This is the rap album of the year. Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city. Go get it. Now. I never was the biggest Kendrick Lamar fan, but I gotta give him his props. The Compton kid made a classic album. From the raps to the hooks to the beats to the skits to the stories to the artwork, he did it. I compare the first time I listened to this album in full to the first time I saw Boyz n the Hood. Same feeling. I’m gonna post the lead single off the album, “The Recipe,” because the beat is so dope, and Dr. Dre has a great feature rapping on it. But you have to check out the whole album. It’s a must listen.
Peep where they got the sample from, too. Great flip.
Please don’t sleep. Go cop this album ASAP.
*BONUS*
Here’s some other fly Cali shit. Polyester the Saint “500 Benz.” Pretty ill.
Joey Bada$$ put out a new video this week for his 1999 song “Fromdatomb” featuring his boy Chuck Strangers. This is how I like rap videos to look. Straight New York street shit, with subway shots and all. It reminds me of an old Black Moon video or something. Joey rips his verse of course, but Chuck Strangers has my favorite bars on the song, when he spits, “I know how to write these songs I know how to light these bongs I know how to rip thongs and I’m pretty good at beer pong.” Hahah I love that. Check it out above. Cheah.
It’s here, as promised, and it’s ridiculous. Action Bronson’s new video for his collabo with The Alchemist, “The Symbol.” Watch below, and download the song for free HERE. Rare Chandeliers coming soon.
Unreal.
*BONUS*
Another dope video by a white rapper. Props to Mac Miller for producing this beat, and for being weird. I’m into this. Check out Mac’s new joint “He Who Ate All The Caviar” below.
Sorry if it feels like Westcheddar is turning into an Action Bronson and Roc Marciano fan site as of late, but fuck it, these are the two dopest rappers out right now. Period. Watch them perform “Pouches Of Tuna” live last night at Gramercy Theatre above. Awesome.
*Bonus*
More unreleased Roc Marciano self-produced crack, not on his upcoming album. This one’s called “Momma’s Song.” Enjoy.
Don’t be mad when I post Action Bronson’s new video Monday. It’s going to happen.
I got put on recently to this new song/video “Them Days” by NATE, a 20 year old Mexican/Nicaraguan rapper from San Francisco. I was immediately impressed by his double-time rap skills, plus I love hearing kids from my Bay Area homeland kicking some real shit in their rhymes. Dope song, dope video. Watch above, and download his album Common Folkhere. Cheah.
In the above video clip, Action Bronson and The Alchemist sit on the beach in Santa Monica completely stoned and have a chat. It’s amazing. I don’t even want to write too much about it, I just want you all to watch. I def need a part two to this, and eventually, I will need the uncut footage from this whole conversation.
After you watch this, read Complex’s interview with The Alchemist conducted by my dude Insanul, where he tells all the stories behind his classic songs. Links below.
The Alchemist Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records
I was trying to think of something special to do for my 600th Westcheddar post, but sometimes things just happen perfectly, and there is really no need for planning. So it is with great pleasure and honor that I present this interview I did with RZA as my monumental 600th post. It was crazy to sit with The Abbot of the Wu-Tang Clan, and chop it up with him about the soundtrack to his upcoming martial arts film The Man with the Iron Fists. We kicked for about a half hour out in Brooklyn at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and he told me the stories behind all the songs on the soundtrack, which features the whole Wu, Kanye West, The Black Keys, Kool G Rap, Pusha T, Corinne Bailey Rae, and many more amazing artists. Click the link to check it out, and thanks to everyone for staying tuned to Westcheddar. Love is love.
I gotta post the Kanye West song “White Dress” off the soundtrack too, which was officially released last Friday on the same day as this feature. It’s so damn good to hear ‘Ye spitting over a soulful RZA beat. I’ve had this for a few weeks now, but kept my excitement on the hush as to not let the crack out of the bag. It was pretty cool to have an exclusive like this early, but I’m glad it’s out now for everyone to enjoy…
*BONUS*
I still remember the first time I heard this song. I can picture myself listening to it over and over and over and over again. I def wrote a paper in college filled with quotes from this song. Such a gem. RZA “Sunshower,” off the Wu-Tang Forever import. Do the knowledge.
My boy Scott aka Tic (above left) got married this past weekend in Martha’s Vineyard, and my other boy Matty B (above right), who you may remember from the “Hammer” chorus, was his Best Man. And his Best Man Speech was legendary. I’m pretty sure that even heads who don’t know Tic or Matty will find this entertaining. And yes, that’s me dying laughing the whole time in the background while filming. Props to Matty for killing it and going off the cuff. He called me last Friday to flesh out some ideas, had a whole Top 10 list he was gonna do, and then decided to wing it. And he nailed it. Watch below…
This dude Roc Marciano is my favorite rapper out right now who isn’t named Action Bronson. He dropped a new joint earlier this week called “Rocky II,” and the shit is pimp. It’s got a smooth, soul groove, and killer lyrics and flow. I’ve been knocking this steadily for the past two days after posting it on Complex. Check it out.
*BONUS*
This “Poltergeist” video he dropped today is dope too. Low budget, but the raps are priceless.
Stay tuned, Roc’s got a new project called Reloaded on the way. One.
Black Thought’s birthday was last week, so I linked up with UpNorthTrips, egotripland, and my dude The Vinylcologist to celebrate by putting together a new edition of The 10s dedicated to his rap talents. Check the intro, then click the link to egotripland to read more and listen…
When the discussion of underrated emcees comes up, Black Thought‘s name is frequently mentioned. And we here at UpNorthTrips take that as an insult. It’s 2012, and the Philly-bred front man for The Roots has been slaying every mic in his path for two decades now – in concerts across the world, and on over a dozen LPs, without taking a breather. He’s even managed to stay relevant with rap purists while holding down a gig on Jimmy Fallon’s late night NBC talk show. Tariq Trotter is a one-of-one in this rap shit. There is no other artist with his stage presence, stamina, versatility, and straight up skills to pay the bills. He’s the quintessential master of ceremonies.
To celebrate his 42nd birthday, we give you a special edition of The 10s entitled “Thought At Work,” because dude stays on his job, and doesn’t ever let up, having held his own on tracks with everyone from Big Pun to Ghostface Killah to Mos Def, in addition to his countless classics with The Roots. Read about our selections below, listen to the mix, and next time you want to talk underrated MCs, please leave his name out. Black Thought only belongs in the Top 5 Dead Or Alive discussion moving forward.
Westcheddar 