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A Tribe Called Quence mixtape is a 14-step program toward understanding the Consequence timeline. Albeit another prequel for his forthcoming debut LP, the mixtape works well to define where Consequence came up from.
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The problem with novelty shit is that it only makes one round in my CD player. Satirical MC Hot Karl exercises some skill, but wastes it on trivial, novel nonsense (“Nothing sounds gayer than songs by John Mayer”) that will never, ever get a second spin in my living room.
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Nothing spectacular. Nothing new. Nothing groundbreaking. Nothing… blue? Okay, I couldn’t find a closer, but you get my point. Or at least you will after listening to Shawn Hewitt & The National Strike’s six-song EP The Soft Society.
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In the relentless drive for what’s “next”, listeners rarely look backward. We want what’s new, not what’s been passed up! But hold up, check your rearview for a second. See that back there? That’s Anthony Hamilton’s Soulife, his long-shelved Atlantic debut.
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Skopic, or Max Braverman, or the world’s latest genius solo bedroom producer/multi-instrumentalist, has a knack for weaseling his way out easy typecasting. He’ll do the dark hip-hop instrumental thing, but quicker than you can say, “oh shit homeboy’s an RJD2 clone,” he’ll shift into some altogether quirkier territory. His debut project has him vacillating between brooding and goofy, subdued and funky, and, besides a few slow spots, employs the (Mad) Skillz head-nod factor consistently.
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It’s not quite the subculture masterpiece represented by The Warriors or The Last Dragon, but Rockers features charismatic performances, overflows with simmering reggae music, and grooves on an enjoyable if uncomplicated plot. If you want a complex storyline go check out Memento; if you have any taste for reggae music and seeing a cinematic slice of Jamaican culture, Rockers comes proper.
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During the last several years, one group of supermusicians single-handedly put North Carolina on the hip-hop map. Unfortunately for Edgar Allen Floe, his membership in the Justus League has so far been rather unremarkable.
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Attention all electronica / trip hop junkies: Royksopp is back with their second studio album and it’s a winner. They still offer their brand of synthesized dance grooves and “cool out” techno. And, like their previous work, they’ve penned quite a few decent, if not fabulous, lyrics. With this strong release, the Norwegian duo have assured their place in the industry.
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Musical comedy is a tough thing to tackle. And even when the most successful of people score some laughs or validly poke fun, repeated listens are usually not necessary. Sometimes humor requires no satirical observation; the comedy can come from outrageous places and make absolutely no sense whatsoever. This form of absurdity is especially difficult to pull off.
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North Carolina natives, Kaze and 9th Wonder, have teamed up to re-create Kaze’s solo debut, Spirit of ’94. The aptly titled Spirit of ’94: Version 9.0 features Kaze’s re-recorded vocals over 9th Wonder’s trademark production and several new tracks for anyone who may have copped the original version. More importantly, the album is branded with 9th Wonder’s insignia, thus bringing Kaze’s name to a multitude of new listeners.
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It’s easy to forget, when the most popular records of this current generation are hip hop records, that this form of music has a very independent, DIY-minded history. In order to be heard, major record deals and far reaching distribution aren’t always a possibility.
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During hip hop’s East Coast Renaissance, a schism was formed: Hardcore Street vs. Jazzy Smooth. Finding a balance between the two is a dilemma that plagues hip hop to this day.
![single art "Made You Die" [Trayvon Martin tribute] Yasiin Bey, Mikeflo + dead prez](http://static.okayplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/made-you-die-500x500-140x140.jpg "made-you-die-500x500")
