Check Me Out Tonight at The Berkeley Cafe in Raleigh, NC
Yoooooooo, if you are in the Raleigh area, you better be ready to party and enjoy this Holidaze… It’s gonna be crazy tho. The lineup is insane, it’s only $5, & we are all going to be throwing down. So if you are with it, show your face…
Poe Mack – Back At It (Music Video)
Shouts to the homie Poe, Van Gundy & Kris with Oktobervision for putting together this dope video. “Back At It” appears on Move Mountains, Poe’s critically acclaimed mixtape that was presented by kevinnottingham.com. So if you do’t have that, make sure you download it. Until then, check out the new video, leave a comment, spread the word, ENJOY….
I am opening up for Big K.R.I.T. & Freddie Gibbs at the Soapbox in Wilmington, NC TONIGHT!
If you have hung out with me for more than an extended period of time in the last year, ans we began discussing the “new” school of up & coming hip hop artists, two names easily came to mind. Big K.R.I.T., the Def Jam signee from Mississippi whose mixtape, KRIT Wuz Here, was the best project I heard released last year, and Freddie Gibbs, the gangsta ass muhfucka from Gary, Indiana, who recently signed to Young Jeezy’s CTE. Both of these artist possess the grit and lyricism that I crave when looking for new artists. So when I heard they were touring together, I made it a point to make sure I could be in attendance. It wasn’t until recently that I was blessed with the opportunity to actually open up for them. So thank you to Louis T & County Lines Clothing, and the Soapbox for making it happen. Pick up tickets here. Promote it on facebook here. THANKS.
Focus… feat. Sha Stimuli – I Know… (Free Download)
Large ups to Focus & Sha Stimuli for teaming up and yet another dope ass track. This joint features Focus on the mic and beat, and Sha doing his usual dirty work that he is known for. Get ready for The Misinterpreted, which will be out on May 3rd. But until then, download this joint for FREE here…
Jozeemo – True Identity (Promo Video)
Joe Murdock aka Jozeemo sent me the link to this promo video for the intro to his upcoming album, True Identity. This joint is pure fire, so it’s a guarantee that the album will be full of more of the same. Until then, check for his mixtape, The Good Die Young, The Great Don’t, which I did the artwork for. That should be dropping soon…
Zo! & Phonte – Return Of The Mack f. Tigallo the Tay God (Free Download)
If you are a fan of Phonte’s music, then you are sure to know about the project he did with Zo!: Zo! & Tiggalo Love the 80’s. I guess his recent collaboration with Lil’ B has brought out the Tay God in the NC legend. This joint is smooth and hilarious, all at the same time. If you are smart, this is a must have for your collection. Make sure you download it here for FREE…
K-Hill – The Declaration of an Independent (Video)
Shouts to the homie, K, & Depth of Sound for putting together a dope visual to go along with this banger of a track. I did the cover art to the single last month or so, & now the video is set to blast this joint off even further. Make sure you check it out, and be on the lookout for Motivational Speaker, due out soon…
Malice – “Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind & Naked” – Book Review by Trick
So for once, Trick was really influenced by this latest book that he read for the site. Being such a self-proclaimed “literary genius,” I think that he doesn’t feel challenged when he approaches these books. However, Malice’s book had a little different effect on him. Check out his review below(he even throws a jab at us! Haha):
I had no idea what Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind & Naked was about, but I was definitely excited to see what fellow 757 representative Gene Thornton Jr. (aka Malice from The Clipse) had to say. When I got the book and saw that it was basically his testament to the role that religion has played/is playing in his life, I was a little less excited; not that I’m anti-religion or anything, just didn’t really want to be preached to for 170 some pages. But once I started reading it my opinion changed.
Wretched is one of the most honest books I’ve ever read. It’s written in a very conversational tone – lots of “Now, ….” to start sentences, etc. It reads like Malice was talking to a friend, telling his story, and somebody just transcribed everything he said. Unlike most books written by celebrities, you can tell that he wrote it all himself and the editors didn’t really change much at all, which is a nice change. As I said, the book basically details how faith brought him out of some of the darkest periods in his life. Malice’s descriptions of some of those times are what really made this worth reading for me. I can’t think of too many rappers who would be willing to admit to, much less publish a book about, their financial problems, AIDS scares, fallouts with friends, family, and colleagues in the music business, and insecurities in general – it all comes across as being completely genuine and heartfelt. And I definitely can’t think of too many who would admit that they were too weak to get through all of that themselves and had to give themselves up to a higher power to come through it. Much props to Malice for having the courage to say what he feels.
On the real, this book changed my life. Or at least how I feel about it. Can’t say that I’ve started living more righteous or going to church, but Wretched at least made me feel like maybe I should. And if you’re on here reading Big Hop’s blog, you should definitely read the book, ‘cause you obviously need Jesus.
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5
1 out of 5 notepads – stick to your day job “writer”
2 out of 5 notepads – if somebody gives it to you and your bored, read it
3 out of 5 notepads – if somebody gives it to you, read it even if you’re not bored
4 out of 5 notepads – worth a read, pick it up if you see it
5 out of 5 notepads – go to Barnes & Noble today, stuff this under your coat & walk out
Heavy Rotation – Takers (Free Mixtape)
Shoutout to the homie, Heavy Rotation, for hitting me up about getting some of my joints featured on his new mixtape, Takers. This joint is stacked with some of NC’s hardest grinders. Artists such as Ty Nitty, E. Smith, Shelly B, & Jag are all featured on Takers, so I was honored to be included. If you are looking for some bangers to get your day started right, or even if you need some laid back, lyrical joints, this mixtape has something for everyone. Get it in and make sure you download this joint for FREE here…
Tracklisting:
Rapper Big Pooh – RapperPooh-A-Lude feat. Kendrick Lamar & Ab-Soul (Free Download)
Major shoutouts to the homie, Big Pooh, for commissioning me to create all the artwork for his newest release, Fat Boy Fresh Vol. 1. Peaking at # 11 on the iTunes Hip Hop charts, this album is full of top notch producers and guest appearances. After releasing a few singles as teasers, the latest to be let go for free is the RapperPooh-A-Lude which features LA rising stars, Kendrick Lamar & Ab-Soul, and is produced by one of the best out to do it, Focus…
So make sure you download this RapperPooh-A-Lude for FREE here, and then do the right thing for once, and go buy Fat Boy Fresh Vol. 1 off iTunes here…
I am performing tonight in Greenville, NC
Shoutout to GreenStar Clothing for putting together this event tonight at the Tank in Greenville. This is my first time performing in the 252 since a couple gigs last fall, and I am eager to get back to Pirate Country. G-Vegas always looked out for me in the past, so I am set to tear the roof off that biotch tonight. As normal for my shows down there, I am sharing the stage with H2OKZ & DJ Brillowhead. Also, Lamont Coal will be blessing everyone with his creativeness, performing beats and sequencing live, while bringing out NCHipHop monsters, K-Hill & J Capri. So make sure you come out and support a dope show with a dope lineup. It’s Greenville, so there will be insane drink specials and lots of women. Catch me on stage around midnight. See you there…
Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva (Free Mixtape)
Last summer, I came across a gem of a mixtape when I downloaded Big K.R.I.T.’s KRIT Wuz Here. Still to this day, I bump it regularly, as I consistently refer to it as my favorite release of 2010. So when KRIT signed to Def Jam, I was hesitant at first. See, KRIT Wuz Here was fueled by an independent ferocity that I feel often gets stripped when an artist signs a major lable deal. With Return of 4Eva, I can hear a more polished thought out sound, and the lyrics are equally as potent for the most part. However, I feel the production cruises through a more laid back vibe on this mixtape. Regardless, this joint is doing crazy numbers on the download side, and is growing on me more & more with every listen. So if you have heard KRIT before or not, make sure you download this joint for FREE here, and get ready for his major label release which I am sure will be out later this year sometime…
Chapel Hill Footage
Shoutouts to A Robb of Eargasm Entertainment for filming parts of my set a couple weeks ago in Chapel Hill. The show was stacked with some of NC’s finest artists, and everyone threw down. Above is a video of me performing “Ante Up,’ with the help of Tuscon & Don DiGiorgio.
Above is me starting off the show with one of my favorite joints, “Money In The Flesh.”
– Thanks again to everyone who came out that night. It was good seeing a lot of my NCHipHop family.
Drique London – White + Blue (Free Mixtape)
Shoutout to the homie Drique, and Risky Bizniz Clothing, on the release of his new mixtape, White + Blue. Drique has got a crazy buzz in NC, and this joint further solidifies his spot in the scene. Check out some more info here:
Raleigh, North Carolina native Drique London is back with his latest effort, White & Blue. The mixtape serves as a precursor to his upcoming album, ‘The Manual’, which is slated for a late spring/early summer release. White & Blue offers tracks produced by U’Nique Music, W2, Doc Verbs, and Brian Flores as well as features from Carrington, and SkyBlew.
4th Quarter Biz presents The Back Court (Free Mixtape)
Shoutouts to the homie, CarolinaBlew, for putting me on to this fire. Here is some more info:
DEVAAN NEWHILL AND QUICK RMSTRONG OF 4THQTR JOIN FORCES TO DROP A FREE TAPE FOR THEIR FANS. THE DUO HAVE TAKEN THE TITLE OF THE BACKCOURT AND INFUSED A BASKETBALL THEME TO BRING YOU “4THQTRBIZ PRESENTS THE BACKCOURT” STARRING DEVAAN NEWHILL AND QUICK RMSTRONG.
Pusha T – Fear of God (Free Mixtape)
When Kanye signed Pusha T to GOOD Music last year, I had mixed emotions. I felt like it was a slap in the face to Malice, the other half of VA duo, the Clipse. But once you think about it, and check the trajectory path of their careers, it was obvious that it was bound to happen. As Malice seemed to be growing more & more spiritual, and devoted to his book and other things, Pusha appeared to be going twice as hard with grind. & Fear of God is a good representation of what you can expect from the future from Pusha Ton. Besides the who’s who list of producer’s that lent their expertise, this mixtape features a rack of some of the most notable emcee’s working the mainstream circuit right now. So make sure you check this out, and let them know what songs you are feeling the most, cuz those are label to be seen again in video form, or on the official album. Download it for FREE here…