New Music: Black Hippy “U.O.E.N.O (Remix)”Posted by: B.Dot
Geno Smith Joins Roc Nation SportsPosted by: B.Dot
Paris Hilton Signs With Cash MoneyPosted by: B.Dot
B.o.B.’s Camp vs. Ebro & RosenbergPosted by: B.Dot
J.Cole “Power Trip” On Jimmy FallonPosted by: Big Homie
Fuck Harvey Levin and anybody that loves his celebrity news website. First you prematurely pronounce the impending death of Lil Wayne (Weezy Forgives. We Don't.) and then you try to link the horrific actions of one of the Boston Marathon culprits to our culture? "DEAD BOMBING SUSPECT: HEAVY INTO HIP HOP" You don't say? It's 2013 and most kids are into rap music. We've been penetrated pop culture, you cock suckers. "What's interesting... hip-hop lyrics are notoriously violent and often degrading to women." So our music is at fault in this tragedy? Let's be clear the only bombs my culture cosigns is DJ Funkmaster Flex's sound effects. Thirty Mile Zone is prone to post anything to get traffic. Fuck dude and his coffee cup. Get you a Rap Radar cup and drink with us in the winner's circle.
Oh Miguel. Leg droppin your fans? You ain't Hulk Hogan and that wasn't part of the program. That's no way to treat the adoring ladies, brother.
Moderated by our own B.Dot, Kendrick invited fans for his Google Play Hangout live from SXSW in Austin, TX. If you missed it, click play.
Yours truly was on 106 & Park this evening to judge this week’s Freestyle Friday competition. The battle was between newcomers Interstate Fatz and John Sisco. It was a tough decision, but we ended up crowning Interstate Fatz. Check out the second portion after the jump.
After talking to the Yellow Man, Al Lindstrom interrogated yours truly at the Shade 45 studios. I discussed the creation of Rap Radar, cultural tourism, and my unwavering passion for hip-hop. The Bill O’Reilly of hip-hop? Fuck it, we’ll do it live! On another note, Complex has me thinking of a career change.
Sidebar: Engine Room Audio Interview
After completing our annual Best Of Lists last week, Elliott and I called up DJ Drama’s Aphilliates Radio on Shade 45. We spoke on our selections and expectations in 2013.
B.Dot
YN
A few days ago, yours truly sat alongside journalists Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff for this week’s edition of The New York Times Popcast. Our conversation revolved around SPIN‘s review of Chief Keef’s debut, Finally Rich. The site rated the album 8 out of 10. To boot, Nas’ Life Is Good received a 7 out of 10.
Prior to the sit-down, I labeled the author Jordan Sargent a cultural tourist. My comments caught the attention of my colleagues (Dave Bry, Benjamin Meadows-Ingram) and opened up some dialogue regarding race.
According to Jordan, Keef, “made one of the best rap albums of the year, and one of the best major label debuts in recent memory.” He spends a majority of his review justifying Keef’s presence instead of his music. When he does get around to the music (or lack thereof), he makes apologetic statements for Keef’s technical abilities as a rapper. (“His lyrics are direct and purposefully bereft of showmanship. This gets read as “dumbed-down” [or as just straight dumb], but that’s a fundamental misunderstanding of the entire function of Keef’s words.”) At various points, he even compares some songs to those of the mixtape Weezy reign.
Rosenberg:1. First off let’s be clear, this conversation was started by and has been fueled by bloggers who more than anything want to be on this radio station, alright? And that’s fine, so did I. 2. But I worked my way through the minor leagues for years to get to have this “dreaded Sunday night timeslot”, as it was referred to by my man B.Dot 3. And real quick, a lot of these bloggers talking trash about commercials we play and there’s no politics, I go to RapRadar.com, I see the MMG ads. I see the Def Jam ads and I see you blogging about MMG and Def Jam, so let’s not get too high on your high horse about commercials and things of that nature.
W’ssup niggas? Time to separate fact from fiction.
1. I’ve never submitted an air check nor asked for a time slot on Hot 97. So that’s bologna. Anytime I’ve cracked the mic, programmers or hosts have asked me to.
2. We’ve all worked our way through the proverbial “minor league”. Eight years ago, I started out at as an unpaid intern at Don Diva. Tiff and Kev what up! You and I both know, Real Late is on a dreaded time slot. Sundays suck. To be technical, the show is actually on Monday morning. By 12 A.M. most folks are sleeping or preparing for work. So really, who are you really playing music for?
3. During this entire exchange, I never mentioned commercials. Yes, they’re ads plastered on this website from record labels, but what’s your point? Those same record labels submit music and are also critiqued: good or bad. The difference is that record labels pay radio stations to play the music. Since payola is an illegal practice, programmers have found alternate ways to justify airplay.
But we’re getting off topic. The problem with urban radio (specifically in New York) is that most of the Radio DJs aren’t doing their jobs and programmers are allowing it. Say what you want about how important blogs are, but at the end of the day, the DJ is the sole controller and A&R of the streets. When you’re two stepping in the nightclub or riding around and getting it, your favorite website isn’t at the helm—it’s the DJ. And in New York, the Radio DJs control the nightclubs.
If you’re visiting this website, chances are you’re a hip-hop nerd. Myself included. The casual hip-hop/rap fan is exposed to new music via terrestrial radio. They’re not scouring the ‘net for the latest underground sensation. DJs need to close their wallets, roll up their sleeves, and consistently play good music for their audience.
MTV’s Rob Markman said it best, “There just needs to be more balance on both sides. Underground heads need to stop making records like it’s 1994 and radio has got to show more underground love.”
I’ve had it up to here with New York City radio. After hearing the same three songs in less than an hour on Hot 97, I tweeted ”A NYC radio DJ could incorporate at LEAST 5 local records into their daily mix. But they don’t. Kinda sad. Yo @oldmanebro, change must come!”
@oldmanebro is Ebro Darden. He’s an Oakland native and Program Director of Hot 97. PDs are the boss of a radio station. Ebro responded to my tweet and a debate ensued including Hot 97 personalities Peter Rosenberg and Tat Wza.
Peter Rosenberg: What’s up with Hot 97 supporting good local underground hip-hop?
Ebro: Oh so, he wants Flatbush Zombies? Sean Price? Oh that’s what he wants? He wants Denzil Porter? Joey Bada$$? We support those records, but those are for the minor leagues right now, they still on the come up. We put them on Rosenberg’s Real Late show until they make it to prime time…
Two nights ago, the kid appeared on The Usual Suspects show with hosts Tee Smif, Remi & DJ Boy Wonda. Producer Chucky Thompson also phoned in to discuss the 18th anniversary of Mary J. Blige’s My Life. I spoke on music criticism, relationship with Jay-Z, and a few things in between.
Yours truly took over the Shade 45 airwaves yesterday on the All Out Show with Rude Jude and Lord Sear. The station’s looking to add new music, so they called on the kid to help ‘em out. My selections? Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees” and Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us”. Afterward, we spoke on Shyne’s review of good. kid, m.A.A.d city.
Week 2: Back for another week, I highlighted Young Jeezy’s “We Done It Again” and newcomer Deezo‘s “Deck“
The day before Hov christened the Barclays Center, Elliott and I spoke on the impact of his concert series with MTV. Afterward, we kicked our favorite Jay-Z verse. Tougher than you think. Day three goes down tonight.
