Jay-Z - On to the Next One (Video)

This is the first video of 2010, courtesy of Jay Hova and Swizz Beats. I'll leave the comments up to you guys, and you know where to leave them.

Courtesy of You Heard That New

Reflection Eternal - RE:Union Mixtape

A few days ago, the Cool Kids offered us a free EP and now Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek drop a full length mixtape as a run-up to their upcoming album Revolutions Per Minute. This holiday season hip-hop fans, are getting loads of gifts and I'm not one to complain.

If you've never heard of Reflection Eternal (which is the name that Kweli and Tek released their first album under), this is a great introduction. Almost all the songs are produced by Hi-Tek and the mixtape features a collection of old, new and unreleased tracks including the new single "Just Begun" featuring Jay Electronica, Mos Def and a killer verse from J. Cole. Honestly, the mixtape is worth downloading just for this track alone.

I saw Talib at a free concert with my school last year and the guy is a beast. His lyrics are second to none and has no problem speaking his mind. Plus when he's offering this stuff for free, it's hard to say no. Enjoy the mixtape here.

Keys N Krates

Self-proclaimed "re-inventers of the remix" Keys N Krates is a trio from Toronto consisting of DJ Jr Flo, Matisse on the keys and Tune the drummer. The concept of their band is simple but not easy to execute: remix tracks live. For a DJ alone, this is hard enough but throw in real instruments and the level of difficulty has exponentially multiplied. Needless to say, these guys have no problem with a challenge.

Keys N Krates opened for Kid Cudi at the Sound Academy earlier this month, they have travelled all across North America and continue to delight audiences with their energetic performances and solid mix of electronic and instrumental grooves. Heads up to the Ottawans reading this, Keys N Krates are playing at Ritual on New Years' Eve so if you're looking for somewhere to jam, head over! They also have a few more dates in Montreal and Quebec City in the new year before heading off to Whistler to play at the Olympics. We know they'll have the snow bunnies going nuts and the club bumping.

If you can't make it to any of the shows, hopefully Chicago's @superfun video can tide you over. @superfun caught up with them after a gig in the Windy City and had a few questions about what it is exactly they do.

MVPuppets Rap Battle

Nike released a few more MVPuppets vids recently but these are by far the best ones. Props to anyone who recognizes Blitzen's voice. Leave your guesses in the comments section.


And the late addition:

Key to the Roc pt. 2

I promise I won't be posting these on a regular basis but the irony is just too much. The picture tells all.


Read Billboard's shpeel here

Key to the Roc

"They say he bougie, he big-headed/Won't you please stop talking about how my d**k head is" - Kanye West on "Last Call"

As entertainment mags/blogs/shows/etc. are starting to roll out their obligatory best-of-the-year countdown, this year is a little special; seeing as there are exactly 21 days and 3 hours left until the new decade, prepare yourselves for a plethora of best-of-the-decade lists.

To kick off the festivities, let's look at Yeezy. He has released 4 albums in the past decade, 3 of which hit #1 on the Billboard charts and his first album, The College Dropout, peaked at #2; he has since amassed 12 Grammys amongst his 30 nominations (which don't even include his six nominations for the 2010 awards); you can probably sing the chorus to anywhere between 2-12 of his songs; and your general opinion of him is probably along the lines of "great musician; huge douche".

But regardless of his non-music related shenanigans, the guy will be a legend in the pop culture world for years to come. So it shouldn't come as a great surprise that Kanye was named one of Rolling's Stones Artists of the Decade only a few days after Entertainment Weekly named The College Dropout Album of the Decade and Kanye himself as #6 on the Top 100 things pop culture of the '00s.

Honestly, good for Kanye; I just hope he remains humble, which for Kanye is a normal person's foray into arrogance, and that his next album bangs.



Via his blog three times

Blakroc

Call it Blakroc; call it Dame Dash's ressurection; call it what you want, it's damn good! Blakroc is the new collaborative project between Ohio rock duo The Black Keys and 11 urban music artists (including Q-Tip, Jim Jones and RZA). Their self-titled album came out yesterday (to coincide with Black Friday in the States) and is probably in the top 3 CDs I've heard this year.

The project came to be when Damon Dash, co-founder of the now defunct Roc-A-Fella records, started listening to the Black Keys and wanted to meet them in person. At the time, he was working on a project with rapper Jim Jones and set up a recording session for Jones and the Keys to experiment with each other. While recording, Mos Def walked in and he must have liked what he saw because he's featured on two tracks. After that, Dash started inviting other artists to come record and voila, the record was made in only 11 days.

All the backing tracks are performed by the Black Keys and ultimately, the fact that they sound exactly as they would had they been recording one of their own CDs is kind of cool. But more impressive is the fact that Dash picked skilled diverse rappers who effectively spit heat over pure rock tracks. This is pretty much what Linkin Park and Jay-Z wanted to do...

Also, rumour is album #2 is on the way; but for now, check out the album's trailer below and download "On The Vista" featuring Mos Def here

Diamond District: In The Ruff

Just got back from Montreal, I love that city.
Anyways back to the important stuff;

The best thing about hip-hop music is that there always seems to be a new artist who is killing it on par with the mainstream heavyweights. Just came across this album today and its the top notch debut from Diamond District: In the Ruff. Diamond District is a trio of rappers X.O. and YU and producer Oddisee. The production is probably the best I have heard all year. From the first song to the last, Oddisee spins classically inspired tracks with tight drum beats and sweet samples, while X.O. and YU are your typical lyrically rich 'East Coast' rappers (I hate that label but it paints the picture).

Hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I have.

Streets Won't Let Me Chill

Who I Be

Jigga man

For those who haven't been following, Josh claimed in an MSN convo that Lil Wayne is "the best rapper alive". I vehemently disagree and need look no further than my man Shaw Carter aka Jay-Z aka Hov. To prove my point let's do a quick analysis of their two latest collaborations: Mr. Carter and Hello Brooklyn
Looking at Mr. Carter, Weezy's best verse is probably: "I been in and out the bank bitch/While ya'll asshole niggas been on the same shit/I flush em and watch em go down the drain quick/Two words you neva hear WAYNE QUIT". Not too bad. Jay on the other hand comes with: "Show no mercy to the Murcielagos/Far from being the bastard that Marcy had fathered/Now my names being mentioned with the martyrs/The Biggies and the Pacs the Marleys and the Marcus'"
Neither was great but Jay has better flow on the track and at least he has a metaphor; Josh, do you know how Marcy is? That's his housing project in Brooklyn; put that place on the map boy!
Speaking of Brooklyn, Weezy's featured on Hello Brooklyn, a song about Jay's city. And really, when was the last time you even heard Wayne mention New Orleans? Anyways, back to the point, Wayne really brought nothing to this track. "She said, she got a man but he ain't worried/But baby I'm a have to rob him like Horry" Ok really?! Congrats Weezy, you shouted out Robery Horry. That's not an innovative play on words; that's lame. On the other hand, Jay at least has a point to his rhymes: "Brooklyn you crazy, look how you made me/Razor blades in my mouth walk around behaving/All demented black hoodies and Timberlanded/Always scheming you see the gleam on that Niggas pendant/Hello Brooklyn, you bad influence, look what you had me doin'/But I ain't mad at you look at my attitude"
And finally, my ultimate point is that in both of these songs, Wayne mentions Jay-Z in the same sentence as Tupac and Biggie, which is no small feat in itself.
So Josh, Lil Wayne may be more anticipated and be featured on the hottest songs, but know this: Weezy looks up to, and respects, Jay. After all, the guy has more #1 albums than anyone in the history of music!
And WOWOWOWOW I found this just before I posted; it may be a few years old, but the point remains the same.
Game HOVA!
P.s. My apologies for the language. We don't swear here on J&J and the words posted above are just quotes. Hope we didn't offend anyone

This post is dedicated to one Jonathan Kates

THIS is Weezy F Baby! I officially challenge you to find any track that Jay-Z out does Lil' Wayne on. And I just won that challenge cause it ain't happening.

The first track watch out, is your immortal big lipped god jigga and weezy rapping over a sweet mash up of Public Service Announcements bass line. The DJ used a weezy interview for the hook, yes he does speak musically too.

Watch Out - Jay-Z ft Lil' Wayne

Second is a suspected leaked track off Tha Carter 4, it's intense and i say suspected cause Wayne is known for leaking tracks, and putting out phony mixtapes as albums...the man just loves making money.

The songs called Mr. Mike Tyson Flow, enough said.

Mr. Mike Tyson Flow - Lil' Wayne

And on the topic of music...

50 Cent, who do you think you are?!?!?
Yesterday, Fiddy once again proclaimed himself the "King of New York" and ripped Jay-Z, saying that around the world he's just "Beyoncé's husband". Curtis, let me tell you something. Jay-Z has 11 number one albums. Count 'em, 11. At last count, you had 2 and your last album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. Yes yes, we know you just released an album (Before I Self-Destruct) this past Tuesday so we'll see how you do.
But so far 50, it's not looking so good; according to XXL magazine, Before I Self Destruct is projected to sell between 150,000 and 160,000 copies in the first week. How did Jay's latest do? In the first week, the Blueprint 3 sold about 476,000.
And even if numbers aren't your thing, let's get real. Jay-Z has better music and commands more respect in the industry (regardless of what the Game has to say). And, something we look for on this blog, Jay's got dope style and your outfit of choice is a doo-rag and a bullet-proof vest.
Via: You Heard That New

Royce Da 5'9 is only short in stature

Ever heard of this Michigan born rapper?
Royce Da 5'9 who was formerly half of the duo called Bad Meets Evil with one Eminem.
Who co-wrote "The Message" on Dr. Dre's The Chronic 2001.
Who formed the most successful new rap group of 2009, Slaughterhouse (ft Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Joe Budden).
Who has full albums with uber-producer DJ Premier (aka the brains behind Reasonable Doubt Jigga man's first LP)
Royce is an experienced rapper whose been pumping out some solid tracks of late. His Revival EP, recent album Street Hop, and Slaughterhouse work is all in hip-hop speak - "dope".
While rumours have him joining Em's Shady Records.
Maybe a potential Bad Meets Evil album are on the way? Some rumours also have Em working with Slaughterhouse in the future and, Royce is apparently on a Relapse 2 track (Eminem's upcoming album).

Here's my favourite track off his latest album Street Hop.
Royce Da 5'9 - Gun Harmonizing

A good remix with a stupid name

I really like remixes - especially dance remixes of hip-hop songs I know. When you're in the club and some dirty beat comes on and WHAM! you know the words and start singing along like an idiot; ya those kinds of songs.
My current favourite is a remix of Baby's "Money to Blow" with Drake and Weezy. The remix involves some sort of Britney Spears mashup and for God knows what reason, this DJ Pinto character decided to name his remix "Money She Bl3w". Really, a 3??
Anyways here the link
P.s. on behalf of Baby, I apologize for his verse being absolutely useless to this song

Men of the Year

I love GQ magazine. I love Drake. So you know damn well I'm going to love that GQ is finally blasting Drake in their December issue. And to be a man of the year alongside Kid Cudi and Wale - well that's a fine piece of reporting, GQ. Too bad you didn't include J. Cole but there's always next year.

The Carter - Lil Wayne's Sundanced Doc' gets good reviews again

Lil wayne is one of those rappers that people either love or love to hate. Be it auto-tuned, promethazined, or incarcerated, the ex-young money CEO had a movie crew follow him around, the product of which is the documentary "The Carter". The doc got solid reviews at the Sundance movie festival, and I attached a link to the review I read on the film. I haven't given it a watch yet but it definitely looks intriguing. I mean Weezy IS the self declared martian, how boring could this film be?

Hiphopdx.com The Carter review

Cudi and Roth on alistradio.net

Came across this a while ago, but I replayed it recently. Top notch freestyle on a radio show that has freestyles by pretty much every rapper you know (Em, Weezy, Talib Kweli) and Cudi's hook at the end takes the session to another level. If you have some spare time give J.Cole's alistradio.net's freestyle a listen too.