Biggz up to Teamsta & Nottz!!

Shout Out to Bilal and Nottz for putting this joint together. HOT!!!!!!
“Something to hold on to” Download Here::

Download Here::

new EP from the big homie Khizman of DMP, featuring production & appearances from Keelay & Zaire, Skyzoo, Nottz & more. shout out to the whole 757! VA wdup tho!

Download: Khizman – The Trophy Winner [EP]

DOWNLOAD: Emilio Rojas – The Natural (Mixtape)

Emilio Rojas’ “The Natural” mixtape has finally dropped after much delay.  This is by far one of the best anticipated mixtapes of the year.  Did I mention who co-signed this mixtape???  DJ Green Lantern!  That’s right, world-renown DJ Green Lantern co-signed this shit!  It also features amazing product from heavyweights including Boi-1da, 6th Sense, M-Phazes, and more.

DOWNLOAD LINK: MediaFire

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasnt the biggest Skyzoo fan in the world but after hearing his debut album “The Salvation” I am officially on the bandwagon. This is his video for his single Popularity with a play on the Saved By The Bell show. Enjoy and support hip hop.

My Yankees are tankin and I get kicked out of the studio. What a f*ckin day! Here’s a jawn we recorded a couple days back over the “Dangerous MCs” song Nottz laced for the Born Again album. It’s one more jawn to go on Friday, and then I will release something special on Halloween to completely wrap up October. I would like to thank all of you for following the series for these past few weeks. We’re winding down y’all! Follow me (www.twitter.com/dblack408) for any and all updates concerning upcoming events, songs, videos, etc. Thanks for the continued support and god bless!

One more left in the series and a BONUSSSSSS surprise come Halloween b*tches!!!! ahhhhh can’t wait!!!!

DOWNLOAD: D-Black- Upper Deck (Prod. By Nottz)

The Invasion: 6.5/10 Your standard intro track. 50 comes out energetic but without a lot of interesting rhymes it doesn’t really resonate with me. 

Then Days Went By: 9.5/10 Great song. Lyrics are a lot more memorable, the funniest being about being 12 and having sex with a 20 year old. He doesn’t care that it’s technically rape, because it was so cool. Not gonna lie. That’s the exact same interpretation I’d have if I hooked up with a 20 year old. The beat is great too. The organ and background vocals are perfect.

Death To My Enemies: 9/10 This is a Dre beat, and it definitely shows it. 50 goes hard, claiming that this CD isn’t “Tha Carter”. Anything anti-Wayne I’m all for, because he’s played out. There isn’t a whole lot to this track, but it’s great for what it is.

So Disrespectful: 7/10 Ah 50 and your fightin’ ways. This is his anti-Game/Young Buck track among others… It’s not bad, but I actually like Piggy Bank off Tha Massacre more for some reason (wow, I never thought I’d say that).  Woulda given this an 8 if it wasn’t  referencing Young Buck doing more syrup than Pimp C. This is because Pimp C had more talent in his pinkie than 50 Cent has in his entire body.

Psycho: 9/10 50 changes up his flow on this track, which makes you wonder if Em wrote his verses. Both go hard on the track, and Em especially shines (what’s new?). Anytime you mention beating the Octomom with a Cabbage Patch kid you have my vote. Way to go Em. Topical and funny.

Hold Me Down: 4/10 Someone tell Scott Storch to stop doing coke. This beat is strangely bad, and really shows how far Scott Storch has fallen off. 50 Cent’s raps are tired and pointless. So far, it’s the worst song on the album. He must have put this on the album to do Scott Storch a favor. Trust me, he did not do him any favors by allowing millions to hear this track.

Crime Wave: 6.5/10 Another swagger track about guns, how itchy trigger fingers are and how much bullets burn. I don’t discount 50 Cents credibility on the knowledge of how getting shot feels, but I don’t need to hear about it a bunch of times. When did it become cool to get shot a bunch of times? 

Stretch: 9/10 Sha Money XL’s beat is pretty good. Song about selling drugs, but it’s pretty interesting.  I don’t know why I like this track, but it’s strangely hypnotic. “Streeeetch”…”Kurt Cocaine.” I don’t know if it’s clever but I like it. Haha.

Strong Enough: 7/10 Soulful beat. More lyrics about guns and how hardcore he is. Transitions into how much money he has. Then he disses his old crew. It kinda goes all over the place, but the lyrics are better and work well with the beat. 

Get It Hot: 5/10 Not really feeling this track. The beat by Nottz is kinda cool, but it doesn’t work all that great with 50. It clocks in at 2:59 and it feels long. That’s not a good sign. Nottz gonna listen to this song again…

Gangsta’s Delight: 9.5/10 Haha, this song is great. Remix the lyrics from Rapper’s Delight with a Dre beat. 50 has got some balls to redo a classic like this. Somehow, it works. The beat is grimey. I love the piano in the background.  The lyrics work. 50’s flow is perfect. So far, my favorite song on the album.

I Got Swag: 5/10 Did you know 50 Cent has a lot of money, as well as swagger? Me neither! Thank God he cleared it up on this track. Throwaway.

Baby By Me: 8.5/10 Ok, I get it. That’s kinda clever: “Have a baby by me baby, be a millionaire” Throw a Ne-Yo hook on it, and it’s a hit, right? Sorta. It’s overproduced by Polow da Don, but overall I think girls will like it. It’s likable for a chick track. After 12 songs about shooting people and selling drugs, it’s a nice break. 

Do You Think About Me: 7/10 Another girl track but it’s more laid back. It’s not as catchy, but not terrible. I feel like they should have put it somewhere else on the CD to break up the two softer songs.

Ok, You’re Right: 7/10 The only previously released song that actually made the CD. It’s pretty good, but I don’t really like the chorus that much. I actually liked the song “Get Up” more, and am kinda surprised it didn’t make the CD. 

Could’ve Been You: 7/10 Weird song but it flows well. R. Kelly is singing about smelling shit. 50 Cent does alright on the track, but it’s strange to have as a closing song. 

Overall: 7.5/10 (Don’t know if my math worked out on that at all) 

Final impression is that it’s better than Curtis, but the subject matter was too focused on guns and drugs. There were too many generic songs that had no clear message. Half of them were just excuses to rap about killing people with a different chorus for each song. If he would have taken a few of those tracks off and had a few tracks that told a story or had different subject matter, the CD would have been great.

“STREET HOP” Out Now!!!

Revenons à des choses plus ‘street’ avec le nouvel album studio des M.O.P. Des mois d’attente, une série de mixtapes sans succès, des actes manqués à la pelle, des contrats signés puis prématurément stoppés, la vie d’artiste est dure quand on s’appelle Lil’ Fame et Billy Danze. Depuis une dizaine d’années, les deux requins de Brownsville enchainent mésaventure sur mésaventure. Propulsés au plus haut grâce à leur hit « Ante Up » en 2000, les gueulards n’ont jamais su tirer profit de leur réussite. Leur signature sur l’écurie G-Unit Records en 2005 n’y changea rien, le second millénaire ne semblait définitivement pas fait pour eux. A tel point que leur retour annoncé pour cette rentrée 2009 sonnait comme une mini révolution pour les amateurs de gros flows. Arrivé dans les bacs le 15 septembre dernier, Foundation, leur cinquième opus, portait en lui l’espoir de voir revenir le Mash Out Posse à son meilleur niveau.

Un espoir rapidement étouffé médiatiquement par les deux ‘super sorties’ du 15 septembre : Jay-Z et Kid Cudi. Pas simple, on leur accorde, d’attirer l’attention sur soi après un si long passage à vide, qui plus est quand on est opposé à ces deux poids lourds (l’un confirmé, l’autre en devenir). Mais ça, Lil’ Fame et Billy Danze s’en moquent. Les tapis rouges, les soirées mondaines, les strasses et la gloire, ce n’est pas le rêve des M.O.P. Les deux potos vivent pour leur ‘hood’ (Brownsville), et ils entendent le représenter jusqu’à la mort. Transition parfaite pour commencer à parler de l’album et du premier morceau : « I’m A Brownsvillain » (prod. Nottz). L’intitulé parle pour lui-même, les lyrics sont hardcore et street, ca gueule, ca représente, en deux mots : ca tue ! Que les fans se rassurent, les fauves semblent avoir repris place dans l’arène. Cette entrée en matière fait plaisir car elle vient ponctuer une dizaine d’années de disette et d’infortune artistique. Foundation nous apparaît comme un retour aux sources, malgré les imperfections. C’est aussi les retrouvailles avec DJ Premier, producteur fétiche du groupe depuis le deuxième album, Firing Squad. Ici, l’ex Gangstarr pose sa patte sur le soulful et mélodieux « What I Wanna Be » (feat. Rell), samplant du Diana Ross au passage. Venant de lui, ce style feutré et mélancolique peut surprendre mais nul doute, la qualité y est.

Passé cet interlude R&B, on retrouve les M.O.P. dans un registre qui leur est davantage approprié : plus lourd, plus cru, plus hardcore. Démonstration sur les excellents « Blow The Horns » et « Stop Pushin », deux produits crédités Fizzy Womack, qui n’est autre que l’alias de Lil’ Fame quand celui-ci passe derrière les platines. Plus loin, Fizzy lâche un « Street Life » convaincant, et parfaitement dans l’air du temps. Malgré le refrain de Demarco passé à l’auto-tune, le binôme n’en perd pas pour autant sa street-crédibilité. Niveau prods, Lil’ Fame a.k.a. Fizzy Womack a franchi un cap. Ses trois instrumentaux respirent l’asphalte, sans tomber dans le sinistre ou le ‘déjà entendu’.

Mission également accomplie pour Statik Selektah a.k.a. ‘DJ Premier bis’. Le producteur de Grey Hairs (Reks) et All In A Day’s Work (Saigon) est sur la pente ascendante depuis environ deux ans. Sur Foundation, il livre l’oppressant « Crazy », agrémenté d’un couplet du ‘on ne peut moins’ charismatique Termanology. Mais son éclair de génie est ailleurs… Sur « Forever & Always », le producteur ressuscite le son new-yorkais post Mobb Deepien en lui donnant force et finesse.

Dans quasiment toutes les chroniques que j’ai pu lire à droite à gauche, on critiquait les M.O.P. pour leur perte de flow. Soit. Néanmoins, en écoutant et réécoutant cet album, je me suis aperçu que leurs beats se sont nettement ralentis. Des up-tempos d’antan, ils ont opté pour une majorité de mid-tempos mélodieux sur ce cinquième effort. Les gueulards seraient-ils fatigués ? Possible, ou peut être ont-ils tout simplement envie de plus de douceur. En atteste le corps du disque assez « tranquille » (tout est relatif) avec des pistes comme « Rude Bastard », « Brooklyn » ou « Street Life ». Faut-ils les blâmer de s’être assagi ou les encourager à aller dans ce registre qui, selon moi, leur va tout aussi bien ? Cette question est à méditer.

En revanche, si le ventre de l’album recèle de tempos soulful, la fin, elle, est aussi brute que le début. Sauf que là, c’est très mauvais ! Avec son « Bang Time » (feat. Styles P), DJ Green Lantern a dû penser qu’il avait composé LE beat qu’il fallait aux M.O.P, or c’est tout le contraire. On peine à tenir jusqu’à la fin du morceau tellement c’est brouillon et bruyant. De même avec les deux pistes suivantes : « Sharks In The Water » et « Riding Through ». La présence de Redman sur la dernière ne change rien à la médiocrité du son, c’est redondant, peu ou pas inspiré du tout et saoulant à souhait. Heureusement pour lui, DR Period se rattrape de son horrible « Sharks In The Water » avec l’ultime titre du disque « Salute A G ». Une note positive et assez west-coast pour en découdre avec ce cinquième opus.

Conclusion, débriefing, bilan des courses. Le Mash Out Posse est revenu à son niveau suprême ? Non ! Foundation est un mauvais album pour le binôme de Brownsville ? Non plus. C’est un retour encourageant après dix années de malchances ? Oui ! Ca ne fait aucun doute. Les fans de la première heure seront probablement déçus de cet essai, dans la mesure où il ne correspond pas totalement à ce que l’on pouvait attendre du crew. Cependant, pris dans son contexte, Foundation satisfait. Similairement à Tha Blaqprint de Blaq Po’, ce disque se savoure comme un produit authentiquement new-yorkais, avec tous les délices que le son east-coast peut contenir. Maintenant qu’ils sont retournés en indé (E1 Records/Koch), on espère que le futur leur sera radieux, afin qu’ils nous reviennent rapidement avec une tuerie comme ils savent les faire. C’est tout le mal que l’on souhaite à Lil’ Fame et Billy Danze en tout cas, car sans ces deux carnassiers, le rap game est bien moins drôle.

14 / 20

ALBUM: The Salvation (2009)

Skyzoo is signed to Jamla Records, label founded by 9th Wonder.

This track is produced by Nottz.

Writing about music is an important exercise however it is difficult (if not impossible) to describe that which escapes language. With that said, here’s my humble attempt…Today, Tuesday October 6 marks the highly anticipated release of Shafiq Husayn’s debut album “Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka” presented by the good folks over at Plug Research. We can all agree that Husayn escapes the narrow confines of easy classification. Indeed, our compulsion to assign artists to specific genres seems counter-intuitive when the music defies compartmentalization in it’s deliberate (and intuitive) cross-pollination of multiple genres, sounds and samples. Husayn is invested precisely in spiritual systems that know no boundaries. As quoted from Omar Burgess’ recent interview with Husayn (via HipHopDx), “while Fela Kuti was one of many inspirations for the sound, Husayn points out that being in “A-Free-Ka,” has a spiritual connotation which is still linked to the African continent—Ancient Egypt to be exact. “Ka means spirit in Kimetic,” Husayn says. “It’s a spiritual system, so there are no boundaries. That free ka is just free to move, so it’s a representation of man being on the planet manifest with no boundaries.” Whereas amateur artists haphazardly layer and collage sounds for the sake of creating something new and different, Husayn produces a complex yet cohesive aesthetic. That is, he has mastered the delicate art of focused range in which his references to everything from Kemetism to ancient Egyptian iconography enriches rather than undermines the album’s narrative. A true polyglot, the Master Teacher himself demonstrates fluency in a variety of musical dialects and languages that allow him to nuance each track with complimentary juxtaposed sounds. Shafiq invites the listener to immerse him or herself in the kaleidoscopic world of “Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka”. Laced with features from the likes of Bilal, Count Bass D, Fatima and Noni Limar as well as remixes from Nottz and Mark de Clive-Lowe, this album will undoubtedly transport you to a higher place. Alas, I cannot transcend the insurmountable barriers of language so you, my trusted readers, are left with no other choice but to purchase the album and listen for yourselves! In the meantime, you might consider tuning into Plug Research’s Podcast for Shafiq Husayn exclusives and other hidden treasures. This is my plea to support good music, stay woke!

Cop “Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka” HERE. Listen to Shafiq Podcast HERE. Follow Shafiq HERE.

I see ‘em lookin for the real, but they ain’t find that yet.

 I can’t believe I overlooked this earlier today. Better late than never, right?

Brooklyn verbalist Skyzoo dropped his debut solo album The Salvation today, a joint venture between 9th Wonder’s Jamla Records and underground imprint Duck Down Records.

The disc is an earnest auto-biographical account of Sky’s entire life, boasting top-notch production from Just Blaze, Black Milk, Nottz, Illmind and of course 9th. Keeping with the self-revelation concept, The Salvation has only one feature – singer Carlitta Durand. The rest was solely on Sky’s shoulders – luckily, he’s a high-caliber MC that can handle the workload.

Upon first listen, I’m thoroughly impressed by his development since The 3 Day High, which I thought sounded forced and unnatural. I can tell he took  the proper time and effort to focus his vocals, resulting in a captivating listen with hardly any filler.

Don’t believe me? Wanna find out for yourself? I got you covered. Click the artwork up top or go here to buy it from Amazon. Peep the track list below with a download link to the cut produced by Just Blaze. Don’t say I never gave you nothin’!

Support hip-hop music, Enjoy!

Track List:

1. The Opener (produced by Cyrus Tha Great)
2. Return Of The Real (produced by Just Blaze)
3. The Beautiful Decay (produced by 9th Wonder)
4. My Interpretation (produced by Best Kept Secret)
5. Popularity (produced by Nottz)
6. Like A Marathon (produced by 9th Wonder)
7. The Shooter’s Soundtrack (produced by Cyrus Tha Great)
8. Under Pressure (produced by 9th Wonder)
9. Penmanship (produced by Black Milk)
10. Dear Whoever (produced by Illmind)
11. For What It’s Worth ((produced by Eric G)
12. The Necessary Evils (produced by Needlz)
13. Easy To Fly featuring Carlitta Durand (produced by 9th Wonder)
14. Bottom Line (produced by Eric G)
15. Metal Hearts (produced by 9th Wonder)
16. Maintain (produced by Nottz)

3 days later than expected but here it is guys! As I said earlier, this CD is compiled by myself (under the alias R.E.X.). Some new songs, some old stuff but all Nottz. Volume 2 coming soon so expect more of the classics with that.

Continue reading for the download link, artwork and tracklist.

Tracklist:

1. Slaughterhouse – Woodstock (featuring M.O.P.)
2. Snoop Dogg – That’s That Shit (featuring R. Kelly)
3. WC – Jack and the Beanstalk
4. Cory Gunz – Comfort & Joy
5. 50 Cent – Be a Gentleman
6. M.O.P. – Home Sweet Home (featuring Lord Have Mercy)
7. The Game – One Night
8. Kanye West – Barry Bonds (featuring Lil Wayne) (Co-Produced by Kanye West)
9. Snoop Dogg – Deez Hollywood Nights
10. Bishop Lamont – What People Do
11. M.O.P. – I’m a Brownsvillain
12. The Game – Cali Sunshine (featuring Bilal) (Clean Version)
13. Asher Roth – The Reading
14. Busta Rhymes – Bad Dreams
15. Bishop Lamont – Footsteps In the Dark
16. Asher Roth – Y.O.U. (featuring Slick Rick)

DOWNLOAD: TheVinylChapter Present: The Best of Nottz (Volume 1)

By now you know that one of my favorite producers is Virginia’s own Nottz. I mean the shit he make down there is incredible. Nuradio has put together a new mix full of Nottz beats called “Nottz in my chain” I been riding around banging this hard. You just can’t help it.

Give a listen.

For the last couple of days, I have been listening to Skyzoo’s new project The Salvation.  Due to my own music dropping and V Don’s instrumental album, I have had the chance to marinate on it for several days before sharing my thoughts.  I am not going to post a review of the whole album, I’m just going to share a quick thought.  I have never really listened to a lot of Skyzoo aside from tracks here and there so I consider this my first real introduction.  He has been receiving a good buzz on the net for a couple of years so this seems to be his “break out” project.  First off, the producers are the album are ILL however, I don’t think most of the beats are their best work.  9th Wonder and Nottz are two of my favorite producers but I think Sky’s choice of beats could have been a little better.  However, some of the production is really ill.  The Just Blaze track is CRAZY.  It sounds like vintage Just.  I wonder how much he charges nowadays?  I also think the hooks on The Salvation could have been tighter.  They get a little repetitive and boring.  Having said all that, the more I listen to it, the more I like it.  Skyzoo has a lot of depth to his lyrics.  I find myself listening really hard to catch everything he is saying.  I know that might be a turn off to casual fans but as an emcee, it is that depth that sets some one apart.  Skyzoo is definitely a emcee but might throw some people off because he is monotone, however, I feel like you can hear the passion in his voice.  It sounds like he means what he says.  It wouldn’t be right if I bashed Blueprint 3 and Kid Cudi’s album and then called The Salvation a CLASSOC just because it’s “real” hip hop.  Different strokes for different folks.  I think if you are a hip hop head and you like to listen hard to lyrics, you will like Skyzoo.  If you like how pop music sounds right now, fuck with Blueprint 3.  If you like emo, weirdo rap/rock/weird shit, fuck with Kid Cudi.  I’m just kidding.  I look forward to seeing how many numbers Kid Cudi does.  I read that there were some typos on his music from Itunes or something.  How does a MAJOR label let that happen??  Someone needs to be fired.  I’m telling you, these majors are fucking up EVERYTHING.  Let’s take this shit back.  Peep the Just Blaze produced Return of The Real by Skyzoo and go BUY the album when it drops.