Best Chappelle's Show Hip Hop Performances (Also, PSA For Dave Chappelle)

Arguably one of the most talked about and hilarious television shows of the last century, "Chappelle's Show" is still giving new comedians and actors inspiration even today (although the last episode premiered more than 10 years ago, give or take a few months). The show tackled many social issues which at the time were scary and so new to people that they were afraid to talk about some of them; except Dave Chappelle wasn't (he actually had a goal of getting canceled which is pretty funny, if you watch the first season he talks about it). But Chappelle was also a huge fan of "the hip hop music" as he says, his interest spanning from the Roots, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, and many more. So to celebrate one of my favorite shows of all time, allow me to introduce to you 5 of the best hip hop performances from "Chappelle's Show".

Snoop Dogg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0XobLIVndk

I apologize for the link to the video instead of the video itself, but Snoop Dogg's appearance on "Chappelle's Show" was nothing short of spectacular. Snoop performs "187" with Tyrone Biggums as his hype man... who better to help you with back up vocals?  He wouldn't ask for money for the help either, probably just asked for some crack (or money, to go towards crack of course). This doesn't have anything to do with the performance, but an interesting factoid about Dave and Snoop is that Snoop has came out and said that Dave actually smokes weed better than Dr. Dre. Seriously, ask Snoop. How does one smoke BETTER?  I couldn't tell you, but apparently Dave's a champ with his weed.

Big Boi

Half of Outkast also made a pretty funky appearance on "Chappelle's Show" as well. I don't know much about Big Boi besides his hits with 3 Stacks, but the song he performed on this show was exceptionally dope (song is called "The Rooster" off of Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album), and it definitely has that real musical and funk influence that Outkast was known for around this era. It's too bad they both don't see eye to eye now...

Kanye West + Common

This performance is nothing short of dope just like all the other ones, especially considering the fact that this is before Kanye West really blew up. This isn't the last time that Common and Kanye link up though, because Kanye also brings Common on stage in the movie Dave Chappelle's Block Party (ironically enough, which J. Cole made a very brief appearance in as a fan in the crowd, seriously you can find it online). In an interview last year with Jimmy Fallon, Dave had a funny story about why he knew Kanye was going to be one of the greats as well, and you can peep that here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4SYIfhzMmU.

Chappelle also had countless other hip hop performances on the show that you really don't think about how dope they were until you look back and actually realize... "damn, that was pretty dope" (not the most clever line I've thought up, bear with me). But the rest of this post I'm going to use to get my message out to Dave Chappelle; please come back to comedy. The games needs you. I NEED YOU. Your influence remains on the stand up and acting world still, and the world DEFINITELY still needs it now. Some comedians and entertainers are great, but none compare to you. Many today are afraid to say what you aren't afraid to say, and there is nobody that has the pull and the comedic ability to make even events like Ferguson somewhat laughable and enjoyable for people (which I saw you did in your stand up somebody taped on their phone and put on YouTube, go find it if you're curious, it's from 2014). Dave, you have the ability and the comedic timing the be one of the most well known and funny people who ever lived, and also make people smile in a world so full of negative, bleak world war and violence. Please consider how you make people feel. Thank you,
Geff          




















   

My Completely Un-Biased Review of Yelawolf's Love Story (Album Review)

Yelawolf... who is he really?  Can you say you really know him just from listening to some trunk banging tracks he's put out in the past?  His mix tape Trunk Muzik has defined him as an artist, because when people think of Yelawolf, this is the era that people think of, but is it possible for Yela to move past this and create a new identity for himself?  Yelawolf weighed in on what his newest album Love Story was supposed to tackle in terms of subject matter, plus how he felt he was "filling in the blanks" with it below (also features some hilarious Eminem tidbits). If you're reading and you're as sharp as I believe you are (which I know my readers always are, come on now), you'll have noticed that I title this "my completely unbiased album review." That's because I am reviewing this album with no previous experience listening to Yelawolf's music. Now this could be bad based on putting the music out of context, but I see it as a "more honest" way to review this album, which means if I liked it and haven't heard any Yelawolf before, you'd definitely be a fan with no past listening experience of Yelawolf. Now let's get to the reviewing. 

(This definitely doesn't sum up the album, continue reading to find out if Yela finds his sound for real.)

"Outer Space".... how to speak about this song in language that mere mortals can understand?  Definitely an interesting start to the album, as it starts with a skit of what sounds like Yelawolf rolling up somewhere in a truck (apparently somewhere out in the middle of nowhere), and being abducted by... someone. Does this mean Yelawolf is rapping about being abducted?  Could this mean that Yelawolf is otherworldly and the only ones able to keep up are legit aliens?  You could assume both of these (whatever floats your boat), but some fast-paced and funky production are backed by some sweet ending vocals from Yela on this intro. Yelawolf claims "I'm not out of place, I'm from outer space" on this one, and it's hard to argue.

Being an Alabama native was going to make for some real southern-influenced music on his second LP, and "Change" is a track that mirrors this perfectly. Losing your way and having to find it all over again is something many people are too familiar with, and "Change" is a song that puts this feeling into such relatable perspective for many people, black or white. From my point of view, listening to "Change" made Yelawolf relatable to me, and if I weren't a fan before, this track certainly peaked my interest.

"American You" is another track that spoke to me on a personal level, mostly because this one attacks the every day lives of average American citizens, aka "American You." Talks of going to church, getting tattoos and even getting married, Yelawolf sums up the American life style today so well with this track, and the hook singing "fuck you too" in such a polite way also sums up the passive aggressive lives of Americans' who couldn't really do what they wanted to with their lives. This song really makes you think about working hard, taking the chances you get and not wasting them for sure. All around great message from Yelawolf once you get past the every day negative mindset that we Americans so often perceive.

I already did a post mentioning "Til It's Gone" way back when it was featured in one of the season finales for "Sons Of Anarchy", and it certainly fits well when you think of the losses and circumstances you have to deal with being in a biker gang like the Sons. I've never seen "Sons Of Anarchy", but "Til It's Gone" even seems like it could fit the bill of "Breaking Bad" when it was still running, with all of the losses and circumstances old Heisenberg himself had to deal with, although I like the western vibe "Til It's Gone" gives you when you first hear it, definitely not a song you first think of when you think rap or hip hop, job well done pushing the boundaries by Yelawolf on that one.

Then comes "Devil In My Veins." This song is not just one that comes and goes based on popular opinion, no "Devil In My Veins" is not a song you play once and understand what Yelawolf is talking about, "Devil In My Veins" is the song that shows Yelawolf finding his very unique sound not just as a rapper, but as an artist (because this song could very easily classify as some old rock or country music). "Devil In My Veins" is that song that you hear that sounds so familiar, yet you can't quite place your finger on what it sounds like, maybe not because it sounds familiar, but because it sounds too good to not have something like it made before. It's too hard to tell whether Yela is venting about the industry or the bottle based on his deep songwriting in this song, I'll leave it to the peeps to try and understand what this one's really about. Bottom line: "Devil In My Veins" is a highlight of this album and is more than just hip hop; it's great music.

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

"Best Friend" is another highlight of the album, and not just because of the crazy Eminem feature, but because the concept behind it is an interesting way to think about what Yelawolf is talking about in the song. In his verses Yelawolf talks about church and the "father, son, and holy spirit" (which he talks about a lot of religion on the album for claiming not to be religious). Is Yelawolf venting about the struggles of the industry on this track?  My guess is yes (although I've always been a conspiracy theorist), Yelawolf's supposed only "Best Friend" at this point might be religion, or in other words, getting right with God after all the sins you supposedly commit in the music industry. It's an all around great song though, and is definitely a thought provoking track, not to mention it boasts a crazy Eminem verse.

Yelawolf's struggle with alcoholism is such a key concept in Love Story that the title of the album might as well define Yelawolf's relationship with the bottle. No I'm absolutely kidding of course, though the alcoholism does play a key part in Yelawolf's growing process. "Empty Bottles" is a great example of this, and the story told throughout almost defines an alcoholic's attitude and mood swings. From verse 1 to verse 3 (verse 3 being the angry, mood swinging version), "Empty Bottles" is definitely that thought provoking message you were looking for if you see Yelawolf as an honest rapper, and it succeeds in making you think about the devils of alcohol. In "Tennessee Love" Yela also has a key line that says it all; his "withdrawals from alcohol" line proves his concept of his drinking habits getting the best of him throughout the album, though the song is more a homage to Tennessee and the many things to do in it.

"Box Chevy V" and "Love Story" might be my 2 favorite tracks on this album. Yelawolf sounds as if he's in his most comfortable element, he practically blends into each of these tracks like a chameleon. "Love Story" has such a pump up vibe to it, with each drum hammering into your ears (because listening in your headphones is the only way to do this song justice) is a special feeling you only get from specific songs from your favorite artists. Yelawolf sounds like he's leaving from where he's at for good and never coming back (if I could place the vibe you get from this song, this is how I'd describe it). "Box Chevy V" has such an old school bumping vibe to it. I'm a fan of Big K.R.I.T, and this song sounds as if in's in the same general ballpark as a song like "Lac Lac." Yelawolf shows his ability to make bumping songs (Trunk Muzik) with "Box Chevy V" and it is awesome.

Other songs like 'Disappear" and "Have A Great Flight" have a definitive country sound that Yelawolf blends so perfectly with his rap abilities. I actually thought I was listening to a Johnny Cash song when I first heard the music to "Have A Great Flight.".  To say this listening to a rap song is not exactly the first thought you expect you'll get. The feeling you get listening to some of these Yelawolf songs is crazy, I felt like I grew up 10 more years just from listening to "Til It's Gone", "Devil In My Veins", "Love Story", and you definitely feel the growing process Yelawolf is going through in "Disappear."

So does Yelawolf's sophomore LP live up to the hype?  I would certainly say he did his thing, and his thing only, because I haven't heard any type of rap that sounds this different musically, the instrumentation and musical prowess Yelawolf shows is only comparable to B.o.B on a musical level (that is if Yelawolf actually played the instruments himself). The country vibe is something you don't even get from the absolute most southern rappers out there, the likes of Big K.R.I.T, Ludacris, or Nelly couldn't make anything like this in their primes. Yelawolf's ability to not only completely combine 3 different genres (hip hop, rock, country) of music, but to also make them sound good is a fresh breathe of air to a repetitive genre (arguably). Yelawolf's album is certainly not for everybody, though if you have an open mind of the future of hip hop, Love Story is certainly worth the listen, and this is all based off of my first real listen of a full length project from Yelawolf. So what's next for Yela?  I certainly wouldn't mind tuning in to see.       

     



         

         




   


    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Hear Kanye West's Unreleased Instrumental Tape From 2001

The web was hit with a real gem yesterday morning, an entire 27-track instrumental tape from Kanye West, supposedly found in Jensen Karp's (worked with Kanye early in his career) garage. Karp had this to say about the tape:
 
“I was stumbling through my garage, searching through old storage bins, when I came across some old beat CDs from my days as a signed Interscope rapper. I was shocked to find that two of them, both given to me in ‘01, had the name Kanye West on them. These two CDs, which I believe are the oldest Kanye beats ever released.
I think this collection of early Kanye beats shows you where he came from, even if it doesn’t necessarily sound like ‘Kanye’ now. He kept at it and became the incredible producer he is today. I remember he even had to leave the studio sessions early, so he could make the last train back to his mom’s house. He’s come a long way, and I’m proud to have been around, even if for just a second at the start.”

 Of all the things to find in your garage right?  The tape consists of some pretty catchy, slapping beats that you could almost imagine Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, or an artist of that caliber recording stuff over. Some have a real pop feel, almost like the tracks you hear put out as the first single, while others are backed by some hard brass and banging drums, this tape has a nice all around sound to it for sure. Check out the tape below, and let me know if you enjoyed it. Kanye fans rejoice, and if you're feeling froggy see if you can rap along and keep up with the pace! 

                                     (*I do not own this tape, video, or the rights to them*)

Snap Chat Video: A Behind The Scenes Look Like Never Before

"Check your Snapchat" is a phrase I hear more often than I'd like to admit. I was just like any other middle aged old man (though only 21 years old now) when I first heard of snap chat taking over popular culture in 2013, even though it seems much longer ago than a mere 2 years (less than that, probably). "Another day, another stupid fad that will disappear in a year, so what, I'll pass", I thought.
Won't last long anyways. Now today hits, 2015, and Snapchat video has given people a look at their favorite celebrities and things in a way never seen before. Is it too much to say that I feel more cultured than ever before because of the live updates Snapchat gives people from countries all over the world?  The NBA playoffs, the World Cup, and right now if you tune into the latest updates you can see people celebrating Kings Day in the Netherlands, and even updates from Cape Town in South Africa. So what relation does this have to rap?  Check out my thoughts.

I follow B.o.B on Snapchat and watch pretty much every one of his updates that he gives. Is it unhealthy hero worship?  Maybe so. Will I stop doing it?  Hell no. You never know what you're going to see, could it be B.o.B smoking a blunt laughing with a couple of hot biznitches?  Or could it be Bob working in the studio on some new material that we might be getting a sneak preview of?  It could also even be a sweet view of South Beach looking like Harvey Dent up in the clouds (if you follow labelnogenre on Snapchat and you've seen the latest update you understand). You're practically right there in front of B.o.B as he gives you updates on what he's doing, where he's going, or if he has some funny stories to tell (or funny rants like the BAE Niykee Heaton, will you marry me?  You don't have to answer now babe). Logic is also known to have a Snapchat that you can follow and watch what he's been up to, he used to give clips of his shows while he was on tour, but the tour must have ended since it's been awhile since he's posted any.

The fact that these artists and celebrities (I don't know any more besides B.o.B or Niykee Heaton that have given their name out, though there are probably many more) are cool enough to give their Snapchat names out shows how much they appreciate their fans, and want to keep them in the loop with what they're doing. How long has is been since the last B.o.B project dropped?  Had to be 2013, maybe the beginning of 2014?  You might be itching for that new music but at least you know he's working when you watch that newest Snapchat update. I don't want to defend these artists more than I should, but honestly how cool is it to see them in a normal, everyday type of setting that other people have to go through (by the way, watching B.o.B wait for his bags at United Airlines is one of the funniest and most relatable things you could see a rapper do.)?

So if you're like me, and thought Snapchat was stupid the second you heard of it, a part of you is right. The part of me that hates how much I use technology today is the part that hates it, but the thought of getting news and events that you wouldn't normally see anywhere else from your favorite artists is the cool part. Like... seriously. Where else would you be able to see B.o.B listening to beats and smoking blunts in the studio?  Breaking out a video camera is too time consuming nowadays. Now all you have to do it unlock, click, hold, upload. Snapchat is breaking new grounds in the "behind the scenes" portion of not just rap, but eventually all music. Now can Dr. Dre put out a Snapchat name so we can see what the hell he's been up to?!  If only.         









            

Nas' Illmatic's 21 Year Anniversary (3 Must Hear Tracks From The Classic Album)

I was seriously 4 months old when this album dropped and I think it's amazing. This is hip hop to it's core, period. Yeah, sure, Illmatic has been talked about since it came out, got 5 mics in The Source and is rightfully deemed a classic album (and it earns this right, almost undebatable unlike other albums that have came out where everyone wants to argue if they're classics or not), but many people don't realize the influence it has had on hip hop since then. There are countless rappers who say that if it weren't for Nas' Illmatic then they wouldn't be rapping (Kendrick, yes, Kendrick Lamar is one), and it would be blasphemous to say that rappers today did not draw some inspiration from Nas and Illmatic. If you disagree, then, well, I would just have to prove to you why Nas is one of the most flawless lyricists of all time. Class is in session.

It Ain't Hard To Tell

Today's hip hop differs so much from that of the "golden age" of hip hop, a lot of it worse than it is better, and even thought I'm only 21, just by listening to a song like "It Ain't Hard To Tell", you can definitely tell that Nas was out for blood on his critically acclaimed debut. Where is the hunger to be the best for rappers today?  I certainly can't see it (at least in most of the rap dudes played on the radio), you'd expect these guys to want to show why they've "earned" their spot on the radio, or these gold and platinum album sales. It's too hard to tell that if it's the difference in how big battle rap was in the streets of New York compared to how it is now, but that could be a strong case for it. Anyways, Nas shows his true skills on the mic AND makes you dance with this absolutely amazingly produced Large Professor track.

Memory Lane (Sittin' In The Park)

   
Story telling created, originated and perfected by the best there is to do it. It's debatable whether Nas is the best story-telling rapper ever, you could probably put B.I.G. and Tupac up there with him, but you know every time Nas has a story to tell, you listen, and you get every detail about the entire story. Life in Queens is rumored to be a struggle, but Nas makes it sound like a coming of age tale in this addictive boom-bap jam. "One Love" also could take the cake as another fantastic story told by Mr. Nasir Jones.

N.Y State Of Mind

                                         (*I do not own these songs, or the rights to them*)

If you needed a reason to get pumped up, get hyped, or was looking for a song to make you feel some type of energy (not drain you of it, keep calm Drake), then "N.Y. State Of Mind" is that track. Whether you're waiting to pull that next bank heist (hopefully just on "Grand Theft Auto 5"), you need some pump up music for your next game or need it in the gym to get that next set of reps knocked out, Nas' "N.Y. State Of Mind" is the song for you (not to mention it features more great story telling in the first verse, hopefully Nas didn't get in trouble for any sort of debauchery he spoke of in this song, rappers really should be more careful of their hustle). This songs drums still kick like crazy and sound great in the whip if you want to bump, and of course you can thank the legendary DJ Premier for that.

So here's to Illmatic turning 21!  I'll be damned if I'm not allowed to buy it a drink, it deserves that and much, much more. My introduction to this album was as late as could be, it had to be around 2012 when I first bought it (had to see what all the hype was about) and since then I've played "It Ain't Hard To Tell" at least once a day, no joke. The word "classic" is thrown around so much and so often that it's hard to even tell if it means anything anymore, but if it still had any pull or credibility talking about music, then Illmatic remains a classic in the way it revolutionized beats, rappers and their story telling, and in the way it has pushed the envelope and will continue to for many more years to come. Whose in favor of Nas ending his career on an Illmatic 2?  I can dream.           





























    

Damn, I've Been Sleeping On Yelawolf (New Song, Eminem Feature)

Awhile ago, my curiosity was peaked when Yelawolf came out with a new jam that was supposed to premiere on one of Sons' Of Anarchy's shows (not sure if the show is still going, I'm pretty sure it isn't, shows you how much I pay attention to that). It was called "Till It's Gone" and it was so different from anything I had heard in hip hop, it was damn near some smooth country blues with some great flows recorded over it. I hadn't heard of any more Yelawolf since this song had came out, and Yelawolf was never the artist to stick in my mind to the point where I wondered what was next from him, but every time he puts out a song I try to pay attention.

His newest leak "Best Friend" boasts a feature from non other than Slim Shady himself, and is set to appear on his newest album Love Story due out next week (April 21st). I hate to admit that Eminem is what drew me in to this song, but by the end of it Eminem wasn't what drew my attention the most about it (even though Em has a very "Em" verse, pretty much the only way to describe it at this point). Yelawolf (from what I've heard from him up to this point, which is not very much) has the ability to fuse great rap and song writing with old southern rock n roll and blues. This is such a different vibe to jam to and much more refreshing than your average rap release. It's like Yelawolf is the perfect artist to make thought provoking, soul searching music and make it sound like you're walking out into the sunset with a guitar strapped around your back, cigarette in hand and the world ready to use as your oyster (don't judge what I see when I heard this, just my imagination at work). Am I incredibly late to how dope Yela is?  Most definitely. Am I going to keep ignoring how dope Yela is?  Absolutely not. Check out "Best Friend" below.

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

 

    

Eminem's Rawkus Records Stint

If you haven't heard of Rawkus Records then you're certainly missing out on some hip hop GEMS. The hip hop label Rawkus Records was founded in 1996, and even though their hip hop domination didn't last for long, they certainly brought up big names that are still giants in the game even today, such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, and they've also had multiple legendary names record to their production, such as Common and Pharoahe Monch, but probably the most notable rapper to make music with them is Eminem. When it comes to Eminem's career, obviously he is seen as one of the most decorated rappers ever, but not many people know about his (more so) underground stuff. Which is why I'm here to shed light on these things (being the rap nerd that I so claim to be). What contributions did Eminem give to Rawkus?  You're about to find out (*Funk Flex bomb drop noise*).

Eminem's hardcore fan base (Stans) would know more than anyone, but before Dr. Dre and Aftermath Records, before D12, and before Shady Records was even a thought, Eminem recorded some pretty bombastic rhymes for Rawkus in the mid to late 90s. This to me seems like the perfect Eminem; very hard raps while still remaining hilarious, and Em rapping over some catchy boom bap production (which has always been a question to many, Em can rap hard and sound even better over the right production).

 ("I liked the shit you did with Rawkus too, that shit was fat." = Stan's complimenting Eminem's earliest work.)

Doesn't this sound more like the hungry, battle rap-ready Eminem?  The high voice may have been more annoying to some, but Eminem is practically the rap game Joker; absolutely hysterical in his rhymes and can make you fall on the floor from laughing, but if you mess with him (diss him), he will MURDER you.

I found this track interesting and had to look into more, and when I did I was hooked. You could ask anyone who calls themselves an Eminem fan, whether that means they've been listening since Infinite or the Slim Shady EP, whether that means they love Relapse and Recovery or they don't, Eminem's work with Rawkus Records is some truly special stuff, and it surely seems like Em is still pretty salty about them not making any offers to sign him, as made evident on the Marshall Mathers LP 2 bonus track "Don't Front." All we are left to wonder is "what could have been?" Surely Rawkus is kicking themselves for not seeing the potential Em had (that is, if they still exist).

So that's the post on Eminem and his little known (again, not to Stans', because they know everything Eminem) Rawkus Records stint. It's definitely something interesting to know if you like to dig into rappers' pasts and like to know how they really got to where they are at (in other words, if you're a proud rap nerd). Plus if you're a Stan (or know about any of Eminem's diss track history), you know that Eminem does not take others' disrespect very lightly, and he actually goes at Rawkus on a track on Marshall Mathers LP 2. Check out "Don't Front" below (you hear the diss around the 2:48 mark).

                                         (*I do not own these songs, or the rights to them*)





  



  






           

Ludacris' Ludaversal Album Review

Hip hop is universal. I've preached this sort of thing countless times, always have, always will. Some things begin to sound like a broken record, no matter how differently these things are said, but depending how you hear these things, they certainly have the potential to hit your ear differently, and maybe even persuade you in some type of way. The father of crunk music dripping southern swagger and diamond encrusted necklaces can only say the same things so many times and have people still want to hear it. You like to believe artists have the ability to grow and branch out of their usual subject matter, but after so long you start to wonder... is what their saying becoming a universal language, or is it played out?  Ludacris' latest album might have hit your ear a bit different than his past efforts.

The "Ludaversal Intro" is probably the biggest stand out of the album, though it'd be wrong to say the album goes downhill from here. Luda starts off the album as good as he possibly can with this intro, and his flow on the song is absolutely ridiculous. It's pretty safe to say that if you ever doubted Luda or thought he had lost a step, "Ludaversal Intro" is the track to prove you wrong.

Luda keeps the spitting coming like hot fire (Dylan) on the intro and other tracks like "Beast Mode" and "This Has Been My World," but Luda also switches it up and instills some life lessons in some tracks, the biggest stand out being "Grass Is Always Greener." This track keeps a steady paced, snap-ya-fingas type of vibe that would probably bump pretty well in the car. Ludacris has always been known as the poster rapper for turn up music, but tracks like "Grass Is Always Greener" and "Ocean Skies" show that Ludacris is very capable of making you think, even though he chooses to take that route less often than people might like.

Ludacris has been known as one of the funniest rappers of his time, and you can't help but get a good laugh out of his "Viagra Skit." Luda goes on to call the Viagra people about his "hard problem" during the skit, and to his luck a very lonely woman answers and drives over to help Luda out with his problem. It cuts off at the part where the lady asks "where the drank at", but I think we all know what happens after the fact. Obviously the lady got her drank and was very happy.

A Big K.R.I.T feature is always one to boast and bump, and Ludacris did just that on his K.R.I.T-assisted track "Come And See Me." This is the Ludacris that old fans love to hear, his descriptiveness talking about his cars and his women has always been able to catch fans' ear, and the thump of the bass in "Come And See Me" along with a couple of K.R.I.T verses helps to do exactly that.

                                         (*I do not own these songs, or the rights to them*)

Ludacris keeps the features to a minimum on Ludaversal, and it's kind of a welcoming back feel you get from Luda's music on Ludaversal, although the features he boasts (K.R.I.T, Miguel, Usher) fit in very well with the sounds of each song, and as a whole on the album. Hearing Luda and Ursher on a track again brings back great memories of club and booty bouncing jams, although they both do a great job of giving fans more of a jazzy feel on their track "Not Long."

So is Luda back?  That feeling that you get listening to a Ludacris song; you know, the getting hyped up over a fast beat with some banging drums, Luda's light speed flows and wordplay and the head bobbing and trying to keep up with the words; you can only get that feel from a Ludacris song. The beats are top notch, the lyrics are just as appetizing and catch your ear as fast as ever (you have to keep up with him, though that's where the fun lies), and Luda still has things to talk about. Ludacris has become a staple in the game, and even when you think he's down and out and ready to throw in the towel and give up, he shows you that he's still able to keep up with todays young guns. Yes I believe that Luda has become universal, and his latest effort is one that every fan of him, old and new, can respect. Some new music can be refreshing, yet give you that same old feel that you got the first time you heard the old music.      






   

 

Ludacris' 5 Catchiest Tracks

MOOOOVE BITCH! GET OUT THE WAY! STAND UP! WHEN I MOVE YOU MOVE! JUST LIKE THAT?! WHATCHU GONE DO?! ACT A FOOOOL! Ludacris makes that kind of shit that makes you want to get up, ask that hot chick you've been staring at all night to finally dance, fight, and maybe even make sweet lovin to your chick (whom you probably got dancing to a Luda song). Ludacris has been such a monumental name in hip hop for so long that people almost forget about the (arguable) classics that he has released over the last 10 years, and mostly because too many people are focused on his "falling off", or his "not being able to make music as good as old," or his constant involvement in the Fast & Furious movie series, though it has kept his career alive to some degree. But fuck all of this, and I say this because it swerves people's attention from where it should be placed, and that's Luda's music. Here, in light of Ludacris' latest album Ludaversal, here are Luda's 5 most recognizable songs, songs that even people who aren't fans of Luda have to love.

Roll Out (My Business)

This is my personal introduction to Ludacris, his Word Of Mouf album means more to me than it does the average listener simply because this is not only my introduction to Ludacris, but one of the first albums included in my introduction to hip hop, and boy is it grand. The attitude he brings on not only this song but the entire album is something you could only wish you'd live with, and Luda also brings some funny, witty wordplay, along with fantastic flow that keeps you engaged for the entire album.

What's Your Fantasy

On a more sensual (not really though, more of a rough, thug nasty) note, Luda crashed MTV and the internet with "What's Your Fantasy", a Shawnna assisted, fast paced, dirty, fore play inspired jam that we all got so used to hearing from Luda (more so the fast paced flow and witty lyrics, not so much the sexual vibe). "What's Your Fantasy" lived on Ludacris' indie debut studio album Incognegro, which was released in 1999. "What's Your Fantasy" gave you the vibe that Ludacris had something to offer to rap, but nobody really knew quite what it was at this point so early in his career.

Move Bitch

 
The hilariousness of Ludacris is certainly cemented like freshly dried pavement in his song "Move Bitch". The parody rap train followed soon after this release, you could almost say that "Move Bitch" started the parody vibe in rap songs that garnered so much attention in the early 2000s, it almost makes it seem as if it's made to be completely serious and succeeds at it, yet so many people hear the song (even today) and can have a good laugh. How many songs can you say you hear today that are successfully able to tackle both?  This proves Luda's underrated ability at being able to build a concept.

Get Back

Another hilarious music video accompanying a pretty hard song from Luda, "Get Back" is another one of those songs that makes you want to just start swinging on somebody whose "all in ya ear", as Luda so eloquently puts it. Luda is looking like the black Popeye in this video with his ridiculous Tiny-sized arms (oh yes, that was a Crash Bandicoot reference for those hip enough), though tiny is as ironic a word to use as it gets.

Runaway Love

                                  (*I do not own these songs, videos, nor the rights to them*)

My last pick for Luda's catchiest tracks might not hit the ear as well as some of his other smash hits, but in terms of real, personal content that hits home, "Runaway Love" is Luda's "Dear Mama." Luda wasn't known as that rapper that always had a message in his tracks, but the raw, real feel that "Runaway Love" gives is so eye opening that even rap haters have to just sit and listen to the hard hitting story that Luda is getting across with such detail, just as he explains little Nicole's abusive stepdad and her friend Stacy. You have to have a heart of stone to not have the message in this song affect you some type of way.

So often in hip hop (or music, period) we get incredibly comfortable with the presence of certain artists in our life. It's a calming comfortable, almost as if these artists hit a type of musical purgatory, you don't listen to anything new they put out, yet you can't live without remembering the awesome music they're so greatly known for in your past. It'd be criminal to say that Ludacris has hit this purgatory, though how else can you explain his career as of right now?  It hurts me to say that Luda has fallen off, but if I said this I'd be incorrect in that statement. Maybe people don't quite see Ludacris' music as they once did, maybe people believe Ludacris has fallen off, or maybe Ludacris just doesn't have the appeal that today's artists do, but if there's one thing that we owe Ludacris, it's another chance. His newest album Ludaversal has recently released, and I believe we owe Ludacris the chance to see if he's still got it, because you remember "Get Back" and the affect it had on you.     



   








   

Did Jay Z Really Just Buy Tupac's Unreleased Material?

Word in the rumor mill is that Jay Z just bought all of the rights to Tupac's unreleased material ($384 million worth supposedly, this includes unreleased and unfinished songs, verses, demos, writings, scripts, poems, and more). Now if anyone has the money to do this it'd be Jay Z (or Dr. Dre, and it'd certainly make more sense for Dre to buy the material), but the question is what interest does Jay Z have in buying Tupac's unreleased material?

So before I get in depth about thoughts on this subject I have to say that rumors are not true, as confirmed by a representative from Roc Nation. However, Jam INC's Jeff Jampol (who oversees Tupac's estate) did confirm that there could be some new unheard Tupac material circulating soon. How soon this will be is unsure, but the 20th anniversary of Tupac's death approaches (though it's next September, 2016) and supposedly Pac has new clothing coming out, as well as a Grammy museum showcasing Tupac's writing, and even a biography deal is being finalized for a "very serious writer" to put out a new Tupac biography.

All of this is exciting no doubt, and though the rumors of Jay Z buying Tupac's unreleased material may be far fetched, there is no denying that Mr. Z certainly has the money to buy Tupac's material if he really wanted to. Rumors of a 2016 album of Tupac's unreleased material titled And Now I Rise boasting such features as Snoop Dogg, Nas, Drake, The Dream, DMX, Beyoncé, and Jay Z were also being put out, although the rumors were confirmed false by Billboard. Interesting, to say the least. If you could see anyone buying Tupac's unreleased material today, who do you believe it would be and why?

For me it'd make sense for Dr. Dre to buy Pac's music and finish off what he and Pac had started with Death Row Records in the 90s, even if they didn't get along very well up until Dre's departure from Death Row. Can you imagine a mastered Dre beat with unreleased Tupac verses and even a hook?  With all of the stuff that Dre has in the bag that nobody's heard (way too much stuff that nobody's heard), there definitely has to be something that would fit Tupac's vibe. It'd certainly be a challenge for Dre to fit a beat around a verse as opposed to the opposite normal way of someone writing to a beat, but it'd also be a nice blast from the past and maybe even a new challenge that Dre could take on.

But anyways, even with the news being untrue, there's my two cents on the matter. Who do you think should buy Tupac's unreleased material and why?  Feel free to give me your answers on Google+ or twitter (@SuperNovaRover). Tupac probably has enough unreleased material to make 5 more albums knowing how hard the man worked during his time on our planet Earth, and probably for good reason seeing as how much he "predicted" things with his eerie lyrics. The sad part is his material from 20+ years ago still probably sounds more ahead of its time than Rae Sremmurd's. Can someone please tell me why they're rapping?  Anyways, let me know your thoughts on the subject if you'd like.     








            

Late To The Game: Canei Finch's "Morning Music" EP

It can be incredibly hard to keep up with everything that is going on in the hip hop world all at once, so every now and then I will stumble across something considered old (in the hip hop world of course, this could range from 1 day to 1 year and any time in between) but still incredibly dope. I have a feeling I'm going to be making a regular thing out of this, as a rap blogger you like to think you're on top of everything rap music, but sometimes things just slip by you without you even noticing, and in this case, Canei Finch's Morning Music EP was one of those things.

Now if you haven't heard of Canei Finch, you're probably not alone in that matter, but you will definitely get to know him very well if he keeps up at what he's doing. His Morning Music EP was not my first introduction to him, but it's hard to base how you feel someone will sound off of one song (Kendrick Lamar's "West Side, Right On Time"). I knew the guy was a dope producer just from listening to Kendrick's song, you normally get that sort of feel from a beat you listen to and can't get out of your head (it's as if everywhere you go, no matter what you're doing, you find a way for that song to keep the pace of your day up), but looking across other blogs and finding out this guy had put out an EP of not just all songs he produced himself, but also RAPPED over?  I saw a music video for his "The Morning Song" song and instantly had to have more.

                     (Not a bad feel to wake up to, right? *I do not own this video, or the rights to it*)

It's funny the things you can find just scrolling through hip hop blog sites bored out of your mind. And they say curiosity killed the cat... ha!  Apparently before the cat died it found some pretty damn good music as well. Canei Finch was a guy that I had no idea about, and I regret not knowing sooner. The persona you get from listening to songs from your favorite artists and reading the parenthesis saying "prod. by" etc. etc. is practically a ghostly one. When you hear a beat that's so awesome you can't help but get it stuck in your head don't you wish you could figure out who made that beat?  Someone deserves credit dammit!  Anyways, Canei Finch is an example of one of those people. This EP has 90s influence dripping off of it like mayonnaise on a Philly cheese steak sandwich (or something like that, I don't know I'm not from Philly), and the sound is something oh so familiar yet refreshing to hear. "The Morning Song" just makes you want to get up and go do something with your life!  I know I feel empowered already (even though it's 1 A.M. currently, inspiration has no clock), and Canei Finch should give you enough inspiration to go out and do things like he does, whether it be rap, produce, both, or whatever sort of battles you have to get through in your day. Music is the best remedy for those battles, that's for sure.        











        

Rap Concepts YOU (The People) Love

Sitting and listening to your favorite album as an entire project can be a truly delightful experience and can almost feel rewarding. Sometimes you may even get rewarded by your favorite artist by them adding a hidden track (who doesn't love a secret track not listed on the album?). But one of the best things an artist can do is associate another character you can relate with (whether it be Randolph on Logic's mix tapes or Kenneth Kaniff from Connecticut, hopefully you don't relate to Kenneth so much). These concepts, or "personas", especially when carried on from project to project, are always awesome to hear and can almost bring you back to times when you thought your favorite artist was better (whether you like to admit it or not), and when times were much simpler.

Mr. Easy Wider - Wiz Khalifa mix tapes

The cool voiced DJ Mr. Easy Wider was always funny in Wiz Khalifa's mix tapes efforts, including such highly acclaimed tapes as Flight School, Kush & OJ, and more. Taking on the role of Wiz Khalifa's very exclusive radio DJ, Easy Wider prepared you for the next track like nobody else could, and the end of Wiz's track "Never Ever" was a fine example of just that.


Eminem - Ken Kaniff from Connecticut

 This is an easy one, especially for Eminem fans. Ken Kaniff made his first appearance in a skit on Slim Shady LP of the same name, and on your first listen of any skit, you normally skip right over it and move on (that is, if you're looking to get to the music), but the first couple of seconds of this skit definitely draws your attention more than the average one. The creepy voiced crazy fan (though he has Eminem's phone number so he's probably a close friend) goes on to call Eminem and the rest is history. This is certainly not the last you hear of Ken Kaniff though, as you can hear him take over the end of the song "Wicked Ways" off of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2.

B.o.B - DC Young Fly (No Genre 2 mix tape)

Another rather hilarious run of skits that occurred more than once were the DC Young Fly skits on B.o.B's No Genre 2 mix tape. B.o.B is always thinking outside of the box and is as creative a mind as hip hop gets, and he even showed a bit of his funny side on these skits featuring DC Young Fly (still not entirely sure who he is or why he is somewhat famous other than this, guess I'll be doing some more digging soon, probably not though). Who knows how these skits came about, but could we see more of DC Young Fly and B.o.B collaborating in the future?  I guess we'll have to wait to find out.

Any/Every skit on Kendrick's Good Kid Maad City

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

Good Kid Maad City doesn't so much fit the realm of concepts I was going for creating this article, but you have to marvel at the creativity and the picture that Kendrick paints with not just the ending song skits, but Kendrick's story telling throughout the album even more than that. You could almost compare Good Kid Maad City to B.I.G.'s Ready To Die in that sense, the comparisons in each actually resonate more than you even know. Each and every single song tells a story and leads into the next chapter almost effortlessly. Kendrick was quoted in an interview with Stephen Colbert (the very last Colbert episode ever, you can find the interview online anywhere) as saying "I don't like to call myself a rapper, I'd rather call myself a writer because I am telling stories in my music."  It's certainly hard to argue with Kendrick in that sense, he just may be the best story telling rapper in the game right now, and with To Pimp A Butterfly killing the game right now, it's certainly hard to argue that any one artist can come up with a concept as good as Kendrick.

Concepts in albums/mix tapes occur way more often than music fans can even say they notice, and when you do notice it's almost like you're finally noticing the story that comes along with the music. Some artists are better at keeping the scheme going than others, but when you hear each artist do it their way it's almost like you're getting a piece of them along with the music. This is why I believe albums remain to be much more sacred and coveted than random free drops or leaks; you're not getting a random free song out of context, you're getting an entire body of work, basically the much more pleasing, less reading, audio version of a good book. Keep reading (sonically) my friends, and enjoy the story.

     






   

To Pimp A Butterfly (Track By Track) Review; Kendrick's Conscious, Funky Transition

How many rappers are out there that could truly break the internet with a single song release?  When Kendrick's "i" hit the internet people were confused, general reactions were "oh he had been gone for so long and this is what he comes up with", or something along the lines of disappointed. But I've tried to make this point as clear as I could a couple times now, and other music listeners should do the same when hearing a "first" single off an album; one song taken out of context does not define the sound of an entire body of work, especially when the body of work is truly a story in itself, like that of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Fans had no time to build any sort of anticipation for this album (or they did and just couldn't wait to leak it), so Kendrick decided to give us all an early Christmas present and release it a whole week before it was expected. Now with earlier than expected releases they tend to be let downs, but going back to the previous question (or argument in a sense), there is a choice selection of rappers who don't let many people down; Kendrick Lamar is on this list 9 times out of 10.

"Wesley's Theory" is the beginning of a story that we've all been waiting to hear for so long. Starting the story in the middle like a Tarantino flick, Kendrick flips hip hop on its ear and funks it out in a proper way with a George Clinton and Thundercat feature. The message of this track seems to hit home on a couple of points; the "we should have never gave you niggas money" point is a funny Chappelle's Show reference (Rick James BITCH!), but it could also point to how Kendrick believes people in society view black people. Is Kendrick trying to prove a point by satirizing points that have been made?  You could only tell after a few listens.

The "For Free?  Interlude" is another interesting piece of heavy jazz influenced music that also seems to flip a view of society. With a fun, fast paced piano riff and a couple of nice jazz horns, Kendrick explains "this... dick... ain't... FREEEE" to a woman. Who would have thought this was possible?  This is awesome if you ever have had to deal with bull from your woman, but the interlude on your first listen doesn't add up to much other than Kendrick showing hate towards thotty women.

If there was any track on this album that got hype more than any other, it was "King Kunta." Even before people knew anything about the album, "King Kunta" was being talked about in interviews with Pharrell, where he described the track as "unapologetically black and amazing," and you have to agree with Pharrell when you listen. The funk sound stays true in "King Kunta", and Kendrick and his go-to producer Sounwave kill it as usual with a bouncy sounding bass line and some every day observation with a mix of venting from Kendrick. "King Kunta" is unlike any song you have probably heard in the last 20 years; it's blend of consciousness and a funky beat make it so listenable that you can't help but have the message seared into your brain. Kendrick's goal, if any indication of his music (at least "King Kunta" and "The Blacker The Berry"), is getting put out to the masses, and that's half the battle of creating change.

Kendrick really likes to change up the sound of songs midway through, and his history ("Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst", "Cartoons & Cereal", and now "Institutionalized") of doing this is proven. Whether it be to curve your attention or to change the perspective of the story being told, it's always hard to tell why it's being done at first, but his angles always seem to follow the plot of the story in the end (after all, he is a self proclaimed "writer", and rightfully so). "Institutionalized" begins with a slow, wavy beat in which Kendrick starts on with his higher pitched voice, but then the beat transitions into another drum beat of the same type, but a little slower paced, almost made for you to pay attention to. "Shit don't change til ya, get up and wash yo ass," Kendrick's grandma said to him, and that right there is the point of this jam. Kendrick's grandma warned him of this time coming, as she did of the hood, that he uses less wisely than (we all) he would like to say he (we all) really does (do).

"I remember you was conflicted. Misusing your influence - sometimes I did the same" - a saying that continuously makes more sense as this album progresses, you can only keep listening to figure out what it leads up to. "These Walls" is a true reflection of self. Kendrick was in a vulnerable state making this song it is very easy to tell, and the saying "if these walls could talk" has probably never been used as a finer example. "These Walls" is Kendrick looking into his walls like mirrors, and seeing not only himself, but every flaw, every scar, every problem he has ever encountered, and maybe even every person he has hurt or murdered (allegedly) and having them staring him right back in the face. Now (besides the murder part, hopefully) how can you not relate to that?

Kendrick also remixed Eminem's "Kim" believe it or not. No that was definitely a joke, but Kendrick certainly isn't joking on his song "u", again taking a perspective where he is talking to himself via song. "Loving you is complicated", he cries in a menacing yell, and for him to point out a side of himself that only he would know with such detail is something that damn near no other rapper, let alone any other man would go as far to do. The beat switches up again halfway through this one, and it's hard not to feel the pain in his voice with every word he utters over the slow, sad sounding horn that could cause a heavy heart even on your brightest day.

Transitioning properly from downer to upper, "Alright" is a bumping track that we know Kendrick has the ability to make and make sound amazing (though To Pimp A Butterfly is a concept album as a whole, it's hard to make every track bump trying to fit the concept of the story). "Alright" is the song that balances out every bad feeling and down emotion you get from the album, and the sampled beat is such an uplifting tune that you can't help but jig a bit when it hits.

Kendrick's "For Sale? (Interlude)" is such a fluttery, beautifully demented transition, so unexpected you couldn't even guess at what came afterwards. Whether Lucy is a girl, the drug (which it very well could be by the sounds of this song), or Lucifer (much speculation online that Kendrick is referring to the devil as Lucy), this interlude has an "enticing" sound to it that is surely nail on the head in terms of the concept. No conspiracy theories here (or maybe so), but it sounds like Kendrick is talking about the devil in the details (the industry maybe?).

If you're looking for an example of why Kendrick is one of the best lyricists in the game, the first verse on "Momma" holds some credibility. The first verse is insanely scheme filled, where Kendrick follows one rhyme scheme the entire time, but the second verse is where you see Kendrick is learning from his experiences in life and the industry; "I know everything" he so boldly claims throughout the second verse, from the hood to the industry he feels like he's been through it all, but only to come home and realize he has to re-learn everything he once knew. It seems the struggles of the fame mixed with not seeing his family/friends is getting to Kendrick as he vents so beautifully in this song, and what better way to realize where you screwed up than to vent to your "Momma"?

"Boom boom," Kendrick says confidently throughout the next track "Hood Politics." "Boom boom" of course by definition meaning "not up to one's par or standards" (At least I'm assuming so, who really knows?). I surely didn't expect to learn any new lingo from this project, but as enlightening as Kendrick is I can't be surprised. Kendrick continues to say that the rules stretch "from Compton to Congress", which is another bold statement, but almost make sense to a point. "Hood Politics" is the mix of levels on how things work, and both (Compton & Congress) seem just as lethal and violent as the other.

"How Much A Dollar Cost" is another big one in the line of thought provoking musical poems that Kendrick blessed us with on To Pimp A Butterfly. Featuring a moving piano with some raw drums and claps, Kendrick paints a picture as well as he ever has on the different situations in which a dollar is needed. James Fauntleroy brings an atmosphere to the hook that only he could in an almost ghostly manner, as if you were just realizing that dollars truly mean nothing to our existence, and Ronald Isley fatalities the point (on some Mortal Kombat shit) on the outro of the song.

"Complexion" is such a smooth song (with added DJ spins that create a different touch to the track) on race that it damn near rocks it's point home and puts you to sleep with it's message. That way you wake up and NEVER FORGET IT (OHHHHHHHH NOOO HE DIDN'T!!!). Kendrick tries (and succeeds) in proving the point that "complexion don't mean a thing." Another beat transition towards the end of the track allows Rhapsody to give his side of the story, in which he hammers home, yet cool and effortlessly.

"The Blacker The Berry" we all know already so I won't elaborate any more than I have to besides the fact that the beat KNOCKS. Putting this song out as a single is especially surprising considering the content, mentioning such things as the Black Panther Party and Trayvon Martin, but going back to Kendrick's message, this of course was all part of the plan in getting people thinking clearly and maybe even acting on the issues that have been brought to light over the past year or so. Do you believe it worked?

Immediately the 90s west coast feel is evident when you first hear "You Ain't Gotta Lie." The bass line makes you bop and the message is (what seems to be) for anyone who has to "lie to kick it." The hook seems to be from the point of view from a girl (and if any guy has been through it, they know a girl who likes them is awesome) and is almost reminiscent of the first time you hung out with that girl you had a huge crush on, but the song could also take the point of view of Kendrick sending a message to rappers trying to sound good or look cool (you ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta try so hard). "You Ain't Gotta Lie" seems to be another track that has multiple meanings to it, which makes Kendrick one of the most relevant, hard hitting rappers in the game today.

We all have already heard "i" as well so I won't do much of a review on it, but I will say the message to the song that is Harvey Dent to "u's" Two Face is timeless. If anyone is feeling down they could probably listen to this song and feel better (at least you'd hope), but they could definitely listen to it while they were feeling on top of the world then feel like they were on top of the entire universe. No matter how annoying "i" has gotten to be to you, you can't deny it's message and that it has helped people through some tough times in a time when suicide is at an all time high.

"Mortal Man" is the finale of the fireworks. To get Kendrick at his most vulnerable, his most thought provoking, and almost at a stage where he's contemplating everything he's done, doing, and about to do, "Mortal Man" is that song. As imperfect as it gets is the best way to describe this song. "Mortal Man" is practically everything everyone wishes they could admit to themselves and that's only the first part of the song, not to mention the ending is simply brilliant. Having a conversation with Tupac about his views compared with Kendrick's is what every single rap fan (let alone Kendrick fan) DREAMS about. The Tupac audio is probably from an old interview, though I couldn't tell you for sure, but to sit and listen to Kendrick and Tupac have a conversation (and to have it sound like an actual conversation) is literally a dream to many (including Kendrick), and an incredibly well thought out, well rounded, and a downright eerie way to end this album.

To Pimp A Butterfly. Has it sunk in yet?  Have you sat and listened enough to understand the message truly?  Do you feel as dumb listening to this album as I have so diligently in the past 12 hours?  These questions are questions that we don't need answers to right now. These questions we definitely will not get answers to right now, but if you paid enough attention to the album, you would understand that the point is not to get all of the answers to every problem the world sees right now. Ferguson shootings, Trayvon Martin's death, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, or whatever our issues may be, the point is not to get the answers so quickly to our problems, because how can you really get an answer to a problem that is still unknown?  The first step is identifying what the problem really is, and Kendrick had no problems identifying his issues with himself and the world today on To Pimp A Butterfly.           

         







 

 

 



 

            

Alexander; Hip Hop... Play?! (Video)

If you tuned into Sunday Morning on CBS news this past Sunday, March 8th (which I don't expect you to, but do as you will), you probably saw something a little out of the ordinary when they reported about Alexander. You wouldn't be wrong in the assumption that this was about the historic president of the U.S. in the late 1700s, but this certain Broadway play has a different spin on it. See the news coverage on it below.

 (Even if you're not a history buff [besides hip hop] you can't deny this isn't interesting. I do not own this video nor the rights to it.)

This is amazing. Histories collide (not so much hip hop history in terms of actual rappers or certain eras, but actual rapping that takes place with great writing) in Lin Manuel Miranda's take on Alexander Hamilton in his soon-to-be-coming-to-Broadway play Alexander. Miranda (a 2008 Tony Award winner for his musical "In The Heights") was quoted in his interview with CBS news as saying "The hip hop narrative is writing your way out of your circumstance," which could not be more true. That is unless, you grow up in a hood and to this day still rap about guns and drug running (more power to you then, please don't hurt me). But my question to you is this; would you ever (besides the writing aspect, maybe not so much Alexander, but this era more than any, almost) in your wildest dreams associate Alexander Hamilton with hip hop?!

That's why this is so amazing. Visionaries such as Miranda and many like him find ways to use hip hop for good, and to grab your attention positively instead of shunning it. Miranda is opening up eyes to a completely different audience of people (fans of theater and fans of rap alike) and he's even teaching you about Alexander Hamilton during all of this!  Miranda is attacking theater on 2 different fronts and whether or not you watch it, you have to have respect for the guy for having the balls to go there. Miranda doing this = taking hip hop to new heights. This is what Hip Hop Unlimited is about!   













     

Why Kanye West Is A Decent Person (And Not The Psycho You Make Him Out To Be)

Rants. Music rebelling racism. Angry outbursts. "Selling out" in his music. "Selling out" by entering the fashion industry. There are a lot of things you could hate Kanye for, the list is endless, but I believe there is more to Kanye than meets the eye (and ear). Behind every psychopath (or whatever you claim Kanye to be) there is a reason for their methods, and there is a reason for why they act the way they do. For all we know Kanye really is just an insane egomaniac that is only driven by the success of himself, but the fact that he is now married with a child tells me that his motives are either changing, or not so much what people have made them out to be. In this post I am going to prove to you that Kanye West is not the psychopath that the media, and even the people make him out to be.

If you've been keeping track of Kanye's craziness as of late (even if you're not a Yeezy music fan, you have to admit his shenanigans with the media are always interesting), there's been a lot of stuff to keep track of (even for Kanye): the first of these doings is the release of the new Yeezy Boost from Adidas. Kanye's Yeezy shoes have been a staple and a must have in any sneaker head's collection since their inception, but Kanye is giving his newest release a different feel. Now being backed by one of the biggest shoe companies in the world (Adidas), Kanye is aiming to be able to put out the Yeezy Boost for everybody for purchase, and not just the "higher-class" individuals that you see wearing them in paparazzi photos (rich people). Kanye even took it a step farther with the release of the Boost, doing so much as to show up to fans' houses and work places to give them their pairs personally. If I was into those weird looking Adidas', I'd sure be happy if Kanye showed up to give me my pair.

Look at the excitement on these fans' faces. Whether you want to believe it or not, this made Kanye's day too.

Other inspiring things Kanye has been doing of late is doing things like speaking publicly, the most recent being Oxford University (the reason for this being that Oxford University is apparently baby North West's future alma matter). Kanye is noticeably changing his attitude and doing good things with it, and it shows in a few quotes he gave from his latest speech at Oxford (which Yahoo! has reported). See below:

(On his ego)
"One of my biggest Achilles heels has been my ego. And if I, Kanye West, the very person, can remove my ego, I think there’s hope for everyone."

(On his reputation with the media)
"People say I have a bad reputation. I think I've got the best reputation in the building. They want you to have a reputation of tucking your black nail polish into your pockets and sitting in the corner of the class, and not fighting for your ideas out of fear of being ridiculed. ... That's one of my favorite ones… to be called crazy."

(On Materialism)
"Time is the only luxury. It’s the only thing you can’t get back. If you lose your luggage – I’m not gonna say the obvious brand of luggage that I’d normally say because I’ve got a meeting with them soon – if you lose your expensive luggage at the airport, you can get that back. You can’t get the time back. It feels like people do everything in life to get this BMW, this Benz, to get this town-home, to get 2.5 kids exactly. One of them has to be small, y’know! And you’re looking for this moment where you sit in your BMW after all the work you’ve done and all the accolades you get, and you somehow think you’re gonna get that level of joy that my daughter had when she received [her favorite toy]."

Has that sold you on Kanye yet (hopefully not shown the "sold out" Kanye but hopefully SELLS YOU on how decent of a person he really can be I mean. Anyways, has it)?  Some people cannot get it through their brains that Kanye is a kind, helping person who doesn't attack paparazzi in his free time just for fun. If my words can't convince you, then maybe you can check out his Breakfast Club interview with Power 105.1 and that will convince you that he is uhm... "human" (although he slanders his ex Amber Rose in the interview, but Amber went at Kim in her comments on Twitter, Kanye has to protect his wife in that case). I believe there is hope for Kanye West, and I feel like I've said this before, but just because we see someone as insane in the news (or in normal people's case, hear crazy rumors about them) doesn't mean that these people are actually insane themselves. Check out Kanye's Breakfast Club interview below.

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