Good Saturday morning from sunny Cali. Fresh from the Super bowl, next stop is music’s most well-known awards show. The Los Angeles Lakers are performing on their annual “Grammy tour” so you know that means The Grammys are on at The Staples Center this Sunday. Now, say what you want, but the Grammy Awards, as “prestigious” as it is, is merely a music industry POPularity contest. For example: If you examine the categories for hip-hop music, you will find the usual (Kanye, Jay-Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre) artist up for awards.
It was good to see Wiz Khalifa and Nicki Minaj getting several nominations. They deserve it. The J Cole nominee kind of threw me off though. Yes, he is a dope artist but (in my Charles Barkley hatin’ voice) I don’t know how he is considered one of the best new artists. How did Kelly Rowland and Rihanna sneak into The Best Rap Duo categories with “Motivation” and “What’s My Name?” Aren’t those really R&B records? Riddle me this: I’m no huge Rick Ross fan, but the hottest hip-hop artist in 2011 was Rozay hands down. Yet, he wasn’t even considered for much of anything except as part of a collabo for DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One.” The sales numbers and chart positions on his singles hurt Ross. The pop effect continues to alienate the true champions in any music category. But it is The Grammy’s…
Philadelphia, known for its cheese steaks, The 76ers and Rocky has one of the hottest new stars in hip-hop music with Meek Mill. Not since Beanie Sigel and Freeway has Philly been so ablaze in the world of rap. Meek has found great chemistry with producer Cardiak and this week another single, “Errrday,” leaked to the streets and airwaves. Like Diddy does with his artist, Rick Ross is the co-star (once again) on the track, sort of similar to the “Ima Boss” record. “Errrday” may not have the same wide club appeal as “Ima Boss,” but it’s still hot enough to keep Meek the topic of discussion.
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Brandy and Monica were two of the 90’s most talented young singers. Personal trials and tribulations prevented both from truly achieving the ultimate success they could have had. Yet both went on to have respectable fame: Monica with a few fairly successful albums and Brandy on TV. Early in their careers, they did a record together titled “The Boy Is Mine,” which was a smash. The two recently reunited in the studio for a new track titled “It All Belongs to Me.” This time instead of musically fighting over their boo, they’re getting rid of him. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, too. Rico Love is an incredible producer and this track is another gem in his rich discography. “It All Belongs to Me” is a great song but will music fans care enough to give it chance to react? We’ll see…
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Charlie Hustle season is here. That’s right, for the past few weeks E-40 has re-emerged with trunk rattlin’ tracks like “Function” and this week’s “They Point.” This time around, 40 Water recruits 2 Chainz and hip-hop music’s court jester Juicy J. The beat is courtesy of Bangladesh. This is definitely that bay area slap music, but the 808 kick will also give it a chance in Atlanta clubs if they push it hard. “They Point” probably won’t get A side attention, but I guarantee if your in a strip club in the Bay or ATL this is that type of record.
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The Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most important groups to ever grace a hip-hop stage. Over night, this nine-member crew transformed Staten Island from wack obscurity into ‘Shaolin Island’, one of the most popular hip-hop hometowns of the 90’s. Members of the clan have gone on to successful solo careers as well as TV and Film. Raekwon has his label, Ice Water, and he’s pushing a new R&B artist Kofi Black. In time for Valentine’s Day, Kofi drops “I Love You Crazy.” This song is definitely for the grown and sexy but if you’re a Raekwon fan, you’re probably in the grown category. “ Love You Crazy” can’t compete with Trey Songz, but it’s refreshing to hear a singer singing about love. Rae laces the track with a “razor sharp” 16-bar jab just in case…R.I.P. Ol Dirty!
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If Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa are the modern version of Cheech and Chong than Harlem’s own Smoke DZA is on par with Dave Chappelle or Devin the Dude when it comes to chronic. Just listening to a track by DZA is enough to catch a contact high. This week I heard a new record from him titled “Marley’s Garden.” Smokey D pays homage to Robert Nesta in his own unique way. The wordplay on this track is sort of dreamy. You can tell the lyrics were definitely influenced by cumulus clouds of smoke and dubs. There’s a dope Bob Marley sound bite in the record worth peeping as well. Until we read again!
Brandon ‘TNT’ West
Music Exec / Industry Insider/ The Andy Rooney of Hip Hop Culture
Holla at him @tnt718
