You Might Not Have Heard About It: Feat. Hell Razah

I was one of those young cats back in the day from on the West Coast with a whole arsenal of East Coast music in my back pack. You could catch me on my free period back in high school with my Walkman on me like an additional body part and extra large head phones that blocked out my own voice screaming "Wu-Tang Clan aint Nuthin to Fuck Wit!" From 93-99 I listened to Wu-Tang like it was a religion and made sure I heard every track that the RZA orchestrated. Of course listening to the main group opened me up the the Wu-Affiliates such as "Sunz of Man", "Killa Army", and "North Star; "Sunz of Man" was the most successful out of all the sub Wu clicks. It wasn't until years later that I was introduced to the solo ventures of Hell Razah, one of the better lyricist who emerged from the vast Wu-Tang Family.

Hell Razah has a large library of music stemming from his days in "SoM", album features and solo projects, but his best album would have to be "Renaissance Child" released in 2007. Yes, I understand that was two years ago, but good music is timeless and if you haven't heard something then it's all new anyway. Once you listen to the first few tracks, you can tell Razah is very well read. He has a great talent for injecting historical facts and biblical references in his music that are relevant. There are a lot of intelligent MCs out there who use a lot of big words or will throw out some random reference to show off their knowledge base, but HR does not fall into that category. Every lyric is well placed and you can tell he's not just spewing random facts to sound smart. In addition to his intellect, his choice for production is very sound; his tracks all compliment his delivery.

You can check out his albums on Amazon, Itunes or your local record store. Artists like Hell Razah might not be at the top of the charts, but they definitely know their audience. Its hard to find a balance between conveying messages in your music while still producing something melodic and pleasing to the ear. Hell Razah is able to accomplish that; you might even pick up a book after you finish the album.

Best Verse Week # 3: "Onslaught 2"

After getting zero votes for his verse on "Forever" in week #1, Kanye claimed the title of best verse in week 2 on " Her Say". Fortunately he's not featured on today's track. Instead I bring you "Onslaught 2" courtesy of Slaughterhouse. Every song on this album is warranted for a vote count considering the make up of the group, but there can only be one song selected. Place you votes!

From Ghetto to Gaza Speaking Tour:Feat M1 of Dead Prez

M1 of the political/revolutionary rap group Dead Prez recently held a speaking tour discussing his experiences in Gaza. His mission was organized by a group "Viva la Palestine", a coalition with members reaching numbers close to two hundred dedicated to the liberation of the Palestinian people suffering Israeli oppression. The main objective was to enter Gaza with a number of different resources and goods donated for the people antagonized in this region. Yet things aren't always as they appear, and M1 encountered a wide range of obstacles to hinder his efforts. You can read more of what he had to say of his time there @ sfbayview.com.

I walked into the Black Dot cafe, a small venue in West Oakland organized by active members of the community, expecting to hear M1 speak on the similarities and differences between the ghettos abroad with the poverty stricken hoods in America. Although I did not receive what I expected, I did gain a whole new perspective on a situation I had not been paying much attention to as of late. I knew about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, but not nearly enough converse on the situation. First and foremost, I want to credit M1 for eloquently telling his story while focusing on important issues he experienced first hand. The dangers of the location are well documented; I commend him for the courage to go into a foreign land to help a group of people terrorized by enemies that are backed by our own government.

I didn't get a chance to hear direct parallels between American ghetto life with Gaza, but through M1's experiences, I was able to draw my own conclusions. He recounted a story of meeting a young man whose father was killed by a missile that directly hit his home during dinner. M1 made it very clear that this was not an extreme case or an anomaly, but a regular occurrence in the everyday lives of people trapped in this war zone. Yet the similarities are there; the black youth of America deal with similar obstructions in the face of police brutality, government mandated laws aimed at specific groups, and the ever increasing prison population represented primarily by African Americans and Latinos.

But this was also a time for me to look past encounters in my own life and learn about what others go through. Oppressed people are all fighting against the same machine and reaching for the same goals. I have been in the face of American terrorism, but my occurrences greatly differ in magnitude from the suffering and brutality experienced by people across the globe.

Hip Hop Hoop News

ESPN NBA Pre-Season Power Rankings: The new season starts with the defending champions accorded the standard respect here by returning to the rankings in the top spot. Yet the Los Angeles Lakers also find themselves in a loaded top 5, with each of those teams seemingly capable of winning it all but all five likewise confronted by major unknowns … whether it's Ron Artest's willingness to blend in with the champs in L.A., Vince Carter's ability to replicate Hedo Turkoglu's success in Orlando, Shaquille O'Neal's effectiveness as LeBron James' sidekick, or the health questions that persist about Boston's Kevin Garnett and San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili....Read More @ ESPN.COM

NBA to Unveil Guidelines for Social Networking: The NBA will this week introduce what it considers "minimal" guidelines for players, coaches and team officials when using Twitter and other social networking sites, according to sources with knowledge of the policy. The primary restriction of the policy is expected to prevent various team representatives from tweeting during games, after the stir caused late last season when Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva, then with Milwaukee, tweeted from the Bucks' locker room during halftime.One source described the forthcoming policy as "very minimal" and "less stringent" than the guidelines announced earlier this month by the NFL, which now regards players, coaches and football operations personnel -- or any third party representing them -- to be in violation of league rules if they use social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook from 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the standard post-game access period for media interviews......Read More @ ESPN.COM

KRS-1 Blames Def Jam for Destroying Hip Hop: "Def Jam is the dopest label in hip-hop, in the culture of hip-hop. There really would be no hip-hop as we know it today if it wasn't for Def Jam. But you don't get that respect without also being the label that single-handedly destroyed hip-hop...Every time you think of what's wrong with hip-hop, the lyrics, the commercialized music, one artist being played on the radio all day, things like that, that's all Def Jam...We respect it. It's a respect cause we all competing, so Def Jam had the hardest competition, but the hardest competition as I showed the respect, I also showed the truth. And the truth is everybody else had to sit down so Def Jam could be who they are."....Read More @ Examiner.com

Reverend Al Sharpton Hosts WWE Monday Night Raw: This coming Monday, September 28, social figure Reverand Al Shapton will make one of his most surprising appearances yet - on WWE's Monday Night Raw. The civil rights leader will host the 9pm live taping from Albany, New York's Times Union Center.
The appearance prefaces Sharpton's four-city tour with former Speaker of the House Of Representatives Newt Gingrich and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who will be stopping in Philadelphia, New Orleans, Baltimore in Atlanta in an effort to reform public education.
Monday Night Raw airs at 9pm on the USA network.

Bigger Than Hip Hop?

Hip Hop mogul Jay-Z recently appeared on the Oprah show seemingly ending the ban of rappers on her program. But don't be so quick to believe the embargo on Hip Hop has been reascended by the queen of day time T.V. When Oprah had the cast of Barbershop on her show, Ice Cube, the star of the movie, was mysteriously missing. She later had the cast of Crash on her show to tackle issues of racism that the film brought forth, but initially did not extend an invite to Ludacris. Luda did end up on the episode with the rest of the cast, but was attacked by Oprah for his lyrics and use of the the words "Nigga", "Bitch", and "Ho". Oprah later admitted that she doesn't like having rappers on her show because she feels it empowers them. Yet somehow, Jay-Z managed to transcend Oprah negative imagery of Hip Hop, and appear on the program in an one on one interview. Don't applaud Oprah for finally allowing a rapper to grace her presence, no need to give credence to that gesture; she was just going along with the general consensus that Jay-Z is somehow above Hip Hop.



Jay-Z is constantly talked about like he is on an island all by himself, like his intellect is on an a level that no other rapper can ever achieve. Hip Hop writers and journalist regularly shower him with praises towards his wit and creativity. From Bill Maher to the President himself, its seems that the world just can't get enough of Mr. Carter. But is Jay-Z really that different from any other rapper?

I will admit that Jay does have a lyrical ability and style that not many can match, but it's not the style that seems to attract so many outside of Hip Hop culture to embrace him. Remember, Oprah berated Luda for his lyrics, yet Jay-Z has had songs that with very similar content to Ludacris. The difference is that Jay-Z is more clever in how he talks about his content. Instead of blatantly saying "Kill that Nigga", he'll instead use lyrics asking what size suit you wear before he unloads a clip on you. That's still murder rap no matter how its expressed. Supporters ignore the fact that American Gangster was considered "concept" album, yet the material was what we've come to expect from Jay-Z. It was nothing more than an excuse to return to what he knew best.


Jay-Z worshippers will probably label me a hater, that's fine, I expect you to get defensive. But I'm no hater; I just don't believe that Jay-Z is any more qualified to represent Hip Hop than Ice Cube or Ludacris. What about Chuck D? Krs-1? Nas? Common? Mos Def? or Kweli? There are a number of rappers who don't represent the negativity that is associated with Hip Hop. These same MCs have music that even takes more of a stand on social issues and also includes commentary that identifies with Oprah's sentiments about rap music. I watched the show and it wasn't bad at all. Jay is smart brotha and is a deserving delegate of Hip Hop culture; I'm just not one to get on my knees and pray to him, even if he calls himself "Hova".

You Might Not Have Heard About It: Feat. Blitz the Ambassador

In a recent post I discussed the question of Hip Hop being dead and the responsibility that fell on all parties associated with the dying art form. I referenced the burden of the artists in the game and how they must step to the forefront in preserving Hip Hop's essence. I explained the role of the consumer as well as fans of the music and our duty to search for MCs who dedicate their lives to this unique form of expression. So for that very reason I am taking it upon myself to put the spotlight on the lesser known rappers in the game. The artists who still possess a passion for the music, who aren't controlled my the corporate machine, and for those maintain the pulse of Hip Hop. Once a week I'll search for a different artist to bring to your attention. Today's feature is the The MC out of Ghana, Blitz the Ambassador.

After arguing with my boy Dub about the the decline of Hip Hop, he introduced me the the music of Blitz. He didn't tell me much about him or his music, he just said "listen". What struck me first before I even tuned in to the first track on "Stereotype", was the album cover. The imagery of the suicidal gesture of blowing out the brains of a boom box immediately enticed me. The album kicks off with a prelude with a few shout outs to cities all over the world with a melodic backdrop. The album seamlessly transitions from the intro to the first track "Something to Believe In" where Blitz's skillz are truly emphasized. Throughout the whole album Blitz displays a rare combination of poetics, relentlessness and amazing production. He effortlessly spits over each track while boasting different styles over a diverse range of instrumentation. His topics expand from the state of Hip Hop, the plight of African people all over the globe, to his passion for Hip Hop.

Blitz the Ambassador is truly a rare breed indeed. I found myself listening to this album without even thinking of skipping a song. Each track seems to spill over to the next without missing a beat. If you're a fan of real music and want to hear something outside of mainstream machine, this is definitely an album that will not disappoint. I posted a track below to check out. You can find his album "Stereotype" on Amazon, Itunes, and in your local record store. Support! Save the music!

Best Verse Week # 2:"Make Her Say"

It's that time again, cast your vote for the weekly best verse. Last week, Eminem edged out Drake by one vote on "Forever". This week features Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and Common on "Make Her Say". Who will take it this week?

Hip hop Hoop News

Jay-Z on Oprah: Sneak Peek




Lockout Official: The NBA formally notified the union representing its 57 active referees Friday that it was imposing a lockout, saying the rejection of its latest contract offer left "no choice but to begin using replacement referees."Lamell McMorris, lead negotiator for the referees, told CBSSports.com that he received formal notice of the lockout from the league shortly after 3 p.m. ET. Replacement refs will convene next week for the annual training camp for officials, although the timing of the camp is undecided based on the logistical challenges of convening replacements.If the NBA and its referees' union can't agree on a new two-year contract before Oct. 27, replacement referees will officiate regular season games for the first time since 1995. Read More....


Nas and Kelis Back Together?:Nas and Kelis caused a media frenzy when they got married and a seemingly bigger one when they filed for divorce. The two seemed to be over for good but recent rumors have been forming with unidentified "sources" telling media outlets that the two are reconciling their differences. "Nas and Kelis were celebrating his birthday with some friends and you couldn't tell they were divorcing to look at them. They seemed very intimate and were kissing and hugging and even left together," a source told WENN. Read More.....

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian to Marry?: Insiders tell E! News exclusively that Khloe Kardashian and her NBA star boyfriend Lamar Odom are already considering tying the knot.
Odom, a forward for the L.A. Lakers, and Khloé recently have been "talking about rings," says a source close to the couple. Members of the Kardashian family are neither confirming nor denying the wedding plans or a date. A rep for both stars have declined to comment. Read More....

T-Mac's Back: Tracy McGrady came all the way to Chicago to seek redemption. The seven-time all star has been in town for several months after having micro-fracture knee surgery earlier in the year. He spends most of his days rehabbing at ATTACK Athletics on the West Side and is convinced all the extra work he's put in this summer will turn him back into the player he once was. The ironic thing is that it took a lot of people to get McGrady to finally give the rehab facility in the Windy City a try.
His former teammate Luther Head tried to get the 30-year-old to give Tim Grover and his staff a chance, but he was unsuccessful, McGrady was too loyal to his trainer of 11 years, Wayne Hall.
"[Tracy] asks me now, [saying], 'You should have put a gun to my head and made me come,'" Head said during a training session last month. Read More....

The Truth is Out There

I've been listening to Hip Hop music since I was 7 or 8 years old when my big bro introduced me to legends of the game like KRS-1, Rakim, and NWA. But the one group that stood out above all of them was Public Enemy. Here was a group that fearlessly brought truth to the forefront; they viciously attacked the system that so meticulously declared war on the black community through violence, drugs, guns and propaganda. Lead by Chuck D, a gallant MC with a sonorous voice that inspired action in his listeners; the group tackled issues such as crack and its destruction of the black community, the government's relentless attempts to recruit the poor in an army disproportionately represented by Black and Latino soldiers, and the media being used as a tool of distraction away from pressing issues. After all the changes Hip Hop has seen, and in spite of Flava Flav's embarrassing decent into a modern day Sambo(still got love for you Flav), Public Enemy has never changed their agenda in providing resistance to the "system".

One of the lesser known member's of the group was the outspoken Professor Griff. The name might not ring a bell to those who aren't familiar with the group, but for those of us that have followed P.E., Griff is a well respected contributor to the movement. I posted a recent interview with the Professor discussing ills of the media, the "real" and the "fake" as well as the rise of the occult in Hip Hop. You may not agree with everything he is saying, or maybe even anything he's speaking of, but at least hear the brotha out. Sound off in the comments

Who Murdered It?

We have a new weekly feature here @ hiphophoop.blogspot.com called "Who Murdered It?" Once a week I will post a track featuring several artists on the site. Then I will post a poll for you to vote on which artist ripped it the most. The poll closes in 7 days, so get your vote in! Todays Track:

DRAKE FEAT. KANYE WEST, LIL WAYNE, AND EMINEM----FOREVER

Hip hop Hoop News

Jordan Inducted Into Hall Of Fame:

Allow Me to Re-introduce Myself

My name isn't Hov and I never sold snowflakes by the O -Z. I never sold drugs, Hov did that so hopefully I'll never have to go through that. And I'm not a rapper, my last album was not the Chronic. I'm just an avid reader of Hip Hop Hoop and was recently asked by the creator to give my input on the current state of music, primarily hip hop.  With the current state of hip hop being debated so heavily, I jumped on the opportunity to express my views. So over the next few weeks, I'll be adding my opinion about everything from cd reviews to what I'm bumping in the car to rapper's turned actors failing as rapper's again to over-rated artists who are just living off the past to creative new artists that you shouldn't get caught sleeping on, etc...  So thank you Mansa for getting that foot in the door and allowing me to kick it wide open..

New Tracks from Raekwon and Jay-Z Albums

New Joint off Blueprint 3: On to the Next Feat. Swizz Beats:

New Joint off Only Built for Cuban Linx 2: New We Feat. Ghostface and Meth

Iverson to the Grizzlies: Good Fit?

In a previous blog written about the Allen Iverson situation of this summer I stated that one of the best players ever to play the game was getting treated unfairly. He had been white balled, cast to the purgatory of a league that he helped popularize. Let's get one thing straight, Allen Iverson is an icon, a trend setter, and an amazing talent. How many players in the league did you see with corn rows, tattoos, and arm sleeves before the "Little Giant" stepped in the the league. When Jordan and his squeaky clean image left the court in 97, Iverson became the new face of a league that wanted no part of his "gangsta" image. When everybody was trying to "be like Mike", Iverson was just being himself. The NBA dress code, just one of many racist mandates handed down by David Stern, was aimed at players like A.I, players who refused too change their image or who they are to cater to the white media. But I digress; this is about Iverson the basketball player, and although he played a part in his decent into the cellar of the league, there should have been another team out there willing to take a chance.

The Memphis Grizzlies won a whopping 24 games last season, but they played hard every night and have an excellent young core of players. There are a couple things they did in the offseason that I didn't agree with as far as their direction as a team, but they still have a lot of talent. The trade for Zach Randolph was a questionable move, especially when you consider the Pau Gasol deal. (Their Salaries are basically the same). But Gasol was already gone, and when you have a chance to get another dominating low post scorer for next to nothing, you take it. What's worse is that they let Hakim Warrick go for nothing, and he was a major contributor to their team.

All is not lost in the land of Memphis. They did manage to snatch Sam Young out of Pittsburgh in the second round, and that was as much of a steal as Dejaun Blair to the Spurs. (These two, along with Jodie Meeks going in the second round just shows how "smart" these GMs really are.) O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay are a dynamic scoring tandem on the perimeter, especially with a post presence down low in Randolph. The issue with Randolph is he doesn't pass out of the post much and is viewed as selfish. As talented as Gay and Mayo are, they are still very young; their shot selections are questionable. Now we come to the intrigue surrounding this team: Where does Iverson fit. Is he starting or coming off the bench? The problem with bringing a veteran of this caliber to a team like this is that it could hinder the development of the young players. There is no doubt that Iverson should start over Mike Conley, but he really started playing well at the end of the year. Is it a good idea to bring Iverson in when the kid was just getting his confidence up and playing well?

At the press conference where Iverson was introduced as a Grizzly, he stated this season was personal and he felt like a rookie all over again. There is no doubt that Iverson has to use this one year stop in Memphis to prove he can play nice and join a contender next year. It's an unfair deal, but it is what it is. He has to be able to mentor the young talent, become more of a play maker without completely sacrificing his scoring ability, and lastly he cannot pout or get frustrated when things are going well. The microscope will stay focused on him, and sports writers across the nation can't wait to gloat in the face of a failed experiment. The Grizzlies will be exciting to watch and might even win a few more games, but they won't contend. What they will do is compete night and night out, something that fits the indemnity of a player that doesn't quit, and keeps fighting even when the odds are stacked against him.

Blood on Our Hands

The idea of Hip Hop being "dead" was prevalent in the hearts and minds of many MCs well before Nas decided to title his album with the bold proclamation at the end of 2006. If rappers didn't believe Hip Hop was actually deceased, they made tracks stating their opinion, usually believing that the culture was on its death bed. Common made the song "I Used to Love H.E.R." as an ode to hip hop back in 1994. The track was highly critical of the direction that Hip Hop was moving into at the time after attaining more commercial success in the mainstream. Around the same time other rappers stepped to the forefront to convey their disappointment in Hip Hop's apparent downward spiral from an art form that originated from the struggle of the oppressed, to a sound that has been over saturated with bravado and degradation. KRS-1, a Hip Hop pioneer and legend, has been one of the strongest advocates of "Real "Hip Hop as well as one of the bigger detractors of what would be considered "Commercial Rap." The question remains: Is Hip Hop as we once knew it truly dead? If it is dead, who is to blame for it's apparent assassination? Are we to blame the record labels, radio DJs, the artists themselves, or the fans?

The culture of Hip Hop has its origins deeply rooted in the streets and projects of the oppressed and disenfranchised. Of course there were groups with the commercial appeal that were enticing to white America that allowed the culture to gain notoriety. The "Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight" was a Hip Hop hit single that brought world attention to the growing sub-culture, but rap music's foundation was based in the ghettos and hoods that were generally ignored by the white community. Tracks like "The Message" by Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five and later album's like "Criminal Minded" by Boogie Down Productions gave America more of insight to the plight of African Americans in this country. The culture gave social commentary on black communities and the hardships we endured. The difference between now and then is that the music wasn't immersed in negativity. Run DMC, Melly Mel, Kurtis Blow, Public Enemy, Rakim and KRS-1 weren't glorifying the grind, but were creating ways to escape it. Somewhere the artist lost control of the mission while record labels played the role of master by deciding what was socially acceptable.

When an artist presents his/her album to a label, the label makes the choice of which songs will generate the most revenue for their company. This seems fair when making a business investment into an artist, but tracks with real messages are being scrapped and never see the light of day. There are MC's out there who refuse to let a record exec control their creativity and dumb down their music. Immortal Technique, an MC and political activist, claimed that he turned down a deal with a major label due to the constraints they attempted to place on his music. This intrusion has caused many artists to jump in the game looking for that hit single as oppose to invoking their music with passion and fervor. The music is suffering; the culture as a whole is yielding bastard children who have no regard for the art form that raised them. Radio DJ's influence the trend by deciding what's "hot" and what's not. What we're left with is the same formulaic sound echoing on radio airwaves 24/7.

I'm a fan of Hip Hop; I support the culture, the soul and the passion. In the early 90s, when I was old enough to appreciate what I was listening to, there was less of a divide of what was played on the radio and what was considered underground. Radio stations played Public Enemy, KRS-1, De La Soul, Wu- Tang, Tribe Called Quest, Nas, NWA, and ICE Cube. There was still an underground network, consisting more of local artists and others who broke the geographical barriers. But either way you went, it was still Hip Hop. I don't have a problem with main stream rap music. I listen to all Hip Hop, some time I might be in the mood for some gangsta shit, club shit or some political shit; I'm able to appreciate all sides of the spectrum. The problem is there is no more variety, and now we are forced to do extensive research to locate the remnants of the culture. The average listener will might never hear the Hell Razah joint, Blitz the Ambassador, or AntiPop Consortium just to name a few. I guess it's time to realize that the system has no need to support music that counters its very existence. Maybe it's time for the fans of the music to demand more from our artists, DJs and labels. Is Hip Hop really dead? I don't think so, there are plenty of MC's out there who will tell you differently, and prove that the culture is still breathing in their music. I hear the rumors, maybe she faked her own death. And while there are plenty of people dancing on her grave, she's in hiding, waiting for the perfect time to emerge form the ashes.