I'll do a real post soon but until then check out this Prince Paul track. I've been revisiting him lately and it's been fun.
Feb 24, 2008
Feb 15, 2008
Check the strategy
I just got this book:
I haven't had the chance to read much yet but the next couple of new-house-internet-not-connected-weeks may give me the chance to get through it. It has chapters on: A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, The Fugees, KRS-One, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Public Enemy, The Roots, Run-DMC, Wu-Tang Clan and a heap of others. Brian Coleman, the author, spent ages chasing all these guys up and interviewing them about their classic albums.
So check it.
I haven't had the chance to read much yet but the next couple of new-house-internet-not-connected-weeks may give me the chance to get through it. It has chapters on: A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, The Fugees, KRS-One, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Public Enemy, The Roots, Run-DMC, Wu-Tang Clan and a heap of others. Brian Coleman, the author, spent ages chasing all these guys up and interviewing them about their classic albums.
So check it.
Feb 9, 2008
introduce posdnuos y'all...
this is pos from de la soul
he's a pretty dope mc
and even though de la soul's first album came out in '89 and they're still in the game he's pretty under-rated
he's got a great smooth flow but he can dish out the hardcore rhymes when he needs to
"man, every word i say should be a hip hop quotable"
i saw de la soul when they played the falls festival (in tasmania - how good?) and have seen them live on tv and the internet and they really work well live. they do all the hyping-up-the-crowd bit but most of all they just bring the party - all the good tracks with loads of new sections and ad-libs
anyway, pos is just the man
one of my favourite of his rhymes is
"gun control means using both hands in my land"
from the title track to their 1997 album stakes is high
its a good track
tellin' it like it is
check it out
king tim
Feb 3, 2008
The lowercase mc
I've been checking for shai linne (he prefers it spelled without caps) since hearing about his church, Epiphany Fellowship. He's into rough, underground hip hop and proclaiming Christ with his content laden, meaty raps. I've avoided 'Christian' rap for a while now because often it isn't really saying much other than namedropping Jesus here and there. It sounds like shai linne understands how I felt. He and a few others are part of Lamp Mode Recordings, an independent label with a unique outlook. Below is a video about his new album (click here if you wanna hear a rapper give love to John Stott's The Cross of Christ):
Some of his music sounds a little 'off'. This isn't surprising, he's trying to do something pretty new and pretty bold. There are songs that totally hit the mark, there are others that sound like he's sacrificing flow for lyrics. I reckon that'll improve as he goes on.
His lyrics are loaded. You'll always hear underground rappers talk about dropping science and how commercial rappers' lyrics are weak but shai makes all of them sound like they're rapping from a learn-to-read book. Proof of this is in the listening guide that accompanies his first album (they're making one for his new album too), designed to help you get the most out of each song. Check out the Grassroots sampler from Lamp Mode if you wanna hear more.
Some of his music sounds a little 'off'. This isn't surprising, he's trying to do something pretty new and pretty bold. There are songs that totally hit the mark, there are others that sound like he's sacrificing flow for lyrics. I reckon that'll improve as he goes on.
His lyrics are loaded. You'll always hear underground rappers talk about dropping science and how commercial rappers' lyrics are weak but shai makes all of them sound like they're rapping from a learn-to-read book. Proof of this is in the listening guide that accompanies his first album (they're making one for his new album too), designed to help you get the most out of each song. Check out the Grassroots sampler from Lamp Mode if you wanna hear more.
Feb 2, 2008
video vaults - hip hop documentaries
over the years the odd hip hop feature documentary has aired on tv here
here are three that i taped and recommend giving a watch
Rash (2005) is about the graffiti and street art scene in melbourne. it has an in-depth look at the culture and showcases loads of street art, like this...
...and this...
(mmm, political)
check out the trailer at http://www.rashfilm.com/trailer_56k.htm
Freestyle, the Art of Rhyme (2000) is, as the title suggests, about freesytle rapping. it goes into the background of the movement and focuses on the legends of the open mike freestyle, guys like supernatural (he would flat out read the dictionary, man). it has loads of freesyles, most of which are pretty amazing
check out the trailer at http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/198493/Freestyle/trailers
Scratch (2001) goes through the history of hip hop djing, since its origins with grand wizard theodore. it goes into turntablism, beat juggling, digging for records and of course brings the masters of the game - qbert, mixmaster mike, the x-ecutioners, cut chemist and numark from jurassic 5 - to the fore, highlighting their skills
check out the trailer at http://www.hiphop-network.com/archives/outsidevideos/scratch_themovie/scratch_m240.asp
three of hip hop's elements in sharp focus
check 'em out
king tim
here are three that i taped and recommend giving a watch
Rash (2005) is about the graffiti and street art scene in melbourne. it has an in-depth look at the culture and showcases loads of street art, like this...
...and this...
(mmm, political)
check out the trailer at http://www.rashfilm.com/trailer_56k.htm
Freestyle, the Art of Rhyme (2000) is, as the title suggests, about freesytle rapping. it goes into the background of the movement and focuses on the legends of the open mike freestyle, guys like supernatural (he would flat out read the dictionary, man). it has loads of freesyles, most of which are pretty amazing
check out the trailer at http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/198493/Freestyle/trailers
Scratch (2001) goes through the history of hip hop djing, since its origins with grand wizard theodore. it goes into turntablism, beat juggling, digging for records and of course brings the masters of the game - qbert, mixmaster mike, the x-ecutioners, cut chemist and numark from jurassic 5 - to the fore, highlighting their skills
check out the trailer at http://www.hiphop-network.com/archives/outsidevideos/scratch_themovie/scratch_m240.asp
three of hip hop's elements in sharp focus
check 'em out
king tim
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