On August 23rd, 2011, it was a historic day for Hip Hop and the World. Not only did the Earth shake Virginia with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that had tremors that I felt ALL THE WAY in New Jersey LOL (California is absolutely on my list of places to NEVER move to after that by the way…LOL), but the boardroom at Universal Music Group shook with the vibrations of GREATNESS from The Nappy Roots’ new album, NAPPY DOT ORG, which is releasing in stores September 27, 2011. This album was hosted by The Nappy Roots & Rico Wade of Organized Noize (#SHOUTOUT TO The Dungeon Family!) I am BEYOND grateful to GOD that He didn’t allow me to MISS THIS Listening Session!, because THESE guys are truly people I now LOVE on a deeper level and are the nicest people I’ve ever met! SpokenFree ENT. & Uncut Magazine regards The Nappy Roots as their lifelong Southern kinfolk because we are absolutely on the SAME PAGE when it comes to Hip Hop. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! ❤
Check out the interview with SpokenFreeENT’s Lady *O* & The Nappy Roots:
Footage by: Ray Rodriguez (@ProductiveRay09)
NOW, when I say this album is AMAZING… it’s AMAAAAZING! Not only was the ENTIRE Nappy Roots crew present and accounted for at UMG, but Rico Wade of Organized Noize was on the conference speakerphone listening along and giving us some insight into what it was like working with these guys. He expressed what each song meant not just to him, but what each one of The Nappy Roots members brought to each track. Big V., made one thing VERY clear before we started listening to the album… "This album is the combining of 2 super powers…Kentucky & Atlanta… And we are bringing respect BACK to the South.”… Rico said via the phone, "THIS IS Southern Hip Hop." <- He ain’t NEVA LIED! LOL
The first track played was “Legends Live On”,and it’s truly a track that proves that no matter if you THOUGHT The Nappy Roots disappeared, fell off, or broke up,.. You are DEAD WRONG. The Legend of The Nappy Roots has BEEN living on… You just gotta catch up! LOL. Track 2: “Return of the Country Boyz” is a BANGER! It’s produced by Mr. DJ, who is the cousin of Rico Wade (but not affiliated with Organized Noize) T.N.R. said “We wanted to keep it COUNTRY”… They succeeded BIG TIME! Track 3: “Easy Money”, Big V. says “If you doin’ what you love, it seems easy… We love our job.” Rico: “Organized Noize + The Nappy Roots= Easy Money”… And the track definitely has the eclectic vibes reminiscent of Outkast… It’s DEFINITELY a party song for the entrepreneurial spirit.
The 3 tracks already released online are: “Hey Love” ft. Samuel Christian (The very 1st song released off NAPPYDOTORG), which is B. Stille‘s FAVORITE track on the album and he defines it as “A relationship break up song told from a male point of view about how you think a person is good for you but they’re not.” (I think this track is genius! #JUSTSAYIN.. AND it is ALSO a personal FAVE!), “Y’all Party” which is a club record Rico fought to put on the album that defines what a good time is like with The Nappy Roots, and “Congratulations”, which is motivation, appreciation, and remembrance for the life you continue to live, have lived, and fought to keep going through all the adversity you might have ever faced.
Amongst the boardroom at UMG the favorites were: “Pete Rose” ft. Khujo Goodie, which is a street cut, Big V. explained “is based on the baseball player Pete Rose who played for the Cincinnati Reds and got caught gambling and more specifically, betting on himself to win.” This track tells the story of a Hustler. “Give Me a Sign” (Ray Murray of Organized Noize sung the hook), talks about self-doubt on the way to the finish line to success when you KNOW you are doing what you were born to do… “Good & Evil”, which Rico explains is a track where he was “as weird as I wanna be” as a producer…LOL…It’s also track that Rico says “might be an “Acquired Taste.”” (Rico… I LOVED IT!) This track is for those who struggle with choice, identity, and integrity when it comes to Hip Hop… showing that the hard work WILL pay off as long as the truth is consistently involved.
And last but not least, MY other 2 PERSONAL FAVORITES: “Karma”, which speaks for itself audibly but Big V. said it best: “You gotta have your positive and negative situated when it comes to Karma”… #BACKGROUND: The hook for this track was written AFTER everyone’s verses were put down! (Crazy, right?? You could never tell listening to it!) and “Nappy U Here”, which I also agree with Rico AGAIN when he said “This reminds me of Tribe Called Quest” (Rico HIMSELF is on the hook), showcases how close of a bond The Nappy Roots have with each other. You can hear the appreciation and love they have for each other as a group and even more so as a band of brothers.
I’ll put it to you this way, FROM NOW ON, when I have to give an example of GREAT SOUTHERN HIP HOP , The Nappy Roots are my NUMBER 1 recommendation! These gentlemen put their blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul both individually AND collectively into this album… And I say ABSOLUTELY GO BUY the NAPPY DOT ORG album 9/27 when it drops! It’s worth EVERY CENT! Follow @NappyRoots on Twitter!!!
Photography by: Ray Rodriguez (@ProductiveRay09)
Written by: Lady *O* (@THELADYOSHOW)
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