Rapper You Need To Know: Dosage

A lot of times here on Hip Hop Unlimited I might discuss a rapper that already has a ton of shine, but maybe one that I hadn't really given the time of day until now. You could argue that this is one of those times, though the rapper I am about to discuss has an interesting story that doesn't include as much mainstream success. If you've ever heard a feature verse that was so incredibly dope, though you'd never heard of the rapper before once in your entire life up until that point, you might say I experienced this listening to just 2 tracks with this guy. The mystery surrounding Dosage (at least for me) is something I wish I could understand. Why don't we have some more dope music from this guy?

If you haven't heard of the Philadelphia bred rapper, Dosage is an up and coming (or was an up and coming) emcee who has tons of talent that somehow hasn't panned out into mainstream success quite yet, although he's gotten a couple of cosigns from Lupe Fiasco, and was also a guest on Lupe's 2010 "Stepping Lasers" tour which also included B.o.B. He's got a very strong, distinct voice that commands attention, and when you hear his bars you can't help but wonder what's next. And so comes my first time hearing Dosage...

                                         (Dosage's verse starts at exactly the 6 minute mark)

This song could be an attention grabber due to the amazing beat and all star cast (All City cast I suppose you should say), but the first time that 6 minute mark hit, I felt like I was listening to the next great rapper. Obviously the kid had to have proved something to be featured on a Lupe Fiasco song, not just 1 but 2 ("Friend of the People" off of Lupe's mix tape of the same name as well). "Friend of the People" is a great display of Dosage's range (and rage, perhaps) as a rapper and shows off a lot more of his personality than you hear on his "I'm Beaming (Remix)" verse. Listening to both of these songs, however, you don't get the best feel for what "Dose" (my new nickname for him) is really about. So this meant I had to do some more digging, of course.

Dose has a total of 4 mix tapes listed on DatPiff (though none are listed as official releases), one of which being a tape by the name of It, released in 2011. It certainly is what you thought it was (or not), a mix tape made up of entirely Nas instrumentals, and the intro to each track includes a snippet from the movie (hence the name "It"). Being new to Dose this tape is certainly an easy way to get into him, you hear Dosage rap over Nas classics like "Hate Me Now" and "It Ain't Hard To Tell", and it certainly is a great sign to hear up and comers paying homage to some of the greats such as Nas.

His next tape however, 3d11, is a step up from It as it includes more original material over original production. His lyrical prowess and his flow reach an all time high, and it's hard to argue that he doesn't hit his peak when you hear tracks like "Which Way", "LVLA", and the old school sounding "Notorious Remix" which features production from DJ Jazzy Jeff (yes, that DJ Jazzy Jeff). In some of his tracks you can hear a bit of a rock influence it sounds like, and this is pretty noticeable on the track "3D11", which stresses Dosage's 3 D's to live by: dream, drive, and determination.

So to sum this up, you definitely need to deed your day by dosing up a dose of Dosage's dopeness. He caught my ear listening to just 2 tracks, and now I'm wondering what I'm going to hear next from the guy. Though he doesn't go by the name "Dosage" anymore (I've found him on Twitter and Sound Cloud as "Dayne Jordan"), he certainly does give you a dope dose of emceeing (too much? Alright then) and a big portion of his tracks actually feature production from DJ Jazzy Jeff, so that's a reason to look into him. The only wonder now is what is Dosage really doing?  His last full length release dates back to 2012 (2 mix tapes that year actually), and he's only putting out songs on Sound Cloud about once every month or so. One can only hope he gets what he's trying to do right, and doesn't turn out to be the next Jay Electronica.    

Big K.R.I.T's Cadillactica Album Review

Big K.R.I.T has had expectations on him ever since his first mix tape (or album, whatever you choose to call it) K.R.I.T Wuz Here dropped way back in 2010. Mississippi born and bred, K.R.I.T has always been one to preach about how cool it is to be southern (and there's audio proof of it) and is considered a main example of why southern hip hop remains very much alive today. However, stepping out of the norm and seeing no boundaries is what a great artist does, and has done to prove greatness in the past. It's pretty safe to say that Cadillactica is K.R.I.T's way of saying, when it comes to this rap shit at least, that he is on an entirely different planet.

The album begins with the smoothest and most soothing of intros you could ask for. A better way to say it is, the intro is so "K.R.I.T". Titled "Kreation", it certainly takes no time at all to bring into K.R.I.T's world, filled with booming bass lines, huge sub woofers and pretty women. The hook sounds almost robotic, is very catchy and will almost certainly make you bob your head. The breaking point is just as good as the hook, it includes a robotic voice talking over the bass line and saying "do it like you love me" over and over. Certainly a fun introduction to the album, and I've admittedly found myself playing it over and over again. (*Note: the actual song is only 3 minutes and 20 seconds long, not sure why a YouTube user felt the need to extend the song any longer.)

You can definitely tell that K.R.I.T is aiming for a new sound on this project, though maybe not as much new as it is refreshing. The futuristic vibe is felt in the intro as well as the second track "Life", which includes a very synth heavy beat and a message that stresses that life on Cadillactica is very much evident and should get noticed.

Cadillactica is certainly a branching out for K.R.I.T from his normal heavy bass bumping music, but he shows signs of his old self on tracks like "Do You Love Me", "Mo Better Cool", "My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)", and "Mind Control". "Do You Love Me" details K.R.I.T's car talking to him about loving the sub more than he does the car (which I still find hilarious, it is another planet though). "Mo Better Cool" is another very well put together track where K.R.I.T enlists frequent collaborators Bun B, Big Sant and Devin The Dude. If there's any track on the album that you can very proudly cruise to, this is it. "My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)" is another great addition to the "My Sub" series, where as usual it features a head moving, house shaking type of bass line that only K.R.I.T could put together, but the second part of the song is just as moving when K.R.I.T almost adds on a couple of melodies or extra voices to his in a very good effort to sing (kind of).

"Pay Attention" of course is another fine example of an artist putting out a single that sounds very questionable at first, but then sounds great in the context of the album. There isn't much to say about "Pay Attention", but there is a lot to say about the jazz influence that K.R.I.T felt on Cadillactica. On songs like the Raphael Saadiq-assisted "Soul Food", you can feel the jazz instruments and soulful mood it creates almost effortlessly. I hadn't known much about Saadiq before Cadillactica had dropped, but from the sounds of "Soul Food", I wouldn't mind hearing more of him. Perhaps the most different, almost un-K.R.I.T like song on the album (meaning far from the normal K.R.I.T sound) has to be "Saturdays = Celebration". The hook features blues and rock musician Jamie N Commons, but on your first listen it doesn't sound like him at all, but instead reminds one of an old Eric Clapton vibe with Cream, or Mark Cohen's soulful version of  "Walking in Memphis".  Not bad comparisons at all, but you can give it a listen yourself and be the judge.

                             (*Disclaimer: I do not own any of thee songs, not the rights to them*)

One of the most notable songs on the album would have to be "King Of The South". Now there are many current rappers who could claim this title and not have anyone else argue, but nobody has really said anything about K.R.I.T's claims yet. Could this mean people see it to be true?  "Mind Control" is another bumping track, boasting features from E40 and Wiz Khalifa and focusing mostly on controlling "her mind". Yes, this is the song on the album for all of the women, and I don't want to be too brash, but I believe it's a little early to be including Wiz Khalifa on any songs talking about women (too soon?).

But before I start to ramble any more (too late), I have to say it's very clear that K.R.I.T came out on top again with his newest album. Cadillactica is the perfect example of a rapper (or artist) branching out of the comfort zone (even just a little bit) and still coming out on top and not only keeping your original fans, but building more in the process. The bumping, gripping-on-wood grain rap is what K.R.I.T's fans and southern rap fans alike are so used to hearing from him, and they got that plus a little bit more. Yes K.R.I.T's effort to prove that he is in his own lane is spectacular, and if Cadillactica is a planet, it seems that K.R.I.T is the only rapper that resides on it. 




         











     

Talib Kweli's Javotti Media Presents: The Cathedral Mixtape Review

If you don't know who Talib Kweli is, you probably don't know real hip hop. I'm totally kidding of course (who likes that type of person?), but to deny Kweli has had a huge influence in all of rap is an ignorant thing to do. His consistency as a rapper doesn't show up in records sales, it shows up in his skills as an emcee, and to say he is underrated (even today) is an understatement. It's truly fun to listen to Kweli kick skill on the mic, but his newest effort doesn't focus on just him, it focuses on the label he's pushing to become great:  Javotti Media. Is Kweli pushing Javotti in the right direction?  This remains to be seen, at least for now.

The first track, a Kweli solo spitting joint, starts with comedian Affion Crockett giving some hilarious opening banter. Crockett does this throughout the entire tape, and it surely adds a different vibe to the tape, it almost seems as if Affion is acting as the tape's DJ (just less annoying with no tags). But the track, titled "Another Day", is a smooth track that shows signs of the old school hip hop sound that Kweli is so well known for. The rhythmic drums and the steady bass line make for a good opening to warm you up for the rest of the tape.

The chill vibe is a consistent one throughout the tape, with slower paced beats that allow the rappers to differentiate and slow up flows that fit very well, an example of this being evident on "Cherry Beamer Dreaming" where rapper NIKO IS showcases his talents. The slow paced beats and vibe you can also find on tracks like "Boomerang", where "quality over quantity" is stressed, and it's hard to argue that it isn't.  Other chilled out tracks include the smoker's anthem "Roll Me Up" featuring Altitude and Cory Mo, and perhaps the stand out track of the tape, "Everywhere I Go" featuring fellow speaker bumpers Big K.R.I.T and Curren$y. K.R.I.T lays down a smooth hook that certainly makes this track one to bump in the trunk.

    
The song "Dreams" ft. singer RES and the Piano Tribute Players is a truly heartfelt, masterful performance on piano and in singing. The first time I heard this I was truly moved, and I felt the pain and honesty in RES's voice as the thought crossed my mind that I had never heard anything like this before. We need to talk about this singer RES:  I don't know where Kweli found her, but he surely is doing right if he plans to push her to be big. Her vocal talents on "Dreams" and the live version of "What's Real" are just a taste of her talents ("What's Real" makes me want to see Kweli and RES live), but she really steals the show on her very own solo singing track "For Who You Are", which resembles an old Spinners' song as its smooth jazzy sound mixed with her lovely vocals bring you back to old love songs, while at the same time presenting you with a fresh new sound that could take this girl far if she plays her cards right.

So in all, does Talib succeed with his new mix tape?  You'd be crazy to say he doesn't, the great mix of songs, which includes lyrical acrobatics and jovial jams to soulful singing singles and uplifting efforts, definitely sounds like more an album than it does a mix tape, and even though nowadays it's become second nature for artists to put out their best work for free (some of it, at least), this tape becomes only a sample of what to expect from Kweli's ever growing Javotti media brand. The mix of originality with old school fits very well as usual for Kweli, and he looks to bring up a team that deserves recognition just as much as he does. I'll end this review with my personal favorite track from the tape, "D.R.E.A.M" featuring Kweli and Pharoahe Monch.

                    (*Disclaimer: I do not own any of these songs posted, or any of the rights to them*)










     

Songs You Didn't Know Had Different Versions (Not Remixes)

The music industry is something a lot of people will never understand. While some constantly wonder about the dynamic behind it all, and how albums are narrowed down to which songs make the album, which songs are made the single, and how artists determine what songs fit and don't fit the concept of an album (or maybe that's just my crazy ass), the fans are usually stuck in the dark about the behind the scenes aspect of it. I've always been interested in how things come about in the making of an album or the recording of different songs, and a lot of that is the fact that there is so much evidence that some ideas don't pan out how rappers (or artists in general) originally planned them to. So to show my interest (and hopefully have you express yours as well) I put together a small list of songs that have other lesser known versions.

Royce Da 5'9 ft. Big Sean - My Own Planet (other version features Joe Budden, Royce's Success Is Certain album)

This version of Royce Da 5'9's "My Own Planet" you would know if you listened to his The Bar Exam 3 mix tape. The Success Is Certain album version of this song features Royce's fellow Slaughterhouse group member Joe Budden. It's hard to distinguish why Royce would choose to switch out Sean's verse with Joe's, or even why he would want to put the song on his album, but both are great mixes. Royce has made it known in the past that he doesn't appreciate Sean's getting big and forgetting to show other Detroit rappers love (though the new Shady XV leaks would say differently), but you wouldn't be able to tell from this jam.

Eminem ft. Royce Da 5'9 - Renegade (original is a Jay-Z song featured on Jay's The Blueprint album)

Bad Meets Evil fans are sure to love this one (if you don't know about it already). Eminem's Renegade verse is already hailed as one of the best guest verses ever (and one of the first and only cases of someone outshining Jay-Z on his own song), but did you know that Bad Meets Evil did the original version to the now Jay-Z claimed song?  Yep it's true, I couldn't tell you how I stumbled across this, but while Eminem keeps the same verses he had in the Jay-Z version, it's very interesting to hear Royce's approach to his first verse because he keeps almost the exact same rhyme scheme that Eminem used for his guest verse on Notorious B.I.G's "Dead Wrong", listen to them both and compare if you don't believe me!  Little facts and gems like this are what make me love what I do that much more, and they certainly display the conceptual talents of Royce and Eminem.

Drake ft. Bun B - Miss Me (original version features Lil Wayne and makes Drake's Thank Me Later album)

This is certainly a sweet mix if you're a Bun B fan (which you should be, check out my Bun B's influence article if you haven't yet), and it makes sense to include a Bun verse since he was already featured in the song, even in the Lil Wayne version (29 second mark). It's no surprise that Drake felt it was right to have a Bun B feature at some point, considering his being featured twice on Bun's Trill O.G. album, and especially considering Drake's praise of Houston and it's part in shaping him.

Knowing there are little known different versions of songs out there just makes you feel so special doesn't it?  I know it makes me feel good, shit I feel like I work for Interscope. Of course the label doesn't leak music, that's certainly the last thing they would want to happen, but still. Having access to these little known tracks is a pretty cool and special thing, and really puts that thought in your mind: "what other versions of songs have been made that haven't been put out?" The thought of it all is too much to process right now, but be sure to let me know if you know any more little known alternate versions of songs that didn't end up on albums/mixtapes on Google+ or Twitter (@SuperNovaRover).



 














 

Boosie Life After Deathrow Mixtape Review

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Suge Knight: Gangsta Til Death(Row)

If there is one person in all of hip hop that embodies the gangster aspect of hip hop entirely (and maybe a bit excessively/unhealthily), it's Marion "Suge" Knight. Death Row CEO, co-founder, and arguably the most intimidating man in hip hop, Suge built a name and an empire through money, power, fear, and (believe it or not) respect in one of the most controversial and power packed periods of rap. The ups are some of the best and most well documented in hip hop history, which include 10 plus platinum albums, including 2 diamond, and the launching of legendary careers like Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound, and countless others. But perhaps just as talked about (if not more) are the downs of Suge's career, which far outweigh the ups. Though I'm not wanting to break down every single one of them one by one, I am interested in how these things turn a powerful man into someone not so powerful (not physically of course, it seems Suge will always be that). I wouldn't call this the rise and fall, but more so the studying of Suge's roller coaster career. Is Suge Knight really what the public eye makes him out to be?  Is Suge's reputation real?  And is Suge's reputation partly what made Death Row so successful?  I hope to find answers to these questions just as much as anybody else out there, and that's why we're addressing Suge right now (Suge, if you see this, please don't kill me).

To start this off, I had to immediately include the fact that "Suge Knight dead" is one of the first search results that pops up in Google. Does this mean anything?  Maybe so. Do people expect it?  Probably. If I didn't know who he was, this would tell me that Suge's reputation is probably not great. And if you are just learning about Suge, you would be right in that assumption. Suge has had endless legal troubles that include assault charges, drug charges, traffic violations, he's been shot at multiple times (and being hit 6 times the most recent shooting at a Chris Brown party), and the most recent occurrence being theft (for taking a paparazzi camera along with Katt Williams, though Katt isn't seen in the video. I couldn't find it to post, instead I included a video of Katt talking to TMZ about Suge's shooting).

There's just something about Katt Williams and Suge Knight being together that brings the bad out of people (no shade Katt, you're a great comedian). Obviously there have been multiple occurrences including Katt and Suge, including a fight outside of a night club in January of 2013 (which there is also a TMZ video of floating around online), but to prove that Katt is not the common denominator in the bad press, here is a video of Suge throwing some sneak disses at (what you'd think as "former", apparently there still might be some bad blood even today) rival Bad Boy label head Diddy.

  
So discussing this video (besides the conspiracy theories surrounding it and Suge fueling the 'Tupac is alive" debate), the first thing that comes to mind is Suge's very unhesitant diss of Diddy. Which leads to the question: why diss Diddy after all these years?  Seriously though:  how does dissing Diddy right now help your career out?  Back in 94-96 this certainly would have made for great press, but right now can anyone honestly say they feel this holds any sort of significance?  Piling this on top of the "Tupac is alive right now smoking a Cuban cigar" comment makes it seem more of a cry for attention than trying to make a valid point on an issue. Not to mention that Diddy is currently worth $500 million and is in the top 3 on the Forbes list of wealthiest hip hop artists. Who out of these two would you say is winning?  Success is the best revenge.

A very big conspiracy I have to address is Suge's supposed role in Tupac and Biggie's deaths. There are definitely more than enough theories in both rappers' deaths to detail in one post (or several posts for that matter, especially Tupac), whether people believe the shootings were gang-related, that one or both of the rappers are still alive, or that Suge actually orchestrated the hit on one or both of the rappers, the speculation is endless. These arguments are certainly all just rumors, but nonetheless could sway the way somebody would view Suge and what his true intentions are. Why kill off one of your own rappers?  Some might say more money for Suge, others would say that Suge was jealous of the attention Pac was getting that Suge felt he himself deserved, and some might even say that Suge woke up on the wrong side of the bed. While the last one might not be as reasonable (though it could be plausible from what we know about Suge), it seems that people wouldn't know enough about Suge personally to form an honest opinion.

When we get into talking about Suge's most recent burst back into the spotlight, this might be evidence that Suge is indeed human after all. Suge recently had a court hearing for his alleged robbery charge of a paparazzi camera and was taken into custody with bail set at $500 thousand. If Suge were to be convicted, he would be facing 30 years to life in prison (with past charges being mostly because of an assault with a deadly weapon). While all of the charges Suge has faced have been no joke, it seems that it all finally begins to pile up on him in a TMZ video that shows Suge visibly upset with the ruling, and his face wet from crying. You'd have to be a past victim of Suge's to not feel a little bit of sympathy towards him in this video.

                                (*I do not own any of the videos in this post, or the rights to them*)


So while the evidence shows that Suge may not deserve to have any sympathy thrown his way, I'd most certainly love to hear what the audience has to say!  Do you believe that deep down Suge might be a good man whose made mistakes?  Or do you think there's no excuse for so much error and he needs to pay for his wrongdoings?  The sensible person in me believes that Suge is an egotistical, power driven maniac who doesn't care about anything but money, but then the good in me thinks that if anything were to make Suge Knight cry, it's probably pretty harsh. I tried my best to include 2 sides to Suge, but his history of violence and crime charges make it barely believable that there is good in Suge. Let me know your thoughts on Suge and if he's just made a lot of mistakes in his life and you think he can correct them, or if you think that there is no changing a man who has done so much wrong (Vanilla Ice might go with the latter, though that is also just speculation as well). All I really have left to say is that Suge Knight might really be gangster until death row, whether that be his desire or not.   








    









          

This Is Hip Hop... And We're Okay With You Not Approving

I'm going to try to be as short and as to the point as possible with this one, but I felt some things needed addressing. Maybe I feel like the appreciation for hip hop isn't as high as I'd like it to be (though it never really is), maybe I feel like people still think hip hop can't invoke positivity, or maybe I'm just tired of people saying hip hop is "ignorant garbage that has no message". Though it is certainly a mix of all three of the aforementioned details above, I can honestly tell you I see at least one thing every day that reminds me why hip hop is so different and special, and here's what reminded me today.

                                              (*I do not own this video or the rights to it*)

That's right, Kendrick Lamar freestyled over Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" beat. I'm not entirely sure of what to think of this particular freestyle, or event, or whatever you choose to call it. No, that was actually a lie, I certainly know what to think of it, I believe its FUCKING BONKERS AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT. This freestyle comes with an interview from K104 Hip Hop & RnB with Dee Dee In The Morning, and while the freestyle is as dope as Kendrick Lamar gets, it's the interview I was more focused on. At about the 3:50 mark he explains the meaning behind his lead single "i", and it is impossible not to respect it.

Which leads me to my next question:  are there still people out there that are stuck in the caveman age?  Are there really still people that think hip hop can't be positive and bring people together?  I certainly hope not, but it would be pretty funny to have these people be proved wrong by a song that Kendrick specifically says "represents a whole community of people that feel like they have nothing to live for, for the people inside the walls of the penitentiary, and for the people on the outside that come to my shows, these kids that feel like they have no self worth." If you can't listen to Kendrick's "i", and be moved, or even just listen and respect the message, then "i" have nothing to say to you. Your opinion can't be changed and you shall be ignorant forever.

Kendrick's "i" isn't the only thing I wanted to touch on in this post though. His freestyle over a Taylor Swift song opened my eyes a little more wide than normal, and I couldn't help but think to myself "damn, this is hip hop." To say I had a small epiphany would be accurate (though some wouldn't call it that, have it your way though). In case you don't know how hip hop has originated, well... THIS IS IT. Flipping something into your own and making it that much more dope IS HIP HOP. That's pretty much like, the DEFINITION of hip hop. Didn't anyone see the Art Of Rap?!  This is how rap originated!  And I bring up this point because this isn't the only thing I've heard as of late that flipped the script on how people hear music.

Wu Tang's own, the legendary Raekwon just put out a mix tape titled We Wanna Thank You, and it is just as dope as you could have possibly wished. Why do I bring this up now?  Well, I'll tell you. In case you haven't given it a listen yet, Raekwon doesn't go over any original beats or production from his own camp, but rather he takes old songs and puts verses on them. I have never heard anything like this. If you listen to hip hop, you hear samples taken from past music in songs every day, but The Chef takes these old songs and just raps over them, instrumental and all!  He even includes vocals from the actual songs and includes them in his versions. Some of the remixes on the tape include "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by the Spinners, "The Girl Is Mine" from Michael Jackson, "You Used To Love Me" by Faith Evans, and he even goes over another hip hop classic, Ice Cube's "Today Was A Good Day" briefly. This is definitely a worthy mix tape to check out if you're a fan of Raekwon, or even if you just want a good listen from something a little different.

So I have one point to make here, one request that might sound like a demand, and it certainly is a demand to those who don't give it the chance it deserves:  stop sleeping on hip hop. If you don't approve, it is not what you think it is, and it's because you haven't given it the chance it deserves. That's precisely why!  It's not rocket science. You don't start to like new music by listening to the same stuff you always listen to. If you don't listen to it because you have given it a chance and simply don't like it, that's certainly more respectable than "I've heard it on the radio and don't like any of it." You couldn't get it any more twisted by setting the bar at radio rap. If you say rap doesn't invoke thought and positivity, I'd stop you right there and show you Kendrick's "i", hell, I might even show you a Logic interview. The thought process of hip hop is changing, and it's for the better. If you say you don't listen because rappers are ignorant and don't pay homage to the oldies and the greats, I'd show you Raekwon's newest mix tape. Stop making excuses. But, people will do what they choose, and people will listen to what they choose, which is entirely okay with me, and if you're a hip hop fan, it should be okay with you too, and I'll tell you why. It's because this is how it started originally: do you think hip hop was always approved of?  Go back and do some history research, hip hop practically lived (and STLL does) going against the grain. You can be okay with people hating for no reason, and it's because this is hip hop, and we're okay with you not approving, that's nothing new.    







     

  












     

The Trillest O.G.: Bun B's Influence On Rap

I certainly got into Big K.R.I.T a lot later than I could have hoped. My first listen of him being his 2013 mix tape King Remembered In Time, and as I listened on to a mix tape that had every type of song, and sounded like he definitely could have sold in stores based on the quality of the songs, one of my select favorites from the tape was one by the name of "Shine On", featuring fellow Houston emcee Bun B. Now I've always been one to get into those heavily slept on rappers very late (probably because they're so heavily slept on), but this K.R.I.T tape led me to buy his debut album Live From The Underground, and I noticed another Bun feature on a song by the name of "Pull Up", also featuring Big SANT. I had never heard a rapper with such a distinguishable voice before, and by that I mean I had never heard someone demand such a presence on a microphone, I was almost sensing the power through the speakers, it was like Bun was in my house rapping along to the beat of these songs, and his style demanded just as much attention as his voice did. After hearing these tracks, I knew I had to hear more, and was moved by what I had found.

Bun B is his name. I really hope you already know, but it's okay if you don't because I can do my best to give the proper introduction. The only way you can properly describe Bernard Freeman is that he is the absolute trillest of them all. He is so trill in fact that he even had the word copyrighted (that's right, the word "trill" has been copyrighted by Bun himself, does it get more trill than that?). Many have debated what the word "trill" means, or who it represents, but the idea behind it has always been a sort of cool and laid back style, and when Rolling Stone magazine asked Bun what it means to be trill, Bun replied "just look at me." It's debatable that southern rap is almost nothing without it's originator, and his influence on rap is just about unmatched, you can hear it almost anywhere you turn on a radio to your local rap station. Bun's influence on not just southern rap, but rap as a whole is clear when you listen to big names like B.o.B, Big K.R.I.T, Trae Tha Truth, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Ludacris, T.I., Slim Thug, Nelly, and one of the biggest being Toronto's very own (also, October's) Drake (I mention his being from Toronto because even being from an entirely different country you can hear the influence and the homage paid to Bun in his music).

(Seems to be the most Houston-influenced song in Drake's catalog even to this day, especially when you hear him detail a night in Houston towards the end of the track.)(*I do not own this song or the rights to it*)

So what has Bun B really done for hip hop?  How has one man defined an entire subgenre inside a genre that is getting more and more broad every day (if you say rap isn't expanding, you're either hating, or you don't listen to it, period.)?  While the best place to start to explain this is in the influence you hear in the rappers I listed above, a certain style has been originated by Houston rap as a whole (and many would probably argue that Bun was indeed the originator), and it's called "chopped and screwed". If you haven't heard of this style it's done very heavily by DJ's and most commonly found on remakes of mix tapes. To "chop and screw" a song or a project is to slow it down, make the bass line bump just a little more than it did before, and make it proper for those who "sip on sizzurp" and "lean", and to put it in layman's terms, the people who like to move "just as slowly as the music".

Yes indeed Houston's brand of hip hop is one of the most known yet different types of hip hop there is out there, and Bun B and Pimp C were at the helm of it before Pimp C's unfortunate passing in 2007. That certainly hasn't stopped Bun's hustle though, as he has released 3 albums since then, II Trill in 2008, Trill OG in 2010, and Trill OG: The Epilogue in 2013. Oh yes lots of research went into this, how could I do an entire article on Bun without listening to any more of his music?  I certainly enjoyed everything I found. His first album Trill in 2005 was a huge blast from the past listening to, and reminded me of when I first had gotten into hip hop and some of the first artists I remembered hearing on the radio. Yes this album came at a time when southern hip hop reigned supreme, and boasted features from big names like Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, and basically every southern rapper you could imagine was at the top in 2005.

Overall, Trill OG has to be my favorite Bun album. His hard sound really shines through, and the features fit very well on every track, it's basically Bun's version of The Chronic 2001. A couple of stand out cuts are the Drake features "It's Been A Pleasure" and 'Shut It Down", with Drake doing hooks on both songs and even giving a verse on "Shut It Down," very interesting to hear these tracks as they were right around Drake's come up in 2010 right after his debut album Thank Me Later. Those aren't the only stand out features on the album though, Bun also got an unreleased Tupac verse for the song "Right Now", which also features Trey Songz and Pimp C. Every featured rapper sounds good in perspective of the album, but Bun is no slouch on songs without features, and he proves it on bangers like "Lights, Camera, Action" and "I Git Down 4 Mine". The production is banging in proper Bun fashion as well, perfect to bump in the trunk of your car, and even features a DJ Premier beat on the song "Let Em Know". (Wow, certainly didn't expect to basically just give you an album review there, but if I had to recommend any albums for new Bun fans, Trill OG would certainly be it.)

So needless to say, Bun B makes some pretty great music and his influence on today's generation of rap still shines through strong. Listening to him brings me back, especially his first album, because his style was basically what epitomized rap in the early 2000s, and the younger side of me gets all nostalgic, but saying Bun has made the same music since his debut would be unfair, and pretty inaccurate. Though the concept of his Trill O.G. (which I'm also just realizing means trilogy, clever work Bun) series remained the same throughout all 3 albums, his growth as a rapper and as a person can't be denied, and how could you not change after the death of a close friend, and former Scottie Pippen to his Michael Jordan?  No, Bun certainly hasn't been one dimensional at all throughout his career, but I believe there is only one word that could describe him, and I believe we all already know what it is.  

                












         

Is Young Money Falling Apart?

When you think of labels in rap that are at the absolute top, many people's first answer would be Young Money Cash Money Records. At the top of his game Lil Wayne was once considered the best rapper alive, and his upbringing of Drake and Nicki Minaj certified the label's status as one of the most elite in rap. While these 3 are some of the best selling rappers of the last decade, the label doesn't seem to be in the best shape as of late. Is this the beginning of the end for YMCMB?

In case you haven't heard, recently fellow Young Money rappers Drake and Tyga have been getting into some beef (Instagram beef, although that's pretty much what beef in rap has come down to nowadays, unless you're unlucky enough to have a problem with Game... yikes) over an interview Tyga did with Vibe. When asked if any of Young Money is part of the creative process that comes with making an album, he said this:  "Nah. I try to distance myself from them." To stir up the pot even more, he then stated that he doesn't get along with Drake or Nicki very well, then elaborated on why:  "I don't like Drake as a person. He's just fake to me. I like his music; you know what I'm saying?  I think his music is good, but we're all different people. We were forced together and it was kinda like we were forcing relationships together. I think being signed to Young Money, everybody felt like they had to force a relationship 'cause Wayne put us together. At the end of the day, the reason why I signed to Young Money is because of Wayne. Not because of Drake, not because of Nicki. It was because of Wayne and my relationship with him. I try to be cool with everybody but sometimes, everybody just has different personalities, motives, and different characters. When you realize that, you realize that's not a place where you want to continue to grow."

Wow. Couldn't have seen him wanting to go independent, a complete bomb just dropped by Tyga. Although you have to love his honesty, the bigger wonder would be what does this do to the relationships between the artists on the label?  Drake certainly responded to Tyga's interview, apparently liking a couple of Blac Chyna's selfies on Instagram. In case you didn't know, Blac Chyna and Tyga were a thing not too long ago (not entirely sure what Blac Chyna does, if she's a stripper or porn star) so that is certainly going to ruffle some feathers of Tyga's. So the short story is this led to some back and forth with not only Drake and Blac Chyna trading pics and likes on Instagram, but Kylie Jenner even got involved (not sure why, besides the rumors of her and Tyga dating) by liking some of Drake's pics.

So all of the high school, he said she said Instagram jargon aside, that almost makes it a definite answer that Tyga wants out of Young Money. Lil Wayne has yet to comment on the matter, though I can't say for sure if he will even get involved seeing as it's a matter between Drake and Tyga, although this could be a major turning point in Tyga's staying or leaving. Wayne certainly has his own problems to worry about as well, when just under a month ago he was hit with a lawsuit from Signature Group LLC of Miami (who if you don't know is private jet company) accusing Wayne of not paying his private jet fees for rides given to him and the Young Money camp. This could spell bad news for Wayne and Young Money as far as not having any means of transportation to events could mean a huge loss of money (as if the $1 million Signature Group LLC of Miami is slapping Wayne with isn't enough of a loss as it is).

So what happens with Young Money?  Has the rule come to a screeching halt?  If the problems between Drake and Tyga continue, does it slowly lead to the dissolving of relationships on the label?  There could be a lot of problems with Young Money's financial situation that we haven't even heard about yet, is the private jet bill just the beginning?  Knowing Birdman and how he handles his business it seems unlikely, but anything can happen. And with Wayne rumored to be on the verge on retirement, how would they handle being able to carry sales if Drake and Nicki got fed up and left?  Drake and Nicki certainly are powerful enough names by themselves to go off and do their own thing, although there are no rumors that either will leave. It's been reported that Young Money recently signed former YMCMB artist Juvenile. This signing comes at an odd time with all the issues with Tyga, does this mean that Young Money was expecting Tyga to leave the entire time?  Too many questions are up in the air right now to be able to answer them all, but with Tyga's album currently being held by the label and given no release date, it certainly seems his future with Young Money is getting more and more dull. Let me know what you think happens with Young Money as a whole and if they can stay afloat on Twitter (@SuperNovaRover), Google+, or in the comment section below.        







        

Logic: A New Age In Fan Interaction & Appreciation

In an era where many believe the album is dead and the market for music crumbling, the expectations for music sales are certainly not as high as they once were, but the expectations for music quality are as high as ever (though many would argue that it's nowhere near what it "used to be"). Funny how things work isn't it?  Mix tapes are starting to sound more and more like albums while albums aren't living up to expectations, this is a vicious cycle that artists can only hope gets broken. However, some artists have the ability to build such a following that no matter the music they put out, they get non stop support from their fans (we call this the "Stan effect"). The latest, and certainly one of the most interesting cases of this is Logic.

The Maryland rapper Logic has had many comparisons brought up musically (one of the most intriguing being Drake), but his story is unlike many. He certainly documents it in his music, discussing things like growing up in the hood, witnessing violence, hard drug use in his family (including his dad smoking crack), and ultimately chasing the dream of becoming a rapper. He's built an incredible fan base through 4 fantastic mix tapes, with his Sinatra series being critically acclaimed and the main reason behind the peaked interest in him, and his fans are behind him 1000% no matter what he does it seems.

This is a fascinating way for an artist to come up. In Logic's push for his debut album Under Pressure, Twitter was a big help in getting the word out (as it usually is for news nowadays), but up to this point Logic has shown appreciation to his fans unlike anything I have ever seen. Meet and greets, signed posters and even phone calls to his fans are just a few of the things that highlight the Under Pressure campaign. Who else has done anything else remotely like this?  Can you even imagine getting a phone call from your favorite rapper or musician?  How about getting an exclusive signed poster just for pre-ordering 2 copies of the album?  The appreciation Logic has shown for his fans is unreal and is certainly a huge reason why he will be a top rapper within the next few years.

And this is what brings me back to the "Stan effect". No matter what happens, people will love their music and have their choices, and listen to their favorite music and buy their favorite musicians' albums (whether you want to believe it or not, people still buy albums. I certainly do, I don't believe the album is dead, but it is certainly a dying breed). A great way for these musicians to enhance the fans' experience is to simply give back. This is why what Logic is doing is genius. If you're a great musician who puts out great music, your music will be heard and bought. Downloading sites are waaaay too unreliable to know what you're getting (most of the time). Get your music the right way. Who knows, if you come across a musician as humbled as Logic, you may get some music free of charge anyways. Logic certainly is in the beginning stages of what will be a very long and successful career if he keeps finding ways to innovate the fan experience.

(*Note: I'm writing this knowing very well that Logic's album is out, yet I have not listened to one song off of it because I want to wait to buy. It's not so crazy seeing what Logic is doing now, is it?)