Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta

Around this time of year, there's always a few good mixtapes out, plenty of leaked singles worth a few spins, but after the buzz of all the 4th quarter releases has died down, when the 1st quarter releases have been pushed back to April or June or Nevuary, there does seem something of a void to be filled. It's at this point that I dust off the old 19-vintage Tribe, Wu-Tang and Biggie CDs. It doesn't hurt if you can mix that up with a few dope new tracks aswell:





Reflection Eternal - "2000 Seasons"








The Roots - "75 Bars"








C.R.A.C. - "Love Don't"






Saigon ft Grand Puba - "Who Can Get Busy"

(apologies; couldn't find any non-homo-erotic pics of Sai...still a great rapper, though.)









Pete Rock ft Papoose - "Comprehend"








EMC - "Once More"








Common - "The Light 2008" (prod by Just Blaze)








Trendz of Culture - "Valley of the Skinz"

Prettiest fiend I ever did see.

Another quality addition to my favourite mixtape series. Not quite on a par with Vol.2 (though I mainly blame that on hip-hop's failure to provide enough dope beats for the R-E-U-P to rip up over the last year; case in point), but immense nonetheless and far superior product to most rappers' albums:

Good Morning



Pusha's verse, dedicated to his own lyrical greatness, claiming a spot in the pantheon of true hip-hop greats is swaggerific (yes, it is cool enough to justify such corny-ass terms!)


Rainy Dayz



They do justice to the Cuban Linx classic and Mal's almost sing-song flow on the closing verse stands out for me.

Certainly worth a download (they upped it for free).

After a pretty shambolic '07, I feel some sympathy for Curtis...felt the same for Ja in '04. He hasn't completely fallen off, but I wouldn't begrudge him a successful comeback of sorts if it involved dropping a really good album. In the mean time, he might want to try rebuilding his buzz through mixtapes, as it worked the first time round:

Rider for Real




Make Me Feel Good

Never thought I'd get so much joy from a Tony Yayo for-the-ladies song! It's super-catchy, though.

One of my my "guilty pleasures" I'm not all that guilty about is poppy electro music and these folks certainly fit the bill...if you're into that sorta thing:

Ninja of Love




Brainpower



Listening to this, I picture myself off-my-face drunk, boogying down in Shibuya with Japanese chicks (of legal age) dressed as school girls (them, not me)...that just does it for me.

Amy's 2003 debut was awesome. Nearly as good as Back to Black, and she certainly looked a lot healthier:

Fuck Me Pumps






In My Bed

Salaam Remi used the same "Apache" loop on this track - I'd argue to equally good effect - as on Nas's "Made You Look".

Jean Grae - "Love Thirst"




Mark Ronson - "Just (Primo rmx)"




Jim Jones ft The Game - "Love Me No More rmx"




The Pharcyde - "She Said (Dilla rmx)"




Skyzoo - "The Necessary Evils"




Termanology - "Who's The Nicest"




Starski ft The Cool Kids - "Stunnas On"




Three 6 Mafia - "I'd Rather"




Tribe Called Quest - "The Hop"




Q-Tip - "Go Hard"

I wouldn't call this a spectacular album, but it's shortcomings are more than made up for by naming it after my favourite Huxtable - she was like Rosario Dawson before Rosario Dawson...but I digress - and by a couple of real standout tracks:

Woman Tonight

Seldom have lullaby, love song, soul-baring and phat hip-hop song come together so well in the space of 3 or 4 minutes.


Morris Day

Morris and his valet Jerome stole the show recently at the Grammys and The Time are my favourite Prince side-project, so Murs and Slug get kudos from me just for naming the song after him. Even better than the title, though, is the laid back groove on the track.

Courtesy of Stretch Nav the god:


The reason why Preemo is one of the best producers ever is the fact that he has been able to keep his style fresh. As long as hiphop exists, his music is relevant. He embodies what hip-hop stands for, even if it is very difficult to describe how this is possible. His music makes you nod your head as you sing along to his scratch-laden choruses. Like all the big names (Dre, Timbaland, Neptunes) you can spot a Preemo song because he has his own, signature sound. In the new millenium, he stepped up a gear, more of the same in quality terms while not being afraid to experiment, whether it be with the artists he collaborates with or the sounds he creates. Check these five out:


Gangstarr: The Natural




Big 12" only release (B-side to Skillz) from late 2002. This really should have been on the duo's "The Ownerz" album, but was mysteriously left off. The Source used the word "Hitchcock" to describe this one. Elevating the style of beats.


Snoop Dogg F/ Lady Of Rage: Batman & Robin


It was either this or "The One And Only". Both are lifted off Snoop's 2002 "Paid Tha Cost..." album, but I chose this because of Premo chopping up the old Batman TV theme tune to great effect (check the horns)...and because Snoop namedrops Marvel comics and the fact that Snoop and Rage assume the roles of a pimped-out Batman & Robin respectively (w/ a cameo by RBX as Commissioner Gordon). East meets West with the "Batmobile on threes"


The NYGz: Giantz Ta This


Release from 2002/2003 on Premier's Year Round label. Basically starts with a disgruntled Preemo complaining how "A lot of y'all muthafuckas lost your ear to the street", then proclaiming "so as usual, I'm back" and how he's "gutter as ever"... and then he gives us another example of how to chop up an over-used sample ("7 minutes of Funk" used previously by Jay-Z & EPMD) and make it sound fresh again for some hard NY rhymes from Panchi & Shabeeno. We wouldn't have it any other way Preemo.



Freddie Foxxx: Lazy




I heard this off a Premier mix CD from 2003. Great tune, I can't really say much more than that. Oh and that Foxxx is as hard as nails.



Agallah: NY Ryder Music


Next time I'm in NY, I'm riding to this. From 2006, the artist formerly known as "8-Off" gets an understated banger from Premo. "Its that NY Ryder Music!"

Just an appetiser:


Departure





Not A Disturbance

Three 6 Mafia ft UGK - On Some Chrome

Nah, not really:






Lady of Rage ft Snoop & Dre - Afropuffs Rmx

An extended chronic-fuelled remix with an awesome freestyle from Snoop.


Foxy Brown - Fame

Definitely one of the better songs I've heard so far in '08 and off the back of this and a coupla other leaked tracks, I'd look forward to hearing her next album...if it ever drops.


G-Unit - I'm Leavin'

Curtis fell off so bad last year I feel the same kind of sympathy for him I felt for Ja circa 2004/05, so I'm happy he's got back on the bike. It's formulaic and unoriginal, but they do the mixtape posse cuts so well.


N.E.R.D. - Everybody Nose

A sequel of sorts to She Wants To Move, this bodes well for the upcoming N.3.R.D. album. The Pharrell solo album was slightly underwhelming, but as a group these guys are 2 and 0, so I'm very much looking forward to their 3rd release.


Torae - Callin' Me



Nicely looped vocal sample, sweeping strings and some heavy drums. Nuff said. Oh, and the rhymes are pretty sick, too.


Swizz Beatz ft Drag-On (remember him?) - Hard Knocks



Not too many jewels dropped here, but it's hard not to nod your head to this. Ghostface fans might find the sample sounds a little familiar..


Ghostface ft Meth & Chef Rae - Yolanda's House



..and speaking of Ghostface, I should've posted this a month ago, as it was my favourite song of '07. Perfect in every way and I can't remember the last verse I blessed with as many rewinds as Meth's contribution here. Witty Unpredictable genius.

More knowledge from the god Nav:

The Kool Genius of Rap. Says it all really. Certified OG in this hiphop game, the hustlers know this. Klashnekoff knows this (check his latest LP as he, Kyza Smirnoff and G Rap get busy over a Joe Buhdha banger). RA the Rugged Man knows this. Shit, even my Cuz knows this and he doesn't listen to any hiphop that is after 1993 (taking hiphop snobbery to new levels)! He influenced many of the 90s spitters; Big Pun got on his knees when he finally met him! If you haven't heard of him, then you need to know asap....and in terms of content, G Rap is the opposite of Talib Kweli. Take that however you want. Reppin' Corona, Queens, you can feel the realness through his trademark lispy raps. This is thug rap done well and where you truly believe the artist lives the lyrics. Below are five tracks from different times in his 20+ year career. An awesome, raw talent who made his mark on hiphop music. Salute!


Big Daddy Kane feat. Kool G Rap: Raw (Kool G Rap Remix)



Rare remix of Kane's '88 classic. Juice Crew flava. Early potential is evident. You could even go as far as saying that G Rap outperforms Kane. There is a story that G Rap rhymed for so long for this recording that the reel had stopped half-way. BTW Juice Crew film is being made, "Vapors" with Cuba Gooding Jnr as Marley Marl. I can't wait.


Kool G Rap and DJ Polo: Bad To The Bone



This is a personal favourite and for those living the fast life. Balling without any Puffy ethos. Has a ruthless playboy feel to it. G Rap steps up a gear for a career high performance off the classic Wanted Dead Or Alive LP. Large Professor contributed a lot to this LP but didn't get the recognition he deserved because Eric B insisted on taking credit for the production on the album. "profile's kept low/more dough than Barry Manilow" Brilliant....he name-dropped Barry Manilow! Now that's gangsta.


Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Death Wish



1990's Wanted Dead or Alive was G Rap's second album and the maturity of the artist is on display. He grew as an artist by the time of this release and Death Wish highlights a nastier, harder, more gangster side to the former Juice Crew member that had now emerged. Another big performance.
"run for your life when I'm starting/suckers are getting turned into missing muthafuckas on a milk carton". Hard.


Kool G Rap Freestyle on Sway and Tech's Wake Up Show



If there was one performance that epitomises Kool G Rap, it would have to be this rare freestyle from the Wake Up Show archives. Circa '99, he messes up, recovers and still kills it....and Tony Touch has the unfortunate job of rhyming after him. How is Toca going to top that?


Kool G Rap feat. G Wise: My Life



From 2001, I played this a lot when it was released. A good combination of being radio-friendly while still remaining hard. Produced by the Mighty VIC (Beatnuts, Big Pun), this has a chorus you would sing when you are drunk...but I haven't tried it yet. CNN did a remix of this with G for Soundbombing 3 and this track was one of the singles for G Rap's planned Rawkus release. Vocoders are gangsta.

I've been working overtime the last month (literally) and my two great passions (lists and mp3s) necessitate that I put you up to speed with my listening activities during my absence from the blogging realm:





Jay Electronica - Uzi Weighs A Ton



I'm not ashamed to acknowledge I'm kind of jock riding Jay Electronica at the moment, as I'm expecting big things from him in the next year. Not only is he Black Thought meets Doom meets Nas on the mic, but he's surrounded himself with some pretty cool people - at least in my books - aswell: Erykah on-and-on Badu's crazy ass, Just Blaze, the late great Dilla, Young Guru, Sa-Ra and God's Son have all co-signed. D.O.C.'s writing an album on which Jay'll perform the lyrics, he's been working with Nas, Just Blaze and Saigon and I'm expecting some classic material, don't disappoint me Jay! This joint's from the Style Wars EP, raw aggression.






Busta, Papoose and Cassidy - Psycho



The strings! The strings! Sacre bleu, Dilla outdid himself on this one. Heard it a couple of years ago and assumed it was the good Dr (Dre, of course) with those nutjob violins, but I should've known better. This is from Busta and Mick Boogie's quality "Dillagence" mixtape. Hope there's a humungous stockpile of Dilla beats lying around and they give it the full Shakur posthumous treatment.

Frank'n'Dank - Puff Puff Pass




Speaking of whom, this tribute track from the usually mediocre Frank'n'Dank's a bit of a head nod classic for me at the minute.





Black Milk - Broken Wax Outro




Can't get enough of that Detroit shit at the moment and this outro from Black Milk's "Broken Wax EP" is nothing less than I've come to expect from dude. He seems to save his catchiest beats for his instrumental tracks...though the ones with vocals don't half bang either.





Lupe Fiasco - Paris Tokyo



The man who never has and never will listen to Tribe Called Quest wholesale biting the Hieroglyphics? I don't get it, but the song's awesome and I love "The Cool".

Playaz Circle - U Can Believe It



Great song. This and "Duffle Bag Boy" are great singles. Did notice, the same sample and a near identical beat appear on Hov's "American Gangster" track "Say Hello", though DJ Toomp gives the Jay-Z track the heavy "Can't Tell Me Nothing"/"Big Brother"/Stadium Status drums. Not sure whether he sold the same beat twice, but anyhoo, it's got a sweet soul sample on it.





The Doors - Roadhouse Blues




A little change of direction; I'm totally loving The Doors at the moment and Morrison's vocals are monstrous on this song. Makes you want to sex-drugs-and-rock'n'roll your way to oblivion.


The Who - The Kids Are Alright




I've also been spending quality time with The Who. There live performances are legendary and like all great '60s rock acts, they wear rock's blues roots proudly on their sleeves...not something I can say about too many modern day acts (I'm not too big on the emo...how you say? It has no cojones!)





Wyclef ft Sizzla - Welcome To The East




One of the better songs from the new Wyclef album. Like his other post-Ecleftic, his collaborative streak plays as both its great strength and great weakness. With so many features, it feels like a producer album, lacking cohesion and is a veritabe gumbo of styles and genres. This is quite admirable and there are songs that will appeal to disparate musical tastes...but also, conversely, songs that each type of listener will find cloying.





Ms Keys - Teenage Love Affair




The Kevin Garnett of female r'n'b singer/songwriters f**ked around and got another triple double (see Ice Cube's "A Good Day"). Not too many artists guarantee a great album everytime around anymore and Miss Keys' specialness needs to be recognised by wrapping her in cotton wool and locking her away in a safe till her next record's ready, what with her being a global treasure and all that. Prince, Stevie, Aretha...so many awesome influences you can hear in this album, but it's also incredibly fresh-sounding and sounds better by the listen.





Freeway - When They Remember




The most pleasant surprise from the Roc being back like cooked crack this 4th quarter is how good Freeway's album is. Back in '03 when his 1st record dropped, I slept on it because he sounded "annoying" (never mind me, my dumb ass previously felt the same about Ghostface, Jay-Z and The Clipse...go figure, they're all personal favourites now). However, I more tahn appreciate Free's growling, emotional delivery now, and along with Hov, he's really brought the soul sound back to East Coast gangsta rap.

The likes of Styles and Beanie went for southern keys/west coast keys that didn't really work on a lot of their tracks, but "Free At Last" is a throwback to Roc-a-Fella in its prime. Bink shines with his production on the track above and "Still Got Love" and it's a solid effort in the best possible way (the one exception is by-the-numbers for-the-ladies track "Take It To The Top" featuring - surprise, surprise - Curtis and produced by J.R. [bastard responsible for Sean Kingston] (sc)Rotem.

I'm not as young as I used to be and feeling kinda pooped...will resume this post on the 'morrow. Peace.

First and foremost, I must give muchos grazias to mon frere Stretch Nav who's put together the in depth coverage on a true legend of the hip-hop game. With no further ado:


People know Gangstarr....or are familiar with his work with nearly every major hiphop artist: Jigga, Nas, Snoop, Mos Def, MOP, Rakim, KRS, Common, BIG, Gangstarr Foundation...and/or have heard his recent output with NYG'z, Blaq Poet, Christina Aguilera, Termanology and the Nike "Classic" track. My point is, is that Preem has always been nice with his.

Here is the first of a few entries on Primo's lesser-known moments. Below are five sureshots from the nineties that not a lot of peeps know about. This is some NAV tha G.O.D. hiphop knowledge being dropped here..........nah'mean. How many people knew that Emma Bunton had one of her early solo tracks remixed by Preemo? I kid you not....and it's dope. I was trying to get it played on hospital radio when it came out in '99 but the haters (my co-presenter) did not want it. He did insist however, on playing "Mambo Number Five" on every show. Anyway, DJ Premier-we salute you.




D'n'D Allstars feat. Mad Lion, Doug E Fresh, KRS One, Fat Joe, Smif N Wessun, Jeru The Damaja-1,2 Pass It



A song that epitomises the term, "posse cut". A classic from 1995 with some of the hottest acts of that year. Who do you think rips it? I would say Fat Joe, KRS One and Jeru....Mad Lion is one of the funniest artists I've ever heard.




Group Home-Livin' Proof



Title track from their overlooked debut album from late '95. This is a head-nodder: A signature, stripped-down Primo number, complete with scratches on the hook that sample Inspectah Deck from C.R.E.A.M. A lot of his tracks were very minimalistic around this time and the samples and sounds he was using were unheard of (see Jeru's Come Clean). Melachi Da Nutcracker and Lil' Dap aren't the best rappers, but this is definitely a gem. The album is definitely worth investigating, one of very few albums entirely produced by Premier outside of Gangstarr.





Jeru The Damaja-Me Not The Paper Remix



Great, hard-to-find remix from early 1997. Nice usage of piano keys. Primo's music became more accessible in the late nineties, but he was able to move with the times.....




Freddie Foxxx-Part Of My Life



...as this track from early-mid 1999 shows. I bought this record from Major Flavas in London when it came out. It was, and still is, big. The chorus is ill and Freddie is intense on the mic on this one. Foxxx does justice to the beat and is one of the best to rhyme over any Works Of Mart.





Emma Bunton feat. Guru-What I Am (Gangstarr remix)



How many people would have believed this collaboration then? How many would have believed this collaboration now? Lol. Released in 1999, this is surprisingly good...Guru's verse and the violins are just right. After I heard this, I had a new-found respect for Emma Bunton.

And there we leave it friends and colleagues, jaws agape at this marvelous man whose mystical powers lend freshness to even the stalest of pop stars. Britney, take note. Thanks again to Nav and I'll get on him (pause) to hook up more Primo rarities ASAP.