Ubiquity Records has long been a staple for my music selecting. Their compiliations and some of the people and records they dig up (read Darondo) are unbelievable. That rare groove they specialize in is unparalled. Did I mention that their compliations are awesome? I think I did. On top of all this they have some great threads.
If you are a doubter pick up Darondo's Set My People Free or Giles Peterson Digs America and you will be a believer. The latest Ubiquity pick up for me was Rewind 5. Rewind V.5 Original Classics. Re-Worked, Remixed, and Rewound has some great tracks. While I didn't find it to be the strongest of compiliations that I have purchased from Ubiquity but you can't go wrong with a series that ?uestlove claims is his "favorite compiliation series" or URB magazine calls "what remixes should aspire to." Definately some dope tracks on here. Check out my favorites.
Mp3: The Rebirth - "Handle It" (The Sylvers)*
Mp3: El Michels Affair - "Walk On By" (Burt Bacharach)
Buy this record here or buy some of the other Ubiquity stuff here. Don't be cheap its on eMusic too.
Uhh yeah its free to download so go wild. Seriously go bananas. The new DangerDoom EP Occult Hymn. Big ups for killer hip hop acts that believe in free stuff.
DangerDoom: Occult Hymn EP
1. Skit 1
2. El Chupa Nibre Remix
3. Perfect Hair II
4. Korn Dogs
5. Skit 2
6. Sofa King Remix
7. Space Ho's (Madlib Version)
Are you a big lazy sack like me? Get it all in one easy to download zip file here.
You might have known him before his showing on some of the new DJ Shadow production tracks, but I sure as hell didn't. Check out his interview at Pitchfork.
Pitchfork's Interview with Keak da Sneak.
There are few bands that I will listen to or purchase their records outright. The Roots, Blackalicious, Thievery Corporation, Gorillaz, DJ Shadow are a few of those bands/people. The following two groups are a couple more of those types that feel can do no wrong. I pretty much like everything Boards of Canada put out along with Radiohead Thom Yorke (this new solo stuff, the first Unkle collaborations etc).
Mp3: Thom Yorke - "The Eraser"
Pre-Order: Eraser from Insound drops July 11th.
This is Yorke's first solo album. The record features nine new tracks and was produced by Nigel Godrich. Godrich has long worked with Radiohead (although not on their upcoming 7th record) along with being an engineer, producer or mixer for Paul McCartney, Travis, Beck, Pavement, Air and The Beta Band to name a few. Also check out the Radiohead blog Dead Air Space.
Mp3: Boards of Canada - "Heard from Telegraph Lines"
Buy: Trans Canada Highway EP from Insound here.
Building upon their great 2005 release, Campfire Headcase, Boards of Canada released an EP entitled Trans Canada Highway. This new EP is not nearly has upbeat and is darker than the 2005 release. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, like I said I have yet to find a Boards of Canada record I don't like.
Almost forgot about the Tuesday dig. Well no begging for a legend to come back this week. I'll sit tight and wait for Monch to drop that official sh*t. No theme this week, well I guess the theme is remix? Can that be a theme?
Well its just a bunch of dope (in my opinion) remixes. If you think differently let me know. Anyways I'll stop wasting your precious time with my meaningless dribble so you can download some of these mixes. As always you have a 1 week window to DL these before they explode.
Mp3: Air - "Don't Be Light" (Neptunes Remix)
Mp3: Gorillaz - "Dirty Harry" (Chopper Remix)
Mp3: Radiohead - "Everything in its place" (James Lavelle Remix)
Mp3: DJ Cam feat. Cameo J Dilla - "Love Junkee" (J Dilla Remix)
Mp3: DJ Shadow vs Keane - "We Might As Well Be Strangers" (DJ Shadow Remix)
Mp3: Stina Nordenstram - "People Are Strange" (Unkle Remix)+
Don't forget to consume something. Its what makes our capitalistic society turn round. My favorites are here or here.
+Thx to Sean for the update and correction.
I couldn't resist. Its too bad these guys weren't jammin' when I was in school. Megatron the Bellingham trio consisting of Paul, Delvon, and Julian might make you think of an arena rocking hair band or the name of the latest Sunday stopping monster truck robot but they are far from that.
These three bring the jam with a great jazz-funk sound that Bellingham desperately needs(sorry Bellingham but I could only take so much Barbed Wire Cutters and various other bluegrass/folk hippie bands while I enjoyed my microbrew).
Megatron is led by trumpeter Paul Chandler, along with Julian MacDonough on drums, and Delvon Dumas on a Hammond B-3 Organ. If you dig that Soulive type sound you should be into these three.
Mp3: Megatron - "Water No Get Enemy"
Mp3: Megatron - "Take Me Home"+
They even dable in the electronic. Check out this sick beat named after the best mountain on earth.
Mp3: Dirt Factory Records - "Mt. Baker Breaks"+
Buy: Be sure to support these guys in their pursuits. Buy a record here.
Check it: Megatron's myspace zone.
+links fixed.
Video: Clip from the Movie Breakin'
Its official YouTube has everything. I just dug up this gem from the movie Breakin' released in 1984 (FYI Ice T makes his movie debut in it). Freaky interpretive dance breakdown at a minute in.
Is that a KOA shirt siting? Wow. This is amazing stuff. Also if you were wondering about those TKO shirts? That stands for Turbo, Kelley and Ozone. Now Turbo has some skill not so sure about Ozone.
Have a dance party of your own by downloading the track below.
Mp3: Chaka Khan and Rufus - "Ain't Nobody"
Bonus Mp3: Chaka Khan - "Ain't Nobody" (Dangermouse Remix)
Bonus Mp3: De La Soul feat. Chaka Khan - "All Good"
Bonus Mp3: Afrika Bambaataa - "Breakers Revenge"*
Here is a better clip from a much better film called Beat Street.
Since its halfway through the big weekend I am sharing Mylo's Big Weekend recorded in 2004. It give you a bit of a precursor to his fantastic 2005 Destroy Rock & Roll record released in the UK (US release was in 2006). If you haven't checked out and listened to Mylo its god damn time you did so. Enjoy.
Mp3: Mylo - "One Big Weekend Set" (54.18 megabytes)
Buy: Mylo's Destroy Rock & Roll here or here.
You thought it would be a week without Diplo? Not if I have anything to do about it. Check out the bangers.
Mp3: Madonna - "Hung Up" (Diplodocus Remix)
Mp3: Zero 7 - "Home" (Diplo Mix)+
Mp3: Modest Mouse - "Float On" (Diplo Mix)+
Mp3 link: Clipse - "Queen Bitch" (Diplo Remix)
Liked the Madonna track before the Remix. But of course Diplo gives it that Rio Funk twist that I can't get enough of. Check'em out.
+From the Doing it Real Big DJ session.
Buy: Line your pockets with some Hollertronix records from here.
In non-related hip hop, politics, reggatron news K has finished his thesis. Its official. All done. Got the masters degree. Not sure how it improves my current position but its done.If anyone is interested in some bed time reading for curing insomnia I'm your guy. If anyone wants to read 125 pages on urban planning and the propagation of racial and economic segregation as a result of new urbanism planning theories I am your guy.
Mp3: Dr. Octagon - “A Gorilla Driving A Pick-Up Truck” (Rob Sonic Road Rage Remix)
Make sure you pre-order that Dr. Octagon record. Its going to be great. Learn more about Rob Sonic here.
Mr. Lif hailing from Boston has a new album coming out June 14th. You can head over and listen to the new single Brothaz over at his myspace. The Def Jux star's follow up to his great I Phantom record and work with the Perceptionists is highly anticipated by yours truely.
Def Jux has thrown up a Mixtape of the album so you can check it out before it is released. Mo Mega has some allstar appearances from Aesop Rock and Murs among others.
Mp3: Mr. Lif — "Mo' Mega Mixtape" (DJ Big Wiz Mix)
Pre-Order it: Mo Mega from Def Jux. Do it soon enough and you get an autographed copy.
Call Me Mikey has great taste in tunes. Check out his latest find in a great mashup DJ from the fantastic city of Vancouver BC. Serious, Van BC is the best city on the planet (Chicago and Prague tied for 2nd). Wish I knew about this guy when I was going to school in the area.
M!G!H! has a ridiculous amount of mashups offered up at the official site mp3 section. The Paris Hilton/B.E.P. mashup is pretty weak but I guess you can't make a good mashup when the songs you start with already suck. But the CYHSY redo is great along with the Mickey mentioned GG Allin versus Twista track. The novelty of the MIA versus Modest Mouse track is there, but it doesn't stand out in my mind.
Mp3: M!G!H! - "Modest Mouse v. MIA"
Mp3: M!G!H! - "CYHSY Upon this Tidal Wave Redo" (Redo Remix)*
Mp3: M!G!H! - "Mix 1"
Go to: M!G!H! myspace and official space.
Visit: CallMeMickey for more of the dopest of dope selections in hip hop and other misc. music. He's a trend setter check him out.
This show would have been worth the road trip. Unfortunately having it on Monday the 22nd makes it impossible. Check out the blog over at Complex Magazine for some live shots of the Gnarls Barkley/Spank Rock show last Monday at Webster Hall in NYC.
G.O.O.D. Music aka the Grammy Family serves up a track off Khaled’s upcoming Koch release Listennn. There is also a great track from Busta Rhymes recounting his personal history with a little help from Mr. Wonder himself on the standout track from upccoming The Big Bang.
Stream: DJ Khaled feat. Kanye West & John Legend - “Grammy Family”
Stream: Busta Rhymes feat. Stevie Wonder - “Been Through The Storm”
I am not sure when Siskel (RIP) and Ebert Ebert and Roeper sold out but I have been disregarding the "Thumbs Up" recommendations for some time now. This on the other hand is classic stuff. Siskel and Ebert ripping each other and anything in site as they film for a couple tv promo spots. Really gets rolling about 4-5 minutes in. Gene starts dropping F-bombs left and right at mile marker 7. Check it out.
Video: Siskel vs. Ebert!
"You can't ad-lib Gene." Damn Ebert knows how to bring it.
The fellas over at Them Finest have a great set up for download. Check it out.
Download the entire set here. Very cool stuff.
The fantastically soulful Jamie Lidell has a "new" release coming out on May 30th. Its a collection of some remixes and different takes on his fantastic 2005 album Multiply. If you haven't heard it you are seriously missing out. Its one of my favorite records of 2005 and just one of my favorite records period.
Here is what Pitchfork said about it:
Listen to Multiply once and you'll be struck by how reverent it is; listen to it three times and you'll start to notice the microscopic digital artifacts and subtle tweaks that give it personality and pop.
Check out some of the new takes on some of last years tracks.
Mp3:
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Supposedly Jamie's live performances are insanely good. Haven't checked him out but I've been a big fan of his since Super Collider.
Buy: Multiply Additions here or just buy the original here.
DFA knows how to mix it up. My friends over at Funtime Ok broke up the lastest DFA radio mix down by track, but you can find full radio sessions over at DFA's official site check it out.
Great sets. Thanks for the find Funtime.
Thats right I am getting desperate here. Its been 7 years since Pharoahe Monch released Internal Affairs.
Monch started in '92 as half of Organized Konfusion. He dropped debatably 2 of the best hip hop albums of the early 90's (Self Titled Debut & Stress: The Extinction Agenda). After three great albums with the group Organized Konfusion, the underground legend with impeccable delivery and skill, brokered a solo deal with Rawkus.
Rawkus released Internal Affairs in late '99. Monch hasn't been heard from since. Story goes that after releasing Internal Affairs, label politics slowed down his career. Rawkus signed a distribution deal with MCA and later, the label was absorbed into Geffen. Monch recorded an album for Geffen but the recording was never released as the rapper attempted to free himself of the Geffen deal.
Somewhere in here he releases the anti-Bush track Agent Orange with one a hell of a couple lines in it ("Pissed on the motherf**king White House lawn. I threw a rock and I ran...Its not a Game Boy about the PlayStation. Its +Resident Evil+ when every President's a mason." Eat your heart out Neil Young). Anyways if you have any information on what this legendary underground MC is up to let me know (in the comments of course). The latest is there is talk about an album called Desire to be released on a new label.
Monch had this to say in Febuary 2006.
On a creative and business level, I've never been this excited. I've had the time to work on this album, and being a perfectionist, it's really come to fruition. It's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me. It shows so much growth spiritually, almost as if I'm a new artist. When I play the record for people, that's how they hear it.I am totally confused. But given this was released in Febuary of this year there is still hope that an album is on the way (I won't hold my breath until a single emerges which supposedly will be called Push)??. Anyways, head over to Cocaine Blunts and see what Noz is saying because he knows his stuff better than I. Check out his live Monch concert review and another "Monch come back plea."
Mp3:
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Head over to Palms Out sound to hear my man Haldan cry for Monch to comeback as well. It can be found here.
Buy: Internal Affairs, Simon Says/Livin' It Up, Organized Konfusion, or Stress: The Extinction Agenda.
Who cares about the battle of Texas (TD will shut out the Mavs) or the fact that the East is overrated. Its Clips' time, and its time the Clippers to close out runnin' and gunnin' Suns. Nash is tired and the team doesn't have an answer for EB. Brand is the most underrated player in the game (wish the Bulls would have hung onto him...Tyson Chandler pfft).
Its rough to stay up for the Westcoast contests here, but I will be staying up for this one. I have been rooting for the Clips for too long (I am talking since the Ron Harper/Danny Manning years) to not watch this game.
Here is the track they play for the NBA on TNT or is it ESPN? Doesn't matter the beat is catchy as hell and Styles of Beyond are great (check out 2000 fold great album if you haven't).
Mp3: Fort Minor feat. Styles of Beyond - "Remember the Name"
Buy: Fort Minor's Rising Tied or Styles of Beyond's 2000 Fold.
Update: Bulls out. Spurs out. Clippers out. So much for my predictions. I just need to decide now who I jinx next.
So the new record St. Elsewhere is absolutely bananas and if you don't have it go get it. I'll wait....ok now that you got your record check out this live performance of their hit single Crazy. Damn Cee-Lo has some pipes I wish I could sing like that.
Video: Gnarls Barkley Live.
Also if you haven't heard there is a new DangerDoom single out there for free. It's a remix of Sofa King. Go grab it over at Adult Swim.
Mp3: DangerDoom - "Sofa King" (Remix)
Check out the article about the recent show that The Roots put on to benefit the mother of late Hip Hop great J. Dilla.
The Roots Stage Two-Night All-Star J. Dilla Benefit in NYC
Pictures: Of the performance here.
In other news check out ?uestlove's interview - Part I and Part II.
There is the new Pearl Jam video for Life Wasted. The video gave me nightmares. This has nothing to do with Hip hop or politics its just to appease crazy Pearl Jam fans that frequent this site. I am actually going to be at the PJ show in Boston on Wednesday.
The lastest Stones Throw podcast is the best podcast I have ever heard a serious combination of hip hop, downtempo, soul, funk and a bunch of other stuff. Amazing amazing stuff I can't say it enough.
Check it out. Like now.
Stones Throw Podcast Episode #4Madlib's 45 Mix
iTunes - Subscribe Here - Streaming Audio
The title says it all - Madlib, two turntables, and a lot of 45s. Track list not available. Stones Throw podcasts #1-3 still online.TRT: 65:00Madlib http://www.stonesthrow.com/madlib/
Thievery Corporation have released a collection of 18 dubbed versions of various artists on their new Album. While none of their albums have approached The Mirror Conspiracy I always enjoy a TC album.
Their ability to blend all things dub, electronica, and bossa nova is pretty much unparalleled. Thievery Corporation and you could say the Thievery Formula is pretty much takes all the music I like most and mushes it all together into one record and often times one song. Sometimes with fantastic results, sometimes not so much.
Album review from somebody that can write better than I.
Versions gathers 18 Thievery Corporation remixes from across a music spectrum that only the most eclectic could love. The vinyl-popping digital duo embraces '60s psychedelia with the Doors and '60s kitsch with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. They put them all into the mixmaster, usually adding the downtempo jazzy electro-lounge beats upon which they built their early reputation.
Check out some my favorite remixes from their latest effort.
Mp3:
Mp3:
MOKB has some other tracks as well here. I think they missed their chance on that Doors song could have been good.
Buy it! from Insound here.
Thought this quote was fitting. Quote by John Berger.
"The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied... but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing."
I'm bored and have run out of things to do. The girlfriend is out of town and there is only so many times I can clean the apartment (some claim I have OCD) and I am tired of watching baseball and reading.
Here is a couple remixes that I came across on the internet. They are mashups done by Siik. These are my favorites of the bunch. Great mixing skill and some pretty innovative mashups. Check them out.
Mp3 link: Nas et al - "Virgo" (Nas v. Beastie Boys)
Mp3 link: Pharrell - "Frontin" (Pharrell v Paperboy)
Mp3 link: Busta Rhymes - "Dangerous" (Busta vs Thievery Corp)
Mp3 link: Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes - "For the nasty" (Q-Tip vs His Own atcq Beats)
Get many more remixes at Siik's official page. Full set mixes here.
The Cubs might be 17 and 24, and 5th in the NL Central but Michael Barrett just put the beatdown on The Jerk A.J Pierzynski. A.J. caught a wicked right hook (guess he's not an Outkast Goodie Mob fan..he was warned).
Well he deserved it (click here if you don't know why).
Don't laugh at the Cubs. They might be struggling on the field but they can get down if you talk trash. Barrett apologized afterwards and said he was foolish and he would accept the fine and I am sure suspension.The great news is the Cubs rallied behind the Barrett punch and went on to destroy the White Sox. Sad thing is the Soxs got the last laugh by demolishing the Cubs 7 zero.
Pharrell Williams of Neptunes and N.E.R.D (RIP) fame has a new record coming out July 25th. Some have already heard Angel and the Gwen Stefani track Can't I Have It Like That, both of which I am not crazy about. I am was a big N.E.R.D. fan and this doesn't really compare to that but its not total crap either. Make the judgement for yourself.
Mp3: Pharrell Williams feat. Kanye West - "Number 1"
Mp3: Pharrell Williams - "Ice Cream Man"
Pharrell's production skills are top notch not sure if they show through on this record and I am not sure why he thinks he's such a R&B talent.
Pre-order: In My Mind here.
Given the latest protests about immigration I find that the Senate passing a bill to make "English" the National Language suspect.
According to the Washington Post the Senate approved the measure, 63 to 34, which directs the government to "preserve and enhance" the role of English, without altering current laws that require some government documents and services be provided in other languages.
You would think all the gay bashing, sending National Guard troops to the Mexican border (Bush just got done asking for a $1.95 billion budget request to deploy National Guard troops and 1,000 additional enforcement agents to the U.S.-Mexico border), and a war that is out of control would be enough bad press. Looks like they just stepped it up a notch.
Only nine Senate Democrats voted for the amendment and one Republican, Sen. Pete V. Domenici (N.M.), voted against it. Maryland's two Democratic senators voted against it, and Virginia's two GOP senators voted for it.
Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called the amendment "racist," and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) dismissed it as divisive and anti-American. Damn straight. Who cares what the national language....err official language. Guess they forgot this is America the melting pot of diversity.
Read the whole thing here.
Reuters is reporting that a Senior Bush campaign official has been sent to jail for a scheme yo keepdemocratss away from polls...
James Tobin, 45, one of three Republican campaign operatives convicted in a phone-jamming scheme designed to keep New Hampshire Democrats from voting in a 2002 election, was convicted in December of two telephone harassment charges.
U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe described the crime as "extremely serious" and a threat to the U.S. political tradition of free and fair elections.
The national Republican Party, which has paid more than $2.5 million in legal fees to defend Tobin, has said the calls to the White House were routine during a tight state Senate race and had nothing to do with the phone-jamming.
Source: Reuters
Yeah thats right you heard me. New Roots' cuts have been leaked. Check them out and rejoice. Is there anyone better in the game? It was a rhetorical question...NO there's not.
Mp3: The Roots - "Please Don't Go" (Demo)
Mp3:
Game Theory in stores August 29, 2006
Get that official sh*t here.
Myspace that!
The people at Ghostly International are at it again. The new Dabrye album Two/Three comes out June 13.
XLR8R magazine advises that you “buy [it] on sight," which is impossible because it isn't out yet. But you can legally download an mp3 from the album from the Ghostly website.
Mp3: Dabrye feat. Kadence - "Encoded Flow"
Kadence is an Ann Arbor-based member of the Abolitionist Crew who will be MC’ing for Dabrye when he tours with Percee P of Stones Throw this July. The other cuts are available over at the official site.
Mark June 27th 2006 as the Return of Dr. Octagon aka Kool Keith, Black Elvis, Rhythm X, Dr. Dooom, and Mr. Gerbik with his new record Return of Dr. Octagon. Maybe you listened to his album Nogatco Rd. released earlier this year? (Nogatco is Octagon backwards btw).
There is no "Earth People" on this album but its still pretty damn good. Check out some tracks.
Mp3: Dr. Octagon - "Ants" (the money fight fire ants remix)
Mp3: Dr. Octagon - "Al Green" (The Gray Kid Al Greezy remix)
Mp3: Mike Relm - 20 minute Return of Dr Octagon megamix
Mp3: Dr. Octagon - "Trees"
Mp3: Dr. Octagon - "A Gorilla Driving a Pickup Truck"
Get cool remixes at World's Fair.
Pre-order it: here
Updated: Took down the original tracks per request. Added the remixes enjoy them and don't forget to swing by Dr. Octagon's official site.
The Presets, Modular label mates of my favorite band of all time (The Avalanches) recently released a new record. Still waiting for that new Avalanches but this Modular band has a great sound.
Here is what AMG had to say:
Beams is the 12 track debut album by rock'n'roll superstars The Presets. A magnificent journey of an album from heaven to hell and back again, Beams takes in sounds from rock, electro, hip hop, soundtracks, techno and just about anything else you care to think of. A brilliant beginning.
Mp3: The Presets - "Kitty In The Middle"
Mp3:
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Buy the record: Beams here.
DJ Shadow Reveals More LP Details, Tour Dates
His new record The Outsider doesn't have a release date yet but is set to feature guest spots from Q-Tip, David Banner, and Yay Area upstarts Keak Da Sneak and Turf Talk (last three are all on those leaked Freaks songs).
Here is what Mr. Davis has to say about his upcoming record:
The album is very diverse, and reflects the fact that I don't fit comfortably in any one genre. My critics see that as a problem, but I don't...it's simply the way things are. I've never really fit into any one clique. That's why the album is called The Outsider. "In some ways it's a risky record. It's going to turn some people off. And I think I'll lose some fans. On the other hand, I know I'll gain some new ones. That's a fair trade in my mind. Besides I can't see playing it safe at this point in my life.
There's songs with samples and songs with no samples. There's very dark stuff and very light stuff. Fast and slow. Simple and complicated. And there's songs on this album that I think blow away almost anything else I've ever done, so...we'll see. I think song for song it's the best album I've ever made. One thing's for sure...it's going to make it very difficult for people to imitate my sound.
Thanks for the lowdown Kati Llewellyn of Pitchfork.
It's not a matter of whether the war is real, Victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. -George Orwell paraphrase from 1984
I was reading the other day that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad victory in Iran was by a small margin (elected in a run off in June 24, 2005). Since then his and his country's open hostility towards the US has driven up his approval ratings to huge margins. Sound familiar?
Well it should, because GW did the same thing following 911. He barely (if at all) defeats Al Gore and then uses a platform of fear and retaliation against those who took place in the attack to drive up his poll ratings to astronomical highs. Used the same formula for going to war in Iraq.
The war machine theory. There is no reason for the US to listen to anything Iran has to say and in essence Iran shouldn't care either because as long as there is conflict between the two, the governments of those respective countries benefit. While we have seen GW's poll numbers taking a free fall I guarantee you that when election talk comes up again you will see the President and those in power (Republicans) using the war/fear and fighting Iran as their main platform to get themselves re-elected. Worked before we shall see if it works again.
Its kind of like Rove, who was able to brilliantly strategize getting fundamentalist anti-civil rights/anti-gay Christians to show up in record numbers by putting anti-gay marriage referendums, bills, etc. etc. on State ballots. You can't get people to believe in your vision, in your plan for the future, but you sure can scare the hell out of them.
Found this over at Village Voice via Nah Right and it got me thinking.
Best Rap Videos according to Village Voice
1. Juvenile - "Ha"
2. DMX - "Ruff Ryders' Anthem"
3. Cool Breeze feat. OutKast & Goodie Mob - "Watch for the Hook"
4. LL Cool J feat. Method Man, Redman, & DMX - "4-3-2-1"
5. Three 6 Mafia - "Tear Da Club Up '97"
First thing is first I think DMX is a joke so you won't see me picking his videos or songs for anything. Second Juvenile? like No Limit Cash Money Juvenile? Best hip hop video? Damn thats a shame. His Method Man selection I could have agreed with. The post is well written so I think he is talking about all-time just more like the late 90's but the fact remains that the video selection are weak. Here is what I would be picking.
My Top 8(?) Hip Hop Videos
1. Public Enemy: "Fight the Power"
Classic, there is no better video and perhaps no better hip hop anthem then this one. Fantastic old school track with an edge and a message. Don't believe the hype. Unbelievable film as well.
2. The Roots - "What they do"
Parody at its best. I laugh every time I see it. I think Loose Change (50 Cent) uses this for a video production template.
3. Pharcyde - "Drop"
Uhh yeah this video great. Spike Jonze knows how to make a video. Can you rewind that again?
4. The Fugees - "Ready or Not"
Yeah pretty much hip hop's super group. Song is ridiculous and some big production.
5. Wu Tang Clan - "Triumph"
Best special effects out of any hip hop video I have witnessed for its time.
6. De La Soul - "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"
One of my favorite hip hop tracks ever. Awesome party video as well. Certified classic. 5 days of work? only one day to play?
7. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg - "Nuthin' but a G Thang"
This was best hip hop videos of all time wasn't it? How is this not on there? Is there at kid that grew up in the 1990's that didn't see this?
8. Xzibit - "What U See Is What U Get"
I think X is great. Has an intensity that few have. That time he went after Bill O'Reilly was unforgettable. Cool concept for a video.
Not sure if all mine go in that order but to say one thing none of them appear in the other guy's top ten. Not sure what standards for "hip hop" videos he was using but I would love to hear what videos you think are the best. Hook it up with some YouTube links if you have the time.
Bonus Vids:
A Tribe Called Quest - "Scenario"
Fatlip - "Whats up Fatlip"
Eric B & Rakim - "Follow The Leader"
Pete Rock and CL Smooth - "T.R.O.Y. They Reminisce Over You"
I have Hollertronix on my mind. From going nuts early this year about Diplo and his lady friend MIA and then featuring a smattering of Low Budget here and there. Hollertronix for those that don't know is Wesley Pentz (Diplo) a Philadelphia-based producer and DJ, along with with DJLow Budget (also going by Low-Bee?) he runs Hollertronix, a club and music collective.
Here is a small sample of some tracks from the Hollertronix catalog along with some Spank Rock remixes. As always support the artists that make these. Without you there wouldn't be them. Check it out.
Mp3: Low Budget - "whatchooknowaboutthis"+
Mp3: Hollertronix - "Surfing On A Rocket" (Joakim Remix)
Mp3: Hollertronix - "Prelude to Happening"
Mp3: Hollertronix - "Hell Yeah"
Mp3: Hollertronix - "Have U Man"
Mp3: Diplo and Low Budget - "Fall Back"
Mp3: Debonair Samir - "Ms. Goody Goody"+
Mp3: Coldcut feat. Roots Manuva - "True Skool" (Spank Rock Mix)
Buy it: Ridiculous amounts of Hollertronix gear at one of my favorite sites for threads >> TurnTable Lab 04.
+ = Thx to CallMeMickey
"Everything on the album was uncharted territory, something I've neverdone before. The only thing that's worth doing is exploration." - Cut ChemistI know this has already made the rounds on other various Audio Blogs but I like to think that maybe somebody out there reads my audioblog exclusively and might have missed these tracks (yes I realize that person is my mother but humor me for a second!).
Cut Chemist
Mp3: Cut Chemist feat. Mr. Lif & Edan - "Storm"
Mp3: Cut Chemist - "The Garden"
Cut's myspace & official space.
MC Spank Rock:
"One of my biggest fears is that someone's going to attach some stupid name to what I'm doing, not realizing that it's hip-hop, and it shouldn't have to have a new name just because it's creative."
Naeem Juwan better known as MC Spank Rock, MC Super Disco Spank Ro’ or just Spank Rock is a sex-obsessed raunchy lyricist with sharp wit and a diverse taste in music. Yoyoyoyo! which was released earlier this year and has been all over the blogs is a fantastic record. It wasn't until my recent trip to Chicago that I was really able to get into the album and listen to it a bunch of times.
Spank along with fellow Baltimore native Alex Epton (a.k.a. producer Armani XXXchange), have created a distinct sound on Yoyoyoyo. A sound where hip-hop meets pop, punk, and the electronic scenes of Miami bass and Baltimore dance beats. Here are a couple rare cuts off some a couple of singles along with my favorite Spank Rock track Backyard Betty (listener beware).
Mp3: Spank Rock - "What It Look Like"
Mp3:
Mp3:
Mp3:
Buy it! here, here or here. Grab it from eMusic here.
For all you Chicago kids out there, check him out on 07/30/06 at the Pitchfork Music Festival along with Diplo w/CSS, Bonde do Role. >>Info and tickets here.
In case you missed it: Some Hollertronix haaawtness
(don't you just hate that word..hotness?)
I have to say I am not necessarily a fan of The Boss or of folk music, but for some reason you add two things together that I don't like and you get something that I like?
[-] + [-] = [+] ?
The logic is not there but this record is amazing. I don't find myself stretching out of the electronic and hip hop genres much but I am glad I checked it out for this record. This what is best described as freewheeling. The record infuses energy into meaningful and thought provoking from an uncompromising folk great. Pitchfork described the record as, "less an exhumation than a celebration, The Seeger Sessions is the best proof we've got that America's folksongs are also our finest artifacts." The Guardian adds that the "unlike many of his recent recordings, this is an addictively exuberant album."
Mp3: Bruce Springsteen - "Old Dan Tucker"
Buy: Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions here or here.
This story is being knocked around the blog-o-sphere a bit (here and here) and I do find it interesting. Its most likely overblown, but hell that makes it interesting right?
Well the story goes that John Cook of Slate posted an essay last Tuesday on music critics Sasha Frere-Jones' and Jessica Hopper's claim that music critic (and Magnetic Fields frontman), Stephin Merritt as a racist because he proclaims to not like hip-hop.
From Extrawack! from Slate:
Stephin Merritt is an unlikely cracker. The creative force behind the Magnetic Fields, Merritt is diminutive, gay, and painfully intellectual. His music is witty and tender. He plays the ukulele. He named his Chihuahua after Irving Berlin. And yet no less an influential music critic than The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones has used that word"cracker"to describe him. Frere-Jones has also called him "Stephin 'Southern Strategy' Merritt," presumably in reference to Richard Nixon's race-baiting attempt to crush the Democratic Party.
First thing is first I am no Magnetic Fields expert. I have heard a couple of their records and you are not going to find a fan here. I find most of their songs pretty bland (sure the songwriting might be mind blowing but if I want to hear a poetry audiobook I will). Second this guy sounds like a drag to hang out with, he has a Chihuahua named after Irving Berlin? Sounds like one of those name-dropper-I-am-smarter-than-you types that thinks because he has a collection of 500 rare 1930's folk records in his collection and is bitter as hell is better then you. But again I've never met him so who knows. Lets get back to the claim leveled against him that he is racist because he doesn't like hip hop.
Carl Wilson of Zoilus has a great assessment:
Listening near-exclusively to white artists doesn't mean you hate black people, but it may well indicate a sense of distance from and perhaps a lack of curiosity about black experience.
Just because you don't like hip hop doesn't mean you're racist (hip hop music is not made solely by black people...even though it started with and most of the good stuff is made by the black community). Here is where I find a problem, if this guy came out and said the blanketing statement, "I don't like hip hop." Given that hip hop is a largely black artform I would find that blanketing statement troublesome, yet not racist. If he said "I don't like black music," that would be a whole different thing. As far as I have read he didn't and hasn't.
The claim of racism gets far more blurred when you take his backing of the song "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah," from Disney's 1946 musical Song of the South as a "great song." I find this extremely problematic, while Zoilus was actually there and didn't find it offensive I find the backing of anything related to intolerance as "great" is wrong. Again does that make him a racist? No because he said he didn't agree with the premise of the racist Disney film. Merritt uses his mastery of English vocabulary to do what all critics do best, say a lot without actually getting discernible position.
The Salon article does point out that Merritt did say in 2004 that he liked:
"...the first two years of rap," including the first Run DMC record, but that he finds contemporary hip-hop boring and racist. [In response to hearing a Cee-Lo Green song,] "I think it's shocking that we're not allowed to play coon songs anymore," Merritt said, "but people, both black and white, behave in more vicious caricatures of African-Americans than they had in the 19th century. It's grotesque. It probably would have been considered too tasteless for the Christy Minstrels."
Hmmm...so he only liked the first two years of rap? I think his dismissal of any thing contemporary seems shallow (not racist). He feels there is nothing new or groundbreaking in popular music these days (according to the Salon interview)? Given his reaction to Cee-Lo I am sure he is not rushing out to pick up St. Elsewhere. Sure, much of mainstream popular music is founded on commercialism and marketability which like he said distorts image and grotesquely skews video popular music (but is that really music anyways? its more like advertising not art). This is not a hip hop problem though its a mainstream music industry problem.
I don't think Merritt is racist he just sounds like an uppity prick that believes since he wrote 69 love songs and knows a lot of big vocabulary words and is miserable all the time, it makes him interesting. It doesn't take much to find perversion in mainstream music today and harp on the images presented by the big labels, MTV, and BET. This "controversy" probably wouldn't have amounted to anything without blogs and the indie music scene rage, grouped with what I see as a careless use of branding someone a racist (a term I feel should not be used lightly).
Ripping mainstream
...and listening to Midwest Product. I just picked up this disk on eMusic and the thing is dope. Some of that New Order-esque sound. This electronic-experiemental indie is some good stuff. Check it out. Figured if I was going to the Midwest might as well listen to a band named after the place I was going.
Mp3: Midwest Product - "Swamp"
Mp3: Midwest Product - "Cold Sore"*
Cold Sore is especially bumping (aren't all cold sores?). Its got that video game synth thing going. Check out Ghostly International out of Ann Arbor Michigan for plenty of mind blowing US electronic. Idol Tryouts 2 is one of the coolest records of 2006.
Buy: Midwest Product's 2006 Swamp EP here or here.
Buy: Midwest Product's full length disc, Specifics here or here.
Buy: Midwest Product's World Series of Love here or here.
Been busy polishing my master thesis, fixing my blog, working, and trying to get a new website up and I am headed to Chicago tomorrow so sorry for the lack of music posts.
But you don't come here to hear me cry do you?
Whelp I just poured myself a cold cup of J and The Boss is playing in the background and I'm ready to get to work. Here is the dig that has no theme aside from its hip hop (mostly). Check it out.
Mp3: GZA vs. Muggs - "Advance Pawns" (Edgecrusher Remix)
Mp3: Hieroglyphics feat. Goapele - "Make your move" (9th Wonder Remix)**
Mp3: Moka Only feat. MF Doom - "More Soup"
Mp3: Gorillaz vs. Kosheen - "Unreleased Suicide Mix"*
Mp3: M-1 feat. Ghostface Killah - "Been Through"
Mp3: Madvillian - "Rhinstone Cowboy" (Bonus Remix)
Mp3: Daft Punk - "Something about us" (Love Theme from Interstella 5555)*
Go get it: Curtis Vodka - Yeti Bounce 2006.mp3
(thx Call Me Mickey for the heads up).
Crazy mixup of all things good. Even gets some Bubba from Forest Gump in there. A great DJ session.
Bound to happen: Outkast - "The Mighty O"
from the fellas at Palms out sounds. New Outkast off the upcoming movie Idlewild.
Buy some damn music and don't be a cheap-skate. Peace! Cubs versus Padres pictures coming soon! Damn this record makes me want to get some overalls and head out in a beat up pickup truck with a banjo. Folk with some damn soul, I love it.
After a meeting of the minds with fellow blogger False 45th I was able to resolve my spacing problem. SO analoggiant.blogspot.com is fixed for the time being. The problem was that under settings "convert line breaks" had been switched to "no."
I will hook up the Tuesday dig and make it a Thursday dig. I am looking to offer up some Daft Punk remixes along with some MF Doom remixes. Should have a remix theme.
I am continuing to work on analoggiant.com but its a learning process so its not probably going to be ready until next week sometime. More later.
Peace!
Well I am sure they are passing these out to everyone but I have been hit up "with an exclusive Zero 7 MP3 off of their upcoming album "The Garden" due out on June 6th."
Pretty cool. I featured the Zero 7 track Futures earlier which is fantastic. This is Jose and Zero linking up again for a track called "Left Behind." Check it out and thanks Sonya for the tip.
Mp3: Zero 7 feat. Jose Gonzalez - "Left Behind"
Get that official word here:
http://www.zero7.co.uk/ and http://www.myspace.com/zero7official
Track listing is SOLID: 1. Futures (feat. José González) 2. Throw It All Away (feat. Sia Furler) 3. Seeing Things 4. The Pageant of the Bizarre (feat. Sia Furler) 5. You're My Flame (feat. Sia Furler) 6. Left Behind (feat. José González) 7. Today (feat. José González) 8. This Fine Social Scene (feat. Sia Furler) 9. Your Place 10. If I Can't Have You (feat. Sia Furler) 11. Crosses (feat. José González) 12. Waiting To Die (feat. Sia Furler)
In other News--Analog Giant is making the transition and so far successfully to AnalogGiant.com so I am looking forward to being word pressed with all the fixings.
Working on getting www.analoggiant.com up. Should be up in the next couple days (depending on how quickly I can learn wordpress). Get ready to update your links. More coming very soon.
Thesis edits, a late meeting, and blog troubles will keep the dig from happening this week. I might be able to get it up later this week if I can sort out this blog problem I am having.
Apologies.
Ok so it appears I know just enough to be dangerous. I was trying to import my blog into wordpress but for some reason the importer on wordpress has killed this current blog by making paragraph spaces obsolete. If anyone has suggestions or can see where my code is messed up I would really appreciate it.
I am tired of being locked into IE and the ridgeness and blasé look of AG if anyone has some good sites where a beginning blogger can read up on Word Press and making his blog MO-zilla compatable please do share (in comments or email).
I plan on getting this word pressed if its the last thing I do.
MA done...time to go back to school.
Head over to XXL to check out the New Kanye West track. Its not thatbull**it its that official sh**. This Ghostface track is not nearly as wack as Kanye's track for Mission Impossible (which actually samples a much better 1971 track check that out here). ANYWAYS check out this pretty sweet Ghostface remix track.
Link: Ghostface feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo - "Back Like That" (Official Remix)
Another remix featuring Kanye West which isn't nearly as good can be found here. The Ghostface cut is much better in my opinion.
Nas, Mos Def and the Roots all at once. ?uestlove's fantasy of playing Radio City Music Hall is going to come true, twice. Along with just playing there ?uest has assembled a ridiculous show. Check out more at "M"Tv.
The Roots will be there on May 18th and 19th.
Is the title of the new upcoming Fink release on Ninjatune. The album was released in the UK in April. The former DJ has completely gone in a different direction from his early days as a DJ to his current sound which is best described as a bluesy accostic guitar driven sound. Its a fantastic record.
From Straight No Chaser:
“With a voice as folky and soulful as this, and the ability to srum a guitar so beautifully, and write a tune so cleverly, I can’t help but feel this was a good move for the bearded Ninja.”
Mp3: Fink - "Pretty Little Thing"*
Mp3: Fink - "Biscuits"
Buy: Amazon or Ninjatune Shop.
Official Fink Site
Fink's Myspace
First they don't believe in evolution and now they have outlawed marriage before you reach age 15. They are so way ahead of the curve in that state its really mind numbing blowing.
These age restrictions have always baffled me...so now in Kansas you can get married before you can drink beer or drive a car? They believe that when you're a sophmore in high school you're old enough to get married. Now if they made the age 18 I can understand that, but 15 seems ridiculous, but maybe its because its Kansas and like I said they don't believe in evolution down there.
And lets not go to the fact that you can get shot in war before you can drink a Heineken.
Here is a couple tracks off the Hollertronix: Never Scared record released in 2003 by Diplo and Low Budget.
Mp3: Diplodocus & Low Budget - "Real Jawns"
Mp3: Diplodocus & Low Budget - "Never Scared"
Grab Hollertronix records: here or here or here.
As of today GW Bush joins Dick Nixon (post Watergate) as having the lowest approval rating in in the last 60 years coming into a midterm election.
Congratulations Mr. President only 33% of the public approves of your job performance, the lowest in your presidency. That compares with 36% approval in early April. 45% of self-described conservatives now disapprove of the president
...Iceland comes Jimmy LaValle's. LaValle originally from California has moved himself from the westcoast to the Westcoast of Iceland to a town called Mosfellsbaer.
LaValle is a classically trained pianist and musician who has been involved with San Diego's Tristeza along with The Locust, GoGoGo Airheart, and Black Heart Procession. I expose my cluelessness here in that I have never heard of any of those bands so if your a die hard Locust fan I apologize now.
Jimmy has moved on to release his solo work under the title of the Album Leaf named after a Chopin piece. Subpop records describes Album Leaf's sound as "Brian Eno-inspired compositional atmospherics" which is a fancy way of saying he sounds like Brian Eno and its true. LaValle given his Icelandic zip code had befriended fellow Iclanders Sigur Ros and eventually would work with them on his album(s) (recorded in Iceland in a place called Sundlaugin (or "swimming pool" in Icelandic).
Turn it up and relax. The subtle sounds of the guitar, piano, and violin, put you to sleep
Mp3: The Album Leaf - "The Mp"
Mp3: The Album Leaf - "On Your Way"
New disc to come out this year.
The Album Leaf Webpage
The Album Leaf's myspace
Buy: One Day I'll Be On Time (2001) or In a Safe Place (2004) or Orchestrated Rise to Fall (1999) by simply clicking those links.
I know you were expecting the dig to stay in the Americas but I am looking to expand. The latest dig features some hip hop tracks but these are no normal hip hop tracks these are French hip hop tracks. Listening through these tracks I have come to the conclusion that when they aren't participating in worker riots, eating fine cheeses, drinking wine, or complaining about a 35 hour work week they can put together some good music. I kid the French.
The first is no slouch they are signed to Big Dada, a branch of Ninja Tune that features Spank Rock, Roots Manuva, Diplo, and Busdriver. This group is called TTC (above). I don't speak french so I can't say the first thing about their lyrical content but what I can say is the beats are fresh and the cadence and tone of the raps sound great. Its kinda like Ozomatli, I don't know a damn thing they are saying...but damn its good music.
The other two groups are La Caution and Sheryo. I can't find anything about them in English so you're on your own. My friend in France hand picked these so consider these tracks from France with love.
Let me know what you think, especially if you speak French and can understand what they are rapping about. Or you can just post comments about how I am a dumb American in French and I will have no clue what you are talking about.
Mp3: TTC - "Teste ta comprehension"
Mp3: TTC - "Ebisu Rendez vous"
Mp3: Sheryo - "J'élabore (2000)"
Mp3: Sheryo - "Je Reste Underground"
Mp3: La Caution - "Player"
Mp3: La Caution - "Peines de maures"
Mp3: La Caution - "Chomage Voitures Nuits Blanches"
New respect for Stephen Colbert as he lets it rip. Amazing job of showing that nobody is safe from being the brunt of Colbert's jokes. Thx MMM for the heads up.
Check out the rest:
Part 2
Part 3
Make sure you make Mr. Werks hip hop show one of your Monday stops. On top of stellar graphic design work, Rootdown Radio puts together one of the best weekly 30 minute bumps in the business. Don't forget him or his past shows in the archive.
Didn't see this one coming. Sopranos 73 has a commentary about the familiarization of urban America, this urban trend of yupifying the inner-city, replacing locally run and businesses with ties to the community with trendy juice and coffee shops. Read this in the journal of Urban Studies sure...but in the Sopranos? Didn't see it coming. Very cool.
While I realize that urban planning and issues of urban "redevelopment/renewal" don't interest everyone I found this Sopranos especially interesting. Contrasting a racist old lady (above) of the neighborhood and a place that has live chickens laying eggs downtown with a mock Starbucks and Tony selling out to Jamba Juice.
Best line of the whole episode happens during the closing scene where Patsy and Burt visit Caputo's poultry store to collect the weekly take. Caputo informs them that Tony has sold the building to Jamba Juice. Patsy exits angrily. Outside he questions "What the f**k is happening to this neighborhood?" Classic stuff.
