More Than Dope

MTD Blog - Lamont's Lists

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Okay, full disclosure up front... Lamont is my Man. With that out of the way his blog is dope as hell. The self-described walking encyclopedia of hip-hop is a constant reminder of why you fell in love with hip-hop in the first place. Dude writes about hip-hop with insight and intelligence that is unparalleled [can this brotha get a column in some mag?! Is this thing on?!? I need to read this brotha in long-form.] What passes for hip-hop journalism these days is embarrassing... let this serve as the beginning of the "We Want Lamont" campaign [yes we can!]

His posts are list-based [The Recession Playlist, Top 10 reasons hip-hop is dead, etc.] and each one is reasoned, researched and dead on point. Even when I don't completely agree with a point he makes I have to stop and think about my response because I can't come weak ["just 'cause" ain't gonna get it done.]

If you like your hip-hop served up with some thoughtfulness and humor this is the spot for you. Now, he is smart enough to only post when your feinin' so don't expect to get blessed every week... hey, quality takes time.

Lamont's Lists

Exile Milli Remix

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:50:00 +0000

Another nail in the coffin of music teachers worldwide. This dude is straight dope. He gets my respect just off the memory required to put this down. Shout to my man Q. for putting me up on the clip.

Exile "Milli" Video from Jonathan Kim on Vimeo.

Brooklyn Go Hard

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:59:00 +0000

This is the new joint from Jay and Santogold from the upcoming "Notorious" soundtrack. The cut is ill and the visuals by Evan Roth are sick.

Jay-Z ft. Santogold - Brooklyn Go Hard

Sick Phone Concepts

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:47:00 +0000

Just got schooled on a sick Tokyo designer, Mac Funamizu. His phone concepts are just ill... he designs other things but the phones are ridiculous. He admits that he is a web & graphic designer so sadly he has no plans to produce these joints but if someone steps up to the plate and brings any of these to market, fair warning, get in my way and you will catch a fair one to the dome from my newly obsolete iphone. Check out some of his concepts below...

DJ Consoles

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:19:00 +0000

I've been a DJ for a minute and one of the things that was always hard to find was a really dope custom DJ console for the crib. I finally found a company in San Fran, DUAL, to hook up my equipment but I also recently found a spot in Berlin, METROFARM, that is turning out some crazy designs. Actually both companies use similar designs for their base pieces but METROFARM uses materials like concrete and stainless steel for their joints. As always, the kids have options we never did.

DUAL shows base prices on their site, METROFARM doesn't [draw your own conclusions] and I can only imagine what it costs to ship a concrete console from Berlin... shipping maple across the US was bad enough... but that's why you grind so hard - right? So get your dollars [or euros] right and take care of your equipment.

Slicker Than Your Average

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:46:00 +0000

Spied some photos over at cnet... this phone is sick. Sony is back on their design game [where have you been?] Looks like this sweet piece of phone candy drops at the end of the month for a cool 8 bills. Yup, Sony is still gangsta. But big tag aside, the phone is straight beautiful. It may not be the nimblest joint in the pack but you sure won't have to worry about every knucklehead pulling one out trying to front. Check more photos and info on the Sony XPERIA X1 here.

Going Green Doesn't Have To Suck

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:02:00 +0000

So you want to do your part for the environment but would rather get gut punched by Kimbo Slice [he can still kick your ass] than buy a Prius. Well, apparently there are some folks who realize good vibrations don't have to look wack. Of course, just to prove that even the greenies know a good thing when they've got it... you can no more afford this than that ozone-depleting DB9 you have been drooling over [both cars have the same designer.]

If you are first in line next year expect to drop a cool hundred grand, if you have to wait with the other peasants until 2010 the price drops to a-still-not-manageable 80k. That's a lot of cheese for a joint that gives you 50 miles a day if you remember to plug in at night [hell, I can barely remember to throw my phone on the charger]. It will climb to between 95 mph and 125 mph depending whether you are using gas or your Duracell.

Unfortunately, it looks like I will be punching holes in the sky a little longer. [I'll still change some bulbs though.]

Inaugural Theme Song?

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Awww... look at hip-hop trying to be political. I feel like a proud uncle or something. They even showed a Brother President respect by dropping an edited version. Check out this new version of Pop Champagne from Ron Browz ft Busta Rhymes...

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A New Day Is Coming

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:27:00 +0000

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:28:00 +0000

50 Cent - Get Up... even though his crew fell off they can still put out a club banga

Beyonce - Single Ladies... sticking with the formula but she makes it work

Busta Rhymes ft. Ron Browz - Arab Money... it's mostly the beat but it's good to see Busta back on top

Ciara ft T-Pain - Go Girl... this track is getting slept on and T-Pain kills his 16 [did I just type that?!]

Dujeous - Break Bread... someone is still trying to put out conscious hip-hop

Grafh ft Prinz - Like Ohh... someone is still trying to put out real NYC hip-hop

Jadakiss ft Ne-Yo - By My Side... I don't know if I like this or I'm just buggin' that Jada is making mainstream music

Jazmine Sullivan - In Love With Another Man... the album Lauryn should have put out... don't sleep on Jazmine [like you did on Chrisette]

Joe Thomas - Why Just Be Friends... the last real R&B dude out there

M.I.A. ft. Jay-Z - Boyz... who put her up on that Baltimore Club beat? This chick is sneaking politics back into hip-hop... P.E. must be so proud

Miguel Migs ft Junior Reid - Fire... defies category... just funky

Ms. Alysha - Fresh and Clean... this one may have been a stretch but I wanted to hear some dancehall

Musiq - Radio... didn't see this one coming... who knew he moved from illadelph to ATL?

Q-Tip - Won't Trade... the Native Tongues are being repped lovely... lyrics are back!!

Raphael Saadiq - 100 Yard Dash... okay, I dig Motown as much as the next dude but I think I now know why TTT broke up... it is catchy though

Ron Browz ft Jim Jones - Pop Champagne... pure hip-hop for a new gen

Chelsea Mix

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:39:00 +0000

This is a DJ set for my club heads. If you are looking for the joints you hear on the radio, this is not the mix for you. If you are looking for the same old 15 songs every club DJ plays, again, this is not the mix for you. If you want 90 minutes of banging club [and a chance to discover some new joints] this is your shit. Take some time, pump those speakers [I hope you have a subwoofer] and let the music move you...

2 AM at Club Bliss by Be Easy

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Q-Tip - Move... the abstract poetic is back

Kevin Rudolph ft Lil Wayne - Let It Rock... nice blend of rock and hip-hop

Jazmine Sullivan - Live A Lie... speaking truth over a funky beat

Anthony Hamilton - Cool... smooth soul... take it straight, no rap verse

LL Cool J - Rocking With The G.O.A.T.... still got the swagger but no one heard it

The Game - Dope Boys... killin' that Cali vibe even without Dre

The Cool Kids - Black Mags... joint is ridiculous... reppin' true school & new school

Ashanti - Good Good... cute little R&B joint

Pitch Black - It's All Real... classic Primo production made the joint

Lenny Kravitz - Love Love Love... still true to his game

Liscious K - All For You... just some good old dance music

Jeru The Damaja - Come Clean... all-time classic hip-hop

Portishead - Hunter... raw trip-hop just like I like it

Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me... Busta back to being the dungeon dragon

Morcheeba - Blue Chair... taking trip-hop to the next level

Armand Van Helden - Sugar... house music all night long

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:50:00 +0000

Hil St. Soul - Hanging On... don't know how this British neo-soul songstress is still underground... I checked her in 2000... where's the love?

Common - Universal Mind Control... Com taking it back and forward at the same time.

Anthony David ft. india.arie - Words... AD is the dopest neo-soul cat you've never heard, makes Hil seem like Mariah Carey he's so far underground... best neo soul duet since Jill Scott & Darius Rucker.

Quentin Harris ft. Margaret Grace - My Joy... Ooohh there's that JRZ club DJ comin' out again...

Ryan Leslie ft Cassie - Addiction... some of my people are all over me for liking this dude but it sounds fresh to me.

Algebra - Nothing To Prove... so the underground continues... Kedar's latest discovery.

N.E.R.D. - Ant I Matter... little rock, little rap... must be nice to be able to make whatever you want.

Lil Wayne ft T-Pain - Got Money... this joint bangs which is crazy considering how overexposed these dudes are... every now and then the southern thing works for me... this is one of those times.

Robin Thicke - Magic... maybe this dude isn't a gimmick after all... this cut is the truth.

Incognito - Silence of Mind... like they never left - they have a formula and it still works.

Trebla - Many Miles... pure house music... give me this at 2am in any club.

Al Green ft Anthony Hamilton - Lay it Down... soul music for real.

Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul... what they sound like when they aren't bugging out.

Andre Harris - Dance With Me... I am feeling my club/house joints right now... joint is crazy.

JD Productions - What I Feel... summertime groove.

Jay-Z - Lucifer [Brown Album]... Dug this outta the crates... smoothed-out Jay... one of my favorite remixes of the Black Album.

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Big Boi ft Raekwon & Andre 3000 - Royal Flush... still the most original in the game.

Super Cat - Dolly My Baby... takes you back to when it was all so simple.

Smif & Wesson - Sound Bwoy Buriel... perfect blend of hip hop & dancehall.

Kevin Yost - One Starry Night... lounge music + drum 'n bass = a new way to chill.

Keite Young - Alright... smooth neo-soul... D'Angelo better get on his game.

Joy Denalane ft. Lupe - Change... why does real talent stay under the radar?

J Dilla - Bye... before Common and D'Angelo got to it.

Hott 22 - Before I Let You In... some old club ish.

Fugees - How Many Mics [Remix]... remember how dope L Boogie was on the mic?

Fort Minor - Get It... sounds like that hungry NYC hip-hop.

Erykah Badu - That Hump... still trying to figure out where she's going with this album.

Bobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. II... interesting rework of a classic.

Janet Jackson - Rock With U... will be blasting out of my car this summer.

Delly Ranks - Disrespect... dirrty dancehall.

Raheem DeVaughn - Customer... R&B is not dead.

Jimmy Sommers ft. Vikter Duplaix - If I Knew... Vikter Duplaix is becoming a problem.

Fat Joe - That White... further proof that I will bang anything Primo produces.

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:37:00 +0000

A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz (We Got) Remix... what real lyrics sound like

Buju Banton - Flava... 'nuff riddim from Jamtown

Elephant Man ft. Swizz Beatz - Jump... crazy energy + crazy beats = Sick joint

Jazzanova ft. Vikter Duplaix - Wasted Time... smooth neo-soul

Lupe Fiasco - Put You On Game... trying to forgive the dis to Tribe but the kid has lyrics

Me'shell Ndegeocello - Fool Of Me... does pain better than anyone [other than Sade]

Missy Elliott - Ching-A-Ling... always original

Pitbull ft. Lil Jon - The Anthem... they still know how to get you out your seat

Ralphi Rosario - Take Me Up... 'cause I'm from Jerz all day

Ryan Leslie - Diamond Girl... I'm on some catchy R&B thing right now

Saint Germain - Forget It... boom-bap from across the water

Sean Paul - I Can Give You Pleasure... if it ain't broke...

Shawty Lo - Dey Know (Remix)... I'm as surprised as you are

The Dream - Ditch That... owes Timbo some $$ but it's hot

Usher ft Ludacris - Dat Girl Right There... props for trying something different

Wu Tang Clan - Take It Back... classic Wu

Change The Game

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:58:00 +0000

With all this talk of change, what about hip-hop? Hip-hop is in a rut... we need some new and different flavors. Right now Lil' somebody or the latest dude with a song about a dumb dance are running things. It's time for somebody to change the game... to come with a new style or flow that shakes up everything to the point it makes cats rethink their whole approach to the music.

It has happened before, in fact, it has happened many times before. I'm not talking about some flavor-of-the-month making a splash with a hot single or quirky flow, nah, this is the MC or producer who influenced the whole game [or at least the mainstream] to move in a different direction.

The first change for me was the move away from the "bang bang boogie", "yes, yes, y'all" phase of hip-hop. At that point the music was mostly party jams with simple rhymes and simple beats. Most MC's had the same flow and pretty much talked about the same thing [sound familiar?]. Then the game changed:

RUN-DMC 1983

The Kings from Queens came out the box with a hard look and a hard attitude... no crazy costumes, they looked like cats off the block. Run had a rapid flow that was new for the time and he elevated the braggadocio style of rhyming. DMC brought a staccato flow that spoke of the streets but still revealed he went to college. The group also put their DJ, Jam Master Jay, front and center as a group member. They highlighted Jay's skills as a DJ and producer but still integrated his new style of cutting and scratching into the flow of the emcee's. Up to this point, there was an either/or - the MC was the star or there was a "DJ cut" - RUN-DMC seamlessly let each group member shine. They also married hip-hop and rock better than anyone before or since. RUN-DMC took the game to a place where lyrics mattered more, flow was elevated and hip-hop attitude came to the mainstream.

Sample Cuts: Sucker MC’s, It’s Like That, King of Rock, Peter Piper

Eric B. and Rakim 1986

Rakim elevated hip-hop lyrics from words that rhymed to poetry. His complex rhyming schemes and flawless flow made you "sit by the radio hand on the dial soon, as you hear it pump up the volume." He was so peerless that the scratches and vocal samples on their songs were typically other Rakim lyrics. Eric B. was fairly understated in his style but his production was a good compliment to Rakim's smooth style. Rakim never threw in words just because they rhymed, he intricately built stories where every lyric mattered to the overall theme. He effortlessly kicked it on any kind of cut - party cut, conscious jam, bragging joint, hood joint, whatever - as he said, "so easily do I e-m-c-e-e". While other dudes seemed to be pressing, Rakim was always cool. It's been more than twenty years and I still haven't heard an emcee who is better.

Sample Cuts: I know You Got Soul, My Melody, Follow The Leader, Know The Ledge

Public Enemy 1987

For the first time I felt the power of hip-hop. Public Enemy showed that hip-hop could be a force, a positive influence. They did more to make Black youth feel a sense of pride and a desire for activism than anyone in hip-hop. No slogans, [Vote or Die? Really?] PE was about a way of thinking and living every day. They had flavors of the Nation of Islam and Black Nationalism but they also had Flav so they weren't above comic relief. I doubt Chuck D's booming bass flow would have hit quite as hard without the production of the Bomb Squad. Sonically, PE was different than any other artist... some cuts had a funky groove but others sounded as if they were trying to piss you off [Bring The Noise]... it was obvious they weren't just making dance music. For a period, Public Enemy represented the "Black CNN", which is how Chuck D. used to describe hip-hop and with his messages he was an emcee who didn't "rhyme for the sake of riddlin'."

Sample Cuts: Rebel Without A Pause, Don’t Believe The Hype, Bring The Noise, Can’t Truss It

NWA/Dr. Dre/Ice Cube 1988

As an east coast dude the west had nothing for me when it came to hip-hop... they were a joke. Then came NWA. There were plenty of east coast dudes who talked about crime and the grimey side of things, but these dudes were different. Their style, their slang, their sound and most definitely their look was completely different. Suddenly, the west coast had their own thing and people were noticing... even east coast heads. NWA seemed more willing to say "we don't give a f*ck" then anyone up to that point. Once the predictable beef kicked in and cats went to separate camps it became obvious real quick that the architects of the sound were Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. Dre is definitely a top-3 producer of all time [he might be no. 1]. Cube had lyrics of fury that felt straight east coast but were definitely straight outta Cali. When Cube hooked up with the Bomb Squad it was one of the best hip-hop collabos ever. You could argue these dudes had one of the biggest influences on hip-hop because they showed you could change the formula and make it your own... I would say they paved the way for the southern hip-hop movement. Love it or hate it, hip-hop history isn't complete without giving NWA their due.

Sample Cuts: Straight Outta Compton, 100 Miles and Runnin’, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, It Was A Good Day, Dre Day, Let Me Ride

De La Soul 1989

Full disclosure... I am a native tongues head through and through... loved every crew in the posse. These cats came through the front door shoutin', "I live in the 'burbs, don't own a gun, don't sell drugs, ain't never been in jail but I still love hip-hop and I have my own style." Loved 'em from jump. Two things that De La Soul brought, " a new style of speak" and sampling as an art form. Anyone could loop a beat or two and run that for a whole song... Mase, their DJ, chopped, looped, and scratched joints to the point that they were unrecognizable... you might hear one sample you knew but there were so many others that told you your crates weren't that deep. Their lyrics were also different... more clever... different metaphors... you had to press rewind to get the whole meaning... but, they also made your head nod. Tribe was funkier, Leaders were quirkier but De La led the way into a whole new style of hip-hop... it was kind of like the thinking man's hip-hop... but it still made you move ya ass.

Sample Cuts: Plug Tunin, Me, Myself and I, Ring, Ring, Ring, Breakadawn

Queen Latifah 1989

Obviously I know Queen was part of the Native Tongues but she kind of broke off and started doing her own thing pretty early on. Latifah wasn't the first female emcee by any stretch but she brought female emcees to the mainstream and she had SKILLS. When Latifah came out the box she could go verse for verse with any dude. Don't believe me, go back and listen to All Hail The Queen. First thing you have to acknowledge is she has about four or five different flows... slow, fast, different rhyme schemes... she could go with anybody. Next, look at her subject matter... women's rights, Black Nationalism, party cuts... crazy, she had range. Latifah wasn't trying to get by on her looks or shakin' her ass any more than the dudes were, she took her place based on her talent... dudes even had to recognize. Her later work was not as strong, I think she missed DJ Mark the 45 King, but by that time she had laid the groundwork for the ladies to find their place in the mainstream.

Sample Cuts: Wrath Of My Madness, Queen Of Royal Badness, U.N.I.T.Y., Ladies First

Notorius B.I.G./Diddy 1993

This one is a little more controversial. There is absolutely no question that Biggie and Diddy changed the game, in fact, in terms of style, sound and visuals they may be responsible for the most dramatic change. The tricky part is the other changes to the game all felt like a move forward... this one only did to a point. B.I.G. looked like what he was - a dude off the block, sketchy past, suddenly smack in the middle of new found riches. And he talked about it... in a way that made you feelwhat he was saying. He flossed... hard... and he told us what he spent his money on. He also told us, through his joints, he didn't expect it to last... dudes were still coming for him. The backbone for all of B.I.G.'s imagery was a stock of samples that we really hadn't heard before. Puff and his crew of producers provided the perfect grimy soundtrack to Biggie's street tales. Suddenly we were hearing the hardest rhymes over old R&B tracks... country joints... obscure soul riffs and it worked. The "problem" is for the most part the joints were just lifted... whole tracks looped and run for four minutes. It sort of signaled the end of sampling as art form. The other "issue" is rappers decided the stuff B.I.G. talked about was all there was to talk about... guns, drugs, designer labels, women, street life... the game became small. It's hard to lay the blame for the stagnation of imagination, boring tracks and monotonous lyrics on Diddy and Biggie. They did what was true to them - well - it's not on them that less talented dudes used their style as a blueprint and a short-cut into the game. This movement feels like a step forward and a step backward... now we are just stuck.

Sample Cuts: Unbelievable, Warning, Who Shot Ya, Big Poppa, Hypnotize, Kick In The Door

The Neptunes 1994

From this point forward hip-hop and rap became a producer-driven art form. The Neptunes didn't rely on the sample, they produced a new electronic sound with blip and beeps and repetitive drum patterns that shifted the sound of mainstream hip-hop. This new direction gave the music a more mainstream sound, even a pop feel. Even when the lyrics of the artists they worked with were hard, this was party music. The Neptunes brought the party back without dumbing down the music. We also can thank The Neptunes, specifically Pharrell, for the producer as performer thing. Obviously, Diddy was front and center in his artists videos but Pharrell took his "take that, take that" and raised it to singing hooks and dropping verses... and appearing in all of the videos. In some ways The Neptunes were also responsible for the increasing number of "mash ups" between hip-hop and pop artists because their client roster stretched to pop and R&B... they were bringing (music) worlds together. You would be hard pressed to find a production crew that influenced popular music as widely and for as long as The Neptunes.

Sample Cuts: Superthug-N.O.R.E., Shake Ya Ass-Mystikal, I Just Wanna Love U-Jay-Z, Hot In Herre, Nelly

Master P 1996

Master P introduced the concept of rapper as entrepreneur and started the southern influence on the game. Master P had a successful production company and label before he signed to a major. He had a regional sound and following and was taking over the South before many of us had even heard his name. Master P was one of the new pioneers of the game... self-contained crew, signature sound, owned his masters, handled his own production, diversified the brand with movies... this dude was a straight up business man. The sound was slow and thick and hard in a different way... it was more about an attitude. I don't know if Master P gets the credit he deserves for resurrecting the careers of Mystikal and Snoop Dogg. No Limit created a model followed to this day... their sound let the south know they could be in the big game on their own terms.

Sample Cuts: I’m Bout It, Bout It, Make ‘Em Say Uhhh, Burbons and Lacs, Them Jeans

Lil Jon 2002

This is another one that leaves you a little torn. Lil Jon never pretended to make anything other than party music and he did it well. The first time you heard Bia Bia or Get Low you couldn't help but get amped. Short on lyrics, long on grooves... well a groove. Crunk cuts have one simple, catchy rhythm and they run it to the end. The lyrics are basic, easy to remember and became anthems in the clubs. With one of the most basic formulas since the beginning of hip-hop, Crunk music straight took over hip-hop and Lil Jon was leading the charge. For a period every hip-hop cut, and some pop cuts, on the radio and on the top of the charts was Crunk. Recently, Crunk has lost a little steam to Snap music but that is really just a hybrid of Crunk. This style definitely felt like a step back for the music but there is no denying that it was ultimately responsible for the shift of power in mainstream hip-hop from the east to the south. Crunk is the only regional style of hip-hop that became so powerful it influenced east coast artists to change their style or at least their beats.

Sample Cuts: Bia Bia, Get Low, What U Gon’ Do, Snap Yo Fingers

So to my way of thinking we are waay overdue for a change, for a shift to something new. Cats are still talking about the same things and the beats all sound the same. Hip-hop needs a breath of life... where is the new, next movement? Is it possible with the influence of the labels? My hope rests with the power of the web. Hopefully some cat is in a bedroom or basement with a computer, some software and a active imagination and is creating some next ish that his friends don't quite understand but is about to change the music we know and love... and he will upload it somewhere and we will be moved.

Footnote: I welcome your comments and additions but remember the criteria... an innovator that influenced the whole game for a period of time and because of their dominance spurred copycats. I'm not talking about someone who took a movement to another level [sorry Hov] but the person or group who started the movement and created a group of followers. With that in mind... have at it.

Hot 16

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:37:00 +0000

Amp Fiddler - Heaven... smooth underground soul

Chrisette Michelle - If I Have My Way... the truth for real

Common - Southside... "your career is a typo, mine is written like a haiku",... nuff said

Emotive Blue - Captured... easy like Sunday morning

Estelle - Just A Touch [Wait A Minute]... London hip-hop... breath of fresh air

Jaheim - Never... nice to hear real singing again

Jay-Z - Pray... pretty soon I'm going to have to admit I like this album

Lemongrass - At Home... lounge music to chill by

Mary J. Blige - Work That... the Queen is back

Monodeluxe - Natural High... downtown lounge, chillin' in a booth

Nas - Surviving The Times... is this grown man Nas?

Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen... just gets you amped

Scarface - Girl You Know... how did he get this track? It's so NYC

The Roots - In The Music... still underappreciated

Vikter Duplaix - The Way I Feel... neo-soul, emphasis on the neo

Wu Tang Clan - Wolves... wish there were more of these on 8 Diagrams

I [Don't] Want You Back!

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:27:00 +0000

Geez... did you hear? The Jacksons are going on tour next year. Seriously?? Why?! Who is the audience for this tour? I mean, I get why they need the money but, damn, Tito is going to be 55 next year! No, really. Jackie will be closer to 60 than 50... hell, Michael will be 50! Again, who wants to see this!?! The last hit they had as The Jacksons, "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" came out 30 years ago.

This is just wrong. It's not like The Temptations or O'Jays going on tour... they were grown ass men during the height of their careers so their songs hold up now. The Jacksons songs will just sound silly... or creepy. Why don't performers know when it's time to hang 'em up? This is somewhere between Ernie Isley still rocking the vest with no shirt underneath [dude, that look is over for you] and Garry Shider from Parliament still wearing the diaper [okay, nothing is as nasty as that!].

I did find the press coverage interesting. Depending on where you live this is either noteworthy or an excuse to diss the Jackson family. I'm not trying to make it personal, I just can't figure out who the demographic is for this joint. The picture I have in my head isn't pretty though, on or off the stage.

Thirty years ago this would have been a big deal for all the right reasons, now I just want to tell them, "Stop! The [shame] you save may be your own."

Critic What?! Critic Who?!

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:14:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot lately about the state of hip-hop culture. I guess a natural outgrowth of hip-hop as a cultural phenomenon is other groups taking and molding the culture to fit their own views and needs. I came face-to-face with this notion the other day while doing random web surfing... y'know how you start looking for one thing and forty minutes later end up on a site so far removed from the original search you forget what you were looking for... no?... just me? Anyway, I came across a site that covers indie rock and hip-hop music. The first thing that caught my eye was in a story about the new Wu-Tang album and to make a long story short, the dude writing the story made a crack, "that should be good news to you Wu-Tang fans... both of you" or words to that effect. The story was written by a White guy. My first thought was, Word!?! Does he really think he has a handle on the following of the Wu? Well, that wasn't my first thought but it was my first thought without profanity.

After reading that story I decided to delve further into this site whereupon I find a review of Common's latest joint, "Finding Forever". They basically hated it. Really?... I thought it was one of the best albums of '07. Common is one of the few emcees still making real hip-hop music and Barney from the 'burbs thinks it's wack. I read on and catch a few other reviews and basically what I discover is my opinion is almost always different from their reviewer [they have several]. That took me down a road of, should you review stuff that's not intended for you in the first place? How can you expect to "get" something that is from a place you've never been? How much of a role does context play when evaluating art? I mean, should I get the latest White Stripes album and complain that it's too noisy and the lyrics aren't relevant? I actually like some of their stuff but they are not talking to me... or making music with me in mind... would I be the best person to judge the merits of their albums? Probably not.

The funny thing about the reviews is how well written and constructed they were... these guys had clearly done their homework. For each artist they were citing cuts from previous albums and making references to hometowns and producers and all of the things you could learn from buying a few cds and hitting google... it's like they were trying to substitute literary writing for actual experience in the culture to prove their qualifications... to let us know they were down. Uhh... no. Being able to turn a phrase and quote lyrics from a body of work doesn't tell me you understand the essence of the message.

So I'm heated about the fact that these dudes are getting shine [none here, they will remain nameless] and are putting out ill-informed reviews... then it hit me... their reviews weren't written for me. It had not occurred to me that other groups consider hip-hop music something they can own too. So now I'm wrestling with the idea that we can't just wrap our arms around hip-hop music and claim sole ownership. Even though we still produce the overwhelming majority of this music, we are not the only consumers - some might argue we aren't even the largest consumer group any more. I guess that means other groups have the right to call it as they see it. Even if they are wrong. This must be the way cats at Timberland and Moet felt when their products were co-opted, something like, "I'll take your money but, what are you doing to my product?!" Once it's in the public domain, you can't really control what folks do with your creation.

I used to let out a cynical chuckle anytime I encountered a mainstream music critic writing about hip-hop music because I felt he or she couldn't possibly be qualified to write the review. Of course, until now I assumed they were talking to me. I'm now wrapping my head around the idea that they don't need me to have their conversation on the music. So if Mitchell wants to tell Ward what to think of the latest Talib Kweli album there isn't anything I can do about it. They reserve the right to express what it means to them even if that has nothing to do with what the album means to Talib or me or you. Damn. I think I'm going to review some White Stripes... that'll show 'em.

The Real Thing: Word & Sounds, Vol. 3

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:01:00 +0000

Jill Scott has been here before. Her soul comes from another place, another time. In an industry that celebrates style over substance, Jill brings both... like they used to. She makes music from her soul that touches your soul. But, Jill isn't just on some sentimental journey, she can make your head bob ['cause your neck knows]. On "Epiphany" she drops a slow flow that opens your eyes to her emcee skills. But, as with most of her songs, you have to listen... the track details an encounter with a lover that takes it to another level physically but... at the last minute... she let's you know it's not enough. Of course, "Crown Royal" is a different story. On a note-for-note basis, this could be the sexist song ever recorded. The joint is only 1:49, but she packs in about 10 minutes of sexy.

Ms. Scott gives us the whole range of emotion. On "The Real Thing" she is that strong sistah, the backbone who tells a brotha "when you're lost and you need some focus come see me..." - she's got you. Jill flashes her tough skin on "Hate On Me" when she tells the haters "in reality, I'm going to be who I be" since she realizes they can't be satisfied. Crazy, sick line, "if I gave you diamonds out of my own womb, would you feel the love in that or ask why not the moon?" Say Word. But Jill also gives us the raw, the vulnerable... on "Insomnia" she let's us know that a dude who doesn't deserve her devotion has her open... doing things she never thought she would... spying, throwin' bricks, etc. You can feel her shame when she says, "after being chased, I have been dismissed... you have managed to turn me from a woman of substance to this." Despite some tough times Jill let's you know she doesn't want your pity "'cause [she's] going through a couple things..." in "Wanna Be Loved"... she is basically saying, like everyone else, she just wants to find that one cat to vibe with.

For me this album represents a return to form, not for Jill but for her team. I liked her last joint, "Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 but it seemed like the production was a few steps behind. Jill still gave us gems like "I'm Not Afraid", "The Fact Is [I Need You]", "Spring Summer Feeling" and "Not Like Crazy" but many of the beats on the album just felt like leftovers. Again, I dug it but it didn't hit as hard. On Vol. 3 everybody is playing their position... the joints feel good... like music is supposed to feel.

She has inadvertently answered the question in her first album title, "Who Is Jill Scott?"... she is most definitely "The Real Thing"... go get it.

Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:41:00 +0000

Ludacris ft Rick Ross & Bun B - Down In the Dirty

Fergie - Clumsy

Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground

Lupe Fiasco - Superstar

Caron Wheeler - Blue [Is The Color of Pain]

Chrisette Michelle - Is This The Way Love Feels

Daddy Yankee - Plane To P.R.

White Stripes - Icky Thump

Soulive - Arruga [Remix]

Max Bill - Goochi

Aretha Franklin - Never Loved A Man [The Way That I Love You]

Mobb Deep - The Learning [Burn]

DJ Cam - Comewithastring

As One - Shed Dem

4th Floor - A Night In New York

Yummy - Come Get It

Goapele - First Love

The Brand New Heavies - Love Is

People Under The Stairs - Schooled In The Trade

Lina - My Fix

Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (C3) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:42:00 +0000

In no particular order:

Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

Norah Jones - Thinking of You

Wax Poetic ft Norah Jones - Tell Me

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry

Rhymefest - Bang The Ball

Common ft Lily Allen - Drivin' Me Wild

Public Enemy - How to Sell Soul...

Jill Scott - Wanna Be Loved

Angie Stone - Sit Down

Cassie - Long Way 2 Go (Club Mix)

Jugganot - En Why Cee

Anthea - Only One

Dwele - Weekend

Carol Riddick - You Better Not Hurt Me

Afternoons In Stereo - Passage

AB+ - Atilla

Drake ft Little Brother & Dwele - Don't You Have A Man?

Saigon ft Swizz Beatz - Don't You Baby

Raheem DeVaughn - Woman

Swizz Beatz - Big Munny

Naturel - Resurrect

EPMD - Blow

Jay-Z - Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)