Southern Cross Sundays

Whats going on people. Its been a minute since I've added my weekly post. But it seems that Southern Cross Sundays on the blog has been replace with Sunday recording sessions at the Southern Cross.
Its 10:35 right now and its the end of a very productive weekend. Just to keep you up on things, here is a quick rundown of the "goings on" in my little anthill called The Southern Cross.
I got a dope solo joint on a Spaz beat, we got Expert and DJ SirCumference with Scribe+, Expert and myself on a dope track, D_Cyphernauts making some serious noise on a Sketch production, Protoge of Phenetiks consistent over the past two weeks collaborating with overseas and out of state producers, Spaz on his own production with Dj premier... Oh wait that's Circumference?
Put it simple, the storm is brewing. Nothing but dopeness being created over the past couple weeks. Wow, now is the time to really stay in tune with the AFA. These gems will be finding their way to your ears pretty soon. Very very soon. Wack MC's BEWARE!!!

Peace
The Rising Sun Quest

Southern Cross Sundays

This is a list of the albums that have had the most impact on me. This is a very short post, but I spent more time writing it than I have writing any other post. I cant say this is my top ten because It was too hard to create a top ten. This is in no order of preference.

• Illmatic by Nas
• 6 Feet Deep by Gravediggaz
• Muddy Waters by Redman
• Enta da Stage by Black Moon
• The Infamous by Mobb Deep
• Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon
• Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
• Capital Punishment by Big Pun
• The Score by Fugees
• The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru The Damaja

It was very hard not to include:

• Ready to Die by Notorious B.I.G.
• Dare Iz a Darkside by Redman
• A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Black Sheep
• The Chronic by Dr. Dre
• The Slim Shady LP by Eminem
  

... and so many more

By Quest, The Rising Sun
www.myspace.com/risingsunquest
www.soundclick.com/risingsunquest
AFA

Southern Cross Sundays: Sophomore Slump

Whats going on people. Its Sunday which means its my day to contribute to the AFA blog with whatever I want. Today I want to talk about the "sophomore slump." Ever since Ive been listening to HIP HOP I've noticed that for many of my favorite rappers, album number two is not always as dope as album #1. Its not always the case as Redman held It down with three solid albums to jump off his career. Nas in my opinion did a good job with his second effort. Some say "It was written wasn't as dope as "Illmatic," no shit. If you compare his second album to his first you'll miss all of the good things that album #2 has to offer. Many people criticize Cannibus' first album for being weak and a complete let down. I disagree. I think Cannibus' first album was very good in fact. It had a lot of versatility, dope lyrics, interesting concepts. However His second album, though it may have had slightly better beats. Every song was the same thing over and over.

I think the Sophomore Slump is a combination of many things. Number one is that when the first album is so good, people will expect certain things from the second. Instead of just treating it as a fresh new project, they see it as a continuation of the first. Another key factor in the Slump is that all the hunger driving the first album is genuine. Its a hunger that has had a whole life to develop. The hunger for the second effort only has time to develop between albums and its also not genuine in that its corrupted with expectations to meet the success of it's predecessor. Thus making some of the content forced and unauthentic.

With that I leave you with what in my opinion was the most disappointing "Sophomore Slump." Yeah Baby, by Big Pun...R.I.P. I hate to say it, but Capitol Punishment is arguably one of the best albums ever. It had everything that I as a fan wanted to hear in an album. It was in my opinion some of the best rhyme delivery in hip hop. I remember waiting for that second album to come out. I just knew it would be regarded as the, "Best Album EVER!!" Though it had some good points, it was far from that. Very Disappointing.

Oh well, Ill take Yeah Baby over any album distributed in todays Hip Hop mainstream.

By Quest, The Rising Sun
www.myspace.com/risingsunquest
www.soundclick.com/risingsunquest