Reggie Ugwu
Tuesday, June 15 at 5:18 p.m.

So I looked in Slate today and everything I've wanted to say about this Drake shit was staring me in the face. It was uncanny. At first I was thrilled, and then I was profoundly dismayed. Kudos to Jonah Weiner, and death to Jonah Weiner.

Thank Me Later is not a bad album. But compare it to his earlier work, as those of us who have been following his career closely for years are want to do, and it feels like a significant disappointment. There is very little to be excited about, and frankly, the sonic palette is kind of a snooze. Are Weiner and I the only ones feeling Aubrey fatigue?

ATG sizes it all up.

Tomorrow, the World Fucking Cup (WFC) begins in South Africa. The thought of typing up a "WFC for Dummies" guide seemed appropriate but, more than likely, you've read such a document in ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Slate, Time, Newsweek or other formidable publications.

ATG will not provide banal analysis and default to Spain or Brazil. I won't explain why Brazilian athletes have one name. I won't compare and qualify a sport by putting it in perfect, hilarious American context. Rather, I'll advocate total immersion and dissect your barriers to total immersion.

Enjoy the globe-stopping tournament. Hopefully at a trendy, hip, American bar full of pseudo-intellectuals more than happy to break down the offsides rules.

ATG sizes it all up.

A quick salute is needed on behalf of the culture FBO the state of Arizona's stupefying, blatant, misguided outburst of overt racism. Arizona legislators and sympathizing citizens, you shells of ignorance really don't know anything. God save us. There's absolutely no way around these thin arguments for Senate Bill 1070, supported by 70% of Arizona's people, all of which are laced with xenophobia:


What they say: "It's not a race issue, it's a border enforcement issue."
What they mean: "I am ok with light-skinned, European or Canadian illegal immigrants who will absolutely not get harassed by local authorities."


What they say: "When I see my property tax bill and the amounts we pay to subsidize the county hospital, it makes me realize just another way illegal immigration directly impacts me."
What they mean: "I hate Mexicans because their hair doesn't thin at 35 and they have a higher tolerance for tequila."


What they say: "Being Hispanic, like many Americans, I have no issue with this law. Is it racial profiling? Absolutely. But when criminals change the way they break the law, you have to change the laws and the way you enforce them."
What they mean: "I'm a sellout piece of shit who likes to pretend the plight of my fathers to the United States was a righteous journey from a simpler time."


What they say: "The State of Arizona is only doing what the federal government will not do: enforce our laws!"
What they mean: "I am behind the idea of drastic, unprecedented levels of surveillance on our populous as long as it curbs the number of Mexicans selling empanadas down the street."


What they say: "I travel a bit in my job, and I always keep my passport with me. I was stationed in Germany as a GI, and was always required to show documentation whenever I crossed into a new country."
What they mean: "Nazi supermen are our superiors."


What they say: "If this is racial profiling, what is Affirmative Action? I don't hear any liberals complaining about that."
What they mean: "NON-SEQUITORS MAKE GREAT BULLET POINTS."


What they say: "Seriously though, Mexico is terrifying. Drug cartels and border kidnappings and that farmer guy who was murdered. I mean that shit is scary."
What they mean: "If we call the police station on the Mexicans waiting for day labor shifts in front of Home Depot or selling fake Steve Nash jerseys, that'll all go away."


What they say: "You're damn right classes promoting the overthrow of the U.S. Government should be banned."
What they mean: "Really, we just hate the Mexicans and this is a great excuse to rid ourselves of all their prideful, cultural bullshit. I don't want my child learning about Dia De Los Muertos. And while we're at it, let's go ahead and get rid of teachers with thick accents."

An industry leader recently went on a much-needed tirade at some conference about technology or Twitter or some shit. He puts blogs on blast and I instantly found myself agreeing with 100% of his points. Reggie not so much. We talked it out.

First and foremost, Game has won the "Exhibit C" space race. His version is a myriad of great lines stuffed into 20 minutes and yeah fam, he's absolutely back on my radar as an important voice in the, um, game. But Thursday's beefy onslaught over Jay Electronica's winter classic, "Exhibit C," got me thinking about the gobs of trial versions circulating the mixtape circuits since its messiah-like reception late last year.

Bloggers take veiled, annoyed shots at the product. No doubt because nobodies crowd their inboxes with eager attempts. Many attack the exercise as lacking vision. But really, the great thing about such a commanding, unifying track like "Exhibit C" is using the occasion to flex talent. I've enjoyed almost every one of these bits. All-world hip-hop songs should be recreated by rappers, it's the most unbiased metric to measure skillz.

With that in mind, here's a breakdown of "Exhibit C" highlights from the underground.


Joell Ortiz
Tone: Focused, indignant rant released in aftermath of the devastating Haiti earthquake; basically a history lesson
Sample lyric: "Before the ground shook, we never offered them love/people was eating cakes made of oil, water and mud"

Cypha Da Prynce
Tone: Solid effort from Kanye-endorsed rapper; at 2:21, the shortest of the bunch. Also falls into familiar trap of rhyming "Electronica" with "harmonica"
Sample lyric: "I get blowed like harmonica/met Veronica/got blowed and got it on with her"

B.o.B.
Tone: Clunky, on the spot radio flow. Full of miscues, but is at least an actual freestyle
Sample lyric: "Uno is my numeral/they say hip-hop is dead I guess I missed the funeral"

Stylah
Tone: British rapper brings thick accent, regional slang I don't follow
Sample lyric: I got nothing, but it does sound good.

Twista
Tone: Fast, as usual
Sample lyric: No real lyrical highlights, just a bunch of rapid fire bars. Fun.

Nickelus F
Tone: Guy that may or may not have written for Drake brings melodies and cheeseball, suburban lyrics; also one of the first "C" flows to arrive on the scene during December
Sample lyric: "Nickelus F comes the hardest...that's what she said"

Mike Millz
Tone: Far Rockaway newcomer does New York proud, overcomes nasally, high voice
Sample lyric: Lotta back-to-back stuff. Technically proficient shit. "They respect us just like North Korean troops" is a cool line.

Stix
Tone: Perhaps the most average, nondescript of the bunch
Sample lyric: "I make it rain with Sprint's cell phone connection: about 4Gs"

Cassidy
Tone: Lots of hard, aggressive shit that "Cass do." He comes in right when the beat drops and saves us a little time, which begets kudos
Sample lyric: "I keep Franklins like Aretha do...stay fresh like kids on Easter do...you a sucker you do things that a sucker do...your girl say she never come when she sleep with you"...These go on for a while

Papoose
Tone: Overlooked street guy rambles, takes then timely shots at Tiger Woods
Sample lyric: "You an Uncle Tom nephew, why should I respect you?"

Fabolous
Tone: Mixtape-closing rampage of nonsensical charisma
Sample lyric: "They call me Fab Electronica/Presidential suite so it's Fab and young Monica/Stevie Wonder niggas better grab your harmonica/screaming "go daddy" so it's Fab and young Danica/if it goes down better grab your Titanic, brah"

Murph
What: East Coast street shit. Sorta homoerotic
Sample lyric: "Tell them lame fuck boys they ain't fuckin' with me"

Jimmie Hoffa
Tone: Career introspection with a side of lamenting U.S. foreign policy
Sample lyric: "Me and the law always been on different sides"

Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.

Been listening to lots of The Warm Up, J. Cole's 2009 mixtape. Cole is an emerging voice in hip-hop by default as the first artist signed to Jay-Z's new imprint, Roc Nation, and it made sense to test the waters. ATG's visual assassin, photographer Callie Richmond, sang his praises during South by Southwest and I thought he did an admirable job as Jay's arena opener. He's an XXL Freshman, a blog mainstay, respected and name-dropped by important people. It's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore Cole's career.

Believe me, I tried.

Photo by Evan Daniels for ATG

Day one of the big dance and the gang's all around: elder statesman from the major markets, reunited Texans, internet hype dudes testing cross-over waters for the first time. It's a playful, hopeful atmosphere around Austin as South by Southwest's overpowering, circuit-breaking music portion revs up.

Far as who ATG is checking for, reference the building list of interview subjects below. As always, follow us all week for up to the minute updates, tips, obscene hashtags; stay hydrated, wear green, check the jump for an exclusive slideshow of pictures.


Kidz In the Hall

88 Keys

Freeway

Mayer Hawthorne

Das Racist

Theophilus London

Donnis