The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of the 2009 Hip Hop Honors show

"Def Jam...tells you who I am" - Public Enemy

Tonight, I got the chance to watch the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors...Def Jam Records 25. So for those who didnt see it, wanted to see it or saw it and didnt really feel it (and how couldnt you), Ima break it down with the real. You already know I got issue with the way some of this shit was done.

Being a real hip hop head, I was kinda hyped up to see the show. I mean think about it, from 1984 until the day the show was taped Def Jam (as was stated in the program) is the longest and most established rap label of all time. The catalogue has got to be the best collection of music outside of the complete Motown, The Beatles and Michael Jackson. With a line up that reads like the New York Yankees of Rap, Jay Z, LL Cool J, Ludacris, DMX, Ja Rule, Chrisette Michelle you would expect one of the greatest shows ever created and broadcasted. Well Ima give you the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of it all.


First of all.... THE GOOD.

Public Enemy - Chuck D still got it, the energy was high and the funny part about it (which could be listed under the bad) was they were the second act to perform. Flav did his usual and even though he has done many reality shows from The Surreal Life to Flavor of Love 1, 2, and 3 his real love is the stage, and he was all over it.

EPMD - Even though they only did one verse of "The Crossover' it was hella good to see these guys on stage again and gettin so much love from the crowd. During the performance you could see Russell Simmons' face and he had that "Damn, we need to put those cats back out" look on his face. PMD still rockin a fisherman's hat and it was all Business As Usual.

ONYX - Yes, these dudes reunited for the event and did their biggest hit "Slam" and went clean off. Freddro Starr, Sonny Cheeba, and Sticky Fingaz threw down like they had just released that song and hadnt been on TV Shows from Moesha to Law and Order. And when Sticky did his verse standing on top of a speaker just sent it over the top.

Method Man and Redman - The Cheech and Chong of Rap did their hit song "Da Rockweiler" from the Blackout cd and were really on some high energy, the only thing that pissed me off was since the song was so short, I would have perferred to hear "How High" either as a capper of as the main joint... but I digress. Reggie Noble still knows how to command the stage and the mic. He shoulda done a solo song too. LOL

The vignettes were hot and they put a lot of historic perspective to what the idea behind the label, the hustle in the label, and who and what made it as successful as it is.

THE BAD

The Gym Class Heroes and the Legendary Roots Crew were the "house band" and even though they held it together, IMO it was overkill. GCH should have just made an appearance and got ghost. I do understand that alot of the early Def Jam songs were guitar driven, but dude was way extra....sheesh

Tracy Morgan...VH1 needs to find another host for these joints. Nothin about him says hip hop except his New York accent and if you ask me I think its overdone. He tries to hard. I would have rathered LL Cool J being the host, especially since he was the labels first HIT artist, but he sorta had to be there to host...which brings me to this.

NO SHOWS! No LL Cool J, No Slick Rick, No Kanye, and No Jay Z. You mean to tell me that your biggest and best known acts dont perform. LL was in a video clip, recounting how he got in with the label. It was a humorous story and laid the foundation for the night (cause it showed hellafied hustle and perseverance) The shitty part was that Black Thought from The Roots and Eminem performed Radio. WTF!!!! Fabolous performs "I'll Be" with Foxy Brown (who looked like she had a breast job and robbed Lady Gaga off stage) and Wale does Kayne's "Touch The Sky"...I was waiting on him to jump on stage and holla..."Wale, Ima let you finish, but I had the greatest version of this song of ALL TIME...I know wishful thinking. If you can get Proffesor Griff and the S1W's, Ghostface Killah, and Ja Rule to come out of witness protection then why not have Jay, LL, and Kanye to show their faces, and Slick Rick was just honored by VH1 last year or year before last so I know they still had a contact number....

Warren G and Trey Songz doin "Regulator" it really is a classic with NATE DOGG on it, not Trey Songz... and Rick Ross doin "Hustlin'" like it came out yesterday. White folk are so gullible. He really had them rockin like he just released that song and nobody knew that was his first single.

THE UGLY

The outfit Foxy Brown had on...dont get me wrong I have been appreciating Inga's style and her figure since day 1, but she needs to sue whoever ruined the best set of breast in hip hop, (whether it was a plastic surgeon, a baby, or some wack dude) and whomever decided to put that ugly ass outfit she had on. The top looked like a matador cape on top of a BBW swimsuit with a Daffy Duck feather skirt.

Rick Ross' outfit... when you that big and that dark, you shouldnt wear red, and definitely not a floppy red Kangol hat either. He looked like Grimace from McDonald's evil twin or something.

VH1 played the guess who card to the hilt too. How many times did they mention Rihanna?? Where was she? NOT THERE...thats her label too. Chris Brown was nowhere close to being in the building. Whats up with that VH1? You pulled a BET crackhead move with that one. Then they kept movin Rick Rubin in the balconey. First he was sitting next to Russell Simmons, then he was sittin next to Lyor Cohen, and Kevin Lyles moved next to Russell. Then they had him sittin in between Chris Rock and some former EVP chick. What in the hell was Chris Rock doin sittin on the first row anyway. What the hell was up with Eve and her outfit? Lil bitty black dress that rode up erytime she took a step.

All that aside it was a good show...

Posted by the Insomniaq, chillin in a B-boy stance

Do you know what time it is????

"Do you know what time it is? / Tell me do you know?"- Kool Moe Dee

Tonight's list contain my top 5 people whose 15 minutes are up. They rang from Heiress to Politician, to Reality Television store....Dont get mad at me because some of them may be personal favorites of yours and you want more of them. Truth be told, their time is up, matter of fact they are goin into overtime...

****THE POLITICIAN****

Former Governor of Alaska, former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Her 15 minutes were actually done before they even started. When Republican John McCain of Arizona announced that Palin was his choice for a running mate in the 2008 run for the White House, every mouth in the country gapped opened and a singular "WHO?" came out. This avid hunter and outdoorsy type who claimed to be able to see Russia from her back door, should have stayed there, because she had no idea what she was in for. She didnt even know what the Vice President's job was. (and I still dont believe that). What a Maverick
Recently (like last week) she decided to step down from her office in Alaska...political analyst on some of the major networks and Fox, speculate that she is going to make a run for the Presidency in 2012. If she and Louisiana Govenor Bobby Jindal are the only hopes for the G.O,P. then it should be a cakewalk for President Obama to get re-elected. Maybe she should have stayed in her helicopter and shot at wolves.

****THE MOUTHPIECE****

Karrine "Superhead" Steffins, best known for her oral skills (and Im not talkin about standing in front of an audience and debating a point) has gone from being America's #1 groupie, to a Best Selling author, to now an expert on relationships and how to keep a man. You gotta be kidding me right? But then again the only person qualified to tell someone how to keep their man, is one that knows how to take someone's ,,man, or at least how to make their money disappear. Ms Steffins has been linked (straight from the horses mouth) to celebrities from Shaquille O'Neal, whom she said broke her off with plenty cash, to Jay Z who was supposedly the worse she ever had (no Drake) to Usher who banged her after a concert and didnt take a shower or nothin...Now thats really nasty but she was nasiter for even doin the do and the man had just finished sweatin for almost 2 hours. I have had nor will have any interest in her books or whatever advice she has for anyone. She is milkin the hell out of that 15 minute clock and gettin paid for it...Damn

****THE ATTENTION WHORE****

Next we have Paris Hilton, heir to the Hilton Hotel Empire. She has appeared on television gossip shows and in different columns more than people that are actually important. This is just totally sad. She has had run ins with the media, the law (having to go to jail, then being released by the sheriff, to having to go back and do like 30 days for God Knows what, and Im not finna go look it up), to her BFF's (Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Ritchie, the lil chick that won her Paris' New BFF Show and the lil chick that is gonna win the new season, if she already hadnt done so already). She has had more than enough television face time..."The Simple Life where she didnt know what the hell Wal Mart was, and said "What do they sell? Walls?" to the MTV reality / competition show Paris Hilton's My New BFF, to damn near every episode of VH1's the Fabulous Lfie in one aspect or another and TMZ. You would think that she should be tired of all the damn attention. Keep watchin though, she is gonna find another reason to pop up. Don't forget the infamous "Night Vision Sex Tape" with that guy Pamela Anderson married in Vegas at the Drive-thru, during the intermission of his act. That dude has good and bad luck dont he

****THE ANNOYING ONE****

Tiffany "New York" Pollard. OMG I dont know what to say about this broad. She has been on an amazing number of VH1 shows...Flavor of Love, Flavor of Love 2, I Love New York, I Love New York 2, New York goes to Hollywood, and most recently New York gets a Job. There is also a rumor that she will be in the newest incarnation of her show I Love New York 3, this really should be outlawed. She has been dumped twice by Flavor Flav of Public Enemy losing to Hoopz and Delishous, then got dumped by Tango. Flipped the script on poor lil Taylor Made whom she chose in ILNY2 on NYGTH and dumped him. Probably her biggest claim to fame (besides her dump streak and her ever expanding chest) would be her fight with Pumpkin on FOL1, while leaving after she was eliminated Pumpkin had about all she could take and hocked up a loogy and sent it sailing at Tiff and it landed on her chin...EEWWWWWW....well whatever. First of all you NOT gonna find love with that bullshit attitude you got, or with your mother in the damn way. The producers at 51 Minds really got a good one here, cause the chick is so into herself that she HAS to be the center of attention. I really dont see how they keep paying her to do these shows, but who am I to wonder about the most ridiculous of things...Any way Tiff, "Do you know what time it is?? (No Flav)

****THE MOGUL****

This dude, I dont even know where to start. How many bands are you gonna make? How many GOOD bands are you gonna make (Danity Kane was the best one yet and you ripped them a new one...then sent em packin, 'cept Dawn)? How many interns are you gonna hire, fire, make jump through hoops. How many toothpicks are you gonna chew on? Most importantly how many tweets are you gonna post a day on Twitter? I swear you got staff members doin all that shit for you. You do all your DiddyTV you tube videos at one time and have someone post them at all hours of the night too. I understand you get enormous amounts of money from all your hard work but DAMN. do you have to keep puttin that shit in everyones face. Will you please tell folks that you are only a compensated spokesperson as far as Ciroc is concerned. You didnt just up and say I want a Vodka, that shit was around when you were beefin with Dylon, Dylon, Dylon, Dylon, and Dylon... There a bunch of things I want you to fess up to, like not actually being a music producer, but a music assembler. None the less if it wasnt for you there wouldnt be some of the mega hits in hip hop today...Thanks for that, but its time to slow it down and fall back... I didnt even get a chance to get at you about leakin those Cassie nudes either..

yeah dude...keep it movin

posted by the Insomniaq turnin off the TV and reading a book or something

Manic Mixtape Releases

I dont usually get down with this postin music on a blog thingy, but these two joints gotta get on here...I aint review shit, I aint re-uppin shit, you better get it while you can...

1.JAY-Z-MIKE JORDAN(INTRO)
2.JAY-Z-D.O.A.
3.JAY-Z-BK GO HARD
4.JAY-Z-PRESIDENT IS BLACK
5.JAY-Z-WHEN MONEY GOES
6.JAY-Z F/YOUNG JEEZ-GO CRAZY
7.JAY-Z F/KANYE WEST & T-PAIN-GO HARD
8.JAY-Z-SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT
9.JAY-Z-GRAMMY FAMILY(FUNKMASTER FLEX FREESTYLE)
10.JAY-Z-HEART OF CITY
11.JAY-Z-MAYBE
12.JAY-Z-IN MY LIFETIME(REMIX)
13.JAY-Z F/BUN B,PIMP C,Z-RO & YOUNG JEEZY-GET THROWED
14.JAY-Z-BILLIE
15.JAY-Z-SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS
16.JAY-Z-STREETS IS WATCHIN
17.JAY-Z-FLAVA IN EAR(FREESTYLE)
18.JAY-Z-ITS HOT
19.JAY-Z F/JUVENILE-HA(REMIX)
20.JAY-Z-LOOKIN AT S.DOTS
21.JAY-Z-I GOT FLOW
22.JAY-Z-DECEMBER 4(PETE ROCK REMIX)
23.JAY-Z-COMING SOON(OUTRO)

DJ 31 Degrees and Jay-Z The Mike Jordan of Recordin'
http://i32.tinypic.com/1sjlud.jpg

1. (00:04:10) LIL WAYNE - HUMAN (WORLD PREMIER)
2. (00:02:21) LIL WAYNE - FUCK ME (WORLD PREMIER)
3. (00:02:34) LIL WAYNE - ANOTHER PLANET FT. HUEY (WORLD PREMIER)
4. (00:04:13) LIL WAYNE - READY (WORLD PREMIER)
5. (00:01:13) LIL WAYNE - EASY MONEY FT. PONI (WORLD PREMIER)
6. (00:03:26) LIL WAYNE - LETS TALK MONEY FT. PIMP C & SLIM THUG (WORLD PREMIER)(REMIX)
7. (00:03:07) LIL WAYNE - GROUND ZERO FT. DRAKE (WORLD PREMIER)
8. (00:03:04) LIL WAYNE - GIRLS FOREVER (WORLD PREMIER)
9. (00:03:02) LIL WAYNE - MR. GANGSTA FT SMITTY (REMIX)(PROD BY TRU BEATZ)(WORLD PREMIER
10. (00:03:45) LIL WAYNE - ROCKSTAR FT. JUELZ SANTANA (WORLD PREMIER)
11. (00:04:17) LIL WAYNE - WE BE STEADY MOBBIN FT GUCCI MANE
12. (00:04:26) LIL WAYNE - GOIN IN
13. (00:02:34) LIL WAYNE - POLITICS FT. GUDDA
14. (00:04:41) LIL WAYNE - DONE IT NOW FT T.I
15. (00:03:51) LIL WAYNE - TOLD YALL
16. (00:01:57) LIL WAYNE - UPS AND DOWNS FT. YOUNG BUCK
17. (00:04:10) LIL WAYNE - AFTER DISASTER FT JUELZ SANTANA
18. (00:03:43) LIL WAYNE - THE BEST FT. JAY-Z ,T.I. & KANYE WEST
19. (00:02:01) LIL WAYNE - IM GOING IN FT. YOUNG JEEZY ,DRAKE
20. (00:02:39) LIL WAYNE - ROLLERS FT. JUELZ SANTANA
21. (00:03:42) LIL WAYNE - ALWAYS STRAPPED FT. YOUNG JEEZY ,RICK ROSS , BIRDMAN (REMIX)
22. (00:00:58) LIL WAYNE - DOWN FT. JAY SEAN
23. (00:01:48) LIL WAYNE - MAN OF THE YEAR FT. DRAKE
24. (00:02:08) LIL WAYNE - EVERY GIRL FT DRAKE ,JAE MILLZ & MACK MAINE
25. (00:03:15) LIL WAYNE - KOBE BRYANT (WE THE CHAMPS)
26. (00:01:51) LIL WAYNE - LETS CHILL FT. MACK MAIN & LIL TWIST

The Connect presents Lil' Wayne - Public Enemy
http://a5419e0d.linkbucks.com/http://a5419e0d.linkbucks.com/

Respect of Autotune (No Jay Diss)

"This ain’t a number one record / this is practically assault with a deadly weapon" - Jay-Z "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune" 2009

Now before cats get it twisted, lets put a lil light on the situation. This autotune debate has really gotten outta hand. In an article Kanye West (co-producer of D.O.A. with No ID) stated that they removed all songs with autotune on Jay's Blueprint 3 album to make a point that it would be an anti-autotune record. Even though the Louis Vitton Don drop an all autotune record with 2008's "808's and Heartbreak". There has to be a line in the sand where it ends and actual vocals come back to the forefront. Personally, I feel that the "autotune movement" needs a kick in the ass, cause those that are doin it arent doin it right, (with the exception of Kanye and maybe Lil' Wayne).

Before there was T-Pain, there was Teddy Riley who used autotune / voice box to an extent but not completely relying on it. Before Teddy and the new jack swing sound, there was Roger Troutman from the family band Zapp (if you ever had a Zapp record and read the liner notes you'd realize that every one of the 9 million artist on the records was a Troutman...LOL) Roger brought us songs that will forever live and be considered classics, Computer Love, More Bounce to the Ounce, Doo Wah Ditty, and Be Your Man.

Troutman really put the autotune / voicebox sound on the map, and did it correctly. T-Pain DOES NOT! I have seen footage of Zapp in concert (somewhere) and he (Roger) had the voice box tube in his mouth and worked the autotune and he sounded just like he did on the record, which is something that was an honored tradition back in the day. I saw T-Pain on Regis and Kelly (Yeah I know, but no cool point deductions cause I woke up and it was on the tv...) and he sounded horrible....There aint NO WAY ON EARTH, that you can use all that technology on a record, in the studio and then perform on LIVE television and sound like a choking cat. Take this as a warning cause if you expecting to hear the dude sound good in concert you better guess again. Dude gassed erybody up with that nonsense, I'm in Love with a Stripper (sucked), Bartender (good song, sucked bad live) and Buy You a Drink which put him out there to mainstream audiences (read:white folk) major hit, but sucks cause DUDE CANT SING FOR REAL! I'm pretty sure that Roger is rollin over in his grave and probably has a headache from all the misusage of his beloved voicebox.

I feel Jay on D.O.A. though, cause the cats that are using autotune (Ron Browz) are totally disrespecting a key branch of the Soul / R&B tree. Its almost as bad as Cassie, thinkin she could ever be the next Aretha Franklin or Tammi Terrell, or Aaliyah for that matter of fact. Another line from D.O.A. that really hit was "I know we facing a recession, but the music y’all making going make it the great depression." All he is really saying is stop with the gimmick cause if you cant do it live you aint gonna make money, people gonna stop buyin your music (no matter how loyal you think your fans are) and the music industry is gonna go under (at least the R&B / Rap) side of the business will be in dire straights. So to all A&R's out there stop and think a minute, this shit is a gimmick and cats are using it to trick you. If they can't sing for real don't sign them and you won't have to worry about droppin em after the first live performance...

Posted in the booth from the mind of the Insomniaq - Press record mane!

When was the first time....

"Cause it's the real shit, shit to make em feel shit (hip-hop[echoes])
Lump em in the club shit, have you wildin out when you bump this
Drugs to your eardrum, the raw uncut
Have a nigga OD cause it's never enough" Mobb Deep-Quiet Storm featuring Lil Kim 1999 Murda Muzik

If you ever saw the movie Brown Sugar with Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs you are really familiar with this line, "When did you first fall in love with hip hop?" I have always been in love with hip hop, the culture, the essence, and the history. Sugar Hill Gang to MC Lyte, to P.E. on down to todays heavy hitters Jay Z, T.I. and Young Jeezy. But lookin back over my love affair there were 2 segments that defined and redefined the genre (musically, style wise, and otherwise). Ladies and Gentlemen, the Great Debate, which year was the best in hip hop? Your choices are 1994 and 2004. I know there are different years and there is a valid argument for any of them, but this is my blog and I wrote the rules...Rule number 1: Its my opinion and yours only matters in the replies and rule number 2: Its my opinion and yours only matters in the replies...ala Fight Club. So here it is...

My top 10 albums of 1994 (that was the year that I moved to Atlanta also so this list was my soundtrack for the year): in no particular order
Nas - Illmatic
Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Common - Ressurection
Tical - Method Man
Southernplayerlisticadillacmusic - Outkast
The Diary - Scarface
The Main Ingrediant - Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
Hard to Earn - Gangstarr
The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World - Keith Murray
Blunted on Reality - The Fugees

These albums would get you open on the highway, in the house, in the club...this was when cats put out albums that were all substance and very little filler. The beats were on point especially when you had bangers produced by the likes of DJ Premire, Pete Rock, N.O. Joe, The RZA, No iD, DJ Clark Kent, and upstart producers Organized Noize. Songs like New York State of Mind, Juicy, Youre All I Need, T.R.O.Y. and I Used to Love H.E.R., raised the lyrical bar where cats had to get on their game, not just to get on, but if they were already on, to stay on.

Biggie was absolutely the crown jewel of hip hop in 94 with lines like, "I let my tape rock, til my tape pop" made you think, not only was this Brooklyn Kid a rapper, but a real person cause you know you did the same thing... Hooks like "Fuck the world, dont ask me for shit" from the Ready to Die cd featured Method Man and was a very slept on track, but the hook was very noticable.

1994 also was a year where regional diversity became prominent. Not everyone was rockin the "New York" image, especially Outkast. They were some down south brothers that were comfortable with anything from a Braves jersey and a ball cap to flip flops and socks. They brought back that old school back and forth like how Run DMC used to do, but had that flow that made you wanna run to the Big Chicken out on Windy Hill and sit in the drive thru waitin on a 3 piece with coleslaw and a sweet tea. Good times!

Movin' forward 2004 changed the landscape, style, and the footprint of hip hop, and a shift in power. This was a part of the G-Unit era, where 50 Cent was building an army that was not to be fucked with...and the round set to be fired out the chamber in 2004 was Cashville's own Young Buck. Now who would have thought of Tennessee being a hot bed for hip hop, when for decades they were known as the Country Music capital of the world.

Here are 2004's list of head nodders:
T.I. - Urban Legend
Nas - Street's Disciple
Talib Kweli - The Beautiful Struggle
Kanye West - College Dropout
Mobb Deep - Amerikaz Nightmare
8 Ball and MJG - Livin' Legends
Mos Def - The New Danger
Ludacris - Red Light District
The Roots - The Tipping Point
Youngbuck - Straight Outta Cashville

In 2004 there was a real struggle to win over audience to just one core following when there was even more diversity in the music. You had backpackers real into Mos, Talib, The Roots, you had those "Original" heads that were noddin to Nas, Mobb Deep, Jay Z, and them Down South Hustlers were really on 8Ball and MJG, The Cash Money family, and T.I. Yet there was a star on the horizon that was about to hit Supernova status... The College Dropout himself Mr. Kanye West who gained notority as a producers of some really big hits, H.O.V.A. by Jay Z which was the springboard to his success. The native Chicagoan did his own beats, wrote his own lyrics, and stroked his own ego. Along with his brilliance on wax, his outburst of arrogance and his total disgust with critics that praised his music but wouldnt recognize him as the top dog and contraversy behind his single "Jesus Walks" and a Rolling Stone cover that depicted him as Jesus' cruxifiction (crown of thornes and all)

With all the blaze and glory of Rebellious Abandonment the South rose again,via the A.T.L.. behind former radio on-air personality Ludacris, the self proclaimed King of the South T.I., and the re-emergance of Outkast that dropped a double yet solo cd Speakerboxx / The Love Below in 2003 (we gonna give em a lil slack though). The sound transitioned from the normal 808 drops and varying beat patterns to actual musicality.

Nas was still relevant to hip hop with the release of the double cd Street's Disciple. The Queensbridge rapper did a couple of songs with his father, Jazz musician Olu Dara (Bridging the Gap), and his future wife Kelis (American Way), my personal favorite on this cd was Coon's Picnic (These are our Heroes) where he decides to rip into African American "icons" and point out their irresponsibilities from O.J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods. I loved it... Many pugnents were disappointed say that Nas was far too smart to be talkin about African Americans like that, but that like this blog is a matter of opinion.

Either way it goes, I just keep fallin in love with hip hop, over and over

Posted from the mind of an Insomniaq rockin to the beat

Milk Carton Approved

With a very impressive body of work, loads of ability and talent...where is Lauryn Hill? Over the years you've heard about her losing her mind, outlandish attire / look, and the supposed load of babies she's had for that Marley boy. But whats really goin on? She needs to return to the world and hit us with some of that X Factor.

The only reason I even wrote this post was because I was lookin at some images and this one particular one (on the left) made the wheels in my head start turning. After all these years someone needs to find her, get her together, find her a damn psychiatrist and put her ass in the studio.
Her resume speaks for itself, over 20 million records sold with The Fugees and the millions her solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and the crop of "talent" out there would in my opinion would be inspiration to come back and do the damn thing.

Her accomplisments alone from the "Miseducation" are the things that make a hip hop legend, (not to sound sexist) but especially for a woman. The title was loosely interpreted from the film and novel about a troubled African American youth, "The Education of Sonny Carson". She collaborated with some of the best in the business: D'Angelo, Carlos Santana, and the Queen of Hip Hop Soul - Mary J. Blige and John Legend (before he blew up). It was said that the album didnt get the blessings of band mate Wyclef Jean (but who really cares, he's fake to me anyway), but offered to do some production which she turned down (TOUCHE' old bandwagon jumpin ass nigga).

The cd had songs on it that were inspired by things in her life. "I Used to Love Him" was supposedly written about the relationship between she and Wyclef, (which he denies...dumb ass) and "To Zion" was written about her first child that many around her suggested she abort. As if that was gonna ruin her career, thats some bull. There are plenty of successful single working mothers (mine included) and im pretty sure that none of them regret what choices they made in their life.

When the album was released it garnered plenty of critic acclamation...her first single "Lost Ones" was definetly a banger, and followed up by her first solo number 1, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" was my jam. I remember being in a club in Cleveland, Ohio and I danced my ass off. That joint had me wide open. Then she dropped "Ex-Factor" and that song was bananas..."Everything is Everything" was hot, "Nothing Really Matters" (with D'Angelo), a very sensual and sexy ballad puts you in the mood of love and sittin in a black light lit room with some sandlewood incense staring at the ceiling thinkin about that special someone (YES I DID IT!) and I put it on repeat for hours until I fell asleep."To Zion" was a touchin song with a tight track and deep meaning.

As the 1999 Grammy Awards nominations were announced Lauryn's name was called 10 times. It was the most ever by a female artist. The night of the award show she won 5 of them, including Album of the Year (over Madonna's Ray of Light), Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Another first, she was the first woman to every win 5 Grammys in one night a feat later done by Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Beyonce, and most recently Amy Winehouse. Between 1998 and 1999 earned $25 million from record sales and touring, and by the end of the year was virtually on every critics "Best of" list. As of 2008 she won 30 awards ranging from the American Music Awards to the Soul Train Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year in 1999.

She released an MTV Unplugged album, (that I still cant find to download) and has appeared in a Fugee reunion on the Dave Chappelle Block Party and in concert oversees... I just want her to put out another banger and give me a reason to love her all over again.

Post by the Insomniaq lookin for my lighter and sandlewood incense...Peace

Picture of the day...

Nas said it best..."All I need is One Mic"
Peace

© fotogrphx.photography '09
insomniaq.zenfolio.com

My Top 12 Hip Hop Albums

Today is one of those days, when you sit back, relax, and think especially since it looks like its finna rain at ANY MINUTE. I was flippin channels on the TV and saw MTV's top 10 playlist, and my potna Eric's voice popped in my head... "What's your top 10 _______________?" It's an Eric thing and Im pretty sure you wont understand. LOL Anyway this list is my (favorite) top 12 Hip Hop albums...The list is made up of classics and more recents that have caught my attention and shit I can get in the fast lane with and ride out....You prolly scratchin your head like, "this dude said Top 12?...WTF" Well fuck it, its my blog, my list.... Deal wit it! Now lets begin....and before you all get sensative...there really is no particular order I just ran em down by whats in my damn cd player. Dont think I would really rank Lil Wayne above Jay Z and purposefully omitted Tupac and Biggie...be easy on that noise
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12. Rick Ross - Trilla (Favorite Tracks: Maybach Music, Luxury Tax)
So what the dude may or may not have been a C.O. or a Dope Boy, but you cant deny dude got some skills and his flow is hella nice... His feud with 50 cent fizzled, but so would a feud between me and 50, I guess Ricky had more important things to do... Would you blame him though?





11. Young Jeezy - Thug Motivation (Favorite Tracks: Gangsta Music, Trap or Die, Tear it Up)
Jeezy said "Cause I'm a real nigga and I dont like rappers..." Now that's really tellin it like it is. Dude got hella slow and his swagger is that of a rhyme hustler. There arent too many Jeezy songs I cant fuck with...and thanks to the Gangsta Grillz Movement young bruh blew up and continues to do so... and please dont sleep on The Recession...I didnt.






10. T.I. - Paper Trail (Favorite Tracks: Live Ur Life, My Life Ur Entertainment feat. Usher, and Swagger Like Us)
Lil Daddy surely spits like he got things on his mind, He's consistant and knows it. Some cats say he's wordy, but his wordiness adds more to the lore that is Clifford Harris. BTW, I stole Swagger Like Us and changed the name to Swagger like Gus and whenever or wherever it plays, I get bucked, my cousins hate but fuck em - we related by marriage.






9. UGK - Underground Kingz (Favorite Tracks: International Playaz feat. Outkast, The Game Belongs to Me, and Hit The Block) UGK are three lil letters that speak volumes in the South, especially for some strange reason in Georgia, dem niggaz get hella play in folks ride on the weekend fa sure. The Pimp and Bun put it down in a way that not many others could/will and the untimely death of Chad "Pimp C" Butler didnt slow the machine down as long as Mama Wes got tracks the pimp is gonna be with us...





8. DJ Quik - Quik is the Name (Favorite Tracks: Quik is the Name, Tonite, Sweet Black Pussy) I bought this cd back in the day, just off the strength of the cover...I had NEVER heard of DJ Quik, that joint was on the new releases board aat Sam Goody and I snatched it. Wasnt a bad choice either. Quik is the best blueprint of the rapper/producer, he was Kanye before Kanye was (IMO). Dude had nice beats, his samples were on point and his voice and flow were bananas. This cd got me down with his crew: AMG and Second II None. If I ever wore a jheri curl (good thing I didnt) I woulda wanted my shit like Quik's. That nigga was the Anti-Easy..and now his doo prolly makes Katt Williams mad...





7. OUTKAST - southernplaylisticadillacmuzik (Favorite Tracks: Playaz Ball, Hootie Hoo, Deep - FUCK IT THE ENTIRE CD. These dudes here, put the A on the map. They had slick rhymes, slick production, and at the time were the epitome of playa shit. The Dungeon Family keep it tight and when I first heard the snippet tape (yeah nigga i said TAPE), I knew these cats were gonna be a force to reckon with...and 15 years later they still are. Just a lil FYI...the last track on every Outkast cd introduces Andre 3000's style on the next joint. Dont believe it...just go back and listen.





6. Jay Z - The Blueprint (Favorite Tracks: ALL) I've been a big fan of Hov since the beginning and he has yet to disappoint me. My homie says Jay dont do nothin but talk, I'll be damned that nigga flows like water and rides the track like Roxy Reynolds (get your porn porn game up, if you tryin to figure that one out) His style is the things legends are made of...he spits







5. Lil Wayne - The Carter III (Another cd you put in press play and let roll)
I am in no way biased to Weezie F. cause he's from the city, but this nigga is holdin the game down right now. Grammys, BET awards, AMA's VMA's you name it the kid got em. His flow is sick (even though I'm tired of the autotune). He drops a dud line ery now and then, but makes up for it with a quotable that makes you rewind it so you can give him props and he aint even in the same room with you. He has been consistant since The Block is Hot and in the past two years maybe even three he holds guest appearances hostage and collects the ransom. [HATE] HE IS EVERYFUCKINWHERE, but fuck it...[/HATE] and since Jay has come outta retirement does this mean Wayne is the second best rapper alive? I just dont know. Other spotlights are the Gangsta Grillz "Dedication" series. Seriously I cant wait for the Rebirth...Prom Queen is a beast (I just hope he dont turn into Wyclef)



4. Nas - Illmatic (Favorite tracks: New York State of Mind, The World is Mine, and One Love). Nasir Jones has proven time and time again that he is a spitter. Rhymes are on point, they never stray and his older stuff does prove that dude is at the top of the food chain...Cats hate on Nas for no reason or maybe because of the "Next Rakim" referrences, but fuck it...dude is nice and this is a classic (no Source Mag)






3. Dr. Dre - The Chronic (PRESS PLAY NIGGA and RIDE) This is most definetly fast lane music. The intro, interludes, and the damn songs are the shit... This album is a 5 star classic and launched the careers of some of the hottest cats to ever spit on the mic (Snoop, Tha Dogg Pound, Lady of Rage) and introduced us to the King of Hooks (before T-Pain and Akon) Nate Dogg. I remember I drove from New Orleans to Atlanta and never took this joint out the radio. All the way I was West Coastin' Dre was on point with this shit right here and if you cant wait for Detox just pop this in and fall back on the wagon... This album also produced my favorite skit of ALL TIMES the $20 Sack Pyramid...Hands down the greatest skit ever, D.O.C. was that shit, "Gimme my weed, gimme my motherfuckin Gift Certificate to the motherfuckin swap meet...we in the money! we in the money!



2. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions (see The Chronic)
Bass! How low can you go...this was the shit too. The beats really had you hooked and once you caught on to all the subliminal messages that were really out front you were really hooked, rockin an Africa medallion and lookin for white folk to terrorize...911 is a joke was also good and showed that Flav could do more than yell "Yeah Boy" and kiss 20 women tryin to find love. One of the best concerts I ever went to was a P.E. concert at the Loew's State Theater when this joint was hot...Yes I am dating myself...fuck it



1. Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted (Let it roll, son) Another classic that can stand the test of time...Once Upon a Time in the Projects has got to be one of the best songs ever written, it put a motion picture in your head and you rode it out to the end. O'Shea Jackson went from a Nigga with an Attitude, to a Nigga with Assests. I dont care if he's makin Disney films, he's makin paper and plenty of it... This is my shit, I could listen to it right now, matter of fact...I will...