On An Award Tour…

So, 2007 is just about over. All the albums have been released that are going to be released this year, and we’re looking forward to bigger and better things both here on the blog, in the world of music, and the whole damn world in general in 2008. Hope everyone has a good holiday and stays safe. So now, LSO proudly presents:
The LSO Awards of 2007

Single of the Year: “Joe Metro” by Blue Scholars

Song of the Year: “The World Is…” by Blu

Guest Appearance of the Year: Phonte on Cunninlynguists “Yellow Lines“

Verse of the Year: Phonte’s verse on “Yellow Lines”

Beat of the Year: “The Glory” by Kanye West

Video of the Year: “Nostalgia” by Marco Polo

Album Cover of the Year: “The World Is Ours” by Ill Poetic

Producer of the Year: Sabzi of Blue Scholars

Rapper of the Year: Blu

Hype Machine Award AKA Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be: “Desire” by Pharoahe Monch

Dark Horses AKA The Pillow Albums:
“The Scope of Things” by Move.meant
“The World Is Ours” by Ill Poetic
“The Name, The Motto, The Outcome” by Senim Silla

We Love Diversity Album AKA Most Unique: “Atlantis” by K-os

Frustraters: Saigon & Marco Polo

Comeback of the Year: Wyclef Jean

Albums of the Year:
10. Sean Price – “Jesus Price Superstar”
Banging beats for the most part, and this album is funny as hell. Sean P made me laugh out loud frequently.

9. Lupe Fiasco – “The Cool”
Although it was just released on the 18th, this concept album hasn’t even hit me entirely yet. However, the stuff I do understand and helped with smashes ‘Superstar’ and ‘Hip Hop Saved My Life’ is awesome.

8. Cunninlynguists – “Dirty Acres”
Assisted by ‘Yellow Lines’ this album is different than their last, but just about as good. Kno is probably my favorite producer right now.

7. Wyclef Jean – “Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant”
Despite complaints that this is a ‘Wyclef and Friends’ album, ‘Clef shows he still has what it takes to make a solid album full of political themes and world problems. Even though it took him a lot of years between Carnivals, the fun is still there.

6. Kanye West – “Graduation”
One of the most anticipated releases of the year doesn’t disapoint. Packed with experimental successes and only a couple missteps.

5. Talib Kweli – “Eardrum”
Kweli’s been inconsistent over his career, and his ear for beats is usually trash. However, that’s not the case here, and he delivers the album that everyone has been waiting for.

4. K-Os – “Atlantis”
If your album contains rock, jazz, hip hop, soul, and many other genres, you’re bound to please at least someone. Canadian giant melds all these together to create his best work yet.

3. Blue Scholars – “Bayani”
Politically charged music, and the beats are just as good if not better than before. Sabzi’s right behind Kno as my current favorite producer. However, Sabzi’s beats were better on here than Kno’s beats on ‘D.A.’ Geologic stays consistent as always.

2. Brother Ali – “The Undisputed Truth”
If you needed one word to describe this, it’d probably be passionate. You can feel his emotion when he raps unlike any other rapper. From dealing with personal problems to legal problems with his kid, Ali shows us he can persevere and be the undisputed champion…well, except for one.

1. Blu & Exile – “Below The Heavens”
Newcomer Blu delivered the best album in possibly the last four or five years. Assisted by Exile on the boards, Blu tackles real life, and his rapping ability is absolutely impeccable. Too many people haven’t even heard this album, and that’s a damn shame. If you haven’t heard this…what the hell are you waiting for?

Okay, that’s all for this year. Be on the lookout for bigger and better things for ‘08. Everyone have a good holiday! Also, let’s end the year right, and leave some damn comments. Peace.

Everyone Here Now b/w Other Things

There’s nothing like a good posse cut. A posse cut, where four or more rappers go and rap consecutively on one beat, is where hip hop got it’s start, and where many famous rappers got their first taste of glory.
It started off as one man, and him and a bunch of his friends would go and stand in a circle or whatever, each taking turns until everyone had gone. It’s certainly evolved into something great. When every single rapper absolutely destroys their section, that’s when you know every single dude in your crew is sick. Want a good example of this?
Binary Star f. Malaki, Juice, Texture, Elzhi, O-Type Star and Lacks – “KGB“
Another famous example, which I’m sure you’re all familiar with, is Tribe’s “Scenario“. If you don’t know that song, stop listening to hip hop now. Please, it’s for the best.

Other Things:
1. Max over @ Hip Hop Isn’t Dead is steady with his…If I were you, I’d be checking for reviews frequently.

2. All the dudes over at Strictly Beats don’t mess around.

3. This article about the RIAA claiming it should be illegal to rip CD’s you have purchased to your own personal computer is a crock of shit. The small amount of credibility you could credit the RIAA with having is going down the drain — and fast.

4. I wrote a paper about music and censorship. I think it’s pretty good. If it wasn’t so long I’d post it here. However, click here and read the entire thing. Feedback is a good thing people, I know it’s sorta long. (Link didnt work…if you want to read it, ask.)

5. 2007 is coming to a close. I’m preparing a list for “awards” of sorts, everything from song to guest appearance to album(s) of the year. That’s gonna be crazy, so be on the lookout.

That’s all for now — stay tuned.

If It Was My Last…

I’m not the biggest Wyclef fan. He participated in a classic, The Score, but individually, there’s not enough of him to keep me occupied, entertained, and sustaining enjoyment throughout an entire album. Immigration and Haiti and Creole might as well be dead topics. However, I’d been hearing all this talk about the new Wyclef and how dope it was, and I figured, what the hell, I can check it out.

1. Intro
20 seconds wasted.

2. Riot
This guy Serj (from Rage Against The Machine or System of a Down or whoever he’s from) is fucking crazy. Not a fan.

3. Sweetest Girl
The first single, with Akon on the all-too-catchy hook. Wayn-ee-oh also decides to spit a tolerable verse here. Sure, I’ll deliver garbage on LB’s and Kanye’s albums, but give Wyclef something dope. Sounds good!
You’re all familiar with this song I’m sure.

4. Welcome to the East
A little reggae influence, assisted by Sizzle. Bouncy.

5. Slow Down
This song is slightly ironic, seeing as Clef has “seen the whole world turned into a war zone”…and the song features a man currently about to face some prison time for weapons charges.

6. King & Queen
When I saw the credits listed Shakira, I was a little let down. However, she more than carries her own here, providing an excellent tag-team hook with ‘Clef. I caught myself singing along on multiple occasions.

7. Fast Car
This collaboration is about as likely as the Nelly/Tim McGraw one from a couple years ago. However, maybe that kind of thing should be looked into more often, as both songs worked pretty well. Apparently, it’s the second single, and you can check out the video here. No Paul Simon footage however.

8. What About The Baby?
Mary J triumphantly returns with passionate lyrics from them both; one of the highlights on the album. Wyclef, your apology is accepted, even after making us wait ten years in between Carnivals.

9. Immigration
One of the weaker tracks, and Chamillionaire saved the heat for his own albums. Fuck a guest feature.

10. Any Other Day
Norah Jones helps out, and delivers a solid song.

11. Heaven’s In New York
A beautiful song, I had this on repeat for a long time actually.

12. Selena
Kinda indifferent. Listenable.

13. Touch Your Button (Carnival Jam)
Thirteen minutes? I’m all set…disappointing end to an album.

14. Outro
See “Intro”

Although the album has a ridiculous number of guests (in fact, Heaven’s In New York is the only track he does on his own), this doesn’t sound like a “Wyclef and friends” cd. He holds his own, doing his singing/rapping combo deal he’s got. There are only a couple of weaker songs, and the good ones are really damn good. Sitting here holding a copy in my hands, I realize how underappreciated the man is. Incredibly diverse and talented, this new album is absolutely awesome. No word of a lie, I love it. Absolutely recommended. Despite one or two mis-steps, Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant is one of the best releases this year. I shit you not. Go get a copy now.

MP3’s:
Heaven’s In New York

Artist Spotlight: Datin

Normally I don’t do things like this…and this blog’s purpose was not based on just simply sharing music (hence the name Let’s Start Over). I was a member at a blog whose sole purpose was just to supply download links for the leechers and ungrateful people who steal countless amounts of music. I do my share of downloading, but I intend to buy everything on my computer that I’ve downloaded. Now, this guy that I’m talking about today goes by the name of Datin. Coming from Newark, New Jersey, he’s hispanic, not that race matters at all. He was featured along with numerous other artists on the FLOW: For The Love of Words dvd, and showed serious potential there. Below (on the bottom of this post) is a clip from said DVD, and just ignore Malibu’s Most Wanted in the background there. I’m embarassed he is representing us white folk. Anyway, today, I’m presenting his mixtape: The Death & Rebirth Of. I believe you can purchase this in some rare places online, but it’s very hard to find. The man needs to hurry up and release an album quick.

Tracklisting:
01. Intro
02. Freestyle
03. The Promise (Remix) Produced By Charlemange
04. When Im Writting Produced By Scram Jones
05. Freestyle
06. 4 Aces Ft. Nems, George Burnz & Guiness Stout
07. Freestyle
08. Industry Intro
09. Man Against Machine Produced By Charlemange
10. Freestyle
11. I Handle Minez Ft. Grey
12. Freestyle
13. Stick It Produced By Charlemange
14. Flavas (Ice Cream Truck) Produced By DJ Static
15. Freestyle Ft. T.Weapons
16. Accapella
17. Freestyle Ft. Nems
18. Freestyle
19. Freestyle
20. Dear President
21. Freestyle
22. Freestyle
23. Freestyle
24. Mr. Officer Produced By The Heatmakers
25. Outro

Get it here.
Apologies for the lack of track names, I actually went through on my computer and named them all myself. I didn’t feel like typing that all out again, so I copied this tracklisting off another website. If you’re going to listen to one song on here, make sure it’s track three, The Promise (rmx).
ps. I don’t know why the video is all the way down there…but it is. Oh well.