Archive for December, 2009

C-Rock ‘Pre-Grind’

Monday, December 28th, 2009

C-Rock-Pre-Grind

With the return of Lord Infamous, Lil Jack putting out quality solo tapes again, an absolutely fantastic Manson Family album, Evil Pimp dropping a gem, a great album from Pat, MC Mack’s Pure Ana, Three 6 back to being themselves and C-Rock releasing (and rereleasing) music, its been a great year for fans of Memphis rap.

C-Rock goes for broke on this one, with verses from All $tar, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, T-Rock, Mr. Sche, Trae and even milk carton model Fabo. Some of the songs get a bit flossy and the tongue-twisting flows take a backseat (“We Ride” is insane though and this Smoke dude nails it throughout), but this is a C-Rock album at heart (as the tracks below prove beyond a shadow of a doubt). Check it out and cough up the 8 bucks at IAP.

Statik Selektah ft. Talib Kweli, Termanology, & Royce da 5’9 – Come Around

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Statik always brings heat in his production but sometimes his collabos are doing too much. His work with Saigon this year was phenominal so hopefully he continues with that on 100 Proof. Any Termanology fans here? –Philaflava

Print

Statik Selektah – Come Around (RE Union Version) ft. Talib Kweli, Termanology, & Royce da 5’9

Download Track

Frank & Tech: What really happened?

Monday, December 28th, 2009

This was brought to our attention at the PhilaFlava forums last week. Here is the blog in question with the story in its original form.
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Willie West & The High Society Brothers – The Devil Gives Me Everything

Monday, December 28th, 2009

williewestpic

Another excellent single from this year that I neglected to post previously.

Willie West belongs to the scores of talented soul artists who despite best efforts never managed to get proper acclaim and recognition during the genre’s golden days. Despite recording for years with the likes of Allen Toussaint, West’s legacy remains mostly obscure. Judging by this ballad recorded in 2009 with the help of The High Society Brothers, the setbacks and disappointments he experienced have darkened his outlook but haven’t dampened his considerable performing ability. The song is a bleak lament, deep melancholy soul that chills like a sudden gust of wind on a cold winter evening. Despite mildly optimistic inflections well hidden in the lyrics, this is depression music at its finest.

Willie West & The High Society Brothers – The Devil Gives Me Everything

To lighten the mood a bit, here’s a little bonus – a tune West recorded in 1975, produced by Allen Touissant with backing from the legendary Meters. This one is much more upbeat in mood, with a funky mid-tempo strut that swells to monstrously full ‘wall of sound’ proportions at the refrain. Link courtesy of funky16corners.

Willie West – Said to myself

If you want more, the always superlative Home Of The Groove blog has a great in depth write up on Willie West including links to some of his other older tracks.

The 2009 Register Vol.10: Keen One

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Ah, 2009. The dirty whore of a year that let me fingerbang her in the backseat of my mom’s Reliant K. If she didn’t get so god damn clingy after that I may have enjoyed her more. What did she REALLY bring us other than Slap Chop, Precious, and a shitty Snoop Dogg album (c’mon Uncle Snoop. I’ve been ridin’ for you since we were the same body type back in 1992. Do another ‘Blue Carpet’ or stop. Please)? Nothing. Except a gang of dead celebs which weren’t named Asher Roth- a glaring oversight on the part of Death, if you ask me.

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The Best Remix Of The Decade You’ll Never Hear About

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Boards of Canada being given this track can only be chalked up to pure genius.  Beck’s startlingly bleak, resonating yarn spun of woe and his vocal nuance were clay to be molded by the minds of BOC.  Where the original spares itself in dramatics; opting on a cough syrup-soaked lightness, BOC’s imagining is headswirlingly-layered and seemingly empathetic in addition to aptly chasing chasing Beck’s lead. First we’re treated to the classic Reverse Fuzz Sunrise melody. As it begins to settle, your ears are filled with a wave of sonically-Pollocked drums in patterns conjuring up love, loss, lust and lies. But somehow retaining it’s oddly peaceful frame painstakingly crafted by BOC. Every time the snare falls over itself it demands attention and lands squarely on its feet. The mournful chants of Beck taking on an entirely new life by surfing above the wide open space offered by BOC. An enigmatic duo who take an ordinary song and reanimate all of it to a perfectly loud, nightmare/daydream with a beginning, middle, and end that make you want to be there.

I see you there
Your long black hair
Your eyes just stare
Your mind is turning

You know I’ll laugh
And I won’t take it back
I’ve seen your eyes I know
What you’re thinking

And one by one
We’ll shoot our guns
We’ll have fun
Don’t ever doubt it

And when I say
Fare thee well
My only friend
Oh how the days go

Your setting sun
Your broken drum
Your little drugs

I’ll never forget you
Never
Forget
You

Peace,
Employee

Lil Flip ‘Underground Legend 2′

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Cover

Raekwon aside, when rappers attempt to release a sequel to one of their most successful albums, the results usually don’t do much more than remind you of how much they have fallen off. That said, Mr. Flip does a pretty nice job here. While some of the production is iffy, Flip is in top form. I am aware that majority opinion dictates that Lil Flip has always sucked, but the guy straight up rips a bunch of tracks here like it was 99. As far as being a sequel to Underground Legend, this is pretty successful. From the cover to revisiting a bunch of songs to the amount of fun Flip sounds like he is having with rap again, this actually feels like a legit follow-up. Big Shasta and C-Note popping up is a nice surprise.

Enjoy

For my fellow Glitch Mob fanatics

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

The Glitch Mob has started a Soundcloud page. Although what’s up there now is old news, these outlets are usually a stage for new material.

STS9 – Beyond Right Now (The Glitch Mob rmx) by The Glitch Mob

Peace,
Employee

Black Milk’s 2010 Preview

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

I’m a huge fan of Black Milk. More often than not these days, what goes into beats and production overshadows the rhymes. Factoring in his age, range of influences and the people surrounding him, I’d be shocked if dude isn’t around and a prominent maestro in 2020. There’s a lot of nifty studio footage too.

Peace,
Employee

Count Bass D and DJ Pocket – “In The Loop”

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Count Bass D magically tweeted this around three hours ago. The word is that this is an inkling of a far grander 2010.

Tracklist:
01 Everyday Ritual
02 Cash On Delivery
03 Quid Pro Quo
04 Praise Me Feat. H2O and Flux
05 Hit It Hard
06 Best Of Both Worlds (Freestyle)
07 It’s Just One of Those Days
08 Palease
09 X Sighted
10 Mazel Tov
11 New Day
12 DJ Pocket’s Diatribe
13 Surprise
14 Count’s Diatribe
15 Yo What’s Up
16 So Ambitious (Freestyle)

In The Loop

Peace,
Employee

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