Month: November 2006

US, November 6, 2006 – It’s old news that on December 6th, 2006, Eminem is releasing Re:Up, a mixtape styled CD featuring a host of Shady artists ranging from Stat Quo to Bobby Creekwater, Ca$his and D12
While Eminem appears on a number of the tracks included on the compilation, it is not an official Eminem album.
But fans shouldn’t fret too much considering that Em himself not only designed, but also illustrated the cover of the album.Rapper. Producer. Actor. Illustrator. Eminem is quickly shaping up to be a quadruple threat within the entertainment world.
We managed to snag a sneak peek at the cover and naturally felt obligated to share it with y’all.
Enjoy!

R+B star AKON understands why he felt like someone was watching him from the shadows of his new video shoot for SMACK THAT – the spirit of the murder victim buried beneath his feet was in the room. The Senegalese LONELY hitmaker felt an eerie presence throughout the shoot in an abandoned Downtown Los Angeles hotel – and now he knows why. He explains, “A dead body was discovered underneath the structure’s floorboards. “Some weird stuff was happening that whole weekend. I think it was a haunted hotel or something.” WENN photographer CHARLIE STEFFENS, who covered the shoot, admits he “creeped out” by the “vibe” in the hotel. He says, “I felt a weird vibe the moment I walked into that part of the hotel… It was an indescribable creepiness.”

Rap superstar Eminem has cancelled his retirement plans and is making a new album, according to hip hop pal Akon.
The Lonely hitmaker collaborated with Eminem on new single Smack That, and claims the credit for convincing him to make a comeback.
Akon reveals, “Eminem told me he was getting bored with everything, which is why he took a break. But he’s back working on an album and I’ve got some records ready for him to use on it.
“I know him through (rapper) Obie Trice and we’ve talked about doing something together for so long, but our schedules made it impossible. It was our chemistry that got him out of retirement.”

Rapper Eminem made a special appearance Friday on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Shade 45 Station to celebrate its second year on the air.
SOHH.com reported that Eminem counted down his favorite hip-hop artists and their songs on Lord Sear and Rude Jude’s Shade 45 program “The All Out Show.” Eminem reportedly revealed the artists that he said had influenced his career the most.
Shade 45 has reportedly amassed a huge following since its introduction in 2004.
SOHH said Eminem was recently cleared of misdemeanor domestic violence charges brought last month by his niece, who is under his guardianship.

Average rating: 4 stars
RIP Proof, Mudd and Thyme’s characteristic dark bass notes and catchy beats, a combination of hardcore and syncopated lyrics, raw and raspy voices are Detroit hip hop connoisseurs’ delight. The trio created some good tracks in the early 90’s.
Among those tracks, the song Crazy. The pornographic accents of the song might shock some puritan mentalities, but hip hop lovers will probably appreciate the song to the fullest.
The song, that is full of dirty descriptions, is beautifully enhanced with RIP Proof’s raspy voice and the rhythmic beats. Lyrically the song enlightens the trio’s skills. The monotony of the guitar notes contrasts with the rapid drum beats while the sudden interruption of the artists’ voices generate an overall impression of surprise. Crazy track dedicated to a girl nicknamed « Crazy ».
Thyme Solo allows the listener to fully appreciate Thyme’s extra rapid delivery. Get caught in the middle of a lyrical spiral and feel the passion of a man who lives for the love of hip hop. I recommend you Thyme Solo by any means.
Trademark has been featured on Da Shady Spot mixtape 2005. It is a beautiful example of what hip hop masters can do. Overheated lyrics will make the listener feel the struggle and the dedication to the rap game. The well handled track is an astute composition of swinging beats, a mastered flow and good lyrics. Taste it with delight!
During the last decade, 5ELA has been too much slept on. The talented Detroit group definitely deserves more recognition from the world.
Check out 5ELA here.
Copryright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Since the announcement of the preparation of Dr Dre’s long awaited Detox album, many people made a lot of speculations about how the album should or would look like.
Dr Dre himself let the eager listeners literally starve out of hunger, giving them- from time to time- a little breath of air by creating Detox alike mixtapes. One of them is the less known Pretox I had the chance to listen to in 2005, the second one is the Millenium Of The Aftermath, whose title might be Detox, but that isn’t the real Detox album.
I wish I could take my phone, ring the notorious Dr Dre and tell him to hurry up with the real Detox. Since I can’t promise to do that to my readers, I will prompt to review Dr Dre’s Millenium Of The Aftermath instead.
The Millenium Of The Aftermath’s colorful introduction is rich of many artists’ voices including Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and of the Dre 2001 flavor. The one and only D-R-E is about to speak out, so shut up and listen!
My Life featuring D.O.C is an interesting remix in which Dr Dre tells his story in the Cpt since the beginning.
Still Dre starts in an offensive way. Light instrumentals contrast with hammering drum beats on the Still Dre lyrics combining Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg’s talents. The new melody totally fits with the well known Still Dre lyrics.
Put It On Me is a well handled Dr Dre – DJ Quick collaboration. Nostalgic sounding female vocals are married with Dr Dre’s hardcore lyrics. The instrumentals totally enhance the hardcore explicit track where both artists’ talents shine like the sun on the beach in the middle of the Summer.
Let Me Ride is started with some Spanish vocal that are then mixed up with the traditional G funk sound and numerous keyboard sounds. Like the astute master cook Dr Dre actually is, the skilled artist spices up the track with various sounds, enhances the taste with different style composures in order to keep his listeners hungry for more. The listeners will testify that year after year, they appreciate Dr Dre’s musical dishes more and more.
Life As An Outlaw is based on a gunshot musical background. The dark and unsafe atmosphere is provided to you by the Dr Dre and his accomplice Slim Shady. Let both cow boys entertain you with a Far West flavor. The lyrical part is fully mastered. I enjoyed the story telling dimension of the song to the fullest.
This Is How We Do is a remix of the well known Game-50 Cent collaboration.
Crocked Cops will transport you into the Compton hood brutal environment. The female vocals reinforce the struggling atmosphere of black men fighting against the cops. Welcome to hell. Welcome to the world of racial discrimination and unfair trial when you were born with the « wrong skin color ».
Bitches Ain’t Shit is a rhythmic track built on keyboard sounds and
Catchy drum beats in which Dr Dre disses « bitches and hoes ».
Blaaw is a Dr Dre- Hitman collaboration. Piano notes, scratches, a dark bassline totally fit with the hostile lyrics from two skilled emcees who will erase haters instantly. Say your prayers and be ready to get shot by their lyrical bullets.
Aftermath combines Eve, Stat Quo, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes’ participation. I didn’t feel that track too much to be very honest, because it lacks originality in my opinion.
Higher is lead by The Game. Hammering piano mixed up with numerous violins suggest some gun talk. The Game will take you for a ride to Compton. Enjoy the West Coast style and the passion that prevails in this song.
If I Get Locked Up Tonight is the kind of Eminem-Dre songs that I particularly like. Offensive, inventive, built on a rich musical background, hilarious, murderous, what do you want more from Slim Shady?
That’s What It Is is an interesting patchwork made of a trio between Biggie, Eve and Tupac. Piano, keyboards, violins, swinging drum beats, hot lyrics, a rapid flow delivery will allow the listeners to discover a new dimension of good quality gangsta rap. Don’t sleep on this track.
From Tha Bottom is Stat Quo’s philosophical reflection about the impact money has on an artist’s behavior.
Globally, Dr Dre managed to increase our hunger with the various panel of styles and artistic collaboration The Millenium Of The Aftermath has to offer. However, I hope that the real Detox will drop in a near future for us to taste its subtle flavor with delight.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Musically speaking which of « both Eminem » do you prefer: the Eminem of the days of Infinite or the recent Eminem who made the Encore album?
If you ask me to state a very honest opinion, I will answer straight away with no hesitation: the lyrical Eminem of the days of Infinite!
Do you fans from the early artistic days of Marshall Mathers remember the Slim Shady/ Royce 5.9 collaborations? Probably yes. Do you miss them? I bet you probably do as well.
Let me take you back to the year 2000 and introduce you to the Eminem Is Back mixtape that will allow you to fully appreciate Em’s huge level of lyrical skills combined with some very valuable artistic collaborations such as Royce 5.9 and the Outsidaz.
Hellbound is a quite known Eminem-Master Ace collaboration based on a Slim Shady Fuck The Planet freestyle combined with Master Ace’s own words. Bells, keyboards, crazy ass beats fully enhance the mad lyrical atmosphere.
Nuttin To Do contains some explosive well researched and hilarious lyrics mixed up with some catchy beats.
Anybody who is familiar with Royce’s former work will recognize the She’s The One melody that has been intelligently remixed by both Bad And Evil accomplices Ryan Montgomery and Marshall Mathers.
ThreeSixFive is built on dark piano notes, rhythmic beats and synthesizers. Feel the insecurity, the monotony and the gangsta flavor of the track that is provided by some crusty lyrics and dark atmosphere. Slim Shady’s part is scary, demented and -of course- lyrical.
I particularly recommend you Scary Movies, another deep Royce-Em collaboration in which both artists’ talent come to shine. Numerous violins in the background, bad scary noises, shouts, incisive lyrics will introduce the listener into the hell of a terrific lyrical ambiance.
Rush Ya Clique is introduced by some swinging guitar sounds in the background, hammering beats, some raspy voices. The Outsidaz’s scurrilous attitude combined with Eminem’s inventive and spicy lyrics instantly draw the listener an insecure picture of the whole crew whose association is a dangerous lyrical bomb dropping. Explosive? Yes, handle with care!
Hustlers And Hardcore is constructed on rapid knife alike piano sounds and an incredible good flow delivery. Enjoy emcees spitting hot fire.
Rock City is certainly one of the most beautiful Eminem-Royce collaborations. Guitar, electric guitar notes, scratches, excellent beats and two emcees of great talent make this track a great Detroit underground classic.
The song is also a wonderful tribute to the D Town.
Macosa is a rhythmic track built on drum sounds and a good artistic flow delivery. In fact, Macosa is a popular Cameroonian dance and the part of the « mamasse- mamassa- mama-macossa » is a well known part that is sung by Cameroonian folks. (If you doubt me, go listen to Manu Di Bango’s
intrepretation of « Macosa » on the saxophone. Manu Di Bango is one of the most popular Camroonian musicians who has worked on the popular « Macosa » theme.)
The African theme is worked on with incisive and eroding lyrics that will make you bleed hard.
If the Eminem Is Back mixtape is not in your hip hop library yet, you should definitely consider grabbing the CD, because it offers an interesting panel of various artistic talents. A good use of the instrumentals a good flow delivery, some spicy lyrics and a dark gangsta flavor make this CD highly enjoyable for the listeners’ ear.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Average rating of the product: 4 stars
Electric guitar sounds mixed up with drum beats flood into the listeners’ ears while Havoc and Progedy shoot offensive bullets from their mouth. Welcome to the Valley of Death. Havoc and Progedy perfectly outline the frozen atmosphere of the hood.
Win Or Lose’s soft female vocals and entertaining melody contrast with the total fight atmosphere of men who are not only determined to make some ‘chips‘, but also to target the top of the world.
Flood The Block is beautifully enhanced with electric guitar sounds. In the hood, you either ride or die, which is totally summarized in the song. You like it raw? Then Flood The Block totally fits your needs. Two men are on the run in the hood in a constant overheated atmosphere in which guns and drugs are part of the landscape.
Dump is an interesting Mobb Deep- Nate Dogg collaboration that enlightens the group’s lyrical skills. Nate Dogg’s dark voice combined with the great Mobb Deep lyrical performance allow the listener to penetrate into the assault ambiance. The ‘Shoot Em Up’ song contains a zest of the typical gangsta savor.
Got It Twisted is based on numerous violins that allow the listener to foresee the offensive atmosphere of the track. Let merciless Havoc and Progedy step up in the club and take over. Terrorizing hood soldiers will leave opponents with no voice.
Siren sounds mixed up with soft keyboard sounds introduce When U Hear The. The song slowly leads the listener into the hell of a hood where guns, partying all night, drama, the misery of HIV positive people, the hidden enemies increase the high emotional, suffocating and hardcore atmosphere of the track.
Shorty Wop represents young thugging in the streets. Feel heat that is expressed through the swinging beats and Mobb Deep’s hot flow delivery. Picture young thugs hunting girls in the hood.
Catchy beats, a various mixture of keyboard sounds, raspy voices characterize One Of Ours Part II. It is all about the hard hustle in the streets: you gotta sweat hard to get the money.
On The Run is as unsafe and offensive as the preceding songs. No time left for overacted softness, the ugliness of ghetto life is truly exposed. Both emcees leave a cold as ice ambiance behind them while the instrumentals suggest an unpleasant routine in which they are unwillingly caught.
Deep Never Change offers a social analysis of life in the hoods. Some things (the murders, the kids left on their own, the quest for money, the constant hustle and the hoes, corruptness.)
Globally, Mobb Depp’s Americaz Nightmare is an insightful piece of work that unveils the reality of the ghetto. Mobb Deep don’t care if their CD is a shock value. The truth has to be told and the truth is all that matters in the end. Put their CD on your player if you haven’t done it yet: the album is definitely worth a listen!
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Artist Name: Strike
Location: Detroit
Genre: hip hoprap
Link: http://www.myspace.com/strikecrimesidedivission
Average rating of the product: 4.5 stars
Also known as 8 Mile’s Lickety Split, Detroit underground emcee does not only show his skills in Eminem’s movie. The talented artist has released some brand new tracks. Among those tracks, Flip Flop Paint attracted my attention.
Dark keyboard notes are the prelude to Strike’s lyrical assault. The song has some typical raw accents coming straight out the Detroit hood. Strike and his Mountain Climbaz’s dark voice. For those who don’t know yet, the Mountain Climbaz are an incredible association of extremely gifted . artists like Journalist 103, Animal Chief, DJ King David and Strike himself.
While the instrumentals draw a sophisticated, dark and surrealistic atmosphere, Strike blesses the mic with confidence. The song is worth gold lyrically. Like a volcano, the whole crew erupts, causing a rupture in the earth’s surface, spitting hot rocks at their enemies, eventually leaving them lifeless.
Flip Flop Paint will allow the listeners to travel virtually through the hostile D, where the hustle in the street is a constant survival rule.
Creative, enhanced with some good instrumentals and beats, enlightened with some noticeable vocal performances, Flip Flop Paint is definitely a song you should not sleep on.
Listen to Flip Flop Paint here.
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

How low should human values decrease until we realize the inestimable price of human life? This is the question that is currently running through my mind after reading an article that was published at All Hip Hop Com.
The man who fatally shot RIP Big Proof (and who probably shot his cousin Keith Bender at the same time), Mario Etheridge, is now a free man- after paying a $2000 fine!
Two witnesses (one of them is Mudd of 5ELA, Proof’s long term friend) have confirmed that the events that happened in the night of April the 11th did in NO WAY corroborate with the press’ official version. There are great chances that Proof’s murder, Mario might also be his own cousin’s murder, according to precise testimonies.
Proof’s autopsy might have revealed traces of drugs and alcohol, but no gun powder could be found on his body.
Being a fan and big supporter of Big Proof’s music for years, I have followed his life and career with attention. I have also followed the events that followed his tragic murder on April the 11th, 2006.
The more I gather and analyze facts about Proof’s death, the more the evidence of a jealousy murder appears to me. Proof has been nothing else but a victim. The man who managed to create that typical Detroit hip hop spirit also made a big impact on many people through his music. Unfortunately, talent and success created a lot of envy. Some people in the hood hate you to death when you achieve success.
Big Proof was about to be Detroit’s next raising star. Similar envious people would cut short Detroit underground emcee Blade Icewood’s life and career.
A few days ago, a judge counted Proof’s life as nothing when he gave his worthless verdict in favor of Mario Etheridge. Mario, you might have escaped from human justice, but remember that divine justice won’t miss you.
I am deeply saddened by this sentence. Again, I can’t get rid of the thought that Deshaun Holton died for nothing.
It is now up to the family, friends and supporters to keep a talented artist’s memory alive, so that Derty Harry’s music can live on-despite all.
Thyme Will Tell.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved