U-N-I’s A Love Supreme (FREE)
U-N-I
I’ve been digging these U-N-I cats out of Cali for a long minute now [II]. After listening to Thurzday and Y.O.’s music you can readily tell they’re official Hip-Hop purists. But rather than beating you over the head about why they’re so good (well, not too much), they let their music speak for themselves.
You can download their A Love Supreme project with producer Ro Blvd right here (via YoThurz.com). Do yourself a favor and go find their first album, Fried Chicken & Watermelon (2007). Hope they don’t get too mad at me for sharing my favorite track off that project, “The Show 2007,” below. Any group that can point the origin of their name to a Roots song (“UNIverse at War” f/ Common) is good money with me.
Big Ced is More Hip-Hop than You
Eminem Slim Shady Review in Blaze
It’s true. Big Ced, of the Industry C0sign and a whole lotta ish you can ask him about yourself, is more Hip-Hop than any of us. I first noted it when after every time I thought to myself, “Damn, that dude in MC Lyte’s ‘Paper Thin’ video looks just like Ced”—it turned out to be Ced (via Rocka Candy) after all.
Then when searching for my old Source 50th issue to scan its cover for a recent post, I came across my set of Blaze Magazine issues [semi-tangent: Aliya S. King relayed a great story involving Blaze right here). I’ve teased Cedric many times that I would get around to scanning his appearance in the aforementioned mag’s review section. Nah, he didn’t write a review, but his mug was used as the sections rating scale (large pic below). Pretty creative move on the late mag’s part, actually.
Ced Classics
All this to say, Ced is more Hip-Hop than you, you, you and all the you in the back, and in the middle, and in the front. Word.
ShamWow! X FAIL
FAIL
The Smoking Gun just dropped dime that the ShamWow! dude (real name Vince Shlomi according to TSG, but could be Vince Offer)) was arrested last month in Miami, after being caught with a hooker who decided to bite his tongue and not let go. The story only gets better from there.
Can’t front, despite his success at hawking suspect products, homie has always had a “crackheadish” appearance about him. I’m saying. Beware of ShamWow! imitators. And rogue hoes. [Spotted at Gawker]
Grandmaster Flash: Resolve Around Science*
Flash, Bam & Herc
The good Jake Paine asked me to connect with Grandmaster Flash for a feature on HipHopDX and I readily obliged. It’s not often you can speak to a rap godfather, something Flash no doubt is. Even if there were DJ’s before him.
I remember picking up this November 1993 issue of The Source (pic above) around my way and greedily reading it cover to cover. I wasn’t too pressed about particular bylines back then but looking back, this issue was just sick. You got Herc, Flash and Bambaataa on the cover of The Source being interviewed by the legendary Nelson George no less. The first few reviews alone broadcast The Source’s weight: Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage (written by Cheo H. Coker), Casual’s Fear Itself (written by the homie Brett Johnson) and Leaders of the New School’s T.I.M.E. (written by dream hampton) all received 4 mic ratings (as did KRS-1’s Return of the Boom Bap).
Not sure how this issue sold when it was released, but any editor pitching the idea of placing these legends on a mainstream magazine cover would be considered a lunatic. The reality is that a greater respect for Hip-Hop’s elders and the culture’s history are sorely lacking in many of today’s fans and artists. Sad, really.
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DOOM X Village Voice
Wack MCs, take me to your leader!
Real nice MF DOOM DOOM feature in the Village Voice. Guess it was really him. Really, I just wanted an excuse to post Kausing Much Damage’s “Peachfuzz” clip below. Shout to Grand Puba on the vibes. Hmm, what did ever happen to Onyx The Birthstone Kid?
DOOM Laughs Last [via The Village Voice]
Also, here is the version of “Angeles” (pretty sure that’s how it’s spelled) that for some reason DOOM decided to add distracting ass drums to for the version (“Angelz”) on his Born Like This album that dropped 3/23. The album is damn good. But, I’ll have to get back to you on whether it’s touching my “all caps when you spell the name” fav: Madvillainy.
DOOM & Ghostface “Angeles”
KMD “Peachfuzz” Video
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DOOM X Frolab Art Screen Print [via Street Level]
Ms Def Recited DOOM Verbatim [via Nah Right]
Jim Jones Review (Vibe.com)
Cam, call me. Please?
“Forget America; only in hip hop can a glorified hypeman leapfrog to headliner in a few short years. Such is the case for Jim Jones. Since the Dipset Capo started dropping solo albums with certified hits—most notably “We Fly High” from 2006’s Hustler’s P.O.M.E. (Koch)—the Harlemite’s become, if not a household name, certainly a brand unto himself…“
The good folks at Vibe.com asked me to review Jim Jones’ new Pray IV Reign album. [via Vibe.com]
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A Sidekick Moves to Center Stage [via NY Times]
Mo’s Dead Serious Review of Jim Doc [via Mo is Dead Serious]
Harlem Rapper Jim Jones Drops Album, Goes to Court [via Gothamist]
Jim Jones “Blow The Bank” Video Vodpod videos no longer available.
Charles Hamilton X Rap Radar (Video)
“Any rapper that said anything derogatory about me or my “movement” or whatever I do; any journalist, any website, anyone is a small irrelevant piece of litter on this huge ass microcosm that I like to call my reality. And my reality tells me that my reality isn’t wrong.”—Charles Hamilton
Oh, it gets better. The hyperbole Mr. Hamilton drops in this vid courtesy of YN is on atomic levels. Kiss my natural pink ass? Really? He has the people on his side. Show me love, I show you love back. Yadda yadda yadda.
I got no qualms about saying I’m not convinced about this cat. The whole pink and Sonic thing reeks of gimmickry and the music hasn’t made me take notice beyond any of the marketing. And never mind the use of the term “huge ass microcosm.” Hey, “If I don’t like it I don’t like it, that don’t mean that I’m hatin’,” to quote Lonnie Rashid Lynn. [via Rap Radar]
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Rhymefest No Like Hamilton [via Karen Civil]
Kid Cudi UN-Retires
CuDi says “psych” at SXSW. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. [Via Skee TV]
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Kid Cudi Calls It Quits [via Kid CuDi’s Blog]
Kid Cudi Tasered & Arrested At NBA All-Star Party [via AllHipHop.com]
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Charlie Murphy X Lil Wayne
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Eddie’s brother has a new comedy show. Hmm, we’ll see. As long as he can get some form of his True Hollywood stories, he might be good money. [via Crackle]
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Weezy Addresses Fitty (yes, “Fitty” a la Mookie) [via XXLMag.com]
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Black Steele in the Hour of Colbert
Vodpod videos no longer available.
RNC Chairman Michael Steele aka token whipping boy aka pwnd by Rush Limbaugh is looking more like soft copper daily. As for Colbert’s rhyming; thoroughly suspect but highly entertaining. And to think, Colbert’s middle name is Tyrone.
On a barely related note, a daily dose of Chuck D never hurt anybody, save for the suckas. Shout out to the pinstripe hoody. [spotted at Huffingtonpost Post via Comedy Central]
Slang Rap Democracy 