Motor City

Drake Perfoming In Detroit W/ Big Sean and Wale from Flying With Da Fishes Blog on Vimeo.

Tell me these guys don't know how to rock a crowd. You kidding yourself if you believe otherwise. This is why I effs with Drake.

"My name is Drizzy and I aint perfect, but I work hard and I deserve it." - Drake

One Minute Please

I'm in love with talent especially when it's young upcoming musical talent. There is this young talented guy who resides from Memphis, Tennessee by the stage name Skewby. I checked his music out and the guy has some nice skills. He exhibits a new image in the city of Memphis that I can relate to. Not too many people in Memphis are in the category of being "different" in a city where it seems as if you are smothered by people who are followers. Sometimes it seems to me in this city that very few people create their own identity. Those few who do stand out for open criticism, but they don't know any better they got jet lag. Be yourself have your own identity. As I always say everyone was born with their own identity -fingerprints - so keep it.

Skewby also established his own publishing company - Skewby Snax Publishing (ASCAP) and has a goal for a production company in the future.

"I said ma I can make it rain, Bush made it hell." - Skewby D

Disc Jockey

Via highsnobiety

Straight from Vestax the Handy Trax USB Turntable Recorder. This piece of equipment plays vinyl and also converts vinyl to WAV or AIFF up to 24bit/48kHz. It comes with a built in 4W speaker and also offers volume controller fader. It can run off batteries making it more travel worthy. For anyone who seems remotely interested keep an eye out as it is stated to be released later this year.

"I'm the king of rock there is none higher, sucker MC's should called me sire." - Run D.M.C.

Stay Up

88 keys featuring Kanye West. The video speaks for itself. Reminds me of Eddie Murphy with the Nutty Professor.

Humor x creativity = success!

RJ

Sky Might Fall

"The sky might... the sky might fall... but I'm not worried at all."

I digs Kid Cudi this guy is equipped with talent and to add to that he already teamed up with the right producer 'Ye. What more can I say?

RJ

Prom Queen

Lil' Wayne "Prom Queen" video. Wanye is doing something different, some may like different while others will not. Rock 'n roll and hip duo was first seen back in the 80's with Run DMC and Aerosmith so it's not completely new to the scene. Sometimes you gotta' step outside the neutral zone.

RJ

8 Mintues or 7:58

8 min with Big Sean from Pugs Atomz on Vimeo.

Interview with Big Sean check him out at his website uknowbigsean.wordpress.com

This dude is talented. Keep a look out for his album "Finally Famous" which is scheduled to release sometime this spring. Features of such artist as Pharrell, Kanye, The Dream, and possibly more.

RJ

Bump It

Erykah Badu all the way back in '97 with then boyfriend André 3000. I love this video plus the song is bumping. It's something about Erykah Badu that I like. I find her attractive anyway, I think her soulful image wins me over.

"Whatcha gone do when it comes for you?"

RJ

O's

Ric Hil's first video for his hit single "O's."

"This is what I do to get me by... by..."

RJ

Day N Night

Kid Cudi he brings that unique talent to the table and the video is creative and speaks for itself.

RJ

Microphone Check

Kid Cudi and Kanye West gracing 106 & Park presence. Kid Cudi and Kanye West gave the microphones the death penalty. That microphone will never be the same again! Kid Cudi flow is over the top deadly.

RJ

Welcome To Heartbreak

KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

You know Kanye West is always good when it comes to extremely creative videos. Unlike most artist Kanye West displays a lot of artistic images and scenes throughout most of his videos.

I like the concept of the video its creativity at its finest.

RJ

Best Performance

M.I.A, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Weezy, and T.I. last night at the 51st Grammys all on the same stage at the same time. The Grammys overrall disappointed me but this single performance made up for it. Too much swagger on one stage! This was the best performance of the night no questions asked.

RJ

Chester French

So... Chester French is like this indie/pop/hip-hop/rock American music group which consist of a guy named D.A. Wallach and a guy named Maxwell Drummey. They both attened college together at Harvard University. They decided to name their band after famous sculptor Daniel Chester French, and one of his key designs was the Lincoln Memorial. Anywho... they are signed to Star Trak Entertainment Label with Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. Chester French has some good music and good talent to back them up. Obviously... because their signed to Star Trak right? I mean Pharrell does have an ear for music!

Well unclog your ears and give these guys a listen!

RJ

One Kind

www.myspace.com/onefuckinkind

So... there is this guy named Deandre Jackson also known by his stage name One Kind. I have been knowing him for years we go all the way back to junior high school and now he is doing his music thing. All friendship aside, he is very talented, intelligent with his flows, lyrical wordplay is on point, and his beats coincide with the lyrics. I can honestly say if he stays on his game and keep his passion for his music then he will go a long way. His music is different that is what sets him apart from the crowd.

Producer: Brian LeSure

Sooner or later, this guy will be rocking a crowd nearest you!

Below are two mixtapes that I picked that he has done!

Download Mixtape Provided by DatPiff.com

Download Mixtape Provided by DatPiff.com

RJ

Money Goes

New from Jay-Z be looking for it to appear on the BluePrint 3 which drops out this year!

RJ

Pennies from The Cool Kids

The Cool Kids always seem to catch my attention with their creative concept videos. Pennies falling from the sky, the background of the video, and their beats always keep my head nodding.

Big ups to Chuck for rocking the Detroit Pistons #4 Joe Dumars jersey.

My favorite team!

RJ

Mystery of Iniquity

Lauryn Hill has to be one of my all time favorite female R&B artist. She is extremely versatile, she brings that neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and funk and just mix it all up into one big production of creativty. Lauryn Hill's music is timeless.

I have a lot of favorite songs from her, the woman goes HARDER than cement and steel. Her delivery, smooth vocals, and lyrical prowess is remarkable.

This song titled "Mystery of Iniquity" is my favorite lyrical content song by Lauryn Hill, she brings it in this song. This song is also on her MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 live album that she recorded back in July of 2001 in Times Square New York City. Listen to the words.

She is a LEGEND.

RJ

The Renaissance

The Renaissance is Q-Tip's second studio album and was released on Novememver 4th, 2008 under Universal Motown Records.

Even though this album came out last year I thought it was only right to bring it back to attention because I feel that some people may have slept on this album.

The melody, the rhythm, the rhyme, and the lyrical content is what makes this album alluring. This is the definition of real hip-hop.

Track listing
1. "Johnny is Dead"
2. "Won't Trade"
3. "Gettin' Up"
4. "Official"
5. "You"
6. "We Fight/We Love" feat. Raphael Saadiq
7. "Manwomanboogie" feat. Amanda Diva
8. "Move"
9. "Dance on Glass"
10. "Life Is Better" feat. Norah Jones
11. "Believe" feat. D'Angleo
12. "Shaka"
13. "Feva" (UK Bonus)

This album displays the uncanny talent that Q-Tip has. With the different collaborations with artisit such as Raphael Saadiq, D'Angleo, Amanda Diva, and Norah Jones.

With the exception of two tracks that were done by the late great J Dilla, Q-Tip produced most of the album. Q-Tip is extremely versatile I can't even come up with the slightest reason why his talent gets overlooked for the most part. A lot of people just don't know real music, huh? Yeah... that's it!

My favorite songs on The Renaissance album are:
"Gettin' Up"
"Life Is Better" feat. Norah Jones
"We Fight/We Love" feat. Raphael Saadiq
"Believe" feat. D'Angleo

...Now that's real Hip-Hop and somebody said it was dead. Well I say it was just on life support waiting to be revived!

RJ

A Man's Thoughts

Ginuwine is scheduled to release his 7th studio album titled A Man's Thoughts in 2009. The album will feature production by Timbaland, Bryan Michael Cox, Oak, and Tank. The first single on the album is called "Last Chance" which is produced by Bryan Michael Cox.

Be on the look out for Ginuwine's album which is set to release in 2009. Honestly, he is one of my favorite R&B singers, his music goes HARD.

My favorites of his past include:
"Stingy"
"Ain't None of Your Friends Business"
"In Those Jeans"
"Anxious"
"Pony"
"Differences"

Those songs speak for themselves!

RJ