Here is some rap music from 2012. I think it’s the best rap music from 2012 but you might be inclined to disagree. Especially if you are the sort of person who is wrong. Read more…

I am doing this again now. Sometimes. Shouts out to Jimmy Pitchfork and Jaron Lanier.

Joey Badass f/ Ab-Soul – “Enter The Void”

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from Waves single (Cinematic, 2012)

I’ve already said my piece about Joey Badass and it’s not the word to play but here his new jack old head style is stripped of its borrowed aesthetic and left butt naked next to the most underrated retired keystyler in the TDE camp. Joey was even kind or foolish enough to let Soul rap first here. And rap he does. It’s always great to hear him spitting about chakras and shamen, especially if you are like me and keep an Abstract Rude poster hidden behind your Gucci Mane poster like that Bo Derek shit concealed by a Rand McNally world map in a 1970s jail cell. (∞ NHJIC) But more than that he just sounds great while saying these words over this sort of low bitrate blaxpo tension that’s somewhere between Product Of The ’80s era Sid Roams and Pilot Talk era Ski Beatz.

I bought this off itunes because I always make a point to support independent music before I bootleg it. Strangely though the file took a good hour to download and for that alone I guess I have to begrudgingly salute Joey Badass’ loyalty to even the dial up modem technology of the days he fetishizes. (Prod. by Lee Bannon)
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My new Pitchfork column is up and it’s a classic.

Speak on it here if you must speak on it.

So some readers have requested that I keep an open forum here for discussion of significant hip hop events and releases and fistfights. It seems like Kendrick is that talking point at the moment. I reviewed the album for Spin and generally think it’s very good, even if the rush to immediately declare it a classic seems mostly motivated by a combination of general fanboyism and the fact that craft oriented and cohesive major label hip hop albums are so rare in this day and age. Your thoughts?

I is alive. This post probably should’ve happened a thousand months ago but it didn’t so it is happening now. If you haven’t noticed Cocaineblunts is all tumbleweeds and dead links to old Trina songs but do not worry because I still make words about rap, I just do so elsewhere. Many elsewheres, actually. As a matter of fact I now have more columns than Zeus:

- HALL OF GAME at Pitchfork is a about rap and rap music.

- HIP HOP PIT STOP (aka CARPETBAGGERS CHOICE dammit) at Red Bull Music Academy looks at the regional rap legends of then and now.

- BEAT CONSTRUCTION at Fader is a series of conversations about beats with the people who make them.

- I also write the hip-hop reviews column in THE WIRE every other month (and occasionally more frequently than that) but you are going to have to leave your house or subscribe if you want to see it.

- Plus I’m still a TUMBLRER when I have time to be and a FREELANCERER when I’m allowed to be and a TWITTERER every waking moment of my godforsaken life.

So yeah there’s all of that and you should be sure to read every word. I’m sorry that this can’t be a regular blog anymore but the internet has changed and I can’t even buy a penny with Adsense nickels these days. What do you think? Will you miss this site? Will you dance on its grave? Where is Maynholup? Who stole the last piece of chicken? SPEAK ON IT!