By Odeisel

Good morning and welcome to the holiday edition of Sick Sundays. This holiday celebrates Labor so it’s only fair that we put in the work to bring you the flavor. With the advent of September, the fourth quarter is officially underway and with it the last wave of joints for 2009. You may not know it but this year has been one of the finest Hip-Hop music years in a while.  Independents rose and delivered hig quality albums, mainstream had a few morsel, veterans and new cats combined to bring back that loving feeling. Walk with us as we try to continue that through the balance of the year.

Havoc-H is Back

A more uptempo Havoc than we’ve ever heard.  He sounds surprisingly good outside of his normal gritty chaotic dystopian sounding production.  It’s a pretty dope song and a cool vid with some pretty strange imagery, but hey at least the days of million dollar videos and retread ideas are over. This is dope.

Cormega-What Did I Do?What Did I Do

Cormega has always been one of those rappers who has had something to say but who hasn’t had the best of times delivering that message.  He’s very real, but his delivery and voice have always held him back in my opinion.  Regardless, he remains one of the more respected MC’s.  The beat on this is a bit primitive but it’s not crap.  You be the judge.

Jozeemo-Call MeJozeemo Call Me Mastered

The beat is mellow, and Jozeemo has solid presence and delivery, but the subject matter is heard it all before status. I’m grinding, I’m hustling, I used to be in the streets, now I rap but I still got a team of wolves, etc.  It’s like Jay-Z flavored with Splenda instead of real sugar.  It ain’t the same flavor but still sweet enough to drink.  Not hard to listen to if you can get over that.

M.O.P Feat. Termanology-CrazyCrazy CLEAN feat. Termanology (prod. by Statik Selektah)

All the angry aggression that you listen to Billy and Fame over a Statik Selektah track.  Termanology’s smooth flow sounds a bit out of place on this track, especially with the tough talk but he flows well, albeit with hubris. Billy bodies the anchor leg and makes the package complete.  Not their best, but average M.O.P is still FIYAH.

KRS-ONE & Buckshot Feat. Mary J BligeThe Way I Live ft Mary J Blige Main

Living proof that the underground is not defined as rappers who are unknown, but rappers who eschew the flashy mainstream lane, these two legends connect with the incomparable true queen of R&B Hip-Hop Mary J. Blige. The treacherous two rhyme about trials and tribulations and the queen backs them up on the hook. Not the flat out assault on the mic as the rest of their album, but certified dopeness.

Heltah Skeltah Feat. Smoothe Da Hustler Trigga Da Gambler DV Alias Khrist-TransformershSkeltah_TriggerDaGambler_SmootheTheHustler-Transformers

Man you got da incredible rap team you got the Smith Brothers and DV.  You don’t even have to guess what’s really good.  Rock bodies the intro, Sean P raps with more speed and energy than he has in a minute since he adapted the slower flow and Smoothe rhymes like he’s trying to get his momma out the projects.  The beat is minimal and the transformer interpolated hook is a novelty but the rappers do their job on this. Thumbs up.

Raekwon Feat. Beans & Blue Raspberry-Have Mercy15 Have Mercy f. Beanie Sigel & Blue Raspberry (produced by MoSS) 1

One of the tastiest morsels in the Chef’s kitchen, this gem from OB4CL2 has all the elements of greatness.  A wizened and gritty Sigel does his best Brad Jordan impression with depth and gravity while Raekwon himself delivers melancholy madness. Blue Raspberry gives it that Wu cherry (or raspberry as it were) on top. If there is any justice, this album will sell hundreds of thousands.  Support with your wallets.

Bugsy- Take Me Home

The running piano at the entry brings a certain poignancy and feel to the track which helps as the main rhythm comes in because that drum pattern is familiar.  This is a bit different than you’re used to hearing from Texas, San Antonio in particular, but it’s very solid.  I like this, it’s a well made song, and while Bugsy is not the best MC, he handles this capably and the song is well constructed.  That’s a win.

Bugsy – Hometown from BRYAN RAMIREZ on Vimeo.

And so concludes another Sick Sunday.  Make sure you stick around and become a citizen of Planet Ill.  We have anything you need.  Drop us a line and let us know what kind of music you want to hear and whether or we’re getting it done right. Odeisel@planetill.com.  Peace