11/30/08
11/29/08
11/28/08
The Love Unlimited Orchestra - White Gold
I gotta let yall in on some of the smoothest shit you'll ever hear. I swear, If you're a 70's cat, who wants some soundtrack music, this is what you need. To my understanding, The Love Unlimited Orchestra was to Barry White, as The JBs were to James Brown. The sound the Love Unlimited Orchestra was synonymous with the 70's disco-funk, satin sheets, white-walls, marble floors, love boat, dynasty, white suits and loafers, pimp-strut...yall get the idea. I wasn't around back then, but if there was ever anything that made me feel like I was it would be this. This shit may even make you do a couple lines if you listen long enough. If I see ANYone I know in the next couple days w/ a hard perm, I know they've been on the blog. But seriously, this is some real cool Barry White style, mostly instrumental joints to vybe out to.
"Can you dig it?
awwwww yeah..."
11/27/08
Rest in Peace Sean Taylor (April 1, 1983 - Nov 27, 2007)
Today is the one year anniversary of one of the most untimely and unnecessary deaths the world of sports has ever seen. Sean Taylor was one of the most talented players ever seen on the football field, one who had the gifted combination of size, speed, and power. Although his NFL career lasted a little longer than 3 years, he will be forever remembered as one of the greatest talents, and it is truly shameful that NFL fans will never see what he could been for the league, but more importantly, his life was ended much too soon. Rest in Peace.
(Clinton Portis, who was Taylor's teammate at U of Miami and as a Redskin,
pays his respect to Sean.)
11/26/08
11/25/08
Dead Presidents prod. by Ski Beats
I've seen this video a countless number of times, and I am amazed each time.
One of the greatest beats in the history of Hip Hop.
Hands Down.
Dead Presidents 12" Single
(Video Version, Dirty, Instrumental)
(The 12" had 'Ain't No N***a' as the B-Side)
The Video Version is the best one, in my opinion.
11/24/08
Lonnie Liston Smith / Jay-Z / Mary J. Blige
This may be a dumb question, but I just thought I'd ask. In most cases where a classic song is remade, I wouldn't. But I felt Mary really shined on this beat.
Which beat was better usage of the Lonnie Liston Smith sample?
Here's the original...
it's so beautiful it'll damn near bring you to tears.
Garden of Peace
11/22/08
MC Breed (Rest in Peace)
I gotta give a formal farewell to...well, not really a legend, or a poineer, and really hate to use the term one hit wonder, but DAMN, I think his one hit has to account for a classic album! I never like using the term One Hit Wonder, because I don't know how many underground mixtapes he put out, or how many classic regional projects he did, (let me remind you, he WAS from Detroit, not from the westcoast. It's an honest mistake, because the song has such a westside flavor) or what he did behind the scenes, but MC Breed will ALWAYS get respect from any Ol Skool cat, or any DJ. I cannot tell you how many times I was struggling through a set (well, that doesn't happen TOO often :D ) and I threw on that song, not even mixin it, just droppin that intro [TO THE BEAT'CHAL (haha) ] and that song alone would get any club crackin, and Its gotten me outta a rock and a hard place. All yall DJs out there know exactly what I'm talkin about...those times when there's less than 20 sec to go in a song, and we don't know what we're gonna play next. So on behalf of every person who has stepped foot into a Hip Hop club since 1992, I say Rest in Peace.
One other note, he wasn't the first person to use the Ohio Players "Funky Worm" sample, but I think it's definitely worth noting.
11/21/08
Lonnie Liston Smith - Astral Traveling
as•tral adj.
Of, relating to, emanating from, or resembling the stars.
Biology. Of, relating to, or shaped like the mitotic aster; star-shaped.
Of or relating to a supersensible body believed by theosophists to coexist with and survive the death of the human physical body: an astral body; astral projection.
trav·el (trvl)
v. trav·eled or trav·elled, trav·el·ing or trav·el·ling, trav·els
To go from one place to another, as on a trip; journey.
To be transmitted, as light or sound; move or pass.
To advance or proceed.
To go about in the company of a particular group; associate: travels in wealthy circles.
To move along a course, as in a groove.
To admit of being transported without loss of quality; Some wines travel poorly.
Informal To move swiftly.
That sums it up right there...
This is a must have for any Hip Hop producer. You can loop any 10 seconds, put some drums behind it, and have yourself an instrumental worthy of some verses. Listen, I'm not tryin to discredit the beat makers out there, or give away any tips, my point is that some of the sounds heard on this album are so smooth, it'll put you on another level. Lonnie Liston Smith (Not to be confused with Dr. Lonnie Smith) goes out there on this one...I mean OUT THERE! (sometimes, a lil too far for my taste) but he brings you back to where even the novices will feel it. The best time to listen to this is night time, home by yourself, or overlookin the city somewhere. If you're lucky enough to have both, then that's a MUST. This Brotha is on one, and when you're on one in the 70's lemme quote the 36 Chambers album by sayin, you can cook up some marvelous shit!
11/20/08
11/19/08
Nas - The World is Yours (Kev Brown Remix)
I "found" this Kev Brown Instrumental, and I 'found' the Nas "The World is Yours" acapella.
Now I know the Mash-Up trend is dead and gone, but you'll like this remix.
hope you don't mind, Kev...
download it here.
11/18/08
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
Today marks one of the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre.
This is a special that aired on PBS,
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
There are no words to describe this tragedy.
May the members of the Peoples Temple rest in peace.
Total Running Time: 1:24:04
Raekwon (More Linx)
I've heard Cuban Linx 2 is set for release early next year. I think I've heard that same thing since 2001, so I really don't know what to expect. To be honest, I think Raekwon missed the window of his album being 'Highly Anticipated' because you can only keep cats waiting for so long. Rather the album drops in 2009, or 2029, here's a lil somethin to tie you Raekwon fans over (He was the hardest WU member in my opinion.)
this foo is trippin for this one...HAHA
11/17/08
It's Illmatic
I wanna give a shout out to one of my favorite blogs, thimk.wordpress.com
If there's one video you watch on this blog (or any Hip Hop blog, for that matter). let this be the one. All the youngstas that say "Why do so many people wish Hip Hop was the way it was in the mid 90's?" This well documented promo video for Nas' Illmatic album reminds you how much that album was hyped, and even more so, how it ended up being a classic. When you factor in everything...production, lyrics, content, EVERYTHING, it's easy to say that there will never be another Illmatic.
11/16/08
Ol' Dirty Bastard (Brooklyn Zoo)
This past week marked the 4 year anniversary of the untimely passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard. ODB, along with the rest of Wu-Tang, was a HUGE influence to me as a youngster, and it's fitting that I recognize that whenever possible. I can't really consider myself a devoted Wu fan, because after that second Wu double album, things were never really the same for me, but the 1st album, along with the 1st round of everyones solo albums (y'all know what I'm talkin about). That was the WU I knew and loved. Let me reference the 
just so yall get a visual. Anyway, ODB wasn't the best lyricist, but he was a lyricist, something that he didn't really get credit for. His shtick got a lil tired, and he became sort of a laughing stock after Wu's heyday, but you cannot deny his lyrical capabilties on the verses on the 1st album, the energy and presence he brought to the entire group, the style and attention he commanded when he was on stage. He was one of a kind, and Hip Hop misses him.
"Brooklyn Zoo" was the single that had the biggest impact on me. When you talk about that New York, Raw, Gutta, Back Alley type Hip Hop, no song is more true than this one. I don't think ODB goes more that 4 bars with out a swear, and everytime this I hear this song, I stop what I'm doin, and sing every word tryin to sound just like him, thinkin for about 3 minutes and 30 seconds that I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. That's why I loved, and continue to love this music.
Brooklyn Zoo - The Video I remember
Brooklyn Zoo - Alternate Video
Brooklyn Zoo (Lord Digga Remix)
BROOKLYN ZOO
Original
Lord Digga Remix
Original Instrumental
Remix Instrumental
11/14/08
Bernard Wright - 'Nard (1981)
.JPG)
If you never seen this album cover, I know what you're thinkin...who the fuck is this 'Lemar from Revenge of the Nerds' lookin, track suit wearin', baby afro havin, dude who calls him self 'Nard? Well, that's what I thought when I first saw this album. My boy who sold me this record at one of his record swaps, he was like "That shit is DOOOPE"...and I gotta saw, this is one of my favorite albums. Seriously. I haven't heard too much of his other stuff, but Keyboardist Bernard Wright displays an excellent fusion of Disco, Funk, and Jazz throughout the album. Most of these tracks you can play out in the club, and cats will be like 'What the fuck is that?!" (...in a good way of course.) This album has also had a TREMENDOUS influence on a few Hip Hop Classics (I'll let you listen for yourself), and there's samples throughout the album. I'll stop talkin about it and let you listen for yourself.
1. Haboglabotribin' - Bernard Wright, Don Blackman
2. Firebolt Hustle - Bernard Wright, Henry Grate, Jr.
3. Music Is the Key - Bernard Wright, Weldon Irvine,
4. Spinnin' - Bernard Wright, Alvin Flythe
5. Just Chillin' Out - Bernard Wright, Marcus Miller
6. Bread Sandwiches - Bernard Wright
7. Master Rocker - Bernard Wright, Ronnie Miller,
8. We're Just the Band - Bernard Wright, Henry Grate, Jr.
9. Solar - Bernard Wright, Miles Davis,
This is the back of the LP. I know it's a terrible quality picture, but I wanted you to see how corny this fool looks on the album! This one, you can definitely file under the 'Bad Album cover, Good Album' category.
Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love
11/13/08
Q-Tip - Let's Ride (Video)
I NEVER KNEW there was a video for this song! To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about listening to a song for years and years, and hearing it so many times in so many different ways, and then finally seeing a video. It's kinda like seeing your favorite book turned into a movie, or talking to a girl for years on the phone, and then finally seeing what she looks like (not that I know what THAT'S like!) Even if the outcome is good, it's not what you envisioned or expected. Don't get me wrong, I love Youtube, but just because it exists, doesn't mean I have to see it...
So the new Q-Tip album has been getting a real good buzz, and honestly, Its good to hear cats talking about it. No matter who you are in the Hip Hop game, the legacy of Tribe Called Quest will always be remembered. Although I am one of the Millions of music listeners that would love to hear a Tribe reunion album, I think this will do.
I hate posting shitty quality youtube videos, but this one is just proof of what I'm talkin about. At the 'Rock the Bells '08' show in the Bay, Mos Def came out and did the first verse of Q-Tip's song 'Lets Ride' (prod. by The Ummah, which included Jay Dee, a.k.a. J. Dilla, y'all know....). I thought it was fresh how Mos knew all the words and performed it like it was his own song. SEEE...??
HIP HOP UNITY!!
11/12/08
They really DID exist!!
Everyday when I leave my house, I pass by the neighbors car parked on
the street with a bumpersticker that says 'African Americans for Obama'
(right next to her 'food is good' and 'the sky is blue' bumperstickers).
So me, being the backwards thinker I am, thought...are there ACTUALLY
African American's that were not only against Obama, but FOR McCain?
Naw, can't be...could it?
Well, you gotta give em credit for going against the grain...
www.africanamericans.johnmccain.com
Evidence & Alchemist - So Fresh (Step Brothers)
QUESTION: "Damn, Why are you postin so much Ev?"
ANSWER: "He shot damn near 6 vids for his new project,
so I gotta reward the effort and hard work.
Plus...
SHIT IS ILL SON!!
11/11/08
Veteran's Day 2008
During this past election, we all (and I mean WE ALL) celebrated the victory for President Elect Barack Obama. While my peers and I experienced our best day as American Citizens (or living in America...I gotta shout out my "illegal alien" folks) there's still that little (how should I put this...) 'Situation' going on overseas that started out as 'Operation Freedom' and has turned into yet another Black Eye in George Bush's tenure.
It's shameful to admit that the longer the war goes on, the less attention it gets. I remember when the war first began, they used to put the U.S. death toll on the front page. Not the ones that came home with missing limbs, not the ones that come home and don't recognize their own family, not the ones that are on the other side, or civilians, or the people that are effected, but just the ones that were counted, that died. Well, they stopped posting that number. They stopped with the coverage and attention all together. The administration wanted us to forget.
I was listening to KPFK in Los Angeles today, and I heard an War Veteran from Iraq speaking against the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, representing and organization called Iraq Veterans Against the War. The stats that he gave regarding the condition of many Iraq war veterans were staggering, which included Veterans with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder, Permanent Injuries, Suicide, and other terrible events that have effected the lives of millions. His personal story he said was like so many others..."I wanted to defend my country. I wanted to protect my freedom". Then he spoke an apology letter to all he had killed in his line of work.
Barack is the closest thing to a savior I have ever seen for this country. When that GLORIOUS day comes (1/20/09...We've ALL been waiting, even BEFORE Barack!), he has said he will make Executive Orders to make an immediate stamp on presidency. I hope, as well as millions of others, hope he's gonna do what we're all thinking. Before the economy, before the energy crisis, before the anything else...
BRING THE TROOPS HOME
Anti-War rally at Presidential Debate in Hempstead, NY
For more information on Iraq Veterans Against the War, visit www.ivaw.org
Illa J Interview
For those who haven't heard yet, Dilla's brother is jumpin on the scene now, and it almost seems like some sort of ressurection. I'm not sure how much longevity he's gonna have in the game, but it's great to see him makin music. The tribute mixes and the t-shirts are coo, and artists shouting him out is nice, but to actually see his own blood, it's a nice consolation. I ve heard some of the tracks from the myspace page, and I must say...it may be an instant classic. Check out this interview, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It makes you feel like Dilla is still here. Best of luck to Illa J. Dilla will always and forever be the greatest in my eyes.
Listen to the tracks on his myspace at:
www.myspace.com/illajmusic
11/10/08
The Alchemist ft. Jadakiss, Snoop, & Pusha T.
the alchemist ft. jadakiss, snoop dogg, & pusha t - lose your life
http://www.zshare.net/audio/189593237bbace70/
The Alchemist
One of my favorite producers, and someone who has definitely been puttin it down for almost 10 years. He got his pub in New York, but I ain't mad at him for that! I think it's nice that he's still workin with Evidence, and I'm juiced to hear the new project. With Alchemist beats, it seems like he turned a corner in his production career. He had some cool beats in the early 2000's, but it seems like a light came on in his head where everything he put out was just FIRE. If Al stopped makin beats today, He'll go down as one of Hip Hop's Best Producers.
...moreALCHEMIST beats
11/8/08
Evidence - Yellow Tape Instrumentals
1. Dog Town
2. Strong
3. 360
4. Alive & Well
5. Deeerty
6. Rain
7. Ragtime
8. Three
9. S.H.H.H.H.
10. Evolve
11. Operate
12. Fuego
13. Slow Roll
11/7/08
11/6/08
Evidence - The Layover
Peace to Ev, reppin L.A. for 10+ years now!
Evidence - Far Left feat. Alchemist & Fashawn
Peace to Ev, reppin L.A. for 10+ years now!
Obama: Good, Prop. 8: Bad
Obama won. This is no doubt the greatest day in my political lifetime,
and I'll be hard pressed to find something that parallels. I am so proud
of all the 1st time voters, all the young voters, and all the voters
that didn't believe in Democracy that decided to vote anyway. This feels
like a victory for the little guy, for the common man, for the people,
for a new America.
Unfortunaltely, November 4th was bitter sweet because of the approval of
Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage. Although a Black president is an
immeasurable step in the history for African Americans, the passing of
Prop. 8 is a huge step backward in the movement for civil rights. The
right to ban a group of people of any civil right is wrong, and this
wrong doing was approved on November 4th. It's ironically disturbing
that the people who feel strongly about the advancement of human ethics,
or people that want to celebrate diversity of our society, or ones that
feel all men and women should be treated equal would vote for a
President who personifies all of the (few) great things about our
country, but would rob a group of people their civil right because of
personal or religious belief. By no way am I trying to offend anyone by
what I am saying, but all n all, I am dissapointed that California's
voting public could not see past the negative propaganda and bullshit,
which was funded by millions of dollars of out-of-state donations, which
was fed to the voting public. Any person of color living in America has
been affected by civil rights, and more importantly, has fought for
their civil rights. Each person living in this country is entitled to
the same rights, regardless of race, sex, or personal beliefs, and
unfortunately, that was not displayed on November 4th. Prop. 8 was not a
gay issue, it was a human rights issue, and human rights suffered a
signifigant loss in the country's most progressive state.
11/5/08
11/4/08
11/3/08
Your New Favorite Mixtape
This past weekend, I had he oppertunity to DJ at the monthly event Boombox in Los Angeles (Shout out to Inka, Ben and Jazz), and I held down some of L.A.'s freshest emcees on the turntables...some of the same cats that are represented on this here mixtape. I'll tell you this. It's MY new favorite mixtape, and I think it'll be yours too! Also, shout out to TiRon, and don't forget to check out the blog site, theexactly.net
11/1/08
Theophilus London - Higher (Feat. Jesse Boykins III)
I haven't heard of this cat till I saw the video, but yoooo, its definitely worth a listen and a download! Trust me, the video and song is fresh, and I definitely wanna hear more from this guy. (Have I ever lead you the wrong way?)
This one is NIIICE!
Re-Ups
I HATE dead links, so these are some songs I re-uped from some of my earliest posts. Back then, I used zshare...which is cool, but the links expire. If you haven't got these tracks, get em!
Akon - Senegal - http://sharebee.com/d76f095e
Rza Interview - http://sharebee.com/6ded218b
Queen Latifah - Just another Day - http://sharebee.com/f7299493
Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel - Once Again it's On (Vocal and Inst) - http://sharebee.com/89a884ca
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James Yancey Productions
Love Movement Mixtape vol. 1
Love Movement Mixtape 2:
Love from the Soul
Soul Brother Selections:
Pete Rock Productions
Dilla says "Turn it Up!"
(Det2LA)
Doowutchyalike
Promo Mixtape
INI: Influence n Inspiration
Bargain Bin Mixtape
2Day Notice Mixtape
feat. J-Billion
Look on the SunnySide
The Legendary DJ Premier
Class of 2007
JB: A Tribute to
James Brown
So Soulful:
Isaac Hayes Tribute
08-09 Season
Goldenera Remixes
Orchestration
ATCQ: Queens Representatives
Love Movement 2.5 (Recorded Live at Eve Lounge, SF)
