Hip Hop Blogs

The Rawkus 50 and the Accordian Principle

Rawkus Records is choosing 50 unsigned rap acts with a strong net presence to become what they call the Rawkus 50. From their site:

RAWKUS RECORDS will consolidate the cumulative fanbases in the interests the co-operative. As one of hip hop’s most trusted brands, RAWKUS, will select 50 members ideally suited represent our logo and to work together.

In addition to the RAWKUS 50's comprehensive myspace marketing strategy, RAWKUS RECORDS will provide the following opportunities:

• National Full Page Print Campaigns Trusted Hip Hop Magazines
• National INTERNET marketing and promotion
• Sponsored NY and LA SHOW for the RAWKUS 50 to perform
• Blog and Podcast hosting, marketing and promotion

This new strategy by Rawkus follows Brafman and Beckstrom's "Accordion Principle":

"Over time, industries swing from being decentralized to centralized to decentralized and back again."

It is only natural that the music industry would centralize again after being decentralized by the net. In the web age my new problem as a listener is that there's too much  music out there - literally thousands of artist MySpace pages with either bangers or bombs embeded in them.

The monetary cost of the music from these indie artists is free, however the cost I pay in time and attention is expensive. For every gem I find, first I have to wade through hours of garbage to get to it. I need a label aggregator like Rawkus to lower the hidden cost of being an underground rap fan.

Outkast - Hollywood Divorce feat Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg

One of my favorite songs this year is "Hollywood Divorce", a  low key track from Outkast's Idlewild album that features Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.

I have no idea how they convinced swaggerific Wayne to emote about his materialism in the wake of New Orleans' destruction, or how they cajoled pimptastic Snoop to reflect on the bumps in his failing marriage. Maybe there was no encouragement needed, and this song stands as a reminder to how complex these two guys are.

Here's the audio and select lyrics, courtesy of Odeo and OHHLA. I highlight my favorite lines:

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Outkast vs Rap Writers

I've been warming up to the new Outkast album. I never gave it a chance when I copped it a few weeks ago, partly because of the lukewarm reviews, and partly because I couldn't find a solid hour to properly pay attention to it (life and work have been nappy hair hectic now'days, true story).

I haven't read this anyone else, but it's surprising how many jabs Big Boi and Dre take at hip-hop journalists on a few songs (decode Dre on Mighty O, and Big Boi on Hollywood Divorce).  It's not surprising, as if rappers never diss their critics, but surprising because DreBoi are rap media darlings, if there ever were ones. For instance, just this year, Vibe basically labeled them the hip-hop group GOAT. Most rap mags would agree, with no disrespect to Wu-Tang.

But who can blame them dungeon boys their recent aggy-ness? We've been hearing that they have broken apart since three (maybe four) albums ago. If Jay-Z is the king of fake retirements, then' Kast takes the crown for fake break-ups.

Now here's the self-fulfilling prophecy - rumors of beef probably have caused and escalulated more friction between rappers then we know. That's strike 5 against the hip-hop press. It seems that when the group heard the recent rumors, they hopped on the phone and spoke to each other, like grown men tend to do. I must give props to the Mighty O for having a tight enough relationship to avoid all the ying-yang and keeping their focus on building their legacy.

Lupe Fiasco - "Pressure" feat Jay-Z MP3

Download "Pressure" or stream it below:

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Lupe's acrobatics on this song forced Jay-Z not to come lazy on the final verse, which really should have been placed in the middle. The non-singing dude on the hook almost sinks the whole mood. For a lyrical exhibition like this, some classic Primo-style cuts during the chorus would have served the song better. 

VIDEO: The Pack- Vans "Got my Vans on but they look like sneakers"

"We be sportin Vans and we throw away Nikes...."

This summer has been devoid of any big, quality hip hop singles.  Those that were pushed on the radio (ex: "Deja Vu") had a shelf life akin to some corner bodega milk, and the only truly big club hits were crossover collabos from marginally talented R&B females (ex: hot ass Nelly Fertado, i-can't-sing Cassie, i-can't-sing either Rihanna).  That being said, I declare The Pack- Vans as the summer single of the year.  No, seriously.  The kids like it, and the Vans footwear + Bay Area Hyphy tempo + skate culture angle is unique and fresh. 

So why have you not heard of this song? Because 1) radio is wack, 2) hip hop skate culture is being peddled by the likes of pharell and lupe fiasco (neither of whom can really skate), and 3) E-40 ruined the Hyphy Movement

If I were a label head, I would NOT have had E-40 introduce the Hyphy Movement to the rest of the country.  Yes, 40 water is a Bay Area legend, but outside of California his credibility takes a hit.  No disrespect, but dude must be pushing 45 years old and does not look like the Bay kids whose culture and style he is supposedly reflecting and perpetuating.  Hyphy needs something younger, more authentic and representative.... like The Pack.  Feel me?  - Michael

Update:  Exclusive interview with The Pack regarding the Vans collabo coming soon on Hip Hop Ads.  Yadidamean?

JR Writer's Player Hater Anthem

What's remarkable about JR's Writer's single "Grill Em" is that it's a club song made for the 80% of party hoppers who can't get in the VIP, don't have a cute chick on their arm, and get harassed by the  bartender. That's not your typical club banger.

JR tells the losers who fit into this category to shoot their offenders a hard stare, to grill 'em. A gangster would be threatening these people with his guns. A hustler would be too busy on the block slangin' his crack to be in the club. And none of this would ever happen to a pimp or baller.

JR recognizes that most people are none of these things, so he aims this track at the regular dude who gets hassled by the cool kids and gate keepers. Which is a mistake. The best party songs help you escape your everyday reality, and live the good life though someone else. If fans wanted truth they would write their own rhymes.

Ironically this is a party song that probably won't get much play at an actual party. But I can certainly see it getting rotation in cars outside of the club, while the driver waits for the bouncer to start letting the ugly people in.

The Young Hov Project

Not to make this blog sound like a Jay-Z fanboy site, but these guys are killing it with their Young Hov series of home made videos.  More videos and a "trailer" after the jump.  Credits ripped from YouTube:

"Starring 13 year old Samgoma Edwards, created AND DIRECTED By his brother Samtubia Edwards and CO DIRECTED AND PRODUCED with friend Chris Alverez. "

Killer Mike - "Promise I Will Not Lose"

After Killer Mike announced that he is dropping his next album on his own label and not on Purple Ribbon, his labelmate C-Bone said "One monkey don't stop no show". This song is a response to that comment.

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The way Mike effortlessly murders C-Bone on this track shows that he's a problem. Too bad his respect doesn't stretch outside of the ATL area.

"Got my Vans on but they look like sneakers..."

Vans.  Got my Vans on but they look like sneakers. Got my Vans on but they look like sneakers.  This song is moving out the Bay Area hyphy camp and getting spins in LA and (from what I've heard) South Florida radio.  Here's all you gotta know:

1) The song is about Vans.
2) The song disses Nike ("we throw away Nikes..")
3) The song gives a quick history about the Vans shoe brand.
5) The song talks about how cheap Vans are compared to other shoe brands.
6) The song is crack. Everyone likes it.

A marketing victory for Vans at a time when hip hop culture as a driving marketing strategy is on the decline?  Does The Pack actually sport Vans?  Street reports from the Bay indicate that Vans have been flying off the shelves since this song got heavy rotation.  What the hell?  I'm going to get to the bottom of this. 

MySpace Ethers BlackPlanet

Well, not really.  But C-Side sonned BP with the line, "BlackPlanet? Nah n*gga, MYSPACE!"

It was only a matter of time until MySpace joined Air Force Ones, Grey Goose, White tees, and the Nextel "chirp" (what else am I forgetting here?) as a product so culturally pervasive amongst the hip hop set that it earned its own self-titled song.  Word to Tom.

Check it out on XXL (which has excellent streaming audio in their Bangers section I might add):

C-Side (feat. Paul Wall)- MySpace Freak

I'm not a big fan of snap music, but I'm gonna roll with this one.  Now someone has to make a Tmobile Sidekick song over a hyphy beat, and the circle of life will be complete.