Related Recs

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Lil waynes mixtape run

There will never been a run as consistently dominant in rap music. Bro had a few years of nothing but straight heat and I feel like it’s not talked about enough.

@ion_know_

Mar 6, 2024

🎺

jay-z and the notorious b.i.g.

were friends/rivals & went to the same high school in brooklyn. the more u know

@madchen

Feb 17, 2024

🎤

Late 90’s Jay-Z

The Jay-Z that we now know — the one who makes shady and feeble NFL deals, the one who is essentially a house husband to Beyonce’s breadwinner, the one who looks like Basquiat if he had a 401K — pales in comparison to the Jay-Z that my older brother, older cousin, and I were obsessed with growing up. Shawn Carter was once a force of nature on the mic, and transformative as a rap star. No one knew much about his personal life that wasn’t in the music, but they knew he came out with a crew of dogs ready to unleash at a moment’s notice. (This Diary of Jay-Z from MTV is a good example). He was adept at making you feel the snark and the bite in his music, lifestyle, and persona, but also being in control of his behavior and narrative. There’s never a time, except when he struggled with a Mannie Fresh beat, where Jay-Z isn’t in control while he is rapping; it’s arresting to listen to him jab and swing with his flow and words without ever losing the rap pocket. For example, a song like “Streets Is Watching”, when he says “it’s like a full time job not to kill niggas”, is so raw to me. He truly means that. He wishes he could smoke everyone. It is hard for him to keep control of himself when he wants to lash out. But he has to do it anyway because violence costs too much. For any Black kids in NYC, and especially ones who are outgoing and enjoy the limelight like me, who are trying to make it happen, listen to late 90’s Jay-Z. It’ll make you more focused, stronger (notice how Jay-Z is never focused on women, in fact he rejects them if they annoy him) — and more aware of the possible snakes around you.

@jayson

STAFF

Oct 16, 2023

Top Recs from @brb

💻

tech

i promise i’m not making anything awful

@brb

Feb 8, 2024

📙

stay true

im holding on to the last 3 pages of this book bc i never want to be done with it. i have annotated and highlighted so many turns of phrase. details. words

@brb

Jan 27, 2024

⭐

winter is for warm beverages

if ur getting iced drinks in the northern hemispherical winter, why? why do u hate ur body. nourish her. give her warmth

@brb

Jan 27, 2024