Black Moon "I Got Cha Open"

Now that you got this page open you can listen to this Black Moon song entitled, “I gotcha open.” This song is once again a classic hip hop tune from the genre’s golden age. I currently have this song on my cell phone as my alarm it seems to always start the day off good no matter how rough the previous night was.

The remix of the song which you are hearing now was not the version you would have heard if you bought their album. They had different verses and an entirely different instrumental on the album version of this song. The only thing to remain the same was the song title.

It is also one of the coolest music videos that I have seen a hip hop artist perform in. Since the video on YouTube doesn’t allow it to be embedded, due to the person who posted the video to YouTube, I have listed the URL link as follows so you can see the video and how cold it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP2mlvJkAPY

The lyrics are good but in my opinion they aren’t as complex as the most talented of emcees. But, this in no one can take away from Black Moon or the song. Rather the instrumental and the flow he uses and his voice cadence add a lot to the song. The trumpets and strings in the song make you feel like you are dreaming while you’re listening to the song and if you follow the above link the beginning is almost set up to emulate a dream sequence. Well I’ll leave you to listen to the song and I suggest you hit replay because the song gets better every time you hear it.

Joell Ortiz "Hip-Hop"

Yo do me a favor, accidently step on your white sun glasses/
We don't wear those over here this is hip hop(that's right)/
This is Carhart jackets, Timberland boots, unlaced/
This is Champion hoodies, chicken wings and french fries/
RIP pieces on the handball court, this is us still fightin' police brutality/
This is hip hop/

Today we have a song by Joell Ortiz who in my opinion is the most talented and relatively new hip hop artist to come to the scene. He and Slaughterhouse, the rap group he is a part of, which is comprised of Joe Budden, Crooked I, and Royce Da 5’9 recently signed a deal with Eminem and Shady Records so it is good to see a group of talented emcees getting a chance to get their music distributed by a major label.

This song specifically is all about hip hop and the current state of the genre and how Joell Ortiz thinks it can be improved. You could say he wants to go back to the golden days of hip hop before money and global fame was the driving factor in artist’s creative process.

Joell Ortiz along with being lyrically talented manages to show to his listeners that he has credibility in terms of his lyrics. He has a good sense of humor in a lot of his songs while at the same time managing to put out tracks that are introspective.

The artists who are able to let the listeners into their lives and creative processes end up developing a more meaningful relationship with their fans. Their fans don’t just look upon them as artists but rather fellow human beings with a knack for being able to help them get through their day. This leads to longer careers and in most cases more money for those artists with extremely loyal fans. Hell, Wu-Tang could still manage to sell out shows because they have loyal fans that feel like they really know the artists.

All I’m saying is that Joell Ortiz is the perfect example of an artist who manages to be genuine and unique while at the same time staying true to his craft.

Mary J. Blige ft. Smif n Wessun - I Love You (Remix)

Today I got another classic featuring Mary J. Blige and Smif N Wessun. This song is in my top 20 songs of all time hands down. It is a laid back love song of sorts that Mary does a great job on in terms of her vocals.

The remix which is the version you are hearing featured Smif N Wessun and if you don’t know who they are just type their name in Google and you should find out all about their work and the boot camp click. The instrumental is a perfect match for Mary and Smiff N Wessun. There is a heavy kicks and a lot of piano which was common amongst hip hop in the 90’s which artists should go back to now days.

Below I have shown you the second verse that Smif N Wessun spit:

Hip Hop, sets out in the park/
Blaze an L, raisin' hell till the day I dark/
Got me Reminiscing back like Mary J/
When I sit back and peep the game people play/
Too High to get over/
Cause I'm rollin' through life like a soldier/
Holdin' the weight of my fate on my shoulder/
Blazin' the trees,/
With my Duck Down family/
P-N-C-One L-O-V-E/

They only have two verses because Mary is singing the other. Their two verses are unique and similar to the style of back and forth rapping that Styles P and Jadakiss have mastered. I know I have almost mentioned this in all of my posts to this blog but God Damn why don’t artists keep making classics like this. There is nothing but positive comments on YouTube and hardly any dislikes. Whenever I ask someone to listen to the song they say they loved it.

I know the flavor and style that the 90’s brought to Hip Hop can never be duplicated but it can certainly be honored. So please if you are an emcee and stumble across this blog please take what I’ve just said into consideration. KEEP THE 90’S ALIVE!!!!!

Do Or Die-Po Pimp

Do you wanna riiide?/
In the backseat, of a Caddy/
Chop it up, with Do or Die/

We have a classic or our hands today. The song I’m talking about is Do or Die’s “Po Pimp.” I can remember watching this on the Box (old music video channel, much better than MTV) in the summer as a kid. It is a showcase of the talent that Chicago emcees can bring to the table. Do or Die has put out many albums since but I think none will ever come close to how good their first album was.

This whole song along with the music video which was filmed in its entirety in Chicago just adds to the overall vibe and laid back feeling of the song. All of the members of Do or Die do their part in this song but, Twista is the obvious standout. Twista went on to become the most successful in terms of a solo career hitting the platinum eventually later in his career when he went solo.

Here is the opening few bars of Twista's verse:

Well a motherfucker might be broke and shit/
And then collecting no dough from tips/
But I be spittin mo' game than a mouthful of poker chips/
To get them hoes with the Oprah lips and the provokin hips/
And never gotta tell her many lies/
I been lookin in the city skies, get up in the kitty's thighs/
Cause I'm blessed with a look of innocence, good sex/
Peanut butter complex and some pretty eyes/

Talented artists manage to bring the listener in as soon as they start to rhyme. In my eyes Twista has done this throughout his entire career. I rarely have come across a song of his that was lack luster. The man has possibly the most innovative and coldest flows known to man that is his entirely. On top of that he is extremely complicated when it comes to the words he rhymes and how they fit together in his verse.

To all you Po Pimp’s out there still blasting this song in your Cadillac safe travels and I’ll be bringing you some more Chicago flavor in the coming days.

Big L Now or Never

Now, get ready for a more positive song from Big L. The name of this song is Now or Never. I like listening to this song on the way to school or work because it motivates me to start the day off on a good note. Songs can influence moods and emotions and listening to a song that makes you feel like you have to get something accomplished before the day is over is always a positive.

It’s time to make power moves and get the chedda.
And buy the real nice things that makes life betta.
No foolish acts, moves must be clever.
Im down for whatever, I gotta blow son, is now or never.

In the short time that Big L was able to be with us he sure made positive impacts on people’s lives. It is clear that Big L would use songs like these and the creative process that goes with making these songs as motivation to get through his day and to accomplish his goals of becoming a successful rapper.

It is tragic that Big L was taken from us so early but, it is songs like this that he has left behind that makes it feel like he is still here with us today. Good artists manage to make their music live on long after they have passed away. There is emotion and genuine feelings being expressed by L and it is for that reason including his talent that he was able to garner so much respect and notoriety amongst fans and the Hip-Hop community. R.I.P Lamont

Big L - How Will I Make It

Today we have two entries that once again showcase one of my favorite artists of all time. I’m talking about Big L of course. The is a drastic difference between these two songs, this first song being grim and realistic while in the second entry I will post today shows a more optimistic and motivated Big L.

The first song is called How will I Make It. The entire song brings you into the hardships that Big L has gone through throughout his life. The song is somber and it seems that Big L is trying to show how low a person can get if they are faced with insurmountable odds in life. The difficulties that Big L had growing up from living in poverty is a drastic difference between these two songs, this first song being grim and realistic while in the second entry I will post today shows a more optimistic and motivated Big L.

The first song is called How will I Make It. The entire song brings you into the hardships that Big L has gone through throughout his life. The song is somber and it seems that Big L is trying to show how low a person can get if they are faced with insurmountable odds in life. The difficulties that Big L had growing up from living in poverty and serving time in jail all time used to paint a picture of a harsh world that can make the most talented musicians contemplate their chance of escaping the conditions in life that have managed to hold them back.

The chorus is in question form and Big L is asking himself or anyone who is listening, can I make it and how will I manage to escape the evils that have plagued my life. It seems that Big L gets his motivation to create music from the simple fact that music is the tool that will help him make it and overcome any doubts he may have in his mind about future success and the promise of a decent life.

It seems like my life been cursed ever since I was a child
And how will I make it?
I won't, that's how
I walk around with a frown I got no reason to smile
And how will I make it?
I won't, that's how
Aiyo times is rough I had to grow up foul
And how will I make it?
I won't, that's how
I always knew that I'll end up doing time on a L
And how will I make it?
I won't, that's how

Having listened to all of the songs Big L was ever a part of I can say in my eyes that Big L made it.

Big L-Put It On

This week is going to be all about Big L. Big L was a Harlem rapper who tragically had his life taken on February 15, 1999 after he was shot nine times in the head in a Harlem neighborhood. Apparently, the death was retaliation for something Big L’s brother, who was incarcerated at the time of his death, had done or something they thought he had done. In my opinion Big L is in my top 5 rappers of all time.

It is scary to think what the game would have been if Big L who had recently signed a deal and was starting to roll out his material for his upcoming album was able to develop his career and build a catalog.

His catalog to date even before his death is more impressive than most rappers entire careers. His word play is amazing in every song I hear him on. It is clear this man took pride in putting everything into his lyrics. It shows on all of his songs, he never gets on a song and performs at a mediocre level.

Big L is always the one artist who stands alone if he is put on group song. Big L of course as an original member of the DITC digging in the crates crew was in my eyes the most lethal and consistent rapper in the group. He was also a member of the Harlem based rap group Children of the Corn alongside Cam’ron, Mase, and Bloodshed.

This track that is featured in this entry is Put it on. I know I have been talking more about Big L than the actual song but for all you rap fans that haven’t heard of Big L, you needed a proper introduction to the man behind the music. All you need to know about this song is that if you are having a rough morning and find yourself half asleep on the train or bus to work play this song and you should feel like taking on the day.