They Grow Up So Fast...

My computer says its December 19th, 2008, which means The Boogie is officially one year old.

From a white-washed, black font-ed jump-start (that's a lot of hyphens) crew of rapscallions to a blacked out, blue font-ed group of well-adjusted (sometimes absent) minds that are always on the prowl for the latest in hip-hop, fashion, or anything that jumps into our minds to help feed our fans.

We know we aren't swimming in readers, but those who are loyal to the blog, we greatly appreciate your readership, and hope that you stick with us for many years to come.

We have our inspiration. The guys and gals we turn to to get our clocks ticking. Many thanks to our 'Get Familiar' list, and especially the dudes at Way More Fresher for their support and looks from their side of the blogosphere.

Most of all, I'd like to thank my fellow contributors at my e-home away from home for a great year: Mr. Fresco (as I've taken to calling him), Skateboard D, and our two (slightly) estranged Boogie-ers Gonzo and DJ Pop$ikle. You all have opened my eyes to a whole new side of music, and I doubt I'll ever close them.

I may not have been the fan favorite, but I know I've had a great time these last 12 months, and hope to continue the growth and rise of this blog to the top.

Thanks everybody, lets keep this show going.

The Highly Anticipated Post

If you read this blog or any blog of that matter, you must be familiar with the good folks of G.O.O.D. music who are indeed getting their dreams out. Not only are they the best dressed label (its a fact) but they are headed by blog hogger-and a prominent writer himself- Kanye West. Alongside the LV Don, the supporting cast includes the likes of Common, the Cons, GLC, Sa-Ra, Fanzworth, and other talented artists of the Hip-Hop and now Experimental genres that these dudes represent. If you didn't come to the assumption already, this label is super diverse (even though diverse isn't politcally correct nowadays lol). They're like the label version of the ladies via the Facts of Life-I'm not calling them gay, believe me-and each of them bring something to the table.

As if i couldn't love the organization enough, they recently implemented a 3-headed monster that you may not be 100% familiar with. Lemme break it down for you-in o favorable order:
First you got the homie out of Ohio, Kid CuDi. Whether we Hip-Hop heads like it or not, CuDi is blowing up around the globe with his single Day 'N Nite, Crookers Remix. I can't seem to figure it out, but apparently the production wasn't impelling to the mainstream audiences so they had to generate a wack beat. Whatever, thats another story.
Anywho, dude is doppeee; from his baby milo hoodies to his swag, CuDi is nice right now. Theres a reason 'Ye signed the dude outta Cleveland, and he even gave him a look on 808s and Heartbreak, and the two conceived one of my favorite tracks on the record. Check him out


2) I introduce to you: Big Sean. Yeah, hes been featured on this blog previously, but BS needs some respect. He's working on his album, Finally Famous, probably as we speak right now. You've seen the vid with him in the studio with Leonardo P, so you know its going to be a hot album. 'Ye recently gave the Detroit native some love in the Paranoid Remix (its not really a remix like Diddy would do it, but Big Sean did his thing), which is pretty dope. Peep it

3) To cap things off, you got most overlooked artist of the trio, Mr. Hudson. Cue the suprise right about now. Don't let his pigment-or lack thereof- deceive you. No offense to the fellas above, Hudson may be the most talented of the recent signees. He hails from the UK and is a singer/songwriter. He even wrote a few ballads on 808s which aside from Paranoid it may have been Streetlights, but i could easily be wrong. Peep his space and don't tell me this guy isn't gonna blow up; he's already established himself overseas. But who am i to judge? Hudson is nice right now.

So basically 'Ye has devised what the Giants have over in the Meadowlands. No, not a crappy stadium, but the triumphant trio AKA Earth, Wind, and Fire. CuDi is Brendan Jacobs, BS is Derrick Ward, and that leaves Mr. Hudson as Ahmad Bradshaw.

Watch out.

Its about to be a TKO

Who's gonna save my soul now??

Here's a pretty dope remix of a pretty dope Gnarls Barkley song. Jay Electronica is going to have a future with a dedicated fan base and no mainstream love, which is a good thing. Get the remix here.

Sidenote: If anyone saw the Grammy nominations, they noticed that this song is up for video of the year. This makes me so happy. Overall, it's a pretty decent list. Honey got a look and so did Radiohead's dope self. If any of those win, I'm gonna be happy, but nothing holds a candle to Gnarls Barkley in this catagory.

Faggot

To those that care,

I am sorry that I haven't been updating the last few weeks. I have been overloaded with final exams. I just finished my last exam of the semester 45 minutes ago. I feel so good, but not good enough to let a video like this slide.

Kid CuDi- Too $hort [Freestyle]

The homie CuDi paying homage to the Bay area faithful.


Whats my favorite word...


*UPDATE*
I just found this which you might find a tad more interesting:


Jew Unit + Man on the Moon=Niceness
Who's your winner? lol (sorry CuDi).


And by the way, does anyone know where can I cop those dope ass mocassins Asher has been sportin' hard lately?

Its Over! Leaving!

Video: Sooner or Later



Nice way to round out the year that NERD owned from beginning to end.

My Top 25 of 2008

The year of 2008 has come and gone like Shwayze's career in the rap game. This year may have been the best complete year of music in my life. Every genre I listen to (meaning just about everything) had a great lineup of music to drop. So to recap the 08, I will share my Top 25 listens.

This list is not in any particular order of relevance, so I'm not playing favorites towards anyone. I am also including a few mixtapes and 'unofficial' albums, some of which have been featured here on The Boogie.

I already know that I may catch a lot of flack for some of these picks, but I can take the criticism.

So with out any further ado, here are my picks for the Top 25 albums from 2008:

The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

One of my personal favorite bands, which is a side project of Jack White (of The White Stripes). It was inspired by Zeppelin and The Who, and is dripping in blues-esque heavy riffs.

Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold

Maybe not Atmosphere's best, but still damn good in today's hip-hop world. Slug and Ant tell their regular stories about the ugly side of life, and use their signature imagery to put you in the middle of the room in every song.

Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak

I've expressed my sentiments toward this album before, and they haven't changed. This album gets better and better after every listen. I think Paranoid may be my favorite track of 08.... maybe.

Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Just another one of those Q4 releases that almost transcends hip-hop in terms of its sound. The monotone drone of Tip's voice is something that was sadly missed, and with this comeback I'll be satisfied even he does decide to take another decade off.

Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch

From Gainesville and headed by Tom Petty, its a pseudo-Southern rock/blues-ish band that really surprised me this year. They're new, but have been in existance since 1970, its a long story...

88 Keys - The Death of Adam

I think I speak for the entire Boogie lineup when I say that this album might be the most slept on piece of brilliance in 2008. How a record like this could go so unnoticed in the mainstream is rediculous.

The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale EP

I feel like we've been talking about these guys for 5 years, but this EP was 'officially' released in June, and I still listen to it every other day it seems. I still think the beat on 'A Little Bit Cooler' is the nastiest thing I've heard in 2008.

Mitch Hedberg - Do You Believe in Gosh?

This a comedy album. Produced during one of the last shows Mitch Hedberg ever did before his overdose in 2005. Even though its been 3 years since his passing, his material is still great, and made me realize how much I miss this comedic genius.

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One

This was her first album in 5 years, and it was worth the wait. She still sounds the same, she's still kinda sorta crazy, and the hair is still plentiful. Her videos are fresh, too.

John Mayer - Where the Light Is: Live In LA

People hate on him for being the epitome of soft, gushy chick rock, but the dude can play the shit out his guitar, and that's especially evident in this CD/DVD package that's well worth the money.

Murs - Murs for President

Guys been around forever, and he continues to reinvent himself, and push a new message at his listeners. He did a great job telling his story and throwing his political prowess into the mix at the same time.

Brad Paisley - Play: The Guitar Album

Yes, its a country album, and you can say whatever you want about it. Brad Paisley (like the aforementioned John Mayer) can play the daylights out of his guitar, and any album that features the legendary BB King at least once has to be good.

The Roots - Rising Down

Nowhere near Game Theory or Illadelph Halflife, in my opinion, but this was still great. This album was a true showcase of (my hero) ?uestlove's talent on the drums. The simple beats he puts down for this album are technical juggernauts on the case.

N*E*R*D - Seeing Sounds

Do I even have to comment on this album? If you've read this blog over the last 12 months, then you have to know how much each and everyone of us love this record. And just to beat the dead horse a little bit more: THANK YOU P, CHAD AND SHAE.

of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping

This band and this album are.... um.... uhh.... different? Electro beats, synths and (at times) heavy riffs set this band apart from any other. Tracks about drugs, trannies and a certain part of the human anatomy may not be for everyone, but I love the sound they make.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Mr. Fresco let me know about this group last year, and I haven't looked back. Their sound is almost impossible to describe (much like of Montreal, who they are touring with, as a matter of fact), and the concepts behind their videos are almost more impossible, but I love it.

Colin Munroe - ...Is the Unsung Hero

Yet another one of the guys Fresco got me turned onto. Even though this tape only dropped a couple weeks back, its still become one of my rapid favorites. When this guy's debut drops next year, I'll be first in line to buy it.

Adele - 19

This girl can flat out sing. This album is flat out amazing. And, if you knock me for loving this record, you're flat out dumb.

Elzhi - The Preface

Formerly part of the infamous Slum Village, Elzhi dropped two great albums in 08, with The Preface being my personal favorite. Its about time someone from Detroit came out with something meaningful, who's name isn't Marshall Mathers.

John Legend - Evolver

Yet another one of those albums hawked by The Boogie and just about every other blog on the face of the planet. Its not 'Get Lifted', but it was still G.O.O.D. Ya see what I did there?

Jay-Z & Coldplay (Mick Boogie and Terry Urban) - Viva la Hova

I cannot stop listening to this thing. This may have been the greatest idea since the computer was invented. Beach Chair is another track that's in the running for best of 08.

Wale - The Mixtape About Nothing

If you still haven't heard this yet, you're missing out. The sole proprietor of DC seems to be changing the game one track at a time, and this is part of the reason why. March couldn't come fast enough.

Rhymefest - The Man in the Mirror

Mark Ronson and Rhymefest in one package. Is it supposed to be this easy?

Maroon 5 and Everyone Else - Call & Response: The Remix Album

Another tape that just came out a couple weeks back, but its perfect. ?uestlove's production of Sunday Morning is like listening to the gates of heaven open.

Esoteric - vs. Japan: Pterodactyl Takes Tokyo!

This was hard to find, so I got it from a 'friend' via forum. It flew so far under the radar that wikipedia doesn't even have an entry for it.

So there we have it. 25 albums that I loved almost as much as life itself.

Love Lockdown x Heartless/Pinocchio Story (!)

From last night's edition of SNL, which was Amy Polar's final show.

Kanye West - Love Lockdown - SNL - 12/13/2008
by 3030fm

Kanye West - Heartless / Pinocchio Story - SNL - 12/13/2008
by 3030fm

I know what you're wondering and no, Kanye didn't contribute to ANY (c'mon Lauren!) skits this time. I would have loved to see a Andy Samberg/'Ye (dream) collabo, but instead I am left dissapointed.

The intermix of Heartless into Pinocchio Story and then back to Heartless was dope, though, and so was that outfit-possibly more Pastelle for us to feast-and dream of purchasing- our eyes on.

AND i know Kanye wants to milk out his first two singles, being the ones featured above, but he should progressively start adding this piece to his repetoire:

Check My Fresh: Part IV

Bobby Ray is an Atlanta rapper who writes, produces, arranges, raps, and mixes his own music. The ATLien is signed to Grand Hustle (don't stop there) and needs your attention. With the exception of his recently leaked joint "Hot"-i refuse to provide the link-everything dude touches is gold, or at least it will be once he gets some publicity.

Hes also had me dying with his recent parody of the rap game's latest epidemic:


The chugging water shots are classic.


Bonus: Autotune [MP3]

Thats Right I Work for NASA...

LOL i never thought i'd quote Jeezy, but it seemed fitting.

Peep my favorite song (that has leaked this week) entitled Gifted by the homies of N.A.S.A (their myspace page is down but look those dudes up!) and features Lykke Li, Santogold and that guy pictured aboved. The song is fire, and its dope with the mixture of genres the aforementioned artists bring to the table. Its so diverse its like having Yao, T-Mac, Luis Scola, and Ron-Ron on the same squad.