Last night, Juicy J and Lex Luger released the follow up to their well received collaborative mixtape, Rubba Band Business.

Unlike the original, which solely featured Lex’s production, Rubba Band Business 2 also sees the Juice man go in over some self-produced tracks, beats from Sonny Digital (”Racks on Racks“), and some production from Rostrum Record’s in house producers.  That being said, Lex Luger is still responsible for producing 18 of the 26 songs on this project.

The mixtape starts off with “A Zip And A Double Cup,” and immediately introduces listeners to Rubba Band Business 2’s overall feel.  The song’s visuals, seen below, give us a glimpse into Juicy J’s trippy life.

Juicy J – “A Zip And A Double Cup” [Prod. By Lex Luger]

Download – “A Zip And A Double Cup”

“A Zip And A Double Cup” should give you a pretty good idea of what the majority of the mixtape is about.  Here’s a quick excerpt from Juicy J’s first verse:

“Ziploc bag of kush,
Double cup, full of drank,
I get so damn trippy,
In my mind, I go blank,
The top ten get high rappers,
Number one, is my rank,
You say no to drugs, Juicy J can’t!”

That last line is hilarious!

Juicy J – “Paid For (Bitch I Own You)” (Featuring Curren$y)

Download – “Paid For (Bitch I Own You)”

There are a handful of smooth tracks thrown into the mix, one of which being this Big Jerm and E. Dan-produced collaboration with Curren$y.

Stream the whole project below.

Favorite Track?

Over the last few years, Rick Ross has developed a niche for making the listener feel like they’re larger than life.  Whether he’s thinking like Larry Hoover, Big Meech, or even Bo Diddly, Rozay has done a great job of guiding his audience’s imagination.

Lil Duval may have put it best when he tweeted: “This new @RickyRozay mixtape Got me feeling like a rich drug dealer.”

Duval is referring to the Ashes To Ashes mixtape which Rick Ross released on December 24th, successfully closing out an impressive year of music from the Miami artist.  The mixtape opens in a similar fashion to that of Ross’ Albert Anastia EP, with an introduction from Diddy.  This time around, however, Rozay added more of a Miami touch to the intro by throwing Scarface quotes and DJ Khaled into the mix.

Immediately following the intro, we get two of the project’s hardest tracks in “9 Piece” and “John Doe.”  Although not as powerful as Albert Anastia’s “BMF” and “MC Hammer,” Ashes To Ashes’ opening one-two punch does the job.  As the listener moves into the body of the work, they’re met with features from the usual suspects, i.e. Ludacris, T.I., Ne-Yo, etc, as well as a few emerging artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Chester French, Meek Mill, and Wale.  This mix of both new and veteran emcees speaks to Ross’ current reach and influence in hip hop.

The short project ends on a high note with the two Lil Lody-produced bonus cuts, ”Another One” & “Rollin.”  Keep an eye out for Lil Lody to be producing more street tracks for Ross in the near future.

If you’ve yet to give Ashes To Ashes a listen, the two tracks below are a good representation of the project’s overall sound:

Rick Ross – “9 Piece” (Featuring T.I.) [Produced by Lex Luger]

Lex Luger killed the beat and Rick Ross’ verses and hook added “9 Piece” to his ever growing list of street anthems.  Here’s Rozay’s hook:

“I’m smokin dope, I’m on my cell phone, wooooo,
I’m sellin dope straight off the iPhone, wooooo,
He want a quote, he talking nine zones,
He bought four, I front him five more,
9 Piece, straight 8 Balls, wooooo,
MJG, bitch I got 8 Balls, wooooo,
9 Piece, straight 8 Balls, ughhhhh,
MJG, bitch I got 8 Balls, wooooo.”

The currently incarcerated T.I. holds his own on this collaboration as well, spitting lines that his P.O. probably didn’t want to hear.

Rick Ross – “Even Deeper” (Featuring Barry White) [Produced by Cashousclay]

Cashousclay reworked a classic Barry White record for the production on “Even Deeper.”  The legend’s vocals were kept on the song’s hook, where Ross is also heard  repeating “money grew like grass.”  This may have been the song Lil Duval was listening to, ha!

Here’s Rick Ross’ second verse:

“Got on my Vacaron, I’m paid in full,
Linin up all my niggas, bout to pull some major moves,
Consolidate the game, and suffocate the others,
Keep it real with your niggas, and multiply the numbers,
Go to trial and never take the stand,
Every bitch was born to break a man,
I take you deeper than them other dudes,
I seen my niggas scramble chickens by the twos,
He talkin like a hoe, I’m valetin the Benz,
She actin like a bitch, while I’m taking her friend,
Ran out of one’s now I’m throwing what I got,
I took her home, time to show her what I got,
I took her tongue and took it to another notch,
I’m gettin funds, time to get another watch,
I’m having fun, fuckin let my brother watch,
I got thirty cars and headed to another lot.”

Favorite Track?

Tity Boi and Bigga Rankin’s Trap-A-Velli 2: The Residue mixtape is already being called a classic, despite having only been released last month.

The Atlanta rapper, who makes up one half of DTP’s Playaz Circle, is most well known for the hit song “Duffle Bag Boy” with Lil Wayne.  Having said that, the success of this new project is already broadening the Southside Atlanta native’s reach and bringing more demand to his solo career.

The production on Trap-A-Velli 2 is on point from start to finish, with five tracks being produced by Drumma Boy (”Loose My Mine” and “Put On“) and two more coming from the hottest producer of the summer, Lex Luger (”BMF” and “Hard In Da Paint“).  Production aside, however, it’s Tity Boi’s presence on the mic and confident flow that brings this mixtape to the next level.

This presence is seen when Tity jumps on Soulja Boy’s “Pretty Boy Swag” and makes the song feel like his own with hilarious lines such as, “Hey no disrespect, but your hoes look like E-40,” and “Three phones on me, I just might call myself.”  Another example can be found on “Get It In,” where Tity Boi asks for a hand clap in the middle of his verse, ha!

Here’s a closer look at a few of the standout tracks:

Tity Boi – “Fuck Da Roof” [Produced by Lex Luger]

Tity Boi starts off the mixtape with a Lex Luger beat on “Kitchen,” a track that goes as hard as expected.  A couple songs later, however, we’re blown away by “Fuck Da Roof,” also produced by Lex.

Here’s the high energy hook:

“I got a bad bitch, she more than cute,
And bitch I’m balling, I’m talking more than hoops,
This that fish scale, nigga we water proof,”
I got into it with my car, and I said Fuck the roof.”

Ever since Rick Ross took Lex Luger’s career to the next level with the commercial success of “BMF” and “MC Hammer,” all sorts of rappers have been gettin beats from the nineteen-year-old producer (Kanye West’s “See Me Now,” Fabolous’ “Lights Out,” and Diamond’s “Hit Dat Hoe“).  A small number of the artists going after Lex’s services have been able to flow over the hard beats as well as Tity though.

Tity Boi – “Between Me And You” (Featuring Lil Keke & Gudda Gudda) [ Produced by Drumma Boy]

“Between Me And You” has Tity Boi going in on some smooth Drumma Boy production.  This beat and the song’s addictive hook create a great deal of replay value:

“Hold up, wait a minute, let me roll my sleeves up,
Hold up, wait a minute, let me roll my weed up,
Hold up, wait a minute, let me pour my lean up,
Hold up, wait a minute, let that be between us,
Between me and you, I’m gettin money too,
Between me and you, I’m gettin money too,
Between me and you, I’m gettin money too,
Between me and you, I’m gettin money too.”

Tity’s verse is solid, as he spits quotable lines such as “Niggas talk about me but they fluently wrong/  Cause I came from the block get my truancy on.”  Also, the Lil Keke feature works very well on this track as he even screws down part of his 3rd Coast verse.

Tity Boi – “Boo” (Featuring Yo Gotti) [ Produced by Drumma Boy]

Tity intros this song by telling people that his new aka is “Hair Weave Killer,” ha!  That’s hilarious.  After reading the hook below, I’m sure you can guess as to what the verses will be about:

“I just call her Boo, I don’t know her whole name
Keep it on the low mane,
All we eat is lo mein,
Came from the block now I got a whole thing,
And you better put a LoJack on your hoe mane.”

Tity Boi – “Doin Me Daily” (Featuring Cap 1)

This track with OJ on the hook has one of my favorite lines off of the tape in “All in Neiman Marcus, yellin out bingo, / My girl is from Decatur, but my car bilingual,” ha!

Stream the whole mixtape below:

Favorite Track?

Yo Gotti teamed up with DJ Drama and DJ Whoo Kid to release Cocaine Muzik 4.5, a follow up to the extremely well-received Cocaine Muzik 4. By keeping the features on this tape to a minimum, Gotti was able to focus in on the street talk which he’s become known for.

The King of Memphis and DJ Drama start off the project with a classic Jay-z sample that sets the tape’s tone.  On the intro, Gotti speaks about his music with, “This that real life, no bullshittin/  This that straight facts, no fiction/  I see hoe niggas and I just feel friction/  Give ‘em one to the head, leave they top missin.”

Making an effort to only rap about things that he’s really experienced, Gotti went ahead and named this project Da Documentary (more than just a mixtape).  Here’s a look at a few of the standout tracks from Cocaine Muzik 4.5: Da Documentary.

Yo Gotti – “Mirror”

“Who you hear and see when you look in the mirror?
If you a real nigga, you’re looking in the mirror.”

Yo Gotti put together an interesting concept with this video, as all the kids looking in the mirror see who they aspire to be.  You know what they say, “real recognize real.”

Here’s Yo Gotti’s dope boy-inspired, chest-thumping second verse:

“Last I remember I was standin on Garland,
Buying ten for the hundred outta Ridgecrest apartments,
BET material, I’m 106&Parkin,
And I’mma stay Gucci’d down, dead fresh on ‘em regardless,
I represent the dope boys I can’t say it clearer,
You’re looking at me when you’re looking in the mirror,
I motivate the trap, give the hood niggas hope,
Cause I became a millionaire and I was sellin dope.”

Yo Gotti – “Bang Bang” (Featuring Gucci Mane & Zed Zilla)

Yo Gotti, Zed Zilla, and Gucci Mane all go in on this Drumma Drama-produced track that was made to tear the club up.  Having said that, Gucci Mane had me laughing out loud with the following line:

“And when my choppa sound off,
It’s like blocka blocka,
You just like food,
A lil snacky snack for Waka Flocka.”

Flocka!

Yo – Gotti – “Thin Line”

“I see myself platinum or doin fed time,
Having dreams of ballin,
Havin thoughts of dyin.”

A lot of hustlers can relate with what Gotti is spitting on “Thin Line.”  Below, Gotti uses his third verse to speak on the lengths that he’s willing to go in order to maintain his respect.

“You’re gonna have to rob me, cause I’m wearing mine,
Every time I leave the house I’m on a thin line,
Bitch rap behind ten, duckin one time,
Reach for my chain and I’mma start firing,
I can hear the critics now, ‘he threw his life away,’
Crying shame, I’m just worried bout what these gangstas say, ha!
Well at least I went the gangsta way,
Showed another fuck nigga how the gangstas play.”

Yo Gotti – “White World”

Drumma Drama blessed “White World” with an addictive beat and Yo Gotti went in on the track about his favorite color.   Even though this song came out around the same time as Jeezy’s “All White Everything,” Gotti successfully took the concept and made it his own.  Other tracks that show Gotti’s ability to own a concept are “Where They Do That At” and “B.M.F. Freestyle.”  Unlike most artists who simply take a song’s hook and beat, Gotti took the main ideas from these tracks and ran with them.

The mixtape ends with Starlito and Gucci Mane’s “I Go Ham,” which is hard as hell.  Shout out to Yo Gotti on including Starlito’s single on the tape, that’s Memphis love.

Starlito – “I Go Ham” (Featuring Gucci Mane)

Favorite Track Off Of Cocaine Muzik 4.5?

On August 31st, Big Sean and Don Cannon completed the Detriot emcee’s mixtape trilogy with the release of Finally Famous Vol. 3.  If you haven’t already been following Sean along his journey to fame, be sure to catch up with Finally Famous Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3!

The third tape’s introduction sets the tone for the entire project, as Nick Kage and Don Cannon’s triumphant production complements Sean’s cocky lyrics and confidence on the mic.  Also, we’re even given a few quoteables right off the bat with “working graveyard shifts/ cause we finna make a killin” and “man, the life of a work-a-holic/ you’re either on your work or just working on it.”

Despite a whopping fourteen guest verses, this project flows pretty smoothly as the high number of guest emcees sounds worse on paper than on wax.  Having said that, almost half of the features can be traced back to the “Fat Raps” super remix.

The project includes Sean’s successful leaks, “Supa Dupa Lemonade,” “What U Doin Bull$#!@in,” and “High Rise,” as well as the standout tracks below:

Big Sean – “Meant To Be”

Big Sean linked up with DJ Spinz ( Travis Porter’s “Go Shorty Go” and “Get Naked“) for the production on “Meant To Be.”  Back in April, Sean told us that there would be a viral video released to support this single, and that they were hoping for the song to take off like “Lemonade” did.  Hopefully that video is still in the works!

Big Sean – “Five Bucks”

“Five Bucks” sees Big Sean, Chip Tha Ripper, and Curren$y go in over Luniz’s classic “I Got 5 on It.”  Sean starts off the track with one of the tape’s funniest metaphors:

“I’m smoking loudly, I woke them all,
I pick up that tree, when it’s not fall,
I’m gone off that tree, when it’s not tall,
I’m in love with tree, I’m a Avatar.”

That Avatar line is hilarious!

Chip and Curren$y choose to touch on the blunt vs paper discussion with their verses:

Chip: “Tried to fuck with paper planes but it’s not the same high, Cleveland niggas aint no bitches we prefer the cigarillo smoke.”

Curren$y: “This a roll paper not a blunt, you must got me mixed up with Chip cuz.”

I was expecting the Hot Spitta to have more to say on the subject, ha!

Big Sean – “Crazy”

The Olympicks killed this beat.  Here’s a quick excerpt from Sean’s opening verse about everyone’s favorite topic, crazy bitches!

“God damn you old crazy ass,
Wanna smash my Mercedes ass,
Poking holes off in the condoms, trynna have a baby ass,
All up in Saks Fifth when you deserve Macy’s ass,
Talking bout shit yea, a nigga better pay me half,
Bitch!”

This song has a lot of replay value in its smooth production and simple hook.

Big Sean – “Fat Raps” Remix

Download – “Fat Raps” Remix CDQ

There’s a lot of talent on this hook-less remix, but one emerging artist who didn’t get added to the song was Mississippi’s Big K.R.I.T. Thankfully, that didn’t stop Sean from showing love to the Southern artist, as he laid down a verse on K.R.I.T.’s hit single “Hometown Hero.”  This verse contains the following hilarious line, “I’m chasin cheese, dodging rat traps/ chasin pussy, u night end up with a Kat Stacks.”

Big Sean – “Too Fake”

Chiddy Bang provided the beat and third verse for Big Sean’s “Too Fake,” which samples Hockey’s single of the same name.  Here’s Sean’s second verse that goes back and forth between Sean’s voice and that of his haters:

“Yea I know Sean, I swear that nigga ain’t shit,
Known him for forever, and he ain’t on the same shit,
It breaks my heart when all the kids be yellin,
‘You the mane big,’
He ain’t no hometown hero, he on that Lebron James shit,
Man I tell em, ‘Suck my dick then choke on a nut,’
Cause when they see me it’s ‘Oh Big what’s up?’
Man for the team and family regime,
I knock down any door open it up,
Got in and now you started acting different huh?
No, really I wasn’t fucking with you from the beginning bruh,
Here we are, here we go,
My circle tighter than a Cheerio,
People want a hand out like silver spoons,
People want a hand out like here you go,
Man the realist nigga I know is inside the mirror bro,
And these fools be tripping like a suitcase or shoelace,
They too fake, and I’m too real.”

That line about not fucking with the haters from the beginning reminded me of Yo Gotti’s “Touchdown.”

Big Sean – “Almost Wrote You A Love Song.”

On “Almost Wrote You A Love Song,” Big Sean shares the story of a dysfunctional relationship on his verses, between Suai’s beautifully sang hook.  Both this fan favorite and the following were produced by Key Wane.

Big Sean – “Memories.”

Here’s Sean’s impressive second verse:

“Are you willing to give up what you love, for who you love?
Or lose your girlfriend to groupie love?
Everywhere I go I get a group of hugs,
That’s what happens when they need connections and you the plug,
How many trends you gotta set ’til you considered great,
How many missed calls ’til you considered fake,
How many dreams ’til its considered fate,
I’m eating in a world where I’m considered baked,
A workaholic addicted to bills,
People addicted to me cuz they addicted to real,
My best friend got addicted to pills,
I can’t look at him in his eyes, you don’t know how that shit feel, mentally,
I ain’t trying to rock no shirts that say in memory,
I’m praying that he make it, wishin we could go back,
Cuz honestly all the times that we had,
Those’ll be the best memories.”

There’s a lot of lines to both quote and reflect on in there.

Things seem to be getting better and better for Big Sean, as Kanye recently included his debut album in the list of projects to be released on G.O.O.D. Music Day, his good friend, and fellow Michigan native, Mike Posner is enjoying a great deal of mainstream success, and one of the hottest emcees in the game admitted to stealing his flow!

Be on the lookout for Sean’s Finally Famous album to be dropping soon, but until then enjoy this mixtape which can be streamed below:

Favorite Track?

Amidst the new material, we find the title track for Gucci Mane’s upcoming album, The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted. While the album doesn’t have a firm release date, Gucci did premiere this trailer before his performance at Birthday Bash.

Fans of DJ Drama’s mixtapes will be happy to hear more of Barack O’Drama’s humor mixed in between songs as well.  This tape’s best DJ Drama interlude comes at the beginning of “Cowards and Soldiers,” where Professor Drama informs failing rappers that this will be yet another year where they get left behind, ha!

The following standout tracks give a good taste of the mixtape’s sound:

Gucci Mane – “Stove Music” (Featuring Waka Flocka and Yo Gotti)

Waka Flocka Flame starts “Stove Music” off hard, and Yo Gotti brings it to a close in proper fashion.  After all, what would a rap song dedicated to the stove be without a feature from Mr. Cocaine Muzik himself?

Here’s Gucci Mane’s impressive verse, dedicated to the trap:

“Rap game in a suplex,
Trappin out a duplex,
Working with the work, I ain’t talkin bout bow-flex,
Fish scale flake, iced out my Rolex,
Call my landlord, cause this my complex,
Standing by the pot, right there where the dough at,
Three months still ain’t bought no clothes yet,
No sofa, no bed or hoe yet,
Everyday all day, staying where the coke at,
Talking to the plug like homie where the blow at,
Georgia where the sun, East Atlanta where the snow at?
A hundred to the lawyer, I ain’t even been to court yet,
Dope like enough, I ain’t hit it with the fork yet,
Stove work good but the AC bullshit,
Thrill head, young bloods waiting on the dope case,
Still stay in Zone 6 smoking on some good shit,
Gucci Mane out and he back on some hood shit,
Knockin at the door and they really don’t want shit,
Feds tapping lines, who you talking on the phone with?
Still cooking up early, five in the morning,
Brick buffet, feed a nigga like Shoney’s,
Price go up, blow up in the drought,
Green coming in, soft white goin out,
Trappin in style, it ain’t never goin out,
Work’s stocked up, we ain’t never runnin’ out,
It’s Gucci!”

That line about Shoney’s was hilarious!

Waka Flocka and Yo Gotti account for four of Mr. Zone 6′s five feature verses.

Gucci Mane – “Normal”

Gucci Mane linked up with Motion Family for the video to this Drumma Boy produced track, where La Flare describes how abnormal his life is.  One of my favorite lines from the tape comes when Gucci speaks on his girl:

“My girl got on piranhas, that’s abnormal…
She’s a snake charmer, anaconda,
Real man eater, like Jeffrey Dahmer.”

Jeffrey Dahmer is disturbing as F#@K!

Gucci Mane – “Long Money”

DJ Scoob Doo has been releasing some entertaining visuals as of late, and this in-studio video is no exception.  Here’s the hook to arguably the catchiest song on the project:

“Jacuzzi on the roof,
Ugly hoes don’t get the time of day,
Cheifin on some teeva, smell the reefa from a mile away,
Pistol in my coup,
Try my troops, you’ll get blown away,
Gucci Mane got long money,
Bitch that’s all I got to say,
Gucci Mane got long money,
That’s what them bitches say,
Gucci Mane got long money,
That’s what them bitches say,
Gucci Mane got long money,
That’s what them bitches say,
I ain’t even got to talk, my money conversates.”

Gucci Mane – “Making Love To The Money”

Gucci Mane personifies currency with this triumphant song about “making love to the money like a sex tape.”

Here’s Gucci’s second verse about his favorite lady:

“I gotta take her everywhere cause these niggas crazy,
Only leave her by herself on special occasions,
I love making love cause she so amazing,
When I bring her to the club, them hoes be going crazy,
Every nigga in the hood wanna fuck my lady,
Can’t wait for me to slip so they can take my baby
She get me out of jams and tight situations,
Love ain’t got no cut off point, it ain’t no limitation,
She got me in that thang sittin on them thangs,
It’s great cause now them hoes don’t look at me the same,
Well fuck it they aint gotta fuck with me at all
I pick my baby up and took her to the mall.”

I’ve included a full stream of the mixtape below, and suggest that you skip to “Koolin,” as its been stuck in my head for weeks:

What’s Your Favorite Track Off Of Mr. Zone 6?

After hearing Tiron’s impressive Ketchup project, Boston-based hip hop clothing label, Society Original Products, decided to sponsor the artist’s MSTRD mixtape.  In addition to getting their logo on the mixtapes of artists whom they believe in, a number of Society’s products have been spotted on emerging emcees such as Wiz Khalifa and J. Cole in the last month alone.

Released in 2009, Tiron’s Ketchup project served as a means to bring listeners up to speed with his music, while also releasing a handful of new tracks.  Now, with his first release of 2010, Tiron gives us a project as artistic and creative as its name, MSTRD.

TiRon – “60901″

Dowload – “60901″

TiRon uses “60901″ to introduce himself to new listeners and a great deal of fans who may not of known about the L.A. emcee’s Midwestern roots.  60901 is the area code for Kankakee, Illinois.  If you’ve never been to the small Midwestern city, hopefully TiRon’s lyrics can paint a vivid picture for you:

“Closer to drama, no daddy’s just baby mommas,
And miles away from Obama’s hood,
And I ain’t grow up in the same neighborhood as Lu,
Or Ye, but niggas did move Ye to get the loot,
Cause the city ain’t a city,
Just a bunch of folks sitting on a shitty situation,
If you are legit, you ain’t really satisfied,
And that’s the norm, watch TV, sit, and fantasize,
Too stuck to even dream, or even have a grind,
Safe to say it ain’t the best place to be,
but I claim it like my own, that’s my city that’s my home,
And I know that once I’m on, I’mma take em round the globe.”

It sounds like relocating to the West Coast was a good move for Tiron and his family.

Tiron – “For Your Smile”

Download – “For Your Smile.”

“For Your Smile” is an obvious female fan favorite, as you can tell from this live footage.  Having said that, I know a lot of guys can relate to the lyrics while vibing out to the smooth beat.  Another track off MSTRD with a similar female appeal is “Ms. Right.”

Tiron – “Boys & Girls”

“Boys & Girls” is perhaps the most creative track off the project, as Tiron explains the slippery slope of dysfunctional relationships.  His sped up rapping over the quick beat adds to the chaotic and confusing story line.

Stream Tiron’s MSTRD mixtape.

If the next album is anything like Ross’ previous releases, Port of Miami, Trilla, and Deeper Than Rap, we can expect a summer full of Maybach music!

The EP, named after an infamous mobster, marks the beginning of Rick Ross’ summer-radio onslaught, as it features all new material minus the boss’ hit single “Super High.”

Immediately following Diddy’s three minute introduction to the project, we get tossed into Rick Ross’ current street records, “BMF” and “MC Hammer.”

Rick Ross – “BMF” (Featuring Styles P)

After hearing the song’s opening line, “I think I’m Big Meech, Larry Hoover,” you already know that this track will go hard in the streets.  Rick Ross continues to win in the music game because his flow and gangsta persona simply have a way of motivating hustlers.

Here’s an excerpt from Ross’ first verse:

“My Rolls Royce triple black, I’m Geechi hoe,
Ballin in the club, bottles like I’m Meechi hoe,
Rozay, that’s my nickname,
Cocaine running in my big veins,
Self-made, you just affiliated,
I build it ground up, you bought it renovated,
Talking plenty capers, nothings been authenticated,
Funny, you claiming the same bitch that I’m penetratin.”

Those are some impressive, chest-thumping street lines.

Part of the song’s appeal also lies in Lex Luger’s powerful production, which we see once more on the EP’s “MC Hammer.”

Rick Ross – “MC Hammer”

“MC Hammer” is the other track off the EP that has really been taking off, due to its street lyrics and bass-heavy production.  Since I broke down the song’s hook in a previous post, which included MC Hammer’s reaction to the tribute, I’ve decided to just include my favorite part of the second verse here:

“I’m thinking money,
Every moment thinking money,
I bust a nut, then I’m back to thinking money.”

Those lines are both hilarious and motivational at the same time, #BAWSE.

Below you can stream the rest of the impressive EP which features artists such as The Runners, DJ Clark Kent, Kool G Rap, Trey Songz, John Legend, Ne-Yo, and Yo Gotti.

Download The Albert Anastasia EP.

What’s Your Favorite Track From The EP?

Despite only being a little over a month since the project’s release date, K.R.I.T. is already looked at as one of the more exciting emerging artists from the South.

HipHopAtLunch.com spoke to Big K.R.I.T. about his recent meeting with Bun B and a possible collaboration with the southern legend.  Also, K.R.I.T. walked us through his thought process behind select tracks off of the K.R.I.T. Wuz Here album.

Getting Bun B on a remix to Big K.R.I.T.’s “Country Shit” track would be crazy!  Hopefully the track will come out sounding like the vintage UGK records, seeing as K.R.I.T.’s already being compared to Pimp C.

Here’s a breakdown of the six tracks that K.R.I.T. spoke about in our interview:

Big K.R.I.T. – “Return Of 4eva”

Since I wrote out the lyrics to Big K.R.I.T.’s first verse in our previous interview, I’ve broken down Big Sant’s verse below:

“Well it’s Big Sant bitch, and I’m a mob type figure,
Coming down on you hoes and you pussy ass niggas,
Forever international, sippin sake with my Asain girl,
My address is the winner’s circle, you can hate me now,
Hotter than my leather in the summer with the windows up,
The word legend never gets said unless you mention us,
My speech is mink, I want it all plus the kitchen sink,
The whip white, time right, money green, pussy pink, (yeahh),
You can Google that, think I’m lying,
Baby choose, I’m  apposed,
Hoe I’m polished just to shine,
Add the blue blockas and gatas, and even Steven can see,
So look at me motherfucker, look at me.”

Big Sant killed his sole feature on the album.

Speaking on The Alumni, K.R.I.T.’s group which consists of Big Sant and himself, K.R.I.T. mentioned that “Return of 4eva” basically “sums up the sound that they’re aiming to bring back.”  If that’s the case, then I can’t wait to get my hands on The Alumni’s debut album!

Big K.R.I.T. – “Viktorious”

The powerful interludes built into “Viktorious,” where Big K.R.I.T. speaks on coming from Mississippi, gave me chills at first listen.  This creative commentary on the song’s purpose coupled with the fast paced rapping helps to vividly portray K.R.I.T.’s frustration to the listener.

Big K.R.I.T. – “Children of The World”

“They want my soul, like my ancestors ain’t enough.
If I can’t trust my own government who can I trust?”

Big K.R.I.T. touches on some less than ideal situations over this impressive sample. “Children of the World” is definitely a fan favorite off of the album.

Big K.R.I.T. – “Something”

Be on the lookout for the official video to “Something” coming soon!

The way Big K.R.I.T. inter-weaved this song’s Al Green sample with his lyrics was not only creative but made the track take on extra meaning.  In his own words, K.R.I.T. was able to “build a story with the sample, making it more personal than just a beat.”

It was interesting to hear K.R.I.T. say that he recorded “Something” in his late-grandmother’s bathroom.  Especially since the next song we spoke about, “I Gotta Stay,” was written in her memory.

Big K.R.I.T. – “I Gotta Stay”

It was sad to hear about Big K.R.I.T.’s grandmother passing away in January, but I’m sure she’s proud of what he’s since accomplished with his music.

K.R.I.T. said that he made “I Gotta Stay” for himself, and that it has special meaning to him whether or not anyone else understands it.  Having said that, emotional tracks like this seem to always appeal to a wide range of people.

Big K.R.I.T. – “Voices”

We’re going to end this article with the final track off of K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, “Voices.”  As K.R.I.T. mentioned in the interview, this song touches on the people who’ve been influencing him over the years and filling his head with suggestions, both good or bad.

This song’s heavy bass and motivational theme have me keeping it in heavy rotation.

What’s Your Favorite Song Off The Album?

Jadakiss‘ third installment of his The Champ Is Here mixtape series plays out like a true Pay-Per-View event, complete with fight commentary and skits put together over stock audio of a cheering crowd.  Also, in honor of the boxing theme, DJ Drama, who hosts the tape along side DJ Green Lantern, changed his name to Dram King, ha!

Jadakiss comes out hard on The Champ Is Here 3, with cocky lyrics that show his confidence and willingness to fight.  The first skit even has Jada recalling how he’s been training for this tape by “running five and a half miles every morning.”

There’s a number of quotable tracks on the project, such as “Soldier Survivors,” featuring Nas and Sheek Louch, where Jada says that he’s going to ”treat the track like Rihanna and Chris Brown it.”  Other songs, such as the DJ Absolute-produced “All Falls Down,” show Jada’s versatility as his flow kills the smooth production and compliments the R&B hook.

I’ve broken down the lyrics of a handful of the standout tracks below:

Jadakiss – “Who Shot Ya.”

Before jumping into Biggie’s classic, Green Lantern properly states, “you know you gotta be a certain weight class to fuck with this beat/  No lightweights allowed.”  Living up to that statement, Jadakiss holds his own on the track with impressive lines such as:

“You a coward in jail you could never live.
Nah, you barely living out here,
I’m the reason you breathing
It’s like I’m giving out air,
I got stocks on the block,
And I’m giving out shares,
To niggas that don’t talk, cause they giving out years,
I don’t know you, you ain’t familiar,
And I don’t care who shot ya, cause they ain’t killya,
As far as the word play, I’m a son of a bitch,
These niggas is decent, but ain’t none of ‘em Kiss,
MTV ya’ll know, I’ll punish the list,
Them niggas jury is fake and ain’t none of them rich.”

Jadakiss – “She Likes Me” (Featuring Nicki Minaj)

“She Likes Me” has one of the more interesting collaborations on the tape, as Jadakiss and Nicki Minaj exchange playful lines over the sped up, bass heavy beat.  The Harajuku Barbie wisely decides to use only one of her many voices on this track that’ll surely be heard by Jadakiss’ NYC fan base.

Here’s Nicki’s verse:

“We was at the Heat game, peep game,
Let him see the g-string,
Eve Saint levon size fives, a petite frame,
He like come on Nicki, really why you keep playin,
He said his name was Jada, I said ohh that’s a unique name,
I’ll go and see him out in Yonkers in the back blocks,
He in the matchbox, ballin like the mascots,
He said I’m dead hot, pull up in the brass drop,
I see them hatin ass bitches in the back drop,
That’s why I kiss him right in front of them,
He don’t want none of them,
Even when it’s dark, I be sunnin’ them,
Plus I keep the thing thing mighty tight,
And if he think I like him, then he might be right.”

Jadakiss – Here I Go” (Featuring Yo Gotti)

Yo Gotti joins Jadakiss on the remake of Mystikal’s “Here I Go,” and his southern flow feels at home on the track.  Here’s a quick excerpt from Yo Gotti:

“Black on black Benz, that’s a Bat Mobile nigga,
I got money from Maine to Mobile, nigga,
It go women lie, men lie, numbers don’t,
Niggas get pop’d, testify, but Gotti won’t,
She a five star bitch, at least she thinks so,
That’s a fake bag shorty, I don’t think so.”

Another classic beat is explored in Green Lantern’s remake of Dr. Dre’s “Deep Cover.”  The only other track with a “Green Mix” is ”Slow Down,” where Green Lantern changes up the feel of Fat Joe’s “Slow Down.”  Jadakiss spits one of the funniest lines off the tape on “Slow Down,” with “Bank account like Timbaland, it got fat again,” AH-HAA!

Jadakiss – “Somehow Some Way”

I’ll end this review on a high note, with the smooth “Somehow Some Way.”  This track, purposely left till the end of the tape, celebrates Jadakiss’ victorious verbal onslaught.

Jadakiss reflects with:

“I’ve been in the hood, I’ve been in the traps,
I done shot it out with niggas, I’ve been in the scrap,
I know who my friends are and where my enemies at,
Niggas be sending me threats, I’m just sending ‘em back,
I hesitate to squeeze the day that hell freeze, never,
My mixtapes be better than niggas’ LPs…
Ya nigga, I’ll bless you without sneezin,
Stretch you without reason,
The best that’s out breathin, best,
K-I-dub down,
Ya’ll scared of your hoods, but I love mines.”

Jada spits some serious lines over this smooth track!

At the end of “Here I Go,” Jadakiss breaks into a skit where he recalls watching Money May speak during an episode of the boxing show 24/7.  Commenting on his competition, Mayweather states “these niggas is talented but I’m gifted.  This ain’t something you learn, or go to school, or get a coach for.  You gotta be born with this shit. They can build a staff around you, put a machine around you, but if it aint in you, it ain’t in you.”  That’s the same attitude Jadakiss displays in this tape, as he aims to take on the whole rap industry.

Stream/Download – The Champ Is Here 3: