Truth be told, this is an exact rendition of every white person party I’ve ever been to.

At least Warner had the good sense to finally clear the Plies verse. Hip hop is alive!

Plies – “Chef“

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It seems like Plies has been gone forever. Maybe it was because he was so prolific on his DMX two albums a year tip for so long or because he’s not really dropping mixtapes like that, but it doesn’t even seem like dude is a significant rapper right now. Sure there was his limp verse on “Wasted” (now upgraded? to OJ) but otherwise he’s been suspiciously quiet. Maybe he’s crafting his masterpiece. “Chef” isn’t that, but it’s a nice enough teaser single and a good return to form. He raps about drugs and stuff.

Wale f/ Gucci Mane – “Pretty Girls“

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from Attention: Deficit (Interscope, Coming Soon)
I guess I’m obligated to weigh in on this one, being the intersection of two of our favorite rap memes. The thing about Wale is his rigid flow and enunciation is taylor made for a go-go beat. Whether he realizes it or not his hard pronunciation style is a direct descendant of the Fat Rodneys and Stinky Dinks. Gucci is more slithery on this beat, like he isn’t really sure what to do with it. A friend of mine was recently bemoaning Gucci’s attachment to this song as a shallow attempt for Wale to expand his southern audience. I suspect it’s more an attempt to win over his hometown. Gucci is a bigger star in DC than Wale will ever be. On the street case study: this song was blaring from a nearby radio the other night. A girl in her late teens passing by started freaking out and singing along, thinking it was the Backyard version. Then the rapping started and she immediately shifted demeanors, looking like her dog just died. Word is A:D has been pushed back. Hopefully this is to give him time to record more songs that loop up classic go-go records, but realistically they are probably just holding out for a Cat Power hook or something. (more…)

Gucci Mane – “I’m Back Bitch”

Gucci Mane f/ Plies – “Wasted” FUCKWMG

And so it begins. After years of bubbling under it only took a split second for Gucci to make that rare leap from street hot to industry hot. From virtually unblogged* to sharing a track with two of the biggest selling rap acts of the decade. It’s appropriate, too, that one is none other than 50 Cent, the man who created the modern model for mixtape ascension. A baton passing, of sorts. (Pause?) BC, Before Curtis, tape favorites like Canibus and The Lox mostly fizzled when faced with the major label system. 50 made street buzz convertible energy, brought marketability and songwriting and form and (dare I say?) artistry to a medium that was once exclusively about lyrical lyricism. Tip and Jeezy and Wayne and especially Gucci followed suit. “Boom Boom Pow” is not only a reminder that Gucci is the next man, but that 50 can still rap. (And, yes, that the Black Eyed Peas are completely unbearable. But respect to them for rocking the old styled remix – new beat and new lyrics.)

“Wasted” for the hell of it. “Gucci Bandana” FUCKWMG and a lonely footnote after the jump. (more…)

Plies – “All Black“

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from Da Realist (Atlantic, 2008)

I always hoped the after shock of “A Milli” madness would have more rappers over less sounds and this new Plies joint is a brave step in that direction, envisioning a future where every rap beat is just a single 808 kick on loop. “In all black,” indeed. Plies sounds a little bit different but indescribably so, maybe something like a Nelly / Juvenile half breed. His new album drops December 16th and is said to be his most politically charged to date, tackling such pressing issues as anti-sagging legislation.

What are your favorite extra sparse beats? Who should be freestyling over “All Black”? Do you still sometimes type “Piles” when you mean to type “Plies”? Speak on it!

(This is a 96kbps webrip. You will suffer.)

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They let me keep the masters.^[1]

y mas (more…)