Weekend at Burnie's

Curren$y just released a new full length album: Weekend at Burnie's. It delivers exactly what it was supposed to, more of the same great chill rap. This one is going to be on repeat for a while.

On a side note, I'm heading out to California tomorrow morning for a week. The main goal of this trip is to finally see Sasquatch in his natural habitat, observe his partying ways and see how things operate on the opposite coast. I'm bringing my wetsuit with me so I can get a surf session or 2 in. I'll be sure to post some pictures of the trip here after I get back.

I downloaded Garage Band for my iPad for the trip. I've messed around with it a little and it's extremely easy to operate. I'll be trying my hand at some music/beats but I'm skeptical about how legit they'll be. I'll post one if it's worthy.

Good 'morrow to you

Curren$y - Covert Coup

New Orleans rapper Curren$y works hard to be lazy. After Pilot Talk I and II both came out last year, he released a new 10-track collaboration last month with famed producer The Alchemist called Covert Coup. Each of these works is a stand-alone album, and it's hard to see how Curren$y even has time to play an "82 game season" on NBA Live, even with a condo full of snacks (see: Breakfast).

The best part about his latest release Covert Coup: its free.

Curren$y's hard work has built him an appreciative underground following and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here. Hopefully he will keep delivering his signature La-Z-Boy raps over Jet-fueled instrumentals for a while.

Covert Coup download: http://covertcoup.currensyspitta.com/

Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein: 10 Years Later

2011 marks the 10 year anniversary of one of my favorite hip hop records of all time: Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein. The first major album of producer El-P's label Definitive Jux, The Cold Vein takes some of El-P's best work combined with the incredible talent of 2 unknown New York emcees Vast Aire and Vordul Mega.

The 2 emcees have entirely different styles that work flawlessly together. Vast Aire is deathly methodical and precise with his word play, while Vordul Mega rummages through the cluttered basement of his vocabulary for lines that paint dark emotions rather than a crisp picture. While Vast is the standout lyricist on The Cold Vein, it's hard to imagine this album without both sides of the duo. El-P, who got his start with Company Flow, provides lyrics on only one track (Ridiculoid), but creates the beats which truly power the album. El-P's production is truly unique and the 15 tracks he used for The Cold Vein are some of his best ever. The collective whole still sounds futuristic and fresh a full decade later.

Aside from Battle for Asgard (the weak link), it's really impossible to say one track is better than the others but here are some notables:

• Iron Galaxy - a fitting intro. Throws you into a futuristic NYC slum in outer space that will be your home for the next 15 tracks. "You were a still-born baby, mother didn't want you but you were still born" "What you figure? that chalky outline on the ground is a father figure?"

• The F-Word - a genuine hip hop love story. "She was in a love triangle, but it wasn't like my feelings weren't there to make it a square"

• A B-Boy's Alpha - the beat is the highlight on this one.

• Scream Phoenix - This track lifts the album out of the grimy NY sewers in search of something better "I'm not made of organics not even wires, just saw my body light up and heard the choir"