THIS ALBUM SHOULDA DONE BETTER!!
As I was crate digging through my collection of goodies the other day, I came across this gem! It's been a minute since I dug this joint out from the archives, so I definitely took this baby for a spin in the CD player. This album is still just as dope as I remember. "Here To Save You All" was definitely one of my favorite albums in 1996, and Chino XL is one of my favorite emcees from the the 90s, period! Dude had the whole package, but it seemed like some hip-hop fans couldn't digest what Chino was serving. I guess his raw/over the top name bashing combined with his lung collapsing delivery was too much for the average listeners back in the day. Not this listener though. My ears enjoyed breaking down his complex lyrics to gain the true unmasking of his several subliminals aimed at the heads of our favorite rappers of that time. If you were under a rock or still pissing in the bed when this joint dropped, remember it's never too late to kopp a classic. You need this one in your collection...

Here are some tracks for inspiration:

Chino XL - Complex

Chino XL - Freestyle Rhymes

Chino XL - Waiting To Exhale

YOUTUBAGE CLIP OF THE WEEK!

I can easily say that outside of the dope music video selections, bootlegs of television show episodes and vintage movie clips, Youtube is full of useless crap! But, every now and then I come across a piece of footage that's worth its weight in hollow copper coins. Today, I have brought you one of those rare pieces of footage. After watching this clip I realized that you can't let anything stop you from living your dreams no matter how impossible they are. Just because you've had your fingers chopped off during a freak accident, doesn't mean that you can never become a great pianist. So what if don't you have any feet, you can still play a game of kickball if you want to, right? The point is don't let minor obstacles stand in the way of your dreams dammit, and this video clip just brings that point home...

This clip was brought to my attention by my dude PD, so peep it out for yourselves...



Who do you think REALLY won?

SPRING SING RADIO 2008!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

SPRING SING TRACK LIST:

01=Solution-Divergence Intro

02=Estelle ft. John Legend - You Are

03=Mariah Carey - I'll Be Lovin U Long Time

04=Janet Jackson - Luv

05=Musiq ft. Bilal - Dontstop

06=Plantlife - Rollerskating Jam

07=HOC ft. OlivierDaySoul - BopGunn

08=Eric Roberson - Butterfly Girl

09=Wayna - Home

10=Conya Doss - Ride

11=Guilty Simpson ft. Mr. Porter - Kinda Live

12=Kissey Asplund - Syntax Error

13=Adriana Evans - In The Sun

14=Sy Smith - Fly Away With Me

15=BlackSpade - Her Perfume She Wore

16=Estelle ft. Cee-Lo - Pretty Please

17=John Legend ft. Lauryn Hill - So High (Remix)

18=Moon Baker - Something Sweet (Nic Oldschool Remix)

19=James Pants - Kash

20=Sergio ft. Ledisi - Water of March

GET IT HERE!

PLANTLIFE IS BACK AT IT!
Every once in a while an artist will come around that changes the way you think and feel about music. Back in 2004 that artist was Jack Splash from the group Plantlife. When I first came across Plantlife's debut album "The Return of Jack Splash" at the local record store I didn't really know what I had. I purchased that joint on shear faith that it would be something special, and it was even better than I expected. Jack Splash literally had a FuNkY FrEsH sound unlike any other. It was like the soundtrack to a 70's blacksploitation hip-hop movie. I kept it in rotation for months turning other heads onto what I had found. Honestly, everybody wasn't feeling it as much as I was, but that was expected. I have been waiting for another Plantlife album since 1994, and it has finally arrived...

The new joint is entitled "Time Traveler" and it basically starts off where the first album ended. Jack hasn't lost a step, which is good to hear. I might dare to say that some of these tracks were made during the creation of the first album? I believe in releasing all of the material that you have to public. Music is no good to anyone sitting on the shelf collecting dust. One thing is for sure, if you liked the first album you'll damn sure dig their second joint. If you have never heard a Plantlife record in your life, I am giving you the chance today! I am posting a joint below for you folks to check out, so you can hear the high school gym locker room like funky freshness for yourselves. You know that unique mixture of speed stick deodorant and sweaty feet! Here is my advice to first time Plantlife listeners. Don't expect anything and just let the music. I know looking at the picture above you may have made some prejudgments on my dude Jack Splash, but put that all behind you and get on board...

Plantlife - Your Love

Are you diggin' it or what???

R. KELLY STARRING IN THE WIZ 2009!
Remember back in the day when Robert Kelly rolled with Public Announcement, and sang songs like "Honey Love" and "Vibe?" He blew up and then things slowly began to fall apart in the background. Yes, he could still make a hit record, but as the years went on he seemed to change from the guy we knew in the beginning. Then the infamous sex videos leaked onto the internet and that basically put a nasty taste in everyone's mouth. It was bad enough that he performed these acts and filmed them for future viewing, but he ruined his career in my eyes when he lied to his fans. Trying to make us believe that the gentleman in the videos wasn't him was a terrible mistake. I hate being lied 2! Then he went from a R&B singer to a R&B thug to a ghetto preacher to a hustle instructor. Now, he's a The Ghetto Goldie Locks for 2008! Why a grown ass man would color his hair gold and then add long ass extention braids to match is beyond my comprehension. Rumor has it that this litte early Halloween getup Kels is sporting is for his upcoming role as Spanky Goldentine in the upcoming movie remake called "The Wiz He Iz 2009!" It's supposed to be an updated spin on the 1970's Quincy Jones and Diana Ross version called "The Wiz!" It will hopefully hit the big screen in Fall of 2009? Other members of this allstar cast include singer Jaheim as the Cowardly Lion, Nick Canon as the Scarecrow, Wanda Sykes as the Fairy Godmama and Kelly Rowlands as Dorothy.

I know you are just as excited about this movie as I am, as well as you should be dammit! I see CLASSIC written all over this flick...

Peep the vintage footage that inspired this whole R. Kelly transformation:

SOUND SPOT: OLIVIERDAYSOUL
Who's got the funk, we got the funk...I'm gonna make if funky for you! Seems like back in the day everybody prided themselves on being the funkiest from Rick James to Parliment-Funkadelic! Funk had its place in the good ole' days of live instrumentation, but these days the closest we've had is the G-Funk era, which was pioneered by Warren G. Nah, let me stop telling the truth, because funk is still alive and well, and next up to bat is my dude OlivierDaySoul. ODS is hails from D.C., which just happens to the hometown of many of my favorite artists in the business right now like Wes, Wayna, Kev and many others. Olivier has a funky, funky sound, and it's very similiar to that Platinum Pied Pipers flavor with a smidget of vintage Prince. The funniest thing about this kat is that he truly sounds like Rick James on some of his tracks. It's effortless, so I am assuming that his sound is natural and not some gimmick type trickery like T-Painful? Olivier's funky fresh futuristic space has arrived, so get on board (no Great Space Coaster)...

Olivier is doing his thing right now. I have heard his voice on several tracks from hip-hop to soul, bringing that funky gym sock funk vibe to every track. Mr. DaySoul recently dropped his musical experience entitled "Brain" to funk up your life a little bit. If you are looking for something funky fresh for the Spring season, this will be a good place to start. Trying to describe this project would be unfair, because it's not one of those simple albums that can be put into a two sentence breakdown. With each listen I hear something new that I missed the previous times. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Then checkout his forthcoming album entitled "Kilowatt" that will be released in May of 2008, but it currently available via iTunes right now!

To hear some sounds from this man, check out his myspace page:

www.myspace.com/olivierdaysoul

Then I dare you to tell me that he isn't funky enough for you!

IF U DON'T HAVE J-DAVEY, U LOST!
Who doesn't know about the superduo that call themselves J*Davey by now? I mean seriously, it's 2008 dammit! If you consider yourself a true soul music lover and you've somehow missed the J*Davey train then I suggest you toss your soul music VIP card in the toilet and hit the metal handle. Even though their musical career has not been the best as far as getting the promotion they deserve, and the dreadful delay of their official album release, they have still managed to become underground stars. Touring like mad people and selling out venues all of the world have put their name on the tip of everyone's tongue. Both Jack and Brook are cool ass hell in person, so it's easy to become a fan of their movement for that fact alone, but thankfully their music is the sh*t as well!

The majority of their music hard to come by in most cases unless you hit up one of their live concerts. There is another wonderful place that we all dwell called the internet that is a useful tool for accessing their stuff as well. Just last year they dropped their latest compilation "The Land of The Lost!" This is prelude to their official Warner Brothers album release supposedly hitting the streets at the end of the year. For some reason I thought everybody was aware of this joint, so I didn't even post about it. Over the last few months kats and kittens have been asking me about some of the tracks off of the compilation. You know those what, when, where and how type questions that we all know and love. So, instead of answering a bunch of emails, I decided to do a post about it and help the folks that are lost.

This post is like a game for those want to find the treasure. If you missed this joint the first time around, here's your chance to get it. The game is called LOST & FIND! Basically, the rules are simple. I LOST it, and U have to find it...

Hit J*Davey's myspace page here:

www.myspace.com/jdavey

Then check this one too:

www.jdaveybaby.com

Get to know J*Davey with Gakcity


J*Davey - Lazy Daze (Live)

SOUND SPOT: KISSEY ASPLUND
While everyone else seems to be going that way, I always seem to go in the opposite direction. That's because there's normally not enough room for everyone to travel comfortably going in the same direction, plus I don't particularly like crowds. The same approach is taken when I make my music choices in many cases. I have been accused in the past of going off the beaten pathe just because I just want to be different? No, sumuma-biyatch that's not it at all, I just know what I like! Just like this hip Swedish babe named Kissey Asplund. I really LIKE her! She's bringing her own brand of sound to our ears with a mixture of electronica, funk and soul. I have to thank my dude Synflood for turning me on to this talented young lady. Her off the wall, yet catchy formula to music making is unconsciously addictive. In the same way that the cult like following has developed for other diverse artists like J-Davey and Janelle Monae. Once you get a taste of their sound it's hard to turn it off. On a side note...if you have been keeping your ears on strick diet of only regurgitated mainstream urban trash radio for the last few years, artists like Kissey and Jack Davey will probably taste like a fresh fart in the air. Don't let that discourage you though, because this fart smells like fresh roses after a few sniffs.

Fortunately, Kissey has a lot of music under her dress for fans to put their ears on in the form of EPs and guest appearances. Unfortunately, if you don't live in or near Sweden most of it is not readily available to folks with no motivation. The best news of the month is that Kissey is releasing the debut album entitled "Plethora" at the end of April 2008. It's available on iTunes now for you impatient suckas like myself. I'm digging this joint severely right now. The album is full of original concepts with dope vocals over tight production. I'm sold on Kissey Asplund and you just might be too! Regardless, try to support good music and the artists that you like, so they can keep making the music that you love. Phuck what you heard up to this point. These artists NEED your support financially, not just the words that you type on somebody's blog talking about how dope they are...

Peep her myspace spot:

www.myspace.com/kisseyasplund

Check these videos too:

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SPACEY SOUL MISTRESS!

There are soul singers that definitely do their thing pretty well, but then there are those like Sy Smith that have own lane going in the opposite direction. Sadly, Sy is not a household name when most folks think of soul music, but she definitely should be. I first discovered this hot young lady back in 2004 when she dropped some album saving vocals on Ali Shaheed's mediocre "Shaheedullah and Stereotypes" solo project. So, when she dropped her second joint "The SyberSpace Social" I was all over that for sure. That album had definitely it's own unique sound. It had a spacey type soulful feel with a twist of funky vibrations. After hearing that joint, I immediately became a Sy-ber Souldier! I've been supporting her ever since. When I finally met her in person a couple of years back, she was just as beautiful on the inside as she looks on the outside. She's a true talent reppin' that D.C. sound. These are the kind of artists that need and deserve your support if you are a true soul music lover.

Speaking of showing some support, Ms. Smith has just released her third (some say fourth) album entitled "Conflict!" I think this joint is her most well rounded project to date. It definitely shows some growth, without losing focus of that originality that makes her different from the rest. Personally, I'm really digging the production and her vocals, so there's no CONFLICT over here. Actually, if you have never heard any Sy Smith music up to this point, her latest album may be a good place to start getting to know her. If you like this one then you should go back and check out some of her earlier work. I don't believe in buying music blindly in 2008. I try to listen to everything before I spend my hard earned greenbacks for it, and you should too. So, put your ears on snippets of the "Conflict" album here:

LISTEN HERE AND HERE...

Checkout these two tracks:

Sy Smith - That Ring

Sy Smith - Luv & Such

Then hit her up at:

www.myspace.com/sysmith

www.sysmith.com

Now, peep this...

Sy Smith ft. Wes Felton - Reach Down (Video)

KEV BROWN + LMNO = DOPE!
Personally, I think Hip-Hop music is at it's best when two or more incredible talents come together to make that magic happen. It doesn't always work like that Jay-Z and R. Kelly tragedy from a few years back, but in most cases it's something pretty special. Today, I bring to you one of my most recent favorite collabos with LMNO of The Visionaries and Kev Brown of the Low Budget Crew. Two underground vets doing their thing the right way. There new project is called "Selective Hearing" and I must say that this joint is pretty hot! This is basically how I like my hip-hop for the most part, with dope production and interesting wordplay that goes perfectly witht he beats. If you are a Kev or LMNO fan, you definitely need this one in your collection. If you've never heard of either, you STILL need this one! Support good music and the artists that make it! Don't sleep...

GET "SELECTIVE HEARING" HERE!




















Hit them up at their myspace page:

www.myspace.com/lmnokevbrown


WHO'S THAT (VIDEO)

YOU ARE THE FATT FATHER!
I remember a time when Detroit was mostly known for its automobile production plants and the home of Motown the sound. In the new millennium Detroit is slowly becoming the place for dope hip-hop artists. The people that live in the city already knew that there was some true talent here, but now the world is finally taking notice. Local crews finally decided to stop jockeying for position like crabs in a barrel and have joined forces to put out some hot joints. Another kat from the "D" who has been putting some work in for a minute on the local tip is definitely trying to make his name a household name. He goes by the name Fatt Father and he's an original member of the Fat Killahz. The Killahz have been putting it down around the "D" for a minute now, and they are definitely well respected. My dude Fatt Father has just released his latest street mixtape "You Are The Father" for the world to hear. Production duties are being handled by Black Milk, Trick-Trick, Supreme, Jewels Baby and Mr. Wright.

GET THE FATHER MIXTAPE HERE!

Courtesy of Dirty Mitten

FATT FATHER MYSPACE PAGE:

www.myspace.com/fattfather

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!

My dude GS has finally dropped his first video off of his debut street classic "Ode To The Ghetto," so put your eyes and ears on this one.

Guilty Simpson - Get Riches (Video)

SOULGROUND (CHAPTER 1) MIXX!
While mainstream rap music is suffering like a beached whale, the underground hip-hop scene is poppin' like a ghetto girl's bubble gum right now. Atleast, for me it is. My music plate is full (as always), so I stay changing up my music selection. Ironically, I have kept that new Roddy Rod album "Blunt Park Sessions" in heavy rotation for a minute now, and it still sound pretty damn good! It's just a fun sounding album to me, and the beats are crazy! I was already a big supporter of the Low Budget Crew movement ever since I discovered Kev Brown, and it's clear that this crew will be around for a long time. Albums like this is why I don't turn on the radio in 2008 unless I'm trying to get the weather and traffic updates. Like Kev Brown, Roddy is a rapper/deejay/producer that understands the essence of hip-hop music. There are no gimmicks, just straight up hip-hop music with no additives or preservatives. It reminds me what the group Gang Starr brought to the ble back in the day. All beats and rhymes baby, so if that's your thing be sure to check out my dude Roddy Rod!

Check out his myspace page below:

www.myspace.com/djroddyrod

After you check out Roddy's spot, come back and get my latest mixx to enhance your listing pleasure. This one's called the "Soulground Chapter 1" mixx, so definitely put your ears on it:

01+elzhi ft. dwele g - someone as real as her
02+roddy rod ft. chronkite/kaimyr - mouth water
03+pete rock ft. rell - that's what i'm talking about
04+q-tip ft. d'angelo - i believe
05+dutchmassive - i want her
06+lupe fiasco - paris tokyo
07+w. ellington felton - a native love afair
08+blu & exile ft. miguel - cold hearted
09+pryslzz ft. dwele - more than a love song
10+common ft. erykah badu - all night (remix)
11+miles bonny - salmon steaks
12+chaundon ft. darien brockington - take it personal
13+young buck ft. latoiya williams - u ain't goin no where
14+fat joe ft. charli baltimore/gerrell gaddis - walk on by
15+9th wonder & buckshot - go all out
16+carlitta durand ft. jim jones - what if
17+tone trezure - my destiny
18+roddy rod ft. muhsinah/hanu-hum - rude squire
19+foundation ft. sa-ra - the night
20+talib kweli ft. justin timberlake - the nature

KOPP IT!

DETROIT VIDEO BREAK!

This is still my joint right here! The beat is sick! Shoutout to my dudes the Fat Killahz reppin' the "D" to the fullest! If you are not familiar, get familiar by checking out this video:

FAT KILLAHZ - GET YA PAPER (VIDEO)