Your Kung Fu Sucks!: [MP3] Invisible Enigma - Supreme Shogun

Your Kung Fu Sucks!: [MP3] Invisible Enigma - Supreme Shogun

JOE SPAZM MIXTAPE LEAK

Word up people.Its been a very slow month for real.I have been bombarding my ears with music from all over the globe and it seems the freshest sounds keep coming from the ground up(notice I didnt use Under-ground,lol).

Anyways,am starting the month of cancer with a mixtape leak,my contacts at Knighthouse provided me with-THE JOE SPAZM MIXTAPE hosted by Dj Jimmy Jatt

Terry da rapman has been putting in work for years now and he definately deserves the shine at the moment.So what do we expect from the rapman this time around? Nuthing but the hotness,its seems thats the theme around these tracks.Boring? nah,Terry keeps it fresh,funny and witty all the way.And for cats thinking dude has lost his edge..trust me "you don't want beef like hindu"

My favorite joint here is "Really Hot"-this is a certified crowd shaker.A very simple beat,call and response hook(works all the time) with a scratched Gbono felli felli sample plus the flows stick to the beat like velcro.This is my cut right here

Do it-uses a kelly rowland beat and it kinda works at some levels.Kel and Mo cheddar carry the track effortlessly and Terry pulls a fast one over me here by just supplying the chorus-that's what I call rap suspense.

Matowobo(literally translate to-don't put your hand into it) features newcomer MYRO.Terry keeps it naija here and the hook is mantra like and all I can say is BOYS ARE NOT SMILING.

ENjoy the leak peoples..it's promising

DOWNLOAD IT HERE SHARP SHARP

Album review # 4

Artist- Lushlife

Title- Cassette city

It’s funny what you could come across on the internet. From hardcore porn to free programs, we meet variables ranging from the good, the bad and ugly. This time I’m dealing with the good. When I first got Lushlife’s cassette city, I wasn’t sure of what to expect-downloading albums from obscure artists has only 2 possibilities for the listener and the unlucky ones tend to waste 15 minutes of their lives downloading an hour of garbage. Well, in this case I fall amongst the lucky few. I actually tried doing a bit of research on this Lushlife cat, searched on wiki but couldn’t get anything but his my-space page. All I can say is FRESH, the beats are FRESH, Innovative, it’s like a mix of genres in one and the icing on the cake is Double L’s (as I would refer to him throughout the review) flawless cadence with a semi auto approach.

I come clean aint no baseball cap fitted

I rap wicked stick up kids in 86, now we act different

Am motivating the crowd like honey glaze

Plus am Getting mine, light up the stage like sunny days

Got your whole girl histrionics, whipping the block

And listening to stetasonic

Yeah am hooked on phonics , black and weary hooked on hydro ponics

But I got a reason to blow out smoke but am only dropping knowledge

That’s just the short intro, riding on a lush back-ground, this simply takes the listener into Double L’s cassette city. The first 2 cuts are str8 up blazing, daylight into me is a high octane banger while the latter “The Kindness” relies on a smooth soul sample which gravitate the listener into a state of audio pleasure. Quoting the lyrics wouldn’t do justice to Double L, you just have to listen to catch the drift

Besides rapping, Double L is also an instrumentalist with a piano training spanning over a decade!! The next cut is an instrumental(part 1 of 3) which is placed at intervals throughout the lp and I tell you,these beats are not some slap a vocal sample here,a bass there and kick type arrangement-they sound like something out of the future which shows the kind of hybrid concepts this cat employs from time to time.

Another word for paradise features CAMP LO(why do I gravitate to lps featuring this guys all the time,lol) and has a bouncy feel to it, smooth cut you should rock to while cruising down the block.

Until the sun dies reminds me of an 80s song which I can’t seem to remember, it employs a vocal sample for the hook with heavy bass backdrops giving it a trippy atmosphere-changes the pace a little.”The songbird athletic” is another sureshot, comes with carribean horns-laid back cut. The next “In soft focus” is one of my favourites, built on a fast paced drum pattern plus a luscious female vocal sample swirling around it and ending by scratching the slick rick sample used in OC’s “time’s up”,this leads to the single bottle rocket which has a call and response type hook

Spit fire, leviate us all night, bottle rocket

Lushlife, ready to bust mics for bottle rocket

Every-body stand up watching the show, watching the flow

bottle rocket watching it go

At just 37mins plus long, this is quite a short debut album for a new artist (reminds me of....).In conclusion, it’s a solid effort. Double L holds his own on all the tracks and even the presence of vets like Camp lo don’t hold him back .In fact Double L displays his vocal braggadocio on almost every track, which is not a bad thing and his beats...his beats are FRESH. His musical influences spreads across a wide spectrum which broadens the scope on his album. Another thing I noticed is dude has a knack of naming his songs weird titles (e.g fall of the light brigade? daylight into me?? Until the sun dies ???lol).In conclusion,you can’t get bored with this lp,the artist in questions keeps changing the environment every now and then while keeping the passion in the flow constant. If you don’t have this lp now,am wondering what you are waiting for?

Recommended listen- The kindness, another word for paradise, the songbird athletic, in soft focus, bottle rocket

DOWNLOAD IT NOW

ALBUM REVIEW # 3

Artist- PRAVERB THE WYSE

Title-  CENTER OF ATTENTION

 Producers- teddy roxpin, cold logistics, dj keor, streetwise, destro, agonist

 Guest vocals- Trinidad

       As a staunch myspace user, I usually interact with gazillions of artists who claim to be the next big thing to hit planet earth. The unfortunate thing is some actually possess the skill to verify such claims while others are simply the opposite. This review is not about the artist in question but the listener which is YOU. We the fans have long been relegated to the background, rappers no longer make music for the fans like back in the day and in most cases the said rapper might even start off his album dissing US(e.g “yeah,this is for all you d$%k heads listening to my new joint...”)   

          I admit the fact that am a newbie to Praverb’s music-and for the record don’t confuse him for south Africa’s PROVERB (another dope MC)- and am the kind of person who at 1^st listen can judge whether something is worth listening to in the long run and this here is actually worth it and its FREE!!!!

   Starting off with the PERFECT INTRO, proverb summarises “the reason-behind” what he does, he doesn’t go off point rambling about the state of hip-hop (like we don’t know..duh!!) but rather his own state of mind ,his views and he also talks a lil’ about the American complacency. Check some of the lyrics

 "I’m tired of seeing these youngings die

Tired of seeing mother’s cry

All we can do is be like Kanye and Touch the Sky

Yeah, I just want to let these words connect

So I can be real and get it off my chest

I live in the States, I be dealing with stress

But my fan overseas be dealing with death

Rockets fly, troops probably occupy his space

He doesn’t have time to stop and cry"

 

A very nice way to jump start the lp,riding on a smooth violin type instrument courtesy of cold logistics-works pretty well.

    Next up is BACK IN THE DAYS-and all I gotta say is those strings man!!! And the subject matter, though ain’t new-but it’s nice to hear a different point of view from this rapper. DEAD 2 SIN-if am permitted to call it a quintessential gospel joint(Gospel Mc’s should take a cue from this),it doesn’t come out forced, tired or boring-first off the beat is PHAT and again Praverb shows you “the reason-behind”  his music.

   FREEDOM TO PREVAIL is a favourite, nicely constructed by TEDDY ROXPIN(I used to love that cartoon back when I was a young un,lol) praverb starts off with this quotable

“Life be the topic, if I live it then I jot it,

Baptized in aquatics like the lochness

neck stretched like an ostrich

viewing  the land, pursuing his will, influencing fans remaining conscious

When I drop in, its dopeness, syringe filled with hope kid

My words be the medicine provide a proper dosage”

  Dude even said “who cares if p spits to himself”-some of us do, this is the kind of music we need nowadays bruh!!.

 RAIN and GRIND are back to back cuts that deal with life, strife and what have you. Worth listening to if I must add. TATIANNA is a nice story about a girl who aspires to be a model but falls prey to a scheming porn producer (listen to the joint to find out about the ending).YOU KNOW ME is another tight joint and proverb keeps it “real” by saying

“..attack the beat with my ability, nobody feeling me

Because I haven’t been shot, no street credibility.”

  That’s some shit your average MC wouldn’t say (besides kanye and Lupe).ORDINARY DAY is a jazzy type beat,reminds me of Nas’s “world is yours” and P kicks verses about a typical day at the mall trying to market his cd’s to strangers!! This is a first, I aint never heard another MC talk about a day at the mall!! The last cut TRADING PLACES produced by Dj kear(who also did the aforementioned ORDINARY DAY) laces a sinister background for P to kick rhymes  about issues at his former workplace .

 “With steady discipline, when I grip the pen

Am like Mr rivera, the relief is here

Bringing Ill rhymes- to a speaker near you

Sometimes I wanna bleach my skin

 -Do we speak the same language- sometimes I wanna trade places

I wanna spend a day in your shoes; you could spend a day in my timberland boots

  Hopping on the train in a business suit

 I get paid every week, I get all the loot

I arrive at work, sip a cup of  joe

Hop around the office, say wassap to the folks

I look at my computer screen, am living it up

This is a dream, am not giving it up”

 

..anyway dude gets fired, dude flips out and gets thrown out of the building by security, Freedom of speech at its best and Praverb doesn’t shy away from his religious background at instances .He keeps dropping subliminal messages every bar or two and he manages not to bore you with a gospel over kill which works well because at the end of the day, this is an hip-hop album. Not underground, not mainstream or left field, just a day in the life of an MC called Praverb. I recommend this for people who think outside the box, P keeps it simple so don’t expect super tongue twisting rhyme schemes that would leave your cerebral cortex sore, think GZA and you would get the picture. The reason behind this music is the message, who is he targeting? What is he aiming for? And the funny thing is the CENTRE OF ATTENTION isn’t even the mc in question...it is YOU-the listener.

 

Recommended listen- BACK IN THE DAYS, FREEDOM TO PREVAIL, DEAD 2 SIN, I GRIND YOU GRIND, ORDINARY DAY

 DOWNLOAD IT NOW

 

MAY's "FINAL SHEMP" MIX-TAPE # 0

 Ok my loyal hiphop heads,its the end of the month again and with the recession still lingering in the air all I can do is give you a song.Well a bunch of them.Every end of the month y'all would be entitled to a mix tape series called "FINAL SHEMP".It's a compilation of the best of the underground,mainstream,maybe hard to find singles from both known and obscure MCs.So without further ado lets get right to the 1st installment.

                                             MIXTAPE RADIO PRESENTS

MAY's "FINAL SHEMP" MIX-TAPE # 0

1   - Ali Vegas - That's Where I'm From (feat. Beezo)

   Queens representative Ali V takes you deep into the gritty streets of NY on this one,one of the best descriptive lyricist thus far and the hook is catchy too.

2  Raekwon the chef- Want in (freestyle)

    Lex diamonds shows you how the pros do with a banging beat from the Alchemist

3 Camp lo- on smash feat styles p and pete-rock

   The Luchini boys are back with bangers,never thought they could connect with Styles and Pete rock,"sound system booming watts!!"

4 Skyzoo- Hold Tight

     Newcomer S.K rips this hard banger courtesy of Black Milk.Y'all better hold tight

5   Freespeech and ro blvd- Come And Go  

     these dudes are sick with it,I should upload the whole album for yall man.

6  Freespeech and ro blvd- Lovin' Cali

   

7  Consequence-Disperse (Feat. Gangsta L Crisis and Really doe)

     If you aint feeling this..please disperse,please disperse...

8  Mad skillz- T.D.N-

       Taken from the design of a decade mixtape,Skillz emulates the legendary REDMAN on "tonights da night"

9   Royce 5'9- royal flush freestyle f canibus and elzhi

     'Bis,Elzhi and Royce=Way above Super lyrical content

10 Camron- my job (produced_by_skitzo)

    Cam'ron has found a knack of being silly and relevant simultaneously,how is that possible I don't know

11  Big Pooh - Radio

       Big pooh going for dolo

 

12  Crooked-I- I'm Still A MC(Prod by Komplex)

      Str8 ripping to shreds

13 J-hood- letter to the lox

        Ex d-block member pens a letter

14 Joell ortiz - covering the classics 

    Met this guy once,very down to earth dude but very sharp and witty on the M.I.C. He spits fresh writtens on classic beats from sugar hill gang to rakim to chubb rock.

15  La the darkman  willie the kid-world is filled 

         La keeps it gutter shaolin style over Biggie smalls "world is filled"

16 Mos def-Ms. Fat Booty (Story To Tell Rmx) 

    Just had to bring this back.This buckwild beat is sorta like a classic man!!!

17 Nas-If I Ruled the World(Smirnoff_Signature_Mix)(Feat Marsha

       Mr jones going through the cycle to give us a new HIM.Tight

18 Reks - dear winter

      Newcomer Reks is back on his B.I with this conceptual joint

19 '09 Slaughterhouse-fight_club_final

       Royce,Joell ortis,Crooked I and Joe budden-4 sick dudes over a dope beat=fight club

20 Styles P - Kick in the door _Prod. by Cookin Soul

   2009 rendition of kick in the door.Styles P in the building!!!

  

   I hope yall enjoy this selection.Always tune in because I got mad joints  to share with y'all.Till next month.Stay sharp!!

   DOWNLOAD IT HERE NOW

mix-tape-radio-reviews #2

Artist- RHYMEFEST

 Title- MAN IN THE MIRROR_(presented by mark ronson)

Featuring- Micheal Jackson,Jackson 5,Talib kweli ,Wale,Camp lo and Jungle brown

 

         What does Micheal Jackson and hiphop have in common? Yes quote me-they are both “off the wall”. MJ shattered the MTV for whites only barrier with thriller and hiphop followed suit. Ask any rapper who isn’t influenced by MJ and if he/she says no is str8 up fuhgazzy. From quoting him in songs to sampling his music,hiphop has always adored and respected MJ. This album doesn’t fall short of the aforementioned venerations,in fact Rhymefest takes it a step further and gives it a comedic feel.The skits are so well placed,it’s like Rhymefest sat down with MJ to record this album(I really hope MJ hears this,for real).

   The intro starts off with Micheal beat boxing and Rhymefest kicks a verse-easily this could come off  redundant but ‘Fest pulls this off and to add icing to the cake,Micheal finishes with a verse from “who is it?”-a worthy listen I must say.

  The 2^nd cut-“CANT MAKE IT”  is a str8 up banger,produced by the “best kept secret”.This is really a sick beat and ‘Fest spits jewels all over it and makes this track diamond studded!! “Get up” is another banger and features WALE!!! Together  with ‘Fest they flip the cut like flapjacks, going back and forth like manic sine waves.just peep this

“Covert,am bruce lee with no shirt

The ol bastard with no dirt

I play god,it aint hard,bitch I make soul work

You are like a gang banger with no turf”

    Simply put,Wale and ‘Fest both flow perfectly,without distracting the listener from each other .Fest comes in with his baritone vocals and Wale takes it down with his fast smooth cadence.

  Dancin’ machine is just what it is,if yall can remember the Jackson 5 tune-then 'Nuff said. Quite short  and like what GZA said “half short-twice strong”-don’t skip this

 Am not even gonna comment on the skits because I would love y’all to listen to them yourselves-that’s the key to the album, besides linking all the joints together-just listen and you would fully understand me.

  Never can say goodbye should sound familiar to all Jackson 5 fans. And this version doesn’t disappoint much-beatwise it’s lovable but I’d preferred young Micheal singing the hook than some random chick.Also Talib kweli  comes through with his usual rhyme twisting and  it works well.

 Mike the mentor starts with a long MJ interview ending with a back and forth verse by Fest and MJ..yes MJ’s voice was spliced to finish Rhymefest’s rhymes-you gotta listen to this

 "No sunshine"-nice joint,very familiar-fests comes through and drop tales of woes. Am not really a fan of this song-No thanks to DMX."Foolin around" serves the obvious purpose-dealing with relationships.

  "Set the mood" is just Micheal singing and sets the stage for the next cut “Breakadawn”,a very unique transition I must add. Ok I lied but I have to say one thing about the skit that comes after breakadawn- Micheal FARTS on this one...LOL

 "Higher" samples a J5 song which I can’t seem to find but it has this wierd like live drums playing in it and as usual fest drops jewels all over it. “All that I’ve got is you” is GFK rapping (the same song from his classic IRONMAN album),this is followed by the original J5 song “maybe tomorrow”.makes it a bit nostalgic, especially for me(sob, sob..)

 The next cut “Coolie High remix” happens to be my favourite because it has CAMP LO on it!!Yipeee!! The sample here is infectious-utilizes a smooth boom bap over MJ’s dreamy vocals. Uncanningly the original “Coolie high” samples Janet Jackson. Do you see the trend-No Jackson family, no Coolie high, lol. I highly recommend this cut for everyone.

 The following cut “family reunion” has fest singing with the entire Jackson 5 members, this is str8 up funny.

 The last cut is the title track and it fits the bill. Rhymefest and Micheal go back and forth with the verses and this is a hit.

  Overall this is very innovative, lyrically deep, thought provoking and funny all at once. Rhymefest always comes through with profound and meaningful lyrics and the whole effort doesn’t come out forced or tired.

 In conclusion I highly recommend this for MJ fans, Rhymefest does the beats justice and y’all won’t feel cheated a bit.

 Recommended listen-can’t make it, Get up,Never can say goodbye, Coolie high and man in the mirror 

 

  LYRICS=4/5

 BEATS=5/5

 LONGEVITY=4.4/5

 FINAL JUDGMENT= Highly Recommended

 DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Jump Off Poetry #1

In The Air Tonight

Love in the air tonight

so I called my pearl

and asked...

if she was in the right frame of mind

Tenderness...

engulfed in passion

and when she walked forth

it was beauty in fly fashion

Her hair smelled like jasmine

Lips felt like aspirin

We lust within

embodied in sin

beneath the pale moon

and we're gone too soon

Love in the air tonight

when I said to her...

"You put me in the right frame of mind"

     written by Deck the Nexus