Benz and a Backpack

“You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far,” and I imagine nobody in the first thirty years of hip-hop did. Radio play? Yup. Magazines? Okay. Grammys? Probably. But fellowships at Harvard?

If anyone deserves a fellowship at an elite institution it’s 9th Wonder, who is one of the premier educators and practitioners of hip-hop. 9th has been teaching a soul sampling course at Duke University, and over the course of his career he has approached his music with an unparalleled level of intelligence and devotion. That devotion will be on display in The Harvard Fellowship, a film directed by Kenneth Price (who collaborated with 9th on The Wonder Years) that will document 9th’s year at Harvard, and hopefully dispel with the idea that “hip-hop” and “entertainment” are synonymous.

“The Harvard Fellow follows one of hip-hop’s most dynamic artists, 9th Wonder through a year of lecturing and research at Harvard University. While at Harvard, 9th will have an office on campus, teach a class on the history of hip-hop, complete a research project and further explore hip-hop’s history and culture in an academic setting.”

The research component to the project is especially interesting. 9th will spend the year unearthing and cataloguing the samples that make up his 10 favorite albums. For more information on The Harvard Fellow, visit the project’s website, and be sure to make even a nominal donation to The Harvard Fellow’s Kickstarter, because after all, money only grows on trees after you get a degree from Harvard.

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With “Crying Broke,” Consequence surely upped fans anticipation for Movies On Demand III even more. With an All-Star line up of alums from ATCQ, Little Brother & Slum Village, these three super emcees bring lyrical sophistication you won’t find many other places. We are one step closer to the Cons’ highly anticipated Movies On Demand 3 (which is apparently just days away). . Produced by The Produce Section.

Crying Broke by Consequence co-starring Rapper Big Pooh & Elzhi… Introducing Tannie J. by Consequence

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“Public Eye” is a remake of the classic Brand Nubian track “All For One.” The video, directed by Jack Cearnal, places Cons literally in front of a giant 35mm camera, and while Cons performs his sizzling verse the lens displays images of what he’s rapping about. The deal-sealer for me was Cons’ ill reference to Rajon Rondo’s tough performance in this year’s NBA playoffs: “For me BS-ing is clearly not option/so I’m a keep ballin like I’m Rondo’s other elbow socket.” No movement on Movies On Demand 3, although “Public Eye” is definitely on it. Whatever the hold up is, this must be a poignant time for Cons given his recent beef with Q-Tip (and in light of the release of Michael Rapaport’s Beats, Rhymes and Life ATCQ documentary), as well as his issues with KanYe.

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A Tribe Called Quest Documentary (Trailer) by PayeTaChatte

Finally hitting theaters this weekend (if your lucky enough to live in NY or LA) is the highly anticipated documentary Beats, Rhymes and Life, honoring the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest. Not to say we arrived here smoothly, the production and subsequent release of this doc experienced its fair share of controversy. Upon viewing the first edit, Tribe’s members were disappointed with director Michael Rapaport, who made the explosive drama between Phife Dawg and Q-Tip a too-big part of the story.

Rapaport screened the movie at Sundance anyway,with the support from Phife (and only Phife). Now the movie is finally prepped for public consumption and will be gradually premiered in cities across the country throughout the summer. Despite the drama, Tip still commends Rapaport and encourages everyone to see the movie.

Head over to Vulture for a minute-long clip from the movie, where Jarobi and Ali retell the story of Q-Tip deciding to break up the band.

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The big homie Ivan over at Hip Hop Is Read– who I tend to agree with but for his basketball allegiances– threw his intelligent voice into the discussion about Michael Rapaport’s documentary on Tribe:

“A couple of nights ago, I included Werner von Wallenrod’s review of Michael Rapaport’s ATCQ documentary, Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, on the latest installment of the Rap Round Table. Between then and now I’ve seen the documentary and thought I’d share my two cents. (I suggest you read Werner’s take on the film before proceeding further.)

Spanning just over an hour and a half, Beats Rhymes & Life begins with footage from Tribe’s 2008 concert in Seattle, followed shortly by the backstage scene of a visibly frustrated Q-Tip commenting on the end of the group. “It’s over.” Rapaport hits you with that initial sequence of conflict leaving the viewer asking him/herself “why is it over?” The film progresses with the story of Tribe being pieced together, recollecting a young Phife Dawg getting into emceeing and convincing his childhood best friend, Q-Tip, to follow suit. The film documents the rich legacy of artists hailing from Queens, New York, all the way up to hip hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J – Tribe’s “idols.” In the words of Jarobi: “Queens puts out legends.” The film goes on to detail Tribe’s first encounter with the man who helped put them on, DJ Red Alert.

The film’s got plenty of great footage that a rap nerd would enjoy. One key segment shows Q-Tip waxing nostalgic over a record, Lonnie Smith’s 1970 LP Drives, sampled on Tribe’s debut album and third official single, “Can I Kick It?” Tip wistfully recollects snagging the record for five bucks at a shop on W. 26th St. called Jazz Record Center. Other insightful moments include a portion from an interview with producer Pharrell Williams, who discusses the impact “Bonita Applebum” had on him, commenting: “I was obsessed with it. I had never heard nothing like that in my whole life. And that’s where I changed.” The breakdown of Phife’s “Seaman’s Furniture” line on “Electric Relaxation” provides plenty of laughs as does his support for the L.A. Lakers in lieu of the N.Y. Knicks. Tip jokingly chides in “a lot of New Yorkers can take this as an offense”, to which Phife responds “that’s ’cause we’ve been losing for quite a long time.”

Read the rest at HHIR.

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From the same man who brought you the 68 track Best of Kanye mix, DJ M-Rock tackles the best songs from arguably hip hop’s greatest group.  M-Rock is a meticulous creative type; his thoroughness in both his production and marketing is something a blogger can appreciate. Preach:

Tribe’s music is honest, it doesn’t have commercial appeal and it succeeded because these brothers were close and very gifted, far from the average.  They got paid as a group and didn’t fight over cheques.  When they started falling off, the beats got mathematical and sample-free, they went soft as they brought J-Dilla in, who’s ironically one of the rawest producers ever.  I can even hear Tip mentioning his friends during Phife’s verse in “1nce again”, an ignorant thing on his part, a lack of chemistry that was all over the last 2 albums.  I relate to all of this because I fell off as a tablist, wasn’t a team player myself towards the end of that phase in my career.  With that in mind, this mix is none of those wacker moments, it’s the straight rawness of Tribe, the group that wrote classic verses on the bus (buggin’ out) or kept verses from their childhood (Tip wrote Bonita at 14).

Download: DJ M-Rock – The Best of A Tribe Called Quest

Hit the skip for the tracklist.

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Though Tanya Morgan members Von Pea and Donwill are currently taking the time to focus on their respective solo projects, this doesn’t stop their frequent collaborations. On this occasion, they are brought together by Focus… for the latest in his series of tracks paying homage to hip-hop greats. This song, specifically, is a tribute to Ali Shaheed, the much-revered A Tribe Called Quest producer and also features a verse from Chaundon of Hall of Justus, who is fresh off the release of his latest album, No Excuses, as well as his performance with the HOJ crew at the Audible Treats 2010 CMJ Showcase.

Focus ft. Von Pea, Donwill & Chaundon – Homage To Ali Shaheed

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Download: Focus ft. Von Pea, Donwill & Chaundon – Homage To Ali Shaheed [rt/ctrl click, save-as]

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While many of the tracks I chose for the Spring Fever editions are well-known classics, I’m thinking maybe it’s largely the fact that so many of us know and love them that make the joints that much more perfect when the weather is oh so fine.

Essential.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth: Tell Me

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De La Soul: Eye Know
This song…. is perfect on so many levels.

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AMG: Jiggable Pie

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Digable Planets: Where I’m From

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You know how hard you’re trying to make sure that North Face stays at the back of your closet.
It’s finally spring and it feels like people have finally started coming out of hibernation… Everyone’s on the streets chillin, people seem to be way friendlier, and we’re all smiling!
And… uh.. Apparently, “Spring Fever” is starting to come around to get the best of us…
Everything is just lovely.
This week’s joints all are liable to cause euphoria. There is nothing that can compete with listening to Tribe outdoors on a beautiful day, either in the park or on the parkway, with your crew… (maybe sparking something up? Just saaayin…)

Enjoy!

Apache: Gangsta Bitch

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Jurassic 5: Action Satisfaction

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Brand Nubian: Love Me or Leave Me Alone

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The Beatnuts: Rik’s Joint

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De La Soul: Breakadawn

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Bong bong! Off Magnum Force, the undeniably dynamic duo Heltah Skeltah’s second studio effort. The track features two emcees who’ve flown below the radar for their entire careers, Doc Holiday and Starang Wondah, but both of them brought it on ‘I Ain’t Havin’ That,’ the lead single from Heltah Skeltah’s oft-overlooked sequel. The visuals are exactly what one would expect from a late 90′s underground video: a convex camera lens, thin-rimmed shades, and a neon-colored tunnel through which the entire crew bounces.

To ensure any hardcore hip hop head that Heltah Skeltah is the epitome of the genre, the verse of ‘I Ain’t Havin’ That’ samples A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Hot Sex’ and the chorus samples Redman’s ‘Pick It Up.’ Even Combat Jack thinks Sean Price is the best rapper out now. Hit the skip for another track off Magnum Force that features none other than Method Man, which is the collab of my dreams.

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Probably one of my favorite situations ever occurs when, in a tag for a song, there is a list of featured artists that is so long, I gotta put forth a little effort and actually drag out the Name column in iTunes.

I’m sure you know the anticipation I feel.  I go into it, and know- before even pressing play- that I like the way it sounds.  Rarely will a perfectly formulated combination of artists fail you.  Let’s be real.  It’s nearly impossible to not be at least a little biased about the brilliance of a song when there is the combined forces of a few of your favorite artists on one track, the line-up in and of itself is pure genius.

Much like having a hot line-up today is one of the best ways to create hype for a track (or group), posse cuts were the best way to introduce new artists to the world, before the internet ruled the world.  And being that this is MY INTRO, my first post for Benz and a Backpack, I thought posse cuts would be a good topic to begin my takeover of Throwback Thursdays.

As for my selection, it’s admittedly heavy with examples of how Native Tongues Posse and affiliates absolutely killed it in terms of knockout collabos in the 90’s.  (Cuz… What is a collection of posse cuts if it doesn’t include “Buddy” and “Scenario”?) The collective put together lineups so hot there was practically no possibility for failure.  Many members, perhaps most notably (and oh-so sexily) Q-tip, ventured outside of their circle to collaborate with artists on the complete opposite of the rap spectrum thematically (Mobb Deep?) and stylistically (Missy Elliot?).  I mean, try and tell me I’m wrong when I make the claim that both “Drink Away the Pain” and “Hot Boyz” are two tracks that not only took risks and succeeded, but will permanently be embedded in the memory of any hip-hop fan who grew up in the 1990’s.  Yeah, didn’t think so.

But it wasn’t all about Native Tongues, though, as you’ll also hear on my selection of tracks.  And it’s not about to end here, either…  Luckily the dope throwback posse cuts and ill collabos are seemingly endless, so… Part two next week, you already know.

Pete Rock & InI: To Each His Own (feat. Q-tip & Large Professor)

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Crooklyn Dodgers feat. Special Ed, Masta Ace & Buckshot: Crooklyn

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Black Sheep feat. featuring Chi Ali, Jim Jones, Chris Lighty, and Dave Gossett: Pass The 40

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You already know how much we love DIlla here (way too much). What’s not too well known is the scope of his influence on music, both popular and underground. Every single piece of music that Dilla put out, whether for himself or someone else, has the highest production value around. It is widely believed that Dilla influenced popular producers (who had a lot more visibility than him)- that they saw the tools he was using to make his music and applied them to the mainstream. A testament to Dilla’s greatness: everyone he’s worked with calls him a genius. Hit the skip for a few great Dilla tracks and to see other artists praise him.
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