Drive-By Bloggin’ “SNOOP TRY-ION”

Posted on April 29, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

Ah, Snoop…I don’t know what the hell to make of you at this point. Has he run out of sh*t to rap about? Is this a gimmick to gain attention? Is this just a reason to continue to smoke weed (I thought he quit)? Or was he truly inspired by the Rastafarian Religion? I have no idea.

Part of me was skeptical because Snoop has proved in the past that in order to continue as a viable rap artist, he had to expand his horizons. He couldn’t just be the “Gin & Juice” Snoop, he had to also be the “Beautiful” Snoop. Then he became the “Sexual Seduction” Snoop. Sh*t, he even did a record with Willie Nelson of all people. I’m not mad though.

He is here. He’s not on a “What Ever Happened to…?” show. He has survived a lot. He really shouldn’t be as visible as he is today. There are rappers who debuted last year that don’t have as much buzz. I mean, his career is one hell of a roller-coaster ride when you think about it. Somehow I feel like this could be his last ride.

I’m saying, what kind of insensitive dude would adopt a religion as another means to sell records (Ma$e?). If Snoop Lion was to return as Snoop Dogg, he would be forever scrutinized. Not only would the Rastafarian community sh*t on him (They already have in some circles), but his fans wouldn’t respect him. Do they respect him now? Are Snoop Dogg fans now Snoop Lion fans?

Has his fan base evolved with him? The messages contradict one another. The music/lyrics are about peace and spirituality now. Not “B*tchez ain’t Sh*t”. Honestly, more people should be happy for him. More fans should applaud his music. Is this not the kind of music people say is lacking in today’s hip-hop? Is it hip-hop?

Honestly, I still don’t know what to feel about the whole situation. I am not a die hard Snoop fan, but I have a couple of albums. This Snoop Lion isn’t my cup of tea. Why? I just don’t think he is any good at Reggae. Whatever makes the man happy though… Salute Bruhda.

THE EVOLUTION THAT IS SNOOP DOGGY DOGG -> SNOOP LION:

Drive-By Bloggin’ “Bish Don’t Kill My Vibe”

Posted on March 20, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

Man, what the hell did J. Cole do to Jay-Z? You would never know that he was signed to his label (Roc Nation). Not only is he absent from J. Cole everything (i.e. Songs, Pics), now Hov does a remix with his man Kendrick Lamar? The cover of the single is a pic of Kobe and Jordan together. What?! If I was J. cole, no disrespect to Kendrick, but I’d need answers.

Jay-Z has barely endorsed J. Cole publicly. Ok, so Jay Cole was on Blueprint 3. That song was completely forgettable. I understand allowing your artist to make a name for themselves, but this feels like more. Jay did a entire album with Kanye. Kanye didn’t need it. Hov seems more than willing to share some lime light.

I understand that Jay-Z likes to gravitate to the “hot” side of the room but damn. Your little man is drowning under the pressure of his peers Drake & Kendrick. It doesn’t help his cause if you draw more attention their way. I’m not totally against the way Jay-Z has handled J. Cole. I felt he got in Memphis Bleek’s way on Roc-a-Fella.

Once again, this is a case where you have a dude who is just as talented as his peers but he needs that one hit. He obviously is unable to craft it himself. Those radio records wouldn’t chart if he was on some bullsh*t label like Mack Town Records.

Who knows? Maybe J. Cole’s sophomore album will tell a different tale. He better hurry up. Drake’s 3rd album is right around the corner.

Drive-By Bloggin’ “Harlem Shake-Down”

Posted on March 11, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

Oh how soon we forget the laws of the land until we are reminded of the iron fist that is REALITY. I have my opinions on the “latest trend” but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about how an underground producer’s song becomes a national craze and ushers in more than a million downloads….AND THE SAMPLES WERE NOT CLEARED. Oh boy.

Now, this is no fault of Baauer (the producer)…we’ll maybe a little bit. How would he have known that this song would become so big (It’s not really the song, but the videos…but they go hand in hand)? He used various samples from songs and people around the net hoping to get a couple of hits. This is not a uncommon practice in this day and age of producers. The internet is the biggest dig site for samples. You better believe that if you sample (on any level) and you want to sell that track….without clearing samples? Those moments of creative euphoria will eventually bite you in the a$$.

Not every song is a potential dance craze/video foolery hit, but the point is…YOU NEVER KNOW. I mean, that is why you create and then post to the net. Correct? It’s the hope that many people will get to hear it. Anyway, Reggaetón artist Hector “El Father” Delgado and Philadelphia MC Jayson Musson have been sampled in the creation of Harlem Shake and they want their cut. It is only right. Unfortunately for Baauer, this is a bittersweet lesson in fame and misfortune.

Here is a more detailed explanation of this story: The Verge

Drive-By Bloggin’ “Wha?”

Posted on February 19, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

Is it safe to say that this dude’s run is up? His main artist has been hotter than him for a while now. He hasn’t been the same since prison. That Emmitt Till line is unforgivable. Now this “beef” with the NBA. Who knows what the story is.

And…more importantly…Who the f@ck cares. Do music. That is your bread and butter. We can see that he has been void of attention lately, but this is not the kind you want. I wasn’t always the biggest fan of Lil Wayne but I did like a couple of records. The last album was meh, and all of this bad press is not a good look.

That Chris Bosh stuff is left field but “hoe-well”

Drive-By Bloggin’ “Grammy Redux”

Posted on February 12, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

I said I would watch this year…but I didn’t. I just, genuinely, don’t care anymore. The award show has improved over the years but I still feel that some magic is missing. It doesn’t feel like there is any suspense as it relates to the winners. The bigger the record (as it relates to sales), the greater the chances it will walk away with the honors. When a song like “Niggaz in Paris” wins over a song like “Daughters“….well.

Most of the candidates in the Hip-Hop categories deserved to be nominated. The winners were predictable though. I was particularly interested in who would win best album. I thought Drake’s album “Take Care” was good, but “Hip-Hop”?

This album contain less “rap” than his debut. I don’t like the fact that the Grammys proved me right. It’s either a sales win, a popularity win, or a sympathy win (for old heads). I was hoping Nas would get the “sympathy” vote for his excellent work but oh well. At the end of the day, it is less about who wins and more about the message these wins send.

*Shrugs* I watched The Walking Dead instead…

Drive-By Bloggin’ “OUTKAST”

Posted on January 16, 2013 by VegasWorldInc

I’m not exactly sure what is going on here but I don’t like it. People have been trying to make the lack of a Outkast album into a beef. Sure, friends fight all of the time. Business partners have disagreements. With Big Boi and Andre 3000, you can see they are doing there best to avoid any controversy.

I personally feel that this would be a perfect time for the ATL legends to drop an album but all signs say NO. Big Boi just released his second solo album to little to no fan fare, and Andre 3 stacks is making a Jimi Hendrix movie. Also, Andre has expressed his disinterest in making music in several interviews. Though he does peak his head out for a guest verse here and there.

Which brings me to his latest appearance(s). Andre used a verse on T.I.’s new album to address the lack of Outkast music. It was dope (first), and it also came across as sincere/remorseful for the lack of new Outkast material. Big Boi’s reaction was positive…but I still felt there was something more. Well Big Boi decided, with the consent of T.I. and Andre 3000, to add his own verse to the song. A remix basically…but not an Outkast remix says Andre. What?

In his words:

“It’s important for me to be clear about the origins of my contributions to ‘Pink Matter’ and ‘Sorry.’

I was approached as a solo artist by both Frank Ocean & Tip. I discussed musical direction with each artist and completed my verses. It was after that when Big Boi’s name came up.

I never want to mislead our audience – I worried that some would think these were Outkast collaborations. These songs are not Outkast collaborations. I discussed this rationale with Big, Frank and T.I. and everyone agreed. That is why I was surprised to read about these remixes.

I understand that anyone can put out an unofficial remix to any song but I have an obligation to be honest with fans about what this is … and what it isn’t.“

I truly understand the concern for the fans but toss them a bone. We know it wouldn’t mean that an Outkast album was on the way. It was a good idea for Big Boi to add a verse. Hey, maybe it would help his sales. I sure he did for the Kast fans. I don’t know about you guys but this is starting to get uncomfortable…

S/O SPIN.COM

Live Interview Tonite

Posted on December 8, 2012 by VegasWorldInc

Tonight me and producer Kil will appear on the Baltimore Hip-Hop program Strictly Hip-Hop. We’ll be talking about our sophomore (FREE) album “You’re All Welcome“. Tune in at Midnight to listen.

Click this link to listen: STRICTLY HIP-HOP

Stream or Download the FREE album here:

Drive-By Bloggin’ 9-13-2012 “DarkMan Edition”

Posted on September 14, 2012 by VegasWorldInc

Dmx is officially more entertaining talking than rapping. Sorry. His prime was in those 1st four albums. Between the drug habit, jail time, weak album sales, and a appearance on the reality series “Couples Therapy” ( Which was actually good)…. “Darkman X” has essentially auditioned for the next season of “Unsung”.

I will say this, the man has a future in reality tv. His honesty is unrivaled. You can see the genuine squirm in his body language when he is asked a question that would require a “P.C.” answer. He is already on record for saying the following:

Rick Ross “All he talk about is eating”

Drake “Catch a n*gga in the elevator and beat his a$$”

Nicki Minaj music “No f**king way I’m listening to this b*tch ever again!”

In a recent interview, DMX said that Drake’s style is…annoying. AMEN. No, I am not a Drake hater. I actually look forward to his albums. The reason why I agree with X is because….well…he’s right. See, every now and again I have to take a “Drake Break”. Him and Rhiannna’s saturation is at an all-time high. Radio, Internet, everywhere.

The problem with Drake is that moaning sh*t. You know what I’m talking about. When the dude rhymes, he can go into full on Zombie mode:

Drake “She on the phoooooooonnnnnneeee.” “Leave me aloooooonnnneeee.” “BRAAAAAAIIIIINNNNZZZZZ.”

I don’t see it as hating on X’s part. He’s just telling the truth. He isn’t looking to kiss Drake’s a$$ in hopes of a feature. He just can’t rock with his style. Straight, and to the point. Thank you DMX.

“I hit you in the head, you won’t feel sh*t! Grrrrrr” – DMX

Go Digital?

Posted on October 10, 2011 by VegasWorldInc

I’ve been thinking about this for a Very longtime. How do you know when it is time to go completely digital with your music library? Is it even necessary? Pros? Cons? I guess it depends on the individual.

Obviously, I am a big fan of music. Cds, Cassettes, Vinyl all litter my home and garage. Far from a hoarder, I just can’t seem to part with these tangible memories. When mp3 really started to take off, I was all in but I would still burn them to cd. I needed to know that the music was in my hand. Not a ball of megabytes that could be erased easily.

When I purchased my 1st mp3 player (Zune R.I.P.), I was blown away by the thought of having all of that music on the go. Over the next couple of years I would slowly build my hard drive library to a point where it rivaled my physical collection. Needless to say, those Cds began to collect a bit of dust.

A couple of months ago I decided to completely digitize my music library. The process was quick and painless. Now I have access to my library via iPhone, iPad, and a 80Gb Zune that I keep in the whip. Everything is in there from Black Moon’s “Enta Da Stage” to J. Cole’s “Cole World:The Sideline Story“. Now I find myself at a crossroads…what do I do with these CDs?

"This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you."

Pros:

-It’s a backup just in case the hard drive crashes.
-The Memories. Every Cd has a story behind when and where I bought them.
-The sound can be better than an mp3 just like vinyl tends to sound better than CD.

Cons:

-Cds tend to warp and ultimately skip. Even if you haven’t played them in a while.
-Collecting dust…literally. I can’t remember the last time I played one.
-Not worth much on the market. The music is worth more than what it has been selling for online.

I’m the type of dude that shops at your local Buy/Trade/Sell music store. I used to buy a ton of CDs on the cheap. Now it looks like I may be coming in to purge my library. I’m so conflicted right now. I can use the change to buy myself something shiny and new, but at what cost?

What about you? Have you already sold off your collection or are you taking advantage of the trend and buying all of the used Cds on the market?

Thank “ME” Later

Posted on June 3, 2010 by VegasWorldInc

Well, there it is. Drake’s debut album, Thank Me Later has leaked on the internet ahead of his June 15th release date. This is no surprise to most of us. It’s become apart of the process.

The question that was on everybody’s mind (interested or not) was, is it hot? My answer…I don’t know. My anticipation was a little high prior to the leak. I listened to the album twice so far and my feelings went from warm to luke warm. I shouldn’t have to listen to an album more than that to be able to say I like it, right?

Drake broke the mold with his now famous mixtape/album So Far Gone. Thank Me Later just doesn’t seem to have the same impact.

Let me be clear, this album isn’t wack. I don’t think it will flop. Maybe the hype and expectation exceed the pay off a little bit though. The album is 14 tracks deep (fine by me). Guest features include Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, and more. Production credits come from Kayne West to Swizz Beats to Drake himself.

Listening to this album makes me appreciate Drake the “singer” more than Drake the “rapper”. I always felt Drake’s rhyme style reminded me too much of Kanye. The tracks where Drake chooses to sing give the album a cool vibe and the beats compliment that. When Drake rhymes, it’s not bad, I just tend to battle with my reactions. You know… Somewhere between…”that was a hot line” and “please Shut the F@ck up”.

Make no mistakes, the young ladies are the targeted demographic here. It’s for that reason I can say that this album deserves a decent 4 out 5. While So Far Gone felt like Drake’s official debut, Thank Me Later has a little sophomore jinx going on.

Thank Me Later Tracklisting:

1. Fireworks (feat. Alicia Keys)
2. Karaoke
3. The Resistance
4. Over
5. Show Me A Good Time
6. Up All Night (feat. Nicki Minja)
7. Fancy (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz)
8. Shut It Down (feat. The Dream)
9. Unforgettable (feat. Young Jeezy)
10. Light Up (feat. Jay Z)
11. Miss Me (feat. Lil Wayne)
12. Cece’s Interlude
13. Find Your Love
14. Thank Me Now

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Go Digital?

Thank “ME” Later

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