Sep
12

Sach O: K Def X LL Cool J – Year of the Hip-Hop

Sach O‘s got an Eraserhead haircut. Classic K-Def & LL Cool J collabo that was apparently lost behind a radiator for 17 years before being unearthed and released on limited edition orange vinyl. Seemingly recorded after Uncle L got his Chronic induced gangsta-rapping out of his system on 14 Shots to the Dome but before… Continue reading »

May
23

Sach O: 2 Bad Mice FACT Mix

Sach O is ‘Arkore. As if to prove my previous assertion that paid mixes face heavy competition from the web, Fact had seminal 90s breakbeat mainstays 2 Bad Mice drop an awesome 70 minute clinic on London proto-jungle via instrumental Hip-Hop…aka ‘Ardkore. While Ninja Tune style downtempo found a niche audience on this side of… Continue reading »

Sep
29

The Shadiest One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCfLjGDK9Sw Fast-forward to the 1:10 mark for 16 bars from W.C., who at 40, still immolates Cube’s new Lench Mob henchman and O’ Shea himself. As for his old Lench mob, maybe Doughboy discarded them because he read on the world’s most entertaining encyclopedia that they are “Black Supremacist racists.”Apparently, Glen Beck is putting in… Continue reading »

Sep
02

Herbs and Spices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJTunhUs1-g It’s rarely discussed today, but re-visiting Spice 1 (and Celly Cel) I’m struck by how pervasive the G-Funk influence was on mid-90s Bay Area production. Dre’s snake eater synths were everywhere. Obviously, the Bay had its own distinct identity, and these sort of generalizations are dangerous — inasmuch as theorizing to the web void… Continue reading »

Aug
23

The Old Testament: Wipers- Youth of America

  Douglas Martin knows a thing or two about Northwest punk. However, he saves his true genius for the region’s vast array of Thai restaurants. Do you know a native of the Pacific-Northwest? Ask them to name the greatest Northwest band of all-time. If they say Nirvana, they only listen to the radio. If they… Continue reading »

Jan
30

The Old Testament: Fela Kuti

I haven’t wanted to listen to anything but Fela Kuti for weeks. It’s getting a little weird. In the car, Expensive Shit/He Miss Road has monopolized my stereo. and at home, rather than feebly attempt productivity, I’ve burnt countless hours scrounging around miscellaneous legally dubious corners of the web vainly attempting to acquire his entire… Continue reading »

Jun
07

The Old Testament: Digable Planets-Blowout Comb

“Cool Like Dat,” Digable Planet’s breakout single, was inescapable in winter of ’92/93. From top 40 radio airplay to its black and white video that played constantly on MTV, the Brooklyn Bohemians fit perfectly into the left-of-center aesthetic that that hip-hop seemed evolving towards. From Tribe Low End Theory’s appropriation of jazz to Guru’s Jazzmattaz… Continue reading »

May
17

The Old Testament: Inspectah Deck-Uncontrolled Substance

On the surface, it would seem tough to be Inspectah Deck. Sure, there’s that whole fame-and-fortune thing, but let’s be real, it has to hurt a bit that that most people consider him at best the fourth or fifth-best rapper in the Wu. Not nearly as emotionally resonant and vocally complex as Ghost, lacking the… Continue reading »

Mar
14

The Old Testament: The Pharcyde-Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

A few months ago, I was writing something with a writing partner, a very witty and intelligent girl, who for one reason or another just isn’t into music. The scene in question, called for a bunch of young women caking on make-up in a room, and we were looking for the right song to soundtrack… Continue reading »

Mar
06

The Old Testament: Digital Underground-Sex Packets

Let’s just get it out the way: “Humpty Dance” is the best party rap record of all-time. I know there’s a lot of competitors. Realistically, you could pick any of the Tribe Called Quest singles through Midnight Marauders, or practically anything from The Chronic or Doggystyle. Not to mention, “Bust a Move,” “Me Myself and… Continue reading »

Older posts «