What's New In Dart's iPod #88 AKA Go Ahead In The Rain © A Tribe Called Quest

This week contained a bunch of drama including the Skip Gates incident in Cambridge, MA, the President Of The United States himself even commented on it thus making it a national issue (good!). The "Birther Movement" is still up in arms becausr they feel that even Obama was deemed eligible to run for office "future politicians" should have to provide further proof that they were born here...eat a dick! The up & down nature of Soledad O' Brien's CNN special report "Black In America 2" makes me wanna grow some hair so I could pull it out. God, I thought it wasn't possible to hate Tyler Perry more than I already did...I was wrong.


The Summer sun just doesn't wanna stick around, it keeps taking vacations and allowing for the rain to takeover and present us with dark, overcast skies. As dreary as the weather has been, the Red Sox have also relinqushed 1st place in the AL East to the hated Yankees. It's been quite an interesting week around here hasn't it? Also, for those who don't know I've also become the newest associate of the brothers over @ Nerd With Swag so expect some of my posts to land over there for the forseeable future on the weekends.

This week I'll be reviewing four new projects that recently hit the 'net/bloggerverse and/or will be landing on store shelves soon in the following order: Dudley Perkins "Holy Smokes", Georgia Anne Muldrow "Umsindo", Pac Div "Church League Champions" and Randam Luck "Graveyard Shift". For those of you new to this blog, I don’t rate albums on a scale or assign them a numerical value out of 5 or 10, instead I merely answer the all important question of “Is it worth buying or not?”. Here's how my recently revised "Cop It Or Not" ratings system breaks down below:


Opinions be damned. This particular project has no redeeming qualities whatsoever and should come with a Surgeon General's warning and/or a biohazard sticker. It should only be handled by hazmat teams or bomb/demolitions squads. To quote Common & Canibus, this album is your worst nightmare squared.


Oh No! This CD is a drink coaster/table balancer/doorstop/gerbil/hamster room divider/frisbee/discus/makeshift shield/last ditch choice for a visor/alternate shuriken choice. Sell this shit to whoever is dumb enough to buy it from you.

Maeby (Maybe)! Depending on your own set of personal preferences you might like this joint. Give it a listen first to see if it's in your lane or not.


Mos Def! Cop the album when it drops...'Nuff said.

I'm vicodin writin' with a klonopin! © Royce Da 5'9"


Best Joints: To Declaime, Funky Soul, Boogie, The God, Travln, Understandment, Sally, Still Standing, E&R, Uncle Ruckus, Cricket Cop, So Awake, Run It Down, Summer Daze, Love Yo Nabor, Eyeluvu and Souldiers

Hot Garbage: Whyising 5 A.M. (I had to pick at least one...really)

Dart's Take: If you're not already a Dudley Perkins, Declaime or Georgia Anne Muldrow fan then changes are you should leave this one alone. That is, unless, you can treat this like a modern Funk album much in the vein of the old Parliament/Funkadelic family albums. If you came here for the bars than you've essentially fucked up. Just let it play and suspend belief. If you can't do that then don't bother as I'm not really convinced that Dudley wrote any rhymes on this one. I'm sure it's at least 90% freestyles (though I could be wrong...)




Best Joints: Jina Langu Ni Afrika (My Name Is Afrika), John De Conqueror, Seminole Unity Chant, Uhuru Flight, Daisies, Okra, Sermonette, Fonky Day, Generation / You Got It, Nsamanfo, Caracas, Slice It, So Far, Roses, Idlozi, Slice It (Reprise), Kids, West Coast Prayer, E.S.P., Beya, I.Q., De Wiz, Roses (Part Two) and Diaspora

Hot Garbage: N/A

Dart's Take: This album is straightforward and brilliant in every single way imaginable. If you're a Georgia Anne Muldrow fan do what ever you have to and cop "Umsindo". If you're not yet a Georgia Anne Muldrow then you will be after hearing this album. It took a long ass time to finish a full listening of this album due to the fact so many tracks got replayed ("reloads" as my UK peoples would call them). From beginning to end this album is ridiculous so I have no choice but to give this album a mos def.





Best Joints: We The Champs (Duke vs. Carolina), Pac Div, Mayor, For You, No No, Knuckleheadz, Whiplash, Shut Up, Young Black Male, Never and Back

Hot Garbage: N/A

Dart's Take: Pac Div made a 3 song EP earlier this year but here they come in the Summer with an effort that not only turns out to be one of the mixtapes of the year so far but further make people's anticipation for their debut LP "Grown Kids Syndrome" that much higher. You can't listen to selections such as "Pac Div", "Mayor", "For You", "No No", "Knuckleheadz", "Whiplash", "Never" or "Back" and NOT nod your head, make the scrunchface or both. Seriously, why the fuck haven't you downloaded this mixtape yet? Do you want people making fun of you? I give "Church League Champions" a mos def.





Best Joints: You Will Never Be, Blood, Listen, Danger, Raw (Remix), Buck'em Down, Back To Business, Celebrity Smackdown, Lost It, Get Ya' Mind Right, Mystery On The Block, Connected, 1 Man 1 Life, Street Goons. Verbal Holocaust (Remix), Pick Your Poison, Watch Your Step and Golden State

Hot Garbage: Is it just me or bunch of these Babygrande (Jedi Mind Tricks/AOTP/Planetary/Snowgoons/Randam Luck, etc.) all sound a lot alike?

Dart's Take: If you're a die hard fan of that hardcore, thugged out Babygrande Hip Hop shit that sounds like outtakes from a Jedi Mind Tricks or AOTP album then you'll love this album. If you're looking for something else it'll have your head nodding but don't go looking for anything deeper. I give it a maybe.




Late Passes (For Doz Dat Slept):


Projects I'm Looking Forward To Reviewing Once They Leak...I Mean Drop in 2009:

Rhymefest-El Che
Fashawan-Boy Meets World
Jay Electronica-Act II: Patents Of Nobility
Jay Electronica-Abracadabra: Let There Be Light
Royce Da 5'9"-Street Hop
Big Boi-Sir Luscious Leftfoot, Son Of Chico Dusty
Pac Div-Grown Kid's Syndrome
Magnif & J Dilla-Detroit Royalty
Blu-God Is Good
Drake- Thank Me Later
Sean Price, Guilty Simpson & Black Milk-Random Axe
Alchemist & Oh No are Gangrene
Ghostface Killah-Wizard Of Poetry
Eternia & MoSS- At Last
B.O.B.-The Adventures Of B.O.B.
Billy Danze-Behind Gatez
AG & O.C.-Oasis: Together Brothers
Baatin-Titus
Phat Kat and Elzhi are Cold Steel
The Beatnuts-The Planet Of The Crates
Ski Beatz-Half Man, Half Amazing
Evidence-Cats & Dogs
Statik Selektah-The Hangover


How you a player and they put you on waivers?/Black acid when I drop on paper! © Guilty Simpson off "Coroner's Music". Be on the lookout for that OJ Simpson project!

One.