In late December I found out about a little site called ChatRoulette, a site which pairs you with random strangers in the world that have video cameras and have nothing better to do with their lives than talk to strangers (if you didn’t know this you might live under a rock, age can’t be an excuse because old dudes stay posted up on CR). I wish I documented all of my interactions on there, I’ve had Frat Brahs curse me out for a few minutes to talking to Mainland China residents (who were wearing heavy winter coats indoors) about Yao Ming. I’m still trying to convince KnobbzXL to give it a whirl, I think it would transform his life. Anyways, this video is one of the most hilarious things I’ve seen in a bit. It’s some guy serenading random people on the piano, and doing it with amazing wit. I had to play it back a few times (I mean you guys probably don’t remember when I wrote a full paragraph about something, right?!). I hope more videos come out soon.
After the jump I’ve added a few things CR related that I’ve come across over the past few months you might have missed.
Some crack from the inbox. Brooklyn MC Sene is one of the few New York rappers you should be excited about. Blu produced his last album A Day Late and a Dollar Short.
The Usual Suspects are a Chicago-based rap crew who just released their self-titled debut EP online. Rapper Ebonics kicks impeccable, effortless flows while group producer the Professional provides soulful, surprisingly polished beats. Nothing you haven’t heard before on here, but If you like throwback hip-hop with strong rapping and great beats, do yourself a favour and peep this EP. I’m glad to see the EP making a comeback. More rookie rappers would do well to follow this example and introduce yourself with a strong, concise EP instead of an overstuffed, underproduced mixtape.
The highlights are numerous but two songs stood out to me. “Truer Love” weaves a gorgeous piano sample with knocking drums as Ebonics rhapsodizes about his girl, guaranteed to get your head bobbing. “Cookin’ Up Classics” sees Ebonics spit an impressive double-time flow over a churning, stuttering beat.
Listen to both tracks and cop the whole EP below:
These two Game tracks leaked via this unofficial mixtape. Game and Ja Rule (remember that guy?) make a surprisingly strong combo, crappy Scott Storch beat and all. See also: “Sunset.”
Download: Game – Jump Off (ft. Ja Rule) (produced by Scott Storch)
Starlito (aka All Star) and DJ Burn One’s Renaissance Gangter is the South’s answer to Prodigy and Alchemist’s Return of the Mac. Starlito divides his attention between exploring the gangster mythos and ruminating about weed (“Alright”). DJ Burn One supplies a cohesive backdrop of 70s samples that gives Alchemist’s blaxploitation motif on Return of the Mac a run for its money. The mixtape/street album is out now and is definitely worth a listen. You’re going to want to tell people you were up on Starlito early.
Sup world? Anyone who knows me personally or musically knows I have the utmost reverence for the “old skoo”, so I thought I’d prove it by laying one of those throw back 80s/90s inspired joints…I hit up my nigga Playa Haze because I knew he could cook up one of those old skool joint with that classic boom bap feel..I came up on a variety of MCs, from Pimp C to Daddy Kane, Planet Asia to MC Lyte, they all inspired me to do what I do today, so enjoy the joint, and respect the Old School ya’ll, without the past there would be no present….R.I.P. Pimp C!!!……
I don’t hear the UGK influence, but “Dub Plate” sounds like like it was recorded at the height of the golden era. As did Co$$ and Playa Haze’s last collab.
Raekwon gave heads the classic coke tales they were fiending for with Cuban Linx II. Also, he has adapted to today’s hip-hop market by leaking a new track every couple of weeks. It sounds like a Wu fan’s dream, but between Cuban, Wu-Massacre, and Rae’s stray leaks, the Chef’s narcotic noir is getting played out.
Fortunately, Rae switched it up with “Lizz.” Rae raps to his lady with a vulgarity you would expect from Ghostface. His low voice is right at home over Les McCann’s warm, sweaty synth jazz. The song was inspired by the lewd conversations of Angela Yee’s Lip Service show.
Snoop Dogg collected a small contingent of West Coast artists for a relatively short mixtape that’s low on filler. Snoop using his international pop star status to support aspiring West Coast rappers is nothing new. Previously, he’s cosigned Terrace Martin and Crooked I. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement: Snoop gives them a weighty cosign and they keep him relevant to the core hip-hop audience.
We Da West, Volume 1 features Kurupt, Daz, Bad Lucc, Problem, Tha Twinz, Nipsey Hussle, and The Hustle Boyz.
Watch the video for the tape’s opener after the jump.
I’ve been transfixed by this Gucci Mane song for the past few days. I don’t care where you’re from or what notions you have about “real hip-hop.” This beat bangs like Donkey Kong’s down+B in Smash Bros. And that’s coming from one of the most stalwart Gucci-haters.
