Silver Anniversary Series

       

This is a new series I'm starting where I'm going to take a look back at our hip hop heritage from 25 years ago (hence the silver anniversary title), and pull some records from that era out of the crates and put a spotlight on them.  Some will be classics and will provide an opportunity for us to reflect on just how influential and ground breaking they really were, whilst others will be rarities that you may have previously slept on or completely forgotten about.

25 years ago it was 1986, a time when the music and culture had already grown way beyond the New York party scene and was now a world wide phenomenon.  Fresh new artists were springing up every other minute, the music and movie industries were starting to see the potential and were therefore showing a considerable amount of interest and investment (though not much of it actually hit the artists pockets at that time!), and thus one of the most significant era's of hip hop evolution was occurring. 

Despite the Streetsounds record label releasing four of their immensely popular 'Electo' series that year (volumes 12-15), electro had started to fade and 'Hip Hop' had begun to emerge as the future direction, and accepted terminology, for the art form we know today. 
Nerdology: - It was in 1986 when Electro 12 was released that Streetsounds started dubbing the series 'Hip Hop Electro'.  Prior to this they were just called Electro, and by volume 17 the term electro had been dropped completely.

Apart from terminology changes, and the shift from electronic and synthesised music to the heavier beats and rhymes, the most significant change had to be the lyrics.  The style, delivery and content all started to change considerably, and for the most part it was for the better (I'll touch on this in more detail in my first review of a record from that era, see my next post). 

This new era and style was ushered in by a host of artists, many of whom were pioneers of their different styles and approaches.  But this was also the time when artists started to have more than one or two 12" hits and, probably more significantly, they started to have more than one album!  This is when rap careers were born and it could also be argued that this is when 'the industry', as we now refer to it, started to form and the money started to change the music's direction (but that's a different topic for another day).
Some examples of those emerging artists are Eric B & Rakim, Schoolly D, Sir Mix-a-lot, Stetsasonic, Roxanne Shante, Salt n Pepa (I'm sure there are many more but I'm sure you get the gist).

One very notable exception to this broad summary is Run DMC.  By 1986 they had already released 3 studio albums and a dozen or more 12"s and they didn't evolve from the former electro styles of the early 80's.  Just a few of the reasons why they are seen as one of the most significant pioneers in hip hop culture, they were years ahead of the game.

So there's my reasoning for starting this series 25 years ago and not 15, 20 or 30 years ago.  There is plenty of good and varied material from this era to choose from, so hopefully over the coming months I'll be able to give you an enlightening trip down memory lane.
If you have any good suggestions for records that you think deserve to be put into the spotlight then either leave a comment below or drop us an e-mail with your suggestions.  Alternatively, if you would like to contribute an article of your own then we'd love to hear from you.

Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil



Back in 2002 I heard Immortal Technique’s debut album Revolutionary Vol. 1 and instantly knew that it was something special. But despite there being many stand out tracks, Dance with the Devil was by far the most intriguing and disturbing track that I’d heard in a very long time. At the end of the track I instantly had to press rewind and do a double take, did I really just hear that?

I remember the initial emotional confliction of being so happy to have discovered something so brilliant whilst at the same time feeling deeply uncomfortable with its content. But on successive listens the true magnitude of the track really came to life and for me this was storytelling emceeing at its finest. With material like this it didn't matter that Immortal Technique didn’t have the backing of a major label or distributor, word of mouth amongst knowledgeable underground fans was enough to stir up interest and achieve critical acclaim. Or was it?

The one caveat in all of this is that without a record label or other financial backing, producing a decent music video to promote your material is almost impossible. For me, this track was screaming out for a video that would compliment the story and focus the listener, in much the same way that the Gang Starr video for Just to get a Rep did. Well, fast forward a year or two and director Daniel Zhao did make a video for it.

It’s a well executed attempt that mirrors the dark and sinister message of the song, and Zhao has utilised lighting and shadows to great effect to create a video that’s distinctive from most other rap videos. However, my initial enthusiasm for a visual accompaniment to this song quickly dwindled as I realised that what made this song so incredible the first time I heard it was the disturbing and graphic picture that my imagination had conjured up. This is a classic example of the book being better than the film, sometimes there just isn’t a visual that can be effective enough to tell the story as well as it deserves.

Conclusion – Whilst the video may not live up to my expectation, it does have more than 300,000 hits on YouTube (more than Immortal Techniques total sales figures) so it has certainly had the desired effect of taking his music to a wider audience.
It’s a quality piece of work and conveys the songs message without the need for graphic detail, but I’ll let you decide for yourself whether it’s better to close your eyes when you listen to this track or keep them open and watch the video.

Download Link (Hotfile - 60mb)
http://hotfile.com/dl/87122949/2d6ef38/Immortal_Technique_-_Dance_With_The_Devil.avi.html

Dead Prez & KRS One - Live from L.A. DVD

I’m not sure where this DVD has emerged from as there appears to be a distinct lack of information surrounding it. A Google search just finds a dozen torrent sites with it on their lists and the title claims it's a DVD rip, but not one major outlet has the DVD for sale and I can’t find any reviews or reference to it. This seems pretty strange given that it’s a professionally made DVD with two of hip hops biggest political heavyweights collaborating. So it falls to me to give some insight into what is in store for you.

Neither KRS or Dead Prez should need any introduction, but despite their similarities as conscious rappers who are not afraid to point out political errors, highlight deprivation or berate the corrupt record industries, I still would not have foreseen them collaborating in this way. That said, I’m glad they did as this DVD is a perfect blend of old school meets new school.  Each artist compliments the other as they highlight the different styles that they have adopted in an effort to achieve the same desired outcomes.

The crazy thing is, KRS wasn't even on the bill that night, he was in the audience watching the performance when M1 invites him to join them.  Kris then jumps on stage and rips through a collection of his own hits before dropping into some freestyle's.  In usual KRS fashion, he doesn't just do a quick 5 minutes, no, he gets right into it and pleases the crowd with a medley of hits.

The concert was filmed at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip in L.A. in August 2006.  Dead Prez perform a range of their best material from their first 3 CD's.  It's an incredible performance from both artists and I can definitely say that 'it's bigger than hip hop'.

If you enjoy this DVD then I would normally say go and buy it and support both of these artists as well as conscientious hip hop, but as nobody is selling it you'll have to make do with this DVD rip, enjoy.

Download Link (Hotfile - 690mb)
http://hotfile.com/dl/83783461/0a02d34/Dead_Prez__KRS_One_-_The_DVD_Live_From_L.A._2006.rar.html

Dr Dre Mix

I may not know when (or whether) Detox is being released, and I probably don't really care, but what I do know is that Mike 2600 has done a lovely little Dr Dre mix over at Soundcloud.com.  Mike has dug out the original break beats for many of the classic records that Dr Dre has produced over the years for a range of artists and then blended together the originals with Dre's version for an hours worth of pure funky pleasure. 

I highly recommend listening to this, so either hit play or download a copy for later consumption.

NB: - If you're viewing this posting on an iPhone or through some blog readers, then you might not be able to see the audio player as it uses Flash.

Man, You Been Doin' All This Dope Producin' by Mike 2600

Download Link (Hotfile - 82mb)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fttzbz

DITC Interview

I can't remember the last time I saw an interview with a hip hop collective where every member spoke out.  Normally it's one or two predominant members speaking on behalf of the collective, and leaving you with the distinct feeling that their views are slightly biased or that someone didn't really get a mention.  Not here.

This interview tracks down each member and reflects on what they are currently doing, their DITC history and they each pay tribute to Big L.  It's an interesting insight into what has probably been the most consistent collective of MC's and producers in the last 20 years. 

http://www.waxpoetics.com/2011/01/d-i-t-c/

The Bomb dropped.............and then nothing.

I don't know what to say here really. The trajectory of this mans career, despite strong hopes to the contrary, has followed that of an eighty year olds erection. Crude you might be saying Randy, crude. But i have no doubt that the octogenarians limpness was brought on by watching one of the Aks amatuer porn productions married to a jarring set of noises he would later controversially call tracks.

It wasn't always like this though, the first album, (whilst admittedly providing more than a hint of where he might journey next, it was charmingly entitled "Vagina Diner') was a fierce piece of wax. Akinyele could really rhyme. Whilst many of his contemporaries became embroiled in losing battles with passing fads or styles, The Yak had realised that his booming voice, married to a flow that journeyed into interesting stories or wordplay that didn't ever feel forced or studied, would be more than enough. Head nodding poetry seemed to come naturally to this lyricist, and he had a charisma both on the microphone and video, which always gave me confidence that the people who dismissed hip hop as a gimmick, where missing out. Really missing out.

The boards for Vagina Diner were manned by the Head of Beat Making Classics, The Large Professor, and it made for a potent combination. Extra P, perhaps sensing that it was Akinyele's verses that would be the stars of the show, kept things minimal, with a bassline often the only hook. Their understanding saw a classic album emerge, and today it is very tricky to acquire without handing some reputationally questionable dude on Amazon £90 for the privilege of him creating an unlikely tale of non delivery, crucially involving your proof of posting certificate.

I would love to know what the great Professor thinks of his student, as they didn't work again together to the best of my knowledge and i can't help thinking we're the poorer for it.

Anyway enough of my unread ramblings, please check the link below for a genuine hip hop classic with a truly gifted duo in the mix.

http://hotfile.com/dl/111100924/832335a/Akinyele_-_Da_Bomb.mp4.html

Nate Dogg - RIP



Nathaniel Hale aka Nate Dogg is the latest in a long line of people to leave the world of hip hop at a young age, he was 41 years old.  Thankfully there aren't any tales of guns, drugs or beefs etc to accompany this sad news, it appears that he died from problems relating to his health which had been deteriorating in recent years following several strokes.  No further details are available at this time, but it seems only right to take a minute to remember some of Nate Dogg's contributions to hip hop.

He was a contributor to Dr Dre's 1992 classic The Chronic, he had the hit single Regulate with his partner Warren G and he helped to launch Mark Ronson's mainstream career by lending his catchy vocals to the track Ooh Wee.  Despite pursuing solo projects, Nate will surely be remembered most for his distinct and infectious choruses that seemed to turn mediocre melodies into chart hits. Let's face it, you didn't need to see the credits to know that Nate was singing on the track.

Nate Dogg - August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011

The Greatest Man Alive.

Anybody who has had the misfortune to read my previous posts (no mocking please, i'm sure there is something wrong with the hit counter) knows i am obviously not self referencing. No, that would be The Greatest Blogger Alive!!

Moving swiftly on, and i really couldn't blame you if it were to another blog, i have often noticed that when people are discussing their favourite, or even the greatest MC's of all time, 3xDopes EST never seems to be mentioned, and i cannot mo fo understand why. Granted he had set the bar ambitiously high when they released 'The Greatest Man Alive', but even if he falls short of this heady target, trailing narrowly behind Charlie Sheen obviously, then he was certainly close. Expansive diction, smooth yet distinctive delivery and some quite incredible jumpers, made the group a memorable sight.

The video linked to below is from their classic first album that contained some fantastic material, sadly record label issues saw them release a second album, that whilst enjoyable, was a collection they were later to admit, was far more commercial than they would have liked. Predictably it didn't do as well as was hoped, and from 1990 onwards they seemed to disappear from the scene, only to release a 3rd album in 1999 entitled 'The Sequel 3' without warning, and apparently, publicity, marketing strategy or melody!

Please check the link below to appreciate a great M.C. at the peak of his powers backed ably by Chuck Nice and Woody Wood.

http://hotfile.com/dl/110123296/3717d4f/3xDope_-_No_Words.mp4.html

Mad C - 700 Wall

700 Wall - Final Update from Molotow on Vimeo.
Thanks to Battlechasers for the nod on this one.  This is one of the craziest graffiti pieces I've ever seen.  German graffiti artist Mad C spent most of 2010 painting a single wall in what is probably the biggest graffiti project ever undertaken by a solo artist.  In her own words she says:

"I used 1489 cans; 158 different colours; 600+ caps; 3 different kind of caps, 100 liters primer; 140 liters exterior paint; painted at temperatures from +2C° to +38C° in sunshine, rain, storm, day and night; painted my biggest and smallest piece so far and overall painted my name far more than 100 times on this wall."

When you watch the video you'll start to appreciate what an undertaking this was.  I strongly recommend that you play this in full screen mode and choose some good points to hit the pause button to fully appreciate the detail in her work.  Alternatively, head over to the links below and see some photos of the wall in more detail.

http://www.madc.tv/
http://www.molotow.com/magazine/700wall/

Public Enemy Live 1988

Following on from the MC Duke post a couple of months ago, here is another clip from the TV programme Behind the Beat that used to air on BBC2 (UK only).  This time it's a live show from Public Enemy performing My Uzi Weighs a Ton.  This was originally shown in 1988 and is a rare clip, so I hope you enjoy it. 

I've seen Public Enemy perform live numerous times over the last 20 or so years, but it was these earlier shows that had a level of energy that I think was unique to that era.  In the late 80's and early 90's PE were probably the only group that put on a proper stage show and blew their audiences away.  Flavour would be jumping off 15ft high speakers, the SW1's were doing their routines and Chuck was bouncing all over the place without ever losing a breathe, they were incredible.

Don't miss the download link at the bottom of this post if you want a copy for keeps.



Download Link (Hotfile - 27mb)
http://hotfile.com/dl/96325219/1e7b43e/Public_Enemy_-_My_Uzi_Weighs_A_Ton_(Live_Behind_The_Beat_1988).avi.html