STRICTLY HIP HOP
I am not a "head," nor am I a "backpacker." I tend to think of myself (my corporeal body at least) as a whole and I hate carrying a bookbag (see, I can't even use the terms correctly). Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the self-proclaimed headz (tee hee) and backpackers of the world, in fact I love them, they stay in their grandmothers' basements and occasionally come up with really dope shit just for us, but I know what I am and one of them (note the divisive use) I am not.Now there has been a debate raging within the ranks of the hip hop community for years. No, not who the dopest emcee or producer or turntablist or whatever is. No, not whether all male members of the hip hop community are latent homosexuals because of their deep-seated fear and hatred of women. The debate I'm speaking of is that age old concern questioning, "When was the true golden age of hip hop?" Well, I do not intend to provide a definitive answer, I could care less, just give me something ill to listen to. My function here is to point out a possible period that could be considered golden, arguably the last, for we all know that from this point on all good periods in hip hop shall be identified as "platinum."Anyway, most people would agree that there was a decline in the overall quality of hip hop recordings starting in the last part of 94, though there were a couple of gems that followed. However, some emcees had the good sense to take that shit back underground and as a result we have some of the best 12"s, EPs, and albums ever recorded. End of story. So, I'd like to present to you a list of some things that you should have heard unless you're a real herb. Sure, some things will be missing, but I'm not near my vinyl and my memory is that of an octogenerian.
A List of Some Songs That You Should Have Heard Unless You're a Real Herb- The Siah & Yeshua Dapo ED EP-good stuff, i used to twist my hair to this album.
- Jedi Mind Tricks/The Psycho-Social...-the only reason i picked this up is because they thanked Kurt Vonnegut on the back, i'm glad i did. a little too "nextra for no reason," but good shit nonetheless.
- East Flatbush Project/Tried By 12-everyone remembers this as the pre- and post-concert tune
- OD f/Adlib/The Ancient art of Adlibbing-this here came a little late, in 99 to be exact, but a 12" with the return of Freestyle Fellowship on the flip deserves to be here, plus this song here is better than cheese slices.
- Micranots/Farward-i first heard of the micranots right before i moved to atlanta. they (they being the mc i-self and the dj akiem) performed and just ripped it with this song. i was mighty proud of I-self for holding down the stage by himself so i had to support.
- The Arsonists-The Session-i wrote a wack ass rhyme to this instrumental, but at least THEY came off on it. the now defunct (well, minus two members-freestyle and d-stroy) arsonists exemplified the dopeness of fondle 'em with this here 12".
- Lord Sear/Alcoholic Vibes-another good 12" from Bobbito's fondle 'em and damn this beat is just dope even though it's a simple loop. apparently Sear freestyled the lyrics and you can tell.
- Siah/Repetition-another 12" from fondle 'em with Siah flying solo this time. i hear that he's stopped rhyming, a shame indeed cuz i think he's dope. oh well.
- The Industry Records Compilation Vol. 1-nice comp of talented artists. the cuts i especially remember are black sands by the mystik journeymen and greed by a-plus.
- Pumpkinhead/Wack Emcees-i don't know what what what?-oh, i'm sorry-jean grae is up to now, but this is a 12" from a member of her camp supposedly on her label. nice shit-talking cut.
- Saafir/Smart Bomb-i used to love him back when i thought he was gonna come with it, he hasn't, but every once in a while he does.
- Aceyalone/Fortitude-everyone knows i love acey's music, so i don't have to gas him up, but fortitude was my shit. it was that cut i listened to to "lift my spirits." maybe it'll do the same for you ;).
- Last Emperor/Secret Wars(Prince Paul Remix)-it's a shame how fucked dude has been in his process of gaining and keeping a record deal. now that he's finally found a home on Rawkus, let's pray we get a decent album. this song here made my 13-year-old brother a fan and we all know 13-year-olds only like cash money so this shit must be good.
- Mystik Journeymen/Creators of Destiny-i love this song, i love this song, i love this song.
- CVE & Ellay Khule/Narcolepsy-this is one of the "crunkest" moments in hip hop, period. everyone did their thing, but ellay killed it.
- Latyrx-The Quickening-another moment of "crunkness." i need a new album guys, let's speed the process please.
- Ras Kass/The Music of Business-Kass loves to break "it" down and we love when he does it, even when his facts are questionable. a heartfelt portrayal of emcee violation on behalf of record companies (think anal).
- Company Flow/the Fire In Which You Burn-yeah so people take their el-p worship a little far, but both he and J-Tredz come worship worthy on this one.
- Atmospere/Overcast EP-good stuff, i discovered them (him?) opening for Aceyalone. standouts include scapegoat and god's bathroom floor. slug deserves a plaque for how emotionally descriptive he can be.
- Aceyalone/Book of Human Language-book of human language got me through many-a-day and that's real.
- Sole/Bottle of Humans-what? the song is dope.
- Kool Keith/Don't Crush It-okay, don't tell anybody, but keith sounds kinda good on this song. oh god, i'm a loser. NEXT!!
- J-Live/Don't Play-j-live, 88 keys, what more do you need? huh? and all you assholes who bought the bootleg, the real version is gonna have remixes and unreleased tracks, so nah!
- High & Mighty f/Bobbito and El-P-ha! this song is really funny, one of the best songs i've heard about masturbation.
- Unspoken Heard/Jamboree-a fun, happy joint, but not in a wack way. asheru and blue-black make me happy and i can't wait for their album. i think 88 keys produced this too, either him or blue-black.
- Emanon/Personification-wow, what a great ditty. i'm still salty that i didn't get the single before it went out of print.
- L'Roneous/Implosion-another one i failed to get before it ceased to exist, though i do have it on vinyl (if someone out there has the full length, make me a copy). everyone says that he sounds like acey, but i don't see it.
NEW SCHOOL JAM OF THE WEEKBeatminerz f/Ghostface, G Rap & Cappadonna-Da Connection
Buy The Album!!!!!