Mixtape Sponsors

Lately mixtapes have been sponsored by prominent streetwear clothing companies. Like Kid Cudi was sponsored by 10 DEEP, Chiddy Bang and Diz Gibran were sponsored by CROOKS & CASTLES, and Dom Kennedy was sponsored by THE HUNDREDSm to name a few.

For my mixtape, I'm trying to holler at HANES or FRUIT OF THE LOOM like real talks. Or maybe SHAQ shoes.

Chiddy Bang

I know I know, the mixtape came out a hot minute ago. Well, really, not that hot of a minute, but, it isn't like breaking news type of shit. But for those who haven't heard any Chiddy Bang, like me up until less than a week ago, you should DEFINITELY check out this mixtape. Composed of rapper Chiddy and producer Xaphoon, these guys put out a mixtape which in all fairness is more like an ALBUM just in terms of playability, structure, and the fact that it features all original tunes.





DOWNLOAD ''CHIDDY BANG: THE SWELLY EXPRESS"

There single 'Opposite of Adults' is a pretty cool video, and it has been getting some love. I think this is a pretty dope joint, and Chiddy Bang did a pretty banging sample of MGMT's 'KIDS'. They flipped it their own way.

Chiddy Bang 'Opposite of Adults' from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.

Plus, the producer looks a like a slightly more ethnic me.

HIATUS & MTL TRIP

Sorry for the lack of posts, I guess all I can say was that I've been trippin' for the past few days.

MTL was crazy. Absolutely fucked up. The city of montreal should be BANNED. Actually the most ridiculous messy weekend of my life. I really don't have the mental strength to go through the whole weekend, and I promise you that next time I do anything even remotely funny I will tell you guys. I promise. But here are some funny/wacky moments/elements:

-All you can drink Concordia sponsored event
-My friend getting kicked out of his hotel by I swear to god stupid ass/racist manager/secuity guard.
-Forties an Blunts baby, roll up that Skunk baby.......
-Peanut Noodles/ CHOW MEIN
- FUNDAMENT
-WRABEANZ
-MILLA THYME
-Hangovers, and me being given the nickname: CAMH (Toronto people might get that)
-THAT M DEEEEEEEEZZZYYYYY BABY
-Sam's eyes rolling back
-Getting extremely emotional after a certain point of intoxication
-"NO, Don't bring that knife out"
-Strip Clubs
-More of being emotional
-Sob stories
-Tracks

YO SIDE NOTE:

So it is 6:30 in the morning, we just came back from a raging party , people are recording tracks, doing coke w.e. (fucked up) and then this mother, like literally she has a son/daughter says " I want to do some MDMA" and I'm like "You're fucked" and she says, with a hurt look "What are you talking about?!?!? I'll be fine!" and then I'm like "IT is 7 in the morning, you are FUCKED!", and then I leave. Later that day, after I passed out, she says " There! I took mdma and I was fine!". I just said "You're FUCKED" and walked away. This might be just me and my conservative views, but if you have a child, especially a baby, you should CHILL THE FUCK DOWN.

-The show, DROPPIN' KNOWLEDGE WAS RETARDED! RETARDED! I have another one this week at the RIVOLI if you are in town, TORONTO, doors are at 9:30. SO CHECK IT OUT!

I'll put up some photos when I develop them. Word.

Breaking News

The President just confirmed it, putting an end to the controversy that has been raging for years, that yes, in fact, Word is STILL bond.

MTL Trip

I'm on the bus to MTL right now, a bus which has a 110 volt socket and WiFi, so that is pretty grimey, even though the internet cuts out left right and goddamn center. Well, better than nothing. But the WiFi doesn't allow Megavideo for some reason?

ANYHOW, I'm on my way to MTL because this friday I am doing a show with the fam WRABEANZ as well as homie MILLA THYME who's mixtape is dropping the very same day. Also part of the show is montreal mc SON OF RIGHT HAND and toronto collective TRE LEJI. Definitely is going to be a crazy show, and respect to the whole DROPPIN' KNOWLEDGE fam for putting me on the bill. Word.

Some of the beautiful things about MTL, in my mind, are:

-10.1% Forty Ounce bottles of sludge.
-Late Night Chow Mein (Real talks this shit is BOMB)
-3:30 last calls
-GRAVY ass beer prices, CHEAP!
-There is always something to do
-Hip Hop with the fam!

But honestly, the chow mein is delicious. And I'll try to post any marginally funny stories. WORD

But, before I dipset, Joell Ortiz is a NERD! Take in this joint:



This guy is a doofus. But a crazy rapper no doubt.

I Need A Dollar

This song is a real good listen. I've been a fan of Aloe Blacc ever since he released his album 'Shine Through' and I've always thought dude was talented. He can produce for DAYS. He can rap for DAYS. And when he sings he has a particularly entrancing quality. This song is a little Bill Withers-y. Also the theme for new HBO series "How To Make It In America"



Here is another old gemstone:



Degenerate: YO WAIT BRO! I thought you said he could rap!
Pablo: You are just on my ass lately, aren't you?
Degenarate: Do I have to say No Homo or do you?



ALOE BLAKKA BLAKKA!

Killer

I swear to god Drake ghostwrote Nipssey's verse...



One way or another, big track.

National Pride

Talk about stirring up Canadian pride



I know what I'm drinking next time.

Just in case you were sleeping...

In case you missed out... back by POPULAR DEMAND!!!



How you like that 'Bron 'Bron?

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Scott Pilgrim

I'm kind of a sucker. I get sucked into shit.

There are a few things in my life that once I get into them, I become pretty attached, and then later suffer some withdrawal symptoms on some weird shit. And it usually has to do with things that make we happy, or w.e
And I'm not talking drugs, I'm talking kinda embarrassing stuff like...

Friday Night Lights (The TV Show, I'll probably do another post devoted to this later)
Avatar: The Last Airbender
NARUTO!
Zorro (The Book)
DUNE
IT
Harry Potter
Spiderman: Brand New Day

AND

Scott Pilgrim!



Scott Pilgrim is a series of graphic novels written by Bryan Lee O'malley. I've always really been into comic books, and never particularly into graphic novels. Plus Scott Pilgrim, looked pretty stupid at first glance. so I definitely wasn't going to pick it up. However, it was apparently the best selling graphic novel at my comic books shop, shout out to THE BEGUILING, and one of the clerks highly recommended it. So I said, what the hell, and I picked up the first volume. What else can I say other than the fact that I picked up the remaining 4 volumes within the week, which was in fact a little price, each volume costing about 14 dollars. However definitely worth the money I paid. I think I read the whole series start to finish like 6 times in a row. I couldn't get enough of it. And when I finished the the 6th volume, I was actually a little depressed knowing that I didn't have any more new Scott Pilgrims to read. I actually MISSED the characters. Plus the 5th one ends on.... well I'll let you get to it. And did I mention that 6th and final volume has yet to come out? Well yeah.

This is the synopsis of the series, pulled from the WEBSITE:

"Scott Pilgrim is 23 years old, living in the big city with his gay roommate, just trying to get by in this crazy world. He's in a band. He's lazy. He likes video games.

Scott Pilgrim likes the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers, but to win her heart, he has to defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. Seven! Evil! Ex! Boyfriends! Lucas has muscles! Todd plays bass with his psychic powers! The Twins are twins! Matthew Patel is an Indian guy! AND MORE!"

SO! In conclusion, if you are going to listen to any recommendation of mine not related to Hip Hop (because you should heed all of those), it should definitely be me telling you BUY AND READ ALL THE SCOTT PILGIM graphic novels. The story is amazing, the drawings are hilarious, and have an immense amount of honesty and depth in spite of seeming rather simple at first. The script is crazy, and you end up loving the characters, pause.

Plus you should read them before the movie comes out. Yeah it has an adaptation. Although I am almost positive that Michael Cera will ruin it for me.

Pablo is a pussy!

Ignoring the discourses on the roles/expectations of males/females within society offered by a post heading such as this one...

Degenerate: That is actually a pretty-pretentious statement WOAH HIPSTER ALERT WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START THROWING AROUND OTHER BIG FUCKING WORDS WOAH WOAH WOAH
Pablo: Honestly, I just not really down with all these things someone is expected to do simply based on their sex, in regards to masculinity and femini-
Degenerate: Yeah you are actually just a pussy.
Pablo....yeah. I think so.
Degenerate: I've been right a lot lately.
Pablo: Yeah what is up with that?
Degenerate: You are a pussy.
Pablo....


ANYWAYS

What I mean to get into, was the book ''The Time Traveller's Wife''. Yeah it is a pretty sappy romance novel, but you know what? You can hop off my nuts. Im not gonna lie this book had ya boy gettin' all sad and what not.



It is a pretty good book as far as I'm concerned. I really enjoyed reading it, and it has a pretty original concept. I usually find romance novels mind-numbingly boring, but real talks, this one could gwan. There are a couple, absolutely miniscule plot paradoxes, that I only thought of because I was really over thinking it, but otherwise it is pretty well put together.

Give it a try, or don't.

Now I'm going to go have very selfish sex, then maybe I will go hunting and drink some beer and probably watch some football. Maybe a fight or two, plus then I will grow my beard out. ROOOOAAAR!

1st Fashion Post!

Every good blog has a fashion focus. So I've decided to bless all of you with some of my wisdom.

I'd like to talk about the classic piece, which deserves to be a staple in the wardrobe of any gentleman, the Tall Tee. When I first saw this, I flipped. LIKE I WOULD SO TOTALLY KILL FOR ONE OF THESE OMFGCORD! Either in the long sleeve, or short sleeve option, the tall tee is an extremely versatile clothing item. EIther in XL XXL, XXXL, XXXXXL, OR X(∞)L.



See the different looks you can pull off? From approachable Jewish boy to black youth who is cracking his knuckles and who means business! This transcends all types of race/age/sex/height barriers to be one snazzy outfit! Great for covering up any weapons and or DAT WERK which may be stuffed into you dockers. I WOULD LITERALLY DIE FOR ONE OF THESE ZOMGBOAT.

Fixed Gear Videos

Degenerate: OMG YOU ARE SUCH A FUCKING HIPSTER!!!!11 REALLY ARE YOU ACTUALLY DOING A POST ABOUT FIXED GEAR BIKES? WHAT NEXT A POST ABOUT TIGHT T-SHIRTS WITH OBSCURE REFERENCES THAT EXPOSE YOUR BEER BELLY OR HOW ABOUT STUBBLE BEARDS OR BEADS OR TIGHT JEANS OR WHAT ABOUT CASUAL NOT-GIVING-A-FUCK ATTITUDES AND NOTORIOUS B.I.G./TOKYO POLICE CLUB MASHUPS? EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE JEANS AND GOODWILL JACKETS? BRING OUT THE RAY BANS!
Pablo: Leave me alone!

Yeah I ride a fixed gear bike. And I miss my baby. I can't wait to mount her and ride her until I'm sweating and my crotch is sore. I'm not going to do a whole post about the fixie culture and history and benefits and w.e. because I don't really give a care particularly.

Here are some of my favourite fixie videos on youtube. Macaframa makes some of my favourites, and the songs they use are pretty cool too.

This is one I hadn't seen until today. The song is pretty bananas.



This is another one I just came across today, and CRAZY! The bottle scene is dope. Macaframa videos are definitely shot the best.



Now, this guy, KEO CURRY, is stupid dumb good at riding. The beginning of this video is one of the coolest things I have ever zeeened!



This is definitely one of my favourite videos without question, short and sweet. Nothing particularly special about it, I just like the way it is shot, and the song, 'Embryo' by Black Sabbath is monstruous.



AND NOW THIS VIDEO. I actually love watching this video. When it was originally on the Macaframa website, it would only play when the page was opened for the first time, and it couldn't be found in the movies section, and now that I've found it I am very pleased. I just really like it. This is bike riding for me.

Massan from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo.

Enjoy.

EDIT: I realize maybe me saying I don't really care about the culture and history my be a little offensive to people who do.... but what do you want me to say? I don't really. I don't really care about that many things, it might have to do with the arrogance of youth, but more with I'd rather ride than spend time talking about it. Or... I dunno. Fuck that SHIT!

Hiatus-

I will be without internet for a few days. My bad. Word.

Dave Coresh- The Formal Introduction.

So, sorry I've been sleeping on this blog for a minute, but that is because I've been taking in DAVE CORESH's new mixtape THE FORMAL INTRODUCTION. As I predicted on my earlier Dave Coresh post, the mixtape is bananas. Crazy lyrics, and crazy production. You definitely need to check this out, and I think it is safe to say that there are some big things in store in the future for Mr.Coresh.

"Chicago-based, D.C.-bred emcee Dave Coresh has stepped into the Booth to bring fans his long-awaited fourth mixtape, Formal Introduction.

Mixed by DJ Tay James, the street album is presented by RubyHornet, FakeShoreDrive, IllRoots, and DJBooth.net. Other sponsors include Jugrnaut, InoPrints.com, DTLR, Q&Q Entertainment, Classick Studios and Grade A Mixtapes.

Among the 15 fresh new cuts showcased on the set are the recently-featured title track and the artist’s Booth debut, the reader-acclaimed “Keep It Movin.” Fellow Windy City natives Mike Schpitz, Add-2, Vic Mensa, Chuck L.i., Rocket and BEN, along with D.C.‘s G5 Clive join Coresh throughout the project, flowing over beats by Rob Bates, Maja 7th, ILL Brown, Chaise Marcel, Nova and Jon Francis."

Download Dave Coresh's 'The Formal Introduction' Here.

My Favourite tracks: 'Keep it Movin' and 'Rewind', although that might just be because I've listened to them the most (they were the ones that Coresh made a video for). As well as the title track "The Formal Introduction' as well as the eerie "Fuck U Pay Me".

On a similar note, Coresh's main producer, ROB BATES, is crazy, and I hope to hear more of his stuff in the future.

Brooklyn Bullshit

If you don't know about Joell Ortiz, then you have been sleeping on some overdose of Ambien shit. Honestly. Joell Ortiz definitely one of the best rappers alive right now. He was picked up by Dre and signed to Aftermath, however, when his album kept being pushed back, Joell Ortiz asked to be released from his contract, and went his own way. Now a part of the supergroup SALUGHTERHOUSE which is made up of himself, Crooked I, Joe Budden, and Royce da 5'9, Joell has been releasing a steady stream of material in preparation for his upcoming album (which I know nothing about, I don't even know of a date). Joell put out a called mixtape "Joell Ortiz Covers The Classics", and I'm not going to lie I took my time getting around to downloading it even though I consider myself a a Joell Ortiz fan, and now that I've given it a listen,I can definitely say it is one of the best mixtapes I have ever heard in my life. Joell Ortiz is an animal. His skill is to the point where sometimes it seems as if he isn't even rapping, rather that he is talking and shit just happens to rhyme. To download the mixtape click HERE.

Here are a couple songs. The first one, off JOCTCm is absolutely retarded to next level. Monkey down syndrome mating shit.



The other songs, are throwbacks, but still stupid as hell. 'Hip Hop' is a classic in my mind.



Now this isn't a song, but CRAZY nonetheless.



Another CLASSIC song.



There are too many songs that I want to post up. Here is a Slaughterhouse joint, although Joell gets a short part in it



AND FTW I just came across this song and crazy crazy crazy crazy I'm glad I did. Not a video but dirty.



And I need to give daps where daps is due. Coburn, you enlightened me in regards to Joell, so damn, I owe you.

My Plans For Tomorrow-

Right now I am staying in a hotel in La Serena, a small beach town on the coast (obviously) of Chile. Tomorrow My dad and my uncle are going on a full day tour. During which I plan on:

-Sleeping In

-Eating a large seafood soup

-Going to the beach

-Getting HAMMERED.

With 1000 pesos (roughly 2 dollars) you can either buy:

-A kinder egg

-A snickers

-1.5-2 Litres of Coca Cola

- A bottle of Gatorade

- 1 LITRE OF DOMESTIC BEER

So in light of that, I am going to be sloppy on the beach and it will be quite enjoyable.

My 3 Favourite Things Right Now-

My three favourite things right now are:

1) FOX's new (well it premiered in 2009, and it is in its second season now) series LIE TO ME. It is basically another 1-hour drama/mystery. The main character, Dr. Cal Lightman (played by Tim Roth) solves various mysteries by searching for truth in the people he interviews. Dr. Lightman can tell whether or not people are lying by interpreting MICROEXPRESSIONS and body language. It is infinitely cool the things they do.

Unfortunately the show is mildly predictable, and there are some pretty stupid moments, however, the whole concept is just so cool, it keeps me pretty interested. Also, Tim Roth plays one of my favourite characters since Eric Taylor, Smash Williams, and Dr. House. And that guy from prison break. Wenthworth Miller is the actors name, or something stupid like that. But I digress (I do that a lot).

So if you want to check it out, you can find some of the episodes online HERE. You can also check out ninjavideo.com. Just google it.

2) Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude". This is definitely my favourite book I've read in a long time. It's been called the greatest book in the spanish language since Don Quixote. Someone even compared it to the Book of Genesis. I won't get into that, but one way or another it is quite the compliment. This book definitely contributed to Marquez being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.

I don't have anything else to say, other than READ THIS GODDAMN BOOK PLEASE. One of my favourite quotes from the book is

"Death did not really matter to him but life did, and therefore the sensation he felt when they gave their decision was not a feeling of fear but nostalgia"

Each line that Marquez writes is so amazing, that I have to compare it to a poem in the sense that each word, phrase,point of punctuation seems to serve a purpose.

And Rowan made me read this book, so for that I am eternally grateful and half.

Read the book.

INTERMISSION-

Degenerate: Pablo, isn't this supposed to be a Hip Hop blog? Why do I want to hear about tv shows and books? I don't read no motherfucking books.
Pablo: HERE.

END OF INTERMISSION.

3) J. Cole. Right now I've got enough love for J.Cole. So go HERE where you can find J. Cole's website and where you can download at least one of his mixtapes.

As far as I'm concerned he keeps it real, whatever that means.

This next song is a real soulful song, which touches on a really honest note.



Word.

I need a slogan. I'll try to think of one.

I feel dirty having watched this.

Now I like rap battles. They are extremely entertaining. Plus there is that whole thing about energy release and it is a method of avoiding physical altercation blah blah blah. I just like watching them. However, I do generally believe that if in a rap battle you (the universal you) end up punching the other person, it means you lost. One way or another, you couldn't handle what the other person was saying, and you just lost it. There have been some notable examples "Math vs. Dose" and the whole 'OH YOU MAD CUZ I'M STYLIN ON YA' incident and those are pretty funny and w.e. to watch on youtube, but I think if you sign up for a battle, you should at least have enough respect for the concept in itself to refrain from gettin' rowdy, zeeeeen?

That being said- if there was ever a circumstance where there was adequate justification to punch someone in the nose in the middle of a battle, it is definitely this one. I would have sniped the guy in the lip if this had happened to me.

None of the two battlers are particularly good or anything. And I usually don't like white battlers -

Degenerate: But Pablo, aren't YOU white?
Pablo: Yes.
Degenerate:...

(continued) with some exceptions (Iron Solomon is 1 of them) and it is because they often are corny and cheesy and they just straight up annoy me. However, CADALACK RON's third verse is actually just TOO FAR. Like really, on some evil eternal damnation shit.



(READ AFTER WATCHING BATTLE)


Absyrd's wife was right THERE. The love of his life, the mother of his children. Right there. And Cadalack wasn't lying, go to myspace/absyrdswife

Jeeze. May Rakim have mercy on my soul.

Nas Ruined Concerts For Me.

I used to LOVE going to concerts. And this was before I could even go to most of the concerts that I really wanted to go to. I used to scroll through the Hip Hop section of ticketmaster looking for the all-ages shows, seeing what i could possibly attend. Finally, I came across a Nas show. It was part of the 'Hip Hop is Dead' tour, so it had to be a HUGE show. I bought a ticket, went with a couple friends, it was a good time. One of my boys DJ MENSA opened the shows and KILLED it, his set had the crowd going crazy, picking the right balance of bangers and throwbacks. Just crazy. And then Nas, came on with Dj Scratch, and to be honest it was a pretty good time. Nas did a lot of his newer songs, and to the crowds content he also performed every song off Illmatic (except for Halftime, which is pretty much what I was waiting for). Dj Scratch had one of the craziest scratch solos I've ever seen and my head was spinning it was hype etc etc. I had a good time.

Degenerate: But Pablo, how did Nas ruin concerts for you? It sounds like you had a good time?
Pablo: I didn't finish.
Degenerate: Oh word. Keep going then, my apologies.

When I saw that Nas concert, I was like 14-15, and it was one of the first concerts that I had gone to. Plus the fact that I was seeing NAS, the legend Nas, Nasir 'I wear chains that excite the feds' Jones, definitely made the whole experience seem maybe a little more grand than it really was. Anyhow, it was a good show, and I didn't regret it.

Fast forward at least a year or two later, to when Nas is passing through Toronto again. It wasn't for any specific tour, his new album hadn't dropped yet, and he was just passing through basically. Remembering that I had had a good time last time, I decided to buy tickets again, this time with another group of friends. Since the last Nas show I had seen Common live, Kanye West live (who is absolutely CRAZY live) and some other shows that I'm forgetting now. Safe to say I had matured as a concert goer since the last Nas show.

The doors were supposed to open at 8. Obviously they didn't, but rappers run on Hip Hop time so whatever,it was expected. The wait outside wasn't too bad. It was a cool night and I was with my friends. But it was the wait inside that was fucking stupid. Nas draws a big crowd,so once we were inside it got crowded pretty fast. You know how it is,shoulder to shoulder, everybody pushing, if you passed out you'd probably still stay upright. But I knew that was in stock- it had been like that last time. Only on this fateful night, Nas decides to take his sweet fucking time. FAMOUS was the opening act, and even he didn't get on until at least 11-11:30. By the time he was onstage the crowd was so fed up they didn't give him much love (he also made the poor decision to have a costume change, which just pissed everyone off) in spite of a pretty good performance on his part. Toronto definitely stayed true to it's 'SCREWFACE CAPITAL' nickname that night. Finally when Nas gets on, it's like, fucking 12:30 at night, which is just stupid. But whatever, Nas is here now, so no point complaining right? At least it will be a good show now right? WRONG.

This time around, Nas had almost the exact same fucking set as last time, only without a big coffin prop that had been used the last time, and minus maybe about half and hour forty five minutes off the time of the last show. There was nothing new aobut it, except for maybe the switching around of a single or two, and he performed everything exactly the same. I also realized he is just a bad performer. Don't get me wrong, Nas is one of the best rappers of all time, and I don't think there are many rappers who can touch him on a lyrical level, but dude cannot perform for shit. When I saw Kanye West live, he put on a whole long ass show without a hype man and he was going crazy running around jumping everywhere leaving it all on the stage. But with Nas.... Dj Scratch (acting as his hype man) was saying pretty much every other bar for him. Plus Nas in his old age was quite sedantary and was slugging his way around the stage. Not even slugging, he just didn't have the energy I expect from a LEGEND. And then after making everybody wait in the suffocatingly hot Kool House for a million hours, he doesn't even have the courtesy to do a fucking encore. I think it goes without saying that an encore is required. And the whole audience expected it. He finished on kind of a wack note, walked off stage, and everything went dark for a while. The whole crowd was just waiting, yelling ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE expecting it. Then suddenly, up go the house lights, and I swear you could have seen the disappointment in the air after that. There was like 10 minutes of waiting for the encore, and everyone kept thinking he would come back on...then NAH.

After that show, I was done with concerts. It had just been such a terrible experience I was like 'fuck it' and with one exception, I haven't been to any big concerts since.

The one exception being Rock The Bells when it came through Toronto. Obviously I had to buy tickets for that. I got right when doors opened in the morning (or whenever they did) and stayed until the end. I wasn't the type to stay in the crowd the whole time waiting to get up right to the front- I stayed back, enjoyed myself, sat down for a bit, moved into the crowd for the sets I wanted to see up close, and then moved out for food and washroom breaks. Some acts, had much bigger crowds than others. Let me explaing that: Rock the Bells was held in like a coliseum or a huge big convention center or whatever, so even if everyone tried to form a crowd around the stage, there would still be a lot of space around. When Rakim or A Tribe Called Quest were performing, the crowd was HUGE, everyone was super close together enjoying the show. When it was Jay Electronica or The Cool Kids (nothing against them) the crowd was smaller, with more people going to the washroom or sitting back against the walls.

But when Nas was performing, it was a HUGE crowd as well, because Nas after all is a legend. And when that happened, my friend was trying to get me to move up as close as posibble. And you know what I did? I said fuck that. I'm getting pizza. And I did. And then I went to one of the back hallways and relaxed . And I had a much better time than I had had at the Nas show. I could even here him performing everything the exact goddamn same. When Nas performs 'One Mic', everytime Dj Scratch does the extremely annoying thing/hype-up when during the chorus he yells 'ONE FINGA IN THE AIR, ONE FINGA IN THE AIR' over and over again.

Now, I still think Nas is one of the greatest rappers, I just think he is one of the worst performers. But because I feel a little shitty for talking smack about one of my favourite artists, I'm going to post some of my favourite Nas songs.

'I gave you power' is definitely one of the best lyrically constructed songs I've ever heard.



'Halftime'. Might be my favourite joint off of Illmatic, although each track is straight crack.



and finally "Surviving The Times". I didn't come across this track until recently, but it has quickly become one of my favourite songs of all time. Not one of Nas' greatest lyrical performances, but the whole vibe and feel to this song makes it a classic for me. You be the judge.



OH. And I still HAVE NOT SEEN NAS PERFORM 'HALFTIME' FML.

Top 10 Dead or Alive...

Just like every other Hip Hop fan, I've tried on numerous occasions to write up a 'Top 10 Rappers of all Time" list.

And I've never been able to create one that I've been satisfied for more then one day. I'm always changing my mind.

However, in my opinion, CANIBUS is the best rapper. Period. No discussion. End of story. Say what you want about song writing abilities and record sales and whatever, I don't really care. In terms of rapping, straight up just RAPPING, no one does it better than Canibus. I really don't care if you think he flopped or not, because at the end of the no one raps better than CAN-I-BUS.

"Getting in my way is like jumping in front of a car, breaking the sound barrier, that means the car is in front of the horn, by the time you hear it blowing its to late to respond"

WTF? What is Canibus saying with his life? That should not be allowed. I legitimately, I swear to Rakim, that every time I listen to Canibus I get chills. Like, it is a physical reaction. Crazy. Just crazy.

One of my favourite Canibus songs-

If He Was A Rapper...

If Josh Ritter was a rapper, I swear he would be the grimiest.

What I mean to say is that Joshy boy writes some of my favourite song lyrics of all time. Josh Ritter is an artist that really makes me appreciate song lyrics not specific to rap music. The stuff this guy writes is amazing. Straight up on some BEAUTIFUL shit. This guy is a poet and a goddanm half. In terms of being a songwriter, I'd personally put him up there with Bob Dylan and whoever else is considered a great songwriter these days. I know, quite the accolade. I guess I probably haven't listened to enough alt/folk/soft/w.e. rock to be able to fairly comment, however I think I've listened to my fair share and I think I know a good song/poem when I see one, so, WHAT UP DEN?. Plus I think I'm a solid Dylan fan. But I guess in comparison to other Dylan fans out there, I'm not even worth rating. But I digress.

Josh Ritter has written some of my favourite songs of all time, and I definitely think that the one I'm going to post deserves to be considered a triumph of the human mind.

Granted whatever genre Josh Ritter fits into isn't my forte, so you could say I don't really know what I'm talking about. But then I'd say you were a douchebag and to hop off my nuts.

Also, my description regarding Josh Ritter does not nearly do him justice. I just really want to get to the point and show you a song. But you can click HERE to go to his website where you will find a lot more information than I am prepared to type out.

Also, I never really appreciated the lyrics to this song until I read them while listening to it. And I would suggest you give that a try simply because you might catch a lot of things you might not have otherwise. So for song lyrics click HERE

One of the best alt/soft/folk rock songs I've ever heard, I present



Stellar, right?

That's that song.

Elzhi in my opinion, is one of the craziest rappers alive, and of all time. Not even in my opinion. That shit is a fact. If you disagree, then I really don't know what to say to you other than stop being a pansy ass hater.

And to add to the icing to the Elzhi cake, PAUSE, is the fact that he gets on some of the greatest beats of all time. Once again, fact.

The first song I'm posting, is one I just recently stumbled across... and the beat, produced by Black Milk, one of the craziest beatmakers of all time (FACT!), is absolutely crazy. This is the beat I want to die to. If there ever is a movie of my life (obviously there is going to be one) they are going to play this song at the moment where everything works out. The song/beat is crazy.



And the second song, produced by J DILLA, the real G.O.A.T., is one of my favourite songs. Lyrically, because Elzhi massacres the beat, and instrumentally, because J DILLA outdoes himself on this one.



Straight stupid. Elzhi BLAKKA BLAKKA.

50 Goddamn Cent

Say what you want, but I don't give a fuck. I like 50 Cent.

Fuck That.

50 is The Shit.

As far as I'm concerned, 50 Cent has followed a long line of GANGSTA rappers, and he has, as cliche as the sentence is, kept it REAL. With the exception of what are in my mind a few 'sellout' chickenhead songs ('Candy shop' to name one of them) 50 Cent has remained true to what he has always done -Gangsta rap. On his 2 most recent albums, you'd think that the pressure of being the LARGEST rap star on earth (at one point) would have made him switch his style up. Wrong

50 Cent continues to release gangsta/gully/gritty/grimey tracks without looking back. The way I see it, he has stayed true to himself, which is really all I can ask of someone.

This is keeping all those allegations of snitching aside. Because I really don't know anything about that.

So say what you want about 50 Cent, you may not like him, but I sure as hell respect him. Not to mention he is disgustingly rich, and not even solely off rap. This guy has crazy other ventures. Formula 50 ring a bell? Vitamin water? bom bom.

And sure he starts beef with pretty much anyone, but that's why we like him right?

Here's just a couple of my favourite-gully- 50 Cent songs-

50 Cent - "Ok, You're Right" from Carla on Vimeo.

and



and the CLASSIC

New Hip Hop

I hear a lot of hating on Hip Hop. We all know the story, the whole 'Is Hip Hop Dead?' debate.

In my mind, Hip Hop is an highly discriminating culture (musically), with an extremely essentialist mindset. Now I know I would get a lot of shit for saying something like that, but let me explain myself. What I mean by that is that within Hip Hop itself, there is a ridiculous amount of hating, almost to no end. The 'underground' rappers hate the 'mainstream' rappers and are constantly looking for the 'real Hip Hop', which promotes the idea that there is only one acceptable type of Hip Hop. Now, I understand why someone would hate on the Soulja Boys and Lil' Jons of the world, because let's be honest, they are definitely lacking the lyrical content of some of the underground stalwarts such as say Slum Village, AZ or any other rapper usually referred to as a lyricist. And it is a little unnerving the fact that the some of the best rappers lyrically, are getting no love in the form of record sales. However, I don't think this should have anything to do with the the mainstream rappers not being 'real Hip Hop'.

I think of it like this, Hip Hop should be able to recognize different subgenres within the larger umbrella of 'Hip Hop'. For example, the aforementioned Soulja Boy in my mind makes party Hip Hop, which is still a type of Hip Hop. Like how within Rock and Roll there is alt rock, punk rock, pop rock, etc etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't like the whole "this is Hip Hop, that IS NOT'' mindset. I would prefer that the ''This is one type of Hip Hop, and that is another type of Hip Hop'' mindset be adopted instead. Because there is a need and definitely a place for 'Club Bangers' and w.e. When I go to a club, most of the time I would prefer to listen to my Nas, J DIlla and Biggie tracks and go buckwild, but also there are times when I wouldn't mind listening to G-Unit, Dipset and whoever else is being hated on (I sound a little outdated). And that's just me. I know there are other people who would like to listen to the radio stuff all the time as opposed to just some of the time.

Now I don't like Gucci Mane, I actually think he is a little retarded, and I don't like Wacka Flocka Flockofseagulls Flame or w.e. , but that's the thing, I just don't like them. It just isn't my thing. But I don't think that they are 'NOT HIP HOP' or anything like that. And Soulja boy annoys me a lot, but at the end of the day he is making music that someone likes. It's like it's a different subgenre that I'm just not into.

If anything, the type of Hip Hop that I like is back to where it used to be- in opposition to the mainstream. It is what it is.

And I'm sorry if this is a little ramble-y and all over the place,but I kind of just wanted to get it off my chest. And even though there I'm not loving most of the mainstream music that has been coming out lately, there is still more than enough Hip Hop emerging that I'm quite content. Just a couple of guys I've been liking lately are as follows-

PAC DIV - PAC DIV from CDUB on Vimeo.

or ALSO, and he catches his fair share of hate, he definitely holds it down for me, because if you cover a J Dilla track, you are good in my books

Wiz Khalifa - Name On A Cloud / Wassup (Directors Cut) from Bill Paladino on Vimeo.

Also, and he's been getting a fair share of love lately

J. Cole - Simba (Directed by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.

and this guy, I've been on him for a minute-pause- and he is definitely one of my favourites




Enjoy. Although I'm sure a bunch of you have already stumbled across all of these.

Dom Kennedy

Jamie showed me this one. So a high five to him.

L.A. Rapper Dom Kennedy has been slowly increasing his buzz with the release of his three mixtapes 'Best after Bobby', '25th Hour', and 'Future Street/Drug Sounds'. This is the video he made for his song 'Of All Time', a joint with a crazy vibe to it, and the video works well with it. When I first heard it, I was playing this song nonstop as well.

DOM KENNEDY - "Of All Time" from The Topshelf Company on Vimeo.

And if you like what you hear, you can click HERE to download his mixtapes.

Chile

I'm trapped in Chile right now. As far as things go, I'm pretty gosh darn lucky. If you haven't been living with your head in the ground or up your ass, then you are probably aware of the fact the central Chile was struck by an earthquake 8.8 in magnitude early this past saturday morning. So far the death toll has exceeded 700 (which is quite low considering the strength and force of the eq), and the estimated damage cost is around 8 billion dollars. The town of Concepcion (which I was in a few weeks ago) has been levelled, and a bunch of other coastal cities have been destroyed as a result of tsunamis and whatnot. So in perspective, being bored isn't much to complain about. My return date (originally March 20th) might be postponed, but we're not sure about that. The aftershocks are still occurring, although I'm sleeping through most of them, or just straight up not noticing them. The rest of my family is though.

According to NASA scientists, the earthquake actually tilted the earth off it's axis by 3 inches, which is a shitload. The days are something like 1.26 microsends shorter. To be honest I thought I noticed that- not.

http://www.theadventurelife.org/2010/03/earths-day-shortened-axis-tilted-by-chile-earthquake/

DAVE CORESH!

I just came across this song the other day- and I have been playing it almost nonstop since. Crazy lyrics and an even more offensively ridiculous beat. The video is retarded as well. His mixtape "Formal Introduction" should be dropping some time this month, which, judging by what I've heard so far, should be bananas. Enjoy-

Dave Coresh - Keep it Movin' from Tori Boyd on Vimeo.

Welcome.

This is just the beginning.

Welcome to my humble blog. I used to have others when I was younger, but now I don't I guess. I hope I can hold your attention. And if I can't, I hope something can. I do it for the culture!