| There are a couple of cuts that are hot off the press that everyone should be peeping out.. The first is from one of Oakland's most talented and to a large degree underrated groups Zion I..Group members Amp Live, DJ K-Genius and Zion bring an East Coast/NY style approach to their new song 'Critical' on Ground Control records is to say the least...bangin'. It's one of my top songs that I play during my Sunday Night Local Flava Show on 106 KMEL. The beats are rugged and the lyrics are tight. From a deejay standpoint, its a fun song to mix and cut up. The flip side track 'Venus' is also hittin'. On stage very few groups can match their energetic performance. And they get major props for their continous activism and positive approach toward Hip Hop. Zion I has come a long ways since dropping their first single 'Inner Light' about a year ago. They are soon scheduled to drop an album.. We'll keep you posted.. If you happen to be in the Bay Area you can peep Zion I performing this Friday November 19th at Storyville Niteclub [Fulton st] in San Francisco. Also on the bill will be The Grouch who is best known for his work with The Living Legends Crew.
 The other track I'm really feeling belongs to Toronto's Choclair. Entitled 'Let's Ride', this piano laden head boppin' track is definitely hittin' and no doubt adds proof to the nationwide buzz about Hip Hop's next big hot spot being North of the border in Toronto, Canada. Over the past year or so the 'T-Dot O Dot', has been representin' with a slew of emcees who have been holding their own and making folks sit up and take note. Artist like Saukrates , Kardinal Offishall along with Choclair have been building on the inroads that were initially made in past years by acts like Michee Mee who rolled with MC Lyte, Maestro Fresh Wes and one of my favorites The Dream Warriors [Remember cuts like 'Follow Me Not and Face In My Sink'?]. Although I have never been there, everyone I keep running into have been telling me Toronto has a burgeoning underground scene that will be well worth the trip. So without a doubt during my next vacation expect me in T-Dot. I'm just hoping the food is good and Choclair can introduce me to the women in his video 'Lets Ride' :). BTW The b-side to Lets Ride is a slammin' cut called 'Bare Witness' which features Guru of Gang Starr. If you happen to be in Washington DC on Wednesday Nov 17th and in Boston on Thursday Nov 18th or in Pittsburg, PA on Friday Nov 19th, be sure to check for Choclair 'cause he'll be performing on the Lyricist Lounge Tour. For more info drop Choclair a line at mailto:day@choclair.net.
Some other underground hits worth peepin' include LA based Mykill Miers who is a frequent guest on the Sway & King Tech Wake Up Show. His new song 'The Illest' will have you feeling good about Hip Hop and fiending for more. Insane Poetry drops three dope songs including 'Let 'Em Know', 'Shroom Vision' and 'Calico Flows' All these hard hittin' songs are featured on the emerging Blackberry music label. Again I'm really feeling this label..They're like a Rawkus of the West in the sense that they appear to be letting their artists do what they do best, put out good music that you won't necessarily hear on radio.. but nevertheless will find itself a home among today's b-boy and b-girl.
Speaking of Rawkus, they're on a roll of enormous proportions as they've just released excellent lps by Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch. They also dropped a nice album entitled 'Home Field Advantage' from a group that I feel a lot of headz have been overlooking..High & Mighty. These guys caused quite a stir when they dropped the hit song B-Boy Document. After that died down, you didn't hear too much about them in spite of the fact their album was kinda nice.. Songs like 'Top Prospects', 'The Last Hit' and 'Mighty Mi For Your Stereo' were more then enough to make one take note. So if you haven't peeped them out.. give them a second chance.. Also coming out of the Rawkus/High & Mighty camp are the Smut Peddlers. Their new songs 'First Name Smut' and 'For The Record' are worth checkin' out.
Another song that's gonna kick up dust and cause some controversy is the new one from Onyx's Sticky Fingaz entitled 'Jackin' For Beats'. This track is in the same vein as 50 Cent's summer time hit 'How To Rob'. Here Sticky boldly talks about how he's gonna snatch beats and rhyme styles from such notables like Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Nas, Juvenile, Eve and even his own group Onyx. Maybe its me, but the song seems gimmicky..We'll see if it catches on..
The song that has got everyone talking at least in these parts is the brand new joint off the upcoming 'Born Again' lp by The Notorious BIG. Entitled 'Notorious' the song features Mr Puff Daddy and Lil Kim and borrows from the classic 'modern rock' song Notorious by Duran Duran. It was definitely a clever use of the sample.. The song hits..
Straight from the South comes Big Pokey and his new joint 'Ball-N-Parlay'. It features artists like Lil Keke, Mr 3-2 and Big Moe. If you like that song by Lil Troy called 'I Wanna Be A Baller' then you will definitely be feeling this one. Although it features different artist, Big Pokey brings the same feel and energy to this new cut. It has a floor packin beat, nice singing hook and that down south gritty flava. It's one of my favorite cuts at this time. The b side track "Hardest Pit' was a pleasant surprise as it utilizes the same beat from the Notorious BIG track 'Your Nobody Till Somebody Kills You'.
On the album tip..I'm loving the new Dr Dre.. After a 4-5 year hiatus.I think he came back..and came back strong. Tracks like 'What's The Difference' w/ Eminem and Xzibit, 'The next Episode' with Dre and Snoop, 'Big Egos' w/ Hittman and ' Some LA Niggas which features King T, Kokane, Defari, Xzibit, Knoc-Turnal and old NWA member MC Ren. From start to finish, the lp hits..It will never be on the classic level as The Chronic.. but this is a nice follow up.. I do have to wonder about Dre's back and forth stance on things.. If you recall, when he first started his Aftermath Label he released as his first single 'Been There Done That', where he basically let it be known all that gangsta stuff for him was finished. After listening to his album, it's obvious that Dre 's not ready to abandon his old ways. In fact he even admits to inventing the phrase 'gangsta rap'. Dre's switch around reminds me of the time he boldly stated on a song 'Express Yourself' about how he would never smoke weed because it causes brain damage. Of course he later went on to drop the song 'The Chronic' and the rest is history. I wonder what made Dre decide he didn't wanna be a space where he 'Had Been There Done That' ?
Ultimate Hip Hop Gems of the Week: This has got to be the new Bob Marley album which features everyone from Chuck D to Erykah Badu to MC Lyte to Busta Rhymes. All of these artists have been incorporated into songs originally done by Marley. Through the miracle of modern technology everyone now raps and sings alongside him.. If there was any reason to pick up this album, it's just to hear how Hip Hop legend Rakim skillfully flows on the song 'Concrete Jungle' with Marley. That alone was worth picking up the album..
The other hidden jewel from the underground is the new cut 'Goldmine' from former Pharcyde member Fatlip. If he continues on this pace..expect to hear a killer album when it drops.. I wonder when Pharcyde themselves is gonna drop a new joint. they should've taken advantage of being on 'The Real World' and had some material to promote. Oh well, 'c'est la vie.
Disappointments from the underground..has got to be Master P and his new lp 'Only God can Judge me'. I'm a fan of Ps..and while I don't expect him to be a lyrical genius, I did expect to hear a few songs that would go on to be big hits for him.. The only track I could pick out of 20+ tracks was 'Da Ballers featuring Master P and Jermaine Dupris. I'm not sure if this lp was rushed or if P has been able to take time out and really concentrate on his career as an artist. It's also unclear about how the departure of his long time producers 'Beats By The Pound' effected him and musical decision making. Nevertheless its not hitting.
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