Mos Def & Black Thought – Behind the Scenes

Its seeing a video like this that I have to agree with Combat Jack that Mos Def Sucks. Black Thought are caught behind the scenes at the BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher shoots, reciting famous lines from the Roots’ “&5 Bars”. Why can’t Mos be like this a majority of the time versus his wanna-be jazz scant alter ego. New Danger > Ecstatic. Via TRU.

Mos Def, Black Thought, Eminem – Freestyle

Last night, the BET awards was on. I didn’t watch but I was anticipating the freestyle segments after everybody tweeted about them a few weeks ago. The hype around Nikki Minaj and Joe Buddens freestyle was just that – hype. After looking at all the videos, I might have to say that I think its tie between Mos and Eminem. And I am not even big fans of thiers. Dre at NR hooked up an mp3 of all the freestyles. So thank him later (c) Drake.

DJ Premier feat. Mos Def, Black Thought, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Buckshot, Crown Royyal, Joe Budden, Wale, Nipsey Hussle, Gsan & KRS-One – 2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cyphers (10min megamix)

Black Thought Cameo at BHF

The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival was this weekend and as always, its become a quality event each summer. Some might even say that its surpassed Rock The Bells for hip-hop events. WEll, Black Thought came through in a surprise visit and ripped through some classics. Enjoy. Props to MAO.

The Roots & Skillz cover EPMD & Run-DMC

Simply said – All MCs should know their history and lyrics like Black Thought and Skillz do. I would pay $$$ just to see them do covers all night. Anyone remember when The Roots use to do Hip-Hop 101 in their sets? Props to Oghiphop.com for the vids.

#6 – #10

It sounds like everyone has Jay, Nas, Biggie, Pac, and Rakim in their top 5 MCs lists. And its kinda a given that we will debate their order. So, I have decided to just list my #6 – #10 and make the conversation more interesting. Here they are, and in this order:

#6. Big Daddy Kane – the predecessor to Jay’s style and the flow is untouchable.

#7. Chuck D. – The amount of content in his lyrics and the courage to speak his mind has only been seen in recent days with Rage and Immortal.

#8. Black Thought – Currently, the most versatile MC in the game. The fact that he can do his own flow and mimic Kane and Kool G is just amazing. Check Game Theory if you do not know what I am talking about.

#9. Slick Rick – The original storyteller whose lyrics are timeless. Please check out his slept-on 2nd album, The Ruler’s Back. Moses and Mistake of a Woman in Love with Other Men are classics.

#10. Ghostface – His spit game has improved to where we can’t even understand what he is talking about anymore and now we need him explain his lyrics in interviews to just get it. Plus, the showmanship is 2nd to none.