The MONSTERS of Rap

I'm too old school for my own good, I really don't like today's music and especially what passes for "RAP", I believe that every artist has a responsibility to give back, and I don't mean to the community necessarily, but to the art itself and by doing that I mean just be DOPE and not WACK!! Don't be such a slave to industry and the labels. Music artists are the trend setters, not the label, not the consumers, because they don't what they want, and the labels just follow the trends of a few "hot" artists...but anyway I actually like this song and it's filled with people who usually disappoint me on a daily basis. I'll break them down as to why they do.

1) Rick Ross-God bless the fat rapper. I'm fat and I used to rap. Biggie, Chubb Rock, Heavy D used to inspire me at least physically, so I'm not mad at Rick Ross other than the fact he's on radio EVERY GODDAMN TIME I turn it on, and I won't mention his credibility as being a former Corrections Officer (which really shouldn't matter at all, but he should admit it and get over it) and the constant clowning he takes from 50 Cent don't help, but it doesn't really matter because 50 isn't any better musically than Rick Ross.

2) Kayne West-Tom foolery and all around coonery aside, musically he disappoints me the most (but that's the old man pinning for 90's Golden Age of Hip Hop at work), but I always didn't hate his music, in fact he was a very bright spot for a couple of years being a disciple of Talib Kweli and Common. However around the whole Taylor Swift fuckery, he began to forefront this really shitty produced ultra sound this side of Will-I-AM. Unfortunately, once someone goes down this darkside road of fame, success, and shitty music there's no turning back from it (Darth Vader killed his woman over shit like this), but I'll remember the two and half year Kayne West was useful to my eardrums and sense of good taste.

3)Jay Z-For years of not really liking Jay Z (and really trying to like him like everyone else) could never really "get it", but recently I figured it out. I only like him in remixes and mash ups. In my opinion it's always been a production problem with him for me, in fact ever since that Hard Knock Life song everything's been this NYC ballad (which I hate probably because I'm not from New York and I don't "get it")
But there's been a more than few Jay Z song I cringe to admit I actually have on my playlist.

4)Nicki Minaj-other than her outfits and that pink hair...I have absolutely NO problem with her period. Yeah, her songs and videos are little girly for my taste, but that's her image and it would seem to be same image that most female performers seem to have in order to be noticed, which in so many words is just entertainment. Gaga does it, Beyonce does it. Madonna and Lil' Kim did it. I just think Nicki Minaj looked way better without all that damn make up and pink wigs and shit, but her lyrical skill is not to be fucked with...EVER.

Over all this song surprised the shit out of me, its good, its really, really good, everybody lyrically came off, it's taboo, and Nicki Minaj is definitely the heavy weight of the song.

Keith “Guru” Elam...One Year Later.

I promise to NOT blog about someones death next time. But The Guru was and still one the most greatest emcees of ALL TIME. PERIOD.

Happy Birthday Marvin Gaye

Today would've been Marvin Gaye's 72nd birthday. Assuming had he lived to the age of 72 today I would image he be retired from music right about now, (maybe, maybe not) but think about the music he would've made between now and the 27 years in-between? Already a pioneer in music, he could have led an even newer generation of music.

I remember on April 1, 1984 me and mother were sitting in the living room when it was announced that Marvin Gaye Sr. had shot his son Marvin. I was only seven years old at the time and the first time I heard a Marvin Gaye record was the LP my mother had bought which was Midnight Love featuring the single "Sexual Healing", it wouldn't be till some years later that I discovered the cultural significance that Marvin Gaye had on EVERYTHING.

"I don't make records for pleasure. I did when I was a younger artist, but I don't today. I record so that I can feed people what they need, what they feel. Hopefully, I record so that I can help someone overcome a bad time."

-Marvin Gaye


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Marvin_Gaye

RIP NATE DOGG

As of this writing, there's still no definite word on the cause of death, but Nate Dogg, born Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 - March 15, 2011)had had some ongoing health issues since 2007 after suffering a series of strokes. I'll be the first to admit that listening to music during and after the golden age of Hip Hop where West Coast Hip Hop was on the raise that Nate Dogg annoyed me for no other reason that he was featured on so many damn songs, but for no other reason.

Nate Dogg helped put West Coast on the map, he was a major factor that contributed to define the sound of the G-Funk Era in the same way that Maceo Parker helped define that James Brown sound. Would West Coast be what it was without Nate Dogg? Yes, probably, but he helped it so much that the sound itself is that much more unique. As life goes on in Hip Hop we lose many Rappers, Emcees, or whatever we call them and with each of their passing, the era of Hip Hop that WE love grows smaller and smaller...

Nate Dogg was 41 years old and like many others before him, he was far too young and will be sorely missed.

Amen.

An Ode to Anchovies

Seriously fucked...

Photo's taken from Huffington Post.

Music To Grind To (Old School)

Ever notice that today's R&B artists don't really say shit that's interesting? What the fuck are you talking about...BEYONCE?! They don't really inspire you take that person you love (or that person you want to...y'know)and rip every piece of goddamn clothing off (take off your earrings, ankle bracelets, toe rings, body glitter, African medallions, diamond teeth, etc).

I know I'm being bias because there's some artists who do that currently, but they still don't sound quite like Barry White or Teddy Pendergrass or fucking Lou Rawls for chrissakes! WE NEED SOME FUCKING AT ART LABOE MIX TAPES!!! Or of course you could turn on the radio and listen to late night slow jams, but I don't do mainstream (#fuckyeahhippsterariel)




If I wore panties...!



Now, Dwele is the only new school cat (he's actually been around for awhile) that my ears can digest besides D'angelo and since that brotha's on crack...



I would ask for suggestions for "baby making music", but since nobody reads this shit I find it a little redundant.

Evolution of a Track pt .2

My boy Kendogg Castillo hipped me to this. You see back in the day (10 or 11yrs ago) people for some reason stopped sampling records, and while it can be debated that sampling isn't really as good as knowing how to play a real instrument, it's gotta be a hell of a lot better than not knowing how to sing yet tormenting my fucking eardrums and sensibilities by auto-tuning your non singing ass...I'm done ranting now.