Jay Electronica "exhibit C' radio rip

Admittedly, its a bit difficult to get excited about new hip hop in 2009. The genre which I once was so impassioned about (and still am to a certain degree) has suffered immeasurably in the last decade (decade and a half?)for various reasons. Still despite all of this and the tempting assertion that 'hip hop is dead,' I still do get excited when I hear a great verse over a hot beat, delivered oh so well, as only a handful of rappers, I feel can still pull off today. But lets face it, hip hop isn't dead. While the proclaimation that it is, was an interesting, perhaps necessary and thought provoking marketing strategy, it can't die. It simply can't. Why you may ask? As long as a new hip hop song is still maintaining those aforementioned and rather simple characteristics that make a hip hop song good, as well as staying creative by experimenting with and trying new things, it remains alive- not necessarily in the best shape overall, but alive nonetheless.

Jay Electronica is an emcee who I feel is staying true to the core elements of hip hop as well as being creative and new with it. 

"Exhibit C" (produced by Just Blaze) is exhibit a of  new hip hop today in 2009 still being able to produce songs that are alive....and well! 

"Exhibit C" - Jay Electronica

Hip Hop done been, is, and always will rock!

Man, I dont even wanna get into it, but i will just mention that i got into a debate about Elvis with someone the other day; whatever... Elvis did his thing* <--yall see that asterisk right? , imma leave it at that ((homies holding me back)), hehe. And let me say R.I.P. to Mr. Bo Didley a true rock pioneer and innovator who lived a great full accomplished life.

Anyways, me and Camille are juiced on a couple upcoming releases that really show that these dudes you know for hip hop, rock and rock well. N.E.R.D.'s 3rd album Seeing Sounds will drop on June 10th and is set to be heavy heavy heavy, we will definitely be copping and encourage you to do as well. Their first album was a classic, 2nd was a little softer (even Pharrell himself admitted this)but had some cuts on it, 3rd is set to be a monster. Check a below entitled "Anti-Mater" :



Dj Rhettmatic, Karriem Riggins, and Dilla

Also, from the (unfortunately diminishing) Dilla vaults comes more from the shelved MCA album of 2003 (that is rumoured to be released soon under the name Pay Jay) where Dilla gave control of the boards to other producers and only rhymed. This track produced by Questlove and Karriem Riggins sounds alot like something that Santogold (who we love) would be rocking over. Dilla covered so many bases ranging from rock to techno, so none of this is that much of a surprise when we really think about it, just so refreshing.

Mr. Madlib

So if you don't know by now that uber prolific producer/emcee Madlib is a musical genius than report to the principals office and get a late pass.

His latest project is a group called Jackson Conti, with legendary Brazillian drummer Ivan Mamão Conti of Azymuth. They play Brazillian standards that are all in an improvisational style. I'm partial to music of Brazil cause it has the ability to magically bring light to the shittiest of moods for me, but I think this is release of theirs entitled Sujinho, is something that everyone can vibe to.

Check out their little EPK:


and then just to show how disparate and versatile he is, check out this video from back in 2000 of another of 'lib's aliases, Quasimoto:

Q-Tip - Fever (prod. dilla)

So, on this blog Imma try and refrain from posting too much Dilla-related stuff, since I can talk about the man until I'm blue in the face; everything is too good and so special to me and mine ears. But this is a nice little track from what is supposed to be Q-Tip's upcoming album.

Q- Tip has already had like 2 albums pushed back to shelved, and hopefully this one doesnt get that same treatment cause he's still got it, I feel. Anyways, enjoy this track which is from an old Dilla beat tape...and if you really into it, check him performing it on Jimmy Kimmel here

download here

kinda feeling this

(photo credit: itakebandphotos on flickr)

James: new common track

Camille: I agree. I am ready for him to go in another direction. The die-hard fans are angry, I know, but fuck the purists. Plus I am riding for Pharrell again, so let's go. Now, when am I gonna get the video of Common doing the robot dance to this track? I DEMAND IT!