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Album Review: Ab-Soul’s “Control System”
Rating: 8 / 10
Kendick Lamar has established a considerable platform for his fellow Black Hippy brethren to springboard from. As a collective, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Lamar have released just a few songs under the Black Hippy name, but after the success of the latter’s Section.80, all four find themselves on Dr Dre’s Aftermath imprint; a label where even established artists like Rakim and Raekwon have failed to make an impact. While Jay Rock and Q have cut their teeth on their own independent releases, Ab-Soul is the last member out of the gate, and with his tiny output, unusual personal styling and a seemingly lack of enthusiasm for glossy production methods or large, radio-friendly hooks, he looks a very small fish in the pond where the good doctor resides.
While he might prove quite the quandary for Aftermath’s marketing department, Ab may well be the most artistically interesting of the Hippy clan. Control System (not released on Aftermath, by the way) is a long, complex record of scratchy beats, widescreen subject matter and elaborate rhyming schemes, which goes some of the way to explaining Ab’s lack of output thus far is his young career. His attention to detail is stellar, intricately building his rhymes with clever wordplay, popping syllables off each other like a well tuned jazz drummer. On “Bohemian Grove”, for example, Ab pulls out all the tricks, veering from three word bars to lengthy prose. Later, on “Illuminate” – where he addresses his unlikely place within the Hip-Hop world – his turn of speed is impressive, often putting the brakes on mid-rhyme, leaning into words slowly before jamming down on the accelerator and letting loose once more.
It’s wonderfully compelling to hear Ab construct his dense rhyme patterns, and he’s boosted by a near-flawless selection of beats. Production-wise Control System is in the same vein of Lemar’s Section.80, compiling a series of jazzy samples, AM radio soul and horror movie-esque compositions, linking instrumentation with subject matter wisely. “It was all a dream/I swear, it never happened,” opens ‘Pineal Gland’, which adds to the dark, nightmarish feel of the music. The doomed romance Ab outlays on “The Book of Soul” is beautifully scored by some ice-cold piano chords and rolling drum loops, while the scary outline of world politics on “Terrorist Threat” is appropriately foreboding.
Danny Brown shows up on “Terrorist Threat” and his manic spitting steals the show, underlining that, while Ab-Soul shows strong signs of being a great rap artist, he still has a way to go to be a truly great rapper. Still, Control System slowly reveals itself to be one of the most accomplished debut Hip-Hop records in quite some time.
Bravo Ft. Paul Cain and Lor’el “Audacity”
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Sean Falyon [BGA] “Mouthful Of Lies”
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G7 and Dean Martin Ft. Erk Tha Jerk and Radio 3000 “Had Enough”
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Alternative Pick: Selah Sue Ft. J. Cole “Raggamuffin Remix”
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Bow Wow “Pop It Remix”
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Alternative Heat: Cymphonique “Playin With My Heart”
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Tommy Ruffin Ft. MF Doom “The Old Law” P###. By 9th Wonder
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Privaledge Ft. Mann “She Nasty”
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Sedrew Price “King Of The World”
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Daily Word: You Are More Than Able!!!
Forget greetings!! I’m getting straight to the point!!!!!
Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to your abilities, your capabilities, and your power to do and have ANYTHING you want in life!! Somewhere along your journey, you were convinced that what you need to succeed is not already within you! You were somehow made to believe that your skills
and abilities are not enough!! Maybe they said you weren’t born in the right family, didn’t go to the right school, or didn’t grow up in the right neighborhood! Or maybe you bought that line about not belonging to the right group!!
The fact is that right now, where you stand, you are capable and able to do ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING that you want to!! For a long time, you have been your biggest hindrance, and because you gave up your powers, others where able to control your destiny!!
Today is the day that you say enough is enough!! You have EXACTLY what you need to get EXACTLY what you want!! Stop wasting your abilities, and make them pay you dividends!! THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS UNIVERSE THAT CAN STAND IN THE WAY OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS!!!! KNOW THAT FACT AND GO GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!!!!!!!! YOU ARE MORE THAN ABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKE IT DO WHAT IT DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Ash’Cash
“Everything you need you already have. You are complete right now, you are a whole, total person, not an apprentice person on the way to someplace else.” -Wayne Dyer
“What we need is to use what we have.” -Susan Sontag
“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability.” -John Wooden
“Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough.” -Unknown
“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” -Rosalynn Carter
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” -Norman Vincent Peale
“You’ll see it when you believe it.” -Wayne Dyer
“The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled.” -Andrew Carnegie
TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD – CLICK HERE.
Ash’Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.
LYRICS THAT SPEAK: “Keep Ya Head Up”
“And even though you’re fed up/ Ya got to keep ya head up”
Some songs are simply timeless. Some are relevant, five, 10, or even 50 years, after their debut. “Keep Ya Head Up” was the hood’s anthem, but also played a tune that the world could understand. It was as if scars and bruises were being exposed, with no bandages in sight. Even with the raw realties of many brought front and center, and Pac’s storytelling taking some back to nightmares, there is still a beautiful calmness about this record.
“But please don’t cry, dry your eyes, never let up/ Forgive, but don’t forget, girl keep your head up”
What life throws us, we don’t always see coming. Other times, we think we are a little tougher than we really are. We walk right into the fire, as if we can’t get burned. It’s as if we take Tupac telling us to keep our heads up a little too literally. Our heads are so high; they’re now in the clouds. No one can tell us anything, and because of that, we can’t see that no good will come from that. Yes, sometimes we’re the only one to blame for our heads being so low, because of the weight of the world. Yet and still, we find a way to be better, and lift our heads back up.
“You know it’s funny when it rains it pours/ They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor/
Said it ain’t no hope for the youth, and the truth is/ it ain’t no hope for tha future”
What we see around us can be so disheartening. Yet and still we still have an obligation to ourselves, and the youth, to give what we got coming up. If that wasn’t much, give what you need, and in turn you will get something out the deal, too. Stand as an example that the Hip-Hop community is more than what we are perceived as. We’re college grads, people that go to work every day, business starters and owners. We believe in, and have stable families, and we give back. We have a lot to say, and a lot of changes to make in this world.
“Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I’m sure/ And if you fall, stand tall, and comeback for more”
KEEP YA HEAD UP.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Omarion Gets “Maybach O” Tattooed On His Hand
MMG’s newest signee, Omarion a.k.a. “Maybach O”, has decided to permanently show his loyalty to his new crew, with a tattoo of his new moniker. Omarion shared the fresh ink with his Twitter followers. Check out a photo of the tattoo below:
Let’s just hope Maybach O doesn’t end up regretting the ink like Prodigy of Mobb Deep did after he got his G-Unit tattoo.
Mixtape Review: Meek Mill’s “Dreamchasers 2”
Meek Mill may be the hottest rapper in the world right now. Coming off a breakout year, being signed to a powerhouse label (Maybach Music Group), and keeping his name relevant with standout guest appearances in between, he makes an impressive case for the position. With an enormous amount of hype surrounding him, it’s sink or swim for the Philly native and his latest project, Dreamchasers 2.
The “Intro” begins with a clip of Mike Tyson popping off at the mouth brashly, then proceeds to see Meek Mill rival this fierceness with killer raps (“I’m getting’ money/Must be Illuminati/ They think I signed up ‘cause I just got a new Ferrari”). One of the best with wordplay, the entire tape showcases his lyrical skill. “Flexin’” and “Everyday” both have heavy production and see Meek throw around hot lines like ones at a strip club; frequent and almost carelessly. “A-1 Everything” features Kendrick Lamar, and he gruffs his way through the fast-paced song, (I got a bus full of b*tches/ Call that Jerome Bettis). However, the best track here is “Burn”, featuring Big Sean who outshines Mill and propels the song to anthem-level heights (“Bad b*tch in her cha-cha/ Grabbin’ on her chi-chi’s”). The mixtape is composed of hard beats and hard rhymes; it’s the sort of quality street music that’s very hard to resist.
Another standout is “Amen”– a more feel-good song with no shortage of quality rapping, featuring Drake. Meek Mill attempts to balance out the boastful rhymes with different tones of music, like the afore mentioned; “Use To Be” does a decent job at creating a ominous, inspirational record, but the adaptation of “Ready or Not” does it better.”Take U Home” features both Wale and Big Sean and is sure to divide fans and critics alike. Sampling the chorus of the ’80s hit by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, some may see it as innovative and neat, while others will deem it wack in mere seconds. Posse cuts “Racked Up Shawty” (Fabolous, French Montana) and “House Party Remix” (Fabolous, Wale, Mac Miller) do their job of keeping the flow of good music going. Meek doesn’t have to stray away from bragging since he’s good at it.
If you like rap, you’ll most likely find something to like on this record. There is no denying the slick lines that Meek Mill kicks; he’s as hot as Young Jeezy was back in the early 2000’s. Because he’s with MMG, all of his production is top-tier, and he has no trouble getting high-profile guest appearances. There are some sub-par tracks on the record, but ultimately Meek Mill just raised his buzz from its already tall heights. Dreamchasers 2 is too hard to hate.
Rocsi, Terrence J Leaving “106 & Park”
(AllHipHop News) Hit Hip-Hop/r&b video countdown show “106 & Park” will go through some major changes in the near future.
According to the New York Post, longtime co-host Rocsi Diaz is leaving the show to pursue an acting career.
Rocsi will reportedly be relocating to the West Coast, in an effort to pursue a career in Hollywood.
According to sources, Terrence J. is also making plans to leave the show as a host, to pursue an acting career as well.
Both have appeared in high-profile movies in the past year.
Rocsi will be featured in the movie “Soul Ties,” while Terrence J. had a starring role in Steve Harvey’s movie “Think Like a Man.”
There was no time frame for the their departure from “106 & Park.”
Terrence J. and Rocsi were the third set of hosts for “106 & Park,” since the show’s launch in 2000.
Free and AJ Calloway were the original hosts from 2000-2005, while Big Tigger and Julissa Bermudez hosted the show for one year, from 2005-2006.
Rocsi and Terrence J. held down the hosting duties from 2006 until present.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Kim Kardashian With Kanye West So She Can “Get Close To Beyonce”
The NY Daily News is reporting that according to a source inside the Kardashian camp, one of the main reasons Kim Kardashian is dating Kanye West is to get close to his A-list friends, in particular, Beyonce. The reality star may get her chance this week.
Kim K. is currently in London accompanying Yeezy, where he will be performing alongside Jay-Z for their “Watch The Throne” concerts at London’s O2 Arena beginning on Friday.
“Kim wants to travel everywhere with Kanye, but she’s also trying to do whatever she can to get close to Beyoncé,” says the source.
“So, if Bey and Jay are going, she’s going,” the insider adds.
The insider also admits that Kim is “very into Kanye,” and that Kanye “absolutely adores her.”
Kardashian’s spokeswoman has said that Kim has had the London trip “on her calendar since last year” to promote her perfume and do press.
“It’s a coincidence that the concerts are at the same time,” she says.
If I start seeing pictures of Beyonce hanging out with Kim Kardashian, I am going to flip my lid. Don’t do it Beyonce! She’s not in your league!
50 Cent Hospitalized For Stomach Virus
(AllHipHop News) 50 Cent had a round of press set for Tuesday and Wednesday to push his new mixtape, but a stomach virus forced the mogul to go to the hospital.
The New York native tweeted, “I don’t want to go into surgery. @FloydMayweather call my phone why your phone off.”
He also promoted his upcoming mixtape with DJ Drama from the hospital.
“Do not do a @djdrama gangsta grillz this is all I get. Ain’t this a b*tch. I give 15 tracks you give me this.”
The rapper is set to release his Gangsta Grillz mixtape, titled “The Lost Tape,” next Tuesday.
Below are some of the images 50 Cent sent to his over six million Twitter followers.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Childish Gambino Dissing Drake Or…Being Childish?
A NEW BEEF FOR DRIZZY DRAKE?
You like that headline, eh? Anyway, You know Childish Gambino, right? I do. I like the guy, who is better known as actor Donald Glover.
Anyway, he’s really found a nice niche in the rap game and he’s pretty dope. But, this new cover of his single is raising eyebrows a bit. Check it out:
This is for the song “We Ain’t Them” and it really looks like a diss to Drake to me. I mean, clearly, Gambino ain’t Drake, but he’s drawing a clear line in the sad.
Love the song though. Some pretty honest music right here.
EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Henchman Trial Day 3: Daily News Article Made Drug Dealer Snitch
(AllHipHop News) An article published by the New York Daily News helped triggered the demise of a massive cocaine operation, allegedly headed up by James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond.
Rosemond is currently on trial in Brooklyn, New York, for allegedly masterminding the $10 million-a-year cocaine operation, that shipped drugs from Los Angeles to New York, and sent the proceeds back West.
The organization would ship hundreds of kilos of cocaine per month in music crates and vacuum sealed bags, using various overnight services.
The organization employed the same technique with millions in cash as well, according to testimony from Khalil Abdullah.
Abdullah, 38, was a high-ranking, trusted manager in the organization, who is now cooperating with the government and testifying against Rosemond.
Today (May 16) in court, Khalil Abdullah testified that a September 2010 article published in the New York Daily News convinced him that Rosemond was cooperating with authorities.
Abdullah was aware an investigation was taking place and was fearful that Rosemond would turn him.
The New York Daily News article claimed that Rosemond had already cooperated with federal authorities in two previous cases, one in North Carolina and the other in Florida.
When Abdullah read the article, he testified that he did his own research and found official court documents, which confirmed that Rosemond had indeed cooperate with authorities, in two separate cases.
“I believed it was true…he said it wasn’t true. My opinion was strong,” Abdullah testified. “If he did it before, he would do it again. That’s when I decided to take action myself. I was the dude on the front line.”
This information, along with previous articles written by journalist Chuck Philips and documents that circulated through prison, helped undermine Rosemond’s credibility in the underworld.
It was then, that Abdullah hatched a
bizarre plan, contacted the FBI, the DEA and the New York prosecutors office, in hopes of setting up Rosemond and his associates.
Incredibly, Khalil Abdullah went to a Kinko’s in Atlanta Georgia, typed up a letter to the FBI, the DEA and the New York prosecutor’s office.
He revealed the details behind a large shipment that was expected to arrive in New York that same day.
Abdullah then set up a long time associate and told him that there was $1 million in cash at Smash Recording Studios in New York.
Abdullah said he instructed the associate to leave $650,000 behind, which was the amount he said was waiting for the FBI, in hopes of concealing and stealing, the $400,000 difference.
Abdullah said he continued to associate with Rosemond and act like he was clueless as to any investigations into the organization.
Abdullah testified that he was “stunned” when authorities presented a photograph of him faxing the document at Kinko’s, since the company takes footage of every person that sends a fax.
But Rosemond’s attorney Gerald Shargel vigorously cross-examined Khalil Abdullah and questioned his motives to testify.
According to Abdullah himself, he has met with prosecutors 16 times in the past year, with eight of those dates dedicated to pre-trial coaching.
Shargel also went through a number of allegations that were presented by the prosecution, and noted that there was no physical or actual connection to Rosemond in any of the evidence presented thus far.
Khalil Abdullah admitted on the stand that he has a cooperation agreement in place with authorities, in addition to having to pay back a $100,000 fine.
Abdullah testified that from 2007 until 2011, he earned over $4 million in illegal drug proceeds.
Testimony continues all this week.
