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

Some rappers distance themselves from the silliness that is "no homo" and simply do not utter the two words, even when they are extremely applicable. The force themselves not to partake, and they do not enter their music into the game of "no homo." While I do respect their choice, I feel as if sometimes, even if you are in that category of artist, it is imperative that you clear things up. One of these artists is Kid Cudi. Rarely ever arguing his straightness in the lyrics of his music, he places himself above such tomfoolery; however, sometimes it works against him.

Take for example, his song entitled "09 Freestyle" off of the "Dat Kid From Cleveland" mixtape.

"Most niggas will quote you, play scrabble with your words man/till they see you at your show, it's my dick that they blow, MAN!"

I don't think I really need to say anything here but what is really necessary. No homo, Scott. For everyone's sake.

Video of the Week: Lil Wayne - I am not a Human Being

I reeealllly haven't been keeping up with this one, but you didn't even notice so its cool.

Anyways, this week's video is Lil Wayne's I am not a Human Being. I like the video mainly because its always entertaining to watch Lil Wayne stunt, but also because the black light effect used throughout is pretty cool.

Check out Weezy's black light tattoos that he actually had tattooed on him, not just painted on like a "bitch ass n****" as Wayne says (see the 2nd video, its pretty funny).

As a video it doesn't really offer anything conceptually fresh. But its a cool visual for a cool song, and its definitely worth watching.

Diggin' in the Crates: Special Edition, Return of the Flamboyant

AWWWWWWWWWWWW SHIT! The master of the mic, the most valuable poet on the M-I-C, the Devil's Son, a.k.a. Big L is back, y'all. It has just been announced that Big L is coming out with his second posthumous album, which is reported to be his last. The album combines never released verses of L's with production from his DITC family. I wanted it to be a surprise but Hutton Adcock posted it on my wall like an ass. Booooo. Anyway, the last album from possibly the greatest lyricist of all time is definitely a celebration worthy event, so I'm gonna help you celebrate. Below, a fantastic song by Big L. You can read the story of the album here.

Album Review: Lil Wayne I am not a Human Being

My Rating: 6/10

Lil Wayne dropped his latest album, I am not a Human Being, On September 27 (his Birthday).

It's No Ceilings-era Lil Wayne at its best, and I love it. Its full of the funny metaphor/similie-punchlines that we have come to love and expect from Wayne. On the ludicrously named track "Gonorrhea" he laughs, "Y'all some bitches like beta phi beta," which gave me a good chuckle. However, as always with Lil Wayne, he tries hundreds of different smilies, some work, and some just come off as forced "We in this bitch like tampon" (ew).

As a huge Weezy fan, I couldn't help but enjoy the album, as Drake said "I think the project is just a lot of Wayne songs... it's that stuff that people want to hear." But I'd like to see Weezy depart from his funny flow more often as he kind of does in "I'm Single," and i think Weezy feels the same way. I can only assume that he has undergone a large amount of personal growth based on his semi-frequent posts on Weezythanxyou.com, and as a rapper that means we can expect to see a significant change in his style, not only in his delivery but also in his content. Lil Wayne put out this album to get rid of all of those songs he had recorded before prison, so that Tha Carter IV can be a completely original and post-prison project. I think that was a great idea because, like any fan, I want to pay for the best product possible, but that brings me to my biggest issue with this album.

It fucking costs $11! That is a sin. By treating this as a collection of tracks that was simply meant to rid C4 of its pre-prison work, YM acknowledges that this album is really not an album at all. It is a mixtape, one that I would have gladly downloaded as some sort of No Ceilings extension, but I simply can not support the selling of this thrown together collection of songs. It is industry greed at its worst.

However, you can't lose sight of the joy that comes from blasting the album's high points (especially "With You" and "I am not a Human Being" for me). So, what we are left with is a solid No Ceilings rehash mixtape that is blasphemously being sold as an album. My final verdict? I can't advise you to spend your money on this with a clean conscious, and because of that it earns a lackluster and average 6/10.

G92: Boldy Saying No Homo Where It Should Have Been Before...Part 2

In today's hip-hop, one must be very careful of the things that they say, so as to not appear "homo." Kanye West, rap's potential savior, usually steers clear of both "no homo" and homo-erotic lyrics, but he slips up in his featured verse on Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3" in the song "Hate." He utters a line with much gay potential, saying:

"We blasting off just like a laser, nigga: peyoom, peyoom, peyoom!"

Not really gay until he makes the sound effects, wich takes the homo-eroticism to a "whole-nother-level." Which leads me to say, "Wake up, Mr. West! For you, I insert the 'no homo.'"

KanYe signs Mos Def: G.O.O.D. Music takeover is imminent

This past week Mos Def agreed to sign with G.O.O.D. Music, building upon what may be the best rap alliance of all time. He is the latest veteran rapper to sign with G.O.O.D. Music joining other esteemed MC's Common, Consequence, GLC, Malik Yusef, and recent signee Pusha T of the rap duo Clipse.

For those who don't know, Mos Def is a very well and widely respected rapper who has been in the game since the late 90's. He will definitly mix nicely with the rest of the cast at G.O.O.D. and I can't wait to hear him collab with some of the younger artists, perhaps Cudi or Big Sean.

With Mos Def's signing, it would seem that G.O.O.D. is prepared for a full on takeover of the rap game, especially in light of Young Money's recent release of "I am Not a Human Being,"(review soon) a hap-hazardly recorded and mixed collection of unreleased, rushed, and pre-lockup Lil Wayne songs which is ludicrously being sold as an album when it would likely garner mediocre acclaim as a MIXTAPE.

Meanwhile, G.O.O.D. Music is putting out a FREE song every Friday as a part of "Good Fridays." Furthermore, every one of the songs released thus far (excluding the awkwardly put together "Lord Lord Lord") has been absolutely top-notch, and thats not even taking into account their recent and free mixtape, "A Good Ass Mixtape." In comparison to G.O.O.D.'s "we do it for the fans" attitude, YM is looking horribly commercial, and, honestly, they are failing to create any valid Hip-Hop at the moment. I hate to kick them while they are down, though, so I'll wait till Weezy is out of Rikers to make any final judgements. But, for now, G.O.O.D. is Mos Def runnin this shit.

Download/Listen to "A Good Ass Mixtape" here

Download/Listen to all Good Friday songs here

Buy "I am Not a Human Being" on itunes if you want... smh

Note: The pic is from Kanye and G.O.O.D.'s upcoming spread for XXL

Diggin' in the Crates: Vol. 3

Since Ric is a slackin ho, I have decided to provide the next installment in his little series. Anyways, this is the Pharcyde, an alternative hip-hop group similar to the likes of A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Many of my favorite rappers (including Cudi... thank you wikipedia) have listed the Pharcyde as an influence, so I decided to get their debut album, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. I was hooked on their style. The song below is their first single "Passin' me By," and it definitely has distinct of flavor to it, particularly the first verse. Give it a listen and see what you think.