JumpinJack AJ

Ahhhh, okay. I apprciate this a lil' bit more.

It's just the name they gave their crew. JJ+FP brought their best friends along with them when they got big. They gave them jobs and 2 this day their are still 2gether. If u go 2 Jazzy's website and check the pictures...there's one with all of them. The pic is 2 or 3 years old. J.L. is FP's business potna for alot fo the things he does. Charlie Mack is well...Charlie Mack, and Omar had a big part in L+F. Ready Rock C of course fell out of the circle, but he waz obviously their beatbox, dancer/hypeman, and co-songwriter. Unlike alot of rap crews that are a bunch of friends...these guys go way back and actually are good at their jobs. They all have a purpose.

JURASSIC 5 - Radio Feedback (2006) This may be the best Hip-Hop album dropped this year. All the real heads looking 4 quality music should give this album a listen!!

I havn't had access 2 my computer...so i'm a lil' late...but Happy B-day!!

Break dancing is one of the hardest kinds of dancin'...i've seen him on the shoot of music videos and other places doing interviews were he jokes about his limited dancing abilities and how the wonders of video ending help him out.

Uhhh....i think wack rapper #1 is everything that wrong with with commerical rap...but what's the story tying him to being a snitch? Unless there's a story behind it, i don't see it as funny!?

Oh lawd!!

FP doesn't really break dance...he has a limited ability 2 dance. He can hold his own...but he's definitly at the top when it comes 2 Dumb Dancin.'

I really wanna see the movie. I probably won't want the soundtrack that badly until after seeing the movie tho.' After reading that OutKast article that i posted awhile ago, it's hard 4 me 2 take them as seriously as i used 2. They've just changed so much over the years...and since it sounds like they are barely 2gether, it just takes alot of chemistry out of their projects. I mean, they aren't even 2gether on most of the album, the movie, or even on the soundtrack cover.

Welcome 2 the bizzoard!!

I'm with Bigted...that track not on the album is dope...better than half the songs that made it on the album.

I'll agree that Ja isn't a carbon copy of DMX...but i think alot of his early stuff waz bit from DMX's style. When i think of Ja-Rule, i don't think of someone who creates their music or has much control over anything. I see him as someone who just copies what other's do. In fact, the song that got Ja-Rule really popular totally jacked DMX's signature saying how God may not come when u call, but he's always on time. That waz the most obivous lyric jack ever. All in all, i just think Ja-Rule is awful. The only thing he has going 4 him is a well-produced track here and there.

Yeah, Lil' Jon is one of the most confusing things 2 ever hit pop culture. He has no lyrics, no flow, no emcee skillz...no NOTHING. I can't believe him and people from his camp actually have fans. I will give him props for his production in the 90's. He actually produced alot of good stuff back then...Hip-Hop, R-N-B, Bass music. Since then, he's like a totally different person. Lil' Jon makes maybe 3 good beats a year now...the other 200 are just embarassing. He would have made a great hype man tho'...ha ha.

I'd like 2 hear this new album. My interest in Nas hasn't been 2 strong in awhile but i do wanna peep it...even if i HATE the title of it. The MJ song is my main interest tho.' The review of it is very contradicting tho'...they compare it 2 Illmatic (unquestionably his best album) and his late 90's crossover commerical days (his wackest stuff ever). Those 2 styles can't coexist...unless he's not going 4 a consistent album. Since it's touching on mortality, true love, religion, personal responsibility and, of course, the currently “deceased” state of hip-hop, i'm definitly interested in those lyrical trax. I got Street Disciple cuz i found it at a good price...and i probably only liked 10 trax off the whole double disc. Most of the album just didn't keep my interest.

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC - Bad Hair Day (da album) (1994)

I've known about Ja-Rule since 1997...he tried coming alot harder back then. 2 me, he waz trying 2 use DMX's forumla while also biting 2Pac. Totally unoriginal and uninspired. Then, since 2000 he's been making super soft crappy R-N-B type stuff. No offence, but u are overrating him severly. U also say i judge without hearing, but i listen 2 anything with an open ear. But after an artist releases 2 or 3 crappy albums, u don't need 2 give them any other chances.

CORINNE BAILY RAE - Put Your Records On (self-titled) (2006)

DE LA SOUL - Stakes Is High (da album) (1996) In retrospective...this is one of the best albums ever!!

KELIS + TOO $HORT - Bossy Kelis Was Here (2006)

HAPPY B-DAY!!

I just checked the DVD. It's roughly 20 minutes long. It has him spitting verses from the album acappella which shows how dope these lyrics. There is also footage of him flowing in the studio recording the album. There are bits and pieces of interviews where he talks about how he didn't wanna record anymore until Mase told him that if he waz blessed with the talent, he needs 2 be entertaining (this is probably Mase's only contribution 2 Hip-Hop). His reason 2 hang up the mic waz all the phoney people he had 2 deal with in the industry (i'm guessing he waz mainly talking about his beef with Ja-Rule). X also talks about his love of Hip-Hop and rapping...and how he doesn't do it for the money. He talks about how Def Jam didn't really exist anymore (an indirect stot at Jay-Z) and that his career waz going nowhere while on that label. I can't say that the DVD is that impressive. It's pretty average in my opinion. But if u like an artist, there's no reason 2 wait and miss the limited edition with the DVD.

DMX - Blown Away Year of The Dog Again (2006)

One thing is 4 sure, and not many people will challenge me on this statement. DMX messed around and released a debut album so dope, that he honestly will probably never top it. 1998's "It's Dark And Hell Is Hot" is one of the only modern day classics. Love him or hate him, he truely waz an underdog. Back then, Hip-Hop waz very mainstream and commerical. U had legends like FP, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J all releasing glossy (and usually very good) albums. Then u had the commercial stuff like Puffy, Mase, etc just going after money. No gritty, underground, or street stuff waz really coming out on the mainstream level...but DMX came with the most honest, rawest, grimy street music ever. He spit some clever, shocking, and introspective stuff over the dopest beat out at the time. He came out wildin' the Hip-Hop fans who were missing that...and shortly after the album dropped, he had the mainstream and commercial rap fans jumping on his tip. "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood" came out about 6 months later. That album waz dope 2 but a lil' more polished than his 1st. "And Then There Was X" continued the tradition of "Flesh/Blood" but made it a lil' more 4 the radio. Once "The Great Depression" hit, things got real schetchy. Half the beats were dope...the other half were very lacking. Same with "Grand Champ." DMX has always come with an original delivery. Ja-Rule's career waz built off being a DMX-wanna be...and his career continued by making music like he waz DMX's 15 year old sister. And DMX's lyrics have never slipped. Hard, grimy, introspective, shocking, spiritual...it'll all there and it's all mixed up in2 one complex formula. The ONLY thing that has held DMX back as that with every album, the beats have gotten weaker. His 1st album had dope beat after dope beat....but by the time we got 2003's "Grand Champ"...i only remember liking 1 or 2 beats on the whole album. Well, it's 2006...and he's claiming this 2 be the "Year of The Dog Again." Well, it's been 8 years since the original year of the dog and even tho' it's no surprise that this album can't touch "It's Dark...", it's a step in the right direction. Big names like Swizz Beats and Scott Storch occupy the boards, but again, the beats generally are the ONLY thing keeping this album from being flawless. I think it's safe 2 say that all the beats are okay...just not that incredible. I'm gonna talk about the gems tho.' I like the "Intro" alot. It's got this chunky beat with a dash of an old school feel. And he comes hard on the lyrics. "In Here" has a beat with that champion sound 2 it...which fits perfect under X's no-holds barred lyrics approach. "Baby Motha" has this nice summer R-N-B kinda beat with down 2 earth subject matter. I really like this one. The next track "Dog Love" is real dope 2. The laid back Hip-Hop beat and chilled delivery just works. "Give 'Em What They Want" has a cheesy intro...but it gets good once it's over. I just wish the beat waz stepped up a bit. "Blown Away" is a stand out track. U can tell it's gonna be dope from the second it starts. The simplistic, yet unique beat and altered vocal sample is real nice. DMX drops his best lyrics at a pace like this. "Goodbye" is another track 2 check. "Life Be My Song" is next and another dope one. As always, "The Prayer" is a stand out moment on his album. X's speaks raw from the heart on EVERY album thru' "The Prayer." It's nothing less that amazing. The album is wrapped up with the hit single "Lord Give Me A Sign." U've heard it on the radio...u've seen the video. U don't need me 2 tell u this track is dope. DMX's fans will probably have a similar opinion as i do on this new album. It's better than the last 2, but u'll be left scratching your head asking why it's so hard 2 make an album as dope as the 1st. Fans who are strictly fans of commercial rap should LOVE this album. True school Hip-Hop heads will probably like a select few trax (probably the ones i mentioned) but think the album needs more when it comes 2 production. If u pick up the album soon, u'll get the Limited Edition with a bonus DVD (which i'm about 2 pop in). The album is on sale at Circuit City for just $9.99 (which as a CC exclusive comes with a DMX dogtag). Those of u who don't like cussing can pick up the edited version at Wal-Mart for $9.71 (even tho' it doesn't have a sale sign up for it).

TLC - Waterfalls (DARP Remix) CD Single - CraZySeXyCOol (1994)

Thanx 4 those pix!! FP is lookin' lean in those pix. He's always looked like younger, but he's doin' the LL thing....pushing 40 and looking 25.