Zion I - The Takeover

Mi Gente:

Here is a message from a new rebel element on the blog (see the comments on my last post).

this one's not optional, fools.

buy this album!!!

http://www.zionicrew.com/news/zion-i-the-takeover-in-stores-now

best comprehensive, daring, and fundamentally sound sounds i've heard in 2009

the whole thing rides out. the yay area strikes again.

I've placed a link to their website in the links box.

Paz,

Slim

Classic Music Monologues

(I saw you)
Hey hey baby how ya doin' come on in here
(Walking in the rain)
Got some hot chocolate on the stove waiting for you
Listen first things first let me hang up the coat
(You were holding hands and I'll)
Yeah how was your day today
Did you miss me
(Never be the same)
You did? Yeah? I missed you too
I missed you so much I followed you today
(I saw you)
That's right now close your mouth
'Cause you cold busted
(Walking in the rain)
Now just sit down here, sit down here
I'm so upset with you I don't know what to do
(You were holding hands and I'll)
You know my first impulse was to run up on you
And do a Rambo
(Never be the same)
I was about to jam you and flat blast both of you
But I didn't wanna mess up this thirt-seven hundred dollar lynx coat
So instead I chilled -- That's right chilled
I called up the bank and took out every dime.
Than I cancelled all your credit cards...
I stuck you up for every piece of jewelery I ever bought you!
Don't go lookin' in that closet 'cause everything you came here with is
packed up and waiting for you in the guest room. What were you
thinking?
You don't mess with the Juice!
I gave you silk suits, blue diamonds and gucci handbags.
I gave you things you couldn't even pronounce!
But now I can't give you nothing but advice.
Cause you're still young, yeah, you're young.
And you're gonna find somebody like me one of these days . . .
Until then, you know what you gotta do?
You gotta get on outta here with that alley-cat-coat-wearing,
punch-bucket-shoe-wearing crumbcake I saw you with. Cause you
dismissed!
That's right, Silly rabbit, tricks are made for kids, don't you know
that. You without me is like corn flakes without the milk! This is my
world. You're just a squirrel trying to get a nut! Now get on outta
here. Scat!
Don't touch that coat...

(Note: I always have trouble posting links in comments so I put them in the links box on the side as well.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8utL-XzOp6g

Okay. Here is the a classic cut provided to me by my crazy friend in D.C. This fool used to have it as his ring tone. I was in a discussion last weekend about the current lack of song monologues and some of the classics I came across during my time on this side of the grass. I have to say that my favorite one is by the Floaters on their song "Float On." Check it. Warning: you will laugh and laugh hard upon watching this.



I also enjoyed the monologue on Boys 2 Men's "End of the Road." I gotta get back to filing bankruptcies for now but I will check back once I think of more.

Paz,

Slimster

Troubadour. Same K'NAAN?

Good Morning,

I haven't been feeling very inspired lately and have not created a new post to this blog in a minute. My spark was just released yesterday. As many of the readers of this resurgent blog know, K'NAAN just came out with his second cd, entitled Troubador. My circle has been eagerly awaiting this album. Surprisingly, K's popularity has been on the rise. I heard that his vidoes were featured on MTV. As a side, I have to say I wouldn't know whether or not this is true because I can proudly say that I have not watched that channel in over two years.

Anywho, increased popularity of any independent or underground artist gives rise to concern. Will he succumb to the temptation to compromise his music to reach a wider audience? Will he be manipulated to do so? Is there something about him or his music that leads you to believe that he will or will not be able to resist these pressures?


As for the album, I have to say up front that I'm really feeling it. I don't know if it's because it is one of the best albums I have heard in a while or if I have just been feenin' for some new K'NAAN stuff for two and a half years. I'm giving myself time to develop an objective view of the record. At the same time, I'm looking over the album for signs of an upcoming new jack swing toward larger mainstream appeal. I think the song Bang, Bang may be an indication of his ability to make pop-rockish music. The song's lack of hip hop appeal or his niche mother Africa focus may indicate some intent to develop such a sound.

To be honest with myself, I have no idea what this man will decide to do. I'm hoping that he will continue to improve his wordplay while continually educating us ignorant westerners with his seemingly exotic background. I think there is so much potential for hip hop with a global focus. On his new album, "Fifteen Minutes Away" simply nails it. The topic of a money transfer probably has not been explored in hip hop and his delivery blends with the whimsical sound well. I also really enjoy "Fatima" and "Fire in Freetown."

Well, I'm done rambling for today. Thanks to K'NAAN for waking up this blog. Keep doing what you do baby and please don't go pop.

Thoughts?

S O NE

New Music Needed...post suggestions.

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?

No Post, But no Worry

I'm thinking of something else to write about. Right now I am at work downloading a nice lil' reggae cd but nothing that you haven't heard about. I'm in another music doldrum.

Not to worry because I think I will find inspiration soon.

Laters,

Slim

Dancehall--Ill or Unintelligible?

Adam says he wants to discuss Dancehall. In short I can't get with it because I have no idea what they are talking about most of the time. I much prefer Roots Reggae where the vocalist sings slowly and allows you to understand what they are saying. That's pretty much my only beef with Dancehall aside from the commercial offshoots thereof.

--Slim O.NE

Lil' Wayne and the South--Illest in the Game?

Whattup fools,

Ya'll know me. You know that I don't usually f with radio music. If I do listen to the radio, you know I'm not listening to any on-air hip hop. On top of that, I don't have cable so I don't f with music videos either. With that being written, I currently believe that rap's reigning king is Lil' Wayne. I don't however, believe that there are not good arguments to the contrary. However, I'll let you suppy those.

While at a nightclub (While everyone was dancing uncontrollably to "Lillipop"), I was discussing this point with two friends. One of these being a die-hard Nas street disciple, the other being a dirrty south loyalist. The Nas disciple said that he always thought that east coast rappers had the best mix of street grime, lyrics, and raw production. However, he could not name four rappers that are as on top of their games right now as Lil' Wayne, T.I., Andre 3000, and Bun B. These dudes enjoy commercial success, but they are all sick ass mc's.

I submit that Lil' Wayne is holding the crown and in position to swing an iron mallet at the frozen commercial hip-hop world with the June release of "The Carter 3." If he does this right, he could bring me back to 1996 and 1997 when every car you heard was bumping some song off "All Eyez on Me" or some song off "Atliens" or some song off "Life After Death" or some song off "Makiaveli." When Carter 3 drops, everyone from wierdo suits like me, to cholos, to fake thugs, to babymama's, to cute chicks in Honda's will be taking it in. That is what the best in the game does. They make you wait for their album, and then live up to the all the hype when they hit you with it.

More generally, the south is running the game right now. That's it for now. I'll entertain questions, comments, and concerns at this time.