For the past week we’ve seen a bunch of people tackle this album. Writers these days take themselves way too seriously. That or they have these agendas in writing these reviews just to grab a few hits and if they’re lucky maybe a couple of RTs. I’m not a writer. I’m a simple man, I like my beans and rice. We live in a world that is quite simple if you ask me. It’s black, it’s white. It’s good, it’s bad. It’s hot, it’s cold. It’s yes or no. These definitive answers shape who we are.
There is no need to string together a wordy review that only serves as self-indulgent drivel just to deliver one adjective in describing Undun.
We’ve been spoiled for practically two decades now with progression, not regression from The Roots crew. We want Malik B. We miss Len Hub. We want more N.T. collabos. We want more Black Thought verses. We want lengthier tracks and albums; [insert Elaine] yada yada yada.
Crazy Cat Catalogue affiliate Dj Rerok lets loose of a new school version of the hiphop classic Marley Marl’s “The Symphony” and gives us “The Pimphony” featuring on the rise artists Curt@!n$, Nickelus F, Maffew Ragazino and the pimpster himself Wais P.
Andre Nickatina has been non-stop bouncing this month, jumping from coast to coast on his Money Shark 2011 Tour, which continues all the way to New Years Eve in Seattle. Despite his busy schedule, he’s taking the time today to release the mp3 for his latest single, “Still Gon Ball,” giving fans a chance to finally get their hands on the song after catching the video premiere last month on VEVO. For “Still Gon Ball,” Andre lets fellow Fillmore compatriot Messy Marv jump on the first part of each verse, while ever-smooth crooner J. Valentine, also of the Bay Area, caresses the hook. The heavily electronic production is an unexpected choice for the emcee, but with lyrics like, “My style is candy painted/ My suit is tailor-maded/ My pinky ring would get a brick if I ever trade it,” it’s not hard to see why the song is quickly becoming a fan favorite for Nickatina fans.
Let’s be specific (peace Funkmaster Flex), the other day I dropped my 10 most underrated rappers of 2011, so it only made sense to drop my best rapper too. This isn’t an all-time list, it’s current and I could only award this to a rapper who is, well current. Andre 3000, you might be on another level and universally accepted as the greatest rapper living and who am I to disagree? You are, but these once every few years cameos on these bullshit R&B tracks ain’t cutting it.
It ain’t Jay, shame on you for even thinking that. It isn’t his apprentice Mr. Electronica, who by the way he should be dropping his once-a-year track in December to continue giving your iTunes blue balls. His lack of new material and a Saigon(ish) career pattern is not helping matters. I can you assure you it’s nobody who would rock a smedium t-shirt. Nobody that you would consider a hipster or vegan. It isn’t a new radical skater. It isn’t lazy self-absorbed artists who continues to produce lo-fi albums for your listening displeasure.
Who does it leave then? Nas, maybe, but we all know he lost a step or two over the years. Could it be Jada? Sure, Jadakiss is like the New York Jets, he looks great on paper but when it comes down to business he can’t close and I’m still waiting on that great album from him. So the argument could come down to Pusha and the man who I awarded it to. Pusha is just getting better with age, but when you see who is #1 it’s hard to dispute facts.
Maybe 2012 will be different but there isn’t a rapper IMO who has deliverer quality time and time again than this man. I hate the word swag, so I will just say this man’s style is just too damn cool. It sounds effortless like the way DOOM spits, but it’s extremely layered with witty lyricism and tons of rewind material If the Dos Equis guy was a rapper he’d be this one. –Philaflava
Click to see who is the best rapper of 2011. (more…)
We’re still a few months away from the year closing out, but we all know the 4th Q is usually for big names, big labels and even bigger releases. This list is about 10 rappers who have been grindin’ for years. True lyricists who each put in work year in year out and still seem to lack the appreciation they rightfully deserve. This isn’t an all-time list, it’s just a group of 10 rappers I feel are currently underrated, unappreciated and warrant the recognition.
Hip-Hop has been good to us these past years. With the emergence of Big K.R.I.T., Danny Brown, Freddie Gibbs, French Montana, Action Bronson, Tyler The Creator, Fashawn, Pill, Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire, Blu, Elzhi, G-Side, ASAP Rocky, Curren$y & Roc Marciano just to name a few, we’ve had to double up on our hard drive space.
There are always going to be rappers with strong co-signs, better geographical residency or those who lean on friends and favors for that mass appeal. I wanted to put together a list of 10 active emcees that all deserve your attention and in my opinion are truly underrated.
So without further ado, here are my 10 Most Underrated Emcees of 2011.
“If you ain’t caught the kid live then you losing out.”
Having seen Ev do his thing last week at the Fillmore in Miami I can’t say he’s fronting at all. Cats & Dogs drops on Sept 27th on Rhymesayers. Here is a track with everybody’s favorite new new (not really new) rapper and everybody’s favorite interviewee. Peace to Ev. –Philaflava
New mixtape from the man who laced us with the classic West Coast Vaccine: The Cure. Peace to @RealTurfTalk for bringing this to our attention. I know Blast is going to love this! –Philaflava
1. Check Ya Self Intro
2. Check Yo Self Ft Spider Loc
3. NWA
4. Think Im
5. Smoke Break Interlude
6. Roll One Ft Clyde Carson
7. Street King Interlude
8. Street King Ft A Wax
9. Hustle Hard Interlude
10. Hustle Hard
11. Bitches The Interlude
12. Bitches Aint Shit Ft Symba
13. Money Interlude
14. Money Ft Beeda Weeda & Ya Boy
15. Choppa Interlude
16. Choppa Down Ft Mr FYB & Eddi Projex
17. Smoke Break 2
18 Smoke Ft Cousin Fik & Tajma
19. Spend Something
20. Go Shopping
21. Bay Boy Ft Mistah FAB
Big fan of this track and now it has a video to go with it. Shouts to Living Legend Lucky and the other guys who go by Aceyalone and Sluggo. Everybody does their thing on this joint! –Philaflava
Thanks to whoever put this joint together. Peace to RGF for the link. 4 CDs of your favorite, lazy, half-ass mixing, Native Tonguish leftcoast throwback we wished didn’t act so fucking weird on purpose. –Philaflava
Disc 1
01. This Is Your Life feat. MED (Prod. Exile)
02. WhatUWanna feat. Dela
03. Cadalac Steeze feat. Willow
04. Dreamland feat. Andy Allo
05. Fly (Song of Liberation) feat. Exile
06. Mars (Remix) feat. Dela
07. Radio Daze feat. The Roots, Dice Raw
08. Smoke feat. J Dilla
09. LoveLine(s) feat. Exile
10. A Song Called Triumph feat. Big Tone
11. From The Heart feat. Deep Rooted
12. Never Ending feat. Mumbles
13. Lamenated Looseleafs feat. MAG
14. GNG BNG feat. Flying Lotus
15. How Do You Sleep feat. Recess
16. Party of Two feat. Exile
17. The Richers feat. TiRon & Asher Roth
18. Through The Flames feat. Co$$
19. Dope 4 Gold feat. Sene
20. Hi(gh) Music feat. Shingo Suzuki
Disc 2
01. Maintain feat. Exile, Donel Smoke, Co$$ & Miguel
02. Samsonite Man feat. Fashawn
03. True Love feat. Sene & Chief
04. Pour Another Glass feat. Presto
05. Lucy’s&LooseLeafs feat. Dela
06. Born Again feat. Co$$ & Sene
07. Therapy feat. The Alchemist, Evidence, KiD CuDi
08. The Day feat. The Roots, Phonte, Patty Crash
09. Piece feat. Choice37
10. Git It Now feat. Trek Life
11. Hostile Gospel (Remix) feat. Joell Ortiz & Talib Kweli
12. Morgan Blu feat. Tanya Morgan
13. Life Of A Lover (Remix) feat. Theophilus London, Jesse Boykins III
14. Just Relax feat. Noah
15. Hard Times feat. DJ Cadik
16. For Whom The Bell Tolls feat. Phonte, Evidence & will.i.am
17. Step To This feat. Josh One
18. Still Remains feat. Waxolutionists
19. The Times feat. Keelay & Zaire, Fortlive, Nino Moschella (more…)
