Sunday, May 20, 2012

CaSHTaSTiC {ft. A.R.I.} "DaRKNeSS" [MuSiC ViDeO]...



What`s up y`all? Throwin` up a quick post for the moment. Just sharin` with y`all some more music from the UK since I got this press release from my homie Chris from over at 2spr.com. I`m DiGG`n the content of the song so I figured I`d share the video with y`all. I know most folks, myself included, don`t know who Cashtastic is so after ya peep the video just read the write~up below that was included in the press release. Feel free to drop ya` thoughts in the comment section...







Rapper Cashtastic Releases Inspirational Single “Darkness”, Featuring A.R.I., Via RGS Entertainment
 
 
 
Since the release of the A Lil Bit of Cash mixtape in December of last year, 18-year-old rapper Cashtastic took the UK by storm. Featuring on pretty much every music website in the UK (including SBTV, Grime Daily and LinkUpTV) as well as releasing music video after music video, he is now ready to release his first official single to the nation, more so to the world.

Darkness, which is available now through the RGS Entertainment Group, is set to be the record that everyone talks about. Cashtastic has gone from club records (Gassed In The Rave feat. Krept & Konan; Boasy feat. Stylo G) to lyrically conscious records (J Cole K Koke; Interlude) effortlessly, and Darkness follows in similar fashion.

With feature vocal coming from talented singer A.R.I., Cashtastic talks about the issues and troubles currently faced in the world, and the prospect of life without them. So often a musician tries to capture the emotion necessary for a topic like this to hit home with the audience, and finally we have one that has successfully achieved it.

Cashtastic - as most teenagers in the United Kingdom - has faced unfortunate hardships prior to music, but isn't afraid to tell you. The raw emotion from his voice alone paints a picture so vivid, culminating in an extremely hopeful and empowering mainstream-crossover record called 'Darkness'.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



N`JoY...

Saturday, May 19, 2012

MiA X`s "MaMa DRaMa"...







What`s up y`all? Been back from North Cackalack for a few days now & have been goin` thru my CD collection grabbin` random albums to listen to & today I just happened to grab Mia X`s third album titled "Mama Drama". It was released back in 1998 & turned out to be one of Mia`s more successful albums since it ended up charting at #7 on the Billboard 200 (#3 on the Top R&B/ Hip Hop Albums chart). I believe that there were two singles for this album; the first was titled "Whatcha Wanna Do?" & it features Charlie Wilson (GAP Band fame) & the second single was "Imma Shine", check out the music videos below...









Of course on the production side of things Beats By The Pound handled the work. KLC cooked up 8 beats (tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14 & 19), Craig B did 5 tracks (tracks 3, 5, 8, 11 & 17), O`Dell did 2 tracks (tracks 16 & 18) & Carlos Stephens produced 3 beats (tracks 10, 13 & 15). "Fallen Angels (Dear Jill)" (track 20) was a team effort between both KLC & O`Dell, while Craig B & O`Dell collab`D for "Whatcha Wanna Do?" (track 2). The album pretty much sticks to the No Limit blueprint, very lil` outside contributions. Aside from the Charlie Wilson & Fat Joe features everything else about the album says N-O-L-I-M-I-T...


Mia`s third effort "Mama Drama" is a decent album to listen to, there`s really only 2 tracks that I didn`t care for much. "Thugs Like Me" reminds me too much of that Jay-Z joint "I Know What Girls Like" with Lil` Kim & Puff...LoL, & I don`t like that song either. The other joint that I`m not really feelin` is "Sex Ed." featuring Silkk The Shocker with Porsha on the second verse & the hook. It`s really just Silkk`s part that I`m not DiGG`n though....LoL, can`t go wrong with Mia`s verse especially when she`s talkin` about "deep~throatin`, never ever ever chokin`"....heheh...





 
As for tracks that I`m DiGG`n there`s a good lil` list that I`ll share it with y`all. The opening track "Bring It On" is a decent No Limit Soldier collabo` cut that has Mia sharing the mic with Fiend (who also rocks the hook), Mystikal, Mac, C-Murder & Skull Duggery over the thumpin` KLC beat. Something sad that I noticed about the previously mentioned track, 4 of the featured artists are currently incarcerated (Mac, C-Murder, Skull Duggery & Mystikal). That`s a DaMn shame! "Whatcha Wanna Do?" is a love song that has a nice lil` GAP Band vibe to it courtesy of Charlie Wilson, while the bouncy Craig B produced track "Imma Shine" makes for a good danceable joint... 



"I Think Somebody..." is a track that`ll have some folks gettin` hype.....LoL, KLC`s beat provides a nice militant sound complete with guns bustin` & bullets hittin` while Fiend`s voice brings aggression to the track. "Mama`s Tribute" has X spittin` an MC Lyte type tribute over another KLC backdrop, if you know your Ol` School you can hear a lil` bit of Lyte`s "Paper Thin" in the beat. "Ride Or Run" features the late Big Ed (R.I.P.) & Steady Mobb`n over a poundin` Carlos Stephens beat. "Puttin` It Down" is another No Limit posse cut featuring Fiend, Mac, Mystikal, Kane & Abel with Silkk The Shocker makin` a small lil` non~rappin` cameo...






Ghetto Commission is featured alongside O`Dell who sings the hook on "Ghetto Livin`" while "Play Wit` Pussy" has Mia X flexin` her estrogen over KLC`s thumpin` beat. Carlos Stephens does his thing providing the backdrop for "Don`t Blame Me", a collabo` that features C-Murder & Mr. Serv-On. All rappers kick some deep thought provoking lyrics, but I feel that C-Murder steals this track. "Daddy" is a tribute to Mia`s father, while "Like Dat" has her spittin` to the doubters & haters. My favorite joint on this album is "Flip 2 Rip", a DoPe collabo` with Mac...



Now there were also a few songs that were just alright at least in my ear & they are "Don`t Start No Shit", "Mama Drama", the Snoop & Fat Joe featured "What`s Ya` Point?" (they could`ve did much more with this track in a unity sense for HiP HoP), "TRU Bitches" & "Fallen Angels (Dear Jill)". These songs aren`t bad, they`re just overshadowed by the other joints on this album, but they`re still way better than "Thugs Like Me" & "Sex Ed."....LoL, so go `head & give the album a listen...



Label: No Limit Records
Released: 1998



 1. Bring It On {ft. C-Murder, Fiend, Mac, Mystikal & Skull Duggery}
 2. Whatcha Wanna Do? {ft. Charlie Wilson}
3. Don`t Start No Shit {ft. C-Murder & Master P}
4. Mama Drama {ft. Fiend & Mystikal}
5. Imma Shine
6. I Think Somebody... {ft. Fiend}
7. Mama`s Tribute
8. What`s Ya` Point {ft. Fat Joe & Snoop Dogg}
9. Thugs Like Me
10. Ride Or Run {ft. Big Ed & Steady Mobb`n}
11. TRU Bitches
12. Puttin` It Down {ft. Silkk The Shocker, Fiend, Mac, Mystikal, Kane & Abel}
13. Ghetto Livin` {ft. Ghetto Commission & O`Dell}
14. Play Wit` Pussy
15. Don`t Blame Me {ft. C-Murder & Mr. Serv-On}
16. Daddy {ft. Anita Thomas}
17. Like Dat
18. Sex Ed. {ft. Silkk The Shocker & Porsha}
19. Flip 2 Rip {ft. Mac}
20. Fallen Angels (Dear Jill) {ft. Anita Thomas, Porsha & Wendy Weary}









For those out there wonderin` what Mia X has been doin` since her No Limit days peep the lil` interview below. She`s still touring & has a cookbook out now titled "Thing My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me"...










N`JoY...

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

CLaSSiFieD`s "The JoiNT EFFoRT MiXTaPe"...



 
What`s the deal y`all? I`m getting ready to head to North Carolina for a few days so I figured that I`d post up a few things today before I do. The first thing that I`ve got for y`all is a mixtape from Canadian emcee/ producer Classified titled "The Joint Effort Mixtape". If ya don`t know he reps Nova Scotia & has been puttin` down since early 1995. I believe that "The Joint Effort Mixtape" was released at the beginning of this year, however I just started listening to it on Monday & I`ve got to say this joint`s pretty DoPe! It`s a bit on the short side, but it doesn`t really matter much because what you do get is some great tunes to BuMP... 






You get a total of 10 tracks, now I`m assuming here but I`m pretty certain that Classified produced all ten joints. There`s only one solo track, the rest have features & range between Canadian & American emcees. They all do well reppin` their respected countries & that my friends makes for some good HiP HoP music, at least in my ears anyway. If ya doubt me, go `head & check out the videos & that`ll give ya an idea of what you`re gon` hear on this mixtape. My favorite cut on here is the last track titled "Quit While You`re Ahead", a great Canadian collabo` between Classified, Choclair, Maestro (Fresh Wes) & Moka Only. Do ya`self a favor & check it out, you`ll be glad that you did...








 
Label: Half Life Records
Released: 2012



1. Unusual {ft. Joe Budden}
2. Beatin` It {ft. JRDN}
3. They Call This Hip Hop {ft. Royce Da 5`9 & B.o.B}
4. Maybe It`s Just Me {ft. Brother Ali}
5. Casual Drinking {ft. Tash of The Liks}
6. That Ain`t Classy
7. Unexplainable Hunger {ft. Royce Da 5`9 & Choclair}
8. Can`t Stop {ft. Chino XL & Quake}
9. Handwriting On The Wall {ft. Pace Won & Spesh K}
10. Quit While You`re Ahead {ft. Choclair, Maestro & Moka Only}


























N`JoY...

Monday, May 07, 2012

"Be iNSPiReD: The LiFe Of HeaVy D"...


Here`s a nice lil` documentary for y`all viewing pleasure, it`s narrated by MC Lyte & is titled "Be Inspired: The Life Of Heavy D". It clocks in at just under 38 minutes & is obviously a lil` tribute of sorts to Heavy D, The Overweight Lover. Naturally it covers Heavy`s career, they talk about his start at Uptown Records with Heavy D & The Boyz. They mention the fact the Heavy`s brother Floyd fronted Heavy D the $2, 500 (his student refund cheque) for his demo. Family & friends reminisce about Hev`; Eddie F, Chuck D, Doug E Fresh, Will Smith, Russell Simmons, Big Lez (Rap City fame), Salt, Cee Lo Green, Mary J. Blige, Nia Long, DJ Red Alert, Kim Fields, Queen Latifah, his brother, sister & parents just to name a few. Queen Latifah mentions the fact that Heavy D was the one who took her on her first national tour. You get so see a lil` bit of Heavy`s Soul Train appearance & they talk a bit about his friend Trouble T Roy`s death. Kim Fields talks about Heavy`s lil` cameo appearance on the sitcom "Livin` Single". They close things out with the Heavy D tribute from the 2011 Soul Train Awards. The doc`s in mp4 file format so you should be able to watch it on ya` i-Pods, enjoy...






Run Time: 37 min.














R.i.P. HeaVy D...

"SHyHeiM & GP Wu: BooTLeG"...





I`m feelin` sick today, think I caught this Cold from work:( -- so this is just gon` be a quick post unfortunately. Here`s a lil` something that I found while doin` some web surfin`; a Shyheim & GP Wu compilation of sorts. It was pretty incomplete when I found it, missin` tracks & the sound quality of most of them were pretty shitty.....so I decided that I would put my touch on it, I tracked down a few extra joints & added them on as well. For those that are curious, most of these tracks are from 12"'s. So enjoy these joints from some Wu-Tang affiliates...





Label: N/A
Compiled: 2012



1. 5 Elements {Shyheim ft. GP Wu}
2. Let`s Go To Lap {GP Wu ft. Shyheim}
3. All Out On My Own {Shyheim ft. Squig}
4. Get Down {Shyheim ft. Snagglepuss, Rubbabandz & Letha Face}
5. Can U Wu Wu Wu? {GP Wu}
6. GP Connection {GP Wu}
7. Soul In The Hole {Timbo King, Shyheim & Killa Sin ft. Tekitha}
8. Bring The Drama {Shyheim ft. Down Low Recka, K-Tez & Rubbabandz}
9. Pass It Off [Rmx] {Shyheim ft. Big Daddy Kane & GP Wu}
10. On & On [Rmx] {Shyheim}
11. Shit Is Real [Rmx] {Shyheim}
12. Hit Me With That Shit [Rmx] {GP Wu}
12. Licka Shot {Shyheim ft. Rubbabandz}
13. Shyheim & Rubbabandz `94 Rap City Freestyle
14. One`s 4 Da Money [Rmx] {Shyheim}
14. Shaolin Style [Rmx] {Shyheim ft. GP Wu, Squig & Ruthless Bastards}
15. In Trouble {Shyheim}
16. Outro



















N`JoY...