Kanye West & 50 Cent - Album Battle - Kanye West & 50 Cent

“What I want everybody to do right now is take your cell phones out, get your cameras out," said 50 Cent at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. And then, he said he would be performing the first single off of his upcoming album, “Before I Self Destruct”. However, he was to make a joke first. The instrumental electronic soundings of Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” began, and Fitty began to sing “I’m not loving you…” in an obvious mock of West.

The two rappers are once again allegedly in a SoundScan battle. On September 11th of last year they both dropped albums, however Kanye’s thumped 50’s most notably. The quality, diversity and content of “Graduation”, Kanye’s third album, were much to be admired and remembered. On the other hand, I did enjoy rockin’ away to hits like “I Get Money” and “Ayo Technology” but let’s face it; there probably wasn’t a real competition there. 50 showed some grace on “Curtis” by featuring Justin Timberlake in a song, but Kanye drew in talent from many genres even Techno (“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”). It seems this is what music-lovers look for today.

Sad to say, aside from the fact that these artists are some of the biggest in the world, and are usually known for awesome material, these two records are looking sort of grim. Fifty seems to be going for the ever efficient “start some drama” tactic and Kanye seems to have lost touch with his original fan base.

Last time, 50 promised with all of his heart that he would retire his career if he should lose, unfortunately for 50 Cent-haters he did not, because of contractual obligations to his label (which I believe he was aware of when he made the promise).

At this point, the release dates for, “Before I Self Destruct” and “808’s and Heartbreak” are December 9th and December 16th, respectively. These dates can be changed easily to rebirth a rivalry that most of us don’t care enough to entertain again, but will do so solely for the love of Rap. However, with only about a week separating them these two albums are sure to kick up some December dust, or snow, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Ne-yo and Chris Brown – R&B Beef – Ne-yo and Chris Brown - A Milli

"The more arguments you win, the less friends you'll have" I borrowed that line from a YouTube account owner called Jewelryman. Hey Ordinary Joe, add this to our album promotion techniques... start subliminal "not serious" beefs. 50 Cent did it for every album and look at his success. Now its Ne-yo's turn... yes Ne-yo.

"A millie a millie a million sales" is the only tune that R&B song bird, Ne-yo is trying to perfect with his new freestyle over Lil Wayne's hit song "A Millie" beat. According to industry insiders, Chris Brown has been trash talking about Ne-yo's singing (compared to his own). Also Chris Brown contrasted their album sales saying that he can out sell Ne-yo any day. So, to hit back, Ne-yo dissed back... allegedly. "To whom it may concern... you might sell a million more than me... but you don’t have a million more than me..." is Ne-yo's opening line to the track. Afterwards, Ne-yo raps (yes raps) using lines like "... your girlfriend's favorite song is mine", which, some say, refers to Rihanna's (Chris Brown's supposed girlfriend) hit song "Unfaithful". Some say that it (the track) may be for R. Kelly in response to R. Kelly kicking Ne-yo off of his tour... I doubt it because one of the arguments Ne-yo makes in this song is that he writes a lot of people's songs and R. Kelly does the same.

Ne-yo does have one or two lines in the freestyle that make you say "hmm I'm a lil’ impressed". Lines like "My middle name is "more bread" and my last name is "than your bread" get it? I know Ne-yo said to Mr. BANGLADESH "It's not a Chris Brown diss"; however, I believe that it is either made to boost record sales so he used CB as a tactic to get people's attention or he had some animosity towards Chris and it subconsciously slipped out on track. In my opinion both are, overall, just as great as one another: they merely shine differently. My Biased opinion puts Ne-yo ahead because my girlfriend is a Chris Brown fanatic. What do you think Joe?

Yea Ordinary Joe can you say corny? Well even if you can’t…“corny” doesn’t begin to describe what I, and probably thousands of other people think abut Ne-yo’s freestyle on Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” beat. I think this latest attempt at an “A Milli” freestyle is the crowning glory of the repercussions that occur when R&B artists try to rap…or when Lil Wayne attempts to make a Hip Hop Album for that matter.

And why is it that people who rap on a Lil Wayne beat feel that they’re compelled to sound almost exactly like Weezy does? (Maniacal laughter after every attempted joke included) After Ne-yo said “You don’t got more money than me”, he said “Let’s be Real”…so that’s what I’m trying to do.

Although I, in no way support the butchering of this track, Ne-yo did do a kind of good job of presenting his credentials to anyone who didn’t know them or forgot them. Like the fact that every song on his albums is written by him, and sometimes he writes songs that he gives it to another artist, e.g. Rihanna. However, kicking up Beef against an R&B fiend like Chris Brown can only have little to no benefits for Ne-yo.

To Listen to the Freestyle Click HERE or watch below

Lil Wayne - Rap - Tha Carter 3 - Lil Wayne

Yo, Ordinary Joe, What do you think about this?

"I call the April babies cuz they fools..." An example of the many rhymes on the most anticipated album of 2008, “Tha Carter 3”. Is Lil Wayne the 'best rapper alive'? Lil Wayne's fans hold the words of this addict of many drugs as a gospel of the hood (whether they live there or not). Why? I don't know... really I don't know; but that’s the way it is. Lil Wayne made a big transition from "Project Chick" to "Duffle Bag Boy" but so has rap. The significance of his June 10 album, “Tha Carter 3”, is not to make music for the love of it, but it is the definitive manifestation of Lil Wayne's position as the best rapper alive because so far Kanye West's fans have the album card and Jay-Z fans have the classic card... I'll get to lyricism in a bit.

On the Carter 3 album, Lil Wayne's idea of the best rapper alive is rhyming and making it sound rhythmic. If you don't believe me then take a listen to his song called: “Mr. Carter”. In this song, he teams up with his biggest competition to being the best rapper alive (remember that being the best rapper alive and the hottest rapper in the game is different). “Mr. Carter” was, seemingly, Dwayne Michael Carter (Lil Wayne) and Shawn Corey Carter (Jay-Z) showing the world how legendary the two Carters are as it pertains to hip hop. Besides Lil Wayne's 3 verses falling short to Jay-Z's one verse, if Shawn Carter's verse was omitted from the song, Dwayne's verses would be unsatisfactory for any type of album: classic or mediocre.

Ordinary Joe, do you think hanging out with New York Rappers got Wayne thinking he was as good as a New York rapper? In his song called "Nothing On Me" that features artists Fabolous and Juelz Santana, both of the featured artists out shine him like Wayne was a candle between two suns. The best rapper alive must be the best rapper on his songs. Maybe featuring in songs with artists like Young Jezzy has Lil Wayne looking hotter than he really is. Merely rapping about what ever comes to his head. In one verse Lil Wayne covers as many topics as a perfect teacher. However, if a teacher delivers so many topics at one time, the lessons tend to make no sense.

Well Ordinary Joe, what do I think about “Tha Carter 3”, do you even have to ask?
Lil Wayne did a good job, of asking questions in his lyrics, and I must say most of the answers were not hard to find. “If it’s so explicit then why you listening?” At that point I wondered why I was listening…oh yea to write this review. I know Hip Hop has “grown” to the point where over usage of expletives has become the norm. But we always knew that the “Best rapper alive” would break down walls of normality and set a new record in dirty words.

Although it was leaked, the album is still expected to debut at #1 on the charts. Thanks to the many Weezy fans who will buy anything he makes, I’m sure. Can someone help me listen to “A Millie” and not go away repeating it…please? A Millie, A Millie, A Millie…yea like I was saying “A Millie” has the tightest beat on the album but there’s not much lyrical content to it. Ordinary Joe, I definitely think he got a little to “at home” rapping with New Yorkers Fabolous and Juelz Santana. I’d like to clarify on a statement you made Ordinary Joe. You said there’s a difference between being the best rapper alive and the hottest rapper in the game, I don’t believe Weezy falls under neither of those titles.

Since Lil Wayne asked that we never forget him in the lyrics of “Mr. Carter”, I’ll never forget to mention him…as the one rapper who tried so hard to compare himself to Jay-Z, Pac and Biggie and didn’t succeed…by a long shot. “Let the Beat Build” is the epitome of what Weezy has come to been known for, taking a good beat and rapping about absolutely nothing on it. Doesn’t he call that “murdering” a track? True, well I call it butchering a track!

With such confusing lyrics like, "You say tomato I say tamata/ You say get em I say got em/ Yea I got em" either Lil Wayne is not living up to the hype or he's on such a higher level, he's on a different planet(sounding like a Lil Wayne rhyme not intended). The only songs where he sticks to topic are "Tie my Hands" and "Mrs. Officer", where he raps about having sex with a female police officer. Fruitless rhymes are just one of the many mistakes made by this veteran rapper through out the album. Hence we Ordinary Joes, have no choice than to give “Tha Carter 3” a "C" grade, as far as living up to the much anticipated hype goes.