Throwback Thursday: Gigolo. Nick Cannon Ft. R. Kelly

So my parents watch and love America's Got Talent. They love the acts, the judges and the host Nick Cannon. They've loved him since he was at A&T. Anyway, every now and again they'll call me in to check something out and I'll catch a glimpse of him being a decent host. This dude has come a long way from All That. He branched out into more dramatic roles such as the aforementioned Drumline, Wilded Out, was featured on a Chappelle skit, married and had kids with the crush of every dude who grew up in the 90s (myself included) Mariah and is now worth 20 million. And of course there was his great rap career which in 2003 spawned one of the greatest callabos ever with the Pied Piper himself, Kells. Gigolo was such an awesome song. You can't front like you ain't like. It's a certified classic.

Gigolo


"Pimp bones in my body..."

You know what else Nick did in 2003?

Masterpiece theater

'03 was a great year for him but some how he tops that these days. #respect

Throwback Thursday: What's it Gonna Be?!

Busta Rhymes. Janet Jackson. Here We go. One Time.




Absolutely love this joint.

#The90s

Throwback Thursday: Get It On Tonite

This one is courtesy of the great Montell Jordan



#The90s

Throwback Thursday: Hard Knock Life

I recently read an article in New York Magazine about a possible Basquiat on a Brooklyn bodega door. I'm cultured lol. Yea that's the same Basquiat that Hov and 'Ye consistently reference on Watch The Throne.

Basquiat in a Brooklyn bodega ---> Jay-Z rapping about Basquiat ---> Jay-Z rapping in a Brooklyn bodega:



Crazy how these thing correlate in my mind...

#The90s

Interludes that should be full songs

I love interludes, mostly the funny ones like the ones Cam'ron does. I also like interludes that are songs. There are some that I wish were full songs though.

Miguel is the reason why I started thinking about this because of

The Girl With The Tattoo


This joint is so smooth...it def could have gone on for a few more minutes.

Usher has a few as well:

Prayer For You


I love this tribute/dedication to his son, its really touching...there was another verse or something.

Without You


Tough to say that this should have been a full song because it's followed by a great song: "Can You Help Me." It's a strong interlude that could have gone on as its own song though.

Alicia Keys too:

Prelude to Kiss


I absolutely love this interlude, it may be my favorite interlude ever. I wish it didn't end.

Never Felt This Way


Real nice instrumental lead up...smooth vocals...ended abruptly. We deserved a second verse.

Feeling You, Feeling Me


See what I wrote above? Same thing here.

Keyshia Cole checks in too

Same Thing


Ever since Keyshia jumped on the scene she made it known she was taking the Queen of Heartbreak throne from MJB. This track would have let us know why, if she would have stretched it out.

Danity Kane may be the biggest culprit though. There interludes are so damn good, better than some of their songs. They have a 3 that make me fee this way:

Come Over


This joint is so dope. It's right up there with "Prelude to Kiss" as my favorite interlude.

Ain't True


One of the best songs about cheating ever.

Secret Place


I can understand why this is a short song...can't talk about the Secret Place for too long lol.

These are just a few that come to mind but I'm sure there are many more interludes that should have been full songs...let me know if you think of  a few.

Jay's (Future) Kids

Beyonce is preggo. Or is she?

I know I'm a little late with this but what can I say I've been busy lol.

When I found out that she and Hov were finally having a baby I was kinda sad. Not because I thought that the new born will come out like this:

But because once this youngster enters the world it will mark the end of Jay rapping about his future kids.

I'm a well documented Hov stan and I've gotta say that some of my favorite lines are when he raps about his future kids. One of my favorite songs is "Beach Chair" a will/inspirational note to his future daughter.

Jay def knew something was up as they were making Watch The Throne:

"Sorry Junior, I already ruined ya, you ain't even alive paparazzi pursuing ya...."
- New Day.

His whole verse is dedicated to his future son and it maybe my favorite verse on the album.

And then there's the line in Made it in America:

"Tryin lead a nation to leave to my lil mans...or my daughter."

Which def made me say whoo.

I can't really explain it but rhymes/songs about future kids are so dope to me. Ex: "Letter to my Unborn Child."

Now, well soon, that's all over for Hov. Maybe he'll have a few dope lines/songs post birth of the youngster like Juelz did with "Daddy" and Fab did with "Stay." We'll see what up.

A Great Message

Throwback Thursday: "Doin It" - LL Cool J

While I was in DC for the Nation's Classic I patried it up. At this particular house party that I went to I noticed that mostly everyone in there was #borninthe90s (had i know I wouldn't have went trust).

Anyway at some point two of the girls began playing "Doin it" on the iPod hookup that was providing the entertainment. Those jawns were probably 5 or 6 when that came out, way to wild for their young ears. I wasn't much older, only 9, but I remember when I first saw the video. It was like (Softcore) porn. I had to be mad secretive when I watched it.

Cole World, No Blanket

Over the weekend my boys @Larry_Draper and @Parkour_Lewis and I started to referring to unfortunate situations by saying "Cole World, No Blanket" a line J. Cole said in "World is Empty." Real funny stuff.

On Monday night me and G went to a listening party for Cole World: The Sideline Story. Cole was there giving background on some of the tracks, telling us some dope stories.

Fire

We were right in front of the DJbooth where Cole was. At one point when he was talking about how some of his tracks are deeper than people are accustomed to, I yelled to him "We got degrees too Cole" to which he responded "Then you got depth." #Respect

Throughout the evening I kept yelling Cole World, No Blanket after each track played. The album is tough and when it drops on the 27th it's really gonna be a Cole World for the rest of the rappers in the game, with No Blanket.

September

August is gone...

September is here...

Sucks for sure but this should get you going a little bit:

Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends from sagod on Vimeo.

Throwback Thursday: Aaliyah

Taken too soon.

I write this post with sadness. Today marks the 10 year anniversary of the death of Aaliyah. It was tragic and depressing. She was so beautiful and was Brooklyn's finest (though raised in Detroit lol).

I remember the first time I heard "Are You That Somebody." I was at summer camp and these girls did a step routine with that beat (one of the toughest beats of all-time). I was like what is that and someone played the song to me. When I got home that joint was rocking all over the radio, it was crazy.

Aaliyah had so many cuts yo. She ruled #the90s man. It was tough to see here go when she did in the early 2000s ('01). I honestly feel like she was about to change the game for real. Unfortunately we won't know what could of been. Luckily we know what we had: Greatness. We love you and miss you baby girl.

Back And Forth


At Your Best (I prefer the slower version)


Age Ain't Nothing But A Number


Down With The Clique


The Thing I Like


If Your Girl Only Knew


Got To Give It Up


One In A Million


4 Page Letter


Hot Like Fire


The One I Give My Heart To


Journey To The Past


Are You That Somebody (Probably her most famous song/video)


I Don't Wanna (Not a video but my favorite Aaliyah song)


Try Again


Come Back In One Piece


We Need A Resolution


Rock The Boat (The final video shoot)


More Than A Woman


Miss You (I cry every time yo)

Watch The Throne

I've been listening to Watch The Throne just about nonstop since it dropped. Everyone's been giving their opinion. My turn: It's pretty damn good, maybe even great.

The beats are the best part of the album...each one rocks out and they're all pretty unique. The rhyming isn't the greatest (what we've come to expect)...but it's good and there are some great lines and verses. Everyone talking bout how Jay seems like an extra on the album, and that it's really a "Kanye" album featuring Jay, but I have Jay outrapping 'Ye, partly because he actually raps more.

My Scorecard:
1) Ye
2) None
3) Jay
4) Even
5) Ye
6) Jay
7) Ye
8) Jay (by default)
9) Jay
10) Ye 
11) Jay
12) Jay (by default)

Might be the Hov Stan in me scoring...who knows.

No one gets points for "Lift Off."The rapping is so subpar. That beat might be my favorite tho. With that hook it had potential. They botched it if you ask me. Cudi shoulda been on it.

"What You Need" shoulda been longer.

I wish they rapped like rapped on every track like they did on that and "Otis"

"New Day" gives me a chill.

Swizzy always makes me laugh "God Dammit" lol

I like the way the album closed out...tracks 10-12 are all excellent.

"Murder to Excellence" is powerful.

If anyone doesn't know/fuck with Frank Ocean they will now. He may be the biggest winner with his two choruses. Made It In America is one of the best choruses I've heard in a long time.

When Hov and 'Ye said #OOO at the end of "Why I Love You" so did I. #Respect

It's a pretty damn good album. Does it match the hype? Yes and no. Yes because Stans will bump it and say it's dope. No because Stans expected a whole lot and won't admit that it's good despite not reaching their expectations.

Which Stan are you?

I shouldn't condone this but you can download it here.

Music Fix

The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place - Explosions In The Sky. 

Every Day. Multiple Times.

Do it.

Throwback Thursday: "Don't Let Go" - En Vogue

At my dinner with Ms. Hicks earlier this week she told me about how she used to dance in music videos. She told me that she stopped dancing after she got invited to some Jodeci video that required her to bring a swimsuit. At some point in the 90's the videos started getting raunchier and required girls who would wear less and less clothes. She stopped dancing because of it. I couldn't find the Jodeci video she was talking about but I'm sure they were a big part of that switch in video culture.

That convo with got me thinking about some tasteful sexy videos from #the90s and I immediately thought of this one from En Vogue from the Set It Off soundtrack.

*Sidenote* Set It Off, the movie, could have its own  place on Throwback Thursday.

Enjoy:

Throwback Thursday: "Always Be My Baby" - Mariah Carey

Mariah had nothing but hits in the 90s. She is one of the main reasons (along with R. Kelly) that I grew up loving R&B. There are so many Mariah songs I could pick for a Throwback Thursday. I could go with "Hero" because I sang with my class at a 3rd grade assembly. I could go with "Fantasy Remix" because it rocks, features ODB and was shot at a theme park that reminds me Coney Island.

Instead I'm gonna go with "Always Be My Baby" beacuse it brings up great summer camp and summer romance memories for ya boy. Once July rolled I went to summer camp. Being the young mac that I was I always had a "girlfriend" during summer camp. Explains why I love "The Notebook" and "Summer Love" and also this video by Mariah.

Enjoy:

Throwback Thursday: "What You Want" - Ma$e ft Total

I love the 90's. Best Decade Ever!

Anyway I think I'm gonna start a weekly Throwback Thursday to show my love. I'll start today with this video from Ma$e ft. Total.

I love this video because its a dope song, but also because of the opening scene. Look how smooth Ma$e is. I think he started swag, and if he didn't he was the first dude I could remember who had it. #respect

@ 0:52 "I just said that to make you mad" makes me laugh every time.

Oh and did you peep the lines before that? Ma$e: "Where you goin be at?" Shorty: "I'll be in front of the building." Meeting places (and times) were so important in the 90's because everyone didn't have cell phones. Aww #the90s.

Anyway, enjoy:

Top 10 Albums of 2010

Annually my boy Geoff delivers his top 10 Albums. there is always some controversy when he drops his lists because he always has a few joints that are unfamiliar to the general "fan" but his ear is strong. If it makes his list its definitely worth a listen. Nonetheless there will always be some people who question it (ME!). His response to everyone who might not like his list: "Make your own list!" I'll certainly have my own list (near future post) but until then enjoy his:

It’s that time again. On an annual basis I make a list of what I believe are the top albums of each year. I don’t do it by genre (because frankly I don’t have enough time lol) so basically I compile a list of my top 10 albums across the board based on what I’ve listened to. In all years that I’ve done this I can easily say this has been the most difficult year. In what some have labeled the greatest year of music ever (or as Mr West would say “Of all Time”) I found it extremely difficult to narrow down my list to 10 picks. Needless to say there were albums I was very passionate about that didn’t make the list..but it is what it is. So without further adieu here’s my top 10 picks of 2010. #lehgo

Top 10 (No Particular Order)

Bun B “Trill O.G”:  Bun Beata aka the King of the Trill came out into 2010 with two guns blazing. One of the most heralded MC’s in the history of southern music dropped arguably the hottest effort of his solo career, receiving 5 mics from The Source along the way. The bass heavy, Drake heavy, effort mixes the Underground King with some of the hottest talent in Hip-Hop who graciously return the favor for Bun B saving many of their albums and mixtapes. 5 mics worthy? No…Great Album? Yes! #sayitlikerawse

Top Joints:

Right Now

Put It Down

Just Like That

Cee-Lo “The Lady Killer”:  Outside of creating your favorite tune to whistle in front of your boss that they don’t know the words and/or derogatory meaning to, Cee-Lo toned down some of his weirdness to focus on making a phenomenal album. After his stint with DJ Danger Mouse forming the group Gnarls Barkley, Mr. Green became extremely comfortable experimenting with different sounds that fit his hi-pitched voice. In the process he developed into more of a singer, than the fast-spittin, syllable shiftin, rapper he was in the Goodie Mob days.  On “The Lady Killer” Cee-lo fully embraces his role as a singer creating a soul shifting masterpiece embarking Nas’s former protégé Salaam Remi & the legendary Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind, & Fire along for the ride.

Top Joints:

Wildflower

Fool For You

Bright Lights, Bigger City

Curren$y “Pilot Talk”:  To keep it simple Curren$y likes marijuana, beautiful women, and Air Jordans. On his Def Jam debut the hot spitta recycles these three topics alongside some smooth production to create the perfect soundtrack for any “late night session” Finding Ski Beatz was the best thing that could have ever happened to Curren$y’s  career and we all have Dame “Bottle Poppin” Dash to thank for that.

Top joints:

Breakfast

Skybourne

Address

David Banner & 9^th Wonder “Death of a Pop Star”:  Proving my theory that you should never make a top album list until the year is completely over, David Banner & 9^th Wonder dropped some heat right in time to end the first decade of 2000. Banner has always struggled with whether he wants to be a conscious backpack rapper, or the “Like A Pimp” crunk maniac who encourages girls to “Get down on the floor.” 9^th  Wonder’s soulful production provides the perfect backdrop for Banner to wear his preacher hat, as the duo collaborate for 10 tracks of excellence.

Top Joints:

Be With You

Silly

Strange

Foreign Exchange “Authenticity “: Gotta thank my brotha from anotha Sean Smith for putting me on to Foreign Exchange. The duo of Nicolay & Phonte from Little Brother make the ultimate “zone out music,” meaning you can put on this album & it takes you to another place. Authenticity is equally the weakest of Foreign Exchange’s trio of albums, but considering that it still made my list..what does that say about how talented they are?

Top Joints:

Eyes to the Sky

Fight For Love

Authenticity

Freeway & Jake One “Stimulus Package”: It’s not a list of mine if I don’t have a sleeper pick. The funniest part about this pick is I almost slept on the album myself. In a moment of laziness I almost scratched it off my list because I didn’t want to take an hour to relisten to the album. Needless to say I’m glad I revisited this album. Jake One provided 15 pieces of heat for Freeway to yell & rub his beard all over.

Top Joints:

Stimulus Intro

Follow My Moves

Stimulus Outro

Kings Of Leon “Come Around Sundown”: Despite producing one of my favorite songs of 2010 “Beach Side” the family band that has mastered mixing the sounds of heavy hitting choruses with haunting guitar bridges has done it again.  The band mixes upbeat jams with melancholy ballads seamlessly to form an album that even someone who doesn't regularly listen to rock music can enjoy.

Top Joints:

The End

The Immortals

Beach Side

The Roots “How I Got Over”:  Who ever knew that late night TV would be the best thing that could happen to a rap groups career? The truth is the Roots have been doing this for a while now, and their affiliation with Jimmy Fallon has taken them to a level of superstardom that they have never seen before. Thus, providing the perfect launching pad for yet another solid album that arguably should have taken the 5 mic spot from Bun B.

Top Joints:

Doin It Again

The Fire

Radio Daze

Drake “Thank Me Later” : This album just made the list..yes as I am typing this. The spot was reserved for Cudi’s Man on the Moon 2. Then I asked a lot of my friends which album they preferred since I couldn’t decide. Well the people have spoken…Jimmy Brooks  > Scott Mescudi. Hope Cudi doesn’t jump off a roof once he hears the awful news.

Top Joints:

The Resistance

Miss Me

Light Up

(By the way..has anyone discovered who Cece is and why she has an interlude?)

Now for the moment you've been waiting for. My album of the year is.......

 Damn Ye..can I finish?

Well anyway you guessed it: Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

I’ve got to say..this was the easiest part of  my top 10 album journey. The moment I was welcomed by my baby mother Nicki Minaj’s voice I knew I was in for a ride (get it?) Anyway, Kanye as outdone himself with this album.  Blurring the lines of Hip-Hop, Pop, Gospel, African, and various other music genres, Mr. West has truly set an exciting precedent for the sounds hip-hop artists will be able to experiment with in the future.  Pardon the interruption..but Kanye may have just made one of the greatest albums of all time!

Top Joints:

Dark Fantasy

Devil in a New Dress

All of the Lights

Honorable Mentions:

Eminem “Recovery”: In what was easily the second biggest comeback of the year, Eminem came back with his best piece of work since the critically acclaimed “Marshall Mathers LP”. This actually might be my favorite Eminem album since I enjoy listening to him over a variety of production rather than just Dr. Dre, or heaven forbid his own beats. Album started off strong, he lyrically slays pretty much every track but I felt it trailed off near the end.

Kid Cudi “Man on the Moon 2”: As stated before it was between this album and Drizzy’s for my top 10. I really like what Cudi did with this album and it’s one of those albums where it gets better with each listen, unlike his debut which sticks with you after the first time you hear it. Mr. Rager produces an album that is rockin from start to finish although it’s quite unfortunate that “everything he needs hates him”

Rick Ross “Teflon Don”: I’m quite upset with Rick Ross. The bawse and self-proclaimed fat mutha**** would have easily made my top 10 if he didn’t decide to release half the album on his Albert Anastasia mixtape. To make matters worst he let the rest of the tracks leak before the album dropped so I had pretty much heard all of Teflon Don before I sat down and listened to it in its entirety. Nonetheless this is the same album that produced Free Mason, Maybach Music III, and the summers anthem “Live Fast, Die Young” Hats off to the fat man.

Well people it’s been real. Until I drop my list of 2010’s top mixtapes, keep listening to that good music.

And if you mad….tell me why you mad: