***Update***

It's been a while since I last posted. In short, I got a job.
I was at a BBQ today with a few friends and they got me thinking about MainstreamWithdrawal.

A lot has gone down in the Hip-Hop world since I last posted. I'm gonna start with an update of some stuff I have come across, then I'm going to finish up my Redman collection and Saigon collection. Keep an eye out for an upcoming Gravediggaz post.

There is a Blog called T.R.O.Y. and it's a great source of obscure Hip-Hop. They have been really doing an awesome job with Ras Kass. Here is some of the material. Keep in mind I do not claim this to be my own and would like everyone to visit T.R.O.Y.
Ras Kass - Non Album Tracks Vol.1
Ras Kass - Non Album Tracks Vol.2
Ras Kass - Non Album Tracks Vol.3
Ras Kass - Wont Catch Me Runnin (Various Versions)

As You all probably know The Slaughterhouse album finally came out. It's got Crooked and Royce what else does some one need to know.
Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse

Fresh on the heels of Slaughterhouse album was a short mixed tape of some Crooked I tracks. Nothing monumental, but there are a few really dope tracks.
Crooked I - Westside Slaughterhouse (Mixed by September 7th & Julian Ramirez)

M.O.P. came out with their new album Foundation. I Have only listened to the first few tracks and I am thoroughly impressed! Get this, trust me you will not be disappointed (well at least not with the first few tracks).
M.O.P. - Foundation

Keep reading
Leave comments
Enjoy

Kool G Rap

I don't really feel like taking the time to write a review of "Mr. G Rap". All I will say is that he is an icon and a strong representative of Hip-Hop. He has been rapping for a really long time.

I must apologize for this not being a complete discography. there are vinyl singles that are missing and probably a CD or two.

Keep checking in on on the blog as I got a really good Redman post coming up as well as some Saigon and Gravediggaz.

Kool G Rap

***Update***

M.O.P. - Underground Legends Vol.1 (Presented By J-Love)
M.O.P. - Underground Legends Vol.2 (Presented By J-Love)

Saukrates - Caught Up In Canada (Compiled by WillyDuWitt.blogspot.com)

Rise

I must start by saying that getting a picture of this dude is not easy. He has a facebook and myspace account, is listed in discogs and other music sites, but I have only been able to find a few pictures of him. I couldn't find a pic of him off his album that I bought from sandboxautomatic. In fact that album is no longer on Sandbox!!! (on a side note, Sandbox sucks since it stopped selling vinyl)



Rise is a MUST HEAR MC. I will say that he is definitely not for everyone. He has a somewhat high pitched voice (like Q-Tip's but less nasally). His lyrics go "over the heads" of the average listener. If you download this, at the least, listen to the song "The Wickedest Flow". Even if you think he sucks it will be undeniable that his lyricism is very creative. When I say creative I don't mean weird-not-only-sounds-bad-but-doesn't-even-make-sense (aka Aesop Rock). Creative more in the way of originality of metaphors and rhyme schemes.

Rise

Masta Ace

If you've never heard of Masta Ace you probably haven't been listening to Hip-Hop long. MA has officially been on the scene since 1988. MA first hooked up with Hip-Hop legend Marley Marl.
MA is one of the most potent lyricists from the "old school", and has had an unquestionable influence on Hip-Hop MCs (past and present). Eminem and other MCs have referenced MA's influence.
One thing I have noticed about MA is that he seems bitter that he has been overlooked for most his career while MCs of lesser skill get signed to major labels. I know talking trash is part of Hip-Hop and all that, but it really does seem like MA has a chip on his shoulder. I wonder if MA and Mad Skillz ever made a track together. They seem more or less "cut from the same cloth".

There is so much that could be written about MA which I don't really feel like writing about. I really suggest doing some research on him.....but if not jsut download this stuff on good faith that you're about to listen to one of the greats.

Masta Ace

Slaughter House

I kept hearing about Slaughter House for a while and finally checked them out a few weeks ago.
It is nice to see a real Hip-Hop power group emerge. The reality is that any group who has Crooked I and Royce in it is gonna be fire. Honestly I could care less for Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz. I don't know much about the history of Joell Ortiz but I seriously doubt he can hold his own lyrically in a group like this. As for Joe budden...well I don't really see how he fits in the group at all.

I consider Slaughter House a front-line leader group for real Hip-Hop.

Slaughter House

Prime

I've been listening to Prime for a few years. What sparked my interest in him was the song on the first Lyricist Lounge album "No Matter". Prime seems undiscovered to a greater extent which is a shame. He is a very talented MC and a vicious battle rapper. From what I understand battle rapping is actually how he got his career started. I am always interested in artists who have have gone through some difficult life trials. I'm not talking about the whole "I grew up in the ghetto and have been shot (or shot at) many times". Prime's struggle (to my understanding) has been depression. Now I know that depression isn't "Hardcore" but I think that it is one of the less glorious, though often experienced, part of many peoples lives. I like the way that Prime's view is expressed though his music, it steps outside of the "this is underground Hip-Hop" label with out sounding too far out there.

Enjoy

Prime

***Update***

Big L Feat Shyheim - I Know My Name (VLS)

M.O.P. (The Marxmen) - Marxmen Cinema CD 1
M.O.P. (The Marxmen) - Marxmen Cinema CD 2
M.O.P - Cold As Ice (CDS)
M.O.P. - Ghetto Warfare

Tash - The Game (VLS)

Xzibit - You Better Believe It!
Xzibit - Ride And Smoke (VLS)
Xzibit - It's...HOM! bw Xzibit ft. Everlast Shroomz Pt. II
Xzibit - Concentrate (VLS)
Xzibit - What U See Is What You Get bw 3 Card Molly (VLS)
Xzibit - The Foundation (VLS)
Xzibit - 25 to Life (VLS)
Xzibit - Hey Now (Mean Muggin) (CDS)
Xzibit - Muthafucka (VLS)
Xzibit - Rollin Bw Black And Brown (CDM)
Xzibit - Losin Your Mind (VLS)
Xzibit - Full Circle (Bonus CD)

Lyricist Lounge

"The Lyricist Lounge is a Hip-Hop showcase of rappers, emcees, DJ's, and Graffiti artists.
It has spawned the album Lyricist Lounge, Volume One, Lyricist Lounge 2 and Lyricist Lounge: West Coast, as well as a television show, The Lyricist Lounge Show.
The Lyricist Lounge was founded in 1991 by Hip-Hop aficionados Danny Castro and Anthony Marshall. It was a series of open mic events hosted in a small studio apartment in the Lower East Side section of New York City." (Wikipedia)

I haven't got much more to add to Wikipedia's summery of Lyricist Lounge is. One thing it does fail to mention is the MCs featured on the the compilations. In short, some of the dopest MCs out there are on one of the Lounges:
Wordsworth, Cipher Complete, De La Soul, O.C., Big L, Ras Kass, Punchline, Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saukrates, Redman, Dead Prez, Prime, Rise, M.O.P., Tash, etc

These are awesome albums. I really encourage listening to Volume 1. It has classics that have forever stayed in my mind and have definitely become a benchmark for what is considered real Hip-Hop.

Lyricist Lounge

***Update***

Here are a handful of updates:

Afu-Ra - Sitck & Hip-Hop (VLS)
Afu-Ra - Why Cry (CDS)
Afu-Ra - Dangerous Language (VLS)
Afu-Ra -Scatman & Stick Up (VLS)
Afu-Ra - Open (CDS)
Afu-Ra - Life Force Radio (Bonus Disc)
Afu-Ra - I Love My Hip-Hop (VLS) (Test Pressing)
Afu-Ra - Defeat & Mortal Combat (VLS)
Afu-Ra - Poisonous Taoist & Sucka Free (VLS)

Big L - We Got This & The Heist (VLS)

Common - Far East Project Common Remix

D.I.T.C. - Get Yours & Where You At (VLS)

Pharoahe Monch - Body Baby (CDS) (Remixes)

M.O.P.

M.O.P. is hands down the most rowdy and energetic rap group I have ever heard. almost every song their rhymes are just below the noise level of what I would consider yelling. They also have the most gangsta, violent, lyrics of any crew that I listen too. (f you didn't know M.O.P. stands for "Mash Out Posse").

A lot of M.O.P.'s beats were produced by DJ Premier which gives M.O.P. a very authentic Hip-Hop sound. Actually if it weren't for DJ Premier's beats I doubt I would listen to much M.O.P. at all.

To my knowledge M.O.P. biggest hit was the song "Anti-Up". It's not hard to see why, the beat is ridiculously awesome. It has become a classic. I am ongoing impressed on M.O.P.'s ability to create now ways of saying how badly they will kill anyone they don't like. It is very fun to listen to.

I hope you enjoy:

M.O.P.

Tash

For those who know him it will be no mystery as to why he got a post of his own. Tash is one of the most talented lyricists in the Business. He has one of the best slapstick flows ever.

"I hit you with the force / to knock your ship off course
If this funk don't move your wife / you better file for divorce"

That is a small small sample of the kind of punchlines he has.

Tash has this ability to start rhyming over a beat where it is not common to do so. He'll start rhyming before the beginning of the next measure. I don't know how else to explain it.

I watch UFC a lot and recently a fighter named Lyoto Machida has made a big impact on the sport. The most unique quality of Machuda is that he has a very unorthodox style. This is very much the same with Tash. His rap style conforms to accommodate the genre of Hip-Hop he is in, but he stands out from other MCs.

When I first heard Tash when I began listening to Tha Alkaholiks. At thetime I thought J-Ro was the better MC out of the group. However a few years ago, when I listened to Tash's solo album (Rap Life) I had a change of heart. I definitely regard Tash as the lead MC of the Alkaholiks. Honestly, I feel Tash out classes the rest of the Alkaholiks with hia Mic skills. Tash is on a whole other level of rhymes than most MCs.

I have been looking forward to Tash's new album "Control Freak" for a really long time. I thought it was going to come out last year in February. Obviously this was not the case as it was release late June of this year. I must admit I was disappointing with his new album. I'm not a huge fan of the beats (which seem to be progressively more "Hyphy"). The old beats that King T did for the Alkaholiks were dope as hell! what happened!!!
I was also very disappointing by his lyrics on the new album. I really don't feel he he accurately represented his Mic skills. For some reason it seemed like he really held back. It could be that he wants to make money by selling more records, and lest face it, the masses don't waste time with real lyricism and prefer to listen to the same recycled rymes and scenarios. I think Dead Prez puts it best in their forever classic song "Hip-Hop":

I'm sick of that fake thug, r&b, rap scenario all day on the radio
Same scenes in the videos, monotonous material, yall dont here me though
These record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line, and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke

On that note I present to you:

Tash

Afu-Ra

I had been listening to Hip-Hop for a few years before I came across Afu. What I didn’t realize is that I had been hearing him for years. When I listened to the album Body of the Life Force I recognized so many beats that I loved it was ridicules. DJ Premier (He’ll have his own post very soon) is responsible for the majority of the dope beats Afu rhymes to. I gotta say that for me, Afu represents that mid to late 90’s Hip-Hop sound very well, which is strange as his first single Whirlwind Thru Cities was first released in 98 and his debut album Body of the Life Force was released in 2000. Even his latest album State of the Arts has some of that true 90’s Hip-Hop feel.

Word on the street is that he is working on an album now….We will see.

If you have listened to much Hip-Hop you have inevitably heard references to Afu knowing karate (the group that comes to mind right away is Dead Prez). Afu does infact know martial arts of some kind. I think it is kind of ironic that he is known for karate and I have seen several pictures of him smoking cigarettes. Not that this takes away from his credibility, just an interesting observation.Afu is also recognized as being spiritual which greatly interests me as I think that it's a missing component in the Hip-Hop community (I'm not talking about religion).

If you love Hip-Hop chances are that you will really like Afu-Ra. At the least you will recognize some very well known beats.

Afu-Ra

Kardinal Offishall

I first heard Kardinal Offishall when my brother was visiting me in boarding school. I had been kept away from music that was “unapproved” (which basically meant all Hip-Hop) by the rules of the boarding school. In the car I remember my brother playing the track Bakardi Slang. At the time I thought that it was flashy, stupid, and one step below clubrap (his is actually pretty accurate of his most current music). There is another side to Kardinal that caught my attention. First his beats are pretty on point on the album Quest For Fire. The beats are by no means original, they’re just spruced up in terms of sound quality and “bump ability”. Check out his albums, they’re definitely worth a listen, and if you’re like me some of the songs will grow on you.

Kardinal Offishall

***Update***

Crooked I - The Death Row Collection