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There has been recent talk about Freemasonry within the music industry; involving artists, such as, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Jay-Z; the supposed head honcho of the freemasonry music world. Jay-Z released the first video of the new year, "On To the Next One" (Produced by swizz beats), how does one explain this video? I know I can't. Is Jay-Z making an attempt to milk the ideologies of the people to gain exposure? Or is he in fact, affiliated with a secret society? Regardless, it is a tough song, but, conduct some research and you be the judge of the whole freemasonry rumor. Here is the first video of 2010...

(Rating 5.0/5.0)
When I heard that the one of the most influential rappers of all time (Rakim “The God MC”) had returned, my eyes lit up and my heart began beating hastily. There was a loss for words as my eardrums anticipated hearing the rhythmically original, metaphoric, heavily stylistic and educational flow that first introduced me to hip-hop. “The 5 Percenter” has ascended from the depths of rap music’s turbulent ocean! Rakim’s lyrical periscope is basically responsible for turning simple rapping into an exceptional height of internal rhyming. His influence on the game is pretty much unprecedented. The colloquy genius has given us his blessing with another ground breaking and poetically astonishing LP. In an era where the integrity and quality of hip-hop has been questioned, Rakim has chosen to metaphorically title his 3rd solo album “The Seventh Seal”.
If you are yearning for 56.9 minutes of pure lyrical bliss, then this is the album that you’ve been longing for. Verbs, adjectives, synonyms, antonyms and run-on sentences have been constructed into unmarred poet grammar. Covering every subject from spirituality (“Holy Are You”/“Man Above”) to women (“Pyschic Love”) to criminal activity (“Documentary of a Gangsta”) this album measures up to what is expected from rap monarchy.
Ra chose to envelop his bars around the beats of mostly underground/local producers who further help to solidify this record. It’s not like he needs mainstreamers on his LP to make it jump anyway, so that move is well understood.
Rakim has been recognized on each and every avenue of hip-hop. Almost every trendsetting rapper (Jay, ‘Pac, Ghostface, Em, 50, Killa Priest, Wayne, Nas – to name a few) has paid him homage along the way. A lot of artist could the craft of cleverly dialoging 16-bars from the veteran rap guru; and he acutely reveals this notion on the opening track “How to Emcee”.
This release further reveals Kim’s uncanny ability to raise the bar at any given moment. Every “radio head” can identify with Rakim as he chants his unconditional love for music and conveys his genuine devotion to the rap game on this LP.
Being that the game is currently lacking enough emcees with level-headed content (part of the reason hip-hop had a heart attack) this album is much needed. That’s not a diss to anyone, just a reality. There are still some credible heavy hitters out there, Rakim has only returned to lighten the load.
Ra best describes his current release in the song “Satisfaction Guaranteed” by stating, [...I got what ya’ll need/phiens run up and ask where I been/nuthin’ to get ‘em high/ it’s a bag of Rakim….it turns fans to fanatics/hip-hop heads to addicts/phiens hit off that/deejays cut it/let the streets step on that/still a 100% pure…]
Well stated Rakim. Well stated. The "Seventh Seal" is a must have, great for the IPod or a wonderful stocking stuffer. Shout out to “The God MC” – thank you for helping to keep hip-hop alive.

# of songs on album: 14
# of songs worth a listen: 14

Recently, everyone has been applauding Jay-Z for regurgitating, over a hot beat, what most of the public, has been saying for about a year now: the auto-tune must die! But, I'm afraid Jay and the public, got it wrong. It is not the auto-tune's time to pass, instead the moment of silence should be used to observe the exit of the old generation and the emergence of a new. You can debate whether or not the auto-tune is played out (it is) or whether or not hip-hop artists have become less and less creative (they have). You can even question the fashion statements that some rappers choose to make by parading around in extra tight jeans (its gross). But without a doubt, we the 80s babies and 90s hip-hop lovers, by hating on the Soulja Boys of the world, have become the generation that refuses to realize that their time is up (similar to the way our parents did).

This change didn't just spring up out of nowhere. While in music, the present or the future, may not always be clear evident extension of the past, the link is always there. Late 80s gangsta-rap, fed us vivid depictions of the violence we saw prevailing in our inner cities, by either glorifying it or by motivating change (because of how much it was glorified). By the 90s, pessimism had set in our youth's hearts, and what you got was thought-provoking tales dipped in hopelessness and sprinkled with violence. The anger of our realities fueled a style that could only be described as: raw. Today's youth, still see the same world we do, but their reaction is different. All that talk we did, our expressions and gripes over our present, didn't change much, the world is still for the most part, the same. So, from their standpoint, why keep talking 'bout it? Just accept it, and say "F*ck It", lets be happy over the paper-thin trivialities of the world. The result of that train of thought is "swag" and songs about nothing. And clearly anyone can create an "empty song"; talent isn't required.

True, you don't have to ride every wave hip-hop sends your way, but as a true hip-hop lover, you owe it to try and understand why the wave was created and then appreciate the best it offers. A few artists will remain true to the days we loved, but most will be met with mediocre success. In the meantime, the stubborn only have a few options: try and get with new acts such as Cory Gunz, Charles Hamilton, and Drake, maybe even a little Kid Cudi, reminisce with old CDs over what used to be, or retreat to the underground. Visit the comment section below, and tell me how right I am!