October 31, 2025 • 30 mins
On this new episode, Cam'ron is suing J. Cole for breach of contract. Jay-Z says he is untouchable in a Verzuz battle. Vegas reviews Big L's new album, "Harlem's Finest: Return of the King." Let's talk about it!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coming up. On this week's episode of Hip Hop Now podcast,
Cameron sues j Cole over a broken contract. Jay Z
said he's untouchable in a versus, but he said this
about three or four years ago. And my review of
Big Al's new album Harlem's Finest Return of the King,
(00:25):
We're gonna talk about it. Let's do it. Welcome to
Hip Hop Now Pop. If become the future, you know
what you do? Show as out so disrespectful leg hip
(00:45):
hop is said to today. Let's get right into the business.
What up, y'all? I am yours Vegas and this is
hip Hop Now podcast, podcast specifically designed to keep you
caught up on all things hip hop and culture that
happened throughout the week. Big shout out to those who
have been listening to audio phone for when it's getting
(01:08):
close to a decade. I ain't gonna lie y'all, it's
getting close to a decade. And also those who are
new to the audio side of things, whether you're on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you'd like to get your
podcasts listening. Appreciate you review on Apple podcasts please, and
also a big shout out to those who are watching
right here on YouTube at hip Hop Now Pod, the
(01:31):
goal is to get to twenty five thousand subscribers, which
is dope. Right now we're at twenty one thousand subscribers.
So if you like this content, you feel like you
love this content, this type of hip hop, talk about
hip hop, not arrest, not things like that, right, not
who got divorced? Unless it's interesting. You know, I appreciate
(01:56):
the support here, and also think about becoming a member
of this channel. What does a member get you? Well,
there are certain episodes, including bonus episodes, that are available
to you as a member because you support the podcast.
And if you don't know what memberships are all about
on YouTube, just click the link in the description of
(02:16):
this episode. You can see what it's all about. You
can read about it, and you can make your decision.
But that is not the only way to support. Well,
let me just say, proceeds that I received from anybody,
remember one time, cash app whatever you are, go right
back into the production of this podcast in the form
(02:38):
of equipment, software and even advertising, right like, I will
combine your dollars with my dollars to advertise this podcast
so more people like you and me discover it. Get
it So with that being said, let's just get all
the intro and stuff out the way. Let's get well.
(03:01):
Hold up, Hold up, I'm rushing myself. Big shout out
to hip Hop DX dot com. Okay, I got a
couple of new people on hered let me just look
at your name real quick Music Times dot com as
well as Hotnew hip Hop dot com for providing some
of the information from some of these stories. But without
(03:22):
further ado, let's get right into the business right at
the top. Cameron sues j Coole over a song called
Ready twenty four in which Cameron appeared. It was on
the might Delete Later, which kind of deleted himself later
(03:48):
from the battle you know that battle do Drake Ken
Drake J Coole saying you know I'm gonna take it
on the chin, you know whatever he said, man like,
come on, it's damn it, Jacob. I like Jacole, But
the suit is he's claimed. Cameron has claimed that he's
old five hundred k now. According to TMZ, the Dipset
(04:13):
Legend has filed a lawsuit against the Dreamville star, claiming
that he appeared on Cole's Mike Delete Later track in
exchange for either a guest verse on appearance on his
popular YouTube sports show It Is What It Is. This
is coming from hip hop d X by the way.
(04:33):
In the two years since the song was recorded, however,
Killer Camra legends that Cole has yet to fulfill their
agreement and has repeatedly rejected his request to record a
collaboration or be a guest on his aforementioned show. The
Hall of Native is seeking monetary compensation for his contributions
to the Ready to Ready twenty four, asking a judge
(04:56):
to legally declare him the co author of the song
so he can receive his fair share of its proceeds.
Cam is demanding a full accounting of the song's earnings
and estimates that he is old at least five hundred k.
Neither Cameron nor j Cole have yet to publicly comment
(05:20):
on the lawsuit. All right, so let's clear the dummies
out there are a lot of people who love social
media and the Internet because it allows them to be
the ignorant people they are. Now, don't look at that
as just an insult. Some people are really proud to
(05:40):
not know. They prefer to not know because it feeds
a feeling, right, and it's usually a negative feeling. So
they can, you know, express that in regards to whoever
it may be, because there's something not right with their
own lives, right, that's what it's just you just channeling,
(06:01):
You're just projecting. Now, why would I say all that
when we're talking about seeing Well, that's because a lot
of people look at this as not hip hop to sue.
But what they don't know is suing has been happening
well before Drake did it. Example, you can go back
to not even that long, but you can go on
(06:24):
YouTube and just like search for Noorri complaining damn there
crying about being sued by another rapper or whoever within
the music industry, and he, you know, he's hesitant to
talk about it because you know, you can't talk about
litigation in some instances unless you're a dummy. And this
(06:45):
is like what late nineties I think when this is happening.
So suing is a thing now. The difference between Drake sewing, well,
Drake's suing for defamation of character for lyrics and a
that's not hip hop because never in the history of
(07:06):
hip hop battle rap has the one the person who
lost filed a suit because of what was saying or
even the person that won like because if it's a
back and forth, it's a part of a battle to
say things that in some cases aren't true, or to
define the other. God, that's what battle rap is. You're
(07:27):
doing what the sport of battle rap requires. And Drake
is no different. That's what makes his lawsuit seem stupid.
From a man who says, I study battle rap, he
can't even keep up with himself. The Cameron thing is
a breach of contract. This is totally different. Some would say,
(07:52):
oh this him, what kind of broke? Answer is that
they are in the business. I don't care how dope
you feel your favorite MC is they get a check
to do it. They're not at the recipe Sean Price.
Sean Price wasn't just rhyming on the corner just like
I'm the illest guy. I just want to give off
(08:14):
my my art and my energy. No, Sean Price was
getting a check too. He could say either broke his
wrapper alive, but he ain't doing no free shows. It's
a business man, and when you're contractually obligated or handshake
or whatever it is, the assumption is that you're going
to honor that contract. And a contract, so to speak,
(08:38):
of this nature where it's like Cole, give me a verse,
like I gave you a verse, or just hop on
my show. Now I can understand j Cole not wanting
to go on the show. I can understand him ghosting
that when you can just really say we not want to,
we don't want to do that. The answer has been
(09:00):
Jake hole is not available. Right. I can understand that
because unfortunately, every time Ja Cole pops out on the
beach with sneakers on, people are talking about him. Every
time he drops a song or whatever, people are talking
about him, and it's all rose lead back to the
(09:21):
battle because how it ended for him, and it's almost
as if he can't shake it and get started and
move to the next thing. Now sidebar Ja Cole, if
you're finding that every time you drop a record, all
people say is you quit. Shut up. We don't want
(09:43):
to hear from you. You gotta call Kenny. You gotta
call Kung Fu Kenny, you gotta call gate Dot, you
gotta call Kendrick Lamar and say, brother, I need your help. Okay.
They won't listen to me when I come out and
talk about the battle, apologize about the battle, say I'm
moving on from the battle. But if you collaborate with me,
(10:08):
they won't be able to say anything. Some will say
like look at him, but nobody will pay attention to
them because they will just be happy that the universe
is no more, no more Beef. But regarding Cameron, I
could get. I get why j Cole wouldn't want to
go on the show because y'all, I don't want to
(10:29):
How are you not going to ask me about that? Like,
I know it's a sports show, but what people want
to hear won't be who j Cole thinks is going
to the finals. They'll want to hear, Yo, where you've been,
what happened with the battle? What was your real thoughts?
Blah blah blah. And he doesn't want to answer that,
So give him a verse, man, give him a verse.
(10:51):
Give him a verse you already have. And some people
might say, well, maybe he don't want to talk about it.
You don't have to talk about it all. So Jacole
does a lot of features, so why aren't you giving
Cam a feature? So it's one of two things. For one,
it's not against hip hop that Cameron is suing after
(11:13):
he let a grace period of time pass of pursuing Jaco. See,
he didn't go straight to litigation when he didn't get
his money. He kept making attempts to make right on
that agreement. And j Cole is not available. So either
(11:33):
you're going to become available or you're gonna pay, or
you're gonna or give me the verse whatever, and who knows. Again,
both haven't said anything publicly, which could mean they're speaking privately.
And sometimes when this information hits the public, guy and
(11:53):
these guys are more concerned with their image than maybe
J Cole is available now now that everybody knows, maybe
you're available now, so we'll see next. So there was
like a whole story that popped up recently about jay
(12:20):
Z saying he was untouchable in a versus. We know
we're coming off the cash money records and no limit versus.
So everybody's kind of back in mold again as fans
and somehow comments that jay Z said about three or
four years ago are back and people are arguing about
(12:41):
it as if he just said it. But he did
said a long time ago, because I remember Future being
one of those people who said I could compete with
jay Now, this is what jay Z meant by that
as far as being untouchable, his catalog, stamina, and live
(13:03):
performance presence would make a two hour versus battle effectively
unwinnable for any opponent. Now, what does his church say?
I say he lies? Can I get an a man? Okay? Now,
there are not many that can compete, and maybe that's
(13:27):
what the quote from three to four years ago from
jay Z should have been. But there are people who
can compete now. Obviously when it comes to crowds, it
depends on the crowd, right, Like you may have a
crowd that's there for jay Z right and loves jay Z,
(13:49):
But will they like Eminem Because Eminem could compete with
Jay right. He has the catalog right, even though it
might be the first three albums, but he got enough
right in the soundtrack. He has the stage presence, he
has the stamina right. But maybe the content would make
(14:13):
people feel like, well, I don't mess with Eminem, or
I don't like what he said, or that didn't age. Well,
I'm with jay Z Okay, cool, Nas just start with either.
Now I'm just playing, but you know what I'm saying.
Nas has a catalog, he can have twenty joints, he
can have the presence He's actually a better performer than
(14:35):
jay Z if you ask me. Jay Z has become
better over the years, and so has NAS. But I
think NAS haven't seen Nas recently. I think Nas edges
him because his stage show is more than just the
songs driving the entertainment, if you know what I mean. Right,
(14:56):
Like you know you had a show jay Z do
your favorite like you don't know. It don't matter what
he said the minute to term my music hot, it's
the song that's driving it. He's not. He doesn't really
have to do much anymore today to make that performance
great because that song was already great. And even when
(15:18):
that song was out back in the days. Trust me,
I've seen jay Z a million times back in the days.
I ain't talking about your new fans who black album
went forward. I'm talking about from before reasonable doubt forward.
And there was a time where all he did was
point at you the whole time. That's all he did
is point at you. Why it's my phone like sounds
(15:41):
like it's loose, but you know what I'm saying. And
NADS would have a thousand dudes on stage and it
was kind of yelling and cuffing. I'm like both are
better performers, but nads can match jay Z and my
last pick, you know the goat LL cool J. He
(16:03):
got the catalog. He has it and expands decades in
decades where jay Z was out, in decades where jay
Z was not out as an artist. Get what I'm saying.
In jay Z's Heyday, LL got hits before jay Z
(16:26):
even got on. LL got hits. He has the stage presence.
Have you ever seen LL perform? He outperforms all the
guys I just mentioned because he comes from an error
where it's it's not just rapping, it's a lot of movement,
it's a lot of presentation. Those guys don't move the
(16:49):
way Jay the way LL moves because LL kind of
comes from a different error where they worked on that
nineties cats. It was just more about what they were
saying and the beats, and some of them had to
develop some level of stage presence, but most of theirs
(17:10):
is coming from what they say. You know, LL is
like spinning and probably got the one leg pants leg up.
But it's a show, you know what I'm saying. So
I don't agree with jay Z's comments from three to
four years ago, but I would love to see it.
(17:31):
I just don't think it would ever happen because if
it was to happen, as far as like hype and
selling an event, it has to be jay Z and
ours just because of the battle, just because of the errors.
It would be dope to see jay Z in ll
(17:53):
In some ways they kind of overlap with the type
of music, but because people just know jay Z versus
nas jay Z and nasay like eternally linked because of
a battle, that would be huge. I would watch. I
might go. Now I'm not going, but I might watch
(18:14):
for sure. So I don't know. Do you think is
jay Z untouchable in a versus name some people in
the comment section who you think could also compete on
those same levels of stamina and catalog and live performance
because some of us can come up with a few,
(18:36):
and the future says he got the catalog and stamina
and live performance also, so we'll see. And lastly, so
we've been following along with this massiveppeal what is it?
Seven Legends, seven icons release of albums, and so far
(18:58):
we got Slick Rick ray Kwon, ghost Face and then
mob Deep and so far it's been more good than bad.
To be honest, I don't think any of it's bad.
Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of Slick Rick's project,
(19:19):
I understood what the mission was. I just didn't necessarily
like everything I heard. So it's the lowest on the
totem pole for me. But now on Halloween, which is today,
and if you're from the future, you've already had Halloween,
get your ass out of here, okay. But one thing
(19:40):
that was interesting to me is that we knew Big
L's album was on the way, and then it was
announced that was Halloween. And then we got a lead
single with nas what is it? You Ain't got a chance?
With a video that was like vintage, and I was
feeling the vibe. It was nostalgic. And then it's like Halloween,
(20:05):
this album is dropping and it's here. So, if you
know how I do reviews, I give three listens for
my reviews. The first listen is just my impressions. I
just let it rock, whatever happens happened. The second listen
is to like really listen intently, kind of figure out
what the intent of this project was, what they've done,
(20:29):
you know what I'm saying, as far as production, concepts, bars, whatever.
And then The last listen is to confirm my thoughts
and for those who need quick reviews, I would say
this album from Big L is is that right? It's okay,
It's fine, That's what it is. So features on the
(20:53):
album would stare a lot include McGruff, nas, Errol Holding,
I have no idea. That is y'all method man, novel,
Mac Miller, jay Z which is that freestyle Joe Budden
talking I'm not rapping. I thought he was gonna be
rapping Joey badasses on his showbiz And I'm not gonna
(21:18):
name everybody. I just want I just want to say
this one party arty. You know, if you run a
nineties you know party arty, you know it, you know.
But it's sixteen tracks coming in around forty minutes and
what So what I feel about this album is I
(21:40):
feel like this is a continuation of the Big Picture.
So if you're looking for a Big L album like
his debut album, that's not what this is. This is
more like when he passed and they put out that album,
The Big Picture, which had features and some of his
(22:02):
freestyles were turned into songs and some of the freestyles
were available. Also. It's that so that should be your expectations. Now.
I know some people love the Big Picture, and the
thing is is this is a continuation. It's not a competitor.
It's a continuation of what was that And I think
(22:24):
that if you go into it haven't heard the Big Picture,
then you will understand what this album is. You can
grade it on that scale. And me doing that and
someone who grew up in the nineties listening to hip hop,
listening in the Big L in real time when he
(22:45):
was alive the stretch of barbdo freestyles like him emerging
from his contract, I guess with Columbia to start doing
all these dope freestyles and talking about and unfortunately he
was murdered. And then The Big Picture comes out, and
you know, songs like Ebonics on there and stuff like that,
(23:09):
like Big L was building to something because he was
always nice. So when you hear this album, it's just
a reminder and it's a trip down memory lane for
those of us who were around now. Some people may
be disappointed because they kind of wanted an album, but
(23:29):
the man has been gone for a long time and
this album is an indication of if there is an album,
Sony ain't releasing it, and if there isn't well, he
did a bunch of freestyles and had a couple of
starter verses here and there. Now I will say on
(23:52):
this album, the lead track, which I love, I think
is Dobe. Honestly, I like it better than the joint
when Nas Harlem Universal with McGruff. I really feel like
I heard that before. If you know where, leave your
comments in a comments section below, whether it appeared on
a mixtape or whatever. But I feel like I really
(24:15):
heard that before. And mcgruffy even says, you know when
it was recorded, and blah blah blah. But it's pretty
dope and I like to beat big L. Big L
don't miss on any of his verses, not one on
this project. So it's up to the features to meet
him at his level, and I think some of them do,
(24:39):
including McGruff One of the tracks that well, let me
say this first read. I mean method Man told the
story I think on Drink Champs about Big L selling
him what you go look that up. I ain't gonna
talk about it, but which was a crazy revelation. But
at the same time, Method Man's on his metha Man
(25:00):
bars are crazy, Okay, metha Man bars are Crazy on
here like it was perfect. It was a perfect combination
of these two together. But there was another Wait is
it going now? Hold up because I know I just
read it right, I read mac Miller. Oh there it
is a song called Forever featuring mac Miller. Now, I
(25:24):
know there are people felt like Yo L would have
never rocked with him. If Sean Price rocked with mac Miller,
you can't. You don't know. Maybe you knew him, but
somebody like Big L never had the chance to even
listen to a mac Miller because personality aside, he could
(25:47):
have respected him as an MC. Now I've said things
about mac Miller when he was alive, and maybe Big
L would have felt like me. But for whatever reason,
mac Miller's on here. And when I tell you, relax,
the song is dope and it fits. I never thought, like, damn,
(26:10):
why did they put him on? He don't sound like
he would be on here. Now there is one great
and I get it. I get if you look at
the mac Miller feature and be like nah. And it's
driven by the fact that where's O. C, D, I
T C. Show Business here? But where's OC? That's my thing?
(26:33):
Where's OC? Him? And Big L? Had a very good,
very tight relationship as MC's especially MC's a part of
the digging and the Crates crew. McGruff is here, but
that's the that's children what is it children of the
corn whatever with you know McGruff for those who don't
(26:54):
know McGruff, big L, Murder, Mace, cam and bloodshed. That
was dope to open like with that Children of the
Corn opening basically, but it's not enough. D I t
c here for me And if it's not law for
that's and I'm not saying law and that's want to
(27:15):
even write anything. But if it's not law for that's,
it gotta be oc like one of the two. But
all in all considering, there's some classic freestyles here, from
stretching barbto especially the seven minute joint feature in jay Z,
which is dope because you know, jay Z probably had
to clear that joint to be on here. It's dope
to hear that it's nice and cleaned up. You get
(27:38):
to hear when jay Z used to wrap like the
food snakings, don't try that. That first verse was fired,
but that second versus a bit of that, like Nick,
what are you saying? Jay? That's how we felt That's
how I felt back in the days. I was like,
get this garbage out of him. Uh. But overall, it's
(27:59):
a very good project, right, And don't think of it
like this because I know I read my demographics for
my show. My show has an older ardience, typically people
who are right under me and age and absolutely my
(28:20):
generation and above. We all kind of were around for
Big L. We all kind of were around for freestyles
on the mixtapes. We've probably heard between the Big Picture
in this album. We probably heard most of the stuff
before it was put into albums, So you're not really
going to impress us by repackaging it. But it's not
(28:44):
for you. It's not for me. It's for new fans.
It's for those who don't know who Big L is,
and not everybody who's a new hip hop head knows
who everyone is or know enough maybe that's ever been
in freestyles? Yo. I heard that on YouTube. I thought
it was ill, but I never really dove into Big
(29:06):
L's music. That's what this is for. That's what the
Big Picture is for. It's really like, Yo, this guy
was amazing his his work. Check it out. So with
that said, I think it's okay. Album it's okay. I
don't think it's the best of the year. I think
it's nice to have, but it's not one of my
(29:27):
top albums and a lot and then in a lot
of ways for the reasons I mentioned regarding my generation.
So what do you think of the New Harlem's Finest
Big L album? Leave your review in the comments section
below right here on YouTube, become a subscriber today. We're
(29:47):
trying to get to twenty five thousand subscribers by the
end of this year twenty twenty five, so make it happen.
Think about becoming a member again if you want detailed
information about what a member of Hip Now Pod on
YouTube is the link to your questions or the answers
or in the description of this episode. Follow me on
(30:11):
everything else social media at Vegas World, I NC on
own platforms, and please remember I am not a critic.
I'm a fan pace
Coming up. On this week's episode of Hip Hop Now podcast,
Cameron sues j Cole over a broken contract. Jay Z
said he's untouchable in a versus, but he said this
about three or four years ago. And my review of
Big Al's new album Harlem's Finest Return of the King,
(00:25):
We're gonna talk about it. Let's do it. Welcome to
Hip Hop Now Pop. If become the future, you know
what you do? Show as out so disrespectful leg hip
(00:45):
hop is said to today. Let's get right into the business.
What up, y'all? I am yours Vegas and this is
hip Hop Now podcast, podcast specifically designed to keep you
caught up on all things hip hop and culture that
happened throughout the week. Big shout out to those who
have been listening to audio phone for when it's getting
(01:08):
close to a decade. I ain't gonna lie y'all, it's
getting close to a decade. And also those who are
new to the audio side of things, whether you're on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you'd like to get your
podcasts listening. Appreciate you review on Apple podcasts please, and
also a big shout out to those who are watching
right here on YouTube at hip Hop Now Pod, the
(01:31):
goal is to get to twenty five thousand subscribers, which
is dope. Right now we're at twenty one thousand subscribers.
So if you like this content, you feel like you
love this content, this type of hip hop, talk about
hip hop, not arrest, not things like that, right, not
who got divorced? Unless it's interesting. You know, I appreciate
(01:56):
the support here, and also think about becoming a member
of this channel. What does a member get you? Well,
there are certain episodes, including bonus episodes, that are available
to you as a member because you support the podcast.
And if you don't know what memberships are all about
on YouTube, just click the link in the description of
(02:16):
this episode. You can see what it's all about. You
can read about it, and you can make your decision.
But that is not the only way to support. Well,
let me just say, proceeds that I received from anybody,
remember one time, cash app whatever you are, go right
back into the production of this podcast in the form
(02:38):
of equipment, software and even advertising, right like, I will
combine your dollars with my dollars to advertise this podcast
so more people like you and me discover it. Get
it So with that being said, let's just get all
the intro and stuff out the way. Let's get well.
(03:01):
Hold up, Hold up, I'm rushing myself. Big shout out
to hip Hop DX dot com. Okay, I got a
couple of new people on hered let me just look
at your name real quick Music Times dot com as
well as Hotnew hip Hop dot com for providing some
of the information from some of these stories. But without
(03:22):
further ado, let's get right into the business right at
the top. Cameron sues j Coole over a song called
Ready twenty four in which Cameron appeared. It was on
the might Delete Later, which kind of deleted himself later
(03:48):
from the battle you know that battle do Drake Ken
Drake J Coole saying you know I'm gonna take it
on the chin, you know whatever he said, man like,
come on, it's damn it, Jacob. I like Jacole, But
the suit is he's claimed. Cameron has claimed that he's
old five hundred k now. According to TMZ, the Dipset
(04:13):
Legend has filed a lawsuit against the Dreamville star, claiming
that he appeared on Cole's Mike Delete Later track in
exchange for either a guest verse on appearance on his
popular YouTube sports show It Is What It Is. This
is coming from hip hop d X by the way.
(04:33):
In the two years since the song was recorded, however,
Killer Camra legends that Cole has yet to fulfill their
agreement and has repeatedly rejected his request to record a
collaboration or be a guest on his aforementioned show. The
Hall of Native is seeking monetary compensation for his contributions
to the Ready to Ready twenty four, asking a judge
(04:56):
to legally declare him the co author of the song
so he can receive his fair share of its proceeds.
Cam is demanding a full accounting of the song's earnings
and estimates that he is old at least five hundred k.
Neither Cameron nor j Cole have yet to publicly comment
(05:20):
on the lawsuit. All right, so let's clear the dummies
out there are a lot of people who love social
media and the Internet because it allows them to be
the ignorant people they are. Now, don't look at that
as just an insult. Some people are really proud to
(05:40):
not know. They prefer to not know because it feeds
a feeling, right, and it's usually a negative feeling. So
they can, you know, express that in regards to whoever
it may be, because there's something not right with their
own lives, right, that's what it's just you just channeling,
(06:01):
You're just projecting. Now, why would I say all that
when we're talking about seeing Well, that's because a lot
of people look at this as not hip hop to sue.
But what they don't know is suing has been happening
well before Drake did it. Example, you can go back
to not even that long, but you can go on
(06:24):
YouTube and just like search for Noorri complaining damn there
crying about being sued by another rapper or whoever within
the music industry, and he, you know, he's hesitant to
talk about it because you know, you can't talk about
litigation in some instances unless you're a dummy. And this
(06:45):
is like what late nineties I think when this is happening.
So suing is a thing now. The difference between Drake sewing, well,
Drake's suing for defamation of character for lyrics and a
that's not hip hop because never in the history of
(07:06):
hip hop battle rap has the one the person who
lost filed a suit because of what was saying or
even the person that won like because if it's a
back and forth, it's a part of a battle to
say things that in some cases aren't true, or to
define the other. God, that's what battle rap is. You're
(07:27):
doing what the sport of battle rap requires. And Drake
is no different. That's what makes his lawsuit seem stupid.
From a man who says, I study battle rap, he
can't even keep up with himself. The Cameron thing is
a breach of contract. This is totally different. Some would say,
(07:52):
oh this him, what kind of broke? Answer is that
they are in the business. I don't care how dope
you feel your favorite MC is they get a check
to do it. They're not at the recipe Sean Price.
Sean Price wasn't just rhyming on the corner just like
I'm the illest guy. I just want to give off
(08:14):
my my art and my energy. No, Sean Price was
getting a check too. He could say either broke his
wrapper alive, but he ain't doing no free shows. It's
a business man, and when you're contractually obligated or handshake
or whatever it is, the assumption is that you're going
to honor that contract. And a contract, so to speak,
(08:38):
of this nature where it's like Cole, give me a verse,
like I gave you a verse, or just hop on
my show. Now I can understand j Cole not wanting
to go on the show. I can understand him ghosting
that when you can just really say we not want to,
we don't want to do that. The answer has been
(09:00):
Jake hole is not available. Right. I can understand that
because unfortunately, every time Ja Cole pops out on the
beach with sneakers on, people are talking about him. Every
time he drops a song or whatever, people are talking
about him, and it's all rose lead back to the
(09:21):
battle because how it ended for him, and it's almost
as if he can't shake it and get started and
move to the next thing. Now sidebar Ja Cole, if
you're finding that every time you drop a record, all
people say is you quit. Shut up. We don't want
(09:43):
to hear from you. You gotta call Kenny. You gotta
call Kung Fu Kenny, you gotta call gate Dot, you
gotta call Kendrick Lamar and say, brother, I need your help. Okay.
They won't listen to me when I come out and
talk about the battle, apologize about the battle, say I'm
moving on from the battle. But if you collaborate with me,
(10:08):
they won't be able to say anything. Some will say
like look at him, but nobody will pay attention to
them because they will just be happy that the universe
is no more, no more Beef. But regarding Cameron, I
could get. I get why j Cole wouldn't want to
go on the show because y'all, I don't want to
(10:29):
How are you not going to ask me about that? Like,
I know it's a sports show, but what people want
to hear won't be who j Cole thinks is going
to the finals. They'll want to hear, Yo, where you've been,
what happened with the battle? What was your real thoughts?
Blah blah blah. And he doesn't want to answer that,
So give him a verse, man, give him a verse.
(10:51):
Give him a verse you already have. And some people
might say, well, maybe he don't want to talk about it.
You don't have to talk about it all. So Jacole
does a lot of features, so why aren't you giving
Cam a feature? So it's one of two things. For one,
it's not against hip hop that Cameron is suing after
(11:13):
he let a grace period of time pass of pursuing Jaco. See,
he didn't go straight to litigation when he didn't get
his money. He kept making attempts to make right on
that agreement. And j Cole is not available. So either
(11:33):
you're going to become available or you're gonna pay, or
you're gonna or give me the verse whatever, and who knows. Again,
both haven't said anything publicly, which could mean they're speaking privately.
And sometimes when this information hits the public, guy and
(11:53):
these guys are more concerned with their image than maybe
J Cole is available now now that everybody knows, maybe
you're available now, so we'll see next. So there was
like a whole story that popped up recently about jay
(12:20):
Z saying he was untouchable in a versus. We know
we're coming off the cash money records and no limit versus.
So everybody's kind of back in mold again as fans
and somehow comments that jay Z said about three or
four years ago are back and people are arguing about
(12:41):
it as if he just said it. But he did
said a long time ago, because I remember Future being
one of those people who said I could compete with
jay Now, this is what jay Z meant by that
as far as being untouchable, his catalog, stamina, and live
(13:03):
performance presence would make a two hour versus battle effectively
unwinnable for any opponent. Now, what does his church say?
I say he lies? Can I get an a man? Okay? Now,
there are not many that can compete, and maybe that's
(13:27):
what the quote from three to four years ago from
jay Z should have been. But there are people who
can compete now. Obviously when it comes to crowds, it
depends on the crowd, right, Like you may have a
crowd that's there for jay Z right and loves jay Z,
(13:49):
But will they like Eminem Because Eminem could compete with
Jay right. He has the catalog right, even though it
might be the first three albums, but he got enough
right in the soundtrack. He has the stage presence, he
has the stamina right. But maybe the content would make
(14:13):
people feel like, well, I don't mess with Eminem, or
I don't like what he said, or that didn't age. Well,
I'm with jay Z Okay, cool, Nas just start with either.
Now I'm just playing, but you know what I'm saying.
Nas has a catalog, he can have twenty joints, he
can have the presence He's actually a better performer than
(14:35):
jay Z if you ask me. Jay Z has become
better over the years, and so has NAS. But I
think NAS haven't seen Nas recently. I think Nas edges
him because his stage show is more than just the
songs driving the entertainment, if you know what I mean. Right,
(14:56):
Like you know you had a show jay Z do
your favorite like you don't know. It don't matter what
he said the minute to term my music hot, it's
the song that's driving it. He's not. He doesn't really
have to do much anymore today to make that performance
great because that song was already great. And even when
(15:18):
that song was out back in the days. Trust me,
I've seen jay Z a million times back in the days.
I ain't talking about your new fans who black album
went forward. I'm talking about from before reasonable doubt forward.
And there was a time where all he did was
point at you the whole time. That's all he did
is point at you. Why it's my phone like sounds
(15:41):
like it's loose, but you know what I'm saying. And
NADS would have a thousand dudes on stage and it
was kind of yelling and cuffing. I'm like both are
better performers, but nads can match jay Z and my
last pick, you know the goat LL cool J. He
(16:03):
got the catalog. He has it and expands decades in
decades where jay Z was out, in decades where jay
Z was not out as an artist. Get what I'm saying.
In jay Z's Heyday, LL got hits before jay Z
(16:26):
even got on. LL got hits. He has the stage presence.
Have you ever seen LL perform? He outperforms all the
guys I just mentioned because he comes from an error
where it's it's not just rapping, it's a lot of movement,
it's a lot of presentation. Those guys don't move the
(16:49):
way Jay the way LL moves because LL kind of
comes from a different error where they worked on that
nineties cats. It was just more about what they were
saying and the beats, and some of them had to
develop some level of stage presence, but most of theirs
(17:10):
is coming from what they say. You know, LL is
like spinning and probably got the one leg pants leg up.
But it's a show, you know what I'm saying. So
I don't agree with jay Z's comments from three to
four years ago, but I would love to see it.
(17:31):
I just don't think it would ever happen because if
it was to happen, as far as like hype and
selling an event, it has to be jay Z and
ours just because of the battle, just because of the errors.
It would be dope to see jay Z in ll
(17:53):
In some ways they kind of overlap with the type
of music, but because people just know jay Z versus
nas jay Z and nasay like eternally linked because of
a battle, that would be huge. I would watch. I
might go. Now I'm not going, but I might watch
(18:14):
for sure. So I don't know. Do you think is
jay Z untouchable in a versus name some people in
the comment section who you think could also compete on
those same levels of stamina and catalog and live performance
because some of us can come up with a few,
(18:36):
and the future says he got the catalog and stamina
and live performance also, so we'll see. And lastly, so
we've been following along with this massiveppeal what is it?
Seven Legends, seven icons release of albums, and so far
(18:58):
we got Slick Rick ray Kwon, ghost Face and then
mob Deep and so far it's been more good than bad.
To be honest, I don't think any of it's bad.
Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of Slick Rick's project,
(19:19):
I understood what the mission was. I just didn't necessarily
like everything I heard. So it's the lowest on the
totem pole for me. But now on Halloween, which is today,
and if you're from the future, you've already had Halloween,
get your ass out of here, okay. But one thing
(19:40):
that was interesting to me is that we knew Big
L's album was on the way, and then it was
announced that was Halloween. And then we got a lead
single with nas what is it? You Ain't got a chance?
With a video that was like vintage, and I was
feeling the vibe. It was nostalgic. And then it's like Halloween,
(20:05):
this album is dropping and it's here. So, if you
know how I do reviews, I give three listens for
my reviews. The first listen is just my impressions. I
just let it rock, whatever happens happened. The second listen
is to like really listen intently, kind of figure out
what the intent of this project was, what they've done,
(20:29):
you know what I'm saying, as far as production, concepts, bars, whatever.
And then The last listen is to confirm my thoughts
and for those who need quick reviews, I would say
this album from Big L is is that right? It's okay,
It's fine, That's what it is. So features on the
(20:53):
album would stare a lot include McGruff, nas, Errol Holding,
I have no idea. That is y'all method man, novel,
Mac Miller, jay Z which is that freestyle Joe Budden
talking I'm not rapping. I thought he was gonna be
rapping Joey badasses on his showbiz And I'm not gonna
(21:18):
name everybody. I just want I just want to say
this one party arty. You know, if you run a
nineties you know party arty, you know it, you know.
But it's sixteen tracks coming in around forty minutes and
what So what I feel about this album is I
(21:40):
feel like this is a continuation of the Big Picture.
So if you're looking for a Big L album like
his debut album, that's not what this is. This is
more like when he passed and they put out that album,
The Big Picture, which had features and some of his
(22:02):
freestyles were turned into songs and some of the freestyles
were available. Also. It's that so that should be your expectations. Now.
I know some people love the Big Picture, and the
thing is is this is a continuation. It's not a competitor.
It's a continuation of what was that And I think
(22:24):
that if you go into it haven't heard the Big Picture,
then you will understand what this album is. You can
grade it on that scale. And me doing that and
someone who grew up in the nineties listening to hip hop,
listening in the Big L in real time when he
(22:45):
was alive the stretch of barbdo freestyles like him emerging
from his contract, I guess with Columbia to start doing
all these dope freestyles and talking about and unfortunately he
was murdered. And then The Big Picture comes out, and
you know, songs like Ebonics on there and stuff like that,
(23:09):
like Big L was building to something because he was
always nice. So when you hear this album, it's just
a reminder and it's a trip down memory lane for
those of us who were around now. Some people may
be disappointed because they kind of wanted an album, but
(23:29):
the man has been gone for a long time and
this album is an indication of if there is an album,
Sony ain't releasing it, and if there isn't well, he
did a bunch of freestyles and had a couple of
starter verses here and there. Now I will say on
(23:52):
this album, the lead track, which I love, I think
is Dobe. Honestly, I like it better than the joint
when Nas Harlem Universal with McGruff. I really feel like
I heard that before. If you know where, leave your
comments in a comments section below, whether it appeared on
a mixtape or whatever. But I feel like I really
(24:15):
heard that before. And mcgruffy even says, you know when
it was recorded, and blah blah blah. But it's pretty
dope and I like to beat big L. Big L
don't miss on any of his verses, not one on
this project. So it's up to the features to meet
him at his level, and I think some of them do,
(24:39):
including McGruff One of the tracks that well, let me
say this first read. I mean method Man told the
story I think on Drink Champs about Big L selling
him what you go look that up. I ain't gonna
talk about it, but which was a crazy revelation. But
at the same time, Method Man's on his metha Man
(25:00):
bars are crazy, Okay, metha Man bars are Crazy on
here like it was perfect. It was a perfect combination
of these two together. But there was another Wait is
it going now? Hold up because I know I just
read it right, I read mac Miller. Oh there it
is a song called Forever featuring mac Miller. Now, I
(25:24):
know there are people felt like Yo L would have
never rocked with him. If Sean Price rocked with mac Miller,
you can't. You don't know. Maybe you knew him, but
somebody like Big L never had the chance to even
listen to a mac Miller because personality aside, he could
(25:47):
have respected him as an MC. Now I've said things
about mac Miller when he was alive, and maybe Big
L would have felt like me. But for whatever reason,
mac Miller's on here. And when I tell you, relax,
the song is dope and it fits. I never thought, like, damn,
(26:10):
why did they put him on? He don't sound like
he would be on here. Now there is one great
and I get it. I get if you look at
the mac Miller feature and be like nah. And it's
driven by the fact that where's O. C, D, I
T C. Show Business here? But where's OC? That's my thing?
(26:33):
Where's OC? Him? And Big L? Had a very good,
very tight relationship as MC's especially MC's a part of
the digging and the Crates crew. McGruff is here, but
that's the that's children what is it children of the
corn whatever with you know McGruff for those who don't
(26:54):
know McGruff, big L, Murder, Mace, cam and bloodshed. That
was dope to open like with that Children of the
Corn opening basically, but it's not enough. D I t
c here for me And if it's not law for
that's and I'm not saying law and that's want to
(27:15):
even write anything. But if it's not law for that's,
it gotta be oc like one of the two. But
all in all considering, there's some classic freestyles here, from
stretching barbto especially the seven minute joint feature in jay Z,
which is dope because you know, jay Z probably had
to clear that joint to be on here. It's dope
to hear that it's nice and cleaned up. You get
(27:38):
to hear when jay Z used to wrap like the
food snakings, don't try that. That first verse was fired,
but that second versus a bit of that, like Nick,
what are you saying? Jay? That's how we felt That's
how I felt back in the days. I was like,
get this garbage out of him. Uh. But overall, it's
(27:59):
a very good project, right, And don't think of it
like this because I know I read my demographics for
my show. My show has an older ardience, typically people
who are right under me and age and absolutely my
(28:20):
generation and above. We all kind of were around for
Big L. We all kind of were around for freestyles
on the mixtapes. We've probably heard between the Big Picture
in this album. We probably heard most of the stuff
before it was put into albums, So you're not really
going to impress us by repackaging it. But it's not
(28:44):
for you. It's not for me. It's for new fans.
It's for those who don't know who Big L is,
and not everybody who's a new hip hop head knows
who everyone is or know enough maybe that's ever been
in freestyles? Yo. I heard that on YouTube. I thought
it was ill, but I never really dove into Big
(29:06):
L's music. That's what this is for. That's what the
Big Picture is for. It's really like, Yo, this guy
was amazing his his work. Check it out. So with
that said, I think it's okay. Album it's okay. I
don't think it's the best of the year. I think
it's nice to have, but it's not one of my
(29:27):
top albums and a lot and then in a lot
of ways for the reasons I mentioned regarding my generation.
So what do you think of the New Harlem's Finest
Big L album? Leave your review in the comments section
below right here on YouTube, become a subscriber today. We're
(29:47):
trying to get to twenty five thousand subscribers by the
end of this year twenty twenty five, so make it happen.
Think about becoming a member again if you want detailed
information about what a member of Hip Now Pod on
YouTube is the link to your questions or the answers
or in the description of this episode. Follow me on
(30:11):
everything else social media at Vegas World, I NC on
own platforms, and please remember I am not a critic.
I'm a fan pace
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