A Verified Third

Really Summer Jam?

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 03:10:00 -0400

Blackout the second half of the Slaughterhouse performance?

New Stray: "Into Your Eyes"

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 19:37:00 -0400

I just finished writing on a Yung Efil open collaboration that I had for a while. I needed a little something to get me to write consistently (mainly because I’m still bummed about that last hard drive crashing) so I figured some open ones will get me back in the swing of things after writing for some Verified material a while back.

thoughtsofahiphopjunkie: For my Beach/757 heads…

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:46:00 -0400

thoughtsofahiphopjunkie:

For my Beach/757 heads…

Remember That One Time...

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 01:05:25 -0400

… That I listened to that “Paris” song for the first time and laughed until tears streamed down my face?

Well, I just heard “I Don’t Like” for the first time…

McClaine on Kevin Durant

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:47:11 -0400

Hannibal was not playing when he gave him his nickname.

Slum Village f/ Skyzoo & Focus - “Church”

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:23:34 -0400

Slum Village f/ Skyzoo & Focus - “Church”

speechless

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:13:26 -0400

*speechless*

There Will Be Five Games

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 02:46:00 -0400

What will it take to get it to six?

Pretty much the same intensity and work ethic from tonight. The Core was all in double figures, the team shot 50% even, which many came from the paint via Garnett. I like this because it eats at the defensive psyche. If Garnett is shooting from a minimum of 10 feet and it’s contested, all they can do is salute when he’s on. However, when Garnett (or anyone in the NBA) is producing from point blank range, it really pisses defenses off.

Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling came to a surprise as Rondo took needed breathers after going ironball in game 2 for their offensive and defensive effort respectively. I would say that Bass needs to be more involved in the game, but it’s difficult when you’re in foul trouble early. With that being said, he just has to play upright and not worry about swatting for anything.

Rebound was eons better from game 2, which is a huge sign of optimism looking forward. If there is one thing that could be cleaned up that stuck out to me in this game, it would be fighting around screens. Going under them is not the best of ideas when the screen is for the ballhandler. Going over screens takes away space and time and disrupts any idea of taking any shots. Going under screens I look at more for disrupting passing lanes.

Soosh*E & Rufio (The Sweep) - "Big Brother John"

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:45:00 -0400

Soosh*E & Rufio (The Sweep) - "Big Brother John":

So instead of trading rhymes, a la “Orientation Day,” The duo go the Rapper/Producer route for this venture.

From Soosh himself: “[This is] dedicated to my older brother who introduced me to real hip hop music. To this day, his influence has put me in the position I am as an artist, and in celebration of his 30th birthday, this is my way of saying thank you. I made sure that I made the type of tracks that I remember him introducing me to when I started, and this is the outcome. It was also another really good excuse for RU(AREYOU) and I to do this style of collaborative work.”

Featuring:

J Good

New Stray: "This Is..."

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:53:00 -0400

I had this slated for a Verified track, but we tend to do joints that we can all agree on and the census on this one wasn’t unanimous. However, you will dig what was.

Seeing that I already have my verse recorded for, I decided to extend the offer to the local homie, B. Cannon. After we finished that “Base” session, we mutually agreed that we should collaborate more often.

Discography As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:49:01 -0400

Solo:

“Late Blossom” [2K7]
“Singles Awareness Day” [2K8]
“The Road to Clarity” [2K9]
“Project DePina” [2K10]

The Verified:

“2007년부터…” (“From 2007”) [2K11]

Appearances:

Jabez - “Dawn of Discovery” [2K8: Feature]
AK & Jabez - “10 Pounds” [2K8: Production & Feature]
DJ Dr. Doom - “Radio Reminiscence vol. 2” [2K9: Feature]
DJ Dr. Doom - “Above the Radio vol. 8” [2K9: Feature]
Sean Beastly - “Are You Still Not Entertained” [2K9: Feature]
Alkaline - “Hostile Takeover” [2K9: Feature]
Sean Beastly - “You Mad ‘Cause I’m Stylin’ On You” [2K10: Feature]
Massiah - “Killing 3 Personalities” [2K11: Feature]
Scarfoe - “Monsta Muzik” [2K11: Feature]
Scarfoe - “Da Lost Kutz” [2K12: Feature]

Got The Colin Munroe Stems Back

Thu, 31 May 2012 04:28:01 -0400

Now it’s really on

Scarfoe - Da Lost Kutz

Thu, 31 May 2012 02:32:24 -0400

Scarfoe - Da Lost Kutz:

I didn’t know that Scarfoe compiled this together until I stumbled upon it. Coincidentally, he had only uploaded this three days ago. On this one, Seattle’s own goes in on some joints that you know along with some originals.

Featuring

Cody McClaine (The Verified)
Tanibal (Gookstaz)
Vudoo (Gookstaz)
2-Sicc
Jeff Soul (Organix)

Thoughts Down Two

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:22:44 -0400

Well, Boston certainly did not come with the same performance from game 1 and I’m somewhat content with what they did. Rondo lead all scorers with 44 as three other Celtics went double figures as well. This would be a good time to really test in the paint and keep Bass involved altogether. Their high intensity in the first half was required for the second though as they hung in there, but couldn’t close.

There could have been some defensive tweaks that could have kept them in the game. For example, there was no need to collapse with a double team on help defense. Let the help handle the ball to cut off option A (basket attempt) and let the secondary cut off option B (open man for three). This was actually done a few times and benefited, but they strayed a lot from it.

One of my two pet peeves surfaced again and that was allowing 13 offensive rebounds, which was equal to game 1. One of which could have ended the game in regulation and some of them leading to second chance shots. A different one popped up and it is getting too reckless with contesting shots (Steisma, Dooling, Pierce). Pierce’s last foul could have been prevented by keeping his feet planted and it would have went his way.

Now let’s talk about the lopsided officiating. No, not the situation with Wade using his leg to get space from Garnett, because Garnett did foul him and made that a 50/50 call for the zebras. I’m talking about the fact that there was no call when Rondo got hacked badly by Wade and gets no call, but when the shoe was on the other foot, the whistle was blown. I would ask, ‘who does that,’ but Capers, Mauer, and Washington is my answer today.

To Anyone With Satellite Radio

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:49:00 -0400

Word is that Ruby is going to be on DJ Kay Slay’s Streetsweeper Radio on Shade 45 at 8pm (EST I believe). Check that cause I’m sure she will be have a couple of lines later.

What's Killing Ray Allen?

Mon, 28 May 2012 23:33:25 -0400

It goes without saying that it’s his ankle. When the lift lacks, there has to be some compensation involved. What’s really killing him is that he can’t shoot the same arc with the bummed ankle, so that has to be adjusted a little higher for more of a probability of converting from the field.

As for the rest of the Boston, Garnett showed up leading all C’s with 23. As for Rondo, the deeper in the playoffs means that his assist average was bound to drop. However, only half of that is his fault as there were makable shots that Boston did not take advantage of. While I felt that passes could have been tighter, I’ll be fair and say that they controlled the ball a bit better. All of Rondo’s four turnovers occurred in the 1st quarter and only accounted for half of the team. I do dislike that shit Pierce did in throwing the ball at Battier’s legs when he was trapped leading to a stupid turnover in itself.

My pet peeve manifested in not converting from the stripe as they shot 11-21, which in hindsight would have been less of a hole to climb out of. Furthermore, this is not a good time to die by the three as there were only four of those cashed in.

Defense? This needs to be done with more awareness. There were a few instances where I looked on and saw a wide open baseline and I’m yelling to keep an eye on that. Fighting for position and boxing out is another thing because when you find yourself getting outdone. Speaking of, another thing I don’t like is knocking missed shots around. Jump, grab with two hand, and profit. This was another cause of why they gave away 13 offensive rebounds.

"ARE YOU IN THAT MOOD YET?!"

Mon, 28 May 2012 20:40:59 -0400

“ARE YOU IN THAT MOOD YET?!”

- Joe Budden

thoughtsofahiphopjunkie: Nas - Daughters … Sometimes not...

Mon, 28 May 2012 16:25:00 -0400

thoughtsofahiphopjunkie:

Nas - Daughters

… Sometimes not demanding another “Illmatic” is just fine.

Futuristic Beats

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:56:52 -0400

I’m not sure what this is referring to or how this is defined, but I’m guessing this is just as subjective as what most Hip-Hop “fans” demand for reasons beyond me.

That being said, the line is not in front of me.

Saturday = Now Or Never

Thu, 24 May 2012 01:24:00 -0400

First, let me start with the fact that I was shocked that Iverson wasn’t wearing his own jersey when he presented the game ball. Was no one conflicted about this?

At any rate, this game broke Rondo’s streak of 10+ assists per game, which leads to lack of offensive production from him, Allen, and Bass. The bench production was at 5 points, which came from Pietrus. The offense was sloppy, leading to the 16 turnovers throughout the game. To make things worse, five Sixers scoring in double digits is unacceptable to the defensive demands of Boston.

I won’t be around to actually see Game 7, but I can only hope for another turnaround because that’s what this series has come down to: capitalizing on inconsistencies. One team wins and becomes complacent the next game.