Month: October 2006

Guess what? This is a Dr Dre mixtape that will give you a foretaste of the Detox CD…Detox, the Millenium of Aftermath in collaboration with DJ Rukiz…stay tuned, folks:)

Listen to Detroit personalities like Trick Trick, King Gordy, Supa Emcee, Mu and many other talk about RIP Deshaun Holton…watch the two episodes here.

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars
How many people in this world buy hip hop Cds? Probably millions.
How many people wear urban clothes and attend to hip hop parties? Probably millions too.
How many people-besides those who can relate to the ghetto experience- are aware of troubleshooting in the hood? Very few I guess.
DMX’s fourth CD draws a realistic and dark picture of his hood. Not only does the artist make the listener step into a pessimistic atmosphere, he also raises some deep philosophical questions about the meaning of life.
Sometimes introduces DMX’ speech. In times of desperation and helplessness, you sit alone in the dark, facing adversity while your mind is fulfilled with anxiousness. Big clouds are hanging over you, letting you guess that the prelude to the human drama you are going through has just begun. The wind has just raised a little bit, but you can feel the upcoming storm and the pouring rain hanging over your head like a huge menace.
Sirens coming from the fed’s cars, gun shots, pounding beats, electric guitar sounds, violins, DMX’s gritty voice will suggest the running atmosphere of School Streets. So many kids in the hood have lost their lives. Everybody’s running, trying to escape from the police.
Who We Be is a rhythmic track based on electric guitar and keyboard sounds that describes the harshness of the streets with an amazing sense of reality: the constant fights with the cops, jail, the murders, the stabbings, the coffins, drug deals, the frustration and the rage. This is the hood. People who have experiencedthe harshness of the hood jungle can relate to this well handled song. DMX’ vocals are raw on purpose.
The short hammering guitar sounds represent the human drama a man in the hood goes through.
Trina Moe is a melodic song built on harp, maracas and trumpet sounds.
It is dark and the hell is hot. The swinging track exposes the constant run and the unsafe atmosphere.
Bloodline Anthem has some strong rock ‘n roll accents. Based on electric guitar sounds, female vocals, strong drum beats and violins in the background, the song is enhanced with DMX’ grimy and offensive voice. Feel the rage, the passion and the wide range of emotions that are going through DMX’ mind.
Soft guitar notes contrast with DMX’ raspy voice. The hammering drum beats and the monotony of the vocals will make the listener feel the every day struggle. No compromises: snakes get totally exposed in Damien III. Piano sounds at the end of the song enhance feelings of mistrust and anger.
When I’m Nothing is built on soft funky instrumentals and female vocals. The song featuring Stephanie Mills is rhythmic, entertaining and very melodic. Love is in the air. Enjoy the joy and happiness all around.
I Miss You is the wonderful song DMX dedicated to his grandmother. Constructed on deep female vocals, soft instrumental, the track is heartbreaking. It enlightens DMX’ everlasting love for his grandma. He recalls childhood times, remembers the good and the bad. The word that comes up into his mouth is « Thank You », because he knows that the old lady educated him the right way. The refrain from the poignant song is like the voice of the grandma, watching her grandson from Heaven and telling him that everything is gonna be all right. Believe it: our beloved ones are still watching over us.
« Number 11 » brings you back to the permanent struggle in the hood jungle. Knife alike violin sounds, fast running car sounds in the background are here to make you feel the overheated atmosphere. Follow the talented emcee in his fast walk.
I’ma Bang is built on dark bassline, dynamic electric guitar sounds and raw drum beats. DMX’s determination, his struggle, his incredible dynamism come to shine to the fullest. DMX will teach you the harshness of the fight. The track is pure dynamite.
Rapid chord sounds totally match with Mashonda and DMX’s voices. DMX fully masters rhythm, flow and lyrics. DMX keeps it real and fakes’ masks will be dropped in no time. No place for posers of any kind: right is right and wrong is wrong.
The Prayer IV is a strong prayer towards God. DMX looks at himself in the mirror, envisions his mistakes and asks God to stand for him.
Listen to the words of the man of faith who wants to dedicate his work to God.
A Minute For Your Son is an intense praise towards God. Open your ears and let DMX’ words penetrate your heart. DMX is certainly a strong role model for the believers. Don’t judge the man by his actions, rather look up at the way he trusts the Creator and learn from him.
DMX’ The Great Depression CD is a great piece of work. It offers the listeners a realistic perspective about life in the hood. It exposes the harshness, but it also shows strong signs of hope. Interdependent darkness and full light shades follow each other and teach us the paradox of existence.
The Great Depression definitely belongs to your hip hop library.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Right Reserved

No matter how young, how old, how rich or how poor, many of us take ordinary life matters for granted. Little did you know you think that material and spiritual things are forever given to you.
It often appears that we only realize the importance of ordinary things like salt on a dish when they are missing. In fact, the absence of something is an important alert that our mind should take into account.
It is a strong signal that shows us we didn’t even acknowledge the existence of our missing object or person that happened to be an essential element of our every day life!
Most of us are so much absorbed by our all day hectic that we sometimes forget about surrounding things and persons.
The absence of something is a strong call that comes from our profound heart. It points the finger where it hurts.
« It (he, she) isn’t here any more…but I needed it (him, her) so much! »
Life in itself teaches us great lessons if we have the courage to face our mistakes. Our failures are always a wonderful occasion to perfect ourselves, if we only accept them as life lesson.
Don’t take anything for granted. Everything you have today can disappear tomorrow. That’s why we should show attention to the persons surrounding us and work on our friendships.
Nothing’s granted for ever. Not even our breathing, because death is part of our great life journey. However death shouldn’t be considered as an end, rather as the beginning of a new life full of light in a better world.
Be grateful for each breath you take. Don’t act as a spoilt child. Value friendship and love. Be happy for what you have, be proud of your accomplishments and cherish life to the fullest, because nothing’s granted in this world.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I know there are a lot of happenings in hip hop right now…Xzibit released his Full Circle album and Nas’ Hip Hop Is Dead is impatiently expected, but sometimes it is also good to have a look at older albums and to taste them with delight…I will be working on Mobb Deep’s Americaz Nightmare and on a former DMX album, The Great Depression…stay tuned for some intense moments of good music:)

Rating: 4.5 stars
If you haven’t listened to BG Knocc out’s Dat’s How It’s Going Down, I’d strongly advice you to check this beautiful instrumental jewel.
Based on G-funk basslines, spiced up with the typical Compton flavor, enlightened with BG Knocc Out and Celly Cell’s vocal talents, the well written hood anthem introduces the listener into a soft old school atmosphere. Synthetizers are intelligently married with dope ass drum beats while BG Knock Out shows some good old school skills.
Both true OG’s, BG Knocc Out and his fellow Celly Cell allow the listener to enter into a festive atmosphere that is suggested by the intense melody while both emcees rep the city of Compton with pride.
Even though the Cpt is described as a tough area, you will feel both emcees’ invitation to rejoice. Sit back relax and enjoy the syllables totally matching with the swinging beats.
BG Knocc Out and Celly Cel’s song is available on the Ruthless Rhythms And Beats mixtape.
Don’t sleep on melodic demonstration of old school know how, because it will certainly amaze you!
Copyright ©2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights reserved

4 song reviews
Average Rating: 4 stars
Iron Fist’s Detroit trio, Woof Pac are taking over with an original style that might remind some of you of a Far West atmosphere. Composed of J-Kidn Moe Dirdee and Hostyle, Woof Pac show some teeth in their various tracks, leaving enemies wounded and bleeding on their way. Merciless and inventive, the trio will probably conquer gangsta rap lovers’ hearts from the very beginning.
Him Or Me:
Hammering piano mixed up with drum beats introduce you into the merciless Detroit hood atmosphere. Moe Dirdee is ready to tear the place up. Enemies better say their prayers, because there will only be one winner. Feel the lyrical fire, the overheated speech atmosphere and the passion that animates the Detroit group.
Down That Road
Soft guitar sounds, sweet vocals are combined with rhythmic beats. The ironic lyrics are filled with a great dose of offensiveness. Better handle things straight when you choose to go down that road.
Don’t Know
Swinging beats, whistling sounds and a flow that goes faster than the wind. The group shows some obvious skills in Don’t Kno. The song is humorous and will allow the listener to acknowledge Woof Pac’s talent.
Blow Dem Away
The instrumentals draw a dark and challenging atmosphere. Electric guitar sounds mixed up with drum beats. Woof Pac is determined to take over and to blow them enemies away.
If you haven’t heard about Woof Pac yet, you should definitely check the Detroit emcees here.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I don t know when my internet will be accessible again…
couldn t post birthday wishes for Em on October the 17th, but anyway you can read my birthday article here!
So happy belated b day Em and to all of you: keep reading me, i will do my best to keep you updated with articles and reviews:)

Some unsigned hypes manage to attract our attention more than others. When an artist manages to catch your ear, it has often to do with his talent. You like what you hear and you like it because the guy who makes the music shows some obvious skills. Iceberg is one of those artists.
Freestyle 1 is built on soft instrumentals and expresses the numerous struggles in Iceberg’s life struggle. The deep lyrics penetrate into the listener’s heart, slowly exposing Iceberg’s hidden story.
The my space freestyle is dedicated to the artists’ my space fans. The instrumental background will make you feel the « always in progress » atmosphere. Success and acclaim, but Iceberg now raises the question: « Am I taking this too much seriously? »
Automatic offers a much more interesting perspective of the artist who manages to combine creative skills with good instrumentals and beats.
The song is enhanced with keyboard sounds, violins notes and rhythmic beats. Incisive words will tear the haters off.
Still Unsigned is introduced with some intensive female vocals. Wordsmith Iceberg is ready to drop his rhymes on swinging beats. A young emcee is determined to make it. Bass sounds, violins, drum beats will introduce you into an unsigned hype’s harsh fight to make it.
Discover Iceberg’s my space account and his sound click page.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Iceberg…stay tuned:)