I've Got A Dolla And A Dream.

1. You know when you first hear something new and it just makes complete sense? I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. OU's Black Council threw a little shindig that included Wiz, Mario (Mario?) and J. Cole and it smashed me in the schnozz: J. Cole is the next big thing. Jermaine Coles, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, WILL be the next big rapper to blow up.

I'll put money on my assumption.

Here's why: not only is he the first artist to be signed to Jigga's new record label, Roc Nation, but just listen to his most recent mixtape, The Warm Up. If you listen close enough--or if you listen at all--this isn't a mixtape: this a compilation of polished beats and self-aware rhymes that flows more like a debut album than a download-it-for-free mixtape.

Granted, there are definitely a few mixtape elements on The Warm Up (sampled beats such as 'Ye's "Last Call" and "Drive Slow" and Nas' "The World Is Yours"), but most everything is original. I wouldn't necessarily say incendiary, but it's damn listenable.

Hell, I'd go as far to say that he kills Kanye's "Last Call" beat better than 'Ye. He goes all wiseguy-Tommy DeVito on the beat, knifing the shit out of it until its lifeless body remains gutted in the Lincoln's trunk.

Now that's something to build on considering half of the Athens crowd left after Wiz's opening performance. But it should be no surprise from a guy who annihilated both the Wale and Jay-Z tracks he appeared on--probably better than the featured artists on the tracks themselves.

So, cheers to you, J. Cole. As a member of XXL's Freshman Class of 2010, I here at Titles Are Trite expect big things out of you--huge, gigantic, Jigga-sized moves.

Because remember, all you need is a dollar and a dream.


2. Speaking of another member of that class, please everyone give a huge welcome to Freddie Gibbs.


3. Shout out to me main man, Bill Simmons: what would a double NBA and NFL lockout in 2011 mean for American sports fans? According to Chuck Klosterman, because of a conspiracy within ESPN's offices we'll all become soccer fans. God forbid, Chuck, God forbid (can be found on Bill Simmons' podcast archive under "The BS Report")


4. Mucho linkage hoy. Es increible.



Remember,

God Is Love,


Rev Rub.