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.

Romance Art

Spring is in the air! Its getting warmer outside and the women are wearing less. I don't know if its the birds, the bees, or flowers and trees...but people are sexing! I was biking through the woods yesterday cuz there's a large forest with bike trails behind my house. While riding I caught two different couples sexing in the woods. (Seriously!)

The first couple looked like teenagers and they had their bikes thrown in the bushes so no one would steal them. The second couple were older, much older. I'm talking 40's or early 50's and they were going at it. They were in a clearing that looks like a former camp site that hasn't been used in a long time. There were lots of trees and bushes surrounding the area, you have to go off road from the bike path to get there. Normally I stop in the area to catch my breath and enjoy nature. This time while riding through, I saw this man on his knees, behind a woman on all fours with streaks of white hair in her hair...f**King like drunk bunnies. As I rode by, the woman put her head down so I couldn't see her face and the man just smiled and gave me a slight nod.

The free spirited nature of the old couple reminded me of a girl who got turned on by art. Not just  any art... by a particular artist named Kevin A. Williams. His initials in reverse spell WAK. His art is described by some as black art by others as modern art but by most women as Romance Art. He depicts scenes of love and romance in a masculine way that invokes a certain feeling in the opposite sex. His paintings have been featured on television shows Law & Order, Soul Food and Oprah. 

He's a best-selling author and on a mission to change peoples perspective on art. If you want to know more about him click the link. I used one of his paintings for the "Sexist Science" post. Below are a few more of his more famous pieces. 

 

  

 

 

Older Muzik

Originally this post was going to be about new music. The problem is I didn't find enough new music that I like to post. There are new faces popping up on the internet everyday and the majority of them are wack! Lets be real. I'm hearing catz claim to be rappers but their verses don't rhyme. Other catz why can rhyme have a whole song of punch-lines. The song has no structure, meaning a beginning, middle and end. Finally you have these Cat in the Hat rappers whose rhymes are so simple a 7 year old could do better. Which is why there are so many 7 - 10 year old kids with record deals now. Its not that these kids are dope, its that the adults around them suck.

On a whole different subject. For the people writing me, asking why I don't put music by Lil B or Odd Future on the blog. Its because I don't like there music...period! I post music I like, and that I listen to. I don't have anything against them as artists but the music they make I'm not into. So save the emails, and stop with the requests, cuz its not going to happen...real talk.

With that said, I decided to post some Older Muzik. Music by artists who knew how to rhyme and song write. MC's and groups that respected the craft and created music that made you feel something. Below are tunes by Styles of Beyond, DMX, Cali Agents, Thirstin Howl The 3rd, Tupac, and Onyx. All groups and artists that made (and some still making) music people can feel.

Smart Testing

I often here the statement “education is the key to success”. That’s true in some ways but misleading in others. Its not how much a person studies that makes them successful. It's a mix of what they study and how they apply those lessons in life. If you’re a Chemistry major and all you study is English literature, it probably won’t help you graduate. Or if you're a History major but spend the majority of the time reading books on plants. You will know how to grow a garden but won't have a degree.When you think about it, the only universal language is mathematics. Why? Math is the same in every country. No matter where you go, whether it be city, town, or village...1 + 1 will always equal 2.

I'm a strong supporter of continuing education and that's why GMAT preparation is useful.  The GMAT is an analytical exam that focuses on learning to think, rather than lesson memorization. In most schools they use standardized tests like the SAT's (Scholastic Aptitude Test) which require students to remember large quantities of information. Most of which is forgotten once the test is over. This type of learning does strengthen the memory but doesn't teach students to think for themselves. This ability is necessary for students doing post graduate studies in fields like Law, Medicine, Business and numerous other careers. 

The GMAT is one of the tests that doesn't just help with school. It helps students achieve their goals in life. For more information about the GMAT and companies that assist in preparation for the exam check out their website.   

Sexist Science

I've been busy working on music and enjoying the warm weather, so haven't had much time to update the blog. Today I decided to catch-up on the news and what's going on in the world. While reading some technology articles at popsci (short from popular science) I came across an article that most feminist would term sexist science. 

Back in 2002, psychologists at the State University of New York at Albany published a study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior looking at the potential role of semen in alleviating depression in women. The researchers presented evidence supporting an earlier hypothesis that the hormones in semen have a mood-boosting effect on women. 

Did you read that correct...are they saying the semen has anti-depressant properties? Yes, you did and Yes, that is what they are saying. This research is not only being examined it has quite a bit of evidence to support the claim. 

Semen is a mixture of several different compounds, and sperm only makes up a small amount of it. When you remove the sperm, what's left is seminal plasma. Three compounds in seminal plasma being researched are estrogen, prostaglandins and oxytocin. Estrogen and prostaglandins have been linked to lower levels of depression, while oxytocin (which women release during birth, breastfeeding and orgasm) promotes social bonding.

Last February, Lazar Greenfield, the incoming president of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), wrote an editorial about this research in Surgery News. The backlash was so strong that he had to resign from his job at the college and position as editor for Surgery News. This is volatile science and even highly respected academics are treading cautiously. 

If you want to read the whole article including the studies done on 293 different women who had protected and unprotected sex to research the results. Do a search for this article Controversial Ideas: Does Semen Act As an Anti-depressant to the Recipient?
Or copy and paste this link in your web browser http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-05/controversial-ideas-semen-natures-antidepressant

 

Asian Hip-Hop

I listen to allot of Hip-Hop. Out of all the different styles and genres of Hip-Hop there have only been a few Asian rappers to get shine. The one artist everyone associates as the spokesman for Asian Hip-Hop is Jin the MC. If you don't know who Jin is then you don't listen to enough Hip-Hop. 

Jin was the first Asian rapper to be signed to the majors in 2002. Not only that he was signed to the mega label Ruff Ryders when it was in its prime. He was on the label with The Lox, DMX, Eve, Mysonne, and the rest of the heavy-hitters.  Jin is a battle tested MC with a lengthy resume from battling artists Serius Jones, Mister Fab, Cassidy and countless others. If you want to know more about him google him or click the link. 

Since Jin's ascension to stardom there have been allot of Asian rapper's appearing on the scene. I posted videos from some talented MC's who are making moves in the industry. Be sure to check out "Skim" she is one of the few female MC's who can sing and spit.

Close Encounters

I've always been someone who looks up at the sky. Back in the day they would call people who did this daydreamers or stargazers. In modern times they call it being observant. There's allot of close encounters going on in the skies above major cities around the globe.

It doesn't matter if you don't believe in U.F.O's and think its all a man made hoax. Or if you're coming from the other end of the spectrum and believe in the Ancient Astronaut theories. Meaning the sightings are of interplanetary origin. Regardless of your stance on the phenomena its happening at an alarming rate.   

Thanks to the popularity and advancements of digital cameras and cell phone technology people are capturing amazing videos of some unidentified flying objects. Its making headlines in international news and other media outlets around the globe. Below I posted a graphic and somewhat disturbing video of recent sightings of  U.F.O's from around the world.

AniManga: Bleach

Bleach is an anime series that started out as a manga by artist Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. I started watching the anime long before I checked out the manga which is unusual for me. Normally I read a few episodes of the manga and see if its worth looking into the anime since most companies change parts of the story of the manga. With Bleach the anime closely followed the manga story minus a couple of filler story arcs that happened when the anime caught up to the comic which is still in publication.

Bleach follows the adventures of a teenager named Ichigo Kurosaki who obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper also known as a Shinigami which literally means "Death God" from another soul reaper who had been injured. Once he acquired the powers he took on the duties of protecting the innocent from corrupted spirits called  Hollows, and guiding lost souls safely to the afterlife. 

The main protagonist is a powerful and manipulative soul reaper named Aizen Sōsuke who betrays the other Soul Reapers and allies himself with the strongest of the Hollows, the Espadas. His main goal was domination over the Soul Society, the Physical world and everything in between. A war between the Soul Society and Aizen raged and at the end only one was left standing.

There's allot of controversy now that the Aizen saga is over because Tite Kubo planned on ending the manga there. But due to the popularity of the comic as well as the anime he continued with a story-line. This has some people in an uproar and others excited on what direction the comic is going to go. Me personally I find the new story arc a little weak but since its just starting I'm giving it a chance. The anime is still dope and if you're not a fan you should check it out! I posted a few clips of the Soul Reapers battling Espada in the final war below.

Mix of Flavor

Spring is in the air! I'm outside more and behind the keyboard less. When indoors I've been working on my own music more than listening to other peoples. So this post is a mix of flavor, which is a blend of new music with established artists and underground cats.

There's Riz a underground MC from Harlem building a buzz for making hot tracks. Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga who has been featured on several Outkast albums. He was also signed to Big Boi's label for awhile before being released and going independent. The beat to Killer Mike's track "Ready Set Go" is straight FIYA! Guilty Simpson has been reppin the D (Detroit) for a minute. He along with Black Milk and Sean Price formed the supergroup Random Axe and have been putting out bangers since. 

Last is underground rhyme spitter Reef the Lost Cauze from Philly. He's a former member of Army of the Pharaohs with Vinne Paz and has been putting out records for years. His buzz as a solo artist gained more momentum when he was featured on the Snowgoons projects. 

Album Reviews

There's some good music coming out in 2011 and the summers not even here yet. 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.  

Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers **** (4.50)

Wiz Khalifa’s highly anticipated album Rolling Papers has been released. The Pittsburgh native had a stream of successful hits during 2010 that propelled him to stardom. Rolling Papers is a solid first release. Wiz carries most of the album himself, featuring only three collaborations off the 15 track LP. This was a smart decision cuz it shows Wiz is confident enough that he doesn’t need big names to co-sign him. It also allows listeners to hear more vocal range and lyrical diversity from the artist.

Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) **** (4.50)

Pharoahe Monch has been recognized as a lyrical giant since the 90’s. He came in the game spitting as half of the rap duo Organized Konfusion with Prince Po. Since then he has released three group projects, two solo albums and has been featured on numerous mixtapes. With his new album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) Pharoah Monch trades barbs with other lyrical titans like Styles P, Jean Grae, Royce Da 5,9, Immortal Technique, and others. The album has enough heat that it can be played without having to skip through songs looking for the hot track.

 

Lupe Fiasco - Lasers *** (3.75)

Lupe Fiasco’s sophomore album Lasers is a solid politically charged project. The Chi-town native discusses a variety of topics from struggles in the industry "The Show Goes On" to the state of education and health care in the U.S. on "Words I never say" and "State Run Radio". He speaks his mind while balancing the music with pop influenced tracks that have mass appeal. I feel this album shows growth for the artist and is a tribute to his growing fan-base.

 

Joell Ortiz - Free Agent **** (4.25)

Joell Ortiz buzz has been growing steady since the release of his first project The Brick (Bodega Chronicles) in 2007. He spent a short stint on Dr. Dre's Aftermath label before moving on to release the project independently. Joell is 1/4 of Super Group Slaughterhouse who drop their highly anticipated EP entitled, Slaughterhouse in February. The Brooklyn rhyme spitter holds nothing back on the new project Free Agent. He sticks to the formula of spittin hardcore rhymes with witty punchlines over head nodding production.

 

Strong Arm Steady - Arms and Hammers *** (3.75)

Strong Arm Steady (S.A.S) has been climbing out the underground since 2000. The group became known for spitting gang related flows backed by front man Xzibit. He left to continue his solo career in 2006 and the trio of Phil Da Agony, Mitchy Slick, and Krondon have continued working hard to make S.A.S a household name. Over the years they have recorded many mixtapes and have distributed them all over the world.The new project Arms and Hammers is 12 tracks of heat. Standout tracks like "All The Brothers" and "When Darkness Falls" shows the group can spit about more topics than just Gang Bangin.