Listening to Fab’s verse on the “Bricks” remix (BRICKS!) reminded me of something.

I have nothing against Mike Shorey.

I hold no grudges against Lil Mo, Jagged Edge, Ne-Yo. None of them either. They’re cool.

But when Mr. F-A-B-O is around Clue, his Street Fam cohorts & (old) Desert Storm teammates, he’s a much better listen. Steel sharpens steel so when Read the rest of this entry »

Lil’ Wayne is a lot smarter than he looks most of us give him credit for. A man doesn’t go platinum in a week alone on sheer skill. The man knows how to appeal to his different and growing audiences. Read the rest of this entry »

Turk sent me the following message…

“Look mayne. Lakers play the celtics today and I will be at work tonight till 12 am (Fuck)! I know there’s gotta be a post for the game tonight. I cant just let fools run crazy with comments without me there to talk shit also!!!!”

Well, I wasn’t necessarily “planning” a post Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Jason Hortillas

“I don’t go out for the numbers. I just play my game.” — LeBron James

52 points. 11 assists. 10 rebounds.

You sure about that quote Lebron? I believe that’s Read the rest of this entry »

And just like that, Stat’s mixtape stock continues to rise. Shout out to eskay for the cover. Read the rest of this entry »

New track from Hot Tub Tony coming from the album Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

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Big Boi – Ringtone

Respect due to the UNN crew.

One of the reasons I got so much ass in high school was because of my years of dedication to my debate team. While on this team, I had to learn to defend stances that I didn’t necessarily agree with. This may be one of those cases.

I feel bad for Rick Ross. I felt bad for him after the whole parole officer revelations and I feel even worse now that 50 Cent is launching a multimedia beatdown of epic proportions. So, I’m going to try to help the guy out.

*Sigh* Here it goes.

Five Reasons To Root For Rick Ross

1. He’s Not A Bad Rapper — You only get one change to make a first impression and that’s definitely the case for Ricky. “Hustling” was lyrically a terrible song (“whip it real hard, whip it whip it real hard”) and I can’t defend that. In fact, Ricky’s first single and album was nothing but great beats being shit on in the bad way by an slow-talking, incompetent MC. But Rick Ross took some sort of MC growth hormone between his Port of Miami and Trilla. Don’t dismiss Trilla because it’s Ross.

“They pinching pennies while I’m muscling for meals
And that muscle be that muzzle when I stuff it in your grill
Stuffed shells thanks to crack, I crack crabs and lobsters
Not all mobsters imposters, gotcha!” — “Maybach Music”

Go back and listen. Trilla showed improvement from a star in the making.

2. “The Yankees Effect” — I remember in 2004, my dorm was full of students glued to the games when the Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees in the playoffs. They cheered for every Red Sox hit and booed the Yanks to no end. Half of the people in the rooms were cheering against the Yanks…without even knowing a single member of the Sox. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Octagon, Black Elvis, Dr. Dooom, Big Willie Smith, Rhythm X, and Sinister 6000. Make sure you’ve got all those & then add a new nomenclature to Kool Keith’s list of aliases. This time around, Tashan Dorsett, an antihero character as he interacts with a gritty Bronx reality. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve made a stronger effort to pay attention to mixtapes this year, especially by people I haven’t heard too much on. Assorted Loosies are cool, but I like to hear a body of work before I form a general opinion on an artist or group. This time around I cued up Mick Boogie Presents U-N-I – Before There Was Love mixtape on the way to the barbershop and they almost didn’t make the cut. The first two songs didn’t tickle my fancy and, if construction didn’t force me to keep two hands on the wheel, I probably would’ve switched over to something.

Luckily I made it to “Cast’Em Out” and it was smooth sailing after that. The counterpoint piano loops immediately Read the rest of this entry »

I warned you that I could miss a day in Unofficial GTO week. Getting things back on track, today’s choice will be “Keeps Getting Better” & “Sags-N-Flags” from S.L.’s C.O.L.O.R.S., which was probably only appreciated by a few such as myself. Read the rest of this entry »

Track is back with another one. This time around Shaun Boothe, he of “The Unauthorized Biography” fame, plays the host role. Back cover with tracklisting & link all after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Words by Khalid StricklandPics by Sundiata Acree

I don’t know much about fantasy sports, but the goddess of the blogsphere, Hot-97’s Miss Info, has long been an All-Star on my Fantasy Wife team. When I heard she’d be hosting a mixtape release party for New Jersey-based producer Illmind, I quickly enlisted. Illmind makes some hard-ass beats and his new mixtape, Blaps, Rhymes and Life Vol.2 is full of heavyweights; 50 Cent, Kool G. Rap, Prodigy, LL Cool J, Skyzoo, Jean Grae, Heltah Skeltah and Brooklyn Academy are just some of the artists featured. That fact alone piqued my interest, but the lovely Info sweetened the deal.

The event was held at a cool spot called Grand Banks in Jersey City. I don’t want to sound like a hateful anti-Jersite but I’ve never been a big fan of the state, even though NYC is right next door. Jersey City ninjas can get wild (y’all saw how Ransom and Buddens were acting up), so I summoned two trusted goons for this trip. Thankfully, no one caught or delivered a buck-fifty Read the rest of this entry »

Brianna Francisco

Rod Blagojevich Totally Looks Like a Cabbage Patch Kid [Totally Looks Like]

Will Lil Wayne Clean Up At The Grammys? [MTV]

If NBA Teams Were Formed Based On Where The Players Were From [The Big Lead]

The New Music Kingpins of the Post-Napster World [Pop Matters]

Nike Air Max 90 Navy White [KATC]

Reggie Miller: Back In My Day, Knick Fans Didn’t Cheer For The Enemy [Slam]

The Lonely Island (And T-Pain) Take On The DJ Khaled School Of Rap [Idolator]

Twitter.com/TSS_Crew

LOL @ Katie telling Regis & Kelly that even she wasn’t shook by Wayne, especially after he called her “Miss.” Props to Mr.World Premiere for the scoop.

Remember when actual drug dealers used to run rampant through canals of Hip-Hop? Sure, Jeezy ushered in an entire wave of “Trapstr’s” unapologetically hyperbolizing their nickel and dime capers, but the lack of intricate details didn’t really make for Masterpiece Theater in the mind’s of faithful listeners. Think Only Built Built For Cuban Linx..., Scarface’s 2nd verse on “In Cold Blood.” Music that activates the left and right brain that will still having you watching America’s Most Wanted like “Oh yeah!”

Parental Advisory had a few stories to share as well. Read the rest of this entry »