before there was graduation...

two weeks prior to the drop of mr. west's highly anticipated "graduation," a little album called "below the heavens" (brought to a handful of audiences by emcee 'blu' and beatmaster 'exile') made its debut.

though these albums do not have much in comparison, there is a similarity with one song title: "good life" presented by kanye west, and "show me the good life" presented by blu & exile.

so while i have no authority to identify the better song, i will say that the tight collaborations with blu & exile are much more intelligent than say.... kanye west and t-pain?

don't get me wrong, i am not knocking down my boy t-pain. let's face it, who isn't in love with a stripper? all i'm trying to do is suggest a more humble alternative.




as for the poetry and hip-hop enthusiast... pick up the dead emcee scrolls: the lost teachings of hip-hop by saul williams. it might not change your life, but it beats reading bizarre and irrational poems from an isolated white girl (i think it's safe to admit that no one really enjoys anything written by emily dickinson)