New Music Wednesday

Here comes some new flavor from a variety of artists and lets not forget its 60 degrees in the Chi right now.

T.I.-I'm Back

Easily a top 5 favorite rapper of mine right now, is back from his stint in the joint with some heavy flow that's reminiscent of his Urban Legend days.



Snoop Dogg ft Nipsey Hussle and Kurupt

Always nice to hear snoop bringing it.



Big Boi ft. Too Short and George Clinton-Fo Yo Sorrows

Can not wait for his solo album, which will hopefully drop sometime this year. Digging this track.....



Young Chris ft J.Cole-Still the hottest

The Young Gunz will always be one of my favorite rap duos and I don't think you can get much hotter (except Drake) as an up and coming artist without an album or a single.

Thursday Jump Off

I've been meaning to post this track for a while now because Jaheim is one of my all time favorite R&B artists.

JadaKiss ft Jaheim-Ain't leaving without you



LLoyd Banks ft Juelz Santana-Beamers, Benz, or Bentleys

Been a while since we've heard some quality music from LLoyd Banks and I must say this track goes hard.



So, I've been really digging HBO's new show How to Make it in America and what reeled me in was the opening song. I figured most people don't know the artist and now enjoy his first single off his upcoming new album.

Sunday Doin It Part 2

Bone-HomeGurl

Shit is too funny I can't help, but post it.



Dj Khaled ft T-Pain, Rick Ross, Ludacris, and Snoop Dogg-All I do is win

Not gonna lie, pretty much all DJ Khaled sounds the same these days. However, I am a sucker for T-Pain and Luda



Raheem DeVaughn ft Wale-The Greatness

Big Fan of Radio Raheem and of course Wale



Wale-Pretty Girls

I'll pretty much watch any video with Wire cameos

Sunday Doin it

Some Heavy In The Streetz flavor to help you get it in for Sunday. Let's Go USA Hockey!

Graph ft Jim Jones, Red Cafe, Cassidy, Bun B, Maino-Bring The Goons out remix



Joel Ortiz-Call me

I know I'm late on this, but this has been playing on Jams all week and I can't get enough of it,



Killer Mike ft Ludacris and The Game-Still My Nigga

Don't Sleep on my man Killer Mike he comes with that heat.



Jagged Edge-Tip of My Tongue

Always love some new Jagged Edge cause they have been a mainstay on my playlists since back in the day.

Friday Jams part 2

Once again, it's Friday so you know what's going down. I am going to hit the streets with some jams that will get your weekend right. My posts have been few and far between lately, but I am hoping to pick up the pace as 2010 looks to be a big year for hip-hop and R&B. As you can tell I have become increasingly disenfranchised with the state of Hip-hop so until I get some of that 2010 heat I am going to keep the posts limited. Although, with new releases from Drake, Jeezy, Usher, maybe T.I, and some fresh new faces such as J.Cole and Nippsey Hustle, I could become inspired to up the ante.
DJ Kay Slay ft Ray J, Maino, Papoose, and Red Cafe-Thug Love

I will almost always listen to a track with for the love of Ray J featured on the hook(no homo)......


Ludacris ft Twista and Rick Ross-How Low remix
Ahhh if only this song was out during the heyday of Juke Parties....


Amerie ft Trey Songz- Pretty Brown Eyes

Digging this Mint Condtition remake....



Throwback- Bun B ft Jayz, Pimp C and Young Jeezy

This should take you into the weekend nicely.....

Friday Jams

So I've been slacking and it most definitely has to do with these awful winters in Chicago, but here are some certified HITS that are DOIN IT.

TREY SONGZ FT FABOLOUS-SAY AHH



SNOOP DOGG FT JAY-Z-I WANT TO ROCK REMIX



DJ Khaled ft Young Jeezy, Plies, Rick Ross-Put Your Hands Up

Album Review: BK One - Radio Do Canibal

There are few albums that inspire me to write a review almost immediately; usually I hear one, put it in the mental rolodex, and move on to another, with the intention of eventually getting around to it (lazy, I know). However, this is one of those LPs that really makes you stand up and take notice; so much so that I felt compelled to bring it to the forefront. So, how good is it? To the highs and lows my friend.

THE HIGHS

As suggested by the title, BK One (best-known for being Brother Ali’s DJ) brings a Latin/South American influence to the album, which is immediately felt in the intro, entitled “Ivan Tiririca.” This instrumental track features a slower, melodic sample, followed by a vocal sample. Ultimately, it’s something you can picture rolling to in the streets of Bogota.

The second track, “Gititit,” is a funky banger that Rhymesayers has made a staple of its repertoire, and it fittingly features Brother Ali and Slug. Both MC’s rock the bass-heavy beat with their distinctive flows, touting Rhymesayers skill and passion and giving love to their Minnesota roots. As Ali quips, “Yes just bless this, come and have a party with two fresh Midwest kids, some of ya’ll are probably gonna catch this message, we give it to you real, flex a little skill, maybe a pay a couple bills, chill…”

Immediately following is one of my favorite tracks on the album, entitled “Mega.” Featuring Haiku D’Etat (consisting of Project Blowed veterans Aceyalone, Myka 9, and Abstract Rude), the beat is a rasta-esque mix of pan flute samples, timely bass, and nice percussion, followed by an incredibly addicting vocal sample that graces the chorus. The trio accompanies the beat perfectly, amounting to a very impressive track.

The best track on the album, “Here I Am,” features a crazy trio of Phonte, Brother Ali, and The Grouch. The slower-paced beat features a short sample (can’t tell what instrument it is, but it’s niiiiice) that’s amazingly effective, combined with a dope bass line and appropriately-subdued percussion. Each MC crushes the beat in their own signature way, delivering poignant rhymes and distinguished swagger. This is a must-listen.

Another track worth mentioning is “Philly Boy,” fittingly featuring Black Thought. Incorporating another somber beat, Black Thought spits his signature flow without a chorus, spitting bar after bar without a break. While Black Thought is impressive as usual, what really caught my ear was the instrumental outro to the song. BK One clearly has an ear for samples, and he showcases his production skills for the final 1:48 of the song, just letting an incredible beat ride out properly. While writing this I tried to explain the outro in further detail, but I just couldn’t find words that I felt would do it justice. Lets just say that this is a must-hear as well.

THE LOWS

Honestly, I can’t think of much to put in this section. I could have put more tracks into the HIGHS section (“The True & Living” featuring Raekwon and I Self Devine, “18 to 21” featuring Murs), but I thought I should keep it to 4 for the sake of length. If I have to write something here, I would say that the album features too many mellow beats, and it would have been nice to hear some variation in the production. However, I’m going to end up complimenting BK One anyway; even if there are too many mellow beats, those beats are really impressive. There isn’t much to dislike.

THE GOOD WORD

This is an album hip hop heads will remember; to be sure, BK One’s first installment is one of the most impressive debut albums I have ever heard. There are few holes; there are 19 tracks, the production is top-notch, and the guest spots are incredible (Slug, Brother Ali, Haiku D-Etat, Raekwon, I Self Devine, Phonte, The Grouch, P.O.S., Blueprint, Murs, Scarface, etc. I mean, have you EVER seen a list like that on a producer’s debut album?). However, what may be most impressive about this output is that each guest is appropriately placed on each track. BK One clearly has a special ear; he made the beats, had a vision of who would be perfect for each beat, and followed that vision. His intuition was right on; each MC fits each track like a custom glove. I can’t stress this point enough; a lot of times producers load their projects with impressive guests, but on many tracks the MC’s don’t fit the production. An artist’s flow will seem out of place. BK One nailed every song. That is extremely rare, and truly impressive.

Rating: 5/5

- - J- JB

Snippet of New Nappy Roots - "Ride"

We at HITS have always been supporters of those boys from Kentuck, and we're happy to report that a new project is on the way (4/20). A video snippet of a nice track called "Ride" has surfaced, and it sounds legit. Outkast vibe to it; definitely a Dre-3000 type flow mixed in. Check it out here. One.

- JB

Lupe Leaked Track - "I'm Beaming"

So it seems that tracks rumored to be on Lupe's next effort, LASERS, are beginning to surface. It's anyone's guess whether this will be on the official release, but check out the Neptunes-produced "I'm Beaming." I would bump this.

- JB

Late Night With The Roots

As you must know by now, the Roots are the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. While Jimmy Fallon hasn't been that funny, the Roots are the shit, and their performances on the show have been impressive. They've come out with a 17-track collection, and it's solid. PMC saw this on 2dopeboyz, and we had to pass it along. Check it out here.

- JB

Album Review: Clipse - Til The Casket Drops

As mentioned in recent posts, the VA duo that perfected coke rap has returned with a third release. The first two LPs were certified bangers, and the hip-hop world has endured many pushbacks and delays in anticipation for this album. Did Malice and Pusha T make it three in a row? Highs and lows, here we come.

The Highs

“Freedom,” the first track, is the perfect intro to a long-awaited album like this one. Sean C and LV provide a dramatic, pounding beat, complete with a pointed, distorted guitar rift, string hits, nice percussion, and a memorable vocal sample – “speak of freedom, sing of amber, waves of grain.” Malice and Pusha T lament about how their fame and fortune have affected them, and the lessons they’ve learned. Beginning his verse with the notion that “music ‘s been nothing more than a self-made prison,” Pusha T concludes with the phrase, “my critics finally have a verse of mine to jerk off to…I owe you all.”

Directly following is “Popular Demand (Popeyes),” probably the best song on the album, all things considered. The Neptunes provide a banger, showcasing a nice piano riff, horns, and fitting percussion. Pusha T and Malice provide the “father of coke rap” lyrics that fans have come to love, and Camron guests with his signature slow-yet-poignant flow.

Other nice tracks include the well-known singles “Kinda Like A Big Deal” featuring Kanye, “I’m Good” featuring Pharrell, “There Was A Murder,” where Malice and Pusha T showcase a surprisingly effective rasta flow, and “Door Man” and “Never Will It Stop.” Produced by the Neptunes and Sean C and LV respectively,the Clipse kill each beat in typical fashion.

The Lows

First, this album is only 13 tracks. For all the hype and anticipation generated by the pushbacks and delays, that is terribly short. A duo as acclaimed as this one cannot take such a long time between albums, hype the album the death, then come with only 13 tracks.

Secondly, while there is some quality work here, the rest of it seems filled out by throw-away NERD beats. Listen to “All Eyes On Me” and “ Counseling” and you’ll know what I mean. It’s not terrible, but it’s certainly a let down.

The Good Word

To be sure, I can’t say this is a bad album. Although there were reports that the Clipse were looking to branch out and use different producers for the majority of the album, in the end they stuck with the Neptunes, which was definitely the right decision. The combination of Pusha T and Malice with Pharrell and Chad’s production is one of a kind; using a slew of different producers would forfeit the unique sound they produce.

For a normal artist, this would be a nice output, although short. However, we’ve come to expect a lot more from these two. The length of the album is disappointing, and although there are 4-5 nice tracks and 2-3 that are decent, the rest are uninspiring. Pusha T and Malice can do better; if anything, the next project should be longer.

Rating: 3 out of 5

- - J- JB