Bob

Ok, it's obvious I'm biased and do not like 50 Cent but to be fair I spent alot of time listening to "Curtis" to try and be objective. Kanye's "Graduation" is much easier to listen to, as it would be for anyone of us. Anyway, first "Curtis": 01. Intro-Actually brought me to expect a "Reasonable Doubt" theme from the album just because of the mafia tones... 02. My Gun Go Off- Typical G-Unit with hard guitar and tight strings. Very forgettable. 03. Man Down- Again with the strong G-Unit heavy block-bass with chimes. A little synthesizer and piano. Mentions pergatory but goes nowhere with the story. 04. I'll Still Kill featuring Akon- Extremely hot production. The choppy beat is one of Akon's best. 50 Cent actually flows decently on this. Really powerful stuff. Decent. 05. I Get Money- We've all heard this. Hot production, good choice to follow Akon's best work. 06. Come & Go Feat. Dr. Dre- No real vocals from Dre except "Kick Em Out." This was what 50 referred to as "In Da Club pt. 2"...I can see why. A different feel. Choppy strong, high pitch cord with classic Dre bass-backed piano. Trumpets placed well. Very powerful from 50. Again, a surprise. 07. Ayo Technology Feat. Justin Timberlake- We've all heard this one too. As much as I dislike Timbaland...it's catchy as hell. Timberlake is growing on me just for his work on Kweli's album. Enjoyable flow. 08. Follow My Lead Feat. Robin Thicke- Another song that's a single with music video. Funny to think Will Smith was collaborating with the same artist. Simple production with good flow. Would be classy if not for his male-ego rhymes. 09. Movin On Up- Another G-Unit block-based bass track with metal clang. Forgettable. Really terrible themes regarding people's daughters. 10. Straight to the Bank Feat. Tony Yayo- Old in retrospect. I guess people like it. I never felt the song. We've heard it though. 11. Amusement Park- Failure of a song. Really lazy and thus the reaction this song has recieved. 12. Fully Loaded Clip- Dre saves this track a little with the production. The creativity of this song is along the lines of "Ghetto Quaran" so....it's tolerable. 13. Peep Show Feat. Eminem- 2 chords, one swish sound tied to an 808 drum and one shallow electric guitar set. 50 seems threatened on every track he's on with Eminem. Faster pace than usual...It feels like an Eminem written hook though. Eminem ABSOLUTELY MAILS-IN THE LYRICS. Pointless, idiotic stuff. 14. Fire Feat. Nicole Scherzinger and Young Buck- Feels like a beat that would better suit and young-up-n-coming two-step kid. One line he says is " You can hate it but face it, Tupac and Biggie aint around." Ouch. Nicole is more of an ear-sore than 50 on this song. Young Bucks placement is good. 15. All of Me Feat. Mary J. Blige- Another G-unit block-bass beat. YOU'D THINK 50 would say something creative with Mary J. on the track. Very recycled flow and rhyme. 16. Curtis 187- Feels like a combination of an Eminem-backed beat and a late 80's beat. That's the only real thing to mention. Forgettable except for the minor treat to old school feel. 17. Touch The Sky Feat. Tony Yayo- Initially feels like it could be something special. Nice shout out to Biggie and Pac....but then it's a dance song. Ugh. Yayo makes me have a headache. Talking about myspace pages. WOW. Album Rating: *1/2 A star for good production on half the album, and a half for an attempt on good flow for a quarter of the album... Now for the fun: Kanye West- "Graduation": 01. Gord Morning- Piano plus soothing beat and harmonic strings. Great way to enter the cd. A little too strong on the vocals for such a track. But all in all a great start. 02. Champion- I love the sample from Steeley Dan. A Shoutout to "WILL SMITH AND HIS SON".. :wickedwisdom: Very fun track. 03. Stronger- The DRUMS ARE REDONE BY TIMBALAND...AND SUCK. ALL HE DID WAS COMPLETELY BLOW THE BASS OVERBOARD. IT'S GOING TO KILL MY SPEAKERS. meh 04. I Wonder- MY FAVORITE TRACK This sample is amazing. He didn't mess with it either so it's really great. The violins are a proof that Kanye learned from his co-producer (and composer) of his last album. So soulful.... 05. Good Life Feat. T-Pain- I don't like T-Pain. I don't like T-Pain. I don't like T-Pain. I...LOVE...this song. It's true. Perfect use of T-Pain. Shoutout to Philly in this. Just a thankful song mentioning how good life is. A Michael Jackson distorted sample. 06. Can't Tell Me Nothing- It's an anthem that's awesome. I just wish he woulda opted out of the whole Jeezy ad-lib. 07. Barry Bonds Feat. Lil' Wayne- Weakest song on the album. It feels like a really bad throwaway mixtape track. Interesting production...again really thrown together. Lil Wayne is lazy. 08. Drunk and Hot Girls Feat. Mos Def- This song's beat coulda worked for a more gangsta rap artist. But it's creative and dark. I like Kanye on this. Unfortunately, Mos Def doesn't rap...only sings. Creepy track that is growing on me. Theme is weird but I like it. 09. Flashing Lights Feat. Dwele- Wow, what a way to produce a song. Again amazing combination of Hip Hop and composing. Synthesizers are pretty well placed. I like the theme of star-struck, overwhelmed rich women. 10. Everything I Am Feat. DJ Premier- Tight, but simple scratches on point...with distinct piano instrumental and light bass. Very simple yet leaves the door open for Kanye to deliver quality lyrics. And he does. Really introspective. 11. The Glory- Very soulful with a sample that isn't but fooled me as a Jackson 5 sample...again, it isn't. I believe this was supposed to be on Common's Cd but was left off. Fun. Lyrically not too special. 12. Homecoming Feat. Chris Martin- It FEELS soo much like Elton John is on the piano. I SWEAR. Maybe it's me whacked out late in my dorm but my dad's extensive Elton John collection hits me over the head on this song. Martin is subdued. Better, much better than Jay's collab with Martin. Fun track that is just something to play in your house for the next 30 years. Has such a 1970's piano, english-pop feel. I love it. "Do you think about me now and then? Cause I'm coming home again. Baby, do you remember when fireworks at Lake Michigan?" :wiggle: Kanye pays hommage to his home. My second favorite track easily. 13. Big Brother- Kanye makes an emotional song with the sound of another "Encore" feel....and is a song who's theme is dedicated to Jay-Z. Very honest, soul-exposing song. Production-wise, I enjoy Encore and this equally as Kanye's most enjoyable production. Not too much...Not too little. Album Rating: **** 4 Stars for great production, flow, and themes. Not a five because of the terrible change to a fun "Stronger" and the horrendous "Barry Bonds." Everything else was near-perfect. I say this year so far, the top albums are: 1. Ear Drum-Talib Kweli 2. Finding Forever- Common 3. Graduation- Kanye West I hoped you enjoyed the review...

if TROM + the "Hip Hop is Dead" movement didn't get him to actually record like he said he was...I think we might just have to accept he's done. it's a sad reality but he seems content

my bad, its hard to tell what people mean w/o hearing their tone of voice or somethin. thanks bart5... no really, in the time that i've been here...some of the guys in this forum really do know jeff or will and have posted videos with em or pictures with em...So, I figured if there was any place to see if this "little John" exists/a glorified philly-rapper...I'd figure it be here... plus who knows...my knowledge of rappers/dj's from the late 80's early 90's is still growing...so it coulda been like when I learned of Marley Marl...I had no clue who that guy was until a few years ago... geez :paperbag:

you'd want to believe so... but then 50's ego is too big for something like that.. idk I just think alot of this is 50 trying to appeal to those who like united hip hop/kanye but then he wants to flip flop back as this hard, uber-macho gangsta rapper. wait...I GOT IT... 50 Cent=John Kerry. :yeahthat:

:stickpoke: ahha yo AJ, or anyone for that matter...when Will Smith says "Yo, you know where little John lives on the corner The extension cord'll run perfectly to his crib" ~ Block Party off of Born to Reign... who's he talking about?..anyone know?

lol i saw that, it was on the friday night project, it was so funny. Kanye also said he didnt wanna mess with 50 coz hes a big intimidating guy. ahah yes... BUT THEY PERFORMED TOGETHER LAST NIGHT?????? http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5615...erform-together there's a video and all...aha WOW. 50 is also shaking diddy and jay-z's hands not even a week after saying he didn't like diddy or jay irony.

Well now Kanye is quoted as saying "Well, I'll say this...please, please 50, when I outsell you, don't stop making music. I really like it" AHAHHA. awesome kanye. the video is on onsmash.net and its his UK interview recently... And as much as Lil Wayne isn't my favorite rapper in the world lol, he should be releasing his diss song "Gossip" at 50 right before the release date.... oh, and mfuqua23....I may upload some stuff...I'm really a quiet guy about my tracks and usually do it for me and my close friends just for some fun instrumentals or whatever else.. but i've been doing alot more recently so, like I said, I may try that whole upload thing over the next few months

I checked the store...I'm thinking of gettin myself one... No mediums or smalls? they've all sold out i'm afraid.. once these shirts go they'll never be done again.. well if there are no mediums or smalls i guess i'll have to pass... :sipread: it's either that or stocking up on cheesesteaks down at Pats for the next week until I go back to college lol :fencing:

ah, thanks man! it's what I try to do so I can hone my own producing skills...or lack thereof haha.

I checked the store...I'm thinking of gettin myself one... No mediums or smalls?

Whenever someone says "oh you just like will because he doesn't curse" I immediately turn to this song to show the flow he's got... Like last night before going to see Superbad... My friend Jen said that exact quote so I had her sit and listen before going into the movies... "Wow, when did he rap like that?" "Uh, since 1988 and to this day"

except for that baseline, he basically stripped the real high pitch off the track for most of the song...and uses those keys that he was playing on every performance Will did in 2005...Live 8, Mandella...all of those performances he used those keys when Will would talk an intro into the song... I like it... but ya, WHY AT THE END OF SUMMER????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I've got a week before college again, and it's depressing to know the summer is saying goodbye....

amen

ya i mean willenium musta been a failure considering it went how many times platinum and was in the napster digital age? plus...will did movies and only had two bonafide singles on that and a borrowed one from the wild, wild, west movie.. willenium was classic

the one joke regarding benoit was down right wrong... way too soon and i don't know if it will ever not be too soon when poking fun at a father who killed his kid... I was surprised Kimmel wasn't censored on that one

The focus question I believe is a very subjective one, but delivery and flow? If anything, I think his direct working relationship with Consequence, a hero to him, and his continued work with Common has only upped his ability...now he does get lazy at times, but other times he's miles ahead of his old ways. Compare "Bittersweet" which FINALLY leaked and was going to be included on his last album only to be held back how many years for Graduation, with Southside or Can't Tell me Nothing...if anything, I think he's really stepped his game up. And Production? I feel he's finally gotten away from his signature foot-stomp beats with his near perfect production of Finding Forever. He perfectly, and I say perfectly, mimicked DJ Premier beat-mapping in "The Game" and showed so much ability in "Forever Begins" and "The People." His work on "Couldn't Get Far" also showed his move away from drums to work with individual bass strings. His production has been spotless...even the stuff he did on Stronger was pretty creative with the gaps left behind from Daft Punk's original song... I mean his last album, Late Registration...all those chord works weren't his...they were that orchestra conducter who Co-produced the whole thing. Kanye added drums here and there, but now he's finally taking what he's learned and creating new, original instrumentals

50 was never anywhere on focus. While Kanye may lose at times his focus, he comes back with stuff that's actually better than his old stuff. So he may once in awhile slip up with his point, but then he comes right back and is "better than he's ever been."

Quick Review: 1. Intro...some call it pretentious, I call it setting the mood for a very soulful album 2. Start the Show...fun stuff with Common calling shots at a "gorilla who was better as a drug dealer"... 3. The People...hot song that's been out for awhile. Kanye uses bits of the same sampling he used for "Wouldn't Get Far" by Game. Common called this his expression of where he is at in his life. Well said, as this is a soul-filled song with excellent versus, even one highlighting Kanye as the new DJ Premier. 4. Drivin' Me Wild feat. Lily Allen...upbeat song with the first set of versus very, very cleverly worded....the rest is also on point with great rhymes. 5. I Want You feat. Will.I.Am...really creative beat with common saying hi to the ladies...fun stuff and a little out there. 6. Southside feat. Kanye West...this song goes on for 5 minutes and is back and forth rapping at its best. Once one loses breathe, the other picks up hotter than the previous verse. 7. The Game feat. DJ Premier...Powerful boom-bat beat. Good message too that Common is here to stay and not out to appease the masses but rather fill the soul... 8. Black Maybe feat Bilal...real subtle beat with a message that it's ok to show doubt and not always be so hard and cocky. 9. So Far To Go feat. D'angelo...I actually enjoyed the previous set of lyrics he used on this Dilla-produced track...but no, I don't think it's a problem he used that song from the late Dilla's last album...why? because too much of the world never heard dilla's stuff. 10. Break My Heart....I've heard this is Kanye's attempt to tribute Dilla's style. It's creative...kinda though feels more like a mailed-in beat by Kanye...except for the hook which is sampled quite well. Regarding common's lyrics...not too memorable but on point storytelling as always. 11. Misunderstood... Best production of the album....the last set of verses are very well crafted in creating a picture of a woman having to work a strip club when her whole life is ahead of her... 12. Forever Begins...Reminds me of "Hope" by Nas in the style it is presented in...The first lyrics are "Victory Won" and really presents an optimistic outlook on life and that this is not the ending of hiphop or a career or an album but instead a time to turn off the cd player and go out and enjoy life. 13. Play Your Cards Right feat. Bilal...Bonus track but more of a feel of "Be" than "Finding Forever"...whether it be in production or lyrics...but fun nonetheless. Rating: A+

thanks...joining...now :thumbsup:

Snoop makes 12340981230498132904810238491023984012893411324901823049811234812034823498273492 7349 songs since his debut so he's automatically a legend? He's probably the most consistent supplier of new music ever in hip hop. But legend?

A mixtape for me is a dj and an MC doing something fun, sampling, being raw...being their original selves that radio limits. It's hitting and missing with some awesome stuff and some whack "what did i just hear?" stuff. Like my buddy popped in a green lantern mixtape from 05 that I gave him, and there's this whhhhacccck song called "We g's"...actually with Kool G. Rap... It's the zelda beat of all things haha but its creative and something that never was on the radio or ever will be... Playing beats from Jeezy's 05 album seems stretching in my opinion. Chamillionaire really turned me off with "True"...a song he had on a mixtape with the "ants go marching in one by one hurah" beat...It realllly turned me off from his stuff...and riding dirty felt like a pop rap. But the way he's come off in interviews and his respect for the game will actually have me willing to listen to his cd and give it a shot... plus the slick rick song is good fun :wickedwisdom:

How is this negative? It just seems like a nice summer party thrown by two friends. I think it's cool.

LICENSE TO WED tops both.

i'm giving chamillionaire another shot since he presents himself so well since his last album.... but this mixtape contains used beats and not even the one song already leaked with slick rick... meh.. i'll wait to judge when the cd comes out

ya man...passyunk ave...sweet spot for the shoot... BUT I GOT WORK :thumbdown: