What I'm Bumpin' Today! (Hot Shit 007)

Coming into this mixtape here's what I knew:
- Travis Barker is the gifted drummer formerly of Blink 182. He had a smoking hot wife.
- DJ AM used to go out with Nicole Richie.
- They both were on a private plane that crashed recently and sustained serious burn injuries but are recovering.

Travis Barker had already bolstered his hip-hop credentials by working and budding with the likes of Paul Wall, Bun B and The Roots' ?uestlove.

What you got here is DJ AM cutting up the records and Travis Barker spicing it up with live drumming. The chemistry between the two has been strengthened thru live shows and makes for a better product.

Don't kid yourself: this is not just hip-hop. Johnny Cash mingles with Jay-Z. Eazy E, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Biggie are a surprisingly effective combo. And what can be said about DMX opening up to Michael Jackson. And that's like a tenth of the first six tracks. Barely half of this end-to-end banger.

Do yourself a favor, head on to Get Right Music and get spoiled!

Grilled by Katie Couric: Such an L!!!

What I'm Bumpin' Today! (Hot Shit 006)

Shit actually sounds better with time. It's still feels too loaded, but you can't deny the gems. The beats are prime grade! All the little subtleties in there is a joy. If you can (especially if 50 irritates you), get the instrumental version. You don't know what you're missing.

You need a lengthier dissection: I'm still sticking to my site's review.

I get mine the fast way, ski mask way....

What I'm Bumpin' Today! (Hot Shit 005)

Admittedly, I'm not so up to date on the french rap scene. I'm more familiar with whoever was hot at the turn of the century than the new players you have today. Ol' Kainry is actually an old player by today's standard. This, Les chemins de la dignité, is his second album that came out four years ago. (His latest album, Demolition Man, came out last year.)

As far as I'm concerned, Ol' Kainry is now four for four: discounting Demolition Man, which I've yet to listen to, he's dropped solid end-to-end projects so far. Check En attendant... (1999), Ol' Kainry et Dany Dan (2005), and Au delà des apparences (2001). It's tasteful street music and no one does it better!

The "Intro" raises expectations for this album and Ol' Kainry meets them with style: there's a smashing back-and-forth with Raekwon, Soprano (from Psy4 De La Rime) makes a strong cameo and Kainry's old group (Agression Verbale) is reunited and it feels like they've been there all along.

But the king of the punchline doesn't really need all that. With an engaging real life story to draw from, he concocts joints with large appeal. Les hommes se cachent pour pleurer, S'il était né, Entends mes regrets, the first hidden track (!), and the title track are just a few apropos examples...

I'm a big fan!!!!!!

Here are a couple vids of songs from the album:

- Scènes de bâtard

- De Park Hill à 91 Pise (feat. Raekwon)