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RJD2, The Simpsons?

Posted in Music News with tags Aceyalone, Dead Ringer, Hip-Hop, Mad Men, Ramble John Krohn, Rjd2, The Simpsons on Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Tim Althaus

I was very relieved to hear that one of my favorite producers, Ramble John Krohn (aka Rjd2), was back in the studio making more music. He had mentioned that his new album should be ready sometime around mid-2009 (although he doesn’t like to say things like that pre-emptively). I am really hoping that Rj goes back towards his Hip-Hop roots (Dead Ringer which was released to high critical acclaim) and stays away from the indie pop music. This guy is one of the most talented producers I’ve ever heard, and his music is simply beautiful.

I also found out that the Simpsons recently did a parody of the AMC show Mad Men (which is a Golden Globe winner) and they chose to use Rj’s track “A Beautiful Mine” off of the Magnificent City (which teamed RJ up with veteran Freestyle Fellowship emcee Aceyalone). When RJ was asked how he felt about the situation: “It’s really something when music you made in your basement for your own enjoyment ends up in places you never imagined it would. You can tell they recreated the music for the show using orchestration and all live instruments, so that made it even cooler.”

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Video: Evidence “Don’t Hate” ft. Defari

Posted in Video with tags Defari, Evidence, Hip-Hop, Likwit Junkies, The LAyover EP on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Tim Althaus

There are only 5 days left until EV drops The LAyover EP and EV was kind enough to drop the 4th video (produced by Jason Goldwatch) he’s released off this EP entitled “Don’t Hate”. The track features Defari who is a Cali native and solo artist, as well as a collaborator with DJ Babu in Likwit Junkies. This video is in straight black and white and there really isn’t too much to it, but that’s what I like about it. Both emcees flow craftily over this Evidence beat and make this a great listen. Watch out for the last video to drop on the 25th when the LAyover drops, you know I’ll have the video up as well as a copy of the EP playing all fucking day.

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Also Check:

“So Fresh” (Featuring Alchemist) (Step Brothers) (Video)

“The Far Left” (Featuring Alchemist & Fashawn) (Produced by Alchemist) (Video)

“The LAyover” (Video)

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Evidence & Alchemist, 6 projects in one year?

Posted in Music News with tags Alchemist, Cats & Dogs, Evidence, Gangrene, Hip-Hop, Step Brothers, The LAyover EP on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

Well as I’ve repeatedly told you before, Evidence is one busy ass mother fucker. It seems as though the same can be said about his HIGH school friend Alchemist. Together they are releasing 6 different projects in the next year. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s mad ridiculous the work that these two are putting in, and I can’t wait to hear the fruits of their labor. Evidence already released the LAyover Mixtape, The LAyover EP is coming in less than 2 weeks (I can’t fucking wait). Alchemist has Alchemist’s Cookbook EP and Better Living Through Chemistry (which he claims he’s remade 5 times) due out in the next year. Alchemist also has a project with one of my favorite producing/emcees Oh No entitled Gangrene which should drop by the end of this year.

All of this work is ultimately leading up to the release of the album for their project Step Brothers next year, as well as Evidence’s follow up to the critically acclaimed Weatherman LP, Cats & Dogs. The song “So Fresh” off of the LAyover EP is the first official Step Brothers single. If you haven’t seen the video check it out below and make sure you get all this material coming out because it’s gonna be fresh.

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Review: Jedi Mind Tricks A History of Violence

Posted in Music Reviews with tags DJ Kwestion, hardcore, Hip-Hop, Illadelphia, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jus Allah, Stoupe, Vinnie Paz, Violent By Design on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

I have to start this post off by saying that this album is very close to me. This Philadelphia trio changed my entire perspective on music with their sophomore outing Violent By Design. The first time I heard Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah & Stoupe I was instantly hooked and I needed more of their music like a fiend needs rock. I have to say that this album can not and does not stack up to Violent By Design (because in my opinion nothing really can), but next to Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell it might be their best work since. I do feel however that Jus Allah might have fallen off a little bit since the VBD days. I had heard about Vin and Jus being in the studio again with that same dynamic as VBD and was overcome with joy, I just didn’t get that feeling when I heard Jus this time.

Stoupe’s production on this album is some of the most impeccable work he has done. I also want to mention that Vinnie Paz is on a completely new level when it comes to rhymes. I remember on VBD (Even though I still love Vinnie on that album) it would seem like Vinnie would be rhyming about nonsense, on this album that is not the case. Vinnie’s verses are full of metaphors and similes like you wouldn’t believe.

the first track on the album is “Deathbed Doctrine” and Vinnie comes out right away spitting fire over the impecable cuts of DJ Kwestion and the hard hitting murderous Stoupe beat. If you listen to the track you will know what I mean about Jus Allah, he still has some good rhymes but his flow has totally changed from the VBD days. “Deadly Melody” is a track where Vinnie really shines when it comes to the metaphor aspect: “I’m your worst nightmare/the reversal of Christ here/the only thing you seein’ is a shadow and knife glare… Y’all are pussy, watered down like a light beer/I don’t run from it I embrace it I like fear/Call me Texas Chainsaw Massacre I invite fear/Call me Leatherface motha fucka’ I’m right here/Call me any other person that’s an evil killa’/Pazienza Pontius Pilate they call me Jesus Killa/Call me Richard Ramirez because he spill venom/I’m Mark David Chapman before he killed Lennon…”. That trend continues for the rest of the album, and although Jus doesn’t sound as “fluid” as before he doesn’t greatly affect the album in a negative manner. The shining jewel of this album is “Trail of Lies“, which in my opinion might be Vinnie & Stoupe’s shining moment as a duo (Jus is not on this track). The beat on this track is mesmerizing and the sample is absolutely beautiful. Vinnie goes off on the current trend of fathers managing their daughters and “pimping them for cash and money” and “what’s gonna happen in like 50 years, when Hannah Montana turnin’ into Britney Spears?”. If there was one reason I wouldn’t watch TV and listen to the media at all it’s because of this song, it’s very on point and very powerful.

This album is very good, like I said before Jus doesn’t really sound the same at all, but it doesn’t throw away the replay value of this album for me. This is definitely an album worth picking up and giving a really good listen to. Vinnie Paz does some of his best rhyming to this date, and Stoupe gives an excellent performance behind the boards.

8.5/10

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Video: Black Milk “Give The Drummer Sum”

Posted in Video with tags Black Milk, Detroit Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Tronic on Friday, November 14, 2008 by Tim Althaus

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Check out the world premier video for the video “Give the Drummer Sum” by Black Milk. Thank you to the folks over at Okayplayer. Again go out and get Tronic it’s one of the best albums of the year and you won’t regret it.

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Video: Evidence (featuring Alchemist) (Step Brothers) “So Fresh”

Posted in Video with tags Alchemist, Evidence, Hip-Hop, The LAyover EP on Thursday, November 13, 2008 by Tim Althaus

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12 days until The LAyover EP drops and here is the third video, this one also features Alchemist. I personally love this shit, this video can be summed up in 4 ways: weed*, skateboarding, playing basketball & dope rhymes. NOVEMBER 25th The LAyover EP drops go get it!

* I really wish I could get some of what they’ve got.

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Review: Q-Tip, The Renaissance

Posted in Music Reviews with tags A Tribe Called Quest, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, Q-Tip on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Tim Althaus

It’s been 9 long years since Q-Tip has put out a solo album (and even longer since we’ve heard something from Tribe except for Rock The Bells), and the last time he put out a solo album it had the beat crafting of J Dilla. If it weren’t for the label disagreement with Kamaal the Abstract we would have seen a Tip release sooner.

9 years later and The Renaissance is here, and boy is it one hell of an album. The first thing that I really want to stress about this album is that Q-Tip has some serious production skills on top of his already “all the time” “on point” rhymes. This album carries more of a funk/groove feel to it that creates a great vibe for the album as well as Tip’s rhymes. The album starts out with “Johnny Is Dead” which has a great guitar riff at the begininning and a mesmerizing beat throughout and Q-Tip’s flow is like liquid over the track (keeping in mind that he doesn’t sound half bad singing). “Won’t Trade” is another great beat with a spot on sample (“I wouldn’t trade it for nothin’!”) that compliments the piano in the background. “Gettin’ Up” which was the album’s lead single is one of the highlights on the album with a rolling thick bassline and great piano melody. Tip’s rhymes fit “Gettin’ Up” perfectly (as well as every single track on the album) and the track gives off a very groovy feel. I really like the track “Official” because the cuts are crazy and I love the beat as well as the sample, I can’t keep saying this enough as well but Q-Tip really flows well and sings great over this track. The Highlight of this album in my opinion is definitely “Move” which is the only track produced by someone else, and of course it’s Dilla. The first part of this track literally smacked me right in the face and gave me a great vibe, the Jackson 5 flip on this is amazing and the beat just makes me want to dance. I can see why Tip loved to work with Dilla because their chemistry together is great and always makes for an amazing track.

This album is very solid from front to back and there really aren’t any moments that I can say make this album drag at all. This album is going to be a serious contender for album of the year on a lot of people’s charts, and makes for a great late entry. You can bet that it’s going to make a great deal of top 10 lists without question.

8.5/10

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Review: DJ Babu, Duck Season, Vol. 3

Posted in Music Reviews with tags Beat Junkies, Dilated Peoples, DJ Babu, Evidence, Hip-Hop, Little Brother, MF Doom, Oh No, Sean Price on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Tim Althaus

Well what can I say? It definitely took me way too long for me to get a good review of this album up, partially because I have been terribly fucking busy with school and work. But suffice to say I found some time to give my view on this album.

First I want to say that Babu is one of the best DJ’s I’ve ever heard because his skill is unparalleled. He’s had an illustrious career with Dilated Peoples, gained fame with the World Famous Beat Junkies, and has been revered as one of the greatest battle DJ’s of all time. Babu is also a great beat maker (he put out The Beat Tape Vol. 1 last year) and this album truly shows that Babu is always in deep concentration.

Duck Season, Vol. 3 starts out the best way you could possibly start an album if you’re Babu, with the people you’ve been with your whole career. Evidence and Rakaa spit razor sharp verses on this track and the beat is crazy good. Keep in mind this is an intro and in my opinion at 1:47 long it could be my favorite on the album (I love the Looney Tunes sample at the end, as well as throughout the album). “Fan Mail” with Little Brother, Joe Scudda & Darrien Brockington is also another insane beat that Babu conjures up, and Big Pooh, Phonte & Scudda knock their verses out of the park like Sammy Sosa. Immediately after “Fan Mail” in my opinion is the best track on the album “The Unexpected” featuring MF DOOM & Sean Price. Doom and Sean Price compliment each other so well on this track and Babu’s canvas is spot on for these two to paint on. They pass the microphone back and forth like they are playing catch and their punchlines are great (Doom: we need to get a new beanie for Babu, the ones and twos genie”, Sean P: I always throw sixes, return an Ike Turner I always throw bitches”). Bishop Lamont makes a great mark on this album on the track “My Opinion” with on point rhymes and allusions the the current situation in the country. Evidence appears twice on the album (on the intro) and on the track “For Whatever It’s Worth” which is another great highlight on the album. The chemistry between EV and Babu is great and it makes for an amazing track. I was also really glad to see that Oh No (Madlib’s little brother) is starting to get some recognition (he’s on a track with Roc C entitled “Meant To Be”), he’s one of my favorite producers as well as emcees, and it’a about time more people gave him attention.

All in all this is an above average album, there are a lot of tracks that just don’t mesh with the rest of the album and tend to make it drag. This is however a great display of how good at beat making Babu really is, he can make some great soundscapes.

7.5/10

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Video: Illa J “My Brothers Keeper” Pt. 1 & 2

Posted in Video with tags Delicious Vinyl, Detroit Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Illa J, J Dilla, The Ummah on Monday, November 10, 2008 by Tim Althaus

Illa J released his solo debut Yancey Boys (on Delicious Vinyl) last week on Tuesday which is comprised completely of beats done by his big brother (and my inspiration) J Dilla. This is another album I just haven’t gotten a good listen of yet, but I can guarantee that this album will be something special. If you can all think about what Jay Dee’s sound was like back in the Ummah era (Tribe, Pharcyde) then you know what I am talking about. I will try to get a good listen here and get a review up for you guys soon. If you are a fan of Dilla or anything that sounds like him go out and get this album Illa J is definitely someone to watch for.

Check out these video interviews, the videos skew a good amount of material. It’s amazing to see just how much music was really coming out of the Yancey family. No wonder J Dilla and Illa J are beasts.

Part 1

Part 2

Take a listen to the lead single:

Illa J: “We Here” (Produced by J Dilla)

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Video: Q-Tip “Move” (Live on Letterman)

Posted in Video with tags A Tribe Called Quest, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, Q-Tip on Monday, November 10, 2008 by Tim Althaus

Well as most of you heads in the Hip-Hop world know, Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) released his sophomore LP The Renaissance last Tuesday. I haven’t gotten a really good listen of this record yet, but I know that I am highly anticipating it. This is Tip’s first album in 9 years (Amplified was released in ’99 (which was produced entirely by Dilla) ), and there has been no sign of Tribe anywhere (except Rock the Bells last year). I must admit I heard a snippet of the song “Move” and I almost went nuts. I had to find out who produced that track because the sample was flipped just perfect and I couldn’t get enough. I then found out that Tip produced the entire album except for that one track. Does anyone wanna talk a wild guess who the producer of “Move” is? That’s right my man Dilla did the beat and to be honest I’m really not surprised because he was the best at what he did, and that’s making beats. This beat is no different with a great sample flip of the Jackson 5 that sounds like Dilla chopped the track like butcher meat.

I’ve heard a few tracks off of this record and I can honestly tell you that Tip has some serious skill on the MP, and that this record jives way more like a disco-hop than anything. I love the vibe I’ve heard and I’m going to get a review up really soon. In the meantime check this great performance of “Move” live on Letterman.