This Weeks New Releases (9/29)

This was a much slower week than the last two weeks prior, but there were still some pretty notable releases this week, namely the record i've been waiting for for quite some time, Skyzoo's "The Salvation." Seems like a fitting start to the article, so let's begin!



Skyzoo- The Salvation
Prod. By: 9th Wonder, Just Blaze, Cyrus the Great, Best Kept Secret, Nottz, Black Milk, Illmind, Needlz, & Eric G.

Simply reading the producers list for this album, at least for another producer/artist, is a dream come true. And the sound definitely is every bit as good as you would think it is. After hearing Cloud 9, I knew Sky would hold up to his end of the bargain, as Sky is a damn good MC. All there was left for me was the beats, and they didn't dissapoint.

Favorite Record: For What It's Worth.

Ghostface- The Wizard of Poetry

Prod. By: Scram Jones, Sean C & LV, Justice League, Clyde & Harry, Scott Storch, Ant Acid, Xtreme.

This album was alot better than I thought it would be. Gotta thank my dude Trew for actually making me take the first listen. Ghost is, and always was, definitely in my top 5 emcee's of all times. But after hearing the concept for the album, i wasnt sure what to expect. Especially at the mention of a Ron Browz feature (damn). But this ended up being quite good. It's just more of Ghost being Ghost. It works on almost all levels, minus a few tracks (Ron Browz track especially). Make sure u listen to "Stapleton Sex." Timeless!

On the real, I think this is all i was excited for this week. Short album release write up, I know. But just blame it on the brain, because clearly I must be forgetting some albums. If so, let me know. And be sure to visit www.thenumbrspot.webs.com for discussions on this site and the podcast, www.thenumbrspot.podomatic.com!

315 Media Group Presents Numbr Spot Radio: Episode one- Strictly 4 The Jeeps/ Music for the Ride

The premiere episode of Numbr Spot Radio! This weeks theme is Strictly 4 The Jeeps/Music For the Ride! Only a few more weeks of windows down, top back weather. Might as well enjoy it with a soundtrack!! Features music from A Tribe Called Quest, All City, Camp Lo, Outkast, Method Man & Redman, Big Gipp, Clipse, Trew, & More!! Hosted By E. Haywood & Wes.

Next Weeks Theme: Great Posse Tracks/Tracks with Scene Stealing Guest Verses!

For all requests/suggestions, Head to http://www.thenumbrspot.webs.com/, The offical Numbr Spot Forum, or send an email to: thenumbrspot@gmail.com.

Stream Below, or download podcast at http://www.thenumbrspot.podomatic.com/

Tracklisting:

1. Blackalicious- Make You Feel That Way
2. Intro (Instrumental By Pete Rock)
3. Outkast- Players Ball
4. Dr. Dre- Let Me Ride
5. Rick Ross ft. John Legend- Magnificent
6. Young Gunz- No Better Love
7. E-40- Hope I Don't Go Back
8. Jay-Z- Who You Wit
9. A Tribe Called Quest- Find A Way
10. A Tribe Called Quest- Bonita Applebum
11. B.o.B- Put Me On
12. A Tribe Called Quest ft. Erykah Badu- I.C.U. (Doin It)
13. Q-Tip- Let's Ride
14. Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West & Common- Wouldnt You Like To..
15. Pete Rock ft. Jim Jones & Max B- We Roll
16. Interlude 1 (Instrumental By Pete Rock)
17. Snoop Dogg ft Kurupt & Nate Dogg- Ain't No Fun
18. Kurupt- We Can Freak It
19. Big Gipp ft. Sleepy Brown- Steppin Out
20. Method Man & Redman- Ms. International
21. Trew- Fresh Like You
22. Consequence- Disperse
23. A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation
24. Notorious B.I.G.- Juicy
25. LL Cool J ft. Total- Loungin
26. Camp Lo- Ticket 4 2
27. La The Darkman ft. Raekwon- Spring Water
28. Maze & Frankie Beverley- Joy & Pain (Break)
29. Interlude 2 (Instrumental By Madlib)
30. UGK ft. Outkast- International Players Anthem
31. UGK- Front, Back, Side to Side
32. Ludacris- Diamond in the Back
33. Clipse ft. Pharrell- I'm Good
34. Jay-Z ft. Pharrell- I Know
35. Freeway- There Ya Go
36. Camp Lo- Luccini
37. Big Pun ft. Noreaga- You Came Up
38. Black Moon- I Got Cha Opin (rmx)
39. Redman- Smoke Buddah
40. The Firm- Affirmative Action (Madlib Remix)
41. Big L- Now or Never
42. AZ- Sugar Hill
43. Little Brother- Nighttime Maneuvers
44. Outro (Instrumental By Haywood)
45. All City- Just Live

Post-Racial!? Where is that word in the Dictionary!?

I'm sure most of you are just as tired as me of hearing about this Kanye West- Taylor Swift fiasco. And trust me, after stating my case for just a few more sentences, I will wash my hands of it all. But my gripe now is not about what went down at the show, but the tomfoolery that transpired afterward.

Now, before i get into this small rant, allow me to direct your attention to the following article, written by Harry Allen. It will give you a bit of background about what I'm about to speak on.

http://harryallen.info/?p=5154&cpage=1#comment-98284

(Hopefully, you actually read the article.)

After reading this article, 2 thoughts immediately came to mind. First, what about this incident lead these half-wit, cousin fuckers to believe that one bold, abrasive, misplaced act of passion (no matter how innappropriate) was an act of racism!? Did he get up there, and go on any kind of radical rant filled with epithets? NO! Secondly, after reading this article, how could anyone begin to tell me or anyone else that the election of Obama makes us a "post-racial society?"

There is not, and may never be a "post-racial society." Why, you ask? Because the same people writing these silly ass comments from behind the shield of anonymity that is the internet refuse to acknowledge the fact that they are, indeed, racists. Most of them will just use some tired excuse, such as, "U don't have to be black to be a Nigger" (I'm sure there are a number of folks out there over the age of 40 that can certainly tell u of a time in this country where that statement would be met with violence), or "I'm not saying it about all black people," (fuck outta here), or my personal favorite, "I was just mad when i said it. I didn't mean it." That one has to be the most illogical, foolish, and overall misleading thing to say. Because if one day, I were to simply make them mad, i.e. cut them off in traffic, they could up and say it again, and use the same excuse, "no, i'm not racist. I was just angry. I'll never say it again." How can I possibly believe that they would never say it again, when it takes something as small as this simple foolish act to bring this word out of you. Clearly, its been on the tip of your tounge before, if you have no problem just bringing it out for the world to read via twitter.

This is a day now, where everyone is calling racism for the stupidest shit. White people & Black People. The happenings in this article are just a small fraction of what goes on day to day in this country. Do I think Kanye was right to do what he did? Hell no! It was another black eye on his image, that he did not need. But clearly this whole Taylor Swift backlash is a sign that, in alot of people's eyes, this moment was clearly bigger than one artist standing up for what he believed in at the wrong moment in time. It was Kanye being racist, which in turn gives these half-wits perfect timing to play their version of the race card. Ahh the logic of the mentally atrophied..

What does it mean to Filet Mignon a Kitten? My Journey In Hip HopWhat does it mean to "filet mignon"? My Journey with Hip Hop

Anyone who has ever had the quintessential hip hop conversation with me knows that my very first hip hop albums were gifts from my pappy. I received on vinyl, as a random surprise, Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty by Nature and Around The Way Girl by LL Cool J. Who knew that a simple gesture would later become a life long obsession, that I share with both my left and right brain - as well as others.

I say left and right brain because I feel that enjoying music is a thing of the working mind. There are people who listen to music. There are people who play music. But there is a select group of individuals who ENJOY music. Enjoying music, particularly hip hop, requires a knowledge of jazz/ the blues/ old school R&B and world music like Brazillio-Funk and Afro Jazz. Respecting and absorbing these genres is when you can enjoy a beat, enjoy production and enjoy a song for what it is teaching, pulling from you, and giving you.

Wonderful example: I grew up with a fond and grave appreciation for house music and electronica. Somewhere between St. Germain's Acid Jazz and Technocratic's Pump up the Jam, I found the beat and often practiced popping my hindparts to it when everyone else was sound asleep in my Harlem apartment. The appreciation for these genres of music rendered me a conneseiur for an appropriate use of BPM (beats per minute), and so when I heard Bombs Over Baghdad for the first time the 155 BPM rate was mind-blowing to me. I ENJOYED the first time i heard B.O.B. I knew what i was listening to, and I liked it.

I grew up surrounded by a respect and appreciation for all genres of music, and I did not even meet another person who did not enjoy music but just "listened" to it until I attended college. Now i'm not snotty with my ish. If you just "listen" to music, look - do you. But I once heard a small, frail woman tell a room full of people that we were just too old to flat out "not have an opinion on something". She said "how can you go through life interacting with things and living in a world with things you just don't have an opinion on?"

Good question.

So I've often refrained on giving my opinion on the total foolishness of hip hop today. But my journey in hip hop, my appreciation for music and my humble beginnings of left and right brain use has led me to the following opinions:

1) Most mainstream music is not real music.
Real music is not created for monetary gain. Real music is not created to control capitalistic influxes - meaning its not used to sell a brand of alcohol or denim jeans. Real music is not always deep, but you can bet your bottom britches that real music comes from people with real experiences. Mainstream music is not real music. We should not waste our energy on combatting something that is not real.

2) Most people don't/won't/shouldn't understand young people.
Young people make a bulk of the music we are exposed to. And no one understands young people except youth advocates, guidance counselors and other young people. They're not meant to be understood. Old(er) people did not understand Louis Armstrong in his prime when he was singing about Mack the Knife, or James Brown when he was talking about a sista smokin in her hot pants. Beat It was not written or sung by Michael Jackson for old(er) people. It's just not done and not intended to be that way. Thats the beauty of being young, no one understands you but your own kind. Google "What does Filet Mignon mean?, lil wayne" and see what comes up. Because I still don't know what it means to Filet Mignon a kitten.

3) Most musicians today are afraid to deliver a message.
Not to cite him twice in one article - but because I feel he is the greatest entertainer of all time he's big enough for me to do it - James Brown had some of the greatest message songs of all times. Equally so; Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and The Beatles. Early 90's artists hip hop has so many message artists its ridiculous to count. I can only concretely link the lack of messaged music in this generation to one thing - the lack of self determination and ownership of music. Now granted, most musicians have massa on their back dictating how things should look and go - but when you are the ish and have a long-hair-don't-care attitude, when you OWN YOUR CRAFT, or in the case of many early hip hop artists: when you are establishing what a genre of music will look like, you have the liberty and cajones to say what your piece of art will look like. But only under these circumstances. Don't have any of these things going for you? You're in rented space. Please see Opinion #1.

4) Most people are scared of evolution.
Music is evolution. It is the same note, warped, twisted, sadly currently auto-tuned, and shaken up - served ice cold or piping hot. Music is what you don't want it to be and what you don't expect it to be. Music may not be your cup of tea, but stick around for a few years and its of my opinion that music may just be something you could stand to tolerate.


I'm actually an opinionated young lady and so I could go on all night.
I wanted to introduce myself to this blog in a way that would help me put my foot in the door and let you all know that there is much more to come.

My inspiration for this article? I am not lying when I say that I do not know what it means to filet mignon that p****y. My love of hip hop hasn't changed in light of it, but that certainly marks a solid milepoint in my journey within it.


Peace and Light

Nailah , aka Nai boogie, aka Ms. New Yorleans , aka Misses Big Stuff, aka Yvonne Sheikyabootie

This Week's New Releases (9/22)

Well, since i neglected to do the write up for last week (and many others, since this is my first week back since june), i will also include some of the notable releases from last couple weeks (only the last couple weeks though. Would take forever to go back to june). Here are some of the notable releases (your album not included? Just my opinion, No Diss!):

Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2
Produced by Rza, J Dilla, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Alchemist, Necro, Allah Mathematics, Erick Sermon, Dr. Dre, BT, Scram Jones.

I'm not even gonna pretend to be unbiased here (i am a DIEHARD Wu Fan!), but this is my vote for album of the year! Everything is in place on this one! The beats: Raw, the flow: always on point, the kung-fu skits: check! Flows with the same purpose of the original Cuban Linx. And that's a tall order to live up to!



Jay-Z- Blueprint 3

Produced by Kanye West, No I.D., Al Shux, Inkredibles, Swizz Beatz, Neptunes, Timbaland.



I was excited about this project, way back when he released "Brooklyn (We Go Hard)" (which is INEXPLICABLY! missing from this cd). But upon hearing Timbaland's half (or 1/3) ass contributions, as well as the abysmal "Ghetto Techno" (not on disc thankfully), my excitement weaned. But i will say, that upon further listen, i would def. rate it a 7 out of 10. Definitely not worthy of the Blueprint legacy though. But Jay (lyrically) still got it like Eddie Kane.



KRS-One & Buckshot- Survival Skills

Produced by Illmind, Havoc, Black Milk, Marco Polo, Moss, DJ Mentplus, Nottz, Khrysis, Coptic, & (last but never least) 9th Wonder.



Can't Lie. In all my excitement, i haven't yet gotten to truly get into this release yet (and i was thoroughly excited by the idea of this cd). And with a production lineup like that, KRS and Buck can't fail (as if they ever would. I'm convinced that these dudes could rap on anything). Will be copping this weekend though. Give ya'll a full review soon as well!



M.O.P.- Foundation
Produced by Nottz, M-Phazes, Fizzy Womack, DJ Premier, Statik Selectah, DJ Green Lantern, D/R Period.

Now this is something i waited bout 10 years for. And they (of course) did NOT dissapoint. G-Unit & Rocafella both could have saved these cats alot of stress & let them feed their starving fans (as well as themselves)because E1's promotion for this record is shoddy at best! And this record is too dope to be sat on. It's definitely a return to form for M.O.P. (And seriously, can we light a fire under the ass of these execs & their marketing & promotions department!?)

Nicolay- City Lights 2: Shibuya
Produced by (suprise) Nicolay

Nicolay has become one of my favorite producers, someone that makes me work EXTRA hard in the studio on these beats (just trying to finish second like racing Usain Bolt). His atmospherics are out of this world! This cd has been on my radar since hearing Lose Your Way! So this one is a definite pick up! Great instrumental album!

Q-Tip- Kamaal The Abstract (FINALLY!)
Produced by Q-Tip

I can't even lie. I have had this record for quite some time. And I have been in love ever since that first (illegal) moment. But since that moment, I have purchased this album the right way. Always gotta support good music. But the music is a great combination of hip-hop & jazz, the two things that made a Tribe Called Quest, my favorite (and possibly the greatest) hip-hop group of all time. Nuff Said.

Brother Ali- Us
Produced by Ant

Brother Ali is one of the nicest out right now. And thankfully, he's not one of these artists out here dropping one album every 4 years. Never have to wait long between releases, and somehow the material he releases gets better and better with each album. With Ant on the boards, and Chuck D, & not to mention my favorite rapper out right now, Freeway, making a guest appearance, u can't fail. And be sure to check out the Bomb Squad-esque production behind "The Preacher."

Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon: The End Of the Day
Produced by Mgmt, Kanye West, Ratatat, Emile, Plain Pat

People are already trying to tell me that Cudi sucks, this and that, he can't rap, et. etc. Fuck all that! Cudi is an artist, not to mention the Kid can write his ass off (listen to the lyrics). I think most people hate the fact that he doesnt fit into a particular category of rapper or singer, & yet his style seems to mesh both rapping & singing. I say just enjoy the music. Its very well produced & well written through out. Its an album.

Next week might be a lil slim for me, besides Skyzoo, not too excited for much. But we'll see.

Back to work...

So clearly ( for the two of yall that actually come to this page), its been far too long since i kept up with this blog. But since things have leveled out for me, i will take the time to update this thang everyday. I also have a few folks coming along for the ride who i will introduce you too this week. Originally i had alllll kinds of ideas about how we were going to break down blog topics by days of the week, but with all thats going on on a daily basis, ive decided against it(aside from tuesdays, where we'll bring you album reviews, and the new releases to look out for). But we promise to keep things interesting, free flowing, and engaging, (again for the 2 of yall that read this junt). That said, lets get into it! Enjoy (AND FOR GOD'S SAKE, BRING A FRIEND!! what..yall aint got friends neither!? hows this relationship gon work?)

Peace
E.