Falling off...

Understanding The Fall
Written by Just K

I remember when I first heard Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers. That right there was a hard album. I had never heard anything like it. The energy was brand new and the slang was outta here. I still don’t understand everything they’re talking about, but it was still sweet. That many MCs, each with his own distinct and unique style, rapping over RZA’s off the wall production. It was a beautiful thing. You had C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck, Method Man, and just a whole gang of classic tracks on that classic album.

Then Wu-Tang Forever dropped a few years after that. Definitely a solid album, but not quite the magic of the debut.

Remember Reasonable Doubt? How about Illmatic? Only Built 4 Cuban Linx? Doggystyle? Indeed. Now do you remember their follow-up albums? Vol. 1, It Was Written, Immobilarity, and The Doggfather? None of the follow-ups were necessarily bad albums. They just weren’t classics like the jumpoff joints. So why the decline in excellence? Well, there are a few possible explanations.

1. When everything is young, fresh, and new (Shout out to Little Brother)

It’s like going on a blind date. You have absolutely no idea what to expect, but when it turns out that she’s a gem, it’s the best thing ever. You’re nervous and anxious. You don’t know how she’s going to look, if you’ll be able to relate to each other, or if the conversation is going to flow smoothly. But when she turns out to be a complete stunner, she says things you’ve never heard in a way you’ve never heard it, and you can still understand it all – ah, the brilliance. And to seal the deal, she does it consistently throughout the date. Who can ask for more?

By the second date, you’re not as surprised anymore. It’s still cool, but you have an idea of what to expect. That initial anxiety has calmed. The shock at how beautiful she is has subsided a bit. You expect those special sayings and quotables now, but they’re slightly less special because you expect them. And it’s still a solid date, but the element of mystery and the unknown aren’t there the second time around.

After a few months you even feel comfortable farting around her, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

2. You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow (Shout out to Eminem)

As an MC all you want is that chance. You just need an opportunity to prove that your flow, your delivery, the way you put words on paper will speak to the people in a way they’ve never been spoken to before. All the hard work, all the grinding, and you finally get a record deal. As an artist in his early 20s, you put all 20something years of skill, charisma, knowledge, and life experience into that debut album. Then what?

Then I guess you’re supposed to make another CD after that, huh?

3. I mean, it’s what you expected, ain’t it? (Shout out to Jay-Z)

You’re a hip-hop fan that just listened to, what you believe to be, one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. What are your expectations now? Do you want more of the same from the artist? If so, you’ll say there’s no growth – no real difference between the first and second album, except it’s not as raw as the debut. Do you want something different from the artist? Then you’ll probably say he strayed too far from the formula that made you love his music. You just want him to top his debut? But you just said it was one of the greatest things hip-hop will ever produce. You want him to outdo that? Really, what do you expect?

The curse of the classic debut is a funny thing. When you start right at the top, the only thing left to do is fall. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to climb to the top again some day.

... Like what the hell am I doing right?

Crucial Conflict
written by JusHH

Gun violence is ugly. There’s nothing poetic, glamorous or redeeming about it. Living in a city that is plagued by murder it breaks your heart to see how little life is valued. After reading about another young child being brutally murdered, I find it hard for me to justify putting on or even reciting lyrics in my head about someone “peeling your cap back with the fifth.” There’s really nothing witty about someone being shot in the head. I find it weird that I don’t face similar guilt when I decide to watch The Matrix. I guess watching Neo shoot up a bunch of computer programs doesn’t resonate as much as a rapper from a neighborhood not too far from where I grew up taking the life of someone who doesn’t look much different than I do. Yet I always come back to the music and I still recite lines that describe aspects of life that makes my eyes well up with tears. This is my conflict.


The one thing that people must always remember is that Hip-Hop lyrics are never the causes of social ills, they are the effects. Do not let the commercialization of Hip-Hop fool you, the harsh words in their rhymes are the realities that millions face everyday. I never considered the neighborhood that I lived in to be a bad neighborhood. I define a bad neighborhood as a place where you can’t escape trouble, even if you tried. While there was trouble around me, I was always able to steer clear of it. Too many aren’t that lucky. Imagine trying to walk home from school scared to death that someone might try and rob you. Then it happens, what do you do? You have to fight. You either get friends (read click, crew, gang) to support you or get a weapon. Because this isn’t like the movies where you punch the bully in the eye and he goes away. No, he comes back with three homies and a bat. This fear manifests itself into anger and aggression. Yeah peace is nice but there’s no room for error when you could be someone’s target at any time. So the attitude is “fuck you” and “anybody that wants it can get it.” The police? Why bother. Half of them think you’re part of the problem and the other half doesn’t care what happens to you. “So fuck them too.” You don’t have to have ten bodies on your gun to understand the mentality that you might have to make that “it’s either him or me” decision on your way back from a house party. You don’t want to think this way but you feel that you don’t have a choice. This is the hood’s conflict.

Some who are born and raised in this environment, found away to express it through words. They weave their own observations, first hand experiences and emotions into vivid street tales of drugs, violence and poverty. These words were their outlet and later, their way out of the hood. Is it their fault that America has this weird fascination with “the hood”? And is it their fault that they can get paid handsomely for it? They’ve been failed by their parent(s), schools and government. Who are we to tell these young rappers to turn down possibly their only way to get real financial success? Ask any rapper if they like or enjoy the realities of their lyrics and they’ll all say no without hesitation. T.I. will still write a rhyme about putting you in a box if you test him because he can’t shake that part of him that feels like his life is at risk. Even at the height of his career, he witnessed one of his close friends being shot to death in a drive-by while on the road. These rappers may not be living the lives of those in which they recite over beats but many if not all of their friends still do. They can’t turn their backs on what they’ve known their entire lives. Plus it’s not like the crowd in their new tax bracket is that welcoming either. A bunch of people who can’t relate and probably doesn’t respect the route that they took to make their money (read “don’t like rap music”). So these rappers stay around what makes them comfortable. The doo-rags, the Tim boots, the slang. Unfortunately, the haters and the thugs aren’t too far behind. So as these young men delicately tow the line between the life they want and the world that they are from, it all gets reflected in their art. It’s how they craft rhymes about the paper that they chase while keeping a steady finger on the trigger. This is the rapper’s conflict.

I guess it is Hip-Hop’s gift and curse – these talented people were able to lift themselves up through their art but their art is rooted in the very thing that is trying to kill them. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect these kids, who are college aged at best, to spearhead the movement toward change, especially when they themselves can so easily be brought down by the same problems that they would try and fix. Hip-Hop culture was created to represent the lives of those in the inner-cities and give them a way to express that to the world. Like it or not, Hip-Hop has always been a mirror that indiscriminately and unapologetically reflects the good, bad and the ugly. If you want Hip-Hop to change, then first you have to fix the social problems that plague the people in it. Because guns and drugs are bigger than any one rhyme, scratch, breakdance or graffiti tag. The problem is, the only thing that might be able to fix these problems is Hip-Hop. But for that to happen, the culture has to change fundamentally from a mirror to a window that sets its sights on a more positive future. People must work together to use the art to help elevate. But its hard to write a rhyme about changing the community when you are worried if you might not make it through the day. This is Hip-Hop’s conflict.

I love Hip-Hop. I love my neighborhood. I love my people. So yes, I will continue to bump it loud and proud in my speakers for those artists who were able to take the ugliest aspects of life and make them beautiful. I will continue to support these rhymes that depict the lives of kids who the greater part of this country would rather ignore. I will also continue to try and think of a way that we can turn this mirror into a window and make a difference so that one day, I can finish reading the local paper and then put on my favorite rap record and not feel so conflicted.

Sixth time around...

LUDA!
written by 4bars

I’ve always said that Ludacris is one of the most underrated rappers in the game. As the Rakim sample says: “MC means move the crowd” and for nearly a decade Luda has done just that. But as I was listening to his new album Theatre of the Mind I figured out via conversation with my boy just why he’s always been underrated all these years.

The most obvious reason for Luda not receiving props is his tendency to make pop music. Many probably think if Luda as a bubble gum rapper for the outlandish videos and the constant guest appearances with R&B cats. But Busta Rhymes makes outlandish videos and T.I. was on the Justin Timberlake CD and neither of them gets overlooked. Maybe it’s the fact that he never sold dope and never claimed to (except for that one time in Bia Bia)? Well you can pick a rapper from Chicago (Ye, Lupe, Common) and they don’t get written off or slept on because of their lack of weight pushing.

The reason Luda is slept on is because his albums lack totality. If you look back at every one of his albums, he’s got about 3 or 4 hard ass tracks where he boasts about how much of a beast he is and puffs out his chest a bit. He has about 2 or 3 funny tracks where he uses his humor and creativity. And he makes sure to have 2 to 5 songs dedicated to the ladies; whether about strippers, big booty “Hoes”, or hoes in different “Area Codes”. The interesting thing about the “Hoe Songs” is that they often double as singles off the album. So as to not totally disappoint, Luda makes sure to put at least one song with some sort of social commentary on his albums so I can’t completely be critical, but it hardly balances out.

As I talked with my boy I realized that Luda is the ultimate cookie cutter rapper when it comes to comprising an album. He’s never had a classic album, which has hampered him greatly, but the reason for this is because all of his albums look the same. His singles usually look the same, his videos, while outlandish and hilarious, are usually expected to be such. Don’t get it twisted, I think he is one of the best lyricists of our generation but his strength also hurts him because in today’s hip hop, you need to have an “edge” to you and Luda is about as feared as Nick Cannon.

This Tuesday, Luda puts out his sixth album and sadly, it fits the mold of his previous 5. But luckily for him, his mass appeal and his lyrical ability manage to salvage this album too. So while I won’t buy it on Tuesday (all my money is going to Mr. West) I will save the 2 or 3 hot tracks on my iPod.

Who is...

88 Keys

Born in Long Island, New York to West African parents, 88' first took an interest in hip-hop after hearing Prince Paul's production on De La Soul’s 1989 critically acclaimed album 3 Feet High and Rising. In the early '90's, 88' met A Tribe Called Quest’s front man Q-Tip, Pete Rock and producer Large Professor working as an intern at West Hempstead’s The Music Palace recording studio. It was Large Professor who gave Charles his 88-Keys moniker after witnessing his skills on the Ensoniq ASR-10 keyboard

However, 88-Keys's parents were strict on education and less enthusiastic about his interest in then-newly emerging cultural phenomenon of hip-hop. Both of 88's parents are registered nurses, his brother is a doctor, one of his older sisters is a nurse and another sister is on her way to becoming a doctor. Upon considering a serious career in music, 88's parents and older brother began trying to point him into the field of medicine because it was a more "professional field" and the music industry didn’t seem like a lucrative move. After briefly attending Hofstra University and Queens College, 88' dropped out to pursue his dreams of being a record producer. His decision was fueled by an opportunity to record some tracks with The Pharcyde who were recording in California. 88' currently resides in New York with his wife and two daughters. In addition to his passion for music, 88' has expressed his love for fashion, most notably Ralph Lauren. During an interview with Metro 88' revealed that for 16 years he has worn Polo Ralph Lauren every day.

“I try to stay true to Ralph’s vision. I don’t want to bastardize his vision — no offense to the urban community — because we all know what happened to Tommy Hilfiger once the hip hop community embraced it. I’ll walk out of the door dressed in loafers when everyone else is wearing Timberland boots. I definitely stand out. I’ll tag along with Kanye on shopping trips and look at clothing by designers whose names I’d need to take French lessons to pronounce. He’ll ask me what I think and I’ll be like, whatever. I’ve turned down paying gigs because they’ve tried to dress me in clothing by other designers. Besides record shopping, the only other place I need is a Polo store. I’ll go to Paris and they’ll be like, ‘here’s the Eiffel tower’ and I’m like, ‘whatever, where’s the record store and the Polo store.”

According to the article, 88-Keys began wearing Polo Ralph Lauren as a Long Island, N.Y. high school student in 1992 when he developed a liking for its classic, preppy style. Since then, he’s worn a complete look from the brand every day, without fail. His wardrobe includes over 700 Polo pieces.

Since his days as an assistant engineer, 88’ has produced records for numerous artists including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Macy Gray, Musiq Soulchild and Consequence. Recently, 88' extended beyond his production credits to highlight his skills on the mic as MC, singer and collaborator, most notably on his solo debut album The Death of Adam released on November 11, 2008. Executively produced by 88's close friend Kanye West, the concept album tells the story of a man named Adam who has been murdered in a loft apartment in Harlem. In August 2008 a fifteen-track mixtape titled, Adam's Case Files, was released as a prequel to The Death of Adam. The album's first single titled "Stay Up! (Viagra)" was officially released through iTunes on September 9, 2008.

Info from Wikipedia
88 Keys MySpace

88 Keys ft. Kanye West - Stay Up (Viagra)


Record release party

PTM is better than your blog...

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.

1. "Move Somethin" – Talib Kweli
Talib and Hi-Tek know what they are doing


2. "You Gots to Chill" – EPMD
The most sampled group in the history of Hip-Hop


3. "Murda 4 Life" – Ja Rule & Memphis Bleek
The king of falling off and the king of disappointment come together for a classic


4. "Cell Therapy" – Goodie Mob
Tough.


5. "The Emperor's Soundtrack" – Lupe Fiasco
Such a great song, such a classic album


Come back every week for a new mixtape!

Self Check?

Loyalty
written by Just K

Any frequent visitor of PTM knows that I’m pretty much the only blogger on this site that refuses to cop the new Kanye joint whenever it drops (yeah, I’m not even checking for the release date). My colleagues, however, are willing to take a trip with Kanye as he ventures way outside the box. When an artist like Yeezee can go that far away from what we’re accustomed to and you guys can stick by him, hell, you deserve boarding passes on whatever spaceship he hopped on.

But then that got me to thinking. Am I the problem? Am I what’s wrong with hip-hop?

Really, Just K, where is your loyalty? Are you the fickle hip-hop fan? You know the type. The “fan” that doesn’t really invest in an artist – just the songs you like. Are you the guy that only picks and chooses a few songs from a disc, but doesn’t really look at or appreciate the whole project and what it represents as a whole? And you call yourself a hip-hop fan.


Look what you did to Jay-Z. Sure it was a rushed project, but he tried to do something different with the Kingdom Come album. Jay really tried to make a mature project for the button-up crowd. And what happened when his “fans” completely ripped apart his attempt at a creative departure from his modus operandi? Jay went right on back to his comfort zone with American Gangster. Can you imagine what would’ve happened if we didn’t allow Outkast to leave their box? The Speakerboxxx/Love Below project would’ve never happened. Or what if we made Snoop stick to his thug persona and nothing else? We wouldn’t have gotten the Rhythm & Gangsta album, the gem of a song that was Sexual Seduction, or even the pimp that brought us those lovely Girls Gone Wild featuring Snoop Dogg videos (thanks Uncle Snoop, for the joy that $9.99 plus shipping and handling can bring).

So back to you Just K. You know how the system works. True MCs don’t want to be pigeonholed and confined. They need room to grow and experiment. If an experiment doesn’t succeed financially, labels are quick to pull in the reins and force an artist into trying to produce an imitation of his earlier work on the next go ‘round. With all of the quality Kanye has brought you in the past, he takes one step to the left with 808s and Heartbreak and you’re just going to turn your back on him, huh? Damn, homey. I guess if the title of a Kanye CD ain’t got nothing to do with college you don’t want any part of it. That’s cool. One attempt at something different and you’re out. That’s cool. YOU AIN’T EVEN HEAR ALL THE SONGS YET!! Again, that’s cool. Don’t trip.

Just remember, the next time you hear an artist doing the same thing over and over and over again, don’t you dare ask him to try something new. Don’t even think about asking him to step out the box. After all, “fans” love boxes.

All Eyez...

2Pacalypse… Now
written by JusHH

Any and everyone who knows me know that 2Pac was, is and will probably always be my favorite rapper. Considering that, I thought it was amazing that after almost a year and 50 posts, Pac was only the main subject of two of them (“Fanatic” & “Anatomy of a G.O.A.T.”). Keep in mind Soulja Boy has been the subject of two of my posts and I’ve probably mentioned Young Jeezy more times. I watched Tupac: Ressurection the other night (excellent documentary, if you haven’t you really should) and I recently rocked the Makaveli album and realized that I need to give my dude some PTM face time. So here’s some random but poignant Pac thoughts…


He did way too many songs with the Outlawz. They weren’t wack but classics like “Hail Mary” or “Hit Em Up” would have been so much better if he just did the song by himself.

Tupac was shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 2006 and passed 6 days later. On September 6, 2006… well let’s just say that Pac had a few people who didn’t like him. And let’s face it, Pac deserved a lot of the dislike that came his way. His most recent music was more angry than uplifting. He cursed out countless rappers and public personalities on songs and interviews. He said things about people that can only be settled with a fist fight in the school yard and rode thick with the most despised man in Hip-Hop history. Right or wrong, 2Pac probably had more enemies than friends before Vegas. So when he was killed, everyone started speaking about Pac like he was Mother Teresa. Rappers who Pac literally cursed out, made tribute songs. I always wondered, what do Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Puffy and Nas really feel about 2Pac? In their home and away from their cameras, do they not really give a f**k that he’s dead and only speaks about him to appease the fans? Or is it honest maturity and they really forgave him and respect him as an artist?

50 Cent, Ja Rule, DMX, The Game, and countless others have made or enhanced their fame based on the idea that people thought they were the next “Pac” or they themselves bragged that they were as real or as gangster or as great as 2Pac was. I just wonder what these guys would have been saying if Pac didn’t die?

Pac made being shot and surviving cool and a great career boost. How ridiculous is that?

Could you imagine someone taking a Shakespeare play and changing all of the words or the climax before it’s presented to the public? It’s one thing to take an existing work and creatively re-do it (c. the countless versions of Romeo & Juliet) but to alter it from jump is silly. But that’s exactly what happened with 2Pac’s music. Before his death, 2Pac recorded an estimated 180-200 unreleased songs. If you take 12 tracks, you can release at minimum 15 albums of original music. What Hip-Hop fan wouldn’t want to hear Pac’s music the way he actually made it? Who the f**k wants to hear Young Buck, Eminem, T.I. and Trick Daddy on a song with him? I’m more mad at Em for what he did to the Resurrection soundrack (except for “Runnin’”) than for the Encore album. Who’s freggin’ idea was it to change the music? Someone in the Amaru camp needs to re-release some of these songs over the beats in ’95 and not over Timbaland’s… please.

I’m not sure what age is too old to have a 2Pac poster hanging on your wall. Is he in the Bob Marley category where he transcends age and is just a cultural icon? Someone please advise.

I loved how when Pac became Makaveli, every dude in the hood instantly became an expert in the Italian philosopher’s views. I read The Prince, and people were soooo wrong. FYI – Makaveli is actually spelled (Niccolo) Machiavelli.

Yes. I made the decision to read the book because of Pac but at least I read it. Lol.

After watching Resurrection, I wondered if Jada’s real true love was Pac. Sorry Willie.

I would like to remind rappers why Pac was so great. It wasn’t because of witty metaphors or being able to make a club banger with an R&B hook, it was because he made passionate music from heart that touched people’s souls. It’s why music is such a powerful force and why after 12 years he’s still the most famous rapper in the world.