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Review: Man On The Moon: The End Of Day

2009-09-15T23:44:00.005-05:00

Kid Cudi-Man On The Moon: The End Of Day

Rating: 4.5 Out Of 5

Best Songs: "Pursuit Of Happiness," "Cudi Zone," "Soundtrack To My Life," "Simple As..."

Throwaways: "My World"

Every once in a while, an artist comes out with a body of work that is so unique and so groundbreaking, that it leaves its mark on the game for years to come. Nas did it. Jay-Z did it. The members of the Wu-Tang Clan did it. Their albums were so different and revolutionary that it set the standard for other hip-hop artists from that point on. Now in no way shape or form am I comparing Kid Cudi with any of these artists. The three aforementioned hip-hop legends were gritty lyricists who could go bar for bar with any artist in the game. Kid Cudi will never be a top notch MC. But what Kid Cudi has done with his debut album, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, is create a sound that hip-hop has never heard before. Mixing R & B-style singing with his rapping ability over some of the best production I have ever heard on a hip-hop record, Cudi cannot be put into any category. He doesn't have the best voice and he will never be a top ten lyricist. But what Cudi posses is the ability to create infectious hooks without the use of Auto-tune, tell you a story (his entire album is crafted like a play, with each act giving us a different theme of songs) and give you a beat to match the mood of the song, and create anthems that people can relate to. Dat Kid from Cleveland has created one of the most creative CDs to date.

Broken down into five acts, Scott Mescudi introduces us to his dream world with "In My Dreams (Cudder Anthem)." Cudi's voice floats over a soothing mix of violins and synthesizers as the track invokes feelings of a kid daydreaming while his mind wanders off into space. The music fades as Common, who narrates the album, takes over with a poetry-like speech about the problems infecting our world. Cudi then launches in to "Soundtrack 2 My Life," where we find Mr. Solo Dolo confronting the issues he experienced growing up. Although the beat, consisting of haunting strings and outer space-like noises, isn't necessarily dark, Cudi digs deep as he speaks about his mother, his tendency to be alone, and the death of his father. The chorus is just one of the many infectious melodies that Cudi brings us throughout his album, and part of what makes this record so great.

"Simple As..." is one of my favorite songs on the album. As the song begins with a chilling voice counting to three and recounting their abc's, a tympani drum bangs out one of the best beats on the CD. Cudi raps about being the underdog and the pressures to live up to the hype as we move into act two.

Act Two, the "Rise of the Night Terrors" showcases beats that will remind you of the nightmares you had when you were a little kid. "Solo Dolo" finds Cudi singing over a beat that sounds like a creepy jack-in-the-box is winding up as the rhythmic bass line shakes your body. "Why must it feel so wrong when I try and do right?" Cudi sings. "Heart Of A Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Music)" takes an upward turn though, with Cudi telling us in the chorus that his mother told him never to let anyone break him. "My World" is the first song that I was disappointed by on the album, as Cudi sounds extremely monotone on his verses and the beat is a far cry from the gems that we have come to expect through the first half of this album.

Act Three gives us the song that gave Cudi his rise to fame with "Day N Nite," followed by the reworked "Sky Might Fall" which sounds like a track Kanye could have put on 808s and Heartbreaks. Luckily, Kanye allowed Cudi to take ownership of the track, and he does it justice. "Enter Galatic (Love Connection part 1)" is a strange song and feels a bit out of place on the album. Cudi spills his heart to the ladies on this track, but it has a very poppy feel to it.

We move on to Act Four, the best act on the album. Starting off with "Alive (nightmare)," Ratatat brings us the first of their two dynamic beats for Cudi. A screaming guitar rift backs Cudi spitting about coming alive when the sun goes down. "Cudi Zone" might be my favorite track on the album. An anthem in every sense of the word, a thumping beat accompanies the heavy synthesizer as Cudi is at his lyrical best here. Spitting about the work he has put in to get to the top, Cudi tells about the peaceful zone he can disappear to in his mind when the hate gets to loud. The hook is powerful and matches the up tempo beat perfectly.

After "Make Her Say," which needs no explanation, Ratatat and MGMT give us the best beat on the album on "Pursuit of Happiness," an uplifting track about the struggle to find happiness and the joy that comes in finding it. Another anthem that anyone can relate to, Cudi's voice works wonders over the guitar and piano that make up this futuristic beat.

The album closes with Act Five, where we find Cleveland's own Chp Tha Ripper assisting Cudi on the smoker anthem "Hyyer." Cudi closes out his masterpiece with "Up Up & Away," as Mescudi gives us his version of a ballad over a beat that sounds like a Coldplay song. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Kid Cudi's creativity on this album is something to be truly admired, as he has crafted a style that cannot be duplicated in the hip-hop community. He shines lyrically on multiple tracks, and while the lyrics are very simple on the rest, it in no way detracts from the music. Cudi speaks to his audience and you can tell how hard he is trying to connect with his fans. While incorporating all genres into his song making, Cudi has created a near classic that will propel him into the forefront of the freshman class.

Kid Cudi On David Letterman

2009-09-13T23:50:00.003-05:00

As we in the hip-hop community ready ourselves for the arrival of Kid Cudi's debut CD, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, here is a video to get you ready for what you can expect to hear from the record. Last Friday, Cudi graced the always hilarious David Letterman with a performance of "Pursuit Of Happiness." Now I saw Cudi perform in Cleveland, and he was amazing, but this performance is really great. 3 violinists and a full band? You have outdone yourself Cudi. The track sounds amazing, especially for me because I have held back from downloading Cudi's album prematurely. I can't wait to head out to Best Buy and pick up a physical copy of Cudi's CD after class Tuesday. Cleveland stand up! Here is the video.

Pursuit of Happiness Letterman Live
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The Blueprint 3 Review

2009-09-10T18:14:00.005-05:00

The other day, Wes Blaze called me and told me that Jay-Z on The Blueprint 3 remind him of when Michael Jordan came back with the Washington Wizards. At first, I wasn't sure if the comparison fit. But the more I thought about, the more I realized how eerily similar MJ and Jay-Z's careers have been. Both had an excellent rookie season, with Jay-Z dropping Reasonable Doubt (A classic in every sense of the word) and MJ averaging a ridiculous 28 points a game his rookie year with the Bulls. Both men have been in the game for a long time, with a long list of credentials. Both have a retirement under their belt, and both weren't quite as sharp when they came back from their short hiatus (I am referring to MJ's second retirement). Now when MJ returned from his second retirement with the Wizards, he still averaged 20 points a game. But he was older, slower, and a far cry from the man who won 6 championships. Jay-Z, upon returning from his retirement, put out Kingdom Come, which is many people's opinions, is his worst work to date. He then rebounded with the excellent American Gangster, and now he has brought us The Blueprint 3. Like MJ with the Wizards, there are some great tracks on the new record. But, there also a few flops, and it seems to be a far cry from his first Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt.

The CD starts out strongly with "What We Talkin' About" followed by "Thank You," which is one of the best tracks on the CD because it evokes memories of older Jay-Z. The beat is reminiscent of a Reasonable Doubt cut and Jay's flow is vintage Hova. I happen to be a big fan of Jay's two singles, D.O.A (in which we find Jay using his legendary status to tell shitty rappers to stop making music. It's like Emmit Smith telling Tony Romo to be a better leader. When a legend calls you out, you listen) and "Run This Town." "Empire State of Mind" might be my favorite track on the album, as Jay takes us on a journey through New York City, his birthplace. As someone who has frequented New York and loved every minute of it, you can really hear the passion Hova has about his hometown. Alicia Keys kills the chorus, completing this stellar track.

Sadly, the collaboration with Young Jeezy is a bit boring, finding nothing lyrically new from either one of them even though the beat is a definite head bobber. "On To The Next One" finds Jay stepping up his lyrical game, but the repeated chant of "on to the next one" that makes up the beat gets a tad annoying as the song progresses. Swizz Beatz doesn't seem to have a ton of variety with his sound these days.

The Blueprint 3 rebounds with another of my favorites on the album, the Drake-assisted "Off That." With Jay waxing poetic about what isn't hip anymore (you hear that Pac Man Jones? We don't make it rain anymore, we off that) over a sinister Timbaland beat, it's one of the best on Blueprint 3.

"A Star Is Born" is another gem on Jay's latest effort, as we find Jay-Z reminiscing about his favorite rappers and commenting on the current stars in the game. He then hands the mic over to a true upcoming star in J. Cole, his first signee to Roc Nation. Cole goes in with his 16 bars, Cole starts off his rhyme with this ridiculous rhyme pattern: “The flow cold as the shoulders of gold diggin’ hoes when a broke nigga approaches," and then continues to tear up the rest of his verse

Unfortunately, the rest of The Blueprint 3 begins to slide downhill very quickly. The chorus on "Venus vs. Mars" is just plain boring and uncreative, while the beat on "Reminder" makes me skip the track immediately. "I'm Already Home" showcases a great chorus for the Lonely Stoner, aka Kid Cudi, but Jay sounds bored as he raps, and his lyrics suffer because of it. "Hate" isn't bad, but Kanye, for the second time on the CD, outshines Jay-Z, who comes pretty weak when Ye' brought his A game. "So Ambitious" is horrendous. I can't believe Pharell spent any more than 10 minutes on this beat, and why Jay chose this one over the hundreds of others he was probably sent is beyond me. Hov's boring lyrics match the boring beat, making this my least favorite track on the CD. I feel like I need to say 'pause' when I listen to "Young Forever" but Mr. Hudson comes through with the vocals. Jay though, once again, is uninspiring with lyrics, leaving you with mixed feelings as the CD comes to a close.

In the end, The Blueprint 3 is not a bad CD by any means. But we all know Jay could have done better, a lot better. Lyrically, I don't think Jay came very hard on this CD. Jay has never been the guy to drop witty one-liners on you, but he was creative and gritty. His ability to tell street stories through his music is what gave Hova his rise to fame. I just don't see or hear that same grittiness on The Blueprint 3. For now though, the good songs will be bumping in my car, and it is still definitely worth a buy. Like MJ with the Wizards, it leaves you thinking back to the old days when Jay and Mike were taking over the game single-handily.

Big Sean - Getcha Some

2009-09-10T16:14:00.002-05:00

This animation on this video is pretty sweet and fits the mood of the song very well. Kanye makes his appearance too. You can vote for the video on MTV HERE

Curren$y - 16 Switches (Video)

2009-09-10T13:18:00.002-05:00

and in case you missed it, here is a new song he put on on his twitter...

DOWNLOAD: Curren$y - Credit

Fort Minor reunited?

2009-09-09T22:24:00.003-05:00

Nooooot exactly...but this is the closest we have gotten in a while. I have been dying to find out what Mike Shinoda has been working on in the hip-hop community. On this Apathy song, Mike Shinoda doesn't rap but produces the track for Apathy, B-Real, and Celph-Titled. Maybe this will be the beginning of some new work for Mike...

Apathy - Shoot First Feat. B-Real & Celph Titled (Produced by Mike Shinoda)

By the way Apathy's sophomore album, titled Wanna Snuggle? comes out October 6th. I know it will be worth the purchase.

Saigon - Eyeball

2009-09-09T11:21:00.002-05:00

Direct from OnSmash:
"This was recently on Saigon’s latest mixtape The Moral Of The Story under the title “Saigon Meet’s Just Blaze” but since then they added a new hook and put it out to get ya warmed up for Warning Shots 2 coming soon.."

Saigon - Eyeball

I can't tell you how much this guy has grown on me. If you still haven't gotten any material from him check some of his previous stuff out. I dare you to tell me he isn't sick.

Attention:Deficit Album Artwork

2009-09-03T18:15:00.004-05:00

I remember quite some time ago, Wale on his Twitter account told us he was at the photo shoot for his album cover. He also stated that appearing on the cover would be a younger version of himself, evoking comparisons to Illmatic and Ready To Die. Well, the album cover art for Attention: Deficit is finally here, and it is a dope cover. I am also glad it doesn't at all resemble those classic CD covers I mentioned earlier because that just warrants unnecessary comparisons and personally, isn't all that creative. This art just makes me even more excited for this CD to drop...good look Wale.

Roc4Life Video: Wale

2009-09-03T18:08:00.001-05:00

ROC4LIFE.COM: Catching Up With Wale [Part 1] from marvelous mo on Vimeo.

Wale discusses his album, Back to the Feature, and DMV. Also, if you miss it, he says he's already workin on album #2...

Cheese Wiz

2009-09-03T17:49:00.003-05:00

Here's a song Wiz Khalifa just posted via his Twitter. Jordan and I absolutely hated that he is doin a song with Soulja boy ( I know Jordan lost a ton of respect), butttt I geuss I can cut him a bit of slack. After all he is tryin to get noticed right now and my boy Wale did put Gucci Mane on "Pretty Girls" (shoot me). It also might be nice to see Wiz do a song about something other than weed...

DOWNLOAD: B.A.R. (Burn After Rolling)

J. Period & K'Naan - The Messengers (Vol 1): Fela

2009-09-02T11:37:00.002-05:00

For all you K'naan fans, here is some new material from a project him and J. Period have been working on. This project is a tribute to Fela Kuti, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. Here's volume one, which is focused on Fela.

DOWNLOAD: J. Period & K'Naan - The Messengers (Vol. 1): Fela

Wale: Rising Icons

2009-09-01T10:59:00.002-05:00

If you missed it last night, Wale was on BET for Grey Goose's Rising Icons. This program has taken a bunch of up and coming artists like Wale and made half hour shows for them including interviews and exclusive performances. Check it out!

Notice: Tre from UCB as the backup singer has the highest voice ever. Works really well for some...sounds kinda weird on others

RI: Wale
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Jay-Z Recreates All His Album Covers

2009-08-31T16:47:00.003-05:00

There are no other words for this other than "bad ass." Hova recreates all of his album covers in this promotional spot with Rhapsody. As he gears up to release the almost fully leaked Blueprint 3, this commercial just gets me pumped. Check it out. Blueprint 3 drops 9/11.

Wale - World Tour Feat. Jazmine Sullivan (Prod. Cool & Dre)

2009-08-29T20:09:00.002-05:00

Another song off Attention: Deficit {October 20th}

DOWNLOAD: Wale - World Tour Feat. Jazmine Sullivan

Supernatural Vs. Biggie (Live)

2009-08-29T12:28:00.004-05:00

Before this concert, I had never heard of Supernat. After seeing him at this concert, I was blown away. He was listed as the "freestyle king" and I believe it after listening to him spit killer line after killer line. In one of the portions of his show, he displayed his talent for off-the dome rhymes by taking three words from the crowd and putting them into a song. What three words did he get? Hippopotamus, Roses, and Magnificent. Supernat had no trouble at all, as he seamlessly linked all three words and created three separate verses on the fly. Later, he showed off by taking items from the crowd and spittin' some one-liners to the crowd. I even had the privilege of getting the line "You gave me a money clip with no money in it" aimed right at me when I emptied the contents of my clip before giving it to him. I'm sorry I value my license, money, and credit card alright! Anyways, in this clip he imitates Biggie Smalls and plays out a rap battle. The clip is sorta short cause I didn't really want to see the show through a camera screen.

Chip Tha Ripper Interview

2009-08-28T18:09:00.003-05:00

Chip Tha Ripper seems to be making his rise, slowly but surely, to the upper-echelon of underground hip-hop. I didn't think Chip was all that talented when I first started listening to him, but he has definitely stepped his lyrical game up, enough so to be featured on Nah Right today in this interview with VIMBY. It doesn't have a ton of insight about who Chip is, but impressive nonetheless for Chip to be featured on Nah Right. You know I gotta support talent from my hometown. Just wish the interview was a bit more in depth. Cleveland stand up!

VIMBY - Chip Tha Ripper

Hip-Hop is Another Word for Love

2009-08-27T20:20:00.005-05:00

I think one of the reasons I love hip-hop and am so passionate about its music is much deeper than the lyricism, the clothing, and the beats. I own a t-shirt by the company Stampede that boasts the words "Language, Culture, and Respect." Those three words embody what hip-hop and hip-hop culture is. Yet the one word that really stands out amongst the three is "respect." The people I have met that are integral parts of hip-hop have shown us fans nothing but love. The first hip-hop show I ever went to was Jedi Mind Tricks, Iyan Anomolie, and Reef The Lost Cauze when I was a junior in high school. Granted these guys are extremely underground, but they showed the crowd so much love that night. I purchased a CD from Iyan himself and he sincerely thanked me for purchasing his music. My buddy Colin gave Reef a hug because he was so blown away by his music, and Reef hugged him right back. I will always remember that night because of how genuine those artists were. The same trend continued at other concerts I attended. Kid Cudi came across so thankful that he was performing before a sold out crowd at the House of Blues in Cleveland when I saw him. I have seen The Roots twice and both times they interacted with the crowd , taking time to shake members of the audience's hands and throw out a drum head or two. Even though The Roots are giants in the hip-hop world, they still took time out to thank their fans.

All this "respect" culminated when I attended The Reflection Eternal Tour in Columbia, Mo this past Monday. Headlining the show was the always energetic Talib Kweli and his beat-making side kick, Hi-Tek. They brought with them two other acts that could headline their own show in the supergroup Slaugtherhouse and the timeless Slum Village. After Slaughterhouse performed, I saw them exit the stage to go congregate in the lobby. So naturally, I followed. The group stayed for about 45 minutes just signing t-shirts in the lobby. In one of the coolest moments of my life, I was able to shake each of the group member's hands and have a short conversation with them as they signed my Slaugtherhouse t-shirt. I told Joe Budden that the intro on Escape Route was tough, and he responded me by thanking me and telling me it was one of his favorite songs as well. Crooked I joked around with me, telling me he was going to write a novel on my shirt, which he did. He even told me Circle Of Bosses is coming to us in September. Joell Ortiz wrote his signature "Yaowa" on my shirt, looked at me to see if I noticed, and then started cracking up. Royce dapped me up and when I told him "Shake This" was my shit, he looked a bit shocked that I knew that track and then genuinely thanked me. I walked away from those guys feeling amazing, because they showed me respect like I was one of their boys. I then went outside and met Hi-Tek, and the first thing he did was thank my roommates and I for coming to see his show. But that is just how hip-hop is. It isn't the facade of guns, killing, and degrading women. It has never been that. Real hip-hop has always been about love, respect, and having fun. Slaughterhouse embodied that when I met them, and it gives me even more optimism about the future of hip-hop as it climbs towards become what it truly was meant to be. And I'm out.

New BLU...sort of

2009-08-27T20:11:00.002-05:00

Okay...so when I saw this I got really excited. Blu is one of the brightest shining new stars in the world of hip-hop, but he has not put out a whole lot. Unfortunately, this new material is purely music, and its very short. I know I know, why post it if he doesn't even rhyme over it, but I figured some people might want it. Hopefully we'll get an updated version with some verses on it sometime soon. Until then here is the link

Blu - NoSleepForADay

Jay Electronica - Google Eyes (Live)

2009-08-27T20:07:00.003-05:00

Now, NahRight thinks that he performed this on his tour with Nas and Talib last year...I was there and I don't really remember it, but its still possible that he's right. Either way Jay is on point like always...the day he drops an album will be epic.

Move over "Swagger," "Forever" is here...

2009-08-26T20:41:00.003-05:00

For now here's the download link...I'll update a little later with an analysis and comparison of the verses....After the first listen though..I definitely know its fire

Drake - Forever Feat. Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Eminem

"I'm doin it to the Maximum, Nissan"

2009-08-26T09:58:00.003-05:00

Here's some new material from somebody who has become one of my favorite artists this past summer: J. Cole. After listening to The Warm Up for about 2 months straight, this dude has risen high on my charts. He's got the whole package: swagger, style, validity, wordplay...oh and did I mention he's signed by Jay-Z? He will be making a feature on Blueprint 3, which gives me just one more reason to get excited for that album. Also, according to Cole's blog, we could be seeing some new material soon.

"While I'm workin on the album I get urges to go off on certain beats I love. This is similar to the process of how The Warm Up originally started. I'm already sitting on some gems as we speak. I figured yall been rockin that warm up for a couple months, let's let some of them out. What's all this leading to? Shit, it ain't no tellin..
"I Came Up, I Warmed Up, the next up... "

DOWNLOAD: Back To The Topic Freestyle

New Black Milk

2009-08-22T11:54:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard of this guy, its about time you felt his presence. He is an extremely talented producer and he's solid on the mic too. Here are two new songs to check him out.

Black Milk - Set Go

Black Milk - In the AM

Same old Same old

2009-08-20T18:46:00.003-05:00

If you are sitting on this site reading this, you probably already know Jordan and I's problem with the radio. Our whole message here at Rear View Shaking is to support hip-hop that doesn't follow the trend of emphasizing life's importance on sex, drugs, and all things material. Another trend that our blog tries not to follow is repetition and the radio's nature to overdo everything that hits the airwaves. I am here today to focus in on one particular artist: Drake. Unfortunately Drizzy has fallen victim to the radio's tendency to take perfectly good songs and ram them down your throat until you can't stand the thought of it any longer. This time it is the song "Best I Ever Had." Before the summer began, much time had passed since I downloaded So Far Gone. I already knew this song was hot before it came on the radio, and even told my friends that the girls would go crazy if they played it at parties or in their frat houses. If you looked at my itunes "Most Played" playlist, this song was atop the list, due to at least a couple plays everyday. Then, it hit the radio. Check my itunes now, and you would see that I have the exact same number of plays as I did the first time I heard Trey Da Choklit Jok play the song on Power 92. From that point on (even though I tried as much as possible not to listen to the radio) I heard "Best I Ever Had" side by side with "I Gotta Feeling" and "You're a Jerk" anywhere from 3-6 times a day. Naturally I never want to listen to this song anymore. This creates a Catch-22 of sorts. I am very happy that Drake is getting acknowledged and has blown up faster than you can say "I just wanna be successful." However, it sucks that I am already getting tired of hearing his songs. This is what the radio does though, whether the song is quality or not. I geuss this is the one fault of being so far ahead of the public. By the time the songs we like are on the radio, I have already been listening to it for months.

My next point focuses on Drake's future. We all know that signing with Young Money Records and becoming Lil' Wayne's protege is the greatest thing Drake could have done to further his career. The buzz surrounding Drake is like nothing I have ever seen, and he is popping up on features with everybody. But, is it really good for the talents that he is being praised for to begin with? The Drake I know displays the gift he has been given by showing technique and immaculate wording on tracks like "Congratulations," which is personally my favorite song of his. The Drake I hear on the radio raps about pussy, lesbians, and f*cking every girl he lays his eyes on. If he continues to pump out tracks like "Every Girl in the World," he can say goodbye to me as a fan. I just hopes this is not a foreshadowing of what is to come, and that he rises above the influences of popularity. Please Wayne, don't do this to him, I'm beggin' you.

Here is a new Drizzy song that has surfaced today. It's not his best work, but it's something to break the monotony from the radio.

DOWNLOAD: Drake - Killer Feat. Nipsey Hussle

Oxed Out TV interviews Wes Blaze

2009-08-20T16:46:00.003-05:00

J-Tuck comes through with an interview with Wes Blaze for his Oxed Out TV. They touch on where the name of the mixtape came from, the Cleveland hip-hop scene, and what the future holds for Wes. Good look on the shout-out at the end too Tuck I appreciate it.

Download Sound Of Somethin Different

2009-08-19T16:13:00.003-05:00

Finally, the arrival of Sound Of Somethin Different is here. Follow the link at the bottom and listen to one of Cleveland's brightest up and coming hip-hop artists go in over 9 tracks. Please comment and give feedback for Wes so he knows what his fans like and how he can get better! Thank you!

Download Wes Blaze-Sound Of Somethin Different

Sound Of Somethin Different Listening Session

2009-08-19T01:48:00.001-05:00

Armed with a bottle of Bacardi and a dozen Bud Lights, I sat down Thursday as the sun set on another beautiful day in Cleveland Heights to listen to my good friend Wes Blaze's debut mixtape, Sound Of Somethin Different. To get in the right mind-state, my buddy Colin and I kicked back and listened to the new Slaughterhouse album while the number of full Bud Lights began to dissipate. When Wes got there, he looked like a man who hadn't closed his eyelids in quite some time. The life of a virtually unknown, local musician is a chaotic one. When he isn't making and promoting his music, Wes is working ungodly hours at a factory out in Solon, Ohio, trying to support himself and make enough money to purchase new beat machines and studio time. Yet here he was, ready for his music to grace our ears. He sat down, dropped four copies of his tape on the table, and settled into the couch. Exhausted but excited, Wes nodded his head as the last Slaughterhouse track faded into silence. All our attention now shifted to Wes and his creation. I was fearful of being disappointed, fearful that the formula Wes used on his singles that he had put out before this tape would be nowhere to be found. Why I thought like that, I don't know, because Sound Of Somethin Different blew me away. I tried to sit through the entire tape without letting any of my bias for Wes show through, but I didn't really even need to. The tape is that good. I would swell with pride at times because I've seen Wes work and I know how much energy he put into this tape. To see the final product come out so perfectly was just an all around amazing feeling, for me and for Wes.

Wes showcases his whole arsenal on Sound of Somethin Different. It even feels like a real mixtape, as Wes introduces himself to us over an eerie piano backed by a thumping bass on the intro. Tracks like "Swag on a Hundred," "Get At Me," "Get Hooked On It," and "2 Smooth" find Wes at his lyrical best. Jabbing his audience with clever one liners like, "I have they whole body shaking like Ali," and "They never see my face like the neighbor on Home Improvement," Wes' unique voice and flow go perfectly over his self-produced, yet anything but mundane, beats. Wes moves from lighthearted to somber as he waxes poetic about the passing of his aunt towards the end of the album, finishing it off with "I Made It," a song thanking everyone who has supported him and his dreams for the future. The aforementioned songs show Wes' diversity, as he is seamlessly able to craft lyrics showing off his lyrical prowess to telling personal anecdotes that have deeply affected his life.

With only nine tracks, Sound Of Somethin Different leaves you yearning for more from the talented vocabulary of Wes Blaze. The first and last songs leave something to be desired. I was left expecting another verse on both tracks and was disappointed when the beat faded out without another 32 bars from Wes. Yet the talent is so tangible, it is hard not to get excited about where Wes could end up. I look forward to the next mixtape, tentatively titled "Crack On Campus," from Wes, but in the meantime, everyone needs a copy of his current effort. Because the Cleveland native, with some luck here and there, is on a path to make good music for a long time. The download link for Sound Of Somethin Different will be up soon, and if you are in Cleveland, find me to get your free hard copy.

Felt

2009-08-18T10:03:00.003-05:00

Alright, so this past week and a half have been extremely busy with my last week of work, moving back down to school, and spending a weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks where I didn't even have a computer. Though this has caused an absence, Jordan has kept up with a few posts and I appreciate that. This summer, we haven't really both been on the blog at the same time very often, but we definitely hope to be in full force now that we will be reunited back here at Mizzou.

Anyways, I stop in today to share with you a few dope tracks from some lesser known lyricists in the game. The first is off of Naledge's Chicago Picasso which came out this summer, and it features one of my favorite lyricists, Jay Electronica. Unfortunately, pretty much NOBODY knows about Jay, because he has almost zero material. I am just waiting for the day when he releases an album, EP, mixtape or anything.

Naledge - Cool, Relax Ft. Jay Electronica

The next track I am very excited to bring you. This song features Murs and Slug from Atmosphere, two of the most concious rappers out there. They have joined together to make Felt 3, a tribute project to somebody yet to be named. Murs has discussed that he has a line of new material coming out, which I am pretty excited about and more Slug is always good too.

Murs and Slug (Felt) - Protagonists

What Your Car Needs

2009-08-13T15:36:00.004-05:00

Here are the five CDs that I am currently bumping in my beautiful, yet problematic, Ford Escape. If you consider yourself a hip-hop fan, and don't have any of these, you may want to reconsider what you are listening to.

1. Slaughterhouse-Self Titled. The self proclaimed king of the West Coast teams up with Brookyln's finest, Jersey's loudest, and Motown's toughest to form a modern day super group. There hasn't been anything like this since Wu-Tang was doing it. With all the hype surrounding their debut, Joe Budden, Crooked I, Royce Da 5 9, and Joell Ortiz take turns lyrically murdering each track they are on. In stores now, go pick Slaughterhouse's debut up immediately after reading this. You can also read a very on point review of the album by HipHopDX right here.

2. Joe Budden-Escape Route. As the post below me states, Joey has just put out a hidden gem that a lot of people are going to miss because everyone has been caught up in his other group's hype, and rightfully so. But do no not sleep on this EP, because it is even better than his CD that dropped in January, Padded Room. He even samples Frou Frou on a track, I mean honestly, what more could you want. Turn the intro up extra loud and I guarantee multiple people will ask you what that song is making your entire car shake. JOEY!!!

3. Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa-How Fly. Two chronic weed smokers come together to make an mixtape complete with songs you would expect from potheads; laid back, chilled out beats and head bobbing music. Curren$y clearly out shines the lyrically weaker Khalifa on this joint, with his smooth flow and creative word use (he even raps about Nintendo 64), and the mixtape falls off a bit beat-wise towards the end, but it is good enough that is is mandatory to have this in your whip.

4. Wale-Back To The Feature. I don't have to give this tape much press, you bloggers already know how I feel about Mr. Folarin. His wordplay shines on his latest mixtape, especially on the finale track, "New Soul." A precursor to his debut album, Attention:Deficit (which sadly has been pushed back until October), if you want to know how dope Wale really is, all you need to do is slide this tape into your CD player. Oooo, that sounds dirty.

5. Pac Div-Church League Champions. I have been oozing about this up and coming West Coast group's latest mixtape, but please allow me to ooze some more. After multiple listens, this mixtape has made a home in my car, always there to make me bob my head after a long day of work. Get to hip to these kids, because they have a bright future ahead of them. As bright as a California summer day. No homo.

So please do yourself a favor and acquire these delicacies of hip-hop. Insert CD, turn the volume up, and your car will do what the name of this blog is. GET THE REAR VIEW SHAKING!

Escape Route

2009-08-12T23:46:00.003-05:00

Lost in all the hype for Slaughterhouse's debut album (which lives up to the hype, the term "supergroup" rings true here) is Joe Budden's newest EP, Escape Route. Dropping the same day as Slaughterhouse did, we find Joey at his lyrical best over twelve tracks. Joey is the deepest MC in Slaughterhouse, and here we find Jumpoff as deep as ever. The introductory track is one of the best I have ever heard, as Joey spits fire over a beat that is a sample of one of those pump up songs you hear when the PA is trying to get the crowd going at sporting events. You will know when you hear it. Buy it off of www.amalagamdigital.com or download it for free, either way, get your hands on this EP, because Joey goes in.

How Fly Is Here

2009-08-09T23:26:00.003-05:00

Finally....here it is....enjoy.

Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa Present-How Fly

How Fly Artwork+Track Listing

2009-08-09T11:10:00.003-05:00

Have been waiting on this mixtape for a while. The Jets and the Taylor Gang are in the building as we take a look at the artwork and track listing for Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa's joint project, How Fly. Whoever made the cover, props, because the artwork makes me want to download this tape without even hearing a song. But then you realize Spitta and Wiz are on every track together, and you already know how good of a tape it's going to be. Through Spitta's Twitter, the tape should be dropping today, so check back later for the download link. For now, enjoy a little taste.

We out there Hyperizin'!

2009-08-07T20:14:00.001-05:00

This video is hilarious...M0-Will, KD and Iggy kill it

Hot Verse Of The Day

2009-08-07T18:09:00.002-05:00

Thanks Tony for bringing back the verse of the day. This is the first verse off of Pac Div's "Knuckleheadz" off of their excellent Church League Champions mixtape. That CD has been in constant rotation in my car.

I'ma never learn, do it it till' the leather burn, steer let the Lexus turn, Trina it's a Lexus term
At ease, let me roll back my sleeves, bring your Mom with you she can roll back with me
Half coquettes and tee, minutes like Dennis', at school looked for shit to stick my teacher's dentures in
Bars like GZA and them, west like Peneltons, kuncklehead ni##as permanent, never penciled in
Earth to kid, women friends caddy but they get it in, always knew I had to ride the wheels till them shits was thin
Learn ya quick, simpleton, swerve all middlemen, if you wanna bark I let my dogs out the kennel then, sick em
New Air Max watch me flip em, been dope pen coke Cognac sipper
High class, fly ass, live rap ni##a, felines go crazy trying to find that Twitter

Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 7

2009-08-05T10:17:00.005-05:00

The day has finally come...Here is Cham's last mixtape (not last musical album) of the Mixtape Messiah Series. Should be excellent. Enjoy the musical feast he has given us

DOWNLOAD: Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 7 (DISC 1)

DISC 2: Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 7

How Fly

2009-08-05T10:13:00.001-05:00

Another Trailer for the How Fly Mixtape that Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa are putting out. They have been pushing back the date for a while now, so I stopped trying to geuss when its coming out. You'll find it here when it finally does...

Quest - Broken Headphones Mixtape

2009-08-02T19:43:00.005-05:00

Alright, so last week I came across this mixtape Broken Headphones by dude named Quest. What intrigued me most is that it said it was presented by HipHopDX and 2DopeBoyz, two hiphop blogs that I frequent every day. Plus the artwork looked pretty nice and well put together, not like one of those stupid Gucci Mane covers with 5 cars, diamonds, alcohol and half naked women on the front. Anyways, I decided to download it and check it out even though I had never heard of him. I figured it had to be good if both of these legit websites were supporting him right? Well I have done about 4-5 listens all the way through the tape, and I was pretty happy with what I heard. The guy doesn't have unbelievable wittiness in his punchlines or incredible similies, but he lays out whats on his mind, and it works great with the selected beats. His flow is smooth and the writing is well put together. His voice also really reminds me of Lupe Fiasco's so that's a plus too since I love Lupe's voice. He talks a lot about his relationships with the women he has dealt with throughout his life, and just talks his experiences, no bullshit. I think its well worth the download.

DOWNLOAD: Quest - Broken Headphones

Thanks to 2dopeboyz and HipHopDX for puttin this together. There's also a really nice article about him here: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/dxnext/id.122/title.quest

TM

Eminem....Are you back?

2009-07-31T11:28:00.003-05:00

I have to comment on Tony's post about the new Eminem track, "The Warning" where he goes so so so so so hard at Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. I came home last night, checked out Nah Right, and saw that Slim Shady himself had put out a diss track against, of all people, Mariah Carey. As Tony said, this whole thing started when Em made a pretty pathetic song calling out Nick Cannon and Carey on Relpase. I remember asking myself at the time, why would Em go back to a relationship he had about four years ago? Does he have beef with Nick Cannon? I thought it was a feeble attempt to push himself back in to the spotlight with some dumb song about two people who one might call D-List celebrities. But it has turned out to be the best thing in the world. I do not like Relapse. Aside from a few tracks, I really felt like Em had lost his touch. From trying to be way to vulgar to just not being able to put rhymes together like he used to, I felt Em was clinging on to an old formula that was not working anymore. But my God, he destroys this track. No, let me get this right, he absolutely devours this track. I put this on last night, and my jaw dropped. Instead of another childish attempt by Em to randomly diss someone, he goes back to his Marshall Mathers LP days and KILLS Carey and Cannon. No weird accent on his voice, no dumb fart jokes in his rhymes. This is the old Eminem that I loved, and the Eminem that I hoped would show up on Relapse. If Relapse 2 is anything like this track, I will take back my previous statement that Eminem is done. It may have been just one song, but Em still has it.

Wale Freestyle on BET

2009-07-31T09:29:00.002-05:00

Here is an interview with Wale, where we get some info about Chillin', his labels and signings, and other randoms. Also, at the end Wale lays down some sick bars for us, and without the help of a blackberry...

For Hip Hop News & Entertainment at DimeWars.Com

Eminem: The Warning

2009-07-30T21:38:00.004-05:00

Eminem started it on "Bagpipes from Baghdad," Nick Cannon and Mariah made it an ordeal with blogs and the song "Obsessed," and now Em has come back with one simple message: Nick and Mariah do NOT want Slim to get into it. On "The Warning" Em makes it clear that he has plenty of dirt on Mariah to make "Bagpipes" look like a joke on the back of a Laffy Taffy. He says that the track is meant to end this feud before it really gets ugly. "Fuck it now I'm about to draw the line," he spits. "And for you to cross it, that's a mountain that I doubt you want to climb." I respected Cannon for stepping up and making a stand for his woman, but who is he kidding. Eminem is not somebody you really want to mess with, and this track was made to show that. I almost want Nick to try a comeback, just so I can hear some more Eminem I actually enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Eminem- The Warning

Pac Div Freestyle

2009-07-29T23:43:00.003-05:00

Ever since I downloaded their mixtape, Church League Champions, I have been all about Pac Div. This video right here should help you understand why. In the studio with up and coming producer DJ Khalil (he produced the first single, "The One," off of Slaughterhouse's upcoming album), the men from the Left Coast go in over a nasty beat. Who do it better than these three gentleman? CHURCH LEAGUE CHAMPS!

Pac Div + DJ Khalil = DOOM from DJ KHALIL on Vimeo.

New from Slaughterhouse and Friends

2009-07-29T22:08:00.003-05:00

For all of you Slaughterhouse fiends out there (Colin), here are some recent songs if you missed 'em. Some are solo or features from the members and some are as a group.

Royce Da 5'9" - Gun Harmonizing

Slaughterhouse - Warriors

Royce Da 5'9" - 8-11

Crooked I - 8-11 Pt. 2

P.W.T. Ft. Crooked I - Displacement

Novel Ft. Joell Ortiz & Papoose - So Much More

Slaugherhouse - The One

Verse of the Day is BACK

2009-07-29T09:43:00.004-05:00

One of the features I like about our blog is the verse of the day, a verse selected to show off an artist's prowess in lyricism. However, we haven't put one up in quite a while, so here is a nice verse from J. Cole off of The Warm Up. (If you still haven't gotten that, do so now)

From the track "Grown Simba"

"Pardon the Interruption
A proper introduction is necessary when your shit is lengendary, man
Greedy brothers wouldn't let me in the cafeterian
Cuz they ain't believe/suddenly they presbetarian
The hoes is librarians/they lookin me up
She got a jones like marion/she lickin me up
Then we cut, look how she say my name
I got her moanin j. cole/ they used to say jermaine
Inever change, im like a corpse in a coffin, 6 feet/shits deep
I was low, just a dollar and some hope/fix me
Cuz I was broke plus the weed that I would smoke would make me worser
Lord please let my problems disappear like Ron Mercer
I'm a star, converses/ conversin with them girls with the curves like cursive
They open like curtains cuz my shit is unheard of like curses on the radio
Same bitches used to play me though/now they yellin where you goin?"

Hard to top that....

Everything, Everyday, Everywhere - Fabolous Ft. Keri Hilson, Ryan Leslie

2009-07-28T10:50:00.001-05:00

This track is a banger and Keri Hilson does her thing

Loso's Way in stores today

The Great Hangover Tour

2009-07-20T17:57:00.003-05:00

Last Friday I was fortunate enough to grab a ticket to attend The Great Hangover Tour at the House Of Blues in downtown Cleveland. Headlining and making his homecoming debut was Kid Cudi, and he brought Asher Roth, B.o.B. and 88 Keys along for the ride. Running just a little over four hours, the show was one giant party. Each performer brought his own unique energy to the stage, and Cudi rocked the home crowd. Here are a few video clips from the show, you can really feel how into it the crowd was. What you don't see are the 16 year old drunk girls stumbling around and screaming, "BECKKYYYYY I"M OVER HEEEREEEE!" But that's a whole other story.

Kid Cudi's Intro+Down And Out

Kid Cudi-Day N' Nite

Asher Roth-Sour Patch Kids

Bobby Ray aka B.o.B.-Mr. Bobby

I Was Gone For A Minute But Now I'm Back...

2009-07-19T17:02:00.003-05:00

So yes, it has been a while since I have posted, and I apologize. But my absence has paid off because I was searching the internet for good music to bring to you, taking video at the recent Great Hangover Tour that graced Cleveland with its presence, and working so I could make some money to buy a sweet shirt to show all of you. Shouts to Tony once again for keeping the blog up to date with some good links. But I'm back, with two mixtapes that you need to get your hands on.

Pac Div- I usually don't really fuck with a lot of dudes from the West Coast, their style is just very different, but lately I have been warming up to it. I am already a huge fan of Blu, and U-N-I definitely grew on me. But Pac Div, or Pacific Division, is just straight dope. Their new mixtape, Church League Champions, is excellent, with each of the three members spitting fire in each of their verses. Their beat selection reminds me a little bit of the Cool Kidz and U-N-I, but their style is definitely different. The second track, We The Champs, is one of the coolest songs I have ever heard. They also love basketball, and throw in a lot of basketball references in their music, which I love. Definitely download Church League Champions, you will not be disappointed.

Young Chris- One half of Young Gunnerz has been making a lot of noise ever since he went solo, and that would be Young Chris. Here he gives us his newest mixtape, The Network, hosted by Don Cannon. A few tracks on here have been floating around the internet for a while, but the original material is dope. A lot of people say Young Chris bit Jay style wise, but I could really care less. He sounds different and brings his own style to the table. Download The Network, and let these mixtapes hold you over for a while.

"Change" on Fallon

2009-07-17T13:35:00.003-05:00

Daniel Merriweather and Wale perform the UK smash hit "Change" with the Roots backin them up on Jimmy Fallon late night. Fallon talks to Wale a little bit about his album and finds out Merriweather is actually Australian and not British haha.

Slaughterhouse - "The One"

2009-07-13T14:18:00.003-05:00

New Slaughterhouse called "The One" off of their album coming out August 11th. You aren't gonna want to skip this one. The end of this summer is going to be HUGE for hip-hop...

B.O.B vs. Bobby Ray: A Quick Review

2009-07-08T18:21:00.009-05:00

Okay, I know what you are thinking when you read that title. This mixtape came out a few weeks ago already, right? However, because he is such a prominent figure in the new class, and because we did post the link for the mixtape, I still think it is important to get out my opinion of this tape out onto the blog. I also plan on doing a review of the J.Cole mixtape as well.

Let me start off by saying that B.o.B. has had somewhat of a roller coaster when it comes to mine and Jordan's opinion of him. When we first downloaded his mixtapes before, we both saw he had a lot of talent. Jordan really like him, and I thought he was pretty solid. However, after those mixtapes, Bobby Ray somewhat disappeared from the game. He maybe had a song here and there, but for about 6 months, we really didn't hear a lot from him. This had both Jordan and I worried about what he was doing. Then about 2 months ago, it surfaced that he was working on this new mixtape. I heard what the concept was about and got really excited. I already knew he could spit, and that he could play piano and guitar well, so I was really anticipating hearing how this tape would sound. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

B.O.B.
Mr. Bobby got it started with a live freestyle titled "Patron & Swag." In the freestyle, he spits about how the content and lyricism of current rap is in terrible shape, a prominent theme within the up and coming class of rappers. B.o.B. is an artist who focuses on lyricism and it is definitely much appreciated. Throughout the rest of the B.o.B. portion of mixtape, he is joined by quite a few well known geusts. "One" has a great beat and rocks the sample perfectly. On this song B.o.B. is joined by Big Kuntry, another dude on Grand Hustle, and Mac Boney. There are no lyrics that make you pause and rewind the song on this track, but all three artists put in a decent verse that fit well together for the song. On "Change Gonna Come" we see him team up with fellow XXLers Charles Hamilton and Asher Roth. I personally love this song. I think its got a great message about the moves forward this country is making, and I think this is one of Asher's best verses that he's put out. I'd say hes got the best one out of the three on this song. The only fault in this song: Hamilton. I just can't get into that dude. On "Do You Have the Stamina" B.o.B. uses a live Kanye sample for the chorus of the song. Now I usually think the quality of live songs sound pretty bad, but this one actually works. The song discusses the stresses and difficulties of being a part of the game. B.o.B. handles the track very nicely staying well versed with nice rhymes as he explains how he keeps his composure while staying true to himself.
On "I am the Man" he shows a bit of his cocky side alongside. OJ da Juiceman and Bun B. The song is pretty average for a couple reasons. It could have been pretty boring if it was just OJ on the track. His verse has very little substance and just sounds overall not very well put together. He makes it worse by putting his annoying "aye, aye, aye" in the background of the verse. He also stopped very abruptly making his portion of the song pretty undesirable to listen to. However, Bun B stepped in to fix things by going hard on this track like he usually does. Bun used some pretty solid lines to bring this song back to an average rating.
Moving along we find the song "Voltage" featuring Mickey Factz and Playboy Tre. All three go in on this track and make it pretty fun and uptempo with a bouncy kind of flow. Finally, we got to "Im Dat N***a"(as a white kid from Munster, not very comfortable with that word haha) which features fellow Grand Hustler T.I.P. At the end of this song, the two both are confident that they each had the better verse over the other, and ask guys like me to "blog about it." So here's what I think. To be completely honest, i find it hard to locate the margin between the quality of these two verses. They are both very solid and pretty similar by basically saying that they are the hottest in the game right now and the scene wouldn't be the same without them. However I am gonna have to give the slight edge to B.o.B. because of his Brian Nichols reference. (For those who don't know he's the guy that broke out of jail and murder his judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's Deputy, and a Federal Agent). "they show me straight to the judge/just like Brian Nichols I ain't spittin' nothin but slugs." For that line I give B.o.B. the win.

BOBBY RAY
Alright, now we arrive at the second half of the mixtape that focuses on Bobby Ray, who is still part rapper, but also add the element of singing and shows his versatility with the instrumentals.

He jumps off by launching us into "Satellite," a fitting name as the synthesizer and other sound effects give us a very spacey feel. This is the first song that we get to hear his vocals which really fit well on the chorus. The song is extremely different from something you'd normally expect from a rapper, but that's exactly why he is not only a rapper, but a true artist. This song was very refreshing and got me excited for the remainder of the tape.
Mr. Ray continues with "Wonderland," a song set up by a very lively drum kit. The juiced up tempo goes nicely with Bobby Ray rhyming about the high stakes and high rewards of taking chances to go for what you really want to do.
The tape is even more diversified when we hear "Mr. Bobby," a very relaxed raggae track that's really easy on the ears.
"Camera" is an interesting track that discusses the path of a girl who is built up to believe that she has a legitimate chance at using her beauty to get her through life. However, the song quickly shows that women often lose sight of their morals end up being degraded and disrespected by themselves and others.
"No Man's Land" is one of my favorite songs on the whole tape. The beat is made up of a great twangy guitar riff with tambourine and clapping in the back. Somehow a beat that sounds like it could be played at a barn dance works perfectly for the song.

So there it is...a quick (sort of, it turned out longer than I thought) review of the B.o.B. vs. Bobby Ray mixtape. Most of the other songs I missed are good too, so don't just skip them because I didnt' talk about them. The only song I really have a problem with is "Trippin'" Its not really bad, its just a little weird for me. But who knows, maybe I should take shrooms and listen to it.

So quickly:
FAVORITE SONGS: "One," "Change Gonna Come," "Voltage," "Satellite," No Man's Land"
LEAST Favorite (But still not garbage): "Fly Like Me," "Trippin'"

To close this thing out, I would just like to say that this mixtape has shot B.o.B. way up in the ranks of the new rapper class. I really have even more respect for him after hearing this collection of music and I cannot wait until his album drops.

Rating: 4.5/5

DOWNLOAD: B.o.B. Vs. Bobby Ray Mixtape

The Sound Of Somethin Different Artwork

2009-07-07T17:08:00.003-05:00

Here is the artwork for Wes Blaze's debut mixtape, The Sound Of Somethin Different. Wes told me he hopes to have it out by next week, and as soon as it drops, it will be available for download right here. Get ready Cleveland Heights....good music from our own backyard is coming.

Good Beats Make Good Music

2009-07-06T17:03:00.003-05:00

I've always found it amusing that whenever a good, respected producer puts together a track for an artist who has lyrical talent but doesn't let it show 100% of the time, that the artist always steps his or her game up and delivers an on point verse. Then the next track you hear from them is garbage and you shake your head because you know the talent that MC possesses. Here is an example of this exact situation as I bring you a track off of the highly anticipated CD from producer The Alchemist, who currently belongs to Eminem as his personal DJ. Entitled "I Know Your Name," the track features Lil' Wayne and Travis from Gym Class Heroes going in over an amazing beat from The Alchemist. There are times when I really like how Wayne flows over the beat, and he fits this track perfectly, while Travis actually shows up lyrically. Anyway, Chemical Warfare drops tomorrow, so please get your hands on it just because the beats will all be top notch. Here is the link to the posting about the song from NahRight.

The Alchemist feat. Travis McCoy & Lil' Wayne-I Know Your Name

Kid Cudi Freestyle on Tim Westwood

2009-07-05T11:06:00.003-05:00

This freestyle is pretty sick, check it out..Kid Cudi's album out August 25th!!

Download: Kid Cudi- Tim Westwood Freestyle

2nd Single off Attention: Deficit!!

2009-07-05T10:56:00.003-05:00

Alright here is the second single off of Attention: Deficit, which is coming out end of August I believe. Its called "Pretty Girls." I am pretty sure Wale said he was droppin his album the same day as Cudi, which is August 25th on his Twitter, but I'm not Positive.

DOWNLOAD: Wale - Pretty Girls

Atmosphere - Leak at Will (EP)

2009-07-04T10:55:00.003-05:00

Atmosphere gives a 4th of July Independence Day gift by releasing this free EP.

Tracklist:

1. C'Mon
2. They Always Know
3. The Ropes
4. White Noise
5. Feel Good Hit of the Summer (Pt. 2)
6. Mother's Day
7. Millie Fell of the Fire Escape

Download: Atmosphere - Leak at Will EP

Shouts to OnSmash for the download

TM

Reflection Eternal is "Back Again"

2009-07-01T16:09:00.002-05:00

Here at Rear View Shaking, we pride ourselves in choosing nothing but the highest quality hip-hop in the most current and timely manner. When it comes to quality, there are few that are higher than Talib Kweli. He is a lyricist in its truest form, and when he hooks up with good friend and beat maker Hi Tek, they combine to form Reflection Eternal, one of the best tandems out there. After some time since their last recordings together, they are here once again. Prepping for their new album, they released the single "Back Again" along with the video. Trust me guys this ones a banger. The video is pretty tight too.

Talib Kweli + Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal -Back Again-Vid Premiere

via yearoftheblacksmith.com

The song is available for purchase on itunes now

TM

L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto

2009-06-28T22:10:00.001-05:00

Interview with Wes Blaze Part 2

2009-06-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

Here's the second half of my interview with Wes. He talks to me about his upcoming mixtape, and drops a verse for us in closing. I want to thank Wes for sitting down with me and be on the lookout for more information on his mixtape as the release date approaches.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T09:49:00.002-05:00

Rear View Shaking wasn't around when Michael Jackson was doin' his thing, and it wasn't around when Rhymefest dropped Man in the Mirror a Michael Jackson inspired mixtape that was released at the end of '07. I think its definitely necessary to post at least somethin for the King of Pop. His music, dancing, and innovative style has influenced and touched millions upon millions of people, and he is going to be deeply missed. RIP MJ

Here's the mixtape:

DOWNLOAD: Rhymefest - Man in the Mirror

Shaq-Tastic

2009-06-25T23:27:00.003-05:00

I am sure that my fellow blogmate Jordan is extremely pumped about getting Shaq on his squad. Shaq has already played with Penny Hardaway, Kobe, DWade, Steve Nash, and now he gets to play with LeBron? Talk about playing in the best company. I hope this finally does it for the Cavs. Cleveland deserves it. Heres a little taste of the musical side of Shaqovich. Enjoy

Exclusive Content...Handle With Care

2009-06-24T11:43:00.004-05:00

In my future profession of journalism (hopefully), the word exclusive means a piece of news, or the reporting of a piece of news, obtained by a newspaper or other news organization, along with the privilege of using it first. Get The Rear View Shaking may not be an official news organization, but today I am proud to bring you our blog's first exclusive interview. I was finally able to sit down with my man Wes Blaze, and we spoke about where he started, his hip-hop influences, and his upcoming mixtape along with a few other topics. This was a lot of fun for me to do, and I think Wes really enjoyed himself. So, without further ado, I am happy to bring you part one of my interview with Wes Blaze. The video quality is not the best, and I gave up trying to figure out how to get this video file onto my IMovie program, so there is little editing. But in a sense, I like it this way. The content is much more important than the technical aspects, so sit back, and enjoy. Part two is coming later today.

Now Batting....

2009-06-22T17:14:00.004-05:00

Here's a list of some things you can expect on Get The Rear View Shaking this week:

-On a balmy Saturday night, my good friend Colin and I took to his porch above his backyard, and armed with a six pack of Budweiser select (Only 99 calories!), a boombox, and Wale's newest mixtape, "Back To The Feature," we sat back and listened to the entire tape all the way through. So look out for a thorough review of the latest mixtape from the D.C. native. One hint: It's excellent.

-Last weekend, I sat down with Wes Blaze for an interview. Everything came out great, until the point where I had to upload the file onto my computer. My IMovie program on my Mac will not open the file for me to edit, so I have been doing some editing on my PC, which is taking forever. So I am just going to post the interview with not much editing because the content is much more important. Look for that tomorrow.

-There definitely will be a review of B.o.B's newest mixtape, I just finished downloading and am eager to give it a listen. Wale and B.o.B doing big things!

B.O.B. vs. Bobby Ray Mixtape

2009-06-22T10:44:00.003-05:00

Well, after being relatively quiet for some time now, B.O.B. (or Bobby Ray) has released his new mixtape. He copies T.I. by naming it B.O.B. vs. Bobby Ray, however, rather than having a gangster side and a business side fighting to come out on top, the battle is more between two different musical styles. B.O.B. shows his hip-hop side, while Bobby Ray shows that he can sing, play piano and guitar, or spice up his music with some reggae. Whoever it is, the music is sure to be high quality and easy on the ear. The mixtape has a tone of features so be sure to click on the download link below:

DOWNLOAD: B.O.B. Vs. Bobby Ray Mixtape

LRG Presents Wale & 9th Wonder - Back to the Feature

2009-06-22T10:08:00.002-05:00

Even though there were about 8 of the 22 songs that I had already heard, it has finally arrived. Download link below

DOWNLOAD: Wale & 9th Wonder - Back to the Feature

Good Music in this Biiitch

2009-06-19T12:43:00.004-05:00

Okay, sorry I haven't been postin this week guys, my girlfriend has been in town and I haven't had a lot of free time on my hands. But, thanks to Jordan, there have still been a few posts to keep you all updated on some good things happenin this week. So when I did finally get a chance to jump onto Nahright and HipHopDX, I was hit with a slew of songs by artists I am very interested in. Like rumored, Lupe released "Shining Down," Joe Budden put out a Slaughterhouse joint, another T.I. song was put out, and the XXL freshman put out some more music. Here are some I think are worth giving a listen.

Lupe Fiasco - Shining Down Ft. Matthew Santos

Slaughterhouse - Woodstock Ft. M.O.P.

Sha Stimuli - Follow the Leader

Kid Cudi - Excuse My Mood (Kinda Like a Big Deal Freestyle)

Mickey Factz - Flying Balloons

T.I. - Make You Sweat

Royce Da 5'9" - D.O.A. Freestyle

Crooked I - Dear Tupac (Komplex Remix)

Today Is Gonna Be A Good Day

2009-06-19T10:48:00.004-05:00

While I struggle to figure out how to get the interview I taped with Wes Blaze onto my IMovie program, I realize today is going to be ok. Because finally, after a plethora of release dates that never came to fruition, Wale is officially dropping his highly, highly anticipated mixtape, "Back To The Feature." Around 7 Eastern, please head over to Wale Music and join thousands of other fans as Wale gives us a live listening session to over 20 tracks of what should lyrical gold. Good music is in the building!

Warm Up!

2009-06-15T12:01:00.002-05:00

First, I just want to thank J. Cole for staying true to his word and dropping his mixtape today. Some of you rappers, cough Wale cough, need to learn how to stick to dates, or at least tell fans what's going on if your music is getting pushed back. Ok, had to get my rant on for a second there. I am now proud to link all of you hip-hop heads to the second mixtape from J. Cole, the first artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label. Entitled "The Warm Up," the growth on this tape compared to Cole's first one, "The Come Up," is almost tangible. His lyrics are deeper, his flow has been polished, and it is exciting to watch a guy with so much talent finally come into his own. Representing Fayettville, NC, I bring you "The Warm Up," courtesy of J. Cole. Enjoy it and please spread it around!

Download: J. Cole-The Warm Up Via: J.Cole's official website

New Lupe!

2009-06-14T22:23:00.002-05:00

Well, this is the first time that we are really posting any Lupe music on our blog. It makes me very proud to present to you "Fire" by Lupe Fiasco. Also, supposedly "Shining Down" is going to be released Tuesday...we'll see

Lupe Fiasco - Fire

Kids of the Day: Adidas Drop Top

2009-06-14T21:14:00.002-05:00

3 Different colorways, and I like them all
I swear if only I had more money...I'd have so....many....shoes....

Wale Video

2009-06-13T11:04:00.001-05:00

I found this while I was looking around for any signs of BTTF. Supposedly "Pretty Girls" is going to be Wale's second single off of Attention: Deficit. Its pretty poor quality, but what I can make of it sounds pretty nice.

Wale-Pretty Girls from http://thebuzzdaily.blogspot.com on Vimeo.

We Still Get It In Ohio

2009-06-12T00:58:00.002-05:00

If Cam'ron used to get it in Ohio, then Chip The Ripper has been getting it in Ohio for years, and still is. Known around the underground Cleveland rap scene for years (the guy is huge at Ohio University), Chip is finally getting some love nationally. Being buds with Kid Cudi and having him shout you out is a huge bonus, but Chip is starting to come into his own. I admit I never really fucked with Chip, I didn't think he was all that great of a lyricist. His songs were fun to play at parties when people weren't really paying attention, and his song "Get It Girl" made me laugh. But with his previously leaked track, "No, I Said I Liked You" off of his upcoming mixtape, and now this Cleveland/Ohio anthem, I must admit I am starting to enjoy his music. Chip goes in over the Cam track and makes me proud to be a Clevelander. Bump this in the ride if you are riding through Ohio. His voice is pretty unique as well. Cleveland stand up!

Download: Chip The Ripper-Still Get It In Ohio

Checking Up On Those Freshman

2009-06-11T10:17:00.005-05:00

I have to really credit XXL with putting me on my current hip-hop shit. I was in the bookstore of the University of Missouri when I saw my man Wale gracing the cover of XXL's latest "Freshman To Watch" issue. I purchased the magazine, came back to my house and began downloading all the music I could from the various artists that made up the cover. That issue came out in late 2008, so I decided to check up on these cats and take their temperature. The future of hip-hop is in their hands, so let's see how they are handling it.

Buzz So Big They Could Probably Sell A Blank Disk

Drake-Probably the most hyped new artist out there, and he was not even on the XXL cover. Replace Ace Hood with Drake and XXL would have been golden. Having already dropped one of the most successful mixtapes the game has seen, Drake has already been in the studio with Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Pharell for work on his debut album. Sometimes it seems like Drake has been in the game for years. With a bidding war commencing between major record labels for the rights to distribute his album, with prices rumored to be as high as $2 million, Drake is pretty much set. Be on the lookout for his debut album in the fall. Drake is also rumored to be on the next single off of "The Blueprint 3" with Jay-Z.

Buzz Is Getting Louder

Wale-Since no one is quite on the level of Drake, quite a few newcomers fall into this category. We start with my man Wale Folarin, who's buzz fell off briefly a few month ago but is steadily climbing back into the forefront. After all sorts of problems with his next mixtape "Back To The Feature," Wale finally leaked a few tracks, both which were absolutely dope. Only increasing the hype of the tape, Wale also released "Family Matters," which takes a introspective look at a family made up of a prostitute and her child. Wale announced on his Twitter yesterday that the mixtape was finished, so we could have the tape in our hands tomorrow. If that happens, put Wale up in the category with Drake, for this mixtape will be epic. With his debut album dropping in July, and always killing MCs on whatever track he is on, Wale is going to be in the game for a long time.

J.Cole-The MC of of Fayettville, North Carolina has been slept on for quite some time, even after the release of his debut mixtape, "The Come Up." Hip-hop blogs such as Nahright and Onsmash have finally gotten hip to his talent, posting interviews and information about his new mixtape, "The Warm Up" which drops on Monday. My second favorite newcomer after Wale, J. Cole spits gritty, and about real life. I've said it before, but don't sleep on this kid. Warm Up!

Curren$y-After quietly putting out seven mixtapes over the years, Curren$y really helped his buzz with the release of his debut album, "This Ain't No Mixtape" a few months ago. Overall a great album (if you don't own it I highly suggest you pick it up) that showcases Curren$y's unique New Orleans flow which sounds nothing like Lil' Wayne, Curren$y has been out doing shows and most recently has been in the studio with Wiz Khalifa working on their joint mixtape which should be out by the end of June. Definitely still slept on, Curren$y is slowly pushing himself to the forefront of good music, with artists all over wanting to get a verse from him.

Waiting On Their Next Move

Kid Cudi-Although he has popped up here and there over the past months, Kid Cudi has largely been quiet of recent. By no means does that mean he has not been on his grind though. Giving us a release date for his debut album (August 25) and also working on a mixtape with fellow Clevelander Chip Tha Ripper, Cudi is poised to blow up come end of summer. Having worked with Kanye West and Swizz Beats on the album, Cudi is confident his music is going to blow people away. We shall see, but Cudi is never one to take time off. I know he is putting in work and hopefully it will pay off.

B.o.B aka Bobby Ray-Disappeared for a little while before resurfacing towards the end of May. Recording the song "Put Me On" for the Reebok Classic Series, which is an excellent song which showcases all of his talents (singing, guitar playing, and spitting) and the announcement of a new mixape coming soon entitled "B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray," look for Mr. Ray to get back on the music scene with his array of talents.

You Just Suck

Charles Hamilton-Sigh....what is there to say about Mr. Hamilton. Besides, in my opinion, being a mediocre rapper, Hamilton seems to enjoy infuriating the entire hip-hop community. Wale is on his label and doesn't fuck with him, Rhymefest hates him, and apparently his girlfriend isn't a big fan of him either. I am sure by now everyone has seen the video of Charles being punched in the face by his better half. With his awful idea of wearing a Sonic shirt over a button down, could it get any worse for Hamilton? Yes, it could. Recently, Charles Hamilton claimed that the legendary J. Dilla executive produced his album, even going as far as to put his name on his album cover. Claiming he was close with Dilla and his family in Detroit, a few hip-hop giants in the D did some investigating. What do you know, no one close with Dilla knows Hamilton, nor did Dilla have anything to do with his album. Way to go Charles, way to go. You sure are a class act.

Other rappers to grace the cover of XXL, like Blu, Mickey Factz, and Cory Gunz, I have not listened to throughly enough. That excludes Blu though, who has been very quiet of late.

Mickey Factz Freestyle

2009-06-09T09:44:00.005-05:00

I have really been meaning to get to writing a focused entry about Mickey Factz, and just haven't gotten around to it. Ill try to make it a priority and get one out to you guys, but for now here is a freestyle at a radio show he was doin'. I don't know if it was an actual freestyle or not, but hes got some sick lines in here. At least he's not reading his "freestyle" off of his blackberry like Drake haha.

PREVIOUSLY: Mickey Factz - Do My Do Ft. Kid Cudi

Swag On A Hundred

2009-06-08T00:30:00.002-05:00

He's back at it again. You have seen postings about Wes Blaze on here before and I maintain that his lyrical ability is just as good as a Big Sean or a Wiz Khalifa, and I mean that when I say it. You may remember Wes dropped a track exclusively for our blog called "Get At Me" a few months ago. Well, Wes is back. He brings his deft wordplay to his new track entitled "Swag On A Hundred." Just more lyrical genius from Wes. Hit the link at the bottom to see the video along with the song off of Wes' Facebook. I know I said I was going to have Get The Rear View Shaking's first interview up a few weeks ago, but it had to be postponed. I am hopeful to get it done this week with Wes and he gets set to drop his mixtape "Sound of Something Different" and show people what's really going on. So, support good music and stay hip to Wes Blaze. Mixtapes and shows are on the way.

Wes Blaze-Swag On A Hundred

Previously: Wes Blaze-Get At Me

Jay-Z Death of Autotune

2009-06-07T13:58:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, I had a great time going to a Sox/Indians game for my cousin's bachelor party. There was only one majorly horrific problem. The kid that was driving was the first person I have ever met in my life that actually owned a soulja boy CD. The actual CD. Not a song or two burned on a mix. The actual fucking soulja boy CD. Yes, this means I heard songs "Kiss Me Through the Phone" and "Gucci Bandana" ft. Gucci Mane about 4-5 times each. On top of this I (a 6'1" growing man) was squeezed in the back of a Chevy Aveo behind the drivers seat. As I sat there with my ears bleeding, all I could thihnk of doing was complaining to co-blogger Jordan via text message. He responded, "If you die, I blame Gucci Mane." Anyways, I managed to somehow make it through without opening my door and throwing myself onto the highway. When I got home, I needed some recuperation through real music. Luckily the mastered version of "D.O.A." (Death of Autotune), a street single was all over my favorite blogs. It was just what I needed to get back into the flow of things. The No I.D. produced track is not the real first single off his upcoming album. That is said to feature Drake and be released in July. It is also been said that Hov will be dropping Blueprint 3 on 9/11.

Download: Jay-Z - Death of Autotune (Prod. No I.D.) CDQ

Eminem Teaches Jimmy Kimmel

2009-06-05T10:43:00.001-05:00

This shit is hilarious

Truck North Is Back!

2009-06-04T19:25:00.002-05:00

Fans of The Legendary Roots Crew may recognize the name Truck North. He appeared on the critically acclaimed "Rising Down" in 2008. His verse on "Criminal" was absolutely dope and I remember hoping that I would hear more from this kid in the future. Any rapper being raised by The Roots is going to be a good one, and Truck North makes that point known. Here he is with his debut mixtape, "Truck Jewels," courtesy of OkayPlayer. Ironically enough, his track with Wale is the best one of the mixtape, and they both appeared on "Rising Down." Two amazing, young emcees making 2009 their own. You have to love it. So download "Truck Jewels" and spread the good music. You can download it here....shouts to OkayPlayer.

Shirts of the Week

2009-06-03T19:42:00.007-05:00

I think I did this once when the blog was in its early stages, so I thought I would continue it. People that know me know my love of shirts. I have always said that if I had more money than I needed I would spend it all on dope shirts. I would have 300 shirts, but only two or three pairs of jeans and maybe one or two pairs of kicks. Recently, with the very limited funds I posses, I decided to purchase two new shirts to the add to my slowly growing collection. They come from two of my favorite brands as well, so props to those companies for continuing to make quality apparel. The first t-shirt I bought is called "The Championship Ring Tee." Crafted by Lifted Research Group, or as it is better known, LRG, this shirt definitely stood out to me in their collection. In the middle of the graphic we find a towering championship ring, engraved with the companies name and the years they "won" the ring. With years ranging from 1947 to 3010, this shirt embodies the clever concept of winning the clothing war, from the past all the way into the distant future. The plane logo that fills out the bottom of the graphic also looks dope to me. You can find this shirt on Karmaloop.

My most recent purchase comes from the minds behind Crooks and Castles. I love this brand, yet only own one shirt of theirs, so, I felt it was time to make another purchase. I selected the "Gothic Ring" t-shirt for the design and the colors. I have always admired Crooks and Castles' interlocking Cs logo, which you can find in the middle of this shirt. The surrounding logo, a circular patter of one C in side of another, is also very dope. Top it off with their cursive insignia at the bottom, and you have yourself a masterpiece. I also really liked the cream and teal mix, I have too many just plain white and black t-shirts in my wardrobe. This shirt is also available in alternate colors. I picked this one up at Heart and Sole on Coventry, if you live in the Cleveland area check them out, if not, click on the store name for the website.

New Tracks

2009-06-03T18:43:00.003-05:00

Mos Def - History Ft. Talib Kweli (Produced by J. Dilla)

-Good To see Black Star hookin up again. You know its always gonna be good when they get together. The Ecstatic is supposed to drop next week...

Mickey Factz - Do My Do Ft. Kid Cudi
Mickey Factz is a dude that we haven't talked about much on our blog, but he is definitely someone to keep an eye on. A lot of people forget he was included with the likes of Wale, Cudi, and Asher in the XXL Magazine upcoming freshman issue.

Naledge - Flow From the Go

Naledge - Eye of the Beholder
You may know Naledge from the Kidz in the Hall. The kid has a lot of talent. These are a couple tracks over some Dilla beats.

Wu-Tang Clan - Harbormasters Ft. Ghostface, AZ, & Inspectah Deck
The first leaked song off of their upcoming album Chamber Music

Jay Rock - LA Song
Jay Rock gives us a song to get us all ready for the NBA finals that begin on Friday. I don't know if ya'll saw on twitter, but Shaq officially said today that he hopes Kobe gets #4. We'll see what he can do going up against Superman

More Wale

2009-06-03T13:03:00.003-05:00

If you aren't the biggest Wale fan, I apologize, because I have been puttin up a lot of Wale posts in the past month. But really, you should thank me, because maybe my favoritism towards Mr. Folarin will turn you into a huge Wale fan, which is what everybody should be. The material we have today is more from Back to the Feature and Pt. 2 of Zune's tour video about Wale. The first video is about a song entitled "Family Affair." From seeing Wale's twitter, you could really tell this was a very deep and important record for him. The song comes from three angles: A prostitute, A Pimp, and the prostitutes child. The song is sorta like a conversation about the views these three people have and the psychological effects and influences that prostitution creates. These kinds of tracks are exactly why I love Wale. He discusses a taboo topic of the dysfunctional relationships between these three characters and provokes thought, all while maintaining the impeccable word play and metaphors he is known for. He discusses this Best Kept Secret produced track with Rik Cordero (who is making the video for it) in the first video. Download at the bottom of the post.

Zune Attention: Deficit Tour video Pt. 2

DOWNLOAD: Wale - Family Affair

The Kickdrums-Just A Game

2009-06-02T20:29:00.003-05:00

The first time I heard about the Kickdrums, it was from more of a producer standpoint. Hailing from my hometown of Cleveland, OH., the production duo of Alex Fitts and Matt Pentilla have produced beats and remixes for the likes of Saigon, Joe Budden, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and many other big names in hip-hop. They put out an excellent mixtape last year called "Smash The System," on which they produced "Move On" for Joe Budden and Joel Ortiz, a classic track that previews a bit of what we can expect from Slaughterhouse's album this July. Needless to say, Fitts and West have earned their stripes. Today marks the official dropping of their first EP, entitled "Just A Game." I have not given it a full listen yet, but from the tracks I have heard, this is a definite must-have. Though not 100 percent hip-hop (in fact it strays more towards a Coldplay, Radiohead, alternative rock kind of feel), their hip-hop influence can definitely be heard throughout their drum patterns. If you are a fan of hip-hop, but also listen to The Fray, Coldplay, and other bands along those lines, you will love this CD. The Kickdrums are making Cleveland proud. You can download it off of Itunes by following this link off of Onsmash.

Morning Updates

2009-06-01T11:31:00.004-05:00

It's Monday morning and apparently I am grounded, so while I sit in my room I have scoured the internet for what's coming up this week and later in the world of hip-hop. I stumbled upon these tasty tidbits:

-Pushing back their projects seems to be all the rage these days for rappers. First it was Wale with his latest mixtape, and now, unfortunately, it is one of my favorite newcomers, J. Cole, announcing the push back of his new tape, "The Warm Up." Via his blog, J. Cole says that due to some last minute kinks he had to work out, the tape will not be dropping today. But he at least gave us the final release date for the project, which is now June 15th. If Wale sticks to his word, which is highly unlikely, and drops his mixtape before June 13th, there is going to be some amazing music coming out that week. Don't sleep on J. Cole, he is absolutely dope. He did drop a video for his song, "Simba" (he really likes the whole Lion King theme) so check that out and just listen to him flow, I think he is amazing.

Update: Can't post the embedded link for the video here, so click on the link to J. Cole's blog up above to check out the video. Sorry bout that.

-This morning on Twitter, Wale leaked K'naan going in over Cudi's " Day N' Nite" beat. He speaks on the situation with the Somali pirates that went on a little while back. K'naan is so versatile, look out for some tracks he and Wale did in the near future.

K'naan-Dayless Nite

Those are your morning updates, I will be back later with any other news.

Mini-Updates

2009-05-30T21:12:00.003-05:00

I am currently watchin the Cav's Magic game 6 (not enyoing its path by the way), but I saw a couple things that I thought you guys should know. So, just a short post about some things here and there.

1. Direct from Wale's twitter: "BACK TO THE FEATURE .... will be...here NO later then JUNE 13th"

- I don't know about ya'll, but it better be the greatest mixtape I have ever heard haha

2. Direct From Cudi's Twitter: "the video for "sky might fall" will be a mini movie, it will be epic. shootin it in a couple weeks along with "make her say""

3. Direct From Wiz Khalifa: "Smokin, chillin wit my broseph @currensy_spitta This mixtape is gonna b incredible"

-Earlier: "@MistahFAB Im headed down the N.O to knock out this tape wit Currensy this weekend, but Next week shld b great! Im wit it for sure cuzzy"

- if you see where I'm going, I'm tryin to say that they are almost finished with their How Fly Mixtape. They said its gonna be out by the end of may, so they got one day. I'm extremely excited to see what these guys have got for us. From what it sounds like, they are both pumped too.

Another theme you could notice from this post: Twitter is GREAT for updates, info, and just keeping up with your favorite artists. I've found that a lot of the new age rappers love tweeting, so its pretty sweet. So, if you think its still stupid, your loss.

3AM - Travis Barker Remix

2009-05-29T11:47:00.003-05:00

Okay, if the video of Travis Barker covering Soulja Boy got big, then this video deserves to get 5 times bigger. This remix is absolutely sick. In my opinion way better than the original, with the guitar and the live drums. Being a drummer and a fan of Blink, I have worshiped Travis for a while. He has unbelievable talent, and I am so glad to see that he is back to work after that terrible plane crash. He is currently working on a mixtape of his own, and if you remember way back, worked with Wale for Attention: Deficit. Travis is back in full force. Also, If you look at the bass drum, you will see it is completely wrapped in the Rogue Status pattern with all the guns that Rob Dyrdek always wears haha

BONUS: Bubba Sparxx - Back in the Mud (Travis Barker Remix)

Wale Tour Video Pt. 1

2009-05-28T15:56:00.003-05:00

Here is a sample video of Wale's tour. If you listen closely to Tre of UCB, he says "In July you will hear music saved." Thats right. He's talkin about Wale's album Attention: Deficit. Also, which city does Wale say is the best? Oh yea CHICAGO baby.

T.I. just asks "Remember Me"

2009-05-27T10:51:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, the day finally came for TIP to start his 366 day prison sentence. According to TMZ, Harris decided he might as well get it over with and turned him self hours earlier than his 12 pm deadline. While he was going away, the final version of a song "Remember Me" off of the rerelease of Paper Trail: Case Closed has been put out. The rerelease date has yet to be set, but is in the near future

DOWLOAD: T.I. Remember Me Feat. Mary J. Blige

UPDATE: Clifford Harris and girlfriend Tameka "Tiny" Cottle got married before Harris turned himself in. The two have been a couple since 2001 and have 2 kids together. Rumors of the event have been floating around all week, but an unnamed source finally revealed that it was true. The service was a small private service covered up as a family vacation to escape from the media.

Relapsing Back To Bad Habits

2009-05-26T18:15:00.006-05:00

When I think about the first time I put on a hip-hop record, I think back to middle school. I've racked my brain trying to remember how or when I was turned on to Marshall Mathers, a.k.a, Eminem, but I find a blank spot there. What I do remember is being captivated by his "The Real Slim Shady" music video and the overall way he carried himself. A skinny, white blond kid who said whatever he wanted to and had no remorse. Em was one of the first MCs to blatantly attack celebrities in his songs, and through MTV's promotion of his music videos, his message and Slim Shady persona became public. When the Marshall Mathers LP dropped, I somehow convinced my parents to buy me the clean copy of it. If they had ever heard what I was listening to, my life might be a bit different. Anyway, I was amazed at what I heard. A combination of the shock value and Em's unique, technical flow kept me listening to that CD over and over again. Eventually, I had every CD Em put out, from Infinite to The Eminem Show. You could play any song on any of those CDs and I would spit every word right along with Eminem. The last time I heard that version of Eminem was on "Rabbit Run" off of the 8 Mile soundtrack. From that point on, Em kind of lost his ability to be the great MC he once was. "Encore" was one of the most disappointing CDs I have ever listened to, with Em's lame attempt at being funny coming off as annoying, like I was listening to a 8 year old laughing at his own immature fart jokes. It's weird because on the Slim Shady LP, besides a few songs, Em is genuinely hilarious. It wasn't forced, it was just Em talking about accidentally giving an entire bag of shrooms to a girl at a party and being molested by a fat girl. The humor on "Encore" was just so forced, and I never understood why Em went that route. So now, after a long hiatus, Eminem is back with "Relapse." And unfortunately, it does not stray far from his weak performance on "Encore."

I'm not here to give a full review of "Relapse." I just want to talk about what has gone wrong, in my opinion, with Eminem. "Relapse" seems almost just as forced as "Encore" was, but this time it's more than just bad humor attempts. It's like Em sat down, looked at what he had rapped about on his previous albums, and just tried to replicate that old formula. "We Made You" is a carbon copy of "The Real Slim Shady," and "Without Me" except that this time it isn't as clever or as funny. I feel like Em just asked someone, "What celebs are most relevant right now?" and then wrote a song about them. Em once again writes a song about how messed up his mom was on "My Mom," where at the beginning of the song he jokingly states, "I know you are tired of hearing about my mom." Yes Em, we really are. He pushes the envelope way to far on "Insane." No one wants to hear you rap about getting raped Em. Can you bump that song in your car? No. At a party? No. "Bagpipes From Baghdad," is another poor attempt at Em trying to be funny, calling out Mariah Carey and telling us listeners that he wants another shot at her. Sometimes I feel like when I am listening to Eminem, mostly recently, it is like I am listening to a grown man who hasn't fully matured yet and who, frankly, is just extremely annoying. The entire middle of CD, to me, is skippable. That's 9 tracks that I don't have any interest in listening to. Em still has that excellent flow, but most of the time he ruins by putting a strange and annoying accent on his voice, rapping about rape, kidnapping, or just plain nonsense. Maybe he did the same thing on his earlier CDs, but it was creative, funny, and just all together better. Maybe I just don't want to listen to those subjects in my music anymore.

Finally, the CD picks up towards the end, where Em digs deep and raps about his pill addiction and the hardships he experiences during his time away from the game. That is ultimately what I hoped to get from Em on this CD. I don't mind the jokes and the extreme subjects, but it takes the entire CD to finally get some seriousness from Slim Shady. "Beautiful," is my favorite song on the album. It showcases Em evoking thoughts of Biggie with the way his rhyme pattern and intricate look into his struggles. Unfortunately, "Deja Vu," and "Underground," are the only other really excellent tracks on the album. I hate to say it, but Em, it might be time to finally retire.

Eminem Short Film: Back to High School

2009-05-24T21:40:00.003-05:00

Em may have faltered a little on his latest album, but maybe he should give acting another go. Maybe a comedy this time, cause I thought this short for the MTV awards was pretty funny.

Eminem, Where Are You? from 2dopeboyz.com on Vimeo.

MTV Movie awards May 31 @ 9ET

Sorry For My Absence

2009-05-23T13:10:00.003-05:00

I want to thank Tony for holding down the blog this past week. Between job hunting and LeBron James making miracle shots, I have had a busy week since I returned to the Cleve. I have not found the time to sit down and write a blog entry, but that will change starting tomorrow and next week.

Tomorrow or Monday look out for my opinion on Eminem's new CD "Relapse." My first taste of hip-hop came from Em, so I could not wait for Relapse to drop. I was extremely disappointed, and I'll let you guys know why.

Also, if you guys remember my man Wes Blaze, a Cleveland native and a friend of mine who is a gifted, yet undiscovered rapper, then you will be happy to hear my next sentence. I was with Wes last night (we were hugging and screaming like little girls for about 10 minutes after LeBron hit that 3) and we are going to put together an interview, a kind of "Get to know Wes Blaze" format. He has an album scheduled to drop very soon, within the next month, so I want everyone in Cleveland and elsewhere to get to know my boy Wes. So be on the lookout for Rear View Shaking's first official interview.

Again, thanks to Tony for keeping up the blog...and Charles Hamilton deserved to get punched haha. Go Cavs!

Charles Hamilton gets Jacked!

2009-05-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

I know Jordan is not a fan of Hamilton, and I am not too fond of him either. This certainly isn't helpin his cause... hahaha. I wish I coulda seen Rhymefest's reaction when he watched this video.

TM

New Wale Songs

2009-05-21T20:13:00.002-05:00

Who knows when Back to the Feature is coming out (see Jordan's post earlier), but at least Wale is finally responding to his fans by givin them two songs today via his Twitter. The first is called "Hot Shyt" feat. Peedi Crack, Black Thought, Young Chris, and TUface and its pretty sick. The second is called "Magic" and is unfinished, but we'll take what we can get at this point. Enjoy

Hot Shyt Feat. Peedi Crack, Black Thought, Young Chris and TUface

Magic - Wale

Technical Difficulties.

2009-05-21T13:00:00.001-05:00

Also, I just wanted to apologize for the last couple entries not having pictures or clickable links. For some reason they haven't been working on blogspot, but I'll try to get that worked out ASAP. Until then, bear with us and thanks for reading!

News Brief

2009-05-21T12:37:00.005-05:00

There have been a few things that have caught my eye in the past week or so. Therefore, I feel like it is my responsibility to relay these headlines to you, in case you missed them.

!. Recent headlines dealing with my dude Clifford Harris may have caught your eye, when headlines stated that T.I. would only be spending around two months in prison, despite previous reports of his prison sentence of one year and one day. However, according to an article from MTV an official has clarified that this is untrue. Whoever heard the two months sentence idea got it mixed up with his home confinement sentence, which has nothing to do with his actual prison sentence. According to the MTV article, T.I. will still be serving his one year and one day sentence with the possibility of up to a 15% (or 55 day) good conduct credit that could reduce his actual stay in jail. AFTER he serves his time, the 300 home confinement credit is given to the time allotted for him to spend in his home. This is what actually was reduced to about 2 months. His time to spend in his home. NOT in prison. TIP is also set to film two more videos before he gets locked up.

2. The artwork and track list for J. Dilla's upcoming album were released a week or two ago. I meant to get it up earlier, but I things came up. The album executiveproduced by Ma Dukes is set to be released on June 2nd and will contain 28 tracks. Features include Black Though, Blu, DOOM, Raekwon, and Mobb Deep. Go here to check out the entire track list: http://nahright.com/news/2009/05/12/j-dilla-jay-stay-paid-cover-track-list/

3. This news is my favorite. According to XXL Magazine, Young Chris's debut album Now or Never will be produced by Jay-Z and Mark Ronson. The album is set to be released sometime early next year, but a single "Suga Suga" will drop sometime soon. The main reason that I'm excited he is hooking up with Ronson, besides the fact that he's an amazing producer, is Ronson's connection with Wale. The article also says that Young Chris is set to have a mixtape with the Ambassador for the Capitol called The Odd Couple. They also mention a tape called The Network that will have features from Wale, J. Cole, and possible Drake. I get shivers just hearing lineups like those. For the full article go to: http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=46783

Also This is a Young Chris and Wale song that I hadn't heard before. It was on XXL:
http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=23307

TM

Dark Side of the Soul is a Blank Disc?

2009-05-18T18:23:00.005-05:00

Danger Mouse is at it again. The man that makes up half of Gnarls Barkley and the man that created the Grey Album, a mash of of Jay-Z's Black Album and The Beatles White Album, is set to release his latest creation Dark Night of the Soul. Or is he? When Danger previously tried putting out the Grey Album, he got in a huge dispute with EMI over copyright and a bunch of other legal issues. Now Sparkle Horse and Danger have created their latest CD, yet they once again ran into the same wall that is EMI. If the Grammy nominated producer wanted to release his newest works, he would almost certainly get sued by EMI, who has worked with clients like Snoop Dogg, MIMS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Lennon and Ice Cube to name very few. So what is Danger to do? Lay down, and be forced into submission? Ya right. Danger came back with a very clever (and legal) fuck you to EMI by preparing the "Album" to be sold as a rewritable CD-R along with exclusive artwork. That way, the consumers can go home, find the leaked album online, download it and rip it onto their CD-R. The CD-R will come with either a Poster for $10.00 or a limited edition book filled with over 100 exclusive photos and artwork for the project for $50. The cd is set to include artists James Mercer of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, David Lynch, and Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils. You can pre-order the album at http://www.dnots-store.com/ or listen to a full stream of it at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104129585

TM

Hungry For Mixtapes

2009-05-16T15:10:00.001-05:00

No matter how dope your lyrics are, how big your chain is, or how good your live show may be, an artist is nothing without his or her fans. Especially an artist who depends on Internet buzz and underground love as he gets set to drop his debut album this summer. Yes Wale, I am speaking about you. Recently, Wale has begun to alienate his fan base by continuing to push back his highly anticipated fifth mixtape, “Back To The Feature.” With an original release date April 29, the epic mixtape that is rumored to feature all the members of Slaughterhouse, Talib Kweli, J. Cole, Curren$y and many others, was then pushed back to May 7. Wale even held a concert/release party at Poisson Rouge in New York City to celebrate the tape. Yet, May 7 rolled around and there was no mixtape to be found. People who attended the concert said that Wale never mentioned the tape at all. Now Wale is one of my favorite artists and, in my opinion, the best of the up and comers of 2009. But myself, along with thousands of other fans who have been waiting for this mnixtape for quite some time now, feel very slighted. When the original release date for the mixtape was given to us, it was by Wale in a video telling the crowd at a sneaker singing he attended that the tape was coming April 29. A few weeks later we found Wale telling us in an interview that the tape was being pushed back to May 7. It was disappointing, but at least Wale was letting his fans know what was going on. Wale’s manager’s website, The Elitaste, created fliers promoting the release of the mixtape in New York on May 7. Ever since May 7, us fans have heard nothing from Wale or Elitaste. No explanation for why the tape never came out after all the promotion that was done nor an update as to when the next, probably unreal, release date would be. The only news the public heard was a short message on Elitaste’s Twitter saying that the tape would “be out soon.” Thank you so much for that insight. It is almost like Wale and his management team don’t realize that there are thousands of fans wondering where the mixtape is and sitting around waiting for some new Wale to drop. Buzz is so important when you are a young artist, and Wale is squalling his right now. The frustration I feel over the lack of information about this new mixtape is going to turn me off of Wale, the tape will come out when it does and it will be amazing. But I cannot speak for other, more casual fans who may be checking out Wale for the first time. Wale’s last mixtape dropped in 2008, and in this internet era where Lil’ Wayne can drop 8 songs a day and Curren$y, fresh off releasing his debut album in April, can already have another mixtape ready for the end of May, it baffles me as to why this mixtape is taking so long to come out. The people are hungry Wale. You had better feed them quick before some of them go elsewhere for food.

Asher Roth + The Roots

2009-05-15T10:54:00.003-05:00

Asher Roth performing "Be By Myself" on Fallon. He didn't' have Cee-Lo with him, but Black Thought and The Roots were there to back him up. I dont know about ya'll, but it sounds a little slow to me..

New K'Naan "T.I.A." Video

2009-05-12T18:35:00.001-05:00

Check out K'Naan's new video for his single "T.I.A." Its pretty sweet.

K'NAAN "T.I.A" music video directed by: NABIL from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Joe Budden vs. Method Man

2009-05-11T17:26:00.004-05:00

My good friend Colin Marshall starts off the week with his analysis of a highly controversial claim that Mr. Joe Budden made this weekend on his now famous online television-station, JoeBuddentTV. Colin and I go back to middle school, with Colin really becoming a hip-hop head much earlier than I did. He introduced me to the Wu-Tang Clan, and I kind of took off from there. Anyway, enjoy it, it's a good, in-depth look at two of the best MCs to do it in hip-hop.

Earlier this week, rapper Joe Budden released a video on his website (joebuddentv.com – if you’ve never checked it out, do so, it’s the funniest shit in Hip Hop right now) where he went off on a current Vibe Magazine, bracket-style online tournament to see who is the best rapper ever. Budden took issue with the seeding of the bracket which had placed him at 31. Now obviously, as a real rapper Budden thinks he is the best and he should, and he was displeased with his seeding – but his biggest problem was with who was seeded ahead of him and other rappers of his caliber. Names like Webbie and Nelly were placed higher than top tier MC’s such as Talib Kweli and Black Thought, so obviously the list is bullshit. Anyway, in the video, Budden (who is with his friend and fellow MC Joell Ortiz; who didn’t even make the list which is blasphemy) talks about how he is better than most of the names on the list, which he is. Had Budden left his remarks at that it wouldn’t have caught my attention, but at the end he claims that he is a better rapper than Wu-Tang’s own Method Man – and that’s what caught my ear. Method Man has earned his spot in Hip Hop and I was surprised that Budden called him out… Sort of. I spent a good several hours after watching the video (because I have nothing better to do with my time) thinking about who was a better MC between the two and my inner-debate was only exacerbated by Budden arguing with his fans on Twitter about the same subject. Like most “who’s the best” hip hop debates this one doesn’t have a simple answer but I did eventually come to my conclusion. The Vibe bracket in question asks: Who is the best “MC” ever? Now MCing is an art form and there are several aspects of it rappers must master before they can be considered the best or in this case better than another MC. Both Meth and Budden are official MCs, and I’m a big fan of both. Budden is probably one of my personal top five MCs of the moment, but in a "best ever" argument, is he better than Meth?

Now Joe Budden is currently one of the Elite MC’s in the game. After making a name for himself with pop anthems like “Pump It Up” and “Fire” Budden returned to the underground and released the Mood Muzik mixtape series which saw him grow in leaps and bounds as a lyricist. In February he released his second album, Padded Room which was extremely complex and a far cry from his first album, the self-titled Joe Budden, in terms of depth and skill. Line-for-line Budden is a better MC than Method Man. The complexity of his rhymes and wittiness of his punchlines are also superior to Meth’s. Budden covers more diverse and introspective topics and could probably beat Meth in a rap battle.

Method Man is basically a living legend in Hip Hop to people in the know. He entered the game with a bang, first appearing on the undisputed classic; Wu-Tang Clan’s debut 36 Chambers in 1993. Since then Meth has gone on to a list of accomplishments including three platinum albums (one with partner Redman) and a Grammy for best rap song for his duet with Mary J. Blige, “You’re All I Need.” Meth’s last album, 2006’s 4:21… The Day After Tomorrow was an unbelievable album and highly underrated. Skill-wise Meth is only slightly below Budden in terms of pure lyrics and word-play, but he’s been consistently at the top of his game since he appeared on the scene – so going on 17 years. Contrast that with Budden who’s only been around since 2001 and a great a MC since around 2003. Meth is far superior to Budden in terms of charisma and delivery which is a very important aspect of MCing. Also his live show (which I’ve been to) is something to be witnessed. Meth could get a crowd of middle-aged, suburban republicans on their feet and vibing along with him. Finally Meth possesses the best flow in Hip Hop, hands down. Hell Meth could rhyme nonsense over a mediocre beat and make it sound nice.

In conclusion I prefer Budden, but if you take non-biased look at the argument, Method Man’s duration, influence, accomplishments and intangibles place him ahead of Joe Budden. Sorry Mouse.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T17:48:00.003-05:00

Today, May 10th is Mothers Day. Almost everybody has been influenced by their moms in one way or another. Many of artists have expressed this in their music, whether they are talkin about their deceased mothers or if they are just showing their appreciation for all that they have done. Here are a few tracks that show this.

Mother's Day - Jae Millz <---This one was just released a few days ago

One Last Kiss - MIMS featuring Solar Mesh

Hey Mama - Kanye West

10 Songs I'm Listening To

2009-05-09T10:53:00.003-05:00

Here is a quick post about 10 of the songs I listen to most right now:
(In no particular order)

1. Drake - Best I Ever Had
2. Wale - Word Play Feat. Curren$y and Tre of UCB
3. Black Thought - Reality Check (Produced by J. Dilla)
4. Wes Blaze - Get at me
5. Asher Roth - Lion's Roar Feat. Busta Rhymes
6. MIMS - Move (if you wanna)
7. Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Common, Lady Gaga - I Poke Her Face
8. Elzhi - Deep
9. Mos Def - Quiet Dog
10. Move - CunninLynguists

Featured Artist: Elzhi

2009-05-06T21:52:00.005-05:00

The rap game was in a huge slump just a few years ago, and still sorta is with songs like "Boom Boom Pow" and "I'm the Shit" still gettin loads of radio time. However, the upcoming wave of new look artists have brought originality and lyricism back into the picture. Artists like Wale, Drake, and Kid Cudi (to name a few) have given us hope that hip-hop is returning to its golden form. I have been lovin the past year or so, because everywhere I turn there is another talented artist that is introduced into my ever growing library of songs.

This time, an artist by the name of Elzhi was brought to my attention by Wes Blaze's (See our article about him) rommate...sometimes....Colin Marshall. When he came and visited good ol' Mizzou, he integrated some of his music into my library, and I greatly thank him for it. Elzhi comes out of Detroit and actually isn't new to the game, as he was a part of Slum Village while J Dilla was still around. He joined Baatin and T3 to be come a fulltime member in 2001 and worked with them on 3 of the albums. In 2004 he created the label, Libido Sounds, with Nick Speed in order to put out a mixtape of unreleased solo work, that included some collaborations with Dilla. Since then many have awaited his first solo album. He appeased his audience on August 12, 2008 when he released The Preface. This is the album that I recieved from Colin, and let me tell you, I have been very impressed. The more I listen to this guy, the better he sounds, and the more ridiculous verses I hear. I especially like "Colors" "Motown 25" and "D.E.M.O.N.S." even though almost all the songs are dope. I really need to put down some of his verses for you to truely see how talented this dude is.

This one is off of colors:
Now there's something that's dead from
Fighting over bread crumbs
Feet and head numb
It's a murder
We call it redrum
Got them boys in blue with blackjacks
Locking the new youth
That sell purples through Blackberrys
With the Bluetooth
Saw this gold digging redbone I knew
Posing in BlackTail
Another black girl lost
Inside a world of blackmail
And white collar crime
Done on the sneak tip
Different from blue collar workers
Catching the pink slip

and this one is from "D.E.M.O.N.S."
If I broke the word down in acronyms, while usin part logic
A demon could mean - destroyin every man off narcotics
Drug epidemics, measure obsession needles
Got dealers earnin money overnight
Deceitful elections, monitor our nations
While devil's effected, music out now on your stations
Dirty, explicit, material, oozin negativity
Distortin, eardrums mentally, overwhelmin nonsense
Dysfuctional, educational, malfuctions, oppressed negroes
Death, equals murder, oxygen's neglected
Drama, extreme mayhem, ownin a necklace
Diabetes enter many obese niggaz
So, dreams eventually match, ordinary nightmares
Department, eviction, management office notices
Dreadful, evolved missiles operatin nuclear
Why is this new to you?
^---If you didn't notice before the title of the song is an acronym. If you closely take a look at each sentence of this verse, you will notice why it is so filthy. He actually made almost every line an acronym of Demon, while consistently making conscious arguments of what evils we face in today's world. This is one of the most original and refreshing ways to spit I have ever seen, and it really gets me excited about him.

There is another song that he released as a single called "Deep" that is in my top 10 favorite songs right now. He goes so hard on the Black Milk produced track. (Black Milk also produced almost all of The Preface). Make sure you check that song out if nothing else. Moving on. According to a Nas forum, where some guy did an interview with him, Elzhi is set to release Elmatic a tribute mixtape to honor Nas, which should be excellent. He is aiming to have that out to the public around December. Also, look for him to come out with his sophomore album The Feed sometime within the next year. Finally, this very busy guy is currently working with Royce Da 5'9" on some collaboration. Yes, the same Royce that is in Slaughterhouse. In short terms, Elzhi is doin it real big right now, and everybody needs to get their hands some of his music as soon as possible. He is quickly becomin' of my favorite dudes on the scene right now.

TM

Lupe and Bobby Ray Collab. Coming Soon

2009-05-06T18:08:00.002-05:00

They bout to do some "raw ass shit"
"People expect it to be a certain thing, you know, a certain way, and that's when I like to go completely to the left."