Future Classic: Kool Keith & L’Orange “Time? Astonishing!”
Taken from Martin Boev’s great MGNT site I wrote an article earlier this month about Kool Keith’s legacy- the way he was able to break common perceptions of rap as an art form. I described his style as eccentric, at times seeming like he’s talking through the beat, with no …
Today in Dope Music History: Eric B & Rakim release “Paid in Full”
July 7th, 1987 Eric B And Rakim release their classic platinum-selling debut album “Paid In Full” on 4th & B’way Records on this day in 1987. “The album featured the classic hit singles “Eric B Is President”, “Move The Crowd”. “I Ain’t No Joke”, “I Know You Got Soul” and …
Forgotten Treasure: UMC’s “One to Grow On” (1991)
Here is one I hesitate to call a Forgotten Treasure since it’s really more of an all-time classic, at least for me. The UMC’s, not to be confused with the legendary Ultra Magnetic MC’s were a duo comprised of Haas G and Kool Kim which only put out two LP’s: …
Forgotten Treasure: Half A Mill “Any Day Can Be Your Last” (1994)
I found this myserious 12′ single in a dollar bin a few days ago while going through heaps of forgettable records, but then the Afro and $$ visuals caught my attention. Well it turned out to be a very good score because “Any Day Can Be Your Last” is a …
Documentary on TIMBALAND’s 25 year Production Career
Via Rap Radar: In the brand new, very special episode of E! True Hollywood Story, Timbaland sits down and maps out his fascinating journey, touching on everything from being shot at age 15 to losing Aaliyah—whom he reveals in this interview he was once in love with—to his 2008 wedding in …
Video: Toast Dawg feat. Illa J “Finale”
Montreal-based producer (and good friend) Toast Dawg has followed on the success of his “Brazivilain” project with the 2nd volume of the conceptual project. We premiered one of the tracks of the 2nd EP which actually didn’t have a title yet and it turns out that when Toast Dawg met …
Watch Kendrick Lamar’s powerful live version of “Alright” on BET
Like my man DJ Platurn from Oakland said: “Amidst all the buffoonery, at least we got K. Dot”. Yes, we gon’ be alright. With every move Kendrick makes he takes one more step to distance himself from the common rapper in 2015. In terms of skills and artistic vision he …
Future Classic: JuJu Rogers “From the Life of a Good-For-Nothing”
Born of an American GI from New Orleans and a German Mother with Austrian roots, the MC known as JuJu Rogers stands out in terms of his family upbringing but also his sound. You can definitely hear in JuJu’s music that he’s sitting somewhere between his European and American influences. At …
Future Classic: Pete Rock “Petestrumentals 2”
via MelloMusicGroup: “Pete Rock was raised in Mount Vernon, but his face belongs on Mount Rushmore. The Chocolate Boy Wonder perfected an art form, inspired millions, and soundtracked a generation. By contrast, Teddy Roosevelt seems like a chump. This is the man who Dilla told, “I wanted to be like …
Symphony Orchestra meets Hip-Hop Classics!
Many attempts at “mashing up” Hip-Hop and classical music have failed miserably, but Polish composer/beatmaker Radzimir “JIMEK” Dębski has pulled it off masterfully. Much like Californian composer and Dilla disciple Miguel Atwood-Ferguson’s Suites for Ma Dukes, classical hip-hop covers work best when the composer is both a certified orchestrator and …
Future Classic: Mick Jenkins “P’s & Q’s”
Chicago-based MC Mick Jenkins is definitely one of our favorite new talents of the rap scene in the last few years. In fact, we’re quite shocked he wasn’t named to this year’s “Freshman Class” special by XXL rap magazine. (We would have added Isiah Rashad and Clear Soul Forces too) …
Future Classic: Les Gens d’Airs “Sous-Estimés EP”
Hard hitting Montreal producer ElCotola is back joining forces with Quebec spitter Aspect Mendoza to release Les Gens d’Airs‘ introductory Sous-Estimes EP which is a preview to an upcoming full album. Similar to Cotola’s collabo with Obia (link) this is not throwaway mixtape tracks, instead its a solid effort that …