Rap Radar

Just like DMC, J.Cole went to St. John’s University too. And last night, he returned to his alma mater for the first time. In the footage above, he performs “Last Call” off The Warm Up mixtape.

Sidebar: Cole In Dave Chapelle’s Block Party

On Thursday, Luda held his third annual Ludacris Foundation Fundraiser at the Ralph Lauren Store in Atlanta’s Lenox Mall. The rapper teamed up with the clothing line to create a line of neckties with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. Guests included Gabrielle Union, Jazze Pha and Bobby Valentino.

Scoop DeVille is a monster on the beats. And I must say, this is probably the best I’ve heard from Chuck in awhile. Check into the R.E.D. Room on Monday.

YK2

Nelly Furtado joins the fun with N.E.R.D on the group’s first single off Nothing. After the jump, catch the group performing the cut along with “Party People”, live at the Levi’s Relaunch Party a few weeks ago in London.

Illionaire

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Brad will release his first mixtape, Dopeman Music on May 4th. And below, is the project’s titled track. Pretty dope, man.

HHNM via Ozone

This isn’t as as good as the Wu classic, but here’s an unreleased remix from 8 Ball that’s been collecting dust in the vault.

Mr. X

Game, Game, go away. Please come back another day. Ha. Seriously, I shrug when talk of Chuck Taylor comes up. (Does he still call himself that anymore? Oh well. Insert shrug.) Mr. Miller has done a thankless and tireless job of keepin’ you up to date with dude’s stop-and-go path to album number four. But now with a legit single with Pharrell (“It Must Be Me“) and a mixtape droppin’ on Monday, am I really supposed to get excited… again?

It wasn’t always this way. I used to be a big Game fan. Back when he and Curtis were first beginning their doomed partnership, I did a big all-Aftermath-everything cover which Dr. Dre insisted his young protege be a part of. Took me two seconds to agree. I even declared him the next one in the editorial. He proved me correct with The Documentary. Yeah 50 was the engine, but Jayceon masterfully pushed the whip. Runnin’ over the comp and capitalizing off a buzz that West Coast hip-hop hadn’t witnessed since Snoop was too shook to look into the camera.

The soap opera around his sophomore album, Doctor’s Advocate didn’t stop him from delivering another stellar release. If you closed your eyes through the sonic ride, no one couldn’t convince you Dre wasn’t boppin’ his head in the studio and tweakin’ the knobs. Shit, “Compton” even had me diggin’ Will.I.Am for a quick minute. (There’s a Scratch cover somewhere that proves that.) Although not as consistent as his debut, adversity was met with great art. Case closed.

I don’t really know much about L.A.X. I was preparing to launch Rap Radar by the time that shit finally dropped. Although Game was still gettin’ a gang of mag covers in 2008, any magic behind the project seemed gone. “Game’s Pain” made me chuckle. So did the “retirement” talk. I liked the Travis Barker shit but it’s hard to get excited about an album who’s best song is built off a random Birdman album track.

So suffice to say, Game’s career is in need of a big comeback. Guess that camel hunting crusade didn’t work when Hov dropped another classic on you, lil buddy. Ha. Seriously, let me download this “400 Bars” shit. I got a lil time to kill before I take the wife to that Ice Cube screening. My pal Al told me it was hot. Not. Hey, a rap expert can get his feelings hurt thinkin’ he’s got all the answers. I can claim to know it but you may know it instead. Maybe the dark horse in the 2010 rap race wears red.

Sidebar: Where’s Jimmy Henchmen? He’s been awfully quiet lately.

Lock your windows. Close your doors. The king returns a week early. August XVII MMX.

Jamie and James recorded this track back in 2006 after calling a truce. It was never released in full, but thanks to Nav, it is now.

B.o.B. and T.I. recorded more than one track for The Adventures of Bobby Ray. This particular one’s produced by JR Rotem but due to a Coldplay sample clearance issue, it didn’t make the final cut. Don’t get lost. Click away.

Mr. X