Styles P. and Jadakiss are two of the best lyricists in the game. Period.

Remember the days of the Lox's 1998 platinum-selling debut album Money, Power, Respect? Then came the shiny suits depature of Bad Boy which was followed up by the successfull 1999 Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol. 1. Kiss' 2001 solo debut, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye , went gold, and his follow up, the 2004 critically-acclaimed Kiss of Death went platium. No sounds of the 4th quarter Kiss My Ass he spoke about last spring. Typical.
Jadakiss is a dope MC who spits that fiyah consistently. He has enough clout to stand on his own two feet, but when conjoined with Styles and Sheek, there's no magic, other than the constant mixtape hustle which is, without a doubt, heavily embraced by the streets. But after a few weeks, mixtapes, unless a classic, only become an addition to the collection sitting atop the stereo system. With that said, D-Block can be respected by the streets all they want, but the truth is that mainstream is the key to success.

Kiss has already established and proven himself as a solo MC, but it seems that he can't hold the weight as the centerpiece of the group. But it's not as if Kiss has much weight to carry; standing next to them, Sheek and J-Hood look like two mediocre MCs. As much as I want to, I just don't believe that D-Block will ever see success equivalent to the buzz they created with the earlier Lox. It's been years and it hasn't happened yet. For situations like these, I always use Benzino as a prime example.



Styles has it in him, but he's not coming with it. It's unfortunate that Styles hasn't been able to put his versatile ability on national display due to failure of creating a song commercial enough to branch outside of New York City. Recently, his for-the-ladies "Favorite Drug" got some airplay in NY, but it can be presumed that there wasn't enough national mix-show radio promotion because the buzz quickly died out before it even began to bud. In addition to this, label politricks and extensive blackballing has held down the Yonkers-bred MC so badly to the point where people don't even believe his now stone age-old album, Time is Money, is even coming out in November. It was previously slated for release fall 2005, then experienced a slew of other false release dates before they stopped promoting it completely. Then, Styles is back and set for release October 2006. After another push-back, you can make that November 2006.

I don't see things getting any better for the kid.

But why should I be surprised? I'm not. I have to keep telling myself that lyrics are out and gimmicks are in. There's no way around it; the most garbage MCs always find a way to sell records. These days, the MCs possessing the most lyrical dexterity are always labeled "trash."
Posted by SOHH Reckless at September 14, 2006 04:36 AM
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1ST NIGGAS !!!!! THANKS EDITIOR HOURS

D-BLOCK COULD IF NIGGAS IN THE HOOD REALLY STOOD UP FOR NIGGAS AND COP REAL HIP HOP...NIGGAS SHOULD OF BEEN BEEFIN WHEN " IM BLACK " COULDNT GET PLAY ON THE RADIO. BUT NIGGAS HAVE NO PROB REQUESTING " PUSH IT " BY RICK ROSS...THE GAME IS JUST FUCKED UP RIGHT NOW.

BK ALL DAY..GATBUSH STAND UP
HOME OF THE DOLLAR VAN.....THERE CALLED FRONTS NOT GRILLS !!!!!!

Posted by: mIZE2 at September 14, 2006 05:20 AM

Oh, now Ive been saying this shit for ageeeesss, and thats on the real. And hol up: SECOND!!!

Jadakiss and SP are the shit, not many dudes can touch them two... Damn, as a duo, the killed fiddy on Shots Fired...

Sheek stepped his shit up times a million tho... If that After Taxes didn't outshine most rap CD's of last year... Shit I dunno...

Posted by: RJ at September 14, 2006 05:38 AM

I feel for D-Block. As good as they are, they wont ever make it big on the mainstream because they are TOO REAL for the mainstream. Kiss is one of the best lyricists out there and he cant even sell that much. Sad.

Posted by: semi at September 14, 2006 05:42 AM

niggaz shouldn't fuck with 50.

Posted by: D-broke at September 14, 2006 06:18 AM

Top 5 postee!

Posted by: NYStateOfMind at September 14, 2006 06:20 AM

As hot as D BLOCK are, that bitch 50 cent was right when he said d block r only big in a 5 block radius in NY.

Posted by: dopeman at September 14, 2006 06:21 AM

All of d block are good.
Amazing lyricists. Nobody from g unit would be able to keep up with these boyz.
But truth be said - they not sellin -
but why?

the game is FUCKED UP right now, u got niggaz snappin their fingers, leanin and rockin, singin bout grills and stunnas - FUKK OUTTA HERE, NOBODY WANNA HEAR DAT SHIT.
Real hiphop is dead its true, otherwise cats like d block would sell.

is it image? is it content? maybe they too ghetto to market mainstream? they need a couple of individual collabos with some more mainstrem artists.

Yo and i know these niggaz been boyz for life, but for real, DO U THINK THESE GUYS ARE JUST HOLDING EACH OTHER BACK????????????????????????????????

hmmmm..

Posted by: L!VE FROM LONDON at September 14, 2006 06:22 AM

D-Block...Jadakiss still got it in him, Styles if interscope ever stop delaying the album (shit must be garbage) However he got a 4th quarter Nov release. Going against Nas/Jay-Z is a setup for failure. The LOX did the number when they were on Bad Boy. It's time for a new breed. If u in the game for 12+ years and still ain't reach your prime....

Posted by: NYStateOfMind at September 14, 2006 06:23 AM

SOHH u should be ashamed of yourself, putting has-benzino and d block in the same sentence. ASHAMED!

BENZINO CELEBRATES BEING 49 THIS WEEK!

Posted by: dopeman at September 14, 2006 06:24 AM

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“Rockefeller died of AIDS that was the end of his chapter/And that’s the guy ya’ll chose to name your company after?” — Nas “Ether”

The earlier days of Roc-A-Fella seemed so promising, but now it seems that the present doesn’t hold key to the past. Amil appeared to add some much needed femininity to the Roc, now I hear she’s working at K-Mart, Walmart, or something with a “mart” at the end. Memphis Bleek had more of a chance to shine in the earlier stages of his career. However, he seemed to be falling deeper in the mud with every next effort following his 1999 debut Coming of Age, and his most recent release, 534, flopped ridiculously upon hitting the shelves in 2005. Cam’ron doesn’t even acknowledge the Roc, even though he endured perhaps the most commercial success from the platinum selling Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home With Me. Nowadays, he can’t even move 300K.


The only one who actually made a step-up since his departure of Roc-A-Fella records is Juelz Santana. But with three music videos (“Clockwork” got no burn), only bringing him to gold status, the amount of money spent didn’t even get back to Def Jam’s offices let alone Juelz himself.

Foxy Brown is a joke. We’ll just leave it at that. Although desired by Damon Dash, Twista was never signed, but he would’ve done the label some good with some strategic Kanye collabos.

As for the Philly aspect of it, Freeway is the only real one on the Roc. The Young Gunz were just a waste of money. Peedi Peedi ("Crack" or whatever his name is) is bound to tear apart The Roots’ respected reputation. Yet Jay would rather drop Beanie Sigel before this dude?



So, they say Beans has been dropped from Roc-A-Fella and that he released a dis track or got on stage denouncing Jay for this (or something like that), but I can’t be sure. If there is any truth to this, then this would be yet another bad move from El Presidente.

I think that Jay has all the experience necessary to produce yet another "dynasty," but he isn't applying them. Dropping the wrong artists and signing mediocre talent has taken Roc-A-Fella to has-been status. We know Bleek is your boy, but when it ain't jumping off, it just ain't jumping off. Refusal to replenish the roster is the reason why the Chi is pretty much the backbone of the whole label. And that's not a good look, 'cause I remember when The Roc and Ruff Ryders were doing it... what a difference a decade makes.

Speaking of the Roc, what's gonna happen when or if Jay leaves Def Jam? As close to the edge as it is already, I can only say one word: Fold.
Posted by SOHH Reckless at September 13, 2006 04:37 AM
Comments

“Rocafeller died of AIDS that was the end of his chapter/And that’s the guy ya’ll chose to name your company after?”—Nas “Ether”

Ether was full of lies, unless there was a hustler from Marcy named Rockafeller, the real one didn't die of AIDS, it wasn't even around back then.

Nas lost bad.

Posted by: The Ghost at September 13, 2006 05:17 AM

2ND......WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEJJTWINS

Posted by: GGG at September 13, 2006 06:37 AM

"YA'LL ROCK FELLAS
I ROCK HOES"

Nas said it best

NOVEMBER 7TH - HIP HOP IS DEAD

Posted by: Nas at September 13, 2006 06:41 AM

i think the real reason for the fallin rap album sales is because of the the amount of internet downloading that goes on. everyone has broadband nowadays and would much rather download than buy. even with a album download from the net, u get the covers aswel the official track names and all that other shit. why would anyone wanna spend money when u can get it for free.

Posted by: Nas at September 13, 2006 06:45 AM

Man the fans of those times have gotten older....period. Best thing to do is to keep it fresh with new and popular talent. The key is finding an artist who can sell to the masses. Since Kanye already gotta label, let Bleek president that thing. That way everybody carries weight, and nobody gets pissed. Main thing is.....to do it gradually like 50 is doing it. Let people hate you, but let the artist get that love(exp.Young Buck,Hot Rod, Banks,Olivia). The mistake Jay is making is signing people and putting'em on the shelf with no exposure. Hoping word of mouth in 2006, will sell records. Also, remember this......PEOPLE STILL BUY RECORDS IN THE SOUTH !!!! Jay's album is a sink or swim for the others on the Roc no doubt.

Posted by: Young Guice at September 13, 2006 06:50 AM

“Rocafeller died of AIDS that was the end of his chapter/And that’s the guy ya’ll chose to name your company after?”—Nas “Ether”

It's Age not AIDS...get it right

Posted by: Serious Business at September 13, 2006 06:52 AM

5th!!!! LoL. But He really didn't die from AIDS. I looked that shit up a few years ago because that shit sounded suspect. I always check my shit before I put it in a verse.


BUT ANYWAY, Its over for the ROC. Let's keep it real. If these cats haven't sold records by now, why would they all of a sudden go platinum?? Their too far in their careers. People have made up their minds about them already. But we'll see. T.I. wasn't selling that much at first.... Now look at him....

Posted by: JG at September 13, 2006 06:53 AM

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what new music are you listening to?

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Damn them' Falcons are looking good!!! I wish this was a sports blog today, I would really act a fool. But, since it's not I'm taking it to St. Louis today to holla at my man Jibbs (You know Atlanta and The Lou go way back like Just-Ice and BDP). I know, I left alot of y'all with that.

Right now Jibbs is killing it with his hit single "Chain Hang Low," which is actually one of the top single in the country right now and still on a bullet. Recently siigned to Geffen Records, he's nearing the release of his debut album Jibbs feat. Jibbs, set for release in September 2006.

Let's hope Jibbs has more longevity than the last teen from The Lou that dropped nationally, J-Kwon. I always thought J was a better producer than an artist and he's proved me right. I hear some skills in Jibbs though, he make it be able to pull it off with the right people behind him.

This week, I've got a list of some of the hottest underground artists coming out of the city but I'm going to keep it aimed at MySpace spins this week then bring it on back to the under-underground. Let me put you up on astronomy... (Outerspace ballin thas 'all)

First up, get to my man T-Rock's page, he's doing over 5,000 spins/listens daily and that's damn near at the top for the city this past month. He's the real deal. Also, Maceo has some new music and is doing over 3,000 spins/listens. He killed it about a year ago but since then....Here's his myspage page

IN THE CHANGER....
Posted by SOHH Southern at September 18, 2006 07:58 AM

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I've got the remix to the Jibbs' "Chain Hang Low" joint. But first I gotta defend mine for a minute, when I said Jibbs had some skills yesterday, I meant it. He possesses what it took/and takes to HOOK the generation that he's aiming for.

Mic skills, don't put food on the table or else there would be alot of starving cats eatin' right now. We all know some. Like it or not, Jibbs' skills are AIMED in the right direction and the fish are bitin' like crazy. It is what it is.

But yo, here's that remix ft. Young Joc, Lil’ Wayne, Rich Boy & Lil’ Mont.

Speaking of Weezy F-Baby''' he's got that joint with Fat Joe "Make It Rain" out now.

He might be the hardest working artist in the south right now. He's definitely the hardest working former Cash Money member by far. If B-Gizzle had Wayne's work ethic, the pendulum might be tilted differently right now. But BG, is still that ni66a though.

The video for "Make It Rain," shot straight out of the MIA, is in the works now and being directed by Chris Robinson.

On the MIA tip, err'body in ATLanta might as well get prepared to make your reservations for late January/early February and grab you a Vick jersey because It's Going Down...


Posted by SOHH Southern at September 19, 2006 01:35 PM

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New video from Ms. Peaches, "In The Tub"

SOHH Fam, we need to have a discussion. Now, I passed up the opportunity to really blast this "chicken noodle soup" foolishness because I thought if we ignored it, it would simply go away. I thought to myself that this was simply a slight detour that not just hip-hop, but the music industry in general, was taking for shock and entertainment value. And while this is months later, and that "song" is blasting all over airwaves everywhere, I still have faith that the foolishness will cease. Enter Ms. Peaches.

Who the f*ck is the genius who took the time to actually write garbage like this? Who are these people who made a conscious decision to finance videos (this is the second from Ms. Peaches -- the first is "Fry That Chicken") for this nonsense. Better yet, who are the clowns in radio who actually add this mess to the station's playlist? We have to stop the foolishness people. Not only for the sake of hip-hop, but for the sake of people's sanity. People have begun to add Ms. Peaches and "Chicken Noodle Soup" as the new faces if hip-hop and hip-hop can become simply a joke. And no, it has nothing to do with "It's the South's fault since this Ms. Peaches is from Shreveport, Louisiana." The maker of "Chicken Noodle Soup" is from Harlem and damn if these two pieces of foolishness aren't cut from the same cloth. Wait, did Ms. Peaches just spit a whole line talkin' about "Here duckey duckey, here duckey duckey duckey?" Do better my people. Do better.

So Jay shot a video for his new single yesterday supposedly releasing at the beginning of October. But word on the street is that even though his album is dropping after some of his Def Jam artists (like Nas), none of them have a single or video planned for release. Being the Hov fan that I am, I don't think it's intentional. But you never know.

Check out pics from Jay's videoshoot yesterday in Monaco:

You can listen to Lupe Fiasco's full new album over at AOL.

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