It’s been a while since I actually did an iPod Hustle column that was totally random. Just three songs off my iPod that really have no connection but were good listens nonetheless. In this edition, we check out some 2008 F-A-B-O, a smooth cut from Sa-Ra Creative Partners, and get Automatic Gunfire from G-Unit. Set your iPods to Hustle please…

Download: Fabolous – “Fall Back”
Mixtape: There Is No Competition [2008]
I’m sure I’ve already written somewhere about how the Fabolous & DJ Drama mixtape, There Is No Competition, was way too slept on for how good it was. It definitely was one of the best mixtapes put out in ’08. One gem off there was “Fall Back”. It’s filled with the slick wordplay that made Hip-Hop take notice of Fab in the first place; “You gonna make put ya in a headline/And your girl gonna help me come up with a head line/The suck game while I’m driving is a fool/She know it’s head first like she diving in a pool/Right stroke, left stroke was the best stroke/Bitch blow whistle like she got a ref’s throat/Foul, and I’m so flagrant” Fall back.

Download: Sa-Ra feat. Ty (of Ty & Kory) – “And If”
Album: The Hollywood Recordings [2007]
If you like me, your “Get Busy In The Bedroom” playlist on your iPod is probably devoid of any Hip-Hop. Do you really want to explain to your girl why you were trying you get it poppin’ to Plies’ “Plenty Money”? One of those instances where rhymes and sexy time mix well is Sa-Ra’s “And If” featuring Ty. It sounds like something PM Dawn would have made had their heyday been in 2007. The smoothness of this track is crazy…and it is a fixture on my “Lay It Down” playlist. What? Too much info?

Download: G-Unit – “Bang Bang”
Mixtape: Automatic Gunfire (G-Unit Part 4) [2002]
I know 50 just got a release date set for his next album Before I Self Destruct (Nov. 23rd), but I’d be lying if I said I was “highly anticipating” it. It wasn’t always like this though. Case in point, in 2002, 50 Cent (with Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo) released one of my favorite G-Unit songs of all time; “Bang Bang”. From Curtis’ calling Irv Gotta a “fat cupcake eating motherfucker” in the intro to him calling Ja Rule a “Stuart Little looking motherfucker” in the outro, this track goes hard all the way through. And what’s crazy, it’s not really a diss song aimed at Murder Inc. It does show just how well the charter members of G-Unit flowed together; 50 Cent: “Bang bang from big heaters/Hundred dollar sneakers/Two seaters, two meters”/Lloyd Banks: “And a bundle of haze/At least enough to last fourteen days/Eat where they sell lobster/My eyes slanted like Pharrell’s partner”/Tony Yayo: “Nigga respect me like you father when it come to drama/I put the lima to you momma and beat her like a piñata”

Even though Weezy push over the 2 million mark in album sales this week, I just couldn’t bring myself to put his picture in this column again (It’s been like 4 weeks out of 7!). Is Plies a good alternative? Not really, but what can you do. The man has a great chance of doing what G-Unit won’t do this fiscal year; go Gold. No noteworthy debuts this week either. The releases for The Game, Jeezy, and T.I. look so far away right now. Let’s look at the numbers…

#5 Lil’ Wayne/Tha Carter III (Last Week: #5) – 80,000; Total: 2,100,000 (2X Platinum) [8 Weeks]
#10 Nas/Untitled (Last Week: #8) – 41,000; Total: 290,000 [3 Weeks]
#12 Rhianna/Good Girl Gone Bad (Last Week: #11) – 34,000; Total: 1,551,000 (Platinum) [61 Weeks]
#24 Usher/Here I Stand (Last Week: #18) – 18,000; Total: 949,000 (Gold) [9 Weeks]
#29 Plies/Definition Of Real (Last Week: #27) – 16,000; Total: 434,000 [8 Weeks]
#31 David Banner/The Greatest Story Ever Told (Last Week: #20) – 15,000; Total: 88,000 [3 Weeks]
#32 Chris Brown/Exclusive (Last Week: #37) – 15,000; Total: 1,725,000 (Platinum) [39 Weeks]
#33 Three 6 Mafia/Last 2 Walk (Last Week: #33) – 14,000; Total: 185,000 [6 Weeks]
#38 G-Unit/T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight) (Last Week: #34) – 12,000; Total: 185,000 [5 Weeks]

By now I hope you understand what the hell it is we talk about here. It’s here where we talk about who sold what in the past week. The big story this week is the low numbers for G-Unit’s latest Terminate On Sight (Well, low for anybody name Curtis Jackson). I guess 50 Cent was just kidding when he said the album was projected to do 700,000. The other story is Wayne once again claiming the #1 spot on the Billboards. It seems like Weezy can’t be stopped. We see 3 Hip-Hop/Rap debuts (In the Top 50 that is). Let’s see the numbers…

#1 Lil’ Wayne/Tha Carter III (Last Week: #2) – 156,370; Total: 1,681,885 (Platinum) [4 Weeks]
#4 G-Unit/T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight) (Last Week: NA) – 101,802; Total: NA [Debut]
#8 Usher/Here I Stand (Last Week: #7) – 41,461; Total: 847,317 (Gold) [6 Weeks]
#10 Rhianna/Good Girl Gone Bad (Last Week: #10) – 40,166; Total: 1,394,188 (Platinum) [57 Weeks]
#11 Three 6 Mafia/Last 2 Walk (Last Week: #5) – 42,893; Total: 114,013 [2 Weeks]
#12 Tech N9ne/Killer (Last Week: NA) – 36,244; Total: NA [Debut]
#15 Plies/Definition Of Real (Last Week: #11) – 30,732; Total: 356,204 [4 Weeks]
#27 Chris Brown/Exclusive (Last Week: #22) – 19,000; Total: 1,666,000 (Platinum) [35 Weeks]
#43 ByrdGang/M.O.B.: The Album (Last Week: NA) – 17,258; Total: NA [Debut]
#33 Mariah Carey/E=MC² (Last Week: #25) – 16,000; Total: 1,080,000 (Platinum) [12 Weeks]
#49 Ashanti/Declaration (Last Week: #42) – 11,000; Total: 167,000 [5 Weeks]

G-Unit knows how to stay in the limelight even when they have no album out. The shit with Buck, the court situation with 50 and his BM, Yayo and his prison shit, etc. Kanye beat 50 in the sales challenge but 50 did major numbers out the gate as well, however, the bet was that 50 would not do another solo album if he lost…and he did. What does that mean for him or the crew to come off such low times as mentioned? Let’s find out.

Straight Outta Southside
Produced by Ron Brownz
This is one of the hardest songs out. Get yo’ throwback on as the crew pays homage to NWA and that gangsta mentality that initially got the crew over. Banks gets the baton first and does aite. Yayo seems to be more energized in the booth as he shouts a fuck the police to Shawn Bell’s murderers. 50 does aite as he tries to keep pace after Yayo’s verse.

Piano Man
Featuring Young Buck; Produced by Tha Bizness
Yayo seems to have upped his swagga game and Banks is a fool; straight comedy on this one from the thugged out Craig David. Buck does his thing on here. Not a member, but the best one on this track by far with some decent wordplay and brash delivery. The track itself is aite; the hook is, well, 50.

Close To Me
Produced by Teraike “Chris Styles” Crawford
I didn’t expect to hear this type of song this early after the first two singles. Fiddy knows how to make songs for the ladies and strippers to work…so I guess that means that he makes music for the men? Anyway, nothing groundbreaking but for Curtis’ fans, this is a welcome return to some older sound. Banks styles on this shit quite well. Shout out to Spitzer on here; Ha! And the falsetto shit is comedy. I dig the track and trust me, this song will thump in the clubs…strip and otherwise.

Rider Pt. 2
Featuring Young Buck; Produced by Rick Rock
Voice mods, oh joy. That aside, song is pretty dope. 50’s verse is forgettable and Buck seems to really seal his own casket with the crew on this one even if 50 drops me I still wouldn’t sign. The beat is dope and there is no denying this is a posse cut.

Casualties Of War
Produced by Ky Miller
The hook grates my soul, I hate it. The track, eh, it’s aite. Banks comes on and intros his flow saying some pretty lame shit. Overall, the metaphors are pretty lame on this one and even for the crew; this one is pretty pedestrian lyrically.

You So Tough
Produced by Ky Miller
The hook with the mocking tone is funny as hell. I think Banks mailed this one in, not really a good sound for him at all on here. Yayo comes with some heat on this one and amps up one of the more mellow tracks on the album. I think 50 is goin’ at T.I. and his case on this one, for what, I’m not sure. Lyrically though, this track is pretty grimey and I dig it, even if you omit Banks verse.

No Days Off
Featuring Young Buck; Produced by Dual Output
Buck offers up part of the hook on this one which sets the tone for the track. Mr. Jackson comes on with a slow burn flow, because in the offset, it sucks. It does get better as he goes on. Yayo’s verse is pretty fly until he starts talking about his ride and a bulletproof hat. Ha! Banks paints the best picture and takes shots at Fat Joe and Weezy.

T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight)
Produced by Ty Fyffe
We get 50’s hardest verse since the first track with lines like “It’s fuck 50 I stay in the drama/He luv her I fuck her/She’s  his baby mama.. ” Damn 50. Banks rides and delivers on this track, hypes it up a little. Yayo does him one better bringing this shit to a frenetic pace that matches the track. The track, though simple, works well on here due to the deliveries brought to the table.

I Like The Way She Do It
Featuring Young Buck; Produced by Street Radio Inc.
Summer jam much? This is a club banger. A lot of you dudes need to thank fiddy. If you club and you  like women, many of you will get yo’ grind on to this very song. No women sittin’ when this shit comes on, I promise.

Kitty Kat
Produced by Hit-Boy
Um, what is this, a woman’s anthem or something?  The chic on here is annoying as hell. The track is fuckin’ phenomenal, but yo, the hook is terrible, just terrible. I can see the squad groovin’ to this one in the studio though, having fun. Lyrically, there’s nothing new here, money, cash, hoes. The track is the biggest standout here though.

Party Ain’t Over
Featuring Young Buck; Produced by Damien Taylor
Yep, another club jam. The beat is dope; you can’t stay still on this one. The flows, again, aren’t anything new or groundbreaking for the group. Almost to the point, the song sounds familiar. Banks seems to have the idea on how to ride the tracks on this album and he does a good job on here as well.  Buck talkin’ about he got Vitamin Water money seems to be included on here like they poking fun at him. You got money….like yo’ boss? WTF.

Let It Go
Featuring Movado; Produced by Don Cannon
I’m feelin’ this from the jump. Movado kills it and the track is undeniable.   This is one of the better songs on the album.  Yayo delivers a dope ass verse including, “I’m the high school drop out/Crack game genius/The mack will turn ya back into Gilbert Arenas.”

Get Down
Produced by Swizz Beatz & The Individuals
There was a time when having Swizz produce your track meant damn near instant Gold. My how the times have changed. This song is horrible.

I Don’t Wanna Talk About It
Produced by Jesse Corparal Wilson & Reginald “Regg” Smith
I love the track on this one, some bounce with heavy synth. It sounds like some Ryan Leslie produceduction as it has a lot of layers to it. Its comical how this song is one of the longer, if not the longest, on the album. I really like the concept and flow of this song a lot. 50 brings the best verse on this one.

Ready Or Not
Produced by Jake One
A dark track that may be a little overly simple is paired with Banks best lyrics on the entire album. “Cause niggas get hit, and call a lawyer/Gon’ try and sue you/That’s a bitch nigga for ya’/….why be slick, say somethin’ bout my name/Don’t jump out the window/Ya safer jumpin’ out a plane….you don’t want a lead shower/Stay the fuck out the rain/So much ammo/Muh’fuckas don’t gotta aim.” Yayo offers up a decent verse, but it’s hard to follow up what Banks gave us.

Money Makes The World Go Round
Produced by Ron Browz
Yayo makes the hook more annoying than it has to be, and it’s equally bad having him doing the first verse on the song that he does the hook on. Stuck like Velcro? Damn, we gotta do better than that though. The track is about average. It sounds like its all build up and is missing something extra.

Bottom Line:
There isn’t much elaboration needed. The album goes from hardcore banger to slow and methodical in a largely inconsistent feel. I think ultimately, this one will come down to what you like to listen to.  The crew doesn’t reinvent the wheel outside of Yayo who seems to a lot more energized overall, but seems to struggle to find where he fits in.  50 offers up a lot more forgettable verses than you would expect.  Banks, on the other hand, keeps it live with his change of flows and pretty good lyricism for the most part.  Buck, when featured, is a welcome change to the sound of the crew and I think will be missed when all is said and done.  Overall, it’s a little better than ya’ average album that would be better if not for the inconsistencies and smattering of mediocre songs. TOS does nothing new or groundbreaking but does show glimmers of them reclaiming that juggernaut status that once had the world saying G G G G – Unit!

nappyPicks: “Straight Outta Southside”, “Close To Me”, “You So Tough”, “I Like The Way She Do It” , & “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It”

Download: G Unit – “Straight Outta Southside”

At first I wasn’t gonna post another mixtape, but then I thought about it: It’s Friday and we’re probably not posting anything this weekend. Plus, this is the third installment of 50 Cent’s ThisIs50.com mixtape (And I liked the first two; Return Of The Body Snatchers & Elephant In The Sand). Well, the theme on Sincerely Yours, Southside is 50 rapping over old school R&B beats (Isn’t that kinda what Skillz did on Design Of The Decade?). I’m currently listening to it right now and to be real with you, I’m not really feeling it. Maybe I need to listen more or maybe I’m just lame. What do you think (Not about me being lame, about the mixtape)?

Download: 50 Cent – Sincerely Yours, Southside

I got to give it to Buck, he didn’t run and hide from the embarassment. I don’t understand why he called this track “The Tape Conversation”, dudes gonna get it confused with the original. On the song, Young Buck says the taped phone conversation 50 leaked is from a year ago. You know we couldn’t post one side of the story with giving the other it’s due. I’m sure this is just the beginning of the Young Buck vs. 50 Cent saga.

Download: Young Buck – “The Taped Conversation”

So Miss Info has got the net on blast with an audio of a conversation with 50 and Young Buck. From what I’ve heard on Part 1 of a 16 minute conversation, sounds like Buck has seen the error in his ways and is begging for his job back. What’s wrong with that? Have you ever lost a job and tried to get it back? Then you see what he’s doing! Just because he has this “hard” image that doesn’t mean the dude isn’t human. Take a listen to it for yourself and tell us what you think. As more parts leak, we will update the audios. SPEAK ON IT!

Download: Young Buck & Curtis Phone Conversation Pt. 1

Update: Okay, Buck gets real emotional on this part, but I can feel how dude feels seeing the potential of millions going away. I can’t diss that man for doing what he did. But why is 50 recording the conversation? That’s kind of messed up! WHAT YOU THINK?

Download: Young Buck & Curtis Phone Conversation Pt. 2

Okay, I’ll admit it. I had something else planned for today’s Song of the Week, but since Young Buck has been recently booted from G-Unit, I changed it up a little bit. It’s funny though. G-Unit actually looked like they were getting stronger again (the May XXL cover, the recent quality of their mixtapes, the new upcoming album). And that’s brings me back to today’s Song of the Week: G-Unit – “I Fucked Your Bitch!” off the Elephant In The Sand mixtape. I know, the actually mixtape was released on March 11^th, but I still frequently play this track. Of course it takes The-Dream’s “I Luv Your Girl” and flips it. I guess it reminds me of old G-Unit mixtapes like 2001’s 50 Cent Is the Future (Well they similarly flip Raphael Saadiq’s “Be Here” to good results). But let’s be real, you already know what this song is about without me saying it. While the mixtape was full of Fat Joe disses, I really don’t take this as one. Young Buck and Bank deliver serviceable verses while 50 Cent, as well as Tony Yayo do the Auto-Tune thing, so it all in fun.

Download: G-Unit – “I Fucked Your Bitch!”

Album: Elephant In The Sand
Released: March 11, 2008

It’s that time again! Back by popular demand (not really) its 5 Questions! King Jerm takes you down that road…again!
I’ve been getting so many emails, “King Jerm, when you bringing the 5 Questions back?” So for my fiends out there, here you go! Remember, the first time is on the house, next time you going to have to pay me!

Question #1: Are you excited about the new Ice Cube album?

His new album Raw Footage is set to release this summer, after some good response that he received from Laugh Now, Cry Later. That album went gold, which is good for an indie. I hope he goes the Snoop route and get some ghostwriters to help him out. Cube you are an OG, it’s cool for you to go out and get some help!

Question #2: When will we get another BIG Hip-Hop tour?

It’s been a while now, but we need another big rap tour. Remember the Hard Knock Life Tour, the Cash Money/Ruff Ryder tour, and the No Way Out tour. We need another big tour to restore the feeling. Artists, put the egos aside and figure out a way to put together something major! The problem is this; who’s the headliner?

Question #3: How do you use “No BitchAssNess” in a sentence?

Man is it that easy to coin a phrase? I wish we had a tenth of the resources that Diddy has, we would have T-Shirts out the turd cutter! But seriously, how do you use it in a sentence? Does it replace “No Homo”? Somebody help me please!

Question #4: What will T.I.’s next album sound like?

Now that he’s in the midst of all the courtroom drama, word is that Tip’s on his way to becoming a Pastor? Come on Tip! Don’t go towards the light! But if that is the will then that is the will. I just don’t think that it would be a good look, because if he wouldn’t have gotten in trouble would he be doing this?

Question #5: Is the Unit back?

Over the past few months G-Unit has been smashing the net with new music. Somehow I think that 50 is driven by beef! When some beef is brewing, Fiddy is in the studio banging out music. Word is that they are working on a G-Unit Gangsta Grillz album! That would be MAJOR!