Raekwon feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & GZA - "Guillotine (Swords)"
Told you it was Wu week. Have been playing a Wu playlist all week and it's brought so many classics back to me. Of course Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was a classic album and you can pick so many tracks from that album. Hell, just listen to the whole thing it's that damn good. I love "Guillotine" because it recycled the opening of Method Man's "Tical" and Deck goes right in. Deck is the best choice for opening Wu tracks as he brings great energy and incredible lyrics. Then you end with GZA doing what he does best. This is classic Wu. Nothing more needs to be said.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Song of the Day
Wu-Tang Clan - "Bells Of War"
Nothing says Christmas Shopping like a Wu-Tang playlist. Decided to go back to some classic Wu in honor of the release of A Better Tomorrow (available now). As I said yesterday, the newest album from the Wu did little to impress me, but it did inspire me to go back and listen to the music that made Wu-Tang the greatest group in hip-hop history so there's a positive there. I remember the anticipation for Wu-Tang Forever like it was yesterday. I'm not sure I've ever been more excited for an album to come out. And although I still think they could have condensed it to one-disc and made an absolute classic, the double disc LP is still fantastic. Love the cohesion on the whole album and "Bells of War" is a great showing of the greatest collective of MCs ever assembled.
Nothing says Christmas Shopping like a Wu-Tang playlist. Decided to go back to some classic Wu in honor of the release of A Better Tomorrow (available now). As I said yesterday, the newest album from the Wu did little to impress me, but it did inspire me to go back and listen to the music that made Wu-Tang the greatest group in hip-hop history so there's a positive there. I remember the anticipation for Wu-Tang Forever like it was yesterday. I'm not sure I've ever been more excited for an album to come out. And although I still think they could have condensed it to one-disc and made an absolute classic, the double disc LP is still fantastic. Love the cohesion on the whole album and "Bells of War" is a great showing of the greatest collective of MCs ever assembled.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Song of the Day
Wu-Tang Clan - "Ruckus In B Minor"
Tomorrow marks the release of the latest Wu-Tang album, A Better Tomorrow. I was able to preview the album last week and have to say I was truly underwhelmed. The album was clearly not a cohesive project as the MCs recorded their verses all over the world and seems mailed in at times. I have to give it another listen for the respect of the Wu, but this may be the worst album they've ever released. Hope it grows on me, but I have a feeling Ghostface's 36 Seasons that drops next Tuesday will be far superior. Of the bright spots on this album were "Necklace" and "Ruckus In B Minor." Give it a listen, they've earned it but don't go in with real high expectations. Unfortunately yesterday was better than tomorrow for Wu fans.
Tomorrow marks the release of the latest Wu-Tang album, A Better Tomorrow. I was able to preview the album last week and have to say I was truly underwhelmed. The album was clearly not a cohesive project as the MCs recorded their verses all over the world and seems mailed in at times. I have to give it another listen for the respect of the Wu, but this may be the worst album they've ever released. Hope it grows on me, but I have a feeling Ghostface's 36 Seasons that drops next Tuesday will be far superior. Of the bright spots on this album were "Necklace" and "Ruckus In B Minor." Give it a listen, they've earned it but don't go in with real high expectations. Unfortunately yesterday was better than tomorrow for Wu fans.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Song of the Day
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Who Shot Ya?"
If you live in the Philadelphia area and haven't checked out Boom 107.9 yet, then do yourself and get on that immediately. Forgot my iPod today so I was forced to listen to the radio, something I despise. Boom 107.9 saved me as "Who Shot Ya?" came thundering through my speakers. This is one of the meanest and dopest Biggie songs of all time. And of course it played a part in the Biggie/2Pac feud. It's hard to find great hip-hop in any commercial sense anymore, but when you do, there's nothing like it.
If you live in the Philadelphia area and haven't checked out Boom 107.9 yet, then do yourself and get on that immediately. Forgot my iPod today so I was forced to listen to the radio, something I despise. Boom 107.9 saved me as "Who Shot Ya?" came thundering through my speakers. This is one of the meanest and dopest Biggie songs of all time. And of course it played a part in the Biggie/2Pac feud. It's hard to find great hip-hop in any commercial sense anymore, but when you do, there's nothing like it.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
The Original Lose Yourself
Eminem - "Lose Yourself (Original Demo Version)"
Eminem will release the demo version of "Lose Yourself" on the Shady XV compilation and the song has leaked. The beat is a lot more bare than the final version and the hook is slightly different. The lyrics are completely different and while still good, Eminem made the right choice picking the version that went on to win an Oscar. Definitely worth a listen. Found it interesting that Eminem himself said he forgot all about this first version. Wonder how it would've been received if this was the song he chose for the 8 Mile soundtrack?
Eminem will release the demo version of "Lose Yourself" on the Shady XV compilation and the song has leaked. The beat is a lot more bare than the final version and the hook is slightly different. The lyrics are completely different and while still good, Eminem made the right choice picking the version that went on to win an Oscar. Definitely worth a listen. Found it interesting that Eminem himself said he forgot all about this first version. Wonder how it would've been received if this was the song he chose for the 8 Mile soundtrack?
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Song of the Day
PRhyme - "Courtesy"
I don't know how I feel about DJ Premier being in a group not called Gang Starr, but his production has given Royce Da 5'9 his best solo songs so I'm open to this collaboration. This song ain't classic like "Boom" or "Hip-Hop" from these two, but it's still really dope. Premo brings his signature sound on the beat and Royce delivers in prime (sorry, had to) form. This album is looking promising.
I don't know how I feel about DJ Premier being in a group not called Gang Starr, but his production has given Royce Da 5'9 his best solo songs so I'm open to this collaboration. This song ain't classic like "Boom" or "Hip-Hop" from these two, but it's still really dope. Premo brings his signature sound on the beat and Royce delivers in prime (sorry, had to) form. This album is looking promising.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Why Jimmy Fallon & Harry Potter Are Good For Hip-Hop
The title of this post is not something I ever thought I'd say. But when Daniel Radcliffe went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Fallon brought up Radcliffe's love for hip-hop music and in particular lyrically challenging songs and then had Radcliffe perform. Now I thought Radcliffe would pick something more commercially accessible such as Twista's verse from "Slow Jams" or Busta's verse on "Look At Me Now" or even part of Eminem's verse on "Rap God," but Radcliffe's choice surprised me.
Given the mic to perform in front of the live audience, and of course the millions watching at home, Radcliffe chose Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" and delivered with precision. It was a true nod to what great lyricism and MCing is (Radcliffe held his own, but I'm speaking here of Blackalicious' Gift of Gab) and it was refreshing to see him pick a song that came out 14 years ago that the masses know nothing about.
I did a presentation on Blackalicous in my Music Appreciation class for college some 12 years ago. After talking about the group, I wrapped up the presentation by playing "Alphabet Aerobics" to a room of people who were presenting Mozart and Janis Joplin and the likes. But as a hip-hop nerd, it was too important to me not to present hip-hop as a true artform. It's so much more than rhyming words over a beat, it's a craft and there's no better example than Gift of Gab on "Aerobics." When the song ended people asked, what was that called again? It may've been a room of 20 people, but I was happy to share.
Back to Radcliffe. In a time when the biggest names being played on the radio all day, every day are Iggy Azalea and Bobby Shmurda (seriously, what's wrong with people!) Harry Potter himself opted to educate and give shine to a hip-hop classic and a group that is more than deserving of recognition. And that made me smile.
As for Fallon, he has six (don't quote me on that) installments of his "History of Rap" series alongside Justin Timberlake. And while I love the ode to the classics past and present (and that they're backed by the legendary Roots Crew), I'm hoping Radcliffe inspired Fallon to reach out to the legends of the genre to perform the next chapter. Maybe Big Daddy Kane or Rakim, or hell Nas was a guest recently, let him do it. Let Fallon and Timberlake be spectators, while the legends that grew this artform give a history lesson. I'm not saying Fallon and Timberlake aren't entertaining during these segments and any positive nod to hip-hop is good in my book, but let's give some shine to those that have molded hip-hop into one of the greatest forms of music there is today.
Or maybe have Blackalicious on as the musical guest. Now there's an idea.
Given the mic to perform in front of the live audience, and of course the millions watching at home, Radcliffe chose Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" and delivered with precision. It was a true nod to what great lyricism and MCing is (Radcliffe held his own, but I'm speaking here of Blackalicious' Gift of Gab) and it was refreshing to see him pick a song that came out 14 years ago that the masses know nothing about.
I did a presentation on Blackalicous in my Music Appreciation class for college some 12 years ago. After talking about the group, I wrapped up the presentation by playing "Alphabet Aerobics" to a room of people who were presenting Mozart and Janis Joplin and the likes. But as a hip-hop nerd, it was too important to me not to present hip-hop as a true artform. It's so much more than rhyming words over a beat, it's a craft and there's no better example than Gift of Gab on "Aerobics." When the song ended people asked, what was that called again? It may've been a room of 20 people, but I was happy to share.
Back to Radcliffe. In a time when the biggest names being played on the radio all day, every day are Iggy Azalea and Bobby Shmurda (seriously, what's wrong with people!) Harry Potter himself opted to educate and give shine to a hip-hop classic and a group that is more than deserving of recognition. And that made me smile.
As for Fallon, he has six (don't quote me on that) installments of his "History of Rap" series alongside Justin Timberlake. And while I love the ode to the classics past and present (and that they're backed by the legendary Roots Crew), I'm hoping Radcliffe inspired Fallon to reach out to the legends of the genre to perform the next chapter. Maybe Big Daddy Kane or Rakim, or hell Nas was a guest recently, let him do it. Let Fallon and Timberlake be spectators, while the legends that grew this artform give a history lesson. I'm not saying Fallon and Timberlake aren't entertaining during these segments and any positive nod to hip-hop is good in my book, but let's give some shine to those that have molded hip-hop into one of the greatest forms of music there is today.
Or maybe have Blackalicious on as the musical guest. Now there's an idea.
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