(AllHipHop News) Jay Z might have told an unnamed adversary (read: Drake) that he as playing the wrong sport on DJ Khaled’s “They Don’t Love You No More” but it may be Jay Z in the wrong arena. Today (April 29th), a sposkeperson for Major League Lacrosse has issued a statement against Jay Z’s dismissal of lacrosse on DJ Khaled’s new single.
In the song “They Don’t Love You No More”, Jay Z states “boy, you soft as a lacrosse team.” In a statement issued to MTV, Major League Lacross (MLL) reasons that lacrosse is in fact dangerous as “players are on the field dodging and shooting balls at over 100 miles per hour.” After stating that Lacrosse is often called the fastest sport on two feet”, the statement reads that Jay Z may be misinformed entirely about the sport:
With that said we don’t think Jay-Z knows what he’s talking about when he calls Lacrosse ‘soft’ I can guarantee you it is anything but a ‘soft’ sport.
The statement then goes on to not only claim Jay Z “would not last one minute” in a lacrosse game but also intimated that they would be willing to test him:
Mr. Carter would not last one minute on a lacrosse field during a match and he is more than welcome to come to any of our games and try.
1994 was a big year for Hip-Hop. It was arguably the biggest one that the genre had seen since 1988. In just 365 days, the highlights include, but aren’t limited to, Nas, Biggie, and OutKast all putting out their proper debut albums, West Coast rap continuing to hold their own with the release of Warren G and Nate Dogg’s G-funk classic, “Regulate,” and Da Brat dropping, Funkdafied, the first album by a solo female rapper to ever achieve platinum status.
However, even with Hip-Hop history being made time and time again in that 12-month stretch, there were still great projects from that year that didn’t receive their just due. But because great music is timeless, AllHipHop.com has put together a list of 10 missed LPs from ’94 deserving of the recognition that eluded them 20 years ago.
These are the ten best overlooked albums from 1994. And if you don’t know, now you know.
10). Blowout Comb by Digable Planets: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” cast a shadow over Digable Planets that the group was never able to get out from under. That didn’t stop them from making great music though. Their sophomore album, Blowout Comb, is superior in production to their debut. The group’s use of live instruments and political lyrics brought a straightforward dose of substance to the sub-genre of jazz rap that was previously unheard. The album may not have done well commercially, but, all things considered, Hip-Hop is definitely better than it would’ve been if Blowout Comb had never been been created.
09). It Takes a Thief by Coolio: Coolio is best known for his Grammy-winning smash, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” and album of the same name, but the downside to all that success is that it eclipsed this solo debut from just a year before. The thing that made the release unique and refreshing is that it brought a less menacing perspective to the same content that gangsta rap was addressing so aggressively (i.e. crime, poverty, etc.). And while the “Fantastic Voyage” single certainly made its mark, the whole It Takes a Thief album never truly got the credit it deserved.
08). 6 Feet Deep by Gravediggaz: The reason this album is on the list is because Hip-Hop fans were more interested in karate flicks than slasher ones. But because of that, this horrorcore album was ignored by the majority. Yes, the content is bleak. However, The RZA’s involvement with it as well as Prince Paul’s, keep it an intriguing listen. From “1-800-Suicide,” a song which suggests ways to kill yourself, to “Diary of a Madman,” where the rappers explain why they are insane to a judge, there is clearly an approach to the music beyond just hyper violence.
07). Street Fighter Soundtrack: The fact that this soundtrack was slept on isn’t because the music was bad. Perhaps it was because the film wasn’t critically acclaimed? Or that the majority of press that the film received had to do with Raúl Juliá’s passing before the movie’s release? Regardless, this collection of records includes contributions from Ice Cube, Nas, Public Enemy, The Pharcyde, LL Cool J, Craig Mack, Ras Kass, and Ahmad. In other words, it’s a who’s who of Hip-Hop in 1994 and the songs don’t disappoint. “One on One” from Nas is an especially strong standout.
06). Fear Itself by Casual: Casual, a member of Oakland underground crew Hieroglyphics, took a tougher approach to this album than most probably expected. Whereas many fans predicted stellar abstract Hip-Hop, Fear Itself actually ended up boasting content more akin to N.W.A than Souls of Mischief. Whether the topic was one-night stands or packing heat, Casual’s hardcore rhymes held their own atop dope funky tracks. And even though the album was a bit more belligerent than No Need for Alarm or ‘93 Til Infinity, other Hieroglyphics members like Extra Profile and Del the Funky Homosapien still made solid guest appearances on this relatively edgy LP.
05). Fadanuf Fa Erybody!! by Odd Squad: Before Devin the Dude made notable appearances alongside Scarface and Dr. Dre (“F**k Faces” and “F**k You” respectively), he, Jugg Mugg, and Rob Quest made up a trio called Odd Squad. Their only album as Odd Squad was a perfect balance of humor, sex, and weed. And even though it didn’t sound like anything else in Rap-A-Lot’s catalog, Scarface still referred to it as the label’s best release. But considering its 17-tracks of diverse production and playful poetics, it’s a very well-supported opinion.
04). Funk Upon a Rhyme by Kokane: This is a project which lived up to its title. It strongly incorporated the bouncing bass of 70s funk and infused it with the Hip-Hop sounds of the day. And while Kokane certainly deserves props for his George Clinton-inspired delivery, one can’t overlook Cold 187um’s work behind the boards. In fact, by 1994, Dr. Dre had popularized the sound that 187 established and so it’s not surprising that Kokane used the album closer, “Don’t Bite the Phunk,” to take a few shots at the D-R-E.
03). Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik by DJ Qbert: In 2014, it is not unheard of for a DJ’s name on a release to merely reflect a collection of his or her exclusives and / or their presence as the host of a mixtape. However, this DJ project is all about getting down on the 1’s and 2’s. There are standard breaks (i.e. “Impeach the President,” “Funky President”), but it’s the other things that are incorporated like the scratching and samples that really make Demolition something special. The way Qbert brings everything together is amazing; it is proof positive that work on the wheels of steel is truly an art form.
02). Genocide & Juice by The Coup: As the title suggests, this album is a swipe at the hardcore Hip-Hop culture that was so prominent in the early to mid 90s. One of the things that makes this release so great is that it blends funk sounds with lyrics that have a real message. Therefore, it caters to both people that “ just hear” and “really listen to” music. The way that the first three songs are woven together is an early indicator that Genocide is an extremely smart and inventive release, and the rest of it doesn’t disappoint either.
01). Criminal by Scientifik: Illmatic is not the only ten-track gem that was released in 1994. Boston area rapper Scientifik released his album, Criminal, too. With production provided by the likes of The RZA, Buckwild, and Diamond D, the beats are outstanding. Then in terms of flow and lyrics, from start to finish, Scientifik’s raps are worthy of the instrumentals he is blessed with. Tragically, Scientifik’s life was cut short before he would ever really be embraced by the masses. However, the music lives on. And after one listen, Scientifik very well could be to Hip-Hop what Earl “The Goat” Manigault is to basketball: the greatest that was never known.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
I’m Sayin is a song that was created just as fast as you hear it. J Starr doesn’t write music down or type it in his phone, he turns on the beat and makes weird ugly faces and goes in the booth and another person comes out. The song is mainly for the club crowd and also might convert to radio. The chorus is very catchy and talks mainly about being in the V.I.P section of the club with alot of money in your pocket and of course protection. Song also is about being flashy and fly. Displays just how much the opposite sex’s are attracted by what they are wearing just as much as the personality.
(AllHipHop News) Since Lil Boosie’s return he has been compared to everyone from Obama to Jesus Christ. During an EXCLUSIVE interview with AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur, the Baton Rouge legend spoke on upcoming collaborations, being called “Boo Pac” in prison and how his lyrics led to a conspiratorial effort to incarcerate him.
One of the main artists Boosie has been compared to has been the late Tupac Shakur. Boosie reveals a letter he received from a fan while in prison who explained why she not only compare the two artists but referred to Boosie as “Boo Pac”:
She said ‘the reason why I call you Boo Pac is because y’all music the only one I ever shed tears to. If your music can make somebody cry it speaks to them. So, I just feel we have a lot of similarities as far as music that can touch people. I guess we’ve had court cases too. [Laughs]
While serving his five year prison sentence, Boosie was accused of hiring Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding to murder 35-year-old Terry Boyd and Boosie’s lyrics were used in the court case. According to Boosie, he belives his prison sentence was predicated on a conspiracy to incarcerate him in order to shut him up:
I really think that was based on some of the music I made. Some of the songs I talk about the court system and what they doing to Black people. I made songs about how I don’t care for the police that’s harassing. I was the voice of the people who couldn’t say nothing. When you the voice, plus you living better than these people that you talking about, you become a priority.
Boosie admits that he will no longer mention names as often in his lyrics as to avoid such negative attention.
Check out PART ONE of AllHipHop’s interview with Lil Boosie:
Troy Ave has been kicking around NYC as the next big thing for a minute now. But, I’m hearing he may actually turn out to be that very, very soon. The NY rap dude (that they say is the new 50 Cent) is has signed to a major, I’m hearing. And, no…he’s not like Joey Bada$$ and some of these other dudes in the city that are staying steadfastly indie. He’s gotten the big bucks to make big things happen. He’s also got parts of 50 Cent’s old team on his new team, I’m hearing. This bodes well for the young gun. Hoping he can make a proper entrance into the game, because New York needs it.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) Reports are circulating that Kanye West is to release a three-hour spoken word album. According to Contactmusic, the vinyl recording will include West addressing his fiancée Kim Kardashian, new daughter North, the environment, and more.
“He has very strong views on everything from music and art to politics and the environment. He’s forever recording his opinions on tape,” a source told The Sun. “‘Kanye likes to push the boundaries and thinks this is very groundbreaking. He’s hoping it’ll win him a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album.”
The Sun’s source adds that Kanye may take a page out of Pharrell William’s book by releasing 24 hours of his speeches for download. Pharrell posted a 24-hour music video for his hit single “Happy” in 2013.
Whether the “New Slaves” rapper actually drops a record of his poetic musings is at a “wait-and-see” stage at this point, but several people close to Kanye have said publicly that he is working on the follow-up to 2013’s Yeezus album.
Ye’s tour DJ Million Dollar Mano tweeted earlier this month that Kanye’s next solo album will have a different sound than Yeezus, and producer Evian Christ has stated Kanye wants a sound “a bit like Otis Redding, a bit like Mobb Deep” for the project.
(AllHipHop News) It was previously announced that Murda Mook and Loaded Lux will face off once again at the upcoming “Eminem Presents: Total Slaughter 1” battle rap event. Now another bout has been added to the card.
Slaughterhouse member Joe Budden will take on Hollow Da Don. The showdown will be preceded by the final round of the Total Slaughter tournament featuring contestants Math Hoffa, Dizaster, Arsonal, Daylyt, Cortez, Marv Won, Big T, and Aye Verb. The eight battle rappers will also take part in an unscipted series.
(AllHipHop News) First comes the sex tape, then comes the song about the sex tape. At least that seems to be the case for Nikko Smith of Mimi & Nikko: Scandal in Atlanta.
TMZ reports to have audio of a new song said to be performed by Smith that includes references to the infamous shower scene and Mimi Faust’s “baby daddy” not being as good as him. The song opens with the line, “Let me f**k you in the shower. Hands up on the rod.”
