A Thousand Grams

Phranchyze - Dolo

2010-03-11T21:08:34Z

Austin's Phranchyze is one of the underground's most interesting rappers.

A towering, lanky battler, it's been an uphill climb for a dude known to humiliate posturing wannabes in battles so lopsided they inspired animated tributes. Unfortunately, the rap battle peaked in popularity posthumously in 2002 (it's a '90s thing) and the stigma is tough to shake: battle cats don't write hot songs.

On 2009's long-delayed, proper LP, Errybody Hates Me, Phran offered up playful bars and sneaker pimp jams to generally favorable critical reception. A year's worth of small scale tours and big opening slots on most of the relevant road shows (Clipse, Dead Prez, etc.), Phranchyze returns with his best solo effort to date.

The Black Larry Bird has his biggest hooks, best recorded stanzas and best production. The LP drops during SXSW (more on that Monday) and check out the tracklist after the jump and an exclusive mp3 below. I'm saying, fresh stuff.

Phranchyze - Dolo

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Why the Ansari, Bieber sketch is so funny

2010-03-11T15:35:22Z

I keep running back this video. It hasn't stopped being funny. The lingering zingers compelled me to closely analyze why Aziz Ansari pulling a page from the Dave Chappelle comedy playbook is so fresh. If you haven't opened the forwarded email with a direct link, Ansari, as Randy the posturing shock comic producing a mixtape with TV On the Radio's Dave Sitek, accuses teen sensation Justin Bieber of stealing "Baby," one of Bieber's biggest hits, from Randy.

1. Attention to detail

Accusatory, hyperbolic videos permeate YouTube (Did Jay-Z rip off "Run This Town?" Did Dane Cook steal jokes?) and the skit's graphics homage these user-made, dramatic, yellow journalism vids. Also, Randy bobbing his head upon hearing Sitek's beat, in a fit of exaggerated pyschosis, comes from a decade of behind the scenes rap videos (like "Fade To Black") wherein artists flip out upon hearing a dope beat. Instances like these are oftentimes sincere, mostly self-aggrandizing, crowning flashes of hubris. Ansari knows his viral movements.

2. The cast

It starts with the self-serious Nick Zinner, who happens to tour the world with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; he sells the performance with no smiles and the same stoic attitude he's fermented in years of playing behind one of rock's most outlandish, compelling singers. It continues with Sitek hamming up the producer-behind-the-boards caricature. Ditto for the foaming-at-the-mouth hype man. It ends with the chubby fellow portraying Bieber.

3. The penis

After Bieber and this ruffians trash Randy's studio, they tag a mildly humorous warning. But also, for no reason whatsoever, spray paint a penis. Subtle poetry.

4. The Chappelle's Show homage

Hard to believe it's been six years since the otherworldly second season of "Chappelle's Show," mainly because it took comedy and slang years to catch up. We should all recall how funny Wayne Brady, a cookie cutter comic popular with safe audiences, channeling Denzel in "Training Day" was. I'm Wayne Brady bitch carried all decade through Britney Spears' semi-comeback. The line is dead, yet Ansari and company siphon laughs. That's skill.

5. The fact that Aziz Ansari, with the services of indie rock royalty, felt inspired to record a full cover of a Justin Bieber hit.

It's just great.

New Big Boi video featuring Too Short and George Clinton - Fo Yo Sorrows

2010-03-10T13:05:40Z

Solid video, stellar song.

Metrics: Lil Wayne, jail, aftershocks

2010-03-09T21:28:03Z

ATG sizes it all up.

Lil Wayne is finally in jail.
His sentencing perpetually curtailed by oddities (dental surgery, freak fires), the game-changing rapper shipped to Rikers Monday afternoon. One of our brightest stars gone until likely October. Without the luxury of near daily guest spots, the internet will be a less interesting forum for new music.
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And yet, I doubt Wayne will be out of the public eye much. He opened 2010 with two new albums and reportedly shot seven music videos during Super Bowl weekend. He'll have summer singles and back to school singles. I'm sure we'll see Carter IV sometime in November as it's completed and he's hinted at dropping the thing after his sentence for gun possession; management should see eventual prison liberation as golden opportunity for a coinciding marketing campaign.
These factors point to Lil Wayne as a prime candidate for rapper of the year despite spending eight months of it in prison.
But in this life nothing is guaranteed. Prison changes. He could find God, lose interest in rapping, find discerning subject matter, turn a corner. The fourth chapter in Lil Wayne's fascinating career is over, following Lil Wayne the child star and hit-and-miss solo entity who coins phrase, "Bling Bling" (1999-2003); Lil Wayne the emerging superstar with lyrics so good we have to question their authenticity (2004-2005); Lil Wayne with a chip on his shoulder attacking the mixtape circuit (2006, 2007); Lil Wayne the biggest rap star on the planet (2008-2010).
This version of Lil Wayne is defined by hubris (I'm untouchable, I'm a tastemaker, I'm a festival headliner, I'm a guitar player) and we're left with the generally awful rock hybrid, Rebirth, and the confusing and impenetrable get-to-know-my-underlings venture, We Are Young Money.
Most astonishing is that despite all the bullshit output, Lil Wayne enters jail with some absolute thoroughbreds in the race, some of his best singles all over radio.

There's his signees of whom two, Drake and Nicki Minaj, are qualified superstars. There's "Every Girl" and "BedRock," two outstanding, smooth, funny, awesome top ten Billboard singles. There's a new Young Money video, "Roger That," already in regular BET/MTV rotation.
Yes, I couldn't bring myself to get through Rebirth for an official review, but only the most backwards purist will try making case that the bombastic, introspective, Eminem-fueled boulder of gravity, "Drop The World," isn't way better than anything Blakroc produced. Eminem raps better than any verse on Relapse, Lil Wayne sing-talks the blues and it's an astonishing, primal bit of rap.

T.I. showed us jail can be a focusing, relaxing, fame-baiting career boost. Lil Wayne prepared accordingly, and as a result the game won't have to miss him.

- Ramon Ramirez

#RIPBig

2010-03-09T15:46:43Z

Thirteen years ago today, one of the most iconic figures in pop culture was shot and killed in Los Angeles.

The event changed the course of music as a windfall of money and fame went to cohorts closest to The Notorious B.I.G. Every year since, mixtapes and commemorative bootlegs emerge on March 9. Sean Combs poaches takes into full albums, merchandise, lavish parties and motion pictures. Today, Biggie tops trends on Twitter, the social networking equivalent of murals on brick walls.

Ruminating on this subject is tiring so I'll just offer up my five favorite Biggie songs, posthumous, bootleg or otherwise.

1.    Gimme The Loot
2.    Mo Money, Mo Problems
3.    Things Done Changed
4.    Dead Wrong
5.    Deadly Combination

Freddie Gibbs is that fire

2010-03-09T15:02:53Z

DJ Whoo Kid put together an XXL Freshman Mixtape, which is admittedly more realized than ours. But seriously, we just want to hear the two Freddie Gibbs joints. Sans DJ.

Freddie Gibbs - Born 2 Roll

Freddie Gibbs - Youze a Ho

Decision: DJ Khaled

2010-03-09T14:05:32Z

ATG's Eddie Strait is not amused.

We disagree over Rick Ross's niceness on the mic.
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That Ain't Hip-Hop

2010-03-08T20:50:17Z

Other shit we like, specifically tolerable indie rock.

We're firmly in the corner of music. If it's good, it's worth enjoying without pretensions or politics. In this spirit of consuming media sans blinders, we're starting a new weekly spotlight of, simply, other shit we like.

Reggie's Pick: Beach House

Beach House are a Baltimore male-female duo who make the kind sublime bedroom pop that you'll want to wake up next to over and over again. Vocalist Victoria Legrande's full, sultry siren songs ride along layers of hypnotic strumming and stripped down synths on each of her band's serene and seductive slices of dream pop. Teen Dream, their third album, is full of ethereal and infectious love songs that beckon and call in deep, rich tones. It's more aggressive and sonically varied than either of their previous efforts, and while March is too early even for us to start making Of The Year proclamations, my ears are having a hard time imagining more gorgeous compositions coming along any time soon. "Walk in the Park" is your high point. It's a slick and gently rollicking promenade with an upbeat organ loop and a climax of soaring, pleading vocals. Play it in the early afternoon while you wait for all this snow to melt.

Beach House - Walk in the Park

Ramon's Pick: Titus Andronicus

An over-educated bunch of broken romantics, Titus Andronicus embrace collapsed futures with frank, building, volatile garage punk. 2008's The Airing Of Grievances was aimless rioting balanced in madness by thoughtful, verbose songwriting. The ambitious follow up, The Monitor, is out Tuesday on XL Records and evolves powerful blasts into tedious, often times eight-minute segments of, weirdly, rollicking tunes about the Civil War. It's a concept album but one-line, anthemic hooks still carry a good chunk of the thing.

Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus Forever

Rhymefest's El Che LP to be released May 18

2010-03-08T17:35:31Z

About time. Thanks for not being Dr. Dre, 'Fest.

El Che features appearances From Saigon, Little Brother and production from Scram Jones, S1, BKS and Terry Hunter.

Tracklist, album art after the jump.

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1.) Intro: The Agent
2.) Talk My Shit
3.) Say Whassup f/Phonte of Little Brother
4.) How High f/Little Brother & Darien Brockington
5.) Chocolates
6.) One Arm Push Up
7.) Prosperity
8.) Truth On You f/Twone Gabz
9.) Intermisson: Juan Carlos
10.) Chicago
11.) Agony f/Glenn Lewis
12.) Last Night
13.) Give It To Me f/Saigon & Adad
14.) Intermission: No Help
15.) City Is Fallen f/Slique
16.) Celebration

Case of the Mondays - March 8

2010-03-08T14:35:17Z

The week in MP3s

Another Monday morning mix for the people. Have the last leadoff Little Brother single, Fabolous killing a version of "Exhibit C" (I'm Jive Records, I drop clips), assorted freshness. Get it after the jump.

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Little Brother - Curtain Call

Kidz In The Hall featuring Colin Munroe, Just Blaze - Take Over The World

Z-Ro - One Night Stand

Bobby Valentino featuring Nicki Minaj - Stilettos & T-Shirt

Tyga featuring Lil Wayne - I'm On It

DJ Khaled featuring Nas - Victory

Jay Rock featuring Rick Ross - Finest Hour

Freeway & Jake One - One Foot In

Staik Selektah featuring Styles P - The Thrill is Gone

Fabolous - Exhibit F

Case of the Mondays - March 8

Rappers react to Oscar

2010-03-08T14:12:35Z

Sunday night, Twitter buzzed with joyful "suck it, Cameron!" Tweets. At long last, Papa Doc won an Oscar. Steve Martin was funny; Alec Baldwin less so. The acting categories went chalk. The screenplay categories, with original not going to "Inglorious Basterds" and adapted not going to "Up In The Air," yielded the only noteworthy upsets.

Here are some Tweet highlights from the hip-hop beat:

diplo I hope the girl from precious bust up Sandra bullock..
questlove so does this mean that we will ACTUALLY see "the hurt locker" and come to grips that we are in a war people?
RealTalibKweli Thought that Avatar was gonna get it but Hurt Locker deserved it. Great movie.
QtipTheAbstract so happy for hurt locker! and the powerful woman director!
amandadiva YASSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO LADIES! GO LADIES!!!!!!!!! (btw rip dilla) DOPE!! (sidenote: she's James Cameron's ex-wife)
MURS Bboys and ballet. I can't front. I was feeling it.
9thWonderMusic they got the B-BOYS at the oscars!
souljaboytellem Congratulations Monique! You are a queen :)
donwill HOLY SHIT IS THAT GHOSTDOG!?!?!

D'Angelo arrested for soliciting cop

2010-03-07T22:51:18Z

D'Angelo was arrested Sunday morning for soliciting oral sex from an undercover police officer. He was reportedly driving with $12,000 cash. D'Angelo, 36, whose real name is Michael Archer, was in his Range Rover at Greenwich and Horatio streets at about 2:30 a.m.

The arrest caps a tumultuous, disappointing, generally weird decade of writer's block and mental health problems for the brilliant r&b star.

UPDATE: D'Angelo's handlers release statement.

"We know there is a lot of speculation in regard to the arrest of D'Angelo in New York City this past weekend. We would like his fans and the public at large to know that D'Angelo has plead not guilty -- and is contesting the allegations made against him. Also know that he is in good health and extremely excited about his forthcoming new album. D'Angelo would like to personally thank all of his fans for the outpouring of concern, and appreciates if all would allow the American justice system to resolve the matter before jumping to any conclusions."

Stimulus - Fabolous - There Is No Competition 2 (Mixtape)

2010-03-05T15:33:21Z

Yay for punctuality in the game. Get it after the jump.
]]> 02. I'm Raw
03. Body Ya
04. Hard Feat. Kobe, Paul Cain & LA The Darkman
05. Oh Let's Do It
06. Suicide 2 Feat. Paul Cain & Freck Billionaire
07. It's Goin' Down Feat. Freck Billionaire
08. Roger That Feat. Freck Billionaire
09. Love Come Down
10. Popular Demand Feat. Paul Cain
11. Mr. R.I.P
12. Body Bag Feat. Cam'ron & Vado
13. Beamer, Benz, or Bentley Feat. Lloyd Banks Juelz Santana
14. For The Money Feat. Nicki Minaj
15. Tonight Feat. Red Cafe
16. All The Way Turnt Up Feat. Trey Songz
17. Say Somethin' Nigga
18. Funeral Service Music Feat. Kobe, Paul Cain, Red Cafe & Willie The Kid
19. Bring Death To Em'
20. Exhibit F

Fabolous - There Is No Competition 2 (Mixtape)

Drake - Over (produced by Boi-1da & Al Khaaliq)

2010-03-05T15:17:35Z

Drizzy's new single stormed the scene this morning. We've been following the story. The major label debut, Thank Me Later, is slated to drop in May, which'll be towards the end of his month-long Away From Home tour.

Produced by come up partner, Boi-1da ("Best I Ever Had," "Forever") and Al Khaaliq, it's a triumphant arrival anthem and kisses off bandwagoners on its big hook:

"I know way too many people here that I didn't know last year...who the fuck are ya'll?"

Drake - Over (produced by Boi-1da & Al Khaaliq)

SXSW 2010: Enoyable rappers who will be there

2010-03-03T19:55:09Z

No, not Kanye West, who sorta surprised everyone last year by not only showing up for numerous shindigs, but also played three hour retrospective sets. This year's list of national names is quite enormous, offhand it's the most comprehensive rundown of relevant hip-hop SXSW has ever presented. Below is a list of confirmed names you've probably heard of. This does not include local talent, foreign talent, or the black hole of underground names; we're still sorting out those showcases.

Chalie Boy
Paul Wall & Chamillionaire
Madlib
Peanut Butter Wolf
Broken Bells
Reflection Eternal
Jean Grae
8Ball & MJG
Nappy Roots
Sage Francis
Killer Mike
GZA
Slum Village
Mayer Hawthorne
Theophilus London
Kid Sister & Flosstradamus
Donnis
Pharoahe Monch
B Real
Skyzoo
9th Wonder
Sean Price
Mickey Factz
Murs
Freeway
Evidence
Donald Glover
Black Milk
Tanya Morgan
Xzibit
Charles Hamilton
Rhymefest
The Cool Kids
88 Keys
Freddie Gibbs
J. Cole
Wiz Khalifa
Pac Div
Pill
Fashawn
Yelawolf
Nas
Damian Marley
Big Sean
Shawn Chrystopher
Bun B
Mike Posner