Hip Hop Bonanza: New Kanye West, Little Brother, Paul Wall, Prince Paul and Public Enemy
This week, man. I don't know what to tell you but going from first to last to blast from the past to shadows you cast, counting spare change is growing pains... and some other shit. So damn much good hip hop abounds, I'll just hit a few tracks in one pop and keep on moving through the motions of what's going on around us all.
Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say (feat. Adam Levine from Maroon 5)
Finally, a hip hop album that lives up to all the pre-release hype, so mind boggling it overshadows the previous effort by the artist, and so listenable I want to hate myself for loving it. Late Registration is that record, and yeah ok -- so what if it's number 1 with a bullet this week? It's hot, spread the news. 'Ye got Jon Brion to co-produce this album (best known for producing Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and soundtracks like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and it shimmers like gold. Only Kanye West could sample "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions (on "Touch The Sky") and not make it seem like bullshit. For me, this track featuring Adam Levine from Maroon 5 is too hot for words. This is the truth I can groove to.
Click Here to Buy Late Registration from iTunes or Below To Order on CD
Little Brother - The Becoming
Durham, North Cackalaka's greatest exports Phonte, Big Pooh and 9th Wonder should be sitting on top of the universe with the release of this joint. Flows that rip back skullcaps, deep soul grooves that bring things back to the real, The Minstrel Show is a concept album whose concepts make heads nod and consider where hip hop has been and where artists like LB would like to see it go. Fuck all that bling-bling, this is testifying and speaking what you have to say instead of flossing and glossing.
Paul Wall - Trill (feat. Bun B and BG)
On the other hand, Paul Wall came up through Chamillionaires and Color Changin' Click, setting Houston on fire, droppin' off bricks, sipping on pancakes and 'yurp, swervin' and grippin' grain for a long tough minute. Choppin' and skrewin' their tracks with DJ Michael Watts, droppin new Swishahouse albums almost every six months, Paul Wall finally appears poised to become the next major star in the game. Them Houston boys are hard. Recognize.
Prince Paul, Chubb Rock & Biz Markie - No Rubber No Backstage Pass
Few producers in hip hop have been so consistent as the one and only Prince Paul. His hand has been everywhere, from De La Soul's entire catalogue to his own Handsome Boy Modelling School, there have to be vaults of shit piled up somewhere that can't wait to see light of day. Hip Hop Gold Dust casts much-needed light on a few cobweb covered tracks that needed to have the dust blown off. This ain't some booty-wack repackaged reissue isht, this is steaming outtakes and joints from the De La's, Gravediggaz, May May, Justin Warfield, Stetsasonic, and Prince Paul himself. A must have CD.
Public Enemy - New Whirl Odor
I have waited and debated for oh so long, waiting for the hard edged Chuck D and Flavor Flav of my youth to get really fucking angry again. I have complained about every fucking thing they have done since Fear of A Black Planet because, for whatever reason, they fell the fuck off and they know it. Everyone knew it. Well all the people out there who, like me, were waiting for the revolution to come back, wait no more. New Whirl Odor is the one we have been waiting for. It's finally, finally happened. Chuck D and Flavor Flav? Back. Professor Griff? Back. Terminator X? Back. Yeah, y'all, come on.
Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say (feat. Adam Levine from Maroon 5)
Finally, a hip hop album that lives up to all the pre-release hype, so mind boggling it overshadows the previous effort by the artist, and so listenable I want to hate myself for loving it. Late Registration is that record, and yeah ok -- so what if it's number 1 with a bullet this week? It's hot, spread the news. 'Ye got Jon Brion to co-produce this album (best known for producing Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and soundtracks like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and it shimmers like gold. Only Kanye West could sample "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions (on "Touch The Sky") and not make it seem like bullshit. For me, this track featuring Adam Levine from Maroon 5 is too hot for words. This is the truth I can groove to.Click Here to Buy Late Registration from iTunes or Below To Order on CD
Little Brother - The Becoming
Durham, North Cackalaka's greatest exports Phonte, Big Pooh and 9th Wonder should be sitting on top of the universe with the release of this joint. Flows that rip back skullcaps, deep soul grooves that bring things back to the real, The Minstrel Show is a concept album whose concepts make heads nod and consider where hip hop has been and where artists like LB would like to see it go. Fuck all that bling-bling, this is testifying and speaking what you have to say instead of flossing and glossing.Paul Wall - Trill (feat. Bun B and BG)
On the other hand, Paul Wall came up through Chamillionaires and Color Changin' Click, setting Houston on fire, droppin' off bricks, sipping on pancakes and 'yurp, swervin' and grippin' grain for a long tough minute. Choppin' and skrewin' their tracks with DJ Michael Watts, droppin new Swishahouse albums almost every six months, Paul Wall finally appears poised to become the next major star in the game. Them Houston boys are hard. Recognize.Prince Paul, Chubb Rock & Biz Markie - No Rubber No Backstage Pass
Few producers in hip hop have been so consistent as the one and only Prince Paul. His hand has been everywhere, from De La Soul's entire catalogue to his own Handsome Boy Modelling School, there have to be vaults of shit piled up somewhere that can't wait to see light of day. Hip Hop Gold Dust casts much-needed light on a few cobweb covered tracks that needed to have the dust blown off. This ain't some booty-wack repackaged reissue isht, this is steaming outtakes and joints from the De La's, Gravediggaz, May May, Justin Warfield, Stetsasonic, and Prince Paul himself. A must have CD.Public Enemy - New Whirl Odor
I have waited and debated for oh so long, waiting for the hard edged Chuck D and Flavor Flav of my youth to get really fucking angry again. I have complained about every fucking thing they have done since Fear of A Black Planet because, for whatever reason, they fell the fuck off and they know it. Everyone knew it. Well all the people out there who, like me, were waiting for the revolution to come back, wait no more. New Whirl Odor is the one we have been waiting for. It's finally, finally happened. Chuck D and Flavor Flav? Back. Professor Griff? Back. Terminator X? Back. Yeah, y'all, come on.
