Raekwon the mutha fucking chef made a stop at the Joe Rogan Experience. I love when Joe has Doctors and people with degrees and what not, people that can educate us and share information. But ain’t nothing like Joe Rogan just having a conversation with no clear direction, just chatting. Raekwon came through and him and Joe just nerded out and just talked about hip-hop, hunting, the origins of the Wu-Tang Clan name. Joe even put Raekwon on to a hip-hop song he hadn’t heard before. This is one you can see that Joe is excited for. Just wait til Raekwon take off the shades. The comments were excited. Shit I was excited. I fucking great podcast to kick off the year!
Category: Music
-
My Albums of 2024
I hadn’t looked up John Mayer in a while but John never disappoints, he’s always got something for me to sing along to. Something that catches me before I understand why I like the music. Imagine being in middle school and everyone’s listening to rap and your bumping John Mayer. No one was asking me for music recommendation. But from this latest album my favorite song is Wild Blue. It almost sounds like you’re underwater
Shaboozey had a hell of a year. I first came across him in Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter but I think we all came to know him for his rendition of J-kwon’s Tipsy, putting a new flavor on an old song. I have a few songs that make my end of the year playlist but if I had one to share with you guys it would have to be Annabelle off his premier album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
I’m a new comer to country music, can you tell? My friends Sonia set it off with an invitation to Morgan Wallen’s Homecoming at the VOLS stadium this fall. Definitely a weekend to remember.
Since that weekend, we’ve been exchanging country song and I sent her a live performance of Paralyzed by Kevin Smiley on On The Radar’s Instagram. Someone commented saying that this was “crazy out country” which I found hilarious but interesting enough to go check him out on Spotify and listen to the rest of the singles he had on his profile. I’m glad a few months later he released his first album, Hurts Worse. Still have Broke as My Heart playing weekly.
Vince Staples has been one of my favorite artist in the last few years. He always delivers on thought provoking music that makes me reflect on what the fuck I’m doing in my life. You know what Vince is so special to me I’ll share my favorite song by him off the first project I ever heard from him. Producer by the late great Mac Miller, Stolen Youth, has a gem that always makes me stop what I’m doing and rap.
Just in case you wanna rap along too: https://genius.com/Vince-staples-and-larry-fisherman-stuck-in-my-ways-lyrics
Knxwledge and Anderson .Paak did it again with another NxWorries Album to follow up the cult classic of Yes Lawd. You know that the beats are funky and Anderson .Paak has a way with words that damn near hypnotizing. It’s hard to pick my favorite on this one because there’s no skips on here for me but Distractions is one of them songs that you wish was longer
I know I’m late to the party on MIKE but I’m usually late to everything when it comes to music. To be honest I haven’t even listened to Kendrick’s GNX album. But MIKE caught me with this snippet of No Curse Lifted (rivers of love) I heard of instagram earlier this year. It’s GTA Vice City type dance sample that makes you wanna two step and Big MIKE gets down
Anthony Santos has been playing in my parent’s homes since I was a hair on my father’s nut suck. This year I finally decided to listen to his album Enamorado and it’s definitely a get up and move album. Get up and get something done. It’s Rum, Romance and Nylon Guitar strings at it’s finest. My favorite’s Esa Me La Doy Yo
I’m not really a Beyoncé fan, I think this might be the first album I’ve heard from her in it’s entirety and I loved it. I don’t really have anything say. Beyoncé just delivered on the years of hype I’ve been hearing about her. My top two are Blackbird and Bodyguard and I’m definitely going to take a deep dive into her discography this year.
Sir’s Chasing Summer album has been awaiting a sequel and for years it seem fans have been waiting on him to drop another album or project, something to supply the demand. And I believe Heavy fulfilled that, the vibe is a bit different because Sir himself has taken a new path of health and wellness. But understanding that you give an artist room to show us what he now has to say with this new perspective. I believe Poetry In Motion shows that the best. It’s a blend of the old with the new.
-
What’s going on with Elliott Wilson
A few days ago Elliott Wilson went on the New Rory and Mal Podcast and had thing to say about Media and Journalism in the hip-hop space, specifically naming Cam’ron, Mase and Summer Walker. Saying that they aren’t Journalist and what they do isn’t good. I’m paraphrasing but I’ma be honest, it came off as hate. It comes off as Elliott wanting to gatekeep but not have to the power to do so. Elliott says he wants to compete, almost as if he asking for someone one to bring him off the bench and let him play the game. But Elliott’s thought process is one of the olden days. “It’s a direct to consumer market” as Wayno says on his show I’ll Do It Myself
Now a broken clock is right twice a day. I do like that Elliott says about Artist needing to talk about their music. I like when artist explain what their album’s about, what stay of mind they were in, what influenced them to make the new music. I love that type of content and it always make the listening experience better for me. As a consumer I do still get these moments where an artist speak on their music when the times right. But I understand if the artist doesn’t want to speak on the music too.
Frank Ocean is an artist that comes to mind that doesn’t have much interview speaking on his music but in this day in age. Artist don’t have to speak when they don’t want to and the artist now a multitude of platforms to go and speak with someone they want to have a conversation with if they want. Not just thee guy to speak to that Elliott once was. The media landscape has definitely changed and as one that didn’t know about The Source magazine or about XXL, I find the landscape more accessible.
Like Wayno says Elliott has got to adapt with the time. Elliot has to create his own platform instead of applying for jobs. Like a Wayno, like a New Rory and Mal, like an It Is What It Is. All these platforms invested in themselves, I think Elliot should do the same. You want to compete then take yourself off the bench and get in the game.
-
Tyler the Creators’ Favorite Songs of 2024
I’m sure there’s a few song on here that’ll help bring in the new year.
-
7PM in Brooklyn with Camelo x. Fat Joe
Watching some of the elders of the culture has been an experience that I thought hip-hop was too cool for. In the early 2000s, the rapper’s mystique was everything, and the only time you got hear from an artist, outside of their music, was their interviews. With social media, that has expanded and the personality of few has stood the through the test of time. Fat Joe has got to be one of the best storytellers that no one saw coming. He’s honest, fly, and wise. In this Episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Fat Joe can reflect on his earlier years in the hip-hop industry and talk about the highs and lows, laughing about it now, but also see the blessing that those highs and lows brought him. He touches on hunting down rare sneakers, performing at the world series, and talks about one of the greatest Rucker games that never happened.
Carmelo and his hosts have created a comfort place for his guest to come and bro down. And Fat Joe is more than a bro, he’s more like your cousin, always giving you shit while simultaneously building you up. Do yourself a favor and check it out when you get some time.
-
Keith
Came across this anime on pinterest, BECK Mongolian Chop Squad, about this young kid falling in love with Rock music and trying to make it as a guitarist. I haven’t finished the series yet, I’m only half way through, but it’s a touching real story watching Yukio come to age, struggling between his love for his guitar and graduating high school. In the process he’s exiled and made to be an outcast at his school. He’s extorted, his guitar is smashed, and as you can imagine high school romance isn’t easy for anyone. But through out all the turmoil of high school life, Yukio and his band make a demo tape “KEITH”. a three track ep. which is actually pretty cool.
Check it Out!
I’ll fill you in with more detailed once I finish the series but from what I’ve seen so far, I definitely recommend it to anime and music lovers.
-
The Alchemist & Friends: Camp FLOG GNAW 2024
Watching Al with his son by his side, jumping up and down and dancing, is some beautiful shit . In “Rap Music” where vulnerability can be seen as a weakness in a façade of gangster, Al leads by example as a father, as a beat maker and as a producer pushing the underground sound to the forefront and into the commercial space. A testament to being proud of the work and the art he creates. Creating a canvas for artist to dance over. The Alchemist & Friends brand is personified here with special guest: Evidence, Domo Genesis, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, Navy Blue (aka Sage), Vince Staples and Boldy James. Showing that it’s more than just making music but a brotherhood.
00:00 – intro
01:24 – mobb deep / the realest
01:47 – alc & mobb deep / it’s a craze
02:26 – kendrick lamar / meet the grahams
03:16 – prodigy / keep it thoro
04:07 – freddie gibbs / god is perfect
05:05 – westside gunn & conway / ray mysterio
05:59 – westside gunn /$500 ounces
06:31 – larry june / 89 earthquake EVIDENCE
07:41 – throw it all away
10:34 – dilated peoples / worst comes to worst (inst) DOMO GENESIS
10:59 – f*ck everybody else
12:50 – action bronson / big league chew (inst) ACTION BRONSON
13:19 – terry
16:14 – mac miller red dot music EARL SWEATSHIRT
18:20 – e. coli
21:00 – sentry (mike comes out)
23:16 – nobles (navy blue comes out)
25:07 – the caliphate (vince staples comes out) BOLDY JAMES
28:44 – hot water tank
30:40 – turpentine
31:52 – steel wool
33:44 – alchemist / hold you down
35:24 – diamond dallasShow less
My personal favorite performance would have Boldy James, his breathe control is second to none. Sounding no different, if not better, than what you get on DSP. Favorite moment, hearing Mac Miller’s verse on Red Dot Music. Long Live Mac
Burning in paradise 