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The Clipse – “Door Man“
from Til The Casket Drops (Sony, Available 12/8)
Got It For Cheap hipster hyperbole aside, *The* Clipse has always been a four man group. And I’m not talking about Ab and Sand, either. In much the same way Cannibal Ox proved forgettable without El-P or Guru was a horrible solo act, The Clipse are inextricably linked with their producers. Every Clipsetunes track we’ve heard thus far from the album has either been Sonic The Hedgehog melodic pop Neptunes or “Grindin” like simplicity. “Door Man” is P and Chad (maybe? is he still even a Neptune?) expanding into denser palettes. But unlike on say, “When’s The Last Time” Pusha and Mal get crumble under that weight. Their raps are forgettable and for this reason “Door Man” pales in comparison to their best work. But it still outshines most of what we’ve heard from the album so far.
Lil B – “Based“
from 6 Kiss (Mixtape, Coming Soon)
B at his weirdest, fully unhinged and maybe sending more shots at Drake? He’s a lion in the Pro Tools jungle, calling out Whole Foods inhabitants and perverting the “Successful” hook into a mystic new age yodel about (what else?) being based.
Gucci Mane – “My Own Worst Enemy“
from The State Vs. Radric Davis (Asylum, Available 12/8)
Gucci’s shadow betrays him. At the risk of sounding redundant, I’m not sure how people are hearing this guy as anything but a good to great rapper. I guess pigeons don’t chose their own holes.
Pill f/ Freddie Gibbs – “Run Up To Me“
from 4075: The Refill (Mixtape, Available 11/17)
I’ve said it before, but can these guys just form a group already? As consistent as both of them have been, they’ve also played it pretty conservatively with beats, either by clinging to nostalgia or just adapting to the present. With “Run Up To Me,” an as yet unidentified producer laces them with one of their first truly forward production, swinging Fizzy Womack style throwback piano lines, Timbaland synths and the hardest scratching any rap record has had in a long time. (via MGG)
G-Side f/ Short Change & PT- “I Remember“
from Code Black (Internet, 2009)
Long story short, the much anticipated Huntsville International has been delayed further and Code Black is the holdover and is all over the place musically. (Someone in the comments ID’d the emo rock hook on “Can’t Be Perfect” as being from the group A Simple Plan. I feel pretty good about not knowing that.) Hopefully the album is closer in sound to this smoothed out, Pimp C sampling banger. If not, over-ambition is better than none at all.
Waka Flocka Flame f/ Cartel – “Google Me“
from Waka Flocka Myers (Mixtape, 2009)
Flocka and Cartel might want to keep a lower profile. I’m no expert, but search engine optimization doesn’t seem like a smart priority for a criminal operation. What’s next, trap house RSS Feeds? (And yes I am aware that Flocka has dropped like a half dozen mixtapes since this came out. I am old and slow and this is my favorite track on any of them.)
Dynas f/ Slick Rick – “Family Jewels“
from The Apartment (BBE, 2009)
24 Carat raps from Ricky D. Time has slowly been phasing Ricky out of GOAT discussions even though his last great album is a lot more recent than Kane, KRS, G Rap, or Rakim’s. (Or Big and Pac’s, for that matter, though they had the unfortunate handicap of being dead.) He’s still great and doesn’t rap enough. His laid back flow lends itself to age. The same can’t be said for fast rap. I don’t know who Dynas is and frankly I don’t care. They sound fine, but should have known better than to have The Ruler rap first and last on their lead single if they were expecting attention. Produced by DJ Spinna. This, too, has been out for a little while. And I slept.
Cyhi Da Prynce – “Studder“
The Georgia Prynce is back with another slight name change and rocking some black frost. (Yes, I am blowing out all obvious breaks today. I see you YN.) (Via the mighty Maurice, once again)
44 Comments, Comment or Ping
mark p.
Nothing from Starlito’s last tape?
Nov 12th, 2009
noz
I haven’t checked it yet.
Nov 12th, 2009
alex
Sonic The Hedghog is a perfect way to describe those type of Neptunes beats.
I haven’t really wanted to listen to any Waka Flocka stuff, but I’m gonna check out that track.
Nov 12th, 2009
Matthew Africa
Great selections and commentary.
I caught the “don’t care” disclaimer, but… Dynas is a “he”, not a “they”. He had a 2002 12″ called “Spittin” that was pretty forgettable but for Spinna freaking the shit out of “Flash Light”.
Nov 12th, 2009
noz
I CARE SO LITTLE THAT I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO EDIT THE TEXT
Nov 12th, 2009
August
A lot of good music here. I feel like I’m the only one who’s feeling the new Clipse singles, even though it is a departure from their modus operandi. Big co-sign on the Gucci sentiment. I just wrote a long post analyzing his appeal (or at least what it is to me). I’m hoping this album won’t cater too much to the commercial sector.
What happened with H.I.P. anyway? That whole deal about the hard drive being stolen was tongue in cheek, right? Because the writing in the official statement was incredibly metaphorical.
Nov 12th, 2009
DR. NO
Prepare for Gucci’s weed carriers to be everywhere while he’s locked up. A shame in so many ways..
Nov 12th, 2009
dv
The Rick Rubin pep-talks were to the detriment of The Clipse’s music. Please bring back the frowns.
Nov 12th, 2009
LK
he has to break out of jail the day before his shit drops
Nov 12th, 2009
Chef Rae
“Sonic The Hedgehog melodic pop”
Noz throwing out Charles Hamilton subliminals.
Nov 12th, 2009
david
these neptune beats are like the beats from that one talib kweli record everyone has forgotten about
Nov 12th, 2009
LK
David, aren’t there like four of those? Do you mean the one right after Reflection Eternal?
Nov 12th, 2009
LK
Also, Chef Rae, I hope to god Noz isn’t talking about Hamilton. sonic the hedgehog’s music has a definite aesthetic and fucking Chaz tried to steal that for a minute.
I can listen to Sega Genesis soundtracks all fucking day.
Nov 12th, 2009
david
yes ‘beautiful struggle’
Nov 12th, 2009
Chef Rae
I can ride with that Waka Flocka song. Too bad he flaked on that BB Kings showcase. He would have showed AND attempted to prove.
Nov 12th, 2009
Supreme Neck Protector
I know you hate hearing folk say this, but Guru didn’t suddenly become horrible once Premier left. He always was. Maybe that’s a ‘new jack gump’ position or whatever the hell but I don’t care. I’ve heard every Gang Starr album and counting the dope Guru performances barely takes both hands. I’m not tryna begrudge him “Who Got Gunz” or whatever, ’cause he can go in on occasion, but I bought Moment of Truth and almost regretted it. When an album has beats like “Work” and “Above The Clouds” on it and I still can’t listen to it, something is seriously wrong. And that’s his least worst work, based on what I’ve heard. Everyone rightfully shits on Group Home and Big Shug and the NYGz, but why they’re mocked and Guru isn’t is beyond me.
Nov 12th, 2009
TSF
I dunno, I’m just not feelin’ Door Man. Malice shows up Pusha more than usual on this one. And what the fuck is up with the hook?! It doesn’t even sound like Clipse! I’ll still buy the album though, cuz I love their work.
Nov 12th, 2009
birch beer
“Thrill is Gone” sample & a Pimp C interpolation? Holy shit.
Words cannot explain how much of a loss Pimp C has been for rap. Every time I hear a song like this or “Iodine Poisoning,” all I think about is how a 2010 UGK album could have sounded.
Nov 12th, 2009
mark p.
No, Guru was definitely a good rapper on every Gang Starr record. I don’t understand or want to understand why people don’t like him, especially to the point where the album is almost unlistenable? That’s just weird.
Right now his music sucks because he doesn’t understand what good music is, not because he’s a bad rapper.
Nov 12th, 2009
birch beer
And also, that Slick Rick song on some random Mos Def CD that came out who knows when that had the verse with him rapping a soldier in Iraq was absolutely incredible.
Nov 12th, 2009
mitch
Supreme Neck Protector:
thank you SO much for saying that…i thought i was the only one who thought guru was wack. i remember one time i made a comment on a youtube video for Gang Starr – The Voice saying that the first verse was wack and instantly had a thousand flame responses saying that “i was an idiot for hating on the god when there’s so much bad shit in hip hop now”.
Nov 12th, 2009
birch beer
Lemonade is a popular drink and it still is. Fuck you guys.
Nov 12th, 2009
LK
If you regretted “Moment of Truth” then you might regret having sex once you get around to doing that for the first time.
I kid!
Nov 13th, 2009
david
if u ask me the asian one is the only neptune producing anything….the darkie is there to get on bet and in xxl….he prolly touches a button here and there ……plus kool keith was star treck from jupiter way before anyone mentioned neptune…..just cuz the jap guy looks like spock dont mean shit
Nov 13th, 2009
david
opinion is one thing…if u dont liek guru thats fine…peronally gngstar is soem of the only east coasst music i like…..
sidenote : ny holds premier as the closest thing they got to dr dre ….haha hes from houston….. personally id give that to rza
Nov 13th, 2009
noz
Guru is great on Gang Starr records.
Nov 13th, 2009
david
yo haha…i like slick rick and all…but art osf storytelling great??? it definetley has great songs but once your past track7 or so you hit a brick wall…
Nov 13th, 2009
quan
is slick rick having the best year ever for 80s rap vets or what? though i guess there isn’t much competition to begin with
Nov 13th, 2009
Hele Fitta
Yes, Guru sounds great on Gang Starr records but it was always Mostly The Voice.
Nov 13th, 2009
MF
Right up to Sabotage Guru circa Gang Starr could always tell a mean tale about a set up.
This Dynas tune makes me sad that Ricky D never did a proper song over that 24 Carat Black break.
Pill & Gibbs for the win here.
Nov 13th, 2009
harv
That Gucci joint is excellent. Dude gets better and better every time he records.
Nov 13th, 2009
LIL B
THE SONG STUDDER IS AMAZING
OMG
Nov 13th, 2009
amphilly
Noz i like your site and find you to be one of the only insightful hip hop bloggers out there, but seriously are you trying to set up all your readers for some type of incredibly elaborate practical joke with all this Lil B love (and subsequent drake jihad you’ve been waging), like seriously is this a two years in the making April Fools joke, or like your Metal Machine Music. No Shots
Nov 13th, 2009
Tray
You don’t like the Clipse song with Cam? I am a fan.
Nov 13th, 2009
Chef Rae
@amphilly
Noz is really a PHD student conducting a sociological experiment.
Nov 13th, 2009
Nashvillain
heard 1, 2. by Z-ro on the ride home today, satellite rad. shit is fire but that is pretty redundant.
Nov 13th, 2009
AK
The Clipse joint is remarkably dull, to the point where I forgot that I was listening to the Clipse.
w/r/t Gibbs/Pill – Song is tight, but what’s so unusual about the production? It seems fairly standard, whereas you had “County Bounce” and “Murda On My Mind” on midwest.etc., both of which had really unusual atmospheric instrumentals. There are all those weird off-key resonant sounds going on in the back of “County Bounce,” and all the thick reverb…
Nov 14th, 2009
jeebles
The Clipse or one of the few “southern” rap acts that seem awkward and contrived when they attempt to do a “southern” rap song.
This not good.
Nov 15th, 2009
bding7
I feel like I’m the only one who’s feeling the new Clipse singles
Yea, reading these comments, I’m feeling the same way. I’m just not understanding the opinions here, but I’m almost feeling embarrassed for liking what has been leaked.
Nov 15th, 2009
Jeff
Regardless of purported Gucci divisiveness, there is no denying that “BRRR” is the most fun ad-lib since “That Purple.”
“Lemonade” is pretty undeniable too.
Nov 15th, 2009
mark p.
No comments on the Lil B song? I don’t like everything he does but it might be my favorite song by him yet. Could almost be a single.
Nov 16th, 2009
August
Clipse really aren’t Southern. They may be from a dubiously Southern state, but they’re aesthetic is pretty damn different, and I don’t understand what you find “Southern” about this song.
What do you think of that “Popular Demand” video? I like it, but it’s nothing amazing.
Nov 16th, 2009
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