Now Playing: Toxic Avenger – N’importe comment (feat. Orelsan)

Excuse for a second that this song is in French, and just enjoy the music.

Thank Me Later… right now

As many of you know, Drake’s first studio album, Thank Me Later, has leaked ahead of its June 15th release date.  I’ve gotten a chance to listen to it a couple of times and overall, its cool.  Lots of tracks leaked early (at least four by my count: Fireworks, Unforgettable, Light Up, and Miss Me), and when you add the two singles Over and Find Your Love, almost half the album was out on the interwebz for weeks.  I was a little disappointed when I finally got to listen to the finished product (or at least, very near finished) and all the stuff I heard early was the hottest stuff on the album.

I’m not going to do a track by track breakdown like I’ve done in the past; instead, I’ll just try to give you an overview of the whole thing and get you to the download as quickly as possible (most of y’all are probably scanning for the download link now).  To put it succinctly, it’s solid.  The production is hot for the most part, Drake’s flow is solid on pretty much every track, high profile guest appearance’s are present, he’s got introspective joints, joints for the ladies, joints for the clubs… But I can’t help but feel like not a classic.  It’s no Food and Liquor; it’s no College Dropout; it’s no Reasonable Doubt.  You could even argue it’s no So Far Gone.  I think Thank Me Later is a victim of unreasonable hype.  Drake would have had to put out one of the best albums EVER in order to live up to the hype surrounding him.  Thank Me Later is good.  It will most likely be up for Rap Album of the Year when it’s all said and done, but I think the door is still open for Lasers and Good Ass Job (if either of them makes it out this year) to claim those honors.

HOT:

Fireworks ft. Alicia Keys, The Resistance, Unforgettable ft. Young Jeezy, Light Up ft. Jay-Z, Miss Me ft. Lil Wayne, Thank Me Now

HONORABLE MENTION:

Shut It Down ft. The-Dream (last verse/interlude), Over

FINAL GRADE: B

Now, get it here! via Str8krack.com (PSA: Support artists you like.  Go cop in stores, or via Amazon, Zune, or iTunes when the thing drops June 15th)

Agree with my review?  Think I’m way off base? Download link dead?  Leave a comment.

Free Music Friday

I know it’s really Saturday… Don’t get too mad at me y’all… I woke up late yesterday and it kinda messed up a brotha’s schedule for the rest of the day.  I ain’t forget about y’all tho.  Here’s another drop to start off your three-day weekend on the right foot.  This one comes from the gruesome twosome from Virgina.  Yep, I’m talking about Clipse.  And their latest album, Til the Casket Drops, despite being well received by those familiar with the group, has gotten little press and recognition by the general public (as was the case with almost all of their albums).  So here it is for you to download and enjoy.  If you like it, don’t forget to go out and cop in the store or iTunes or Amazon, or however you get your music… I know it’s a recession, but you should support artists you like.  Especially if you want them to keep entertaining you.

Song of the Week

To go along with the Free Music Friday Saturday, Song of the Week also comes from Clipse.  And since I was late, I’m giving y’all double servings of hotness.  Here are two tracks from Til the Casket Drops that I’ve been rockin’ to for a while now… Freedom, and There Was A Murder.  I like both of these so much, I let my windows down when I roll up at the parking garage at work with these joints BLASTING (well, maybe not blasting, but I don’t turn the music down lol).  Enjoy.

UPDATE: Added Life Change, just for good measure.  How are these guys not platinum?

US Doing More Than Just Sending Money

The Los Angeles County Fire Department urban search and rescue team loads equipment before heading to Haiti Jan. 12. (Reuters Photo)

So call me a bit of a cynic, but in during a short conversation with a friend of mine on Twitter, I made mention to the fact that I would be interested in what the U.S. decided to do to help the people of Haiti, outside of just sending a couple dollars.  Because while it might seem like money is the cure for all of our problems, in situations like this, money is truly worthless.

While seeing people donating to the Red Cross, it was important for me that our government step up and do something, especially if we were spending the money and resources on a war in another country to try and spread “democracy” (take the quotation marks however you’d like).  That, and its not like we have the best reputation for acting quickly bringing aid to those in need (Katrina victims in New Orleans come to mind).  Well, color me pleasantly surprised when I went on a search to see what, if anything, we as a nation were doing to help.  The article I read on the subject claims that the U.S. is “spearheading” the global response to the issue and while I’m not sure as to the accuracy of that statement, we are at least involved.  The number of troops being sent isn’t exactly firm, but based on reports thus far I think it is safe to assume that we will be sending medical care and supplies, as well as an expeditionary unit to help find survivors.  Real flesh and blood people are going to go help, and I think this will do a lot more than the reported 3 million euros — worth $4.37 million in U.S. currency — that the European Union has approved to give to Haiti.  Not that the cash isn’t a good thing (because it is), but in this instance, I’m proud that the U.S. isn’t just gonna toss some paper at the situation and call it a day.

Fox News – U.S. Spearheads Global Response to Haiti Earthquake

Now while it sounds like I’ve been bad mouthing donations or cash aid this whole article, that’s not my intent.  I just didn’t want for us as a country to be sending cash and that’s all.  But for individuals who want to contribute to the relief efforts in Haiti, a cash donation is a great idea.  By donating to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), you are helping to buy food and medical supplies, and facilitating the sending of volunteers to help.

For those that want to contribute to the effort, please check out the links below:

• American Red Cross | How to Help Haiti Quake Victims
• CNN: How you can help

If you’re getting involved, let us know what you’re doing in the comments.

Dudes getting popped over Twitter beef?

Kwame Dancy, pictured, was found dead in the streets of Harlem after being shot in the neck with a shotgun.

I think it’s quite obvious that the whole ordeal didn’t start over Twitter, but the popular social networking site was used to exchange a few “last words” between Kwame Dancy and Jameg Blake before Dancy wound up dead, shot in the neck with a shotgun.

I don’t care what it was; a girl, some cash, whatever… nothing is worth popping your childhood friend over.  And on top of that, what kinda thug uses Twitter?  I’m not saying that Twitter users are soft, but really, when did gangstas start using the internet?  If it was like that, dude could’ve hopped on Facebook and pulled another broad, easy. #kanyeshrug #imjustsaying.

Jameg Blake, 22, is accused of shooting his childhood friend, Kwame Dancy, after an argument on Twitter.

Read more about the story here.