People That Were In Heavy Rotation In Our Ipods This Year

Last week we told you who we felt was going to be pretty big on the urban side of music next year. Well this week, we decided to share the limelight with those that may not be as "big," but you should still look out for any music they drop next year.

Boldy James

Latest Projects: Trappers Alley Pros & Cons

Lil Reese

Latest Projects: Don't Like

Steven A. Clark

Latest Projects: F.ornication U.nder T.he K.ing

Angel Haze

Latest Projects: Reservation---Classik

Gilbere Forte

Latest Projects: Some Dreams Never Sleep EP---Eyes Of Veritas

Action Bronson

2013 Looks Promising For Which Artist?

This our list of artists who you couldn't help but notice this year. Whether it was seeing their lyrics on your twitter timeline, having that one friend who wouldn't stop hyping them up so you finally decided to give them a chance, or maybe you just got bored one day and went on a downloading spree. Either way, they somehow ended up in your iTunes library. Each of these artists had a pretty big year, and they don't show any signs of slowing down. So if your not yet familiar, get familiar so you can get ready for the year of music that has yet to bless our ears in 2013.

Joey Bada$$
Projects This Year: 1999 --- Rejex

Total Downloads This Year: 208,000

Ab-Soul

Projects This Year: Control Systems

Chief Keef

Projects This Year: Back From The Dead---Finally Rich (Unreleased)

A List Of Our Favorite Debut Albums

In the spirit of all the hype surrounding Kendrick Lamar's debut album we decided to  compose a list of some of our personal favorite major label debuts.

@WolfMarvel

Kanye West

2004

The College Dropout

The Notorious B.I.G.

1994

Ready To Die

Jay-Z

1996

Reasonable Doubt

The Clipse

2002

Lord Willin'

Kendrick Lamar

2012

good kid, m.A.A.d. city

@ACMillionaire

Jay-Z

1996

Reasonable doubt

Snoop Dogg

1993

Doggystyle

The Notorious B.I.G.

1994

Ready To Die

Beanie Sigel

2000

The Truth

Dr. Dre

1992

The Chronic

Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) Reviews Lupe Fiasco's "Food & Liquor 2"

Dead End Hip Hop + Anthony Fantano Review "Cruel Summer"

Should We Let Hip-Hop Rest in Peace?

To most people, the answer to this question is simply that Hip-Hop has been deceased for years. Since the break of the 2000's, the girl we used to love has transformed into a twerkin', poppin', rollin' and smokin' "bad bitch." For some, the only way to keep H.E.R. alive is to engrave "here lies a deejay, two turntables, a mic and an emcee," on a boombox-shaped tombstone. The other side of the audience, however, is divided between the folks who have already attended the funeral and those who just know where to find H.E.R. Where letting Hip-Hop rest would prevent the up-and-coming artists from defiling her name, there will still be those artists who claim that they provide that same realness. While the Kendrick Lamar's demonstrate the Golden qualities of the bass-knockin', tape-poppin', era there are also the A$VP Rocky's expressing the "if Hip-Hop is dead, shit, let it rest," frame-of-mind. To answer one of the music industry's most puzzling questions I suppose you must really indulge yourself into every nook and cranny of the genre, yet at the same time I don't believe it's something we the fans should over-think. Hip-hop has traveled such a long journey since the days of the adidas jumpsuits and Kangol hats. Whether a fan or not, there is not one genre of music that hasn't progressed along the years to stay relevant. Even during her prime years, Hip-Hop alluded to the fact that change was ahead. Even Q-Tip referenced on The Low End Theory how music goes in cycles, and eventually, it will all come full-circle. So, to keep it funky, that girl we fell in love with in the summer of '91 ain't dead, she's just hiding out from all of the hype-beats. Like Jay said on two different albums, if you want the old shit, buy the old album...and let that bitch breathe!

Written By, @minniemouseears

XXL Presents: 15 Greatest Mixtape Series

I stopped believing in video "view" numbers and "download" numbers after I saw this video.

Last week, Lil Wayne dropped Dedication 4, adding another chapter to the famed catalog Weezy and DJ Drama have put together. How does it stack up against the all time best? Well, that’s what XXL set out to discover. In the interest of finding out which rapper had the greatest series of all time, we excluded DJ series and collectives as well (Don’t worry guys, we loved G-Unit Radio, Diplomats Vol. 1-5, Green Lantern’s Invasion series, and We Got It 4 Cheap just as much as y’all). With that disclaimer in place, XXL proudly presents The 15 Greatest Mixtape Series. — XXL Staff

15. Cam'ron & Vado - Boss of all Bosses series
Post Dipset era Cam caught a second wind in the mixtape circuit through his Boss of All Bosses series. Marked by the rapid-fire MPC-abusing production of Araabmuzik, Cam sounded reinvigorated, bringing Harlem newcomer, Vado, along for the ride throughout. Sure, it wasn’t vintage Cam, but the Dipset founder proved that despite falling from the mainstream spotlight, his clever wordplay and sense of humor were still first class.


14. Yo Gotti – Cocaine Muzik series
Yo Gotti’s been a model of consistency in the mixtape circuit, both in terms of quality and regularity. Over six mixtapes (seven if you include Cocaine Muzik 4.5 Da Documentary) Gotti mastered his approach to what was pretty limited subject matter: “Cocaine everything” as he so eloquently puts it on “Cocaine Crazy (skit)” off of CM2. With three of the tapes hosted by DJ Drama, the raspy Tennessee rapper aligned himself with the best in trap mixtapes.

Top 20 Wackest Lines On Dedication 4 LOL

Fellow blogger Relly had these hilarious thoughts on Weezy's latest tape

It’s been a while since I stepped inside the blog realm. I look up and can still smell the scent of durag tails from my last visit. I’ve been meditating for a week straight to deliver the most potent slander I could, and do what should’ve been done two Maddens ago. Lil’ Wayne must be executed b. The very moment Wayne almost drowned in her pussy and then swam to her butt, I knew right then and there that the casket has closed shut on his lyrical ability. We as tax paying citizens can no longer stand by, and let these horrendous lines pollute and poison our precious Dre beats. Enough is e goddamn nough.


I had a pinch of hope for Wayne so I gave him one last chance, because mixtape Wayne is usually Wayne at his finest. But after hearing Dedication 4, that lonely ounce of hope I had, vanished into a thick cloud of despair. I’ve had it, gas is way too high for this bullshit b, it’s over for Wayne. This mixtape was the icing on the goddamn carrot cake. 15 whole tracks of this nigga eating pussy, slanging TrukFit and consuming more pussy. It’s overdraft fee music.

Not only is this hands and feet down, THE wackest mixtape of the year (no debating), but it also has the most atrocious lines that were ever recited inside of a vocal booth. So I took my snapback off, joined my nigga Nerd , and sat through these bars. I did it for you, I tortured myself for the people. I constructed a list for the world to see, so anybody in denial can finally understand that it is indeed closed curtains for Mr. Dwayne Carter. I bring to you, the Top 20 wackest lines on Dedication 4, let us pray.

20. Song: Burn

Wack Line: “I’ll Put A Hole In Your Apple, What That Is?…Apple Jacks”

Wayne is out here with firearms that’ll quickly turn niggas into kellogg’s cereal. Be afraid my nigga, be very afraid.

19. Song: Cashed Out

Wack Line: “I Do Liv On Sunday’s…Church/ Step Up In That Mutha Fucka Fresher Than Some Certs“

Wayne is comparing his dress game to a minty delight, that I haven’t seen at a gas station in years. The Mayans have got to be right.

18. Song: Amen 

Wack Line: “I Got An O Of That White, What You Call That?….O KKK“

I pulled over on the highway, got out my car, and just walked all the way to the next exit when I heard this. When lyrics like this ruin your afternoon, you just gotta take a walk to maintain sanity.

"Rejex" by Joey Bada$$ Mixtape Review.

"Rejex" is a new mixtape released from the new artist, Joey Bada$$. Joey is a new guy coming out of Flatbush in Brooklyn who happens to be only 17 years old. He recently hit the scene and hit it hard. First time hearing Joey Bada$$ was on Mac Miller's "Macadelic" on the song "America". I personally didn't think much about this feature, just thinking it was some no-name guy who landed an opportunity to be on a bigger artist's mixtape. He later dropped the critically acclaimed mixtape "1999" (my favorite piece of work this year, and one of my favorite mixtapes of all time) and has been buzzing ever since. "Rejex" is a compilation of tracks that didn't make the cut for "1999" (hence the name "Rejex"). Joey has said that there is no new material on this tape, and even went on to call it "garbage" via Twitter. Well, Joey, I beg to differ, because I think its far from garbage. Most of the songs are fairly short, about 2 minutes a piece. There are some songs that were recorded a few years ago, when he was only 15 years old (Little Rachel, Silent Night) which is nearly unbelievable, considering the lyrical content of these tracks. On the tape there's even an added verse on Killuminati, which was on "1999". Joey's flow feels like a breath of fresh air if you enjoy that "East Coast Hip-hop" feel. Throughout the entire mixtape, Joey throws some witty jokes at you, along with some lines that might go over your head if your not listening hard enough. Overall this is a solid mixtape with no concept. Even my least favorite tracks on here have some replay value to me. And when you consider these are tracks that didn't make the cut for the real deal, you realize why there is a ton of potential around Joey Bada$$. If you listened and enjoyed "1999", then this will just be icing to the cake, a nice added bonus.

Rating: 7/10

Favorite Tracks: Update, This Feeling, Da Special List

Least Favorite Tracks: oG Killuminati, Pantie Raid, That Gushy

written by: ACMillionaire

Antony Fantano (The Needle Drop) Reviews "welcome to: Our House" By Slaughterhouse

Is Future's "Turn On The Lights" The Worst Song Of 2012?

The answer to the title question is more than likely yes (I listened to his album and I think all of his songs sound the same so for me you can pick any of his songs and call any one of them the worst for all I care.), if not please point me to the youtube link of something more painful to listen to. I remember the first time I heard this man was on Racks and I didn't even like him then, it was the beat and the hook that saved song, plus the fact the other guy was at least tolerable to listen to. Now I'm not one of those old school Peter Rosenberg type of guys that's always going on and on about the golden era of hip hop and missing the boom bap sound because honestly I don't believe in "real hip hop". I love all types of music, up until a little bit ago I hadn't heard a rap song all day, I was vibin to Chiodos for a good minute before I switched over to Ed Sheeran (I'm actually bumpin that new Based Gospel that dropped yesterday right now). I believe life is all about balance, you need good bad and right and wrong so on and so forth so do you need some ratchetness with your righteousness? I think so. From a musical standpoint, the righteousness you need can be provided by the likes of Justin Bieber, Big K.R.I.T., and Alicia Keys (there was a point in time when all I wanted to listen to was Unthinkable, I didn't even like anybody at the time, but dammit that song made wish I did so I could make it her ringtone).Now on the flip side when you're feeling a little ratchet, and you wanna bump some ish that others may not deem as "real music" ain't nothing wrong with 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane , or some Marilyn Manson (if you've never listened to him I highly suggest you start with Beautiful People, which ironically is a beautiful song from a lyrical standpoint). I must warn you though, just like how in nature there are seemingly harmless plants like poison ivy, that if not avoided can harm you, there are poisons in music as well. Some of the poison ivy's of music are Rihanna (after her 3rd album with the exception of Rude Boy, I like that song or at least the way it makes girls move their bodies), Tyga, and the auto tuned terrorist himself, Future. Back to the topic at hand, in my world there are only two types of music, really good or really bad, and unfortunately for Future and his fan base he falls in the later of those two categories for me. With the exception of the intro which Big Rube killed, and lets be real has Rube ever spit some wack ish? Or Juicy J's verse on Trippin what can you possibly enjoy about this album? Same Damn Time is a horrible song, and the remix is only acceptable because of Diddy's verse and unfortunately for Ludacris I can never make it to his verse because that would mean suffering through Future's underwater singing (I don't why but I feel like the majority of Furture's fan base probably didn't like 808's by Kanye because of the auto tune and singing, which if you think about it is highly ironic). You guys have no idea how much it bothers me it irks me that he's so closely affiliated with Dungeon Family, and that the same people who made all those classic Kast albums are now helping him make this trash. This entire "Tiny Tantrum" (I'm only 5'4 and 1/2) was inspired by this video.

written by, @LUSHnLUSTnoLOVE

Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) Reviews A$AP Mobs "Lords Never Worry" Mixtape



Is hip hop is ready for a gay rapper?

This was originally supposed to just be me telling you guys that Snoop's okay with their being a gay rapper, but then I was like why not share my own personally views that's what blogs are for right? I find it extremely hypocritical almost funny that minorities are so anti gay, it's almost like you guys forgot about slavery, and that  we've been fighting for equal rights ever since (oh wait they "choose" to be gay right? Take a \_ along with the rest of the closed minded idiots who still think the world is flat.) What exactly makes gay marriage wrong (and unless you're NOT a sinner and living by ALL teachings and values your religion teaches don't try to bring that into this. How are you gonna uphold someone to standards you yourself aren't even keeping?), besides the fact that unless you are in fact a gay man the thought of two men having sex probably isn't too appealing. Some of you may not know this but people can actually have sex WITHOUT being married. I know most of you think that relationships are all about "effortless" guilt free unprotected (I'll never forget the first time I was inside a girl and she told me she wanted to "feel me" I was so confused at first, then she explained and I was all ^__^) sex and being a wall flower not because you can't dance but because your being "faithful". But Lush if they can have sex and shake their groove thing anyway why bother to get married? Well off the top of my head there's the whole if one of them dies who gets to keep the kids (remember they're not married so it's not like they both have equal rights to the kid)? How about the fact that

Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) reviews Based On A T.R.U. Story

2 Chainz "Based On A T.R.U Story" Album Review

Back in 2007, 2 Chainz, who was then known as Tity Boi, was in a group called the Playaz Circle, and was signed to Ludacris' DTP label. After having a relatively large hit with Playaz Circle, called Duffle Bag Boy, which featured Lil' Wayne, the rapper kinda went cold. However, that all changed when he dropped his T.R.U. REALigon mixtape back in 2011. He has since then flooded the airwaves with features, went on to tour doing over 120 shows, all of which led up to him inking a deal with Def Jam, while being G.O.O.D. Music "affiliated" as he likes to say. This album is probably the second most anticipated debut hip hop album of the year, second to Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. The first words you hear on the album are none other than 2 Chainz's daughter saying "yuck daddy yuck". In the hip-hop world, where bad can mean good, with that being said, this album is good, or "yucky". If you liked his T.R.U. REALigon mixtape there's really no reason you shouldn't also be able to get into this album. With lines like "I wish a ni**a would like a kitchen cabinet", you can't help but laugh, lines like this are so corny, that I can't not like them. His ear for beats and making catchy hooks are really his golden ticket though, most songs only take one listen to get them stuck in your head (after the first listen, I had to run I'm Different back). If he's not even taking himself seriously why should I? This is the kinda music that you can play while you're getting ready to go out or you want some background noise while you clean up your apartment. The chemistry between him and The Dream on Extremely Blessed comes off sounding natural and not forced, giving him another advantaged over other rappers who make this type of music, being  able to make a "sex/love" song that actually works (Plies is the first person who comes to mind who gets away with being a trapper and being exceptionally freaky). The album isn't all pure greatness though, on the Scarface and John Legend assisted track Ghetto Dreams I'm not really feeling the production which makes it impossible for me to get into the song (which sucks because I usually love John Legend singing on hooks). This album is formatted very well out of 13 tracks, I would say seven could be released as singles. Three out of the remaining six have some moderate replay value as well with that being said, this is a pretty good debut from the ATLien, I'd give it a 7/10.

Favorite Tracks: Dope Peddler, No Lie, I'm Different, Extremely Blessed, In Town

Least Favorite Tracks: Ghetto Dreams, Wut We Doin, Stop Me Now

written by, @LUSHnLUSTnoLOVE

You can purchase Based On A T.R.U Story here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/based-on-t.r.u.-story-deluxe/id548323454