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.