March 2009

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]-->I can listen to almost any rapper, no matter how awful as long as the production is anything near good. And I suppose that’s my biggest problem with a great deal of hip hop now – even Mos Def will go over some half assed beats – in my humble opinion at least. And really, if you’re that talented, you should probably make sure the tracks are all above boards. Perhaps, though, this just points to me being out of touch with whatever passes for good hip hop today. Blu – who I can’t keep from writing about – is poised to get famous in about five minutes and pretty much everything he does is golden. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> However many folks before 1988 had rap hits, it wasn’t too many. So because of this, despite how they’re remembered today, 3^rd Bass brought rap to the suburbs – or at least made it a bit more palatable for parents. Having “Gasface” in rotation on MTV made the group one of the most vital rappers in the game at the time. And on that track was a young gentleman named Zev Love X (Daniel Dumile). Alongside the interracial rap group, the man that would go on to become DOOM, took a verse that resulted in but a modicum of fame. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> For some reason a few albums from band leading organist Big John Patton weren’t releases right after being recorded. And regardless of what acclaim he’s received in the world of collectors since those ‘60s dates, it won’t really serve to reinvigorate any broad interest in this player. His virtuosity wasn’t every the reason to put a side by Patton on. It was the groove that Patton attained with the various ensembles he led. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> Herein, you will find (digital) proof as to the well being of new funky grooves. But nonetheless, they aren’t necessarily subservient to those old, soulful combos of the seventies. Read more