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This is a saved page of Comebacks Kids: Hip-Hop's Fallen Kings Try to Reclaim their Thrones (Vh1) This is a copy we made of the page on 17-Apr-2006. The original page may or may not still be availible and pictures and text may have changed since then. Click Here to view the original page at the original website. |
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Reinventing yourself in the rap game is like walking on water: Hard to do. Maybe that's why most old-school M.C.s faced with Paul Wall's grills and gimmicky hits like "Laffy Taffy" have gravitated
E-40 My Ghetto Report Card Finally, the 12-year veteran of the Bay Area hip-hop scene scores a hit. Featuring the explosive "Tell Me When to Go," E-40's first full-length with Warner Brothers debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts thanks to a little help from a certain multi-platinum beatman. So what if Lil' Jon's production and name made mainstream audiences receptive to the rapper. It's E's sleazy mic schtick that'll keep 'em coming back for more. Prediction: Double Platinum Busta Rhymes The Big Bang Sans dreadlocks and looking all reenergized, Busta has a head-nodding new single. He also has a murder mystery that's thrust his name back into the headlines. Thankfully, he's working with Dr. Dre so the music matches his madness on the mic. Sounding as pumped up as he did on "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," his "Touch It" remix with Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J. Blige, Papoose and Rah Digga should drive sales well into the seven digits. Prediction: Double Platinum DMX Year Of The Dog We're sure Mr. Chow tastes better than the chow line X was eating on during his recent short bid in Upstate New York. No longer with Def Jam, where he had six #1 albums, the Dark Man X should be a sure bet with Sony. His fan base usually holds him down. Problem is, his lead single with Swizz Beats sounds like leftovers. Lukewarm at best. Prediction: Gold -- Platinum Public Enemy Rebirth Of A Nation Flavor Flav can still fill arenas and deliver huge ratings for Flavor of Love. But are the kids still feeling his group Public Enemy, fronted by Godfather of political rap Chuck D? Even with the stanky-sweet funk of the Bay Area's Paris driving the car, mainstream radio ain't spinning this one--which may be the point. Staying true to their underground roots, P.E. drop their 11th album on the staunchly independent Guerilla Funk label. Sales? What sales? Prediction: Not even Gold. Juvenile Reality Check Maybe Cash Money wasn't so money after all, and maybe that's why Juvenile went to bed with Atlantic and scored a #1 album. This formulaic but fun disc is addictive. And even if he runs with the strippers-and-partying theme on "Rodeo," it's still delicious--like an early afternoon margarita. Prediction: Platinum -- Double Platinum Mobb Deep Blood Money With their appropriately titled G-Unit/Interscope debut, Mobb Deep are finally getting spins on pop radio and loving that 50 Cent money. "Put 'Em in their Place" is a moody mafia-inspired hit accompanied by a slick video directed by The Saline Project. Our Nostradamus skills say this hard-working Queens duo may mug their way to the biggest seller since their classic Murda Muzik. Prediction: Platinum Ice Cube Laugh Now, Cry Later Cashing big checks as a movie star and TV and film producer, Cube could easily quit the rap game if he wanted to. But his first album in six years proves that he's still one of the best at making socio-political gangsta rap that you can play at a party. While the first single "Chrome and Paint" will appeal to lowrider shows and L.A. radio, it's the confessional "Why We Thugs" that'll put the Don Mega of Hollywood back in the hip-hop seat. Prediction: Gold
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