#5. : Shade45 soldier (aka the other white DJ) cooks up a mouth-watering blend featuring 3 legends and the son of a legend. Although Clinton Sparks is no Premo but he certainly has an ear that most DJ’s lack in the game.
Courtesy:Clinton Sparks

#4. Build Me Up - Rhymefest ft Ol’ Dirty Bastard : People would checking more for ODB and less for Rhymefest on this joint even though the late great Dirty only sings the hook. It’s for delirious, yet entertaining acts like this that ODB will be immortalized. “I wanna get up in that bush like Dubya”

#3. Mince Meat - DangerDoom(mp3) : The Mouse and The Mask would probably never even smell the Billboard charts but that’s not taking away from the fact that MF Doom and DangerMouse have crafted one of 05’s better releases. Cee-Lo would have been better suited on “Mince Meat”, which could really use a chorus, than on “Benzi Box”(although the latter is still solid in its own right).

#2. : Can’t get enough of Doom, especially when he’s feeding you cookies. I’m actually impressed that Just Blaze was able to pull this one out his hat - Doom doesn’t change his style a bit on this snippet. If anything the masked villain succeeds in pulling Justin into his own sound. This might have been a left over from Mmm…Food. “Some have gone blind, Like starring at the screen too long while online”. For real.
Source:Spine Magazine

#1. Dumb Out - Joe Budden (ram) : It’s obvious that Joe Budden is still gunning for his fair share of respect, which he hopes to stack up by dropping dope joints like “Three Sides to A Story(featured last week) and this one. Regardless, this is top notch Joey. (Beware: Name-dropping ahead). “Now if you don’t sell 5 million, they got enough of ‘em/Let me find out Hip Hop’s turning Republican//”
Props: HipHopDx

Ol skool Joint of the Day:
Baby Got Back (mp3) - cover by Jon Coulton: Not only is this cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s popular masterpiece humorous, but it’s also earnestly entertaining. “I like big butts, I cannot lie”.

Playstation® has put together a promising Hip Hop show dubbed “The Breed Love Odyssey“.
Four of the most articulate lyricists of this generation will be coming together on the same stage in a city nearest to you. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae would be performing in various cities this fall. Thanks to WareHouse Live, Houston is already on the map for this one. Although they’ll be completely exhausted by the time they arrive Houston(why are we always last on the bill), yours truly would be there in all his glory covering the event.

There have been promises of free PS games and Connect Cash Cards giveaways for those who bring their PlayStation to the show. My question is: is it OK to “borrow” a system from the guy next to you at the show? And what if mine gets jacked, is Mos going to buy me a brand new PS3 for the inconvenience.

Tickests: Hit up Ticketmaster.com

More information on the event.
October
28 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
29 San Francisco, CA Mezzanine
30 San Francisco, CA Mezzanine
31 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst

November
3 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
4 Anaheim, CA House of Blues Anaheim (2 shows)
5 San Diego, CA House of Blues San Diego (2 shows)
6 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues Las Vegas
7 Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theatre
10 Denver, CO Ogden Theater
11 Denver, CO Ogden Theater12 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
13 Austin, TX Stubb’s
14 Houston, TX Warehouse Live

Just as Apple Computer, makers of all things iPod were readying the launch of their unique iPod Video, MTV Networks were finalizing a deal to acquire online favorite for short footage, iFilm.
The $49 million purchase would help revolutionize video downloading as MTV, a division of Viacom plans to make downloadable versions of TV shows available online. While Viacom intends to utilize the deal as advertisement platform targeting the over 10 million net viewers that flood iFilm every month, video via the web could become more like music via the web in the near future.

…in related news:

Apple Launches iPod Video

In another effort to boost downloadable videos, Apple Computer has introduced yet another variation of the popular mp3 player - iPod Video. Yep, portable video. I see how this can help bolster the distribution of vids by independent artists. So now you can watch that MF Doom video that has eluded you since 5th grade, or (let’s keep it real) your favorite Christina Milian video over and over on the long flight from LA to VA. Sounds good to me.

But there are a few downers to this new form of video pod casting. For a whopping $299 for a 30GB video iPod, and $100 more for a 60GB, this is one pricey product. Especially when you factor in the cost per video (from $1.99) via the new iTunes.
It’s only graceful to admit that there are flaws in the iPod Nano, but what’s up with Apple CEO boldly stating that the Video iPod is a replacement for the old-fashioned iPod?

“The iPod has been a huge hit for us, so it’s time to replace it,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Since when has it become a great marketing approach to refer to your product indirectly as outdated?

Jean Grae

Since she kicked in the door about 10 years ago, Jean Grae (Tsidi Ibrahim)has captured rap in a choke hold and she’s not letting go. Born in Capetown, South Africa to a jazz pianist father and a vocalist mother, the former LaGuardia High scholar is no stranger to music or the controversies that come along with it. Her parents fled to New York when she was a toddler in order to escape the blooming apartheid in South Africa at the time. Rapping about struggles, joy, pain, and sometimes simply kicking knowledge Nasir Jones style, Jean Grae is everything an average female rapper’s not. She’s the exact antithesis of Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim.

Unlike most of her female counterparts, the rapper formerly known as “What? What?” vehemently refuses to market her feminine assets, and demands to be assessed on the strength of her talent and not by her physical endowments. Jean’s powerful punch lines, entertaining persona, and magnificent mic skills have earned her both praise and collaborations from veterans in the game including The Roots(she appeared on their Tippin’ Point album), Masta Ace, Guru, 9th Wonder, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli(who allegedly signed Ms. Grae to his Blacksmith Music imprint).

Well way before Jean Grae became a household name in underground circles, she was only slightly famous for two things: being a member of the defunct group Natural Resource which ruled college airwaves in the 90‘s with the satirical “Negro League Baseball”, and releasing a impressive debut album that no one cared about (The Attack of the Attacking Things). But after honing her skills by making multiple appearances on a plethora of underground records which earned her the nickname “Cameo Queen”, the waterproof emcee dropped another solid project ironically dubbed The Bootleg of The Bootleg EP(Babygrande). The Bootleg … gave birth to a more introspective Jean Grae on ethereal tracks like “Take Me” and “Code Red”; and a more prolific songwriter on “My Crew” where she creatively laments the state of Hip Hop - the Cd’s most outstanding joint. You see, Jean doesn’t just complain about Rap, she proffers her art as a solution, ambitiously respecting the purest form. But the 2003 EP was only an appetizer meant to usher in the main entrée.

When Jean’s sophomore album, This Week (Babygrande) arrived, fans were pleased by the stellar production that had been absent on most of JG’s previous releases. Also missing in action was her signature run-on rhyme structure which made way for a more polished albeit conversational style flow. The Jeanius proved that she had the power to grow on every LP without stripping her sound …or clothes. Intelligent, witty and knowledgeable, Jean Grae is the paradigm of a virtuous woman, even if it’s the same woman who daydreams about “beatin’ up little kids like a stepmother”.

All rise for the Jeanius

Jean Grae (Audios)

- produced by 9th Wonder

Now after hearing so many discouraging reviews of Apple’s ipod and going by this man’s experience, it appears the once idolized invention has been garnering more foes than fans.

Unmitigated by the negative criticisms, Apple has introduced another variation of the (un)popular invention for music-lovers. The Ipod nano is no longer a new face to internet heads, but the new wood case for the nano is a no-brainer. Now your ipod will be secured for sure. I wonder if the inspiration for a wood case came from an attempt to make it Hurricane-proof.
The new “IWood” accessory described by Boing Boing as stately will ship as early as October 20th.

Bringing us closer to nature?

Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: Dre’s Version:
The good doc was kind enough to share his wealth with Hurricane victims Bill Gates-stylee by donating a cool mil to the less fortunate. A nice move from the Hip Hop physician. Now all you gotta do is drop “Detox” sometime in this lifetime, and we cool.

In Constant Rotation:
(mp3) - Adisa Banjoko (Buy his book, it’ll make him slightly richer, and you slightly smarter)

As a birthday treat from yours truly, I’ve decided to launch something exciting for my graceful readership. At the beginning of every new month, I’ll post a list of upcoming albums that are suppose to drop for that month. So, as the antiquated saying goes: if horses were wishes, the following albums will grace record stores across the nation this month-

October 2005 Releases
Big Boi presents…The Purple Ribbon All-Stars
Killer Mike - Ghetto Extraordinary
Twista - The Day After
Atmosphere - You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having
Big Tone - The Drought
Dwele - Some Kinda…
Alicia Keys - Unplugged
Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang
Dilated Peoples - (title TBA)
Royce Da 5′9 & Nottz - Politics
Sadat X - Experience & Education
Styles P. - Time Is Money
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Bone Thug Story
Crooked I - B.O.S.S. Music (Beginning Of Something Serious)
Jay Dee aka J-Dilla - (title TBA)
Sean Paul - The Trinity
Tragedy Khadafi - Thug Matrix II
8Ball & MJG - Space Age 4Eva
Danger Doom (Danger Mouse & MF Doom) - The Mouse & The Mask
Outkast - 10 The Hard Way
Papoose - The Nacirema Dream
Yukmouth - Million Dollar Mouthpiece
Stat Quo - Statlanta
DJ Muggs vs. The GZA/Genius - Grandmasters

TBA Album of the Month: The Growth - Joe Budden - as my man over at Nastack wisely points out, The Growth has been pushed back to 2025, and it’s official!

Many Hip Hop heads have often compared this Oakland-native rapper/songstress to Lauryn Hill for the appropriate reasons. Her perspective of Hip Hop, albeit unique, Mystic is definitely one to express unadulterated truth and pure soul through her songs much like the great L’Boogie. The self-educated rapper keeps her sound diverse by alternating between soulful harmonizations, intelligent raps, and spoken word.

Although her 2001 underground masterpiece Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom stands as her sole body of work, Mystic’s larger than life music philosophy speaks for itself. Her album is a brilliant mesh of spirituality, lyricism and musicianship. On songs like the Grammy-nominated “W” with Planet Asia, she offers a sonic tour of the west coast. “The Gottas” finds her questioning rap’s images without morphing into a preacher, while on cuts like “The Life” and “Ghetto Birds” she takes the listener by the hand and walks them through familiar struggles. On the classic “Fatherless Child” she channels an emotional account of her father’s death from a heroin overdose.

It’s been three years since this beautiful rapper tintillated ears with her powerful addition to Hip Hop’s heavyweight catalog. Whether Mystic will ever record another album remains a mystery. But, she’ll always be revered for stepping up to assume the throne during Lauryn Hill’s Hip Hop sabbatical.

For now, the Bay Area femcee is helping out with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

This is the first of a week-long 7 part series in appreciation of commendable(often overlooked) women in Hip Hop. Downloads and links will be offered when available (for promotional use only). Suggestions, comments, and complaints are welcome as usual.

When Heather Hunter stormed the porn world in the 90’s, she was the first African-American to evolve in the mainstream adult entertainment industry. When she decided to switch careers and pursue Rap following her porn retirement, the likes of Lauryn Hill and MC Lyte had already set the standards higher than an average porn star could ever visualize. But, Double H is not your average pretty face with no talent.
Although, her rhyme scheme reeks of a carefully-crafted by-the-book style, her crisp and smooth flow is delivered with a sassy attitude. On her first single, Double H demands to be taken “”. It’s quite a challenge to be taken seriously as a rapper when you’re only known for your former career and for appearing in 2Pac’s “How Do You Want It” video. But her wish was granted when underground critics welcomed her debut album The Unexpected(Blo Records) as solid effort. So, before you dismiss Heather as a gimmick, keep in mind that she’ s been fully cosigned by no-nonsense Hip Hop purist and pioneer, DJ Premier who collaborated with Double H on The Unexpected.

Video(s):
So Serious(video) - Heather Hunter (appearance by Wyclef)

Audios:

5. (mp3): Supposedly the first single off Big Poppa’s Duets:Final Chapter album. The incarcerated Brooklyn don spits prophetic eulogies with a soulful assist from the legendary Bob Marley.
(props to spine)

4. Road To Zion - Damian Marley ft NaS (ram): From one Marley to another, this is one of the handful outstanding joints from JR Gong’s latest addition to the Marley catalog Welcome to Jamrock. God’s Son touches on the Black man’s plight in his un-conventional off-beat conversational flow.
(Art of Rhyme)

3. Take It Easy - The Fugees (mp3) If you’re one of the most respected rap groups ever and you reckon you’re vital enough to make a comback after an 8-year hiatus, then you better make it a classic comeback (I don’t think Fugees fans would settle for less). This is not vintage Fugees but it’s more listenable than most of that other shit out there, which goes to show how further down the standards have slumped these days. “I ain’t rhymed in a minute, but y’all ain’t catch up, and that ain’t blood on your shirt, that’s ketchup!,”
(courtesy of O-dub)

2. Three Sides To A Story - Joe Budden: Def Jam was supposed to be putting out a Joe Budden album entitled The Growth sometime this year. Joey himself dissappeared from mixtapes for a while only to reappear on Roc Cafe with claims of being signed to Roc-a-fella. No matter what happens to The Growth or Budden’s contract for that matter, “Three Sides…” a twisted 3-in-1 story, will go down in history as evidence of what he can do on the mic…..sometimes.

1. Something To Hold On To - Jay Electronica(mp3) : A delicate yet introspective song that’ll get you thinking without making you scratch your head. Nottz adds substance to the joint with dense layers of soulful instrumentations, while the much under-appreciated Jay Electronica complements the beat with his crisp and clear flow.
(Thanks to Frank for this one)