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’10 Mixtapes: #4 Yelawolf Trunk Muzik

Truth be told when this mixtape dropped last New Year’s day, it was the last thing on my mind. It took me two months and a plane ride to Austin to finally connect to the fresh new sound of an Alabama MC. First things first: Yelawolf is white. If you don’t know, now you do. Who gives a middle finger? He can flat-out rap his ass off as the titilating title track attests. The riotous rookie also proved he could […]

’10 R&B Albums: #4 Erykah Badu New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh

The soulful saga continued last March when Erykah Badu released the second installment of her New Amerykah series. In a decidedly new direction from her previous more political effort, this album focuses more on emotions and relationships and many tunes are anchored by familar samples. Thankfully, Badu cleverly builds off the original material and enhances it. “Turn Me Away” twists the Sylvia Striplin joint behind Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s big “Get Money” hit and a Eddie Kendricks classic provides the bounce behind […]

’10 Mixtapes: #5 Freddie Gibbs Str8 Killa, No Filla

Some things never change. And once again, Freddie Gibbs returns to the Double R’s top 10. This time, courtesy of last year’s sleeper, Str8 Killa, No Filla. Freddie kicks things off with his own unapologetic national anthem “Fuck The World” and then, a few tracks down, “Reps 2 to Tha Fullest” with Jay Rock . In terms of lyrical content, Fred’s strength is woven within his baritone flow. He shows his range on “Do Wrong” with Pill, personalizes Mikbone’s seminal […]

’10 R&B Albums: #5 Sade Soldier Of Love

Like a good neighbor, Sade is there. There’s simply no better musican to provide the backdrop for some late night boot knockin’. Sorry kids. Want to set the mood right? Buy her old albums. Which is what we had to do for a decade before her Royal Highness came back to bless us last February right before V Day. Perfecto. Ha! Seriously, “Soldier Of Love” held radio and the talk show circuit hostage but the album was no slouch either. […]

’10 Mixtapes: #6 J.Cole Friday Night Lights

When the album coming out? Man, the people been askin’. No 2010 was not the year when anticipation was met with the major label debut of Roc Nation’s Jermaine Cole. Instead Fayetteville’s Finest returned to his mixtape roots. FNL‘s foundation is built on strong previously released material (the furious freestyle “Back To The Topic”; the jolting Kanye jack “Villematic”; the marvelous “Premeditated Murder”) and new joints that exhibit Cole’s lyrical growth. Introspection is evident on dope tracks like the boomin’ […]

Lil B On The Vice Guide To Everything

[vodpod id=Video.5265789&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Did%253D1655266%2526vid%253D610345%2526uri%253Dmgid%253Auma%253Avideo%253Amtv.com%253A610345] Still wondering what’s Base music—or Lil B for that matter? Well, MTV’s new reality show The Vice Guide To Everything traveled to San Francisco to get to the bottom of it. Grab some wonton soup and get familiar. Thank you Basedgod.

’10 Mixtapes: #7 L.E.P. Bogus Boys Don’t Feed The Killaz Vol.3

Moonie and Count warned us, but nobody listened. Instead The Chi-town duo teamed up with DJ Drama and released their third installment, Don’t Feed The Killaz Vol. 3. From the very beginning, The Lower End Professionals plant their Midwest flag firmly (“Chicago Niggaz”) before “Going In For The Kill” on La Roux’s screeching vocals. The core of DFK Vol. 3 is where L.E.P. truly shines, with cautionary tales like “Frontline,” “Heavens Door”, and “Ginger”. But even killers have heart and […]