It's Murdaaaaaa

The Passion of the Rule
written by JusHH

Quick, what’s the key components for a hit record… I’ll wait. Okay, soft melody over a hard bass line? Check. Catchy, harmonizing hook? Check. Rapping about swagger, your bank account and how you are simply irresistible to the opposite sex? Check. If that’s the case then all you guys selling records owe a percentage of your royalties to Ja Rule.

I liked Ja Rule before I even knew who he was. As a kid, my TV stayed on The Box and I fell in love with this one particular black and white video. This dude who rapped first just blew the song out the water. A few years later, I was following Ja Rule’s career as Def Jam’s best kept secret. He popped up on the Streets is Watching soundtrack, and the B-Side to all of Def Jam’s releases in ’98. I remember reading this article with Lyor Cohen and he was discussing what made him sign Ja. He talked about a group called Cash Money Click and how Ja caught his attention on the song “Get the Fortune”. My jaw dropped because I had no idea that it was Ja Rule rapping in that black and white video this whole time. No wonder I took to him so quickly. I got even more excited for his debut album and it didn’t disappoint. Venni Vetti Vicci is still one of my favorite albums in the collection and Ja was once one of my favorite rappers. But something went wrong. Rule 3:36, his sophomore effort, went 3x platinum.

Ja made way too much money. We all know where this story is going.

Rule and Irv found a nice little formula that would help them sell a whole bunch of records. Enter Ashanti and the 6 million songs that they did together. Enter JLo, with her “Riding the 6 Train Hip-Hop/R&B” records and enter all of the scratchy voiced sing song flow that Ja rode for the next 6 years. At first, it was well received. Most understood it as an attempt to crossover and make money to put food on the table. But then it was clear that these records were no longer the anomaly but the new norm, his core audience began to buckle.

Enter 50. 50 Cent represented not only a breath of fresh “gangter-ism” in the face of fluffy rap music, but he represented everything we all wanted Ja Rule to be. He saw the glaring contradiction between Rule’s new music and how he still referred to himself as a murderer. He saw an opportunity and with the backing of Dr. Dre and Eminem, brought his personal beef in front of the whole world. It worked; the masses jumped ship and left Ja Rule’s new albums on the shelf.

But then a funny thing happened.

The G-Unit general’s lead singles began to have more singing in the hooks and the verses had slightly more harmony than before. Soon it seemed that 50 was selling all of his records by being more gentleman than gangster. No matter how many guns came out, it was “Candy Shop” that was keeping the lights on. And somewhere after The Massacre, 50’s honeymoon ended as fans once again rebelled against the formula. Not too long after that, a young upstart with a personal axe to grind with 50, criticized 50 for singing on songs to help him win. The battle between Game and 50 was the height of irony as Game even drew direct comparisons between 50 and Ja Rule’s careers. Shakespeare couldn’t have written it any better. 50 literally became the one man that he publicly despised the most, and was taken down by a future version of himself.

But then something even funnier happened.

Somewhere between Napster and iTunes downloads, record companies decided to narrow the pipeline and only allow music that they could guarantee would crossover, play in clubs and sell ringtones. Yep, this meant only soft melodies over hard bass lines, catchy, harmonizing hooks and rapping about swagger, your bank account and how you are simply irresistible to the opposite sex. In other words, doing exactly what Ja Rule was doing in 2001.

So 8 years after Rule 3:36 dropped, every artist uses Ja’s formula to get a hit record and make money. And fans no longer rebel. In fact we accept it. Chalk it up to being a necessary evil in the face of declining sales and ruthless record companies. Lil’ Wayne sold 1 million albums in one week off “Lollipop” and Kanye is doing an entire album without really rapping. But does Ja Rule get any of the credit? Any vindication for being a head of his time? No and no. Ja is still reduced to being a punchline. In fact, most people still make fun of his singing and how 50 ended his career.

It’s funny how times change.

So if you are a new rapper or an established artist looking to do better numbers and you’re worried about how you will be received if you start singing on your songs, you have nothing to worry about…

Ja did that, so hopefully, you wouldn’t have to go through that.

Bass Drop!

Look What Hip Hop Did
written by 4bars

I was entertained watching television last night. I never, EVER, (“eeeevahevaevaeva…”) thought I’d be writing a post about Fat Man Scoop but after watching his show “Man and Wife” the thought I was left with was, “wow, hip hop is the shit”.

I know Hov has been able to Mike Jordan the business world and make himself a brand and other rappers to a lesser extent have done the same but Fat Man Scoop? Wow, I was seriously taken aback at the fact that a “personality” who, outside of New York, just isn’t very well known has his own show and podcast. I know what you’re saying: “there are PLENTY of people who have shows that shouldn’t have them” and I’m not saying that FMS is undeserving of a show. My point, though, is most people who have shows have money from avenues other than that show, the exceptions (to me) are former rappers and hip hop personalities and Fat Man Scoop clearly falls into that category.

With all the shit I talk about the state of hip hop and how certain stuff sucks and shouldn’t be played, blah blah blah, Hip Hop has done a lot of good and continues to. The show itself is pretty entertaining, authentic interaction always intrigues me when the people are interesting and FMS and his wife certainly fit that mold. Check the show out if you get a chance, I didn’t see much but what little I saw made me chuckle.

Hip Hip is awesome, will never die, and continues to show me something that makes me smile new each day. Nas was kinda right, but not really, haha.

Couple bars...

Today I do a simple post, full of simple quotes

‘Cause too many times, hot rhymes are defined by similes and punchlines

I mean, don’t get me wrong, those are fine

But what about the kind that speaks to the soul instead of the mind?

Might not make you say oooooh or press rewind

Instead, you simply say, I was just there

Or he’s speaking what I’m living ‘tween the bass and the snare

Or this is my life that I’m hearing on these tracks

Or he’s feeling what I’m feeling I can hear it in his raps

Funny when you realize you’re not alone

You find a friend in the person on the microphone

Something you can relate to in something they wrote

And it wasn’t complicated, it was just a simple quote - Just K

My prayers seem too long
I fall asleep before the ending, don't even get to say Amen - Andre 3000

They say a white man’s yes is a black maybe - Common

And they say it's the white man I should fear
But it's my own kind doing all the killing here - 2pac

Niggas fear what they don't understand, hate what they can't conquer - Nas

Do you really want to win or just look good losing? - Phonte

Sometimes you’ve gotta stand by your failures to recognize your success -Joe Budden

See Martin See Malcolm

See Biggie see Pac see success and its outcome
See Jesus see Judas see Caesar see Brutus
See success is like suicide
Suicide is a suicide
If you succeed, prepare to be crucified - Jay-Z

Picture me inside the misery of poverty,
no man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived - 2pac

Standing on stage in front of thousands
Don't amount to me not havin my father
That's real talk, I know a lot of y'all got 'em
But you need him way more when you gotta go without him
And I'm without him, but that's life y'all
Sometimes you gotta learn to swim with no lifeguard - Lil’ Wayne


I remember being kicked out the house
'cause I looked just like you
Said I'd be nothing but a crook
just like you…

But dog I can't see it at all, sh*t
We never kicked it at all
We never pitched or kicked at a ball
dog, you never taught me sh*t
how to fight, ride a bike, fix a flat
none of that sorts of sh*t - Beanie Sigel

All my life I been considered as the worst
Lyin' to my mother, even stealin' out her purse
Crime after crime, from drugs to extortion
I know my mother wished she got a f*ckin' abortion - Notorious BIG

I turn my TV off, cause I don't wanna look at the news
Hard times seeing people crying, Arabs and Jews
Fighting for they religion, niggas living like niggas
Mexicans on the border, white boys saying kill em
Politicians playing puppet, gotta answer me this
Do you believe you really God? My answer is this… - Scarface

rapSinger...

Nyquil Mixtape of the Week – (noun) A group of five (5) songs that you are currently sleeping on. Either you've never heard them or forgot how much you really love them. Regardless, you need to brush the dust off your CD rack and play them or add them to your collection.

Outside the Box

1. "She Lives in my Lap" – Andre 3000
People still haven't recovered when they found out Dre wasn't rapping.


2. "Hallie's Song" – Eminem
For his daughter. Love will make you express yourself in strange ways.


3. "Player Hater" – Notorious B.I.G.
It was a joke but one of the greatest of all time was singing


4. "Sexual Erruption" – Snoop Dogg
If T-Pain had a baby with the 1970's, this would be the result


5. "Street Lights" – Kanye West
Just Because



Come back every week for a new mixtape!

Jay-Z - Brooklyn We Go Hard (Video)

Dope. Creative Video by Evan Roth

Who is...

God Sent

G.S (God Sent) .. Was born in Harlem, NYC and raised in the Lower Southside of Money Earnin Mount Vernon, NY. Through all of the crime and violence that was very popular in Mt. Vernon during the late 80s and the 90s, GodSent managed to avoid being caught up in the street life and choose music as his escape. It was easy to get caught up out here. A lot of dudes was hustling get serious money and a lot of dudes didnt have money, so it was either be broke or get down with the money makers. I choose to do otherwise. Growing up GodSent was treated like the black sheep or the rebel because of his urge to express his point of view on topics people his age werent vocal about. I wasnt considered a normal dude when I was younger. I had a crazy perception of life for my age and a lot of people couldnt really understand that. Due to that, they labeled me a rebel because my actions and views differed from everybody else. I was punished for going against the grain. Through all lifes frustrations and stresses, music was the only thing that helped GodSent maintain his sanity.

Since the age of 15, GodSent has been pursuing his love for music by molding and enhancing his lyrical talent. With no rap mentor, GodSent was forced to learn how to count bars, form verses and design hooks all on his own. Also with the lack of money for studio time and the lack of funds for original music, he was forced to make his early recording with a boom-box, beat CDs and a tape recorder. Now at 25, all of GodSents struggling and hard work is displayed through his unique and versatile style of rap. Being surrounded by the sounds of such hometown artists as Heavy D, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, it was only natural that GodSents music would reflect a similar and nostalgic style of rhyming through objective and subjective thought.


GodSents musical inspiration is drawn from the streets and the lives of the people who surround him. He paints a vivid picture of life as seen from his eyes and perspective which touches the listeners heart and provokes their thoughts. GodSent, and his partners in music, have established an independent music company known as Tephlon Entertainment. Tephlon Entertainment was created to help the unsigned artists in and around their neighborhood make music and give them hope for a future in music. Tephlon works closely together with others, like themselves, who share the dream of changing music and the hip-hop culture while also bringing fame and respect back to the Money Earnin.

God Sent Myspace

Wait For Me


Loss For Words

The realest s**t I ever wrote

Heartbroken
written by JusHH

Before PTM, I used to write album reviews for another website. I realized that the easiest reviews to write are for albums that you either loved or hated. The thoughts are clearer and its simpler to articulate your points to the audience. It’s reviewing those albums in the bell curve that’s the real challenge. It’s harder to describe that an album is good but not great or mediocre but not terrible with out sounding confused.

Without question the most controversial album to be released since PTM was launched is Mr. West’s latest effort, 808’s and Heartbreak. There have been 7 posts written that mention this album since “Love Lockdown” was leaked. I have found myself in the unenviable position of being in the minority – not really supporting Kanye’s new “look”. This has led to a few shots from my colleagues whizzing past my ear. So of course, it should be me to write the review for this album. So without further ado, I bring to you JusHH’s review of 808’s and Heartbreak.


First off, let’s be clear on what this album isn’t.

This album is not a musical journey of originality and creativity. I don’t care what you want to call it, Hip-Hop, R&B, Neo-Soul, Electro-Pop, European-Techo-Rock, there’s nothing on that album that hasn’t been heard before. Kanye making the decision to use autotune for an entire album isn’t new either. The guy from Tallahassee has been doing this, very successfully I might add, for years. Making an album about love and heartache? Nope. Been done, just look at any R&B artist’s catalogue. A big deal has been made about Kanye stepping outside of his comfort zone as if it’s never happened before. Lauryn did it ten years ago, Andre 3000’s effort was much more shocking and Ye’s labelmate, Common, created an album much farther from the “box” in 2002. So let’s bring this album back to earth for a few minutes. We all together? Great.

Now let’s get to what this album is.

Kanye West’s 4th studio release is one of the purest albums in terms of artistic expression that you will ever hear. One thing that has been missing from music in general has been raw, honest passion to the point where each song is a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the artist. It’s been no secret that life has been incredibly tumultuous for Kanye. Losing his mother and then going through a major breakup with his fiancé has taken a toll on him emotionally. Rather than repress these feelings, he let it all out in his music and allowed us to take the trip with him. This album is also extremely courageous. Considering how fickle fans are today and in the current age of downloads, no artist seems to be guaranteed his next album. So to make an album not giving a f**k about album sales is as remarkable as it is rare. Every song he made, he made for himself and not for us. The music was truly his therapy.

There’s no questioning that Kanye is one of the greatest producers alive, so it’s ironic that it was his lyrics on this album that was the most impressive. Oftentimes, it was his words that helped carry songs with lackluster production (“Welcome to Heartbreak”, “Robocop”, “Bad News”). To help compensate for a lack of a true singer’s voice, Kanye leaned on the “Ghost of Roger Troutman’s past” for support. His inconsistent use of the autotune was the weakest aspect of this album but the depth of his lyrical content that more than made up for this shortcoming. The hooks are nothing short of infectious as you will find yourself reciting them at random times during your day.

“Heartless” and “Street Lights” are the two best songs on this album. They both combine the unbridled passion and pinpoint song structure that we’re used to from Ye. (As opposed to the rambling at the end of “Robocop” or the painfully long instrumental piece at the end of “Say You Will”) Lil’ Wayne and Jeezy also provide quality performances on “See You in my Knightmares” and “Amazing” respectively. If you could take Kanye’s pain, bundle it up and download it on an MP3, you’d get this album. Like most people’s pain, its not clean and packaged perfectly – it’s messy and dark. But the musical flaws are given a human quality that can be appreciated because we are all aware of our own imperfections.

The truth of the matter is…

Kanye is one of my favorite rappers of all time and he’s on his way to being on of the G.O.A.T’s. His first three albums are certified Hip-Hop classics. So when I heard that he was going to switch it up, it reminded me of another legend from Chicago who quit what he did best to hit homeruns. Ye set the bar so high that when I heard his music and it didn’t reach that standard, I had a strong negative reaction. But after listening to the album on my computer, in my car and through the headphones, I was able to see the value, the purpose of this album. 808’s and Heartbreak isn’t like MJ playing baseball, it’s more like Will Smith taking a break from his summer blockbusters to do a more indy-style movie that allows him to showcase his acting skills. You have to view it as apples and oranges and just appreciate it for what it is. This album is undoubtedly his worst but it is a must have because to fully understand Kanye West the artist, you need this album. So until Kanye works on his next I Am Legend, I’ll follow him while he fights his demons in his Pursuit of Happyness.

I just hope he gets back on the court soon.

Wait, what analogy was I using again?