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Mike McCray
Monday, November 16, 2009
CD Reviews / Mike McCray / News CD Review: Wale
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 3:05 PM
The Deal: DC rapper's long awaited debut album, Attention Deficit, puts DMV in the hip-hop spotlight.
The Good: You get a little bit of everything. Wale manages to give people a taste of his home, DC, and heritage, Nigeria, with tracks like "Pretty Girls" featuring Gucci Mane and "My Sweetie." An All-Star lineup of guest appearances with Pharrell, Lady Gaga, Rihanna (sampled), Bun B, Jazmine Sullivan, Chrisette Michelle. But the really stand out features came from the lesser known K'Naan on "TV in the Radio" and J. Cole and Melanie Fiona on "Beautiful Bliss." "Mama Told Me" is the younger brother of Jay-Z's "Mama I Made It."
The Bad: Wale tries to be all things to all people and multiple times spits on the pressure of carrying the genre. Was anybody else aware he was anointed the next hip-hop leader? While the guest appearances are dope, they are all predictable. Why not get Gucci on a go-go beat or something else risky. The one that does break away from the featured artists' usual is "Chillin" with Lady Gaga, and it leaves her sounding more M.I.A. "Paper Planes" than "Poker Her Face."
The Verdict: Wale does an excellent job of capturing hip-hop's attention span. Every track can't be a party record or a single and most freshmen don't get that. A dope first showing from someone we'll be hearing from for a while.
INFO
Allido/Interscope; Release date: Nov. 10, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Opinion / Mike McCray / News / Live Reviews Catching a Kem concert with Mom
Posted By Mike McCray on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 12:34 PM
You don't have to be old and stuck in a sexless marriage to do something special for the women in your life. Seeing as I'm neither old, nor married, nor dating, I thought it'd be a great idea to take my mom out on a "date." A huge Kem fan, she'd surely enjoy a evening of soul and comedy right? But who knew I'd learn so much.
Within seconds of arriving at Ovens Auditorium, I realized I was 1) easily one of the youngest people there and 2) desperately underdressed.
I swear there was a secret, unsaid, old Head dress code and I don't own anything brown. Nor Kangol caps, corduroy or velvet blazers. I'm dead on the striped button-ups and linen pants. And gators? I'm almost certain they have a sticker at the register that says, 'Must be born before this date in 1974' to even purchase those.
One of the most amusing parts of experience was seeing how middle-aged men refer to their wives. Their's something semi-sweet (in a greeting card way) about an older guy calling his wife, "my lady," even though some of them had been married since Otis Redding was on the charts, they still introduce their wife of decades as, "my lady." Hey, maybe she's everything he needs and more (Boom, Jeffery Osbourne reference!).
Monday, November 9, 2009
Mike McCray / News / Live Reviews Live review: Eyes of the Elders CD Release party
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Eyes of the Elders
Snug Harbor
Nov. 7, 2009
The Deal: Eyes of the Elders performs its entire new album, EOE, and old favorites in front of recent and long-time fans.
The Good: Who knew the electric fiddle was so hip-hop? The fact that they could fit nine people with microphones and instruments on the tiny stage at Snug Harbor and still perform with any stage presence was amazing. The energy was awesome and because the venue was so tight it allowed lots of interaction with fans. Where else could you pass a rapper a beer on stage? Every musician really got a chance to shine during the show. Eyes of the Elders managed to squeeze in some theatrics as well, whether it was Uncle Fox rapping through a megaphone or stripping down to a dress + skateboard shoes, it was all entertaining.
The Bad: The band and sound people never figured out the right balance of band and emcees, one was always drowning out the other. Your best bet would be to learn the lyrics before you get there because you won't catch many of 'em at the show. I'm all for a great show and great band but the length was outrageous. 22 more songs after playing the whole new album? Jesus!
The Verdict: The Roots shouldn't be looking over their shoulders just yet but Eyes of the Elders are definitely a band everybody should see. Amazing show and musicians who leave every ounce they have on the stage. No one could say they didn't their monies worth.
Videos / Mike McCray / News Video: U-N-I at Amos'
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Los Angeles hip-hop duo, U-N-I, performed their song, "Hollywood Hiatus (Cool It Now)" live at Amos' South End on Thursday night as they opened up for Kidz in the Hall and Warren G.
Videos / Mike McCray / News Video: Kidz in the Hall at Amos'
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Hip-hop duo Kidz in the Hall performing their hit, Driving Down The Block, live at Amos' with U-N-I bouncing around in the background, on Thursday, November 5, 2009.
Mike McCray / News / Live Reviews Live Review: U-N-I, Kidz In The Hall + Warren G
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Warren G w/ Kidz in the Hall & U-N-I
Amos' South End
Nov. 5, 2009
The Deal: Strange lineup brings G-Funk and Midwest hip-hop to the South.
The Good: U-N-I didn't approach their set as an opening act and rocked it like the headliners. Double-O from Kidz in the Hall held down a keyboard, beat pad, drum stick and the mic, you have to appreciate that kind of multi-tasking, while Na'ledge made sure his MC duties weren't overlooked. Warren G brought the G-Funk back complete with someone lighting a blunt in the front row and the tribute to Nate Dogg, who's in therapy after suffering multiple strokes, was a very bright spot and probably the most engaging part of the show. Rarely do you see the bigger performers watch the openers from the audience instead of chillin' back stage, props to Kidz in the Hall for that, they definitely gave fans a great opportunity to press the flesh.
The Bad: Did anybody know about this concert? Whether it was the strange combination or lack of promotion, sparse would be an understatement and even the performer's attempts to embrace the intimacy came off kind of sad. With all the extra space people felt the urge to do too much. With every single comment in the crowd being audible on stage, there was a lot of drunken interruptions and did we really didn't need you to crip walk to every Warren G song Malibu's Most Wanted? Warren G's new material got a lot of blank stares before the crowd finally went along with it.
The Verdict: Really really awkward show, more because of the crowd than the artists. U-N-I are definitely a group to watch now. Kidz in the Hall probably should have headlined considering they are a little more relevant and the old heads who came for Warren G had to work in the morning. Don't know if it's a winning combination but it'll work for short tour.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News / Mike McCray Duke supports Mike Posner — student 'celebrity'
Posted By Mike McCray on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Mike Posner may be living the dream.
During the week, the J Records recording artist is a senior sociology major at Duke University, recording his debut album during free time and touring on weekends.
How many students can sit through a midterm one day then be in the studio with some surprisingly big names days later? It's like the best of both worlds. Being inside the college bubble during the week and then having the opportunity to step out and be a star. What more could a 21-year old ask for?
Posner's newest mixtape, One Foot Out The Door, features guest appearances by Kid Cudi, 3Oh!3, Bun B and Saigon, to name a few, and what's even cooler is instead of searching blog sites trying to find a link to download the whole thing Duke University made the whole mixtape, and Posner's previous one, available free to download on their iTunesU.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
CD Reviews / Mike McCray / News Mixtape Review: Wiz Khalifa
Posted By Mike McCray on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 3:17 PM
The Deal: Underrated Pittsburgh-bred rapper drops one last mixtape before his sophomore album, Deal or No Deal, drops later this month.
Monday, November 2, 2009
CD Reviews / Mike McCray / News Mixtape review: DJ Jazzy Jeff's He's The King, I'm The DJ
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 3:58 PM
The Good: It's Michael Jackson. The material Jazzy Jeff had to work with was pretty rock solid to begin with, couple that with great blends and mixes with artists like Pete Rock and Kriss Kross and you've got a winner. More Jackson 5 material than expected really shows how good they were. Love the fact that sounds weren't just a chronological journey through the Jackson catalog. Mixing it up was a good thing. Quincy Jones talking about Michael was also a good look.
The Bad: More Jazzy Jeff definitely would have been welcomed. I understand it's a tribute album and you're taking the backseat, but there's a big difference between a backseat and the car behind in traffic. At times, it's just a Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 playlist.
The Verdict: A solid tribute to the King of Pop from a very hip-hop perspective, considering it was free for anyone who chose to download it, you can't really beat that.
INFO:
UNDRCRWN Presents: DJ Jazzy Jeff
He's The King, I'm The DJ
Release Date: October 26, 2009
Download "He's The King, I'm The DJ here
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Mike McCray / News ESPN is killing me with BP3
Posted By Mike McCray on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 6:07 PM
ESPN is a fairly hip network.
Their on-air talent make an effort to stay current with their slang and with tons of production staff still in their 20s, its no wonder you hear so much new music on The Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Kind of like long snappers, music beds on TV are generally unnoticed unless something's wrong or off but ESPN's fondness for Jay-Z's 11th #1 album, Blueprint 3, is an epidemic.
Sure I'd love to hear an "on to the next one" reference after an Adrian Peterson stiff arm but since the day it's dropped, there's no doubt people who don't even like Jay-Z or own the album, know every freakin' song.
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Rock & rap arms race at the two political conventions 1
Republicans are paying top dollar for Democratic-leaning music acts; The Roots coming to Charlotte
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Hey, pothead! Want two tickets to see Crobot?
Dude, you know what we should invent...?
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Reverb Fest, Snug 600 announce lineups 1
Plus, Rolling Stones announce gig in Raleigh.
