My favorite mixtapes out now

Many artists have dropped mixtapes and albums in the last year.

Even though I try to listen to every kind of rapper, some of my favorite CD's are from some of my favorite artists.

Wiz Khalifa recently dropped a mixtape entitled Taylor Allderdice. This mixtape features artists like Chevy Woods, Juicy J, Lola Monroe, and other artists from the Taylor Gang group.

Khalifa is planning on dropping his second recording album in the summer of 2012 entitled O.N.I.F.C. (One Nigga In First Class).

Mac Miller dropped his mixtape project called Macadelic. This mixtape features artists from Cam'ron to Lil Wayne to Kendrick Lamar.
















Soulja Boy also dropped a new mixtape this year called
OBEY. Soulja works with different artists from his label
S.O.D.M.G.









YMCMB's Tyga recently dropped a mixtape called
#BitchImTheShit.

He hopes to drop his new album entitled Last King
sometime this year.












You can download all of these mixtapes for free at datpiff.

Inked up and Tatted...

 Tattoos are a symbol of self-expression.
They are special to some people are mean a lot the them.

Some people get them to remember love ones or to show
how much they love the ones that are alive now.

People get tattoos to show their feelings and to tell people what is just what is on their minds. Many rappers talk about their tats in their raps. From artists like Wiz Khlifa to Lil Wayne to Soulja, tattoos have become a bit of a characteristic for some rappers.

XXL

Okay so, every year XXL magazine puts out a Top 10 Freshman list. This list is compiled of ten new HipHop artists who they believe are ready to be successful mainstream artists.

I for one do not completely agree with this year's list. I do, however, like Kid Ink, Machine Gun Kelly, French Montana, and Roscoe Dash.

Everyone has their own taste in music. Most of the artist of this year's list just do not fit my taste at all.

The artists are selected from how strong their fan base is, music and internet buzz, and future potential. If you ask me, I do not see most of these artists making it far in HipHop.

And the F is for...

Dwayne Carter, Lil Wayne, Weezy, Weezy F. Baby, Birdman Jr.

No matter which name you call her, there is no doubt that Lil Wayne is one of the best rap artists in the game. Born in New Orleans, Weezy has been rapping since the age of 13.  He was made countless records and has sold countless albums.

Know a lot for his metaphors, wordplay, tattoos, and smoking/drinking habits, Lil Wayne has had a major influence on HipHop.

He has even started his own record label called Young Money Cash Money Billionaires (YMCMB).

The Weed They Smoke...

If you are a major fan of Hip Hop like I am, you would know how much marijuana is involved in the rap game. Time after time, artists have talked about smoking all types of weed. Many rappers are mostly known for smoking weed alone:

• Snoop Dogg
• Wiz Khalifa
• Lil Wayne
• Red Man
• Method Man
• Curren$y
• Kid Cudi
• 2Pac
• Mac Miller

I for one am not against this, but at the same time, I do not promote it. I believe artists are allowed to the talk about they feel no matter what others think about it.

Actor turned Rapper

One of my new top artists is Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. Some of you may know him as Troy on NBC's Community. Even though he has been acting most of his life, he has never strayed away from writing and making music. Born in New York but now living in California, Gambino is really starting to buzz in the Hip Hop game. When it comes to music, he is known for his dirty but still nerdy lyrics.

Even though his twitter does not have as many followers as other main stream rappers, he is definitely on the Up N' Up!

What's your style?

Anyone who truly knows Hip-Hop, knows that it comes in different styles and sub-genres. Most MC's tend to make to the same kind of music throughout their careers. This is the same for time periods. Hip-Hop changes from year to year, decade to decade. If you asked me, I would say that my favorite time in Hip-Hop history is the 1990's. And my favorite sub-genre would have to be Up-town beat-street.

Like I said before, Hip-Hop has sub-genres.

• Up-town beat-street; Nas, Jay-Z Biggie Smalls, KRS1, Method Man, Wu Tang Clan, 50 cent, Square Off, Diggy, Mac Miller, etc.

• West Coast; Snoop Dogg, NWA, Wiz Khalifa, Nate Dog, Ice Cube, Kid Ink, 2Pac, Tyga, E-40, etc.

• Down South; Lil John, Ludacris, Travis Porter, Lil Wayne, B.o.B, Big K.R.I.T., UGK, OutKast, Paul Wall, Ying Yang Twins, Waka Flocka, Gucci Mane etc.

Everyone was music that they listen to because it reflects their life. For instance, if someone likes to party, get drunk and fight a lot, they might listen to Waka Flocka. If someone likes the hang out, smoke weed, and have fun, they might listen to Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, or Mac Miller. If someone likes to breakdown life, talk about the world and how we can change it, they might listen to KRS1, Common, Nas, or Biggie.


I challenge you to pick your favorite sub-genre of Hip-Hop. Figure out what songs speak to you. Which ones can you truly relate to. If you pay close attention, we can see that Hip-Hop is not just for blacks or urban people. Hip-Hop is for the world. It is the voice of the people.

T.G.O.D.

Okay so if you know me, you that Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa, is my favorite Hip-Hop artist. I have been listening to his music even since his first official mixtape Prince of the City. I must say that his music is completely different from almost every rapper I have listened to. If I had to compare to anyone else, I would probably have to say Snoop Dogg.


What is Taylor Gang?
Taylor Gang is group of people who love to enjoy life. They are mostly known for wearing Chuck Taylor sneakers, smoking weed, and partying. But they are a lot deeper than that. The Taylors believe in being free and taking any shit from anyone. And when it comes to the music they make, you can hear the unity and friendship in it.

Rolling Papers

• On March 29, 2011, Wiz Released his first mainstream studio album entitled Rolling Papers which debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. His two biggest hits from the album, Black & Yellow and Roll Up, landed number 1 spots on BET's 106 & park and can still be heard on TV, laptops, and cars around the U.S. In the album, you really see his personality come through the mic and into the songs. He talks about his everyday life; friends concerts day to day activities, and women. 
• He currently working on his second studio album entitled O.N.I.F.C. (One Night In First Class).

Most Dope Rap!

And they said whites can't rap! If you believe, than you must not know real music. Yes I said it!

One of my favorite rappers is Pittsburgh native Malcolm McCormick aka Mac Miller. I think that one of the main reasons I connect to his music so much is because we are the same age. Another is reason is the topics he talks about in his music. Most of his music talks about just having fun with life and not stressing over the little things.

Starting out under the name Easy Mac as a young teenager, Mac Miller brought back something Hip-Hop had been missing for a while; real lyrics and dope music. One of his best musical feats, to me, is that he chooses to say an independent artist. Most Hip-Hop artists become sucked into rap labels and end up changing their music; sometimes for the worse. Mac wants to do it our his own and his music speaks for itself.


His first BIG mixtape is entitled K.I.D.S. (Kickin' some Incredibly Dope Shit). It could considered his best and most deserve mixtape. It has music for all kinds of Hip-Hop lovers.

• Freestyles
• Remixes
• Tributes
• Interludes
• etc.

This is a video is my favorite song from the mixtape called Kool-Aid and Frozen Pizza

Here is another video from the mixtape called Knock Knock

Mac recently released his very first album entitled Blue Side Park. He is truly on his way!

The Birth of a Genre

In the late 1970's, music played a major role in American culture. Urban culture needed their own type of music that told their story, and so, Hip-Hop was created. In New York City, specifically the Bronx, rapping became very popular on street corners and subways. African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans would stand in large circles and take turns spitting rhymes at each other. This is what we would call a "cypher". The rappers would try to match their flow a beat-boxer standing next to them, who later would be replaced by a DJ.

Hip-Hop had four major pillars; MCing (or rapping), DJing, B-boying (or street dancing), and Graffiti writing.

• MCs are the most important people in Hip-Hop. If they are accompanied with a great DJ, the sound they make they can be soul moving. 
• DJs are not just people behind a table who play the music. Are they Hip-Hop's heartbeat. They can bring life a dull party and are the perfect compliment to a good MC.
• What can I say about B-boys? They are more than just backup dancers. They are Hip-Hop in a physical form. They find ways to use the beat of the music to create flashy moves, twists and turns that can be mind blowing.
• Then we have Graffiti aka Hip-Hop's art. Graffiti artist, also known as tagger, when go around the city spray painting phrases and crew names on building walls and playgrounds. It has always been illegal but sometimes self-expression can not be censored. 

The true meaning of Hip-Hop is to tell the world what goes on the urban neighborhoods. It tackles the issues of drug dealing, poverty, racism, fun, relationships, and family problems.

"Hip-hop is supposed to uplift and create, to educate people on a larger level and to make a change." -Doug E. Fresh

" Hip-hop has done so much for racial relations, and I don't think it's given the proper credit. It has changed America immensely. I'm going to make a very bold statement: Hip-hop has done more than any leader, politician, or anyone to improve race relations." -Jay Z