Last night was the wonderfully awesome BET Hip-Hop Awards (Did you sense the sarcasm in that wonderfully awesome?).
The awards itself was pure trash, the true gems were the rap cyphers and last night three of Detroit's most lyrical participated, G.O.O.D. Music's Big Sean, Kuniva of D12 and Royce Da 5'9.
While everyone seems to be focusing on Big Sean's cypher demolishing, I think Kuniva and Royce Da 5'9 are being kind of overlooked.
Nevertheless, I — and many of you—know how talented they both are and fortunately for us Royce Da 5'9 released a new freestyle, "24 Bars" and just guess what it is.
I love Royce Da 5'9, he's tied for my favorite rapper (yes, eLZhi is the other guy but this has nothing to do with him).
Every time I hear Royce Da 5'9, Black Milk and eLZhi on a track together (whether Black is producing and eL and Royce are dropping lyrical bombs on the beat or if it's some Black/eL, Black/Royce, or eL/Royce combo) I always think of a clash of the titans. They are some of the best (and most underrated) lyricists around and your favorite rapper knows it. These three are some of my favorite rappers ever, not just in Michigan, but period.
They did the song "Real Hip Hop" for Royce Da 5'9's Bar Exam 3 and now they have teamed back up for "Deadly Medley" which will be on Black Milk's upcoming album, Album of the Year. Besides this album being one of the most anticipated albums of the year (at least for me) I have been dying to hear this song. One of my pipe dreams is for Black Milk, Royce and eLZhi to team together for a project...but then I think they would shut the industry completely down. Enough jabber, here's the video for "Deadley Medley":
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?
So I'm not thrilled, Benzino (aka the guy who got mad because he couldn't touch Eminem) and Raekwon have teamed together to diss Royce Da 5'9"... Yes, I'll let that sink in. The song has apparently surfaced today and is getting buzz all over cyber space. Peep the song below. I am anxious to see what Royce is going to do, I like Raekwon, but I will forever and six days support Detroit.
My thoughts? It definitely seems that Benzino is using Raekwon as a scapegoat. He never really disses anyone, but Benzino fires shots at the end. I wonder if Raekwon even knew how his verse was going to be used. I've never been a Benzino fan, but this seems so random to me. I definitely think Royce could spit one bar that would kill this entire song.
I've concluded I am addicted to music and that my addiction changes. For some reason last night I downloaded Royce Da 5'9"s: The Bar Exam, The Bar Exam 2, M.I.C. and Build & Destroy.Royce Da 5'9" is one of those rappers I've come to love and appreciate a lot more this year after seeing him perform with the rest of Slaughterhouse at Rock The Bells. His next mixtape, The Bar Exam 3, is slated for release sometime next year ( I believe in March, but don't quote me on that). I figured what more perfect flashback than "Boom." This song is from his 2002 Rock City album and was produced by DJ Premier. It was the first song I heard by him, so flashback to "Boom."
Some people have questioned Big Sean on a local scale because most of his features have been with people from his own camp or camps close to his (nevermind the fact that he has worked with people like Pharrell and Kanye West, nooooooo). Well not too long ago, Big Sean was in the studio with Slaugtherhouse's Royce Da 5'9" cooking up something that I'm guessing is going to be on Royce's 'The Bar Exam 3' slated for release in March 2010. Royce gives Sean his props, why can't everyone else?
