Nate Robinson Is Superman's Kryptonite!

7 Questions

It’s February 10th, now where do I begin?
Where I last left off, let’s pick up from the end.

Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers at the Grammys?!
I feel bad for the legend, and the whole Morris family

A-Rod juiced up while he was playing for the Rangers
Do you think his Hall-of-Fame enshrinement is in danger?

Chris Brown turned Rihanna into Robin Givens
Will they break up? Or do you think he’ll be forgiven?

The stimulus check is still stuck in the Senate
Do you think it’ll get passed before the Cubs win the pennant?

And congrats to the Steelers and their 6th Super Bowl
Will Mike Tomlin be around for as long as they kept Chuck Noll?

All of these stories you can find on globalGrind.
Find out about the world, so you can expand your mind

These are just a couple topics that I really had to vent,
I want to hear your opinion, so be sure to comment!



originally posted at:
http://globalgrind.com/content/399208/7-Questions/

Exile - Funky Worm (Chopped on MPC)

Exile - Funky Worm Chop from FWMJ on Vimeo

The Image CNN Didn't Want White America To See!

This photograph of The Body of Christ praying over President Barack Obama was not aired on CNN in fears that rural, white America would make an uproar about it...

Troy Polamalu: STEELER STAGE DIVE

After winning Super Bowl XLIII, Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers does a stage dive into a crowd of 300,000 people during the Super Bowl Parade!

KRS-One On The Government

It's in your best interests to watch in its entirety and then comment with your own opinion below.

globalGrind Blog: 2.3.09

It’s February 3rd, and I’ve got a couple questions
For the people of the world, let’s begin my blogging section.

Kwame Kilpatrick was released from the pen
After serving 99-days will he do it again?

Rick Ross is pissed off over baby mama drama, cuz 50 found his info
Faster than we’ve found Osama.

Obama’s got the FDA fighting salmonella, it’s a thriller that our
Peanut butter has become a killer.

Michael Phelps was in a photograph ripping a bong, now ask yourselves
“Was the Olympic swimmer really wrong?”

Jennifer Hudson’s national anthem had me thinking,
Did she really just kill it? or was she lip-synching?

Rakim blames NY for Hip-Hop’s demise
Do you think it’s still alive? or do you think it’s in disguise?

All of these stories you can find on globalGrind,
Find out about the world, so you can expand your mind

These are just a couple topics that I really had to vent,
I want to hear your opinion so be sure to comment.

- Steve Tyson

originally posted at:
http://globalgrind.com/content/378089/6-Questions/

RZA Interview & Performance On "Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson"

Pretty Good Street Drummer!

Jay-Z & Young Jeezy: My President Is Black (Live @ Love in D.C.)

The 44th Inauguration

Today officially marks the induction of Barack Obama into the office of President of the United States. I'm sure a lot of us, especially those who are Black or of African descent, can see this day as the culmination of “The Dream” Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of so eloquently on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

In my opinion, the dream of our society living in an era where we can “judge each other not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character” is still on the horizon. Just because there have been a lot of people who’s racist tendencies have been put aside in order to make the logical vote in choosing Barack Obama, does not mean that we have made such a great stride as set forth by Dr. King.

Like when CNN took a poll of people they considered "black" and people they considered "white" to see if they thought King's "dream" was fulfilled. 69% of "blacks" said yes, and around 50% of "whites" said yes. So then they run crawl at the bottom of the screen that says "Fact: Most blacks think MLK's dream is fulfilled".

No one asked me. Have they asked you?

The moment Dr. King's "dream" is fulfilled, is the moment when The United States of America will be accepting of not just a Black President, but of an Asian President, a Hispanic President, a female president, an Indian President, an African President, or any other variation of human that our President could be. When we can pass through inductions and inaugurations of those types of Presidents without flinching, will be the day that we can proudy hold our heads high in understanding of “the dream” Dr. King had envisioned.

Congradualtions to President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, the first family Malia, Sasha, & Marian Robinson, and to Vice-President Biden and his family.

This is the beginning of a new era in American history, and I am just proud to have been able to witness it and will pass the emotions I retain inside on to my children and their children in hopes of a brighter future for us all.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

The Virtuous Freestyle

Talib Kweli's Words of Wisdom

“It was the night of November 11, 2006 at the ASFC of Franklin & Marshall College. There was not a cloud in the sky and the stars were in full effect as JusListen Entertainment prepared to take the stage and open up the concert for Talib Kweli…”

After a one hour set, leaving many people in the crowd stunned at the fact that two of their classmates & peers had just set the stage on fire, we congratulated each other and proceeded backstage to wind down. For the show, JusListen Ent. consisted of myself, T.R.E. (Dave Dennis), Ashton Williams, Dubb (Paul Fields), and P-Gunna (Patrick Delisser). We sat in amazement and watched Talib mount the stage with DJ Chaps of the 12” Assassins to a roar from the crowd.

Now that’s how to rock the house.

Seeing a sea of people who were of all races, genders, and generations spit his lyrics as though they had written them was priceless. Those were the same faces that we saw from the stage, and it took us almost the first half of the show until we won them over. So it was at that moment we knew that there was still a long way to go in this Hip-Hop game.
After his set, we met up with him and his peoples in the press area upstairs and he gave JusListen Ent. some words of advice that will remain with me forever. He said:

“When we got the set list, it didn’t have your names on it as performers. It only referred to you guys as ‘Local Support’. Now that’s OK though, because I started out as ‘local support’ and without any you’ll never be successful. Look at where you are now and what you have done to get here. You know you’re on the right path, all you have to do is keep walking.”

And that’s exactly what I’ve done since. I’ve kept walking. I walked right across that Graduation stage, walked the streets of NYC petitioning for Barack Obama & Save The Children, walked from music label to music label looking for a job, until I walked right into the front doors of globalGrind, and will continue to walk my path until I’m carried away.

If you’re reading this, thank you Talib Kweli for the words of wisdom, and know that they did not fall upon deaf ears.


- Steve Tyson Jr.

Dr. Dre Is An MC's Best Friend

Everyone respects Dr. Dre for the way he keeps heads boppin’ and speakers thumpin’ but sometimes they’ll criticize the repetitiveness of the way his beats loop every 4- or 8-bars and how simple & elemental they can be. And that’s precisely the genius of his craft.

The way he spaces out his music allows any MC the ability to utilize his or her flow to the best of their abilities. From the poetic rappers like Tupac Shakur & Nas, to lyrical assassins like Eminem & Busta Rhymes, to masters of “flow” like Jay-Z & 50 Cent, to even singers like Mary J. Blige & Michel’le he allows people to express themselves as best as they can.

For example, take his latest production “Crack A Bottle”. A few of us here at Global Grind were listening to it, and you can easily hear how intricate Eminem is able to weave his lyrics in and out of the beat with ease. When it’s Dr. Dre’s turn to get on the mic he’s a little more somber and plodding with his flow, which might not work over most beats but is seamless when laced on top of his own production. 50 Cent is a disappointment on the song, but nevertheless he gets the final verse. Even though he’s as lazy as he’s ever been when rapping, his verse still locks into the beat better than a Lego.

I just can’t wait to hear what MC’s he enlists for “Detox”. Those beats he’s kept in the can just for this album have to be some of the best production he’s ever done if the music he’s been releasing became hits like “In The Club”, “The Set Up”, “Outta Control”, “How We Do” and “Lost One”. And apparently even if what he creates is simplistic in nature, word is he’s getting some production assistance from Hi-Tek, DJ Khalil, Mike Elizondo, Mark Ronson, & The RZA so you know there will be some crafty organization.

Hopefully the good Doctor will continue to produce and arrange music long enough for me to reach the spotlight and get down on a track or two, haha.

I’ll show him how the new generation gets down…


- Steve Tyson Jr.

Let The Beef Build

First it was Jim Jones vs. Max B. Then it was T.I. vs. Shawty Lo. Then it became Lil’ Wayne vs. 50 Cent. Now it’s Katt Williams vs. Steve Harvey? I know people are always gunnin’ for the top spot, but these beefs are getting a little out of hand.

When the aftermath of 2Pac vs. Biggie played out, everyone was afraid to beef until Can-I-Bus started busting shots at LL Cool J. Then 50 Cent went on a tirade against everyone in the industry on “How To Rob”. Once he became a mega-success after his beef with Ja Rule, it seemed like the most popular thing to do in Hip-Hop was beef with any random nigga who’s willing to respond. Now we’re starting to come full circle, where the crews of rappers like T.I. and Shawty Lo are firing gunshots at one another. This is only going to lead to the same situation we found ourselves in when Biggie & ‘Pac were killed.

Which leads me to Katt Williams and Steve Harvey… now, I would not have guessed Steve Harvey was a beefin’ kinda guy but I’ve found myself mistaken. It seems like when he took off the toupee, he also took the gloves off and is willing to square off against any young comedian in the game. Katt Williams was the first to step up to the comedy legend, and his presence is really turning this into one of the best things to happen to stand-up comedy since Def Comedy Jam. I cannot recall a time when comedians would come at one another so openly, I mean could you imagine Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor dissing each other?

Maybe beefs and challenges are what the game needs sometimes. When things become too repetitive and stale or when the same people are in the spotlight for too long, there needs to be a changeover. It’s just when the insults get taken too far and the retaliation becomes more physical than verbal is when people need to watch out.

I doubt it will get like that with Katt & Steve, and I doubt it will even get like that between most of the rappers, but when it comes to some of the folk who surround the people that are beefing… you never know.


- Steve Tyson Jr.

2009: Year Of The Grind

I don’t know about the rest of y’all but I’m glad that 2008 is in the past and we’ve crossed into a brand new year. We’ve got a new President, a new homepage for Hip-Hop (globalGrind.com), and some new resolutions to fulfill.

Looking back on the last year I have come to understand that in order for a person to be where they want to be, they will have to pay some dues and earn the respect of their peers in combination with the determination to never settle for less. I’ve learned that things do not always come as immediately as you would like, and that’s part of the beauty of it all. Because patience is clearly a virtue, it pays off when you’ve worked extremely hard at something over a long period of time and it finally starts to come to fruition.

That is the mindset I’m utilizing when looking ahead at 2009. For me, it’s really “The Year Of The Grind”. I released my debut album at the end of last year, so now I must focus on promoting it and gaining more exposure for myself. I must also remain focused on helping Global Grind become one of the most popular and premier websites to ever grace the Internet. Between juggling those two ambitions, I will also be creating a video blog later on this year that will feature exclusive freestyles from myself and other affiliates of JusListen Entertainment.

Those are just some of the things I’m looking forward to this year. If I let y’all know everything I had planned, well it just wouldn’t be the same now would it? Haha.

I hope everyone enjoys this new year. If 2008 was horrible, you’ve got something to look forward to. If 2008 was the greatest, you’ve got something to build upon for the future. Either way, we’re almost a decade into the new millennium and things are finally starting to look up.

Peace, Love, Unity, & Have Fun!

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Back In 2009!!!

What's going on y'all? I know it's been a while since I've written or posted any blogs, so I'd first like to apologize. I've been CRAZY busy working with the team at globalGrind.com, in order to give you the best web experience possible. We've been pulling longer hours and working even harder to make the site better for y'all.

So in 2009, I will be hittin' the web HEAVY with some brand new thoughts and brand new topics for you to ruminate on. (I STILL haven't written on the election of Barack Obama, so you KNOW I have a lot to say on that).

But stay tuned, and don't worry. "Tyson's Take" will be back & in full effect starting January '09 and for now you can appease yourselves by listening to my debut album "The Virtuous Lyricist" which you can order by clicking the link on the right-hand side of this page.

See you in the new year!


- Steve Tyson Jr.

"Music is life, Life is music... JusListen."

Order "The Virtuous Lyricist" Available Now!

The debut album from Steve Tyson (aka DJ ear.2.ear), titled "The Virtuous Lyricist", has officially been released on 11.11.08.
You can order a digital copy of the album at: TysonsTake.blogspot.com
-or-
by emailing: JusListenEnt@gmail.com

Price: $9

Tracklist:
1. Very Interesting Reality Through Unique Experiences
2. Rise: That 9 Ether
3. The Movement
4. Mind Elevation (feat. T.R.E.)
5. Makin' Moves (feat. T.R.E.)
6. Where Do We Go?
7. To The Left...
8. Illumination In 4D
9. The Reflection
10. Mind Made Up
Bonus:
Lost Generation
100 Million

You can preview the album at:
www.myspace.com/JusListenEntertainment

Parental Advisory Exquisite and Explicit Lyrics

Executive Producer: Steve Tyson
All Tracks (except #10 and Bonus) produced by: DJ ear.2.ear
Track #10 produced by: Brian "Doc" Robinson

2008, JusListen Entertainment.




Stephen Tyson, Jr.
President
JusListen Entertainment.

BET presents: The Cypher

DJ Premier, Ace Hood, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, & Jadakiss
Lay it down for a freestyle cypher, and really keep it classic.
Check it out!

Yes There's Joe Six-Pack... But What About Jamal Forty?

First off, props to Brother Gerard for the “Jamal Forty” line, but for real… why are both campaigns still ignoring the overwhelming struggles of middle-class Black folk?
Whenever I turn on CNN or MSNBC, I always hear about how the candidates need to appeal to middle-class, blue collar white voters. No one talks about the Black first-year college graduate, the Latino auto mechanic, or the Indian pizza guy. Why does American media always make it look like the biggest burdens only affect White America?

Now I know they’ve had specials like “Black In America” and they’re good & all, but it just makes it seem like those problems deserve coverage every once in a while as opposed to every single day. I think I’ve heard more about what life will be like for minorities in the future through Sen. Barack Obama’s debate points than from the newscasters that are supposed to be reporting these things. The focus of American media is completely on the wrong topics a lot of the time.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m not watching the right channels at the right time. Maybe I’m so ready for the Cultural Revolution that I see problems where there aren’t. Or maybe I’m right, and we should start standing up to various forms of media and demand proper attention and coverage of subjects that effect ALL of America.

Either way, I just hope this election goes in Obama’s favor and with America’s new image we can also change around the imagery that is broadcast around the globe through our media outlets. Whether or not that change is made by program directors, or the anchors themselves, it will be a much needed breath of fresh air for the average viewer.
What do y’all think?


- Steve Tyson Jr.

The Audacity of Dope

Doesn’t it seem nowadays that you can’t be a successful Hip-Hop artist unless you’re rapping about being deep in the drug game? Now, for those musicians who have been in the drug game and clawed their way out… this blog is not about you. (Just diversify your topics every now and again.) This blog is about those aspiring MC’s that think they’ll only get a reputation in the game if they can say they made more money trappin’ then rapping.

Since the dawn of Hip-Hop, there have been lyricists who wrote about the harsh realities of their lives and the lives of the people they grew up with. Sometimes those rhymes would include graphic, detailed imagery about life in the ‘hood and circumstances they found themselves in. Other times it would reflect the positive side of our communities and give an inspiration to the millions of other people in those neighborhoods that have no other beacon of hope. Then there are those times when young, talented MC’s pick up a pen to write what they live, and instead concoct a fantasy world that resembles a sh*tty imitation of “Scarface”.

Maybe it’s the appeal of sex & violence that captures the imagination of so many young people in Hip-Hop, but there has to be a balance. For example, if you go to the movie theater there are 12 screens that usually show 12 different kinds of movies. Now imagine instead, they played 1 original movie and 11 cheap imitations…

Now, I’m not trying to imply that every new rapper is all about gun play & drug references cuz that’s clearly not the case. All I’m saying is between the artists, their A&R’s, the labels, and radio stations; there could be some sort of collective consciousness that breaks through the typical mindset of what “Hip-Hop” is about and we can reconnect to expressing peace, love, unity, and having fun. But again… that’s just Tyson’s Take. What do you think?


- Steve Tyson Jr.

T.I. - Paper Trail: Album Review

On Tuesday Sept. 30, T.I. will release his sixth studio album “Paper Trail”. Now before I get into critiquing the brotha’s album, I want to make it clear that I listened to a bootleg version for this review but will be purchasing the actual CD to support a fellow artist. Plus, the album is good enough to get bought anyway.

1. 56 Barz – The intro to the album, this song is clearly a lyrical warm-up jog for the versatile MC. The anti-climactic beat puts listeners in position to expect more from the next 17 cuts, and he makes sure we know what other rappers are in his league. (3/5)

2. I’m Illy – No, not “A Millie”. DJ Toomp gives you something to make trunks thump from ATL to NYC, while T.I. lets us know how fresh he is in every aspect of his career. He even challenges us to re-evaluate his position as a Hip-hop heavyweight by declaring he’s “the hottest n*gga rappin’ since Tupac”. (4/5)

3. Ready For Whatever – Since he has a 1 year bid to serve for purchasing machine guns as an ex-felon, it’s of no surprise that he’d dedicate a track to getting his thoughts off his mind about the situation. He explains his situation with a sense of understanding and humility, which is refreshing to see out of a rapper these days. (5/5)

4. On Top Of The World (feat. Ludacris & B.o.B.) – Hotlanta definitely gets some good representation in this song. DJ Toomp is a maestro on the beats once again, recent Grand Hustle signee B.o.B. handles the hook like a seasoned pro, and Ludacris takes some shots back at Samuel L. Jackson for saying rappers couldn’t act. There’s so much goin on T.I. almost gets overshadowed on this song… almost. (4/5)

5. Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna) – When I first heard this song at the MTV Awards, I thought it was a good commercial move by sampling the “Numa Numa Song” and getting Rihanna to switch up the lyrics, but now it’s getting just as annoying as the original. Fun while it lasted tho. (3.5/5)

6. Whatever You Like – T.I. always has one or two songs for the folks who are tryna get their grown & sexy on. Jim Jonsin keeps listeners mesmerized by the synthesizer soundscape and T.I.’s hook tugs on ladies’ heartstrings, while giving the fellas something to whisper in her ear. (4.5/5)

7. No Matter What – On this song, he really shows the world Cliff Harris. Coming at the haters & naysayers, putting Shawty Lo in his place, and letting us know the strength of his faith. If anything happens to him in prison, this album will really be his paper trail. Props to Danja on the beat. (5/5)

8. My Life, Your Entertainment – ATL reppin’ once again, this time bringing in R&B sensation Usher. For a minute I thought getting Usher on a track might be a played out move, but the minute I listened I regretted thinking that. Drumma Boy is really establishing himself as a producer-to-be-reckoned-with and T.I. & Usher get the chance to come back at all the gossip outlets and rumor mill stories about them. (4/5)

9. Porn Star – Another song for those folks getting their grown & sexy on… or just getting their sex on for that matter. “Porn Star” delves deep into the sexual escapades that T.I. wants to take a lucky lady on. Decent production, generic topic, but good wordplay. (3/5)

10. Swing Ya Rag (feat. Swizz Beatz) – I swear, Swizz Beatz is one of the best producers in the game at making you want to stand on your desk at the office and tear your shirt off on some ol’ wild out sh*t. It kinda reminds me of that Petey Pablo song, but definitely revamped for 2K8. (3.5/5)

11. What Up, What’s Haapnin’ – This song is the “Ether” to Shawty Lo’s flimsy career. Classic. (5/5)

12. Every Chance I Get – Back to ballin’. T.I. takes up the generic “I’m gonna ball” theme for this track. He still manages to do it better than a lot of other rappers, but at this point I want to hear some other topics. Decent effort. (3/5)

13. Swagger Like Us (feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Lil’ Wayne) – Probably the song of the season. The four biggest heavyweights in Hip-hop collab for this effort. Kanye is a genius for finding that M.I.A. sample for the hook, and every single MC murders their verse. I swear they all co-ghostwrote Diddy’s version of this track too. (5/5)

14. Slide Show (feat. John Legend) – T.I. gets reminiscent again, this time running through memories of his past and how he visualizes them as pictures in a slideshow. His impending prison sentence is really bringing a side out of him that I don’t think has been revealed much on any of his other albums. Kanye helmed the boards for this song too. (4/5)

15. You Ain’t Missin’ Nothin’ – This song is soaked full of emotion, letting his fallen comrades know that even though they are gone they’re in a better place. He’s really been through a lot, and once again isn’t afraid to show it. DJ Toomp gets more soulful with the beat and it matches the verses perfectly. (5/5)

16. Dead and Gone (feat. Justin Timberlake) – It seems JT is really learning from Timbaland, cuz at first I thought it was Timbo on the beat and sure enough it was Justin. If that wasn’t impressive enough, T.I. brings back his classic flow and rounds out the album with a very solid single. (5/5)

Overall Rating: (4/5)
If T.I. can keep his head on his shoulders while in prison, and comes out a more focused and determined agent of positivity, I think his next album will be even more impressive and personal than this one. At first listen, the album didn’t live up to his best in my opinion (“King”), but the more I hear its songs over & over the more I have grown to appreciate it. It’s definitely worth picking up when it drops next Tuesday, so enjoy.

T-Pain, Kanye, Lil’ Wayne & The Vocoder

Everyone’s either hating or loving the fact that T-Pain and the folks at AutoTune have brought back that classic vocoder sound. At first I thought it was just to compensate for lack of singing skills. I felt it was annoying and took away from the musicians that have real talent yet don’t get exposure. Especially when the man using it was only talking about being “In Love With A Stripper”. Soon enough I heard it spreading around to other R&B artists like Chris Brown, and knew it wasn’t going to end from there.

Now we have Lil’ Wayne and Kanye West using AutoTune unapologetically in every one of their latest releases. Even when they perform live, somehow the technicians are able to put the AutoTune effect through their microphones. When Lil’ Wayne performed on SNL the other weekend I thought he did a great job but, personally, would have rather heard him do it without any vocal manipulation. Kanye’s newest song “Love Lockdown” also features him utilizing the AutoTune effects in order to express his deepest pains about love.

Now, even though I’m 23 I have a vivid memory of first hearing the vocoder used by Stevie Wonder on his “Music Of My Mind” album. I thought it was such a cool idea as a child and never saw it resurface until years later when the “California Love” video came out with Roger Troutman using the Talk Box to achieve the same sound. The more I hear it used by rappers and R&B singers the more I’m starting to think that if they’re going to use it, then they better be good. Sometimes Kanye is too over the top with it, same with Wayne, but other times it doesn’t sound that bad. I think that for now, it should remain with T-Pain and maybe Chris Brown and everyone else should probably just let it go. But who am I to say what any other artist should do with their music?


- Steve Tyson Jr.

Hip-Hop's 100 Albums Worth Honorable Mention

Last week I compiled my Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums and I appreciate everyone who commented (or will comment) with their opinions. What y’all had to say really got me thinking about all of the music I’ve appreciated in the last 23 years, so I’ve decided to compile a list of 100 Hip-Hop albums that I think deserve “Honorable Mention” status. I threw in some new and old classics that paved (and are paving) the way for future Hip-Hop generations. As always, let me know what you think.


Hip-Hop’s 100 Albums Worth Honorable Mention:

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
Kanye West – The College Dropout
Busta Rhymes – E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event)
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
2Pac – Me Against The World
Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Run-DMC – King Of Rock
Method Man – Tical 2000: Judgement Day
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot – Supa Dupa Fly
DMX – Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood
Jadakiss – Kiss Tha Game Goodbye
Styles P. – A Gangsta & A Gentleman
Ludacris – Back 4 Tha First Time
Ludacris – Word Of Mouf
Jay-Z – The Black Album
Q-Tip – Amplified
Big Punisher – Yeeeah Baby
Beatie Boys – Licensed To Ill
Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
Hot Boyz – Guerilla Warfare
2Pac – Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory
Blackstar – Blackstar
Talib Kweli – Quality
Talb Kweli & Hi-Tek – Train Of Thought
Ice Cube – Amerikkka’s Most Wanted
Puff Daddy & The Family – No Way Out
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever
Dead Prez – Let’s Get Free
Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
Eminem – The Eminem Show
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
The Fugees – The Score
50 Cent – Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
The Roots – Things Fall Apart
The Roots – Illadelph Halflife
A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
Afrika Bambaataa – Planet Rock
The Roots – Game Theory
N.E.R.D. – In Search Of…
Common – Be
Wyclef Jean – The Carnival
Common – Finding Forever
J Dilla – Donuts
Mobb Deep – The Infamous…
A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
Slick Rick – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
EPMD – Strictly Business
LL Cool J – Bad
Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E.1999 Eternal
Big L – Lifestyles Of Da Poor & Dangerous
MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em
Juvenile – 400 Degreez
2Pac – 2Pacalypse Now
Nas – It Was Written
Scarface – The Fix
Geto Boyz – We Can’t Be Stopped
Jurassic 5 – Quality Control
Fat Joe – Jealous One’s Envy
Cam’Ron – Come Home With Me
Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
Busta Rhymes – The Coming
Kool G Rap – 4, 5, 6
Atmosphere – Godlovesugly
Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow
Ice-T – Power
The Game – L.A.X.
Jurassic 5 – Power In Numbers
Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now?
Outkast – Stankonia
Pharoah Monche – Internal Affairs
UGK – Ridin’ Dirty
AZ – Pieces Of A Man
Beanie Sigel – The Truth
Da Brat – Funkdafied
Beanie Sigel – The B.Coming
Memphis Bleek – The Understanding
Goodie Mob – Still Standing
Heiroglyphics – 3rd Eye Vision
Kanye West – Late Registration
The Coup – Steal This Album
The Coup – Pick A Bigger Weapon
T.I. – King
Twista – Adrenaline Rush
Trick Daddy – www.thug.com
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter II
Foxy Brown – Ill Na Na
MC Lyte – Lyte As A Rock
Salt ‘N’ Pepa – Very Necessary
Murs – Murray’s Revenge
Nas – It Was Written
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Guru – Jazzmatazz
Jedi Mind Tricks – Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell
Kid ‘N Play – 2 Hype


Took a few hours to really narrow it down, and I know the first thing everyone might be thinking is “How did someone like The Game’s album get there when it’s not even been out for a week?”. It’s because The Game spits some real talk on that album, just like a lot of other MC’s on this list. If you’ve never heard of some of these albums, don’t hesitate to give them a listen. They just might end up as one of your favorites too.

Peace, Love, Unity, & Have Fun y’all.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Tyson's Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums EVER!

Recently, hip-hop website “theboombox.com” compiled a list of their 20 Greatest Hip-Hop albums of all-time. Now, I took a look at the albums they picked and I’d agree with several of their choices but not necessarily the order. So I took some time out of my day and compiled my Top 25 choices for Greatest Hip-Hop album of all time. By all means, let me know what you guys think.



Tyson’s Top 25

25. DMX – It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot
24. Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary
23. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
22. De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising
21. Dr. Dre – 2001
20. Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather
19. Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane
18. Gangstarr – Step In The Arena
17. Outkast – Aquemini
16. Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet
15. Redman – Doc’s Da Name: 2000
14. Nas – Untitled
13. Boogie Down Productions – Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop
12. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
11. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
10. Jay-Z – The Blueprint
9. Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded
8. Big Punisher – Capitol Punishment
7. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
6. Dr. Dre – The Chronic
5. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
4. Nas – Illmatic
3. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers
2. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die
1. 2Pac – All Eyez On Me


Took a while, and I know I omitted some classic artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Scarface, Goodie Mob, and more… but hey, it’s just Tyson’s take. What do y’all think?

- Steve Tyson Jr.