 
|
|
|
|
Browse Bands by Name
|
|
Or enter a band name below to search:
|
 Bands Main
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes, Chris Steible and Raekwon the Chef
Artist: Kool Kid
Mixtape: The Hood Legend Volume Two
Representing: NYC
The 411: Kool Kid is making mixtapes and affiliations. The dude is not only down with Violator, he's also one of the DJs behind So So Def's officially sanctioned mixtapes.
Joints To Check For:
- "Let Them Things Go" and "Hum Drums" by the Terror Squad. The perfect appetizer for the Squad's LP True Story, out Tuesday. Joe continues to stay on top of his lyrical grind, levying threats like Lucky Luciano at a commission meeting. And you know Remy Ma continues to grimace on the mic. You'll definitely be familiar with the Squad's choice of song sampling on the second of the two cuts — just listen to the Lloyd Banks LP.
- "There It Is" by Grafh and Stat Quo. This is one of the records we'll look back at five years from now, because it's the first time we hear the pairing of these two lyricists: Stat from the South, and Grafh from Queens, New York. With the Roc now behind Grafh and Stat already working on his Shady/ Aftermath debut, both are odds-on favorites to become heavyweights in the game before too long. This is history; just wait.
- "Summa Jam" by 213. What's this, loved one — the three OGs have left their guns and pimp cups on the shelves in favor of firecrackers and charcoal? Yes, nephew. If you're thinking about tripping, you're doing way too much. Snoop, Nate and Warren G, conjure memories of barbecuing, swimming and flying kites with kids. As guest Latoiya Williams sings, we made it through the winter, made it through the fall, it feels good to see another summer. Preach!
Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week
 Cutmaster C's I Run This hosted by Will Smith
Kay Slay's Certified Trouble Makerz 3
Doo Wop's Thugocracy
DJ Omega's Class of 2004
DJ Storm's Wu-Tang Instrumentals
'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar
- "For the Record" by Shyne
- "Push It" by the Diplomats featuring Lil' Wayne
- "Take Me Home" by the Terror Squad
- "The Magic Hour" by AZ featuring C.L. Smooth
- "Win or Lose" by Mobb Deep
Celebrity Favs
Mase is remixing his butt off right now. He has a mix of "Lean Back" with Fat Joe and Eminem coming (see "Eminem, Mase Pitch In To Make 'Lean Back' Even Hotter"), as well as a reworking of "Jesus Walks" with Kanye West. The kid loves a certain uptown ruckus starter.
"My favorite mixtape DJ is Kay Slay. He's from Harlem. He's the drama king. He's always in the middle of something, pumping something up ... I'mma rename him: he's the 'Ghetto Don King.'
"G-Unit had a mixtape with their new up-and-coming guy named Game. They'll probably have the hottest mixtape until we come out with ours. I'm coming out with [a mixtape] with Kay Slay."
The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground
The Iron Man is back at it, and this time he's not alone. Ghostface Killah is putting out a mixtape with his crew, but it's not who you might think. He isn't teaming with the Wu-Tang; rather, Pretty Toney has gathered up his side clique, the Theodore Unit, for the 718 mixtape, which drops on August 10.
The Unit includes Ghost, Cappadonna, Wigs, Solomon Childs, Du-Lilz, Kryme Life and Trife. The troop just shot the first video for the mixtape, "Pass the Mic," Wednesday in a Staten Island, New York, barbershop. The mixtape is going to include some tracks excluded from Ghost's recent Pretty Toney LP, such as "Smith Brothers" and "Paychecks."
Ghost isn't forgetting about his first group, the Wu-Tang Clan. Most of the group has been touring the world together, and last Saturday, the entire group hit San Bernardino, California, for a classic concert (see "Original Wu-Tang Clan Lineup Reunites At Cali Hip-Hop Fest").
Backstage, Raekwon played the role of MTV News reporter and interviewed Ghost about his new project and his colorful wardrobe.
Raekwon: So what's going on with Theodore Unit?
Ghostface Killah: We holdin' it down. We have our crew, Wu-Tang and all that. [Theodore] are all just a little branch off the family like that.
I named it Theodore because it's Thinkers and Doers. Nobody that is not thinking for themselves or for the team, I don't even need them around me, 'cause it's a waste of energy. So I just broke it down to Thinkers and Doers. We gonna get this paper. We always been the unit since day one, since Bulletproof Wallets.
Raekwon: So we gonna see y'all at the shows, at the concerts? Y'all gonna bring it back to [legendary venue] the Armory for us?
Ghostface Killah: No doubt. You know we gonna do all that.
Raekwon: Are you going to wear colorful Wallys? We need the colorful Wallys!
Ghostface Killah: Wallys, minks, robes, rings, all that. We gonna do it nice and big. No question, y'all.
***
For a full-length feature on the role of mixtapes in the music industry, check out "Mixtapes: The Other Music Industry."
|
|
|
|
Photo: MTV News
|
|
|
|
|
