HIP-HOP HOLIDAYS

Christmas 2008 is here-- Bah Hum-Bug! Naw for real I'm not a Scrouge but I do find myself trying to avoid getting into the festive spirit just to avoid the straight commercialization of the holiday!

I mean even the church acknowledges that Christ was not born on December 25th!! I don't know if it comes with age, experiences, or income but I find I am more synical even inspite of having children whom look forward to the day... or at least the day of receiving gifts!

I just seem to remember a day that had more innocence. The commercialization was so blatant and in your face. Hip-Hop or "Rap" albums actually tried to maintain its theme. Run DMC actually rapped about Christmas in Hollis Queens, NY and actually put elf's and Santa in their video (for real). It didn't seem cheesy at the time it seemed sincere and genuine.

With that said, I'm still appreciative of a day regardless of its transparency, where we can still think adn reflect on the important thing in life like family and giving. I just think that some of us should spend the day or some days within the season giving the thing we all value most time. Try volunteering your time at a shelter, try spend the night handing out warm outter... And don't forget to bring the kids especially if the whine or feel some sort of entitlement about receiving their Christmas gift.

Kanye West "Heartless"

Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.


Kanye may be singing about being Heartless but he's the first artist to give up an American Music Award to someone that he felt was more deserving, rapper L'il Wayne. Say what you want about Kanye positive or negative... he's a man of character.

CHANGE

"Although it seems Heaven Sent

We ain't ready to see a Black President" 

- Tupac "Changes" Released 1998

Ready or not, we have one! and as long and hard as it was to get there... Obama seems very humble and aware of the challenge it will be to stay and actually affect change.  Black or White he is the best candidate for the job. He won't be able to undo what the Bush clan has started even in two successions but he will get new ideas and a fresh start on how to get the U.S. back to a better status.  Aside of what he represents for American's he represents world change.  The only thing that stays same... is change.

-djO?

Busta Rhymes Leaving Interscope

Busta Speaks.

50 CENT Reality Show: Will You Be Watching?

Random Entry of the Month: I Miss Dodge Ball!

http://view.break.com/584729 - Watch more free videos

---But I Bet You She Doesn't!! LMFAO

BORN AND RAISED... TO SUCCEED!

After many hood anthems, street singles and nationwide appeal with the ground breaking music video from their February 2007 release "Born and Raised In The Ghetto", Point Blank is poised to release their self-titled studio album. It's has been a long road road for this group of neighbourhood friends and the reward promises to be well worth the wait. They first put pen to paper and money where their mouth is by pressing their first 12" vinyl single "Startin Shit!" with "3 Man Weave" on the B-Side. Point Blank showed further resolve when they put forth "Thin Line" which garnered commercial success on the one time urban radio station Flow 93.5 FM. The group even hosted Rap City at a time where their single "Want It Wit Us" charted in the Top 5. Throughout all their all their projects they have always managed to maintain themselves as artists of streets painting high definition life pictures of what goes on in their neighbourhood (North America's first housing project) Regent Park. In 2003, they showed Canada a snap shot through a camera lense as they played host to MuchMusic's Ed the Sock as they recorded an episode in Regent Park. Now in 2008, after countless release date changes, the anticipation has not dissipated and has not been higher. Point Blank has strategically positioned themselves on their own record label TILTROCK Records (a name paying homage to an O.G. of Regent Park) and a distribution deal with KOCH . With Solo Projects waiting in the wings Point Blank is a foundation album well worth picking up. It has a variety production from the likes in house producer and member Pikihead, Tone Mason, Big Sproxx, Mazza and Boi-1da. The production serves as perfect backdrop for lyricism and allows for a plethora of tracks with a wide spectrum of sound maintaining a consistent baseline of street talk and reality rap. Point Blank has the streets buzzing again with their follow up single "God Only Knows", make no mistake. This is no mixtape or street album this a full-length-feature-studio-album that will have your head nodding and your ipod or cd player rewinding as you take in the in-depth lyrics, ingenious metaphors and cleaver similes. As of August 19th, 2008 go and support this album you will not be disappointed, point blank!

Kanye West - Champion

The Dream Team... 2K8.

Enjoy.

A Rose By Any Other Name...

Normally I do not support objectifying women (although I do mentally engage in it!) I had to post this vixen (who calls herself Milani Rose) posted on smartenupnas.com this week, Cot DAMN!!!

Batman Premiere's Worldwide Today...
It would've Been appropriate for this NaS track to Score the movie. Peep the video link!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1312375015/bclid1312349493/bctid1657791130

SUSPECT SPRING??... INVINCIBLE SUMMER!!

There must be something to this acting thing for Common. Ever since the Chicago rapper started devoting more time to Tinseltown, he also suddenly shifted to frenetic work pace with his music. Com is set to deliver yet another album this summer, titled Invincible Summer, according to Billboard. The album comes on the heals of his last project, Finding Forever, which spawned the Grammy-nominated collaboration “Southside” featuring Kanye West. Invincible Summer, however, won’t feature production from West, who had become a musical muse to Common. The two Windy City residents reunited on Com’s BE and Finding Forever. Common gave ‘Ye credit for inspiring him again, but on the new album he decided to go a different route. Mainly because West was busy on his Glow in the Dark tour, Common said he couldn’t get much studio time with the producer. So he instead hooked up with the Neptunes and one-time OutKast contributor Mr. DJ. The result is a more electro-tinged sound, reports Billboard. Cee-Lo, Chester French, and Santogold are expected to appear on Invincible Summer. The album is tentatively due in July.

source:www.xxlmag.com

Record Review - by Tara "Hustla" Muldoon

AZ
Undeniable
By Tara Muldoon

AZ is the most underrated hip-hop artist of this era and this album, yet again, attests to why: he is a veteran and the new school generation should take note. As his catchphrase states, a “rather unique” flow and swagger complete this project with a feel-good essence and storytelling: “I’m an HBO episode/filmed in the streets of New York.” The best tracks feature AZ in his element over smooth production and eloquent wordplay, as in “Life On The Line” and “Dead End.” Intertwining street with conscious, mixed with a few female-friend tracks, Undeniable works if you overlook “Go Getta.” Being the worst track on the album, the single doesn’t do him justice, but not even Ray J can ruin AZ’s flow. (Quiet Monkey/Koch)


Fat Joe
Elephant In The Room
By Tara Muldoon

Being a Fat Joe fan, the first listen of Elephant In The Room is pretty mediocre. On the second listen it only gets worse. Eight albums deep and Fat Joe still hasn’t developed consistency? His feud with 50 Cent and the who’s who production may have garnered a buzz around the drop of the album but it disappoints. The first big mistake is the lack of content — we know you’re glorious already. The second mistake is his production selection — don’t choose beats that outshine you. The best songs are by far “300 Brolic” and “My Conscience.” With an entire new generation swooning over his “I Won't Tell” track featuring J Holiday, new fans won’t recognise his old music and old fans definitely won’t appreciate the new stuff. Let’s just say what everyone is thinking: it ain’t the same without Big Pun. (Terror Squad/EMI)

http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=121&csid2=865&fid1=30990

New Mix - Wedding Chunes...

Springtime usual means a few things:

• Winter is finally over!

• Summer is coming!

• And Love is in the air...

Thats right wedding season! Here's a mix that I did for the Black Wedding Show... just some love ballads you can download!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/o44nd5

Where were you and Hip-Hop in 1987

Biz Markie + Scott LaRock @ Flemo... T-Dot Hip-Hop 1987

I'm Still Here!

Its been a hot minute...

I've been busy with Canadian Music Week... helping out with Just Entertainment on a promo tip!

Doing Shows:
M.O.P Concert
KRS One w/ appearance by RZA



Radio Game:
Morning Fill Ins on 105.5fm cHrY
Sound Junction
Friday Night Live

New Internet Shows in the Works:
www.digitalunderground.com
...more tba


HEAVYWEIGHTS
miTunes... TBA
Like A Virgin... TBA

PeeP some DopE mUsick!




Pacific Division "Paper"

Welcome 2 the GooD LiFe!

January quickly draws to a close... and we may be feeling the crunch of those December Christmas gifts that are popping up on credit card statements, the harsh reality of those already broken New Years Resolutions or seasonal sadness from a schizophrenic winter.

--But As we get so wrapped up with self-pity, disappointment and frustration let's take a moment to put things in perspective.

Asides from the extra pounds that we have resolved to lose, in a ridiculous amount of time from the extra helpings of turkey over the Holidays-- we are relatively healthy.

Our Canadian economy is the strongest its been in years and apart from the occasional cry for sovereignty in Quebec we don't live in a war-torn country!

The drastic climate changes have not come as any surprise, as we've been driving 1 to 2 persons to a car per commute for years now-- so this was predicted, foreshadowed and accelerated
by the one person we can't run from... the man in the mirror.

So when we step back and pause before we routinely complain about something that we think should be better-- Remember it always could be worse!

Let us appreciate the simple joys such as, family and friends. The free things like when your child smiles while having fun playing games. Or the sights and sounds of a good hearty laugh from one of your friends as you casually tell them an anecdotal story of what happened to you on the weekend. And maybe we even appreciate the small things like when your partner instinctively takes time out of their day to check up on you, because you were on their mind.

I'm telling you it is those small free things, that we should really appreciate because nothing on this planet is guaranteed... and those things (not the monetary) that will determine a good life.



And by that definition... it's a GoOd LiFe!