Tony Cottrell, known by his artist name Hi-Tek, is a full-spectrum producer. He can create a banger, a commercial hit, or a sleek and sparse underground track. Starting with the Rawkus crew in the late 90s, Hi-Tek has put Cincinnati, along with the whole state of Ohio, on the map. He is legendary both for his vision and hard work.
To flourish in this day and age of diminished traditional revenue streams and fluctuating modes of communication is to prove your dedication and innovation. QN5 totally fits that bill. They are basically flourishing. They have been growing year after year. One day, maybe they will even make a boat load of deserved money, but I won’t hold my breath.
So I am finally free. The snowoverkill was something, but I’m done with it. Some industrious entrepreneur showed up with a plow and charged my court 450 bones to set us free. Totally worth it.
Even though I am unbored, here’s another rapper. My fav Wu-Tang affiliate, Killah Priest.
Biblical imagery. Intense content. Rhymes out
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The house is still my sanctuary. The home is still my castle. And I am still fucking stuck in here.
So here’s another rapper. Akrobatik.
Representing Boston, Ak is a larger-than-life type MC. One third of the the group The Perceptionists (with Mr. Lif & DJ Fakts One). Untainted by the glitz and glam, Ak truly keeps
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Since the snowmageddon has defined the contours of my life this week, I am a little stir crazy. Plus, I feel indebted to the audiocandy family right now. My idiocy prevented me from archiving my J Dilla/Big Pun show, so it is lost forever. For my mistake, I will present you, audiocandy family, with a
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February 7th
J Dilla born, Big Pun dead
RIP James Yancey. RIP Christopher Rios.
Intro – Louis Armstrong, ‘When The Saint’s Go Marching In’ ; Slum Village, ‘Fantastic 3′
Big Pun – ‘Beware’
J Dilla – ‘The Factory’
Slum Village – ‘Fantastic 2′
Big Pun ft. Prospect – ‘Off Wit His Head’
Jaylib – ‘Nowadayz’
J Dilla – ‘Stop’
Big Pun ft. Black Thought
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The Power Of Four . . . And Five . . . And
Intro – Gravediggaz, ‘Constant Elevation’
The Pharcyde – ‘Runnin’
Souls of Mischief – ‘Disseshowwedo’
Sunz Of Man – ‘Natural High’
Killarmy – ‘Dress To Kill’
Ultramagnetic MC’s – ‘Break North’
Slaughterhouse – ‘The One’
eMC – ‘Leak It Out’
The Firm – ‘Firm Biz’
Freestyle Fellowship – ‘Danger’
Jurassic 5 – ‘Jurass Finish
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After the duo, the trio holds it down. The switch-up and the trade-off are signature staples of a group with multiple MCs. Some of these trios are absolutely classic and indispensable. Some are young and fresh, but making noise nonetheless. And all of them are definitely holding it down.
You got my back. And I have yours. That is the essence of the duo. The flow from DJ to MC is one born of trial and error, practice, innate understanding. It’s a nature and nurture thing really. So many important duos throughout the history of the hip hop game have changed the score and uped the ante. These are a few of those duos.
Right now, the Pacific Northwest is killing it. Groups like Lifesavas, Blue Scholars, Boom Bap Project and crews such as Sandpeople and Old Dominion are really putting places like Seattle and Portland on the map. Personally, I am all about this sound. It is fresh, in your face, and on point. The NW isn’t afraid to get political or to have some fun.
The golden (nuclear) era of hip-hop is loosely defined. Some consider it to be the years 1987 and 1988. Some consider it to be the 1989-1991 era. Some label all hip-hop between the years of 1986 and 1994 the golden age. Whatever the actual dates are, the essence of the era remains unchanged. It was fresh. Mindblowing. Innovative. Powerful. Intelligent.
Sometimes you get bogged down. I know you do because we all do. I definitely do. The news: terror alerts and killings and kidnappings. But just when I feel terrible enough to say some nasty shit or swear off humanity, I put on some hip hop that really touches me. Artists like Nas, Outkast, and Brother Ali absolutely inspire me.
Lyrics that follow a linear narrative are some of the most difficult forms of poetry to write. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person. Whatever the point of view, the difficulty remains. The tightness, the logic, the detail. These elements are all necessary to succeed in making sure people can follow your train of thought and that the world you attempt to construct is fully realized.
del.casual.domino.opio.phesto.a-plus.tajai.pep love. This is Hieroglyphics. Since the early 90s, this alternative, bass heavy, eclectic Hip-Hop crew has been laying the groundwork. And it has paid off in droves. Now, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings releases albums without anything except a distribution contract; in other words, they basically do it themselves.
Rap: Mostly More Than Bitches & Blunts, the 2000s edition
Intro – Beats Never Rust, ‘Like A Hurricane’: Neil Young & Hip-Hop finally meet
Dead Prez – ‘Hip-Hop’
Cannibal Ox – ‘Pigeon’
CunninLynguists ft. Tonedeff – ‘The Gates’
Tonedeff – ‘Politics’
Zion I – ‘Trippin’
Brother Ali – ‘Uncle Sam Goddamn’
Soul Position – ‘Drugs, Sex, Alcohol, Rock-N-Roll’
Sandpeople – ‘Any Given Sunday’
Non Phixion
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The Evolution of Hip-Hop
Intro – KRS-One & Marley Marl, ‘Hip-Hop Lives’
1982. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – ‘The Message’
1983. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – ‘Looking For The Perfect Beat’
1984. Run-D.M.C. – ‘Rock Box’
1985. LL Cool J – ‘Can’t Live Without My Radio’
1986. Beastie Boys – ‘Rhymin & Stealin’
1987. Public Enemy –
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