Common "A Beautiful Revolution Pt.2" (Album Stream)

On the second installment of his series A Beautiful Revolution, the Chicago rapper sounds comfortable in his skin, kicking characteristically loquacious rhymes, sounding so relaxed he could fall out of his chair. A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2) might lack the rumble and hiss of his early music, but Common circa 2021 is making better rap than a middle-aged legend with nothing left to prove has any right to be making. Less interested these days in the boom-bap drums and heavy sampling of his most famous work, Common instead raps over an eclectic set of instrumentals that includes West African rhythms, Delta blues, and R&B. “When We Move” is one of the better rap-Afrobeat amalgamations in recent memory, as Common, Black Thought, and Seun Kuti (son of Fela) fluidly flow over choppy guitars and peppy percussion. The hooks also have a light touch, with singer PJ offering sultry choruses on five songs. Lyrically, Common eschews the news cycle for more eternal topics. On “Set It Free,” he exalts the importance of inner beauty; “Poetry” celebrates great Black thinkers, from Toni Morrison to Public Enemy. As ever, Common remains positive, remains a dreamer: “Imagine” borrows a title and a concept from John Lennon, picturing a world where water runs freely in Flint and Black people aren’t incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. “Since I was little, I had a big imagination,” he raps in a great voice. Fourteen albums deep, that imagination still has a crucial place in hip-hop. - Bandcamp. Amen, Common does it again - this is a solid LP. Listen below...

Eve "Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady" (Sept. 14, 1999)

The full title of Eve's full-length debut is Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady for a reason. The Philadelphia rapper sets out to prove she's earned her place in the Ruff Ryders crew, matching rhymes, raunch, and rounds with the hardest hardass. Minimal beats laced with synthesized strings and keyboards back traditional hip-hop brag fests like "Let's Talk About." Eve shows up guests Drag-on, DMX, and others with boasts of sexual prowess, withering insults to inadequately endowed brothers, and violent sister-centered anthems like "My Bitches." A few short skits offer snapshots of Eve's beloved hometown. The irresistible party anthem "We on That Shit!," reminiscent of Coolio's "Fantastic Voyage," chronicles a night of clubbing and rounds out the street picture. "Ain't Got No Dough," a fabulous collaboration with Missy Elliott, is a fiery bridge between street-centered raps and the more interesting tracks. Purring and pissed, it's an edgier alternative to TLC's hit "No Scrubs." Eve's conviction and passion make her noticeable no matter what the subject, but she truly stands out when the stories become personal, examining the cost of the hard life she champions in other songs. "Love Is Blind" is a painful look at domestic violence. Self-respect and positivity are the moral of "Heaven Only Knows." Both tracks are backed by beautiful arrangements with acoustic guitar and lush vocals. Eve maintains her hardcore image in these tracks, but with a subtle vulnerability that promise lots of interesting things to come from this Philly prodigy. - AllMusic. Revisit this slept-on gem of a debut album from Eve below, which - in my humble opinion - would've done better if it was a lil' shorter and the track order woulda been switched around differently to highlight the heart of this album. Otherwise, it's got some excellent tracks! Listen...

I've always been a fan of Eve, I think she's a beautiful + dope talent...

The Notorious B.I.G. "Ready To Die" (9/13/94)

At the height of the gangsta era, the Notorious B.I.G.'s debut responded to Dre with a different kind of shock value. Ready to Die is the rare hardcore hip-hop album on which a gangster expresses real remorse about his tumultuous lifestyle, the drugs that have ruined his neighborhood, and the pain he's caused his loved ones. His solution for absolution? On "Suicidal Thoughts," he pulls out a gun and blows his brains all over the room. "[When I wrote that song] I felt that if I were to die, not too many people would miss me," Biggie said in 1997. "Having to wake up every day and sell drugs and do what I had to do was wack." The best rapper to emerge in the '90s, one with a cinematic sense of description and a wicked sense of humor, Biggie was a charismatic contradiction, the kind of MC who could laugh about robbing pregnant women of their "#1 Mom pendants" in "Gimme the Lot," then lament the roots of street nihilism in "Things Done Changed" ["Back in the day our parents used to take care of us / Look at them now, they fuckin' scared of us"]. "I'd never worked on an album that dark before," says Easy Mo Bee, who produced several tracks. "One time in the studio, he was rapping, 'Fuck the world, fuck my mom and my girl,' and I had to stop and ask myself, 'Do I want to be a part of this?' But the whole thing isn't just 'murder, murder.' Biggie had raps that could make you cry, make you reexamine who you were." And smash singles such as "One More Chance" and "Big Poppa" are backed by a catchy mix of gritty funk and R&B velvet. Tragically, on March 9, 1997, just as Biggie was celebrating the birth of a son and the impending release of his second album, Life After Death, he was murdered in a still unsolved Los Angeles drive-by. But in a genre of here-today-gone-tomorrow superstars, Ready to Die assures that Biggie will live on. - Spin Magazine (9/99). Revisit the classic debut album from the late great Notorious B.I.G. below...

The full review in Spin Magazine, and original album sticker are below...

AZ "Doe Or Die II" (Album Stream)

Brooklyn's own AZ has finally released the follow up to his 1995 debut with a sequel dripped in its own brand of nostalgia. With production from Bink, Kaygee, Baby Paul, The Alchemist, Buckwild, Rockwilder, Heatmakerz, Czarface and the legendary Pete Rock, this 13-track set fits superbly in his extensive catalog of underrated music (debut aside). The LP also features Idris Elba, Jaheim, Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Conway the Machine, Dave East and T-Pain. Would I have called it Doe or Die II? Perhaps not, but I do see this as one of the better releases AZ has released in recent memory, and in his career as a whole. I'm told that autographed CDs are selling for roughly $85, but be advised, autographs are written on the outer wrapping, so if you plan to listen to the actual CD, it's not a sound investment. Just saying. That aside, it's good to see artists supporting the fans of physical copies, and the album is worth a listen below. The tracks range from R&B garbage to solid hip-hop...

Jay-Z "The Blueprint" (September 11, 2001)

A young MC emerged from Brooklyn's Marcy Projects aspiring to be a rap superstar. After learning and surviving the harsh life of a drug dealer, lyricist Jay-Z began his inevitable journey toward becoming one of the most famed hip-hop artists in the biz. The six-figure ni**a known to millions as Jay-Hova or Jigga Man recently released his highly anticipated fourth Roc-A-Fella/IDJMG album, The Blueprint. His determination to rhyme helped Jay to leave his drug-dealing days behind and focus all of his energy on seeking out a record deal. Serious about rapping, Jay began to scope the scene. He appeared on several underground projects before he hooked up with Damon Dash, CEO of Roc-A-Fella, who talked Jay into a partnership. That link got Jay's rap career off the ground. In 1995 he released his first single, "In My Lifetime," which was a surprise hit in the core of New York's fastidious rap scene. His debut album, Reasonable Doubt, wasn't a top seller, but it did well enough to start a buzz. The following year Jay and Dash joined forces with Def Jam and released Jay's sophomore project, In My Lifetime, followed by Hard Knock Life and The Life & Times of S. Carter. Just as listeners recovered from the whiplash they suffered from the head-bobbing, c-walk anthem "Change the Game" and the raunchy sex single "I Just Wanna..." Jay released the lead single from The Blueprint, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)." The album outlines comical bars and penetrating messages in Jay's distinct hood lingo, laced with Cristal, ice, Bentleys and gorgeous women. Sing along to "Girls, Girls, Girls" as Jay speaks frankly about his addiction, then enter the world of Jay-Hova in "Jigga That Ni**a" and "U Don't Know," a glimpse into the life of a rap star. Before you stop, take on the gangsta-influenced joint "Renegade," as Jay and fellow rebel Eminem exchange hard-core rhymes. No longer labeled a product of an unjust environment, the multimillion-dollar talent known as Jay-Z hits haters with another sure-to-be Platinum album. Though his last project didn't gain quite the reputation of its predecessor, The Blueprint reclaims lyrical victory for Jay. Enjoy. - October 5, 2001.

Is Jay-Z the King of New York? An Empire State of Mind by ToonCrew.

Happy Born Day, Big Daddy Kane! + Podcast

Big Daddy Kane, born Antonio Hardy, is easily one of Brooklyn's most known artists. He was introduced to the world through one of Hip Hop's first and most legendary crews, the Juice Crew. On the popular podcast, Did I EverTell You The One About, Big Daddy Kane tells us first hand how he became the man he is today. From his humble upbringing in Brooklyn, NY with his family to recording with legends like Quincy Jones, Barry White and Pattie LaBelle. His journey was filled with hope, encouragement, failures and achievements. Not only did he have what it took to be on record, but to be on the big screen as well, making movies with Mario Van Peebles and Robert Townsend. He's top 5 dead or alive and has been everywhere and done everything a person could do. Including being in Madonna's Sex book! The podcast features 9 full episodes with a wealth of information on the legendary Big Daddy Kane, who is also celebrating his born day today! Much respect to one of the greatest MCs and all-around live performers in hip-hop history. Art by the talented ToonCrew.

Brandon Isaac & Free Mind "The North Star" (Album Stream)

Cincinnati's Brandon Isaac and LA producer Free Mind have released their debut collaborative album, The North Star. I was put on to the project through ScratchedVinyl, which reviewed the LP stating, "The North Star is full of contemplative, midtempo soul-sampling beats that subtly set the mood for Isaac to hop on the mic and just work through all of his thoughts and emotions. This album is for serious listeners who are willing to really spend time with an album and absorb the words and the moods of these deeply personal tales that Isaac is weaving. He’s opening up and going deep about everything from systemic racism and how that’s shaped his upbringing to some specific narratives about people in his life and the relationships he’s forged along the way to get him where he is today. It’s the type of album that you really need to listen to one-on-one, where you can really just sit with the material and let it bounce around your head for a while as you process and unpack all of the feelings this music might bring up. The North Star isn’t your typical debut album, but in working with Free Mind, Brandon Isaac was able to craft an album that will insure that anyone who gets into his music from this point will not just be a casual well-wisher. They will be a hardcore hip hop fan who appreciates the raw emotional honesty of his lyricism." Dig!

DJ Premier "So Wassup?" ("Represent" Episode, Video)

The Greatest of All-Time, DJ Premier keeps on keepin' on with his phenomenal new series, So Wassup?, a tribute to the floppy disk! In this sixth episode, Premo breaks down "Represent" off Nas' debut album, Illmatic. At the time, Nas was "Nasty Nas." The track was originally called "Representin'" and the version on the album is actually the remix he made when he went back to remake the track (after hearing "One Love" from Q-Tip). We already know this, but hearing Premo break it down is always gonna be legendary. Props to Large Professor, who Premo credits as the sound of Nas, and who recruited him to come produce three tracks on the LP. The original beat for "Represent" was the first beat he made for Illmatic. It was a jazzy sample and fit the sound at the time. While "NY State of Mind" is arguably the best track on the album, "Represent" has always been one of my favorite Nas tracks in his whole catalog. The full video is below + the Art above is by Torre.Pentel.