JumpinJack AJ

Pre-orders for the physical copies are live. https://shop.massappeal.com/collections/cabin-in-the-sky-1?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

It's here!

I heard CD sales are going back down this. It's discouraging that albums like Based On A True Story haven't gotten a CD release. Earlier this year, I realized I misplaced Heavy D's last album, which was only released digitally and can no longer be bought. I still aggressively buy CDs. I year the younger generation has embrased them, but by buying used ones, which doens't help the industry.

Well said. I love the many facets of Hip-Hop. To say it has to be one way is silly.

It's discouraging to hear an opinion like that, but it is what it is. The crazy thing is, DMX isn't even a huge Hip-Hop music fan. He is a total R&B fan. In interviews and videos, he's discussed this. You can seem him at concerts getting lost in the music when R&B legends are performing live. I bet if Will and DMX spent any significant time together, he wouldn't be talking like that. Maybe he's just not that aware of Will's music outside of the hits. To say his music isn't rap is to essentially say KId's music isn't rap. Their styles aren't drastically different. In fact, Kid N' Play's first two albums are more polished than JJ+FP's first two albums.

https://according2hiphop.com/de-la-soul-announces-10th-studio-album-cabin-in-the-sky-releases-new-visualizer-for-the-package/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN6_lFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHZzJYV20yNk5VZGV0bEV5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpSBcBSs8y83ZnWZR0iHadhGNkd_L2EduY0UDC0Fe4OcjnD_JnsODFKGZDLs_aem_wgZji5XKxK2WBhbxxXcw4Q De La Soul Announces 10th Studio Album Cabin In The Sky; Releases New Visualizer for “The Package” By Michael Dothard Image Source: Getty Images Videos by According2HipHop Hip-Hop legends De La Soul are back with their 10th studio album, Cabin In The Sky, set to drop November 21st via Mass Appeal. The upcoming project promises to be a celebration of the group’s enduring creativity, featuring production from heavyweights DJ Premier, Super Dave, and Pete Rock, and standout appearances from Killer Mike, Yukimi from Little Dragon, Common, Nas, and Black Thought. The album’s artwork is crafted by acclaimed visual artist Hebru Brantley, known for his vibrant, comic-inspired aesthetic, perfectly complementing De La Soul’s iconic style and the album’s anticipated cinematic feel In addition to the album announcement, De La Soul have released a visualizer for their new single “The Package”, produced by Pete Rock. The track blends Pete Rock’s signature soulful beats with De La Soul’s sharp lyricism, offering a nostalgic yet forward-thinking taste of what fans can expect from Cabin In The Sky. With Cabin In The Sky, De La Soul continues to push creative boundaries while staying true to the innovative spirit that has made them Hip-Hop trailblazers for over three decades. The combination of legendary producers, high-profile features, and striking visual art ensures this release will be one of the standout Hip-Hop albums of the year.

Man, this is dope. Welcome back!

Nice, it's been a while since I heard this. If someone gets a good MP3 of this, please send it my way.

https://people.com/karyn-parsons-says-her-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-character-was-almost-cut-before-shows-premiere-11811942 Karyn Parsons Says Her Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Character Was Almost Cut Before Show's Premiere 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' aired from Sept. 1990 to May 1996 By Angela Andaloro Published on September 18, 2025 12:59PM EDT Will Smith and Karyn Parsons as Will and Hilary.Credit : Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank NEED TO KNOW Karyn Parsons portrayed Hilary Banks throughout The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's run from Sept. 1990 to May 1996 Parsons looked back at her time as Hilary, as well as some of her other notable roles, during an appearance on the All Bets Are Off podcast, hosted by Robby Vegas The beloved sitcom recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of its debut The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was an unforgettable career highlight for Karyn Parsons...that almost didn't happen. In a recent episode of the All Bets Are Off podcast, the actress, 58, chats with host Robby Vegas about the 35th anniversary of the beloved sitcom's premiere. Looking back at her time playing Hilary Banks, Parsons reveals the character was nearly cut from the Banks family at the suggestion of some executives at NBC. When it came to developing the character, Parsons says, "The writers were pretty incredible. They were great from the get-go." Hilary Banks, Alfonso Ribeiro, Will Smith, Daphne Reid, James Avery, Joseph Marcell, Tatyana Ali. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty I "And then, as the show went on and new writers came in, I think they did a really good job of taking into consideration who they were writing for and how they work, and they were getting used to the character that I was creating," she continues. "The character that was on the page when I got the show was very thin... It said she was a model type, and it had her talking about Bruce and Demi and stuff. It didn't have a whole lot going on." "As a matter of fact, Brandon Tartikoff, who was the president of NBC at the time, when they were auditioning at the last network audition, he turned to Susan and Andy Borowitz, who created the show, and said, 'I think we should get rid of the daughter character. I don't... it just seems redundant,' " she recalls. Karyn Parsons, Janet Hubert, Will Smith, James Avery, Joseph Marcell, Tatyana Ali, Alfonso Ribeiro. Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty "And [Andy and Susan] said, 'Just wait. Wait until this girl comes in.' They told me this story later. And I came in and did my whole weird affectation that I guess nobody else was doing." Parsons says that the affectation that became Hilary's signature — a mix of Malibu kids she got to know growing up in Santa Monica, as well as "my friend Leanne and my cousin Garland" — was born of her "trying to figure out how this character works for me." "The affectation, at first, seemed over the top. Like, maybe it's too much. But it kept carrying me. It worked. Judy Richmond, who was the amazing costumer on the show, she said that when I put the clothes on, that I became Hilary. And it was a little bit true," Parsons says. "Once I put the clothes on, my body started to change. My whole hips kind of fell and this lazy attitude just started to take over and once I started with the way she spoke, it just all fell into place." The role also allowed Parsons to embody someone so different from herself, which was "so fun" for the actress. "I was raised very much the good girl...and Hilary was the opposite," she explains. "She said whatever, unapologetic, I want this...she just said it and that was never me, so it was so fun to be able to be that person."

I don't mind Will experiementing. It's just not cool that he waited 20 years to drop and experimental album and won't follow up with the kind of material we know and love him for. "Pretty Girls" was a huge misfire. I'm wondering how many people along the way were down for this. When Will would do something musically over the past decade, he would generally get lots of love....but then he did something the opposite of what got him the love with "Pretty Girls". He needs to follow up with something dope. Walking away on "Pretty Girls" will just be weird and a poor choice.

I love this. I'm glad it was a great time. The clips fromt he tour have looked great, so it's good to hear that the lives up to the hype. I had no doubt that it would. I hope he does do some shows in the US. It's tough. The US is so jaded. They've turned hard on so many iconic artists that they used to embrace. Artists like Will, Jennifer Lopez, who have tons of hits, who were so univerally loved now get the side eye for some reason. Social media comments are often cruel. That's why there are US artists who are only/mostly touring internationally.

Congrats with the book!

I don't want this song to be the last thing we get for a while. I understand he wanted to essentially do a runway song, but I don't think the song checks all the boxes to get a celebrated song in that world. It's certainly not what the masses want. It's a litle frustrating because "Pretty Girls" has gotten a handful of remixes. I'd like to have seen other new songs get remixes, though not club mixes. I like some of the things going on with the Grvfiti Martyrz Remix. They re-work the chorus so it's not just the chinese water torture of the same spoken lines over that basic beat. I like that the Blaccmass Remix smoothes things out, taking away the club sound. I just wish it got a new chorus. The Michael Christmas remix doesn't do much for me. It mostly just speeds up the song without Chipmunking Will's voice. The Andrea Botez Remix is a pretty standard club mix, but I suppose it's still an upgrade on the beat.

Based On A True Story: Rave In The Wasteland - 5 Month Later I was listening to the album in the car the other day and found that my opinion of the album hasn't changed much. I'm curious how others feel about it. This album is the first JJ+FP/Will Smith/DJ Jazzy Jeff album that I didn't play almost non-stop for weeks/months after it came out. While I feel like an artist should freely explore and do what they want, that's the reason it hasn't kept me. "Hard Times (Smile)" and "Make It Look Easy" are still my favorites. I listen to them pretty often. This songs would have found their way to a "traditional" Will Smith album. "Int. Barbershop Day" was necessary to me, but due to the subject matter, I feel the song has a shelf life that has me over it, wishing that dope beat was used for a different subject matter. "You Can Make It" is still a gem. It's a highlight and it gave him a gospel hit. Thank God for that. You Lookin' For Me?, Rave In The Wasteland, and Bulletproof, Work of Art, and Beautiful Scars are all good songs, but I'm rarely in the mood to hear them until they come on. I've never been much of a fan of "Tantrum". I like "First Love" more than most people here, but I feel like both of these songs would have been stronger on other artists' albums, featuring Will. I think he really should have released physical copies. Even with a limited run of a few thousand CD and records (and even cassettes) would have created more interest for certain people and helped it chart. I had been eyeing someone who was selling bootleg versions of it on CD, but they recently stopped offering them, I guess due to the lack of interest. Some people will roll their eyes at this, but I'm just not feeling Will cussing in his rhymes. I'm so glad his tour has been sucessful. Sadly, that's what a lot of legends have to do to keep the momentum going. They'll drop albums and not get the sales they used to, but the tour helps justify it. I kind of wish he'd just release Based On A True Story as a triple album and let the main supporters buy the album and enjoy all he's created. I hope he's in love with being on the road, and I hope it brings him back to center so we can get the classic Hip-Hop that he's a master at.

It's strange. A lot of comments for this era have been positive outside of "Pretty Girls". I guess this channel just isn't for him. I will say that host is super annoying.