15 posts tagged “hip hop”

These guys are FUCKING AMAZING:

 

 

 

You have no idea how much money I would pay to be able to move even close to that. Incoporating that into other dance styles (and partner dancing) is one of my main goals.

Check out this hawt track:

 

 

 

Its a track off of J-Lives (aka Dom Popadapolous. aka DJ Ny Quil. aka MC No Doze) new album : Then What Happened. J-Live has a killer style. There is something hard, and raw about his approach. It resonates.

But ...

I have always loved Chali-2nas voice. This is a damn good pairing, because there is something really good about back and forth MCing that contains disparate voice ranges. Chalis deep resonating flow makes this track slammin and you just couldnt replicate that feeling with a higher register MC.

If you arent familiar with Chali, you can catch some more of him (and DJ NuMark) on any Jurassic 5 album.

And if you arent familiar with Jurassic 5 ... well, we need to talk about some good hip hop. 

And since I talked her up, I might as well share.

Two of my faves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

And yes, for the record ... I do own the following album:

 

 

Everybody loves Kanye West and Talib Kweli.

Cept me.

 

Dont get me wrong, those guys have some talent. But the problem is that I just do not like very much of what they do as "Leading" or "Solo" Artists.

This came up for me again because I was browsing Talib's new Album "Eardrum" and noticed that Jean Grae was a contributing artist. So I just had to listen to this (I <3 Jean Grae!). And I couldnt really deal with Talib's flow. In my opinion, the lesser know Grae stole the show and ripped him a new one.

 

Anyway.

The odd part is that there are quite a few collaborations in which I *love* these artists.

For Kanye:

Song: The Food [Live] (With Common)

Song: They Say (With Common)

For Talib:

Group: Black Starr (With Mos Def)

Group: Reflection Eternal (With Hi-Tek)

Song: Can We Go Back (With Hi-Tek)

 

I guess ... for me ... Talib and Kanye are better supporting/featuring artists. Just like some actors shouldnt be stars, these guys should just add flavor to the better solo artists out there.

 

 

I absofreakinlutely love when people do stuff like this:

 

 

 

It makes me happy. I wish it would happen more.

 

EDIT:

And while I am at it... this rules too.

 

 

 

I came across this a while ago, but got reminded of it recently.

So just a little nod to some pacnw breakers.

 

Fraggle Rock Crew

 

 

My favorite is Fidget (the hatwork that starts around 2:30 is tight as hell.). But I also dig some of the crazy stuff that Chips pulls out.

Anyway. Support your locals. Support your indies.

And pee in The Man's cheerios.

I pull albums electronically through Zune Marketplace. My method is pretty much via intuition. I look for names, titles, or CD art that speaks to me. Then I download. Occsionally, this generates cool new finds.

And here is my current example:

 

 

 

Its "Asylum Speakers" by Foreign Beggars.

Pretty sure its UK based hip hop, so tough to grab in the US. Definitely not found on a cursory Amazon search. So use your internet skills to grab a copy.

Try listening to this:

 

 

The skinny: Cubik & Origami is a group of turntablists that compose their mixes primarliy out of stuff they play on real instruments. This disc is one of the better random finds I have come across this year - considering I just randomly stumbled upon them.

If you like slower-tempo hip hop beats and melodies, you will probably like it. Especially if you can also appreciate the art of turntablism. Good downtempo listening here.

So what is a good trip to a music store without perusing the vinyl?

I always kid myself when I go look at records. "Oh, Im just gonna look." or "I'm only going to get this one record." Well, a few minutes worth of diggin later and I *always* have a few records. Sometimes a whole stack, if I hit a particularly good set of used hip hop.

I cant help it really. Between a smallish collection (about 150 I would say), a large set of likes, and a constant stream of ideas for things I would like to cut up ... there is no chance I cant find *something* worth a peek at $2.

Anyway, here is what I pulled tonight:

1) Aesop Rock - Easy ; No Juper Cables

2) Guru ft. Doo Wop - Step into the Arena part 2

3) Hi-Tek ft. Dion, Jadakis, Talib Kweli & Papoose - Where it Started At; Can We Go Back (Uhm score - now I have doubles of this phenomenal record!)

4) Lyricist Lounge Presents: Mos Def & Pharoahe Monche ft. Nate Dogg - Oh No

5) (Same Record as 4) Lyricist Lounge Presents: Erick Sermon ft Sy Scott - Battle

6) Prime & Common - While Im Dancin

7) RJD2 - The Third Hand (Instrumentals)

8) Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly

 

Yes.

And now, since I am sore from working out yesterday ... Im goin to bed.

As some of you may know, two of my favorite hip hop artists released albums today. Needless to say, I have been anticipating the releases for a long time now. You might even remember my elation at the discovery that they were being released on the SAME DAY. Yes.

So lets get to it.

 

 

Common - Finding Forever.

 

Com, man ... you know that you will always have a special place in my heart right? You know I am all about supporting a fellow Chi-town man. Especially a Chicago hip hop artist. My birthplace and my longtime music love combined, how could I not be for that ...?

 

But really dude. You let me down.

Finding forever is my least favorite of your real albums. It feels completely off. Too synthetic. And the grooves just do not match your flow. The levels on the supporting instruments are off.

Seriously, if I were you, I would punch Kanye right in the face. And then fire his fucking ass.

Cause the production and mixing on this cd just sucks, OUT LOUD.

What disappoints me is that I know you can do better. I know that Kanye can do better. Its as if he didnt really consider what works well for you, Common. He just threw up some shit that he thought was "dope". Its not personalized. Everything about this disc might be fine for some other MC, but its just not your style. Really.

The "best" track on this album doesnt even come close to some of the worst on your other albums. If Finding Forever does do well in sales, I can only conclude that its prepaid from your good showing on "Be". Or that the universe of rap afficionados have truly lost their damn soul.

I love you Com, but I say ...

If you are looking for some more good Common with Finding Forever,

You wont Find what your look For. EVER.

 

 

With that pain out of the way, on to the next release.

 

 

Guru - Jazzmatazz Volume 4

Stop reading right now, and go get this album. Seriously - this shit is HAWT.

The opening track, "Jazzy" is not the best opener of the Jazzmatazz series. But be patient. Even if  Slum Village is a bit off on the mic, the song still has a solid groove. And Guru covers for Slum nicely.

The second track, "State of Clarity" further points out just how good Common can be when he meshes with the music and guest stars *correctly*. Its such a great track that I couldnt help but be even more pissed about Finding Forever. Opening with a smooth grove and Common flowing like liquid gold - this is what Com is all about. Thanks for reminding me Gu.

There are lots of great songs on this CD. (It almost rivals the original Jazzmatazz). Im not going to detail them all. Instead, I am just going to point out THE BEST:

Track 6 - "Fine and Free"

I heard the first 4 notes and knew *exactly* what song Gu had pulled. And I could not believe it. So I was in my car screaming at my radio "FUCK YA!" and pointing at my radio. Then, Vivian Green comes in and makes me melt. I think I instantly fell in love with her from her voice. Everything about this song is just damned *perfect*. I love it.

Overall, I have always said that a CD is well worth the price if you get 3 good songs out of it. So I would gladly pay double for Jazzmatazz 4. Get it now if you havent already.