of them.I have heard him quote lyrics from dope MCs, not hot rappers so that enough merits respect. What some call old heads Lil B calls influences you’d be surprised how humble and respectful he is and the love he has for East Coast pioneers. Lil B is a better at marketing then some people that are paid at lables to market(check his youtube). He generated his own buzz and is generating more buzz by doing and saying whatever the fuck he wants. Hes a smart dude and he respects hip hop more then some of the rappers who got rich off exploiting it. Chasing The Rain is one example of Lil B making a dope song. The cooking dance generated a buzz that probably wouldve been a hit record if he was on a major. The kid knows when where and how to say things and apparently its working because people keep talking about him. People said hes the worst thing to happen and that he killed hip hop so he made a song called “I killed Hip Hop” ALOT of the top rappers sold out way before Lil B had a demo out let him live.
People say hes gay because of something he said well I know of a rapper who said “she look so good I’d suck on her daddy dick” and not only did people not criticize him they song along. PAUSE
Come on it 2010 almost 2011 lets stop bringing each other down its getting real tired!

Things get interesting as responses add on. Read the whole thread here: http://www.legalhustle.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21255. Make conclusions as you will.

In (a fairly likely) case you read all that (or just this post) and got nothing out of it, here’s a nice new remix of Cormega’s ‘Journey’ with OC, Large Pro and Sadat X to make up for your lost time (via Unkut).

DOWNLOAD: Cormega – Journey RMX ft Sadat X, Large Pro and OC

Since Blogger fucked up the posts from our previous blog site, I thought I’d re-post this one for the archives. It’s another collection, this time featuring one of the more vaunted duos in hip-hop, Nas and AZ. It almost seems that since the classic “Life’s a Bitch,” hip-hop fans have been baying for a collaboration album…. or a Nas/Primo album… shit, why not just an AZ/Nas/Primo 15 years too late album? Either way, the guillotine has dropped on that notion, especially after Nas’ interview not too long ago with Rap Radar:

“I think certain things have to be ready. You can’t do it for the sake of doing it and mess up what it was supposed to be. [...] I was willing to do one again ten years ago and I think that was really the time. [...] I don’t wanna say yeah and it don’t happen. It’s not as easy at it sounds.”

All of that aside, this comp. should give an idea of how dope a project between the pair could have been. Maybe the most interesting part of the collection is that it showcases the early signs of Nas being a terrible executive producer. This all dates back to Nastradamus when Nas started to think it was a good idea to Exec. his own albums. It wasn’t. An Executive Producer (at least in hip-hop terms) typically helps to sculpt the sound of an LP and challenge the artist to deliver their best. This wasn’t as noticeable with Stillmatic as Nas was already under the gun and therefore managed to drop his best work for five yours, but the bulk of his subsequent albums have suffered significantly. For one thing, have you noticed how since the close of the 90s he always tends to get the raw deal in exchanged collaborations? (i.e. you do a joint with me for my album, I’ll do a track for yours) The Game gets song of the year contender “Why You Hate the Game,” Nas gets the disappointing “Hustlers.” Kanye gets the anthemic “We Major,” Nas gets the anemic “Still Dreaming.” Even wifey Kelis got the fantastic “Popular Thug” while Nas got stuck with fucking “American Way” (which was produced by Q-Tip no less). Etc, etc.

Same goes for Stillmatic’s “The Flyest.” Not that “The Flyest” is necessarily a bad song. It’s not, but it doesn’t compare with either “The Essence” or “Serious.” Listen for yourself and enjoy the rest.

The Essence
download now

01 Nas and AZ – The Flyest
02 Nas and AZ ft Cormega and Foxy Brown – Affirmative Action
03 Nas and AZ ft Kool G Rap – Holler Back
04 Nas and AZ – Serious
05 Nas and AZ ft Dr Dre and Nature – Phone Tap
06 Nas and AZ – Mo Money Mo Murda Mo Homicide
07 Nas and AZ ft Nature – Executive Decisions
08 Nas and AZ ft Nature – Time
09 Nas and AZ ft Cormega and Foxy Brown – Affirmative Action (Trackmasters rmx)
10 Nas and AZ ft Foxy Brown and Dawn Robinson – Firm Biz
11 Nas and AZ – Life’s a Bitch
12 Nas and AZ – How Ya Livin’
13 Nas and AZ – Gimmie Yours
14 Nas and AZ ft Foxy Brown and Nature – Firm Biz (World Famous rmx)
15 Nas and AZ – The Essence

— Snoop Bloggy Blogg

Before we get started let’s clear a few things up first. This is no way a BEST of 2009 list.

I tried to limit the amount of time an artist appeared but it was impossible to do with Raekwon. While he might not have been the best rapper this year, he gave us the best material. He had tons of guest spots, a stellar album and was hands down the most intricate part of Hip-Hop in 2009.

I also had to give Big Boi a nod on my favorite rapper list because you can’t two drop of the best singles of the year and not make it. 2010 is looking pretty promising with the return of OutKast, The Roots, Blu and the Wu-Massacre. New albums from Pill, Curren$y, Yela Wolf, Jay Electronica, and Freddie Gibbs to name a few. When you look back at ’09 you won’t find that many amazing moments, but if you look closely you’ll find a ton of dope tracks you can’t deny. Not the best year in the decade but certainly not the worst either. Check back tomorrow for a list of my 200 favorite tracks of 2009. –Philaflava

Philaflava’s 10 Favorite Rappers of 2009

1. Raekwon
2. DOOM
3. Curren$y
4. Freddie Gibbs
5. Lil Wayne
6. The Jacka
7. Joell Ortiz
8. Cormega
9. Saigon
10. Big Boi

Philaflava’s 10 Favorite LP’s 2009

1. Raekwon – OB4CL II
2. The Jacka – Tear Gas
3. DOOM – Born To This
4. Curren$y – This Ain’t No Mixtape
5. Cormega – Born And Raised
6. Felt (Murs & Slug) – Felt 3: A Tribue To Rosie Perez
7. Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge
8. Brother Ali – Us
9. Clipse – Til The Casket Drops
10. Fashawn – Boy Meets World

Philaflava’s 25 Favorite Tracks of 2009

1. Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
2. Raekwon – New Wu feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man
3. DOOM – Gazzillion Ear
4. Big Boi – Fo Yo Sorrows feat. Too $hort & George Clinton
5. Clipse – By Popular Demand (Popeye’s) feat. Cam’Ron
6. Big Boi – Shine Blockas feat. Gucci Mane
7. UGK – Used To Be feat. E-40, B-Legit, 8 Ball And MJG
8. The Roots – How I Got Over
9. Cam’Ron – I Hate My Job (Original Mix)
10. Brother Ali – Best@It feat. Freeway & Joell Ortiz
11. Clipse – Kind of Like A Big Deal feat. Kanye West
12. Raekwon – Surgical Gloves
13. Wu-Tang Clan – Radiant Jewels feat. Cormega & Sean Price
14. Kurious – Benneton feat. MC Search & DOOM
15. CunninLynguists – George (Remix) ft. Khujo Goodi & Killer Mike
16. Cormega – Rapture
17. Raekwon – Kiss The Ring feat. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa
18. Open Mike Eagle – iRock
19. Joell Ortiz – Move On (Slaughterhouse Mix) feat. Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9″ & Crooked I
20. Felt (Murs & Slug) – Permanent Standby
21. Saigon – The Rules
22. Fabolous – Lullaby
23. Musab – Get Life
24. Q-Tip – Renaissance
25. Freddie Gibbs – I’m That Nigga

01. Juice Crew – Mr. Magic Tribute
02. Cormega – Define Yourself feat. Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc
03. Jay Electronica – Suckas
04. Saigon – Say Yes Pt. 2
05. Beanie Sigel – What You Talkin’ Bout
06. Remarkable Mayor – Doomz Day
07. O.C. – Life (Roc Raida Tribue)
08. Senor Kaos – 20 Years High & Rising (Homage To De La Soul) feat. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman
09. Fashawn – Samsonite Man feat. Blu
10. Sene – WhyBother?
11. People Under The Stairs – DQMOT (Thes One Remix)
12. Del The Funky Homosapien & Tame One – Flashback
13. Cormega – Live And Learn (prod. Pete Rock)
14. Curren$y – On My Way
15. Godamus Rhyme – Mass Appeal feat. Mr. S.O.S.
16. Masta Ace & Edo G – Pass The Mic feat. KRS-One
17. (Bonus Track) Mr. Chop – T.R.O.Y.

Catch up an all 11 volumes here.

01-lupe_fiasco-fire.mp3
02-black_thought-philly_boy.mp3
03-freddie_gibbs-im_that_nigga.mp3
04-royce_da_59-something_2_ride_2_feat_phonte.mp3
05-fashawn-ecology.mp3
06-cormega-define_yourself_(feat._tragedy_havoc).mp3
07-young_jeezy-i_got_this.mp3
08-camp_lo-uptown_(remix).mp3
09-royce_da_59-hood_love_(feat._bun_b__joell_ortiz).mp3
10-murs-eighteen_to_twenty_one.mp3
11-buckshot_and_sean_price-the_feeling.mp3
12-big_boi-shine_blockas_(feat._gucci_mane).mp3
13-cormega-rapture.mp3
14-curren$y-the_dossier.mp3
15-camp_lo-black_connect_3.mp3
16-le$-somethin_like_a_pimp.mp3
17-usda-bag_music_(feat._young_jeezy).mp3
18-crooked_i-guess_whos_back_(feat._snoop_dogg).mp3
19-timbaland-say_something_(feat._drake).mp3
20-sean_price-figure_four.mp3
21-curren$y-on_my_way.mp3

Download Mix

I cannot stress this enough but on October 20th you need to go out and buy “Born & Raised.“  The man hasn’t dropped a real album in 6-7 years and you shouldn’t need me reminding you just how dope of an emcee he is.  Here are THREE joints off the album (of the year candidate).

Need I say more?

Cormega – Define Yourself feat. Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc (prod. DR Period)

Cormega – Get In It feat. Lil Fame (prod. Easy Moe Bee)

Cormega – Rapture (prod. Ayatollah)