Album Review: Callin' Shots by Baberuthless

                                           (2011)
Today's review is of the album "Callin' Shots" by Baberuthless and produced by Montana Macks. Now I gotta give Tim full Credit  for showing me these Chicago natives material and I cant thank him enough for that. Me and Tim have been trying to spread the blog farther than just local Boston hip hop and I'm pretty excited to bring a bit of Chicago to the blog.

Right off the bat I'm down with any album that starts with a Sandlot sound clip but that's besides the point. What I'm really diggin is the laid back almost early to mid 90's feel of the songs to this album. I think it has allot to do with the way Montana Macks production plays off of ruthless word play. I mean talk about a rapper  producer combo that just clicks. There's nothing that lends its self to the flow and playability of an album than an artist and producer who get each other. In the words of Little Brother "Dope beats, dope rhymes, That's hip hop.". Its not often you find a dude who's flow is so layed back but the lyrics ain't soft as puppy turds. Like i said i feel like these are aspects of a time in hip hop i miss and i feel like ruthless is bringing em back in style.

This Album was short but sweet which definitely isn't a bad thing in this world of quantity over quality hip hop we live in these days. Its nice to see someone pour themselves into 5 tracks and know that i got all they could give from them instead of handing me some 112 track mix tape with maybe 5 good verses. When it comes to favorite tracks on this CD the two that i cant stop listening to are: "Extra Innings" a fun song about a rough morning after a crazy night which I'm sure we all can relate to. And  "Shakes Hands, Kisses Babies" This was my favorite beat off the album and the hook is hilarious to me not to mention you know ruthless ripped this shit.

As i come to the end of my review you know that i wouldn't even be talking about this album if it wasn't something you didn't need to grab. So get out there and support Baberuthless as well as Montana Macks and lets show these cats the love they deserve. You know the rest Read, Support, Subscribe mofos!.

Make sure to Check out Callin' Shots for yourself here  and make sure to follow @jonessoruthless on Twitter. Also to keep up with Rich "Baberuthless" Jones check out http://www.facebook.com/richjonesmusic
and http://richjonesmusic.bandcamp.com/

-Ricky

Contact Ricky and Tim for blog submissions at Tnrblog@yahoo.com

Yusuf Abdul Mateen "Higher Plane" Official Video

Leedz Edutainment presents the video for "Higher Plane," a track found off Yusuf Abdul Mateen's lastest album, Way of Life. The song features Sam Scott and the video was directed by D.Gomez.

Relax & Take Notes have always been fans of the Blak Madeen cats. Now let us know of what you think of "Higher Plane" by Yusuf featuring Sam Scott.

You can also download the FREE album here:

Yusuf Abdul Mateen - Way Of Life [Free Album]

-Relax & Take Notes
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SKYWALKEN with Vibe

Listen & Download SKYWALKEN for FREE!

SKYWALKEN the beat tape

(2011)

I first heard on my man Vibe back when he did work with artist Ordeal and then Redlist on the “Can’t Catch Me” album.  As a hip-hop fan I’ve always been more of a fan of beats over lyrics.  Don’t get me wrong though, I love me some good lyrics, but hearing a nasty beat that making your head move is great.  Vibe is highly under rated in the beat making category and with his recently dropped SKYWALKEN, a beat tape, it is sure to make your head movie.  SKYWALKEN is a free download & I cannot stress enough on how you need to download and listen to this tape.  Vibe was also kind enough to sit down with Relax & Take Notes, via electronics, to do a quick interview about who Vibe is and what he has in store for us. As always Relax, Take Notes, Enjoy!

State your name

My government name is Eric Engelke, I go by Vibe or Ill Clinton when I make these fuckin beats.

Where do you call Home?

I’m from Philadelphia

Any Influences?

I’ve got a ton, but off the top...Havoc, EL-P, Premo, Erick Sermon, Trent Reznor, Blockhead, Stoupe, Flying Lotus, DJ Muggs, Beatminerz

How long have you been producing music & When did you realize this is what you wanted to do?

I started making beats on FL studio when i was like 14 just fuckin around. I’ve always been more into the beats then the lyrics growing up. The past 4 or so years I’ve been real serious with it, i just feel like my sound is better than others and i want to prove that. I don’t want to work in the home improvement business until I’m crippled.

Motivation is what drives people to do what they love. What's your motivation to make beats?

I get motivated by listening to other people’s music. When I hear a good album or beat someone made it makes me wanna improve my sound. Sometimes I wanna see if I can do something I don’t do normally.

What artists have you done beats for?

hmmm...Ordeal, Firm Taqtics, Burke The Jurke, Redlist, Vas, Nico the Beast, Cortez, Rich Quick, Phil G the Knowbody, B Kane, Dro Pesci, Sick Six, Nasdaq Ness, Mr Gat...

Do you have any preference in what artists use your beats and you just looking to share your gift?

I just wanna work with people who actually wanna put their product out there, and who really want to create a piece of artwork not just nonsense. I’m a hip hop head first and foremost. If someone likes my production then let’s work...unless you suck.

I've noticed you're very vocal and not shy about speaking your mind, what are some problems that you see in the hip-hop scene from your point of view?

It’s too soft. I’m all for good, creative, solid hip hop. so either way. I just think that hip hop these days has become more focused on bullshit like clothes and cheap metaphors and punchlines. Its lacking substance on a mainstream level

This is always at tough question, and I know you'll have no problem answering it. What makes you stand out from others that do (or try to do) what you do?

I think what makes me different is that with every beat I create I’m trying to get the listener to feel something, to be able to go on a journey in their mind and let the beat be the soundtrack...I’m mad deep, yo haha. But my music is beyond the surface. I enjoy emotion, negative or positive.

Biggest accomplishment today, what is it?

I wiped my ass without getting shit on my hand.

You just dropped SKYWALKEN, any meaning behind it, anything specific?

SKYWALKEN is a mix of my admiration for Christopher Walken and the relentlessness of Luke Skywalker hahaha there’s no real meaning I guess.

Any future plans for Vibe? Anything we can look forward to?

I’m working on an album with my boy Vas called V for Vigoda, its some of the rawest music I’ve ever created. I’m also constantly sending beats to artist so anything is possible. Oh and me and my comrade John E Cab are working on a beat tape together. The sound were getting is incredible.

Give me 3 artists past or present that would be perfect for your beats or want to work with?

I can’t say i think any artists would be perfect cuz that’s on them but 3 artists on the rise I would love to work with are Danny Brown, Juan Deuce and Action Bronson.

Is there anything you want to add for us?

Yeah, shout to all the New England cats that support me. Also all the fans all over that have shown me love. Don’t fuckin sleep on me.



SKYWALKEN tracks

What I like about SKYWALKEN is you can just sit and chill to it without skipping a song.  When I'm listenting to SKYWALKEN, either when playing Ps3 or the TV on mute, I just dig how well it fits with whaevter I'm doing.  This is not a beat tape with all bells and whistles, Vibe sure did put his work into this and you can hear it with the quality.  Now be sure to listen, download & contact Vibe for any beats you may want

Vibe215@yahoo.com for beats

Follow @Vibe215

http://www.vibegotdat.wordpress.com/ to stay updated

-Tim

E-Mail Relax & Take Notes

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Download: Juan Deuce + Falside "The Mechanics"

Providence, RI natives Juan Deuce & Falside team up again with the 7 track EP; the Mechanics.  With already getting tastes of "Hey DJ" & "GUTS" (video directed by Ricky Shabazz) we are very excited here at Relax & Take Notes with the this drop.  It also looks like Juan Deuce & Falside will prepare a full-length album this coming winter.  We have yet to be let down by these dudes and we'll be waiting patiently for that album.  So for now, download Mechanics for FREE and tell a friend, bitch!

Follow @Juan Deuce on Twitter
Follow @Falside on Twitter

-Tim
Email Tim & Ricky
Follow us Twitter: @RelaxTim / @RickyTakeNotes

MixTape Review: J-Rod- FUN TA MENTAL

                                           (2011)

Now that I look back I cant believe I've never done a J-Rod piece. Dude is seriously like one of the few hip hop artist I'm really proud to say comes from my area. Not only that but I can truly say I've got to watch this guy go from no music experience to a beast in a very short time right in front of my eyes. I don't know how people sleep on this kid and I have a feeling they wont for long.

It's been awhile since I've had any j-rod solo material to really sit down and listen to and I think that added to the wow factor with the tape for me. I mean like I said dude has BEEN a beast but this tape really shows he's molded allot of lessons from recording and shows hes done the past few years into one really solid performer.

There is a definite chill vibe to this tape I really dug as well it lends a feel good element to it that almost brings me back to my teens. I cant explain it but tracks like the "Say I'm wack" freestyle remind me of groups like A Tribe called Quest that first made me fall in love with hip hop in the first place. I really miss this type of powerful but not angry hip hop. This tape also showcases a lot of J-Rods different rhyme styles and I feel like he real talent for reading the mood and feel of a beat when it comes to what style he uses.  He also has an old school story teller type vibe that I think is lost in today's punch line heavy hip hop scene. I'm just glad that not only where my expectations of this tape met but far exceeded.

When it comes to the favorite tracks on this tape I'm gonna have to go with, '"Say I'm Wack"' Freestyle- This track really sums up what I like about this tape chill old school feel.  "Hang overs and contradictions"- Such a perfect opener for this tape and a perfect summer jam. "Under the moon, over the sky"- an upbeat track that just makes me happy.

I really feel like I don't really need to say much else. I'm confident any real hip hop head that grabs this tape wont be disappointed. Frankly I'm pumped for live performances of this material cause i know it will a even better experience.  AS always help support this dude and all the other dudes and dudettes featured on this blog. Peace.

-Ricky

Get the mixtape here

You can contact Tim and Ricky with any new music or suggestions at Tnrblog@yahoo.com

ESH & DOX - The Invisible EP Review

(2011)

"The Invisible EP Is a collaborative effort between Labeless Illtelligence emcee ESH the Monolith & Poorly Drawn People producer Dox. A follow up to ESH’s full length The A.D.D.ventures of an E.ccentric S.uper H.ero, this project aims to spread throughout the web for free as far as possible until the limited edition vinyl is available for public consumption."

Esh the Monolith is the name I keep hearing about, but never sat down to listen to...until now.  Ricky kept telling me, "you gotta check this dude out and do a review."  I tend to listen to Ricky, just because I'm a huge prude when it comes to hip-hop and I'm very bias to certain acts that I only like. And again Ricky was right.  Esh & Dox killed it!

What you can obviously notice first is the way Esh sounds and deliveries his rhymes, it's not like most emcees in the game.  I do like how he does rap fast, but not fast enough where it's silly and can't understand.  I do respect that his style is different and his wordplay is smart and tight.  Be sure to LISTEN to Esh when he speaks.  Especially in the songs Soap Scum & Bored Games.

Now like Esh I've flat out never heard of Dox, but go ahead and listen to these beasts and try to not nod your head to it.  Especially when you start the EP off with In(visible)tro, it will get you ready and hyped by the 3 second mark. and then  you will be intrigued just to see how the next one sounds.  Then next thing you know it you hear the ole mighty Wooderson from Dazed & Confused and BAM here comes Esh... and that is when you can really enjoy this EP.  Esh & Dox seem to be made for each other for "The Invisible" - it is cliche to say, but the beats go perfect with the lyrics.  I couldn't imagine any other beats to go with the words and the style Esh has to offer. 

Dox really shows off when it gets to the end with Things to Come.  Unlike the In(visible)tro, this 4 minute jam gets you relaxed and sets sail to finish off with a bang.  I really enjoyed "The Invisible", because with most EPs I get a hold of, it's usually just one or two songs that are enjoyable.  With this I didn't have to skip one song or was wondering when the next one would come.  I really hope Esh & Dox team up again for a future project.

What else you will see, is features from CasUno & Intrikit, and KiKi.  Now be sure to cop this EP, because it's free, has great lyrics from ESH and awesome beats from producer Dox.  You know I don't do many reviews, so this goes to show this is one of the better ones I've gotten!  Now say it with Esh... "I'M SO BORED OF THE SAME OLD SHIT!"

Download the FREE EP Here: http://eshthemonolith.bandcamp.com/

Follow Esh on Twitter: @ESHtheMonolith

Follow Dox on Twitter: @dox_of_pdp

http://labelessilltelligence.blogspot.com/

*If things go right I'll be getting to see Esh & a bunch of other great acts in the Boston area for the Ricky Shabazz & Annie Mulz event (Be sure to check it out)*

-Tim

E-Mail Relax & Take Notes

Follow Tim on Twitter: @RelaxTim

Album Review: Virtue- Following Wild

                                                                        (2011)

This Milled Pavement release features two names very familiar to this blog, Canadian born hip hop artist Virtue and our favorite local turntablist DJ Emoh Betta. I been waiting for some solo stuff from Virtue so I  was pumped because honestly Virtue is one of my favorite emcees. coincidentally Virtue and Emoh are also part of one of my favorite hip hop groups PARTBOOBYTRAP who are amazing. In fact all of you should go to the Famelessfam site and download all the boobytrap you can (you know what while your there you should download anything you can get your grubby little mits on.). But I'm getting off track here,  I've been waiting for this release since the boys told me about it and I'm excited to share my thoughts on it with you guys.

Normally it takes me a week or two to really get obsessive over an album and really start loving tracks. But "Following Wild" has been on non stop rotation since the day it landed in my itunes. I love this kids lyrical content and how hes able to seamlessly flow from firm message to extremely introverted with in the span of a few songs. He runs the gambit of lyrical content I myself am looking for in an artist. No bullshit ego no bragging to you about his cash or what car hes driving just straight from the heart and that's what makes Virtue one of my favorite dudes in the game right now. Every release we get from this kid is more next level than the last and from a guy who's only 21 he promises to only get better with age (like a fine hip hop wine). He has an ability to verbally paint picture in my head that i really appreciate. i find myself sitting in my bed with head phones on conjuring mental images as the songs go on and i feel like it makes me enjoy this album even more.

Something I feel that needs to be addressed with this CD is how bad ass the chorus' are on these songs. There jammed in my fucking head and i cant get them out. To say there catchy is an understatement and i feel like its a testament to the over all song writing ability of the people who worked on this album. I was also pumped that they brought in exquisite corpse of the boobytrap to do some chorus work(Who just so happens to do my favorite chorus on the album).

Another note worthy part of this album is the beats and production. I feel like even the placement and order of these songs was done super well and it gave almost a journey(not the band) like feel to the CD. I was never bored or tempted to skip a track and a big part of that was the control of the flow in energy through out the album. To me the beats seemed to get more experimental as the album went on and I loved that.

As always with anything these guys put out one of my favorite aspects is the cuts on this record. Emohs cuts lend an energy to a lot of these songs that i feel is forgotten about in a lot of modern hip hop. Bad ass cuts are one of my favorite things about live hip hop shows and these days i feel like no one gets how much they liven up a recording. but that's certainly not a problem with these guys. Nothing but sick cuts aaaaaaalllllllllllll over this damn record and i love it. I'm just glad that in a time were the true power of the DJ is almost forgotten these dudes are keeping it alive in grand fashion.

When it comes to three favorite tracks on this album I'm gonna have to go with, WOODS- An amazingly done track with amazing lyrical content and a chorus from Exquisite Corpse that will be stuck in your head forever. Sedatedating-Because the beat makes me dance in my undies in the kitchen. Loner Labor- This song brings together to of the most mighty white emcees together Virtue and Mr. George Watsky.

I know i tend to rant about how you guys need to go out and grab releases but I'm deadly serious this time. This album is gonna be a classic in my collection and i know it will be in yours as well. Help support not only just Virtue and Emoh but the amazing music collectives these guys are part of as well and help spread the word on these guys.

Grab the album at Milled Pavement

As always my friends Read, Support, Subscribe

-Ricky


Contact Tim and Ricky at tnrblog@yahoo.com

DJ Tuck - Nate Dogg: The Tribute

(2011)

We all like to remember Nate Dogg by doing one thing, listening to his music.  Nate was the king of hooks and had a smooth voice that everyone enjoyed.  My homie DJ Tuck, who we did a review on before, just dropped a tribute mixtape for the late Nate Dogg.  Be sure to download this mixtape for FREE and pay tribute to one of the all time hip-hop legends: Nate Dogg!

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale aka Nate Dogg
August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011

DJ Tuck - The Nate Dogg Tribute (Full Tape) by DJTuck1

Download the mixtape HERE
Follow DJ Tuck on Twitter

-Tim
E-mail Relax & Take Notes

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Download Redlist/Vibe - "Can't Catch Me"

Redlist, the MC of Massachusetts and Vibe the producer from Philadelphia got together which started off as one track, actually turned into a whole album.  This new album "Can't Catch Me" just dropped as of 3/20 and it's FREE to everyone that wants to get their hands and ears on it.  Be sure to check this out and let us know what you think.  You'll be seeing a review shortly on this album, once we let it marinate in our mind! Enjoy!

If you're having problems getting to this music, go to the band camp page: http://cantcatchme2011.bandcamp.com/

Follow Redlist on Twitter

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E-mail Tim & Ricky from Relax & Take Notes at tnrblog@yahoo.com

In the Meantime I give you Ordeal

A year ago today Ordeal released 'Goodnight and Give Up' in 2010.  Now to commemorate the one year anniversary Ordeal was set to give a bonus disc to anyone who bought the digital copy this month.  Unfortunately due to the lack of support from music buyers, Ordeal was slept on, like many other albums over the last few years.  Ordeal figured why keep it from the public and decided to release the would be bonus disc.

Artwork done by Ill Vibe

'In the Meantime' is a compilation of remixes, unreleased tracks, a couple new songs and an oldie.  It features remixes of songs off 'Goodnight and Give Up' as well as 'Michael Jacksons Milk' and it features notables such as Nobody Cares, Phil G the Knowbody and Eyenine. In the Meantime also has hand crafted remixes done by Abbadon and mash-up work by Ill Vibe and Phil G the Knowbody.

Back Cover for 'In the Meantime'

Ordeal is currently working on his next release, 'The Ordeal Schock Fantastic', which features two songs from 'In The Meantime'.  It's going to be a six song EP with beats all done by Andy 'Pumpkinfoot' Schock and will have features from Abbadon asl well as other guests.  Ordeal is also a busy man with working on an album with Nobody Cares, its for the group called Faceless Willis.  It will hopefully be ready for release by this summer!


Show Flyer

On Saturday February 5th 2011 at Kirbys in New Bedford, MA Ordeal is headlining a show with Defcon and Outwrite, who got the #10 slot out of 100 Essential hip-hop tracks of 2010, DirtyDurdie from Providence, RI and Firm Taqtics in from Philadelphia, PA who will open the show. The event is 21+ with it being $3 a person and the doors open at 9:30pm.

Ordeal will also embark on a US Spring tour this year in support of Kristoff Krane & Sadistik.  The tour will also feature Alexipharmic and Nobody Cares (East-Coast Only).  This is Ordeals first tour after the start of his 16 years being an emcee.  So if anyone out there would like to book Ordeal for this East-Coast tour be sure to e-mail him at handsex83@yahoo.com and tell him Relax & Take Notes sent ya!

www.reverbnation.com/ordeal83

Follow Ordeal on Twitter

Fan Ordeal on Facebook

Facebook Event at Kirbys

Buy 'Goodnight and Give Up'

Download 'In the Meantime' for FREE

-Tim

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E-mail Relax & Take Notes