SLIME FLICKS

MP3: Cam'ron & Vado - Picture (feat. Jaz and Rod Rhaspy)

With the third installment of Killa and Vado's Boss of All Bosses series due for an October 5th release, they surprised followers earlier today with a new mixtape via twitter (accompanied with some notable artwork). Meant to tide over listeners and warm them up for 3.0, it's business as usual with everything awash in that BIG, nouveau-grandiose Dipset feel. However with a little restraint, the duo tap into their poppier sides for "Picture". What may be a throwback to '04-era Cam, it's part club-banger and Lambo-riding music bringing to mind memories of the dumbest but most infinitely enjoyable moments from Purple Haze and Diplomatic Immunity.

download / twitter

TOP 2010 SONGS: Gervin

Damn, 2010. Together, well we've been through some shit but on the whole, you've given me some tremendously good times. You taught me. You taught me well. It's gonna be hard saying goodbye but never forget our luv and never forget these jams:

10. Baghdaddy - Hot Shit (CREEP Remix)
myspace // myspace

Cold, densely foggy night, blood rushing while speeding on the highway at 1am, headed towards the sticks - that's when I fell in love with this song.

9. The Diplomats - Salute
listen // site

I was making that "oooohhhhhh" face a couple of bars in and by the end, I was thankful that "The Movement" was once again moving. Jimmy ad-libs, misogynistic Cam, Juelz all grown and Freekey mouthing off like no one else. Hard like a year 3000, interstellar call to arms.

8. Lloyd Banks (feat. Juelz Santana) - Beamer, Benz, or Bentley
H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger For More 2) on iTunes // myspace

Probably the most trance-heavy rap jawn of '10. Seems as if producer, "Prime" took inspiration from the outer-space popcorn machine sound on Clipse's "Grindin'" from way back when and figured ungodly amounts of mantle-deep bass was the right thing to set it off for the new decade.

7. LA Vampires featuring Matrix Metals - So Unreal
So Unreal out through Fun Not Fun // myspace // last.fm

Ain't gonna lie - I've got a thing for Amanda Brown and hearing her sing "it's so unreal, so unreal so unreal" all playful and slightly off-kilter the way she does for eight and half minutes throughout this shimmery gem is intoxicating.

6. J. Cole - Who Dat

Cole World to be released on Roc Nation // single available on itunes // myspace

Demonstrating the swagger of a veteran and flow that can keep up and rip apart the best of em, Cole staked his claim with this number. The little engine that could...

5. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round & Round
Before Today out through 4AD // myspace

Man, this is undeniable. Just close your eyes and imagine the floor lighting up wherever you step. This is the anti-downer and about as perfect as pop can get.

4. Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
Good Things out through Stones Throw // myspace

The catchiest melody of '10. Though heavy on the introspection and contemplative musings, the throwback swagger is still on max.

3. Rick Ross (Feat. Styles P) - B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)
Teflon Don out through Def Jam // myspace

Seems like I've been waiting all my life for Rozay to beast-out on a beat like this. Lex Luger delivered and Rick pretty much ate it the fuck up. HALLELUJAH.

2. Kanye West (Feat. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver) - Monster
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy out through Roc-A-Fella Records // myspace

Having perfected his drum sounds, Ye puts them through their paces on this textural, nightmarish excursion. All put in work to do the beat some srs justice but Minaj? She just turned in the verse of the year.

1. Drake (Feat. Lil' Wayne) - Miss Me
Thank Me Later out through Young Money/Cash Money // myspace

Just like my fave jam of '09, Drizzy did it again. And much like that jam, it's the balance of sentimental and grandiose qualities distilled to their core while being amped to 11 for the world to witness is what really burns deep and stays.



OTHER FAVES:
Chelsea Wolfe - Moses
Balam Acab - See Birds (Moon)
Toujours - Trance
Pac Div - Broccoli
HEALTH - USA Boys
Catcall - Swimming Pool (Julian Mendelsohn Extended Remix)
Hotel Mexico - Animals Strike Back
How To Dress Well - Lover's Start
The-Dream - Florida University

THOROUGH

40 Cal (feat. Cam'ron) - Some 4 Ur Face

Been too long since we got gully over at the Quartz. Personally, I'm still over the moon about the Diplomats reunion from a little while ago and the fact that the track they chose to signal their return was heavy on that battle-stations-sci-fi vibe. It hit hard and now with the movement once again moving, it's time for the most character-filled roster of weed carriers in hip hop today to approach the frontlines and pop off. Running with that, 40 Cal armed with a HEAVY Cookin' Soul + Spike Miller beat and backed with Killa on the hook, keeps that Harlem dream alive.

[40 Cal MySpace]

GOD TIER

U-God (feat. Jim Jones and Sheek Louch) - Magnum Force

Inspectah Deck, U-God & Streetlife - Semi Automatic: Full Rap Metal Jacket

As a solo artist, U-God never gets the sort of praise and acclaim some of his fellow Wu compatriots always seem to revel in. Though blessed with uncanny ability to pretty much steal any song he's featured in, he's constantly tagged as the Jim Jones of Wu-Tang. Predominantly abstract and almost surreal at times with his rhymes, he seemingly just pulls words out of thin air, stacks the shit like tetris and uses that trademark rhythmic flow to makes it all fit. I mean, let's skim the very tip of the iceberg for a second - Da Mystery of Chessboxin', anyone? How bout It's Yourz? Triumph? What about killing Ghostface on his own shit in Black Jesus? Maybe missing the boat and not putting out a record when the first wave of now classic Wu solo records dropped hurt him but there's no denying to what he brings to the table.

OK, so I made a Jones joke but upped a track in which he grabs a guest spot. Don't worry, it's well solid. And that song-stealing ability I mentioned earlier? Peep an overlooked classic which first appeared on the soundtrack of the Jon Lovitz "comedy" vehicle High School High (Quad City DJs where also on the same disc FYI).

[U-God MySpace]

[Dopium is out now through Babygrande.]

I CAN'T FEEL MY FACE

Lil' Wayne & Juelz Santana - Rock Hard

Lil' Wayne & Juelz Santana - No More

I was all about Dipset a few years ago. Anything they did, I was all over. Shit, I even thought Jim Jones was a decent rapper for a little while. Sure, he had that classic verse in "Come Home With Me" and "BALLIN'" will live forever but still... Well, things done changed over the past few years. Inner bickering amongst the members have left the collective a shadow of their former selves and the output has suffered. However, Juelz Santana, the prince of the crew is back with a follow up to the I Can't Feel My Face mixtape he and longtime Dipset collaborator Lil' Wayne put out a few years ago as a precursor to a still yet-to-be-released album. The new mixtape My Face Can't Be Felt is hot. Of course, Weezy has morphed into The Best Rapper Alive but it's great to hear Juelz has also grown. There's a a certain swagger in his voice which wasn't there a few years ago. Maybe he's come to the realization that he's carrying the torch for Harlem these days.

While I'm on a Dipset nostalgia trip at the moment, here's a little bonus from a couple of years ago. A slept-on, little known collab with The Game. Those drums, oooo shit....

The Game feat. Juelz Santana & Jim Jones - We Bangin'

[Juelz Santana MySpace]

[Lil' Wayne MySpace]

[Buy Juelz Santana's music from Def Jam]

[Buy Lil' Wayne's music from Cash Money Records]