StuntinonProse

Guilty Pleasures

2008-02-28T15:07:00.001-08:00

A SOP Special Report

co-wrote by: Hugh and J. Burnett

Hugh: I am not a hip-hop elitist nor have I ever claimed to be, but I am guilty of looking down on certain artists/styles of music because they did not display the skill and technique encompassed in the most critically-lauded rap albums. But ironically the music that I found myself criticizing was the same stuff that I listened to growing up. 90% of the rap albums I purchased in the 90’s were executive produced by Master P. So what has happened over the last 8 years that has made me appreciate what many consider “real hip-hop” and convinced me to shun the music that I grew up on? To be honest, I really don’t know. Sure I’ve matured and the rap I’ve become fond of is more intellectually stimulating at times but is that just cause to discriminate against other artists that don’t fit that mold? No.

Recently I’ve found myself listening to (and enjoying) albums from these same artists that a few months ago I would argue shouldn’t even be allowed to record and release music. Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Shawty Lo, Young (or is it Yung?) Dro, Boosie, Webbie, Rick Ross, etc. are artists that I feel often catch flack because they don’t lyrically measure up to some of the accomplished rappers of past and present day (Jay, Nas, B.I.G., Common, Rakim, Wu…). While this may be true, what else do these despised artists have in common? If you are familiar with them and have a U.S. map nearby, you’ll notice that they are all from states sitting below the Mason-Dixie line. Coincidence???

One thing you can’t deny is these dudes know how to make hit records. Between the catchy hooks, banging beats and hilarious ad-libs (my favorite), the entertainment value is through the roof. And at the end of the day isn’t that what music is? Does it always have to be serious? I often like to draw comparisons between music and movies. What if I was to look down on Will Ferrell or Jennifer Aniston because their films don’t show the same depth as those by DeNiro or Cate Blanchett? That’s not right. So why is it acceptable to dismiss the latest effort by Jeezy because he can’t hang with Nas lyrically? None of these artists have ever claimed to be the best in the game. They simply make music that represents who they are. Take it for what it is and you might hear something you actually like. What you think J. Burnett?

J. Burnett: I totally agree. I too am a closet purveyor of Southern rap and not just the Cunninglynguists, Little Brother, Strange Fruit type acts but stuff like 3-6, Webbie, Trill Ent., Gucci Mane, Plies (as most of you found out), Shawty Lo, Trick Daddy, Jeezy and plenty others who many would consider to be ig’nant coons. I found myself in the last couple days pondering the same question as Hugh. Can I be a fan of true Hip Hop and still like a Jeezy, a Plies or Rick Ross and I think the answer is yeah, why not???

In case you haven’t ever been on MySpace or outside there’s millions of rappers. Some are great some are boo boo but you have to respect that whoever it is grinded their way into some sort of success. You don’t just luck up and get a contract. If that was the case I’d be rapping now getting all sorts of groupie love. Someone has to see something in you to invest millions of dollar into you. Despite what many believe, there’s no set formula to a hit and when someone makes more then one hit that deserves applause. And if you think there is a formula check out Jeffery Atkins’ case file and/or numbers for his recent album. Did it even drop???

You also have to think about why you’re listening. I don’t take the same ears that I listen to Jay Electronica as I do to listen to Gucci Mane. That’s just stoopid. Piggy-backing off of what Hugh said earlier, if you got two boxers who cares if one knocks cats out with a sloppy haymaker or if the other outclasses his foes with technical prowess. The end result is the W and if you’re listening to rap to be entertained it’s pretty much the same thing.

Chime in at any time jabronis

Shawty Lo Units in the City Review

2008-02-28T15:06:00.001-08:00

Don’t front, D4L’s Shawty Lo banged out a hit with “Dey Know.” The Mandrill-sampled “Dey Know” picks up where “I’m Da Man” left off with Lo boastfully proclaiming his mayoral status in the A and in general…pretty straight-forward right? Lo’s ability to simply and charismatically phrase how he feels over trunk-slapping beats is what’s scored him a following despite the obvious lack of lyricism. Lo’s debut Units in the City continues the trend with anthemic, chorus-driven trunk rattlers.

I honestly thought I’d be buried by and bored with dope boy-isms mid-way through but Shawty Lo shows some alternative looks on Units. On the reflective “Feels Good to Be Here” and the semi-autobiographical “Live My Life,” featuring Kool Ace, Lo is portrayed as thankful and socially-conscious, respectively (“why things gotta be the way they be? /I thought Abe Lincoln said we was free/from the things I’ve seen that cannot be/in the courtroom they’ll railroad me/the laws of justice are colorblind?/then why my partners got all this time?”). Then there’s the quasi-romantic “Count on Me” where making it rain takes on a different meaning if you get my drift. Slightly singing and rhyming in the drawled out whisper that’s signature to Lo, he muses about lavish shopping sprees with a lady friend. But Lo is at his best on celebratory trap-boy records like “GA Lotto” where Lo boasts of holding small faced hundreds from the early 90s and rehashes a crowd favorite with the line “the last time I checked I’m the man in these streets/they know I’m Lo/I’m C-E-O.” Similarly, “Foolish” brags about spending dope money recklessly ("$7,000 on a clean white tee") over the blaring horns provided by Drumma Boy. Disappointingly “Foolish” produces another “I’m Lo/I’m C-E-O” moment but slides by on a catchy chorus. “Dunn, Dunn” proves to be something like “I’m Da Man” part II and proves to be just as good. Crashing cymbals are the backsplash for this ode to Bankhead (a segment of inner city Atlanta) that has Lo taking slick jab to an unnamed Atlantan who also claims Westside Atlanta too. The album concludes with an anti-climactic D4L reunion on “We Gon Ride,” a response to those who thought D4L had broken up.

Don’t get it twisted. Units in the City is hardly lyrical exercise, but it’s damn good at what it sets out to do. The formula is simple: 808-heavy-tracks plus good hooks and dope-infused rhymes. Said formula is virtually perfected at different points of the album ("Easily I Approach"). What can be appreciated about Lo’s approach on Units is that its %100 him. It’s not diluted generic raps over the producer du jour spawned for the purpose of sales. He used mostly local and in-house producers and cooked up a good product. What sucks about the album is weak lyrical moments like “twinkle, twinkle I’m a stiz-ar/peep the iz-ice and the ki-zar.” If you’re looking for something you can get crunk to, ride to et cetera I strongly recommend Units in the City. If you’re looking for life lessons…this ain’t it.

Kidz in the Hall Making of Sweet 16

2008-02-28T15:05:00.000-08:00

Kidz in the Hall Sweet 16

2008-02-28T15:04:00.001-08:00

Track the Kidz recorded specially for King Magazine...making of vid coming soon

Kidz in the Hall Sweet 16

Re-Up X OnSmash

2008-02-28T15:03:00.001-08:00

MacBook Air Computer Love

2008-02-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

They Know Mandrill "Children of the Sun"

2008-02-28T15:01:00.002-08:00

The Illest M. Jack Mixtape Evar

2008-02-28T15:01:00.001-08:00

DJ Jaycee Michael Jackson The Soulful Years

tracklist below

Intro

Sugar Daddy

ABC (Jaycee´s 1986 Ultrasound Mix)

It´s great to be here

Jaycee wants you back

My Girl

I wanna be where you are

Dancing Machine

Dance in peace Dilla (Detroit Style)

Mama´s Pearl

The Boogie Man (Interlude)

Can you remember

Ready or not (Here i come)

Never can say goodbye

If i don´t love you this way

I´ll be there

My cherie amour

I don´t know why i love you

Born to love you

Don´t say goodbye again

The love you save

All i do is think of you

I am love (feat. Jermaine)

Call on me

Ain´t no Sunshine

Dear Michael

Everybody´s somebody´s fool

Got to be there

Maybee tomorrow

La la la (means i love you)

People make the world go round

With a child´s heart

What up Khrysis?

2-4-6-8

Ain´t nothing like the real thing

If i have to move a mountain

Random

2008-02-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

...found on Skateboard P's blog

Jay-Z I Know Video

2008-02-28T14:59:00.001-08:00

World Meet the Camp

2008-02-28T14:58:00.001-08:00

Just found out about Bean Town collective, The Camp (Dese, Grime the MC, Excetera, DJ Hevan). I got an email with their new track "Little Story" featuring Slaine attached. To this point I hadn't heard any of their shit so I approached it open-minded and my thoughts were: it's raunchy, kinda funny (dark humor though) and the story-telling was crisp. But it's a track about catchin' the clap so yea that was kind of ~~weird~~ different...But I checked out more of their work and it sounded damn good; definitely worth checkin' out. I must admit I turned a blind eye to the Bean Town after Benzino's tomfoolery but how could I forget this is the same place that brought the likes of bald head slick. Silly me. Anywho, here's a few tracks including "Little Story." Let me know what y'all think. Their album, The Campaign, drops April 1st.

For audio and downloads click here

What the Hell???

2008-02-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Beyonce as Etta James...I really hope this is prevaricated. Lord, please don't allow this to happen. This can't be real. As if Puff Daddy taking up a role that was perfected by Sidney Poitier wasn't enough. Someone has to stop this from happening.

Farewell Omar

2008-02-28T14:54:00.002-08:00

We'll never understand how you lost your limp in your dying moments

Estelle American Boy ft. Kanye West

2008-02-28T14:54:00.001-08:00

Hip Hop, We're Really Going to Run With This Electronic Thing Eh?

2008-02-28T14:51:00.002-08:00

Above is Hot Dollar of Streets on Lock fame and brother of Guerrila Black. Random. I was researchin' Toomp actually which led me to Wiki and Jeezy's first album, Thug Motivation. For some reason I mixed up Toomp and Shawty Redd in a convo I was having. But out of curiosity I clicked on Shawty Redd's page to see what else he had done which lead me to Hot Dollar who made Streets on Lock, a track I dug. So...that left me wondering "hmmm what's been up with Hot Dollar lately?" and I found the two tracks below, "upside down" and "get naked"...Cats are really going in with Auto Tune and the vocoder. Is Hip Hop really going to go all electronica and shit??? Let me know what yall think...

Check out the audio here

Corporate Politics

2008-02-28T14:51:00.001-08:00

I have some of the most random convos at work. If you've ever found yourself wondering "hmm, I wonder what J. Burnett thinks about when he's not blogging" then here's a dandy sampling...Check it out after the jump

Jay5735: this real life thing is something else

SpaceBarz: who are u telling

Jay5735: it's a constant grind

Jay5735: not the cool grindin like the clipse or tony hawk

Jay5735: it's more like rubbin ur scrotes against a grater daily

SpaceBarz: yeah

SpaceBarz: there has to be an alternative to this scrapping for pennies lifestyle

SpaceBarz: I need to surround myself with wealthy people so I can learn the secrets of the trade

Jay5735: slinging big birds

SpaceBarz: drug dealers are lazy man

Jay5735: thats why they need hard workers like us

Jay5735: sell dope for videogames

Jay5735: no one would ever expect it

Jay5735: we'd just be at the crib playing xbox 720s

Jay5735: no one would be the wiser

SpaceBarz: man

SpaceBarz: the perfect life would be

SpaceBarz: an xbox

SpaceBarz: a projector or HD TV

SpaceBarz: a crib

SpaceBarz: on the beach

SpaceBarz: with a fully stocked bar

SpaceBarz: and strippers in the crib

SpaceBarz: dancing on poles

SpaceBarz: cleaning up my garbage

Jay5735: lol

SpaceBarz: yeah

Jay5735: there has to be a way to have strippers at your house 24/7

SpaceBarz: I can see it now

SpaceBarz: yeah

SpaceBarz: be a pimp

SpaceBarz: or live at body tap

SpaceBarz: or be a rapper

Jay5735: hmmm...i could see one of those moves workn out for me

SpaceBarz: living at body tap

Jay5735: nah being a pimp

SpaceBarz: oh

SpaceBarz: well

SpaceBarz: you gotta have a strong pimp hand

Jay5735: yea i dont have that

Jay5735: chicks just respect and admire me

SpaceBarz: not hoes

Jay5735: they're not scared of me though

SpaceBarz: you gotta break a hoe in

SpaceBarz: like a pair of church shoes

Jay5735: lol

Jay5735: that's a great line

SpaceBarz: its true man

SpaceBarz: thats too much work

Jay5735: but you can break a hoe w/one good slap

SpaceBarz: and some church shoes slip right on too

SpaceBarz: and others aren't ever comfortable

SpaceBarz: its varies man

Jay5735: tis true

SpaceBarz: all this analogical pimp talk has my brain going

Jay5735: i'm tryin to figure out how i can turn this into a blog

Jay5735: what image would best summarize this convo

SpaceBarz: hmm

SpaceBarz: Got any pictures of strippers cleaning up garbage???

SpaceBarz: if not, I'd say use the cover of The Mack

Jay5735: that's what i was thinkin

SpaceBarz: Cool

The Most Intelligent Rapper: Cadence Weapon

2008-02-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

SOP Special Report

Words by Hugh

While reading the Jan/Feb issue of my favorite magazine, URB, I came across a page and a half section of record reviews. Being the sucker for album critiques that I am, I immediately ran my fingers over the artist names and album titles to see if there was anything I had already heard. After scanning the first page, not only had I not heard any of these albums, I hadn’t even HEARD OF them. Finally my eyes met a familiar title in that of The Cool by one Walasu Muhammad Jaco, more popularly known as Lupe Fiasco. After reading the subheading for the review: “Self-Indulging Record” and seeing the shocking 2.5/5.0 rating that the album was given, I began to question URB’s music reviewing credibility (word to The Source). But after reading the review, it made some valid points that I couldn’t be mad at. But that’s a completely different discussion as I digress…

My reason for mentioning Lupe was the irony of the subtitle of the review that filled the column to the left of The Cool’s critique. “The Most Intelligent Rapper” was the line used to describe Canadian rapper Rollie Pemberton, who goes by the stage alias Cadence Weapon. My first thought was “Wow! What a dope name,” and then to call this guy the most intelligent rapper on the same page with Lupe Fiasco? That’s saying a lot. So after reading the brief, but positive review (3.5/5.0) about his sophomore album, Afterparty Babies, I scurried to the internet to do my research. After getting my hands on an advance copy of his new album (which drops officially next month), I was completely confused with what I was hearing. I was expecting something along the lines of Lupe or Nas and what I got was well...Cadence Weapon. When you listen to this guy you have to go into it with no expectations or preconceptions (if that’s possible) because his material is completely left-field. First off, Cadence’s delivery is hella unorthodox. This is no secret to him, as he raps on the opening track of his album: “…with an off-beat delivery and an awkward obscenity…” And if you can get past that Cadence will raise the other eyebrow with his unique production (he does his own beats). The sounds found on his album are a melting pot of genres that cover hip-hop, rock, pop and even techno. I must admit after the first time through, I was ready to write this guy off, but his humorous, clever lyrics were what drew me back for a second listen. Cadence spits several slick lines throughout the disc like:

“And to the jerk that said words don’t hurt, talk to me for a change/ I’ll treat you like Pac in a range”

or

“…I heard homegirl does the head bobble/for any John in the district, city or county/I sop up the goods like Bounty/like I, heard she got on his head like a bounty…”

Cadence keeps you laughing and listening with his clever and cynical lyricism. He actually reminds me a little of a guy J. Burnett mentioned recently, Danny Swain. If you’re open to something different from the norm, check out Cadence Weapon and let us know what you think.

Click here for the audio

Writing Letters to Riker's Island

2008-02-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

ItsTheReal

Gone But Not Forgetten

2008-02-25T08:25:00.000-08:00

At the height of Yola's popularity, success, etc. homie got shot in the face. It wasn't none of that Uncle Murda ish. These slugs almost sent Yola home but he recovered. I'm looking forward to hearing more from DG Yola. I really dug that track, Ain't Gonna Let Up. And the streets are still itchin' for that Gutta World my boy. Anyways, here's a few tracks I scooped from Yola's MySpace

PS If you're Yola's publicist and you're reading this holla at me, thanks...

For the audio, click here

Emo Lo

2008-02-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

Say what you want about D4L's Shawty Lo but the below track, "Live My Life," is kinda live. I mean it's a waaaay different look than "Dey Know" and "Dunn Dunn" which are both pretty awesome in their own right. Regardless, I dig this track and for the record/nonbelievers/haters and others who wonder I've heard Units in the City and it's pretty damn good. Fabo you've been dethrowned as solo artist most likely to succeed out of the Down 4 Life camp. Sorry.

Let me know what yall think...

For the audio, click here

Mash Ups On Me

2008-02-25T08:20:00.001-08:00

I didn't check these out their first time around. I figured I'd check em' out. You may have em'. You may not

For download link, click here

For download link, click here

Plies Bust It Baby Casting Call

2008-02-25T08:19:00.001-08:00

Can we be set back any further???

Shit's Kinda Crazy

2008-02-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

His name is Boon Doc and he’s from Denver, CO

Find out more on his MySpace

Mickey Factz Up High

2008-02-25T08:14:00.000-08:00

Mickey Factz is leaking one brand spankin' new song per week and this is week 8. Catch up already. Let me know what yall think of Factz.

For the audio, click here

Read Closely

2008-02-22T09:28:00.001-08:00

Does anyone see what I see? Only a select few will be able to appreciate this...

"I got 5 on my feet/40 on my neck/20 on my wrist/10 on my pinky...that's the right pinky/but the left pinky get me freaky, freaky girls like Pinky

For the audio hit up StuntinOnProseDotCom