Sean Price takes a break from his travels in Germany to drop a quick verse over the banging instrumental of JR & PH7's "Top Rank", a song which originally features Black Milk and Guilty Simpson. Germany looks interesting, I hope I can make it out there from New York one day.
JR&PH7 "The Update" in stores 11/09/2010.
The re-recording of "Animal Planet" finds musicians replacing a 2 bar loop to provide an exciting live interpolation of Isaac Hayes' "A Man's Temptation" as the new sound bed for GZA's clever storytelling. The energy of this track can be described as increased intensity as each musical element is now more separate and changes with progression, bringing the Soul of Isaac Hayes into a modern element of dark Hip Hop-inspired instrumentation.
I recorded this gem off WBAI's The Underground Railroad Show of New York, but still don't know if it was released commercially. Whoever has info on where to purchase an official copy, let me know.
The beautiful black & white cinematography and authentic costume evokes feelings of 60's African American nostalgia, combined with 007-inspired chase suspense in the video for Aloe Blacc's "Femme Fatale".
Download - Aloe Blacc "Femme Fatale"
If you felt the uncut rawness of the first single "Monster Babies" and are fortunate to own the combined music catalogs of Sean Price, Black Milk & Guilty Simpson, you are probably one of those people who hold heavy anticipation for the debut album by Random Axe.
Announcement from Duck Down Records:
"Random Axe is Sean Price, Black Milk & Guilty Simpson... I hear the album is almost done, and will be out via Duck Down Records sooner than you think. Take a deep breath and then listen to the first official track from the trio, "Monster Babies."
Download the Random Axe Mixtape presented by Phila Flava and True King/Apex.
01-sean_price-street_shit.mp3
02-black_milk-in_the_am.mp3
03-guilty_simpson-kill_em_(oj_simpson_remix).mp3
05-black_milk-keep_going.mp3
06-random_axe-monster_babies.mp3
07-black_milk-the_matrix_(feat._pharoahe_monch_and_sean_price.mp3
07-guilty_simpson-special_(remix).mp3
08-black_milk-overdose.mp3
09-guilty_simpson-the_paper.mp3
10-black_milk-im_comin_(feat._nottz).mp3
11-guilty_simpson-my_moment.mp3
12-sean_price-figure_four.mp3
13-black_milk-dreams.mp3
14-black_milk-sound_the_alarm_(remix)_(feat._guilty_simpson_and_royce_da_59).mp3
15-guilty_simpson-home_invazion_(the_madlib_robbery_remix).mp3
16-sean_price-the_huckabuck.mp3
17-guilty_simpson-run_(feat._sean_price_and_black_milk).mp3
18-heltah_skeltah-da_beginning_of_da_end.mp3
19-sean_price-psycho_ward.mp3
20-black_milk-mo_power.mp3
21-sean_price-the_feeling_(feat._buckshot).mp3
Sit back and enjoy a collection of electrifying performances in modern Soul music, filmed live at Terminal 5 in New York City, September 23, 2010.
The sound of this record makes me want to hit the islands for a vacation, it carries an uplifting tropical Jazz/Funk fusion sound, an interesting musical sub genre provided by artists who took the influence of visiting the islands and translated their experience into beautiful music. The drummer featured on "Morning Sun, James Ryan is still actively teaching and performing, visit him here at Steinway and Sons.
Purchase this gem on vinyl here at eBay.
The authentic visuals which reflect Hell Razah's thoughts of the ghetto experience on "Kids In The Street" show that in these times of economic and social instability, some things never change. This is a marriage of street cinema at it's finest, vivid cinematography which captures the essence of the concrete jungle to match the depth of Razah's street scriptures.
From artfordilla.com:
"So Far To Go" is an international art contest and a tribute to a loved and missed recording artist and producer, James Dewitt Yancey, also known as J Dilla. Artists can submit their original artwork inspired by J Dilla. The top voted contestant's artwork will be produced as a poster and limited edition Giclee print series signed by the artist and J Dilla's mother, Ma Dukes. Proceeds will be donated to the J Dilla Foundation.
learn more about the contest here.
Voting starts September 30, 2010. I think I'll give this contest a try myself.
IKeepsIt100 asks the North Carolina producer/engineer to decide between some of Hip Hop's most difficult choices. Try to put yourself in his position when considering these questions, from music, to fashion, women, music software, clothes and more.
Video courtesy of xcepsionalwerk
J Period & Black Thought keep it original up in Toronto, with a reggae-influenced Hip Hop performance.
Listen to this great mix of soulful sounds from the catalog of Bilal, an artist who managed to provide a balance between a number of musical influences to emerge as a leader in his own sound of futuristic Soul. DJ Mensa does an excellent job in progressing through his catalog of various rhythms, sonic textures and musical styles to provide an exciting listen into one of the most versatile Soul singers of the last decade.
It's refreshing and amazing to hear the amount of influence Jay Dee's production exists in Bilal's catalog. I always believed his rhythm, signature drum sounds and use of vocalists played a good part in influencing the direction of Neo-Soul music around the turn of the century, artists like Bilal added a bit more Hip Hop grit to their production while keeping the traditional elements of Soul present.
Tracklist:
?uestlove Speaks…
Something To Hold On To
For You
Fast Lane
Bring 2
You’re All I Need (Just Like Heaven)
High & Dry (with Pete Kuzma)
Love It (LP & 9th Wonder Remix)
Reminisce (feat. Mos Def)
Remember (with J. Dilla)
Dontstop (with Musiq)
It’s Your World (with Common)
The 6th Sense (with Common)
Play Your Cards Right (with Common)
Certified (with The Guru & J. Dilla)
Waiting For The DJ (with Talib Kweli)
I Can’t Wait (with Jaguar Wright)
Cheeba (with Shafiq Husayn)
Star *69 (with Common)
Sweet Sour You (with SA-RA)
ERYKAH BADU Speaks…
All That I Am (Something For The People)
Hands Of Time
Master Blaster (with Dresden Soul Symphony)
Restart
All Matter (LP Version)
All Matter (Robert Glasper Version)
PHONTE Speaks…
Sometimes
Best Friend (with Tweet)
All For Love
DWELE Speaks…
Soul Sista
The whole crew take a break from filming scenes to interview with Fab 5 Freddy in 1993, on Yo! MTV Raps. Each member display a very serious attitude (even Dirty) during this pivotal period of their career and lives which represented a second chance at success. After facing disappointment in their dealings within the music industry, this episode allowed The Clan to show the world they were determined to reach their ultimate goal.
To have the combination of a great lyrical mind, performance ability, street intellect, knowledge of self and attraction from the ladies is a rare gift, so those who look to follow in the footsteps of a total MC, remember "It's Hard Being The Kane".
Download Trife Diesel - Trifecta
I never knew if the day would come when Hip Hop producers decided to flip songs from the Teddy Riley New Jack Swing Era, this is quite an interesting listen! "New Jack Kings" is a deeply inspired project about memories of love and life from two talented MCs from Michigan Vaughan T. and Illite. Each express a variety of moods inspired by personal relationships and the unique musical influence of early 90's when B.B.D., Teddy Riley, Guy and P.M. Dawn reigned supreme, creating a visual canvas of memories over reinvented New Jack Swing sound composed by a talented team of producers.
New Jack Kings are:
T. Calmese (aka Illite of the subterraneous crew)
-And-
Vaughan T. (of the Athletic Mic League)
Two unsung heroes from 2 of Michigan's most influential crews combine forces to author a coming of age story inspired by the infamous era of high top fades, eye brow parts, and house parties. This time in history is know as the "New Jack Swing" era, and the two search their souls not the vintage store to evoke its spirit. The album revolves around life, love, women and fashion as a solute to artists such as Teddy Riley, Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, New Edition and Kid n Play who made songs that everyone could relate to.
In addition to being conceptually refreshing, the album is just as musically intriguing as producers Vaughan T, 14kt, Nick Speed (G- unit), ZO!, and Forekast sample and “flip” classic new jack swing records in a way that keeps listeners engaged.
Features and contributors include: Buff 1, Mayer Hawthorne, Big Tone, 14kt, Ro Spit, Nick Speed, Aloe Blacc, Zo!, Ella, and Sole Deacon. And even better, its available for free download.
credits
This trailer is a slick combination between great new music to expect from C of Traquility and cinematography from Canibus' older videos during his debut. If you're a fan of Bis from the days of mixtapes and Second Round K.O. I'm sure this trailer will bring back some good memories of Hip Hop at the time.
Check out an audio sampler for C of Tranquility here at Undergroundhiphop.com, featuring longer previews of each song on the album.
!llmind, Mush Mouf and Slo-Mo return with another banger, reflecting back on the days when raising your hands was more common and respectable than using a weapon.
Download Fortilive - Fistfights
One of the best producers to ever bless the mic brings you an entertaining set of rare breakbeats and samples expertly mixed in with some of the best Hip Hop songs of 1996, live from Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show.
This mix is education on how to get your fingers dusty, demonstrating the D.I.T.C. ideal of "diggin' in the crates" as Diamond cuts a number of heavy drum breaks he used on his classic debut album.
On The Rub “History of Hip-Hop 2000″, DJ Cosmo Baker provides a nice balance of mainstream and underground releases to present a decade of all around good Hip Hop memories. If you were fortunate to remember the 2000-2009 years of Hip Hop, this mix will most likely allow you to reminisce on a drastically different music industry and society through a melting pot of expression from a wide range of artists.
For years I have had a tendency to shy away from some Hip Hop songs that are played repeatedly on commercial radio, not listening to them until a year or two later. Fortunately a mix like this really puts the impact of mainstream and underground areas of Hip Hop upon my life into perspective, when I look back and realize how both played a significant part in varying musical expressions and sources of social influence through media and society.
OutKast “So Fresh, So Clean”
Beanie Sigel “The Truth”
Shyne “Bad Boyz feat. Barrington Levy”
Fatlip “What’s Up Fatlip”
Aaliyah “Come Back In One Piece feat. DMX”
DJ Shadow “Hardcore (Instrumental) Hip-Hop”
Ghostface Killah “Apollo Kids feat. Raekwon”
Jay-Z “1-900-Hustler feat. Beanie Sigel, Freeway & Memphis Bleek”
Ruff Ryders “WW III feat. Yung Wun, Snoop Dogg, Scarface & Jadakiss”
Next “Jerk feat. 50 Cent”
Prodigy “Keep It Thoro”
The Beatnuts “No Escapin’ This”
Philly’s Most Wanted “Cross The Border”
Nelly “E.I.”
Cocoa Brovaz “Super Brooklyn”
Scarface “They Down With Us feat. UGK”
D’Angelo “Devil’s Pie”
Big L “Holdin’ It Down feat. Stan Spit, A.G. & Miss Jones”
Drag-On “Spit These Bars”
Black Rob “I Dare You feat. Joe Hooker”
Busta Rhymes “Fire”
Milano “Rep For The Slums”
Slum Village “Players”
Erick Sermon “So Sweet feat. Eazy-E”
De La Soul “Oooh feat. Redman”
M.O.P. “Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz Theory)”
Royce Da 5′9″ “Boom”
Kardinal Offishall “Ol’ Time Killin’”
Reflection Eternal “The Blast”
J-88 “The Look Of Love Pt. 1″
Guru “Hustlin’ Daze feat. Donell Jones”
Screwball “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E”
Snoop Dogg “Lay Low feat. Butch Cassidy, Master P, Nate Dogg & Tha Eastsidaz”
Rah Digga “Tight”
Mya “Best Of Me Remix (Holla Remix feat. Jay-Z)”
Jay-Z “Change The Game feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek”
Beanie Sigel “What A Thug About”
Slum Village “Raise It Up”
OutKast “Ms. Jackson”
Common “The Light”
Big Pun “It’s So Hard feat. Donell Jones”
Big Pun “100%”
Ludacris “Southern Hospitality”
Tony Touch “The Piece Maker feat. Gang Starr”
P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family “Let’s Get It feat. G-Dep & Black Rob”
Ghostface Killah “Cherchez LaGhost feat. U-God (Heartbeat Remix)”
Slum Village “Thelonius feat. Common”
Mos Def “Oh No feat. Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg”
Latyrx “Lady Don’t Tek No”
Mystikal “Shake Ya Ass”
Mystikal “Danger (Been So Long) feat. Nivea”
DJ Quik “Well feat. Raphael Saadiq & AMG”
Jay-Z “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) feat. Pharrell”
The RIte Brothers “Thug Anthem 2000″
Breez Evahflowin’ “Between Dah Seams”
Redman “Let’s Get Dirty (I Can’t Get In Da Club) feat. DJ Kool”
Method Man “Even If”
Jurassic 5 “Swing Set”
Masters Of Illusion “The Bay-Bronx Bridge”
Nas “You Owe Me feat. Ginuwine”
Armand Van Helden “Full Moon feat. Common”
Trina “Pull Over (Remix) (Dirty)”
OutKast “B.O.B.”
Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boyz “Bia Bia feat. Chyna Whyte & Too Short”
M.O.P. “Cold As Ice”
Jewels “40 Bars”
Jay-Z “Hey Papi feat. Memphis Bleek & Amil”
Project Pat “Chickenhead”
Trick Daddy “Shut Up”
Cam’ron “What Means The World To You”
Ludacris “What’s Your Fantasy feat. Shawnna & Sessy Melia”
Three 6 Mafia “Sippin’ On Da Syrup feat. UGK & Project Pat”
Drama “Left, Right, Left”
OutKast “Gangsta Sh’t feat. Slim Cutta Calhoun, C-Bone & T-Mo”
Miracle “We Ain’t Scared feat. Crucial Conflict”
Erykah Badu “Didn’t Cha Know”
From Grap Luva's upcoming 7 song EP, produced by Joc Max and recorded by Damu the Fudgemunk who contributes his DJ skills for the scratch chorus. This track has the soulful influence of Grap's brother Pete Rock, Joc Max combines deep bass tones with a mixture jazz fusion sampling and boom bap for a short but substantial song focused towards the needs of today's youth.
This cinematic instrumental release from West Coast production duo Blue Sky Black Death takes reaches towards new levels of depth and imagination in composition of Hip Hop music. The sinister soundscapes by Kingston and Young God play as stories of their own without a lyricist, with each instrument they inspire scenes of darkness as the future of street sound, an excellent fit for Gutta's vivid ghetto mentality.
All instrumentals are from Gutta's 2008 Babygrande release "Heads Will Roll".
Show footage courtesy of bigbrianv1
Rah Digga performs some new songs with Nottz, plus some classics from her debut album "Dirty Harriet". These two are a promising duo who I look forward to producing more music together, one group who provides a genuine feeling of fun, competitive music making through an appreciation of Hip Hop's classic elements.
Rah Digga's latest album "Classic" produced by Nottz is now available at iTunes.
This Saturday, September 18 marked the 40th anniversary of the death of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. On this episode of East Village Radio's "Devil & Me"show, Derek and Matt interview Steven Roby and Brad Schreiber, the authors of the new biography, Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the Untold Story of a Musical Genius
. The authors provide an in-depth discussion to demystify some details of Jimi's life which have speculated over the years.
. The authors provide an in-depth discussion to demystify some details of Jimi's life which have speculated over the years. 
Listen to an archive audio stream of the show here (plays in iTunes)
Nice cover version of a Booker T & MGs classic, a song which seems to encapsulate many sounds and feelings I like about 70's Soul/Funk fusion in general, plus brings great memories of the teachings from one of my favorite MCs. This song is featured on Boris Gardiner's 1973 Dynamic Records release, "Is What’s Happening", which contains a number of other great covers of classic Soul tunes.
From the intro, fans may notice this version features less heavier and aggressive drumming than the original, although both song have about the same impact of high-paced funk throughout, progressing from a slow rise at the start to sustained energy of instrumentation. In addition to capturing the intense percussive energy of Booker T's original vibe, the effort on guitar and organs which play against each other towards an intense rise until the end makes this version of "Melting Pot" a unique and memorable cover.
Cappadonna & Ol' Dirty Bastard Visit Future Flavaz Radio For "The Pillage" by Cratesofjr on Mixcloud
This episode of Pete Rock & Marley Marl's Future Flavaz pair the exuberant personalities of Cappadonna and Ol' Dirty Bastard who light up the studio for about an hour of entertainment during the release of Cap's debut "The Pillage" . You will hear a good package of Hip Hop treats in a way only Pete & Marley can give it to you, featuring some of the best of late 90's Hip Hop underground sounds, freestyles, exclusives, unreleased beats and promos exclusively made for the show. Some of the highlights of this episode you can look forward to are Cappa and Marley joining each other to ad-lib the lyrics to "Slang Editorial" and Ol' Dirty's drunken antics to conclude the show.
Download Cappadonna & Ol' Dirty Bastard Visit Future Flavaz Radio For "The Pillage"
Visit more downloads and streaming audio of radio shows here.
Download Part 1
Download Part 2
"Rap Is Outta Control" 9/12/10 Playlist (w/Rah Digga)
1. Black Milk feat. Danny Brown "Black And Brown" prod. by Black Milk
2. Joell Ortiz "Battle Cry" prod. by The Audible Doctor
3. Q-Unique feat. Psycho Realm "Between Heaven & Hell" prod. by Q-Unique, cuts by DJ F.M.
4. Magestik Legend "Carbon" prod. by Astronote
5. Nametag feat. Quest M.C.O.D.Y. & Buff1 "S.I.N." prod. by Black Milk
6. Kool G Rap "Sad" prod. by Super Dave
7. DJ Muggs vs ILL BILL feat. Sick Jacken, Sean Price & O.C. "Trouble Shooters" prod. by DJ Muggs
8. Celph Titled & Buckwild "Step Correctly" prod. by Buckwild
9. KRS-One & Tru Master "He's Us" prod. by True Master
10. Tiye Phoenix "48 Bars of Progression" prod. by The Audible Doctor & Tiye Phonenix
11. Rah Digga "Do Your Numbers" prod. by Nottz
12. Joell Ortiz "Murder" prod. & cuts by Statik Selektah
13. Eternia & Moss feat. Rah Digga & Rage "The BBQ" prod. by MoSS
14. Black Milk "Warning (Keep Bouncing)" prod. by Black Milk
15. Rah Digga feat. Redman "This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap (Remix)" prod. by Nottz
16. Nottz feat. The Alchemist "The 1ne" prod. by Nottz
17. Doc Ish feat. Buckshot, Rock & Colosso "Make Moves" prod. by Doc Ish
18. M-Dot & DJ Jean Maron feat. Torae, Chino XL, BAM & Lyric Jones "Be Easy" prod. by Jean Maron
19. Action Incorporated feat. Thirstin Howl III "Furious" prod. by DJ Battle
20. Rah Digga "A Few Thoughts" prod. by Nottz
21. Rah Digga "Straight Spittin' IV" prod. by Nottz
22. Q-Unique "Bk, Bx, Bk" prod. by Q-Unique, cuts by DJ Eclipse
23. IDE & DJ Connect feat. Tha Outsidaz "Still In This" prod. & cuts by DJ Connect
24. Taiyamo Denku "Lost In Production" prod. by Ayatollah
25. Nottz feat. Rah Digga "Cars (Remix)" prod. by Nottz
26. Rah Digga Live Freestyle
27. Rah Digga "Warning Shots" prod. by Nottz
Steve Rifkind's LOUD records is an overlooked dynasty of Hip Hop. This label definitely deserves it's props for gathering a collective of Hip Hop greats all in one period, everyone you see in this 1994 interview made a classic for their debut album which helped change the face of music and culture. If you were fortunate to live through the 90's era of stellar purchases such as "The Infamous", "21 And Over", "Realms & Reality", "Coast II Coast", "Let's Get Free", "Capital Punishment", "Enter The Wu Tang" and more, the part of your collection that bears the name and logo of LOUD records is most likely a treasured and frequented section 'til this day.
One of my personal favorite memories of LOUD is the strong effort they put forth in providing free promotional content, from stickers, posters, cassette tape and CD samplers which were packaged with an excellent design sense geared to a more authentic feel of Hip Hop than many other labels could provide at the time. I still have cassette samplers from Mobb Deep and Raekwon's first albums which I keep as collector's items.
Peace to 90shiphop.wordpress.com for this great flashback to the early days of LOUD.
Gangstarr & Rock (Heltah Skeltah) Freestyle
I never imagined this combination before in a song, but if Rock & The Guru ever did a song together with Premo on the boards I'm sure it would be an interesting moment of Brooklyn Hip Hop.
This is one of my favorite mixes of original samples in recent years, plus an overall great listening experience from the selection of music by Dusty Groove Radio. Some of the breaks you'll hear are more recognizable than others depending on how much Hip Hop you've heard over the last decade. In this 45 minute mix from 2006 you will hear a collection of rare grooves spanning a number of music genres from Soul, Rock and Funk, sounds used by Common, The Beatnuts, Jay-Z, Large Professor, MF Doom and more.
The 3rd Group Home LP, "G.U.R.U." will be released on September 28th, Babygrande Records. Check out a stream of the album sampler below, or download it as an mp3:
Tracklist:
1) Intro
2) G.U.R.U. (Feat. Jeru the Damaja)
3) Pay Attention (Feat. Guru & Smiley the Ghetto Child)
4) Get Out the Car
5) Ghetto Soldiers (Feat. D)
6) Up Against the Wall (Feat. Lord Jamar & MC Ace)
7) Ears to the Streets (Feat. D)
8 ) Bodega
9) You Got It
10) Bright Lights
11) Brooklyn
12) The Realness 2010 (Feat. Blackadon & Black of Brainsick Mob)
13) The Legacy (Feat. Guru)
14) Be Like That (Feat. Blackadon & Guru)
15) Sista Love (Skit)
eLZhi and Phat Kat give details behind upcoming projects their working on, including "Elmatic" and a duo album inspired by their collaboration on the J Dilla produced "Cold Steel". This definitely sounds like they're backstage at a show from the bass response, I'm proud to see how far the influence of their music has reached around the higher level of appreciation of Hip Hop found internationally.
I guess the karate film influence of Wu Tang Clan as a Hip Hop group was bound to catch some people in the wrong way during their debut, causing them to misinterpret these 9 hungry, ambitious brothers from the slums of Shaolin. This 1993 episode of Yo! MTV Raps which features Ed Lover dressed to the hilt in Kung Fu gear and a wig basically says it all.
Ed Lover acts a fool in this interview, but little did he and the rest of the world know the powerful impact and influence The Wu would eventually leave on Hip Hop culture. It's always interesting to look back and remember the early signs of people's greatness.
By the looks of this odd album cover illustration I had the feeling I was in for a treat. This German Krautrock group brings an interesting blend of traditional jazz elements against funky Rock drumming, guitar and bass for "Geisha", a song which rises with an edge of dark, mysterious intensity in the vein of Mahavishnu Orchestra and David Axelrod compositions.
Visit their discography in iTunes.
This video by Damu The Fudgemunk and Insight of Y Society renewed my appreciation for living the life of Hip Hop in New York City. The great summertime visuals combined with a stand-out work of independent Hip Hop music is a piece of escapism from the aspects of normal, everyday city life, a fine audio/video presentation which takes a strong reach in inspiring some of the most enjoyable aspects of Hip Hop life.
"Don't Do It" is the first single from Damu's upcoming EP, "Supply For Demand", now available on iTunes.
Pete Rock's production is the best fit yet for the musical identity of Smif N' Wessun, adding onto the Brooklyn duo's improved lyrical abilities and matured street sense to push their individual sounds to new heights. I'm glad to hear authentic representation of the streets but also the inspirational element of prevailing, it's something people from all walks of life can relate to and a good sign of each artist's maturity.
Individuality has always been an important part of Hip Hop, whether in media presentation, album packaging or public image. An artist's brand seems to be more important now than ever with and increased flow of music and content from artists who market themselves online to a rapidly changing climate of music. Fredro Starr defines some of the greatest logos and brands of Hip Hop, reflecting back on an era where a select few elite artists managed to balance the quality of their brand presentation with classic music, two elements which worked hand-in-hand to define a unique, unforgettable consumer experience.
I really appreciate this latest offering by The Roots and John Legend as excellence in authentic, contemporary Soul music revival, re-introducing classics that not only helped shaped the genre, but some of which have lent an undeniable influence upon Hip Hop.
With the new generation of talented musicians such as The Roots and John Legend who are deep rooted in the sounds of Hip Hop as well as Soul, we will most likely continue to witness a new type of revival of this classic sound of the 60's and 70's. A revival which is different from the crate digger, DJ and/or Hip Hop producer who introduces this great sound to you through their record collection and production, but one which displays musicians and performers in their element channelling the most exciting elements of the genre known as Soul.
"The Brain" by Prince Ea is a lyrical account into the history and purpose of one of the most important parts of the body from an MC perspective, the organ which helps determine our daily outlook and functions of life. Ea uses skills and determination to present a vivd look into the brain, breaking down intense subject matter of history and biological detail which the average person might shy away from to create a memorable song. The production flows and changes through different moods with the lyrics of Ea, assisting his storytelling abilities as a new form of educational Hip Hop cinema.
Look no further than Prince Ea for the future of MCs giving back a piece of their mind through self awareness, education and leadership, conversing with the listener.
http://smartiscool.wordpress.com
In remembrance of 2 Pac's life, influence and musical legacy I present an exciting remix project from Configa of Slept On Fam. "Pac To The Essence Vol. 1" combines the sample-based production skills of Configa with the voice of 2 Pac for a project which returns the legendary Death Row MC to his essence, a more traditional Hip Hop sound reminiscent of the early 90's era which he debuted before superstardom and use of high-budget production.
About "Pac To The Essence Vol. 1", from Configa:
"You may be interested in reading why I started out on this project?
Well, this album came about partly as a retaliation against so called "official" remixes that use "contemporary" beats that happen to be the latest fad, with guests that Pac never worked with, and probably never would have, had he still been alive today. Also, it is a retaliation against badly thought out, wack, off-beat YouTube mash-ups that generally use the vocals of Pac, Biggie, 50 Cent or Lil' Wayne in some combination.
This album is made BY a long-time 2Pac fan FOR 2Pac fans, so if you ARE one, then please go and order a copy from http://configa.com/album/configa-presents-pac-to-the-essence-vol-1 In fact, if you are just a fan of "boom bap" sounding hip hop in general, then you'll love this album too, so again, go and get your order in http://configa.com/album/configa-presents-pac-to-the-essence-vol-1
I wanted this album to actually sound like a Pre-Death Row era Pac, stripped down, less glossy and RAW sounding...Like his vibe from 92/93/94 and I think I've achieved my aim. If you didn't know better, I believe you would think this was an unearthed 2Pac gem.
Anyway, please support this release if you love REAL hip hop"
Pac To The Essence Vol. 1 is now available at configa.com, along with other Configa produced projects such as "15 Minutes" with UK legend Scorzayzee, and "Hot Off Da Press" with Fdot1 .
I never knew Ayatollah had skills like this on the turntables! To hear the deep breaks he's cutting up in this mix is an interesting look into Ayatollah's choices of sound as a producer, a dose of that obscure Funk and Soul beyond what you hear composed in his beats. These type of mixes which exemplify the tradition of the Hip Hop DJ in scratching and obscure crate digging are great listening material for a weekend, I hope you enjoy.
Download this mix and subscribe to more audio treats from the Nature Sounds Records podcast here at iTunes.
This song by Tash really stood out to me when I heard it on a radio mix show, heavy hitting drums and mic ripping with dope sample-based production and creative concepts at a newly improved level. "Liquor Store Run" is one of the more traditional Hip Hop sounding cuts from Tash's 2009 album "Control Freek", which displays new styles of song writing previously unheard of in music from Tha Liks.
The range of production style used on "Control Freek" is more diverse than previous Liks albums, an inclusion of more popular ideas of song writing ideas to the traditional, party-inducing, lyrical, West Coast sound of Tha Liks. The new variety of sound balanced with old is something that may catch you off guard if you have been listening since "Make Room", so die hard Liks fans choose at your discretion, but also take a chance at hearing artistic experimentation by a classic artist as well. Listen to a sampler of the album here at Undergroundhiphop.com.
Here is an early 2010 interview with Tash, letting people know what is currently happening within Tha Liks camp such as the rumors of their breakup, touring and new projects to come. The stories Tash and Tha Liks have had within Hip Hop history are unique, he speaks on his personal experiences as a friend of Ol' Dirty Bastard and being technically the 1st artists to be released on Loud Records.
A very casual and down to earth interview with Zo! of The Foreign Exchange as he discusses his journey as a musician from childhood to present success, amongst a collection of soulful music from his production catalog.
There's more than enough soul to go around in this episode, so prepare for ear-pleasing results to put you into a joyful mood.
Tracklist:
The Roots - A Peace of Light
Ndugu & the Chocolate Jam Company - Take Some Time
Onra - High Hopes (ft. Reggie B)
Dam Funk - Chocolate
Nicolay - Omotesando
Little Dragon - Twice (Aaron Jerome Remix)
Hot Peas & Butta - HP & B Radio Spot
Big Pimp Jones - Jump Up, TurnAround, Popcorn!
The Transatlantics - Things Got To Get Better
*Happy Birthday KRS-One*
Boogie Down Productions - The Bridge is Over
Boogie Down Productions - Jimmy
Boogie Down Productions - I’m Still #1
Boogie Down Productions - South Bronx
Little Brother - Curtain Call
Reflection Eternal - Lifting Off
*In studio guest Zo!*
Zo! & Tigallo - Africa
Zo! - Nights Over Egypt (ft. Carlitta Durand)
Zo! - 4Dilla
?uestlove / Foreign Exchange / Zo! / Carlitta Durand - Purple Flip
Zo! - Flight of the Blackbyrd (ft. Phonte)
Zo! - Greater Than the Sun (ft. Phonte)
Zo! - Say How You Feel (ft. Phonte & Carlitta Durand)
Zo! - SunStorm (ft. YahZarah)
Zo! - This Could Be the Night (ft. Eric Roberson, Darien Brockington & Rapper Big Pooh)
Learn about Herbie Hancock through this career retrospective interview as he speaks on his origins of music from childhood which instilled his drive to pursue a career as a musician under the early influence of Miles Davis, one of his biggest inspirations. Listen to a selection of Herbie's greatest works spanning from his early days on Blue Note Records to the present during this interview as he reflects on his steps through career and life towards Jazz greatness.
One of the things I admire about Herbie Hancock is the range of experimentation throughout his career in setting trends and expanding artistically to bring new sounds into Jazz. From traditional compositions on Blue Note Records, to the organic sound of 70's jazz-fusion, electric synth-funk with The Headhunters, the soul of 80's R&B and embracing the beat of early Hip Hop, Mr. Hancock has always seem to leave a memorable and influential impact with the music he creates.
At the end of the interview, Herbie premieres some new music from his upcoming album "The Imagine Project" which focuses on world peace and equality of multiple cultures through music, a vast collection of musicians from across the globe working together with the man himself. I can't wait to hear it!
Playlist:
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man - Blue Note
Herbie Hancock - The Maze - Blue Note
The Miles Davis Quintet - E.S.P - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage - Blue Note
Herbie Hancock - Cantaloupe Island - Blue Note
Herbie Hancock - Main Title from Blow-Up - MGM
Herbie Hancock - Ostinato (Suite For Angela) - Warner
Herbie Hancock - Sleeping Giant - Warner
Herbie Hancock - Rain Dance - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Vein Melter - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Nobu - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - I Thought It Was You - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Stars In Your Eyes - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Rockit - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Future Shock - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - Autodrive - Columbia
Herbie Hancock - The Song Goes On - Hancock Records
Herbie Hancock & Hip Hop:
Here are a few of my favorite Hip Hop songs which have the musical element of Herbie Hancock, I know there's many, many more considering the amount of funky musicians he worked with in the 70's. Expect to see a more broad range of Herbie samples in an upcoming mix I will provide here at cratesofjr.
Akinyele gives a brief description of himself, his music, and introduces the video to his first single "Ak Ha Ha!, Ak Hoo Hoo" during the summer of '93. Ak was probably already seen to alot of people as a very promising new addition to Hip Hop already at this point, especially from his performance on "Live at The BBQ".
I definitely like revisiting the 1993 debut album of Akinyele every once and awhile for a powerful dose of rhymes, plus an entertaining view of life through a broad range of topics you rarely hear the average MC speak about on wax. The balance between sick rhymes and humor over Large Professor production makes this album an unforgettable listen. It is one outstanding work of the 90's that has never lost it's replay value to this day, due to the amount of quality over quantity and the underexposure it received even on an underground level.
Freestyle:
This is an appearance by Akinyele up at Mr. Magic & Mister Cee's radio show, sometime around 1994 when the Large Professor remix of "In The World" was circulating on the underground. This is a freestyle you won't forget Ak is a beast on this one!
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