Wu Tang News (as if we report on anything else...)

Wu Tang Corp. has released a statement saying that Cuban Linx II is "almost finished, if not already finished. According to Raekwon’s management the production credits are shared 50/50 between Dr. Dre and RZA but the final tracklisting has yet to prove if it will be the end result." Busta's name isn't mentioned at all in the release, so I don't know if he's still exec. producing or what. Apparently the entire clan will be appearing on the album, but no other guest appearances can be confirmed at this point. Nah Right posted this track up along with the news,

"Rooftop" by Raekwon the Chef

Maybe it's one of those tracks that grows on you, but for now it just strikes me as being nothing too special, and not nearly as enjoyable as "State of Grace", (except for that stupid line about a brokedown fucking mazda).

"State of Grace" Remix feat. Busta Rhymes by Raekwon the Chef

In other Wu News, apparently Jay Z is pushing Ghostface to drop another album by December 12 and will not be having the Ghost appear on his new album, despite rumors saying otherwise. The album is currently titled "More Fish".

In NON WU TANG news, a radio host friend of mine informed me that "O Valencia!" is going to be the single off of the new Decemberists album.

I know I panned the album earlier, and I still don't love it, but I have to say it has grown on me a bit. My thing with it was that it sounds like Colin Meloy's solo stuff more than it does the Decemberists. I happen to like when Colin Meloy sang "Valencia" solo though, so maybe that's why I'm so down with this track.

"O Valencia!" by the Decemberists

"Valencia" by Colin Meloy

Thankyou to Lauren for the tip about the Decemberists single, listen to her on the Campus Buzz, sundays at 8 on 89.5FM WSOU.

samplus ad infinitum

So it's not that uncommon for multiple songs to gank the same sample, I wrote about one example of it not that long ago with Ghostface and M.I.A.'s different interpretations of Dr. Buzzard's "Sunshower". See what I think is an even cooler production phenomenon is the sampling of a sample.

The sample in question? Ini Kamoze's "World A Music"

"World A Music" by Ini Kamoze


Just as is, this song is really nothing special in my mind, which is why it's so interesting that it could make such a great sample with that famous line, "out in the streets, they call it murrrrderrrr". I really prefer "Hotstepper" to this song overall. That song was on FIRE back in the fourth grade.

So from there, we find ourselves with Jr. Gong.

Mr. Damian Marley twisted one line from "World A Music" into one of the most infectious hooks in recent history. To his credit, the youngest Marley has made a lot of awesome music that hasn't been exposed to the masses in the way "Jamrock" has been. Regardless of his other songs though, "Welcome to Jamrock" is radio gold, plain and simple. There was a time in my life where I loved Hot 97 and airhorns (I still love the airhorns) and I owe it all to this wonderful song. This and "Satisfy Her" by I Wayne, but that's a story for another day entirely.

"Welcome to Jamrock" by Damian Marley

The success and the rockingness of the single brought us a ton of remixes, but most stuck to just throwing their own verses on and naming their own city along with the chorus. It works sometimes, it fails other times, but either way it's never terribly exciting. Busta and Kano both offered up versions in this fashion. Kano's is pretty cool. Busta's, ehh.

"Welcome to Jamrock New York" by Busta Rhymes

"Jamrock Freestyle" by Kano

Now, enter Human Crack in the flesh, A!

Juelz was the first one I heard to pop up with a new take on "Jamrock" that wasn't just a new rap done over the same beat. Dipset may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't my cup of tea. Or at least one variety of tea among many that I do enjoy. One of the things that I love about this song is that Juelz samples a great hook, uses it for the beat, then makes his own great vocal hook to go over it. Maybe there'll be some disagreement out there over whether or not "Murder Murder Murder Murder Ma Murder" constitutes a great hook, but as is the general rule with the Diplomats, it's not neccessarily about content, it's all about delivery.

"Murda, Murda" by Juelz Santana



ALSO,

I got the new Decemberists album, expect a full critique by Thursday or maybe later, who knows. There's a new female vocalist who pops up, I dunno how a feel about it. This track is pretty cool though, partially because it makes me think about the New York Yankees being speared by knives on guns.

"Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)" by the Decemberists

Erreday, eh erreday I'm hustalin

So, over at ohword, they posted up an "exclusive remix" of Rick Ross' "Hustlin'". I don't want to give away the joke, but you reeally should listen to it. It's funny.

"Hustlin" OhWord Remix by Rick Ross

and I guess, why not just have other versions, ya know for reference.

"Hustlin'" Remix feat. Busta Rhymes by Rick Ross

"Hustlin'" Remix feat. T.I. by Rick Ross

"Hustlin'" by Rick Ross

L-B-See ya

So I caught a video the other day for the titular single from Tha Dogg Pound's upcoming album "Cali is Active". I've never been the biggest fan of West Coast Hip Hop, but it's nice to be reminded they exist, especially in the midst of this Big Up New York phase. The video has a ton of cameous from various luminaries of the left coast, including Dj Quik, B Real, Xzibit, and my favorite rapper to ever appear on a home recorded Sublime album, 2 $hort. Like I said, this funky west coast shit has just never really been my style, but this track is done well.

"Cali Is Active" by Tha Dogg Pound

and since I brought it up...

"Q-Ball" by Sublime with Q Ball and 2 $hort

To move things back to my side of the country for a moment, I caught a little bit of the Busta Rhymes / Clinton Sparks mixtape "New Crack City" today and it sounds good as hell. Maybe I'm a little biased towards Busta, but it seems like he can do no wrong these days. Check out Soul-Sides for a more indepth review and a couple tracks.

I'm on my New York Shit

So it seems that that Busta Rhymes' "New York Shit" has got New York Rappers clamoring to rep their city, lest they be accused of just not keeping it real. One of the results of the trend is the DJ Green Lantern and DJ Kay Slay collabo mixtape, On My New York Shit. There's a huge roster of talent here, with the movement headed by Busta Rhymes, with back up firepower coming from Papoose, Nas, Hi-Tek, Jim Jones, Remy Ma, Lloyd Banks, Timbaland, Styles P., Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Snyplife, Swizz Beats, Tru Life, Akon, Prinz and Grafh of Blackhand Ent., Red Café, J.R. Writer, Jae Millz, Cory Gunz, Hell Rell, Uncle Murda, Stack Bundles, Maino, Mike Beck, Tony Sunshine, Scram Jones, Joell Ortiz, Flawless, plus elder statesmen Ghostface, Raekwon, Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane, and Lord Tariq. So first of all, there's a lot of NY talent that's noticeably absent. But you can't get everybody on one tape and there is a lot represented here. I was especially pysched to see that Dj Hi-Tek produced a track for Busta and Nas, and it turned out to be one of my favorites, along with Uncle Murda's "Murdera!" which has a ridiculous reggae beat and a great chorus. "Uptown" from Jae Millz, and Five Deadly Venoms from the old guard of Starks, Rae, and company also turned out to be solid tracks. It's a fun tape to listen to and it's nice to see such fervent New York pride, genuine as it may or may not be, but I do have some mixed feelings about certain parts. Two songs jack beats from the "Liquid Swords" album and on one hand you could look at that like, "Oh hey they're using beats from New York Classics, just like they opened the tape with the New York State of Mind beat." Jim Jones freestyles over Liquid Swords though and even though I do kind of enjoy it, is Jim Jones really cool enough to be spitting over that beat? I'm pretty sure the answers no. Either way, check it out. There's some cool sound effects, some enjoyable Frank Sinatra, and Busta's speeches are awesome.

You can see the tracklisting here,

and you can stream the whole mixtape at hiphopdx.com

In Related News, I heard Joe Budden's answer to the whole New York Shit craze yesterday.

Joe Budden - On My New Jerz Shit.

and, a little something from the man who would be King of New York if it weren't for a lot of ignorance in the world:

Talib Kweli and Jean Grae - New York Shit Freestyle

Raekwon the God

Couple months ago, I saw the Gza the Genius at BB Kings and he tore shit up. Raekwon was out on stage lending his voice for most of the set and hyping up Cuban Links 2: Heron Only. The whole idea of making a followup to Cuban Links seems somewhat ambitious (see Liquid Swords part 2), it's without a doubt one of the best efforts in the entire Wu canon. So maybe that's why Rae's been teaming up with another elder statesmen of Rap who's been preparing his own comeback??

Raekwon the Chef feat. Busta Rhymes - State of Grace Remix

The track's a remix of a supposed Cuban Links 2 track and it's one of many recent remix and mixtape collaborations between Busta and Rae. It'd be cool as hell if these two got to working together all the time. Especially after hearing Raekwon's guest appearance on Busta's new album,

Busta Rhymes feat. Raekwon the Chef - Goldmine

There's definitely a strong Wu sound on the track, which in my mind is never a bad thing. So with Cuban Links 2 supposedly dropping soon, the Big Bang just coming out, and Fishscale dominating, looks like New York might snatch hip hop back. If you have a chance, check out some of the other Busta/Raekwon collabos, (what's beef, coke dealings) and on the Wu side of things, DEFINITELY check out this new Masta Killa track featuring Raekwon and Tony Starks.

Masta Killa feat. Raekwon and Tony Starks - It Is What It Is