I do believe this is becoming a bit of a yearly tradition. Also be sure to check out Soul Sides for A Cold Chillin’ Christmas, with Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante and MC Shan.
My copy of Christmas Rappin’ comes from a 45 put out by Mercury. I think I found it on a record dig in Tucson.
Happy holidays and thanks for reading throughout the year. And update those bookmarks: www.somuchsilence.com.
Kurtis Blow | Christmas Rappin’
While we wait for the sophomore LP from Quannum’s Lifesavas (titled Gutterfly), I was sent this remix of a song whose original version I’m only guessing will end up on Gutterfly because it wasn’t on the group’s debut Spirit in Stone. Until I can confirm that, the only thing I’m sure of is that this is one of the more unique unions of musicians, with guest spots from Nas, who’s all over the place lately, and Fishbone, whose horns and sort of spooky chants in the chorus take me right back to those Truth and Soul days. I have yet to listen Nas’ new album, Hip-Hop is Dead – mostly for fear of another letdown (I’ve come to grips that there never will be another Illmatic). His turn here feels slightly off-kilter, if not a little preachy. He closes out the song by talking to nobody in particular, as some rappers are wont to do: “If you asking, why is hip-hop dead / there’s a pretty good chance you’re the reason it died” It’s too bad Nas feels the need to get a little righteous because Lifesavas turn in two great verses with metered rhyme schemes that better complement the beat and Fishbone’s horn play.
Lifesavas (feat. Nas and Fishbone) | Dead Ones (remix)
Money Mark is probably better known as the keyboardist for the Beastie Boys, though he does have an extensive discography, combining both solo and collaborative efforts. Pick Up the Pieces is the first single off his upcoming LP Brand New By Tomorrow, on Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records (but don’t hold that against him … OK, that was a snobby thing to say). It’s touted as a break-up album, but if the rest of the songs carry the breezy, jazz-style instrumentation that’s on Pick Up the Pieces, then it may be hard to identify it as a somber affair. Let’s just say you won’t be moved to tears by any of the lyrics here: “You got me pickin’ up all my pieces / put ’em back in my pocket in case I need them.” Still, the interplay between the piano and bass carries the day. And that’s enough for me.
Money Mark | Pick Up the Pieces
ADMINISTRATIVE: Posting in the next couple of days likely will be coming from someone other than me (insert cheers here). We are headed for Chicago for the weekend, and for the first time I’m not looking forward to it. It’s for a funeral of a close family friend. Nevertheless, someone will prevent mold from building up around here while I am away.
I blindly stumbled upon Monsieur Leroc because he’s part of the Cornerstone Recording Arts Society collective, also home to AWOL One, the Shape Shifters and $martyr (all of whom have been featured at some point here). I’m Not Young But I Need the Money (love the title) is the third release for Leroc, who’s from Germany. His funk-happy sound-collage style ensures that Beck, Cut Chemist and/or Jamie Lidell will be referenced as comparisons in practically every review and bio. Nevertheless, Leroc is the type of artist I feel I’ve gravitated toward more and more, especially this past year: a one-man show who finds comfort and something just right about being a little unorthodox (see also, the Gray Kid and Baby Dayliner). Some of the scattershot composition feels disjointed at first. Without the benefit of liner notes (got it at eMusic), I can’t be sure of what’s been sampled or what’s been played live. Still, the cut-and-paste arrangements are strangely compelling: part funk, part hip-hop, part lounge. Cooley McCoolsen, the lead track, is a perfect example of how Leroc somehow makes all these elements very agreeable.
Monsieur Leroc | Cooley McCoolsen
The Q-Tip Mix (Side A and Side B) brought an e-mail request (thanks, Matt) for a song called Sh.Fe.MC’s, a collaboration between De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. It just so happens I have that puppy on vinyl on a De La EP called Clear Lake Audiotorium, which, in its original form (clear vinyl), was limited to 500 pressings. If Wikipedia is to believed (and, come one, I believe EVERY word on it), I have a bootlegged copy of Clear Lake because mine is on black vinyl. (And I probably was ripped off: I still have the receipt with the record – $25. Ah well. I was young and naive.)
Either way, the EP features four songs from De La’s great Buhloone Mindstate and two extras: Sh.Fe.MC’s and Stix & Stonz, featuring Grandmaster Caz, Tito of the Fearless Four, Whipper Whip, LA Sunshine and Superstar.
Nothing quite brings me back to such a time of music discovery as hearing De La and Tribe together. These guys were IT, the pinnacle. I went crazy for a time in the early-mid 90s, getting my hands on anything I could by these two groups – CD singles, cassette singles (ahem, “cassingles”), 12″ vinyl, anything (even bootlegs, apparently). And it was all far too sentimental to ever get rid of. So to have someone years later ask for it really makes me proud to be the pack rat that I am when it comes to music.
And to think I saw saw them live in 1993 (with Souls of Mischief) really blows me away more than 10 years later. Ah, stories for the grandkids.
De La Soul (feat. A Tribe Called Quest) | Sh.Fe.MC’s
Thanks to Soul Sides for pointing this out. The Coup and Mr. Lif, on tour together, were involved in a near-fatal bus crash outside of San Diego. The bus flipped over and burst into flames.
Boots Riley of the Coup is asking fans for help in the form of donations on the group’s MySpace page. I’m trying to put together a possible auction of some goodies to help the effort. More on that soon.
Do yourself a favor and check out some tracks, purchase their albums and help them get back on their feet.
The Coup | My Favorite Mutiny
(From Pick a Bigger Weapon.)
Mr. Lif | Mo’ Mega mixtape (mixed by DJ Big Wiz, also in the crash)
(Buy Mo’ Mega.)
So here’s Side B of the Q-Tip Mix. Get Side A here and the cover art here (thanks to Garrison).
In the interest of time (and bandwidth), I know I’m missing a couple – notably, Jungle Brothers’ Black is Black; Nas’ One Love (produced by Tip, who also sings the chorus); Organized Konfusion’s Let’s Organize (another chorus-only refrain for Tip).
However, on this side, you’ll get a previously unreleased De La Soul track from the A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays CD single and a Buddy remix that’s just about as great as the original; ditto for the Scenario remix. And, yeah, that’s Janet Jackson. What of it?
What else am I missing?
Essential Q-Tip Mix, Side B :
7. Janet Jackson (feat. Q-Tip, Joni Mitchell) | Got Til It’s Gone
8. De La Soul (feat. Q-Tip, Phife and others) | Buddy (remix)
9. Del the Funky Homosapien (feat. Q-Tip, Pep Love) | The Undisputed Champs
10. Beastie Boys (feat. Q-Tip) | Get It Together
11. De La Soul (feat. Q-Tip) | What Yo Life Can Truly Be (previously unreleased)
12. A Tribe Called Quest (feat. Leaders of the New School) | Scenario (remix)
In his prime, Tip was all over the place, guesting as a producer and emcee for others; he’s made a bit of a comeback with Tribe’s reunion and a spot on DJ Shadow’s new album (included below). That’s what I’ve tried to compile here – some of his finest cameos.
Twelve tracks. Side A is today. Side B comes tomorrow. This isn’t meant to be all-inclusive, though I think you’ll dig a few of the gems in there (esp. a couple B-sides coming tomorrow).
Essential Q-Tip Mix, Side A:
1. Deee-Lite (feat. Q-Tip) | Groove is in the Heart
2. Mos Def (feat. Q-Tip and Tash) | Body Rock
3. The Roots (feat. Q-Tip) | Ital (The Universal Side)
4. Chemical Brothers (feat. Q-Tip) | Galvanize
5. DJ Shadow (feat. Q-Tip and Lateef) | Enuff
6. Busta Rhymes (feat. Q-Tip) | Ill Vibe
First off, I don’t even know if k-os’ new album Atlantis: Hymns for Disco is available in the U.S. I’ve looked at the usual spots and can’t find it, other than having to pay exorbitant prices to get it as an import. That means you should buddy up with a Canadian right quick and beg him to get this album and send it to you.
Born in Trinidad and raised in Toronto, k-os (stands for knowledge of self, pronounced like “chaos”) draws from so many styles it’s difficult to absorb at first. He slides in and out of hip-hop, dancehall, reggae, rock. But then, after about two listens, I found myself humming the chorus to Sunday Morning out of the blue, leading me right back to the disc.
The promotional folks want to call this the Crazy of the new year, and they might not be too far off. It’s uplifting, catchy and has a hell of a singable chorus: “Every day is Saturday night, but I can’t wait for Sunday morning.” That theme of daily renewal probably would be corny in the hands of a less talented writer. Here, it’s rewarding and contagious.
Go on. Sing it.
k-os | Sunday Morning
BONUS:
Broken Social Scene (feat. k-os) | Windsurfing Nation
I’m guessing my man Royce – see him over there under “contributors”? (zing!) – could tell you more about Four Tet than I ever could. Royce is the electronic music brains of this operation. Me? I see Jay Dee’s name and I’ll listen. Hip-hop, y’all. So it’s a beautiful thing when it all comes together.
I’ve actually never heard this song in its original form. In a way, I sort of like that, going in reverse. Listen to the remix first, then the original. So many times I become too enamored with an original that I don’t want it to be rearranged. So here I’ll take the rearranging first and strip away the dynamics of it and absorb the original later.
Jay Dee, whose name you’ll see popping up on year-end lists for Donuts and The Shining, took a walking bass line (or maybe it’s jogging) as a foundation and layers over it with a cooled-out front-porch beat and various vocal elements, including raps from Guilty Simpson.
The Four Tet Remixes album is available through Domino Recording Company.
Four Tet | As Serious As Your Life (Jay Dee Remix)
