hip-hop ain't dead, it's just wearing mascara and a leotard (pt. 2)
0 comments Posted by Randy Watson as Bob Digitech at 15:36to the...not-so-grimy-&-kinda-wack...
...though not as wack as what happened to jazz. Comparing rap to soul would be difficult, as whether that story had a happy ending or not is largely dependent on where you stand on disco and cupcakin'...so I stick with rock'n'roll.
To my mind, rock's recovery from hair-metal needs to get mirrored by some of the urban music folk..but who'll drop the rap equivalent of Nevermind? Who'll play captain save-a-hip-hop?
...probably not him.Can't be certain who'll spark it, but with a few good, new, preferably New York (-sounding) producers and a few good, new artists who can pull off the miracle of being original and commercially successful (so the sheep bite rappers I actually like)...
...we'll be back like cooked crack...or the Smashing Pumpkins.
To conclude, I've failed to come up with any concrete solutions to the fight against lyrical wack juice, and to quote Kurt Cobain:
"We have no right to express an opinion until we know all of the answers."
However, it's been a lovely exercise in (cerebrally) interfering with myself and made me feel quite perky.
Best hip-hop of '06...Never on schedule, but always on time
0 comments Posted by Randy Watson as Bob Digitech at 14:03
Mostly went with the major releases, as there wasn't too much of note from the UG (not like anyone sells anymore anyway-it's all about Koch). Also, I was actually starting to agree with Nas on the HHID tip until the 4th quarter cavalry sorted me out. I appreciated that shit:
1. Clipse-HHNF
2. GFK-Fishscale
3. The Roots-Game Theory
4. Nas-HHID
5. Game-Dr's Advocate
6. Lupe-Food and Liquor
7. Jay-Z-Kingdom Come (for old time's sake)
8. Snoop-Blue Carpet Treatment (surprisingly good)
9. Diddy-Press Play (made it OK to dance again)
10. T.I.
Honourable mentions to Jay Dilla (God bless the dead), Rick Ross (sick beats and comic value), Weezy (his '05 album's surprisingly good and his mixtapes rocked), More Fish, Hi-Tek, Busta, Kidz in the Hall, Amy Winehouse, Murs and 9th Wonder..buncha people.
Just been looking at random best of lists my mate made. Included his best of 2000 and I've concluded my best of '06 is better..maybe hip-hop isn't on life support, and with the likes of KanYe, Rae, Common, GhostDoom, Game (not sold enough for a two year hiatus), Lupe, Dre, 50, Ja (I've a soft spot-no "Yayo bring the condoms"-for emo thug rap), T.I. etc to look forward to, '07's looking rosy to me.
Granted there'll be more shitty snap and jigaboo rap, and I'll prob'ly guiltily enjoy some of it, but as long as I don't turn on the radio (or the idiotbox) and avoid small children, I'll be able to keep it out of my life, while I bump H.E.R.
P.S., some necessary listening for B-Boys and Girls. '79 to '06: A hip-hop Odyssey. 800 tracks over 48 minutes; nice
