Metal Lungies

 

While MTV is pretty much worthless nowadays, MTV.com can at least drop a gem every now and again, such as last week, when they scored an interview with the ever-elusive Andre Benjamin while on the set of the upcoming video for UGK’s “Int’l Players Anthem,” which features Outkast, and which I am eagerly anticipating. The piece does a nice job of recapping Andre’s recent string of successful guest appearances, in the process helping people like Devin The Dude get some much-deserved promotion, and people like Rich Boy get some lesser-deserved promotion. However, gloom quickly arises in the interview when the topic of a future Outkast LP comes up:

Dre admitted that he and Big Boi are talking about the next Outkast album, which may be another dual-solo release, like Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

Now, pardon me while I ignore the words “may be” in that statement, jump to a conclusion, and rant about it. Andre, if you’re reading this, I have seven words for you. Actually, it’s just one word, repeated seven times, in increasing volume. No. No. No. No. No. NO. NO!

Whatever happened to 10 The Hard Way, the seemingly-mythical 10-song album that was supposed to be Outkast’s return to their roots? I can only assume that it’s locked in a vault somewhere deep in the Bermuda Triangle, next to Large Professor’s debut, Rakim’s Aftermath album, and RZA’s The Cure. If “rapping Andre’s” resurgence into today’s hip hop scene is only going to culminate with another half-Andre-songs, half-Big Boi-songs, “Outkast” album, then I will be extremely disappointed.

I can’t help but wonder if Outkast’s window of opportunity to release another “real” album — not some half-and-half shit — is almost closed. That’s not to say that neither Andre nor Big Boi are slacking; Andre is clearly still at the top of his game right now, and Big hasn’t slipped either despite his recent resume (guest spots on Rich Boy’s album and the aforementioned UGK’s single) not being as extensive as Andre’s. Personally, I’d rather see the duo go their separate ways if they’re not planning on working together anymore; I really don’t WANT that to happen, but if both would rather put out records by themselves as opposed to with each other, then why try to hide that desire under the facade of still being a duo?

And for those of y’all on the late train…

Download: UGK featuring Outkast – “Int’l Players Anthem”

Have a happy Memorial Day, and enjoy the 3-day weekend (if applicable). And remember, don’t drink and drive… you might spill your drink.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRUG6bYr-RQ[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USSyICRkrFM[/youtube] [Sorry, no “Coolie High” video available. You’re wrong for that, YouTube.]

I wouldn’t trust YouTube commenters as far as I could throw ’em, but reading through what people say about these videos, it seems like, for a hip hop fan, either you love Camp Lo like a first-born child, or you’ve never heard of ’em. For those of us in that first category, be on the look out for Ski Beatz Presents: Camp Lo… Another Heist, an EP due out this August, produced entirely by Ski (the same Ski who produced all but one song on the Lo’s classic debut Uptown Saturday Night, and produced 4 tracks on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt). Here’s a snippet of the EP’s first single, “Ticket For 2,” courtesy of XXL.

And because there’s no such thing as too much Camp Lo, here’s a video for a track they did with DJ Honda sometime in ’98.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrLIgu7ej70[/youtube] Sphere: Related Content

Just saw this, really puts it in perspective how well received Budden’s mixtape series is. I’m looking forward to this as much as I look forward to retail releases. When you put out a trailer for a mixtape that doesn’t look foolish you know there is a high demand. Oh by the way, Joe Budden is Rapper #42983423 caught up in label politics. Now we need a trailer for We Got It For Cheap Vol.3!

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Speaks kind of negatively about the state of hip hop and the music industry when being released by a record label is cause for celebration, doesn’t it? Peep the trailer for (new free agents) Dilated Peoples’ Release Party DVD/CD, set for release July 31st.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwilPOUl9is[/youtube]

I found it kind of refreshing to hear Evidence say that they went to Capitol Records because they were gonna let Dilated “do their shit.” That was back around ’99-’00 — funny how times change. It seemed as if Capitol was down for the cause at first, and Dilated wasn’t doing that bad sales-wise (I can’t recall if Expansion Team went gold, but if it didn’t, it came really close). But as the years passed, and groups like Dilated became less relevant to the masses, and major labels became less interested in putting money behind artists with smaller (but loyal) fanbases, it became clear that the relationship wasn’t going to last. That’s probably why neither side put much effort behind 20/20, which was hardly promoted and not up to par with the group’s previous work.

Having met and gotten autographs from Ev, Rakaa and Babu after a performance a few years back, I can say that they put on a killer live show, they’ve released some great music (including Ev’s recently-released solo debut, The Weatherman LP), and they’re all real stand-up guys (the fact that they stuck it out at Capitol for 4 albums serves as a testament to that). Wherever their next endeavors lead them, I’m sure they’ll be putting out more great music in the future.

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Earlier this week my man K over at Analog Giant posted about a New York times article. The article covers how the place where Hip-Hop was given its birth is in danger of becoming just another plain apartment complex. The building is fighting on 2 fronts, to stay as public housing and to gain historical recognition status. It boggles my mind that Hip-Hop’s history all too often gets pushed back to the back burner. If this was the place where a pioneering rock band like the Rolling Stones lived, it would’ve already been preserved and probably turned into a museum. So why is it with a building like this, the invaluable historical hip hop aspect is completely overlooked and ignored?

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[* – Not clever at all, I know. Couldn’t really come up with anything better.]

Hell of a find over at the always-on-point Spine Magazine, for those interested.

Five tracks from The Game, apparently all produced by Dr. Dre, which were left off of the Doctor’s Advocate, likely because they are apparently all produced by Dr. Dre. If you’re not a fan of Game’s name-dropping, then you’re likely not gonna be blown away by any of these, as even though they are “unreleased” (until now, at least) tracks, there’s no real “diamond in the rough” amongst them. I still recommend giving ’em a listen, though — after all, how often do you stumble across five unreleased Dr. Dre beats? If I could pick one to throw on Doctor’s Advocate, I’d take “Murda,” although it’s pretty similar in content to “Ol’ English,” which was one of my favorite tracks off that album.

And just out of curiousity — ever since Doctor’s Advocate fell way short of Game’s predicted sales (“1 million first week”? Come come now), are people outside of Cali still checking for him?

UPDATE: Here are links to download these songs. I’m slowly getting the hang of this whole “having a blog that other people might actually read” thing.

Download: The Game – “Beautiful Life”

Download: The Game – “Murda”

Download: The Game – “My Bitch”

Download: The Game – “Still Me”

Download: The Game – “Won’t Stop”

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Yes, to all of you.

All two of you.

Your team pretty much tanked this past season, to the tune of a 22-60 record. They fired their coach mid-season. They rested their seasoned veterans and gave playing time to their young up-and-comers. They disgruntled their already-disgruntled star, Pau Gasol, even more. Granted, the team wasn’t that great to begin with, so they didn’t have to go too far out of their way to lose games.

But, despite all of that, there was light at the end of the tunnel. The worse they played, the more games they lost, the better percentage they had at getting the #1 or #2 pick in the draft and, in turn, the chance to select either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, both of whom are being spoken highly of by NBA analysts as potential franchise-saving superstars. Of course, it is just talk, but nonetheless, they didn’t talk this way about Michael Olowakandi or Joe Smith.

For all that patience, all that playing of percentages, all that anticipation, the NBA Draft Lottery came and went last night… and Memphis is not #1. And I don’t mean that in a KRS-One, “I’m number one, two, three, four and FIVE!” sort of way. Memphis is #4, to be exact. They won’t get Oden. They won’t Durant. (That is, barring some sort of trade they pull off with either Portland or Seattle, but really, who would give up Oden or Durant for anything Memphis has?) They won’t even get first dibbs on whoever is left in the draft.

All cruel jokes aside, I really feel bad for (both of) you Memphis Grizzlies fans. I wish I knew of some way to help y’all through the disappointment. Fortunately, I do know of a couple of Memphis natives who can provide some words of advice (mind the dumb girl laughing in the background) …

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e1ZArZDA7U[/youtube]

Oh, and don’t feel left out, Boston Celtics’ fans — if I could have found video of two dudes from Boston jumping around and chanting “KILL YA SELF!”, I would’ve posted that too.

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(I just got this in, breaking news!) ..and

• Are free at 4pm TODAY.
• Want to meet Young Jeezy.
• Would like to go to a Young Jeezy show for free; then:

 

go to www.BoostMobileRockCorps.com to register!
Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC), the national youth volunteerism movement that since 2005 has motivated more than 19,000 young people to get involved and help their communities, is partnering with non-profit organizations to plan more than 175 volunteer projects in major metropolitan areas around the U.S. this year. In exchange for contributing four hours of community service, volunteers will receive tickets to signature Boost Mobile RockCorps concerts in their area.
BMRC 2007 kicked off in Atlanta in mid-April with a diverse roster of volunteer projects and partnerships involving local Atlanta youth that will culminate with the unprecedented concert event at the Fox Theatre on June 9 featuring chart-toping recording artists Young Jeezy, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and more. The concert will reward 3,000 hard-working local youth who have volunteered four hours of community service through BMRC to earn tickets to this ultra-exclusive event.
                                                                                                                 WHEN & WHERE:
Wednesday, May 23, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
100 Flat Shoals Avenue
Register NOW at www.BoostMobileRockCorps.com for this volunteer event with Young Jeezy!

if you may remember HM and I did RockCorps last year in DC, the concert was well worth the work, where I got to tell Ghost & his manager about the site. It’s a great program, ML approved.

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 Pharrell produced this up-tempo with a lot of pots and pans sounding drums and synths. I enjoyed hearing Twista name-checking Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m still on the fence if this is a “hit” recrod. Grab the track here. Thanks to the fader.

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He’s having a lot more fun than should be allowed for the song.

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