Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Perform at Yankee Stadium 10/29/09

50 Cent's New Album Leaks!

DISCLAIMER: I am only on track number 11 out of 16 so far so this is not a complete review.

However, with that said, 50 Cent's new album "Before I Self Destruct" is INCREDIBLE!

Maybe it's because after his last album and recent mixtapes we all underestimated 50's ability to create a an album that is both hardcore and sonically pleasing, complete with authentic gangsta rap as well as the commercial songs that have brought 50 his mega riches.

He did it six years ago, of course. And his second album was no slouch, either.

So why did we sleep on him?

Don't we always want the villain to win? Isn't 50 just that -- a villain? He is on this album, at least.

It will be interesting to see how well this album sells, considering it hit the Internet just about a month prior to it's [previously?] scheduled release date. It is also worth monitoring the album's sales because that is always 50's bottom line -- the money.

As well as the bragging rights.

I'm sure 50 feels like he needs to get revenge on Lil' Wayne and Kanye West. Because of the way Wayne has decided to ignore 50's taunts, and because Kanye won the "first-week battle" a few years back, 50 no doubt feels as if he has something to prove.

Based on the current landscape of radio and video, the album is chock full of potential number one hits. That's not to say that it is soft, or commercial. It speaks more to 50's overall appeal and ability to make good music that caters to a wide demographic and a loyal fan base that is eager to see him back on top.

Time will tell. Expect 50 and Interscope to comment on this leak soon and move his album release date up to next week.

Jay-Z Biting [Again]?

For years now Jay-Z has had accusations of biting hurled at him from every conceivable angle -- the media, fans, his rapper peers. Since his 1996 debut he's been charged with copying everything from lyrics (at 1:36 in the video) to song titles to an underling's rapping style to his latest album cover.

It got to the point that Jay, who normally ignores the so-called haters, took the time on The Black Album to mention that he's "not a biter [he's] a writer" and that when he says "a B.I.G. verse he's only bigging up [his] brother," a response to (and acknowledgment of) all the finger-pointing in his direction.

It was also a likely response to the scathing diss track "Ether," in which NaS reasons: "First, Biggie's ya man, then you got the nerve to say that you better than B.I.G. ... why don't you let the late, great veteran live?"

Nas was, of course, referring to the first Blueprint album, where after five straight years of extolling B.I.G. as the greatest rapper of all time, Jay now claimed to occupy that same throne: "If I ain't better than B.I.G., I'm the closest one." (3:20 in the video)

Jay, even though he won the war, still found himself licking his wounds from that battle before he decided to extend an olive branch to NaS, signing him to Def Jam and rewarding him with a lucrative multi-album contract.

Fast forward to September 2009 -- Jay is readying his Blueprint 3 album when the album's track listing leaks online and reveals a curious title for a song: "Empire State of Mind." Very similar to NaS's debut album-opening song, "N.Y. State of Mind," which is widely considered a classic.

Coincidence? Probably not, considering that Illseed posted a rumor about how Jay wanted NaS featured on that song. Alas, NaS declined to participate, no doubt providing a blow to Jay's ego -- or, at least, that's how the rumor goes.

It's almost as if Jay intentionally invites the controversy by "borrowing" from other people. Or maybe he just doesn't care.

The two tracks sound nothing alike, and both are very dope in their own rights, but because of the allegations that have dogged Jay for much of the past decade, I have no choice but to raise my eyebrow in suspicion at the song's title. Jay's track record indicates that he is once again in violation of Hiphop's biting code. (Never mind the fact that NaS also called Jay out for naming his Blueprint album the same name as an album released by BDP in 1989.

But the public wasn't fooled. We know about Jay's relentless quest for power, and signing NaS to Def Jam, as well as their subsequent collaborations, was just another way for Jay to prove to the world that he got the last laugh; that despite losing the battle of words to NaS, Jay ultimately won the war -- the girl, the money, the fame, the awards ... the list goes on and on.

The move also allowed Jay to finally record a song with NaS, which many people saw as a way for Jay to portray himself as NaS's boss, another jab in the ongoing boxing match between the two rappers.

Is Jay a biter? Does Jay envy NaS? These questions can only be answered by the listener, but at first glance (and listen) it would seem that Jay is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

OB4CL2 -- Better Than Expected

Let me get this out of the way first -- I'm a Raekwon fan.

Yes, I was guilty of declaring Method Man's superiority over Rae back in 94, ignoring Ghost's formidable abilities that would be showcased on Rae's classic debut one year later.

And even though Meth has made an impressive resurgence as of late; even though Ghost has pretty much held the entire Wu down single-handedly over the past five years or so; even though Rae put out less-than-impressive product over the past decade; despite all of that, Rae is officially back!

The streets were waiting on this album like the legions of Dr. Dre fans are awaiting the ever-delayed release of Detox. And like is expected of Detox, OB4CL2 does not disappoint! At all. I need more time to digest the album before I comment any further, but the below is a video for OB4CL2 album cut New Wu featuring Ghostface aka Mr. Reliable and a show-stealing Method Man spitting crazy with a sick flow.

The Rap Game is Running Out of Names -- The Toven Edition

This is a repeat feature that gets updated seemingly every time a new rapper or so-called Hiphop producer makes his debut on the scene. And that's because every time a new rapper or so-called Hiphop producer comes out, he seemingly ALWAYS has a ridiculous moniker.

Case and point: "producer" Baytoven. I first discovered this interesting, yet far from original-sounding name while perusing one of my favorite music Web sites, where Baytoven was identified as the producer behind a song by Chicago rapper Phil G (another innovative name, huh?).

As if the name Baytoven wasn't terrible enough, I checked out his myspace page and was greeted by a hodgepodge of amateur-sounding beats that only got worse with the addition of some anonymous rapper with no sense of timing.

I gleaned that he is at least from San Francisco -- aka the Bay Area -- so I guess can see where he got his name from. However, I don't think it's a long shot (or a coincidence) to say that Baytoven's name and his music are both weighted down by a clear case of laziness.

First Zaytoven and now this... I would love to hear what classical music enthusiasts think of this recent spate of paying "homage" to Ludwig...