Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta

Kanye dropped this tape as promo for the US leg of his world tour a few weeks ago. Some really good tracks here and I'm hoping they've put in some CRS recording time on the tour:


Lupe - "What It Do"




N.E.R.D. - "Locked Away"




DJ Felle Fel ft Kanye, Ne-Yo, Fab & JD - "Finer Things"

Dope album. No skippable tracks, great content, fresh production and Ms On-&-On Badu's eccentric self. at least a 4 out of 5 :


The Healer (prod by Madlib)




Soldier

Around this time of year, there's always a few good mixtapes out, plenty of leaked singles worth a few spins, but after the buzz of all the 4th quarter releases has died down, when the 1st quarter releases have been pushed back to April or June or Nevuary, there does seem something of a void to be filled. It's at this point that I dust off the old 19-vintage Tribe, Wu-Tang and Biggie CDs. It doesn't hurt if you can mix that up with a few dope new tracks aswell:





Reflection Eternal - "2000 Seasons"








The Roots - "75 Bars"








C.R.A.C. - "Love Don't"






Saigon ft Grand Puba - "Who Can Get Busy"

(apologies; couldn't find any non-homo-erotic pics of Sai...still a great rapper, though.)









Pete Rock ft Papoose - "Comprehend"








EMC - "Once More"








Common - "The Light 2008" (prod by Just Blaze)








Trendz of Culture - "Valley of the Skinz"

Prettiest fiend I ever did see.

Another quality addition to my favourite mixtape series. Not quite on a par with Vol.2 (though I mainly blame that on hip-hop's failure to provide enough dope beats for the R-E-U-P to rip up over the last year; case in point), but immense nonetheless and far superior product to most rappers' albums:

Good Morning



Pusha's verse, dedicated to his own lyrical greatness, claiming a spot in the pantheon of true hip-hop greats is swaggerific (yes, it is cool enough to justify such corny-ass terms!)


Rainy Dayz



They do justice to the Cuban Linx classic and Mal's almost sing-song flow on the closing verse stands out for me.

Certainly worth a download (they upped it for free).

After a pretty shambolic '07, I feel some sympathy for Curtis...felt the same for Ja in '04. He hasn't completely fallen off, but I wouldn't begrudge him a successful comeback of sorts if it involved dropping a really good album. In the mean time, he might want to try rebuilding his buzz through mixtapes, as it worked the first time round:

Rider for Real




Make Me Feel Good

Never thought I'd get so much joy from a Tony Yayo for-the-ladies song! It's super-catchy, though.

One of my my "guilty pleasures" I'm not all that guilty about is poppy electro music and these folks certainly fit the bill...if you're into that sorta thing:

Ninja of Love




Brainpower



Listening to this, I picture myself off-my-face drunk, boogying down in Shibuya with Japanese chicks (of legal age) dressed as school girls (them, not me)...that just does it for me.

Amy's 2003 debut was awesome. Nearly as good as Back to Black, and she certainly looked a lot healthier:

Fuck Me Pumps






In My Bed

Salaam Remi used the same "Apache" loop on this track - I'd argue to equally good effect - as on Nas's "Made You Look".

Jean Grae - "Love Thirst"




Mark Ronson - "Just (Primo rmx)"




Jim Jones ft The Game - "Love Me No More rmx"




The Pharcyde - "She Said (Dilla rmx)"




Skyzoo - "The Necessary Evils"




Termanology - "Who's The Nicest"




Starski ft The Cool Kids - "Stunnas On"




Three 6 Mafia - "I'd Rather"




Tribe Called Quest - "The Hop"




Q-Tip - "Go Hard"

I wouldn't call this a spectacular album, but it's shortcomings are more than made up for by naming it after my favourite Huxtable - she was like Rosario Dawson before Rosario Dawson...but I digress - and by a couple of real standout tracks:

Woman Tonight

Seldom have lullaby, love song, soul-baring and phat hip-hop song come together so well in the space of 3 or 4 minutes.


Morris Day

Morris and his valet Jerome stole the show recently at the Grammys and The Time are my favourite Prince side-project, so Murs and Slug get kudos from me just for naming the song after him. Even better than the title, though, is the laid back groove on the track.

Courtesy of Stretch Nav the god:


The reason why Preemo is one of the best producers ever is the fact that he has been able to keep his style fresh. As long as hiphop exists, his music is relevant. He embodies what hip-hop stands for, even if it is very difficult to describe how this is possible. His music makes you nod your head as you sing along to his scratch-laden choruses. Like all the big names (Dre, Timbaland, Neptunes) you can spot a Preemo song because he has his own, signature sound. In the new millenium, he stepped up a gear, more of the same in quality terms while not being afraid to experiment, whether it be with the artists he collaborates with or the sounds he creates. Check these five out:


Gangstarr: The Natural




Big 12" only release (B-side to Skillz) from late 2002. This really should have been on the duo's "The Ownerz" album, but was mysteriously left off. The Source used the word "Hitchcock" to describe this one. Elevating the style of beats.


Snoop Dogg F/ Lady Of Rage: Batman & Robin


It was either this or "The One And Only". Both are lifted off Snoop's 2002 "Paid Tha Cost..." album, but I chose this because of Premo chopping up the old Batman TV theme tune to great effect (check the horns)...and because Snoop namedrops Marvel comics and the fact that Snoop and Rage assume the roles of a pimped-out Batman & Robin respectively (w/ a cameo by RBX as Commissioner Gordon). East meets West with the "Batmobile on threes"


The NYGz: Giantz Ta This


Release from 2002/2003 on Premier's Year Round label. Basically starts with a disgruntled Preemo complaining how "A lot of y'all muthafuckas lost your ear to the street", then proclaiming "so as usual, I'm back" and how he's "gutter as ever"... and then he gives us another example of how to chop up an over-used sample ("7 minutes of Funk" used previously by Jay-Z & EPMD) and make it sound fresh again for some hard NY rhymes from Panchi & Shabeeno. We wouldn't have it any other way Preemo.



Freddie Foxxx: Lazy




I heard this off a Premier mix CD from 2003. Great tune, I can't really say much more than that. Oh and that Foxxx is as hard as nails.



Agallah: NY Ryder Music


Next time I'm in NY, I'm riding to this. From 2006, the artist formerly known as "8-Off" gets an understated banger from Premo. "Its that NY Ryder Music!"

Just an appetiser:


Departure





Not A Disturbance

Three 6 Mafia ft UGK - On Some Chrome

Nah, not really:






Lady of Rage ft Snoop & Dre - Afropuffs Rmx

An extended chronic-fuelled remix with an awesome freestyle from Snoop.


Foxy Brown - Fame

Definitely one of the better songs I've heard so far in '08 and off the back of this and a coupla other leaked tracks, I'd look forward to hearing her next album...if it ever drops.


G-Unit - I'm Leavin'

Curtis fell off so bad last year I feel the same kind of sympathy for him I felt for Ja circa 2004/05, so I'm happy he's got back on the bike. It's formulaic and unoriginal, but they do the mixtape posse cuts so well.


N.E.R.D. - Everybody Nose

A sequel of sorts to She Wants To Move, this bodes well for the upcoming N.3.R.D. album. The Pharrell solo album was slightly underwhelming, but as a group these guys are 2 and 0, so I'm very much looking forward to their 3rd release.


Torae - Callin' Me



Nicely looped vocal sample, sweeping strings and some heavy drums. Nuff said. Oh, and the rhymes are pretty sick, too.


Swizz Beatz ft Drag-On (remember him?) - Hard Knocks



Not too many jewels dropped here, but it's hard not to nod your head to this. Ghostface fans might find the sample sounds a little familiar..


Ghostface ft Meth & Chef Rae - Yolanda's House



..and speaking of Ghostface, I should've posted this a month ago, as it was my favourite song of '07. Perfect in every way and I can't remember the last verse I blessed with as many rewinds as Meth's contribution here. Witty Unpredictable genius.

More knowledge from the god Nav:

The Kool Genius of Rap. Says it all really. Certified OG in this hiphop game, the hustlers know this. Klashnekoff knows this (check his latest LP as he, Kyza Smirnoff and G Rap get busy over a Joe Buhdha banger). RA the Rugged Man knows this. Shit, even my Cuz knows this and he doesn't listen to any hiphop that is after 1993 (taking hiphop snobbery to new levels)! He influenced many of the 90s spitters; Big Pun got on his knees when he finally met him! If you haven't heard of him, then you need to know asap....and in terms of content, G Rap is the opposite of Talib Kweli. Take that however you want. Reppin' Corona, Queens, you can feel the realness through his trademark lispy raps. This is thug rap done well and where you truly believe the artist lives the lyrics. Below are five tracks from different times in his 20+ year career. An awesome, raw talent who made his mark on hiphop music. Salute!


Big Daddy Kane feat. Kool G Rap: Raw (Kool G Rap Remix)



Rare remix of Kane's '88 classic. Juice Crew flava. Early potential is evident. You could even go as far as saying that G Rap outperforms Kane. There is a story that G Rap rhymed for so long for this recording that the reel had stopped half-way. BTW Juice Crew film is being made, "Vapors" with Cuba Gooding Jnr as Marley Marl. I can't wait.


Kool G Rap and DJ Polo: Bad To The Bone



This is a personal favourite and for those living the fast life. Balling without any Puffy ethos. Has a ruthless playboy feel to it. G Rap steps up a gear for a career high performance off the classic Wanted Dead Or Alive LP. Large Professor contributed a lot to this LP but didn't get the recognition he deserved because Eric B insisted on taking credit for the production on the album. "profile's kept low/more dough than Barry Manilow" Brilliant....he name-dropped Barry Manilow! Now that's gangsta.


Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Death Wish



1990's Wanted Dead or Alive was G Rap's second album and the maturity of the artist is on display. He grew as an artist by the time of this release and Death Wish highlights a nastier, harder, more gangster side to the former Juice Crew member that had now emerged. Another big performance.
"run for your life when I'm starting/suckers are getting turned into missing muthafuckas on a milk carton". Hard.


Kool G Rap Freestyle on Sway and Tech's Wake Up Show



If there was one performance that epitomises Kool G Rap, it would have to be this rare freestyle from the Wake Up Show archives. Circa '99, he messes up, recovers and still kills it....and Tony Touch has the unfortunate job of rhyming after him. How is Toca going to top that?


Kool G Rap feat. G Wise: My Life



From 2001, I played this a lot when it was released. A good combination of being radio-friendly while still remaining hard. Produced by the Mighty VIC (Beatnuts, Big Pun), this has a chorus you would sing when you are drunk...but I haven't tried it yet. CNN did a remix of this with G for Soundbombing 3 and this track was one of the singles for G Rap's planned Rawkus release. Vocoders are gangsta.