In Retrospect is going a new theme we're doing where we present you with an album that is much better than you originally thought. An album that may have received mixed reviews or happened to shunned initially but as the years went on you slowly realize it was better than you gave it credit for.
First up, Brand Nubian's Everything Is Everything. '94 was chock full of dope releases so it's understandable how this might have either fell though the cracks or got mistreated by the competition. Fresh off one of the dopest follow-up albums without their franchise player, "In God We Trust" was an absolute masterpiece of the new two-man team. A balls to the wall album where there is no apologizing, no cheating the listener of dauntless lyrics and definitely no hiding from Lord Jamar or Sadat X ideologies.
The Nubians returned a year later with Everything Is Everything, a safer and more mature album if you will. What many people don't realize is that Lord Jamar was always responsible for the majority of the production on the Brand Nubian albums. Even though they did a few tracks here and there, many people think of Pete Rock, Stimulated Dummies, Diamond D, Lord Finesse or Buckwild as the prominent producers in the groups catalogs.
Jamar laces things on the infectious "Word Is Bond" all the way into the ridiculously underrated posse cut "Step Into Da Cipher" featuring Serge, Maestro Manny and blogosphere favorite Snagglepuss.
The group tackled germane topics and wholeheartedly ripped tracks like "Claimin I'm A Criminal," "Hold On" and "Return of The Dread." If anything, this album showcased Lord Jamars growth as a producer and an emcee. While it was difficult to outshine Puba on "One For All" and the controversial Sadat X on "In God We Trust," it's on "Everything Is Everything" that Jamar truly shines.
The album was full of head-nodding tracks like "Alladat" featuring Busta Rhymes and the remix of "Lick Dem Muthaphuckas" originally found on the Menace II Society soundtrack. While it might not be better than any previous Nuban efforts, it surely isn't an album that you could call anything less than great. This is their "Beats, Rhymes & Life." --Philaflava
Thun: Okay, T.R.O.Y. Nation, get a load of this shit. Vibe.com, that renowned purveyor of controversial rankings, is running an NCAA-styled tournament media stunt titled "The Best Rapper Ever." In the video you see embedded above, sorta famous but not especially popular one-hit-blunder Joe Budden expressed extreme disapproval. Being the self-absorbed half-wit that we all know him to be, he takes his #32 ranking within his bracket as some kind of insult and goes on a ten minute rant which culminates in the claim that he is a better rapper than the majority of those ranked in the entire tournament. Needless to say, I'm not co-signing this, and his twittered caveat about considering how these artists would fare on the mic "now" is not convincing in the least.Philaflava: Is this the guy who recently took the L from Saigon or the one who blamed Def Jam on his lack of success due to the way his name (Buddens) was marketed, because sometimes I confuse the two.
Thun: I dunno but I'm pretty sure this is the guy whose voice was actually improved by developing polyps in his throat. Now he's on YouTube accusing Vibe of not knowing hip hop history or the craft of emceeing in the same breath he claims to have never heard of Cowboy from the Furious Five. That's the thing about self-serving, heavy-handed agendas - they make you look dumb.
Philaflava: In any event, I think he is looking at this Vibe bracket all wrong. Sure there are some weak opponents and sure there are some questionable rankings, but to imply he's better than "half" of the list (64 rappers) is just asinine. He's practically saying he's better than Puba, AZ, MF Doom, Black Thought and Method Man just in that 10 minute clip.
Thun: Puba? Really? Budden - you have a song better than "Wake Up?" A party classic better than "360"? A club song more memorable than "I Like It"? Say what say what? AZ? You can flow better than his verse on "Life's A Bitch?" It must take incredible willpower to NEVER exercise that option, dun!
Philaflava: The difference is Budden has two albums to his name, both were nothing to write home about while the others catalogs run circles around him.
Thun: Budden has two albums out? Not mixtapes ... not Imeem play lists ... not vidoes of his wife and kids doing household chores ... but albums? Was this news made available beyond his first cousins and weed connect?
Philaflava: Unfortunately, Budden is gonna go out like Stephen F. Austin of this tournament, but hey, there is always the NIT of Rap tournaments to look forward to. Either way, Joe should check himself if thinks he's better than half that list.
Thun: This video is maddening. Now, don't get me wrong - any respectable rapper should be offended if they are ranked lower than Lil' Bow Wow and MC Hammer. But that's where Budden's legitimate grievances end. But, no. Instead of being thankful he was even acknowledged at all, he passively aggressively mutters names on the list and makes faces at the camera, implying but not directly stating that he feels that he is a superior rapper to people like Melle Mel and Chubb Rock, who tour and rock guest appearances to this day. All this delivered with the level of maturity and poise commonly associated with a flustered second grader who was picked last for the kickball team.
Philaflava: We got your back Quincy J. Oh , and Blackout 2 is out there now - the plot thickens.
Thun: To all aspiring young rappers who are witnessing such lunacy and don't know what to make of it: learn from this fiasco. Shit-eating smugness is not flow. Asshole-ishness is not lyricism. Twitter is not a respected discography. Tricking on a video model is not creating memorable lyrics. Tattoos are not genre-changing albums. Challenging rappers who paved the way for you and have no need whatsoever to even acknowledge your punk ass to some imaginary war of hackneyed sports punchlines is not a good look.
Grand Puba Maxwell stopped by the infamous Jam @ Highline Ballroom in New York where The Roots do a weekly gig. Check out this video where Puba does Slow Down and 360 backed by The Roots crew. Props to OKP for the footage.
The original was sparser and more raw, but this remix is more layered, ringing, and insistent, which lends itself well to the tone of alarm being conveyed. Adding Big L to the chorus was an excellent decision.
13. Common Sense "Soul By The Pound" (Thump Mix)
14. Casual "That's How It Is" (Disshowwedo Remix)
15. Grand Puba ft. Sadat X "I Like It" (Buckwild Remix)
This one isn't hugely different from the hit original, but Buckwild manages to give it a more hardcore feel without sacrificing its mass appeal. Sadat X.'s cameo is one of his finest.
16. Artifacts "Dynamite Soul II" (Lip Service Remix)
17. Aceyalone "Mic Check" (Kemo Remix)
Kemo's version of Aceyalone's catchy ode to rocking shows and raking in the dough was the top finalist in a remix contest announced on the original's sleeve. Besides being a banger of a beat, it also complements Aceyalone's whimsical vocals quite well.
18. Camp Lo "Coolie High" (Paradise Remix)
Only Camp-Lo can out-smooth Camp-Lo. This version pulls off that sultry slick nonsensical jewel heist vibe that these BX rhymers consistently aimed for in their heyday.
Remember wishing that there was a magical way to bypass Pearl Jam and Madonna videos and access any video shown on YO! MTV Raps instantly on demand? Yeah. -- Thun
Cover - Underground Flow (remix) De La soul - Breakadawn (Foncett Power remix) Grand Puba - A Little Of This (Stud Doogie remix) Mama Mystique - Tremendous (QBall & Curt Cazal remix) Pete Nice & Daddy Rich - Kick The Bobo (Beatnuts remix)
Represent is rapper Fat Joe's debut album, back when he went by the name of "Fat Joe da Gangsta". The majority of the production is handled by Diamond D with additional beats by Lord Finesse, Showbiz, The Beatnuts and Chilly Dee. It features guest rapping from Diamond D, Grand Puba, Apache, Kool G Rap, Gismo, Kieth Kieth and King Sun. It also features DJ scratches by Roc Raida and Rob Swift.
Some of you might remember these dope little tapes.One would get a free tape with the purchase of an Echo t-shirt and there was always something good on them.I had the one with the Problems joint on it and one of my boys had another one.Up until recently,I had never even seen the rest of them.Props to T.R.O.Y poster DULLAH for blessing us with these:
Download Volume 2 here Download Volume 3 here Download Volume 4 here Download Volume 5 here
Well maybe not children but we're definitely for the readers (you). DJ Hudson sent us his mix and we thought it only made sense to pass it on. Check it out and remember we do T.R.O.Y. for all of you. You give us the motivation to bring the freshness daily (at least 4x). If you have something you'd like to share, hit us up because we're always looking to spread love.
