You wanted it, now you’re getting it! We’ve been bombarded with this request since T.R.O.Y.‘s list dropped so without further ado here are the mp3s (+ bonuses) for you all. Remember the to best way to stay tuned into all of TROY’s updates is by subscribing to their feed, which you can do by clicking here. –Philaflava
The zip files are below (2 files), all mp3s are not tagged; however you get 105 total. Make sure you check out Complex for the entire list and spread the word.
Our big brother (no, not B.I.G.’s brother) T.R.O.Y. dropped ether on the internet today. In collaboration with Marc Ecko’s Complex they came up with not 50, but 100 of the Greatest Native Tongues Songs of All-Time. No bias, well maybe a little, this is easily the most comprehensive NT list ever in existence. Our favorite Complex list to date. But we’re not being too bias. –Philaflava
…beyond their flamboyant presentation and bohemian sensibility, the Native Tongues were about constructing haunting, beautiful songs out of the fuzzy, bassy, scratchy, nearly forgotten remnants of virtually every black American musical tradition that ever seduced mainstream audiences. With a focus on the core members, we got the good folks from The T.R.O.Y. Blog to figure out The 100 Greatest Native Tongues Songs…
Just how many more of these can we cram in before the official end of summer on September 21st? Let’s get to 10 while the weather is right, starting with the seventh installment of the SLS series. Somethin’ for your car, somethin’ for your hangout spot, or just somethin’ for you to chill to. Hella shouts to dirt_dog from TROY for the artwork. Download link, tracklist and links to the rest of the series after the jump.
As we continue on into one-a-week territory, lets ignore the back to school ads which usually signal the end of summer with our fifth installment in the SLS series. Somethin’ for your car, somethin’ for your hangout spot, or just somethin’ for you to chill to. Hella shouts to dirt_dog from TROY for the artwork. Download link, tracklist and links to the rest of the series after the jump.
So today we go back to our weekly series dedicated to naming the top ten-est rap albums of all time. I picked the ten albums I wanted to feature in advance. Since then I have been listening to them pretty non-stop which has lead to many of them being second guessed, removed, and shuffled around. Today’s record was originally slated in the number two spot, but the more I listened there was just no way I could justify putting it above the albums to follow.Â
A Tribe Called Quest was one of the best groups of the 90s. THey have also become one of the groups that annoying white people that want to discuss hip hop but have no real grasp of the culture cling to. They are like Cypress Hill minus the weed or the Beastie Boys minus the nasally NY jewish voices. Additionally Tribe reached a creative zenith that neither of these groups came close too….fuck anyone who says Paul’s Boutique was this or that. The MCing sucked so the album isnt good. It would have been better suited as an instrumental album, but sadly that trend didnt really take off till years later.Â
Midnight Marauders was the high water mark of creativity and artistry for the group from Queens. It also marked the first time that Phife Dawg wasnt a complete liability. That said Phife is also the reason for the albums drop from number two to number 5. There was just no way i could put an album that he shared lead vocal duties above say, Illmatic, which was originally in this slot.Â
Midnight Marauders is the most complete work from the group, it was the moment all the key elements came into their own, with the exception of Jarobi who came into his own by no longer appearing after the groups first album. The scope of their content moved from very hip hop centric concepts like Buggin Out and having The Jazz to more universal topics like romance, the experience of a young man in the city and even just everyday problems one faces in their life. Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s production was cohesive throughout and wasnt limited to just the obscure jazz samples that made Low End Theory a landmark album that has ultimately aged poorly. The production is thick and lavish and creates a mood that ties the album together from start to finish. Q-Tip while not displaying the same level of craftmanship in Low End Theory offers a more complete performance combining content, flow, voice and lyrics to help him reach even greater heights as an mc. The guest appearances are not frivolous and include a top notch performance from Large Professor, getting booth guest vocal and guest production credits on Keep It Rollin and chorus appearances from Trugoy and Busta Rhymes on Award Tour and Oh My God respectively. The album also spawned two undeniable hip hop classics the aforementioned Award Tour and Electric Relaxation which ended up on every mixtape I made for my lady friend that year.Â
I think most would agree that Midnight Marauders is the magnum opus for one of the genre’s most creative acts and remains as poigient and fresh sounding today as it did back in 1993.
Personal note: I went to SUNY New Paltz and this album circulated the campus for about two months before its actual release. Albums that also leaked that school year and made the rounds were Black Moon’s debut and Nas’ Illmatic. So I guess leaked records were not just a symptom of the internet age.Â
