Beats And Rhymes

AUTHOR

: FRITZ LE CHAT

I think I’ve figured out what the worst thing about rap music is: the pussies. You know those kids who just started getting into rap music last winter and are all “Dr. Octagon!” all day but have never heard of Schooly D? They wear those gay-ass raver fat pants and sideways baseball hats and think Paul Barman’s funny and buy every record Kool Keith puts out without realizing that he’d think they were pussies. They won’t listen to Jay-Z, Nelly or Ludacris cuz they’re “too commercial,” even though their shit rules, and they only rock Anticon records and think Hawd Gangstah Rappuh Emcees Wit Gats is sooo funny. They own all 37 Shapeshifters albums, but continue to sleep on Kurupt, and think Casual “sold out” and P.E.A.C.E. is “getting too hard.” I hate those people. If you’re one of those people and you read this column so you can be cool then fuck off. Don’t try to talk to me when I’m deejaying and ask me to play some corny shit that doesn’t bump. I will punch you in your nose for that shit.

Roots Manuva’s new album Run Come Save Me (Big Dada/Ninja Tune) rules. I know it’s been out for a minute but I didn’t want to sleep on mentioning this contender for album of the year. Masta Ace’s Disposable Arts (Yosumi/ JCOR) I’m feeling not as much. The album isn’t that bad, except for having Paul Barman on that shit (he fucked up that Deltron album for me too). Why’d you do it Ace? And heads are sleeping on Freestyle Fellowship’s Temptations (Project Blowed). C’mon now, with expectations that high, what did you expect? Sure, it’s not necessarily a classic, but shit is better than most of what’s out there. That Beatminerz joint is tight too, Brace 4 Impak (Rawkus). The ‘Minerz are definitely coming with some serious production, and there’s a gang of emcees on there to fit anyone’s tastes. Peep it. Also on Rawkus, dope singles from Last Emperor “The Banger” and Skillz “Y’all Don’t Wanna.”

You peeped the Aesop Rock album yet? Probably. If not, you gotta add Labor Days (Def Jux) to your grocery list. Also look out for a couple of Def Jux 12”s floating around, Aesop Rock and Cannibal Ox remixes. Sonic Sum’s got a new one out too, “Rocket” (Ozone), which is worth peeping. Definitely looking forward to their new album. Hey, if someone at Ozone is reading this, holler at me…. I’m trying to get that Saul Williams joint, and some Anti-Pop shit I ain’t peeped yet.

Back in Canada, check out Choclair’s “Mind That” (Kneedeep/Virgin), which just might be one of his best tunes ever, and Thrust’s “This Is For Sure” (Blueprint/EMI), which despite the fact that I can’t understand a word he’s saying, is tight. I’m looking forward to checking out both their albums.

Here’s some other shit I’m feeling…Ras Kass “Home Sweet Home” (Priority), Mystic “The Life” remix feat. Kweli and Kam (Goodvibe), V/A “Sic” series (Broklyn Beats), KanKick From Artz Unknown (MeanStreet), Eyedea & Abilities (RhymeSayers), Time Machine “Reststop Sweetheart” (Landspeed), Michempstead “Culture” (Cannabis Pond), Arsonists Date of Birth (Matador), D-Stroy “The Matador” (Matador), Supervision “Superstar” (Capitol), Spine Productions Collage EP, L.I.U. Khalfini “64 Squares” (64 Squares), Don Primo “Crazy Loco” (LabRats), Embedded Productions EP (Embedded), Katie Burgess “Keep It Strong” (ROC), Screw Heads Forever and a Day (Jcor), Click Square Won (Wild West), Numbs The Word (Guapo), V/A The 41st Side (Landspeed), Point Blank Productions On Point (MeanStreet), V/A Superrappin’ (Grooveattack).

Send VINYL (not CDs), job offers (for real), canned tuna (albacore), shoes (size 10), clothes (xl) and links to free porn sites to: fritz the cat, 650 dupont st. box 501, toronto on, m6g 4b1 canada. e-mail me: fritzthacat@hotmail.com. website: www.fritzlechat.com

TOP NINE (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):

1 Roots Manuva, Run Come Save Me (Big Dada/Ninja Tune) 2 Freestyle Fellowship, Temptations (Project Blowed/Nu Gruv) 3 Choclair, Mind That (Kneedeep/Virgin) 4Beatminerz, Brace 4 Impak (Rawkus) 5Mystic, The Life rmx. feat. Kweli and Kam (Goodvibe/Jcor) 6Thrust, This Is For Sure (Blueprint/EMI) 7True, In The Beginning… (demo) 8Aesop Rock, Labor Days (Def Jux) 9 Arsonists, Date of Birth (Matador)