Rumors are that this one will be on Lloyd Banks upcoming solo album (title still TBA). If not, it will at least get you hyped for it. See what we thought about Banks a few months back here. Shouts to Party and the Noodle for bringin’ this one to my attention.
Sometimes there is nothing like being in the studio. For two hours from midnight to 2 AM every Sunday (technically Monday) me and Dizzy get to rock out to our favorite hip-hop songs to thousands of listeners. Tonight’s playlist featured the likes of Sean Price, Sene, Outerspace, Apathy, and J. Cole. Be sure to catch these songs on a mixtape or I-Tunes store near you.
Playlist after the jump.
The two weeks between the Championship Round and the Super Bowl always seem like the longest two weeks of the year. For one thing, sportscasters give the same cursory analysis on Day 14 that they do on Day 1, so by about Day 6 I’ve heard enough monotony from John Clayton and Mark Schlereth to put even the most alert infant immediately to sleep. It’s all made good today though: Kick Off at 6:25PM EST on CBS with good food and good friends, and it’s 100 that it’s going to be a good game (with crack commercials). You want an official Benz and a Backpack prediction? Hit the skip. Plus get a peek at the hottest retro Jordan colorway to drop in a hot minute, a Dilla X Stussy collaborative tribute to the deceased producer, both old and new music from Big Pun (R.I.P. 2/7/00), and more.
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Two summers ago I was lucky enough to catch the Paid Dues Tour at New York City’s Nokia Theatre in Times Square. I was particularly excited for it because the lineup included a bunch of artists I’d never seen in concert before: Kidz in the Hall, dudes from Boot Camp Clik, Blackalicious, GZA, all culminating in what I hoped would be a satisfying set from the godfather of hip-hop, Rakim.
I remember the show with particular clarity because my boys and I endured an hour-and-a-half-long train ride that should’ve only lasted twenty-five minutes. The stifling June heat had us sweating our shirts out while we were held in station after station by train dispatchers. People in our car were fanning themselves with whatever they had: Yankees and Mets fitteds, celebrity gossip magazines, folded-up copies of the Daily News (with a picture of a smiling Barack Obama- who’d just secured the Democratic Presidential nomination- under a headline that read: ‘HISTORY!’).
Once we pulled into 42nd Street, we bobbed and weaved through swarms of people in the station and on the fume-filled streets (hustling because we were already way late), and by the time we got to the Nokia Theatre we’d practically melted. Making it through security felt like clouds parting to allow us entrance into a very well air-conditioned heaven.
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Nice backpack.
Hip-hop is a genre that can be compared to a giant collage. Every artist is set aside a space in which they can make their mark. But sometimes, someone gets their chance and paints something so uniquely different and satisfying that their piece of the collage overtakes the others. It affects the outward projection of the collage as a whole, changing the schematics of of how people interpret it. Six years ago, Kanye West not only got his shot, but created a space for others to follow in his footsteps. Most notably, Drake’s recent emergence is an urgent reminder of one person’s ability to take a deep breath and blow some fresh air into the hip-hop world.
I still remember the first time I was ever exposed to Kanye West’s music. With MTV humming in the background, I was getting ready to leave my house. Just as I was about to turn off the television, Kanye’s video for “Through The Wire” came on and I was stuck. The video had a bulletin board theme, and the camera panned in and out on different polaroid picture boxes filled with images and videos encapsulating Kanye’s life. While Kanye was known in the industry world for producing hits for the likes of Jay-Z, Cam’ron, and others, he was still unkown to the general public. While Kanye’s public perception has certainly changed, in his early days he came across as a humble guy who fought through the pain of a nasty car accident to release his first studio album. More important than his personal story, Kanye’s sound began breaking down barriers in a way that shifted the direction of hip-hop.
I’m a night person, nearly nocturnal, and so you can frequently find me doing what I do (which usually includes playing with torches, various tools, and metals) at 3 AM… I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t have the proper music selection to keep me going through the night.
Making the right choices at 3AM can be difficult. It needs to be something chill, but not boring. It needs to keep me pumped, but definitely not on an off-the-wall partying tip. My choices tend to have some sort of bizarre hypnotic, dream-like quality I can’t really put my finger on, but it breaks up what could otherwise potentially turn into a monotonous stream of music. I’ve found that, in hip-hop, this quality was most prevalent among independent artists in the mid-90’s.
I’m gonna start this up with something off of… Nocturnal! DUH.
Heltah Skeltah: Undastand
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Domino: Sweet Potato Pie
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Smif ‘N’ Wessun: Shinin… Next Shit
I love this entire album so so much… But I’ve probably mentioned that before.
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I don’t want to get into anymore arguments about sampling. I don’t want to hear about how it violates some arbitrary sense of integrity. And I DEFINITELY don’t want to hear about how it discourages creativity. This, right here, is some genius-type shit. Did anyone have any clue that “On To The Next One” was built on a Justice sample? Hell no you did not. Watch this:
That is nuts, and you know it. The essence of sampling: one great creative work inspiring another. Are you surprised that Pharrell and Q-Tip put Swizzy on to “D.A.N.C.E.”? Great minds inspired by great music inspiring each other. DO NOT argue with me about sampling anymore. DO NOT try to stifle great minds. Hit the jump to see Mr. Keys recap how the whole process went down.
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