Sunday, December 27, 2009

Rappers eat, too



Well, it’s the end of the year (but not the end of the decade as some proclaim) and I can’t believe I’m still doing this. When I started scanning magazines, I figured that it would take a year at the most but lo and behold, I haven’t even scratched the surface of my huge storage container yet. And with a wife and children steadily demanding my attention and energy, I can barely get a moment to scan these days. But I will soldier on and post mags when I have the time.

Anyway, was any album this year better than Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Linx 2? I think not. You can add up every indie, mainstream, and pop album and they were all inferior to Rae’s comeback. Even the weak Dr. Dre produced songs didn’t weigh down the album too much. Overall, 2009 was a great year for music whether you value quantity or quality. Will 2010 be even better?

Crazy story. Yesterday afternoon at about 12 noon, me, wifey and the children went shopping at Whole Foods down on 20th and Callowhill. My wife was making me pick out pears and yams and as I’m strolling past the citrus juice and dairy section, here comes Black Thought whizzing by on his phone headed for the cheese section. Funny thing is that, something told me to wear my heavy duty all black Okayplayer hoodie that morning because it raining like crazy outside. So I mentioned this to my wife while she was picking out soy milk and she didn’t believe me. Little did she know that I always seem to bump into The Roots members at food establishments and this was my third or fourth time bumping into Thought. It’s uncanny. I explained to her that way back when the Okayplayer website first got started (I actually remember discussing the whole design and layout of the original website in my apartment in U. City, back in ’98, with the person who originally set it up), I bumped into Questlove, in mid ’99 I think, as he was walking out of this same market when it was named Fresh Fields. I stopped Quest cold in the parking lot with his bags in hand and his companion looking me and up and down, to debate his ‘classic’ review/rating of Mobb Deep’s The Infamous on the site because I considered it (and still do) a 4.5 out of 5. I was so upset that day, that I called him by his first name out loud in the parking lot and shocked the ish out of him. Y’all know that I can debate something I feel strongly about with no fear or hesitation. Anyway, so Black Thought was wearing a very stylish hat just like the one I was wearing (see pic above) but my wife initially saw him from the back and didn’t believe it was him because he was wearing…pajama pants!?! I couldn’t believe it either. One of my all time favorite MC’s wearing pajama pants outside? At first, I was thinking, “I must be too old or something” but I think me and Thought are the same age. But you’d never catch me wearing pajamas; much less outside! I had to actually stop myself from saying something to him about it. For real. I had an entire old man speech rant planned about how we both grew up on Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, The Krown Rulers, Boogie Down Productions, Three Times Dope, Big Daddy Kane and Rakim and that this would never happen with them. My wife distracted me while she waited until Thought stopped to buy some baked fish or chicken at the prepared foods section to get a good look and then agreed that it was him. I had planned to congratulate him on that Late Night show and all but with the pajama pants issue, the baby hanging all over me and my son begging me for apple juice, I had no energy left. Funny that I caught him peeping out the Okayplayer sweatshirt I was wearing, twice, as if he wanted one for himself.

Have any of you noticed the requests for access to this site on the Wordpress site? Leeches are very rude and selfish people. I’ve deleted and replaced about 40 people here since November because some people just don’t like to comment but love to download. Just so you know, I may be deleting your access soon, too. To avoid this, stop leeching and leave comments. Simple, right?

That’s it. Happy New Year.

19 comments:

  1. First of all I want to Thank You,you have helped make my last year here in Iraq pass by pretty easy with your drops and you have also shown me how old I am getting even at the age of 28,lol.On another note,I haven't purchased a CD or downloaded music since June,and this is coming from a person who has close to 300 gigs of music,majority Hip-Hop.Which has basically made me a mad old man,because all I do is listen to anything pre-2000.Hopefully once I come home and breathe American air,I can come off my high horse,pull out my Credit Card and go to Best Buy and purchase everything I missed the last 7 months.But enough of my rant,once again Thank You for your time and congrats on the new addition to the Family.Great Thought story too,I may do the same thing if I ever met Common.

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  2. thanks for the invite. Funny you mentioned that story with Black Thought. I saw Thes One at the Chinese Embassy getting a visa in LA. And DJ muggs at a taco stand. But never ran into anyone at a supermarket. Good shit. Love the blog!

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  3. Great story....

    Yeah I used to bump into Quest all the time back when everyone in their mother bought records at Armands. I'm still sad they closed the record part of the store.

    I'm still disappointed that a Black Thought solo never came out. I remember asking him about it, apparently their were too many samples to clear or some shit.

    Anyway, Black thought killed silk city last week along with Meek Millz.

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  4. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II was the hands down best hip hop album this year. A good example I saw was someone comparing The Godfather I & II to the OB4CL I & II. Another album that was really dope was Fashawn's Boy Meets World. Next year I can't wait for the Nas & Damien Marley album, Lupe's album, & J.Cole's debut.

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  5. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II was easily the best album of the year... one quick question does anyone know what rating The Source gave it?

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  6. @louderthanabomb91 - I didn't even know that they were still rating albums or if anyone even cared. Their credibilty is nonexistent. You may have to buy the issue with the rating if you can find it on Ebay.

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  7. theres no way im gonna track down the issue just to find out what they gave it... i was just curious thats all

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  8. They gave OB4CLX 2 3 1/2 mics

    I forget the issue...I wouldn't recommend buying it tho..

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  9. yo Vincent, u already know who this is. and me and u go way back now for almost 1 year 1/2 or 2 years!
    i always had lots to say on what u put up! i just wish my collection was extensive as ur but im glad i alot.
    continue to do ur thing and get them leeches outta here!! im collector just like u, im steadily trying up my collection.
    also if u need any old episodes of rap city or yo! mtv raps holla at me!
    i know u have a couple episodes urself right?

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  10. once again just want to extend my thanks for the blog! i know i probably don't do it enough but best believe i am very grateful for all your work. stay healthy, hope the fam does good in the new year & in the new decade (when it comes lol)

    Peace

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  11. would it be possible to get a pic of the inside cover (wit Wu all sitting around, the big poster) without the watermark on it?

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  12. @davey dave - you know that's gonna cost you, right?

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  13. so its new years day and i dont have shit to do so i finally hit me what a good day to see whats going on with one of the illest blogs ever! Thank you again for sharing all these magazine and keeping me entertained for another year! it is much appreciated vincent! ohh yeah sweat pants>pajamas pants hahaha

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  14. yeah vincent it only got 3 1/2...I remember Raekwon snapping about it on twitter


    I actually interviewed raekwon around the time when his album was about to drop.

    http://www.the-jawn.com/?p=712

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  15. I agree with pretty much everybody else i mean how can you not say that OB4CL2 was the album of the year, or at least top 3. Its crazy to see people saying that Relapse and BP3 were the best just because the names behind those albums. Just cuz you're a large brand doesnt mean that every album you put out is a instant classic (*cough* American Gangster *cough*) or even that good (*cough Relapse & BP3 *cough*). Its sad to see that it is that way.

    I liked those Dre produced tracks tbh.

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  16. @raheem - thanks for linking that video. it's a little difficut to hear though. good to see Rae with that Eagles shirt on!

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  17. I'm kinda confused about something. In the issue of the source (Sept/Oct 2009) they gave Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Vol. 2 a 3 1/2 mics but in the (Nov/Dec 2009) issue, they gave it a 4 mic review. So which is the correct reviewing of this dope album? Easily the best album of the year!

    Also, thanks Vincent for all that you do! I always enjoy reading your comments about each issue you scan.

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  18. re-downloaded the link and got the pdf to work.... thanks again, keep up the great work!!!

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