Metal Lungies

Donwill & Von Pea’s new video is down-to-Earth, carefree, and fun — everything hip-hop usually isn’t. Sandwich Shop EP here.

I stopped reading and hit download when I saw Yela. The “Country Cool” remix stands above everything on Atlanta rapper Donnis’ new tape.

Download: Donnis – Country Cool (Remix) (ft. Yelawolf, Pill) (produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)

via DatPiff.com

I’ve been admiring Smoke DZA’s punchy weed rap for awhile now and Ski’s jazz lounge beat suits him perfectly. I’m waiting for the day when Ski can top Uptown Saturday Night. Off the upcoming George Kush Da Button mixtape.

Download: Smoke DZA – Sounds Of The Indo (ft. Terri Walker, Den10) (produced by Ski Beatz)

via GFCnewyork

John Robinson always shows up over great production and his album with Lewis Parker will be no exception. Listen to the single, you might learn something.

Download: John Robinson and Lewis Parker – International Summers

EPK after the break

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I lost all interest in Eminem after Relapse, but when he announced that Just Blaze was producing the bulk of the followup, I reluctantly got excited. Just Blaze, the man behind all the Roc-A-Fella classics, “Oh Boy” and most recently “Exhibit C.” This should be interesting, I thought.

Last night, Recovery leaked online and one of the first songs I heard was “No Love” which contains a prominent sample of Haddaway’s “What Is Love.” Utterly disturbed, I went on Twitter to cry about it and call out Mr. Blaze.

I reacted similarly when T.I. sampled an Internet meme for his single. According to nerd rap doctrine, samples should be old and obscure enough to be archaeological discoveries, preferably from the other side of the world. We like to think of producers as wizards who live in caverns of vinyl and collect records like Pokemon cards. Sampling a 1993 dance song that became an SNL skit and eventually a movie (EMILIOOO!!) is just wrong.

But Just asks a valid question: Why not? What if I pretend I’ve never heard of Haddaway or A Night at the Roxbury and the sample is just another rare loop? Are my elitist perceptions about what’s OK to sample totally arbitrary? I’m sure there two bros rocking out to Weezy’s bars right now with no qualms about the sample. What about “Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble” which contains a sample of the I Dream of Jeannie theme? There are countless examples of “questionable” samples that get a pass for one reason or another.

I don’t have good answers to those questions. Ultimately, there are no rules to sampling, it’s just a matter of what sounds right at the time. “No Love” has grown on me a little bit (not much) since my initial disgust, but I can’t see how anyone can absorb what Eminem is trying to pull out of his soul without bobbing their head to the side like Chris Kattan.

Joell put it best: “Puerto Rican parade after-after-after party anthem”

Download: Joell Ortiz – Drunk

via Joell Ortiz

“Pushin It” = “I Need a Girl 2010.” Game’s query, “Have you ever been to Cannes?” sounds oddly similar to Puff asking, “Have you ever been to Saint-Tropez?” No, I have never been to the South of France and neither have most of your fans. I’m sure it’s lovely.

Game and T.I.’s tough guy posturing makes their track more palatable, but I’m sure in eight years, this will be just as cheesy as Puff’s shenanigans in the “I Need a Girl (Part Two)” video. Enjoy it while you can (despite my snarky blogger remarks, I certainly am).

And is anyone else getting tired of the recent Diddy media blitz? The guy’s face is everywhere right now with no good music behind it — just a movie I don’t want to see and an album nobody cares about. Update: Thank you, 50.

Download: Game – Pushin It (ft. T.I., Robin Thicke)

via Game

Btw, this used to be a Ja Rule song.

Canibus’ otherwise un-spectacular rhymes absolutely shine over a DJ Premier beat that will make your skin crawl. Soundtrack sample, methinks.

Download: Canibus – Golden Terra of Rap (produced by DJ Premier)

via Wax Poetics Digital

Eminem became the best selling artist of the last decade by enrapturing mainstream audiences as an edgy anti-pop hero. He was the scowling, profane answer to sunny bubblegum pop. But pop stars and celebrities are a different breed today. They get on their fans’ level and air out their dirty laundry on Twitter. They have personal blogs. Eminem isn’t the same either. The guy who trashed Britney Spears and ‘N Sync is best friends with a Degrassi alum and he approves of Justin Bieber. Today, Lady GaGa is edgier than Eminem.

So how does he serve an audience that outgrew him while he fought a drug addiction? First, he returned with Relapse, a shock rap album that was as audacious as an episode of Family Guy. Then, he took some time off to record the sequel. Realizing his direction wasn’t cutting it, he changed lanes and dubbed his second attempt at a comeback Recovery and armed himself with a production team of trendy newcomers and established veterans.

On “Won’t Back Down,” Eminem raps with a rage that sounds as genuine as when first eviscerated his wife. He plays up his white trash psychopath miscreant character and indulges in rock star debauchery over a fittingly guitar-centric beat. Self Scientific producer DJ Khalil’s underground credibility cancels out the questionable inclusion of pop-rock singer Pink. But make no mistake, Eminem went pop. The rapper who once listed Redman and Kurupt among his favorites now boasts collaborations with Pink and Rihanna on his new album. While he will never recover his status as America’s tormented stepson, Eminem has proven that he can compensate for that with raw emotion and entertaining lyrical onslaughts.

Download: Eminem – Won’t Back Down (ft. Pink) (produced by DJ Khalil)

via Rap Radar

Has this sample been used before? Regardless, Big K.R.I.T. has the energy of ten rappers and has carved out a nice niche of old school sampling mixed with country rap. For your edification, refer to his album quality mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. “Money Outchea” is the best money making anthem in recent memory. Granted, I can’t remember anything prior to my last 5 posts. Bump this at your 9 to 5.

Download: Big K.R.I.T. – Money Outchea

via Traps N Trunks