Top 5 Hip-Hop Albums for 2006

Top 5 Hip-Hop Albums for 2006:

(1) Kingdom Come - Jay-Z - Jay came back despite the retirement, and lived up to the hype around this release. The production all around is on point, bottom line. The lyrics are classic Hov, and just when you think he may be running out of things to rap about he hits you with songs like "Beach Chair" / "Lost Ones" and "30 Something" broadening the at times clich-ish topics that frequent this genre of music. He also sends appropriate subliminal and at times blatent shots at emcees who have attacked him since his retirement. He appeals to every listeneer, and even picks up a few more along the way. He also shows that you can make a classic album without having so many features and having your album look like a who's who in hip-hop callaboration wise. The King is back!

(2) The Big Bang Theory - Busta Rhymes - Busta brought so much style, flavor, and energy back to the game with this LP it ain't even funny. This is probably the best Busta release to date, and he did it in a very hard way. Typically albums chalk full of features do not succeed as much because with so many artists contributing you never know how the end result will pan out. With production from Swizz Beatz, Dr. Dre, Don Cannon, The Neptunes & will.i.am, and lyrical skills from Floetry, DMX, Papoose, T.I., Flipmode Squad, & Q-Tip (to name a few, trust me there are more) he smashes the competition. From start to finish it is on fire, he even has a song with Rick James. RICK JAMES?!? Yes, and it's fire as well. The production for every track matches his energy, and Busta even brought the hip-hop posse cut back to the game with the "Touch It" remix. The move to Aftermath was well worth it.

(3) Second Rounds On Me - Obie Trice - I guess being shot multiple times and surviving doesn't nessasirly mean you will sell millions of records? Because Obie didn't kill SoundScan, but he did manage to murder every track on his album lyrically. From the Akon feature, to the at times boring production of Eminem, Obie struts his stuff and crafts another classic. This is only his second album, and he is setting the bar very very high for himself. I love this album, go get it, or download it!

(4) Release Therapy - Ludacris - Borrowing a formula that Busta used for his LP, Luda gets production from the top notch producers, and guest spots from some of the best emcees and more popular lyricists of today for this album. And like Busta, it worked wonders. The 3 singles he released thus far are only hitting the surface of what this album has to offer ("Money Maker" / "Grew Up A Screw Up" and "Runaway Love"). There are probably 4 other tracks on the album that are possible singles. Luda does not always get the credit he deserves, but this year I am giving it to him because this is a excellent album.

(5) The Blue Carpet Treatment - Snoop Dogg - Snoop holds the west DOWN. Like a BEAST! Some of the tracks off of this LP have me remembering old Snoop, just the hunger, and the style and swagger he shows on this proves age adds flavor. The production again compliments his style, and the first single was a perfect choise because it just works. THAT'S THAT SHIT!! Everyone is saying that I bet at the club when this comes on, just like they were when he performed at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. I love everything about this album honestly. Although I do wish "Imagine" with Dr. Dre and D'Angelo was on the LP, that might have made this album jump to number 4.

Honorable Mention: Hell Hath No Fury - The Clipse, Doctor's Advocate - The Game, Port of Miami - Rick Ross, King - T.I.

Biggest Let Downs: Eminem Presents The Re-Up - VA, Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas, Rotten Apple - Lloyd Banks

Biggest Surprises: Tru3 Magic - Mos Def, Laugh Now Cry Later - Ice Cube

(if I think of more I will update this to include those)

Nas "Hip Hop Is Dead" - At First Glance

Alright, I just got my hands on the leaked version of Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, and felt compelled to give my review as I hear it, At First Glance.

"Money Over Bullshit" - iPod Rating - 4 Stars: This starts the album off wonderfully often reminiscent to Nas's It Was Written days with the production and delivery of lines like "affraid not of one of you cowards, but of my own strength." A very nice intro, as most of Nas' albums contain. The flow, and lyrics on this to me set a certain expectation for what is to come.

"You Can't Kill Me" - iPod Rating - 2 Stars: Nothing major to me honestly, I have heard Nas sound way better before, seems like it's too early in the album for a possible filler track but remember this is at first glance. The production to me is rather mediocre, but doesn't surprise me too much because to me Nas doesn't always pick the best beats to fuck with.

"Carry On Tradition" - iPod Rating - 4 Stars: Beat starts off not too amazing, but like I said above his tracks aren't always the best, but breaks down good every few bars. Sounds like Nas is explaining the current state of Hip-Hop and alluding to what he means by Hip-Hop is dead. It also seems like he addressed a few rappers with some subliminal lines in this track, namely the second verse. He mentions a line about new rappers, dissing folks on mixtapes and also says there isn't too many rappers familiar with Big Daddy Kane. I really like this track, to me it picks up where "You Can't Kill Me" left me hanging.

"Where Are They Now" - iPod Rating - 2 Stars: This song is dedicated to all the old school Hip-Hop acts, and has Nas asking where is everyone. He pretty much is paying homage to they artists who paved the way, and telling what influenced him. Honestly, this is a good way to school the youth about where Hip-Hop came from, but to me this track doesn't do much. The beat, again is not moving at all, which is not surprising at all. I think he is trying to set a standard about what Hip-Hop was before it "died." Not really feeling the song too much, but the meaning to it fits the album well I guess.

"Hip Hop Is Dead" - iPod Rating - 5 Stars: Like I mentioned above, the last song transitioned into this one very well, so I do see the importance of "Where Are They Now" even though I didn't feel it too much. Now this track, I tend to like will.i.am's production alot, so I am glad Nas chose him to callab with. The hook is good and very fitting for the track. I will say the first time I heard this a few weeks ago I was kinda leary about him using the same sample for this song as he did for "Thief's Theme" but it did work pretty well.

"Who Killed It?" - iPod Rating - 2 Stars: This track starts out with a nice little hop, kinda feelin' it and then a it gets a cinematic feel to it. But then Nas is kinda getting a bit weird, really. He changes his delivery a bit, which at first listen is weird. At first it sounded as if it was just a intro, but the whole song is rapped in this weird voice. He sounds like a old man, that's the sound he is going for, and the theme for this record is Nas telling a story about what happened to Hip Hop, dropping old school artists names, and song titles of classic hip-hop tracks, and LP's. Once again, a stretch for me personally. Maybe after hearing it I can get past the horrible delivery he went for, I think he tried with this, but didn't work. Not feeling it, bottom line.

"Black Republican" feat. Jay-Z - iPod Rating - 5 Stars: When I first heard this shit 2 weeks ago I bugged the fuck out. There 2 on the same track is epic, and it seems as if they really made a track. Not just the typical hip-hop callab tracks you get now-a-days too, this sounds like they wanted to make a song together for the love of music, and the end result shows. This song matches both Nas & Hov trading lines back and forth on the chorus, over a very epic sounding track. It sound so good to hear these two together, once again let me reiterate that. Jay sets a good standard for the track, and Nas follows on verse two, and keeps the track going very well and keeps the energy level up. If Def Jam was smart they would have threw this on both albums, Nas & Jay's shit, and made a video for it to cross promote both of them, but time will tell if they shoot a video for this. To me this song is too important to not be seen on video.

"Not Going Back" feat. Kelis - iPod Rating - 4 Stars: Good beat choice, first let me state that, hearing Nas mesh with this beat perfectly and hearing Kelis' vocals in the background works magic. Kelis comes in on the hook and it works very well. Nas opens the second verse with a few bars that I think are kind decent and says something about anyone coming into some money, "First thing that happen when you make a little paper//you think the Marriot is livin' in a skyscrapper//till you come across some even more flyer paper//realizin' 5 star telly's are even greater." This pretty much a story about a dude from the hood, who makes it out and is strugglin' to stay out. He even sends a jab his former record label Sony / Columbia saying "Sony.......I'm not goin' back to."

"Still Dreaming" feat. Kanye West - iPod Rating - 5 Stars: Kanye starts out spittin' on this track which gets my attention real quick over a track that I can't help but assume he produced as well. It ahs a real nice mellow, and soulful vibe to it. Nas attacks the second verse spitting "How you a man, waiting for the next man to get rich//your plan is to stick out your hand real quick." He pretty much gets at people who sit around waiting for shit to happen thinking the world owes them something. I like the message and vibe behind this track for sure. On the third verse Nas tells a story of a girl searching for a dream but gets caught up. Overall very good song.

"Hold Down The Block" - iPod Rating - 3 Stars: Songs starts out with another breakbeat which seems to be the theme or backdrop for alot of the Nas tracks lately, and even spanning back to his last album Street's Disciple (which was the worst LP I have heard by Nas ever by the way). Not feelin' the beat too much, as usual, and the hook is not very good, it's either a sample or someone singing for this track, kinda sounds like will.i.am maybe, but whoever or whatever it is, it's not very good. The third verse saved this song, and got it up to 3 stars.

"Blunt Ashes" - iPod Rating - 2 Stars: Slow type of double time beat that Nas attacks with a slow flow. This is another Nas story telling song, and to me from jump it kind of reminds me of "Small World" from I Am, but not as good. The hook is okay, once again nothing spectacular for me. Yeah the hook is not good, let me reiterate that, it's very hip-hop cliche-ish.

"Let There Be Light" - iPod Rating - 3 Stars: Another breakbeat go figure, nothing crazy for me. Another RnB feature is on this song for the chorus, dude kind of sounds like Anthony Hamilton, I like his voice tone. The second verse was good where he referenced every rapper wanna hang with old school drug dealers and shit. That verse definitely picks up the tempo of the whole song for sure.

"Play On Playa" feat. Snoop Dogg - iPod Rating - 4 Stars: This track starts off with a very weird sounding baseline which Nas attacks very well I must say. Snoop comes in on the hook and to me the energy picks up tremendously with Snoop's voice alone. The tracks sounds a little more fitting for Snoop honestly, even though Nas is doing his thing on it. Nice line alert "But we ain't into buying conflict ice." Snoop smashes the third verse and rounds out the track nicely.

"Can't Forget About You" - iPod rating - 4 Stars: This must be a Dre track right here, cause this shit was bangin' when it first came in. Then the tempo kinda switches up a bit as well, but still keeps my interest. The chick on the hook is nice and add's a good vibe. It's the same girl on Jay-Z's "Lost Ones." She got this old school 40's and 50's vibe to her voice, and she really brings alot to the track with her Billy Holiday-esque style. The "Unforgettable" sample made the track very good, this would have been a great track to complete the album definitely.

"Hustlers" feat. The Game - iPod Rating - 5 Stars: Track is crazy, beat is nuts, features are crazy. Nas does his thing on this, his flow and voice matches the beat perfectly, and the hook is classic if you ask me. The girl from Floetry who has been making features on albums here and there sure has a nice vibe for tracks like this. Game comes through with a good feature for sure, but at times sounds like he is patterning his flow after Nas' a little too much. But I do like this verse by Game straight up, it is good to hear him back on Dre's drum patterns and shit since he didn't even get a track for his LP. Nice line alert "I stopped beefin' with niggas//cause I am Ether to niggas," spits The Game. More beats and flows like the ones on this track is needed.

I keep ALL Nas songs on my iPod, just cause he is one of my favorite artists, but there are a few tracks I would get rid of if anyone else made them, but since it is Nas, I will probably give them a few more chances before I can them, even if I do. I wasn't too impressed honestly, and I find it very ironic Nas releases a LP called Hip Hop Is Dead, and doesn't contribute anything really new to it at all. I since Nas made such a huge claim, you would think he would be there to try and perform CPR on Hip-Hop or something right. You would think he would craft some ground shaking LP to back up the title, and Hip Hop Is Dead doesn't offer a solution on the current state of hip-hop. There are brief bright spots, but are few and far between, and kind of get over shadowed by the queensbridge emcee trying to hard to create something that is not there. He either didn't try hard, or tried too hard and overdid everything.

Maybe I will feel a bit more different about the album after getting to listen to it a few more times, but as of right now, at first glance, I wasn't impressed. For a new artists this would have been a decent album maybe, but you come to expect more from certain artists, especially Nas. If Hip-Hop is dead, then after listening to Hip Hop Is Dead, I would say it still is in the same condition after this LP, maybe in a coma or something, LOL.

Overall, I would say this album is 3 Stars, and that's kinda me being nice cause this is Nas. The only reason I give it 3 Stars is because the features to me made Nas step his game up a bit.

I know what Nas was goin' for with his Hip-Hop Is Dead theme, and it was a good idead, it's a good plot for the album too. But he just didn't pull it off with the music. I see where he was trying to go, but he didn't get in the car, get behind the wheel, and take us there. He gave us a idea, showed us breifly what he wanted us to see through binoculars, and stopped about 60 miles short of what he was trying to do. He missed the rest stop, forgot to fill up his tank, and ran out of gas before he could get us there.

"I'ma Put Ya D Wit" - RnB Singer Sammie

I am starting a new feature today and will be using this format from now on. It's called "I'ma Put Ya D Wit" {slang alert for nerds, this means "I am going to show you a new artist you need to pay attention to, because they are the next big thing"}. Alright, yall got that. So, the first official "I'ma Put Ya D Wit" artist is, Sammie.

What!?!?!?!?!

Sammie!!

You might think to yourself, Sammie, that little kid that used to be down with SoSo Def back in 2000? The little kid who looked all corny, and made those corny kiddy-popish jams? Yeah, that dude, let's have a few laughs at his past and get them out of your system, you ready.















[INSERT]LAUGH[/HERE]

Alright, shit, I will get my jokes out of the way so I conduct the rest of this article with what we really here to talk about. Look at that pic, I mean come on yall he might have been 12 or 13 there. I sure would not want to have a pic of myself out in the public from when I was that age, we'd all be laughin' if I posted one of those. Give the kid a break, laugh at his past, but it was his past, it made him quite a bit of money I am sure. Okay, his label didn't have to use that played out Microsoft WordArt graphic in this image, they also didn't need to have him in some stairwell holding onto the banister for dear life. I get this graphic artist was fired right after making this image too, LOL. I mean come on, they just whited out the background, through the little boy in the staircase to the record companies offices, and threw a played out WordArt of his name above his head. LAUGH, get it all out cause I'm bout to wake yall up with some realness.

Shit, Sammie bout to wake yall up with some realness.

So on my quest to find music one day I run across Sammie's new album, and it must have been a slow downloading day, but oh well. I downloaded it. I didn't listen to it for a few days, cause I normally throw music on the Pod, and then everyday listen to a album or two. Well, probably about a week after having his CD, I was nearing the 60GB's that The Muzik Vault [my iPod] has to offer, so I was skimming it to find songs to get rid of and I came across Sammie, and nearly canned his album off that image above since that was the first thing that came into my mind. But I was like, shit, let me give this a chance. So I went to the first track in the playlist, and hit play.

Instantly I think to myself, shit this dude is working with something, okay. Then I'm half way through it and I feel as if I must have rated everysong 3 or more stars right. As I'm listenin' I can't help but think of Trey Songz, Ne-Yo and the more popular Chris Brown. Shit, Sammie is a better Chris Brown, than, well, uh....Chris Brown. Dude is sick, no joke. The best way I can describe Sammie's new album, Sammie, is a mix of Ne-Yo's soul, Omarion's flavor, Usher's sound, and taking Chris Brown's fans. This dude has matured, he is no longer singing cheesy poppy music for children, no no. Sammie is grown up, I think about 19 or 20 now, and if you ask me he got all these dudes I just mentioned beat big time. The album isn't good, it's great! I would have posted the tracklisting or album image, but I don't know if it is out there like that yet as I couldn't even find a release date for his newest work, but I did find his myspace page, which showcases a few of the songs.

So ladies and gentleman, "I'ma Put Ya D Wit" Sammie.

Sammie's Myspace

Indie Hip-Hop Review: Rumorz "The Whisper Campaign"

I first discovered Rumorz online, I believe on H1 a little less than a year ago, and liked him so much off the strength of his track "Cryin" that I offered him a guest appearance on my album the idENTITY (Rumorz appeared on "Over & Over"). His voice tone stuck out to me, and his delivery was very on point, and it continues to get better on his new LP The Whisper Campaign.

The first track "You Ain't Really Want It" starts off strong with Rumorz coming hard on a Scott Storch-esque paino rhythm however the beat to me over powers the lyricism here as the instrumental seems to get played out. It kind of just sounds like one continuous loop, which is not bad all the time, but here did not work well.

"If You Wanna Ride" starts out very Epic like with a double-time drum pattern that suits Rumorz' flow very well. He begins killing the fast flow, something to me I have noticed as a fan of his that seems to be his forte. He really know what the track calls for, and delivers perfectly. This song transitions well into the next one "Show You What I Mean" which has a Kanye West-ish-Chi-Town-Twista-like bounce to it (lol, how about that for a description!). With lines like "Look at her movin', she like Shakira with them hips//Angelina with them lips, and Pamela with them shhhhh" shows that Rumorz has a playful wordplay that makes for a good mix of lyricism with a nice bounce. These two tracks set a nice tone to the album, and draws my attention further. Thus far, at first glance, he is passing the iPod test (a system where I listen to every track on a album, and rate the ones too keep on Pod).

The track that shows the broad ability that Rumorz possess to adapt to what a track calls for is displayed on "What's It Gonna Be." This pairs the East coast emcee with production that samples En Vouge's "Don't Let Go" and showcases a RnB singer on the hook that matches the track perfectly as Rumorz appeals to his audiences softer side with lines like, "I guess it took a heartbreak just to teach me//but if you change your mind girl you know where to reach me." So far this is my favorite track, bar none.

After that showcase of raw, uncut emotion we travel to a darker world of Rumorz in a song titled "Gruesome." The darkness of this track shows a different side to Rumorz as he intorudces his rhyme partner S.Money to the album. This song was perfect for a callab, and I believe he picked the right person to callab with, as they both contribute to a nicely crafted hook, nice track for sure. Rumorz hits with the fast flow again in the 3rd verse, and closes the track exceptionally.

Speaking of callab's, Rumorz calls on Young Cal to create "Game Set Match" over a Mister KA instrumental. To me on the first verse of this track Rumorz almost channels his inner Nas, and reminds me of Nas' flow on "Small World." Not as if he is copying Nas, but how the beat hit in that Nas track, and how he came off flowing on it, which is def. a compliment for Rumorz. I actually had to hit pause on my iPod to re listen to a few bars he spit as the beat dropped in this track. At about 1:17 he gets his Twista on with a tongue-twister line that will blow your mind. Wow. He spits some shit that I swear I would type if I could make it out. Shit I'm bout to e-mail his ass and ask him what he is saying, it's not like he is just babblin', he is saying some shit but it's so fast I ain't even gonna try and butcher his lyricism here. Just check it out, the part is crazy!

Now to the reason why I even fuck with Rumorz, "Cryin." This beat is perfect, his flow and message on this track is ill too. His voice tone and delivery is perfect for this track too. He spits a heartfelt apology about trying to make a change, and talks in depth about what seems like some deeply personal issues in his life. Not too many quote ables here, but on tracks like this a emcee doesn't need to wow you with their lyrical prowess. Tracks like this show versatility in a emcee, and I love it. To me this is what makes or breaks a emcee, cause check it, as a emcee, yeah we all good with the words, but can you make a song. Club song, check. Callab track, check. Lyrical track, check. But can you MAKE people FEEL your music, and to relate to your audience and to make them think on tracks like this is exceptional, and he did so, bravo Rumorz. Another note able track on The Whisper Campaign that explains further what I am talking about is "Stuck" featuring Rayne.

Other note able tracks on the album are the album closer "My Thoughts" and "What It Look Like." So what's the verdict. Well, the iPod test says 7/12 songs make the iPod cut off. Most of the songs I went into in depth coverage on are the ones that made it to the iPod, and nowadays a album with 7 solid bangers should be considered a great find. I say Rumorz has what it takes to make his mark on the game, and I recommend this album highly especially at the current state of hip-hop. With all these mixtape rappers releasing mixtapes every week and seeming to not put time and energy into everything they do, I offer you The Whisper Campaign. Shh, don't sleep, fuck it, don't even whisper, this shit is hot.

Purchase The Whisper Campaign Here
Album also available for purchase on iTunes (check iTunes Ministore)
Rumorz Myspace

RnB Album of the week = Brian McKnight - Ten

Brian McKnight releases a new album to the RnB world, and it's crazy.

I will be the first to admit Brian has not been making music like he did earlier in his career. His last few albums were just mediocre if you ask me, and the only classic song he has made within the last few years is probably "Love of My Life." That CD Superhero was his last good effort, but even that album stopped short with only a few memorable moments, like the above mentioned and the Justin Timberlake callab "My Kind of Girl."

A good friend of mine who has been a Brian McKnight fan for years still thinks Brian is slacking, however I beg to differ. He told me he thinks Brian is trying too hard to recreate older classic songs, and claims every song on this album pretty much resembles "Back at One." I listened to the album fully (as I do anything after throwing it on the Pod), and his 16 tracks all passed the iPod test that I have. [The iPod test is where I listen to every song in a certain album, and rate the songs I like, either a tracks gets 1 star, or 5 stars, and after I listen to the whole album, I go back, and see which songs are not rated, and can them]. Not one song failed the iPod test. Every song was left on The Muzik Vault {my 60 GB iPod's name, lol}. I will not even begin to name the songs on this album and tell you how good they are, because I believe they are all good. I will however school you on the song that I think, if marketed right, will be one of the bigger cross-over RnB songs that we have heard in the past few years.

Brian has always been able to create songs that fall outside of his genre. In the past he has collaborated with various artists, from Justin Timberlake to Juvenile, to now........drum roll, hold your breath RnB fans, Rascal Flatts. Rascal Flatts is one of the biggest country groups out now I guess, I hear their songs here and there, see them on TV, and my son even likes the remake they did of "Life Is A Highway" from the movie Cars. Anyway, they got song with Brian on Ten entitled "Red, White and Blue" that is amazing. It is so fitting for the times as well, it is about a man who is in the military and it away from his family, and they pretty much paint a picture of the effect the war is having on the world today. It is a really powerful and uplifting song that anyone who has a family member in the military can relate to. This song, if pushed right will be huge, hopefully for Brian's sake the label knows what they have, and will do the right thing and give this record the all too popular label push.

Is it cool to beef with Jay-Z now?

Just curious cause I'm hearin' all over the place rappers are beefin' with Jay-Z. I mean I see on YouTube, Raekwon talkin' greasy about Hov saying his album is trash. I see Lil Wayne is making comments about Hov coming back out of retirement. I hear 50 Cent & DJ Whoo Kid on Shade 45 talking about Jay's album, and you can't tell whether or not they are hatin' on him or not, like subliminal shit. The The Game one minute makes references to Hov (or at least it sounds like on "One Blood"), then he squashes the beef on BET saying "I ain't got no beef with 50, and no beef with Hov."

Then you got this all too popular Jim Jones beef, which is kind of weird to me for many reasons. First off I didn't understand why Hov responded to Jim, and not the Cam diss that was almost a year ago. But then Hov made me understand when he was on 106 & Park and basically said he did that "Brooklyn High" shit so that every time Jim's biggest record gets played, it's no longer "BALLIN" it's "BROOKLYN" alluding to the fact that people will think of Jay-Z when they hear Jim's popular "We Fly High." Which made sense. But where did all this come from, looks as if Jim wants some sales, same thing Cam probably wanted, a little bit of attention to generate a bit of sales, which it did, and Jim made the REMIX, or BEEFMIX with Hov's verse and is now using that to help his album. Then you got Cam making another diss to Hov, and then JR Writer, I mean come on, JR Writer? I understand he is a soldier for DipSet and all, and I am a fan of DipSet, but come on JR Writer is hardly doing any damage in any of this, hell Jim is barely doing any damage, actually he is doing NO damage to Hov, so JR is pretty much waisting studio time. It's almost as if he wants Jay-Z badly to acknowledge his existence, it's kinda funny.

It must be the new thing to beef with Jay-Z. Weird, are we forgetting that this man is partly responsible for the growth of hip-hop through the past few years? Are these rappers forgetting he paved the way to be a Hustler turned into a Rapper? Are these dudes forgetting that they used to recite this man's lyrics and look up to him, hell Jay is probably responsible for a few of these cats even wanting to rhyme. Hell Jay is probably the sole reason DipSet is a huge deal, seeing as the biggest DipSet album, Cam's Come Home With Me, was released on Roc-A-Fella Records.

I'm lost...........

Hip-Hop is Dead; Are Mixtapes to blaim?

Aight, I have been thinking, first off Nas came up with a good idead for a LP. But I don't think Nas is nessesarily talking about candy ass bubble gum pop / hip-hop saturated all over the radio. I don't think Nas is referencing the South's rise to the top. I guess I can't really talk about what he means, but here is why I think Hip-Hop isn't as fun as it once was, not dead, by far not dead, but being hurt bigtime.

The Mixtape killed Hip-Hop, or is killing, hurting whatever you call it.

Not the leaking of album tracks per se, cause that has always been a form of Hip-Hop, the bootleggers, getting to hear parts of albums on mixtapes was always ill. Like when you'd hear a new Biggie track or Nas joint, or NORE joint bac in the day on Clue tape, a few freestyles here and there, but nothin' crazy. Now everyone is a DJ, everyone is a mixtape DJ's, DJ's who never even touched a turntable making "mixtapes" or every artist, every new artist it seems has to release a "mixtape" which is wack to me honestly.

Yeah, I like to hear some ill hip-hop, I like to here a mufucka tear up a industry beat everyonce and a while, but let's be real, ain't too many people rippin' tapes like in the 90's, I mean really, Fab in his prime, Joe Budden & Cassidy in there prime just rippin' mixtapes, and Lil Wayne is rippin' them and has been for years, but I'm sayin everyone is releasing mixtapes, I mean rappers have like 15 mixtapes before a album, and I understand they just tryna grind, but shit Papoose ain't did ONE LP, dude got 78.2 mixtapes on the streets. I mean whatever happened to making music, and saving the tracks for the albums and shit.

This is why mufuckas ain't excited for Papoose, or any other artist who has like 59 mixtapes out, cause you feel like, man I heard that mufucka on 890 songs already, and he just aight, I mean shit there is no anticipation for these mufuckas anymore, I mean mufuckas in the streets might wanna hear that new freestyle or whatever, but these mufuckas are over-saturating the market.

Mixtapes are being overdone, everyone's doing it, it's kinda sad, cause very rarely now will Hip-Hop run into a new release, or a new artist to release a highly-anticipated album. Nowadays artists want to start off as a mogul, you have to establish yourself in the industry before you can model clothing lines, start clothing lines, get a label (I mean you might get a label, but if you are the only artist on your label that anyone has remotely heard of, you aren't really a label). Mixtapes worked for 50 Cent, and a few other select artists, but just because it worked for 50 Cent that doesn't mean it will work for you. 50 Cent also had Dr. Dre & Eminem behind him as well, so please realize, if you are a artist out there, the mixtape will not solidify your spot in hip-hop.

Make songs, complete songs. Learn how to write songs, hooks, pick good beats, don't just rap with your boys, surround yourself with good talent. Mixtapes are a good vehicle, but they are being overly-used, and are in turn only destroying slowly our genre of music. Don't follow 50's footsteps, you aren't 50, no one is but him.

This is not directly aimed at anyone, just something that was on my mind. I know where you coming from Nas, cause at times I can agree with your new album title.