The Tape Deck '12: The Best of Q3

The Tape Deck '12: Volume #50 (Instrumental Edition)

The Tape Deck '12: Volume #49

The Tape Deck '12: Volume #48

The Jazz Jousters: Bandcamp's Best Kept Secret

When I'm not blowing my brains to bits (© Nas) with this new Freddie Gibbs mixtape/album, I've been sliding into some mellow autumn vibes with the help of The Jazz Jousters' incredible series on Bandcamp. In the past few months, they've dropped a total of nine EP-length projects, each interpreting original compositions from jazz legends like Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Grant Green and more. Having downloaded every one of their releases, I've enjoyed plugging all of their joints into my media player, hitting shuffle, and trying to figure out which artist they've sampled/toyed around with (without looking, of course). It's a fun challenge. Anyways, I highly recommend this series. Now would be a good time to get on the bandwagon since they dropped release #9, a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, while announcing the upcoming release of their final project in the series, set to drop on October 7th. You've got some catching up to do until then! Enjoy... and turn it up!!

Paper Tiger - Beat Tape

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 9/21/2012

Ed. note: " I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out." - Bill Hicks

The knives were all out this week, with many of my favorite writers tearing Cruel Summer to shreds. It's not that it's that bad, it's just... not... uh... G.O.O.D.(?) Cruel Summer is essentially the lowest common denominator of Roc La Familia meets Watch the Throne, with extra grandiose. In essence, fuck this album. There, that's my review. Good night, folks! I'm kidding (minus the "fuck this album" part.) We've got a dope selection of entertaining Cruel Summer reviews lined up for this latest issue post, but there's plenty more great writing where that came from. As always, enjoy the only (free) hip hop (e-)magazine worth reading: the Rap Round Table. - I

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Dear Summer: An Open Letter to Kanye West About G.O.O.D. Music by Jeff Weiss

The Purple Tape: Only Built 4 Collectors by Oliver Wang

So Ruff: The 20th Anniversary of Redman's Whut? Thee Album by Dart Adams

Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. city Listening Session by Colin Small

Boom Bap Can't Die; It's in the DNA by Amir Said (Sa'id)

Royal Renegades Week, Day 1 by Werner von Wallenrod

Royal Renegades Week, Day 2 - MC Boo and the Crew by Werner von Wallenrod

Royal Renegades Week, Day 3 - Madness Comes Back by Werner von Wallenrod

Royal Renegades Week, Day 4 - Royalty Strikes Back by Werner von Wallenrod

Royal Renegades Week, Day 5 - Final Blows by Werner von Wallenrod

Real Talk with R. Kelly... by Mobb Deen

Why Were Q-Tip and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Left Off ‘Cruel Summer’? by Andrew Martin

Azealia Banks: The Most Overhyped But Underrated Rapper Alive by Jeff Weiss

Is Hip Hop Losing It’s Credibility? by Jayy Ghost

Mobbdeen Goes to a Music Conference… by Mobb Deen

A History of Jay-Z's Most Surprising Non-Rap Moments by Khal

The Life & Death of the Frankenstein Rapper by Tony Grands

The Six Types of Interviews You Find in Hip-Hop Journalism by Drew Millard

Roc Marciano: Sweet Nothings by HL

The iPod Shuffle: Too $hort’s “Just Another Day” by Beware

Revival Tactics by Noz

Rick Ross, "Hold Me Back": Why This Song Sucks (There Are Zero Fat Jokes, So There) by Shea Serrano

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, Blu and Exile, Nocando - LACMA - 9/20/12 by Eddie Cota

GOOD Music: New God Flow by HL

Light in the Attic Finds Old Records and Releases Them Like They're New by Jeff Weiss

Cormega: Street Essence by HL

Beat Traps: The Gaslamp Killer’s “Breakthrough” by Chris Daly

Album Reviews:

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by TRU Brain Trust

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jeff Weiss

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Henry Adaso

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Big Ghostfase

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Robbie Ettelson

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Andrew Winistorfer

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Max

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Jayson Greene

G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer by Slava Kuperstein

Lil Wayne - The Dedication 4 by Big Ghostfase

Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Fred Castano

Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Jesse Fairfax

Brother Ali - Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color by Nate Patrin

Kreayshawn - Somethin 'Bout Kreay by Carrie Battan

Homeboy Sandman - First of a Living Breed by The Company Man

Slaughterhouse – Welcome To: Our House by Craig Jenkins

Waka Flocka Flame - Salute Me Or Shoot Me 4: Banned From America by Andrew Martin

The Gaslamp Killer - Breakthrough by Nate Patrin

Colin Munroe - Unsung Hero by Jesse Fairfax

Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze by Mason Jones

Band of Horses - Mirage Rock by Steven Hyden

How To Dress Well - Total Loss by Colin Small

Interviews:

Uncovered: The Making of Raekwon The Chef’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Album Cover (1995) with Photographer Daniel Hastings by Ego Trip

The Bizarre Ride: An Interview With The Pharcyde’s Slimkid3 by Jacob Greene

Neek The Exotic - The Unkut Interview by Robbie Ettelson

Kreayshawn on Her New Album and the Worst Assholes on Twitter by Brian McManus

Compton Rapper Problem Wrote the Name of His New Mixtape in MDMA by Chaz Kangas

Answers for Questions Vol. 103 w/Blockhead

Watch:

Kendrick Lamar Freestyles on Funkmaster Flex

Music Video: Raekwon - Scroll

Music Video: Skyzoo - Jansport Strings

Music Video: Wyclef Jean - Amadeus

Music Video: Curren$y - Jet Life (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Wiz Khalifa)

Music Video: Alley Boy - Your Favorite Rapper (feat. Pusha T)

Music Video: C-Rayz Walz - Winter (Wonderland Glow Mix)

Music Video: Game - Celebration (feat. Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa & Lil Wayne)

Sadat X Kicks a Freestyle on #SwayInTheMorning

Kendrick Lamar Explains "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Album Cover

MPC Minute featuring DJ Premier & Pete Rock

MPC Minute featuring araabMUZIK

Nardwuar vs. Big Sean

Let My People Vote 2012 - Get Nana a Gun w/Sarah Silverman

#RussellWestbrookSwag

Is This Mike Jones? (Who?)

Nah, seriously, that's Mike Jones (who?) in 2012.

Note the untied shoe laces.

Doesn't he look like a kid in junior high?

Where you been, Mike? I been trying to reach you but your phone number's been disconnected.

281-330-8004...

Thelonious Martin - MCMXCII

New Lupe Fiasco Album Leak Got Me Feeling Like...

The Tape Deck '12: Volume #47 (Instrumental Edition)

Lil Wayne: "No Frank Ocean, I'm Straight"

"No Frank Ocean, I'm Straight" @ 2:44

Jay Rock - "YOLA" | Music Video

Jay Rock got that A1, and he ain't talmbout steak sauce. YOLA > YOLO

Jay Rock "YOLA"
Produced by Dave Free
Directed by Fredo Tovar and Scott Fleishman
Top Dawg Entertainment x Aplusfilmz

Sample Set #177

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 9/14/2012

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Remembering Chris Lighty by Jake Paine

Chief Keef: Not Just Another Gangsta Rapper by Jaap van der Doelen

The 25 Greatest Outdated Rap Slang Words by Jeff Weiss & Co.

What I'd Give to Hear These Five L.A. Rap Albums (Six Oreo Cookies) by Rizoh

September is the Cruelest Month: The Event Horizons and Turning Points of Kanye West by B. Michael Payne

BeatTips Sample Flip Award: Eric “Vietnam” Sadler: Leaders of the New School – “Sobb Story” by Amir Said (Sa'id)

Rap Game 2012 Draft Scouting Report — GrandeMarshall’s "800" by Mobb Deen

Ten Rap Songs More Republican Than Nicki Minaj by Brian McManus

Thoughts On Odd Future In 2012: Concert Review by John Healey

Writing E Money Bags Back Into History by Werner von Wallenrod

Scoe – Thank You feat. Kendrick Lamar (Produced by Jake One) by Mobb Deen

Vandal for Hire: Bush’s “Thuggin’” by Jeff Weiss

Danny Brown x Johnson&Johnson Change by Son Raw

Kanye West’s ‘To The World,’ And Mitt Romney As A Symbol of Tax Evasion by Alyssa Rosenberg

We'll Soon Be Playing Instruments With Our Minds by Dave Good

The Longform Guide to Jay-Z by Max Linsky

Khal’s Droppings 001: The Week in EDM by Khal

Album Reviews:

Blu & Exile - Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them by Phillip Mlynar

DMX - Undisputed by Aaron McKrell

Busta Rhymes - Year of the Dragon by Francisco McCurry

Big Sean - Detroit by Andrew Martin

Big Sean - Detroit by Edwin Ortiz

Lil Wayne - Dedication 4 by Jayson Greene

Lil Wayne - Dedication 4 (Didn't Listen Review) by Andrew Winistorfer

2 Chainz - Based on a T.R.U. Story by Henry Adaso

Talib Kweli & DJ Z-Trip - Attack the Block by Jesse Fairfax

Homeboy Sandman – First of a Living Breed by Chul Gugich

Bob Dylan - Tempest by Amanda Petrusich

The xx - Coexist by John Healey

The xx - Coexist by Mark Richardson

The xx - Coexist by Brandon Bussolini

Four Tet - Pink by Erik Stabile

Interviews:

MF DOOM Calls Nas A Great Freestyler, Promises New Madvillain Music, Talks Masta Ace & JJ DOOM by Andres Vasquez

I Think I’m The Biggest Hypocrite Since 2Pac: An Interview With Blu by Oz Futura

Prince Paul Debunks Rumored De La Soul Reunion, Looks Ahead To Negroes On Ice by The Company Man

Watch:

Music Video: Xzibit - Napalm

Music Video: Curren$y & Harry Fraud – Leaving the Dock

Music Video: Saigon - Not Like Them (feat. Styles P)

Music Video: Joe Budden – Quality of Life

Music Video: Boola – Starting 5 (feat. Maffew Ragazino, Mickey Factz, Reek Da Villian & Jon Connor)

Music Video: Patrick Starr – City I Love (feat. Reks & Termanology)

Masta Ace On #SpittinInDaWip

KRS-One on 9/11 & WeAreChange: Don't Give Up

Danny Brown - "Gypped by a Crackhead"

Animated Archives: Neal Brennan After-Parties With Prince

Nardwuar vs. E-40

The Combat Jack Show (Mr. MFN eXquire & Smoke Dza) 9-12-12 by PNCRadio

2Pac - "Out on Bail" (Live at the Source Awards)

T.R.O.Y.

The Doppelgangaz - R.O.B.

New old sh*t from the almighty Doppelgangaz! R.O.B. is a collection of dusty basement beats from 2007 and 2008. Download the album for free at Bandcamp or enter any price you'd like to support The Ghastly Duo. Props again to Dallas Penn for putting me on to these maniacs.

Samplify: GOOD Music - Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer hasn't even officially dropped yet, so this Samplify post will most likely be a work in progress for the next couple weeks or so. Got any additions/corrections to make? Please do so in the comments section. Enjoy the music, and as always... turn it up!!

Samplify: GOOD Music - Cruel Summer

1. James Brown - Funky President ['Clique']
2. Super Beagle - Dust a Sound Boy ['Mercy']
3. Reggie Stepper - Cuh Oonu ['Mercy']
4. YB - Lambo ['Mercy']
5. Giorgio Moroder - Tony's Theme ['Mercy']
6. Rev. G.I. Townsel - A Sermon Fragment ['New God Flow']
7. Marcos Valle - Bôdas De Sangue ['New God Flow']
8. Ghostface Killah - Mighty Healthy ['New God Flow']
9. Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Substitution ['New God Flow']
10. James Brown - Funky President ['New God Flow']
11. Kanye West & Pusha T - New God Flow ['The Morning']
12. Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans ['Sin City']
13. The Throne - Niggas in Paris ['The One']
14. Kanye West & DJ Khaled - Cold ['I Don't Like (Remix)']
15. Barrington Levy - Under Mi Sensi ['I Don't Like (Remix)']

Cruel Summer will be released on September 18th...

Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde

Get On Down to Release the Purple Tape... On Purple Wax!

A year ago, I wrote about Get On Down's vinyl re-issues of Wu-Tang classics like Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version and the GZA's Liquid Swords. These are must-have records for any hip hop head. At the very end of the post, I pleaded with Get On Down to re-release Raekwon's solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, specifically on purple wax. It seems like my wish is their command. Over at UnderGroundHipHop.com, you can pre-order Get On Down's re-issue of the Shaolin classic album (dropping tomorrow!). Even though I've got both the original releases of this LP on vinyl and cassette (yep!) formats, I might just add this one to the collection for a couple of reasons: First off, it'll feature the CD-only bonus track, "North Star (Jewels)", for the first time ever on vinyl. Second, this double LP release features remastered audio. That's a win-win. Best of all, it'll compliment any vinyl copy of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, also released on purple wax. Get On Down's doing god's work these days, re-releasing tons of hip hop gems, many of them damn-near impossible to find at an affordable price. Check out their catalog here. Pre-order OB4CL on purple wax here. "This how you freak 'em. Boom!"

James Brown - "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"

James Brown is a force of nature, a gift from heaven.He invented funk, but it was a symbol of freedom and success for millions of black American in combat for their civic rights, who saw him as a source of hope and pride. I tried to describe the richness of his life.

For this year’s Music Video Challenge, Saatchi & Saatchi in association with Universal Music Enterprises, the James Brown Estate, BUG and Genero.tv bringing together fresh filmmaking talent and iconic music with songs by the legendary James Brown.

The 2012 Challenge was in celebration of the James Brown catalogue being re-released on iTunes in May, and the re-issuing of the classic James Brown Live at the Apollo album later this year.

This is the director's cut version of the video music of James Brown - It's Man's Man's Man's World.

Produced and Directed by Xavier Fauthoux
Editing by Adrien Deleule
Character Design : Thomas Buron & Liza Lussiez
Backgrounds : Marion Brunetto & Tristan Mercier
Concept Art : Alexandre Tissot
3D Cam Mapping : Charles Blanchard
Animation : Milan Starcevic, Matthieu Fouchier, Marion Brunetto
Compositing : SKULL & Martial Coulon
Stagiaire : Benjamin Le roux, Clement Domergue

Samplify: Masta Ace Incorporated - SlaughtaHouse

Masta Ace Incorporated's SlaughtaHouse is one of the best hip hop albums you can listen to on a hot, sticky Saturday afternoon: "It's Saturday, it's Saturday, the heat might smother you!" I gave it yet another spin today. Love this album. A few months back, I spontaneously stumbled upon the first sample you hear on SlaughtaHouse, lifted from the Chinatown OST by composer Jerry Goldsmith. Since then, I planned on digging up all of the samples from the album. Well, here it is. Sample sets may be a thing of the past (or not; we'll see...), but Samplify is alive and well. (How are you liking the Life Is Good playlist?) Enjoy the music, and as always... turn it up!!

Samplify: Masta Ace Incorporated - SlaughtaHouse

1. Jerry Goldsmith - J.J. Gittes ['A Walk Thru the Valley']
2. Leaders of the New School - Case of the P.T.A. ['A Walk Thru the Valley']
3. Five Stairsteps - Don't Change Your Love ['A Walk Thru the Valley']
4. Grover Washington, Jr. - Hydra ['A Walk Thru the Valley']
5. Gladys Knight & the Pips - The Nitty Gritty ['SlaughtaHouse']
6. Ohio Players - Funky Worm ['SlaughtaHouse']
7. Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce ['SlaughtaHouse']
8. Ice Cube - Horny Lil' Devil ['SlaughtaHouse']
9. Run-D.M.C. - Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1) ['SlaughtaHouse']
10. Brand Nubian - To the Right ['SlaughtaHouse']
11. Big Daddy Kane - Another Victory ['SlaughtaHouse']
12. Boogie Down Productions - Beef ['SlaughtaHouse']
13. Public Enemy - Welcome to the Terrordome ['SlaughtaHouse']
14. Scarface - Diary of a Madman ['SlaughtaHouse']
15. Scarface - Mr. Scarface ['Late Model Sedan']
16. Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - La Di Da Di ['Late Model Sedan']
17. George Benson - California Dreamin' ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
18. Parliament - Flashlight ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
19. Public Enemy - Shut 'Em Down ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
20. EPMD - Get Off the Bandwagon ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
21. MC Lyte - I Cram to Understand U ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
22. Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - La Di Da Di ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
23. A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz (We've Got) ['Jeep Ass Niguh']
24. Earth, Wind & Fire - Handwriting on the Wall ['The Big East']
25. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Hihache ['The Big East']
26. Boogie Down Productions - Jack of Spades ['Jack B. Nimble']
27. James Brown - Funky Drummer ['Boom Bashin'']
28. Miles Davis - Jeru ['The Mad Wunz']
29. B.B. King - The Thrill is Gone ['Style Wars']
30. Roxanne Shanté & Biz Markie - The Def Fresh Crew ['Style Wars']
31. Compton's Most Wanted - Driveby Miss Daisy ['Who U Jackin'?']
32. Quincy Jones & Valerie Simpson - Summer in the City ['Who U Jackin'?']
33. Galt MacDermot - Harlem Medley ['Who U Jackin'?']
34. A Tribe Called Quest & Leaders of the New School - Scenario ['Who U Jackin'?']
35. Nice & Smooth - Funky for You ['Who U Jackin'?']
36. Gang Starr - Just to Get a Rep ['Who U Jackin'?']
37. Gary Portnoy - Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name) ['Who U Jackin'?']
38. Compton's Most Wanted - Compton's Lynchin' ['Who U Jackin'?']
39. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - Live at Union Square ['Who U Jackin'?']
40. Sir Mix-a-Lot - Posse on Broadway ['Rollin' Wit UmDaDa']
41. World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ ['Rollin' Wit UmDaDa']
42. Brand Nubian - Step to the Rear ['Rollin' Wit UmDaDa']
43. The Honey Drippers - Impeach the President ['Rollin' Wit UmDaDa']
44. James Brown - Blues and Pants ['Ain't U Da Masta']
45. Blowfly - Sesame Street ['Ain't U Da Masta']
46. John Davis and the Monster Orchestra - I Can't Stop ['Crazy Drunken Style']
47. Jim Sullivan - Rosey ['Crazy Drunken Style']
48. Masta Ace Incorporated - Saturday Nite Live ['Crazy Drunken Style']
49. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) ['Crazy Drunken Style']
50. The Pharcyde - Pack the Pipe ['Crazy Drunken Style']
51. Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor ['Don't Fuck Around (Outro)']
52. Bobbi Humphrey - My Little Girl ['Saturday Nite Live']
53. Ramsey Lewis - Les Fleurs ['Saturday Nite Live']
54. Big Daddy Kane - Get Into It ['Saturday Nite Live']
55. Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Substitution ['Saturday Nite Live']

Heart of a (Detroit) Lion

I put together this tribute video to get Lions fans pumped up for the 2012 season. It's got KiD CuDi on vocals, performing my favorite song of his, "Heart of a Lion (KiD CuDi Theme Music)". You can find this and all my other clips over at Vimeo, YouTube's artsier little brother. This might just be my best video yet! SUHperbowl XLVII, here we come! #RestoreTheRoar

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 9/7/2012

R.I.P. Matthew Africa

Music Analysis & Reporting:

R.I.P. Matthew Africa, Beloved Oakland Hip-Hop DJ by Ian S. Hort

For Matthew Africa by Oliver Wang

R.I.P. Matthew Africa by Dirt Dog

That's The Sh*t I Don't Like: The Inexplicable Rise of Chief Keef & Rewarding Ignorance by Andreas Hale

Fat Beats Forever: Mass Appeal Salutes a Hip-Hop Institution by Matt Lubansky

The House That Hova Built by Zadie Smith

New World Order: Hip Hop's Obsession With The Illuminati by Rashad Phillips

Homeless Swordsmen: The Wrecking Crew Presents: Wu Tang Pulp by Jeff Weiss

10 Favorite Sample Flips by Oddisee

5 Things Chief Keef Can Learn From Gangnam Style by Slava P

Is Brooklyn Better? Has Manhattan Gotten Worse? Revisiting NY Mag's "I Hate Brooklyn" Article Seven Years Later by Matthew J.X. Malady

Hard to Earn: New Gangsta Gibbs by Jeff Weiss

Chief Keef is the Realest Child Rapper Since Chi Ali by Byron Crawford

I Put Off Listening To This Album for a Long Time... by Werner von Wallenrod

Heaven and Hell: Hip Hop's Difficulty With Christianity by Lakeia Brown

Why Slaughterhouse Will Never Ever Ever Work as Group by Doc Zeus

Meet the Press: A Night with Riff Raff by Drew Millard

True Colors: Race, And The Misnomer Of Hip Hop As "Black Music" by Omar Burgess

The Gospel of Gunplay by Slava P

Exactly WHICH Ghost Is Back, Exactly? by Werner von Wallenrod

Mac Miller a.k.a. Larry Dollaz & Schoolboy Q – PlaneCarBoat by Max Bell

Is This Tom Waits' First LP? by Christian Hertzog

Revenge Of the 80's Presents Street Fighter (1987) by Dart Adams

Cat Power’s Bright Side by Sasha Frere-Jones

R.I.P. Songwriter Hal David by Evan Minsker

Album Reviews:

Nas - Life Is Good (Truncated Cliff Notes) by HL & Co.

Blu & Exile - Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them by Francisco McCurry

Lil Wayne - Dedication 4 by Colin Small

Lil Wayne - Dedication 4 by William E. Ketchum III

A$AP Mob - Lords Never Worry by Jordan Sargent

A$AP Mob - Lords Never Worry by Jesse Fairfax

The Physics - Tomorrow People by Chul Gugich

8Ball – Life's Quest by Fred Castano

Animal Collective - Centipede Hz by Colin Small

Cat Power - Sun by Lindsay Zoladz

Interviews:

Did Dead Prez Ghost Write for Nas? They Speak on it on #SwayInTheMorning

Busta Rhymes Tells An Untold Tupac Story by

Watch:

Music Video: Slaughterhouse - Throw It Away

Music Video: The Doppelgangaz – Whole Wide World

Music Video: Stu Bangas & Vanderslice – Half Dead (feat. Apathy, Roc Marciano & Planet Asia)

Music Video: House Shoes - Sweet (feat. Danny Brown)

Music Video: Lil Fame & Termanology - Fizzyology

Music Video: A$AP Mob - "Bath Salt" (feat. Flatbush ZOMBiES)

Nardwuar vs. E-40

Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes (Short Film)

Ill Doctrine: The GOP's Rick Ross Convention by Jay Smooth

The Combat Jack Show (Cormega) 9-5-12 by PNCRadio

Samplify: Nas - Life Is Good

EDIT (9/15/12): Aw, f*ck it!

Aight, so I've been mulling over this post and the comments it's received (thank you!) for the past few days and I think I've come up with a solution that will please (almost) everybody: a new feature for the site called Samplify. Samplify is a portmanteau I came up with using the following words: 1) Sample, 2) simplify, and 3) Spotify.

First off, I'm never gonna stop covering samples on this site. I write about what interests me. My posts may be sporadic, but that's just who I am. Bottom line: You'll never see me posting something I don't care about. Searching for old(er) songs that are sampled in the music of today has been an interest of mine since I was in elementary school. That's never going away. Second, simplicity is something I strive for. I'm no feng shui expert but I do prefer minimalism when possible. With my Samplify posts, I aim to keep things as simple as my sample set downloads were. Which leads me to my third and final point...

A lot of internet services come and go, never to be seen again. For my money, Spotify is here to stay. That's why I'll be relying on Spotify's services from now on. I think it's a smart choice. Samplify will be a series of Spotify playlists, each one devoted to the samples and production of a specific album. To kick-start this project, I chose to dissect Nas's latest album, Life Is Good. As I was putting this playlist together, I hit a bump in the road: many of the tracks sampled on Life Is Good are unavailable on Spotify, despite the service's massive music library. I breathed a deep sigh of regret when I noticed that a handful of these tracks just weren't available. There's not much I can do about that other than provide YouTube links when this issue arises. Assuming I got a few suggestions that YouTube was the way to go altogether, I don't feel too bad about relying on the video site as a resource when Spotify needs "backup." (In the tracklisting below, any links you see will direct you to the respective YouTube page. If a song on the tracklisting isn't an HTML link, that means you can find it in the Samplify playlist. Any italicized titles mean the songs are unavailable on Spotify or on YouTube. That shouldn't happen quite as often.)

An added benefit to Samplify is that modifying playlists on Spotify is super-easy for me to do. So let's say you find a sample that I missed: you can mention that in the comments section and I'll be able to update the playlist within minutes (assuming I'm not busy...). It's much simpler than the hassle of having to re-upload sample sets to accommodate one or two tracks I missed on the first go-round. (That was a real pain in the ass...) So what do you think? I'm still open to feedback, so if you've got suggestions on how to improve this new series, want me to scrap the project altogether, or simply want to hate on my 2013 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers (Ha!), feel free to do so in the comments section. Otherwise, enjoy the music... and turn it up!!

Samplify: Nas - Life Is Good

1. Kirk Franklin - Don't Cry ['No Introduction']
2. Salaam Remi - Queens Story ['A Queens Story']
3. Frédéric Chopin - Étude Op. 10, No. 12 ['A Queens Story']
4. Run-D.M.C. - Peter Piper ['A Queens Story']
5. Norman Feels - They Said It Couldn't Be Done ['Accident Murderers']
6. MC Shan - The Bridge ['Accident Murderers']
7. Wayne McGhie & the Sounds of Joy - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye ['Daughters']
8. Cloud One - Dust to Dust ['Daughters']
9. Hot Day with Super Kids - Hot Day Master Mix ['Reach Out']
10. Isaac Hayes - Ike's Mood ['Reach Out']
11. New Edition - Once in a Lifetime Groove ['Reach Out']
12. The Five Stairsteps - Something's Missing ['World's an Addiction']
13. Miles Jaye - Let's Start Over ['You Wouldn't Understand']
14. Eric B. & Rakim - Eric B. Is President ['You Wouldn't Understand']
15. MC Shan - The Bridge ['Back When']
16. Barrie Moore Combo - Double Agent Jones ['Back When']
17. MC Shan - Live Routine ['Back When']
18. Ronnie Gee - Raptivity ['Back When']
19. Super Cat - Dance Inna New York ['The Don']
20. L.A. Carnival - Seven Steps to Nowhere ['Stay']
21. Guy - Goodbye Love ['Bye Baby']
22. Salaam Remi - Praguenosis ['The Black Bond']
23. William Ray - You Are What You Are ['Where's the Love']
24. 3rd Bass - Brooklyn Queens ['Where's the Love']

#DNC2012 Day 3: Four Great Speeches

The Tape Deck '12: Volume #46 #DNC2012 Edition

#DNC2012 Day 2: Four Great Speeches

Wrecking Crew Presents Wu​-​Tang Pulp

My love for all things Wu is everlasting; and I'm pretty sure my pulp/noir credentials are in order as well. So how could I not #Fuxwit this new project from Has-Lo, Curly Castro, and the originator of noir hop, Zilla Rocca? Wu-Tang Pulp is gritty as it gets but still smells like honeysuckle. :)

Why Bother?

Way before I was a "music blogger", I was - and still am to this day - a high-volume (pardon the pun) music consumer. (My last.fm page can attest to that!) My uzi hard drives weigh a ton. Not only do I love consuming music, I also love sharing it. In the "Where Will You Be in Twenty Years?" page of my high school yearbook, here's what they wrote about me: "Bringing BET to the masses, but for a lot cheaper than they'll give it to you." I was known for my mix CDs (a precursor, you could say, to my long running series, The Tape Deck). I don't need two turntables (though I've got those too...) to supply you with tracks to fill up your rotation.

However, groups like the RIAA make it difficult to do this over the information superhighway a.k.a. The Internets. I know, I know, it's the same old story you hear all the time. But it's made me question where I want to go with this blog. Yesterday, I received a message from Mediafire by way of the RIAA stating the following:

September 4, 2012

Mediafire.com

C10136873

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am contacting you on behalf of the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. (RIAA) and its member record companies. The RIAA is a trade association whose member companies create, manufacture and distribute approximately eighty-five (85) percent of all legitimate sound recordings sold in the United States. Under penalty of perjury, we submit that the RIAA is authorized to act on behalf of its member companies in matters involving the infringement of their sound recordings, including enforcing their copyrights and common law rights on the Internet. We believe your server is hosting the below-referenced files on its network. These files contain sound recordings for other users to download. We have a good faith belief that this activity is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. We assert that the information in this notification is accurate, based upon the data available to us. We are asking for your immediate assistance in stopping this unauthorized activity. Specifically, we request that you remove the infringing files from the system, or that you disable access to the infringing files, and that you inform the site operator of the illegality of his or her conduct. You should understand that this letter constitutes notice to you that this site operator may be liable for the infringing activity occurring on your service. In addition, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, if you ignore this notice, you and/or your company may also be liable for any resulting infringement. This letter does not constitute a waiver of any right to recover damages incurred by virtue of any such unauthorized activities, and such rights as well as claims for other relief are expressly retained. You may contact me at RIAA, 1025 F Street, N.W., 10th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20004, Tel. (202) 775-0101, or e-mail antipiracy@riaa.com, to discuss this notice. We await your response. Kind regards.

Sincerely,

Erick Plascencia

Online Anti-Piracy RIAA

I received this message in direct response to the Slaughterhouse sample set I posted the day before. The irony of this is that I believe the RIAA erroneously assumed that I was posting a link to the album itself: not my unique compilation of samples from the album! I'll never be able to prove this, of course. Likewise, they'll never be obligated to do the same. (Still, and understandably so, I know that my sample sets do toe the line on illegality.) Bottom line: It's really aggravating because each of these sample sets take a lot of time and effort - all for what? To be deleted with the swift stroke of a few clicks.

It's truly frustrating because I feel like this wouldn't have happened if Shady VP of A&R Riggs Morales(!) or The Smoking Section hadn't publicized the release of the sample set. But surely I can't begrudge those guys! Out of the goodness of their hearts, they were doing me a favor, showing love and support to my site (I'm thankful for every reader(/listener) I've got!) and building a bigger audience for myself, Slaughterhouse, and the burgeoning scene of eclectic crate digging. How "underground" do I need to be to evade the gaze of the RIAA? It's impossible.

So I'm done with the sample sets... I guess. It sucks, I know. What can I do? Every single day, I receive requests to re-upload sample sets with dead links. I can't! Now you know why...

Got any alternatives (that won't land me in prison)?

P.S. F*ck this sh*t.

#DNC2012 Day 1: Four Great Speeches

Sample Set #176

It's been a long time... I know, that's what I said the last time I dropped a sample set (for the fitting classic Paid in Full in July). Well, thanks to the green light from Shady's OG VP of A&R Riggs Morales, I'm back at it again! This Slaughterhouse sample set features a quirky mix of rock and Eurodance, strewn about with some audio snippets from an early Fantastic Four comic, recorded in the '70s. It doesn't get much weirder than this. Enjoy, and as always... turn it up!!

Gucci Mane - "Plain Jane (Remix)" | Music Video

Arguably my favorite ignorant track of the year so far. Of course, "I Don't Like (Remix)" is in the running, too. Anyway... Is that Yolie!?