who is really better, jay-z or nas?

I take this back to 2002, when i was in my first year in the university. It was the heights of the beef/feud (between jay-z and nas), and people were picking sides. I was on nas's side, but it was like they were very few of my kind, because we all know a lot more people liked JAY-Z than NAS.

There were arguments on every corner of the campus; i really had not seen anything like that before, even with the BIGGIE and TUPAC feud, it wasn't really like that, maybe not in Nigeria, where i am from. Or maybe it was because pac and big lost their lives too early in the feud. Anyway, it was just incredible, you would see about 5 guys arguing with like 8 guys on who is better, and it would get emotional, and fights sometimes broke out.

I remember one time when i went to visit my friend, and i met some of his other friends there, and it happened that they were all jay fans; men, was that a hell of an argument. We argued for about 2 hours. They laid down their facts, i laid down mine, and in the end, became friends, and started seeing things from a different perspective. I saw the reason why they thought jay-z was a better rapper than nas, and i made them also see the reason why i thought nas was a better rapper. We went our separate ways, but the argument had left a mark, and we became curious of what we had shared on that  day. I started listening to jay in the process and they also started listening to nas.

Through the years, i bought all of jay's albums at one point or the other, and i can say i have listened to every album (solo and collaborative) that he has dropped, so i know what he is made of. I can not doubt that he is a very gifted/talented/skilled rapper, and has gotten better with time, to the point where he can do it(rap) in his sleep; but so can nas. But the problem people have with this argument is with comparing the two rappers; they are not the same. Jay is more of a flossy rapper, nas is a knowledge delivering, story telling rapper; they have different missions in life. And like M.I.A(the srilankan singer) said in a recent interview, just because nas is not the private plane flying rapper does not make jay-z better than him. I would like to add, just because jay-z does not kick knowledge(he does, but not like nas) in his rhymes don't make him any less better than nas.

I think i would end by quoting some of nas's lines on ether, where he said, who's the best, pac nas or big? ain't no best; so i would say there is no best between nas and jay-z, but i can say they are both individually better than every other rap out right now; probably except for eminem. Well, that is my opinion, so i would appreciate yours.

Jay-Z, Beyonce and Lil Wayne on Forbes' Celebrity 100 List | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales

Jay-Z, Beyonce and Lil Wayne on Forbes' Celebrity 100 List | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales

Game: Human Nature | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop

Game: Human Nature | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop

Check out the GAME interview above.

DRAKE INTERVIEW

I stumbled upon this DRAKE interview from allhiphop.com, and i thought you guys should read it.

AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about your rise to success and having the biggest opening week for a Hip-Hop artist in 2010?

Drake: First of all, I’m humbled by everything. It hasn’t really set in. It hasn’t really registered. You know, we don’t do too much celebrating, but I’m just thinking about the next win..the next win. You know, like Kobe Bryant says. I don’t know what a ring feels like. Until I get the ring, I’m never satisfied. I’m very humbled, very honored by the response of what we’ve done thus far, but – in my mind - we could do a lot better. I’m just working towards that.

AllHipHop.com: Why do you say that? Why do you say you feel you could do a lot better? You’ve done quite a bit…

Drake: I just listen back on my own music. I think I could spit better verses, better hooks, better selections. As far as music goes, all around, you know? Make better videos, although “Find Your Love” is one of my favorite videos. It is a great video, but you know, come up with a better marketing plan. Mostly musically though, I just feel I can do better. I think I can rap a lot better than I’m rapping right now. If I could make better over all music for the world to sing so…you know. That’s just how I feel.  You know, the people around me say I’m too hard on myself, but that’s how I’ve always been.

AllHipHop.com: Are you pleased with your album, Thank Me Later?

Drake: I’m pleased with it for certain reasons. I’m pleased with it overall, on a whole as a body of work. I think that there are some great moments in there. I think it’s very reflective of where I’m at in my life. I think it’s the perfect soundtrack for this particular summer. I think it’s an overall good album. I don’t think by any means that it’s the best that I could do though only because I feel like I learned so much about my life in the period while I was making my album. And not only that, because of the schedule, I was just under duress making the album. It was very hectic. It was a lot of time constraints. Or I couldn’t be in the same place as 40 (his friend and producer Noah "40" Shebib) and Boi 1 Da.  They had a demand prior to the album coming out, which is a rare thing. I think with a clear head and a little more time, and a different mindset, I can make a good album.     

AllHipHop.com: How, if at all does the pressure affect the creative process? 

Drake:  It’s never the pressure that affected the creative process, more than it was the time.  It was the time.  Recording on tour busses at 9AM is just not the ideal situation to finish your album, but maybe it is, maybe I wouldn’t have had those great moments on the album like I did if it wasn’t for that situation.  At the same time I just feel like everyone works better when they are rested, when their heads are clear.  It was more the time constraint that affected me more so than this weight on my shoulders or this pressure that everyone assumed would occur. I didn’t really necessarily feel this first album pressure.  I feel like we have longevity in this game, so I wasn’t really too worried about that.  I just wanted to make some great music.  I love seeing people react to my music.  Its like a drug, one of the strongest drugs ever in my opinion.  (Whispers “not that I’m doing drugs”) I just love that feeling. Putting out a feeling and having it really be the one is more addicting than anything in my life now. 

AllHipHop.com:  Let me ask you this. I appreciate your music, but I will admit I am not a die-hard type of fan like some fans that you have.  So I am a little mystified at some of the critics that think there is a different Drake from now to So Far Gone to other earlier work.  Do you feel like addressing some of the critics or are they just unaware of how you have evolved in the process of your mixtapes, to the EP to now? 

Drake:  Well I think the thing is that people get confused between the music and moment.  I think that’s the biggest thing that causes people to say, “Oh, Drake has changed.” The music that’s on Thank Me Later is very eclectic and is a unique brand of music and it is still our sound.  We went with a very unconventional creative method.  I think the reason that people hold So Far Gone in such high regard is because it was their first time hearing that sound.  First of all the sound the way it came out was very accessible, which to a lot of people that was an innovative approach.  And then not only that, a lot of people that had never heard me rap, and a lot of people had never heard 40’s (Noah “40” Shebib) production, or they had never heard the music we chose to flip.  It was very much the moment, you know, and it was something new, and I think that is always more exciting.  I think that as you gradually become more and more familiar with someone they become less and less exciting, they can still make great music, but the music and the moment is what people get confused.  I still believe strongly in Thank Me Later as an album.

AllHipHop.com: I noticed the Jay-Z verse on “Light Up,” where he cautions you on people that try to lure you into distracting beefs. The next week or so, there’s this “thing” with Lil Kim. How true did that verse ring for you?

Drake: Yeah I think the main thing for me was – and the reason I lashed out in that situation – was, because it wasn’t about me. And there are a lot of stupid things that other of rappers are going to try and rope me into. But at the end of the day, unfortunately, that’s not what pushes my buttons. You can say anything to me and I will not react to it. And even in that specific situation [with Lil  Kim] when things start getting said about me, it lost its thrill. You know what I mean? My biggest thing was I don’t like when you talk about people I love. People that I know for a fact are working very hard and are very respectful people. I don’t like that. That pushes my buttons more than anything you can say about me. It was wrong for ever saying anything in regards to that situation and, as you can see, I left it alone. Its over at this point. You know, I’m not going to give somebody a “look” off that. The fact is, I see Nicki pay a lot of respect to a lot of emcees in the game and she’s just working hard, doing her thing. Other individuals who aren’t relevant get jealous.  

AllHipHop.com: I feel you. Can we see a collaboration, between you and Rihanna? She put it out there and I know you rapped about it. You think we’ll see that in the future?

Drake: You said she put it out there?

[Rihanna told told E!: “Right now I’m listening to Drake, Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon, Ke$ha. He’s really, really talented, and I think he’s one of the illest lyricists out there right now, so I would love to work with him.”]

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, that she would love to work with you.

Drake: (pausing, seemingly shocked) When was that?

AllHipHop.com:  (laughing) Uh, yesterday?  

Drake: Really?

AllHipHop.com: Yeah!

Drake: That’s exciting news. (laughs) Yeah, yeah…I love her very much. She’s a great person and a great artist. I would be honored.  We actually did a song together and it just never came out. But, uh…it would be great to have something out there. It would be cool.

AllHipHop.com: We’ll…make it happen! We put it on Twitter and a bunch of people replied requesting to see you and Rihanna do a song.

Drake: We’ll make it happen. I’m sure.

AllHipHop.com: I was mystified at some of the comments and I recently put on Twitter the question, because somebody told me, “Drake’s not Hip-Hop” and I was baffled, because I feel like, in your lane, you represent lyricism. Especially with…

Drake: Sorry to chime in so soon, but I think the biggest thing is like it all depends on what is your perception of Hip-Hop. Like, if your perception of Hip-Hop is not being that successful, still being the underdog, being seen as hungry, in turn picking music that’s not commercially appealing… If that’s your definition of Hip-Hop, then you’re right…I’m not Hip-Hop.  I think that is the definition of Hip-Hop to a lot of people.

But I think if your definition of Hip-Hop is utilizing every opportunity to showcase a lyrical talent, making great music and making music that’s not complete sell-out like dance music or going too too pop, I think that I keep it Hip-Hop. I never doubt myself in that regard. I think a lot of people feel Hip-Hop, in their eyes, is not shiny. Its dull and gritty and its not about doing Jay Leno or getting nominated for Grammys or a lot of things that have come my way over the years. Like that stuff its too shiny, that’s when you’re too far gone.

AllHipHop.com: Which is more important to you, So Far Gone or Thank Me Later?

Drake:  They both are important for different reasons.  You know So Far Gone is what got me here.  A lot of people were like if you had added “Best I Ever Had”  to this album then it would have been crazy. But it never could have and it just happened the way it happened it just not possible.  And Thank Me Later I guess we will see how important it is. If I do win some awards and if I do break some records this year, then it will be important in its own right.  It’s also a great thing to get off my back. It was a solid body of work and it had an incredible first week and we did some great things.  It was a pretty epic rollout and I think this is the bar that we keep raising.  Next album who knows, I think maybe next album we can do the release concert in Dubai and I will jump off a building and land into the back of a drophead Phantom.

AllHipHop.com: On Twitter they want to know if you really want to marry Nicki Minaj.

Drake:  (Laughs) She’s an unbelievable woman. I don’t know. It’s too early to tell…. (laughs) I love Nicki, really I just be messing with Nicki.  I like to embarrass Nicki a little bit since we are on a public forum… no really I just like to make her blush.

AllHipHop.com:  When are you going to put out your R&B mixtape?

Drake: Whenever 40 wants to start making some R&B beats.  He’s right next to me so if he has something good, then we are one step closer.

Eminem Projected To Sell 750,000 First Week With

Eminem Projected To Sell 750,000 First Week With

Click on the link below to read the article. I think it is cool that eminem is about to sell that much, that shows how quality the album is. I have heard it myself, and the fact that it is going to sell more than relapse should give you a clue on how much of a monster it is.

If you do not have it yet, go out and get it.

rap albums on billboard top 200 charts

As was expected, and predicted, DRAKE's debut album, "thank me later", is at the top of the charts this week. The album sold 447,000 copies, after one week in stores. I think they are great numbers, but as he said on his song, "you're the best", i could sell a blank disc; yeah, he could have sold a blank disc with all the buzz he had going for him.

The next rapper in line after drake this week is b.o.b, with 20,000 copies sold. That brings his total sales, for his "the adventures of bobby ray to 249,000 copies. Southern rapper, PLIES, also moved 20,000 copies this week; his second week in stores with his "goonaffiliated" album, which is now at 76,000 copies.

Other notable mentions on the chart this week are "ludacris's" BATTLE OF THE SEXES, and NAS and DAMIAN MARLEY's "distant relatives", which bought sold 11,000 copies individually this week. Luda is at 462,000 copies, and nas and damian are at 125,000 copies of their revolutionary album.

Let's wait and see what eminem does next week. I have personally heard the album, RECOVERY, and i think it is fire. It started off a bit ehh, but by the 4th track, it is a roller coaster ride till the end.

freeway ricky throws shuts at RICK ROSS

A lot has been going against southern rapper, RICK ROSS for a about a year now. Since 50 cent exposed him as being a former jail house correctional officer, and tried to ruin his career, more verbal assaults have been coming his way. The present one is from the man that rick ross carved his life style after, THE REAL RICK ROSS.

Free-way Ricky, as he was popularly called, is a former drug kin pin that made a lot of money from drugs in the 80's, before he was caught and sentenced to jail. He claims rick rosss got rich off using his name, which he didn't get clearance for.

Below is what is up right now with the case:
Freeway Ricky's attorney Melvin Sharpe Jr., ESQ., filed a trademark infringement lawsuit on Friday (June 18th) in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Judge Percy Andersonwill issue summonses to Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and rapper Rick Ross who could both be called to testify during the discovery process. Jay-Z is named in the lawsuit because he signed Ross to Island Def Jam in 2006, while he was President of the legendary label, which Ross still calls home. On Friday, lawyers for Freeway Ricky filed paperwork seeking a temporary restraining order for preliminary and permanent injunction relief, to officially block the release of Ross' upcoming album Teflon Don. (All Hip Hop)


"I just want my name back," Rick told XXL. "I don't want to have to be 'the real Rick Ross.' When I go places I have to explain to people that I am the real one because Def Jam has put him on TV and now people recognize him. It causes a conflict." Although he hasn't made up his mind about whether he wants complete rights over the use of the name or just damages, he maintains that the suit is not personal. "It ain't even really against William Roberts you know what I'm saying?" Ross added. "It's really against Def Jam because they making all this money off of my name and you know those guys didn't even reach out and said hello to me since I been home." (XXL Mag)


I feel really bad for ross at this point, because he is surely in a lot of trouble; but i guess there is nothing money can not settle. But the issue with the real rick ross trying to block off TEFLON DON, rick ross's new album from dropping is a problem.


But it is funny how rick ross carved his whole musical lifestyle/persona from some one that is still alive. I guess he didn't think the guy was getting out of jail any time soon. It is also funny that he grew his beard just to look like the guy. Anyway, whatever the case, ricky still make some good music.

rap albums on the billboard chart

Yeah! It is that time of the week again, when I give you a run-down of rap albums on the billboard top 200 album chart. PLIES is at the top this week with his fourth album, GOONAFFILIATED. Even though he is at number 5 on the charts, and officially the best selling rap album on the charts, I think I am a bit disappointed. I follow plies on twitter, and following the days of the drop, all his fans were all about "sold out at target", "sold out at WALL-MART", blah! blah! So, I was of the impression that the album was going to do very good numbers. Okay, I considered the climate of the music industry, and the fact that album sales are not what they used to be, so i pitched him at at least over 200k, but was...well, i don't want to say how i felt. Anyway, plies sold 56,000 copies of his "goonaffiliated" album in the first week in stores. To all the plies fans, please i am not hating, and i think the album is good, but i was just thinking with all the noise, and all the pre-album release marketing that PLIES had been doing on twitter, that he would actually move more units than his last three albums. At least, all his albums have sold more than 100k in their first week in stores.

B.O.B comes up next at number 18 on the billboard top 200 albums. His album(THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY RAY) has sold 229,000 copies so far. I listened to his album the other day, and i can say it is very different from what you are used to. I think HIP HOP is changing. The southern reign is over; and it has given way for the...i don't know what to call it. I don't have a word for it, but it is not gangster rap and it is not CRUNK; it is what the KID CUDI's and the DRAKE's and the KANYE's are doing. I think it is cool, at least they still have message in their music, whether they are rapping or singing.

NAS and DAMIAN MARLEY come in this week at number 31, with 13,000 copies sold this week of their collaborative album, DISTANT RELATIVES. Considering how good this album is, and how much praise it has been getting from BLOGGERS all over the internet, you would wonder why it has not sold more than it has. It is at a domestic total of 113,000 copies sold so far; but has sold in excess of a quarter of a million worldwide.

LUDACRIS is 10 spots below "nas" and "damian marley", at number 41 on the billboard top 200 albums. His 7th album, BATTLE OF THE SEXES has sold 452,000 copies to date, but moved 11,000 copies this week. I think it is a great album, and shows the world more of luda's versitility.

Next week numbers will surely embarrass all the other rap albums on the chart, as DRAKE's "thank me later" album would have done its full seven days in stores, and we would get the official first week sales of the new kid on the block. I was listening to the album before i came up to write this post, and i can't really rate it right now, maybe after i have heard it like 2 more times.
From its first day in stores, it has been predicted to sell between 400-500k. Let us wait and see.

Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives (Live From The Release) | Watch Hip Hop Music Videos & New Rap Videos

Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives (Live From The Release) | Watch Hip Hop Music Videos & New Rap Videos

Click above to watch a live performance from nas and damian marley.

what are you listening to right now?

So, guys, what's up today? I would like to know what albums you are currently bumping daily in your cd decks. There a lot of albums out right now; nas and damian marley's  distant relatives; eminem's recovery album(although not formerly released); drakes thank me later album; plies goon-affiliated album; b.o.b's adventures of bobby ray.

Okay, let me go first; there are so many great albums out, and some times i get confused on what to listen to. I have all the albums, and i have listened to some songs off eminems album, but i have not sat down to actually listen to it from beginning to the end. But, the album I am bumping to constantly right now, is distant relatives. It doesn't really have to do with the fact that i am a nas fan, it is just that the album is great. Imagine someone preaching knowledge to you and does not bore you in the procedure, rather, he keeps you longing for more; that is what nas and damian marley pulled off with this one.

I think when i have had a fill of the album to my satisfaction, then i would move on to feel either drake or eminem's album next

Drake f. Jay-Z & Lil Wayne - Light Up [Rikers Rmx] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Drake f. Jay-Z & Lil Wayne - Light Up [Rikers Rmx] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Click on the link above to listen to the remix version of LIGHT UP. The song is one of the tracks off drakes THANK ME LATER album, but this remix includes LIL WAYNE, joining drake and JAY-Z. I think it is a great song, and three of them dropped some nice bars.

I kind of liked how wayne didn't use his normal "retarded style" flow; you can actually hear me word for word on the track. I guess jail is getting him to sober up.

Over all, i think the song is a very good rap song.

top five dead or alive; by jadakiss

jada

TOP FIVE DEAD OR ALIVE is the title of NEW YORK RAPPER, "jadakiss's" 4th solo album; he had "kiss the game goodbye", "kiss of death", and "last kiss"; 2001, 2004, and 2009 respectively. Just as LAST KISS, his last album, completed one week in stores, and the sales was in excess of 140k, his record label, "interscope records", got him the budget for his next album, and he promised his fans he would drop it this year (2010).

As a fan of his music myself, I have been waiting for any news of the album, but heard nothing since the beginning of the year. At least I feel there is meant to have been a single out by now, as it is already summer, but nothing yet.

He has a little word on it below:
"Their huge songs. That's why I'm taking so long and that's why I'm being so careful with the production. The beats don't even need words on them, that's how good the production is." While his previous three albums were between 17 to 21 tracks long, Jadakiss says Top Five Dead Or Alive will be a shortened 12 to14 records. (Hip Hop DX)




I hope it comes out at the right time. I think he needs to lay back for a while and let the EMINEM AND DRAKE fever wear off, then he can drop his album. Drake's THANK ME LATER ( his debut) album hits stores today, JUNE 15, although it had already leaked on the internet for more than a week now. Also, EMINEM's "recovery" album, that was meant to drop on june 22, leaked on the internet about a week ago; now he has decided to move the release date up to june 21, monday.

As you all know, "eminem" and "drake" have been predicted to move huge numbers, so I guess it would be wise for "jadakiss" to lay back for a while. I think it would be wise for him to wait till like the 4th quarter of year before dropping his album.

what do you think about b.o.b?

I really want to know what you think about b.o.b as a rapper, because I don't know much about him. I have just been hearing this and that. I think I heard the AIRPLANES song last week and I really liked it. And I am saying this not to patronise anybody, I mean it when I say that I liked the song, and I didn't even need to know EMINEM was on it. In fact, I liked the song right from the first verse, and I didn't know who it was, and I didn't know em was on it till he came on the last verse. It was in the second verse that he called his name, then I knew who he was, because I had heard the name b.o.b before.

I just got his album, ADVENTURES OF BOBBY RAY, and I am going to give it a thorough listen. I heard a lot of people comparing him to ANDRE 3000; and some people saying he was an OVER HYPED RAPPER. I have leant not to take bloggers words seriously; since back when GAME dropped, and the album had not done its full one week, and they were condemning it. The album did its first week, and sold half a million in 7 days, and their words changed. Asides from the sales, everybody knows that DOCUMENTARY was a great album, so what I am trying to say is that people will always talk, but you have to make your own judgement.

Back to b.o.b, I think I will take this week we are going into to feel the album, then I will get back at you on what I feel.

Below is the link to get his album on amazon.com, if you are interested:
B.o.B Presents: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet]

lil kim replies drake

You know that LIL KIM and "nicki minaj" have been going back and fort for about two weeks now, and their beef have got some people commenting. DRAKE was one of those people and you know which side he would take; of course with his YOUNG MONEY label mate, but I think he should have just minded his own business, because it is really between TWO FEMALES, why would you get caught up in the squabble between two females...anyway, below is what lil kim had to say to drake:

"I used to really like Drake...for him to have the audacity to disrespect me? He's gonna shout me out, when Ray J's the one who said it? How b*tchy do you look right now? You look like a straight p*ssy...You came at me, and I'm the f*king female... I didn't even know [Ray J] was gonna do this sh*t....when he was on stage and he said what he said, I had no choice but to back him..." (Miss Info TV)

I think she kinda has a point, because it was really RAY J that brought up the nicki issue, but even if it wasn't ray j that brought up the issue, i think drake didn't have to get caught up in that shit. I think maybe he is just talking because his album is about to drop and he wants to get some media attention. Anyway, what ever he gets from his comment, he should be ready to deal with it.

what's up people?

Hey, i just realized that i have not been typing normal posts' up in here; it has always been one article or one review or the other. But the fact is that you guys are not encouraging me, it is almost like you don't exist, but my statcounter account tells me otherwise. At least an average of 35 people come up in here everyday, and no one bothers to even leave a comment! Come on! I need to know you guys are not ghosts'.

Anyway, that asides, i wanted to tell you a little about how i spent my day. I know you are wondering what that has to do with this rap blog, but it has everything to do with it. If you didn't know, i live and eat rap music. I listen to rap music on my phone when i am eating, cleaning, strolling; i listen to it when i am driving, in the car deck, and then the biggest of them all, i listen to it 12 hours a day, whenever i stay in my shop.

I have a shop in front of my house that i sell cd's from, and when ever i am there, it is all about the rap music men.

I remember this one time i was playing nas's STILLMATIC album, and this group of boys gathered around my shop and started rapping along. They stayed till the whole album played out, and we later got to talking.

That is one thing about rap music i like, as long as it is real rap music, it creates a bond/likeness amongst its enthusiast. I can say i don't have 1 friend that is not a rap head.


I was chilling in the shop today, and this dude comes up asking for Dr Dre's 2001 album, it just shocked me, cos the guy didn't look like a rap head at all. He looked like someone that ate TIMAYA, morning afternoon, and night. It was so unfortunate that i had sold my last copy and hadn't gone to get new ones.

It was just really odd to me. I guess more people have started appreciating real rap music; maybe or maybe not.

Well, i just wanted to voice out a little, and i hope you guys drop a comment after this.

distant relatives: album review

Yeah, i was planning to write my own review on this wonderful collaborative album, but I stumbled upon a review on ohhla.com, and it was just perfect, so, enjoy the read.



Nas & Damian Marley :: Distant Relatives :: Republic Records 
as reviewed by Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania
 Some things are worth waiting for – whether it leads to success or failure, its very existence defies belief, and you're just happy it is finally here. I'm talking about, of course, the World Cup that kicks off in South Africa on June 11th, a sporting event second only to the Olympics in popularity but more enthralling. Africa has waited a long time to host its very first one, and whilst, undoubtedly, a million things will go spectacularly wrong, it will all come together (and England will win). The Marley family, Jamaica, are footie mad, so releasing it a few weeks before kick off is no surprise. Damian's ode to the continent is likely to be the universal soundtrack to summer 2010 for thousands around the world, in every corner of the globe. But how does this long awaited collaboration with Nas work out? Can it even be called that in the truest sense of the word? And what kind of shape is Jones even in, given his recent travails?
Cheeky album opener "As We Enter" gives practically no indication of what the LP is actually like, with Nas and Marley tag-teaming the funk, meshing perfectly. That is the only time they go line for line, but it serves its purpose well, a warm welcome mat for "Distant Relatives" whilst also immediately proving that the chemistry isn't forced. Next up, K'naan grabs his opportunity to shine with both hands, practically stealing the superb "Tribal War" with a sterling verse, although D's chorus is perfect too. After a while, however, you start to notice the foundation of the album: the intricate attention to detail, with each and every number crafted individually. "Strong Will Continue" finds a stunning final verse from Nas, spilling his thoughts out on wax with complexity, brutal honesty and, possibly a sprinkle of that typical Jones brand of hypocrisy. Yet, though he sounds enraged, a minute but clever effect: the heartbeat that pulses stays consistent (amongst any situation, he can keep that icy cool). The first couple of spins are undoubtedly uneven, but persist and all manner of hidden treasures begin to catch a glint of the sunlight. Bizarrely enough, songs like "Leaders" and "Friends" eventually become preferable to the more immediate ones; the latter, in particular, is something that we can all directly relate to, but a subject matter that few rappers care to broach (in this context, real friends become family).
Yet, already by this early stage, trying to picture Nas without Marley or vice versa leaves a black hole: they work so remarkably well together that any naysayers have no ammunition. You could even dare to dream that they do this every few years, or whenever the inspiration calls – there is a natural affinity present, it is something to behold. As is the music: this isn't an individualistic or opportune melee of "hot riddims" but a carefully constructed, yet more or less organic, live show. It snakes at will, switching to accommodate (more frequently) Nas, meaning you get almost double the amount of "instrumentals". There is very little that doesn't work, with both Marley (obviously) and Nas (surprisingly) meshing flawlessly into practically everything. Live instrumentation suits Nas, it's strange to think now just how little it has peppered his career thus far - it could prove a stunning addition to his future arsenal.
The grandiose melodrama of "Dispear" possesses a myriad of subtle brushstrokes, such as how the snares are triple echoed to resemble the automatic gunfire that Marley describes. "Land of Promise" is the closest we get to "Jamrock" - it's certainly not a universal banger in precisely the same vein, but Marley (in his comfort zone) rips it to shreds, imagining Ghana to be California, or wondering if Lagos was Las Vegas. It is also worth mentioning that DR works equally well in the car, on your headphones, zoning out in your room, wherever… Hell, your girl will probably like it too. One track in particular that reflects this is "In His Own Words" which comes across initially as slightly too saccharin, but it is transformed once Nas opens with: "Two steps away from death, a vest and a holster/I detest detectives arresting us over/Weapons possession, they was checking the Rover/Inspecting the tattoos on my neck and my shoulder…"
"Nah Mean" is the possibly the most "hip hop" track, with a sick beat and kicks deep enough to wind your abs (one can imagine that almost all of these would work brilliantly at their live show). All the while, Marley manages that beautiful balancing act that his father perfected: enlightening without didactic bombast; detailing despair but somehow still inspiring you that everything can work out; crafty hooks that combine genius with simplicity. Saying all that, "My Generation" is the only potentially cloying moment on the album. Joss Stone, sorry to say, doesn't deserve her place at the table (a poor guest, she doesn't bring anything to it). As a rule, most of us tend to dislike "kids on choruses" but after a few listens it's actually not that bad, ending up quite likeable. The verses, for once, aren't quite up to the rest of the album, whether from Nas, Marley or Lil Wayne – not bad, just a touch above average (no one "walks away" with the track). The closer "Africa Must Wake Up" has a haunting melancholy, yet Damian somehow manages to extract warmth from it all (he could probably read the lottery numbers out, he'd still be entrancing).
Never before in either genre has there been such a deeply successful collaboration album. Ever. This wasn't supposed to happen. That it has is a testament to talent, hard work and luck. The musical/lyrical talents of the artists and producers; the sheer effort and attention that has gone into practically each individual kick and snare, (reminiscent of the meticulous late great Dilla); and the sheer cosmic luck of a focussed Nas actually turning up. If that seems facetious, understand that this hasn't happened much over the last dozen years - on fire Nas plus brilliant music. But really, the star of the show is Marley. This feels like his baby, and he is a proud father that has nurtured "Distant Relatives". Nas is the close family friend that you're brought up to call "Uncle" and the backing band, your brothers. The mother? Africa. It is easy to forget, at times, the message of this opus - simply because everything else surrounding it is executed so wonderfully. But for those of us that KNOW Africa, have visited there, lived there, worked there, been the guest, servant or the master, there is a tremendous amount of emotion attached. Whilst Nas steers clear of any real analysis, he pays his own tribute, whilst Damian invokes the Marley knack of making your spirit soar – they both tap into societal emotion by looking inward. Many a heart bleeds at the plight of generations of downtrodden Africans, from Ethiopia to Sudan, Zimbabwe to Zaire; yet it is rich and diverse continent that shouldn't always be treated as the sickly child of the family. To their credit, neither Nas nor Marley come across too preachy, sure; yet they also manage not to patronise Africa, which in today's world is no mean feat. They have brought into our lives a beautiful album, a historic one that deserves - for only the second time in my career – a perfect score.
Music Vibes: 10 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 10 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 10 of 10
Originally posted: May 18, 2010
source: www.RapReviews.com

rap albums on the billboard chart

Yeah, another week has gone by, and it is time for us to check out the rap albums on the billboard top 200 album charts. Unfortunately this week, there are no new rap releases, but just the same albums that have been on the chart, moving up or down.

B.o.b's the "adventures of bobby ray" is at the top of rap albums on the charts this week. He is at number 13 on the billboard top 200 albums charts, with 20,000 copies sold this week, bringing his debut solo album to a total of 210,000 copies sold so far,

The next album on the list is the duo album between reggae veteran and son of the late BOB MARLEY, "damian marley", and RAP LEGEND, NAS. Distant relatives is at number 18 this week, with 17,000 copies sold this week. In three weeks, the duo have managed to sell a cumulative total of 100,000 copies. I think the album is meant to have done more than that, but to quote one of nas's line on the album, "people don't want to hear the truth.", cos their album IS the truth. A perfect blend or rap and reggae. Just for the record, the album has sold about 250k copies worldwide.

Ludacris is up next with his highly versatile album, battle of the sexes. I have always seen ludacris as the must underrated rapper in the game; as my friend always says, luda's verses are like solar eclipse's; after he drops his verse, you must probably won't see the next rapper coming, cos luda would have stole the show. His 7th solo album did 12,000 copies this week, brining the total sales to 441,000 copies so far. He is almost GOLD, and if he does not make it to platinum, not to worry, cos two of his singles, HOW LOW, and "my chick bad", have already sold in excess of a million copies as individual records. Wow! Good for him. Battle of the sexes comes in at number 28 on this weeks' billboard top 200 album charts.

Re-entering the charts again, this week is DRAKE, the rapper with the hottest buzz right now, that seemed to be doing a lot of singing this days. His mixtape, that got him his popularity, and was later re-packed and sold as an album, SO FAR GONE, is back on the charts this week, selling 5,000 copies. Bringing the total sales for the cd to 474,000 copies sold. Not gold yet, but a lot of people are pitching him to sell in excess of a million copies in his first week in stores, with his début solo album; THANK ME LATER, which has already leaked on the internet.

THE SELF PROCLAIMED QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, TRINA, is still moving some units on the charts. Her latest work, AMAZING, is coming at number 97 this week, almost out of the top 100 albums, of the billboard charts. The album sold 4,700 copies this week, bringing the total to 59,000 copies sold so far.

REFLECTION ETERNAL'S album, "revolution per minute", sold 4,700 copies this week, bringing the total sales so far to 33k copies, As I said, the people dropping the truth are no longer selling.

The last album on the charts worth mentioning is southern rapper, GUCCI MANE'S album, "The State vs Radric Davis", which is coming in at number 162 on the charts; and selling 2,900 copies this week. This brings his total sales to 369,000 copies.

That's it, and please, if you want any extra data concerning sales, don't hesitate to leave a comment, and I will sure work on it.

I have been hearing a lot on how GOON AFFILIATED, "Plies" new album is doing. I heard it is selling out in stores. It was released 2 days ago, the 8 of june, so get ready for a big number rap album next week.
I am pitching it to sell between 200-300 copies in its first week.