By now, we all should know that the best part of the BET Hip Hop Awards is the cyphers. Last year’s crop of rappers involved were good but this year they got such talent as KRS-One, Mos Def, Joe Budden, Nicki Minaj, Wale, and Eminem.

Cypher Part 1: Joe Budden, Nicki Minaj, Buckshot, Crown Royal, & DJ Premier
Nicki Minaj was okay nice (Once you get past the weird flow) and Budden killed it.

Cyper Part 2: KRS-One, Wale, Nipsey Hussle, Gsan, & DJ Premier
Good to see KRS in the mix. Nipsey did his thing. Sidenote: Watch Wale’s face when Gsan is rapping.

Cyper Part 3: Mos Def, Black Thought, Eminem, & DJ Premier
They put this last for a reason. Good to see Em in any cypher; On BET or down the street.

Update: Download BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher 10 Minute Megamix

I guess we can stop bitching about the lack of Hip-Hop album releases (Well, at least for this week), because we have 7 Hip-Hop debuts on the charts this week. Yeah. I can’t even do any rambling in this intro. Let’s just get to the numbers….

I’m most happy for Kid Cudi this week as his Man On The Moon: The End Of Day moves over a 100,000 units and lands at #4. For a new artist; especially a new Hip-Hop artist, this is great. With all the hype surrounding releases by Jay-Z and Raekwon the prior week, it’s good to see Kid Cudi still rewarded for putting out a good album. [You can read H20's review of Cudi's Man On The Moon here]

Drizzy Drake finally makes his official debut on the charts with his career defining So Far Gone. I previously stated what I felt the retail release of this album, but I guess I now see that selling 70,000 copies of a mixtape that came out for free in the beginning of this year is easy money. This does tell me that Drake has the ability to do some major numbers when Thank Me Later comes out next year. [It's over 8 months old, but you can still read V-G's original review of the So Far Gone mixape here]

I honestly thought Lil’ Boosie’s 2nd studio album Superbad: The Return Of Boosie Bad Azz would do better numbers. Not to say that coming in at #7 is a bad thing, but with the way the leak was handled (Jay-Z should take notes) and Bad Azz’s following, I figured his fans would support better. But this may be smalls potatoes to what Boosie is dealing with right now. [V-G comes through again. Check out his review of Superbad here]

T-Double-D returns to the charts and keeps it thug with his 8th album Finally Famous: Born A Thug, Still A Thug. This album may not grab another plaque for Trick Daddy (Surprisingly he has 6; mostly Platinum); but it’s the first one on his own label Dunk Ryders Records. I guess it’s still a win for the 305. [King Jerm gives Trick his props in his review for Finally Famous here]

Wow. New Boyz almost sold 10,000 albums with their new album Skinny Jeanz And A Mic. Um, I really don’t have too much else to say about this. Maybe I’m too old to “jerk”. [V-G has been on fire recently! He also reviewed Skinny Jeanz And A Mic...even though we didn't ask him too. Look at that here]

KRS-One & Buckshot collaborative effort Survival Skills lands on the charts at #62. Hey, it could have been worse; M.O.P.’s new album Foundation, that didn’t even chart this week. Seeing that the last few releases by both KRS and Buckshot didn’t do this well, 8,600 is sales could be much worse. [Saule Wright schools you youngster with his Survival Skills review here and I draw the short straw on M.O.P.'s Foundation review...here]

The only album we didn’t review this week was Q-Tip’s de-shelved Kamaal The Abstract. You see, we try not to/usually don’t review mixtape, compilations, or re-releases and this album (Which was suppose to come out in 2002) has us confused on what we should do. But hey, what do we know? B-Double (aka Your Favorite White Boy) gives you reasons why you should have already bought that album at his home turf.

And lastly, Jay-Z stays strong at the #1 spot and sells almost 300,000 copies of The Blueprint 3. Can I mention this without being called a stan? Did you also notice that his wife’s album jumped up 15 spots after the Kanye/VMA/Taylor Swift incident? Coincidence? I think not.

#1 Jay-Z/The Blueprint 3 (Last Week: #1) – 297,900; Total: 774,000 (Gold) [2 Weeks]
#2 Whitney Houston/I Look To You (Last Week: #3) – 155,600; Total: 554,500 (Gold) [3 weeks]
#4 Kid Cudi/Man On The Moon: The End Of Day (Last Week: NA) – 104,300; Total: NA [Debut]
#6 Drake/So Far Gone (Last Week: NA) – 73,600; Total: NA [Debut]
#7 Lil’ Boosie/Superbad: The Return Of Boosie Bad Azz (Last Week: NA) – 48,900; Total: NA [Debut]
#10 Black Eyed Peas/The E.N.D. (Last Week: #7) – 40,200; Total: 1,111,300 (Platinum) [15 Weeks]
#14 Trey Songz/Ready (Last Week: #6) – 26,800; Total: 204,700 [3 Weeks]
#21 Maxwell/BLACKsummers’night (Last Week: #17) – 21,400; Total: 762,000 (Gold) [11 Weeks]
#22 Raekwon/Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… PT II (Last Week: #4) – 21,300; Total: 89,200 [2 Weeks]
#31 Eminem/Relapse (Last Week: #32) – 13,900; Total: 1,438,500 (Platinum) [18 Weeks]
#34 Trick Daddy/Finally Famous: Born A Thug, Still A Thug (Last Week: NA) – 13,300; Total: NA [Debut]
#36 Pitbull/Rebelution (Last Week: #24) – 13,000; Total: 72,100 [3 Weeks]
#40 Beyonce/I Am…Sasha Fierce (Last Week: #55) – 12,900; Total: 2,413,700 (2x Platinum) [44 Weeks]
#56 New Boyz/Skinny Jeanz And A Mic (Last Week: NA) – 9,800; Total: NA [Debut]
#62 KRS-One & Buckshot/Survival Skills (Last Week: NA) – 8,600; Total: NA [Debut]
#77 Q-Tip/Kamaal The Abstract (Last Week: NA) – 6,500; Total: NA [Debut]
#NA M.O.P./Foundation (Last Week: NA) – 2,100; Total: NA [Debut]

Typically, when we think of Pro Black, prideful, conscious rap, KRS-One tends to triumphantly erupt from our souls as the poster child and is highly regarded as a top 5 emcee…probably more like top 3. It doesn’t take much effort or digging to get into a conversation about this man or his greatness. Buckshot’s name may not have the same resounding name recognition for someone who isn’t heavy into the game. It’s not because he’s not an ill emcee, but the byproduct of being a part of such lyrical assassin groups as Black Moon and the Boot Camp Clik. While grinding on the underground scene, those that are familiar with his work were ready to celebrate when they heard that these two verbal samurais were working on this project together.

1. Survival Skills
Featuring DJ Revolution; Produced by Illmind
If this is the tone for the album, I’m ready to be excited. This isn’t about glossy production and bounce, this is about returning to bass, beat, and intensity. Now, I’m sure we may get some polish and pretty effects later, but this one comes off like one of the hard hitting NY throwbacks. You also get a taste of what could be ahead with Blastmaster working this track and his flow to his advantage and Buckshot Shorty playing the Geeche Suede to his Sonny Cheeba with a smooth sound and style that works with KRS brash lyricism. The hook throws me a little, but the lyrics and track are too fly to ignore…shout out to some old school scratching.

2. Robot
Produced by Havoc
This is the lead single for the album and I can’t even pretend to like the melody of the hook. The message is one that I’m sure we will hear a lot more of in the near future (and I welcome that). Havoc keeps the theme feeling from the first track as our duo do a job of blending and not competing while both offering some of the illest commentary on the current state of the industry.

3. The Way I Live
Featuring Mary J. Blige; Produced by Black Milk
Anthem, period. The production on this joint is fantastic and Mary J. proves again that she’s one of the best to do this Hip-Hop hook thing. KRS literally destroys this song with his insightful lyrics and inspiring flow. Hell, this may be my new alarm in the morning. This is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. If this one doesn’t make radio, all the execs need to be fired. Sometimes, things are ready for the radio because they NEED to be heard, not because they are designed to be played on the air.

4. Clean Up Crew
Featuring Rock (of Heltah Skeltah); Produced by Illmind
The track is cool, still hard hitting, but something about this one doesn’t really grab me. Lyrically, it’s ok. The concept is pretty straight forward, as you see the title, but it comes off overdone to me. Like, the analogy of cleaning, cleaning supplies, janitors, etc, gets a little boring to me after a while. It’s creative and I get it…but yeah. You’ve got to hear it, I guess the best way for me to say it is that it’s creative, but not as clever as I’d expect or hope for.

5. Oh Really
Featuring Talib Kweli & Geo (of Blue Scholars); Produced by Marco Polo
Talib! Oh shit, I’m ready…for him to only be on the chorus? Yeah, that’s all we get. Hey, I was hoping he was going to do his thing. Again, a tough track that plays the proper role and lays the foundation for offerings like this one from KRS, “I’m naughty by nature/raunchy by nature/forty by nature/y’all corny by nature/meanin’ all y’all naturally wack/and I’m naturally dope like coke before crack/but really, I’m more like the weed in this rap/and these new jacks are more like the seeds in this rap”.

6. Connection
Featuring Smif-n-Wessun; Produced by Moss
We still get grit on this one, but with a healthy dose of dark ominous chords in the background. This song is one of the missteps on the album for me. The song becomes boring and at 5:23 seconds, it’s too long to sound like this. The one thing I will mention is KRS line at the end of the song…damn…damn meaning GOOD!

7. Runnin’ Away
Featuring Immortal Technique; Produced by Black Milk
I hate to be lazy or come off like I’m on some bullshit, but Immortal Technique did some unmentionable shit to this song. Really, I don’t even want to cloud your this song review with talk about the other shit, Immortals offering wore the paint off my rewind. Just take a listen at the bottom.

8. Think Of All the Things
Featuring K’naan; Produced by DJ Mentplus
There are certain things you all know about me at that I need in albums. I don’t pretend to be the almighty scholar on all things Hip-Hop, and I Will Not Apologize for how I evaluate albums. You all know that I am a stickler for lyrics, beats, hooks, production and flow of an album. I LOVE this song…aside from KRS singing. The message is fantastic, but I have trouble with it on this album or at least hear. It just seems odd right here and now.

9. One Shot
Featuring Pharoahe Monche; Produced by Nottz
This beat drives me crazy, and not in a good way. It’s set on the down beat so you can’t really nod where you’re used to nodding…you’ll get it when you hear it. It’s not as jarring with further listens but it has yet to resonate with me. Monche is another of of those guys that doesn’t get the notoriety that he deserves in the business but unfortunately, I can’t say that he offered anything to change that. He’s only on the chorus. I do like the structure of this song and the lyrics offered as well.

10.Amazin‘
Featuring Sean Price & Loudsmouf Choir; Produced by Khrysis
Y’all know about the love the Fro’ has for the Justus League, so shout out to Khrysis right out the gate. I should probably listen to this again and count how many times they say amazing since that is the concept of the song…but oddly enough, it doesn’t get old. I’ve never heard one word sound like so many different words as I do with KRS stressing different portions of the word and the words before and after it. Buckshot continues to prove that this album is collaboration and not a competition as he lends a different sound but flow that is second to none.

11. Hear No Evil
Produced by Khrysis
Definitely a different sound on this track. Appropriately I feel like the resounding, rejoicing, triumphant horns are recruited to play at the name and theme of the song. This song is good, the track stands out on this one though.

12. Murder 1
Featuring Bounty Killer; Produced by Coptic
Another decent song, another song that doesn’t really flow with the album. Bounty is relegated to the hook and not intermingled enough to get this one over for me.

13. We Made It
Featuring Slug (of Atmosphere); Produced by Illmind
The thing that I think is most important to note about this song is how differently each emcee approaches the topic of “made it.” KRS comes with a story of life from seed to success, Slug speaks about his personal struggles and triumph in life, and Buck speaks about his motivation to be successful and make it. This is a really good song for any aspiring rappers to check out.

14. Past, Present, Future
Featuring Melanie Fiona & Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall) ; Produced by 9th Wonder
Miss Fiona will be dropping her album next week and if her vocals on this one are any indication, if you like the feel of Amel Larrieux silky voice, we need to be on the lookout. 9th Wonder is on his shit as usual, and just like most of the previous 13 tracks, lyrically, this song is really good. It’s good to see Naledge getting some shine as well.

Bottom Line:
This album is feature heavy, but that is a bit misleading. With three of the features just being on the chorus (when both of them should have been spitting) and the rest doing a pretty good job of blending with the album, it doesn’t come off as feature heavy as it is…if that makes sense. This album seems to get looser as it drones on and a lot of the grit and grime gets polished and cleaned up by track 14. There are hiccups which I attribute more to my own ideas and what I want rather than them being bad tracks. The lyricism on this album is really dope and inspiring as well is the structure of some of the songs. In a industry that tends to go with verse, hook, verse, hook format, this team offers some different set ups and interesting collaboration and subject matter throughout. All in all, this album is probably going to be a must have for those that love either KRS or Buck, but I don’t know that it will win any new fans or make a big commercial splash. To that matter, I haven’t decided if that’s more a commentary on the state of music or about our desire/disdain for hearing things that are different to what we like…or maybe just me.

nappyPicks: “The Way I Live”, “Survival Skills”, “Oh Really”, “Amazin”, “Runnin’ Away”

Download: KRS-One & Buckshot feat. Mary J. Blige – “The Way I Live”

Download: KRS-One & Buckshot feat. Immortal Technique – “Runnin’ Away”

The Golden Age in Hip-Hop was essentially a Harlem Renaissance of the Hip-Hop community. Hip-Hop wasn’t even 20 years old when we it reached the mastery and embrace of the Golden Age. Creativity, expression, and various styles and topics were abundant during this time and everyone had their own angle. Groups were asserting their need to party, their love of their blackness, the mentality of the hood, and the embodiment of being an emcee. However, in 1988, a new voice was born.

Boogie Down Productions used their own personal loss to voice the disgust of a community. The groups original DJ, Scott La Rock, was gunned down at the young age of 25 after trying to stop a beef in his hood. BDP’s first album, Criminal Minded, was essentially the antithesis of this album. After putting out a violent and gansta minded album, the group abandoned that ideology and became arguably the first largely political rap group. This album not only depicted KRS-One posing like Malcolm X on the cover, but with title in tact as well, they attacked the same ills of the community that Malcolm X, Black Leaders, and nationalists took particular issue with. If you haven’t heard this CD, get a copy, By All Means Necessary. This may be a credit to it’s staying power, or a statement about our stagnancy, but the problems this album addresses are just as prevalent today as they were more than 20 years ago.

Download: KRS-One – “I’m Still #1″ - This goes out to Slik P, he probably won’t read this, but oh well. Plus, ain’t the Fro #1?

Download: Eric B. & Rakim – “Microphone Fiend” – Could have picked from many of Rakim’s songs, this is the one I chose.

Download: Gangstarr – “Mass Appeal” – If you can’t appreciate Primo’s scratching…turn in your Hip-Hop card now.

Download: LL Cool J. – “I’m Bad” – The song that got me sprung on H.E.R.

Download: Run DMC – “Run’s House” – What, ya’ll didn’t know that Rev. Run used to be a beast on the mic.

Download: Slick Rick – “Children’s Story” – This has to be one of my favorite story telling songs…EVER!