yesteryear

Jesus god, I turned 25 a few days ago on the 1st. What a mistake that was, and while I understand that as you get older the less meaning your birthdays contain, honestly this year was more boring than usual. Next year, for reals I'm going ape shit. mark your calenders peoples cause next year I'll need moral support in freaking spades. My ascension of 25 years of age had me pining for my younger days (the ones where I should have been talking to girls and studying, but nooo not me). I first started collecting records in Jr. High, and at the time Dj Shadow (who is oddly enough from my hometown of Davis) was some huge shit. I even volunteered at the local college radio station (where Shadow worked) and had a show with some of my friends for a little whiles. We played mostly Kraftwerk and Dr. Octagon but that was what was hot back then (actually Kraftwerk is still on the hots). Anyhow, Shadow was a big deal, and his then label Mo Wax served as a platform for me. Dj Krush, UNKLE, James Lavell, Attica Blues, Nightmares on Wax, and anything on NinjaTune were like godsends for me a the time. I used to go down to the station and take ever new down tempo and hip hop single they had and makes tapes (I had like 10 120min tapes totally full). However, that shit did not withstand the test of time. I would rather listen to Dj Tiesto (see; gigantic toolbox)than most of the old Mo Wax stuff. Too bad I spent so much money on that crap in my youth, seriously Armadillo records, $30.00 for Headz? Do you know how much money that is to a 15 year old virgin under the average height? Alot you fuckers, but to be fair, at the time it was probably a decision between X-Men comics and records. I still like Shadow today, and Mo Wax did put out a butt load of cool shit, and they supported Quannum/Soul Sides, and creepy little Dj Krush which gives them some extra points for faith in my book.

I've heard all sorts of stuff about Krush; he's ex yakuza, he's 5' tall, he drives an 14k gold lexus, none of which I would like to be disproved.

Dig This Vibe
Toh-Sui

Oddly enough I heard the Nightmares on Wax song that sampled Summer in the City by Quincy Jones before Passing Me by. Don't tell anyone. Their last album was actually very good and was less boring than usual.

Damn (Al Hirt is alot of places recently)
Night's Introlude (Ken didn't you make a video for this in DeCamp's class? Why are you so fuckin cool?)

U.N.K.L.E. is a play off the old spy tv show that Shadow and Lavelle were obsessed with as kids, while the musical project only spawned one actual album they did shit all over comps and down temp remixes for years.

Celestial Annihilation
Last Orgy III

I still like what Shadow puts out. Hip Hop heads constantly hate on his newer stuff (The Outsider and Private press), and the fact that he's giving non underground hyphy rappers some fucking dope beats. His explanation is that he wanted to stop doing what was expected of hip as a hip hop producer. He's doing whatever he wants cause he can so, blow.

Dark Days-Spoken For Mix
March of Death (not too great but Shadow and Zach De La Rocha could have been a big deal)
Broken Levee Blues
Seein Thangs (David Banner = really angry)

You Don't Want it

Well I took some time off the blog to re evaluate my life and the blog, yeah...good times. Any how continuing with my appreciation of NY hip hop here's Jean Grae. If you've never heard of her, she's now the best you've never heard. Years ago she was in a short lived group called Natural Resource on the label Makin' Records. They recorded maybe two or three impossible to find singles then broke up. Jean, then named What What, appeared with some other artists like Pumkinhead, Meatpie and the talented Herbaliser(if not a bit dated, don't get me wrong I love them but still). Natural Resources went under in like 98' I think which was when she changed her name to Jean Grae. She put out Attack of the Attacking Things, Bootleg of the Bootleg EP, and This Week. She also recorded an album with 9th Wonder that never saw light after it was leaked to the internet (it's good). Her cadence and flow sound alot like Jay Z nowadays, which isn't a bad thing. Still, she's far more imaginative, funny, and personal than Jigga. She's released alot of 'emo' hip hop songs that may alienate some people but she delivers these songs in a way that allow them to resonate to almost anyone that listens to it. If you ever meet a hip hop producer tell them to give this woman their beats, all of them if possible. She suffers from bad 'underground' production. She always sounds better over someone else's beats, and I'm glad she joined Blacksmith Records with Talib, hopefully they'll be able to forward her some bangers. She was also offered to join the Roots but she turned it down for personal reasons. These are my favorite Jean songs, have at em.

Monday
Hater Anthem
The Blend
Tea & Beer
Lovesong

Stark Enterprises

I've been thinking about this post for a few weeks now. Ever since I picked up R.A.G.U. I really wanted to express my true feelings about Ghostface Killa. Honestly he's probably one of the most consistent (THE most consistent of Wu-Tang period) rappers ever. Considering his career spans almost 18 to 19 years now, he's put out more stream of consciousness albums and songs than any other nonsensical MC ever (maybe MF Doom trumps him there that guy has like 3 albums a year).

When Wu-Tang bombarded the scene in 91 Ghostface was seen as further down the ladder rungs when stacked against the rest of the crew due to his unintelligible rants. But as time rolled on and other members of the founding Nine put out continual mediocre releases (Deck, Meth, Rza, Gza's second album, anything after Return to the 36 by Dirty, Raekwon never sounded as good as he did on Linx...did Golden Arms ever put out an album?) Ghostface never stopped doing the same crazy shit he always did. While his flow was way advanced for the early nineties only after Supreme Clientele did people even kinda understand (ok Bulletproof Wallets sucked). Lyrically he has evolved, it may be subtle but he has become much better. He screams alot less that's for fuckin sure.

The best part about Ghost is that technically he can be seen as rather "mainstream," but he keeps it madd underground and dirty as hell. Whenever he has a new album at least one song gets decent radio play, but the rest of the album is still way Wu Tang soul. His affinity with old Soul songs is to such an extreme that occasionally he doesn't even bother to sample it, he just buys the fuckin song, let's it play and raps over it. He associates with practically everyone from De La Soul to Planet Asia, and he has an incredible relationship with Mf Doom whom he has nothing but respect and love for. As a member of what once was the largest rap conglomerate ever he does have beef, albeit short lived. 50 (whom apparently gets into it with everyone) and Yayo even spurred a song from the whole clan "Who The Fuck Is 50 Cent?," they killed him btw (There have been "allegations" that Ghost threw 50 down some stairs and Ghost and Rae robbed 50 at gunpoint wtf?). There was solid tension between Chef, Ghost and Biggie. And Mase got his jaw broke by Ghost after he dissed Wu on stage, I think ghost did some time for that shit too. The man rocks a giant gold eagle on his wrist for fuckssakes, why would you mess with him?


He has the capacity to be crazy scarface gangster, sensitive family man, underground mic handler, and angry shaolin pimp all at the same time. My love for him has no end, I know some people just can't feel him and that's fine. But DO understand how talented this man is, he resides in a world where most rappers sound synthetic and similar. Ghostface is too big for that world, he's in like eight different rap worlds at the same time.

I had a really hard time deciding what songs to put up, due to the sheer volume of shit this man has put out it's impossible to choose only a few songs. Especially with early Wu Tang, the albums are by far more expressive as a whole than singular songs. I still maintain that Ironman was the best of the Wu's first wave of solo albums. Even if Linx practically INVENTED cocaine gangster rap, and Liquid Swords inspired a generation of underground Mc's. Anyways here's some guest spots and some straight classicos for your ass. Please, please respect Wu.



Iron Maiden is probably one of my favorite songs by any Wu affiliate. Stick with it past the intro it's worth it. 260 uses another Al Green sample and it's also off Ironman. Ghost took the name Ironman because he felt a kinship with the character. Ironman had to depend upon his mechanized suit to survive his heart condition in the same way the Ghost had to when he discovered he was a diabetic (and Pretty Tony has quite a ring to it).

Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden (Instr)
260

Only built For Cuban Linx is classic, sometimes referred to as The Purple Tape it's fucking monumental. Ghost is practically a leading star on the album even though it's a Raekwon album and Ghost is a "guest star." Verbal Intercourse is some smoky shit that has that other dude Nas who despite thinking he's god's gift to rap nowadays (just cause you got one of the best rap albums of all time does NOT mean you're prolific or above the rest motherfucker remember, It Was Written wasn't all that, I Am... sucked, Nastradamus was trash, Stillmatic was hardly the comeback everyone said it was, and Street's Disciple was 80% filler, Hip Hop was pretty ok though, and Kelis is bangin). Guillotine (Swordz) is so fucking raw it's retarded. For me, I never do karaoke but there are a few songs I would get in front of a drunk crowd and give it my all (others include; Double Trouble - The Roots, Da Rockwilda - Redman and Methodman, Tony, Toni, Tone - Lay Your head on My Pillow, M'Lady - Sly and the Family Stone, and Ignition (remix) - R. Kells the god). Let me do Deck at the beginning and Gza to close and for reals we'll kill it (Isom, you gotta be there to drop all the N bombs for me I doubt that I could get away with it even for reasons of artistic purity).

Verbal Intercourse
Guillotine (Swordz)

To the present! More Fish followed Fishscale (which if you're wondering is slang for that new shiny shit), Fishscale was a total departure from Pretty Tony which kinda reached for radio play more than usual. Fishscale was all soul, it's obligatory radio track was fucking awesome (Back like that), and was full of nasty beats, Family Affair is ghost playing both sides of a relationship on the precipice it's my favorite track off Fishscale (yo sweetheart, pass me the 40 out the frigerator/Ghost all you do is burn weed and read papers). More Fish was a collection of shit that could have gone on Fishscale. It also had that Amy Winehouse track that blew my fucking mind when I heard it. Ghost Is Back, is over Don't Sweat the Technique, it's bananas. The best fast rap track of all time and Ghost doesn't sweat shit and kills it (she's a brain therapist/girl you can't kiss/open up her legs like ooh i smell fish HA!). Josephine was also a track off of Hi Tek's second album but with more Ghost and less other people that Tek shouldn't be producing for.

Family Affair
Ghost is Back (edit)
Josephine

Here's some rare shit. In the Parks, and Milk Crates use classic breaks that would never have a chance of coming out on an actual album, they're short (under a minute each) but they're cool nonetheless. And the Sun with Rza and Slick Rick is so odd, it's a song about...The Sun? For real, how many other artists would do this and let alone pull it off? And a slick Cherzchez La Ghost remix that should be getting more attention but it won't. These shits used to be harder to find but they all just came out on Hidden Darts, so I slapped some album art on there and track numbers (that are hopefully correct).

In The Parks
Milk Crates
The Sun
Cherzchez La Ghost (remix)

Well that's an assload of songs for you, I have almost all of Wu's shit if there are requests for anything (future posts included, just in case someone is paying attention) hit me up with some feedback bitches!

Shaq destroys Dwight and LeBron

Honestly I have very little basketball love for Shaq. But apparently he can dance better than I or anyone else in the East.

market this bitches!

how come Beowulf isn't getting hyped what so ever? I'm retard stoked for this movie and I haven't seen any posters or commercials or nuthin. Here's the link for the mature trailer. It might take awhile but it's 720p so it looks way dope. It's apparently pretty violent and I hear Angie shows cartoon tit!

oh and these guys are like the pinnacle of LARPing (Ken me and you ,this summer, on the BOSH experience, it go time).

not just to say I did it

So the last post was a video cop out? We all move on, our day starts anew, time heals all wounds etc. Get over it. I forced myself to listen to Kanye and 50's respective albums, not because of the gayest beef ever but they kinda leaked at the same time (suspicious,yes?) and I'm still kickin it on vacation from work. I didn't like Kanye's first singles off this album, except for the obvious Akira and Daft Punk qualities which you can't help but love. I'm glad baby Kanye can branch out and incorporate other music styles in his work, which is probably why I like Graduation better then Curtis. Kanye will always be more interesting to me than the Gorilla with Rabbit teeth (big ups to Cam'ron), 50 does it for me but only, only on a ass knockin beat. Otherwise he's weaksauce, his flow is mumbly, uninspired, and repetitive. And this whole beef over some sound scan numbers? Are you guys for real? Modern rappers can't even beef over lyric superiority, it has to be about money big fucking surprise, if anyone was looking for hip hop today in a nutshell it's this disgusting and rather sad beef. Neither album is great, and I expected more from Kanye, I really did like his last albums. Not to say that Graduation is all bad - the beats are years ahead than 50's - but he sounds a little lazy with the lyrics. Less imaginative and witty, he's got moments but they pass.

Ye at least is fuckin hilarious on occasion, 50 seems like he has no sense of humor whatsoever and I bet he has an awkward laugh that makes everyone else uncomfortable (like who brought THIS guy?). I think these two songs are off a bunch of Kanye's I'm Good comps, oh limewire way to fuck up my organized library*. Out the Game is hilarious and Jay slaps your face on Poppin tags. I wish the sound quality was better but, whateva.

Out the Game
Poppin Tags

I think Nas and Rakim ("flow stays submerged in the fountain of youth"!)actually took this shit seriously and Kanye showed up for free shoes. Really good modern Primo production btw(can anyone scratch a hook better? MMM is probably second).

Better than I've ever been

Girls, Girls, Girls remix, eat it up
















And as a sweet side dish MF Doom over Kanye anyone? Oh yes. I know Doom has haters, and his voice is all hushed and secretive. But try to hang with him, he's a beast and better than you or your friends.

Change the Beat



















Ye should remaster all that old shit and give Jean Grae some burners, stop tryin to hard, man just go with it and hook some people up. That dude's personality hella rubs me wrong, if we were in Jr. high I would get into a tussle with him over badminton or something.

*don't you hate it when people mis label shit on limewire, you dumb asses it's the Ohio Players NOT Marvin Gaye!

THIS IS THE REMIX

I don't live in New York but I'd like to, no other place like it




If anyone knows if these guys have physical or mastered material hook me up




this dude is all over you tube it's bannanas

Enter: Depression

Ever since I changed my major from Art to Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology I knew I was gonna regret it. Thus I have gone back to Sac City Community College in order to save oh I don't know $1100 dollas on edumacation. I went on Sac City campus today and it is the reason why people drop out of college. For reals it's like high school with more cigarettes and all those people you thought you avoided when high school ended. Thankfully most of these people are so lazy in two weeks half of them will give up on school and the delicious cafeteria pizza will once again be mine. Anyway, this place wants me to go all Owen Wilson and it drove me to listen to some more depressing stuff as of late. Lot's of dirty dark scratching and blues stuff, you all thought I was gonna put up The Cure or Tool or some shit huh? As fucking awesome as The Cure is, you want some nasty, all cut your wrists to remind you that not only does your life suck, but so do alot of other peoples.
As bad as it sounds scratching is kinda how I got into dj'ing. Dude, the Piklz were on their way to destroying everyone else around, turntables were out selling guitars in japan, and for some reason in my sophmore year of high school that sound just caught me. It still does. But I for reals thought scratching was like, the future of music (whoops). It's obvious free-form and pattern heavy similarities to jazz and the connection to hip-hop blew my mind. And some artists who really do elevate the simple sounds to something more through ridiculous technique and gifted artistry could still make some noise in the musical arena today but I see nothing. I don't even know if people scratch for more than a bar or two anymore. D-styles is probably my utmost favorite, so technical and so perfect yet his style also sounds very funk based, sometimes he just makes me totally speechless and geeked out with some of his phrases. Scratching is the only music that will give me that feeling (some of you might not know this, most probably don't) when you're high or a few whiskeys deep and you're listening to, like Hendrix or something and he pulls off some lick that makes you laugh and geek out like a TOTAL stoner. You know that feeling, no? Anyway, a good phrase turned by a talented dj can do that to me, except I'm not the pot head I used to be. Later not only advanced scratching would tug at me but well mixed sets(J-rocc tapes), Radar drumming(and that shit he used to do with the pedal loops), and expensive weekends of record shopping in frisco(why do I need 18 different break records and doubles? because thats why), all pulled me into the hole of dj'ing. I still think scratching can be recognized and can save the world and all that shit but D-styles, Q, X-Ecutioners, and Beatjunkies or someone needs to come back something serious that shocks the world.


(I love how Kentaro can barely keep up, didn't you win a dmc homeboy and you thought you could sesh alongside D with baby skills? maybe this guy and others like him are the reason scratching is flacid right now)
Honestly is this a dead genre? Does it solely consist of live shows in like southern california record stores that go out of business a year later? Is there a reason I can't find any new shit on limewire? And new singles or albums? Don't bother. D came out with Phantazmagorea and it seriously blew my freaking mind (that and Rob Swift's Sound Event). Everything done off a record or scratching, every fucking sound. It scarred me. And when he does that stuff with the wah wah it's ridiculous, no one ever did that (Q did it first on Invasion of the Octopus People but not with such deftness or style). His beats are always like blood and dirt under fingernails yet still funky as hell.

John Wayne On Acid

Murder Faktory is based on D scratching sounds of people dying (fake I hope CREEPY!). I told you scratching is nasty son!

Murder Faktory

Oh and here's a Mr. Arrogant remix for any of you heads out there that might have the first two.

Mr. Arrogant remix

My dad listened to blues, he gave me a bunch of Lightning Hopkins and Robert Johnson records. Blues has a reputation for being a music of the broken heart, which is true but its more than just 'my woman left me and I had to eat my shoe' etc., it's full of death, mysticism, and bitter anger. John Lee Hooker has such a wide breadth of work it's ridiculous. When blues was rejuvenated by rock in the late 60's, John worked with everyone. He's got a great album with Canned Heat that's just him stompin' all day long. Bad Like Jesse James is the Hook at his most frightening, DO NOT sleep or come near this man's lady.
His voice scares the crap out of me.

I'm Bad Like Jesse James

Willow Tree is another performance at Cafe Au Go Go, this is a great song but John plays and acts like he could care less. Apparently he despised playing for hipster crowds in these settings, it's pretty easy to tell the way he thanks the crowd at the end. But still the song is dope.

She's Long, She's Tall (She Weeps Like A Willow Tree)

Maybe these songs will keep me from losing my shit and killing some dude playing hacky sac for a WHOLE SEMESTER! That is so freaking long...jesus.

oh sweet paycheck

I just got my first vacation paycheck and it lit the fires of shopping. So I left to The Beat to go spend some of my sweet kiddash on some imports and hard to find singles, I found little of both and settled for 4 albums that ended up being 75% trash. Honestly this was under Dj Muggs in the used hip hop section and if it is Dj Muggs then his career must have tanked something horrific cause this album is such crap I got physically angry.
It's worthless. If anyone knows who this guy is please do us all a favor and tell him to go back to school or something. I got another Beastie Boys single (Sure Shot), the Lifesavas newest album, and The Grey Boy Allstars new shit. Lifesavas last album Spirit in Stone was really good and so it this one, the only real fault is they decided to make this a 'concept album' in the form of a lost Blaxsploitation soundtrack complete with dialogue and narration. This kinda thing can be pulled off to where it could enhance an album, unfortunately it just gets in the way of some great hip hop. For reals they should just let their tracks speak for themselves. This is one of the least spoiled of the tracks (again not that any of them are at all poor the whole narrative of the 'movie' just gets annoying). They're beats are always sick and original and Vursatyl and Jumbo the Garbage man are good mc's.

The Warning

The Greyboy Allstars are awesome. I find it odd that amidst the whole New Soul thang that's going on with Amy, Sharon Jones, The Breakestra, and everyone else Greyboy Allstars are overlooked. They do tend to be more jazzy at times and this especially goes for their newest but still, they made a whole album with Fred Wesley for godsake where's the fuckin propers? What Happened to Television is their first album in 8 fuckin years and I think they lost some of their initial momentum in that alot of it sounds really like modern jazz, but there are some really strong funk tracks. V neck Sweater is very akin to their older stuff with Karl Denson doing a Bootsyish thing that sounds so right.

V Neck Sweater

Their first album West Coast Boogaloo was done with Fred Wesley the infamous trombone from the JB's and Parliament, this album is so dope I can't even tell you. Fred has always been known for making the most out of a limited instrument, he can be repetetive but you really don't care cause it sounds so buttery. Soul Dream is a sick one and Fried Grease lets everyone tear it up as they choose and listen to the guitar at the end, man so nice.

Soul Dream
Fried Grease

This song is a live recording, I forget if it's off their live album or it's done with some jack ass and a tape recorder, thankfully the sound isn't so shitty as most of the crowd recorded crap out there.

Ain't it Funky

Greyboy Allstars were originally from San Diego of all places (them and like what Blink 182?), they were signed by Dj Greyboy and apparently adopted his name for some reason. But before releasing West Coast they worked heavily in tandem with said Dj, with Karl Denson aiding with Maceo like deftness over spacious beats (Maceo's still more on it though), this one has that beat from Dr. Octagon...where's Kool Keith btw? Haven't heard any half assed albums from that guy in forever. Seriously, Kool Keith Dr. Dooom was fucking hilarious, but I expect to see you on 'to catch a predator' any day now. I'll have a Kool Keith post to make up for that off color joke that none of you laughed at.

Whirlwind

oh and Hawaii was off the chain:




Pseudorca crassidens, False Killer Whale pictured below, apparently some Dr. Moreau motherfucker made one of these things mate with a dolphin in captivity and produced the only cross species offspring that is fertile, it's called a 'Wolphin', what assholes.

B.E.A.S.T.I.E.

What happened to the love for the Beastie Boys?
I can remember a few personal injustices committed towards these fine, fine Jewish boys. For one, no one ever likes Ill Communication or Hello Nasty. Two, my Prof. in my old Hip-Hop class (living in sf we got to have crazy guests, and Ricky Vincent [aka Ohuru Maggot] pulls mad funk weight)touted the Boys as being 'thieves of African American style' (Ricky was cool, but not that cool). Three, Mtv a while back had a top ten of hip hop 'groups' discussion, now I would never accredit Mtv or it's employees with any firm concept or love for 'hip hop' but it's was kinda interesting at first and they had some decent points occasionally. But right off the bat, they had to have a fucking DISCUSSION over Beastie Boys or UGK. Now come on, for real? We're talking about this? And then Bridget Bland dismissively said 'Aren't they a punk band? Why are we talking about this?' BOOM shot to the face from yours truly. Ridiculous, anyone on that panel who believes they know what the fuck they're thinking about needed to be beat publicly. Anyhow the Beastie Boys ARE one of the best Hip Hop groups of all time, and they're talented and creative artists as well, WHO KNEW? Recently they've put out an instrumental album that is really, really good. The Beasties have always been outstanding musicians, usually laying down instrumentals on they're most eclectic albums (Check your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty, Some Old Bullshit). And besides that this album is unique in that it is their first instrumental album that is not a collection tracks off previous albums, but all new material. It's dope, they've always reminded me of The Meters in a way. Oh and BEASTIE was originally an acronym for Boys Entering Anarchistic States To Internal Excellence or some shit like that, and BB was supposed to be connected with Bad Brains an older New York punk band (feel free to use this as conversation starters New Yorkers, bitches over 24 will love it).
They'll also love Transitions, the last track off Ill Communication, apparently while performing at live shows, the Beasties used to stop in the middle of a song and switch instruments, kinda cool. Also this is not off of Sound In From Way Out, that particular little album cut out and edited most of the songs, kinda butchering them at times so just in case I'd rather anyone had the original conception of the track. ESG, claims that this is just a rip off of UFO which is one of the most sampled songs in Hip Hop, I think they're stretching it a little, but whatever.

Transitions

Son Of Neckbone is off the Sure Shot 12'' that I don't have, so maybe it's a little different but still. Neckbone refers to a Willie Bobo song that the Beasties always liked, and seeing as they played with Willies son Eric on percussion, they did this little diddy.

Son of Neckbone

Hello Nasty was received poorly by the die hards (get over Paul's Boutique already!) buuuut they won some Grammys (so it couldn't be all that bad right?), and Intergalactic did a little too well. But I liked it, very I guess...progressive, and just another evolution of theirs. This was after Dj Hurricane left, and Mix Master Mike forced his way into the group (from Sacramento no less) by leaving crazy scratch messages on their answering machine EVERY DAY! But MMM, commanding so much attention and awe with his truly amazing and unique turntable powers had a more aggressive role in song production, thus the scratching on Sneakin' Out Of The Hospital is more pronounced than it ever has been in any of their previous songs. I'll do more on the insanity and brilliance of MMM, he's nuts. And I believe Adam Horovitz (Ad Rock) did ALL the instruments on here.

Sneakin' Out Of The Hospital

AND this is a remix of So Whatcha Want by the Soul Assasins (Dj Muggs, Alchemist, and Dj Khalil), I'm assuming this is more Muggs than Alchemist. I have no fucking clue where this is from, there's also a little B Realness addition at the end. Cypress Hill is such pot head status it's ridiculous.

So Whatcha Want remix

Rhyme the Rhyme well over I got a Story to Tell, is so perfect it kinda weird, courtesy of Dj Green Lantern.

Rhyme the Rhyme Well

not representative

this by no means represents what I listen to on itunes cause it's all shit that I purchased, and can't share with anyone. except for those new drm free tracks they sell on there, too bad I'm broke as fuck and need to save up for Bioshock in a few days. VIDEOGAMES!

Hooray

First off, I'm currently in Kona, Hawaii lit off my fucking ass courtesy of the unforgiving/delightful social beverage known as Kava.

I'm pretty fucked up right now. And while I've had a great time here, I wish I was here to stay longer. Something about this island screams to me that I could establish myself here easily. I could dive everyday, probably smoke waaay too much of the mary jane, and make it easy as a dj (the local dj's suck huge balls), and everyone here is so cool (even the natives whom their island, culture, and peoples I have the utmost respect for), and the women here are retarded hot, too bad haoles are second class citizens (and me being a tourista is like, 5th class right after beach bums and burnouts). It's awesome, but more on these beautiful islands later. Anyhow, I was looking up the number of hits I get on this blog, and it's depressing. Look people, I got issues of disenfranchisement and social acceptance in the first place, so tell your mom, uncle, fucking ex boyfriend, or weird co-worker whatever. Oh yeah, post time, give the people something Neal COME ON get it TOGETHER! I was cruising the sweet sweet youtube and stumbled across some post of Daft Punk samples. Things I didn't know; Daft Punk are dirty French thieves in battlestar galactica helmets (albeit sweet ones), and I desperately wish to see them live. Apparently their show is way tits, if only I could stand the extc poppin, glowstickers that have intruded upon my hip hop lifestyle. I have a short temper, and I have years of gung fu training just boiling inside of me waiting to be jet li'd on some retard who thinks they can sweat all over me with their parachute pants and puffy vests. I WILL KILL YOU! But, despite their thievery, and harsh foreigness they are mad cool here's a delightful video that looks like something out of Michel Gondry's acid trip
and here's the video showing various samples used by the frog's
full tracks at this delightful blog that gets crazy more attention than mine; http://palmsout.blogspot.com/2007/02/sample-wednesday-27-daft-punk.html
REMEMBER! Hook me up with the site hits dun! It's easy, 'oh you like hip-hop and soul, you know my friend Neal has a blog...yeah he's real funny, and writes like he thinks we want to hear more (which I know you don't but deal with it).'

Common Sense

I downloaded Common's new album last night and, it's better. 'Be' was supposed to be the return of the man that brought us classics, he declared that he had shed his 'hippy' bohemian character of Electric Circus (see picture and quote above, I'm glad you can explore your vocal range as a RAPPER but me I'll still kill the fuck out of a steak and then have a bowl of apple jacks with whole milk afterwards and then try to remember all of Machine Gun Funk which I can do just fine thank you) and had come back to his roots of wet Chicago streets. Meh. Be was better than Electric Circus, which I can't say I disliked all too much in the first place. But his flow was less lovy and cuddly and more gritty, and he officially fled under his fellow Chicago natives (Kanye West) wing for production. I love Kanye's production (except those new songs off Grad school or whatever the next album is called), and it seems on Finding Forever they have found a comfortable balance with each other, while Kanye's NOT the new primo he does place a mass effort into these beats. I'm sorry Common kinda left the whole Okayplayer atmosphere of Talib and the Roots because both are at a loss now (more ?estlove productions for the love of god!). It seems to me as if Common is trying to establish himself as something other than a classic underground rapper. Which is too bad, I can remember where I was, what I was doing, and the smell of the room (moldy and depressing, thanks sf state)when I first heard 'Resurrection.' Undeniably a milestone album and song, Common was at the top it was this album that when Jay-Z was asked how he propelled himself to lyrical king he responded 'I'm just trying to rhyme like Common.'

Resurrection

Everyone should have Resurrection, and everyone probably has heard 'Like Water for Chocolate.' After the name change and the success of previous albums, Common allied himself with okayplayer collective and produced an outstanding album in Like Water, the whole album is money. Even my mom has heard 'The Light' but what originally turned me to this album was the first track 'Time Travellin (a tribute to Fela).' Those hand claps, the atmospheric sound, and Zap Mama in the background grafted this song to my brain forever. I remember hearing it the music room in high school with Chris BH going apeshit and Alex Heine giving his gentle nod to the dopeness that is Common.

Time Travellin

Resurrection spawned another unjustly named 'underground classic,' I Used to Love H.E.R. blew just about every one's mind, and while other artists had used a romantic female figure as a metaphor for hip hop, no one has every done it better. This is a remix by 9th Wonder while you cannot out do the original production by No I.D. (where is that guy btw?) and sweet sweet scratch accompaniment by none other than the X-Ecutioner's Mistah Sinista (X-man forever in my mind), 9th does a fine ass job for a remix.

I used to 9th

and here's the video, the album version is better if you're a detail oriented person (I am) but it's always refreshing to see current artists when they were kids and had no cash to make a video and they dress like everyone else did in the nineties.



AND (I post mad songs that no one downloads for some reason, I wish I had more friends) this is off the new album, something I have noticed about Common's evolved (note: evolution is only for survival it does NOT mean an improvement in all cases) flow and wordplay is he sounds unfortunately more and more like Kanye. Kanye's always funny and unique (hardly a master by any stretch) it always sounds simplistic and Common was never simple. Anyhow this is Misunderstood, which uses a Nina Simone song (Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood), and a live version which I've never heard. One benefit of having Kanyeezy on your boards is he's got assloads of cash to throw around, that must be nice god only knows how much this sample cost.

Misunderstood

Sly Stone pt.2

My father left a comment mentioning Sly Stone's trip 'off the deep end.' Sly and his Family parted ways soon after the album Fresh, in which he would barely enter conversation with his band or family. He would often bring in substitute musicians with out even asking his original band members that he wished to hit the studio in the first place. A few poorly received albums after Fresh and Sly did indeed fall off the face of the earth. There have been many speculations as to why he abandoned
even his wife and children, most people do wish to place the blame on the copious amount of drugs that not only Sly himself but his whole band and family were knee deep in. No doubt this fueled their separation but I do not believe it was the driving force. He rarely after Small Talk performed or even made a record that graced the charts. In 1975 he actually signed to tour with the Monster that was P-Funk, he would play a few songs then retreat backstage from purported stage fright. STAGE FRIGHT! The man that practically killed Motown and ushered in the sound of Funk into the seventies, the man that was called back at Woodstock in 1969 by more than half a million people to deliver the songs that practically defined an age in American history and music. There have been rumors that he was seen on the streets in LA as a homeless man, or that he traveled abroad and chose to become a hermit in France or some shit like that, these are just rumors. This man was a certified genius and it's distressing to me that when Sly matured in the late 60's and early 70's there were dozens of artists that to this day we place them on a pedestal, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin. Sly and the Family Stone did just as much for music at that time as any of those artists did, yet his name has fallen to the side. The best I can do for their legacy is give anyone who wants them some of their best songs.

M'Lady is off the album Life which came after Dance to the Music and right before Stand. While Life was less acclaimed than either Stand or Dance it does not detract from their musicianship or their amazing organization. They were so different from everything at the time, honestly this was 1968, think of all the stuff then and compare them to a crazy song like M'Lady.

M'Lady

I think I mentioned before how amazing There's A Riot Goin' On is, as a whole record it truly encompassed much of 1971 and sonically it was just another of Sly's evolving music. Just like a baby is not political or a message of love and understanding but a break up song, break ups suck, this song does not, it might make you cry a little though.

Just Like a Baby

Fresh like I mentioned was when Sly was slowly separating himself from his formers, If it Were Left Up to Me is an obvious full band, not pieced together by Sly (not that I'm hating on any of those great songs I'm just saying it sucks to just leave your family/friends behind like that). I like this song, I'm a sucker for harmony, except for the gad damned Eagles, how many times do you think in your life you're gonna have to hear Hotel California? Too many.

If It

This I was going to save, it's like a secret ninja star or kung fu move that is a total trump, but I couldn't help myself. A few years ago a Sly and the Family Stone cover album came out with tons of people on it, most songs were good tries but nothing truly solid came out of it even with the help of like 50 major artists all accomplished and talented in their own right. No songs except this one, by Big Boi, it came out not only as a great cover but as a great song alone. Killer Mike and Sleepy Brown are also up in there, but Big Boi man. I've always believed that he is one of the most underrated mc's ever. He's always on point and...I'll leave more Outkast and Big Boi and Organized Noize to another time, enjoy this cover of Running Away.

Running Away

shadows on the sun

I used to be way underground. Like mole man underground. All I listened to from like 1999 to like 2002 was the most obscure hip hop I could find. The more broke the label or oddly conceptualized the group the more into it I was. Too bad 75% of that shit will never withstand the test of time, for reals go back and listen to like Buck 65 or Amon Tobin or Jel and freakin Anticon and you tell me how that sounds today, yeah that's what I thought. However exceptions do exist, Atmoshpere came out of that time like retard popular. Slug's personal lyrics and exceptional flow made him stand out from many, and apparently the ladies love this guy. White rappers get alot of attention and play, and lets let that little fact just stand without discussing why (I will most definitely have a blue eyed soul post or white rapper post where I vomit up all my thoughts on white people gaining unnecessary fame in cultures that are perceived as not their own). Slug is a talented mc and Ant is an incredibly talented producer. Brother Ali also kind of emerged from Atmosphere's shadow, being part of their Rhymesayers collective and a resident of Atmosphere's home state Minnesota. Brother Ali is albino, and legally blind, and has a slew of personal issues that he addresses in his music with flair and sincerity. His last album The Undisputed Truth was pretty damned good, and totally overlooked by everyone. Honestly I may just not know the right people or something but am I the only person I know still trying to give it up for underground hip hop? Maybe it's because I'm so dismissive of back pack rappers, usually their mere presence insults me. Oh you don't know who Organized Konfusion or Young MC or Ultramagnetic MC's are but you'll front like you're the only ones trying honestly to keep him hop alive, blow.

Here's Slug and Ali battle rappin anyone they see fit off Brother Ali's album Shadows on the Sun, 'sing my fuckin chorus before I punch you in your face.' Ant has always been known for flipping blues samples into great beats...like this one.

Blah Blah Blah

This is off Ali's newest album, Ant's production which apparently I can't stop fucking talking about gets better every year. The Undisputed Truth is Ali honestly speaking of his wife leaving him/being a total train wreck, his son Faheem, and his new outlook on life, it's really refreshing to hear songs of positivity and love (read;GAY?!? I love WOMEN!) from Ali. He's so upfront and happy on this song, it's tits.

Ear to Ear

Listening to some of Ali's Shadows on the Sun made me think of KMD. Black Bastards is straight classic like violins so check it. I used to play this song in my busted ass 91 Nissan Sentra with speakers that had been blown out way before I was driving it, off of a sweet tape deck (my like 8th in that car), with the bass totally rattling the crap out of rear view mirror, it was awesome. 'one I'm done, casting shadows over the sun for fun'

Suspended _nim_tion

ohio 1968

while I can't find all the songs I used to have, I do have 3 of Sly and his Family's' albums. their importance cannot be highlighted enough, not just because they were an interracial and inter gender group, or the fact that 'Everyday People' is a great damned song but was reduced to triviality thanks to Chevy or ford or whatever the fuck car company picked up the song, but also because they made amazing music. Sly as the band leader and resident psychopathic genius (extreme recluse and drug abuser) expanded upon James' epiphany of soul/funk by sparingly adding rock and roll and bigger controlled musical chaos. the bassist Larry Graham was also an amazing product of Sly and the Family stone, always duplicated but never replicated Graham invented the bass slap, invented it! he, after the dissolution of the Family Stone, went on to head Graham Central Station which did pretty well if I recall. an interesting parallel between Sly and James that I noted today whilst thumbing through sly songs and James brown you tube entries is that they often used or added upon older songs of theirs. On Sly's first album they had 'Higher' which would evolve into many longer and epic songs he also similarly manipulated 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)' and 'Dance to the Music.' James did this very often, building upon a songs fountations to create something in the same vein but new. it should also be noted that Sly began as a San Francisco DJ and was from where? oh that's right, VALLEJO. this video is apparently from a Ohio State Fair talent show in 1968, they rip Ohio a new one and although they win, not one corn farmer in the crowed got up and rocked the fuck out, just another reason to keep out of the no man's land that is middle America.



Here's 'Family Affair' which is seriously a perfect song, the mellow tone and Sly's beautiful convicted voice are just amazing, and it's message as with most of their songs was very political and a poetic description of the times.

family affair

'If You Want Me to Stay' is another well known song of theirs, akin to 'Family Affair' in that it's fast enough to be a dance floor burner but it still has a muted sad tone to it which again lends greatly to Sly's voice. both of these songs are pretty recognizable and well known your dad that kicked it in the late 60's and early 70's will totally have some flashbacks when this is played. I'm planning another Sly post with some rarer shit so 'keep tuned'...Steve, and anyone else.

want me to stay

Oh and there's a tasty bit of new R Kells genius as well, whats on your ringtone?

ringtone

reeeeeeeeemmmiiiiiiiiiix

sorry about all the youtube embeddings but this blog is going to kinda run on my afternoon/evening schedule, I'll post awkward personal pictures/life affirming tales of adventure when I got time.

you tube is the easy way out

and the second post goes to:



for anyone's information cpdrc is a prison facility in the phillipines, and I fear it might be connected to this



anyone who knows me knows that I'd go vamp depending upon the actual drawbacks of such a condition. I swear I don't mean it in a weird gothic kinda manner, however I DO like goth girls, so who knows. oh and check out james kill the hammond

this shit is easy

apparently, I've ventured into the world of blogging, and while I don't exactly know what this blog will be about, I'm sure I'll iron out all the kinks for everyone(i.e. no one). I don't expect anyone to read this more than once so it'll probably be active for a few months then fall to the side like many other hobbies I've ever taken up (myspace, paintball, bellydancing). now all I gotta do is find out how to post pictures and my terribly long and self serving music mixes. look out bitches I'm coming your way.