Ridin Music: Bernie's Generous With the Ridin Music... again.

So in the spirit of the Ridin Music section, I decided to be less judgmental and post ridin music of those with familiar faces. If I posted every single song that I receive, especially those who think they're talented, then this would turn into a music site, and I don't want that. It's just for those who want some new music to play in their vehicle. I'm just trying to look out for you...

First up, and do NOT judge me:

(I don't know if Sir Jonathan Mannion has photographed Willow, but I do know that he photographed Nicki)

Although I was never one to listen to child singers, rappers, etc (even when they were my age. When I was Willow's age, I was listening to the Notorious B.I.G.) this song grew on me. I thought the chorus was adorable, "I whip my hair back and forth". Of course, I chose to put the remix with Nicki Minaj on here, to not ruin my street cred.



Round Two: "I Can't Help It" by T.I. feat. Rocko.



First things first, doesn't T.I.P. look adorable in this photo? I love personality shots, over the stereotypical shots of rappers where they try to look tough and they really aren't or not overly so. I'm not saying that he isn't tough, but I love the shots of him smiling like this. Oh and here's the song.



Round three: Lil' Wayne feat. Drake "Right Above It"

(I can definately confirm that Jonathan Mannion photographed both of these photos)

I seriously love the beat... and the song.



And finally, my favorite babyface rapper- Jadakiss with 50 Cent "Dump (It's Like That)"



Is it me or Jadakiss hasn't aged a day since he recorded "You'll See" with the rest of the LOX?



Might as well condense the Ridin Musics so I don't have to put a bunch of separate posts. That's not being lazy, after all, SEMA is coming up...

Ridin Music: T.I. feat. Chris Brown "Get Back Up"

I decided to add T.I.'s new song with Chris Brown called "Get Back Up". Check it out whenever you can. Well done Clifford, but I'm gonna leave it at that...

Ridin Music: Clifford's Paper Trail

I’m never one to lie, but I was never a long time TI fan. I’m a recently converted one. I bought the King album, but that was the extent of his catalog that I purchased. Let’s continue with the honesty, when I’m Serious came out, I was living in NY where a certain rapper was rhyming about Girls, Girls, Girls, and how he had more 6’s than 1st grade was ruling the airwaves. Then I moved down here, and his songs started to appeal to me and it led me to buying his album, and eventually meeting him.

We all know about his life, especially what happened in October ’07. It happened, he learned from it, he’s moved on from it, and he composed a hot album because of it. The name of the album was derived from him actually writing down his lyrics on paper seeing how the last time he did that was I’m Serious.

Ironically, even though Clifford was going through what he was going through, Paper Trail sold 357,000 in the first three days and sold enough copies to make it his best debut to date AND the fourth best selling album that year. Eventually the album was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA (And the RIAA don’t lie).

16 tracks make up this collection including songs like “Ready For Whatever”, “Swing Ya Rag”, “What Up, What Haapnin’”, “Every Chance I Get”, “Swagga Like Us”, the commercial favorites- “Whatever You Like” , “Live Your Life”, and “Dead and Gone”, this album doesn’t fall short. But my favorite track happens to be the shortest track on the entire album- “56 Bars”, and in my cooky, eccentric mind, T.I. will have a hard time topping that song. And yes, this album is in the center console of my Envoy between “What the World’s Been Missing” and “Tha Carter III”.

After this album, he released two mixtapes (A Year And A Day and F’ a Mixtape), a movie (Takers), and another album that will be released one day (King Uncaged).

But yet, I still love 56 Bars. Seriously, when's King Uncaged coming out???

Ridin Music: In Honor of September 11th 2001

Trivia: What person released an album on September 11th 2001, the same day as his (and my) hometown was under attack, and still sold almost 500,000 copies in it’s opening week?

(Album cover by Jonathan Mannion)

The answer is Jay-Z and the album was the Blueprint.

Originally the album was set to be released a week later, but because of bootleggers, he pushed the album up a week. The advanced bootlegged copy literally had almost the same track selection, but don’t ask me how I know that or how I got my hands on it. Little did he, or the Metro New York City area what was gonna happen that Tuesday morning.

To be honest, and I know people will get mad about my saying this, but not everyone can release a Blueprint album. This album was written in two days, cut in two weeks, the date was pushed up a week, on the release date, the artist hometown was attacked, the same album goes 2x platinum, gets a XXL rating, AND a 5 Mic rating. You can hate, but real recognizes real. Most rappers can have a year to compose an album and it won’t have a fifth of the success that The Blueprint has had.

13 tracks, with two hidden bonus tracks, this album was no Reasonable Doubt, but it sure came close. My top three would have to be Takeover, U Don’t Know, and my top pick is Renegade. Living in New York during that Takeover vs. Ether vs. Super Ugly battle is very unforgettable, especially on the Angie Martinez show, she was taking polls of “who won the battle”.

I know I just said it, but Renegade, featuring Enimem is my top pick. The chorus: “Never been afraid to say what’s on my mind at any given time or day” is something that I adopted and applied to my everyday life. Feelings may get hurt, but don’t be mad if I’m honest with you. And I have hurt some folks’ feelings.

Two Parts have followed the Original Blueprint. One was Blueprint 2, which shouldn't have been a double disc album (Sorry Hov), and he's thankfully made up for the lackluster Blueprint 2 with The Blueprint 3.

My copy of the Blueprint is resting comfortably in my Envoy. I wonder if my sister still has the bootlegged copy of the Blueprint. She should be ashamed of herself. Oh well, I bought mine.

Ridin Music: Usher feat. Jay-Z "Hot Totti"

BOTH photos shot by the photographer that I have the most respect for and I try to highlight as many as his photos on here as humanly possible, Jonathan Mannion... the Great.

Enough of my gushing over Jonathan. So I got my mittens on this track of Usher feat. Jay-Z and I love it. I'm the type of person who thinks that Jay-Z can do nothing wrong. (except for two albums: Kingdom Come and American Gangster. He definitely did wrong by those. Still love you Shawn.) But here's the track, and if you like it, click on Usher's photo. If you click on Jay-Z's photo, it'll take you to Jonathan Mannion.com

Ridin Music: 18 Years Ago Today, One of the Greatest Debut Albums Was Released

I know that all of my Ridin Musics have to do with rap, but before Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic and other countless number of classic Debut Albums, there was a Debut Album that to this very day, that I still play in the 'Voy...



18 Years Ago today on July 28th 1992, Mary J Blige released her debut album "What's the 411?". This was back when Sean Combs was known as an Uptown Records intern named Puffy. "What's the 411?" was actually the first album to combine Hip Hop with R&B thus birthing "Hip Hop Soul". It also birthed the art of sampling music, but we won't get into that.

12 tracks (10 songs, one interlude from an up-and-coming rapper named Busta Rhymes, and one intro with Mary playing her answering machine), this album does live in my Envoy.

I have to admit, when this album came out, I was only 8 years old, so I didn't understand the lyrics then. It took me some years, but I understand why Mary is appreciated as much as she is because she wrote about real life situations that most females go through, including me.

My favorite track has to be Changes I've Been Going Through. That song still speaks to me, and yes, I do sing to this song when I'm driving.

A year later, this same album was Remixed, but the remixed album (to me) wasn't as good as the original, but I still bought it. But after What's the 411? came Mary's most loved, cherished, respected work (fan-based wise), but I won't talk about that until November 29.

Ridin Music: Rick Ross' "Teflon Don".

(Album Cover by Jonathan Mannion)

I really haven't done that many Ridin Musics, seeing how this isn't a music blog. I just use that section to show what I listen to when I'm in the 'Voy. But I will talk about the album I (along with a lot of other people) was most anxious to come out was Teflon Don.

Shockingly, the majority of the Ridin Musics have to do with Rick Ross, and ironically he's not on my "Top 5 Dead or Alive" (No offense William). But I can and will talk about this album.

Let's be real, 11 tracks, rather short, but at least there's no interludes, as well as he had plenty of company (guest features) on 10 out of 11 of the tracks. It's not a bad thing because unlike a lot of people who has a million guest features, at least they don't overshadow Ricky.

Of course I mentioned that I liked Super High, and I was about to post a page about B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast) with featured Styles P of the LOX, but I decided to wait until the album came out to see if it lived up to the hype.

And it did... Very rarely can I find an album that I play all of the tracks, and this is one of those few albums. I will say this, even though there's more guest appearances (Jay-Z, Jadakiss, T.I., Styles, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Puff, Gucci Mane, Kanye, Erykah Badu, Cee-Lo, Drake, Chrisette Michele, AND Raphael Saadiq) than there are tracks, this is Ricky Rozay's finest work.

There's no download cause I do recognize good work, I don't promote bull, and would rather people buy it. That's why I only highlight certain artists, despite whether or not if I photographed them. But click on the album cover and it'll take you to Amazon.com where you can listen to samples of every track and buy the album or song downloads. You're welcome.

Now if only Clifford can release King Uncaged...

P.S. I don't care what anyone says but Track 8: MC Hammer feat Gucci Mane is a strip club song.

My Direction of Doing Donuts With Bernie

After I sent out the releases to promote this blog, I'd figure that I would explain the direction of where I'm going with this.

Since the age of 5, I've been involved with photography. At the age of 8, I was fascinated with cars. Since 2007, I love car shows, I love going to them, I love covering them (photos and video. I stepped my game up). I love talking to people about their cars. If I can go around the country and cover car shows, I would be ecstatic. And I wanted to do something different than the "norm of Atlanta". If you hear the words "I have a blog based out of Atlanta", it's a blog that has to do with celebrities (which really means gossip). Out of all the celebrity blogs in Atlanta, only a handful provides exclusive content that people actually care about reading. After hearing that a million and one times, you want something different. I don't want to be like everyone else, I want to do something different. I wanted a blog, but I don't want it to be like everyone else's in Atlanta. So I went against the grain and started an automotive blog. The difference between a blog like mine versus an automotive blog like Dub is that I want to go to as many car shows as possible. Nothing personal against Dub, but on their site, they only show coverage of their shows and it takes them months to post 6 photos. Also, I would love to see coverage of a car show where I couldn't attend, which is so hard to find...

Another side to this is to talk to car enthusiasts about their vehicles, including celebrities. Most people, more specifically guys, love their vehicles and love to talk about their vehicles especially to a female. Why not go for it.

Finally, if you're looking for reviews for aftermarket parts, new vehicles, etc, I'll provide that, along with some downloads to music you can play in your vehicle. And most importantly, I'm having fun with this and I do have enough knowledge to really talk about this.

At the end of the day, I want something that I can be proud of which encompasses what I love and something that is unique in the city that I chose to live in.

Take everything that I mentioned earlier and throw in my opinion, and that's where I'm going with Doing Donuts With Bernie... Hate it, love it, or be confused by it, I'm not going anywhere.

Ridin Music: My Favorite Rapper's Alive Debut Album Anniversary

(This is the "2 dots over the Y, Jay-Z")

There's good albums, there's great albums, and there's classic albums. This, my friend, is a classic album that was released 14 years ago on this very day. Most debut albums are usually great albums or flops, rarely classics. But Jay did it right, and he didn't write down any of his rhymes, which even in 2010, is still rare.

All Reasonable Doubt is just Jay painting a picture about how his life was up to 1996, in which it was hustling in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects.

(Photo by Chris Buck. The original one is much stronger which was a black and white photo)

My favorite song on the entire album was originally suppose to be one verse, but at the 11th hour, Jay came up with the second verse. I think he should have just left with the first verse and with DJ Clark Kent talking. The second shortest song on the album, "Cashmere Thoughts" explained his financial goals in less than three minutes. But if you need help on deciphering the song, Cashmere Thoughts Lyrics

Jay-Z - Cashmere Thoughts Found at abmp3 search engine

The only way Reasonable Doubt could have been better is if they added "In My Lifetime (Remix)" on the album. And if you don't believe me,



See I told you. And yes, this album is in the 'Voy, and it will remain in there.

Don't Judge Me on This Ridin Music...

Don't get me wrong, he's a sweet person. Well he is to me anyway.



I'm on my way home at three something in the morning, and I'm listening to Hot 107.9, and they play Waka Flocka's new song "Hard In The Paint". I'm like "Is this who I think it is?", seriously I was shocked. After playing it in the 'Voy, I came to the conclusion that I really like it. But I will say this, the beat is harder than the lyrics, with that said, I will not be surprised if this same exact beat is on someone else's mixtape. Oh Jeezy... (Please realize that I only said Jeezy's name because I would like to hear how this beat with his lyrics would sound together. I'm not trying to rehash anything).

Side note: On the day of this photo, I learned that Waka was born in New York. But he left at an early age, way back when Biggie was alive, The World Trade Center was still standing, and Rudy Giuliani was actually liked as the Mayor of New York City. Yes kids, it was that long ago.

So the player is below, and to download it, click on my photo above.



And like the title of this post says, Don't Judge Me on My Choice of Ridin Music.

Ridin Music: Recognize He's Back...

So they finally released it at 8:00 pm yesterday. I didn't get a chance to listen to hear it, but from what I heard, it's a good one.I gotta play it tomorrow, and then I'll update this post.

And to aspiring rappers: I'm sorry, but Lil' Duval's skit was hilarious, and he didn't lie when he said that the track he was on was better than half of the music out there.

I finally had the opportunity to listen to it in the 'Voy, and HONESTLY speaking...

I LOVE IT!!!!

I was skeptical at first cause I love Paper Trail, and usually it's harder top a hot album, especially with a mixtape, but with help from MLK and the screaming DJ Drama (Lord did he scream over this mixtape. I thought I was back in NY, listening to DJ Clue), Clifford did it.

The theme of the mixtape was to rhythmically slap those who had a lot of negative things to say about TIP. Those same people had ample amount of time to prove how "great" they are and how their music is better than TI while TI was *clears throat* "on vacation".

I did notice one thing though. The last song "Got Your Back" with Keri Hilson, would have been a stronger song if Tiny sang on it rather than Keri. Nothing personal towards Keri, BUT if the song is about "being down for someone" and if the person who IS down for you is a professional singer... I'm just saying.

Anyway, if you're one of the few people who hasn't heard the mixtape, the player is below and see for yourself. I'm positive you'll be keeping this in your car for awhileand not throwing it out the window like most of the mixtapes that are out now...


Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

Ridin Music: Bernie's Song Of The Moment

Photo jacked from Derick G. (He does good work, well besides me)

So DJ Khaled rounded up Snoop, Ludacris, T-Pain, and Ricky Ross for the song "All I Do Is Win". THEN, Khaled rounded up even more people for the remix... brace yourself for the list. We have Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Puffy, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, T-Pain, Fat Joe, and Swizz Beatz. And on top of that, Khaled decides to rap.

Of course, the remix has 10 people on it, so each person basically gets two bars on a 5 minute 20 second song. It's a little bit more than two bars, but not much more.

So muffin butts, if you want to take a listen to both, I got them below. The original version is first:



Followed by the remix:

Ridin Music: Look What Lloyd Banks Done Started

I know the title is grammatically incorrect, but I'm rolling with it.

(Photo from This Is 50.com)

One third of G-Unit, Lloyd Banks, collaborated with my rapper Ray of Sunshine, Juelz Santana for the song "Beamer, Benz, and Bentley". The song took off like fire, and then a bunch of rappers had to do their take of the song.

Maino came up with "Trina, Kim, Or Nicki"



Joell Ortiz Did "Nissan Honda Chevy"


Then he REMIXES a REMIX and throws Jim Jones on the track "Nissan Honda Chevy (Remix)"



There's more remixes but do you really want to hear 500 versions of a song?

So someone mixed some of the remixes together and came up with the Hi-Def Remix which has Lloyd Banks, Joell Ortiz, Fabolous, Maino, Papoose, and Juelz Santana) (They should have named that the New York Remix)



And then Lloyd releases an actual official remix which features Ludacris, The Dream, Yo Gotti, and Jadakiss



And in case if you forgot what the original version sounds like

Bernie's Feeling Generous With the Ridin Music...

It took me a minute to concoct this post cause I had to play both mixtapes in the 'Voy. I'm a firm believer of "Don't talk about stuff you know nothing about." I finally played them, and I'm gonna give reviews to two good mixtapes and which one I think is the better of the two.



So DJ Don Cannon and Young Jeezy teamed up for Trap or Die 2. It was alright, nothing to wet my pants over. The tracks Bernie liked the most would be Track 2 (Trap Or Die Reloaded), Track 4 (Insane), Track 6 (Camaro) (Note: Jeezy has a black 2010 one. Don't tell him I told you that), and my personal favorite: Track 21 (Da Greatest). I didn't include Track 7 (Lose My Mind, feat. Plies) because that song was ALREADY out, months before the mixtape came. I believe he debuted the song when he was on tour with the greatest rapper alive (Yeah, I said it, and what you gonna do about it)


Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

Now for round 2...



So the DJ with a million nicknames (DJ Drama) teamed up with two New Yorkers: DJ Green Lantern and my favorite, Jadakiss. 'Kiss is a sweetheart, and I know he doesn't care what I think, but I'm gonna say it anyway. This mixtape "The Champ Is Here 3" edges out "Trap Or Die 2", and here's why.

Personally I think there's more songs that I like off of 'Kiss's mixtape vs. Jeezy's. Nothing personal towards Jeezy, and it's not a whole "cause 'Kiss is from NY type deal", but it's a better mixtape. It ain't the greatest mixtape, but it's better than "Trap Or Die 2" and before "The Champ Is Here 3", the last good mixtape I heard was "A Year and A Day" (What up, MLK). Plus I like it when he goes back and forth with Styles P on songs.

Two, there's been more positive reviews from other folks for "The Champ Is Here". Twitter is a powerful tool.

Bernie's personal favorite track is Track 11 "She Likes Me" which features Nicki Minaj. But Track 4 (Still Hatin), Track 15 (They Don't Know), Track 16 (Allergic To Losing) are worth paying attention to. I'm a sucker for those who can freestyle over a popular beat and not bite the flow of it, like Track 10, which is "Who Shot Ya". Many people have done freestyles over Who Shot Ya, but used Biggie's flow and changed the wording. 'Kiss didn't do that... And he didn't have Puffy in the background screaming "As we proceed..."



Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

You decide, I included mixtape players for both of them. Then again, what do I know...

P.S. Livemixtapes.com is the greatest... and I don't even know who runs it.

Riding Music: T.I. is Welcoming You Back to the Trap

(Photo by Jonathan Mannion... the Great)

The Rays of Sunshine at Grand Hustle believe in building anTIcipaTIon (I did that on purpose). I say that because first T.I. released I'm Back, then he released the trailer to his upcoming mixtape with DJ MLK and DJ Drama, THEN he released part 2 of the trailer, NOW they release the track "Welcome Back to the Trap" off of F' A Mixtape (Gotta keep it clean since Moms reads the blog, but she'll be the first one to ask for her copy of the mixtape).

Of course, I'm not one to lie, but "Welcome Back" has to grow on me. I don't hate it, it's not like "56 Bars" (Bernie's personal favorite T.I.P. song), however I'll play it in the 'Voy. But what do I know, I'm just a Yankee...

Anyway, you can listen below to the original version. I don't believe in playing edited music. It's pointless and this is not a radio station's blog. To download the song, click on the photo above, and it'll take you to MLK's page where you can choose between the Original version or the Edited version...

Ridin Music: Lil' Kim "Oh Let's Do It" (Freestyle)

So Lil' Kim decided to record and release a freestyle over the Waka Flocka track "Oh Let's Do It". I actually liked it, it's featured in the Ridin Music section, and it's bumping in the Envoy as we speak. Of course, it's not like it was Track 9 off of her "Hardcore" album, (Let's be real, she could never beat that song).




Anyway, if you like it, you can download "Lil' Kim's Oh Let's Do It (Freestyle)"

I honestly think she should stick to mixtapes and features. I gotta be harder on my New Yorkers, it's called Tough Love...

P.S. Remember when Quiet Storm (Remix) came out... and Funkmaster Flex dropped 82 bombs on one rotation??? It wasn't 82 bombs but you know what I'm saying.

Ridin Music: 11 Years Ago Today, This Album Came Out...

This is very much DITC (Diggin In The Crates), but this album is very much alive in my Envoy. I'm not being biased, but this is the greatest compilation album. Sadly, the volumes that followed it, didn't match Volume 1. Just being honest...





April 27, 1999 Ruff Ryders' Ryde or Die Vol. 1 hit the stores. The entire Ruff Ryder family, as well as Jay-Z, Juvenile, Nokio, Beanie Sigal, Jermaine Dupri, Mase, and Big Pun appeared on the album. 15 tracks, two skits, and a whole lotta production from Swizz Beatz. From Styles P claiming he's "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper" to my favorite track on the whole CD, Track 7 "I'm A Ruff Ryder" by Parle' (Note: Where are those guys???), it did not disappoint me at all.

Seeing how I didn't get my license to 2002 (New York has different driving laws than the South), but since then, Ryde or Die Vol 1 has lived in my vehicles.

Such a good CD... What up 'Kiss?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Ridin Music: Yung Joc feat. Lil' Wayne "Drip"

Such a gorgeous picture of Joc. Yung Joc surprised me (in a good way) with this song that features Lil' Wayne. It's obvious that I like the song enough to put it on here, but honestly, I wasn't a fan of the chorus. (Like I said, keep it 100. I'm not a "yes" chick or "that's hot" chick. Overall, good song. You know the deal, click on the photo above for the link if you want to download it...

Ridin Music: Ludacris feat. Nicki Minaj "My Chick Bad"

Alright, I've been riding around to this for a few days, so I might as well post it.

Off Of Ludacris' new album, Battle of the Sexes, one of the tracks is "My Chick's Bad" feat. New York's own, Nicki Minaj. You can listen to the song, and if you'se like it, feel free to download it. (Click on the photo for the download link.)

Ridin to The King Is Back...

If I'm gonna be talking about cars, why not provide links to some songs that I would play in my vehicle. It's only right, it's only fair. I'm not gonna post garbage, and I'm keeping it 100...






To kick off the Ridin Music section, why not provide a new song from T.I. called "I'm Back" (Click on the image to get the link). There will be A LOT more Ridin Music cause I always have a lot of music in the Envoy. Exclusives and favorites, but never garbage.