Tag: JAY DOGGZ

Ladies Love Cool James: The Legacy of LL Cool J

This hip hop legend’s story begins when he was making demos in his grandparents’ basement. The year was 1984 when he got signed to Def Jam. It wasn’t until late 1985 when he released his debut album called “Radio.” This hip hop legend was born James Todd Smith but we all know him as LL Cool J. “Radio” became the label’s first full length album. Singles like “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, “You’ll Rock” and one of LL’s most infamous joints, “Rock the Bells.” What I personally love about the album is LL’s energy and DJ scratches, especially on the remix to “I Need a Beat.” LL’s second joint had the perfect name for a comeback, “Bigger and Deffer” or simply put “BAD.” On this joint, LL goes harder but also smoother. The adrenaline rush on “I’m Bad” proved LL to be the “baddest” at the time and “I Need Love” showed a more softer, sensitive and vulnerable side of LL but when LL decided to ride that wave of “sensitivity” and being more laid back and softer on 1989’s “Walking With a Panther”, hip hop fans weren’t impressed with LL being so “soft” and they accused him of “selling out” and gone “too Hollywood.” He wasn’t the same LL people were rocking with on the first two albums. Although this album had more hits than the first two, LL had more party joints too. “Jingling Baby” is a classic that gets the hip hop fans moving at a party always. LL returns with 1990’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It was a great comeback album from the disappointing persona that he had on the previous album. This album, LL proved to the fans and the people that he was the same and never did change. He proved that he was still the same James and didn’t let his success get to his head and he proved that on “Around the Way Girl.” In the beginning of the music video, LL turns to homeboy and says “I don’t want Ivana, I want Tawana!” The song is a hip hop classic with a catchy soulful hook and chorus. A classic ode to the girls in the hood with the extensions in their hair, bamboo earrings, at least 2 pair, a Fendi bag and a bad attitude. Usually, the only uppity and fancy women are being praised but LL took it there and showed the hood girls love. My personal favorite from the album is “6 Minutes of Pleasure” the Hey Girl Remix. It’s also my all time favorite LL joint and it’s super underrated to me. His next joint “14 Shots to the Dome” is LL’s most underrated joint and it had a more West Coast influenced sound but the singles are still dope. “Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings” and the Teddy Riley remix to “Stand By Your Man” are my top favorites. 1995’s “Mr. Smith” is the only LL album I own physically. This album to me is the beginning of the more grown up, more mature LL. Besides the dope singles, the album title track is my favorite. 1997’s “Phenomenon” didn’t really do much for me. “4, 3, 2, 1” was the only hot joint I can remember, as well as the album title track. “G.O.A.T.” also had the same effect. “You and Me” and “Imagine That” are dope though. 2002’s “10” I felt like LL was back, the LL I liked. “Luv U Better” is dope but the Amerie track “Paradise” was super dope. It’s another one of my all time favorite LL joints. His last three albums “The DEFinition”, “Todd Smith” and “Exit 13” were all just something to me he just put out. He had nothing to prove anymore as an artist, he’s done it all already. His prime is way behind him now but LL still remains a hip hop legend, both on the mic and fashionably. LL is definitely one of the greats in hip hop. Can’t forget that he’s had a successful acting career as well but I like the artist more personally. More than 30 years later after his days as a 16 year old from Queens, LL is hands down the only hip hop artist of his time to stay consistent with the hits and continued to push it to the next level, on top of the fact that he changed with the times but still remained himself, just like Jay-Z. Always and forever he will be one of the greats of all time.

All Hail the Queen: The Legacy of Mary J. Blige

This woman’s music helped raised me. She’s the reason why I love music so much. She made me become a singer. I grew up watching her music videos, sitting in the front of the radio making tapes with all of her greatest hits, listening to her albums from start to finish, trying to get every word right in a verse, and with every song, every emotion, every note, high or flat, she continues to be herself and never gave up or changed who she was or where she comes from. She inspired so many people with her music. She’s not a spectacular singer but it’s that real emotion from her heart and soul that keeps the people in love with her. She’s the pioneer of bringing together both hip hop and R&B music in a way that wasn’t done before. She brought Anita Baker style singing, Big Daddy Kane attitude and the raw hip hop production together with a style that represented the around-the-way girls from the hood who grew up without a father in the home. Almost 25 Years since the release of her debut album, this woman continues to bring the hits. Album after album, music video after music video, she’s untouchable, unstoppable, and they definitely don’t call her the Queen for nothing. Her name is Mary J. Blige aka The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Mary’s story begins back in Yonkers, 1988. She recorded a demo that was done in a shopping mall in Westchester. She sang Anita Baker’s “Caught Up In a Rapture.” Her stepfather at the time, over heard it and gave it to Jeff Redd. Jeff Redd was an artist on the Uptown Records label himself and he had the joint “You Called and Told Me”, which is one of my favorites. Jeff then gave the tape to Andre Harrell who was the chairman at Uptown. He was impressed with Mary’s voice and said she made the song her own. He then went to go visit Mary at her home in Yonkers. She lived in the Schlobahm Projects aka “Slow Bomb”, where she lived in Building 5 on the third floor. Andre met Mary at her home and heard her sing, she then officially became an official new artist on Uptown. Before her debut album, Mary sang backup for Father MC and even did a song with Christopher Williams and Super Cat. It was her very first single that caught the attention of street DJ’s who played it at block parties and even Kool DJ Red Alert and Kid Capri played it as well. “You Remind Me” was Mary’s very first single but it was an underground hit. Everybody was requesting the song but it was found on the 1991 soundtrack “Strictly Business” for the movie starring Tommy Davidson and Halle Berry. It wasn’t until July 28th, 1992 when Mary finally came out with “What’s the 411?” This album changed the sound of both hip hop and R&B forever. Before 411, hip hop was hip hop, R&B was R&B. Hip Hop had hooks but that was it and R&B was softer and smoother but Mary changed all that. R&B became more rough with hard beats and hip hop just had soulful singing the entire song through. Hits like “Real Love”, “Reminisce”, “Love No Limit”, “My Love” all were released between ’92 and ’93. My personal favorite on the album is “Changes I’ve Been Going Through.” It Was the same formula as “Real Love.” Mary singing over a hip hop beat from the 80’s. Biz Markie’s “Nobody Beats the Biz” and Audio Two’s “Top Billin’.” Then she came with the remix album, which was way more hip hop than the original. I ran that joint to death! I woke up listening to it and went to sleep listening to it. The illest remix joints to me are “You Don’t Have to Worry” and “Love No Limit.” “You Don’t Have to Worry” is my all time favorite Mary J. Blige song and the remix to “Love No Limit” over that Keni Burke sample loop to his joint “Risin’ to the Top” is my all time favorite Mary J. Blige remix. I can’t get over how she captured the b-girl look in the “You Don’t Have to Worry” video either. That video is the perfect video to describe her personality at the time. She was on the top of that stoop in front of a brownstone in Brooklyn with a fresh jersey, baggy jeans and a pair of boots with a baseball cap on backwards but singing so soulfully. I get goosebumps just talking about it. Mary was so original, she brought something to the game that couldn’t be touched. It’s definitely copied but it just doesn’t have the same effect. Mary was herself. Then in late 1994 she came back harder with the “My Life” album and “Be Happy” was the first single released. The video premiered on BET in October, the album released on November 29th, 1994. Now “My Life” was more dark, more intense, more sad, more real, more emotional, more vulnerable. Mary took it all the way there on this one. The album was like a movie that told the story of a battered and hurt woman who fought to get out of a bad relationship, tried to find peace and happiness and doing it in a way that people all over can relate to. “Be Happy” is my top favorite along with “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” and “You Bring Me Joy.” “All Night Long” had that Mary Jane Girls and Big Daddy Kane combination that brilliantly done. Nobody had a sound like that. Mary does it once again. Throughout ’95 and ’96, Mary Does soundtrack joints like “Not Gon’ Cry”, “Everyday It Rains” and a remake of Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman.” She also collaborated with more hip hop artists like Jay-Z and Ghostface Killah on “Can’t Knock the Hustle” and “All That I Got Is You” and we can’t forget the ultimate hood love anthem “You’re All I Need to Get By” with Method Man. Then on April 22nd, 1997, she comes back with “Share My World.” This album is my second favorite after 411 Remix. This album, Mary has a lot more confidence in herself to be a better person. She has a new attitude that was reminded me of Rocky after his workout. Standing on top of a mountain with her hands in the air and being thankful, in her case, it was on the roof of a building with a fur coat at the end of the “Love Is All We Need” music video. “I Can Love You”, “Keep Your Head”, “Round and Round”, “Can’t Get You Off My Mind” and my top favorite “Searching” are the best songs to me. I liked this album better than “My Life.” This album went harder to me and it was still had that New York hip hop vibe that I love so much. 1998 was a more calmer year for Mary, things are different now and then it transitions into 1999 when she released her self titled album on August 17th. When “Mary” came out, I was 5 years old in Virginia for the summer at my auntie’s house. “All That I Can Say” was on heavy rotation on MTV Hits all day. Every time the video came on, I was glued to the screen. It’s one of my favorite Mary videos too. This album is Mary’s most organic album. Meaning that she didn’t do the same formula like she did on the previous three. It’s a more soulful album than it is hip hop. It’s more on the Neo Soul side of town. This is the point in Mary’s career where she at the top and is getting the most promotion ever in her career. “Mary” was heavily promoted and her tour in 2000 was absolutely bananas. The infamous burgundy Farrah Fawcette hairstyle, white pants, white gloves, with a fresh pair of white kicks and a shimmery bra and matching belt. Mary keeps the ghetto fabulous look while strutting across the stage and giving daps to the fans in the audience. August 28th, 2001, Mary comes back with “No More Drama.” I remember my mom buying the bootleg version when this album came out and I also ran this album to death. This is my third favorite Mary J. Blige album. “Steal Away”, “2U”, “In the Meantime” and “Testimony” are my favorites. This album gives me the same vibe vocally as “Share My World” which is why I love this album. Mary re released the album in January 2002 and got rid of some songs to add “He Think I Don’t Know”, “Rainy Dayz” a newer version of “Dance For Me” featuring Common and the remix to “No More Drama” featuring Diddy but this album and era’s vibes continues on 2003’s “Love & Life.” This is the album that Mary fans claim to don’t like but I love the production. It’s Mary’s most hip hop joint since 411. “Love @ 1st Sight” she sang over A Tribe Called Quest’s “Hot Sex” and on “All My Love” she sang over Grand Puba’s “I Like It.” Now, Mary takes the biggest turn around of her career. This is where everything in her career was different for the rest of her career. As much I love Mary, things weren’t the same for me. On December 20th, 2005, Mary released “The Breakthrough.” This is the album that officially stamped Mary as a legend. She was the biggest than she ever was in her career before. Awards, more collaborations, more videos, her legacy continues. Fast forward to today. On January 11th, 2017, we celebrate the queen’s birthday. Fans all over are posting about her and celebrating her legacy. She’s responsible for what we hear on the radio today. A lot of R&B singers are claiming to be hip hop just because their beats are “hard”, it’s a carbon copy but what Mary did back in 1992 was real and that’s why we love her so much. She can sing with so much raw emotion and power and can still strut and drag across the street like she was your homie from the hood and dap your hand at the same time. Today she’s a woman whose overcome so much. She recently been through a divorce with her then husband Martin “Kendu” Isaacs. Mary is now telling the world that’s she been through the “Thick of It” which is her latest single. Her new album “Strength of a Woman” is said to be in stores in February. This will be her 14th or 15th album. Mary’s contribution to both hip hop and R&B has had a tremendous influence and impact on a lot of artists. Can’t wait until her new album drops. We may or may not get another “My Life” or a “Share My World”, either way she’s still just plain ol’ Mary.

The Life & Times of Robert Kelly: The Pied Piper of R&B

This man isn’t exactly hip hop but he does fit into the image and style of hip hop and sometimes the sound too. He’s worked with plenty of hip hop artists throughout his 25 year career and has an incredible discography and collection of hits that’s impossible to go through in just one day. He’s worked with The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, did two albums with Jay-Z, Cam’ron, Noreaga, Cassidy, the list goes on. Despite his troubles and controversy and having this reputation that’s not really a good one for a man his age when it comes to young women, this man is a musical genius nonetheless. His image in the beginning of his career was compared to and they accused him of biting his style from New jack swing/R&B legend Aaron Hall. He’s a Chicago native with a voice that represents the baby making style of music, his writing game is absolutely unstoppable, written for many artists and even did the entire LIFE soundtrack, the movie starring both Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy, this man’s talent makes him easily a great of his time and today he’s gained a lot of respect and love and also lost love too but still he shines through his talent. His name is Robert Sylvester Kelly aka R. Kelly, the Pied Piper of R&B. He started out in a group and as the lead too with R&B group Public Announcement. Their 1992 debut album “Born Into the 90’s” was a New jack swing smash that garnered the singles “She’s Got That Vibe”, “Honey Love”, “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)”, “Dedicated”, and “Hey Love (Can I Have a Word).” To me, the album was a combination of partying and love making. The album wasn’t too much but it was decent enough to put Kelly on the map but it was his standout solo debut 1993/1994 joint “12 Play” that officially put him on the map. The entire album was sexually themed and a bit over the top at some moments. Very shocking when he actually made a song dedicated to the woman’s body in a very specific manner too. This joint was another New jack swing/R&B smash and it had a little bit of hip hop influence when Kelly rapped on a few joints too. The remix to “Summer Bunnies” and “Your Body’s Callin'” introduced the new up and coming new singer named Aaliyah. Aaliyah was Kelly’s protégée. He helped her with her debut album “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” which released in May 1994. Aaliyah’s album was more hip hop than Kelly’s. Aaliyah came out in the mid-90’s with that hip hop soul trend that started with Mary J. Blige back in ’92. Aaliyah was just as down as Mary, TLC, Xscape, Usher, Jodeci, Faith Evans, this was a time when hip hop and R&B came together. The sound both represented the streets and gave R&B singers respect and a place in the hip hop community. Since we’re on the subject of hip hop soul, Kelly returned in 1995 with his self titled album, which is my top favorite R. Kelly album. That album was completely different from the first two albums. This album had a more hip hop influence and the songs were much more mature and deeper than the first two. This is the only R. Kelly album that I can play all the way through with no skips. This was the album that began the whole Mr. Biggs legacy, played by the one and only Ronald Isley. Mr. Biggs is a man who trusts Kelly around his women when he’s away on business and Kelly ends up sleeping with his women and then there’s trouble. It’s classic R&B shit. It’s hard to pick my exact favorites because this album is so fucking incredible to me. I’ll just say that “Step In My Room” and “Tempo Slow” are my top two favorites on the album. 1996 and 1997, Kelly releases “I Believe I Can Fly” for the Space Jam soundtrack. That song is Kelly’s greatest song to me. It’s the 90’s kid anthem for inspiration. Kelly appears on Mary’s 1997 “Share My World” album on the track “It’s On.” Then in ’98, he comes with an even stronger banger, a double disc called “R.” This is my second favorite R. Kelly album. This album was on another level. Way more darker topics, the hip hop influence is stronger especially on “We Ride.” A hip hop track featuring Cam’ron, Noreaga, Vegas Cats and Jay-Z. “Home Alone” featuring Keith Murray, “Did You Ever Think” and “Money Makes the World Go Round” featuring Nas are also great examples. I just didn’t understand why “I Believe I Can Fly” was added on the album. It fit but it was released 2 years prior. Kelly keeps the ball rolling, he’s super consistent throughout his career. The new millennium comes and he released “TP-2.com”, the sequel to “12 Play.” This album was definitely a perfect sequel because it’s more relaxed and “lovey dovey” than the previous two albums. Kelly goes back to that original 12 play vibe but on another level. It’s another hit for Kelly. He then enters a new point in his career where he gets into trouble with the scandals and it affects his sales on the “Best of Both Worlds” album with Jay-Z. After all that, he ushers in a new Kelly, a man whose more about being holy and spiritual, he’s all about the people and spreading love. The togetherness he spreads on this next album makes him legendary status. At then end of 2002, Kelly was supposed to release an album that was called “Loveland” but when it got leaked, the album had to be put on the shelf and was never released and in 2003, he came with “Chocolate Factory.” This album was a more happier Kelly, he also talked about marriage and of course “steppin’.” “Step In the Name of Love” is the perfect song to describe the vibe of the album. It puts people on the dance floor at any event, no matter the age. 2004’s “Happy People/U Saved Me” to me was a bit of a reach for Kelly. He takes it too far with the gospel vibes and extra happy songs. It’s my least favorite album from him. I’m not the type to bring up an artists’ personal issues but this album to me reflected someone whose almost hypocritical. He reminded me of that uncle at the family reunion who shows up and makes it awkward because everyone knows about his past and his issues and he’s acting like it never happened and instead being extra happy and over the top throwing God and Jesus in your face when you’re the one who messed up. The songs was cool though but it’s not his strongest work. 2005’s “TP.3-Reloaded” was an okay album too but it was better than the previous joint. It’s the third joint in the “12 Play” series. It doesn’t give me 12 Play vibes though. I get a mixture between “TP2” and “Chocolate Factory.” “Double Up” is where I started to not be interested in Kelly anymore. He still had the hits coming but that spark he used to have is no longer there to me. It seems like he was just putting out anything. He still kept his usual love making vibe there and getting married and stuff but it wasn’t the same. “Untitled”, “Love Letter”, “Write Me Back”, “Black Panties”, and “The Buffet” all give me the same vibe. This man is definitely one of the greats and he’s still going strong no matter what. He’s easily one of the greatest from the 90’s and there’s no one else snatching the crown from him. Forever and always the Pied Piper of R&B.

The Definition of X: The Legacy of DMX

The year was 1998 when this Yonkers native exploded on the scene with one catchy but an inviting, in-your-face phrase, “Get At Me Dog.” His raps are the stories about the hard times in life, including drugs and abandonment. He raps with a sorta bark/growl in his voice that makes you think of the biggest, most meanest pit bull with the biggest bark you’ve ever heard. This man goes by Earl Simmons aka Dark Man X or DMX for short. He was a part of the Ruff Ryders clique, a hip hop clique that includes members of a family who came from the Bronx. Ironically, they come from 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, the same place where hip hop all started with the father himself, otherwise known as the infamous DJ Kool
Herc. In Ruff Ryders, there’s a young, dope and fresh producer who goes by the name is Swizz Beatz. Swizz is the guy who provides all of the sound for the Ruff Ryders artists including Eve, The LOX, and Drag-On. DMX is the stand out guy who catches your attention with his raw, rough and rugged voice with a pain that tells a story of a guy who comes from struggle and pain. His pain isn’t the pain you get over overnight, it’s the kind of pain that takes a lot of healing. You gotta go to a place where you’re willing to change and get better. DMX is trying to get from one place to another. There’s no denying the kind of talent that DMX is and the list of hits he put out for almost the past 20 years. “What These Bitches Want”, “What’s My Name?”, “Come Back In One Piece” with the late great Aaliyah, “Where Tha Hood At” and more. X’s legacy continues and he is well loved and respected, despite his troubles and what he’s been through. The man is a hip hop legend. A legend who represented for the streets.

Hot, Cool, & Vicious: The 30th Anniversary

30 years ago on December 8th, 1986, two young, fly, around-the-way girls from Queens, New York who were good friends released their first album called “Hot, Cool & Vicious.” The two good friends were named Salt-N-Pepa. Originally called “Super Nature” on their first single back in 1985 named “The Showstopper”, these two kicked the door down and were proving to the world that they can do it just like the guys can. People recognized them as the “salt and pepper” MC’s, a line that was said in “The Showstopper” and that was the birth of Salt-N-Pepa. The original DJ Spinderella was another girl from Queens named Latoya Henson. Due to several issues behind closed doors with the group and manager Herby “Luv Bug” Azor, she was later replaced with Deidra Roper as she appeared in the video to “Push It.” Now usually, I like to do a track by track analysis when it comes to these album anniversaries but with this one, I’m not. I’m not gonna do that for this one just for the simple fact that the album to me had the same dope vibe the whole way through. It’s a 9-track LP with singles like “Push It” and “Tramp.” “My Mic Sounds Nice” is my personal favorite on the album and I think the title was perfect too. It perfectly describes the ladies’ personalities and the tracks reflect it as well. The entire album gives me attitude with a party vibe that’s not too over the top. I imagine a group of friends walking down the street listening to this album on a boombox and just dancing in the street, hanging out in the front of the building and rapping along to the lyrics with a pair of Pro Keds or Adidas or Pumas, some ripped Levi jeans at the knees for a dope design but also at the back of the heels because they’re worn a lot and a bubble coat with the fur on the hood cause remember it’s December 1986. Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella left an impact in hip hop that was empowering to women. They had topics about sex and what they thought about men, in a honest way too, not male bashing, there’s a difference. 30 years later, it’s still something that’s timeless and fun, dope and classic. As they said, “Salt-N-Pepa’s here and where in effect….!”

The Life & Times of Shawn Carter

“Shawn Carter was born December 4th….. weighing in at 10lbs. 8 ounces.” Those were the first words that was said on the track “December 4th” but the first time Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z was seen was back in the late 80’s, early 90’s when he and another dope MC named Jaz-O was spitting dope freestyles together. They even did a joints together called “Hawaiian Sophie” and “The Originators.” I do remember seeing the “Hawaiian Sophie” music video for the first time too. It was definitely around 2008 and they played it on VH1 Soul before it was BET Soul. That’s my favorite music channel on T.V. right now but I stopped watching T.V. Anyways, by 1995, Jay released his first joint called “In My Lifetime.” The song wasn’t released on an album or soundtrack but the remix does appear on the 1998 “Streets Is Watching” soundtrack and then there was “I Can Get With That.” That joint was so dope to me. It had this heavy bass beat with a piano sound in the background on the beat that reminds me of the Charlie Brown cartoon. Jay was flowin’ like crazy on that joint. Only true hip hop and Jay-Z fans know about that one. On June 25th, 1996, Jay finally came with “Reasonable Doubt.” A lot of people say it’s his best work til this day. Jay got a crazy huge discography so it’s gonna take a while to go through them all but I got to. I was only 2 when “Reasonable Doubt” dropped but I do remember hearing “Can’t Knock the Hustle” with my boo Mary J. Blige and “Dead Presidents.” That album gives you this movie in your head about the drugs and street life. Can’t forget about “Ain’t No Nigga” with my boo Foxy Brown and “Feelin’ It” but “Regrets” is my favorite on the album. Now the next joint “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” is my personal favorite Jay-Z album. This was considered the “commercial” Jay. A lot of people hated Jay for going so mainstream so quickly and thought the songs were cheesy but to me, the entire joint from beginning to end is a fuckin’ masterpiece. A couple of songs I could do without but it’s incredible to me. The production especially. The album starts the same way “Reasonable Doubt” does. I love how he used the sample of “A Fly Girl” by Boogie Boys on the joint “I Know What Girls Like” and “(Always Be My) Sunshine” is my favorite on the album along with “Who You Wit II.” That album takes me back to that little boy growing up in the late 90’s early 2000’s. Then Jay takes it back to the streets with “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.” Another dope Jay album in a row. That’s 3 albums in 3 years consecutively. The ghetto anthem itself “Hard Knock Life” is a top 5 Jay-Z record, hands down. “Money, Cash, Hoes” is my favorite on the album too. DMX’s part always gets me hyped and it reminds me of my cousin from the South. LOL! “Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter” I didn’t really like this joint. It was boring to me compared to the first three and the singles are the only songs I like. “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia” was okay too. Nothing too crazy. The whole Roc-a-Fella family appeared on this one. “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” is a top 10 Jay-Z joint to me. Then Jay comes with “The Blueprint.” This album is a top 5 Jay-Z album. His strongest since “Reasonable Doubt.” I personally didn’t consider this album to be that great until later on. “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Song Cry” are my favorites. “The Best of Both Worlds” with R. Kelly is underrated to me. That was banged from beginning to end. That’s a party album, all the way through. It’s very early 2000’s. R. Kelly’s R&B sex talk and Jay’s good vibes worked together great but no singles were released due to R’s charges at the time. “The Blueprint 2” is hands down my least favorite Jay-Z album. To me it didn’t stand out to me and the singles are the only joints that I like. “Bitches & Sisters” and “All Around the World” are the only joints like besides the singles though. “The Black Album” is my second favorite Jay-Z album. This was supposed to be his last album. I remember him saying that he was retiring after this one but New York without new Jay-Z music then was unheard of. Highly unlikely. “Unfinished Business” was supposed to be the sequel to “The Best of Both Worlds” but it’s another flop to me. “Kingdom Come” is my third favorite Jay album. Another Jay album that a lot of people considered to be his worst but I like this one just as much as “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.” For some reason, the underrated stuff is the stuff I always seem to like the most. “Beach Chair”, “Do U Wanna Ride” and “The Prelude” are my favorites. “American Gangster” to me is like a sequel to “Reasonable Doubt” just on another level. When I was in high school, “Hello Brooklyn” was on repeat on my MP3 player. I was obsessed with that joint. The beat was something crazy I never heard before. “The Blueprint 3” is the beginning of what I call the “office chair Jay-Z.” His success as a business man stood out more than the music at this point. I didn’t see Jay as that Brooklyn MC anymore, now he’s the one appearing in suits and ties every damn where. I’m not hating or anything, it’s just not the same but this album was dope to me. I do remember these songs coming out at the time it did. My early high school days in the late 2000’s. “Watch the Throne”, I remember people going crazy about it because of Kanye West’s involvement. This album has mainstream written all over it though but it’s another banger and “Magna Carta Holy Grail” was dope too. I enjoyed how different it is compared to the rest of Jay’s stuff. Jay-Z came a long way from those Jaz-O days back in Brooklyn, those “Reasonable Doubt” days but through it all he always put out dope music. I grew up on Jay-Z so that’s why he’s my top 5 favorite along with Biggie. He’s the ultimate hustler who just so happens to know how to rap. The ultimate New York MC.

A Dedication to Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor: My Letter to Phife

Dear Phife,

As I write you this letter, I’ll be as strong as I can. There’s no other way for me to express how much love I have for you and the Tribe. It all started 2 years ago. Now, I grew up on hip hop, and that includes you guys Tribe too. Y’all music was always dope to me but I became an overnight fan 2 years ago. I was at home on my laptop, on Tumblr just scrolling through my dashboard, reblogging stuff for my blog and it was a picture of you guys, including Jarobi that popped up. Black and white, standing side by side. I reblogged the pic of y’all and said to myself how long it’s been since I’ve actually heard y’all music. It was that moment that started everything for me. I immediately started listening to y’all albums all the way through for the first time and something in me sparked up this feeling I never got before. I even heard your joint “Ventilation: Da LP” and loved it too. After hearing y’all albums all the way through, I found myself watching y’all music videos, researching and looking y’all up, watching interviews, saving photos on my laptop and then I saw the documentary. It was the best shit I’ve ever seen but at the same time, it hurt me to see you and Tip beefing like that. That I don’t feel comfortable with seeing or hearing about. Besides the drama y’all two had, I found myself a die hard fan overnight. Everything about you guys was absolutely moving and inspiring to me. As a hip hop fan whose a singer, I wish to have the same elements in y’all music in mine someday. Y’all taught me politics, self righteousness, being proud of who I am, all at the same time, never changing who I was to be something I’m not and that’s why I love Tribe so much. Fast forward to July 18th, 2015. This was the day I finally got to meet you guys. I found out on Instagram maybe a day or two before and I was so amped and hyped to meet you guys. That was the same day my little cousin was having a birthday party but I missed it because I stood on that line waiting to meet y’all. I remember wearing a purple bucket hat, white t-shirt with a purple one underneath, my ripped Levi Jeans and Grape 5 Air Jordans. I didn’t have anything on me but $15 so I couldn’t buy any merchandise, which was a blow to me but when I finally met you guys, I was excited, scared, stuck, frozen, amazed, there was a rush in my stomach and my heart was beating super fast. Q-Tip told me he liked my style, I’ll never forget that, Jarobi was kinda like he didn’t want to be there but he was cool too, then I met you and told you how hilarious you are on Instagram and you said to me “Thanks my man.” I shook Ali Shaheed’s hand and you guys signed my poster. After that, I returned back to the Bronx with this smile on my face. It felt like I just went through an enlightenment. I had a totally different feeling from that day. Now this is the part of the letter that’s gonna be really hard for me dawg but I gotta tell you how it affected me. The day you left us, it was the same day as my cousin’s 23rd birthday and three days before my 22nd. It was around 10 at night. Someone posted a link in one of the hip hop groups I’m in on Facebook saying that you past. I was confused and automatically got angry. I was angry because I remember years ago, someone spread a rumor that you already did and you appeared on an interview like “Here I am!” waving with this smile on your face in a joking way like you always do. I saw the link was from DJ Chuck Chillout’s Twitter account so I hit the hashtag “RIP Phife Dawg” and my heart started racing. I only saw but 30 posts and I just brushed it off because I was sure you were still here. I went to sleep and ended up popping back up around 5 in the morning. When I pop up out of my sleep, something isn’t right. I grabbed my phone and saw that I got a text message from a friend of mine and the text said in these exact words, “Hey Clone, did you hear about Phife? He died” this was when I knew it was for real. I went to Instagram and immediately, my whole entire feed was flooded with you. I was stuck, confused, hurt, angry, upset, this wasn’t supposed to happen yo. On the morning of March 23rd, I had a dentist appointment that day. Right before I left my house, I finally cried, I finally broke down yo. Me and you just met 8 months before that, you were so cool and down to earth, I felt like a family member was taken from me. I cried for about an hour thinking about you and the rest of Tribe. I was thinking about life, about hip hop and the state that it’s in, all of these things came to my head because you were no longer with us. The entire day, I just remember everything being so slow. Time had stopped but the world kept going. My head was spinning and I was in a slump. That had to be the longest day of my life. 2 days before my birthday which made it even worse. A month later, there was a memorial for you in St. Albans. I skipped classes just to be there for you, I had to be. Right after my math class I left school, hopped on the train at 149th Street-Grand Concourse and was on my way to your hood. It’s a long ass ride to get out there but it was worth it. I met other fans, including my bro Shenron, Ralph McDaniels was out there, I missed the part where they handed out free shirts with your name on it and it was raining and so cold but it was worth it. I don’t think I could’ve been able to handle myself if I didn’t go. The next morning, this dude I went to high school with saw me in the papers honoring you. It made me feel like I was this poster guy for you, for Tribe. It was my name, my picture, your picture underneath it and it said I was honoring YOU. So much love I was receiving from my hip hop peers. I was a proud fan of you dawg, nah fuck that, I AM a proud fan of you. Now, lately, you guys have been on top of the world again and it’s amazing. We Tribe fans always wanted a new album from y’all and y’all did that for us. It was hard but at the same time exciting to hear your voice again. The album is amazing and “We the People” is fucking amazing too. I read about you and Tip being on good terms throughout he making of the album, I knew you guys were. I was hoping you two were. I love y’all brotherhood, we needed y’all back in hip hop again, we needed to see that, to feel that, to know that. Just last week, I went to the pop up shop. I didn’t get the shirt I originally wanted but it was worth it. I just wish the people who worked at the shop wasn’t so selfish to be the ones wearing all the merchandise and tell us fans there’s no more stuff. That pissed me off yo but I’m happy I got something. I’m gonna wear it forever, as well as my custom made t-shirt that my guy Curtis made for me. Yesterday, we finally celebrated the street naming after you. I missed the part where they finally showed the sign but I had to be there once again for you. So much love and good energy was out there for you. I seen your wife too, she’s so strong and beautiful too. I heard about your mom being there too, she’s also so strong and beautiful too. Jarobi was right in front of me but I was too scared to ask for a picture. I froze up. I went back home mad about that but then I remembered the time I met y’all last year. Yo Phife, this letter is to tell you how much I miss you and love you, how much the fans, your family and hip hop misses you. It don’t have to be your birthday, a Tribe Tuesday, a Tribe album anniversary for me to represent, I’m always representing. People remind me everyday how much I put on for hip hop culture and I think about you automatically. When my time comes when I’m in the game best believe you’ll be honored in the best way possible in my own way. I do it everyday but still. Man, Happy Birthday Phife. I love you and miss you again. Rest in beats King. It’s Tribe 4 ever and it’s always you 4 ever! You on point Phife? You always were!

Ill Na Na: The 20th Anniversary Edition!

On November 19th, 1996, a young, hardcore chick from Brooklyn, who is my all time favorite female MC, released her debut album. 20 years later, the album is still a masterpiece from beginning to end. Banger after banger, hit after hit, there are no misses on this joint right here. Yo, I hate saying “female MC” because their sex shouldn’t be the focus, it’s the skills that matters and this chick right here definitely got the skills on the mic and that’s why she’s my top favorite. When I listen to her, she’s raw, she’s hard, she’s hood wit it, she’s got the balls, the attitude, the style, and sexy all at the same time. Very hard but feminine at the same time. Skin dark like dark chocolate and has a in-your-face style too. The 18 year old was Brooklyn’s own Foxy Brown. 1996 may be the year she released her debut album but it was the year before that when she appeared as a guest on LL Cool J’s remix to the joint “I Shot Ya” and to me she had the best verse. Foxy from the beginning was a beast. She gives me goosebumps when I listen to her. People pin her and Lil’ Kim against each other from the beginning since they both came out probably a week from each other. They may be similar in some ways but Foxy does something to me that Kim doesn’t. Now, “Ill Na Na”, straight banger and I’m not exaggerating. There are absolutely no skips when this joint is on. The album starts off with the “Chicken Coop” intro that’s in true, legendary Trackmasters style. That deep voice that lures you into what’s about to come through your speakers and gives you an introduction of what you’re about to witness, a little history of the team that’s behind Foxy, the label, the year, everything and then finally it’s “Foxy Brownnnnn, the Albummm.” Isaac Hayes makes an appearance at the end of the intro and then there’s the cross fade transition into “(Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm.” How ironic because the song samples Isaac Hayes’ “Ike’s Mood, Part 1.” Foxy spits an entire joint dedicated to her The Firm peers, Nas and AZ. Next, it’s “Foxy’s Bells.” Foxy gives you a LL Cool J “Rock the Bells” but on her own twist. She pulled it off in a great way too. Then, we hear the soft sounds of Teddy Riley’s group BLACKstreet on the joint “Get Me Home.” Now I have to clear this up right now. I notice sometimes, here and there, people say it’s “Gotta Get Me Home” when it’s just simply named “Get Me Home”, okay people? A’ight, let’s keep going. This joint was one of the singles off the album. It’s a certified banger and a automatic classic for both Foxy and BLACKstreet. It’s a song to me that never gets old. It’s timeless shit. Chauncey Black was no joke on the vocals and this was around the time when they had new members in the group. Next, “The Promise”, Havoc of Mobb Deep is on this one. This is the Foxy that I love. She brings you that street shit, her stories of being around men who hustle and do street shit and the guy promises her that everything will be straight but in the long run, things will eventually get ugly and of course they do. This part of the album is like a story of a woman whose trapped in a bind. She’s surrounded by these hustlers and she wants to get away. The short interlude “The Set Up”, she wants to leave her man because she believes the relationship isn’t working out but he’s not taking her seriously and then these dudes run up on him who represent for her and protect her by killing him right there on sight. “If I” comes on. It’s a joint that’s the answer to the interlude. She talks about what would happen if she could rewind time back to when life was good. Her life and relationship changes when she starts to blow up and become an artist. Great storytelling. An original purpose in hip hop that I love. “The Chase” is another hard joint about the street life. Running around just trying to survive. “Ill Na Na”, the album title joint, my dude Mef appears on this one. What I love about Mef is that he has a special way of collaborating with people. It’s not just a normal joint featuring Method Man, he actually blends well with other artists by feeling out their vibe and feeding the listeners who he’s vibing with on the track. He’s the perfect collaborator to me. This joint shows love to Foxy about her style and who she is. She almost gives the men a taste of what she likes and what she’s about at the same time giving the ladies some inspiration to be proud of the women they are if they relate to her style and ways. “No One’s” a smooth joint with the smooth sounds of Khadijah Bass. The joint comes from The S.O.S. Band’s “No One’s Gonna Love You.” It works very well over a hip hop track. I honestly don’t think this joint would work with anybody else on the hook and chorus. “Fox Boogie” is hands down my favorite joint on the album just because Kid Capri is on the track. He provides all the flavor and party vibe on the track. This is the joint you put on at parties when everybody come together and have their red cups and everybody is singing along to “Uggggghhhh, na na na naaaaa!” Foxy keeps it strictly Foxy style still. Giving the people who the fuck she is. That cocky rapper joint. Everybody has their cocky tracks and that’s okay. That’s the best part about hip hop: the boldness and rebelliousness. It’s a beautiful thing. The joint transitions into “I’ll Be”, another single released from the album and my boy Jay-Z appears on this one. This is the joint everybody knows when it comes to Foxy Brown. That Rene & Angela sample was genius too. Foxy and Jay have that 90’s Bonnie & Clyde thing going on before he had Beyoncé. The album ends on a continuation of the intro and Isaac Hayes says the last things that he wanted to say before the beat stops. Hands down, this album is my all time favorite when it comes to women in hip hop. Truly a masterpiece. I enjoy it every single time I listen to it. I get this movie in my head of almost a hood version of Romeo & Juliet. I remember posting about this album on it’s 18th and 19th anniversaries too and Foxy showed me love with kisses and heart emojis. She’s truly my heart when it comes to women MC’s. See how I switched it up? But still. I hate the label regardless. It’s safe to end this on a good note. I can finish the movie in my head I have while listening to this album with her video of “Big Bad Mamma” featuring Dru Hill. Stephon Marbury pops up on the sofa across the room from her and goes “Ayo Fox! Why you ain’t at the ball yo!?” It’s the Cinderella story of a hood girl who made it through the shit she been through during “Ill Na Na” and now she’s a survivor. Fox Boogie Brown is definitely bad as hell. Salute to a legend, one of hip hop’s ILLEST women on the M-I-C. Love you Fox! Word, one love.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Legacy of Sean “Puffy” Combs

From being Father MC’s backup dancer, to being an intern at Uptown Records back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, to becoming one of the world’s biggest hip hop moguls. Sean “Diddy” Combs, the man behind the greats like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, Total, and more, the man behind the music that all started in 1994 when the birth of his label Bad Boy Records started. Bad Boy is not only legendary for its roster of artists but it was a part of the East Coast/West Coast beef that took place in the mid-90’s along with Death Row Records. Musically, Diddy is the man and Bad Boy was shit. If you’re a Death Row fan, we might not get along. LOL! Growing up, Bad Boy took over my apartment. There was Biggie, Faith, 112, Shyne, Carl Thomas, The LOX, Mase, the whole crew, non-stop playing on the radio. Now business wise, I’m not a fan of Diddy. It’s just a little suspicious to me that artists come and go. The most we hear from an artist on Bad Boy from the past maybe 10 years is 2 to 3 albums tops, 5 hot singles, 3 or 4 music videos and then we never hear or see anything else after that. Regardless, Diddy is the go to man for the hottest party records of the year. He knows how to get a party started and he’s definitely a successful businessman whose on of hip hop’s biggest moguls with a legacy that never dies. In his words, “Cause we can’t stop, cause we won’t stop. Bad Boy 4 life!”

Haunted Hill 2016 Presents: Cypress Hill & Naughty By Nature

On the night of October 28th, 2016, I had one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was the Naughty By Nature/Cypress Hill Haunted Hill 2016 show downtown at Terminal 5. Last week, DJ Kay Gee himself direct messaged me inviting me to the show for free. I was so hyped and pumped about the show. Fast forward to yesterday. Last night, I got there around 5:30, the show starts at 7 but the show really started around 8 or 9. I spoke to the supervisor about me not buying ticket and instead I was invited for free. I got a wristband, went inside, told the lady behind the glass window that I got a free invite by one of the guys in the show. I hand her my ID and she pulls out an envelope and gives it to me. The envelope had my ticket already inside with another wristband written “VIP” on it. I go upstairs and wait probably another 30 minutes to an hour and then we go to the place where the show was gonna happen. I get there and Naughty by Nature merchandise was set up so I knew they was gonna perform first. Kay Gee walks out, notices me, points me out and gives me a peace sign. Then one of their men came up to me and gives me another wristband but this one was an invitation to actually get on stage right beside them during the show but I decided to stay in the audience because I didn’t want to lose my spot way in the front. I could’ve kissed the stage, that’s how close I was. Then, Kay Gee starts spinning a couple of classic hip hop joints and out comes Vinnie and Treach and we went ballistic in the crowd. They came out on “O.P.P” but I knew they was gonna perform that joint before Kay Gee played it because he played “ABC, 123” by the Jackson 5 and that’s the sample on “O.P.P.” Hit after hit, classic after classic, Naughty was tearing down the house. Treach even threw “You Down Wit O.P.P.” stickers and his sweaty towel and I caught both. I was too fucking hype. LMAO! At the end of their performance, Kay Gee walks up to me and shows me more love and I pointed at him and yelled “Yo, Thanks Kay Gee!” and then Cypress Hill came out. They tore it down too but to be honest, I don’t know too much about their stuff except for the usual joints. I was 100% turned up with Naughty, with Cypress, I was in and out but regardless I enjoyed the show. My boys Todd and Ashanti from school came through too and we us three left together. I left that show with a O.P.P. sticker, Treach’s sweaty towel and NBN skully hat my boy Todd copped for me. I also left wanting to cry so bad, I had the greatest time of my life. For my first hip hop concert, I got more than I expected and that’s what made it all so amazing to me. I still can’t get over all the love I was given by Kay Gee. Feels good to know that I’m being recognized for my love of hip hop culture. Real definitely can spot the real and I can always say that what Kay Gee did for me was more than real. This is definitely another hip hop moment for me I’ll never forget.