rap music

Que lio the Black Eyed Peas have gotten themselves into. Here’s the thing, as much as music critics (including myself) say their songs suck, you have to give it up to will.i.am. He’s got beats! But when you’re making money hand over fist in a recession, do criticisms still get under your skin? Let Perez Hilton talk his s**t, y’all know it doesn’t affect your record sales. With that said, check out my second part of my Taboo interview below.

Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend hip-hop’s favorite Cuban MC, Pitbull, is ready to serve your iPod or ride with free music. Click HERE and get his latest mixtape, S****in on the Industry for FREE. With a title like that it sounds like Pit, who’s never been your typical rapper, is completely tired of this shady ass music biz. He’s been an artist who’s been in situations where his marketing failed to showcase his true talents.

The homie YN over at Rap Radar loaded this video first. Seriously?! Please Rick leave our beloved tierra en paz. The Dream can stay.

Uno,

Jesus

So what you wanna say about Pitbull, the kid stays in the picture. His latest video "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," where he rhymes over the “75, Brazil Street” track by Nicola Fasano vs. Pat-Rich. The hook is ehhh but the rest of the track is classic Pit—playful and club-friendly.  Check it below.

Last Thursday, I got the chance to hear the new Fat Joe album, Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2), at an exclusive listening session. It was supposed to be myself and a few other scribes but it ended being just me, Joey Crack, his publicist and his right hand man Macho. It was as Joe put it, “Well, we just playing this album for you...you’re the first to hear the album.

Q-Tip is one of the few MCs I still check for because well he’s a grown man talking that grown man talk. I had the opportunity to chat with him a couple of months ago and he dropped some gems on me. Also check the new clip for “ManWomanBoogie” off The Renaissance.

Yes, I’m from Brooklyn. Yes, I’m a Biggie Smalls fan (if you called him “Notorious B.I.G.” then you weren’t down). Yes, I’ll probably drag my wife to see Notorious this weekend. But there was another massive MC I loved, pause! Big Pun of course. The late Puerto Rican legend broke down doors for Latinos in hip-hop but isn’t remembered as much as Big or 2Pac.

I’ve been a strong advocate of Massachusetts MC Termanology. I’m definitely not alone.  The half-bori was recently interviewed by Talib Kweli on his site (check here). Talib has some experience as a pen-pusher (he interviewed 50 Cent a few years back) and turns out a good read. Below are some highlights.