2Pac - Watch Ya Mouth (Dr. Dre, Nas & De La Soul Diss)
&
2Pac - New York '87 (Dissing EVERYONE In New York)
(feat. DJ Quik, Kurupt, Deadly Threat & Daz Dillinger)
Previously: "Nasty" Got Me Feeling Like...
Unreleased 2Pac Tracks Got Me Feeling Like...
2Pac - Watch Ya Mouth (Dr. Dre, Nas & De La Soul Diss)
&
2Pac - New York '87 (Dissing EVERYONE In New York)
(feat. DJ Quik, Kurupt, Deadly Threat & Daz Dillinger)
Previously: "Nasty" Got Me Feeling Like...
Wu-Tang Clan - Live at Glastonbury 2011
Time flies by, huh? It seems like it was only yesterday significantly less than three years ago when I made both Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco's sets at the Glastonbury Festival available for download in track-by-track mp3 format. Back by popular demand (and by that I mean just a tweet from BHYPHEN), I present to you: Wu-Tang Clan's June 24th performance at Glastonbury. Enjoy... and turn it up!!
Rap Round Table, Week Ending 6/24/2011
Music Analysis & Reporting:
The Unauthorized Story of Haitian Jack by Black Pacino
Earl Sweatshirt's Coral Reef Academy Friend Says "New Yorker" Story Is False by Ernest Baker & Jacob Moore
Blue Note Records' Ten Best Sample Sources by Phillip Mlynar
Revisiting the Classic Commercial Rap Album Template by Mobb Deen
I Was Making Lupe Fiasco Look Stupid Back Before It Was All Trendy by Byron Crawford
Great Songs from Forgotten Rap Albums #18 by The Great Gats, B
The Dopplegangaz by Werner von Wallenrod
WOAT Albums: Mobb Deep by GuttaBoyJihaD
7 Reasons Why 'Blood Money' Is Mobb Deep's Worst Album by HL
RE: RE: WOAT Mobb Deep Album by GuttaBoyJihaD
Nasty Nas in Your Area, About to Cause Blog Hysteria by Evan Nabavian
Return of Nasty Reign Drops by HL
The 50 Cent Resurrection by Noz
"If I Can't" Gets Cue From Sampling by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Jay Rock Reveals Single 'Hood Gone Love It,' Aided by Kendrick Lamar by Jeff Weiss
The Origins of Screwed Music by Galvatron
Success & The Hip Hop Hypocrite by Tony Grands
On 2Pac’s Forgotten Battle Record by J. Tinsley
Company Flow Reunite by Tom Breihan
Kreayshawn Is the Latest Controversial White Rapper by Nitsuh Abebe
Tha Chill (Compton's Most Wanted), Gangsta and Other Rap Veterans Form Supergroup, '1st Generation,' Play First Show on July 23 by Jeff Weiss
Rapper 10th Ward Buck Explains History of 'Bounce' Music in New Book by Roman Wolfe
Publicists Ask ‘What’s Your Gimmick,’ I Said ‘Going In’ by Jeff Weiss
Hoodratz - Sneeke Muthafukaz by C-Dub
Hindsight Is 20/20: How Scarface Made Me Realize I’m an Adult by J to the Aap
Ice Cube’s Autograph Saves Lives by Beware
Immortal Technique: The Psychedelic Soul of UMO by Jeff Weiss
Hey Drake, Man Up! by Jonathan Hailey
Drake Tells Universal Music to Stop Taking Down the Music He's Leaking by Mike Masnick
Weird This Way by Jeff Weiss
Turntable.fm: Music and DJing Meets Gamification by Alex Pham
Album Reviews:
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up by Jeff Weiss
Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter by Tom Breihan
Big Sean - Finally Famous: The Album by William E. Ketchum III
Tech N9ne - All 6′s and 7′s by Ericka Simone
Blaq Poet - Blaq Poet Society by Amanda Bassa
Open Mike Eagle - Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes by Fred Castano
Grieves - Together Apart by Edwin Ortiz
DJ JS-1 - Ground Original 3: No One Cares by Francisco McCurry
Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis by Steven Potter
Silkie - City Limits Volume 2 by Nate Patrin
Black Lips - Arabia Mountain by Chris Bosman
Bon Iver - Bon Iver by Randall Roberts
Bon Iver - Bon Iver by Mark Richardson
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra by Ian Cohen
Jay-Z - Unplugged (December 18, 2001) by Dag Diligent
Profiles & Interviews:
Raw Sh!t: An Interview With Random Axe by J to the Aap
5-10-15-20: DJ Quik by Tom Breihan
DMX's 1st Jailhouse Interview by MikeyFresh
DJ Quik Talks Sampling John Travolta, 'The Book of David' and Powerhouse Appearance by Nate Jackson
Q&A: Big K.R.I.T. on Making People React to His Lyrics, Crate-Digging And Crafting Playstation Beats by J. Pablo
Canibus & Keith Murray (The Undergods): Hip Hop Bounty Hunters by Chris Richburg
Metal Lungies Hollers @ Co$$ by KnobbzXL
A Q. & A. With Skyzoo, Mixtape Master by Chris O'Shea
Producer's Corner: Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis by William E. Ketchum III
The Unauthorized Story of Haitian Jack by Black Pacino
Earl Sweatshirt's Coral Reef Academy Friend Says "New Yorker" Story Is False by Ernest Baker & Jacob Moore
Blue Note Records' Ten Best Sample Sources by Phillip Mlynar
Revisiting the Classic Commercial Rap Album Template by Mobb Deen
I Was Making Lupe Fiasco Look Stupid Back Before It Was All Trendy by Byron Crawford
Great Songs from Forgotten Rap Albums #18 by The Great Gats, B
The Dopplegangaz by Werner von Wallenrod
WOAT Albums: Mobb Deep by GuttaBoyJihaD
7 Reasons Why 'Blood Money' Is Mobb Deep's Worst Album by HL
RE: RE: WOAT Mobb Deep Album by GuttaBoyJihaD
Nasty Nas in Your Area, About to Cause Blog Hysteria by Evan Nabavian
Return of Nasty Reign Drops by HL
The 50 Cent Resurrection by Noz
"If I Can't" Gets Cue From Sampling by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Jay Rock Reveals Single 'Hood Gone Love It,' Aided by Kendrick Lamar by Jeff Weiss
The Origins of Screwed Music by Galvatron
Success & The Hip Hop Hypocrite by Tony Grands
On 2Pac’s Forgotten Battle Record by J. Tinsley
Company Flow Reunite by Tom Breihan
Kreayshawn Is the Latest Controversial White Rapper by Nitsuh Abebe
Tha Chill (Compton's Most Wanted), Gangsta and Other Rap Veterans Form Supergroup, '1st Generation,' Play First Show on July 23 by Jeff Weiss
Rapper 10th Ward Buck Explains History of 'Bounce' Music in New Book by Roman Wolfe
Publicists Ask ‘What’s Your Gimmick,’ I Said ‘Going In’ by Jeff Weiss
Hoodratz - Sneeke Muthafukaz by C-Dub
Hindsight Is 20/20: How Scarface Made Me Realize I’m an Adult by J to the Aap
Ice Cube’s Autograph Saves Lives by Beware
Immortal Technique: The Psychedelic Soul of UMO by Jeff Weiss
Hey Drake, Man Up! by Jonathan Hailey
Drake Tells Universal Music to Stop Taking Down the Music He's Leaking by Mike Masnick
Weird This Way by Jeff Weiss
Turntable.fm: Music and DJing Meets Gamification by Alex Pham
Album Reviews:
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up by Jeff Weiss
Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter by Tom Breihan
Big Sean - Finally Famous: The Album by William E. Ketchum III
Tech N9ne - All 6′s and 7′s by Ericka Simone
Blaq Poet - Blaq Poet Society by Amanda Bassa
Open Mike Eagle - Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes by Fred Castano
Grieves - Together Apart by Edwin Ortiz
DJ JS-1 - Ground Original 3: No One Cares by Francisco McCurry
Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis by Steven Potter
Silkie - City Limits Volume 2 by Nate Patrin
Black Lips - Arabia Mountain by Chris Bosman
Bon Iver - Bon Iver by Randall Roberts
Bon Iver - Bon Iver by Mark Richardson
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra by Ian Cohen
Jay-Z - Unplugged (December 18, 2001) by Dag Diligent
Profiles & Interviews:
Raw Sh!t: An Interview With Random Axe by J to the Aap
5-10-15-20: DJ Quik by Tom Breihan
DMX's 1st Jailhouse Interview by MikeyFresh
DJ Quik Talks Sampling John Travolta, 'The Book of David' and Powerhouse Appearance by Nate Jackson
Q&A: Big K.R.I.T. on Making People React to His Lyrics, Crate-Digging And Crafting Playstation Beats by J. Pablo
Canibus & Keith Murray (The Undergods): Hip Hop Bounty Hunters by Chris Richburg
Metal Lungies Hollers @ Co$$ by KnobbzXL
A Q. & A. With Skyzoo, Mixtape Master by Chris O'Shea
Producer's Corner: Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis by William E. Ketchum III
Talib Kweli on The Colbert Report
Talib Kweli visited the Colbert Report to discuss Arizona Senate Bill 1070, as well as to perform "Cold Rain" off his newest album Gutter Rainbows. He also performed one of my all-time favorites, the Nina Simone-sampling "Get By", offered as a web exclusive on Colbert Nation (above). Enjoy.
Ten Summers Ago...
"Hip hop, I damn near hate y'all/
I'm sick and tired of all these Auto-Tune-ass n****s, I miss Nate Dogg/"
- Freddie Gibbs; "Flamboyant (Freestyle)"
Summer begins today, I'm proud to announce. As the City of Angels attempts to shed off the June Gloom cloudiness we've been having - we've got it sooo rough - I've found myself revisiting DJ Steve1der's Nate in '08: The Best of Nate Dogg mix for some reason. Summertime and Nate Dogg hooks simply go together like gin and tonic. And it got me thinking about what hip hop was like just ten years ago, specifically what I was listening to on the radio - you know, like, when I actually used to listen to the radio. The summer of 2001 was a big deal in so many ways. It was special for me because it was the summer before I entered high school. On a national (and international) level, it was the last summer we could fly on an airplane without being molested by airport security. Thanks a lot Osama Bin Laden Saddam Hussein George Bush! But back to hip hop, it was a summer totally dominated by Nate Dogg. Most strikingly, it wasn't a west coast/regional thing.
In December of 2000, Snoop released his final full-length release with No Limit Records, Tha Last Meal. That album spawned a monstrous street single titled "Lay Low", produced by Dr. Dre (and Mike Elizondo), and featuring Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy, Tha Eastsidaz and Master P. As he often did, Nate Dogg stole the show. That single dropped in March, but it stayed on heavy rotation - at least on my local radio stations - for months, in a similar fashion to Dr. Dre's 2001 singles which preceded it.
A few weeks later - on Juneteenth to be exact - Fabolous unleashed a beast of his own, the bi-coastal anthem "Can't Deny It", featuring Nate on the hook (with backing vocals by Lil' Mo). The track was produced by Bay Area legend Rick Rock and drew its inspiration from 2Pac's opening track on All Eyez on Me, "Ambitionz az a Ridah". Suffice it to say that record received extensive radio play on the West Coast. "Can't Deny It" was Fabolous' first officially-released single.
Just two weeks afterwards, another Nate Dogg-assisted single burst onto the scene: Ludacris' "Area Codes". The promotional value of "Area Codes" was two-fold: 1) it was practically the theme song to Rush Hour 2, the summer blockbuster film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker which grossed $67 million in its opening weekend, and 2) it was the first single for Ludacris' highest-selling (and overall best) album, Word of Mouf, released a few months later on November 6, 2001.
That is sheer dominance. In just one summer, Nate held his own on home turf on the West Coast, at the same time lending his vocal chops to the South (Atlanta) and East Coast (New York/Brooklyn). In addition to the three aforementioned tracks, Nate also collaborated with Jermaine Dupri on "Ballin' Out of Control", all while readying his own solo LP, Music & Me, boosted by the street classic "I Got Love". The phrase "hit-or-miss" had no place in Nate's playbook. He cranked out nothing but hits. Much is said about Nate Dogg's phenomenal hooks. We ought to praise his work ethic too which was, clearly, impeccable. If you wanted to take a capsulated snapshot, a highlight of Nate's greatness, the early-to-mid '90s are a great place to start. But no one, absolutely no one, was touching Nate in the early-to-mid aughts. No one. Long live Nate Dogg, the king of hooks. Turn off the radio © Ice Cube
In December of 2000, Snoop released his final full-length release with No Limit Records, Tha Last Meal. That album spawned a monstrous street single titled "Lay Low", produced by Dr. Dre (and Mike Elizondo), and featuring Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy, Tha Eastsidaz and Master P. As he often did, Nate Dogg stole the show. That single dropped in March, but it stayed on heavy rotation - at least on my local radio stations - for months, in a similar fashion to Dr. Dre's 2001 singles which preceded it.
A few weeks later - on Juneteenth to be exact - Fabolous unleashed a beast of his own, the bi-coastal anthem "Can't Deny It", featuring Nate on the hook (with backing vocals by Lil' Mo). The track was produced by Bay Area legend Rick Rock and drew its inspiration from 2Pac's opening track on All Eyez on Me, "Ambitionz az a Ridah". Suffice it to say that record received extensive radio play on the West Coast. "Can't Deny It" was Fabolous' first officially-released single.
Just two weeks afterwards, another Nate Dogg-assisted single burst onto the scene: Ludacris' "Area Codes". The promotional value of "Area Codes" was two-fold: 1) it was practically the theme song to Rush Hour 2, the summer blockbuster film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker which grossed $67 million in its opening weekend, and 2) it was the first single for Ludacris' highest-selling (and overall best) album, Word of Mouf, released a few months later on November 6, 2001.
That is sheer dominance. In just one summer, Nate held his own on home turf on the West Coast, at the same time lending his vocal chops to the South (Atlanta) and East Coast (New York/Brooklyn). In addition to the three aforementioned tracks, Nate also collaborated with Jermaine Dupri on "Ballin' Out of Control", all while readying his own solo LP, Music & Me, boosted by the street classic "I Got Love". The phrase "hit-or-miss" had no place in Nate's playbook. He cranked out nothing but hits. Much is said about Nate Dogg's phenomenal hooks. We ought to praise his work ethic too which was, clearly, impeccable. If you wanted to take a capsulated snapshot, a highlight of Nate's greatness, the early-to-mid '90s are a great place to start. But no one, absolutely no one, was touching Nate in the early-to-mid aughts. No one. Long live Nate Dogg, the king of hooks. Turn off the radio © Ice Cube
Michael Rapaport's Beats Rhymes & Life | Review
A couple of nights ago, I included Werner von Wallenrod's review of Michael Rapaport's ATCQ documentary, Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, on the latest installment of the Rap Round Table. Between then and now I've seen the documentary and thought I'd share my two cents. (I suggest you read Werner's take on the film before proceeding further.)
Spanning just over an hour and a half, Beats Rhymes & Life begins with footage from Tribe's 2008 concert in Seattle, followed shortly by the backstage scene of a visibly frustrated Q-Tip commenting on the end of the group. "It's over." Rapaport hits you with that initial sequence of conflict leaving the viewer asking him/herself "why is it over?" The film progresses with the story of Tribe being pieced together, recollecting a young Phife Dawg getting into emceeing and convincing his childhood best friend, Q-Tip, to follow suit. The film documents the rich legacy of artists hailing from Queens, New York, all the way up to hip hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J - Tribe's "idols." In the words of Jarobi: "Queens puts out legends." The film goes on to detail Tribe's first encounter with the man who helped put them on, DJ Red Alert.
The film's got plenty of great footage that a rap nerd would enjoy. One key segment shows Q-Tip waxing nostalgic over a record, Lonnie Smith's 1970 LP Drives, sampled on Tribe's debut album and third official single, "Can I Kick It?" Tip wistfully recollects snagging the record for five bucks at a shop on W. 26th St. called Jazz Record Center. Other insightful moments include a portion from an interview with producer Pharrell Williams, who discusses the impact "Bonita Applebum" had on him, commenting: "I was obsessed with it. I had never heard nothing like that in my whole life. And that's where I changed." The breakdown of Phife's "Seaman's Furniture" line on "Electric Relaxation" provides plenty of laughs as does his support for the L.A. Lakers in lieu of the N.Y. Knicks. Tip jokingly chides in "a lot of New Yorkers can take this as an offense", to which Phife responds "that's 'cause we've been losing for quite a long time."
To Werner's credit, there's a lot of seemingly crucial information that isn't addressed in the documentary, including each artists' solo ventures, with exception to a brief mentioning of Q-Tip's Renaissance album. Also, as pointed out by Werner, involvement by Tribe pals Jay Dee (a.k.a. J Dilla) and Consequence are no more than hinted at during the film. The latter point doesn't disappoint too much since, after all, the film is really about the relationships between the four members of the group, with the conflict between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg taking the front seat, leaving Ali and Jarobi in the back or, more appropriately, caught "in the middle." In Werner's review, he comments that "it seems like the second half of this documentary was discarded in favor of celebrity gossip." He continues: "I feel like the great documentary has been switched off, and somebody's changed the channel to a trashy reality TV show made for the E! channel instead." I couldn't disagree more. Dissecting the group's genesis and conflict is the thesis of the documentary. I believe this what is meant by The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. It isn't fair to critique a project for what you expect it to be like.
I suppose I was ignorant to the conflict(s) that led to ATCQ being disbanded for all these years since The Love Movement. The film certainly hipped me to the root of these problems though, going to great lengths to flesh out the causes of Tribe's collapse, noting Phife's battle with diabetes, his move to Atlanta, the emergence of big egos and the overall reduced unity amongst the members. There's a significant moment in the film in which Phife compares A Tribe Called Quest to The Supremes, accusing Q-Tip of taking a Diana Ross-like role above the group. The film goes on to feature footage of a verbal dispute between Phife and Q-Tip. I'd assume that the film's inclusion of Q-Tip's use of the word "faggoty", directed to Phife, would be his number one critique of the film. Was it gratuitous on Michael Rapaport's part to include this segment? Not at all. As the viewer, I actually appreciated Rapaport's attempt to shrug off the candy coating one might expect from a film documenting a music group with the perception - justified or not - of being "soft", at least as far as hip hop goes. The film doesn't shy from getting its hands dirty and cut to the heart of the subject: why can't Tribe get it (back) together? Again, I appreciated the brutal honesty.
Beats Rhymes & Life leaves the viewer with more questions than questions answered. I believe this was entirely intentional. At one point in the film, Phife Dawg languishes: "I love hip hop but at the rate it's going right now, I could do with or without it." Conversely, the film concludes with the following captions: "A Tribe Called Quest has not released an album since 1998. They still have one album remaining on their original 1989 contract with Jive Records." Will they? Won't they? Probably not. But maybe... The film leaves the door wide open - as it should.
Spanning just over an hour and a half, Beats Rhymes & Life begins with footage from Tribe's 2008 concert in Seattle, followed shortly by the backstage scene of a visibly frustrated Q-Tip commenting on the end of the group. "It's over." Rapaport hits you with that initial sequence of conflict leaving the viewer asking him/herself "why is it over?" The film progresses with the story of Tribe being pieced together, recollecting a young Phife Dawg getting into emceeing and convincing his childhood best friend, Q-Tip, to follow suit. The film documents the rich legacy of artists hailing from Queens, New York, all the way up to hip hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J - Tribe's "idols." In the words of Jarobi: "Queens puts out legends." The film goes on to detail Tribe's first encounter with the man who helped put them on, DJ Red Alert.
The film's got plenty of great footage that a rap nerd would enjoy. One key segment shows Q-Tip waxing nostalgic over a record, Lonnie Smith's 1970 LP Drives, sampled on Tribe's debut album and third official single, "Can I Kick It?" Tip wistfully recollects snagging the record for five bucks at a shop on W. 26th St. called Jazz Record Center. Other insightful moments include a portion from an interview with producer Pharrell Williams, who discusses the impact "Bonita Applebum" had on him, commenting: "I was obsessed with it. I had never heard nothing like that in my whole life. And that's where I changed." The breakdown of Phife's "Seaman's Furniture" line on "Electric Relaxation" provides plenty of laughs as does his support for the L.A. Lakers in lieu of the N.Y. Knicks. Tip jokingly chides in "a lot of New Yorkers can take this as an offense", to which Phife responds "that's 'cause we've been losing for quite a long time."
To Werner's credit, there's a lot of seemingly crucial information that isn't addressed in the documentary, including each artists' solo ventures, with exception to a brief mentioning of Q-Tip's Renaissance album. Also, as pointed out by Werner, involvement by Tribe pals Jay Dee (a.k.a. J Dilla) and Consequence are no more than hinted at during the film. The latter point doesn't disappoint too much since, after all, the film is really about the relationships between the four members of the group, with the conflict between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg taking the front seat, leaving Ali and Jarobi in the back or, more appropriately, caught "in the middle." In Werner's review, he comments that "it seems like the second half of this documentary was discarded in favor of celebrity gossip." He continues: "I feel like the great documentary has been switched off, and somebody's changed the channel to a trashy reality TV show made for the E! channel instead." I couldn't disagree more. Dissecting the group's genesis and conflict is the thesis of the documentary. I believe this what is meant by The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. It isn't fair to critique a project for what you expect it to be like.
I suppose I was ignorant to the conflict(s) that led to ATCQ being disbanded for all these years since The Love Movement. The film certainly hipped me to the root of these problems though, going to great lengths to flesh out the causes of Tribe's collapse, noting Phife's battle with diabetes, his move to Atlanta, the emergence of big egos and the overall reduced unity amongst the members. There's a significant moment in the film in which Phife compares A Tribe Called Quest to The Supremes, accusing Q-Tip of taking a Diana Ross-like role above the group. The film goes on to feature footage of a verbal dispute between Phife and Q-Tip. I'd assume that the film's inclusion of Q-Tip's use of the word "faggoty", directed to Phife, would be his number one critique of the film. Was it gratuitous on Michael Rapaport's part to include this segment? Not at all. As the viewer, I actually appreciated Rapaport's attempt to shrug off the candy coating one might expect from a film documenting a music group with the perception - justified or not - of being "soft", at least as far as hip hop goes. The film doesn't shy from getting its hands dirty and cut to the heart of the subject: why can't Tribe get it (back) together? Again, I appreciated the brutal honesty.
Beats Rhymes & Life leaves the viewer with more questions than questions answered. I believe this was entirely intentional. At one point in the film, Phife Dawg languishes: "I love hip hop but at the rate it's going right now, I could do with or without it." Conversely, the film concludes with the following captions: "A Tribe Called Quest has not released an album since 1998. They still have one album remaining on their original 1989 contract with Jive Records." Will they? Won't they? Probably not. But maybe... The film leaves the door wide open - as it should.
Rap Round Table, Week Ending 6/17/2011
Music Analysis & Reporting:
Tupac at 40: What Could Have Been by Alvin Blanco
What Would Solving Tupac and Biggie’s Murders Mean for Hip-Hop? by Alyssa Rosenberg
Jimmy Henchman Associate Admits to Role in Robbery/Shooting of Tupac by Grandmaster Grouchy Greg & Nolan Strong
Happy Birthday, Tupac: 22 of His Best Songs by Rizoh
And Today, We Celebrate Tupac Shakur by John Gotty
Kreayshawn: The New Vanilla Ice, But Worse, Because She's a Woman by Byron Crawford
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest by Werner von Wallenrod
Live: Jadakiss Takes a Bite Out of the Apple Store by Jeff Rosenthal
Live: Kid Cudi Is the Nightcap at Terminal 5 by Jeff Rosenthal
Gems from the International Dart Parlour by Zilla Rocca
Hip-Hop and the Weakness of Liberalism by Jared Ball
Mount Vernon is Four Square Miles: A Pete Rock Retrospective Mix by Abe Beame
Nas and Kanye West Leak Tracks, Lead the Pack (Again) by Andy Hutchins
Kanye West on the Power of Personal Responsibility by Alyssa Rosenberg
Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop by Aaron M.
At the End of the Game, You a Bitch Like Metroid by Geng-Grizzly
TRU Blogger Recalls 2008 Feud with Tyler, The Creator by Alex DeLarge
Unconditional Love & Hip Hop by Tony Grands
Is Nas the Terrence Malick of Rap??? by The Great Gats, B
Critic's Notebook: Adele's Quiet Power Amid the Pop Girl Riot by Randall Roberts
Album Reviews:
Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel by Max
Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel by Alex Thornton
Random Axe - Random Axe by William E. Ketchum III
Random Axe - Random Axe by Max
Ziggy Marley - Wild and Free by Jeff Weiss
DJ Shadow - I Gotta Rokk EP by Nate Patrin
Profiles & Interviews:
Sean Price: Random As F*ck by Nene Wallace Reed
Q&A: Tech N9ne by Noz
Tech N9ne's Homecoming: What A Long, Strange Trip It Was by Jake Paine
Prodigy Talks New Mobb Deep Album, The Illuminati, Working With Nas, & 50 Cent by Kathy Iandoli
Q&A: Shabazz Palaces by Jonathan Zwickel
Tupac at 40: What Could Have Been by Alvin Blanco
What Would Solving Tupac and Biggie’s Murders Mean for Hip-Hop? by Alyssa Rosenberg
Jimmy Henchman Associate Admits to Role in Robbery/Shooting of Tupac by Grandmaster Grouchy Greg & Nolan Strong
Happy Birthday, Tupac: 22 of His Best Songs by Rizoh
And Today, We Celebrate Tupac Shakur by John Gotty
Kreayshawn: The New Vanilla Ice, But Worse, Because She's a Woman by Byron Crawford
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest by Werner von Wallenrod
Live: Jadakiss Takes a Bite Out of the Apple Store by Jeff Rosenthal
Live: Kid Cudi Is the Nightcap at Terminal 5 by Jeff Rosenthal
Gems from the International Dart Parlour by Zilla Rocca
Hip-Hop and the Weakness of Liberalism by Jared Ball
Mount Vernon is Four Square Miles: A Pete Rock Retrospective Mix by Abe Beame
Nas and Kanye West Leak Tracks, Lead the Pack (Again) by Andy Hutchins
Kanye West on the Power of Personal Responsibility by Alyssa Rosenberg
Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop by Aaron M.
At the End of the Game, You a Bitch Like Metroid by Geng-Grizzly
TRU Blogger Recalls 2008 Feud with Tyler, The Creator by Alex DeLarge
Unconditional Love & Hip Hop by Tony Grands
Is Nas the Terrence Malick of Rap??? by The Great Gats, B
Critic's Notebook: Adele's Quiet Power Amid the Pop Girl Riot by Randall Roberts
Album Reviews:
Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel by Max
Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel by Alex Thornton
Random Axe - Random Axe by William E. Ketchum III
Random Axe - Random Axe by Max
Ziggy Marley - Wild and Free by Jeff Weiss
DJ Shadow - I Gotta Rokk EP by Nate Patrin
Profiles & Interviews:
Sean Price: Random As F*ck by Nene Wallace Reed
Q&A: Tech N9ne by Noz
Tech N9ne's Homecoming: What A Long, Strange Trip It Was by Jake Paine
Prodigy Talks New Mobb Deep Album, The Illuminati, Working With Nas, & 50 Cent by Kathy Iandoli
Q&A: Shabazz Palaces by Jonathan Zwickel
Rap Round Table, Week Ending 6/10/2011
Music Analysis & Reporting:
Game of Thrones © George R.R. Martin by Dart Adams
Don't Believe the Hype: After the Freshmen Class by TRU Nation
Song of the Day: Young Jeezy feat. Freddie Gibbs - Do It For You… by Mobb Deen
4 Famous Authors and Their Hip-Hop Equivalents by Daniel O'Brien
10 Best Rap Albums of 2011 by Henry Adaso
Broken Language: Classics by Craig Jenkins
RESPECT. Editorial Vol. 2 Issue 3 by Elliott Wilson
The Long Tail of Lil B: Why The Based God Is a Genius by Andrew Courtien
Random Fandom… by Dallas Penn
Beyonce Brought Andre 3000 Out to Party; Then My Mind Exploded by WULU
You Are Now Rokking with the Best: The New DJ Shadow EP by Jeff Weiss
Wack-Ass Wednesday: Yo! NBA Raps by Danj!
Why Vinyl Reissues Are a Good Thing by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Ice-T Is Not a Legend by Tony Grands
Ice T Reunites Body Count At E3: "I Finally Get to Kill Some Shit and Not Go to Jail" by Andrew Courtien
Top 10 Least Sexy Sex Stunts in Rap Songs by Rebecca Haithcoat
Well, Ja Rule Goes to Prison Today by John Gotty
Siah and Yeshua DapoED by Werner von Wallenrod
Don't Ever Let Anyone Tell You You're Not Important Enough to Perform at Summer Jam by Byron Crawford
An Afternoon with Lord Finesse by Robbie Ettelson
The Rap Songs of the Arab Spring by NPR Staff
Akrobatik: Down But Not Out by Chris Faraone
Who Flipped It Better?: Gap Mangione's "Diana in the Autumn Wind" by Oliver Wang
Nas - "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People" (2004) by Marcus Amran
Kreayshawn: Another Case of Appropriating Black Culture by Bene Viera
The Kreayshawn Myth by Timmhotep Aku
Jadakiss Makes Menacing Kissy Noises by Drew Hinshaw
Kanye West Premieres the Long-Delayed Video for 'Monster,' Attempts to Skate Controversy by Jeff Weiss
Ten Diss Songs You (Probably) Never Heard, But Should Have (Part 1) by GuttaBoyJihaD
Random Thought… by Mobb Deen
Which Musical Genre Was South Park Spoofing With "Tween Wave"? by Maura Johnston
The Hybrid, Smoking on Papaya by Jeff Weiss
The Ravediggaz by The Great Gats, B
Live: Kanye West's Big and Loud and Secret Show by Jeff Rosenthal
Live: Rick Ross Lives Out His Dreams at Summer Jam by Jeff Rosenthal
Kendrick Lamar: Compton’s Most Wanted by J. Tinsley
Why Music Stars Sell a Double Life by Danny Thrax
Antoine Fuqua Drops Out of Tupac Shakur Biopic, To Direct ‘Southpaw’ Starring Eminem Instead? by Kevin Jagernauth
Lupe Fiasco: Obama Is a Terrorist by Jenée Desmond-Harris
Lupe Fiasco Talking Out of His Ass Again by J to the Aap
Lupe Fiasco Calls President Obama a Terrorist by Gerrick D. Kennedy
Album Reviews:
Kool G Rap - Riches, Royalty & Respect by Andres Vasquez
Killer Mike - Pl3dge by Steven Potter
Vast Aire - Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey by Francisco McCurry
Vast Aire - Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey by The Company Man
Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's by Aaron M.
Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's by Andres Vasquez
Kidd Kidd - The Reallionaire by TC
Mexicans with Guns - Ceremony by Brian Hodge
Cults - Cults by Joe Tangari
Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See by Marc Hogan
Black Lips - Arabia Mountain by Stuart Berman
13 & God - Own Your Ghost by Arika Dean
DELS - Gob by Craig Monts
Atmosphere - Overcast! (1997) by Max
Danger Doom - The Mouse and The Mask (October 11, 2005) by Max
Jemini & Danger Mouse - Ghetto Pop Life (2003) by Sam Rosen
Profiles & Interviews:
Pete Rock Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records by Daniel Isenberg
Q&A: Aesop Rock Tosses Hail Mary of Fun by Noz
Q&A With DJ Quik: "I Still Got My Talent. That's Not Going Anywhere." by Jayson Greene
10 Favorite Sample Flips with Jake One
Blueprint: Older & Smarter, Me at My Best by Zan
Five Questions to Ask at Ben Westhoff's Dirty South Reading by Phillip Mlynar
The Ascendant Big K.R.I.T. on His ‘Soulful, Gritty, Southern Hip-Hop’ by Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Game of Thrones © George R.R. Martin by Dart Adams
Don't Believe the Hype: After the Freshmen Class by TRU Nation
Song of the Day: Young Jeezy feat. Freddie Gibbs - Do It For You… by Mobb Deen
4 Famous Authors and Their Hip-Hop Equivalents by Daniel O'Brien
10 Best Rap Albums of 2011 by Henry Adaso
Broken Language: Classics by Craig Jenkins
RESPECT. Editorial Vol. 2 Issue 3 by Elliott Wilson
The Long Tail of Lil B: Why The Based God Is a Genius by Andrew Courtien
Random Fandom… by Dallas Penn
Beyonce Brought Andre 3000 Out to Party; Then My Mind Exploded by WULU
You Are Now Rokking with the Best: The New DJ Shadow EP by Jeff Weiss
Wack-Ass Wednesday: Yo! NBA Raps by Danj!
Why Vinyl Reissues Are a Good Thing by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Ice-T Is Not a Legend by Tony Grands
Ice T Reunites Body Count At E3: "I Finally Get to Kill Some Shit and Not Go to Jail" by Andrew Courtien
Top 10 Least Sexy Sex Stunts in Rap Songs by Rebecca Haithcoat
Well, Ja Rule Goes to Prison Today by John Gotty
Siah and Yeshua DapoED by Werner von Wallenrod
Don't Ever Let Anyone Tell You You're Not Important Enough to Perform at Summer Jam by Byron Crawford
An Afternoon with Lord Finesse by Robbie Ettelson
The Rap Songs of the Arab Spring by NPR Staff
Akrobatik: Down But Not Out by Chris Faraone
Who Flipped It Better?: Gap Mangione's "Diana in the Autumn Wind" by Oliver Wang
Nas - "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People" (2004) by Marcus Amran
Kreayshawn: Another Case of Appropriating Black Culture by Bene Viera
The Kreayshawn Myth by Timmhotep Aku
Jadakiss Makes Menacing Kissy Noises by Drew Hinshaw
Kanye West Premieres the Long-Delayed Video for 'Monster,' Attempts to Skate Controversy by Jeff Weiss
Ten Diss Songs You (Probably) Never Heard, But Should Have (Part 1) by GuttaBoyJihaD
Random Thought… by Mobb Deen
Which Musical Genre Was South Park Spoofing With "Tween Wave"? by Maura Johnston
The Hybrid, Smoking on Papaya by Jeff Weiss
The Ravediggaz by The Great Gats, B
Live: Kanye West's Big and Loud and Secret Show by Jeff Rosenthal
Live: Rick Ross Lives Out His Dreams at Summer Jam by Jeff Rosenthal
Kendrick Lamar: Compton’s Most Wanted by J. Tinsley
Why Music Stars Sell a Double Life by Danny Thrax
Antoine Fuqua Drops Out of Tupac Shakur Biopic, To Direct ‘Southpaw’ Starring Eminem Instead? by Kevin Jagernauth
Lupe Fiasco: Obama Is a Terrorist by Jenée Desmond-Harris
Lupe Fiasco Talking Out of His Ass Again by J to the Aap
Lupe Fiasco Calls President Obama a Terrorist by Gerrick D. Kennedy
Album Reviews:
Kool G Rap - Riches, Royalty & Respect by Andres Vasquez
Killer Mike - Pl3dge by Steven Potter
Vast Aire - Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey by Francisco McCurry
Vast Aire - Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey by The Company Man
Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's by Aaron M.
Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's by Andres Vasquez
Kidd Kidd - The Reallionaire by TC
Mexicans with Guns - Ceremony by Brian Hodge
Cults - Cults by Joe Tangari
Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See by Marc Hogan
Black Lips - Arabia Mountain by Stuart Berman
13 & God - Own Your Ghost by Arika Dean
DELS - Gob by Craig Monts
Atmosphere - Overcast! (1997) by Max
Danger Doom - The Mouse and The Mask (October 11, 2005) by Max
Jemini & Danger Mouse - Ghetto Pop Life (2003) by Sam Rosen
Profiles & Interviews:
Pete Rock Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records by Daniel Isenberg
Q&A: Aesop Rock Tosses Hail Mary of Fun by Noz
Q&A With DJ Quik: "I Still Got My Talent. That's Not Going Anywhere." by Jayson Greene
10 Favorite Sample Flips with Jake One
Blueprint: Older & Smarter, Me at My Best by Zan
Five Questions to Ask at Ben Westhoff's Dirty South Reading by Phillip Mlynar
The Ascendant Big K.R.I.T. on His ‘Soulful, Gritty, Southern Hip-Hop’ by Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Power 106: Where The Wake Up Show No Longer Lives
Los Angeles, CA. 11:52 PM. I haven't listened to the radio in a long, long time. It feels strange hearing clean edits. It feels even stranger knowing that tonight is the final episode of Sway & Tech's World Famous Wake Up Show on Power 106. The writing had been on the wall for a good minute I suppose. For a while already, the station had been playing syndicated episodes or no episodes at all - just the regular ol' daytime-type shit. The death of underground shows on mainstream radio should be no surprise to anyone. But the finality of this curtain call is the real tearjerker. I wouldn't have known about the show's grand finale had it not been for this tweet. It truly is an end of an era. The show began with Tyler, The Creator's "Yonkers", which is a bittersweet selection when you think about it. On the one hand, it sounds so antithetical to my depiction of what a Wake Up Show set list should include. But on the other hand, "Yonkers" (1) is an underground track - yes, technically - and (2) it is by a local artist - remember, these OFWGYMCA (shouts to Bol!) cats are from Los Angeles. Indeed, internet killed the radio star.
Rap Round Table, Week Ending 6/3/2011
Music Analysis & Reporting:
DJ Quik: Trials and Tribulations of a West Coast Legend by Jeff Weiss
Rap Made Me Do It: Ten Books I Read Because of Hip-Hop by J. Pablo
To Hell and Back With DMX by J. Tinsley
The 25 Most “Important/Favorite” Albums of My Life (Compiled by Eric) Pt.I (1-10) by Eric C.
Is Hip Hop Too Safe? by Amanda Bassa
10 Candidates For Drake’s Rappers Who “Either Lost It Or Ain’t Alive” by D Dot Omen
Jadakiss Lurves You… You, Yes You by Abe Beame
Not a Blogger Redux: The Weighty Glory of Carrying Rick Ross’ Crab Cakes by Doc Zeus
Jay-Z on What Defines a Great Song by Rizoh
Seun Kuti, Rising Son by Jeff Weiss
A Question About Cold Contacting Artists Without Looking Like a Dumbass by Justin Boland
The Throwback: Dame Dash’s Last Hurrah by Ampgeez
Pass the Peas by Geng-Grizzly
Solid as a Rock: Pete Rock, Sean P, and Styles P Go Hard by Abe Beame
Why We Fight #14 by Nitsuh Abebe
Swing the John McEnroe: Cannibal Ox, the Chef and Thor’s Hammer by Jeff Weiss
Don’t Hate: Five Reasons Why It’s Okay to Pay for Music Again by Dan Seitz
Cali Swag District pays tribute to M-Bone in 'How to Do That' by Jeff Weiss
On Kreayshawn by Mobb Deen
Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon protest Grammy category cuts; coalition leader calls decision 'blatantly racist' by Gerrick D. Kennedy
Two-Fiddy by Danj!
Lord Superb & Un Pachino: The Juks Pt. 2 (Ghostface Diss) by HL
Sleepwalking in Leimert Park with Co$$, L.A.'s rapper on the periphery by Jeff Weiss
Bad Meets Evil Meets Bruno Mars “Lighters” by Abortatron
T3: Rise of the Motor Freaks by Evan Nabavian
Greatest Movie Scenes Ever #40 by The Great Gats, B
The Fear Factor by Blockhead
The Imaginarium of Nick Wiz by Werner von Wallenrod
New Eminem/Royce song; Detox 'almost finished' by Jeff Weiss
The Return of West Coast Pioneers Rodney O & Joe Cooley by Jeff Weiss
Arabia Mountain and the Surprising Improvement of Black Lips by Douglas Martin
BeatTips Tutorial: Modifying the ADSR Sound Envelope Pattern by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Album Reviews:
Kool G Rap - Riches, Royalty & Respect by J to the Aap
Big L - The Danger Zone by Andres Vasquez
Young Jeezy - The Real Is Back by Ellington Hammond
The Undergods - In Gods We Trust: Crush Microphones to Dust by Michael Sheehan
Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys by Larry Fitzmaurice
My Morning Jacket - Circuital by Amanda Petrusich
My Morning Jacket - Circuital by Margaret Wappler
2Pac - All Eyez on Me (February 13, 1996) by Max
Profiles & Interviews:
Freddie Gibbs: School of Hard Truth by Jake Paine
Bumpy Knuckles: The Gatekeeper & Tha Teacha by Jake Paine
A Conversation with Erykah Badu by Rizoh
Camp Lo & Pete Rock: Time Machine by Sha'linda Jeanine
5-10-15-20: Shabazz Palaces by Tom Breihan
Mike Bigga Lets Loose by Jayson Greene
5 Reasons Why You Should Buy Riches, Royalty & Respect with Kool G Rap
R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron:
Appreciation: Gil Scott-Heron by Nate Patrin
Gil Scott-Heron: Poet, Singer and Visionary by Martin Johnson
R.I.P. Gil Scott Heron by Sach O
Gil Scott-Heron: The Voice by Oliver Wang
R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron by Kristina Benson
Goodnight, Sweet Prince... by Dallas Penn
America the Not-So-Beautiful by Jody Rosen
Gil Scott-Heron dies; influential poet/musician helped inspire rap by Randall Roberts
Gil Scott-Heron, Poet And Musician, Has Died by Daoud Tyler-Ameen
A poet with soul: The ballads of Gil Scott-Heron by Oliver Wang
Gil Scott-Heron, R.I.P. by Greg Tate
DJ Quik: Trials and Tribulations of a West Coast Legend by Jeff Weiss
Rap Made Me Do It: Ten Books I Read Because of Hip-Hop by J. Pablo
To Hell and Back With DMX by J. Tinsley
The 25 Most “Important/Favorite” Albums of My Life (Compiled by Eric) Pt.I (1-10) by Eric C.
Is Hip Hop Too Safe? by Amanda Bassa
10 Candidates For Drake’s Rappers Who “Either Lost It Or Ain’t Alive” by D Dot Omen
Jadakiss Lurves You… You, Yes You by Abe Beame
Not a Blogger Redux: The Weighty Glory of Carrying Rick Ross’ Crab Cakes by Doc Zeus
Jay-Z on What Defines a Great Song by Rizoh
Seun Kuti, Rising Son by Jeff Weiss
A Question About Cold Contacting Artists Without Looking Like a Dumbass by Justin Boland
The Throwback: Dame Dash’s Last Hurrah by Ampgeez
Pass the Peas by Geng-Grizzly
Solid as a Rock: Pete Rock, Sean P, and Styles P Go Hard by Abe Beame
Why We Fight #14 by Nitsuh Abebe
Swing the John McEnroe: Cannibal Ox, the Chef and Thor’s Hammer by Jeff Weiss
Don’t Hate: Five Reasons Why It’s Okay to Pay for Music Again by Dan Seitz
Cali Swag District pays tribute to M-Bone in 'How to Do That' by Jeff Weiss
On Kreayshawn by Mobb Deen
Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon protest Grammy category cuts; coalition leader calls decision 'blatantly racist' by Gerrick D. Kennedy
Two-Fiddy by Danj!
Lord Superb & Un Pachino: The Juks Pt. 2 (Ghostface Diss) by HL
Sleepwalking in Leimert Park with Co$$, L.A.'s rapper on the periphery by Jeff Weiss
Bad Meets Evil Meets Bruno Mars “Lighters” by Abortatron
T3: Rise of the Motor Freaks by Evan Nabavian
Greatest Movie Scenes Ever #40 by The Great Gats, B
The Fear Factor by Blockhead
The Imaginarium of Nick Wiz by Werner von Wallenrod
New Eminem/Royce song; Detox 'almost finished' by Jeff Weiss
The Return of West Coast Pioneers Rodney O & Joe Cooley by Jeff Weiss
Arabia Mountain and the Surprising Improvement of Black Lips by Douglas Martin
BeatTips Tutorial: Modifying the ADSR Sound Envelope Pattern by Amir "Sa'id" Said
Album Reviews:
Kool G Rap - Riches, Royalty & Respect by J to the Aap
Big L - The Danger Zone by Andres Vasquez
Young Jeezy - The Real Is Back by Ellington Hammond
The Undergods - In Gods We Trust: Crush Microphones to Dust by Michael Sheehan
Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys by Larry Fitzmaurice
My Morning Jacket - Circuital by Amanda Petrusich
My Morning Jacket - Circuital by Margaret Wappler
2Pac - All Eyez on Me (February 13, 1996) by Max
Profiles & Interviews:
Freddie Gibbs: School of Hard Truth by Jake Paine
Bumpy Knuckles: The Gatekeeper & Tha Teacha by Jake Paine
A Conversation with Erykah Badu by Rizoh
Camp Lo & Pete Rock: Time Machine by Sha'linda Jeanine
5-10-15-20: Shabazz Palaces by Tom Breihan
Mike Bigga Lets Loose by Jayson Greene
5 Reasons Why You Should Buy Riches, Royalty & Respect with Kool G Rap
R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron:
Appreciation: Gil Scott-Heron by Nate Patrin
Gil Scott-Heron: Poet, Singer and Visionary by Martin Johnson
R.I.P. Gil Scott Heron by Sach O
Gil Scott-Heron: The Voice by Oliver Wang
R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron by Kristina Benson
Goodnight, Sweet Prince... by Dallas Penn
America the Not-So-Beautiful by Jody Rosen
Gil Scott-Heron dies; influential poet/musician helped inspire rap by Randall Roberts
Gil Scott-Heron, Poet And Musician, Has Died by Daoud Tyler-Ameen
A poet with soul: The ballads of Gil Scott-Heron by Oliver Wang
Gil Scott-Heron, R.I.P. by Greg Tate
Jazz Is Read, Too
For all the bookworms out there, here's a list of interesting new titles on jazz and blues which will be hitting shelves during the next few months. The first one, Nica's Dream: The Life and Legend of the Jazz Baroness, is at the top of my reading list because I'd like to learn more about Pannonica de Koenigswarter (whom I've noted on Tumblr once or twice). Though I most likely won't be reading all of these titles, I'm sure someone out there will find them interesting and worth checking out. Dig in:
Nica's Dream: The Life and Legend of the Jazz Baroness
by David Kastin
W. W. Norton & Company, June 27, 2011
Nica's Dream: The Life and Legend of the Jazz Baroness
by David Kastin
W. W. Norton & Company, June 27, 2011
The first biography of the legendary Rothschild heiress who reigned as New York’s “Jazz Baroness.”
It’s a misty night in 1950s New York. A silver Rolls-Royce screeches to a stop at the neon-lit doorway of a 52nd Street jazz club. Behind the wheel is a glamorous brunette, a chinchilla stole draped over her shoulder and a long cigarette holder clinched in her teeth. After taking a pull from a small silver flask, she glides past the bouncer into the murky depths of the Three Deuces. The Jazz Baroness has arrived.
Raised in fairy-tale splendor, Kathleen Annie Pannonica Rothschild de Koenigswarter (known as “Nica”) piloted her own plane across the English Channel, married a French baron, fought in the French Resistance, and had five children. Then she heard a recording of Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight.” Inspired by the liberating spirit of jazz, Nica left her family, moved to Manhattan, and began haunting the city’s nightclubs.
The tabloids first splashed her name across the headlines after Charlie Parker died in her hotel suite—a scandal that cast a dark shadow over the rest of her life. She retreated from the public eye, but through her ongoing ministrations to Monk and dozens of other musicians she became a legend. Nearly a score of jazz compositions have been written in her honor, including two of the most beloved classics of the genre: Horace Silver’s “Nica’s Dream” and Monk’s “Pannonica.”
Nica’s Dream traces the story of a fascinating woman across her thirty-year reign as the Jazz Baroness, but it also explores a transformative era in twentieth-century American culture. Based on interviews with musicians, family members, historians, and artists, David Kastin’s probing biography unwraps the life of this enigmatic figure and evokes the vibrancy of New York during the birth of bebop, the first stirrings of the Beat Generation, and the advent of abstract expressionism. 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations.
Life of a Crate Digger: Killah Hills 10304
A few months back, we witnessed Bronco of The-Breaks forum unearth the Herbie Hancock sample Havoc utilized in the construction of "Shook Ones Pt. II". This week we've got a new revelation. It's up for debate, I suppose, but I'm sold on this one. YouTube user Falcord1202 just uploaded a video of him playing GZA's "Killah Hills 10304" juxtaposed with jazz composer Dorothy Ashby's "Soul Vibrations", released in 1968. Watch the video and decide for yourself. Peace to all the heads still digging for breaks used in the '90s. Great find, Falcord!
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