Buck And The Drumma (Summer Grind Issue 2012)

I ain’t dead/ I ain’t done

This is a snippet form T.I.’s “No Matter What” from the amazing Paper Trail album. I merely reference it as a way to segue into the topic at hand.

Here it is.

Due to contract issues with G-Unit Records and a feud with the label head 50 Cent , Memphis rapper Young Buck could not release a new album. So with help from hip-hop producer Drumma Boy, Buck released an official mixtape through his label Cashville Records and Drumma Boy’s label Drum Squad Records. The mixtape, Live Loyal, Die Rich, is the first mixtape released from Young Buck since dropping Back On My Buck Shit Vol. 2: Change Of Plans back in 2010.

Live Loyal, Die Rich, hosted by DJ Crisis and Drumma Boy, was released for digital download on January 24, 2012. The mixtape features exclusive freestyles from Young Buck with appearances by The Outlawz, All Star Cashville Prince, and more.

Here is a track listing for your perusal:

• “2^nd Chance”
• “Shit Head”
• “Something’s Got Me On It”
• “Go Loco” (featuring City Paper)
• “No Place For Me”
• “Money In The Walls”
• “Drug Related”
• “Death Of Me”
• “Touch The Ceilings” (featuring All Star Cashville Prince)
• “Personal” (featuring Cruna)
• “Car Cloudy” (featuring The Outlawz)
• “Think They Know”
• “Closer To My Dreams” (featuring Goapele and Hambino)
• “Hate On Me”
• “No Smiles”
• “Touchdown” (featuring CTN)
• “21 And Up”
• “Get It All”
• “Dusted” (featuring Bezzeled Gang)
• “I’m Ready” (featuring Shannon Sanders)

As it currently stands I haven’t heard this newest  effort from Young Buck. By virtue of his Southern roots I was first drawn to him and his music, despite his associations with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, or even Tony Yayo. Straight Outta Cashville was a favorite of mine for quite a while. Although I was a bit disappointed to hear that contracts and personal beefs were keeping good music from being made I am glad to see him back at it. Please expect a review in the near future.

To be completely honest I am unsure what to expect from Buck. For some rappers there is a certain level of ring rust or uneasiness about rhyming again. Until I hear the mixtape I cannot say or even speculate as to Young Buck’s skill level. If he has stayed in shape and kept to his fighting weight this should be one for the ages as far as mixtapes go.

If not…well, the review will be short. Only time will tell here.

Courtesy of Lucius Black for Royalty Magazine

The King’s Speech

“The King’s back…!!!”

This is a line that every one of us who loves hip-hop has come to associate with one Clifford Harris, Jr., sometimes called Tip but more often called T.I. And usually his statement is met with a wonderful project that is quoted, sung, and repeated to grand reviews. This is the year of another such performance by T.I.

Right now we’re all waiting with bated breath for T.I. to release Trouble Man. Just based on the tracks we’ve heard, the hunger grows. Just off the strength of the Big K.R.I.T. assisted and produced “I’m Flexin’” I am so ready. But T.I. is a smart man. He’s intelligent enough to know that we need something to cut our teeth on in the meantime while we wait.

Thus F*ck Da City Up is born and released.

I know at the outset it may seem that I give T.I. too much ink. Maybe it’s because he from the South like me. Or maybe it’s because I am a fan. Despite that you cannot say the guy isn’t talented. The career he’s had proves that much. The mixtape is just another entry into that catalogue.

Here are the favorites:

-“On Purpose”-After about ten seconds of listening to this one your head has no choice but to shake along with the beat. T.I. shows that ability to pull you into whatever story he is telling you. This story about the happenings when he’s heading to club. The features include two rappers by the names of Trouble and Rich Kidd Shad. They do nothing but add perfectly to the vibe and the story here.


-“This Time Of Night”-Automatically this song puts me in the mind of other tracks from T.I. with similar themes (“Let’s Get Away”, “Hotel”, and “Why You Wanna” to name a few). I also loved hearing Nelly on the chorus. The last time these two collaborated was magical (“Get Loose”) and this time the same feeling seems to return. Plus it’s good to hear Nelly rhyme again.


-“I’ll Show You”-Pusha T…AND T.I.?! How can this be wrong? It isn’t. Quite the opposite. A wonderful beat as a backdrop punctuates the verses that the two amazing artists bring together. Hearing them together makes me silently wonder why they never teamed up before.

I could go on and on how amazing this mixtape is and how great each track is. Instead I will end much as I began because it’s succinct and rather fitting-Th

T.I. vs. T.I.P. vs. DOC

Scandal and bad choices have been toppling people’s music careers since the very beginning of music. I once spoke of Nelly and his uses for a credit card being his downfall. We all saw how drugs all but destroyed the golden pipes of the beloved Whitney Houston. A few punches gave Chris Brown’s career quite the tumble a few years back as I’m sure you all remember.

Sex scandals and sex tapes don’t always spell doom for careers. On one side you have R. Kelly and his antics which seemingly went unpunished and Mystikal who spent years away in prison for forcing himself on an assistant as hip-hop’s landscape changed under foot. Ray J wasn’t (and still isn’t) popular enough to have been negatively affected by his lackluster sex tape. The only bad thing that came from that would be Kim Kardashian.

Another career defining moment would be prison. Many careers have gone in to never recover. C-Murder’s career was a casualty of lockdown as well as Shyne. To a certain extent Beanie Sigel’s hip-hop aspirations went much the very same way. There are more to be named but I must get to the central topic here.

Like the sex scandals a prison stint does not always lead to ruin. Recently incarcerated rappers such as Gucci Mane and Lil’ Wayne had a wonderfully easy time bouncing back. I suspect that was because of the fans and their love for them. Boosie, who looks like he may be in for a while, is still loved and his career has grown due to the masses teeming that they should “free Boosie”. This also rung true for a legend. I speak of course of the late Pimp C.

But of all the rappers ever incarcerated T.I. seems to be an obvious winner.

Just think about it.

Every time T.I. goes into lock up (which this writer feels is a bit too often), he comes back with an amazing set of songs.

I don’t think you need examples but for the sake of argument and this article I will give them to you.

Urban Legend.

KING.

Paper Trail.

These three T.I. albums came when he was either heading off to prison or just getting out of prison. And each one of them is without a doubt amazing. Strong features, great production, memorable lyrics, and great videos surround these efforts.

Knowing this and knowing that T.I. is home from his latest stint there is but one question to ask…

Are you ready for T.I.’s upcoming Trouble Man to come out and are you ready for it to be ANOTHER classic?

I am.