Showing posts with label Drake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drake. Show all posts
Young Jeezy, Drake and Fabolous @ Lebron James's 25th Birthday Party
Jeez 'Bron, go easy on that Ace of Spades dude.
The King turned 25 this week and threw down at Cleveland's BarRoom with some of hip-hop's finest. Where's Shaq?
2009 Album of the Year: Drake - So Far Gone (mixtape)
"Dropped a mixtape, that shit sounded like an album, who'd a thought a countrywide tour would be the outcome?" - Drake on "Forever"
"The industry got to get it in gear, cause it's bad when a mixtape is really the album of the year" - Skillz speaking about So Far Gone on his "2009 Rap Up"
I have a friend who thinks "Houstatlantavegas" is an actual city. No really, I do, and I don't know who's to blame. Either the Toronto District Schoolboard really fucked up, or Drake's mixtape So Far Gone had a much bigger impact on her than grade 9 geography.
You can say all you want about the state of Toronto's public school system (how's my grammar?), but So Far Gone is dope. It's the dopest in fact, and in my humble opinion, Drake's third official release is the year's best hip-hop album, even though it's technically very much a mixtape. But that's just one of the many reasons why it deserves 2009's crown. For example:
- It made R&B rap cool.
- It made me enjoy R&B again.
- It made Trey Songz relevant.
- It introduced me to Lykke Li.
- It made me buy the Peter Bjorn and John album because of "Let's Call it Off".
- It made me not give up on Wayne.
- It made me proud(er) to be Canadian.
- It made me wonder how good 808s and Heartbreak could've been if Kanye decided to just produce instead of sing.
- It made me excited for the direction mainstream hip-hop is headed in.
- And ask yourself this: how many casual hip-hop fans ever download a mixtape? Do you really think that the girl down the street has 50 Cent is the Future or any of the We Got it 4 Cheap mixtapes in her iPod? She doesn't, but she probably has So Far Gone.
In the end however, Drake's mixtape proved that quality songwriting is king. It's great if you can rap for days and days, but when it comes down to it, people remember songs.
Hip-hop album of the year, hands down. Hate all you want.
Runners-up (in no particular order):
Clipse - Til the Casket Drops
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II
Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Brother Ali - US
The Black Keys - Blakroc
Song of the year:
Candidates for the SarcasticDBag Album of the Year Award
Wow, what a prestigious award! If I could rap, I'd love to be recognized by a moderately well-received blogger for my skills on the mic. Luckily for these 4 artists, they've somehow managed to achieve success without the bestowment of my official adulations. So without further adieu, here are 3 potential candidates for the SarcasticDBag "Album of the Year" award.
Drake - So Far Gone (mixtape)
The mixtape game hasn't seen such a buzz since 50 and G-Unit forced the industry to take notice of them with their aggressive content and street presence. But while 50 and his crew's run is pretty much over, the mixtape gods have crowned a new king who turned his buzz into a multi-million dollar record deal, international stardom and a couple of Grammy nominations. Shit, even if only a dozen people picked this joint up it still deserves consideration as one of the best releases of the year.
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt II
It's a common adage both in film and music that a sequel can never live up to the genius of the original, but Rae (and Ghost of course) really brought it all to the table with this joint. Classic beats, unabashed drug content and the reunification of Staten's finest makes this album the obvious favorite for "Album of the Year". But then came...
Clipse - Til the Casket Drops
This album may have officially dropped today, but it's been on the internet for sometime now and the duo from Virginia still maintain their perfect batting average with this beautifully produced record.
Malice and Pusha T show a lot of maturity on this one but they never fail to remind you that Virginia is for hustlers.
This record is the perfect marriage of beats and rhymes.
Winner crowned on New Year's Eve.
Hold your breath!
Drake - So Far Gone (mixtape)
The mixtape game hasn't seen such a buzz since 50 and G-Unit forced the industry to take notice of them with their aggressive content and street presence. But while 50 and his crew's run is pretty much over, the mixtape gods have crowned a new king who turned his buzz into a multi-million dollar record deal, international stardom and a couple of Grammy nominations. Shit, even if only a dozen people picked this joint up it still deserves consideration as one of the best releases of the year.
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt II
It's a common adage both in film and music that a sequel can never live up to the genius of the original, but Rae (and Ghost of course) really brought it all to the table with this joint. Classic beats, unabashed drug content and the reunification of Staten's finest makes this album the obvious favorite for "Album of the Year". But then came...
Clipse - Til the Casket Drops
This album may have officially dropped today, but it's been on the internet for sometime now and the duo from Virginia still maintain their perfect batting average with this beautifully produced record.
Malice and Pusha T show a lot of maturity on this one but they never fail to remind you that Virginia is for hustlers.
This record is the perfect marriage of beats and rhymes.
Winner crowned on New Year's Eve.
Hold your breath!
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Wayne, Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake & Rick Ross - Fed Up
After a minor feud, Lil Wayne is back on good terms with the genre's most annoying and abrasive sounding DJ.
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Wayne, Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake & Rick Ross - Fed Up (prod. The Runners)
Hip-Hop Album Sales Report: Jay-Z Falls from the Top Spot, Kid Cudi's Numbers take a Major Hit
Eddie Vedder has knocked Jay-Z from the top spot on the Billboard 200, but it won't be long before his Blueprint 3 reaches platinum status.
By David Sutherland for SarcasticDBag.Blogspot.com
After sitting pretty for 2 weeks at the top of the charts, Jay-Z's eleventh solo album The Blueprint 3 has been knocked down to the No. 2 spot by Pearl Jam, and moved a respectable 134,100 units in its third week of release. Doing those kind of numbers in this economy means that Jay can comfortably boast to his haters, "I sold what your last album sold in my third week". The total sales for The Blueprint 3 now stands at 908,100, just shy of that illusive platinum plaque.
If you're counting, this will be Jay's 15th project to garner a platinum plaque or better and he's managed to do it in only 13 years. I have to ask, what's better: going 15 times platinum, or platinum 15 times? Both would be pretty damn good, but I'd rather have the satisfaction of a long and successful career...and Beyonce.
Next up on the charts is Toronto's finest, aka Drake, who's clinging to that top 10 spot as his So Far Gone EP holds on at No. 9. With 36,100 units moved in the last week, Drake's 2 week tally now stands at 109,700. Hey, that's platinum in Canada!
Kid Cudi's superb Man On The Moon: The End Of Day dropped from n0. 4 to the 17 spot after a strong showing last week. Cudi's debut had one of the biggest drops of any artist in the top 10, and he only moved 28,300 records bringing his total to 132,600. Cudi may think that the "Sky Might Fall", but the only thing plummeting are his numbers and it's a shame because his album is one of the year's best.
After a turbulent week of legal drama, Lil Boosie's troubles got worse as his latest record drops from the no. 7 spot to no. 30 moving 15,000 copies. The Louisiana MC has moved 63,900 copies of Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz so far, and he'll have to move a few more if he wants to be straight before he does a 2-year bid for gun and drug posession.
Raekwon, who in my opinion released the best hip-hop album of the year, sold another 12,000 copies of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. 2 landing at no. 40 on the charts. His total now stands at 101,200 units sold and that's good news for hip-hop culture in general. If you're only going to buy one album this year, make it OB4CLP2!
Finally, Brother Ali's third album Us managed to sell 8,600 units in its debut week and landed in the no. 56 spot which is Ali's highest chart debut to date. Us is definitely worth checking out if you're into thinking man's rap because hearing about bitches and rims only goes so far. The MC from Minnesota also proves once again that he's one of the best in the game when it comes to those mic skills, and the album's production (provided by ANT) is on point.
That's all for now, and be sure to check back next week to see how Ghostface's new record debuts.
For album reviews, click here.
Follow me on Twitter...
Nicki Minaj Interview with Honey Mag
Obligatory Young Money post.
Here's their new single, if you're into that sort of thing.
Young Money feat. Lloyd - Bed Rock
Hip-Hop Album Sales Report: Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Drake and Lil Boosie
Hov remains king while Blueprint 3 guest stars Kid Cudi and Drake make very respectable debuts.
By David Sutherland for SarcasticDBag.Blogspot.com
It looks like Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 has really caught on with the American public. According to Billboard, Hov is destined to spend his second week atop the charts and moved an impressive 298,000 units. That puts his two week tally at over 750k. In an era where A-list acts have trouble going platinum, Jay's second week sales drop is very respectable and the Brooklyn rapper should have no trouble mounting yet another platinum plaque to his wall beside his high-brow art in his Tribeca loft.
Coming in at the number 4 spot is Brooklyn by way of Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi. Cudi's superb Man on the Moon: The End of Day managed to move 104,000 units in its first week. Nice. If I were you, I'd go buy that album three times over, cause Cudi's sneaker habit is out of control.
Toronto rapper Drake debuts on the charts in the number 6 spot as his EP So Far Gone shifted 73,000 units . The EP, which contains only seven songs from the original mixtape, was cut down due to some publishing issues and industry politics. Nevertheless, 73k is nothing to scoff at when the full, free and fantastic So Far Gone mixtape has been available online since mid February. If Drake can do 73k from a tired-out EP, his debut album Thank Me Later should have no problem bowing at number one when it drops in early 2010.
Coming in at number 7 is Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie, whose latest album Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz moved 49,000 units. That's a good thing for Boosie, cause yesterday he was sentenced to two years in prison for drug and gun possession. A first week debut at number 7 should help pay those legal bills, and if Boosie plays his cards right, he should be out in a year instead of two.
For a review of The Blueprint 3 and Man on the Moon: The End of Day click here.
Video: Drake featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem - Forever
OnSmash!!!
The video for Forever is finally here and the Hype Williams directed clip contains a lot of pyrotechnics mashed up with some awkward pictures of a young Lebron James before he became the most dominant player in the NBA.
Lebron > Kobe and Dwight.
Check out the clip, and be sure to go see Lebron's new movie More Than A Game when it drops on October 2nd.
Drake Interview with Big Tigger
Drake talks with Tigger about his surgery, building home studios and the politics of sample clearing in relation to his So Far Gone EP that dropped yesterday.
Why no "November 18th" Drake?
Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne - Pusha (prod. The Runners)
Blerg. Obligatory traffic booster.
Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne - Pusha (prod. The Runners)
Bonus:
Here's a version of "Money 2 Blow" sans Birdman, who bores you to death with his lame slow flow.
Drake featuring Lil Wayne - Money 2 Blow
Lil Wayne feat. Drake - My Darlin’ Baby
I really have to go on a Drake/Wayne blog post detox and hit you guys up with some underground shit real soon.
I'm sorry Kai.
Lil Wayne feat. Drake - My Darlin’ Baby
Drake - Fear
Meh.
Drake - Fear
In other Aubrey news, he had surgery yesterday in Toronto after shooting videos for both "Forever" and "Money 2 Blow" down in Miami while simultaneously appearing in a GQ photo shoot with Wale and CuDi.
Damn, I guess he really does know G4 pilots on a first name basis.
The "Money 2 Blow" shoot.
Drake feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - Forever (prod. Boi-1da)
Here it is folks!
The 2009 "Swagger Like Us" has arrived and for the second time this week, an old Drake tune was jacked and turned into something epic.
Here's my breakdown:
Drake wins for doing the hook, having an old song turned into something new, and for having the best overall swag/delivery on the track.
Kanye West wins for having the best punchlines and cleverest rhymes. His verse also proves that he can go pound for pound with anyone in the game and will often outshine them.
Eminem wins for having the most inventive flow and impeccable wordplay.
Wayne loses for getting outshined by his protege (Drake), peer (Kanye) and secret idol (Eminem).
His verse is great and I'm a huge Wayne fan, but he came off soft on this one.
By the way, B0i-1da beats them all for having a beat he produced back in the day for peanuts turn into a sure fire hit record.
This song happens to be in support of the new Lebron James movie Forever, which all of you should see.
I just need to get my hands on Cavs vs. Raptors tickets and I'll be good.
Drake feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - Forever (prod. Boi-1da)
Rish Limbaugh on Jay-Z's New Tune
Let the right wing pundits speak!
As much as I hate Rush Limbaugh, his response is very funny.
I would remind the rapper Jay-Z; Mr. Z, it is President Obama who wants mandated circumcision. We had that yesterday. That means if we need to save our penises from anybody, it’s Obama. I did not know I was on anybody’s balls. - Rush Limbaugh
Bill O'Reilly on Jay-Z's New Tune
Bill O'Reilly used to be my most hated American media personality, but then Obama became president and a few other pundits replaced him on my list.
Glenn Back and Sean Hannity are by far worse, but O'Reilly still goes in on that douche bag tip.
The song he's referring to, right here.
Birdman featuring Drake & Lil Wayne - Money To Blow
FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!
This is an old Drake song that I always loved and it's been improved with some new verses and a boosted bass line.
So that means I don't really give a fuck that Birdman yoinked this for himself as long as he doesn't start making out with Drake.
Birdman featuring Drake & Lil Wayne - Money To Blow
Video: Jamie Foxx feat. Drake, Kanye West and The-Dream - Digital Girl
Daily Drake-related post? Check.
I'm sorry, but you can't escape him.
Hype Williams did this one.
Drake Speaks about Being Back in Toronto
Drake says he's finally made peace with Toronto. I think he means peace with Toronto as a superstar, and not as a citizen, but peace nonetheless.
As someone who just moved to Toronto after a four year absence, making peace with the greatest city on earth is a very good thing to do.
Nothing like your hometown.
