Money is the root of all evil, but it’s also a vehicle to more clarity. When I heard this hot new Juvenile track “Picture Perfect,” which features Lil Wayne and Birdman — that’s right I said Juvenile featuring Lil Wayne and Birdman. When I heard this record, I realized the former Hot Boys crew had found some clarity in their misunderstandings with each other. This usually happens after the money is made, fame is achieved and you’ve traveled the world. Now it’s back to that “Hot” music. “Picture Perfect” should have the Hot Boys back on fire from the lower 9th ward in New Orleans to the S.W.A.T.S in the ATL. Will we get a remix that features the return of Mannie -Fi-Fi-Figgy Fresh to the fold? Call it wishful thinking or getting too far ahead myself. Whatever the case may be, it’s good to see the hip-hop heavyweights from The Crescent City back on the same page, at least musically.
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Only a superstar O.G. of a singer could sample his own work and re-make it into another classic. That’s exactly what Prince did with his release of this weeks “RNR Affair.” The song has an urban rock vibe to it and it also has the magic that Prince once breathed into hits like “Little Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry” and “Raspberry Beret.” “RNR Affair” has the feel of the song “1999,” maybe with a rock twist to it. Prince samples and replays the keys that made his song “1999” a classic. Dare I say with a hip-hop remix this song could really have legs in a few different genres of music. Only time will tell.
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I have to say it’s been a while since I’ve heard a Brandy song that has made me excited. Recently she appeared on a few tracks rapping, yes rapping, under the alias Brand Nu, which just completely threw all her fans off. Enough with the head fakes Brandy. Her latest record “Put It Down” is already beginning to heat up airwaves but with this remix featuring 2 Chainz and Tyga, she may be onto something. Having 2 Chainz on your record these days, whether you’re Kanye, Brandy or MC Nobody-knows-you, means you could have a hit. And that’s what Brandy needs. We’ll see if her mission is a success.
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You know, the first few songs that I heard from this Wu Block collabo, I can’t front I thought it was just going to be just that: a few songs. A year or so later, a Wu Block album is about drop that should be a must hear for any fan of real street sh*t. To give you a taste of the magic, they leaked their latest track “Stick Em,” which features Ghostface, Jadakiss and of course Sheek Louch. The songs are 48 bars of bliss layered over the classic Fat Boys sample “Stick Em.” Let’s hope these two MC crews will have a tour to support this Wu Block album that hits stores October 9th.
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Love him or hate him, you have to respect Gucci Mane. He came in the game being the arch-nemesis of the hottest D boy in rap music at that time, Young Jeezy. What happened next was a roller coaster of perils: from a string of great records, classic mixtapes and Wacka Flacka to the arrests, beat downs and even a body. What has remained consistent though is dope music, no pun intended. This new record “F*ck The World” is an example of that. It’s that street raw sh*t that’s a guilty pleasure to even the ears of Chelsea Handler. The artist Future spits a memorable hook that’s guaranteed to be anthem anytime this song “F*ck The World” plays anywhere. This is trap music at its finest, raw and uncut. The beat? Of course Mike WiLL Made It. Until we read again.
Brandon ‘TNT’ West
Music Exec / Industry Insider/ The Andy Rooney of Hip Hop Culture
Holla at him @tnt718
