Nicolay’s City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya, but Don't buy it from iTunes

Nicolay and Phone dropped Nicolay's City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya in electronic format today (physical copy release is next week). If you heard or have City Lights vol 1.5, you are probably like me; waiting for 2.0 to drop.

Well that day has come with electronic version available at both iTunes and Amazon.com, however if you are going to purchase the electronic version, buy it from Amazon, NOT iTunes... here's Phonte to explain why:



Nicolay’s City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya - Amazon.com Link

iTunes gets the Gas Face!

UPDATE per NicolayMusic.com:

Digital version of 'City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya' released!

The digital version of 'City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya' was released yesterday, exactly one week before the CD version drops on September 15. After an unusual but compelling request from Phonte and Nicolay not to purchase the digital album through iTunes (see: 'City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya' and why NOT to buy it from iTunes', fans collectively took to Amazon.com, pushing 'Shibuya' into the site's MP3 Album Top 100 chart almost immediately. And it didn't stop there. At the time of writing, 'Shibuya' is the #1 album in Dance, and the #16 album overall! Not a small feat for an album released independently by the artists themselves, without any marketing budgets or other financial backing.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our supporters, past, present, and future. You are much appreciated!

Baby Phat Revisited...

Baby Phat '09

Straight off the soon to be released Mick Boogie & Terry Urban present: LE DA SOUL - 20 Years Of De La Soul is this gem, Baby Phat '09. Skillz provides the lyrics, Colin Munroe takes care of the hook, and the production by Mick and Terry are on point with this tribute to the most underrated hip hop group, De La Soul.

Skillz f. Colin Munroe: Baby Phat ‘09

This joint is hot... straight to the iPhone!

Baby Phat '01:


Damn, I can't wait for the LE DA SOUL - 20 Years Of De La Soul to drop later this month....

Kamaal The Abstract will see the light of day, FINALLY (officially)

If you never heard Q-Tip's shelved album, you are in a for a treat. iTunes will be getting my money the day this drops!!!

Slug and Murs have an announcement to make...

B-List actresses be warned and flattered because FELT is back! Slug (Atmosphere) and Murs (Living Legends) reunite for their third release from moniker FELT. These MCs teamed up with The Grouch (Living Legends) in 2002 to release FELT’s debut album A Tribute to Christina Ricci. Collaborating with producer Ant (Atmosphere) in 2005 resulted in their second coming A Tribute to Lisa Bonet. With the fresh addition of Aesop Rock (Def Jux) on production and unwavering love for those forgotten actresses who warmed their hearts, Slug and Murs are pleased to present FELT 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez dropping 11.17.09 on Rhymesayers Entertainment.








First Single - Protagonists

LEAKED: Jay Z's Blueprint 3 (a quick and dirty review)

Well the internet blew up this morning with download links to Jay's long awaited new album, Blueprint 3. I was actually thinking, what is taking so long!?!? It sucks that it was leaked... but its to be expected in this day and age. I hope if you like the album, you will cop a legit copy when it officially drops Sept 8th.

I didn't really to know what to expect from this album... I like D.O.A. when it dropped, loved when he performed it at the 2009 BET Awards... but after I heard the album, there's autotune all over it... I guess he's 'using it' correctly? :) Actually there are tracks where auto-tune was used in a manner that it did not take over the song, but then there are some that did.
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As for the record...tracks I like:
What We Talkin About (like what he is saying, I like how he answers some of his detractors)
DOA (I like, but in listening to the album, it seems somewhat hypocritical)
Empire State of Mind (Jay Z + Alicia Keys = Nice combo)
A Star is Born
Venus Vs Mars
Hate (West did his thing, again)
So Ambitious (Pharrell and Jay never disappoint, the tradition continues with this track)
Thanks You
*When The Money Goes
*Jockin Jay Z (Travis Barker Remix makes this a better track)
*Brooklyn (Go Hard)
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Tracks that are okay:
Run This Town (there are times when I say its okay, there are times when I hit skip 5 seconds in)
Real As It Gets (I initially did not like it, but the track is growing on me)
Off That (like the verses, don't like the hook)
Already Home (very Em-ish)
*Ain't I
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Tracks That Are Prohibited From the Truck:
On To the Next One
Reminder (ouch, my ears hurt)
Young Forever (seriously, this track is terrible)
*Ghetto Techno (Timbaland produced; this track will never get play in the truck)
*Jockin Jay Z (never liked it)
*History (meh)
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Overall, I give BP3 a "B"... its good, but not on the level of Reasonable Doubt (not that I was expecting it to be), just my opinion. It won't make my 'must cop' list (coming soon), but Jay Z fans will be happy, and at the same time, Jay Z haters will be happy to hate it.

With that said, I will cop a legit copy on Sept. 8th..... Peace

*Unofficial bonus tracks

Photographing the Beginning of a Culture

Martha Cooper was a photo-journalist living in New York City when she first began documenting the origins of B-boy (short for break-boys) and hip hop culture. While other New Yorkers at the time saw this movement as a trite, uninspired or even offensive fad, Martha found a new form of expressing art. Through her camera lens we recount the infancy of hip-hop culture, from the alleys and subways of New York to the masses beyond the boroughs.

True Hip-Hop Stories: B-Real

True Hip-Hop Stories: B-Real from D-Nice on Vimeo.

In this episode of True Hip-Hop Stories, B-Real of Cypress Hill discussed the making of their hit recording How I Could Just Kill A Man and the influence latinos had on the hip-hop culture.