Sound Directions... A Funkier Side of Madlib

So I don't know what hiphop is any more. Hiphop is street hoods, gangstas, suburban backpacking kids... and funk bands? DAMN you Madlib!

I've always been a fan of orchestrated music, whether it be classical or jazz. Something about it makes me warm and happy, and Madlibs Yesterday's New Quintet gives me the same feeling. Fans of the new era of soul and funk bands should have absolutely no trouble accepting Yesterday's New Quintet's newest works: Sound Directions: The Funky Side Of Life into the rebirth of the 1970's funk collections.

So why is somebody like Madlib creating works of art that would make Smokey Robinson, Kool & the Gang, and Earth Wind & Fire proud? I'd bet that his parents put him up to it. It must be a metaphor for washing ones' mouth out with soap. All kidding aside, Madlib brings the fire continuously. And who said Madlib was overrated? I'm not naming names... But they obviously hadn't heard this (or any of the other Yesterday's New Quintet productions). In fact, it's hard to believe the same person was behind much of the hiphop that many of us love like the Lootpack. Talk about versatile. DJ Premier who? Seriously, digging to the next level - I love it. If you haven't already, check this CD out. Make sure to listen to track 10 entitled "One for J.J (Johnson)" 10 times or else you get bad luck for 10 years.

"Her attitude is hotter than the earth's core"

Sex. We all love it, need it and enjoy it. So why not have a certified banger to unconsciously get you into "get your fuck on" mode. I mean you don't even need to be doing the dirty to enjoy the superb soul of this song. Yes, Pharell has really kicked the shit to Mars with the melody he creates, one that you can't ever seem to get out of your fucking head. Toss in the soulful harmony of Robin Thicke and there you have it, instant sex music. Slow your roll and just listen to the lyrics for a minute or so. Immediately your mind will set ablaze and you too will get lost in the song. The drums shake and shimmy. Lyrics close to perfection of the feeling trying to be conveyed. "I wanna love you girl" is by far the song of the year for me as of right now. Wait for the breakdown and stop to think. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Yeah, exactly! So say it aloud, be proud and GET DOWN.

Skateboard P and Thicke "I Wanna Love You Girl"

you want the song, i send you.

After the end of the song, I came to the realization that this song is more about the single moment of excitement before you meet up with your significant other. Beans!


{simple, stupid}

He's the DJ... Who needs a Rapper?

10 years ago who woulda thought that the Fresh Princes slapstick cameo ghetto friend would still be pumping out great music in 2005? Not me. It all started with being Will Smith's DJ. Hiphop at that time was still fairly undeveloped and experimental. It was all about having fun. After Jeff's and Smith's collaboration (but not friendship) ended, Jazzy Jeff took on an underground loving, jazz spinning and outspoken approach to hiphop that I as a west-coast hiphop head thought was lost long ago with Jeff. I expected him to be on the jiggy tip with Will Smith's premiere solo album Big Willie Style in 1997. Thankfully he wasn't.

With the beginning of Will Smith's solo career, spawned Jeff's solo love for great music. Jeff released the Magnificent in 2002 which featured J-live, Freddie Fox, Last Emp, and Jill Scott. The Magnificent is a dope collection of music, and we already know how much I love J-live so naturally I bumped it for months and to this day still resort to it when I get musically thirsty. In 2004 Jeff released In the House which (for a house album) I really liked. Smooth house music complimented by Jeff's legendary jazzy style.

Now, here's The Soul Mixtape. The mix begins with a soft, soulful song by Eijay that eventually evolves into a Rhythmn & Bluesish feel. I say Rythmn & Blues instead of R&B as this is not your everyday Usher, Beyonce, or 112 "Artist bending over for the label" shit, and thank god. The Mix continues with soul-soothing sounds from Josephine Sincere, Michael Bohannon, Kelli Sae, LaSonya Gunter, Ladybug Mecca (of Digable Planets), Demien, Soulo, Mitsu, Dwele, Pete Rock, Leela James, Valencia Robinson, Omar, and Angie Stone. If you don't already know these artists, prepare for the best. From start to finish, this mix sets the premisce for naked, hot, gushy love-making. It's not hiphop, but it carries the culture and style that makes good music GREAT, and I can dig it. That's love. Legendary.

Q and A

i got a couple questions for all you canklers and wafflers out there...


1) Favorite song to listen to when alone and sober?

2) THE Candy to eat when drunk?

3) Movie that makes you walk with a swagger after watching it?

4) What super power would you have if you could have 2?

5) Random Statement!

6) Give me a rapper name!

Ta Det...HUH?

Picture a really big purple fucking elephant sitting in your usual desk in lecture. You feel like asking it to move from where you normally fade in and out of the world, but what would it say to you? What would it do to you? Who fucking knows, the random point is in fact that the kickass record I'm "finna" speak upon was found out of good old fashioned luck. I figure it's best to be productive when in doubt, so I decided to download a shit of the indie-rock music suggested via amazon's listmania things. Built to spill, depeche mode, the decemberists, deerhoof, bright eyes and DUNGEN. You can only guess which one I immidiately explored first. Fucking DUH, DUNGEN. This shit is straight out mind boggling. Instrumentation is solid at the core. Scenic vibes are knocking and epic. Vocals are smooth and relaxing. Has that 1959 vibe to it. Although the lead singer's language may be completely foreign to any mode of my normal being, we still seem to make a connection. I feel the fade in his voice. I feel the rhythm in his fluctuations. He draws you into what he's saying even though you can't understand it. It's what I always hoped to find, a mix between jazzy drums and psych-rock upliftment. Classy, yet crafty and nasty.

Dungen- Ta Det Lugnt

by it or suffer mad, yo.


banger: "Om Du Vore En Vakthund"

Ninja Tune Big Dada Sampler

Ninja Tune: Known for their elaborate group of artists which have made every part of the electronic music spectrum a whole lot better, this sampler is no exception. I was given this shit from a friend who has a leg in and I'm glad it was given to me to check out. This shows exactly where electronic music and hiphop should be going, and I look forward to it evolving more towards what Ninja Tunes' artists are set out to achieve. The track listing alone would make me buy this even with an empty stomach, dirty clothes, and sockless. Many of my favorite artists (not only Ninja Tuneans) appear on this album, such as (in order of appearance): Amon Tobin, The Herbaliser, Jaga Jazzist, Roots Mauva, Ammon Contact, One Self, Airborn Audio, Dwight Trible and the Life Force Trio, Mr. Scruff, TTC, Fingathing, and Pest.

Production has never been a problem with Ninja Tune. Their samples, drums, bass lines, and sound quality is top notch and cannot be touched. Surprisingly it wasn't Amon Tobin or the Herbaliser that musically rendered me speechless - it was Mr. Scruff on the track Chicken in a Box, which is a pleasant surprise. It's always great to find new music and new artists to listen to, it's like falling in love with multiple women all at once, and if any sampler could do that to you, it's this one. From start to finish, the cd is enjoyable with pleasing drums and synthesized electronica bliss to sooth the soul. I have come to expect great things from Ninja Tune, and this just goes to show we can all continue to do so.

Mandatory Show Update

Galapagos4 Beyotch
Thurs Nov 3 - Los Angeles, CA
@ Echo
1822 W Sunset Blvd 18+ / $10 adv $12 door
also featuring: Mestizo & Mike Gao, Offwhyte & DanOne, Nine:Fifteen
Fri Nov 4 - Claremont, CA (CANCELLED
@ Harvey Mudd College
Linda Dorm
340 E. Foothill Blvd
also featuring: Mestizo & Mike Gao, Offwhyte & DanOne
plus...


Ray J- One Wish

the damnest best slow song to come out in a long time. yeah i fucking said it, the man of geeyeah does indeed have a small, small hostel for good old soul songs about heartbreak.

bumpski.

boknowsdamnneareverything
aKa: ohgeeyeah

song of the day: "Ghetto" Smitty feat. Kanye West, John Legend and Scarface

Here.. After... J-Live

How could you do this to us, J-live?
Let me begin this by saying that I'm one of the biggest J-live fans. In my top 10 list of favorite Hiphop artists, he's in the top 3. 7 Heads, Asheru, Blue Black... The most soulful modern day Hiphop artists I can think of aside from the Roots. But this isn't the J-live I've come to get down with and grown to love so much over time. I want to know what happened. So J-live, why did you do this to us? I hate to say this but I feel let down. The album starts off extremely well I mean Soulive is featured on it, and I'm a giant fan of Soulive, purely because they pump out steady funky shit. What happened to the production? I know there's a list of dope heads on it:

"Production by Oddisee, Floyd tha Locsmif, Hezekiah, Fire Dept, Probe DMS, Soulive, James Poyser and yours truly"( j-livemusic.com)

But I want to know what happened to the horns, piano, funky, soulful, classical music inspired warmness that catered to J-lives' style so well? If this was any other artist, with this production aside from the first track and the song the Listening, this album might be acceptable. The Listening makes me remember the older shit. But this is J-live we're talking about here. It's good, its acceptable at most... But its not going to remain steady in my jeep, which pains me to say because J-live is the coolest, most humble person I've ever met.

Maybe I'm too hard on him. After All of the Above, achieving anything similar would be nearly impossible. This stated, I'm not the only one who has thought this. In fact, I've gathered opinions from many of my acquaintances: friends, family, friends friends, etc.

What I'm hoping happens is that it's just too ahead of my time. I'm hoping I haven't listened to it enough to grow to like it like the Pharcyde's Labcabincalifornia. I genuinely hope that happens, and if it does, we can all expect an update stating so.

Peace and Love