Flint's finest passed away over the weekend. Here's the short AP obit:
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) – Michigan rapper MC Breed, who burst onto the national scene with the 1991 hit "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'," has died at age 37.
A Washtenaw County medical examiner's spokesman says Eric Breed was pronounced dead Saturday at a friend's home in Ypsilanti, about 30 miles southwest of Detroit.
Toxicology reports are pending, but officials say no foul play is suspected.
The Detroit News and The Flint Journal say Breed had suffered from kidney failure.
Breed grew up in Flint, and "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'" contained several references to the city. He moved to Atlanta in the 1990s.
Between 1991 and 2004, Breed recorded 13 albums and collaborated with artists such as Tupac Shakur.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
Damn shame y'all. Classic:
One.
With so many abundant and deserving people out there, it was hard to choose just one. Especially in a year that saw the extra vinegary Lil' Wayne dropping lazy-ass line after lazy-ass line, not giving a shit about the art form; Rick Ross pretending that the folks at Adobe hated on his music career; Kanye consistently putting himself atop the history of hip-hop; and some clown named Seaclipse pretending that he has any significance at all in the game. But there was one douche that stood out above the rest. Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2008 Douche of the Year:
Yes, I realize the Vocoder is an inanimate object. But because of this motherfucking "instrument", every single song on the radio has some Roger-Troutman-wannabe thinking he can sing.
I can't lie, T-Pain might have been the better choice for the award, but it's that damn piece of machinery that he uses that has led countless others to force-feed us some over-synthesized bullshit single, every time you turn around. Every. Fucking. Time!
So fuck you Vocoder! You truly are the douche of the year. Congratulations!
Kidz In The Hall, currently on a 35-City National Tour sponsored by Microsoft ZUNE, are continuing to build off the success of their sophomore album, "THE IN CROWD." The group's second single and video for their song "LOVE HANGOVER" featuring Estelle is going to be 'THE NEW JOINT' on BET's 106 & Park today, Friday November 21st airing at 6PM EST. The video debuted on BET's new show "THE DEAL" last week and the group will be an invited guest on the show in early December. Few Independent artists have had the opportunity to break into the national spotlight that 106 & Park provides. This is yet another stepping stone for Kidz In The Hall, reaffirming their premier status in Hip Hop.
"Love Hangover" is also in rotation at MTV 2, MTVU, MTV Jamz, VH1 Soul, Music Choice & FUSE. The video has been added into programming for United Airlines and US Airways as well. Furthermore, starting December 26th and running for one month, Kidz In The Hall will be the featured artist highlighted on Nordstrom’s website. The promotion consists of reviews, and a stream of their LOVE HANGOVER video.It's a way for Nordstrom's to offer a spotlight to music and videos that they believe their customers will appreciate. "Love Hangover" is also receiving radio support with mixshow spins from marquee DJs such as Envy, Self, ENUFF, Mr. Cee, and Cocoa Chanelle to name a few. In other recent news, Kidz In The Hall's first single "Driving Down The Block" has been included in the soundtrack for Rockstar Game's Midnight Club LA. This is Kidz In The Hall's second major gaming licensing deal, after their song "The Blackout" was featured as only one of twenty tracks in EA Sports Madden 09. Double O of Kidz In The Hall is excited about the promotions, saying "this is another great milestone for Kidz In The Hall, Duck Down Records, Major League Entertainment and our overall team. The album and its music has exceeded our expectations and proves that good, quality music can rise to the top."
I mean really I like dudes, but do we need to saturate the airways? Shit happens all the time, the geniuses in the music "biz" ruin it for the listeners...*shakes fist in the air* YOU BAAAASSSSTAAAARRRRDSSSS. Later.
Can't believe this video's been out for a month and none of us have seen it yet!!! Big ups to OK for un-earthing this gem from Portland's finest. Loving this video y'all!!!!
If you don't have Watt's Happening yet, get up get out and get it!! For real, not many people putting positive spin out there; support this man. We do!
He brought us Kurtis Blow. He brought us Run DMC. He brought us Def Jam and Phat Farm. Now, Russell "The Love Muscle" Simmons brings you the creepy old man peekin' at a young girl's tittay:
Aww man Rush. You still worried Kimora might be hiding somewhere, trying to get more money from you? It's cool man, she ain't in there... she ain't in there.
Looks like he's thinking about Krushin' her Groove eh? Big ups to The Rap Up for this (more pics at the link).
Seriously Is there anyone cooler than Raphael Saadiq...I know Catch is gonna be on some "50 Cent is cooler than Raph" shit. C'mon watch the video and agree with me.... Raphael takes us back to his alma mater, Castlemont High, where he placed bass in the school's jazz band...*cough geek cough*...just playin. If you haven't got the new album from Mr. Saadiq, The Way I See It, you can get it here. Shoot, it may get my vote for Album of the Year...ya heard.
Since we're on that R.O.Y. shit this week I thought I would post up this mixtape from Willy Dough's winner for R.O.Y., which if you'll remember is none other than B.o.B. Since we all know that Willy seems to be in and out of here like a prairie dog....I'mma help you out today. Oh, BTW did anyone other than Catch and I get the R.O.Y. picture? R.O.Y. = Roy...Anyway boys and girls, enjoy! Oh, an I think I got the link from here...
B.o.B - Who the F#@k is B.o.B? Mixtape
I hit y'all with the heads up last week and now with the first video for the single "Don't Ya Dare Laugh" featuring Young De, from the new album Smoke N Mirrors. Catch and I were just talkin bout how it is such a trip that B-Real is on Duckdown now....
This next little gem is something that I got in the inbox a week or so ago, it's a nice EP from Whygee and Sunkenstate entitled SUICIDE WATCH. Whygee and Sunkenstate's laid back yet sharp flow, mixed with the sort of classic underground, grimy hip hop sound makes for some "easy on my ears" listening and a stiff neck from all the head bobbing. The EP is produced by Kid Hum and cuts from DJ B*Money and from what I am told, was recorded in one night at a college radio station in Boulder Colorado...what? I look forward to hearing more from these cats from CO (thats Colorado fool).
Check it out here to stream, download, and DONATE to their cause!!! Also, if you like it Whygee has another called HYPE KILLZ that you can get here. Shout out to the Basementalism Crew, DJ B*Money, Kid Hum, and Dylan from House of Waxx. Thanks for gettin this to us. Peace.
Just caught Johnson&Jonson's latest vid over at the Player. Made me reminisce on some old cheap-vodka drunks. Anyway, to help the hangover (or make it worse) peep the new video:
*hiccup* Anybawdy got any pinners???? *hiccup* My head hurds real bad n *hiccup* I need ssssleep. *hiccup*
Mmmmm...I love drinking!
There's just six weeks left in the amazing year of 2008, so we here at AYCE decided it's time to start doling out End of the Year Awards. We actually got together for once (which is a minor miracle where Willy Dough is concerned) and thought we should do something with our time besides drink heavily. So, for the next month and a half, tune in each and every Friday for a new installment of our favorites - and least favorites! - and feel free to join in the conversation in the comments.
To kick off the big award show, we begin with the youngsters; the new cats who blazed onto the scene and onto our iPods, leaving a trail of dropped-jaws and "OOOOOOhhhhhhh, shits" along the way. Here are our candidates for Rookie of the Year, in no particular order:
Charles Hamilton
Wale
Blu
B.o.B.
Asher Roth
Now, unlike other awards, we couldn't come to a unanimous decision. That's the beauty of having three cats with different tastes on one blog: we got all the flavor you savor up in here neighbor. Alright then, here we go (drumroll):
- B.o.B. - The truest and newest rapper from the south, this kid has producing and spitting skillz. I like to compare the cat to a young Luda, i think he has a future in this game and ya'll need to peep game. Go crack a 40 and some hot tamales and get on you tube or imeem, give me money for the plugs. peace
- Charles Hamilton - Really, what better way to assault the game than 10 mixtapes in a year to announce yourself on the scene. Throw in production credits, a short lived beef with Uncle Luke, Sonic and you got C. H. A. R. to the L. E. S. He's no rapper, he's a musician.
- Blu - I know, I know: technically, Blu hit the scene last year. But the last 18 months have belonged to this SoCal cat. C.R.A.C. Knuckles was a creative masterpiece - not the hip-hopiest, but sick nonetheless. And Johnson&Jonson may have been a repeat of the EP, but this cat is ill, and a huge part of the future of the game.
There you go folks, the first installment of AYCE's End of the Year Awards. Next Friday we bring you the Massengill moment...something to look forward to!!
So, let me just ask ya'll this: do you care if cats are really freestylin'? Don't get me wrong, sick lyrics are sick lyrics, but I hate when dudes try and pretend like shit is off the head. I hate it. If you can't freestyle, I don't care. Just don't act like you can.
One of my favorite rappers of all time is Redman. Nobody brings it to a record like Reggie Noble. But every time I see "Redman" and "Freestyle" in the title, I know it ain't true. It's always one of his older verses re-wrapped in a new beat. I realize not everyone can be Supernat or Rhymefest, and I for damn sure can't freestyle (I'm also not a professional musician!), but I just wish people wouldn't drop writtens and try to pass them off as improv.
I can't remember the name of the crew, but I recall one late-90s group who wouldn't freestyle no matter what. They took a lot of shit and quickly went the way of Milli Vanilli, but I can respect them for being real. There's nothing wrong with being a writer - no one expected Hunter S. Thompson to spit out Pulitzer material at the drop of a hat. And I don't mind if you have to bring back a couple older lines to give you a second to come up with new shit, but for God's sake man, don't pretend you just put everything into it and you're all exhausted when all you did was remember some lines you wrote.
Whew! Had to get that off my chest ya'll. All that said, peep this clip of Cory Gunz, R.O.Y. candidate Charles Hamilton, and Mickey Factz. Cory and Mickey drop some SICK shit, and you already know Sonic comes correct. Can you guess who's really freestylin' though? Hmmmm....
What up ya'll? Zion I dropped a free mix"tape" today in anticipation of their new shit set to drop in January. It's split up in two tracks: Side A and Side B. But it also has a couple of the cuts split up in a "DJ" folder. Click the pic to download and enjoy!!!!!
P.S. - For those of us here in the great upper-left, Zion I is here on the 17th. More info here.
...but hip-hop sure ain't! Of course, you already know. But if you need further proof, just take a peep at 88-Keys' new jawn: The Death of Adam. The producer/rapper's debut dropped yesterday (or a couple days ago depending on your website of choice), and I've been nodding ever since.
I've always liked the concept album; after all, one of the tenets of hip-hop is storytelling, and 88-Keys has himself quite the story here. Narrated by some "you ain't heard this from me" girl from around the block, we follow "Adam" as hegoes from the highs of pimpdom, to the lows of simpdom... eventually "dying" because he done fucked around and caught a bad one. Let's just say Adam got a lil' greedy and ate too much of the poison fruit - but damn if "Eve" didn't serve him up a heapin' helpin'!
Production-wise, Adam is a trip. You get all the "hipster" of today, with plenty of yesterday's "Golden" touch; it's a good mix of old, now, and new. Want some rockish-type shit? "The Friends Zone" got you covered. Want some Carleton Banks dance-type shit? "Morning Wood" will have you giggin'. Funky fusion-type shit? "Dirty Peaches" and "There's Pleasure In It" = check.
Of course, the diversity in production is to be expected when you've got two creative mufuckas like 88-Keys and kanYe as co-exec producers. You also have to expect some good collabos whenever a producer drops a solo joint. Adam is no different: You get cats like Phonte dropping bombs; relative rookie Kid Cudi comin' through; Bilal crooning like a motherfucker; and alt-rock crew Shitake Monkey among others. Not to be left off the list, who better to diagnose relationship problems - and STD's - than the Funk Docta Spot? Redman, The Sooperman Luver himself, always makes me laugh, and his appearance on "The Burning Bush" is no exception: "knowin' that it's syphilis I got scurry / cause every pee drop was hotter than curry."
88 didn't let the guests drop all the gems though. Here's a couple examples of his own lyrical prowess:
"This is a 2-way street / cause every time I bust a nut you get somethin' to eat" - Handcuff 'Em
"When you said you was on the patch, I didn't know you meant the nicotine patch!" - Close Call
"Now you gotta a kid and ya changin' diapers / The bars on the crib feelin' just like Rikers" - Another Victim
Between the words and beats, guest appearances aplenty, and a whole lot of creativity, The Death of Adam is a dope debut. 88-Keys shows off his versatility all the way through this 14-track novel. "Adam's" mack may be dead, but his well-written story shows that 88 has a bright future. And that bodes well for all hip-hop!
Get it here. Listen. Then Buy it here (or wherever you like).
The prelude (Here's the first of 3):
