(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

Proclaiming yourself, as “The Hardest Out” can be a difficult task if you don’t have the firepower to back it up—so it’s a good thing that Styles’ mouthpiece is like a broken safety on an automatic assault rifle. If you visit any street corner, in any ‘hood, in any project; chances are you might come across some people who don’t believe in day jobs arguing about who’s better out of Jadakiss and the Ghost himself. While “Al Qaeda Jada” might have more commercial appeal, denying Styles’ street credibility is like trying to convince Donald Trump that Melania-Knauss Trump married him for his looks and not for the three billion dollars he has tucked away in his piggy bank. Since the dust from his third album Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) settled, the Yonkers-bred lyricist has released Phantom: Gangster Chronicles vol. 1, a mixtape/DVD combination. Filled with gritty rhymes, “SP” wastes no time in getting things underway with songs like ‘Two Clap.’ The material that makes a valid point on whether he’s actually the best LOX member or not comes into play with lines like, “Now I’m the boss of the bosses/if you think you’re married to the streets, I can make you divorce it/always hear me speak on the Porsches/I think it’s the horses/and how it zig-zags on the courses/big bags of money, try grabbing a fortune/the wheel get real, gotta spin it with caution/I ain’t really into the flossin’/I’m a stay dark/follow you home/get into your Porsche-in.” An eerie piano loop is the star of the show on ‘I’m Your Pusher’ featuring Straw and Trav; where Styles sits this one out in order to let the young D-Block associates get their own individual shine. But he returns on ‘Told You,’ and goes for self, “They can tell a n*gga to pop off/I’m here to pick all the money up, when it get dropped off/crossin’ n*ggas over like Hot Sauce/but this ain’t a ball game.” Styles taps into the R&B world on ‘Real N*gga’ as it features Ray J; and the mixture of the crooner’s faint tone blends in perfectly with the MC’s coarse word play. Other songs like ‘Where I’m From’ featuring Tre’ Williams, ‘Don’t Want It’ featuring Bucky and AP, and ‘Nuttin’ Come EZ’ also featuring AP are good additions as well—while the Next Generation could’ve used a little more prepping for their debut on ‘Cook Up.’ Phantom: Gangster Chronicles vol. 1 is a cool listen, and worth checking out, especially if you’re on the side of the debate that thinks Styles P is the best member out of the three-man collective. With only nine tracks (including ‘The Hardest’ which was previously featured on AZ’s Undeniable album), the Ghost manages to give the streets that love him so dearly more heroin bars that should hold them down until they start itching for another fix. Rating: 3.0

(more…)

What’s left to be said about EPMD? Besides being one of first MC’s that actually made it cool to use your government name, their track record includes six albums and over 20 years of legendary Hip-Hop status. But for the past couple years, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith’s love/hate relationship had them giving each the silent treatment as usual. As we enter another year, the duo that brought the world ‘You Gots To Chill,’ ‘So Wat Cha Sayin,’’ ‘GoldDigger,’ ‘Head Banger,’ and never ending saga known as the ‘Jane’ series reunites for the seventh time around with We Mean Business. The two can easily be thought of as Hip-Hop’s Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney due to the fact that they’re literally the last of a dying breed; who are still capable of creating their own sound without worrying about BDS spins. They stick to the “If it ain’t broke” mentality by having the “Green Eyed Bandit” handle the production duties, but switch it up with a hint of 9th Wonder. The album gets underway with ‘Puttin’ Work In’ featuring Raekwon. Over a well-placed violin loop, all three rhyme veterans prove that they have more than enough left in the tank. From there, they throw church organ in the mix on ‘What You Talkin’ featuring Havoc. Erick Sermon starts things off with his metaphor-heavy rhymes, “Comin’ for ya, the Oscar De La Hoya, the Golden Boy/I’m that dude, don’t believe, I’ll show you boy/ask Destiny’s Child, I’m not soldier boy” and Parrish Smith ends it with his straight-to-the-point talk, “I be killin’ it when I’m feelin’ it/straight drillin’ it when I’m peelin’ it/comin’ through in the Tahoe truck four-wheelin’ it.” ‘Roc Da Spot’ includes elements of the funk-influenced sound that people are accustomed to hearing from E-Double’s production. ‘Blow’ gives listeners more of the vintage EPMD sound with the tandem bouncing off each other perfectly, while the voice sample of woman screaming echoes in the background. ‘Run It’ sounds more like an old school class reunion of sorts, as it features someone else who also has meaningful letters in his name for Hip-Hop, who happens to be KRS-One. Method Man joins in the fray on ‘Never Defeat ‘Em,’ and shows that he hasn’t forgotten where the booth is, and uses is signature rhyme pattern wisely, “Nothin’ to lose cause I got nothin’ to prove, I’m rugged/who be like f*ck it, If I front in my shoes, you love it.” 9th Wonder’s unmistakable snares take center stage on ‘Left 4 Dead’ featuring Brooklyn newcomer Skyzoo—as they pay tribute to all of the people who lost their lives in the hook (including Hip-Hop as a whole). The rest of the album contains authentic Hip-Hop material like, ‘Jane’ (of course), ‘They Tell Me’ featuring Keith Murray, ‘Back Stabba,’ and ‘Yo’ featuring Redman; while songs like ‘Listen Up,’ could have used a little more tweaking before making it to the final cut. EPMD’s We Mean Business won’t break any sales records (especially in this economy), but for those who yearn for that throwback sound in a world filled with Auto-Tuned voices, listening to Erick Sermon’s lisp-flow with the combination of Parrish Smith’s monotone vocals puts their newest business installment right up your alley. Rating: 3.0

Everywhere you go, you always run the big risk of people getting the wrong idea about you. Even though appearance shouldn’t be a factor, it usually determines how people judge you in the end. You can be a loving husband and the sole provider for your family, but if someone like a Wall Street broker sees you wearing a pair baggy jeans, and Air Force One’s coming his way; he’s more likely to clutch his briefcase so tight—his hands will develop more calluses than a construction worker. In this edition of Six Degrees Of Separation [Click for other editions], the subject of being misunderstood by way off misconceptions comes into play with Ruste Juxx, The Knux’s Krispy Kream and Rah Al Millio, DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples, Illa J (the younger brother of J Dilla), and Detroit’s Trick Trick all discussing their own point of views on the matter. Now lets see if you can relate… [Click on names for individual interviews] iHipHop.com: Would you say that you’re misunderstood at times, and if so, what’s the biggest misconception about you? Krispy Kream: That we grew up in the suburbs, and since we’re not two ‘hood mothaf*ckas that you won’t be feeling our sh*t. But we’ll still knock you the f*ck out, and that’s pretty much the biggest misconception… Rah Al Millio: [Laughing] That’s like the BIGGEST one right there… Rutse Juxx: Some people think that I’m this big 6’7” dude before they see me. A lot of people are like, “Yeah, I thought you’d be bigger!” I guess they that think that way because of my voice… Illa J: I think what’s crazy is that I love basketball… Music was always a part of my life, and it was something that was just there anyways. It started from birth, but my first passion was basketball—I LOVE BASKSETBALL! [Laughing] That’s my sport right there… DJ Babu: I guess one of the biggest misconceptions about me that I’ve been trying to work out for over the past few years is that I can only get busy on the turntables… But I’m hoping that people will soon find out that I get behind the boards, and that I do get down with MC’s. People just know me for my DJ’ing background, and being with Dilated [Peoples] and Beat Junkies for years. But I’m ready to show people what I’ve been working hard at… Trick Trick: People think I be starting sh*t. People think I’m this super violent tyrant, and sh*t starting monster. But if you ask me, I’m more of a comedian. Even though I’m 6’3” and 250lbs, I’m from the same streets as these mothaf*ckas, or the same ones they claim they grew up in—but I’ll still f*ck you up. But I would rather laugh all day then beat the sh*t out of people. Whenever I f*ck somebody up, it just manages to get publicized. So the people just take that and run with it, and think I’m just a sh*t starting murderer, but that’s not the case. If you die by my hands, you done f*cked up, and I ain’t never did something to somebody that they didn’t have it coming to them. So I think that’s the biggest thing right there. I might be an asshole, but that’s it… [Laughing]