40 Versions

This is interesting: Jon Caramanica is now the music editor of Vibe. Caramanica reviewed the new Outkast fiasco in XXL; also, he interviewed Bun B for The Believer (a great read). His Pazz & Jop ballot from 2004 lists Cam’ron’s Purple Haze as his favorite album of the year; in 2002 it was Big Moe’s Purple World. Media Bistro’s blurb points out that Caramanica graduated from Harvard in 1997.

Nick Sylvester, the former Village Voice and P’fork scribe who was canned earlier this after trying to develop a new form of journalism, is, I read on Gawker, a recent Harvard graduate. He really liked Tha Carter II. Clipse’s “Zen” was his favorite song of 2005.

In 1988, Dave Mays and Jon Shecter, two Harvard students, started a crude newsletter out of a campus apartment; a decade later it would be the biggest hip-hop magazine in the world.

Here’s where I’m going: is there some kind of correlation between Ivy League education and gully street rap? Why do people who have so clearly (and adamantly) bought into an academic lifestyle based on structure and hierarchy fall for a culture rooted in the anti-establishment?

I think it’s several things. Maybe these people are fascinated with the politics and sociology of a world far removed from their own. The reason mob stories are so popular, for instance. Maybe they’re amused by the antics of people who aren’t as traditionally educated as they are. Maybe, like most arts and entertainment writers, they’re jealous of talents they don’t possess or are unable to pursue — like sports commentators. Or maybe it’s some kind of pity; you know, ”voice of the voiceless.” I am guilty of any number of these approaches.

Keep in mind, I don’t know any of these folks personally, so I’m just guessing at what their true motives are. But with Harvard’s reputation being what it is, you’ve got to wonder what someone’s friends and families think when said person tries to break down the science behind Young Jeezy’s particular brand of coke rap and its potential for self-empowerment in the black community. At least give Mays and Schecter credit for having the foresight to realize the goldmine hip-hop could become. All others: you’ve got some explaining to do.

Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love FutureSex/LoveSounds. Check this out.

So 2006 kinda sucks, right? Hold on, be strong. Some things to look forward to, Idlewild included. Release dates were compiled from a number of sources and are not set in stone.

•  Obie Trice Second Round’s on Me 8/15 I’m more excited than I should be about this, and so what? Obie’s my man.

• The Pipettes We Are the Pipettes 8/15 Well, Pitchfork liked it.

• J Dilla The Shining 8/22 This doesn’t excite me at all, I’m sorry to say. Seems too predictable. I’m sure Dilla’s got tons of posthumous stuff that can be packaged and sold, but Donuts feels more like the appropriate end-cap.

• Lake & Cormega My Brother’s Keeper 8/22 Don’t fuck with Lake.

• Outkast Idlewild 8/22 I haven’t heard this, but early reports haven’t thrown me off. I still think this could kill. Even though they are broken up.

• M. Ward Post-War 8/22 Matt Ward is a beautiful genius and Post-War shoots off in all sorts of wonderful directions.

• Christina Aguilera Back to Basics & Kelis Kelis Was Here 8/22 I have to say “whatever” to both. That X-tina (are people still calling her that?) single crushes, though. *CORRECTION* X-tina drops 8/15.

• Bob Dylan Modern Times 8/29 I know he’s Bob Dylan and all, but I thought Love and Theft sucked the hair off a monkey’s back.

• The Roots Game Theory 8/29 Apparently Tom Moon and I were the only music critics who liked The Tipping Point. This one should be very interesting to hear/watch. Because they’re on Def Jam now.

• Young Dro Best Thang Smokin’ 8/29 This isn’t the same guy who does “It’s Goin’ Down,” just so you know.

• Beyonce B’day 9/5 I have nothing nice to say about this.

• Iron Maiden A Matter of Life and Death 9/5 This is more like it.

• Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds 9/12 Oh, goodie mob. JT made an Outkast album. You know you fucking like him.

• John Mayer Continuum 9/12 That last record John Mayer did — not the blues one — killed. I really like this guy. Hell, I’d even let him date my sister!

• The Mars Volta Amputechture 9/12 I rallied for last year’s Frances the Mute, as did Moon. Another heady album title, another great cover.

• TV On The Radio Return to Cookie Mountain 9/12 You know how amazing this is already.

• Junior Boys So This Is Goodbye 9/12 Pitchfork liked this, too.

• The Rapture Pieces of the People We Love 9/12 I’m predicting some very mixed reviews for this. Personally, I’ll love it. Curious to hear Danger Mouse’s contributions/detractions.

• The Album Leaf Into the Blue Again 9/12 I think Moby had a song called “Into the Blue” that I remember liking. I loved The Album Leaf’s last album.

• Basement Jaxx Crazy Itch Radio 9/12 I should be more into these guys. Seems like their best days are behind them, though.

• The Black Keys Magic Potion 9/12 Wow, Sept. 12 is a really big day for new releases, isn’t it? Anyway, I wrote something about The Black Keys when I reviewed their 2004 record, Rubber Factory, that I kind of regret, although not too much. I ended up liking it the longer it stayed with me, too. I’m not super-psyched about this new album, really. That said, it’ll probably be great.

• Dr. Dog Takers and Leavers [EP] 9/12 I dig these guys and championed for Easy Beat in a couple of publications. Curious to see if anything’s progressed musically for them.

• The Capitol Years Dance Away the Terror 9/12 Critics love The Capitol Years. When will everyone else?

• Air LateNightTales 9/19 Allmusic.com tells me this is a covers album, a la Rage Against the Machine’s Renegades. Which rocked hard, by the way.

• Lupe Fiasco Food & Liquor 9/19 After having his album leaked and subsequently pushed back, Lupe Fiasco is ready to drop his much-hyped debut. I am not at all interested in hearing this.

• Keak Da Sneak Thizz Iz Allndadoe 9/19 E-40’s boy. I have no idea how to pronounce that last word.

• Mos Def Tru3 Magic 9/19 Some artists make you nervous when you find out they’re releasing new albums, not always for good reasons. Good luck, Mos.

• Ludacris Release Therapy 9/26 One helluva rapper who refuses to make street records. Wtf?

• Eightball & MJG Ridin’ High 9/26 It’s an Eightball & MJG record, but it’s on Bad Boy. What to do?

• Re-Up Gang We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3 [mixtape] September I have it on good authority (I interviewed Sandman and Ab-Liva) that there will be a third installment of We Got It 4 Cheap before Clipse’s Hell Hath No Fury, which arrives Oct. 31.

• The Killers Sam’s Town 10/3 The Springsteen album.

• Dosh The Lost Take 10/17 Should that Killers album not work out, there’s this: an indie-pop hideaway from eclectic composer-songwriter Martin Dosh that features collaborations with Andrew Bird and Tapes ‘N’ Tapes.

• Young Buck Buck the World 10/24 Hope that’s a working title. G-Unit’s best rapper can help salvage what’s been a lackluster year for 50 Inc.

• Clipse Hell Hath No Fury 10/31 One of the most anticipated and storied rap albums ever finally sees release. No pressure or anything.

• DJ Shadow The Outsider Fall Shadow’s first album in four years — and third in 10 — looks to be a frustrating, hard-headed mess.

• Talib Kweli Eardrum Fall? Dope first single.

• Saigon The Greatest Story Never Told Fall? Tell it already. This is shaping up to be a monster.

• The Game The Doctor’s Advocate Fall? Dropped by Aftermath and picked up by, eh, Geffen; Dr. Dre stays mum. One thing’s for sure (drumroll, please): The Game will never be the same.

• Jay-Z TBA Thanksgiving “I didn’t say I retired — I said I was tired!”

• Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Fall/Winter This guy’s running out of ways to get better.

• Vakill V for Vendetta Late 2006/Early 2007 Vakill tries to work it DMX ‘98-style by putting out two albums in one year. Go for it, homie.

Dave Mays and Benzino grace the cover of the new XXL. A list of other people that could’ve/should’ve been on this month’s cover:

• Saigon
• Rick Ross
• Lupe Fiasco (not a fan)
• The Game
• Rakim
• Pharrell Williams
• Outkast
• Clipse
• The Roots
• Vakill
• Rakim
• Group shot: Green Lantern, DJ Drama, Kay Slay, Clinton Sparks
• Tom Breihan
• Young Buck
• UGK
• A “youngest in charge” theme: T.I., Papoose, Lil Wayne

It’s payback, mofos. Officially.

‘Kast’s first album, 1994, the one nobody remembers. I like “Call of Da Wild” and “Crumblin’ ‘Erb.” You?

Eat it up. Idlewild will probably kill, but these guys are definitely done.

Rockpile, R.I.P. Here’s the official press release:

ROCKPILE MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES CLOSING
After more than 12 years and 120 issues of of consistent, regular publication, Rockpile Magazine will be closing its doors.

On Friday, July 28th, 2006, Rockpile Magazine officially closed its doors. Although we have weighed various options, it is almost certain that we will not be publishing another issue, including our scheduled August issue. We apologize for any inconvenience and disappointment, but recognize that we currently have no other choice. Not surprisingly, financial shortcomings have forced this closure. And while it pains us to have to throw in the towel, we take immense consolation in our achievements of the past two years since going completely independent. In fact, few publications can boast a similar track record in terms of longevity, innovation, let alone creative and financial autonomy. Every success in our editorial, art, circulation and marketing was realized only through the consistent support of many contributors, volunteers, advertisers, readers and artists. To everyone who subscribed to Rockpile, please be aware that we are in the process of developing some sort of reimbursement package for those whose did not receive everything they were supposed to. Hopefully you at least got your 4 free CDs. In the meantime, we’d like to offer a resounding and heart-felt “Thank you.”

Sincerely,
Allan Martin Kemler, Michael McKee, Matt McGlynn
Publishers, Rockpile Magazine

In brighter news, at least for “real” hip-hop fans (you know who you are), Scratch mag is absolutely killing it, evidenced by their last two cover stories (three, actually, since the last ish was a split). New issue big-ups the new Roots album and (tries) to break down the myth behind Detox, the Chinese Democracy of rap.