Really anticipated release here!  I have been waiting for this for ages.  Freddie Gibbs is a rapper out of Gary Indiana and he is ridiculously dope.  Got an amazing flow, great lyrics and can really paint a picture with his story telling tracks.

I have heard rumours of an Alchmeist produced EP which would be epic, this EP features a number of producers, but most notably the Blockbeataz out of Alabama.

I think Gibbs is my favorite up and comer.  He is right three with J. Cole IMO.  Hopefully this EP lives up to my high expectations.

1. Str8 Killa No Filla feat. Big Kill: Yeah Blockbeataz!  This beat goes hard.  This song in general is hard as hell.  Pretty much what I expected from Gibbs and Blockbeataz.  This would be insane on a good system. Dunno if I am feeling this Big Kill dude….yeah not at all.

2. Rep 2 Tha Fullest feat. Jay Rock: Another solid beat, and another unneeded guest appearance.  Jay Rock is better than Big Kill but when you have 8 tracks I want to hear Freddie Gibbs.

3. National Anthem: I have herd this before and it is amazing.  Great song.  Freddie does a great job of painting a picture of his life in Gary.  Man he can FLOW!  He owns this beat, which is very good in it’s own right.

4. The Coldest feat. BJ The Coldest Kid: Really unique beat, and it allows Freddie to showcase his flow nicely. I like the hook too – some people won’t like the RnB feel of the hook – but it reminds me of some old Snoop hook.

5. Personal OG: This has got to be Blockbeataz production.  They have mastered these smoked out style beats.  Plus I just heard a female “blockbeataz” voice as I typed the above.  This is a great Ep so far.

6. Live By The Game: Another Blockbeatz beat and it sounds like fire so far. Yes!  Sorry the beat just kicked in and this is great.  This beat just puts me in a good mood – a great example of how sick Blockbeataz can be.  This will make the front page of my blog next update.  Gibbs kills it – just like he kills everything.

7. Rock Bottom feat Bun B: Another great beat.  Freddie also kills it and adds a nice hook.  I like that he does a song with Bun B because that is who Gibbs reminds me of sometimes – a vintage top of the game Bun B.  Speaking of Bun B, he drops a great verse. I think Bun slipped lyrically for a while, but lately he has been back!

8. Oil Money feat. Chip Da Ripper, Chuck English, Bun B & Dan Auerbach: Cool song – again I’d be happier with just Gibbs and maybe Bun B on this EP.  A lot of guests for such a short release.  That said another solid song – like every single one on this.  This song gets a huge boost because Gibbs shouted out the Saints owning Peyton manning in the Super Bowl

Great release!  I wonder if the people who said CNN was too street for me even know about Gibbs?  He is about 50x more street than CNN and *gasp* he actually produces sick music and can really rap. This is a very solid  EP, this has me highly anticipating his next full length release, or hell even the rumored Alchemist produced EP.  If you haven’t heard of Gibbs then check him out.  He is a breath of fresh air in the rap game.

You Can Check Out More Gibbs: Here

I don’t like Fat Joe.  If you really like him, I warn you I probably won’t like this album.  I definitely messed with Joey back in the day- I love JOSE.  But everything after that has been bleh.  Almost like Joey died with Pun.

The production listing looked insane though, so I will check it out.  I am sure by the end of the record I will be looking for an instrumental.  Again remember this is my very first spin of this album…my thoughts take longer than that to fully form.

1. Intro: Pretty cool beat.  I just don’t like Joey – rhymes are so simplified and Im not feeling his flow.  Decent intro though…I do wish producers would take car sirens out of their songs.  That shit can scare the hell out of you in the car.

2. Valley Of Death: Beat started out hard then went soulful – really nice.  This sounds like it could have fit on Jay’s American gangster.  Oh except, Joe can not rhyme even a tiny fraction as good as even old Jay.  I don’t even mind Joe on this song though – he isn’t doing anything new but his story sounded interesting on this.

3. I Am Crack: LOL@ the title. It reminds me of Trailer Park Boys “Randy, I am the liquor”.  This beat kind of fits with the last song – got a kind of blaxpoitation feel.  Joe is OK on this too really…if you can put up with the “I’m a rapper rapping as an inanmimate object”.  Hey at least he didn’t choose a gun.

4. Kilo: First listen and this might be one of fav songs of the year…I can’t believe I just typed that in a Fat Joe review.  I am a huge Clipse fan though so that might be why – them going back and forth is the best.  That vocal sample has been used on a Clipse song before (surprise, surprise).  Alright Cam’ron is a guilty pleasure for me too.

5. Rappers Are in Danger: This sounded a bit dated to me at first, but the beat grew on me.  Not one of my fav songs so far, but the production has been real consistent on this album.  This is the weakest so far to me and it is still alright.  Fat Joe is not a great rapper to me, but he isn’t ruining this album at all.

6. Slow Down (feat. Jeezy): I like Jeezy so I hope this is good.  Actually I have heard this now that it starts.  Cool sample really.  An interesting flip of the Soul II Soul CLASSIC “Back To Life”.  This reminds me of that Snoop song that sampled Rob Base.  This song is gonna be stuck in my head.

7. If It Ain’t About Money feat. Trey Songz: Another beat that started with that 70′s soul feel, but then it went somewhere completely different.  Went all minimalist and then switched again adding some futuristic synths WTF.  Actually hell yeah I liked this..until the chorus anyways.  Not a huge fan of the chorus at all.  Might make this song one of the ones I skip…still 7 songs in and the first club song – that’s a new record for Joey.

8. No Problems (feat. Rico Love): Another futuristic beat that I am feeling.  I dunno if this will stand up to repeated listens but this beat is good.  In fact, this album has good production front to back.

9. How Did We Get Here feat. R. Kelly: I dunno if this is for me…the beat is OK but a bit soft for me.  I dunno I am borderline on this, it is kind of corny, but Joey actually has some interesting lyrics here.  Gah, I dunno..I might like this but not sure yet.  I think my subconscious is battling my ears.  It’s like “Dude you CAN’T like these many songs on a Fat Joe album, you CAN’T!” but damn maybe I am so far…

10. Money Over Bitches: LMAO I’m too old to listen to this bullshit.  I am officially too old to listen to songs that start off with “Fuck These Hoes, Fuck These Bitches”.  Shut up Fat Joe if you weren’t rich and famous you’d wife the first “hoe” that let you sniff her underwear.

11. Heavenly Father feat. Lil Wayne: This beat is pretty cool so far, hope Weezy spits!  No singing pleeeease.  I really like this beat – cool vocal sample.  Again Joey isn’t ruining anything with his rhymes at all – sometimes I actually find myself listening to him.  BOOOOOOOOOO WTF @ only having a Weezy hook… He would have killed this if he rapped.

12. I’m Gone: Preemo sighting!  Cool typical Preemo beat – sounds great. Hmm of course 40 seconds in and Joey has just talked and sang.  I like how the beat is all happy go lucky then on some parts the beat gets this dark ominous turn.  Anyone who think Preemo still doesn’t have it is an asshole.  If that offended you, good.  One thing is too much of Joe singing and talking on this beat…song could have been 3 minutes long.

13. At Last Supremacy: Was that Busta at first?  This beat is just OK to me.  It isn’t horrible but it is your typical generic dark beat.  Not for me…rapping on it is equally generic.

Wow, I liked this on my first spin a lot more than I thought I would.  Joey chilled out on the club songs this go around.  He was smart enough to get some great production too.  Big surprise here – but if you don’t like Joey this probably won’t make you a fan.  I don’t like him that much, and this won’t make me excited for his next album, but it is a pretty damn good effort overall.  This is the second album in a row by an artist I don’t particularly like being decent (Rick Ross the other).  I think Ross’s album is better – but this is a nice surprise.

If you are a Joey fan you will love this, if you aren’t I’d say you should still give it a peek.

Production Credits

1. Scram Jones
2. Cool & Dre
3. Just Blaze
4. DJ Infamous
5. DJ Infamous
6. Scoop DeVille
7. Cool & Dre
8. Scoop DeVille
9. Raw Uncut
10. Raw Uncut
11. Streetrunner
12. DJ Premier
13. Cool & Dre

Alright…I’m gonna do it.  I am gonna review the new Rick Ross joint.  You can say what you will about the man, but he has made some good music.  You have to be insane not to have enjoyed Hustlin’.

That said we know he is a fraud.  But then again who cares?  I don’t believe 75% of the shit rappers say anyways.  They all seem to be acting a role.  So big deal, dude was a CO.  I can’t take him seriously…but who can you take at their word in rap?  I agree he is fake…but if he can make good music I will ignore that.  That Free Mason song with Jay was SICK, so I gotta give this a chance.  Officer Ricky has always got good beat selection.  He also has some very interesting guests.

We are about to find out…This is an early leak and the track listing is subject to change.  Once again my very first spin of this so yeah the focus will be on beats and how it sounds to my ears.  Deal with it.  I might change my mind late, but these are my first thoughts.

1. Im Not A Star: Hmm nice opening track..typical Justice League production. Hard as hell and Ross goes in.  He is no great rapper but he sounds good over this track.  This is instantly going on my gym playlist.

2. Free Mason feat. Jay-Z: Wow, this is INCREDIBLE.  I think I got chills although maybe it was the breeze.  Amazing beat really smooth.  WHOA JAY GOES IN!  Best Jay verse in a minute! He addresses all the weirdos claiming he is part of The New World Order. “Bitch I Said I was A-mazing, not that Im a mason” HOV!

3. Tears of Joy feat. Cee Lo: Noet to Capone and Noreaga…this is how you start a track if you want some talking.  Get someone who can really talk and sample them.  Cee Lo getting his Marvin Gaye on in the background. Gretzky shout out!  Another good track..Ross is just OK on it but production is great and Cee Lo sounds awesome.

4. Maybach Music III (Feat. T.I., Jadakiss & Erykah Badu): Look at the guests – this can’t be bad…it can’t be!  TI kicks it off over a smooooooth beat.  This is that summertime music.  The beat is a bit off to me though…it is a bit erratic.  It really fits Erykah though.  She sounds great – as usual.  A more traditional beat would have been better to me, but this has a LOT of potential to grow on me on some good speakers and repeated listens. NOTE: Already grown on me LOL

5. Live Fast, Die Young (feat. Kanye West): Another kind of unique beat…Ross is not scared of experimenting.  It kind of works though.  Obviously a Kanye beat.  I dunno this song could go either way – it could grow on me and become a fav, but just as easily it could be the first track I hit skip on.  Nice to hear Kanye actually rapping though.

6. Super High (feat. Ne-Yo): Yeah, pretty smooth!  This is real laid back but groovy as hell.  Reminds me of something that would have fit on Jay’s American Gangster.  Throwback vibe for sure, especially with Ne-Yo.  I am not usually a fan but he sounds good on this.  Stand out track.

7. No. 1 (feat. Trey Songz & Diddy): Well the guest list scares the hell outta me. Two guys I don’t care for at all.  I am not feeling this.  Beat just doesn’t fit with album so far at all.  Diddy blows as well.

8. MC Hammer (feat. Gucci Mane): Not a Gucci fan either…uh oh LOL.  At least this has a decent beat – good gym music again.  Not one of my favorite tracks though.  Gucci is not my style at all – dude has a lot of fans though so good for him.

9. B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) (feat. Styles P): This almost feels like a continuation of the last song.  I think I like it a bit more – but again not one of my favorites.  Goes hard and will make a another nice gym song.  I’d much rather hear Styles P than Gucci so that is a bonus as well.

10. Aston Martin Music (feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele): This fits the vibe of the start of the album more.  I like Chrisette and she sounds good here.  Really laid back back – pretty radio friendly I would think.  I dunno why Drake was even on this.  I would have much rather heard a verse…Chrisette had the hook held down..so why even add Drake? I guess Drake appearance will add some sales.  I would have gotten a verse, but that’s me.

11. All The Money In The World (feat. Raphael Saadiq): Big Raphael fan so high hopes!  Another beat that fits the vibe here IMO.  I definitely like it.  Sounds real familiar though.  Don’t ever need to hear Officer Ricky sing ever again though.  Especially back and forth with Raphael LOL.  Raphael KILLS his part of the song though.  Great fit to the beat.  Not a bad way to end the album at all.

________________________________________________________________________

I didn’t have high hopes for this but it turned out pretty good.  I might get annoyed listening to Ross’ crime stories when I have time to pay attention – but after a general listen it is pretty good.

A bit of a rough stretch in the middle when it gets generic and bogged down with lousy guests – but it rides out with a couple nice tracks to close.

At the very least this is way better than I thought it would be.  Definitely gonna give it a couple more listens and I might even end up enjoying it more.  Free Mason is one of the songs of the year too. HOV!

Below is the tracklisting for Teflon Don:

1. I’m Not A Star [Prod. by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]
2. Free Mason (feat. Jay-Z) [Prod. by The Inkredibles]
3. Tears Of Joy (feat. Cee-Lo Green) [Prod. by No I.D.]
4. Maybach Music III (Feat. T.I., Jadakiss & Erykah Badu) [Prod. by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]
5. Live Fast, Die Young (feat. Kanye West) [Prod. by Kanye West & No I.D.]
6. Super High (feat. Ne-Yo) [Prod. by Clark Kent & The Remedy]
7. No. 1 (feat. Trey Songz & Diddy) [Prod. by Sean C & LV]
8. MC Hammer (feat. Gucci Mane) [Prod. by Lex Luger]
9. B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) (feat. Styles P) [Prod. by Lex Luger]
10. Aston Martin Music (feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele) [Prod. by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]
11. All The Money In The World (feat. Raphael Saadiq) [Prod. by The Olympicks]

Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Linder! She is a 10 out of 5 :p

I wasn’t even going to download this album but I had a couple friends telling me it was good.  I used to love CNN but I was completely done with Nore. Can’t believe I liked him so much at one time – wack flow and some horrible lyrics.

That said I will take a look at this because it was reccommnded by people i trust…no expectation here if this is anything other than crap I will be happy.

1. Pain: If this isn’t an alchemist beat I will eat my hat.  So dope though, mane that guy is consistent.  This one beat already makes the album better than I expected.  Nore is not a good rapper tho. Def the kind of beat these guys need though.  Capone is a guilty pleasure, love that voice.  Regardless of Nore not being great, this track go hard!

2. Bodega Stories feat. Lox: OMG Nore sucks I’m sorry – he just had some constipation rap that made me cringe. Beat is OK though – typical dunny rap beat – no complaints.  Jadakiss sounds good – makes Nore look worse because of it.  I hope they have lots of guests on this.

3. Dutches vs. Phillies vs. Bamboo feat. Raekwon: Doooope beat – remindsme of Alchmeist again.  Would have fit well on Raekwons last album which was great.  Really solid production 3 songs in.  I wonder if they can keep it up.

4. My Attribute: Beat sounds dated and too much going on.  Not feeling this.  Also hate the spelling of the names every couple bars.

5. Favor for a Favor: Back to the nice production.  Reminds me of a hard version of Oochie Wally.  This isn’t too bad – nothing mind blowing though.  The beat kind of wears on you by the time the song is over.

6. Hood Pride feat. Faith Evans: Another hard beat that is not bad at all.  I don’t think this will have a ton of replay value.  Faith Evans hook sounds dated and lame IMO.  Good beat though, once again I like the Capone verse a ton more than Nore’s.

7. The Reserves feat. Raekwon: Another beat I think that tries to be too hard and comes off too noisy IMO.  These beats are cool for the gym but they lose their replay value quick.  LMAO @ Nore’s line about the mountain – shit doesn’t even rhyme.  Although I have complained a lot this is still better than I expected.

8. With Me feat. Nas: I am sure this is an old Nas verse – just sounds old to me.  Nas comes correct – always.  Decent if unremarkable beat.

9. Live On, Live Long Part II: Anytime these guys talk before the song they come off as cornballs.  Nore continues his recent history of sucking.  I like this beat a lot though. Cool song.

10. The Oath feat. Raekwon & Busta: A movie vocal clip that sounds familiar to me.  Can’t place it though. Again Nore feels like he has to talk before going into his lame verse.  I can’t be the only one hearing how bad he is now am I?  Cool beat again though.  Haven’t heard Busta in a minute..he sounds vintage when compared to Nore.

11. Brother From Another: I like the production – seems like a recurring theme.  I don’t actually mind Nore on this actually.  I think the first time I can say that on this album.

12. Thug Planet feat. Iman THUG & Mualini: I don’t like this beat at all.  Horrible in my opinion.  Sounds cheap as hell.  LMAO @ the start of Nore’s verse – this guy is just fucking around I swear. he is not being serious right now.  Sad thing is this is better than most of his work on this album. A couple features who add nothing..meh.

13. Scarface: LMAO original song title – a bad beat too IMO.  Too noisey.  I don’t know why producers thing to sound hard they have to add a bunch of abrasive noises.  Call up Alchemist and learn how to properly sound hard.

14. The Corner feat Avery Storm: The production has dropped the second half of this album.  This is pretty generic – better than the last songs though.  The singing on this is out of place and LAME.  A clear attempt at trying to sound current and an epic fail.

15. Obituary: Great some more Nore rambling to start the song. I don’t mind the beat- kind of like it actually.  Can’t deal with all the rambling though.

Well I now know a couple people I will never trust again when it comes to music.  This albums best song is far and away the first one.  In fact I might only keep that song from this and delete the rest.

Nore was horrible throughout the album – I will never check for him in my life again.  Production started out great..but tailed near end.  Just too many generic and cheap sounding beats.  Too bad they couldn’t afford Alchemist for a whole album.

I guess it is better than I thought it would be but still pretty bad compared to a lot of music that has come out lately.  I am sure I will get a lot of ‘MAN THIS GO HARD, YER GAY” comments but let them fly…I am sure I won’t have to listen to this too many more times  before I decide it is recycle bin material.

Pilot Talk is the latest project from Curren$y.  There was a time I would not check for this guy at all – wasn’t feeling him.  The past 2 years though he has dropped some great music.  You can always count on him to drop a great mixtape, or a good single.

This is going to be my first look at the new album, my very first skim through it so don’t expect a full review. These are just my first impressions.  Some songs will grow on me, some won’t stand up to repeated listens. So don’t cry too hard if I don’t like your favorite songs.

1. Example – Love the beat as it starts, some cool guitar licks but the beat is real laid back.  Curren$y has a laid back flow that I like – dude is kind of like the new Devin the Dude…with better beats these days.

2. Audio Dope II – This beat starts off a bit weird, but falls into something pretty cool.  I think there are some distorted steel drums.  I hope people can get over his laid back flow because he is really improving as a rapper.  This beat reminds me of some boomb bap actually…not fully but it def has some elements of that 90′s NY sound.

3. King Kong – A more current beat for sure – that spaced out stuff “the kids love”.  This just in – Curren$y likes weed.  If you like the new generation of production (and I do) you should be feeling this.  The hook plays off the famous Denzel King Kong line.

4. Seat Change feat. Snoop - I can tell this might be a track I skip a bit.  It is OK but the beat seems a bit too laid back.  I like it as of now though and it is growing on me as I listen to the song.  I am a sucker for Snoop tho so I am cool with his verse.

5. Breakfast – Guess what Curren$y likes for breakfast…weed!  Another beat I am not feeling that much – I like it but it doesn’t stand out.  A bit cheesy to be honest – Curren$y is doing his thing though.  Love the start of his verse.  As I listen it begins to grow on me but more due to Curren$y than the beat.

6. Roasted – I love this beat so far though.  Is MonstaBeatz a Ski Beats protege, or another name for him?  I just ask because Ski produces most of this, but Monstabeatz handles this track.  I like the laid back beat with the horns and synths here better than the ones with the guitar samples.  Personal preference.

7. Skybourne feat. Smoke DZA & Big KRIT – I gotta give credit to Ski Beatz he is definitely making this a cohesive album.  Real laid back beats that really work for Curren$y.  Smoke DZA kind of bores me…but Big KRIT does his thing.

8. The Hangover - More laid back beats which really makes sense considering the subject matter.  Sometimes the album kind of slips into lounge music territory to me.  I think maybe breaking up the album with more tracks like Audio Dope II would have been a good move.  I like these beats, but I dunno if they will have much replay value…hope I am wrong.

9. The Day feat. Mos Def and Jay Elec - Really shows you the respect Curren$y has now to get a couple dudes like this on his track.  This beat really wakes me up too – just what I was thinking of in the comments of my last song.  Jay Elec kills this of course…when doesn’t he?

10. Prioritize – Not a bad beat, I didn’t like it at first but both MCs flow really well on it – by the end of the song I was feeling the beat.  I think a song like this will stand up to repeated spins.  We’ll see.

11. Chilled Coughee feat. Devin The Dude - I am a huge Devin The Dude fan and am appalled at his recent albums.  They have really lacked any good production. It is too bad because his first 3 albums are personal classics to me.  I bring that up because for some damn reason he is on the worst produced song on the album.  Gah, I don’t know what is going on.  Not feeling this beat.

12. Address - I am feeling this.  This is the beat he should have got Devin on.  Much more current sounding.  Laid back again but that is Curren$ys style.  Dude has really improved as an MC.  This is one of my fav tracks.

13. Life Under The Scope - I dunno – good beat I guess.  Curren$y sounds great on it, the beat definitely grows on me as the song goes.  If you like this laid back style, you should love this album.

I am on a pretty good streak of LOVING the recent albums I review. That streak ends now.  I definitely like this album and can respect Curren$y’s continued growth as a rapper.  There has just been so much great music lately that this doesn’t really stand out to me.  In fact there has been a similar album released this year that is a significantly better version of this:  Wiz’s Kush and Orange Juice.

I will still be checking for Curren$y and I am sure I will give this some more spins.  Maybe it will grow on me.  It is certainly solid, just happened to drop at a time when some truly great music has been in my rotation.  I think an album like this works great when you are sitting back and relaxing. Maybe listening to it at 8 in the morning effected my enjoyment.

Full album name is: Big Boi: Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son of Chico Dusty

Today is bittersweet.  On one hand Big Boi’s new album has leaked – on the other hand it is kind of sad because it isn’t a traditonal Outkast album.  Will we ever get to hear Big Boi and Andre spitting verses over a whole album together again? Even worse, due to some record label BS, Andre doesn’t even have a verse on here.  Oh well, Big Boi can carry an album IMO so let’s see if he does that…

Again my normal warnings are in place – this is my first spin…my opinion is bound to change on repeated listens.  Also this is a pretty early webrip – great sound quality but I am not sure if the track listing will be 100% the same when it finally drops.

1. Feel Me: I dunno why but this intro just sounds like Big Boi LOL I believe the term he would use is FONKY!  “Damn that weren’t nothing but the intro!”

2. Daddy Fat Sex: GYEAH great to hear Big Boi rapping…it makes me a bit sad that I won’t hear Andre jump in on this album.  This beat is incredible! Big Boi rips this!  Great start.

3. Turns Me On feat. Sleepy Brown & Joi: I love Sleepy Brown so I expect greatness.  Cool acapella start…here comes the beat and this is sounding great.  Big Boi sounds great so far on this album…only 3 songs in I know – I get excited easily.

4. Follow US feat. Vonnegutt: Kind of a reggae feel to the start of this beat.  Big Boi is beasting on this album. WTF the beat just got fleshed out and it is cool.  I dunno much about this Vonnegutt dude – hooks is OK though.  I think Sleepy Brown would have been better on the hook – but that’s pure opinion.

5. Shutterbug feat. Cutty: I could see this being a popular song – I think it has some commercial appeal – has a current feel.  I like it for sure though. On this first skim Big Boi is batting 1.000 so far.

6. General Patton: One of the songs I have previously heard.  The beat with the horns and vocal choir is pretty epic.  Like it has an anthemic feel to it.  I think a beat like this can almsot overpower the song – but it doesn’t seem to here.  This is perfect for the gym playlist on your ipod.

7. Tangerine feat. T.I & Khujo: When I saw the rappers on this for some reason I didn’t expect the electric guitar opening.  This beat is realllly good though.  Khujo is OK – TI is great on this.  Anyone else wish Andre 3k jumped on this?  I think the uniqueness of this beat really makes me nostalgic for Outkast.

8. You Aint No DJ feat. Yelawolf: Good to see Yelawolf get some shine – he has done some work with my underground favs – G-Side.  Dude has reminded me of Big Boi in past so this should be a good combination.  Probably the most unique beat so far. ..makes sense since I think Andre 3k produced this.

9. Hustle Blood feat. Jamie Foxx:  This might piss people off but Jamie Foxx annoys the hell out of me – as an actor, singer or whatever.  I can live with him on the hook though I guess.  Cool contrast on this song – soft singing with kind of an airy beat but it has those angry electric guitar strings in the background.  Another solid song – and even Jamie sounds great on this.

10. Be Still feat. Janelle Monae: Janelle already dropped a strong album of the year candidate so I am pumped to listen.  This beat sounds like it would fit on her album.  I am not sure i love it on this album though.  This might end up a song I skip sometimes.  Would have fit better on her album.

11. Fo Yo Sorrows feat. George Clinton, Too Short & Sam Chris: The opening bass is just so George Clinton. Love the hook on this and the beat is kind of crazy.  Cool track really fits the album vibe.

12. Night Night feat. B.o.B & Joi: I gave the BoB album a positive review but I hate it now…a transparent shot at commercial appeal that just didn’t hit the mark on repeated listens.  These are the kind of beats BoB should have had IMO. This reminds me of an old western for some reason.  I know people will be like WTF at that – but the start of the beat instantly made me think of that.  Now of course the beat has morphed into something else completely.  Cool track I think I will get sick of it after a couple listens though.

13. Shine Blockas feat. Guccie Mane: Is this Jay’s “This Can’t be Life” sample?  Also I hate Gucci Mane so hopefully the beat can drown out that mumbling fool. Cool beat…good flip on this sample.  Gucci doesn’t ruin this song – beat and Big Boi are too good but I can’t help but think it would have been better if Gucci was just on the hook.

14. The Train Part II feat. Sam Chris: Cool guitar effect to start the beat that morphs into some outer space ATLiens type beat.  Sam Chris is nice on the hooks – IMO though Sleepy Brown could have done all the hooks on this.  Weird vocal effect on Big Boi but it matches the beat.  Def reminds me of ATLiens..wish Andre would jump on it.

15. Back Up Plan: A party track for sure.  Although I am loving this album so far I don’t know if this is one of my favs..it is still pretty damn good though.  It is actually growing on me as I type here.  Good track, not my fav but real soild.  15 songs in and this album is pretty ridiculous on first listen.

16. Theme Song: This album has so many beats that tart off with organic strings of guitars, pianos etc…then it morphs into something completely different.  Not my style of song really. It sucks for me that autotune has kind of also killed the voicebox for me.  Could grow on me.

17. Shine Blockas (remix) feat. Guccie Mane, Bun B and Project Pat: Same beat and it is still great.  I can’t see this being bad at all.  You take a great song and add a couple great southern MCs.  Bun B sounds great and once again continues his maddening pattern of rapping way better on other peoples tracks than his solo work.  Project Pat also sounds good on this beat.  This song is great…I’ll probably just replace the original with this.  Get Andre on here!!!!

Alright this year is getting crazy – good albums continue to drop!  This is another great album on the first spin anyways.  Unlike the B.O.B album I don’t think repeated listens will hurt this as much.

Another great album and a possible album of the year candidate?  I don’t want to say it is yet since I have only listened to it once. If it lives up to further spins and the lyrics are on point – this will be assuredly be in my top ten albums of the year.

Possible Production Credits:

2. “Daddy Fat Sax” Mr. DJ
3. “Turns Me On” Organized Noize
4. “Follow Us” Salaam Remi
5. “Shutterbugg” Scott Storch
6. “General Patton” J. Beats
7. “Tangerine” Knightheat
8. “You Ain’t No DJ” André 3000
9. “Hustle Blood” Lil Jon
10. “Be Still” Mel V
11. “Fo Yo Sorrows” Organized Noize
12. “Night Night” DJ Speedy
13. “Shine Blockas” Cut Master Swift
14. “The Train Part. II ???
15. “Back Up Plan” ???
16. “Theme Song” Organized Noize

Relatively unpromoted and seemingly out of nowhere the Roots are dropping there next album: How I Got Over.

What can you say about the Roots that hasn’t been said?  Amazing live show, consistently great and Black Thought is one of the most underrated MCs in the game.  He is close to being on my personal top ten.

I haven’t loved everything Roots have done lately (although their instro tribute to Dilla is great work music) but I am still looking forward to this album.  Lets check it out for the first time.

***NOTE***
Shouldn’t have to always say this but this is my first listen of the album.  Sure my ratings on songs will change – and if I didn’t love your favorite – chill out, give me time.  If I miss some metaphor or deeper meaning – trust me I will catch it on a later listen.  These are my first thoughts.

Before I start – a lot of guests on this – the regulars like Dice Raw, John  Legend and Peedi of course.  A ton of other people too – a bit worriesome…but lets find out

1. A Peace of Light – Very cool intro – you know instantly this is a Roots album. Great lives instruments with some cleverly used vocals makes for a nice Jazzy intro.

2. Walk Alone – Loving the piano on this already – kind of a hard beat.  Great drums on this…live drums can add a lot – I mean a snare actually sounds like a snare.  A couple cats I don’t know on this track along with Thought and Dice Raw – no one really stood out besides Thought – but no one ruined it.  Good first track.

3. Dear God 2.0 – I’m guess dude singing at start is from Monsters of Folk (awesome name btw)…he has a Chris Martin thing going on.  Cool start…when Black Thought starts rapping and the beat drops – this turns great!

4. Radio Daze - This beat reminds me a lot of the second song…I actually had to look at itunes for a second.  Cool beat – typical Roots if you like the live instrument, jazzy, funky feel – you’ll like this.  Blu kicks it off – this dude can SPIT period.  Look up his work with Exile.

5. Now Or Never – This reminds me of a Sade beat to start for some reason.  Is that Phonte singing the hook?  This song is definitly cool – it doesn’t jump out at me – but I can’t see myself ever skipping it.

6. How I Got Over - Some nice drums on this to start.  Good throwback singing on the start as well.  Typical Roots really – I mean they do what they do better than anyone.  This is their sound – and they sound good.  I know some people find Black Thought boring – sorry I don’t see it – dude consistently spits great bars.

7. DillaTude – I usually hate skits – but I loved the Dilla tribute Roots did – this is cool – just the sound of the beat makes you think of Dilla right away.

8. The Day – I guess this is Patty Crash singing at the start?  I hadn’t heard her before – she has a cool voice though, very interesting.  She fits the beat nicely – and so does Blu who raps first – y’all know how I feel about him.

9. Right On – This is a bit different than the rest of the album so far – its actually a little jarring at first but then it settles into a nice change of pace.  Some nice scratching in the background of the beat.  This is really smooth – this is great.  Might be my fav track thus far.

10. Doin It Again – Starts off with a great John Legend sample – one of my favourite John Legend tracks actually.  The drums really transform the sample – adds head nodding aspect.  Black Thought sounds great on this – I dunno why the hell people think this guy is boring.  That burns me.

11. The Fire – Now some live John Legend – I was expecting a more laid back beat when I saw his name – but this goes hard (for A Roots track that is).  This hook is pumping me up LOL

12. Tunnel Vision – Cool little interlude – its that feel good music

13. Web 20/20 – I was waiting for Peedi Crack – say what you will about him but he is usually great on Roots tracks.  This beat is weird though.  This is why I always warn people this is my first listen – this isn’t a song I will like instantly…it might grow on me though.

14. Hustla (bonus) – I can’t be sure but I think these dudes got a beat made out of autotuned babies…No for real. Again maybe a song that will grow on me – not instantly a fav…but even by the end of the song it is growing on me.  Lets wait and see on this one.

Overall, another solid performance from The Roots.  Another solid performance from rap in General lately.  I have liked everything dropping recently.
Anyways, you can usually count on the Roots and in most instances they deliver – this is one of those times.  Black Thought again sounds great – and no matter where the music goes with the Roots (they do like to experiment, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t) you can always count on Black Thought to be great.

Well some people would say he did with his last album Relapse.  Although I think Em ripped that album – I had a problem with his accent he chose to use (repeatedly) and the beats were way too generic to me. There were definitely a handful of good tracks – but as a whole the album is never in my rotation.

Well here comes his newest album Recovery – time to see if Em can drop another great album in 2010.

***Disclaimer***
This is a very early leak again – and I can not be sure this tracklisting will change.  In 95% of cases the retail album is exactly the same as the leaks I hear.

1. Cold Wind Blows – Ummmm yeah – OK Eminem is kind of a problem!  I know a lot of my friends don’t check for this guy anymore…but he can still rap.  He is spitting some of the bars he dropped on the Westwood show that had people going nuts.  Just sitting nonsense, but no one makes nonsense sound funnier of better.

2. Talking To Myself - Weird(that doesn’t mean bad) beat here. Got a Miami Vice feel to it…I do not like the dude singing at all.  Then Eminem follows his singing – with some singing of his own. Finally rapping.  Pretty personal here. Eminem talking about his struggles and addiction.  Minus the singing on this it is cool.

3. On Fire – Beat is too generic for me – I bet he produced this.  Maybe Dre…either way these type of generic sounding beats are exactly the reason I didn’t like Relapse for the most part.  He kills this – and hey no weird accent this album so far!

4. Won’t Back Down – Don’t like the Pink hook – but this beat goes hard and Em rips it.  This has been floating around the net for a minute now – so I have heard it a lot already.

5. W.T.P – I guess this is Em’s shot at a club single…ehhhh maybe 5 years ago.  Dude is feeling his singing too much.  He sounds good but this is just not my style of song.  LMAO as I listen to this I realize it is about a White Trash Party hahaha – I don’t like the beat but this is funny.

6. Going Thru Changes – Dopppppppppppppppe sample…Sabbath?  Eminem back to being personal.  A lot of people won’t like this because of it – not me – I respect him being honest.  He has mentioned Proof a couple times this album – gotta be tough to talk about that.

7. Not Afraid - Been out for awhile now…I like it – some people don’t.  Yeah Eminem singing is not a good look – but I like a song like this that has a good message.  I am a sucker I guess.

8. Seduction – Oh no autotune sighting.  Generic slightly plodding beat – can’t wait to see the liner notes – another Eminem beat I bet.  Still Em is rapping with no accent and sounds good.

9. No Love – A Weezy feature on this – damn Em does not have many on this album.  LMAO @ sampling that “Baby, Don’t Hurt Me” song…you know the one SNL made famous with the head bopping dudes?  The beat is harder than you would think with that sample.  Weezy is killing it! Em singing – cmon man stop it.  Eminem answered back with a sick verse of his own. Wow Eminem is just destroyed Wayne’s verse…and I liked Weezy on this.  Great song.

10. Space Bound – Is this an Eminem love song? I bet you he is raping or killing this girl by the end of the song. This beat reminds me of Hotel California for some reason.  A bit of a rock ballad hook there…beats Em’s singing I guess. There we go, took the third verse, but now Eminem is strangling a girl and shooting himself.  Touching.

11. Cinderella Man – Eminem beat!  I dunno that – but it isn’t good to me.  Em sounds good but I am not feeling the hand clap and electric guitar beat.

12. 25 to Life – Cool singing to open the song – love rap beats with these slightly breathless female vocals.  Wow this beat is cool – DJ Khalil is a problem – more people should know his name.  White girls gonna love this song.

13. So Bad – I was about to say this beat is generic – but it isn’t.  Something about it keeps it kind of fresh – there is almost a tuba like quality to the beat…and the guitar licks sound better than on Cinderella Man.

14. Almost Famous – This is alright – not one of my fav tracks – not really feeling the production.  Don’t get too mad though it is alright and I have no complaints about Em’s performance on this album at all.  Oh yeah as I was typing that the chorus dropped, makes me dislike the song a bit more.  NOTE: I already like this song now – sounds better with my headphones.

15. Love the Way You Lie – LOL WTF Rhianna on an Eminem album?  Ok I guess no more surprising than Pink. Another guitar based beat – they must be trying to nail that white crowd.  You ever notice small town white people are much more open to rap songs with guitars?  Maybe it is just me.  This song could be a hit for Em – sounds like he made it for the radio.  No complaints I am a sucker for songs like this.  I love me some gee-tar.

16. You’re Never Over – LMAO Eminem singing like he is in Blink 182.  A real synthy vibe to this beat.  This is fitting for the end of the album called Recovery.  This beat seems like it would play triumphantly as someone was walking out of rehab or something.  Could play this song at the end of The Breakfast Club.  The hook makes me laugh, the way he holds his notes.  I should not like this – but it is infectious.

Overall on one listen I like this album.  People are gonna think I like everything, but I don’t, there has just been a huge influx of good albums dropping lately.  Feast or famine I guess, because the start of the year was really slow.  Now I have too much to listen too.

Anyways back to Eminem LOL… I think he ripped this album – that dude is still one of the best rappers alive.  I like this better than Relapse so far.  A couple songs were obviously crafted for radio love…but I enjoyed them so there is no problem there.

People will complain about Eminem being “Emo” but I don’t mind him being personal.  He does sing on too many hooks and bridges though, do it once if maybe twice if you are feeling yourself like that.  Overall though – off one listen this is good, maybe even great…I wonder if it will grow on me?

I can’t believe I am listening to a potentially great album from Em in 2010.

EDIT: A couple bonus tracks released on itunes:

Session One - This is the kind of beat I expect from Just Blaze – a typical Just Blaze banger- perfect for Em and Slaughterhouse.  It is great to hear Em with Slaughterhouse.  It is really lame that Buddens couldn’t be on this because Amalgam wouldn’t allow it. Good business choice you stupid fucking label.

Riderz – This is def a Dre beat. It is actually OK – not nearly as generic as Dre has been for like 5 years now.  I have no faith in Dre at all at this point – but this is pretty good.  Seems like some classic good ol Shady shit talking on this .

I guess Drake is pretty big these days.  I was talking about Drake on this blog AGES before he blew up.  I am not bragging either – I lived in Toronto at the time and had my ear to the streets…and by streets I mean the internets.  So I heard and was following this guy before So Far Gone really launched him into the “next best thing”

I probably played So Far Gone more than any album last year.  I know it was  just a mixtape but it still got played more than any actual retail album I heard.

Here is my concern about Thank Me Later – I don’t care what people say – Drake can spit.  Period.  But will he? Will this album be introspective like his song Fear?  Will he kill the raps like he did on Comeback Season?  Will he reach a healthy balance between spitting fire and singing like on So Far Gone?  Or is this just a complete stab at commercial success and it will be full of 14 “Best I Ever Had’s”?

Let’s find out…

***Disclaimer***:  This is literally my first impressions of the album…very first.  I come back in a years time and update my thoughts after having let the album listen – so please don’t lose your mind if I dislike your fav track..it may grow on me.  This is also a pretty early leak – I wonder since it is so early if he will change it up at all before the retail drops.

1. Fireworks (feat. Alicia Keys) - Hmm Alicia had hook of the year on that Jay-Z joint last year – she starts the song off and sounds good.  Production has a real So Far Gone feel.  This is good.

2. Karaoke – Started out cool – there is a weird sound that could have been left off the beat – the one that sounds like an 8 Bit video game explosion.  Did someone just throw an enemy into a garbage can in Streets of Rage II.

3. The Resistance – This has the same vibe as So Far Gone thus far – album has a lot of Kanye influence. I don’t have the production list but I bet this is a Kanye beat…maybe Boi 1da.

4. Over – I have actually heard this song and like it already.  I know some people complained about the hook – while I find it a bit long I actually like it.  Seems honest to m, a good look at how Drake is viewing things these days. This song reminds me a bit of that Forever joint.

5. Show Me A Good Time – Annoying vocal sample…some deep 808′s come in – queue Drakes singing.  I am not sure this will be one of my fav songs on the album.  Wait a sec, the annoying vocal sample drops during his actual verses – this is pretty dope actually.

6. Up All Night (feat. Nicki Minaj) - This beat is a bit darker – still right in the So Far Gone vein though. This is a good “F You” to all of the people that hate on Drake.  Un-apologetically waiving his success in peoples faces…is it cocky?  yeah.  But if you have ever dealt with a bunch of people doubting you – you would feel this way too IMO.  I would rather Nicki Minaj not be on this track.

7. Fancy (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz) – Is this a Swizz beats beat?  Sometimes he just does hooks (which is stupid because dude is ANNOYING).  If he did this beat – good job.  It is more of his soulish production and less like his beep boop Im a lame robot shit beats.  This is dope so far – TI sounds great on this.  Welcome back Tip!

8. Shut It Down (feat. The Dream) – I thought of So Far Gone instantly – this beat definitely has that feel.  I thought I would find this a bit soft for my tastes.  But the end of this song is already getting stuck in my head.  At least with tracks like this you and your girlfriend can both enjoy the album. I know this will grow on me.

9. Unforgettable (feat. Young Jeezy) - This caught me off guard – when I saw Jeezy was on it, I thought this would go HARD.  That said I love the production on this.  Cool laid back beat, with the airy female vocals. Im still tripping at Jeezy on a “love song” but it works.

10. Light Up (feat. Jay-Z) - My favourite rapper with the guest appearance – I hope this is fire. This is good too – so far not a song I don’t like.  If you liked/loved So Far Gone there is no reason you won’t like this.  Best Jay-Z verse in a minute too.

11. Miss Me (feat. Lil Wayne) – Another song I had heard – well a snippet of…dope.  This is a good song – kind of song you play when you wake up – energizes you.  Love the line “DRAKE means do right, and kill everything”.  The 4 or so bars dedicated to the Niki Minaj proposal – weird Drake.  I hadn’t heard Lil Wayne verse before – though I caught some Slick Rick lines there but I’ll know more when I go back and listen more.

12. Cece’s Interlude – Not for me

13. Find Your Love – On very first listen uhhhhhh I dunno about this.  Kind of sounds like a throw away beat from that Kanyes 808s joint.  I was scared the whole album might sound like this so I can handle one or two tracks like this.  I have no prob with Drakes singing – wish he would sing hooks and still rap on the verses – but that is personal preference.

14. Thank Me Now – Nothing new here – if you like Drake you like this song.  If you like Drake you like this album.

Well Drake had no problem getting some great guests.  You get some Kanye and Timbo tracks…AND he gets Jay-Z, TI, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Miss Keyes for guest appearances!  Not bad for a debut – someone wants this kid to succeed.

Overall on a first listen this is solid and will probably grow on me a lot.  This will get a lot of burn from me.  So Far Gone was so well accepted this should be the same. The only downside I can see is if you are sick of Drakes style – he doesn’t bring a lot new to the table since So Far gone.  For me it is no problem – I love it.

The Man The Myth The Legend

Anyways he sent me a link to his mixtape and asked me to check it out. I am kind of a sucker for under the radar artists – love to get the inside scoop. I have broken a lot of artists to my friends (no one ever remembers when I do) so I thought I would check it out. I was cynical going into it – just assuming it wouldn’t be great.  I once bought a CD off some random dude going door to door – it was horrible…so every time I get some unsolicited music I think the worst. However, I went into this album with an open mind.  First I read his bio – and he has an interesting story…

“My pops was murdered when I was 14, thoughout my childhood I was poor and livin in the ghetto on almost every government program, my mom dukes had cancer, we got kicked out of our home, all my boys were gettin’ killed or locked up…it was a crazy enviroment, but instead of succumbin’ to it, I picked up my pen & pad and started WRITING about it…”

“I started rappin’ when I was 10. I was always that lil’ shorty rappin’ for his boys, or rappin’ for the older people, hell I was battlin’ people twice my age and givin’ them the business!”

“I started producing when I was 13 and man I was TERRIBLE!!! So bad, but I never stopped practicing and each day I got a lil’ better to the point where I am today.”

Dude has definitely been able to survive and thrive some humble beginnings.  After I read that I sat down and gave the album my full attention

Highlights

• This dude produces his own shit! I love that.
• More importantly – his beats are hot! Dude can really produce! The high majority of beats on here are good-great. Beats have a boom-bap feel to them – and you gotta love the boomb bap.
• He can definitely spit too – I like him the best when he is introspective which he is quite a bit.
• He somewhat reminds me of Young Chris – which from my standpoint is a great thing.
• Great flow – sounds comfortable rapping quick or slow – rides the beat nicely

I think dude has skills – and he seems like a guy who has accomplished a lot through a lot of hard times.  That makes me believe he is only gonna get better – because he is dedicated and persistent. Dedication and persistence are how people make their dreams a reality.

My Fav Songs from the Album…

• Introduce Myself
• A Song for Diana
• 88 MPH
• In The Zone
• Ride Around Grinding (Not his beat, a RIDICULOUS great Neptunes beat off Clipse’s criminally underrated sophomore album)
• Reflection is The Water

I will def keep an ear out for this guy and let you all know if he continues to drop that fire.

Download Here

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