NIKE AF1s RULE THE HIP-HOP FASHION!
Everyone knows that fashion and hip-hop are synonymous and have been for many years. The two have definitely built an unbreakable bond over the years. Music influences urban fashion and vice-versa. One fashion trend that has remained in place for several years and is currently dominating in athletic shoe sells is the infamous Nike Air Force One a.k.a AF1. I am fascinated by the whole AF1 shoe craze because when I first started wearing them back in the 1980s, it was just another Nike sneaker. Yeah, they were dope back then too, but nothing like it is now! During that time the real king of the shoe business were those Air Jordans! The Timberland brand has become a staple of the urban fashion shoe scene over the years as well, but they can’t touch those AF1s. In 2007, for every 10 people that I see walking through the mall at least 7 of them have on a pair of AF1s. If they’re not wearing them, you can best believe that they want too. Think about it, what other athletic shoe or any shoe for that matter has this type of versatility that has all age groups and nationalities of people wearing them? Personally, I like solid colored ones because they are simple in style. I don’t like a lot of crazy writing and annoying designs on my shoes, so the all white lows are perfect for me. For many, the AF1 is the all around urban shoe. It can be worn from the basketball court the city streets to the Red Carpet at the MTV Awards. I’m not trying to say that AF1s are necessary for every occasion, but I definitely understand.

Here are some interesting facts about the AF1 shoe. They were first created by a designer named Bruce Kilgore. It was the first basketball shoe to use the Nike Air technology. The name derives from the aircraft that carries the President of the United States. The first type of AF1 was produced in 1982 and discontinued in 1983. It was re-released in 1986 with the infamous Nike swoosh logo on the back and bottom of the shoe. There are over 1,700 color variations that have been produced over its history. The most popular colors are all black and all white, which just happens to be the only ones I wear. The shoes are sold by Nike retailers at about $48.50 a pair, and are then sold to the consumers for approximately $80. Damn, that sounds like a rip-off to me. Air Force Ones are NEVER sold at a discount price and any retailer found doing so is penalized by receiving lower quantities or none at all. Nike makes approximately 800 million dollars in revenue a year from the AF1 shoe line. Now, I think you can understand why Nike is one of the richest and powerful companies in the world.

Since, AF1s have become such a hot commodity over the years Nike has spiced their shoe game up by releasing several rare and limited editions of the shoe brand as well. Some of these outlandish creations can range anywhere from $150 to $400! The best part about it is that most of these shoes are never worn, but collected like a Babe Ruth rookie baseball card instead. That’s some crazy stuff right there, but if that’s your thing have at it. I would like to hear from a person who actually pays that much for a pair AF1s how all of that stuff works though just to fill my curiosity.

I have a 2 part question for all you AF1 wearers out there: How much money would you spin for a pair of AF1s, and do you think they really represent hip-hop or is this just ploy to get folks to buy shoes?

AIR FORCE ONE SHOE LINKS HERE:

http://www.nike.com/

http://www.nicekicks.com/

http://www.exclusive-lux.com/

http://www.sneakerhunt.com/

http://www.force.kickz101.com/

http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/

http://www.kick-fiend.com/

http://www.nikeshoes4u.com/

CLIP OF THE WEEK: LEAVE HER ALONE DAMMIT!!

Personally, I have stayed away from the whole "Britney looked like a retired crack whore" on the MTV Music Awards the other night conversation, because I really don't give a damn! Well, obviously this man does, so listen up you bad people that have been bashing on Ms. Spears (and he means it too). This is the funniest and saddest shyt I have seen on Youtube in a minute, so I had to post it just on it's sheer, yet ridiculous comedic value. You are watching a fan who's a real stan that has evolved into a crazy stalker...

SOUND SPOT: ACCESS IMMORTAL
I introduce a lot of different artists on this site, but I get emails about this kat all of the time. Everybody wants to know who this dude is when they hear some of his music in my mixxes. Well, his name is Access Immortal reppin' Brooklyn, New York to the fullest. If I had to describe this emcee with one word, it would definitely be consistant!Most folks think he's a new artist, but he's been doing his thing for a short minute now. His career started out back in 2001 when he was performing regularly at some local gigs developing his skills and showmanship. Over time his local buzz grew, which lead to him getting his first record deal in 2005. AI released his debut album "Shades of Reality" that same year, but it went unheard by the masses. Personally, I thought the album was pretty solid, and I saw potential in this kat. He seemed hungry and focused, plus he had a confident swagger about him. At the end of 2005 he released an underground mixtape called "New York Yankee," which had a more gritty feel to it than his album. This mixtape allowed him to dive a little deeper into the subjects he touched on previously. It's 2007, and Access is on a different record label now, and he has already released his second joint "American Me" that just happens to share the same name as C.L. Smooth's first solo album. The new joint has the basic elements of beats and rhymes. Subject matter varies throughout the project, but there's nothing too outrageous on the album. He has a laid back delivery, solid wordplay and catchy beats, so if that's how you like your hip-hop definitely give Access Hollywood a listen.

Here are the tracks I promised, so peep these out and hear what you think:

Acc Immortal - Testimony

Acc Immortal - Monday Night Raw

Acc Immortal - The Villian

Acc Immortal - 9 In My Pocket


Check his site for more info and sounds:

www.myspace.com/accessimmortal

THE RETRO SEXING YOU MIXTAPE!
Since, most of the mainstream soul/R&B has sadly lost its feeling over the last few years, I totally understand why young dudes don’t make slow jam compilations anymore. There’s really not much to choose from in 2007? Personally, when I was getting my young man’s courtship swag on back in the day, I kept a few slow jam tapes around to set the mood for the ladies. Being a horny one-track shallow minded young man that I was, a slow jam compilation was apart of seduction arsenal. Back in the day R&B artists told a story with their music. If you were clever enough to put the right songs together you could let the music do your work for you. I could let a woman know what I was thinking without saying a single word. A quality slow jam compilation can be the difference between getting some orgasmic relaxation, and having balls on blueberry hill at the end of the night. Music can be used as a form of seduction. Believe it or not, there is an unwritten system when putting together a good slow jam compilation a.k.a The Sexing U cassette mixtape. Of course, this musical process is not foolproof, but it has definitely worked for me more times than I can actually remember. Now, of course if you and the person you’re courting have already made it to second base (had sex already) then this process may not be that important? This type of compilation is for the dude that has just met a girl that he’s vibing with, and she’s coming over to his crib to relax, watch movies or eat a little din-din. A slow jam joint can be used in the car as an appetizer if you are going out with a woman as well. Remember when making a good first impression used to be important to a woman? One of my younger buddies told me that he had sex with a girl on the first night while playing a Yung Joc CD in the background. I guess it comes down to whatever works for you? What a shame....

Now, before I get into my recipe for a solid slow jam seduction compilation, let me make a few things clear. This is mainly for my younger comrades. In most cases a woman is not choosing to spend initial quality time with you because she wants to hear some slow jams. She is more than likely undecided about her overall impression of you, and she’s trying assess whether you are worth her time. If that’s not the case, then she just wants some sex, so you are in there anyway. The reality is that good music alone will not get you anywhere with a woman who is really worth investing time in. You still have to take care of the bare essentials like making sure your hygiene is on point, ironing your clothes, making sure your living space looks decent, etc. In other words, don’t blame this great music for not getting the girl if your breath was kicking like Lui Kang in Mortal Combat. Cavity creeps are never a good thing when trying to make a first impression…

Okay, here is the SoundNexx recipe for making a good slow jam compilation. I have broken up slow jam songs into 3 categories. The three types of slow jams are: classics, romantic and sexual. You can make a compilation specific to each version, or just make one incorporating all three types slow jams. I prefer incorporating all three, because you are ready to set the mood at anytime. Classic slow jams are songs that everybody loves from artist like Sade, Luther, Marvin, Teddy P, Isley Brothers, etc. These types of songs can be used to show a woman that you have some depth and knowledge about good music. Plus, classic tunes are just nice to hear from time to time, so those are always a winner.

Romantic slow jams are songs that give that feeling of innocent romance, without being vulgar in language and content. Romantic songs use a lot of mushy words like passion, love, cherish, special, feelings, etc. If you are really unsure of the type of woman you are dealing with, then these types of slow jam songs work great. Some women (especially when they don't know you well) can become immediately turned off when they hear sexually explicit records, and if that happens it's normally a downhill slide from there. Being too forward can be a turn off to some women. Be safe rather than sorry! Artists like Brian McKnight, Eric Roberson, Jagged Edge, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Robin Thicke, etc. have plenty of romantic records to choose from, so you're covered.

Last, but definitely not least are the sexual slow jams. These type records are the icing on the cake in my opinion! If used properly sexual slow jams can bring out the inner freak in a woman! These are the songs that send the strongest message to a female, which basically says, "let's me and you make a human ice cream sandwich!" If she's down with the plan, an evening of watching DVDs can quickly turn into a night of sweaty passion. Artists like Jodeci, R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, H-Town, Aaron Hall, Adina Howard, etc. have some tunes that can fill that musical void. Okay, now that you know my musical recipe, it's time to put your ears on an slightly updated version of slow jam joint I used to play a lot back in the day!

Fellaz should definitely kopp it, but this mixx is for you ladies....

I am holding out on posting the track list for now, so that the art of seductive surprise can take its course...

SEXX-N-U TRACK LIST:

01^teddy pendergrass - lastest, my greatest inspiration
02^prince - adore
03^swv - you're always on my mind
04^bel biv devoe - when will i see you smile again
05^the isley brothers - fall in love
06^jagged edge - funny how
07^donnell jones - don't leave
08^mary j. blige - i never wanna
09^usher - seduction
10^myron - destiny
11^r. kelly - it seems like your ready
12^ready for the world - tonite
13^playa - birthday
14^faith evans - give it to me
15^h-town - like it slow
16^jodeci - what about us
17^christion - anything goes
18^janet - someday is tonite

Sexx-N-U Mixx


GET SOME SEXX HERE!

KANYE WEST - GOOD LIFE FT. T-PAIN



As the world waits to see who will be the sales victor between Kanyeezie and Fiddy, a new music video has shown up on the internet off of the "Graduation" album called "The Good Life" featuring T-Pain-n-myazz! Being that I am not a big T-Pain fan, I was a little bewildered about this collabo, but after hearing it I was pleasantly surprised! The way Kanye flipped that Michael Jackson sample was on point, so this is another one of my favorite joints off of the album. If you haven't seen it already, put your eye juices on this one...

WILL.I.AM IS TELLING GIRL STORIES!
Remember, when the Black Eye Peas were a real underground rap group, minus Freakmowf Fergie? Now, they are a pop group pretending to be rappers. Okay, I won't be that hard on them, but I am not the big BEP fan that I once was today. They have catchy moments from time to time, but most of their newer stuff goes right over my head. Even though I'm not a Peas fan anymore, I am still a will.i.am fan! He production style varies from artist to artist, so I normally like his stuff when it doesn't involve BEP. I enjoyed both of HIS previous solo albums, so I will be paying attention when he releases his third joint "Stories About Girls" on September 25, 2007. The new album has theme, which is based on relationships. This is new territory for Will, but I think he can pull it out. He normally has a slew of featured guests on his projects, and this new album is no exception. Hell, he has produced for just about everybody worth mentioning in the industry, so I would expect nothing less. Since, will.i.am is not Kanye or 50 Cent, you probably won't be seeing any commercials promoting this album. Word of mouth is how most of these artists get noticed, but in Will's case I might be wrong? He is a Pea that's Black Eyed, so he might get the promotion he deserves? Keep your ears open...

HERE IS THE ALBUM TRACK LIST:

01"It's Over"
02"Heartbreaker"
03"I Got It From My Mama"
04"She's A Star"
05"Get Your Money" (featuring Ludacris and Busta Rhymes)
06"The Donque Song" (featuring Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg)
07"Impatient" (featuring Dante Santiago)
08"One More Chance" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
09"Invisible"
10"Fantastic" (featuring Q-Tip and Common)
11"Fly Girl" (featuring The Game, Diddy, Nas, Fergie & Nate Dogg)
12"Dynamite Interlude"
13"Ain't It Pretty"
14"Make It Funky" (featuring Justin Timberlake)

~Bonus Tracks

15"S.O.S. (Mother Nature)"
16"Mama Mia"
17"Spending Money"
18"Damn Damn Damn"
19"will.i.am vs. Superblack [Pre - Order Only]"

Check out will.i.am here @ www.myspace.com/williamofficial

J-ZONE IS GETTING HIS DEEJAY ON!
While most of the hip-hop world has been sleeping on rapper/producer J-Zone over the years, I have remained a loyal fan of his movement. He has gotten a lot of flack from critics that feel his left field approach to making his music is annoying. Seems like the powers that be have been trying to put Zone in a musical box for years, but he hasn't let them. He stays changing up his game, keeping all of the critics guessing about what he's going to do next. I have always applauded his defiance, but I have really remained a fan because his music is dope! He was the first dude that I heard who really took beat making to an underheard level back then. The sounds he used to create his instrumental masterpieces were addictively mind blowing in my opinion. Due to unpopular demand, J-Zone has decided to take a break from making music. He's calling it a retirement of some sort, but read his words for yourself...

"I'm just tired of the indie rap thing and need a change. 8 years is a long time to be stuck in the same spot, and it's kinda taken its toll both professionally and personally. It was fun for a while, but you can only do shows in a fur coat buggin out on stage while everybody else is all serious battle rappin and freestylin for so long before you feel it's a lost cause. A lotta people didn't get it anyway. To keep interested in music, you gotta reinvent sometimes. I wanna do more instrumental records. I'm ready to do beats for singers, more pornos, strip club music, women's deodorant commercials, whatever. And not feel the need to be the J-Zone character 24/7. I'm gonna try to stretch my limits and find more success and have more fun elsewhere. Maybe J-Zone the rapper will be back one day, but only on Jimmy Iovine's payroll!"

Hopefully, he'll be back in the game sooner than later, but until that happens J-Zone is back on his deejay grind! Most don't know that he used to deejay back in college. For the past three months, J-Zone has been creating theme driven mixes for his fans that he calls the "Gators N' Furs" mixshow series. The mixes consist of golden era, miami bass, gangsta rap, funk, soul, rock, hip-house and pop music. J-Zone is definitely having fun with these mixes too, so expect the unexpected! I have gathered all of three of his mixes for you to put your ears on, because it's the right thing to do.

Get these babies while you can:

G-N-F July: Another Summer

G-N-F August: On The Wagon

G-N-F September: Back To School

The Zone Web Site:

www.zonesite.net

WHAT'S PEANUT BUTTER WOLF WITHOUT JAMZ?

Peanut Butter Wolf is an underground legend in my book. Stones Throw is the label that all other underground labels should be aspiring to be like when they grow up. This label is one of my favorites because they literally have one of the deepest and dopest artists rosters in the game today! The Stone’s Throw family is definitely full of trendsetters, headed by their label President PB Wolf who always seems to be keeping them steadily moving forward. Just recently Stones Throw came together with 2K Sports to develop the music soundtrack for the latest basketball gaming phenomenon NBA 2K8. Owners of home gaming systems like Playstation 2 or XBOX definitely know about the 2K series from years of quality gaming moments. Well, if you love sports anyway. Outside of the Madden Football, I think the NBA 2K series is the most anticipated sports gaming experience each year just for the brilliance of the realism that it captures. The graphics are always amazing, but the soundtracks are even better! There’s nothing better than playing basketball with your favorite team while listening to some good ole’ hip-hop music. PB Wolf has compiled 20 dope tracks that will accompany the NBA 2K8 game entitled “B-Ball Zombie War” that both will be released on October 2nd!

B-Ball Zombie War features new collaborations by Talib Kweli, Q-Tip and MF DOOM over beats by J Dilla, as well as new tracks by Madlib, Guilty Simpson, Aloe Blacc, Koushik, MED and Guilty Simpson among others. New names are introduced, including Karriem Riggins and Madlib’s group Supreme Team. Production is being handled by everyone from J Dilla to Madlib and that's never a bad thing. There will also be two nationwide tours starting after this project is released featuring Common, Percee P & Q-Tip in November, and a Stones Throw showcase including J-Rocc, Madlib & PB Wolf starting in November 2007.

Check out this track listing:

01. SUPREME TEAM (MADLIB & KARRIEM RIGGINS) - See (Suite)

02. MED - Break It Down

03. GUILTY SIMPSON - Make It Fast

04. J DILLA feat. Q-TIP & TALIB KWELI - Lightworking

05. PERCEE P feat. J.ROCC - Legendary Lyricist Pt. 2

06. J.ROCC - Super Sound

07. MADLIB - The Wigflip

08. J DILLA feat. MF DOOM & GUILTY SIMPSON - Mash’s Revenge

09. OH NO - Action (Rap Version)10. BEAT KONDUCTA - Trouble

11. QUASIMOTO - Hydrant Game (Jaylib Remix)

12. ALOE BLACC - Find A Way

13. DAM-FUNK - Sidewayz

14. BARON ZEN - Electronic (Koushik Remix)

15. JAMES PANTS - Ka$h (Peanut Butter Wolf Remix)

16. NIKO & DJ BABU - Now You Know17. KOUSHIK - Basketball Beat

18. ARABIAN PRINCE - Professor X Saga

19. JONATHON BROWN - Bass Creator’s Groove

20. CX KIDTRONIK feat. TCHAKA DIALLO - Big Girl, Skinny Girl

More info on PB Wolf and Stones Throw:

www.stonesthrow.com

PB Wolf's Discography

ON THE EDGE OF BABY MAKIN'!
Remember back in the 1990s when their seemed be a different male R&B group born every minute? From Color Me Badd to All-4-One they all had songs about the mushy love they had for some chic they met at VD Clinic, or they were begging for another chance with a woman that dumped them. It was like male group overload back then. I hated that period because it was really difficult to tell what groups were good and who just plain sucked! Trying to make a wise CD purchase by using just the CD cover artwork didn't work either, because most of the groups were dressed like a fake New Edition. Basically, I wasted plenty of good money back in the 90s buying crappy R&B albums with nothing to show for it. Even though there were plenty of terrible groups the came out back then, there were a few good ones like Boys II Men, Jodeci, Portrait and one of my favorites Jagged Edge. JE had that smooth hamony that made you take notice, and with that catchy Jermaine Dupri production behind their voices it was definitely a perfect match. Unlike many other male groups of the 90s, Jagged Edge's sound was unmistakable.

Over the years they have blessed us with many, many classic joints, and now they are about to drop their new joint "Baby Makin' Project" on September 25, 2007. The best thing about this project is that Jermaine Dupri is back behind the production boards again. Now, that both JE and JD are on different labels they can legally work together once again. Personally, I think JE is at their best when working with Jermaine. I am not a big fan of JD's production overall, but he does work well with these katz. They already have a new single out "Put A Little Umph In It" that is making a little noise right now on the underground. If you haven't heard it yet, check out the video I have posted below:

Put A Little Umph In It

Also, peep 3 new songs from the new album as well...

PLANET ASIA'S JEWELRY BOX!
I'm back on my hip-hop ish again, so this post is right on time. My favorite Westcoaster emcee Planet Asia is back with a new joint for the hardcore underground headz! I have been a fan of the Planet Asia movement since the late 90s, and while many other rappers from the West seem to have lost their way, Planet Asia has kept it moving consistantly for many years. I have done several posts on this guy over my time blogging, so I won't go too deep into his background, but I will shed a little light on his new joint though. His new album is called "Jewelry Box Sessions" and I feel this is one of his better albums over the last 4 years or so. His lyricism usually makes any beat sound better, but there have been moments where his production has been less than satisfactory. He tends to work with a lot of new and underground producers, so his sound is normally different from his peers. This time around his has a few bangers on here that had me hitting rewind several times. I am a beat man, which means that I tend to like tracks that keep my head bobbin', so I am more than pleased with Planet's newest effort. If you've been unaware of Planet Asia up to this point, it's never too late to get familiar. Check for the Cali Agents (Planet Asia & Rasco) as well for more verses from this dude. If you consider yourself a real hip-hop head, you definitely need a little P. Asia in your collection!

Check out Planet Asia on Myspace:

www.myspace.com/planetasia

An before you exit, be sure to kopp the Planet Asia Megamixx (if you haven't already) that I did last year by clicking the link below:

PLANET ASIA MIXX

WHY IS LIL' MO NOT GETTING ANY LUV?
Before I get in deep with this Lil’ Mo post, I just want to point out a little observation that I have noticed. I actually think that Lil’ Mo and Fantasia have fallen from the same family tree? It’s something about those luscious soup-coolers that they both have that has me convinced of this almost fact. You be the Judge Judy. Okay, now let’s get serious for a minute. How come the urban music fans have totally abandoned my favorite ghetto superwoman Lil’ Mo? Everybody is so busy talking about Keyshia Cole and Beyonce that Lil’ Mo’s name doesn’t even come up anymore. Now, I know most of you don’t think of the word ghetto when hear Beyonce’s name, but don’t be fooled by the fancy videos, nice clothes and top notch hair weaves (some of them anyway). I still remember seeing Beyonce and the original Destiny’s Child members in the back seat of their limo devouring some Popeye’s Chicken and biscuits like some freed slaves. There was chicken juice all over their lips, biscuit crumbs all over the seat, plus Beyonce was talking right into the camera with a mouth full of food. At that moment, I knew they were ghetto for sure. So, just because Beyonce is eating her Popeye’s with a fork and knife now doesn’t change anything. She’s a great talent for sure, so I have to give her the recognition she deserves. The reality is that Beyonce and Lil’ Mo are in two different categories musically, so let’s move on.

I think Lil’ Mo and Ms. Cole are more comparable actually. Musically, I like Mo a lil’ better between the two singers. Keyshia is a solid vocalist, but it’s difficult for me as a male to relate to the subject matters of her music in most cases. She seems to stay on a downhill slide while musically going through life’s trials and tribulations. You know the typical bad relationships, why’s he beating you girl, I caught you cheatin’ again type shyt! Lil’ Mo makes those types of records too, but she also makes fun records as well to balance things out. I think her humble beginnings working with Missy Elliot and Timbaland has worked well for her overall sound. She’s performed songs with and written songs for several artists like Blackstreet, Jay-Z, Next, Fabolous, 3LW, ODB, Keith Sweat, Ja Rule, Nicole Wray (where the hell she at), etc. When she released her debut album “Based on a True Story” back in 2001 on the heels of that “Superwoman Pt. II” single, everybody was checking for Lil’ Mo! At that point it seemed like Mo-Mo couldn’t be stopped. Then in 2003 she dropped another hot duet single with Fabolous called “Can’t Let You Go” slated for Fabo’s “Street Dreams” joint! Then came the third duet “4 Ever” right behind that, which was the first single from Lil’ Mo’s second album “Meet the Girl Next Door.” Her second effort had a few note worthy tracks, but I expected more from her. The sophomore jinx was definitely in effect. I never gave up on my girl Mo though.

Now, she’s back with a new album in 2007 called “Pain & Paper.” Productions credits go to Chunky Thompson and Missy Elliott. This album is taking Lil’ Mo back to where she started vocally. Solid production and catchy lyrics has worked well for Lil’ Mo throughout her career and this album is no exception. Once again another good album that got no publicity, so the folks that need to hear this joint probably won’t. I’m back on my Lil’ Mo swag again, and you should be too…

Show Lil' Mo some luv and listen 2 some music here:


www.myspace.com/lilmomusic

HEZEKIAH IS BACK WITH A NEW JOINT!
While the rest of the internet is still debating over who's going to sell the most albums between Curtsy Jackson and Kanye Omari Western, I am remain dwelling in the underground scene. Whether you believe that the mainstream version of rap/hip-hop is in critical condition or not in 2007, the underground has always been alive and kicking! That's true because of artists like my dude Hezekiah reppin' Philly. He's an emcee/producer that is definitely making his way through this hip-hop jungle. Most folks slept on his debut "Hurry Up & Wait" back in 2005 because it got no publicity. It wasn't until I heard the track "Soul Music" in a local record store that I actually started checking for this kat. When I finally heard the whole album, I was impressed with his unique mixture of soul driven production and effective story telling. He has a nice way of adding the necessary messages to his music without sounding preachy. Now, Hezekiah is about to release his second album "I Predict a Riot" on September 18, 2007. The first single from the new album featuring Bilal called "Looking Up" is causing quite a buzz on the internet right now. Since, true Bilal fans were feenin' for some new material from that dude, this Hezekiah joint came out right on time! Hezekiah is working with some of my favorite artists this time around like Jaguar Wright, Muhsinah and Aaron Livingston. From what I've heard from the new album it sounds pretty dope, so I will definitely be picking this one up when it drops. Check the album track list.
I
01. The Beginning feat. Muhsinah
02. Wild & Wreckless
03. If One Falls feat. Eleon
04. That Filling feat. Freeway
05. Looking Up feat. Bilal
06. Single Now
07. Let's Get Involved feat. Jamal
08. Bombs Over Here
09. Definition Of A Bitch (Interlude)
10. I See Yaw feat. Jaguar Wright
11. I.P.A.R. (Interlude)
12. Moments In Sometime feat. Aaron Livingston
13. I Predict A Riot feat. Keziah, E. Shon Burgundy
14. Freak (Interlude)
15. Gotta Love It feat. Tarentz Moreese
16. Ghetto People feat. Richard Raw, Chief Kamachi, State Store
17. Afro (Interlude)
18. Muhsinah Outro

An just in case you missed these, here you go...

Soul Music (video)


Looking Up featuring Bilal (video)


GET MORE ON HEZEKIAH & HIS MUSIC HERE!

C.L. SMOOTH IS AN OUTSIDER!

There have been a lot of dope rap groups that have called it quits over the years for different undisclosed reasons (EPMD, A Tribe Called Quest, Little Brother) that left me wondering why? One of the most tragic hip-hop break-ups for me was the one involving Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth back in 1995. I didn’t see the break-up coming. Rumor has it that the two artists had grown apart musically, and felt they were traveling on different paths career wise. I was already an avid fan of Pete Rock’s production style from back in the day, and hearing C.L. Smooth drop verses over those hypnotic beats just felt right. No, C.L. Smooth is not the most gifted emcee to ever touch a microphone, but as a group they worked well together like Buffalo wings and ranch dressing. Since, Pete Rock had already been working with several artists over his career, I knew he would be straight after the separation, but I was a little worried about Mr. Smooth’s future though. I just didn’t know if he was good enough to make it on his own without Pete Rock by his side?

After the break-up, C.L. Smooth disappeared from the music scene. He seemed very distraught about the whole ordeal and refused to drop a verse on anyone else’s projects. However, he did make an exception for DJ Krush back in 1996 by rhyming on the track “Only the Strong Survive.” Several years later PR and C.L. put their differences behind them, which led them back into the studio together again to see if the chemistry was still there. Rumors surfaced that the duo was going to release a reunion album. That never happened, but they did end up making a few hot tracks together that were released on various projects. Hearing those songs just made me want more, but beggars can’t be choosers. Finally, in 2006 C.L. Smooth dropped his first solo album “American Me” for the world to hear. The album was overlooked by most rap fans because no one really knew it had even been released. For his first solo joint, the album was decent, but definitely not a classic. Some of the production just didn’t meet the standards however C.L. Smooth hadn’t lost a step lyrically.

Mr. Smooth is back in 2007 with a new mix CD project entitled “The Outsider,” which is a mixture of new material, remixes and live renditions of several of his classics from the early days. I think this new joint is the better of the two, because he got rid of some filler tracks, remixed many others and dropped a few new gems as well. If you are looking for that old Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth sound, you will only find a glimpse of it here. You’d probably be better off just digging some of their classics out of your archives to bring that old feeling back instead. If you get a chance to hear the new C.L. joint, check it out and hear what you think. You may just like it!

LISTEN TO SOME MR. SMOOTH JOINTS HERE

SOUL CLASSIC: SADE - HANG ON TO YOUR LOVE

KNEEGROW FUN FACTOID: The main character in this video playing the loser that's obviously in debt up to his receeding hairline is none other than Phil Collins' older brother Demetrius Collins. Since, Sade and Phil were good friends and Demetrius always wanted to be an actor on broadway, he was given this golden opportunity to get some shine. I thought Demetrius did a pretty dayum good job too, but with Sade singing those sweet-hypnotic melodies in the background, how could he not? I thought this video was kind of like 007's Casino Royal meets the circus on steroids, but saying anything bad about Sade is musical blasphemy in my book, so I won't even go there. Four or five head jokes are the exception of course...

Sade - Hang On To Your Love

DOUBLE-UP ON THE HOT MIXXES!
Who doesn't like things when they're two for the price of one? Even though to putting your ears on a SoundNexx Mixx doesn't cost you phuckin' slug (of course), two are still better than one. Today, I have posted two new mixxes that I thought I'd share at the same time. One is more rhythm & bluesish, while the other is hip-hop driven, but both are still very soulful. I brought back some of my favorite artists and joints from back in the day that I think are still pretty hot even today. Of course I threw in a few unreleased and exclusive tracks that definitely need to be heard as well. Since, the Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and I can't make you a plate of great food, I hope these two mixxes will be just as fulfilling? So, on that note...drink and eat all that you can this weekend because I believe in living life to the fullest whether it's in my wallet, my stomach or my gas tank...

Mixx time...

SOUNDNEXX KATCHTHAFEVA MIXX TRACK LIST:

01~heavy d feat. apryl & sheree - i'll do anything
02~de la soul feat. zhane' - more
03~darien brockington feat. little brother - night like this
04~prince markie dee - so very happy
05~queen latifah - turn you on
06~kanye west feat. dwele - flash light
07~common feat. pharell, q-tip & erykah badu - come close (dilla remix)
08~lupe fiasco feat. pharell - and he gets the girl
09~devin the dude feat. snoop dogg & andre 3000 - what a job
10~dudley perkins - love light
11~common feat. d'angelo - so far to go (remix)
12~fabolous feat. lil' mo - make me better (remix)
13~ugk feat. raheem devaughn & talib qweli - real women
14~phonte feat. oddisee - all because she's gone
15~mos def feat. raphael saadiq & bootsy collins - we get down
16~gemini feat. lupe fiasco - we on
17~busta rhymes feat. erykah badu - one
18~tupac feat. keyshia cole - don't trust me (remix)
19~purple st. james feat. phonte - real good
20~o.c. - story to tell (remix)
21~foreign exchange feat. darien brockington - call

CLICK TO LISTEN:


GET THA FEVA HERE


SOUNDNEXX MOCHASOULADIC MIXX TRACK LIST:

01~clara hill feat. tonee & slope - just let me know
02~ion feat. stephstaa - so serious
03~porche smith - crazy
04~lemar feat. styles p & mica paris - can't you see
05~donnell jones feat. rico love - baby it's you
06~dyanna fearon - butterflies
07~maw feat. q-tip - i am the black gold of the sun (remix)
08~stacy epps feat. panama black - rhyme circle
09~amel larrieux - i-n-i
10~tweek - change for me
11~adriana evans - undercover
12~faith evans - i just can't
13~dwele - the fact is
14~lathun - closer
15~ledisi - stop livin' in your head
16~bilal feat. common - sorrow tears
17~avant & kelly rowland - seperate (remix)
18~adina howard - freak like me (remix)
19~tweet - smoking cigarettes
20~rell - say it ain't so

CLICK TO LISTEN


GET MOCHASOUL HERE