From the image above, you can tell that I'm not to keen on David Stern right now.  I suppose that feeling could be attributed to numerous people within the NBA, but Stern is that figurehead.  This post's primary focus is the unprecedented intrusion by the NBA's David Stern in the three way trade between the Rockets - Lakers - Hornets for Chris Paul.  This post is mad long, but let's start at the smallest level, the teams involved in the trade.

The NBA blocked a trade that actually benefitted all three teams:  As ya'll know, the Hornets are currently owned by the NBA.  Coupled with the Commissioner's powers, Stern has the power to quash any deal that isn't in the league's best interests.  When the Lakers-Hornets-Rockets came together to ship Chris Paul to the Lakers, the entire basketball world felt this deal was fair.  The Hornets, losing a superstar, was still going to receive some pretty nice pieces with draft considerations.  The Lakers were giving up both Odom & Gasol, unlike that time they traded POS Kwame Brown + draft pieces for Pau Gasol to win two titles.  But they got arguably the top point guard in the league, a once in a generation talent in CP3.  The Rockets got cap room + a 7 ft power forward that the team desperately needed.  The deal was ready to go, it received New Orleans Hornets GM Dell Demps' approval.  And then the unthinkable happened.

David Stern, even before whinemaster Dan Gilbert (owner of Cavs) complained about this deal, killed the CP3 trade citing "Basketball Reasons."  Citing to the general theme that he didn't want small market stars going to big markets, he killed the deal for "Basketball Reason."  What?!  This was peculiar because the NBA hasn't stopped any lopsided deals like this before.  Charles Barkley to the Suns for scraps.  Doc J to the Sixers for a ham sandwich.  Scottie to the Bulls for a Sizzler coupon.  Shit goes on an on, but for some reason this deal was killed.  As stated earlier, the deal made good sense.  With this trade, three teams face a f*cking shitty short-term future that most importantly came out of nowhere. 

That's the kicker - that everyone thought this deal was done, players were notified of new destinations, bridges were burned then - STERN was like SYKE!!  Each team, got f*cked in some way or form:

LA Lakers - Their GM made a Brock Lesnar-esque power move to obtain CP3 by giving up Gasol/Odom.  Sure those are two important bigs, but at the same time, they still have Bynum left to parlay into a Dwight Howard deal.  Or worst case they go to war with CP3/Kobe/Bynum.  Not too shabby if you ask me.  They've traded Odom, which was tough cookies for Lamar, whose inevitable diabetes (due to inhuman candy consumption) has taken the form of crying during interviews.  But the Lakers are hurt the least as compared to...

Houston Rockets - The Rockets, my team, have faced the crappy peril of being 8th-10th ranked conference team.  Not poor enough to get a good draft pick, but not good enough to attract elite/all-star talent.  This deal gave the Rockets an All-Star big in Pau.  Moreover, the Rockets had the cap room remaining to go after Nene.  The Rockets would have gone to having a shitty frontcourt to Pau/Nene.  That swould have been an incredible turnaround for the Rockets.  Instead, the Rockets are left with four to five angry players and no chance at Pau, Marc Gasol, Nene, or any other awesome free agent.  Look at Kevin Martin: he looks so emotionally removed and pissed like he just got an anal hemorrhoid whilst watching his wife getting sexed up sexually by the Van Gundy brothers.  Rockets GM, Daryl Morey, must be on suicide watch as he publicly stated that the death of this trade hinders the Rockets progression for three years.  My animosity about this though isn't limited to the harm it does to my team, this whole situation is fucked up.  Especially for the Hornets if CP3 walks via free agency.

New Orleans Hornets - So if I'm the Hornets, the first deal for three near all-stars (Odom, K-Mart, Scola) with nice backup (Goran Dragic) and draft picks is pretty damn sweet.  This is a deal that puts the Hornets in playoff position after trading an All-Star.  A pretty dope deal right?  Stern disagreed.  Then the Clippers tried and they failed even though they are a much smaller market team as compared to the Lakers even though they play in the same stadium.  They offered unprotected 1st round picks, Bledsoe (future dope PG), Aminu (young SF), Kaman, and Eric Gordon (no joke, a future all-star SG).  Again, another ridiculous deal and still, the Hornets (via NBA) wanted more.  CP3 has a bum knee, he isn't LeBron or Dwight Howard - and it feels like he commands deals of that magnitude.  Stern is making this trade inoperable.  Stern is acting ignant like P. Diddy during "Making the Band."  He wants CP3 to walk to Brooklyn at 4AM for cheesecake, to obtain Cambodian breast milk, and to record a top ten hit with Dylan on the hook.  Yes, it appears Stern wants CP3 to walk away via free agency. 

Why? Well, the Hornets have trouble selling seats as it is.  Imagine trying to sell seats without a superstar.  It's completely selfish and profit-driven in my opinion - the Hornets had two good trades in their hands with players (like Gordon) that have star potential.    If NOH can't trade CP3 this year, Stern will have f*cked this Hornets team for maybe even more years than the Rockets.  Because CP3 has made it clear he is leaving.   It's clear to everyone, except for the folks in charge of the NBA.

"Plantation Owner" Credo:

Remember when Jeff Kessler, head lawyer of the NBA PA, and Greg Gumbel compared to a "plantation owner"?  I originally thought they were being outlandish.  I mean, this isn't slavery, NBA players are free to do what they want.  It's a shitty metaphor, because nothing is as terrible as slavery.

But after reading tweets by reporters saying that Stern rejected this deal in part because he didn't like superstars dictating the teams they end up playing for, I feel like that the previously over the top plantation owner comments weren't as over the top.  Oscar Robertson fought the 60's fucking racism from fans and owners alike to earn NBA free agency.  As weird as it is to say it, there is a civil rights/equality aspect to free agency.

This year's lockout negotiations were filled with stories about the animosity between players and the NBA.  I really thought Gumbel/Kessler crossed the line with their comments, but as this story break, the comments appear to have more merit.  Stern is upset at superstars deciding their fates which angers small-market owners (his clients).  Stern blocking the movement of CP3 to plausible teams is an extended "fuck you" to the players, and primarily Chris Paul. 

He's putting the superstars on notice that he is willing to play NBA dictator and fuck up the plans they've made based on the terms of their contract.  There is definitely an element of the hostility from those lockout negotiations in the NBA's unreasonable block of the HOU-NOH-LAL trade. 

Conspiracy sidenote: An intriguing theory is CP3 hitting free agency and going to his preferred team, the NY Knicks.  Is Stern's goal to get CP3 to sign with a NY team, to maximize profitability of NBA?  If so, he is guilty of moving players to teams he wants, the sort of power he doesn't want NBA superstars to have.  Stern and Knicks aren't new to the conspiracy theory dance with the '85 draft, we'll see how this goes though. 

The issue of NBA Legacy:

 In no other sport, do individual players have the power to achieve individual greatness as the NBA.  Sure in NFL you can talk about the best QB, but it's always a position by position debate.  With baseball, same problems plus you can't tell who was roided out in the most recent generations, and every legend in the old days were either wife beaters, racists, or both.  But in basketball, you can have the straight up "Who are the greatest players of all time?" debate.  You talk about "Dirk's legendary run" last year or MJ's "prolific" three-peats.  Words reserved for Greek gods are used commonly to describe NBA players.  It's part of what makes basketball special. 

Fans always thought certain things were rigged in teams favor (Game 6, Sac-town vs. LAL, that Suns vs. Spurs series in 2007), mostly due to bias for their favorite teams. When the Tim Donaghy scandal broke, it really killed the NBA.   We found out a ref was altering the landscape of games, and therefore altered history.  That Suns team in 2007 should have been the championship team, they got jobbed in that series against the Spurs.  This blockade of trade alters NBA history, because one of the best point guards of this generation will not play with arguably the best two-guard of this era. 

He'll go somewhere else, which will affect who the hell is competitive, and who ultimately wins rings in the next few years. Guaranteed there will be conversations between friends like: "Yo, that wouldn't have happened if CP3 was on the Lakers" or "Man, Team X definitely got helped by CP3 joining them. Can you imagine if he was on the Lakers instead?"  Outside of fucking over my ancillary team, Stern has really fucked up the next few years.

The worst thing about it is, unlike the Tim Donaghy scandal, the NBA could have completely avoided this scenario!  Sports fans will argue for years about how ludicrous it was that Stern influenced the league in this fashion. 

Occupy NBA:

Another aspect of this whole problem is the whining from billionaire owners of the NBA.  Leaked after Stern's block of the trade, was an email from Cleveland's whiner-in-chief owner of the Cavs, Dan Gilbert.  Dan Gilbert's previous rant on the Cavs website was legendary for the fact it was: (a) in Comic Sans MS (b) Kinda threatened LeBron and (c) Definitely had some unreal master-slave connotations.  The best PR LeBron had since the Decision.  He could point to this letter and be like "See why I left, I didn't want to play for this assface anymore!"

In this new letter, Gilbert pleads with Stern to block the trade because it was too unfair and lopsided in favor of the Lakers.  The Lakers would retain CP3 and the cap space and pieces (Bynum) to trade for Dwight Howard.  The fear from the Cavs owner was of course that the big market team would have created another Team Evil that would surely dominate the NBA.

As my homie Mike said, it would have been Team Evil (Lakers) vs. Team Evil (Heat) in the Finals: a match-up that would lead to great basketball and great sadness. 

My problem with Gilbert and the rest of the owners is this: you guys bitch and whine so much about regulations hampering your profitability, but as soon as the market does something you don't want (LAL super team through trades) - you scream to the Commissioner to intrude to save yourself money and the misery of having another super team in the league.  God, what pussies.  Gilbert only has himself to blame for losing LeBron by surrounding him wit Danny Ferry-esque talent using Danny Ferry as his GM. 

Stern and these owners fought against a fair market trade.  Straight up, it hurts me to say this....my fingers are pulsating with pain as I type this out but the Lakers fucking deserved the chance of getting both CP3 and Howard.  They have the pieces, and somehow got CP3 without giving up Bynum.  This put them in prime position to trade Bynum and other assets for Dwight.  Granted, Dwight moving to LAL wasn't guaranteed and still isn't, but they had the chance.  Damnit, isn't it the American way to allow smart people to benefit from smart decisions?  But, it didn't work that way here.

The fan reaction to this deal coupled with the owner's actions led my good friend to make an interesting analogy.  This NBA trade presents an interesting 99% vs. 1%/Occupy Wall Street metaphor.  Peep game:

The owners (Wall Street) have been taking advantage of poor regulations (Salary caps  for players, none for owners; they get the broke public to finance stadiums) to make mad money.  As soon as something goes shitty, they demand change via regulation from the Commissioner (LOCKOUT, blocking CP3 trade).  They act indignant and turn puss by crying for help as soon as shit doesn't turn out 100% in their favor.  Sounds like certain number of America's rich elite, doesn't it?  

That's right motherf*ckers, this trade is only one degree of separation of what's fucking up the core of this country. 

So moral of the story: Stern you done messed up, and also messed up a chance to rectify the situation.  You had plenty of time to reverse this thoroughly scrutinized/criticized/shitted on decision.  You need to resign.  Like yesterday. 

As Daniel Day-Lewis yells at the end of "There Will be Blood", "I'M FINISHED."  For now at least.  Be easy.

-big R

RIP and REP D. Ellis

I'll address two quick things Hip-Hop related before I go on to a rant on the NBA.

The Roots undun is grown-man music:  It's 2011, and The Roots have once again blessed us with another album.  They've been on a crazy recording schedule, and somehow each record is different from the rest.  While albums like Game Theory are based upon Black Thought's gruff lyricism, this album takes after ?uestlove's enigmatic production.  This record has four orchestral movements to end the album.  The album is a story in reverse, of a hard luck hustler named Redford Stephens. 

Apparently the character Redford Stephens is based off a Sufjan Stevens record, who is also featured on the album.  That's how I know this ain't for the mainstream Hip-Hop crowd, Sufjan music makes Drake's music look like Public Enemy.  I mess with Sufjan though, so I dig this record.  The production is exquisite, and I really like the types of bluesy hooks provided by Dice Raw and P.O.R.N.  For real, Dice Raw needs to get back in the studio for a solo LP that has production like this.

All of the features come correct, as Big KRIT, Phonte, and the two aforementioned emcees join Black Thought with solid verses.  My jams on this are "Lighthouse" [Dice Raw kills the chorus/verses], "One Time", and "Make My" [that fudging break is absurd]. 

The Roots don't know how to make bad albums.  And it's so refreshing listening to an album that doesnt really sound like anything else they've done before.  This album isn't for kids who can't appreciate slow-developing, yet rewarding production with introspective, narrative-based lyrics.  Another year, another album from the Roots that is Album of the Year caliber.

My favorite rapper these days is probably Danny Brown - I am for sure late about writing about the wylin' Detroit MC, but I've been bumping his free mixtapes, The Hybrid and XXX in a minute.  Click on each album title and do yourself a favor and bump this dude.  Danny Brown doesnt look like a traditional rapper. In fact, he sort of looks like a metro dude working at the Gap with the haircut from the bad guy from the 5th Element.  You listen to Danny Brown, and you hear some of the raunchiest, rawest hip-hop out there.  That juxtaposition of his image and his lyrics make him so intriguing. 

Apparently his attire and hairstyle lost him a deal with G-Unit - what's so funny is nothing G-Unit has dropped in a near decade has been as dope as "XXX."  Danny Brown's flow is smooth, and his worldplay is complex and dope.  His production choices are diverse and banging, he rocks that Houston shit on joints like "Blunt after Blunt", and then can drop a gem on a Beatminerzesque track like "Pac Blood."  Yo, also "Monopoly" is nuts. 

I feel like Dave would dig this cat.  Danny is confident, but also has this humility that reminds me of J-Zone (I'm not making much dough rapping, but I'm crazy nice with it swagger).  His topics of tracks are also out there - his dedication to eating girls out is hysterical.

Danny Brown's annunciations remind me of a Bay Area rapper, but perhaps that's how the Detroit accent sounds as well.  Either way, I dig his material because I'm consistently surprised by the direction he takes, and the end products are usually fresh.  Don't sleep. 

I didn't grammar check this, because I don't give a flying.  Now for an angry rant about basketball.

RIP and REP D. Ellis

What's up everyone, hope ya'll are having a safe and solid Friday.  Today, as ya'll know on a personal level or perhaps from reading the post title, is Dave's birthday.  I wanted to give this birthdate a bit more attention by (1) actually writing a substantive post, which is below; and (2) talking about a record, that was created thanks to Big D's positive influence. 

But first, I want to take a moment to shout out Happy bday to the big homie.  Facebook has been filled with positive thoughts about Dave.  Funny how his birthday remains as a time to reconnect with old homies.  Even now, Dave still brings people together.  And that's my transition to speak on a record that was brought together because he formed this site. 

 

Above, is a bandcamp stream of Rekstizzy's Fake it Till You Naked.  It was released a few months ago, so I'm late on writing about this -but I waited until now because this record is a product of Dave formign this page.  This album features the rhymes of Queens-based Rekstizzy, a fan of this page since it's inception.  The producer on this album is the homie Young Hoon, who is a friend I made while attending UC Irvine.  Actually come to think of it, I met Young Hoon because he read the site and saw that I went to UCI.  Damn, I have Dave to even thank for that! Shouts to Young Hoon - for not only producing hot fiyah, but also committing to help me reform this site!

Rekstizzy and Youn Hoon linked up through this page, probably through a post where I was blogging/bragging about Young Hoon's beats.  Young Hoon by the way, is a huge Madlib/J Dilla fan, and you can hear it in the grimey/gritty nature of the beats.  The two connected over a year ago, and completed the Fake It Till You Naked.

It's one CD of utterly thousand underground records that get released each year.  But this was possible because of the creation of this site.  And that's special for me.  Here's yet another example of Dave inspiring Hip-Hop heads.  And the product is fresh and I think it's something Dave would enjoy.

Rekstizzy is a funny dude with good rhymes, this record reminds me a lot of J-Zone.  This album is filled with ig'nant lyrics about hitting on chicks, partying, and other motifs that I know back in high school we'd appreciate. The references to strip clubs, ganja, drinking, hitting on chicks with minimal to decent success should resonate with most underground Hip-Hop fans. 

So download the record, bump it, share it, and donate some dough if you are feeling it.  I'm going to pour myself a beer and bump the hell out of this album tonight in honor of the homie Big D.  Ya'll be good tonight.

RIP and REP  D. Ellis

Whattup party people, it's either the late night before, or the early morning of 11/11/11, so I did want to start this post with a birthday shout to Dave Ellis of course.  I'll have a more Dave-centric post tomorrow, but I thought I was going to start off by talking some Hip-Hop/politics/bullsh*t first.  That's right, a substantive update actually worth reading!  First things first, to talk about new music that's hit the interwebs...

Drake "Take Care" - Aubrey's sophomore release has leaked, setting the net a buzz.  Personally the buzz is less Wu-Tang bee hivish, but more of the buzz you get from one of those back massagers at Brookstone.  Yes, this is Sharper Image / Brookstone rap at it's finest at points.  For a lot of rap fans, this album is too soft  and focused on calling ex-girlfriends drunk.  I recognize that criticism, and sometimes I appreciate the break from the fake goonery that mainstream rap is known for.  And in the end, this album got beats, and isn't that what we care about?

The intro track has a solid sampled (?) chorus and a solid piano loop.  "Over My Dead Body" is vintage Drake, rhyming about his success and his flow is pretty solid on this joint.  Don't worry haters - the track is filled with some questionable lyrics like him acting tough and then saying "I'll breaking your Kevin Hart, boy."  Breaking men's hearts?  Wasn't worth the punchline.  "Under Ground Kings" has a boppin beat, with Drake doing a good Lil Wayne imitation flowwise. Also shout to Kendirck Lamar's guest verse - which is like the best verse I've heard from him.  Also, any Andre 3000 verse is fire and deserves props.  There are some other strong moments, like "Lord Knows" where Just Blaze absolutely laces this beat with some crystal meth-level bump shit.  I love that Just Blaze when faced with an uncleared sample ended up hiring a chorus to sing the key sample.  Loud drums, deadly samples - this beat is one of the best of the year.  Also Drake and my favorite ig'nant rapper of the moment Rick Ross kill it lyrically.  Yeah a guy I called Brookstone rap killed his verse basically deading critics saying you may call him a pussy, but those who hate are the ones who dont get any.  Damn.  Maybe that's a good point, this album's messages resonate with those with relationship experience.

But that Dr. Phil talk can get boring.  "Marvin's Room" is already a hit, but he is singing all over the place.  When I want R&B, I typically listen to Voodo by D'angelo, not Drake.  "Take Care" is a cool beat, but that beat is kinda old (if you have been bumping electronerd shit like I have the past few years).  The songs ppl seem to love like "Crew Love" / "Cameras" get really monotonous to me, that half singing/talking shit isnt always super effective.  Also, I can't beileve "Practice", a re-hash of Juvenile's "Back that Azz Up," made the cut.   There are some tracks that I just straight up skip.

So this album confuses me; it's really all over the place. But it is carried by strong beats and Drake's catchy (but maybe sometimes meh) rapping/singing.  When he maximizes both rapping/singing is on the Kanye laced "Look What You've Done."  Drake over a somber, well put together beat rhyming about his relationship with his parents.  It's got a heartfelt lyrics, great flow, wonderful beat and that voicemail at the end from his mom...that shit made me call my folks and let them know that they are the f*cking best.  Isn't what good music does, make you feel something and act on it positively?  In the end, this album is aimed at making you bop in your head and feel something.  I can't hate on that too much.

Pac Div "The Div" - I straight up think this album is awesome.  Like Drake's record, this shit is kind of schizophrenic between hard-bumping 808 shit and underground lyrical/beat knockin, fast-rappin shit.  The first track is straight fuego - produced by NO ID, "The Greatness" is one of my favorite tracks of this year.  The crew raps about this beat being something for their people to dream on, and this is a strong opus for Pac Div.  Great beat, chorus, and inspirational lyrics.   And then the next track is "Posted" - a song about lamping in the club with a heavy hitting sample which is essentially a club banger.  I love that transition, it's like Mother Theresa straight into T-Pain as far as messaging goes. 

This album has some dope underground joints that'd make ATCQ fans happy like the Cook Classics laced "She" and the head-knocker "Brown."  Like, Swiff D and the other producers put up some gems on this record.  And there are straight up wyle out jams like "Top Down" and "Life is Good" that are solid pre-game joints.  And "Useless", has a low-tempo vibe and a career-resurrecting/remember me-type verse from Asher Roth. 

I like the cohesiveness of this diverse record.  Pac Div have always piqued my interest with their energetic tracks with sick beats and smooth spittin'.  This is some of that new school west coast dopeness, like that TiRon & Ayomari I constantly go nuts about.  Go do yourself a favor and buy this when you got a chance.

Rick Perry forgetting the lyrics

Nothing cracked me up more than Rick Perry trying to reference three entire federal agencies he wants to remove and FAILING to remember one.  You know, thousands of jobs at a place that currently serves (perhaps wastefully) an important function.  His campaign is done, son.  And he isn't even involved in sexual harrassment scandals like your boy Cain.  Also, the best argument against someone saying you committed sexual harassment?  'No, that's simply not true.'  Get 'em Herman!

Random thought about Common - After hearing NO ID lace Watch the Throne and the joint on Pac Div, the Common CD Dreamer/Believer with all NO ID beats is going to be a cot damn problem.

I'm out until tomorrow!  Peace and of course:

RIP and REP D. Ellis

TiRon & Ayomari - A Sucker for Pumps - Peep the link to the side which is a bandcamp link to the entire album, which is important, because I find that I like this album better than most of the records released in 2011.  LA's hip-hop scene has been burgeoning of late due to the buzz Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, Blu, etc. - but these two cats, TiRon and Ayomari deserve your attention.  A Sucker for Pumps features rhyming about the good, the bad, sad, excitement, suffering, happiness, and other fine descriptive terms that can be applied to relationships.  It's a broad theme which gives the emcees room to explore, but I enjoyed that this record had a theme.  Too much Hip-Hop these days is all over the place, I appreciated the unified feel of this album.  "Jack Kerouac" starts off the album with melodic drums and a tastefully selected violin sample.  TiRon and Ayomari wax politic about "once upon a time lovers" on this track, and like I said this theme gives TiRon and Ayomari enough of a creative lane on a topic all of us can relate to.  I think that's why this LP resonates with me, and I think it will resonate with ya'll as well.

Both TiRon and Ayomari can rhyme, and the production selections on this album is surreal.  Oddisee is the producer behind the lush "Fin", and he talked about how much of a pleasure it was to be part of such a complete album.  I'm serious - I can't think of many albums I've listened to in the past few years that have this level of production from producers I'm not quite on yet.  "Jack Kerouac", "If I Had You", "All My Love", & "Fin" are my jams on this.  Seriously, go click the link above and listen to this record in its entirety.  You'll thank me for it later. 

Evidence Cats & Dogs  - Evidence finally releases his follow up to his 2007 solo debut, The Weatherman.  Now he is making it rain with Cats & Dogs, and is another solid record to add to his already heavy catalogue.  Evidence's record is a bit all over the place compared to A Sucker for Pumps, but thanks to the production line-up which features Alchemist, DJ Premier, Evidence himself, amongst others.  Evidence tapped Premo for two bangers in "You" and "The Epilogue."  Evvy's appeal comes from his trademark slow flow, which sometimes actually gets a bit dry for me.  However, the beats on this album really capture your attention and Evidence clearly spent his time penning his lyrics to this album.  I was hoping for a tighter record, at 17 tracks a few of the joints feel a bit fillerish compared to the others.  I mean, it's tough to have that many good songs on an album.  Overall, Evidence delivers a good album with bangers like "The Red Carpet", "Late for the Sky", and "Crash."  It's tough to make a

J. Cole - Cole World: Sideline Story - After I heard J. Cole's Come Up and Warm Up albums - I thought this guy was the absolute future.  Great original beats, ferocious flow, and a dope rhymer.  Cole's "Light Please", "Heartache", "I Get Up" proved he had strong hip-hop chops.  J. Cole has a ton of promise and I felt like he didn't deliver on the classic he promised with this debut.  I am impressed that he handled every beat on this record minus one, but still, this album didn't meet the hype.  This album sold like crazy (250k) in this economy and it made sense considering its content.  It feels like a lot of this album focuses on rhymes about hitting the spot, macking on dimes, waking up in the morning hearing her moaning type shit.  J. Cole is a sex symbol for ladies like Drake, and that appeal on joints like "In the Morning" and "Can't Get Enough."  I felt the Jay-Z feature track didn't really fit, that beat was hard to ride to.  The LP isn't just filled with mainstream-tilted joints, there are some bangers like "Sideline Story", "Rise & Shine", "God's Gift", and "Breakdown."  This album feels bipolar from J. Cole rhyming about his upbringing and making it to just rapping like he is already made.  As you can tell, I prefer the former, and the latter is played out.

Phonte - Charity Starts at Home - I really mess with this album, aside from a few beats that I wasn't feeling - this record is awesome.  I felt Phonte won "the 9/27" war between Cole, Evidence, and 9th Wonder.  While Kanye/Jay-Z can celebrate with magnanimous raps, Phonte crafts a masterful 9-5er anthem in "The Good Fight."  Phonte ends a verse that pretty much applies to every industry these days: "How the f*ck you sell out, when nobody selling?"  Phonte packs dope raps and has strong features from Elzhi, Pharoah Monch, Median, Big KRIT, and others.  I felt like some of the R&B tracks were bland, but only in comparison to the stronger tracks on this record.  9th Wonder has a few absolute bangers on this record, which is nuts considering he released an album himself on the same date!  "Who Loves You More" is filthy, and this album is the best LB related record since Minstrel Show in my opinion.  Maybe because I'm grown up, but I'm more impressed and interested in Phonte talking about tackling girlfriend and debt issues than I would have been a few years ago.  I know people dig Foreign Exchange, but I hope Phonte's next record is in this vein. 

9th Wonder - The Wonder Years - This is one of those "finally this album dropped" type moments when I picked this up.  You know this site has love for 9th as he donated a beat for the D. Ellis tribute track.  First the good, there are some bangers which feature 9th's signature soulful/chop-filed style with Justus League/Jamla features.  "Band Practice" is awesome,  Phonte/Median collab spectularly on a song that I hope would have been a minute or so longer.  Also the West Coast banger with Murs, Warren G, and Kendrick Lamar "Enjoy" is wonderful.  There are a gang of emcees on this like Fashawn, Skyzoo, Phonte, Blu - but perhaps all of the emcees make this album a bit too much like potpourri.  I like most of the emcees on here, and 9th wonder beats, but for some reason the album gets a lot of skips from me.  Don't know if what I need right now is louder tracks, but the mellowness of the record doesn't command listens like the aforementioned records.  Still, gotta support the boy 9th. 

The new Murs, DJ Shadow, and Rekstizzy/YoungHoon (shout out to the homies) need to be digested for review, which will come soon.  Ya'll be good!

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Everyone is Watchin'

The biggest release I can remember in the past few years has hit e-stores near you.  Everyone either loves it like a first born or hate it like it was the audio incarnation of Adolf Hitler.  (By the by, Kanye recently saying that people think of him as Hitler unfairly proves that he talks on air/on the radio like he is on online message board.  Peep Godwin's Law).  What's most interesting about the online critiquing is that folks are getting angry at others for their point of view of the album.  Motherf*ckers are getting all Crips/Blood, Democrat/Republican, OJ Simpson/Nicole Brown (too soon?) with this album. 

Opinions are opinions, if you judge people by their taste in music, you need to learn to broaden your horizons on how to judge things.  Unless you like Kwame, which of course, makes you a lame because Biggie said so.  Anyway, on to the music.

No Church in the Wild - The album starts off with a ferocious guitar-laden beat.  Both Jay and Kanye have spirited, religious reference heavy verses with a solid Frank Ocean chorus.  Think about Frank Ocean's year - from mixtape star, to co-writing tracks on Beyonce's 4, and now he is the lead hook dude on the most anticipated album of the year.  But back to the song - it's fresh, and perhaps has the hardest beat on the album.  The album starts off with a bang.

Lift Off - Any illusions that this album was going to be like Reasonable Doubt 2.0 gets thrown out the ma'fuggin window when this song hits.  What sounds like the best song on Beyonce's 4 that made it on this album.  I am sure this pissed off all the hip-hop purists, as this feels like a watered down "All of the Lights."   Personally though, without having expectations for this album, I dug the song.  It's not pure hip-hop, but the beat is kind of cool, and Beyonce can sing the f*ck out of a hook.  Also Jay's line about "earning hard (earnhardt) until he hit a wall" line was brutal.

N*ggas in Paris - This track feels like it should be the first single on the next Young Jeezy album.  Loud synths, heavy drums, and a double-time chorus create a dope soundscape.  Jay-Z and Kanye's different pace on this track actually complement each other real well.  And the Blades of Glory soundbites are well-timed.  That movie is about two very different people coming together to win, and this song follows that theme with the way Jay/Kanye hit their verses.  This song is a banger, for sure.  It will probably be the next single.

Otis - This single has set of a firestorm of criticism due to its materialistic, relentlessly gaudy lyrics.  A solid written opinion on this issue was provided by the homie Stephen Ellis (http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/jay-z-kanye-west-otis/#more-17369).   The basic argument from critics is that the song is out of touch with its audience.  In a time of a recession, Kanye and Jay-Z continue to rhyme about expensive clothes, a first class lifestyle, and generally stacking duckets in a careless fashion - something that likely doesn't resonate with the average hip-hopper.  And moreover, folks argue that this bling-bling/ultra-fashionista brand of Hip-Hop is played - I disagree on that point.

I agree that yes this song is super materialistic, and that materialistic Hip-Hop of this nature tends to be poor - but I disagree with the premise that hip-hop heads are over this.  Quite the contrary - I feel like people are still eating this stuff up.  Ask yourself - what mainstream act is selling CD's rapping about the difficulty of paying a mortgage or student loans? The song itself - it's hard to deny that beat!  Sure it's a circle jerk of outlandish lavishness, but f*ck, it's fun to listen to. 

Gotta Have It - The biggest laugh out loud moment of this album actually comes from a Jay-Z lyric on this song where says he is "planking on a million."  This made me chuckle, as the concept of planking on one million dollars in cash is so obnoxiously awesome.  But also it's funny to think at some point Jay-Z must have stumbled onto planking surfing the internet.  But back to this song-  this beat which features a chopped up James Brown vocal sample is dope.  Thank the Neptunes for that.  Who else doesn't miss Neptunes beats dominating the radio by the way?  This Black Eyed Peas euro-inspired shit doesn't inspire like old school Neptunes.  

New Day - Probably the gem on the record for me. Why?  Bringing Rza in the fold makes me geek out as a hip-hop fan.  Ya'll know I'm a Wu-tang head, so hearing he was going to be involved got me souped.  This song doesn't disappoint.  Jay-Z/Kanye drop the materialism, and get personal.   Kanye drops his best verse on the album talking about how he doesn't want his future son to live the difficult "Yeezy life."  Kanye has such difficulty making sense when talking to the media, it's sad he can't capture his own clarity on songs like this.  Jay-Z follows with a similar verse to a future child over a solid beat provided by Rza.  This is isn't a traditional Rza beat, but it bangs nonetheless with an eerie autotune chorus and lush drums.  Honestly, I got goosebumps hearing Jay-Z say "Me and the Rza Connect" - and there really is no better evidence of a dope hip-hop song for me than that. 

That's My Bitch - I've had and liked this song for a few months.  This song is a legitimate banger with those drums.  Q-Tip concocted some straight heat for this beat.  Ye's and Jay's verses are also at a ferocious pace.  Also Kanye uses Charlie Wilson everywhere, and this is perhaps his best cameo.  Solid track right here, that will appeal to casual and hardcore hip-hop fans.

Welcome to the Jungle - I feel like Swizz Beatz makes like hundreds of beats a year and only releases 1-2 bangers a year on the biggest releases.  I can't name more than 5 Swizz Beatz beats made in the past few years, and every single one has been bonkers like this one.  Jay-Z pretty much attacks the track solo, and gets at it pretty aggressively.  Another face-scrunching beat on an album that has a few.

Who Gon Stop Me -  Looking for a graduation theme song for 2012?  Look no further, as this synth-laden track with inspirational/ambitious lyrics will take that title.  This feels like a more live version of "So Ambitious."  Although Kanye does start this track comparing this song to the "Holocaust."  Yay, leave the Nazis out of the music!  Overall, this song doesnt get me as geeked as others, but does lean into...

Murder in Excellence - Wow.  S-1 and Swizz crafts perhaps the best song on the album.  This album's message transforms from a celebration of success to a discussion of "black on black murder" that then swiftly turns back to a song with an uplifting message.  That lyrical schism of discussing "black on black" murder to black excellence is aided by the beat on this track that completely shifts course halfway through.  I think this song is what Kanye/Jay-Z were going for - as they represent the "Hip-Hop Royalty", they want to uplift verse kick folks down.  If they released this song first, I think Watch the Throne's press would have been much different.  A true gem.

Made in America - This song continues in the theme of the second half of "Murder in Excellence", where both emcees talk about how they've made in in America on their own laurels.  Another Frank Ocean chorus is on this jawndice as well, where he repeats sweet baby jesus so many times I expect to hear samples of that "I imagine Jesus" dialogue in Talladega Nights.  Another song with an uplifting message.  Seriously folks, conscious Hip-Hop takes many forms, and there are definitely tracks on this album that qualify as such. This is one of them.

Why I Love You - This was the beat that took me over the edge when I first heard it.  The chorus, that turns into a chipmunk sample right after is bananas.  I then learned it's pretty much a direct sample of Cassius' "I <3 U."  No matter, I can't deny the beat on this, it's too ferocious!  Jay-Z takes charge of the track lyrically, but both emcees end the album (not the deluxe version) trading verses.

Bonus Tracks - The Bonus tracks include the absurdity of "HAM" & "illest motherf*ckers alive" and the freshnness of "Primetime" and "The Joy."  NO ID dumbs out on the beat for "Primetime" though, feels like a new age Resurrection type beat.  The deluxe joints dont take away from the album, and build on an already solid album.

Overall View: If I have to give this album a rating right now, I'd give it a 4.5/5.  It reminds me a lot of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but the highs on that album are a little bit higher than the highs on this.  What impresses me about this album is how it spans so many themes, yet is so damn accessible.  People hate on the album saying the album is too materialistic, but while some songs are guilty of that, the album has many tracks that are of the conscious variety.  Consider that rappers these days go for that euro-dance vibe to grab audiences (BEP, Pitbull, etc), these two don't need to with this album.  Their first single is "Otis" - a song with no real chorus, and a good portion of the jam is the original sample!

I know folks wanted this whole album produced by like DJ Premier, but it's hard to make an accessible album for the masses, and these two do it while bringing in folks like NO ID, Q-Tip, Rza, Pete Rock, and S-1.  As a hip-hop fan, how can you not appreciate that? This album had crazy hype and while it isn't the best albums in either catalogues, the album's quality is worthy of being mentioned in each.  Now, time for me to make a million so I can plank on it. 

RIP and REP D. Ellis

The best album of 2011 so far is Cunninlynguists Oneirology - Those of you who know me from twitter/facebook/real life know that I am a huge CL fan.  They are the most consistent group doing it aside from The Roots.  Oneirology is so good, it feels like it may be their best work.  Oneirology is a concept album shaped around dreams, as the term "oneirology" is literally the study of dreams.  The album begins with the hard hitting "Predormitum," which echoes with dark cymbals and the ever famous Biggie "It was all a dream..." vocal sample.  The production on this album is Kno['s finest in my opinion, as he brings the brood heavy on songs like "Darkness" and "Hard As They Come", and crafts bangers like "Get Ignorant" and "Murder."  And "Star Shine Brightest" would be a legitimate hit if this group was on a major.  Kno creates an atmosphere worthy of tackling the concept of something so limitless like dreams.  And the rest of the group, Deacon the Villian and Natti, carry the lyrical element of this element with great hunger and skill.  I was lucky enough to see Cunninlynguists within the last few months to see them perform joints of the album, and this record translates beautifully live.   If you haven't already, make sure to preview/cop the album at their Bandcamp page.

Motherf*cking Goblin.  Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All have garnered a huge amount of buzz through their no-nonsense, brash, raw attitude and music.  Many compare OF's leader Tyler to a young, more twisted Eminem.  And many others hate on the group citing to them as musicians that rely on the "shock and awe."  I'll just say this - if these kids weren't talented, they wouldn't have the sort of buzz they have.  Tyler the Creator released much-anticipated Goblin on XL Records a few weeks ago.  It went #5 on the Billboard chart, which blew my mind considering how little traditional press this record got.  He says words like 'faggot' and 'cunt' way too much to appeal to the entire mainstream, but he has developed a fanbase that resulted in 50k being sold in the first week.  By they way, how far have we come where 50K is an incredible amount sold.  Napster and Cheap folks 1, music industry 0.

The quality of Goblin?  I think it's a good album, with some definite bangers like "Yonkers", "Goblin", "Nightmare", and "She" - but it definitely has filler nonsense that hurt my eardrums like "Bitch Suck Dick."  I get that Tyler is out there, but keep it to where you're talented - dope beats and raw rhymes - the other shit wastes quality minutes on the record and demand skips.  I think Tyler has proven himself to a pretty dope emcee, and Goblin is for sure an interesting LP.   He mentions on the record his aversions to "real hip-hop" and his goal of winning Grammy's.  If he wants to do that, he'll need to find a more approachable mode, because what he is putting out won't win the entire country like that yet.  But you know who in that group will?  Frank Ocean.  That man is a problem. #swagonswagoff

Beyonce's lead single is.. hard to read.  "Run The World (Girls)" is her lead single for the new Beyonce LP, and it has the same beat of the infectious, yet recently released Major Lazer "Pon de Floor."  Major Lazer as ya'll know is Diplo/Switch's reggae colalbo group, and I do hope they got properly paid by Beyonce for the beat.  Personally, maybe I'm being too much of a hipster, but I definitely prefer "Pon de Floor" and I'm a little underwhelmed by Beyonce's lead single.  Maybe it's because I'm already well aware of this beat, but this shit doesn't got the impact of "Single Ladies."  Also the video for Major Lazer's "Pon De Floor" is f*cking legendary.  Although, watching Beyonce dance close to the floor isn't a bad look either.  Watch both, eat popcorn, enjoy.

Common is the most dangerous man in America - When Common was booked to read poetry at the White House, the old fogey network (Fox News) drummed up an outrage machine pointed at the Chicago emcee.  Citing to his previous encounters with Assata Shakur and some of his previous homophobic lyrics, he was branded as a vile, controversial rapper.  Common...controversial!?  Common is a GAP model, a vegan, and recently starred in a romantic comedy with Queen Latifah.  The only thing controversial about Common was the quality of Universal Mind Control.  I admit that Common is not safe for children, I mean he is an adult emcee after all. But to think he was so evil, he shouldn't read a poem reeked of lazy racism.  Personally, now that this is behind him, I hope he is inspired to write some inspired shit for his new album. Cue this track, "Ghetto Dreams" featuring a monstrous beat by No I.D.(!!) and Nas.  I hope The Dreamer, The Believer, Common's next LP, captures this energy and flips the criticism against him into dope music.  Lord knows he's due.

Osama bin Laden is dead.  Attaboy Obama.  Enough said.

"I Need a Doctor" is god awful -  The super-anticipated Detox has its lead single, a mish-mash emo-pop power ballad "I Need a Doctor."  With a beat produced by Alex Da Kid, lyrics obviously written by Eminem - I feel like Dr. Dre hasn't contributed enough to this song to properly hate on him for.  This feels like a reject off of a Lupe Fiasco album, not the west coast Hip-Hop shit we wanted.  Remember when "Still DRE" dropped? I feel like I took off a day off of school so I could focus on that song.  The Hip-Hop community expects something legendary out of Dr. Dre's last album, not a mediocre song talking about about how legendary Dr. Dre is.  Eminem's verse about his respect for Dre is inspired, but the reply verse is so awkward.  The track is instantly forgettable in my opinion, and it's no reason why OFWGKTA apparently has a bigger buzz out West. 

RIP and REP  D. Ellis

Big R

I hope you are all doing mighty fine on this frigid Monday evening.  Well, at least frigid in D.C. - the hawk was definitely out today.  It is wild considering that it has been five years since Dave passed.  It is truly a testament to Dave's character to see of his friends and family spread love and positive-vibes today on facebook walls/tweets.  All in all, today is typically something I don't like peeping on the calendar but when it rolls up - it's truly nice to see everyone spreading stories, sharing pictures, and giving shouts to Dave Ellis. 

I thought I'd stick with that theme and share a convo I had with Dave back in 2005.  The topic is Kanye, and his views in a casual aim conversation still hold today.  Wyling, and hilarious how 2005 big R was such a Kanye dick rider....now I just re-read my recent Kanye review and it seems shit hasn't changed.  To the convo:

D. Ellis (12:05:17 AM): [talking about Common's Be] but come on, common and kanye should be able to drop something way iller
D. Ellis (12:05:32 AM): unless of course, what i say is true, and knaye don't drop timeless records like he says he do
bigr (12:07:11 AM): hahah!!
D. Ellis (12:07:40 AM): just blaze is better than kanye by far.  See how "college dropout" looks in 5 years.
D. Ellis (12:07:59 AM): kanye is an easy mo bee at best to me, great singles. not a great producer
bigr (12:08:40 AM): wow!! easy mo bee level?
D. Ellis (12:09:34 AM): he did craig mack "flava in ya ear". he did lost boyz joints, biggie tracks, busta rhymes shit. he was dope. but come on, he won't be remembered like a dj premier.
D. Ellis (12:09:43 AM): who defined the sound of the mid-90s.
D. Ellis (12:09:51 AM): he's a shawn j. period!
D. Ellis (12:09:57 AM): fuck kanye! 
D. Ellis (12:09:58 AM): haha, i'm hating
bigr (12:10:04 AM): hahaha, mad hate!  this should be a column, and kanye will come himself to your pad and dispute it.
D. Ellis (12:10:46 AM): fuck his primadonna ass. he made me hate him! I give average producers mad daps. but he acts like he's making the best hip hop ever. so I have to hate on him
bigr (12:11:07 AM): that is true
bigr (12:11:13 AM): but i mean, he isnt that bad
bigr (12:11:16 AM): he does make good music
D. Ellis (12:11:42 AM): u gotta read some of his magazine articles. ull hate his ass,
D. Ellis (12:11:47 AM): he says the most bold shit ever
D. Ellis (12:11:54 AM): even in "diamonds" he's wyling
bigr (12:12:11 AM): yeah he is kinda insane
D. Ellis (12:12:16 AM): "only nigga who got robbed and kept all his jewels". talking about not winning any American music awards.
D. Ellis (12:12:21 AM): i hate cats like him
D. Ellis (12:12:23 AM): be humble
D. Ellis (12:12:27 AM): be happy ur rich
D. Ellis (12:12:45 AM): if he really understood the backpacker like he said he does he would get why he has haters
bigr (12:12:45 AM): hahah!
D. Ellis (12:13:00 AM): Either way, he's super materialistic and mad dependent on compliments and shit
D. Ellis (12:13:24 AM): like if he really knew his shit was like that he wouldn't need critical acclaim to prove his skills

Kind of wild how Dave's old analysis of Kanye via aim still kind of holds true today right?  I need to set-up Dave's old writing on the site for sure.

Also, for good measure Kenn Starr, Haysoos, 9th Wonder "D. Ellis" - courtesy Rosenberg Radio

Going to play Stakes is High and try to relax for the rest of the evening.  Ya'll be easy!

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Click on the image to download Braille's latest LP

I slept on Braille's latest release, Weapon Aid, and for some reason it worked out for me as he just released the entire jawndice for free.  Braille has an incredibly underrated ear for productions, and makes boom-bap with a message focused on his spirituality.  Braille does Christian Hip-Hop so well, it makes me almost want to bump Creed.  OK, I'm just playing.  Go download this sh*t already.

RIP & REP D. Ellis

R. Kelly's Love Letter is pretty stupendous.  R. Kelly put every young whippersnappin' R&B cat like Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, etc. on notice with this album.  R. Kelly's production skills have been heralded, but we haven't heard him use his vocals in this manner for what feels like a decade.  "When a Woman Loves" is the first single catching the headlines with the retro feel that Raphael Saadiq has brought back to the forefront, but "Taxi Cab" is the MJ quality banger on this album.  R. Kelly has been winning since "Ignition Remix", and is making such good music, he is making the entire public forget about his past sexual scandals.

Brett Favre was recently fined $50,000 for sending cock shots to a NFL employee.  The underlying fine is for Favre "not coming forward" in the investigation, but through the bullshit, it seems like this is a fine for sending those elicit texts.  Favre has to be grinning, as he gets to pay pennies to move forward from an action that would get most people fired.  By the way, $50,000 to Favre is literally the same as a $1.50 fine for a person with a salary of $50,000.  Favre stay winning, except for on the football field this year.

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill them All ("Odd Future"), a collective of 16-19 year old rappers, producers, graf artists, skateboarders, etc, have started to garner a huge buzz on the web.  Check this short little blurb on Odd Future, which breaks down their appeal which stems from music that's purely their own.  The group produces their own shit, and writes their own music as well.  The videos are a shade less gruesome than Hostel, and their lyrics feature family friendly topics like rape, beating women up, banging bitches, etc.  I see their videos, listen to their music and think to myself - man, I feel old and out of touch ... this must be what Ronald Reagan felt when he first heard "Straight Outta Compton."  I suppose that's what you expect from kids, but I found myself drawn to their unique sound.  Their beats are dope, and the wordplay and style is reminiscent to a younger Eminem. Out of the group, remember the names Tyler the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt, who are the group's standouts.  I gotta thank Riley for giving me more info on this group.  Check out some joints here: "AssMilk", "Earl", "Couch", & "French."

Jay-Z is slowly building up Roc Nation with his latest signee, Cher Lloyd, a female singer/emcee from the UK who is apparently huge out there.  Jay-Z has Willow Smith, J.Cole, and Jay Electronica also on his new label.  It's interesting how Roc Nation has a definite "pop music" feel about it with the two females Jay has signed on board.  I suppose the m.o. is to sell records, I can't hate on that.  Still, I don't want to see Willow Smith anywhere near Jay Electronica long awaited Act II.

Dirty Diddy Money's Last Train to Paris was as bad, garbled as the group's name.  The only tracks that capture your attention are the ones that completely beat-jack recent hits. "Ass on The Floor" is essentially a slightly modified version of a Major Lazer joint.  The focus of the album is a love story...but I can't really see Diddy being this emo.  Diddy came onto the scene as a hungry entrepreneur, hearing him do a emo-love jones album like he was Drake isn't fitting.  The real Diddy wouldn't chase a love from London to Paris, he'd buy a sports team or some shit afterwards.  The fact he had to recruit two other girls to create this "Diddy Dirty Money" group is evidence that Diddy wasn't that musically hungry.  It's a shame he didn't scrap this project and just focus on Jay Elec, as we could use more Diddy ad-libbed joints with actual lyricism.

Lil Wayne absolutely spazzed on "6'7'", the street single for the upcoming Carter IV.  The Bangladesh beat is absurd, and Wayne packs in the clever one-liners.  "Real G's move in silent like Lasagna", "Young Money eating, all you do is add salt", so and so forth.  Apparently the new record is filled with tracks like this, and if so, I'll can completely jump on the Wayne bandwagon.  Keep the autotune at home Weezy, bring it like this fam.

Turquoise Jeep has released my favorite video of 2010.  "Lemme Smang It" is a video from a group of comedians/emcees which is downright hysterical.  I thought this was a serious, but misguided Hip-Hop track up until you see the dude with the fake 'stache.  It's a banger, or should I say a smanger.

Merry belated Xmas and a Happy New Year to all of ya'll.  Peace!

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Beautifully Twisted

The entire Universe right now is on the nuts of Kanye West for My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy.  Even Pitchfork gave this LP a perfect 10.0, and they write reviews like they hate music.  Let's start this review of with some things I didn't like.  The outro to "Runaway" with Kanye's humming vocodor solo? I'd rather listen to a bag of nails in a blender.  Nicki Minaj's terrible british accent as the beginning "lyrics" to the album made me think I was about to listen to a poor made for TV movie / softcore porn.  And, now for the overwhelming positive praise I will heap onto this page like it was gravy on mashed potatoes. 

Kanye West succeeds in his ability to meet whatever hype is attached to him.  Stakes were high in 2007 when Kanye was going one on one with 50 Cent, and he dropped the maximally produced, lyrically heavy Graduation.  His mother passes, he leaves his fiance and in his heartbroken state he drops 808s and Heartbreaks and people were down with the different path.  Then Kanye West goes on perhaps the worst publicity tour ever, including the infamous Taylor Swift moment.  You watch the South Park episode with Kanye as a gay fish and the media's treatment of Kanye.  I wrote a while ago that I was afraid Kanye was getting Michael Jackson'd, and he has agreed in his tweets after the way he was treated on his recent Today Show appearance.  Kanye in this state of mind where people think he is the "abomination of Obama's nation", with all eyes on him after the poor public displays, he matches the hype with an evil villain's swagger.   Like the Joker in Dark Knight, Kanye crafts his masterpiece with an organized chaos. 

This album has everything you want in a Hip-Hop album.  "Dark Fantasy" features a dark, ridin' wu-esque beat that is not surprisingly produced by the RZA.  Jay-Z is featured on the raucous inducing "Monster" and the smooth, spacey "So Appalled."  Also, Nicki Minaj's schizoid verse on "Monster" is also incredible, and worthy of all the hype she has received.  Pusha T, the people's new rapping drug dealer of choice, drops two inspired verses on "Runaway" and "So Appalled" as well.  And don't forget that Raekwon drops a smooth guest verse on the guitar riff heavy, melodic "Gorgeous."  Let's not understate this either, Kanye goes in on this album.  "Devil in a New Dress" is Kanye reminding you he produced the Blueprint, even though Bink! produced that song.  Fuck it, it works though!  "Power" sounds reloaded on this record, even though it leaked so many months ago.  Heavy hitting, the right amount of drums and guitar and that vocal sample...Kanye and S-1 crafted an absolute banger that still bangs now.  Kanye's energy and lyrical delivery are at his finest on this song.  It doesn't make much sense, but this song may be my favorite on the record. even though I heard it so long ago!  This will catch a lot of flack, but this song hits me as a less boom-bappy version of "Triumph."  This song gets me similarly hype, and the "Power" clap has already become a staple at every major sports arena. 

"Hell of a Life" is my other favorite banger on the record, with a trippy sonic beat with tasty layers, Kanye waxes politic about marrying a porn star.  His metaphor-filled verse about porn stars/gang-banging that turns to slavery is the kind of lyrical deftness I'm not used to from Yeezy.  He goes in an effortless manner, and that beat makes me feel like El-P and Kanye West hung out within a year.  The epic layers and distorted drums that are staples of El-P's production game, are scattered throughout this album, and it works with resounding success.

And with all that hardcore Hip-Hop, Kanye does get his "emo" on the LP like it was 808s all over again.  And yet this album justifies 808s even moreso in my eyes, as it seems Kanye has now found the best formula yet for expressing his feelings about relationships and his psyche.  It's like "Love Lockdown" was the training wheels for "Blame Game."  "Blame Game" features a slow piano sample, and Kanye expressing himself quite effectively on this break-up track.  The stretched, distorted vocals compliment Kanye's verses well, and it ends with Chris Rock's hysterical outro, with his building excitement over Yeezy's ex's sex game.  "Runaway" is the "lead single" of this album, and it is frankly the perfect apology Kanye could have written for his PR gaffes.   What better way to make amends for being a douche then explaining yourself in a sing-songy fashion over a beat that repeats ding, ding, ding, ding, dong, ding, ding + grimey drums?  But in all seriousness, Kanye casually sings his personal problems in an accessible manner that I frankly didn't expect from him.  The fact that he came off with this 9 minute song as a lead single shows how little a fuck he gives about mainstream music promotion.  He is above that shit, he'll let the album sell itself. 

Kanye also delivered when on that "neo-soul" / backpacker tip.  When College Dropout came out, I thought Kanye West was going to be the hero of the backpack movement and carry the torch for artists like Common, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli.  He was the next conscious emcee to take over, but he has taken a decidedly different musical route.  And yet, he hasn't lost that backpacker steez.  He rhymes about "lucrative" job opportunities and the recession at numerous points of the album.  While most people castigate Kanye as a detached fashionista that sometimes raps, he reminds folks that he is painfully aware of the state of times.  Think about the outro, which is a performance by Gil-Scott Heron entitled "Who Will Survive In America?".  I mean he has freakin' GSH on this album, what's more conscious than that?!

Let's be honest, when I read about Q-Tip, DJ Premier, Madlib, and Pete Rock working on this album I expected to hear a newer-age Blueprint type record.  Instead we have an album that rips through genres, motifs, and melodies with the swagger of a drunk dictator.  Whatever you think of this album, it reeks of Kanye's confidence from the lyrics, singing, to the beats. The song that I think ends up being the most exceptional and most representative of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is "All Of The Lights."  It appears with fireworks in the forty-minute "Runaway" video and features eleven of the biggest artists in music.  Even fuggin Elton John shows up with piano solo!  With so much brass, you can make a ring out of it, Kanye triumphantly delivers a powerful song.  Kanye's barking off types of lights with an enigmatic, metaphorical tale of domestic violence does the beat justice as well.  You know what I thought when I first heard this song?  This is the musical version of Michael Jordan's ridiculous lay-up in traffic against the Lakers in the '91 finals.  Like MJ put the NBA on notice of his dominance and skill, Kanye has done so with this song and album.  Kanye West has made that album that will justify any wyle out over in the public sphere if he doesn't win every "Album of the Year" award. 

Quick Shots

The one release I and the rest of the world are looking forward to in 2011 is J.Cole's debut with Roc Nation.  He recently released Friday Night Lights, which is another certified mixtape banger.  Friday Night Lights & The Come Up are "debut" mixtapes that are better than most people's albums, I have no idea what the hell he can do with his debut solo.  Tracks like "Farewell" are proof positive that J. Cole is preparing to drop a monster record.  Go get that Friday Night Lights if you haven't already done so.

Dr. Dre's new single, "Kush" features Snoop Dogg, a weed theme, a mini Nate Dogg chorus, and Akon....and still the joint comes off as mediocre.  Detox lost a lot of luster when that lackluster Jay-Z feature, "Under Pressure", was leaked that features the beat that is the background for HP commercials.  I remember when "Still DRE" dropped, everything in music stopped being as relevant.  "Kush" nor "Under Pressure" have that magnanimous appeal, and it leaves me kind of wary about the overall quality of Detox.  Dr. Dre did recently give some props to Kendrick Lamar on the radio, and that point should be echoed.  Kendrick Lamar is fierce, point blank, period. 

I know he is rolling around in a pile of money, you have to think 50 Cent feels outdated as an artist these days.  I complained years ago that 50 Cent was a one trick pony with great production, awesome choruses, and empty, violent substance.  The current staple of "big" artists put a high price on lyrical content.  Drake, Weezy, or Yeezy aren't lazily rhyming about killing a city block.  Curtis has mentioned that his next album will be more "electronica" influenced, like Black Eyed Peas.  Yeah, that sounds about right.  Who wants to bet Ke$ha will be 

Jay Electronica recently got signed to Roc Nation.  I would be excited, but Act II should have came out two years ago to capitalize on that "Exhibit C" buzz.  Either way, his Roc Nation debut should be monstrous if he keeps the production line-up we expect with Just Blaze, Kanye West, and others.

It's Thanksgiving.  Go hang out with family and eat tons of food.  I'll see ya'll soon(ish). 

RIP and REP D. Ellis

There is a certain tainted joy I feel seeing so many people on this day give a shout out Dave on their facebook wall, gchat status, or whatever.  The messages are all positive, beautiful, and normally trigger an old fond memory that make me smile.  I can't get too mad at that.  I'm going to spend my time today on my flight today reminiscing over one of the best influences in my entire life whilst bumping a mixture of Cannibal Ox, Kanye, Wu-Tang, and whatever else my Ipod shuffle function delivers.  Ya'll have a good one, love and respect.

And for no apparent reason, and just because it feels right - Wu Tang Clan "Triumph":

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Big R

Kanye West is the Most Creative Guy in Hip-Hop

With the advent of "G.O.O.D. Friday", Kanye has regained the spotlight in the internet Hip-Hop scene, and generally the game in general.  If you haven't been able to yet, you need to check out his GOOD FRIDAY website where Kanye releases a new single each date.  Each week Kanye has released a single with exciting collaborations, monster verses, and each joint has revealed a new member of his blossoming GOOD Music roster.  "Monster" is perhaps the most beastly track with dare I say it, a verse by Nicki Minaj outshining Jay-Z and Kanye West.  Nicki's diabolical verse on this track has done more for Hip-Hop cred than any of the guest tracks she has done with Young Money.

"Lord, Lord, Lord" features a blistering Mos Def verse and perhaps the first verse of many as GOOD Music offer.  "GOOD Friday" and "So Appalled' feature Pusha T, a confirmed new artist with GOOD Music, which is a fantastic move.  Pusha T's cadence, tone, and lyrics are always on that epic shit.  Slap Kanye beats on him, and you may have a classic solo from the VA rhyme slinger.  Let's not forget that Jay-Z is all over these tracks dropping heat-rock verses.  I have to give it up for Jay-Z, he may be the the richest rapper out there but he still spits like he has something to prove. 

Each song has had fans talkin for different reasons.  "Devil in a New Dress" has that soulful beat by Bink! which has mixtape emcees itching for an instrumental.  I will say that Kanye's verses on these tracks sans the new dress joint have been absolutely crazy.  And I don't mean crazy in a great way.  Every verse feels like its on some ramble shit.  On "Monster", Jay-Z addresses the people taking shots at him and Nicki Minaj uses the monster metaphor throughout the track.  Kanye drops gems like "Ahhh I put the Pussy in a Sarcophagus" .... Uhh what Kanye?!  I suppose its a reference to "slaying that box", or is he embalming the vagina.  Literally it was so good, he slayed it and then saved it.  It's become a monument of sexual excellence, he has put the vagina in a protective cover and has put it up in the Smithsonian.  Make millions.  Ok - maybe I'm taking the line too far, and perhaps all this babble that just poured out of me is proof that at least Kanye has me thinking with his lunacy.  Have to respect the positives I guess. 

His new album is going to be released in 11/22.  I don't think it will be the classic I hoped for when I heard Pete Rock, Premo, Q-Tip were supposed to be behind this album.  These leaks sound way more frantic like 808s and Heartbreaks.  Well, I'll keep my hopes up.

Quick Words about a Bunch of Albums

Black Milk Album of The Year  - Bold title, bold production results in a pretty solid album.  The problem?  BM placed waaaay too much hype on himself with the leaks he released and the name of the album.  The beats are layered like a grimy Detroit onion, but sometimes all that layering can make tracks more mehhh.  Still, Black Milk has stepped up his lyrical ability and there are some bangers on here.  "Round of Applause" is Hip-Hop done right.  Although, this album just doesn't stay in the rotation perhaps like it should. 

Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot - The Album of the Year.

Aloe Blacc Good Things - 1/2 of Emanon, Aloe Blacc is set to release his second full-length solo on Stones Throw.  This is not a traditional Stones Throw Hip-Hop record, it's more like that Stones Throw Mayer Hawthorne album.  If I had to insert a audiomark over this album it would be Blueprint-era Hov yelling "So ma'fuggin soulful maaaan." 

Ski Beatz 24 Hour Karate School - This album is the exact opposite of Kanye's recent flurry of free tracks.  Kanye has spontaneously decided to start this trend in promotion of his future album.  Ski Beatz announced this mixtape almost two years ago, and it finally is released lacking the Mos Def verses we expected to make the cut.  Still, Ski Beatz is a talented dude who attracts skillful emcees like Curren$y, Jean Grae, Joell Ortiz, and Stalley.  And what do we care about the most?  The beats, and well Ski Beatz delivers.  I like the production better on this record than Pilot Talk.  That should tell you that this album is worth a cop.

Joell Ortiz Farewell Summer - Joell Ortiz has moved from the rapper I knew the least about in Slaughterhouse to my favorite emcee of the group.  This free EP features some bangers, and Joell is so fierce as an emcee.  He has a good sense of humor and an effortless flow.  "Murder" and "Farewell Summer" stand out on this fresh EP.  Also, his adlib "Yaowaaaa" is perhaps my favorite in the game. 

Quick Shots

New plans - So one of the major projects I have with this site is posting Dave's writings, which I have failed at.  Also, I have been pretty terrible at updating.  My plan is to pay a homie to re-do Sumish as a site that hosts Dave's writings.  That should be the focus, not my inability to update in a consistent basis.  If the site goes down, it's only because of this transition. 

According to a recent Rolling Stone article, Barack Obama has Nas on his ipod.  Say what?  If Barack Obama has illmatic on his ipod, that would be pretty awesome.  However, if he only has "Nastradamus" on his ipod, I will probably vote Republican in 2012.  That album was that terrible.

Skyzoo and illmind are on some "I'm going to make you reconsider Big Boi as album of the year" type ish.  Peep samples of the entire album "Live from the Tape Deck"

The funniest video in the history of the internet below:

Out for now, RIP and REP D. Ellis

Keep it Supreme

Click on the image to hear the lead single to Trek Life's LP Everything Changed Nothing.  This track is produced by Oddisee, and the entire record is produced by Oddisee.  These two collab to make crazy dope tunes.  I've never heard Oddisee go for a banger like this before, he keeps on showing and proving through his diverse and dope beats.  Ya'll know I'm a fan of Trek's, so I'll let the song speak for itself.  Get yourself on itunes and spend the best 99 cents you've ever spent. 

Oh and there's more.  Click the following image to get a West Coast Beat Tape by Oddisee, hosted by Trek Life.  More goodies!

How I would have helped decided the "The Decision"

I know all of ya'll spent July 8th glued to the tube to find out LeBron James's plans.   Not because the majority of the nation loves him, but mostly because where he decides to play basketball shapes the entire NBA atmosphere.  LeBron and The Scrubaliers were perennial regular season champions - I won't deny LeBron James' on court prowess.  However, off the court he went from the most beloved NBA players to the absolute heel of the league.  Dude went from Basketball Jesus to Judas in a painful hour long reality special.

The whole "Decision" made me think that I need to get into PR work.  It apparently doesn't require that much common sense.  To represent arguably the most popular athlete in the country/world, your free agency plan culminated into stabbing your hometown in the back on an awkward, hour long reality TV special.  This took some special PR talent.  It feels like these are the kinds of guys who would tell OJ it's a good idea to go on a joyride post-indictment for murder.  Never before have we seen an athlete plummet from good graces so quickly, over something so foolish.  Tiger Woods has lost a lot of standing, but that's because he fucked the entire cast of "Rock of Love" and left hilarious voicemails about it.  The one hour special played like a shitty episode of a VH1 reality show.  It was clonky, awkward, and will go down as one of the worst executed TV specials ever.

You want to leave Cleveland and not lose an entire marketplace of fans?  Here's how you do it.  All he had to do was be upfront with Cleveland instead of drawing it out the way he did.  Do a press conference in Miami after the story leaks, now the 1 Hour Douche-a-Thon on ESPN.  He could have kept a lot of the casual fans he garnered in Cleveland, instead he has made everyone hate him.  Why?  Because everyone has a hometown, and knows what its like to have loyalty to that hometown.  Rap music is absolutely predicated on that fact.  When you think Biggie/Jay-Z, if the word "Brooklyn" doesn't come to mind immediately, you are a bad Hip-Hop fan.  Everyone knows what its like to have an affinity to someplace and seeing someone absolutely shit on a hometown that loved/supported him through everything makes LeBron into a fucking villain.  And my god, he did it to Cleveland, that city has had it so bad economically, and sportswise, nothing is more emo than being a Cleveland fan. 

His legacy has decidedly been tarnished.  Look at the comments from MJ, Magic, Barkley, and other NBA first-ballot hall of famers.  They are laughing at the new sign of the times, where players choose the easy route and display it in such a selfish manner.  The sad part of this is LeBron will likely win quite a few championships as that Miami team is stacked, and he will be doing it rubbing in the entire city of Cleveland in it.  The moral of the story? Do you, but don't be a fcking dick about it.  I guess I shouldn't have expected anything more from a guy who got a Hummer in high school with King James on the plates.

I have much more to say on the disappointment with the Curren$y album, Rick Ross's mediocre, yet still entertaining Teflon Don, and so far the album of the year Big Boi's Sir Lucious Leftfoot LP.

PEACE.

RIP and REP D. Ellis

Literally a day ago I was talking about how I thought How I Got Over was going to be disappointing, and then it releases and it immediately supplants itself as the best record of 2010.  “Dear God 2.0” and “Doing it Again”, two songs I wasn’t really feeling, somehow are drowned out by the tighter songs and end up sounding better in their respective placements on the album.  Surround moderately good looking chicks around hot things, and they tend to look better due to the company they keep.

What more can you say about Hip-Hop’s most prolific group?  Yeah, I said it.  9-10 Lp’s at this point, this is the group dedicated to updating your definition of “what real Hip-Hop is.”  Their music spawns communities (Okayplayer) and brings joy to those that don’t even recognize how dope they are (clueless Jimmy Fallon fans).   

Rising Down to me felt like a mixtape with I believe 28 or so guest verses from so many different emcees.   Don’t get me wrong, I messed with a few tracks but it was all over the place.  HIGO has many emcee appearances, but The Roots stay within the fam, so it doesn’t sound forced and the album’s consistency doesn’t suffer.  Truck North, PORN, Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, and newcomer STS all show up on the album on multiple occasions.  The Roots enlist some 'outside help' who shine in them forms of Blu and Phonte, who both appear on two different tracks and on possibly my favorite track – “The Day.”  The album’s consistency and flow makes it such an incredible piece, it’s an album that’s incredibly enjoyable to listen to front to back.   Where Drake and Eminem fail, The Roots succeed with gusto.

The songs that really catch my eye include...well the majority of the f*cking album.  "Radio Daze" features another strong Blu verse, lush percussion and soft keys which cooperate with the emcees on the track.  Cats have been screaming for more P.O.R.N. since The Game Theory, this is the one of many tracks which features him rhyming and singing.  That dude needs to put out work already.  This track leads into a great track featuring Phonte, "Now or Never."  Who else to rhyme about opportunities than the ex-major label signee Phonte?  People forgot about Phonte Coleman, and this song is just further evidence of dude's talent.

The sureshot single I thought on this record has to be "The Fire" which sounds like it should have played preceding World Cup / NBA finals.  John Legend lends an inspirational chorus, with keys going hard.  In fact, the keys and Kamal grab your attention on this album.  I'm a fan of the Pian'er though, so I'm fine with the infusion of hard chords with lush percussion.  For example "Right On" featuring indie sweetheart Joanna Newsom - and that song just goes in.  This type of Hip-Hop shit just works like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  And since it's a Roots album, you have to hope that Black Thought is getting aggressive.  I felt his verses are tight, but his persona is subdued on the record, but it's not as bad as Rising Down.  I suppose you can't have Game Theory amount of rhymes - I imagine Black Thought is saving up the rhyme book for the Danger Mouse collabo - Dangerous Thoughts.   I do love how aggie he gets on the outro "Web 20/20" boom-bap joint with Truck North and Peedi Peedi.  

Like I mentioned before, "The Day" was my jammie on this album.  Blu, Phonte, and Black Thought going back n' forth on how they meditate and motivate each of their days.  Topic sounds kind of soft, but it comes off fresh as hell with another organic beat and a sultry chorus provided by Patty Crash.  Damn I've used lush, organic and similar adjectives mad times in this write-up - sounds like I'm talking about a damn salad, but that's how fresh this record is!  And the interludes put this album over the top.  ?uestlove and co. really paid attention to the details when it came to creating an album that just flows together.  "Dillatude" is absolutely perfect at setting the mood for "The Day" after the pounding "How I Got Over."

Where Eminem lost an entire fanbase of Hip-Hop heads, he somehow draws us back with some of the best lyrical delivery I've ever heard.  I won't say the content on each track is incredible, but he has cut out a lot of the foolishness that made Relapse sound like Eminem on drugs.  The product is an album that is a huge step forward from a career that hasn't lost its profitability (750K sold in first week, Recession Proof!) but has lost some in quality control.

From the South 

As soon as I write about The Roots having the album of the year, Big Boi may have dropped the Album of the Year - I just completed one listen through of Big Boi's long awaited Sir Luscious Leftfoot - The Son of Chico Dusty, and goodness have we missed Outkast - period.  I just broke down how I thought The Roots got the record of the year, and Big Boi in one swift listen has me questioning that entire premise.  I'm far too lazy to change my thoughts above, but I can show some love for Big Boi.  All of these acts brag about being original and it's apparent from "Daddy Fat Sax", "Patton", and "You Ain't No DJ" that no one quite does it like the Outkast crew.  No Andre 3000 sadly, but the beats on here are out of this world, and Big Boi comes correct.  My quick thoughts?  That's ten less dollars to spend on brews, and ten more to cop this. 

Rick Ross's album tracklist looks bonkers -  The Teflon Don features Drake, Jay-Z, Raphael Saadiq (!!), Cee-Lo, T.I., Erykah Badu, and everyone else relevant under the sun.  The production list is equally drool-inducing: Justice League, Inkredibles, Kanye West, NO I.D., and others.  No one selects EPIC beats like Rawse-eh.  Deeper Than Rap was last year's summer banger that came out of nowhere, and but I'm prepared and excited to peep this new album when it hits. 

Curren$y ft. Mos Def and Jay Electronica "The Day" - Produced by Ski Beatz, that supergroup I mentioned a year or so ago finally release a song that will be a part of Curren$y's upcoming LP - Pilot Talk.  Curren$y's verse is kind of lacking, but that beat is just plain ferocious. 

And for MJ:

Man, crazy that's been a year since his passing.  I found Aloe Blacc's rendition of "Billie Jean" as an especially funky fresh tribute.  Peep it below! RIP and REP D. Ellis and I'm out!