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Starkey "Dark Nights and Street Bass" (mix)

In anticipation for the Street Bass volume 2 mixtape, Starkey dropped a nasty mix:

Download MP3.

Tracklist:

01 - Warren G ft. Nate Dogg "Regulate (Starkey remix)" (seclusiasis)
02 - Stumble "Wuz Up Break (sb2 version)" (seclusiasis)
03 - Zomby "Haterz" (dub)
04 - Kid Twist "Breathe" (dub)
05 - Twist & Pharrell vs T Money "Give Up That Cold Cash (Dev79 blend)" (seclusiasis)
06 - Lil Mama "No Music (Starkey refix)" (seclusiasis)
07 - M.I.A. "Boyz (Tactic remix)" (seclusiasis)
08 - Starkey "Listen In" (dub)
09 - Beanie Sigel ft. Memphis Bleek "Who Want What (Mr. Andersonic remix)" (seclusiasis)
10 - Skinny Friedman "Frozen Hands" (seclusiasis)
11 - El Carnicero "Next Kingdom ft. Warrior Queen" (slit jockey)
12 - Drop the Lime "Hear Me (Monster Mosh Dub)" (trouble & bass)
13 - J-Sweet "Slowdown" (sweet beetz)
14 - 334 Mobb "Scarecrow" (def jam)
15 - Mr. Virgo "Rotten" (white)
16 - Rossi B & Luca "I'm in Love With a Stripper remix" (heavy artillery)
17 - TRG "Bario Brio" (dub)
18 - DJ Blaqstarr & Rye Rye "Shake it to the Ground (BD1982 remix)" (seclusiasis)
19 - The Streets "Has it Come to This (Starkey bass mix)" (seclusiasis)
20 - Matty G "West Coast Rocks (Caspa remix)" (argon)
21 - DG Yola "Ain't Gon Let Up (Starkey remix)" (seclusiasis)
22 - Starkey "Swollen Glands" (dub)
23 - Starkey "Say Yes vs. Pulse X (blend)" (seclusiasis)
24 - Starkey ft. Elixir "This Time Last Night" (seclusiasis)
25 - Wiley "My Mistakes (Starkey remix)" (seclusiasis)
26 - Rustie "Lean Wit It remix" (dub)
27 - Starkey ft. Kano "Leak Riddim VIP" (slit jockey)
28 - Starkey "Corner Store ft. Xploder" (slit jockey)
29 - Starkey "Prism" (starksound)
30 - Starkey "Menace" (dub)
31 - Slim Thug ft. TI & Bun B "3 Kings (Jason Carr ghettotech remix)" (seclusiasis)
32 - Dev79 "From the Get" (slit jockey)
33 - Steve Spacek "Dollar (Starkey remix)" (seclusiasis)
34 - Gorilla Zoe "Hood successful black man (Dev79 remix)" (seclusiasis)
35 - Raekwon & El Michaels Affair "PJ's" (truth & soul)


Holla!
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[rock the dub Interview]: The Real

The Internets is a funny place. Cats like Tay Zonday can reach crazy acclaim (and billings on Jimmy Kimmel) for sounding like, well, Claire Huxtable's father. Or take Souljah Boy, who told 106 & Park that he not only had 10 million hits on MySpace, but the record label that signed him sent a limo TO HIS HOUSE to get the paperwork done. In any case, Les Internets can get it right, and that's where The Real comes in. The Real has stepped to the plate and offered up hilarious videos that poke fun at Hip-Hop in a creative way (e.g. their latest video, which asked UPS employees how they felt about Biggie's "don't be mad, UPS is hiring" line)and their vlog that has gotten play over at NahRight, on Miss Info's blog, and many other blogs/sites that may or may not matter (this blog included - you make the call). Brothers Jeff and Eric Rosenthal boast resumes that some post-grads would die for: Eric has studied filmmaking at Syracuse, been mentored by László Kovács on the set of Two Weeks Notice, documented artists like Missy Elliott, Juelz Santana, as well as Kanye West at both the 2005 Grammys and during his 2005 Touch The Sky tour, among other things, while his brother Jeff is a recent Boston Univ. grad who has interviewed Hip-Hop personalities ranging from Voletta Wallace to Lloyd Banks, Lil Scrappy to Field Mob, for both print mags and online publications; he has also covered politics, Pop culture and media matters for RADAR, wrote for the now-defunct ThisJustIn.com (an HBO/AOL comedy website), and currently works as the in-house artist for Very Short List. Clearly these two brothers have their fingers to the pulse, and are on the brink of helping usher in some of the more creative Hip-Hop vlogging out there (plus, its cool to have a voice outside of the Internets Celebrities and Ill Doctrine!)... I got intrigued, and wanted more info... khal seeks, and he shall find:

khal: There are some out there who might not know who’s behind "The Real", can you break that down for us? From speaking with you, I know you guys are brothers, but how many others are involved in the production of your videos?

Jeff: The Real is composed of my older brother, Eric, and myself – at least on the business side of things. Working alongside us, though, we have a huge network of friends who give us both their acting chops and their quality time for our show.

Eric: Our anonymity worked toward our advantage for our first video, "Lloyd Banks' Retirement Party", because people thought that The Game made it, Cam made it, and truthfully we didn’t mind the conversation that it started.

khal: For someone to bust out the videos you do, with the hints of social commentary and satire and the like, my guess is that you have been Hip-Hop fans for a bit. How long have you been into Hip-Hop, who are some of your favorite MCs, etc.?

Jeff: My favorite MC is Soulja Boy.

Eric: We’ve both been students of hip-hop for most of our lives and, like most people, we love Biggie, Jay-Z, Ice Cube, and the like. Today, though, my favorite MC is Kanye West. Clipse and Lil’ Wayne are nasty, too.

Jeff: If not Soulja Boy, because SouljaBoyTellEm.com hasn't been released yet to Sam Goody (OCTOBER!), then I would say Tag Team.

khal: How long have you been making videos? The quality is top notch for a vlog – what kind of equipment do you use?

Jeff: I’m mostly just a writer, and stay away from Final Cut Pro.

Eric: Canon XL2 and Final Cut Pro. We’ve been making movies since our early teens. I went to college for it, studied under legendary filmmakers and put in a ton of hard work along the way.

khal: Where’d the idea for "The Real", a vlog that pokes fun at Hip-Hop, come from? Were you influenced by any other blogs/vlogs out there?

Jeff: The idea behind The Real came from the fact that there is nothing like it right now. As for blogs, we read them all.

Eric: Especially the ones that link to us. We want to fill a huge void – to bring comedy to a culture that takes itself too seriously.

khal: Can you break down the process involved in making your videos, i.e. how long does it take for a concept to go from an idea to a finished project? Do the two of you bounce ideas solely off each other, or are you kind of working with a group of people?

Eric: We have the ability to put these together very quickly – within a day, for some.

Jeff: I usually come up with my ideas on a whim. Eric and I were just walking up Fifth Avenue in New York when I thought up the retirement party. And then it’s who do we know, and who can we get involved to make it work - because none of our sketches are scripted. They’re all rehearsed for a basic idea of how things'll go, and then ad-libbed. So, it comes together relatively quickly.

khal: Is there any subject that's too taboo for slaying on The Real?

Jeff: No. Anything can be made funny.

Eric: We’re trying to build on the culture, not take it down.

khal: Do you guys have any plans on expanding The Real, like doing videos on Pop stars or compiling your things into a DVD or anything?

Eric: We’re open to lots of things. And yes, the grand vision is to expand the franchise. Stay tuned, and we might have something to tell you soon.

khal: I want to do something different in this interview; let’s see how quick your mind(s) work: spout the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear these words or phrases:

a) Nas

Jeff: We talked to a homeless guy outside of a Nas listening party – he was first in line – who was trying to tell us about the free movies he gets into. He also said that the new Bond movie wasn’t so good, but that the chase scene took his breath away. He was my best friend.

Eric: Carmen.

b) Cam’ron

Jeff: "Knock knock, who’s there? Killa Cam. Killa who?"

Eric: He’s like this athlete who has all of this ability, but doesn’t care to use it, which is kind-of disappointing.

Jeff: I like his mixtape stuff over his albums.

c) “bling bling”

Jeff: Does anyone still say this? Also, when I interviewed Lloyd Banks last year – nice as can be, and very good with his answers – I almost knocked his massive ring off his hand when I shook it. And then he called me “the next Howard Stern,” presumably because I’m white.

Eric: Lil’ Wayne’s incredible. I don’t know.

d) "Greatest Rapper Alive"

Jeff: Soulja Boy. Tag Team RIP.

Eric: Kanye West.

e) "crank dat"

Jeff: I don’t know what that’s referring to.

Eric: Seriously, Jeff was doing that dance at lunch today.

f) "swag"

Jeff: I associate it with free stuff, but MTV has a different definition.

Eric: Jim Jones, who I would love to get on our show for an extended interview. He’s a fascinating personality.

g) Michael Vick

Jeff: Those dogs had it coming.

Eric: I’m putting a lot of money on the Falcons to win it all this year.

h) MP3s

Jeff: I can’t say anything without the FBI or RIAA taking interest.

Eric: I have so many great ideas for how to save the record industry, but I’m not giving them away for free.

khal: Can you give us an idea of some of the videos we should be expecting to see on The Real in the near future?

Jeff: We have this idea where we do a video and it’ll be funny. I have no idea. We have to do a video for Monday, and I don’t have any ideas yet.

Eric: Ringtones.

khal: When do you think you'll STOP making videos?

Jeff: Before people start liking them. That’ll show em.

khal: Do you think Hip-Hop vlogging will start attracting more viewers/producers?

Jeff: Absolutely. Vlogging is the big thing on the internet now. I’m surprised there aren’t more out there now.

Eric: I was going to say the same thing. Each day that passes, I'm shocked there's so few of us out there.

khal: Do you have any final words or shout outs or anything to give to the readers?

Eric: Shout out to all of our fans, and everybody with a sense of humor that's picked up on us. Shout to the bloggers who wield such immense power today. We appreciate everyone's support and interest.

Jeff: Shout to my brother, Eric. Also, big ups to Ed Lover.

Make sure you make The Real a part of your life; burn their feed and make SURE you keep up to date with their works. Shouts to Jeff and Eric for taking the time out for this Q&A. We leave you now with their latest video:

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50 Cent: OnSMASH Interview in 3 Parts

You've seen this linked all over your internets, and I acutally enjoyed seeing 50 Cent speak. I am not the biggest fan of his music, although GRODT was my shit when it first dropped (as were his mixtapes pre-Aftermath), but his interviews are always captivating.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Not every Hip-Hop site can say 50 Cent name checked them! Nice one, OnSMASH!
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LOST News: Jeff Fahey, others, added to cast!


Remember The Lawnmower Man? Yes, dude is going to be on LOST. No word as to WHO he will be, but he is one of FIVE new actors added to the cast, including:
  • Jeremy Davies (dude played Charles Manson in the Helter Skelter 2004 TV movie... was also in Nell and Saving Private Ryan)
  • Lance Reddick (AKA Lt. Daniels from The Wire, Desmond Mobay on OZ, and the cop in the "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" video)
  • Ken Leung (dude who played Carter Chong in the last season of The Sopranos, he was also in Saw, OZ, X-Men: The Last Stand and Inside Man) and
  • Rebecca Mader (The Devil Wears Prada)

You know you love it. IMDB has both Mader and Reddick listed for Season 4, Episode 1, but no character info has been leaked...

Can't wait!

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Deconstructing Biggie: UPS Is Hiring

The Real has a new video up, breaking down one of Biggie's more infamous lines...



It's funny b/c I was actually listening to this track ("Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)") the other day. The part where the Asian FedEx dude breaks down the Puffy dance is classic!

Between The Real and the iNTERNETS CELEBRITIES, I don't need anymore Hip-Hop vloggers.

Bonus Video:
"Hip-Hop is the Single Most Destructive Force in Society"


LMFAO!
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On That Leak: Kanye West "Stronger (A-Trak Remix)"




More info on this @ Pitchfork. Download the MP3.
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Elucid's Smash N Grab


That damn Loosie Music crew done done it again. From the camp that brought forth Spec Boogie's On My Grind tape, as well as the phenomenal Champion Hoods tape, we are now given this: Elucid's Smash N Grab. Dude went all out, and murked a batch of beats. This, however, isn't some nonsense over "I Get Money" or some other beat, nah dude went leftfield with his. I'm talking Johnny Cash, Black Lips, the Chemical Brothers, M.I.A.... you get me? And when I say murk, I mean MURK! Check out these two tracks:

That "Cut You Down" might be my favorite. I like how they looped the sample, with part of Johnny singing in it... really grimey. My absolute favorite is what Elucid did with "Army of Me" by Bjork, but I forgot to upload that before making this post. That's OK, though, because that just means you need to grab the .ZIP and peep it (big up to Rappers I Know on the host)!

Mixtapes like this make you realize that today's Hip-Hop has definitely lost it's way... cats only look for certain sounds, certain styles to flip. Gone are the days of the non-Rap influences or beats being thrown into the mix. Forward thinking music from forward thinking peoples. Sleep and die...

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Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics Volume 3 [review]

When you title something as lofty as "American's Funniest Comics"... please deliver. I'm not saying I'm the funniest muthafucka in the land, or even in my house (my son owns that distinction), but some of the comics put me to sleep faster than Tylenol PM. Jamie Foxx's Laffapalooza is a beautiful thing: give funny cats the shine that mainstream America doesn't. I love it, but the shit can be hit or miss - basically, you can SEE why some comics aren't hot. On this, the 3rd installment of Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics, we get some great highs, and some snooze-inducing lows.

The first thing that got me was how dated this DVD was. This got released recently, but Cedric The Entertainer's opening monologue referenced songs like "The Whisper Song" and whatnot, which, if you peep his act on a regular basis, he likes to stay current when talking music and such, esp. on today's music. Just struck me as odd. That rolled onto Donnell Rawlings, aka "I'm rich, bitch!" or Ashy Larry to the Chappelle Show fans, when he talked about Chappelle going to Africa. You just KNOW his current routine speaks nothing about Chappelle (although I did like the bit about him paying for everything - until Dave bounced). Dude is one of those guys who, when he is in character, he is funny as HELL! Ashy Larry? Dude on Mad Real World? The list goes on... but his comedy is just kind of bland. He relies too much on the screaming and whatnot to be as funny as he can be. Other peeps you might have heard of include Wild'n Out's Spanky Hayes, who was funny but not someone I would go pay to see. Maybe I'm just used to see him buggin' out, but his stand-up routine just seemed kind of like the ramblings of ya boy who had a bit too much herb at the party. Esau McGraw is a dude I saw on the latest season of Def Comedy Jam, and his eccentricities kill me. His whole style up on stage, from the random blazer thrown on top of the t-shirt to his mannerisms play like he is a dude who isn't too bright/kind of slow, but knows what the fuck is going on (almost like a modern-day Stepin Fetchit), but I hadn't realized I saw him before until he went through his bit about his girlfriend saying fucked up shit while he slept ("I hate you Esau! Die Death Bleed Eat Yo' Lips, Bitch!")... I saw the whole bit before, but it still killed. The last dude was the illest, though. Willie Barcena is a Mexican guy who just ran with some of the most hilarious shit, in this fucked up, chopping off the ends of his words type of speech. So raw... put it like this. My wife hates most new comedians (last dude I turned her onto was Katt Williams, who she loves); she was in the room while I watched this, and didn't laugh once. She put down her book and bugged out for his entire routine. Dude was just on point. Definite highlight of the show.

The other guys, straight up? Wack. David Arnold was ridiculous - he spoke about not working, but then had x amount of "office place" jokes. The white dude, Louie Katz? I couldn't tell you one of his jokes - just didn't hold my attention @ all. Tony Sculfield is a dude I see on Comic View all the time, and he just looks grimey, like he should be on the block with about 30 dimes bags in his pockets. Really predictable comedy, too... like I really though you STOPPED smoking weed, dog. Oh, and I think it's kind of bugged that Jamie Foxx's face is on this, but he's nowhere to be found. I don't wanna say it looks like they're trying to use his likeness to market it, but...

In any case, fans of Urban comedy should be into this. Loads of social commentary, from relationships to drug abuse to music. Some raw talent on here, some missteps, and hell - we even have Mexicans and Canadians on here! In all seriousness, though, the Laffapalooza concepts is a beautiful thing... maybe when volume 4 drops, it will have some better talent.

rock the dub gives Jamie Foxx Presents: America's Funniest Comics Volume 3 a 2.5 out of 5 stars. The funny bits are as hilarious as the unfunny bits are boring. The thing is, we got more of the latter than the former.

Hit the Links:
www.myspace.com/jamiefoxxcomicsdvd
Order this NOW from Urban Film Club
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rock the dub radio: episode 003


EZ all RTD Radio fans - those who are new, welcome to the party.

I am actually happy with this show, the 3rd of my rock the dub radio broadcasts on WGHH Radio (Bi-weekly Thursdays, 10PM-12AM; I think I also have the Saturday 10PM-12AM slot, too!). All Hip-Hop, all the time. This episode was fun to make, for I wanted to throw in some classic material in there ("Top Billin'", "Rock Dis Funky Joint" [TRENTON STANDUP!], "Criminal Minded", etc.), some new spit ("The Moment Before Crazy", "Watch Yo Step", etc.) and some other shit you might not be up on, like "Super Lyrical" or Cru's "Pronto". This session plays like a mirror to what I was rockin' on my mp3 player back and forth to work a few weeks ago. I also wanted to get that Disco D-produced "Ski Mask Way" (aka the best thing on The Massacre) on there, just because.

You will also notice that this is the first episode to premiere the "rock the dub radio" intro on it, plus a number of sounds and what not I have been trying to cultivate to make the show feel different and fun. Even threw my customized "rewind" sound in there. That's just to make me feel good, but I think it came off well.

Let's cut the chatter, though... onto the show!

01/intro
02/Nas "You Know My Style"
03/Audio Two "Top Billin'"
04/Chill Rob G "Ride The Rhythm"
05/Poor Righteous Teachers "Rock Dis Funky Joint"
06/Wise Intelligent "Mr. Rocket Launcher"
07/Sadat X "The Post"
08/Fat Joe "Flow Joe"
09/Bahamadia "Uknowhowwedu"
10/Canibus "Get Retarded"
11/Boogie Down Productions "Criminal Minded"
12/interlude: Chris Rock "Rap Standup"
13/KRS-One & Marley Marl "Kill A Rapper"
14/Mos Def "Crime & Medicine"
15/Sharkey & C-Rayz Walz ft. Vast Aire "The Moment Before Crazy"
16/Cannibal Ox "Handle That"
17/50 Cent "Ski Mask Way"
18/Big Punisher ft. Black Thought "Super Lyrical"
19/Rhymefest "Angry Black Man On An Elevator"
20/Ras Kass ft. Name Brand "Get It In"
21/Common ft. Scarface & Mos Def "The Corner (Remix)"
22/9th Wonder ft. Royce Da 5'9", Naledge & Vandalyzm "The Last Time"
23/Percee P ft. Guilty Simpson & Vinnie Paz "Watch Yo' Step"
24/Oh No "Action (Rap Version)"
25/Oh No "My Way"
26/Tonedeff ft. Extended Famm "Ugly Woman"
27/Prince Paul "Dimepieces"
28/Peter Bjorn & John ft. Spec Boogie "Amsterdam (Loosie Remix)"
29/Cru "Pronto"
30/El-P "The Overly Dramatic Truth (Drum & Vocal Mix)"
31/C-Rayz Walz "Original Copies"
You can download the show from podOmatic or stream/download via divshare.

Got comments? Speakonit. You should also make my feed a part of your life.

Episode 004 is a special treat, and a first in many shows like it to come. You've been warned.

Spread the word! rock the dub radio!
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Kia Shine Due Season [review]

I guess I can't be mad; on Due Season's intro, Memphis' "Kinfolk" Kia Shine asks if he should talk about his grind or his clothes... ultimately deciding to talk about both, which he does throughout the entire major label debut of his. I have no problem with either, shit, do what makes you paper (and in listening to the 2nd verse of "Pre Season", it sounds like dude had a serious bubble on the underground). It's just that, you'd think an artist would truly try and expand, maybe break up his topics or bring some different angles into the game. 2007, however, is all about "swag"...

You've heard his big single, "Krispy", all over, with it's "Paul Revere"-hat tip. The sounds on this track introduce the majority of the production on the album (handled by his Rap Hustlaz crew, save for 3 or 4 of the cuts): 808 drum sounds, trunk-rattlin' bass and little else. I guess when all you make is "Swag Music", you don't really need to diversify your sample banks. The next single, "W.O.W.", follows this one, and is pretty much a rehash of what he's said in tracks 1 and 2: Rap is my grind, and you have to respect my shine. I didn't know dudes got so infatuated with, well, themselves. Dipset's Jim Jones steps up to go back and forth with Kinfolk, letting you know that, yes, they "can't take a day off" if they "want the pay off" - BALLIN'! I'm sorry, but *yawn*. Elsewhere on the album, Kia does try to switch it up: he drops a track entitled "She's Serious", which features Wifey (his wife), but he still ends up talking about what jeans are on her ass, what shoes are on her feet, and how she ain't gonna deal with you if your bank account ain't right. Haven't we been down this road? "Holla At Ya Kin Folk" is a nice diversion, though, where he actually breaks down how down his lady is - she stood by him through the thick and thin, she even had to wear the same clothes and shoes (!) while he pursued his dream. Nice touch, but coming at the home stretch, it's a bit late.

This disc isn't all bad, though. For those who just want a CD to stunt to in their candy-colored whips, this disc doesn't miss. The production is a constant throughout the LP, with woofer-battering bass and hi-hat laced beats ready to give your system a real test. "Bluff City Classic" ganks a fabulous Teddy Pendergrass sample (which will sound familiar to 8Ball & MJG fans, who also guest on the cut) and turns it into pure pimpin', pimpin'. "Tech Game" is an exploration into how you can make serious gwap in Rap using MySpace, e-mail and the ringtone grind - dude is a business, man! "Touch" sounds like a recipe for date rape, but should be a strip club masterpiece. And, even though he almost begs you to hate it, you have to respect dude's grind. He is uncompromising, hustle-oriented, and his personality is very engaging. If only his subject matter was as interesting.

For those of you who just want music to stunt to, grab this album, early. In my opinion, it's one of those CDs you pop on to go to the club in, but won't get much burn come December. For all of his grind, Kia is too much swag, not enough substance for a consumer like myself. We don't need a tracklisting that has the following titles in succession: "Swag Music" followed by "Respect My Fresh", or "Stunna Frames" right in front of "Face Card", especially when your skills on the mic aren't as fresh or exclusive as the BAPEs on your feet. Maybe he just needs to hire a good ghostwriter, they can make his rhymes look as "krispy" as his Evisu jeans.

*sigh*

rock the dub gives Kia Shine's Due Season a 2.6 out of 5. For what it is, it's a decent effort. For what it lacks, it's a damn shame - you get the feeling dude is holding a lot back to stay fresh. Hopefully he will get a sophmore album to get deeper into his real life, outside of the facade.

Burn These: "Krispy", "Bluff City Classic", "Tech Game"

For more about Kia Shine, hit the links:
Kia Shine on MySpace
Due Season on Artist Direct
R U Krispy??
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AvE Stand & Deliver (hosted by DJ SNS) [review]

"when I cook crack, yeah it's usually on the Pro Tools/that's why my name rings like jewelry from the old school" - AvE, "Stand & Deliver"

When I heard this from AvE's mixtape, Stand & Deliver, I had to take a second look at dude. At 22 years young, this Bronx, NY, native is primed and ready to make a mark, throw NY on his back and keep it bubblin'. He reminds me of Papoose, but I think AvE is a bit more versatile: he has his street gritty records, he has a few party joints, but he also has some wicked stories, too. Not your average mixtape from not your average NY MC.

In terms of underground/mixtape fodder, dude has the game in a chokehold. Tracks like the "Tom Sawyer"-sampling "No Reason" bring straight flames over a noticable sample - I was actually impressed, because most of the Rap tracks sampling Rock these days try to go more for the Hardcore/Metal angle, where this harkens back to the breakbeat days. "Where I'm From" has AvE revisiting Jay-Z's street anthem, but showing you what BX is about. He also takes "Coast to Coast" and shows you how he can flow off of beats from all over the US ("Bout It, Bout It", "The Corner", "Deep Cover" and "Flava In Ya Ear"). "Addiction" is a serious story-driven rhyme about an all-consuming love. He even has a number of other up-and-comers featured on his tape: Nucci Reyo steps up on "Talk 2 'Em", going back and forth with AvE, but my favorite feature is "The Future": a sick, piano driven beat that is just itching to be cut up by a knowledgeable DJ, features Esso (aka "Esso-bama" LOL) just spitting some crazy lines for the hood. One for the niggas on the block, indeed. He even brings back Mic Geronimo for a little lesson on the politics behind the music on "Industry 101"!

Not to say that this mixtape doesn't have its missteps. "That's Mean", as host DJ SNS says, is "the single", and it has a nice, electro swerve to it. I can respect what he's doing on that one, from the song building to the "party in the club" vibe. However, "Give It To Me" just comes across as a forced effort, from the "swag" talk to the lame R&B hook on it. And those strings? Oh no, that's an automatic fast forward for me. I also realized that my copy didn't have all the tracks on the tape I was seeing. Whattup with that? Not saying I'm a big Trey Lorenz fan or anything, but I'd like to have heard the whole thing! And as much as I love SNS, I think his hosting should have been sparsed a bit. It wasn't really necessary, especially considering all he did was shout out BX, Urban Music Entertainment, and ruin songs (at the end of "Addicted", he shouts about them being "addicted to making this money", which kind of kills the vibe of the story that was just spit to us).

In any case, this mixtape does what it needs to do: it gives you a complete picture of a MC who is hungry. You can hear it in his voice, and you can see the versatility and potential hearing his best tracks. I feel like this dude could hop on someone's remix and craft a sick 16, or drop some deep introspective shit for the real niggas on the block. I highly recommend you give AvE a listen. In the immortal words of DJ SNS (lol): BX STAND UP!

rock the dub gives Ave's Stand & Deliver mixtape a 3.7 out of 5 stars. Dude has what it takes to get his name on the lips of many tastemakers - as long as he stays true, and doesn't roll with the trends. One of the MCs to watch out for, that's my word.

If you want more info on AvE, hit up his MySpace page. You can also stream Stand & Deliver on HipHopDX.com. This mixtape has also been featured on Yo! Raps, as well as on Mixtape Kings.
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RIP Eddie Griffin


RIP. Dude was drafted in 2002, then signed by the Nets in 2004... just couldn't get it together - part of the reaso he got shipped to Houston and ended up having a less than decent career in the NBA. Reporter in my local paper today remembered dude's Roman Catholic days, before he went to Seton Hall. Griffin was a beast! Then... the drugs started to take affect. Or whatever the deal was. Damn shame - wasted talent.

In any case, you will be missed. Much love to the Griffin family.
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HOW did Weezy become king?

My boy Enigmatik and I google talk during the day, trading rap news, shooting the shit, singing "Chocolate Rain"... you know, good livin'. He hit me with this link to a vid on XXL on some "word on the street" shit, asking who the greatest rapper alive is? The unanimous answer is Lil' Wayne... which prompted this convo/rant**:

Enigmatik: http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=13175
Sent at 1:35 PM on Thursday
khal: weezy do do his thing; not my fav but in the streets that nigga is the king
Enigmatik: my thing is....how
khal: lil wayne for president is hilarious though
Enigmatik: how did he become the king?
khal: mixtape game. well really, he started rapping like jay-z. if you listen to a few of the cuts on carter 2, dude really sounds like jay-z. i cant remember the track names, but this nigga iw orked with was a big wayne fan. played me carter 2 and im like WOW he sounds like he is copying jay! i think he took that and ran with it. then, he just capitalized on the mixtape game, esp those joints with drama and that lead to him on everyone song. i mean niggas seeing wayne spit fire on r&b, hiphop, etc without an album out? i mean niggas in the hood hear wayne on the radio more than you see him on 106 & park. plus, niggas in the street cop mixtapes like 47s cop retail CDs. niggas dont know track 15 on ya album, but they know your freestyle over the jeezy beat word for word. you know how that goes... i bet your top 10 tracks right now aint on no one cd, whether its a freestyle or a promo or a rmx. sorry for the rant, but thats the nature of the game, how i see it.
Enigmatik: that's a good rant; it would make for a good post haha!
khal: i know right, but now i done typed it, and it wont come out the same lol. i'd be better just posting this convo, ala
oh word lol. matta fact... brb
Enigmatik: hahaha


And here we are, back where we started. What do YOU think? WHY is Weezy considered the greatest rapper alive?

**note: some of the rant has been cleaned up in terms of punctuation. my chat game isn't that clean!
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Special Teamz Stereotypez tracklisting


EDO G's new crew, Special Teamz, has an album coming out on Duck Down on the 25th of September. The tracklisting has just been released, and it is jam packed on the production and featured MC front:

1.) Get Down (produced by Young Cee)
2.) Three Kingz (produced by Young Cee)
3.) Stereotypez (produced by Ill Bill)
4.) Boston To Bucktown f/Sean Price & Buckshot (produced by Pete Rock)
5.) Classical (produced by DJ Shocca)
6.) Main Event (produced by DJ Premier)
7.) Long Time Comin f/Devin The Dude (produced by Xplicit)
8.) Home 2 f/Akrobatik, Dre Robinson, JY, Twice Thou & Frankie Robinson (produced by Young Cee)
9.) Clap Your Handz (produced by Young Cee)
10.) Story Of My Life f/JY (produced by Yomo)
11.) Fallen Angels f/D Guest (produced by Jake One)
12.) One Call (produced by Marco Polo)
13.) Fight Club (produced by Moss)
14.) Dirty Money f/Ill Bill (produced by Young Cee)
15.) Pushaman (Produced by D Boyz)
16.) Race Riot (produced by Good Will)
17.) Gun In My Hand f/Jamey Jasta
of Hatebreed (produced by Jamey Jasta & Matty Trump)
Some cream of the crop dudes on there! Nice to see guys like Ill Bill, Akrobatik, Sean Price and others get on this project, too.

Check out track 7, "Long Time Comin'", ft. Devin The Dude:


Holla!
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DJ Denox We Break The Hits (Special Edition) (hosted by Stat Quo)


My boy Wordsmith passed me this mixtape, and it looks promising! DJ Denox features loads of unsigned talent who sound like they SHOULD BE SIGNED on this mixtape. Hosted by Stat Quo, this is the true underground. Grab the mixtape, the go hunt down these artists. Wordsmith is featured (his track is fly, too!), as well as E.B.B. & F.L.O.W., among other up and comers, and some familiar faces (Wordsworth, Sean Price). Check out the tracklist:

01. Opening
02. Stat Quo Intro
03. Red Eye ft JBiz, C. Monk & D-Light - The Heat
04. Affiliate - Left, Right
05. R.E.U.B. ft Laila & ROE - Studio 52
06. Wordsmith - The Example: Resignation
07. E.B.B. & F.L.O.W. - Breathe
08. Stat Quo Speaks
09. Thorowbredz - Gangsta Lean
10. Mag - Gotta Gun
11. The Lyricists ft Mike Melton - 360 degrees
12. City Scholar ft Mardell Maxell - Internationally Known
13. Jus Mula - Head Right
14. Verse - Go Girl
15. Jag - Check Out My Swag
16. Stat Quo Speaks
17. Sav Killz ft. Planet Asia - Champion Rap
18. Sha Stimuli - Hood
19. SoulStice ft Wordsworth - No Chance
20. J The S - Thirteen
21. Gawdbless - Show Respect
22. JD Era - Grind Season
23. Stat Quo Speaks
24. C.O.D. ft Sean Price - Let's Ride
25. Dramills - Next Story
26. Ray Mora - Heard It All Before
27. Donny Goines - Goodbye
28. Don Cerino ft DMinor - I Love Hip Hop
29. Stat Quo Interlude
30. J.GiB - Rollin' Through the Hood
31. Ahmir - Watch Me
32. Paper Chase - I'm Doing It
33. Stat Quo - Outro
Don't sleep.
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DOA Q&A: Outrage


My Q&A with Outrage is up on DOA. Respect to him.

He also dropped an exclusive mix with MC Justyce. Peep the tracklisting:

Creeper - Outrage - Backlash Records
Unknown - Amit
Dark Dream - Outrage and Dynamic
Running Scared - Outrage and Dynamic
Everything Changes - Nolige - Backlash Records
Route 808 - Outrage - Inneractive Music
Metaphysics - Dance Planet X (Outrage Rmx)
AWOL - Outrage
Cryonize Version - Outrage and Resound
Africa - Digital and Lutin - Phoenix Rising Album - Function
R.A.G.E. - Outrage - Rufige
Strangers Eyes - Outrage, Aperture and Kirsty Hawkshaw - Metalheadz
Broken Mind - Outrage
Amnesia - Outrage - Horizons Music
Seduction - Outrage (Paradox Rmx) - Horizons
Music Ice Cold - Outrage
Too bad. And no I'm not posting the link on any of my blogs until Friday... gotta draw you guys to the site! Again, OUTRAGE Q&A/MIX is up on DOA. Go grab it!
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"Can't Tell Him Nothing": A Re-Enactment

The brothers at The Real (i.e. the same site that let you peak at Lloyd Banks' Retirement Party) have a new sketch up, which breaks down, in their words, "the Hip Hop Holiday that is 50 and Kanye's release date". I think they did their thing, too:



I love the white girl in this. Very good choice for that role.

For more videos like this, make sure you check out The Real.
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Wordsmith: Baltimore Music Conference 2007


Ill MC, label CEO, friend of this very site and all around dope individual. Wordsmith will be performing at the BMC 2007 August 23rd through the 26th, along with over 100 DJs and bands! There will be workshops, seminars, dance performances, skateboarding demos, live graf, indie movie screenings.... the works! Words will be touching down with a showcase tomorrow night, from 10:40PM to 11:10PM @ Club One, so if you are in the area of B-More and are trying to see some dope Hip-Hop, make your way tot he BMC2k7.

For those who don't know, Words is dedicated his performance to Kwasi Jones, who recently passed away. It's a beautiful thing, and hopefully Kwasi's peoples come out and represent that night.


For more info on Wordsmith, check out his website. And for more info on BMC 2007, hit up their website. Respect to Words for this... keep it locked to rock the dub radio, I'll be periodically dropping new heat from him and the Nu Revolution camp. HOLLA!
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DTP on the Remix


Just got flown over two remixes of some popular-ass songs by two DTP affiliates:

50 Cent ft. Ludacris "I Get Money (Remix)"


J. Holiday ft. Chingy "Bed (Remix)"


Is there going to be a DTP Family Mixtape before the next compilation drops? I'd like to hear it...
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KRS-One signed to Duck Down!


via XXL:

Black Moon front man, Buckshot, has announced that Duck Down Records has signed the legendary KRS-One. “Yeah, we just signed KRS-One to Duck Down,” Buckshot told XXLMag.com. “He’s on my label now. We’re going hard, as far as production wise.”
I'm loving this! Well, I'm really just hoping that KRS and Da Beatminerz can do a collabo LP ala 9th Wonder & Buckshot... it can happen!
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Michael Vick: dividing the community



I tried to stay quiet about the Michael Vick case. I am not for dog fighting in any form. If the dogs are gonna fight, that's one thing, but to breed them into monsters, then murder them for not performing to YOUR standards is just disturbing.

Having said that, this nigga is going to plead guilty and is looking at anywhere from 12 to 18 months in the bing, a possible NFL suspension/expulsion, and a name that will be tarnished forever. And yet some niggas think that the decision is racist:

Fans at Playmakers Barber Shop in Midtown said they still support Vick, because they feel he is innocent, and that he is a victim of a racist judicial system.

"It's bad. I don't condone it at all, but the punishment is too severe, (they’re ruining) a man's career," said barber Dontrell Mapp.

Say what? If anyone ruined Michael Vick's career, Michael Vick did. When he drowned that dog, or funded the kennel (Bad Newz Kennelz, eh? Kind of ironic choice of a name now isn't it?)... whatever his involvement was, he knew there were consequences. And if he didn't, he's a fool. And anyone who thinks the punishment doesn't fit the crime, I suggest they have someone take a pet of theirs, do everything that most dog fighters do (from doping to electrocution) and then try and put a better deal together. How many dogs has Vick killed, either direct or indirect?

In any case, don't turn it into something it's not. He stood up and is going to take a fall (even though it seems like he's trying to get a good deal before the gambling aspect of his case came to light), praise him for admitting guilt. Don't turn this into a black/white thing.
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BioShock lust



Not too many games actually make me wish I bought a different system than the one I own (I've had my PS2 for a good 4 years now)... not even Halo 2. BioShock is just making me want to own an Xbox360 for no good reason.

It's my own fault, though. I read EGM, so I have a decent grasp on the latest games coming for all of the systems, even if I don't own them. I read about BioShock a month or two ago and was blown away at everything going on in this game: an intellectual shooter/RPG/gory horror suspense thriller, UNDERWATER!?!? With a quirky retro feel to the details and era of the story? I'm so in...

Or I would be, anyways. And before you say it, yes I know it's coming out on PC (the demo is available HERE), but my Dell is not equipped for more than word processing, blogging and archiving music. It could be, but I don't have the scrilla to get it where I need to get it. I got kids, nigga.

So what am I left with? A desire to partake in an epic battle that I have no possible way of ever playing. I'm going to be a 40 year old man playing this game for the first time, I think. Which isn't bothering me, I just haven't felt this way for a game in a while. It's not like I'd have time to play it - I got kids, nigga.

For you Xbox360 fans, though, the game hits the shelves TODAY. G4 has the ill walkthrough/preview HERE, but if you get G4 from your cable provider, you should wait for tomorrow's X-Play for a full rundown. IGN gave BioShock a 9.7 out of 10, and GameSpot gave it a 9.0. Sounds like a keeper to me. Anyone wanna get me a 360 for my birthday?

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Dwizz Party Music EP (preview)


Shouts to Dwizz, South Philly and Flamin' Hotz for this EP. Any release that gives you instructions on how to Wu-Tang is a keeper. Proper dancefloor madness. Peep the audio:

Side A
A1. "Salt Pepper Ketchup & Hot Sauce"
A2. "Toot That"
A3. "Feeling So Horny"
Side B
B1. "Let's Go Girl"
B2. "I'm Hot"
B3. "Goodtimes"

For more info on Dwizz, peep his MySpace page. If you want to cop this EP, grab it direct from Flamin' Hotz (or one of these retailers: Turntable Lab or Rubadub).
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Skream "Sub Island" b/w "Pass The Red Stripe" [review]


Skream is one dubstep prodigy who seems to create some heavy tunes out of thin air. Take “Sub Island” for instance: dude wastes no time getting right to the meat of the matter. After about half a minute of dubbed out sounds, he drops into a dub workout too slick to be missed. The sub work is serious: I’d suggest getting a tough pair of bins, or some really dope headphones to truly get where these low ends are going. Plus, there’s no mess or fuss about the rest of the tune: aside from the rumble, Skream just adds in some echoed sounds and a crisp drumbeat to the mix. Wait for the second drop; dude goes even DEEPER with that bass! “Pass The Red Stripe” brings a little more variation into the mix, getting into more of a melodic dubwise zone. This time a waist-winding bass is made beautiful with touches of horns, some high synth notes, and a softer, thumping beat. Almost transcending what you might consider “dubstep” to be, bringing a bit more of the soul and depth that classic Dub sounds provide. Score another one for the wonderkid!

For more information on Skream, check out his MySpace page. This single is available NOW on Soul Jazz Records.
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Chester P "Oh No" b/w "Chessmonster" [review]


This is a slick 12” from the UK Hip-Hop scene, from the Task Force’s Chester P. I hate saying that, because Hip-Hop is one of the most universal genres under the sun, with dope shit coming from Hollis, Queens to Zimbabwe. The thing is, if an American MC dropped a single entitled “Oh No (He Loves A Ho)”, the post-Imus ethics invasion would have a field day! At least this track tries to provide some comedy and storytelling to the mix, and not just putting down the female for 3 minutes. On the first verse, Chester P tries to convince his boy that he should be careful around the chick he’s falling head over heels for, but it doesn’t matter – “she loves his dough”, and puts it on him to the point where dude falls head over heels. You gotta love the swing in this beat (produced by DJ Louis Slipperz), and the fact that Chester (and his brother, Farma G) can touch on so many topics with such a rapid fire flow. “Chessmonster” marries some solemn guitar strums with a stream of consciousness flow, almost sounding like a real MC mantra that Chester P blazes to make sure he is centered. Dude is really ill with the flow, and knows how to string a line or 50 together. If I tried placing all of the quottables in this review, I'd basically be typing out all of the lyrics! Watch out for his forthcoming LP, From The Ashes, which should be available in October, and get familiar with how LDN do!

For audio and more info on this release and forthcoming Chester P output, check out his MySpace page.

This is the first of (hopefully) many reviews for 12"/CD singles on rock the dub. Any artists or press agencies looking to get their materials covered on rock the dub, please get at me.
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mad love for rock the dub


Kind of wild this week... my blog got love from The Rap Up, Oh Word AND Nah Right! That's not normal...

Maybe some shine is finally coming my way? Or maybe I'm just hitting a lucky streak... in any case, maybe I should play the numbers this week... I mean, three of what I consider to be of the best Hip-Hop blogs on the 'Net shout me out in the same week? Maybe I am doing something right...

In any case, shouts out to Rafi, Rizoh and Eskay for the shine. Truly appreciated.
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MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar

So MTV has a new reality show entitled Celebrity Rap Superstar... hmm. Apparently, celebs will be able to pair up with the "superstar MC mentor" of their choice (which include Paul Wall, Warren G and fucking Tone Loc... what, no Coolio!??!) and get taught to rap. Here's the kicker: I guess after they write their raps, they are going to battle each other... LIVE!

SMH.

Rolling Stone likened it to a Hip-Hop Dancing With The Stars, but I just call it something that should be on VH1. We'll see how this turns out.

Oh, Perez Hilton is going to be on it. Fun. August 30th, 10PM. I might DVR the first episode... Peep the promo:



To quote Flavor Flav: "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"
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R. Kelly on writing Trapped In The Closet



Still, he did offer some tantalizing hints as to the hidden workings of his creative process. "If I don't rhyme, I can't tell the story. So it's crazy, if you understand what I'm saying. Like 'Bridget' and 'midget'? I came up with that at Panera Bread — real talk. And I had spent a whole week on trying to figure out how the hell — I mean, I got 'midget,' but how can I continue telling the story? But once I came up with, he had a girl named Bridget, I was able to continue on with my story. And that's how 'Trapped in the Closet' goes."
Wow... read more about the amazing writing talents of pedophile Robert Kelly over @ Popwatch.
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History of DJ Krush 3-DVD Set to be released!


Just got word that DJ Krush, one of the illest producers I've ever heard, is dropping a whopping 3-DVD box set (History Of DJ Krush / Suimou Tsunenimasu), which will feature all of his music videos to date, as well as TWO documentaries! This will be hitting stores on September 18th.

Some of the highlights:
  • A DJ set performed on a specially-constructed rooftop stage in Tokyo (from Nov. 2006, filmed exclusively for this set)
  • A documentary that follows DJ Krush during the release party for his first album, his 1996 summer tour in Europe and the recording of MiLight (one of my fav. Krush LPs of all time)
  • Another documentary that traces Krush's path, from Meiso through his 2006 world tour. It features Krush's first long interview. Looks like this one features everyone from DJ Shadow to CL Smooth, Black Thought to Zap Mama, Mr. Lif to Sly & Robbie.
  • Much, much more!

DJ Krush will also be going on an American tour during the month of October. Catch him at any one of these shows:

Thu Oct 4 - New York - Highline Ballroom
Fri Oct 5 - Montreal - Le National
Sat Oct 6 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Mon Oct 8 - Toronto - Mod Club
Tue Oct 9 - Cleveland Heights - the Grog Shop
Thu Oct 11 - Minneapolis - Foundation
Fri Oct 12 - Chicago - Smart Bar
Sat Oct 13 - Atlanta - The Loft
Tue Oct 16 - Orlando - The Social
Wed Oct 17 - St. Petersburg - The Bishop
Fri Oct 19 - Dallas - Minc Lounge
Sat Oct 20 - Denver - Bluebird Theatre
Mon Oct 22 - Portland - Holocene
Wed Oct 24 - Vancouver - Commodore Ballroom
Thu Oct 25 - Seattle - Neumos
Fri Oct 26 - San Francisco - Mighty
Sun Oct 28 - Pomona - Glass House
Tue Oct 30 - San Diego - House of Blues
Wed Oct 31 - Hollywood - Knitting Factory
You psyhed yet? You should be! For more info on DJ Krush, check out his official website.
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Rush Hour 3 [review]

Anyone else have a movie-hungry teenage daughter in their house? I do, and every time the flavor of the month movie comes out (Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four 2, etc.), I am bombarded with exclamations of “we HAVE to go see this!”, “I soooo wish I could see that!” or “Pops, I will kill you if you don’t take me to the AMC to check this over-hyped, underwritten monstrosity of cinematic affairs”… but I digress. While I wish we could attend the cinema more often, shit just don’t happen like that.

Then Rush Hour 3 came...

This is one movie series my family has bonded on. Countless dinners have been spent with us, in front of the TV, cracking up at James Carter doing his best MJ impersonation in Rush Hour 2. Or seeing Inspector Lee do his thing against many a Chinese gangster. The chemistry was there, the stories were actually interesting, by action-flick standards, and it was just a perfect blend of comedy, fast-paced action and an overall well-done pair of flicks.

Then Rush Hour 3 came…

Now, I was actually souped to see this flick. I hadn’t been out to see a movie since, God, I guess it was Night At The Museum, which I enjoyed. I was due for more grown-up fodder, no? OK so the nachos are being eaten, the subwoofer was way too loud, and I am ready for… James Carter, the singing traffic cop!?! Wait – how did he go from a detective who was investigating a C4 ring that ended up stumbling on an international cash and hostage situation, to fucking up so bad that he was directing traffic with his prick? And did Chris Tucker not feel it was right to drop a few pounds for this role? Jackie Chan never ages, however… he scales walls, dodges cars (in traffic!), and has a mean fist game. Sadly, this was the way the entire movie went… Jackie Chan was always on point, Chris Tucker was always a bit “too”: “too” funny, “too” overdramatic, and “too” loud. And the chemistry? “Too” missing…

Not to say the movie was devoid of funny moments: the scene where they interrogated the gangster with the nun was hilarious, although it dragged on too long. Carter’s “Yu/Mi” bit was hilarious. The scene at the cabaret where Lee and Carter sing a song I instantly forgot leaving the theater was classic, too. And the action – good God! There were some scenes in there that were just shot very well (like the motorcyclist gangster who drove in the air into a van, then crashed through the windshield, or the fight on the Eiffel Tower), and made up (somewhat) for the karaoke Carter (we know he sings, but there were about three scenes too many of him breaking out into song). And since when did Carter go from being bull-headed and cocksure to so alone that he has to learn Chinese to keep up with his best-friend? Lee made something for himself, while Carter seems to have been too caught up in their friendship.

Now, I don’t want to say that the story in RH3 was lacking, but any potential it had seemed to be clouded over by the bells & whistles of the shells of the Carter/Lee characters. Too many side-tracked laughs; for instance, why did we need to see them fight a large Chinese fighter? It served no further purpose towards the story or plot development. I guess, once everyone was a go for RH3, they figured they could build a story around recycled jokes and things that didn’t escalate the other movies (how many “I can’t understand your Chinese” jokes are needed?)… it felt like, when all else fails, let’s fall back on corny jokes.

Aside from all of that, I actually had a decent time. The action held my interest, and the bits that were funny were very funny. Then came the ending… or lack there of. It felt like, either the producers wanted to make the movie last a certain amount of time, or they forgot to fully complete each characters trek. One character asked if we wanted to know a secret, but got got. The one female who was the focal point for the 2nd half of the movie just gets whisked away. We get one character from RH1 who makes a return, but is sent down an elevator to call the cops, and is never seen/heard of again. And Carter and Lee dance down the road, seemingly taking it straight to the bank. The wool wasn’t pulled over our eyes, though: I smell a Rush Hour 4. If there isn’t another one, this will have to go down in history was one of the worst end pieces to a trilogy in a long time.

rock the dub gives Rush Hour 3 2.8 stars out of 5. The action was all that, some of the jokes were on point, but the rest of the movie flopped like a dead fish.

I am running a Rush Hour 3 giveaway, though! Win some t-shirts, hats, and tatoos! Check it out.
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September 7th & Crooked I Hip-Hop Weekly mixtape



Download HERE. Shouts to DubCNN. If you want to find the single freestyles, hit this link. Dude wrote all of these with no pen, no pad. Pretty hot, too!

Tracklisting:

01) N.W.A. (New West Anthem)
02) Straight 2 The Bank
03) I'm Throwed
04) Vibe Wit A Bo$$
05) Take You There
06) 2nd Coming
07) Tuck Ya Ice
08) Umbrella
09) We Takin' Over
10) Get It Shawty
11) Amusement Park
12) Crusin'
13) Just The King
14) You Make Me Better
15) Deep Cover
16) You Know My Steez
17) Boy Looka Here (Horseshoe Gang)
18) Go Getta Remix
19) Big Shit Poppin'
20) International Players
21) Pop Lock & Drop It
22) Can't Tell Me Nothing
23) My Bitch
24) Oh My God
25) Uh Oh
26) Died In Your Arms
27) Real Muthaphukkin' G'z
Don't sleep!
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Video Ho's volume 3

I'm sorry, but this new Keyshia Cole joint is my shit. Peep "Let It Go", ft. Missy and Lil' Kim (for no good reason):


IT WAS ALL A DREAM!

Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. "The Way I Are":


What the fuck does this video have to do with the song, which is about a broke nigga who's girl is still feelin' him? What broke nigga hangs out with dimepieces in a sewer with a suit on, next to kids kickin' soccer balls in suits? And WTF is D.O.E. all about?

T.I. ft. Wyclef "You Know What It Is"


Why do we need the obvious Belly references? Why not rollerskate through Haiti?

50 Cent "I Get Money"


This video made me hate this song... the nonsense witht he bright letters in the letterbox ("I'm stanky rich"?), just the whole project is a wash.

*Sigh* can't win 'em all, huh?
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[rock the dub Interview]: A.L.


You already know what it is: rock the dub bringing you the newest latest of the Hip-Hop world. This interview is with A.L., "The Crown Prince", who represents Compton, CA. Don't get it twisted, though, this isn't "Nigga Wit An Attitude, Volume 2"... this is a man who is fresh to def, ready to drop knowledge as well as pop bottles. Dude is nice on the mic, so nice that he has lent his talents to a few artists who are getting their feet wet in the game... he's been bubblin' on the low for a bit, but with a few majors already biting at his work, you might be seeing him on your TV screens in due time. Come follow us on a journey...

khal: Now when I say you are born and raised in Compton, California, there’s an immediate stigma involved with that: namely, movies like Boyz-N-the Hood, Menace II Society and others, and of course artists like N.W.A., all of which showcase the more “street” side of the town. While you are definitely reppin’ for your hood, your tracks don’t necessarily highlight the plight and sadness of the city. What sets you apart from some of your Compton peers?

A.L.: Growing up in Compton your always gonna see the negative aspects around you everyday, with my music I wanted to bring the other side of Compton, CA, because I personally feel that in order to move along to a better society you have to also focus on the positive and feeling good about yourself. Compton is one of the greatest places in my eyes and there is a new generation growing up on these streets that have a mind of their own and I’m apart of that generation. Yes this is where gangster rap started, but 90% of my friends gangbang, and they listen to Chris Brown, Kanye West, and anything that is great music, so with that I knew since I don’t gangbang it still wasn’t gonna be hard for me to get them to notice talent when the saw It….I have to just make quality music that everybody could appreciate.

khal: In reading up on you, I see that you were a pretty accomplished football player, especially in your college years. Are there any skills you picked up on the field that you could apply to the Rap game?

A.L.: Definitely, the first being desire, dedication, sacrifice and also to compete to be the best at what you’re doing. Also football helped a lot with my performance skills on the stage, because if you could play in front of millions of people on TV and 78,000 people in the stands and do well you should be able to rock a large who loves your music.

khal: Now to take it back for a minute, when did you start rhyming? Do you remember the first time you heard a Rap song that made you say “I can do that”?

A.L.: That’s a crazy question because I didn’t seriously start rhyming until I was about 19. I always wanted to be a producer and song writer, but I didn’t have the funds to actually invest in quality production equipment, and like I said earlier, if I decide to do something I want to be the best at it. I wrote my first real sixteen bar verse to “Jesus Walks” by Kanye…The first song that made me want to be just a rapper was Mos Def & Talib Kweli’s Black Star album; that is the album I say that made me feel I can do this.

khal: Where does the name “The Crown Prince” come from?

A.L.: It actually came from my homeboy Richardo when I spit a 16 bar verse for him for the first time and he told me that sooner or later I am going to be the next king in Hip-Hop, but for now I am the crown prince…..

khal: I’ve heard that you’ve helped co-write tracks for artists like LeToya Luckett, Sean P (of the YoungbloodZ) and Avery Storm. How hard is it to co-write a track with someone, from their perspective? Are you giving them a skeleton and having them fill in the holes, or is it more of a collaborative affair? Also, how well does one get a gig like that?

A.L.: At the beginning it was just coming up with hooks for them, but once I played them track that I had been working on with an fellow up-and-coming R&B singer they wanted my input more and more, and that lead to co-writing a couple of tracks with them. I usually give them a skeleton and help out with whatever they need help on (ex. writing the 2nd verse, or a certain hook or bridge) because I feel sometimes it’s best to let them zone out and help create the magic that we create. The best way I would say to land either placements or gigs writing tracks is to network and be wherever they are, and once you’ve grabbed there attention make sure you have confidence in your music and the vision you want to create for yourself, because producers or people with production teams are always looking for people to bring something different that’s hot.

khal: Take us inside your writing process – what works best for you? Are you more of a storyteller or someone who can just expound on any topic?

A.L.: I would like to say I’m a little bit of both, because I always admired artists like a Biggie, Eminem, Ice Cube, Big L and Slick Rick for their story telling skills. But I feel my strong point and the thing that makes me special is that I can write about any topic at hand and actually do it very well, because people go through many different things in their everyday life, from drugs, love, religion, self-esteem issues to just feeling good about yourself, and I’ve dealt with pretty much all of those things in my life and I’m pretty sure the average person has to, that’s why I want to be able to paint pictures of many different faces through my music.

khal: One of the big things these days is the freestyle: be it written or off the dome. Do you freestyle? What do you consider a freestyle, and why? What about battlin’ – is that something you do?

A.L.: I started off freestylin’ off of the dome when I was young, but as I grew up and matured I realized 97% of rappers don’t really freestyle off the dome anyway but I still loved what they spit regardless, so I don’t really care if it’s written or off the top as long as it’s hot…I never really did the battlin’ thing because I always mainly stayed to myself with my music until I got really good and by that time I was focusing on making quality tracks... but don’t think for a second I won’t bite someone’s head off in a battle cause I’ll murder a lot of these (MCs) on the streets talking that craziness…(laughs)

khal: I gather, from the articles posted about your past shows, that you are an entertainer in spirit. You seem to be dedicated in providing quality shows, and are willing to perform whenever, wherever. That seems to be a rarity in this genre. What’s an A.L. show like? What’s your greatest show experience, as well as your worst experience?

A.L.: Wow… an A.L. show is always a great time, high energy, very deep, and will leave you feeling like you’ve got more than your moneys worth… I’ve always admired Jay-Z, Kanye West and Busta Rhymes for their performance skills and I always said that when I perform, I wanna be known among that group of artists who just draw you in song by song, lyric by lyric, and that will always be my goal. My greatest show experience so far is the first show I ever did, which I put on. There were over 500 people there in a seated ballroom type of building so naturally the majority of the people aren’t going to get up out of there seats. But once I got done with the last song and finished my set I got a standing ovation which left me with a feeling like none other. I honestly haven’t had a bad show experience yet and I hope to keep that trend going…

khal: Do you have an album that you’re currently working on? I’ve heard that track “22’s” (ft. T.I.) on your MySpace page, which is a pretty hot track. Is this the jump-off to a larger project?

A.L.: Thanks I appreciate that 110%….Yeah it’s the jump-off for a major project/album I’m currently working on….I can’t really spill the details about It but I will tell you this: I am working on making one of the best all-around Hip-Hop albums of the 21st century…..

khal: With the way the music business is, there is a lot of confusion with the rise of the digital age (MP3s, blogs, etc.). How do you see yourself fitting well on all levels – appeasing the people who live for the new tracks, as well as those who still want to go cop a great CD?

A.L.: I think I’ll be okay, because I realized that the people who still go buy CD’s and legally buy music off of the internet are the ones who still care about the artist they have interest in and can identify with. That‘s why I think artists like MIMS and The Shop Boyz don’t do as well as people think they should, because people only identify with there songs and not them… I honestly believe that’s why artists like Jay-Z, T.I., Luda, 50 Cent, The Game and Nas still sell records because people still want to know what’s going on in their lives and I will make sure they wanna hear my story as well.

khal: One necessary trait in the game today is the ability to market yourself. I see on your page that you are going to have your own Nike Dunk sneaker? What’s that all about? Is that still going on?

A.L.: Yeah I still have that going on, it’s gonna be released only in sneaker boutiques though, hopefully right around or before Christmas. I’m actually a sneaker collector myself (Air Force 1’s lows and dunks only though). I have a friend who was interning for Nike and he always played my music while at work, so one day the head of his department became a big fan and wanted to meet me and later on down the road they developed a Nike Dunk that best described me, my music and my passion for sneakers, so we’re just waiting for this record deal to go through I’m currently in negotiations with. Once we drop the single (“22’s” most likely), the shoe will fit in place right around the same time.

khal: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years, in terms of your career? Are you making any strides to get signed?

A.L.: In 5 years I wanna be on top of music’s elite, not just Rap, but music in general. I wanna still be making classic material for myself and others. Yeah I’m actually in talks with two majors right now, and I wanna have that process done with very, very soon…..

khal: Do you have any final thoughts/shout outs/etc. for the people reading?

A.L.: Shout outs to RTD (Rock the Dub)… and every beautiful person who’s reading this... Check out the page (www.myspace.com/althecrownprince), I will be dropping soon. Also look out for me on that Lil’ Mama “Lip Gloss” Official Remix, that will be dropping very soon… and just stay tuned because I am about to shake up the world…


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