Re: Pitchfork Media: Nas – Untitled Review

In a recent Pitchfork Media review:

” I’d hate to confuse correlation with causation, but the 18 months since Hip Hop Is Dead have gone a long way towards proving Nas wrong. Graduation and Tha Carter III showed that challenging mainstream artists can still produce genuine Billboard blockbusters, the avant-garde has been well-represented by stellar releases by Dälek, Subtle, and El-P (amongst others), and Jay Electronica (producer of the astounding intro “Queens Get the Money”) and Wale have emerged as exciting new voices with promising commercial prospects.”

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/142144-nas-untitled

So maybe Nas knew what he was doing?

Although credit must be given to the artists who have produced this new direction of hip-hop, the likes of Lil Wayne & Kanye West, but the underlying motivation seemed to come [unknowingly to most] from a hip-hop legend in Nas. He was the one who challenged current artist to go and get it, not to settle, record sales will always be but the artist who make the music, hip-hop in its purest, must devote and recognise the true potentials of voice and song.

So let’s not diss one of the fore-fathers of hip-hop.

Dizzee Rascal “Do it”

With the announcement of Dizzee’s return to Australia for the Parklife Festival it only seemed fitting to let out one of his best tracks. “Do it” came from the critically acclaimed Boy In Tha Corner which was released when the Ras-Ket was just 17 years old.

A remarkable piece of work that reveals the self-motivation of a young go-getter. It’s a song that evokes a self-assesment on ones life, we see the character of this young valedictorian of british hip-hop and his thought process. Dizzee really opens up to his listeners on this track and the entire album. Cop it when you can

Download Here

MF Doom “Special Herbs Vol. 3&4″

MF, the multi-faced, mic-fiend, master-flows, mother-fuck, Metal Face Doom. To call the man with no-face the face off hip-hop would be wrong, not only for the obvious but it seems that popularised main stream acts need a face to represent their style. MF Doesn’t so believe, saying

“The mask shows the whole aspect of the music. It’s all about the music, it has nothing to do with what the person looks like. Also I like to give the listener a feeling that I could be them. I could be any one of them. Doom is the average Joe. He ain’t like the flyest, coolest dude or the one that’s got all the money – he’s just the cat that you know is your man. The mask is to show everybody that I could be them, or they could be me. “

And when you hear the Metal-Face on the mic, behind the mic, at the mixer, what he does backs up every part of his formidable character. This is not I-got-shot-10-times-slinged-on-the-corner-since-5y.o.-and-sold-out-to-a-record-label hip hop… this is music, and it needs to be heard. MF Doom has amassed an amazing line-up of colaboraters such as Dangermouse, Madlib and MF Grimm and in set up for a new release late 2008.

But for now we can look back on one of MF’s masterpiece’s in the Special Herbs Collection. Tracks that standout out are Styrax Gum, Lemon Grass and Arabic Gum. The strong comic book themes bring imagery to the jazz – hip-hop fusion that defines the artist as MF Doom. So do yourself a favour and jump on this before the new album is released.

Converse: Pharrell X Santogold X Casablancas

Dayumn! How did converse manage to get three of the most stylin people of now together on this hot drop. Although ‘Seeing Sounds’ didn’t turn any major heads it was a solid production by Pharrell and Chad who continue to redefine the borders between hip-hop, r’n'b, jazz and funk. This dream combination of wonder-girl Santogold and Pharrell makes one drool at the mouth and this production don’t disappoint.

A distinctly Pharrell Williams production ”My Drive Thru” also features Julian Casablancas in this black-white paper cut-out video. Talk about good management, the heads at converse are onto something with their new advertising campaign and don’t expect it to stop here. More to come from converse and your favourite musician, watch this space!

Artist Review: El-P

El-Prodcuto

For those who may not have heard of El-P allow me to introduce you to the alternative hip-hop movement. A producer, CEO and artist Jaime Meline aka El-Producto has over the past decade been the driving force behind alternative hip-hop.El-P’s music styling is a deep aggression built out of the boundaries of society. Although sometimes thought provoking often the rapid drum machine beat drives El-P to boldly tell it like it is. His twisted thoughts passionatly spill of the mic into your mind where they implant the El-P perception of life and suddenly every lyric makes sense.

But what seperates El-P from other hip-hop artists is his ability to construct an abstract imagery and then to relate it to the listener. Although his albums are not end to end hits, tracks such as Stepfather Factory and Overly Dramatic Truth are two perfect examples of his ability.

Here’s to hoping that artists like El-Producto can continue to drive the alternative hip-hop movement.

Albums:
Fantastic Damage 7.5/10
I’ll Sleep When Your Dead 7.1/10

Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer

Howling with Anticipation

Perhaps its the sound produced that is unlike any other that sets Wolf Parade apart from other less likely indie rock-pop bands. Ghostly electric guitar overlayed with keyboard riffs fighting against the rounded vocals gives Wolf Pararde its own distinct sound. There’s only a few who do their sound so uniquely as Spencer Krug & Dan Boeckner.

For the most anticipated album of the year (in some groups last two years) this does more than to hold it’s own. Although it perhaps lacks a ‘Dear Sons & Daughters’ or ‘I’ll Belive In Anything’ Mount Zoomer features a solid line-up of catchy, moody tracks that grasp at first listen.
A more than adequate sophmore attempt and highly recommended album.

Album Rating:
8.7/10

Standout Tracks:
The Grey Estates, Bang Your Drum, Fine Young Cannibals

N*E*R*D – Seeing Sounds

New N*E*R*D Set For Release!

It’s been four long years but the hiatus is over and Pharrell, Chad & Shae are ready to release the third N*E*R*D album in July entitled Seeing Sounds. Much anticipated the album seems to be another genre defining album ala In Search Of… .

Long days watching discovery channel documentaries and Shae’s creative mind have come upon the title name which is what they claim to be the closest thing they experience to mixed senses, seeing sound.

Now we wait for Pharrell to find some more time in his otherwise full schedule to start the Child Rebel Soldiers project with fellow superstars Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West.

N*E*R*D will be touring with Kanye West as part of his Glow In The Dark Tour as the opening act and will be sure to drop some tunes from their forthcoming album

Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple

Dangermouse Don’t Cee-Lo But He See High!

Dangermouse…Danger Mouse…Danger….Mouse…
The man is a cyborg sent from the near future to bless the now with music. The unique, blessed, soulful, flavoursome styles are toe-tap inflicting, muscles-twitch inducing masterpieces. It makes one wonder, what amount of obsessively dysfunctionality or nonchalance genius went into producing such work.

Enough on Dangermouse, this is a two man act and Cee-Lo does more than just hold up his end. From the days of Goodie Mob and Atlanta’s Hip Hop scene Cee-Lo has kept a unique style, always the individual in the industry. His lyrics really hit on Run & Whatever but the standout of the album goes undoubtedly to Blind Mary.

I love Mary.
Blind Mary marry me.
She’s my friend, she doesn’t judge me.
She has no idea I’m ugly.
So I’ve absolutely nothing to hide.
Because I’m so much prettier inside.

We all need a friend like Blind Mary, thank the Gnarls Barkley boys for bring her into our lives. This album is a must listen.

Album Rating:
8.3/10

Standout Tracks:
Blind Mary, Whatever, Run, Going On

Lightspeed Champion – Falling Off The Lavender Bridge

Lightspeed Ahead

9:56 – “What’s that?” you might ask. It’s the length of the, so far, number one track off the year. The ballad typical reminder of moments and people is our lives is not forgotten by this the title track of Falling Off The Lavender Bridge.

It seems that all you need to know about Lightspeed Champion, Devonte Hynes, is gathered in one of the most simplistic yet, captivating album covers. A quirky but intelligent soul seeps out of a cheeky appearance, a sort of Wes Anderson story behind it it seems.

An unorthodox tone is present throughout the album, former Test Icicles member, going solo with lyrics like “As we kiss and I’m sick in your mouth”, “Lick my open wounds” and “make me want to rip off my skin”, Devonte definitely has defined his own character. But perhaps the most like-able aspect of the album is the Bright Eyes’ production and backing vocals that really draw the story of Lightspeed on an otherwise sketchy foundation laid by Devonte. In particular, Midnight Surprise and Galaxy Of The Lost could very easily hit the pop charts with there catchy riffs and melodic beats.

An overly impressive debut from Lightspeed Champion.

Album Rating:
8.1/10

Standout Tracks: Midnight Surprise, Galaxy Of The Lost, Dry Lips, Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk

Wonderwall X Bape Shibuya

Wonderwall X Bape Shibuya

All the dilemmas that Nigo faces with the perception of his label and the critical bashing he has recieved are left in the back of our minds after the new layout given to the Shibuya Bape Store. Designed by Wonderwall headed by Masamichi Katayama looks like straight out of a Kanye West video. Multi-flouro LED stair case, engraved glass layout and as always the crisp white shelves. Although the brand has been through much trouble over the recent 12 months, Nigo has given a facelift to both his store and his label.

Find more at Wonderwall here