I've been realizing just how much hip hop I come across these days and don't share with y'all, but I'm trying to change. Forgive me. Let's start with this mighty fine sampler CD of international hip hop by 5 artists and 4 producers originally from Germany (but the rapping is all in English). The beats are bangin' and the mic skills are on point. Try out the two songs above or stream the whole album at their Bandcamp Site. It's a breath of fresh air in your mp3.
It's been too long since I've brought a gem to your attention, so I thought I'd drop some 14KT production gold on that ass. This song by the group Now On (lower pic) and produced by 14KT (top pic) has occupied my brain waves for the past 6 months. Everything about this song is hip hop perfection. Let me break it down for you while you listen.
Production: 14KT has some of the ILLEST beats around. So if you've been sleeping, it's time to wake up. Believe me, you'll want to stream his whole discography HERE after listening to this song. (Also peep some Red Bull Big Tune footage of him in the video below). From the abrupt start, to the jazzy intro, to the first snare and snap of the high-hat, you can tell something is about to go down here. The drums seem to preside over the muddled background sample and a metronomic head nod is sure to ensue. But there are so many subtleties in the beat that are easy to overlook. Listen carefully and you'll hear all the random background horns, chimes, and whispers in the chorus. 14KT said he made his "Random Horns Remix" in 15 minutes, which was a record for him. I guess sometimes when a genius gets a wave of inspiration, it doesn't take much time for them to create a masterpiece. According to 14KT, the random horns at the end of this song were taken from one of the songs that he produced for Buff1 in '06 called "Pretty Baby" (peep it below - it has been my newest favorite song for the last week).
Chorus: The oh so important hook. Something that can separate a good song from an amazing song and in this case we have Aloe Blacc to the rescue. The man who brought you the FUCKING phenomenal song "I Need A Dollar" kills this chorus, which is only on the remix version. With a catchy chorus like this, why aren't they playing this on the radio?!?! If you don't know Aloe Blacc, watch the video below and thank me later. I know you will.
Lyrics: It really wasn't until around the 10th time I listened to this song that I even processed one word of the lyrics (besides the chorus). This happened for two reasons. 1) The beat was so amazing & 2) In most rap songs the lyrics are adapted to fit the beat, but in remixes the beat is adapted for the lyrics, often making them less prominent and improperly accented. This often is annoying, however if done properly, is extremely appealing since you must listen more actively to the song to understand the words. In this case, the lyrics happen to be worth every second of your time and give the song its real charm. This song is about reminiscing on an old lover and, as you know, I'm a sucker for those songs (Remember my first mixtape Love: The Most Dangerous Game). I decided to take the time to write up the lyrics to this song because I wanted the full love story and could not seem to put everything together without writing it out. I have posted these below. Enjoy your hip hop!
-Chorus-
I never thought that it would end
Wonder how we are gonna be just friends
And I don't know what I'm gonna do
I never found another quite like you
The blue gloom shaded my room for many moons
I stay zooted, creating tunes stating truth
Letting pain make moves with the bass and the boom
Groove shaking my walls, who's breaking my falls?
Pacing the halls, heart racing to stall while awaiting your calls, I was faced with it all
No hatred involved, I'm embracing your touch like the craving it was, still tasting your love
I wasted the days in a daze just tracing your face and your name on the page, what the fuck!
Crazy, a goner, chasing my thoughts of how we could talk of days that were awesome
I laid with you often, you offset the drama
Softened my rock-hard problem of karma
You're saying you're smarter, walking for caution and saving the loss of your favorite friend. Fuck That.
-Chorus-
Your love moved me, I was at home in your arms
So strung you carried my insecurities along
Broke 'em down to basics, you were my foundation
Placing me adjacent to the pain I was facing
Made love by the river, on the shore we'd lay
Climax, closed eyes, together we'd pray
Searching for an understanding in a time so grey
Dreaming of a place far away and what it would take - to achieve you believe when the others was blind
But in time you changed mind, hill too hard to climb
Stop reaching for the ceiling like it's holding back
I pulled my back working hard, so ain't no stopping my tracks
We crashed, smashed windshield and totaled us out
Review, I'm still in love and always will no doubt
Out with the dreams far away, will always claim, the love of my life you know the answer name, and that's real.
Makes me wanna go, makes me wanna go back
Makes me wanna go, makes me wanna go back
Makes me wanna go, makes me wanna go back
Makes me wanna goooooo, ohhohhohh
-Chorus-
Yo, last week I was at this dude Freddie Gibbs album release party at S.O.B.'s in NYC. Although Gibbs wasn't worth much to me live (unlike Black Milk who also preformed that night with a full band), I couldn't help but notice the standout track "The Ghetto" which appropriates the classic instrumental track used in Big L & Jay-Z's infamous "7 Minute Freestyle". The familiarity of the track combined with beefed up drums and a grimy flow was enough to get me really interested, but when I saw the video I knew Gibbs and crew were onto something here. I can tell the dude is a poet at heart with his lyrics (remember when 50 Cent was too? ie. The Good Die Young), but the visuals really pull you into his world of "The Ghetto" where he grew up. The opening imagery of a cross in an empty field, unmanned piano hammers, and dirty roses speaks volumes and conjurs allusions to 2Pac (See: 7 Day Theory Cover, The Rose That Grew From Concrete). The overly simplistic hook is enough to get caught in your head while the lyrics seem to reveal their complexity only through repeat listens (that's the making of a good song). As Gansta Gibbs says, "Cause me I'm from the Ghetto and to make it out where I'm from yes you gotta do something special". In my opinion, his music is definitely at that level. Now work on that stage presence and you'll come up quick young Gibbs.
This Filet-o-Mix is a VERYSPECIALONE - one that I could only put out on the 1 year anniversary of the creation of my hip hop blog (and incidentally our country's independence day). This is a mixtape that truly embodies the soul of hip hop down to its very core. One that exudes not only passion for the craft, but respect for the history of the genre. The concept for this mix was to "recapture that feeling" in hip hop that has steadily dwindled in the last 15 years. What "feeling" you may ask? I'm talking about the raw energy, the pure vibe, the prolific talent, the battling, the respect, and the love that was present in hip hop's infancy up all the way through the death of two of it's greatest orators, Biggie & 2Pac in '96. These 17 songs that I've chosen (all of which came out after the year 2002) should make you feel like your listening to hip hop back in '94 (around the height of the golden era of hip hop). To me, this is what hip hop sounds like when its created out of love and necessity rather than for money or fame. These songs don't have high paid producers or any guest rapping features - they are unadulterated yet refined. To learn more about why I chose these specific songs, read the liner notes for the mixtape below.
Liner Notes
-The title of this mix comes from the first word of the first track "Recapturing The Vibe" and the last two words of the last track "Chase That Feeling", both songs by the group Hilltop Hoods. The mixtape artwork is made from a photo that I took at a Jay-Z concert in Paris, where I started a "HOVA" chant to make Jay-Z come back on stage and perform the song "Encore" (track 16 on this mix). Everyone in the crowd threw up the ROC diamond.
01 Hilltop Hoods - Recapturing The Vibe (Music Video) This song is a perfect example of that energy that I was talking about above. Appropriately titled, "Recapturing The Vibe" perfectly blends sampling, scratching, and a building beat with poignant lyrics that pack a punch, line after line. Paying homage to the struggle while spitting flames of braggadocio. Now that's real hip hop for ya!
02 Masta Ace - Nostalgia (Music Video) Who better than to throw down a nostalgic history of hip hop track than Masta Ace, a man who has stayed underground and true to the roots of hip hop for his entire career starting around 1988. By painting a mental portrait of the environment in which hip hop was birthed, Masta Ace drops knowledge about the foundation upon which the blueprint of hip hop was designed created.
03 De La Soul - Much More (Ft. Yummy) Turn it up loud. No... LOUDER!! DJ Premier opens the song by invoking the question "Y'all care anymore about this hip hop man!?" as if to say to any person listening that if they don't start respecting hip hop's roots then the whole culture will die and fade away. Yet De La Soul set out to prove in this track that they will never let hip hop go belly-up, by spitting loveliness over this triumphant and soulful J Dilla beat.
04 Blue Scholars - Joe Metro (Music Video) One of the most beautiful pieces of poetry to ever describe a simple bus ride, Geologic (the MC from Blue Scholars) gives you a glimpse through his eyes gazing upon his hometown of Seattle, the place that fueled his creativity and involvement with hip hop. You actually see the environment as his words bring the city to life and the anonymous people he speaks about become characters on the stage of life. We've all taken this bus ride before, so I'm sure you can relate.
05 Common - Be (Music Video) The energy, the passion, the charizma - it's all there on Common's intro track to his 2005 album "Be". The lyrics are as rejuvenating as the layered jazzy beat with an improvising keyboardist throughout the whole track. Common makes you feel life's struggle in his lyrics, but reassures you that triumph is right around the corner. Go ahead, I dare you not to memorize the words. "The present is a gift, and I just wanna be".
06 The Roots - Can't Stop This
Arguably my favorite beat of all time, J Dilla's - Time (Donut Of The Heart), was appropriated by The Roots to do a tribute track to the late J Dilla. Yet this is no ordinary tribute track. Black Thought (the MC of the Roots) takes "the struggle" of his people and makes it palpable. More of an ode to hip hop, Black Thought uses his prowess on the mic to uplift, reciting "They can't stop this, I want my peoples to rock this. Bang this music in your speakers and boxes. Langston Hughes is 'bout as deep as my thoughts is, sit back and I'ma paint you a portrait". How can you not get engulfed by this track on all sides?
07 Slum Village - Time Has Come When it comes to lyricism, flow, and imagery it probably doesn't get much better than Elzhi of Slum Village (the 1st and 3rd verses). Proclaiming "My words is just emotional, spoken from the bottom of the totem poll", Elzhi states his formula very eloquently by explaining that the culture of hip hop was originally built by those with nothing solely as a product of needing to have an outlet for their creativity, energy, and emotions. The lyrics in this song arouse a sense of urgency, as time keeps on slipping...
08 People Under The Stairs - Keepin It Live A testament to staying true to self and the hip hop culture, the People Under The Stairs have never sacrificed their integrity or became something they were not in order to gain success. To quote KRS One, "rap is something we do and hip hop is something you live". PUTS live, eat, breathe, and sleep hip hop culture. The song chronicles their struggle: coming to grips with following their passion, devoting their lives to hip hop, and having the courage to stand up and shout "I'm bboy for life, so fuck the suit and the tie". PUTS embody what it is to "live" hip hop culture.
09 Shad - Get Up Open your ears and your mind when Shad speaks. Truly speaking for the people, the Toronto-based rapper gives strong and empowering words to the downtrodden and brings light to social issues that keep those folks down. "Get up, even if they knock us down they can't stop us, smile right back at 'em, laugh and then get up! Actions speak louder than a thousand talkers, so make 'em blast that in they walkmans". This song recaptures the social activism portion of hip hop by inspiring people to get involved to solve problems instead of just playing the sidelines. The world needs more songs like this that inspire action.
10 Reks - Dear Winter Plight is all around us, yet we often don't see it because it's not right in front of our eyes. All you have to do is listen to songs like "Dear Winter" to understand the serious need for reform and change of the status quo sometimes. Reks asks earnestly "Dear winter, how am I supposed to sympathize with recession? We been in a great depression all our lives". Hip hop has taught me a countless number of lessons in my lifetime, but one of the most important ones is to know that many people in this world have it a lot worse than you do, so just be thankful for what you have and be humble about it. Songs like this are great because they bring awareness to the plight of others.
11 Rashid Hadee - Set In Stone (Street Lights) Conviction. This song has it. Knowing what you want, taking a chance, facing your fears, and pursuing it - "do or die" is how Rahid Hadee explains his conviction to hip hop music. Hadee passionately states, "I don't give a fuck, you could give me nothing, 'cause even if it's nothing at all it's still something. Trust it, believe it, give it, and receive it. They say if you can dream it, then you can achieve it." If your not inspired by the intensity with which he believes in his own optimism, then I'm not sure what will get you going.
12 Common Market - Connect For Another one of my favorite beats, masterfully created by Sabzi (of Blue Scholars and Common Market), "Connect For" is an anthem that gives you the feeling that you can overcome whatever is holding you back. With boundless optimism and strength, chanting "bring the rain, we remain faithful", RA Scion (the MC of Common Market) explains that through connection and collaboration with our fellow brethren we can make it through whatever storm comes our way.
13 Joell Ortiz - Hip Hop (Music Video) One of the realest portrayals of what hip hop really IS - it's a feeling, it's a style, it's a dance, it's a gesture, it's an energy, it's a lifestyle that you "wake up hip hop and go to sleep hip hop". Joell Ortiz has the fiery passion that only someone with hip hop injected deep in their veins could display. The emotion overcomes him as he boasts the self-confidence that only the hip hop culture could breed. "Yup I'm feeling myself, that sound right. You gotta step in that ring like "listen I'll pound Mike". You gotta step on that court like "I could hold down Mike". The way I step on that stage and have the whole crowd like, AWW MAN". Joell lets the culture live through him as he proclaims "I dream 'bout hip hop, 'cause I am hip hop!".
14 Termanology - Watch How It Go Down (Music Video) If anyone could set a vocal both on fire, it's Termanology, with his omnipotent lyrical presence on "Watch How It Go Down" spitting some socially conscious raging vigilante rap. Term brings the issues of the hood to light and then says "fuck it" because his anger gets the best of him like a new age 2Pac spitting in the lens of the video camera. On the track he boasts, "But I shall never hold my tongue, before that, I roll my blunt and load my gun", showing that freedom of speech is one of the most powerful rights we have as Americans and to defend the first amendment Termanology will gladly support the second. You can feel the flames building in his heart as he raps word after word without pause for chorus continuously adding to the urgency of his message.
15 Reks - Self Titled As soon as the beat drops with the scratched samples in the chorus, you can tell this one has the elements all right. When the storytelling Reks drops his verse laying out his struggle as a child and the dreams that guided his young mind as an aspiring artist. This is a story about triumph, hope, and nostalgia as he remembers the days of old and the inspiration that made him the man who he is today. Who doesn't love an underdog story?! Tell me that doesn't give you the chills? And it was all a dream...
16 Jay-Z - Encore The song is basically perfect - the supposed "outro" to Jay-Z's career in rap as he threatened retirement after The Black Album. The story of the meteroric rise to the apogee of hip hop music in less than a decade. A underdog kid from the projects threatens to leave the profession that he helped turn hip hop into a billion dollar industry. Piano fades out into black with applause. FUCKING EPIC!!!
17 Hilltop Hoods - Chase That Feeling (Music Video) We all "chase that feeling". What is life about besides trying to get that next "high"? That next accomplishment? Reaching, striving, scratching, fighting, hitting the ground running as fast as you can and hoping you don't slip. Hilltop Hoods crafted a song that you can use to inspire you to keep chasing whatever feeling that makes your life worth living. For them, it was hip hop music, and their success was the best revenge through all the obstacles that they encountered.
"And I’ma chase that feeling,
Take that pain and replace that feeling,
And I’ma take that healing then,
Stand so tall they’ll have to raise that ceiling man"
