“I ain’t trying to be one of them dudes
That makes hundreds of new songs and none of them are good
Some of ‘em are cool, but they ain’t say nothin’ new
Runnin’ though a verse just for something to do Read the rest of this entry »

I forgot all about “Maybe It’s Just Me,” but I’m glad Classified decided to drop a video for the Handshakes And Middle Fingers track. There’s just something about this beat that makes me me want to grab a Newcastle do a couple of spins around the room. And even though it may not be a Notable Quotable, Brother Ali does the damn thing with the way his flow interacted with the beat. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s only a few days after the release of his latest project, Success Served Cold, and Donny Goines is upset. That’s right, the New Yorker’s a tad mad he recorded multiple records worth of material for this street LP, but people are still classifying it as a mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

After enjoying newfound commercial success with his “Oh Canada” single last year, longtime underground Canadian emcee Classified is out to prove he’s not a one-hit wonder, especially with 13 albums already under his belt. On Handshakes and Middle Fingers, his 14th LP (second as a major), Classified assures everyone that nothing about him has changed, save for a few more opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »

As record sales keep slumping for bigger acts and concert money becomes more essential to funding artists’ lavish livelihoods, curiosity leads one to ponder how much our favorite acts pull in per show. Can reliable ticket-buyers cover a debut dud? Is a concert check worthy of the sleepless grind? Do bottles of Ace line the dressing room when Jay-Z comes into town? How about home-fried hookers when Uncle Luke makes the rounds? Read the rest of this entry »

On February 16th, Freeway and Jake One will be bringing their two-man show to NYC’s Highline Ballroom for The Stimulus Package album release party. Joell Ortiz will be in the building as well as a slated special performance by Brother Ali. Lastly, the final attendees will be THREE lucky TSS visitors and one of their friends as we’ve got SIX FREE TICKETS to give away. Read the rest of this entry »

Yeah it’s that time again.

Too often do we sift through the predictable media cycle of artists yelling how “crazy” their album is or even fixing their lying ass mouths to utter the other “C” word — classic. How about these C’s: cut the crap. Each year, the allure of the album continues to decrease thanks in part to overhyped, superfluous projects that only possess a handful of good songs. Not to mention the legion of stans that will stick by anything short of a satanic message their favorite artist puts out. Not I. Air ‘em out like spring laundry. Read the rest of this entry »

Even in our single-driven society, the truth is that most rappers can still reel in listeners influentially by simply reciting the honest realities observed through their rearview mirror. The irony in keeping rap one hundred, however, is that the realness is killing one of it’s building blocks; The Da Art of Storytelling. For the most part, our preoccupied society has become so enthralled by artists’ personas and reputations that listeners are more likely to appreciate the ‘truth’ in a cheesy block star anthem than a storyteller’s well-crafted depiction of intricacies. For instance, why check Slick Rick’s timeless – yet, artificial – narratives of youth demise, when Gucci Mane – the chicken-movin’ ATLien who’s seen more dirt than an earthworm – is telling selling everyday stories from his stoop that would drop the jaws of any anchorwoman not broadcasting from Baghdad?

Despite the prolonged demise of perhaps the most imaginative aspect of emceeing, not all is lost.

Scattered sparsely through the past decade, a select few inspired artists went ahead and crafted concoctions of creativity whether people wanted to hear them or not. Some capitalized on the gamble and became worldwide icons, while others got buried in a niche and couldn’t dumb it down enough to dig themselves out. No matter how their fables unfolded though, these perceptive pen poets were full of enough dusty details, foreshadowing and character-driven plot twists to enable them to open up the box, step right out and deliver the best storytelling songs of the past ten years.

After all, anybody can rap. Very few can tell a good story.

1. Ghostface Killah Feat. Raekwon – “The Hilton” from Bulletproof Wallets (2001)

We think a bad hotel experience is a foul smell and an absent mint on our pillow. Raekwon and Starks, on the other hand, can fend off a double-glock-wielding bell-hop and still find the time to iron their outfits. After choas popped off at “The MGM,” you’d think these Wu dudes would stick to the bed and breakfasts.

2. Mark Ronson Feat. Saigon – “Diduntdidunt” from Here Comes The Fuzz (2003)

Back when The Yardfather was still one of the more promising rappers in the game, son was dropping so much quality material that a knee-slappin’ street satire like the phonetically pronounced “Di-dun-di-dunt” became a forgotten treasure just months after release. This Mark Ronson-produced ditty takes it back to the playground, where we find young Saigiddy schooling some bum knuckleheads with some knuckles to the head. Lil’ Ray never saw it comin.’

3. Ludacris – “Runaway Love” from Release Therapy (2006)

I could’ve very easily slid “90210” in this slot. But considering this type of lil-girl-lost song scenario will never be topped, it’s difficult to choose which dismal portrayal of deprived feminism is tops. Until you factor in the that Luda’s laceration got him to #2 on Billboard and put a Grammy on his mantle. Better luck next time Olubowale.

4. Obie Trice Feat. Nate Dogg – “The Set Up” from Cheers (2003)

On his debut album, Mr. Real Name No Gimmicks used his obligatory Aftermath-related Nate Dogg appearance rather wisely. Rather than doing the typical single jingle, Obie had Nate hum the hook to a fabricated account of a trifling female who gets what she has coming to her after turning the whole hood against one other. And, unlike most of the songs on this list, “The Set Up” still had plenty of success on the airwaves, despite it’s lyrical lean. Oh, and a Dr. Dre beat always helps, too.

5. Brother Ali – “Dorian” from Shadows On The Sun (2003)

Ever tried to stop domestic violence and caught a case a result? Well, that sucks. At least you’ll appreciate “Dorian,” my Brother Ali’s self-guided and nonfictional trip down memory lane from his beloved debut, Shadows On The Sun, which was completely produced by Atmosphere boardsman ANT. That whiteboy doesn’t look like much of a scrapper, but I bet he’d whoop your ass.

6. Young Jeezy – “Bury Me A G” from The Inspiration (2006)

Yeah, I know. Jeezy is the absolute last person you’d expect to see on a list complimenting rapper’s lyrics (actually, the third from last), but on Da Snowman’s second lick he picked up a shovel and scooped up some honest-to-Gosh creativity for “Bury Me A G,” a riveting portrayal of his hypothetical assassination. Not only do Jeezy’s words get deeper than his pockets, but when the video dropped, fans were stunned to find out Weebay and Omar were the ones behind the trigger all along. Not you, Omar. Not you…

7. Wax & EOM – “The Adventures Of Larry & Tina” from Liquid Courage (2008)

There’s about a 50% chance you’ve never even heard of nomadic rapper Wax, but when MySpace Cool Kids-ed him and producer EOM, the finished goods became their somber tale of Larry; a divorced 39-year-old who falls in love with a stripper half his age, finds an online video stream of her being raped and gets beat up trying to save her. Not the most uplifting track, but probably as structurally sound as any the list, with a transcendental video that could’ve vied for video of the year had it’s captain been more renown.

8. Lupe Fiasco – “Little Weapon” from The Cool (2007)

Oh, Lupe. Always one to complicate things. While most songs featured on this list are fairly unambiguous, Cool Lu uses this sonic gospel as a forum to vaguely vent how kids are becoming numb to war at an earlier age then ever, via three very adverse POV themes of third world poverty, war and video games. Once you’ve cracked the code, you realize it’s a great song from a great album…about a bunch of shitty topics we all fund in one way or another.

9. Tech N9ne – “Slither” from Absolute Power (2002)

Usually Tech’s songs are just super fucked up and true. This one is actually super fucked up and fictional. Over an entrancing and extremely complimentary RonnZfromBerlin beat, “Slither” finds Neezle spittin’ game to strippers in a KC MO titty joint, who happen to lure dude back to their pad and turn him into…actually, let’s not give it away. Let’s just say Tech was ahead of the curve on one of today’s prevalent fads.

10. Joe Budden – “3 Sides To A Story” from Mood Muzik 2: Can It Get Any Worse? (2006)

Hit the cupboards and grab some popcorn before “3 Sides,” because Joey’s interweaving triple-narrative about the injustices of the streets plays out like an eight-minute-long mini-movie, that ends in chaos and proves a viable point most rappers completely miss when speaking on their hood horror stories; it’s always more complicated than it seems.

11. Big L – “Casualties Of A Dice Game” from The Big Picture (2000)

No disrespect to the deceased, but upon listening to the bloodbath that is “Casualties Of A Dice Game,” it’s not surprising Big L was slain on the streets. Despite obvious lyrical embellishments for story’s sake, the eerily intricate details on display during Corleone’s posthumous portrayal of pay back and punishment are so vivid listeners are left reaching for blood money from the sky at song’s end. Imagine the the kind of stories Lamont Coleman would have told had he seen the new millennium.

12. Jay-Z – “Meet The Parents” from The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002)

One of few hits among misses from the middle installment of Hov’s Blueprint trilogy, this depiction of a broken home brought together by tragedy (and not in a good way) is almost Tarentino-esque in that it’s beginning follows it’s ending, which has to be hard to do…when you don’t write down your raps. The former president’s storytelling in this is so dictated and complimentary to the beat, “Meet The Parents” may find it’s way onto a Jay-Z Greatest Hits album one day.

13. Immortal Technique – “Dance With The Devil” from Revolutionary Vol. 1 (2001)

The craziest part about Immortal Technique’s goosebumps-giving deliberation isn’t that it’s featured wannabe gangbanger ends up raping and killing his own mother, it’s that the reformed Harlem-raised activist/rapper says “Dance…” is a true story and that he participated in the rape. A remarkable song…but maybe one I wouldn’t have shared with the world. I’m gonna’ go cry now.

14. Nas – “Rewind” from Stillmatic (2001)

It’s pretty safe to say most people did exactly as the title suggests when they first heard “Rewind,” the completely backwards account of blunts, broads and retribution from the man who most people would say rules this run-down rap shit (“One Love,” “I Gave You Power,” “Blaze A 50,” “Fetus,” etc. etc.). Talk about talent, though, the verdict is still out on how the hell Nasir wrote this damn song. A dome-blower, to say the least.

15. Eminem Feat. Dido – “Stan” from The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

No explanation needed. “Stan” is the epitome of why storytelling songs serve a purpose. If done well enough, they can properly showcase the spectrum of talent an artist truly holds and – over the right beat and hook – leave listeners enthralled long enough to turn out a number one hit. A beautifully eerie record that will probably go down as not only Eminem’s best piece of work, but one of the greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time. That’s right, of all time.

Words by Landon A.

Without the deep pockets of a major label and promotional plugs that know no limits, the independent Hip-Hoppers of today are best compared to the bluesmen of the past: Packing into vans, sedans and caravans, taking their show on the road taking little with them but their instruments and the clothes on their back. Read the rest of this entry »

The line between mainstream and underground Hip-Hop has become less and less distinguishable over the last couple of years. With so many artists scrambling for major label deals, rappers in similar veins as Brother Ali are welcomed with open arms by those still sporting their Jansports™ like it was 1999. Over the last two years, the Minneapolis rhymer’s stock has risen from relative unknown to underground hero with co-signs and collaborations with the likes of Jake One and Freeway. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the dark horse trio of Brother Ali, Joell Ortiz and Freeweezy, dropping bars like hot potatoes over an extra funky cut from the Brother’s upcoming album, Us, which is already available for pre-order on Amazon. Read the rest of this entry »

Taking a trip on the Brother Ali experience is always an uplifting journey isn’t it? Read the rest of this entry »

Previously Posted — “Palm The Joker” – Review Of Brother Ali’s The Truth Is Here EP

Words by Jesse H.

2007’s The Undisputed Truth went a long way to putting not only Brother Ali, but Rhymesayers Entertainment and even Minnesota Hip-Hop (it does exist) on the map. The album delivered heartfelt vocals over funky, soul-drenched production, that was as reliant on live instrumentation as it was its samples. Read the rest of this entry »

This is what you call “Winter music.” Stop sleeping on Jake One’s latest greatest, including this cut featuring Freeway & Brother Ali. Read the rest of this entry »