Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth

Are you fed up with the same old bullshit? No, that wasn’t meant about your job, I’m talking about the music industry, hip-hop to be specific. The whole thing is messed up. People talkin’ bout snappin’ and jivin’; gets them millions. What happened to the real hip hop? No one wants to hear about ass shaking on every song, and most people do not have enough money to MAKE IT RAIN (c) Pac-Man Jones on a consistent basis.

So with that in mind, where does that leave us? Well, in a rut of sorts – but these guys think they have the answer, or atleast part of it. This project is known as Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth. An internet phenomenon if you will, this highly regarded album is ten tracks of dopeness that wants to show the world that real hip hop still exists – something that expresses passion, determination, and love for the culture. Rapper Free Speech and producer Ro Blvd. gave away this cd for free on the internet; I’m just here to share it with you. Most people have heard of this already, so I’m sorry if I don’t present new information to some of you, but we need to wake the sleeping heads.

So, download this, post a banner somewhere, and make sure not to eat any Laffy Taffy. It rots your teeth, and to be honest, doesn’t even taste very good.

Download Links:
Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth – ZIP
Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth – RAR
Ro Blvd’s Early Morning: The Album ZIP // RAR
(If you don’t have this – pick it up now. It’s dope as hell!)

A Piece Of Strange: An Appreciation

By definition, a concept album is “unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical”. A concept album in hip-hop is rare these days. One that’s done well is even rarer…more rare. (Is rarer a word?) The third album from Cunninlynguists is known as A Piece Of Strange. It receieved good reviews in numerous magazines, including XXL and I believe Stylus, as well as strong consideration on the internet music discussions. (While also having a dope cover I might add.)
The cover insert on the cd states that this album “follows the story of a man and those closest to him in their struggles with right and wrong, love and hate, faith and sin”. On the website www.whatisapos.com, track-by-track breakdowns, lyrics, and other things are included to help explain the story. When I first heard the album – I’ll be honest. I hated it. I had no idea what was going on, and why people were attracted to this music. Then randomly one day, I discovered that site, read the interpretation, and thought to myself “Well, self, this is pretty interesting. I’ll listen again.” I did, and as the story goes, I’ve loved the album ever since that second or third listen through. If you haven’t seen this, you need to.

Track By Track:
1. Where Will You Be?
Foreshadows the events and raises the big question for all the characters, especially Deacon the Villain (protagonist)
2. Since When
Deacon and Natti represent the South, but are tired of being slept on. This is kind of their anthem where they brag, but also show a little frustration that they are not being heard.
3. Nothing To Give
After Deacon’s frustration, he goes out at night and this is what he sees. This song shows what the characters will go through; the “sin” theme for all characters.
4. Caved In (MP3)
With Deacon witnessing all those bad things, he needs something or someone to make him happy. He “can’t hold on.” (Can’t hold on” is sung by Cee-Lo throughout the song.)
5. Hourglass
This is the light at the end of the tunnel. Looking for something or someone to make him happy, Deacon just wants a girl. It seems like Deacon is just asking for a girl, or if you think a double meaning, then weed.
6. Beautiful Girl (MP3)
About aforementioned girl / weed. Lyrics are more appropriate for the weed, but the double meaning is apparent.
7. Inhale (Interlude)
He’s getting high / fucking said girl. At the end of the song, he is “high” (either drugs or on love), and this is the beginning of the rest of the album.
8. Brain Cell
This song describes the baby that comes into this world – It’s about being trapped in life since you’re born till you die. Look out for all the “square” words.
From Kno: Brain Cell represents a person allowing themselves to be mentally imprisoned and in turn, physically…it is about what COULD happen, not what actually happens. Natti’s last 4 bars resolve this. More specifically to the story, it is the realiztion of his own fate/possible outcome through an “imagined” future for his child who has been introduced into the story. The protagonist is obviously grown here, why would Brain Cell be about him in a literal sense?
9. America Loves Gangsters
Shows the return to the dark side. When you can no longer find religion, people find violence instead, The spoken word at the end (done by Tim Means) explains the meaning.
10. Never Know Why
Direct from www.whatisapos.com:
“Deacon’s verse is about Tonedeff’s character which he can become.
Immortal Technique’s character is the other person he can become.
A grand daughter (of an hourglass lady..YEAH OH SHIT! It’s coming together!) is in need of help. She is put in front of Tone’s/Immortal’s doorstep. Tone, being a racist, old-fashioned bitch, was a bitch about it. Now he’s dead and lost the chance to know her. Nice job dick.”
11. The Gates
Tone’s character is a white firefighter. He’s just died, he’s at the Gates making a confession / trying to get into heaven. “His wife, from another race, died, so therefore he thinks life would be easier if he stuck to his race. He’s pissed his seed repeated his mistake.”
12. Damnation (Interlude)
Tone falling to hell. Pretty self – explanatory.
13. Hellfire (MP3)
Another track that’s fairly self – explanatory. Tone is burning.
14. Remember Me
The hourglass is done. Deacon has sobered up. Deacon’s character thinks about what Mary Jane has showed him in the vision. “Sample voice: “Remember Me.” Mary Jane telling Deacon not to forget what she showed him. Beautiful.”
15. What’ll You Do?
Answers the question to Since When – What will Deacon do? After the vision he was just given, will he continue his path or try to fix his life?
16. The Light
This song basically sums up the whole album. In this world of ugliness, we need to remember to look at ourselves for warming our soul and to lay it down; Set your eyes on the sun. IDENTITY HAS BEEN FOUND.

the end.
Support Good Music.
Also, if you’ve blown this album off as trash, give it another chance. I did, and it’s one of my favorite albums of last year, possibly ever. A couple Mp3’s are included for you to sample the album.

So If You Go Platinum…

“So if your message ain’t shit, forget the records you sold / Because if you go platinum, it’s got nothing to do with luck, it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck.”
- Immortal Technique, “Industrial Revolution”

Akon – Konvicted
Eminem – Curtain Call: The Hits
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
Jay Z – Kingdom Come
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter Volume Two
Ludacris – Relsease Therapy
Outkast – Idlewild
TI – King / Trap Musik
Three Six Mafia – Most Known Unknown

According to the RIAA, these are the most recent hip-hop albums to go atleast platinum. Look at this list, and perhaps, look at it again. (Why are people buying this shit?) But that’s not even the real question…the real question is simple really – What does it take to go platinum? On that list, I see two, maybe three decent albums. I didn’t hear Idlewild, so I’m disregarding that. Konvicted is trash, but he makes singles. A greatest hits compilation; something new and weird as hell; a lazy effort from someone once completely dominant on the scene; a product of overhype and strong support (for some reason); a generic album from Luda; and garbage from 3-6; I didn’t hear all of King, but Trap Musik was good.

So with all this illegal downloading that goes on, it’s fairly obvious that plenty of people can go platinum. (The RIAA lost.) Obviously, it doesn’t require intelligence to make hit records. What do you look for in music? For me, it’s something that I can (a) relate to, (b) something that doesn’t reek of stupidity, (c) something that isn’t degrading to people, and finally (d) a variety of subject matter.
“Dope beats, dope rhymes, what more do y’all want?” – Phonte
Seriously, hearing about someone selling drugs from their momma’s basement is cool…ok I lied, it’s not. Where is there appeal? Do they represent “the hood”? Are they “keepin’ it real”? I don’t mean to come off as prejudicial, and maybe this is where it’s headed, but it’s not intended that way. A white ass kid from New England will probably not have the same perspective as someone who grew up in Brooklyn, but this is my opinion. I shut off Ghostface’s Fishscale after about 5 tracks. He raps about the same thing over and over again, but yet, that was considered one of the more popular albums in the last year? Why? It’s a giant circle more or less. Someone makes a song, sells some records. What do they do next? Do they evolve as an artist? Do they show you that they can do something different? No, they make the same damn thing. And it works, usually. Take Akon for example. Same shit, more money. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for Mos Def type diversity, I’m looking for just something…different. A little change never hurt anyone.

Today’s writing is a little scattered, I’m running on a couple hours sleep from last night, and I worked 13 hours today. Cut me some slack please. Did you agree with me completely? With parts of what I said? Disagree one thousand percent? Spout off in the comments, let me know people are actually reading. Thanks, I promise a more focused post within the next couple days.

MP3 Of The Day:
Cunninlynguists – Hellfire
The best song off the dope A Piece Of Strange, Kno delivers a crazy beat, the MC’s deliver. Check it out, it’s impossible not to like. Who needs coffee to wake you up when you’ve got this?

Like a 12", But Better

A Side: Cory Redding & Oscar Pistorius
B Side: Funniest Video On The Internet

A SIDE

First – According to ESPN, the lowly Detroit Lions have made their franchise player, DT Cory Redding, the richest tackle in football. 7 years, 49 million dollars. No, that was not a typo. 49 million dollars. Forty….Nine. Matt Millen, the man in charge of the franchise, is continuing to run his franchise straight into the other ground and out the other side. After selecting wide receivers with their first round pick for 4 out of the past 5 years, you’d think that somewhere, a bell would go off, and the man would be fired or realize that “Wow, I’m really fucking up.” The belief with this mega deal is that the tandem of Redding and Shaun Rogers will be one of the best in the NFL. Wherever you get those drugs, I know some people who want some. In his 5 year career, the man has 12 sacks. After having eight last year, apparently he deserves the biggest DT contract in football. Lions organization as a whole are a couple fries short of a Happy Meal themselves, and one year doesn’t define a person’s career.

Let’s take for example, Pats corner Asante Samuel. I don’t care if you had ten interceptions, there’s no way you deserve as much money as shutdown corners such as Champ Bailey or DeAngelo Hall (I’m not sure how much Hall makes, but he’s damn good.) If your performance continues and you get ten interceptions, play well (stats can be deceiving), all that stuff, then I think a player is much more deserving of such a high salary as demanded. Contract seems ridiculous to me. Full story here.

Second – This story involves “sprinter” Oscar Pistorius, a man who is attempting to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That’s all well and good, but there’s a slight problem. According to the IAAF (Pro Sports Olympic Committee – yeah, I’m aware it’s not acronym-ed out, but that’s what they are) Oscar’s prosthetic legs have less wind resistance compared to a normal person’s legs, providing him with an advantage. Now, we’re really dealing with fractions of fractions of a second – does it really matter? Well, absolutely. It’s the olympics; every athlete’s goal. The biggest sporting venue every 2/4 years, and its a sprint, where each fraction of a second matters just as much as the last one.

Now, I’m gonna play devil’s advocate. One side could say the man has a huge disadvantage. Why? Well, quite simply, he’s missing legs. Overcoming his disability should garner him extra points, per se. Even if they do provide less resistance, what about traction on the track? What about the fact there isn’t an ankle joint to compensate for balance? What about the fact that this guy can’t feel the ground beneath his feet?. It’s hard for me to describe this side, because I don’t really agree with it – but I’m trying to represent both arguments here. Now, the other side of the faction says that he has an advantage for a number of reasons. (A) He does not have to work his lower legs in training; (B) at the end of the race, you want to finish up on your toes. That’s a hell of a lot easier to do with fake legs. In conclusion, any athlete found to have an unfair advantage in any competition whatsoever is deemed ineligible. This case should be no different. My father is an athletic trainer, and he covered the ParaOlympic games numerous times, including the ‘88 competition in Seoul, S. Korea. He, and myself have seen numerous athletes with tremendous heart and determination compete just as well as anyone. The disabled are just as capable as any of us, so there’s no need to have the attitude of deserving sympathy on account of the disability. Most of them do not want the sympathy in the first place. Finally, Oscar has said “I will wait until they come out with a prosthetic that does not give me an advantage, and I will run in that.” Sounds like a competitor who understands the situation, and accepts it for what it is. Respect to him, here’s hoping this all gets resolved (or an alternate solution is thought of) as soon as possible so the athletes everywhere can shine. Full story here.

B SIDE:
I’m hoping that many people have not seen this yet. This is a clip from a japanese game show possibly called “Quiet Library”. In this game, contestants are placed in a library, all at one table. They flip cards, and whoever has the odd card out gets something horrible (but funny as hell) done to them. Being too loud gets you booted, which makes it more entertaining as players try to hide their laughs. If I was ever on the show, I would be crying hysterically, both from laughing, and probably from stuff done to me. Punishments include wasabi rolls, bad smelling air, and a slapping machine. As a bonus, popular K1 fighter Bob Sapp is included as a contestant. Enjoy, don’t hurt yourself laughing!!

MP3 of the Day:

Blue Scholars – Opening Salvo
*I know this album has been shitting on the blog circuit lately (in a good way), and people are claiming all sorts of praises. It’s my personal candidate for album of the year so far, and I strongly recommend you support these guys and pick this up. I own two copies; Peace.

Legend of the Fall Offs: Mos Def

“I remember when you did your thing without a doubt tastefully
The problem was you didn’t know when to bow out gracefully
Once told, never burn out, it’s best to fade away
Preserve your value so that you can live to see a greater day”
- Busta Rhymes, “Legend Of The Fall Offs”

Ironic that a man such as Busta Rhymes would make a song entitled “Legend of the Fall Offs”, but it is what it is. This post is not about him – it’s about Mos Def. Musician, poet, actor, genius, whatever you would like to call him, you cannot deny the man’s talent. From proving his greatness with Talib Kweli on Black Star, from making a classic album, Black On Both Sides at the turn of the millenium, the man seemed set to have his name shot to the top of hip-hop greatness, destined as a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, if you will.

However, most of you know what happened next. Taking somewhat of a hiatus, it took him five years to release the…different…New Danger. Straying away from the hip-hop roots, The New Danger contained a lot of rock themes and different things that fans were not used to or expected. Mixed reviews rained down, and I know I personally did not care much for the album at all, despite the ill ass cover.

His newest release, True Magic, came out in late 2006, and was another disappointment. Although he returned mostly to the hip-hop styles, he came off as lazy and absolutely uninspired. Rumors have surfaced that the album was completed to just fulfill his contract with his label (a three-album deal), and now he can move on to bigger and better things. However, to me, it seems that’s just talk coming from the Mos bandwagon and diehard hopefuls. “Next year, next year…” Next year turns into the next, and before you know it, five years have gone by, and no progress has been made.

Musically, I as a fan am frustrated. I understand as an artist, you evolve and want to explore different things. But Mos, the fans don’t want that. They want the same person who made “Mathematics and “Ms. Fat Booty”. Sure, that person might not be there anymore, and sometimes, the truth is hard to accept. However musically disappointing, the man has other talents as well.

This post was not designed to be a “Hey! Let’s crap on Mos Def today!” No, that was not the point.

He acts (damn well), and he was outstanding in Something The Lord Made, and although I did not see Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the dude made tons of money off that. He also appeared frequently on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam.

Which, in that sense, you can see why the rapping has fallen off so greatly. He has other career paths that can make him money – he doesn’t want to be limited to “oh he’s just a rapper”…no, the man is more than that, and he wants the world to see it. In a perfect world, classic album after classic album would come from this man’s head, to the studio, to the audience. But then again, the world is far from perfect.

MP3’s (Album in parentheses):
Thieves In The Night (Black Star)
Bright as the Stars (Black Star Rarities)
Mathematics (Black on Both Sides)
Sunshine (The New Danger) -while searching, I found this remix that someone did…It’s not bad.
Undeniable (True Magic)
Crooklyn Dodgers 3 (ft. Jean Grae & Memphis Bleek)

Intro

“Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 Gusto / Your luck low, I didn’t know til I was drunk though…”

One of my favorite songs, Nas’ “The Message” off his sophomore LP “It Was Written”…I’m not really sure how that’s relevant to what I’m going to talk about today, but it’s one of the best opening lines to a song, and I figured maybe I’d start this new blog off with a bang.
Ok, anyway, let’s discuss what this blog is all about. I’ve been a contributor at 3 previous blogs, Da Underground Kingz (rip), Strictly Beats (thriving), and Acapella Archives (also on its way out)…hopefully my name’s getting around on this crazy blog universe. I’ve seen numerous blogs that discuss various things, from anything to music, to politics, to sports. Living in New England, I’m a pretty big sports fan, and obsessed with music. This blog is mainly to discuss….well….anything really. Anything that’s going on with me. I’ll be sharing some music, although I have a feeling people are getting a case built on me and stuff, so we’ll see how that works out, and talking about my opinions on sports and life in general and stuff. Album reviews are a pretty big possibility at this point – I’ve submitted stuff to some websites to look at, but most of them require you be 18 to write for them. Being only 17, I’m almost there, but still have a long way to go at the same time. Don’t discount me just because of my age. I’m willing to have other people contribute really whatever they’d like, just shoot me an email, I’ll be sure to get back to you. It’s still really up in the air for me as far as ideas with this go, so suggestions of what viewers want to see are always entertained as well. Thanks for reading (if anyone has), and I hope to see you guys visiting in the future….Let’s get this shit rolling! Leave some comments and ish so I know people were here – thanks.