Nicki Minajing the Hip-Hop Formula

Okay I agree that this pic look creepy but, its Ms. Mother Fu*king Nicki Minaj.  What is it about her that makes her the best in this hip-hop game...?

Kanye's "POWER"...

This past Memorial Day weekend has provided a bunch of goodies for the iPod and iTunes.  From Ross's Albert Anastasia EP , T.I's F*CK A MIXTAPE w/ DJ Drama & DJ MLK, Raekwon's Cocainism Vol. 2 and many more.  But nothing comes close to the release on Friday morning...

#ClassicFriday..."New Jack Swing"

Before Dr. Dre discovered the G-Funk era, New York had it swinging...

"Tell Me...." Thank Me Later June 15th

Drake drops his third single off the most anticipated album this year, Thank Me Later.

HAPPY B-DAY B.I.G.....#ClassicFridays

The Best Rapper of All Time was born on May 21st...

"I Keep Cream, I'm Large on the Streets Scene..." (c) Big L

Vado finally releases the visual to his street anthem, "Large On The Streets".  Look out for that Slime Flu, coming your way real soon...

...Peep the jacket

VADO "LARGE ON THE STREETS" MUSIC VIDEO  DIRECTED BY ARM & WILL PU from FM15 FILMS on Vimeo.

"Huhhhhhhh!!!"

SideBar: This dude is definitely the next up...

Thank Me Later...Tracklisting

With the year's most anticipated album drawing near its release date (June 15th), the tracklisting along with the production credits have been released.  In regards to the content of the album, Drake recently told  Entertainment Weekly

Drake & Alicia do the Un-Thinkable...again

Okay, this pic clearly has nothing to do with the post but, I just thought it was almost Un-Thinkable...no pun intended.  The most popular record on the radio by Ms. A Keys, has been taken up a notch with this time an actual feature by the homey Drake, who also wrote the song.

"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (Remix) (Featuring Drake) - Alicia Keys

SideBar: Alicia Keys is also said to be featured on the intro track "Fireworks" off Drizzy's forthcoming debut Thank Me Later LP.  Look out for June 15th.

No Love Lost...

As many of you know, last year Raekwon was able to set the standard high for almost every hip-hop act in regards to producing a sequel to an already considered classic album.  It's not even a year and already Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is considered a classic much like its predecessor.  From the top notch lyrical wordplay to the gritty New York '90s feel partly due to the well picked production, the sequel to the '95 cult classic accomplished what many thought was almost impossible. 

Aside from its critical praise, a question asked by many diehard fans was on the status of a NaS feature.  Where was NaS? "Verbal Intercourse" II? What Happened?

Peep these interviews by the homey NaS and Rae.

Featuring...J.Cole

Here J. Cole speaks about his notable features since joining RocNation

MTV Shows

"Like Sheeeeeeiitt..."

As many of you know by now, the homey DJ Drama finally dropped the highly anticipated Boss of All Bosses: Gangsta Grillz 2.5 by U.N's own Cam & Vado.  The two have showcased their ability to provide quality music for diehard and new fans and they haven't disappointed since the series' first release last summer.

Now its 2.5 (an extension of part two) and the duo has decided to take another route with the offering by instead of free, giving it out for purchase. WAAAT?!...times is that hard?

Top 5 Dead or Alive...its Doe or Die

They say "Greatest comes and goes" but sometimes it doesn't; instead they get better with time...like wine. Such is the case the god MC AZ. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, AZ has made mounts of contributions to the world of hip-hop. From dropping one of rap's infamous yet greatest verse on the L.E.S produced "Life's A Bitch" on NaS' classic debut LP...

Cream of the Crop...

When it comes to the talk about hip-hop's newcomers, two names struck a debate. On one corner we have Toronto's own Drake and on the other Fayetteville, NC's and J. Cole. The two are often compared to each other a lot lately, and in my opinion they can't be.

Young Money soldier, Drake is at the peak of a promising career and has established himself as the only artist to ever be nominated for a grammy and a couple billboard hits without a label or album. So Far Gone will go down in history as one of the best mixtapes of all time simply because of its creativity and musical quality along with impact. Never have we seen such an impact with just one mixtape;the closest was 50 Cent but it was his debut album that peaked his momentum. Drake has been featured on Blueprint 3 and is the talk of almost everyone who is everyone.

RocNation/Jay-Z's first signee , J. Cole had a lot to prove this past year and boy did he ever. Aside from getting signed, Cole dropped the critically acclaimed mixtape, The Warm Up, which featured some of the best forms of lyricism ever presented by a newcomer. Vivid wordplay, insightful lyrics, and sharp punchlines found him, Mr. Cole, already being compared to some of rap's 'giants'. He also gained mainstream attention after landing a spot on Hov's 11th number 1 studio album, Blueprint 3. After numerous collabos with the likes of Wale (Rather Be With You, Beautiful Bliss***), Jay Electronica, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, B.o.B, and a feature on the front cover of The Source and XXL '10 Freshman List, Cole is definitely a force to be reckoned with.



When you choose to compare So Far Gone and The Warm Up, you notice that its difficult to compare the two artists because of their different styles and background. Drake sings and raps while Cole raps and produces (has nothing to do with the two but good to mention). Although the two talk about their lives, its evident that they come from two different worlds. Drake from a somewhat cleaner, so to speak, neighborhood and Cole from the army based hood in "Fayette-nam".

While Drake will definitely be mainstream with his content, Cole will conqueror the interests of many fans of underground hip-hop and some mainstream. Through his music, its evident that Cole is doing it for the craft instead of the popularity.

On the other hand, Drake does it to take it to a whole other level. Instead of sticking to one genre, he seeks to branch out avoiding to be labeled as just a hip-hop or r&b artist, which can sometimes hurt an artist's credibility.
"Over"


2nd Single off TML "Find Your Love"


Although they are different through their styles and content, its evident that this new breed of artists are capable of holding down the fort of this music thing. That's something many of us doubted 5years ago.

So who we got?
Simple, J. "Bitch I Got that Flame" Cole

She's Ready...

The long awaited video by Mrs. Swizz Beatz Ms. A Keys is finally here. Written by Drake and Produced by 40 and Omen, "Unthinkable (I'm Ready)" is an instant favorite. Don't believe me, check out the vid...



SideBar: Element of Freedom in stores now

"Thank Me Later...on June 15th"

As the anticipation builds up, so does the speculation. As many of you may know Drake's upcoming debut album, Thank Me Later, is scheduled for a June 15th release date. Last week this pic was announced as the album cover and boy did it cause a stir of speculation. It seems as though the Young Money tentative captain is stepping out the box with both his musical direction and selection. First it was that overly introspective music video for "Over" than it was the slow-jammed "Shut it Down" leaked single with The-Dream and now this cover.

Say what you want but dude is definitely up-ing the bar for music in general. Instead of following the same boat like many artists have been known to do, he is instead keeping it in his own lane. If that's not the sign of a true artist, then I don't know what is.

Check out his newest leaked record that is missing the declared and awaited Weezy verse.

"All Night Long (Miss Me)" - Drake

SideBar: This sh*t bangs.

#ClassicFriday... "We Hit the Club like Nino and the CMB..."

On this edition of #ClassicFridays, we're going to turn the tables and discuss one of the best movies of all times. A film that's contributed to both the hip-hop community and on-screen landscape.



In 1991, Thomas Lee Wright and co-writer Barry Michael Cooper penned down a script that took the plot of Scarface and placed in in the hood, during one of the worst ages in most urban communities especially NY, the crack era.

Wesley Snipes stars as the power-hungry Nino Brown, who takes over NY with his childhood crew CMB, while undercover cops Scotty Appleton and Nick Peretti (played by Ice-T and Judd Nelson)seek to put an end to this bloody and drug-filled reign.

The film hands down is one of the best and my favorites of all time. It laid the foundation for other hood movies that would follow.

Check out the music that contributed to this iconic film.

"Cancel that Bitch..." (c) Nino Brown



BONUS: #Classic Scene

TRAP OR DIE II

"Fuck is everybody so mad at the south for (why)
Learn how to switch ya style up go southpaw..." © Jada.

After listening to the original Trap or Die , I finally realized how big of a deal it was and why. Jeezy proved that was in another lane compared to all the other Southern artists that were putting stamps on the game (circa 2005). The tape is indeed a classic but mainly for its time, even if it was 5 years ago. During that time a lot of artists(especially in NY) kept bitching were complaining about the rise of the Southern movement in hip-hop and Jeezy maintained and triumphed over the stereotype by showcasing his raw lyrics, favorable charisma, and characteristic of being "realer than the rest".

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
5 Years later...

This time with Don Cannon, Jeezy sequels the original and brings us Trap Or Die II: By Any Means Necessary. The 22 tracked mixtape is all original tracks unlike Trap Or Die I where it featured freestyles over certain instrumentals. Jeezy shows and prove with this one and personally I prefer this over the original.

Key highlights include the "Ill'In" track with Clipse (Pusha single handedly destroys that track), "Hood Politics", "Trap or Die 2 w/ Bun B"...matter of fact the whole tape is worth the listen.

Trap Or Die II: By Any Means Necessary - Jeezy



SideBar: Jeezy and Don got to get the award for best mixtape cover of the year.

Heart & Soul of NYC...

This is a pretty dope video and track by BK's Red Cafe, which managed to slip under the radar. "Heart and Soul of New York City" was produced by none other than the legendary Pete Rock and was released last July.

Like I said the song's pretty dope and definitely captures the essence of that New York feel. Don't believe me? Press Play...

Red Cafe - Heart and Soul of New York City by K1X from K1X on Vimeo.

DJ Green Lantern & DJ Drama Presents The Champ is Here PT. 3...Jadakiss

Released earlier today at 3PM by the good folks of DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern...

TRACKLIST
1. Intro
2. Bang
3. The Champ Speaks 1
4. Still Hatin
5. You Will Remember Me
6. Interlude
7. Soldier Survivors (Feat. Nas & Sheek Louch; Prod. DJ Green Lantern)
8. The Champ Speaks 2
9. All Falls Down [prod. DJ Absolut]
10. Who Shot Ya
11. She Likes Me (Feat. Nicki Minaj)
12. Top 5 Dead Or Alive (Feat. Styles P)
13. Pussy (Feat. Uncle Murda & Bully) [Prod. DJ Green Lantern]
14. Here I Go (Feat. Yo Gotti)
15. They Dont Know [prod. Tuneheadz]
16. Allergic To Losing (Feat. Masspike Miles & L.A. Darkman) [Prod. DJ Green Lantern]
17. Slow Down (Green Mix)
18. Im Ill (Green Mix)
19. Coach Of The Year (Feat. D-Block)
20. Its Whatever (Feat. Uncle Murda & Tone) [Prod. DJ Green Lantern]
21. Lets Git It (Feat. Uncle O & Meek Mill)
22. Somehow Some Way
23. HBO Boxing Interlude
24. Celebration!


Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

"He's One of the Best New Dudes I Heard..." Jada

This past week on DJ Green Lantern's Invasion Radio show, Vado rips this instrumental to shreads as the duo (w/Cam) promote their upcoming mixtape with DJ Drama, Boss of All Bosses 2.5 due out this week (Supposedly).