Cam’ron’s Public Enemy #1 mixtape will be 2 years old later on this year. Despite the amount of time that it’s been out, I’ve only just sat down with it two weeks ago. There are standouts like “Dead The Funeral”, his freestyle over G. Dep’s “Child of the Ghetto” and his two verses over “Love’s Theme” by Barry White & the Love Unlimited Orchestra. What piqued my interest most was “No Delaying” for the obvious Nice & Smooth connection and the Doug E. Fresh homage at the 1:43 mark.

Nice & Smooth - “No Delayin’”

Cam’ron - “No Delaying”

I can only imagine how much of a tizzy the Bay Area was in after this dropped. As if the original wasn’t a big enough deal, the Luniz followed up with this Bay-centric remix featuring Dru Down, Richie Rich, E-40, Greg Jacobs performing his Gollum/Smigel act that is Shock G and Humpty and Spice 1. A couple of observations:

• Seeing Richie Rich made me realize that Def Jam’s west coast presence was a lot stronger than I remembered (Jayo Felony, WC & Warren G)
• Helly Hanson was ill; at least in ‘95

… another question I would pose would be:

Wall Street: Forecasting A Market Crash On The Hip Hop Scene; what has become of it? Will it ever see the light of day given that the title is a reflection not only of the current state of Hip Hop but the economy as well?

I’m not old but my bones are. And as a result, I couldn’t stick around long enough to see if all of what I predicted for the N.E.R.D/Common show last weekend came to fruition. I left shortly after N.E.R.D completed their set, at which point I was only correct about one of my predictions; Fam-Lay was present. They did perform “Rock Star” and “She Wants To Move” but not the cameo laden versions I hoped for.

I was too far back to get any good photos but All That’s Fab was on the job.

N.E.R.D. Set List

1. Anti Matter

2. Brain

3. Kill Joy

4. Maybe

5. Medley

• Don’t Worry About It
• Run To The Sun
• Bobby James
• Provider

6. Sooner Or Later

7. You Know What

8. Rock Star

9. Spazz

10. Lapdance

11. Everyone Nose

12. She Wants To Move

Common & N.E.R.D are playing Roseland Ballroom tonight. I want to say something cool like “I’ll have pics and interviews from tonight’s show to post tomorrow” but that’s not true. And since I can’t provide that, I shall compensate by providing predictions for what will transpire at tonight’s show. I’m 4-0 and 3-1 in my Reality Football and Gametime leagues respectively in fantasy football this year, so if I’m off, I’ll only be off by a little.

• De La, Mos Def and Q-Tip stayed in town long enough after the Hip Hop Honors festivities earlier in the week to perform this.
• After they finish performing that, De La Soul will stay behind to perform “Da Bizness”, “Gettin’ Down At The Ampitheater” and “Days Of Our Lives” alongside Common.
• Jay-Z will come out to perform his verses from the S. Carter Mixtape rendition of “Rock Star”.
• Fam-Lay will be in full effect.
• ?uestlove will be spotted documenting the culture as he does so well.
• Common will realize that Electric Circus is not as bad as either he or critics lead people to believe and will prove so by performing “Aquarius”, “The Hustle”, “Come Close”, “Star 69 (P.S. With Love)”,  “Between Me, You & Liberation”, “I Am Music” and “Jimi Was A Rock Star”. 

Well maybe not “Jimi Was A Rock Star”.

I’ll take music from Strong Arm Steady any way I can get it, but is anyone else nostlagic for the days when they rocked with Xzibit? I certainly think he would have went to work on this. Additionally, I think a verse from Krondon would have taken it over the top. It’s still ill nonetheless.

Strong Arm Steady f/ Paul Wall - “16 (15 Bricks)”

*Spotted at 2dopeboyz

Though he doesn’t appear in the video, Greg Nice has a constant presence on the song. I certainly would have preferred him over the guy mouthing his parts. Greg Nice has an energy and presence that few can channel, that I think would have been refreshing to see on display in this video.

Some of the best remixes are in black & white:

Each of these videos has at least one person from one of the other two videos:

• Keith Murray is in the “I Shot Ya” remix and “Special Delivery” remix videos.
•  LL Cool J is in the “Flavor In Ya Ear” remix and “I Shot Ya” remix videos. 
• Both Craig Mack and Puff are in the “Flavor In Ya Ear” remix and “Special Delivery” remix videos 

While Cipha Sounds is out celebrating the milestone that is the one year anniversary of his monthly ”Don’t Get Gassed” comedy series, I’m celebrating a milestone of my own tonight; my 50th post.

What better way to commemorate my first 50 and every 50 hearafter than with vintage 50?

50 Cent - “Follow Me”