The Terrace Martin produced banger “Upside Down” (mp3 here) was Malice n Wonderland‘s single redeeming track. The fact that Snoop Dogg is capable of making West Coast debauchery records that don’t sound recycled makes it even more sad that he chooses to make throwaway pop rap with Soulja Boy and The-Dream.
The video is clipped from the movie that comes with Malice N Wonderland (hip-hop marketing gimmick #67). It’s great: there’s smoking, drinking, chicks making out, and Snoop gets a contact lap dance. Considering the primary medium for music videos has become the Internet, I think more videos should have naked boobs in them. Just my thought.
Sidebar: What’s with the sci-fi shit? Snoop has something implanted in his hand and a force field blocks the bullets at the end. This movie looks dumber than your average rapper-helmed movie.
Marco Polo kept it in the one MC/one producer album lane by aligning with Ruste Juxx of the Boot Camp Clik for The eXXecution. “Take Money” inherits the darkness of Double Barrel, but the beat and the concept are more devious while Double Barrel was more sinister. Ruste, Rock, and Foxx compete for the most gravelly voice on track. The eXXecution comes out tomorrow (March 23).
In related news, Marco is working on an album with Freddie Foxx!
Update: Marco comes through with a video of him making this beat. He and Ruste Juxx will be at Fat Beats NY tonight at 7 and then they have a release party at Sutra.
Ski Beatz, best known for producing four songs on Reasonable Doubt and Camp Lo’s classicdebut Uptown Saturday Night, has something new to be proud of, thanks to Mos Def and Whosane. “Taxi” from Ski’s upcoming mixtape 24 Hour Karate School abandons the jazz/soul samples of his earlier work in favor of a moody jamthat hangs back and lets Mos Def to do his thing.
Though Consequence has a reputation as the easily ignored member of Kanye’s entourage, he’s redoubled his efforts in anticipation of the release of his new album ConsTV. While the album’s main draw will be Kanye’s production, Movies On Demand sees Cons holding his own and standing out among guest appearance from Rick Ross, Pharoahe Monche, Common, and Talib Kweli.
His position as Kanye’s lesser known little buddy allows him to rap about fame and glamor, but also maintain some semblance of humility since he’s far from a household name.
This has been out for a minute as a snippet called “Blue Eagles”, this is the full version of the song. For the record: Rae should swapped this, “State Of Grace” and “My Corner” for “Mean Streets” and the Dre tracks on OBCL2. Just incredible rhyming from Rae over a beautiful string and guitar sample produced by Mondee.
I mentioned Koncrete a couple of months ago. His mixtape, Well Grounded, is set to be released on March 26. He just sent us a freestyle, on the much used Over beat. This dude has a ridiculous flow, and he is definitely an artist to watch.
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:
