Category Archives: hip-hop

El-P and Bomb the System soundtrack

October 18, 2005 Kevin 2 Comments

So I made my weekly visit to the Definitive Jux Web site on Monday and came across some intriguing news. The ubiquitous El-P has posted a new song for the Bomb the System soundtrack on his My Space page. (Relax, mp3 is below.)

From what I can tell, Bomb the System — an indie flick centering on a group of NYC graffitti artists — came out in 2003 but only recently was released on DVD, on Oct. 11. El-P wrote the score for the movie.

I don’t know if there will be a soundtrack to buy or what. I hope there will be because this track, Krazy Kings 3, is some insane shite. The thing I love about El-P is you always know what to expect and yet his style and production never get old or stale. Krazy Kings 3 has some bombin’ drums and that grimy, street styling that El-P has perfected.

~~El-P | Krazy Kings 3~~

BONUS BEATS
Murs (feat. El-P) | The Dance

hip-hop

Jewish hip-hop: Matisyahu and Hip Hop Hoodios

October 17, 2005 Kevin 4 Comments

Because I work at a newspaper, I spend a lot of time reading wire stories from papers across the country. I came across one from the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union about the emergence of Jewish hip-hop in the mainstream. Being that I’m half-Jewish (the other half Irish-Catholic) and a fan of hip-hop, I was naturally intrigued.

Matisyahu — the self-proclaimed “Hasidic Reggae Superstar” (as if there are a lot of those) — has earned some blog time for his Live at Stubb’s album. The guy’s back story is very interesting. Among the highlights: He won’t perform on Jewish holidays or the Sabbath (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) and he regularly consults with his rabbi before touring so as not to violate Jewish customs.

Then there’s Hip Hop Hoodios, a group its members call a “Latino-Jewish urban music collective.” And I gotta say: Havana Nagila is great. Opening line: “I’m a Jew for thugs / a Jew for hugs.” You can buy their full-length Agua Pa La Gente here.

Just upon first listen, I think the best part is that neither of these acts comes off as a novelty; their religion is the foundation, but the music is strong in itself.

Matisyahu | King Without a Crown

Hip Hop Hoodios | Havana Nagila
Hip Hop Hoodios | Raza Hoodia

In other news, I gotta give a shout-out to Chad at Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands. My brother e-mailed me the other day to let me know how much he liked Everybody Cares. So I messaged Chad to joke (or was it?) that my brother likes his blog better than mine.But that’s OK, because Chad has got us covered with Elliott Smith (including an excellent post on his old band Heatmiser) and some pretty sweet covers on Saturdays (for those at the computer on weekends). And I know his blog is money because he talked about his wife’s worry of his blog obsession, which sounds awfully familiar around these parts. Blog widows, unite! Anyway, check his site and all the others to the right.

hip-hop, samples

Samples: before and after

October 10, 2005 Kevin 6 Comments

This is the first in what I plan on making a recurring feature on this blog. It sort of marries my interests in hip-hop and vinyl. Basically, I’ll link a hip-hop song and — if I own it or can find it on vinyl — I’ll digitize the sample used in said song. Why? Because I can. And (not to sound too righteous) because I think it’s important that the original song is given its due in its original form.

That’s why I chose Kanye West’s Gold Digger as my first selection. I gotta say, I was at first excited to hear he used a great Ray Charles song I Got a Woman as the main loop. That is, until I heard Jamie Foxx alter the lyrics in the opening (sigh):

Jamie Foxx/Kanye West: “She takes my money when I’m in need / yeah she’s a trifling friend indeed”
Ray Charles: “She gives me money when I’m in need / yeah she’s a kind of friend indeed”

If you ask me, Ray’s vision of the song is totally lost here. He was writing an ode to his woman. Kanye’s is a knock on women. This is what happens when Jamie Foxx gets involved.

You be the judge:

Kanye West | Gold Digger
Ray Charles | I Got a Woman

hip-hop

Tajai and SupremeEx: Nuntype

October 7, 2005 Kevin 3 Comments

You know what I love about the Hieroglyphics crew? They’re always doing something new, even if it is hard to keep up with it all the time.

That brings me to Nuntype, the collaborative full-length project between Tajai (of Souls of Mischief) and Philadelphia producer SupremeEx that will drop on Oct. 25 (Rumble Pack Records). The pair released an EP, Projecto: 2501, in 1999.

Nuntype seems to have a futuristic concept (perhaps in the vein of Deltron) that also focuses on artwork and visual storytelling. If you ask me, Tajai has become one of the Hiero’s most stellar and versatile emcees, so I’m looking forward to this release.

Tajai and SupremeEx | Formless
Tajai | Do It (from his solo record Power Movement)

hip-hop

The Coup: new track

October 4, 2005 Kevin 4 Comments

Spine Magazine hooks us up again. This time, it’s a new cut from the Coup called My Favorite Mutiny, featuring Black Thought of the Roots and Talib Kweli. I love this track, especially the piano loop. But — and I may take some heat for this — I’m not a huge fan of Talib Kweli. Not sure how to describe it. I’ve tried to like him, I just don’t. Oh well.

The Coup | My Favorite Mutiny
The Coup | The Shipment (from the classic Steal this Album)

hip-hop

Digable Planets: Best of CD

October 2, 2005 Kevin Leave a comment

More news on the Digable Planets front: The group will release a best of album on Tuesday, Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spies Chronicles on Blue Note Records. The album includes some remixes and a previously unreleased track. Buy it here.

After a reunion tour this summer, the trio is back out on the road this fall.

A couple tracks from Creamy Spies:

Digable Planets | Dedication (converted from 12″ 9th Wonder single)
Digable Planets | 3 Slim’s Dynamite (stream recorded from Giant Step jukebox)

arizona, hip-hop

DJ Radar’s Concerto for Turntable

September 30, 2005 Kevin 6 Comments

I’ve talked up Z-Trip quite a bit on this site, but now I’m shifting gears (pun intended) for a post on his former Bombshelter DJs mate Radar.

If you live in the New York area, Radar is providing a special treat on Sunday. He’s performing his Concerto for Turntable, a three-movement concerto that features the turntable as the centerpiece instrument alongside sixty collegiate classical musicians. Oh, did I mention the performance is taking place at Carnegie Hall? Buy your tickets here.

Radar is like a mad scientist on the turntable. He developed a system called “scratch notation,” which, according to the concerto site, documents all of the scratching techniques that can be performed on a turntable and translates them into Western musical notation.

Watching Radar live is pretty amazing. He was the turntable technician of the Bombshelter crew. Having seen the Bombshelter boys on a regular basis back in the day, I dare say his scratching is unmatched by any of his peers. His dexterity is absurd, and his fingers move with wild precision.

I wouldn’t pass the chance to see this event.

DJ Radar | Radar Frees Tibet (Gasho mix)
DJ Radar presents Four Hand Stroke | Antimatter

hip-hop

New Pharoahe Monch track

September 20, 2005 Kevin 1 Comment

Was there a more underrated hip-hop group in the 1990s than Organized Konfusion? Stress: The Extinction Agenda is a must-have for any collection. Although the group dissolved, Prince Poetry and Pharoahe Monch have branched off into solo careers.

Prince Po dropped The Slickness last year, and Monch got some mainstream attention with the slammin’ single Simon Says off Internal Affairs in 1999.

It appears Monch is back with the new single Book of Judges, an angry political track that sounds like he’s employed a live rock band to back him. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Give it a whirl. (Props to Spine Magazine.)

Pharoahe Monch Book of Judges

cassette, hip-hop

Atban Klann: the finale

September 18, 2005 Kevin 5 Comments

You asked for it, you got it: The final few tracks from Atban Klann’s Grass Roots, from the group that now is the Black Eyed Peas. For those that missed the previous three posts, scroll down.

The final few tracks offer my favorite, Puddles of H20, which I also own as a 12″ single on vinyl (which is, unfortunately, slightly warped). Another gem is La Borio Woman Beater, a Slick Rick-like narrative. Notice the title Duet, which was revived on Behind the Front, although this Duet is a much better song.

Football wrap-up: After a rough go of it last week, I rebounded nicely this weekend. For starters, Arizona State (No. 18 in AP poll) stomped Northwestern 52-21 and, in the process, rolled up a school-record 773 yards of offense. Sam Keller threw for 409 yards and four TDs, and freshman stud Keegan Herring finished with 197 yards on 23 attempts. Next up: Pac-10 opener at Oregon State this week.

Then on Sunday, the Bears punked the Lions 38-6, intercepting Joey Harrington five times, which surely made Chris long for the days of Rodney Peete (or maybe Erik Kramer? Yikes). QB Kyle Orton and WR Muhsin Muhammad hooked up on a 28-yard TD, and Thomas Jones rushed for 139 yards and two TDs.But it was the Bears’ defense that carried me to a huuuuge victory in my money fantasy league, and Terrell Owens’ big game. Did I mention I picked up Owens in the THIRD ROUND?

Then I rode T. Jones and Bears ‘D’ and toppled Ryan in our Blogger Fanatasy Football league, giving me ample trash-talking opportunities in Austin this weekend. That improves me to 2-0 with a clash vs. Chris this week while we’re in Austin. I smell wagers.

cassette, hip-hop

Atban Klann, Part III

September 15, 2005 Kevin 4 Comments

OK, six more tracks from Grass Roots, the album that never was released by Atban Klann (aka the Black Eyed Peas when the Black Eyed Peas were cool). This bunch includes pretty sweet tracks, including Focus on You and No Sequel. Like Chris and Dodge said, it makes you sad for what BEP has become — in a word, sellouts.

One more batch tomorrow, which will include the hottest track on the album (in my opinion), will be the last of it. Enjoy.