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The Observation Deck (28th Sept. 2007)

Fuck you, Rod Thorn.

  • This just in: my New Jersey Nets are no longer contenders! Rod Thorn, you sniveling prick - do not come out of your face talking about "oh, most people don't think the Nets are favorites this year". In an offseason where the Celtics picked up niggas like Kevin fucking Garnett, you are going to come with that? You've made no significant moves in a heartbeat (and no, Vince Carter is NOT a significant move), due mainly to your team moving to Brooklyn in the distant future, or so it seems. Jason Kidd has no help, Richard Jefferson has no balls, and Jason Collins needs some lotion on his lips. And you, Mr. Thorn, need a wakeup call.
  • Afrika Bambaattaa and the Beastie Boys have been nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. How sick is THAT!
  • The trial for Angel Hernandez, the accused muderer of Jeri Lynn Dotson, is about to end soon, and it is making me realize how retarded this "stop snitching" bullshit is in the hood. Jeri Lynn got killed b/c she was a witness to some Latin Kings roughing up an associate who they later left for dead in a dumpster. They were shook that she would snitch on them. Fast forward - they all get caught, and are all sitting in jail. What happens? They turn state's evidence! I read in the paper yesterday, and x amount of Kings are squealing on the witness stand! I commend them, but why did 'Nena' have to die, when you guys were as big of a snitch as you thought she would be?!?
  • The boxing world needed a pick-me-up after Oscar de la Hoya posed in a fishnet-bodysuit, so they stripped Oleg Maskaev of the belt he's held for 10 months... and didn't defend.

Is there anything else I'm missing? Let me know!

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Friday, September 28th 2007 playlist

Don't even ask me about a top 5. Bad week. rock the dub radio #6 coming soon; I started #7 last night, nice old school feel to it. But that's not now: peep that Lauren London:

leak central:

___

Not much else going on. For you DNB heads, check out this week's FYLP for live mixes/sets from the likes of TC, DJ Presha, FRISKe, Bachelors of Science, Joga, ASC, CPF, Danny Byrd & Atlantic Connection.

___

That's it folks. Sorry to be short... got shit on my mind and need to unleash these. For a laugh, I leave you with this:



Enjoy your weekend, peeps.

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The Illest Rap Name Ever?

In reading this interview with Tragedy Khadafi up on XXL, I had a wild realization: while his new name is very militant and shit, he gave up on such an ill name: Intelligent Hoodlum. I mean, not only did it work with the music he put out back then (“Arrest The President” is still a beast), it just had a dope FEEL to it.

This is something that seems to be missed these days in Hip-Hop: names that both mean something and sound cool when said. Take Cannibal Ox: the name just SOUNDS ill, and blends well with what Can-O is all about: tough talk with an abstract aura around it. It seems like not too many Rap groups can think of names that ill, nor do they seem to put any effort into it: it went from calling oneself ‘Del tha Funky Homosapien’ to maintain an identity to everyone being “Young”.

In conversing with resident iC Rafi, we kicked around a few other dope additions to the “Illest Rap Name Ever” list, which included names like the Wu-Tang Clan, Special Ed, Juggaknots, and others. Oddly enough, most of these artists were either considered “mainstream” or “underground”, which then made me wonder: which new school artists are coming with hot names? Both above and below this imaginary “ground” that really just separates those who sell records and those who do a shitload of touring due to lack of records sold, the names of many newer cats are kind of wack: Mr. Lif? Saigon? Nelly? What kind of horseshit is this?!

Rafi brought up cats like Devin the Dude and Murda Mook, who definitely have some of the more interesting names I’ve heard. But for every Devin the Dude, there’s too many Shop Boyz, Kia Shines, and the like polluting Rap radio. Common used to have one of the nicest names out there (Common Sense), but got sued b/c his moniker got to be too common (go figure); “Will.I.Am” only sounds good if you are wearing "mink boots in the summertime", and given the amount of records sold, do you think “Rich Boy” is contemplating a name change? And please, do not get me started on the odd obsession with placing “Lil’” and “Young” in front of your name: it’s kind of interesting to sit back and think about how masculine many MCs try to be… all the while wearing tons of diamonds, wearing pink and calling some other dude “Daddy”, but I’m getting ahead of myself…

I ask you, the readers, what names would you add to the “Illest Rap Names Ever” list? Old or new, crew names are also acceptable.
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MF DOOM: "What up? I'm dead"


taken from the Stones Throw newsletter:

DOOM RESPONDS TO RUMORS
Every day for the past month we've been hit up by people wanting explanations, statements, clarifications, and declarations about MF DOOM. Is he lip synching? (No. Listen to the videos on Youtube.) Is he an impostor? (No, but he did lose some pounds.) Is he in the hospital? (No, he's in his studio ... or if not there, you can find him in the pub with the grub stain.)

Reached earlier this morning at his home in Georgia, an alive and well MF DOOM issued this statement: "What up? I'm dead."

DOOM was in Los Angeles recently and recorded a few verses at The Bomb Shelter studio, where Madvillain, Quasimoto, YNQ, and Madlib classics have been made. Among the new joints recorded was one with him and Guilty Simpson over J Dilla's "Mash" and another over Dilla's "Lightworks". "Mash's Revenge" will be released on the album "B-Ball Zombie War" on October 2. Take a listen:
+ www.myspace.com/mfdoom
So it looks like the Metal Face Terrorist is NOT dead (although this doesn't touch on a possible heart attack/hospital stay as hinted to on GRANDGOOD). And him rippin' over "Lightworks"!? I'm intrigued...
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Sheek Louch: Savoir of Abused Youth


Shouts to eskay for keeping the hood shit out in the open. It looks like this J-Hood/LOX shit is FAR from over. I posted the video of J-Hood dragging his chain last week, and now Sheek has a new interview with XXL, this time putting it out there. Hood is acting really dumb, especially if the LOX are mad willing to let him go (they know what it's like to be stuck in those situations).

This line caught my eye:

Yo, Hood, when your stepfather was touching on your body, fam, I went and ran in your house and got ’em. Me and my goons ran in and got your step-pops for you. And a list of other things, but I just want to throw that one out there to sting him a little bit. That was me. Remember, Hood? That’s big homie.

See, that's the wrong nigga you wanna try and publicly beef with. If a nigga like Sheek has THAT kind of info on you, why you really going to want to take it there? He did a good thing for you, and you shit on him and the squad? For what? Sheek also says that both 50 Cent AND Sha Money XL said they ain't signing Hood, that Hood having to see the LOX is bigger than the publicity stunt. I been said homey was a pawn. Now there's the proof. I mean, aside from guys like Funkmaster Flex and Cosmic Kev (among many other DJs) not playing your shit, the hood looks at you like a little boy - he has no juice in the hood now.

On the album front, it looks like the LOX are working with Def Jam to try and get them signed? Wild... until I heard the producers they are working with: Timbaland, Pharrell, Rockwilder, will.i.am. WHAT THE FUCK!?!? He also speaks on his Silverback Gorilla album, which will features cats like Avant, Styles P, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, UNK and a track called "Dipset D-Block" with Jim Jones, Hell Rell & Jadakiss. I can't wait for that one!
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Excerpt from BET's Hip-Hop vs. America

T.I., Al Sharpton, Nelly, Diane Weathers (former Essence EIC), and others speak on many different topics involving Hip-Hop and its influence in the city. Some interesting points - T.I. looks like he wants to bug out though:



Too funny.

More info on this series HERE. Shouts to E for the link, as per usual.
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Biggie Case Fucked The Fuck Up


Why?

A prison inmate who had implicated a former Los Angeles Police Department officer in the shooting death of rap star Biggie Smalls has renounced his story, tying a new knot in the tangle of intrigue that surrounds the still-unsolved killing.

Waymond Anderson, who was briefly a top-selling R&B artist and is serving a life term for murder, said in a recent deposition that he lied about LAPD involvement in the Smalls slaying as part of a "scam" concocted by two other convicts to squeeze a large monetary settlement out of the city.

Goddamnit. Why do they keep fucking the dog on this one? Will there EVER be justice in the death of Biggie Smalls? Or 2Pac for that matter?


I received my copy of the new Biggie DVD; review forthcoming.
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divShare hatin'

Hey divShare. I love your service.

And I understand if someone requested that a file be deleted. I have no problem w/ that.

But why delete non-copyrighted tracks?

Anyone who was linking to my divShare links - bare with me while I sort this out.

-khal
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Sabrina murks the Cha Cha

I'm not a fan of The Cheetah Girls or Sabrina Bryan (I leave that to my 16-year-old) - but shorty killed this routine. Taken from last night's Part 1 of the new Dancing With The Stars season.



Wow. They rode her kind of hard for her Hip-Hop moves, but she still ran it. And I am not alone in thinking that homegirl is the one to beat.

Props to E for the link.
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Lupus Online Support Group


Just got an e-mail from the Lupus Online Support Group, asking for support. Anytime I hear "lupus", I think "J Dilla". Was just working on an episode of an upcoming rock the dub radio episode, with his beats in it.

Please, support those who have this disease, and keep the memory of Dilla and others alive.
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The Observation Deck (25th Sept. 2007)


Sick, sad world, folks.

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Jay-Z "Blue Magic" (trailer)




This weekend was totally devoted to Jay-Z... well, I played the SHIT out of "Blue Magic", and realized it's one of my favorite tracks of 2007. The Pharrell singing on the hook is neither bad nor great, but it's all about Jay taking it back. You can hear a hunger there, and I love how he flips the old school style, especially on the 3rd verse (reminded me of Special Ed's "I'm The Magnificent" kind of flow). Too fucking dope.

I came home Saturday night, and wouldn't you know they did a trailer... for the single!? Word is Hype Williams is working on the official video right now, but this one is just too ill. It's got people hand-to-handing the SINGLE, as if it was real product. Love how it was done. Check it out:



Lovin' it. Get more info on Jay's American Gangster CD HERE.
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rock the dub radio: episode 005


I started crafting this show with a 40 of Olde English and thoughts of my peoples locked down. I didn't have any running theme here, just bringing dope Hip-Hop that you need to hear and shit that is kind of exclusive to me.


We start this episode off with a bang... Swizzy + UGK + T.I.? In the words of that great poet Ja Rule, "IT'S MURDAAAA!" We dip into a few more heavy hitters, then hit the ode to my niggas locked down section. Loads of new cuts on here from the likes of Talib Kweli (with Styles P), the Boot Camp Clik, DJ Envy & Red Cafe, Special Teamz, AvE (with Esso) Wordsmith, Tanya Morgan (with Che Grand) and others; there's also classic cuts from Schoolly D, Edo G, Raekwon and more! Check the tracklist:

01/intro
02/UGK ft. T.I. "Hit The Block"
03/M.O.P. ft. Jay-Z "Put It In The Air"
04/Busta Rhymes & T.I. "Cannon"
05/Boot Camp Clik "Jail Song"
06/Ludacris ft. Beanie Sigel, Pimp C & C-Murder "Do Your Time"
07/Raekwon "Incarcerated Scarfaces"
08/Nas "One Love"
09/Beanie Sigel ft. Redman "One Shot Deal"
10/Prodigy "Keep It Thoro"
11/Mobb Deep "Get Dealt With"
12/The Alchemist "Mr. Pitiful 2008"
13/interlude: "Practice" - DJ Krush vs. Allen Iverson
14/Redman "Gilla House Check"
15/Chester P "Chessmonster"
16/AvE ft. Esso "The Future"
17/Keyshia Cole ft. Missy Elliot, T.I. & Young Dro "Let It Go (Remix)"
18/DJ Envy& Red Cafe ft. Jermaine Dupri & Fabolous "Dolla Dolla Bill"
19/Talib Kweli ft. Styles P "The Level"
20/Sheek Louch ft. Jadakiss "Survival In The City"
21/M.O.P. "Cold As Ice"
22/Special Teamz ft. Devin The Dude "Long Time Coming"
23/Edo G & Pete Rock ft. Diamond D & Jaysaun "Streets Is Calling"
24/Edo G & The Bulldogs "I Gotta Have It"
25/Schoolly D "P.S.K. (What Does It Mean?)"
26/Kanye West ft. Lil' Wayne "Barry Bonds"
27/Cassidy ft. Lil' Wayne & Fabolous "6 Minutes of Death"
28/Cole Cash "Goldfinger 2007"
29/Claude601 "Red Stars"
30/Wordsmith "The Example: Resignation"
31/Tanya Morgan ft. Che Grand "And You Say"
Shouts to Cole Cash & Claude601 for hitting me with beats. Any of you aspiring DJs/producers/MCs with heat, send your best-quality MP3s to khaldub@gmail.com. And make sure you guys are throwing my feed into your iTunes or wherever you get your feeds sent, so you can get the dope every 2 weeks.

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New LOST podcast (21st Sept. 2007)

MP3

The 3-year anniversary of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 was on the 22nd of September, so Carlton and Damon celebrated by calling LOST viewers who submitted questions to ABC.com. Not really an informative podcast, but it's cool as hell that they did that.

Namaste.
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Friday, September 21st 2007 playlist



01/The Upbeats "Take Away Soul" [such a dope combo of sadistic bass and chilled vibes.]
02/Shyne "More Or Less" [because we never forget.]
03/50 Cent "Curtis 187" [I can't get over this one. Too dope of a track!]
04/Havoc "Get Off My Dick" [been waiting for this one for a while...]
05/Fierce & Break "Hold It Now" [gotta love grimey, simple DNB ruggedness!]

_____

leaks, leaks and more leaks!

___

If you read Hip-Hop blogs (and who doesn't, these days?), you know about Noz - he has his own blog, and does work for XXL (online and in print). The link him and I have is that we both grew up in Trenton, NJ... I don't think he lives around there anymore, but I still live in the area - my mom is in North Trenton to this day! In any case, he ripped this CD he made (The World Takes: The Best of Trenton Rap, ‘86-’91), highlighting the old school Trenton Rap scene (we were more than just PRT!), with cuts from YZ, B-Nyce & DJ Cash Kev, Blvd. Mosse, Shakespeare and more! Get the full tracklisting and more info HERE.
___

Oh Word's Sach O has thrown up some DJ Premier productions for cats out West, and "out the Box". Dude was from Texas and made MAD coasts rock! The Oh Word review team also brings you this week's reviews of next week's albums - very insightful!

___

Shouts out to DJ Trackstar, who hit me with this link to a bunch of his "Boogie Bang" mixtapes... volumes 1 through 9, for free! Loads of quality tracks from artists you've heard of, as well as mad cuts from newer, more underground heads. Don't sleep - official rock the dub stamp!
____

Papoose already got dropped? Hear Kay Slay explain it... they seem happy, as if the "A&R hell"

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This week's "For Your Listening Pleasure" features a host of sick DNB mixes from the likes of Chris.SU, Trei, Sistem, Kubik, Submerged, Kiat, DJ Phokus AND a classic recording from 2004 of DJ Flight's "Next Chapter" show with special guest Dillinja!


___

Dr. Dre said we ain't getting Detox until at least next year... why am I not surprised? And keeping it on producers for a moment, check out Timbaland and 'Ye working on the drums to "Stronger". I love seeing Timbaland work.

___

I'm sorry, but I'm a sucker for turntablists. I got the super late pass on this one, but peep DJ Sara (and DJ Ryusei) on the decks - 8 years old and 5 years old, respectively! Sara's crab scratches are ridiculous!



This video HERE gets me - just peep how happy they look before the beat drops! Check out more at the sarascratch YouTube page!

My final thought? Will my son be that ill on the decks at age 5!?

Enjoy your weekend, all.
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The Jena 6 Roundup



So loads of marches went down yesterday, in Jena, and other cities in the United States. Here's the rundown of some of the events/proceeding news stories, Jena 6-related of course:
  • Two guys were arreseted near Jena, LA, for hanging nooses from their car; the driver was 18 and got hit with a DUI charge, among others, and the 16-year-old passenger stated that his fam was the KKK. SMH...
  • Where was Obama during all of this? Jesse Jackson wasted no time in slandering Barack for his M.I.A. status.
  • AverageBro threw up a pretty telling editorial on the Jena 6 rallies: I do feel, as he does, that we need to scream "Free the Jena 6" after 9/20/07, but you know how things go these days... flavor of the month, et. al.
  • Earl Ofari Hutchinson wrote a deep piece about how our civil rights leaders let Mychael Bell down...

Sign the petition. Donate to the cause. Do something - and keep doing it.

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Bun B reps the Jena 6



As seen on Nah Right.

Mos Def & Bun B need to collabo on a pro-Jena 6 track.
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Black Out Status

My bust, E, but that pic is so damn poignant.

Today, September 20th, 2007, there are rallies going down in Jena, La., and hopefully other spots in the US. It is asked that supports of the Jena 6 wear black on this day. I took it a step further, and threw the blog on Black Out Status. It might make my words pop (I see you, wifey!), but this is my online support. I suggest other bloggers do the same.

Speaking of E, he has a few posts in support of the Jena 6 and this day: one's a poem entitled "African American Anthem" (by King Kobra), and the 2nd is his Black Out post of today, with some great links to Jena 6-related heads.

I'm just about done with Invisible Man; this novel seems like what we need to be reading right about now.

hit the links:
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Jay-Z American Gangster LP news

I read about YN having an exclusive piece of info to drop around 8PM last night, but didn't make it to the PC until later, and forgot to peep it. Boy, was it a doozy!

Looks like Jigga Jay-Z is working on an album inspired by his viewing of the forthcoming Harlem drug flick American Gangster, a flick which bit the creative bug in Jay, making him think of days passed and putting himself back in that zone, and making this his first "concept" album to date, which is a funny idea. While he is basing his flows on the scenes in the movie, he's lived that life, but I digress...

I do wish that the film's producers had gotten behind the idea of having Hov drop this as an official "music inspired by..." album, just because with the way Jay's status is now, it would be such a big look for Hip-Hop... having one of the premiere MCs crafting tracks based on a film that's subject matter mirrors his life? You can't write better headlines than that. Would have made this a big event.

Sometime today, a Pharrell-produced track entitled "Blue Magic" is to premiere... somewhere. I'll give you guys audio when I get it, as per usual. Until then, just deal with this "Allure"/"Flashing Lights" blend that DJ Green Lantern cooked up (shouts out to Eskay, again).
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Diplo "Essential Mix" (16th September 2007)




Diplo gets bust for BBC Radio 1, continuing their "Essential Mix" series.

Tracklist:

Rich Boy - Throw Some D's // Interscope
Nirvana - Drain You // Geffen
Baby Huey - Pop, Lock & Drop It // White label
Marc Houle - Bay of Figs (Ward 21 Mix) // M_Nus
DJ Tamiel - Bump Like This
Queen Feat. David Bowie - Under Pressure // WEA
Hollertronix - Betty // Money Studies Records
Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby) // CBS
Soulja Boy - Crank Dat Superman // Interscope
Bat for Lashes - What's a Girl to Do // Break
DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (Sandrinho Remix)
Diplo & Switch Feat. Beenie Man - Solta Frango
Mr. Vegas - Hot Fuk (Diplo Mix)
Enur Feat. Natasja - Calabria (2007 Mix) // Scorpio/Data
Spoon - Paper Tiger // Merge Records
Circle Children - Zulu // Strictly Rhythm
M.I.A. Feat. Akon - Boyz Remix (Hi Powered Boyz Get Down)
Boy 8 Bit - Suspense Is Killing Me // Trouble & Bass
KW Griff - Tony's Back // Money Studies
A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario (White Label Mix) // White label
Nucleus - Jam On It (Gold Rocc Mix)
Nigga Say Wut - Hey Hey Hey
BooMan - Pick ‘em Up
King Tut - Y'all Niggaz Ain’t Shit // Heavy Rock Music
KW Griff - Ain’t None Of Y’all Safe // White label
Technics - Uh
KW Griff - Respect // Quiet Records
DJ Eli - In The Jungle
2 Bad Mice - Bombscare // Moving Shadow
Armand Van Heldan - You Don’t Know Me (White Label Mix) // White label
Big City - Spanish Lesson // Spectra Records
Diplo - Work Is Never Over // Mad Decent
M.I.A - Bamboo Banger // XL Recordings
Sizzla - Bamboo Banger // Dubplate
DJ Blaqstarr - Supastarr // Mad Decent
Shai - If I Ever Fall in Love Again // Dubplate
Orbital - Halcyon // Rhino/WEA
LA Priest - Engine (Erol Alkan Remix) // Phantasy
Joakim - Drum Trax // Versatile
Chemical Brothers - Saturate // Virgin
M.A.N.D.Y. - Unknown (Tiefschwarz Mix)
TOK - Solid As A Rock // VP Records
Petter - Some Polyphony // Border Community
Rihanna - Umbrella (Vandalism Mix)
Justice - Phantom Part II (Soulwax Mix) // Ed Banger
The White Stripes - Little Cream Soda // XL Recordings
ZZT - Lower State Of Consciousness // Turbo
Kia Shine - Crispy // Chest Nut Records
Bart Simpson - Bartman (So Kripsy Mix)
Jay Dilla Feat. Guilty Simpson - Detroit To LA
Deuce Papi - Do It Again
Kanye West Feat. Young Jeezy - Can’t Tell Me Nothin’ // Def Jam
Mr. Vegas - Lean Wit It (In The Streetz)
M.I.A. Feat. Bun B & Rich Boy - Paper Planes // XL Recordings
Schoolly-D - Gucci Time // Schoolly-D Records
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Rockers to Swallow // Interscope
Jellybean - Sidewalk Talk // EMI
Belle Stars - Iko Iko // Capitol Records
Scala & Kolacny Brothers - Heartbeats // PIAS
Simian Mobile Disco - I Still Believe // Wichita Recordings
The Pack - At The Club // Zomba
South Rakkas - Hotter Then Them (Mad Decent Mix)
Hurricane Chris - A Bay Bay // J US
Mad Cobra - AA (Kenny Meez Edit) // Black Shadow
Buju Banton - Crazy Talk // Black Shadow
Beenie Man - The Crime // System Records
Lil’ Wayne Feat. Mack Maine - I Know The Future // Universal
Bugle - What The Gonna Do // Daseca
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The Observation Deck (19th Sept. 2007)


*SIGH* Time to get some work done! Keep it crispy, folks.

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SMH @ Jae Hood



I can see why Remy Ma got on stage with 50 Cent... she got a murder rap. And I know Jae Hood has his problems with D Block, but how you gonna go up on stage with 50? No fucking loyalty at all. The sad part about all of this? Hood prolly thinks he can now be down with the G-Unit. Nigga, you're officially a pawn to the game: 50 used you to dig at Jada, Styles and Sheek, and all you got to show for it is a video on YouTube.

Good job, bitch. You weren't worth the money spent to make that chain, dog.

D-BLOCK!

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Kurious Jorge A Constipated Monkey re-release


Many of you might remember Kurious Jorge as being dude featured on "?" from MF Doom's Operation: Doomsday album. Well, it looks like his slept-on '94 LP, A Constipated Monkey, has been re-released TODAY, and his label, Amaglam, is offering the album with a special Bonus EP for FREE to the first 100 fans who buy the digital version of A Constipated Monkey.

Check out the tracklisting:

01.) Spell It Wit A J (Yes, Yes Jorge)
02.) Top Notch
03.) I’m Kurious
04.) Uptown Shit feat. The Omen & Kadi
05.) Leave Ya’ With This
06.) Fresh Out The Box
07.) Walk Like A Duck
08.) Tear Shit Up
09.) Baby Bust It feat. MF Grimm
10.) Nikole
11.) What’s The Real feat. Casual
12.) Jorge Of The Projects
13.) I’m Kurious (Pete Nice Remix) **[Re-release Bonus]**
14.) Mansion And a Yacht ft. Sadat X & Mike G **[Re-release Bonus]**

"I'm Kurious" is the joint, one of my favs from back in the day.

Now check out the Bonus EP, The Demo Out Takes (1989-1993), which helped Kurious get his deal from the rip:

15.) Jorge Of The Projects (Original Demo Version) (Produced by The SD50’s)
16.) Trueness To The Blueness (Produced by The SD50’s)
17.) Rice And Beans (Freestyle) feat. Prince Paul (Produced by Prince Paul)
18.) Fill’ Er Up (produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice of 3rd Bass)
19.) One 4 The Head feat. Kolli Weed (Produced by The SD50’s)
20.) Catch My Drift feat. Kadi (Produced by Sam Sever)
Again, the 6-track EP is only available from Amaglam's website to the first 100 heads who cop the full length download.

So WTF you waiting for? Go grab this, early!

hit the links:
Kurious on MySpace
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Boot Camp Clik / Wordsmith @ Sonar (Baltimore, MD) Sept. 20th!



Looks like my nigga Wordsmith is opening for the might Boot Camp Clik this Thursday. All you Baltimore heads lookin' for the REAL Hip-Hop should check it out.

Going down @ Sonar. If you're looking for the $15 advance tickets, send Words an e-mail.

Check out Wordsmith's MySpace page for more info.
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Vote 756


www.vote756.com

Looks like Marc Ecko bought Barry Bonds' 756 home-run ball, and wants YOU, the public, to decide what to do with it.

I won't be surprised if mad people vote for "B" (putting an asterisk on it, then sending it to Cooperstown), but really, just put it in Cooperstown untouched. If the MLB was dumb enough to think he cheated then let him break the home-run record, they should have to live with their shame.

Barry, we got your back, nigga.
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Traffic's Up

So the traffic coming into rock the dub has doubled in the last week. Was it due to my reviews of the new Kanye West and 50 Cent albums? Somewhat...

The bulk of the traffic comes from this post, and is likely from pervs who are trying to peep that Vanessa Hudgens in the buff.

Should I be happy that more pre-verts are driving up my site stats? Hopefully they like Hip-Hop, and continue to stick around. But rock the dub is NOT a blog that's devoted to bringing you skin pix and celeb scandals 24/7. If something interests me, so be it, but I am not a blog that will continue to peddle smut-tacular pics to you pedos.

Thanks for stopping by, though! I love reading my daily stats and seeing a 50% increase in visits!
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The Fishkini

Cures for cancer and AIDS are not known to the public. People are dying all the time. What are scientists working on?

Fishkinis.



*sigh*
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Friday, September 14th 2007 playlist



01/Mickey Factz "Talk Yo Shit" [dude hit me with a few cuts - shit is fire!]
02/Brand Nubian "One Time (original version)" [this shit just hits me once it drops...]
03/Photek "Saturated Hip Hop" [Form & Function vol. 2 is the truth]
04/Starkey "Pins (Murderbot Remix)" [nice jungle-ish feel to a pretty nasty track.]
05/50 Cent "Curtis 187" [Havoc brings that old 50 out, from the hook to the content. Best track on Curtis.]

_____

who turned on the faucet?

___

Speaking of "Mash's Revenge", this and more Stones Throw treats are featured on their latest podcast, Zombie Playoffs:

00:00 Intro
02:30 Supreme Team "See (Suite)"
03:30 Quasimoto "Hydrant Game (Jaylib Remix)"
04:30 J Dilla feat. Kweli & Tip "Lightworking"
06:30 Madlib "Wigflip"
09:10 Dam Funk "Sidewayz"
10:18
11:00 J Dilla feat. DOOM & Guilty "Mash's Revenge"
12:50 Guilty Simpson
13:35 Percee P feat Prince Po "Last of the Greats"
15:48 MED "Bring It Down"
16:45
17:35
18:50 Oh No "Action (Rap Version)"
20:25 Aloe Blacc "Find A Way"
21:55 Niko & DJ Babu "Now You Know"
23:05 J Rocc "Super Sound"
24:30 Bumps "Tryplmeade Gorsmatch"
25:45 James Pants "Ka$h (PB Wolf Remix)"
28:05 Arabian Prince "Professor X Saga"
29:35 Jonathan Brown "Bass Creator's Groove"
30:45 CX Kidtronix "Big Girl, Skinny Girl"


Ouch.

___

Little Brother has a sampler (mixed by DJ Flash), for their forthcoming LP, Get Back:

a. ExtraHard
b. Breakin My Heart feat. Lil Wayne
c. That Ain't Love feat. Jozeemo
d. Uncle Mike's Dedication
e. Step It Up feat. Dion
f. Sirens feat. Carlitta Durand
g. Good Clothes

___

This week's "For Your Listening Pleasure" features mixes from the likes of the Lifted Music Podcast (featuring TeeBee), Sol.ID, ESB, XO, Calibre, Perpetuum and Phlorid. Loads of upfront DNB tracks.

___

2Pac was murdered 11 years ago yesterday; XXLMag.com got the thoughts and rememberances of many Hip-Hop stars; eskay threw up some essential Pac viewing; Rizoh posted a funny "Tupac Shakur Boulevard" bit that Chris Rock did on his HBO show; Hussein Fatal got interviewed by HipHopDX; and Hurricane Ivan (of Hip-Hop Is Read fame) dropped a dope mixtape full of Pac music, loads of remixes and blends - don't sleep! And give Pac your props.

____

That's about it for this week. I'm going to end this playlist with a performance of Kanye West's from 106 & Park, with him doing "Big Brother". I love that track.

Kanye West "Big Brother" (LIVE)




Enjoy your weekend!
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Smif-N-Wessun The Album tracklist


Smif-N-Wessun (aka Tek & Steele) are BACK, and have a new album (entitled, well, The Album) dropping on the 23rd of October. It looks like they are keeping it simple on the beats and on the features, which is a plus for those of us who remember "Sound Bwoy Buriel" and some of their other CLASSIC material. Check out the tracklisting:
1.) See The Light (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
2.) Gotta Say it f/Chuckii Star (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
3.) Trouble (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
4.) K.I.M. 200 f/Loudmouf Choir
5.) P.N.C. For Life (produced by Ken Ring & Rune Rotter)
6.) Gangsta Prayer f/Million Styles (produced by Ken Ring & Rune Rotter)
7.) Stomp Thru f/Rock and Joell Ortiz (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
8.) Who Gonna Save Us (produced by Ken Ring & Tommy Tee)
9.) Still Fighting (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
10.) Yeah (produced by Ken Ring & Tommy Tee)
11.) Movie (produced by Ken Ring & Tommy Tee)
12.) Can’t Stop (produced by Ken Ring & Soul Theory)
13.) Can’t Feel My Face f/Loudmouf Choir (produced by Ken Ring & Tommy Tee)
14.) Still Here (produced by Ken Ring and Collen & Webb)
So aside from Rock, Joell Ortiz, and a few others, its a tight space, which I'm feeling. I remember copping Rude Awakening and loving it.

Check out the aforemention Rock & Joell Ortiz assisted "Stomp" for further proof of their re-discovered fire.

hit the links:
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Crack(s) In America



Last year, I dropped "America: The Ugly", a mixtape devoted to questioning the current admistration, musically... bringing up a host of different things that contribute to our nation being divided. While I am deeply saddened by the events that transpired 6 years ago, the onus is on the Adminstration to rectify the situations that still plague our great nation: racism, war, poverty, sexism; these problems, and many more, help give the world around us a distorted view of what goes on on our soil.

(NOTE: As I'm writing this, I get messages about disgusting acts of violence and hatred like this that make me think we are so far from where we need to be...)

Hopefully, mixtapes like this (as well as other forms of art, whether visual or the written word) can help usher in a dialogue that will open the floodgates, and help get some sense into the White House.

Divshare download/stream link: http://www.divshare.com/download/1919716-0a7

Tracklisting:


01/intro: Jello Biafra "Miscue 9/11" b/w The Cinematic Orchestra "Durian"
02/Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings "This Land Is Your Land"
03/Kanye West ft. The Game "Crack Music"
04/The Roots "False Media"
05/DJ Shadow ft. David Banner "Seein' Thangs"
06/David Banner "So Special"
07/Nas "These Are Our Heroes"
08/Nas "Black Zombie"
09/interlude: Saul Williams "Sha-Clack-Clack" b/w Autumn & Perpetuum "Unconditional"
10/Mr. Lif "Because They Made It"
11/The Perceptionists "Medical Aid"
12/Gil-Scott Heron "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
13/J. Rawls "Bobby Seale Bound & Gagged"
14/interlude: Mumia Abu-Jamal "What Independence?" b/w Juggaknots "Namesake (instrumental)"
15/Public Enemy "Shut 'Em Down"
16/Jay Eff Kay "Paranoid 2007"
17/Cage ft. Jello Biafra "Grand Ol' Party Crash"
18/Styles P. ft. Joell Ortiz "Poor Folk"
19/Mos Def "There Is A Way"
20/Digital Mystikz ft. Spen G "Anti-War Dub"

I want to shout out Jay Eff Kay for creating America: Suicide Notes vol. 1, and to Perpetuum for giving me permission to use "Unconditional" in this mix. Big up to Jello Biafra, David Banner and Chuck D for speaking the truth.

Take a moment and reflect on the tragic events of this day in our collective memories... fight the powers that be , and stand up for what you believe in. And for those out there deep in the struggles (both here at home and away in foreign lands) - keep your head up.
-khal

PS: Start Snitching has YouTube clips of the most recent Real Time episode, with Mos Def & Cornell West on it. Interesting comments made. Fresh has an interesting post on Hip-Hop's (nonexistent) reaction the day the towers fell.

PPPS: Check out E's poem, "Gemini's Ashes"
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How "Ayo Technology" Was Born

50: "Ayo Timbo, I need some help"

Timbaland: "Hold on, I'm making a banana smoothie"

Justin Timberlake: "Yo Fiddy, sup my nigga"

50: "Anyways, Interscope doesn't like my shitty CD, I need one of them 'My Love' joints"

Timbo: "I just cooked up this beat I jacked from a Finnish wunderkid. Danja, set up the mic"

Justin: "Why you be dissin' me, nigga?"

50: "Alright, write a hook then, bitch"

Justin: "Yay!"

The result?


Shouts to the DOA crew for guiding my comedy.
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Kanye West Graduation [review]

It looks like, with every album, Kanye West is trying to add more ingredients into his stew. He went from relying solely on the "chipmunk soul" and a balance of flash and thought in his rhymes on College Dropout to sneak-attacking the game, bringing in Jon Brion, and beefing up his style of production with loads of orchestration and wild arrangements with Late Registration. It seems that he has spent Graduation chilling with A-Trak more, digging into a more electro sound, which really only mirrors what's been going on in the South, especially in the Miami, Florida area. He's also repeatedly spoken on wanting to create an album full of anthems. Has he done this? Did he alienate any fans? Was it all worth it?

Yes, no and hopefully. In terms of anthems, you only need to see throngs of high school age kids bounce when the chorus of "Stronger", his Daft Punk-jacking official single, comes on, to see how far this guy who got introduced to many by his Blueprint work has come. He has always been able to drop the "right" track, for his albums always come with loads of singles, and he does not stray from that. While "Stronger" has mass appeal, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" almost sounds like his take on some of the "get money" anthems that seem to flood the market from the Dirty. It's not just the DJ Toomp-laced instrumental, which is all brooding and depressed and proud at the same time; nor is it the Young Jeezy adlibs in the chorus. If you break down his words in the chorus, he isn't really saying anything different than what they speak about in terms of cashflow, he just attacks it from a different angle. He has the same cocksure attitude, but can come up with decent lines ("don't ever fix your lips like Collagen/to say something where you gon' end up apologin'"), showing you his wit and his attitude. "Champion" is an uplifting wake-up call for those who think they can't get it done - positive reinforcement in the form of a slick start/stop beat that hits you instantly. He also gets to showcase his introspective rhymes - we realize that he has always been a clotheshorse, even if his Pops used to tell him "if you see clothes, close ya eyelids" - more ghetto yout need to hear this track.

In terms of production, 'Ye comes hard with the synths. I read that he didn't really want to go with "Good Life", possibly because it was just too easy: how hard is it to take Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T.", beef up the drums and synthline, sprinkle in some T-Pain and boast about the finer things in life? Not hard at all, especially if you are aiming to make anthems. This is one of those summertime anthems for those who made it to the Hamptons. "Flashing Lights", aka Billy Sunday's favorite joint, had the smooth feel to it, with the bumping kicks, which cascade into a wash of key stabs. Really big sound, but the fact that he kept the tempo down on this one is a good look, making the track sound like the club it seems that Kanye found some of these "Drunk & Hot Girls" in. He's not just a synth-maven, though. "Barry Bonds", on of Kanye's "real Hip-Hop" moments, is Nottz and 'Ye cooking up something monstrous in a pretty simple beat that brings forth one of the hottest fills I've heard on a mainstream LP this year. Yes, he does drop into a synth bed, but this one is all about those hard drums (and the fact that Lil' Wayne's verse is raped by Kanye's - who would have thunk that).

This CD does contain moments that make me shake my head. For example, I do wish that "I Wonder" was shortened by 2 minutes, not so heavy on the electronics, and sans Kanye's "raps". He wasted a pretty sly piano/vocal sample with the sonics. I also can't stand listening to "Good Morning", the intro that birthed his "I'm like a fly Malcolm X, buy any jeans necessary". I mentioned "Drunk & Hot Girls" before, which is just an excuse to not have Mos Def rap on another album. I can't really see anyone other than rich, drunk frat boys getting into this joke-turned-ugly of a track. Imagine a crew of them singing this, driving their sports cars around a club. Now try to forget that image. Can't do it, right? "Homecoming" was also something that was unnecessary on my front, but his "track with Coldplay" sounds much better than Jay's.

Speaking of Jay(-Z), I can't end this review without speaking on "Big Brother". Possibly one of the most heartfelt pieces of poetry coming from the Roc camp since "Momma Loves Me", this track really gets into Kanye's psyche: his arrogance and attitude shines through, but when you look at it in the scope of him just imitating "big brother", you can see why he feels so adamant about his status: to hit Hov status, you need to be firing on all cylinders. The problem is, Kanye is not Jay. Kanye is not on Jay's level lyrically, or business-wise. Until Kanye can truly charter a ship on his own (and G.O.O.D. Music is a start), he will stay being "little brother". In hearing 'Ye lay it down in this way, you can definitely see why he seems to overcompensate on the clothes and in his boasting. He just misses the mark, it seems.

Which is the story of this album: it's almost "there", but in terms of being a classic album? Not right now, not in this era. 'Ye ditched the "Broke Phi Broke" this go 'round, but seems to have left some of the substance on the cutting room floor. People flock to 'Ye for his beats: they stay for his mind. When he masks it in too much "fresh to def" talk, it muddies our overall perception. This is one disc to party to, one to fuck to, one to keep you going during your day. Will you be passing this down to your children's children, though?

rock the dub gives Graduation a 3.5 out 5. Kanye goes for broke and brings a sonically pleasing package that screams "we did it!"... but for all that he is, the things that he's not is what holds him back from being the people's champ - but he is still the hipster's choice.

Essential Cuts: "Everything I Am", "Barry Bonds", "The Glory", "Champion", "Big Brother"

Kanye West's Graduation is available TODAY at all major retailers.

hit the links:
Official Website
MySpace page
Roc-A-Fella page
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