Lady Bee - Strictly For That Nigga (1994)

Real freakish helium memphis shit. Could be Kingpin Skinny Pimp or a woman he wronged or Kingpin Skinny Pimp playing a woman he wronged. Creative ominous lo-fi as expected from the time&place of its creation, and by its excavation via the cult of time&place revisionists

That's my man, that's my man, that's my man, that's my man
Jealous ho
That's my man
Jealous ho, jealous ho, jealous ho, jealous ho
That's my man

Because hearing helium voice freaks doing that is like haha okay wow. Even if Lady Bee is actually Kingpin Skinny Pimp it's like okay that's crazy. And if it's not then it might be even weirder because that pitch is all over the place etc

B

here

E.S.G. - Sailin' Da South (1995)

Sailin' da South is a potent combination of audio and visual evocation. E.S.G. does violence but not like he does pseudo pop smoothness, the smoothness dulling the left side of the brain and putting the listener in this weird happy state where thoughts are replaced by a sentimental collage. Between the surrealist Pen & Pixel art (not that familiar digital manipulation wish fulfillment, Sailin' da South is too literal) and actually totally real but disarmingly g-pop sounds, what I see and hear is daytime TV, Vice City/circa 2003 carefree-ness, straight to VHS, Music to Driveby sunshine nihilism, more recent developments in d south revisionism, and the start and end of the Super Monkey Ball Aztec level in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.

Gs being pop, 3 of its tracks appeared on Ocean of Funk already, but here they're given an even poppier context to, again, disarm the listener because what actually takes place is songs of violence, paranoia, syrup, corrupt cops, and southern pride, all to be released and enjoyed by the outside world and not the incarcerated E.S.G. So real made pop that's actually real. Repeated listens won't benefit the listener in terms of like uncovering any secrets or patterns, but Sailin' da South is an incredibly smooth, enjoyable listening experience well worth returning to.

A-

here

Killer Mike - I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (2008)

Mike’s “soundtrack to your success”: think Nietzsche meets Jeezy: fire your damn boss and be the best you can be. Almost retains that level of energy through Mike’s impressive shifting between HAND OF GOD acid spitter, Clipse crack philosopher, and Scarface southern church goer. Best moment comes when he’s none of those things, just a disappointed guy asking a simple question to his (white) oppressor: “how could you not want to see me prevail?”, or when he says if Jesus came back he’d join him for his crack sales, murders, and sermons. Beats are mish-mash dirty south hybrids.

A-

buy

Clipse - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 2 (2005)

Ever unlucky Clipse’s second pre-Hell Hath No Fury effort: label troubles leading the duo to form the Re-Up Gang with Ab-Liva and Sandman and release two fuck the labels, here’s for the fans! mixtapes, the second being the better one. Easily. Still stands as one of the best mixtapes ever. Re-Up Gang go hard with one-liner after one-liner, too many and too witty to keep up with, over stolen beats. My favourite is Hate It Or Love It ‘cause I loved the original already and Clipse better it. A year later their style and lyricism would be met with a perfect set of beats, but it’s fun hearing these apathetic smart-asses on nice beats we recognize from assorted non-apathetic contexts.

A

(2012)

(place-holder for review): shit story about him, "newschool," Devin, UGK, 8Ball, OutKast, his free records, expectations, expectations, mainstream effort, ambition to try that out, skill to make it work, new but nostalgic, oldschool roots his character rather than a style he imitates while it's hip, where's his bandcamp so I can name my amount for the Return Of 4Eva mixtape I'm still playing and give him ~$30, less country more pimp, expectations, comparisons, end

B+

spotify
buy 1/2

Clipse - Til The Casket Drops (2009)

Tony doing time for what he did to nostrils

I attribute the general belief that Til The Casket Drops is anything less than good to the written opinion of various critics and taste-makers who wanted a return to Hell Hath No Fury's hushed nihilism, but instead got a dope ass pop rap album and didn't know what to do with it. I buy it when Pusha raps the clear conscience of Pusha is long overdue and later Malice: life is with your kids watching Madagascar. I buy the way they break from detached, icy flows, and do it over decidedly big and human beats. I like the way their apathetic keys open doors mantra can either be taken as social critique a la Jay-Z, or something more saccharine, on top of what it meant back in 2006.

All that gets an 8/10. Production, lyrics, consistency, all good.

As an aside, some mention needs to be made of Yeezy's verse on Kinda Like A Big Deal. Is the part where he raps about his pyjamas and then goes on to call himself "the black Marshall meets Jay" funnier, or the part where he boasts about getting head from a retarded girl? I know he thinks he's the best and if he truly was the black Marshall meets Jay, that'd be fact (they're my favs!), but mention of pyjamas and premature ejaculation kinda seem at odds with what he's saying! I guess all that just makes it even cooler that their next collaboration would be the douchebag-off in 2010's epic Runaway.

A-

buy
spotify

Clipse - Hell Hath No fury (2006)

Hearing Clipse for the first time on their debut Lord Willin' was jarring- these cool motherfuckers birthed two personas to replace the world's notion of the criminal turned rapper- nothing exaggerated or sensationalized, but pure detached matter-of-fact apathy. Whether society's the problem (I'm from Virginia where ain't shit to do but cook/pack it up, sell it triple price/fuck the books), or it was a fate chosen solely for the Thorntons (on Intro where their trade's as much a part of their DNA as Danny's family's addiction in DNA), they're a new breed of America's nightmare taught motherfucker hit you then you better hit 'em back. They'll hit back but not to motivate anything like Jeezy or spit venom like Killer Mike (now we took the crack and put it in rap/ now your kids is high off of that), but dispassionately, which is scarier

All of this'd be fine if there was some trace of humanity in the production, but on Hell Hath No Fury The Neptunes really nailed catchy and creative but also minimal and alien. The Clipse duo too- their wordplay creative, their flows icy and monotone, the delight in telling the listener how they do things- every detail. In the end it all just serves to capture the immorality of their trade- they'll write a song called Mama I'm So Sorry precisely because they're not (sorry ma!) and sum up everything they are, have been, and ever will be with the line keys open doors

Get it?? 'Cause keys is also...

Yeah, you get it

A+

spotify
buy

Rawse (2010)

Rick Ross spoke of his initial confusion regarding Justin Vernon's place in the studio for the creation of MBDTF and I was confused too, but not quite as confused nor surprised as Ross' effort on the album, particularly on Devil in a New Dress which is the stand out track with the stand out verse courtesy of officer ricky's charismatic low pitch talk-rap god bless the man i put this ice over *roar* so then looking back Teflon Don sounded better in retrospect and it became clear that he'd actually been sharpening up his act since 2009's Deeper Than Rap where some genius discovered that his raw voice and inability to stack creative and/or fluid rhymes actually sounded dope over lush beats, or at least that said beats should break up the monotony of hard hitting trap shit

And so we have this. A fine example of dirty south pop rap where Ross exhibits admirable quality control with his incredibly solid 11 track album. The production throughout was some of the year's best and in case anyone's scared of getting sick of Ross' style, there's 15 guests spread throughout the 11 songs, and guys like Cee Lo and Jay-Z go for emotive over intelligent or complex, suiting Rawse and the music because everything's just so dramatic

In the end, it's ignorant as expected:

Look at Haiti, children dyin' 'round the clock nigga
I sent a hundred grand but that's a decent watch nigga
I'm gettin' better 'cause it would've leased the drop nigga
I'ma get my money right just watch nigga
She had a miscarriage I couldn't cry though
'Cause you and I know she was only my side hoe

Or:

My top back, I'm circumcised
I pull it back, just to go inside

Like you think he's talking about his car, but WHAM it's actually his dick

But like an album from any genre, when it sounds this good, it should be celebrated, and Teflon Don still sounds fucking awesome. The only real problem other than its longevity is that you get the two Lex Luger tracks MC Hammer and BMF in a row, and that's just way too heavy

Upped for JC

B-

spotify

Z-Ro - Let the Truth Be Told (2005)

1. Mo City Don (Freestyle) 4:25

2. The Mule (feat. Devin the Dude & Juvenile) 4:29

3. Don't Wanna Hurt Nobody (feat. Trae & Lil' Boss) 3:31

4. Platinum 3:30

5. It Don't Stop 3:41

6. I'm a Soldier 3:35

7. 1 Night (feat. Trae) 5:07

8. Help Me Please 5:00

9. Another Song 4:20

10. Everyday, Samethang 4:18

11. The Same One 3:57

12. 1st Time Again (feat. Ashanti) 4:31

13. From the South (feat. Lil' Flip & Paul Wall) 3:50

14. Respect My Mind (feat. Tanya Herron) 4:59

15. Ride 2 Night 4:33

16. Auntie & Grandma 4:10

17. It's a Shame 3:26

"Entertained by my struggle and they'd love to see me die..." 

Nothing short of a modern classic. Like many of his albums, it starts off like a gangsta party, with Z-Ro killing it over the "Paid In Full" Coldcut remix instrumental, banging bitches with Devin and Juvie and threatening your life with Trae and Lil Boss, but a few tracks later he's back in hell, with "Help Me Please" maybe being THE single most miserable song he's ever recorded. I could almost write a whole review about this track alone, it might be the most tragic rap song I've ever heard. The beat is a massive epic electric blues number, and Ro pretty much outlines everything wrong with his life in three verses, from spending every other summer in prison to all of his friends betraying him to just plain feeling horrible and down and out. The only ray of sunshine in Ro's live is, apparently, his cousin Trae, who he refers to as an "angel". Screw you if it sounds emo, how many other rappers would say something like that on a record? Exactly one. I can't even get into naming other individual tracks, the whole thing is superb, even the song with Ashanti is cool. The production is, again, phenomenal throughout the whole damn album. Because it's Rap-A-Lot, even the tracks that are basically the modern equivalent of '70s smooth soul ("Respect My Mind") have that massive low end thump that reminds you that you're listening to the same label that put out Willie D's Controversy. Some people claim Z-Ro is the current day, southern equivalent of 2Pac, and while I don't think that's 100% accurate, I will say that if Z-Ro IS the modern Pac, this album is his Me Against The World, with him coming realer than he ever has before over maybe the finest production he's ever received.
-ClintRuin

A-

try
buy

Z-Ro - I'm Still Livin' (2006)

1. City Streets 5:27

2. Continue 2 Roll (feat. Tanya Herron) 3:33

3. T.H.U.G. (True Hero Under God) 3:44

4. One Deep 4:22

5. M16 (feat. P.O.P. & Trae) 4:32

6. Remember Me (feat. Bun B & P.O.P.) 4:12

7. Keep On 3:49

8. What's Going On? 3:38

9. Let the Truth Be Told (feat. Lil' Keke) 3:48

10. Man Cry 4:30

11. No More Pain 3:24

12. Still Livin' (feat. H.A.W.K. & Trae) 3:57

13. Homie, Lover, Friend 3:56

14. Love Ain't Live 4:05

15. Battlefield (feat. Tanya Herron) 4:20

A polarizing album- I'm Still Livin' is Z-Ro at his best lyrically, but with some of the corniest beats he's ever rapped on. Often fans get over that and in fact begin to enjoy them in all their corniness as they listen to the album more and more. Of course some are just confused and wonder why the southern rap legend didn't just pick better ones.

Example:

Making Spandau Ballet gangsta since 06

Or:

'Cept I'm one of those stockholm syndrome fans who came out loving the corny songs in particular

A

VBR

Z-Ro - Look What You Did to Me (1998)

1. Guerilla Till I Die (feat. Taz) 4:32

2. Look What You Did to Me 3:30

3. City of Killers (feat. BAM, Taz & Trae) 5:42

4. Life Story (feat. Al-D & BAM) 4:01

5. Ghetto Crisis (feat. Taz) 4:42

6. Pimp On 4:17

7. Mercy (feat. Fakkulty & Taz) 4:34

8. Where Is the Love 4:12

9. R U Down (feat. Fakkulty, Taz & Trae) 4:07

10. Dedicated 2 U (feat. Chris Ward) 4:06

11. Lord Tell Me Why 4:06

12. Tall Tale of a G 3:32

13. Paper Game 3:50

14. And 2 My G's (feat. Taz) 4:41

15. Z-Ro the Crooked 3:28

Z-Ro's first album and the one a lot of people think is his best. Similarities to Scarface and 2Pac in his storytelling and style, but also totally unique. The production isn't anywhere near as good as he is on the mic (or maybe it just hasn't aged as well) but I actually like it because it's so chill behind his passionate delivery

In an industry where a debut's success can make or break a rap career, Z-Ro had to settle for local acclaim and used "Look What You Did to Me" as a foundation for an increasingly fruitful recording career. I like to fancy that someday it might be celebrated as Bruce Springsteen and Binary Star's earliest records are—independent regional favorites by young, struggling artists so blatantly talented that, once revisited after their commercial breakthroughs, the world can't believe they missed them. Despite huge respect, critical acclaim, and unconditional love in H-Town, it took years for Z-Ro to even splash the national radar, and for such a talented, appealing, passionate, emotional, and prolific artist—especially one so universally lauded—it can be downright upsetting that he remains as underrated at he is. Introducing a superb rapper, captivating vocalist, and deft producer, "Look What You Did to Me" is that rarest of debuts that showcases a fully developed artist, one ready to shine even if the world wasn't prepared to return the favor.
-RapReviews

A

256

Young Roddy - Good Sense (2012)

http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2012/04/download-young-roddy-good-sense-mixtape (320)

Starlito - Mental WARfare (2012)

1. Lito Speaks

2. Hope for Love (prod. by Doughboy)

3. Mental WARfare feat. Robin Raynelle (prod. by DJ Burn One)

4. WTF (prod. by Sonny Digital)

5. Lito Speaks #2

6. Live from the Kitchen (prod. by Lil Keis)

7. Back With The $#!t (prod. by Big Fruit)

8. The Ville feat. Quanie Cash (prod. by Fate Eastwood)

9. L.E.A.N. feat. Killa Kyleon & Young Dolph (prod. by Cardo & DJ Burn One)

10. Substitute (prod. by DJ Burn One)

11. Game Over feat. Don Trip (prod. by The Colleagues)

12. Nortriptyline (prod. by Trakksounds)

13. Chill feat. Don Trip (prod. by DJ Burn One)

14. Lito Speaks #3

15. Produced by Coop (prod. by Coop)

16. The Struggle feat. Ke'Anthony & Quanie Cash (prod. by Fate Eastwood)

17. Grape Swishers (prod. by DJ Burn One)

New Starlito mixtape, real good as expected. He first came to my attention with Renaissance Gangster which was released the same year as other weed rap greats Kush & OJ and Pilot Talk.

I'll be listening to it more soon, just putting some new stuff up 'cause I'm gonna bombard this place with old stuff that got taken down over the next couple of days


128 (Free)
FLAC/v0 (support the artist)

UGK - Underground Kingz (2007)

Disc One

1. Swishas and Dosha 5:11

2. Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) (feat. OutKast) 4:19

3. Chrome Plated Woman 4:18

4. Life Is 2009 (feat. Too $hort) 4:08

5. The Game Belongs to Me 5:14

6. Like That (Remix) 3:51

7. Gravy 4:57

8. Underground Kingz 4:33

9. Grind Hard (feat. Young T.O.E. & DJ B-Do) 4:04

10. Take tha Hood Back (feat. Slim Thug, Vicious & Middle Fingaz) 5:37

11. Quit Hatin' the South (feat. Charlie Wilson & Willie D) 6:07

12. Heaven 4:20

13 Trill Niggas Don't Die (feat. Z-Ro) 4:28

Disc Two

1. How Long Can It Last (feat. Charlie Wilson) 6:47

2. Still Ridin' Dirty (feat. Scarface) 5:20

3. Stop-n-Go (feat. Jazze Pha) 3:54

4. Cocaine (feat. Rick Ross) 4:50

5. Two Type of Bitches (feat. Dizzee Rascal & Pimpin Ken) 4:56

6. Real Women (feat. Talib Kweli & Raheem DeVaughn) 4:33

7. Candy 3:30

8. Tell Me How Ya Feel 4:25

9. Shattered Dreams 5:14

10. Like That 2:48

11. Next Up (feat. Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap) 3:04

12. Living This Life 5:08

13. Outro 0:49

Bonus Tracks

14. Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) (Chopped & Screwed) (feat. Three 6 Mafia) 5:31

15. Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) (feat. Three 6 Mafia) 3:20

16. Hit the Block (feat. T.I.) 3:59

UGK became rap royalty in the early 90s after they released the hugely acclaimed albums Super Tight and Ridin' Dirty. They planned a comeback in 2000 which got the UGK name out again with Pimp C and Bun B making guest appearances, but the 2001 album Dirty Money didn't do much for anyone. Pimp C went to prison in 2002 for three years, and to make up for that he and Bun B released solo material.

The real comeback came in 2007 with the double-disc self-titled epic Underground Kingz. There was a chance it wouldn't be good- Ridin' Dirty is still considered one of the great dirty south records and would be pretty hard to follow up. Along with that, Dirty Money wasn't a big success and Underground Kingz would be twice as long. If it wasn't good, it wasn't good for over two hours, and that'd be bad. Also, southern rap was in a totally different place in 2007 than it was in 1996. Think Soul Food vs a Wayne tape (although that's an oversimplification). Also (o man), it was their eponymous album so it had to be good enough to reclaim or remind the world of the greatness of Super Tight and Ridin' Dirty.

But I'm posting it because it's fantastic- the best UGK record after Ridin' Dirty (in my mind). Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) is a southern rap anthem so good it's up there with classics like Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and more recent songs like Shine Blockas. Quite a few people actually seem to hold it in higher regard, and I probably would too. It's seems effortlessly feel-good as well as summing up UGK's ethos perfectly. The rest of the album features a mixture of old names (Scarface, Kool G Rap, Z-Ro, etc) and newer ones (T.I., Rick Ross) as features, and great consistency between tracks for a 128 minute album. Of course that means that while nothing feels like filler, things lose momentum in places and it's not always possible to listen to both discs in the same sitting. Still, like All Eyez On Me, you can't deny the enthusiasm and celebration of life and legacy that the double disc effort captures

A

320
1 / 2

Three Six Mafia - Underground vol. 1 (1991-1994)

1. Ridin' da Chevy 6:02

2. Niggaz Ain't Barin' Dat 6:12

3. Charging These Hoes 3:27

4. Now I'm High, Really High 4:21

5. Juicy J - Sucks on Dick 2:44

6. Playa Hataz 3:38

7. Paul, With da 45 4:59

8. Lord Infamous - Where da Bud At 4:29

9. Mask and da Glock 3:42

10. Don't Be Scared 3:14

11. Juicy J - Time for da Juice Mane 2:44

12. Walk Up to Your House 3:50

13. Yeah, They Done Fucked Up 4:14

14. Talk Ya Ass Off 5:04

15. Fuck All Dem Hoes 3:35

The more sinister side of the south compared to Scarface's violent but also spiritual, gentlemanly, conscious persona, early Triple Six Mafia delight in inciting as much chaos as possible through copious amounts of weed smoke and horrorcore murder fantasies

What was probably straight gangsta at the time of its release is now being re-evaluated and praised for its repetition, creativity, otherworldly ambience, and lo-fi sensibilities

Sick shit

A

v0

Scarface - The Fix (2002)

1. The Fix 0:57

2. Safe 3:56

3. In Cold Blood 3:21

4. Guess Who's Back (feat. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel) 4:15

5. On My Block 3:34

6. Keep Me Down 3:32

7. What Can I Do? (feat. Kelly Price) 4:06

8. In Between Us (feat. Nas & Tanya Herron) 4:58

9. Someday (feat. Faith Evans) 6:00

10. Sellout 4:10

11. Heaven (feat. Kelly Price) 3:14

12. I Ain't The One (feat. W.C. & Tanya Herron) 4:11

13. Fixed 1:02

As far as Scarface's albums are concerned, it's hipper to like The Diary because it's so impressively dark, but there's a bunch of fans who stand by The Fix as Scarface's best

Comparing them would be strange- they were released 8 years apart and rap is one of those great genres that moves and changes so quickly that a two year's difference is crucial (Late Registration ----> Graduation, for example), and 8 years is almost an entirely new artist despite being the same guy

Features excellent production from guys like Kanye West keeping things lively and clear and colourful, good guest stars, and Scarface not disappointing lyrically or vocally (it's that mix of baritone and vivid imagery we love him for), The Fix is one of the great 2000s rap albums for staying distinctly Scarface (heavy southern rap) while moving into a more modern sound

A

320

Koopsta Knicca - Da Devil's Playground: Underground Solo (1999)

1. Torture Chamber 2:47

2. Crucifix (feat. DJ Paul) 4:00

3. Ready 2 Ride (feat. DJ Paul and Crunchy Black) 4:52

4. Robbers 3:54

5. Smoking on a J 2:17

6. Stash Pot (Original) 4:57

7. Front a Busta 5:24

8. Judgement Nite 4:47

9. Bustaz Betta Make Way 6:03

10. Anna Got Me Clickin' 2:13

11. Now I'm Hi (Pt. 2) 4:06

12. Purple Thang 6:49

13. Stash Pot [Remix] 5:58

14. Whatcha Gonna Do (feat. DJ Paul) 4:19

15. Talkin' 1:46

DJ Paul gives some of the most lo-fi, heavy, straight up evil production of his career and Koopsta Knicca rides the beat with the drowned out, disorienting, paranoid dirty south style triple six are known for. He does it well, but it's when the beats and samples take over that shit gets real- like a really fucked up nightmarish take on dub. Despite the expected lyrical content- murder and weed, the end product is something uniquely ambivalent where realism- poverty and violence can only be seen through something more surreal and hallucinatory, like what Candyman was going for

One of the best southern rap albums

A+

v0

Geto Boys - Uncut Dope: Geto Boys' Best (1992)

1. Do It Like a G.O. 4:36

2. Assassins 5:11

3. Mind of a Lunatic 5:26

4. My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me 5:11

5. Size Ain't Shit 3:42

6. The Unseen 3:36

7. Balls and My Word 3:49

8. Scarface (Original) 5:06

9. Actions Speak Louder Than Words (feat. Ganksta Nip and Seagram) 5:53

10. Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangster (feat. Lil' J) 5:10

11. Chuckie 3:48

12. Gotta Let Them Hang 4:08

Makes it so you can split the Geto Boys' releases into pre Big Mike and then get The Resurrection 'cause that's their best after the hard old school shit on display here

Basically a nice way to have My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me and Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangster without just having those two songs

B

v0

Big K.R.I.T. - 4Eva N A Day (2012)

It always seems too good to be true whenever this guy puts out an album.... the last two were easily top 5 of the year quality, and they're always free

Fuck yeah

A-

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/03/big-k-r-i-t-drops-new-mixtape-4eva-n-a-day-download-now/

DJ Screw - Bigtyme Recordz Volume II: All Screwed Up (1995)

1. DJ Screw - Intro 1:00

2. UGK - Short Texas 4:33

3. Point Blank - Wreckless (feat. K-Rino) 4:00

4. UGK - Pregnant Pussy 4:39

5. Point Blank - After I Die 9:06

6. 20-2-Life & PSK-13 - Backstreets 7:31

7. UGK - Tell Me Something Good 6:43

8. 20-2-Life - Inside Looking Out 6:43

9. Point Blank - My Mind Went Blank 6:37

10. PSK-13 - 13 Ways 5:03

11. Point Blank - Straighten It Out 3:34

12. PSK-13 - Headin' Fo My Trunk 7:27

13. 20-2-Life - Da Music 6:51

DJ Screw spent his days chopping and screwing dirty south records for the consumption of purple drank. The originals, as you can imagine, are often that characteristic mix of chattery snares, quick MCing and hard as fuck lyricism. Slowed down, the drums become hypnotic, the rapping becomes deep and percussive, and each hard as fuck line gets to linger. Probably perfect for the consumption of codeine, people distanced philosophically, geographically and temporally from the Screwed Up Click have nonetheless been fascinated by this shit since Screw's death in 2000, and even moreso since guys like Main Attrakionz, A$AP Rocky and SpaceGhostPurrp started referencing that Houston sound within the last couple of years.

All Screwed Up is my favourite Screw tape. Inside Looking Out blew my mind one day and I couldn't stop listening to it and geeks gush over After I Die the same way they do One Day on Endonesia. For me, it's really the otherworldly sounds that I like it so much and not the highlighted existential angst.

A+


Here you go:

v0