The NYC 09' anthem finally gets a video. We definitely got an earful of this track during our recent trip to CMJ. Check out the duo's performance at the World Series.
October 2009 Archives
Game - R.E.D. Album
Everyone's favorite fabricated gangster rapper of the decade biting Weezer's style and prepping a color-themed LP. R.E.D. Album in stores December 8. To be clear, he's dropped "The" from stage moniker.
The return of Just Blaze (and the rise of Jay Elec)
We would've posted this shit earlier, but it's just so damn good we haven't taken a break from listening to it. Just Blaze, deliverer of the most consistently fire hip-hop beats of the past decade, who inexplicably and unceremoniously stopped working with frequent collaborator Jay-Z after 2006's Kingdom Come (I would love for him and Beans and Freezer to join forces on an unauthorized biography of the Jay they know), returned to form this week, dropping three incredible tracks on Shade 45 with his new muses: Jay Electronica, Saigon and Nas.
The one with Jay Elec is obviously the showstopper. The project the two of them are working on together has an anticipation rating somewhere near Lupe levels. Check the rips and the mind-blowing lyrics after the jump.
Continue reading The return of Just Blaze (and the rise of Jay Elec).
Beanie Sigel disses Jay-Z
"This ain't a diss record, this a real record/How it feel to get exposed -- I was the fly on the wall, I witnessed."
Former Roc-A-Fella Records next big thing, Beanie Sigel, has unleashed an absolutely scathing, personal, seven-minute attack on his former boss, creative partner and mentor, Jay-Z. In it, he makes bold, serious accusations:
- Jay-Z has cheated on Beyonce. "I could say shit to make B look at you different."
- Jay-Z called the cops on Beanie Sigel during September 11's Blueprint 3 gig at Madison Square Garden. "Shawn called the police on me/Because I was front row at the Blueprint 3/I just wanted to see him emcee/Reminisce when we were the R-O-C/But he called on the c-o-p's/Not only that, he brought in the f-e-d's/So that's telling me, F-U Sig/So F you too and F Bleek three."
- Beanie was an underappreciated foot soldier for Jay-Z's varying feuds. "I brought street cred. I faught all them battles: Jadakiss. Nas. Dipset...you ain't even have to tell me twice...I'd take a bullet for Roc-A-Fella."
- Jay-Z left the disgruntled rapper in limbo, refusing to let him out of his contract. "I never asked you for a dollar. This ain't about money..I asked you to let me off Roc-A-Fella...You bounced that tennis ball for an hour and told me you ain't gonna let me go."
- Jay-Z left his cohort hanging during legal troubles and brief incarceration. "You ain't come one day to see me. Not one letter."
Despite the spirited, passionate diss song, Beanie Sigel spent the morning diffusing the situation on 100.3 FM The Beat:
"I'm not really dissing Jay, there's certain parts in there where my emotions [take over]...I'm a rapper, I listened to the Blueprint 3 album, I heard things in there where he was taking shots at people but a lot of things were directed at people...I think my feet was meant for a couple of 'em...Collectively, you gotta understand, people like Peedi Crakk did some unadvised things like make mixtapes called Camel Hunting Season...It's the Roc as a whole -- but when he says lines like 'I heated up the Roc already, so why can't y'all get hot already' -- when you listen to them lines, those are those lines that I know as a rapper, because I know what he do...I know when he's slick on records."
UPDATE: Memphis Bleek reacts via Twitter, tries to keep the peace.
UPDATE II: Jay-Z not amused.
Beanie Sigel - I'm Not Your Average Cat
Jay-Z X Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind at Game 2
Really enjoyed this performance. Liked the band in Yankees gear, liked the timing and loved Mariano Rivera's 3-1 lockdown save. That's the most World Series saves in history (10) for those keeping score at home.
Attention Deficit Tracklist
Hit the jump for the final listing. Wale's major league debut in hard drives November 10.
Continue reading Attention Deficit Tracklist.
CMJ: The Week That Was pt. 2
All photos by Evan Daniels for A Thousand Grams.
As the week wore on, we started to get our proverbial groove back. We had the daily routine down (shower, show schedules and RSVPs, NYU panels, food, show 1, show 2, show 3...) and could get anywhere in the city with relative ease. Hip-hop was beginning to make more of a showing as well, with showcases from Nah-Right/On-Smash, Fools Gold, Plug Research and more. Outside the Nah Right show was a madhouse, with an inteminable line and several marquis names being rejected from the door. After chatting up Plain Pat and Maestro out front for a bit, we decided to chuck the deuces and leave the show to every other hip-hop blog you read. This was a good move, because we ended up meeting up with Exile across town.
Continue reading CMJ: The Week That Was pt. 2.
50 Cent X Eminem X Dr. Dre - Psycho
Just as one runs out of patience with the expensive triumvirate that is the Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit axis of power, the respective figureheads team up and kill it. The first reported leak from 50's Before I Self-Destruct.
50 Cent X Eminem X Dr. Dre - Psycho
Mike Posner - One Foot Out The Door
Not sold. Reggie is. His latest features Bun B (excellent), Kid Cudi (compelling), Big Sean (capable), GLC (marginally respected in the game), and 3Oh!3 (ah, hellllll no).
In the age of Ash Roth, Chester French and the aforementioned 3Oh!3, it's hard to trust the sincerity and aesthetic behind these collegiate hip-hoppers.
Get it after the jump.
Continue reading Mike Posner - One Foot Out The Door.
ATG TV: Das Racist @ CMJ
To complement our earlier breakdown of hip-hop's latest dynamic duo, here's some decent video (and poor audio) of their performance from CMJ. More exclusive coverage coming soon.
Stimulus - Lil Wayne - No Ceilings
Brilliant. Dropping it like it's 2006.
Lil Wayne spazzing out over radio beats. At last.
List, link....you know the drill...
Continue reading Stimulus - Lil Wayne - No Ceilings.
Review: This Is It
What a set list.
Opening with "Wanna Be Starting Something" and "Jam" back-to-back, closing with "Billie Jean" and "Man in the Mirror." A Jackson 5 medley culminating with a heartbreaking rendition of "I'll Be There." A show-stopping "The Way You Make Me Feel" arrangement. Hits upon hits in the spaces.
Continue reading Review: This Is It.
The ATG Interview: Exile
What would C.L. Smooth have done without Pete Rock? Common without No I.D.? Hip-hop started with the break beats and since the very beginning, the man on the 1s and 2s has had the power to make or break whatever the emcee is doing on the mic. In 2009, if there's any producer who looks to respect and uphold that fundamental symbiosis above all else, it's a guy called Exile. And if we were to make a list of the freshest, most vital beatsmiths working today, without a doubt he'd be near the top of the pile.
Continue reading The ATG Interview: Exile.
Wale X John Mayer - Letter
This surprisingly poignant team up with Mayer was axed at the last minute from Attention: Deficit's final roster. Shame, really, since it's the best thing we've heard from Wale's major label debut.
Wale X John Mayer - Letter
Stimulus - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Michael Jackson - He's The King, I'm The DJ
We're a little hesitant to endorse Michael Jackson tributes. Since Jackson's passing, it's been an avalanche of exploitative remixes. But on the eve of "This Is It," (which we're screening today and will review tomorrow, FYI), this Jazzy Jeff rundown of rare snippets is essential listening. Plus the art is dope.
Tracklist, download link, Jeff's project rundown after the jump.
Continue reading Stimulus - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Michael Jackson - He's The King, I'm The DJ.
CMJ: The Week That Was pt. 1
All photos by Evan Daniels for A Thousand Grams
We're no strangers to New York. Although ATG has roots in Texas, Evan and I first met in The City That Never Sleeps as bright-eyed young interns for CBS and Time Inc. all of one year ago. Since then, we've stayed in an empire state of mind, and CMJ was the perfect opportunity to swoop back in, take the city by storm and hold it down for hip-hop like we love to do.
Continue reading CMJ: The Week That Was pt. 1.
Stimulus - Freeway & DJ Benja Styles - The Calm Before The Storm
We love Freeway. Get yours after the jump.
Continue reading Stimulus - Freeway & DJ Benja Styles - The Calm Before The Storm.
Case of the Mondays - October 26
The weekend in MP3s.
Nice grab bag of goodies including the final version of the insane new Drake-Timbo collab we teased last week. Also nabbed the ridiculous Weezer and Wayne hook up, an equally ridiculous Wayne leak from the oft-teased, sure-to-suck rock album, Rebirth, and a riveting, redeeming Wayne freestyle.
Link + list after the jump.
Continue reading Case of the Mondays - October 26.
ATG does CMJ
ATG is headed to New York City for, well, a more expensive version of South by Southwest. We'll bring you up-to-the-second-wish-you-were-here updates (i.e., follow us) and, more importantly, a rundown of rising notables within our beloved host genre's ranks.
In the competitive realm of beating our chests, this will be the third official marquee event ATG covers during our maiden year in existence. We're just getting warmed up.
Keep the Events tab on your radar for daily updates and live footage and stay with us through next week for excessive recapping and analysis and I'm sure a batch of resume-padding interviews.
Ma$e has Diddy sign his 'freedom papers' on air
Wooww. Watch that. Early bid for most awkward video of the week.
"I don't even know what to say to that. I'm not used to Puff doing good stuff."
Sa-Ra - Live in Paris
Sa-Ra's new unheralded masterwork is the fucking shit. Furreal. It's more neosoul (or even acid jazz) than hip-hop, but check that out if you want to hear one of the best albums of the year.
Case of the Mondays - October 19
The weekend in MP3s.
Solid batch of files including the Em joint from DJ Hero and fuckloads of Drake leaks.
Continue reading Case of the Mondays - October 19.
Lupe's ghastly 'New Moon' contribution
Lupe took in an early screening on "New Moon" and penned this horrible mess after being asked to contribute to the teen vampire saga's second installment.
"Solar Midnight," the resulting rap-rock disaster, is the official iTunes bonus to the puzzlingly mature soundtrack.
I love Lupe, think he's one of the greatest, but this reeks of 16-year old tastes and boasts an unforgivable modern rock chorus. Lines are intricate, but it's bad ones like "I can see the truth in you even when you're lying and I can see the darkness even when you're shining" that sorely stick out.
Lupe Fiasco - Solar Midnight
Snood Dogg - Malice In Wonderland
Good to see Snoop put forth the effort. Like the title, love the cover.
Metrics: Texas, Oklahoma
ATG sizes it all up.
Apologies if we've been a little slow this week. As Texas alums, eyes are collectively focused on this weekend's impending showdown with a bunch of motherfuckers we can't wait to crush.
Some of the staff is heading to Dallas, all of us promise to be absolutely blitzed by the 11 a.m. kickoff. We'll be bumping this.
In the realm of amateur journalism, college papers often exchange essays for big games. It's fun, friendly, intelligent diatribe. A couple of years back, working for such a paper, I wrote one of these "you guys suck" pieces and sent it to Oklahoma's editor.
For whatever reason, my work never made it to press. More than likely scheduling and deadlines interfered, like to tell people it was because they fell back knowing they sucked.
Given the occasion, I've decided to unearth the lost column. Check it after the jump.
Continue reading Metrics: Texas, Oklahoma.
Big Boi featuring Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas
Smart album investment. These kids today love Gucci Mane. A confirmed leak from Sir Lucious Leftfoot.
Big Boi featuring Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas
N.E.R.D. featuring Santigold - Soldier
This one is Pharell and cohorts trying really hard to make a Santigold beat: there's an electronic dancehall A section segued between a generic, high hat-snare, punk-drumming B section that's far to slick and programmed to be punk.
N.E.R.D. featuring Santigold - Soldier
Stimulus - Live at Birds Mix
One of my favorite Austin DJs, Boogie Bored, regularly spins records at Birds Barbershop, i.e. the most pretentious place in town to get your ears lowered and feel like an uncool asshole. He's a local fixture and boasts an innate ability to drop bombs all over clubs, parties, etc.
He just sent over his latest mix, an absolutely dizzying playlist of throwbacks and remixes aptly dubbed, Live at Birds. Absolutely worth stashing.
Full disclosure, I met Boogie during freshman summer orientation back in the fall of 2003 and he's been a trusted ally in the war against player-haters ever since.
Download link + tracklist, as always, post jump.
Continue reading Stimulus - Live at Birds Mix.
Case of the Mondays - October 12
The weekend in MP3s.
It's been several weeks since we hit you with a fresh collection of shit we're spinning. There's no secret that the lack of a COM segment directly correlates with the NFL season's start and, specifically, the ugly, uneven beginning to Tony Romo's season.
I'll take an unfocused win on the road heading into the bye week. Hopeful morning.
In two weeks, ATG will take its initial mission trip to Jerry Jones' lavish Cowboys Stadium, where the beloved Cowboys are slated to crush the soaring, emerging Atlanta Falcons.
Link + list after the jump.
Continue reading Case of the Mondays - October 12.
Video: Lupe Fiasco explains "Fire," Hottest MCs List connection
"Not a diss of the list...knew I wasn't gonna make it ha!...but I'm
using the fact that I wasn't on it as an excuse to just start wrecking
shit on a frequent basis so by the time the next one comes out I'll be
number 1,2,3,4 and 5..."
Michael Jackson - This Is It
The first of many official posthumous releases is the title track from the limited run film by the same name. And we get backing vocals from the Jacksons. Chock it up to nostalgia or mourning, but this moved me. Suck it, Los Angeles Times.
UPDATE: This song was written in 1983 with Paul Anka.
Michael Jackson - This Is It
New Wale - "Fly Away"
Attention: Deficit may have gone till November, but that doesn't mean that Olubowale has forgotten you. He dropped this joint via Twitter today even though his day has been "shitty."
Good lookin' out.
Wale - Fly Away
Jay-Z gracious to MTV, calls out Eminem's omission
In a classy, mature move, Jay-Z thanked MTV for crowning him "Hottest Mc" via a letter:
"MTV, Thanx for this nod of appreciation," Jay wrote. "Although I don't strive to be 'hot' for any particular year, I thank you for the acknowledgment. My whole goal is to be recognized as the best ever. I created the term 'best rapper alive' as a sign of respect to my fallen comrades (Biggie and Tupac). I believe I've allowed a significant grace period, and I believe I would not be respecting myself if being the absolute best was not my goal, and that's why I continue to push myself until exhaustion ... salute."
But like any intelligent fan of hip-hop would given the forum, he called out the glaring exclusion of Eminem:
"Sidebar: Kanye moment if I may ... Eminem?!?! I think you do the credibility of this list a disservice if you don't thoroughly explain his omission," Jay continued. "As of this second he has the highest selling rap album of the year and a scene stealing verse on the best 'posse' cut of the year . (*Hands mic back to Taylor Swift ... and nobody was harmed, I apologize in advance.)"
MTV explains its rationale here.
Slim Thug on The Daily Show, pt. II
Continue reading Slim Thug on The Daily Show, pt. II.
Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
Inspiring stuff and uplifting rhetoric from the committee:
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
John Dickerson of Slate makes a strong case against his victory, I don't even want to check for the venom spewing from the fringe about his lack of credentials for award.
Video: Slim Thug on The Daily Show
The hip-hop stars seemed alert and self-aware enough to get the joke and the piece on the recession's impact across hip-hop is not, as one could expect, mean-spirited or exploitative. It's mainly hilarious.
Cenac has been one of the show's most connected comics and correspondents and we salute the tough subjects tackled. It's important to shed light on burning problems like a lack of quality, qualified industry video hos, what to do when video hos bring their kids to shoots, tapering expectations of dancers when Slim and his posse go to gentleman's clubs just to get a good meal.
The ATG Interview: Mayer Hawthorne
We caught up with one of our favorite new artists en route to a tour date this Saturday in Austin. Show's at Red 7. ATG will be there and frankly, we'd advise attending.
The why should be readily evident after digesting this tasty conversation.
Lupe Fiasco - Fire
Beat is so phoned in: a no brainer rock standard almost literally copied and pasted with slight drum punches. This technique is only interesting when samples are obscure, not car commercial Hendrix jams.
Of course, Lupe Fiasco has few peers in hip-hop. "Fire" is allegedly a response to the embarrassing MTV list or hot MCs.
Lupe - Fire
New Q-tip Music Video Feat. Norah Jones - "Life is Better"
There's no doubt, The Renaissance was one of the best albums of last year.
Now, 11 months after its' release, it still feels so cot damn good.
Be sure to check out his long-anticipated previously unreleased album Kamaal the Abstract, in stores now.
Stimulus: Chaundon - Black Dynamite's Revenge
The Hall of Justus alumn is always nice on the Little Brother joints. Download this and, if you like what you hear, cop the companion album because the brother's gotta eat and he came up with a cool theme and album art and still held you down with a little something for free99. Tracklist and download after the jump.
Continue reading Stimulus: Chaundon - Black Dynamite's Revenge.
New Ill Doc - Morals
Is Ill Doctrine hip-hop's conscience? Our fragmented culture's most sober sage?
Jay Smooth's been gone for a minute, but now he's back in full effect. Above he wades deep into the muck that is Roman Polanski case. Unfortunately he doesn't get into Letterman or John Ensign. Part 2 coming soon?
New Snoop ft. The-Dream - "Gangsta Luv"
Honestly, everything about this song, from the artwork to the title to the beat to the lyrics ("It's like True Blood - I sink my teeth in") SCREAMS laziness. Sad, really.
Snoop ft. The-Dream - "Gangsta Luv"
Spotted @ Eskay's.
New Theophilus London video - "Enjoy the Sun"
Continue reading New Theophilus London video - "Enjoy the Sun".
Hip-Hop Scofflaws: October edition
ATG on the hip-hop crime rate.
ATG is vastly disappointed when adored artists wind up in baffling positions. For the record ATG doesn't care for Jim Jones.
Continue reading Hip-Hop Scofflaws: October edition.
Ghostface on his latest, differing releases
In Monday's Pitchfork interview, Tony Starks detailed some much-needed clarifications:
- That incredible singer from "Paragraphs of Love" is John Legend's brother.
- The Ghostdini record was originally going to be segued by "Wizard of Oz" themed skits, but Def Jam feared lawsuits.
- "Emerald City" is where Ghost goes to find love:
Jeezy the Snowman
Is on it. Don't even worry about it.
Thug Motivation 103. Go ahead and look forward to that.
Young Jeezy - I Got This (Don't Even Worry About It)
Propers to Shake's email.
New Wyclef ft. Maino - Don't Go Outside
'Clef is a legend, man. Doesn't get enough respect. The original Carnival album is a classic, arguably better than the Fugees records.
Word is he has a new tape coming out with DJ Drama later this month. Check him putting on with Maino on this new joint.
Wyclef ft. Maino - Don't Go Outside
MTV's Hottest MCs #5 - #1
Continue reading MTV's Hottest MCs #5 - #1.
Metrics: Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of the Decade: The Reaction
Many would agree, perhaps reluctantly, that Pitchfork.com is easily the most influential, most read, most loathed publication for the largest share of music-loving, online-dwelling twentysomethings of this generation. It's a demographic of which your friendly editors are card-carrying members, as are, we expect, many of you. We frequently, occasionally vehemently, disagree with P4k, but it is a hate/love relationship, and we eagerly discuss the site amongst friends just as frequently as we curse it.
Today the online magazine capped off its months-long exploration of the Decade In Music by revealing selections for the top 20 albums of the decade - the final entry in a week-long countdown from 500. If you've spent any time on indie music blogs or forums in the past 10 years, this one is a fairly predictable bunch. (The earlier entries are chock-full of poorly sequenced formative touchstones and one-off obscurities.) Nevertheless, there are some bold declarations, and one vindication of a Wallabee-shoe loving, coke-game-chronicling rapper/ friend to the ladies who happens to be a peerless storyteller and is responsible for the name of this very site.
What follows is a run-down in two (very different) parts.
Continue reading Metrics: Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of the Decade: The Reaction.
ATG's Austin City Limits Festival Preview
With tens of thousands of people descending upon Austin this weekend for ACL, we'd like to take time and spotlight all the great hip-hop billed on this diverse festival.
Check our preview after the jump and check for Common looking hard on the ACL home page's masthead.
Continue reading ATG's Austin City Limits Festival Preview.
Fame Kills Tour canned
All speculation as to why at this point. LiveNation's Twitter confirms news.
From Eskay:
"Tickets for selected cities started presale on Tuesday (09/29) and were going to go on sale on Saturday (10/02) but Live Nation just made this announcement. During Ryan Seacrest's interview with Madonna, he said there were rumors that Gaga was pulling out. [||]. It may or may not have to do with what Kanye told Leno last month about taking time off from touring, or maybe presale didn't go as well as expected."
ATG would be greatly surprised if VMA backlash had anything to do with it.
Before I Self-Destruct cover art
I mean, "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" was a very popular movie in 1992. Probably James Cameron's second best work behind "Aliens."
Subscribe to the 1000G feedPersonnel.
Co-founder/Executive Editor: Ramon RamirezCo-founder/Executive Editor: Reggie Ugwu
Senior Writers
Cass Luskin
Jerod Couch
Evan Daniels
Natalia Ciolko
Web Design
Jeremy Hurd
