“Young California Got That Mass Appeal”

GAME “THE RED ROOM” MIXTAPE

So I am sitting at my desk at home after another rainy monday , and was feeling like I need some new music in my world. Now the rapper GAME might not be your answer to a brighter outlook on the day, but today GAME and DK Skee released a free mixtape on XXLMAG.com , but then I got to thinking and although The Game has his fair share of detractors, and as a NY Hip-Hop fan with a steadfast dedication to East Coast MC’s , I have to say Game is the real deal.

So I fired up the Itunes and threw on “Scream On Em” produced by Swizz beats from “The Doctors Advocate” album. That song is about as hard as Brock Lesnar. Also not the best song to sit at your laptop and write, yet here I sit (how lazy am I?) So then I scroll down to “One Love /Its Okay” ,  you can look up the definition of HARD in a Websters dictionary and that song might just start playing , flipping Junior Reid’s “One Blood” ….thats genius. Opening line , you know you remember it…”Dre, I see dead people” then  Junior Reid comes firing in… I can recall in the summer of 2006 being in Las Vegas when this song first dropped and being on the Westside the DJ was only too glad to spin this one back at least 10 times……IN A ROW!!!

Now is he the worlds greatest rapper, certainly not, but he def knows what he is doing. He has clearly always had a solid team of marketing people behind him (sure being on Interscope never hurts), But from his single selection , to ALL His artwork and branding, the fonts he uses , I am feeling him. Just look at the artwork for the new tape.

One of things I love about Game is his ceaseless promotion of his West Coast affiliation and his blatant gang affiliation (sup BLOODS). Game has the ill LA DODGER Logo tattoed on HIS FACE in RED INK. Yes, THE GAME is HARD. I mean he practically marketed himself as the second coming of NWA and reps Compton harder than  Eazy E, and you know what…it workes well. But you can tell he means it. His affiliation with Dre aside, this man bleeds California RED. HE is an NWA lifer for sure.

Huge Shout to my boy Lester at WEST NYC for hooking me up with the classic NWA photo above. It is spring time people so go buy some damn KICKS (at West NYC of course)

You can tell GAME has a deep respect for the history of Hip-Hop, he names drops rappers constantly but rather than diss , he gives props. I mean he has his beefs for sure, but take one listen to “Games Pain” featuring Keisha Cole . The song is a sweet history lesson on the genre. And while you’re at it listen to “My Life’ Feat Weezy and “Wouldnt Get Far” featuring Kanye. Straight HITS!!!!!

Now of course putting out a free mixtape and dropping it on the internet is about as original as breathing, but when GAME does his thing , it feels like an event. Enlisting XXL as the distribution platform is also not rocket science but they have done their thing in executing it. And of course this is pre-cursor to the forthcoming proper “ALBUM” coming this summer. But this Mixtape has all the feelings of a real LP. I mean this tape features Lil Wayne, Diddy, Jim Jones, Just Blaze, Nippsy Hustle, Busta , Pharrell, Jadakiss and Birdman. Like I said The Game gets his respect in the industry.

So is the tape any good, I have no idea!!

Since its still D-Loading…..

But while I wait… I spit my lyrics, cuz typing this blog is about as close to rapping as young matty gets! ….holla at ya boy.

“They Reminisce Over You” by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

Start your Thursday with what is certainly one of my TOP 5 all time favorite songs….Summer of 1992.

“Worst Comes To Worst” by Dilated Peoples

Feeling a bit nostalgic these days, although this track is not that old, it is still a real banger. With some ad-lib by GURU (RIP) and production by Alchemist. We need more joints like this. Dilated is a great example of a group that was signed to a major and is now, indie as hell. Hope they continue to put out material.

Enjoy the video!

The DrakeOver

I make no secret at all that my man Drake is a beast , a real triple threat. He can rap, He can sing and he can…well I dont know maybe he is simply a double threat…I will say this, Its been a minute since there has been a debut album (No his itunes ep does not count) with this much anticipation. Reminds me a bit of waiting for Snoop to drop in 94 (but that might be taking it a bit far) The good folks at HypeTrack got the first single for our listening pleasure….Looking forward to hearing more Drizzzzzzy!

Drake – Over

Click on the link to HYPETRACK and peep it.

After months of sharing verses with today’s top-selling recording artists and constantly postponing his long-awaited debut album “Thank Me Later” Drake is finally ready to present his first single. Entitled “Over” Drake is in full Drizzy-mode giving a recap of his eventful past year over the Boi-1da laced track. This is certainly not the radio-joint people have expected, but it is a solid effort that leaves one wanting to finally hear his full opus that is slated to appear in May.