The Very Good Agency

Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Can he kick it again?

Yes he can… after 9 long years, Q-Tip a.k.a. the brother Abstract, has hit back with another solo album entitled ‘The Renaissance’. Q-Tip continues to reinvent himself as well as the benchmark for lyricists throughout the world and has taken his place on the world stage as one of the fathers of modern Hip Hop. Giving so much to the Hip Hop scene through various solo projects, groups including A Tribe Called Quest and more recently The Standard with friend and collaborator Common, & a string of hit features from the late eighties, the mere mention of Q-Tip’s name is enough to interest this fan in this new release, but if that’s not enough, he’s brought along some awesome collaborations on the album including D’Angelo, Norah Jones, & Raphael Saddiq to name a few. Speaking to www.okayplayer.com this week Q-Tip explained the 9 year pause between solo albums… “I think I can speak for myself, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and D’Angelo when I say that we make music when the spirit is with us. We are a lot who are very observant as well as introspective. We paint intense, colorful pictures, so it takes time.” If it was anyone else comparing  themselves to these amazing, iconic, soulful artists I would just laugh at their arrogance, but it’s not anyone else, it’s Q-Tip, and no-one belongs on your lips in this context more then he does.

Q-Tip Gettin Up

Having re-united A Tribe Called Quest this year for the incredible ‘Rock The Bells’ tour, Q-Tip has dispelled the rumours that they are set to reform permanently on this album with his track ‘A Tribe Called Quest is no more’. Heart breaking although it may be, at least we can continue to bump fresh music as he continues to create his own style of jazz infused, introspective, old school hip hop. This pioneer has paved the way for hip hop to be enjoyed by all walks of life, meshing with so many artists of as many genres in his partnerships over the years, and ‘The Renaissance’ seems to offer the same diversity and creativity as always, opening up the doors even further for hip hop as it fast becomes a dominant force in the music industry.

Q-Tip – Let’s Ride (from his debut solo album Amplifier)

You can check out more of Q-Tip at:

www.q-tip.com

www.myspace.com/qtip

…bs

Tags: hip hop, Jazz, Old School

Yaheard? Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow

If you’ve managed to get to one of the Parklife events currently being held across Australia, then you’d have been lucky enough to witness one of the most legendary underground hip hop crews going round. I’m talking about Blackalicious, Bay Area residents, alongside the likes of Jurassic 5, Lyrics Born and Dilated Peoples, and purveyors of some of the finest hip hop I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. If you’re like me and loathe the way hip hop has slowly imploded on itself over recent years, then you can take heart from the fact that albums like ‘Blazing Arrow’ exist. Timeless, and near flawless are two things that first come to mind. People Under The Stairs got it right with their ‘musical dope’ sample; ‘Blazing Arrow’ is my musical dope, and I get just as high hearing it now as I did when I bought it back in 2002.

The second full-length album from Gift of Gab and Chief Excel, ‘Blazing Arrow’ is an amazing collection of songs that push boundaries, provoke thought, and more often than not, get your head nodding. Blackalicious are part of the ever-diminishing pack of artists that are staying true to their roots, something that is apparent on every track of the album. Featuring a diverse array of guests such as Ben Harper, Chali 2na, Zach De La Rocha, and Gil Scott-Heron, as well as production assistance from Cut Chemist, ?uestlove and DJ Shadow, it is much more a musical journey than an album.

The first five tracks of the album alone will blow you away; you will be listening wondering how it could possibly get any better, only to be struck down by the following track. And the one after that. If I had to write this review in one sentence it would be simply: Good tracks – all of them, bad tracks – none enough said. From the funky organ-laced intro, into the bouncy-bass line of the title track, with its flute and horn-laden chorus and awesome Harry Nilsson sample from “Me and My Arrow”, to the intense chanting hook on “Sky is Falling”; you don’t know what to expect next! What you get is the smooth groove of “First in Flight”, where Gil Scott Heron steps in and blends beautifully with Gift of Gab, his soulful crooning proving he only gets better with age. Chali 2na and Lateef lend a hand on “4000 Miles”, a happy head-nodder that takes the listener on “a journey through music”; Chali 2na bringing his usual imposing bass-packed game (probably the best track he’s featured on, next to Roots Manuva’s “Join the Dots”), and Lateef kills it with his wandering party rhymes.

One of the major standouts is the furious “Chemical Calistenics”, where Cut Chemist steps in and throws everything at Gab, only to have it thrown back twice as hard. The two battle it out with beats and rhymes, with Gab spitting some incredibly complex lines incorporating the periodic table, really demonstrating his talent on the mic with the ability to change it up mid song and match his flow to the beat perfectly. “Make You Feel That Way” is another really strong track, a dreamy feel-good track with a haunting trumpet sample segregate Gab’s nostalgic verses that touch on all things that “make you feel that way:

“How you felt when you first heard the Daddy Kane,
Rakim, KRS, hey I had that tape,
Cooling out with ol’ girl on a phat ass date,
Find a hundred dollar bill, wow man that’s great,
Get promoted at your job up to management,
Plot a long time finally your plan has made it,
Time I feel I wanna shout, man its real that way,
When I think of things that make you feel that way”
“Nowhere Fast” is solid with ?uestlove’s cracking drumbeat, Chief Xcel’s cutting and Gift of Gab’s devastating rhymes tearing up the track, and the Ben Harper feature “Brain Washers” is not-so-surprisingly good also. Really though, I could sit here and tell you about each individual track; “Paragraph President” and “Aural Pleasure”, featuring the funky and soulful Jaguar Wright on the hook, are must listen tracks for sure also.

Gift of Gab is a bit of a ballsy name to call yourself really, when you think about it. But if anything, this is an understatement in this case; Gab is so fresh, creative, deep and profound in his rhymes, he is easily one of the most skilled and technically refined rappers you’ll ever hear. On a technical level, his flow is smooth as silk, his wordplay is intricate without going over your head, and his command and delivery are excellent, he effortlessly changes up his rap style depending on the song’s concept. And his combination with Chief Xcel is something special, the diverse production styles across the album really do take you on a journey, with little segues between many of the tracks that keep the album flowing brilliantly, such as the trademark DJ Shadow breakdown after the De La Soul inspired “Paragraph President”. He creates a cohesive sound that’s organic as well as progressive, lush and atmospheric, and the assistance he receives from outside producers can only be described as touches of genius. Yes, it’s safe to say the production is almost as brilliant as the rapping.

I’m happy to call this one of the most inspiring hip hop albums I’ve ever heard, it was released at a time when I was searching for exactly what it offers, and it has subsequently shaped my hip hop tastes since; another fine example of hip hop being made for the right reasons. I would recommend ‘Blazing Arrow’ to people that aren’t usually hip-hop fans, to those that still think hip hop is all about bling, bitches, and gangsterism; this album will go some way to clearing that misconception for sure. Full of soulful grooves, liquid beats and thoughtful lyrics, ‘Blazing Arrow’s’ well-delivered fusion of melodic funk, jazz and hip hop creates one of the richest, most captivating albums ever released.

If you are lucky enough to be in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, then you can still catch Blacklicious in October touring with Gift of Gab’s new side project, The Mighty Underdogs. Always one to rock the party, Gift of Gab is sure to put on a performance that is not to be missed, so get your tickets now! Check out the dates below
9th Oct – Auckland at Fu
10th Oct – Wellington at San Fran Bath House
11th Oct – Christchurch at the Civic

You can hear more of Blackalicious at

www.myspace.com/blackalicious

…cracked

Tags: gigs, hip hop, Old School

Almost Forty Years Too Late?

I’ll start this piece with a broad and inflammatory statement; there is no justice in the world, especially the world of music, but maybe there is karma? The evidence for this opinion is an artist, who’s 1970 album has only recently received the worldwide praise it deserves. Regular and observant readers will have noticed this site’s content can be quite eclectic with content that can focus on about both up-and-coming and established groups. We occasionally look back at classic albums from years gone by, but today we will go back a little further.

The story of Detroit born musician Sixto D. Rodriguez goes like this: in 1970 he recorded the sublime album “Cold Fact” which he followed up the next year with “Coming From Reality”, Both records were released on a recording label that folded in 1975. After the limited success of both albums in the American market, he gave up on his musical career and drifted into relative obscurity. This caused many rumours about his possible demise ranging from suicide (on stage), to drug addiction, and even that he was in prison for killing his wife. All of this was of course untrue, he had just given up on achieving musical success and dropped out of the game. What he didn’t know was he had gained a cult following in countries like South Africa and Australia, where his imported albums had sold well. He ended up touring around Australia in 1979 and 1981 and releasing live recording of these shows. It wasn’t until the late 1990’s, while he was working as a labourer in Detroit, that his daughter discovered through the internet, that his fan base in South Africa was trying to track him down via an online campaign, “The Great Rodriguez Hunt”. A decade later, the 66-year-old singer/songwriter is still alive, well and touring. Lately his original masterpiece “Cold Fact” has been released again to speak to a whole new generation. He is now gaining attention from all over the world, by people amazed that a talent like this could remain unknown for so long. Some have argued that he is the equal of his contemporaries such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Neil Young; musicians whose well-crafted songs and political lyrics turned them into household names, cemented their fame and left an impact on the popular consciousness. Recognition doesn’t always come when it should.

Since hearing about “Cold Fact” only recently, I have put it on high rotate, as it not only sounds musically great almost forty years on, but the lyrics seem just as relevant as ever. For example from the tune titled “This Is Not A Song, It’s an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues” :

“The mayor hides the crime rate
council woman hesitates
Public gets irate but forget the vote date
Weatherman complaining, predicted sun, it’s raining
Everyone’s protesting, boyfriend keeps suggesting
you’re not like all of the rest

Adultery plays the kitchen, bigot cops non-fiction
The little man gets shafted, sons and monies drafted
Living by a time piece, new war in the Far East
Can you pass the Rorschach test?

It’s a hassle it’s an educated guess.
Well, frankly I couldn’t care less.”

Although Rodriguez is described as a folk musician I wouldn’t really call this a folk album. For example, the song “Only Good For Conversation” starts with a riff that could have been from a Deep Purple song. It is more like gentle rock music, with acoustic guitars surrounded by psychedelic and orchestral overdubs, but every song is different and has it’s own story. The song “Sugarman” which seems to have become his signature tune, is about the realities of inner city drug-dealing, and has the lyrics:

“Silver magic ships you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane

Sugar man you’re the answer
That makes my questions disappear”

It’s almost criminal it’s taken so long for this album get the attention it deserves. Although you’d expect it to be dated by it’s age, it is still as fresh and crisp as anything I’ve heard recently. The reason I see it’s lyrical content as so relevant, is that the time when it was originally released, was a time that promised so much in terms of societal change. There was obviously great turmoil and uncertainty, with the backdrop of the Cold/Vietnam War and the notion of a social revolution promising so much, but which in hindsight delivered so little. We’ve probably heard about the apparent social change aiming to break the bonds of conformity, the general growth of anti-establishment feelings amoung youner people, that caused a generational riff but never quite put the peace and love into society, that was expected. I see our current stage of history to be very much like this, funny how everything repeats. In an age where we are looking for solutions to contemporary crisis’s and we are searching for another way of finding “change and hope”. In this way, all the issues raised in the album “Cold Fact” are still as relevant and topical. So if you’re interested in conscious lyrics that are not afraid to take a political stance, then definitely give this album a try. It has a point-of-view, but at the same time doesn’t try to club you over the head with it. So all this proves to me that protest singers aren’t dead, they’re just sleeping.

Official Reissue 2008

Cold Fact Daily Music Guide Review

“But thanks for your time
Then you can thank me for mine
And after that’s said
Forget it”
(Forget It – Rodriguez)

…Yossarian

Tags: folk, Old School, Political

YaHeard? Binary Star

Back in the early years of high school I wasn’t much of a hip hop fan, bar the Snoop Dogg and Ice T cassettes i had dubbed off my friends older brothers. But after being introduced to the likes of Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples and Gangstarr, my interest grew. Enjoying the underground side of things, I sought more artists like these and managed to stumble across something that well and truly tipped the scales for me, one of the dopest underground albums of all time; ‘Masters of the Universe’, released in 2000 by Binary Star. Jam packed with clever metaphors, punchlines and rhymes that need to be studied, this album is a shining representation of what underground hip hop is. Uh.. hang on, what underground hip hop used to be, I should say; they don’t make ’em like this anymore.

After meeting in prison, MC’s Senim Silla and OneManArmy (a.k.a OneBeLo) recorded and independently released their debut album, Waterworld. Only about 1000 copies were pressed and distributed in 1999, and in the following year it was remixed, remastered, and re-released, as ‘Masters of the Universe’. Despite only selling 20,000 copies, the album received wide acclaim and would be high on the list of any respectable underground hip hop fan. Unfortunately the two split after this was released, citing creative differences, and have never reformed. However, both artists have released solo material in recent years (Senim Silla – The Name, The Motto, The Outcome, OneBeLo – S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M) and feature on each others albums.

Although the strength of this album lies in its MC’s, the beat on the first track, “Reality Check”, is mesmerising. Strings blast out of the speakers followed by a piano loop that builds with an ominous presence, before it fades and lets the beat rock just long enough for them to flip it, laying down lush piano and harps with OneManArmy unleashing his first verse. And this verse is a great reflection of what the rest of the album offers; OneManArmy dropping countless witty punchlines and rhymes that will have you nodding your head (“Rodney King ain’t ever felt a beat like this”, “I’m bad to the bone but X-ray’s can’t even see this”). “Conquistadors” is up next with its simple but effective bassline and cracking snare. The duo exchange metaphors and battle raps enthusiastically, Senim Sillia setting the tone from the first lines with “Feel the rhapsody, fill this joint to capacity, Senim grab mics with pitbull tenacity”. He keeps the ball rollin with the first of his solo tracks on the album, “Slang Blade”, where he rips it for two and half minutes straight without a hook over one of the best beats on the album

The two MC’s have fun on “Binary Shuffle”, bouncing along over a pretty simple bouncing beat with them chanting;

“Do you want to hear about the money we got? (oh no!)
Talk about the people we shot? (oh no!)
Bragg on the clothes we wear? (oh no!)
Do you think what we saying’ is fair? (oh yea!)
Do my crew rock the mic for days? (oh yea!)
Do my crew keep it live on stage? (oh yea!)
Do Binary Star got the flow? (oh yea!)
Don’t these wack emcees got to go? (oh yea!)”

A track that starts off like that is always going to appeal to me, and its especially refreshing listening to it in this current hip hop environment. “Fellowship” sees Athletic Mic League and Decompoze “rock heads like Mt Rushmore” with the dynamic duo, in another head nodding beat with a funky bassline. Decompoze and Senim Silla shine on this track, both ripping their verses to shreds. The title track, “Masters of the Universe”, sees the duo rapping together as “The Two-Headed Dragon”, weaving in and out of each others rhymes at a quick pace. Yet another track that is full of memorable lyrics, you’ll need to listen to it several times before get it all.

One of my personal favourites is “Indy 500”, which only actually features Decompoze. This track is a salute to the underground, where Decompoze rhymes about making it big but staying independent and true to why you’re making your music.

“All we need is beats and rhymes to go and spark it,
As long as we got the underground yo, we got a market,
I don’t need a major to tell me how to run it,
cause my goal’s to win the Indy 500”

The track starts off with a sample from a movie that really sets the tone, before Decompoze enters, just speaking about the industry at first, until a gritty beat drops over a superbly mellow piano loop. Easily one of the best tracks of the album.

“Honest Expression” has Silla and OneManArmy deliver a dope commentary on keeping it real as an underground hip hop artist and staying true to the artform instead of telling lies just to sell records. The track starts with a fantasticly appropriate martial arts movie sample about “Honestly expressing yourself”, before the two MC’s come in together and lay down some of the most refreshing rhymes of the album:

Senim Silla:

“Dig – I’ma put it on the table,
I ain’t a thug nigga and playa, I ain’t playful,
I’m just Senim Silla, a man without label,
Standin’ on my own two just tryin’ to stay stable,
Speakin’ what I know to only what I’m able”

OneManArmy:

“I ain’t hardcore, I don’t pack a 9 millimeter,
Most of y’all gangster rappers ain’t hardcore neither,
Whoever get mad then I’m talkin ’bout you,
Claim you fear no man but never walk without crew”

I love hearing tracks like this, hip hop artists making hip hop for the right reasons. And doing so with a precision and skill that sees them easily capable of mocking those who are abusing the art form for its payout.

I’ve listened to many dope hip hop albums over the years, but I consistently struggle to find music that can match up to this. I could write all day about each and every song, as they are all pretty damn good, and all feature the trademark metaphor-heavy rhyme-style that will have you rewinding to catch lyrics often. Even after eight years in my possession, it still rates high on my playlists. OneManArmy and Senim Silla have an amazing chemistry, and through their creative wordplay and raw honesty they have created a true underground hip hop classic.

Anyway, times up.

Do hip hop a favour, don’t sleep on this if you haven’t heard it.

You can catch Binary Star at:

www.myspace.com/4003715

or at OneManArmy’s record label

www.subterraneousrecords.com

Peace

…cracked

Tags: Collaborations, hip hop, Old School, Poetry

How much do you love Hip Hop – Rock The Bells kicks off

CHECKITOUT!!!!!!!! Rock the Bells 2008 has kicked off in style in the USA and Canada with new additions to the already incredible line up including MF Doom, Sage Francis, Blue Scholars and B-Real. Considering the artists roster already consisted of A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, Methodman & Redman, De LA Soul, Rakim, Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Murs, Jedi Mind Tricks as well as a whole consortium of both new and old skool’s finest. With artists like these being added to the bill, it’s really no surprise that they have been able to draw the amazing crowds pictured above, with ticket sales still going as the mammoth tour continues.

Rock The Bells Toronto (Amateur cam – for the fans who can’t be there a.k.a. me)

So It might be time to bring Rock the Bells to Australia and New Zealand.

You can start the campaign for Rock The Bells coming to Australasia by posting whingeing comments at:

www.myspace.com/rockthebells

www.guerillaunion.com/rockthebells

and maybe cross your fingers really hard

… bs

Tags: Festival, hip hop, Old School