Twist proves his still has some wind in his lungs keeping, his hurricane blowing for over six months now. Since Boosie Boo couldn’t be here for obvious reasons, Carl & Co. make sure they light one up for every-single-day he’s incarcerated. Read the rest of this entry »
This 2009 Slept-On list covers the gamut of artists in the Hip-Hop realm. Old G’s from the mid-90s who still got the goods, even if they don’t resonate with the younger crowd. Underground super groups. Young artists on the cusp of breaking through into bigger circles. Southern legends riding out into immortality for the last time.
What ties these albums together is that for whatever reason, they didn’t quite get the love they deserved in 2009. So start off 2010 by loading up on some of the best music 2009 had to offer (for a very reasonable price).
With the soul and spirit of De La and Tribe, Tanya Mo quietly dropped Brooklynati. Backed by Sir Von Pea’s soulful production, the cast of Tanya Morgan delivered carefree stories of a rap group on the come up which spawned the infectious single “So Damn Down.” Phonte, Blu, Carlitta Durrand and Kay all co-star. Wake up and join the movement!—Landon A.
Cop: Brooklynati
Although seemingly dropping out of nowhere in the middle of September with zero promotional buzz and nary a video to boot, the brutes from Brownsville didn’t treat their undetected product like a contractual obligation. Setting things off over riot-inducing production from DJ Premier, Nottz and Statik Selektah, Foundation’s exterior sounded as rugged as day uno. Time to ante up if you haven’t heard it.—TC
Cop: Foundation
Two years after Blu & Exile’s groundbreaking project Below The Heavens shook the underground in 2007, the MPC-toting soulful beatsmith chose Fresno’s own Fashawn to be the second MC he would push onto the masses with their collaborative project Boy Meets World. Ex’s lush production meshes together beautifully with Fashawn’s lyrical tales reflecting his upbringing in the northern part of California that raised him. While the album didn’t reach far within the commerial realm, the critical acclaim and respect he gained as a lyricist in his region of the country makes his freshman outing a success that he can most definitely build on.—K1NG
Cop: Boy Meets World
’09 was a big year for K’Naan. He began the year by receiving the buzzworthy badge from The Man er…MTV and the summer months had him on the road with the Rock the Bells tour. Troubadour was a cocktail of worldly delights mixed with all the familiar elements of Hip-Hop that helped to make a sleeper hit. The guest roster adds flavor to the mix as Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Mos Def, Chubb Rock, Chali 2na and Kirk Hammett of Metalica all make appearances.—Landon A.
Cop: Troubadour
Who said that hurricanes can only hit along the coasts? On his 7th studio album, Twista came out spinning early and often on this one. With songs like “American Gangster,” “Talk To Me,” & the radio friendly “Wetter,” Mr. Mitchell was operating at full strength during the eye of his storm. Although it loses steam near the end when he lends his attention solely to the fairer sex, Category F5 show that Twista hasn’t lost a step during his time served and when focused, is still as lethal as ever.—MZ
Cop: Category F5
Fresh Daily - The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion
Fresh Daily is the Hip-Hop you love. An old school delivery with new-age punchlines make The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion a joy to listen to. Daily’s bars are laugh out loud funny at times but it’s tracks like “Love Breakdown” and “Crimes of Passion” that allow the New Yorker to show off his more serious side. And try to listen to “Gutterman” or “Untucked Nunchucks” and not get the yuck face. Fresh Daily is a pundit on the mic and more outings like this will guarantee he’ll be a force in the game for a long time.—David D.
Cop: The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion
Overshadowed by releases from his other Old G contemporaries, Sir. Griffin proved that G-Funk stays winning well into middle age. Help from a mix of the new Cali crew and some standbys didn’t hurt. Top tracks like the dark, “100 Miles & Runnin’” (poor title though c’mon Warren,) move the album, and even some of the poppy efforts like the Snoop collabo “Swagger Rich” are still enjoyable. Warren’s not consistent or adept enough to label this a new classic, but fans of old school, West Coast Hip-Hop should definitely partake.—Patrick M.
Cop: The G. Files
Donny Goines – The Breakfast Club
Ever wonder what the lyrical equivalent of Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise and crushed red pepper would amount to? If so, Donny Goines served up such a platter with The Breakfast Club. Mixing engaging food for thought (“Sublime”) with light midday meals (“Party Apple”), the free buffet was essentially a compilation seeing that it featured nearly every hot act in today’s blogosphere. Too many calories present to let this dish go cold.—TC
Download: The Breakfast Club
Curren$y – This Ain’t No Mixtape
After flooding the Internet with a massive amount of mixtapes over the span of a year or so, New Orleans’ own Curren$y decided to take a little time to craft an independent album alongside Amalgam Digital. Utilizing his effortless flow to glide over the sonic landscape provided by Monsta Beatz, Spitta crafted an album with enough weed & sneaker references to put Complex to shame. While it didn’t quite break him through to the mainstream audience, it proved to be a worthy project for any rap fan’s collection this year.—K1NG
The guy doesn’t look the part and on first glance his name reads like a Twilight character. But 30 seconds of hearing Lushlife spit rhymes and you’ll believe in the product. Still Cassette City was largely ignored by the general public, who may have been turned off by the visuals or just didn’t know any better. That’s a shame, because the album combines introspective rhymes that keep coming with new-age production that keeps to its underground roots.—Patrick M.
Cop: Cassette City
Trife Diesel – Better Late Than Never
Eight years of purgatory doesn’t exactly breed excitement for the release of an album, but in the case of Trife Diesel, his tardiness proved to worth waiting for. Boldly going where NYC hadn’t been in some time, dirtier-than-fishscale parables like “Powerful Minds” and Ghostface-assisted “Respectfully” gave the East some bragging rights to close out the decade. Hopefully they won’t have to wait too long for the sequel.—TC
Playaz Circle – Flight 360: The Takeoff
Without a breakaway hit à la “Duffle Bag Boy” Tity Boy & Dolla’s flight was a little less crowded this go around. But for those who chose to take a ride were treated to their signature brand of music for in-flight entertainment. While the OJ Da Juiceman collabo “Stupid” was put into place to appease those hanger on’s from last go around, this DTP duo brought equal parts of style and substance to the table. If they can continue on their current trajectory, it’ll only be a matter of time before they’ll be shopping for bigger planes.—MZ
This was the final curtain call for one of Hip-Hop’s greatest groups and they went out in the same draped up and dripped out purple Cadillac they rode in on. If you thought this would be a sappy ode to Pimp C, you were sadly mistaken. “Still on the Grind” and “Swishas & Erb” are familiar odes to what made UGK successful while “Steal Your Mind” shows a dream collaboration with Snoop and Too $hort, forming a pimp dream team of outrageous bars. Then there’s Pimp with his insistence on unshaven pubic areas and lines like “I’m tryin to put my dick inside ya mouth/tryin’ to put my dick and nuts inside ya mouth!” Long live the Pimp.—David D.
Cop: 4 Life
RZA – Afro Samurai Resurrection OST
Noticably absent from the multitude of Wu releases for the year, RZA did manage to stay productive in the industry’s frozen tundra, better known as January. The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection OST, the eponymous soundtrack for the violent animated movie, incorporated a massive amount of underground talent for the greater good of murder music. It’s like a Hanzo for your iPod.—TC
Did you forget about Category F5? The impact was fairly strong but its shelf life passed through like a tropical storm. No matter, Twista is here to jog your memory with the umpteenth video for his natural disaster.
So, I finally caught wind of Twista’s Category F5.
Considering this go round was closer to the classic Adrenaline Rush than Adrenaline Rush 2007 ever was, I’d say our 3.5 Cig rating was warranted. Simply put, it’s a well-rounded mix of the two styles Twista’s consistently flourished from throughout his six studio releases Read the rest of this entry »
At least thirty-six Chicago Public Schools students were murdered during the 2008-09 school year. That’s three Columbines, fam.
Take a second and let that marinate. Read the rest of this entry »
A category F5 twister is impossible to predict. Though many storms can hit a landscape promising damaging winds, they rarely come through with the anticipated ferocity. After a few storms in Twista’s catalogue that produced little more than a few forgettable showers, the Chi-town spitter is back and unleashing his patented double-time flow the likes of which we haven’t heard since since his breakout LP Kamikaze for his latest tempest of an album Category F5. Read the rest of this entry »
Certain artists need to make the time to drop a collabo album already. Read the rest of this entry »
Just like an accelerated wind through the streets of Chicago, Twista has been blowing through the rap game at frantic pace for nearly two decades. And guess what? He’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Back with a new label deal and even newer album — the multifaceted Category F5, Twista took time to calm his storm to sit with TSS Crew’s TC to discuss retirement plans (nonexistent,) the origin of his style and how R&B hits come so natural for him.
Prepare yourself. This interview is off the Fujita scale.
TSS: So with Category F5, you formally acknowledged your name’s meaning and put it into play. Was the whole concept just to wreck shit?
Twista: Yeah man. I’m glad I found that title right there. I basically recorded up until the time I couldn’t record no more, went up to the last day possible. It wasn’t a set process or concept but I’m happy the way it came out.
TSS: The opening track “Misunderstood” reunites with Buk for the beginning of a Twista album. Is that like an “Adrenaline Rush Pt. 2?”
Twista: I wouldn’t call it that but I would definitely say it’s my attempt to satisfy the fans and give them what they want to hear. I definitely know they like that vibe and “Adrenaline Rush” was always one of my favorite songs personally. And going back in there it’s like “Man you wanted to see Jordan do the windmill more than one time” ya know? (Laughs) So we just went hard on the same type of beat.
TSS: The Legendary Traxster made a good deal of appearances as well. Out of all the producers you’ve worked with, would you say you two have the most cohesive sound?
Twista: Definitely. I would say his sound is the definition of the Twista sound. Anything else that I do is still Twista and I can make it what I want to make it but me and him is the original Twista. We’re the premiere so to speak.
TSS: And Category F5 also has its fair share of songs for the ladies! Is all this being inspired by real life situations…?
Twista: Man…I dunno what it is! It’s just easy for me to make them lady songs! It just comes natural. I hear the beat and just get in a nice little zone. It wasn’t anything intended or particular, trying to chase a hit or none of that. It just comes easy to me. I see people break their neck to make those type of songs. But I hear the music or beat and just go in. I’ll have a bunch of songs and when it comes down to turning in the album, I’ll try to even ‘em out and have an equal amount of hard and smooth songs. I think it comes with age.
TSS: So is that how you got wrapped up in those Pinky rumors? Read the rest of this entry »
A couple of weeks ago, I had to eat crow.
Just after I made fun of OJ Da Juiceman and his Hooked On Phonics-sponsored tweets*, I popped in Bobby Ray’s mixtape and heard the little Gollum straight wreck his guest-verse on the track “I Am The Man.” Say what you want, but Juiceman hopped in his Cadillac (that I’m sure is the color of a Care Bear stool sample) and straight rode the beat. Way to make me look bad, oh purveyor of Vitamin C.
I tried to sweep that verse under the rug as a one-time fluke. You know, broken clocks, correctness and all that.
Then I heard his verse on “Walking On Ice” from Twista’s Category F5 and began to question the meaning of life. By George, he did it again. Juiceman got the coveted third verse spot on the track and delivered. He may not hit you with triple word score adjectives in his 16s, but Juice can use his voice as an instrument to amplify the beat. And really, that’s the bread and butter of he and Gucci’s sound. When you get over the fact that it’s OJ dropping these verses, it’s not hard to appreciate what he adds to each of these tracks.
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Download — Twista Feat. Gucci Mane & OJ Da Juiceman “Walking On Ice”
Post Script: May as well throw this in as well.
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Download — Gucci Mane Feat. OJ Da Juiceman, Mia X, Gangsta Boo & Shawty Jay – “Call The Weedman”
*Ahem*
MIA MOTHERFUCKING X! That is all.
* Sidebar: My Mom called me the other day. She said “I’ve been reading your articles. I loved that article you wrote about OJ Simpson!”
SMH. Moms. Gotta love’em.
Here’s the iTunes bonus cut off of Twista’s Category F5 which is in stores now. It’s a K-Town party as Kanye splits double duties with Twista on the mic and No I.D. on the boards. Just I’m on the production alone, I’m glad it didn’t make the the album because it doesn’t fit sonically with the rest of the album. Dope nonetheless.
Props to Shake on the leak and hopefully he’ll shake a CDQ version outta his bag shortly.
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Download — Twista Feat. Kanye West – “Alright”
Category F5 in stores now.
Previously Posted — Twista – “American Gangsta” Video | Twista Feat. Tech-N9ne – “Problems” | Twista – “Birthday” Video
Prior to hearing this track, I was not moved to listen to Twista’s new album. He seemed like he’d lost himself trying to recreate the success of “Slow Jams” and “Overnight Celebrity.” Besides, there is entirely too much Read the rest of this entry »
“People was hating, but they zippin’ they lips up.”
It’s funny how people are just now coming around to Tech-N9ne.
First it was “Pauw Wauw.” Then, MIMS reached out. Now, Twista – the only other rapper who could possibly keep up – has enlisted him for Category F5. When someone finally decides to put Tech on their single, instead of Read the rest of this entry »
I’d give this a pass if those star pasties weren’t there.
Previously Posted — Twista – “Wetter” Video (Final Version) | Karate Twista!
If you think Twista’s delivery is fast, wait til’ you see his high kick.
They’ll be plenty more kung-fu tips where that came from this July 14th when Twista proceeds to cause a national disaster with Category F5.
Previously Posted — Twista – “Wetter” Video (Final Version)
Well ol’ Twist must’ve knew this wasn’t good enough and was a blatant remake of this. Read the rest of this entry »
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