Songs for the Holidays...Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of year. Here's some songs to get you into Christmas spirit. I think its safe to say that these holiday songs are more appropriate then my Halloween attempt at songs for the holidays. Anyway, hope everyone enjoys their respective holiday celebrations and send all the naughty girls my way. Sorry for the Merry Hanukkah rap. I just couldn't resist.












Explicit version HERE

Chip Tha Ripper – "The Cleveland Show Mixtape" Download

Here is a new mixtape from rapper, Chip the Ripper. I was immediately drawn (pun intended) to this mixtape because of the cover art. Chip has been featured on some other mixtapes, but I think he definitely makes a statement about his abilities as a rapper. Check out the mixtape HERE.

Tracklisting Here:

Attack of the Killer "Baggy Pants"

"...it's hip hop bay area thang, it's how we dress out here." -Guy Wearing Baggy Pants

"...its just apart of being hip i think." -Cop

I figured that I'd include this on the blog considering the presence of baggy pants throughout the short history of rap/hip hop music. This whole blog entry started with The Chicago Times article, "What do baggy pants really say?"

The article talks briefly about baggy pants and its association with racial tension and gang problems. James Thompson, an African American who enjoys the fashion, talks about not being allowed in a bar because of his baggy pants. It is important to note that his friend, a white guy, was let in the bar sporting the same fashion trend. After considering how he is treated differently at his job because of his work attire, Thompson basically sums up the basis of the article saying, "The difference is that a non-black person who wears baggy clothing isn't considered a thug" in the same way a black person might be.." Misconceptions of baggy pants are also highlighted in Haaziq's online video report on Baggy Pants.

This video focuses the fashion of baggy pants and the dangers that cops see with the trend. "The bigger the pants, the more that could possibly be concealed on that person." says an officer in the video. He goes on to say, "...when suspects are fleeing, They're gonna grab their pants in a manner in which you now can not see their hands that good. And those movements may be misconstrued by an officer, especially if their not complying with an officer's commands." Dangers of baggy pants are also highlighted in the following hilarious video:



What we can learn:
Baggy pants are a means of expression, just like every other aspect of rap and hip hop. The misconceptions come from a lack of understanding of the culture. Race relations and social conflicts also play a part in the baggy pants conflict. And although it is unjust to denied into a bar because of a fashion trend and because of the stereotypes that are associated with that fashion trend, it is not uncommon to be denied entry into an establishment because of dress code (This means you Stupid Ghost Bar, at The Palms in Las Vegas!. Denied over my shoes. I tried to buy the shoes off of a security guard just to get into the damn place). No matter what opinion you subscribe to, the baggy pants trend is most likely gonna survive for a little while longer (that or skinny jeans, pick your poison). If we can learn anything from these reports, its to bring a change of clothes to the club, watch out for police trying to tazer you on account of your size 48 jeans, and don't fear those wearing "killer" baggy pants.

There Will Be Beef - Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z

Looks like everyone got some kinda problem with Hov. Add Beanie Sigel to that list. Dj Drama has released a diss track from the Philly MC.



Beanie has gone on to clarify the track saying,
"I'm not hating on Jay-Z because of the position he's in or where he's going, I'm just saying, when you a team and you a crew and you a squad and you grew from the ground up, you don't just leave your people hanging in the wind."

Beanie then went on to say that Jigga didn't look out for him, State Property, and the rest of the former Roc-A-fella artists like 50 Cent did for his G-Unit team.

Jay Z has since replied saying,
"...What people choose to do, when they attain that type of success, at some point you got to look at the mirror and look at yourself. You know, Beanie Sigel had a record deal, a record label, and a clothing line. I mean, (he) never went platinuim, ever. I mean, in the history of rap, has anyone done so much with so little? So I don't know what more you can do for a person at that point."

So that makes 3 rappers that have released diss tracks aimed at Jay Z this year. Jim Jones - Alarm, The Game - I'm So Wavy, and Beanie - What You Talkin' About. Anyway, looks like Hov could care less about those trying to pick at him from the bottom. I guess I'd ignore all the haters too if I was married to Beyonce, partially owned an NBA basketball franchise, and ran my own brand of upscale bars. Jigga put it best himself saying, "I have zero to complain about."

Fashawn - "The Antidote Mixtape" Download

They say that some things come in "3's," so here is the 3rd mixtape offering of the week. I am a huge fan of The Alchemist, so I didn't hesitate to download this mixtape from an artist that was previously unknown to me. The mixtape was released to promote Fashawn's October album "Boy Meets World." I have to say that this might be my favorite mixtape of the year. It's short and sweet and both the rapping and production are top notch. Check out Fashawn new classic mixtape HERE.

Tracklisting for "The Antidote"
1. Intro
2. Shall Come a New Name
3. Fash Plays It Cool
4. The Antidote
5. Gone In 60 Seconds
6. Rap Seduction
7. What's Your World
8. From the Creation
9. FYI
10. Lost in New York
11. Got It Sewn

Wiz Khalifa - "Burn After Rolling (B.A.R) Mixtape" Download

Wiz Kahlifa is a upcoming rapper that has been rocking the mixtape circuit for the last couple years now. He style is somewhat similar to the sounds of Wale or Kid Cudi. Anyway, the new mixtape has some good original music and freestyles. Get it HERE. Check out the Currency & Wiz Khalifa "How Fly Mixtape" for some more good hip hop.

Tracklisting for "Burn After Reading"
1. B.A.R
2. Gettin Up
3. Take Yo B---h
4. The Thrill (Walking on a Dream)
5. One Way
6. Miles
7. If I Were A Lame
8. Meet New People
9. Weekend
10. Young Khalifa
11. Knock You Down
12. On Tha Pill
13. When U Find
14. Mafia Music (remix)
15. Say You Will
16. Timeless
17. Won't Land
18. Ode to Naked Pop Stars
19. All My Life Freestyle
20. Great to Be There (outro)

Lil Wayne - "No Ceilings Mixtape" Download

Click Here to download Lil Wayne's new mixtape, No Ceilings. The mixtape is reminiscent of Chamillionaire's Mixtape Messiah mixtapes because Lil Wayne raps over recycled beats. Love him or hate him, Lil Wayne definitely works very hard to stay relevant. We will see how his jail sentence affects the overall demand for Weezy.

Poll Results - "Who is the G.O.A.T"

2pac is declared the Greatest of All Time by voters in a recent poll by this blog. Results for the poll:

"Who was the G.O.A.T"

2pac - 45%
Nas - 36%
Notorious B.I.G - 9%
Jay Z - 9%

2pac was one of the greats. I always considered it a great tragedy that talented rappers like 2pac, Biggie, Big L, & Big Pun ended up passing away at an early age, while rappers like Soulja Boy, Ja Rule, and Chingy will end up living to be 100. Here's a MTV news report on 2pac that aired shortly after his death in 1996.

Songs for the Holidays...Halloween

It's time for Halloween. Here's some songs to get you into the the "Halloween spirit." Hope you associate Halloween with graphic violence, explicit language, and drug references. Halloween Picks (feel free to include your own submissions in the comments section):

Dr. Dre - Murder Ink
Snoop Dogg - Murder Was The Case
Tommy Wright III - We Creep
Gravediggaz - Pass the Shovel
DMX - Damien, The Omen (Damien II), Damien III
Three 6 Mafia - Body Parts
Mobb Deep - Hell On Earth
Big Twins - Sold My Soul
The Fat Boys - Are You Ready for Freddy? (Props to Chris for finding this one)


Check out Snoop Dogg's "Hood of Horrors" music video. Watch it and wonder what kind of munchies Snoop gives out to trick or treaters.

Chadimus's Top 10 Beats for 2009

1. Jay-z- D.O.A.(No I.D.)
2. Skyzoo- The Shooters Soundtrack (Cyrus Tha Great)
3. Kid Cudi- Soundtrack 2 My Life (Emile)
4. Raekwon- Black Mozart (RZA)
5. Eminem- Stay Wide Awake (Dr. Dre)
6. Mos Def- Casa Bey (Mos Def/Preservation)
7. Drake- Unstoppable (Diplo & J.Hill)
8. Doom- Gazzillion Ear (Prod. By J Dilla)
9. Brother Ali- Crown Jewel (Ant of Atmosphere)
10. Skyzoo- Beautiful Decay (9th Wonder)

Honorable Mentions:
Jay-Z- Already Home (Kanye West/No I.d.)
Rick Ross- Valley of Death (DJ Toomp)
J Dilla - Alphabet Soup
Alchemist- Acts of Violence
Atmosphere- Millie Fell off the Fire Escape(Ant)
Kid Cudi- Daps & Pounds (DJ EV/Jungle Club)
Redman & Method Man- Ayo
DJ Quik And Kurupt- Hey Playa (DJ Quik)
Busta Rhymes- Shoot for the Moon (Danja)
Lil Wayne Feat. Gucci Mane - We Be Steady Mobbin'

I guess this list is still a work in progress, considering we have two more months left in 09', the reason i picked D.O.A. is because the beat is just so balanced and human feeling, it has soul! not to many hip-hop tracks have soul like this nowadays, it feels like an old new track! Props to No I.D.! oh and keep an ear out for Cyrus Tha Great! i think he had some of the most stand-out beats on Skyzoo's The Salvation LP.

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong Part 1

This will be an ongoing feature of the blog. Got the idea from Dave Chappelle. Here are a few examples of life imitating art (or maybe art imitating life, well you know what I mean).

1. Soulja Boy Late On His Rent in L.A., Facing Eviction

Lyrics: "Soulja Boy Aint Got No Money Mane Ho..." Soulja Boy- "Soulja Boy Ain't got No Money"

2. Busta Rhymes has been ordered to fork over $75,000 to 32-year-old Alex Duncan for attacking him back in September 2003...(Busta Rhymes) punched him in the face and pummelled him with bottles with the assistance of his bodyguard.

Lyrics: "Now you know what we about to do, we goin' full throttle
Niggas go and toss ya champagne, and throw a f*ckin' bottle..." Busta Rhymes- "Throw It Up"

3. As previously reported, Prodigy copped a plea deal earlier this month to a gun possession charge that will force him to do time in prison. According to the rapper, he claims that the police pulled him over and illegally searched his bulletproof truck and, during the course of the search, uncovered a gun in a box inside the rapper's vehicle.

Lyrics: "I got fire in my heart, guns in my car..." Prodigy on License to Kill (Papoose)


I think the police get too much credit sometimes...

Video on DJ Premier

Here is a good video on DJ Premier. Here's a list of some of the legends of the rap game that have worked with Premo: Biggie, Jay-Z, Gangstarr, Nas, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Snoop, Rakim, Mos Def, Big L, Common, Kanye, AZ, & Cormega. This video touches on why Premo is considered such a legend himself.

"...I'm trying to find that sound that I heard in my head, and until it sounds like what I'm looking for, if I got to search for a month until it sounds like I'm looking for, then that's how long it's gonna take." -Premo

The Alchemist Makes It Look Easy

How to make a good beat starring: The Alchemist. Beat is from the Song "Key to the City," by The Alchemist, Nina Sky & Prodigy off of the The Alchemist's Cookbook EP.

MrRenfro's Top 10 Beats for 2009

1. Royce Da 5’9’’ – Shake This (DJ Premier)
2. Zion I – Antenna (Baba Zumbi)
3. The Alchemist – Lights, Camera, Action (The Alchemist)
4. Raekwon – New Wu (Rza)
5. The Jacka – Storm (Kareem K)
6. Rick Ross – Magnificent (J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
7. Mos Def – Casa Bey (Mos Def & Preservation)
9. Dj Quik & Kurupt – 9X’s Outta 10 (DJ Quik)
8. KiD CuDi – In My Dreams/Cudder Anthem (Emile Haynie)
10. Doom – Still Dope (Doom)

Honorable Mention:
Jay Z – On the Next One (Swizz Beatz)
Havoc – Fly With Me (MoSS)
Wale – Tito Santana (9th Wonder)
Juicy J – Get Me Some Money (Juicy J)
U-God – Stomp Da Roach (Teddy Ted & J. Serbe)
Big Twins – Bacon & Cheese (Sid Roams)
Drake – Unstoppable (Diplo & J. Hill)
Jay Rock – Only Dollars Make Sense (Kind Dave & The Antidote)
Cam’ron – Get It In Ohio (Araabmuzik)
Carter – SDF (DSF)

Here's my list so far of the best beats of 2009. Shouldn't be too much of a surprise that DJ Premier tops the list with his amazing David Axelrod ("The Smile") sample. Some of my all-time favorites such as Rza, 9th Wonder, Swizz Beatz, & The Alchemist produced some memorable music this year. Lookout for future releases from Sid Roams, MoSS, Kind Dave & The Antidote as well. Also be on the lookout for Chadimus's picks for Top 10 Beats for 2009.