New Muzik

In between travel and work I've been slowly putting together a new album. At first It was going to be a EP featuring all the extra songs that didn't make it on "Tha Audio Bully" album. After listening to the extra tracks and the new one's I scrapped the plan for an EP and decided to put out another LP album. The new album is titled "Underground Artist, Major Threat" and it should be done next year.

When working on a new album I listen to a lot of New Muzik... for a variety of reasons. I listen to hear what style of music is popular (the south is still dominating). Which artists can really spit and which are only popular cuz of money and exposure. I listen for who has a message and who is perpetuating negative stereotypes. Out of all the reasons I listen the main reason is... to find artists I want to work with. If they're old school artists I listen to hear if they still got flow. If they're new artists I listen for originality and if they have their own sound. 

Below are videos from a mix of young new artists with a message and one Bay Area legend. The song "Heemin" from Mac Duna featuring Mac Dre, Tech N9ne and Fa$e resurrects Mac Dre (R.I.P.). Mac Dre was an MC from Vallejo, California whose unique flow was influential in the Bay Area Hip-Hop scene. Mac Dre was killed in 2004 but his charisma can still be felt in this 2015 video. 

The rest of the artists in the list are all new MC's. Some mainstream others underground but all of them have flow and a positive message. There's, Cashflow Harlem - Ladies Vs. Thots, Kwame Katana - Life Without Water, Big Sean Feat. Kanye West and John Legend - One Man Can Change The World. 

Last is the new mixtape "From Da Old 2 Tha New" from DJ and producer DJ Modesty hosted by Shabaam Shadeeq. DJ Modesty has been making beats, producing and hosting radio show "The Real Hip-Hop Show" for over a decade. Shabaam Sadeeq is a raw, lyricist with a catalog that spans back to the 90's. He drops jewels with some of the best in the game on this classic mixtape of old and new. Check it out!

Socially Conscious

A friend once told me that, "I was to smart not to notice the world's problems...but to cold to care."

David Banner is a man that cares. His new track "Malcolm X" is a direct stand against all the negative stereotypes being perpetuated in music today. He talks about why rappers are so proud to brag that they're selling drugs in their hoods. When they're selling the drugs to their own people, which helps to destroy their neighborhoods.

The lyrics are hard but not preachy, the chorus is an angry chant with top notch production. David Banner is one of those socially conscious MC's who can still get in a cypher and spit fire. Don't get it twisted, he was making gangsta tunes before becoming aware of the message being related in his music. 

Another MC who gets busy is Murs. He is known as a conscious rapper who prefers to use more vocabulary than curses. His name is an acronym of many meanings. M.U.R.S. stands for (Making the Universe Recognize and Submit or Making Underground Raw Shit) and several others things. He is part of Hip-Hop groups Living Legends, 3 Melancholy Gypsies, Felt and an organizer of the Paid Dues festival. On his new song "Epic Salutations," Murs details the problems in Hip-Hop with witty rhymes, over neck-snapping production. 

Last, is a new track by Tech N9ne featuring group Mayday. Tech has never been known as the most conscious of rappers, but this song is different. Its a tribute to all the people who have been effected by the horrors of war. Whether its the soldiers fighting in the war or the families waiting for a soldiers return, the song is dedicated to everyone. 

Album Reviews

Summer is here, the weather is HOT and the music is even hotter. I never review music that I don't like, cuz I don't believe in giving bad press. If you're familiar with my previous posts you know how I grade music. If you're unfamiliar here's the scoop. I rate in a five star system 5 being the highest 1 the lowest...lets get it in. 

Random Axe - Random Axe **** (4.25)

Is what you get when you put three dope lyricist into one super group. Sean Price, Black Milk, and Guilty Simpson combined their talents and put out a solid first album. All the production was done by Black Milk and although a few of the beats were minimalist style like J-Dilla most of the tracks are banging. Black Milk and Guilty Simpson are from Detroit. Sean Price is a Bucktown, BK veteran and half of the Iconic group Helta Skelta. Combining their sounds and rhyming like their competing against each other make each track a competition of who can spit the dopest verse.   

EDO.G - A Face in the Crowd **** (4.25) 

EDO.G is a Boston legend. one third of the group Special Teamz he's been putting out music since the days of Big Daddy Kane. Although ED is a industry veteran he still rhymes like a hungry new cat spitting fire every verse. Boasting head nodding production and collabos with Made Men, M-1, Bishop Lemont, Special Teamz and a few others. This album is definitely worth listening to if you like hardcore east-coast lyricism.

Tech N9NE - All 6's and 7's **** (4.50)

Tech N9ne is a Kansas City spitter who came to fame as a member of The Regime. Now he has a label Strange Music and a roster of artists from all over the map. This album is more of a group album featuring most of his artists on each track. The album has several standout tracks like Pornographic featuring E-40 but it has to many skits. Regardless the KC MC has consistently put out dope music and this is a fine addition yo his catalog. If you're a Tech Nine fan I definitely recommend going out and buying a copy.

Curren$y - Weekend at Bernies *** (3.50)

The Baton Rouge MC has been building his buzz slow and steady with singles and videos. This album has production reminiscent of 90's west coast music. The flows are tight but most of the songs stick to the same subject matter. Women, weed and money, which is normal in Hip-Hop but it would've been nice to hear Curren$y diversify his subject matter on a few tracks. This is a good album and Curren$y spits some hot bars on a few songs, but overall its one dimensional and leaves listeners waiting for something different. 

Killer Mike - The Pl3dge **** (4.50)

Killer Mike is a Atlanta lyricist with a strong delivery and diverse subject matter. This album is in a word "dope." The production is on point, the flows are tight, and the albums filled with an assortment of content. Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga touches on serious subjects like the presidency, welfare and the plight of black people in these times of war. He does it all with wit and top notch lyricism. Standout tracks Ready Set Go, American Dream and Burn show that Killer Mike is in touch with current issues, and isn't afraid to voice his opinion.

 

New Muzik

I heard a few new tunes today worthy of being classified New Muzik. The first is by artist Cuban Link who used to be part of the Terror Squad with Big Pun and Triple Seis. He was off the scene for awhile due to some label issues. There were also industry rumors that Fat Joe blackballed him in the game. Regardless he's back with some hot tracks for the summer.

Tech N9ne is back with more strange music. His rapid, machine gun fire flow leaves allot of people baffled and others copying his style. He gets comparisons to Twista but I think his flow is quite unique. He came in the game as part of the Regime with Yukmouth. Since then, he's released numerous albums and started his own label Strange Music. His new song 'He's a Mental Giant' will probably help stop the Twista comparisons and give him the credit for being a sick lyricist he rightfully deserves.

There's also tunes by newcomer Oun-P with his 'What chu Talkin Bout' remix featuring Lloyd Banks and Jadakiss. The beat to the track is Fiya! Last there's music from female spitter Patwa, Lloyd Banks and Ace Hood.

Hardcore Hip-Hop

I've been listening to mixtapes lately cuz i'm not feeling allot of peoples albums. There's always five or six dope tracks and the rest are just fillers. I miss the days of Hardcore Hip-Hop! When I use the term "hardcore," I mean a hard beat, hard rhymes and hard delivery like classic tunes "Ante-Up," by M.O.P. or "Slam,"by Onyx.

Below are songs "60 second Assassins" DJ Kay Slay ft. Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Jaz-O, and Twista. "Uncommon Valor" by Jedi Mind Tricks ft. RA The Rugged Man, "Ego Trippin," from Tech N9ne, and "Perception" by my homie NLZ. A MC and producer whose been making hardcore tracks for a minute. He produced the song "Young and Hungry" off my last album Sinister Ambitionz.  

Check out the tunes below and if you want to know more about the artists, click on their name.