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*Rhymesayers Entertainment

Mac Lethal – ’11:11′ (2007)

September 19, 2011
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Mac Lethal, ^Lazerbeak, ^Lenny D, ^Seven
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The thing about people who are HIGHLY sarcastic is that 9 times out of 10 they are fucking geniuses.  Case in point: Mac Lethal.  Dude has jokes for eternity but when you take a minute to listen to his lyrics you realize that his understanding of life, politics, society, the human condition etc is so incredibly on point.  This album contains the perfect mix of humor and real life shit.  I don’t think most people realize how smart this guy actually is because he masks his intelligence so well with his crassness and blatant sarcasm.  But the thing is smart people like humor too which makes Mac the perfect choice for the cool nerd.  He serves up jokes along side his though-provoking lyrical bombs.  Do yourself a favor and listen to an entire album of his and I am pretty confident that you will be able to respect him not only for his unapoligetic crude humor but also for his uncanny ability to observe and describe this experience called life.

Production: Lenny D, Lazerbeak, Seven

Label:  Rhymesayers

Mac Lethal – ‘Calm Down Baby’

This is a dope lil freestyle from Mac, his skills are pretty legit and hilarious…

Mac Lethal - ’Break Ya Neck Freestyle’

 

RIP Eyedea :(

October 18, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Eyedea, Eyedea & Abilities, ^Abilities
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I haven’t posted anything in a while but I feel as though the passing of Eyedea is more than good reason to return and pay homage to a truly great emcee.  I think anyone who has ever heard Eyedea spit knows that he was one of a kind in terms of style, voice, flow, intellect, creativity and the list goes on…  Even as I sit here now listening to ‘First Born’ I am in awe of his raw talent and presence on the mic.  He is well known as being a freestyle phenom but I tend to put him in the category of lyrical genius as well.  When he rhymes it’s as if he is directly accessing his subconscious mind.  It’s like a messy oasis of imagination, philosophy and knowledge spilling out in an incredible melange of poetry in motion.  And how a White boy from Minneap taught himself to spit so damn fast and pristine will forever be beyond me.  I am completely saddened by his passing but take comfort in the fact that he will live on valiantly through his music.  He is truly an emcee that impacted peoples lives on a level way deeper than superficial entertainment.  Even though I never met him I almost feel as though he was a friend and that is more than just being a good rapper, that is being a good person.  Rest in Peace Eyedea, thank you for everything that you gave the world, we will miss you greatly.

Eyedea & Abilities – ‘ The Dive (Part 1)’

Eyedea & Abilities – ‘ The Dive (Part 2)’

Eyedea & Abilities – E & A (2004)

August 24, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Eyedea & Abilities, Slug, ^Abilities
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I don’t care what you say, Eyedea can/will/has already rapped your favorite rapper under the table.  I don’t give a shit what you think about his lyrical material, you cannot deny the flow and technique of this dude.  This is yet another album that gets flack for being too “emo”.  You know I’m kinda getting sick of ppl always falling back on that lame label, to me it seems like if anyone wants to talk about human emotions or the somber aspects of life then they are automatically dubbed emo.  I think people are just fucking scared to get in touch with their deep side lol.  Anywho that’s enough of my opinion on emo.  On to this album, like I said Eyedea provides rapid-fire delivery and sarcastic remedies over Abilities beats.  Abilities’ production is hard to describe, I guess I would say that it is so complex that it sounds basic.  That is such a weird description but it’s the best way I can explain it.  It is basically like you can hear so much going on but it always sounds like one cohesive beat.  Dynamic duo to say the least, check em if you aren’t scared of ‘emo’ hip hop. (pssshhhhh smh haha)

Production:   Abilities

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Preview:  E & A

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/eyedeaandabilities

Eyedea & Abilities – ‘ Now’

And whenever I think of Eyedea it always reminds me of one of my all time favorite freestyles with him & Slug on The Wake Up Show with Sway.  Check it…

Toki Wright – A Different Mirror (2009)

July 29, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Brother Ali, Felipe Cuauhtli, I Self Devine, Scarub, St. Paul Slim, Trama, ^Benzilla, ^Medium Zach, ^PC, ^Reggie Reg, ^Sevadar Sehaj
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This album is just filled with so much positive energy.  Rappers are essentially revealing themselves through their albums and Toki Wright has revealed himself to be a stand-up guy.  On the album there is a lil clip talking about how when Toki was on tour everyone else was flying in their wives/girls/bootycalls to come chill but Toki took it upon himself to fly out his mom and his daughter.  That is a pretty good example of the type of sentiment that is on many of the tracks on here.  I remember hearing Toki on BK-One’s release Radio do Canibal and I was immediately attracted to his style.  And luckily that same good energy translated onto his full-length album.

Production:  Benzilla, Brother Ali, Medium Zach, PC, Reggie Reg, Sevadar Sehaj

Features:  Brother Ali, Felipe Cuauhtli, I Self Devine, Scarub, St. Paul Slim, Trama

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview:  A Different Mirror

Website:  http://tokiwright.com/

 Toki Wright – ‘Devil’s Advocate’

Blueprint – 1988 (2005)

July 27, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Aesop Rock, Blueprint, CJ The Cynic
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All I can say is that Blueprint’s beats are raw and his lyrics are loaded with wit and sarcasm.  Dude has me cracking up on the reg.  I was already a fan of his production on Illogic’s albums before I even heard his solo joints and all I can say is that I am not disappointed.  I love people who are serious enough to conquer real issues but never lose sight of the humor that is necessary to make it through life.  This album has that vibe to a T.  He will be talking about some hardcore, sad ass unfortunate realities and then switch over to a song about giving big girls love too lol.  He is blunt as hell and makes no apologies.  Entertaining til the last track, I can dig it.

Production:  Blueprint

Features:  Aesop Rock, CJ The Cynic

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview:  1988

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/blueprint

                    http://printmatic.net/

Blueprint – ’1988′

Brother Ali – Shadows On The Sun (2003)

June 14, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Brother Ali, ^Ant
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I have no idea why I haven’t talked about this album yet, that’s just pure craziness since it is one of my favorite albums of all time.  Some of the illest verses around supplied by Mr. Ali and backed by one of the best underground producers imo, Ant.  No need to skip any tracks because everything put forth on this album is worth the listen and then some.  He just goes in hard with the very first song,  no bs intro’s or anything.  Plus the raw energy and emotion that Brother Ali puts into his albums is just incredible.  Homeboy is like a spiritual gangster, he has parts of him that are hard but yet through it all he maintains this really wise outlook on life.  He does not sugar coat anything or dumb anything down.  Just gives it to you straight from beginning to end.

Production: Ant

Features: Slug

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview: Shadows On The Sun

Website:  http://www.brotherali.com/

Brother Ali – ‘ Room With A View’

Atmosphere – Headshots Se7en (2005)

May 26, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Atmosphere, Eyedea, Gene Poole, Musab, Slug, ^Ant
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It’s weird that I haven’t said much about Atmos up to this point because they actually are probably my favorite hip hop duo ever but I guess I figure that most hip hop fans will have already heard of them.  And furthermore formed their opinion of either utter amazement or complete disdain for their music.  I fall in the utter amazement category and I can definitely appreciate all the different stages of Atmospheres evolution.  But this release is a little more unknown and is much more raw, unpolished & unapologetic than some of the more recent releases.  But it has every bit of Slug’s wit, humor and somewhat dark outlook on life.  As for Ant’s beats, they aren’t as catchy as what some later releases are filled with, much more dark and in your face but captivating for sure.  If you like ‘Overcast’ and ‘The Dynospectrum’ then this will be right up your alley.

Production: Ant

Features: Eyedea, Gene Poole, Musab

Label: Rhymesayers

Full Preview: Headshots Se7en

Atmosphere – ‘The Abusing of the Rib’

 

Felt – Felt Volume 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet (2005)

April 30, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Felt, Murs, Slug, ^Ant
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Murs & Slug make quite the dynamic duo and with Ant supplying the beats for this album the recipe is a major success.  From beginning to end I never skip any songs and event the skits (which I’m usually not a fan of) provide comedy and flow to the album as a whole.  Ant really has some gems on here and the mix of Murs’ playful side and Slug’s serious side equals one very well-rounded album.

Full Preview: Felt Vol 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet

Felt – ‘I Shot A Warhol’

Felt – ‘Morris Day’

Felt – Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez (2009)

November 17, 2009
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Aesop Rock, Felt, Murs, Slug
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I kinda think this album should say Aesop Rock feat. Murs & Slug because this has Aesop written all over it.  Much darker, more raw & almost morbid compared with their first two releases ( Think Atmosphere – ‘Overcast’ or Aesop Rock – ‘Labor Days’).  It’s a pretty awesome album but  just so different from their other offerings that it kind of sounds like a different group all together.  At times Aesops beats can be over-powering but this is Murs, Slug & Aesop Rock after all so there is no lack of creativity.  These emcees are saying so much on here that its hard to catch it all on the first listen.  But I seriously like this album more and more everytime I hear it, it definitely has staying power.  Plus there is still that good ol’ Felt humor that we know and love.  “I seen Henrietta sittin down by the well/messin wit her camel toe talkin on her cell/breakin up some weed gettin ready for a blunt but she never felt the need to fix her wedgie in the front” ha! (Henrietta Longbottom).  ‘The Clap’ & ‘Get Cake’ are pretty funny too.  Aesop killed it on some of these beats too.  ‘Permanent Stand-by’, ‘Ghose Dance Deluxe’ & ‘ She Sonnet’ all have really dope, ghostly, complex beats.  If you are expecting another Felt album that sounds like the first two then ten-to-one you are gonna be a little disappointed with this.  BUT if you are open-minded then this could have some offerings that you will appreciate.  I still think all three of them needed a hug or something while making this though =D.

Production:  Aesop Rock

Features:  Aesop Rock

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview:  Felt Vol. 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez

Website:   http://www.myspace.com/mursandslug

This song just fuckin makes me laugh everytime I hear it.  Where do they come up with these concepts?

  Felt – ‘Whaleface’

 

  Felt – ‘Ghost Dance Deluxe’

 

    

 

BK-One with Benzilla – Radio do Canibal (2009)

October 31, 2009
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Abstract Rude, Aby Wolf, Aceyalone, Black Thought, Blueprint, Brother Ali, I Self Devine, Murs, P.O.S., Phonte, Raekwon, Scarface, Slug, The Grouch, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Toki Wright, ^Benzilla, ^BK-One
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This album earns props just due to the amazing line-up alone (Slug, Brother Ali, P.O.S., Scarface, Raekwon, Murs etc.)  Bk-One is mostly known for being DJ to Brother Ali but for this album he is using his production skills along side fellow Minneap producer Benzilla.  Bk’s Brazilian inspired beats are funky, creative and fresh leaving a great pallet for hip hop creativity.  The effort put forth by the emcees is inspiring.  These songs don’t have a bunch of throw-away verses, they cover many topics both serious and fun, happy and sad, inspiring and sobering but never lacking depth.  If you are a fan of the Rhymesayers, Brazil, or just hip hop in general there is something for you on this album.

Production:  Bk-One, Benzilla, Brother Ali

Features:  Abstract Rude, Aby Wolf, Aceyalone, Black Thought, Blueprint, Brother Ali, I Self Devine, Murs, Phonte, P.O.S., Raekwon, Slug, Scarface, The Grouch, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Toki Wright

Full Preview: Radio do Canibal

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/balmoral

Bk-One – ‘Here I Am (ft. Phonte, Brother Ali & The Grouch)

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