Skyzoo -- "Popularity" (Music Video)

"Pen game proper/ My pen game proper"

Undoubtedly, Skyzoo's debut LP The Salvation may be the only LP this year that matched sonically and lyrically to the street excellence of Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II.

There are many highlights from Salvation, but the song "Popularity" (produced by Nottz) is the one track that is getting heavy rotation on my iPod nano.

Skyzoo's video for "Salvation" is great. Set in a "Saved by the Bell" fantasy world, we follow Skyzoo through a day in high school where hi-jinks and insanity ensue.

Amanada Diva makes a cameo in the clip as a high-school cutie who is being amorously pursued by the school nerd.

Nevermind the fact that most of the people in the video look way too old to be in high school; this isn't remedial hip-hop -- it's bonafide street-hop from this year's rising rap star Skyzoo. Bravo!

Go cop The Salvation!

Alicia Keys -- "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart"

Props to Def Pen Radio 71.8

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys -- "Empire State Of Mind" World Series Game 2 Performance

Wow! Alicia Keys is looking nice & thick awesome in her purple thigh-high boots. Purple Rain, Purple Rain!

Go Phillies! Ha!

Props to VIBE TV

In a clip from VIBE TV (click on the picture), Rakim Allah drops some jew-els about how he came up with the music and lyrics for "Juice (Know the Ledge)," the title track from one of the best movie soundtracks in hip-hop.

The 1992 flick Juice was a great (hip-hop?) 'hood movie, which introduced moviegoers to a budding actor named Tupac Shakur, who gave a helluva performance as the psychopathic teen Bishop. The movie also starred Omar Epps (House), Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins, Khalil Kain (UPN's Girlfriends) and EnVogue songbird Cindy Herron.

For all of my "sample" heads, Rakim used the bass line at the beginning of Nat Adderly's jam "Rise, Sally, Rise." And the rest, they say, is hip-hop history.

Thanks Who Sampled

Eric B. & Rakim -- "Juice" (Know the Ledge) [Music Video]

Holla!

The Juice Crew All-Stars recorded an elegiac tribute to the late and great radio pioneer Mr. Magic (aka Sir Juice). The wonderfully soulful track features Juice Crew alums Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, MC Shan, Roxanne Shante, Biz Markie and the original hook king TJ Swan.

Props to Def Pen Radio 71.8

Not a World Premiere . . . but definitely a World..Wide..Tribute to a great man.

Rest in Power, Mr. Magic. And Thank You.

I would have to agreed with Rap Radar on this.

DAAAAMMMMN!

Audio snipe from Rap Radar

More Rosa Acosta punanny shots found at HypeBeast