Skillz- '09 Rap Up

Right on time Skillz delivers his yearly (w)rap up of all things pop culture touching on the countless celebrity deaths, scandals and other notable events from 2009.

Skillz- 2009 Rap Up

If anyone wants 2002-2008 drop a comment and I'll upload them.

JaffeJu

Rap Misses in '09

Before I post my 10 favorite rap releases of 2009 tomorrow I had to throw up some of the albums that were disappointments this year. My major issue with the following rappers' albums was that they either tried to go with a different sound that just wasn't executed properly or they stuck with the same tired routine that's come to be associated with them

-Alchemist- Chemical Warfare

Features from Kool G Rap, Eminem, KRS-One and Fabolous weren't enough to overcome the simple fact that too many of the beats sounded the same. On the plus side Mr. ALC did improve his rhymes but when I get an album of his I'm checking for the beats first and foremost, and they just weren't there on this release.

Standout songs: Lose Your Life, Therapy and Smile

-Clipse- Til The Casket Drops

On it's own a solid release from the Thornton brothers but it's not close to seeing Lord Willin', Hell Hath No Fury or even their We Got It 4 Cheap mixtape series.Part of the problem may have been unreasonably high expectations but it just didn't have that coke-rap sound that I've come to expect from the Clipse. That may have been their goal since there's definitely a more pop/mainstream sound but if it's not broke why fix it?

Standout Songs: Freedom, Popular Demand (Popeyes's) and Footsteps

-Cam'Ron- Crime Pays

Cam was poised for a strong return in '09 with his reemergence to the rap scene after disappearing but bland production, terrible features and a flow that sounded like he'd rather not be rapping all contributed to the failure of Crime Pays.

Standout Songs: Cookin' Up, Curve, Get It In Ohio

-Jay-Z- Blueprint 3

Seems like plenty of people liked this album but I just couldn't vibe with it. I understand Jay for going with more of a pop/electro sound because it allowed him to appeal to a wider fanbase, but kind of like with Til The Casket Drops it's not the Jigga I want to hear. Where Raekwon went and dropped arguably the year's best album by going back to the sound that made him popular in the first place, Jay tried to do to much in his quest to transcend rap and ended up failing.

Standout Songs: N/A...would've been D.O.A, Run This Town and Empire State of Mind had they not been played the fuck out by radio and television.

-Jadakiss- The Last Kiss

When your mixtapes are consistently better than your albums you'd think it'd be smart to switch up the album formula but Montega Jada went with another feature- heavy album that had at least one guest on 16/18 songs. On top of that he went and got OJ da Juiceman for the lead single which deserves a stoneface since an artist as established as Jada shouldn't have to sink to such lows to try and sell a few more records.

Standout Songs: Pain and Torture, Cartel Gathering and Death Wish

-Fabolous- Loso's Way

I've given up on Fab's albums at this point since he insists on making them more and more "female friendly" with R&B and club songs. If you thought Loso's Way was dope go listen to There Is No Competition from 2008 and you'll see the "other" Fab who is still capable of going bar for bar with any rapper out.

Standout Songs: Imma Do It, There He Go and Lullaby

JaffeJu

Choking on the ganja...literally

Suspect dies after choking on bag of weed

Now if the guy had his medical card he wouldn't have had to worry about the cops finding the weed and he'd still be alive.

On a different note here's an answer to a question I've always had...

Why do rappers hold their guns sideways?

JaffeJu

Cam'Ron Feat. Vado- Ooh Baby

Swear to god this beat took me back to the Dipset glory days. I've been unimpressed with Cam's recent verses but he stepped it up on this track. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come from Cam and Vado heading into the new year.

Ooh Baby

*someone needs to let Vado know that denim jacket is a no-go

JaffeJu

Freeway & Jake One-Know What I Mean...early!

Saw this video and just made me even more anxious for Freeway's, The Stimulus Package. Dropping sometime 2010.(as well as Detox, hopefully lol)

Good night world



A.Math aka Crackman

Stephen Colbert>your favorite rapper

Just watch the video...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

A.Math aka Crackman

Real Name No Gimmicks

After some time away from the rap game Obie's back at it with his Special Reserve EP, produced entirely by MoSS. Hopefully this means Obie's third album, Bottom's Up, is set to drop sometime in 2010.

Special Reserve EP

JaffeJu

Let the games begin

Winter break officially started for me last Friday afternoon and the only way to set the break off properly was with a major session.

Goldstein came through from Anaheim to take part in the festivities, contributing some fire "K-2"...

...and some "earwax".

Here's some "Ed Rosenthal (SuperBud)" named after the famous Cali horticulturalist and weed advocate.

"Pre-98 Bubba".

I ALWAYS prefer regular swishers

Oowop ingredients

Let the break begin!

Oowop's and 40's go together like peanut butter and jelly.

JaffeJu

I wish I could get high like this...

Corey Brewer flew! good lord!


I hope everyone is enjoying the rain. Good day.


A.Math aka Crackman

Elzhi- The Leftovers UnMixedtape

It boggles my mind how some of ya'll *cough* Clipper Brian *cough* feel like there's no good new rap music to listen to. While Elzhi is far from a "new" rapper considering his extensive body of work (solo and as a part of Slum Village), he's so overlooked/ignored that it's like he's a new rapper because the average rap listener has no idea who he is.

If this applies to you then peep game.

DOWNLOAD

JaffeJu

"I roll one you match one if you bout it bout it"-Curren$y

First off...
I wanted to hit you guys with a track I think has been slept on by everybody! There is a lot of hate for Curren$y by our readers and even our staff...you guys are sleeping!
Some say he has a boring man flow...well then how the hell can you listen to Guru?! That dude sounds like homeboy from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (I have no hate for Gang Starr so don't get it twisted.)
But anyways check this track out. Yes, the orginal track probably outshines duke's whole career but it is dope none the less...


On to the next...
Just a couple pics from the Clippers game on saturday night. (click to enlarge)


Had to snap a pic of jpaps boy being a pussy lol.
Things are slow around the DankLA offices right now and we apologize. People are busy with finals, some are trying to graduate(d), and others are trying to get their lives back. But stay tuned with us! Thank you.


A.Math aka Crackman

Operation Weezy F. Baby

I had no idea the solution to the drug trade in Mexico was so simple.

JaffeJu

Rakim Allah

I'm sure most of you slept on his 3rd solo album that dropped recently, The Seventh Seal, but here's some motivation to check it out. Song produced by Jake One.

JaffeJu

"I'm in the Audi cocaine...

...rolling weed proudly no shame."-Vado

I always forget how nice Gangta Grillz-Boss Of All Bosses is until I bump it again! If you havent checked that out, you stupid.

I just got done watching the Florida vs Alabama game and it was great to see that lame Tebow cry after a giant L! Kick rocks Tebow.
I am hitting up the Pacers vs Clippers game tonight, but before I bounce I have a few pics to sum up the week...(click pics to enlarge)

morning blunts with some of the staff from ATA

of course bones had to happen too...good looks Curtis for that fat hoe Big 6! (and check out Til The Casket Drops as well. solid album)

had to give you guys a pic of the piff as well...enjoy.


A.Math aka Crackman

Freddie Gibbs in LA Weekly

Article

JaffeJu

UC Irvine babies get it crackin' early

(click to enlarge)

JaffeJu

Back to business

I want to apologize to all of our followers since we took a little hiatus last week. It was a holiday so our staff was just chillin out and on vacation, but now we're back!

So like jpap mentioned in an earlier post, we did roll up an obese thanksgiving oowop.
sorry for the crappy cell pics (click to enlarge)




Not too much going on in these neck of the woods but it is almost 2010!
Be prepared...big shit planned for the new year! Stay tuned.
Patience is a virtue.


A.Math aka Crackman