Another Numbers Game, another day I apologize once again for the lack of reviews. But hey, Michael Jackson is back on top of the charts; that’s something right? Sidenote: We (nappyafro) are gonna get back on our review grizzly. Believe that.

Anywho, the soundtrack to Michael Jackson’s highly successful movie This Is It hits the charts hard and get the #1 spot. It sold about 370,000 albums (Which is crazy). Even in death the King Of Pop is a force to be reckoned with. He even had another album/compilation (Selections From Michael Jackson) debut on the charts this week at #91. Respect.

Brian McKnight comes in at #20 with his 9th album Evolution Of A Man. He did okay and pushed 24,000 units. Even though I knownothing of this album, I can’t hate on the man though; I once went to a Brian McKnight concert.

Triple C’s prove the naysayers wrong and moves over the speculated sales figures predicted by 50 Cent. Custom Cycles & Cars lands and #44 sales 12,000 albums. Not to good? Better than the 4,000 Curtis thought they did.

Shout out to the comments section. We missed the review for Swollen Members. It’s happens (Even though I like Swollen Members the group). Their new album Armed To The Teeth comes in at #146.

I could have sworn Z-Ro’s Cocaine was a mixtape. An official mixtape? It comes in at #147.

That’s all

“Running on fumes but getting the team together.” -  Typo King.

#1 Michael Jackson/This Is It [OST] (Last Week: NA) – 373,800; Total: NA [Debut]
#10 Jay-Z/The Blueprint 3 (Last Week: #4) – 40,700; Total: 1,200,100 (Platinum) [8 Weeks]
#13 Black Eyed Peas/The E.N.D. (Last Week: #6) – 30,200; Total: 1,300,000 (Platinum) [21 Weeks]
#20 Brian McKnight/Evolution Of A Man (Last Week: NA) – 24,400; Total: NA [Debut]
#30 Whitney Houston/I Look To You (Last Week: #20) – 15,200; Total: 765,500 (Gold) [9 weeks]
#31 Mariah Carey/Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (Last Week: #14) – 14,900; Total: 290,400 [5 Weeks]
#37 Drake/So Far Gone (Last Week: #28) – 14,900; Total: 210,700 [7 Weeks]
#44 Triple C’s/Custom Cars & Cycles (Last Week: NA) – 12,100; Total: NA [Debut]
#49 Trey Songz/Ready (Last Week: #37) – 11,300; Total: 294,200 [9 Weeks]
#91 Michael Jackson/Selections From Michael Jackson (Last Week: NA) – 6,100; Total: NA [Debut]
#146 Swollen Members/Armed To The Teeth (Last Week: NA) – 3,500; Total: NA [Debut]
#147 Z-Ro/Cocaine (Last Week: NA) – 3,500; Total: NA [Debut]

This weeks edition of Song of the Week is dedicated to someone who puts in ALOT of work, but doesn’t get the credit they deserve, or they even care to have. But I got to let you people know who is the engine powering the car…B-EASY. The dude puts in the most time for the site, and without him, there would be no FRO! The man posts, does all the graphics art, the design, ALL HIM. (I’m the brains and the VOICE..so that matters…) So I decided to make this a B-EASY appreciation post instead of your typical SOTW. So give it up for B-EASY and enjoy a song…which is FIRE and really doesn’t fit an appreciation post, but I’m the KING!

Download: UGK – “Murder”

We haven’t dealt much with the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards outside of the cyphers this year, but I can’t act like it didn’t happen. This year’s show was, performance wise, one of the worst. However, from a production standpoint and things of that nature, it was one of the best shows they’ve had. It did however, leave some questions burning in my mind.

1. Is Joe Buddens THAT good?
I’ve heard some Buddens stuff, I’m not going to act like I am well versed on that dude. However, I don’t remember a time that I was like THIS DUDE IS A PROBLEM. After his flow on the first cypher, I was left scrambling to get re-acclimated. He perked my ears with the Slaughterhouse album, but it still didn’t send me searching for his music. But now, the combination of the album and the cypher, I need to go back to ground zero and research dude, because clearly, there is more to him than I thought.

2. Has Nicki Minaj FINALLY found her formula for success?
Minaj gets more than her fair share of hatred and doubt. Those two attacks are pretty standard uniform for female emcees in the game. I’ve always liked her on the mic and that was BEFORE I saw what she looked like. The net seems to be hell bent with proving she’s got fake body and Weezy writes her rhymes but lets be completely honest here. Number one, sex sells. It has sold since there was a way to put a price on it. If you are in the entertainment biz, and you are female, chance are, you are going to go under the knife at some point or at least add some tracks, nails, or something man-made to your structure. Lets not crucify her for what may or may not have happened to her, but routinely happens in the business. Secondly, ghostwriting or flat out writing for someone else is regular in music. I understand that Hip-Hop puts paramount importance on authenticity, but at the same time, its music is a form of entertainment. When we get around those two formalities, her new animated delivery and flow along with the void in the game, may have finally put her in prime position to make her mark. I’ve often found myself on an island when I speak highly of Minaj, but even those that didn’t care for her too much saw the light after her cypher and recent verse on the remix of “5 Star Chick”. Hopefully, folks will pay attention to her “Killin’ these bitches, Mike Vickin’ it up.”

3. When is BET going to really bring back RapCity or at LEAST do a show called The Booth?
Cypher 3 featured Mos Def, Black Thought, and Eminem spitting some of the most “oh shit” worthy flows ever done on BET. With everyone being able to write down lyrics and drop an album on iTunes, we rarely get to see this side of the game from experienced emcees anymore. You may get some hotlines from them when they show up to the radio station, but rarely do you get emcees of this caliber on at one time, doing what they love. BET, you can reach me at  saulewright at gmail.com if you want to work on this idea. I’m just saying…

4. What about graffiti?
There are four or five elements of Hip-Hop, depending on who you ask. However, no matter WHO you ask, they will both name graffiti as part of it. It clearly has transitioned to a legitimate art-form to the masses, but it has also seemingly been neglected and ignored by what we know as the Hip-Hop culture. I’ve seen more cars, jewelry, and basket ball hoops in music videos than I’ve seen actual tagging being done. Again, BET, you can reach me at  saulewright at gmail.com if you want to work on THIS idea. I’m just saying…

5.What happened to the Emceeing part of Hip Hop?
Disclaimer: Little Brother nor the Justus League do not pay nappyafro.com for our support or anything similar to that kind of agreement. Now that that’s out of the way, have any of you seen Little Brother in concert? If not, YouTube them, they are a recent example of stage presence and what being an emcee is about. They are clearly cut from the same cloth as Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, LL Cool J, Run DMC and other emcees that understand how rocking/moving the crowd is not just a hot lyric. The ability to put on a show doesn’t come with the signing bonus. The amount of underwear, crotch grabbing, pacing, etc. were at an all time high during this show while ability to perform was absent. I don’t know that I’ve been as unmoved or uninspired as I was with the collection of stage performances that happened at this show. I could go onto a number 6 being about having some excitable fans around the stage, but I think if the show is up to par, then the audience will show it, no matter how motionless they are.

So those are my questions, what are yours?

By now you know that we love bringing back past Certified Bangers. This goes double for Amazin’ Amie. She is still the top “PAWG” in the game (Some others would use the term “Whooty”). Here we she her styling in Show. I hope we see more of Amie in the future. Certified.

“When I throw the motherfuckin’ death blow… they don’t die right there. You expect them to die right there and they die six months later.” – 50 Cent from Gomez Bros. interview.

I’ll be the first one to admit it. I honestly thought Rick Ross had overcome 50 Cent’s full-scale assault to end his career that had claimed the lives of a few rappers in the past. Ricky had a #1 album with Deeper Than Rap, is definitely one of the hardest working men in Hip-Hop as of late (How many music videos has this guy put out this year?), and even got voted the #5 “Hottest MC’s In The Game” by MTV.

But then I heard the audio from the other day when 50 called in to the Gomez Brothers’ show on Shade45 and he made reference to his “death blow” (Around the 10:47 mark in the interview).

And then I thought about it: Did 50 Cent’s stream of baby momma interviews porno activities, cartoons, & financial records take too much out of Ricky’s career? Although Deeper Than Rap did debut at #1, right now the sales sit at 380,000 copies (It definitely should have did more with what was put into it). Triple C’s album did get released last Tuesday to almost no fanfare (Except 50’s trivia jabs, Rick Ross’s promotion & poorly received clips). Hell, we even late on the review for Custom Cars & Cycles and we haven’t gotten any comments or e-mails cursing us out about it.

To keep it all in perspective though: Honestly, this could be due to the economy. Or, did 50 Cent possibly fatally cripple another rapper? You waiting on Rick Ross’ next album?

Just thinking….

Listen: 50 Cent Interview With Gomez Bros.

Here’s the official version of Weezy’s No Ceilings mixtape. If you already got the one we put up earlier this week, this one has higher sound quality as well as four new tracks (Plus official artwork if you like to keep your iPod clean like me). Tracklisting, artwork, & download link below. Props to the homie BDK over at Tha Carter Cartel for the links!

1. Swag Surf

2. Ice Cream

3. D.O.A.

4. Gudda Gudda Skit

5. Wasted

6. Watch My Shoes

7. Break Up (feat. Short Dawg & Gudda Gudda)

8. Banned From TV

9. Throw It In The Bag (remix)

10. I Think I Love Her (feat. Tyga & Shanell)

11. Shanell Skit

12. Wayne On Me

13. I’m Good f. T-Streets

14. Poke Her Face (feat. Jae Millz)

15. Run This Town

16. I Got No Ceilings

17. Skit End

18. No Ceilings (feat. Birdman)

19. Oh Let’s Do It

20. Single

21. Sweet Dreams (feat. Nicki Minaj)

Download: Lil’ Wayne – No Ceilings [Official Mixtape]

Quick story: I went to the movies to see Paranormal Activity a few weeks ago and halfway through the movie four girls seated in front of me and my date got up and left. Not because they didn’t like the movie, but because the movie was too scary for them. And honestly, it’s actually is scary a movie. Maybe one of the scariest movies of all time. Backed by a $11,000 budget and a hell of a promotional push, Paranormal Activity does exactly what it’s suppose to; take one of your oldest fears and magnify it. So if you are brave enough to watch this movie, turn your lights low, cut off the phone, and get ready to be freaked out by even the smallest noises in your house.

Plus, it’s Halloween.

Note: I just realized that the ending for this version is totally different from the one in theaters now (Which is better). Sorry.

WOW! Beans finally breaks his silence on the whole Roc/Jay-Z deal. All I can say is WOW! I know I have been accused of not liking Jay, I do, I just think that he’s a dirty dude. Well someone besides Dame finally lets us know that Hov is a shitty individual. Before ya’ll say that Beans is jealous and all that…remember HE DID DIRT FOR JAY. If Jay should keep it 100 with anyone..it should have been Beans. Listen to song and tell me what you think. ALOT of cats are starting to throw rocks at the throne…Jay might be due for one. I would love to see Jay involved in a rap battle. Maybe someone needs to do to him what he did to Nas? Wake his ass up and light that fire again. Why is it that all of Jay old running mates don’t mess with him anymore? Is it them or is it Jay? Hmmmm?

“Compared to Beans, you wack” – Esco

Download: Beanie Sigel – “What You Talkin’ Bout (I Ain’t Ya Average Cat)”

Update: Charlamagne Tha God interviews Beanie Sigel about Jay-Z & “Whay You Talkin’ About”

Update: Jay-Z answers Beanie Sigel during The Blueprint 3 press conference

It’s been awhile since Cormega has dropped a solo record. You can say this is his third official studio record. Who Am I? is a soundtrack album; The Testament was a shelved by Def Jam which was suppose to release around 1996; And Legal Hustle was a compilation album for his record company. Now the Queensbridge native has finally returned with Born And Raised. Unlike his previous albums, Mega comes through with an excellent production lineup which includes: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee, and many other superb Hip-Hop producers. Matter of fact, EVERY SINGLE TRACK is produced by a Hip-Hop prodigy. It doesn’t stop there. The album also features many legendary guest appearances, such as KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Tragedy Khadafi and more.

Believe it or not, this is one of my most anticipated releases for 2009. Cormega has always been a highly underrated emcee. The Realness and The True Meaning are two of my favorite albums. These two records are superior because they showcase Mega’s lyrical abilities and his great flow. I hope this album does the same.

1. Prelude/Intro (The 3rd Coming)
Featuring Marley Marl; Produced by Khrysis, Cormega, & Bear One
The legendary Marley Marl starts off the album with a few words about Cormega’s street credibility. Is it just me or are there a lot of ’09 albums that start similar to this? After the prelude, the record officially starts with the “Intro (The 3rd Coming)”. Mega takes no time to point out the struggles he’s gone through growing up in Queens. This is a nice way to start the album.

2. Girl
Produced by L.E.S. & Cormega
I wasn’t really feeling this song after a couple listens. I felt that Cormega could’ve come harder with the flow (no homo). However, now I see why his delivery was calm. This helps shape the mood of the song. Take some time to listen to the lyrics, and I promise it will grow on you too. It’s a great metaphoric song about the dangers of cocaine. One of my favorite lines from the track, “She burned Richard Pryor when he piped her raw”.

3. Love Your Family
Featuring & Produced by Havoc
This is a song that explains why blood is thicker than water. Cormega starts off speaking on his daughter, and clarifies all the love he has for her. Havoc grabs the mic and touches on his love for his mother, sister, and grandmother. Then, Mega goes into the deepest part of the song when he tells us how good of a mother he had. For those of you who don’t know, Cormega witnessed his mother’s murder at four years old. Although, I’m not sure if that verse was intended for his mother or stepmother. The chorus sums up the theme of the song. It’s not as heartwarming as you may think.

4. Get It In
Featuring Lil’ Fame; Poduced by Easy Mo Bee
Easy Mo Bee drops a nice up-tempo beat that fits the energy of Lil’ Fame and Cormega on “Get It In”. Lil’
Fame makes the track sound like it should be on a M.O.P. album. He also takes a shot at Kanye West, “I’m so far beyond these hoes, with flows tighter than Kanye’s clothes”. However, Cormega outshines Fame as he comes with that nice flow and lyrics that bring you back to ’01.

5. The Other Side
Produced by Fizzy Womack & Cormega
Fizzy Womack (Lil’ Fame) returns this time with a jazzy beat. It’s a surprise to hear Fame come with a beat this laid back, but it don’t matter as long as it works. This track displays the ups and downs in life. However, this song seems out of place after the hard hittin’ “Get It In”.

6. Live And Learn
Produced by Pete Rock
Pete Rock and Cormega team up for “Live And Learn”. I thought this would be a definite standout on the album, but I felt they could have both done better. The beat isn’t bad, but sounds a little plain. Mega drops some words of wisdom on how to live for the future, not the past. Once again, still a good song, but should’ve been better.

7. Make It Clear
Produced by DJ Premier
This track is ridiculous. DJ Premier created the perfect beat for Mega’s style. Perfect samples and scratches (as always). Plus, the hard felt lyrics do not disappoint. I wish more songs were similar to this. This flow is untouchable. Too many quotables to insert here.

8. Journey
Produced by Large Professor
First, DJ Premier, now, Large Professor. This is another faultless beat by one of Hip-Hop’s finest. Cormega speaks on how life has been a journey for him. In this song he also shows great appreciation to New York (he shouts out AZ’s Doe Or Die and Big Pun in the video), and how it made him who he is today. “Hip hop never died, it’s just sick of the drama”. Here is a link for the video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDmQqJpr3….

9. Define Yourself
Featuring Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc; Produced by DR Period
Tragedy Khadafi and Havoc join Cormega for “Define Youself”. This is yet another track about life and how it identifies you. I would rank Cormega as the best emcee on this; followed by Tragedy and Havoc last. This track is not bad, but I felt it was too short for two guest appearances.

10. What Did I Do
Produced by Nottz
I’m feelin’ the sample Nottz used for this beat, but he could’ve done better with the drum loop. Another mishap about the track is how short it is (2:54). Cormega speaks on certain people and how they are abusing themselves. I wouldn’t consider this filler, but I felt Mega could have done better with his lyrics and flow.

11. Dirty Game
Produced by DJ Premier
The album finally picks up again on Premier’s “Dirty Game”. This is one of the best songs that explain the struggles of being born and raised in Queensbridge. His lyrics about the hip hop game and prison let us know why he is considered a street poet. This along with “Make It Clear” and “Journey” are my top three standouts on the album. They bring you that 90’s New York hip hop mentality.

12. One Purpose
Mega drops a short, but nice accapella. This is nice, but I feel that it belongs on a mixtape, not an album.

13. Rapture
Produced by Ayatollah
Where have I heard this beat before? (edit: Willie Hutch – “Mama’s Theme”, Cam’ron – “D Rugs”, Lupe Fiasco – “Coulda Been”, emc – “U Let Me Grow”) It’s all good if he took this sample from somebody, because we all know that his sample for Cormega’s “Rap’s A Hustle” has been jacked plenty of times. I also like how Ayatollah throws a sample of Big L at the end of the verses. This track also shows how good of a lyricist Cormega actually is.

14. Mega Fresh X
Featuring DJ Red Alert, PMD, Grand Puba, KRS-One, & Big Daddy Kane; Produced by Buckwild
This song was leaked over a year ago titled “Fresh”. The only difference here is the producers. Emile produced the first song, and Buckwild remixed it for the album. My favorite thing about this song is that there is no chorus. Just a lyrical ambush by some of hip hop’s legends. On a side note, Big Daddy Kane murders this track.

Bottom Line:
This is definitely an album that takes a little time. Many people won’t have the patience, but the more you play it, the more it will grow on you. However, I do feel that Cormega could have done better with his delivery. Yes, his lyrics are nicely done, but delivery is the next important thing for an emcee. The other issue I have with the album is how short it is. It only has fourteen tracks (one being a short accapella), and only two of those are over four minutes long. On a production note, this was a pretty good album. Although, I felt this album should have been better by the list of producers. Nevertheless, it’s still a good album, and should be copped if you’re a fan of New York hip hop.

nappyPicks: “Girl”, “Love Your Family”, “Make It Clear”, “Journey”, “Dirty Game”, “Rapture”, “Mega Fresh X”

Download: Cormega – “Make It Clear”

Dang homie. I’m really late with this Numbers Game huh? Yea, life sucks. But I’m still here for you and to constantly push my nappyafro Team to a championship (I’m into sport metaphors right now. NBA just started back up, World Series, my greatness in Madden, etc). Enough high stepping to the endzone (See), let’s get at these numbers…

Well, not really. I honestly wanna just talk about one album and that’s Royce Da 5′9″’s Street Hop since it’s the lone Hip-Hop artist debuting in the Top 200 this week. Yea, it only moved 4,600 copies and landed at #111. But if it ever was a time where sales figures don’t match quality, it’s here (Maybe if that Shady Records rumors come true he could get the sales too). The album is great. And DJ Premier is executive producing. What? Are we gonna review it? Hell yeah! Kareem Abdul Jamar, you up partner. Knock it out son.

The rest of the album debuts this week? Not today…

Done. Typo King (I had to bring it back)

#4 Jay-Z/The Blueprint 3 (Last Week: #3) – 42,800; Total: 1,159,300 (Platinum) [7 Weeks]
#6 Black Eyed Peas/The E.N.D. (Last Week: #6) – 35,200; Total: 1,269,800 (Platinum) [20 Weeks]
#10 Joss Stones/Colour Me Free (Last Week: NA) – 26,600; Total: NA [Debut]
#14 Mariah Carey/Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (Last Week: #10) – 21,100; Total: 275,400 [4 Weeks]
#20 Whitney Houston/I Look To You (Last Week: #15) – 19,000; Total: 750,300 (Gold) [8 weeks]
#28 Drake/So Far Gone (Last Week: #27) – 17,300; Total: 197,300 [6 Weeks]
#37 Trey Songz/Ready (Last Week: #39) – 12,300; Total: 282,900 [8 Weeks]
#40 Mario/D.N.A. (Last Week: #9) – 11,600; Total: 43,400 [2 Weeks]
#44 Maxwell/BLACKsummers’night (Last Week: #43) – 11,200; Total: 836,900 (Gold) [15 Weeks]
#111 Royce Da 5′9″/Street Hop (Last Week: NA) – 4,600; Total: NA [Debut]
#129 Melina Fiona/The Bridge (Last Week: NA) – 4,200; Total: NA [Debut]
#170 Tina Turner/Tina Live (Last Week: NA) – 2,800; Total: NA [Debut]
#176 Michael Jackson/Remix Suite IV (Last Week: NA) – 2,800; Total: NA [Debut]