Sorry for the lack of updates on here, but my main writing gig keeps me busy and the work is very time consuming.
Plus, with the summer season in full swing, the sunny weather has been a big distraction for me.
But don't fret, I'll be back on my blogging grind soon.
So don't abandoned my blog, just yet.
I'm still around.
Much Love. Peace.
We haven't heard any new music from Pac Div since they dropped their EP The DiV last year. At this point, the California trio is pulling a Detox move on their fans as they wait patiently for the release of their official major-label debut Grown Kid Syndrome on Universal.
This joint should hold fans over until then. Produced by longtime collaborator Swiff D, 'Automatic' boasts a hammer-pounding beat, hand claps and air-raid sirens.
My favorite line: "Put your check up, we're certified niggas / Put your vest up, we fertilize niggas / Homegrown greenery, hometown scenery / Knock flows down easily / Knock hoes down leisurely / But right now, we are trying to get this money all legally."
Right now, this song gets an automatic thumbs up from me. Take a listen:
For all of my "Real Hip-Hop" heads out there (no Peter Rosenberg. Ha!), here's Big Remo's new video for "I'm Back" from his latest album Sleepwalkers. The black-and-white clip, directed by Kenneth Price, features our favorite rhyme-spitter Rapsody.
Big Remo is a North Carolina rapper on 9th Wonder's Jamla Records imprint along with labelmate Rapsody. His Sleepwalkers album boasts production from in-house production team The Soul Council (Khrysis, E. Jones, Fatin “10” Horton, Eric G., 9th and others).
Black is back!
I'm not a big fan of rappers or producers remixing classic songs (Yes, I'm talking to you Lupe Fiasco!). In my humble opinion, some artists today don't have the creativity or the skill to rework a classic record or even update an already classic song. But I digress...
Miami-based production team Urban Noize did a fine job remixing OutKast's classic 1996 tune "ATLiens." Using a vintage soul sample and a thumping beat, Urban Noize reminds us how much we miss the dynamic duo and the urgency for an OutKast reunion album. I also included the original track below. Now throw yo' hands in the aye-rrr and wave them like you just don't care-rrr.
Spotted: UN
**BONUS:**
Throw Yo' Hands in the Aye-rrr!
I can't front, this is an addictive song. The-Dream teams up with Pusha T for this catchy love ballad "Dope Bitch." Some may frown at calling this song a love ballad since the word "Bitch" is used to describe a woman. Why not a "Dope Chick"? Well, that's probably going to be the edit version when it hits radio.
The B-word aside, the single is, uh, dope. That rollicking sample of the Skull Snaps' 1973 song 'It's a New Day,' sells the song for me. The lyrics are not so bad, either. "Whatever you want / You got it baby / The dopest thing I've ever seen / I'm hook on you like d-o-p-e / Like d-o-p-e," he croons on the track.
The-Dream's "Dope Bitch" also reminds me of Notorious B.I.G.'s love ode "Me and My Bitch," which some women frown upon when it was first introduced on his debut album Ready to Die. Now every hood chick/around the way girl loves the song.
"Dope Bitch" is expected to appear on The-Dream's upcoming album Love IV MMXII (due Aug. 14). If you're not familiar with Roman numerals, the Love IV MMXII stands for "Love 4 2012." Dope, right?