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Scattershot thoughts · by Sach O
Strictly the OG, never no remakes
• It’s a little chunky on the sides, but give UGK credit for sticking to their sound for the new album. What could have easily become an all star mess ruined by an overabundance of hot producers instead proves once again that a unique in-house sound wins every time. Although that’s assuming one axes the Jazze Pha and Lil Jon tracks.
• Percee P’s alliance with Madlib isn’t quite as rewarding but it’s no flop either. The main problem is that Percee’s high energy flow (still unchanged if you’re wondering) doesn’t mesh with Madlib’s stoned crate digger aesthetic no matter how good the ingredients may be individually. Come on Stones Throw: we want Madvillainy II!
• Every time Saigon leaks a track, I reiterate the same point: “this is dope, they should sell a CD with about 14 more of these”. Come On Baby is a banger which means that it probably won’t make a dent on the charts since it involves no 808’s, vocoders or concessions to the female gender. Hopefully Atlantic is smart enough to cross market it ala “Big Things Popping”. I’d pay to see a boxing flick that uses that track.
• It’s time for Ghostface to come clean about his grievances with the clan and Rza. You don’t go from executive producing Wu albums to barely appearing on them unless there are some underlying problems not coming to the light. And whatever happened that Doom collabo anyways?
• I heard that Sean Kingston track 50 times while up in Harlem last weekend. I really wish that was an exaggeration.
• Speaking of Harlem, Freekey Zeekey couldn’t even move 5000 units in his first week. That doesn’t bode well for Hell Rell. My theory is that the East Coast is sick of those hi-hats. That and hypeman albums never sell anyways.
• Amidst all the talks of fall-offs, how come nobody’s pointed out that Havoc’s production has been in a serious slump for the past few years? His latest single “I’m The Boss” is a perfect reminder of why I was so pissed at the Mobb until Return of the Mac. The minor keys are still there, but those drums and shiny synths are a terrible look. And don’t even get me started on that 50 Cent aping chorus…
• Speaking of which…Ayo Technology? Seriously? It’s songs like these that make me glad I’ll be spending the next year on the other side of the planet.
• Wack cover or not, XXL’s 10 year retrospective was pretty fly. I’m not saying you should spend any money on it (try buying a CD instead) but I skimmed it on my lunch break and they did a pretty good job at chronicling the last ten years of this rap minus the underground.
• I tried to like it, but Common’s new album is a textbook example of “diminishing returns”. Put down the Starbucks and start copping 40’s before you get drafted into the Dave Matthews band, homie. On the plus side, American Gangster could be this year’s “Inside Man”.
On that note, look for a couple of reviews in the coming weeks.
“concessions to the female gender”
you’re not the first to insinuate that radio friendliness and/or relatively wackish hip hop has to do with artists kowtowing to so-called womanly sensibilities but you are just as WRONG. what are these so-called concessions and what evidence do you have that they appeal exclusively to women?!
— jb Aug 3, 01:52 PM
As far as XXL’s concerned I thought the 10th Year Anniversary Issue was nothing more than smooth, shiny toiletpaper.
The last 10 years of Hip Hop minus the underground is a LOT of horrible material with the occasional good album by a vet thrown in every so often. The last 10 years of wack ass corporate music is why no one wants to spend upwards of $12 on another lackluster album.
One.
— Dart Adams Aug 3, 01:55 PM
In this case, those concessions would be simplistic dance beats and lyrics about a man’s purchasing power/desire to use that power to buy women objects. And sex.
Don’t get me wrong, men support their fair share of wack Hip Hop (usually the most violent stuff) but I will continue to blame club music on women due to the simple fact that rarely does a straight man ever goes to the club for the music: he goes to pick up women and thus club music tends to be catered to said women.
If you don’t feel like that generalization applies to you, then don’t get mad. I’m a white male. White males are responsible for a LOT of terrible rap music but I’m not going to try to deny it in an attempt to defend some idiot because he happens to also have a penis and lack melanin.
— Sach Aug 3, 02:04 PM
Good thoughts. I have to admit I was not too thrilled with the Common album as well. Ghost not on a Wu album will make their come back irrelevant. Saigon’s track is too hot. UGK album I been hearing alot of negativety, but I am feeling the album most def (no rapper). Who’s Freeky Zeeky? lol
— Big Homie Aug 3, 03:55 PM
this is not about skirting responsibility; this is about interrogating sexist commentary. your cheekiness will not absolve you. and club patronage anecdotes don’t count as evidence.
— jb Aug 3, 04:53 PM
Absolve me from what? Your judgment? You’re a cheerleader for your camp and nothing I say will change your opinion or “count as evidence” anyways.
At the end of the day I stand by my original statement but will amend it in long form for the sake of clarity: Saigon’s single is testosterone driven, aggressive and features little to no concessions to the club-rap audience which happens to be mostly female. This will limit its popularity but allows it to be more aggressive than the average 2007 rap single.
You have a right to the opinion that this isn’t the case and that Saigon will be touring Oprah and the View while promoting the song on the Lilith Fair tour, but I don’t see that happening personally.
Also, RE: cheekiness. Clearly I’m not taking this all that seriously.
— Sach Aug 3, 05:14 PM
>>As far as XXL’s concerned I thought the 10th Year Anniversary Issue was nothing more than smooth, shiny toiletpaper.
ah, it’s those types of sentiments that make all of the hard work worth it.
— eskay Aug 3, 06:21 PM
Every time Saigon leaks a track, I reiterate the same point: “this is dope, they should sell a CD with about 14 more of these”. Come On Baby is a banger which means that it probably won’t make a dent on the charts since it involves no 808’s, vocoders or concessions to the female gender. Hopefully Atlantic is smart enough to cross market it ala “Big Things Popping”. I’d pay to see a boxing flick that uses that track.
Mos definitely true…with the right push behind this song, there’s no reason why Saigon shouldn’t blow up.
—
It’s time for Ghostface to come clean about his grievances with the clan and Rza. You don’t go from executive producing Wu albums to barely appearing on them unless there are some underlying problems not coming to the light. And whatever happened that Doom collabo anyways?
It would be nice if they aired things out, but I respect the fact that they try to keep internal beef internal. I am relieved that he is going to be on the album though. I’m not holding my breath on the Ghost/Doom collabo though.
—
Speaking of which…Ayo Technology? Seriously? It’s songs like these that make me glad I’ll be spending the next year on the other side of the planet.
Probably would have “worked” better as Justin Timberlake f/Curtis Jackson, but whatever. “My Love” this is not.
— enigmatik Aug 3, 07:03 PM
I’m a white male. White males are responsible for a LOT of terrible rap music but I’m not going to try to deny it in an attempt to defend some idiot because he happens to also have a penis and lack melanin.
sach… you need to shut the fuck up…
I saw rakim too… before rock the balls… no typo…
your white ass couldnt rock yourself out of a paper bag. HONK HONK!!!
— mr. fuck this Aug 4, 02:45 AM
Sach, you’re dead wrong about Common. You’re entitled to your opinion, but still…
— DJ Flash Aug 4, 05:42 AM
Yeah, he’s sorta wrong. It’s not an example of “diminishing returns,” it’s an example of “one of the bottom 5 LPs of 2007.”
— Train Aug 4, 01:45 PM
It’s baffling to me why so many folks allegedly dislike the new Common album. I really think the pseudo ’70’s astral jazz’ style album cover is throwing a lot of cats off before they even get to the music. Production-wise it’s more gritty sounding than the ‘Be’ album and Common sounds as on-point as he ever has lyrically, so what gives? Why the hate??
— ian Aug 5, 02:41 AM
The hatred for Common’s latest offering can be partly explained by the fact that numerous people vastly overrate his earlier output.
— R.H.S. Aug 5, 12:29 PM
Get a copy of “Resurrection” and tell me which song is overrated. Really…
— Levi Aug 5, 03:22 PM
“Get a copy of “Resurrection” and tell me which song is overrated. Really…”
“I used to Love H.E.R.”—the most overrated Common song ever, edging “The Light” and “Retrospect…”
Even if you don’t recognize Resurrection as a classic, it’s hard for someone with taste to deny that his output this decade is vastly overrated. The only reason that people praise “Be” is because it followed “Electric Circus.”
— eauhellzgnaw Aug 5, 10:17 PM
Finding Forever > Be. am i the only one who thinks ‘Ye and Dilla’s production on the latter could fit in perfectly with your local smoooooth jazz station? it’s like rap for your grandpa who doesn’t like rap. this one, on the other hand, is chillness done right. it says somethin’ when the most amped-up tracks (“Southside” and “The Game”) are the ones i like the least.
that said, T.I.‘s album is still better. how the critics could be so right on King and so wrong on this one’s beyond me.
i don’t think “Ayo Technology’s” all that bad, it just kinda sounds like a less-complete leftover from one of Timbo’s recent beats. slightly disappointed, but anyone with ears knows dude’s been killin’ it lately. speaking of which, Shock Value > Finding Forever. non-rappin’-ass producers are runnin’ this rap shit.
— T.R.E.Y. Aug 6, 02:33 AM
Random question for the soul fiends and sample heads,does anyone know where the vocal sample on Can’t Tell Me Nothin comes from?
— Abe Beame Aug 6, 11:43 AM
I gave Finding Forever one listen and I came away feeling unimpressed. I’ve been a fan since the Soul by the Pound remix. The CD has its moments but that’s it. I might appreciate more after a couple of more listens but it doesn’t grab my attention instantly.
Wu.
If Ghost doesn’t explain his absence, it is all good. We’re talking about an 8-man crew. Meth, Inspectah Deck, U-God, are not slouching. Ghost will surely be missed but it is really neither here nor there. I just hope with so many unique members they consider trying different vocal arrangements as opposed to the regular mc after mc, etc. Wu will still be Wu, with limited Ghost participation. And at the end of the day, he doesn’t owe anyone any explanation. Just kick back and listen to any of his solo offerings and chill.
— Vee Aug 6, 12:10 PM
I saw Ghost live recently and he said “WE just finished the album.” Could have been bullshit to placate the crowd, but it didn’t sound like it.
— eauhellzgnaw Aug 6, 01:05 PM
I think I read somewhere that Ghost finally showed up to do three-ish tracks. As to why he’s staying away, maybe he prefers to end his shows with Cherchez la Ghost rather than Triumph.
— jon Aug 6, 02:31 PM
It’s been pretty widely reported that he is on the album but only on about four or five songs if I remember right.
— Rafi Aug 6, 02:43 PM
first….......?
— evolveone Aug 6, 03:42 PM
Where did you hear this, Rafi?
— Renato Pagnani Aug 6, 07:51 PM
Renato,
In the OnSmash video where the Wu discuss 8 diagrams they say Ghost is on 3 tracks.
And this recent Raekwon interview mentions Ghostface having done a few songs for the album.
jon was right on the reported track count.
— Rafi Aug 6, 10:49 PM
Havoc’s new beats aren’t as good as his earlier ones, but you could say that of any great mid-90s producer… Premo, Pete Rock, Dre, RZA, The Beatminerz, they all fell off. I still think he had some pretty decent beats on Amerikaz Nightmare and even Blood Money, they were just ruined by Prodigy’s awful rapping.
— Tray Aug 7, 01:07 PM
“jon was right on the reported track count.”
Hazy, unsubstantiated statements win again!
— jon Aug 8, 09:33 AM
38% of the people on this site detest you, 50% are indifferent, 12% are misinformed.
>>tre Interesting
— Mr.O Aug 9, 09:55 PM