BEATS and RANTS

New Video: Kendrick Lamar - "Compton State of Mind"

Kendrick Lamar -- "Compton State of Mind" (Music Video)

Kendrick Lamar >  Kid Cudi and Wale 

I'm not familar with Compton, Calif. rapper Kendrick Lamar but the music he has been producing, lately, has been exciting to me [*PAUSE*]. In the video (above), the rap newcomer does a great job of saluting his Compton hometown  over the instrumental of Jay-Z's first No. 1 hit single, "Empire State of Mind."

If this dude employs the right team behind him, he could go far.

**BONUS**

Kendrick Lamar -- "Let Me Be Me" (audio)

Download link HERE.

**Hat Tip: YK2

Kendrick Lamar -- "Wanna Be Heard"

Swiped from RapRadar

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The Big Rakim Post » Rakim Photos | Seventh Seal Review

Photos by Boney Starks.

Keeping with the theme of "All Things Rakim" (see the last post), Stone from the Couch Sessions -- a great all-around music blog -- posted photos from the God MC's performance at the Black Cat club in Washington, D.C. (Nov. 15). The photos were taken by photographer Boney Starks.

More photos (and music) after the jump . . .

New Music: Robin Thicke - "Ms. Sex"

Exclusive Leak: Angie Martinez

Spotted at Rap Radar

Robin Thicke is on some A.D.I.S.A.S. (All Day I Sing About Sex) shit. First, it was "Sex Therapy," and now this -- his new song, "Ms. Sex." Outside of the Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj musical disasters collaborative tracks, this is the one song that I like from his forthcoming release, Sex Therapy (due Dec. 15).

Obviously, Robin flipped Rakim's 1991 love ode "Mahagony" into a smoothed-out ballad. Not bad.

How cool would it be if Robin tapped Rakim to spit lyrics for a newer version of "Mahogany"? or maybe even Snoop Dogg?

Eric B. & Rakim -- "Mahagony" (audio)

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Size XXL: We Landed On Another Blogs List!

In the December/January  issue of XXL magazine (hitting newsstands Dec. 1), the editors lists their "100 Best Hip-Hop Web Sites," and, humbly, my blog made the list!

I would like to thank the editors at XXL for including my blog to the tally. Most importantly, I would like to thank the readers -- all two of you (HA!) -- for your continued support and readership. In addition, mega props to every blog who made the list and have befriended me along the way. Also, to any Twitter-heads out there . . . follow me.

The Leak: Animal New York

Check out XXL's "100 Best Hip-Hop Web Sites" List after the jump . . .

New Video: Nneka -- "The Uncomfortable Truth" (New Version)

New Video: Nneka -- "The Uncomfortable Truth" (New Version)

Nneka's upcoming album, Concrete Jungle will hit stores Feb. 2 on Yo Mama/Decon/Epic Records.

The Uncomfortable Truth EP -- featuring four new songs from Nneka -- is available on iTunes right now. Click THIS

Holla!