Read this interview from Paul Arnold over at HHDX this morning and had to repost for anyone that may have missed it.
Das Efx and the whole Hit Squad/Def Squad were a pretty major part of the grimy Hip Hop from the East coast in the early 90's, which I loved then and still do to this day. The interview is detailed, and done from the persepctive of someone that actually knows the group's work. Interviews don't always come together like that, so it's appreciated here.
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1584/title.das-efx-baknaffek
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Feel Like Supporting The Cleanup Effort In The Gulf?
Nice little video here featuring Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz, Tim Robbins(???), & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing a song they put together for the relief effort. The video will tell you where to go if you wanna help.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
True Hip Hop Stories: BDK
Here is another video from D-Nice's 'True Hip Hop Stories' series. This time Big Daddy Kane sits backstage and discusses the making of his classic "Ain't No Half Steppin'". It's an interesting story about the way the beat was layered and everything.
If pressed to give an answer, I think I would have to say this song is my favorite Hip Hop song of all time. When I was a kid (I'm talking a little, little kid) Long Live The Kane was one of the first tapes I ever bought. I listened to that whole album start to finish probably 500 times or more, literally. And "Ain't No Half Steppin'" was the first song on the B-Side, so it was easy to rewind and start over again and again. And, I did...again and again.
If pressed to give an answer, I think I would have to say this song is my favorite Hip Hop song of all time. When I was a kid (I'm talking a little, little kid) Long Live The Kane was one of the first tapes I ever bought. I listened to that whole album start to finish probably 500 times or more, literally. And "Ain't No Half Steppin'" was the first song on the B-Side, so it was easy to rewind and start over again and again. And, I did...again and again.
Nike SB Presents:
A recent post of mine commented on Nike's credible use of Hip Hop in some of their ad campaigns. You can read it here. Well, here they are again. This time promoting skater Paul Rodriguez's (son of the comedian of the same name) shoe with along with a voiceover by Nas while his song "Hero" serves as the soundtrack.
Here is Nike's announcement:
"Nike SB is proud to announce the global launch of the Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 on 8/21/2010. This year we brought Paul to New York to hit the streets and spend time in the studio with one of his idols, hip-hop legend NAS. The result is a 60-second commercial, directed by Nike SB’s own Jon Humphries, following Paul’s journey through iconic New York City skate spots, accompanied by music and a voiceover from Nas."
Here is Nike's announcement:
"Nike SB is proud to announce the global launch of the Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 on 8/21/2010. This year we brought Paul to New York to hit the streets and spend time in the studio with one of his idols, hip-hop legend NAS. The result is a 60-second commercial, directed by Nike SB’s own Jon Humphries, following Paul’s journey through iconic New York City skate spots, accompanied by music and a voiceover from Nas."
25 Favorite Hip Hop Songs
I was putting together a list of 25 of something else Hip Hop related for a friend the other day, and just decided to think for a little while about what 25 of my favorite Hip Hop songs were.
This isn't an exhaustive list - obviously there are countless great songs that strike a special chord inside me. This isn't my TOP 25 either, just 25 of my favorites in no particular order. Songs that come to mind without too much thought. Songs I grew up listening to. Songs that have countless replay value for me. Songs I would sit in the car in the driveway and listen to if they came on. If I kept thinking I could come up with 25 more in no time.
Take a look at the list. Comment. List some of your own favorites.
1. Big Daddy Kane – "Ain’t No Half Steppin’" (probably my favorite Hip Hop song of all time)
2. A Tribe Called Quest – "Check The Rhime"
3. Jay-Z – "Feelin’ It"
4. Heavy D. w/ many others– "Don’t Curse" (My favorite posse cut)
5. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – "T.R.O.Y."
6. Run DMC – "Rock Box"
7. De La Soul – "Eye Know"
8. DJ Quik – "Tonite"
9. Nas – "Halftime"
10. Gangstarr – "You Know My Steez"
11. Scarface – "I Seen a Man Die"
12. 2Pac – "Pain"
13. Naughty By Nature – "Uptown Anthem"
14. Biggie – "I Got a Story To Tell"
15. BDP – "Love’s Gonna Getcha"
16. Souls of Mischief – "93’ Til’ Infinity"
17. EPMD – "Get the Bozack"
18. Organized Konfusion – "Fudge Pudge"
19. The Roots – "What They Do"
20. Kool Moe Dee – "I Go To Work"
21. Raekwon – "Incarcerated Scarfaces"
22. Atmosphere – "Sunshine"
23. Talib Kweli – "Get By"
24. Black Star w/ Common – "Respiration"
25. Goodie Mob – "Cell Therapy"
This isn't an exhaustive list - obviously there are countless great songs that strike a special chord inside me. This isn't my TOP 25 either, just 25 of my favorites in no particular order. Songs that come to mind without too much thought. Songs I grew up listening to. Songs that have countless replay value for me. Songs I would sit in the car in the driveway and listen to if they came on. If I kept thinking I could come up with 25 more in no time.
Take a look at the list. Comment. List some of your own favorites.
1. Big Daddy Kane – "Ain’t No Half Steppin’" (probably my favorite Hip Hop song of all time)
2. A Tribe Called Quest – "Check The Rhime"
3. Jay-Z – "Feelin’ It"
4. Heavy D. w/ many others– "Don’t Curse" (My favorite posse cut)
5. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – "T.R.O.Y."
6. Run DMC – "Rock Box"
7. De La Soul – "Eye Know"
8. DJ Quik – "Tonite"
9. Nas – "Halftime"
10. Gangstarr – "You Know My Steez"
11. Scarface – "I Seen a Man Die"
12. 2Pac – "Pain"
13. Naughty By Nature – "Uptown Anthem"
14. Biggie – "I Got a Story To Tell"
15. BDP – "Love’s Gonna Getcha"
16. Souls of Mischief – "93’ Til’ Infinity"
17. EPMD – "Get the Bozack"
18. Organized Konfusion – "Fudge Pudge"
19. The Roots – "What They Do"
20. Kool Moe Dee – "I Go To Work"
21. Raekwon – "Incarcerated Scarfaces"
22. Atmosphere – "Sunshine"
23. Talib Kweli – "Get By"
24. Black Star w/ Common – "Respiration"
25. Goodie Mob – "Cell Therapy"
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Late last night, I spotted the tracklist for Pharoahe Monch's upcoming Duck Down Records Release, W.A.R. Here it is:
1. Intro – Skit (feat. Idris Elba)
2. Evolve
3. W.A.R. (feat. Vernon Reid)
4. Clap
5. The Hitman
6. Black Hand Side (feat. Styles P & Phonte (of Little Brother))
7. Let My People Go
8. Shine (feat. Mela Machinko)
9. Haile Selassie Karate (feat. Denaun Porter)
10. Assassins (feat. Jean Grae & Royce Da 5’9”)
11. Illusions
12. Mama’s Boy
13. Still Standing (feat. Jill Scott)
Unfortunately, no word on production credits for each track just yet. For those that don't know though, Monch produced his biggest hit, "Simon Says", himself.
Now, it's not as if Monch needs any help from guest MCs to hold down his album. He's unquestionably one of the greatest lyricists ever. But, I gotta say I'm pretty excited about some of these features. Phonte & SP; Jean Grae & Royce. Not sure why Stringer Bell is on there, but we'll see what happens. I'm guessing it'll be similar to the American Gangster intro. But, Elba was in that movie, so it made more sense. I know he's trying to break into Hip Hop now, but having your rhymes compared to Pharoahe Monch isn't the best way to garner attention.
Take a look at the video below where Monch talks Hip Hop with D-Nice, including the making of "Oh No", and rhyming about his problems with Asthma on this new album.
1. Intro – Skit (feat. Idris Elba)
2. Evolve
3. W.A.R. (feat. Vernon Reid)
4. Clap
5. The Hitman
6. Black Hand Side (feat. Styles P & Phonte (of Little Brother))
7. Let My People Go
8. Shine (feat. Mela Machinko)
9. Haile Selassie Karate (feat. Denaun Porter)
10. Assassins (feat. Jean Grae & Royce Da 5’9”)
11. Illusions
12. Mama’s Boy
13. Still Standing (feat. Jill Scott)
Unfortunately, no word on production credits for each track just yet. For those that don't know though, Monch produced his biggest hit, "Simon Says", himself.
Now, it's not as if Monch needs any help from guest MCs to hold down his album. He's unquestionably one of the greatest lyricists ever. But, I gotta say I'm pretty excited about some of these features. Phonte & SP; Jean Grae & Royce. Not sure why Stringer Bell is on there, but we'll see what happens. I'm guessing it'll be similar to the American Gangster intro. But, Elba was in that movie, so it made more sense. I know he's trying to break into Hip Hop now, but having your rhymes compared to Pharoahe Monch isn't the best way to garner attention.
Take a look at the video below where Monch talks Hip Hop with D-Nice, including the making of "Oh No", and rhyming about his problems with Asthma on this new album.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Outasight - Never Say Never
It appears to be free music day. So click the link to Outasight's Bandcamp page and download his new album, Never Say Never, for free.
If you're unfamiliar, Outasight is a rapper/singer/songwriter/musician from Yonkers, NYC. The music is eclectic, and doesn't follow the stringent guidelines most Hip Hop artists adhere to. With Outasight and a few others these days though, the rules for what is and is not Hip Hop appear to be changing - in a good way...and I like it.
http://outasight.bandcamp.com/album/never-say-never
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