www.m3hiphop.com - $$$$

Interludes (except in the nude) are rarely a good idea. Often, they are space-filling, imagination lacking, smack-worthy and pompous expressions of “just because I can”.  The interludes on this emcee merger of an album, though, work to counter that status by digging deep into The Real. The interactions with the agent/publicist is telling of the truth stranger than fiction, from the runaround that accompanies day-to-day dealings with the industry’s go-betweens, to the drama incurred by the artist (divas) that gets too big for his/her britches. The frustration of the unappreciated merch guy is hilarious, and anyone who has ever had a shit service job/helped out their starving rapper friends will identify. But like Skeelo warned us so many years ago, the people you step on to get to the “Top of the Stairs” are the same folks you’ll meet on the way down, and believe me, they have every right to be merciless. To the poor boyfriend who gets beat up by the bouncer because his girlfriend wanted some rapper dick, awww, you don’t stand a chance, buddy, but more on that later.

The chemistry between Masta Ace, Stricklin, Punchline, and Wordsworth is clear, through their flow and their sense of humour, and this is the perfect example of what good can come of assembling your own crew and making a record you can all be proud of. It may not be flashy or sexxxy (like Jay-Z and R. Kelly, or Bow Wow and Omarion, for example) but nor will it sound like it was all recorded in separate basements and linked up through internet like a Beenie Man and Janet Jackson duet either. No mash ups here, and by definition, no mash. All the food is distinct and equally nutritious (unlike the Jim Crow attempts of the aforementioned). Egos (between doods, not the general swagger of the sausage party) are checked, cats are rhyming heavy like first day periods, and there’s something for everyone-plenty for the heads, and enough for the ADD set (good on first listen, great after multiple rotations).

Although subject matter in music has basically plateaued, there is still creativity in how you flip it. It’s not what you do, but how you do it. And the relationship track, “Don’t Give Up on Us”, is great because it’s honest (I think I made this comment about E-Dot and Darp Malone, as well as Truth Universal and I’m glad that fellas are finally starting to speak realistically about love on wax), “I know I haven’t worked in two months…birthdays, I was late with gifts…picking you up, I straight forgot…but don’t give up on us”.

You don’t have to have dated a rapper to feel that, you just have to have dated, and it’s nice to hear believable experience reflected in the sea of ridic(k)ulous anthems to weed out gold diggas like “21 Questions” along the lines of “If I wasn’t a six-figga ni**a by the name of Jigga…”, the truth is, most rappers are broke, and most of their ladies are champions for sticking it out. Especially since, as evidenced by the track “Borrow You”, they don’t cheat on their wives/girlfriends, they only fuck on tour (bigup to Eternia, who not only voiced the answering machine recording for the album, but also provided the insight/advice to ladies to get tested every time their man comes home from an extended bizness trip) The song is slick and everything, but really, that’s how cats roll, they come through for a fortnight, pick a lady (regardless of whether or not either one of them is attached), wine, dine, pump a rump, and bounce. So, hopefully, for all parties involved, people are wise enough to wrap it up.

The nostalgia track is also great in the way that it’s not preachy, anti-change, or lazy in the way that it exempts everyone from even engaging with the musical work that is still being done (it doesn’t stop at, “Aw, shit’s not the same as it used to be, man”). It does state in factual examples, that just because something is new, doesn’t automatically guarantee that it’s improved. Look at Barbie, her hair used to be made out of cornsilk, and now it’s so cheap, you can’t even brush it, like Britney, she had to downgrade her weave and the shit looks permanently jacked up as soon as she comes out the box.

“In Odd We Trust” serves as a prequel to the first Odd Thomas novel. The ghost of a young boy appears to Odd, and he embarks on a quest to bring justice to the boy’s killer so that his ghost can move on. Odd’s friend, the Chief of Police Wyatt Porter, share some details of the case, and informs him that the boy’s babysitter is the one that discovered the body. The babysitter turns out to be Sherry Sheldon, a childhood friend of Odd’s girlfriend and soulmate, Stormy Llewellyn. Sherry relates that a stalker has been leaving her disturbing notes for several months, and believes this stalker may be the murderer. Odd and Stormy resolve to catch the stalker before he kills again.

(more…)

“A Man Who Was Superman” is a story about an unlikely “hero” played by Hwang who goes out of his way to help and rescue the planet by helping senior citizens cross the street and hand-standing in the middle of the road “to push away’” the detrimental effects of the suns rays. Jun plays the role of Song Su-jeong, a cynical documentary filmmaker who records his story.

Kryptonite is a fictional substance that weakens Superman’s powers in the original American comic series. In the movie, his character claims to have kryptonite stuck in his head, and when Song (Jun) discovers through an X-ray that there really is something in his brain, she knows she has the story of her life…

Michiko is a free-willed “sexy diva” who destroyed a supposedly inescapable fortress, while Hatchin is a girl fleeing her strict foster parents. The two join forces on an improbable escape to freedom, with a woman named Atsuko Jackson in hot pursuit.

From the same director who brought us Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo comes “Michiko to Hatchin”, with music composed by the genius himself Shinichiro Watanabe. This series just screams style go check out the trailer, on a side note can anyone say bitch fight! LOL!

Fourteen-year-old Kouichi Hayase’s life has always been a mediocre one, if not dismal. However, those days of being bullied by classmates and escaping to a fantasy of being a hero are put to an end when a certain “accident” bestows on him a girl and a gigantic humanoid robot called “LINEBARREL”. The extraordinary power that Kouichi obtains puts him and everything around him on a sudden rollercoaster ride of battles, intrigues and friendship.

During the course of his adventure, the boy starts to learn what life has to offer; he meets new friends, bids farewell to the old ones, but most of all he now has considerable responsibilities and is forced to confront the world around him. I know almost absolutely nothing about this upcoming title, other than the fact that it is based off a manga. But the preview looks really good so I will keep a eye on this one. More information about Kurogane no Linebarrel can be found on the Official Site.

The immortal girl, “Shikabane Hime,” has the mission to “kill” 108 corpses. It’s a contract she has between herself and the Buddhist monk, Keisei. After 108 corpses, she will finally get her happiness and go to heaven. The story starts off with a bunch of high school students, taking the dare to go into at abandoned building that has been half destroyed by a fire. It was rumored to be haunted. Just a rumor, right? Not when real corpses start showing up and attacking them. And that is where they meet the Shikabane Hime.

I am pretty amped to watch this, since the manga was a really good read and the fact that its Gainax the very same people who bought us Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is going to be doing the animation so it can only mean good things. It is slated for release in October more information about the anime can be found on the Official Site, also check out the trailer that was released for it today.

A promotional video has been released for the upcoming Lucky☆Star OVA series today, which is due for release in Japan on the 26th of September. Pity it has no subtitles but judging from the footage, it is going to be just as good as the TV series. Check out the Promotional video.

www.dpgrecordz.com - $$(1/2)

Daz Dillinger needs no introduction.  As an official alumni of the world’s most infamous record label, ‘Deathrow,’ his name coincides with the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Suge and Tupac as it relates to the mid-90’s gangsta rap era.  Perhaps not as famous or in the constant limelight as his former associates–thru the years Daz has managed to stay current with a number of releases both independent and mainstream.

With the release of Only On The Left Side, (and with hardcore hip-hop taking a back seat to club-and-party anthems), Daz looks to make a statement that just because the industry has went left and Snoop gone all-experimental–that the gangsta party has never really ended!

Never one for bashful introductions, Daz opens up with the hard-hitting, “Squeeze” that literally snatches the listener by the ears. His production has matured since his days of kickin‘ it in the lab with Dr. Dre,
and the worn-out G-Funk formula of sampling old Parliament records has been deserted. Incorporating more keyboard and synthesizers techniques into his style, it’s tracks like “Blaze Up Tha Weed” that
gives an ominous (almost sinister) tone that‘s coupled with hardcore hip-hop.

A few key surprises take place as Daz connects with fellow Westsider Keak Da Sneak on the bouncy, “Dip Drop Stop Dip,” and on the head-turning , “My Wayz R Shady” featuring the on-point flow of Obie Trice. A collabo that should have taken place years ago, finally comes to fruition as one-time label rival Krayzie Bone comes together with Daz on the masterfully executed “Meal Ticket.”

Emceeing never really being a strong suit,  (honestly, Daz hasn’t spit anything on the mic remotely worth mentioning since his appearances on the first Chronic and Dogg Pound albums)–and Only On The Left Side follows suit, as listening to Daz ‘flow’ is comparable to ice skating over hot coals.  He’s always spit with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder against friend and foe alike, but without proper ‘ammunition’ his words just comes off as frantic. Daz does his best to try bring a more personable atmosphere to the set with the buddy track “Me & My Cuzzin” featuring an invigorated Snoop, and as well on the socially conscious, “Regretz”– but the overall  subject matter of  weeds, guns and bust-it babies becomes a bit grating.

Outside of the Swizz Beatz produced, “I’m From The Hood,” Only On The Left Side relies too heavily on its littered guest features.  The limited subject is expected, but at times Daz’s lack-of anything to focus on just comes off as overkill. On the production side of things, Daz has most definitely upped the ante on who the ‘go-to-guy’ should be when it comes to beats. But if he really wants the top spot of recognition, he’s gonna to have to upgrade the rhymes as well. Or find a better ghostwriter.

Breaking News

Maguire and Raimi to rekindle Spider-Man franchise

I for one am very excited. It has been rumored for weeks now, only to be confirmed earlier today. Well hopefully Raimi gets to have his way and not have villains thrown on him and shoved down his throat. I personally don’t believe the blame is entirely on him, just the studio wanting too much in so little time. Spider-Man, to me, is the greatest comic hero ever created. Yes, even above Big Blue or the Caped Crusader. His creation revolutionized how things were done. However, I digress. This is how Marvel will try and stay ahead of the game…especially with DC on the verge to bombard our cinemas with Wonder Woman, Green Lanter, Green Arrow, etc.

R.A.V.A.G.E. - American Monsta - With soooo many trails having already been blazed (with varied success, I might add), some would say that a Remix project is the last thing hip-hoppa’s world-wide wanna hear! I mean let’s face it, remix projects are soooo 2002, right? (Wrong!!) Check out R.A.V.A.G.E’s rendition of Jay-Z’s American Gangster album! It’s right up there with 9th Wonder’s God’s Stepson and Dangermouse’s The Grey Album!! Proper with a Capital P! Download: American Monsta

Midaz the Beast - I guess what’s old is new again (see above), as Flo-Town’s own Midaz the Beast takes-on the daunting task of mixing his rhymes over the beats of noneother than Soul Brother #1, Pete Rock!! Y’all all know Pete’s been doin’ this for years (“T.R.O.Y.,” “Don’t Curse,” “The World Is Yours”), and Midaz ever the hungry emcee promises to bring his A-game!  Says Midaz of the project “I wanted to test my pen against greatness..” And a young Will Smith thought he could “Beat Mike Tyson” too!

Download: Pete Rock Vs MidaZ The BEAST

This was in my inbox when I got off work this afternoon. Brilliant.

Have a snazzy partisan free, neighbor-loving day.

Eks

Josh Dysart (BPRD: 1946, The Unknown Soldier) posted this gem on his blog over on MySpace.

Try to have an ignorance free weekend…it’s going to be hard, trust me.

The fine folks over at Pink Kryptonite has scored a very interesting and insightful interview with current Ultimate X-Men scribe, Aron Coleite. The interview is worth a read alone for the in-depth discussion on gay characters in comics. Check out it out here:

http://www.pinkkryptonite.com/2008/09/interview_with_aron_coleite.html