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Reviews

Styles P. – Float album review

We’re not quite sure why Styles P.’s latest project is called Float, but we think it may be due to the lighthearted nature the album was supposed to project. Although it may be slightly misnamed, what’s refreshing is that Styles P. doesn’t shoot for commercial, because he doesn’t care to, and you won’t find it anywhere on the album. It’s a complete evocation of rap’s underground—the gully and the brash. And though a lot of people won’t have the opportunity to take this project seriously because it barely made the radar, there are still some highlights.

There’s no single concept with this album—just trash talk—completely reminiscent of early 00s street rap. And with Styles P.’s underground phantom persona, you can’t expect him to take on the sophistication of hip-hop all grown up. The album name “Float” makes you think of an artist that doesn’t take himself or anyone else too seriously. But how contrary is it that with menacing threats on songs like ”Bodies in the Basement” or “Hater Love” we think Styles P. is so for real?

Though we’ve never questioned Styles P.’s dedication to weed culture since “I Get High,” he doesn’t quite come off as the laid back introspective slow talking smoker you’d think to get from somebody who spent 15+ years in the rap game and should be basking in their Bad Boy glory days. There’s little easiness or nostalgia with this album, and he actually comes off kind of hype. Float is not very relaxed or carefree at all. In fact, the only thing Styles P. seems carefree about is cracking your skull open like a shell. We’re not sure he’s our kind of stoner. The weed haze covered album art is deceiving and if this album is full of Styles P.’s marijuana thoughts, he must not be smoking the best stuff. He relies heavily on the violence and brashness of his 1990s persona and the album at times, feels a little heavy for an album entitled “Float.” But it’d be unreasonable to expect him to abandon the hardcore elements that built him.

It’s nearly impossible to think of any song on the album that doesn’t threaten someone, their parents, or their clique, but Scram Jones’ production mellows everything out with sporadic smooth, jazzy instrumentation. “Shoot You Down” is probably the best song on the album. It draws from the early Lox without relying so heavily on the past. The production in its entirety isn’t a complete memory of the 90s conscious rap era, and hardens at times to sound a little Wu-Tang. The juxtaposition creates a nice balance, though we could do without the repetitive, threatening lyrics. Float isn’t bad. But we think we still prefer Styles P. as a ghostwriter.

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DMX Swizz Beatz Videos

Jadakiss – Who’s Real (Ruff Ryders Remix) video featuring Swizz Beatz, Eve, Drag-On, Styles P, Sheek Louch & DMX

Jadakiss – Who’s Real (Ruff Ryders Remix) video featuring Swizz Beatz, Eve, Drag-On, Styles P, Sheek Louch & DMX

The official music video for the Ruff Ryders remix to Jadakiss’ “Who’s Real” featuring Swizz Beatz, Eve, Drag-On, Styles P, Sheek Louch and DMX. The new Ruff Ryders Album is now scheduled to be released in 2010.

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Press Releases

MULTI-TALENTED J CARDIM RELEASES FIRST STREET LP, YOUR FAVORITE RAPPERS FAVORITE PRODUCER, BOASTING APPEARANCES BY LIL WAYNE, CASSIDY, FAT JOE, SHEEK LOUCH, STYLES P, SAIGON, UNCLE MURDA, MEMPHIS BLEEK, MAX B, PAUL WALL, ROYCE 5’9, TERMANOLOGY, LITTLE BROTHER, SHAWTY LO, JAE MILLZ, AZ & WALE

MULTI-TALENTED J CARDIM RELEASES FIRST STREET LP, YOUR FAVORITE RAPPERS FAVORITE PRODUCER, BOASTING APPEARANCES BY LIL WAYNE, CASSIDY, FAT JOE, SHEEK LOUCH, STYLES P, SAIGON, UNCLE MURDA, MEMPHIS BLEEK, MAX B, PAUL WALL, ROYCE 5’9, TERMANOLOGY, LITTLE BROTHER, SHAWTY LO, JAE MILLZ, AZ & WALE

Up and coming producer J. Cardim released his first compilation-style project Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer on 1-19-09. The album, hosted by world renowned DJ and Hip-Hop tastemaker DJ Envy, is 22 songs deep and boasts a list of cameos that reads like a who’s who of today’s Hip-Hop circuit. J Cardim, a New York resident by way of Rio Di Janeiro and Boston has been on the scene for several years crafting superior soundscapes for many of Hip-Hop’s most talented and highly esteemed MCs including; Lil Wayne, Shawty Lo, Fat Joe, Cassidy, Red Café, Styles P, Saigon, Wale and Talib Kweli. Most recently, J has been working with Red Café, DJ Envy, Sheek Louch, Jae Millz, and Paul Wall on their respective albums, as well as putting the finishing touches on a collaborative effort with gifted Brooklyn rapper Sha Stimuli entitled Cinderella Man. Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer features J. Cardim produced street smashes from some of today’s brightest artists. “In addition to releasing some exclusives we were holding on to, we needed a forum to draw attention to the fact that J has produced a lot of records that people are already familiar with. We really just wanted to connect the dots for people; show them just how many records J has on his resume and raise people’s awareness of this great new producer” says Zack Einhorn, Cardim’s manager and partner in Dice Music Group.

J Cardim has also been selected as a finalist for Loud.com’s producer competition (http://www.loud.com/J_Cardim) and his Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer is currently available through all major digital music stores including: Itunes, www.amazon.com, www.amalgamdigital.com and Rhapsody. For more information, log on to www.dicemusicgroup.com.

First Episode of “Dice Music TV” J. Cardim Edition: (DJ Envy Talks about Upcoming Compilation and working with J Cardim)

Tracklisting and credits for J Cardim’s “Your Favorite Rappers Favorite Producer” (all tracks produced by J Cardim):

1.) Intro f/DJ Envy
2.) Holla At A Playa f/Jae Millz & Lil Wayne
3.) Money Come Fast f/Cassidy
4.) Rubber Grip f/Fat Joe, Sheek Louch & Styles P
5.) Move Like A G f/Red Café, Styles P & Uncle Murda
6.) Dope Boy For Real f/Sheek Louch, Affiliate & J Cardim
7.) Just Blaze Intro/Ryders f/Memphis Bleek & Saigon
8.) Ride Out Freestyle f/Ransom & French Montana
9.) My Life f/Sha Stimuli & Block McCloud
10.) Straight Cash f/Gorilla Zoe, French Montana, Cassidy & Max B
11.) Star Struck f/TUGE
12.) Born And Raised f/Ghost Wridah, Shawty Lo & Paul Wall
13.) Hustle Just To Make Bucks f/G-Eyez, Affiliate & Jae Millz
14.) Follow The Leader f/G-Eyez
15.) Hard Body f/Certified Gz & Ed Rock
16.) The Dopest f/Jae Millz
17.) What You Call That f/Royce Da 5’9 & Termanology
18.) Villain f/Styles P & Ariez
19.) Hood f/Sha Stimuli
20.) Breathe Thru The Years f/Saigon
21.) Rise And Fall f/Little Brother & AZ
22.) That’s Life f/Termanology
23.) Play With My Dough f/Red Café, Wale & MIMS (***Amalgam Digital Bonus Track)

Categories
Press Releases

D-BLOCK (JADAKISS, STYLES P., SHEEK LOUCH & CREW) PREPS THE AUGUST 19th RELEASE OF PREPARE FOR GLORY

D-BLOCK (JADAKISS, STYLES P., SHEEK LOUCH & CREW) PREPS THE AUGUST 19th RELEASE OF “PREPARE FOR GLORY”

One of New York’s most dynamic street cliques, D-Block preps their latest opus, August 19th’s “Prepare For Glory.”

Anchored by core LOX members and platinum artists Jadakiss, Styles P. & Sheek Louch and also consisting of Poobs, Trav, Straws, A.P., T.Y., Bucky, Bully, Don D. & Large Amount, D-Block artists are collectively responsible for the sale of millions of units worldwide.

Having previously collaborated with such A-listers as Jay-Z, Diddy, Swizz Beatz, Eve, DMX & many more, D-Block and its crew of affiliated emcees once again assemble to bring that voracious, gritty, hardcore hip-hop to street corners around the world.

VIDEO:
JADAKISS, STYLES & SHEEK LOUCH SPEAK ON “PREPARE FOR GLORY”
WATCH IT NOW:

OFFICIAL LEAK TRACK:
D-Block
“That’s My Ni&*a” feat. Styles P., Jadakiss & Sheek Louch