Review: 16 16s - @SamadSavage; A Niles P. Joint

“Yeah but he uses his voice for an instrument!” is the stock defense for wack rappers nowadays.  Basically some will say that enough warbling through autotune will make somebody dope.  But every rapper uses their voice as an instrument (it's called flow) and that quote is just a cover for new kids that can’t fuckin rhyme.  Thankfully, Samad Savage doesn’t suffer from this affliction.  The Montclair MC just released his new mixtape 16 16s.  A concept project of sorts, it has Samad taking us through a tour of sixteen verses set to sixteen well-known beats.  Each joint is about a minute or less and they all flow into the next, in true mixtape fashion.  He’s spitting his a** off from wire to wire.  So to celebrate dude’s skill, I’m going to take it track by track and point out my favorite/the best bars from each.  

The World Is Yours (Nas) - “I sip the Kool-Aid/ Listening to Nas and Lupe/ Cuz rappers nowadays can take two L’s like Cool J.”

Dead Presidents (Jay-Z) - “Appreciate to the fullest/ You got a trigger?  Don’t pull it/ Cuz once it spit out them bullets, that’s a life you can’t take back/ Opposite of gay lies, that’s straight facts/ I’m living life in the moment, they’d rather SnapChat.”

Otis (The Throne) - “I like my Sprite clean, no disrespect to Future/ But if Future’s the future, get ready for some depressing young n*ggas who are really just drug abusers.”

Triumph (Wu Tang) - “Just because it’s beautiful don’t mean that it’s good for you/ I like my clothes casual so I don’t find it suitable/ To be part of the bullsh*t you make the fans listen to.”

The Next Episode (Dr. Dre) - “I never been to Cali but I’m more than inspired/ If DOC got his voice back I could probably retire.”  

Boyz in da Hood (Eazy E) - “No way you can rap like this/ I’m a rappin’ activist/ My lifestyle is immaculate/ While your life is emasculate.”

God Lives Through (A Tribe Called Quest) - “All people are equal unless they Black ones/ I don’t believe that, but that’s what’s happening/ That’s what’s portrayed by the justice system/  If you ain’t got a gun, better go and get one.”

’98 Freestyle (Big L & Jay-Z) - “This music sh*t is life, I can feel it in my spleen/ Your girl is like my cell phone, I feel her in my jeans/ Get the message?  Y’all never check it/ My flow is reckless/ She throw it at me, I’m bound to catch it like O'Dell Beckham.” 

Yonkers (Tyler The Creator) - “I’m a godd*mn problem/ Hit them with the bat, man like I’m a friend of Robin/ I thank God my father didn’t wear a condom/ Cuz when it comes to wack rappers, who the hell would stop them?”

Power (Kanye West) - “I’m too exclusive/ Every time I do this/ I’m going for that cream coupe so I can push the cool whip.”

Rap God (Eminem) - “Not a challenge that I won’t take/ For Pete’s sake I hop on this beat and an extreme rate/ What makes you think I want to stick to one pace?”

Numbers on the Board (Pusha T) - “You all the way from up north, nigga/ Why you using accents from Georgia?/  Psych nah, but really where the bars at?/ I swear you have no drive like where the fuck your car at?”

0-100 (Drake) - “My ex tried to call me, I guess she didn’t get the memo/ I don’t give a f*ck, you can hop on to the next cock/ Team Playstation, give a fuck about my ex box/ She got me f*cked up, got it twisted like a dread lock/ And you can get bossed on like I’m a fan of Red Sox.”

Young Jesus (Logic) - “I’m kind of a feminist/ Equality I demand it/  But nigga, you is a bitch/ You should go and make me a sandwich.”

Feedback (Kanye West) - “Wait a minute, why I sound like Weezy F. Baby/ While we’re on the topic, glad Weezy left Baby/ If I ever sign, man these labels better pay me/ I’ll get that bitch shaking like bad parents to a baby.”

Untitled 07 (Kendrick Lamar) - “I hate the rappers you like and no they are not amazing/ Stop faking my n*gga, we know that you are not Jamaican.” 

To say that it was hard to pick out a few bars from each joint would be the understatement of the year, and it’s only June.  Samad Savage puts on a clinic, showing his ability to flow over instrumentals from the golden age to the present day.  Even when he perfects his mimicking of the original rappers’ cadence, he’s still sure to infuse each track with his own trademark wit and personality.  He rhymed over some classics and even got me interested in some beats I previously overlooked.  By showcasing “16 16s in 2016,” Samad Savage has fought his way to a seat at the table with Jersey’s best unsigned talent; he’s now alongside other local luminaries as Joe College, Soulfull, and MostDope.  I’m glad he ignored his detractors and didn’t hang up the mic to focus on his skill behind the boards.  But when he releases his debut solo album?  It’s curtains for a lot of these miscellaneous rap jamokes in Jersey.  The scary thing is he’s only getting better.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5.

Download the mixtape via SoundCloud here

Review: Boulevard Blues - @TheRealTyJack & @SoULFULLnjn; A Niles P. Joint

The New Jeru Natives are continuing to musically fortify their stronghold on the state’s rap scene.  This time around they combine the talents of two of their best and brightest, singer Ty Jackson & emcee SOULFULL , for an EP.  When I first heard of the collaboration, titled Boulevard Blues, I honestly had no idea on how it would play out.  Throughout hip hop history, there have been a mountain of collabs between rap and R&B, but no one has successfully done it for a full project.  Additionally, this would be my first real introduction to Ty Jackson as I hadn’t covered any of his music for WTM before now.  So the five track project was as good of an opportunity as any to analyze both.

Despite being labeled as such, Blues Brothers (Intro) is a fully fleshed out song, and I’m glad they fleshed it out and didn't cut it short.  Ty Jack successfully fuses singing and rapping.  His voice has the melodic qualities to make this work.  It’s a lightning and thunder combination as SOULFULL finishes the track with his more traditional and trademark gruff bars.  It’s an early sign that shit’s gonna go well on the EP.  Truth has an early 2000s Neo Soul vibe and I didn’t know how much I missed that subgenre until I heard this song.  This joint will take you back to the days of big ass Rocawear belt buckles holding up oversized jeans with a garbage wash, haha.  The two artist’s chemistry becomes more apparent with each song.

Lifestyles continues along the same line while still maintaining it’s originally.  Using a smooth ass combo of guitar and other strings, they make a song that’s both easygoing & substantial lyrically.  It’s also worth noting that while primarily a singer, Ty is also a serviceable rapper.  We get more of a traditional R&B/Soul tone with Rock On.  It’s the closest thing to a slow jam that the EP has and I’m glad that they buried the lede and defied expectations.  The crown jewel of the whole joint is the closer, My Way.  The Franklin, NJ duo talks about their pursuit of careers in music and how their dreams conflicted with those of their parents.  It’s a moving theme set to melancholy music that anyone that’s went against the grain in face of their parents can relate to.  At the end they encapsulate it when Ty Jackson says he “just want to do this shit my way.”  It’s that balance between  the pain of letting your parents down with the resolve of making it on your own terms that’s makes the song a tour de force.

To say that this project surpassed my expectations is an understatement.  I was expecting a bunch of love songs and instead got some deep themes that brought back a nostalgia for an era I kind of forgot about.  More so, I knew SOULFULL was dope but I was very impressed with Ty Jackson’s skill set.  I would've been cool with him singing but he proved that he has the ability to hold his own as a rapper.  All of these things bode well for both artists and the New Jeru Natives as a whole.  They’re going to be hard to stop this year and beyond with all of the talent they have and how they're channelling it into great projects.  Now my only gripe with the project is the fact that I’m a greedy ass music fan and wish it was longer, but they traded quantity for unbridled quality and it made all the difference in the world.

Rating: 4.80 out of 5.

Stream Boulevard Blues on SoundCloud here.

Listen: Vent - @SamadSavage; A Niles P. Joint

It never fails.  Every time I think I’m going to have an unnaturally light writing week, a new joint comes on my radar (usually by a new jack) and I’m rushing to the scorer’s table to check back into the game.  This time it’s Samad Savage.  The 19 year old from Montclair, NJ just dropped Vent via SoundCloud.  According to him, it’s a pure loosie: not a single, not going on an EP.  But for newcomers like myself, this is the best possible way to be introduced to the Libre Brand affiliated emcee.  

The song itself is nothing short of epic.  It’s a storytelling track that runs almost six minutes long with no hook and only a short break between lengthy verses.  The instrumental is chock full of bass and piano, with some effervescent drums showing up during the second half. As long as it is, Savage doesn’t bite off more than he can chew.  He tells a tale of losing his virginity and all of the turmoil that followed.  I’m not spoiling shit as far as details go, you’ll have to listen to the musical saga yourself.  Check out Vent after the break and look out for more Samad Savage coverage in the near future.

Listen: Gun Boy Interlude - @RANREED feat. @BILLDANZEMOP & @FAMEMOP; A Niles P. Joint

You’re never supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, so the same goes with songs and single art. 

But eff it, the photograph used for Gun Boy Interlude perfectly correlates with the aura of the song. It takes you back to the griminess of pre-Giuliani NYC where a ride on the iron horse (decorated with graffiti) could result in getting robbed at gunpoint. That version of New York largely doesn’t exist anymore, but leave it to New Jersey veteran rapper/producer Ran Reed to bring back that feeling. This is menacing no-frills hip hop at it’s finest, filled to the brim with threats that seem anything but idle. Adding credibility to the old New York feeling is M.O.P. who tag team the second and third verse. The Brownsville duo of Fame and Bill Danze personify the gritty & hardcore elements of New York for which hordes of people wax nostalgic, almost inexplicably. While the Rotten Apple was dangerous back in the day, it had a character that was sanitized for the sake of the almighty dollar.  Ain’t nothing gentrified about this song though. Check out Gun Boy Interlude after the break.

First Impression @MikeZombie Written by @Natural_Nation

To say that I am late, when it comes to Mike Zombie, is a complete understatement at this point. A friend mentioned his name to me a while back when the Started From the Bottom track by Drake first dropped.

"You know that song started from the bottom? I know who made that beat, he's from Willingboro." I brushed it off. Who comes to Jersey to find music, especially Willingboro? This was a friend of mine who knew everybody. "What do you need? Oh yeah my uncle can get that for the discount." When you hear that many connects in a lifetime none of them mean much after a certain point. Not too long ago I hear his name pop up again, and again, and again. Then somebody tells me he's signed to OVO. I thought to myself "Wow that was quick!" It's not like I thought that my friend had lied but like I said after hearing so many connects it all kind of blends together. So finally I decide to give my man a listen.

Now I'm not gonna lie, the first thing I heard had my face twisted. I had no idea how I was supposed to write about music I didn't like. But, upon further analysis, I realized the song I was listening to wasn't even his. It was a song he happened to re-post on his Soundcloud. I took a deep breath and wiped my forehead. As of today, the only piece I have had a chance to listen to really give a thorough listen to is Rebel Without a Cause. This is what my opinion will be based off of today.

Right off the bat listening to Rebel without a Cause had my mind turning. Even now I'm having trouble trying to word the questions I was forming. So, anyone who listens to Drake will be able to pick up on a certain sound Mike Zombie has. But the thing that had me intrigued was whether or not that sound came from Mike Zombie or whether it came from Drake. My first thought was to say "Well, damn I hear Drake all throughout this mixtape." But it's more than a possibility that it's really a sound Drake adopted from Mike Zombie. It would be crazy flattering to me but who knows? It's probably not something I would be able to really get a grasp of until I listened to Mike's earlier music.

That being said, there really is something about the sound of this project that I like. It's still rough in the way that artists are rough before they become mainstream and everything is so polished. I don't know if it has to do with the actually sound quality, but it still has that little bit of street that I like. That was same reason I used to listen to Meek. The raw tone gives the album the texture of a mixtape.

Another thing I really love is the fact that he has New Jersey pride, something I feel as though I don't hear very often. Some of that has to do with my personal ignorance about artists from NJ but the other part I believe has to do with NJ lacking popularity. There is this perception that NJ is the armpit of the nation only offering up dirt and foul air. Now, there is something funky going down around exit 52 that I take no parts in. But, anyone from here knows that we're a powerhouse. So, I love the fact that Zombie loudly wears our badge on his arm. In one particular song called Southside Anthem Zombie reps South Jersey to the fullest, touching on divides that most New Jerseyans know all too well.

One of the first tracks that caught my ear was titled They Need to See This. Zombie talks about his experience with becoming someone people need to know as well as his frustrations with the journey. It's a story that's added to every rapper's repertoire but Zombie's version reads more like an anthem. The catchy chorus and lyrical content make it one of those tracks anyone would want to be heard rapping over.  Clearly Mike Zombie is someone to keep an eye on. When I have a broader feel for his music I'll be back to write an update, this was just a teaser. Enjoy.

@Natural_Nation's First Impression: Keep an eye out

Editorial Opinion: State of Jersey Culture Scene

It's safe to say that I've always listened to music. I've only been listening to music passionately for about five years now. Off topic but it's taken me months to finish this long read. Question is, is this the chance for Jersey to get on the map?

Enter the emergence of Fetty Wap. It's great to see national recognition for an emcee from Jersey but it's love hate for core hip-hop fans. We've waited so long to be noticed. Should he be the spokesperson for our region? Fetty is an artist who sounds like he could be from the south and specializes in fun Chicago drill sounding music. Should he be the spokesperson for our region?

Jersey doesn't really have it's own sound we're known for. Emcees from the north, south, central, and the shore all sound different. I don't know if it's because they follow what's popular nowadays (which restricts the quality) rather than their own personal sound. or if they follow the region. Myself and Issah concluded that Jersey lacks an original sound to our region. After our sitdown with Joe College I remember him saying the same thing and an idea he had to change that. Some unsigned acts like him have a classic beast coast hip hop style sound then you listen to mike zombie who sounds like he's a cross between Philly and Toronto. The closest thing to Jersey having a sound would be club or house music in my opinion. Okay I get it, it's derived from Baltimore club, but Baltimore club is derived from classic house music our folks listened to. I say this time and time again with Dougie F as an example. He raps on club beats and trap sounds, and not the southern trap. I'm talking dub step trap. I think in two, three years it's going to trend and become more popular than you think. If you don't believe me listen to Goldlink. Another name buzzing as far as club music goes is Uniiqu3. This year and last she's shared the Afropunk stage with huge successful artists. This year she gets to share with Jersey's own Ms. Lauryn Hill. Some other acts shaking the national scale areFeli Fame, Moruf, and Zewdy.

Newark has lowkey turned itself into the epicenter of our music and art scene. This summer they've held free concerts in Military Park and NJPAC has also hosted free shows showcasing the talent of major names like Slick Rick, Africa Bambatta, and Kurtis Blow to name a few. It's nice to be able to go to a show that myself and the likes of an older generation to enjoy together. The best part is that free 99 price doing wonders for your wallet. Center Stage Cuts has also hosted a lot of dope events from organizations, to showcases, or even concerts. It's nice to see the people having positive interaction with their city and prayerfully the state.

What I do hope to see in the future is more unity. We've all been saying it for years but it's about time we stopped talking and do. The separation of the state is enough. Frankly, you can go somewhere in north jersey and name an artist from south or central and they'd have no idea who they were. Even vice versa to be perfectly honest. We wouldn't even be able to point on a map where Lumberton is or that Central Jersey even exists (don't even get me started there)(if you're asking to yourself what Lumberton is my point has been proven).  To be frank, central jersey and the shore lack the quality acts to carry that part of the state. Of course there are exceptions to that rule but in the near future I'd like to know who's going to join the likes of Joe College, Ja Money, King Ramses, and Jay Encore in the 732? There's a bright spot in Most Dope according to Niles as he reviewed his newest project P.O.M.E. Perhaps The League or NJ Rebels Society could even make more noise. What can we expect from south jersey? The point of the matter is being against each other isn't working. Nothing wrong with picky collaborations for the sake of quality but support is much needed.

From the mouth of a blogger and music personality: We need Artists, and Artists need us too. Since we need each other lets loose the ego and move forward. This time next year I know for certain I'll have a better report. Til then, keep listening my friends. Back to the drawing board.