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Album Review: B.o.B’s “Strange Clouds”

Rating 7.5/10

B.o.B. has to be one of the most interesting specimens in Hip-Hop. Entering the game with conscious lyrics and unique vibes, the ATLien soared to new heights last year with explosive mainstream success off his debut album- which showed an array of sides to the rapper.  With this taken into consideration, fans know to expect an eclectic sound and something outside of the box on his sophomore LP, Strange Clouds. The question is, how strange will this be?

The intro, “Bombs Away” features actor Morgan Freeman for dialogue on the track. The first piece of strange is encountered, though the feature goes well with the cinematic production that Bobby Ray utilizes to flex his straight rap skills (“I am in drive, y’all are in park/ Look at my shot, look at the arc/ Look at the crowd as soon as I start”). Each song takes on its own personality, and makes for an adventurous ride. “Ray Bands” sounds like a T.I. influenced, but ultimately B.o.B.-stamped, boastful track.

Tip makes an actual appearance on “Arena” alongside Chris Brown, and B.o.B. shows some of his best lines (“Flow dumb, but I’m so smart/ I compose art, call me Mozart”). Standout “So Good” is where B.o.B. sounds the most comfortable; with ambitious production, catchy chorus work, and no features. The entire album is filled with big name artists that can cramp B.o.B’s style at times, and this sounds like he’s stretching out his musical arms for a breath of fresh air.

The guest appearances cover a great distance, from Nicki Minaj letting her wild cadence loose on the equally unstable and fluctuating “Out of My Mind”,  to OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedders involvement on the tranquil “Never Let You Go”.  However, the biggest features come on the album’s two biggest singles. “Both of Us” features Taylor Swift; and while Hip-Hop fans may fight the urge to hate inside of them, fans of “Nothin’ on You” and “Airplanes” may have found a song to fill a void these left. In contrast, Lil’ Wayne has a verse on the jamming title track, “Strange Clouds”. Showcasing heavy, distorted bass thumps, both Southern rappers display their excellent wordplay (“I’m top chef/ you Top Ramon/ I’m top shelf…”).

The album’s two singles are polar opposites of each other in sound, but stand right next to each other on the track-listing; which speaks greatly to what B.o.B. is as an artist. He swings for the fences on every song, making the listen incredibly fun. Because he spans such a great length of sounds, there are sure to be a few not to your liking, as well as many aimed right towards it. B.o.B. has nearly mastered the crossover record in Hip-Hop, like music’s Allen Iverson. But if he was an NBA player, Bobby Ray would more accurately be Dirk Nowitzki – a player doing what he’s not supposed to be doing at his position. He dares genre boundaries to guard him.

Q Parker From 112 Teams With Olivia in Latest Video for “Show You How”

Former 112 member Q Parker is on his solo run, and has just released behind-the-scenes footage of his video for “Show You How”, the first single off his forthcoming debut album, The MANual.

In the visual, Parker teams up with Willie from Day 26 and Olivia, singer and cast member of “Love & Hip Hop”.

THE MANual hits stores and online in Summer 2012.

Rumor Exclusive: Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel Will Make Peace With Philly Mayor

ILLSEED EXCLUSIVE! Yeah, baby! Jay-Z just made this exclusive announcement on AllHipHop (click here for that news!) and everybody is wondering what it is.
Well, guess what? I’ve already got some insight on what the rumor can be! As the headline states, I am hearing that Beanie Sigel, the former Capo of Roc-A-Fella records, will publicly end his beef with Jay-Z. Or is that the other way around? Jay-Z is reading his beef with Beanie? Either way, this is what I am hearing will happen.
Now, if this does NOT happen Monday morning, then I can assure you, Beanie and Jay – maybe via their crews – are working out their issues.
Obviously, this will work well for both men and their images. Jay-Z, the Tyrant, and Beanie, the disgruntled one. I think it also will be even better if they can somehow start to work on music together. Now, beyond this, and this is where the mayor comes in, this will show the young brothers in Philly that they can peace it out if these two men can. The murder rate in Philly is out of control so we need to stop the violence and kick the science!
LETS GO!

And should you happen to use this rumor, I’d appreciate a link back to illseed.com and/or AllHipHop.com. Thank ya kindly!

Hit me up at kingillseed [at] gmail.com.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Jay-Z To Make Major Announcement With Philadelphia Mayor

(AllHipHop News) Representatives for Jay-Z have announced that he will appear in Philadelphia, with Philadelphia Mayor Michael N##### on Monday (May 14).

Representatives for Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com that the rapper will make a major announcement with the Mayor of Philadelphia.

The pair will appear at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, on the East Terrace, at the top of the famed Rocky steps.

The announcement will take place at 10:30 AM.

Reps for Jay-Z refused to divulge information about the announcement.

EXCLUSIVE: Master P Eyes No Limit Records Comeback; Says He’s in Competition with Birdman

(AllHipHop News) AllHipHop.com received exclusive access to Master P recently, one of Hip-Hop’s most successful, independent record label owners, during his visit to the Core DJ’s Live Mixshow 2012 in Dallas, Texas.

While Master P’s new artists mark his resurgence into the Hip-Hop game, Percy Miller has been taking notes on what the game’s been doing, as he plots to make his next $75 million independently.

“I’m taking this generation, and I’m listening because that’s what music is about, keeping up with your swag and keeping up with your game and being able to get in these clubs, and that’s basically what I’m doing,” Master P told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “Man, I got a team of youngins around me that’s sick. Miss Chee, Bengie B, T-Bo, we the next generation of this [No Limit Records], and Romeo the boss, and I’m the Chairman, and we all gonna play our role.”

In keeping up with the times, Master P has been paying close attention to how fellow New Orleans mogul, Birdman “Baby” Williams, has built his Cash Money/Young Money empire.

“Me and Baby always been cool, man. People don’t know, but I’ve always been in competition, because Baby always pushes me, you know what I’m saying, and I always push him. Like right now, he’s on top and that’s what’s pushing me. Now I’m like, OK, I gotta check out what they doing. I respect it,” Master P explained. “Now I’m back in this thing, and that’s kind of like my motivation now, you know what I’m saying? I love him because he’s from New Orleans, and I want to see him do well, but now I got to get out there and do my thing. He got some big artists over there, so it’s like a friendly competition thing now, you know what I’m saying? So I wish him all the best. Nicki Minaj, Drake, Wayne, I mean, you know, they doing they thing, but they motivating me.”

Master P took special note of Baby’s recent acquisition of former No Limit Records artist, and now YMCMB artist, Mystikal.

“That’s the thing about music. Something’s got to motivate you to take your game to the next level. Miss Chee, Bengie B, T.E.C., T-Bo, I mean, it’s enough room for all of us to eat. All friendly competition, you know what I’m saying? Nothing serious, you know, we from the streets, man, so it’s never been about nothing but a friendly competition,” Master P said.

“So you know, I feel like right now, I ain’t have my game together, and one of my prizes dun went over, and now I’m I kinda like, ‘Damn Mystikal, alright, that was a nice little piece right there.’ So now I’m like, ‘Ok, now I gotta you know…’ That’s how bosses do it, we gotta get on that hustle game and get out there, so we can get that next new talent that’s out there. It’s kind of like different fields of business now, because they big now in the music business, and I’m like starting from the bottom, climbing from the bottom. But I’m gonna climb quick, because I know this business, you know what I’m saying? And I’m ready, my swag so sick right now, man,” he added.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Details In Lil Boosie Acquittal Of First-Degree Murder

(AllHipHop News) It was an emotional day in the courtroom for the Torence “Lil Boosie” Hatch first degree murder trial.

Lil Boosie put his fist in the air victoriously and his mother and family wept as the court clerk read “we the jury, find the defendant Torence Hatch, not guilty.”

Closing arguments had the courtroom on edge.

Before delivering a verdict, jurors got a chance to hear the attorneys argue their case one last time.

Prosecution lawyer Dana Cummings, began the morning by reintroducing evidence against Hatch.

Cummings replayed phone calls, read letters aloud and played lyrics in an attempt to prove Hatch guilty.

Cummings also tried to discredit her witness and cousin to Lil Boosie, Carvis “Donkey” Webb.

Cummings explained that Lil Boosie and Donkey worked on Michael Louding in order to get him to cooperate with them.

Cummings stated “Carvis Webb is a performer and he gave a performance on the stand. Carvis Webb is a professional at how to beat the system.”

Carvis Webb had an overturned murder conviction in 2000.

Small excerpts from the songs “187” and “Bodybag” were also played for jurors again.

“His [Boosie] lyrics are an admission. He’s calling out his hit man! This is a ‘yay, go murder’ celebration!” Cummings exclaimed.

The prosecution referred to Lil Boosie as an arrogant man.

“He [Boosie] doesn’t think anyone will hold him accountable,” Cummings argued.

Before sitting down, she warned the jury “I ask that you remember to use your common sense.”

The jury opted to not take a break in between arguments.

Defense attorney, Jason Williams began his rebuttal with the poker analogy used by one of the detectives to describe Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding “ace in a hole.”

“This whole case has been about deception,” Williams said. “This case would not go forward in Atlanta, California or New York without Michael Louding thoroughly being evaluated. Is he Schizophrenic? Bipolar? And that’s not CSI, that’s science!” Williams shouted.

The defense brought to light that Marlo Mike had a public defender, Margarette Lagatutta, which did not care about him.

“She [Lagattuta] could have had any seat in here [courtroom] but choose to sit next to Hillar Moore. The man who is going to prosecute him [Louding] for six murders; six life sentences.”

In regards to Hatch’s lyrics and tattoos, Williams said “this man is trying to sell albums. The first rule of marketing is to brand yourself.”

Williams used fashion mogul Ralph Lauren as an example.

“Ralph Lauren is not his real name. He [Lauren] has never played polo. Putting hearts and rainbows on your label is not going to sell albums. He is trying to sell as many albums as Ralph Lauren does T-shirts.”

The defense also argued that the prosecution was mainly concerned with the conviction of Hatch.

“If this isn’t about Boosie, why is he being tried before the person who is said to have killed more than most serial killers?” Williams asked.

In efforts to conclude, Williams said calmly: “Cops have been killed that same year Ice-T made ‘Cop Killer’…He [Ice-T] described it in great detail. Cops hated him. He is now playing a cop on T.V. every Thursday night.”

The defense continued with a portion left out of the letters written to Hatch from Louding that said “Please forgive me for putting you in this mess.”

Before sitting down, attorney Jason Williams said to the jury, “there’s only one fair and just verdict. ‘Not guilty.’ I’m begging you to hold fast and firm.”

Hip-Hop Rumors: Kanye West Eludes to 2 Chainz Signing to G.O.O.D. Music On Twitter

Kanye West tweeted out a message today (May 11) that would lead his fans to believe that Atlanta rapper, 2 Chainz, is his latest acquisition to the G.O.O.D. Music Family.

View Kanye’s tweet below.

And 2 Chainz’ retweet…

Kanye said only trust what he says and what he tweets, so…

This is probably a really G.O.O.D. look for 2 Chainz, whose star has risen to astronomical proportions in the past year.

Truthfully, we saw this coming when Yeezy showed up unexpectedly and co-signed 2 Chainz onstage at our AllHipHop/S.O.B.’s 30th Anniversary showcase at SXSW 2012 in March! Y’all know Kanye don’t just show up for nothing, right???