The inspirations behind the creation of this blog were the many crew arguments about music. They ranged from my fierce defense of any Nas song or album that my friends thought was totally garbage to why mainstream gangsta rap is a part of a conspiracy to bring about the elimination of the black male. Mostly contained within our personal emails and conversations, these conversations have been withheld from a general populace suffering from musical confusion and commercially dazzled.
With regard to underground music sites at which people leave comments and blogs, I have found many of the discussions to be childish and non-substantive. I do recognize that there must be blogs out there providing real heads ups on new artists, analyzing current stuff, and turning cats on to slept on old school records. Much love to y'all. However, with the musical minds contained within the crew known as the Shady Group L.L.P. we will be providing a delightfully quirky and intelligent peer.
To get this thing rolling, Here are my top 7 albums of this fall:
- Thievery Corporation - The Mirror Consiprary
I knew all these songs but I just copped the CD. This CD works for me almost any time.
- Brother Ali - Shadows on the Sun
This CD is so old but I just bought it. Brother Ali hooked me when I saw him in concert with Psalm One. Most of the people at that show had no idea of who he was and he rocked it. This CD is solid.
- A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
As a friend of mine always says, "I had to reach back and pull forward" on this one. I always listened to this disk in a friends car but I never got a chance to analyze it. Of course, this album is dope but not as dope as "Low End Theory". This album does have better singles of the strength of the classics "Electric Relaxation" and "Award Tour."
- Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
Shoutout to my homeboy at work who turned me on to this record. Since that time, I have been playing this at work nonstop. Its a mix between the spaced out vibe of "Bitches Brew" and his other more accessible stuff. This disk is ultra cool and can easily go from work to car to home cleaning or baby-making.
- MF Doom - Mm... Food?
I love this record and have been listening to this in my car consistently this fall. Its got the beats, the lyrics, and the thump I like in a car CD. Plus I can put these down south cats up on a little somthin' as I slip slide through the streets in my Carolla. As I roll, I want to scream "turn off the radio."
- Talib Kwele - Eardrum
Whoa. I hesitated buying this record as I was not happy with his last one. I heard "Say Somethin" before this album came out and sensed a little more edge to the heady flow of the BKMC. This album has ill lyrics with only one or two corny moments and phat production. I loved how the instrumental non-synth sounds were prevalent on this record. This is a great kick-off for Talib's new Blacksmith label.
- Pigeon John -Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party
This is my current fav. This dude brings me back to junior high school partner skate anxiety. I can see myself asking to pop this tape in on a family trip and knowing that nothing would be said to horrify Moms. Aside from its nostalgic feel, it works for me as an adult hip-hop listener. I love this album's production. The songs in this album just sound really good.
Thats its for me. Questions? Comments? Get at me.
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14 comments:
i have been listening to a lot of the pandora website, just for the convenience factor...my station has a lot of older stuff, curtis mayfield, stevie wonder, bill withers, smokey robinson, eighties love songs, lionel richie, cee lo, and other harmonious selections.
new stuff: anxiously awaiting the carter 3
and i never tire of hearing the same 60 tracks every weekend at the club..."white folks gangsters in the club, hey bebe"
almost bought the willie nelson cd at starbucks, but the fact that they were selling it seemed to defeat the purpose.
i also liked eardrum, and common's new one, and kanye(that shit grew on me like a motherfucker.)
i'm gonna see wu tang in jan.
http://music.miaminewtimes.com/2007-11-15/music/american-shill/
check out this link for an interesting deconstruction of jay-z.
also can't wait to hear something new from andre 3000
Yo pickens, I've been listening to three Tribe CDs and I am continually reminded of how good these cats were. Part of me wonders whether the 'Nostalgia Factor' (hereinafter NF) affects my feelings toward their body of work.
In my humble opinion though, the NF does not explain the quirkyness and smoothness that hooked me when hearing them on the radio back in the day.
Love this blog already, as if I need something else to distract me from work! One of the things I hate most about work (tough call) is that I hardly have any time to scour for info on new music. This blog should take care of that.
Anyway, I agree with BL that the new Common and Kanye albums are great. I also just picked up Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass" and Little Brother "Getback," both very good.
Yeah, I hear good things always about Little Brother. Any word on Atmosphere??
You know I had to get down on this. Make way for the hip-hop snob.
Little Brother's new one is great. I have it ranked better than The Minstrel Show but I don't know if I can put it above The Listening. Then again, all of their albums grow on me as I wear them out, so maybe the ranking will change.
Jazzy Jeff's "Return of the Magnificent" is pretty...magnificent. The track with J-Live has a sample of Allen Iverson's famous "Practice?" press conference implosion. The song is bananas.
Smif N Wessun just dropped another album. Before I skewer it, we need a moment of silence for "Da Shinin", quite possibly the greatest hip hop album of all time. Unfortunately, "Smif N Wessun: The Album" is not. Don't waste your time even downloading it. I'm sad just thinking about how bad it is.
9th Wonder's "Dream Merchant Vol 2" is getting some serious play in my car right now, as well. This dude just makes great music, whether or not you respect ProTools DJs. For anyone who doesn't know, 9th used to be in Little Brother and he worked with Buckshot from BCC and Black Moon fame on the album "Chemistry", another album I just recently picked up and have been playing heavily.
Camp Lo had a new album...also terrible.
Evidence from Dilated Peoples came out with "The Weatherman". I've only heard a few songs so far but they've been good. Anybody heard more of it?
Hi-Tek is supposedly dropping "Hi Teknology 3" sometime this year. Vol 2 was decent.
Marco Polo's "Port Authority" is pretty damn good, too. Some throw-aways but some really nasty tracks, too. Definitely worth the purchase.
Now if anybody wants to talk Reggaeton, let me know! Casa De Leones has been killing me lately!
just showing you some love, timmy.
Just downloaded an advance leaked copy of Hi Teknology 3. A review is forthcoming after 5 or 6 listens. Thank god for long car rides.
Is this blog dead? Or is everyone too zoned out with DR around the corner?
After a few listens, Hi Teknology has a lot of throwaways, due largely to the terrible rappers Hi Tek got on board. Most of the rhymes are terrible and these cats have some awful flow as well. There are a couple of really nice tracks, specifically one with Raekwon and Ghostface called "My Piano". I've been playing it over and over.
Also, check out "Dilla-Gence". Free download. Mixtape by Mick Boogie (of the Justus League--Little brother and em) and Busta Rhymes along with guests like Talib and Raekwon etc. The album is all unused Jay Dilla beats. If you don't know, Dilla was the guy behind a lot of Tribe, Slum Village, Common's Like Water For Chocolate, he heavily influenced the Roots and kanye and many other artists. It's a good mix. here's the link:
http://illroots.com/waxx/Mick%20Boogie%20-%20Dillagence%20%5BillRoots.com%5D.zip
If that link doesn't work, go to Mickboogie.com
His home page also has a free download of a mixtape of Kanye's Graduation, called "the Graduate". haven't listened to it yet. Too wrapped up in Dilla Gence and Hi Teknology so far.
Also just got Dilated Peoples' "Release Party" that came out in March but haven't listened to it yet.
Just spreading the word.
check out these sick flows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nTWT3CBnUA&feature=related
those links don't work adam
sheeit. the mickboogie website is down. I'll bring some burned isht to DR.
Is that the same Ahmad from "back in the days" fame? Nice flow. And Juice has always been underrated.
Thanks for the love homeslicers.
Y'all think that you know about music huh. Oh and Adam. This blog will never die baby.
Adam. I jacked all those mix cd's from the DR trip. I had to get em.
Keep it locked. I'm dropping at new discussion topic on Friday.
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