You Need More People

Apparently the first four lines of the last verse of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” are copped from UGK’s “Touched,” from their classic 1996 album Ridin’ Dirty (which I’m actually taking my inaugural spin through this afternoon).

(Sidebar: I’ll admit I’m not as familiar with southern hip-hop as I’d like to be, but I am a big fan of SpaceGhostPurrp, who clearly has a PhD in the subject (not that kind). The laid-back, celebratory atmosphere of southern hip-hop hits like Outkast’s “Southernplaylisticaddillacmuzik” and Tela’s “Sho Nuff” wouldn’t seem to be the starting point for Purrp’s giallo terror. Album tracks like “That’s Why I Carry” give you a better idea of what turned Purrp a darker shade.)

Said lyrics, if you don’t recall:

Now once upon a time not too long ago

A n***a like myself had to strongarm a ho

This is not a ho in the sense of havin’ a pussy

But a pussy havin’ no goddamn sense, tryna push me

The original, for reference:

And the cop:

It’s just that Jigga Man, Pimp C, and B-U-N-B (foo).

The home-cooked Mississippi rapper/producer extraordinaire dropped his new mixtape, 4evaNaDay, this morning. K.R.I.T. doesn’t produce new material at the same alarming rate as former tourmate Curren$y, but, considering that all - all! - of his material is self-produced, that he puts out at least one excellent mixtape a year is truly impressive. This one’s not only self-produced but free of guest verses. K.R.I.T. previewed the jazzy, Friday Night Lights-indebted “Boobie Miles” last month. 

Last year’s Return of 4Eva was overlong and relied on a few too many Southern rap cliches - pimps, hos, Caddys, etc. - but K.R.I.T.’s sumptuous soul-food production made it an always enjoyable listen. “Dreamin’”, in particular, is a gorgeous slice of *actually* inspirational gospel rap. Once K.R.I.T. can walk without his Dixie crutches, he’ll be within spitting distance - no pun intended - of the best in the game - in terms of production if not rapping.

I try to highlight new releases by any and all up-and-comers who’ve piqued my attention, but this is one I’m truly excited about. Pick it up over at LiveMixtapes.

(Photo via Boi-1da.net)

The absurdly prolific Curren$y drops yet another in a stream of mixtapes, full-lengths, EPs, and collaborative albums. This one hits 3 of the 4: it’s an EP-length collaborative mixtape with Ruff Ryder-affiliate Styles P, who I primarily know from his guest verse on Rick Ross’ “BMF.” This one’s hot on the heels of Curren$y’s Here, a 5-song treat that let the swamp-mouthed weed rapper flow over some vintage beats, including DJ Premier’s peerless “Bring It On” all the way back from Reasonable Doubt. Assuming #The1st28 conforms to the same level of QC as the rest of Curren$y’s shit, this should be a blast.

Check it out over at DatPiff.