A Thousand Grams

The 5 Best DC Albums of 2011

2011-12-24T01:28:25Z

Video: Dead Prez at Occupy DC

2011-12-21T23:20:51Z

Took a late lunch and got front and center for the impromptu Dead Prez show at Occupy DC. Words at the Arts Desk blog.

Inside Dallas, Ring of Fire Edition

2011-11-06T17:51:24Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers

ARLINGTON--Last week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles was the first time the Dallas Cowboys have lost by more than four points since Jason Garrett took the head coaching reigns. In fact, the last time they lost by more than four points was during Wade Phillips' last game as head coach--a 45-7 drubbing at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. With the score at 34-7, it could've been worse but Andy Reid called off the dogs; the occasion nonetheless stirred similar feelings across Cowboys nation.

It's time to move forward. The Cowboys' schedule in November and early December is a godsend. They host the uninspiring Seattle Seahawks (2-5) today, and the overachieving Buffalo Bills (5-2) the next week. After that, they travel to Landover, Maryland, to face the backpedaling Washington Redskins (3-4), before coming back home to face the disgraceful Miami Dolphins (0-7) four days later on Thanksgiving. To start off December, they'll face a dreadful Arizona Cardinals (1-6) team that hasn't won a game since opening day. This Cowboys' team has the talent to be great, and still has a chance to create some momentum and catch fire. But if they don't take advantage of this favorable stretch, they'll continue to be proven chokers.
]]> New York Giants. They are 31st overall in rushing yards this season and after the Cowboys' struggles against the run this past week, this match-up could not have come at a better time. We haven't heard much from Marshawn Lynch since his historic 67-yard touchdown run that sealed a playoff victory against the New Orleans Saints, but he is the guy the Cowboys' defense must focus on. Sidney Rice might be a better player but without a quarterback to get him the ball deep, he shouldn't be of any threat on Sunday. The Seahawks are also 31st in total offense.

The Cowboys' most improved player this season has been Sean Lee who has a team-leading 51 tackles to go along with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Lee suffered a dislocated wrist against the Eagles and is out today. Lee has opted to not have season-ending surgery and once he returns, he will likely wear a cast to protect the wrist from further injury. His unavailability will throw rookie inside linebacker Bruce Carter into the mix sooner than expected. Carter was the Cowboys' second round selection in the 2011 draft out of North Carolina. Just like Lee, Carter was a highly-rated linebacker that would've been a first-round selection had it not been for a serious knee injury in college. I believe once Carter gets acclimated with this scheme, he and Lee will be the best inside-linebacker duo in the NFL. I might be in the minority, but I believe when it's all said and done Carter will be the better of the two, and we know Lee will be an all-pro linebacker for years to come.

This week's game is a must-win. They're two games behind the Giants for first place, and with the Eagles' resurgence, every game in the NFC East is huge. The Seahawks' defense is giving up 103 yards per game on the ground and DeMarco Murray will have a big day running the ball on Sunday.

After getting beat up last Sunday, the Cowboys' defense will show up and keep this lackluster offense of the Seahawks out of the endzone, even without Lee and cornerback Mike Jenkins.

At halftime, three Cowboys' legends will be inducted into the Ring of Honor. Larry Allen and Charles Haley, who played key roles in helping the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in the '90s, and Drew Pearson, who has waited 28 years since his retirement to be enshrined in this illustrious group of Cowboys' legends.

By the time that ceremony begins, this game will be over. Cowboys roll, 38-6.

Bold: DeMarcus Ware follows-up his four-sack performance with a three-sack game.

Not As Bold: Murray rushes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

Reviewed: Watch The Throne Tour

2011-11-04T18:11:50Z

Not crazy about the record, crazy about the performance. Jay-Z and Kanye killed their DC pop in. Let's run back some warm memories.

Inside Dallas, Ryan Jostling Edition

2011-10-30T23:09:50Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.

PHILADELPHIA--Rob Ryan was the biggest off-season addition to the Dallas Cowboys.

Ryan's ability to get his players in the right spot to create pressure and cause turnovers has paid dividends. His defense is ranked seventh in total yards per game; in 2010, many of these same players combined for 23rd overall. Ryan's defense is allowing six less points than a 2010 squad that ranked 31st.

In all three games that the Cowboys have lost this season, Ryan has put together the best game-plans on the field. In those games, the Cowboys were considered underdogs, but the defense kept them in it until the end. Of course, iconic late mistakes by the offense have spelled doom in each loss. Ryan and his defense have been impressive so far this season, and one would hope that his rugged appearance keeps him from being hired as a head coach in the near future. He definitely has the wherewithal to be a top dog.

]]> Philadelphia Eagles the "All-Hype Team." Apparently, Ryan knew something that no one else did because this Eagles team has played hollow, anemic football. The Eagles added big-name free agents such as Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young, Cullen Jenkins, and Ronnie Brown--bolstering their already loaded roster--but they have little to show for it. They're ranked third overall in total offense, averaging over 440 yards and 24 points per game. But, their defense has struggled mightily giving up over 340 yards and 24 points per game. They won their first game on opening day against the floundering St. Louis Rams, and their only other win came 35 days later against the fraudulent Washington Redskins.

In December 2008, the Cowboys went into Lincoln Financial Field and were clobbered, 44-6, in one of the worst losses in the franchise history. Since then, the Cowboys are 2-0 at the Linc, and 4-1 overall (including playoffs) against the Eagles.

The Cowboys found a running game in rookie DeMarco Murray. His 253-yard performance last week against the Rams is the Cowboys' single-game rushing record and ninth best in NFL history. Naysayers who quell the feat by citing the floundering opponent need to reconsider their argument. No other running back this season has run for 200+ yards on the Rams. The next closest was Redskins' running back Ryan Torain with 135 yards. And only eight other running backs in the 91-year history of the NFL have run for 253 yards or more in a single game. That's saying something for the Oklahoma rookie.

Head coach Jason Garrett has yet to decide whether or not Murray will be the starter at running back, but with Felix Jones out for at least one more game and Tashard Choice quietly waved over the weekend, he won't have a choice but to ride him in the short term. Murray should benefit from facing yet another porous rushing defense. The Eagles rank 23rd overall against the run, giving up 124 yards a game on the ground. Philly's struggles on defense have been attributed to their young and inexperienced linebackers, but I put the majority of the blame on first-year defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, who until this season was their offensive line coach.

The Eagles are coming off a tumultuous bye week, during which cornerback Asante Samuel stirred up controversy with their front office, saying that team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman are "playing fantasy football" with owner Jeff Lurie's money. The Eagles have tried to diffuse the situation publicly, but it's obvious that he's upset that they tried trading him during training camp. The downside about bringing in famous faces is how quickly the added pressure ruins locker room chemistry. Moreover, Brown and Young have been expensive tackling dummies for their new employer.

The 2011 Eagles have been undone by bloated names and bad press, much like the 2010 Cowboys.

Andy Reid sports a 12-0 record in games after the bye as the Eagles' head coach. But all good things must come to an end.

A week ago, I might have erred on the side of caution and picked the Eagles because they're the more desperate team right now with an extra week to prepare. However, with this sudden emergence of a running game for the Cowboys and with Rob Ryan's ability to put together tremendous game-plans going against dynamic quarterbacks, I feel inclined to believe that the better team comes away Sunday night, victorious. The past two Sunday night games in Philly, the Cowboys have won: 38-17 in 2007 and 20-16 in 2009. Every odd year they play in Philly on SNF and win. It continues in 2011, the Cowboys win, 24.20.

Season Record: 3-1.

Bold: Dez Bryant will have 100+ yards receiving against the Eagles' vaunted secondary (Bryant only has one career 100-yard game).

Not Bold: Michael Vick will score a rushing touchdown for the fifth time in his last seven home games.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

Inside Dallas, St. Louis in Texas Edition

2011-10-22T20:00:38Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.

ARLINGTON--Tony Romo has taken the most of the blame this season for the Dallas Cowboys' poor play on offense, and who would blame anyone for doing so after the historic collapse against Detroit--I'm still not over that, never will be. Yet the majority of the blame rests on head coach Jason Garrett's shoulders.

Garrett's inability to play-call effectively in the red-zone is the leading reason why the Cowboys are 2-3 instead of 4-1. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in converting drives for touchdowns in the red-zone, with only six scores in 18 trips. The only team worse at doing this is on the menu this week, the 0-5 St. Louis Rams.

]]> Patriots their red-zone woes became apparent, as Dallas only converted one drive into a touchdown in three red zone attempts. They had two other drives stall just outside the red-zone that only produced three points.

Another problem I blame Garrett for is Dez Bryant's second-half disappearing acts. In consecutive games, Bryant has had brilliant first-halves only to be non-existent in the third and fourth quarters. Against the Lions, Bryant had three receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns, but his last catch of the game came with 10:58 to go in the second quarter. Against the Patriots, Bryant had four receptions for 78 yards in the first half, and again had a catch-less second half. It's evident that opposing defenses are focusing on Bryant more in the second halves of games, but Garrett should be finding ways to get him the ball, but he is obviously not trying. Last week in the 4th quarter with score tied at 13, on 3rd and goal at the five-yard line, with Bryant in single coverage to the left, the Cowboys ran a shovel pass to the right with Tashard Choice. The play lost three yards and they had to settle for a chip-shot field goal. That play call lost the game for the Cowboys.

Now would be a good time to throw DeMarco Murray in your fantasy lineup, says Vittitow.

In this week's match-up, the Cowboys face the worst team in the NFL in the Rams. Quarterback Sam Bradford expects to play even though an ankle injury has kept him out of practice for most of the week. He'll have a new weapon to throw to in Brandon Lloyd, whom was dealt from the Broncos to the Rams at the trade deadline. The Rams are dead-last in the NFL averaging less than ten points per game and having scored only four touchdowns thus far, though Bradford developed a nice rapport with slot receiver Greg Salas last week (eight catches for 77 yards).

The Rams' defense is giving up 27 points-per-game and they are the worst rushing defense in the NFL, ceding 162 yards per game. So, this match-up has come at the right time for a Cowboys offense that has struggled to score touchdowns and run the ball effectively. Starting running back Felix Jones will be out this week nursing a high ankle sprain, so Choice and rookie DeMarco Murray will be splitting carries. Choice will likely start, but Murray will play a key roll in winning this game.

The Cowboys haven't won a game by more than three points since they defeated the Lions by 16 last season, but I believe that streak comes to an end on Sunday. The Cowboys roll, 37-13.

Bold: Murray gains 110 total yards and scores two touchdowns.
Not Bold: Dan Bailey kicks at least three field goals for the fourth game in a row.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

Inside Dallas, Mt. Brady Edition

2011-10-15T13:26:43Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.

FOXBORO--Losing a 24-point third-quarter lead that spiraled into the worst collapse in Dallas Cowboys history--then having to hear about it for two weeks--meant longest bye week ever for Tony Romo.

It's worth stressing that the collapse wasn't completely Romo's fault, with the defense not sacking Matthew Stafford the entire game, or even getting pressure on him at all in the second half. But when you spot the opposing team two interceptions-for-touchdowns in a five-minute span to get them back in the game, the blame must rest firmly on the quarterback's shoulders.

]]> Miles Austin will play for the first time since he had a career-high three touchdown performance against the 49ers; Dez Bryant should finally be fully recovered from his thigh contusion; cornerback Orlando Scandrick will suit-up for the first time since opening day; and let's not forget that Romo has been playing through a cracked rib these past few weeks.

The Cowboys needed the extra week off to prepare for the consumate juggernaut that is the New England Patriots. Tom Brady has not lost a regular season game at home since 2006, and he is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record. The Patriots play much better at home than on the road (as do most teams) but these Patriots are masterful in the confines of Gillette Stadium.

The Cowboys are healthy, they've had a week of rest, and they've found their third receiver. Expect Laurent Robinson--a 2010 sleeper with the St. Louis Rams that found himself out of a job when the Rams overloaded their roster with receiving prospects--to consistently perform the way he did against Detroit when he caught seven balls for 116 yards. The Cowboys passing offense will be difficult to stop. Conveniently, the Patriots are dead-last in passing defense. Expect a big statistical game from Romo.

The Cowboys' defense is tops in the NFL, giving up only 61 yards a game on the ground, but that doesn't faze the Patriots' offense because Brady can, and will, throw all day on a weak secondary. With Scandrick pulling the short straw and covering Wes Welker in the slot, it will be a long day.

This fucking guy again.

Romo has come out and said this week these Cowboys will be Super Bowl Champions at some point. Sunday is the perfect opportunity for Romo and the Boys to prove just that, going into Foxboro, getting a road win, and ending Brady's 30-game home regular season win streak.

The last time the Patriots' offense was held under 30 points was last season when they faced refreshingly aggressive new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's schemes in Cleveland. Ryan's defense held the Patriots to 14 points and 283 total yards, and he brings this very distinct advantage to Valley Ranch.

I believe the Cowboys will be focused after a collapse for the ages, while the Patriots will suffer a letdown a week after getting up for their archrivals. The Cowboys win, 35-32.

Bold: Laurent Robinson will score his first touchdown with Dallas.
Not Bold: Wes Welker will have at least 10 catches for 120+ yards.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

Bombtracks: October 2011

2011-10-11T16:20:21Z

Trendy tracks that are also really good.

In which ATG carefully nourishes a monthly playlist of excellent hip-hop that is presently being touted by the ~~streets~~ bloggers. Flip the bass on that office Dell all the way up.

1. French Montana -- Whatcha Want
2. A.Dd+ -- Insomniac Dreaming
3. Kendrick Lamar -- Hol Up
4. Lushlife featuring Cities Aviv -- She's a Buddhist, I'm a Cubist
5. G-Side featuring Johnny Spanish -- Hot Sex and Cold Wine
6. Jackie Chain featuring Big K.R.I.T., Bun B -- Parked Outside
7. Big K.R.I.T., 2Chainz, 8Ball & MJG -- Money on the Floor
8. Jay Electronica featuring Mobb Deep -- Call of Duty
9. Stalley featuring Freeway -- Jungle
10. The Weeknd -- The Birds Part 1
11. Tal B -- Lost Gemz Freestyle
12. Rick Ross -- I Love My Bitches
13. Mr. Motherfuckin' Exquire featuring Danny Brown, Das Racist, El-P, Despot -- The Last Huzzah (Remix)
14. Freddie Gibbs -- Come Come (Kick Drums Remix)

Inside Dallas, Lions and Grown Men Edition

2011-09-29T21:08:03Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.

ARLINGTON--Tony Romo has grown up.

Five years ago, a kid on the sideline walked around wearing his cap backwards, smiling without a care in the world. Now, a general barks orders to his team. Despite the droning Jaworski hyperbole, Romo has indeed become a coach on the field - directing his teammates where to line up, who to block, and what route to run. He is all business. He's leading by example too; playing through the pain of a cracked rib and punctured lung has inspired Dez Bryant and Felix Jones to tough it out. A year ago, Jones would have spent Monday night nursing his separated shoulder off the field. Instead, he plays through the pain, racking up a career high for single game rushing yards in the process.

This newfound toughness is thanks in part to head coach Jason Garrett. Garrett has set a new way of thinking at Valley Ranch that hasn't been seen in since the Jimmy Johnson era. He makes everyone accountable on the team, and it starts with his stars. Don't expect consummate slackers skating by on their upside to stick around much longer (Martellus Bennett).

]]> Garrett as a head coach is doing a superb job. Garrett as an offensive coordinator through three games this season has room for much improvement. In every game, with his Cowboys in goal-to-go situations inside the five-yard line, Garrett has lined the offense up in shotgun packages. In four possessions inside the five, the Cowboys have produced ten points. That's inexcusable for a coach that has four years of play-calling under his belt.

It's obvious that Garrett does not trust his young offensive line to run the ball at the goal line consistently, but at least give them a chance to line up and play smash-mouth football. You just don't roll out the shotgun and try to fool defenses with halfback draws. This puts needless pressure on Romo to throw it to receivers that don't know what routes to run (Kevin Olgetree -- after three years in Dallas -- proved himself a clueless, useless cog under the Monday lights).

Protection will be everything on Sunday for both offenses.

Sunday's matchup features the two best defenses in the NFC in terms of total defense. This will put even more pressure on Romo and these inexperienced receivers to move the ball. The Detroit Lions' pass defense is only giving up 188 yards a game, tops in the NFC. Miles Austin is out through the bye week and Bryant is still hampered by a quad contusion that he suffered in week one, so Romo will have to rely on newly-signed Laurent Robinson, who had some big catches against the Redskins.

The Lions come into Cowboys Stadium riding a seven-game winning streak and all the confidence in the world. Just last season, the Lions held a streak of 26 straight losses on the road, but now they have won four straight (their last road loss was against the Cowboys). The play of their franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, has been the key. When healthy, Stafford is one of the top ten quarterbacks in the league. The Lions will be in the mix for a playoff spot, and maybe even a division title, well into December.

The key to this one is in the trenches. If the Cowboys' offensive line can protect Romo and provide running lanes for Jones, then the Cowboys have a great shot at winning. The Lions have one of the best defensive lines in the league, so it'll be a tough task for this young offensive line. On the other side of the ball, the key is the same. The Lions' offensive line must protect Stafford and try to jump-start a running game that has produced 2.8 yards per carry this year.

If the Cowboys were healthy, I'd be more inclined to like them here, but without Austin -- the only receiver that knows the offense -- Romo will struggle to find a receiver that will be in the right place at the right time. Jason Witten is his go-to guy, but defenses are double-teaming him with Austin and Bryant injured. The offensive line will struggle mightily against the Lions' defensive front seven, and the combination of Stafford and Calvin Johnson will be too much for a Cowboys' secondary that has not been tested thus far. The Lions will prevail, 23-19.

Bold: No botched snaps for Phil Costa.
Not Bold: Dan Bailey will make four field goals.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

Inside Dallas, 'Boys-'Skins Edition

2011-09-22T17:33:02Z

Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.

ARLINGTON--Monday night, it's Cowboys versus indians. It's Southwest versus Northeast. It's a battle between the two wealthiest franchises in football. It's also a fight between two legacy teams that have won a combined two playoff games since the turn of the century.

That doesn't change the fact that this is the best rivalry in the National Football League. Even before the Dallas Cowboys franchise had been established, these teams hated each other. In 1958, Clint Murchison Jr. needed approval from all NFL owners in order to start a franchise in Dallas, but one owner voted against it. It was Washington Redskins owner George Marshall. Murchison ended up buying the rights to the Redskins' fight song, which forced Marshall to approve the expansion team in Dallas if he wanted to keep "Hail to the Redskins" blaring for home games. Since the Dallas franchise was established in 1960, the Cowboys and Redskins have faced off in the regular season 100 times, with the Cowboys leading the series, 60-38-2 record.

Enough about the past. Let's examine the match up.

]]> The Cowboys are going into this game trying to figure out if they'll have enough guys on offense to suit up and play. Miles Austin won't be available for this game, and might be out until after the bye week. Starting Center, Phil Costa, re-injured his knee on Sunday, and is most likely not playing. Starting Left Guard, Bill Nagy, who missed last Sunday's game, is questionable. Felix Jones, who separated his shoulder, says he will suit up but the injury will surely hinder his play, although you probably won't notice. Dez Bryant, as of Thursday, is "highly questionable." Most importantly, Tony Romo, nursing a cracked rib and punctured lung, is anything but a sure thing.

Luckily, the Cowboys have an extra day to prepare for the Redskins and heal their wounds. Head coach Jason Garrett has given the team an additional day off to rest, and it is much needed after playing on both coasts in back-to-back weeks.

Escaping San Francisco with an over-analyzed overtime win saved the season. The Cowboys now face an undefeated Redskins team, and if they lose this game, they'll already be two games behind Washington in the NFC East. September is too early for "must win" games, we'll file this under "you really need to win this."

Yup, Santana Moss is still in the NFL.

The Washington Redskins fly into Dallas in better shape. They have a 2-0 record, they have a division win already under their belts, they have exceeded expectations thus far, and they are healthy. Starting 'Skins safety, LaRon Landry, should be back after missing the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury so that should help shore up a young Redskins defense that has at times looked dominant. Rex Grossman has looked downright competent at quarterback leading the 'Skins to victory in two consecutive home games. And last time Grossman faced the Cowboys, he torched their secondary for 322 yards passing and four touchdowns. With the current state of the Cowboys' secondary, it's not a stretch to think it could happen again.

Yet everything will rest on Romo. If Romo doesn't play, the Cowboys will struggle to move the ball, as their running game has done little-to-nothing so far. Reading the tea leaves, I believe Romo suits up. He toughed it out in the fourth quarter against the Forty-Niners when the pain was at its worst, and there's no reason to think he can't play after eight days of rest. The Cowboys are having a flak jacket made that will help prevent Romo's injury from worsening. I also believe Dez Bryant will tough it out and play, even if his quad injury hasn't completely healed -- he's a key decoy the Redskins have to monitor all night. Terence Newman, via Twitter, has already announced that he's playing Monday night despite missing all of training camp and the past two games with a groin injury.

Frankly, the Redskins struggled against a thus-far average Cardinals team at home and should've lost. Even with the Cowboys' injuries, they should beat an over-achieving Redskins team at home. Yet an opportunistic Redskins win would legitimize their bandwagon. It'll be ugly and tense, but the Cowboys win, 20-17.

Bold: DeMarco Murray scores his first NFL touchdown.
Not Bold: The Cowboys' defense sacks Rex Grossman five times.

-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow

R.E.M. Retires, How to Retroactively Enjoy Their Work

2011-09-22T17:24:16Z

Michael Stipe and co. called it quits on Wednesday, after several harmonious decades as R.E.M. This is somewhat of a bummer, though it'd be disingenuous to claim any sort of long-standing fandom of a band enjoying its heyday as ATG sucked back pacifiers. But as music fans, there's an inherent need to cover the right bases when landscape changes occur. ATG reached out to the pre-eminent R.E.M. scholar in the field, my buddy Josh Bradshaw:

"Before you start, watch Michael Stipe in this clip from The Adventures of Pete and Pete.

R.E.M.'s career is neatly divided between the IRS years (80-88) and their Warner Bros albums (88'-94/96')...and well, the 'meh' years (94 or 96'-now).

I'd recommend starting with the IRS compilation, Eponymous to see which albums the tracks you like are on, then going from there to explore their '80s work. Murmur's great but I feel it's one of those historically hyped albums that's easily disappointing.

Green, Out of Time, and Automatic For The People are the huge albums. Out of Time is easily the poppiest and most divisive (i.e. the "Shiney Happy People" song). Green's a bit heavier and darker (for R.E.M.) and Automatic is one of the best albums ever recorded by anyone ever.

It gets kinda dicey after that. Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi were their last solid albums. Up and Reveal had some good singles but are pretty mediocre. Around the Sun will put you to sleep. If you've managed to get hooked, save Accelerate and Collapse Into Now for last, they are great to end on, but, I dunno, they don't mean much if you haven't heard their previous work."

Reviewed: Free Fest

2011-09-12T20:03:35Z

I covered the DC area's most prominent summer festival--Virgin Mobile Free Fest--on behalf of the Washington City Paper. It was hot save for Big Sean.

Decision: That New Wale Tape

2011-08-21T16:41:30Z

D.C.'s most famous rapper, Wale, returns with a Maybach Music-backed mixtape, The Eleven One Eleven Theory. A little long, but full of worthy material. Wale is one of rap's good guys, so ATG hopes he rises again with this fall's Ambition. Though, for the most part, ATG dug Attention Deficit.

Decision: Watch the Throne

2011-08-21T16:35:05Z

Kind of a bummer. Not really my bag.

ATG Presents: Jay-Z - For The Culture

2011-06-21T13:19:01Z

Artwork by Joseph Devens.

It's hard to imagine nowadays with the Oprah canoodling, lifestyle blogging, and learned taste for indie rock, but Jay-Z wasn't always so antiseptic. Before "Beach Chair" and his current legacy rap period, Hova boasted a bruising batting average: ten ghetto anthems for every "Lobster & Shrimp" banana peel. Beyond the Bloomberg brunches or uptown art gallery openings with delicate bffs lies an increasingly-overlooked corpus banished in a Disney-like vault.

Jay-Z has hardened into a role model, an author, the Bohemian rap city's generous boss, and a sucker for love. He'll probably be an elected official one day. He'll probably be remembered as affectionately for foreign aid trips to the Congo as he is for hungry rapping.

Folks love to draw Jordan parallels in hip-hop, but Jay-Z is more Bill Russell -- the tireless laborer with more rings than anyone. Jordan left the court (at least the first two times) with a flawless record; like Russ, Jay-Z's had awkward, gangly moments of fatigue and error.

But the difference between sports and music, of course, is that in music the entire point is the journey, the work left for consumption. The sports winner immortalizes the present. You generally don't watch highlights of specific jumpers over and over. Jay-Z has made a double album's worth of terrible music (and that's just with R. Kelly), but he's also left behind a treasure chest of top tier, fully realized, expertly narrated albums.

It's why ATG believes that Jay-Z is the best rapper of all-time. There's an argument to be made about raw talent and iconography, a stupider one to be made factoring in wealth and branding, but because the G.O.A.T. conversation stems from music, the prevailing criterion must be the music itself. Biggie made two albums and the second one was spotty, Diddy-heavy. Tupac recorded urgently in order to fulfill an exploitative contract, and quality control suffered. Neither will stop the seekers from copying and pasting verses (over J Dilla beats, probably) long after we're gone. Who will remix "Money Ain't A Thang?"

The Blueprint III was Emmitt Smith on the Cardinals. It was playing catch with your dad during winter break, as he struggled to compose the spirals you used to have to go long for. It sucked. The long-awaited duet album with Kanye West will suck too.

Without touching any singles, ATG's inner circle spent weeks narrowing down hundreds of fantastic, somewhat deeper cuts into a spiraling, essential mix of Jay-Z at his most inventive, honest, dazzling, and charismatic. It's a mix meant to be consumed with the windows down, on the tro, during cookouts. No consideration was given to the scope of an individual track's project or date. These greatest non-hits are intended to survey Jay's entire catalogue from peak to peak. They're intended to make heads nod for more reasons than one. They are, as the man himself once taught us, for the culture.

SIDE A

1. A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More
2. Can I Live
3. Heart of the City
4. December 4
5. Kingdom Come
6. U Don't Know [Remix]
7. Guess Who's Back
8. Never Let Me Down
9. Girls Girls Girls, Part II
10. Party Life
11. What More Can I Say
12. Takeover
13. Ignorant Shit
14. Renegade

SIDE B

1. It's Like That
2. Snoopy Track
3. Never Change
4. In My Lifetime [Remix]
5. Come On Baby [Remix]
6. Dear Summer
7. This Can't Be Life
8. So Ghetto
9. P.S.A.
10. Hell Yeah [Remix]
11. Watch Me
12. Watcher II
13. Black Republican
14. Momma Loves Me

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