Need info on Hip-Hop in 2007...

Orizio · 24-04-2007 11:13pm

Raekwon wrote:

Common's 'Finding Forever' (10th of July 2007)

Track list:

1. "The People" (featuring Dwele) (Produced By Kanye West)
2. "A Dream" (featuring will.i.am) (Produced By will.i.am)
3. "The Ambassadors" (featuring Nas) (Produced By Kanye West)
4. "Southside" (featuring Kanye West) (Produced By Kanye West)
5. "Black Maybe" (featuring Bilal) (Produced By Kanye West)
6. "I Want You" (Produced by will.i.am)
7. "Misunderstood" (Produced By Devo Springsteen)
8. "Drivin' Me Wild" (featuring Lily Allen (Produced by Kanye West)
9. "Break My Heart" (Produced by Kanye West)
10. "Start the Show" (Produced by Kanye West)
11. "Pretty Face" (featuring T.I.) (Produced by The Neptunes)
12. "So Far to Go" (featuring D'Angelo) (Produced by Pete Rock & J Dilla)
13. "Black Light" (featuring Adam Levine) (Produced by J Dilla)
14. "Ghetto Heaven" (featuring Fergie) (Produced by will.i.am & Soulquarians)
15. "The 6th Time" (featuring John Legend) (Produced by Pete Rock & DJ Premier)

I seriously doubt thats real.Never heard anything about a track with Nas, Common wouldn't be stupid enough to do a track called 'Ghetto Heavan' with a rich white chick and two Pete Rock tracks?

Raekwon · 25-04-2007 3:54pm

These tracks were confirmed by Geffen as being released by Common in 2007. Trouble is, they are not all off his album.

"The Glory" (featuring Kanye West) is going to be on Kanye's 'Graduation' album, "I Have a Dream" (Produced by will.i.am) is on the 'Freedom Writers' soundtrack & "Pretty Face" (featuring T.I.) will be released on the 'American Gangster' soundtrack (both artists will also star in this movie).

But I wouldn't be surprised to see 90% of the tracks mentioned on his album (Yes, that includes the track with Nas). But July is still awhile away so only time will tell.

Orizio · 25-04-2007 4:13pm

In fairness, take off Fergie and it looks like pretty kick ass tracklisting.Gives me a bit more hope after the over rated Be.

Watch out for Sa-Ra.Along with Black Milk they are the 'next big thing'.

Sa-Ra - The Hollywood Recordings

01. Seagulls (Intro) 01:00
02. Hey Love 03:15
03. Glorious 04:41
04. So Special (Feat Rozzi Daime) 03:35
05. And If (Feat Ty Of Ty & Kory) 02:37
06. Rosebuds 04:18
07. Feel The Bass (Feat Talib Kweli) 03:01
08. Not On Our Level (Feat Capone-N-Noreaga) 03:35
09. White! (On The Floor) 02:58
10. ***** 03:23
11. Do Me Gurl (Feat Ty Of Ty & Kory) 03:57
12. Ladies Sing 03:31
13. Sweet Sour You (Feat Bilal) 03:23
14. Tracy (Feat Rozzy Daime) 02:25
15. Fly Away 04:12
(Feat Erykah Badu & George Anne Muldrow)
16. Lean On Me 03:32
(Feat Kurupt, Lord Nez & Erika Rose)
17. Fish Fillet (Feat Pharoahe Monch) 03:38
18. Thrilla (Feat J. Dilla) 03:59
19. Hollywood (Redux) 05:31

Joell Ortiz - The Brick: Bodega Chronicles

01. 125 Pt. 1 (The Bio) 05:25
02. Brooklyn Remix 02:42
(feat. Cashmere, Maino, Big Daddy Kane, Solomon)
03. Caught Up 03:38
04. Night In My P's (feat. Big Noyd) 02:27
05. 125 Pt. 2 (Fresh Air) 05:09
06. Hip Hop 03:21
07. Modern Day Slavery (feat. Immortal Technique) 02:56
08. 125 Pt. 2 (feat. Ras Kass, Stimuli, Grafh, Gab Gotcha) 06:04
09. BQE (feat. Lord Black, Alex "BQE" Santiago) 04:09
10. Block Royal 03:01
11. Latino (feat. La Bruja) 03:35
12. Keep On Callin' (feat. Akon) 03:45
13. Time Is Money (feat. Styles P) 03:05
14. Brooklyn B******* 04:20
15. 125 Pt. 4 (Finale) 05:42

Raekwon · 25-04-2007 4:14pm

Sa-Ra 'The Hollywood Recordings' (out now)

1. "Seagulls" (Intro)
2. "Hey Love"
3. "Glorious"
4. "So Special" (featuring Rozzi Daime)
5. "And If" (featuring TY)
6. "Rosebuds"
7. "Feel The Bass" (featuring Talib Kweli)
8. "Not On Our Level" (featuring Capone-N-Noreaga & Lord Nez)
9. "White! (On The Floor)"
10. "Bitch"
11. "Do Me Gurl" (featuring TY)
12. "Ladies Sing"
13. "Sweet Sour You" (featuring Bilal)
14. "Tracy" (featuring Rozzi Daime)
15. "Fly Away" (featuring Erykah Badu & Georgia Anne Muldrow)
16. "Lean On Me" (featuring Kurupt, Erika Rose & Lord Nez)
17. "Fish Fillet" (featuring Pharaohe Monch)
18. "Thrilla" (featuring J. Dilla)
19. "Hollywood" (Redux)

Raekwon · 25-04-2007 4:16pm

^^^ Ah sh*t you beat me too it

Orizio · 25-04-2007 4:23pm

Good to see I'm not the only one looking out for the next generation.;)

Something in-depth on Common.Good to see Kanye keeps sampling the greats.:rolleyes:

1. “The People” featuring Dwele
Produced by Kanye West

“The People” is the first single off Finding Forever and it’s one of our favorite tracks on the album. It’s a declaration of people struggling through everyday life set to a head-bobbing beat that has the potential to be a radio hit. Common calls the song a “declaration of who [he] is.” Dwele sings on the hook, which has been sped up in typical Kanye fashion. Dwele sings, “By the people, for the people…Good days have come to stay.” Common raps, “The people said I was sharp, at the Grammys they tried to India.Arie me.” This is a reference to Common getting nominated for five Grammys this year for Be and not winning any like India.Arie with her seven nominations in 2002. Another sample lyric: “Can’t leave rap alone the streets need me.” Kanye made the beat in Australia when he was on tour.

2. “Black Maybe” featuring Bilal
Produced by Kanye West

Kanye sampled a Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright song for “Black Maybe.” A midtempo number with what Kanye calls a “soul authentic” beat. He made this with the late J Dilla in mind with respect to the chopping of the beat. Common explains that this track deals with struggles because of color and beyond. The struggles can come from your own nationality. Kids don’t get the opportunity because of the way they were born. The songs starts off by saying, “I heard a white man’s yes is a black man’s maybe.” Bilal sings on the chorus which goes like this: “Can’t come around, they gon’ wanna put me down, doin’ dope and doin’ time…black maybe.” It ends with a spoken word about race set to the beat of bongos.

3. “I Want You”
Produced by will.i.am

Common calls this his “love joint.” Reminiscent of “Go” dealing with his attraction to a woman. Hard drum beat with a hook that sounds like Imogen Heap from the pop group Frou Frou. Common first heard the beat when he and will.i.am were working on the Gap holiday commercial. He told will.i.am that he had to have it. Sample lyrics: “Thinkin’ about your love, I need another dose.”

4. “Southside” featuring Kanye West
Produced by Kanye West

You may have heard this song by now. It was originally released around this year’s Super Bowl to support the Chicago Bears and was used in an NFL commercial. The song sounds great when it’s performed live. Kanye is the only rapper rapping on Common’s album. The song has a rock edge with an electric guitar. Kanye raps, “I’m Mike and he’s Tito.” Common describes the track as just “two Southside dudes just emceeing.” One of the album’s highlights.

5. “Drivin’ Me Wild” featuring Lily Allen
Produced by Kanye West

Our second favorite song off the album after “The People.” It also happens to be one of Common’s favorite songs. This should definitely be released as a single. A fun song with British pop singer Lily Allen singing on the hook. She sings, “It’s this thing now that’s drivin’ me wild, I got to see what’s up before it gets me down…Love’s not a mystery, it’s everything.” Many pop culture references on the song (“Unbreakable like Bobby and Whit”), which is about people who do too much to fit in or be cool. The moral of the song: be yourself. Common talks about a girl who “be on the treadmill like OK Go, reading Us and People magazine, chasing an actor for a Bentley coupe…Rock a fur in the summer, so somebody would pet it.”

6. “So Far To Go” featuring D’Angelo
Produced by J Dilla

This was originally considered to be the “Go” remix. It’s smooth and sexual with a piano on the instrumental. Common describes it as a “wet and sexy” song. J Dilla finished this song before he passed away and Common held onto it for this album. Common calls JD “one of the greatest producers in music, an unsung hero.” JD and D’Angelo are two of his favorite artists. D’Angelo sings on the hook: “You’ve got so far to go.”

7. “Break My Heart”
Produced by Kanye West

This song had yet to be finished when we listened to it, but it’s about love and breaking a girl’s heart. “Sometimes it happens,” Common laughed. Sample lyrics: “I got my SAG card, baby, I’m an actor…You could be by my side like Flavor and Deelishis.”

8. “The Game” featuring DJ Premier
Produced by Kanye West

This one has an old school beat with record scratching by DJ Premier. Kanye talked Common into using the song on his album. It felt like a Primo beat to him. The hook goes like this: “It’s only right that I address this, gotta be in it to win it.” Common raps, “I want to be like Akeelah, an achiever.”

9. “Start the Show” featuring Kanye West
Produced by Kanye West

This will be the first song on the album. It has a thrashing beat with a snare drum. “To the top of the globe,” Kanye raps.

10. “Misunderstood”
Produced by Devo Springsteen

Kanye’s cousin Devo Springsteen produced this. He produced “Diamonds (From Sierra Leone)” with Kanye and “So High” for John Legend. Kanye sampled Nina Simone on this. Common was inspired by his friends who are good-natured, but made bad choices. He rewrote it many times before getting it right. He talks about a girl who had dreams of being a dancer, but ending up stripping and a guy who had dreams of acting, but got mixed up in the wrong crowd. The hook goes like this: “When everything goes wrong, you see some bad…Please don’t let me be misunderstood.”

11. “Forever Begins”
Produced by Kanye West

The last song on the album and a tribute to the late J Dilla. The title of the album Finding Forever is also a tribute to JD who lives on through the music. This song has an uplifting, soulful, almost spiritual feel. Drums and strings can be heard. Common raps, “We live forever through song.” Kanye is still thinking of more ideas, so more songs may be added or changed. Common says he’s trying to make timeless music that means something to society. After listening to these 11 tracks, he’s definitely accomplished this with Finding Forever.

Kanye added that we should look out for his album in September.

Link.

Orizio · 21-05-2007 9:40pm

Upping this, want to know what people are listening to Hip-Hop/Rap wise in 2007...

EL-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Dub Pistols - Speakers And Tweeters
Lifesavas - The Gutterfly Soundtrack
Capital D - Return Of The Renegade
Sa-Ra - Hollywood Recordings
Black Milk - Popular Demand
Dalek - Abandoned Language
Mr Hudson & The Library - A Tale Of Two Cities
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Klashnekoff - Lionheart:Tussle With The Beast
Hell RAZAH - Renassiance Child

Basically the best stuff I have heard this year. Undecided on the new Phat Kat and Marco Polo albums, waiting to get the Jazzy Jeff and A-Plus records as well.

spacecoyote · 22-05-2007 7:21am

haven't really bought many of 2007 releases yet, El-P album is the best I've heard in quite a while though. Only got hold of CunninLynguists A Piece of Strange from last year yesterday, so thats whats getting a listen at the mo. Other 2007 releases i bought so far were Scratch Perverts - Watch The Ride & Deep Burial - Black Music which is Irish instrumental Hip-Hop

Orizio · 23-05-2007 5:54pm

spacecoyote wrote:

haven't really bought many of 2007 releases yet, El-P album is the best I've heard in quite a while though. Only got hold of CunninLynguists A Piece of Strange from last year yesterday, so thats whats getting a listen at the mo. Other 2007 releases i bought so far were Scratch Perverts - Watch The Ride & Deep Burial - Black Music which is Irish instrumental Hip-Hop

Tch tch tch, truly disgracefully.I hope you've got the Clipse and Spank Rock albums?;)

I would suggest the Lifesavas and Cap D albums, likely to be the kinda thing you would like.

spacecoyote · 24-05-2007 8:41am

i wish i had the money (& space) to buy the lot. But now I'm into the real world, mortgage repayments, etc....and a girlfriend who claims my cd collection already takes up too much space, so its rare i'm getting the chance to buy much these days!!!

So whats the odds P. Monche album gets pushed back again before the current listed release date?

Orizio · 24-05-2007 3:21pm

I think we will get it soon enough.Body Baby is getting some love on the TV so it needs to come out soon to take some advantage out of that. Only a month or so away I think.;)

spacecoyote · 25-05-2007 8:44am

yeah it was only a month away when i preordered it back in November

Evzer · 13-06-2007 2:28pm

'desire' is pretty excellent. Definitely the album of 07 so far imo

spacecoyote · 14-06-2007 9:17am

glad to hear it...should be arriving within the next two weeks.....about bloody time!!!!

Orizio · 04-09-2007 8:03pm

After a fairly ****e first half of the year, things are getting better. Some of the new albums from this month that are worth getting, plus some links...

Eardrum - Talib Kweli

Listen!!! video

Hot Thing/In The Mood

Underground Kingz - UGK

International Players Anthem video

Rap Music - Brother Reade

Like Duh video

Rise Up - Zeph & Azeem

Craft of the Lost Art - Shape of Broad Minds

Changes video

Dr No's Experiment - Oh No

Break Glass - Polyrhythm Addicts

Extra Credit - Theory Hazit

Emit Gninrut video

The Offering - Killah Priest

Emergency Powers - Super Chron Flight Brothers

Copperpot - Wyla

Eardum is solid but a little unspectacular, maybe repeated listening will change my mind.The Zeph & Azeem and Shape of Broad Minds albums are essential imo, but every one of the above albums are good.

As well, Panacea are dropping their second album The Scenic Route at the start of the next month, and if its as good as their overlooked debut then its going to be one of the albums of the year.

Starlite video, from Ink Is My Drink

Plus Cunninlynguists are dropping a new album called Dirty Acres in November.

The following isn't Hip-Hop, but some English rap and from two of the better albums of the year. Kala particurly kicks ass though...

This Is The Girl - Kano ft. Craig David

Jimmy - M.I.A.

Boyz - M.I.A.

Beefeater · 05-09-2007 10:57am

have to check out Panacea, must say im impressed with Starlite.
For some reason, i'm not interested in looking into Eardrum at the moment. Can you give a deeper input on it? Hear he hinted big time on a new Blackstar album?
The Killah Priest album is actually called The Offering, supposed to be good. The 4 Horsemen song is dissapointing though.
Dirty Acres should be class as usual, they should portray a real image of America.
Immortal Technique's album will hopefully drop. Saw an interview with him, he's busy with other things outside music which he feels important, so thats cool.
That EMC album should be out sometime soon.
Jeru is supposed to be releasing Still Rising October 16th.
Atmosphere-When Life Gives You Lemons
Little Brother-The Getback

Has anyone heard of Hezekiah, he's got a nice song with Bilal on youtube http://youtube.com/watch?v=teGpxtMIJ_o

I meant to say I was present at Rock the Bells in New York actually. I somehow managed to miss Immortal Tech, Jedi Mind Tricks, Lif, Cage, Sage Francis, Brother Ali. Was class though.

Orizio · 05-09-2007 7:30pm

For some reason, i'm not interested in looking into Eardrum at the moment. Can you give a deeper input on it? Hear he hinted big time on a new Blackstar album?

Yeah its a little disapointing. My main gripe is with the production, which seems to try and emulate Hi-Tek's stuff on RE but comes across as to safe and predictable. There aren't any terrible tracks on it, but nothing thats spectacular either.Solid, average, consistent etc, you get the point. Apparently he has said he will do another Blackstar album, it was on Hip-HopDX a while back.

I'm looking forward to the Atmosphere, LB, Immortal Technique (assuming it comes out) and EMC albums. Median is supposed to be dropping something next month as well plus the new Galactic has been getting decent reviews. Other then that, I again strongly suggest the Zeph & Azeem and Shape of Broad Minds albums to anybody, plus Polyrhthym Addicts album has the kind of straightforward Hip-Hop that I know people on this forum like.

About Hezekiah, he dropped an album two years ago which I never got round to listening to, and is dropping I Predict A Riot this month.Haven't seen any reviews yet, but being on Rawkus is usually a sign of quality.

Plus two more videos from British rappers which I like. Both are supposed to be dropping albums soon...

Bit By Bit - Akala

So Many Roads - Example

Orizio · 07-09-2007 6:12pm

I'm really feeling Theory Hazit's Extra Credit as well, can see it being a top ten Hip-Hop album of the year. Its got the kinda energy MC and production wise that was almost completely absent in the Monch and Talib albums and that only a young hungry artist can bring. Definetly one of the best Hip-Hop artists to debut this year.

My only gripe, as one of those anti-social scumbag atheists, is with the pro-Christian lyrics throughout. Its not a problem with Theory Hazit, who writes in a particurly thoughtful and humble style, but 'Lesson In Power' and 'Decisions' are ruined by his arrogant/moronic guests.

herbieflowers · 13-09-2007 10:44am

Hey, I'm not a huge hip-hop fan and don't have much of a knowledge regarding it but has anything been released this year in the same vein (pun intended) as Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein?

Orizio · 13-09-2007 7:19pm

herbieflowers wrote:

Hey, I'm not a huge hip-hop fan and don't have much of a knowledge regarding it but has anything been released this year in the same vein (pun intended) as Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein?

I actually haven't listened to that album but weren't EL-P and Aesop's Rock labelmates of Cannibal Ox's? I suggest you check out EL-P's I'll Sleep When You're Dead(fantastic album) and Aesop Rock's None Shall Pass(supposed to be good) then.

herbieflowers · 14-09-2007 12:56am

Yeah, Def Jux isn't it? Highly recommended though, and thanks for the recommendation, I have El-p's Fantastic Damage, quality...I think with his latest I was just put off by the associations with Trent Reznor...I'll check it out though...

PS Am I the only one who find Desire by Monch and Be by Common to be very average? Recommend me some Common, I don't see what the fuss is about...

spacecoyote · 14-09-2007 9:11am

If you want some good Common, Resurrection & Like Water For Chocolate are probably his best. The new El-P album is definitely worth buying. Aesop Rock also released Fast Cars, Danger, Fire And Knives, which is short but you'll probably enjoy it.

Also maybe check out some Edan and Mr Lif

Orizio · 14-09-2007 4:56pm

herbieflowers wrote:

Yeah, Def Jux isn't it? Highly recommended though, and thanks for the recommendation, I have El-p's Fantastic Damage, quality...I think with his latest I was just put off by the associations with Trent Reznor...I'll check it out though...

PS Am I the only one who find Desire by Monch and Be by Common to be very average? Recommend me some Common, I don't see what the fuss is about...

I thought Flyentology, the track with Trent, was quite good, although it took me a few listens to appreciate it.Anyway the whole album is rather excellent imo.Edan's a good suggestion as well.

Both Desire and Be are rather average albums, and Common's latest is not a whole lot better. Like Water For Chocolate and Resurrection are Common's two classics, but his music bares no resemblance to the Def Juz style of Hip-Hop.

Orizio · 14-09-2007 5:33pm

spacecoyote wrote:

If you want some good Common, Resurrection & Like Water For Chocolate are probably his best. The new El-P album is definitely worth buying. Aesop Rock also released Fast Cars, Danger, Fire And Knives, which is short but you'll probably enjoy it.

Also maybe check out some Edan and Mr Lif

On Lif, he guests on Galactic's From The Corner To The Block alongside Lyrics Born, Chali 2na and Boots Riley. Kickass and very funky album, seems exactly like the kind of thing you would like.

herbieflowers · 14-09-2007 6:10pm

Orizio wrote:

I thought Flyentology, the track with Trent, was quite good, although it took me a few listens to appreciate it.Anyway the whole album is rather excellent imo.Edan's a good suggestion as well.

Both Desire and Be are rather average albums, and Common's latest is not a whole lot better. Like Water For Chocolate and Resurrection are Common's two classics, but his music bares no resemblance to the Def Juz style of Hip-Hop.

Cool, I'm not solely into DefJux stuff though, probably more on the old school side tbh, Erik B and Rakim, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Tribe, De la Soul etc...

Evzer · 02-10-2007 2:27pm

the new army of the pharaohs album is very good btw.

Makaveli · 02-10-2007 10:58pm

Yep, best album I've heard in a while.

Orizio · 04-10-2007 1:46pm

Basically listening to...

Underground Kingz - UGK
What We Made - Example
Graduation - Kanye West
Below The Heavens - Blu & Exile

They are all well worth getting, production in every album is excellent imo. Example has a nice tongue in cheek style thats pretty hilarious, and Kanye's production once again is miles ahead of most Hip-Hop producers.The track Take Tha Hood Back is worth the retail price of the newest UGK album alone.

Orizio · 17-10-2007 9:53pm

Hell RAZAH's about to drop his second album this year, called Razah's Ladder.

Its a lot better then the messy and disapointing Renaissance Child, production is more soulful and laidback just like the last Sunz of Man album.Check it out.

Orizio · 29-10-2007 10:16pm

Come on, someone out there has to have listened to a new album this year?

There has been a lot of good **** released over the last few months, but Y Society's Travel At Your Own Pace probably tops the list. Very Edan esque.

Nolanger · 31-10-2007 7:31pm

On the Arm by Dub Sonata - young NY producer who has lots of guest rappers on his album. Track 10 is one of the best tunes I've heard this year.

Orizio · 23-11-2007 8:19pm

Listening to that Dub Sonata album right now. Riot Gear is pretty cool, interesting lyrics. Car bombs weren't invented in Ireland though.;)

Little Brother's Getback is a little better then I first thought. Production is tight throughout and Phonte comes up with some brilliant verses. Lacking some standout tracks and its way too short however.

MC Esoteric's Egoclapper and Army of the Pharoahs Ritual of Battle are both pretty excellent. Are there two better MC's then Vinnie Paz and Celph Titled out right now?

The new Cunninlynguists is going to be the album of the year again btw. No suprise really.

herbieflowers · 17-12-2007 9:05pm

Checked out El-p's latest...only gave it a few listens but it's a bit pedestrian in comparison to Fantastic Damage imo...been listening to Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus, amazing album...

Need info on Hip-Hop in 2007...

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