race etc

i really wanted to add this song by akrobatik because i think its a really great sounding track

it is also notably quite a political song, dealing with african-american culture and its status in the u.s.. i was going to post it to tie in with the election (a tenuous link) but was a bit busy at the time

while i don't really feel qualified to comment specifically, i feel akrobatik makes some good observations, and points to great leaders in black history. specifically, harriet tubman, malcolm x, bob marley, nat turner, arthur ashe and martin (luther king)

so here's the track - check it out



full lyrics are here

king tim

the song and the sample

de la soul come from the era of sampling. by their own admission "sampling will never die for de la soul. there are too many unknown records, too many obscure records ... whether it be a be a jazz record or a sound effects record". they were one of the first acts to really go to town with the samples, with their first album '3 feet high and rising'. the fourth track 'cool breeze on the rocks' is entirely made up of samples with the word rock in the lyrics. and parenthetically, they were sued for the use of a particular sample, that in part led to the tighter regulation of sampling

anyway, de la soul have never been shy of bringing together dispirit elements of music into a hip hop format. this is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than on the title track to their 2004 album 'the grind date'. i remember when this song first came on the radio it just got me so pumped. the reason for this was it brought one of my favourite rap groups (de la soul) together for the first time with a favourite band from another sphere of music, '70s progressive rock, (yes)


>>>de la soul


>>>yes

i'd really got into yes through my dad's record collection, and knew the sampled song pretty well. it's called 'ritual: nous sommes du soleil' and forms the final part of the epic concept album 'tales from topographic oceans' based on a set of hindu scriptures. each track is a 20 minute piece comprising the entire side of a vinyl record. it's as awesome as it sounds



the mere fact that they managed to bring in this sample and make it work as a new track is amazing. de la soul, making something obscure and a bit geeky into a vital minor radio hit

so, here's the track (live, which does mean a bit of a loss in sound quality)



and, for your pleasure, the first part (less than half) of the sampled epic (also live)



do you have any other perfect song/sample combinations, where two of your favourite artists came together?

king tim

Mick Boogie - Leaders of the New Cool

It's been a while and I don't think I'll be posting regularly for a couple of weeks yet but here's something to keep you going.

Mick Boogie - Leaders of the New Cool

1. Mick Boogie - Intro
2. The Knux - Fire
3. 88 Keys - Bout To Bus
4. Treats Speaks…
5. B.o.B - I’ll Be In The Sky
6. Mickey Factz feat. Curtis Santiago - Automatic
7. U-N-I - Hollywood Hiatus (Cool It Now)
8. Charles Hamilton - It’s
9. Fashawn - Buyer’s Guide
10. The Knux - Bang Bang
11. Treats Speaks…
12. Fresh Daily & Homeboy Sandman - Swerve
13. Daytona & 6th Sense - Too Complex
14. Marky - Higher
15. Cool Kids - Delivery Man
16. Chip Tha Ripper feat. Naledge, Mickey Factz & Mic Terror - Next Up
17. B.o.B - Generation Lost
18. Tanya Morgan - Stay Cool
19. Charles Hamilton - Hell Boys
20. Treats Speaks…
21. Izza Kizza - Parking Lot Pimpin
22. Big Sean - Tomorrow
23. D-Black & Big Pooh - Top Of The World
24. Pacific Divison - Wake Up
25. Donnis - Dope Girl
26. Supreeme - Roni
27. The Knux - Cappuccino (Remix)
28. Nola Darling feat. Fresh Daily - Coco Rico

Back to the 80s

Another track has been leaked from 808s and Heartbreaks, and Kanye's not happy.

You can listen to 'Robocop' here

I've heard four tracks from the album so far, but I'm still not sure whether it's going to live up to the expectation that a Kanye West album now brings.One thing I haven't heard is any tracks from 50's new album. I found Curtis to be pretty disappointing. I'd be worried if I was 50. People have been stepping their rap game up. Kanye's been pushing the boundaries, Jay-Z has renewed vigour, Lil Wayne is in the form of his life, Game is coming out all heartfelt and emotional, Eminem is making a comeback, Ice Cube is back to gangsta rap... at this rate Dr Dre might even release Detox. But 50 kept doing the same old thing. It might still sell a few, but on the law of diminishing returns, he's going to lose sales if he doesn't do something to shake his performances up.

Lil Lil Wayne

Only in hip-hop?

"Lil Wayne announces son on the way, speculation on mother begins"

I just love that headline.

First impressions

The Passion of the Weiss has post on his impressions from the 808's and Heartbreak listening session. He's generally positive about it, reflecting on Kanye's new direction and how it will polarise his audience.

I think that if I'm going to listen to the album and not despise it I need to recategorise Kanye in my mind. He now lives in the same sort of zone as the Black Eyed Peas (although he's more extreme), hip hop tinged pop. Otherwise I'd judge it as hip hop and hate it.

Kanye West - Heartless

The singing and warbling continue with Kanye's newest single. How could he be so heartless?

Kanye West - Heartless