Topics

46

General Discussion / Album of the year

« on: November 29, 2009, 07:27:15 PM »

It's 20/20 Hip-Hop Awards time again, and we'd like your vote for the album of the year.

What's your favourite hip-hop album of 2009? Go.

47

General Discussion / Best verses

« on: November 29, 2009, 12:10:08 AM »

So here's a question.

I'm making a mix of 2009's best verses. If I play a selection of the verses (cut from their songs) one after the other, does it make them less powerful? In other words, if you hear them outside the context of the whole track, does it neuter them?

Example: K'Naan's Somalia verse two is in there. Does it feel odd to listen to when removed from the song and played by itself?

48

General Discussion / Ice Cube Appreciation Thread

« on: November 23, 2009, 10:50:18 AM »

...kind of says it all, doesn't it.

One of the most important artists to ever practice rapping. If I had to pick a favourite - not necessarily the best, but a favourite - it'd be The Predator and Today Was A Good Day. The LA Riots had such a presence on that album.

49

General Discussion / Best Madam and Eve this year

« on: November 19, 2009, 11:29:09 AM »

50

General Discussion / Urthboy

« on: November 18, 2009, 01:20:03 PM »

Dope-a** vid:

Urthboy is a hip hop artist from Australia.

His first group, Explanetary, a short-lived project featuring members of Hermitude and school friends, folded after one EP In On The Deal (2001).

Urthboy's first solo album Distant Sense of Random Menace was released in 2004 ("Aussie Hip Hop needs this album" The Brag) and featured singles No Rider and Come Around. But it was 2007's The Signal that kicked things up a notch.

With the exceptional production of Count Bounce (TZU) and Elgusto (Hermitude), as well as the success of the first single We Get Around (top 25 in Triple J's Hottest 100), The Signal was hailed as "a cla**ic" by Rolling Stone. It received two AIR Award nominations; a J Award nomination (Triple J's Album of the Year award); and it was shortlisted in the prestigious Australian Music Prize (Best Album 2007). The only national tour off the back of the album was completely sold out.

Significantly, the album was licensed to Motivo Records (among a select few hip hop records from Australia ever licensed overseas) and released late 2007. Urthboy has ventured beyond Australian shores (Malaysia 2007, Japan 2008).

In addition to solo material, Urthboy is one of the main lyricists of The Herd, whose four albums The Herd (2001); An Elefant Never Forgets (2003); The Sun Never Sets (2005/06); and Summerland (2008) have seen them build a huge fanbase in Australia. They've sold out national tours, including major metropolitan theatres through to regional venues whilst accepting invitations to every major festival in the country. During this time they've won AIR Awards; landed in the top 10 of the national charts; been nominated for an ARIA award (Best Urban 2008); J Awards and an AMP award.

2009 sees the release of Urthboy's much anticipated third solo album, Spitshine.

Urthboy is label manager for Elefant Traks records.

51

General Discussion / Oh Jesus.

« on: November 10, 2009, 10:28:39 AM »

His name is Bangs. Of Sudanese extraction. Thank Christ he lives in Australia.

52

General Discussion / Vote for Rob!

« on: November 04, 2009, 11:39:56 AM »

I've decided to take charge of my own self-promotion. Yes, I'm aware I look like a complete f***wit, but bear with me.

I've been nominated in the UK's Record of the Day Awards (a music industry organisation) in the category of Best Editor. This is for a live music mag I edited called LTD (London Tourdates). It's ironic, since I left the mag in July, but hey.

It'd be great if you'd take a minute and vote for YA BOY! Haha. The link is here:

www.recordoftheday.com/www/awards

Thanks in advance!

LTD website: www.tourdates.co.uk
Some of my writing: www.robboffard.com/page8.htm

53

General Discussion / Questions

« on: October 27, 2009, 04:45:22 PM »

I've got a gig as a hip-hop researcher for a music website. I'm researching details of artists and writing up profiles.

Thought I'd plumb the knowledge depths of this site. Can you guys help me out with some of the following?

- I need some info on Terror Squad. Specifically, the real names of Prospect and Armageddon, and the Date of Births (longshot, I know) of those two plus Triple Seis.

- Real names of Lexx and Wexx from Tapemasters, Inc.

- Real names of the rappers from The Federation - the Bay Area dudes, not MrC's crew.

And yes, I've Wikid and Googled the f*** out of this. Can anyone help?

54

General Discussion / Reggae

« on: October 19, 2009, 10:15:50 PM »

I need some help.

I've decided, almost out of the blue, that I like reggae. I mean really, really like reggae. Not enough to replace my love of hip-hop (think what that would mean) but enough that I want to start listening to it. A lot.

Thing is, I own no reggae CDs. I have no reggae MP3s. I know there is a huge catalogue out there and I have absolutely no idea where to begin.

I need a primer. Who are the reggae heads on here? Where is a good place for a new fan to start listening? Which artists and albums? I'm more interested in the Bob Marley-Peter Tosh style than the newer dancehall vibe.

Help?

55

Sports Arena / f*** yeah

« on: October 07, 2009, 09:08:33 AM »

You know, I don't geek out much on this site. I don't type in all caps, or get overly excited, or throw my toys, or overuse the exclamation marks. But I was at the O2 in London last night, watching this happen before my eyes:

http://www.nba.com/video/games/bulls/2009/10/06/0010900014_uta_chi_4play.nba/

(I can't embed the video for some reason, but just watch it)

So, in the spirit of the moment:

I WAS THERE! I WAS MOTHERf***ING THERE WHEN THE TEAM I'VE SUPPORTED SINCE AGE FIVE DID THAT!!! AT THE BUZZER!!! JAMES JOHNSON AT THE f***ING BUZZER!!! BULLS WIN!!! BULLS WIN BY ONE!!!

56

General Discussion / Hip-Hop TV Show

« on: September 29, 2009, 09:04:54 AM »

So let's say you have a hip-hop TV show, focussed almost exclusively on African hip-hop.

It's a show that plays some - not a lot - of music videos. Say you've got about half an hour to fill with content. What, in an ideal world, do you want to see?

Panel discussions? Exclusive interviews? Album previews? How-tos? What would keep you glued to your screen?

57

General Discussion / Shady, Drake, Wayne, Kanye

« on: September 25, 2009, 09:54:21 AM »

Interesting song slash video for the Lebron doccie.

What I didn't appreciate until recently are the dudes standing in the background while Shady spits his verse.

Look closer. Is there a possible signing in the works here? The result would be nuts.

58

General Discussion / The Boxettes

« on: September 18, 2009, 04:22:58 PM »

May I introduce...



The crew is the Boxettes. The lady in red, Bellatrix, is one of the best beatboxers in the world. I've seen her live and she is f***ing bananas.

59

General Discussion / No Homer: Hip Hop Icons Simpsonized

« on: September 14, 2009, 12:50:26 PM »

Bwahahah. Cla**ic.

http://www.formatmag.com/features/homer-hip-hop-icons-simpsonized/

60

General Discussion / Raekwon House of Flying Daggers video

« on: August 25, 2009, 10:09:11 AM »

Oh. My. GOD.

I'm not normally a big fan of videos. But this? For a song which is arguably the best track released this year so far? This is perfect. f***ing phenomenal.