Dom's Sketch Cast interviews Myke C-Town of Dead End Hip Hop

Myke C-Town (of Dead End Hip Hop) chops it up with Dom's Sketch Cast where they discuss the mindstate of artists in general, growing up, religion, success in the music industry, and much more. They also touch on artists that aren't in the hip hop genre as well. Check it out and see for yourself.

Women Rappers. Where have they been you ask?

They say there aren't many female emcees, or "femcees" worthy of being noticed. I find that's hardly the case. Women have been rapping for quite some time now, it's just that they don't get noticed for some reason. In order to get noticed in the first place, it seems they have to get a new a$$ OR their subject matter gets in the way. Rap is very male dominated, especially more so with fans. A male fan doesn't want to hear about how she got "dicked down" (lack of a better phrase) by her man, nor does he want to hear about various things that only a woman can speak on, or metaphors geared toward that. I remember somebody saying something along the lines of "If a chick is ugly, she will be judged on talent alone". That says a lot right there. All in all, lady emcees  don't seem to get marketed well in general. Bahamadia was dope back in the day. Jean Grae struggled for a long time. Nitty Scott is dope so is Boog Brown,and Rhapsody but they don't have the marketing that Nikki Minaj had, and she had to get a fake butt and breasts to get noticed. This article sums it up best," Currently, the genre of women mainstream hip hop is monopolized by one or two female rappers now. In order for a woman emcee to break through the glass ceiling, she has to a) create or initiate beef with an already established artist, b) be white and co-signed by a major black rapper or producer (i.e. Kreyshawn and Iggy Azelea) or, c) as Erykah Badu once stated in an interview, “do some ho- sh-t.” Emcees like 3D Na’Tee, Nitty Scott MC, Farrah Burns, and Rapsody won’t be heard or seen in mainstream media because they’re not perpetuating the stereotypes of female rappers that have been around for almost twenty years."  That's pretty telling, if you ask me. Why is that? Whenever I ask this question, they always say that the artist "didn't bring anything to the game," as if (insert any sex fueled woman rap artist) has added "something different" to the game. When I say, they aren't selling their asses to get noticed, then here comes the, "What are they doing musically that's different"?  Really?  Rap styles come in waves. There are a million rappers who sound the same. What are they doing  musically that's "different"?  For example, gangsta rap has been done over millions of times with the same story, but different flows and beats. Club music has been done over and over. What's different about these is the person rapping them and that's it. Jean Grae has been doing her own thing and she is seriously dope, but hasn't gotten the shine she deserved over the years, and as a result, she's done with rapping and is on to different things. Why couldn't she get that support? Her story in the rap industry, (among many other women who came before) is pretty upsetting.  That being said, here are a few artists that have been doing it for a minute now, but haven't received much shine:

Tiff The Gift


StaHHr

Honey the Hippie

Neiva Eure

Nitty Scott, MC (already mentioned, but I had to add this song)

Thoughts?

Boom Bap Playlist

Artists have been recreating that 90s Boom Bap sound I loved the first time. Here's a playlist of artists who are bring it back. I'll keep adding more to this as I find more great artists.

Germany gets down!

Simple One (the emcee) & Captain Crook (the beat maker also known as Klaus Layer) remind the US how to represent real hip hop!  Boom Bap happens to be my favorite genre of rap music. This sound is why I say the early to mid nineties was a very strong period for hip hop. 

Prentice Powell -The System

 I found this piece and decided it was too good to not showcase it.  It exemplifies exactly why I feel there needs to be a home for spoken word in the hip hop culture. Unfortunately, it seems that the art form has not been acknowledged when it comes to rap music. Rap is just that, Rhythm And Poetry, right?  Watch this video and tell me if I'm wrong. 

Prentice Powell- "The System".   Performed on the Arsenio Hall Show

Chuck D's AutoBiography of Mistachuck. < This album is amazing, I don't care what anybody says

One simply doesn't just listen to Chuck D. You have to fully understand and experience what he speaks about. He speaks truth in every track. I can't tell you which track resonated the most with me. Each one here has done so in it's own way. The thing I really like about Chuck D (or Mistachuck, as he preferred to be referred to for his solo career) is that he makes references to all of Public Enemy's tracks as well as his own in every album. In order to listen to and understand him, you must own all of Public Enemy's and Chuck D's solo albums. You must listen to them like your livelihood depends on it. If you still don't understand, you must play it several times and pay attention to what he's saying. You may need to do some research. If you can't do that, then , "I've got nothing for you, man."

Stand out tracks include:
No
Generation Wrekkked
Free Big Willie
Horizontal Heroin
Talk Show Created the Fool
Underdog
But Can You Kill...
Paid


5/5 Stars

Kanye West's Yeezus

I just finished listening to the album, and a lot of it is lol. He made me laugh when he said 'I speak swag-hili". I was hoping the album had more substance to it. He mostly brags about "bitches" and riches. If I wanted to hear that from him, I would have bought a JayZ cd. The beats are definitely on some next level strange ish, so I can respect the production. I also found it interesting that "I Am A God" received complaints based on the title alone. He basically said a lot of the things that other rappers would say, and being a celebrity will give a person a god complex. Why is it that when Kanye says it, all of a sudden, he's a spoiled douchebag? People are definitely playing favorites when it comes to Kanye in general. I was hoping for his album to be something you sit down and give it your undivided attention to. I wanted this album to have depth and substance. Some of it does (3 songs) but the rest doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because there are too many bitches and p*ssies sprinkled throughout the album. It gives me the idea that he may be over compensating a bit. I'm glad I streamed it first. Here's a brief breakdown of the tracks:


On Site: That was weird, however the lyrics were decent. I enjoyed the beat transition. It was a very unique experience, to say the least. I'm definitely not used to listening to such a bizarre beat.


Black Skinhead- I like it! Kanye definitely changed the game with this one. I love the message. Great energy.


I am a God- I tried to listen to this track while erasing any and all opinions I've heard pertaining to the title. The content of this song is similar to what a lot of other rappers have said. They brag about their stuff and being entitled. Kanye did it here, and people shut down. Jay Z has made his living off of rubbing his riches in every bodies faces. Many celebrities do this so Why does Kanye get dubbed as "entitled" and spoiled?


New Slaves- I heard this first when he was broadcasting the videos across the country. I loved it then, and I still love it now, however the auto tune gets in the way. That gets remedied when the sample at the end starts up, so there isn't much of a loss there.


Hold My Liquor feat. Chief Keef and Justin Vernon- This track was tedious for me. Not because Chief Keef was on it but I just couldn't get into it.


I'm in it: Another track where sex was the main topic. However I like the reggae influence and the singing. The 3rd verse was dope "I be speakin' swaghili"! Love that!


Blood On The Leaves- I was hoping this track would have been a bit more in depth. It sounds like it's a track about a failed relationship. another spin is in order.


Guilt Trip Feat.Kid Cudi- Unfortunately, I lost attention on this so I can't really comment.


Send it up-This track doesn't have much substance. It's more of a story about going to the club. The "memories" part made me laugh!


Bound 2 feat Charlie Wilson- This started up as promising. I love the sample. the lyrics not so much.


I usually listen to an album at least 3 times before I decide to give it a review. I listen to it in my car, with headphones at my computer and in my Ipod. Sadly, I checked this album out on my computer, and I can't even give myself the chance to listen to it in my car or in my Ipod.


All in all, this may be some next level swag music. To be honest, I didn't even like this level's swag music, so, there's that.


I want to rate this album higher, I really do. Unfortunately I can't. I'm going to have to give it 3 stars, and that's mostly for the production. I would have appreciated it better if it were an instrumental album. His lyrics are a 2 at best.


Stand out tracks are On Site, Black Skinhead and New Slaves.