bigted

Boyz II Men "Iris" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn61Ndt6THQ

Kel poured out his soul on his recent blog at KelSpencer.com, I can really relate to what he's saying here, nothing but real talk: I’m going away for the next few days and won’t have internet access. As I was praying this morning, I was moved to share this publicly and I hope that none of you mind, and that this isn’t offensive to any one. This might take a while but ummm… Dear God… First off, I want to thank you for breathing the breath of life into my nostrils this morning. You waking me up, lets me know that there is more that you want to do with me, and for me. I struggle, Father. As you know. In the world that I live in, and the career path that I’ve chosen, I struggle with certain things… Your word states that “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” However, in my line of work, Money is often worshipped and chased after more than you are, Abba. Am I guilty of idolatry for ever placing my desire for money over my desire for you? Of Course I am. But I thank you that you have given me grace and allowed me the time and experiences to change my perspective on money. Of course I’m not perfect in that regard but I thank you. You ask that we not partake in sexual impurities. I happen to have a large male following but an equally large female influence. Furthermore, As you already know Abba, I come from a past of extensive sexual promiscuity. There was a time when I had to feed a certain sexual hunger that I had. From being an honored athlete to crossing over into music and being in the company of popular and influential people, and traveling the world in the process, I have been exposed to women of many attributes and violated your sexual standard with them to a number and amount that I am almost disgusted with. You and I have had countless talks, some of them on my knees in hotel bathroom floors. I am thankful that I am no longer that guy. I am thankful that even in the midst of what I encounter with women daily, I’m on the winning side in my fight for sexual purity. Of course there is still a struggle in that area but, I thank you for your grace and mercies. You ask that we love thy neighbor but in my career path and lifestyle, that love is hardly shown, by thy neighbor in return, unless there’s something in it for them. I find myself lending advice, Praying for/with people (some of which I don’t know or have never met), and doing random charities. But I do struggle with giving at times. I don’t ask for extra credit points for any of that because those are our basic responsibilities so I show love as much and as hard as I can. But I am guilty of feeling like because I give and show love that I should receive a certain amount of love and giving in return and that’s wrong. Because you love a cheerful giver, we should give just because. But I thank you for our forgiveness. You ask that we focus, be faithful and be fruitful. I’ll admit, it is difficult at times to focus on a goal and be faithful while someone else, who may not be as deserving, ends up getting the fruit. And yes, I know that it is also wrong and maybe even judgmental for me to feel that I’m more deserving of something than someone else and for that I apologize as well. My mind should be more focused on you and on my “To Do” list than how someone else is being rewarded. I confess that and I ask for your forgiveness. I just want to be better, Father. I know that there are people who love me. I know that there are people who dislike me. But I want to be the same person to them both. I don’t want to be made up or a character because of the line of work that I’m in. Even though, I know that being open and honest hurts me to a certain degree (In regards to my career). I thank you for blessing me with a Great biological Father and for blessing us all as with your Word. Together they have given me two excellent reference points on how to be a Real Man. I never want to be preachy because I personally think that’s corny, Father. But with everything I write, everything I record, everything I create, and everything I share, I want to become that same type of reference point to those younger than me, to my peers, and even to those my senior. Why? because before you are anything else you are Elohim, God the creator and you’ve blessed us with creative ability. So when I create, I truly want it to be an act of Godliness and spirituality and not just a means to get a buck. However, I will not think it robbery to create wealth at the same time. Again, I know this mind frame will make certain people not want to associate with me, and that’s fine. Maybe in time, they too will be comfortable enough with themselves if they aren’t already. But basically, Father… I appreciate all that you’ve done, all that you’re doing, and all that you will do. And I ask these things and ALL things in JESUS’ name. תודה לך, אבא I know that sharing something like this publicly is a bit left considering where I’m from and what I do. Doing something like this doesn’t fit the “typical” image and might even come across as weird or maybe even lame or weak. But, I’m secure enough in my skin to look past the adjectives that may come from my nay-sayers and focus more on any positivity that can come of this posting, any change that may come, and on being obedient to what moved me to post it. I’m not really moved to say much more and I really don’t know what else to type… -Kel Spencer

You figure with how much stuff on the internet leaks all the time that sooner or later those unreleased joints are gonna come out

I think "Get Rich Or Die Tryin" was 50's last good album and he definately comes off as a jerk but I give him props for dedicating himself right there for this movie

Happy BDay TopDawg!

LL Cool J "I Be Gettin' Busy", this reminds me a lil' bit like Big Daddy Kane's "Raw" joint the more I listen to it

Yeah that "One Mic" is definately a favorite Nas song for me too: LL Cool J "Jack The Ripper"

LL Cool J "I Be Gettin' Busy", this is another rare song I just found, it was on Marley Marl's 2nd album:

Kool Moe Dee "Let's Go", I think LL won the battle but this song still rocks hard:

2Pac "Heartz Of Men"

I want to hear those Jazzy Jeff remixes again, I remember Tim played them for us on that JJFP.com radio/chat room back during that time, does anyone have the audio?

R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly"

Another possibility is maybe Game might put it on one of his mixtapes since he releases a lot of them

Well there's a lot of times that rappers respect each other but then they end up beefing the next minute so you never know in hip hop: LL Cool J "Ripper Strikes Back"

Nas "Hey Young World", he did a great remake of Slick Rick's classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV57GS3PQsU

KRS-ONE Feat. Redman "How To Emcee" "You're faking like you're some kind of challenger How you gonna battle me when your baby mama, you can't even battle her? I'm high caliber..."-I musta been tired listening to it last night to pick this up but it seems like KRS is dissing 50 Cent, what y'all think?

I still do love that "So High", haven't seen "How High" in awhile, I'll have to bring out the DVD! Nas "Election Night" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRIJsWgqmHA

When Will freestyled over that drop it like it's hot neptunes beat I thought it sounded pretty damn good! Yeah it felt natural, The Neptunes put out a lot of heat!

KRS-One Feat. Redman "How To Be An Emcee" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuZoqhVFDp8

Just-Ice & KRS One "Blah Blah Blah", damn KRS killing it on these recent collab albums:

I found this review on Amazon.com, btw it shocked me that Lil' Wayne finally wrote one verse without a curse: Editorial Reviews About the Artist What we're about to do right now is go back. Back to a time when rap's greatest hits were created in basement soundrooms, not corporate boardrooms. When dancehall and hip-hop music was all about moving the crowd not "moving units." Before Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley and Nasty Nasir Jones first began treading the long and winding "Road to Zion." The artists' first collaboration went so well that they decided to do a full album together, and that album is Distant Relatives. Unlike all previous collaborations between Jamaican and American artists, Distant Relatives is neither a remix nor a featured guest spot on a single track. The recording is a fully collaborative effort filling an entire album, opening new avenues of musical expression. Distant Relatives traces the direct line from dancehall reggae's breakthrough moment forty years ago to the rise of hip-hop several years later--from Run D.M.C. and Yellowman's groundbreaking collaboration "Roots Rap Reggae" through Supercat introducing Biggie Smalls to the world on the "Dolly My Baby" remix and Shabba Ranks and KRS-One joining forces on "The Jam." That line continues right up through Damian Marley and Nas' double-Grammy-winning "Road To Zion." Distant Relatives is an album created by two serious artists to explore and celebrate the correlations and deep-rooted connections between reggae and hip-hop, tracing both sounds back to the African motherland that is both the cradle of humanity and the wellspring of mankind's music. And who better to fulfill this mission? The youngest son of the legendary Bob Marley, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley garnered his own place in music history when he became the first ever reggae artist to win a Grammy Award outside of the Reggae category, taking home an award for Best Urban/Alternative performance for his smash 2005 single "Welcome To Jamrock." The acclaimed breakthrough album of the same name also won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. A hip-hop icon since his immortal guest verse on Main Source's 1991 "Live At The Barbeque," Nas burst out of the Queensbridge housing projects, a hotbed of rap artistry since the early '80s. The son of jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, Nas has since gone on to sell over 20 million albums worldwide over the span of his legendary career, and has acted as an ambassador for hip-hop culture throughout the globe. "When we first started working, I was thinking about what direction we should go in," Nas explained during a recent discussion at the Grammy Museum. "Cause it's all kinda like the same--reggae, rap. But it went to its own thing... We had a few concepts. All basically around empowerment in a way, cause if we're talking about Distant Relatives we're talking about the human family." The sound of Distant Relatives features live musicians as well as studio production by Damian Marley and his elder brother Stephen Marley, a distinguished award-winning artist and producer in his own right. Featured artists on the album connect other diasporic dots-- New Orleans' own Lil Wayne as well as the critically acclaimed Somali-born, Canadian-raised MC K'NAAN. "I didn't want it to sound like something that would be typical of me, neither typical of Nas," said Damian Marley, who produced much of the album. "But something where you can still see how there's a middle ground in the music... where you can still hear something that is reminiscent of either of us... It's been really fun. Cause we've been going in the booth together. Especially as a lyricist, it's really like iron sharpen iron. You can't slack off right now. It's a great learning experience for me too." And that experience extends to young listeners who will surely be enlightened and educated about the shared cultural legacy of Africa, America, and the Caribbean. "The whole process is gonna be fun," Nas adds. "I think we can have fun helping people. When I think about things we wanna do with this album, it's just limitless." Product Description International Hip Hop superstar Nas and Grammy-winning artist Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley join creative forces to release this highly anticipated and exciting 2010 collaboration. This is an album created by the two serious artists to explore and celebrate the correlations and deep-rooted connections between reggae and Hip Hop, tracing both sounds back to the African motherland that is both the cradle of humanity and the wellspring of mankind's music. The project features the signature instrumentation and musicianship of Marley with the hard-hitting beats and lyrics of Nas. Distant Relatives traces the direct line from Dancehall Reggae's breakthrough moment 40 years ago to the rise of Hip Hop several years later.

Yeah The Neptunes are the executive producers of Game's new album so Will's probably making a guest appearance, that gives me a bigger reason to get his album!

I'm digging that Mat Kearney song AJ, gonna look more into him Game "The Red Room Mixtape" http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/11702/game_the_red_room.html

Game put out a lot of great music after he left G-Unit(check for example his music from "The Doctor's Advocate" album through his latest mixtape "The Red Room") and he seems like a real hip hop head(he even gave Will a shoutout on his "Game's Pain" song) so I think this collab with Will is gonna be big if it really does happen but with each passing day I'm not quite sure if Willow's twitter was real and we're not hearing any further details yet

Happy B-Day Kev!!!