The come up.

I don't get hyped too often about new artists these days.  Part of it is the sheer oversaturation of the market these days (who doesn't have a mixtape out?) and part of it is, well, the music just sucks.  

But I've been listening to this cat J. Cole lately who is supposedly Jay-z first signee to his new label, Roc Nation.  I have to admit I'm catching on a little late... but this guy does have skills.  Drake seems to be getting all the love (not undeserved but probably also) from his association with Lil' Wayne.  J. Cole also has that seemingly effortless flow... sounding smooth but street-rugged at the same time.  And maybe that's what I like about him versus the rest of these up-and-comers.  I don't care about the Kid Cudi's, the Wale's, the Charles Hamilton's.  Maybe I'm guilty of just lumping them all in together with that hipster-hop scene (and to think of it, I am because I can't recite one single Charles Hamilton lyric... but he reps Sonic the Hedgehog for god's sake).  I just want that to-the-point, lyrics-no-chaser hip hop back.

RapRadar just dropped this new joint by him today:

But if you want some more help catching up like I did, check out his mixtape, "The Come Up".

Thank me later.

It's mostly the voice.

Maybe the Eminem that was introduced to us in the late nineties is gone for good.  And maybe it's time I (along with a plethora of other elitist hip hop snobs) should learn to accept that.

This past week, we heard the third Eminem joint that may or may not be on his long overdue comeback album, "Relapse".  First, the Relapse Freestyle.  Then the first single, We Made You.  And now, 3 A.M.  So I'll just ask the same question that's been on everyone's minds...

WHERE THE HELL DID THAT ACCENT COME FROM AND WHAT IS HIS OBSESSION WITH IT?

When I heard it on "Encore", I thought perhaps Marshall was so bored of being light years ahead of the average MC (not to mention the overabundance of garbage that was being peddled as hip hop) that he was merely trying to amuse himself.  And rub it in our collective faces.  And STILL sell millions of records at the same time (I remember hip hop nerds trying to convince themselves Canibus was doing the same with with "C True Hollywood Stories"... except that album sold only a few albums, not a few million).  An elaborate social experiment that could only be concocted by the mind of Marshall Mathers (not to mention one of the few who would have the ability to conduct said experiment with his access to Interscope money).

But now... after all this time away from the limelight... away from the distractions and unwanted attention that comes with the superstar lifestyle... after being able to retreat from it all and just focus on the MUSIC again... he decided to bring that damn accent back along with him.

Don't get me wrong.  Eminem's flow is still on point.  He still has ridiculous amounts of ability.  And 3 A.M. is a solid hip hop joint.

But something about just hearing that accent just reminds me that I have to let go of the music I loved and try to compromise with what's out now.  There is no more Get You Mad.  No more Just Don't Give A F***.  Or Kill You.  Or Locked Up Tonight.  Except on my IPod.  So for now, I'll add 3 A.M. to them and just be grateful that at least Em hasn't resorted to autotune yet.  For now.

FINALLY...

Okay, so it's not "The Greatest Story Never Told".  And it's not over Just Blaze production.  But Saigon has finally dropped an album.  "All In A Day's Work".

Like a lot of people, I first heard Saigon on the "Yardfather" mixtapes (in 2004?  When was that?  I don't even remember) and was instantly hooked.  He had the lyrics, flow, delivery, content... plus had a knack for picking the right beats to compliment his style.  Honestly, the last time I heard a rapper with that kind of potential was 50 Cent in his pre-Shady mixtape days.  Then the buzz grew.  He linked with Just Blaze.  Signed with Atlantic.  Appeared on "Entourage".  The table had been set.  He was being groomed to be the next rap superstar.

Then everything began to crumble.  One album delay after another.  Then the Prodigy fiasco.  Then he claims retirement.  Then he claims it was a ploy to get out of his deal with Atlantic.  Then he's left label-less.  Then we don't hear anything for awhile.  Just Blaze is off making hits with T.I. and the like while the rest of wonder, "What the hell happened to Saigon?"

Then the Joe Budden beef pops off, et cetera et cetera, fast forward to now... we finally have a Saigon album.  And of course I (as many others) am still waiting on his much-vaunted (mostly by himself) proper debut album.  But until then, we have this maybe-not-classic-but-still-very-good "street album" to tide us over.  Statik Selektah's stock has been on the rise as a producer lately... and his gritty beats are an excellent compliment to Saigon's rugged-but-intricate flow.  For all those who constantly bitch and moan about the death of hip hop (myself not excluded), do yourself a favor, visit Itunes or Amalgam Digital's website, and go cop a real hip hop album.

(Here's one freebie to entice you.  Listen to how good just the intro is.)

Rewind Effect, Spring '09

WHERE MY KILLER TAPE AT?

"Yo, Meth... where my Killer tape at??!"  This shirt was inspired by the infamous skit featured on the Wu-Tang Clan's seminal debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" (which was, in turn, inspired by John Woo's cinematic masterpiece, "The Killer" starring Chow Yun-Fat.)  This original design depicts a famous scene from "The Killer" on top of Raekwon's classic quote.

COP ONE BY CLICKING HERE.

TROUBLESOME

"Let it be known, I'm troublesome..."  Love him or hate him, you can't dispute the legendary status of 2Pac's legacy.  In his later years, his off-wax persona almost garnered him as much notoriety as his passionate lyrics.  This shirt features a famous image of Pac spitting on reporters just as he emerged from court, set against a backdrop of his lyrics from one of his greatest unreleased songs.

COP ONE BY CLICKING HERE.

I BELIEVE

"I believe the children are the future..."  The superstars leading the way in the rap game were once just kids with dreams too.  This collage incorporates well-known youthful images of now-legendary hip hop icons emblazoned with an inspirational quote from a classic 80's R&B tune.  (If you can't recognize 'em, you just ain't hip hop.)

COP ONE BY CLICKING HERE.