Royalty, Dream Chasers and mix tapes

So I'm not into giving total album break downs to mix tapes but I have to figure out some way to incorporate them because they are so important in hip-hop these days. Pretty much everyone is putting out music every six months at this point. While there are inherent problems with that, this isn't about that aspect of it, this is about the music. So let's start with the artist who has impressed me

Album (EP?) Review - ASAP Rockie - Goldie

So ASAP Rockie is one of the hottest new artists on the scene right now and has been getting a buzz for well over a year. Coming on the heels of a successful year with a mix tape or two, he drops an EP that is built more like an album around the single 'Goldie'.

"Goldie" the title track has a solid beat with a heavy throwback Miami style bass line and a screwed hook. The song is the typical '

Local Flavor - Baltimore

So Baltimore isn't much known for it's rappers unfortunately, unless you count the short lived success of B. Rich and the even shorter shot at the mainstream for Bossman, but there are some decent rappers, some of which I have covered before like Japiro and Skarr Akbarr. More well-known at least for those who pay attention to Sean Puff Daddy' Comb's signings is Los.  Now I'm not a Los fan but

Freshman 10 -2012

So every year XXL magazine comes out with it's top 10 freshmen to watch for the next year in hip-hop. The results are often a mixed bag, two years ago Nipsey Hussle was in the top 10 and has yet to see a major label release and his buzz has quieted some, Wale took a label move to finally blow up, and while Big Sean and Mac Miller both released albums last year from their class, the results are

Mix tapes are out of control

So you may know I'm not a big fan of the modern mix tape, especially as is treated like an album, albeit with limited distribution and no direct checks for the artists. I understand, once 50 Cent and Gip-set were able to make a huge push in the streets with them, they became the accepted way to gain publicity and create a buzz, though since then, the impact has been negated because literally

Consequence throwing shots

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So I got this from my newest associates over at ISocialite as I looked to see what new things are going on on a Saturday morning. So Consequence who is somewhat well-known as a behind the scenes guy who has put out some music of his own is apparently livid at Pusha T of the Clipse. Apparently, he thinks Pusha jacked him for a concept on his latest mix tape. At the end he also

Pusha T

I was never a big Clipse fan when they first came out. Mostly I just saw the crack rap personas and thought "Why do i need them, the Lox is already out". Over time my feelings have changed on the issue. One reason is because Malice and Pusha are better rappers and song writers than Jada, Sheik, and Styles put together, bullshit titles that are self-given aside. The second is that they have moved

I don't like mixtapes pt. 2

Okay, I might not have been clear in my first post about the dislike I have for the current mix tape. I understand that it is a promotional tool but a large part fo the problem is that there are too many of them which are by artists trying to make it or D-boys looking to cleanse some dirty money. Number one is that most of these so called rappers now just suck. Honestly, you have to have a story

I don't like mixtapes

This post is about a sore spot I have with the new rap industry, mix tapes. Now This isn't at anyone specific though I have listened to a few mix tapes recently, this is a problem that began in the early part of last decade. Mix tapes aren't mixes anymore, they are el cheapo albums which is why I refuse to buy them unless prodded by the wife when we are out and she is feeling sympathetic. I'm

Nicki Minaj

Now I posted before about How Nicki the ninja has the swagger of someone who has accomplished something already and she hasn't earned it. I do like the potential that she has shown although I do not think she will reach it with her new Young Money deal. I just don't see these guys as being able to pull off these signees as credible artists but we shall see.(NSFW)If you watch this entire video you

Trey Songz - The Kellz parallel

The big release this week coming up is going to be Trey Songz' new album Ready. I have no problem with that, I mean the guy has worked pretty hard and is extremely talented for sure. The biggest knock on Trey has to be his extreme confidence a.k.a., arrogance. The funny part is everything he does is more than a mirror image of the man he has to be basing his career around, R. Kelly b.k.a.

The DJ

"Say go DJ, cause that's my DJSay go DJ, cause that's my DJSay go DJ, cause that's my DJ"Quick, name that tune! Aight I'm pretty sure anyone with half an ear who has been listening to hip-hop the past decade knows that this is the hook from Lil' Wayne's "Go DJ" off of the Carter, the album that catapaulted him to stardom. Though in the song, there was no actual DJ, this song echoes the common