Speaking of Royce (previous post), my Russian brother Marlon has just informed me that his brand Sneak Tip has collaborated with the rap super group Slaughter House for a tee release. Slaughter House is comprised of Joe Budden, Royce 5”9, Crooked I and Joell Ortiz and has become the best thing to happen to Hip-Hop groups since the Wu-Tang Clan.

Not only does each emcee hail from a different city but they also are arguably four of the best rappers in the game today. Imagine the original 1992 Olympic Dream Team but replace Jordan, Magic, Bird and Stockton with Jump Off, Nickel, Block Obama and Ortiz. Yeah, that hectic. The shirt is crack.

You’d have to be in a coma not to realize that Detroit is the source for some of the illest Hip-Hop today.  I say “today” because it has gotten to the point where you can’t front on what their doing “today” but do the research because the “D’s” yesterday is just as crazy! Get it?

Elzhi, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Royce 5′9″ and the late great Dilla (bow down) are some of my favorites.  To be 100 percent with you, I don’t think of it as “Detroit” rap (or try not to… but its hard not to because of how ill everything is).  I hate that shit when people grade you on your category… “it’s dope for Detroit” type shit. The way I see it, the names I mentioned are some of the best in Hip-Hop in general and happen to be from Detroit. Detroit just has a higher rate of quality lyricists and beat makers right now… hahaha. Either which way, Detroit is on fire and as a fan I hope it continues.

I met the homies Rick and Ro on the trade show run and we clicked instantly. Rick looks like Large Pro and has a knack for having his New Balance game on par! Ro (Octane) just happens to be a prime example of that Detroit fire and has just released a video for his joint “Leave Me Alone”. Word is Ro and Elzhi just finished a joint that I know Ro will send me as soon as its mixed!!!

They are partners in the Detroit sneaker and clothing boutique, Burn Rubber, which is holding down Detroit in a major way.

Peep Burn Rubber’s  upcoming G-Shock release and Ro’s new video below. Big shout to Rick, Ro and the whole Burn Rubber Crew.

I think people don’t really realize how far Kanye has gone in a short period of time and how much he has accomplished since his introduction into Hip-Hop*. For the “heads” that look at him now and dismiss him as a pop act, do your math because dude has done enough in the Hip-Hop world to earn the right to “auto tune” it up.

He has earned the right to stop wearing baggy jeans and fitteds to explore the fashion world.  Kanye has moved from  the “on the bench” producer to “starter” to “star player” to “coach” then “team owner”, all while gaining the respect of the leaders in design to the point where he is creating original models for LV and Nike. Not collaborating on the existing Air Force 1 for a color up with a logo but designing brand new shoes. It’s funny… how many “street” rappers reference Louis Vuitton and Nike in their anthems?

Kanye designs for them.

Ye has done what we all wish we could.

*See Dead Prez “Bigger than Hip-Hop Remix” produced by Kanye on the their debut album Lets Get Free (2000).

Chedda asked me if I was going to Block Certify the Yeezy’s and I didn’t have any plans to but when they were in front of me I realized that beyond all the blog hype and release date mystery, there is a brand new shoe (with retro influences…. but new) that was dope. All you super serious sneaker kids stop frontin.

Available 4-4 at Concepts, 37 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138

Get there early because they are guaranteed to fly.

Check my other Butcher’s Block Certifications here.

Took some much needed R&R this weekend and headed down to Orlando, Florida  to visit some friends. So of course when I heard Ghostface and Raekwon were performing in Tampa in support of the Tampa Skate park, I was there.

They banged out classics from “OB4CL” and announced that “OB4CL2″ will drop in July.

Watching Ghost and Rae on stage together performing some of the most classic tracks in Hip-Hop history was amazing.

Big shout to my fam in Orlando… Lou, Ran, Fat Jon and Eddie. I’ll be back!

Ghostface and Raekwon Live in Tampa | Criminology from Frank The Butcher on Vimeo.

Ghostface and Raekwon perform classics from “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” in Tampa, Florida at the Skate Park of Tampa Tampa Pro 2009 Party.

www.BUTCHERSBLOCKTV.com

Yes we did!!! Connect the dots…Concepts…Boston…Adidas….House of Pain…….ST. PATRICK’S DAY…nuff said. Bodied it.

Check out the madness here!!

Let’s be for real.

When you think of Boston, you can’t help but to think of it’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day events, parades and drink-a-thons. If the soundtrack for the Puerto Rican Day Parade was Hector Lavoe, Marc Anthony or maybe Big Pun or Fat Joe… St. Paddy’s Day’s anthem would be House of Pain’s “Jump Around”. I dare you to argue that.

So being in Boston I thought it was only right to unify all those elements into something that made the locals get rowdy and spill their drinks. Oh, wait… that’s normal!

On Tuesday, March 17th, House of Pain (all 3 members) will be at Concepts to launch their Adidas Campus colab designed by Danny Boy (with the rest of La Coka Nostra on hand).

We are also raffling off 5 authentic Adidas Celtics jerseys custom made for the launch. I would tell you how many were made but the number is so small you’d get mad at me!

Come down and meet the band, get a drink, cop a shoe, win a jersey… put on some shit kickers and kick some shit…. and enjoy what the Irish gave the world… St. Paddy’s Day!!!

We are back in this muthafucker with the 3rd installment (but it’s called 004!) of the Butcher’s Block podcast.

This time we thought we’d spice it up a bit with a show dedicated to Queens Hip-Hop. You know, the borough of Queens, where Prince Akeem thought he would find his bride. Word to King Jaffe Joffer.

**Disclaimer – This is part one of the Queens episode. Everyone is not featured meaning the next show will be iller than this!!

The Butcher’s Block 004

Wondering why there’s a “TV” in the url? This is why!! In partnership with In High Dudgeon Films, TBB presents Butcher’s Block TV.

Look forward to seeing interviews with everyone you see in the trailer and more.

The Butchers Block

***New WeeklyDrop on the way***

Butcher!!