Diggin' in the Crates: Vol. 1

This will be a weekly post from me from now until I feel like you all are relatively conscious of classic hip-hop. Here I will be providing you all with one of my favorite rap songs from the past, which is a vague and all-encompassing term that means what I want it to mean. Please listen and give me your opinions. First off:



This is Lamont Coleman, a.k.a. Big L. Definitely one of the best hip-hop lyricists in the history of the game. If you think that Lil Wayne has humorous punchlines, wait until you hear this guy. A lot of these Diggin' in the Crates posts will be songs from in him, in all likelihood (Only fitting since I got the name of the series from him). Big L, unfortunately shot down in 1999, was probably the best rapper alive at the time of his murder. This is only one example of the rapping ability that he has. Be sure to look up more of his stuff.

G92: Boldy Saying No Homo Where It Should Have Been Said Long Before

This is the first of a series which I plan to continue in hopes of exposing every homo-suggestive rap line possible.

At 2:55 In the song Weezy carelessly yells "My flow is like rubbing two logs," and for him we say "no homo."

Free Weezy

With fifty-eight days left until the release of Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., the hip-hop world is moving forward slowly without the constant production of songs from the self-proclaimed "Best Rapper Alive." Young Money's presence is steady felt, however, despite his absence, by the young Drake and the bisexual(?) Nicki Minaj. But without Weezy, one must admit, the game is not the same. Wayne's style has been imitated by so many and duplicated by none. When he was at the summit of the hip-hop mountain, there were so many who wanted to walk in his footsteps. Even the ever original Kid Cudi, known for his cutting-edge honesty and creativity, at one point in time modeled himself after the CEO of Young Moolah. (I must cite Daniel Conover for this reference, he provided me with this information.) With so many constant attempts at recreating the style of Birdman J.R., (failed attempts, I might add) there was nothing more soothing than hearing the king himself grace us with his lyrical bars. But alas, all good things must end, and his reign stopped short with his admission into Rikers.
Which brings us to this point. J. Cole is now playing on the radio. Although bubble gum rap is still evident, lyrical skill is being more and more valued. Drake still claims much popularity, but I hear more and more requests for Eminem. It seems as if people have stopped trying to imitate WFB. A diehard fan like myself must wonder what this means for the Lousianimal. It is obvious that the Young Lion must step up his game and rise to the occasion in what seems to be a reviving hip-hop genre. During his stay in jail, he has begun writing lyrics instead of relying on his quick wit to fill his rhyme books. One can only hope that this will be enough for Birdman's son to stay on top in a dynamic game, or else Lil Weezyana will be out of a job. Only time will tell.

KanYe Continues G.O.O.D. Fridays With Latest Release

In case you didn't know, G.O.O.D. music will be releasing a song from one of their artists every friday until Christmas. They are calling it G.O.O.D. fridays. The latest is a song song "Devil in a New Dress," presumably off of KanYe's new album... needless to say its great. Link in the title. Check it out.

"I Can't Believe I'm Back Up In This Muhfucka!"

What's good fam? It's been a while, but like the title says I'm back. Boston sure has kept your boy busy, work training and freshmen events and stuff, hardly had any free time. I haven't been keeping up with the blog as much, haven't been keeping in touch with my people as much, and for this I apologize. I been busy, tryna make this paper, tryna promote the music, you understand. But forget all that. This marks the return of regular posting from Charles R., a.k.a. CJ Lamp, a.k.a. Big Ric, a.k.a. it doesn't matter what you call me, cuz you know who the fuck I am, so get off my dick about some bullshit. Now that I got that out of the way, lemme get some more shit off my chest.

1) If you haven't downloaded Summer School the Mixtape yet, I disown you as a friend. DatPiff, Youtube, Mediafire, Facebook Page, it's all over the net, no excuses.

2) Boston is amazing, I can't even get into it here. But I will be expecting a lot of y'all to come visit me while I'm up here, hit up some Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins games. You know.

3)A part of my work study job is working for BU Central, which is the underground concert venue at BU. They have a blog which, when it is up and operating, your boy will be writing for. Y'all being my faithful followers, I'll give you sneak previews and what not.

4) I'm also trying to get my own radio show on WTBU, the Boston University radio station. I'll update y'all as shit happens.

5) I'm back up in this muhfucka. Catch y'all later. Dueces.

"How you make this beat, huh? On the wake and bake?"

This has got to be my favorite joint off of Shake's tape. Give it a listen and a download and get the mixtape if you still haven't.

"We The Greatest In The World Baby!" Why KanYe Is Hip Hop's Savior

Hip Hop's greatest has finally broken the silence. By dropping two singles off of his new album, a G.O.O.D. Music mixtape, and an epic "Power" Remix, KanYe has finally given his loyal fans the big warm and fuzzy musical hug that they have been waiting for. Both of the tracks released off of his album thus far are an exciting promise of what is to come, but also indicate a major change in KanYe's musical style and overall attitude.

The first official single "Power"marks the start of a new era of Hip Hop for KanYe. He reaches back to his roots to pull out a beat that is as powerful as the title would suggest. The Sunday morning claps laid over hard hitting "Crack Music" drums gloriously announce The King's return, but the ending features a beautifully introspective, orchestral breakdown that shows KanYe did not exit his 808's phase without learning something. The song remains just as emotionally revealing, but he doesn't hide behind auto-tuned melodies. He refuses to run away from the Taylor Swift incident, letting us know that the outburst was just a symptom of his childish arrogance by outright saying "Fuck SNL and the whole cast." Any other person would come back from an incident like that

apologetically and with a hanging head, but KanYe as always refuses to bow compromisingly as he stares straight into the camera in the ridiculously progressive moving portrait that is the "music video" for "Power." Lyrically the song is a verbal representation of the internal struggle he went through during his exile. He says, "My childlike purity, creativity, and honesty, are honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts." For KanYe, the question is and always has been should he bow to the masses or stand defiantly and let his eccentric brilliance run free. "Power," the video and the song, is a big "Fuck You" to everyone who thinks he should keep himself locked up, and it is pure artistic beauty.

His second single is the soulful "See Me Now," a song reminiscient of Late Registration's, "We Major." Kanye uses his first half of the song as an unstructured canvas to show off his new and ever-improving flow. He also creates a soulfully optimistic playground of a beat for Beyonce and Charlie Wilson to showcase both of their respective superior vocal talents. The fearless juxtaposition of overused and cliched 808 hi hats and drum rolls with the pure instrumental originality of the rest of the beat is classic KanYe as he daringly interjects elements of Hip Hop culture into unexpected places (see his shoes, the Louis Vuitton Dons, that he designed for Louis Vuitton), reminding us that though he has entered a new artistic realm, he doesn't lose sight of his Hip Hop roots.

This is what KanYe does best. He justifies the ways Hip Hop to the greater world of art. He is currently Hip Hop's greatest hope of becoming a widely recognized art form. Simply put, he is Hip Hop's savior. His upcoming album has the potential to launch Hip Hop into that tier of music, and I have no doubt that it will. He has mastered Hip Hop to a degree that he is free to use it as his tool. He could easily turn his back on Hip Hop as he becomes more and more artistically involved in visual art and fashion, but he boldly refuses to hide what's inside him. That's what Hip Hop has always been about, and weather he is throwing a hissy fit on a stage at an award show, rocking Jordans at Paris Fashion Week, or laying hard drums over orchestral samples, KanYe has always been a pure embodiment of that spirit. Look out for his new album, its gonna be a game changer, and if you're not too busy hating him, it will undoubtedly change your view of Hip Hop as well.