BOX:: Everlast, Heltah Skeltah, Shad

BOX is back! I'm sure you feared that BOX, our newly-launched recap of random rap songs we receive, was going to be a short-lived experiment like some other sections (the Big Ups anyone?). Nay, BOX is here for the long haul, and to prove that we've got the second edition ready to roll. Canadian Rap-house, Everlast, Shad as the Fresh Prince, and Heltah Skeltah? Sounds good no? Let's do this.


D.O. and Slakah the Beatchild are otherwise known as Art of Fresh and they are the best rap-house act Canada has produced since Simply Majestic featuring B-Kool (As an aside, if anyone has a digi copy of that Simply Majestic album, they should please send it my way). Art of Fresh may not be the average hip hop head's cup of tea, but they do make some mighty catchy jams for the dancefloor. They have an new album & tour on the horizon, so if you like what you hear, check them out.


Greg Street is a DJ of some rep representing Marietta Georgia. He has an album coming out that features tons of name MC's. In fact, I was pretty close to not posting this song after paying a visit to Greg's myspace and hearing I'm Popping On Myspace, which jacks Mix-A-Lot's Posse On Broadway. Ordinarily I'd be all for this, but the song features Souljah Boy, who is, you know, a goof. But anyway, this jam right here is pretty awesome. Lupe, Wale, and T-dot's finest, Kardi over T.R.O.Y horns? Nothing goofy about that.


Oh, you want to hear Everlast cover Johnny Cash over the horn stabs from Insane In The Brain? Done. Yeah, I don't really have anything else to say about this one.


Heltah Skeltah has always been my favorite act from the Duckdown camp. I have one or both of their previous albums, so the fact they have a new album coming out at the end of September is a welcome development. Sean Price has been everywhere the last few years, doing more cameos than Stiller and Ferrell combined, but after having a mild beef with Duckdown and striking out on his own, Rock has come back to the label. The album is called D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team), and this here is one of the lead singles. It sounds solid, plus Rock says "...like Proactiv cleared Diddy's face", and you have to enjoy that.


Sure, there might be better Canadian hip hop albums than The Old Prince, but the list isn't very long. Shad is nominated for the Polaris, and deservedly so. I'd certainly vote for him. I mean there are very solid albums on the nominee list, but how many of those artists have a video where they re-create the intro to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Yeah, I thought so.