Assorted Notes (and Songs) from the Field

New bumper sticker: Rap Is Gay

- As soon as I post a list of the best albums, a new Camp Lo joint leaks, precipitating passing heart palpitations. Upon a single listen, I am ready to declare it worthy of Album-of-the-Year consideration--their sound is distinct, and it oozes style. From the first song to the last, this record, Black Hollywood, is quite a treat. Buy this joint!

Camp Lo, "Sweet Claudine"

- And, it seems like just yesterday I had anointed the worst rap albums of the year. But then I heard the new Freeky Zekey mixtape Book of Ezekiel, and I've now had to recalibrate just what it means to suck. On the mic, Zekey sounds like a mentally challenged version of Damon Dash. He has the worst, stiffest () delivery I can recall, and the production is a disaster. Wow. They should send him back to jail for this.

- Sticking with the Dips, some smart, funny dudes over at Fish & Crown put together a nice little parody remix of Cam's "Suck It or Not" video:


- A few weeks ago, I posted a T.I. review that referenced Joe Esposito's "You're the Best." Internets heavyweight Zilla flipped it into a hip-hop instrumental. If REO Speedwagon and Foreigner and every other cheesy thing can find it's way into a rap song, why not this?

Zilla, "You're the Best (Instrumental)"

Bonus: Clean Guns and Jamie Radford, "Tuba Thump"

- New isht from Strong Arm Steady, a self-proclaimed California underground "super group" composed of Phil the Agony, Mitchy Slick, and Krondon. Their album drops August 28th. They had that one song with Talib, "One Step," which was pretty good, and this is more of the same. I'll be checking for more.

Strong Arm Steady ft. Chace Infinite, "Again"

- Peep game: Rosenberg's World. Nice site, even nicer radio show. My man didn't like it when I spit that real talk about Miss Jones at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (please get her fired for her ignorance), but no one's perfect.

- Peep game: Chickens Don't Clap. Best blog title in the world.

- Peep game: sportsnipe. A sports RSS site worth a look around.

- If there were to be a live-action Thundercats movie...