The biggest COP that we've seen thus far....is undeniably talented

I'm not going to disrespect BIG's memory and write something about Rick Ross that is comparably long, but I will do a little background before giving the new music. I am definitely a Rick Ross fan. Rick has definitely stepped his rap game up, hanging out with Jay, Nas, and Game. But people say Rick Ross is a FRAUD...or is he? Rick Ross is a rapper, and 95 percent of all rappers are perpetrating a fraud in some fashion (rented cars, fake jewelry, from the suburbs, college graduates, etc) so I think the Boss has gotten a little bit of a bad rap in that regard. Rappers sell a provocative image, and that sells their records...and NONE of it necessarily has to be true. True, the fact that he lied about not being a Corrections Officer then was later FORCED to admit after undeniable proof definitely hurt his reputation, but I would say Rick has bounced back nicely. Whether or not Rick has sold coke, owns everything he flaunts, or has ever gone to jail is not my business or concern. I really care about the quality of the music. For years, Rick played the background to Trick and Trina, and eventually bogarted his way to an opportunity the old fashioned way: Getting in the studio, putting out a hot mixtape, and aligning himself with a popular DJ (Khaled of Miami). The result was the smash hit "Hustlin'" and his port of miami debut. He followed that with (in my opinion) a more cohesive CD, "deeper than rap," which despite classic material being left off the album (lost intro, cigar music, mafia music remix, yacht club remix, throw it in the sky, etc) was mostly a great listen. Evident from the choice for the first single ("magnificent", and most of the other incredible beats on that CD) Rick has a great ear for smooth beats (albeit beats that wouldn't be considered typically "southern sounding"). This is very clear once again on the first song released from his soon to be released opus, "Teflon Don". The song is called super high, and features Def Jam crooner Neyo. To put it plainly, it's FIRE. I dont know how the hood is going to feel about it, but according to my ears, Officer Ricky has another banger. Sounds like a Sade sample and loop. Listen to it by clicking here

Skillz "2009 Wrap Up"- (HAPPY NEW YEAR)

I was going to do a write up about the biggest stories of 2009 (to me, so octomom would not qualify), but there were so many (Obama, Healthcare, Lakers, Yankees, Iraq, swineflu, Bobby Bowden, the economy, Usain Bolt, smartphone battle, Drake, Tiger and many more) that I wouldn't have been satisfied with it without making it ridiculously long. That said, I can do a pretty good job recapping by just giving the mic to Virginia MC Skillz. Anyone who is a real hip hop fan knows about Skillz and his pen game, and the VA musicians he's affiliated with. I'm a lot more than a fan, much less a casual fan of Hip Hop, so I've known about him since he was "Mad" Skillz and dropped the "nod factor" in 1995 (I was in 7th grade). Long story short, he hasn't been embraced for his talents over his long career commerically, but he has kept himself relevant through ghostwriting for many huge names, and more recently his 6 years running "year wrap up." They are all very clever and creative, and usually touch on every subject, with more attention to the Hip Hop scene. This years is no exception: He covers almost everything I would have. so without futher ado, check out Skillz- 09 Wrap up, and Have a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

EXCLUSIVE: Lil Wayne feat. Eminem "Drop the World"

**WARNING: I ONLY LISTEN TO UNEDITED MUSIC, SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE CUSS WORDS AND INNUENDOS, DO NOT CLICK THE BELOW LINK**

This my friends is an exclusive track: Lil' Wayne feat. Eminem "drop the world". Let me not over analyze here: IT'S FIRE. Eminem is at his "top 5 DOA" best. Listen to the song HERE. Thank me later.

The Space Jams are back!!

I've been a sneakerhead since I can possibly remember, but I don't really have what you would consider "restraint", so I try not to shop too often. I have had my love affair with dunks, air forces, air maxes, shell toes, reebok pumps, prestos, vandals, sauconys, blazers, bapes, chucks and many, many more, but I have always had a love hate relationship with jordans. Growing up, like most kids Mike was my idol, and as much as I wanted the shoes, it was a joke to even think about asking my mom for some 150 dollar shoes. When I started working and I could afford them, I thought "I could get 2 or 3 pairs of hot kicks for the price of 1 pair of J's". Then the market got flooded with fakes, and any joe schmoe was rocking J's, and it drove me crazy so I had a personal boycott against them. All of these thought processes went out the window with the all black jordan 11's aka the SPACE JAMS". These are far and away the nicest Jordans EVER. According to the Jordan website, the latest re-issue of the space jams will be December 23, just in time for Christmas (if you have the patience to wait in line at 5 am). Now that I can easily afford them, I might go ahead and tuck the restraint away 'til 2010!