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Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
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:
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)
Is Jay-Z a Christian?
Jay sported a Jason mask during his Halloween show at the Air Canada Centre in SarcasticDBag headquarters (Toronto) on Saturday.
His Halloween costume deserves attention for its lackluster effort and poor execution, but that's irrelevant. What I'm curious about are the two Jesus pieces that Jay is rocking around his neck.
I never understood where exactly Jay stood on the topic of his religious affiliation or his faith and in the grander scheme of things, it really doesn't matter. But damn, I'd love to know.
Usually, when there's a Jesus piece or a cross on someone's neck it's pretty obvious where they stand on the whole monotheism thing. But Jay has said some contradictory stuff in his rhymes on the topic of religion.
Remember when he dropped that "9/11 Freestyle" where he said something along the lines of:
"And no I'm not a Christian though I believe in god, but I don't believe in the devil my beliefs are odd/ if we the people was given free will from god, how could he give you free will without giving you evil?"
Who knows?
Let me know people!
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
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?
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.
Kardinal Offishall - Clear
Kardi and Akon hit up Dubai and it looks like they had a good time.
I used to want to visit Dubai, and then I saw this documentary about that fake palm tree island thing that they built and I feel like that place is going to sink into the center of the earth for fucking with nature. But that's just me.
Here's Kardi's new joint from his new album.
Support Toronto Hip-Hop!!!
Kardinal Offishall - Clear
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.
TimBuck2 - Drake Live From Chicago (mixtape)
This is old, but it looks like TimBuck2 got his hands on the soundboard for Drake's show in Chicago.
TimBuck2 Presents - Drake Live From Chicago (mixtape)
Drake Makes an Appearance w/ Wayne in Toronto
I live in Toronto and I had the opportunity to go to this show, but once I heard that Drake had broke himself I remembered that Soulja Boy was also on the bill, and the prospect of seeing him and a legion of his fans was too much for me. I'm soft.
From what I heard, Drake's appearance was the highlight of the night.
Notes to Self to Open for De La Soul in Toronto!
Toronto's very own Notes to Self are opening for De La Soul on August 23rd at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Their debut album - A Shot in the Dark - is also available on iTunes and in stores. Go get that! Support local hip-hop!
Info:
DE LA SOUL
20 YEARS HIGH AND RISING TOUR
with guests Notes to Self & Ko Kapches
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St.)
Tickets are $31.50 (plus any additional fees) in advance and available at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes & Play De Record
19+, Doors at 8pm, Show at 9pm
Its the Real vs. Drake's Knee
This shit is hilarious, especially the Ross part at the end, and I promise, this will be my last post covering the epic event that has been Drake's knee.
Drake Speaks on his Friday Night Fall
It looks like Drake is headed back up to his/my hometown of Toronto for some much needed recovery. Good luck. Surgery and recovery on a joint injury is a bitch and my elbow still cracks and aches when it rains out. Lousy skateboarding.
Here's the video of the unfortunate incident and look below for the statement.
Drake's Statement from October's Very Own:
Angels and Demons
This bottle of Opus One is low but my spirits are high my friends. I am about 2 hours away from Toronto, CA where I will be spending the next chunk of time recovering from a surgery that I now must have. I embarked on this tour with a torn ACL, MCL, and LCL and due to the events that happened the other night lord only knows what other damage I have done. On the bright side I will begin the reflecting and soul searching that its going to take to make this album and my outfit on the night I fell was crack. I will forever push myself beyond the limits despite advice and recommendations given because even with this new found success I am still the kid who wanted this more than anything in the world. Its funny when I read comments from previous fans who have lost interest because of the radio play and exposure I have. I just want to assure anyone reading that nothing has changed on my end. I refuse to get comfortable, I refuse to fall in line and follow anyone elses formulas. I still work as if So Far Gone had never dropped and I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to gain entry to this game.
“Missing someone gets easier everyday. Because, even though it is one day further from the last time you saw each other, it is one day closer to the next time you will”
See you soon.
Drizzy
