Outkast are perenially cool, so I thought why not go on a little audio-trip down memory lane:
Talk about inspirational: a coupla months ago, listening to this song motivated me to get off my lazy ass and go get a job...which I kinda hate - but that's not the point.
Seems like whenever the Dungeon Family get together in the studio, they have an all-out jewel-dropping session...and I'm an avid jewel-picker-upper.
"We just, shoot, game in the
form of story raps now (yeah)
It's like that now, it's like that now!"
So Fresh & So Clean (Stankonia)
Wanted to avoid overplayed singles, but this one's still going strong for me after the 1st few hundred listens, so I had to show some love.
Big Boi - Reset (Speakerboxxx)
Mellow as a buddhist monk getting transcendental.
Dre - A Life in the Day of Benjamin Andre (The Love Below)
Another great example of the art of storytelling. Genius.
Hollywood Divorce (Idlewild)
Albumwise, not their best work, but had its highlights like this gem.
"Tenth grade, the way was paved
for me and Dre to create
like Dr. Frankenstein of arts and craft
Now could we make a a a difference
Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin.."
...as of now, just waiting on that comeback album.
Talk about inspirational: a coupla months ago, listening to this song motivated me to get off my lazy ass and go get a job...which I kinda hate - but that's not the point.
Seems like whenever the Dungeon Family get together in the studio, they have an all-out jewel-dropping session...and I'm an avid jewel-picker-upper.
"We just, shoot, game in the
form of story raps now (yeah)
It's like that now, it's like that now!"
So Fresh & So Clean (Stankonia)
Wanted to avoid overplayed singles, but this one's still going strong for me after the 1st few hundred listens, so I had to show some love.
Big Boi - Reset (Speakerboxxx)
Mellow as a buddhist monk getting transcendental.
Dre - A Life in the Day of Benjamin Andre (The Love Below)
Another great example of the art of storytelling. Genius.
Hollywood Divorce (Idlewild)
Albumwise, not their best work, but had its highlights like this gem.
"Tenth grade, the way was paved
for me and Dre to create
like Dr. Frankenstein of arts and craft
Now could we make a a a difference
Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin.."
...as of now, just waiting on that comeback album.
No worries, not a dodgy mashup mixtape I'm plugging, but rather Stretch Nav and myself showing love to a couple of producers we hetero-jockride by uploading a few tracks. I picked the 'Ye tracks and ma man supplied the Digi Snacks:
Supercat ft Meth - Scalp Dem
why RZA's music can be sometimes described as eerie. In a good way though.
More RZA/reggae collaborations...this time with Lex Diamonds and Bounty Killer. Original has Killarmy and a choice vocal snippet from Full Metal Jacket.
Raekwon, Masta Killa, Streetlife, Inspectah Deck - Execute Them
From the Killa Bees Swarm album.....the Chef, Masta Killa, Streetlife and Inspectah Deck. Beat is crazy...digi sounds.
Lord Superb and Solomon Childs over some RZA soulful chamber loops.....more Wu killabees talent, off 02's Killa Beez The Sting album
Think this was supposed to be on the Kill Bill 2 soundtrack...more Wu collabos.
"...My beats travel like a vortex
through ya spine to the top of your cerebrum cortex
make you feel like you bust a nut from raw sex..." - Bobby
Jay-Z - This Can't Be Life
Always best to start from the beginning and this, 'Ye's 1st contribution to the Roc, to quote him on the Dropout, helped start the resurgence of the "soul sound".
A few years down the line and dude's spitting on mixtape tracks like this. Nice track, but to be honest, in '03 I was thinking dude NEEDS to just stick to making beats.
T.I. - Doin' My Job
Also in '03, Kanye contributed this track to T.I.'s breakthrough "Trap Muzik". Great song from a great album.
Slum Village - Selfish
Sick drums and a great John Legend hook on this one. I have great memories of this track, as it was my theme music at my best mate's high school leaver's party...got superdrunk, threw up, was thrown out of the club and passed out in the back of someone's pickup truck. Good times :)
Mobb Deep - Throw Your Hands
The Mobb do like to keep it all the way gangsta and here Kanye does a good job of hooking them up with a track that can be both danced to AND mean-mugged to. No mean feat.
"...If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased
And this one here, is a heat rock
Spit like a beat box, the way the beat rocks
New version of Pete Rock..." - K.West
Only just came to the realisation all my Zshare links go down after 2 weeks, so everything I've uploaded thus far's gone now. Anyhoo, sucks ass but suffice it to say will be using Divshare as of now (click on the logo to d/l).
Not posted for a minute, so to catch up here's a bunch of songs with little relation beyond their dopeassedness:
The Game: My Bitch
Leaked a few months ago, this is 1 of several Dre tracks recorded for the Dr's Advocate that got pulled. Shame, the beat's sick & Game kills the track, dedicating a verse apiece to 50, Hov & Suge...& what bitches they are.
Rick Raws: Trilla
Ricky Rawss (usually rhymed with Bawss) doing what Ross does here. New collabo with Cool & Dre that sounds like any 1 of the cuts from his debut last year...wich isn't a bad thing as I've developed an affinity for duke & his manass beard.
Teriyaki Boys: Large ft Pharrell
Teriyaki Boys: What Time Is It ft Primo
Thanks to Nigo's Bape money & connections, The Teriyaki Boys' 2005 album "Beef or Chicken" - what a title! - had some quality producers, including Pharrel & DJ Premier on my favourite tracks.
I Can't Feel My Face: The Bad Side
Weezy & Juelz over a killer beat that Santaza struggles to keep up with, but Wayne more than does justice to.
8Ball & MJG: Ridin High
Boss-basic southern-bounce track that NEEDS to be cranked up to full volume. 1 for your Cadillac.
O.Trice: Cry Now
More trunk-volume music. The beat is immense & Obie's flow is impeccable on this one.
Will.I.Am: I get it from my Mama
Far from a guilty pleasure, I really don't like this song...but it just won't stop playing in my head! Thought I'd share my pain.
Jay-Z: In My Lifetime rmx
Great pre-Reasonable Doubt track, reminiscent of "Dead Presidents" & "Regrets".
Busta ft ODB: Where's Your Money
Great track that probably would have made it onto "The Big Bang", but it kinda captures a similar mood to Goldmine
Primo makes hip-hop sound so easy...
Great track. 9th Wonder brings the soul & Smitty's delivery - somewhere between Scarface & Beans here - is heartrending stuff.
Ghostface recorded this Beatles-sampling track a few years back & I think it's served as inspiration for a cover of "While my guitar gently weeps" on 8 Diagram.
Classic Nore, just pure energy! Have to big up Swizz Beatz here. Sounds just like all the other hype club bangers he's produced, but I do tend to like them, so I can't complain.
Finish off with a classic. A fitting conclusion for me personally...
"Today I didn't even have to use my A.K.
I got to say it was a good day."
Not posted for a minute, so to catch up here's a bunch of songs with little relation beyond their dopeassedness:
The Game: My Bitch
Leaked a few months ago, this is 1 of several Dre tracks recorded for the Dr's Advocate that got pulled. Shame, the beat's sick & Game kills the track, dedicating a verse apiece to 50, Hov & Suge...& what bitches they are.
Rick Raws: Trilla
Ricky Rawss (usually rhymed with Bawss) doing what Ross does here. New collabo with Cool & Dre that sounds like any 1 of the cuts from his debut last year...wich isn't a bad thing as I've developed an affinity for duke & his manass beard.
Teriyaki Boys: Large ft Pharrell
Teriyaki Boys: What Time Is It ft Primo
Thanks to Nigo's Bape money & connections, The Teriyaki Boys' 2005 album "Beef or Chicken" - what a title! - had some quality producers, including Pharrel & DJ Premier on my favourite tracks.
I Can't Feel My Face: The Bad Side
Weezy & Juelz over a killer beat that Santaza struggles to keep up with, but Wayne more than does justice to.
8Ball & MJG: Ridin High
Boss-basic southern-bounce track that NEEDS to be cranked up to full volume. 1 for your Cadillac.
O.Trice: Cry Now
More trunk-volume music. The beat is immense & Obie's flow is impeccable on this one.
Will.I.Am: I get it from my Mama
Far from a guilty pleasure, I really don't like this song...but it just won't stop playing in my head! Thought I'd share my pain.
Jay-Z: In My Lifetime rmx
Great pre-Reasonable Doubt track, reminiscent of "Dead Presidents" & "Regrets".
Busta ft ODB: Where's Your Money
Great track that probably would have made it onto "The Big Bang", but it kinda captures a similar mood to Goldmine
Primo makes hip-hop sound so easy...
Great track. 9th Wonder brings the soul & Smitty's delivery - somewhere between Scarface & Beans here - is heartrending stuff.
Ghostface recorded this Beatles-sampling track a few years back & I think it's served as inspiration for a cover of "While my guitar gently weeps" on 8 Diagram.
Classic Nore, just pure energy! Have to big up Swizz Beatz here. Sounds just like all the other hype club bangers he's produced, but I do tend to like them, so I can't complain.
Finish off with a classic. A fitting conclusion for me personally...
"Today I didn't even have to use my A.K.
I got to say it was a good day."
Another Nice track is the Sylvers' Only One Can Win. Dilla lifted the hook for my favourite track from my favourite instrumental album (& I don't even generally like instro albums): Two Can Win from "Donuts".
On Donuts, Jay Dee also sampled Rubber Band, more famously used by Cool and Dre for "Hate It or Love It". I give Curtis a hard time, but the first verse on this is some pretty powerful introspective ish. Feels kinda like a 2pac verse:
Speaking of whom - this is about as creative as my segues get! - probably my favourite 'Pac song, which samples In All My Wildest Dreams by Joe Sample (how apt), is "Dear Mama". Though not for want of trying, few songs have captured so well the feelings pretty much everybody has for their Moms. Great video too:
Another great sample on a 2pac song is from What You Won't Do For Love. Originally a Bobby Caldwell song, I've put up my favourite version of this, by Roy Ayers (absolute legend!). Due to his incarceration and unfortunate death, I'd imagine there are as many 2pac videos that don't feature him as there are that do, but his presence on the records is just as powerful. "Do For Love" is a great animated video that really captures the spirit both of the song and of the man:
Another track on the more mellow tip is William Devaughn's Be Thankful For What You've Got In all honesty, until about 5 minutes ago I'd always assumed this song was by Curtis Mayfield - who isn't a bad guy to sound like anyway. Luda used it on the supercool "Diamond In The Back", which I think is impossible not to like - unless you got no soul that is!
Back to marvelous Marv for T Plays it Cool from the "Trouble Man OST". Proof he didn't even need to sing to create a mind blowing song. Jazzy Jeff updated it with some scratches and hip-hop drums on A Touch of Jazz. Sort of song I would breakdance to if I knew how to spin on my head.
Kool and The Gang - probably my favourite jazz/soul/funk/disco/r'n'b/allthatgoodstuff band - had their excellent Summer Madness (feels like sipping lemonade laid back in the shade) sampled by Jeff & the Fresh One on pretty much the ultimate summer tune, Summertime. It was also used by Aaliyah on A Girl Like You feat Treach from Naughty By Nature which is "cooler than a polar bear's toenails" to quote Big Boi. More recently Punjabi MC sampled it, by way of Summertime, on Raat Da Na Bole - crazy track. Long may it be popular amongst the sample-happy, if only to keep Kool & co. seeing the royalty cheques. They deserve it.
To finish off, a supersick joint that NEEDS sampling! Gloria Gaynor (I will survive) is absolutely incredible on Casanova Brown & the beat bangs. Until I've honed my MPC skills sufficiently to do it justice, I can picture Just Blaze or Pete Rock maybe doing something with this track. Most important though is that I hear Ghostface rap over this here beat before I die. Can picture the Wally Champ rapping the B'Jesus out of this joint. Need to get in touch with his A & R peoples, maybe bring me in as a creative consultant for this one.
Seeing as I haven't put up any of his tracks, had to show love to Isaac Hayes, being the supercool cat that he is. He has a great line on his Wu-Tang collabo I Can't Go To Sleep:
"Don't get mad...'cos it ain't that bad..."
No matter the situation soul children, truer words were never spoken.
On Donuts, Jay Dee also sampled Rubber Band, more famously used by Cool and Dre for "Hate It or Love It". I give Curtis a hard time, but the first verse on this is some pretty powerful introspective ish. Feels kinda like a 2pac verse:
Speaking of whom - this is about as creative as my segues get! - probably my favourite 'Pac song, which samples In All My Wildest Dreams by Joe Sample (how apt), is "Dear Mama". Though not for want of trying, few songs have captured so well the feelings pretty much everybody has for their Moms. Great video too:
Another great sample on a 2pac song is from What You Won't Do For Love. Originally a Bobby Caldwell song, I've put up my favourite version of this, by Roy Ayers (absolute legend!). Due to his incarceration and unfortunate death, I'd imagine there are as many 2pac videos that don't feature him as there are that do, but his presence on the records is just as powerful. "Do For Love" is a great animated video that really captures the spirit both of the song and of the man:
Another track on the more mellow tip is William Devaughn's Be Thankful For What You've Got In all honesty, until about 5 minutes ago I'd always assumed this song was by Curtis Mayfield - who isn't a bad guy to sound like anyway. Luda used it on the supercool "Diamond In The Back", which I think is impossible not to like - unless you got no soul that is!
Back to marvelous Marv for T Plays it Cool from the "Trouble Man OST". Proof he didn't even need to sing to create a mind blowing song. Jazzy Jeff updated it with some scratches and hip-hop drums on A Touch of Jazz. Sort of song I would breakdance to if I knew how to spin on my head.
Kool and The Gang - probably my favourite jazz/soul/funk/disco/r'n'b/allthatgoodstuff band - had their excellent Summer Madness (feels like sipping lemonade laid back in the shade) sampled by Jeff & the Fresh One on pretty much the ultimate summer tune, Summertime. It was also used by Aaliyah on A Girl Like You feat Treach from Naughty By Nature which is "cooler than a polar bear's toenails" to quote Big Boi. More recently Punjabi MC sampled it, by way of Summertime, on Raat Da Na Bole - crazy track. Long may it be popular amongst the sample-happy, if only to keep Kool & co. seeing the royalty cheques. They deserve it.
To finish off, a supersick joint that NEEDS sampling! Gloria Gaynor (I will survive) is absolutely incredible on Casanova Brown & the beat bangs. Until I've honed my MPC skills sufficiently to do it justice, I can picture Just Blaze or Pete Rock maybe doing something with this track. Most important though is that I hear Ghostface rap over this here beat before I die. Can picture the Wally Champ rapping the B'Jesus out of this joint. Need to get in touch with his A & R peoples, maybe bring me in as a creative consultant for this one.
Seeing as I haven't put up any of his tracks, had to show love to Isaac Hayes, being the supercool cat that he is. He has a great line on his Wu-Tang collabo I Can't Go To Sleep:
"Don't get mad...'cos it ain't that bad..."
No matter the situation soul children, truer words were never spoken.
Much of my favourite hip-hop is sample-based and most of my favourite samples are from soul songs, so I thought why not put together an epic mega-post of some of my favourite soul tracks and their usage by my favourite rappers:
I'm starting with Sunrise by the originals, a group I don't know too much about, but who really brung it on this track. 70s soul compositions always seem to have the most amazing string arrangements and often some killer keys, which is the case here. KanYe jacked the opening bars of this for Guess Who's Back, a standout track on Scarface's excellent "The Fix". Great Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel features here; the Roc in its prime.
Another great 70s beatjack - again from Kanye - is from Gil-Scott Heron's We Almost Lost Detroit for Common's recent single, The People. 'Ye can't chop up a beat like Primo or Pete Rock, but his ear for a dope sample is something special. A little synth here, a little xylophone there, some of Gil-Scott's vocals and some kickass drums make for 1 of my '07 favourites.
Can't talk samples without showing some love to the godfather. My mate Imran reminded me of how well James Brown's The Big Payback complemented Big Poppa back in the 90s:
His Paid the Cost to be the Boss then made for a classic loop on Nas' "Get Down":
next up is an all time fave, The Stylistics' One Night Affair, looped up lovely by 9th Wonder on Little Brother's "Lovin' It", which Weezy F murdered on his Dedication 2 mixtape track This What I Call Her. In a good way.
Need to show some love to Marvelous Marvin Modern Marvel. Come Live With Me Angel comes from "I Want You", his seduction album which I believe conceptually, though not chronologically, precedes Let's Get It On (the consummation album) and Here My Dear (the "we want prenup!" album). The song's superpimping, so no surprise it was used on G-Unit and Joe's I Wanna Get To Know You. It's Curtis at his most cringeworthy, but the sample's so good I just can't hate (plus I've got a soft spot for I-wanna-know Joe).
More Marvin: from the same album, After The Dance was sampled by Scott Storch on Hip-hop is Dead's Play on Playa, the most un-Storchish Storch beat ever. In a refreshing way. Nas in philosopher mode while Snoop provides another dope feature doing what he do. Great beat, great rhymes...this rap shit really ain't all that hard.
Carmine Coppola - can't accuse Francis Ford of nepotism - scored the Godfather soundtracks and his Marcia Religiosa was used to great effect by Nas and Jay on Black Republicans. In a word: MAJESTIC. Some real royal shit.
I first became aware of "40 days" by Billy Brooks - which I can't find. - when it was sampled on ATCQ's debut album on the track Luck of Lucien. I then heard it on Styles P's Testify and more recently on Havoc's I'm The Boss. Having listened to them looped a 1000 times, it's funny how many songs I find I recognise in an instant, though I've never heard them before.
[edit: here's the Billy Brooks track, courtesy of mi amigo.]
"Got some soul on blast in tha cassette
Food for my brain
I haven't stopped learning yet" - Big Gipp, "Soul Food" (the Goodie Mobb)
More mp3-sized morsels on the morrow.
I'm starting with Sunrise by the originals, a group I don't know too much about, but who really brung it on this track. 70s soul compositions always seem to have the most amazing string arrangements and often some killer keys, which is the case here. KanYe jacked the opening bars of this for Guess Who's Back, a standout track on Scarface's excellent "The Fix". Great Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel features here; the Roc in its prime.
Another great 70s beatjack - again from Kanye - is from Gil-Scott Heron's We Almost Lost Detroit for Common's recent single, The People. 'Ye can't chop up a beat like Primo or Pete Rock, but his ear for a dope sample is something special. A little synth here, a little xylophone there, some of Gil-Scott's vocals and some kickass drums make for 1 of my '07 favourites.
Can't talk samples without showing some love to the godfather. My mate Imran reminded me of how well James Brown's The Big Payback complemented Big Poppa back in the 90s:
His Paid the Cost to be the Boss then made for a classic loop on Nas' "Get Down":
next up is an all time fave, The Stylistics' One Night Affair, looped up lovely by 9th Wonder on Little Brother's "Lovin' It", which Weezy F murdered on his Dedication 2 mixtape track This What I Call Her. In a good way.
Need to show some love to Marvelous Marvin Modern Marvel. Come Live With Me Angel comes from "I Want You", his seduction album which I believe conceptually, though not chronologically, precedes Let's Get It On (the consummation album) and Here My Dear (the "we want prenup!" album). The song's superpimping, so no surprise it was used on G-Unit and Joe's I Wanna Get To Know You. It's Curtis at his most cringeworthy, but the sample's so good I just can't hate (plus I've got a soft spot for I-wanna-know Joe).
More Marvin: from the same album, After The Dance was sampled by Scott Storch on Hip-hop is Dead's Play on Playa, the most un-Storchish Storch beat ever. In a refreshing way. Nas in philosopher mode while Snoop provides another dope feature doing what he do. Great beat, great rhymes...this rap shit really ain't all that hard.
Carmine Coppola - can't accuse Francis Ford of nepotism - scored the Godfather soundtracks and his Marcia Religiosa was used to great effect by Nas and Jay on Black Republicans. In a word: MAJESTIC. Some real royal shit.
I first became aware of "40 days" by Billy Brooks - which I can't find. - when it was sampled on ATCQ's debut album on the track Luck of Lucien. I then heard it on Styles P's Testify and more recently on Havoc's I'm The Boss. Having listened to them looped a 1000 times, it's funny how many songs I find I recognise in an instant, though I've never heard them before.
[edit: here's the Billy Brooks track, courtesy of mi amigo.]
"Got some soul on blast in tha cassette
Food for my brain
I haven't stopped learning yet" - Big Gipp, "Soul Food" (the Goodie Mobb)
More mp3-sized morsels on the morrow.
...of unintended humour after Trapped in the Closet, but doubling up with Usher on "Same Girl":
...has taken homoeroticism to levels I've not witnessed since Batman was REALLY gay.
Their sweaty game of basketball and their cozy convo by the fireplace is jokes. The song focuses on a love triangle, but the video clearly shows these guys have way more love for their own (and each other's) R'n'B swag than they do for any run-of-the-mill hoochy. They're like the new George and Tony.
Brace yourself for the R. to spin this out into a 12 part saga where this girl turns out to be getting with every R'n'B lothario evar. I quite like...
the second installment.
"She's gonna be lookin so stupid when she see us together!" - Kellz to his new bosom buddy.
[edit: Trapped in the Closet Ch.13, The Recap:
The man will not be stopped!]
...has taken homoeroticism to levels I've not witnessed since Batman was REALLY gay.
Their sweaty game of basketball and their cozy convo by the fireplace is jokes. The song focuses on a love triangle, but the video clearly shows these guys have way more love for their own (and each other's) R'n'B swag than they do for any run-of-the-mill hoochy. They're like the new George and Tony.
Brace yourself for the R. to spin this out into a 12 part saga where this girl turns out to be getting with every R'n'B lothario evar. I quite like...
the second installment.
"She's gonna be lookin so stupid when she see us together!" - Kellz to his new bosom buddy.
[edit: Trapped in the Closet Ch.13, The Recap:
The man will not be stopped!]
...That's the sound of da police!"
Really like this new Chamillionaire vid for "Hip-hop Police". It's funny [-er than most rap videos], the J.R. Rotem beat is very Scott Storch-cum-Dre and God bless all rappers who feature Slick Rick. I also like his vid for "Evening News" and his having the ballsiness to put out a single on the social commentary tip. After "Ridin' Dirty" and Hip-hop Police, it's clear dude's got no love for the punk police and after watching this I can't blame him:
enough to make a grown man cry.
[edit: Chamillionaire in whiteface is sooo Gary Coleman!]
Some of what's in my headphones right now:
Black Milk - "Luvin' it", from Popular Demand. Even though he's 1 of the better rappers from the rapper/producer set, I'm kind of stuck on this instrumental track. Short and sweet.
Common ft Lilly Allen - "Drivin' Me Wild". Great song: Comm' in storytelling mode, Lilly doing her thing and an infectious Kanye beat that reminds me a bit of "Heard 'Em Say". Really excited about Finding Forever. So much so that I'll bypass the leak and wait for the official release - that's a big deal for me!
Little Brother ft Kweli - "Grown Man". Listening to these dudes on the same track, I realised I'd make the same criticism of both LB and Talib: great lyricists, but very limited in terms of what beats they sound good rapping over. Like Guru sans Premo, Kweli's hit and miss for me without Hi-Tek on the boards giving him that jazzy/soulful backpack ish (bring back Reflection Eternal!). Eardrum's good, but the production on some tracks lets it down, I.M.O. I can see LB suffering similar consistency problems post-9th Wonder (though, to be fair, he'd probably peaked), but hopefully the other Justus League producers'll cushion the blow.
Cilvaringz - "In the Name of Allah". Killah Priest, Masta Killa, Meth and RZA feature on this and don't disappoint. CR's album is proper Wu shit, but the non-stop preaching gets on my nerves like Immortal Technique with an Islamic Fundamentalist chip on his shoulder the size of a boulder. I have nothing against his religious beliefs per say, but his hatred of Americans, Brits, Christians, 5-percenters, Jews (of course), & any Muslim brothers that don't like him (of whom I'd like to think there are many) takes painting everyone with the same brush to scary levels. Can't hate on the music though; he does have some valid points, the beats are dope and he's a good rapper.
Termanology - "Watch How It Go Down"
Somebody hurry up and sign this guy!
Saigon ft Swizz Beatz - "Come On Baby". Just doing what Just does on this one. Somebody needs to coin a name for this hip-hop subgenre of epic, hype tracks with hard drums, live instruments and sick samples that JB's pretty much cornered the market in.
Last but not least, Hezekiah ft Bilal - "Looking Up". Don't know too much about this guy, but this is a great tune. Inspirational joint. I'll be looking out for more from him.
"Even if the clouds are grey and the sun is gone, I'll keep on looking up." - Bilal, sounding very John Legend.
Black Milk - "Luvin' it", from Popular Demand. Even though he's 1 of the better rappers from the rapper/producer set, I'm kind of stuck on this instrumental track. Short and sweet.
Common ft Lilly Allen - "Drivin' Me Wild". Great song: Comm' in storytelling mode, Lilly doing her thing and an infectious Kanye beat that reminds me a bit of "Heard 'Em Say". Really excited about Finding Forever. So much so that I'll bypass the leak and wait for the official release - that's a big deal for me!
Little Brother ft Kweli - "Grown Man". Listening to these dudes on the same track, I realised I'd make the same criticism of both LB and Talib: great lyricists, but very limited in terms of what beats they sound good rapping over. Like Guru sans Premo, Kweli's hit and miss for me without Hi-Tek on the boards giving him that jazzy/soulful backpack ish (bring back Reflection Eternal!). Eardrum's good, but the production on some tracks lets it down, I.M.O. I can see LB suffering similar consistency problems post-9th Wonder (though, to be fair, he'd probably peaked), but hopefully the other Justus League producers'll cushion the blow.
Cilvaringz - "In the Name of Allah". Killah Priest, Masta Killa, Meth and RZA feature on this and don't disappoint. CR's album is proper Wu shit, but the non-stop preaching gets on my nerves like Immortal Technique with an Islamic Fundamentalist chip on his shoulder the size of a boulder. I have nothing against his religious beliefs per say, but his hatred of Americans, Brits, Christians, 5-percenters, Jews (of course), & any Muslim brothers that don't like him (of whom I'd like to think there are many) takes painting everyone with the same brush to scary levels. Can't hate on the music though; he does have some valid points, the beats are dope and he's a good rapper.
Termanology - "Watch How It Go Down"
Somebody hurry up and sign this guy!
Saigon ft Swizz Beatz - "Come On Baby". Just doing what Just does on this one. Somebody needs to coin a name for this hip-hop subgenre of epic, hype tracks with hard drums, live instruments and sick samples that JB's pretty much cornered the market in.
Last but not least, Hezekiah ft Bilal - "Looking Up". Don't know too much about this guy, but this is a great tune. Inspirational joint. I'll be looking out for more from him.
"Even if the clouds are grey and the sun is gone, I'll keep on looking up." - Bilal, sounding very John Legend.
"On Thursday (July 19), sources confirmed that Kanye West's Graduation LP has now shifted from September 18 to September 11. You might remember that, not too long ago, Interscope Records pushed 50 Cent's album Curtis back one week from September 4 to September 11. Let the games begin." - MTV News
Sweet! Clearly Jay-Z's playing "chess not checkers" at Def Jam and going all in to knock Fif' off his pedestal. Curtis has always used his superior sales to claim that he runs hip-hop, so it's a put up or shut up type of situation. If 50 "loses" by selling less than Kanye, by his own standards, it'll mean 'Ye's more of a big deal and could officially mark a decline in his relevance.
Kanye doesn't have the same pressure to sell, as his bragging tends to relate to the quality of his music more than to his album sales. Also, unlike Curtis, his 1st couple of singles have generally had a positive response.
Whatever happens, it should be interesting to hear how Curt tries to undermine his opponent in the next few weeks. Don't know if it quite qualifies as irony, but the 'Assacre was the last new album I bought - put me off paying for music - while in this case I'm hoping the boy gets egg on his face. Will defo kop Graduation, if only for that purpose.
Royce da 5'9 - Ding Ding
Canibus - 2nd Round Knockout
"...your main objective out here is to do nuttin' but eat eat eat eat MC's, for lunch, breakfast..." - Iron Mike to Canibus
Sweet! Clearly Jay-Z's playing "chess not checkers" at Def Jam and going all in to knock Fif' off his pedestal. Curtis has always used his superior sales to claim that he runs hip-hop, so it's a put up or shut up type of situation. If 50 "loses" by selling less than Kanye, by his own standards, it'll mean 'Ye's more of a big deal and could officially mark a decline in his relevance.
Kanye doesn't have the same pressure to sell, as his bragging tends to relate to the quality of his music more than to his album sales. Also, unlike Curtis, his 1st couple of singles have generally had a positive response.
Whatever happens, it should be interesting to hear how Curt tries to undermine his opponent in the next few weeks. Don't know if it quite qualifies as irony, but the 'Assacre was the last new album I bought - put me off paying for music - while in this case I'm hoping the boy gets egg on his face. Will defo kop Graduation, if only for that purpose.
Royce da 5'9 - Ding Ding
Canibus - 2nd Round Knockout
"...your main objective out here is to do nuttin' but eat eat eat eat MC's, for lunch, breakfast..." - Iron Mike to Canibus
...nice sample and I like the ticker...
...but Curt is still lacking freshness...
"You can call this my new shit
but it aint new tho" - He who gets it
The hip-hop's been a bit quiet for a minute, but there's still plenty of goodness to go around:
Sa-Ra are the future as far as I'm concerned and their "Hollywood Recordings" (which is only meant to be the album before the album) is as good as anything I've heard this year. Glorious is arguably the standout track.
Back to the old school with Stevie's funky-as-hell "You Ain't Done Nothing", addressing Nixon I believe, but universally applicable to dodgy politicians everywhere. Genius.
Got into Stereolab after hearing Pharrell mention them in an interview and I'm sure glad he did. Wouldn't class them in any particular genre other than good music. Les Yper-Sound from "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" is poppy, infectious and sublime when it's sunny.
Madlib's "Uno Esta" is another great summer tune, this one an instrumental off the 1st Yesterday's New Quintet album.
Fade by Joe Beats is another great instro; real mellow and chilled out.
And to close it out with a bang, I'll end on an afrocentric tip with some Kwaito music from South Africa; ideal for the rumpshaking:
Hip-hop Pantsula - Lefatshe Je (Kentphonik Mix
Pitch Black Afro - Matofotofo (I like to think of this as Woohaa meets Kick in the Door)
Kabelo - Pantsula for Life (Cadillac music for folks that don't drive cadillacs).
Sa-Ra are the future as far as I'm concerned and their "Hollywood Recordings" (which is only meant to be the album before the album) is as good as anything I've heard this year. Glorious is arguably the standout track.
Back to the old school with Stevie's funky-as-hell "You Ain't Done Nothing", addressing Nixon I believe, but universally applicable to dodgy politicians everywhere. Genius.
Got into Stereolab after hearing Pharrell mention them in an interview and I'm sure glad he did. Wouldn't class them in any particular genre other than good music. Les Yper-Sound from "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" is poppy, infectious and sublime when it's sunny.
Madlib's "Uno Esta" is another great summer tune, this one an instrumental off the 1st Yesterday's New Quintet album.
Fade by Joe Beats is another great instro; real mellow and chilled out.
And to close it out with a bang, I'll end on an afrocentric tip with some Kwaito music from South Africa; ideal for the rumpshaking:
Hip-hop Pantsula - Lefatshe Je (Kentphonik Mix
Pitch Black Afro - Matofotofo (I like to think of this as Woohaa meets Kick in the Door)
Kabelo - Pantsula for Life (Cadillac music for folks that don't drive cadillacs).
Sharing is caring, so I thought I'd spread the love with some of my current theme music...
Camp Lo's "Uptown Saturday Night" mixed R.D./In My Lifetime-era Jay-Z production (courtesy of Ski, who produced Dead Presidents) with Wu Gambino stream-of-consciousness raps and flows Pun'd be proud of. In short I liked it, with Sparkle my favourite track. They've leaked a new single: Black Hollywood & I'm looking forward to the comeback.
Big Narstie v Coldplay - Spun A Web remix is a beautiful example of what happens when you mix grime and piano rock, taken from Narstie's "What's the Story Brixton Glory", where he also raps over the likes of Oasis, The Verve and (gulp) James Blunt.
j_dilla-say_it_feat_taraach_and_exile is from duke's mostly instrumental "Jay Loves Japan" EP. Like James Brown and Ray Charles in recent times, I had love for Dilla while he was alive, but sadly didn't fully appreciate how important he was until he had passed on. Phat Kat's "Nasty Ain't It" has another sick Dilla beat. It's from his new Carte Blanche album, which along with Black Milk's Popular Demand shows Detroit repping in '07.
Mobb Deep's "The Illest" was off their "Free Agents" mixtape in 2002, which for me was 1 of their better efforts this decade. Like too many rappers these days, P and Hav seemed more comfortable here, making the songs they wanted to make, than on their albums 2nd guessing what record buyers want and ending up producing mediocre common-denominator music. It's an epic song that, played loud, has a similar impact on me to "P.S.A." and "What U Know": makes me feel like I'm THA SHIT. A great quality for any song to have.
R.Kelly feat Snoop - Double Up. As recently as "Chocolate Factory" and "Happy People" I enjoyed Kells' albums, but since then either he's fallen off or I've outgrown him (my favourite Boondocks episode might have something to do with that) or both. Still, this track, though predictable, picks up where "That's That" left off and is hard to hate.
...Preme found the new Guru...
It's beauty for me lies in the simplicity of the beat, the hook and the overall premise: just "let the music play...everyday".
I'll leave it at that.
Some new ish, starting with the reigning monarch. Great beats, great hooks and the flow's impeccable. Shame about the verses though. Sonically, I think this album's dope, but the content never roams far from how good it is to be Cliff right now and/or how lame it is to be any other rapper/hustler/whatever. No rhymes that blow your mind, but it's fun.
The split personality theme worried me going into the album, but it doesn't sound too fragmented. Would say though that I enjoyed the TIP songs more than the TI ones.
If this guy's the Jay-Z of the South, then the last couple of albums've been Vol. 2/Vol. 3 level fare: very good, but I'm waiting on the Blueprint.
My favourites:
Help is Coming. Reminds me of the title track from Kingdom Come, not least for the epic Just Blaze beat.
Tell 'em I Said That. Timbaland can take a break if Danja's going to be producing tracks that bang like this on the reg'.
Respect This Hustle. Another Danja track, but on a laid back tip here. (Didn't intend that pun).
The split personality theme worried me going into the album, but it doesn't sound too fragmented. Would say though that I enjoyed the TIP songs more than the TI ones.
If this guy's the Jay-Z of the South, then the last couple of albums've been Vol. 2/Vol. 3 level fare: very good, but I'm waiting on the Blueprint.
My favourites:
Help is Coming. Reminds me of the title track from Kingdom Come, not least for the epic Just Blaze beat.
Tell 'em I Said That. Timbaland can take a break if Danja's going to be producing tracks that bang like this on the reg'.
Respect This Hustle. Another Danja track, but on a laid back tip here. (Didn't intend that pun).
Slept on Dizzee's first 2 albums - schoolboy error (I'm on a roll!) - but fortunately appreciating this 1; perhaps too much. Started listening to this 4 or 5 times but only ever gotten about halfway through. 1st half's so good I'm gonna assume it doesn't lose momentum and call this a dope album.
Didn't like grime production and this previously put me off, but I'm acquiring a taste for it with help from Stretch Nav the G.O.D. Beats, hooks, flows, rhymes...all there and really sick:
Old Skool
Sirens
"Stand up for something or for anything you'll fall
But definitely know when not to lose your cool
Cause it ain't what you show its what your conceding
Put a smile on the deepest negative feeling
Stand tall even when they're hating and they're scheming
Yeah watch your money rise right to the ceiling" - Dizzee Rascal
Nuff said.
Been a busy week and not posted in a minute so thought I'd put up several at once.
This one consists of a few of my favourite remixes, starting with the 9 Milli Bros. Went to see them last night and it didn't disappoint...Meth stagediving, GFK threatening the scallies in the crowd, GZA filming a documentary and a Bob Digi DJ-set consisting of tracks from the forthcoming "8 Diagram" were some of the highlights for me. As such, Wu's been my theme music the last 24 and I'm feeling Da W remix right now.
The crowd was rowdy as hell, which was no surprise. Not too many producers bring the ruckus like the RZA, but Marley Marl's NY Shit remix is some virtuoso elbow-throwing music.
More mellow, but still pretty sick is Kwame's remix of Lauryn Hill's Lost One...miss them good old days before she was just another rapper with a wack live show.
Also got mad love for Dangermouse's version of It Ain't Hard to Tell. I know it's blasphemous, but I think I like it more than the original off Illmatic.
"How can hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is FOREVER?" - Good question, courtesy of The Abbot.
This one consists of a few of my favourite remixes, starting with the 9 Milli Bros. Went to see them last night and it didn't disappoint...Meth stagediving, GFK threatening the scallies in the crowd, GZA filming a documentary and a Bob Digi DJ-set consisting of tracks from the forthcoming "8 Diagram" were some of the highlights for me. As such, Wu's been my theme music the last 24 and I'm feeling Da W remix right now.
The crowd was rowdy as hell, which was no surprise. Not too many producers bring the ruckus like the RZA, but Marley Marl's NY Shit remix is some virtuoso elbow-throwing music.
More mellow, but still pretty sick is Kwame's remix of Lauryn Hill's Lost One...miss them good old days before she was just another rapper with a wack live show.
Also got mad love for Dangermouse's version of It Ain't Hard to Tell. I know it's blasphemous, but I think I like it more than the original off Illmatic.
"How can hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is FOREVER?" - Good question, courtesy of The Abbot.
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