Beef Rap

What's really good folks!  Been an overall sublime week in the world of Hip-Hop, that is until the new leaked track from Pusha T of the Clipse came out.  Now we have a new (or in some cases continued) rivalry between him and DeWayne Carter, himself (that's Lil' Wayne for those not necessarily in the know of things).  Before I get started on this rivalry, allow me to do a brief history on "beef rap".  In sports, or even in life, competition is the natural order of things.  Someone is out to prove they're the best in anything or everything, or at least better than you (don't act like you don't do it either, even if the battle is with yourself).  Hip-Hop is no different, it's a grown man sport.  Everyone wants to be the best, the champion MC if you will.  Rivalries have been around since the mid-70s when DJs would have some artists spit braggadocio rhymes over a breakbeat and would criticize the last person to have gotten on the mic.  Since then it's gotten progressively more aggressive and in some more notable and infamous cases, fatal.  A few of the earlier noted "beefs" on record were the battles between Queensbridge's first lady Roxanne Shante vs. The "Real" Roxanne/UTFO, which started ironically enough over UTFO's standout hit, "Roxanne, Roxanne" and Bronx's Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock *R.I.P.*) vs. Queensbridge's MC Shan/The Juice Crew over Shan's breakout cut, "The Bridge", which then spawned BDP's ridiculous classic "South Bronx".  Although these and several others during that time frame were mainly on wax and didn't get taken out of hand, throughout time cats wanted to flex their muscles and cuts were starting to get more vicious.  Even with rivalries such as Ice Cube vs. NWA, Ice Cube vs. Common, LL Cool J vs. Ice-T/Hammer/Kool Moe Dee, and X-Clan vs. 3rd Bass, things got very ugly with the now saddening rivalry between two of the greatest in most influential emcees of our generation, 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.  Over what was seemingly a very coincidental situation, 2Pac was robbed and shot in a recording studio that then good friend/new artist Biggie Smalls was also recording in.  Mr. Shakur was thoroughly convinced that Biggie knew who had attacked him.  From that point, the string of events set off the now notorious (no pun intended) "East Coast vs. West Coast" beef, in which rappers from the west had issues from rappers from the east, New York primarily.  The unfortunate conclusion resulted in the two greats being gunned down 6 months apart from each other.  Since then, lessons have been learned in "beef rap", however while most have remained lyrical, there have been some near sweat causers, notably the intense rivalry between known antagonist 50 Cent vs. fellow Queens rapper Ja-Rule.  The beef stemmed from supposedly a member of 50's entourage robbing Ja-Rule, then it became a snowball effect (notably 50's label Shady/Aftermath vs. Ja-Rule's label Murder Inc. alongside Boston rapper Benzino).  Plus 50 gained more enemies in time, including label-mate The Game.  Both issues have since quited, but there very nervous times in both instances. Of course one of the greatest battles kept on wax over the past decade was the phenominal battle between two iconic MCs, Jay-Z and Nas.  The feud ended amicably.  Fast forwarding to present day-rivalries like Lil' Kim vs. Nicky Minaj, Aziala Banks (don't think that's how it's spelled) vs. Iggy, both of whom are relative newcomers to the mainstream.  Which brings me to Pusha vs. Wayne.  There's apparently been a long history off-and-on between Pusha, his twin brother from the duo Clipse Malice (since becoming a born-again Christian late last year he's changed his name to No Malice and embracing the Christian side of life and hip-hop *this will be a topic upcoming soon in terms of Christian/spiritual rap*), and Wayne.  Pusha dropped a single called "Exodus 20:1", which was seen as a diss to Wayne, who recently dropped his retaliatory street single called, "Ghoulish", in which he starts "Fuck Pusha T and anyone that loves him!"  Scathing!!  Let's hope this stays on wax.  Pusha's labelmate Kid Cudi has expressed support to him, while twin brother has backed out of it, stating that "if it doesn't glorify God, he's not with it" (he might as well say he's the new Lecrae and just go the Christian MC route instead of staying secular but that's for another time).  This will be a very intriguing rivalry, but as I stated, let's hope this stays entertainment, and not make it personal. Here are the tracks, judge for yourself as to how this may go.  Until next time people.  one!

New Releases

What's the word kiddies!  It's BK aka Real Hip Hop back at you once again.  Still getting used to this whole blog thing so bear with me.  Nothing too heavy or deep on my mind this time around, so I'll update you on a few of the best hip-hop currently out right now.  First to bat is the new album from the duo of DJ/highly-in-demand producer Statik Selektah and very talent underground emcee Termanology.  Together they're known as 1982, which assumably is the year both cats were born.  They're debut album, the self-titled 1982, was one of the hottest releases to come out in 2010.  Heralded as one of best DJ/MC duos since Gangstarr, their sophomore follow-up was eagerly anticipated, and definitely, their second album, the appropriately entitled 2012, picks up where the debut left off, maybe even goes a little beyond where the debut was at in terms of production value and the lyrical ferocity that Term brings.  Guest spots from the likes of Mac Miller, southern legend Bun B, M.O.P.'s Lil' Fame, Roc Marciano, Mobb Deep's Havoc, and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men (wow, picture that) all contribute to just how serious this project is.  It's truly hard to pick a favorite cut or two on the album.  That alone lets you know how ridiculous the album is.  Do yourself a favor and cop this crazy new release from one of the most commercially underrated, yet highly regarded, duos in the game.
Another highly touted release comes from south of the Mason-Dixon line in the form of Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga.  This one-time affiliate of Outkast has had a couple of tremendous albums over the last few years.  From his much-talked about I Pledge Allegiance To Da Grind II to last year's crazy Pl3dge, big Mike has crafted outstanding, and at times controversial, music for the masses.  This year's offering serves as a tasty treat before his Grand Hustle debut later this year (hopefully).  He collaborates with famed underground producer/emcee El-P (formerly of Company Flow fame) to present R.A.P. Music.  This is an explosive album filled with social commentaries and sonic jolts of power to equal the combustion spewed by Mr. Bigga.  It's been compared to Ice Cube's unforgettable solo debut masterpiece, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, and I can easily see why.  It's not too often that you get up-north producers that so perfectly adapt to southern culture and stylistics, but this is proof that it's more than possible, much less for a whole full-length project.  Guests like Bun B and his Grand Hustle boss, T.I., serves as only a couple of guests on a mostly guest-free project.  Songs like "Untitled", "Reagen", and "Ghetto Gospel" will all have you hanging off of every word he spits just in terms of social climate, religion, and anything else that has huim miffed and pissed off.
While other releases like the sophomore album by those drugged-out alcoholics Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No), Vodka & Ayahuasca, the amazing collabo album between Brooklyn most underrated MC, O.C., and buzz-worthy Detroit producer Apollo Brown, Trophies, and the magical musical hip-hop marriage of DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles, KoleXXXion, are all superb listens, right now 1982 and Killer Mike/El-P are "killin'" em!  Be on the lookout for releases from Queens icon (and my personal favorite MC of all-time) Nas, Life IS Good, in July, the long-awaited Shady Records debut monstrous hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden, Crooked I, and Joell Ortiz), welcome 2: Our House, on June 12th, and other releases from Sean Price, southern icon Scarface, T.I., Ludacris, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and the ambitious collabo project between revered Brooklyn MC Masta Ace and underground champion, the enigmatic MF DOOM (MA DOOM).  I'm gonna leave you with a sample from both Killer Mike and 1982. Until next time, I'm out!

Political Hip-Hop???

What's happening my people?!  It's been a very hectic few weeks off and on, and this past week was no exception, but I'm back and have some more on my mind involving this crazy world of hip-hop.  Remember when Public Enemy and X-Clan were the faces of socio-political hip-hop?  Important issues such as AIDS, crack cocaine, white house blunders and the like?  With the exception of dead prez and Immortal Technique, we don't see it in hip-hop anymore.  At least, not on a regular, consistent basis.  When Public Enemy dropped their seminal album, It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back..., it was a virtual call-to-arms for the Black community and any community/culture that was oppressed, discriminated, violated, or disrespected.  The exact same held true for To The East backwards, the debut by X-Clan.  Their efforts to get further rooted in Africa, while displaying intelligent, yet vivid, stories of corrupt politics and racism in the White House and the government were very needed in a time of light-hearted rap for it's day.  We need more of those attitudes and mindstates on a more consistent basis in hip-hop.  Not just the occasional album track that's a social outlook on the world and America in particular, we need more acts like The Coup, Immortal Technique, and dead prez to step up and educate the youth, especially just in time for Election season.  That's just my opinion.  Until next time, this is Brandon AKA BK AKA Real Hip Hop signing off.  Before we leave you, here are some great examples of the type of educational hip-hop we need in this day and age.  Peace!
 







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