Andrew has decided to write a lot of words about a bunch of rappers you may or may not have heard about already. I suggest you read it because most likely, your not gonna read anything more interesting today.
FACT.
JihaD
I’m doing these again. Or at least I did this again. Words about new rap songs by Schoolboy Q, Young Moe, Fat Trel, Yo Gotti, Chief Keef, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Future, St. Joe Louis, Lil B and Starlito.
*grabs title belt*
*runs around the house*
*daps Noz via internet means*
Go Read it, and you’ll see why I’m happy.
*parks the caddy in the living room*
JihaD
I wrote about 50 Cent’s label woes and non-comeback at MTV Hive.
You talking bout a bunch of teenagers (Sav ain’t even outta high school yet); they don’t really fuck with Philly, specially after Iverson lef. Igodalas claim to fame is that he is now a punchline because his name rhymes with “Dolla” and “Holla” and “Gualla Gualla”. ICH are dope tho, glad you paying attention to my yung buls.
and yes, this is a Flamer (c) (RIP) Meek.
JihaD
Mont Brown f/ Young Sam & Young Savage - “Make You Famous” (2011)
Though I’m deeply disturbed that a bunch of Philly rappers are shouting out the Miami Heat, Mont Brown and co. are otherwise gassing on here. Or uh… flaming? Or whatever the fuck. It’s too late for me to write in authentic regional dialects. This song is good. Produced by Charlie Heat.
Jay Electronica still has fans? I figured he bodied himself after he did this and this. Unlike his Boot Camp list, this is one is definitely more Noz’s area of expertise. Amazing how someone from Maryland is able to compile this type of random knowledge of a music scene that, for all I know, he never actually experienced. Still, extremely dope list. Could always use more Soulja Slim, tho.
Seriously, tho. Help Noz get that money, but homie, up this list to Cbrap or something; looking thru Complex’s half-loading pages is annoying and tedious.
JihaD
When @Willystaley did his 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs for Complex we talked about the frustrations that come with doing a list like this. Well it’s still frustrating. New Orleans in particular was a difficult task because there’s such a wide disparity of styles. How much No Limit and Cash Money is too much No Limit and Cash Money? Where and how much bounce fits into the equation? How exactly do you rank Curren$y against Big Freedia?
And while I would’ve liked to have included G-Slimm and MC Thick and Big Mike and 5th Ward Weebie and Kane & Abel and Da Sha Ra and PxMxWx and Gotty Boi Chris and Cheeky Blakk and Lokee and Ruthless Juveniles and Lil Goldie and Baby’s solo songs and J’Ro’J and Ice Mike and many many more, the finite nature of the number fifty prevented me from doing so. But I think the list is a decently representative sample of the city’s musical history, if not necessarily a comprehensive one. If it convinces one Jay Electronica fan to listen to Tim Smooth then then I’ll consider it a success.
Whats funny is that the song isn’t about Nike Boots AT ALL. Just Wale rapping about his typically inane bullshit. Theres a huge reason why people in DC didn’t really fuck with Wale’s music, and it was his constant pandering to the DMV. Oy Boyz didn’t do that. Mo Chedda didn’t do that. No Go-Go band does that. They don’t take pictures of themselves in front of Bens, simply because EVERYONE been there. They didn’t make songs about Nike Boots, simply because EVERYONE wore them. You make yourself seem even MORE like an outsider by doing that dumb shit. Its like taking a picture in front of the Golden Gate Bridge and then claiming the Bay. Them niggas would eat you alive, and rightly so.
*Plays Tabi Bonney- “The Pocket”*
*enjoys*
JihaD
I liked his early mixtapes, and jammed “Nike Boots” near every single day I rode the Metro when I lived in D.C. last year
No shots intended at all, but I think this statement pretty accurately reflects a large portion of Wale’s local or formerly local fanbase. His (pre-Ross) music panders pretty specifically to an informed transient/outsider perspective of what DC is like by crafting simple, short term “home”town recognition through brief and obvious flashes of DC-centricity. Oh shit! Ben’s Chili Bowl! I’ve been there! Nike Boots! I see the kids wearing those on the metro! For the most part he delivers these signifiers through a hip hop template that isn’t otherwise region specific, thereby creating an easily digestible pride for people who have no particular investment in the city. This makes a lot of sense too. Listening to Wale for the DC experience is like going to the Lincoln Memorial for the DC experience. Which is exactly how most people on earth experience DC. So in a weird, backwards way, his superficiality is as authentic a representation of the city as any actual, authentic DC rap would be.
Trel gon’ save us all though.
P. Dukes is still alive?
Word.
Cuz I got tired of playing that damn Down Bottom Freestyle he dropped, lol.
And for the record, Dukes »> Pill »> Cyhi »> All the other new ATL niggas.
FACT.
JihaD
P. Dukes f/ Audio P - “Away” (Mixtape, 2011)
This is like the thinking man’s (or rapping man’s?) “Lost.”
Produced by Doughboy Beatz, from Dukes’ forthcoming Celebrations & Tribulations (Easy Money 3).
Doe Pesci <- seriously. Listen to GPG and not see Albert over Murder or Southside
Tyler, The Creator (seriously, all I think about is how ill the Dunn language would sound over Yonkers…)
Sha Money XL <- “Put Em In They Place” should be enough to convince you.
Jahlil Beats <- The beats Jahlil gives other Philly niggas > The shit he gives (RIP) Meek= FACT.
Cardiak <- “Get Gully” and “Flatline” convinced me he’s the truth.
Jake One <- Go listen to the Stimulus Package and call me later.
Justin Blaze <- I listen to GSNT and think, “What if an INTERESTING rapper actually rapped over Just Blaze beats?”
SN: No Alan The Chemist or Havoc because I fully expect Albert to work with them. Matter of fact: http://rapradar.com/2011/03/07/havoc-prodigy-alchemist-in-the-lab/
JihaD
The Alchemist
Clams Casino
DJ Fresh
Exile
Frank Dukes
Roc Marciano
Ski
Welcome Home Bandana P, V.I.P, etc, etc, at. al.
*waits to hear new alchemist and Havoc beats*
*hopes Albert doesn’t rap like Shyne*
JihaD
The P Is Free!
AFTER 3 YEARS PRODIGY IS FREE
LOOK WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE
Other than the COMPLETE lack of Gibbs (and maybe a solo Meek jawn), this is probably the BEST end of the year list on the interwebs.
And I hate William Roberts (full disclosure— I have NEVER heard BMF; fuck the radio, my Ipod syncs in the wheel)
JihaD
My Head Hurts - Noz
You ain't gotta like me or love me, I love you
