Y’know what? I’m a fan of Bad Boy. I’m not ashamed of that. Sure the label’s seen better days, but in it’s heyday it was a force to be reckoned with. I don’t hate Ma$e, I’ve enjoyed every incarnation of The Lox and I don’t think that Diddy is without talent.
Case in point, I’m actually pumped about Ma$e’s return to the gully.
Ma$e
Now I’ve heard mixtape stuff from when Ma$e was Murda Mase, before he donned the shiny suit, back when he was in the Children of the Corn. He was nice on the mic back then. Not that he wasn’t once he was signed to Bad Boy, but he definitely toned things down in terms of content. Those freestyles are definitely worth tracking down, at the very least to get a glimpse of the evolution of the artist.
Still his Bad Boy catalogue has some memorable songs. It’s because of those songs that I was disappointed when he retired and with his clunker of a sophomore release. (What’s funny is how people neglect to mention his tension with Jay-Z, which occurred right before he retired.)
When Ma$e came out of retirement it was bittersweet. It was dope to hear him rhyming again, but his content was even more lacking than before he retired. As a guy who dug his grimey stuff, I was disappointed that his album was mostly sunshine and lollypops.
So when my best friend (and fellow Murda Mase enthusiast) sent me Check Clear I at a loss for words. To hear Ma$e getting gully and talking greasy about Brandy was once of the best things I’d heard all year.
Do I care that people are hatin’ and saying that he’s a fraud? Nope. I always like the slick talking Ma$e, so to me this is long overdue. I don’t think that Ma$e is trying to capitalize on the current trend in Hip Hop, I think that Ma$e has just become comfortable and accepted who he is. He’s done with living up to the expectations of others and he’s just doing “him.”
Black Rob
When I picked up Black Rob Report I wasn’t really expecting much. Maybe it was the way the album had been delayed for years. Maybe it was all of the rumors about Black Rob that had been circulating over the same period of time. Maybe it was because I had forgotten how much I enjoyed his 1999 debut. Regardless I was pleasantly surprised.
Actually I was impressed. This was an album that I had like no expectations for, and it was pretty impressive. Black Rob knows how to craft bars. His rhymes are tight and graphic. When he paints a picture with his words, you can really visualize it.
He’s also clever and funny. There were a few times that I actually smiled while listening to his rhymes. He’s got a few chuckles on his album. He’s also got some bangers. While there’s no danger of you ever forgetting his name (which he reiterates on nearly ever track) some of the songs will really get your head nodding.
The requisite “Bad Boy” family cuts were what got me in a reminiscent mood, because I longed for when those songs actually meant something. I can remember looking forward hearing the Bad Boy roster riding the same beat, but on The Black Rob Report those songs stick out like sore thumbs.
Basically Black Rob came correct with his sophomore release.
The Lox
It’s sad that The Lox have been in the news a lot the past few months, and it’s had little to do with actual music.
The Lox went at Diddy via the radio, again, a few weeks back. This time the topic at hand was publishing. Things quickly dissolved into a shouting match and nothing was really resolved.
As for my two cents on the whole deal; Diddy isn’t really wrong for taking advantage of the situation, but The Lox are still pretty sympathetic victims. Sure The Lox should have looked over their contract, but they were fresh out of high school and had the opportunity to sign with the label that not only had the Midas touch, but also the King of New York on their roster. Can you really blame them for being quick to sign on the dotted line?
The Lox also got some publicity for their problems with their current label, Interscope. It appears that 50 Cent was using his sway with the label to put obstacles in the way of The Lox, and specifically Styles P, releasing albums.
Styles P’s sophomore release has been finished for well over a year and has had multiple release dates that keep getting pushed back. The Lox claim that this all stems from 50’s beef with Jadakiss over Jada appearing on Ja Rule’s New York. As a result The Lox have vowed not to record for Interscope.
Now, I love The Lox, but I’ll be honest, I don’t have too much faith in their business skills. Case in point; J-Hood. The fact that some of y’all have no idea who J-Hood is shows how The Lox can drop the ball. J-Hood is an MC who’s been around for a minute and been affiliated with The Lox, via D Block. And by “a minute” I mean years. Still J-Hood has yet to drop an album. Sure he’s been grinding on the mixtapes, but he was the rookie to watch years ago and has yet to produce an album.
So as much as I love The Lox, I think that it’s clear they need to hire someone to handle their business affairs.
I guess that’s it for my walk down Bad Boy memory lane.
Murda Mase
KDP is trying to sell a book.
The past holiday has given us Vintage Gloomchen
Ma$e
Ian taunts me for not having Danger Doom, doesn’t like the Strokes second album, and has no tour dates!
Five MC’s I’m Diggin’ Right Now
1. Ghostface
2. Juelz Santana
3. Black Rob
4. Black Thought
5. Mos Def
