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january 2007

VIBE RATERS

THE VIBE STAFF PROGRAMS YOUR MONTHLY PLAYLIST

TUM TUM, “Caprice Music,” from Tum Thousand and Six
(T-Town/Universal):

Call it intimate car music: The unsung star of Dallas’ DSR crew works his signature gasp, boasting, “My car look delicious.” Plus, he’s not scared to rap like Missy Elliott.

Jon Caramanica, Music Editor

HI-TEK, FEAT. DION, JADAKISS, PAPOOSE, TALIB KWELI
& RAEKWON, “Where It Started At (NY),” from Hi-Teknology²:
The Chip (Babygrande):

Just when I thought I’d be doing the chicken noodle soup dance all winter, New York’s finest restore my faith in real hip hop. Shauna Barbosa, Executive Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief

RICH BOY, “Throw Some D’s,” from Product of the Hustle (Interscope): The rugged Alabamian MC gets a bouncy assist from burgeoning superproducer/former Jim Crow member Polow da Don. Sean Fennessey, Associate Music Editor

Everyone wants out.

8BALL & MJG, FEAT. PROJECT PAT, “Relax and Take Notes,” from Ridin’ High (Bad Boy): An underappreciated banger from Orange Mound’s finest—menacing beat, Biggie Smalls sample, and one of Ball’s best verses in his storied career: “M-E-M-P-H-I-S / I’ma rep this here till I walk up on death.” Benjamin Meadows-Ingram, Senior Editor

They’re moving in.

NOEL ZANCANELLA, FEAT. BAATIN, “Could It Be?” from Noel Zancanella, Featuring Baatin (Sonom): A hypnotizing hip hop beat for a hectic day is hard to come by, and Zancanella, who just may be our next Pete Rock, delivers. Linda Hobbs, Reporter

JOJO: GEORGE HOLZ; 8 BALL & MJG: SANDRA ROSE/GETTY IMAGES

© ABC Family

JOJO, “The Way You Do Me,” from The High Road (DaFamily/ Blackground/Universal): She’s only 15, but with a little help from Swizz Beatz, JoJo’s about to be all up in the club. Chris Yuscavage, Reporter