The first few months of the new decade have been bountiful for music and its fans. Emerging artists are living up to expectations, while established acts continue to crank out quality tunes. Right now, music is live, fully charged and promising. So we deemed it necessary to bookmark a handful of the musicians we liked and tracks we have loved.

This isn’t a be-all and end-all list. Around these parts, we view those kinds of endeavors as slightly egotistical and nearly pointless. Instead, we put our collective heads together as a Crew to list a smattering of songs that have powered our individual playlists from January to July. There are a few tracks that may have been posted throughout the year, but deserve reiteration. Others listed are songs we should have mentioned earlier, however we never got around to it.

And at this point, we’re going to take a rare, but much needed break and recharge our engines. Enjoy the offerings. See you all on Monday! Read the rest of this entry »

The classifications of being a rap star offer their fair share of shit to go along with every lump of sugar. As one of the few remaining members of his freshmen class, Fat Joe’s increasing success on the Billboard meant he increasingly fell deeper into obscurity with the block. His last couple of albums (2008′s Elephant In The Room, 2009′s Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) 2) saw a pattern of regression, with the latter of the two taking the plaque-chasing to new lows. Unexpectedly, the Don must have realized his legacy was whisking away and deviated The Darkside Vol. 1 from his bottled psyche. Read the rest of this entry »

Thank White Jesus for creating White people. I don’t understand how you can hate a group of people that is so constantly responsible for such awkward hilarity. Read the rest of this entry »

How come no one told me Dr. Wily from Mega Man was a DJ and he enjoyed his job more than watching Showtime past 1 a.m? His setup even looks like a mad scientist’s laboratory. Never would I have thought David Guetta could bring an old man so much joy. As soon as buddy pushed play, you’d think he had offed one in his pants by the signs of his reaction. Read the rest of this entry »

You have to respect Game’s resilience. Between being damn-near murdered, getting publicly ousted by the rap’s biggest group and denied time and time again by his idol, the man who wishes his actions spoke louder than his words somehow continues to turn coal into canary diamonds. Read the rest of this entry »

Shareefa is pretty adept in what she does, yet four years since “Need a Boss,” it seems like people still don’t know it yet. Instead of throwing in the towel or getting knocked by some sleazy industry lemming, she linked with Don Cannon for the incredibly impressive The Misunderstanding of Shareefa. Billed as mixtape, the DTP songstress belts out original material featuring Raheem DeVaughn, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and the Trackmasters among others. Maybe now, you’ll catch her drift. Read the rest of this entry »

My tour of the Big Apple continues with a stop in Yonkers. Sheek Louch has been relatively quiet since inking his deal with the place who lived up to the first half of their name by betting the house (and a portion of their integrity) on Shyne – otherwise known as Def Jam. Read the rest of this entry »

T-Baby and Detroit metro, meet the latest competition for the crown, Huntsville, Alabama. Citizens, hide your kids, wives and husbands. On second thought, just hide your husbands from Antoine. Read the rest of this entry »

A blast from the distant past here as Bash Brother & DMC Champ DJ Supa Dave presents a throwback mix featuring the works of BDK and Kool G. Rap, two of the nicest to ever touch mics. Read the rest of this entry »

Kalia

5 Secrets Your Waiter Doesn’t Want You To Know [The Consumerist]

Freddie Gibbs Talks Major Label Saga, “Str8 Killa,” Rapping DJs & Rick Ross [Complex]

Essence Editor-in-Chief Responds To Controversy Over White Editor [The BVX]

Plot Of Charlie St. Cloud Recreated With Review Quotes [Film Drunk] Read the rest of this entry »

They say our rap legends are forever immortalized in the music. If you’re a nonbeliever in the occult, Bun wants to change your religion with this particular track from his latest trifecta. Read the rest of this entry »

In the Book of Trill, chapter 1:16, it clearly states that thou shall tell the truth and nothing but the truth while the congregation sangs. Bun B abides by this oath and he gives you the Trill O.G. preamble to increasingly whet your appetite for more of the realness. Team Trill strikes again. Read the rest of this entry »

He may seem quiet since dropping his Adventures, but B.o.B has been around the world like Lisa Stansfield. Touching exciting hotspots like Japan, New Zealand and Playboy Tre’s pigeon coup, young Bobby Ray is back stateside and landed a mega endorsement deal with Adidas x Finish Line. Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Wall is from Texas but he’s subliminally saying syrup is for losers. He needs tequilla in heavy doses to get his party started. I had no idea this clip even existed until yesterday but there’s plenty of comedic value to keep its Youtube hits steadily rising. Heart of a Champion? More like heart of a clown. Paul Weezy is a bona fide fool. Read the rest of this entry »

“New rappers is cool, but we still bump Biggie…”

Preach, Joell. Since I don’t live in the tri-state area or bother to stream Hot 97 online, word is Funk Flex damn near blacked out playing Ortiz’s newest freestyle. You have to respect and get a chuckle out of Flex’s exaggeration because that alone makes me wish I was listening when this dropped Tuesday night. Read the rest of this entry »