Blue Scholars - "John DeLorean" x Brooklyn Concert

As the seminal Seattle hip hop group who helped resurrect hip hop in the Emerald, I've lost track of how many times that I've seen the Blue Scholars in concert since my Garfield days (upwards of 10 at last count). However you may feel about the socially conscious pair, Geo and Sabzi bring an energy second to none to their live shows (one of their crowning achievements might be absolutely demolishing Kanye West when they opened for him at Bumbershoot 2006--a moment that signaled the arrival of the Seattle hip hop scene).

It's been around three years since I last saw them at the Capitol Hill Block Party (they haven't done nearly as many shows together since Sabzi moved to NYC). Needless to say, I was excited to hear about their show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this Friday (10/4). Performing with the Scholars will be Made In The Heights (Sabzi's collaboration with singer Kelsey Bulkin) and The Bar (a collaboration between Geo and Bambu).

To all of those Upper Left natives currently residing in Gotham, I highly recommend not missing this show. The same advice applies for any lovers of superb live hip hop. In celebration, I'll share this underrated Blue Scholars gem that they dropped for free back in 2011. Enjoy.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

Noah

Previous: Blue Scholars - "The Long March"

Flatbush Zombies - "Mraz"

Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, and Erick Arc Elliot aren’t really interested in what other people think about their music. They enjoy making it too much, which is probably why their first mixtape D.R.U.G.S. lured me back three months later, even after writing them off as another Halloween-obsessed group being dark for the sake of attracting attention[1]. I’d already been turned off by the disparity between Odd Future’s hype and their talent[2], so I was wary any seemingly unnecessary coffin references.

My fears turned out to be unfounded. The Flatbush Zombies, while keeping their undead motif going strong, have continued to put out solid music free of gimmickry (and full of drugs). It’s eclectic, energetic, and just different. It’s not surprising that when asked about how they make music, they respond that they make no effort to create a cohesive sound. I can’t help but agree when they say that shit would be “boring.”

The Flatbush Zombies dropped their sophomore mixtape on September 12th, and it’s quite good[3]. “Mraz,” and its accompanying video, was released months before. While it’s sometimes frustrating to get recycled tracks on an album (or in this case mixtape), “Mraz” is a stand out track on the album with an excellent video to boot. It perfectly showcases why the Zombies are so good, and gives a little insight into their music as a whole. It’s old school hip hop, referential, gritty, and energetic to the point of being a little out of control. Their cultural references aren't as simplistic as a name drop; they're Gang Starr and Eazy E breakdowns seamlessly woven into the musical tapestry they’ve been ashing on for the last 3-plus years.

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[1] This was "Thug Waffle," and even Zombie Juice says he hated that song. Understandable because his verse is kinda weak.

[2] This is an on-going disappointment now that Earl Sweatshirt’s underwhelming debut album has dropped.

[3] Although maaayyybe not as good as D.R.U.G.S.

Wu-Tang Wednesday: Kanye West & ODB - "Keep The Receipt"

Every court needs its jester and, during his all too short time on this planet, Russell Tyrone Jones aka Dirt McGirt aka Big Baby Jesus aka Ol' Dirty Chinese Restaurant aka Ol' Dirty Bastard was the undisputed Clown Prince of hip hop. Ever the absurdist, ODB was interrupting award shows long before K. West was even thinking about college, let alone dropping out. At a time when his solo debut was charting in the top 10, Jones once took two of his thirteen offspring in a limo to collect food stamps while being filmed by MTV News (There are so many things about that sentence to break down, but that's not a misprint, he had 13 kids. And people give Shawn Kemp a hard time).

ODB was blessed with a distinctive voice and uniquely absurd half-sung, half-rapped delivery. "I rap and I sing, but I don't know how to sing," is how he once described his fatherless, free-associative, ludicrously profane style that provided the wild-card energy on 36 Chambers and was so desperately missing on later Wu-Tang group albums. 

That style and energy was beloved by many a fan including a budding rapper/producer coming out of Chicago. Kanye West once claimed that, could he be blessed with anybody's voice, it would have been ODB's. With both emcees having recently signed to Roc-A-Fella records, Dirt McGirt was one of the first emcees that Kanye sought to collaborate with when he was recording his debut album in 2003.

Jay-Z - "Intro/A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More" x "So Ghetto"

I realize that I haven't posted any J-Hova in a while, so I'll give you a double hitter.  The first comes off Jay's sophomore release, In My Lifetime.  While I didn't care for the rest of the album, this track remains one of my favorite intro tracks of all time and serves as a nice transition from where he left off on Reasonable Doubt.

The latter is the street single off Life and Times of S. Carter.  While lay listeners around my age are likely familiar with the UGK-assisted hit, "Big Pimpin'" off the same album, many haven't heard this gem that I consider to be one of Jay's most lyrically intricate songs (the rugged Preemo beat doesn't hurt either).  Both provide further proof of why Shawn Carter is the greatest rapper of all time.  Enjoy.

Previous: Jay-Z & Coldplay - "What If We Cry?" x "Lucifer and Friends" | Jay-Z - "Regrets"

Killah Priest - "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)"

One of the more underrated emcees of all time, Wu-Tang-affiliate Killah Priest isn't even given credit for his best song.  Because his solo track "B.I.B.L.E." was included as a bonus song on the re-issue of GZA's Liquid Swords, many mistakenly attribute it to the Genius.  This song, along with the album as a whole is a CLASSIC.  GZA's magnum opus stands the test of time and still ranks among my top-10 albums of all time.

Peace, Love, & Wu,

VoodooChild

Killah Priest - "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)"

PackFM - "I F*cking Hate Rappers" (prod. Tonedeff)

Anyone who ain't rappers, lets have a show of hands,

'Cause there's too many rappers, not enough fans.

Used to be about the posses, crews, cliques, and the clans,

Now these little young boys thinkin' they the f*ckin' man.

They the reason fans only gave Lupe a chance,

'Cause they thought "Kick, Push" was the name of a dance.

Brooklyn emcee PackFM brings the heat on this title track off of his 2010 sophomore album and follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2006 release, Whut Duz FM Stand For?  Pack goes after everyone, but particularly calls out the legendary Common.  In a recent interview with HipHopDX, Pack explained the diss:

Remember "The Bitch In Yoo?" Common was getting at Ice Cube real hard for switching his whole style up to whatever was the flavor of the month and for being in movies. Look at Common now.  I think Common is a talented writer, but he's shown that he's not above flippin' the script for the sake of relevance.

On another note, I apologize to my readers for my complete lack of posts during the past two weeks.  This semester was particularly difficult for personal reasons that I won't go into, but I've needed the time at home to decompress (mostly via videojuegos and hanging with my ladyfriend).  But now I'm back and I intend to get back to regular posting over the next couple days.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

WordIsBorn

Theophilus London - "Humdrum Town" [Video]

The visuals off of the Brooklyn emcee's latest single.

Theophilus London - "Humdrum Town"

The first I heard of Theophilus London was at the beginning of this year when a friend shared This Charming Mixtape with me.  The Brooklyn-born emcee uses an eclectic style that sounds part hipster, part techno, part glam rock, part hip hop.  The resulting recombination of these other styles achieves a sound that is uniquely TL.  For those more traditional hip hop heads, London isn't for you, but if you like this song I highly recommend downloading This Charming Mixtape.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,
NYCentric Noah

Skyzoo - Cornerstone Classic (2007)

Skyzoo is exactly what hip hop needs.  The Brooklyn native, who's been rapping since age 9, is an emcee who is able to take hip hop back to it's golden age traditions, while still moving the game forward.  Fifteen years, six mixtapes, and one independent EP later, Skyzoo is one of the most respected up and coming emcees and is poised to release his proper debut LP The Salvation at the end of the month.  Skyzoo draws influences from everyone from fellow BK emcees Biggie and Jay-Z to NWA and Nirvana.  His style bridges the lengthy gap between street hop and backpack rap.  His 2007 Mick Boogie co-signed mixtape Cornerstone Classic recieved critical acclaim, including an XL in XXL and is a great example of Sky's natural gift of gab.  Cuts include "Straighten It Out" and the J Dilla produced "They Don't Want It."  As far as mixtapes go, I place it about on level with J. Cole's The Come Up (a great mixtape on in it's own right), but below a few of Mick Boogie's other mixtapes like Viva La Hova and Jus Mic and another level below J. Cole's latest The Warm Up.  At the end of the day it's a very respectable mixtape and I'm very excited to hear The Salvation (an album which has already recieved XL in XXL) come September 29th.  I've included a link to this mixtape as well as the video and track for "Beautiful Decay," first single off his upcoming album.  Peep the video, it's an ode to his home borough and a commentary, as the name might suggest on urban decay.  S-K-Y-Z-O-O.  Remember the name.



Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,
NY-Abiding Noah

Skyzoo - Cornerstone Classic
Skyzoo - Beautiful Decay

M.O.P. - "Crazy" feat. Termanology (Bonus)

The duo of Mash Out Posse, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, has been around since 1992 and, along with Wu-Tang Clan and Geto Boys, helped to found the hardcore hip hop scene (which directly led the the horrorcore scene of the likes of Jedi Mind Tricks and AOTP).  The Brooklyn emcees bring an energy to each and every bar that it rivaled by few rappers and have remained hardcore and uncompromising despite mainstream success.  M.O.P. garnered underground respect with their debut 1993 single "How About Some Hardcore?" and their first three albums, but it was with their fourth album, Warriorz (2000), featuring the hit single "Ante Up" (which generated a popular remix with Busta Rhymes) that the group began it's rise to prominence.

In 2002, the group signed to Roc-A-Fella and recorded a remix of "U Don't Know" that is one of my favorite Jay-Z songs of all time.  When Dame Dash and Shawn Carter split, M.O.P. was put in an awkward position as Dame retained their services.  They ended up leaving Dash in May of 2005.  This song is off of their upcoming album The Foundation (dropping September 15th), an album which I've been looking forward to for a while now. I've also included the "U Don't Know Remix" off of Jay's The Blueprint2: The Gift & The Curse and the promo single for Slaughterhouse's debut album, "Woodstock Hood Hop." Prepare yourself. The hardcore returns September 15th.

Peace, Love, & Hardcore,
Noah


"Crazy" (feat. Termanology)

"Woodstock Hood Hop" (w/ Slaughterhouse)