Hip Hop Is Read

Nooooooo!!!!!

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:12:00 +0000

I don't know which is worse: the fact that we see the closet door and anticipate its fall while she's none the wiser, the actual hit to the head that this girl receives, or the fact that we receive enjoyment from watching children get hurt!

Still funny though...

Video of a Hot Girl Belly Dancing to an Obscure Timbaland Sample

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Need I say more?

Props if you can figure out the track Timbo used this for!

Hint: Think 2001 :D

The Samples of the Year 2000

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

As we approach 2010, I set out on this mission with the expectation of wrapping up a decade’s worth of the best samples of the 2000’s, but the task was too great for me to finish by December 31st. I hope you won’t mind that this series will run well into next year.

What you’ll find below are a total of 38 samples for songs from 2000. Why 38? That’s what I could fit into a 200 MB .zip file! After I finish wrapping up the decade, I’ll probably compile a mix or two of leftover samples. That’s where you can come in! In the comment section below, please feel free to add any samples you remember from 2000 (or 2001, 2002…). The tracks I’ve included below were my own personal favorites. For the most part, I went after single releases, but many of these are b-sides and album-only tracks. Enough chit chat, here’s the music… Dig in!

Albert King – “Oh, Pretty Woman”
Sampled for: Wu-Tang Clan – “Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)”

What a way to jump things off! Produced by the RZA, “Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)” actually featured a handful of samples; but it’s the loop that begins at around 01:17 of Albert King’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” that strikes out the most. I’m not surprised the RZA was digging through some blues records since his musical palette is extensive, but how did he conceive of this ridiculous cut? The sample was originally released on King’s 1967 album Born Under a Bad Sign which was later included on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Baby Huey – “Hard Times”
Sampled for: Ghostface Killah – “Buck 50 (featuring Method Man, Cappadonna & Redman)”

Beyond gully, “Buck 50” was the bangingest Wu-Banga on Supreme Clientele, hands down. Everybody’s verses flowed seamlessly, but Reggie’s was notable for offering a rare Red/RZA tandem; now what’ll it take for The Abbot to produce a Mef-less track for Redman?

Biz Markie – “Make the Music With Your Mouth”
Sampled for: Jay-Z & Mya – “Best of Me, Pt. 2”

Unleashed by DJ Clue on his “Backstage” mixtape to the Hard Knock Life tour, “Best of Me, Pt. 2” was one of those tracks that were better than the original (sorry, Kiss). The unmistakable snare stabs and various vocal snippets on this Biz classic provided the basis for this summer anthem featuring two of the hottest solo acts of the time, Jay-Z and Mya.

Blowfly – “Outro”
Sampled for: Jurassic 5 – “Quality Control”

“Quality Control” was the first J5 song I ever heard, and oddly enough the photo for the album’s cover was shot a few blocks away from where I lived at the time. This smooth jam featured a brilliant sample from the outro track to foul-mouthed Blowfly’s 1973 record The Weird World of Blowfly. A great find by record junkie Cut Chemist. Damn I wish these brothers were still making music together…

Bobby Caldwell – “Open Your Eyes”
Sampled for: Common – “The Light”

Produced by J Dilla (then known as Jay Dee), “The Light” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance and shoulda won (sorry, Em). Dedicated to the ladies, “The Light” helped to bring Common a legion of new female fans and usurp Cool J’s LL crown. You’ve gotta love what Dilla did with this Caldwell classic: submerged instruments and vocals with Jay’s own drums stapled on top. Smooth.

Charlie Whitehead – “Shaft’s Mama”
Sampled for: Reflection Eternal – “Move Somethin’”

There’s plenty of lovely soul material to be sampled on the first two minutes of this Charlie Whitehead cut, but Hi-Tek insisted on waiting ‘til the 2:06 mark for something a little more sinister. Speeding up the loop and throwing on some menacing drum kicks, Tekzilla’s vision materialized as the ear-popping kick-start to Reflection Eternal’s first and hopefully not last album. Nudge, nudge…

David McCallum – “The Edge”
Sampled for: Dr. Dre – “The Next Episode (featuring Snoop Dogg, Kurupt & Nate Dogg)”

Why is this song here if 2001 came out in 1999? Well, “The Next Episode” dropped as a single in 2000, so that’s why! Most people go crazy over the ominous horns that commence on McCallum’s “The Edge”, but I get a kick out of those sparse pluckings that find their way in between this cacophony of brilliance which seemed to be prepackaged for future hip hop producers to take full advantage of in later years. And why shouldn’t it be the good doctor?

Dido – “Thank You”
Sampled for: Eminem – “Stan”

This song was major. First and foremost, the radio version of this track was over five minutes. That’s huge considering the fact that most of the songs of the day – or today – were no more than four minutes in length. But the subject matter and lyrical content was light-years beyond anything else playing. In the midst of playlists where Mystikal wanted you to shake ya ass, No Doubt wanted you take a dip in the bath with them, Jay-Z wanted you to give it 2 him and *NSYNC were bye-bye-bye-ing away, Eminem was telling the story of a psychotic fan whose obsession pushed him to drive off a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend. And “Stan” got more play than all those aforementioned tracks! And he performed the song at the Grammy’s. With Elton John! It kind of sucks that Dido’s beautiful song rests in the shadow of “Stan”, but hey, that’s how it goes…

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – “Cherchez La Femme”
Sampled for: Ghostface Killah – “Cherchez LaGhost (featuring U-God)”

There were actually two samples on this Supreme Clientele single, but this Savannah Band sample is more likely to ring a bell for you. Producer Carlos Bess stripped things down to create a light soundscape for Ghost and Huey to bust their lighthearted raps.

Eddie Holman – “It’s Over”
Sampled for: Ghostface Killah – “Nutmeg (featuring RZA)”

Another Supreme Clientele cut, “Nutmeg” demonstrates RZA’s loopy production style, loopy in more ways than one. What other producer would have thought of this? No one I can think of... other than The Abbot!

Edwin Starr & Blinky – “Sweet Joy of Life”
Sampled for: The Lox – “Recognize”

This sample was not easy to come by, but I’m so glad I found it. DJ Premier is a master of chopping and partitioning instrumentation and he does just that with subtle snippets from this overlooked gem from Just We Two. “Recognize” wasn’t released as a single, but it should have been as it was my favorite track off of We Are the Streets.

Foreigner – “Cold as Ice”
Sampled for: M.O.P. – “Cold as Ice”

So here was Fizzy Wo’s plan: take a classic rock jam and inject it with some mash out madness. You better believe he hit the nail on the head. Few songs match the gulliness factor of “Cold as Ice”. Just blast this out your window anytime you want to frighten the shit out of your neighbors.

Foreigner – “I Want to Know What Love Is”
Sampled for: Memphis Bleek – “In My Life”

Another Foreigner track? I know. I’m sorry. This track might not be a great fit since 90% of you have never heard this Memphis Bleek track. A lot of folks clown on Malik, but I feel it’s generally undeserved. Go back and listen to “In My Life” and tell me you don’t catch a head bopping vibe. Produced by Just Blaze, this introspective track closed out Bleek’s sophomore record The Understanding. Shocker: Bleek’s discography rests securely in my iPod. Sorry, haters.

Francois De Roubaix – “Dernier Domicile Connu”
Sampled for: Lil’ Bow Wow – “Bow Wow (That's My Name) (featuring Snoop Dogg)”

Blast from the past, right? I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say “all that and a bag of chips” back in 2000. It’d probably amount to no more than a meager four dollars, but that’s still more than it should be for such a bizarre saying. Jermaine Dupri scooped up this sinister string sample from who knows where. The funny thing about “That’s My Name” is that aside from Bow Wow’s age, it doesn’t sound dated (to me at least). And it’s definitely better than anything else that Bow Wizzy’s dropped ever since. And now that I think about it, the music video for this track predated the scourge and trend of teachers who have sex with their students. Maybe “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)” started it all?

Grace Jones – “Nightclubbing”
Sampled for: Shyne – “Bad Boyz (featuring Barrington Levy)”

It’s a shame that this is Shyne’s most recognized track due to his absence from the music scene for a decade. Everything about this track screams classic, especially Barrington Levy’s diddly-widdlying. Pause.

Graham Nash – “Chicago”
Sampled for: Beanie Sigel – “The Truth”

This should’ve been Sigel’s first single for The Truth. Instead, Jay-Z decided to release his own “Anything” instead. Ain’t that some nonsensical shit? Whatever… “The Truth” marked the days when Kanye West made music that wasn’t consumed by teeny-boppers. And boy are they long gone…

Harald Kloser – “Downloading”
Sampled for: Jedi Mind Tricks – “Genghis Khan (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)”

Wait until just over the 3:00 mark for the zany loops that bears a great resemblance to the sample used on “4 Da Fam” (also included in this compilation). If this joint isn’t evidence enough to the fact that Stoupe is an underrated producer and digger, then I don’t know what else is.

Hossam Ramzy – “Khusara Khusara”
Sampled for: Jay-Z – “Big Pimpin’ (featuring UGK)”

“Big Pimpin’” is a brilliant and important song for many reasons. First, it opened up a new fan base for Jay-Z in the south. More importantly perhaps, it brought UGK to a wider audience. But even more importantly than all that, it introduced Timbaland’s ridiculous and unmatched style to the radio. Ivan trivia: “Big Pimpin’” was my first non-generic ring tone. Good times…

Jack Mayborn – “Music People”
Sampled for: Prodigy – “Keep It Thoro”

I can’t tell which is more affective, the keys or the horns. I dare you to find a Jack Mayborn song not titled “Music People” on the internet. You can’t do it! Alchemist single-handedly resurrected this mystery music man to sample heads worldwide. My question is how in the hell did Alc find this gem to begin with!

James Brown – “Make It Funky, Part 1”
Sampled for: Slum Village – “I Don’t Know (featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff)”

This isn’t the only sample on “I Don’t Know”. Heck, it isn’t even the only James Brown sample on the track. But I think James Brown’s brief “I don’t know” quotable supersedes all other samples on this Dilla-produced Slum classic.

Jim Gilstrap – “Move Me”
Sampled for: Big L – “Flamboyant”

From the grave, Big L demanded that his “production be tight”. Well, his wish was certainly granted on this gem of a track. This was the first Big L song I ever heard, released on a posthumous album that dropped on my thirteenth birthday. This track was playing over a highlight reel of some of Allen Iverson’s greatest moves. That being said, I’ll always associate this beat with ill crossovers and layups.

Jimmie & Vella Cameron – “Hey Boy Over There”
Sampled for: Capone-N-Noreaga – “Invincible”

Speaking of hoops, I also first heard “Invincible” on a basketball video, the third volume of the And1 Mixtape series, to be exact. DJ Premier’s brilliance definitely outshined everything else on The Reunion, though I’m still impartial to L.E.S.’ “B EZ” with Nas.

Lee Dorsey – “The Greatest Love”
Sampled for: De La Soul – “Oooh. (featuring Redman)”

I nearly flipped out when I first heard Redman and De La mentioned in the same sentence. This track works well on so many levels; the music video, however, not so much. It’s amazing how a gospel soul record can be twisted into a hype club track.

Leon Haywood – “I Wan'ta Do Something Freaky to You”
Sampled for: 50 Cent – “Corner Bodega”

Infamously sampled by Dr. Dre on “Nuthin' But A "G" Thang”, old school Fiddy tried his luck with this soulful jam and made it work on the East coast tip. Composed as a hustler’s anthem of sorts, “Corner Bodega” was overshadowed by Power of the Dollar classics like “How to Rob”, “Your Life’s on the Line” and the infamous “Ghetto Qu’ran (Forgive Me)” – all of which were prepped as street singles in ’99.

Marvin Gaye – “Is That Enough”
Sampled for: Three 6 Mafia – “Sippin’ on Some Syrup (featuring UGK & Project Pat)”

Produced, composed and written by Marvin Gaye, the intro to Here, My Dear’s “Is That Enough” was destined to be sampled one day. Who’da thought it’d be flipped into a southern homage to cough syrup and codeine?

Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra – “The Days of Pearly Spencer”
Sampled for: Black Rob – “Whoa!”

This string-driven record was discovered by producer extraordinaire Buckwild and supplied as the backdrop for Black Rob’s most recognized track. A true gem of a sample.

Roy Budd – “Fear is the Key (Main Theme)”
Sampled for: Amil – “4 Da Fam (featuring Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z)”

Remember when the Roc was more like a boulder? Produced by Ty Fyffe, “4 Da Fam” was one of those tracks that kept the crew bubbling in the streets while they were bursting wallets and topping the charts.

Sam & Dave – “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar”
Sampled for: M.O.P. – “Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz Theory)”

Producer DR Period came up in the game producing for M.O.P. on their debut album To the Death, including the classic “How About Some Hardcore”. But he didn’t stop just there! Six years later, DR gifted the Posse with their biggest song ever, “Ante Up”. Yap that fool!

Santana – “Maria Maria (featuring The Product G&B)”
Sampled for: Destiny’s Child – “Independent Women, Part 1”

This may or not be considered a sample. Either way, it’s definitely a full-time jack move.

Solomon Burke – “Cool Breeze”
Sampled for: Ghostface Killah – “Apollo Kids (featuring Raekwon)”

Boasting the Ghost quotable “since the face been revealed, game got real” , “Apollo Kids” was the first GFK single since 1996’s “All That I Got Is You”. Ghost made up for lost time by dropping Supreme Clientele, easily one of the year’s – and decade’s – greatest rap records.

Stereolab – “Come and Play in the Milky Night”
Sampled for: Busta Rhymes – “Show Me What You Got”

Known for his smooth, soulful beats, Dilla seldom sampled rock records – contemporary alt. rock much less – but boy did he know how to pick ‘em: “Show Me What You Got” is as smooth as can be.

Steve Miller Band – “Space Intro”
Sampled for: Slum Village – “Climax (Girl Shit)”

Yup, more Dilla! “Climax” features more than one sample, but it’s this Steve Miller track that’s most striking, for me at least. This wasn’t the only time that Dilla played around with “Space Intro” as he often injected this trippy track into many of his songs. But its emergence in the chorus section for “Climax (Girl Shit)” is one of the most notable. Detroit heir Black Milk would go on to follow the same tactic on “Sound the Alarm”.

Stu Phillips – “Theme from Knight Rider”
Sampled for: Lil’ Kim – “How Many Licks? (featuring Sisqo)”

The Knight Rider theme has been sampled many, many times, but only Kim’s raunchy raps could match appropriately, with quips like “grab your meat while I ride the beat”.

Ten Wheel Drive & Genya Ravan – “Ain’t Gonna Happen”
Sampled for: Jay-Z – “1-900-Hustler (featuring Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Freeway)”

Back in the good ol’ days of the Roc, if it wasn’t Just Blaze, it was Bink! “1-900-Hustler” introduced us to the rapid-fire raps of Philly emcee Freeway. You could also say it established or at least helped to popularize the pending trend of sped up, chipmunk vocals that were evident on Jay’s next record, The Blueprint, as well as the Roc’s own Dipset movement that was awaiting to flock.

The Delfonics – “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love)”
Sampled for: Three 6 Mafia – “Who Run It”

Released as the first single off of When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixy 1 (hands-down the greatest Three 6 album), “Who Run It” boasts an amazing string sample from the soulful Delfonics. That was then. Now Three 6 Mafia has the same number of Oscars as Martin Scorsese and they’re working with DJ Tiesto. What the fluck has the world come to?

The Intruders – “Memories Are Here to Stay”
Sampled for: Common – “The 6th Sense (featuring Bilal)”

Kudos to Premo for this lovely find! Clicking on all gears with this amazing track, it makes you wonder why Common and DJ Premier haven’t collaborated ever since (no, “The Game” doesn’t count). Wouldn’t a Premo-produced Comm’ record be a masterpiece to behold? I can dream, right?

The Police – “Roxanne”
Sampled for: Cam’ron – “What Means the World to You (featuring Keema)”

Keeping in mind that this track dropped a couple of years before Cam blew up with Roc-A-Fella, this high-profile sample clearance (shouts to Andy Summers on the axe) must’ve captured some ears from outside of the rap world.

William Sheller – “Intoit”
Sampled for: Deltron 3030 – “3030”

On this principal track from the trip hop classic collab Deltron 3030, Dan the Automator’s otherworldly sample selection constructed the perfect backdrop for Del’s futuristic raps.

Tupac Shakur – Still Overlooked

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:28:00 +0000

NOTE TO READERS: This post was written with the intent to refute Combat Jack’s XXL post titled “Tupac Shakur – Still Overrated”.

Was 2Pac the greatest emcee of all time? How about the greatest rapper of all time? There are different ways to look at this question, primarily because there are different ways to define “emcee” and “rapper”. KRS-One once wrote that “rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal/ emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people”. 2Pac did both. Biggie did only one of the two. Does that make 2Pac a better emcee than Biggie? Not necessarily. If you prefer to view an emcee in the more technical sense (i.e. flow, cadence, timbre, flexibility), Biggie was ahead of 2Pac by a long shot. But at the same time, Big’s subject matter was narrow as a grain of rice. It’s a shame these two brothers were – and still are – endlessly compared to one another when their styles were so diverse.

To compare Big and ‘Pac is natural, but leave their albums out of it. Big’s albums sit amongst East coast elite records like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, and The Infamous – gritty at heart. 2Pac’s albums, at least his earlier ones, fit more appropriately alongside provocateurs like Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. I say if you can’t appreciate an early ‘Pac record, you probably wouldn’t dig Death Certificate or Yo! Bum Rush the Show either.

Combat Jack’s point that 2Pac is overrated is not unsubstantiated. In fact, I’ve often said that 2Pac is overrated for all the wrong reasons and by the same token underrated or underappreciated for all the wrong reasons. He’s overrated by people who typecast 2Pac for songs like “Hail Mary”, “Hit ‘Em Up” and “California Love”; he’s underappreciated by people – like Combat Jack – who overlook amazing performances like Me Against the World’s “So Many Tears” and “Lord Knows” or the Above the Rim soundtrack highlight “Pain”. How could “Dear Mama” and “Old School” be the only good songs you take away from Me Against the World? In my book, ‘Pac’s soulfully-pronounced “ee” and “ah” vocals from “So Many Tears” are deeper and more profound than most rappers’ discographies. But maybe I’m just a stan, right? Maybe. So how ‘bout we take a step away from the music and discuss 2Pac’s background.

2Pac emerged from a family of Black Panthers and revolutionaries. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was hit with 150(!) charges of conspiracy against the United States. ‘Pac’s stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, was on the FBI’s most wanted list. Mutulu’s sister, Assata Shakur, escaped from jail and sought refuge in Cuba. This is where 2Pac comes from. As a youth, ‘Pac excelled in academic studies, taking up interests in acting and dance, as well as music and poetry. Socially conscious and aware from a young age, ‘Pac exhibited his egalitarian points of view. This is what 2Pac was about. For a generation that didn’t have a King or a Malcolm, ‘Pac was poised to fill the void that Jackson or Sharpton’s generational distance simply couldn’t.

In 1991, 2Pac was brutally assaulted by Oakland police. This took place in the same year as the Rodney King beating and as such didn’t attain the media attention it probably should have received. In 1992, a teenager in Texas, claiming he had been influenced by 2Pac’s music, killed a cop; Vice President Dan Quaylin (sorry, Quayle) even stepped in on the controversy, pinpointing 2Pac as a problem child and railing against his lyrics. This only fueled ‘Pac with more energy for his second record.

In 1993, 2Pac spotted a couple of drunk, off-duty officers harassing somebody. ‘Pac stepped out of his car and an altercation soon ensued. As told by Mopreme Shakur, ‘Pac got down on one knee and shot both of these cops in the ass. Literally, shot them in the ass. And he beat the case soon afterwards, dancing his way out of court. Now that’s gangsta. Later that year, ‘Pac was hit with a rape charge which, until his death, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing. On a posthumously-released track, ‘Pac spit: “Tell the world I feel guilty to being anxious/ Ain't no way in hell, that I could ever be rapist/”. In 1994, 2Pac assaulted the Hughes Brothers at a music video shoot. He also dated Madonna for a while. Later on that year, 2Pac was gunned down in a recording studio lobby, hit by bullets on all angles of his body. As 2Pac was being wheeled off into an ambulance, he infamously greeted photographers with a present: the bird. That’s right. Bandaged up, being carted off by paramedics, ‘Pac was still ‘Pac.

So just to recap, in four short years, 2Pac assumed the role of Rodney King, Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson with a little bit of Malcolm X, all in one. Add to that, he essentially survived an assassination attempt. Add to that, ‘Pac was only 23 in 1994. I haven’t even gotten into 1995 and 1996. Yet.

In 1995, 2Pac served his prison sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility while his album, Me Against the World, reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts. 2Pac was and still is the only artist to go #1 while in jail. (Give it up, Gucci and Boosie, it’ll never happen.) The album also moved a quarter-million copies in its first week, a number unseen by any rap artist at the time.

1996 was the year that 2Pac became a supernova. He dropped All Eyez on Me, a vicious record with threat-filled bangers and anthems. “Hit ‘Em Up” was – and still is – the greatest diss record ever released. And the rest is history. 2Pac got shot up in Vegas, spent seven days in the hospital while the world prayed for him, and then he died at the age of 25.

It’s no surprise that 2Pac died at such a young age since he lived life at such an accelerated speed. No other rapper/emcee has a life story that even attempts to come close to ‘Pac’s. And I haven’t even discussed his cultural impact, his movies, or analyzed his music, let alone his poetic lyricism and unmatched passion. Overrated? I think not.

XXL <3 HHIR

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:26:00 +0000

So as you know by now, Hip Hop Is Read has been included in XXL's coveted Top 100 list. I'm honored to be a part (not apart - there's a difference, dum dums) of this and I'll be quick to scoop up a copy or two at newsstands, just like I did when Vibe gave me the same honor. It woulda been nice to have seen Rock the Dub in here, but you already know that...

Anyways, by now you've probably looked over the full list (immaculately compiled by ANIMAL), but you probably haven't seen the blurbs they included about each website! Here's what XXL wrote about Hip Hop Is Read:

hiphopisread.blogspot.com
Ever wonder where rap’s hottest producers get their samples from? This gem of a site is like a virtual dig spot, offering compiled playlists of hip-hops’s original source material, minus all the digital dust, of course.

I guess that's my niche, ain't it? Samples, samples, samples! Well, we've got more samples (a decades' worth, to be exact *hint, hint*) coming your way, so stay tuned...

Thanks again, XXL!

In Stores Today: November 17, 2009

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct
Worth the cream? You've gotta give it up to 50 for setting his own lane and not chasing radio. That being said, is it a good album? Yes. Better than Curtis? Definitely! Worth the money? Only if you're a Fiddy fan.

Edan - Echo Party
Worth the green? If you were waiting for a follow-up to Beauty & the Beat, this ain't it! This is basically a podcast. Great tunes, don't get me wrong. But I wouldn't crack the wallet for this one.

Felt - A Tribute to Rosie Perez
Worth the dough? Volumes one and two were produced by The Grouch and Ant, respectively. This one's all Aesop Rock, and his beats are noticeably more... intense. I like it. This one's worth the dough, but I suggest you preview it first. As always, Amazon offers super-helpful full-album MP3 snippets, but you can also find a leak out there... somewhere. :D

John Mayer - Battle Studies
Worth the cabbage? As Rizoh pointed out, John Mayer is open to you downloading his album to preview it before bringing the hammer down on your piggy bank. I say take the man's advice, because few musicians will share the sentiment.

Kid Sister - Ultraviolet
Worth the loot? Not my kinda thing, but I know a lot of people have been holding their breath for Ultraviolet's release. It's what you'd expect. Hyper-pop that doesn't really float my boat, but hey, to each his/her own. (It's definitely not as bad as this.) As always, an initial preview is your best bet.

Norah Jones - The Fall
Worth the cheese? Yes! The Blue Note Queen's gorgeous vocals over lush production = WIN. She'll probably win a Grammy or two (or more!?) for this one. Her best full-length, in my opinion, since Come Away With Me.

Ol' Dirty Bastard - Message to the Other Side
Worth the bread? Yes and no... This plays like a mixtape; and similar to Osirus: The Official Mixtape, ODB fans have heard most of this stuff already. Download it. Who's getting the money from it anyways (I'd really like to know)?

Rakim - The Seventh Seal
Worth the sheckels? Oy. I'd be lying to you if I said "yes", even though it's what I would have wanted to say, nay, SCREAM OUT. Rakim's eagerly-anticipated album is a bit of a snoozer. His lyrics and track presence are as strong as ever, but the production just doesn't stack up. Tell me this isn't wrong: The album's outro track, "Dedicated", samples No Doubt's "Don't Speak". For what it's worth, I actually used to like that song back in the '90's. And yeah, it's probably the kind of song that I'd mash up with a rap acapella (check my track record, I'm a track wrecker). But... c'mon, Ra'. Hip hop wanted something better than this... My suggestion? Download the album but buy a concert ticket (he might be swinging by a town near you!)

Album of the Week:

The Tape Deck '09: Volume #58

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +0000

The Tape Deck '09: Volume #57

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:57:00 +0000

Playing Catch-Up: November Pt. 1

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:30:00 +0000

DOWNLOAD:
810 - Glass Half Full
Beanie Sigel - In Beans We Trust
Drake - Heartbreak Drake 3
Rihanna & Beyonce - The Don Divas

810 - Glass Half Full | Download

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:22:00 +0000

Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:

1. 810 - Intro (0:44)
2. 810 - My Introduction (3:41)
3. 810 - Tite Rope (3:54)
4. 810 - U Won't Like This (3:38)
5. 810 - Issues (4:27)
6. 810 - Shame on Me (3:35)
7. 810 - See the World (4:07)
8. 810 - The Oath (4:03)
9. 810 - A Song Is Born (4:13)
10. 810 - Too Young (2:22)
11. 810 - Hire Us (feat. The Black Sunn) (2:38)
12. 810 - Glass Half Full (2:18)
13. 810 - Pressure Is On (4:19)
14. 810 - Cheat (feat. Black Diamond) (3:12)
15. 810 - They Don't Wanna Know (3:19)
16. 810 - Is You In (4:11)
17. 810 - Adventures In Slumberland (2:27)

Beanie Sigel - In Beans We Trust | Download

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:21:00 +0000

Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:

1. Beanie Sigel - Intro/Why I'm The Realest (0:59)
2. Beanie Sigel - Average Cat (Jay-Z Diss) (7:00)
3. Beanie Sigel - Blue Raspberry (0:44)
4. Beanie Sigel - I Be on My (1:00)
5. Beanie Sigel - Express Yourself (0:54)
6. Beanie Sigel - The Last Ones (1:09)
7. Beanie Sigel - Rock City (1:34)
8. Beanie Sigel - So Much Trouble (1:04)
9. Beanie Sigel - Goon Music (feat. Max B) (3:52)
10. Beanie Sigel - What They Want from Me (feat. Max B) (4:26)
11. Beanie Sigel - Rhyming w/Max Live Freestyle (4:28)
12. Beanie Sigel - The Truth (3:54)
13. Beanie Sigel - Reservoir Dogs (3:03)
14. Beanie Sigel - Nothing Like It (2:52)
15. Beanie Sigel - Can't Go On This Way (4:20)
16. Beanie Sigel - Man's World (3:06)
17. Beanie Sigel - Get Nowhere (feat. Freeway) (3:34)
18. Beanie Sigel - Put Ya Hands Up (Jadakiss Diss) (2:55)
19. Beanie Sigel - Special Delivery (Nas & D-Block Diss) (3:27)
20. Beanie Sigel - Who Shot Ya (Classic Freestyle) (1:38)
21. Beanie Sigel - Quiet Storm (Classic Freestyle) (1:01)
22. Beanie Sigel - Y'all Don't Wanna (Classic Freestyle) (5:44)

Drake - Heartbreak Drake 3 | Download

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:

1. Drake - Scriptures (Exclusive) (3:38)
2. Drake - Hurt (Exclusive) (3:42)
3. Drake - Material Girl (Exclusive) (2:39)
4. Drake - 4 My Town (feat. Birdman) (Exclusive) (4:10)
5. Drake - Fed Up (3:26)
6. Drake - Say Something (2:15)
7. Drake - The King (1:36)
8. Drake - Play Ball (3:00)
9. Drake - Believe It or Not (2:06)
10. Drake - Mo Milli (feat. Birdman) (2:22)
11. Drake - Money to Blow (4:12)
12. Drake - Darlin' (5:06)
13. Drake - Fear (4:13)
14. Drake - Killers (feat. Nipsey Hussle) (2:48)
15. Drake - Bedrock (4:49)
16. Drake - Off That (feat. Jay-Z) (3:32)
17. Drake - Beautiful (3:28)
18. Drake - Go (1:17)
19. Drake - Successful (Live) (feat. Jay-Z) (3:47)
20. Drake - Words from Jay-Z (0:45)

Rihanna & Beyonce - The Don Divas | Download

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:19:00 +0000

Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:

1. Rihanna - The Wait Is Ova (0:29)
2. Rihanna - Russian Roulette (3:41)
3. Rihanna - Run This Town (feat. Jay-Z & Kanye West) (4:15)
4. Rihanna - Te Amo (3:24)
5. Rihanna - Whipping My Hair (feat. The-Dream) (3:12)
6. Rihanna - Like It (3:58)
7. Rihanna - Hatin' on the Club (feat. The-Dream) (4:12)
8. Rihanna - Bad Girl (feat. Chris Brown) (2:33)
9. Rihanna - Cinderella (Umbrella Remix) (feat. Chris Brown & Jay-Z) (4:09)
10. Rihanna - Cry (UK Release Only) (3:51)
11. Rihanna - Winning Woman (feat. Nicole Scherzinger) (3:02)
12. Beyonce - Control (4:14)
13. Beyonce - Slow Love (4:06)
14. Beyonce - Poison (4:00)
15. Beyonce - U Are My Roc (3:58)
16. Beyonce - I'm Alone Now (3:09)
17. Beyonce - Save The Hero (4:29)
18. Beyonce - Why Don't You Love Me (3:33)
19. Beyonce - Trust In Me (3:29)
20. Beyonce - Stop Sign (3:34)
21. Beyonce - Proud to Be an American (2:34)
22. Beyonce - Settle 4 U (3:41)
23. Beyonce - Ice Cream (1:24)

'Immortal Technique on Obama, 9/11 Truth & Corporate America'

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:25:00 +0000

The U.S. government uses foreign wars to distract people's attention from internal problems. That's according to rapper and political activist 'Immortal Technique'. In an exclusive interview with RT's Marina Portnaya he says America's bad decisions are covered up with lame excuses.

Via PimpinTurtle

Martika - Toy Soldiers | Veterans Day Insomniacs Club

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:50:00 +0000

Many of you can quickly identify “Toy Soldiers” as the sample used on a similarly titled Eminem single from his 2004 album Encore. I probably would have never heard this song if it weren’t for “Like Toy Soldiers”, as I’m sure a lot of people can attest to as well. “Toy Soldiers” was Martika’s third and most successful single from her eponymous debut album, released in 1988. A lot of ‘80’s songs tend to be very corny and trite in my opinion, and “Toy Soldiers” falls under this category too, to some regard. But the depth of the lyrics and Martika’s solid performance redeem the song in my book. I’ve always been fascinated by movies and music that aim to subversively depict dark and bleak content under the vise of innocent, childlike imagery. “Toy Soldiers” does just that, using nursery-jingle catchiness to portray the pains of drug addiction and death. In addition to this, many of the lyrics – not just the title – can be interpreted to describe war:

Bit by bit
Torn apart
We never win
But the battle wages on
For toy soldiers
We never win. And now our military is set to deploy an additional 40,000 troops to Afghanistan. Thanks a lot, Mr. President… In honor of our troops who are stationed abroad, I hope for the day when we change our foreign policy and end these unnecessary wars. Until then, please get back home in one piece… Peace.

Nigel Sylvester's Because I Grind Mixtape | Download

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Because I Grind boasts a lineup of Mick Boogie-affiliated artists, including the homie 6th Sense who just shot this over to us. He's featured on track nine of the tape, which you can preview over here.

Tracklisting + (Rapidshare) Download Link Below:

1. Mick Boogie - Nigel Sylvester Intro - Excerpt from the B.I.G. Project (0:17)
2. Oncue - Because I Grind (Produced by Alchemist) (1:57)
3. Tabi Bonney - The Great (Produced by Alchemist) (2:49)
4. Mick Boogie - Nigel Sylvester Interlude - Excerpt from the B.I.G. Project (0:11)
5. Fashawn - Fash Plays It Cool (Produced by Alchemist) (2:07)
6. Kidz In The Hall - Juke Box (Produced by Double 0) (2:44)
7. U-N-I - Windows (Produced by Ro Blvd) (3:06)
8. Mick Boogie - Nigel Sylvester Interlude 2 - Excerpt from the B.I.G. Project (0:06)
9. 6th Sense - Can’t Get Out the Lab (Produced by Alchemist) (2:20)
10. Pacific Division - All I Want (Produced by Swiff D) (2:31)
11. Nice Guys - Life In Style (Produced by DSF & Free) (4:24)
12. Mick Boogie - Nigel Sylvester Outro - Excerpt from the B.I.G. Project (0:13)

HHIR + Brother Ali's Us Contest!

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

The good folks at WMG have linked up with Hip Hop Is Read to offer you some free Brother Ali swag! Up for grabs are (1) a copy of Brother Ali's Us on CD, (2) a copy of Us on vinyl, and (3) a Rhymesayers Ent. hoodie! In an effort to spread the wealth, we're offering one prize per entry. All you've got to do is answer one of three questions. Each question corresponds to the prize you're vying for:

CD Question
On which popular late night talk show was Brother Ali a musical guest in October of 2007?

Vinyl Question
Fill in the blanks to complete this Ali quotable: "Whoever said ____ ________ ___ ___ ____ ___ dead must have ____ and ___ ___ head"

Hoodie Question
On which track from The Undisputed Truth did Ant sample Margie Joseph's "Touch Your Woman"? (Hint: You can find the answer if you dig through The Rap Up's comments section from October of '07. I know this because I made the comment! As always, Google is your friend.)

...aaaand those are the questions! Simple, right? Here are the specifics: If you answer more than one question, you boost your chance of winning a prize, but you must specify in your e-mail the prize that you prefer. Again, only one prize winner per entry, got that?

Send your answer(s) over to hiphopisread [at] gmail [dot] com

Contest ends today (Wednesday) at 10 P.M. PST. Winners will be chosen at random.

Good luck!!

The Death Penalty: When Will the Violence Cease?

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Yesterday’s execution of John Allen Muhammad, the so-called D.C. Sniper, sparked a series of debates all across the country. It reminded me of the week when Stanley “Tookie” Williams II was expected to be executed here in California. I was in my first year of college at the time, and the debate raged on well into our classrooms. Our English professor, whose focus in the class involved argumentative writing, asked us to compose a paragraph or two, taking a pro- or anti- stance on the topic. I was surprised to find that I was one of the few students who argued against the death penalty.

Some classmates thought that I was opposed to the execution because I admired and romanticized gang leaders or some such nonsense. Ridiculous! My position at the time was that Tookie had the potential to accomplish positive things behind prison bars, namely to continue to writing. During his time in jail, Tookie wrote several anti-gang, anti-drug and anti-violence books for the youth (reading ages ranging from four to twelve years old). The fact that Tookie had transformed himself into an advocate and positive role model for urban youth had merited, in my opinion, that he be given a pardon by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – but no dice. On December 12, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger denied Williams’ clemency; the next day, Williams was executed. I sensed that some of my classmates had drawn some satisfaction from the incident; I couldn’t look at them the same way anymore.

In the years since, I’ve affirmed my position on the matter of capital punishment and the death penalty: I’m against it, one hundred percent of the time. People have tried to sway me from this stance with suppositions like “What if you were transplanted to the 1940’s and held a gun to the head of Hitler or Mussolini, men who have committed unspeakable atrocities? Would you pull the trigger?” This certainly raises some devil’s advocate thought processing, but the analogy is not equivalent to the discussion about the death penalty. Hitler and Mussolini were army leaders; and like the old saying goes, “all’s fair in love and war”; I don’t necessarily agree with that statement, but you get the point. Individuals like John Allen Muhammad and Stanley Tookie Williams II, while displaying traits of the inherently evil human characteristics shared by killers like Hitler and Mussolini, have been placed into custody by law enforcement and treated with the same levels of decency we’d expect prisoners of war to receive – or so we hope. Except this isn’t war and these aren’t soldiers. These are civilians who have erred in life and require penitence and rehabilitation. In many regards, the choice between keeping life-sentenced prisoners alive or executing them is analogous to the choice between recycling and garbage disposal.

In Los Angeles, the city I call home, pedestrians are an endangered species. It’s rare to find people walking down the street unless you’re in a trendy section of town. Accordingly, there also aren’t too many garbage cans or recycle bins on the street – they’re certainly more scarce than the ones you’ll find in sprawling metropolises like New York City. On many occasions, I’ve found myself walking along the street, scanning the horizon for a place to dispose of an empty soda can or a store receipt. Most of the time I have to walk at least two or three blocks before finding a garbage bin; coming across the elusive recycle bin is like encountering an oasis – unless you’re in West Hollywood or Santa Monica (hippie-ish neighborhoods). Why do I bother to make this extra effort? At the very core of the matter, I think conservation is important; overall, I ideally believe that ethics of reciprocity (i.e. the “Golden Rule”) are not limited to interpersonal interaction: it can apply to our relationship with our own individual environment and the environment of others as well. A little bit of effort preserves cleanliness and order – it’s not too much to ask. I don’t think this is such a radical position, do you? Using the same train of thought, re-analyzing capital punishment concludes that the death penalty is ineffective, counterintuitive, harmful and simply wrong for society.

As I see it, there are two options: we can either “recycle” life-sentenced prisoners or “dispose” of them with one swift kick into the gutter. I choose the former. Trash piles up and so do dead bodies. Even after they’ve been re-absorbed as terrestrial elements, the names and memories of those individuals “put down” by our justice system remain. And just like that, the cycle of violence repeats itself once more as a new stable of lifers are prepped to be taken out one by one. What does this accomplish? Various studies have shown that capital punishment does little if nothing to dissuade criminal behavior, and in many cases is counterintuitive to this very purpose. Additionally, while it may serve the purpose as a visceral sense of revenge, the death penalty will never fully wipe away the blood, scars and tears of murder or rape.

Abolishing the death penalty sets a standard by which you aim to uphold and value the preciousness of life. The question you need to ask yourself is this: How can a society which is so willful in applying the death penalty to prisoners right and left hope to attain everlasting peace and moral prosperity? The cycle of violence continues… Tupac Shakur spoke frequently about incarceration and death row in his raps. In closing, here is a portion of ‘Pac’s words which I feel are in accordance with my overarching positions on crime and punishment:

Let the L-rd judge the criminals/
If I die, I wonder if heaven got a ghetto/
- “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto”

I got beef with a sick society that doesn't give a shit/
And they’re too quick to say goodbye to me/
- “16 on Death Row”

In Stores Today: November 10, 2009

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

DOOM - Unexpected Guests
Worth the dough? Eh. Download it first.

Freeway - Streetz Is Mine
Worth the dough? Definitely not! This is an unofficial album which Freeway had no part in releasing.

Gift of Gab - Escape 2 Mars (Vinyl)
Worth the dough? Thumbs up! The album's been out for a week already but it took an extra week for the vinyl to hit stores, so make sure you're purchasing the correct format.

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters
Worth the dough? Only if you're a J5 fanatic AND an audiophile.

Melanie Fiona - The Bridge
Worth the dough? You've probably heard this album by now since it's been circulating on the web for a while. Cop if ya dig, drop if ya don't.

Wale - Attention Deficit
Worth the dough? Meh. Not a fan. [Read my mini-review of the album here]

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Meet the Indie Culture, Vol. 2
Worth the dough? If you don't like dubstep/electronica, your interest in the Wu-Tang Clan probably still won't be enough to make up for it. If you're interested in trippy remixes and blends, this is right up your alley. [Read my review of the album here]

Wyclef Jean - From the Hut, To the Projects To the Mansion
Worth the dough? Not really since it's already been (legally?/)freely circulated on all the NMC sites. Still a solid release nonetheless from the 'Clef man.

Album of the Week:

Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture Vol. 2: Enter the Dubstep | Album Review

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Wu-Tang Clan/Various Artists
Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture Volume 2:
Enter the Dubstep
Release Date: November 10th, 2009

The fate of the Shaolin Temple was sealed by its leaders’ refusal to open its doors to newcomers seeking to join their following. Had it not been for the monks’ initial anti-proselytization policy; had they accepted all those who sought entrance, the Temple may never have been destroyed. This important lesson, often recounted by The RZA, is a perfect analogy for the Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture series. Released in 2005, volume one introduced a lineup of indie/underground emcees whose form and style were so compatible with Wu-Tang that it made for one of the year’s most thorough (and thoroughly enjoyable) albums. In 2009, a new chamber of cross-breeding music has been opened, this time introducing a whole new genre/style to the Wu-Tang sound: Enter the Dubstep.

Dubstep originated earlier within the decade in the midst of the UK garage scene. A fusion of house, drum and bass, 2-step, and London’s grime, with influence from dub reggae, dubstep is characterized by its dark, uptempo beats. While artists like Lady Sovereign and Dizzee Rascal have expounded definitely-British sounds to the United States’ audience, the movement hasn’t really caught on across the pond… or has it? This year alone, dubstep has made a significant leap into the consciousness of U.S. music fans, whether they knew it or not. Dubstep producers Chase and Status’ smash track “Eastern Jam” was adopted and remixed by none other than Snoop Dogg on his promotional single “Snoop Dogg Millionaire”. Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture Volume 2: Enter the Dubstep seeks to further familiarize this new audience.

While volume one of the Indie Culture series brought along a roster of emcees, volume two is production-centric, highlighting the work of over a dozen dubstep producers. To the newfound dubstep listener – I’ll admit, I’m one of them – Indie Culture Volume 2’s mixes are either hit or miss; thankfully, they’re mostly hit. Tracks like Chimpo’s remix of the haunting “Cinema” by the GZA and his son are eerily intensified by the sinister keys and the dark and sparse soundscapes played throughout. In such instances, the production creates a brand new setting, providing the vocals an alternative meaning to the original; in others, they re-sample original beats, putting an emphasis on dub remixing rather than remaking. The Scuba Scythe remix to “Street Corners”, for example, retools the great Jean Plum sample from the original, crafting a bubbling, new interpretation that’s equally pleasing to the ears.

Unlike the first entry in the Indie Culture series, Enter the Dubstep does not feature any new vocals. The album is a hodgepodge of verses and choruses from previously-released Wu-Tang and Wu-Tang affiliate albums like Raekwon and Icewater’s Polluted Water, Lord Jamar’s The 5% Album, Wisemen’s Wisemen Approaching, GZA’s Pro Tools, U-God’s Dopium and more (including volume one of the series). While it would have been nice to hear some new lyrics – especially by the main members of the Clan – it works out better this way since this collection is intended to primarily highlight the producers; as such, it’s gainful to compare and contrast the originals to the remixes.

It’s worth noting that being a fan of Wu-Tang is not an assurance that you’ll enjoy this album. Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture Volume 2: Enter the Dubstep is very much like Linkin Park’s Reanimation in this regard. Open-mindedness is a pre-requisite, particularly for the untrained ear of the genre being tackled. Nineteen tracks deep, unless you’re a dubstep fan you may find yourself pressing the fast-forward button once every few or so tracks. But like Reanimation, the core content is still intact despite the altered sounds and backdrops. Overall you’ll find that there’s plenty of common ground to be shared and enjoyed when you Enter the Dubstep.

The Tape Deck '09: Volume #56

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:56:00 +0000

The Tape Deck '09: Volume #55

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Pendulum Effect by Mumia Abu-Jamal

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:05:00 +0000

The Pendulum Effect
by
Mumia Abu-Jamal
(Recorded Nov. 1st, 2009)

Disturbing: Congressman John Shadegg Uses Child as a Political Prop

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:52:00 +0000

I don't know anymore, man... I... I just don't know...

2Pac - There U Go (Hurricane Blend '09)

ivan1087@gmail.com (Ivan) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:23:00 +0000

It's been a while since I shared a remix or blend with you. This one's the result of me messing around with the instrumentals on The Tape Deck '09 Volume 53. Rihanna's beat on "Russian Roulette" (produced by Chuck Harmony) seemed to match up really well with Aaron Hall's choppy chorus on "There U Go"... and the rest is a wrap! What do you think?

Download:
2Pac - There U Go (Hurricane Blend) (feat. Kastro, Kadafi, E.D.I. Mean & Aaron Hall)