Talib Kweli’s new album “Eardrum” is one of 2 critically dope summer releases (of 2007) I will be reviewing prior to Labor Day weekend. (The second being Aesop Rock’s “None Shall Pass” LP) The success of “Eardrum” has also sparked positive reviews posted throughout the media circuit and music lovers alike. Through a listener’s point of view, “Eardrum” is an album I can both appreciate and look at as a positve release catering to those looking for good quality Hip-Hop. After numerous releases, (on the solo tip) Talib has tried to please just about everyone above and beyond the masses, falling short of criticism within every album dropped… (“You’re too underground, you’re selling out, stop rapping about love, stop crossing over”) I’d have to say this is what I’ve come to expect from Talib Kweli. Thoughtful Intelligence, Charizma and potent skills to move a crowd. (not to mention dope producers and an all-start line up!)
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Another Duck Down Records review in one week? What can I say I’m a sucka’ for legitimate shrink wrapped with the barcode mix cd’s minus a DJ goin’ Woot! Woot! and Beep! Beep! Peep this right hear, a solo effort by veteran emcee status Steele of Smif N’ Wessun with his new offering ala mix-tape route, “Hostyle Takeover.” I gotta say, it’s a solid release for a number of reasons… although Steele has no plans of dropping a solo album, a new Smif N’ Wessun album is due out this winter and with Casualties of War currently out right now, Steele slips right in to promote himself on the mix-tape dolo. Believe me, the album is all hype branded with that classic BDD sound.

With the right beat arrangement, Steel goes for broke with his renditions of hot tracks like Jay-Z’s takeover (Hostyle Takeover) and 50’s Back down (via Steele’s Backdown) over his own chorus and lines. I’m really feeling some of the selected beats he chose. Hostyle Takeover also features unreleased and hard to find gems featured only as exclusives. “No love” is a slow grinding chill track produced by The Alchemist and features 5 Ft. of Black Moon while Steel can handle his own on the majority of tracks in the album, there are a number of tracks featuring newbies to the BCC scene like Ruste Juxx, Stormey and O-Smash who bring down the albums hype just a bit. Over all, Duck Down Records simply provides it’s listeners with quality packaged mix cd’s.

Overall, with the new found success Duck Down Records is riding on, it’s only right for Steele to drop a little somethin’ prior to Smif N’ Wessun’s new album entitled… “The Album”

Track listing after the jump…
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How lucky is this 4 man crew from Staten Island to have Raekwon as their resident mentor and to back them up on their debut album “Polluted Water?” Crew deep, Ice Water, consists of Polite, Stomach, P.C. (Paulie Caskets) and D.C. (Donnie Cash) and marks Staten Island’s “return to prominence as a hotbed for fresh, credible talent.” These kids are nice and I’ll say it early, the album and the groups debut is worth while. (check em’ out!) As mentioned by Raekwon, “We knew these cats had potential way back, but the timing wasn’t right. I always kept a radar on dudes, and when I felt they was ready mentally and lyrically, I helped ’em get on.” Rae even had them open for the Wu this past summer on the Rock The Bells tour to build up that credibility. Straight off the Babygrande label, “Polluted Water” features an all star guest list including Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Remy Ma, Three Six Mafia and Jagged Edge. Raekwon and Method Man make appearances throughout the album as well but the main focus is Ice Water themselves.

While I woudn’t consider the album to be heavily Wu-influenced, on the rhyming tip- it’s easy to say these cats are on the same level as Raekwon’s wordplay. The opening track “Animal” speaks for itself with a lyrically hungry intro produced by the heavily slept on Scram Jones. “Do it big” is a collabo between Icewater and Flipmode’s Busta Rhymes, it’s a nice one to bum to. “Let’s get it” is one of the better Three Six Mafia featured tracks I’ve heard, it had em’ raising their game lyrically. Other notable tracks include “Love don’t cost” feat. Method Man and The Raekwon and Pimp C featured “Knuckle Up” is hard as hell.

“Polluted Water” is an album worth checking out. It’s a debut album with a lot of promise and with Rae comparing these cats to raising pitbulls- we can only expect a more viscous on their careers and future. Also this isn’t an album with Raekwon playing baby sitter to the crew… his name maybe all over the cover and on a few tracks, but he let’s the crew shine on their own. Check em’ out!

Animal Video Featured after the jump…
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Last Summer, I found myself getting down to Young Joc’s New Joc City and realized that as much as I enjoyed his 1st single “It’s goin’ down” the more I figured him for a T.I. wannabe. (so did everyone else…) When the summer ended for 2006, so did my taste for his music. Well T.I. is back for a sec- oops, I mean YOUNG JOC is back with his sophomore release “Hustlenomics!” off of the Bad Boy South Label… and rater than being a solid release with some direction, Joc finds himself all over the place, biting style after beat. Honestly there’s no creativity in this album. Been there… Done that, We find Joc Hustlin’ one minute (Hustlenomics, Hustlemania and Getting to da money) to showin love to his momma (“Momma”) to “Living the life” and “BYOB” to his party. Joc even has a track featuring his cartoonish sounding buddy “PacMan” which is a straight rip off of Quasimoto! I will say tracks like his current single “Coffee Shop” are quite humourous and sticks to your head. (in a good way I think, lol!) Think of Hustlenomics as an album filled with tracks full of hit singles ready to take the radio by storm…

Hustlenomics is not a filler heavy album with poor skits and bad guest stars. It’s uneven and already done. I found myself enjoying the album somewhat but in originality’s case… it sounds too much like everything else out there but straight jacked in style and flow. If Young Joc could just sit down and get creative… develop his own style with the right people he’s already working with… you’ve got a contender. For now, he’s just a biter.

Peep the Coffee Shop Video after the Jump…
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We just can’t get get enough of J. Dilla’s legacy on the production boards (and the mic). His legacy will never be forgotten. “Jay Deelicious: Originals, Remixes & Rarities” is a collection of Jay Dilla’s early production on the Delicious Vinyl label and his production credits early in his career with the Pharcyde on “Labcabincalifornia”. Dilla worked with the label on unforgettable tracks and remixes for the Pharcyde, (“Runnin’, Drop, She Said remix to name a few) the Brand New Heavies, as well as for N’Dea Davenport. (on the solo tip) to the Q-Tip featured “Sometimes” or the way to funky “Saturday Night” featuring Mos Def. While Jay Dee’s work has spanned over a decade and left Hip-Hop heads with unforgettable rhythms and beats. “Jay Deelicious: The Delicious Vinyl Years” is a perfect companion to an already incredible career. What more can I say… His music says it all.

Also… all proceeds from the sale of this release will go to Maureen (Ma Dukes) Yancy. Big ups to Delicious Vinyl for lookin’ out. Oops… did I mention The album comes with a bonus disc for al you beat heads…? That’s right- disc two are instrumentals for tracks! (1 through 9) Absolutely amazing!

Track Listing and dope video’s posted after the jump!
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Check this out! I know I ain’t Ebert or Roper but I’m givin’ this one Thumbs up! What can I say, I’m a sucker for Hip-Hop related documentaries cutting a fine line between the culture and money hungry b!tches capitalizing on our culture… Mixtape, Inc. is a detail oriented look into the illegal business of Hip-Hop Mixtapes. It’s practically a war of words between DJs, Performers and Retailers vs. Record labels and copy right codes. The documentary also breaks down how music is listened to now and how the success of a Mixtape alters how albums are bought… who really is cashing out with big revenues and who’s paying the price and sacrifice. Mixtape, Inc. features MixTape entrepreneurs   DJ Clue?, DJ Ron G, Kanye West, G-Unit, Xzibit, DJ Kayslay and DJ Green Lantern breaking down the history within the Mixtape Industry, the money and the truth… Hustle for that paper!

Peep the Product description…

There’s a battle brewing with the Mixtape DJs, Performers, Retailers and Buyers on one side and the multi-billion dollar record labels and copyright infringement authorities (RIAA) on the other. Mixtapes have become an important and hot part of the Hip-Hop culture, revolutionized the Hip-Hop music industry and changed the way we hear and buy Hip-Hop music. The financial stakes are extremely high. These entrepreneurial compilations are now the root of a new power struggle, the urban streets of America vs. the traditional corporate music industry.

View the trailer after the Jump…
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All in together now! Buckshot, Sean Price, Smif N Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. return with their fourth Group LP “Casualties of War” and I can’t be mad at another new album from Duck Down Records! Laying down 14 tracks deep- production contributions include 9th Wonder, Jaywan Inc., Dan the Man, Coptic, Soul G, Nottz, Fred Bear, Chris the Four and Marco Polo. Call the new album simply a quality effort towards its fan base and new heads on the BCC scene. The Group effort within the squad rolls out with a partnership between the MC’s feeding off each other lyrics and concepts. What you’ve got in “Casualties of War” is a solid effort on the lyrical tip staying consistent upon the beat… dope beats. Think of it as a polished vibe from their last album… “The Last Stand”
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Check it out yo’… Friday’s music video throwdown just got bolder… on the variety tip! Peep the vids (more after the jump)… enjoy ya’ Friday and remember, Music Video’s featured on Da’ Big Playback are good for you! New or old- it gets rotation! Enjoy!

Hieroglyphics- “Don’t Hate the Playa” (Prod. by The Automator)
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It’s been a hot second since I did a classic debut review… but how many of ya’ll remember this one? That’s right… “From Where???” is the solo debut from Mad Skillz… nowadayz, it’s just “Skillz”… Back in the 90’s, the than known Mad Skillz made his mark by finishing second place in a national freestyle competition in 1992, which resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. His debut album bombed… no body knew about it and the album disappeared. (C’mon Skillz, any chance for a reissue?)

Call “From Where???” criminally slept on as it boasted strong lyrical content and production, but didn’t sell well at all. (aka Commercial politics) at the time, Mad Skillz recruited some of the biggest producers from the underground, including Jay Dee ( Yep! of Slum Village fame! The Pharcyde & A Tribe Called Quest), The Beatnuts, Buckwild, Large Professor (Main Source, Nas) and DJ Clark Kent (Jay-Z). His 1st single, “The Nod Factor” received moderate radio and video airplay… if you were lucky like me… you caught it on CMC Music Channel! “The Nod Factor” was straight backpack underground Hip-Hop… (for me anyways!) it was classic Beatnuts material before they went “off the books” (still a classic, ain’t knockin’, just sayin’…) but the Nod Factor was just super raw. Compliment tha track with the Large Pro produced “Extra Abstract Skillz” alongside Q-Tip and the track lives by a classic MC team up on the lyrical strength.

Consider yourself lucky if you find “From Where???” at a local bargain bin. (I own 3 copies purchased at about 5-8 dollars a piece, for collectors purposes of course!) I don’t think a reissue is on it’s way. Atlantic Records is a joke when it comes to promoting it’s talents… even to this day they’ve dicked off the talents of Apathy and even Saigon (backed by Just Blaze!). “From Where???” is 16 tracks deep of what I like to call Middle School Hip-Hop… somethin’ in between Old School and New School… and though it isn’t a classic debut… it’s priceless to the ear drums. To this day, Skillz has been cited as being one of the best performers in Hip-Hop. (Sorry, no video’s via You tube… no love…)

Just how much imagination was put into Mark Ronson’s new album “Version?” To put it in mellow, his production rocks out a throwback swing of UK rhythm and blues with an enthusiastic blend of just about every genre from back in the days. Call it Retro soul or UK funk… or just plain old “fun” blended into some UK chart toppers from the last few years, (including a couple of old favorites from the past)

Version rocks out with Mark’s live band throwing down trumpets, saxophones, piano and strings with an all-star cast that includes Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Amy Winehouse to repay the favor. Peep the track “Toxic” that features Tigger and possibly one of ODB’s untimely verses after his death… the beat and his rhymes are totally off the wall. Lily Allen drops a chorus on “Oh My God” a happy go lucky track filled with joy. Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” is a straight tribute to a Motown classic… while the Robbie Williams “The only one I know” remake is a bland comparison to how dope the original one was.

Overall, “Version” is a genre mash-up covering the evolution of style within our timely music… Ronson flips contemporary classics over a Hip-Hop and funk blend intended to continue the new school flavor pop songstresses like Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen are employing. I can’t be mad at that!

Peep the video after the jump!
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