FUPM - "Alright, Alright" x "Dope Out My Window"

FUPM. It stands for Fuck You, Pay Me, and I'm not one to argue with these guys (download links aside). FUPM is Bobby Creekwater and Stat Quo. Both have made a name for themselves independently; Bobby Creekwater as a once "next up" emcee who never made that final leap to the mainstream (we've featured him on the site before), and Stat Quo was the second emcee signed to Aftermath Records after 50 Cent.

They're both undoubtedly talented rappers, but before now neither had found a sound that fit either of them. Now, together, they have. Maybe it was age, experience, or just a change in the culture around them, but these two songs are some of my very favorites to slap with the windows down rolling around town once summer arrives. There's a supposed album in the works very soon, but FUPM's social media accounts haven't been exactly prolific recently. So, I'll use this post as hype for something that might not even exist. Never discount the power of hype.

The first track samples and is based around a Kevin Hart joke, but despite any apparent facetiousness, I too found myself chanting "alright, alright, alriiiiight" after the first few listens. Bobby Creekwater and Stat Quo trade verses throughout the song, both absolutely killing the track. The second song especially embodies why these songs are excellent. The song is ostensibly about smoking copious amounts of marijuana and having that shit flow out the window with abandon. I liken it to when I roll down the windows so that everyone has to hear the audio dope* I have turned up beyond loud. It's near impossible to pick out a favorite verse from these songs, so I'll just leave you with these bars from Bobby Creekwater, who shows that swagger is only played out when the term is used undeservedly. These muthafuckas have some swagger.

"I got one night, with an appetite
and a swagger this bitch just have to like /
she got half a night to rock half the mic
she gon' probably remember this in the afterlife"

"Alright, Alright"
"Dope Out My Window"


Previous: Bobby Creekwater - "2 Far Gone" x "I Hate You Too"

*Credit, Curren$y

OutKast - "Last Call" (feat. Slimm Calhoun, Lil' Jon & The Eastside Boyz, & Mello)

Quick post today since I'm out of town:

Even though Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was labeled as an OutKast album, in reality it was just Three Stacks and Left Foot's first solo albums that they released together. Only two of the thirty-nine tracks feature the ATLiens performing together.

The Love Below is more popular, with hits like "Hey Ya!" and "Roses." It also features more singing than rapping from André 3000, which is perfectly fine. I hold that Benjamin and Lauryn Hill are the only people on earth talented enough to pull off both (to which the new wave of rappers bears increasing testimony--as much as I love J. Cole the emcee, I hate J. Cole the tone deaf singer who ruins J. Cole the emcee's songs).

But Speakerboxxx is the better pure hip hop album and my favorite of the two. From the booming bass of the "Intro/Ghetto Musick" to "Church" to the Hova-assisted "Flip Flop Rock" to the closing "Last Call" there isn't a single skippable song on the album. Big Boi often gets overshadowed in everyone's love of his recording partner, but he's a Top-15 emcee in his own right. Any Top-25 list is not to be taken seriously without mentioning Patton somewhere on the list.

"Last Call" is a sneaky good party track that a surprising amount of people haven't heard (mostly because a lot of people just pay attention to singles). Its one of my personal favorites and is one of the best ATL songs. Bump it at the party this weekend and, whatever your plans, remember to stay classy.

Peace, Love, & ATLiens,

Noah

Previous: Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Kryptonite (I'm On It)"

Big Boi, Killer Mike, BlackOwned, C-Bone & Rock D - "Kryptonite (I'm On It)"

An underrated ATL classic, "Kryptonite" is a song ideally meant to be blasted in the car, headphones, or on a superb speaker system. It doesn't get as many spins as it deserves simply because a lot of people haven't heard it (the track was relegated to Purple Ribbon's 2005 collaborative album Got Purp, Vol.2 rather than a Big Boi solo album). Still, I defy you not to get amped up as you listen to this song.

Bobby Creekwater - "2 Far Gone" x "I Hate You Too" (feat. Mickey Factz & Kardinal Offishall)

It's been far too long since we last checked in with Mr. Creekwater.  Creek is one of the few true dual-threats in hip hop today, an emcee/producer who is equally dope at both aspects of music-making.  "Hello World" was one of the five best songs of 2009 and The Day It All Made $ense (of which "2 Far Gone" is a superb example) ended up making my year's end list.

Enlisting the help of former XXL freshman Micky Factz and the supremely talented Kardinal Offishall, Creek's "I Hate You Too" is off his forthcoming project, The Birth of a Dictator.  I'll take this song as an indication that The Birth of a Dictator will live up to the Necktie Guy's recent run of near-classic material.  2011 looks to be the year that Creekwater emerges as a major player on the mainstream level.  Enjoy.

"I Hate You Too" (feat. Mickey Factz & Kardinal Offishall)
"2 Far Gone" (feat. Junior Varsity)

Pill - 4075: The Refill [No DJ]

It was a major oversight on my part not downloading this mixtape back in 2009 and I hope you won't repeat my mistake.  Had I heard it back then, it would have easily slotted near the top of my favorite mixtapes of that year.  The album features Pill going in over new instrumentals produced primarily by Seattle duo, Tha Bizness, as well as adding his spin to several classics such as Nas' "Got Ur Self A," the Geto Boys' "Mind Playin' Tricks On Me," OutKast's "Two Dope Boyz," and Pac's "Keep Ya Head Up."

As always, the ATLien absolutely dominates each track, bringing an intense delivery and intricate rhyme schemes unmatched by nearly any other rapper in the game today.  Cuts include, "Hear Somebody Comin'," "Music," and "We Don't Even Know."  The Refill provides substantial evidence for why XXL chose him along with the likes of J. Cole and Freddie Gibbs as a member of their freshman class last year.  Pill is one of the most talented up-and-coming rappers and I highly reccomend downloading this mixtape as well as The Overdose, which features more original production and was one of the best tapes of 2010.  Pill's debut album, The Medicine, is sure to alleviate many hip hop heads who have been sick of most post-OutKast southern hip hop.  Hit the jump for the tracklist/link.

T.I. - "Rubberband Man" x "Why You Wanna"

We'll stay in the ATL for this next post.  The self-proclaimed "King of the South," T.I. has never quite lived up to his title.  While other Southern rappers such as OutKast, Scarface, and Wayne (pre-CIII) all offer better claims to the title, Clifford Harris's reign only occurred for a short period of 2006.  While King was a monumental album and one of the best, non-OutKast, projects to come out of Atlanta, the rest to T.I.'s career has been marked predominantly by popular singles rather than critically-acclaimed albums.

OutKast - "Gasoline Dreams"

I don't know why, but I woke up this morning and really just wanted to listen to this Stankonia classic.  It's going to be a good day.

Don't everybody like the smell of gasoline, well burn motherf***er, burn American Dreams!

OutKast - "Gasoline Dreams"
Previous: Big Boi - "Daddy Fat Sax" x "Last Call"

Big Boi - "Daddy Fat Sax" x "Last Call"

For one reason or another, many hip hop heads have always considered Big Boi to be living in the shadows of fellow OutKast member, André 3000.  Not to take anything away from Three Stacks—as far as rhymesayers go, he’s as innovative as they come—but I’ve always viewed Big Boi an equal member of the groundbreaking duo and actually consider his half of the group’s 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx, to be better from a hip hop standpoint than Dré’s The Love Below.  While André has always been more in the vein of a male Lauryn Hill and is really the only artist other than Hill who can pull off singing and rapping, Big Boi has always kept the group grounded in hip hop sensibilities.

Hollyweerd - "Supa Eazy"

I think I was just about the only person who wasn't a fan of Hollyweerd's last release, Candy For Kleptos.  I'm definitely feeling cut though as every member of the Atlanta group simply goes in.  Reminds me a lot of old OutKast/Dungeon Family.  Edible Phat 2.0 drops later today, so check back for the link.

OutKast - "Slump" (feat. Backbone & Cool Breeze)

Originality is something greatly lacking in today's hip hop community.  Many of the trends in today's genre can be traced back to Atlanta group OutKast.  Today there is no dearth of Spacemans, KiD CuDis, Lil' Waynes, of Dyme Defs that label themselves as martian rappers, but this trend dates back OutKast's landmark 1996 album, ATLiens.  Artists like Drake, B.o.B, and CuDi are credited as innovative rapper/singer hybrids, but the tradition dates back to the Fugees' Lauryn Hill and OutKast's André 3000.  Twelve years ago, the ATLiens released one of the most innovative and experimental albums in hip hop history with their third project, Aquemini.

B.o.B Goes Platinum

So, word on the street is that ATLien/singer/producer/emcee/superstar B.o.B aka Bobby Ray has officially sold a milli for his hit single with Bruno Mars, "Nothin' On You."  I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to give shine to one of his better mixtapes, B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray.  Hit the jump for the tracklist/download link, a song featuring T.I. and Luda, and make sure to go pre-order one of the top albums of 2009.  The Adventures of Bobby Ray is set to drop April 27th

B.o.B - "Satellite" x "Bet I" (feat. T.I. & Playboy Tre)

The latest two songs to be leaked off of B.o.B's debut, The Adventures of Bobby Ray.  I personally prefer the prior track, but I'm still somewhat feeling the collab track with fellow Atlanta artists T.I. and Playboy Tre.  It definitely sounds like a track intended to chart, but it's not quite as good as "Nothin' On You."  Hit the jump for the official tracklist for the album due out on April 27th (the Lupe track is gonna be bananas).

B.o.B - "Satellite"

B.o.B - "Bet I" (feat. T.I & Playboy Tre)

Previous: B.o.B feat. Big Boi & Bruno Mars - "Nothin' On You Rmx"

B.o.B - "Nothin' On You (Remix)" (Feat. Big Boi & Bruno Mars)

Sir Luscious Left Foot joins his fellow ATLien B.o.B on the remix of his run away hit.  Big Boi's debut solo album (if you don't count Speakerboxxx) has been delayed until May 4th, but The Adventures of Bobby Ray has been pushed forward to April 27th...should be an interesting eight days for Atlanta hip hop.

Previous: That's That Mixtape, Vol. SE7EN

Bobby Creekwater - "Exhibit B.C. (Squared)" [Video]

The Necktie Guy drops off the visuals for his track off of Back 2 The Briefcase.  Bobby Creek is that dude, and I think this version may just be better than Jay Electronica's original.

B.o.B aka Bobby Ray - "Generation Lost"

One of the many freshman from the class of '09 not to drop an album over the course of the past year, 2010 is looking up for ATLien Bobby Ray.  B.o.B is set to drop his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, on May 25th, which looks to be one of the most anticipated albums of the year.  Ray is superb lyrically as displayed on this song.  For those of you who want to catch up with B.o.B, I suggest downloading Should Have Been the First Album (basically a greatest hits collection).  I've also linked the first single leaked off the album, "Nothin' On You," featuring singer Bruno Mars.

"Generation Lost"

"Nothin' On You"

Bobby Creekwater - "Pardon My French"

And the fact is, I am that ill,

Whatever Neo had to swallow I am that pill.

Another dope track from the Necktie Guy.  2010 is about to be Bobby Creekwater's year.  You heard it here first.  This track is off of his forthcoming mixtape, Back 2 the Briefcase II.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,
WordIsBorn

Previous: What's In Rotation, Vol. 5

Small Eyez - "Open Wide" (prod. by WrighTrax)

Considering that it was my #4 EP of 2009, I figured I should give some shine to this glossy project from Georgia native, Small Eyez.  Backed by beats from fellow ATLien WrighTrax, Small Eyez delivers a smooth flow matched with clever one-liners that will have you hitting the rewind.  For the full project download/artwork/tracklist, hit the jump.

Small Eyez - "Open Wide" (prod. by WrighTrax)

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

WordIsBorn

Donnis - [Update] Diary of An ATL Brave: Presented by 10.Deep

I hadn't heard of Donnis before a couple weeks ago, but I'll trust the 10.Deep co-sign as they've put out mixtapes by Kid Cudi and Wale before.  The Mixtape is mixed solely by DJ Benzi and Mick Boogie (so you know it's going to be dope).  Delivery-wise, Donnis reminds me of fellow ATL rapper T.I. with better lyrics, at least on the song "Country Cool."  Cuts include "Beginnings," "Gone," and "Over Do It," but the mixtape is solid top to bottom.  UPDATE: If you haven't downloaded this mix yet, I urge you to do so immediately.  This mixtape is possibly the best blend of pop/party/lyrical depth that I've heard in a 12-track mixtape.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,
Noah

Bobby Creekwater - "Hello World"

This is the first song from Bobby Creekwater that I have given a good listen to.  Although I have a few songs on my iTunes library from the ATL-based producer/emcee from Eminem Presents The Re-Up, I'll be the first to admit that I made that purchase more for the"Eminem Presents" of the title.

This track, released for free a few weeks ago, is one of the BEST I've heard in a while.  The boy goes hard over the Jay-Z beat "December 4th" (one of my favorite tracks off of The Black Album).  Creekwater's flow and delivery reminds me a little bit of Lil' Wayne with the exception that nearly every line oozes of lyrical dopeness and I may have broken my rewind button thinking, "did he really just say that?"  I don't want to ruin it for you, so I won't quote you every line I love from the song, but I love the ending where he delivers an inspired message to the (black) youth, which I love as a young wigga:

Don't just go hard, go harder/ Don't just be a mogul, be Shawn Carter/ Don't just ball out, nigga King James/ Or matter a fact Kobe Byrant when the rings came/ Don't just serve niggas, be Serena/ And don't get caught sleepin', nigga be a dreamer...This is no time for relaxin'/ Don't be great, nigga be Michael Jackson.

The Day It All Made $ense dropping this month.