Track Checker: Verbal Kent "Duesday"

Click-a-click POW! Welcome to the Tortoise General Blog, and today’s clasik trax post!

Today we’re turning our attention to the great state of Illinois city of Chicago and looking at the song “Duesday” by Verbal Kent. “WHO?” – you. GTFO. You have no right to ask dumb questions like that. This song features Tableek and RacecaR, you are allowed to ask who they are because nobody knows. Actually, Tableek (from Maspyke) is from Massachusetts and does some kind of big undergroiund hip hop tour. RacecaR has a terrible name and is from Chicago too (just like Verbal Kent).

RacecaR and Tableek

So why are we reviewing this track? Cuz itz dope ya big dummy, and we’re trying to be more positive and showcase music that we actually like. So let’s go..

So how was that? So good. Keep making music like that guys. Oh, and in follow up news RacecaR may have known that his name was kinda silly, so I think he changed it to 12:51. Way Better? Still not that good? He probably didn't think that one through because now EVERYBODY is going to be comparing him to Brooklyn rapper 12 O'Clock. Now that's a great idea for a post! Stay tuned!

DUESDAY SCORE 9/10

The Bronx Major: Nine

Are you ready? Let’s look at a few classic tracks that’ll flip ya wig, kid.

Nine is a gravel voiced Bronx MC (also known as the Bronx Major), who was relatively small time and is still not to be confused with Tech N9ne because of the name or DMX because of the voice. Nine is known for his single “Whutcha Want?” and then for disappearing. “Whutcha Want?” is one of my all-time favorite tracks, it’s way up there on the list. So let’s just shut up and check it out.

"Whutcha Want?"

Phat beats for my rhymes...

That’s the best.  Now, let’s just add on…everyone knows that DJ Lennox is a great DJ. Shout out to wherever Lennox is from. I really liked his “Notorious 3000” remix album, but the standout track for me was #4, the I Get The Paper Remix, I bet it’s because it blends three of my favorite hip hop shits: Top Billin’ by the Audio Two, Get The Paper by B.I.G., and Whutcha Want? by Nine. This is like my dream song. Dream team. It’s perfect. Go ahead and skip down to #4 to hear what I’m talking about, then spin the whole thing later…

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Blap Blap! Life is good.

Okay, I can’t stop. Let’s stick with Nine and go on to a track with an interesting backstory: “Any Emcee”. Now, the sample for this track is played out big time (not the Eric B. & Rakim sample, the “I’ll Be Around” ample that forms the beat), but when this song came out it was fresh and new. So now for the interesting thing, and also the strangest thing ever: San Fransisco rapper Rappin’ 4-Tay, came out with a song called “I’ll be Around” on March 7, 1995. This song was huge and it used the exact same “I’ll Be Around” sample as Nine’s “Any Emcee”, so two songs with the same beat. The amazing thing is that Nine released this song on the exact same day, March 7, 1995. That’s a major coincidence, two songs, from different coasts with the same beat being released on the same day. How did that happen? It doesn’t really matter, it’s a dope sample that Rappin’ 4 turned into a major radio hit, even though Nine’s track is a better song. But I'll give 4-Tay credit, after the first verse this song is still pretty good...

Amazing.

Let’s just go with another dope Nine song. The previous two were both from his 1995 album “Nine Livez”, this song is from his 1996 album “Cloud 9” (an album with one of my favorite album covers, see the top of this post). Lyin’ King was Nine's last hit, and I think that it barely qualifies as that since nobody really heard it, but I’ll attest that it is good. Now you can see for yourself…



See, u doubted and then u got bodied.

Okay, we’ll wrap this up with a little bit of a switch up. We’ll stick with Nine, but change lanes to KRS-One. His album Strickly for da Breakdancers & Emceez was an instrumental album that the teacher dropped in 2001 and nobody checked for because most of us aren’t Breakdances or Emceez, we’re just normal people. Anyway, the song Steady Bounce was the first track on the “Breakdancers” side, and it samples Nine very well. So go ahead and give it a listen, then grab a piece of cardboard and spin on your head. (keep in mind it is an instrumental)…

This is one of the best posts ever! You're so lucky.

WHUTCHA WANT? SCORE 10/10

I GET THE PAPER REMIX (DJ LENNOX BLEND) SCORE 10/10

ANY EMCEE SCORE 9/10

I’LL BE THERE SCORE 7/10

LYIN’ KING SCORE 9/10

STEADY BOUNCE SCORE 8/10

What You Need: Biz Markie with Roxanne Shanté Live

Time for your medicine, jackwagon.




Everybody's in the house, I wish that this was an hour longer.

Score 10/10

Trackmasters: Method Man "Stimulation" feat. Blue Raspberry

Okay, so YO! We’re phoning it in today with an “in-depth” look at an underappreciated cut off of Method Man’s debut album Tical. That’s right, we’re looking at “Stimulation” produced by the RZA and featuring Blue Raspberry, two people who were featured heavily on the album (especially the RZA since he produced the whole thing). I know that it might be a stretch for me to say that this song is underappreciated becasuse it’s never listed as either one of Method Man’s best or worst songs, it’s somewhere in the middle. That’s where I would rank it (actually more toward the top). So it’s probably accurately appreciated….so that was a waste of a whole paragraph. #salute.

Let’s get busy on ‘em…

So I’ll start with the production then we’ll get at the lyrics. This production is fucking raw. That snare sounds like it was pulled right out of the trash. The violin sounds like it was pulled from a horror movie, and then you’ve got heavy bass going on throughout the track. Add in a harp and the RZA made an incredibly complex rugged beat with just a few elements. But he didn’t stop there, he layered in digital sounds, some off-putting jazz sounds, an organ, and Blue Raspberry singing. It’s genius. But who cares about the technical stuff: the important thing is that this song is rugged as hell, this is the kind of beat Method Man needs. I don’t think that a song this rugged could be made today thanks to computers and technology. Everything has to sound perfect to the point it becomes sterile and boring, this shit is rough cut and hard as hell: it is perfect.

As for the lyrics, Method Man kills it. Actually, let me back up for a second. The vocal production on Meth’s voice is also amazing, not only is it layered brilliantly, there is absolutely no echo, but sometimes there is. Sometimes Meth’s voice blends with the beat perfectly and sometimes his rhymes dominate. Sometimes it sounds like Meth is right next to the mic and sometimes it sounds like he’s on the other side of the room. It’s very active vocal production and it’s the best anyone could do ever. Shouts to the RZA and Meth.

So how does Meth do? Well, let’s start with most people’s stumbling block, the chorus:

Let's come together for the stimulation
Meth-Tical hit 'em with the stimulation
Can everybody feel the stimulation
Meth-Tical hit 'em with the stimulation

I agree that it reads bad, but when Blue Raspberry is singing it RZA has her sounding like an angel trapped in a tunnel. It’s more background noise than an in-your-face chorus. The elements that stand out more are the outro (by Meth):

Wu-Tang clan, forever
No we don't die we just multiply forever, and ever, and ever...

I know that’s a bit juvenile and simplistic but it works. Same with the intro:

One, Two; One, Two; One, Two

I get’s busy on ‘em, I get’s busy on ‘em…

As for the meat of the verses, Meth makes simple lines seem complex while he innovates with his flow. He does this again and again on this one track. The first example comes early in the first verse:

Flowin' like the ocean (bluuuue)
I be comin' for your (crewwww)
Flyin' guillotine (styyyyle)
With the name Meth-Tical
Is it goin’?
Is it goin’?
Is it gone?
If I ain't on ya records then the shit ain't really on...

The words in parenthesis are separated from the line with an odd echo and the effect is dope. The flow is incredible. Meth pulls an equally clever trick in his second verse. After a rhyme in his normal flow Meth flips it up and starts spitting like a machine gun:

Brothers want the drama but don't know how to act
Until the chrome pointed at his dome head crack…

The lines come monotone, perfectly timed to fill each bar, and relentless.  He pulls a change up again and we’re hit with this:

Ill block nigga get rocked like by the dozen
Whaddup cousin?
Now give a pound to that lounge nigga
Peace, my MZA, killa hills 10304…

It’s like a stutter stepped machine gun. Method Man masterfully flips his technique over and over again in this track. He is definately one of the most talented MCs ever to touch a mic. This is a perfect Method Man track, every element tightens its grip around your neck to choke you out. There’s no escape from something this powerful.

Stimulation Score 10/10

Throw ya hands in the air if you want ‘em there.

Trackmasters: Mos Def "Auditorium" Feat. Slick Rick

OKAY!  So when Mos Def and Slick Rick aren't rapping into the wrong side of the mic they are pretty good at rapping.  I'm not saying that they ever did that but ....actually, if they did end up rapping into the wrong side of the mic it would probably be better then everyone else ever. So there. This is a song with both of them and it's DOOOPPPEPEPEPEPEPPE PHAT. (Yep. Phat! 1994 or something.)

"Auditorium"



I think this song really covers how I feel about Mos Def and Slick Rick! To start, I would call myself a Mos Def fan even though I haven't bought any of his music lately. "That's not much of a fan" you say. Well, whatever, I'll give you that one. I'm not much of a fan, I just appreciate his skill and raps sometimes but I get tired of something about him but I'm not sure what. Insightful!!! Much respect to Mos Def!!!

As for Slick Rick, I have bought every one of his albums since forever! When I transitioned from a tape deck in my car to a CD player I replaced some of my Slick Rick tapes with their CD version. So I bought them twice, $$$$$ for Slick Rick (more like $$.$$). I really like Slick Rick! He's very good (even when he shows up on an Outkast album where he is definitely out of place but still does a good job).

So this song! Let's get to it!

Well this is just the kind of beat that Mos flows best on. It's his album after all. Now, is it just me or does Mos Def say "what it is" a lot, I mean not just in this song, but in every song? You tell me. So the beat is decent, kind of laid back but still forms a nice groove. Actually, I'll go ahead and call the beat ill, and the breakdown in the middle is straight dope. I mean it makes me want to put down the mouse and try to produce a dope beat (which I have no idea how to do...how do people do that?).

So after an ill transition Slick Rick comes in with one of his patented story raps and the dude kills it. It's like the beat was built for him and his odd voice and flow. It's dope, Rick has mad skillz. Phat. It's about a soldier in Iraq and it's really the rhyme skill that sells it, plus the mad veteran flow and his mad ingenuous back-and-forth between Rick and Rick using a kids voice. There's something about a kid caring laundry, and everyone hates the soldiers over there, then some mad disrespect, whatever. Then Slick Rick hears some "Middle Eastern instruments" so he busts some raps and becomes the next "Elvis of Baghdad". Cool. Just a cool song and Slick Rick is still the Ruler. Much Respect.

Well Mos Def got sonned, that's what you get when you feature a king on your album.

SCORE 10/10

The Ruler #SALUTE.

Much Respect to Heavy D

This is amazing. The live show with Heavy D and  Biz Markie is the nicest thing I've heard in a long time.

Heavy D Tribute Mix by Dj Premier Blog Radio on Mixcloud

#SALUTE

Yo! Wu, What's Ya Freestyle

Can I curse son?




"You is nothing...I bet you thought your Clan had your back, but they was frontin'"

Freestyle Score 9/10

Trackmasters: Yo! MTV Raps Freestyle

It goes without saying that MTV is a joke and THE WORST and nobody likes it except for a few teenage shut-ins. They should really just drop the "M" right? That's what people say, "they don't even play music SMH." Well I say they should drop the M and the TV and then off the planet.  Anyway, they're a bunch of toady posers that put on  a bunch of shows about really dumb high school pranks and being pregnant as a teenager. So they got their LOLz and OMGs covered, right? WHO CARES? NOBODY AT ALL.

Okay, so long ago they had a show about rap music and it was okay. Really? Yep. But if anyone ever tells you that their show was "great" or "awesome", they've either been blinded by nostalgia, or they've got bad taste, because it wasn't that good. Ed Lover and Dre were good....and sometimes the videos were good, but not usually. It was all hit or miss. Anyway when the show got cancelled they had a freestyle farewell and it was ten minutes long and a lot of big names spit: Rakim, KRS-One, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock, MC Serch, Redman, Method Man, Large Professor, Special Ed, and Craig Mack. Wow! Plus DJ Scribble was on the turntables. AND Flava Flav got placed. There is nothing better than hearing a lineup like that, no matter where it's coming from.

But why am I posting this? Well, this is from 1995, shortly after "Tical" dropped. Please notice how Method Man dominates his peers and superiors .This is the Method Man we were dealing with back then. He destroys some of the biggest names in rap...in a freestyle...with Rakim and KRS One. That's incredible. Great to watch, plus Erick Sermon killing it! Redman! This is just a good video: check it out.




Oh, 1995 Method Man, please come back to us. We miss you.

As a bonus I'm also throwing up an old ODB freestyle, also from MTV. Needless to say, it's a classic. O killing it. Look at how different this is from everything else ever. RIP to the grandmaster...MUCH RESPECT:



How about a little more Meth? Sure.


I can't stop. How about the Wu spitting over one of the best beats in history:


Living in Philly freestyles like this would come up from time to time on the radio or on street mixtapes. Honestly, it was Wu-Tang at their best. My all time favorite ODB verse was one he did for some radio station in New York (Hot 97 I guess) and somehow it made it on a mixtape I bought off the street in Philly, that shit never made it to any of his albums but it was dope. It was the best. Anyway, that shit doesn't happen anymore, Method Man is making candy commercials. 

MTV Score 0/10
MTV Raps Freestyle Score 7/10
ODB Freestyle Score 10/10
Method Man Freestyle #1 Score 10/10
Wu-Tang Freestyle Score 10/10

Thanks to Village Voice for the idea of blogging about some of these vidoes!

Trackmasters: Canibus "Get Retarded"



Aiyyo, nine out of ten of these album covers is garbage.

--Official Stats-- Artist: Canibus
Song: "Get Retarded"
Album: "Can-I-Bus"
Producer: Canibus & Salaam Remi
Release Date: September 8, 1998


Okay so I work here at the Tortoise General offices with a pretty large staff. We bring in a batch of interns every summer to help and one year we had this young intern and he was really sharp and really arrogant. So one day he was giving a presentation to everyone in the company and he mentioned a tattoo that I have on my arm of a keyboard. The nerve of that guy. He said something like, "that keyboard on your arm, let me borrow that." It was ON. What a jerk! So I of course scolded him in front of everyone and then fired him. He tried to give other corporate presentations after that, but he really just flailed around, then he joined the army or something. Screw him.


WELL THAT WAS STUPID. The funny thing is that what you just read is the true story of how Canibus made it big. Just replace a few terms (keyboard with mic and some other things) and it's the true story. IT'S RETARDED.

My friends know that I hate Canibus. I was a fan once, long ago, before his first album dropped (this album), but then "Can-I-Bus" came out and that was when everything changed.


Back in 1998 LL Cool J came out with an awful song called "4,3,2,1" and it featured a lot of big names and Canibus (for some reason). Anyway, from that song a beef was born between the veteran battle rapper, Mr. Cool J, and the rookie rapper Mr. Canibus. It was really big news because not only was Canibus holding his own, some people were saying he was winning (he was). The handful of battle songs by the two MCs were being played constantly on the radio and it was hard not to become a Canibus fan after he dropped Second Round K.O., and very soon after the single for K.O. dropped this full Canibus album came out. Of course I rushed out and bought "Can-I-Bus" expecting greatness, but found just disappointment. Honestly, the album was garbage except for Second Round K.O.(of course) and this song, which holds up even better today.


So I have a lot of problems with Canibus as an MC (A LOT), but I think it boils down to two things (1) he's gimmicky with his 'anger' and his 'smartness' to the point that he doesn't sound natural, and (2) he's not pleasant to listen to thanks to his delivery and flow. He's a clever MC, but I'm definitely not a fan. But I am a fan of this song, in fact this song is great, and I think we should give a lot of credit to Salaam Remi who is a great producer (See Nas's recent Nasty if you need proof). The beat here is amazing and spot on for Canibus in that it balances out his roughness. The 'get retarded' sample is hard and kind of silly, which disarms the track and keeps it from becoming a pot of stewing anger. This beat gives Canibus the opposite format that he had in Second Round K.O. this song is raw and smooth and works for him, K.O. was about as hard as it gets. So anyway, mad respect to everyone involved with the production: it's great. 


Here is the track:



I don't think that anyone would argue that Canibus is clever behind the mic, his rhymes are complex and he has the gift of vocab. However, I mentioned before that he uses his smarts as a gimmick and he's doing that in full force on this track:

I travel to the end of the universe and beyond

Concepts, I arrange from a cellular star sect'
From the galaxy of Andromeda

I puzzle n----s like crop-circles and other unexplained phenomena
 

It's just not pleasant. Those multi-syllable words that people rarely use just sort of sit there like a rock in the river. They sound retarded. Nobody could flow around them without experiencing some turbulence. But luckily, Canibus used some restraint and kept his raps accessible for the most part and even decided to destroy the track toward the middle with this:

When I bomb n----s, I get retarded probably more than you bargained
I'm talkin about rippin mic off your arm shit, hype shit, blow up a mic shit,

You might get beat the fuck up in broad daylight with a nighstick
To the British, I'm Ghandi
To the Japanese I'm an American pilot flying over Nagasaki
To the AIDS patient I'm your last anti-body
Sitting and waiting for a cure for minor biology

Just a good rap. Nice job! I like this track and I like when LL gets battle rapped. Nice battle! As for your career after this song: awful.

Score: 10/10

One final thing, you might have noticed all the links in this post to the 'end the R word website'. Which I fully support but I also never EVER think about because I don't usually use the R word, so I support it to the extent that it doesn't impact me. But the funny thing is that I saw a billboard on the bus or something for the R-Word campaign and that's what reminded me of this song, which led me to write this review, which led me to use the R word 100% more than usual. So I guess that backfired. 

Oh and one other final, final thought: if I hate Canibus even though he dropped a song this good then how do you think I feel about the fake rappers who've never dropped anything hot? Answer: I despise them. Peace.

Track Checker: RZA "Wu-Wear"

Artist: RZA featuring Method Man and Cappadonna

Song: Wu-Wear (The Garment Renaissance)

Release Date: September 10, 1996

Album: High School High Soundtrack

If there is one thing that I like to do it's stay cool. I don't mean low temperatures in the hot summer either, I mean fresh threads ya knucklehead. So when I want to be at my coolest I look to rap artists and especially bootleggers for guidance and deals. BOOTLEG CLOTHES! Actually, I don't like to wear bootleg clothes...those lousy bootleggers, they take everyone's ideas and just make them cheap and sell them to make money. I'm talking cheap like the collar falls off the first time mall security grabs at you during an escape. You know: CHEEEAAP. So back to bootleggers, or more specifically, the bootleggers who took the iconic Wu-Tang "W" logo and made a t-shirt iron-on or something and then sold it for big bucks while the actual Wu-Tang Clan got nothing. Those guys. Obviously all the Wu fans wanted Wu-Branded merchandise, so the Wu decided to actually sell it themselves and beat those bootleggers, so they made their own clothes (and shoes and hats and everything else). They also made a commercial disguised as a song and threw it on the "High School High Soundtrack" and also released a single. I bought both. I paid to hear two commercials.

So how about a little Wu-Wear history, fella? "No Thanks" - you. Well it's kind of important to this post. The Wu-Tang Clan was a ridiculously stong brand (which was nothing new, so was Death Row and Bad Boy at the time) and the move to sell clothing really strengthened the connection between the artist and other ways to make money besides music. This song was the official starting point, after this a lot of the big rap artists started affiliating themselves with clothing (but maybe not as directly).

But the Wu didn't settle for just selling clothing at Macy's (which they did), they also had their own stores that only sold Wu-Wear. Exclusive! Being an idiot, and a true fan (and living near the store) I visited the Wu Wear store in Philadelphia. You had to ring a buzzer to get in. The store was about the size of a 7-11, and it was really nice inside, like somewhere you would buy a business suit. They had hardwood floors, dramatic lighting, expensive looking paint schemes and moldings. They had a wide variety of merchandise: jeans, hoodies, key chains, t-shirts, jackets, gloves, shoes, and much more. I also remember seeing the price on a pair of jeans and immediately planning my escape, that shit was expeeennnsssive ($$$$)! I was (and am) low on the CREAM, son!



Raw No-Shows



Before I start reviewing the actual song, I have a clip of RZA talking about Wu Wear, he describes how it lets the public dress like the Wu (no duh), and that it "...is just as good as Polo, Tommy Hilfinger...a real strong competitor inside the garment district." Okay, what is the "Garment Dustrict"? He goes on to say that Wu Wear was put out to help express the rawness of the streets, to help tell the story of the struggle that the members of the Wu experienced...the song is dedicated to that same message. That's so dumb, here's the song...

So who ended up being recruited for the commercial? RZA, Method Man, and Cappadonna (who was still getting established thanks to his late start in the Clan).

The song starts out with a pretty strong beat, listening to it there is no doubt that RZA is behind the production. Meth drops the hook, half singing, half whining, and to be honest it's both irritating and catchy...like crabs. Then the beat changes up a little and RZA starts tearing it up over a doorbell. Rewind: RZA starts tearing it up over a doorbell. Where do they come up with these beats? Huh, kids today a long time ago. His verse is vintage RZA, hes talking about sodium benzoate, chicken thighs, and triglycerides. It's amazing. He manages to stay mostly on the Wu Wear topic, and talks about someone who was lost, "then he became highly civilized and spent time amongst the wise, went through a garment renaissance". RZA then lists all the clothing brands that this person stopped wearing (read: competitors brands) and claims that he now wears "strictly Wu Wear". Great verse.

Meth hits the hook again, then Cappa comes in with an absolutely irritating verse. He also manages to stay on the topic of fashion (something he is very good at), but his lyrics are a bit more random. He doesn't do anything memorable, except he closes his verse with a final frenzied sales pitch: He mentions Wu-Wear several times and sounds completely out of his mind. His lyrics kind of make sense when you read them, but they are absolutely incomprehensible on the song. 

Now it's my time, Asian Wu Wear, Cap and fleece wear / One wear plaids the Don will hold the best for all wear /
plus boo wear, Wu Wear, what's going on / We're the best of this year, Wu Wear and fleece wear

Whut? Finally Meth drops the final "verse" (only two lines) in the same singing/whining voice and for some reason it works, he basically takes the hook and extends it a few lines, then drops two lines with his normal flow. Meth also manages to advertise the clothing brand, but his pitch might not be as effective:  

"Official nasty asses, straight shots in dirty glasses / Wu Wear fleece for you and your stinkin piece"

The rumor is that Method Man was opposed to the whole concept of Wu-Wear, he was even quoted as saying, "I never rock that shit". So listen close: every time you hear him spitting the hook you can hear him dying a little bit inside. Actually, he experiments a little on this song, and sounds good...which is partly a tribute to RZAs production ability.


The song wraps up with Meth rocking the hook over an extended instrumental filled with doorbells and random keyboard pounding. I like it and so do you!
Overall this is a good song and a good commercial. It definitely has a different vibe than most other Wu songs...it almost sounds happy. The clan push their brand hard, and mention other clothing brands about twenty-five times during the four minute song. But it all works...nice job to all the Clan (even Ghost and he wasn't even on this track)!


Wu-wear is still around today, the physical stores are (mostly) closed but they still have an online shop. I don't know who is buying it but they still release new gear. However, it is obviously not a priority: on the Wu-Wear website, the Clan's biography discusses how they are coming together to work on "The W" which dropped almost ten years ago. Maybe they need another commercial/song.


Score: 8/10


Yep. I Wu-Tang Wu. (Probably not official Wu-Wear)



Trackmasters Double Edition: Jadakiss "It's Whatever" & Serial KilLAz "Its Whatever"

Trackmasters Double Edition: Jadakiss "It's Whatever" featuring Uncle Murda and Tone ---and--- Serial KilLAz (Xzibit, B-Real, and Young De) "Its Whatever (G-Mix)" featuring Jadakiss and Uncle Murda



The Hosts (one guy is in his kitchen)!



"And why are you covering two tracks in one post you idiot?" – my annoying sister.

Because it's the same track twice! Just with different people spittin ya dummy.

Let's start with the beat, courtesy of DJ Green Lantern: it's ridiculously hard in addition to being good. Seriously, if you listen to this beat you'll want to commit a crime within about ten seconds. That’s good for you and bad for society. Second, it’s one of those beats almost anyone would sound good on. So let’s compare two different versions of the track and break them down by artist. RU still down? Good.

OH! I should also mention that these are thoroughly gangster tracks and glorify violence and tragedy and everything bad (spoiler alert!), so be warned (and, also, this is gangsta rap, so what do you expect?). Everybody loves gangsta rap (well not everybody, but you know what I mean). And it’s nice to have a good hardcore track come up in the mix sometimes. Even if it takes humanity down a few notches. Church!

First up, the guy who came up with the track originally:

--Official Stats--

Artist: Jadakiss featuring Uncle Murda and Tone

Song: "It’s Whatever"

Album: “The Champ is Here Pt. 3” (mixtape)

Release Date: May 2, 2010

And the G-Mix Remix…

--Official Stats--

Artist: Serial KilLAz (Xzibit, B-Real, and Young De) feat. Jadakiss and Uncle Murda

Song: "Its Whatever"

Album: Single

Release Date: May 27, 2010

Before we get into the full review let me also speak on the Serial KilLAz for a moment. Sheesh, that name is terrible, but even so, they are a newly created supergroup which smartly combines Xzibit and B-Real, so that's great. Xzibit has proved time and again that he can easily hold down a track on his own. He’s a decorated vet and should be part of all the supergroups. He's got a ton of great tracks and albums under his belt and if you don't like him then you've obviously had your opinion tainted by (the idiots at) MTV (which sucks). I've also established that B-Real is also a great MC, but works best as a team player (mainly thanks to the voice). So, this may seem like a great combination, and it is. Make a lot of records, dudes. Oh! I disrespectfully forgot: Serial KilLAz is a trio. Sorry. The third guy is perpetual small timer Young De, who has worked with almost every west coast artist over the last five years but has never blowed up. How did he convince B-Real and Xizibit to let him in their group? Who knows? Bad move X and B? You tell them (on Twitter, not here).

So let’s go!

The original track (it's number 20):

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Provided by DatPiff.com

Jadakiss: Jada holds down the chorus and the last verse, and let me say the chorus gets old fast. I don’t know if it’s his monotone voice or the fact that it’s one line repeated over and over, but how about a change up Mr. Kiss?

It’s whatever cuz / How you want it homie?

When I get to clappin don’t get to runnin on me.
(repeat x50)

That’s a fine chorus, but I think it should have a second line or mix in some scratching or news reports or something.

His verse is good enough, not the best or the worst, just typical Jadakiss which is not a bad thing. The fact that he spits it over a knocking breakdown helps a lot.

Uncle Murda: The first verse is delivered by DJ Green Lantern’s friend Uncle Murda, who prides himself on being a real gangsta who hands out money to children (actually true). He also hates studio gangstas (also true). His verse comes hard enough but in never rises above a standard hard rap. So it’s good, but pretty standard.

Tone: Ack. Tone is one of those common rap names that make it hard to distinguish between rappers. We can safely assume that this isn’t Tone-Loc or Tone (of Tone & Poke) or anyone from Tony Toni Toné. So who is this? I would guess that it is Young Tone (or Tone Spit) of the StripBoyZ (worst name). Who knows? Regardless of who this is, it’s the worst verse of the track. So overall all three rappers spit average.

And the remix...

Its Whatever (Serial Killaz G-Mix) by Xzibit

Jadakiss: Jada is just here for the chorus, and it’s exactly the same as his version of the track. But they did’t include his verse, choosing instead to go with Uncle Murda's verse (probably because he rapped a little better).

Xzibit: X starts things off in this version and delivers the best and most violent verse of any of the rappers by far. Take that you weak-stomached MTV fans, your "Pimp My Ride" hero is very, very violent. He is not your friend. Never underestimate X as an MC, he understood that he needed to stand out here so stepped up his violence game. Ground beef!

Uncle Murda: The Serial KilLAz pull Uncle’s verse from the Jadakiss track and don’t mess with it at all. It’s funny how much better the verse sounds when it follows Xzibit.

B-Real: This is as good as gangsta rap gets. B-Real comes in hard and sounds astonishingly good over the same incredible breakdown that Tone got to rock in the Jadakiss version. B kills it compared to Tone (or pretty much anyone else). Honestly, this is what B was meant to do, this is his calling. It's his destiny.

Young De: Last up is Young De who delivers the worst of all the verses in all the versions. I think he missed the memo that this was a thick gangster song, and that he shouldn’t deliver a filler verse. He delivered a filler verse.

Ultimately, we are left with a banging set of tracks with the emcees ranking about as you would expect. Xzibit and B-Real owning the beat and tie for best, Uncle Murda edges out Jadakiss, and the other two tread water. Not a bad set of tracks.

Score Serial KilLAz: 8/10 

Score Jadakiss: 6/10 

Trackmasters: Xzibit "H.F.O.U."

--Official Stats--
Artist: Xzibit featuring Trick Trick
Song: Highest Form of Understanding (H.F.O.U.)
Album: MMX (Mixtape)
Release Date: September 14, 2010


I'm sure you may have noticed that almost all of my Trackmasters posts (which look at the best individual tracks in hip hop) have been on older songs. Why? It's simple: older songs that I still play have proven staying power, an essential part of earning that "classic" status. So for a new song to make the cut it's gotta be really good. I mean, it's gotta spin like hundreds of times so that our team knows for sure that we've got a classic. Highest Form of Understanding (H.F.O.U.) by Xzibit is one such classic song. In fact, it's one of the best hip hop songs ever made. Seriously.


First of all, the beat, produced by Xzibit (!) and the Futuristics is just genius. It takes Good Vibrations (from the Beach Boys) and turns it on his head. The relatively happy and fun California beach love sounds from the origianl song are flipped to become this ominous and disheartening backdrop for some deep and dark lyrics from both Xzibit and Trick Trick.

H.F.O.U. is off the MMX mixtape but I think it had higher ambitions at first. It doesn't really matter how you hear it this track though, or where it ended up, just check for it. Why is it good? First, it's introspective without being corny, which is a tough feat for anyone. Second, Xzibit and Trick Trick are dropping science, they are revealing truths to the youths. Thrid, it's rugged and never bends commercial - no compromises. Fourth, it's full of hot lines over a great beat. Finally, it is deeply rooted in hip hop. Check the first line, "it was all a dream". Yep.


Okay, so here is the track...
Xzibit feat. Trick-Trick Highest Form Of Understanding (H.F.O.U.) by VOUCH MAG

As usual with these tracks I could just print all the lyrics. And I should. XZIBIT KILLS IT. DEAD. Do you understand? Trick Trick should not have been able to follow him, he should have been murderded, but what does he do? He steps up and also KILLS IT. Xzibit comes hotter, but shit, two great verses.


Here you go:

[XZIBIT]

...How could I fly so high, only to feel so low?
How do they live so fast only to grow so slow?
Like when you shortin' that support for your kids,
but got money for marijuana just to smoke with your friends.
Or that woman who survives and beats cancer,
only to be drowned in debt with no answers.
The frequency of tragedy, it happens so rapidly,
that we became numb, we embrace this insanity.
Some wack-job haul off and smoked his whole family.
Reality T.V. that's not based in reality.
Stuck watching train wrecks, everybody going for self,
self worth is important but for money and wealth?
This mentality of "Me! Fuck everything else."
It's a virus, a disease, I'm a victim myself,
but I swear before I leave, I'mma fix it, I swear.
I'mma fix it, I swear, yo, you better beware.

Rich boy kill his own wife, knocks her teeth out,
cuts her fingers off, then escaped with a suicide.
The King of Pop died, Michael Vick was fighting dogs,
but he walked and did his time, let him throw the fucking ball.

 As the markets keep crashing and people get desperate,
putting faith in the false, feeling so disrespected.
Turn to this record, the Highest Form Of Understanding,
Understand me? Fight or flight for your family.
Come, walk with a soldier.
Come, talk with a soldier. Yeah.
Cinderblock stop shooting straight from the shoulder.
As we all get older and hope falls over,
and damn, you were six years sober.
And just like that, now you back where you started, square one.
And you can't bring it back when that bullet leave the gun.
As the planet gets smaller, prepare for the North American Union
Amero to replace your dollars.
Narcissistic society, love paparazzi,get to Starbucks for your overpriced latte.
Ignoring all the signs, "nevermind" is your mindstate.
Until the end of time, shit is closer than you think man.

Yo! If that wasn't enough check the last few lines from Trick Trick ending with this:

If you die, he'll be in a better place, bring the tape back

Go look it up. That's heavy stuff. The best stuff.

Download this track. Buy something from Xzibit, go to Xzibit shows. Buy something from Trick Trick. Support hip hop. Do it.

 

Score: 10/10


Special thanks to Xzibit for translating a tricky lyric.