Seanb85's Weblog

The art of the rap battle

seanb85 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:06:25 +0000

]I’ve been writing this blog for awhile, and it just now dawned on me that I haven’t focused on any aspect of hip hop aside from the recorded works. What about freestyling? What about battle rapping? These are the things that separates the men from the boys in the world of hip hop. Being able to freestyle, or come up with raps off the top of the head shows whos really got the gift of gab. Battling takes freestyling to the next level. If you don’t know what an emcee battle is, this probably isn’t the blog for you. It’s when two emcees face off and and spit freestyle raps directed at the one another with the purpose of putting the other down and looking like the better rapper. Real good stuff. Check out these clips from Scribble Jam, and see what real emceeing is about. Battle on.

Sage Francis v. Blueprint

Jin v. Alias

Plato v. Reef

Wow, Reef murdered him.

-Sean

He’s Baaaack

seanb85 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:40:50 +0000

If you hadn’t read already, Don Imus is back on the radio waves as of this morning. Imus debuted on WABC-AM in New York and was simulcast on RFD-TV. It was funny to watch, because Don Imus was like his old self, but at the same time he was definately on his best behavior. There were also a couple interesting additions to his team, like his new black sports caster Tony Powell, and guest female comedian, Karith Foster. Seems a little different than the old Don Imus doesn’t it…?

It’s good to see Imus feel someone breathing down his neck, lets just see how long he’s going to stay on his best behavior.

Rapper Chamillionaire will be talking tonight on Larry King Live about Imus’ return to radio. Should be an interesting talk, be sure to tune into that tonight.

Big Doe Rehab

seanb85 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:17:26 +0000

I’m sure if you’ve been reading my blog you know that I am a huge fan of Ghostface Killah. Ghostface has been the one member of the Wutang clan who seems to be producing quality music at a rate in which he still remains socially relevant. I mean I guess some people could say, that the rest of the Wu is still doing their thing making music, which is true. But the point is that none of the other members are coming with quality hip hop that stands out from the rest of the mainstream.

So anyway, Big Doe Rehab is dropping tomorrow and I’m pretty pumped about it. After Ghosts latest installment. More Fish in 06′, alot of people who didn’t know much about the ironman are beginning to recognize. From what I’ve heard, the album should be solid. Lots of soulful samples, skits, and story telling, all very ghostface characteresque should make this album a highlight of 4th quarter ’07 album releases.

Check out the single “Celebrate” right here:

So get our to your local record store tomorrow and drop a few bills for Ghost.

8 Diagrams LEAKED

seanb85 — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:40:58 +0000

Wutang is due to put out a new album on 12/11 entitled 8 Diagrams. Man I can’t wait for that. Oh wait, I don’t have to? It leaked? Since when do hip hop albums leak? Ha, well the new Wu album is offically available to download through your everyday illegal filesharing program. I don’t know who f’d up at the Wu camp, but it made us bloggers’ day.

There was a lot of controversy within the Wu itself over the creation of this album. Both Ghostface and Raekwon were very vocal about their disapproval of the direction Rza has taken the sound of groups new material. Raekwon went so far as to call Rza a “hip hop hippie” referring to the beatles sample, along with several acoustic guitar and piano riffs used, which puts the Wu in a completely different place then they have found themselves in in the past.

All beef aside, I’d say the final product is a major success for the Wu. There are tracks reminiscent of their early 36 chambers releases, such as “Watch Your Mouth”

along with fresh new sounds one wouldn’t expect to hear from the Wu like the Beatles sampled “The Heart Gently Weeps”

If I find myself enjoying this one maybe I’ll do the right thing and buy a copy just for the album art. On the other hand, maybe I’ll just download that too.

Voice of a generation?

seanb85 — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:34:55 +0000

I was having a talk with a couple of my cohorts the other day, when the topic of mainstream hip hop came up. We were talking about who we think its good, whos whack, the usual, when we started talking about the impact this kind of stuff has on everyone today. I mentioned that I thought it was strange how you didn’t see 17 year old kids with 20″ rims on their cars 20 years ago, or videos of people “ghost riding their whips”

the way you do now, and it got me thinking about the messages music has been sending out and the actual effects it has on the youth. After about a half hour of back and forth debate on the topic, was that bottom line is, the message being sent out is really fucking with the way kids think and act these days. Coincidentally the same day I was messing around on youtube when I found this video:

Haha, I wonder if this was the kind of stuff Little John was spitting, if it would make a difference. Cracked me up though anways.

Hip Hop Live

seanb85 — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:18:44 +0000

A little over a week ago I went and saw Ghostface, Brother Ali, and Rakim at Toad’s. I know its a little late to be reporting on this, but I was busy stuffing my face with turkey and using my parents high speed internet to steal from the music industry. Anyways, it was great. I’ve talked about Brother Ali before, but if you haven’t listened to me thus far, its time you do so now. This guy has got to be the most soulfull rapper on the planet. I mean hes big, bald, and hes albino, but he sounds like a black southern preacher when hes on the performs. He’s the pastor, and he treats the stage like his cathedral. His set was reminiscent of a grassroots style of hip hop, and his sound was brought to the next level with the Rhythm Roots All-Stars 10 piece band bringing his and the entire shows music a new surge of life.

(www.formatmag.com)

Ghostface brought the most to the stage by far when it came to pure volume and energy. Ghost has got to have the most hyped stage performance in the industry. His hour and a half long set covered everything from the Pretty Tony Album, to Bullet Proof Wallets, all the way up to his newest material. This kind of energy was great to see and has gotten me real excited about his new album Big Dough Rehab which is dropping on 12/4.

(www.mtv.com)

Performing last was none other than the legendary Rakim. When people say hip hop artists don’t have any real artistic talent, my first counterpoint would be do mention this man . With no hype men, vocal backup or anything, Rakim was still able to bring his stage show to the highest level spitting verses he wrote 20 years ago that are still treated as hip hop religion. It’s really something to see when someone has been in the game for this long and is still socially relevant. I’ve seen Rakim in huge concerts before, but seeing him on this intimate small stage setting really brought new life to his music.

(www.everblazin.biz)

Best 30 bucks i spent all year, I hope that Toad’s Place continues to attract shows like this.

Artful Dodger

seanb85 — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:10:47 +0000

The American Gangster has made another large acquisition in his constant hustling to the very top. This past week Jay Z along with his partners, Iconix Brand Group, purchased Artful Dodger Clothing, a British urban clothing line for $15 million…cash. This sounds like alot of money, but when compared to Jay’s sale of his Roc-A-Wear line for a little over $200 million earlier this year, its chump change for the platinum selling artist and entrepreneur.

The clothing line appears to be typical of the recent hip hop style of screen printed sweatshirts, T’s and baggy jeans, in a variety of flashy, non traditional colorways and styles.

It just goes to show that hip hop is obviously not the only hustle Jay has going on, and we can expect to see much more from this now growing company in the near future.

R.I.P

seanb85 — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:58:33 +0000

Over the course of my blog I have taken an opportunity to take shots at Kanye West. This week instead I’d like everyone reading to take a moment to pray for Kanye and his family, as they mourn the passing of Kanye’s mother Donda West.

(hhnlive.com)

Kanye’s mother apparently died due to complications involving cosmetic surgery she had recently had.

Donda had recently published a book entitled “Raising Kanye“, a story about obviously…raising Kanye, as a single mother.

It’s terrible to see things like this happen, especially because of something so unneccessary like cosmetic surgery. I don’t think this is quite the right time to preach, but it’s really a tragedy when something unneccessary can lead to something so tragic. The West family will be in my prayers.

American Gangster Release

seanb85 — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:51:34 +0000

I’m a little late on this one, but American Gangster, Jay Z’s latest album, hit stores last Tuesday. Everyone who thought that Hov had fallen off due to the questionable quality of 2006′s Kingdom Come (which did hit #1 on the charts) was very mistaken. This latest release brings the listener back to Jay’s early days similar to a cross between Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint. Surprisingly, the Album only made #74 on the Billboard top 200, but true heads know that this is the return of Jay Z that everyone has been waiting for.

The album was Jay’s first theme’d project, focusing around the theme of the recently released film American Gangster. Jay said that while writing the album he would constantly have the movie playing on an overhead monitor.

The inspiration that Jay got from the movie is clear, as can be heard in the 70′s inspired beats, and the drug and hustle related rhymes. Songs like Party Life, and Fallin’ talk about both the good and bad times in living a lifestyle dependant on constant hustling.

So if you haven’t been feeling Jay the past few years, do yourself a favor and check out American Gangster…I’m sure it will change your mind.

(Fallin’ performed live)

November 15!

seanb85 — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:50:09 +0000

Everybody in CT who doesn’t see the significance in the date 11/15, had better get with it before it’s here. It’s not a holiday, but its the next best thing for any true hip hop fan. Brother Ali, Rakim, and Ghostface Killah will be taking Toad’s Place by storm backed with the Rhythm Roots AllStars 10 piece band.

Brother Ali has been around for a minute, but is just now beginning to get the recognition he deserves. Hes from the midwest, but comes with a southern swag with the energy of a rock star. Hi lyrics are deep yet catchy, and on top of all that hes albino. Definitely a site to see, and an artist worthy of a little attention.

Rakim is a founder of modern hip hop. His style has changed many times in his 20+ years in the industry. It’s amazing that he is a veteran of the game and is still able to stay current.

Ghostface Killah is none other than a founding member of Staten Island’s own Wutang Clan. Ghost has been putting out albums and mixtapes several times a year over the past few years and is known for his silver tongue and story telling abilities.

So bottom line is, get your tickets and get out to Toad’s on 11/15, because this kind of show wont be around here again anytime soon.