PropsOverHere's NBA Mock Draft

Virginia Hip-Hop

Contrary to popular beleif, Virginia is hip hop. After all, Allen Iverson did grow up there...and it's where Mike Vick cousin holds dog fights. Anyway, Virginia is an underrated hip hop scene and here are some of the finest to come out of VA.

Download: Mad Skillz-From Where???

Download: Myalanski & Joe Mafia- Wu-Syndicate

Download: Clipse- Lord Willin'

Download: Ill Biskits- Chronicle Of Two Losers

Props Over Here Presents: Pete Rock Vs. Wu

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Given that the Wu-Tang Clan has a legendary producer in the group itself (RZA) and also "in house" producers 4th Disciple, Bronze Nazareth, True Master, and Mathematics, the group members rarely get to work with the game's super producers. To the best of my knowledge, only Method Man and Inspectah Deck have worked in studio with DJ Premier (as guest MCs at that), and only Deck has collaborated with Large Professor. No members (again, to the best of my knowledge) have worked with Dre (until OB4CL drops), Buckwild, Diamond D, The Alchemist etc. However, much of the Wu and its affiliates have blessed a Pete Rock classic, which is highlighted in this 12 track mix.

PropsOverHere's: Top 5 Most Anticipated For '07

Almost halfway through 2007 there has been some dope hip hop released, namely Jazzy Jeff and Marco Polo's compilation type albums. Unfortunately, these albums lack the qualities of a real "classic" album, but then again is there such a thing as a classic album anymore? Here are some of my hopes for one:

5. Havoc- Kush

If nothing else, Havoc's got beats. Some bangers will make Lloyd Banks or 40 Cal or whoever is gonna rhyme along with Hav bareable. I was gonna link to a video of him playing stuff off the album but they took it down. It sounded dope though.

4. Papoose- Nacirema Dream

Papoose has made alot of mixtapes and tracks, some of them heat and some straight garbage, which makes me sort of unsure about the album. It's supposed to be real big budget in terms of producers and guests etc., which I guess is a good thing. Download: Papoose (Feat. Akon)- Ghetto Soldier

3. Royce Da 5'9"- Street Hop

An album by a pretty dope battle rapper with some Premo beats is almost a can't miss. Hopefully the other half of the album (non-Premier half) has some nice beats too, then this albums got a chance to be crazy. Download: Royce Da 5'9"- Ding

2. Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2

It's not gonna be like the original. Not even close. It may not even come out. I didn't put this at #1 because honsetly a RZA and Dre production lineup isn't what it would have been in '93 or something. And Ghost isn't gonna handle half the rhyming. Download: Raekwon- Kids That's Rich (prod. Pete Rock)

1. Saigon- The Greatest Story Never Told

Well after all the drama and label politics surrounding this release, it better be some bomb shit. Saigon and Just Blaze, who handles most of the production on this, make a pretty ill combo as evidenced by "Dont Do That".

Tragedy Khadafi

Tragedy, the QB pioneer, started his career with Marley Marl and the Juice Crew as the "Intelligent Hoodlum." He has since switched up his name and updated his style as a solo artist and a member of the Wu affiliated Black Market Militia. He is set to drop "The Death Of Tragedy" sometime this year.

Intelligent Hoodlum (1990)

Tragedy: Saga Of A Hoodlum (1993)

Against All Odds (1999)



Still Reporting (2003)

Thug Matrix Mixtape (2005)

Thug Matrix 2 Mixtape (2006)

NBA Finals Analysis

As bad as the Spurs have made Cleveland and my boy LeBron look, and as awful as the TV ratings are in this series, nothing has been more embarrassing than San Antonio's player introductions. While most NBA teams opt for a Just Blaze classic i.e, "Show Me What You Got" or the Cavaliers' choice, "The Second Coming," the Spurs, as if they weren't corny enough to begin with, enter to Unlimited 2's (below) "Get Ready 4 This," the shitty dance song made famous by Jock Jams in the mid nineties.

Is that what they listen to in San Antonio? Anyway, in a league where street credibility weighs as heavily as championship trophies, the Spurs, depsite their titles and whatnot, are teh gheyest team in the league, and therefore lose.

Nas & DJ Premier: Pre-Matic (Mixtape)

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Every East Coast hip-hop fan has wanted to see a Nas/Premo collab album for years. Well, this isn't quite it, but its dope anyways. It's basically some Nas tracks remixed with Premier instrumentals. It's also got a few real tracks they've done in the past.

Album Review: Talib Kweli "Ear Drum"

Talib Kweli dropped classic albums collaborating with Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek when he was with Rawkus. Years later, he has yet to make music like he did back then, dropping a series of mediocre solo efforts. This is his first album on his own record label. Let's see if that makes a difference.


EVERYTHING MAN

Not a big fan of the mellowed-out beat but Talib rips his verses. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

NY WEATHER REPORT

Talib sounds hungry on this track too which is good considering he seemed to get worse and worse with each release before this. The beat on this kind of sucks though.

HOSTILE GOSPEL

Not feelin the marching band drums. Or the choir for that matter. Not bad but not too good either.

SAY SOMETHING

This one is all over the place. It comes in with the Lords Of The Underground, “Funky Child” horns and then is just a drum loop then there are like two loops that kick in at random times. Anyway, Talib and Jean Grae come correct on a track about, what else, wack MCs. Not the most novel idea but a hot track.

COUNTRY COUSINS (FEAT. UGK)

Kweli and UGK rap about how they like rappers from everywhere. Surprisingly, whoever made this beat (probably Kanye) nearly pulls of the Earth, Wind, and Fire ( I think?) sample. Cool track anyway.

HOLY MOLY

This is sort of a strange beat. I think Dilla did it which would make sense considering all the weird stuff he did to impress Madlib. Kweli continues to impress my lyrically however.

EAT TO LIVE

A deeper track about being black and under-privileged. This sounds like a bad track off “Beautiful Struggle.”

IN THE MOOD

At this point I can’t even listen to how Talib is rapping because I can’t get passed these awful beats. This beat is a women saying “moooooooooooooooood” with bongo drums.

SOON THE NEW DAY

I never really liked girl tracks. Especially ones over these slow R&B type tracks.

ELECTRIFY

This track is about people criticizing him and stuff. He even mentions people questioning his beat selection which is ironic I guess because this beat is boring as hail.

HELL

Talib raps about religion over yet another underwhelming beat.

MORE OR LESS

I posted the video of this a while back. Just pure heat. Dope concept, execution and of course Hi-Tek comes correct on the beat. Best of the album so far.

THE PERFECT BEAT (Feat. KRS-One)

This track was really ok until KRS ruined it.

HOT THING

Another girl track. While better than the first one, it’s a little stripped-down for its own good. Peace to the fake Pharrell on the hook.

OH MY STARS

Well a kid starts rapping on this which is cliché and is always stupid. Once Kweli kicks in its better but the R&B guys on this ruin it.

LISTEN

The single that came out a while back. The beat is very dope and Talib’s flow is nice too. Definitely one of the album’s better tracks.

OVERALL: Well I’m a little disappointed by this effort. After hearing “Listen” and “More Or Less” I expected big things only to find that they are the album’s best tracks. Still it’s a solid album and probably Kweli’s best since the Reflection Eternal album.

BEST TRACKS: “Say Something”, “More Or Less”, “Listen”

LA The Darkman: "Heist Of The Century"

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There are 2345000 Wu-Tang affiliated albums floating around out there but, other than Killarmy's debut, this is my favroite of them all. LA is easily one of the better Wu-affiliated MCs and their are some bangers on this album.

Album Review: Pharoahe Monch- "Desire"

Pharoahe Monch is a god of underground hip-hop. He was one half of Organized Konfusion who dropped some of the best and most creative boom bap in the golden era. His '99 solo debut, "Internal Affairs" has become sort of a cult classic after being shelved for the illegal use of the infamous godzilla sample in his classic single, "Simon Says." However, other than Masta Ace, how many guys can make good hip-hop for 15+ years?


INTRO
32 seconds of gospel choir

FREE

Pharoahe spits about conspiracies and stuff over a low-budget version of “The Takeover.”

DESIRE (FEAT. SHOWTIME)

Pharoahe’s flow is more smoothed here out which sounds kinda tight. The Alchemist produced this track which has his trademark throwback steez but it sounds like it could be a throwaway from that Prodigy album. There’s also an M.O.P. impersonation (unless its a sample because it doesn't say anything about them actually being on the track) on the hook which seems unrelated but is funny I guess.

PUSH (FEAT. SHOWTIME, MELA MACHINKO, & TOWER OF POWER)

This track has been out forever now and is the theme for the new NBA Street which is completely relevant. A lot of singing and then some rapping which isn’t all that good. The beat is entertaining anyway.

WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME

This is actually a cover of the Public Enemy classic with some Jazz horns. He does spit a new second verse on some political shit.

WHAT IT IS

A switch-up from the rest of the album with the cold beat that reminds me of “Hell” from his last album. Pharoahe’s verses aren’t really very good at all.

WHEN THE GUN DRAWS (FEAT. MR. PORTER)

Another track that’s been out for a minute, and I’ve never liked it more than now after listening to all this other junk. A continuation of the Organized Konfusion classic, “Stray Bullet.” Instead of rapping from the bullet’s perspective, it’s the gun on this track. Pretty good.

LET’S GO (FEAT. MELA MACHINKO)

Pharoahe’s flow on this is fiyah but the busy beat on this kinda ruins it. What a shame. Still easily one of the better tracks yet.

BODY BABY

If you haven’t heard this, Pharoahe, who has sung and stuff before, goes for the Andre 3000, “Love Below” style here. It’s pretty terrible, especially since he makes dope hip hop.

BAR TRAP (FEAT. MELA MACHINKO)
A girl track over a sped up version of the Gang Starr, Scarface collab, “Betrayal.” We’ve waited eight years for this?

HOLD ON (FEAT. ERYKAH BADU)

Pharoahe raps about a black girl over a pretty funky beat. While it’s not the worst thing I’ve heard on the album, it’s boring and really soft.

SO GOOD

Since a comment about the irony of the song title is too easy I’ll just say it outright. THIS SUCKS.

THE TRILOGY (ACT 1 FEAT. MR. PORTER, ACT 2 FEAT. DWELE, ACT 3 FEAT. TONE)

If Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean taught me anything, it’s that trilogies can be long and confusing. This is 9:24 of lord-knows-what. In all fairness, Act 3 isn’t half bad.

AGENT ORANGE (UK BONUS TRACK)

Hasn’t this been out for like 3 years? Another conspiracy track but better than the others on the album due to the crazy beat. I don’t even know if this will make the album, because my copy says “UK Bonus Track.”

OVERALL: Pharoahe Monch is still a good rapper. Very good even. But this album is absolute bullshit. I feel cheated for having to listen to a guy with one of the best flows in hip hop singing and talking over some old fashioned R&B/Jazz shit.

BEST TRACKS: “Desire”, “Let's Go”, “Agent Orange”