It’s been a great year for Hiptics.com. Thanks to our loyal readers for your honesty, enthusiasm, and encouragement about all-things related to the blog! For the rest of the day/night, before we hit 2010, we’ll be posting about our favorite 2009 memories. We’re kicking things off with Raekwon The Chef. The legendary MC and Wu Tang Clan member shouted out the site at Rock The Bells in the DMV after a memorable performance.
It was a great 2009 for Raekwon. The Chef released a critically acclaimed solo album that TIME Magazine named one of the Top 10 albums of the year. If you haven’t heard Only Built 4 Cuban Linx PT II yet, we’ve made it easy for you by providing product links. A small percentage of your purchase will be credited to Hiptics.com in the form of a referral fee (good idea, Amazon!) and will help us keep doing what we do best in 2010.
BEST HIP HOP MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR: 50 Cent – War Angel LP
In 2009, as Americans experienced the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, 50 Cent crafted material that reflects the harsh realities of this time in our history. On this summers War Angel LP, 50 Cent adds two verses, a catchy chorus, and melodic bridge to an arsenal of original instrumentals. There is not a single feature appearance (if you don’t count the usage of Robin Thicke’s singing on “Cocaine”), no attempts at experimentation, but rather 50 Cent laying out a blueprint for what it is to make a classic, agressive, hip hop mixtape. The ultimate result is a 11 track collection of some of 50 Cent’s best mixtape material to date. Combining the competitive hunger heard on Guess Who’s Back? with the superior craftsmenship that helped 50 sell over 38 million albums worldwide, 50 Cent’s War Angel LP is better than So Far Gone. Why? For starters, War Angel LP is 100% hip hop. There is no doubt that Drake crafted an excellent mixtape, but some of the best songs on So Far Gone are straight R&B or even indie. And no, the Drake&B is not comparable 50 Cent’s melodic vocals, as Drake attempts to actually hit notes. To top it off, Chuck D told me earlier this year, “R&B is not hip hop.” So how can a hip hop blog call Drake’s mixtape the best of the year when hip hop is only one of the ingredients that contribute to Drake’s mixtape gumbo. But this is not about So Far Gone. I can pop War Angel LP in the CD player of my truck and get through all the music without skipping a track, and it’s (one of) the only hardcore rap products on the market that features an artist speaking from his own experiences, not merely rapping fairy tales. The songs are all well written and executed, the content is agressive, and most importantly, the music embodies the artist that is 50 Cent. Like the savy crack dealer he once was, 50 Cent delivered high quality music to his audience of hardcore rap fiends that had nothing to really feel in terms of new music releases. What’s more ironic that the title (“what is a war angel?”) is that one of the most successful rap moguls of all time sounds hungrier than ever. It’s not #10yearsago, but War Angel features 50 Cent combining the hunger heard on his records in 99 with the craft that he’s perfected over the past decade.
Bottom line:War Angel LP is the best free product that hit the mixtape game in 2009. Thanks for the classic mixtape, 50! That’s not to say that there weren’t other phenomenal releases this year…
Honorable Mentions (download them all here.)
Drake – So Far Gone J. Cole – The Warm Up
Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa - How Fly
Lil Wayne – No Ceilings
Gucci Mane – The Burrprint 3
Nicki Minaj – Beam Me Up Scotty
El Prez & Dale Danja – Perfect Strangers
Chip Tha Ripper – The Cleveland Show
Wiz Khalifa – Flight School
But back to 2009’s Best Hip Hop Mixtape. Here’s the artwork for 50 Cent’s War Angel LP.
Did you know? Drake sings back-up vocals on Alicia Key’s “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready).” The song appears on Alicia Key’s latest album, The Element of Freedom.
“Little Freak” is raunchy, but the combination of Polow Da Don’s production, Usher’s voice, and Nicki Minaj’s feature verse gives the song “hit” potential. Let’s see if marketing dollars are spent on this one. ”Little Freak” is slated to appear on Usher’s upcoming album, Raymond v. Raymond.
J.Nolan is a friend of the site, and just hit us up with info about his latest project, Bridges Under Water. Hiptics.com is unfamiliar with Freshboy Spit, but J.Nolan’s collabo-EP changes that forever. Check out what J.Nolan has to say about the project; the track listing is after the jump!
I just released a new EP last night entitled “Bridges Under Water” with a fellow upcoming artist named Freshboy Spit from Virginia. Its entirely produced by Ben Styles who I’ve worked with closely in the past. I’d surely appreciate any type of support on the project, its my first fully collaborative effort.
One of the standout tracks from our From The Underground Up mixtape is EbGb’s “The Monsta.” Tomorrow, Hiptics.com’s Chris Franco and EbGb will be linking up to shoot a music video for the track. If the final result is anything like the song itself, then expect “The Monsta” music video to get banned from YouTube. Remember the last time Franco and Eb crafted a visual?
In a recent interview with XXL’s Matt Barone, 50 Cent was asked about his lack of security. In his explanation, Fif compares his security situation to President Obama’s security situation. Sure, you can get close enough to cause harm, but you’ll never get away with it. And unlike President Obama, 50 Cent refuses to pardon his enemies. Remember when 50 Cent refused to ‘peace talk’ with Ja Rule and Louis Farrakhan?
XXL: You walked in here today pretty much by yourself, no security.
50 Cent: Yeah…I feel like the president sometimes. Not because he’s black, but because he’s Obama. See, you can get close enough to the president to kill him. because he has to walk around and kiss babies. But you won’t get away with it. So you have to assess not getting away with it before you do that. And they have to really think about it, because you’re not gonna get away with it against me. There ain’t gonna be no, “You’re pardoned,” or “We can have a peace treaty.” If itgets past us actually rapping, then it’ll never end.
Gucci Mane’s State Vs. Radric Davis doesn’t compare to some of Gucci’s best mixtapes, but it features a handful of bangers. “Gingerbread Man” is one of them. Remember, as noted in our last OJ Da Juiceman discussion, the production plays a huge part in the overall appeal of this song. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below…
In one of Hiptics.com’s earliest blog posts (October 08), I asked if Lloyd Banks was Top 5. At the time I felt that it was impossible to leave Banks out of a Top 10 list, and that if he continued to release quality mixtapes then I would have no choice, but to move him up a few spots. For me, as a listener and longtime Lloyd Banks fan, I’ll be listening for Lloyd Banks to distinguish himself from the rest of the rappers in their late 20s. ::cues up track 1::
Hypnotize Minds is the independent record label that has Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, and Lil Wyte, among others, on its roster. Three 6 Mafia used to be a huge group, but now consists of only DJ Paul and Juicy J. Remember? DJ Paul and Juicy J are Academy Award winning song-writers/rappers, but are probably more respected for creating Hypnotize Mind’s signature sound. Hypnotize Minds production makes their records. Check out the new Hypnotize Minds music that ended up in my inbox and leave your thoughts in the comment section below and/or write on our Facebook wall. And for those of you intrigued by Juicy J and Project Pat forming a duo, check out their Cut Throat mixtape.
MP3 DOWNLOAD: DJ Paul ft. Montana Trax – “Hi Way (I’m Gone)”
An anthem for anyone “taking chances on the highway” in the form of trafficking illegal narcotics. You don’t have to be a drug dealer to dig this one. The vibe of the song is fit for anyone trying to make their way in a dog-eat-dog world.
MP3 DOWNLOAD:Juicy J & Project Pat – “Break It Down”
If you’re looking for knowledge, then don’t “Break It Down.” However, if you want something to bump, then you’ll enjoy “Break It Down” blasting out your speakers. And don’t let the content distract you from Project Pat’s flow motion.
MP3 DOWNLOAD: Juicy J & Project Pat – “Twerk”
A ridiculous song about beautiful women. Degrading? Yes, but it bumps in the system! And Project Pat goes crazy on the first verse. (Get ready for the fresh switch-up at 1:26.)
when rappers make songs that are fueled by already-present societal problems (for example: rap is blamed for perpetuating violence, but when we live in a world where crazy people try to blow up planes on Christmas Day, is it fair to blame societal problems on rap lyrics?)
With all of this being said, what does hip hop politics mean to you? Would you like to see Hiptics.com get more political about issues in D.C. or do you like the current state of our content? All opinions are welcome! -Hiptics.com’s Chris Franco
H-Twenty didn’t necessarily want to be a rapper; he had to. H-Twenty and Hiptics.com’s Chris Franco recently spoke on the phone about the past, present, and future of H-Twenty. Here’s what we learned:
As a kid growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, Twenty’s older brother exposed him to the best hip hop on the market. Artists like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Outkast, Three 6 Mafia, and “a little Pac” captured Twenty’s attention and shaped his overall taste for hip hop. However, in 2007, Twenty was unable to find any new music that provided the same listening experience as the hip hop he fell in love with. The only thing the Knoxville native could do was create the sound of hip hop music that he was seeking as a listener. Following a move to Atlanta and the release of Introduction To Greatness with the help of Shadyville’s DJ Carvelli, H-Twenty is beyond satisfying his own listening needs. Although he launched a rap career primarily to supply his own demand, H-Twenty’s music is making waves and fulfilling the needs of listeners around the globe. During our conversation a few weeks ago, H-Twenty told Hiptics.com about a UK tour in the works thanks to international interest in his MySpace page. Oh, and then there’s the rumored version of XXL’s 2010 Freshman Class that features the 23 year old MC’s name. Bottom line: H-Twenty is making moves and showing no signs of slowing down.
We’ve included H-Twenty’s Introduction To Greatness mixtape that is mentioned above for you to listen to and/or download. H-Twenty told us that in creating this mixtape, he set out showcase his versatility as an MC over a diverse collection of popular instrumentals. Let us know what you think or tweet H-Twenty your thoughts!
Stay informed about the ever-changing music industry by checking Hiptics.com on the daily!
It’s scary how much influence the RIAA still has on the music world. Ten years after Napster, high music licensing fees are stifling innovation in the online music startup world. Imeem lost tens of millions to licensing fees; a situation that chased off big name venture capitalists like Sequoia Capital. That led to MySpace purchasing the site at a firesale price of only around $1 million, according to TechCrunch. I think that high licensing fees are going to scare off a lot of future investors who want to invest in online music portals. And it’s all because the labels don’t want to loosen their grip on 20th century style mega-profits. But 20th century style profits were based on selling artificially scarce copies, and that model isn’t sustainable in 21st century media economics. (MADE)
Clipse’s “Counseling” is produced by the Neptunes (or the best producers of the decade) and features Nicole Hurst on the chorus. Personally, I think “Counseling” would be a mainstream hit if the right amount of marketing dollars were invested. However, at this point, Clipse and Co. will probabaly move on to the next album. After all, their label completely screwed up the promotion of the album Till The Casket Drops. How are you going to release nearly half of Till The Casket Drops material for free in the form of singles and expect consumers to want to purchase the complete CD? Regardless, Clipse are probably the greatest hip hop duo of all time when you consider their classic track record. Word.
O-H-I-O! It all started in Feburary of 2009 when Dipset’s Cam’Ron returned to the forefront with a new music video for a new song slated to appear on his new album (2009’s Crime Pays). More specifically, Killa Cam hit the hip hop game over the head with “Get It In Ohio.” Ohio residents FINALLY had a hip hop anthem to bump while their whips maneuvered icy roads and grey skies. Cam’Ron’s “Get It In Ohio” was just the beginning, as the Harlem native merely wanted to pay homage to the state where he used to get his hustle on. Ohio natives Chip The Ripper, Kid Cudi, and others had more to say!
Kid Cudi (from Cleveland, OH) had hip hop fans and pop fans alike buzzing over his stoner anthem, “Day N Nite.” The song reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and helped launch his debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day [click here to download Cudi's album]. His success landed him on tour with Lady Gaga, and helped lead the way for Chip Tha Ripper… Read the rest of this entry »
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