I was directed to this recently but only just watched it tonight. “Snow” might just be the best song of 2007.
Roc Marciano - “MC’s”
J went through a super-boring period and I stopped messing with his shit for a while, but I liked his recent EP and the soon-to-be released Then What Happened sounds solid so far – either he’s stepped-up his beat science or just picking better tracks. Posdenous making an appearance makes a lot of sense, considering he’s the father to Live‘s “brainiac” mic technique.
J-Live - “Be No Slave”
Photo by D-Nice
MIKEY D VS MELLE MEL
DATE: 1989
VENUE: New Musical Seminar Battle for MC Supremacy @ the Marriot Marquis
THE COMPETITORS: Mikey D, the young upstart from Queens who went on to work with Paul C and replace Large Professor in Main Source; Melle Mel, the pioneer MC who had a worldwide smash with “The Message” as part of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5.
LET’S BATTLE: Even though the new school was already in full swing, Melle wasn’t going to accept the changing of the guard without a fight. Having won the MC battle the previous year, he stepped to Mikey D just after he accepted his belt for winning the final against Bango from Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate.
DJ Johnny Juice: “Melle came up on stage dressed like a World Wrestling Federation dude. He had these tights on and a dude with him who looked like a referee [Grandmaster Caz]. Dude was wearing a white and black striped shirt and the black pants. [Melle] said: ‘To be the man, you gotta beat the man! Whoever wins takes both belts home’”.
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There have been so many shitty trends over the course of hip-hop’s relatively brief life-span that it’s tough to pin-point the worst. Novelty dances named after comedians? The Roxanne wars? Weed songs? Love ballads? Tracks titles including the words “Represent: or “Keep It Real”? Nah, it has to be that tired old “Hip-hop music = a hot chick” concept. Should I just blame Common? As much as I’d like to, I’m not sure if he was the first to record the idea to wax (let’s assume he wasn’t), but “I Used To Love H.E.R.” was certainly one of the most celebrated incarnations of this oh-so-clever metaphor. Shit, even Ice Cube caught feelings over it and took a shot at Chicago’s favourite son on the first Westside Connection album (which in turn led to Mr. Sense serving O’Shea the ethering of a lifetime with “The Bitch In Yoo”).
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Image Courtesy of Oh Word’s Space Rap Team
Looks like RHS was onto something with his predictions about Space Rap were spot on like my predictions that the Y2K bug would have us all living in caves again. OK, not so much on that last one. But if this new Vast Aire song, anchored by a very un-Pete Rock-ish PR track, is any indication then it looks like it’s time to start buying tickets to the Virgin Galactic Shuttle.
Vast Aire feat. Vordul - “Mecca & The Ox”
Miss Info demonstrates journalistic integrity at it’s finest
It’s always interesting how companies like Harris Publications love to be attached to “good” controversy if it helps sell magazines or get site views, but as soon as someone crosses that proverbial line in the sand and makes “upsetting” comments about T.I.’s or Asian radio dames it’s a case of “Post? What post?”. Seems that Byron Crawford‘s expert analysis of the bungled Max B “When Weed Carriers Get Attacked” incident from Friday has gone the way of Father MC‘s career:
Original Post: Yes, I *am* a publicist!
Official XXL “Rumor” Story: Was Max B Shot During An Attempted Robbery?