Jay Z – The Blueprint 3

I grew up being a Jay-Z fan… Bought Vol. 1 in 6th grade which in turn made me instantly buy Reasonable Doubt; and its history from there.

He’s had a couple of disappointments along the way to some people… To me the only disappointment has been Kingdom Come (garbage)… But everyone has their own opinion, and to his latest release, Blueprint 3, here is mine:

Sitting down with this album the first time I had mixed emotions about it… Minus “D.O.A.” and “Run This Town” I was only feeling probably 3 of 13… so thats 5 of 15 in the end… I walked away from it for a day or so. Came back to it, threw some headphones on, and LISTENED. I knew I needed to UNDERSTAND what Jay was doing; so that is what you can catch after the jump…

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So being as it was a slow week in hip-hop and I rather not update the whole Rihanna situation for 3 weeks straight, let’s take this time to discuss the current state of underground hip-hop.

Now growing up in the 90s; arguably the most solid decade for hip-hop, I grew up with the understanding that early underground hip-hop was that gully hood shit that didn’t really make its way too far from New York; which is partly true. Early 90s were a transitional period. On one side you have the fundamentals of hip hop, on the other you have the raw realness of hip hop. This is where you begin to see a divide, the tribe called quests against NWAs. Seeing as underground has always been non mainstream by the definition of the word, this period of time is when many of greats we know now began to master their crafts. At one spectrum you have groups link Onyx, MOP and Wu-Tang and on the other you have the brother Common Sense, De La Soul, Talib and Mos. When these acts moved into the mainstream, we witness the next era of the hip hop underground. The abstract hip-hop or back pack rap and that crack music. We are currently on the back end of this era; the likes of Atmosphere, Kidz in the Hall and Doom reppin one side and the late Stack Bundles, S.A.S. and Cory Gunz on the other.

This brings me to the main topic of discussion, we are currently in a time where internet and hipster hop are coming up from the underground. In a media crazed society it is really difficult to be underground. Charles Hamilton has already put out like 20 mixtapes this year. Cool Kids, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, WALE!! they are experiencing great fame on the blogosphere, but do you think they will come up from this and make it in the mainstream as those who have risen from the underground have before them? I personally feel like they have and they will. Record sales will be down of course, it’s the easiest to download of the internet. My theory is they will be getting paid of the endorsements and not the record deals. I don’t see albums doing well; they have already put out great shit and even more great shit. Not sure what they would offer on an album that they haven’t already gave you. I’m not gonna go in on the this that much cause I’d like to know your thoughts on the topic (plus I’m still re-upin from Royal’s b-day); I know there’s a few heads out there who read this. Royal, Cap, Sticksworth, get at me.

I leave you with this great video

- Drama
(get at last week here)

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Drama’s Hip-Hop Breakdown. The boys (not men) at Code 2 bring to you a weekly column from one of the resident heads: Benny “Drama” Lava. Everything from hip hop news, trends, genres, album reviews, artist bios and eventually downloads (once I figure out how to use WordPress).

Big ups to Jewie Louis and the news. I get the majority of my hip-hop news from those fools and I been on Rosenberg for a few years now… pause. Something about Jews and hip-hop just works.

Anyway for the few dense headed suckas still left out there in the world that think that there is no fuckin on reality TV, I present to you For the Love of Ray J or as I like to call it Super Star Part 2 (ask for the video link). Rumor has it that Ray J Banged it out with Danger (tattoo face) and got the bitch pregnant. I would smash too.

Kid Cudi got tasered by Reebok during All Star weekend for wearin Nike’s. Suge Knight stays getting whooopd on now a days as well. How the mighty have fallen….

In other news Chris Brown’s camp put out a whack ass apology and Rihanna is mad bout it. I still contest that old boy was just krumpin and she got in the way. The pertinent questions:
1) Will CB have a career when this is over?
2) Will Rihanna’s forehead ever be the same?
3) Will this end soon so we can get on with our lives?
Jay ain’t havin it son.

tried to Run It but they had him covered from Wall to Wall

Rick Ross and 50 Cent beef is still not registering on whogivesafuck.com, even with numerous diss tracks and family gettin involved. Shits gettin too personal off a bad look. And yeah, people say 50 has a reputation of ending other rapper’s careers, I figure if he wanted to end Ross’s career he would have been had signed him to G-Unit by now… BOOM.. roasted. And I don’t give a damn if he comes after me next, my baby momma can use a shoppin spree too ya dig?

50 Cent aka Pimpin Curly

Speakin bout beefin and 50, Cam and Juelz may have made amends so there may be more lightly talented rap commin out soon. I used to maaaaad fuck with the set back in my hustlin days, I will most likely again… hustle… not fuck with the set.

Most importantly Big L rest in peace. Its been a handful of years since he passed. I feel that Big L was to Mase and Cam’ron what Big Pun was to Fat Joe. Kept them in check, kept the shit raw and gully and most importantly didn’t have Lean Back come out. Children of the Corn what up? If he was alive today I don’t know how things would be but it is for damn sure that he was taken too early.

“The good die young, I ain’t eligable for that”
- 50 Cent.. damn, he got that right

And now to end on a high note, the fuckery that is plauging hip-hop music… too bad I do all these in the club.
Stanky Leg
Chicken Noodle Soup
Lean With It, Rock Wit It
Aunt Jackie

I actually fuck with Aunt Jackie though, shot outs Jason Fox and yeah thats young JoJo Simmons in the video

- Drama

Pictures of Rhianna have hit the internets

The interns were all over this one.

Those guys over at TMZ.com have obtained pictures of Rhianna after Chris Brown decided to take a page out of Ike Turners book. Check them out here.

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Breezy did a number on her. Looks like he was goin after that forehead for the most part. God knows there’s enough of it. If you’re taking swings at her face you 3 out of 5 of those are gonna catch her in the forehead. It appears he caught her in the cheek and lip as well. Chris is going to have a hard time explaining this one.

Little bitch Chris was throwin bows like he was in the UFC.

Showed my boy Smokey this and you know what he said?

Hell yeah she did….

- Jonny D