I want to take the time out to speak to those dudes that love to debate. I know dudes that have very different taste from mine when it comes to rap. Different is always good. I do different.

For a long time I couldn’t understand how anyone could like (MF) Doom. Recently, I’ve grown to appreciate his music. It’s purely about artistry. It’s not about trends and charts. There is, essentially, nothing like it. That’s when “different” is good.

Lupe Fiasco can be considered another one of those “types”. It’s more than rap. I’d be lying if i said i liked everything he puts out, but it’s a good vibe. It’s a art I feel safe in supporting.

What I can’t get with is rappers (and more so their fans), that base their careers on “different” without the artistry. If you have to preach about how unlike the mainstream your are, well…you haven’t said shit to me.

Some fans of this kind of music and mentallity carry the same trait. It’s the, “I was up on them when no one f@cked with them.” mentality. Phonte said it best when he spoke about the lack of mainstream success for the group Little Brother. “Some just want to take us home and keep us in they little box.”

I keep my mind open to anything, but if I’m not feeling it…I’m just not feeling it. iT’s not hate or regional bias. You don’t know how many times I’ve been told to check out this ” ” artist. My thirst for hip-hop is never quenched, so I do so eagerly.

The end result is some “Dj Cat Show Shirt Wearing Ass nigg..”. His objective is usually one of the following:

- Angry Thug/Political Activist mad at people for dancing…

- Microphone Scientist who tosses big words around (with little to no point); and anyone who isn’t feeling it…just doesn’t understand.

- Mainstream reject who aims for radio play with every song but just sounds like a parody of it all.

Am I asking for too much? I too search for “different”, but I am a little more cautious in my investing. I discovered the music of Jay Electronica and Joell Ortiz a while back. They are nice! And that will not go unignored in any case. Those are good refferals for hip-hop fans.

That wack shit some dudes hop on is just a reflection of their own shame as an social outcast. (Boooom!!!)

We all have “different” taste. I respect that, but when it’s up for debate…YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTIME.

Sincerely Yours,

VEGAS

1. Ghostface Killah’s “Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry“

“Though sales for this album were far from great, it is a dope cd. Ghostface pulls off a nice soulful release targeted at the ladies, but hot enough for the fellas to ride to. I probably play this on a daily basis when I want to escape all the “gun clappin’” and “I spit bars” talk. Ghost fans need to get with this.”

2. Lil Wayne’s “No Ceilings” Mixtape

“Now I know what people were talking about. Mixtape Lil Wayne can be a dope emcee. A couple of songs on here surprised me. Weezy is in rare form. The mixtape starts to get a little weak towards the end, but there is still enough here to chew on. Dope mixtape. Start making albums like this…please.”

3. Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah “Only Built For Cuban Links 2“

“I’m still rocking this album like it came out last week. This joint is such a mood album. This is just a solid album altogether. Good hip-hop in an age of unwarranted hype for other hip-hop releases. I’ll settle for the real thing. Another classic. You should have this already…right?”

4. M.O.P. “Foundation“

“Did 50 Cent just say that his latest release (BISD) was his hardest in years? I don’t think so. It doesn’t get no harder than M.O.P. This album keeps the tradition alive for the Brooklyn duo. Hard beats, and killa rhymes. Plus, my man Kil produced “Rude Bastards”. This is the continuance of “Gangsta Rap”. Period.”

5. Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3″

“This one grew on me. There are still songs I hate (i.e. Reminder, Forever Young), but Hov’s lyrics are what keep me coming back for more. This is a “good” album. Probably won’t last long in my heavy rotation. There are a lot of dope artist on the horizon.”

Peace…

I love a good Maritn rerun every now and again. Even though I may know the episode word for word, I must watch. Even though I’m able to anticipate every single detail in every scene, I love it like it’s the first time.

50 Cent’s “Before I Self-Destruct” is, without a doubt, a rerun. Of course, like “Curtis” & “The Massacre“, it doesn’t come close to his smash debut “Get Rich or Die Trying“. This album also doesn’t have a track that’s on par with his last major hit “I Get Money“.

This album is a rerun in the sense that the formula is the same as his previous work. It has become very predictable over time. If you love 50, this album is dope. It has everything you need. If you feel 50 fell off, this album is another nail in that coffin.

I’m somewhere in the middle. I love joints like “Invitation” and “Death to My Enemies”. It’s songs like “Gangsta’s Delight” and “Get it Hot” that leave me like, “What the f@ck is this?!”

Maybe this album was done this way to fufill his last contractual obligation to Interscope. The album has pushed back since 06′.

It’s kind of dissappointing to see how politics and label nonsense directly effect music. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. As a fan, I just want to put the cd on and rock but it’s hard to do that when business is such an open book in the music industry.

If you are happy with the 2009 version of 50 Cent, you won’t be dissappointed. Especially with the movie and documentary bonus.

If you’re looking for “Get Rich or Die Trying”…keep trying. Not feeling this one people.

What up all! I did an interview on 10/30/09 with the Tres Chic Style Radio Show. We chopped it up about hip-hop and music in general. It was a good interview. The Tres Chic Style Radio show airs every Friday at 11pm here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/treschicstyle

Check out the interview here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Hip-Hop commentary in video form. Enjoy!

No I didn’t watch the Def Jam Hip-Hop Honors. I don’t have anything against the celebration. I just have no interest in celebrating the past in this way. I keep old school joints on the iPhone and listen to them like they were released yesterday.

Basically, I celebrate hip-hop everyday. Looking at the event’s line-up, and Def Jam’s history, I can only think about the present/future. With Blueprint 3 and Cuban Links 2 on shelves, I can’t help but to think about what’s left. A lot of anticipated albums have dropped already and it’s not even holiday season.

Have we already seen the best of the holiday season? Will albums by Eminem (Relapse 2) and 50 Cent (Before I Self-Destruct) get pushed into 2010? More importantly, do we give a shit? Is anybody checking for that Nas & Stephen Marley album?

There are other albums “scheduled” to drop, but do we need more? There is a nice variety of music in the streets now (I.e. Ghostface Killah, M.O.P.). With all this good hip hop around…shit, I just don’t want it to end. Not too long ago we were being overwhelmed with wack shit (remember Laffy Taffy).

Please let’s close out the year with a BANG!

Props to Russell Simmons…

Well, well, well…. Hot off the heels of Raekwon’s, arguably, classic Only Built for Cuban Links 2; Ghostface drops a r&b collabo album. I was initially disappointed when he announced this album, but after hearing it, it’s not that bad. Ghostface Killah’s 8th official album, Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry, is filled with tons of r&b artist paired with Ghost’s witty & humorous wordplay.

If you are a person who didn’t mind Ghostface over the Jodeci “Freak N U (Remix)” from back in the day, you will enjoy this album. Some of the featured r&b crooners are Raheem Devaughn, Lloyd, and John Legend. One of the stand out songs on this album is a song called, “Guest House” featuring Fabolous. The song features Ghost catching his woman with another dude (Fab of course).

It’s dope to see two hip hop artist come together and make a song that doesn’t leave you trying to compare their verses. This is a true collaboration. Ghostface’s lyrics are what makes this album. While all the r&b singers don’t churn out memorable performances, it’s Ghost’s lyricism and story telling that carry’s the load.

From vivid stories, to graphic depictions of sexual encounters with the ladies, Ghost knows how to pull you into his world. Other stand out tracks on this album include, “Stay”, “Do Over”, and “Paragraphs of Love”. The production is decent on this release as well.

Like I said earlier, this one isn’t for every Ghost fan. I kind of like the fact that this album isn’t a “spit-off”. That would put it in direct competition with Rae’s album. This is like having a glass of wine after dinner.

The Wu has been busy releasing some decent albums as of late. Add this joint to your collection and remember this, Ghost is probably the only Wu member who could have pulled this off. Vegas Recommends….

L.L. Cool J. is being considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I wish this was the “Hip-Hop Hall of Fame”, but that will come in due time. This is a good look for “Mr. Smith”. His popularity and platinum success just started to slow down recently. You are talking about an hip hop artist who came out in the mid 80s!

There is currently NO ONE in the game that can claim that. Don’t give me that sh@t about the majority of his fanbase being female (as if when don’t grow tired of artist). There were, and are, a lot of dudes who rocked with “Uncle L” too. He is the Blueprint for longevity in the game.

He switched his flow and production to adapt to the ever changing world of hip-hop. If you follow the time line of east coast rap’s trends throughout the years, his run is incredible. He also never compromised his image. He’s both battled other emcees and revolutionized the “love record” (i.e. “I Need Love”)

Pay Tribute…

Here’s what The Rock & Roll Hall Fame has to say:

” LL COOL J
LL Cool J always had his sights set on rock & roll. Born James Todd Smith in Queens, New York, LL was only 17 in 1985 when he recorded “Rock the Bells,” which included the following couplet: “Cause it ain’t the glory days with Bruce Springsteen/I’m not a virgin so I know I’ll make Madonna scream.” A year earlier LL had made his debut on Def Jam, which was also the debut of the label itself. His first two singles – “I Need a Beat” followed by “I Want You” – sketched out the two main gears of his career: testosterone-maddened battle raps and tender, sexy love songs. The former included “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” (1985), “Jack the Ripper” (1987), and “Mama Said Knock You Out” (1991). By the 1990s, LL was working in television and film and has proven that rappers can sustain a long-term career.”

See the other nominees here: http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/nominees-for-2010-induction/

Sorry Mike; the best metaphor I could find.

Do I really have to say it?

Well, you don’t need me to tell you what happen with this. Just click on the pic above. I just felt compelled to blog on it because I saw people saying stuff like, “Is this bad for hip-hop?”. Was it bad when he said, “George Bush don’t care about black people”? How about when Ol’ Dirty Bastard did it at the Grammy’s to Diddy?

Hip-hop has nothing to do with a ego driven and “high’ producer/artist who gets on stage and voices his opinion about weak videos. The shit was wack on his part, and truth be told, I didn’t know who Taylor Swift was before this incident. It was just bad for Kanye. He better pray his music continues to pop, because when (or if) he falls…it’s going to be hard.

This is why I don’t watch these shows (I was somewhere btwn True Blood & NFL last night). We get more news about the dumb shit behind the scenes than performances and honors. That’s enough blog time from me on this issue. Peace….

The original is always better: