Oh yes. He went there.

It requires a serious pair of brass balls to take an MJ track with the certified King Of Pop seal and let your own beat lay claim. Samples and mash-ups are to be expected, but to just take on the song as a whole is nearly outlandish in concept. Outlandish, I say! Balderdash. Poppycock. Read the rest of this entry »

For your international fix on everyday raps from an extraordinary rapper, see David Dallas. It’s personality and realism that make Hip-Hop unique and you can find those traits in abundance in his music. Getting back on his grind after the release of Something Awesome, the best NZeester that you’ve heard this far is infiltrating your American soil once again with his life style lyrics. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us know who Dido is because of her hook on the somber Eminem ode to crazed fans everywhere, “Stan.” And I don’t think any of us would expect the sweet songstress to come so correct over a hard, electronica-infused bass line. But she does.

Since sassy club records are apparently the forte for this multi-talented UK singer, Dido gripped a featured spot on the soundtrack to the Sex & The City sequel with her seductively sequenced and up-tempo “Everything To Lose.” Read the rest of this entry »

This song is like every conversation she ever had with him. And so she put it at the end of a mixtape as the sweet, slightly desperate punctuation mark on a soundtrack that screams, “Please love me.” The mix stays in her purse on the off chance she’ll one day find the nerve to give it to him. A scenario plays out a million times in her head — she hands the mix to him under the awkward pretense of “I thought you’d like it,” or “Just cause,” hoping he’d get the hint by the final track. Read the rest of this entry »

Generally, Gotty™ is not an avid supporter of the three stripes brand. Yet the cleanliness of these requires me to overlook personal bias. HUF teams with adidas to release their version of the Rod Laver. Keeping with simplicity of the model, the SF retailer’s design doesn’t over overdo, simply relying on the light gray suede uppers with perforations matched with accents of teal and snakeskin. Releasing on 5.15 @ all HUF flagship stores & adidas Consortium retailers. Read the rest of this entry »

That’s just my rough guess. I’m figuring on him being free for approximately six months, which would put him finishing out the summer touring season and back in before it gets drastically cold. Fact of the matter is that Gucci’s hood, no acting involved. Jay once said “faced with immeasurable odds, still I gave straight bets.” For Gucci, he’s constantly made side bets that have come back to bite him. “I can smoke this weed and still pass the piss test” or “If I go do a show in South Dakota, my PO won’t even know.”

Fail.

We all know a born ruffian like Gucci and the two that come to mind for me are my dudes Blue & 800. Read the rest of this entry »

Tink

JaMarcus Russell’s Raiders Career in Pictures [KSK]

Does Joe Biden Have A ‘Black Pass’ [Black Voices]

Playboy `Readers’ Get 3-D Centerfold [AP]

WTF?! Super Sultry Miss USA Photos [The Lipstick Diaries]

Say Good-Bye To Those Coors Coaches Ads [Yardbarker] Read the rest of this entry »

“This is forever music right here…”

It’s a shame Wale’s heartfelt, Ronson-produced letter to Obama and Pac didn’t make the final cut of Attention Deficit, as it surely would’ve added at least half a Cig or so to the album’s rating. But Young Chris uses the opportunity to resurrect his former Allido brethren’s loosie for his own personal reflection on forgotten love and family, providing further proof of his expanding lyrical boundaries. Read the rest of this entry »

Since nobody’s perfect, we figured this unreleased Mimi could get some burn.

After all, getting wine wasted and acting an ass at awards shows isn’t all bad (lie). Neither is marrying Nick Cannon (lie). So, Mimi, if Tricky Stewart brings some of strings epic enough for a battle intro in the 300 sequel–and the best you can come up with is this aptly-titled ode to incorrect–well, that’s alright (lie). Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a war going on outside and once again, CNN have to report on it. This summer Channel 10 springs back into action with The War Report 2: Report The War and here’s some ground zero coverage with Raekwon as the anchor to get you excited for the news briefing. Read the rest of this entry »

Diamond District’s Oddisee is the kind of guy to see things through. After giving listeners Odd Summer, Autumn & Winter, he’s now delivered the final installment, Odd Spring. Thematically, he delivers once again with music that’s in tune with the season, using uptempo beats full of synths & effects. My early fav looks to be “Juba May,” solely for the percussion play, but its heels are being nipped by “Warmer Day.”

Late to the party? Don’t fret. While all of the installments can be found here (click here), there’s plans for all four Seasons to be released as a box set.

The Blooming
Birds & Bees Feat. Diamond District
Juba May
Warmer In The Day
Anticipation Feat. Kingpen Slim & Oddisee
In The Now Feat. Olivier Daysoul
The Riches Instr
This Beat Is For Finale
I’m From PG Feat. Oddisee
Two Way Street Feat. Muneshine

Download — Oddisee – Odd Spring

While you’re here, don’t forget to enter to win fellow Diamond District member yU’s “Before Taxes” Nike Dunk giveaway.

Last week, the response to The Boondocks soapbox caught me off guard. The box itself was very dope but it’s not the most unique item I’ve received during my blogging tenure. That distinction belongs to Charles Hamilton and his then team involved in The Hamiltonization Process. Remember that? It seems like ages ago now but back when Charles was still in charge, his team put together a fairly well-coordinated series of tapes (yeah, it had its flaws for sure). When it was all over, they sent these individualized plaques to the bloggers who participated in the hosting of the tapes. Slick huh? Read the rest of this entry »

Dear reader,

I don’t have time to listen to this one. Plus, I’m already at my “I’ll listen two tracks off the album” limit (even though I”m not sure if it’s going to make the album or not). Instead, we’ll look you determine the temperature of this one with your voice. Speak out via the comments or with a simple vote. Read the rest of this entry »

In case you didn’t get the memo, Common and Queen Latifah are shamelessly remaking Love & Basketball with their upcoming flick Just Wright, in theaters May 14th. As the lead off for the soundtrack and Comm’s greatest hits Go! Common Classics, Lonnie shamelessly takes a Finding Forever leftover and has Latifah hum aimlessly in the background. Minimal effort for a minimal singing talent Read the rest of this entry »

Genres run together here like slightly melted but highly enjoyable Neapolitan ice cream. Trevor “Trouble” Andrew brings together a host of heads including Lil Jon, Spankrock, Amanda Blank, Santigold, Diplo, Stunnaman, Hollywood Holt, Curren$y, Ninjasonik, Jackie Chain and still more. All for the free in anticipation of Trouble’s nationwide tour and other slated summer releases held up his sleeve like a trick card. Read the rest of this entry »