MIXTAPE OVERLOAD....

As I am listening to Chamillionaire's Mixtape Messiah 7 (the first disc at least, second one still to come), I now come off of reading an editorial on nappyafro.com, in regards to yes....the mixtape.

A lot of good points were made in the article. For example, I believe 2009 will forever be remembered as "the year of the mixtape". Mostly recognized for Drake "changing the game" with his So Far Gone mixtape and Gucci Mane getting more publicity and street cred than what he really deserves (not only that but I am getting sick of mentioning both). Not only that, but we're seeing a lot of new artists get love from the bloggers and the heads combined (Pac Div, Tiron, Diz Gibran, QuESt, XV) and others who increase their popularity from mixtapes (Wale, Slaughterhouse). And it is at a point where mixtapes are held at a higher account and importance than the actual album. Yes, I agreed, there is a huge problem with that.

I think where the problem mostly lies, is that right now, there are one too many mixtapes and even more DJ's that are putting out the same shit that you found on the latest Drama or Whoo Kid tape. Where it also gets sad, is that these DJ's are profiting from it. How many Gucci tapes do we really need out there??? I'm surprised Charles Hamilton put out THAT many tapes thinking we'd still keep an interest.

When it comes to an overload, it makes you wonder, what is even the point of putting out an album when you got 10-15 mixtapes of material. Some mixtapes come out and you wish that THIS was the album (Trey Songz's new mixtape).

However, sometimes, mixtapes serve as the outlet where artists can truly express themselves artistically and their albums (usually the case with major labels) are basically the product that is made to drive the "casual hip hop listener" to go to Best Buy or whatever record stores are still open to buy the CD or at least buy it off of iTunes. And despite contrary belief, mixtapes still serve as a purpose to break an artist, and increase his stock (once again Drake).

Other times, artists have no choice BUT to release mixtapes, due to being shelved and blackballed (Joe Budden) to still make the listeners aware that they're still out there and still droppin' heat. (Chamillionaire).

As an artist myself, I am unsigned, no label, and reside in a city, where our hip-hop scene has limited exposure (unless your name is Ray Nitti). However, this is how I look at it. Mixtapes for me, are ways to provide a glimpse into my skills, and where I can creatively go all out and show the city (the world) that this is what you can expect when I begin to work on my album, where the album is served to reach the "casual listener". However with me, I choose to not dumb down, but to attract those different sounds and styles into my own. There is a huge difference between being inspired and jackin' someone else's steez. And you know mine. (c) Method Man

So quite frankly, I agreed with most of the editorial, and I hope that people (the artists in general) realize that mixtapes can get you to that next level. But it is the album that will solidify it.

GUCCI MANE- GANGSTA GRILLZ THE SEQUEL

So it has been almost a week since Gucci's sequel to his previous Gangsta Grillz tape with DJ Drama has been released to the public. As it has been told in the past, as well as heard, when you listen to pretty much ANY Gucci Mane record/tape/album, do not go into the shit expecting things such as you know, extravagant wordplay, intricate rhyme schemes, clever metaphors, you need to listen to it with an open mind, and basically a tolerance for ignorance. In Gucci's case, you need to have a knack for beats and understand that Gucci's lyrics, are not at all at a level of let's saaaaaay Nas...but has the tendency to shock you with flow and humor underneath his mush-mouth delivery.

The tape is nothing out of the ordinary...it's the same ol' coochie coochie (Gucci Gucci). One thing I will not knock him for is his ear for beat selection. Much like Jeezy, the beats covers up his limitations.

However, as I said before...this is nothing NEW from him. As in nothing really that WOW'd me or whatever.

Much like the Movie, the Sequel gets no more than a "L" (or average) from me, as there are records that I can bump when strollin' (or walkin') through the neighborhood ("Pressure", "Awesome"). Then there is that one song that is gonna make me go ballistic in a club setting ("Wasted", "Superhero"). HOWEVER, there are songs where you are just waitin' to push that stop/pause/skip button ("Leading Lady", "Hottest Rapper", any record wit OJ Da Juiceman on it).

Either way, there is shit on here for everyone on this tape, but like every Gucci Mane tape, it won't satisfy everyone.

MAKING IT RAIN: THE EPITOME OF UNNECESSARY SELF-CONFIDENCE....

Okey dokey. So everyone knows about the video that has leaked for several days now that depicts the prime example of an athlete who just can't seem to catch a break, yes, i'm talking to YOU!!!....PAC-MAN ADAM JONES!!! (whom I never saw the hype anyway)

Anyways, the video depicts him at an very popular ATL strip club, (don't know the name and don't really care) but it shows him with a Louis Viutton bag (what straight male carries those to begin with???) of about $100,000 converted to stacks of $1 dollar bills (really?????) and tossing that shit in the air like it was confetti at the numerous rounds of desperate females in the tightest G-strings you can find at your nearest TJ Maxx. Other minions included producer/rapper Jermaine Dupri (whos beats sound like he's stuck in the year 1998)...and rapper-turned-quasi fashion designer Nelly (who sounds like he's stuck in 2000). Anyway, JD decides to take it upon himself and defend many of the male population inside of the strip joint and justify each and every one of their fried brain cells, by telling the girls, NOT to stop dancing, to continue doing their jobs, and get their money when they are done performing...as each and every one of those males make their hard earned million dollars a day...to waste it all...on a female's attention.....

Other incidents involved Pack-Man smacking a b****, caps busted outside a hotel...yada yada yada....


Now, I am all for going to strip clubs (as I am seen there on numerous occasions), however I don't see how my apperance, where I take pretty much $30-50 there, 2/3 of that small ass pocket change is spent on drinks (in which I mostly consume by my lonesome, unless I want to share the wealth) tipping (the girls (that I know), the bartenders (so that they dont become dicks and spit in your alcohol), the bathroom guys as they spend most of the night inhaling the toxic fumes of shit, urine, and cigarette smoke)....could measure up in any particular form of chauvinism or feeling of superiority towards women....when I can be a pro athlete, rapper, manwhore, etc. and take a large sum of my millions and just feel the need to throw it any and everywhere, creating a frenzy of broke "independent" women to come at my money like cheetahs feasting on their young, and then want to get MAD...because they're not DOING THEIR JOB.........

Jermaine Dupri....GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE AND TAKE BOW WOW'S MUSIC WITH YOU ON THE WAY OUT!!!!

It appears this whole need to make it rain on them ho's has invented a new way for niggas to be niggas. Not saying it speaks for just black people, as the occasional Colonel Sanders stand-ins, with their crusty beards, tinted glasses, and Santa Claus pot-bellies have infiltrated strip clubs to catch a glimpse of what life will be after divorce.

There are reasons to why I take so little to strip joints.

1. I know better.

and 2. I know more.

Now, this is not any particular way of saying I have better judgments than those baller type niggas. However, in a world that we live in right now, where money is being treated like army rations, why do we do it???

It seems for years, this vapid mixture of self-confidence and arrogance, keeps people looking at us going "what a bunch of niggers" (directed towards the hip hop culture...knowing almost everyone of color does it), however famous people try justifying it (JD) by claiming that it is a way of life that if you can't understand, don't fuck with it. But that's the thing though...I don't understand it, nor do I want to fuck with it. I don't even spend that much on the ACTUAL FEMALE.....why should I??? she ain't paying for my tuition dammit!!! The girls that usually know me come up to me for my time and ears, cause they know what I am about and what my motives are. The motives usually being if I am not gonna spend money on you....I'm NOT gonna spend money on you...it's just what it is. Plus, I usually wind up leaving the club still with money left over that can be saved or used for my dinner the next day, you know, personal needs.

I guess all in all, what I am saying in relation to what illseed of Allhiphop.com referred to in his editorial on the same topic, is that we ought to give the strippers a little reward for their actual interaction with us, whether physical or verbal, whatever. And perhaps the sexual and financial power trip these guys are on when throwing their money to the ground, is one of the mindless character traits that us men have when we choose to exemplify our superiority towards the opposite sex therefore, belittling or degrading the girls in the process, cause it is the cool thing to do, by throwing it to them...like food being tossed to prisoners.

It's like I said, I love the strip club, but not to the point, to where I am willing to throw away large sums of money....

(think about it: Pac-Man $100,000 > Me $30-60)

......just because I get off on the empowerment that ballin' can bring...

To celebrities, step out of the alternate reality that you reside in and wake up to what is really going on around you....

CLASSIC RECORDS....I SHOULD JUST LET STAY CLASSICS

And this is all in relation to the little conflict that I have had with listening to music this year. Both current and of the past. However, this is something that I have had issue with, and as I write this, I believe that I may have discussed this in a blog post of the past.

I review albums, on a regular. It's mostly how I differentiate the real from the fake, or basically, the bullshit from the fertilized...if that even makes sense.

However, lately, every classic album that I have bought/DL'ed/stole from others have been just that...classics. So the problem is why am I still rating albums???

Lately this year, I have listened to albums based on emotion. In other words, do I think something is going to uplift me in a way that my passion for what I love to do will return in some kind of fashion??? Honestly no...I haven't got that from albums. Let's review the major releases.

Jadakiss- good album, nothing memorable however.

Rick Ross- improvement (unexpected or not) however, the whole CO thing still bugs me.

Eminem- not the Em I wanted to hear. I feel for the more personal shit. Character Em, I can only take in doses....small doses.

Meth & Red- an album I once thought was album of the year, after another listen...well....nothing memorable.

Busta- legend of the fall-offs.

Asher Roth- I don't believe the great white hype. He's not a bad artist, but the album is so inconsistent.

Cam'Ron- ehhhh....

Jim Jones- see Cam'Ron.....

Flo Rida, Mike Jones, Bow Wow, Mims, Gorilla Zoe, etc.- See Cameron and Jenny Jones.

The only rap albums (on major labels) that I have enjoyed from top to bottom is basically two albums...

Mos Def's "The Ecstatic" and UGK's "UGK 4 Life" (excluding that piece of shit track with Akon)

Other albums I haven't necessarily got to yet (Twista's "Category F5", Maino's "If Tomorrow Comes")...some I haven't bothered (Ace Hood's "Ruthless")


The only albums that I have really enjoyed this year have all been "INDEPENDENT" records...or as ya'll like to call it "UNDERGROUND" was "Chamber Music", "The Truth Is Here", "Padded Room", the beautiful "Jay Stay Paid".


Meanwhile, I have stuck to my classic albums. Because there is so much room on my iPod that I have limited my album lists to near 8-9 songs out of what are possibly 15 tracks overall...while leaving room for 10 albums that I listen to all through, from top to bottom.

And I haven't felt the need to wanna review or rate them. I just want to listen to the music and see for myself if it deserves classic status. It feels....corny nowadays and especially for me being the age that I am. I will probably review just current albums, but I doubt I will do that to...and mostly 'cause nothing has impressed me. Except for a few albums....and then not only that, but my favorite records have been....mixtapes.

The following:

J. Cole, Pac Division, U-N-I, Rhymefest, Joell Ortiz, Emilio Rojas, QUEST!!!

and yes...Drake.

Have put out great records and have released them (free of charge)...even 50's tapes have been good....and you can even filter out an "OKAY" tape from Gucci Mane or OJ Da Juiceman....eeeven Soldier Kid put a tape out today....and confirmed my belief and faith that he stop making records one day....

So the way that I see it...is that 2009...is the year of the mixtape.

A vivid idea that the industry is indeed CHANGING.

A MESSAGE TO THE GAME

.........GET OVER IT!!!!.........

WAS HE SINCERE???

In my opinion......no.

Because of this....

1. I often believed that anyone that has to read an apology off of cue cards either A. Didn't mean what they say or B. Using this as their own personal gain. He seems like he's doing both.

2. ......Who talks like that? "What I did was fucking retarded!" lol.

3. It does NOT take SIX FUCKING MONTHS to apologize for something of this nature and severity. Despite what your attorneys say or what the public has done to ridicule you every step of the way since your incident, you should have "manned up" then...not six months later.

I believe that this rehearsed, near-remorseless apology, is another example of the downward spiral that he and his career is continuing to take. Since his new album is rumored to come out this year, is anybody really gonna be checking for him? More stunts like these, and I highly doubt it....say hello to the has-beens Chris, you done R. Kelly'd ya'self.

JUST WRITING

Yea, I mean there is a wide range of things that have been on my mind as of late, as I endure this process of writing for my next mixtape, Written In Blood 3. I mean, for the last couple days, I have realized that I have been writing nothing but downers, sad songs, excerpts of doubt, fear, and mental recklessness.

A lot of that has and had to do with me dealing. Dealing with the fact that the one person that I love more than myself, hates me for all eternity. Maybe not, but that is how everything is portrayed. A lot of things don't make sense. Not as to whether or not I regret the break up, because to an extent I don't and know that it was best for me. It's more of just, wondering what does she want from me? I mean I don't know of any other way I can possibly explain my side of the story, without receiving a backlash of doubt from her, and watch it roll in like a tsunami to destroy everything that is left of our relationship. The one thing that I hate more is when she says things such as her wishing that I would have done something terrible to her, to make the pain easier to deal with or let the hate for me grow immensely.

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT???

It's like saying you wished that I cheated on her, or talked shit about her to everyone else, much like what all her friends and family did in regards to me, relaying that I wasn't good enough for her, or that I am gonna hurt her, or that I'm slime. Even when we were going through our shit, I defended her, and not one member of my family or any of my friends (well, except Krystle but she's an ass like that) had said she was wrong for me.

But its like I said before, when promises are made on a regular basis, and are never fulfilled, what do you expect? I would rather get myself together than to have so much self-hatred that I take it out on her, in which for a certain period I had. The thoughts of suicide or doing something terrible to myself lingered so many times during our first tenure, all 'cause I had never loved anyone like I did her, and that it drove me crazy that problems were unresolved.

I do NOT want to go down that path again.

But I apologized and I have tried making things right, but apparently she would rather I keep my distance and leave her alone, in which I understand, but at the same time, the fact that we can never be friends again, or she'd rather hate me for the rest of my life, kills me. I do NOT need another "Rhea" in my life, or an ex-girlfriend or friend in general that turns into an enemy. There's a part of me that wants to give up, but at the same time, there has been so many times that I have heard that from women or that I have said that myself.

I've managed to rectify relationships, with the exception of one (you know who) because they are at least rational enough to understand the flaws and plights of our situations and are not taking every second bashing me with complaints and "you coulda did this" or "you never cared about me" garbage. So does she mean what she says? I am not sure. From what it seems, she means it, but life is too short to hold grudges, or to feel anger. Although I can do the same, I hope she understands that as well. But I guess I'll never know, as I feel like I will always be looked at as a mistake in her eyes.



I guess, this time around, the reasons for making Written In Blood 3, is to sort through all of the emotions and make quality music, outside of the bullshit we been getting lately. Mixtapes have been key lately for breaking artists, or furthering their evergrowing popularity (Drake, Wale, Bobby Ray, J. Cole)...although too many can drive a wedge between genius and insanity (Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, Charles Hamilton, Max B). Me on the other hand, is me laying rest to the issues that have plagued my life and my music in the last couple months. I feel bad that I haven't taken this year to my advantage and made as much music as possible, but somehow that is all changing.

I plan on recording every week, Written In Blood 3 should be out my early to mid August, Hell Week (the first official album) will be out after that, and then I hope to have another EP out, where is nothing but relieving myself of the stressful vibes and have something out in time for the beginning of the semester and fall. You can say there will be more feel good music on there for a change. If only I can expose the horror first.