| The New Rap Language: Quik Edition | March 31, 2010 |
When in doubt, think What Would Quik Do. DJ Quik & Suga Free – “Nobody” For the six people on the Internet and the pockets of Pomona, who understand that Suga Free’s Street Gospel is a classic (and that Free is probably the most underrated West Coast rapper of the 90s), the reunion of […]
| The New Rap Language: The Know-Nothing Edition | February 9, 2010 |
Don’t blame me, I voted for Millard Fillmore. “As We Enter” – Damian Marley & Nas The closer Distant Relatives comes to actually seeing the light of day, the clearer it becomes that I’d rather hear a mixtape of Damian Marley spitting solo over classic soundclash and Ethiopiques instrumentals. Nothing against Nas (really). But the […]
| The New Rap Language: Delinquent Habits Edition | December 7, 2009 |
Predictably belated. One final round-up before everything sinks into the year-end morass. Tangential point: Herb Alpert is sorely underrated. Lupe Fiasco-“Thank You” So the new mixtape from self-proclaimed black Zach Galifianakis (nice try, Lupe) is supposedly a response to being snubbed on MTV’s Hottest Rapper’s List. He shouldn’t be surprised. A year of Internet time […]
| The New Rap Language Vol.4: Senescence Edition | October 22, 2009 |
Camp Lo-“Another Heist” (prod. by Ski) Cormega-“Make It Clear” (prod. by DJ Premier) Redman ft. Ready Roc-“Cock Back” Royce Da 5’9″ ft. Joell Ortiz & Bun B-“Hood Love” (prod. by DJ Premier) Roughly half of the year’s 10 best hip-hop albums (UGK 4 Life, Born Like This, BlaQKout, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, Blackout […]
| The New Rap Language Vol. 3 | August 26, 2009 |
Something old, something new, something Blu. Jay-Z ft. Drake-“Off That” (Left-Click) Chalk it up to the strung out numbness of the Internet IV drip that’s made the run-up to mid-September feel so anti-climactic. Where breathless anticipation should precede new and long-overdue records from Raekwon, Jay, M.O.P. and Boosie, it all feels mundane. Even a self-consciously […]
| The New Rap Language: Vol. 2A | July 13, 2009 |
Now watch me freak it in Korean. Bishop Lamont ft. Xzibit-“Hallelujah” I’d bet against The Reformation ever emerging from the Aftermath morass. But it really doesn’t matter when Carson’s finest can craft Gospel Brunch bangers over Dre beats better than anything off Relapse. Bishop’s pet peeve is the cult of swagger, which makes sense, […]
| The New Rap Language: Vol. 1 | April 14, 2009 |
Due to the sheer glut of good rap inner-tubing through the Internet, I’m starting a new column to round-up the best singles of recent vintage. There is a 75 percent chance, I’ll never do this again. Credit due to Joey, Noz, and Brandon, for pioneering this not-so-novel concept. Kurupt ft. DJ Quik-“Hey Playa” Considering a […]
