HIp-Hop Christmas: Day 9 & 10

So I think an apology is in order. To all my dear fans or just Scott, you may have noticed I didn't post a day 9 Hip-Hop Christmas track and for that I must apologize. I had a Christmas party to attend and I was pretty strapped for time. Nonetheless, that shouldn't be used as an excuse. If anything it would be my ingestion of "festive drinks" would be better to blame for the lack of posting. Anyways with all that being said, it's time for a DOUBLE POST!!!

Hip-Hop Hanukkah: Day 8

Today we are going down a different route. In search of broadening the scope of the hip-hop inspired December holiday theme songs. Up to this point we had focused primarily on Christmas with the one tangent song that featured a fictional Jehovah's Witness' interaction with Christmas. Today though will be Christmas free. Instead we will look at a few Hanukkah inspired songs.

First, I'd like to send out some 'Happy Hanukkah' love to all my Jewish fam out there. While I couldn't find any well-known rappers who had produced Hanukkah inspired rap songs; I did find some amateur musicians who I thought still did their best to convey the spirit of the holidays. Though if we are lucky we could possibly see a Shyne track that could change the whole Hanukkah rap game.



 Alright so that first song is alright. These American kids seem to have taken the appropiate rap styles and were able to apply them to the holiday. But it's the next song that I truly tip my hat to.




Use of the Kanye Beat and a more than accurate title makes me label this one a hands down winner. Let me know what you think on the comments or twitter.

Hip-Hop Christmas: Day 7

Day 7 of the Hip-Hop Christmas is upon us. Today, I have probably found the most unlikely of Christmas songs. Even after the obscenity filled Yuletide greetings of Eazy-E, after the sexual overtones of Kanye West or even after the straight from Harlem stylistics of DipSet; I still have that one song that you'd never think, "Oh yeah, that's a Christmas song?"

Day 6 of the Hip-Hop Christmas

Sorry for the delay on this one but I've slowly become addicted to the show "Storage Wars" on A&E. It was a perfect storm of my exams being done and a "Storage Wars" marathon going on. Anyways, Day 6 here we are. What do I have in store? Check it out.

Hip-Hop Christmas: Day 5

Here it is, Day 5 of the Hip-Hop Christmas. For the sake of trying to make this a big deal, if you're using twitter use the #hashtag: #hiphopchristmas in reference to the list. And with that selfish promotion, let's just get to the song.

Hip-Hop Christmas: Day 4

Alright Day 4 is upon us of the Hip-Hop Christmas. Today's song marks the first suggestion I've received since starting up this little list and I hope you appreciate it.

Hoodie and shorts fashionista, Datinga put me on this one featuring one of his favourite rappers, Childish Gambino. Though in the presented clip, born Donald Glover is playing his day time role as Troy Barnes on the NBC show Community. In a convergence of his two jobs, Mr. Glover and co. (Abed Nadir, played by Danny Pudi) rap about the appropiation of Christmas as a Jehovah's Witness to "infiltrate" the popularly coveted December holiday. Enjoy.

Hip-Hop Christmas: Day 3

Today, I thought it'd be best to hit up a song that is a bit more contemporary. Last year, Kanye West dropped the Grammy nominated, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy complete with one of the more provocative album covers to date. In addition to the album's release, Kanye released a series of songs prior and after the album's release to help create some hype. The last track to be dropped from the G.O.O.D Friday releases was on December 17th.

Hip-Hop Christmas: Day 2

Suge Knight is two things. For one, he is a criminal, there is no denying that with his record. Secondly, he was a brilliant business man. Typically this combo hasn't worked well in the record business. He may have been better served working in the financial industry, where crime pays. Though in 1996, during his time of unmatched success in the rap game,  he had the excellent idea to take all the rappers under the Death Row label and make a Christmas album.

Let's Have a Hip-Hop/RnB Christmas

Christmas is upon us once again. That time of the year where every store is playing the same maybe 50 Christmas songs that we enjoy to listen every year. Some of them are new, some of them are old. Hell some people have even given up and said Bieber's new Christmas album ain't that bad. In the end this might be all fine and dandy for some people and that's totally cool. I'm just here to pose the question, Where are the Hip-Hop/R&B Christmas songs at? While the list for R&B Christmas songs might be substantial and I'll be honest I've only added to help the tally cause I'm not to positive that there are a lot of just Hip-Hop Christmas songs out there anyways. So for the next 10 or so days I'll be posting some Christmas Hip-Hop gems out there and feel free to add to the list. As well, let's not just make it Christmas, how about Hip-Hop Kwanzaa or Hanukkah songs.

In Review: Drake's Take Care

Who knew the month of November would be blessed with some great releases in rap music. Drake's Take Care, Mac Miller's Blue Slide Park and my underdog favourite Pac Div's The Div. I'll tackle the latter 2 releases later this week but today I'll just be tackling Drake's sophomore effort.

1/5 of this group had to consolidate to form Slaughterhouse.

Deciding to review Drake's work before the other two independent releases is a telling of Drake's popularity as of late. And as of late, I'm talking about the last 3 years. If you are to take away the established rap artists of the earlier half of the 2000s, your Lil Waynes, Jay-Zs, Eminems you’re only left with Drake who has established a popularity that extends just beyond smaller rap circles. To extend the argument, take a look at the XXL Top 10 Freshman classes over the last 3 years. Focusing on just the success stories out of those lists, it would appear that 2008 Freshman Lupe Fiasco, and 2010 Freshmen Wiz Khalifa and late bloomer J. Cole can be considered close in terms of success to Drake over a similar time period. That's if you are to determine success by record sales, twitter followers, and YouTube views (Considering its 2011, is it fair to say the last 2 matter more than record sales?) But can mainstream success parlay into the final production of Take Care?

Post-NBA Finals Podcast

I can only describe the following as a depressing post and podcast to follow. I have had to yield concessions to KD's Mavs for winning the Larry O'Brien trophy this June in somewhat dominating fashion over the Miami Heat. Yes, those same Mavs that were heavy underdogs against the Portland TrailBlazers. Yes, those same Mavs that had to show OKC that playoff experience does matter. Anyways, without further ado enjoy.

Break Even - Post-NBA Finals Podcast (Right click and Save as)

SOTD - A Kiss - Bad Meets Evil

From the Eminem x Royce Da 5'9" collab that dropped last week, I can honestly only recommend this one song from the whole album. Bangladesh is on the beat, so prepare your ears for the song and the podcast as well because KD is about to shower himself in praise. As he always does.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals Predictions Podcast

Huge apologies for not getting out a conference finals podcast. KD and I apparently had other things to do. Don't worry though, we recap the conference finals that were and attempt to handicap the finals matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins.

Also featured in the podcast is a shoutout to recently retired former Edmonton Oiler, Doug Weight. His play will always be remembered by the Oilers youth of the 90s. More after the jump.

NBA Finals Predictions Podcast

Sorry for the break, KD and I never got around to a conference finals podcast but it's suffice to say I predicted for the Mavs downfall. Once again though, they disappointed me and found a way to dominate a very young OKC team. KD promised me this round he would pick with his head but I'm still skeptical. How will the final round turn out? Take a listen to our podcast and leave us a comment with your thoughts on how this will all shake down.

Break Even - NBA Finals Podcast (Right click and Save as, and of course enjoy)

SOTD - Tyler, The Creator - Nightmare

(From the L.A. rap collective, Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGTA), the head of the group, Tyler, The Creator dropped his first studio album this month and what can I say, I'm a fan. Weird I know. Even weirder, I didn't think it was as graphic as I thought it'd be. Not to say I'd recommend it to kids or anything but for all the critics suggesting this music is horrorcore I would definitely ask them to reconsider.....anyways enjoy the podcast and SOTD)

NHL Playoffs Round 2 Predictions

KD and I are back at it again after the engrossing level of entertainment that was round one. For those scoring at home, I came out on top thanks to the Vancouver game 7 win. Will I be able to keep it up for round 2? Only one way to find out and that's by listening.

One thing that i forgot to address during the podcast was KD's gaming situation, he is an unfortunate owner of a PS3 and is unable to revel in online gaming due to the PSN security breach. Please take the time to console him at his website and on twitter.

NHL Round 2 Playoffs Podcast (Right-click and save as)


SOTD - Big Sean - My Last (feat. Chris Brown)

NBA Round 2 Predictions Podcast

We're back like we never left. In actuality, it was 2 long weeks but I doubt anyone felt bored during that time. I alone had uni exams to deal with but more importantly I had to endure probably the most exciting round 1 coverage of the NBA playoffs in a long while. I'm still torn on the seven game series format for the first round, but the value added with series that went beyond 5 games were greatly appreciated at expense of my finals.

Round 2 looks like it'll be a blast and so will this podcast. Enjoy.

NBA Round 2 Predictions Podcast - (Right-click and save as)

SOTD - Pusha T - Cook It Down

NBA Round 1 Prediction Podcast

KD and I have been hot as of late with the podcasts but it shouldn't come as much of a surprise. We absolutely love playoff sports. Last weekend was a blast with the NBA and NHL playoffs in full force. We recorded our podcast for the NBA on Sunday but we made our predictions on Friday via text. Anyways you know the deal.

Break Even - NBA Playoff Round 1 Podcast   (Right-Click and Save as)

SOTD - Onyx - Slam (OGs for sure, performed this classic on the rejuvenated RapCity program on MuchMusic, last thursday.)

PODCAST - NHL Round 1 Predictions

Here we go once again, KD and I are embarking on another excursion through the 4 rounds of the NHL playoffs. First up Round 1....




NHL Playoff Round 1 Predictions Podcast  (Right-Click and Save As)







SOTD - "Good Conversation" by Kaley Bird

A little side story: this semester in my music course we were given the project of covering a local artist in how they deal with particular sectors of the music industry. Our group had the pleasure of working this lovely lady and hope you enjoy her music as much as we did.

Oilers in Review

The season is well over for the Oilers with the playoffs about to begin. Being 30th place didn't mean the Oil were complete losers though as they were able to "win" the draft lottery and will be choosing first at this year's entry draft. Celebrations were all around as the Edmonton Oilers even organized a #tweetup for well wishers of seeing another #1 pick this June at the downtown Hudson's.

While Kevin and I both did not attend the event, we did share a reluctance in not going. Though in the end we knew there was a better way to express our feelings for the Oilers this year in the form of another lovely podcast. In this one we take a look at the Oilers this season from the young guns to the vets.

One area where we didn't touch during the podcast was goaltending.

Post-Trade Deadline Podcasts

Could it be? Consecutive weeks of of podcasts featuring KD and myself. This time we look at the aftermath that were the trade deadlines for both the NBA and NHL.

You know the drill, right-click and save as. Enjoy.

NBA Post-Trade Deadline

NHL Post-Trade Deadlines

SOTD - Tighten Up - The Black Keys
(Anyone want to go to their concert?)

NBA/NHL Trade Deadline - Break Even Podcast

It's been quite some time since KD and I embarked on a podcast for the masses. This reading week though we decided to do a 2 parter for our faithful listeners and readers on the upcoming trade deadlines for the NHL and the NBA. Please enjoy.

NBA Trade Deadline Podcast
With plenty of Carmelo and D-Will trade talk, if you haven't already heard enough.


NHL Trade Deadline Podcast (w/ bonus Oilers coverage)

SOTD: Oddfuture - Sandwitches (I wish I could explain this, but I really can't)