My name's Jake Bourey, and I've dedicated a significant portion of my life to music and deciphering the science behind its beauty. As you can guess from my blog's title, I'm especially passionate about hip-hop. I post and review the best songs hip-hop has to offer, old and new. Most are in the “underground” genre, considering that’s where the vast majority of hip-hop's true art resides these days.
“Fuck a rat race, take the cheese, jack cheddar from the make believe, break the trees on they eighth CD. Rockin the red and black lumberjack faithfully. I’m a Brooklyn Nigga, basicallY.”
Capital STEEZ - Free the Robots
Jamal Dewar, also known as Capital STEEZ, was the late member of Pro Era that committed suicide on December 24th of 2012. He was one of the founders of the group and, in my opinion, was on par with Joey to be one of the standout members. Unfortunately his life and legacy was cut short leaving us with only what could have been. What I appreciate about STEEZ is how he blends his rough rhyme style with such jazzy and fluid beats. He adds so much emotion to his delivery that on any track he gets on his verse seems to stand out because of it, even if it is not the most technical in wordplay or syntax. On Free the Robots, STEEZ takes a personal stance on some of the corrupt circumstances he sees that we live in. Gradually becoming more aggressive with his flow as the beautiful beat of Diary (prod. by Free the Robots) progresses, he goes on to detail what frustrates him to ending with a declaration to never submit to the vicious life cycle of the hood that continues to swallow the youth that live there. Hip hop lost a true conscious member of its community last year, but songs that STEEZ has left behind can still be cherished. Although once you hear his passion and emotion you will start to feel the disappointment I felt once you realize something good is gone forever.
Favorite Bars -
“It’s a shame that flippin’ crack will be
The best alternative if you don’t make it rappin’
These crack houses and trap houses are trappin’ us in
And in the end we’re gonna remain stagnant
I ain’t havin’ it”
Hip-Hop Fights Back follower submitted review by natethegr8e
“This is for my real hip-hop fans and ‘em
I dispose for ‘em, leave fake MC’s in the post mortem”
Joey Bada$$ - 20 Miles
Back in the day Joey went by the name “JayOhVee” and was planning on releasing his first mixtape at 16. He recorded some one take songs for it including 20 Miles, but since the mixtape was never released the songs stayed trapped on Joey’s computer, until now. He released 20 Miles a couple days ago, and it represents some of his earliest recording. I find it amusing yet sad that at 16 his lyrics are doper than 99% of all the other rappers out there. I still affirm though that the music Earl Sweatshirt released while he was 16 is still the greatest work to be released by any hip-hop artist at 16, or that early in their career. Joey Bada$$ has obviously refined his style since this was recorded, and I hope to see this trend continue. In a few years I can see him having one of the sharpest flows in hip-hop history, which is very appropriate since he’s from New York. If you weren’t aware, New York is home to the sharpest flowing rappers in history, such as Big L, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Biggie, just to name a few. Joey just needs to stay on his A game. I’ve already posted some of my other favorite songs by Joey Bada$$, such as Unorthodox (prod. by DJ Premier), Righteous Minds, and Indubitable, which you check out if you haven’t already
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My Song Rating: 8.25 out of 10
Played 797 times.
“Fuck a rat race, take the cheese, jack cheddar from the make believe, break the trees on they eighth CD. Rockin the red and black lumberjack faithfully. I’m a Brooklyn nigga, basically.”
This makes me happy.
Joey Bada$$ vs Earl Sweatshirt
(East Coast vs West Coast)
Overall I’d have to go with Earl Sweatshirt. Both Joey and Earl are only 18, but they are already some of the best lyricists in the game. Earl is on anther level though. The amount of time and effort he puts into his verses is astounding. I also love both of their flows, but I prefer Earl’s froggy marbled flow to Joey’s sharp New York style flow.
In the end though we’re all winners if this is what the future of hip-hop holds. Joey and Earl are going to have amazing careers, and I have a good feeling once they perfect their craft they’ll be cranking out hip-hop classics left and right. They’ve already more than proven themselves capable of such a feat.
These are some of my favorite songs by both artists that I’ve posted thus far.
His last verse in Indubitable always gets me. He flows over his own complexity so easily. In 5 years he’ll be a household name. Just watch.
“Joey got enough line to capture a Great White
I get more shine than late night, I’m a beast who ain’t ate right
Back up on my mojo, I’ll show you what apes like
Nigga it’s JoJo, They on my pogo, no homo
I ride the beat like the man on my polo
Ya’ll some bozos, I’m underage, but pour more though
That Roso got me moving slow-mo
I’m taking photos with your ho-ho
Chris Cringlely gifted, I’m ill with the writtens
Got my finger to the world, Fuck it a fist then
Sit back and look at what you been missin’, nigga”
This is definitely in my top 3 verses by him.
Joey Bada$$ - Unorthodox (prod. by DJ Premier)
As I’ve said before, if Raekwon and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan did a fusion dance and then went back in time so Raekwon Man was only 18…you’d end up with Joey Bada$$. His 90’s New York style flow really makes him stand out in this day and age of watered down music. He spits that uncut raw, and the fact that he actually has exceedingly intelligent lyrics makes his sharp bars that much more hard hitting. The first time I heard his song Righteous Minds or his solid feature on A$AP Rocky’s 1 Train I knew he was going to make something truly specular someday soon. Well here it is…Joey Bada$$’s best song thus far, enjoy.
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My Song Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Played 941 times.If Raekwon and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan did a fusion dance and then went back in time so Raekwon Man was only 18…you’d end up with Joey Bada$$. His 90’s New York flow really makes him stand out in this day and age of music.
I’m very pro ProEra. They’re still starting out, but I feel like once they’ve truly mastered their craft they’ll be a real force to be reckoned with within hip-hop. They’re kinda like Wu-Tang Clan in a way, but all way younger, so they still have plenty of time to get some classics under their belt before they’re at that point.
Yeah, I didn’t have too much respect for Lil B to begin with, and now he’s pretty much depleted it all. Seriously, why the fuck did he think he could do that? Joey Bada$$ make’s infinitely better music than Lil B, and it’s a commonly known fact.
I actually I already posted a pretty extensive review for A$AP Rocky’s 1 Train about a month and a half ago, and I rated it the 23rd best song of 2012 on my “60 Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2012” list, which you should check out if you haven’t already. It’s truly one of the most diverse hip-hop songs ever released.
It also has more notes than any of my other song posts. It currently rests at 730.
24th May 2013
Notes: 335
