Is "Broke and Proud" encore status??

Since we are in the midst of a recession (though no one will really admit it) we felt it fitting to post a music video by the artist Rugged N Raw. The song is called Broke and Proud and features the artist in our last post, Hasan Salaam.

Enjoy!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Hasan Salaam = Encore Status

Jersey native Hasan Salaam is the answer, if you've been questioning what conscious without corny sounds like. Hasan Salaam is as gritty as any hood rapper, with a poetic cadence and an unmistakable flow, that's as far from the soft and cushy spoken-word that plagues other purposed emcees. He's refreshing; definitely hip hop and not hip pop. He has clearly sacrificed fame for purpose, because unlike so many conscious rappers, mainstream is not out of the question for Hasan. His look doesn't typecast him either way and his sound is hood credible.

He is a rapper that is not misogynistic, materialistic or indulgent and a man who is not afraid to reveal his love for the woman he describes as the "Earth by his side" in Suga. Lyrically, he's reflective. On the track 15 Minutes he admits that music does have an affect on the youth and tells them that the fantasy portrayed in songs are not a reality. He spits "kids no longer separate life from entertainment and with all the gangsta sh*t no one explains an affidavit/You're ghostwriters ain't coming out to you're arraignment emulating your favorite rapper is a painstaking engagement." But don't be prepared for a musical lecture; Hasan is not some beat box-soap box preacher. The must-hear, Prayer of a Sinner delivers a gritty but heartfelt ode that's both revealing and profound; "First was the word/and if life is a test, hope we graded on a curve/'cuz we weak in the flesh…"

Is he unparalleled or unabridged? Uncertain. But what Salaam does possess is the ability to invoke the totality of a history of a people that he deeply cares about. He quotes Jackie Robinson ("a life is unimportant except in the impact it has on other lives"). He seems to really believe this and he acts on it, by volunteering with inner city youth. He credits reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X for his young conversion to Islam. Yea, he's conscious, on that I'm-well-read-I-know-my-history deal. So what if he falls short on the "it's the message not the messenger thing." (Read: it's always the messenger). Hasan Salaam escapes the shadow of the coterie of many non-mainstream rappers by avoiding the shuck and jive club banger, the obligatory I-get-money track, and not selling out to make a vain attempt at fame and selling out venues. And for that, he just might restore some context to the game and remind mainstream of its core.

-Makila M.

Oddisee = Encore Status!

artwork by: aniekan


What up DMV! (DC, Maryland, Virginia) We in the building right now putting the spot light on Largo, Maryland's own Oddisee. You all may remember him from his first commercial appearance on Dj Jazzy Jeff's 2002 release The Magnificent, in which he produced and spit on the cool out track, Musik Lounge. Since then, Oddisee has worked with the likes of Jean Grae, J Live, Wordworth, Little Brother, and Saigon. This month Oddisee has been flooding the web with two mix tapes. First he released Oddisee 101 and Oddisee 102 on iTunes, if you feelin some of the joints on here, PLEASE Support. Second, Hot 97 Radio Show Host, Peter Rosenburg recently posted a mixtape called "A Rosenberg Oddisee" of tracks featuring MCs he personally recruited to spit over Oddisee beats. With cosigns like these and musical talent, Oddisee is destined for greatness. Now that we understand, Oddisee is a rapper and a producer, let me recommend some of his illest verses and beats.
When I first heard Oddisee, I liked his song the Musik Lounge. The current state of music has conditioned me to like a song before the artist. Usually artists come out with one hot track and drop a subpar album, or they get pushed back until you forget who they were. Well I have heard much more from Oddisee and I can finally say I like him as an artist. His musical ability shines consistently on both mixtapes without topics or beats sounding the same. Being a sample junkie myself, I especially enjoy the horns used on the tracks picture painting track "Camera" and funky instrumental "Chocolate City Dreamin." Other stand out beats to look for are "Sand to the Beach," "Money on the Clock," and "Endure (2 Fish Remix)." Lyrically, his descriptions of the diversity and gang issues in the DMV hit home for me on "Camera." Demonstrating his knowledge of the culture, Oddisee creatively travels through the history of hip-hop over the Nas influenced track, "Memory Lane."In addition to the many iPod worthy songs I've already mentioned, check out these as well "Soul Clap," "A Song for That," and "I'm Gone (Remix)."

Overall Oddisee is definitely an artist to look out for. His sample heavy production, which I feel is his strongest skill, is true to the culture of hip hop and has earned him the respect of many great lyrists in the game. Lyrically, I feel Oddisee leaves a little more to be desired, in terms of flow and delivery. Although, content wise he gets my seal of approval and will only improve with time. So now that we've reached the end of my review, what do you do next? Holla at iTunes to support my dude Oddisee. Then keep your ear to the street for his cross over hit that puts Maryland on the map.

PanamaBlack