Month: June 2020

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Undiscovered Classics: Xavier Wulf & Bones- ダサい

For me this album is the definition of Cloud Rap, and defined the genre shaping it into what it is today. Dark airy production is at the forefront of the production coming from some of the sub genres best like SuicideYear and Akira. Xavier Wulf at the time known as Ethel Wulf was fresh out of Raider Klan and Bones was just building the TeamSesh brand, both which still dominate the underground and SoundCloud scene to this day. This album was heavily influenced by Acid but I feel like it was the only way this masterpiece could be created.

Songs like “Persian Palace” and “Acid Man” show what Cloud Rap has to offer. Both feature airy sample based beats with glistening trap hi hats accompanying them. A lot of the lyrics the duo talks about on the project deals with acid and other drugs but the amount of quotable bars each rapper has still sticks with me to this day. Like “I got $87 for some LSD!!!”.

“Bloody Gown” and “Fuck Fashion” showcase the pair over some more aggressive hard hitting production. Xavier Wulf is one of those rappers were it doesn’t matter what he’s saying it’s how he says it that makes it raw.

The duo has continued to dominate the underground while still staying true to the sub genre they defined. I hope one day this album gets the recognition it deserves for being so influential and helping to cement Cloud Rap as not just a wave.

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This Is Griselda.

For the last two years a group of rappers out of Buffalo, New York have been taking the rap game by storm. Griselda composed of Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher are easily my favorite rappers right now. The group brings that authentic New York Boom Bap and Mafioso vibe that is similar to that of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. With classics under their belt as solo artists the group released their debut album WWCD last year. So to put people on game I decided to make a list of the Top 10 Griselda songs as a group.

10. Nitro

This track off Westside Gunn’s album “Hitler Wears Hermès 4”, shows all three members using more of a slower flow than normal but the grimy guitar rift beat brings it together. Benny is my favorite out of the group but each member held their own on this track. I liked Conway’s bar about ripping out people’s throats.

9. Headlines featuring Dj Premier

Premo still has it after all these years, a legend and pioneer of Hip Hop Dj Premier lays down a lush boom bap track for the trio to just drop bombs over. For me Westside sounds the best over more lush production, but Benny always leaves me with the most quotable lines.

8. Chef Dreads

The first real track of their group album WWCD, Chef Dreads is just a barrage of bars from all three members. Usually when all three members are on a track they don’t use a hook, which for me works because at the end of the day I go to them for dope beats and even doper bars.

7. Dr.Birds

The first single off the WWCD album, Dr.Birds has that Wu Tang vibe with a more slowed down beat. What I like most about this song is just how much each of them flex’s on the track. In some cases like Chef Dreads the group mostly talks about selling drugs and beating up people, but I also dig when they get into that braggadocio style like flexing about how much shit they have. Plus the line “ Tell Virgil write “Brick” on my Brick” will forever be classic.

6. May Store feat. Keisha Plum

Anytime Keisha Plum on a track you know her spoked word section will but the whole track in perspective, painting a picture over the grim production. Daringer and Beat Butcha really put their foot in this whole project but especially on this beat. The piano sample in the background next to those hard hitting boom bap drums. Benny’s line “ I really beat white, I’m Mr. T from Rocky 3” is one of the coldest lines.

5. Moselle

This song is the closet the group comes to capturing that Wu Tang sound. The glistening piano beat sounds like water hitting glass. This is definitely my favorite track off the “WWCD”. I think Conway had it on this one.

4. Tito’s Back

Had this track on repeat as soon as I heard it. Conway and Benny go bar for bar, in the way Styles P and Jadakiss would flow together on a track. The piano beat is just so simple and menacing. Westside doesn’t have a verse on the track, but him talking shit on the end of it is all I really needed.

3. George Bondo

One of the newest tracks from the crew off Westside’s “Pray For Paris” album, this track is one of the hardest songs I’ve ever heard. I think each time I hear it I have a new fav but Benny’s hockey reference on his verse sold it for me. Once again all you need is a menacing piano sample over some hard hitting drums to make a great track.

2. Brutus

I love when the group uses wrestling references or samples in their songs. I jumped once I heard the old Monday Night Raw siren go off at the beginning of “Brutus”. I think Westside had the best verse but Benny hits you in the face right away with his. The distorted glitzy production on this track is what makes “Supreme Blientele” a classic album to me.

1. Allah Sent Me

This track was sent by Allah for sure. Ever since I heard this banger it’s been my favorite track of the year. I listen to it at least three times a day. Conway slides on this one but Benny’s verse about building a statue up from the gravel might be one of my favorite lines of the year. If you don’t listen to any of the songs on this list at least check this one to get what Griselda is putting down. Flygod is an awesome god.

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Introducing The Heavies!

2020 has been a big year for the guys at Toy Pizza, we are already mid way through AFOTM 2020 with this year’s installment expanding and introducing the Knights Of The Slice lore.

Cyber Mama and the very mysterious Azu Lado have both made their debuts this year on the hero side of the universe with Cyber Mama playing a big part in the plan to track down Marson while he was in search of the Blood Capsule. Azu is definitely one of my top 5 figures of the year, I like the fact that so far their is only one, which has me thinking who is Azu Lado?

Rumored from the very beginning of AFOTM 2020 the heavies are finally upon us. So far these have been my favorite figures of the KOTS universe. Raddick is straight out of “Miami Connection” with his shades and power pack Fanny pack. I could definitely see Raddick becoming one of the most popular characters in the KOTS.

With all that being said after receiving my two new Hackermans I think I have a new favorite. With a Mad Max style about him, Hackerman is no joke! This is a fig that definitely needed to have more heft to it. The chain saw arm and sword make a great combo to slice and dice opponents. The Meat Ambassador colorway adds to his horror movie esque look. Not sure if Hackerman is on the side of the Knights, but he’s a badass for sure.

Not sure what Toy Pizza has in store for the rest of 2020 but I will definitely be following. I would highly recommend becoming a Patreon subscriber, it’s a great way to stay up to date with Knights Of The Slice, as well as get some exclusive goodies. After missing out on AFOTM 2020, Patreon is a good consolation prize. Keep up the great work Jesse and everyone at Toy Pizza, keep the heavies coming.

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Top 5 Scooby-Doo villains

Scooby-Doo and the gang have one of the coolest rouges galleries of villains throughout their history. This top five list is only from the original “Where Are You?” Series from 1970.

5. Ghost Of Captain Cutler

Making his debut in episode 2 of the series the Ghost Of Captain Cutler is most known for his glow in the dark spelunker suit, which leaves a trail of glow in the dark foot prints. The glow is from a glowing seaweed found in the Graveyard of Ships where Captain Cutler supposedly died. The meddling kids discover the ghost is actually Captain Cutler himself who faked his death to steal yachts around the beach area.

4. Witch Doctor

The Witch Doctor makes his appearance in episode 5 of the series The Doctor doesn’t really have any cool powers other than he can teleport. He can also make holograms appear out of nowhere. His main goal was to kidnap dogs that might beat his own dog in a dog show competition. The super sleuths eventually foil the Witch Doctor’s plan revealing him to be the dognapper Buck Masters.

3. Ghost Clown

Using his power of hypnosis the Ghost Clown tricks the gang into doing various circus stunts in order to get his revenge. The clown rhymes a lot and makes a bunch of jokes The Clown is actually revealed to be Harry the Hypnotist who is seeking revenge for being sent to prison, after stealing from the circus.

2. Witch Doctor

Another Witch Doctor makes it on this list but this time it’s a tiki one. The Doctor can levitate and disappear and that’s about it. His powers kinda suck but I love his tiki mask. The gang foils the Witch Doctor’s pearl poaching scheme by revealing that its John Simms and his accomplice.

1. Spooky Space Kook

Just off the laugh and design alone, the Space Cook had to make the top spot. His power of glowing foot prints and finger prints. He also used a spaceship to scare away the folks at the local air field. The meddling kids eventually figure out that Henry Bascombe a neighboring farmer was behind the scheme, in order to get cheap land to expand his farm.

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A Rowdie Return For 2020.

With one game under their belt for the 2020 Season, it seems the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the rest of the USL will resume play on July 11.

Like many other sports leagues the USL season was put on hold due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. My team the Tampa Bay Rowdies had already pulled off one victory and with a playoff appearance last year, a run at the USL cup was definitely in the teams sights.

As of now there is no word on how the season will continue as far as schedule and broadcast options due to no fans being allowed at the games. As a Season Ticket holder it is sad I won’t be able to see the team live but if they somehow include like a streaming option to watch all the teams games I would be down for that.

No matter how the season unfolds I am just glad to have Rowdies soccer back. I will always support the Rowdies as well as Ralph’s Mob and Skyway Casuals for many seasons to come. Either way it’s gonna be a kick in the grass!

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Undiscovered Classics: Blu- Her Favorite Colo(U)r

After finishing up my top 20 albums of the decade list their were quite a few albums I felt should have made it on the list or ones on the list that are for others. This new undiscovered series is going to be me going more in depth about some of my favorite albums. This weeks pick is from the West Coast MC Blu.

Gaining popularity in the underground for his classic “Below The Heavens” with Exile, Blu would drop a few lo-fi projects in the underground, but it was not until 2011 when his self produced and personality my favorite album of his was official released.

To me “Her Favorite Colo(u)r” is what a 2000’s Indie Film would sound like if it was made by a rapper. Using samples from scenes in films like “Closer”, “Punch Drunk Love”, and “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou”. This technique is used masterfully on the track “Morning” which even though it’s just a clip from a film over a beat it’s still super dope to me. Like who would think to sample that on a Hip-Hop album.

Some of my favorite parts of a Blu album is when he samples the word Blue into a beat, like on “Amnesia”. For me I feel the album is about Blu and his girl, making Blu her favorite color.

The more jazzy tracks like “Amnesia” and “Vanity” have a riding your bike on a cool night watching the sunset with your girl type of vibe. On the track “Pardon” Blu shows his Madlib influence with a more soul sampled based track. “Beggars/BlackGold” has a J Dilla’s “Doughnuts” feel.

Sometimes I need a break from NY street rap and Trap music, Blu is my escape from that. I wish Blu would produce more of his own work but at least he still drops projects on an independent level. Even though he’s never been able to capture the magic on this project I will always continue to follow and support Blu because he gave this project to the world.

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My Execution Might Be Televised.

Artist: Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Album: Alfredo 🍝

Favorite Tracks: All of Em

Least Favorite Tracks: None

Grade: 5/5

Fresh off last years masterpiece “Bandana” with Madlib, Skinny Suge is back with another instant classic. This time pairing with The Alchemist, to create the Mafioso Rap equivalent to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”

With the duo collaborating for years as part of the group “Fetti” alongside Curren$y, it was only a matter of time before Gibbs and Alchemist would drop their own collab project.

The album goes from a banger track to a more mellow sound almost one after the other, showing both sides of Gibbs and Alc. I am sucker for producers that continue the instrumental from track to track, even after Gibbs is done rapping. I would a lot of the lines on this album really relatable.

Like I mentioned previously, this album reminds me of Kanye’s 2010 classic “MBDTF” mainly due to how the features fit perfectly on each song. The Rick Ross and Conway features are over more lush production, highlighting a new flow from Conway. The Benny feature on “Frank Lucas” is just a barrage of bars from both MCs. I think each one used about 4 different flows on one verse so that’s definitely going to be a track of the year. The Tyler The Creator feature on “Something To Rap About” doesn’t sound out of place next to Freddie Gibbs over what sounds like a beat from a Blu project.

Ten tracks all bangers, no duds in the bunch. At this point Freddie has to be recognized as one of the best in the game with almost 3 classics in the last decade. This project further adds to the legacy of The Alchemist, who hopefully one day will be looked at on Madlib and J Dilla’s level.

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The Compromise To Save Baseball.

After the NHl announced their playoff format to resume the season by early July, and with the NBA and NFL looking to comeback on the horizon. MLB is on the hot seat to decide a plan for the 2020 baseball season.

The MLBPA sent a new proposal to MLB in order to get the season in motion. An 114 game season would be played from June 30 – Oct 31. The players have agreed to an expanded playoff for not only this season but next, which would boost T.V. revenue. Teams can defer salaries if no postseason is played. If a player does not want to participate, they are allowed to opt out.

With a shortened season players have agreed to take a prorated pay cut, with the players at the top having a higher percentage taken out. To go to that extent I feel the players want to just get back on the field, even if it is at a reduced salary. Mike Trout one of the highest paid players in the league could be looking at an over 80% pay cut.

Owners can cry that they might be losing money due to fans not being at the games, but with the added playoff teams and increased T.V. revenue due to more games the owners will be fine, just not make as much as they should have this year.

I feel it is in the best interest of the owners to come to a compromise with the MLBPA for the sake of baseball and it’s fans. Some of the die hards won’t be able to stomach no 2020 season while all other sports resume. As a new season ticket member with the Tampa Bay Rays, I would definitely tune in to every game they play on T.V., at this point it’s better than nothing. It would really piss me off if Rays fans get no baseball this year just because the owners wouldn’t budge a little bit. The community is already a little salty on the Rays ownership anyway so no baseball would definitely be a bad look.

The two sides need to come up with some kind of agreement by the end of the week. It’s already June and with all the health protocols they have to put in place, having the meat of your season played in August up against every other sport would be bad for baseball. With everything going on in the world a little Rays baseball could be the bright spot in our day that the community needs.