Rittz - Like I Am/Walking On Air

No explanation needed, my boy Rittz' flow tells it all; a mix of smooth, laidback, soulful, southern-type flow. Titled, "Like I Am" off of his debut album, The Life and Times of Johnny Valiant (his alias), Rittz did nothing less than shock and awe. Tech N9ne is a smart man for signing him to Strange Music, which has proved to be a great fit for Rittz. If you need to know why I praise this man's talent so highly, I suggest you go through 25 Below's archives and check out my post on his earlier days. White Jesus. Enjoy.

Know what, since I like you guys AND Rittz so much, one video just won't do. Here's another 

from his last mixtape, White Jesus Revival. "Walking On Air", great verses, trippy video. Enjoy.

Johnny Rain, ft. LaShaun Ellis - Superstition

A little while back a friend told me to check out Johnny Rain. I just recently did so and I am liking what I'm hearing. With a comparison to the likes of The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, which I don't totally agree with (beside the point), he does have a different sound than the less than average R&B you hear nowadays. Rain has 1 album that you can stream and download on DJBooth.net, with quite a few good tracks. This interesting track with a surprisingly good feature from unknown Lashaun Ellis, titled "Superstition", is featured on L.O.M. (Lullaby of Machine).

Retro Su$h! - Stayin True

Just a random song from a group called Retro Su$h!, consisting of Retro and Jace Ceej. This song, "Stayin True", features Key!. This is a track off of their debut mixtape Kung Fu In Japan, which you can listen to and download here if you like what you hear. Enjoy.

Summer Fun Ideas

With summer approaching, and approaching fast, there's going to be a much bigger need of things to do. And if you're anything like me, doing the same old just won't cut it like it once did. So here's a list of simple, general ideas you can try out that should be available in most places:

• Museums
• Dance lessons
• Find new parks to explore
• Try those little "Mom & Pop" restaurants you've always wondered about
• Research a new hobby and grab some friends to try it out with you
• Plan a trip to somewhere dark and go star gazing
• Go for a walk somewhere new and take in the scenery
• Wake up early to find the best spot to watch the sun rise
• Go to a carnival
• Research different festivals in the area and go enjoy with some friends

Keep an open mind, grab some friends who do the same and start your summer off right with some new fun!

Potential Prospects

I guess it's safe to say that I gravitate towards "underground" music. I don't know if people just don't want to do the work it takes to really do their homework on an artist they've come across or if they really just don't hear the talent that one possesses just because they're not popular or "mainstream". Well for me it used to be about staying up on the newest and latest, like an addiction. Until I realized why I actually wanted to do my homework for once...I saw just how many "hidden gems" I had been stumbling upon.
So from then on I realized as much as I love music, I love to show support of the greatness I hear just as much. It's one thing to hear great music, and it is another to hear the potential for reaching that level of greatness. With that being said I'm going to start a series of posts on "potential prospects" that I have personally heard, done research on and gained an understanding of their music. Stay tuned.

Grasshopper Mondays

Even though I've only had the ability to indulge in the experience for a short while, I'm not too much into bars anymore. There's usully weird people, pricey drinks and an even weirder selection of music. But there are a couple I like because it's a fun atmosphere...good music, mixed group of chill people, good drink specials, and it should go without saying but adults actually acting their age. That's a good time out to the bar for me.
Well the latest bar I've been to that has drawn me back 3 Mondays in a row is The Grasshopper in Ferndale, MI. Each time that I've been it's been very relaxed. Everyone dresses pretty nicely, but not "nightclub fresh". Dressy casual with a bit more casual (You will find this helpful if you're like me..who dressed totally wrong my first time). It's not a huge crowd, so far at least. And each time there's been great music to vibe to, which is a huge factor into if I can stand a bar or not.
On my first night there I was told there would be Hip-Hop music and Top 40s alternating Mondays. But the past 2 times I've went its been this crazy DJ, who I hope to see every week I go from now on. With enough dancing room, the DJ gets people in the mood to hustle to some classic oldies (usually how he ends the night) to those fast-paced beats that has allowed me to witness some jittin' battles.
All under black lights, a decent amount of sitting room and well-priced drinks (that actually have alcohol in them =D), I say this is the place to be on Monday nights if chilling hard to great music in your room is just not enough.

2012 Hip-Hop Albums (So Far)

As the year is getting closer to an end, there have been some great releases, while others failed miserably. Here is a list of the albums so far from 2012 (With ratings). With a few months left, who will take the #1 spot.

1.      Schoolboy Q: Habits & Contradictions = 8.2

2.      Curren$y: Muscle Car Chronicles = 10

3.      Tyga: Careless World: Rise of the Last King = 7.0

4.      KiD CuDi: WZRD =  1.8

5.      Odd Future: The Of Tape, Vol. 2 = 5.0

6.      Obie Trice: Bottoms Up = 7.5

7.      Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded = 5.7

8.      B.o.B.: Strange Clouds = 9.3

9.      Ab Soul: Control System = 8.0

10.  Big K.R.I.T.: Live From The Underground = 9.5

11.  Curren$y: The Stoned Immaculate = 8.1

12.  Maybach Music Group: Self Made, Vol. 2 = 8.5

13.  NaS: Life Is Good = 10

14.  Rick Ross: God Forgives, I Don’t = 8.6

15.  2 Chainz: Based On a T.R.U. Story = 8.7

16.  DJ Khaled: Kiss The Ring = 6.6

17.  Slaughethouse: Welcome to: OUR House = 9.0

18.  DMX: Undisputed = 2.9

19.  G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer = 8.5

20.  Lupe Fiasco: Food And Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Part 1 = 8.8

21.  Dj Drama: Quality Street Music = 6.6

22.  Skyzoo: A Dream Deferred = 8.0