Column 12

Is it a coincidence that Ja Rule tried to settle his beef with 50 right before his EP is about to drop, which has plenty of references to "loose change?" Is anyone still even listening to the diss tracks? This shit is getting coo-koo man.
Some of the poets from HBO's Def Poetry Jam recently came through UVA…Shout out to C-EZ for makin it happen. I'm not really into the spoken word ish…but I have to admit it was worthwhile and it was good. The show did have it's weak parts, but thanks to Jedi Mind Tricks "Rise of the Machines" track that they did with Ras Kass, I got through it all. See, when my attention started drifting off, I thought of Vinnie Paz running up on stage and kicking the poet's ass and shit. Here's a why: "And poets on the mic for twenty hours 'n shit, I'm housin' ya shit, Shuttin' ya fuckin' mic off, Snatch ya fuckin' poetry book…" Why isn't Vinnie Paz on that tour? He would definitely bring an added dimension to the show and make it a lot more interesting.
The flyest MC is getting ready to drop some heat…I just checked out the Apani B Fly sampler. If her album is anything like the four cuts I heard, then it's gonna be crazy. Production on it is crazy, as she's working with DJ Spinna, Da Beatminaz, and the Rubix Cuban, Chrome Depot's Employee of the Month, Celph Titled. After hearing Apani on the Triple Threat album, I've been waiting and waiting for some new material.
It's good to see Scram Jones, one of Hip Hop's most slept-on producers, getting some love. The "No, No, No" track he produced for Jae Millz was crazy. Jae Millz is gonna be a name that you'll be hearing a lot in the future. He's also got a dope mixtape circulating, hosted by DJ Enuff, titled "Once Upon a Time In Harlem."
DJ B-Mello recently teamed up with the Block Burners, MC's from the Tulalip Tribe. The Block Burners is made up of seven MC's, and they're repping from the Northwest, Philly, Vancouver, B.C., and Jersey. This mixtape had them rhyming over a lot of popular instrumentals, some very dope and some that I wasn't feeling, but overall, it was worth the listen. Holla at B-Mello at djbmello@tmail.com, and the Block Burners at BlockBurnerMgmt@aol.com. You can also hit up www.blockburners.com for more info.
Regardless of what you think of Fat Beats (most people love them…) their new compilation is pretty dope. Personally, my favorite track is J-Zone's "Alley Oop '04," but there's also heat from Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Little Brother, and Just Ice, as well as a vintage D.I.T.C. track.
Be on the lookout for Young Zee, he's signed with Denaun Porter's label, Mr. Porter Productions. You may remember Mr. Porter from 50's "P.I.M.P." track. Young Zee's about to make some major moves, definitely look for the former Outsida to be making a lot of serious moves in the very near future.
Shout out to Soulstice who just sold out of his "The Melody" 12" in Japan. Check him out, as well as Doomsday and the rest of the Banarnar fam at www.banarnar.com.
Does anyone still think Angelous is Jay-Z? I was thinking that it could be for a second…but there's too many ways that it wouldn't be possible. But a lot of Heads that I talk to really believe that Angelous is Jay. Personally, I think if you really listen you can hear the difference between their flows, but Jay keeps talking about how he won't exist anymore and all that. I guess we'll have to wait and see…
But Angelous has dropped another freestyle mixtape, "It Ain't a Game Part 3." Hit up www.k-class.com for more info on this. I really don't care that people hate him for sounding like Jay…His shit is hot…oh yeah, he's also working with Amil on this mixtape.
As long as we're talking about Angelous, DJ Solid, who's been dropping a lotta quality mixtapes lately, has Ang hosting his latest mixtape, "Comin' for the Crown Part 3." His freestyles are real hot. Even the haters have to realize that he's got talent. How bout Lil Jon screaming out "How bout that boy Nas!" I never thought I'd hear a Nas/Lil Jon collab but I love this shit! Nas over a Lil Jon track. Damn! I can't lie, he sounds real out of place, but it's hot. This is such a powerful combination. It's gonna be interesting to see what other collaborations this can lead to. Red Café just did a track with Busta Rhymes, with the Trackmasters production. This is a dope banger. Busta kills this shit. The Neptunes drop a grimy yet bouncy beat for the Clipse's "Pussy." They're still rhyming about the same stuff, how much longer can they keep doing it before people have enough? Oh yeah, get at DJ Solid @ djsolid88@hotmail.com.
Another Philly DJ doin it is Meddafore, who just dropped "Let Em Know Part 6." Kamikaze, aka Mr. Sho Nuff, is hosting the tape. Kamikaze's reppin Mississippi as half of the Crooked Lettaz. He drops an anthem on "U Ain't Hard," which leads perfectly into Lil Jon's collab with Pit Bull "That's Nasty." The Kamikaze material is hot. And then there's the Lloyd Banks and Beyonce track "Steppin in Hotter." Aren't these the exact same tracks Ja was getting dissed for making? Da Band is on here…I can see why people like them, but that doesn't make it right. I'm not angry, just disappointed. But the Drag-On and Styles collab "Respect My Gangsta" is a decent track. Holla at Meddafore at meddafore@aol.com and check Kamikaze out at www.kamikaze601.com.
Kamikaze makes another appearance on Cee Hu$$ler's "Hood Assault Vol. 3." He gives a lot of love to unknown artists on this one, as there's not a lot of big names coming through. The Big Noyd track is nice, "Bang 2 Bang," 808 comes through for Cee with a dope track "Ridin' Dirty," which is a good party track. For more info on this, get at Cee at www.deadcee.com or dubceezy61@yahoo.com.
L.I.F.E. Long has been doing a lotta dope work lately. He's got the "Struggler's Paradise" EP dropping. Hit up www.cajocommunications.com for more info on this. He's working with a lot of good cats as well, like Mista Sinista, Poison Pen, C. Rayz, Loer Velocity, plus more. He also did a track with Cannibal Ox.
As long as we're talking about Can Ox, how about all the tour money they lost because of their reported "break-up." Now they're together… It's really too bad that the tour got messed up though, because Jean Grae would have killed the shows (anyone who's seen her, you know she's one of the dopest performers out).
One thing I'm liking is how artists are goin back to their old tracks and making them available. Asheru and BlueBlack are doing that with "48 Months," and Peanut Butter Wolf is doing that now too. His label, Stones Throw, is putting out "Big Shots," which features him on the boards and Charizma on the mic. All of the tracks were recorded between 1991 and '93. From Charizma was killed in December, 1993. He's got a lot of dope rhymes, and it's cool hearing some old Peanut Butter Wolf production. Hit up www.stonesthrow.com for more info on this.
That's all I got…if anyone knows anything about astronomy…get at me…

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