“Yeah, I admit, I’ve done some dumb shit/disappointed everybody, I know/try not to hold that against me though.”

It’s cliché to start the second T.I. post in a month with a hilariously understated verse, but clichés be damned if this track isn’t dripping in irony. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite what Arthur from work says, All City Chess Club aren’t just a bunch of dorks who decided to do a woodwind version of Lupe’s lead single. No, this mentally-stimulated group happens to consist of a few rappers you might have heard of, named Asher, Sonic, Lupe, Chuck & Mikey, Blu, Diggy, Bobby Ray, Dosage and a few others who missed this particular match. Read the rest of this entry »

Kid Cokey isn’t the only rap star gracing Complex Mag this fall. Who else would get newsstands in a fevered tizzy than the pink/purple/plum haired vixen, Nicki Minaj? In candid splendor, Toshitaka Kondo grilled the Hip-Hop heroine about type ish that you really want to know, like: Read the rest of this entry »

They wrote this for a purpose, which was to give your summer days a chill ass vibe while making you sweat in the process. Who else but N*E*R*D (and Shay) would intentionally tamper with your body’s temperature settings like that? And whenever Pharrell’s around, there’s women. And plenty of skin. This clip excels in both. Read the rest of this entry »

You can call it “Attack of the N’s.” N*E*R*D x Neptunes x Nelly Furtado = Nothing. Pharrell, Chad and possibly Shay doing what they do best to gear up for the summer. Give you sounds to see, or envision what you’ll be doing when the sun is out. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to modern day Virginia, names like Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Clipse, Timbaland and Missy all garner high levels of admiration. Some more than others. But when it comes to the the “face” of the state’s music, it’s pretty safe to say N*E*R*D holds the crown. They’ve received the highest praises from some of music’s biggest names and possess a sound mastered only by them. Having two of your group members honored as the decade’s finest beatsmiths doesn’t hurt your argument either.

As a long time fan, I’ve always wondered what being part of the group would be like. I’d imagine it being nonstop flights around the world touring, recording music and meeting loose women whose favorite activities include doing nose candy and wild sex. Pharrell, Chad and Shay are international stars, you see. They broke through the glass ceiling that is the VA music scene and morphed themselves into musical legends. Rappers scream about rockstar lifestyles. These crazy bastards actually live it.

Speaking of such, MTV’s Diary caught up with the trio in the summer of 2008 while in London for their European tour, or as they refer to it, their “home away from home.” For whatever reasons this was shown only overseas, but it does provide an entertaining glimpse into one of music’s most eccentric entities.

So, if you’ve got 20 minutes to kill, why not? Click play.

Part One

Part Two

There comes a time when listeners have the right to actually stop caring about rappers whose favorite lyrics are “coming soon.” But for whatever reason, Norfolk Nathan, a.k.a. Fam-Lay, still can garner anticipation whenever his name is brought up. Star Trak has basically been a Clipse/N*E*R*D operation, but it seems like Pharrell is finally making good on their deal with his upcoming mixtape Da Coffin. Read the rest of this entry »

To reward him for his selfless humanitarian efforts, Lupe’s record label unleashes the track that spawned a Wasulu temper tantrum and keyboard battle of wits with YN. Read the rest of this entry »

Billboard recently crowned The Neptunes producers of the decade for their assassins work in murdering the charts. While not always agreeable, the publication’s rationale is always a little more grounded & respectable than the average list, seeing as how they take into account chart positions, radioplay and sales among other factors. There will always be arguments, but numbers don’t lie.

To celebrate, Give The Drummer Some put together this The Rest Of The Neptunes compilation, or perhaps “the hits you missed” edition of some of their work.

“Of course you could make the argument that greats like Kanye West, Just Blaze, Alchemist etc. all made their most memorable music in the past 10 years but none have transcended genres and sound like these two have. There was a moment when the ‘Tunes were responsible for over 60% of the music you heard on the radio, ALL WHILE having these genuinely well produced and written side projects that fell under the radar.

We all know the hits, so I’ll spare you. But lets reflect on The REST of The Neptunes.”

For the record, some of their best but unheralded work (or more specifically Chad’s) came with Kenna. If you haven’t listened, backtrack and figure that out. Sample the few songs included here and then dig for the rest. And, hate or love her, Kelis had her fair share of winning tracks with the duo as well.

Download — GTDS Presents The REST of The Neptunes (’00-’04)

Download — GTDS Presents The REST of The Neptunes (’05-’09)

GTDS via PDS

Malice & Pusha sat down with XXL to discuss the advantageous situation of having first dibs on beatwork by Grade-A producers The Neptunes. It’s no different than having Michael Jordan for a dad or a chef for a spouse. Some of life’s little luxuries are yours for the taking and may even have you taking them for granted. Read the rest of this entry »

Certain people are placed on this Earth for particular reasons. Richard Pryor had the unique ability to make people keel over with laughter. At the peak of his career, Michael Jordan arguably played basketball at the highest level ever witnessed. And Denzel Washington showcases his theatrical skills to millions worldwide in every one of his feature films. In the case of Calvin Broadus, better known as Snoop Dogg, his seemingly inexplainable ability to make quality music happens to be his niche. Read the rest of this entry »

Record sales and industry accolades be damned. The blood-brotherly tandem of Gene “Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton have maintained an admirable career on the basis of their consistency to bring lyrical prowess to the forefront in a genre which is slowly devaluing the occult. Unwilling to put even a raindrop to their creative flame, the Clipse exist in Hip-Hop as a dying breed–affirmed by their third studio album Til The Casket Drops. An album unique in its identity with all the wow factor (and drab moments) that best describe a Clipse excursion. Read the rest of this entry »

It was bound to happen. A Black man would take center stage in the urban spotlight to represent the nation’s capital. Yeah, President Obama has the entire country’s eyes on his executive position, but Olubawale Folarin or Wale as he’s much better known, has become D.C.’s Hip-Hop voice as he’s risen to become the city’s most recognizable representative in the particular branch. Read the rest of this entry »

Rik Cordero and Three/21 got the cinematography on that chicken n’ biscuits combo of Clipse & Killa Cam that you’ve been craving. And they do a great job of capturing the ghetto fabulousness of the track itself. Malice spitting lyrics with a mouth full of yams. Cam hollering at shorties while they try to order at the register. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey Doormaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan…. Someone let YN get this ahead of schedule.

Til’ The Casket Drops in stores Dec. 8th

Download — Clipse – “Doorman”