Throwback Track of the Day: Kool Moe Dee - Death Blow

Sometimes we forget about Kool Moe Dee.

"Raise up son, I need jock relief..."

Kool Moe Dee - Death Blow (1991)

SNL Skit: James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub

Just because...


James brown celebrity hottub
Uploaded by codordog. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Throwback Track of the Day: Above the Law - The Last Song (feat. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, & MC Ren)

Remember when Dre was a part of songs like these.. Detox is going to be a joke.

Above the Law - The Last Song (feat. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, & MC Ren) (1990)




Lyrics:

[Intro: Lay Law Talking]
Yo, D.O.C. - why don't you blaze that J?
Cause this is the Law House experience
So you know, it's gonna be some mega shit
So who is that?

[KM.G]
KM.G will never be a trick
Step up to the mic like a baller then I pimp this gift
And only I possess
I illustrated that way to get this shit off my chest
I'm ghetto raise to amaze the crowd, it's quite simple
KM.G has degrees from Unity of South Central
I'm a graduate, and it's all legit
From the pimpin, the ballin' and all that good shit
I have the mega thoughts, in which I speak in a slang
While I'm peekin' it with the Gs from the Ruthless gang
Ain't nothin' changes but the weather like I said before
Cause I'm livin' like hustlers and I'm checkin' galore
Yo, I have to give it up to the D.O.C.
A Ruthless brother, who's down with the KM.G
So all hail to the niggaz that's turnin' it out
And maybe then, I'll take the gun barrel out of your mouth

[Break: Lay Law]
Knowledge, from one generation to another
Perserved, and then transmitted, get it?
Down the Ruthless way, you know what I'm saying?
So what's up Dre?

[Dr. Dre]
Now I'm a swinger, I'm not a motherfuckin' singer
But I bring up, melody that always seems to ring up
Bell as well, let's make it so you can tell
Yo, it's comin' from Compton where the ballers dwell
Cause I'm Dre, the motherfuckin' doctor, causin' propaganda
When I'm on the mic, I demand a
Little bit of time to express myself
From CD and wax, kickin' the facts and it's like that
A nigga with a motherfuckin' attitude
You know the deal, kickin' some real shit
And if a sucker ever thinks he can get some from me
Yo, step off, I'm kickin' lyrics for the deaf and the dumb
But any occasion, gettin' the bitches with the mega persuasion
Then my dick starts to make an invasion
But, yo, I can't go on
Because this is the end of my part on the last song

[Break: Lay Law]
Real G from the streets, villainous when he speaks
For he bust this he can't deal, and give it up for real

[MC Ren]
Now when you see me, you're duckin' and slippin, yo, then you fell down
You fucked up and finally figured who was the cell down
Pullin' the pulls, crotchin' the bull
The weak motherfuckers were smellin' like shit
So I guess that they're full of it
And I love it when I dress like a crook
With a "I don't give a fuck" look
The Villain was thumpin' off like a hero
Jackin' other niggaz with beef, off of relief, I mean the zeros
The rest of the 100 precent was sent to do what I say
N.W.A. and A.T.L. and we don't play
The DOC is doin' it also correctly
See, I broke it down for the ones who tried to check me
But I can't be checked, cause I'm the checker
When you see a nigga wrecked, believe that I'm the wrecker
The right is for the fight then the left will attend
When doin' it wrong, MC Ren is on the last song

[Break: Lay Law]
From a genius to temporary insanity, the ganster's dream
The bitches' fanasty, Ruthless, so now we've come to the pay off

[Eazy-E]
One motherfuckin, two motherfuckin' three
It's the Hip-Hop thugster Eazy-E
So I grab the mic and then I clear my throat
First nigga kickin' lyrics in a straightcoat
It's Eazy for me to come off like this
So you can kiss my ass where the sun rays miss
Or just give me the pussy, then I'll be straight
And if you don't, fuck it, I'll masturbate
(We wanna fuck you Eazy) yeah, you bitches scream
Now bow down and praise The Lord for the wing ding
I got skill to deal and run game on bitches
You can tell that I'm sick, by the triple sixes
I hear voices in my head for what reason
Then when the talkin' stops (*Gun Shot*) it's stopped by season
So back the fuck off and give me respect
Now they're shippin' me off cause Eazy played with a half deck

[Break: Lay Law]
Criminal in his thoughts, murderous in his lyrics
The notorious Cold

[Cold 187Um]
187Um, you know, I gotta have it
Now being above the law is an everyday habit
If you think I drop some pimp shit, I ain't
Perhaps, I say a couple rhymes to make the bitches faint
Now everybody wants to chill, ill and bill
Now what the fuck is the deal?
You need a nigga like me to get the shit goin'
187Um has got the ultimate flowin'
Now it's time, for me to go off like a maniac
Run up, for cover cause I'm on the attiznack
An untouchable player rolled up into one mind
87 reasons, why fools stayin' in line
Cause I ain't the average nigga behind the trigger
I lay and spray anythin' in my way
Cause I'm a boss player, for the streets of South Central
Believe what you want, but soon you'll eventually see
That A.T.L is straight to mega
Don't be surprise cause we played you like Sega
And as bodies keep droppin, you see me keep movin' on
Peace, I'm outta here, cause this is the last song

[Break: Lay Law]
Mega place, persuasion, that's from the House
Law House that is; all graduates from U.S.C.
For those that don't know, it's the University of South Central

[Dr. Dre]
Yeah, you know that shit Law
Yo, this is Dr. Dre, Ruthless Records is in full motherfuckin' effect
Droppin' shit that's goin' to hit 9.2 on the Ricta Scale, boy

[Cold 187Um]
And yeah, this is Cooooooooooold 187Um in the place

[Dr. Dre]
Word up!

[Cold 187Um]
A.T.L definitely ranched y'all, y'all brought it so y'all caught it

[Dr. Dre]
A dose to the Mega Flex
Yo, right about now we wanna give a shout out to everybody
That helped put this motherafuckin' project together

[Cold 187Um]
Yeah, I'd like to give a shout out to my homie KM.G
Yo, DJ Total Koas, Go-Mack With The Sack and Lay Law

[Dr. Dre]
And you know that, I wanna give a shout out to my homie MC Ren
Eazy-E the Hip-Hop Thuggster, my homie DJ Yella, The D.O.C. and Michel'le

[KM.G]
Yo, shouts goes out to Donovan
Mic Home, Stan, Mike Sims, L.A. Dre, you know, and to Jerry

[Dr. Dre]
And you know that, brand shit
Awww yeah, Mega thoughts, Law House
Definitely, gotta give a shout out to every record they kick it kind of soft
Law House, Hip-Hop

[KM.G]
Break the City, Above the Law, kickin' Lyrics, Above the Law

[Dr. Dre]
West Coast is takin' this shit over

[KM.G]
To the nineties, the nineties

Black Milk - Welcome (Gotta Go) (Video)

New Black Milk video for "Welcome (Gotta Go)" directed by Anthony Garth using stop motion. Good stuff. Takes me back to some favorite music videos from my childhood, grew up a sucker for stop motion.

Link to Black Milk's website

Freeway - Beautiful Music (Produced by Jake One) (Video)

The new Freeway and Jake One Video/Track we were all promised... and of course it's great. PHILLYFREEZAH!

Freeway - Beautiful Music (Produced by Jake One) (Download the Song)

Throwback Track of the Day: Ice Cube - Friday

So it's not Friday, but I did rewatch the movie on Saturday... and Ice Cube dropped his new album "I Am the West" today.. so why not go back and listen to the Cube we loved.


Ice Cube - Friday

Throwback Track of the Day: Digable Planets - Where I'm From

"I heard funk is our neighbor so we paid her a visit.."

Digable Planets - Where I'm From (1993)

Brown Study (Boog Brown & Apollo Brown) - Friction (feat. Miz Korona & Invincible)

New track from Brown Study with Invincible going in... again. Don't Sleep.

Brown Study comes out tomorrow.

Brown Study (Boog Brown & Apollo Brown) - Friction (feat. Miz Korona & Invincible)
(Direct Download)

Nottz - Blast That (feat. Black Milk)

Off of the Nottz LP "You Need This Music" coming October 26, 2010.




Nottz - Blast That (feat. Black Milk) (Direct Download)

Kno - "La Petite Mort (Come Die With Me)"

CunninLynguists producer/rapper Kno with his second leak from "Death is Silent" (pre-order from Amazon) coming out on October 12, 2010.
This album is going to be great people...


Track/Lyrics courtesy of qn5.com

Kno – “La Petite Mort (Come Die With Me)” (Direct Download)
Produced by Kno
Additional Guitar by Willie Eames

[Kno – V1]
I am ten toes down
To leave you ten toes up
In a hearse with the windows up
Belly up off that cheap wine
Relax
Kick the bucket seats back
Recline while we decline
You have the hand of Antigone
I can see it in your jeans (genes)
You have suicidal tendencies
And this might be the end of me
Cus its a rough route watching you get rubbed out
Til’ the suns out
But damnit
If I have a hand in it can it still pass for abstinence?
Passive masochist, pushin your faith aside
As I take your thighs on a ride to the great divide
Face the sky innocent sinner
While I guide your Little Man in the Boat
across the Styx River
Your body quivers beautifully
As Jodeci sings the eulogy

[Kno – V2]
An eye for an eye so we’re bound the same
The candle’s lit and now you’re going down in flames
To rise like a Phoenix, the sound remains
And rigor mortis sets in
Now I’m your best friend
My destiny’s with Persephone
So its only right you get the best of me
Or whats left of me
Rest in peace to the lifeless
Closed casket, You don’t want your fam to see you like this
Your body fights in a desperate act of self-preservation
Gettin off at your Final Destination
Respiration is strained, take your last breath
As we exchange these Faces of Death
Come on.

Throwback Track of the Day: Big L - Da Graveyard (feat. Y.U., Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Party Arty, & Jay-Z)

Love this Jay-Z verse..

Big L - Da Graveyard (feat. Y.U., Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Party Arty, & Jay-Z) (1995)
Produced by Buckwild

Song of the Year Candidate: The Roots - Right On (feat. Joanna Newsom & STS)

Easy pick in my opinion, this song is finely crafted.


The Roots - Right On (feat. Joanna Newsom & STS)

Throwback Track of the Day: OutKast - Crumblin' Erb

"there's only so much time left in this crazy world..."

OutKast - Crumblin' Erb
Produced by Organized Noize

Chief - I Can't Stand It (feat. Guilty Simpson & Wreckonize)

Dope track courtesy of MichiganHipHop.com

Chief - "I Can't Stand It" (feat. Guilty Simpson & Wreckonize)



Direct Download

Throwback Track of the Day: Organized Konfusion - Bring It On

Pharoahe Monch & Prince Po tear this one up.


Organized Konfusion - Bring It On (1994)

Song of the Year Candidate: Big Boi - Fo Yo Sorrows (feat. Too Short & George Clinton)

Get's the nod since "Shine Blockas" is from 2009.


Big Boi - Fo Yo Sorrows (feat. Too Short & George Clinton)
Production by Organized Noize

Black Milk 'Album Of The Year' Party - St Andrew's Detroit

Not enough views for this one yet...

Best video I've seen of Black Milk's AOTY Release + Hexmurda Party in Detroit at St. Andrew's.

I thought Elzhi stole the moment. (8:40)


Black Milk 'Album Of The Year' Party - St. Andrew's Detroit
Courtesy of RespectThisFresh

Throwback Track of the Day: The Pharcyde - Runnin'

One of those most played summer of 2010 songs. DILLA!


The Pharcyde - Runnin' (1995)
Produced by J Dilla

Song of the Year Candidate: Black Milk - Black & Brown (feat. Danny Brown)

In spirit of the #DannyBrownSaid game, it's time to give "Black & Brown" its due.


Black Milk - Black & Brown (feat. Danny Brown)
Produced by Black Milk

Black’s verse from comment section.
Danny’s lyrics + break down of the song.

Black Milk’s Verse:

“Ayo
Long awaited, Debated
But fuck it here we are brah,
Here to save the game just like memory card
Memory loss to cali dro
to Amsterdam , out on the patio
Rockin like a Beatle I should record up in Abbey Road
Bet he flow talkin that
Hoodrich, money talk
Hoodrich, Black male
With music thats always in the hood like crack sales
Or out in the burbs like E pills
He feels niggas can’t fuck with him
Shows, plenty fans round the globe screamin out you niggas can’t fuck with him
(yep yep)
Hit ‘em with that new shit
Hittin off a new chick
That want me in her mouth like a toothpick
Who flips better heat? See this shits timeless
While ya’ll niggas got bad timing like teen pregnancies
Better be, Better see
we comin with better heat”

Danny Brown’s Verse:

“Sittin on some Kobe’s
Smoking on a stogie
Bangin Noreaga
When I’m done I lite the bogie (what, what)
40 on the floor mat a leave ya holey moley
Banana in her tailpipe a make her Axel Foley
Eatin on perogies
Goose mixed with Sobe
Smokin on a OZ
Pimpin like a O.G.
If u never knew me then u prolly never know me
Blade on me homey mask on like Shinobi
Ball so hard, gotta MVP trophy
Blow so much kush I forget the hoes that blow me
Thick white bitch slurp a nigga like Kirby
Hoes on a nigga and they all look thirsty
Say they 19 and they all look 30
Everyday clean yall always dirty
Chronic coming in same bag as a turkey
Dark color purple and its tasting like Hershey”

Monday: Song of the Year Candidate: Kno - Rhythm of the Rain (feat. Tunji & Thee Tom Hardy)
Tuesday: Song of the Year Candidate: Freeway & Jake One - One Thing (feat. Raekwon)
Wednesday: Song of the Year Candidate: Big K.R.I.T. - Hometown Hero

Song of the Year Candidate: Big K.R.I.T. - Hometown Hero

Truth is... there's a lot of song of the year candidates on K.R.I.T. Wuz Here (probably the album of the year up to this point), and even if Hometown Hero doesn't have the best verses on the album... it's still the definitive song.


Big K.R.I.T. - Hometown Hero
Produced by Big K.R.I.T.



Lyrics (not 100% accurate):

Intro: "You know God made black beautiful. God made Boobie beautiful. Black and Strong, and when Boobie knocks some fools out, Boobie gonna knock 'em out with black Nikes on his feet. Ain't that right? And Imma smile when I do. Yeah, yeah, I'm distinguished now. Hey Boobie? What? You didn't lift. Come on Man this is god given, only thing I gotta do is just show up.

First Verse: Yeah, yeah, Superhero in the flesh
Even at my worst Im the best
For the finish I stretch.
When they advance me the check
Could've bought my way to heaven, but I blew it on my neck.
Instead, what you expect when you ain't have shit,
and they ain't paying half of what you asking.
Couldn't see the pussy even if it's Cassie.
Alot hoes is down for taking pictures cause you're flashin'.
You can't even imagine
Maybe Kim Kardashian.
Number one song, get a grammy, now I'm smashin.
Masserati crashin', swerving through the traffic
Wrap it round a pole, sell a mil off the tragedy.
I defy gravity
Blacker then I have to be
Talking to the Lord, I can't stay,
Who gone save hip-hop after me,
That's like a torn ACL to an Athlete,
Boobie Miles, Friday (Night) Lights,
Capture me, In my hometown...

King City, King, King City
Third Coast Representer, Mississippi Switchin Lanes
King City, King, King City,
Third Coast Represtenter, Mississippi Swithcin Lanes,
300 My my, 300 I'm off the ground x3
King City, M-Town, Hometown Hero.

Verse Two: Yeah, yeah, it's just a rock in the cooler,
Not a day off but I'm still Ferris Bueller.
Winners never lose so how dare you confuse us,
They quote what I spit like Confucius.
He say, She say rumors all day,
The rap game is high school and life's a hallway.
Like what click you in, the Beamer or the Benz,
TheBentley or the Lambo, Like here we going again.
Don't sit at my table VIP I got this,
You ain't poppin champagne after every game then don't pop shit.
Homecoming queen, with my picture in her locket,
But I know what's up with her hands in my pockets.
(Money)
They love me cause my Swag is so Jockish,
Freshman year I saw a ring like I'm boxin'.
You voted most likely to never-ever top this,
I'm Michael Jordan; Dennis Rodman's...in my hometown.

Chorus Repeat

Of My world, Of my world, yeah, Of my world, Of My world, yeah.....


Monday: Song of the Year Candidate: Kno - Rhythm of the Rain (feat. Tunji & Thee Tom Hardy)
Tuesday: Song of the Year Candidate: Freeway & Jake One - One Thing (feat. Raekwon)

Throwback Track of the Day: Lord Finesse - Return of the Funky Man

Lord Finesse - Return of the Funky Man (1992)
Produced by Showbiz

Throwback Track of the Day: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Number 1 With a Bullet (feat. Big Daddy Kane)

Off of the 1992 classic "Live and Let Die"...


Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Number 1 With a Bullet (feat. Big Daddy Kane)

Song of the Year Candidate: Freeway & Jake One - One Thing (feat. Raekwon)

Second track on my radar for hip hop song of the year...

Freeway & Jake One - One Thing (feat. Raekwon)

YT Original: Devin Hester.. in Tecmo Super Bowl

Another video game/hip hop YouTube creation of mine from a few years back. This one uses my own updated Tecmo Super Bowl rosters and puts it on some Jeru the Damaja. I'd like to thank Jeru and Premo for not making me take this video down. Back in the day, I had an accurate recreation of the Tyree and Burress catches from the Giants/Pats Super Bowl, but since I used a Radiohead song, it was taken down. Pissin' me off.


Jeru the Damaja - Ain't the Devil Happy (1994)
Produced by DJ Premier

Song of the Year Candidate: Kno - Rhythm of the Rain (feat. Tunji & Thee Tom Hardy)

I know it's only September, but each day this week, I'm posting a song that is in consideration for my hip hop song of the year. First one comes from the producer/rapper Kno from CunninLynguists, who has everyone getting excited for his new album Death is Silent with this first leak. With Black Milk and Big K.R.I.T. releasing two big albums and Kanye in full force lately, 2010 may be the year of the producer/rappers.


Kno - Rhythm of the Rain (feat. Tunji & Thee Tom Hardy)



Direct download (click here) and lyrics courtesy of qn5.com

Thee Tom Hardy

Let’s blaze, what a way to escape
What’s a way for you to waste away your days of mistakes?
Eyes glossy, glazed-over like, donuts and cakes
You’re happy with somebody so you wish and hope that it’s fate
But what if it’s fake? Hell of a scam, the whole time
All for the pie, you know, key lime
If it all ended today, at least you tried
It was a nice ride, time to go inside
Yourself and take a look at the person and how it’s hurtin’
like how could somebody love you for years and then desert ya
What’s the whole purpose? Experience of learnin?
Exterior is strong but inside you’re certainly burnin’
Take two of these that’s the remedy for anything
You could be happy or else, at least pretend to be
Own biggest enemy, killin’ self slow
They tell you hold on loose but never let go

Tunji
I still remember the first time I realized that life wasn’t picture perfect
My father packing up his things to leave his kids deserted
The rain reflecting off the windows as it hit the surface
I wonder if he thinks the shit was worth it
As I sit here and write another one
Puffin on another blunt
Zonin til’ my buzz is done
Proud to be my mother’s son
See, she taught me to always be calm and pensive
And live my life without ever regrettin mistakes and consequences
My strongest lessons as a young fella
You see I’ve done hella runnin through the rain with no umbrella
But no complainin it just forced us to become better
Wintertime – one sweater
Dinnertime – crumbs fed us
I sit and think about the wisdom that I’ve gained
Reminiscin as I listen to the rhythm of the rain
I’m driven and persistent with my vision and my aim
If I did it all again I would live this all the same

Kno
I’m storm chasin
And she’s an F-5 with a sex drive that’ll leave me tied to her bedside
Hurricane hips, stoppin all progression
Serotonin levels drop, tropical depression
She is my professor and I’ve been taught a lesson
That in the eye of the storm the pressures barometric
She knows I’m wary of her gameplan
But when she gambles she can count on me
I’m her Rain Man
Damn shame man, the fly stewardess
Mental turbulence, head off in the cumulus
Blamin the weather or whatever for her moodiness
My main star but I’m barely on her radar
And so my heart sinks – or the pain floats
I’m in a shitstorm, shoulda wore a raincoat
The clouds break and I can tell its over
Cus she’s my sunshine but I’m catchin melanoma.

Throwback Track of the Day: Siah & Yeshua DapoED - The Visualz

A fairly unknown classic from 1996...

Siah & Yeshua DapoED - The Visualz

YT Original: Deltron 3030 - (Marble) Madness

Put this together today...

Deltron 3030 - Madness + my run on the NES classic video game Marble Madness

Andre 3000's Verses on Outkast's Aquemini w/ Lyrics

Year or so ago, I decided this video needed to be made...

A compilation of Andre 3000's verses on Aquemini (minus Chonkyfire).

Black Milk - Losing Out(ro) (Live @ "AOTY" Release Party)

Video catching the jam outro of "Losing Out" from the Black Milk Detroit "AOTY" Release Party at St. Andrews. Daru killin' them drums.

Throwback Track of the Day: UGK - One Day

Shame this isn't more talked about as one of hip hop's greatest songs. Top 5 lock to me.

Knock it back!

UGK - One Day (feat. 3-2) (1996)

Ski Beatz - Go (feat. Jim Jones & Curren$y)

Off of the upcoming Mos Def-less 24 Hour Karate School, coming Tuesday (BUY IT). One of the most dependable producers out there at the moment. Dope.


Ski Beatz - Go (feat. Jim Jones & Curren$y)



Get the mp3 download from 2dopeboyz here

Throwback Track of the Day: Gravediggaz - Death Trap (feat. Masta Ace)

Quote courtesy of wuforever.com

"When it came time for the Gravediggaz, Prince Paul was thinking about putting a group together. He wanted to get some good MCs. Poetic was another dope MC who was underrated out on Long Island. He had one single out on Tommy Boy that didn't take off, but he was a dope MC. As the Grym Reaper, you know how many dope lyrics he dropped. Frukwan, one of the top lyricists out of Stetsasonic. He and Paul were friends already. He told him about me. He said, "I know this one guy who is super-dope." At the same time, I was also trying to do Wu-Tang. I was trying to start my own company and stuff, so when Paul called me up and invited me to his crib on Long Island and told me his idea for forming this group, I thought it would be an honor to be in a group with him. But I told him, "I'm also producing a group, and I'm also part of a family that I'm building." He said, "Yo, that's crazy." We would talk a lot of times. ODB came to his house a lot of times with me. Meth, too. We all would just go there and try to find ways to get out of the streets. Me, I was trying to get out of the ghetto. Paul had a lot of respect for me, so he helped me break out of it. I think he liked that I was so dark, but I didn't know I was dark." - RZA


Gravediggaz - Death Trap (feat. Masta Ace) (1994)

(Produced by Prince Paul)

Throwback Track of the Day: Shaquille O'Neal - I Hate 2 Brag

Turned on the TV today, went to the guide and saw that Game 1 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals was on NBA.tv. Shaq dropped 26-9 with four blocked shots. When I was a kid, I cheered my heart out for the Kings and Chris Webber to take the Lakers down... and to this day, some of those games could of been fixed. Fun game nonetheless.

So for all nostalgia purposes, here's an entertaining track from the Great Aristotle's debut hip hop album, Shaq Diesel.

Shaquille O'Neal - I Hate 2 Brag (1993)

Throwback Track of the Day: Slum Village - Fall-N-Love

The house I live in Phoenix, half the hip hop that gets played comes from the D. Got me thinking what the definitive Detroit hip hop song was... and I keep coming back to this...


Slum Village - Fall-N-Love
(Produced by J Dilla)

Over a Year Later, mtvU Lifts Ban on Invincible's "Ropes" Video

Link on the Emergence Media Page with Story


Video: Invincible - Ropes (feat. Tiombe Lockhart)
(Produced by Knowledge)

Eagle Nebula - Unbreakable (produced by Daru Jones)

New shit with Daru muthafuckin Jones on the production. I was wondering what else this cat had up his sleeve.

From the site:
*I hope y'all enjoy this free tune! The LoveBomb EP drops right here on bandcamp on 10-5-10! Don't be afraid to leave your email address! I promise I won't spam you with emails about how to make your "thang" grow, or how some chick named Megan wants to see you tonight LOL! ;)
Much Love
Nebs

http://eaglenebula.bandcamp.com/

Throwback Track of the Day - Hit Em High (Space Jam Soundtrack)

B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J, & Busta Rhymes - Hit Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)

Black Milk - Album of the Year (Review)

Black Milk - Album of the Year

Fat Beats

4.33/5

No complains from me. The beats are nuts! Album falls a little short of my expectations, but I truly expected five stars and the AOTY... and it still might be the latter (haven't heard half the candidates though). This is a near-classic because of the beats, drums mostly. Drummer Daru Jones drops his busy style that's sure to impress any fans of ?uestlove and Black's decision to incorporate live drums proved to be the most important and telling part of this release.

Lyrically, Black's flow is better and he's coming on point, however, this is the first time his rhymes might take away from one of his albums. Saying that, I don't feel cheated here, this is as musically creative as a hip hop album has gotten for me lately (soon to be topped by Kno or Kanye?). This modified Detroit sound coupled with other producer/rappers releases later this year could ultimately birth a more progressive production in hip hop. I'm excited.

Guestwise, Elzhi and Danny Brown KILL their verses! Consequently, "Deadly Medley" and "Black and Brown" are the best here and gives us hope that "Random Axe" is even better at year's end. AOTY has no true throwaway tracks. Though some of the ideas in the beats and rhymes are recycled within the album, there's something bringing me back to each individual song.

Overall, we didn't get a classic, but another piece added to the résumé of Black's sure-to-be hall of fame career. And as far as hip hop in 2010 goes... this needs be in the discussion for Album of the Year.

Track Ratings:

***** (classic tracks)
9. Black and Brown (feat. Danny Brown)
5. Deadly Medley (feat. Royce da 5'9" & Elzhi)
8. Round of Applause

****1/2
2. Welcome (Gotta Go)
11. Gospel Psychedelic Rock

3. Keep Going
6. Distortion (feat. Melanie Rutherford)

****
10. Warning (Keep Bouncing)

1. 365
12. Closed Chapter (feat. Mr. Porter)

***1/2
7. Over Again (feat. Monica Blaire)

4. Oh Girl (feat. AB)

Artists > Rappers