The Low End Theory News Report 12.2.11: The Too Cold Edition

Posted by Tony Acero on 12.02.2011

News and thoughts on Eminem getting props from T.I. for helping him with his addiction problems, the hip-hop and R&B Grammy nominations, Common talking about the diss lyrics in "Sweet," Nicki Minaj's all-Roman album and more!



Happy Thursday everyone! Here we are, exactly one week after the Thanksgiving holiday and I'm just now barely coming out of my food coma/hibernation period. Which raises the question: how was YOUR Thanksgiving? I hope it was well full of the four F's: food, family, fun, & football. Now it's time to get ready for the holidays which I'm extremely excited for! We all know besides music, I love me some food and family time! That means booze, tamales & presents everyone! Anywho, I'm getting off track…today's edition is full of amazing news so enjoy!

FUCK GERMS! Yeah, I said it! haha. Hope everyone has had a nice week, but mine has been hellacious! Seriously, I just can't kick this cold and I hardly ever get sick! Well, last week's column was a special one and I enjoyed writing it as well as getting your guys' lists. I'm very happy and surprised to see Royce get some love from you guys and I'm glad that everyone participated. This week, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled news format with a few exceptions. I'm seriously at the peak of the cold and can't wait for the downhill ride to feeling better. Also, no Hip Hop Hottie as I couldn't properly speak to anyone due to the cold. Early Thursday morning, I came across a YouTube video of someone rapping along to "Look At Me Now" and at first, I thought it would be another subpar freestyle version of the video that I've seen numerous times, but this was different. I'm not sure if you guys have seen it or not, but I put it below just in case. The guy's name is Mac Lethal and after listening to this track and numerous others of his, I can say that the "fast rapper" gimmick can be useful, but lucky for him that's not all that he's got going. True, some of the lyrics I've seen aren't the strongest, but it's extremely surprising to see this type of talent, regardless. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Video of the Week
Mac Lethal - Cook With Me Now
Seriously! Guys, I've e-mailed him in hopes of an interview. Let him know that The Low End Theory wants him!!



As an added bonus, I've got this man you've most likely never heard of. I only say that because I hadn't heard of him either. As some of you know, Michael Ornelas and I aren't the best of friends, but he approached me with some new music, and one of the numerous guys he gave me was this guy, Timbuktu. Aside from dropping a nice little wrestling reference, he also has a noticeable talent that is worthy of some praise. Be sure to drop a comment as to what you think and maybe we can get a future interview with the man.





- Common recently came out and said that the insults in his song "Sweet" fit any rapper that people feel it fits. He doesn't say it's directed towards Drake, it's just whoever fits. Common....Drake fits.

- Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj recently performed on the Victoria's Secret Fashion show. Nicki presumably showed up to make every single model on the show look better.

- Soulja Boy says his new album will show both "growth and maturity." So look forward to going from 3rd grade lyrics and content to....4th grade lyrics and content.

- 50 Cent is now trying to start a feud with T.I. He's the rap game's equivalent to Ken Kennedy in the WWE...nobody wants to feud with him and he sucks.




Grammy Nominations Galore

The nominees for the Grammy's have been announced and I have gone through hours of research and man power to compile the list for you here at The Low End Theory. Also, for some fun, I've bolded who I think will win and have colored blue who I want to win. In some cases, they may very well be the same. Also note that if there is no blue, it simply means I don't care. Let me know what you think!:

Record Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep
Adele

Holocene
Bon Iver

Grenade
Bruno Mars

The Cave
Mumford & Sons

Firework
Katy Perry

Album Of The Year
21
Adele

Wasting Light
Foo Fighters

Born This Way
Lady Gaga

Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Bruno Mars

Loud
Rihanna

Song Of The Year
All Of The Lights
Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)

Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
The Cave

Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
Track from: Sigh No More

Grenade
Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Holocene
Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
Track from: Bon Iver

Rolling in the Deep
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Track from: 21

Best New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Rap Performance
Look At Me Now
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Track from: F.A.M.E.

Otis
Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne

The Show Goes On
Lupe Fiasco
Track from: Lasers

Moment 4 Life
Nicki Minaj & Drake

Black And Yellow
Wiz Khalifa

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Party
Beyoncé & André 3000

I'm On One
DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne

I Need A Doctor
Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey

What's My Name?
Rihanna & Drake

Motivation
Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne

All Of The Lights
Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Best Rap Song
All Of The Lights

Black And Yellow

I Need A Doctor

Look At Me Now

Otis

The Show Goes On

Best Rap Album
Watch The Throne
Jay-Z & Kanye West

Tha Carter IV
Lil Wayne

Lasers
Lupe Fiasco

Pink Friday
Nicki Minaj

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West

Best R&B Performance
Far Away
Marsha Ambrosius

Pieces Of Me
Ledisi

Not My Daddy
Kelly Price & Stokley

Is This Love
Corinne Bailey Rae

You Are
Charlie Wilson

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Sometimes I Cry
Eric Benét

Fool For You
Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Radio Message
R. Kelly

Good Man
Raphael Saadiq

Surrender
Betty Wright & The Roots

Best R&B Song
Far Away
Fool For You
Not My Daddy
Pieces Of Me
You Are

Best R&B Album
F.A.M.E.
Chris Brown

Second Chance
El DeBarge

Love Letter
R. Kelly

Pieces Of Me
Ledisi

Kelly
Kelly Price

Obviously, I'm not big on R&B this year, which surprises me. Truly, the only reason why "I Need a Doctor" is highlighted at all is because Eminem is involved, but other than that, the selections seem rather interesting. Kanye West is the obvious winner here in terms of number of nominations, and rightfully so. He's had a good year in terms of music and I wish him luck. How do you guys feel about the nominations? Any noticeable absences?


Nicki Minaj to Release All Roman Album

What a horrible idea. Look, I'm not one to shy away from alter-egos. Hell, Eminem has one. The thing is, when this particular alter-ego is annoying and has no semblance of skill, it just seems like so much more of a gimmick. And truly, that's how this comes off. Even Roman's song with Eminem was one of my least favorites on her album. I don't see this going very well, or selling very well for that matter. This would be better served as a mixtape of some sort than an actual album release. Nonetheless, there is set to be the release of a single tomorrow and probably by the time you read this. I wish I had it now to put in the column so that she can either prove me wrong (probably not) or prove me right (most likely). In the end, this album will come out and show that Young Money is turning more and more into a flash in the pan...


T.I. Thanks Eminem

It appears that some time during last year, T.I. had himself some drug issues. He admits to having a problem with oxycontin and hydrocodone. This struggle was relinquished and the monkey removed from his back through the help of a man who had the same issues for much longer. T.I. thanks Eminem for his support and advice when called upon. According to Mr. Tip, while he was in prison, Eminem tried to contact him to help him out even more and T.I. still wants to personally thank him. I'm not big on addicts. I've had family members with the problem and I have little sympathy for the issues, BUT with that being said, there is still something to applaud in people who overcome the issues and if it takes talking to Eminem to help him, then good for T.I.! Not only that, but Eminem just wasn't mentioned enough in this week's issue, so I had to do something about it.

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Lil Boosie

Walter Reyes:
What is up Low Enders!?!?!? Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your peeps. I know I had a great one, because for the first time I smoked with a family member other than my cousin who shall remain anonymous. We went on a champurado run and had all the tools: Visine, mouthwash and air freshener. The family was none the wiser and the US born side of my family bonded that night. Thanks to my niece's man for smuggling in the contraband. He thought it was good shit but he doesn't know who I kick it with...youngsters! Speaking of youngsters what about our Douche of the Week, who apparently sucks at smuggling in the goods. Granted my Aunt's house is a lot easier than Dixon Correctional Facility or Angola State Penitentiary, which is where Lil Boosie was trying to smuggle his drugs into.

Torrence Hatch better known as Lil Boosie is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who is currently locked up on charges of first-degree murder in the death of Terry Boyd. Now, obviously being considered a murderer is bad enough, but in my opinion, trying to smuggle drugs into a jail before being found guilty just makes you a fuckin douche. How in the fuck are you going to risk that shit, you moron!!! It's hard enough that you have to contend with character issues like being a rapper, but to add on top of that the fact that you are dumb enough to smuggle drugs into not ONE but TWO correctional facilities is beyond comprehendible. You might as well say you murdered the mothafucka and you don't give a shit! Lil Douche as I like to call him now, was sentenced to eight years of hard labor although he was given credit due to time served which basically means he faced zero punishment for crimes committed while awaiting murder charges....not DUI, dog fighting or people trafficking but MURDER charges!!! And they say the system is cruel...HA! Look, I know that getting high is fun, it helps relax your mind, body and sometimes your soul but I really hope you aren't so desperate for the high that you have to shove drugs up your pooper in order to escape reality, to indulge in fantasy or to just pay your cellie up because he beat your ass at bones AGAIN!!! Next time put money in his books instead of smuggling contraband up your bum! I don't know if that was his method of choice but come on...where else was he gonna hide it? His foreskin maybe...

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We will return next week with another beautiful Hottie!!

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So today, I decided to broaden my musical interest by listening to what's been all the rage this time of year and the reoccurring name I've seen is a kid who goes by the name of ASAP Rocky who has been currently hot in the streets of New York City, according to my source. Today I definitely decided to YouTube a couple videos like "Peso" and let me tell you, if you thought Wolf Gang was bad, boy have they met their match. Id give him a solid 2/10, only for the effort and accomplishment of  being a success. Now I've never been one to bash an artist, but let's face reality here, hip hop has exactly nothing to do with being a "pretty mothafucka" and Purple Swag. Dope beats, just not enough lyricism to go along with it. I have no idea where upcoming YOUNG (emphasis on the young) talent gets the idea of rapping about swag, cocaine, & chopped & screwed demonic voices in the background. ASAP Rocky is just another kid rapping about nonsense. Expect a Golf Wang/ASAP Collabo or feud soon, because their styles go hand in hand. Now you listen, & tell me what you think![Editor's Note: OOOOOH, Now ya got me interested!]





See everyone next week in better health with better content!