fans of underground rap?

[KG]

Re: fans of underground rap?

I actually got a response from SoulStice on myspace after sending him a little note saying how I thought his album was incredible. That was pretty cool in my opinion.

Dead Letter Perfect might be my favorite album of all-time OVER Atmosphere's You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having.

Wow

I used to hang out with one of the guys in Wade Waters w/ Soulstice....i'm happy to see them blow up cuz they put in alot of hard work

I like the new LB but I just wish it has a lot of R&B type ish on it...I wish there were more straight hop hop bangers on it like track #10

good look on all the cats who posted up with links....always love hearing quality music

[rockchisler]

Re: fans of underground rap?

The EP has 10 tracks.

I remember back in the day when EP's usually had 7 songs or less

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?

I remember back in the day when EP's usually had 7 songs or less

EP's should only be that long... "Extensive Play" ... the longest it should technically be is 25 minutes. 10 tracks over 25 minutes sounds like a blend.

[JiggidyJames]

Re: fans of underground rap?

I really don't know why artists deal with these huge labels. As stupid as Cam'ron is he knows that if he releases an album on Kock and it sells 100,000 copies, he'll still make way more money than the rappers on big labels, and that's just from the points on the cd's.

Yes and no.

A lot of guys searching for a major label deal are bums. They get their measly advance and either live of it until they're broke (and living in a homless shelter as was the case with one guy I knew) or they put it back on the street (and leave the industry). Most of the time, they don't even record a single song for the label. The industry's become nothing more than a quick flip for a lotta lazy people out there.

BUT, getting on a major leads to a lot of exposure. TV, movies, endorsements. That's what the smarter guys are thinking about. If it doesn't work out, fine. Camron, Jim Jones, Boot Camp Clik, Styles, BG, Mobb Deep...they were on majors before they started with Koch. Their numbers are crap without the exposure they got earlier in their careers. So, it's a double edged sword.

And Camron is far from stupid.

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?


Artist: Pitch Black
Album: Revenge
Producers: DJ Premier; Marley Marl; Scram Jones; Alchemist; Pete Rock; Shomari; Cool & Dre; Q-730
Release Date: September 28, 2007

I was really impressed with the wordplay on the song "Block to the Boardroom" produced by Pete Rock. The emcees in Pitch Black are really gifted with the vocab and synonyms but outside the Pete Rock, Scram Jones, and DJ Premier produced tracks, the beats lack a lot. Although Pitch Black's 5 members hail from New York City, the flow is very Detroit-influenced and that could have a lot to do with working closely with DJ Premier who also spends a great deal of time with Royce da 5'9" and his own Gangstarr Foundation out of Philly which doesn't fall far from the Detroit-sound tree. The song "Symphony" produced by Marley Marl is pure fire lyrically and the beat is as soulfully intense as you can get. I didn't make it the Song to Download however, because there is a song that 'Fans of Underground Rap' would take a liking to a bit more... I still say get this cd and try it on for size.

• Grade:
  • 80% (B-)
• Song to Download:
  • "Momma"
  • Produced by:
    • Scram Jones

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?


Artist: Hezekiah
Album: I Predict a Riot
Producers: Anthony Accurate; Hezekiah; Aaron Livingston; Fred Kenny; Rick Tate; Tony Whitfield; Oddisee; Vegan Pork Grind
Release Date: September 7, 2007

Hezekiah is a Philly native who bores people I believe. That and rapping seem to be his profession, and he tries to draw you in by dousing you with too much mind-entrancing funk and he just comes off as quirky and I mean quirky/nahhhh, not quirky/dope. Hurry Up & Wait was a lot more mellow but I can't say that I enjoyed it anymore than this. He seems to be skilled in his craft, but he doesn't channel it like he should.

I really don't know what the right sound is for this guy but that may be because what I'm listening to right now is too far-out (again, not good) for me to comprehend anything else. What else is not shocking besides Hezekiah? The fact that you guys may like this album. I could be totally wrong about this album in your minds and I wouldn't dwell on the reasons why. This is the type of work I can see that happening. The sample used by Hezekiah on "Let's Get Involved" is dope.

• Grade:
  • 77% (C+)
• Song to Download:
  • "That Filling" ft. Freeway
  • Produced by:
    • Hezekiah

[JiggidyJames]

Re: fans of underground rap?

Artist: Pitch Black
Album: Revenge
Producers: DJ Premier; Marley Marl; Scram Jones; Alchemist; Pete Rock; Shomari; Cool & Dre; Q-730
Release Date: September 28, 2007

I was really impressed with the wordplay on the song "Block to the Boardroom" produced by Pete Rock. The emcees in Pitch Black are really gifted with the vocab and synonyms but outside the Pete Rock, Scram Jones, and DJ Premier produced tracks, the beats lack a lot. Although Pitch Black's 5 members hail from New York City, the flow is very Detroit-influenced and that could have a lot to do with working closely with DJ Premier who also spends a great deal of time with Royce da 5'9" and his own Gangstarr Foundation out of Philly which doesn't fall far from the Detroit-sound tree. The song "Symphony" produced by Marley Marl is pure fire lyrically and the beat is as soulfully intense as you can get. I didn't make it the Song to Download however, because there is a song that 'Fans of Underground Rap' would take a liking to a bit more... I still say get this cd and try it on for size.

• Grade:
  • 80% (B-)
• Song to Download:
  • "Momma"
  • Produced by:
    • Scram Jones

Better beats than their first effort, but their selection is still spotty. When I hear those names are producing, I expect better. They got the "C" beats.

[Brandwin]

Re: fans of underground rap?

Don't forget Phonte will be on the BET awards tonight. I will DVR it and fast forward later that night.

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?

Don't forget Phonte will be on the BET awards tonight. I will DVR it and fast forward later that night.

Lol... I would NEVER watch this award show if it wasn't for Phonte being in it. Kudos BET.

[WaddupCouzin]

Re: fans of underground rap?

XCel,

Did you review Canibus, "For whom the bell Tolls"? I picked up this CD the other day, so I was curious to see your review.

[jmood88]

Re: fans of underground rap?

I remember back in the day when EP's usually had 7 songs or less

They usually are.

[jmood88]

Re: fans of underground rap?

EP's should only be that long... "Extensive Play" ... the longest it should technically be is 25 minutes. 10 tracks over 25 minutes sounds like a blend.

Why should it be less time? And who said that it was 25 minutes?

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?

Why should it be less time? And who said that it was 25 minutes?

I meant the technical meaning of an EP... it's supposed to range in the 10-minute to 25-minute area... any shorter is a single, any longer is an album.

[X*Cell]

Re: fans of underground rap?

XCel,

Did you review Canibus, "For whom the bell Tolls"? I picked up this CD the other day, so I was curious to see your review.

That came out around April. I'll get to a review of it soon though.

[cliburn]

Re: fans of underground rap?

First listen and I'm not really feeling them, at all. The singer sounds like that guy from Linkin Park who went to Fort Minor or whatever. Man it's playing right now and it keeps getting worse for me.

But to each his own

Eh, I never really thought he sounded like Mike Shinoda, although I do like that Fort Minor album (never was a Linkin Park fan though.) They're doing relatively well for a hip hop outfit out of Lawton, Oklahoma.