I heard on CBS today that the average American spends 42 hours a year in traffic. This is why us “East Coast Elites” can’t relate to the “average American” because I spend more than 42 hours a MONTH in traffic. So I couldn’t help but think of this old Michael Bolton scene from Office Space because this is me in traffic every day. Now, without further ado, the original track from Scarface.
We’re jumping into the way back machine, way back before I was even born, all the way to 1986. Back when the Beastie Boys ruled the early rap scene. And for all the millennials reading this, no that is not Eminem’s album cover. Em’s most recent album paid tribute to those that came before him with the Kamikaze cover.
Some days I bring you introspective, insightful rap music. Other days I bring you B-side tracks from some of the most popular albums that you may have forgotten about. Today? Today I bring you the one and only Ricky Rozay. It’s Thursday, the weekend isn’t quite here yet so I need something that bangs to get me through the day. Now lets go back to 2006 before everyone knew that Rick Ross was in reality about as big of a drug dealer as I am, but don’t let that phase you because Maybach Music still brings the heat THIRTEEN YEARS later.
PS – This song will never not be associated in my brain with the old Katt Williams bit. THATS MY SHIT!
Tom Brady and I must have a mental connection because on Saturday night I went deep down the rabbit hole of 2000’s rap and got into a debate (at a 30th birthday party because I’m washed) about how Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is one of the best rap albums of all time. So what does Tom bump for his celebratory Monday workout? Many Men from Get Rich or Die Tryin’ of course. It’s been 15 years, but this album still goes hard and *nothing* beats the over the top style of early 2000’s music videos.
I’ve been on a Lupe Fiasco kick this week after yesterday’s CRS post. Today I bring you Lupe’s first mega hit in the rap world with Kick Push, his ode to rebellious youth in the form of skateboarding. Lupe dominated the mid-00’s with his albums Food & Liquor in 2006, The Cool in 2007, and probably his most commercially successful album Lasers in 2011. The Cool is without a doubt my top Lupe album, but it’s hard to beat Kick Push in terms of individual tracks.
Before he knew he had a crew
There wasn’t no punk in they spitfire shirts and SB dunks
They would push till they could skate no more
Office building lobbies wasn’t safe no more
And it wasn’t like they wasn’t getting chased no more
Just the freedom was better than breathing they said
Update: Real recognize real.
It’s the week of Christmas so you’re either off from work or you’re at work pretending to do work so turn it up to 11 and chill out with this throwback from The Pharcyde. “Passin Me By” dropped in March 1993 so this is going way, way back for some old school rhymes. Even if you don’t recognize the name of the song you will 100% remember once it starts.
Not to be the old man on the lawn, but a lot of the rap thats popular these days I just don’t get. Mumble Rap, if you will, just ain’t for me so lets go back to the 90s when there was nothing more important than telling a good story with your rhymes. It’s what made Biggie, Nas, and Jay-Z the biggest artists in the world. So enjoy this little love story from The Pharcyde.
Wait, no, I did not really pursue my little princess with persistence
And I was so low-key that she was unaware of my existence
From a distance I desired, secretly admired her
Wired her a letter to get her, and it went
My dear, my dear, my dear, you do not know me but I know you very well
Now let me tell you about the feelings I have for you
When I try, or make some sort of attempt, I symp
Damn I wish I wasn’t such a wimp
‘Cause then I would let you know that I love you so
And if I was your man then I would be true
The only lying I would do is in the bed with you
Then I signed sincerely the one who loves you dearly, PS love me tender
The letter came back three days later, return to sender
Damn
She keeps on passing me by
I can’t do basic math, I’m bad at directions, and I’m terrible with names, but I can still rap Jay-Z’s verse on Frontin’ word for word in my car 15 years later.
I personally would like to apologize to Cole Beasley for sleeping on his debut rap album until just now because I heard it for the first time today and it BANGS.
Released last month, “The Autobiography”, popped up on my Spotify this morning while I was at the gym (no big deal) and I found myself jamming along before saying who the hell is this? Color me shocked to look down at my phone and see its none other than Dallas wide receiver Cole Beasley.
Any time an athlete releases an album I immediately think of Willie Beamen’s failed rap career. We’ve seen so many garbage musical endeavors from athletes over the years from guys like Deion Sanders, Shaq, more recently Lonzo Ball and lets not even mention Bernie Williams’ acoustic album.
But theres a few nuggets in there, hell even John Cena had a couple hits that get played to this day. Seriously, his song “My Time is Now” is featured in the new Toyota Camry commercial.
I can’t say I expected the white slot receiver from the Cowboys to put out such heat, but I should have known better with Cole Beasley. This is the guy who lives for roasting fools on Twitter.
The dude can spit, theres no denying it. He raps a lot about his money, but not in the way you’d expect. He talks about how he doesn’t have a flashy chain because he’s got his money put away for his kids’ college funds. He’s got a song about white stereotypes when it comes to rap, but more importantly how it relates to football. How he’s described as “deceptively athletic” where he says he’d probably just be “athletic” if he was black.
Cole world. #Cowboys #Giants #NFL #NYGvsDAL #NFLSunday pic.twitter.com/iHxeaf2VQf
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) September 11, 2017
Most importantly, this album has got legit beats and you can tell theres solid production value there. The guys a millionaire so I’m glad he didn’t make it in GarageBand. You can tell its not just a side project for the guy, he wants to be respected as more than just a football player. I gotta say, this is a pretty good rap album. Its not J. Cole’s KOD by any means, but there’s plenty of white space (no pun intended) to be filled in the rap scene today and believe it or not Cole Beasley’s album deserves a listen.
I live for videos like this. Nothing beats behind the scenes footage of your favorites actors and artists in their element seeing how they react to certain things. In this case we have Jay-Z hearing Dirt Off Your Shoulder for the first time, before it became the all-time classic that is today.
The Black Album really was a defining rap album of our generation. Watching Jay’s first reaction to hearing the beat from Timbaland and then seeing him get legitimately excited and jump in the booth is awesome. Thats why these guys are artists, they get inspired and then they absolutely crush it. If that doesn’t inspire you to find something you can feel the same way about then you’re probably already dead inside.
Bonus – This reminded me of a similar video where Jay first heard the Lucifer beat that a young Kanye made. Back when he was still on his polos and backpack. A+ stuff.
A much more somber and reflective Eminem than we’re used to is on full display in “Walk On Water.” Its something that every artist grapples with as they get older and further removed from their biggest hits. Em is a rap legend, but as he has referenced in several songs in the past few years, he’s not as big as he once was, which is something he’s coming to grips with.
“Walk On Water” is a much more mellow song than you normally hear from Em, which is why I worry most people won’t give it the proper attention and actually listen to it. Its not a heavy ass beat like Rap God, its not full of blind rage like Stan, and its not full of jokes like Without Me, but its definitely one of his deeper tracks. It also explains why we don’t hear much and why this track came out of nowhere. He seems to be struggling with trying to create perfection as he battles the perception of being older and past his prime, which is exactly what Dr. Dre struggled with for years in search of the unachievable “Detox.” Not a huge Beyonce fan, but this is a damn good song with some great wordplay and her chorus pairs well with the somber tone of the song. Pumped for the full album to drop, hopefully sooner than later.
It’s the curse of the standard
That the first of the Mathers discs set
Always in search of the verse that I haven’t spit yet
Will this step just be another misstep
To tarnish whatever the legacy, love or respect
I’ve garnered? The rhyme has to be perfect, the delivery flawless
And it always feels like I’m hittin’ the mark
‘Til I go sit in the car, listen and pick it apart
Like, “This shit is garbage!”
The 300s 