random rap observations

today's topic: random rap observations

i. i think puff doesn't get enough credit from people in the hip-hop community. granted, his label was never the same after biggie died, and his artist choices have been drastically subpar (i'm lookin' at you da band, dream, and black rob).....however, i think when you look at what he did from 1992-1999, he should get some props. people clowned him for taking radio friendly 70's songs (diana ross, mtume, etc.) and using them on his hooks, but if you listen to those records, them shits knock. AND, they still knock in the clubs to this day (all about the benjamins, can't nobody hold me down). i mean... jodeci, mary j., biggie, mase, the harlem shake (oops...nevermind), the lox, and sean john.....he's put in some work. he's the best marketer the game has ever seen. i know, i know...to the "purists" who read this blog, you may think record sales don't matter, will negruh....they do matter. these artists aren't working for free. and puff is a paper shark. if puff wasn't puff, hip-hop would invent someone like him. that's how much he matters.

ii. i noticed that the first generation of 90's producers (primo, tip, pete, lp), they never sampled vocals. they would take the records they wanted to sample, and find only the instrumental portion of the record. which may not seem like a big deal, but after the rza came along with verbal intercourse, the game changed in my opinion. today's producers make a living sampling the vocal portion (just, ye, 9th). just listen to the blueprint, the listening, or college dropout, and then listen to the low end theory, ready to die, or mecca and the soul brother. it's a drastic difference in sample choices, and the way producers sample.

iii. if you don't like j.dilla, i don't like you as a person. i don't understand how people can place him any lower than top 2 as a hip-hop producer. (preme is the only exception)

iv. i bought my ticket for the roots festival 2010. i haven't been this anxious about anything since moving into my crib. it is rumored that run-dmc is going to reunite and perform.....if this happens......with the roots......wow, i'll be happy. the festival last yr. was one of the greatest things i'd ever seen in my life. aside from the roots and run dmc, i guess i would be most excited about seeing the MMJB & vampire weekend....either way, it should be dope.

v. i have finally created my list for my favorite 10 rap albums. i'm not saying they are the greatest, but they are my favorite, and accurately describe my personality.

slum village - fantastic vol. 1&2 (i look at those two, as one big-ass album)
roots - game theory
pharcyde - a bizarre ride ii the pharcyde
souls of mischief - 93 'til infinity
little brother - the listening
mos def - black on both sides
de la soul - de la soul is dead
beastie boys - paul's boutique
q-tip - the renaissance
dilla - donuts

just listen (pt. 1)

today's topic: just listen

this past decade i developed a love for hip-hop culture, specifically rap music. this post i will share with you my top 30 rap songs of the decade (in order). this took a lot of thought and debate in my head.

30. sweet (mike love remix): jay-z (pro. by mike love) from the nigerian gangster mixtape, a must have for any fan of mike love or jay-z. all aspiring producer should rework albums, its good practice...the break he used from fela is just dope.


29. conflict diamonds: lupe fiasco (pro. by 'ye) used for his mixtape, this is lupe at his lyrical peak. this is what kanye should've done to the track.


28. atonement: the roots ft. j*davey (pro. by ?uestlove) fav. track off the best roots cd yet...the production is incredible. great mood music.


27. the vacation from ourselves: wale (pro. by best kept secret) wale x seinfeld = good stuff


26. the sixth sense: common ft. bilal (pro. by dj premier) of course, premo makes the countdown. best song on com's best album.


25. once upon a time: slum village ft. pete rock (pro. by pete rock and dilla) anytime pete rock and j.dilla do anything together, it has a chance to be special...this is no exception.


24. ho: ludacris (pro. by bangladesh) but can i get a ride...no...c'mon nigga why? © luda....hil-larry-ous


23. so icy: gucci mane ft. young jeezy (pro. by zaytoven) good drivin music in the south.


22. america's most blunted: madvillian (pro. by madlib) one of the best rap albums of the decade. the best track on the album. and the ending is pure hilarity.


21. get low: lil jon ft. ying yang twins (pro. by lil jon) STOP. HOLD. WIGGLE WIT IT. YEAAH!!! © lil jon


20. chickenhead: project pat (pro. by dj paul & juicy j) reminds me of high school, hangin out at eastland & carolina place mall.


19. malcolm: ghostface killah (pro. by choo the specializt) this track is soooo dope. ghostface gives a play-by-play detailed description of how he beat down mase. wu tang clan ain't nothin fuck wit...just ask joe budden


18. good morning (into): kanye west (pro. by 'ye) according to my ipod, between sept. 11 07- dec. 31-07, i had listened to this song 71 times....that and i wonder were my fav. tracks from graduation


17. made you look (remix): nas ft. jadakiss & ludacris (pro. by salaam remi) two of the better verses from jada and luda in their career. i think the competition brought out the best in them both.


16. we gon make it: jadakiss ft. styles p (pro. by alchemist) hard beats. dope rhymes....listen.


(15-1)<----after the jump

just listen pt. 2

15. success: jay-z ft. nas (pro. by no i.d.) on this track, jay-z borrows a line from eminem and it apparently energizes him. plus, with nas on his heels, jay had to come with it. best track off american gangster.

14. till i collapse: eminem ft. nate dogg (pro. by em) this made me a believer in eminem and placed him in my top 10 MC's of all time. plus nate dogg's on the hook....its all good.


13. i got money: young jeezy ft. t.i. (pro. by dj toomp) i got it from bailey's © jeezy


12. what's beef: mos def (live from chappelle show) two classic verses from two great rappers.....however, mos def wins.


11. play your cards right: common ft. bilal (pro. by karriem riggins) bilal drops what is probably my fav. hook on a common record.


10. wipe me down (remix): lil boosie ft. foxx & webbie(pro. by mouse) classic southern party song. it honestly gets no better.


9. sportscenter: lil wayne: (pro. by just blaze) this instrumental came off the s.carter collection promo cd from reebok. lil wayne took the track and did better than jay-z. dedication II is wayne at his best in my opinion.


8. don't cry: j dilla: (pro. by dilla) the best instrumental album of the decade is donuts. if you are an aspiring producer or rapper, you need to own donuts. the sample chops on this track are ridiculous. R.I.P dilla


7. ms.jackson: outkast (pro. by outkast) it was between ms.jackson & red velvet...i could go either way. but the forever, forever-ever, forever-eva © dre 3000 gives ms.jackson the edge


6. wood wheel: ugk (pro. by pimp c) my favorite track from ugk. it reminds me of epmd the way they play off each other's strong points. great lyrics. great production. great track.


5. stay high (remix): 3 6 mafia ft. project pat, slum thug, and trick daddy (pro. by dj paul & juicy j) my party song of 2005. 'nuff said.


4. web: the roots (pro. by ?uestlove) black thought, my favorite MC, gets BUSY on this track. this is the track that made me a believer in the roots. the festival made me an unabashed roots stan


3. beautiful morning: little brother (pro. by 9th wonder) little brother provided the college soundtrack to my life for the first two years. hearing this song makes me proud to be from NC and motivates me to be successful.


2. get dis money: slum village: (pro. by dilla) bataan delivers one of my favorite lines ever in rap on the 3rd verse when i was a young boy, chillin in my daddy's nuts...lol. R.I.P bataan


1. move/renaissance rap: q-tip: (pro. by dilla/q-tip) anytime these two are on a track its guaranteed to be a success. the renaissance was the best album of 2008, and is nominated for grammy rap album of the year. the production on renaissance rap defines my personality. laidback, kinda quirky, enjoyable...that's me. my favorite rap song of the past decade.


for the next few weeks, expect decade-ending music list from bob george. peace