Aug
21

Unskippable Songs: Lil Wayne ft. Hot Boys-”Shine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVlzQ8c4m4 Wayne’s pre-Carter II output is as overlooked as Tha Carter III  is overrated. Lately, I’ve been unnaturally obsessed with “Shine” from 2000′s Lights Out. As Tal Rosenberg pointed out, back then, “Wayne was just firing off words as if he had them stored in the magazine of a machine gun. “Shine” is one of… Continue reading »

Aug
21

27 Minutes of Funk: Fela Kuti in Concert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU39XGxS9MY More posts from me (Jeff), sooner than later. Still dealing with a lingering head cold that refuses to completely go away. In the meantime, Fela live…you know.

Aug
21

The Next Spot: E-40–”My Ghetto Report Card”

 The Next Spot is a recurring series dedicated to the albums that could’ve, would’ve, should’ve made the Decade Top 50.  Forget the lackluster back end, My Ghetto Report Card is all about the high energy first half that brought 40 Water back to MTV and put the Bay back in the National spotlight for a… Continue reading »

Aug
20

The Next Spot: The Diplomats–Diplomatic Immunity

The Next Spot is a recurring series dedicated to the albums that could’ve, would’ve, should’ve made the Decade Top 50.  Up in our merger, there’s foul murders Turkeys to cow-burgers, the code of our murder Child, if you style or a wild splurger Stay away, okay? Mr. Giles will hurt ‘ya. If there was ever… Continue reading »

Aug
19

Question in the Form of an Answer: A Conversation With Memory Man

When he’s not cooking up something marvelous in the lab, Disco Vietnam drops basic instructions before leaving earth via Twitter.  Three minutes after our interview with Austin-based producer’s Eli Elkin, AKA Memory Man, a tweet appeared on Twitter (as they are wont to do) from the Chef himself. @RAEKWONICEWATER Ayo foreal i dont know who… Continue reading »

Aug
18

Hip Hop Hits (1990-2004)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEqjPMelbIE In the quest to defend his thesis that great hip-hop is on the decline, Ivan of Hip-Hop is Read crunched the data from the Best Rap Albums of the Decade list to come up with an awesome bit of rap nerditry,. While I’m not certain if I agree with the conclusion, it’s a fascinating… Continue reading »

Aug
18

The Next Spot: cLOUDDEAD–”Ten”

  The beautiful thing about hip hop is that you can say some of the weirdest, most inane, ridiculoid phrases, but say them with conviction or jest, and suddenly you’re creating New Speak. From “rap at high speed strawberry kiwi” to “gimme them girls with the pumps and a bump”, it’s not really what you… Continue reading »

Aug
17

Flying Lotus, No Age, and The Revenge of the San Fernando Valley

The inevitable but ostensibly overreaching contrast between The Smell and the Low End Theory comes into clearer focus when you hear the new Flying Lotus and No Age EP’s side by side. While earlier recordings displayed a heavy emphasis on their hip-hop and punk roots, their latest offerings drift towards more ambient soundscapes, as though… Continue reading »

Aug
17

Sach O: Memory Man presents: Raekwon – Cuban Revolution

I don’t usually take time out of my day to repost unofficial Wu-Tang remix-tapes but Cuban Revolution deserves a little more shine than the 24-hour Mp3 blog cycle can afford. Intricately blending post-Cuban Linx vocals to surprisingly banging production reminiscent of Muggs’ work on Grandmasters, the little known Memory Man has compiled a compulsively listenable… Continue reading »

Aug
16

The Next Spot: Devin the Dude-”Just Tryin’ Ta Live”

  The Next Spot is a recurring series dedicated to the albums that could’ve, would’ve, should’ve made the Decade Top 50.  Devin Copeland started rapping with Jugg Mugg and Rob Quest in the Odd Squad, whose Fadanuf Fa Erybody!!, was famously called Rap-A-Lot’s best album by no less than Scarface. In ’96, he joined the… Continue reading »

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