ROUNDTABLE #4

ROUNDTABLE #4

Shaune Boothe-Unauthorized Biography of Muhammad Ali

Grawedog: On the whole, I think this is an interesting idea to create biographies for imporant historical figures through rap, so A for originality. I also like how he put together video clips from his fights and interviews. However, I think this was a bit too difficult of a task, as it leads to a lot a long phrases that feel like he is actually reading from a biography of Ali.
Chops: Fuckin' ridiculous song, sweet beat and great flow. Song seems like it's always building to a climax (Kinda like Vato's mom). When I'm listening to this I feel like I need to be running up a mountain(Vato's mom) in a pouring rain storm(gangbang) during a sick training montage(porn shoot). Only knock on it is that it's difficult to "just listen to", kinda need to be in the mood for this one.
T$keel: Cool idea, good mention of athletic/social topics, beat/delivery could have used some variation
Lefty Hook: this song goes from meh to ohhhhhh shiiiiiiiiiiiitttttt. love the instrumental. love the lyrics. video is well edited and grows on you. "he redefined the word champion to a category that the rest can't be in" damn.
Bobbito: The concept is awesome - mixing biographical history with music and video footage is right up my alley. I just don't think it's well executed musically.
Chivato: Epic shit right here. I get goosebumps listening to this song. I remember way back listening to the James Brown and Bob Marley chapters and thought this concept would be the perfect platform for Boothe to expand his fanbase. While I'm sure he's gotten more exposure and recognition, why the f*** are so many still sleeping on this guy?

Beedie-Catch'em All

Grawedog: I really, really liked this beat, but I also don't give a shit about Pokemon, so we may need to call this one a draw. Should have gone with GI Joe on this one. Knowing is half the battle.
Chops: I'll give bonus points for this line...."I get it stinky like Pepe Le PooPoo, Doo Doo, Ooooh". I don't even know if I can take this song seriously. The more I listen to this the worse it gets. I bet Chivato loves this shit. He would. Only the doodoo gives this song any redeeming value.
T$keel: Interesting production just not feeling the results
Lefty Hook: HAHA WTF who the fuck is this goofball. to be fair his delivery is pretty nice and it's pretty fuckin impressive that he made an entire song about pokemon...unfortunately i would NEVER be caught playing this song EVER hahahaha. i'd be interested in hearing some of his other stuff though
Bobbito: I feel that the most appropriate response to this . . . "song" . . . can be taken from a classic mid-90s movie:

Mr. Beedie, what you've just rapped is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this roundtable is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Chivato: I do love this shit Chops you asswhipe. First this beat absolutely knocks and the creativity and originality of the lyrics/concept is fresh. Also in terms of visuals, Mac and Beedie have come a long ass way from those grimy vids from a year or two ago. This shit is crisp and fly all over. Bobbito, you just ain't fresh enough to understand this shit...but I'mma hit the clubs and "catch'em all, gotta gotta catch'em all...call me pokemon call me pokemon...."

Macklemore-The Town

Grawedog: There are some great instrumentals in this, and I really love the way he has tried to capture his love of the Seattle music scene. Really did a great job capturing the spirit of community.
Chops: I like the beat, nice and relaxing. But not really sure what I'm thinkin about this. I like the random people wording the chorus. Don't know, I like it but there's something missing from this for me. It's a shame cause it's not bad, but doesn't quite get there for me.
T$keel: Good production, few verses didnt flow as well as others
Lefty Hook: i'm a big fan of this guy and his whole "conscious rap" sound. the instrumental is smoother than a baby's bottom, but unfortunately his voice is not; i'm sure his raspiness works well on other songs but at least on this one i feel like it takes away from the overall "flow" of the song.
Bobbito: Really like this song. Thoughtful, good, chill beat. Awesome video.
Chivato: Might have just found my favotire new artist. Took me a while to get used to his unorthodox flow which almost sounds off beat (kinda like Aesop Rock), but if potent lyrics are your thing Macklemore got you covered.

Mac Miller-Live Free

Grawedog: Damn, I'm gonna have to eat some crow on Mac Miller here. I thought this was a great track, with a tight beat put together and flow to his rhymes. Much, much better than the song we reviewed before. I also like the way he did the video, just going around the city. This track gets the Grawedog Seal of Approval. I'll leave the Live Free or Die Hard joke for Chops or Bobito.
Chops: Another white rapper? Chivato we get it, you're not really Mexican, but posting all these white dudeskis will never make you as pale or pasty as me (or Brother Ali). Liked Mac Miller's instrumental before, I like this one a lot too. I just can't take this guy. I see this dude rap and I don't think "Hey that's Mac Miller" I think "He looks like a dickbag douche nug". Decent flow, kinda pointless song, annoying chorus, but at least a good instrumental. Last time I said I'd rather hear someone else(Big Pun anyone?) with this beat, and I say the same this time too.
T$keel: Good positive song
Lefty Hook: aha this clown again. i like the subject matter (dream big and fuck the haters) and it seems like this guy has some talent, but to be honest his last song stuck more than this one did. very mediocre.
Bobbito: Not Beedie bad, but dangerously close.
Chivato: Everytime I hear a new song from Mac, the flow gets doper, the lyrics wittier, the beat more polished, and the video fresher. He's got "haters like Maino" as seen above hahaha, but Mac, IllSpoken, and the East End Empire got a good thing going.

Blue Scholars-Hi-808

Grawedog: Fresh beat. Really enjoyed this song as well. Good way to close out a really strong groups of songs.
Chops: There's nothing to wrap around with this song but at the same time I can't stop listenin to it. Got an old school sound to it that I'm digging. Solid.
T$keel: Could do with out the vocal effects
Lefty Hook: again, very mediocre. hawaii is that the best you can do?
Bobbito: Don't have much to say about this one. It's pretty good, but nothing special.
Chivato: Not the usual conscious/political subject matter these dudes release, but its nice to see them do something just fun once in a while. Sabzi throws something out of leftfield for this intrumental but it ends up working w/ Geo's rhymes about his time growing up in the 808.