lulz

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 2/25/2011

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Why You Should Listen To The Rap Group Odd Future, Even Though It's Hard by Frannie Kelley

Not A Blogger Redux: A Brief Introduction To The 10 Rappers That Appear On the XXL Freshman Class Cover by Doc Zeus

The imminent decline of Southern rap by M.T. Richards

Odd Future Ride The Bus, Become Unicorns by James Montgomery

The Definitive Guide to OFWGKTA by Rizoh

Okay Guys, That's Enough With The Odd Future Think Pieces Already by Andrew Winistorfer

Generic XXL Freshmen post by The Great Gats, B

Class Dismissed: No More XXL Freshman Grades by David Dennis

Freshman Orientation, 2011 by Noz

Steve Stoute Writes An Open Letter To The Grammy’s

The global reach of hip-hop by Alexander Billet

Nine Completely Random Hip Hop Collaborations (At Least One Of Which Is Fucking Awful) by Max

Dropping Jewels: The Ebb and Flow of Camp Lo by Thun

A Quiet Reminder of Why I Love Rap Music by Joey L.

Life, Death, and Overdoz by Jeff Weiss

From Odd Future to Blu, How The West Was Reborn by Brando Caldwell

Del “Sunny Meadowz” by Thun

The Game and Snoop Dogg release the video for 'Purp & Yellow' remix by Jeff Weiss

All Hail the (Ivory) Queen: Five of Teena Marie's finest videos in advance of Grammy Museum tribute by Jeff Weiss

Notes On “The Big Payback” by Noz

How Ya Like Me Now: Does rap’s suspended adolescence keep it from serious consideration? by Adam Kirsch

Skylar Grey And Sasha Grey: The Difference Between Eminem's Leading Ladies by Kathy Iandoli

44 Things You Didn’t Know About Kurt Cobain by Paul Hiebert

Album Reviews:

Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told by Max

Metal Fingers/DOOM - Special Herbs: The Box Set Vol. 0-9 by Jess Harvell

Joell Ortiz - Free Agent by Jake Paine

AZ - Doe or Die 15 Year Anniversary by Evan Hawkins

Strong Arm Steady - Arms & Hammers by Edwin Ortiz

Radiohead - The King of Limbs by Mark Pytlik

Radiohead - The King of Limbs by Ryan J.

The Cave Singers - No Witch by Benjamin Ewing

The Cave Singers - No Witch by Eric Grandy

Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam by Craig Monts

Adele - 21 by Margaret Wappler

Cut Copy - Zonoscope by Mallory Pickard

Sonic Youth - Simon Werner a Disparu OST by Stuart Berman

The Skull Defekts - Peer Amid by Jennifer Kelly

Beans - End It All by Nicholas Candiotto

The LBC Crew - Haven't You Heard by Edwin Ortiz

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - We're New Here by Sean Fennessey

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - We're New Here by August Brown

Dom - Sun Bronzed Greek Gods by Julien Loeper

Dave Dub & The Sutter Cain Gang - Mind Police by Michael Sheehan

Ethan Gold - Songs From a Toxic Apartment by Martin Douglas

Sims - Bad Time Zoo by Jake Paine

Salva - Complex Housing by Brian Hodge

Johnny Cash - Bootleg Volume 2: From Memphis to Hollywood by Stephen M. Deusner

Delicate Steve - Wondervisions by Kara-Lis Coverdale

The Psychic Paramount - II by Mason Jones

Profiles & Interviews:

Question in the Form of an Answer: Prince Paul by Matt Shea

Interview: Outtakes From DJ Premier's Stories Behind His Hits by Jaeki Cho

Freddie Gibbs talks R&B collaborations, Nirvana, Odd Future and 'A Cold Day in Hell' by Jeff Weiss

TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With DJ Revolution and Malcolm & Martin by MZ

Kool Keith: Red Light District by Jake Paine

Meet the BLKHRTS by Sach O

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Odd Future: Black juggalos? by Byron Crawford

Byron Crawford Makes Tyler The Juggalo Cry, XXL Magazine Censors Blog Post by Shabooty

Rating the Odd Future Memes by Dom Passantino* Yep, again!

Posse on Trendwatch: Cracka rap returns by Byron Crawford

The greatest album cover of all time; and the real slam dunk champ by J-Zone

Fffuuu: Lakers vs. Celtics Edition

The #1 Reason Why I Hate Sean "P(uff) D(a/i)ddy" Combs

1:30 AM. Posted this on YouTube. Because.

Scott Walker Gets Prank Called

Remember that time when Sarah Palin got prank called? I called that the McCain/Palin '08 nail in the coffin. Poli-pranking must be a new trend because some clever S.O.B. called Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker - the asshole that's trying to crush unions - posing as David Koch, one of the men bankrolling the grassroots (read: astroturf) Tea Party movement. I mean this shit is... fucking redickaliss © RZA. Part 1 up top; part 2 down below:

Kram & Game | Sample & Example

Shouts to Che Vicious…

SAMPLE: Kram - Twoje Oddalenia
EXAMPLE: Game - Taylor Made (feat. Wiz Khalifa)

Heavy Rotation (a.k.a. Ivan Becomes Eclectic): Ladies First

These aren't album reviews. They're recommendations.

Adele - 21
XL Recordings
Released: January 19, 2011
Preview: "Rolling in the Deep"; "Lovesong"; "Someone Like You"
Adele is just about as talented as Amy Winehouse, minus the self-destructive nature. As an artist, Amy wins points for that simply because people love to see a car wreck while it's happening (and if they miss it, they like to imagine how it all went down). But Adele's great too and she's really shown a level of maturity since her debut LP, 19. This time around, she's worked with Rick Rubin (among others) to craft a darker, bluesier record.

Akua Naru - The Journey Aflame
Jakarta Records
Released: January 6, 2011
Preview: "The World is Listening"; "The Backflip"; "Mourning"
Hailing from New Haven, CT, Akua Naru is a skilled (f)emcee who spits from the heart over soulful, rootsy beats. Her music pulls from blues to jazz to African sounds, but it's strictly hip hop. The record possesses lyrical and sonic depth.

Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
Domino Records
Released: January 17, 2011
Preview: "Rider to the Sea"; "I'll Be Your Man"; "The Devil"
This London native's debut LP can best be described as "femme fatale music." With her dark, romantic, and overall cinematic sound textures, the half-Italian Anna Calvi resembles a bit of paisan Ennio Morricone's aural atmospherics. The musical pallet here is rich and diverse.

Corinne Bailey Rae - The Love EP
Capitol Records
Released: January 25, 2011
Preview: "Is This Love"; "I Wanna Be Your Lover"; "Low Red Moon"
A short but solid release, The Love EP finds Corinne Bailey Rae covering five tracks by artists including Paul McCartney, Prince and more. Her greatest asset is the tenderness in her voice. This really shines on tracks like Bob Marley's "Is This Love", reinventing the schmaltzy reggae classic into seductively minimalistic perfection.

Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High
Sub Pop Records
Released: March 1, 2011
Preview: "He Gets Me High"; "There is a Light That Never Goes Out"
The newfound empresses of garage pop follow up on 2010's I Will Be with this EP collection of three new tracks, plus a Smiths cover ("There is a Light That Never Goes Out"). The guitars are distorted, the vocals are harmonious, and the sound is both lush and fuzzy. Lovely.

La Sera - La Sera
Hardly Art
Released: February 15, 2011
Preview: "Never Come Around"; "Devils Hearts Grow Gold"
Dreamy and haunting, this side project by Vivian Girls' bassist Katy Goodman exhibits influences of 50s surf rock and 60s girl group pop. These combustible elements are handled softly and with careful execution.

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
LL Recordings
Released: February 28, 2011
Preview: "Get Some"; "I Follow Rivers"; "Love Out of Lust"
Since being 2008's indie pop sensation, Lykke Li has evolved as an artist. She displays both vulnerability and aggression on Wounded Rhymes, maintaining her overall aesthetic with layered synths and reverbed drums abound. Pop ballads and torch songs are conveniently (and effectively) submerged into Lykke Li's icy soundscapes. "Love Out of Lust", my favorite track on the album, is a thing of beauty.

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #15

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 2/18/2011

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Game Up! (Detroit Metro Times' Danny Brown Cover Story) by Jonathan Cunningham

Love According to Pretty Toney: The Ghostface Valentine’s Collection by David Dennis

Hole in the World © Eagles by Dart Adams

Snubs, Lies & Videotape: A Week of Rap Fuckery by Omar Burgess

DJ Premier Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records by Jaeki Cho

New Evidence: Did the LAPD Kill Biggie? by Jenée Desmond-Harris

Top 10 Rap Songs for February 25, 2011 by Henry Adaso

Gospel of Matthews: The Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jams of Ghostpoet by Aaron Matthews

Outdoorsmen Album Invasion by Robbie Ettelson

Snoop Dogg performs with Dam-Funk, drops Puff Puff Pass mixtape by Jeff Weiss

25 for Love, Pt. 1 (#25-16) by Danj!

25 for Love, Pt. 2 (#15-6) by Danj!

25 for Love, Pt. 3 (#5-1) by Danj!

A People’s History of Hip Hop: Punch Drunk Love – The Top Ten R&B Guest Verses by Abe Beame

Your Daily Funk – “Who Knows” by Trackstar the DJ

Cannibal Ox: Life Remains Ill by HL

Blog Watch Edition 3: I Don’t Get It by Thun

Danny Brown - “Lincoln Continental” by Jeff Weiss

XL Recordings, the Record Label That's Tearing Up the Rule Book by Tim Jonze

'Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey' book, Grammy Museum exhibit celebrate the musical movement by Gerrick Kennedy

The Tens: 10 Delayed Hip Hop Albums and If They Were Worth the Wait by William Ketchum

Too $hort’s Most Positive Raps by Ego Trip

The Knux return (finally) with new single, 'She's So Up.' Verdict? by Jeff Weiss

Grammy Awards: 'Empire State of Mind' producer Al Shux knows hip hop -- and the metric system by Gerrick Kennedy

Indie Labels Lead Grammy Nominations by Joel Rose

Album Reviews:

Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told by Henry Adaso

Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told by Edwin Ortiz

Lil B - Angels Exodus by Fred Castano

Roach Gigz - Roachy Balboa Round 2 by David Drake

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by J. Tinsley

Apollo Brown - Clouds by Eric C.

Torae - Heart Failure by The Company Man

Madlib – Medicine Show #11 : Low Budget Hi-Fi Music by Eric C.

Georgia Anne Muldrow - VWETO by Sam Hockley-Smith

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake by Scott Plagenhoef

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake by Jennifer Kelly

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake by Ann Powers

Bright Eyes - The People's Key by David Bevan

Bright Eyes - The People's Key by August Brown

James Blake - James Blake by Kara-Lis Coverdale

Anika - Anika by Talya Cooper

Random & Lost Perception - Black Materia: Final Fantasy VII by John Healey

Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps by Stephen M. Deusner

Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps by Tom Zimpleman

Illastrate - Eddie Coleman’s Friday Night Theme Music by D.L. Chandler

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will by Andrew Gaerig

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ventriloquizzing by Dan Cook

Monotonix - Not Yet by Dave MacIntyre

Profiles & Interviews:

TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Strong Arm Steady by RAJ

I'm Just Telling My Story: An Interview with Malice by Gedi Dabakaeri

Big Boi unfazed by Grammy snub, ready to deliver more solo hits by Gerrick Kennedy

Interview: Roach Gigz Talks About Rap by Noz

Chris Rock: The LeBron Conversation by Scott Raab

Question in the Form of an Answer: Smith Westerns by Aaron Frank

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Desperate much, Lil Kim? by Byron Crawford

Eminem, Alcoholics Anonymous and the Illuminati by Byron Crawford

Slang Editorial: A Brief Introduction to Modern Shaolin Vernacular by HL

Bloggers Aren’t The New DJ’s, The New A&R’s Or The New Unsigned Hype by Robbie Ettelson

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #14

Another Reason to Miss 2Pac (and the 90s)

Rare footage of 'Pac being... 'Pac.

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 2/11/2011

James Dewitt Yancey, a.k.a. J Dilla (2/7/1974 – 2/10/2006)

Nothing Like This © J Dilla by Dart Adams

Set Wrap by Andrew Gura

Throwback: Jay Dee: Electric Relaxation by Chairman Mao

Gonuts by JGILLA

Top 10 Posthumous J Dilla Tracks by Brendan Pailet

10 Facts About J Dilla You Might Not Know by Insanul Ahmed

J Dilla's Legacy Remembered by Paul Cantor

Speak of Freedom: Basquiat, Dilla & The Empty Co-Sign by Brando Caldwell

A Pop & Hiss Guide to tributes to the late great J Dilla and Big Pun by Jeff Weiss

Music Analysis & Reporting:

The Dream Shatterer: In Memory of Big Pun by Jeff Weiss

Professor Trill by Henry Adaso

The Making of The Game's "The Documentary" by Insanul Ahmed & Toshitaka Kondo

Eazy-E’s Final Words by Broklyne Gipson

Reliving Rap’s Down-and-Dirty Early Days by Jon Caramanica

Stuff White People (Don’t) Like – 10 Shots at the Devil by Robbie Ettelson

Famous First Words: 55 Of Rap’s Memorable Opening Lines by TSS Crew

Unpopular Rap Opinions: It’s Gotta Be The Curl by J-Zone

The Eyez Never Lie by Danj!

Blog Watch Edition 2: Head Or Gut by Thun

A Change in Sampling Philosophy by Paul Loverro

Eminem gets Brisk, and other bizarre hip-hop commercials by Jeff Weiss

New York Got Something to Say by HL

The South Got Something to Say by HL

Top 5 Factors That Make A Classic Hip Hop Album by Mister P

Nas “Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)” by Thun

Raekwon: GZA Chose Wu-Tang over Juice Crew by Henry Adaso

Q: Why do so many white rappers... by Deen

The Lupe Fiasco by Mic King

An Open Letter to Omarion by Danj!

Reconsidering Physical Music Retail (Or Moving Past Chain Stores) by Wesley Verhoeve

If Artists Don't Value Copyright On Their Works, Why Do We Force It On Them? by Mike Masnick

Album Reviews:

What’s New In Dart’s iPod #26 AKA WORKINONIT! © Dilla by Dart Adams

Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told by Edwin Ortiz

Cage the Elephant - Thank You, Happy Birthday by Ericka Simone

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by Henry Adaso

Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show No 7: High Jazz by Eric Luecking

DJ Revolution Presents...Malcolm & Martin - Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Amanda Bassa

Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse EP by Max

Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse EP by Slava Kuperstein

Theophilus London - Lovers Holiday by Ian Cohen

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1 by Grayson Currin

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1 by Jason Bivins

Akron/Family - Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT by Andrew Beckerman

Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean by Craig Jenkins

SBTRKT - Step in Shadows by Mike Powell

MillionYoung - Replicants by Brandon Rae

Cut Copy - Zonoscope by Tom Breihan

Various Artists - Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves by Tom Breihan

Profiles & Interviews:

Nas: The Vine Interview by Dan Rule

The D.O.C. Elaborates On Dr. Dre Split, Reveals Request From Eminem by Paul W. Arnold

Michael Rapaport on Controversial Hip-Hop Doc by Jef Tate

YC the Cynic on Building a Hip Hop Career from the Ground Up by Justin Boland

Question in the Form of an Answer: Rittz by Jeff Weiss

SigNif: “No Crew, No Co-Sign, No Features” by Justin Boland

Question in the Form of an Answer: The Go! Team by Matt Shea

"Freeway" Rick Ross: Reality Check by Paul W. Arnold

Politics:

Ain’t It Hard Just to Live by Amanda Bassa

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Scarface went to jail and forgot to send out a press release by Byron Crawford

Puppet show and Nelly by Byron Crawford

Cheez whiz > cauliflower > Wiz Khalifa by Byron Crawford

Dr. Dre vs. The Hippies: Did Dre Try to Make Money Out of Burning Man? by Dave Parkman

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #13

Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign | Insomniacs Club

Dilla's ears perked up at 1:26 :)

MED - Push | Insomniacs Club

Freeze frame @ 2:26

Full story here.

Sample Set #164

Five years ago today, James Dewitt Yancey, a.k.a. Jay Dee, a.k.a. J Dilla, celebrated his 32nd birthday by releasing his magnum opus, Donuts. Sadly, his life was cut short just three days later due to complications from TTP and Lupus. There's no telling how the hip hop landscape would be different if Dilla were still around. What we're left with instead is a Tupac-like surplus of stashed away, sometimes incomplete works - many of which Dilla labored over in his last months of life.

Much like the various records that Dilla picked up with his heat-seeking fingertips, the music on Donuts is so wide-ranging, so diverse, I can't help but call the album his magnum opus. Personally, it was on my heavy rotation for about a year and a half! Donuts is an incredible record, filled with beautiful soundscapes ("Time: The Donut of the Heart"; "Stop"; "One Eleven"; "Gobstopper"; "Dilla Says Go"; "Bye"), neck-snapping grooves ("The New"; "Two Can Win"; "Walkinonit"), innovative, electro madness ("Lightworks"; "Da Factory"), hardcore soul ("Mash"; "Geek Down"; "Last Donut of the Night") and everything in between - lest I list off the entire tracklisting! It was a pleasure to compile Dilla's eclectic sample sources, and though I say this every time I release a sample set, this time I really mean it: TURN IT UP!!

Raise it up for Ma and Pop Dukes Yancey (donate via Paypal; more info here)! Respect to DJ House Shoes for keeping Dilla's legacy alive, via live shows and mixtapes. And salute to Stones Throw and Stussy for continued support and this year's Behind the Beat poster (pick it up here):

Happy birthday, Dilla!

One.

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #12

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #11