What's The 411 ? Mary's Classic Debut

 I have recently been listening to R&B both old and new this week, I stumbled upon Mary J. Blige debut album. While I heard it a long time ago, I forgot how amazing the album is. It is soulful, emotional, and  very enjoyable. I always understood why she was regarded as a great singer but this CD has now become heavy in my rotation this week.  It is only 12 tracks , without any filler. My favorite track had to be " My Love", because the hook was very catchy and simple, but conveyed many emotions.   Mary's music focuses on her own problems or situations that anyone can face in a relationship, while some are upbeat . often her lyrics or sound are filled with sadness similar to Billie Holiday.  While I haven't heard any new material  from her recently ,  with a catalogue like hers.  What else is there for her to do. In my opinion she easily one of the best singers of all time. Other tracks that stood out were "Slow Down", "Real Love", and " I Don't Want To Do Anything". While the intro was a little annoying just for having many popular rappers of that era giving her a shout-out on the song, it doesn't take anything away from this masterpiece!  I think every singer or r&b singer can gain something out of listening to her . Til the next time!

MY TOP TEN MUSIC PRODUCERS IN HIP-HOP/RAP

MY LIST OF TOP TEN MUSIC PRODUCERS(In Any Order)

1 .9th Wonder
2. DJ Premier
3. Dr. Dre
4. J. Dilla
5. Kanye West
6.TimbaLand
7.Scott Storch
8.The Neptunes
9. Pete Rock
10.RZA

J. COLE .... TRULY YOURS

I am a big J. Cole fan, I admire how he is a great producer/rapper and stays true to himself. He incorporates his own life into his music and what he views in his day-to-day life. I got a chance to listen to both The Truly Yours EPs and I really enjoyed both.  I appreciate him being introspective , while also being honest and adding  humour. While  this is nothing new because he style or the topics he raps about are very unique, the EP's makes me excited to actually buy the album.  I have been a fan since he did The first Come Up mix-tape, so I will definitely show support.  Why he decided to come out the same day as Kany?, but I will still buy both albums. I think the EPs is the perfect appetizer until the album finally drops. I enjoyed his debut album and I think he will eventually be recognized as one of the greats.  He is a great example of how not every rapper can be tough, molly-popping, in the trap, he is actually a regular dude who happened to even go to college. I think he is a great artist  and I am looking forward to the album.

WHO IS AB-SOUL

Ab-Soul has become one of my favorite artist to listen to. I got a chance to hear his Long-Term series and got to hear  Control system. His music focuses on several types of themes and is a great lyricist, and He is not afraid to be himself. Whether he is rapping about being broke, fighting illness, or loss of love. he seems like a genuine person and his music has a message. He is not afraid to be himself and also has a unique approach to   rapping over a beat. His videos are often odd or even trippy at times. My personal favorite tracks are Empathy, rebellion,  book of soul, still regular, track two, a day in the life, and  pineal gland. I ave enjoyed listening to Kendrick Lamar and the whole TDE/Black Hippy team but like everyone in the group Soul is cool and different.  I definitely look forward to hearing more music from him, and I am excited to learn he is doing a project with JMSN. He stated he is not rushing to throw a project out soon but after discovering his  sound, I  am eager to hear more.

My Review of Nas' Illmatic & It Was Written

In my opinion , It Was Written is a classic album. I enjoyed the album straight through.  People  often compare it Illmatic but in my opinion you can never replicate another album like that.  My favorite tracks, Take It In Blood, Live Nigga Rap, Black Girl Lost, If I Ruled The World, and Watch Dem Niggas.  Instead of the diverse sound of Illmatics' beats, this album feature a more polished up-beat sound which was great. The lyricism was even better,  he began telling narratives that were very good, he also used metaphors and similes that were also very creative. For example, "Life's A bitch but God Forbid if the divorce me" or "You will be aite like blood money in a pimp's cum".

While Illmatic is probably the greatest rap album ever created, I still prefer the latter , mainly because lyricism improves. While every track is Gold on Illmatic,  I did not not like he only had 10 in total. My favorite tracks were Life's A Bitch and  One Love.   I also thought New York State of Mind was an incredible track, which I found out he did in one take.

I will Probably get a flack for saying I like his second album more but personally both albums are great.  I think he definitely matured as a artist and decided to create very good  and well though narratives. It is funny because after putting out two great albums he went through a slump until he returned with Stillmatic. recently he put out the Life is Good album which is also another classic in my opinion.  I wish more often he put out album like his first two albums out, because he would be held in a higher regard. Nas does not give you an album every year or often.  It usually takes a few years for him to drop an album.  So, i usually get excited when I hear he is working on a new project. But hopefully his next project will be as good as his last. Even though he is a legend now, I think his second album really is what showed the world , that when he is focused his lyricism is second to none. His first album established him as a powerful force, the second I think cemented the fact that he was a great musician.

My Review Lap Of Lux 1& 1.5

This past summer I got a chance to listen to Sir Michael Rocks. Of Course I heard of  The Cool Kids and listened to their music, but I didn't really tune  in deeply to their music. In the summer I heard Lap of Lux and after hearing the tape, I decided I was a fan of his music. Because of the project I was also introduced to Casey Veggies, who I am also a fan of now. I think Sir Michael is good mc  and I am waiting for him to  drop his Banco EP.  The Lap of Lux  series I think is great, I also like premier politics.  I wonder if he will ever maintain mainstream success or brought into a  much wider audience. I also hope one day the Cool Kids do decide to get back together , I am saying because I do not hear much about Chuck Inlgish now. Anyway I think he is a great artist and look forward to hearing his music.

Is Pusha -T New Song Worthy

I got chance to hear Pusha-T's new single, Numbers on The Boards.  I was not that impressed with the  single, I am a huge fan of The Clipse and I enjoyed his last few mixtapes he put out. While the song was not horrible , it wasn't great either. I did appreciate the Jay-Z sample he through in the song. I am still looking towards hearing his album. I would also hope the Neptunes, and Kanye West contribute significant production on his album.  I also want him and his brother to put out another album. It would be interesting to hear another Clipse album too.

Another List of My Favorite Rap Albums

1. Black Album (Jay-Z)

2. Makeveli The Don- The 7 Day Theory (2pac)

3. Come Home With Me (Cam’ron)

4. Diplomatic Immunity Vol. 1 (The Diplomats)

5. The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill)

6. Wut Thee Album (Redman)

7. Hell Hath No Fury (The Clipse)

8.  Strictly Bussiness (EPMD)

9. A Ganngster And A Gentleman(Styles P)

10. Mr. Smith(LL Cool J)

11. Only Built For Cuban Linx (Raekwon)

12.  Tica l(Method Man)

13. Liquid Swordz (Thr GZA)

14.  3 Feet high and Rising (De La Soul)

15.  People Instinctive Travels (A Tribe Called Quest)

16.  Be (Common)

17. It’s Dark and Hell is Hot (DMX)

18. Picture This (Do or Die)

19. King (T.I.)

20. Wanted Dead or Alive (Kool G. Rap)

21. IronMan                            (Ghostface)

22. Follow The Leader (  Eric B and Rakim)

23. The Score (The Fugees)

24. Stillmatic ( Nas)

25. Doe or Die (AZ)

Which Is Better The BluePrint or Reasonable Doubt

While both albums are considered classic which is necessarily the better of the two.  The Blueprint features a soulful sound , while Reasonable Doubt features a different sound ranging from upbeat to sad.  Both albums feature introspective lyrics,  Regrets, D'Evils, Can't Knock The Hustle(Reasonable Doubt), While the Blueprint  features Never Change, Song Cry, Heart of The City, Renegade.
                                                        

I like Reasonable simply because the flow and the over-the-top slang and metaphors used throughout the album. If you are not listening carefully it would go as simple slang , but he is conveying a message in a deeper way.  Reasonable Doubt also had more tracks and featured a much wider use of different producers. Ski adds soulful or a Jazzy feel to his tracks, Clark Kent produces anthem-like tracks, DJ Premier  offers boom -bap or sounds that tell the rapper to simply display their lyrical abilities. The other producers simply craft beats that Jay-Z can easily rhyme too, but then again I think he can do it with any track.

                                                           

The Blueprint on the other hand features a  solid sound that uses focuses mostly on Soul Samples,  while there a few exceptions of upbeat tracks, most of the beats  are  soulful.  Despite the Takeover,  the album features Jay-z addressing many personal things he endured through his life. Lost love, poverty, drug- dealing, and even promiscuity.

 Both albums are classic and I could listen to any of them throughout the week, they are good albums mainly
because the musician gives the listner a glimpse into his life. While many rappers rap about things they probbaly did not expereince or  do not know much about. Jigga does the opposite  he is not bragging or bigging himself up, but being confident in who he is.  Each album  he has a clever way of describing topics he has said before in a new, unique way. I personally prefer Reasonable Doubt simply because I don't think he could ever replicate another album like it. But the Blueprint is just as good.  The BluePrint was done in a week, while Reasnable Doubt was done in 26 yeas. The BluePrint he is established , while Reasonable Doubt  features a much  more lyrical and hungrier Sean Carter. Regardless both are great, but Reasonable Doubt is an album that set many trends. Regarding flow, lyricism, and overall quality of work.

Top 25 Rap Albums(In any particular order)

5052013

1. The College Dropout (Kanye West)

2.  Illmatic(Nas)

3. Resurrection(Common)

4. Me Against The World(2pac)

5.Reasonable Doubt(Jay-Z)

6.All Eyez On Me(2pac)

7.It Was Written(Nas)

8. Food & Liquor(Lupe Fiasco)

9. (Scarface) The Fix

10. The Blueprint(Jay-Z)

11. The Marshall Mathers LP(Eminem)

12. Mama Said Knock You Out(LL Cool J)

13. The Chronic( Dr. Dre)

14. Trap Muzik (T.I.)

15. Ready To Die( Notorious BIG)

16. Life After Death (Notorious BIG)

17.Get Rich Or Die Trying(50 Cent)

18.  DoggyStyle (Snoop Dogg) 

19. Radio (LL Cool J)

20. ATLiens (OutKast)

21.  Good Kid Maad City (Kendrick Lamar)

22. Paid In Full (Eric B and Rakim)

23. Road To The Riches (Kool G Rap)

24. Run DMC

25. Straight Outta Compton(N.W.A.)

My Review Of The 50'th Law

Yesterday i had the chance to read 50th law by Robert Green and 50 Cent, I found that I greatly enjoyed the book. It was short, succinct, but was very descriptive and had examples to support its ideas. While I found the 48 Laws of Power to be interesting, this book was held my attention , an many of the ideas resonated. The theme of the book is mostly on becoming self-reliant,  overcoming fears, and the importance of Individuality. Other topics include how other people became successful throughout history and methods that other great people in history used to set a goal and accomplish it. I highly suggest for anyone to read the book, My favorite chapters was Intense Realism and Self-Reliance,  those chapters focus on being able to provide for self, working for self, and turning to others out of strength. It also mentions that those who are self-reliant are able to interact with others and not to say “F### U”! be  only for self.  

Intense Realism is observing an environment for what it is and understanding situations for what they are. Taking an opportunity that  would feel negative and using it as a learning experience.  He used  50 Cent’s  shooting as an example, instead of giving up on his goals , it pushed him further to want to accomplish them.  The author states, “The greatest fear people have is being themselves”. Which I thought was very true, instead of embracing their individuality people often conform to fit in or to be accepted even when it does not fit them.

Greene also discusses how throughout any-ones life people will doubt someone’s abilities or their talent. But that should cause anyone to discontinue their goals or dreams. He mentions how if you elevate your self-image, less judgments and opinions will hurt you. It is important to belief in self because often others won’t.

Lastly, I appreciate the book for its in-depth look at characteristics that all great leaders have.  Greene states, “The fearless type in history inevitably display in their lives a higher tolerance than most of us for repetive, boring tasks. This allows them to excel in their field and master their craft”.   He goes on to say,”What kept them going was the power they quickly discovered through mastery of certain steps”. In other words, often those who are leaders are willing to go the extra-mile, make sacrifices, and put their all into their goals.That is the  recipe for being a leader /success.  Many people often are in awe at  the people who are successful but don’t realize that they work very hard and were very passionate. They also had a positive mind state, which allowed them to see opportunities early.

I got plenty out of reading the  book and I plan to read some more of his work.  I would also like to know when he  is going to publish his next body of work. I think Greene is smart, insightful, and overall a great author.