Don’t forget the vinyl. Take girls, break spinals.

Apparently taking a page from KFC’s playbook, minus the dancing, izotope has decided to make it rain VST plugins and is giving away their new vinyl processor.  Haven’t had a chance to see it in action yet, myself, but if it’s izotope, you know it’s going to be good.  Spotted on Alpha-bet’s blog.

More than just skin deep.

BIG TONE – THE ART OF INK
Tres, 2009

Rated: 4 out of 5

This is the debut solo album from Detroit producer/emcee, Big Tone.  Over 12 self-produced tracks, he lays down an enjoyable collection of rhymes on a bed of rich, soulful backdrops.  Tone introduces the album as a tribute to the uses of ink, both in tattooing, and rhyme writing.  While the tattoo metaphor doesn’t get much play after the first track, he certainly shines a lens on the rap game, and those creating rhymes.

As an emcee, Big Tone has a pretty accessible flow, and a strong voice.  His phrasing clearly shows an influence from fellow Detroiter, Elzhi of Slum Village, with similar intonation and at times, rhyme structure.  He brings an original element to the table though, and thankfully avoids the trap of trying to fit too many syllables into a bar, into which Elzhi sometimes falls.  The overall feel of the tracks varies, sometimes celebratory, and sometimes very laid back and self-satisfied.  There are certainly moments of doubt and tension, though, that help make the album more three-dimensional.  On Scapegoat: “Slight society don’t respect us/Nothing more than the subject of a Cosby lecture/But when I’m on the block and stressed/Cause check-to-check ain’t stoppin’ them collectors from acknowledgin’ my debt.” Big Tone is a tight rapper, but the talent doesn’t end there.

Production on this album is nice start-to-finish.  In Detroit hip hop tradition, the primary engine of the music is soul samples.  This production has a fuller, rounder, sweeter sound than some of the work of Detroit underground mainstays like Black Milk, however.  Some of the beats are hard-hitting and high-energy.  Skin Deep features chopped up strings and and filtered vocals swirling insistently around a drum loop with a thunderous snare.  The uptempo Business has snare rolls and a wah-wah guitar loop.  You’ll be lucky if you can limit yourself to just head nodding while listening to it.  On the opposite end of the spectrum are songs like the silky, relaxed groove of The Look.  With a chopped up and filtered sample of standard, The Look of Love forming the foundation for a track with lazily strummng guitar, it compares favorably to tracks by another one of my favorite producers, Cincinnati’s Fat Jon.  Even with very capable rhyming and appearances by other rappers and singers, I have to say that the beats are the true strength of an album with only one major weakness.

The only thing that frustrates me about The Art of Ink is how short it is.  Clocking in at only 38 minutes, with a couple minutes of instrumental filler, this album is a throwback to the days of 12″ LP’s.  It is a hair too long to call it an EP, but I have a hard time thinking of anything under 45 minutes or so in length as an album, and in many cases, an hour or more is perfectly fine.  This album certainly could’ve sustained several more tracks of the same quality, and it is a bit of a disappointment that it ends as quickly as it does.  Still, the album is solid start-to-finish, and there is something to be said for that.  Overall, it is definitely a recommended listen, and I look forward to longer projects from Big Tone in the future.

Audio from two tracks can be found here.

Chop Steak Radio, Episode 004

Once again, back is the incredible.  This week we have some great new stuff, including a Tanya Morgan promo single in advance of their album, Brooklynati, coming in May.  Also have new tracks from Elzhi, Mic Skills, Young Buck, and a whole bunch of other good stuff.  Give me some feedback in the comments section!

track listing

1. UGK – She Luv It
2. Young Buck – All Eyez On Me
3. Erykah Badu – That Hump
4. Mic Skills – Cirque Du Soleil
5. Ludacris – Wish You Would feat. TI
6. Ray Cash – Payback
7. Crew54 – Still Strugglin’
8. Skyzoo – Freshfest feat. Wale
9. Bishop Lamont – Africa
10. Foreign Exchange – Daykeeper
11. David Banner – Fuckin’ feat. Jazze Pha
12. Tanya Morgan – So Damn Down
13. Elzhi – Deep
14. Kurupt – We Can Freak It
15. Major Harris – I Got Over Love

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 78.9MB)

It’s like it’s raining all over the world.

After a few month wait from his last installment of the Hip Hop, Soccer, & Comix mixtape series, Austin rapper Global74 returns with his second full-length album, The New Eugenix.  Those familiar with Global’s past work will be used to the mystical symbols on the cover and the sometimes ironic, sometimes almost paranoid rapping style he brings on the mic.  From government conspiracies to the destruction of the planet, his raps give a unique view of the world.  He has a wide range and a skill for rhyming that keep it from being just tinfoil hat rap, however.  Production is handled by a few local producers, the most notable contributions by Alpha 2020 (a.k.a. Ike of Mike &…).  I also contributed a track years ago that ended up on this project.  More on that next week.  For now, enjoy the 2020 production, Raining, and holla at Global on myspace or in the streets to cop the album.

Global74 – Raining (prod. by Alpha 2020)

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Chop Steak Radio, Episode 003

Here’s something to start your weekend off right.  Episode 3 includes some great new tracks, including one from LA rappers, U-N-I and H-Town’s Chamillionaire.  There are also a few new ones from my homies Hero and Mic Skills.  Hope y’all have a fantastic weekend, and if you’re in Texas, stay dry.  Peace!

Track List

1. Hero & Rad – Our Gospel
2. Guilty Simpson – Get Bitches
3. Murs – Can It Be (Half A Million Dollars And 18 Months Later)
4. Blackstar – She Wanna feat. JimiJames & Coultrain
5. Dwele – Open Your Eyes
6. Jay-Z – Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)
7. Mic Skills – Roller Rink
8. Five Deez – From Sorrow
9. Chamillionaire – Maybach Music 2 Freestyle
10. Scarface – Forgot About Me feat. Lil’ Wayne & Bun B
11. Z-Ro – If That’s How You Feel feat. Lil’ Keke
12. People Under The Stairs – You
13. U-N-I – My Life
14. Re-Up Gang – How Ya Think I Got It?
15. Aretha Franklin – One Step Ahead

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:49 — 78.8MB)

Do you know why the sun is shining?

Devin The Dude tries to school a couple Complex magazine interns on scooping women. Comedy ensues.

Note: I had a hell of a time getting this to play, and Firefox doesn’t seem to like it at all.  If you can’t get the video to work embedded, try going directly to Complex’s site in Internet Explorer.  That’s what worked for me, anyway.

What if your favorite blogger got killed because of a blog?

Chamillionaire murders Maybach Music 2.

Chamillionaire – Maybach Music 2 Freestyle

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Download

Back for the streets.

Young Buck has apparently dried his tears, and come at us with a brand new mixtape.  Enjoy!

Young Buck – Cocaine

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If you can’t be kind, be vague.

Ripped happily from tresvanty.com, this is a real nice, funky compilation album.  Enjoy.

Katalyst – How ‘Bout Us f. Steve Spacek

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Chop Steak Radio Podcast, Episode 002

Another week almost in the can, and another episode of Chop Steak Radio for your listening pleasure.  We have new UGK this week, as well as the return of pop duo Nina Sky, who I assumed were working at Bed Bath & Beyond or something by now.  Enjoy, and hit me with some feedback via the comments section.

Track Listing

1. H.I.S.D. – Cold World
2. Colin Munroe – I’m Fine f. Young Buck
3. Heltah Skeltah – Tha Art of Disrespeckinization
4. ESG – Swangin’ & Bangin’
5. Drake – Ignant Shit f. Lil’ Wayne
6. De La Soul – Ego Trippin’ [Part Two]
7. Mos Def – Summertime (Benny Blue Remix)
8. Camp Lo – Sky Hi
9. Nina Sky – On Some Bullshit
10. UGK – Swishas & Erb f. Sleepy Brown
11. The Fixxers – Can You Work With That?
12. Method Man & Redman – A Yo
13. Esther Williams – Last Night Changed It All

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:08 — 71.2MB)