The self-proclaimed hottest in the hood is feeling pretty cocky this evening and here’s his latest recording. Definitely not the worst, but certainly not the best either.
New Video: John Legend x Ludacris “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
03/12/2012 By Leave a Comment
Mr. Legend invites his lady to his bedroom and makes it a night to remember for his new sedutive video featuring Luda. The duet can be found on the Think Like A Man soundtrack.
EPMD & Friends At Best Buy Theater
02/25/2012 By Leave a Comment
Last night, Erick and Parish were back in business at NYC’s Best Buy Theater for the Hit-Squad reunion show. With guests Red & Meth, Keith Murray and more, Tone Riggz provides a few clips of the show.
New Music: Jon Connor “Best In The World”
02/03/2012 By 2 Comments
Jon Connor will be releasing The Blue Album, a project featuring his takes on a few cuts from Hov’s Blueprint trilogy. Before it drops on V-Day, here’s his first offering. It’s Connor, baby.
New Music: John Legend x Ludacris “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
01/25/2012 By Leave a Comment
John and Luda combine their wonder twin powers for the new single off the Think Like A Man soundtrack. Hopefully the movie is half way as good as this record.
’11 Best Albums: #1 The Throne Watch The Throne
01/14/2012 By Leave a Comment
You are now watching the Throne—at the top of our list. Easily. What sounded like every rap fan’s dream on paper finally came true in early August. Jay-Z and Kanye recorded their masterpiece across the globe with producers Hit-Boy, RZA, Pete Rock, Swizz Beatz, Q-Tip, and The Neptunes. Mrs. Carter and Mr. Hudson are also featured but it’s Frank Ocean who ceases the moment, nailing the choruses of the opener “No Church In The Wild” and the moving “Made In America”. Still it’s the two superstars who take centerstage. Hovito unleashed the beast on the jolting “Welcome To The Jungle” while Ye agonized over the alarming murder stats of his Chi hometown on “Murder To Excellence”. The Roc Boys playfully trade bars back-and-forth on the hypnotic “Gotta Have It”, dub step their flow game up on “Who Gon Stop Me”, and share their moment of clarity on the prospect of raising children with “New Day”. Even the bonus cuts like the cinematic “Illest Motherfucker Alive” and triumphant “Primetime” are bonkers. You want a shot at the crown? Wait in the wing ’cause these guys are still doing their thing.
Previously: #10 Mac Miller Blue Slide Park l #9 Young Jeezy TM103: Hustlerz Ambition l #8 Wale Ambition l #7 J.Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story l #6 Kendrick Lamar Section.80 l #5 Bad Meets Evil Hell:The Sequel l #4 MMG Self Made l #3 Common The Dreamer/The Believer l #2 Drake Take Care
’11 Best Albums: #3 Common The Dreamer//The Believer
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
Common returned to the game like a prize-fighter after his second wind with his ninth LP, The Dreamer/ Believer. Produced entirely by No I.D., he kicks off the opus with Maya Angelou and Nas on the ineffable “The Dreamer” and “Ghetto Dreams”, respectively. After delivering 14 shots to the dome on “Sweet”, he deals with his own pain (“Lovin I Lost”). But it’s not all love and war. Backed by a milky hook, he toasts to the good life on “Celebrate”. This is the stuff Dreamers are made of.
’11 Best Albums: #6 Kendrick Lamar Section .80
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
Dr. Dre co-signs don’t come everyday. So when Kendrick Lamar released his independent album Section.80, best believe, all eyes were on him. Fortunately, he didn’t disappoint. From a production standpoint, scattered piano’s anchor “Fuck Your Ethnicity” while lounging horns permeate “Hol’ Up”. Elsewhere, “Chapter Six” and “Rigamortis”locks down K-Dot’s unchained melody. “Ronald Regan Era” made being an 80’s baby not so bad. Kendrick said Section .80 was created following a vision from 2Pac, so Afeni’s baby boy would be proud of “Kiesha’s Song” (“She start running like FLo-Jo Don’t care if they Joe Blow/If they got money to blow a blow job is a sure go.”). Make no mistake, this revolutionary MC will be televised. Welcome to Section.80
’11 Best Albums: #9 Young Jeezy TM103: Hustlerz Ambition
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
Jeezy back! Man, it took a long time to get Young’s fourth album but he really came through victorious in the fourth quarter with the fourth highest first week sales of any rap album in 2011. How’d he do that? By keeping that trap music to the forefront and rounding up a gang of guests to help him reach that goal. Hov and 3 Stacks help craft this year’s player’s anthem (“I Do”). A fresh out of jail T.I. rides for his ATL patna on the reflective “F.A.M.E.”. Loso and Fab quench our thirst on “OJ” and 2 Chainz makes time in his busy schedule to spike up the formidable “SupaFreak”. Of course, Jizzle can also hold his own on cuts like the nifty “Nothing”, cater to the females (the lavish “Leave You Alone”) and bare his soul (the Jill Scott-enhanced “Trapped”). Yeah we were “Waiting” forever but thankfully, Da Snowman finally delivered.
’11 Best Albums: #10 Mac Miller Blue Slide Park
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
After releasing a steady stream of mixtapes, Mac stepped up to the plate last year and delivered his independent debut, Blue Slide Park. With ID Labs handling a majority of the sound bed, Mac proved he wasn’t all party and bullshit. He gives haters the cold shoulder (“Smile Back”, “Of The Soul” ), helps White girls lost (Diamonds & Gold), and enjoys the fruits of his labor,”Man In The Hat”. But despite his new found success, Mac doesn’t forget about his Pittsburgh base (“PA Nights”, “My Team” ,”Frick Park Market”). Blue Slide meet blue collar.
’11 Best Singles: #2 DJ Khaled Ft. Drake x Rick Ross & Lil Wayne “I’m On One”
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
It is safe to say, Khaled Khaled knows how to make a hit. With T-Minus, 40, and Kromatik handling the production duties, Khaled rounded up three of the game’s top MCs for this summer’s undisputed anthem. On the slow-rolling instrumental, Drake sets the tone showcasing his vocals. Don’t get it twisted though. Drizzy gets back on his rap shit before setting up Rozay, who then later passes the baton to Tunechi for the final stretch. Still and all, it’s Aubrey’s great chorus that stays in your brain. Yo Khaled, let’s keep these three within arms’ reach at all times. 3x platinum? Let’s see you top that. Ha!
’11 Best Singles: #1 Meek Mill x Rick Ross “Ima Boss”
01/13/2012 By Leave a Comment
Meek Mill and Rick Ross made 9-to-5ers feel like the H.N.I.C. with last year’s inescapable, “Ima Boss”. Fuck a blog dog, Jahlil Beats’ triumphant horns were responsible for nearly every party in 2011. Operating like a hip-hop Stockton and Malone, Meek creates a perfect assist for his mentor, “Got so many shades they thought I had a lazy eye” before closing the track with a game-winning third verse. Who took a loss? Not MMG.
Previously: #10 Wale x Miguel “Lotus Flower Bomb” l #9 J.Cole x Trey Songz “Can’t Get Enough” l #8 Ace Hood Ft. Rick Ross x Lil Wayne “Hustle Hard (Remix)” l #7 2 Chainz x T.I. “Spend It (Remix)” l #6 The Throne “Otis” l #5 Common “Blue Sky” l #4 Bad Meets Evil “Fast Lane” l #3 The Throne “Niggas In Paris” l #2 DJ Khaled Ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne “I’m On One“
’11 Best Singles: #3 The Throne “Niggas In Paris”
01/12/2012 By Leave a Comment
Folks of all races skated to one song and this one song only. Over Hit-Boy’s heavy drums and electrifying bridge, Jay and Ye displayed their balling antics on tilt that made even the poorest man wanna dig in his pocket to cop a bottle of bubbly. The Will Ferrell Blades Of Glory-sample during the break was actually quite fitting since we needed a time out from all the kinetic energy. Thankfully the bars were as strong as the bounce. From Yeezy’s cockiness “Doctors say I’m the illest, ’cause I’m suffering from realness” to Jay’s clever metaphors “Psycho. I’m liable to go Michael, take your pick: Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6″. And if you were lucky enough to attend their tour, you might have caught it live which was its own experience. Who performs a song 11 times in a row? Now that shit is cray.
’11 Best Singles: #6 The Throne “Otis”
01/12/2012 By Leave a Comment
Before the album even dropped, this song was a movement by itself. Son! Do you remember how this pass-the-mic, soul sample-packed lyrical exchange shook the rap game up? Over Otis Redding’s “Tenderness,” this nigga Kanye told YMCMB to “tuck their whole summer in.” Crazy! Hov’s callin the paps on himself? This shit still give me chills. Run it back! Maybe Flex likes this shit more than me. But not by a lot. Ha!
’11 Best Singles: #8 Ace Hood Ft. Rick Ross x Lil Wayne “Hustle Hard (Remix)”
01/12/2012 By Leave a Comment
This street anthem set the year off right. Make no mistake, Khaled’s protege had a certified smash on his own. Lex Luger’s sinister track was knocking and Ace’s hook was deadly killer but then Rozay and Wayne hopped on and this joint went national. Weezy’s verse here is his best since life after prison. With a lil help from his friends, Hood proved all the doubters wrong. The third time is still the charm. We The Best be that logo.
Connect With Us!