So you saw this a while back and thought, “Why should I give these humps money when I can watch it all on the interwebs?” Fair question. It just so happens that my copy arrived today so allow me to guide you through the HD experience, episode-by-episode, in all it’s glory via my all-new, 2009 edition WIN/LOSS review system.
‘Bodega’
Win: I can now clearly make-out the use by 11/20/05 stamp on the Lay Linda Original Iced Honey Bun on this HD edition. Eff you, YouTube!
Loss: I saw a close-up of Rafi’s teeth. Are those poppy seeds?
ROFLCOPTER: Dallas: *Holding st. Ides 40* “This will have you ready to smack your mama” Rafi: “That’s the main objective!” (more…)
Meyhem’s been putting it down on every J-Love tape since I can remember. Here are a couple of cut’s from his Self Induced Illness mixtape project. ‘Timeless’ is some late night action shit, while ‘Got The Fever’ is the best graff song since Tame and El were pals.
This one is a bit different. This track wasn’t officially released until a couple of years back via Stones Throw, so whatever issues Stezo had with his former employers was long buried by the time anyone heard this.
Here’s what Stezo’s producer Chris Lowe had to say about it when I spoke to him a while back:
Robbie: There was an old song from Stezo that came out a year ago where he had some words for EPMD. What’s the story there?
Chris Lowe: We was still friends, that was when we was younger. Stones Throw got a hold of that stuff years after and decided to put it out. We all pretty good now – Erick and Parrish are back on tour right now. I speak to Stezo and I did a record with Parrish on my last album.
Why am I pulling this out now? For starters, it has a quality flip of ‘Nautilus‘. Oh, and this shit is hilarious.
Another year, another annual vinyl order. It’s become something of an Unkut tradition to grab vinyl copies of this year’s finest around the yuletide season, but as I was browsing the virtual racks the other day it really hit home as to just how effin’ messed up the vinyl game has become. Unless you’re a skinny-jeans sunglasses-is-a-must DJ looking for the latest ‘party rockin’ mash-up, good luck finding any of 2008’s better rap shit’s on black plastic. There are still some white labels to fill in the gaps, only one of my top five album’s was given an official issue. Which raises the question - what did you actually buy this year (including CD’s)?
So, you’re a rapper looking to reach your fans and make some new one along the way via the series of tubes that we like to call the interwebs, huh? Beyond the mandatory official MySpace and Facebook pages, if you follow these ten simple rules you’re guaranteed to be the next Souljah Boy by the end of the month.
1. ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS. You’re saying something important. Make sure it gets noticed!
2. Get mad at your label with numerous emo outbursts. What use is an online presence if you aren’t raging against the machine? Just look what it did for Saigon (currently now sans-record contract).
3. Pen letters from jail ranting against the illuminati and ‘J.Z.’ (who are in cahoots, natch). If you’re name is Prodigy from Mobb Deep then write in all caps, also. (more…)
Not me, obviously. But was there a particular incident or album that made you rip all your Word Up! posters off your wall and never listen to a particular rapper ever again? For some, it was Big Daddy Kane’s Prince of Darkness LP. For others, it was KRS-One taking out PM Dawn (if you’re one of these foolish folk, please fall into your nearest volcano).
Dallas Penn offers: “Only dude I ever had faith in was Ice Cube and I think after I saw Boyz N The Hood I was like ‘Fuck this fake ass rap shit!’. Remember ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’? The next thing you know this dude is doing movies. I learned then that revolution is only the act of revolving - spinning around in the same place.” (more…)
Yeah, I copped The Chronic tape when it dropped and liked most of it. If I’d been old enough to drive around with a ridiculously loud system I’m sure I would have appreciated it even more, but even on a Sony Megabass it sounded pretty good. The problem was, once everyone on the West Coast heard Dr. Dre’s opus, they decided to throw out all their P-Funk and Zapp records and buy keyboards. Hell, even the previously awesome Rap-A-Lot production crew in Houston abandoned their church organ and harmonica beats for synths and live bands. Sure it was more ‘creative’ but it sounded like crap compared to the old shit. LA Rap had a great period in the late 80’s once they got off that Egyptian Lover tip, with the Rhyme Syndicate, King T’s crew, NWA and others who brought their own take on hard beats, but as soon as they figured out that a combination of a soft drums, whining keyboards and some random guitar licks could knock out a hit less than ten minutes, it was over. Not convinced? Does the name Warren G mean anything to you? If you answered yes, kill yourself. (more…)
Sure to upset your girl and embarrass you in front of your grandparents, songs about smashing it have provided some of rap’s most entertaining moments ever. There’s no way to cover them all here, but these are twelve of the finest ignorant dirty rapp joints you’ll ever hear. Keep in mind that I’ve had to exclude the entire musical output of Too $hort, 2 Live Crew, Disco Rick, Akinyele and NWA in order to keep this down to a dozen. (more…)
At long last, all your non-Internets using associates, well-wishers and acquaintances can enjoy the exploits of New York’s most celebrated basement dweller’s in HD (Husky Definition). Go here to cop and enjoy Rafi and Dallas’ exploits involving pee, swine-based snack foods, cereal, check-cashing spots and more on DVD (Batamax copies available on request).
While we’re on the topic of dope videos, for anyone who missed this originally:
When it rains it pours when it comes to unearthed rap shit. Not to be outdone by the Showbiz & AG demos album, the Diggers With Gratitude crew have recently unleashed three projects worthy of selling a kidney for. Starting things off with the Lungbutters mix CD:
A 60 minute mix of unadulterated audio pleasure presented in radio show format and hosted by our very own Sureshot La Rock with DJ Format on the wheels of steel. Listen as we take you through an eclectic blend of audio goodness featuring cuts ranging from the obscure and slept on to the much more easily obtained but
equally dope, with more than the odd smattering of unreleased gems, guest appearances and certified groin melters thrown in for good measure.
