It's Adam grabbing the blog again:
It's been a while since this site has been active. I'm struggling for new music. Any suggestions? I already exhausted the lil wayne anthology (psych!), so I need some new direction.
Blue Scholars helped me out big-time during the late summer, and after checking out Little Brother live a few weeks ago, I dug them out of the vaults to freshen things up. I still think they are "the best hip hop group you've never heard of." Watching them live was insane. Best show I've seen in years. If the Roots didn't exist--and judging by their last album, they might not anymore, at least not how I know them--Little Brother would be my favorite group. I also picked up Foreign Exchange, which is Phonte from LB and Nicolay producing. It's more singing than rhyming, but Phonte is a freaking star and he can sing.
The new Kanye material is growing on me. Coldest Winter is pretty good. He's singing to his mom. Even though he can't sing, the audio effects hide his deficiencies pretty well. And at least I don't have to listen to him try to rhyme, which is sometimes unbearable.
Common has a few new songs out. One is the Afrikaa Bambataa wannabe track (can't remember the name) and then he put out the Obama tribute "Changes", which is mediocre. His new album is coming out in December, "Universal Mind Control".
Otherwise, I am struggling for some freshness. What y'all got?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
So glad the blog is back! I am struggling for new tunes as well. The last thing I bought was the new Kanye and I'm still on the fence. I need to listen to it a few more times through in order to really judge it. At least I give him points for creativity, as always.
Where is everyone??
Adam,
Props for posting on here. The newest album that I got is Santogold. Simba put me up on it when I went to D.C. That albums pretty nice and is really different for me. I have the M.I.A. album but I'm still getting into it. I finally bought the last Brother Ali (Undisputed Truth) album last weekend in addition to a Prefuse 73 album from 2001. The Brother Ali is Brother Ali. It has nice lyrics but just isn't classic or anything. Prefuse 73 is really nice. It's an electronic album with heavy hip hop influences. It's a great one to have on in the background while people are over or something.
As for Kanye, I've heard some of the album and I like it so far. However, I could see myself getting sick of it pretty quickly. Has anybody heard 88 Keys or Q Tip?
I actually really like Kanye's album. I always thought he was musically-gifted, but his rapping was always a little sub-par (heavy breathing, sometimes corny rhymes, etc).
I heard Q-tip's, but not enough to make a judgment yet. I'll have to give it a few more listens.
I just got the new one from Black Milk: Tronic. It's niiiiiice. Detroit cat. He's more of a producer but his rhymes aren't bad. His beats are damn good. I highly recommend it.
I got a few tracks off Evidence's new album, the Layover. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a nice track. It has Phonte from Little Brother.
The new Common songs that I mentioned are really growing on me. Universal Mind Control and Announcement are pretty nice. That album should be out this week or next.
I was so desperate for new music that I bought the new John Legend. Not a good investment. He suckered me in by doing a collabo with Dancehall legend Buju Banton, my favorite dancehall artist of all time.
I think Mos Def might have a new album coming soon, too. I found a new track of his on iTunes called Life in Marvelous Times. Only gave it a few listens, and so far it's so-so. He actually raps for once, so that's good, but he sounds like he's trying to mimic the cadence of young jeezy style rappers. I don't know what to make of it yet.
There's new (and sad) news on the Roots front. The greatest band in hip hop history is set to play backup to...Jimmy Fallon? The Roots are gonna be the house band when Fallon takes over Late Night from Conan O'Brien. Weird. They won't be touring much after that, so if you get the chance, check them out while you can.
I also found out that I missed an unannounced Roots/Cee Lo concert in the Chi. FUCK! these cats have no mercy. They just want to hurt me as much as possible. I saw some video of the show. Cee lo busted out some old school goodie mob with the roots backing him up. i hate myself for missing that, even if it was unannounced and i had no way of knowing about it.
Adam and Megan:
Keep a player posted on the Chi-town concerts. If something really major is coming up I can hop on a plane and get there.
I actually see quite a bit of live music here but the good acts are independent rock or rock jam bands. Some of these acts are really good. If any of you come to town I'll bring you around to some of the live music spots but we will almost exclusively find indie rock.
There are virtually no good hip-hop shows here and it irritates me! This is why I need Chicago. So keep me in loop man.
Things may change soon because Atmosphere sold out this rock venue a week in advance and the Roots and Brother Ali shows were packed. However, I am not seeing anybody coming here in the next couple months aside from Mac Lethal out of Kansas City. Please help if you can. I'm dying here.
I would love to see a show with you guys! I haven't seen any live music in forever, hip-hop or otherwise. I will look around.
Adam - I picked up Black Milk this morning and have been listening to it all day. Great recommendation!
On unrelated note, I was supposed to have my first trial today and it got kicked until Feb. I have never been so stressed out! Huge props to you guys (Tim, Ben) for doing that shit on a regular basis! I almost quit my job.
this blog is so stale right now. bad business.
here's a link to a mixtape to keep y'all crying in your hot cocoa...its called the winter sadness mix.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/matcpl
here's the tracklist for the mix:
Tracklist:
Bill Withers - Hope She’ll Be Happier
The Ordells - Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee
William Bell - Everybody Loves A Winner
Sam Cooke - Trouble Blues
Sleepy Brown - Curse On You
Demarco - Fallen Soldier (DJ Eleven remix)
Ann Peebles - Trouble Heartaches & Sadness
Ying Yang Twins - Wind
The Notorious BIG - Suicidal Thoughts
Tom Jones - Motherless Child
The Clash - Straight To Hell
Lost Boyz - Renee
Marvin Gaye - I Wish It Would Rain
Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science feat. Zumbi - For Your Love
Bobby Womack - Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out (Nobody’s Safe Chump)
Bill Withers - Better Off Dead
The Smiths - Death Of A Disco Dancer
Kanye West - Coldest Winter
Al Green - Strong As Death (Sweet As Love)
Isley Brothers - Ain’t I Been Good to You Pt. 2
UGK - One Day
I sorry b luc. M'fr been busy with life love & spirituality. I've been slipping like sleet or a wintry mix that began to melt and was hit with a second blast of frigid air. Thanks for being giving traction again by giving me the virtual pimp slap.
Mucho gracias for the mix in addition to the tracklist. Ya'll are carrying me. H'er, this has always been a collective effort. Feel free to post whenever you feel the need to send a soulful blast of energy out to the cyber-ether.
The iTunes single of the week is a new K'naan song. Very pop-y (it's w/ Adam Levine) but I like it. And it's free!
Post a Comment