Music Video: Window Seat

I love Erykah Badu, I think she is one of the most talented and amazing musicians. Her new album: New Amerykah Pt. II: Return of the Ankh, drops THIS WEEK and I don't think I could be happier. This morning at approximately 3:33 a.m. she released a video for her song "Window Seat," check it out and make sure you grab her album on Tuesday.

Otherside of the Game - Erykah Badu

The DJ is probably one of the most fascinating individuals in the hip-hop world to me. The DJ controls your mood; think about it, how many times have you been to an event and the DJ can't blend well or plays the wrong kind of song and you're on the dancefloor or by the bar looking extra salty? I respect the DJ and I for certain respect the female DJ. It has kind of turned into an impromptu celebration of Women's History Month on Tha 'A' Side; meet Midori a.k.a. DJ Dooski. A  Detroit-bred DJ and hip-hop lover currently attending Northwestern University. If you remember, a while back I posted her documentary on gender and racial politics of hip-hop that featured The Cool Kids, Ro Spit and Big Sean. In an interview with Tha 'A' Side, Dooski speaks on the difference between Chicago and Detroit's hip-hop scene as well as being a female in the industry. Introducing: Midori a.k.a Dooski.

Alex Washington: What is your favorite hip-hop memory?

Dooski: I have a few. One would be going to Rock the Bells for the first time. I've never experienced anything like that day and it was amazing. Minus the fact that I (and my beau at the time) got embarrassed in front of the whole amphitheater due to Method Man's silly antics (trying to holla at me from the stage), I could never imagine a concert more perfect than that one. Secondly, I met Pharaoh Monch at his in-store at Burn Rubber a while ago. I was pretty shy to go up to him and ask for his autograph on his CD in my hand, so he actually came up to me and asked if he could sign my CD for me. When I told him my name, he realized I was part Japanese and told me about how he came up with the name 'Pharaoh Monch.' The Monch came from his friends calling him Monchichi (a Japanese character) because of his hair. Ironically, my mom called me Monchichi when I was little too! Such a sentimental moment with a legendary artist. And third, while taping for the documentary I did, I went to interview my good friend Big Sean at his video shoot for "Getcha Some." Hype Williams was shooting this video. It was an amazing experience to see one of the most legendary video directors at work with one of my friends! All very special moments.

Alex Washington: When did you get into hip-hop? What got you interested?

Dooski: I didn't get into hip hop (that way I am now) until I was in high school, really. I have an older sister who, surprisingly, had good taste in music in the '90s and she would have some cassettes laying around that I would listen to. At night, we would record some hip-hop records from the radio onto cassettes and listen to them on the way to school in the morning. Moms hated it. When CDs were popular, I remember a shift towards Pop and R & B for girls our age. So Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Brandy, Monica, and SWV were popular in our household. Then I remember it shifted back during the Bad Boy era and remixes were really popular. Then in the millennium, hip-hop became more than just music for me. I really began to see it as a all-encompassing way of life. I saw it in fashion, language, mannerisms, style, and art. There is nothing like that connection between you and the culture of hip-hop. There is definitely a feeling of ownership and membership within the culture that is undeniable. That's why I am into hip-hop.

Alex Washington: How did you get into DJ-ing?

Dooski: DJing has always been so interesting to me. Watching music videos on TV, or sneaking in clubs I wasn't supposed to be in, was the only time I was able to see the DJ. The DJ has always been an omniscient, regal, and powerful figure in hip-hop. The DJ controls the show and controls what everyone, in listening distance, is listening to. This, to me, was amazing. I just never saw anyone that looked like me in that position. Specifically, a female—and a female in hip-hop. When I saw a woman DJing for Dead Prez at Rock the Bells, that's when I knew that this could become reality for me. That DJ was Beverly Bond. I hope I meet her one day so I can tell her this story. But from there, I told my friend and owner of Burn Rubber, Roland Coit, who has been a DJ for years, that this is something I wanted to learn how to do. He was amazing and taught me a lot of the basics I needed to learn. Then from there, a lot of it is jumping in and learning on your own. I saved my money, bought all the equipment I needed to begin and got comfortable and practiced. There is a lot I still need to learn, but playing good music and mixing is my specialty. And I can baby scratch here and there.

Alex Washington: Nearly three years ago you did a documentary on the racial and gender politics of hip-hop, what did you learn from it?

 READ MORE

Recognize - Invincible

If you didn't know, March is Women's History Month. I've been wanting to do a post about them for the longest and I just couldn't figure out when the right time was to do it, until now. Many times, this breed of rapper is overlooked and highly slept on, I'm talking about the Femcee [female emcee].

I know some female rappers have a problem with being called that, but I personally think it is the coolest term that may segregate them, sure, but to me, it's a term of respect for them. People often limit the female rap game to Lil' Kim, Nicki Minaj, Trina, Eve and the like, but none of them are true MC's, they're all nicely packaged label products. Do I listen to them? Yeah, but they don't truly embody the craft of rhyme, rhythm and patterns.

I know some of you reading are probably a little confused, if they aren't femcee's then who are?

Well you have Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu who have all (with the exception of Erykah) been pretty inactive these last few years.
Zoning in a little closer to home, a lot closer actually, are four femcees who could make your favorite rapper evaluate his own bars.

First up, we have Invincible.
If you follow me on Twitter or have seen my Facebook status you have seen this line:

I'm striving to be one of the best period, not just one of the best with breasts and a period.

I swear that is my favorite quote and nothing can replace it. This is what I love about Invincible, besides dope lyrics and tracks with substance she has turned down major label deals, started her own label (Emergence) and went ahead and self-released her album ShapeShifters in 2008.  Invincible has gotten major kudos from the likes of Metro Times and XXL Magazine and rappers like Talib Kweli. Besides being a lyrical monster, Invincible definitely holds down the Detroit fort well, in town and out. Last year after going to SXSW for the first time, she got the idea to hold a showcase at this year's SXSW. You may remember seeing Ro Spit and Marv Won tweeting about it, Detroit by Southwest was the biggest showcase for 313 musicians down in Austin this year with Slum Village and Black Milk headlining, and Invincible made it happen. She used the connects she made for herself at 2009's festival to make things happen for everyone else in 2010. How many people can say that?

Next we have Mae Day. I've posted joints by her a time or two before on this blog. Mae Day seems to be what I like to call a silent killer. No, she's not posted on top of the Fisher Building with a sniper rifle, what I mean is she does her thing without saying anything. Maybe that doesn't make sense either, but I know every time I see something released by her, it kind of hits me from the left. You never really know what she's working on, but all you can bet is that it's going to be ill. Her mixtape, 'Cherish the Day' released back in February of 2009 and served as a sort of ode to Sadé and was recently re-promoted on hip-hop blogs and sites when Sade released her album 'Soldier of Love.' In recent news, Mae Day performed at SXSW and dropped lines on Rhianna's "Rude Boy." If MC Lyte realizes how stupid dope she is, where is everyone else at?

"I can't believe I'm hearing all this raving and ranting, from Vanessa, up in here at New Detroit stamping," after reading that line you immediately know what movie and what scene I'm talking about. If not, that's a line from 8 Mile's "Lunch Truck" scene featuring rhymes by Eminem, Xzibit and our next femcee Miz Korona. Even if you never heard her (well, you probably think you haven't heard her) you know who she is. Korona has performed at SXSW, opened for Eminem, collabed with Trick Trick, it's quite impossible to say she's "just another MC" when her resumé is as sharp as one of her bars. She just dropped a mixtape of recently unreleased joints including a "Dilla-lude," a few bars dedicated to her favorite producer (and mine) J Dilla. Currently, she's on the grind working on her debut album 'The Injection' and of course doing performances whenever she can.


Like a Zoo - Miz Korona

Last, we have Chacity with lyrics that cut as deep as the scissors she does hair with. She dropped her Set it Off-themed mixtape 'It's My Turn' in Decemeber and is currently in the studio working on her next mixtape that is supposed to be released in June. From what I gathered from her tweets and FB status updates, Chacity has been in the studio with Royce Da 5'9 and will presumably be featured on his upcoming 'Bar Exam 3.' Chacity is indeed a force to be reckoned with, anyone that can not be overshadowed and can keep up with Royce, Kid Vishis and Miz Korona on a track must be nice.

There we have it folks, four femcees that I think deserve a lot more credit than they are given. I know there are more out there (like the young Lady Te who just filmed a video to her song "Shut It Down" not too long ago). You can call it a movement, you can call it a trend, but you can't call it a joke.


Respect the Femcee.

Shakin' It For Daddy - Robin Thicke

Latest Video Blog: Apparently the Shake Weight IS real, Freshman Clothing has the dopest business cards and peep whose mixtape I got while there. I also speak on Twitter Rape, who I "rep" and being a groupie.

Music Video: "Lovely Day" - Paradime

Back in 2007, I was with my mentor, Kelley L. Carter and we traveled deep into the outskirts (ok, not really deep) and went to the crib that belonged to this guy, Paradime. If you pay any attention to my tweets you have probably read the story, but yeah now I definitely hold meeting and interviewing Paradime as one of my favorite Detroit hip-hop memories. Simply because back then I knew nothing of him, just that he had this massive pit that wouldn't leave me alone (not in a I'm going to kill you way) and handed me a copy of his album 'Spill at Will' which I owe to being the first time I heard Marvwon or Guilty Simpson rap (Hey now, I'm a baby). Well today, one of the illest Irishman to touch a mic released his music video for "Lovely Day." From what I gather, it's off his upcoming album, so peep it.

I'm Ready Now - FowL

This week was a pretty great for Michigan hip-hop, we have some of the best of the best representing the mitten heavy down in Austin for SXSW. Now while the adults are away at SXSW the children will play, Young Detroit is hosting the second dose of the Red Cup Session tonight, and within the last 24,  three locals released mixtapes.

First up, we have FowL. In my last mixtape post, FowL's mixtape, the Commencement, was the one I posted using a super late pass, little did I know that he was releasing a new project a day later. He has already released a video for one of the tracks "Hello, Howya Doin." What's interesting about FowL is that he's only a college freshman and is getting kudos from the likes of Invincible and it seems with every bar he has spit, makes someone new a believer. 'For the Love' is pretty good and with nearly 700 downloads in the first 24 hours, FowL is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Click HERE to download FowL's 'For the Love'.

Next up on the menu, we have two pre-tapes—mixtapes artists put out just to say "Hey, I know this sounds amazing but I have something coming that's better,  this is just to tie you over." Coincedentally enough both of the covers for these tapes were done by Nate Hickman.

We have K-Bunz, repping USR and Young Scolla's right hand, he's working on his mixtape '5 Miles to City Limits' which is set to release sometimes soon. The pre-tape features lines over songs like "Crush on You", "Show Me What You Got" and "Exhibit C."

Click HERE to download K-Bunz's 'One Way In, No Way Out'

Finally, we have P.L., lately he's been a lyrical machine. Besides getting this pre-tape together and working on Turning Lane and performing on the Flight Tour, he's been dropping freestyles close to every week. If this tape is "just a lil' something" I seriously can't wait to see what the Turning Lane is going to be like. The pre-tape, No Brakes, features some freestyles that have already release including the Charles Hamilton cover "Groupie Girls" and the recently released "Over" (yep, the Drake joint). It's hosted by DJ Mo Beatz and has some production credit to producing gurus The Olympicks.

Click HERE to download P.L.'s 'No Brakes.'

Last Donut of the Night - J Dilla

I don't know how I missed posting this. Can't tell you what I was doing or going through last month, but Stussy released a 3-part-documentary on J Dilla's life during his last few years—From Detroit to LA to Donuts. The documentary features the likes of DJ Houseshoes, Peanut Butter Wolf, J. Rocc, Frank Nitty and  quite a few others. Stussy and Stones Throw Records have also partnered on a J Dilla tribute t-shirt.

And I knew about everything I'm posting, for some reason I never posted it (Oops). Stones Throw Records, Serato Records, and the J Dilla Estate collaborated on the special edition vinyl release of Donut Shop. This is the description that is on Stones Throw's site:

Serato and Stones Throw have teamed with the J Dilla Estate for the official J Dilla Serato release, Donut Shop. This is 2 discs with six J Dilla tracks, 2 sides with Serato Control Tone (for use with Serato Scratch Live DJ software), and 2 donut slipmats in a package designed by Studio No.1. This will be released May 10th (the day after Mother's day--what's up Ma Dukes?). Pre-order is available now.

The J Dilla tracks consist of three previously unreleased instrumentals selected by J.Rocc from the Dilla archives – “Safety Dance”, “Sycamore”, “Bars & Twists” – and three unreleased instrumental versions of Dilla's production for Mos Def, Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes, each remastered by Elysian Masters who mixed and mastered J Dilla's Donuts, The Shining and Ruff Draft albums.

It's available for pre-order now and will be released on May 10. One of the tracks: "Safety Dance" has been released for free download already. Peep it:

Download "Safety Dance" Here

I think I've gotten everything else out of the way, now for your feature presentation, J Dilla Documentary presented by Stussy.

Music Video: "Hello Howya Doin" - Fowl

I have already said I am stupid impressed by this kid (though I'm only what, 3 years older, so not the point), Fowl is really talented and lyrically killing a lot of rappers that have been doing this for years. Yesterday he released a music video for his joint "Hello Howya Doin," I believe it's something that is going to be on his upcoming project but don't quote me. It's directed by Pierre Blake and produced by Hir-O. Am I the only one that thinks this 18-year-old has major potential?

New Era - Danny Brown

I'm slowly (but surely) starting to catch up on my blog with everything I have been meaning to post. A lot of new music dropped and it's been hard to keep up, I'm swimming in stuff! Today's releases come from 7 artists: Danny Brown (The Hybrid album, Detroit State of Mind 4), JYoung (Black History Year), Ren Cen (Library Muzik), Clear Soul Forces (Clear Soul Radio) G Wood & Lyricz (The Takeover), Tru Great Lakers (Written by the Lake) and a super late pass on Fowl (The Commencement). Take a minute, scroll through the artwork and pick something nice out for yourself.
To download anything, just click the photo :-).

    

Yay or Nay: Stop N' Stare - Yung GooD

I first heard of Yung GooD around the time I went to USR's 3 Days B4 Fame event last summer and saw him perform his song "Transformer." That was nearly one year ago, and aside from his older mixtapes and a feature or two, many haven't heard from him. Well the Bedda Made rapper hailing from Detroit's east side has been taking his time in the studio working on his new mixtape that should be dropping sometime soon. Well, Yung GooD is ready to release his new single "Stop N' Stare" featuring Princeton, so what do you think, Yay or Nay:

Download "Stop N' Stare" Here

Detroit Rock City - Kiss

Today is March 13, on a calendar it reads 3.13.

3 ... 1 ... 3.

No matter where you are from you, you know 313, you know Detroit. So I decided to put together a lil' diddy of some Detroit themed songs, well music videos, in honor of the day. I have a lot of faith in Detroit and it will revamp and revise itself to dominate the music scene in everyway. Get your Faygo or Vernors POP, Better Made chips, and whatever delicacy from Coney Island and enjoy my picks for  #DetroitDay.

Welcome 2 Detroit - Trick Trick feat. Eminem:



Boy Would U - Blade Icewood



Whaddup Doe - Tone Tone



Take Money to Make Money - Stretch Money



Disco - Slum Village



ALSO if you're in town for the night, go down to Oslo, to celebrate #DetroitDay AND help support the J. Dilla Foundation

Music Video: "Over" - Ro Spit

I told myself I wouldn't post anything else even close to related to "Over," (Drake's song that every MC's grandmother has tried to remake). But, Ro Spit shot a video for his version of "Over" and I had to post it (it wouldn't be right if I didn't). Very clean shot video, all Ro, and there are a two things you should pay attention to besides his lyrics:
How dope the not-yet-released Burn Rubber fitted is he's wearing
How dope the cardigan is he's wearing.
The video was directed and shot by Gerard Victor who is very easily beginning to become my favorite local director (he shot Ro's "Renaissance State of Mind" and Elzhi's "Deep" video).
So check it out: Ro Spit - "Over".

Also make sure you wish Ro a happy birthday:

"OhShitRoSpit, you just found me on Twitter."

If for some God forsaken reason you don't know who Ro is, check out his 'A' side interview:

Music Video: Made You Look - Diggy Simmons

Since December, I have been a somewhat silent supporter of Diggy Simmons. Yes, Diggy Simmons as in Rev Run's adorable son who has blossomed into a freshly dressed and spunky teenager with a seemingly nice flow. His first mixtape 'First Flight' has gotten love from bloggers, rappers and according to the rumor mill record execs have tried to holla at ya boy (shoutout to JFin). Despite the support many people still question Diggy's authenticity and he's still an underdog fighting his way to the top trying to separate himself from Rev Run's son, Vanessa, Angela, and JoJo's baby brother and Russell Simmons nephew. Today he released a video for a rhyme he wrote to Nas' "Made You Look" and I would be a complete liar if I said I wasn't impressed. Check it out.

Flashback: Player's Anthem - Junior M.A.F.I.A.

I looked outside and saw people hanging out on my block and for some reason this song popped in my head. Junior M.A.F.I.A. had a short run, true, but they still go down in the Hip-hop history books because of their affiliation with Notorious B.I.G. and jump starting Lil' Kim's career. Today's Flashback joint is Junior M.A.F.I.A. (complete with Biggie) performing their first single "Player's Anthem" at the Apollo in 1995.

Guess Who's Next - Young Scolla

It's no secret that I support the locals, just take one minute to look around this blog and you'll see how much love I have for my favorite known unknowns. I generally don't post about events but this one is different.
The homie Young Scolla is doing an instore at Freshman Clothing this Saturday, it'll be hosted by CiCi Ross, he'll be showing the music video for "Decisions" and copies of his EP "Escaping Reality" will be available for sale.
This is what I love about this instore: Young Scolla? Detroit artist. Freshman Clothing? Detroit business. Everything about this screams Detroit and I'm happy to see it happen.
I guess you would consider this Young Scolla's Detroit send off as he is preparing to head down to Texas next week to perform at this year's SXSW (South by Southwest) festival.
He'll be performing at Urb Magazine's Official Next 100 stage next Thursday along with some other favorites including BJ the Chicago Kid, Dom Kennedy, 88-Keys, Izza Kizza and XXL Freshman Donnis (BTW the last three will be performing at the Crofoot in Pontiac tonight for the Crowd Control Tour with Kidz in the Hall).
This instore is more than supporting a musician and a clothing company, it's about supporting Detroit. I know this is probably a very cliché phrase right now, but everyone involved is making moves not only for themselves but the 313 as well.
So if you have a second on Saturday, swing through, say "what up doe" and Support Detroit.

Speed of Sound - Mike Posner

With all the drama surrounding the Chip Tha Ripper show that never happened everything else that happened that week became null and void. On Feb. 25, the Thursday before that "show," Mike Posner and Big Sean performed at CMU for a sold out crowd of nearly 1,300. I worked on this show and help get things together and to see the outcome of it was unreal. If you follow me on Twitter then you know everything, how the tickets sold out in the first 30-40 hours, Mike Posner asking for a barber, Big Sean getting lost, the flying Willie the Kid mixtapes ...

I've seen them both perform before but I think seeing them at CMU meant more to me than when I saw them at Wayne State University's Mad Anthony concert nearly a year ago. Mostly because it was a piece of Detroit in Mount P, and I helped make it happen (well I helped a little, a lot). People from all over the state were there and your favorites including Dante Marshall, Cliff Skighwalker and Rodney. Detroit was heavy in the building Burn Rubber and Motivation fitted out .

When it comes to music at CMU, "rap" shows never do well, and true Mike Posner isn't a rapper, but that's what it has been coined as. Fabolous and Day 26, concert was made possible at CMU in September, and tickets had to basically be forced in kids hands in order for us to have a good turnout. It was crazy because you had all these people (if you know CMU's demographic you know they were mostly "suburbanites") cheering for Big Sean and Mike Posner.

Why am I talking about this ish now?

The event was about two weeks ago, true, but I never posted anything about it and today I saw this video that the Detroit News did on Mike Posner, I didn't even know they were there! Also a few other videos have started to spring up so I said, #kanyeshrug and decided to post a few.

Your favorite blogger and your favorite writer #saysomething

There's still a video that I have to edit together, but for now this shall be enough for you.

The two photos at the top aren't mine, they belong to a girl by the name of Amanda R.

Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G.

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the death of one of hip-hop's most notorious MC's, Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G.

We all know B.I.G.'s story and the kind of mark he left on the industry with frenemy Tupac Shakur.

What I have always found interesting about Biggie is the fact that I have more fingers on my hand than he does albums, yet he is always put in the same lane as Tupac and somewhat worshipped by many.

Why?

He never won a Grammy and only managed to crank out TWO studio albums while alive and did not have 10 years worth of unfinished material, so what makes him so appealing?

For me, his honesty. This may sound completely stupid, but I feel like everything he was saying in his lines was the truth, no sugar coating it (not saying 'Pac lied, I can feel the heat from some of you already). 'Ready to Die' was one of those albums that you could either relate to because you knew someone like him or you could paint a vivid picture of what was going on with each track. I still wonder if Biggie knew the effect that he would have on life, after death.

Damn right I like the life I live, 'cuz it went from negative to positive...

R.I.P: Christopher Wallace 1972 - 1997

Yay or Nay: Rude Boy - Mae Day

Mae Day is one of my favorite, most underrated MCs period.
Her mixtape 'Cherish the Day' has gotten love from everyone and if you still don't have it, you truly are sleeping heavily. It's no secret that women have to fight tooth and nail to be heard without compromising their image (think Barbie, b*tch). Anyway, Mae Day has been endorsed by the likes of MC Lyte and hopefully she is in the studio cooking up something else for 2010 (actually I'm almost sure of it). She released a track today that tackles a stupid dope beat that isn't "Over."

Yay or Nay: Rude Boy - Mae Day

Teaser: House Party - Earlly Mac

The names of things, places and days change over time and what was formerly known as April Fool's Day is now being coined "April Foolay Day" and may have a lot to do with a finally famous pelican. On that day Earlly Mac will be releasing the video for "House Party" his track that has to hold us over until his mixtape releases. Well, Mr. MacMillion released the teaser trailer for the song today, Check it out.

Don't know who Earlly Mac is? Get familiar with him by checking out his interview with Tha 'A' Side.

Music Video: "Like That" - Chip Tha Ripper

My spidey-senses tell me that if this Cleveland native stays on the path he's on he'll be in XXL's 2011 Freshmen Class. Maybe I've been paying more attention to him after our interview or maybe he really is doing that much, but Chip Tha Ripper is starting to become a household name on Tha A Side and it continues with the release of his video for "Like That" off his mixtape 'The Cleveland Show.' Check it out.

Music Video: "Deep" - eLZhi

Basic blog lead: I love eLZhi.

If you've seen any post that even mentions his name (or any of my tweets) you know this. If you read my blog regularly, you also know that a few days ago I posted about elZhi and his music videos he had been working on. Well tonight, the video for "Deep" premiered. I'm still waiting for "Glow," but my heart is happy nonetheless.

Battle Royale: Over - Drake

In all my blogging history ...

That's cheesy, but I don't think I've ever seen anything like what's going on right now. What am I talking about? Drake released his first official non-So Far Gone, non-Young Money, single "Over" on March 4th ... as in roughly three days ago. Within 24 hours of its release freestyles began to pop up. One by one, rappers took to the beat in hopes of committing lyrical homicide on the Boi-1da produced track. Granted a few rappers have gone in on the "Lemonade" beat (which I still haven't heard the "original" and at this point I don't know if I want to), but no one cared to do it within three days of the song releasing.
 

It's fair to say Boi-1da is definitely getting more recognition for this beat than Drake is getting for his wordplay on it. Now I'm trying something new here, I'm sure this is not going to happen often (or will it) but with all the freestyles coming out I decided to put them on one post as a Battle. What this means, everyone took on the beat, but they may not all be your favorite, so on my Matrix (red or blue pill) which do you choose?


Diggy Simmons: The Young Run has been making quite a buzz for himself after the release of his mixtape "First Flight" back in December and was among the first to tackle this one.


Noah Jones: This New York bred Californian dropped his album 'The Incinerator' last fall and has done tracks with Crooked I and Nipsey Hu$$le.



Young Slapz: From Detroit and one half of the Skigh High Ent. duo, NGC. He has opened for the likes of Wiz Khalifa and next week will be opening for Travis Porter.


P.L.: This Ann Arborian (yes I make up words this way, but who knows it may be real?) has been dropping freestyles faster than Interscope Records dropped Charles Hamilton, it's only natural he did this one.



Young Scolla: His EP, 'Escaping Reality' just dropped not too long ago and he's currently in the studio working on his next project 'Renaissance Dreams.'


Ro Spit: This MC is a lot more than half of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique his hybrid 'The Oh S#!t Project' has a lot of people saying: Oh S#!t, Ro can really Spit (totally stole this from someone on Twitter don't remember who but remember seeing it, don't sue me :-) ). He'll be performing at this year's SXSW (along with the other half of Detroit).


Royce Da 5'9: When I got wind of this one, I can honestly say I was surprised. If you don't know who Royce Da 5'9 is you should probably not be on this blog. Bar Exam 3 is releasing sometime soon and I'm prepared.


Now for the real question, who do you think killed it?

Flashback: Come Close - Common

This song came on my iTunes and I remembered just how sweet and touching the video was. Common and Mary J. Blige are two of my favorite artists and no matter how simplistic the song is, it's so dope to me. This video also reminds me a lot of Spring/Summer and with the pleasant weather we've been getting here in March, I figure this would be the perfect video to kickoff the upcoming season and pull people out of the winter funk. Flashback to: "Come Close" - Common feat. Mary J. Blige.

Music Video: Okay

This past week these two guys' names have been floating heavily around in my day to day conversations and yet again something new from Big Sean and Chip Tha Ripper (and GLC too) ... The video for "Okay". Now if you got the hard copy of UKnowBigSean then you probably heard this song because it's the last one on the mixtape,  if you downloaded the digital you weren't so lucky. The video was directed by Davy Greenberg and is what I like to call #dope, simple and basic with clean shots, yet dope nonetheless. Peep it: "Okay" - Big Sean feat. Chip Tha Ripper and GLC.

Deep - eLZhi

Basic: I love eLZhi.


He's terribly underrated and ridiculously talented, and I have a feeling that by the end of this year, everyone else will be caught up.

'The Leftover Unmixed Tape' dropped in December and eLZhi has two videos dropping soon. There is a video for "Glow" which is the theme song to my life (don't be jealous, I was destined to be fluorescent) and a promo still has been released for it. It's directed by Mario Butterfield and Ché Patterson who also directed Marv Won's stupid dope video "Totally Awesome."

That's all fine and dandy, but yesterday a teaser video was released for "Deep," and I don't know if I'm gassed because it's eLZhi or if I'm gassed because the video actually looks like it's going to be dope. Peep the video below that I straight jacked from MIHH.

Young Boy Talk - Wiz Khalifa

XXL Magazine finally released all ten freestyle videos as well as leaked the cover for their annual Freshmen 10 issue.

 

It's definitely cool to see Big Sean on the cover after the budding anticipation for the last few years. Honestly I was disappointed when I saw OJ Da Juiceman and Nipsey Hu$$le were Freshmen and I know a few other people were as well.

I decided to do my own 10 Freshmen for 2010 list and I think it would have made for a better cover than the current one (of course I'm going to say this since It's my own).

10 Freshmen for 2010 (revamped)

• Big Sean
• Wiz Khalifa
• J. Cole
• Jay Electronica
• XV
• Kidz in the Hall
• Dom Kennedy
• Chip Tha Ripper 
• Fly.Union
• Willie the Kid

How I came up with my list?

I looked at how active they were last year, how people reacted to them, what moves they are currently making, if they seem like they'll be able to make a lasting impression and of course talent and skill. 

PLUS think how dope their freestyle vids would be?

Maybe these choices only make sense to me and I'm sure someone reading this will disagree, but #kanyeshrug.

I plan on doing a Michigan Freshman Class pretty soon. #staytuned.