So the buzz on the Internet today is that Jay-Z has officially dropped the new single for his upcoming album “Blueprint 3″ scheduled for a November release.

I believe it was Nasir Jones who said…

“This for dolo and his manuscript just sound stupid. When KRS already made an album called Blueprint.”

So Jay-Z goes ahead and names not 1 album Blueprint, but does it 2 more times after that, real creative Jigga.

Anywho, the new Jay single is entitled “Run This Town” featuring Rihanna and Kanye West. This song is clearly a formulated attempt at a radio single smash. Therefore, this track will be huge on the commercial radio scale. Jay-Z played it safe and went with a recipe for radio single success as opposed to creativity.

The Recipe For Radio Single Success is as follows…

1. Rihanna on a hook (Substitute T-Pain or Akon as needed)

2. 1 verse from Kanye West (Substitute Lil Wayne as necessary)

3. A beat from Kanye West (Substitute Dr. Dre or Just Blaze for extra spice)

4. Bake for 39 years, grow out your hair, get married, and sell your soul.

5. Enjoy!

Overall I think the track “Run This Town” isn’t bad, its a solid track. The best part of the song is Rihanna on the hook and Kanye comes with an interesting verse to say the least. One thing I can say is that Kanye’s verse is overall better than both of Jigga’s 2 verses. Maybe it’s because Jay-Z doesn’t write lyrics, he simply freestyles.

I believe it was Joey “Mouse” Budden who said…

“The more niggas said they ain’t write down lyrics, the more it started to sound like they didn’t.”

Something to keep in mind.

So after 3 failed single attempts from Jay-Z “Dope Boy Fresh (Jockin’ Jay-Z)”, “Swagger Like Us”, and “Death of Autotune”…. I think he finally has one that will make the cut.

But what do we have to look forward to with the new album? Blueprint 3 will most likely be a bunch of electronic Kanye beats with mediocore rhymes from Jay Hova, maybe there will be some nice features but I doubt it. If he really wanted to create the the Jay-Z we all love, he would go back to some hard Marcy shit. He would bring back Beans and Bleek. Only feature needed would be Scarface. He would get a Kanye SOUL beat. He would get a real NEPTUNES (NOT PHARRELL) BEAT. He would fuck hard with Just Blaze again.  And lastly, hook up with Dame Dash again and lets get this Roc shit poppin for real. But unfortunately this old man has past his time.

So I end this post with a quote from Cam’ron Giles…

“How is the King of New York rockin’ sandals with jeans? Open toed sandals with chancletas with jeans on. How is the King of New York rockin’ sandals with jeans and he’s 42 years old!?” — Cam’ron Giles circa 2006

Nas has been known pick shitty beats. Therefore, listeners are stuck with great lyrics over boring beats. Producer 9th Wonder recognized this problem with Nas, and even took the time to remix Nas’ 2002 release God Son. This led to Nas’ people giving 9th Wonder a call to handle production duties on Nas’ new 2009 release with Damien Marley. Which brings us to this video…

The other night I watched the History Channel’s “Gangland” series.The episode focused on the Latin Kings, a gang primarily based in New York and Chicago.

The Latin Kings are a hierarchical organization with a long history of gang culture and street codes. I couldn’t help but notice that the Latin Kings shared many similarities to Tupac Shakur’s Thug Life movement.

2Pac’s concept of Thug Life, was a philosophy which contained many codes and missions similar to the gang culture of the Latin Kings. Here’s where I break it down…

1.

The Latin Kings follow a code of conduct called “The Code Of Kingism.” This Code of Conduct was written by gang leader Lord Gino from pirson. Here is an excerpt….

2Pac also had a code of conduct within the concept of “Thug Life.” He also wrote it from prison. Here’s the the Thug Life code of conduct…

  ”I didn’t create Thug Life, I diagnosed it.” — 2Pac 

2.

The Latin Kings follow a set of acronyms set forth by the Nation. Here they are…

2Pac created a set of acronyms for the Thug Life movement. Here they are…

3.

The Latin Kings have gang signs which symbolize honor while allowing other members to recognize their faith to the Latin Kings. 

2Pac had gang signs which symbolized War while allowing other members of rap to recognize his representation of the Westcoast.

2Pac and the Latin Kings street philosphies shared many coincedences. Which may lead you to ask why I have brought forth these obervations? Why have I made the comparison of one of the most iconic rappers of all time and one of the oldest and largest gangs in America? Here is why…

It is rumored, that at the time of his death, 2Pac was involved with the Piru Bloods, a street gang based in Los Angeles, California. It is rumored, that the Notorious BIG hired Crips as security while on the Westcoast, and even hired them to execute 2Pac. 

It is fact, that 2Pac was shot 7 times by Orlando Anderson a member of the Southside Crips on September 7th, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is fact, that the Notorious BIG was gunned down by David Mack a member of the Piru Bloods on March 9th, 1997 in Los Angeles, California. 

Which brings me to this quote from Tha Outlawz member EDI…

“2Pac and Biggie wasn’t on no rap shit, 2Pac and Big died over some street shit.” — EDI 

Which also brings me to the conclusion that…2pac was a biter.