Tag: JOELL ORTIZ

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Eminem Joe Budden Reviews

Slaughterhouse – Welcome to: Our House album review

6 months ago the general public got its first taste of Welcome to: Our House when Funkmaster Flex played “Hammer Dance” on his radio show. Featuring a sample from Korn’s “Falling Away from Me” and production work from AraabMuzik, this song was a surprising single from Slaughterhouse.

Composed of Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9”, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I, this group is a legitimate powerhouse in Hip-Hop. Each one of these MCs can hold their own and have a flow adaptable to almost any situation.

Almost being the operative word. Eminem is brought on to Executive Produce the album, which ends up hurting more than it helps. Welcome to: Our World shines on tracks that are far from Eminem’s trademark sound, and that allow the other rappers to play off of one another.

“Our House” embodies the issue perfectly. With a verse from Em and a hook from Skylar Grey, the song ends up being a bloated 6-minutes long because of 3 more verses from Slaughterhouse. The beat sounds like it was tailor-made for Recovery and is completely out of place.

That being said, there are plenty of great moments on this album that wisely get as far from the Eminem aesthetic as possible. “Get Up” finds the group rapping over drums that clip aggressively, and a keyboard line that keeps the momentum going. No I.D.’s clever sampling of “Ali in the Jungle” by The Hours does wonders for all of Slaughterhouse, but Royce Da 5’9” absolutely demolishes his verse.

Towards the end of the record is “Goodbye,” which finds Slaughterhouse being surprisingly poignant and emotional. A lot of rappers’ attempts at eulogizing their loved ones comes off heavy-handed, but this track does an incredible job of being honest while not being sappy. Ortiz’s verse stands out as it perfectly engulfs the listener in the whirlwind days before a funeral.

After numerous delays and a huge amount of hype, it’d be easy to dismiss Welcome to: Our House, but the pure talent and natural charisma between the 4 members cannot be played down. That is, when they’re fifth wheel isn’t demanding his presence be known.

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Videos

DJ Suss One – That Work (For The Streets) video featuring Uncle Murda, Cassidy, Joell Ortiz, French Montana & Vado

DJ Suss One – That Work (For The Streets) video featuring Uncle Murda, Cassidy, Joell Ortiz, French Montana & Vado

Directed by Shareif Ziyadat.

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Press Releases

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER DOC ISH TO RELEASE THE FIRST TREATMENT THE FIRST TREATMENT WILL BE RELASED ON MAY 11th, 2010

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER DOC ISH TO RELEASE THE FIRST TREATMENT THE FIRST TREATMENT WILL BE RELASED ON MAY 11th, 2010

Star-Studded LP Features Appearances From Jay Electronica, Joe Budden, Crooked I, Sean Price, Joell Ortiz, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Max B, Saigon, Nipsey Hussle, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Buckshot, Bizarre and many more

A bit of a transient, Doc Ish is from a little bit of everywhere. Born in Dallas, TX, then onto places such as Virginia, and Brooklyn NY and everywhere in between, it has been Hartford, CN that Doc has always returned to and calls home. Doc signed his first deal as a senior in High-School and soon thereafter moved to NY where he was introduced to a slew of industry talents and had the opportunity to work with artists such Heavy D, Kurupt and Foxy Brown to name a few.

Since then, Doc has lost a lot of time, “years,” in regards to his music career. For years, he was jumping from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital, trying to figure out why his health would take such dramatic shifts and leave him in an almost debilitating state. Lying in hospital beds, with nothing but time on his hands while his various health problems were both diagnosed and treated, Doc’s health eventually got better and when it did, so did his hunger for making music. When Doc re-entered the scene in 2008, he did so with a renewed vigor and his networking lead to meetings with various artists, one of which, D-12’s Bizarre, would eventually change his world as he then knew it upside down. After recording sessions with Bizarre, Doc received a call from him that a certain Detroit superstar heard one of his tracks and immediately gravitated to it. That track was what you know as “We Made You” the lead-single from Eminem’s Grammy award winning LP Relapse, which has since gone 2X Platinum and re-vaulted Eminem back into the national spotlight after a five-year hiatus.

Despite the overwhelming changes that have occurred since “We Made You” hit the masses, Doc Ish has remained humble and hungry throughout the process and is determined to capitalize on the opportunity and use it as a stepping-stone. The timing and subsequent spotlight that has been affixed to Doc’s back ever since was ideal for the forthcoming release of Doc Ish Presents: The First Treatment which will be released on 5-11-2010.

The First Treatment includes a collection of iconic and legendary emcees that would make a major label blush, let alone one of an Independent nature. While “Cut My Throat” f/Saigon, INS Deck, Ransom and Quan has already made an immediate impact on the urban blogosphere, fans are already salivating over the LP’s assortment of talent and eagerly awaiting to hear tracks such as the dream-team pairings of Jay Electronica, Crooked I & Sean Price (“She Did It Again”) and Bun B, Joe Budden and Talib Kweli on “Is It A Dream.”

Doc Ish believes that music is cathartic and creating this project proves as much and The First Treatment is the next step in curing Hip-Hop’s ailments.

Tracklisting and credits for Doc Ish Presents: The First Treatment:

1.) “Hi Kids” f/ Joell Ortiz
2.) “No Goodbye’s” f/ Apollo Swyf & Burroughs
3.) “Animal Grammar” f/ KRS-One & Burroughs
4.) “She Did It Again” f/ Crooked I, Sean Price, Jay Electronica & Novel
5.) “These Streets” f/ Max B, Red Cafe, Quan
6.) “Cut My Throat ” f/ Ransom, Quan, Saigon & INS Deck
7.) “Who You Are” f/ AZ & Charmange
8.) “Is It A Dream” f/ Joe Budden, Talib Kweli & Bun B
9.) “Open Your Eyez” f/ Termanalogy & Hectic
10.) “Stalker” feat. Bizarre (of D-12)
11.) “Make Movez” f/ Buckshot, Rock (Heltah Skeltah) & Colloso
12.) “Untitled” feat. Nipsey Hussle & Mya
13.) “War Outside” feat. King Gordy, Kool G Rap & Billy Danze (M.O.P.)
14.) “Skys Are Grey” feat. Quan, Oddisee & Nature
15.) “You Make Me Stronger” Kool G Rap & Ma Barker
16.) “Mo Money” Uncle Murder
17.) “FOH” ” f/ The Abnormals
18.) “Freestyle” f/ Supernatural

***All Tracks Produced By Doc Ish

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Press Releases

TERMANOLOGY TAKES IT BACK ON TIME MACHINE (HOOD POLITICS VI) DROPPING SEPTEMBER 22ND NEW RELEASE INCLUDES PRODUCTION FROM DJ PREMIER, THE ALCHEMIST, DON CANNON, LARGE PROFESSOR, PETE ROCK, STATIK SELEKTAH GUEST APPEARANCES FROM SHEEK LOUCH, LIL FAME, JOELL ORTIZ, ROYCE DA 5’9, CROOKED I, CONSEQUENCE

TERMANOLOGY TAKES IT BACK ON TIME MACHINE (HOOD POLITICS VI) DROPPING SEPTEMBER 22ND NEW RELEASE INCLUDES PRODUCTION FROM DJ PREMIER, THE ALCHEMIST, DON CANNON, LARGE PROFESSOR, PETE ROCK, STATIK SELEKTAH GUEST APPEARANCES FROM SHEEK LOUCH, LIL FAME, JOELL ORTIZ, ROYCE DA 5’9, CROOKED I, CONSEQUENCE

Less than a year after the release his official debut, Politics As Usual, Termanology returns with Time Machine (Hood Politics VI), on September 22 through his own ST. Records. It’s been a busy year for Termanology. Since the September 2008 release of his well-received debut, which featured production by DJ Premier, Hi-Tek and Pete Rock, Term has toured extensively. He opened for Method Man and Redman on the nationwide Still High Tour and headlined his own 2009 European Tour.

Time Machine falls somewhere between an album and a mixtape. It features production by Don Cannon, DJ Premier, The Alchemist and Large Professor. Joell Ortiz, Lil’ Fame and Sheek Louch make guest appearances. Termanology will also be touring extensively in support of in support of Time Machine. He touches down in Europe from August 20th — September 6th with M.O.P, Reks and DJ Statik Selektah. In August, he will be one of the headliners at the prestigious Hip-Hop Kemp festival in the Czech Republic alongside Method Man, Lady Sovereign, La Coka Nostra, B.O.B., Blu & Exile and Devin The Dude. Term will also be performing dates around the United States in support of Time Machine. Termanology is available for features, news stories and photo shoots.

About Termanology:
Term was raised in the post-industrial, predominantly Latino city of Lawrence, MA. The half-white, half-Puerto Rican MC transitioned from silly freestyles at age nine to full-fledged records by 15. Constantly traveling between Boston and New York in pursuit of his dream, Termanology released his first 12-inch in 2002. Through his alliance with influential mixtape DJ (and fellow Massachusetts native) Statik Selektah, Term began earning the respect of Boston’s Hip-Hop scene with several highly acclaimed 12″ singles. At the onset of 2006, Term’s big break came when DJ Premier blessed him with one of his signature, scratch-laden beats. “Watch How It Go Down” instantly became an underground classic and Termanology appeared on Hip-Hop’s international radar. The conscious hood anthem garnered the earnest MC tons of praise, landing him in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype” and XXL’s “Show and Prove” columns. On September 30 2008, he released his debut album, Politics As Usual, to critical acclaim.

Tracklisting & Credits for Termanology’s Time Machine (Hood Politics VI):

1. Nobody’s Smilin’ (prod. by Statik Selektah)
2. Brown Paper Bag (prod. by Don Cannon)
3. Stick Up feat. Sheek Louch & Quest Tha Young’n (prod. by Vinny Idol)
4. Time Machine feat. Reks (prod. by The Large Professor)
5. Wild Puerto Ricans feat. Tony Touch & Ea$y Money (prod. by Shortfyuz)
6. Forever feat. Superstah Snuk (prod. by Shortfyuz)
7. My Boston feat. Singapore Kane & Big Shug (prod. by DJ Premier)
8. Hold That (prod. by Pete Rock)
9. It’s A Shame feat. Joell Ortiz (prod. by Statik Selektah)
10. Gods World (prod. by M Will The Shogun/additional production by Paul Thompson)
11. Music Industry (remix) feat. Royce Da 5’9, Crooked I, Akrobatik & Consequence (prod. by Fizzy “Fame” Womack)
12. Passion Iz Money feat. Lil Fame of M.O.P. & Quest Tha Young’n (prod. by Shortfyuz)
13. Bout To Go Down feat. Superstah Snuk & H Blanco (prod. by Shortfyuz)
14. Nothing Iz Real (prod. by M Will The Shogun)
15. Good Day feat. Ghetto & Hectic (prod. by MoSS)
16. I See Dead People (prod. by The Alchemist)

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Press Releases

DJ REVOLUTION “KING OF THE DECKS” ALBUM IN STORES SEPTEMBER 16th ON DUCK DOWN RECORDS FEATURING TRACKS FROM KRS-ONE, BISHOP LAMONT, CROOKED I, JOELL ORTIZ, SEAN PRICE, DJ QBERT, BOOT CAMP CLIK, JAZZY JEFF, EVIDENCE, GUILTY SIMPSON, ROYCE DA 5’9, SPECIAL TEAMZ, DEFARI, TERMANOLOGY, TASH, RAKAA IRISCIENCE, BUMPY KNUCKLES, BLAQ POET, STRONG ARM STEADY, PLANET ASIA, DJ PREMIER

DJ REVOLUTION “KING OF THE DECKS” ALBUM IN STORES SEPTEMBER 16th ON DUCK DOWN RECORDS FEATURING TRACKS FROM KRS-ONE, BISHOP LAMONT, CROOKED I, JOELL ORTIZ, SEAN PRICE, DJ QBERT, BOOT CAMP CLIK, JAZZY JEFF, EVIDENCE, GUILTY SIMPSON, ROYCE DA 5’9, SPECIAL TEAMZ, DEFARI, TERMANOLOGY, TASH, RAKAA IRISCIENCE, BUMPY KNUCKLES, BLAQ POET, STRONG ARM STEADY, PLANET ASIA, DJ PREMIER

DJ Revolution said it best in a recent interview, “the connection between the DJ and the emcee has been severed. ”King of The Decks” is my attempt at reconnecting it.” DJ Revolution did just that with his new album, as he brought together some of the most talented names in Hip Hop today, who not only produce quality music, but also respect the craft of the DJ Culture.

DJ Revolution has spent 15 years perfecting that craft on the SP 1200. He’s currently behind the wheels of the longest running Hip Hop show in the history of commercial radio, “THE WORLD FAMOUS WAKE UP SHOW alongside Sway & King Tech.

Aside from his weekly duties on the show based out of LA on Power 106, and syndicated Worldwide, he has lent his now infamous scratch techniques to countless records and his production skills to many established artists. REV has also taken his skillz to the far corners as the globe and ripped clubs in locations such as Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He has also shared the stage DJ’ing for many artists including legends like Rakim all the way to current superstars such as Kanye West. Revolution has released two of his own Full length LP’s (“In 12’s we trust/R2K”) and one with his partners Sway & Tech (“This or That”).

As DJ Revolution readies “KING OF THE DECKS,” in stores on September 16th, he divulged further on the issues of the lack of communication between the MC and THE DJ stating that it “is one of the most obvious reasons Hip Hop has devolved so drastically over the years. Since MC’s in general decided to toss aside the DJ as an asset and integral part of their success from production to performance, the music has suffered tremendously. My goal is to re-introduce to the world what a DJ is. He or She is not just a celebrity, or someone who plays records, or makes funny sounds with turntables. He or she is all of that and more. I recruited some of the most legendary and also most talented up and coming artists to help me express all of this within the context of the music.

The title of the album is by no means a way of saying I’m the best on the turntables. “King of the Decks” is obviously just a play on words related to a deck of cards. However, it is also a statement that needs to be remembered. The DJ is King.”

Tracklisting and credits for DJ Revolution’s King Of The Decks (all songs produced DJ Revolution except where noted):

1.) Intro f/Jazzy Jeff
2.) King Of The Decks f/ Sean Price & Tash
3.) THE DJ f/ KRS ONE
4.) Do My Thing f/ Guilty Simpson & Royce Da 5′ 9″
5.) LADJ (skit)
6.) Funky Piano f/ Bishop Lamont, Crooked I, Styliztik Jones
7.) For The Kids (skit)
8.) The Big Top f/ Special Teamz
9). Start The Revolution f/ Boot Camp Clik
10.) Scratch Nerds (skit)
11.) Invaders from the Planet Sqratch f/ DJ Qbert
12.) EY! f/ Joell Ortiz and Termanology (Produced by DJ Revolution & DJ Numark)
13.) Casualties of Tour f/ Rakaa Iriscience (produced by Marco Polo)
14.) Damage f/ Blaq Poet & Bumpy Knuckles
15.) Willie Lynch f/ Styliztik Jones and KBimean
16.) The Biggest Up f/ DJ Premier (Skit)
17.) Blow Da Spot f/ Strong Arm Steady
18.) School f/ Planet Asia
19.) Spit Ridiculous f/ Defari
20.) Pro’s & Con’s f/ Evidence
21.) Calling Haul (Skit)
22.) Man or Machine
23.) The Set Up f/ Sway & King Tech
24.) The Re-Match f/ DJ Spinbad

(ALL SONGS PRODUCED, MIXED and ARRANGED by DJ REVOLUTION)

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Press Releases

BOSTON’S J THE S PREPS RELEASE OF HIS SECOND STREET-LP, WHEN IN ROME… WHEN IN ROME FEATURES APPEARANCES FROM SKYZOO, JOELL ORTIZ, SLAINE & RAS KASS

BOSTON’S J THE S PREPS RELEASE OF HIS SECOND STREET-LP, WHEN IN ROME… WHEN IN ROME FEATURES APPEARANCES FROM SKYZOO, JOELL ORTIZ, SLAINE & RAS KASS

New years demand fresh tactics. So when Jake the Snake moved to New York this year to pen his new release, When in Rome, he shed his skin and emerged from underground a tougher, more enlightened J the S.

At this point, Snake has amassed as strong a career as an MC can build in Boston. Before he could legally buy alcohol, he graduated from the local battle circuit and begun to script vicious narratives. In just four years, J the S dropped two internationally distributed full-length albums and a pair of venomous mixtapes, landed singles on Rap Network, Rap Attack Lives and CMJ charts, and enjoyed rotation on more than 300 college radio stations including Boston’s renown WERS, where he earned “Artist of the Month” honors in June 2007.

On the strength of his 2006 album, Strategy of the Crown, which featured guests including Ras Kass, Trife Da God and Devin the Dude, J the S followed up with his DJ Vlad-hosted Year of the Snake Vol. 2. The sequel to his Peter Parker-hosted Vol. 1, the mixtape proved that he could rock consecutive projects with – or without – headliner associates. Featuring limited assists from Boston cronies such as Loose Notes and his own Greater Good crew, J the S gave fans enough original material to choke on until now.

In May 2008, J the S drops his most important project yet. Beyond cameos from the likes of Joell Ortiz, Skyzoo, Slaine and Ras Kass, When in Rome introduces rap fans to an MC whose pilgrimage to Hip-Hop’s pinnacle was a long, disciplined and rewarding journey.

Though he was bred in Boston, J the S spent his first years in the West Indies, where his father hustled. After his mother got concerned and relocated to Massachusetts, a young Snake was introduced to criminal elements on the street and at home. A volatile domestic situation and negative role models inspired a notebook full of rhymes, as well as a dedication rarely seen in young artists.

Despite coming up in Boston behind underground icons such as Mr. Lif and Esoteric, J the S remained faithful to blacktop Hip-Hop. As a result, he became a regular show opener for hardcore artists such as Kool G Rap, Cormega, The Beatnuts, Boot Camp and Wu-Tang. Beyond his East Coast ethos, J the S is also marked by his experience as a middle school teacher and his socially progressive mission, which has landed him on bills alongside Dead Prez, Brand Nubian and KRS-ONE.

“I’m an intelligent artist, but I’m more about pimping the system before it pimps you than I am about some unrealistic optimism,” J the S says. “I tell stories and innovate too, but I’m not on some backpacker nerd shit either.”

He might be an anomaly, but J the S is poised to be a factor in roughneck Hip-Hop’s return to form. With his When in Rome (which will feature collaborations with fellow rising stars Skyzoo (“Pump”), Slaine (“Get Low” Remix) and Joell Ortiz (“Do You”) prequel this March and subsequent third album, The Last Days, coming next year, he is determined to penetrate rap music’s commercial consciousness. If he can pull it off in Boston, where pushing Golden Age street styles is less common than being a Republican, he can do it anywhere.

Tracklisting and credits for J The S’ When In Rome:

1.) Right Of Passage
2.) Pump f/Skyzoo & Lord Touch
3.) No Love f/P-Dub
4.) SNZA
5.) Do You f/Joell Ortiz & Lee Wilson
6.) Push My Buttons f/The Greater Good & Stacks
7.) Chase Cutter f/Prone 2
8.) Don’t Hear Me f/Annie Lee
9.) Loosen Up f/Amadeus The Stampede
10.) Whispers In The Dark
11.) Roll, Light, Smoke f/Karas & Annie Lee
12.) Get Low (Remix) f/Slaine and Badnewz
13.) Forever Tomorrow f/The Greater Good
14.) A Strange Feeling
15.) The Last Days
16.) Kilograms (I Know) f/Ras Kass
17.) Thirteen f/Noni Kai