(more…)

Artist: Obie Trice Album: Bottoms Up Label: Black Market Entertainment Date: 4/3/12 “O-Trice, Back At It!”  Six years after the release of Second Rounds On Me, Obie Trice is back with his third album, Bottoms Up, which keeps in line with his other alcohol-inspired album titles.  Ten years ago Eminem memorably sampled the line “Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks” from Obie Trice’s “Rap Name” on “Without Me.”  Now, Obie maintains his “no gimmicks” attitude on this project and even brings the line back on “Ups & Downs.” His past albums, Cheers and Second Rounds On Me, featured many collaborations and with only four features on this sixteen track album Obie Trice seems more comfortable showcasing his lyrics and flow on his own.  The subject matter of the album is light and ranges from the type of woman Obie fantasizes about on “I Pretend” to the story of his career and relationships within the rap game. Although Obie Trice split from Shady Records in 2008, Eminem has a strong presence on the album through samples, shout outs, production, and a feature.  The project kicks off with a Dr. Dre produced introduction on which Obie spits a verse letting us know that on this album he is “simply spittin whats in O-Trice’s system.”  He then thanks all those who have helped and supported his career so far.  The intro is followed by the energetic “Going Nowhere.”  Obie shows his confidence and lets us know he’s “in this to win this” over Eminem’s production.  The first single off the project, “Battle Cry” features Adrian Rezza and was produced by his brother Lucas Rezza.  It was released last summer.  On the track, Obie reminisces about his critics and past albums.  He starts each verse with his catchy battle cry of “O-Trice, Back At It” reminding us of his perseverance in the game.  The second single “Spend The Day” features singer, Drey Skoni and was produced by Detroit rap/production trio NoSpeakerz, who produced a third of the album.  The track tells the story of what its like for a woman to spend a day with Obie.  “Spill My Drink” is a catchy track on which Obie mentions his album delays and who has stuck by him through all this time. On the highly anticipated Statik Selektah produced “Richard,” Obie and Slim take it back to “Shady 1.0” with alternating verses packed full of references about them being “dicks” with Eminem on the chorus.  Obie comments on Interscope, as a label, and his issues with the industry on “Ups & Downs” and “Hell Yea.”  He also addresses his relationships with Eminem and Dre accompanied by a few Dre and Em samples on “Hell Yea.”  Trice and the late MC Breed represent for the Michigan rap scene on “Crazy.”  “Lebron On” is the story of Obie’s career told through basketball metaphors and comparisons to Lebron.  It discusses overcoming obstacles and being underrated and hated on.  Obie ends the last track with a shout out to “the G-Unit he knows” and a request to follow him on twitter @RealObieTrice. A few tracks such as “BME Up” or “Secrets” would have been a good fit for a 50 Cent verse or chorus, but they are solid tracks anyway.  There is an early 2000s classic feel to the album which maybe because he started the project so long ago. Obie’s verses are authentic and unaffected and uninfluenced by current music.  The overall production of the album is solid and a good fit for Obie’s style.  Many tracks have memorable witty lines and metaphors like “The way I hurt em with the ‘Ye, she call me Amber Rose.“  Although some tracks are more memorable than others, the project is comprised of well-written verses, catchy choruses and diverse flow, and definitely worth a listen. Purchase Bottoms Up on iTunes

Looks pretty cool. Wonder if there’s a meaning behind it. Pretty sure we’ll find out soon enough.  (more…)

Personally, this writer has never been a fan of Hip-Hop beef. In my opinion, it overshadows the music, leaving everyone in a “he said, she said” frenzy; which ultimately takes away from the art. (more…)

So, four MC’s walk into a studio…. Oh, you heard that one already?! Okay then, lets just get down to the debate. (more…)

All those who have written Odd Future off as a fad should now stand corrected.  The 11 person collective nearly matched the success of the more publicized debut from leader Tyler The Creator, by moving more than 40,000 units this past week.  The OF Tape, Vol. 2 plays through like a crazy jumbled, eclectic playlist, and it seems like OFWFKTA wouldn’t have it any other way.  It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the rap stable now that Earl Sweatshirt is back in the mix.  Rev. Run’s youngest son, Diggy, surprised many by cracking the top 20 this week with his aptly titled commercial debut, Unexpected Arrival.  Diggy managed to outdo Machine Gun Kelly’s EP, which pushed a meager 8.5k, which isn’t terrible considering it is being billed as the soundtrack to a book.  I’m personally not sold on Diggy, but it’s undeniable that the kid has a bright future ahead of him.  If you have consistently checked this column, you may have realized that Christian rap has become a growing trend.  This week, the Christ-praising MC Swoope made an impressive showing by selling over 2,000 copies of his album Wake Up in the digital space alone.   I took the time this week to check out a couple of singles that have been smashing the charts on iTunes.  I knew B.o.B was killing the game, but I’m still surprised that he did 400k plus in one month for “So Good,” especially considering this track is readily available for free download just about everywhere. Check back next week to see what numbers Bay Area legend E-40 puts up with the release of his triple album, The Block Brochure. Odd Future “The OF Tape, Vol. 2″ – 40,110 (60% digital) Diggy “Unexpected Arrival” – 20,725 (15% digital) MGK “Half Naked & Almost Famous” – 8,517 (100% digital) Swoope “Wake Up”- 2,353 (100% digital) Slaughterhouse “Hammer Dance – Single” – 11,197 (100% digital)  *Two week total*  [listen to track] B.o.B “So Good – Single” – 433,252 (100% digital)  *Four week total*  [watch video]

Did the New York Jets REALLY call a press conference for their new backup quarterback the other day, Tim Tebow?! Are you serious?! What’s next? Their equipment manager being thrown around in trade rumors? One thing is true about the Jets, when the toe-sucking head coach, Rex Ryan first got to the Big Apple, the Jets were making strides. They made it to the AFC Championship game two years in a row, and both times they, came up short. Just to make it there twice in a row is an accomplishment within itself, due to the fact that there are plenty of teams in the NFL who haven’t reached the playoffs since the Bill Clinton Administration, “PLAYOFFS?!” “PLAYOFFS?!” *Jim Mora voice* But since coming up short one game of the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons, the Jets have faltered, and their preverbal bark has become more than their bite. Now with the new season gearing up, and them being forced to see their cross-town rivals, the New York Giants flaunting their new Super Bowl jewelry, Gang Green is fighting back by adding the world’s biggest Christian to their roster, Timothy Richard Tebow. Bringing in the guy who ESPN’s Merril Hodge loves (that’s sarcasm if you didn’t notice) won’t help Jets one bit, and here are five reason why: 1. Having a press conference for someone who has yet to prove himself, and probably never will isn’t a good thing. As a backup quarterback, your only job in life is to carry around a clipboard, and keep the NFL cap that you wear clean, since you and your helmet won’t see any action on the field. 2. If Timmy does get into the game, everyone knows it’s going to be a run package, even people that don’t watch football know that. So if they all know, then so do the defensive coordinators of the opposing teams. 3. Making a spectacle by bringing in another guy at the QB position while your starting QB, Mark Sanchez is stealing $58 Million Dollars from you already isn’t a good thing. Quarterbacks are the prima donnas of the league, always crying and complaining that someone is out to take their job. So no matter how good both quarterbacks’ PR answers are to the press, that atmosphere alone will create tension in the locker room. 4. Tebow Mania might have worked in Denver, but here in New York, if you don’t produce as a professional athlete, (which Timmy won’t) the people of this great city will crucify you faster than you can say Passion Of The Christ 5. The NFL is the ultimate team sport, because it takes players on both sides of the ball to make plays. So when you have a single player hogging all the glory, while doing absolutely nothing to deserve it, it can take away from team chemistry, and without that team chemistry, you can look forward to the Jets having another dismal season.

Right now in this day and age of Hip-Hop, seeing an MC of the Caucasian variety isn’t such a big deal, because it has become more of the norm. One of the artists that helped to really spearhead the movement in the early 2000’s was Memphis native, Patrick Lanshaw; better known to his fans as Lil Wyte. Signed to Hypnotize Minds back 2002, Lil Wyte released his Doubt Me Now debut in 2003, with Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J handling all of the production duties. From there, he went onto release four more albums; in addition to three of them successfully landing respectable spots on the music charts, he also garnered more praise for his artistry. Now with just under 10 years in a game that guarantees no longevity, the head of Wyte Music gears up to release his sixth studio album, Still Doubted in June. iHipHop had a chance to catch up with the longtime Three 6 Mafia affiliate to discuss the love/hate relationship of the Internet, being compared to other white MC’s, having full creative control for the first time ever, and plenty more. iHipHop.com: You’ve been off the grid for a little bit… So what do you have new cooking? Lil Wyte: I’m recording a new album, and it’s dropping in June called Still Doubted… There’s going to be Three 6 Mafia production, of course… I’m also working with a couple of new young producers… I started my own label, Wyte Music a couple of years back, and I released two albums through it. One of them was Sno: Year Round with Jelly Roll… I also signed Shamrock, who won The White Rapper Show on VH1… Besides that, I’ve just been grinding man… iHipHop.com: With the name of your upcoming project being called Still Doubted, is that how you feel about your career up to this point? As if people still doubt you? Lil Wyte: Not really doubting my career, because I know that I’m not doubted… But with Doubt Me Now, my first album being everyone’s favorite— and when I drop this album it would’ve been 10 years since Doubt Me Now… So now it’s kind of like a question: “Am I still doubted?” That’s pretty much how I went about it… iHipHop.com: With this being your sixth studio album, has the creative process gotten easier or harder? Lil Wyte: Well, the cool thing about this album is that I told [DJ] Paul and Juicy [J] that I wanted to put this album out through my label; Wyte Music… They told me to do what I do, and that they were still going to help me promote it and all of that… So they gave me all creative control, and this is actually going to be my first album where I have full creative control… So I’m going to have a lot more fun with this album… There are a few topics that I really wanted to touch on for years… But being with [DJ] Paul and Juicy [J] on the Three 6 Mafia label—there’s a certain formula that you have to stick by… There’s going to be a lot more production from other people rather than just from Three 6 Mafia… I rap about different sh!t on other people’s beats… [DJ] Paul and Juicy’s beats just bring out that gutter stuff… I’m going to have a lot of good features on this album, and there’s going to be some surprises… iHipHop: With this huge influx of white MC’s; people like Yelawolf, Action Bronson, Mac Miller, Asher Roth, MGK (Machine Gun Kelly), and so on; does it bother you when people are quick to group you in with them?  Lil Wyte: I just said this on the Twitter the other day; I think it’s amazing that are enough white rappers out there for us actually to be getting compared to each other now [Laughing]… I think it’s funny, I really do… I’m actually a huge fan of Yelawolf, and I’m a huge fan of Rittz… I kicked it with those guys down in Atlanta, and they’re cool people… They both came up to me, and was saying when I album dropped, they were in their Chevys riding around in the ‘hood bumping it… All the ‘hood white rappers give me my props… So being grouped in doesn’t get under my skin; it really don’t… If they’re doing this music the wrong way; then of course… But as long as they’re doing it properly, it’s cool… iHipHop.com: What’s your take on the Internet? Has it helped or hurt the artist? Lil Wyte: It’s one of those love/hate relationships… Doubt Me Now dropped in ’03, so I was able to get that last little group of people that actually went out and bought CD’s… So that’s why Doubt Me Now has over 350,000 copies sold to date… That was with little promo, and no video… That was just word-of-mouth that the CD was dropping… But as the years went on, everyone’s album sales dropped because of the Internet… But with me, I’ve slowly figured out how to use the Internet to my advantage… I keep on Twitter; “Yo, I’m in Atlanta, what’s going on tonight?” Next thing you know, you’re in the studio with God knows who because of the Internet… So it does hurt sales-wise, but when it comes to social networking, and really getting your music to a wider audience; it makes sense… I’ve made so much money off FaceBook and Twitter… They just hit me up: “I need a show, how much do you charge?” You just have to know how to use it for you…

Not sure why famous people think they’re above paying taxes. The 99% do, so the 1% needs to get on board, or continue to be put on blast just like Nasir Jones is right now. According to TMZ:  The next time you buy a Nas album, you’re really just handing your money over to the government — because the rapper’s delinquent tax filings have caused Uncle Sam to begin garnishing his wages … TMZ has learned. As TMZ first reported, Nas is in tax debt up to his eyeballs … if his eyeballs were $6,000,000 tall. So the government has finally tired of waiting for Nas to pay up, so they filed documents in the state of Georgia to have his wages garnished — via the music publishing organizations BMI and ASCAP — until the debt is paid off.

Not even sure that Dame has $1.5 left to his name, so good luck with that one, Spitta.  (more…)

This is one of those Hip-Hop arguments that never seems able to go away, and that’s pretty much how we like it around these parts. There’s no question that both MC’s did their thing on the legendary track that appeared on Jay-Z’s first Blueprint album back in 2001, but as with everything else; only won person can take home the gold. So in your opinion, who was the gold medalist and who was the silver medalist? Jay-Z: “Motherfuckers - say that I’m foolish I only talk about jewels (bling bling) Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it? See I’m influenced by the ghetto you ruined That same dude you gave nothin, I made somethin doin what I do through and through and I give you the news – with a twist it’s just his ghetto point-of-view The renegade; you been afraid I penetrate pop culture, bring ‘em a lot closer to the block where they pop toasters, and they live with they moms Got dropped roasters, from botched robberies niggaz crotched over Mommy’s knocked up cause she wasn’t watched over Knocked down by some clown when child support knocked No he’s not around – now how that sound to ya, jot it down I bring it through the ghetto without ridin ’round hidin down duckin strays from frustrated youths stuck in they ways Just read a magazine that fucked up my day How you rate music that thugs with nothin relate to it? I help them see they way through it – not you Can’t step in my pants, can’t walk in my shoes Bet everything you worth; you lose your tie and your shirt” Eminem:  “Since I’m in a position to talk to these kids and they listen I ain’t no politician but I’ll kick it with ‘em a minute Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I’ll wear it But if it don’t, then y’all’ll swallow the truth grin and bear it Now who’s these king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics usin his music to steer it sharin his views in his marriage But there’s a huge interference – they’re sayin you shouldn’t hear it Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit Maybe it’s beautiful music I made for you to just cherish But I’m debated disputed hated and viewed in America as a motherfuckin drug addict – like you didn’t experiment? Now now, that’s when you start to stare at who’s in the mirror and see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarrased And I got nothin to do but make you look stupid as parents You fuckin do-gooders – too bad you couldn’t do good at marriage! (Ha ha!) And do you have any clue what I had to do to get here I don’t think you do so stay tuned and keep your ears glued to the stereo Cause here we go – he’s {*Jigga joint Jigga-chk-Jigga*} And I’m the sinister, Mr. Kiss-My-Ass it’s just the” Jay-Z: “I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench Whatchu hollerin? Gotta pay rent, bring dollars in By the bodega, iron under my coat, feelin braver Doo-rag wrappin my waves up, pockets full of hope Do not step to me – I’m awkward, I box leftier often My pops left me an orphan, my momma wasn’t home Could not stress to me I wasn’t grown; ‘specially on nights I brought somethin home to quiet the stomach rumblings My demeanor – thirty years my senior My childhood didn’t mean much, only raisin green up Raisin my fingers to critics; raisin my head to the sky Big I did it – multi before I die (nigga) No lie, just know I chose my own fate I drove by the fork in the road and went straight” Eminem: “See I’m a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me as a monger of hate and Satan a scatter-brained atheist But that ain’t the case, see it’s a matter of taste We as a people decide if Shady’s as bad as they say he is Or is he the latter – a gateway to escape? Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today See it’s easy as cake, simple as whistlin Dixie while I’m wavin the pistol at sixty Christians against me Go to war with the Mormons, take a bath with the Catholics in holy water – no wonder they try to hold me under longer I’m a motherfuckin spiteful, DELIGHTFUL eyeful The new Ice Cube – motherfuckers HATE to like you What did I do? (huh?) I’m just a kid from the gutter makin this butter off these bloodsuckers, cause I’m a muh’fuckin” Take Our Poll

Mac Miller spills his heart out with his latest highly-anticipated mixtape. (more…)

(more…)

Artist: Maino Album: Day After Tomorrow Label: E1Music/Atlantic Records Date: 2/28/12 Maino continues to tell his story with his sophomore album Day After Tomorrow.  Serving as a follow-up to his 2009 debut If Tomorrow Comes, which narrated his upbringing in Bed-Stuy to becoming a rapper, this new album is set in the present and represents the positive and negative balance that comes with fame.  For better or for worse, this album manages to differentiate itself from his previous album and casts Maino in a new light, while preserving his spot as a NY radio staple. On many of the 16 tracks Maino’s verses are accompanied by singers on the choruses giving them an R&B feel. He chose to use mostly in-house producers including Blast Off Productions who did four of the sixteen tracks.  The album opens with “Never Gon’ Stop.”  The track makes the theme of Maino’s contemplation of the two sides of fame clear with lines like “why I’m feeling like it was simpler when we was poor.”  On “Need a Way Out,” produced by and featuring Mista Raja, Maino tells his story from three stages of his life starting with his childhood in a poor home, then his stint in prison in the early 90s, and eventually becoming a rapper in where he questions, “looking in the mirror I’m a rapper now/ what’s supposed to happen now?” Based on his lyrics, Maino feels that he has made it in the game but is still not completely satisfied with his current life.  His lyrics are real, but he could have done a better job of showing the contrast between his past and current status.  It’s a concept album and he stays true to his theme, but it does get a little repetitive.  He exhibits confidence on “Messiah” on which he discusses trying to save hip-hop.  While I agree with his thoughts on the state of hip-hop such as “too many characters, the game is like a TV show/I can’t believe I see rappers wearing women clothes,”  he didn’t prove to me that he’ll be the one to save it.  On the title track, “Day After Tomorrow,” and “Glad to Be Alive,” Maino expresses his appreciation and thanks for the success he has seen but reminds us that there are two sides to that success, showing that things have changed with lines like “what happened to the old Maino? People say they miss him.”  “Heaven for a G” stays in the same vein thematically, as the song is about doubt and worry of what the future may hold for the Brooklyn-bred rapper. Maino is clearly a talented songwriter, and it seems like he is aiming for the certified Platinum success of “All The Above” with singles such as “Let It Fly” featuring Roscoe Dash and “That Could Be Us” featuring Robbie Nova which was released in the fall. “Let It Fly” has a similar beat to the Roscoe Dash assisted hit “No Hands.”  “Unstoppable” and “Heart Stop” also seemed to be aimed at getting radio play.  “Heart Stop” includes a chorus sung by a girl who sounds a lot like Rihanna.  The Buckwild-produced “Nino Brown” and the previously released “Cream” featuring T.I. and Meek Mill which samples a Rick Ross lyric from “MC Hammer” contain some hot lines and quotables. T.I.’s verse has me looking forward to hearing more on his upcoming project Trouble Man, whereas Maino’s verse is the least memorable on the track. The album as a whole may have benefited from a few more features from well-known artists and a little more diversity in subject matter, which says a lot for Maino. This is sort of a conundrum for Maino because his confidence is clear, but at times he appears overshadowed, as seen on “Cream” when he trades verses with T.I. and Meek. In terms of production, it is solid, but lacking diversity and basically what you would expect from a Maino album.  Overall, The Day After Tomorrow is a worthy effort by Maino, but more than likely only the hit singles the project has spawned such as “Let It Fly” will be remembered by the general public and not the album as a whole. Purchase The Day After Tomorrow on iTunes