Wale – “BASEhead“

Wale picks up on the rolling double time flow that folks like Meek have been popularizing in Philly. For a short while it seemed like Wale would be stepping in as a remote member of State Property. Or at least Young Chris’ new Lil Neefy. So it’s no surprise that he’s been paying attention to rap trends in the City of Brotherly Gun Similes. He’s snapping too. This is produced by someone or someones going by the name Basshead which is strange because there’s virtually no bass on the record. Just church bells and 8 bit blips. That drum programming seems a little complex for a NES game though, I wonder if Basshead is rocking Nanonloop or something similar.

Kurupt f/ DJ Quik, Terrace Martin & Snoop Dogg – “Bounce, Rock, Skate“

from Streetlights (Penagon, 2010)
So Kurupt still hasn’t quite figured out how to hold down a solo album, no news there. Too often on Streetlights he either falls into the trap of mathematical hypothetical lyrical spit or that of his recent completely confusing directional obsessions. “I’mma take the top and put it where the bottom drop / then I’mma reverse it and make the bottom touch the top / see this what they all call the top spot / then I’mma show the top where the bottom stop.” That’s an actual quote, sounding like a particularly twisted game of Simon Says. Anyway, the real Streetlights highlight goes to his Blaqkout partner demolishes this bonus cut, delivering purposely clunky insults with calm malice. “You’re the color of money / and your weed looks like autumn / and the pockets on your jeans look like they did when you bought ‘em.” (more…)

It’s been a long time. Some of these are older than others.

Chalie Boy – “Bumpa Grill“

from I’m Here (Mixtape, 2010)

The success of Chalies’ “I Look Good” is a blessing and a curse. It got him a deal and probably a decent amount of loot but being such a lightweight and summer record it’s pretty safe to assume that he’ll be burdened with a one hit wonder branding, which couldn’t be further from the truth (this is often the case with hip hop – ask Biz Markie and the Geto Boys). If nothing else it’s a big part of the reason we’ve been hearing booming Moe/Pat style hooks on post-snap records like “Hit Dat Hoe.” But the thing about both those guys and Chalie is that they were not just hookmen in the traditional sense. They were rappers first. His freebee street album I’m Here is a little bit everywhere, some great spitting, some straight up R&B/pop records and a lot of hybrids. He could probably carve a niche for himself a The-Dream style singer/songwriter mold which would be a good look professionally, but almost a let down musically. It’s when he hits that hybrid moment that he’s at his best, but I’m not sure how much of a market there is for that right now.

Ms. No Tonsels – “Fuck My Face“

If retweetabilism is any indicator “Fuck My Face” is well on its way to up to be the 2010 “Smell Yo Dick.” Except it’s actually a pretty good song. Or at least it’s as good as a song called “Fuck My Face” can possibly be. Strip club shit. Ms. No Tonsels(sic) is something like a cross between old style Trina sass and new school Nicki Minaj robot rap. This is record that needs a Ludacris verse on the remix. A tip of the hat to David the Shrimp for mentioning this record and then asking for a “hat tip” in this post. (more…)

Quickly, some new joints for the late night crew.

Webbie f/ Pimp C & Lil Phat -”Money Getting Taller“

from Savage Life 3 (Trill Ent., Coming Soon)

A word to the wise: don’t let Pimp C spit first from beyond the grave. He is going to outshine you by simply rapping about his dick. He passed away two years ago today. Rap suffers still.

Waka Flocka Flame f/ Cartel & La Chat – “Call Waka“

One of the more revealing things about that rambling Gucci tour scam expose in Ozone was that Waka is in fact the son of community organizer turned Gucci Maneager Debra Antney. I imagine that there was an awkward “you know my boy wants to be a rapper too” conversation and Gucci was too kind or high to be like “uhh…” and then Waka was born. Regardless, Waka is fun, picks good tracks and rides them well enough. So maybe rap nepotism isn’t all bad. (Still I would glady sacrifice Waka if it meant Charles Hamilton also went away forever.) This is one of those beats that Simon Reynolds should listen to. All theremin crawl. Also La Chat is infinitely better than Nicki Minaj. I’m just saying. On both counts. (more…)

The Clipse – “Door Man“

from Til The Casket Drops (Sony, Available 12/8)

Got It For Cheap hipster hyperbole aside, *The* Clipse has always been a four man group. And I’m not talking about Ab and Sand, either. In much the same way Cannibal Ox proved forgettable without El-P or Guru was a horrible solo act, The Clipse are inextricably linked with their producers. Every Clipsetunes track we’ve heard thus far from the album has either been Sonic The Hedgehog melodic pop Neptunes or “Grindin” like simplicity. “Door Man” is P and Chad (maybe? is he still even a Neptune?) expanding into denser palettes. But unlike on say, “When’s The Last Time” Pusha and Mal get crumble under that weight. Their raps are forgettable and for this reason “Door Man” pales in comparison to their best work. But it still outshines most of what we’ve heard from the album so far.

Lil B – “Based“

from 6 Kiss (Mixtape, Coming Soon)
B at his weirdest, fully unhinged and maybe sending more shots at Drake? He’s a lion in the Pro Tools jungle, calling out Whole Foods inhabitants and perverting the “Successful” hook into a mystic new age yodel about (what else?) being based. (more…)

“Grandma probably rise from the grave / heard what I paid for it…“

Gucci Mane has released something close to a hundred songs in the last two weeks or so. I hope Warner doesn’t sue me before I finish giving each and every one a full and thoughtful listen. Here are some highlights from the Cold War saga, plus a few other loosies that have dripped to the web in recent days.

Gucci Mane – “Break Ya Self”

from Brrrussia (Mixtape, 2009)
For UGK being his favorite group, his production is usually far from Pimp’s classical trunk funk. So it’s nice to hear Guch hop on some heavy Hammonds once in a while. It has been a long time since I’ve heard a rapper use the word “dolo.” Of course, rhyming it with “solo” is probably not the most inspired decision but the other rapps more than make up for the slippage.

50 Cent f/ Gucci Mane – “Crime Wave (Remix)“

The biggest secret in rap is that 50 still makes good to great music. Even if every beat he rocks these days has the exact same drum pattern. It’s strange that more parallels aren’t drawn between Gucci and Fif. Not so much musically, though they are both making a killing with a drawl, but morally. Gucci is on the cusp of wearing the rap villain belt that 50 once held. At least since Tupac, every era of rap has had a major villain. A force so evil that the crusaders for real hip hop (no tony d) and detractors against all hip hop must constantly remind us how the mere existence of these rappers is destroying the world. (Until, of course, a few years pass and their detractors either soften with nostalgia or are pandered to directly by a villain who has reinvented himself as a hero.) The vilification of major gangsta rappers is to be expected, even necessary, at this point. (more…)