Rap Radar

Esco’s It Was Written turned 15 years old back in July. And in a recent interview with XXL, he reflects on his sophomore album.

What was your inspiration for “I Gave You Power?”
A Premier beat. Just a beat from Premier… in the studio. Back then I was around a lot more guns and my reality was that. There was no armed security back then, it was just us moving around so that was a lot more in my world.

I remember you had “Silent Murder” on the cassette. What made you put a bonus track on cassette at a time where things were moving to CDs?
Well, the cassette still wasn’t dead. They was still sellin’, so we figured, the cassette is what we grew up on. CDs is takin’ over so we need an extra attraction to get people to not buy the CDs, and also try to keep the cassette alive. We needed something to help keep the cassette alive so that’s what we did with Stretch and that was his last works, that was his last works with me. I miss him. I do. I think about him from time to time. Great dude. He was a real good dude.

I still got my cassette. Read the entire article here.

We really wish people would stop recording vertically! Anyway, the night before last, Common brought out Esco for another live edition of “Ghetto Dreams” at the Highline Ballroom in NYC.  The Dreamer/The Believer in stores now.

Nas got his Jackson Pollock on last night at Spotify’s “Art Loves Music” event in Miami. No word as to who purchased the painting, but for $14,000, it better come with a receipt.

To celebrate her new album‘s release next week, MJB held a concert at Club Nokia and live streamed it for the world. Above, she brings out Nasir for their new duet.

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Mary J. Blige will bring My Life II…The Journey Continues (Act I) in three days. For its latest offering, here’s MJB’s new duet with Nasir Jones, which you might recall hearing prematurely with Nicki Minaj.

Yesterday: “Love A Woman” Ft. Beyoncé

After dropping “Dog Shit“, P and Hav link up with Esco again for their new track. Black Cocaine EP officially drops Black Friday, so get it here. By the sounds of this, we hope that album is still coming.

Sidebar: Guess Rozay passed on the beat.

From the 1s and 2s to the baton, Preemo gets his Mozart on for the visual aid of his track featuring Esco and the Berklee Symphony Orchestra. What a classic—al.

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Save the music y’all. Below is an explanation of how the track came together.

VIBE recently linked up with DJ Premier, Nas, and the Berklee Symphony Orchestra as a part of their RE:GENERATION project. Presented by Hyundai Veloster, RE:GENERATION is a documentary film that follows DJ Premier, Pretty Lights, The Crystal Method, Mark Ronson, and Skrillex as they remix, recreate and re-imagine five traditional styles of music. Learn more Re:Generation.com

Nasir and Mr. Murphy stopped by 106 on Tuesday to promote the film, Tower Heist. Above, Esco spoke on his single “Nasty“, working with Rick Ross and his next album.

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Featuring scenes from the upcoming Brett Ratner-directed film, here’s an in-studio performance of Nasir and Ricky’s track. Tower Heist in theaters November 4.