This is one of the standouts from one of the greatest albums no one has ever heard. As I mentioned in the previous post this was off the Prototype album produced largely in part by Hakim. This song is the story of a runaway who is seeking fame but finds that the road to stardom is littered with the souls of the young, who cashed out morally and are left with only the emotional baggage . For those unaware of this man's music pick up his cd from amazon for a penny and savor the selections.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Boys - Crazy
I missed this weeks Tuesday two step so here is the selections of the week. These triple threats started writing and producing their own music on the second album this is one of the records they co-produced. Hakim the most charismatic of the brothers carved out a nice niche for himself in the late 90's when we all thought they fell off. My favorite work of his was done with an artist by the name of Rachid. This melancholy brother was an instant fave not because we share the same name but because he was someone I didn't see coming. What made it even better was when I read the liner notes like all heads do, and found that Hakim was heavily involved in the project.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Munderrated 2 -terence trent d arby wishing well
In February of 1988 I laid in my bed listening to the radio trying to got to sleep as I brother snored in a bed right beside me. As I started to drift off I heard something that sounded like Prince had combined his musical sperm with Bobby Womack in the womb of Tina Turner. The words jolted out of my pre-slumber phase; "Kissing like a bandit,Stealing time,Underneath a sycamore tree,Cupid by the hour sends,Valentines,To my sweet lover and me,Slowly,But surely,Your appetite is more than I knew,Sweetly,Softly,I'm falling in love with you"
I had no tape, no way of keeping this brilliant nugget, so I decided to commit it to memory as best I could. I walked around the singing it in my best "old dudes" voice(I had no idea who sang it) just to relive the sensation that came from hearing the song. A few days past and I heard it again on WBLZ and soaked up every note of the song and waited with glee for the name of the genius of melody. Terence Trent D'arby.
Terence Trent D'arby rode the wave of Wishing Well,Sign Your Name, Let me Stay and a remake of the Michael Jackson/Smokey classic Who's Loving You to a crest of 12 million records sold. He inserted himself in that pantheon of 80's artist(black artist's especially) to create an indelible mark on the music scene. Springsteen, Madonna,Prince, and Michael may be the few who can claim a bigger breakout than D'arby. So what makes him an underrated artist you may ask? The answer is his brilliance has been completely forgotten in the following years. His second album Neither Flesh Nor Fish lofty concepts and self aggrandizing tones turned listeners away in droves and they have never returned. But his music at its core has been adventurous if not accessible. I myself was unfamiliar with the following efforts until one fateful day in Gem City Records.
My boy Dre and I were in there on a Friday evening was our custom in those days. He went to the bin that housed the newest used selections. I went to the 4.99 bin and struck sonic gold. I immediately come across Symphony or Damn his third album released in 1993 and shriek with as much manly joy as I can muster. Then flipping through a few more cd's I come across Vibrator and my mental rolodex scrolls to album reviews I'd read in years past and pulls up the review from a Vibe magazine a few years earlier. "D'arby was the only true contender for Prince's black rock/funk crown. Vibrator is a gritty funky....." Enough said I feverishly flipped through the next rows and came across Neither Flesh Nor Fish his alienating sophomore effort. I hoped against that I would find the all important first album Introducing the Hardline. With no luck. I took the cd's to the listening station by song number 3 of Vibrator I was hooked bought all 3 cd's on the spot without much listening to the others.
With D'arby I found an artist who loved to write not merely wrote, but loved the structure of words and was not afraid to be intelligent and introspective. Holding Onto You is an ode to a dead relationship that gave life to an artists great works. This song struck a chord with me because it typified what I always found that my writing was always better when hurt or stressed this song became my anthem. Other gems like Undeniably, It's Been Said, Frankie and Johnny and If You Go Before Me reveal a man who has no lane that he can't handle. For those who have not listened to this man ever start with some of his later work before picking up his Thriller, or Purple Rain in Hardline. Like those gems by other geniuses you may be doing yourself a disservice because of the funky accessibility and pop perfection. Give this underrated brother a listen.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Underrated (AZ feat. Nas Mo Money Mo Murder)
According to Webster's underrated means to undervalue and under appreciated this typifies the view on the MC known as AZ. He is respected but is rarely mentioned among the greats when the lists of Top mc's are enumerated. He is lyrically precise and adept at covering a variety of subjects. When he drops a project I am always interested and make sure I cop it though it may be from an amazon 2nd hand seller. What impress me most about AZ is that whoever he shares the mic with he seems perfectly comfortable doing his thing. Time and time again he has collaborated with Nas and more than once he has out shined his Queensbridge counterpart. Check the tape. He is often referred to as an underacheiver because many heaped their lofty expectations but in hindsight he like Jadakiss after him and Kool G. Rap before him lack that superstar quality. He doesn't have the charm of a Jay, Kane, Meth, Em, or the push of a powerhouse record label.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Sartorial Sammy!
A few weeks ago I mentioned Sinatra as my sartorial blue print and a buddy asked if his style was more personally accessible than say Sammy or Miles. In all honesty at this stage in my life I tend to gravitate toward more of a Sinatra vibe than a Sammy but that does not dispute that Sammy is hugely impactful in my his diversity rubbed off tremendously on me. So here is my salute to Sartorial Sammy the original Mr. Entertainment. One question is sartorial the same as fly?
Hip Hop Dedications
My cousin issue this weeks challenge to come with the comprehensive list of Hip Hop dedications. When issued this challenge the above song is the first one to come to mind. Treach the master of anthem records spills his heart to commemorate Hip Hop's most troubled MC. The world is given a window into the relationship of these two hip hop icons and gave us our first (best IMO) Tupac tribute. What follows are a series of special dedications by Hip Hop artists, I tried to paint a picture of why the songs touched me and what made them great. Some of them are rarely heard outside of the die hards and others bonafide hip pop classics. Enjoy and check out the catalogs of these diverse giants of hip hop.
common - G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definit - Thisisme Then (The
These three dedications are eternally intertwined in my mind. I can not separate them, they are the blueprints for so many songs that I have tried to write. I love this music we call hip hop and share the sentiment of Common when I Used To Love H.E.R. was released. The game had taken an angry violent turn that I could not relate to largely. Retrospect for Life represents the fear, apprehension and borderline depression that overcomes a man who becomes a father before he is a husband and way before he is ready. Unfortunately I created a similar situation and I felt that my dreams were being killed as my son's life was shaping in my wife's (then girlfriend's) womb. Finally G.O.D is the very thought and premise I used to explain my relationship with God. Through my relationship with Him I have gained my definition and understanding of myself. Also through this life long journey I have become the man I am meant to be instead of the one I want to be. These records have been with me through some trying times and at times have been my thoughts and words. Enjoy.
Dr. Dre - I Need A Doctor (Explicit) ft. Eminem, Skylar Grey
Here we have an amazing track, meeting amazin lyricl colliding with intense emotions making the perfect song. Eminem spills his guts representing a friend to and fan of Dr. Dre saying what only he could say. Dre get busy. Hip Hop has shown that a dedication can truly embody any form when the creator is imaginative and here is a good example. This is dirty so excuse the language. I hope this is just a highlight on the most anticipated album in history.
Jean Grae - P.S.
This dedication is from the criminally slept on This Week album by rap phenom Jean Grae. Jean takes time out to speak those who were done wrong by her in her immaturity and selfishness. What made this special to me is that she lays out her heart and truly tries to connect with those she has wronged. The third verse is one of my all time favorites ever because she speaks to the greatest victim of mistreatment. With any song the track has to knock and this one does not dissappoint strings, guitar, funky drums. A+ material. For those who have not heard this album cop it you will not be upset and those that have it break out and think of what Nicki could have done. 1.
OutKast - Ms. Jackson
Hip hop dedications are a dime a dozen but this particular was special in concept and execution. We all have been affected by baby mama drama directly or indirectly and these brothers from Outkast took the situation and made a heartfelt anthem for those who wrestle with this all too common issue. The verses touch each man's personal experience, Big Boi's vitriol and frustration pouring out and teeming with sarcasm. 3000 seemed disenchanted a bit more introspective about his situation promising that the situation would not keep him from being involved.
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