Welcome to a new feature here at brokencool. It's called The Online Hip-Hop History Series. What's it all about?
Yours truly is one of the originators of urban entertainment coverage online. I launched the Hip-Hop Newsletter (also known as the HHN) back in 1996. It was the original email based Hip-Hop Newsletter online and one of the few reliable sources of Hip-Hop and urban entertainment coverage anywhere on the Internet. It was distributed to over 100,000 worldwide readers monthly. The publication was also one of the first Internet based properties to engage entertainment companies in unique online marketing opportunities.
During my 10 years publishing the HHN, tons of great Hip-Hop content funneled through the publication. Some of the issues have vanished into thin air (anyone have issues 1-12?) but I've managed to retain much of the content. In this brokencool feature, you'll get to see some reviews, interviews and controversy. Originally I was just going to publish pieces of the content however I will be posting full issues. Now keep in mind, much of these issues were published by me when I was a teenager not having any fuckin' clue what I was doing. The issues are presented unedited. So sit back and go back, way back...back in time.
*NOTE - The content that follows was originally published in May, 1998. Should you wish to have any of this content removed, please contact brokencool@gmail.com
####################HIP-HOP NEWSLETTER###############
"If you bout it bout it/say you bout it bout it". That's right friends
the HHN is now officially Bout It. We were the first newsletter to ever
be awarded the Bout It award by Rowdy Mike, i'll let him explain. "This
is Rowdy Mike, the webmaster of Down South Hustlaz speaking. I've been
searching for tha Bout It Award winner for June 1st, 1998 and i've found
it in a big way. For those of you who don't know, the Bout It Award is
an award given out on the 1st and 15th of every month for sites that I
consider "Bout It". I am proud to announce that the Hip-Hop Newsletter,
this very newsletter that you are reading, has won this award. This is
the first time a newsletter has won this award, but this newsletter is
so good, that I had to make an exception for it. You can peep this
newsletter in the Bout It Award featured section at
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/thasouth/winners.html If you just want to
surf around at one of the most interactive sites around come to my
homepage, Down South Hustlaz, at http://www.angelfire.com/tx/thasouth "
I would like to thank Rowdy Mike for awarding the newsletter. Now, issue
#15 is ready to raise the roof. Debuting in this issue is a new section
called "Who, What, Where, When and Why". Also peep two contests. One
gives you the chance to win one of two copies of Master P's last solo
album and the other is a giveaway in the Down Low From Down Under
section. So......let's do this!
This issue of the newsletter is sponsored by:
http://www.beatstreet.com Coming straight out of Brooklyn, Ny,
Beatstreet is your premiere source for all of the phattest vinyl, Cd's,
Cassettes, Videos and Gear.
http://www.everythingblack.com The place for anything and everything
Black on the net.
http://www.chillinonline.com Urban entertainment online. Interactive
discussion, polls, MUSIC/movie reviews, live Hip-Hop video/audio
performances, Black comics/ urban events and more! Chill with us!
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======================HIP-HOP NEWS================
THE FUTURE- Mason Betha is on top of the world. His debut album is
multi-platinum and he even got a chance to perform on the prestigious
World Music Awards. What's next? How about Ma$e's second album called
"Double Up" due out February 1999, this along with a compilation album
coming this summer off Betha's Harlem World Records.
THE WAITING GAME- Sorry to disappoint all Snoop and Dr.Dre fans but
"Break Up To Make Up" will be delayed til the year 2000 and at that time
it will be released on Aftermath.
A LOUD ROCKER- Mr.Pete Rock is one of the more recognizable figures
among true Hip-Hop fans. He was signed to Loud Records late last year
and is putting finishing touches on his solo album. It is a project
similar to "Politics&Bullshit" by Frankie Cutlass and will feature
tracks from Method Man, CL Smooth, Mobb Deep, O.C. and more. Look for a
late summer release.
HOW SOON WE CHANGE- Former anti-Rap crusader Dionne Warwick is finally
realizing that we all need Rap music. She is teaming up with Coolio,
Kurupt, Flesh-N-Bone, Bobby Brown, Mic Geronimo, Veronica, Snoop Doggy
Dogg and Big Daddy Kane for a remake of her track "What The World Needs
Now is Love". The track will be the first single from her up-coming
album.
BREAKIN THE BUBBLE- The time is almost here for Puff Daddy to unleash
the noise. His first Rock group on Bad Boy, Fuzzbubble are in the studio
mixing their debut with puff. The first single will be "The Question"
featuring Lil Kim and Run-DMC.
**************************EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW****************
Reppin the yay area and surrounding hoods come BTP Nation. Chill with an
ill interview.
HHN: Can you list all group members?
D-Mann: Basically there are 4 main members of BTP but everybody inside
the cover is part of BTP. All the members are P-Anti, D-Mann, Axeis,
Chalant, Verbal, Franco G (the bass guitar player) and Big Lew (Help's
us find shows).
HHN: Where is the group from and what is the Hip-Hop scene like in your
area?
D-Mann: People in the group are from all over. P-Anti and myself are
from Berkeley, Axeis from Oakland, Chalant from Valejo originally from
the east coast, Franco G and Big Lew are from Oakland, Verbal is from
Oakland (now in Sacramento). All in California. As for the Rap scene
there are few groups like BTP Nation but no other group that I can think
of that have no curse words on the album. Because we don't curse on the
album one of the local papers did a article on us which was a big thing
because they don't write about local talent period. The Bay area where
we are from has been kind of dry it seems with Rap shows. A lot of major
groups like Rakim, Insane Clown Posse and others schedule to come here
but might get canceled because of problems with insurance not wanting to
take the risk. The bay has had problems with Rap shows because of a few
ignorant people that ruin it for everybody else.
HHN: On the opening track I can't help but hear a resemblance between a
BTP member and Ol Dirty Bastard. Has anyone ever said this?
P-Anti: No! some people say they hear Chuck D and 2Pac on our album.
D-Mann: And P-Anti forgot, some people also say we kind of sound like
Westside Connection mixed with Wu-Tang....which was kind of funny to me.
HHN: Although it is not always heard easily, it seems as if Reggae is
found on every album track. Has Reggae always been something you have
incorporated into your music?
P-Anti: P-Anti makes the war beats: Well I like Dancehall, Rock, Jazz,
Roots and Rave. I like Dancehall because of the hard hitting bass. I
also like Raggamuffin flow so on tracks like EOTM Chalant started off in
a Dancehall style flow, other songs might have that feel but where not
meant to have it. Now we do have one Reggae song on the album to give
love to that side of the music. Now on this other album in the works
were doing for our man Axeis their is another Reggae feel in one of the
songs, you guys will have to check it out. Too add to this, Chalant was
born in Jamaica so we have to give props to his roots.
HHN: BTP Nation have without a question done a first on this album. You
use the sound of a modem connecting on the track "BTP.COM". Was this
your way of giving back to the Hip-Hop internet scene for all the
support?
P-Anti: We didn't have Hip-Hop online support when we first for together
3 years ago. We didn't get that support until we started hooking up with
folks in the business who had sites and really we really didn't hook up
til after the album was made.
HHN: "Nada(remix)" has a feel of a Gravediggaz track off "6 Feet Deep".
Did you set out to create a horrorcore track and if so how do you feel
about Horrorcore?
BTP: Nope!!! some say that's a RZA Wu-Tang type of feel. That was the
first time I heard that, in fact AXEis did the drums and the bass on
that one, I just did the keyboard sounds and added the vocal samples and
stuff like that on the remix. But I love that song so we had to put it
on. Now the song that was meant to be a horror song and was made on
Halloween is "It's The Return". In fact, all my beats I try to make them
wicked. If I have to play some of the notes off time so be it! Just to
give that eerie sound.
HHN: What troubles, technical and financial wise did you encounter when
creating this album?
P-Anti: No sleep while making the tracks and doing the vocals, money
rules everything so Damion (D-Mann) and myself had to work work
work!!!!, to pay for mixing, mastering and pressing. Now BTP saves money
due to being a Graphics company so send your stuff to us. Problems we
have now is trying to get a good distribution deal. Anyone can make
hundreds of albums but you get it in the stores, then can you market it?
You have to watch everything or you'll go broke.
HHN: What does the group like about performing live?
BTP: The bass player gives feel, the drummer can get wild, it's live!!!!
I can act crazy as hell. You can see the folks even when a lot of fans
who attend Hip-Hop shows look dead, you don't see that at Rock shows ha
ha ha hey Method Man don't dive in the crowd oops BOOM!
HHN: Will BTP Nation be touring?
P-Anti: Working on it, hey can we come there?
HHN: Where can people pick up your music online?
BTP: http://home.earthlink.net/~btp3/nation just e-mail us when you get
into the site. They can go to http://www.fpmusic.com to hear samples off
the 20 track album.
HHN: What is your final message for the newsletter?
BTP: Peace out to everyone in the Hip-Hop world. We do not cuss or
degrade women, we just give you hardcore war beats with lyrics of truth.
Thanks to BTP Nation for the interview.
!!!!!!!!!!CONTEST!!!!!!!!!
This month's giveaway is brought to you by the HHN and Beatstreet
Records at http://www.beatstreet.com Here is your chance to win one of
two copies of Master P's final solo album entitled "Mp Da Last Don". The
question you have to answer in order to be entered in the draw for the
two copies of the album is "What is the name of Master P's up-coming
film starring himself and comedian Eddie Griffin?" All responses must be
received by 5:00 P.M. Friday June 5th. Winners will be notified via
e-mail and will be announced in the following newsletter. Good luck.
THE DOWN LOW FROM DOWN UNDER- "Who's hooooooouuuse?, Run's hooooouuuse!"
It seems the funk gods are finally smiling on Australia. In a red letter
announcement, i'm here to tell ya'll that the kings of Rock/Rap and of
rhyme, Run-DMC will soon be gracing our shores and stages. Although many
headz have been down with the trio from Hollis, Queens since they
dropped "Sucker Mc's" way back in the day, the group have recently
developed somewhat of a mainstream following in this country for their
collaboration with house Dj Jason Nevins on "It's Like That". While
staunch Hip-Hop peeps will diss the crew for apparently selling-out to
popular culture, many will realize it's just a chance for them to
reclaim some lost ground, while stackin a few chips at the same time.
The Sydney concerts, due to be staged around the city during June, are
bound to be standing room only from the moment the limited tickets go on
sale. Unfortunately, with many locals only aware of them in their
current chart-topping form, the crowd will probably be packed with kids
who were still filling their Pampers when the group were droppin shit
like: "Now we're the baddest of the bad, the coolest of the cool/i'm
DMC, I rock and roll/i'm DJ Run, I rock and rule/it's not a trick or
treat and it's not a April fool".
Best of all, I can let you know that yours truly has secured an
interview with DJ Run, Darryl Mac and Jam Master Jay and I should be
able to bring ya'll a taste of what they had to say in next month's
column. I'll also be stepping backstage at one of the gigs and if I can
get my sneak on, i'll drop some of the behind-the-scenes gossip next
time around, along with a review of the show. Phew! Shit is finally
getting major yo!
In other news, i've got some freaky Australian beats to giveaway. Before
this column first hit your screens a few months back, I bet many of you
didn't even realize that Australia had a Hip-Hop culture, much less that
we can kick game with the best of 'em. To prove that our emcees and Dj's
are the shiznit in their own right, i've got a couple of Cd's featuring
the best of the best in underground Aussie Hip-Hop to distribute among
my newsletter friends. The good people at MDS has given me two copies of
"Home Brewz 2" to giveaway to faithful readers of the net's best
Rap-centric newsletter and the first two headz to answer this easy
question and drop Adam a line will score their very own copy of the
joint. Questions to win Cd's "On which Run-DMC album did "It's Like
That" originally appear? The first two people to send me the correct
answer at adama@visionol.net will win. Answers must be received by 5
P.M. Friday June 5th.
That's bout it for now. I'm off to strip the laces from my Adidas. Check
ya'll next time. 5000.
FREESTYLE SHOWCASE- No freestyle's this issue. Remember if your stuff is
phat, the freestyle showcase is where it's at. Send your freestyles
10-15 line max to the HHN.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY- The newest section in the newsletter
which is replacing Outside Opinion is a place where random questions
will be asked regarding current events in the Urban music, film and t.v.
industry. If you have a who, what, where, when and why
statement/question to make send it to the HHN. Here we go.
WHO........does Ma$e think he is wearing Janet Jackson headgear at the
World Music awards?
WHAT......will Master P do next?
WHERE....the hell does LL Cool J get off dissing Wyclef?
WHEN......will Phife's solo album drop?
WHY........do I worry about Snoop's safety after Suge Knight get's out
of prison?
ILL SITES- This section is dedicated to those Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae
sites that standout above the rest. Please submit sites that you feel
deserve to be in this section and they may appear in the next
installment. This issues ill sites are:
http://www.awolrecords.com http://nolimitrecords.hypermart.net
http://www.stonesthrow.com http://www.rapsheet.com
http://www.millionyouthmarch.com http://www.hiphopmusic.com
OFF THE WALL- This is the section where each issue we will give url's to
ill Graffiti pieces on the internet. Please submit pieces you come
across and send them to the newsletter (please include url's). Here are
this issues pieces:
http://www.grafcafe.com
http://www.nytrash.com/revolt.html
http://www.graffiti.org/neck
http://dgrwww.epfl.ch/~brugger
http://www.geocities.com/soho/8450
http://www.martinezgallery.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR- Please submit your questions and comments to the
newsletter. logik3@hotmail.com- "To Adam, Yo, the HHN is definitely some
fresh Hip-Hop shit. Props to everyone who helped put this fine piece of
literature together. Some suggestions for future issues: try and be a
little stricter on the reviews, because most got $$$$ out of $$$$$,
which is pretty high for an average review. Also, if you could, try and
include something along the lines of a Hip-Hop quotable, just an ill
verse from a recent release that speaks volumes, perhaps put it just
after the dope freestyle. Word. Mad props, love and respect, Robert" MY
COMMENT- The album review average was very high last issue but that was
a good thing as it showed that some quality material is finally coming
out. I am glad you enjoy the newsletter. Peace. Adam.
mathonsi@mistral.co.uk- "Just a quick note to say thanx very much for
the interview, exposure and the great review of our EP. As independent
artists these kinds of exposure are really important as I am sure you
know. So big up, keep the newsletter strong and when we drop our next
12" we will send you a copy and hopefully you can fit in a little
review. Cheers Adam!!! Robbie RTK. MY COMMENT- I was more than happy to
do the interview and when the 12" inch drop send it over and it will be
reviewed. e-mail blocked- "Adam, Just wanted to send you your props! I
love what you're doing, keep up the good work! Don't let negativity
effect you and your mission. There are those out there who will try and
use a lot of bullshit talk and try and bring you down. Keep moving
forward and keep it all real for yourself. There are enough people in
the world who will appreciate what you are doing to make it all worth
while. Peace, Rob Ceo Boomshaka Ent. MY COMMENT- Thanks for the advice.
It means a lot coming from someone within the industry.
dkeast@calicotech.com- "I do not intend this to be a diss to you or
anyone else's musical tastes. I am just interested in knowing whether
Hip-Hop heads in Canada have respect for Master P. It seems to be one of
those weird cultural quirks because I don't think I know any Hip-Hop fan
in the U.S. who really consider him someone we are exactly proud to have
represent Hip-Hop to the world. Honestly he strikes me as yet another of
those musicians who are pushing Hip-Hop even closer to it's death as a
creative and vital artform. I'm not saying there ain't a need for party
jams, it's just that he sorta presents himself as a serious artist at
times, which I just ain't feelin. MY COMMENT- I agree with you that many
Canadian Hip-Hop fans don't respect Master P, but they should. He is
someone for every person that is living in poor, drug and crime infested
areas to look up to. Even for those of us that are living well, he shows
that you can always do better than your last project.
ta5dpa@blake.sunderland.ac.uk- "Hey Adam, Northern Touch, one of the
most popular Hip-Hop tracks ever to come out of Canada can be in some
respects compared to Bad Boy Records, favorably of course, yet, I cannot
help but notice the similarity in production style, and the fact that
Thrust introduces himself as "The Notorious" and ten sounds like a
lightweight (kg not skills) Biggie Smalls (you don't have to agree with
these thoughts, but realize that they have been inspired, then think
about why this has happened?). Now, this slightly annoys me, these
Canadians are bringing a NICE style to the beat patterns I associate
with the wack product coming out of Bad Boy Records. Not sure why, but
let's not get into my personal aversions to wack Hip-Hop. I'm just
wondering if anyone else noticed this.....Peace. MY COMMENT- Hell, I
noticed it. The beat is very commercial and can be compared to
commercial labels such as Bad Boy, but if that beat or the track was not
done, you wouldn't' know who Thrust or Kardinal Offishall were over
where you are.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((ALBUM REVIEW))))))))))))))))))))))))))
EIGHTBALL "LOST" 3 CD (Suave House/Universal) Rating $$$$.5 out of $$$$$
MJG? Who's that? That is what many will be saying after hearing "Lost",
the double Cd (excluding the bonus disc) from 8-ball. When word leaked
that this album would be a double album, many wondered if ball even
warranted a single on his own. All doubters were shut-up after "Pure
Uncut" hit the airwaves. "Put Tha House On It", "All 4 Nuthin" and "My
Homeboy's Girlfriend" establish Eightball as one of the best
storyteller's in Hip-Hop. "The smell of breakfast/woke me up from my
dream/bacon sizzlin/searchin for the kitchen like a fiend/what I
seen/straight took me by surprise/Angela half-naked/not tryin to hide"
is the dilema 8-ball faces after seeing his homies girl.
"Stompin&Pimpin" puts MJG back with his boy over a heavy bass that turns
out to be a vintage ball and G track. Not even long enough to give your
head noddin a rest, "Backyard Mississipi" within the Goodie Mob
establishes itself as one of the best tracks (once again Cee-Lo steals
the show). "If I Die" and "The Artist Pays The Price" has ball at his
most socially conscious and deep point. Things pick up again with
Bus-a-Bus on "Get Money". The beat here is somewhat like "I'll Be" by
Foxy Brown. "Money stack on the wall with Eightball money/Flipmode and
Suave House takin it all money". Disc 2 doesn't being on the solo tip as
Rappin 4-Tay, Spice 1 and E-40 help out the big man on the made for the
low-riders track "360". "Let's Ride" and "Bounce Wit Me" are the only
slow points, mainly because the lyrical content goes no farther than
puffin weed. The Rock influenced, old school sounding "Coffee Shoppe"
has the doctor Redman stoppin to drop some drug-influenced knowledge on
us. Helping to bring things to a close is "I Don't Wanna Die", here
Eightball has his voice enhanced with an echo sound. "Think about what
my eyes seen" reminisces ball on his troubled past as he looks ahead
into a bright future. This album is highly recommended.
VARIOUS ARTISTS "TENTH RUTHLESS ANNIVERSARY" 2-CD (Ruthless/Sony) Rating
$$$.5 out of $$$$$
It's been 10 years since "Boyz-N-The Hood" help put Ruthless Records on
the map. 1995 was a good year for Ruthless, Bone made noise with
"Creepin On Ah Come Up" and Eazy-E had a popular radio show on 92.3 The
Beat. Everything was running smooth, that was until Eric"Eazy-E"Wright
unexpectedly died due to complications caused by the Aids virus. 3 years
later, Ruthless Records is headed up by Eazy's wife Tomika and she is
releasing an anniversary album featuring some of the biggest tracks ever
recorded on Ruthless. Things being with the eerie "24 Hrs. To Live" (one
of two new Eazy-E tracks on the album) and the N.W.A. classic "Dopeman".
Soon problems arise, "Untouchable" by Above The Law and all H.W.A.
tracks shouldn't have been included as it shows Ruthless at it's worst.
Is it funky? well it is on "It's Funky Enough" by D.O.C. and the same
shit keep's happening to Mc Ren on "Same Ol Shit". Above The Law get
Rock on that ass with the classic "Murder Rap". "Black N*gga Killa" is
the 2nd of the new Eazy tracks. A vocally enhanced E rap's over a weak
beat and the constant female voice going "yeah" makes for an average
track (but at this point we'll take what we can get). A.T.L. again help
out the album with "Black Superman". The moment to reminisce for the old
school heads is "Supersonic" by J.J. Fad. "We're J.J. Fad and were her
to rock/rhymes like us could never be stopped/see there's 3 of us and I
know were fresh/party rockers non-stoppers and our names are def". That
rhyme has to bring back some memories. Michel'le (now on Death Row)
supplies another hot moment with the hugely commercial but dope
"Nicety". In the end, this album serves two purposes. The first is a
collectible for die-hard Ruthless fans and the second is a lesson in old
school Gangsta Rap for those little No Limit Soldiers.
VARIOUS ARTISTS "WOO SOUNDTRACK" (Untertainment/Sony) Rating $$$.5 out
of $$$$$
Here comes one of those films where the soundtrack is promoted more than
the film itself. Things start off slow with Mc Lyte on "Woo Woo (Freak
Out)", but pick up quick with the hottest joint of the minute, "Money"
by Charli Baltimore. She takes time to ponder "I don't know if it's the
pretty face/or the expensive taste/that got everybody wantin to touch me
like Case". The fallen off Lost Boyz come with the sugar coated
"Bouncin". Regulaters! Sorry I got caught up in the excitement of Nate
Dogg and Warren g teamin up for "Nobody Does It Better". Although they
come pretty soft, this track has some potential. Grab a pillow because
after your G-funk trip things get tired with cuts from Mona Lisa,
Stokley and the disappointing "N*ggaz Dun Started Sumthin" by Lox, DMX
and Ma$e. Newcomer Jane Blaze meets Noreaga on "J-A-N-E meets N.O.R.E.".
For Noreaga's sake, he should have never met up with Jan who sounds like
Foxy Brown with a sore throat. The 2nd hit from Lance "Un" Rivera's
label is "357" by Cam'Ron with his spoken word flow. He flips one of the
illest lines with "Don't mean to disturb/never been to Sesame Street but
I flip a big bird/and I know stealers and they not from Pittsburgh".
Next come average shots from Heavy D, Simone Hines and Brownstone. A
smart move was including Eightball's "Drama In My Life" which adds some
much needed southern spice to the album. The main problem is that
executive producer Un Rivera has one too many washed up artists on this
album that seem to be there, just to fill a space. The brightest point
is the butter smooth "T Shirt and Panties".
MCGRUFF "DESTINED TO BE" (Universal) Rating $$.5 out of $$$$$
The revolution has begun. First Ma$e, then Cam'Ron and now Mcgruff. That
unknown voice from Monifah's "I Miss You" has Cam'Ron, Mr.Cheeks, Ma$e
and others stopping by to help him with his debut. "Gruff Express"
begins the album with gruff spittin the mafioso steez. Although
blatantly commercial, this joint is smokin. the LB fam stop by on the
lead single "This Is How We Do". The sloppy "Many Know" is something
that should have been left on the cutting room floor as the crime dog
delivers his lyrics choppy over a beat that sounds like it's taken from
a two year old playing the drums. "What Part Of Game" has ODB impostor
Panama PI, Cam'Ron and I-Born helpin Mcgruff through a well produced
track by Tony Dofat. Heavy D only touches the boards once, on "What Cha
Doin To Me". The beat is so sappy and soft but beyond that it doesn't
even mesh with gruff's delivery or lyrical content. Big L and pretty boy
Ma$e (who goes back to his Murder Mase days) come together with Mcgruff
for an all-star Harlem gathering. "I got more papers than the New York
Post/packin toast/this host i quick to roast the mic then i'm ghost". U
ready to go Uptown? Well Hip-Hop's boys of underground in the mainstream
Lox drop street poetry on "Reppin Uptown". What's funny here is that
Mcgruff acts as a guest artist rather than the lead artist on this
track. What's the problem here? Mcgruff fails to create a style or sound
of his own and instead rides Ma$e's success for his own.
BTP NATION "ELEVATION OF THE MIND" (label n/a) Rating $$$ out of $$$$$
A little of this and a little of that is a good way to describe BTP
Nation. Their new 20 track album is filled with Reggae rhythms and
thought provoking lyrics. "EOTM" displays the Reggae influence early on.
"Killer Stomps" and "Lethal Comin Thru" have that political Public Enemy
flow but fail due to wack delivery. Delivery of lyrics ends up being the
main problem as BTP flow like Sugarhill Gang (well not that slow, but
you get my point). The group gives love back to the internet heads with
"BTP.COM". The beat here fails but the sound of a modem connecting at
the start of the track was a nice touch. "Mic Reggae" is a nice try at
Hip-Hop/Reggae but Mad Lion they are not. Next time out the group should
do less experimenting and focus more on tightening up their basic
skills.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^SINGLE REVIEW^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
XZIBIT "3 CARD MOLLY" feat. Rass Kass and Saffir (Loud/BMG) Rating $$$$$
out of $$$$$
The new single from Xzibit's upcoming album "40 Days and 40 Nights" has
his Golden State Warrior buddies stopping by. "Pick a card any card/I
bet you can't pull it/golden state/number 1 with a bullet" is the catchy
but hard chorus spit over a haunting beat complete with police sirens
and screeches. You would think with so many guests that Xzibit would get
outshined, not true. The likwit crew member sums up the east/west
situation for us with one line, "If it wasn't for the west/these Rap
n*ggaz wouldn't need a vest around they chest". Oh, and if you step to
the crew they'll "jerry spring you out the studio/then suge knight you
to the parking lot". Like butta baby.
FAT CAT KAREEM "FUGAZI"b/w"MONEY GAME" (Casino/London) Rating $$$$.5 out
of $$$$$
The police sirens and sound of the band in the background lead into Fat
Cat telling us how he lands down like Air Force One. Kareem has a loud
overpowering flow that uses the highlife lyrics to perfection as Fat Cat
chants "nothin Fugazi". When the beat comes in for "Money Game" it
sounds similar to "You Know My Steez" but quickly moves to trumpets over
many sound effects. Other than the repetitive concept on "Money Game" it
ends up being worthy of praise.
MASTERMINDS "THE ANTE"/"THE WILD SIDE"/"DEJA VU" (Mindyourrecordings)
Rating $$$$.5 out of $$$$$
"It's time to up the ante/and make it hot in here/cause too many emcee's
is gettin by this year". Ah....only in the underground can the truth be
spoken, done here by Masterminds on their new single "The Ante" produced
by Shawn J. Period. Poking fun at emcee's telling "99 lies/to their 99
wives", the group deliver a basic jam. Take a trip to "The Wild Side"
which is a little more on the party vibe, but still correct lyrically.
When purchasing the new single you also get underground fav "Deja Vu"
(no not that one).
"I'm not sayin i'm #1/um sorry I lied/i'm #1, 2, 3 , 4 and 5" (KRS-ONE).
How could have we described the newsletter better?
Thanks go to all subscribers of the HHN, Denton and all peeps at Mic
Check, Rap Sheet, Beatstreet, Everythingblack.com, Chillinonline, Virgin
Canada, Thrust, Russ, BMG, Jazzy, Universal U.S. and Canada, My crew and
close friends, Hype Music, Rhino Records, New Line Cinema, BTP Nation,
Elektra, VP Records and all other supporters of the newsletter. I thank
you very much.
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