Review of Charity Starts at Home-Phonte

I anxiously waited for September 27th the release of Phonte’s Charity Starts at Home. The MC of many talents part of the hip hop duo Little Brother and integral part of The Foreign Exchange which have both provided some of the best music of the last few years.

So without further ado on to the music the mix of personal rhymes and his ability to carry a tune really stuck out to me on this cd. The songs that stuck out were “Sending My Love” every brother should listen to this especially what’s open at 4:30a.m. and its in constant rotation on all my MP3 devices. “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” with the talented Carlita Durand makes you feel good and look forward to a special night. “We Go Off” with the lyrically gifted Pharaoe Monch is reminiscent of 90’s hip hop two of my favorite MC’s just going for it on a really bass driving beat. “Who Loves You More” with the smooth voice Eric Roberson is a fitting end to a dope album this one will put a smile on your ladies face even after hearing it over and over again.

Phonte’s first solo effort is a must pick up an all around cd musically you can chill, clean up, two-step, or drive hours to this one your head will nod, your mind will think, and your musical soul will be fed……New Tigallo New Tigallo

4 out 5

Median Sender Review

A Fresh Breath of Hip Hop Air


While everyone is “Watching the Throne” I have been riding the Median to a “Sender” of some fresh hip-hop. I saw on the World Wide Web that Median a member of the Justus League had a new cd coming out executive producded by 9th Wonder and Phonte with guest spots from Phonte, Khrysis, Yazarah, and one of my all time favorites Bahamadia.

I am going to keep this light I checked out the cd on my phone after downloading and was head rocking from the first track. My fave tracks on the cd so far after a day of listening are: Turn You On, Okie Dokers, Special, and Right but you need to check out the entire cd it’s a must listen to all elements are represented correctly. I had flashbacks to the early 90’s with the way the songs flow you can put this on and go about your business no need for fast-forward.

If you do one thing pick up “Sender” and open up your ear drums to a real fresh breath of hip hop.

Sade

There are some people who you come across that stay with you forever whether it be an artist, actor, or friend. I remember first hearing about Sade and how she was so smooth and very easy on the eyes. I recall hearing Smooth Operator on WBMX 102.7 fm in Chicago one night while up studying I was blown away couldn’t believe the sound. Then I saw her and was just like any teenage male at the time awed by her beauty and style.

Sade became a part of my life through her music it seemed as though every album or cd was a reflection of something going on in my life at that particular time. The music was perfect for studying, reflecting, or trying to woo whoever the crush of the moment was. Then she took her long break and I learned how to deal with life without her similar to being without someone you care about.

Then the return with “Lovers Rock” got my interest back though not as it once was Sade still found her way back into my life and the latest happenings with me. The next ten years or so I figured she was gone just live on the memories and hope an appearance here and there would suffice.

Solider of Love comes out of nowhere and takes us all by surprise Sade is back and with more to give. Then even more surprises she goes on tour and last night I had the pleasure of being at the show. Sade is all that voice, looks, stage presence, and bringing you back to when you fell for her.

Thank you Sade you are the BEST!!!!!

Underrated MC's Part Deux II

Yes it’s on now I got my pc up and running like a marathon runner. So here is Part Deux of my most underrated MC’s. I received feed back from one of the most intelligent brothers I know Stephen Bradberry who gave me a couple of names I left of the original list so with no further hesitatation here it is damn:

Chuck D (Lyrically Politically, and just dope Thanks brother Steve)
Hieroglyphics Crew (Thank you Steve again brought a whole new sound Left Coast)
Redman (Reggie Noble been doing it for years)
A Tribe Called Quest (Top 3 Groups of All-Time)
De La Soul (They went from picking daises to leaving lacerations around the mic)
MC Lyte (From Cha-Cha to Keep On Keeping On)
Cee-Lo (Before Forget You he was dope in Goodie Mob)
Grand Puba (His solo ish was dope)
Pharcyde (Passin Me By you still rock that I know you do)
Strong Arm Steady (I was taken aback these cats GO HARD)
Dilated Peoples (Real music and real lyrics)
Jurassic 5 (5 different lyricists with 5 mic results)
Company Flow (Rawkus at its best)

So if you agree or disagree let me know we can always do a Part Trey (III). Hit me on Facebook or Da Twitter @big_oof70

My List of Underrated MC"s

Yes I am back to blogging took a break had to get my thoughts together after my father's passing so I celebrated his life with music of course. So I have been listening to a lot of hip hop especially golden era hip hop from 1989-1995 some may disagree on the dates but hey its just my opinion. The list includes MC's from all eras ....

I have complied my list of some of the most underrated cats to bless the M-I-C so check it out and if you disagree please feel free to say so...

In no particular order:

Jadakiss (his flow is crazy and dope lyrics)
AZ (Sugar Hill was tip of iceberg his music is real)
Black Thought (how he gets left off lists is amazing)
CL Smooth (lyrics, swag, and punchlines)
DJ Quik (more than just beats)
Moutain Brothers (yes you tube them classic)
Bahamadia ( just dope nuff said)
Ghostface (just feel never got his due)
Pharaoh Monch (consistent)
Boots from the Coup (political genius)
Devin the Dude (Southern word play)
Phonte (wordplay, timing, crazy skills)
Royce Da 5'9 (Detroit's Finest to me)
Black Milk ( Young gun bringing it)
Slum Village Bataan, T3, Elzhi, and JDilla (Legendary)
8Ball&MJG (Memphis Representing Car Speaker Muzik)
Mr.Cheeks (NY for real youtube Lost Boyz)


These are just some of the people I will be doing a part II soon...

For Colored Girls My 2 Cents

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf is a play written in 1975 a collection of 20 poems that are performed by seven different women? The play written by Ntozake Shange and was made into a movie in 2009.

The movie’s release has made for a lot of discussion on whether it should have been released as well as the choice for the director of the project. I was not surprised that the play is now a movie but I was a little surprised at who was tapped to direct the project. I have my issues with the director about his previous movies and their portrayal of blacks. The casting of the female characters of the movie was excellent with a wide range of talented black actors who care about bringing a script to life. There seems to be two topics of contention about the movie how black men are portrayed and why we do not have more positive black images on screen.

I feel black men do get a bad rap on screen and there have been some improvements but overall it seems our faults are magnified on screen with the world to see. Are we perfect? No but there is more to black men then the parts we play on the big screen. Positive images of blacks in movies is dictated by the box office numbers in my opinion if movies with positive images are in the top five for the opening weekend and stay there for a few weeks then there will be more of those movies made. Movies with dark and painful stories about black men and women will make more money they will be in the top five and receive the critical acclaim, which keeps those scripts in demand. We need balance in the roles black men play in movies on a more consistent basis.

The Roots "How I Got Over" Review

I was introduced to the Legendary Roots Crew in the 90’s and was hooked. The meeting of live instruments with Black Thought’s flow was it for me. This is hip hop in one if its purest forms. The live shows are an experience every music fan should have at least once in life. I must admit I wasn’t feeling the last three cd’s like I thought I would and I was thinking maybe it was due to my musical tastes venturing into other arenas. When I heard “How I Got Over” was due out I got excited like I did for the Phrenology cd back in ’02. so as I saw the track listing my excitement waned some with all the guest appearances. I was being selfish I just wanted Black Thought and band to give me dope music and raw lyrics that made me nod my head.


I take back my reservations about the guest appearances concerning the cd with Phonte (Foreign Exchange and Little Brother) bringing his patent flow to the track “The Day” which may be one of the sleeper tracks of the summer along with Patty Crash and Blu whose hook is in there . “Doing It Again” featuring John Legend was better than expected I have to say Mr. Legend came through on the vocals and Thought, come on you know he did his thing. I am not a big Dice Raw fan but he brought it on “Walk Alone” and “Radio Daze” along with Phonte. “Dear God 2.0” is a must listen to please put your IPod on and just let it take you on a ride. The title track “How I Got Over” is the crews classic sound and Black Thought‘s flow is out of this word he just rides the beat the whole track and the hook fills in perfectly. The surprise track for me was the bonus track “Hustla” with STS had that real hip hop feel and closed out the cd on the right vibe.

Overall The Legendary did their thing but it was too short with all the nonsense out there they could’ve had 12-15 tracks of real hip hop. The Dilla interlude should’ve been an entire song that was just a teaser. This is definitely one for the collection and will help you enjoy the summer that much more. Black Thought is the most underrated MC's of all time for real he needs to be recognized.