tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38716467519217052292024-02-19T21:12:04.335+11:00The Hip Hop Bzzzzbzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-75311802787564040392020-01-28T11:22:00.002+11:002020-02-09T22:11:43.560+11:00Album Review: Mobb Deep – Hell On Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64pzPyp7wNpmLfJx5mqg0oYSMZC85Di2CAFtrT2fGFNV5PyQDx3DAdAe4X7rWNZeuJFuRKH9zkO_bc8vnjNfIMFSQf94O2NVgyKtjilCX8BIsoQcbb8_orhCloQNrzAvCAY-EF455iNhm/s1600/Hell+on+Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64pzPyp7wNpmLfJx5mqg0oYSMZC85Di2CAFtrT2fGFNV5PyQDx3DAdAe4X7rWNZeuJFuRKH9zkO_bc8vnjNfIMFSQf94O2NVgyKtjilCX8BIsoQcbb8_orhCloQNrzAvCAY-EF455iNhm/s400/Hell+on+Earth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As a self-professed Hip Hop Head, I’ve had many favourite rappers over the years. During
my mid-to-late teenage years, Hip Hop was becoming a major passion of mine and Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony was the first group I gravitated towards. Speed rapping was
very impressive to me at the time, and Bone Thugs are some of the best to ever
do it. However, in my final year of high school, Lil Wayne dropped a little
album called <i>Tha Carter III</i> becoming
the hottest rapper in the world, and I jumped STRAIGHT on the band wagon! One
year later, in 2009, Eminem (who later changed his name to “Marsh”) released
his comeback album <i>Relapse</i>, and I had
never heard anything like it. The album meshed seamlessly with my rap
sensibilities, specifically when it came to the extreme horrorcore elements as
well as the astounding technical aspects of his rhyming.<br />
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Somewhere along the way, I came across the early solo albums
of Ice Cube at which point <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Death Certificate</i>
became one of my favourite albums of all time. However, it was André 3000 of
OutKast who snatched the title and is currently my No. 2 favourite rapper of
all time. To me, 3 Stacks is like a fine wine in that he only gets better with
age. Although he REFUSES to release a solo album, every guest verse he drops is an
event and he almost ALWAYS outshines his host. Yet as gifted an emcee as André
3000 is, there is still one rapper who I hold above all others in the pantheon
of Hip Hop. The late, great Prodigy of Mobb Deep is my favourite rapper of all
time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Prodigy embodies everything I love about the art of Hip Hop.
He was the grittiest, grimiest emcee to ever grace a microphone. His street
tales were so vivid and detailed that you could effortlessly visualize the
pictures he was painting in every verse. Listening to a Mobb Deep album was
like going on a tour through the streets of Queensbridge. He delivered threats
with such menace that you could FEEL the danger. His verses were ICONIC and he
was the MASTER of opening lines (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There’s
a war going on outside no man is safe from</i>….”). But above all else, every
single rhyme he ever wrote felt honest and true. That was the magic of Prodigy.
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Now I won’t go as far as to say that Prodigy is THE greatest
rapper of all time. He is just my personal favourite. However, I could make the
argument that between the years of 1995 and 1996, Prodigy WAS the greatest
rapper alive. I’d be willing to make that argument because those two years saw
the release of two classic Mobb Deep albums: 1995’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i>, and the subject of today’s review, 1996’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On Earth</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me provide a brief background on the album before we
dive into the review. It’s 1996 and Mobb Deep are riding high off the massive
success of their critically acclaimed sophomore album <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i>. Wasting no time, they jump straight back into the
studio to record their highly anticipated follow-up album <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On Earth</i>. Havoc decides he wants to handle all of the
production duties on his own this time around, resulting in Q-Tip (who had
three production credits on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i>)
being shown the door. Nas, Raekwon and Big Noyd all returned to provide guest
verses, along with the considerable addition of Method Man to the proceedings. Unfortunately,
a few unwanted weed carriers managed to worm their way onto the album as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite all the success, fame and fortune they were
experiencing off the back of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i>,
Mobb Deep was unfortunately subjected to a great deal of grief and turmoil
during this time. First there was a major car accident in which one of their close
friends was killed. Around the same time, Havoc’s brother Killa B committed
suicide. If that’s not enough, ANOTHER one of their friends was murdered by a
blow to the head with a baseball bat, and to top it all off, Prodigy’s father passed
away from AIDS. ALL of this happened during the recording process for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On Earth</i> and that is largely
reflected in the music. But with all that being said, the stage is now set and
we can finally get into the review!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXYB2ejEPARzrquzy7DOd_tHrH4A_jULNXio-zb6dYI-dq-xigDe6yfZZlZ_LORHDYBoeypxgH2rtWPrikKHhcme3sKpCi1PBJf1BQ0gSORtBgkYkotfIuEYc34i20VVtO7G7ii5_6h_/s1600/Mobb+Deep+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="799" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXYB2ejEPARzrquzy7DOd_tHrH4A_jULNXio-zb6dYI-dq-xigDe6yfZZlZ_LORHDYBoeypxgH2rtWPrikKHhcme3sKpCi1PBJf1BQ0gSORtBgkYkotfIuEYc34i20VVtO7G7ii5_6h_/s400/Mobb+Deep+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>1. Animal Instinct (feat. Twin Gambino & Ty Nitty)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mobb Deep waste no time here. No skits, no spoken word
intros, just straight to the music. Havoc’s beat is the first thing we hear and
it essentially announces to the world that Mobb Deep is not here to fuck
around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The production on “Animal
Instinct” not only carries the entire song but also sets the tone for the rest
of the album. Buckle yourselves in, because what you’re about to hear on <i>Hell
On Earth</i> is 14 tracks of the most sinister, gritty New York Hip Hop you have
ever heard in your life. Havoc does a fine job with the opening verse of the
album, and while Prodigy’s verse is far from his best, wasting the first four
bars shouting out his entire crew, he STILL comes out on top (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It's P, live and direct, stab ya neck/
Ice-pick bloodied up ya whole entire shit</i>”). Unfortunately the track
doesn’t end there, as two weed carriers – Twin Gambino and Ty Nitty – are
graciously permitted to jump on the track and both fail to impress as expected
(side note: Twin Gambino’s brother Scarface was the one who died in the car
crash). Despite the contributions from Twin Gambino and Ty Nitty, this is a 5
star song. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>2. Drop A Gem On 'Em</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Havoc proves that all you need is a simple piano loop
combined with some hard-hitting drums in order to create a timeless classic. The
timeless classic in question, otherwise known as “Drop A Gem On ‘Em,” is one of
the greatest (and most underrated) diss tracks of all time. The beef between
2Pac and Mobb Deep originated while 2Pac was still in prison on sex abuse
charges in 1995. That year, “Survival Of The Fittest” was a hot song for Mobb
Deep, but what’s important here is that the words “thug life” can be heard in
the background during the hook. 2Pac decided to take this as a sign of
disrespect because HE claimed to have originated the Thug Life movement
himself. As a result, 2Pac spared a few bars at the end of his classic diss
track “Hit ‘Em Up” to throw a few shots at Mobb Deep, specifically mentioning
Prodigy’s sickle cell anaemia. Now Mobb Deep wasn’t about to take this whole
beef lying down, and so they went straight in the booth with a vengeance and recorded
the viciously wicked “Drop A Gem On ‘Em.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Havoc is first up to bat, and he sounds pissed off from the
jump (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sick and tired, ugly fake crooks
need to retire</i>”). He gets off a few good shots at 2Pac, claiming that he’s
a snitch and got raped in prison. But this here is the Prodigy show, and he’s
about to demonstrate for the first time on this album why he’s one of the greatest
rappers of all time. Throughout his spectacular verse, Prodigy makes it
abundantly clear that he is simply NOT someone you want to go to war with,
because he LIVES for that shit. He has more soldiers than you, he has bigger
guns than you, and he will not hesitate for a second to use everything in his
power to destroy you. Every single line he spits is quotable, but I’m
particularly amused by his threat of fucking up 2Pac so brutally that he’ll
need “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two G's worth of stitches/ To
reconstruct [his] face and learn how to speak again</i>.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Drop A Gem On ‘Em” was actually the first single to be
released from the album. It played on the radio for about three weeks before the
tragic death of 2Pac on the 13<sup>th</sup> of September 1996. When he died, Mobb
Deep pulled the record from the radio out of respect for 2Pac and his family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMk1KKwbmUjDpINY1KJFCueyE-ra0SMh6Uy9kJd1tyitOgo6sCSIepa5BqqyosWtbz3De9hgN5VD2fjw6NgLm6q2X6DCbwg5vwoI_Xt6dgyVkHnDb5zZ_S-gh6pAcee4REHrG6Frf1fAju/s1600/Mobb+Deep+%2526+Biggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="973" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMk1KKwbmUjDpINY1KJFCueyE-ra0SMh6Uy9kJd1tyitOgo6sCSIepa5BqqyosWtbz3De9hgN5VD2fjw6NgLm6q2X6DCbwg5vwoI_Xt6dgyVkHnDb5zZ_S-gh6pAcee4REHrG6Frf1fAju/s400/Mobb+Deep+%2526+Biggie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havoc, Biggie & Prodigy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>3. Bloodsport</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is not my favourite Havoc beat on the album as I find
it slightly lacking in melody. Speaking of Havoc, I’m of the opinion that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we blowin’ niggas</i>” is an unfortunate
choice of phrasing. I can obviously see his intention, but the juvenile part of
my brain wants to laugh mockingly at those lyrics, which is a shame because his
verse on the whole goes quite hard. Prodigy manages to steer clear of any such
innuendos while making the bold claim that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me
and my man pioneered this violent nigga rap shit.</i>” Now obviously violent
gangsta rap existed prior to Mobb Deep’s arrival on the scene, but I would
certainly say that they played a significant role in taking the genre to new
and dizzying heights. Gotta give credit where credit is due. While “Bloodsport”
is FAR from a bad song, it is not a song I return to often. 4 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>4. Extortion (feat. Method Man)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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I like this beat more than “Bloodsport” but I still don’t
LOVE it. For what the song requires though, it does the job. Prodigy’s verse is
sandwiched between two shorter Havoc verses, and both rappers deliver fine
performances. Prodigy begins by detailing a drive-by shooting that he
orchestrated and the subsequent getaway, but it’s his colourful use of similes
that serve to enrich the storytelling (”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Like
the motion picture, this nigga Gone With The Wind</i>”). However, it’s the
Method Man feature which truly elevates this song to 5 star status. Meth rides
the beat like only Method Man can, with one of the smoothest flows in game. Method
Man infamously said in an interview that halfway through writing this
particular verse he “lost interest” because he was all “fucked up” from smoking
blunts. Well he could have fooled me, because I love his performance on this
track! 5 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>5. More Trife Life</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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As the song title suggests, this is a sequel of sorts to “Trife
Life” which appeared on <i>The Infamous</i> but with one notable exception: Prodigy is
nowhere to be seen! That’s right, this is the only solo joint on the entire
album, and it belongs to Havoc. Surprisingly though, Havoc is quite the
storyteller. Here’s my issue with the song though: if you’ve heard the original "Trife Life," is this song even really necessary? The message is exactly the same
(“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don't ever go see a bitch</i>”), except
this time Prodigy decides to sit this one out. I guess even he knows there’s no
point in telling the same story twice. For the lack of Prodigy and the
unoriginal story, I’m gonna give this one 4 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXWqXt2rFwAl1zIe8_7XBtBC2Iz7OZQo0IXQdz-d7gECRyRSZLVO5o5-NtfTqA_8o-UsMnIyBtdrUzfdGuaDX7z4V7_Ln80jL9wc0HQsGKP68fAOX9Jcd6zs0bw58Wn-zy0xfSstQ1LW1/s1600/Mobb+Deep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1280" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXWqXt2rFwAl1zIe8_7XBtBC2Iz7OZQo0IXQdz-d7gECRyRSZLVO5o5-NtfTqA_8o-UsMnIyBtdrUzfdGuaDX7z4V7_Ln80jL9wc0HQsGKP68fAOX9Jcd6zs0bw58Wn-zy0xfSstQ1LW1/s400/Mobb+Deep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>6. Man Down (feat. Big Noyd)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Thankfully, Prodigy returns from his brief hiatus with a
killer verse (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My nigga's laughin’, blood
bathin', the world's greatest/ In-famous, crimes heinous/ To interfere would be
dangerous/ Plain and simp', stand clear, save your strength”). </i>With just
four bars he is able to convey the ruthlessness of his crew and the futility of
going up against him. He also takes another jab at Def Squad, but I’ll get back
to that in a second. Havoc is up next but it’s a hard act to follow and he
barely registers. Big Noyd returns from his song-stealing verse on the previous
album’s “Give Up The Goods (Just Step)” and injects some life back into the
proceedings. I guess Big Noyd subscribes to the American History X school of
thought, and the idea that “someone else has already said it best. So if you
can't top it, steal from them and go out strong,” because he straight up jacks
Prodigy’s classic opening line from “Eye For A Eye (Your Beef Is Mines).”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Noyd then picks up where Prodigy left off and proceeds to
throw some shade at Def Squad when he says “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first
of all, them tight niggas with that spaced-out shit/ I stick a rocket up in
they ass and give ‘em a lift.</i>” This whole beef with Def Squad – made up of
the rappers Redman, Keith Murray and Erick Sermon – can be traced back to “The
Infamous Prelude” in which Prodigy takes some subliminal shots at “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all them rap-ass niggas with [their]
half-assed rhymes, talking about how much [they] get high, how much weed [they]
smoke, and that crazy space shit that don't even make no sense.</i>” Although
he didn’t directly name any names, it was widely assumed that Prodigy was
talking about the Def Squad crew because they were known at the time for rapping
about drugs and getting high. This beef eventually resulted in a physical
confrontation outside a New York City nightclub where Keith Murray, surrounded
by his clique, managed to single out Prodigy and give him a beat down. This
beef continued on wax for many years but was eventually squashed before Prodigy’s
untimely passing. ANYWAY, 5 stars!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>7. Can't Get Enough Of It (feat. General G)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Havoc kicks things off with another competent verse, but it’s
nothing to write home about. General G – a.k.a. Illa Ghee, another Mobb Deep weed
carrier – is given a chance to make his mark on the album and squanders it like
the weed carriers before him. And once again, we’re apparently “<i>blowin’ judges
in the trial.</i>” I mean that’s certainly one way to get off (no pun intended!). But
here comes Prodigy like a knight in shining armour to save this track from the
clutches of mediocrity. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You overlooked
the part with some unified terrorists/ Pirates, straight off the ship, and mad
starvin'/ Anchored to land and now we runnin’ wild poundin'/ On imbecile niggas
who ain't got they feet grounded.</i>” So now him and his crew are fuckin’ Pirates
of the Caribbean now? Only Prodigy can make that shit sound gangsta as fuck. The
weed carrier brings this track down slightly but I can’t give this song
anything less than 4 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>8. Nighttime Vultures (feat. Raekwon)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Prodigy’s verse on this track received the Hip Hop Quotable of
the month from The Source Magazine, which was a highly coveted award for any
rapper to receive back in the day. His performance on “Nighttime Vultures” truly
demonstrates everything that makes Prodigy one of the greatest of all time. He
begins with a display of incredibly vivid storytelling, painting a picture with
such mastery that you feel like you’re actually there, hiding behind the wall
while Prodigy is crouching next to you, popping off shots at his enemies.
Halfway through the verse he transitions seamlessly into his deadly
braggadocios rap style (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Durable,
physically fit, raps articulate/ You get your whole skeleton cracked somethin’
ridiculous</i>”). If someone were to ask me why Prodigy is my favourite rapper
of all time, I could easily point to this verse and rest my case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Havoc’s lyrical contribution is reduced to hook duties. He must
have heard Prodigy’s verse and thought there was no point trying to follow
that. Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan gives it his best shot though, slinging his
signature criminology slang which admittedly can be hard to decipher, but by
God does it sound good. I know he’s weaving some kind of narrative into his
verse, some of which I can pick up on, but a lot of it is going over my head. His
presence on the track is a welcome addition though. 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh814bahyphenhyphenL3uPLwO73FAjrsPor3I16uTxLizj29SpCYLcvMihE3aEpv1JfZGQp3Roju5rEzQbem9mC9uNFGEAftY9fepOu320uNFoL8RhyphenhyphenfY9re8IAkFefGUXjhEyc1j2emQOQfr1bqcf58/s1600/Mobb+Deep%252C+Raekwon+%2526+Nas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1024" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh814bahyphenhyphenL3uPLwO73FAjrsPor3I16uTxLizj29SpCYLcvMihE3aEpv1JfZGQp3Roju5rEzQbem9mC9uNFGEAftY9fepOu320uNFoL8RhyphenhyphenfY9re8IAkFefGUXjhEyc1j2emQOQfr1bqcf58/s400/Mobb+Deep%252C+Raekwon+%2526+Nas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobb Deep, Raekwon & Nas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>9. G.O.D. Pt. III</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now here’s a big pet peeve of mine. If you’re going to have
a skit that is almost a minute long on your album, PLEASE have the decency to
make it its own track so I can easily SKIP IT! And if you MUST attach it to an
actual song, PLEASE place it at the END of the song so I don’t have to manually
fast forward just to listen to the actual MUSIC! With that being said, I guess
the skit transitions nicely into the main song, which appropriately samples
music from the 1983 movie Scarface starring Al Pacino. Plus, all is soon
forgiven because Prodigy absolutely MURDERS this track with another verse that
is jam-packed with quotables. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The message is quite clear: you do NOT want to fuck with
Prodigy on ANY level, whether it be lyrically or on the streets. He will FUCK
YOU UP. I mean what else can you say about a man that will “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">slice</i>” you from the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">back of your head to ass crack</i>” and have
you “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">running for dear life, so far you
might fall off the map</i>”? All you can do is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">step aside, stand clear</i>” and watch as Prodigy brings “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">apocalypse to this game called rap</i>.” Havoc
is left with the impossible task of following up Prodigy’s monstrous verse. The
track has been officially murdered and Havoc is on clean-up duties. However, Havoc
actually manages to spit a GREAT verse as well (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Body casting raps to get your back snapped in half and severed/
Impossible pain beyond measure</i>”), yet still pales in comparison to his overshadowing
partner in rhyme. 5 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>10. Get Dealt With</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Havoc decides to follow his classic beat formula once more,
placing his signature drums over a simple piano loop to create something
beautiful. It works every time! We catch Prodigy up to no good, brutally
torturing and ultimately murdering an unidentified victim, and every member of
his squad has a role to play. In my humble opinion though, they slit the guy’s
throat way too early. Amateur mistake. One thing I did want to mention is Prodigy’s
adlibs of shots whizzing past an earlobe are SPOT ON. He even perfected the art
of the gunshot adlib on this album! Of all the gun-related adlibs I’ve heard
over the years (and I’ve heard a LOT), I would have to say that this particular
one is my favourite. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Havoc delivers a solid verse, complete with card gambling
metaphors and cold-blooded murder. The one line that sticks out most for me
though is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that's how it is, and how it
is is kinda fucked up</i>”. You could stick that line at the end of any verse
on this album and it would be a perfect summation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything Prodigy and Havoc rap about on
this album comes from a real place, from experiences they have had or seen or
heard about, or just their general state of mind at the time. That was their life
growing up in Queensbridge, and that’s fucked up, but that’s also what makes
this album so powerful, as it brings you face-to-face with a reality you would
never want to experience for yourself. 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>11. Hell On Earth (Front Lines)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another piano loop over some hard hitting drums, but the
production here is much more sombre in tone than the piano-driven beats we have
heard previously on the album. Prodigy uses his first verse as a warm up, not
to say that it isn’t still brimming with his trademark style and use of
language (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood flood your eye, fuck up
your optics</i>”), but his best verse on this track is yet to come. Now here’s something
that I would like to address before we go any further: taken out of context,
every verse that Havoc writes for this album ranges from decent to good, even
great at times. He is a very solid rapper in his own right. But he happens to
be sharing the spotlight with an emcee who has reached the absolute zenith, the
apex, the PINNACLE of his lyrical CAREER! Of course he is going to be
overshadowed at every turn, and of course the only verses you are going to
remember from this album will be Prodigy’s. With ALL THAT being said, Havoc was
good here. But let’s talk about PRODIGY! He steps back up to the plate and knocks
it right out of the park! The “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phantom of
Crime Rap</i>” has quotables for days, and as much as I would just love to post
slabs of quotable lines from this closing verse, unfortunately the review is already
long enough as it is. Needless to say, 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>12. Give It Up Fast (feat. Big Noyd & Nas)</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mobb Deep and Nas are a lethal combination. Throw in Big
Noyd and now we’ve got ourselves a party! Havoc’s beat is cinematic, and Nas
sets things off just right by weaving a narrative like only he can. Havoc makes
a snitch dig his own grave and then pisses on it which is always fun. Big Noyd
makes his second appearance on the album and once again something weird is
going on: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This tough guy screwing me? I
guess he got plans to ruin me/ He wanna do me, slowly but surely I peeked his
fast ass a bit early</i>.” One of two things is happening here, but I’m going
to give Noyd the benefit of the doubt on this one. Lucky last we have Prodigy
and…. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">abstrusely</i>”? He definitely
learned that word the same day he recorded this song and wanted to use it in
his rhymes. This verse is Prodigy at his most laid back, smoking weed, drinking
cognac, surrounded by women, but he also has time to squeeze in a few hellish
images (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Some rapper nigga playing thug
tried to approach me/ All I remember was I shot for his throat, G/ You see big
guns in 3-D, it's haunting</i>”). I like how each rapper’s verse (with the
exception of Nas) leads seamlessly from one to the other. Havoc shouts out Big
Noyd before his verse, and Noyd shouts out Prodigy before his. I feel like
everyone is having fun on here because they’re all happy to be on a track
together, and if they’re happy, I’m happy. 5 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEJ_VciiR_lvY_0DS9gk0k-rpDFwqybvj8w938T1ZZ8zUD4TmLlpTiLNZTTSXc8e9KCJZWb0Ecjtfj4A71vYm27U5ybjsIuXgZWLrbJDXDkRVxULCvsx2XPLbczGXBEZLW3v5ng-dDK0E/s1600/Mobb+Deep+%2526+Nas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1280" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEJ_VciiR_lvY_0DS9gk0k-rpDFwqybvj8w938T1ZZ8zUD4TmLlpTiLNZTTSXc8e9KCJZWb0Ecjtfj4A71vYm27U5ybjsIuXgZWLrbJDXDkRVxULCvsx2XPLbczGXBEZLW3v5ng-dDK0E/s400/Mobb+Deep+%2526+Nas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobb Deep & Nas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>13. Still Shinin'</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We finally get a juicy soul sample from Havoc that persists
throughout the entirety of the track’s running time and it’s a beauty. Prodigy
uses the selling of drugs as a metaphor for selling albums and it’s quite
effective (“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Keeping these rap fans like
crack fiends/ Until we re-up, and put more Infamous up on the rap scene/ Mix
the coke rhymes with beats just like baking soda/ Albums is G-Packs selling
across foreign waters</i>”). Havoc spends his airtime devising a plan to sleep
with an enemy’s wife for information in order to find and eliminate them. Finally,
Prodigy reappears in order to provide the listeners with his official mission
statement regarding the album: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to voice
a clear picture of this life of crime</i>.” Mission accomplished. 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>14. Apostle's Warning</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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So we’ve finally arrived at the final track of the album,
and Havoc knows exactly what to do. He gets the hardest-hitting drums he can
find, writes the shortest verse he possibly can, and then gets the fuck outta
the way because Prodigy is about to tear this motherfucker down! Just like the snake
metaphor that is woven throughout this one-verse wonder, every lyric he lays
down on this track is LACED with venom, and if you know what’s good for you,
you’ll “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">take a toke of this deadly rare
vocalist</i>” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let the venom soak in</i>.”
This is such a fantastic song to close out the album with as it exemplifies
everything that makes Mobb Deep great: the stellar production of Havoc and the
lyrical GENIUS of Prodigy. 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Final Thoughts</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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If it’s not completely obvious by now, I absolutely ADORE
this album. Sure, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i> may
have had higher highs (“Shook Ones Pt. II”, “Survival Of The Fittest”) but it
also had lower lows. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On Earth</i> is
a fantastic album from start to finish. With Havoc handling the entirety of the
production on this album, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On Earth</i>
has a very consistent and cohesive sound. But what makes this album a truly
special listening experience is the lyrical MIRACLES being performed by Prodigy
on almost every single song. It was only after hearing THIS album that Prodigy
cemented his place as my favourite rapper of all time. If <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Infamous</i> is the album that exposed Prodigy’s incredible
potential to the world, then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell On
Earth</i> is the album that fulfilled it. Prodigy truly was a one of a kind emcee
and he is sorely missed. R.I.P. Prodigy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Album Rating</u>: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5 Stars<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG-KGCVdIr4kbjaAx1LIWMo8FQSVRGwVblArwB-hDmnqV3jpoECNoCFe-D1ywpJ56abO5KEcAEQ4AvWEixkFH5FlRGk0UjU81Or7uK2rHsxbGPnYT1IraVeQZarxICZVVdaNjckxI9-5Q/s1600/Prodigy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG-KGCVdIr4kbjaAx1LIWMo8FQSVRGwVblArwB-hDmnqV3jpoECNoCFe-D1ywpJ56abO5KEcAEQ4AvWEixkFH5FlRGk0UjU81Or7uK2rHsxbGPnYT1IraVeQZarxICZVVdaNjckxI9-5Q/s400/Prodigy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-75024215943860058952020-01-19T13:23:00.000+11:002020-01-19T13:49:18.915+11:00Album Review: Eminem - Music To Be Murdered By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj_qpzuBOAVOpTdHYVn99belOIn4BulfuOLPLdk0vtkny-onr6BmEjHFiyd7KALrom-lHqevpviofDmMQ8JYdewl5X4vi33GwPvSXMVJhMEhV2WC2CbThqu8ZnfTLGs3pYUOdxpza2nMR/s1600/Eminem+-+Music+To+Be+Murdered+By.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj_qpzuBOAVOpTdHYVn99belOIn4BulfuOLPLdk0vtkny-onr6BmEjHFiyd7KALrom-lHqevpviofDmMQ8JYdewl5X4vi33GwPvSXMVJhMEhV2WC2CbThqu8ZnfTLGs3pYUOdxpza2nMR/s320/Eminem+-+Music+To+Be+Murdered+By.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before I get into my review, I just wanted to share my
initial reaction to the album’s release. It’s a Friday afternoon and I’m just
sitting at my computer, scrolling through reddit as usual when I see a post
that says [FRESH ALBUM] Eminem - Music To Be Murdered By. Immediately my heart
starts racing as I click on the link to see what the hell this is all about. My
guess is that it’s a compilation of old Eminem songs but as I scroll through
the comments, I begin to realize that this is the real deal. Not only that, but
it’s also 20 tracks long! That’s the classic Eminem format. Then I take a quick
glance at the features: Royce da 5’9”, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Black Thought,
Q-Tip, and now I’m pumped! Ed Sheeran, Skylar Grey…. slightly less pumped. But
my adrenaline is definitely pumping now, and THAT is the mind state I have
going into the album. So without further ado, Eminem, Music To Be Murdered By
first reaction, leeeeet’s *clap clap* FUCKING GO!</div>
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<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Premonition (Intro)</span></u></div>
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Opening the track with the sounds of a woman screaming in
fear gives me Relapse vibes, and that’s a GOOD thing. For a brief second I was
hoping that this was secretly the Relapse 2 we were promised 10 years ago. But obviously
it’s not. And then the beat kicks in and it slaps! If Eminem is spitting over
beats like this for the next 20 songs, I’m a happy man. Flow-wise, he sounds
good here too. As for the content, this is subject matter he has addressed a
few times before. He is super self-aware of how he is perceived by fans and
critics and it still obviously gets under his skin. I would say that this is
nothing new, and therefore, not that interesting, but at least he sounds angry
about it. Overall, 5 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Note: Let me briefly break down my rating system for music
in case you think my review doesn’t match my star rating. 1 star means the song
is absolutely HORRENDOUS and the world is a worse place for its existence. 2
stars means it’s not the WORST song in the world, but it’s pretty close. It has
almost no redeemable qualities. 3 stars is just an average song that is nothing
special. 4 stars is now a good song, but it’s missing that special something
that will keep me coming back to it more than a few times. 5 stars is a song
that I would put straight into a playlist so I could listen to it over and over
again. Even though it’s 5 stars, it might not be perfect, but I’m fully
entertained while listening to it or it has some deeper lyrical content that
moves me in some way.</div>
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<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Unaccommodating (feat. Young M.A)</span></u></div>
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Consider me a happy man, because I really like this beat
too. It has that modern sound that Eminem was sorely lacking in his
pre-Kamikaze career. The first voice we actually hear on this track is Young
M.A. and I’m a fan. I especially enjoy the rhyme scheme which she employs and
maintains throughout the majority of her verse. Eminem picks up right where
Young M.A. left off and even adopts her rhyme scheme for a few bars before
switching to his signature double-time flow, and damn if he doesn’t sound good
while doing it. I also appreciate the few bars he throws towards MGK,
essentially putting that whole beef to bed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another 5 star song. Keep it up Marshall!</div>
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<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You Gon' Learn (feat. Royce da 5'9"
& White Gold)</span></u></div>
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I don’t think the beat is working for me on this one. The
tempo that was built up with the first two tracks has definitely dropped
slightly with this one. The hook performed by White Gold is fine, but that is
also where the beat is at its messiest and noisiest. It settles down slightly
during the verses but not enough that I’m still not distracted by it. Although
Bad Meets Evil is back together, I have to give this one 3 stars.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Alfred (Interlude)</span></u></div>
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Now of course this being a skit, I can’t give it a star
rating, but I will give it a pass because I like that this album brings
together one of the best rappers of all time with one of the best movie
directors of all time. It works on a thematic level as Eminem is known to
dabble in the horrorcore subgenre and he is also known to “murder” tracks from
time to time. On a personal note though, it was only last year that I began
delving into the works of Alfred Hitchcock and discovering his genius for
myself. As a fan, I like the idea of someone listening to an Eminem album and
subsequently being inspired to watch a Hitchcock movie. If that person happens
to be you, I would recommend the following movies: Psycho (1960), Rear Window
(1954), Vertigo (1958) and North by Northwest (1959). Each one is a classic,
with Psycho being my personal favourite. Now back to the review.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Those Kinda Nights (feat. Ed Sheeran)</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of all the Eminem/Ed Sheeran collaborations I’ve heard thus
far, this is probably my favourite. Having said that though, I would like this
song at least half a star more if Ed Sheeran wasn’t on it. The only way I can
think to describe it is that when Eminem is rapping, it feels like an Eminem
song, but when Ed Sheeran starts singing, it suddenly feels like an Ed Sheeran
song. I don’t want to listen to an Ed Sheeran song on an Eminem album. Yet the
beat is bouncy and infectious while Eminem is at his most fun and playful, so I
still give this track 4 stars.</div>
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<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In Too Deep</span></u></div>
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What the fuck is this shit? I’ve said this a million times
and I’ll say it again, no one wants to hear Eminem talk about his intimate relationships
with nameless women. No one cares. The hook stinks, the content is
cringe-worthy and the beat is nothing special. 2 stars.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Godzilla (feat. Juice WRLD)</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to love this song, but I also wanted the beat to
hit a bit harder, which ultimately knocks the track down from 5 stars to a 4.
Eminem uses the track to show off his “Rap God” flow again while saying nothing
much at all, although he does sound good while saying it. Juice WRLD (R.I.P.) provides
a decent hook as well, but it’s not enough to elevate this from a 4 star song.</div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8. Darkness</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Major props to Eminem for using his platform to tackle such
a serious and relevant issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
powerful song with a powerful message, and it works on multiple levels. Without
the final verse, the song would still work effectively as a glimpse into
Eminem’s mental mind state before a big show. This makes it far more impressive
when it is revealed in the final verse that he was actually rapping from the
perspective of a mass shooter all along. For the lyrical content alone, this is
a 5 star song. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">9. Leaving Heaven (feat. Skylar Grey)</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What would a modern day Eminem album be without a Skylar
Grey feature? A slightly better album probably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The content is decent here, but nothing we haven’t heard before. Unfortunately,
the beat is plain boring, and Skylar Grey, in typical Skylar Grey fashion,
drags this song down to a generous 3 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10. Yah Yah (feat. Royce da 5'9", Black
Thought, Q-Tip & Mr. Porter)</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God damn! Now THIS is music to be murdered by! Everyone
absolutely killed it on this song, with Black Thought being the clear standout ("Rappers avoid eye contact, that's outta respect/ For the God in the flesh, the ominous Indominus Rex!"). I also appreciated Eminem listing off all of his influences at the end of his
verse, from Big L to Public Enemy to Ol’ Dirty Bastard. At first I wasn’t sure
about the beat but it really grew on me and by the end I was loving it. It’s a
low-key banger. 5 stars!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">11. Stepdad (Intro)</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not much to say here, just a skit that leads directly into…..<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">12. Stepdad</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
….. the absolute WORST hook on the entire album. Completely
derails the entire song, which is a shame because I like the content of this
song. Eminem paints a very unflattering picture of his step-dad and ultimately
plays out a scenario in which he kills said step-dad. That all works for me,
but unfortunately the rock-tinged beat also does the track no favours and I’m
forced to give this one 3 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">13. Marsh</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since when does he go by the name “Marsh?” That’s news to
me. Anyway, this is the definition of a 4 star song for me. The beat is good,
but not great. Eminem sounds good, but he’s not saying anything of substance,
and his hook is completely unmemorable, if not downright bad. I like the song
overall, but I don’t love it. I wouldn’t skip it if I was listening to the
album, but I don’t think I’m putting it in my playlist. Nice try though
“Marsh!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">14. Never Love Again</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here’s a song that is just BEGGING you for a second
listen. As soon as Eminem started rapping, I was sure that I was listening to
“In Too Deep” part two. The two verses that followed did nothing to alleviate
the disappointment I was feeling in that moment. But then something strange
happened. There’s a sudden beat switch and my ears perk up. I start nodding my
head and… what’s this?? The song was about drugs the whole time!? With this sudden revelation, I immediately hit that rewind button, and lo and behold, what I experience the second time through is an entirely new song! He’s done it
before (“25 To Life”) and he’s done it again! Mind blown. 5 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">15. Little Engine</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The crazy thing about this song is that the hook performed
by “Marsh” himself is actually the best thing about it. Infectious and catchy. Once
again, Eminem is saying a whole bunch of nothing on this track, but he sounds
good enough doing it, and the beat is interesting (and potentially produced by
Dr. Dre), so I’m throwing up the big 5 stars for this one too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">16. Lock It Up (feat. Anderson .Paak)</u></div>
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I think there’s something about this song that went over my
head. The beat is the closest thing we’ve had to a banger for a few tracks now,
but ONCE AGAIN, Eminem isn’t saying anything, and I have NO IDEA what we’re
supposed to be “locking.” Anderson .Paak’s hook makes absolutely no sense to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the beat alone though, I’ve got
to give this song 4 stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">17. Farewell</u></div>
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This is just a waste of a good beat. Eminem deems it
necessary for us to sit through ANOTHER 4 minutes of his ramblings about a
messed up relationship he had with some nameless woman. This type of subject
matter does not interest me in the slightest. At least Eminem’s ear for beats
seems to be getting slightly better with age as he recruits Ricky Racks (best
known for his collaborations with Young Thug) to craft him a slapping
Summer-style beat that deserves better. 3 stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">18. No Regrets (feat. Don Toliver)</u></div>
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Now THIS is more like it. This track sees Eminem addressing
some of his past mistakes while maintaining that he has no regrets and wouldn’t
change a thing. What stood out to me most was his admission that the beef he
had with Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt was misguided and should have
been redirected to those more deserving of his animosity (Joe Budden?). The
crooning hook provided by Don Toliver worked for me too, as did the beat, and
the result is a 5 star song.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">19. I Will (feat. KXNG Crooked, Royce da
5'9" & Joell Ortiz)</u></div>
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Was Eminem saving the best for last? You could certainly
make an argument for it. The only thing that might hold this song back is the
wordy hook, but despite that minor critique, this song is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fire</i>! Everyone kills it, but Eminem comes out as the victor,
despite the unfair advantage of having a verse that is twice as long as anyone
else’s. From shouting out the Wu-Tang Clan to destroying Lord Jamar’s entire
career, his verse has it all. The corny punchlines that we’ve heard throughout the
album are nowhere to be seen here, and what we get instead is pure gold (“Enter
my house of horrors with a thousand floors/ Got a crown of thorns, but it won't
fit around the horns”). What a way to close out the album. 5 stars!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">20. Alfred (Outro)</u></div>
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Alfred Hitchcock gets the last word, and we’re out!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Final Verdict:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Not only was I surprised by the release of the album but I
was also surprised by how good it turned out to be. Out of 17 actual songs,
only one of them was a complete trash fire (“In Too Deep”) so that is easy to
forgive. 4 out of the 17 tracks were songs that I would deem mediocre at best
and are songs I will most likely skip on future play throughs. However, that
leaves a total of 12 out of 17 songs that range from good to fantastic and I would
consider that a major win for current day Eminem. Within those 12 songs, we get
to see many different versions of Eminem, from introspective Em (“Premonition
Intro“, “No Regrets”) to masterful storyteller Em (“Darkness”, “Never Love
Again”) to I’m-the-best-rapper-alive Em (“I Will”). Overall, Music To Be
Murdered By was a pleasant surprise by all accounts, and goes a long way
towards restoring my faith in one the greatest rappers of all time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Album Rating:</u> <b>4 stars</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-42015006449646473182015-10-25T22:26:00.001+11:002015-10-25T22:29:28.098+11:00Top 15 Bangers<u>15. Theophilus London - Big Spender (prod. <b>DJ Carnage</b>)</u><br />
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<u>14. Fat Joe - Safe 2 Say (prod. <b>Just Blaze</b>)</u><br />
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<u>13. Big Boi - General Patton (prod. <b>Jbeatzz</b>)</u><br />
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<u>12. V Stylez - Built (prod. <b>Apollo Brown</b>)</u><br />
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<u>11. Guilty Simpson - Nasty (prod. <b>Apollo Brown</b>)</u><br />
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<u>10. The Game - El Chapo (prod. <b>Bangladesh</b>)</u><br />
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<u>9. T.I. - I'm Talkin' To You (prod. <b>Just Blaze</b>)</u><br />
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<u>8. Waka Flocka Flame - Hard in the Paint (prod. <b>Lex Luger</b>)</u><br />
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<u>7. Jay-Z - Public Service Announcement (prod. <b>Just Blaze</b>)</u><br />
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<u>6. Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says (prod. <b>Pharoahe Monch</b>)</u><br />
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<u>5. Chief Keef - I Don't Like (prod. <b>Young Chop</b>)</u><br />
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<u>4. Drake - Lord Knows (prod. <b>Just Blaze</b>)</u><br />
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<u>3. The Game - Ali Bomaye (prod. <b>Black Metaphor</b>)</u><br />
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<u>2. Ghostface Killah - The Champ (prod.<b> Just Blaze</b>)</u><br />
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<u>1. M.O.P. - Ante Up (prod. <b>DR Period</b>)</u><br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-11786956549391616822015-08-24T18:32:00.002+10:002015-08-24T18:51:57.628+10:00Hip Hop Time Machine: My Top 15 Favourite Songs of 2013Forget about the Hot Tub Time Machine. Let's get into the Hip Hop Time Machine as I try to compile a list of my favourite tracks of 2013. This should be interesting.<br />
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<u>15. Black Milk - Sunday's Best</u><br />
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I just love the way Black Milk chopped up this sample.</div>
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<u>14. Ugly Heroes - Hero's Theme</u></div>
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Apollo Brown combines a great piano sample with some hard-hitting drums to great effect.<br />
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<u>13. The Demigodz - Captain Caveman (feat. R.A. the Rugged Man)</u></div>
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R.A. the Rugged Man steals the show on this one. I mean what can you say about a guy who "fucked a monkey and started the AIDS virus."<br />
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<u>12. L'Orange & Stik Figa - Decorated Silence (feat. Open Mike Eagle & MindsOne)</u></div>
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How do you turn a classical jazz sample from what sounds like the 1940's into a banging hip hop tune? I guess only L'Orange knows.<br />
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<u>11. Kanye West - Blood On The Leaves</u><br />
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I wasn't a big fan of Kanye West's Yeezus album. I felt like it was too much of a departure from his previous work that I loved so much. Having said that, there were two songs that really stood out to me on this album. I really enjoyed "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBAtAM7vtgc">Bound 2</a>" for its throwback sound to the days of College Dropout and Late Registration, but "Blood On The Leaves" turned out to be a track that was true to the sound of Yeezus while also being an absolute banger. The moment the beat drops, shit gets real.</div>
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<u>10. Drake - Pound Cake (feat. Jay-Z)</u></div>
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If this track was only an instrumental, it would <i>still</i> make the list. Boi-1da's beat is beautiful. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM1ZlT7CXco">5AM In Toronto</a>" was close to making this list too.<br />
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<u>9. R.A. the Rugged Man - Definition of a Rap Flow (feat. Amalie Bruun)</u><br />
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Such an appropriate song title. R.A.'s flow on this track is out of this world.</div>
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<u>8. A$AP Mob - Trillmatic (feat. A$AP Nast & Method Man)</u><br />
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This track has that classic New York hip hop feel to it. Method Man's verse is just the icing on the cake.<br />
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<u>7. Action Bronson - Rolling Thunder</u><br />
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Killa Cam was meant to be the special guest feature on this joint, but that ultimately fell through, so Action just rocked the whole joint by himself, and I'm not complaining! Party Supplies and Action Bronson go together like salt and pepper, like cheese and cheddar, like jeans and sweater .....</div>
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<u>6. Chance The Rapper - Favorite Song (feat. Childish Gambino)</u><br />
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This song just makes me feel good. There's no better reason to put it on my list. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1AOoHSijIk">Acid Rain</a>" could have easily made my list too.</div>
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<u>5. Tha Dogg Pound - L.A. Here's 2 U (feat. Snoop Dogg)</u></div>
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It just doesn't get much smoother than this.<br />
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<u>4. Ghostface Killah - Revenge Is Sweet (feat. Masta Killa & Killa Sin)</u><br />
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I prefer Apollo Brown's version of this album over Adrian Younge's, but the main reason I love this song is for Killa Sin's killer verse.</div>
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<u>3. Flatbush ZOMBiES - Regular and Complex (GNB)</u></div>
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BetterOffDEAD was my favourite project of 2013, and Regular and Complex (GNB) is arguably the best track on there, although I could make a case for "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUyq18r_GI">MRAZ</a>" as well. Meechy Darko's verse on this track is simply mesmerizing though. "If rap was illegal, you bitch niggas wouldn't even write a bar. Shit, I'd probably be behind bars, raisin' the bar through these bars!"<br />
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<u>2. Big Sean - Control (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica)</u></div>
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Do I even have to explain this choice? The entire Hip Hop world was in shell shock for an entire <b>MONTH</b> after Kendrick dropped "a bomb on this shit".<br />
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<u>1. A$SAP Rocky - 1 Train (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T.)</u></div>
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What a line-up. This song is epic. Best verse goes to Big K.R.I.T., but everyone did their thing on here. Funniest line goes to Danny Brown for "bitch's pussy smells like a penguin, wouldn't hit that shit with my worst enemy's penis."</div>
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-40181058842104899802015-08-19T23:31:00.001+10:002015-08-19T23:31:51.826+10:00A Gut Reaction Review: 50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00JRTxnip0graL73TZ6c8EDqrVQztykKtzQyA7BW-JBzr5t2K5W_aFMENccSoDglW11WPq9_4K00yS0GJKfWEBXKQPzAigHkQTZ3gBDSi6NhnS18vSZLTugKXnVLaU6s-wRqyWa0b9s3V/s1600/Get+Rich+or+Die+Tryin%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00JRTxnip0graL73TZ6c8EDqrVQztykKtzQyA7BW-JBzr5t2K5W_aFMENccSoDglW11WPq9_4K00yS0GJKfWEBXKQPzAigHkQTZ3gBDSi6NhnS18vSZLTugKXnVLaU6s-wRqyWa0b9s3V/s400/Get+Rich+or+Die+Tryin%2527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For those that know me, it’s no secret: I am <u>NOT</u> a big fan
of 50 Cent. In my opinion, his lyrical ability and technical prowess leave much
to be desired. That’s not to say that he’s <b>completely</b> talentless though. In 1999, he showed
some real promise and ruffled up quite a few rap feathers when he
dropped the track “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuysVCJ7Ito">How To Rob</a>”. To his credit, Fiddy also has a good ear for beats, and has been known to craft a catchy hook or two. Anyway, as the story goes, Curtis James Jackson The Third (as his grandmother liked to call him) eventually caught the attention of Eminem and Dr. Dre, and the rest is history. In 2003, he dropped the "classic" album <i>Get Rich Or Die Tryin'</i> to great critical and commercial success, and it's really been downhill ever since. But now it's time to return to that "classic" album and see what all the fuss was about. You see, I've never really listened to that album from start to finish before, so I think it's about time I gave <i>Get Rich Or Die Tryin'</i> a chance, and find out whether I've been unfairly harsh on the man for all these years (I doubt it). So without further adieu, here is my track-by-track gut reaction review of 50 Cent's <i>Get Rich Or Die Tryin'</i>.</div>
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<u>1. Intro</u></div>
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Absolutely pointless. Well at least it's only 6 seconds long.</div>
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<u>2. What Up Gangsta</u></div>
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Nothing special here. Reef's instrumental <i>wants</i> to be a banger, but instead, it comes off as overly repetitive and kinda boring. Also, Fiddy is saying a whole lot of nothing on this track. Next!</div>
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<u>3. Patiently Waiting (feat. Eminem)</u></div>
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"When I die, they'll read this and say a genius wrote it". No they won't Fiddy. Curtis Jackon's delivery on this track really bores me, as does Eminem's beat, but he's never been the greatest producer anyway. Shady also brings his <i>Eminem Show</i> flow, which is not my favourite phase of Eminem's career. However, Em's verse is still dope, and makes the song worth listening to. "Take some Big and some Pac, and you mix 'em up in a pot. Sprinkle a little Big L on top, what the fuck do you got?" You got the greatest rapper of all time! Yeah, I said it! Anyway, "Patiently Waiting" turns out to be a decent track, thanks to Eminem's song-stealing verse. Moving on ....</div>
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<u>4. Many Men (Wish Death)</u></div>
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"I'm the greatest. Something like Ali in his prime". Once again Fiddy, no you're not. However, I think this track actually <i>works</i>. The instrumental grooves along quite nicely, which is surprising with Eminem having had a hand in it, although Darrell "Digga" Branch is credited as the primary producer on the track. Fiddy's hook writing ability comes through on this track too, and he flows quite smoothly over the beat. Not bad Fiddy. Not GREAT, but not bad.</div>
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<u>5. In Da Club</u></div>
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An undeniable classic. ALL credit is due to Dr. Dre for this one. The production is <b>monstrous</b>. Fiddy's verses are mediocre at best on here, but like I mentioned previously, his hook writing ability is his saving grace. Also, I think you'd be hard pressed to find <i>anyone</i> that is unfamiliar with the opening lyrics "Go shorty, it's your birthday". Overall, a great track.<br />
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<u>6. High All The Time</u><br />
Largely forgettable. This is the type of song I would classify as a "skip-aroo", especially when it's in the unfortunate position of being sandwiched between two great tracks ..... wait, does that mean there's another great track on this album?</div>
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<u>7. Heat</u><br />
Once again, Dr. Dre brings the <i><b>heat</b></i> (pun intended). Another bangin' production, and this time I actually enjoyed Fiddy's performance, as opposed to the nonsense he was spouting on "In Da Club". I could have done without the 30 second intro that really added NOTHING to the proceedings, but on the whole, I was very impressed with this one.</div>
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<u>8. If I Can't</u><br />
Once a-motherfuckin'-gain, Dr. Dre blesses 50 Cent with a banger! It's a shame then, that Curtis uses this valuable opportunity to say absolutely nothing of worth. Just sit back and enjoy the beat, because you'll be getting nothing of substance from Fiddy. Having said that, I still find this track to be rather enjoyable.<br />
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<u>9. Blood Hound (feat. Young Buck)</u><br />
What the fuck is this? You can't go from bangin' Dr. Dre production to whatever the hell this is. I guess there is a bright side though ..... I actually enjoy Fiddy's flow on this track! Buck's verse is nicely executed as well. Surprisingly, the HOOK is where this song really falls apart, so much so that I'd like nothing more than to forget I ever listened to this shit. Next!<br />
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<u>10. Back Down</u><br />
Ooooh, this beat is so menacing ..... in the best possible way! No wonder Ja Rule doesn't have a career anymore. You can't win against music that sounds this good. It's disappointing to see that this is Dre's final contribution to the album. He's 4 for 4. Let's see how Fiddy fares without him.<br />
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<u>11. P.I.M.P.</u><br />
Talk about a catchy hook! And I don't know who this Brandon Parrott fella is, but this production is on point. Fiddy is back on his bullshit again though, but I'll give him a pass this time, because this song is enjoyable as fuck!<br />
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<u>12. Like My Style (feat. Tony Yayo)</u><br />
The more I listened to this track, the more Rockwilder's beat really grew on me. Also, I think I just realized why Fiddy recruited Tony Yayo to G-Unit. There has to be at least ONE rapper in the group that is <i>worse</i> than 50 Cent. Tony Yayo delivers a truly terrible performance on this track. Curtis fairs a little better, but the hook isn't really doing anything for me. Despite Yayo's contribution, this track was still pleasant enough.<br />
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<u>13. Poor Lil Rich</u><br />
No, no, no.<br />
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<u>14. 21 Questions</u><br />
This track is good for what it is. There's nothing quite like a crooning Nate Dogg on the hook when you're making a song for the ladies. And no Fiddy, if you used your tongue in bed, I wouldn't like that!<br />
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<u>15. Don't Push Me (feat. Lloyd Banks & Eminem)</u><br />
Another Eminem production on <i>Get Rich Or Die Tryin'</i>, and I'm just as unimpressed as I was on "Patiently Waiting". However, the difference on this track is that Eminem seems uninspired behind the microphone as well. Subpar performances all around. Looks like we found ourselves another "skip-aroo"!<br />
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<u>16. Gotta Make It To Heaven</u><br />
This track is the definition of "average". The instrumental is nothing special, Fiddy is nothing special, this song is nothing special. Overall, nothing special. Did I forget to mention that this track is nothing special? Next!<br />
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<u>17. Wanksta</u><br />
Uh oh, Fiddy is on a roll now. Skip-skip-skip-aroo!!!<br />
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<u>18. U Not Like Me</u><br />
OK Fiddy, you've officially lost me now. Dr. Dre, where are you!? Come back please. Curtis clearly needs you.<br />
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<u>19. Life's on the Line</u><br />
This track is alright, even if the hook is atrocious. But it's too little, too late.<br />
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<b><u>Final Verdict:</u></b><br />
This album wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It certainly had it's high points, mainly thanks to Dr. Dre, but it also had it's low points, which came thick and fast towards the end. My opinion regarding 50 Cent's talent as a rapper remains unchanged after listening to this album in it's entirety. The rappers that I enjoy listening to tend to offer me a little bit more than a catchy hook and a decent flow every once in a while. However, I can see why this album is considered a modern-day classic by <i>some</i> ..... just not by me.</div>
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(<i>This track-by-track review was inspired by the work of </i>Max<i> over at </i><a href="http://hiphopisntdead.blogspot.com.au/">Hip Hop Isn't Dead</a>)</div>
bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-22826628710584314962015-08-17T13:41:00.003+10:002015-08-17T13:41:56.839+10:00Who Flipped It Better: Kanye West vs. DJ Cutmaster Swiff<u>Sample:</u><br />
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Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - I Miss You</div>
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<u>Track 1:</u></div>
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Jay-Z - This Can't Be Life (prod. <b>Kanye West</b>) [2000]<br />
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<u>Track 2:</u></div>
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Big Boi - Shine Blockas (prod. <b>DJ Cutmaster Swiff</b>) [2010]</div>
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So, who flipped it better?</div>
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-38200456629009121672015-08-14T12:27:00.002+10:002015-08-14T12:58:57.280+10:00Who Flipped It Better: No I.D. vs. BuckwildThe game is simple. I present two different songs that share the same sample. Your task is to decide which producer flipped that sample better. Easy. Now let's play!<br />
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<u>Sample:</u><br />
The SCLC Operation Breadbasket Orchestra and Choir - Nobody Knows<br />
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<u>Track 1:</u><br />
Ghostface Killah - Metal Lungies (prod. <b>No I.D.</b>) [2004]<br />
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<u>Track 2:</u><br />
50 Cent - I Don't Need 'Em (prod. <b>Buckwild</b>) [2005]<br />
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So, who flipped it better?bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-29918339890739021422014-12-13T22:29:00.000+11:002014-12-30T00:12:08.636+11:00Top 10 Hip Hop Songs of 2014<b><u>10. Action Bronson - Easy Rider</u></b><br />
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Action Bronson does his thing. Dat guitar sample though!<br />
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<b><u>9. 100s - Ten Freaky Hoes (feat. Redinho)</u></b><br />
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Feels like some vintage West Coast goodness.<br />
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<b><u>8. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Shame (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)</u></b><br />
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This is about as smooth as it gets.<br />
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<b><u>7. Young Jeezy - Seen It All (feat. Jay-Z)</u></b><br />
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A beat that is both beautiful and a banger at the same time.<br />
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<b><u>6. Rich Gang - Tell Em (Lies) feat. Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug</u></b><br />
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The perfect marriage of a catchy beat with the unique and infectious rhyming styles of Young Thug.<br />
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<b><u>5. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass - How To Kill God</u></b><br />
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As an atheist, the song title piqued my interest. Was not disappointed.<br />
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<b><u>4. CunninLynguists - Urutora Kaiju (feat. Tonedeff)</u></b><br />
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Two cosmic beings (Phallaxor The Matter Lord and Zarcon Steele) battle each other in an epic track of intergalactic proportions.<br />
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<b><u>3. Big K.R.I.T. - Mt. Olympus</u></b><br />
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Big K.R.I.T. really does "snap" on this one, and once the beat drops at around the 1 minute mark, it's on like Donkey Kong.<br />
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<b><u>2. ScHoolboy Q - Man Of The Year</u></b><br />
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This is the track you put on when you want to feel like the "Man Of The Year".<br />
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<b><u>1. T.I. - About the Money (feat. Young Thug)</u></b><br />
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The ultimate showcase of everything that's great about Young Thug, and the beat only elevates this song into the stratosphere.<br />
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Download: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/3j1jckjq888adb8/Top_10_Hip_Hop_Songs_of_2014.zip"><span style="color: magenta;">Top 10 Hip Hop Songs of 2014</span></a>bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-28908037738455819672013-03-04T10:31:00.002+11:002013-03-04T10:31:44.390+11:00Ghostface Killah & Apollo Brown - 12 Reasons To Die<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXhM_xPW_YfVeOWZHoJhVcqvPHf9W8zWZdlIIWlWaoslerbpVm8WFx1J8MCou-Gn7bO9fqQLKzt-HzBLSC6QWU9H4Lw4MHCm055754TvHCfo9WxH7VYjaydo4qwmImZmsCvebxNwl6v1K/s1600/12+Reasons+To+Die.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXhM_xPW_YfVeOWZHoJhVcqvPHf9W8zWZdlIIWlWaoslerbpVm8WFx1J8MCou-Gn7bO9fqQLKzt-HzBLSC6QWU9H4Lw4MHCm055754TvHCfo9WxH7VYjaydo4qwmImZmsCvebxNwl6v1K/s640/12+Reasons+To+Die.png" width="550" /></a></div>
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I just heard the most amazing news this morning! According to Apollo Brown himself, "RZA's label Soul Temple hit [him] up to do a second official version of the new Ghostface Killah album. Coming in April." While Adrian Younge is producing the CD version of <i>12 Reasons To Die</i>, Apollo Brown has been commissioned to produce the CASSETTE version of the album. I've always said that my ideal rapper/producer combo was Apollo Brown and Ghostface Killah, and now it's actually happening! This project has automatically become my most anticipated album of 2013. I can't wait!bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-62068827939090263172013-02-25T12:24:00.003+11:002013-02-25T12:24:59.690+11:00Little Vic - This Is What It Sounds Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dcmhiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/each.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://www.dcmhiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/each.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>
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If the "It" in the song's title is referring to heaven, then I agree. Producer Double Shots seems to capture all the joy and happiness in the world and uses it to craft a magical beat for Little Vic to spit his lyrics. Vic flows well over the beat, delivering some memorable lines ("I hang by myself, just like Saddam"), but I would <i>love</i> to get my hands on an instrumental version of this track. The beat is just <i>that</i> good. I'm not familiar with any of Double Shots other production work, but I imagine this track would be his crowning achievement.<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-33845674923140808242013-02-11T11:02:00.002+11:002013-02-11T11:48:22.519+11:00Radio Los Santos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090531145842/gtawiki/images/5/55/Radio_Los_Santos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090531145842/gtawiki/images/5/55/Radio_Los_Santos.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the definitive console game for hip hop heads. From the intricate plot details to the time period in which the story takes place, the game is steeped in hip hop culture. The icing on the cake is the presence of a fictional radio station by the name of Radio Los Santos. I remember countless times playing the game where I would just hop into a car and drive around aimlessly, listening to Radio Los Santos. It is the one radio station that truly captures the essence of the game.<br />
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At the heart of San Andreas is the city of Los Santos, which is based on the real-life city of Los Angeles. The playlist of Radio Los Santos accurately reflects the music you would have heard on a West Coast hip hop station in 1992, the year in which the game is set. One thing you will notice about the playlist is an overwhelming presence of Dr. Dre, having had a hand in 8 out of the 16 tracks. This is not surprising as Dr. Dre had the Midas Touch in the early 90's, producing hit after hit after hit, and let's not even mention The Chronic. 2Pac, Ice Cube, N.W.A. and Cyprus Hill all make appearances, resulting in a rather brilliant compilation tape which you can download in it's entirety below.<br />
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<b>Tracklist:</b></div>
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Eazy-E - Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn</div>
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N.W.A - Express Yourself</div>
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The D.O.C. - It's Funky Enough</div>
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Above The Law - Murder Rap</div>
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Kid Frost - La Raza</div>
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Too $hort - The Ghetto</div>
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Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill a Man</div>
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N.W.A - Alwayz Into Somethin'</div>
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2pac - I Don't Give a Fuck (feat. Pogo)</div>
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Compton's Most Wanted - Hood Took Me Under</div>
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Da Lench Mob - Guerillas in tha Mist (feat. Ice Cube)</div>
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Dr. Dre - Fuck Wit Dre Day (feat. Snoop Dogg & RBX)</div>
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Dr. Dre - Nuthin' But a "G" Thang (feat. Snoop Dogg)</div>
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Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg - Deep Cover</div>
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Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day</div>
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Ice Cube - Check Yo Self (Message Remix) feat. Das EFX</div>
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Download: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?iapccq1k9any2sm">Radio Los Santos (MediaFire)</a>bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-58980768603080336802013-01-25T10:53:00.001+11:002013-01-25T10:57:40.531+11:00Funk Volume<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md9678AlHP1rjsio2o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md9678AlHP1rjsio2o1_1280.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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Funk Volume is a movement I am right behind. The jury is still out on what exactly DJ Hoppa brings to the table, but Hopsin, SwizZz, Jarren Benton and Dizzy Wright are four very talented emcees. When they all hop on a track together, it is a joy to behold.<br />
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The new year has just begun, and their 2013 campaign is already underway. The video for "Funk Volume 2013" was released last night featuring the entire crew. Looking ahead, we can expect solo albums from each emcee this year, and hopefully a lot more in-house collaborations. They have the potential to finally break out in 2013, but only time will tell. <br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-7024497371621967542013-01-24T11:11:00.003+11:002013-01-24T11:11:28.047+11:00First Date: Eminem & Kanye West<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100722/kanye-eminem_320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100722/kanye-eminem_320.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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Most people would think that Eminem and Kanye West first crossed paths in 2009 on the Drake track "Forever", also featuring Lil Wayne. However, this is not strictly the case. Nine years prior, Eminem made an appearance on The Madd Rapper's album <i>Tell 'Em Why U Madd</i>. The track was titled "Stir Crazy", and the producer was none other than Kanye West. Eminem got his Slim Shady on, and Kanye's beat was the perfect vehicle for it. Here's hoping that Eminem gets another chance to spit fire over some fresh Kanye production in the near future.</div>
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-71305457547685072662013-01-23T18:33:00.002+11:002013-03-29T00:14:48.530+11:00When Skits Are Done Right .....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.raptalk.net/images/rhymefest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://www.raptalk.net/images/rhymefest.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Dispersing skits throughout an album is a largely pointless exercise. For some reason, many hip hop artists seem to fancy themselves as stand-up comedians, yet the skits they plague their albums with are rarely amusing or entertaining. There is not a single album I have ever enjoyed where the skits enhanced my listening experience ..... except one.
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<a name='more'></a>In 2008, Rhymefest and Mark Ronson teamed up to create a "dedication album" titled <i>Man in the Mirror, </i>in honour of Michael Jackson. It is not strictly an album but a mixtape, in which each track contains a Michael Jackson sample. There are several standout tracks, which makes it that much more impressive that the skits actually outshine the tracks themselves.<br />
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The skits involve Rhymefest ingeniously inserting himself, Forrest Gump-style, into conversations with Michael Jackson, using audio from old interviews. The results are genuinely hilarious, with the conversations edited and acted out to perfection. It really must be heard to be fully appreciated, so I will leave a download link for the mixtape below:<br />
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Download: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?kp5hz2sd9qzrpez">Rhymefest - Man in the Mirror (Mediafire)</a>bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-14701341635679869972013-01-22T11:44:00.002+11:002013-01-22T11:46:08.631+11:00Underrated Emcee: Shad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.patbolduc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_93761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://www.patbolduc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_93761.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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Shad is one of those hip hop cats that deserves to be heard by a lot more people. He is Canada's greatest hip hop export (sorry Drake), a lyrical monster capable of profound metaphors and similes, thought-provoking social commentary, pop culture references and witty punchlines. As a result, Shad's albums (particularly 2007's <i>The Old Prince</i> and 2010's <i>TSOL</i>) are chock-full of memorable tracks that will have you reaching for that rewind button, because Shad has quotables for days.<br />
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In one of Shad's standout tracks ("Yaa I Get It") from the album <i>TSOL</i>, he raps "I hope I ain't boring y'all rapping 'bout rap, but the only thing I love more than rapping is napping and I know nobody wanna hear rap about that." Well for the record, I wouldn't mind hearing him rap about napping, because if anyone could pull it off, it would be Shad.<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-9349080589849251132013-01-20T10:12:00.002+11:002013-02-25T11:48:31.652+11:00My Favourite Donut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steadysounds.com/store/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/images/donuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://steadysounds.com/store/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/images/donuts.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Arguably the greatest instrumental album of all time, J Dilla's Donuts oozes with soulful goodness. It's all Dilla, no filler. Every J Dilla fan has their own favourite Donut, but for me, it doesn't get much better than "Airworks". After a cheeky false start, a perfectly chopped vocal sample kicks in over some smooth strings and drums, and the result is a track that I can listen to endlessly.<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-25938311277796356162013-01-19T11:37:00.004+11:002013-01-20T13:42:44.517+11:00One Verse Wonders: R.A. the Rugged Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d3na4zxidw1hr4.cloudfront.net/site_media/uploads/images/post/r/ra-the-rugged-man/rarugged-1_jpg_630x772_q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="483" width="500" src="http://d3na4zxidw1hr4.cloudfront.net/site_media/uploads/images/post/r/ra-the-rugged-man/rarugged-1_jpg_630x772_q85.jpg" /></a></div>
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I became an instant R.A. the Rugged Man fan on the day I first listened to "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" by Jedi Mind Tricks. I'm sure that many R.A. fans were born the same way. I had first become aware of the Rugged Man when I came across his track "Cunt Renaissance", featuring the one and only Biggie Smalls.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It is a very enjoyable track in which there are no holds barred and both The Notorious B.I.G. and the Rugged Man spit some of the most brutal and hilariously offensive rhymes ever committed to vinyl. No woman was safe when these two got together for a recording session. Unfortunately, this was the first and last time that these legendary emcees would ever collaborate on a track together. "Cunt Renaissance" was recorded back in 1994.<br />
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Fast forward 12 years and Jedi Mind Tricks requests a featured appearance from R.A. the Rugged Man for their 2006 album <i>Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell</i>. The subject matter of the track would be the Vietnam War. Vinnie Paz laid down a solid first verse and then handed the reins over to the Rugged Man. Turns out that R.A.'s father was Staff Sergeant John A. Thorburn, a decorated war veteran of the Vietnam War, and so the Rugged Man proceeds to tell the true story of his father's experiences in the war with vivid detail and an expertly delivered flow. The verse is told from a first-person perspective through the eyes of his father, and I would go so far as to name it one of the greatest hip hop verses of all time. Now here it is for your listening pleasure:<br />
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R.A.'s Verse:<br />
<br />
True story<br />
Call me Thorburn, John A., Staff Sergeant<br />
Marksman, skill in killin', illin', I'm able and willin'<br />
Kill a village elephant, rapin' and pillage a village<br />
Illegitimate killers, U.S. military guerrillas<br />
This ain't no real war, Vietnam shit<br />
World War II, that's a war, this is just a military conflict<br />
Soothin' drug abusin', Vietnamese women screwin'<br />
Sex, gambling and boozin', all this shit is amusin'<br />
Bitches and guns, this is every man's dream<br />
I don't wanna go home where I'm just an ordinary human being<br />
Special Op, Huey chopper gun ship run shit<br />
Gook run when the minigun spit, won't miss<br />
Kill shit, spit four-thousand bullets a minute<br />
Victor Charlie, hit trigger, hit it, I'm in it to win it<br />
"Get it," the lieutenant hinted, the villain, I been it<br />
The killing, I did it, cripple, did it, pictures I painted is vivid, live it<br />
A wizard with weapons, the secret mission, we 'bout to begin it<br />
Government funded, behind enemy lines<br />
Bullets is sprayin', it's heatin' up a hundred degrees<br />
The enemies the North Vietnamese, bitch please<br />
Ain't no sweat, I'm told, "Be at ease"<br />
Until I see the pilot got hit, and we 'bout to hit some trees<br />
Till the rotor broke, crash land<br />
American man in Cambodia, right in the enemy hand<br />
Take a swig of the whiskey to calm us<br />
Them yellow men wearin' black pajamas, they wanna harm us<br />
They all up on us, bang, bang, bullet hit my chest, feel no pain<br />
To my left, the captain caught a bullet right in his brain<br />
Body parts flyin', loss of limbs, explosions<br />
Bad intentions, I see my best friend's intestines<br />
Pray to the one above, it's raining, I'm covered in mud<br />
I think I'm dyin', I feel dizzy, I'm losin' blood<br />
I see my childhood, I'm back in the arms of my mother<br />
I see my whole life, I see Christ, I see bright lights<br />
I see Israelites, Muslims and Christians at peace, no fights<br />
Black, Whites, Asians, people of all types<br />
I must've died, then I woke up, surprised I'm alive<br />
I'm in a hospital bed, they rescued me, I survived<br />
I escaped the war, came back, but ain't escape Agent Orange<br />
Two of my kids born handicapped<br />
Spastic, quadriplegia, micro cephalic<br />
Cerebral palsy, cortical blindness, name it, they had it<br />
My son died, he ain't live, but I still try to think positive<br />
Cause in life, God take, God givebzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-85178555740028940342013-01-14T18:41:00.000+11:002013-01-20T13:43:17.156+11:00Hip Hop Legend: Big Pun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/big_pun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="389" src="http://www.xxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/big_pun.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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"<b>Dead in the middle of Little Italy, little did we know that we riddled some middle man who didn't do diddly</b>" - <b>Big Pun</b><br />
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Need I say more?<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-81298710614856629222013-01-13T13:00:00.000+11:002013-01-21T14:58:10.291+11:00Most Underrated Album Of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.mixtapewall.com/uploads/2012/05/YoungZee-MrGreen-One_Crazy_Weekend.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://cdn.mixtapewall.com/uploads/2012/05/YoungZee-MrGreen-One_Crazy_Weekend.jpg.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Young Zee & Mr. Green - One Crazy Weekend</b></div>
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I think "underrated" may be the wrong word. For an album to be underrated, people must be aware that it actually <b><u>exists</u></b>. I'm sure the 5 people who listened to this album loved it, but the rest missed out. Mr. Green brought his 'A' game on the production tip, and Young Zee delivers entertaining lyrics and punchlines throughout the entire album. Without a doubt, One Crazy Weekend sits comfortably in my Top 5 albums of 2012.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u>Honourable Mention:</u><br />
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<a href="http://yadamedia.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/madchilddopesick.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://yadamedia.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/madchilddopesick.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Madchild - Dope Sick</b></div>
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Another album I'm sure escaped many ears in 2012 was Madchild's Dope Sick. The title tells you exactly what to expect from the album: Dope lyrics and Sick beats. Peep the video below for a little taste.</div>
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-13511492014837633982013-01-12T13:50:00.002+11:002015-08-20T12:50:20.290+10:00Song vs. Sample<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The art of sampling is one of the cornerstones of hip hop. At the heart of every great hip hop track is usually a great sample. One of the things I love about hip hop is being able to track down the sample of a song you love, only to find out that the sample is just as good as the track that sampled it. Here are just 2 examples:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u>Example 1</u><br />
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<b>Sample: </b>Willie Hutch - I Choose You
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<b>Song: </b>UGK - Int'l Players Anthem (feat. OutKast) (prod. DJ Paul & Juicy J)<br />
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<u>Example 2</u><br />
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<b>Sample:</b> Billy Stewart - Cross My Heart<br />
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<b>Song: </b>Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (prod. Just Blaze)<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-6680136050019221662013-01-11T15:36:00.000+11:002013-01-12T14:26:59.903+11:00Top 10 Apollo Brown Beats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Apollo Brown is one of my favourite producers in the game right now. I would describe his production style as the best elements of DJ Premier, RZA and Kanye West all rolled into one. He combines gorgeous soul samples with old school boom bap to brilliant effect, and his collaborative albums with the likes of Hassaan Mackey, O.C. and Guilty Simpson have been among the best hip hop releases in recent memory. Perhaps the crowning jewel in his catalog thus far is Gas Mask, the album he released in 2010 with his group The Left, consisting of himself, Journalist 103 and DJ Soko. I could easily create a list of my top 50 favourite Apollo productions, but I will limit myself to just 10. So without further ado, here is my top 10 favourite Apollo Brown beats:
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<b>10. Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson - One Man</b><br />
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<b>9. V Stylez - Built (feat. Kid Vishis & Kuniva)</b>
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<b>8. DJ Soko - Stand Up (feat. Guilty Simpson & Hassaan Mackey)</b><br />
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<b>7. Wordsworth - Joy & Pain</b>
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<b>6. Apollo Brown - Hungry (feat. Rapper Big Pooh & Black Milk)</b>
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<b>5. Boog Brown - My Love (feat. Poodie The Byz)</b>
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<b>4. The Left - Desperation</b>
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<b>3. Danny Brown - Contra (feat. eLZhi)</b>
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<b>2. The Regiment - Soul To Keep</b>
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<b>1. The Left - The Melody</b><br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-77119378926253064812013-01-10T13:29:00.000+11:002013-01-14T19:07:52.478+11:00Top 10 Big L Punchlines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Big L was hip hop's king of the punchline. No other emcee could make me laugh out loud with witty and hilarious one-liners like L could. Here are my Top 10 favourite Big L punchlines:
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<a name='more'></a><b>10. </b>"I got juice like Beaucoup, mad crews I broke through<br />
<b><i>Brothers be mad 'cause I hit more chicks than they spoke to</i></b>" (M.V.P.)
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<b>9. </b>"Step to this and get shanked up<br />
<b><i>I knocked out so many teeth the tooth fairy went bankrupt</i></b>" (Let 'Em Have It "L")
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<b>8. </b>"A Tec-9 is my utensil<br />
<b><i>Fillin' niggas with so much lead</i></b><br />
<b><i>They can use they're dick for a pencil</i></b>" (Da Graveyard)
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<b>7. </b>"I jumped out the Lincoln, left him stinkin'<br />
<b><i>Put his brains in the street</i></b><br />
<b><i>Now you can see what he was just thinkin'</i></b>" (Danger Zone)
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<b>6. </b>"They wanna know why I'm so fly<br />
<b><i>A girl asked me for a ring and I put one around her whole eye</i></b>" (No Endz, No Skinz)
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<b>5. </b>"I'm known for snatchin' purses, and bombin' churches<br />
<b><i>I get more pussy by accident, than most niggas get on purpose</i></b>" (Da Graveyard)
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<b>4. </b>"Fuckin' punk, you ain't a leader, what? Nobody followed you<br />
You was never shit, <b><i>your mother should've swallowed you</i></b>" ('98 Freestyle)
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<b>3. </b>"If you battle L, you picked the wrong head<br />
I smash mics like cornbread<br />
<b><i>You can't kill me, I was born dead</i></b>" (Put It On)
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<b>2. </b>"Big L is that nigga you expect to catch wreck on any cassette deck<br />
<b><i>I'm so ahead of my time, my parents haven't met yet</i></b>" (Stretch and Bobbito Freestyle)
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<b>1. </b>"Turn your tux red, I'm far from broke, got enough bread<br />
And mad hoes, <b><i>ask Beavis, I get nothing Butt-Head</i></b>" ('98 Freestyle)
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<b>Bonus Big L Quotes:</b>
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"Breakin' in cribs with a crowbar<br />
<b><i>I wasn't poor, I was po', I couldn't afford the 'o-r'</i></b>" (Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous)
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"Some say I'm ruthless, some say I'm grim<br />
<b><i>Once a burglar broke into my house and I robbed him!</i></b>" (Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous)
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"I run with sturdy cliques, I'm never hittin' dirty chicks<br />
<b><i>Got 35 bodies buddy, don't make it 36</i></b>" (Put It On)
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"So don't step to this, 'cause I got a live crew<br />
<b><i>You might be kinda big but they make coffins your size too</i></b>" (All Black)
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"Me being a virgin, that's idiotic<br />
<b><i>'Cause if Big L got the AIDS, every cutie in the city got it</i></b>" (All Black)
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"Every minute my style switches up<br />
<b><i>They said a real man won't hit a girl</i></b><br />
<b><i>Well I ain't real 'cause I beat bitches up</i></b>" (Danger Zone)
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"The crown is still mine 'cause I drop ill rhymes<br />
<b><i>A lot of rappers talk that murder shit and couldn't kill time</i></b>" (Let 'Em Have It "L")
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"You see Corleone, ice spinnin', jigged out, white linen<br />
<b><i>And if a bitch don't like me, she must like women</i></b>" (Size 'Em Up)
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"My game is vicious and cruel<br />
Fucking chicks is a rule<br />
<b><i>If my girl think I'm loyal then that bitch is a fool</i></b>" ('98 Freestyle)
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"I'mma slide to the telly and abuse your wife<br />
<b><i>If I got one rubber, I'mma use it twice</i></b>" (The Triboro)
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"Yo, you know the game plan<br />
C-Town, that's my main man<br />
<b><i>We never bring luggage, we go shopping when the plane lands</i></b>" (The Big Picture)
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"You know nothing about L, so don't doubt L<br />
What's this motherfucking rap game without L?<br />
Yo, that's like jewels without ice<br />
That's like China without rice<br />
Or the Holy Bible without Christ<br />
Or the Bulls without Mike<br />
Or crackheads without pipes<br />
The Village without dykes<br />
Or hockey games without fights" (The Big Picture)<br />
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bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-85152095790583891732013-01-09T14:03:00.000+11:002013-01-12T14:13:03.968+11:00The Greatest Hip Hop Group Of All Time: Wu-Tang Clan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The debate about the greatest emcee of all time is a hotly contested one. Yet when it comes to the greatest hip hop group of all time, there is often no debate at all. Groups such as N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy can be considered briefly as No. 1 contenders, but once the Wu-Tang Clan enters into the equation, the No. 1 spot is all but assured.<br />
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The Wu-Tang Clan is made up of 9 members: The RZA, The GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon (The Chef), U-God, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa and the Method Man. Each member of the group has his own unique style and sound, and they all combined perfectly in 1993 to create the hip hop masterpiece that is Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). From there, countless classic solo albums ensued and the rest is history.
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I could write all day about the brilliance of the Wu-Tang Clan, so I'll spare you the essay. Just know this: Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothin' Ta Fuck Wit!
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<br />bzdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068937301417728698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871646751921705229.post-75843545349322148872013-01-09T01:07:00.001+11:002015-09-03T23:34:15.598+10:00Hip Hop Legend: Ice Cube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before Biggie and 2Pac, there was Ice Cube. I feel like people forget that sometimes. He dropped classic (Straight Outta Compton) after classic (AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted) after classic (Death Certificate), and yet he just doesn't appear often enough in hip hop debates about the greatest of all time. He's definitely in my Top 10, and I would pick Ice Cube over 2Pac any day of the week.
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