Monday, October 13, 2008

GTFOH!!!! Eminem the greatest rapper alive???? I don't think so......

OK, I was on yahoo today and I was compelled to write about this, they spoke about an article in Vibe on who the best rapper alive was. One Blogger, Billy Johnson Jr. gave his opinion and I agree with him 100%. He is NOT the best rapper alive, I know he is one of the best selling Rappers of all time, but think about this, where would be he today if he Didn't have Dr. Dre? Would he be the best rapper alive? I do not take anything away from Em because he is a talented rapper, there are some rappers that can really bring it. I can't even stomach Rap right now and I'm 30 years old. Maybe it's just me getting my grown man on, but Him as the Best Rapper? Wrong...... mostly what i hear from him is how much he hates his Ex-Wife and how many people he can kill. the fan base he has really loves that, not my cup of tea but eh. I would put Jay-Z, Nas, Andre 3000 and a host of others ahead of him, heck give me Big Daddy Kane any day. I think Vibe dropped the bomb big time on this because they set this "Bracket" up of rapper like March Madness. They put underdogs against big heavyweights, Here are some of the, "Contestans" in the, "Best Rapper Alive" contest

Lil' Kim vs. Lauryn Hill
Lupe Fiasco vs. Q-Tip
Mos Def vs. Talib Qweli
Ghostface Killah vs. Raekwon
Method Man vs. Redman
Common vs. Black Thought

OK.... Pretty good arguments on these rappers, I would hate to see any of them lose except for Lil Kim, (News Flash Plastic Girl You are wack and forever will be in my opinion.)
Then we get stuff like this and I was left scratching my head.

Andre 3000 vs. Dizzee Rascal
Eminem vs. Soulja Boy
Lil' Wayne vs. Trina
T.I. vs. Shawty Lo
Ludacris vs. Young Dro

GTFOH!!!!!! Every one knows Lil Wayne will run circles around Trina, why is she even in here? Put some real MC's on here, this is ridiculous to even include Soulja Boy, Shawty Lo, Young Dro, and Dizzee Rascal, even though I think Dizzee is Dope but 3 Stacks is a monster on the mic. I could go on and on because I know a few underground rappers who is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than Em, especially is ol' buddy Royce Da 5'9" you want to talk about one of the best rappers alive, check Em's Slim Shady CD and listen to Bad Vs. Evil and tell me who is better. Sorry ya'll I'm just venting because arguments like this shouldn't be happening, in actuality, it's a big popularity contest, doesn't matter who has skills, it's about how many records are sold and how many ways you can make a quick buck making a BS song.

My question to you is who is your top 5 rappers of all time.
F.Y.I. No Soulja Boy or Dem Franchise Boys, and tell me why.

Email it to me @ markiethsmith@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Sorry So Late

Bienvenidos Amigos!!!!!

I’m back again with something a little different…. I was having a conversation with someone and he enlightened me on some other sites that have excellent music, so I want to share those with you also. Thanks to Reggie for the info.

AND I QUOTE!!!!!!!

WE Funk Radio - These guys are out of Montréal, Canada but they do a great show, also you can do a search by artist, or song and find mixes that contain your searchhttp://www.wefunkradio.com/

Deep House Page - This guy takes old house music mix tapes and uploads them to the internethttp://www.deephousepage.com/

CKUT - This is the station in Montreal that host We Funk... some of their other shows are good toohttp://secure.ckut.ca/cgi-bin/ckut-grid.pl

Gospel House musichttp://www.gospelhousemusic.com/

DJ POPE & DJ OJI - these guys are out of Baltimore and they put together some tight mixes (Google them) they used to have a show on Morgan State University Radio but I think they are doing their own thing now.

DJ Jamad - he is out of Atlanta, I have a few of his mixes. Exodus Barbershop Afromentals (Google him)

(I’m going to add another site, check out Neo Soul Café by Frances Jaye, good thing is she is a local DFW personality who has events during the week.)

http://www.neosoulcafe.com/

Have Fun with those, also if you have any suggestions, or you hate my blog, whatever left me know @ markiethsmith@gmail.com

Well I’m going to review Ne-Yo’s CD, I know it’s late but hey I’m a busy man. Here we go!

Ne-Yo “Year of the Gentleman” (Def Jam/Universal)

28-year-old singer Ne-Yo’s latest album, “Year of the Gentleman” is out, and he gets better and better every time he puts an album out. I honestly don’t like him featured on anyone else’s music because he can most certainly hold his own, Year of the Gentleman should be on your CD list as of right now, I will be handing out late passes to those who haven’t bought his CD yet J. The first single, “Closer” is a ball of energy and it’s unlike anything Ne-Yo has put out in the past. Picture Urban House Music fused with R&B. Tune, “Miss Independent” is for all of the Ladies out there who are actually independent, it’s most certainly to get you blushing hearing the lyrics, “She got her own thing that's why I love her Miss Independent won't you come and spend a little time she got her own thing that's why I love her…”

Some of you all have this CD already, If you haven’t shame on you, this has Grammy and Platinum written all over it.

Grade: A-

I’ll be back with a preview of Robin Thicke’s Album, “Something Else”

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Influenced by Hip-Hop, I decided to change it up a little bit.

Mood: Chill
What’s on the iPod: Jazz


I was chillin at work, (Doesn’t make sense but all of you chill at work too! :) ) and I was looking at a friend of mine’s facebook status and she posed a question, “When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop?” Well I fell in love with Hip-Hop around 88 when I heard, “The Bridge” and then I heard, “South Bronx” it made me curious on what Hip-Hop was all about. I’ve been in the South Born and Raised, and when I listen to Hip-Hop, not Rap, I’ve always caught flak for that. Because the Media has the music divided on where you reside, stuff gets started and debates ensue for no reason. I’ll tell you like this, I don’t care where you are from you can be from Alaska, Jupiter, Dallas, New York, or L.A. If you are making good music I will consume your good music.

People are all caught up on “being from the South” or “East Coast” or “West Coast” MEMO: I DON’T CARE! I’m pretty sure some other folks don’t care either. There are a handful of people in my eyes who will forever continue to make good music one of them is Soulja Boy, (I kid LOL) when you see people doing music for the love of it, you have the utmost respect from me. If you are out here trying to be a rapper because you have the feds on you for selling dope and you need a “legal” way to make some money…… I dunno it all sounds the same to me. How many times can you sell Coke and not get caught or no one robs you? You see this is why a lot of Young, Flashy, so called rappers get Mollywhopped when they go out of town with all of that non-sense, your city is not the only ones with goons Lil’ Homie. Listen I believe in expression like the next person, but when you are making no nonsense music and polluting the airwaves with useless dialect, I have issues with that and Radio Stations and TV Networks are the blame as well for promotiong this.

I see Hip-Hop as a Lady, she has been ran through, changed but she always keeps her essence, lets keep her beautiful and full of life, instead of the current state she is in. I rather listen to the hungry rapper who is about the essence than Diddy any day. Anyway enough about my rant look up the Jazz Liberatorz and tell me what ya’ll think. I think it’s the best fusion of Jazz and Hip-Hop I’ve ever heard.

More on Ne-Yo Later…… I think….

Peace and Blessings, Hip-Hop that was for you Baby I tried my best......

E-mail me the time you fell in love with Hip-Hop, or just to email me your grocery list for this week, I’m bored ya’ll. :)

markiethsmith@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Album of the year!!!!.....well he should get a Grammy nod for

Album of the year....... Enthusiast's, Bloogers, Humans, will all call an album they like, "ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!!" In big bold letters and shout and tell the whole world about it. You might even hear someone say, "Something like this doesn't come very often......" Is it safe to say in the musical climate we are in today, those phrases and words need to be thrown out? I think so because only a small few are making quality music and only small small percnetage of them make music that will stand the test of time. Well Peeps I know I didn't find "THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER!!!!", but the album I listened too the past week straight is a top album, if not the top soul album of 2008. I present to you Raphael Saadiq........ Like ya'll didn't know who he was LOL. enjoy!

Mood? : Too early to tell
What’s on the iPod? : The Jazz Liberatorz, (Check them out more on them later)

Greetings Peeps!!!!! My mind is in so many places I don’t know where to start. I was going to talk about “Electronic Soul”, but with Raphael Saadiq’s Album dropping, I decided to put that on hold.

The Legendary Raphael Saadiq

Raphael Saadiq just dropped his 4th studio album entitled, “The Way I See It” (Pookie Entertainment, Sony, BMG, Columbia Records) The Former Toni, Tony, Tone Frontman takes us on a trip back to the 50’s and 60’s when music and melodies meant something. The way I see it, hint hint, (I know corny on my end), this is your Parents Parents music. Plug in the Jukebox because It is an album that will bring back memories for some and paint a picture of what vintage soul music sounds like and what soul music SHOULD sound like in my opinion. The lead single, “Love That Girl” will put you in the mind frame of watching Mama or Big Mama cleaning the kitchen playing the record, (yes people a Record!) on a sunny Saturday morning and you walk in and see her singing every song and sway her hips to the music. Imagine The Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, early Rock & Roll, and sprinkle some Gospel wrapped into one on this album. This should be a Grammy nominated album, if not I will be VERY surprised. Do me a favor go to his website, and listen to snippets of his album, his myspace page should have the album playing so I advise listen first then buy. I’ll tell you this, I bet my Grandmother would listen to this and ask me, “Boy what you know about this?”, LOL. That’s all I have for right now. Check back later on today or tomorrow and I’ll talk about Ne-Yo’s album.

Until next time

Listen to

100 Yard Dash
Love That Girl
Sure Hope You Mean It
Big Easy
Oh Girl
Like It

Grade
A-

Appearances by
Joss Stone
Stevie Wonder
CJ
Jay-Z
The Infamous Young Spodie and The Rebirth Brass Band

email me and tell me my blog stinks @ markiethsmith@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Sy Smith's has the Best album of 2008; my rant with some people sort of.........

Greeting people!
After being lazy on Labor Day, I was supposed to go fishing but my family from N.O. came up because of the Hurricane so I decided to hang out with them. Anyway enough about that, I finally had time to sit down and listen to Sy Smith's new album, "Conflict"(Psyko/MDI, 2008). I was laying under a rock, again I didn't know she had a CD out so I'm giving myself a late pass on this one shame on me! It is a mix of Soul, Jazz & a little bit of Techno, a.k.a. a mixture of futuristic vibes and melodies which will put you on the planet Saturn for a out of this world party on a cold winter night. She switches gears on the Album from songs like, "Overthought" to, "The Art of You" to, "Would all of the people from Compton Please Leave". It is a Soulful, Great Album which really shows her creativity. Plus the Girl can "Sang!!!!!" not Sing, "Sang!" I give her props because of the people she worked with, and every one of her Albums come with something fresh and new. Do me a Favor, check out her other albums Psykosoul (Hollywood, 2000)& The Syberspace Social (Psyko/Kajmere Sound, 2005)tell me what you think. This one is definitely a winner for 2008.
My question is, how come an Artist like herself and many others, cannot get any significant amount of airtime on the radio, or cannot get a decent record deal from the big record companies? Beats me I would only make sense to me. I think I would be fired if I were an A&R, (Aspiring rappers and singers look up what A&R means.) because I would sign someone with pure talent and skills, instead of signing some eye candy who doesn't know how to read a musical note, and only come with verbal skills my 1 year old nephew can come up with. Call me a "Hater" on what is playing on the radio or what's out now, but I would rather hear Sy Smith, Lizz Fields, Eric Roberson, Vikter Duplaix anyday before i hear someone talking about doing the "Stankyleg". WTF!!!!!!! I'm glad some of my favorite artists are independent because they can make the music that defines them, not someone else.
Also I have one other rant, People have been emailing me to check out this person they would be cool, Yeah OK I want to get something straight here, I deal with SOUL MUSIC! Not Smooth Jazz, not Rap, no Polka, no easy listening. I feel I have a good ear for music as well, the purpose of my blog is to get the word out there for my favorite artists. It's not like they don't have fans, I'm just shedding some light on them because they need it. I do this for the Love of music. Granted it's a little edgy at times, no carbon copies, but that's how I like it, and that's how some of my peers like it. I'm not going to name names on some of the artists, or the people who recommended me these people, but c'mon people. I don't do rap anymore I do hip-hop, whoever tells you it's the same it a Bald-Headed Lie! (Thanks Erin for that!) That's another story, another blog, another day.
I'm changing my picture because SOMEBODY says I look like I'm 16 on that pic, so to make folks happy I'll put an updated pic up, Geez everyone is a critic :) I'll talk about Electronic Soul and J*Davey next Blog.


Peace and Blessings
tell me how much my blog stinks.
markiethsmith@gmail.com

Monday, August 18, 2008

Well Heck People!

With the Olympics starting and the passing of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, (R.I.P.) I was at a loss for words. I still am because things like that happening over in a span of 24 hours is chilling and I was taken aback with sadness, makes you want to look at life a little differently. With that being said the Olympics are kinda exciting! I must admit that, I would only watch Track & Field and Basketball back in the day, I'm watching everything now. It's so good to see everyone get along even if it's just for 2 weeks no hate, but at the same time what is going to happen when the games are over with, will the happiness and joy continue? Just a thought..... enough of my preaching lets talk about music CHUUUUUUCH!

OK! I was going through iTunes and a few sites, because my music collection was in need of some good music and I stumbled across an artist who has really grabbed my attention and one of my favorite artist who had an album out and I didn't know about it. Shame on me! The artist who has grabbed my attention is Kissey Apslund She is a soul sistah from Sweden...... wait, wait......SWEDEN?!?! I was like, "I have to check her out......" I'm reading reviews and getting more info about her and the reviews were positive so me being the person I am I had to check out her album "Plethora" R2 music/BBE. All I have to say is WOW! I've been listening to her album since last week non stop in the truck, home, etc. She puts you in the mind of Erykah Badubut she is a European import. What I like about her is that she has the edginess that lacks with other artists. She hooked up with Papa Jazz, a duo from France, to do the production for her debut album. With that said, Please support her, much love from Texas Kissey, and Lycka till, Gud välsigne er!

Next up we have Lizz Fields. Some one hit me with a Rock because I didn't know she had an album out. I kid I kid!!! Her new album called, "Pleasureville" Blue Fields Records Shows her vocal range and versatility on new album. I like this album a whole lot because of tracks like Pleasureville, Brooklyn Flowers, Daddy's Caddy, Runnin on Empty, and Oasis, which to me Oasis is my favorite track on her album. Cop her album and do me a favor, support the real artists where ever they are from. I think that is what's wrong with consumers of music today, if they aren't from here we don't support it. We have to change that people!!!!

That's all for now Check back as I will give you the scoop on Sy Smith's new album.
Peace and blessings

Hit me up @ markiethsmith@gmail.com
tell me you hate me or love me

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

zzzzzzzzz Awakening from my hibernation...

Hey ya'll, lovers of music. been a minute, but I'm back from my hibernation like my title says. Speaking of awakening from a hibernation, 2 of my favorite artists, D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill seem to be doing the same thing. Reports are saying that they are either in the lab making music, or they are getting their creative juices flowing...... hmmmmmm, how relevant would they be on today's music scene. People are fickle, especially the young ones. Those of us that appreiciate good music like this either has a career where they don't have time to listen like they use to 10 years ago, or they have a family. CASE CLOSED! Regardless I will continue to support them and not only them but other artist who have Creativity, Originality, and Intensity. (Thanks Guru.) With that being said there are a few artists who's album needs to drop, don't blame it on the artist, point the finger at the record company! It seems like now a days an artist can come out with a nice buzz but for whatever reason, the record company does not gt behind it..... This happened to Dwele on his first 2 releases on Virgin Records...... hmmmm WAKE UP!
I'm still waiting on Anthony Hamilton to drop his long awaited 3rd album we shall see how the politics of the music game falls for him. Question I'm looking for a Track from W. Ellington Felton, called "Song of Solomon" can someone get that track for me? A friend of mine has it but she is so busy I can't get in contact with her! Well enough of my ranting Check out these artists below and tell me if you love them or hate them. This is your homework assignment kids if someone is following me here hit me up and tell me what you like or hate about my blog markiethsmith@yahoo.com
Until next time humans. Ohh before I forget. Where in the Hell is Bilal at? hmmmmmm

Artists
Dwele- Anything from him

DJ Spinna- check out his music collection, Genius!!!!!

Aya
- There is a J-Pop, (Japanese pop) artist by the same name, she might be dope but it's not her, her album is called "Strange Flower"

Eric Roberson- This guy can put on a hell of a show, plus the ladies love him, if he is in your hometown take a lady friend with you to impress her you won't be disappointed.

Conya Doss- She is showing up on everyones radar as of late, for those who don't know yet, get a late pass.

D'Nell- Sultry sounds from across the pond.

Erika Rose- Check out the sounds from a friend of Alicia Keys.