Goodies

Here are a couple tracks I've been listenin' to lately. They're not all exactly new releases (some are), but something worth checking out none-the-less.

Busta Rhymes - Respect my Conglomerate (Featuring Lil Wayne & Jadakiss)

Swizz Beatz - Where Da Cash At?

Jadakiss - Smoking Gun (Featuring Jazmine Sullivan)

The Fugees - Zealots

The Diseased Rapper (Top 10)

Its been a while since I've done anything productive here, so out of boredom I decided to make a list of MY top 10 diseased rappers. A number of rappers came up in the rap game and lost their life before their due for different reasons. Below the listed rappers I'll give a mini description about the rapper and why he made the list.

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10. Mac Dre

1970-2004. Mac Dre was a popular west coast rapper that worked with a number of fellow west coast rappers and helped fuel the Bay area hyphy scene. It took me a while to get into Mac Dre, but after further inspection/listening he definitely proved himself as a west coast talent who's presence in hip-hop will be missed. Mac Dre was shot and killed in traffic in Missouri.

9. J Dilla

1974-2006. Dilla a.k.a. Jay Dee is world renowned as one of the best producers of all-time, but he also released a few albums that he emcees (check out Ruff Draft and Welcome to Detroit). I felt the need to pay homage to Dilla even though this is not a producer list. He passed away in 2006 of a rare blood disease and lupus.

8. Proof (of D-12)

1973-2006. Proof was an essential part of Detroit hip-hop group D-12 and personal friend of Eminem. Rapper The Game speaks highly of Proof in many songs. In my eyes Proof was extremely underrated, probably because he was a member of D-12, which I'm sure a lot you guys would not admit to liking or listening to (I am the same). Regardless, he made the list. Proof died in 2006 after he was shot in the head immediately after he himself shot a man during an altercation at a bar.

7. Grym Reaper/Too Poetic (of Gravediggaz)

1964-2001. I came to know Reaper through horror-core hip-hop group Gravediggaz (which included Wu-Tang's RZA). If you want to listen to some classic material pick up "6 Feet Deep" by Gravediggaz and enjoy. Reaper died in 2001 of cancer.

6. Ol' Dirty Bastard (of Wu-Tang Clan)

1968 - 2004. The list starts to get a little more unanimous. ODB proved successful in both his careers with the Wu-Tang Clan and in his solo work. His unique style and humor was the catalyst to his success. ODB lived a less glamorous personal life involving legal troubles over attempted murders, drug use, and yes, living off food stamps. ODB died in 2004 after he collapsed in the studio. The autopsy showed that Russell Jones died of an accidental drug overdose.

"Wu-Tang is for the children". -ODB

5. Eazy-E

1963-1995. Gangsta rap at its finest. West coast power-house Eric Wright a.k.a. Eazy-E was most commonly known for creating popular late 80's early 90's hip-hop group N.W.A. and partaking in a popular feud with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube after N.W.A's demise. Eazy died in 1995 after he was diagnosed with AIDS. Before his death the feud with Dre and Ice Cube was resolved.

4. Big Pun

1971-2000. Big Punisher was a Bronx based rapper and close friend of Fat Joe. His first studio album titled "Capital Punishment" is nothing short of spectacular and displays Pun's great lyrical ability with a classic East coast feel. Pun was also a part of Terror Squad. He died of a heart attack due to a life long struggle with obesity. He apparently weighed in at over 700 pounds at his death.

3. Tupac

1971-1996. Pretty much an essential to any top 10 list, Tupac was nothing short of talented and influential to hip-hop. He was born in New York City and spent the earlier years of his life there. California love began in 1988 for Pac when he took poetry classes and took rapping to a more serious level. If you have ever heard anyone say "Thug Life" it is because of Tupac. He went on to befriend the Notorious B.I.G. only to feud with him in the years to come. He was shot and killed in Las Vegas while driving with Death Row founder Suge Knight.

2. Big L

1974-2001. One of the best to ever do it. Big L's lyrical ability was practically unmatched during his time. He had the ability to freestyle consistently and use tricky metaphors. Don't believe me? Check out some of his freestyles on YouTube or pick up one of his two albums "Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous" or "The Big Picture". The Harlem based rapper was murdered in 2001 by a group of men that were after L's brother. The group either mistook his for his brother or murdered Big L as payback. Big L rest in peace.

1. The Notorious B.I.G.

1972-1997. Surprise! I'm trying my hardest to not be cliche, but Christopher Wallace was the best to ever do it. Dead or alive. His first two albums "Ready to Die" and "Life After Death" are nothing short of amazing. He is easily one of the most sampled, remixed and re-used rappers that gets the most tributes. There is a good reason for it. Biggie was fatally shot in Los Angeles, the rumor is that he was killed by a member of the Crips as a retaliation for not paying them protection money.

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There you have it - my top 10 dead rappers. Some obvious ones, some not-so-obvious. I could have went on with longer descriptions, but if you really care that much just research some of these rappers and educate yourself.

Get Some

Probably one of the best NaS songs...

Produced by DJ Premier off of NaS' first album titled "Illmatic".

Stop Snitchin', Stop Lyin'

Alfamega, signed to T.I.'s Grand Hustle label was kicked off last week when news surfaced that he was a DEA informant. Alfamega was supposed to release his first album this year, now it doesn't seem so likely. Apparently Alfamega was sentenced in September of 1995 to 110 months in prison for selling weapons. Rumor has it that while in prison he contacted the United State's Attorney's office and gave information regarding illegal activity in Atlanta. Snitchin' doesn't really sit well in the rap game - ask Beanie Sigel. I'm not really sure what the future has in store for Alfamega, bouncing back from this kind of news seems unlikely. If he would continue to rap I'm sure he would be an easy target when it comes to diss tracks and so on.

Here is a track by T.I. that came out on the T.I. Vs. T.I.P. album titled "Hurt", which features Alfamega. This was the first time I heard of Alfamega, and now might be the last.

Hate, hate, hate...

I came across this article today. That is what I call a blog.

Also, the Busta Rhymes/Game concert in Moncton was cancelled, which sucks since its been a while since we've had anything worth going to. Lloyd Banks and a few members from D-12 are coming up soon, but I'd rather Busta and Game.

Asleep in the Bread Aisle

I know I am a few weeks late on this, but Asher Roth released his first studio album April 20th titled Asleep in the Bread Aisle, which was produced mainly by Oren Yoel. The first single off the album was "I Love College" followed by "Lark on my Go-Kart." Neither of these songs really demonstrate what Asher Roth is capable of lyrically. His mixtape titled The Greenhouse Effect with DJ Drama and Don Cannon, which dropped maybe around half a year ago, was a fair example of what Roth was capable of - critique on current events, different flows, and party related lyrics. Perhaps the downside to Roth's new album was that he is a middle-class white kid with nothing more to rap about than partying, women and marijuana. Most tracks on the album do not venture outside this theme. Compare that to the production and lyrics in "Change Gone Come" with Asher Roth, B.O.B. and Charles Hamilton (all XXL freshmen of the year candidates) where the lyrics and flow is much better than any track on his new album. Also, what suprised and bothered me was that the majority of the album was produced by Oren Yoel. Yoel is just coming along as a producer so its fair to throw him on some tracks with Asher, but imagine if Don Cannon produced the bulk of it. The beats were generally weak in my opinion, taking a more old school feel, but it did not feel the same. All in all I think Roth might have been overhyped and let people down with his first studio release. The expectations were to high. I was hoping for something along the lines of the Greenhouse Effect, but this album had an entirely different feel to it. If you were a fan of any pre-Asleep in the Bread Aisle Asher Roth check out his latest release and tell me your thoughts.

What's Up?

I've been nice and busy at home, away from excessive computer use and enjoying these summer-like days. I don't have much to add as an update today but I figured I'd let you guys know of a few albums that came out in the past few weeks.

Rick Ross - Deeper Than Rap (April 21): Rick Ross isn't good, lets face it. There are a few catchy tunes on this album, and its production value surpasses any other Rick Ross album. Tons of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League beats and the album features the likes of Ne-Yo, Kanye, T-Pain, Lil' Wayne, Robin Thicke and many more. This album is basically what you would expect of Ross - talentless lyrics, snappy southern beats and a ton of guest appearances to give it some appeal.

Jadakiss - The Last Kiss (April 7): I've been a Jada fan since The Lox became D-Block. I wouldn't put him too high on the list, but he is good none-the-less. The album contains the same kind of beats you would expect from a New York rapper but also has some more club-like new sounds that might appeal to the more mainstream rap fans. It's nothing over the top, but probably my favorite release this month.

Slim Thug - The Boss of All Bosses (March 24): Whether you can take him seriously or not (because of the name) this album is solid. If you are not familiar with the Houston sound then get acquainted with this album. There is even a song on the album that samples 'I Ran' by Flock of Seagulls produced by Jim Jonsin, the producer of T.I.'s 'Whatever You Like'. It got favorable reviews from the majority of reviewers, which is not easy now a days in rap, especially if you're coming from the south.

That is all I've really got lately for albums. There are tons of new ones like Asher Roth's debut 'Asleep in the Bread Isle' plus stuff dropping in May from Cam'ron, Freeway, Eminem, DJ Drama, Fat Joe and more.