Memory Monday: Amena Brown - In The Beginning

Recently I have been absorbed with the notion of promoting and preserving lyricism. I was scanning YouTube videos by my favorite poet (Taalam Acey) when I came across the lovely and inspirational work of Amena Brown. Here is a powerful spoken word piece by the talented Amena Brown called In The Beginning. I love her style and focus on delivering the truth. If you would like for me to continue to post different content for Memory Mondays let me know.

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Flow Fridays

Image retrieved from here

Merry Christmas to all and all a good night! Are you ready for the second installment of Flow Fridays? hehe

Lyriciss - Give Em A Show
DMV bully Lyriciss hit the twitting world with this premiere earlier this week. The track is awesome and it combines an effortless flow over a hypnotic beat.

Pro'Verb - Will Smith
The homie Pro'Verb attacks this beat with ferocity and does it showcasing excellent wordplay, double entendres, and a seasoned delivery. The creativity is what shines the most on this track.

June Da Kid - Something To Live For
June Da Kid hit me with his latest project called Something to Live For. I give this tape four stars, take the chance and listen to new talent.

brandUn DeShay - Cross Heart and Hope To Fly
I want you all to get familiar with brandUn DeShay as he hits the internet with a track that was excluded off his new mix tape. The beat from Brazzi bangs and this excluded offering suggests that the mix tape has a lot of heat.

G-Tactics - Without Doubt
Waldorf, Maryland representative G-Tactics delivers some precise battle raps over a cool beat.

Ritchcraft - Say It Ain't So
Dope remix album by Ritchcraft that features his remixes and some tracks that showcase his rapping ability.

Nametag - Cuckoo Freestyle
Detroit bred rhyme spitter obliterates the Cuckoo beat that was destroyed by Slaughterhouse (shouts to Dj Khalil).

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Memory Mondays: J.U.I.C.E. - Sincerely

This is one of my favorites songs ever and it is called Sincerely by Mc Juice. The tracks sounds like an open letter expressing one's struggle with being underground while trying to appeal to a mainstream audience.

(Juice)
Sometimes tha illest cats don't get record deals (laugh)
Sometimes the illest cats roam the streets….
Underground legends
Cats you never heard of,
But everybody know they tha nicest
This is for them cats….

When I design rhyme in daylight
Or primetime I stay tight
I walk the fine line between an emcee and a play right
I represent the underground world, it's a unique scene
There's no record deals, no videos and street teams
I do shows to keep green
I know I'm not a star man, I'm signed to myself
And my mic's my A&R man
In double nine I guess it's just a sign of tha times
The spotlight that I've been looking for is finally mine
I never thought about the dough when I'm designing my rhyme
As long as I can reach my peoples over vinyl I'm fine
It ain't about that
I opened up for cats who ain't as dope as me
While I rip the flow, they lips sink, the show hopelessly
From Heaven I was set to game to entertain
I may never pimp that '75 ta cop that blue range rover
But even if I don't remain sober
I'ma score double digits till the fuckin' games over

"Whether they signed or unsigned" (Canibus)
"Platinum more wax for..platinum in tha streets" (Redman)

I don't care if I'm right, wrong , or in between
All night long I pimp tha scene they said I couldn't write songs,
I intervene
Don't think because the battle rhymes are what I'm know for
I can't out write the best of em, or rip the microphone
Raw my words are deep
Keep my tape handy when you're buzzin
Let my thoughts deep inside ya dome,
Tell a cousin or friend play my CD when you guzzlin' Gin
Come down but then recite it when you buzzin' again
You must respect the flow
Point blank I'm a professional
Exceptin' no less than excellence, that's how tha session go
Embracin' my Rhyme, when I'm gone who's replacin' mine?
I trace a line that transcend all space and time
I implement infinite lyrics that are intricate
The type of shit discussed my mob bosses eatin' shrimp and shit
Those with intellect they understand how I wrote it
But the average mind can take 5 years to decode it

Chorus: (scratched)
"Whether they signed or unsigned" -Canibus
"Platinum more wax for..platinum in tha streets" –Redman

Gradually I drift off imagining me
The baddest emcee, wondering what my status will be
A little local battle emcee who never made the grade?
Or a gifted lyricist who used to spit with razor blades?
Ever time I win the battles they dissected my words
I'll probably never get the props or the respect I deserve
The magazines claim I wrote my battle rhymes like they knew me
Then they wanna call the next day and fuckin' interview me
Do I really have props?
Is it really that stable
when they ask me to freestyle when I walk up into labels?
When they take me for lunches and drinks inside they limos?
And fu#k around and play me somebody else's demo
J-U ya'll niggaz all know what his name is
The Cat that got famous
By never being famous
I'll probably roam the underground scene for all times
Signed sincerely JUICE the unsigned

"Whether they signed or unsigned" (Canibus)
"Platnum more wax for..platnum in tha streets" (Redman)

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Nickelus F - Exhibit F (w/ Lyrics)

Va bully Nickelus F just hit me with the lyrics for his Exhibit F freestyle (thanks Nickelus). I been a fan of Nickelus F before the 106 and Park tutorial haha (shout out to Rerok). The beat by Just Blaze is phenomenal and the original track by Jay Electronica can be ordered on iTunes. A lot of people are suggesting that the instrumental should be left alone but no beat is safe in the realm of hip-hop and Nickelus F proves why he is on the verge of stardom with this stunning barrage of witty lines and a seasoned flow.

Exhibit F
by Nickelus F

Thursday night, hoodie on, cloudy weather
light drizzle, riding around Richmond, hot boxing
stop for some tacos...

[Chorus]
Hood up windows half way down, when I'm doing through the R I C
Tough luck, Never said life was easy, but you need me you can call on me
I rep them county boys, do it for my niggas, got all of the weight on me
And my name walks in the room before I so all the eyes in the place are on me

huh...Exhibit F

Now how the hell this church boy tun into a weed head?
Like Jesus eating with the sinners got my feet wet
Problem is they soaking, forgive me for this deep mess
Survived cause my mama prayed for me with every breath
Born with a few screws loose couple defects
Take a swipe at a neck, You will get behead
I see dead, emcees scatter with e-very step
All competition get erased just a beat left
Cause Nickel F come the hardest, that's what she said
It's Tamara first, to land on the earth
Rarely lied to her, never put my hands in her purse
I had scams man would've, pitched it off
With my back against wall like I'm doing hand stand push ups
You outta shape, ya breathing outta place
It's Time to get the cake let the heathen get a taste
I don't need a big crew wit niggas feeding on my plate
More trees in the yard more leaves you gotta rake
And it's hard to keep it fly without wings and a cape
Still I'm seen outta state, I seem outta place
Aggressive spirit in your crib, linger behind the drapes
Ya mans blew up why you linger behind Drake?
You just a nice if not better...but my team was outta place
Locked in now, doing the moves, speak to you from the redeemed hooligan view
Cause life ain't always pretty still I do what I do
With bird shit on my window and poo on my shoe
Ain't a star, but still I'm big like one of Jupiter's moons
And while everybody cooler than cool, I'm scorching
Niggas doing shows, I'm touring
Niggas make it rain, I'm pouring
You niggas making love, I'm porking
The wheels on the whip sit mis-proportioned
Bully bump rap style, stepping on your Jordans
I'll take your heart and mail the organ to Portland
Trailblaze tracks I glide like Clyde on em
...Bombing, a comet crash was my origin
I'm not of this world but I'm in it, dealing wit it
Big spine, big ball, you could never call me timid
We all don't get the riches, so as I live it I twit it
Script it for the listeners that get it from the media
But Nickelus from Richmond hit the club like a meteor
Took a vegetarian chick threw meat in her
They can't believe that was in five minutes of meeting her
Them girls wilding out see, they know the wifey round me
But still they throw they cat, trying to get the Tiger out me
They'll be lucky if thy get a smile up out me
Ma, understand, I'm trying to keep it humble
These niggas fronting is stale cookies, they all crumble
I ain't good at joking on niggas, I'm all muscle
Why talk when I could just crush you?
Plus you
Fall for whores, you need to call the lord
You can see the speck in his eye but not the log in yours
Give a damn about diamonds, cars, and stores
I'll stack a billion in the bank and whip a Honda Accord
Might upgrade, go find a Ford
Proud about who I is care less bout who I ain't
Focused on who I'm gonna be, so far I been a great
Titanium vertebrae, time for my curtain raise
Hiphop's James Cameron, here to terminate
Kill every beat a sinner with a murder case
No saint, you just Drew Brees, I'm Nick Hurricane
I got Carter 123 know every word proclaim
I'm the greatest rapper alive like I ain't heard of Wayne
...But still I love to get a verse from Wayne
Businessman every bar is like commerce
Whistle while I work make your Mom twirk
Know niggas is tripping right now, I give a long smirk
sick weak stomachs throw up at every concert
My live show is live yo, I gotta wide lane on a wide road
I see 5-0, I ride slow
put out the hydro and light a black
Man my bars like a wire tap
Give ya insight to my life and the stressing
problems, large and small like an intestine
But still I overcome because I know it's destined
This is the Capital and I'm Alexander Ovechkin
Niggas know me rap til' no beat left
These boys fall shot like Ryan Seacrest
These niggas short winded I take deep breaths
And I calculate each step

this is Exhibit F...

[Chorus]
Hood up windows half way down, when I'm doing through the R I C
Tough luck, never said life was easy, but you need me u can call on me
I rep them county boys, do it for my niggas, got all of the weight on me
And my name walks in the room before I so all the eyes in the place are on me

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Elzhi - The Great (w/ Lyrics)

Another amazing song from Elzhi's latest mixtape entitled The Leftovers Unmixed Tape. This track showcases the production of Oh No and the verbal artillery of Elzhi. Let me know if you like the lyrics, if so I will continue to decipher lyrics in the future.

Yeah, I'm finally on my one-two, you fake artists is untrue
now watch how the son do
without me, who would you run to
to hold the best kept secret, like walking in a club sneaking a gun through
welcome to the album and how come
the style from the child attack the crowd like a falcon
well, the gift is in me, like a fifth of Henny
cross the Pacific, lifted, spending different pennies
from foreign currency, and just then it occurred to me
that I turned a G, and every sense with the word could be
see I came up, where niggas aim pumps
and you can frame stomped, if you a lame chomp
it's ashamed, that many didn't make if from the pissy mattress
and sh*tty blanket, when I left the city vacant
I, got the right to grip the balls in my nut sack
front, back, no matter what track, I'm spitting cut crack

L is, invincible, a minstrel show is not sensible
when I insist to flow, and suspense and let a sentence go
this is mental heat, on a sheet written
from a seat, sitting, in a presidential suite
off of gam weed, light it up to make my hand bleed
poetry, that hopefully breathes what a fan needs
now I'm considered this great, niggas'll hate
cause I move to a bigger estate, crib with a gate
stay dipped, with a pay day grip, hit a jay tip
and may flip, like a AK clip, in a getaway whip
popping off, when you see me on the shelf
it's got you beating on yourself, like you trying to stop a cough
till my, soul is with Christ, I control a device
with a scroll, precise as a ho, y'all rolling the dice (see)
who's ever misled, should piss red
sick a d*ck and kiss head from the fist, y'all was just fed

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Flow Fridays

I decided to empty the inbox and promote singles/projects that people have sent to me. Keep them coming!

Anterluz - Fight For The Crown
Mixtape from Anterluz that features Lyrical, Q-Dubb, and Jai Pressure. The mixtape also features production from Just Blaze, Soul Professa, Dj Babu, Cookin' Soul, Nottz, Madlib, Illmind, and more.

Revalation ft. M-Dot - Heart of the City
Revalation attacks a vintage Jay-Z track and enlists the help of EMS counterpart M-Dot. This track is off of Revalation's upcoming mix tape called The Revalation Will Be Televised: Commercial Interruption that will drop on December 31st.

Nobody Famous - Order Up! Volume 3: Chicken and Waffles
Here is an album by the multi-talented Nobody Famous that the kind folks at HiPNOTT Records offered to the masses for free.

D. Julien - Prove Em Wrong
Another solid track from the young rhymer by the name of D. Julien. This time we witness Julien attack a jazzy composition from his go to beat maker Buzz.

Laws - Daytona 500 Freestyle
The homie Laws goes in over the classic Daytona 500 instrumental by RZA. Laws, recently signed with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, destroys this beat and showcases his lyrical ability.

R.E.U.B. - The [Black] Rapper Show
Here is the latest installment from DMV upstart R.E.U.B. The mixtape is co-hosted by Clinton Sparks, please download this phenomenal mixtape from the homie.

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Sometimes quality is better than quantity...

In an age where quantity equates to success stands a man who takes a methodological approach to releasing material. This mythical human is known as Jay Electronica and his material continues to amaze those who have lost hope in the hip-hop genre. Jay Electronica's latest offering Exhibit C highlights the potential that this emcee has. As a fan I would love for him to release more material but the homie Mykestro said it best quality over quantity.

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Anterluz and Lyrical - Best Shape of My Life

Lyrical, a Swedish emcee, destroys a beat by Anterluz. This track is the single off of Anterluz's anticipated mixtape Fight For The Crown. I will post more Lyrical and Anterluz material if they are kind enough to fill my inbox with goodies :).

DOWNLOAD LINK:
Anterluz and Lyrical - Best Shape of My Life

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June Da Kid - Let Me Know feat. Lil Ty (prod. by HB)

Earlier this week I checked my inbox and I was surprised at an entry by a Maryland native June Da Kid. June's email was very professional and personal and I could tell that this hungry artist was not sending a mass email. The solo track is called Let Me Know and it features DMV artist Lil Ty and it will be included on Something To Live For that will be available for free download on 12/22/09. The banging backdrop is supplied by Baseline Music Group's HB, who also inhabits the DMV area.

DOWNLOAD LINK:
June - Let Me Know feat. Lil Ty (prod. by HB)

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Elzhi - The Crowd (w/ Lyrics)

One of my favorite songs from Elzhi's newly released mixtape. The beat is produced by Leef and El rips the beat to shreds, wow! I also tried to decipher the lyrics to the best of my ability.

[Chorus 2x]
See this is how it goes down
and come all the way from the bottom
lifted up for the ground
and take it to the sky
until it's over the clouds
make it feel like heaven
so it's felt by the crowd, crowd, crowd

Over lies, you will be pulverized, beneath Jehovah's skies
in a cloak disguise, my goons follow you like cobra's skies
shorty still, peeling them sporty wheels, Lord he illin'
cold as the place you keep your forty chilled
see my mind is on, a level more deeper than monotone
off a line alone, I shine like the finest designer stone
so what you mainstream and you hot, when did you gain steam?
it makes my brain spin, your career shoulda remained dream
you may fall, I'm AWOL, I'm out with heaters and spray all
and put you in a hole like robbing Peter to pay Paul
try and boast, and ain't lying close to what I diagnose
I can fry and roast, any guy, till they a flying ghost
beyond peons, beyond eons, till there's neon Klingons
close encounter of the three kinds
but there's not a response, those niggas ain't crazy
that phrase be the realest, when I kill this in Phase 3 (check)

[Chorus 2x]
See this is how it goes down
and come all the way from the bottom
lifted up for the ground
and take it to the sky
until it's over the clouds
make it feel like heaven
so it's felt by the crowd, crowd, crowd

The fly talker, over your head like a skywalker
purple la sparker, mark ya, circle eyes darker
I could give a f*ck, got a flow that leave a river stuck
you hear, deep in lines, keep a nine near the liver tuck
bread winning, stroll with a whore, inside my bed linen
legs up, like she up on the floor, with her head spinning
wind milling, then feeling like I'm worth ten mil when
the pens spilling and concealing mic
I toke greens, blowing out smoke screen, poke queens
leave em with soak jeans, you're the definition of what joke means
I'm star status, like blowing lights through out the far stratos-phere
it's clear who's repertoire that it
pursuit white, and f*ck a shoe price, my cheese outgrew mice
I too nice, cut through slice, I'm seeing you twice
the lead pacer, been making moves like speed racer
indeed trace a line that f*cks with your mind like a freebaser (weed lacer)

[Chorus 4x]
See this is how it goes down
and come all the way from the bottom
lifted up for the ground
and take it to the sky
until it's over the clouds
make it feel like heaven
so it's felt by the crowd, crowd, crowd

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FREE DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - The Leftovers Unmixedtape

One of my favorite emcees, Elzhi, dropped a free mixtape which features remixes, unreleased material, and collaborations. Jason Powers is an emcee that is known for his intricate patterns and deadly wordplay.

DOWNLOAD LINK:
Elzhi - The Leftovers Unmixedtape

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Phene - Angels

The homie Phene hit me with this freestyle over an intoxicating Jay-Z track. Phene, a lyrical monster who resides in Georgia (by way of Central PA), boasts an extensive catalog that includes heavy mixtape work and powerful solo material. Take a listen to this track and get familiar with the seasoned Phene before the highly anticipated God on a Greyhound drops.

"Gone to November, tell your family to twitter you
at Phene (@Phene), I'm so lyrical
Edgar Allan Poe, Maya Angelou in an interview"
- Phene

DOWNLOAD LINK:
Phene - Angels

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Memory Mondays: The Last Emperor - One Life (feat. Poetic, Esthero)

I think that I will condense the blog and get back to presenting more substance, with that said I thought it would be wise to share one of my favorite tracks with you all. One Life is one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard based on Poetic's gut wrenching account of dealing with cancer (Last Emperor is one of my favorite emcees but Poetic stole the show with the sincerity). I replay this songs numerous times when I am depressed or out of it because as Poetic states "it could be worst." Leave some comments if you like what this song.

[Verse One: Last Emp]
1993, shortly before Thanksgiving
I got the call, she said Jamal Derek is not longer living
Softly she spoke, is this a joke? Man you gotta be kidding
As my question was raised this explanation was given
A meaningless death made me question the meaning of life
Does my body remain at rest like when I'm sleeping at night?
Will I burn in eternal hell or will I find paradise?
Be rejected or ressurected like the body of Christ?
Is it like purgatory, the story described by the Catholics?
Or Nirvana that Buddhists honor in both theory and practice?
Like I study in my college philosophy classes
Or do my molecules and atoms travel back to the gases?
I mean, what I like to know, is where my spirit goes?
After the curtains close, on my final show?
Is there a pain it brings? Enjoy my favorite things?
Visit ancient kings? Hear the angels sing?
Who'll answer these said the great MCs
My man Grym is battling a debilitating disease
He said you see a brother like me is willing to fight
And everytime I question death my only answer is life

[Chorus: Esthero]
One life, yeahhh
And my God will set me free
Am I living in this moment
Am I living righteously
It gets haaarrdddd
But I know I got to keep on
I'm trying so hard to be strooonnnggg

[Verse Two: Poetic]
Paralyzed on the bathroom floor by pain
Last month I endured, but now I can't ignore
Feels like railroad spikes being stuck in my liver
Am I dying? Eyes crying, body starting to shiver
Crawl upstair from the basement calling my sister
(Sniff) Dawn help me, I ain't feeling too healthy
Stomach walls burning, head spinning and turning
Waiting for the EMS; 3:10 in the morning
Rush me to the emergency screaming like a newborn
The pain's too strong maybe my soul's trying to move on
They hook me to the I.V., put me through some X-Rays
Gave me Demerol to kill the pain that was the next phase
Early the next day in the hospital room
Moms and pops in the room, three or four docs in the room
Test results suggest your colon and your liver
Is so cancerous you got three months left
Me and Death is playing chess ever since then
My strength is the most high, my fam and close friends
The Last Emp and Set Free blessed me with a verse
Staying healthy comes first
Look at me things could be worst

[Chorus] - 2X

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What Up With That...

"E.T. likes Reese pieces"

I watched this awhile ago on Saturday Night Live and I have to admit that Keenan is a trip. It's a tragedy baaaaby haha...

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