by DMX ft. Seal: The Game had a recent interview that ended with him crying as he detailed his feelings about the current state of hip-hop. He said he felt like he belonged in hip-hop during the genre’s earlier days when artists like Public Enemy, N.W.A. and Queen Latifah rapped about causes and weren’t afraid to be vocal….DMX and Seal must have heard his request and produced the song I Wish. The song details things that both individuals would like to change in their lives and change in America. Personally, I like the track as a first single and I applaud the artists’ attempt to make a noteworthy song. I felt that way until I heard the line “I am wishing Bill Clinton would return, and I don’t care, let him get his nuts sucked through the whole term.” What is it with nuts these days? Jesse Jackson is trying to cut off Barack’s and then for Bill’s to be mentioned in this song. Is it possible to make a great song without being offensive? 

by Musiq Soulchild: This song doesn’t sound like a Musiq masterpiece. I’ll admit it’s catchy and it will get some club and radio play. I LIKE the song! BUT, where is the music that is love inspired, that makes me think about my someone special, and made me place Musiq in his own creative category??? Musiq has gone mainstream and dropped the soul that he was named for.

I’m feeling musically inclined this morning, so I will keep the posts coming…I want to state that Kanye West is my favorite MC! I’m gonna dedicate a section of my blog called “The Sample King” to this lyrical genius. This section will feature songs by Kanye and the infamous songs that he has sampled to create his hits. I don’t want anyone to think this is to diss Kanye; I only want others to be as enthusiastic about him as I am! The first feature is an unreleased track called The Stalker Song (Never Lettin Go) which samples Phoebe Snow’s Never Let Go.

by John Legend ft. Andre 3000: I got the ‘Green Light’ and we are a go! 2008 is a great year for music. It has been almost two years since John Legend’s album Once Again made its debut. His latest, Evolver, will release this September. This track ft. Andre 3000 is a slightly different sound for Legend. I only hope that the musical extension is purely due to his artistic expression, and not the label trying to reach a broader audience. For the first single, I dig it.

by David Banner ft. Lil Wayne: This song is WHACK! I heard Wayne was on the track and I automatically registered it as a hit. I couldn’t take the comment back quick enough! This may bump in the club because you can’t hear the lyrics, but as far as being a quality song…NEVER! There is nothing else to say…

Mya’s song Ridin randomly came into my head just now. Of course, I began singing it from beginning to end because this was my JAM a few months ago. I thought about her album Liberation and assumed I must have missed the release date. A quick search informed me that I was wrong…Mya has been working on this album since 2004 and the first version, titled Control Freak, was supposed to be released in summer of 2005. This project has been pushed back numerous times due to Mya switching labels and adding more producers to the list. The new release date is currently scheduled for September 16 as a part of a two disc album with her upcoming Smoke and Mirrors. 

I never considered myself a Nas fan(atic). Per the suggestion of someone special, I decided to get an advance of Nas’ controversially titled album, Nigger. Now the name has changed to Untitled, but on this blog it will continue to be titled Nigger as Nas originally wanted. After listening to the first few tracks, Nas has a crossover sound to me. He can flow and rhyme like a rapper from up top. Yet, his beats beat hard like he’s from the south. Memorable Tracks…

Queens get the Money…sounds like a loop in a Kanye beat. The lyrics are powerful and a good intro for the cd. The two together, the beat and the lyrics, don’t go together in my opinion.

Breathe…my favorite song on the CD!  I love how the song first starts off like its about to be a fast song but it slows as though a beat is skipped and part of the hook is drawn out.

Make the World Go Round….my guess is this will be the second single. With Chris Breezy on the track, it is guaranteed to be a hit!

There are some songs that make fun of normality within the African American culture such as fried chicken and roaches. These two tracks are more like interludes than songs, yet they still have a presence on the album.

Overall…the awaited LP gets an 6/10

by Rick Ross ft. Pharrell: I thought this song was just an exclusive that wasn’t added to the Trilla album that was released on March 11th of this year. Turns out, this is a single off of Rick Ross’ next album currently titled Deeper Than Rap due Fall of 2008. I don’t know what the reason is for artists to release 2+ albums in a year! Either the material is rushed, someone else is writing, or their albums consist of 3-4 hits with the remaining tracks being album fillers. I’m still not able to play Trilla from beginning to end. I’m predicting a disappointment with this Fall 2008 album  …and I like Rick Ross!

Jazzy Jeff has inspired me to start a new series called ‘Old School Flava In Ya Ear.’ I plan on featuring old and some new school jamz that laid the foundation for movements in music. These are songs that will always be remembered, songs that can stand alone and also be a representation of the artist. Of course, I will start with Craig Mack’s Flava In Ya Ear.

Thanks to my friend and mentor James Andrews, my friends and I got to be a part of DJ Jazzy Jeff and crew as he kicked off his weekend stay in Atlanta, Georgia. Last night (Thursday) was dedicated to him DJing at Luckie Lounge. I really didn’t know the extent of his talent from watching the Fresh Prince, but DJ Jazzy Jeff for all of you who don’t know is one of the best DJs out there! I walked in saying that I only wanted to hear Summertime because that is one my favorite songs by Jazzy Jeff and Will. By the time he got on the 1s and 2s, I forgot all about my song request. He let me go in the DJ booth with him: LEGENDARY MOMENT! I know my friends thought I was crazy because they thought I was texting the whole night. Instead, I was keeping a running list of all the songs he was mixing. Some were just beats that got mixed for 8 counts, others were one-line rhymes, altogether = pure genius. Just to give you a sample of the legendary hits that were in rotation include:

Craig Mack – Flava in ya Ear

Arrested Development -  Everyday People

The Fugees – Fu-Gee-La and Killing me Softly

Snoop Dogg – Gin and Juice

Snoop Dogg ft. Dr. Dre – The Next Episode

Kanye West – Gold Digger

The Emotions – Best of My Love

Eric B and Rakim – I Know You Got Soul

Art of Noise – Moments in Love

Justin Timberlake ft. Clipse – Like I Love You

Lil Wayne – A Millie

Al B. Sure! – Off on Your Own Girl

SWV – I’m So Into You

Soul II Soul – Back To Life

Boyz II Men – Motown Philly

He is one to support. Bump downloading. Fans of Jeff need to go BUY his albums! Between his solo efforts and his work with Will, there are at least 15 albums that have been released. I know I’m about to go buy a few to educate myself!