Yessir buddy. Joseph “Jumpoff” Budden is back with an album before the album. For those that don’t know, Joe Budden is probably my favorite rapper. Not just right now but of all time. His Mood Muzik series (pt 1-3) and his work on other peoples songs have turned me into a loyalist.
This mixtape is loaded with joints and features production from my people over at Mizfitz Sounds. They’re a great production group based out of Baltimore and 3 songs on a Joe Budden album is a great look for them.
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This week’s artist is Karim Diane formally known as Kay.
I’ve had a vested interest in this kid since he first inquired about working with The Famous Firm about 6 months back. I was really impressed by the fact that at age 18 he was already balancing the behind the scenes work with the actual music. Not many up and comers can say they’ve had Stevie Wonder co-sign their talent, which led to an appearance in Complex magazine.
When I first met the singer, he was already being heavily courted by rapper Gravy (Biggie in the movie Notorious) and his management group. They saw and still see what everyone else sees in the young singer;an upside that rivals a late 90′s Usher.
Over the past 6 months, we’ve seen him go through a transformation highlighted by a name change (from Kay to Karim Diane) after encouragement from Ankh Rha, Diddy’s vocal trainer for Day 26 and Danity Kane. The best thing about Karim is his humility and the fact that despite already establishing a fan base he still seeks ways to improve upon his talent.
It’s a matter of time before the rest of the industry sees what I’ve seen in Karim since day 1; a star
This new song “You Got It” speaks for itself. This is my gym/running anthem for the rest of the month.
Download Link
Phollow Up:
You can keep up with Karim by adding him on his myspace.
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Tagged Am I The Only One Seeing This, Talent? Did Someone Say Talent?
No visual evidence to prove it (didn't feel like taking pics) but I'm now a party animal….certified. Two straight weekends we've shut down a DC party. Saw mad people I haven't seen in years.
Terrence of 106 & Park was in the building. Completely different guy outside of the show. Way less corny.
Good friends+good loud music+beautiful people and "shawty I'm straight".
Anyway, hope everyone out there is enjoying themselves as much. Feel free to hit me if you wanna join the tour next weekend.
"What's Up What's Happening"-T.I. = Best Song Of The Night
Old School Set (New Edition, Soul 4 Real, Michael Jackson etc)>Current Music
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Let me applaud Jadakiss, Fabolous and Juelz for rapping like its the 99-03 era again.
No slowed up Lil Wayne flow, no “i’m flyer than” talk, no taking two lines to explain your last punchline which wasn’t even that hot, no autotune. Just good old fashion spitting. Great job fellas.
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Tagged Secretly An Old Head, Talent? Did Someone Say Talent?
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I know I’m late on the Vibe anniversary issue but I didn’t want to read it while it was cool to do so.
The cd is Playboy Tre’s mixtape he gave me at the show the other night. I’m 3 songs in and thumbs up so far.
The Eminem book is what I’m most excited about. I was about to pay for it and the kid at the counter says “damn $40 for a book? I’ll give it to you for $20″….I say “half price sounds straight to me, here’s $20″….he takes the money and looks to make sure his manager doesn’t see him bagging up a book that wasn’t paid for. He bags it up and sends me on my way. If I was him I would have made me pay the $40 and then just kept that….if you’re going to commit crimes at work, shouldn’t you get the most money you can get? That kid needs to read some of those books as opposed to just stealing from his boss.
Polar Express and Popeye are just for visuals amidst all that reading.
Talib Kweli+Phella+B.O.B
Phella (Croc Skin Creative) vs B.O.B. (Army Green Creative)
First off let me say this was one of the dopest shows I’ve been to all year. If you just like good live music, then this was the show for you. Here’s a recap of what went down.
I was actually on my way to the gym when Sickamore asked me to deliver Colin Munroe’s song to B.O.B who happened to be performing not too far from me. I get cleaned up, burn the cd and head over to the show.
The night starts off with a band called The Rhythm Roots All-Stars. They had the 10 piece on lock and they played for all 3 perfomers as well.
Next up was B.O.B. Most people probably know him from the “Haters” song but he’s actually got a lot more than that to offer. I heard the “Haters” record way before it came out and I thought it was a dope song but I also thought he would just be another artist chasing singles. This show proved me wrong. Imagine a younger Andre 3000 that can play the guitar. Yea I said Andre 3000, sue me. I know that’s high praise but if you were at the show you would co-sign. B.O.B ran through a set that included joints like “Mellow Fellow” and his new single “I’ll Be In The Sky”. He also let his man Playboy Tre run through some joints including an ill song called “Liquor Store Mascot”….lookout for him as well, I bumped his demo on the way home and he got music too.
Sidebar:My top 3 stageshows of 2008:1.Kanye West 2.Colin Munroe 3.B.O.B.
Him and Colin are similar in the sense that they both have tremendous range in their music. The collab should be one for the ages.
Like that wasn’t enough, Bob’s manager T.J. slides me backstage. Back there I kind of had an embarassing moment. Tabi Bonney was back there and it really really really looked like him but I wasn’t sure. So I kept looking like I should go say whats up, but you never wanna say whats up to the wrong person. I’m use to him having long hair, I didn’t know he cut his hair. Tabi Bonney is the first DC rapper, at least in my genration to get serious air play on MTV and VH1 and on national radio. He has his own style and his music is dope. I’ve been a fan for a while now, so Tab if you read this, accept my apology for not recognizing a pioneer.
After chopping it up for a bit, Talib Kweli walks into the room. I don’t get crazy excited anymore when I meet celebrities, but I do enjoy meeting people who do or have done great things. I’m big on acknowledging history and making history. Meeting Kweli was a true honor.
So I head over to the balcony and check out David Banner show. His show was dope too….he did classics like “Like A Pimp” and new joints like “Stuntin Is A Habit” and the Lil Wayne joint. My favorite had to be “Cadillacs On 22′s”…that song is bananas..especially live.
David Banner had the most energy. He’s drinking beers, handing out waters, jumping in and out of the crowd, all types of stuff. Then he gets off stage and he’s mad peaceful and humble. Shaking everyones hand and serving people orange juice backstage. Two different Banners on and off stage.
Then Kweli went up there and brought it home. “Hot Thing”, “Get By”, “Get Em High”, some Black Star joints and my personal favorite, “The Blast”. The crowd went crazy for Kweli. They chanted his name for like 10 mins after he got off stage…prompting him to return with the other acts and they freestyled over beats by The Rhythm Roots.
Dope night, dope show….now I’m mad inspired. As a talent rep, inspired that there’s still so much true talent out there. And as an artist, inspired that the people still embrace creativity that way.
Peace
Phell
“Can’t Let BB Go”
BB Girl, you know my situation
And sometimes I know I have you aching
But what’s the point of having phones
If your phone aint emailing
“BB Don’t Go”
I try to play cool
Acting like what you do dont phase me
Mean while Im sitting at home without no phone
Trynna keep myself from going crazy
When in the house trynna send emails out
Makes me wanna shout, what is this about
I want my BB back, I want my BB back
Had an extremely long weekend that was capped off by me losing the trackball on my BB. Gone, finito, grand opening grand closing. So I can’t email, I can send texts, but can’t read, I can make calls as long as I dont have two of the same names. For instance, if I had two Tiffany’s. I can call Tiffany #1 but cant scroll to Tiffany #2.
Nina E of The Famous Firm showed me some dope trackballess shortcuts that will hold it down for now, but I need my BB back.
Update:$15.95 on Ebay and we’re back on track or back on the ball or…you get what I’m trynna say.
Tagged Phellito Finds Gayle
Walking from Howards Yardfest.
Hoping I don't have a $100 ticket like the past 3 years.
I'm extremely cold and extremely dissapointed. The show was great but I bought my 1st fitted cap in over 1 year. For a recovering fitted addict that's no good. Don't know what made me relapse.
What I Saw:
A million girls in spandex. I'm a fan but is there nothing else to wear?…don't question it Phell just be thankful.
Chris Robinson directing Wales new vid. Very nice fellow. Wale was cool too, I had heard different but you know how it goes when you make it from somewhere. Props to Sterling for making the introduction to Chris Robinson via blackberry from Miami.
Ace Hood. Had a lot of fans….
Maino…subpar performance…don't Yung Berg me, just my opinion.
The guy who sings "Professional".
Slim of 112. Best performance of the night. I'm not just saying that because he is Famous Firm and his album "Loves Crazy" which was A&R'd by Sickamore comes out on Nov 18th. That's not why I'm saying it. Classics like "Cupid", "You Already Know", and "So Fly" is why I'm saying it.
Ryan Leslie gets the second best. Live instruments are always a plus.
Wale did his thing. The crowd was hype because the footage will be on MTV+BET.
Others like A.J. Of 106, Bun B, Kid Capri, and Terrence Howard were in attendance, as well as Young Guru and 9th Wonder.
The fact that I could do this recap and still not be at my car is a testament to how far I parked and why I need to get sleep.
Peace
Phitted Hat Phell
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