We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "Halloween"

It's Halloween! Do some tricks. Get some treats. Get Yours. Word. Well, it's not actually Halloween, TOMORROW is the big day, but we already have a fucking Hillside Scramblers / U-God review scheduled for that day since it's a Wednesday. #tradition. So we had to post this today.

Anyway, so what are you going as? A scary vampire? That guy from "Saw"? A headless horse, man? Santa? Good luck. Be safe out there. Have fun.

Me? I'm dressing as the Notorious B.I.G.! The ladies will love that!

Now, let's talk about this song that came out like two weeks ago but I put it on hold until the big day. Here it is....




WHOA! James, I know you're an evil guy and all, but please don't dance with knives! I doubt you have health insurance and our medical system is overburdened or some shit.

That song was good! Nicely done. Again and again. For a guy who's clearly jacking around, his lyrics are strangely good...

Forget the candy Mike, go and grab your stinkin’ bike

Plus we got a bunch of candy I don’t even really like

Mike, he’s got a stinkin’ knife, we’re about to loose our life

Pedal Mike, Pedal Mike! PEDAL MIKE! With all your might.

Krispy Kreme, keep doing ya thang. 

HALLOWEEN SCORE 8/10

We Got Something New! Big Bad Baragon "Hustle"

This week is #goat! Truth.

Well, maybe not that good. But it's up there. Why? We're focusing on good hip hop ONLY this whole week, no bullshit at all (except for a U-God review, but other than that: all good). And to keep things solid at the front end of the week we've got a new cut from the king of Newburgh, New York: Big Bad Baragon. This guy has established himself as a dope track-dealer and a gifted lyricist, so we officially look forward to his shit. Let's go....




Nice. See, besides mic skills, I would compliment Big Bad Baragon on his beat selection skills. This guy knows what he is doing. Shout to Hexsagon on the beat too, it's mean (like your step dad).

A for the lyrics, Baragon brings it tough:

As long as I'm alive I'm a'be stepping for perfection 

My future looking fly like the Jetson's

The road's ahead, so I hold my head

'til I got enough dough to make a loaf of bread

Second verse...Uh, wait does he tell his mother that he's willing to kill for money. Don't tell her that! She doesn't want to know! Just bring her the checks and when she asks where they came from, yell "I been workin'" and walk out. Slam the door. She doesn't need to know. #Parents! #smh!

Whatever, this is another dope track. I think we should take a closer look at Hexsagon at some point as well, shit might be dope. . 

HUSTLE SCORE 8/10

BRRRRRRERRTT! (car breaks) Wait a minute. I was just checking on Hexsagon's beats (which are good) and I found a Hall & Oates beat. What!?

"Denzel Washington"! We Got Something New from Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike

DING! DING! DING! They did it again. Trust: nobody wants this thing to end more than me. I keep thinking "this is it...this is the last decent one from these two..." and then BAM! K.O.! Again and again.



Heat. Fire. Corny. Sure. Keep it real double K and triple M.

DENZEL WASHINGTON SCORE 8/10

We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "The Fight"

Krispy Kreme is the cream of the crop internet right now. You guys don't even know. This is ANOTHER good song from this guy. How does he do it? Again and again. The best and they're better than the rest.


THE FIGHT SCORE 10/10

We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "Coolest Guys"

THIS AGAIN? I KNOW! Wednesday is supposed to be U-God day here at the amazing Tortoise General Blog, but we're interrupting that shit with some other shit. Krispy Kreme shit! AGAIN! Again?

We, as a family, decided yesterday that we weren't going to post anymore of his trax because they are coming out really often (like once a week). They're still good, but at the same time, slow down. Right? So when I saw that this dropped I was thinking, "no way I'm posting that unless it's really good". And guess what: it's really good. So enjoy it. With your best friend.

OH, hey, internet jackals, let me bold this for you and ALL CAPS: I KNOW THAT KRISPY KREME IS AN ACT PUT ON BY A SERIOUS RAPPER WITH A NORMAL NAME LIKE NORMAN JOHNSON OR SOMETHING. So stop contacting me you stupid ass know-it-alls. "Hey noob - itz a skam -hez acting hez no really dum he had a 3.9 gpa in wisconsin" - like 5 million people. NO SHIT. He's satirizing the sorry state of rap and he's doing a fine job at it. Keep at it.



Like a tight hat...never gon fall off.

COOLEST GUYS SCORE 8/10

We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "Stolen Bikes"

This guy just keeps dropping songz!

Hit the club twice as fly as anybody I saw
Training wheels on the hustle [Krispy Kreme] will never fall off

STOLEN BIKES SCORE 5/10 

We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "Girl Work It"

We came off of vacation for this. AND I LOVE VACATIONS!



He did it again!
Fucked up, right? I know...
I know what y'all asking yourself, "Is he gonna ever fall off?"
No...

Girl Work It Score: Smooth

 

We Got Something New! Uppanotch ft. Nicholas Howard "Who You Know?"

We're like the Clam Diggers of hip hop blogs. We stay in the mud and filth looking for something worth keeping. Today we have it: Bazooka Joe  put together a decent mixtape. I'll give this track the best in show award, although the whole shit is pretty good.




Quick pro-tip: if you sample Biz Markie, you're probably going to get respect here. Plus the scratching. The dope beat and solid lyrics also help immensely. So that's all you need: good beat, good lyrics, competent scratching, and good sample. Easy. So do it.

WHO YOU KNOW? SCORE 9/10

We Got Something New! Big Bad Baragon "Angie"

I'm Tort Team, even when I'm by myself.
I'm Illideph, even when I'm by myself.
I crack skulls, even when I'm by myself.


All of that boasting aside, Newburgh, New York's best is back in the place with more fire.

Of course we're talking about Big Bad Baragon, who you might remember from his hit song 6th Borough (which we gave a very high score to due to it's dopeness).

Well, he's done it again. This time he's dedicated a song to a classmate DJ AnGee Cee, and while I don't know who that is, I must say this song is on another level. Actually, it's exactly on the level of Tribe's Bonita Applebum, which is a very good thing.



Now at great risk of pulling anger and wrath from older heads, I've gotta say that I like Angie as much as Bonita Applebum. Now, I'm saying that with a major qualifier: Bonita is a classic. Tribe Called Quest was laying foundation with their shit, that breakbeat is insane and the casual spit is innovative as hell. Angie is some new underground shit that builds off the people who pioneered this shit. But the reason that I like Angie so much is because it takes the path laid by previous MCs (like Q-Tip) and improves it. Angie's beat is hard as hell, the change ups are mad nice, and the lyrics are dead on. But the most important aspect of this song, the reason that it rises above the rest, is the back-and-forth (a cornerstone of hip hop) which is employed perfectly.

You got bodied. This track is perfect. Get that mixtape out.
 
ANGIE SCORE 10/10



A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum by hushhush112

We Got Something New! Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike "Best Friends"

Krispy Kreme and Money Maker Mike do it again! Look, I know these are novelty tracks (are they novelty tracks), and in a few weeks I'll look back and regret posting them (will I?). But every time Krispy Kreme drops something new I'm digging it. He's mocking the artform in all the right ways. Keep at it son. We could be dealing with more shit like this.




Who's got your back when you're lonley? Dedicated to all the best friends. Word.

BEST FRIEND SCORE 8/10

We Got Something New! The Stack Boys "Snapbacks"

I would hate to let you go into your weekend without some $WAG. Let's get stupid, it's TGIF. Let's get punk'd! $ta¢k Boy$ STAND UP!

Snapback

Snapback

All I wear is

Snapbacks

"PUT ON SOME PANTS" - Adults

You know, not long ago this would have made me quite mad. In fact, a few seconds ago this would have made me mad. Especially when I saw the MANSION that these kids seem to have and the giant TV that they have, and the PROFESSIONAL recording equipment. Hey kids, you've got the good life. You can wear only sanpbacks if you want to. Most of us are struggling to make it check to check and whatever.com.


Do we really need a bunch of rich preteens flaunting their parent's wealth? No.


But then I had a thought that made me VERY HAPPY! If these freeloading kids are wasting their time on this nonsense (which is basically a commercial for the things they found at the mall), then they're not spending their time in school learning how to exploit working people. These kids were future oppressors, now they have no future in oppression thanks to them spending their time making dumbass videos that nobody wants to see. Keep wasting your time kids! See you in the unemployment line! The rich get dumber in this case! Power to the people.


SNAPBACKS SCORE 0/10

P.S. I also like how one of the $ta¢k Boy$ points out that it's stupid to rap about "drugs" and "actin' like a thug" but then proceeds to rap about hats and shoes and money for five minutes. He's mad at people acting hard in their songs, but then goes on to rap about driving Porsches when he is clearly nine years old. Not stupid at all.

We Got Something New: Erick Sermon "Breath of Fresh Air"

I don't know what is going on anymore. I respect Erick Sermon greatly, but I basically wrote him off as a has-been for the very good reason that he hasn't put out anything good in a LONG TIME. I mean, it got to the point that I would see E. Serm's name attached to something and have second thoughts about spinning it. I still would spin it out of respect, but I was almost always disappointed. So when I heard about his new mixtape I said "Ugh, I'll check that out later". And I waited for a long time then I finally gave in and gave it a spin...and HOLY F, it's really good. I mean like his best work in a really long time and also better than a lot of stuff out right now. He has a new energy, his rhymes are solid and his beats are on time. What in the hell happened? I can honestly say that "Breath of Fresh Air" is incredible, and I never use the word "incredible" because people sound like dinks when they say that. But this is that! I can't believe it.

GREAT JOB* THIS TIME ERICK SERMON!

*There are a couple of exceptions, but great job for the most part.

Yo! From Track 3 "Fix Your Face" all the way to Track 11 "I'm Good" is top choice hip hop. All the tracks in this window are great. But the whole shit is mostly good. Plus the guest spots are top notch (even with Rick Ross) and everyone comes correct. What more can I say, just listen to it and see if you agree with me!

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Now for the exceptions, and I don't want to dwell on this, but there are some mistakes on here too. First of all, WHY ARE THERE SKITS? Nobody wants to hear those ever. They're the worst and EVERYBODY HATES THEM. Second of all the skit called "Head Skit" is the worst kind of skit that everyone especially hates and everyone wonders why it is on the mixtape and what is wrong with people in general and especially whats wrong with people who make sex skits. I know skits have become a throwback to the good old days, but they're a terrible throwback. I would literally throw them back in time, into a fire so I never hear one again.

Next, the track "Headgames" featuring 50 Cent and one of my favorites, Keith Murray, is awful and reminds me of why I doubt the Green Eyed Bandit. That beat SUCKS A NICKLE THROUGH A STRAW and it has that traditional Def Squad sound that we would all like the Def Squad to move past. Just put Keith Murray on a good beat, like any other beat on this album (Except for Commander N Chief, cuz that's from the same crop of crap beats). Why not?

Oh, and the hook of Lil Nikki is terrible, oh yeaaahhhh! But I'll still say that it's a good song. 1-9-9-9.

Okay other than that the rest of the album is great.

BREATH OF FRESH AIR SCORE 8/10

We Got Something New: Big Bad Baragon "6th Borough"

Almost everyone in America knows that I hate almost all music. The only place to find good shit is in the dark corners of the internet and around midnight on Satellite Radio. The best stuff is well hidden and comes from a place of real hunger. Now, I don't know if Newburgh, NY is hungry, but I suspect that MC Big Bad Baragon and producer Bazooka Joe are. Their tracks consistently show a high level of skill and heart. This is my shit...




I think they found my playbook because they know my vulnerabilities: hard reppin', a hook of scratchin' samples, ill rhymes, good flows. What more do you want? Nothing. What more do you want me to say? Don't sleep on this shit. Let's hope for more of the same in the future.

6th BOROUGH SCORE 9/10

P.S. Can someone tell me what song this beat came from? It's killing me.

We Got Something New: Maffew Ragazino Sr. “Decepts On The L Train”

Count us solidly in the Maffew Ragazino Sr. camp.  This guy just keeps on hittin. This is where it's at right now. Check the whole catalog.



Decepts On The L Train Score 9/10

We Got Something New: Koncept "Aspirations" feat. Soul Kahn

As always our definition of "new" doesn't exactly fit with the internet age of "everything now" and "shit ain't new after one day". This came out way back in December of 2011, you know like and eternity ago. What were people driving back then, a 2012 Ford Focus? Ha! And people still had smart phones, like LOL. How did we get by? Right?

Okay, so Koncept is a Queens MC (get the money) who has been appearing here and there and doing a good job. You know, real biz. Who cares? Good music. You should have already been checked it out, son. GET WITH IT. Stop listening to garbage, sheesh.


So why are we featuring this song. I'll give you FOUR reasons:

1. THE TRACK IS DOPE

2. THE LYRICS ARE ON POINT

3. THE BEAT IS HYPE
4. Koncept invited his dad to the video shoot and he is my favorite:

I'll be honest, I don't think I'm a fan of that Soul Kahn guy. I mean he's okay, but not my taste - he goes okay on this song and all, so I hope he has great success. But that old guy, I'm a big fan! I'm a big fan of this video. Let's get a hot dog with our dad or grandpa! Then we can go to the carnival. I would say that guy probably should avoid the rides, but one is okay for sure. Just please take it easy. But still have fun fellas. As for us, we should spend time with the people we love, buy Koncept albums, and support real hip hop. Quit living such a bad life. Get your act together.

Aspirations Score 9/10

We Got Something New: N.O.R.E. "Slime Father"

What? I mean WHAAT? N.O.R.E.?

I never thought that I would be posting anything like this. Seriously, it's like opposite day or something. While I am a huge fan of CNN (also known as Capone -N-  Noreaga) and especially "War Report", I liked it in spite of the lyrics. Frankly, Capone and Noreaga both suck at rap. They pull phonemnal production and they work with Tragedy (who is really out of their league lyrically) but they're lyrics are boring as hell. By the time N.O.R.E. came out (his first solo album) I was done with the whole CNN situation. "War Report 2" was pretty good, but it really didn't stick with me. I hope that if you went out and bought it that you liked it and it was your favorite album of all time, okay.

Then we have Slime Father. This track just came out of nowhere, it's a new NORE track and it's concrete. It's just brutal. I honestly never expected to like another Nore track for some reason. But here it is. I mean it has the same problem as all other CNN / NORE tracks in that his lyrics aren't very good, but the Alchemist's beat is bonkerz and the lyrics fit the beat.


N.O.R.E. featuring Cory Gunz - Slime Father by Hypetrak

Good right? Right.

P.S. I don't know about you but when I see the name "Nore" sometimes I think of "Nor'Easter" and I have no idea what that is (even after I read about it on Google). Weather something.

Slime Father Score: 8/10

We Got Something New: Game "Born In The Trap"

So the West Coast no longer gets the respect that it used to pull. That's because you are all idiots. There is plenty of high quality hip hop coming out of the whole west and we have at least a few heavy hitters that maintain the West Coast crown. One of the heaviest of heavy hitters is Game, who consistently murders everything he touches with his top notch skill and ability to name drop everyone ever.

So this is his new collaboration with the king of hip hop DJ Premier. Needless to say it's dope. One of the best producers working with one of the best MCs. What more do you want?

Hulkshare.com The Game - Born In The Trap.mp3

 

Score: 9/10

We Got Something New: Black Milk "Welcome (Gotta Go)"

We Got Something New: Black Milk "Welcome (Gotta Go)"

--Official Stats--
Artist: Black Milk
Song "Welcome (Gotta Go)"
Album: "Album of the Year"
Release Date: December 25, 2009


I know that this isn't exactly new, in fact it's super old, but give me a break it's new to me. There's a lot of hip hop out there and we have to listen to all of it. Plus, all of the staffing problems we've got around here, all the frequent accounting "errors", and all the deadlines with this blog make it difficult to get anything accomplished. It's a wonder that anything is ever published here okay.


So now that we got that out of the way let's get to this track. If you don't know, Black Milk is a MC and producer combo from Detroit. He's made plenty of good tracks and put in a lot of heavy work with his peers from the Detroit River coast. He's got five solo albums and has put out tons of other tracks that you have probably heard. It's all good.

So in 2009 he was promoting his album entitled "Album of the Year" and leaked this song:



Really good right? I mean like REALLY GOOD. I know how you feel, it's like we can breathe a sigh of relief that someone somewhere is making good (and real) hip hop. So what works? Well, the beat is amazing. I don't know, it reminds me of that old Wu shit, but at the same time it's kind of got that new-wave feel. Pure Detroit. Listen, I don't even know what I'm talking about. It's just good okay? Okay? Good. Good job to Black Milk.


Next, on to the lyrics. Black Milk comes correct. He does all kids of respectable representing and he throws all kinds of good lines:

So Detroit like on Belle Isle,

So Detroit like seven mile

also:

Tears fall fast when you (can't) catch the laughter out this rap madness

Tryin to catch a break, but it ain't comming fast e-nough

This the laughter, happiness, smiles

when you show you better than n---az, and people see how

and they recognize now (yeah) you ain't nothin to fuck with-

with, no cosign wit, no nothing

started from the ground up, then

now up there 'round industry n---as

but I play the game: handshakes, give me dap

"Yo, what up doe?"

But I'm feelin like fuck those lames

The whole song is just fire. Check for it. Go on, do it. Black Milk's album "Album of the Year" dropped like two years ago, so you should have already bought it you deadbeat.

Score: 10/10

We Got Something New: J. Cole "Work Out"

We Got Something New: J. Cole "Work Out"

I don't want to do this again.  I don't want to post up another new track by J. Cole yet.  It's too soon.  This guy is throwing out new tracks every week to see if something sticks. As a quick recap from last week: I am a J. Cole fan.  Now for this week: this track is weak.  It takes two of Cole's greatest weaknesses as an MC and runs with them.  The first is that he takes a lot of trips to the "ladies" well.  By that I mean that "ladies" are his go-to topic. He handles it just fine most of the time, but I'M GETTING SICK OF HEARING ABOUT IT J. COLE, I GET IT YOU LIKE LADIES.  The second weakness is his poor judgement when it comes to some artistic choices.  He is usually spot on with his musical decisions and he is way better than most of his peers. Most of the time, even if I don't like his decisions regarding what to put on a track I at least understand and respect them.  However, when Cole fails, he really flops.  I think this single is an excellent example of an artistic decision that comes across as corny: Paula Abdul lines.  Seriously dumbass?  Do you think anyone anywhere wants to hear you doing that? 

Okay ROC Nation staff and J. Cole, ask yourself: is this really a good choice for a first single?  No.  Should this be included on any album other than some sort of b-sides compilation?  No. I mean the beat is okay, maybe a little too smooth for my taste, but I'll tolerate it to hear a dope MC spit, but if that dope MC is doing karaoke of Paula Abdul then I'm out.  You lose this time J. Cole.  Who dat?

You ain't going plat with this mess.  Also, stop trying to go plat and try to continue to make good tracks.

Score: 2/10

We Got Something New: Nas "Nasty"

We Got Something New: Nas "Nasty"
 

Nas dresses appropriately for bad weather, know dat.

Usually when a veteran MC drops a new track i'm like "it's okay" but this one is actually good.  Nas always* brings HQ** tracks.  This one is no different except that it is ridiculously good.  “Good Life” is looking up!  This is like a throwback.  A product of the old school and the newest of the new.  Also, scratching?  Doubletime flow?  Vet level lyrics. What? They still make good hip hop? Apparently.

Well this fits right in with an interview with Nas from a time long ago, before Illmatic dropped (so around 18 years ago) it's kind of amazing to see that Nas’ philosophy still applies today and especially to this track. Mad consistent.

QUESTION – How do you feel getting respect from old and young emcees?

Nas: “It’s a blessing.  I’m a product of hip hop.  I’m a product of the old school and the newest of the new.”

ALSO –

Nas: “I been in this for years, so I’m dedicated to this music.  Respect everybody to get respect.

QUESTION – “You’re style is considered very hardcore.  Would you consider doing remix things with R&B artists?”

Nas: “Whatever, as long as it’s real ill. As long as it’s clever.  As long as I did something good and it sound right.”

Well this is real ill.  You did something good and it sound right.

Anythihng else?

"Excuse the vulgarity, I’m still not fully adjusted / Or used to the new fans hearin’ me spit rapidly"

 -and-

"Vest on.  Forty-Five still crack ya ribs. Sacrilege: talk trash about the nasty kid.
Past nasty now, I’m gross and repulsive. Talk money, is you jokin’?
Cash everywhere, in my bank, in the sofa /
in the walls, in the cars, in my wallet, in my pocket
On the floors, ceiling, the safe.  Bitch, I got all you envy, but don’t offend me."

Score: 10/10

*since 2001

**High Quality

NASTY (Produced by Salaam Remi) -DIRTY by Nasir Jones





Thanks @darrionbrown11