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Never thought I’d say this but I kind of miss their music. Seeing how wack some of rap’s mainstream artist can be these days, the dips weren’t that bad in hindsight. This is one of those songs that rocked the club. I still listen to it from time to time. This week’s Re-Release is The Diplomats “Dip-Set Anthem”.
“Cam’ron‘s Harlem-based Diplomats crew (also known as Dipset) centers around Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, JR Writer, and Diplomat Records president Freekey Zeekey. Though the first two volumes ofDiplomatic Immunity, released in 2003 and 2004, did well commercially, they’ve also made a fortune off a series of underground mixtapes, some of which have received wide distribution via Koch.” - Allmusic.com

MAN OF STEEL HUH…LOL! GET SOME!
There is a lot of new hip-hop music out there… Here’s what I’m currently rocking:

Talib Kweli ”Prisoner of Conscious“
“Sometimes I love Talib’s music, and other times I…Meh. This album here is all love. I think he recaptured that balance of radio friendly presentation, and conscious lyricism. I put this album in the same category as his Ear Drum album. Dope beats, varied concepts, and a all around potent experience. That’s all we really ask for when we listen to an album. One of the best this year…so far.”

J. Cole ”Born Sinner“
“I was hard on J. Cole’s debut album. His mixtapes were classics, while his debut sounded more like a poor man’s Drake. That is NOT the case with this project. From the first song, this album has a closer feel to the vibe of his mixtapes. Dope beats, rhymes, and concepts. This is the J. Cole we all know and love, not the dude singing Paula Abdul hooks. One of the best of the year…Cop That!”"

Prodigy & Alchemist ”Albert Einstein“
“Let’s be honest, we came to hear Alchemist beats. Prodigy is not even close to what he used to be, but he sounds good over Alchemist tracks. There are times where that old Shook Ones Prodigy shows up, but not enough for you to feel like he is back to form. Never the less, this is a solid album. The vibe is hard, and that’s all I ever expected. Check this one out.”

Action Bronson & Harry Fraud ”Saaab Stories“
“As a big Ghostface fan, I stayed away from dude. It’s not his fault that they have similar vocals/cadence. The more I listen to him, the more I see why dudes like him. This Ep is dope. Nuff said.”

Statik Selektah ”Extended Play“
“Statik Selektah is a preserver of hip-hop music. Period. He brings commercial and underground artist together for a common cause. His projects never sound like campaigns for radio play. They are what they are, and this album is no different. Another solid effort. Salute! “

New track by Jonwayne …Check it:

We already knew he was the standout member of Leaders of the New School, but this song put the nail in the coffin. It was exactly what you envisioned a Busta Rhymes solo record would sound like. Raw energy personified. This week’s Re-Release is Busta Rhymes solo debut “Everything Remains Raw“.
“The most idiosyncratic personality in rap and possessor of its most recognizable delivery, a halting, ragga-inspired style with incredible complexity, inventiveness, and humor, Busta Rhymes formedLeaders of the New School in 1990 and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.”” - Allmusic.com

It’s that time of year again. Baltimore’s own Strictly Hip-Hop celebrates 23 years on air with a 24 hour broadcast beginning tonight at Midnight! Leading up to the celebration, fellow Blogger @illFam79 interviewed host from the past and present (including yours truly). Here is a snapshot into his excellent work. Check out his blog Your Opinion Is Wrong Tune into the show tonight… Strictly Hip-Hop’s Blog

FLORIDA
“Favorite moments? When Skillz called the show live during the Top MC panel. The MC Panel was something that I thought would be cool to have an exchange of ideas/commentary between individuals who I felt as though are Hip-Hop experts. Putting a “Top MC” list together wasn’t easy and it had the internet, radio, and phones buzzing. I remember someone picked up the phone and said “Skillz is on the phone” and I picked up and said “Skillz for real?” Lol and then we put him on live during the MC Panel.“

AHK
“Who are you? My name is Ahk. I hosted and co-produced Strictly Hip Hop between the years of 2002 to 2011. I’ve been involved with the show since 2001. I started out as an intern for Vegas doing the Question of the Week.“

VEGAS
“Favorite moments? One of my friends put me down with all of the sites that had albums in advance….and we ran with that shit. This was during a time when folks bought their “bootlegs” off the streets. Every week we had like 20 exclusives that the competition either had no access to or couldn’t play yet because it would get them in trouble with labels. We were playing tracks from albums a month before for their release. In some cases, we were hitting tracks that would never be released. We were pioneering shit back then.“

KIL
“Who are you? I started interning with Strictly Hip Hop in ’93 under Vinny V. 6 months into my intern, Vin decided he was stepping down and he was giving the show to me. Me and my homegirl Chris aka The Golden Child hosted it for a good 6 months, then she kinda fell back and I went on to host from ’94 to ’97, when Tanya B took it over. I moved out to Atlanta for a year and came back in ’98 and hosted again with my homegirl Sam til 2000.“
READ THE ENTIRE SERIES “YOUR OPINION IS WRONG“


This week we look back at the rap beefs in 2001. Get em while it’s hot! Cause it is…
1. Prodigy- Freestyle (Jay-Z Diss)
2. Jay-Z Live @ Summer Jam 2001 (Mobb Deep & Nas Diss)
3. Nas- Stillmatic Freestyle (Roc-a-fella Diss)
4. Nas- DJ Clue Freestyle (Jay-Z Diss)
5. Jadakiss & DMX- Here We Go Again (Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel Diss)
6. Beanie Sigel- Fuc Jada Pt. 1
7. Jadakiss- Fuc Beanie Pt. 1
8. Jay-Z The Takeover (Mobb Deep, Nas, & LOX Diss)
9. Nas- Ether (Jay-Z Diss)
10. Jay-Z Super Ugly (Nas Diss)
11. Styles P.- Freestyle (Roc-a-Fella Diss)
12. Jadakiss- Fuc Beanie Pt. 2
13. Beanie Sigel- Fuc Jada Pt. 2
14. Nas- Quick to Back Down Verse (Jay-Z Diss)
15. Jay-Z Freestyle (Nas Diss)
16. Jay-Z Blueprint 2 (Nas Diss)
17. Nas- Last Real Nigga Alive