Archive for May, 2005

31
May
05

Cook Book

By David Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

Missy’s new album is called “The Cook Book” and should be coming out July 5th. Here is the tracklist.

1. Joy — featuring Mike Jones
2. Partytime
3. Irresistible Delicious — featuring Slick Rick
4. Lose Control — featuring Ciara
5. My Struggles — featuring Grand Puba
6. Melt Down
7. Right One For Me
8. On and On — featuring Pharrell
9. We Run This
10. Time and Time Again
11. Gotta Move On — featuring Tweet
12. Mami
13. 4 My Man
14. Teary Eyed — featuring Tweet
15. Smash the Place
16. Juicy

Its nice to hear that, weak-ass reunion albums aside, Grand Puba’s been making some higher-profile comeback attempts lately. He’s always been my favorite rapper from Brand Nubian and he sounded great on the Beanie Sigel album. Good to see Mike Jones making the rounds as well. The two leaked tracks sounded pretty exciting to me, particularly the way the three main voices on “Lose Control” play off of each other so well: Fatman Scoop’s rowdy hype-man schtick, Ciara’s soft tranquility and Missy careening in between. “On and On” sounds like a video game. Its also good to hear that Missy’s not doing as much with Timbaland this time; her last album was easily the weakest of all her releases, the Missy-timbaland formula weighing both artists down, and with a few exceptions (“Let Me Fix My Weave,” “I’m Really Hot,”) it was pretty dull. But the playfulness of the first two singles for Cook book gives me hope. If yr curious, my favorite Missy album is …So Addictive (the secret weapon is the supremely sparse disco of “Old School Joint,” where Timbo does the same deep bass/soaring atmospherics that worked so well on Ginuwine’s “Pony”). Da Real World is runner-up (the collab with B.G. and Juvenile is kind of sublime, and makes me wish they’d done more with golden-era Timbaland, even though these days I’m glad both are working with dirtier, grimier production).

30
May
05

new ying yang single

By David Leave a Comment
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Next Ying Yang single will be huge. Big bass boom and you’ll be whistling this flute hook all summer – I hate it when people spend so much time debating “summer jams” or whatever but this will be one, at least it’ll be the song pumping out of car windows etc. for the next three months. Sitar punctuation, an entire party in one song, and Mike Jones sounds like a superstar. I love the way he says “Diiiiime.” He plays off the Ying Yang Twins well, the south’s rude bwoys playing up slurred dialect with no regard for Illmatic, those bastards.

Ying Yang Twins feat. Mike Jones – Badd

28
May
05

Jesus Lies

By SergDun Leave a Comment
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I haven’t checked 2Mex’s music lately but I just heard this song and I like it. I don’t usually fuck with songs about jesus because jesus sucks but this song is called “Jesus Lies” and titles like that make me want to listen.

2Mex – Jesus Lies

27
May
05

them summer nights

By David Leave a Comment
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Lil Rob – Summer Nights

Serg doesnt like this song, he said it’s too amateur. I think he’s right, but thats part of why i like it…such a simple, slow cool air early evening track, love of an ungraspable feeling, straightforward rhymes about how much fun it is to party on warm summer nights. Don’t ask me why it repeats the same verse twice, the actual song has three verses and all of them are different. Someone find a better mp3. Its all over the radio here in Chicago, the last verse he talks about how the summer nights finally come to an end, but then there’s another summer just 8 months away. Its simple, stupid, and totally fantastic. By the end I have a grin on my face because its late spring and I see it coming, early summer evenings full of possibilities, warm weather, partying til dawn, hitting on girls, etc. If someone gets the full track, post it in the comments section.

27
May
05

jus a little bit

By David Leave a Comment
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Obviously this came out ages ago, but I feel like posting about it now that it’s all over. It’s easily the best single from The Massacre so far, although I might be overrating it quite a bit due to low expectations. Still – it is mesmerizing, thanks to that piercing, eastern-tinged melodic loop, a pretty, hypnotizing flute that contrasts nicely with 50′s deep-voiced, vaguely dangerous come-ons. I always end up disappointed, though, when the drums/bass enter so suddenly partway through. The melodic hook loses its power – that minimal, unsettling majesty – and sounds more like generic g-unit beat #2,345 (big drums, big ominous minor-key bass, predictability).

But the song actually sounds more ominous BEFORE the drums and bass enter, I think. Without the concrete double-time from the hi-hat, the track relies solely on 50′s barrel-heavy vocals for rhythmic stability, and minus the Heavy-Bass-Thump (copyright g-unit, 2003-2005) lie the song’s greatest charms – the tenous connection to past-50 Cent hits, and an awkward yet sublime sense of discomfort.

I think the Neptunes have been doing some good work in this area lately, like that Q-tip song Emil posted a while back, or the Drop it Like It’s Hot Remix. The lack of a massive, predictable bass boom gives the song great power in the context of the 808-dominated pop charts; its use of minimalism works like negative space in art – the absence of HUGE drums makes the song sound massive, important, and helps it stand out in the mix. Certainly this method has also failed the Neptunes (see “Broken Glass” from Kweli’s album, or a good number of tracks on the Slim Thug leak) but when it works, its a refreshing switch-up in between “How We Do” and Lil Jon club banger #6,217.

24
May
05

White T’s and White Belts: Happy Festivus (’04) Mix

By ripoldposter Leave a Comment
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As a bit of promo for the “White T’s and White Belts” party me and my boy are doing this weekend in Philly [@ the RUBA in the Northern Liberties (between 4th and 5th on Green Street which is just north of Spring Garden i.e. behind Silk City)], I’ve uploaded a mix I made a bunch of my peoples for Christmas in December of ’04 (i.e. was too broke to cop them anything so made them this shit). This mix is clearly hollertronix bitten influenced, what with its mash-ups ecclectic blends/mixes; some of the shit is a bit dated (the Amerie joint wasn’t all over the radio yet); a lot of the mixes are edits that involve a great deal of time-stretching and re-sequencing (i.e. they’re impossible to do in real life without the aid of a ccomputer) but I hope you enjoy it anyway. It’s a bit of a taste of the type of madness that will be going down at the White T’s and White Belts jump off this weekend. Seriously, if you’re in Philly, come wile out with us. Shit’s only $3 and it’s gonna pop the fuck off. Anyway, enjoy the mix, come to the party, and holler in the comments section and let an arab know if you feel the shit.

I’m personally pretty happy with it.

Part 1

01. 00:00 — 02:04 modest mouse “FLOAT ON”
02. 02:04 — 05:58 young gunz “FRIDAY NIGHT” (“FLOAT ON” EDIT)
03. 05:58 –- 09:47 beanie sigel f/ peedi crack & twista “I GOTTA HAVE IT” (emynd EDIT)
04. 09:47 — 12:53 cheap trick “I WANT YOU TO WANT ME (LIVE)”
05. 12:53 –- 16:10 amerie “ONE THING”
06. 16:10 –- 20:44 usher featuring fabolous “CAUGHT UP” (“NEED YOU TONIGHT” EDIT)
07. 20:44 –- 24:10 antenna “TO CLIMB THE CLIFF” (emynd EDIT)
08. 24:10 –- 28:36 ratatat “17”/public enemy “BRING THE NOISE” (“I’M REALLY HOT” BLEND)
09. 28:36 –- 32:11 d-12 “PURPLE PILLS” (“AUF ACHSE” EDIT)
10. 32:11 — 35:22 franz Ferdinand “AUF ACHSE” (emynd EDIT)
11. 35:22 — 38:49 tv on the radio “STARING AT THE SUN” (emynd EDIT)

Part 2

12. 00:00 –- 03:48 nina sky “MOVE YA BODY” (“OBSTACLE 1” EDIT)
13. 03:48 –- 07:25 interpol “OBSTACLE 1”
14. 07:25 –- 10:56 debbie deb “LOOK OUT WEEKEND” (emynd EDIT)
15. 10:56 –- 14:38 j.j. fad “SUPERSONIC” (“TALK IT” EDIT)
16. 14:38 –- 16:46 esg “TALK IT” (“SUPERSONIC” EDIT)
17. 16:46 –- 18:47 le tigre “DECEPTACON”
18. 18:47 –- 22:08 crime mob “KNUCK IF YA BUCK” (“DECEPTACON” EDIT)
19. 22:08 –- 27:09 radiohead “STREET SPIRIT” (emynd EDIT)

-e

24
May
05

Underground Hiphop YAY!

By SergDun Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

I don’t know if anyone gives a shit about any of these songs but fuck it I’m moving and that means packing shit and coming across music I forgot about. So yeah now you get to listen to underground hiphop shit that I haven’t checked for in a minute.

Konceptual Dominance – Self Titled

King Koncepts and Kirby Dominant of the now defunct Kemetic Suns crew teamed up to release this album. Kemetic Suns were a crew based out of Oakland with a number of members who liked to put out “conscious” rap. The rest of the crew was KiloJoule and Hypnotic. I’ve got Hypnotic’s Internal Symmetry tape somewhere when I dig that shit up I’ll throw it up on here. The crew was formed around some north African and Egyptian spiritual beliefs which became very prevalent in their tapes. The Konceptual Dominance tape was a more traditional as far as rap concepts go but it still had some of those tones. Kemetic Suns came up right around the same time as the Legends but the Legends had the advantage of being more accessible and just having a better work ethic. I don’t know if Kemetic suns would have been as popular, shit I doubt it but I think they still might be around if they just worked a little harder. Hell if LMNO can still put out music Kirby sure as fuck could pull it off.

These days the crew has since disbanded and Kirby is the only one that I am aware of that still makes music. I think he does more production than rapping these days. That is unless moka only still getting him to release shit.

Clockworx – On The One

Providence rap repping on this shit. Clockworx was made up of two rappers, AmsUno and PhesOne. They were down with The Secret Service crew (TSS) whose most successful member these days is Sage Francis. They released a couple 12″s with production by Celph Titled and D Tension. That was about it for Clockworx, like most rappers they just couldn’t get shit together to drop a proper release. They eventual disbanded and who knows what the fuck happened to Phes but AmsUno is now on Labeless and it seems like he’s getting his shit together to finally put some stuff out.

Sixtoo – Chekmate
Sixtoo – Talkinshit

Some older Sixtoo shit here from 1995 with him busting some raps before he got all sadfaced and started making music with Damo Suzuki. The sound quality isn’t all that great on these but fuck it this is Sixtoo before he got all psycheintangible. It’s very amateurish but I think that’s what I like about it. It’s like rap music that I would have wanted to make when I was 16 rapping about rocking your whole shit and battling your entire crew.

21
May
05

steady bloggin

By David Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

Grime MC Riko has a blog.

19
May
05

The Agony Of A B-Boy

By SergDun Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

I fucking love this album, I used to jam the shit out of it four years ago. I still break it out every now and then but then it ends up in my headphones for weeks. Daddy Kev’s production matches AwolOne’s gruff voice so fucking well. This album is probably my favorite of Awol’s shit, most folks can’t really fuck with the weirdness of Three Eyed Cowz Presents Four Eyed Mortalz. I liked that album but people hated me for playing. On this album Awol reels in the weirdness and comes with some shit that goes down a little easier. Some folks don’t like Awol’s monotone style but I think it works for the sound of his voice and his whole stream of conscious steez. He is just telling you his thoughts as they are.

AwolOne – Agony

I use to wake up to this song first thing in the morning, had that shit set to go off with my alarm and I fucking love it. This song use to set the mood for my entire fucking day. Awol rides this shit with his permanently hoarse voice over what sounds like some guitars that were stretched the fuck out. D-Styles is on the cut and just adds that little extra bit that reminds me why I love rap music so fucking much.

AwolOne – Rhythm

Stupid suckas is so fucking temporary and AwolOne just trying to have fun. The beat is on some whistle while you work shit but Daddy Kev makes it work as he drops those loud slave driver drums. The beat has this happy ass feel to it but against Awol’s voice it loses it’s Disney appeal.

AwolOne – Ignorance

Daddy Kev opens with some of those scary horror strings falling from the sky but then he brings the beat in to get all cute with it. Awol wishing he could be as raw as Ice T but since he’s deaf dumb and blind he just does what he can.

13
May
05

If the Brick City was Compton…

By ripoldposter Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

Weathermen – Left It To Us – Tame One’s still comparing himself to Glen Plummer’s character in South Central. Longevity is his refrain lately as he supposes that OG status is something that is attained simply by being old and not by, say, putting in classic work. Okay, the ridiculous overratedness of the Artifacts oeuvre aside, Tame’s pretty inspired on here. And though I was erroneously promised that Breezly Brewin would make an appearance, and Y@k Ballz (worst name ever?) is here seemingly for spite, this beat is sick. Camel Toe did it. Aesop, El-P, and Cage rep especially hard.

Black Rob ft. Young City, Ness, Babs, and Aasim – Bad Boy 2005 — Poor Black Rob. You’d think dude might have recharged his hunger after a stint upstate and the six year lull since his disappointing first album. But, nope, his place in history will be a missed opportunity. He’s like the rap Harold Miner. And damned if he doesn’t get outshined by Da Band on his own song. Ness Aasim (if that’s who goes last), especially, is on fire. Question: Has Babs / Rah Digga become another definitive case where the map has supplanted the terrain? Oh, and why does Black Rob sound more southern than Chopper Young City now?

Three 6 Mafia ft Trillville and Lil Wyte – Who I Is — Some of that ignorant Hypnotized Minds shit that we all know and love. It’s by the numbers intensity. It’s a wonder that after a decade, p*ssy MFs still come to the club to fuck with Three-6 like they don’t know who they is. Haven’t they heard this chorus (“Who you fuckin wit b*tch?” “Watch me stomp his ass out”) before? Haven’t they heard these drums before? The two-second piano loop? It’s killing me how well this works every time.

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