Common + Nas + No ID: A Look Into Ghetto Dreams
Brotherhood. These three are inspire me to make great music. Time to hit the lab again…
“”“He’s a musician, but because of sampling, he can’t get a job. Because of drum machines, his drummer can’t get no work. He said, ‘You’re not a real musician.’ I said, ‘What you mean I’m not a real musician? I got a platinum album.’ He said, ‘You’re not a real musician. You don’t know nothing about music.’”
It was at that point that RZA’s outlook began to change. “He was right. I couldn’t tell him what a C note was. So he challenged me, basically…”
The Black Keys: Too Afraid To Love You
One of many beautiful Black Keys tracks. If this doesn’t touch your soul, your heart probably isn’t beating.
!llmind: Behind The Curtain
!llmind has a new album out called Behind The Curtain & as a bonus he is including the audio stems for each track. I hope more artists follow his lead as I’m always interested in analyzing & dissecting the songs that I know & love.
Shout out to the E-MU MP7 making a cameo in the video. I might just bring mine out of retirement.
Waxpoetics: D.I.T.C.
“Nearly twelve years after the fatal shooting of Lamont “Big L” Coleman on February 15, 1999, the whole story behind his homicide has yet to surface beyond reasonable suspicions linked to the vengeful murder of his older brother, Leroy Phinazee, three years later. Nonetheless, all signs of Big L’s continual presence in hip-hop remain clear with millions of YouTube hits under his name, dozens of songs and live shows in his honor, and a documentary on the late MC’s life story in the works. The coinciding release of his third (and second posthumous) album, Return of the Devil’s Son, says a lot about the potency of Big L’s legacy.
Throughout it all, one important story remains intertwined with his—the longevity of his extended music family, Diggin’ in the Crates, as a signature brand in hip-hop. For old and new fans, that brand will always remain tied to milk crates packed full of vinyl, SP drum machines, Technic turntables, sample-heavy beats, and gritty inner-city tales. Despite the early loss of one of their youngest and most valuable players, D.I.T.C. has continually helped shape the core of hip-hop over the last two decades with ties to some of the East Coast’s biggest legends…
The crew’s original members took their first big step as a collective in early 1990 when Lord Finesse began reaching out to record labels to gauge interest levels in the music industry…
During those early years, while Finesse played the role of front man, mentor, and salesman, his South Bronx neighbors, Diamond D, Showbiz, AG, and their local dealer, Fat Joe, stuck by his side and pitched in with their own music efforts. As the D.I.T.C. crew began to grow and gain clout, three other members—Buckwild, OC, and Big L—soon joined up. ”
Before The Music Dies
This is the trailer for the 2006 music documentary Before The Music Dies. It’s worth watching just to hear Erykah Badu speak truth. The documentary is currently streaming on Hulu. You can watch it here.
Dr. Quandary: Misconceptions
Dope track off of one of my favorite instrumental albums from last year, Beyond All Spheres of Force & Matter by Dr. Quandary. Get the track free here.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of his album here, as well as his new collaboration with Louis Mackey called The Dioscuri.
Chuck D: Never Have So Many Been Pimped By So Few
“I turned 50 this year. Everyday I get the question whats up with Hip-Hop today. If nothing was wrong the question wouldn’t be the dominating question I get…
I am tired of the silence of people that know better. There is nothing worse than a person that knows better and does worse. Or says nothing...
To dictate to a community and not even live or be with the people is offensive. VIACOMs reach into Africa to turn HIP-HOP in to Amerfrica, which is as exploitative as those slave-makers who carried us across on boats. The decisions made in a boardroom in New York City while these cats scurry to their high rises, and suburban mansions from cultural profiteering must stop. And I’m going to do something about it ”
Ghostface Killah: Supreme Clientele 2 is coming…
Best news I’ve heard all year. Can’t wait to hear what the sequel to Supreme Clientele sounds like. Hope RZA is on deck as executive producer.
