I was in my freshman / sophomore year in college. i was in DC and Puffy was bringing Hev down on a regular basis doing clubs etc in DC. i grew up on Hev, and his loss was so sudden, that it really puts things into perspective. A wake up call for all of us. Take life seriously, but enjoy the time you have, for it cannot be re-gained once it is gone. a so the ting set. Jah Bless Heavy D. and all the love he gave us through his music and his lifestyle. lead by example mi seh. one.

www.myspace.com/heavyd

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Well Kanye did it again. He continues to keep the media at his heels as he whether intentionally or accidentally. The latest incident to get his name in the media, and inspiration for this blog post incidentally, was the latest release of a video. Mainstream media descriptions are probably not accurate enough to warrant repeating here.

While this article is not about the video that was pulled immediately after its release. It is more about the talent that is Kanye West. One thing that you cannot deny about him, is that he is talented. It seems to be a common theme among people who have creative levels much greater than the average human.

We seem to hold these creative geniuses to the same standard that we expect of ourself. I can hardly think that this is realistic. If you have ever had to create a sketch or drawing from nothing, you know that creativity is not always an easy process, and the end result many not be consistently accurate as the intention.

Geniuses have a different perspective on life that not everyone can identify with. I do believe that Kanye is a very talented individual. I am grateful that he has introduced more diverse content into hip hop. Not only does he deliver some thought provoking lyrics, but he also delivers a nice musical background to the message.

Just some food for thought.

Visit Kanye’s Website. View the Videos Section and Watch Champion(Much better quality than the vid on YouTube)

Bless.

If you haven’t heard Tone Trump..please get on that. I was introduced to Tone on Coast2Coast Mixtape Vol 87. I remember distinctly when I heard this man rip the mic. Philly’s Finest, no doubt.

Tone comes at you straight out of Philly. The most notable fact about Tone is his passion for promotion. It is true street level grinding at its finest. You can find some stray Tone Trump tracks on many of the mixtapes out there. Touring all over the US, Tone is putting work in to get his name out there.

I am also a fan of his raw street style of rap. So far his choice for beats have been consistently heavy. That to me is what says the most about rappers today. Beat selection is crucial to capture this listener. I respect rappers that can get the right formula and stick with it without making it monotonous. Shouts out to Tone Trump.

Tone Trump Official Website

Tone Trump Mp3 Download

Now that he has totally alienated himself from everyone in the entertainment industry, his weak apology pales in comparison to the negative impact his actions had on the career of young Taylor Swift. I was never more proud than when Beyonce was gracious enough to bring Taylor back on stage when B was presented with her VMA for Video of the Year. Kanye went on to appear on the Jay Leno Show where he was appropriately put in his place with a simple question. What do you think your mother would have said about your actions? Here is the video from HULU of Kanye’s appearance Last Night.

As a long time fan of Jay, I was a little skeptical of his comeback. I mean for real, can he really be staying gritty while being behind a desk? You be the judge…with new lyrics, keeping it real, Jay touches on the issues that have been spilling into the media, with the same lyrical venom that has helped him put him where he is today. I can’t really expect another album like Reasonable Doubt, but I do expect some of the same flavor. Looks like Jay has been staying in touch with the streets.

One of my favorite tracks on the new album is called What We Talkin About. Here is a YouTube vid posted with the song only. No download available on this post but enjoy the Blueprint 3 and go get that.

I have been a fan of Young Buck since he was introduced by G Unit back in the day. This was by no means his intro to rap, obviously he had some skills to get picked up by 50 and the rest. One thing I have always said about Buck, was that 50 was trying to keep him down by giving him wack beats to use for his debut album.

I recently caught Young Buck on a mixtape download, and all it did was confirm what I had thought all along. Give Young Buck some tight beats, and he will do the dam thing. If you could stomach the beats on Bucks first album, Straight Outta Cashville, you could see the lyrical strength behind what was then a new aritist. Cashville of course is a play on the name of Bucks hometown, Nashville, TN. Even though the album did hit platinum status, it got very little promotion, and in this authors opinion, was less than great. Even though I believed the artist to be great, I felt the lack of effort for good beats a transparent attempt by his then, "mentor".

The latest tracks being put out by Young Buck have been all tight work! I visited his MySpace Page, and was inspired to share this with all. Glad to see Buck still doing it, and letting these haters know that he does have the skills to hold his own. Check Out "Pulling Me Back" and "Letter To The Label" http://www.myspace.com/youngbuck

I would first like to bring your attention to several new artists, and returning veterands. Jadakiss latest album “The Last Kiss” is pure fire, just go ahead and cop that right now. All of us here are anxiously awaiting the latest project from Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan. The new artists I mention may not be new to you, but they are artists I have just recently heard. Shout out to Tone Trump out of Philly, as well as the young superstart, Wiz Khalifa. I have been feeling how Nipsey Hussle has been doing his thing too. Anyway, the list goes on. Go ahead and subscribe, and you can catch the latest finds, as we pass them on to you. Shouts out to Coast2Coast Mixtapes and the whole Fam. Bless.