Maybe I just don’t get this new hipster rap trend. I don’t even like using the phrase hipster rap because I really don’t think this new sub-genre of hip-hop has been clearly defined. If the new mixtape from Harlem’s Charles Hamilton, Sonic the Hamilton, is supposed to represent this new movement- I’m not down with it.

Hamilton is an MC that has gained a heavy internet buzz over the past few months and become a favorite amongst bloggers, who give him enough praise that it could lead you to believe he’s already a power player in the hip-hop industry. He’s hard to miss with his flashy attire, usually highlighted by tones of hot pink and purple, and is generally pictured with a smug facial expression that can lead one to wonder what the kid has accomplished to make him so cocky.

I’ve been reluctant to explore Hamilton’s music, based off my natural instinct to resist something I feel someone is trying to force down my throat. I feel as though some of the new artists that are breaking out right now have earned their way into the big leagues, while others are the work of major label piggybacking that has diluted the talent pool.

With the blogs in a frenzy over the release of Sonic the Hamilton, I finally gave in and downloaded a copy- really hoping that I’d be asking for a late pass on this artist and beating myself up for being overly judgmental. Unfortunately for Hamilton, I feel more like a prophet than a hater right now.

Hamilton’s wordplay is your standard braggadocio lyricism that is common for NY hip-hop. His delivery is lazy and lacks the sort of punch needed to stand out over the sample-heavy beats and quirky sound effects that are commonly used throughout the mixtape.

As you may have figured out from the title, Hamilton has a strange obsession with Sonic the Hedgehog and the old Sega Genesis game system. I thought this fascination would be explained through some clever metaphors on the mixtape, which would allow me to understand why this dude wants to be a hedgehog. Nope. I’m still confused.

To Hamilton’s credit his lyricism isn’t bad and he is capable of stringing together a few clever bars, but overall he lacks the consistency and creativity in his rhymes that would have him competing with any well-known lyrical MC.

The conclusion I’ve drawn after listening to Sonic the Hamilton is that the hipster rap movement is nothing more than recycling of what we called backpack rap until about a month ago. The same people have traded in their backpacks and Ecko hoodies for Louis Vuitton man-purses and designer brand flannel.

The characteristic of both genres that I believe is going to remain the same is the lack of commercial viability for this type of sound. The major labels that are starting to hedge their bets on this movement should realize that artists like Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, who have to be viewed as the elder statesman of the movement, are anomalies in the hip-hop industry that can’t be recreated through marketing. Most hip-hop fans are too smart for that.

If you’re really intent on checking out this new crop of talent that is buzzing in hip-hop; check out Wale or B.o.B. and unless you’ve been waiting for an MC to pop up that shares your passion for Sega and hedgehogs, go ahead and pass on Charles Hamilton.

It’s time to put my money where my mouth is regarding T.I.’s new album Paper Trail and I should invoice Atlantic Records for that money because of the gospel I’ve been singing about this release.

We all know Tip’s story at this point. He was setup trying to purchase the sort of firearms needed for a small army and at one point in the not-so-distant past, it was questionable as to whether we’d see the rapper at all for 15-20 years and the thought of a new album seemed almost laughable.

While awaiting trial, Tip, confined to his home on house arrest, resisted the self-destructive urges many would find themselves in while riding out their (assumed) last days of freedom, rather T.I. seized this as an opportunity to make the album of his career.

That’s a big statement. We’re talking about an artist who has been almost flawless since he came on the scene less than 10 years ago.

What separates Paper Trail from the rest of his catalog is that T.I. has finally found the balance he was looking for, but couldn’t reach with his previous albums, especially T.I. vs. T.I.P., where the matured, former trapper turned businessman and the sharp-tongued MC who will verbally dismantle any artist coming for his throne must learn to co-exist with one another.

Instead of the schizophrenic concept he brought with the last offering, T.I. comes straight from the heart allowing him to shine on the epic-sounding lead singles like “No Matter What” and the hypnotizing “Live Your Life” with Rihanna, to the modern-day “Ether” directed at his (assumed) nemesis Shawty Lo “What up, What’s Haapnin” (where he never actually mentions the artist by name) or the surprise smash “Whatever You Like”, which many critics bemoaned as too soft for the street-bred rapper until it’s record breaking ascent to the top of Billboard’s singles chart.

I remember sitting on an Atlantic Records street team call after T.I. released King in 2006 and listening to teams from around the country attempt to explain why the R&B flavored, “Why You Wanna” record wasn’t having the same impact as the monster single “What You Know”. The consensus was that T.I.’s core fan base wanted street records, not something forced because the industry formula required an artist to follow up a club smash with “chick song”.

The already proven success of the lead singles from Paper Trail demonstrates that T.I.’s audience has matured with him and they are not afraid to support him as he transitions into a smarter, grown up hip-hop artist.

This album is going to stand up to any other hip-hop release that we’re going to see this year, although I still firmly believe many of these 4th Quarter mega-releases are all talk. But even if say, Jay and Kanye get their projects out, I still don’t think these albums can be better than Paper Trail.

T.I. may have inadvertently found something the game has been missing when making this album, by actually taking time off, albeit not by choice, to compose his thoughts, pick his beats carefully and focus strictly on making an album reflective of the emotion that went into making it. This isn’t an album that was recorded in the back of a tour bus, in between takes on a movie set or in between meetings with investors to discuss his next business venture.

This is a sharp contrast to today’s quantity over quality approach, where we find talented artists rushing to deliver albums too quickly or in some cases leaking their own unfinished tracks that have admittedly been crafted faster than it has taken me to write this review.

Yes, Kanye, I’m talking about you.

SNIPPET: “Now 22 years old and signed to independent powerhouse SMC Recordings, QP maintains that Born 2 Win attitude that led him to early success; and, using a fast-paced flow reminiscent of his hometown group, Bone Thugs, he describes the lifestyle that’s The Norm 4 Me.”- M.Burmy for DJBooth.net

LINK TO THE FEATURE: http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/qp-the-norm-4-me/

As we get ready to wrap up 2007 I’ll be reviewing some notable moments in hip-hop that I feel need to be documented (I know, this is kind of played out at this point, but I’m doing it anyway). As if it really needs to be stated…2007 wasn’t a great year for lyrical rappers. Sure, the usual suspects were dropping gems (usually on someone else’s track), but there’s also a lot of names missing that you can always count on for at least one notable verse each year even if they don’t deliver their own product (I’m talkin’ to you Joe Budden). So this task was a little harder than I expected it to be. While some were automatic, I really had to dig through the crates (of mp3s) to remind myself of what dropped this year, but I think what I’ve come up with is on point and if you care to disagree…that’s what the comment section is for.

5. The Game on “A Bay Bay Remix” (from Hurricane Chris’s 51/50 Ratchet)
You wouldn’t really expect to find a lyrical gem on “A Bay Bay”. I’m riding for ‘Cane and think this was definitely one of the best club bangers to drop all year, but you’re not going to find the kid mentioned with Rakim, Nas, etc anytime soon. The Game, on the other hand, is one of those MCs that can sneak up on you with his lyrical tenacity and set fire to an otherwise production & hook driven track. On here he breaks bread with his southern counter-parts by working in various references to hit southern records and giving all southern MCs some ammo against anyone hating on their success. This was definitely the standout verse to an otherwise under-whelming and overloaded remix.

You can find me in tha a bay bay
Buckin full of cry-stale V.I.Ped up
Goin hard in body tap where they throw that cheeze up
I been about my paper niggas know about my stack
You dont like that dirty money send yo girl to wipe me down
Million dollars on my neck and wrist shine for a mile
She wanna see it up close then she gotta walk it out
Im tha king of this rap shit what the fuck they talkin bout
Niggas cant sell records so they blame it on tha South
I be all through Shreve-port Louisiana ballin
Like who the fuck said aint no choppers in New Orleans
My rims so clean they spinnin like a world-wind
Pull up at the club bitches textin they girlfriends
They know who i is they know who i am
I be flyin through the south in that burgundy land
Pull up at the light my shit so bright
She want my number shit call me tonight
Pick up the phone like

4. Common on “Start the Show” Verse 1 (from the album Finding Forever)

I’ve been kind of divided when it comes to my feelings on Common in recent years. He’s proven himself as a great MC and will always be mentioned with those bringing something “positive” to hip-hop, but at times I’ve felt his albums were overrated, redundant in sound and he starts to border on doing too much preaching. And then I remember that deep down inside, Common is a battle rapper, capable of stepping up to any lyricist in the game and will take the gloves off when necessary (although this doesn’t appear to be his prerogative these days). So when he jumped off the Finding Forever album with this track, I was definitely impressed with Common’s subtle jabs at the current hip-hop industry as a whole. This track echoed the same sentiments throughout, but I chose this verse in particular because of the “Young Who?” line, something I can relate to as I’m already writing off any new rappers being presented to me with Lil or Young in their name due to lack of originality.

Ladies and gentlemen the C-O-double-M-O-N
Synonym for fresh, truth is the emb-lem
Hardcore since I was next door to Clem and them
Cold as the winter when fake niggaz was shiverin
Shakin in they Timberlands, you was played as Bennigans
Hot for a minute, now you just a “remember him”
I been a +Master+ since P was No Limit-in
Stick a sayin, no gimmick and no mimickin
Q infinitin down old blocks are bendin in
Yellin (Fuck Tha Police) like Ren and them
Pelican brief these niggaz on who I be
Before the paper and the fame
niggaz knew RashidNoble like Dru Ali -
many have come
but few have been chose to be a true MC
You sing along wit it, inside you knowin it’s wack
Young who? I don’t need a openin act [echoes]

3. Jay-Z on “Rehab (Remix)” (from Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black)

There hasn’t been a year in recent history where Jay didn’t come through with some heat. He was working overtime this year, now that he’s officially given up on that whole retirement thing, by delivering not only a GREAT album, but also putting his stamp on a good variety of remixes and features. I felt like this verse he dropped on “Rehab” had to get the nod for his best work this year because it demonstrates everything about Jay’s lyrical ability that we’ve come to know and love. First, I wouldn’t have expected a rapper to be able to shine on this track. The first remix I heard also included Pharoahe Monch, another artist I’ve got a lot of respect for, but didn’t seem able to catch the rhythm on this one. Jay on the other hand tore the joint to shreds, with clever metaphors and an enthusiastic delivery that was able to help crossover “Rehab” into a track that hip-hop listeners could accept. I don’t know about you, but I’m all for rehabbing myself with Jay’s 12 step program.

More money, more checks,I’m addicted to fresh
Six pair of kicks is my definition of 12 steps
Kick back in the back, get the phantom to drop
Bass blarin outta my system, thats how i detox
O when will he stop, he still pumpin that real sh*t
My flow so dumb, my face is numb, n*gga,i dont feel sh*t
Wheres a therapist? Yea I’m outta control
They tryna make me go to rehab, I won’t go, no
And so I’m addicted,
I’m Britney, Whitney, and Bobby
Betty Ford ain’t ready for it, ain’t nothin can stop me
O look he’s collapsin, just look how he’s rappin
Everytime I try to get out it pulls me back in
Amy should have rehab’d him,’stead she doubled his ration
Can you blame me for being a slave to my passion
My heron flows more deeper than marilyns nose
I’ma o.d. till I’m in peace like Anna Nicole, hov!

2. Kanye West on “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” Verse 2 (from the Graduation album)

I was honestly shocked when this dropped as the lead single for the Graduation album. It broke all the rules pertaining to how you’re “supposed” to release your singles. You might not always deliver your biggest club banger as your leadoff, but usually want to go with something that can at least be played in the club. The only time you heard “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” in the club was when the lights came on and security was booting everybody out the door. But this song still broke out with a vengeance and had everybody (trying) to spit every verse word for word when it came on. Little did we know that Kanye could get away with putting this mellow track out as a teaser, as he had plenty up his sleeve to ensure he’d dominate the charts in 2007.

Let up the suicide doors.
This is my life homey, you decide yours.
I know Jesus died for us,
But I couldn’t tell you who decide wars.
So I parallel double parked that motherfucker sideways
Old folks talking bout back in my day
But homey this is my day.
Class started 2 hours ago,oh am I late?
You know I already graduated
And you can live through anything if Magic made it.
They say I talk with so much emphasis,
OOOO they’re so sensative.
Don’t ever fix your lips like collagen
Say something were you gone end up apologising.
Let me know if it’s a problem man,
Alright man, holla then.

1. Andre 3000 on “What a Job” (from Devin the Dude’s Waitin’ to Inhale)

For the second year in a row Andre 3 Stacks was the one showing everybody else how you stay relevant as you become a veteran to the hip-hop game. While he didn’t surprise us as much with unexpected remixes and features like he did last year, his buzz certainly carried over into 2007. I actually got a sneak peek of this one back in January at the Rap-A-Lot offices, but at the time didn’t get to hear the brilliance of the verse Andre delivered for an album that was unparalleled and still in heavy rotation with me. There’s not many MCs that are going to convince people to stop stealing their music. The common philosophy that people have when it comes to illegally downloading hip-hop is “How you gonna tell me not to download your music, when all you’re talking about is how much money you got?” Fair enough. But somehow when Andre puts it in perspective, it starts to make sense and while it probably didn’t do much to curb piracy- at least he’s presenting listeners with a valid reason not to do it. And that’s just referencing his first couple of bars, when combined with everything else he had to say, Devin’s blissful hook and the overall vibe of the entire track you’ve got the easy pick for the standout verse of year in hip-hop.

We work nights, we some vampires
Niggas gather round the beat like a campfire
Singin’ folk songs, but not no Kumbaya my Lord
You download it for free, we get charged back for it
I know you’re saying, they won’t know they won’t miss it
Besides, I ain’t a thief, they won’t pay me a visit
So if I come to your job, take your corn on the cob
And take a couple kernels off it that would be alright with you
Hell no! Yeah, exactamundo
But we just keep recording and it ain’t to get no condo
And Candy Bentley fanny with no panties in Miami
And that cute lil’ chick named Tammy that you took to the Grammys
See we do it for that boi that graduated
That looked you in your eyes real tough and said ‘preciate it
And that he wouldn’ta made it if it wasn’t for your CD number 9
And he’s standing with his baby momma Kiki and she cryin’ talkinbout
That they used to get high to me in high school
And they used to make love to me in college
Then they told me ’bout they first date, listenin’ to my tunes
And how he, like to finger nail polish
I say hate to cut you off but I gotta go
I wish you could tell me mo’ but I’m off to the studio, gotta write tonight
Hey, can you put us in your raps? I don’t see why not
Devin it’s the Dude you gon’ probably hear him talking ’bout

***DISCLAIMER: All lyric transcriptions were stolen from other sites (that are also stealing them in most cases) and I’m not guaranteeing the accuracy of these lyrics and not taking the time to check them myself.****