Snoop Dogg - R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece CD

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece buy CD music While Eminem has revealed levels of depth far beyond his Slim Shady persona, few could have anticipated 'Mosh,' the second single from his 2004 release, ENCORE. This song, by one of music's most controversial artists, features Em focusing his rage like never before, ultimately calling on the youth of America to rise up and vote. While his brilliantly scathing tirade against President George W. Bush didn't lead to the politician's defeat, it certainly captured the country's attention and attempted to raise listeners' political awareness. It also effectively increased the already huge stature of the expectation-defying Detroit rapper only a few weeks before his highly anticipated fourth record's release. ENCORE is far from a letdown, as Eminem's twisted mind continues to produce razor-sharp rhymes, whether examining the world (the aforementioned 'Mosh'), venting his spleen ('Puke'), exploring his soul ('Like Toy Soldiers') or just being plain silly ('My 1st Single'). While Em's inclination toward the shocking is well documented, other than 'Mosh,' the record is relatively toned down; he even apologizes for racist comments made on a 1993 underground tape. However, that's not to imply that the proceedings are low-key; ENCORE burns with the fire of a master lyricist letting his words loose on whatever crosses his mind. 2 CD;Bonus Disc Contains 3 Hard To Find Songs. Recording information: 54 Sound, Detroit, MI; Can-AM, Tarzana, CA; TransContinental Studios, Orlando, FL. Photographer: Anthony Mandler. Personnel: Eminem (rap vocals); D12, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Obie Trice, Stat Quo (rap vocals); Steven King (guitar, mandolin, keyboards); Mike Elizondo (guitar, sitar, keyboards); Luis Resto, Mark Batson (keyboards); Che Vicious (programming). Audio Mixers: Dr. Dre; Eminem; Tony Campana; Steven King.

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece CD music If 50 Cent is calm in his delivery, it's more than matched by the ease of the lyrical couplets he unfolds. He could beat most challengers to a freestyle battle in his sleep, and raps as if he's known this from birth, a truth he expounds on in "This Is 50," as he effortlessly whips a rival. When partner-in-platinum-sales Eminem, drops by on "Gatman and Robbin," 50 Cent shows he can bring the energy, but, for the most part, the rapper stays in his wonderfully jaded comfort zone. He smoothly packs the dance floor on the single "Disco Inferno," before unwinding the most laid-back of seductions on "Just a Lil Bit." If anyone thought 50 Cent might have burned out in his flurry of prosperity, THE MASSACRE, a strong sophomore effort, should set the record straight. After years of hustling for his music and his life, and taking bullet after bullet, 50 Cent finally found massive success raining down suddenly on him, as he became the center of the hip-hop world in 2003 with his multi-platinum record GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN'. On the highly anticipated follow-up, THE MASSACRE, 50 reveals that he's unsure whether he's "God's child or Satan's angel," dropping this soul-searching moment as casually as the title in the chorus of the song, "I'm Supposed to Die Tonight." tuggboat westlandmusicgroup Personnel: 50 Cent (rap vocals); Jamie Foxx, Olivia (vocals); Eminem, Lloyd Banks, Game, Tony Yayo, Young Buck (rap vocals); Mike Elizondo (keyboards, electric bass); Dave Cabrera (keyboards).

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece songs After many twists and turns, the Game finally dropped the highly anticipated THE DOCUMENTARY as the first major hip-hop release of 2005, and it's quite an opening salvo. On the Kanye West-produced "Dreams," he displays a dizzying intellect, subtly working an apt quote from Nas into an imagined bi-coastal conference between Jam Master Jay and Eazy-E. (The track also invokes political figures ranging from Ronald Reagan to Huey Newton.) The Game's clearly been immersed in the rap world from an early age, and he tips his hat to both past masters and his contemporaries, many of whom appear on the record (Eminem, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, and others). THE DOCUMENTARY heralds a stunning new voice in rap by living up to its overwhelming hype. On his official debut, THE DOCUMENTARY, Los Angeles rapper the Game (born Jayceon Taylor) observes he "was an ol' G in the hood" before he was 22. The Game has truly packed a lifetime of fury, chaos, and crime into his first years of adulthood, living life with a reckless passion. After a gunshot wound sent him into a temporary coma, he decided to put his agile mind to better use in hip-hop, and his complex, ferocious raps swiftly became mixtape staples. Personnel: Game (rap vocals); Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige (vocals); Eminem, 50 Cent, Marsha, Nate Dogg, Tony Yayo, Busta Rhymes (rap vocals).

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece album for sale It's fitting that Ludacris would unveil one of the last major albums of 2004. He is one of the wittiest personalities in hip-hop, only rivaled in the one-liner department by Eminem, and the most downright fun rapper in the business. Ludacris opens with a wry rant on the industry, a common theme, but he uniquely combines the self-aware eye of a writer with the continually scheming nature of a hustler. It is said that when comic actors perform drama, they often excel at it, and Ludacris translates this to the music world. When he gets serious on the reflective "Child of the Night," he shines, honestly pondering both his life and the craziness of the world. However, the bulk of THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT is a party, as the Atlanta MC lets his rhymes loose with abandon over infectious tracks like "Put Your Money," where he trades shouts with DMX, and "Get Back," which revels in its catchy melody. Recording information: Brimstone Studios, Edgewater, NJ; Chung King Studios, New York, NY; Dry Rain Studios, New York, NY; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Osakaya 1 Studios, Miami, FL; Paramount Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Pimp Palace, Atlanta, GA; SoundTrap Studios, Atlanta, GA; Stankonia Recording, Atlanta, GA; The Dungeon, Atlanta, GA; The Ludaplex, Atlanta, GA; The Medicine Cabinet, Baton Rouge, LA. Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. Personnel: Ludacris (rap vocals); Katt Williams, Brolic D, Tity Boi (vocals); Dave Robbins (keyboards); Organized Noize (programming); DJ Jaycee (scratches); Marqueze Etheridge, Melinda Johnson, Keri Hilson (background vocals); Dolla Boy (vocals); Sleepy Brown (keyboards); DJ Quik, DMX, Doug E. Fresh, Nas, Nate Dogg, Small World, Trick Daddy, Kimmi, Bobby V . Audio Mixers: John Frye; Jimmy Douglass; Kevin Crouse; Phil Tan; Leslie Brathwaite.

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece CD music With TRAP MUZIK, Georgia rapper T.I. boldly established himself as a young rapper to watch and a sought-after guest artist. As if to cement his stardom, T.I. opens his third record, URBAN LEGEND, with one of the most famous declarations in the history of hip-hop, Run-DMC's "I'm the kiiiing," building the assured track ("Tha King") around a sleek "Hit It Run" sample. On that song, T.I. wanders around the rap iconography of the South, asserting himself the new leader and claiming that his ascendance came without the aid of major guest appearances on his previous album. With URBAN LEGEND, however, the cast list is practically overwhelming (Trick Daddy, Lil' Kim, Lil Jon, Lil Wayne), but smartly, T.I. lets his own lyrical light shine until the seventh track, when Nelly comes in for the slick, Jazze Pha-produced "Get Loose." Throughout the album, T.I. unleashes his brash swagger, and his delivery brims with an earnest confidence. URBAN LEGEND reveals a rapper comfortable in his game, both riding solo and bouncing his rhymes off of others. Recording information: P.S. West Studios, Atlanta GA; Silent Sounds Studios, Atlanta, GAThe Orange Grove, Los; Stankonia Studios, Atlanta, GA. Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. Parental Advisory.Guests:B.G., Pharrell Williams,Lil Jon,Daz+ Personnel: T.I.; Tony Love (guitar); Daz, Jazze Pha, KLC, Lil Jon, Pharrell Williams, B.G., Ciara. Audio Mixers: Chris Theis; Supa Engineer; Kevin Crouse; Phil Tan; Ray Seay; Leslie Brathwaite.

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece buy CD music P/A. All Prev.Unrel.Tracks. W/ 50 Cent,Jadakiss,L.Banks,Outlw Dozens of posthumous releases have been culled from 2Pac's archives, both by his mother, Afeni Shakur, and by more dubious sources. Eight years after the conflicted poet/thug's death comes Loyal to the Game, featuring more untapped rhymes. These recordings are the latest unearthed by Afeni Shakur, and while it might be easy to dismiss yet another new collection, two things work in this album's favor. The tapes were handed over to hip-hop icon Eminem, providing a completely unique angle on 2Pac's rhymes. More importantly, while these offerings are late in coming, that is not to say 2Pac's mother is desperately peddling the dregs of his output; the lyrics on Loyal to the Game are razor-sharp. Eminem's trademarked heavily syncopated sound provides an almost surreal sheen to the proceedings, and Em's voice graces the strong opening track, "Soldier Like Me (aka The Return of the Soulja)." The guests run the gamut from 2Pac contemporaries Nate Dogg and members of the fallen rapper's crew, the Outlawz, to relative newcomers Jadakiss and G-Unit, but all performances are solid and requisitely reverent to the memory of Tupac Shakur. Loyal to the Game simply combines strong remaining lyrics of a late master with newer ones, and stands as one of the best posthumous 2Pac releases. Personnel: 2Pac (rap vocals); Ronald Isley, Sleepy Brown (vocals); Edi, Eminem, G-Unit, Jadakiss, Nate Dogg, Noble, Obie Trice, Big Syke (rap vocals).