On yesterday's episode of Everyday Struggle, Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks finally (somewhat) tackled the ongoing beef between Birdman and Lil Wayne over the unpaid royalties and lack of Wayne's music being released, and they had an interesting announcement to make.
(*I do not own this video, or the rights to it*)
Whoa. If this statement that Joe has made about the Birdman phone call is true, then we could finally be getting some clear perspective and information about the Wayne/Birdman legal battle, though I (and you shouldn't either) will not be getting my hopes up. If we think about the last time some hip hop personalities attempted to question Birdman about Wayne, well... we could only hope this time it goes a little smoother. Although Joe is a truly outspoken individual in his opinions, could we see him act much more respectful and quiet if Birdman comes through Everyday Struggle? Will Akademiks be able to get his questions off without getting rattled? Lord knows it would be amazing to finally get some clarity about Wayne's indefinitely shelved music, but it all seems to depend on how Birdman is feeling that day. Until then, we can only speculate.
As I sat back and watched in awe at Eminem's scolding onslaught of Trump in his 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, I couldn't help but wonder what had brought him this far in such a storied, yet battered, bruised and beaten down career from fans, Stan's, and hip hop critics alike. The criticism for rape, assault, murder and every hot button issue dating back to Columbine that he's touched upon has been rightfully voiced, yet for some reason the idea of free speech still being a "thing" never seemed to cross the minds of MTV, VH1, or anybody covering Em for the sake of getting a news story out. No shade of course (though the forecast is looking rather Shady for the coming months), but all in all, the idea of Eminem ever "maturing" (whether it be in his mindset or in his content) never seemed to be a topic that people would ever touch upon or care enough about... it's sort of like a Family Guy or a South Park; people just started shrugging him off and chalking it up to "oh that's just who he is." But the line in the sand might have been drawn, and I'm not talking about the line Eminem addresses in his freestyle; is Eminem bringing us more mature content on his upcoming, yet to be titled album?
With Em's much talked about (and in most people's opinion, probably TOO MUCH) BET freestyle dropping, there wasn't really any sort of speculation as to what Em was going to address in terms of topics or subject matter, but since it's arrival, peoplecan't stop talking about it. In fact, to say that the freestyle was unexpected is an understatement. Em's track record in terms of political topics and hot button issues dates back to 2004 on his 5th studio album, Encore, on a track aimed entirely at then president Bush titled "Mosh", but that seemed to be the last of his political voice (minus a few Obama mentions in songs and cyphers that didn't hold any weight minus some ammo for a bar/rhyme). Knowing the meticulousness of a rapper of Em's stature, there really aren't many who plan out as carefully as Em; album releases given, even albums RELEASED without a care, music videos given with no sort of warning or preparation for, and tours merely tweeted/posted out with no sort of presentation or show; Em is the furthest thing from this type of rapper. Em is unleashing a full on, Battlefield sort of presentation for an album that people, whether they want to or not... SHOULD be paying very close attention to. And if you don't believe me... give a listen to what some (one) of hip hop's veterans (not to mention, somewhat of a Shady insider) thinks about Em's new "marketing strategy."
(*I do not own these videos, or the rights to them*)
And if that doesn't convince you (as if the next bit of information is going to sell it), check out my Google Plus post from earlier this year, dating back to July 6th!
Well that settles it! No, obviously I'm just kidding, but Joe's speculation did (in my opinion) bring a bit of validity to my statement from July. With Eminem's history of having used his platform to make political statements (though few and far in between), I do believe that 2017 is the year that Shady gets people (who normally wouldn't) talking again about the current state of the world... it's only a shame that it took Donald Trump being president to do it (yikes). Em's inspiration usually and seemingly comes from other great hip hop albums and songs that have impacted the world in some way, but looking around at the current state of the world, it's hard not to think that Trump would have impacted his upcoming album in some way, especially considering the history the two have. Eminem growing a beard for the first time in his illustrious 18 years in the spotlight is just because... he got lazy shaving? Casual fans may think so, but knowledgeable Em fans know better. The return of the blond hair for the Marshall Mathers LP 2 promorun in 2013 wasn't because Em was going through a midlife crisis (or maybe it was, but his hair is back to black again, so you can't tell me shit otherwise). Be on the look out, and pay VERY close attention to Em's next moves (unless it's another Pink feature, as Joe spoke about in Everyday Struggle, because that's just for business).
I never thought that something so lighthearted and beautiful could hit me so heavy and ugly. This particular day, August 10th of 2017, I woke up in a much more peaceful environment mentally than I'm normally accustomed to. It could have been the great sleep I got, which is a rarity nowadays, it could have been the woman lying next to me, it could have been not waking up still drunk (for once), or it could have been the endless possibilities of what to do on a day off of work. Either way, I rubbed her stomach and kissed her cheek with a smile on my face, preparing her for her day, and ultimately preparing me for mine. I knew the moment was going to end, but I grabbed that moment by the balls like I was checking it for torsion. I felt an embarrassingly similar feeling, as she walked out to her car and gave me a kiss on the cheek as she said goodbye, to what Joe Budden feels like; every... single... morning... on Everyday Struggle. Such an ironic show title for a man who appears to have it all, or better yet, appears to have exactly the riches he needs, and making the most out of every last cent of it.
If you know Joe Budden, the rapper, you already know Joe Budden, the man. There hasn't been any single instance of separation between the two since Joe's career launched with his self-titled debut a whopping 14 years ago, in June of 2003. Joe's honesty and uncut recording of his entire life through Joe Budden TV on YouTube created a whole new subgenre in rap that many artists still use effectively today; the "every day life" video series. Whether it was fighting with his girlfriend, arguing with old racist guys in fast food restaurants, or receiving support from old friends, Joe has laid out every delicate detail on who he hangs out with, how his brain works, and what he's done. Joe Budden the man so easily gets confused and misconstrued because Joe Budden the Twitter personality's antics do not always dictate or reflect how Joe Budden the man feels; because Joe Budden the rapper, the YouTube personality, and the man, is a (fun-loving) troll.
Too often in life (if I'm allowing Joe to be another example of a point), people take every last word that somebody says and every last action they make to heart; for too many reasons we won't get into. One person's nightmare is another person's dream, and in merely the last 6 months alone (we won't even get into his well documented past), Joe Budden has been on a very well documented highway through hell; but to whom is it considered hell? That is a question I won't even begin to answer right now, but in short, Joe has finally done what he has been attempting to do for merely 14 years... successfully separate, and in turn come to grips, with being a media personality, yet also being completely happy in your own space at home. Being happy with who you are is a "Black Cloud" that has hovered over Budden for half of his life, and now, with the success of hip hop's favorite YouTube show, all Joe had left to do was piss off some die hard Budden Stans and stop rapping, find the love of his life (a love that people immediately doubted due to his turbulent history with women), and start a podcast that best showcases the mind of Joe Budden. Oh, and this little bit of news that hit today is probably another step in the right direction, too.
Via Joe Budden's Instagram;
Also, a video from Joe Budden's YouTube channel.
(*I do not own these pictures, videos, or the rights to them*)
What a use of one of the most prolific instrumentals --nah, fuck that-- songs I have ever heard from anybody, period (which I have previously expressed my love for here).
Happiness, as they say, is a warm gun. People take what they can from happiness, because it strikes so swiftly and quickly that not to live in the moment of it all would be an insult to memories. I remember waking up today and trying to compare and contrast with past mornings, what was different and what was the same, what was joy and what was pain, but I didn't do any comparing at all. I found it strange, seeing as this is my most common comfort zone; being able to sit back and process it all at once. But doing so as often as possible can be dangerous. Just live. The reoccurring theme of this (I don't want to call it a diary entry) post seems to be an example being set by one of the most historically unhappy rappers ever, making the best of his relationship, his situation, and his life. So am I sitting back and telling you to track Joe Budden's every movement and conversation? No, but you do need to understand that somebody with a past as eventful, as depression-filled, as drug riddled, and at times seemingly hopeless as Budden's... makes this news that much more satisfying to see. What I really want to try to do for others, and maybe even myself, is realize that happiness can be found in the most unexpected of places. And though you can't always plan or anticipate how to react to these things, you have every single right to enjoy every last waking moment that you have, even if you're a budding socially awkward writer who looks for inspiration in the most deep, even sometimes unhealthy of places. I woke up today --though still an anxiety filled mess who overthinks every waking moment-- with the world ahead of me, and tomorrow I'm going to do the same damn thing. Well, at least until I go back to work.
Read Budden's beautiful description to his Instagram posts below, and maybe even have a box of tissues on standby.
I Never…. I never knew we’d get here, it’s funny… I never saw you in that light. Now I never see light without you. I never courted you, an if I did I never acknowledged it. I never had a friend in romance. I never thought that was possible. I never have laughed this much or hard. I never knew you or your energy were so radiant, enigmatic even…. but I never knew you………. I never could’ve been more deprived. I never felt this way before. I never not thank God for every intricate detail that make you whole. It makes me whole. I never imagined you would be as beautiful as you are today, it’s beautiful to be a part of. Thank you for it all. Thank you for not only making me stronger, but for being strong enough for us both most times. Thank you for carrying my child. Thank you for helping me rectify some generational issues, thank you for helping me get it right. Thank you for making that important to you as well. Thank you for every I never Thank you for changing my forever, forever Thank you for hope, joy & acceptance… Because if there’s one thing you’ve taught me is that what tomorrow holds, thank GOD, I never know. I love you. I love y’all. PS – ITS FUCKING LIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Growing up listening to Eminem and his brain twisting ways of bending words and molding messages made me think that I would never find another personality of his type in rap again. His love for the craft and his ability to channel fiery anger into productive, though not exactly "politically correct" music allowed his message to be heard and his story to be felt. But with all of the drug talk and the syrup sippin', who feels anymore right? Fans who crave more brain stimulation.
Under Shady's wing, and with a little help from Jersey City emcee Joe Budden on a song aptly titled "Slaughterhouse", the group's chemistry fit so well that they figured the title of the song might as well be the name of the newly formed super group that included 4 emcees from different parts of the hip hop suburbs (Royce from Detroit, Budden from Jersey City, Crooked from Long Beach and Joell from Brooklyn), all willing, and more than capable to give a side of the stories from the slums of these neighborhoods that many heard and feared. Listening to the four members' dialect whilst speaking in interviews surely would have fooled the average hip hop listener, as their witty and humorous banter about each other could warm up even the chilliest hip hop critic, and open them up to the conversations taking place. But where are they now? (*cue behind the music voice* "coming up, the story that broke the band apart... and a grudge... that just won't budge.")
The group's last solo record appeared on the soundtrack for the 2015 movie Southpaw, a movie in which Eminem was supposed to originally appear in the lead role instead of Jake Gyllenhaal, but didn't due to his focus on creating his new album. Though Eminem didn't take the lead role in the movie, he and the movie's director Antoine Fuqua agreed upon an ultimatum; a soundtrack for the movie that featured all new music, including what is now Slaughterhouse's last released song, "R.N.S." The delay of Slaughterhouse's (supposedly) forthcoming second major label (third overall) LP Glass House has been addressed by Royce and Crooked in interviews and on social media, though no real conclusion has been lead to about the fate of the Slaughter. But what does Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg's tweet in the above picture mean?
(above pictures; When Crooked I was asked about the wait in late March of 2017, he shrugged off the question with "who knows.")
Paul Rosenberg's tweet (in the very first picture above) in February of 2017 leaves less to the imagination than previous answers and hints dropped about the album delay. The answer (though the question has not been addressed publicly by any of the members or the label/parent labels Shady Records/Interscope Records) can be speculated as simply as this; label politics. Slaughterhouse's last major label LP's opening week sales barely broke 50k (the exact number being 52k sold first week for Welcome To: OUR HOUSE), and while it seems it shouldn't matter for a record company that boasts a man who sells around 700-800k first week (hint; the man's nickname is in the label name), apparently Shady/Interscope feels that this time around, House Gang needs to deliver. But now more than ever (the streaming age), wouldn't it be as easy as it's ever been for barely promoted artists to outsell expectations of the label? So you'd think.
As for Slaughterhouse being the modern day Rage Against The Machine (which is incredibly ironic considering the title of Joe Budden's last solo album, although Budden has never been one to mince words or play nice) or Public Enemy, who says that they couldn't be? With every headline and every think piece being put out nowadays practically being written because of mere tweets and comments, who says that 4 of the most lyrically talented emcees in the game couldn't say something that would ruffle some feathers? Have they not heard of the "any publicity is good publicity" claim? The saying has never held as much weight as it has today, and when you have Joe Budden going in on Lil Yatchy for destroying the culture, I'm sure the man (along with his House Gang mates) could find a way to make headlines and maintain relevancy, in an outspoken effort to push lyrics back to the top, even though the 4 humble members more often than not let their rapping do the talking (which is a rare trait nowadays, when your ACTUAL RAPPING is the reason you're considered so good).
So here's my question to Slaughterhouse, to Shady Records, to Interscope; what do us as fans have to do to show you that we want new music? What do we have to do to show you that we care about the group? Slaughterhouse wasn't started to sell records, they were started to change the narrative and the overview that hip hop has succumbed to. "Mumble rap" is killing hip hop heads' willingness to live, because when all you hear is "fun music", eventually the music stops being fun altogether. Not to mention the fact that the use of syrup/codeine, Xanax, and Molly are literally actually killing hip hop's artists AND it's fans. Hip hop needs something relatable, something to challenge the ears and the minds of it's young fans. Why can Slaughterhouse not be the answer to this dilemma? The story-telling, the double-entendres, the word-play, the pure rapping ability, but most of all, the "never-serious-until-I-get-in-that-microphone-booth" attitude and mentality is a breath of fresh air that the currently drowning climate of rap needs right now. And in your attempt to sell records, you fail to recognize the difference that this group makes, which ultimately makes you no better than the labels that are pushing the drug addict's records to sell. I want to change the narrative; which is why I'm promoting the tweet below that could possibly be a big step in the right direction. I will attach this tweet here and on my Twitter page, and even screenshot it for my Google+ and Facebook followers to find, and retweet in the hopes to get Slaughterhouse released from Shady Records, and back out in the music market ready to release their long awaited 3rd album, Glass House. Please help to be a part of something important, something much bigger than rap that dumbs down it's fans; be a part of the change!
Another year blows by, and more "best of" lists are bound to happen. 2016 brought the people a lot of laughs, a lot of tears, and a lot of good music (but mostly a lot of tears, see Prince fans). A lot of top tier rappers proved why they are top tier rappers (unless you're a Drake fan), and a lot of not-so-top-tier rappers made their case as to why they should be considered top tier. Now if you're coming to the site thinking the list is going to include the Lil Yachty's, the D.R.A.M's and the Young Thug's, then you've come to the wrong place. For those that know me, I'm about more than just the hot-for-the-minute artists who do it without any certain goal or message to get across. I'm all about a good time and some hot beats (it seems I haven't had any time to acknowledge that Rae Sremmurd were practically knighted by Sir Paul McCartney himself with his Mannequin Challenge earlier this year) but this list is more than that. Now before I get slammed for any of the songs included in my list, I'm going to start by saying this is MY list, and nobody's views but my own. With that being said, here are my picks for the best single songs of 2016.
Big Gigantic - All Of Me (ft. Logic & Rozes)
If there is one song that I had simply played nonstop since it's release about 4 months ago, it has to be electronic production group Big Gigantic's "All Of Me" featuring Maryland spitter Logic and Philadelphia bred singer Rozes (who has collaborated with the Chainsmokers and also had an EP come out in February of 2016 by the name of Burn Wild), and appeared on Gigantic's Brighter Future album which released in late August of 2016. The beat sounds like something you would play to get that much needed musical pump up boost right before your game (or like most kids my age, right before that final exam you need to knock out of the park). The drums thump and pound so hard that if you had anything less than subs or some beats headphones, you wouldn't be doing this song justice. In fact, if you listened to this in your Wal-Mart ass Sony knock off headphones, then shame on you. I expect better from musical connoisseurs such as yourselves. Only kidding of course to the fans out there (I only do it because I love you).
Royce Da 5'9 - Tabernacle
Another emcee that really pushed the agenda this year lyrically, visually, and of course musically was one half of Bad Meets Evil, Royce Da 5'9. His entire Layers album (which was released in April of 2016) has made a case to be the best roll out and promo run of the year, and for good reason; it was a great album with no drama surrounding the music, or the man making it. "Tabernacle" proved to be one of the most unique and entertaining songs of the year, especially if you're a lyrical head and like the picture to be painted, such as myself. "Tabernacle" details the most important day in Royce's life, which includes his grandmother dying, his son being born, and also meeting Eminem for the first time, in vivid detail. Truly written like a writer, and rapped like an emcee, and who better to detail such a story than Royce Da 5'9.
In what is undoubtedly the most powerful song of 2016, Big K.R.I.T poured his heart and soul out in a verse on Kenneth Whalum's soulful message, "Might Not Be Okay". Shining light on police brutality and wrongful deaths that have occurred over the last couple of years, K.R.I.T turns a truly remorseful verse start into a fiery, angry protest to the point of view of a police officer. "Mommas' been cryin' and they gone keep cryin', black folk been dyin' and they gone keep dyin', police been firin' and they gone keep firin', the government been lyin and they gone keep lyin'" isonly the start to this incredibly powerful realization. This song isn't necessarily a favorite song of the year for me simply due to the circumstances of which it had been released (K.R.I.T discussed with Genius that he and Whalum had a discussion after the death of Alton Sterling), but the power of the song still holds weight and holds true, and I could never deny music with a message, or an attempt at peace.
Joe Budden - Idols
Now if you've heard the song then you know why "Idols" appears here on my list, if you get stuck on the fact that Joe Budden appears on the list, however, then you probably can't get past his Twitter antics enough to give his music a chance. Budden put out one of the more solid projects of 2016 in Rage & The Machine with his producer counterpart (who would be The Machine) AraabMuzik, and it shows a nice maturation process of Budden (which if you know Budden then you know maturing isn't exactly number one on his to-do list). Though it's hard to see Budden maturing, Rage & The Machine more so depicts Budden being his immature, yet reflective self as usual, and finally coming to terms with it. Now for the song itself; "Idols" sees Budden following the "Let Nas Down" narrative that J. Cole creates on his song in the beginning with paying homage to the many emcees that have brought Budden up (he even gives props to Jay-Z for TIDAL's launch and accomplishments), but in the second half of the song, he flips that on it's ear; Budden goes from being a student of the game to the teacher. Over spiritual "I've-found-Jesus" types of production and phenomenal sampling by AraabMuzik, Budden explains why he could never be an idol; or could he? If Budden ever had one, this would be his swan song; something to ride out in the sunset to while people finally realize what he really meant; in his lyrics, and what he's meant to hip hop.
Now there's a butt-ton of songs that I clearly could have featured and might have forgotten, but as I said earlier, this is MY personal list and strictly my picks. With that being said, I'd love to hear what the people think! Comment below, on my Google+ page, my Twitter, or on my Facebook page what songs you think I left out that could have made the best of the year list (I only included 5 to keep it short). A small point to this article was to stray away from the every day droll you hear in hip hop. The difference is... the different. Sometimes that may be trying something completely new, it could be staying with something that works, or it could be going all the way back to square 1 and starting from scratch. As a self proclaimed hip hop enthusiast, at this point I almost would rather hear something that sounded a little nostalgic as opposed to what's being put out now. Not because I don't like what's out now, but because sometimes taking a risk is okay. Here's to hoping 2017 brings out the big guns, and by guns I mean good, competitive rappers trying to make the best possible music.
(*No, I did not make this amazing cover, and I wish I could shout out the artist*)
I'm going to be completely and utterly 100% honest, lately (always) I haven't been feeling like anyone understands my views on hip hop. Not too many people go THIS in depth with hip hop, or anything having to do with it. Not many people can do what I do, not many people even want to do what I do, but I do it because at the end of the day, there are unanswered questions that need to be asked (plus I fuckin love what I do, so why else would I do it?). I digress; Views is clearly taking over anything and everything hip hop, the culture is in a threshold of it's throat by this kid turned man from Toronto, because no matter how much you call him soft, no matter how many memes are made of him to look ridiculous, at the end of the day, people STOP EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING to see the newest thing Drake has put out. That's just the fact of the matter. If you grew up in the blogging internet hip hop era (and even if you didn't, which is a point that will be made later), you understand the magnitude of Drake's career; what it has been, what it is, and what it will be. (*Note, I have not listened to Views minus the Future assisted "Grammy", so my opinions are solely expressed given the current state of Drake's career and based off of what people are saying about Views)
If you tune in to Joe Budden's I'll Name This Podcast Later podcast series and you've listened to the latest episode, then you'll understand the points I'm about to make. Joe and I share a lot of the same views on hip hop; while we aren't as tight as you'd believe (he rarely answers my tweets), I've always respected the real and the "that's my opinion and if you don't like it then fuck off" attitude that Joe gives, because who would have ever guessed that pushing the agenda would be so frowned upon nowadays? Let's throw it back to 2009, because hindsight is a beautiful thing.
And with that, here comes Drake; the freshest thing to hit (and the biggest thing to hit the web possibly ever, a point could be made that the "blogging hip hop era" was started with Drake, and look what it's turned into now, with artists starting their careers off of this method) since Will Smith. Drake's level of shwag (I'm still on a mission to kill "swag", since people like conforming so much) was unprecedented. At this point in time, we had seen nobody in hip hop like Drake; he was a new kind of cool, a voice in hip hop that made everything he said sound like the new "wave", he was like that really cool guy in high school that everybody liked and everybody wanted to be like. Drake had such an influence on this generation of teens and high school kids that if he said he threw Subway sandwiches at homeless people for fun and called it "Subway-ing" in one of his songs, then you'd have seen a spike in Subway's sales right around the time this song had dropped (probably that same day, knowing this generation).
Joe Budden in his latest podcast, episode 64 of his I'll Name This Podcast Later series; "Drake, Cole, Kendrick... those 3 move the needle. Those 3 transcend music. Those are 3 people that my grandparents, my parents, and my child would ask me about. That's a unique set."
Look at the change in what matters now. What matters in hip hop is not where it was 10 years ago when 50 Cent was moving records with G-Unit and Eminem along his side, though they all did their own thing. That era has ended. Like most good things, it had to come to an end sometime. But this ending spelled a new beginning for hip hop and the newer, (hopefully) "hungry" artists wanting to eat. It's 2016 and Drake has still remained relevant to hip hop, which is amazing considering his career, dating all the way back to 2009 when Drake dropped his now classic (debatable to those who look at what it did, but not debatable to many others) So Far Gone mix tape back in 2009. To many, this shows his work ethic and his drive to be the best, and there should be a major asterisk when looking at the details of this era (aptly named the "microwave era") based on how fast things are born and how much faster they die out.
The memes have become a part of Drake's career, it's sad to think that when people look back at what an illustrious career Drake has had, that they're also going to be thinking about the ruthless memes that have been made about Drake and how much of a running joke he has become, although he has now become part of the joke and running with it only shows his maturity... for the most part. After projects like If You're Reading This, It's Too Late and What A Time To Be Alive dropped, it seemed like part of Drake had been lost. The bad came with the good, (which it always does), but the bad seemed to have shifted Drake's focus dramatically. There's probably only so many times you can get on the internet and see someone you don't even know posting and laughing at a meme that jokes about how soft you supposedly are, which turns you into this heartless, seemingly emotionless robot that is so stoic that it makes you feel like you wouldn't even cry if your mother died (which is... yeah, still pretty bad. Have you ever heard the saying, "I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all"?).
(*I do not own these videos, pictures, podcasts, or the rights to them*)
You're probably waiting for a point to what I'm saying, and if you're still reading, then it's not too late. I'm proud of you for sticking with it so far. The attitude has changed in hip hop. What has made it so great up to now is that there were always artists that pushed the agenda. While there were artists that were amazing at what they did well, there were always the artists that pushed the agenda to make hip hop competitive, and force the other artists to make a calculated move as to what they would do next. When you think of hip hops leaders, right now, everyone pales in comparison to what Drake does. Every move he makes is put under a microscope, and every album and song he does is studied by fans who believe that they work for NASA and that they can use these "skills" to diagnose Drake's newest record, and determine whether or not he has a classic album (based on Twitter's reactions of Views, he still doesn't). I'm going to be a hypocrite here because I have to make a judgment call on my "Views" of Drake; I believe that Drake has lost himself. Drake is too easily distracted by the wave of what everyone else is doing (and ultimately let people get to him with their judgments), and has forgotten about his status in hip hop and where he stands. Drake has stayed true to himself through all of the bullshit, all of the waves, and all of the memes, and the craziest part of it all; he used to be relatable. Drake is a giant, and as a giant, you're supposed to set the precedent for what hip hop should sound like, and though Drake did this early on in his career, it seems he's too far gone to be able to recognize what he's doing. So if I'm making this an open letter to Drake, not just as a hip hop writer, but as a fan who cares about his direction, and his place in this game we call hip hop, then I'll say this; Drake, we miss the old you. I hope we tempt you.
Check out the podcast that sent me off into this thought piece spiral below, Joe Budden's I'll Name This Podcast Later, episode 64.
It's a sad day in music history, as the one and only Prince has unfortunately passed. The singing icon was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was 57 years old. This massive news of course stirred up many in the social media world, including some of hip hop's biggest acts. Here's how a few of them reacted.
If there's any album I have been waiting on, (besides Detox, but Dre killed that off with Compton, luckily) it's Slaughterhouse's next LP Glass House, and while he didn't a give an update, Crooked I definitely addressed rumors about the group in a new song recently.
In Crooked I's new song "Gift Rap", he dropped some pretty eye raising bars about the entire situation with Slaughterhouse; "well they, ask me did Eminem drop Slaughterhouse? did y'all break up since Joe Budden dropped Slaughtermouse? Seen you on Peter Rosenberg and Ebro, your energy was zero, see bro, is there something y'all wanna talk about?"
Crook continues on; "and if it is, don't play the nice dude, just pull a Ice Cube if it's the right move, they ain't putting your album out? damn, these niggas got an attitude, thought we'd be your niggas for life, where's the gratitude? All these questions they're pointing 'em in my direction, like the business end of a Smith & Wesson but I ain't stressing, just came home I was in Detroit visiting Marshall's session, to be in the presence of the one of the goats is still a blessing."
These lines definitely raise some questions (to keep that final rhyme scheme flowing), but no real questions were answered, nor rumors put to rest with Crooked's new song. Check it out below, and form your own opinion. What's holding up the new album? (Supposedly Just Blaze, but he denies it)
So I've wanted to incorporate this little mini section into the blog for awhile; Every day I'm somehow reminded of some old(er) hip hop that reminds me of an exact feeling I had at the time of it's release, whether that feeling be love, hate, depression, power, or anything and everything in between. Joe Budden (being the mood god himself) has always been highly touted as the one NOT to listen to when facing life's struggles, such as depression or a relationship (also, see Drake for "relationship issues 101"), because who knows, you could actually probably (not) risk committing suicide listening to such real and honest music.
Budden has been putting out music that tells his (often depressing) life story for his entire 13 year career, and by the looks of the tweets on his timeline, he takes pride in what he does. Who better than a player that knows his role in the game? Budden takes you places, into almost entirely different worlds with the press of a play button, and those places can lead you to end up in many, many different other places; an ex's house, on the floor of a bathroom, in a club throwing one's on a stripper, Joe's range has truly broadened, especially over the last 5 years or so.
On "Different Love" (off of his 2014 EP Some Love Lost, prelude to his 2015 solo LP All Love Lost) Budden was at his absolute most emotional. Budden got to talking about past relationships and his seemingly usual way of sabotaging them, along with problems of family and friends. Some of the biggest stand out lines from this emotional masterpiece include the following; "So I don't ever say what I can't do, if he can be happy with life then nigga I can too, while Jose wanna die, ain't tell nobody but eyeing his eyes feel I should probably identify, I said every day he lives with pain and wanna end it, something's wired wrong in your brain you gotta mend it, had a bad break up and let it expose dude, but if she was getting you high then she would get you low too."
Powerful. Some of the most meaningful lines I've heard in rap in a minute, and Joe's cadence tells it all throughout this track, because every line is not only heard, but felt. It just goes to show that your biggest enemies couldn't make you feel anywhere near as bad as you could yourself. Joe's battle with depression has been known throughout his entire career, and has been made known mostly through his music. We actually probably have Joe's music to thank that Joe is still here with us today; if Joe didn't have his raps and music to vent through, then would he still be here? That's some crazy food for thought for you right there. In case you haven't heard this amazing emotional journey of a song before, then you can check it out below.
I know too many people that speak about their issues with no real human emotion. Too many times I've seen cases where people "cut you off" because of a minor disagreement, or a small fight that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. People grow up, they lose friends, they may no longer speak to family members because of a fight, and don't really care if they do or don't speak to people who have been in their lives for the entirety of it. What that says about these certain people is no matter, but I've always believed that the people in your life who truly mean something will always find a way to stay in it, and these people always hold relevance in your life.
The same exact thing can be said about music. It's amazing how people forget the power that music holds over one's life, it's a known fact that music changes people's perception of the world, and perception is everything. Allow me to say that again; perception is EVERYTHING! How you perceive something is how you see it, and if something allows you to change your perception on something you see, then that can mean an array of different things (though we won't get into that). Perception is how you see something that scares the living shit out of you, how you see someone you've loved your entire life, how you see your goals and your future, or it can be something as simple as what a song means to you.
This past Wednesday, Joe Budden's very much anticipated album All Love Lost leaked, and if you were a fan scrolling through one of your favorite hip hop blogs looking for new releases, you could have scrolled right by the album stream and thought nothing of it, but I've always taken a liking to Budden's music and his ability to rap (beats on ALL are crazy, though some people will argue that Budden talks about depression/past relationships too much). I pressed play on the "All Love Lost Intro" and was immediately sucked into the world of Joe Budden, but the song that truly made me feel was "Immortal."
On "Immortal", Budden talks of his past drug addiction and getting through it, and if you know about Joe Budden, you know he's abused drugs for almost his entire career. Things like pills (from what Budden mentions is many, many types of pills including Percocet, and he even mentions some heroin use at points in his career) are things Budden abused constantly. But there is a line that makes you think in the song, and though hearing the line itself doesn't hit the ear right, Budden sounds so sure in a line leading up to the hook; "you can't kill something that's ready to die." This line is heavy in it's own right, but that line is followed up by a steroid-like strength hook (probably the wrong expression to use in this case, but oh well); "they say I'm in my own way, own way, and that's fine, I'm just living my own way, own way, like I can't die, they can remove my heart, my soul, might take it's toll, the air I breathe and the ground below, but no way, no way, let 'em all try, that's how it feels to be immortal, immortal, that's how it feels to be immortal, immortal, and that's how it feels to be immortal."
There's too much I have to say about that particular song, but Budden's entire album (All Love Lost) is something that hits you "right in the feels" as the kids say these days. Now what does the rest of hip hop have to combat that with? Listen to this.
(*I do not own these songs, or the rights to them*)
Hmm... I don't uhm... Fuck up some... commas? Excuse me for not being as hip as I'm supposed to be (and granted I don't listen to any Future on the regular, and for good reason), but how does one "fuck up some commas"? I'm curious, really, more than anything. What is the attraction to this? Fuck up some commas that most hip hop listeners do not have to "fuck up." "Trap niggas" is definitely a title that people wish to attain; right? It's so relatable to people to listen to "blow a bag" nowadays, huh? I believe people have forgotten what quality hip hop music sounds like (something that you're able to listen to timelessly, and able to relate to forever).
So... what do I think? I think the hottest rappers in the game right now should not be the hottest rappers in the game right now. Do you see yourself listening to Future's Dirty Sprite 2, 56 Nights, or even his Drake collaboration What A Time To Be Alive next year? How about 10 years from now? Do any of those projects still hold weight? The incredible flood of hip hop music that has taken over this millennium needs to stop, and now (and not just Future, a lot of one hit wonders are killing hip hop, that goes for Rae Sremmurd, Bobby Shmurda, Migos, and almost the entire sub genre of "trap music"). I find it amazing that "Slim Jesus" is one of the most talked about acts in hip hop right now. What meaning does music have if you don't see yourself listening to it in the future (no pun intended, though I believe he chose the wrong name)? Fix rap by putting out quality music, and not by putting out loads and loads of albums and mix tapes that will mean nothing in a year. Fix it by competing with the best, not because you want to make your money, but because you want to be BETTER than the best. If you're not rapping to become the best, then what are you doing it for? Those are my thoughts on the current state of hip hop.
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).
Dizaster might be on of the most decorated battle rappers at this point. While he's never gotten the shine he rightfully deserves, he's taken down the great Canibus and a multitude of other battle rappers, and a recent addition to his list of accomplishments is being one of the first 8 battle rappers to be included on Slaughterhouse's Total Slaughter battle rap competition. His amazing free styling ability along with his great lyrical capabilities are almost one of a kind, even looking at the battle rap circuit as a whole, and his ability to think on his feet so quickly is another aspect of what makes him so great. But he is being challenged yet again by another very noble challenger who is believed by many to be the father of the battle rap style: Cassidy.
So the headlining point here is that Cassidy is taking his chances in the battle rap ring, just as Joe Budden did in the first annual Total Slaughter. Budden certainly got his butt handed to him, not because his abilities didn't match up, but because he "isn't a battle rapper" is what many people used as their main argument. That is where the argument shifts with somebody like Cassidy: he's a proven emcee with battle rap experience and bars to build a prison (did you like that line? I might give this rap thing a try myself). In case your unaware of Cassidy's abilities, here's a pretty good example of them. The song "Mr. Chicken", supposedly put out in early October that includes jabs at fellow battlers Goodz and Dizaster.
Certainly a slept on lyricist who takes pride in what he does, and Dizaster knows who he will be faced up against when the time comes to battle. Dizaster actually spoke about the battle and some details about it on The Heavy Bag Show with host Heavy Bag, and when asked about the details of who will be hosting the battle, Diz said that "it won't be a King Of The Dot event, but they want to incorporate it somehow." The main reason for King Of The Dot having no part in anything Dizaster related is probably because of Diz's highly publicized fight with Math Hoffa during their battle less than a year ago. Diz also stated that they are aiming to take the battle to television, although they're not certain who would host the actual battle.
So now comes the question: who do you got winning this one? This one to me seems pretty fair and seems like it could be pretty close knowing both battlers' history in the ring, although they have almost complete opposite styles in the ring. Dizaster goes for a more out of control, in your face approach and tries his hardest to embarrass you, while Cassidy is used to the stylish, flavorful rhymes, though they are still filled with heavy punches.
I hate to give an opinion so early, but I feel this one goes to Diz. His energy will probably be a lot for Cassidy to handle, being that Cass is usually the more laid back type of rapper who doesn't put very much emphasis on his lines, although I haven't actually seen Cassidy battle, so maybe his battling style is different from his actual recorded song style. And it is known that if there isn't a rapper that you want to go bar for bar with, it's probably Cassidy (just ask Meek Mill). But I need to know what you think! Let me know who you think takes it and why in the comment section below, on Twitter, or Google+, and check out Dizaster giving details about the battle in the interview below.
(*I do not own any of these videos, or the rights to them*)
I'm proud to say that I am now a fan of battle rap. I don't know as many battlers as the most avid fan, I probably only know the contestants who participated in the first run of Total Slaughter, but I will say that battle rap has caught my attention enough to tune in to news, battles, and the next Total Slaughter competition. I believe Total Slaughter was a much more special thing than a lot of people made it out to be, its definitely opened up a world of possibilities, and one of the biggest being mainstream rappers wanting to partake in the par-tay. Recently Drake has shown an interest in wanting to step into the battle ring and show his skills. Normally this would be pretty cool for Drake fans, or probably not, everyone has their views, but to me Drake is making a mistake by calling out the king of this battle rap shit right now: Murda Mook.
If you tuned in to the BET Hip-Hop Awards this past Tuesday, October the 14th, you probably had mixed emotions about it all like I did. We saw an epic Brandy, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo performance, we saw Snoop Dogg and Dougie Fresh absolutely rock the stage after Dougie got honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award, and we saw a new twist to the cyphers (which I can't even begin to describe how disappointed I was, there were maybe 2 rappers I was glad to see in all of them combined). One of the more talked about events also included a live cypher, originally put together by Mook and Snoop, and containing verses from Mook and other battles rappers Arsonal, Calicoe, and Couture.
Before this show aired however, there were rumors floating around of Drake wanting to participate in battle rap, and calling out Mook personally. Obviously Mook didn't take this "calling out" very well, and went and dissed Drake live on his BET cypher verse, with this line: "king of battle rap, comfortable in first place, here, finish line is all mine, heard Drake? How you flashbackin to actin it's real here, cripple your career put it back in a wheelchair, get killed here, ain't no chill here, my demeanor, don't play the field here, de-grass-si, it ain't greener."
In case you don't remember, Murda Mook beat another battle rap great in the first Total Slaughter, Loaded Lux. Mook arguably has the most decorated battle rap resume in the entire game, and for Drake to call that out, I can't say I really agree with him. Drake has a history of coming up with some clever lines don't get me wrong, in songs like "Draft Day" he displays arguably the best of his abilities, but Mook does this for a LIVING. What a lot of mainstream rappers today don't realize (and personally I didn't even realize until starting to watch it a myself) is that battle rap and recording rap songs are two COMPETELY different beasts. It's almost safe to say that battle rappers could record songs and be successful (Eminem anyone?), but the other way around doesn't work out very well. If you have no history of battling and you actually have the balls to get into the ring with somebody who does regularly, there's no question you're going to get smashed.
There's even more to it than that though. A few aspects of battle rap are different from the mainstream song recording rap. One big one that Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz pointed out in an interview with The Breakfast Club Power 105.1 is the performance aspect of battling, which is definitely a point that I saw was key as well. If you're used to performing songs you certainly have a history of performing obviously, but battle rap is more than jumping around and getting the crowd hyped, although getting the crowd on your side is another huge key in being a successful battle rapper.
So what do you think about Drake stepping into the battle rap ring? Is he cut out for it, or do you believe he is making a mistake? Be sure to let me know what you think on Twitter (@SuperNovaRover), Google+, or even the comment section below, and be sure to check out the interview where Joell Ortiz discusses Joe Budden's mishaps in his Total Slaughter battle below, that conversation starts around the 6 minute mark.
(*I do not own this video, the rights to it, anyone in the video, or Power 105*)
Admittedly, I've never truly gotten into Curren$y as heavily as I'd thought I might. Don't get me wrong he's always interested me, being a former huge Wiz fan obviously you couldn't NOT hear a track with the two every now and then, but I never looked into him as much as I thought I would. Well, until now that is. One thing I am aware of with Curren$y is how hard he works to constantly put out music, and that's a pretty good reason to be a fan. It seems you're always getting new material. A 7 track mix tape seems the perfect introduction to someone fairly new to a rapper as I am to him, so what is there to lose? Curren$y you sly dog you.
The intro on More Saturday Night Car Tunes is something I admit I haven't heard anything quite like before. Simply named "Intro", this song comes with almost a zapping form of production from constant hit maker Cardo. If you've heard of Cardo before it's probably because of his production on a good selection of Joe Budden and Slaughterhouse songs, I also happened to feature him in my "5 Producers You Should Know" article a while back. Anyways, back to Curren$y. The weirdest thing about this song is he doesn't rap over it at all, and you wish he would. He pretty much just talks over the beat, and even has a point where he says "I know a couple mother fuckers new to this shit, thought I was about to rap. A lot of us already know that I had, like, 5 more tracks to that." He goes on to mention tweeting the producer of the song, Cardo, and almost prepares the listeners for what they're about to experience it seems. The crazy part about it is when listening to just the music portion of the beat, this intro is actually good. I have to say I've never seen this done before, but it fits, knowing Curren$y and how "chill" of a vibe he wishes to create for the listeners.
"Champaign Reign" is built around a piano based beat (don't worry, he actually raps in this song) that surprised me because of what seems like at first a lack of drums. Of course I figured out shortly after putting on headphones that this song doesn't contain real drums, but some wavy sounding 808s that add a nice vibe to the song. The next cut, "Countin Money" ft. Wiz Khalifa seems like the first real dose of music on the mix tape, and it doesn't disappoint. Wiz lays down a typical Wiz verse, flexing about his money and weed intake as usual, but what got me jigging a bit was the catchy hook Curren$y lays down.
"Money Shot" is the perfect mixture between Mac Miller and Curren$y's conflicting rap styles. Mac's verse contains the usual entertaining, keep you on your toes type of verse. It's decent, but definitely seems that he's holding back a bit considering the song and the style. Mac's usual raps are filled with a different lyrical style and picture painting capabilities, but he slows himself down, almost seemingly taking meds on this track, and part of the slow down seems to be the slow, somewhat jazzy instrumental holding Mac back. Curren$y sounds as good on this track as you'd like him to sound, to quote some lyrics in the song, he's almost "comfortably dressed" in the instrumental. My favorite part of the song is the last 10 seconds, where the beat slows down into this other worldly place with a really cool ending hook to finish.
If there's any song on this tape that actually surprised me a bit, it had to be "Drug Prescription". You expect a lot different from Curren$y, but this is a very cool change of pace. I've never heard of any sort of story telling ability from the New Orleans rapper, but this track proceeded to open my eyes a bit. He actually goes at other industry rappers a little, with lines like "these other rappers out ain't half as sick, all that half ass shit will get your whole ass whipped." This is certainly a surprise to me, a guy who got used to song types from Curren$y like "Rollin Up" with Wiz Khalifa, and their joint mix tape Live In Concert, all strictly weed mixes. It's always a great thing to see the competitive aspect of the game live in a rapper and show through his music, even if it's only every now and then.
So Curren$y is certainly a talented act to tune into, and More Saturday Night Car Tunes is just another example of why. What this tape opened me up to is Curren$y's great rapping ability mixed with a desire to make great music. It's hard to find rappers with the mix of both types of music, and while Curren$y prefers and certainly shines on calming, chill, bumping car tunes that he usually makes, you definitely better not mistake him for a rapper that has no lyrical content. For some reason I can't get past the "Saturday night cartoons" way of hearing the title of the tape (Wabbit season! Duck season! You know what, never mind.) But anyways, I personally would love to see a K.R.I.T and Curren$y collaboration, hopefully some time in the future. Yes ladies and gents, this is me giving the okay to put Curren$y's tape in the CD player, or tape deck if you're going old school, and just riiiiiide out.
It seems Royce Da 5'9 is taking it to the next level with this one. Earlier this week a short video surfaced of DJ Premier joining alongside Royce rapping in a video over what you could only assume was some choice Premo production. People of the internet were rather excited about what this could possibly mean, but since then no further details were released...until now.
PRhyme is going to be a full length Royce Da 5'9 LP with DJ Premier taking the reigns handling production. It's hard to tell where Premo is going to take the production with on this one, whether or not he chooses to sample certain artists or keep the sampling to a minimum. He did have this to say about the album recently; "I've never sampled just one artist, I'm known for my reputation and my creativity. I wanted it to be my traditional thing where I sample everything I find, but I am really proud of how the project came out and Royce is one hell of a pusher." From the sounds of this it seems there is a minimum of sampling from Premo, but time will tell what we see in terms of production on the album.
PRhyme will boast some MONSTER features, however. It is confirmed that the project will feature Dwele, Killer Mike, Common, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, of course his fellow group mates Slaughterhouse, and Royce and Premo even managed to grab Jay Electronica for a feature. Are you excited yet?! PRhyme has not been given a release date yet, but is rumored to be put out before the end of the year.
The route the Slaughterhouse members have been taking for their music releases has been an interesting one to say the least. Crooked I's last release Apex Predator was put out about halfway through last year, Joell Ortiz's House Slippers saw a release a bit more than a week ago, while Joe Budden has plans for his EP Some Love Lost in November and the release date for the album All Love Lost has yet to be determined.
Being that it is almost October already, so far it seems like these releases from Joe and Royce will spill into next year, while Slaughterhouse as a whole will supposedly be featured on the anniversary project Shady XV and also have their album Glass House coming (no release date given) as well. So far it seems next year will be a very exciting year for Slaughterhouse and Shady fans alike, but all you can do now is wait. Check out the teaser video for Royce and Premo's PRhyme below.
(*I do not own this video, or the rights to it, Royce Da 5'9, DJ Premier, or PRhyme*)
Producers really do not get the props they deserve and I can show you right now; think of your favorite hip hop song; whoever raps it, if there is anyone featured on it, or even if they put out a music video for this song. Now can you tell me who produced that song? If you can, then that's pretty damn cool, I salute you. You are one step closer to being a rap nerd like all the rest of us (whether you like it or not). But if you can't, haven't you ever wondered about a song you love enough to figure out who made that beat, who his/her mother is, his/her favorite cereal, and where he/she resides? Okay, maybe those last 3 details aren't something you absolutely HAVE to know, but producers affect your favorite artists and how their music sounds more than you know. Luckily I'm enough of a rap nerd for all of us to know a few pretty good producers that you definitely need to know, if you don't already.
Scoop Deville
This first guy caught my attention awhile back during Kendrick's Good Kid Maad City campaign, having produced an extra for that album; "The Recipe" featuring Dr. Dre. Without seeing the production credits, my first thought was "damn that's a Dre beat." All the familiar drum kicks, and a nice melody to compliment the beat. But of course this guy gained even more attention when the above monster dropped earlier this year.
No I.D.
Okay, if there's any song that can rightfully be called a "monster," this is the one to claim the title. When "Control" dropped nothing was the same (props to Kendrick for that line, you clever dog), truly. It created hype for almost EVERYBODY involved; all rappers mentioned by Kendrick, rappers not mentioned by Kendrick, etc. etc. But someone who didn't really get the shine they deserved (after all he did MAKE the beat) was No I.D. This guy is insane, he produced Nas' 2012 hit "Locomotive" (this song is as hip hop as it gets) off of his Life Is Good album, he will be on Jhene Aiko's upcoming Souled Out album, and most notably he will be executive producing Logic's upcoming debut album. His name is Dion (No I.D. backwards), which is also cool.
Boi-1da
If you don't know who Boi-1da is, then shame on you. This guys' beats KNOCK. Just about every single one of them you'll bob your head too, and he has quite the decorated resume. This list includes Eminem's "Not Afraid", Drake's "Headlines", "Best I Ever Had", "Miss Me" and "Over", and Nicki Minaj's "High School." His list of hits is a small one, but a pretty damn good one in the quality of those hits, although you don't see him producing for many others outside of Drake's camp due to the fact that he is signed to his "OVO Sound" label. What bigger song of his to include than "Forever" remix though?
SounWave
This song... this song needs no explanation. Personally my favorite hip hop song of all time at the moment. This song will remain my favorite song of all time indefinitely. Is it biased to put this song as the example to display SounWave's work? Maybe. But I can't listen to this song and be mad, sad, or any type of other emotion that isn't happy. My life's soundtrack aside, SounWave has quite a resume already, having produced not only this beautifully composed masterpiece, but also having done Kendrick's "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe," "Maad City," and Schoolboy Q's "There He Go." SounWave is part of a team of super producers called Digi+Phonics that also includes producers Tae Beast, Dave Free, and Willie B. The more you know, right?
Cardiak
This guy might be a bit lesser known, but is just as great as anybody else if not better. Cardiak stole my attention by producing for Joe Budden on his A Loose Quarter mix tape back in 2012 on bangers like "Cut From A Different Cloth" and "All In My Head." Since then he has cemented his status as a big name in the producing game and has produced for Slaughterhouse many times, and he is also probably going to have a hand in Slaughterhouse's upcoming album (no release date yet given). And if that isn't enough, check out his "making of" video for Eminem's "Groundhog Day" beat off of Marshall Mathers LP 2.
That's only 5 of some of the best producers in the rap game right now. I could go all day if that's what you really want, I mean I am a hip hop nerd. If none of those satisfy your interests, try looking into Hit-Boy, Jahlil Beats, Canei Finch, Illmind, Araab Muzik, Harry Fraud, I.D. Labs, Big Jerm, Alex Da Kid, 40, KeY Wane, the list could go on. While you're looking up these beat beasts remember that they are responsible for just about half of any rap song you've enjoyed. If there isn't a beat, rap just comes down to A cappella free styling. Not to mention the fact that they really do make us bob our heads. A beat without a rap is still a beat, and a rap without a beat is still a rap, but when you break it down and start to see how the 2 come together, you appreciate great music that much more.
