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":
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":
...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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