Day 307: Check the aPROcalypse Mixtape for you 90's Hip-Hop babies

First and foremost, Happy New Year to everybody out there! Hope the Mayans didn't kidnap you and y'all are still alive =x

So, I finally checked out the recent mixtape that came out during the holiday break called aPROcalypse which features Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era crew. I've only listened through about half of the tracks and I'm already impressed with the sounds & samples used, lyrical vocab, and overall production of these tracks. If you thought the 1999 mixtape was dope, well then you'll be excited for this one too.

Peep this mixtape ASAP if you grew up listening to 90s Hip-Hop. This will definitely have a tune for your ears #TRUSTME

On another note, still can't forget about the sad news regarding Capital STEEZ... more info about that here. May he RIP #RIPCapitalSTEEZ

Check a live stream of the aPROcalypse mixtape after the jump...

Day 247: Happy bday to J Dilla, a Hip-Hop genius (Tribute)

- Stussy Documentary: Part 2
- Stussy Documentary: Part 3

Happy bday to J Dilla. He was a musical genius, a Hip-Hop architect, and one of the greatest beat-makers there ever lived. He was so insanely-talented at making hip-hop beats and cutting/mixing samples that people considered him "alien." Like he was from another planet or something to come up with the beats he created.

For those in New York, there will be a tribute party for J Dilla called Donuts are Forever happening on Feb 19th. It looks like this has been happening for a while as this will be the 6th year they've held this tribute for J Dilla. I encourage everyone in NY to go, especially if you love hip-hop or just music in general.

More info here: hiphopwired.com

RIP J Dilla.

Day 202: Rock the Bells - Where Hip-Hop stays true and is still alive (Events)

- Nas on stage performing..

8/20/11 (San Bernadino, CA): So, I wasn't sure if I was going to go to Rock the Bells this past Saturday but luckily I was able to get one of my good music homies to come out with me.

I left LA pretty late so I didn't get to enjoy RTB to it's fullest but I managed to check out a bit of Erika Badu & Mobb Deep, saw Nas peform, and ended the cold night with some Lauryn Hill. Yea, it was freakin cold cuz I was wearing a T-shirt & shorts expecting it to be super hot over there. #wardrobefail

Anyways, here's a video I took of one of my new favorite songs by Nas & Common called "Ghetto Dreams." Chekkit live right here:



======================================================


- Still a lot of Hip-Hop fans here as you can see...

Regardless of missing a lot of performances during the day, I'm grateful I was able to go & enjoy live Hip-Hop and be surrounded by Hip-Hop heads for once. It seems like they're hard to find around here in LA since everybody around me listens to that electro/dub-step sh*t, or maybe I need to start looking for them...

Day 190: 9th Wonder x A Tribe Called Quest - Hip-Hop Documentary Movies (Trailers)

9th Wonder - The Wonder Year

- Release Date: July 28th. More info here: 2dopeboyz

TCQ - Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest

- Release Date: Out now! More info here: beatsrhymesandlife

I've been keeping tabs on these recent documentary movies about Hip-Hop, and just wanted to share this with ya'll. If you're truly a fan of Hip-Hop then I suggest everyone check out the above documentary movies.

I still need to check out the TCQ one that's already out; heard it's really good.

Day 171: Keepin it old school with Outkast - Da Art of Storytelling (Music Video)

Since there hasn't been much hip-hop news that's really caught my attention lately, I've decided to just keep it old school with all the posts this week. Here's another one of my favorite classic hits from Outkast. #ItsLikeThatNow

Need to get my mind off work cuz it's been such a hectic week for me, and this song does a good job of that. I swear if I'm ever having a rough day, I can just turn on some good tunes and it will make me feel all better. This is why I love good music so much.. this is how I cope.

#TGIF

Day 170: A classic Nas track ft. R. Kelly - Stream Dreams (Music Video)

Nas - Stream Dreams (Remix) ft. R. Kelly


This is one of my favorite classic tracks by Nas featuring R. Kelly (when he was the most normal). Definitely one of Nas' smoother & chiller songs from back in the day.

I can really chill to this all-day; this song can even put me to sleep.. just two more days til the weekend and then I can do some real chillin, haha!

Enjoy this classic Nas track tho.

#ClassicThursdays

Day 169: Pete Rock breaking down beats on the MPC (Video)

I'm just starting to grow an interest in beat-making and I found this video quite interesting. It's an old clip of the legendary Pete Rock giving us a glimpse of how he makes beats on an MPC. #inspired

I really want to learn how to make beats as a side hobby b/c I enjoy music (hip-hop) so much, but I understand it's way more complicated than it is. For starters, I just got this beat-making program called Reason 4 so ima mess around with that for now ;)

Maybe one day I'll get to a level where I can get my own MPC. Until then, I gotta put in the work to learn this craft...

Saw it here first: vladtv.com

Day 168: Happy Father's Day - Saigon x Fatherhood (Music Video)

Saigon - Fatherhood ft. Lokz

- Alt Audio Link

"And it might sound cliche, but I'm lovin you much more each day; 
Even though me & your mother don't click, if it benefit you then I do whatever she say;
that's Fatherhood."
- Saigon

Saigon is very inspiring with his lyrics in this song and in so many others, which is why I'm a big fan of his underground music. Yea he comes out with the raw stuff from time to time but overall he makes such good quality songs that's meant to uplift and motivate people. If you like chill beats + deep lyrics then you'll like Saigon.

The beats he raps over in a majority of his songs are ridiculously dope, which is another reason why I can vibe so well with his music. One of my all-time favorite Saigon albums is with Statik Selektah called All In A Day's Work. Check it out.

To all them hardworking dads out there, Happy Father's Day.

Day 166: I don't just say it, "I DO IT" - Big Sean (Music Video)

Big Sean - I Do It

- Alt Audio Link

I've talked about this track in a previous post here, so I'm not gonna go into it. I just wanted to post up the music video b/c this song is dope and I'm becoming a fan of Big Sean's music.

There is so much good hip-hop coming out this Summer it's like in rapidfire mode right now, which is fkin awesome. I think that dull moment in hip-hop is over and now we're gonna see a lot of dope music roll out through the rest of the year.

FYI, Big Sean's album called Finally Famous will be coming out towards the end of this month (6/28). Be on the lookout for that.

#IDOIT

Day 165: I wish I had a "600 Benz" - Rick Ross x Wale x Jadakiss (Music Video)

Rick Ross - 600 Benz ft. Wale & Jadakiss

- Alt Audio Link

Here's a cool music video of the latest single from the Maybach Music Group album titled Self Made Vol. 1 in stores now.

I just got to listening to this album and I gotta say it's filled with mostly hard sounding beats, but there are some tracks that are orchestrated really well. Lyrically, it's ehhhh and I'm not fully in-tune to the hardcore rappin they do, but if you just like listening to good beats and are a fan of Wale & Rick Ross then go cop it here. This is the kinda music you just bump to.

I knew I recognized one of the sample sounds they used on this track; it sounds like they got it from this Lloyd Banks track: Take Em To War (ft. Tony Yayo). Do you know what I'm talking about? This is a dope song too btw

Saw the music video here first: Complex

Did I say how much I love this magazine? #mysource

Day 164: Get on the "Fast Lane" - Royce & Eminem aka Bad Meets Evil (Music Video)

- Alt Audio Link

Royce da 5'9" = Bad, Eminem = Evil. Bad meets Evil... Get it? Good.

Ok, I'm done with today's lesson so go cop their new album Hell: The Sequel which drops today in stores everywhere. If you've heard Royce & Eminem's music from back in the day & you're a true hip-hop head then you need to go get this. Support a style of real hip-hop.

You can also get it here if you're a lazy mofo.

I can't wait to get me a copy of their album after work #CANTWAIT

Day 163: When Bad Meets Evil - A Cool Animated Cover via Complex x Royce x Em

Complex Magazine always does alot of cool stuff in the hip-hop space and just knows how to give the fans/readers what they want.

Here's a cool animated cover they just posted up with Eminem & Royce the 5'9"; right on time of the release of their collaboration album Hell: The Sequel, which is out tomorrow 6/14. GO GET IT!

More info about this right here: Complex

I'm such an avid Complex reader; my kind of reading material all right there. I can't get enough of it! #dopemagazine

Day 161: You think Wiz Khalifa smokes too much? - Reefer Party (Music Video)

Wiz Khalifa - Reefer Party ft. Chevy Woods & Neako

- Alt Audio Link

Dam, now that's a paaaarty!

So this is what Wiz Khalifa does on his free time.. he sure does know how to roll one up though! It looks like Nipsey Hussle gets in on one of his his blazin sessions too #livinthelife

Wiz's homie makes a funny comment towards the end of the video: "Oh my goodness man, that is stupid!" #lol

Impressive Wiz.. very, very impressive. Can you roll one up for me sometime?? =X

Saw it here first: Hypetrak

Day 160: One of the Rising Voices of the WestCoast - Nipsey Hussle (Music Video)

Nipsey Hussle - Keys To The City

- Alt Audio Link

Everybody knows that the majority of rappers reppin the WestCoast are always keeping it raw & real. Here's one of those type of artists named Nipsy Hussle reppin LA, and has been "hustling" his way in the music game since his first mixtape that dropped in 2005 (Slauson Boy Vol. 1).

He was also dubbed a part of the Freshmen class of 2010 by XXL, and since then he's gained more attention outside the WestCoast and it's only gonna continue growing. I can see Nipsey becoming a bigger name but that will all depend on if/when he debuts an actual album. I think he's ready though.

FYI, this track above is off his mixtape called The Marathon that you can listen to right here. It's a pretty good mixtape so go get it.

Saw it here first: 2dopeboyz

Day 159: Get Familiar - What Slaughterhouse is all about (Video)

For those of you not familiar with Slaughterhouse, check out this interview by FreeOnSMASH.

Get to know Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5'9", & Crooked I a bit more and understand their perspective on the group, the culture, & their music. This is why I'm such a big fan #inspired

Saw it here first: 2dopeboyz

Day 158: Slaughterhouse @ HoB in Hollywood, CA - Recap (Videos)

5/31/11 - Hollywood, CA: This past Tuesday, I went to go check out my favorite & THE most lyrically-talented hip-hop group called SLAUGHTERHOUSE!! The show was #EPIC

Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, and Royce da 5' 9" each have their own unique rap style when they spit on the mic, and whenever they get in the zone they can spit some real crazy/raw sh#t. Their music is definitely not for everybody, but if you are truly a hip-hop head then you'll appreciate their music for what it's for & how they present it as an artist; not necessarily by the literal content of what they rap about.

Besides Slaughterhouse, there is no other real hip-hop group out there like them these days, period.

Here are some videos I took at the show:

Royce da 5' 9" - Fast Lane (ft. Eminem - not shown)



Joe Budden - Sober Up ft. Crooked I



Slaughterhouse - The One



#HipHopatitsFinest

Props to my homie J.Li for hooking me up & coming with me to the show.

I got more videos of other music stuff on my Youtube Channel right here: DaysofJ28 Chekkit!

Day 157: Play Your Part - Rick Ross x Wale x Meek Mill x Chester French (Music Video)

Rick Ross - Play Your Part ft. Wale, Meek Mill, & Chester French

- Alt Audio Link

"You think you're using me, like this game's new to me, but you ain't confusing me..."
- Chester French

I don't like playing game & can see right through that sh#t, so just like the chorus says.. see we'll be cool as long as you just play your part.

This is one of my favorite tracks I've been bumping in my playlist, which is off the new Self Made Vol. 1 album that just dropped by the Maybach Music Group. I haven't heard the whole album yet but I deem it worth the $ so far.

#TGIF

Day 156: Listen to this Track! - Oh My ft. Fabolous x Wiz x Roscoe Dash (Music Video)

DJ Drama - Oh My ft. Fabolous, Wiz Khalifa, & Roscoe Dash

- Alt Audio Link

I posted this track before, but I just wanted to share this music video that just popped up last week. Funny seeing Kevin Hart make a cameo in there but he's always being a funny d00d wherever he is, haha!

FYI, they use a cool camera zoom trick, similar to the scenes in the movie Limitless when he blacks out (awesome movie btw!). Just thought I'd let y'all know.

#AlmostFriday!

Day 155: Happy Memorial Day Peeps! - Wale ft. Tiara Thomas (Music Video)

Wale - The Cloud ft. Tiara Thomas

- Alt Audio Link

With today off work, I just wanna relax & chill from a weekend full of late night partying.. #hungover

On that note, check out this chill Wale track over a smooth-sounding guitar instrumental. I wish I could be in the music video with them enjoying the good times, haha!

Someone light one up for me in honor of the fallen who have died for our country. God Bless.

Have a nice Memorial Day!

Day 154: Kendrick Lamar is such a Musical Genius - HiiiPower (Music Video)

Kendrick Lamar - Hiii Power

- Alt Audio Link

Kendrick Lamar is becoming one of my favorite new generation artists these days (among Big Sean, J. Cole, & Wiz Khalifa), especially because he's reppin the new WestCoast! #hollaaa

Known as Dr. Dre's prodigy to most, he's definitely on a good path with his career as he's been making quality music and has collaborated with like-minded artists on some real hip-hop (none of that mainstream stuff!).

He's also a genius when it comes to making beats and puts in so much creativity & passion in his lyrics, which is why I think he's so dope.

Be on the lookout for a collaboration album with J. Cole to drop sometime this year (supposedly).

Saw it here first: 2dopeboyz.com