What will be of the young receivers on the Ravens roster?

Last preseason Harbaugh and his coaching staff were trying to get an idea of what young wide receivers Marcus Smith and Justin Harper could offer the Ravens offense. Today fans are counting the days these players have to impress coaches before they are cut from the roster.

Everyone came away with little to no insight as to what Marcus Smith could do because he got injured during the exhibition games and never caught a pass during his rookie year. Justin Harper had gotten an extensive amount of reps with Troy Smith and displayed his inconsistent catching ability and decent route running skills. Going into the season many Ravens fans were worried about who Joe Flacco was going to throw to and rightfully so. As we saw, things worked out thanks to the unsung hero of the 2009 receiving core Kelley Washington.

This season those looking from the outside in see a major improvement in the receiver group because of the veteran presence that has come in to bolster the depth. Anquan Boldin and Dante Stallworth are two players expected to have an immediate impact on the passing game. Unfortunately for players like Marcus Smith and Justin Harper this means younger players will not be split out wide during the regular season because there are so many talented players on the roster playing their position.

Lest we not forget Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, the two players fighting for the fourth wide receiver spot. Both of these players have more experience in the NFL than Harper and Smith. Clayton holds the franchise record for the most 100 yard receiving games with 8 and Williams has remained since 2006 on the team despite injury because of his ability to make plays down the field.

The proverbial nail in the coffin of Smith and Harper's tenure on the Ravens was the drafting of wide receiver David Reed in the fifth round. Reed has been spotted during OTA's with good hands and route running skills not often seen in a rookie. Reed can also return kicks, something the Ravens made need if Webb has a delayed return. Reed is another player expected to be placed ahead of Smith and Harper on the depth chart.

The only way either man will make the roster is contributing to special teams, something Smith has done but Harper has not. This reason alone is why Smith has a decent chance of making the roster. His biggest deterrent is staying healthy. I do not see Harper making the team this year but he could land on the practice squad. He has not demonstrated he is good enough to be depended upon to catch a pass when needed.

Donnis- More fire

Donnis- More Fire (Usershare)

I have officially become a fan of Donnis. He has impressed me again with another leaked track off of his new mixtape "Fashionably late". Donnis took an old concept, used his good ear for beats to pick a good backing instrumental and spit his becomingly trademark southern punchline flow over it. Listen to the hot 808 driven track, its 'fiya'.

Kid Cudi- All talk featuring Chip tha Ripper

Kid Cudi- All Talk 

New song from Kid Cudi aka Mr. Tree. "All talk" is more lighthearted than a majority of his first album. It features a very talented underground rapper from Cleveland named Chip tha Ripper. It's worth a few plays so check it out

Lil Wayne- Knockout featuring Nicki Minaj

Here is the video for Lil' Wayne's song "Knockout" featuring Nicki Minaj. This video is one of the five  Wayne said he shot days before he was sent to jail. He is trying to maintain his presence through music videos while he is "locked down upstate".

Nicki Minaj does her usual thing but she and Wayne are doing a little too much touching for me. Im starting to think Weezy was knockin Nicki's thang out behind the scenes if you know what I mean.

Rumor Confimed: Alicia Keys is pregnant

There has been a lot of talk about Alicia Keys' change in figure over the past few months. Photos of her small baby bump on display in concert are circulating the internet right now.

Swizz Beatz has finally come out and said that he is the father of his fiancee, Alicia Keys' baby. This news comes as shocker to me. We knew that Beatz pretty much dumped  ex-wife Mashonda for Alicia but who knew they were "active together". I always saw Alicia as the perfect girl who was waiting for marriage. I guess marriage didn't come fast enough for these two celebrities.

Kanye West- Power featuring Dwele

Kanye West f. Dwele - Power | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

I am not overly impressed with Kanye West's new song "Power". West has 
kept his fans waiting about a year for new music from him and this song 
does not placate our urge for his music.

The beat is well done and Dwele does give positive input to the song 
but West's rapping isn't quite up to par. The punchlines didn't knock 
me out of my chair. However with all of that being said, West does 
sound like he is making strides toward a comeback and I expect his 
song to garner decent radio play during the summer.

Should Ellerbe start?

Dannell Ellerbe started off his time with the Ravens with  high expectations because he joined a select few players in Ravens history who earned a spot on the 53 man roster in 2009 as a rookie free agent. Did he do enough as a rookie to become a starter on defense?

During the first few weeks of his rookie campaign, Ellerbe was healing from an injury he suffered at the end of his college career but when he set foot on the field, he never left. The first team he played against was the New England Patriots during week 4. He was contributing only on special teams until Tavares Gooden got hurt and left a space open for Ellerbe to play next to Ray Lewis on defense.

It was not until week 14 when the Chicago Bears came to M&T Bank Stadium that Ellerbe was awarded his first career NFL start. From that point on he began showing the professional football world his ability to stop the run and defend the pass from the inside linebacker position. Jay Cutler, the quarterback he played against in that game, finished the day with a 7.9 quarterback rating. Ellerbe finished off the regular season by intercepting a pass thrown by Raiders quarterback Jamarcus Russell. He ended the season with 41 tackles, one pass deflection and one interception.

The Ravens do have other talented players at the inside linebacker position like speedy linebacker Tavares Gooden, the person Ellerbe succeeded as starting linebacker, versatile player Jameel Mcclain who has played inside and outside linebacker positions as well and savvy veteran Brendan Ayanbadejo who has been a standout special teams player in his career but hasn't established the reputation as a solid starter on defense.

Ellerbe is young and only improving under the veteran leadership of Ray Lewis. Many have already compared him to Bart Scott because of the way both of these players came from obscurity to starting in the NFL. In my eyes, Ellerbe does not get spoken in the same breath as Scott until he earns a Pro Bowl nod and has over 100 tackles in a season. However he is the best person on the roster to start next to Ray Lewis if proves he can improve on his pass coverage and remain durable over a long period of time.

*Important to note that Harbaugh has yet to knight Ellerbe the starter which means there is still a competition for that spot.

Are rappers taking the underground thing too far?

So many rappers decide to give their fans a "taste" of what can be expected from their album by creating mixtapes and making them available to listeners for download on the internet. I did not really think about this until I listened to new mixtapes by Rick Ross and Fabolous. Fabolous released a mixtape called "There Is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service". It is a Gangsta Grillz project where half of the songs are original cuts by Fab and the other half is a collection of freestyles on popular beats.

Rick Ross just released " The Albert Anastasia EP" which in my eyes is not an EP because it has a 13 song tracklist. This mixtape has all original music including the songs assisted by John Legend and Ne-Yo called Sweet Life and Super High respectively that are supposed to be the first two singles for Ross' upcoming album "Teflon Don".

Don't get me wrong both mixtapes have a lot of good music and do showcase exactly what these rappers can do when they get focused but they, Rick Ross especially, are putting out  too much for free. If I download Rick Ross' mixtape, I will see no purpose in purchasing his album because he has satisfied my craving for his music with the music he released without charge. I know I am not the only one who feels this way so this method of promotion is taking money out of his pocket.

"Teflon Don" is supposed to come out in July. After listening to this new mixtape by Ross, which by the way is pretty outstanding, I can now adjust my attention to Eminem who has kept much of what he plans to release to the public this summer a secret. "Not Afraid" is not the best song Eminem has ever done but it is one of the few new songs available by Eminem right now, the true fans have no choice but to listen and love it.

Artists need to continue to make quality songs but hold them for their albums in order to leave their fans to curiously and impatiently wait on the final product. With all of this being said, gather a few minutes and listen to Rick Ross' new "ep" called "The Albert Anastasia EP". Mixtape below.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Provided by DatPiff.com

Big Boi- Shutterbugg (Official Video)

This is the official video to Big Boi's crazy "Shutterbugg" track. The video is everything it was hyped to be and more. It keeps the usual peculiar style of Outkast shown threw the loss of the Big Boi's head in the video.I'm glad to see good music videos for good songs.

Drake- Light Up featuring Jay-Z

Drake f. Jay-Z - Light Up | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

It is official, ever song the fans were looking forward to on this album has been let out to internet. For the impatient fans like myself this is a good thing because we get opportunities like this to hear good music before it hits stores. "Light Up" is another leaked track off of Drake's upcoming "Thank Me Later". It is a really good hip hop song with a smooth chorus by you know who, Drake. In sharp contrast to almost all of the songs on the radio, this one is not overloaded with a bunch of bridges and choruses, it is two rightfully acclaimed rappers on a song together. Who outdid who? Judge for yourself. Link is above.

Shocking new pick of 50 cent

This picture scared me. I did not want to believe it was 50 but after looking closely im pretty sure that's him. It is for a new movie role as a cancer victim. I heard he was losing "a little weight" but...

Chris Brown & Tyga- Dueces featuring Kevin McCall

The video for one of the semi-singles for the "Fan of a Fan" mixtape by Chris Brown and Tyga. It is a decent slower song and the video is of equal quality. It follows some of the same patterns many Chris Brown videos do. Brown is dancing without his shirt on while singing and hogging camera time. Watch for yourself, deuces!

Trey Songz - Yo Side of the Bed (Official Video)

This is the video for "Yo Side of the Bed", the last track Trey Songz's "Ready" album. A song with a more sexual undertone becomes a really sad love story. Keri Hilson plays Trey's lover/wifey who goes off and... you'll see. This video really makes me enjoy the song even more than I did when I listened to the album. Watch and appreciate this great video.

Calm down the hype

Last offseason around this time, critics and analyst were raving about the depth of the New York Giants' defensive line. They had lost Michael Strahan to retirement but added Chris Canty from the Dallas Cowboys and Rocky Bernard from the Atlanta Falcons to their already talented group of linemen that included pass rushers Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka.

The hype about the Ravens' wide receiver core is garnering the same praise despite the fact that the group has yet to play a down together. At the end of last season, many pointed out the receiving core as one of the weaknesses of the team. Ray Rice led the team in receptions with 78 and Derrick Mason came behind him with 73 receptions.

Much has changed since the 20-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens traded away a third and fourth round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin and a Cardinals fifth round pick. The Ravens also signed free agent Dante Stallworth to a one year contract and drafted Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, two of the top four tight ends in this year's draft. It is evident that Ozzie Newsome and co. have worked to put more playmaking talent around Joe Flacco so he can begin flourish in Cam Cameron's offense sooner than later.

All these pieces look good on paper but we have to see how all of this talent comes together in between the white lines. Will Boldin put up the same kind of numbers he did in Arizona when he was the counterpunch to the beastly Larry Fitzgerald? Does the run game continue to be the focal point of the offense? Which receivers will make the team and which will not? These are the questions that must be asked and answered before we deem this receiving core one of the best in the league because a good group of receivers makes plays and gives their quarterback options. We will have to observe what options will be available to Flacco come week one after injuries or other free agent signings.

T.I- Yeah Ya Know (Takers)

"Yeah Ya Know (Takers)" is a song off of T.I's new mixtape F**k A Mixtape. It is even more hard body than "I'm Back", the buzz single that began circulating radio and internet when T.I was released from jail. Longtime T.I collaborator producer DJ Toomp is behind the aggressive beat. This definitely a song that matches the emotion that people expect from a man who was just released from jail, passion and aggression.

Ludacris- Sex Room featuring Trey Songz (Official Video)

Here is the video for Sex Room by Ludacris & Trey Songz people have been waiting for. It follows the basis of popular movie "The Hangover". Four women wake up in a room they are unfamiliar with and try to remember what they did the night before.

The visuals are just as sexual and seductive as the song itself. The women are doing their "sexy poses" while Luda and Trey tell them what they want to do to the seductresses. The video ends with Ludacris coming in and bringing a little lightheartedness to the video.

This video is too risque for children to watch because of what they will see and what they will hear. This idea is to be expected when you watch a video for a song called "Sex Room". Otherwise it's a good video worth watching. Watch and enjoy.

Drake- Unforgettable featuring Young Jeezy

Drake ft Young Jeezy - Unforgettable | Audio | Rap Basement

Here is a good quality version of the Drake, Young Jeezy collaboration set to be on Drake's upcoming album

Fat Joe f. Trey Songz - If It Ain't About Money | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Fat Joe f. Trey Songz - If It Ain't About Money | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Several times I have heard that Fat Joe is a disgraceful rapper and he does not need to continue wasting money on new songs and albums. As of the past few years I would have agreed with that statement. I did not even know Fat Joe released an album called "J.O.S.E 2" until weeks after it was on shelves. However the new songs Joe is releasing on the internet and radio are great. Slow down featuring Young Jeezy is definitely the street anthem right now and quite a few rappers have proceeded to put their own freestyles on the it.

Here we are again with another dope Fat Joe song. The Trey Songz assisted money making anthem is another impressive song by the often overlooked Fat Joe.

Game f. Lil Wayne & Birdman - Everything Red [Prod. Ryan Leslie] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Game f. Lil Wayne & Birdman - Everything Red [Prod. Ryan Leslie] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Was not pleased to hear Game using the autotune but he made it work. The chorus was neither special nor worth repeatedly playing and Lil' Wayne sticks to his usual average flow. Ryan Leslie did do his usual justice to the organ driven track with a smoother hip hop sound. Overall it is a decent track and maybe worth putting on Game's upcoming "The Red Album".

Is Nicki Minaj really all she's cracked up to be?

Nicki Minaj began gaining popularity by lighting up the underground scene in 2007 with her bizarre but charismatic flow. Few predicted that her superstardom would come so quickly but it did thanks to her outward appearance and lyrical ability.

She has had great success featuring on other rap songs like Young Money's collaborative effort "Bedrock" which gave rap listeners a taste of what personality brings to the table and the bragadoccious radio hit "My Chick Bad" where we saw Minaj go toe-to-toe with southern hip hop heavyweight Ludacris. Both of these songs have peaked at 2 and10 on the Hot 100 charts respectively.

The Nicki Minaj character is such an intriguing enigma amongst her peers. She has not released many biographic tracks so most people know nothing about the person behind the claws and pink wigs. This is part of the reason why Minaj is one of the most sought after rappers in the game right now. The question some are beginning to ask is whether or not she deserves all the attention she is gathering. In the last couple of months she has graced the cover of the XXL and Fader magazines. She had a somewhat lengthy set at this years BET Spring Bling event where she only performed her feature verses from other songs.

"Massive Attack" was the first official single by Nicki Minaj featuring singer/songwriter Sean Garrett. Many people flocked to the internet and BET to hear the highly anticipated song but were left disappointed after hearing a less than impressive song with an obnoxious beat and sub par lyrics. Fans are still looking for her to make a magical song to add to their iPod playlists.

Judging from what made her popular, Minaj is nothing more than a gimmick that four years from now will be seen as nothing more than a glimmer in the eyes of true hip hop fans. Let's not get too excited about her. She is talented but does not have the ability to continue innovating and maintain a presence in the hip hop community. Her career will follow the path of many other female hip hop artists like Foxy Brown or Roxanne Shante who faded out of the limelight too quickly for their levels of talent. As of right now her popularity has already peaked and the rest of her career will be a continuation of unmet expectations.

Drake- Unforgettable featuring Young Jeezy

This song will be found on Drake's "Thank Me Later", his debut track set for release next month. A collaboration of these two rappers may turn off a skeptical listener because they are so different. Drake generally comes from the more sensitive middle class perspective and Jeezy usually speaks as a hustler from the hood in Atlanta, Ga.

The sounds of the gangsta and the gentleman do mesh a little better than expected on "Unforgettable". Both rappers play their roles on the beat and do not step outside of their comfort zone. It is not an exceptional track in comparison the other songs I have heard off the highly anticipated album.

I will post a link to a good quality version when such becomes available.

What if... the Ravens used the two tight end set

Imagine playing defense against the Baltimore Ravens and they line up with two tight ends and two receivers on the field. Anquan Boldin  and Derrick Mason are out wide and Todd Heap and Ed Dickson (or Dennis Pitta) are lined up on the outside of the offensive line. One the ball is snapped, who does the defense target? Who do you double team? Can you double team anyone?

I do not think you can double team one player in this situation unless you want to be burned by another. If a defense decides to pay extra attention to Mason and Boldin with a cover 2 formation, the tight ends will take full advantage of the middle that is open because the safeties are playing so far back.

Scenarios like this are what Baltimore Ravens' fans can look forward to if everything goes well in training camp. If major offensive contributors stay healthy, the offense will have a plethora of passing weapons from which to choose. The defense will be in a pick your poison position. In order for this figure of my imagination to occur, the offensive line will have to be very solid this season. Flacco will not be able to properly drop back and scan the field if he constantly has defensive players disrupting him in the pocket. Just something to think about.

Donnis- Yup

This is a cocky track from Donnis' upcoming mixtape" Fashionably Late". He and producer Needlz have been on a role together and everything those two touch becomes gold. The Rihanna sample was well used and Donnis' flow does a great job of riding alongside the beat.

Tabi Bonney f/ Wale - Killer People - HipHopGame.com

Tabi Bonney f/ Wale - Killer People - HipHopGame.com

This one is a nice "DC Jam" from the eclectic Tabi Bonney and Wale, a lyrical talent. The percussion sounds have a very obvious go-go influence but it is not a go-go song. The song as a whole is something a little different than the average music around. Check it out.

Drake - 9AM In Dallas Freestyle [Prod. Boi-1da] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Drake - 9AM In Dallas Freestyle [Prod. Boi-1da] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Here is a freestyle from Drizzy Drake. The word freestyle infers that this will not be on the album so fans need not get too excited or too discouraged about what they hear. The topic of his lyrics aren't new and inventive for Drake; its sounds like the usual. Enjoy.

Janelle Monae performing "Tightrope" on Letterman.

Here is Janelle Monae's acclaimed performance of "Tightrope" on the Late Show with Dave Letterman. Her charisma and dancing ability make her irresistable to watch. Those visual qualities in conjunction with her pristine singing voice make her a great stage performer and last night's Letterman performance is a testament of that.

Notable fact- This was Monae's first network television appearance. I would say she left a memorable first impression for viewers. Watch here and witness for yourself.

Rick Ross- Super High featuring Ne-Yo

Rick Ross returns to the music video scene with the visual for "Super high", the first single of his upcoming album "Teflon Don". The influence of his new manager Diddy is evident through the concept of the video. I must say choosing Stacey Dash as the main lady in this video is an intriguing but sensible choice because she is definitely older than most video models today but she is still very beautiful and her having the skills of an actress helped accentuate her small but important role. The Rick Ross/Ne-Yo collaborations are a pleasant normality that traces back to "Bossy Lady", a track on Rick Ross' last album "Deeper than Rap".

Shawnna feat Twista, One Chance- Hide and Seek

Shawnna Feat Twista, One Chance - Hide And Seek.mp3

Here is a song Shawnna released a little while ago under T-Pain's Nappy Boy entertainment label. It is a slow "climb in the bed with your mate" song featuring Twista and One Chance. Listen and groove.

Asher Roth- Muddy Swim Trunks (Official Video)

This video is so dope. Everything about it sticks true to what Asher Roth has become famous for. Off the wall punchlines that make you want to listen for the next one. There is some pretty funny stuff in this video so watch it.

Bad luck with third round picks?

The third round is a unique round in the NFL draft where teams can find players who are very talented but were overlooked or exceptional players predicted to get drafted high but drop down a round or two for various reasons.

The Ravens seem to have had poor luck with their third round draft picks in the last few years. The players they choose are physically talented but never get on the field and stay there. Lets look back at the players the Ravens have drafted in the third round in the last six years:

2004: Devard Darling- Darling had the size and above average speed the Ravens were looking for, he was 6'1 and over 200 pounds. The conundrum for Darling was his lack of all the other qualities good wide receivers have. He did not have good hands and good route running. This caused him to earn dismal numbers during his tenure in Baltimore until his contract year when he began to produce during the quarterback carousel of 2007 for Steve Mcnair, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. His last minute production was not enough to convince the Harbaugh and the new coaching staff that he was worth keeping around.  Darling is currently an unrestricted free agent looking for a team to pick him up.

2005: None

2006: David Pittman was selected 87th overall and was expected to help bring youth and talent to the Ravens secondary that was beginning to age. His rookie season was slighted due to injury. He did not play in any games until his sophomore season where he held down the lower part of the cornerback depth chart and eventually started the last game of the Ravens' horrendous 2007 season. He ended the season with two interceptions both versus the Steelers in  week 17. Since Pittman has left Baltimore, he has not played in a regular season NFL game. He has been on the practice squad of several teams including: New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans.

2007:  Iowa product Marshall Yanda may be considered the success story of the bunch. Yanda has started games at the guard and tackle positions. He started twelve games in his rookie campaign. During Yanda's sophomore season, the Ravens brought in gigantic veteran tackle Willie Anderson to complement Yanda but in actuality he replaced Yanda at the right tackle position and Yanda moved to right guard. In the 2009 season he played a back up role for the guards and tackles. Yanda is still on the team and right now has more NFL starts than all of the other players we mentioning here.

2008: Linebacker Tavares Gooden graduated from "the U", the same university Ray Lewis graduated from. He appeared to have similarities with his mentor because of the number he wore in college and the intensity he liked to play with. We have not seen much from Gooden in the regular season because he has not been able to remain in a starting position on the roster. Everytime Gooden begins to get settled in next to Ray Lewis he either gets hurt or he gets replaced with another linebacker ie. Dannell Ellerbe. He was injured during entire rookie season. Gooden is still on the roster competing to regain the starting position he had owned a year ago. If he can match his incredible speed with more durability and physical tackling, Gooden will become a nice complement to the aging Ray Lewis.

2009: One of the biggest impressions left on the minds of the Ravens' organization was the impressive play of cornerback Lardarius Webb. He ended the past season on injured reserve but before he got hurt he was beginning to solidify himself as a cornerback capable of starting in the Ravens defense. His physical tackling, speed and versatility to play cornerback and return kicks made him a player Ravens are looking forward seeing on the field next season. If Webb returns to 100 percent sometime during the 2010 season, he will be an asset the Ravens really need.

The injury bug has been biting third round picks hard for the last few years. Hopefully Ed Dickson will avoid this trend and become an exceptional player at the tight end position.

The Ravens signed two defensive backs

The Ravens signed two more defensive backs to the offseason roster for the upcoming camps.

Thirty year old Travis Fisher was the St. Louis Rams' second round pick in 2002 and has been a bit of a journeyman ever since he was released by the Rams in 2007. Unless Fisher performs astoundingly well, his face will not be seen in the locker room much later than training camp. This move was expected after Fisher had two tryouts with the team and seemed to impress the coaching staff

Brad Jones is a rookie free agent who only had one year of starting experience during his time as a Cincinnati Bearcat. He was not invited to the NFL Combine but has impressed as many as seven teams around the NFL with the physical ability he shows during workouts. Jones is in a boat very similar to that of Fisher's. If he stays healthy and overachieves in these OTA's he will find himself either on the practice squad or the 52 or 53 player on the roster. If not, he will be hopping on the first thing smoking out of town.

The Ravens need more than just bodies to stand in the backfield on defense they need quality players to make impactful plays. These two gentlemen have a very short candlewick to burn and if they don't shine bright enough when they get the opportunity, they will be sent home.

Chris Brown & Tyga - Fan Of a Fan

Chris Brown & Tyga - Fan Of A Fan Hosted by DJ Ill Will & Dj Rockstar // Free Mixtape @ DatPiff.com

Here is the link to the new mixtape by Chris Brown & Tyga called Fan of a Fan. It has the three songs "G ****", "I'm So Raw" and "Holla At Me" the rapper and singer turned rapper have circulated on the internet for promo purposes.

If the gentlemen out there are looking for some songs to listen to with their lady, this mixtape is the one you want to look at. If you are looking for a lyrical mixtape, you might want look past this one.

Jason DeRulo sings Heartless for Billboard.com (Video)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid65813736001?bctid=85749734001

Here is the link to the video of Jason DeRulo singing an acoustic version of Kanye West's Heartless. It is unique because DeRulo attempts to put his own spin on it but it does not come close to showing up the original.

What if Domonique Foxworth got injured?

The cornerback position is widely considered one of the weakest positions on the Ravens roster, so what would become of the depth of the position if starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth were to get seriously injured, God forbid?

There is so much talk about which cornerbacks will be on the field week one to defend against the Jets' receiving core that now features wide receivers Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and tight end Dustin Keller. We know that Lardarius Webb is probably going to miss a few weeks of the upcoming season  because of the knee injury he suffered in week 14 versus the Chicago Bears. Fabian Washington is recovering from the ACL tear he had succumb to in week 10 and is expected to return in the early part of the 2010 season.

What we seemed to be concerned about is the left cornerback position. Here is a hypothetical scenario Ravens fans should think about. What if Domonique Foworth, who starts on the right side, got hurt? Who would come behind him and start?

Well unfortunately that would probably entail the Ravens bringing back cornerback Frank Walker to come in and start. In Harbaugh's mind, Walker has the qualifications to be a temporary replacement because he knows the system and has started games in this league regardless of how many pass interference penalties he has drawn. If Foxworth and Webb were both injured on week one, we would probably see Fabian Washington rotating in and out of the starting position with Chris Carr and Frank Walker starting on the opposite side.

Let us hope and pray that we do not witness any serious injuries to the defensive back positions during the upcoming season. The repercussions of such a change could be tragic.

Lloyd Banks, Jadakiss, Ludacris, Tha Dream and Yo Gotti- Beamer Benz Bentley remix

LLoyd Banks ft Jadakiss, Ludacris, Yo otti, The-Dream - Beamer, Benz Or Betley (Remix) | Audio | Rap Basement

Here is the remix featuring a few of the hottest artists in urban music right now. They switched up the beat but did not stray far from the original. It is a good remix worth listening to. Check it out

Cam'ron & The U.N dropping their commercial mixtape next week

After a year and a half of flooding the underground market with grimy but celebrated mixtapes, Cam'ron & the U.N will be releasing a commercial mixtape Heat in Here, Vol 1. to world on May 25.

It must be clarified that this collective is only a duo. The main artists on the record are Cam'ron and little known Vado, talented underground rapper that a few thought deserved to be on XXL magazine's freshman 10 cover. This album these two put together is strictly street music. The closest thing to a radio single for this album is the Gucci Mane assisted "Cuffin" and this is only because of the uptempo pace and Gucci Mane's association with the record.

A fourth of the album has already been heard on the original Boss of all Bosses mixtape these two men put out last year. Songs La Bumba and Fed Story have had videos floating around on the internet for months. Despite the age of some of these songs, they have almost become little street classics because of the popularity of the Gangsta Grillz mixtapes Cam'ron and Vado have been releasing so adding these songs to the project improves the tracklist.

This compilation is definitely something to have but is it something to buy of iTunes? I don't think so especially if you have been following what these two have been doing on the underground scene for the past two years. I'm not telling you to do anything illegal but make sure you have this one.

Diddy-Dirty Money- Hello, Good Morning (Official Video)

This song was looking like a typical club dance track. Rappers (specifically T.I) are spitting their verses with eye candy all over them and you see a couple of cameos like the Swizz Beatz sighting. All of the sudden Diddy goes into like a airplane runway-type place and the background starts to look like Chinese New Year.

The one thing that started to bother me was the minimal amount of camera time Dirty Money got without Diddy somewhere in the frame. Those ladies are getting the little shine they do deserve blocked and absorbed by the attention whore who is Diddy. It is an entertaining video and will be get its fair share of airplay on the networks that play music videos (BET, MTV2, etc.)

8Ball & MJG sell enough to land in top 50 this week

8Ball & MJG released their eighth studio album together "Ten Toes Down" last week three years after their last studio release "Ridin High". It debuted this week at number thirty-two on the Billboard 200 and number ten on the Hot Hip Hop/R&B albums chart. There has not been too much promotion for the project beyond the lead single "Bring it back" featuring Young Dro. Other features include: T.I, Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy, Bun B and David Banner. The title track was released as more of a street single but the heavy bass Drumma Boy produced track gave listeners a heads up of what these two southern all-stars had in-store.

If you are looking for an album full of the dirty south sound from the beginning to end, go to the store and pick up a copy of "Ten Toes Down".


Stand out tracks: Ten Toes down and Still Remain

Eminem joins exclusive rap club this week

Eminem's most recent single "Not Afraid" has exploded on the scene and will debut at number one on the Hot 100 billboard list. The Boi-1da produced hit is only the second rap song to debut at the top of the charts the other being "I'll be missing you", tribute to the fallen Notorious B.I.G sung/rap by P.Diddy, Faith Evans and 112. This song will be only 16th song to ever accomplish this feat.

The entire hip hop community owes Eminem a huge congratulations. Em is twelve years into his lavished career and is still accomplishing new milestones in his career. I like the song but the skyrocket to the top of the charts comes as a surprise.

If you want to listen to this now historic song, I have re-posted the link below.

Eminem - Not Afraid [Prod. Boi-1da] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Diggy Simmons, future hitmaker?

http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_SpinKing_Diggy_Simmons_Space_Travel_Time_Cont.m113606.html

Here is a compilation of some of Diggy's underground work. Most of the songs are off of his mixtape " The First Flight". I am a huge advocate for Diggy's rap career and when you listen to this mixtape you will join me in the Diggy Simmons fan club. He has lyrical ability and an insatiable hunger that is unseen in someone his age. The next step for him is to demonstrate to the world he is able to diversify his music and make a songs for different occasions. The talent is there, it just needs to be nutured. Listen to some of his music. Link above.

William Regal raps on Monday Night Raw

William Regal in one of his most memorable recent moments. Truth is the rap is ridiculously horrible but it is really funny to watch. There is actually a video with parts of the rap mixed with the Beamer Benz or Bentley beat. Watch that below.

Game featuring Pharrell- It Must Be Me

 The Game ft Pharrell - It Must Be Me | Audio | Rap Basement

The West coast rapper who dropped the article that preceded his name for the past couple years has released the first official single for his upcoming project "The R.E.D album". "It Must Be Me" has Pharrell vocalizing the braggadocios chorus and producing the beat in the background. Game rides the beat with his trademark name dropping aggressive flow. It's a good radio single but it will not be the most popular song in Game's career catalog.

Drake- Find your love (Official Video)

By far the best Drake music video ever created. It is cinematic and matches what the song is about.

Melanie Fiona's rendition of Sam Cooke's "Cupid"

Melanie Fiona- Cupid (Video)

Melanie Fiona performs a song that inspired her as a child to become a musician. After she sings the song, she explains why she is infatuated with Sam Cooke and his trademark song "Cupid".

Yelawolf- Pop the Trunk (Official Video)

Thought I'd post a video from one of the dopest new rappers on the scene right now, Yelawolf. He is the second best white rapper out right now ( Eminem still holds the trophies) and is gathering hype about his music through the underground market. Here is the dark video for his song "Pop the Trunk".

Reflection Eternal- Midnight Hour featuring Estelle

Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek and Estelle come together in this creative video to provide a visual for their latest single. The song is very grown up compared to most of the hip hop songs on the radio. Hi-Tek created a unique sound for Talib and Estelle to flow with.

What happened to Eve?

In 2007, Eve made her return to the radio after a three year rap hiatus with her single "Tamborine". The high energy Swizz Beatz production got her mediocre airplay on radio stations nationwide and a little bit of video play on MTV and BET. With minimal momentum building, she attempted to release here fourth album "Here I Am". Eve fans were excited to hear what new music the female rapper could put together. Unfortunately the most we ever heard about the album was a tracklist of six songs, five of which were produced by Swizz Beatz, most of which never saw the light of day because of red tape from her label.

On Ludacris' 2010 album release "Battle of the Sexes", Eve reintroduces herself to new listeners with a verse on the "My Chick Bad" remix featuring guests Diamond, Trina and herself. The feature was a good look and has gotten her name more exposure. Rumors are disseminating about Eve's latest efforts to create an album by the name of "Lip Lock".

Can we ever expect a new album release from Eve? Maybe but it will not come anytime soon. Eve will need to organize the business side of her career. At one point she was under four labels, Ruff Ryder, Aftermath, Interscope and Geffen. If she can get the right people to promote her project and deliver quality singles that people want to hear and download, Eve can make the comeback of the decade. However do not be fooled, Eve will never match the success she saw in 2001 from her Scorpion album.

Drake- Miss Me (Produced by Boi-1da

Drake - All Night Long (Miss Me) | Audio | Rap Basement

Heard this track on XM radio last week and knew this would get more spins on the radio even though it is just a verse and a chorus and the song as a whole seems incomplete. The union between Drake and a Boi-1da beat seems to be a match made in hip hop heaven.
Remember Drake stands for:  Do Right And Kill Everything.

Nicki Minaj - Your Love [Final Mix] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Nicki Minaj - Your Love [Final Mix] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2010

Here is a new cut from Nicki Minaj. There is another version on Youtube but this seems to be the final version of it. Is this her next single? I hope not.

Flavor Flav is set to host Monday Night Raw tomorrow

I do not know if this is a desperate attempt to enthrall the WWE viewers but the man responsible for making clock necklaces popular, Flavor Flav, is expected to serve as the guest host of Monday Night Raw tomorrow night. I must saw his presence will be captivating but I won't watch a little more Raw and a little less TNA Impact just to see what Flavor Flav will do.

It is safe to say that the guest host aspect of Monday Night Raw has overstayed its welcome. No longer do people flip their remotes to the USA network at 9pm to see which celebrity will be in the ring indirectly promoting their latest endeavor. It is time for the Vince McMahon to go back to the proverbial drawing board and find a new way to draw viewers because the celebrity hosting strategy has come and gone.

Ravens signed rookie free agents

This offseason the Ravens have signed nine players that are worth putting on the practice field but may have not met the standards of a draft pick. We call them rookie free agents and these are they:

Rodelin Anthony
Wide Receiver 6-5 230
College- UNLV

Morgan Cox
Long Snapper-6-4 223
College- Tennessee

John Fletcher
Defensive Lineman 6-6 295
College- Wyoming

Ashton Hall
Defensive Back 5-10 196
College- Marshall

Albert McClellan
Defensive End 6-2 254
College- Marshall

Mike McLaughin
Fullback 6-0 245
College- Boston College

Prince Miller
Cornerback 5-8 198
College: Georgia

Courtney Smith
Cornerback / Kick Returner 5-11, 195
College: Central Washington

Curtis Steele
Running Back 6-0, 190
College: Memphis

Just based upon the depth the Ravens have at each position, Ashton Hall appears to have the best chance of making the actual roster. The Ravens did not draft any corners and have yet to sign any veterans for that position so the opportunity for Hall is there. If he can perform well and demonstrate a raw ability that can be nurtured into something special, he could slide into the last spot on the cornerback roster. There are speculations that he has gained about 10 pounds since his departure from Central Washington and the Ravens could use a bigger body corner. His only setback maybe his inexperience at cornerback. Hall played more of the safety position in college.

One of Jay-Z's performances on SNL

Jay-Z chooses good songs to compile for his medley on the popular late night sketch show platform. I like the "Public Service Announcement" performance alot. It was a good look for Jay-Z to rock a few great hits on Saturday night even if the performance was a little extensive.

First day of Ravens first minicamp

The entire Ravens team comes together and practices for the first time this offseason.

There was a few things to note about the day:

Last year's 23rd overall pick Michael Oher moved over to left tackle from the right tackle position he played on and off during his rookie season because of injuries to Jared Gaither. Gaither switched with Oher and practiced on the right side. Will this be cemented on the depth chart this season?

Ed Reed did not practice with team because of the hip procedure had undergone weeks ago. Tom Zbikowski played the free safety position in Reed's absence.

Sergio Kindle, first of two second round picks by the Ravens, played with the starters in Jarret Johnson's place because Johnson sat out of practice.

Both rookie tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson seem to have made a good first impression with the team. We will have to monitor which tight end performs better in these minicamps. It will determine who may get the upper-hand come training camp.

Travis McCoy- Billionaire featuring Bruno Mars (Official Video)

This Bruno Mars guy makes every chorus he sings on sound angelic. This song is a great song to listen to while riding to a weekend vacation spot at the beach. Travis McCoy gives his usual Gym Class Heroes flow and it fits well with the lighthearted tone of the song.

Chris Brown- Holla at me featuring Tyga

Chris Breezy tries his hand at rapping. It's actually not bad as many would suspect but I am not convinced that he can sell a whole rap album so in that regard he should stick to what he does best.

Raiders QB Jamarcus Russell is released... bout time

The Raiders' selection of JaMarcus Russell as the first overall pick in the 2007 is bound to be considered one of the worst draft mistakes of all time. Russell was a college prospect out of Alabama who had all the physical tools to become a good quarterback; he just needed to have all the off-the-field intangibles like studying hard and working overtime in practice in order.

Three years later, Russell is released because his unimpressive grasp of the intangibles a quarterback is expected to have. He has a poor work ethic and has not seemed to improve enough to win games even after years of taking starter reps in practice.

Russell will eventually get signed to another player but he will not be signed as an immediate contender for a starting job (no team in the league is that desperate). 

Beyonce- Why don't you love me? (Official Video)

"Why don't you love me" has a very different music video approach from ordinary Beyonce videos. She drops her usual seductive dancer image for an angry 50's housewife image that prances around the house show off her "assets". Her make-up is smearing off of her face while she is walking around the house in clothing to match the character she is portraying. The song is not a positive addition to her catalog of great music, it is just an appetizers for Beyonce fans who are waiting her next album.

Wale- Diary featuring Marsha Ambrosius (Official Video)

Here is the official video for Wale's fourth single off his debut album "Attention Deficit". Rik Cordero provides a calm, emotional visual for this conscious song. Does anyone spot Marsha Ambrosius in this video?

Nas and Damian Marley- Patience

Nas and Damian Marley- Patience

"Patience" is the fourth song I have heard from the upcoming "Distant Relatives" album by Nas and Damien Marley and I have yet to be disappointed with any of the songs they have released. This album is shaping up to be an under-the-radar classic.

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Does Kruger bulking up make a difference?

Last year Paul Kruger was drafted in the second round by the Ravens as a DE/OLB hybrid. His rookie season he saw little to no action on the field because of his lack of special teams acumen and ability to make plays when he got the chance. His proudest moment of that season was the game saving interception in overtime vs the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

This offseason he has decided to take a new approach. Kruger has bulked up to 275 pounds so far and plans to move to the defensive end position in the Ravens 3-4 system. This is a good decision for Kruger because their is so much competition at the outside linebacker position that he would definitely be wiping off bench seats for the starters if he remained a linebacker.

In order for Kruger to get on the field he will have to improve his pass rushing technique. Last season we saw Kruger use his bull rush every single time he attempted to get to the quarterback. He has to be able to utilize different moves so that he can get around every type of blocker. The pass rush is a force the Ravens' defense needs to improve upon this upcoming season and if Kruger cannot contribute to it, it will be difficult to see him on the roster for much longer.

Fortunately for Kruger, defensive linemen Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan departed to other teams so their is a need for a defensive end. The Ravens did draft a defensive end in the fifth round of this year's draft by the name of Arthur Jones. As long as he progresses from the player we saw in his first year to a better, more productive player in his second season and stays healthy, he should be seen playing a plentiful amount of downs in the 2010 season.

Charles Hamilton- Gauchos (Prod. by Jim Jonsin)

http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=78776

Mr. Hamilton packs up his northern flow and travels to the south where he and Jim Jonsin come together and create this creative and dope collaboration. Charles Hamilton comes in with his peculiar wordplay and mixes it with a beat created by the architect of T.I's "Whatever you like". I am not exactly sure how the title relates to the song besides it being shouted 50 times in the chorus but it works.

Fat Joe- Slow down (Ha Ha) featuring Young Jeezy (Official Video)

Fat Joe and Young Jeezy surprisingly compliment one another. Neither is an exceptional lyricist but they are able to pass punchlines with out obnoxiously outshine his counterpart. The video is nothing special. Just rappers navigating through the streets and nightlife of a nameless city. Fat Joe definitely struck gold with this beat.

BoB ventures to top of charts

BoB’s “Adventures of BoB” is expected to be planted number one on the billboard charts this week after 84,300 sold in seven days

The 23 year old rapper/singer/composer released his debut album after months of anticipation. He is riding his lead single and top 100 hit “Nothin on you” and the Hayley Williams assisted “Airplanes” which is gaining steam on the internet, radio and charts.

This young man’s rise to fame is long overdue. He has been blessing underground listeners with his mixtapes for the past few years. He performed on just about every late-night talk show in the past couple week. It is great to see this young talent persistently persue his dream and reap the benefits of his hard work.

BOB ft. T.I, Playboy Tre- Bet I (Official Video)

Typical hip hop video for a banging song by BOB and company.