Olas un Bekons

Digital Cratediggin' With OuB [Day 11]

Added 2020-11-25 09:19:49 +0000 UTC

Good day people!

Today we have a solid selection of some contemporaries and some classics. Some East Coast, some West Coast Underground, some Midwest, some Canadian, and some old school electro-funk. So what exactly for today's breakfast apart from some eggs and bacon? 3 nominations are here -

1) When two hip-hop masterminds meet, there's something good to come out of it. That's exactly what hatched in March 23, 2004 when Madvillainy dropped. Album was in production since 2002. It is entirely produced by Madlib (apart from Track 1) which he made together with MF Doom. What I love about this one, is the obscurity of samples used (including some Brazilian and Indian tunes). About the lyrics, well it's the Doom... what do you expect? It's some deep, complicated and extremely dense wordplay. Since the release, critics have given this one high acclaim, and it is deserved. As for commercial sales - well fvk em, this album does not suit into mainstream template as well (wrote similarly about Talib Kweli's works). This one is deffo one of the best rap albums of early 2000's. Especially if you dig heterogeneity and stuff that's not monolithic but rather been carved out of many unique different materials. Bought my copy from here.

2) As for my 2nd selection I go with the most old school release(-s) of this batch. Planet Patrol. If you are into old school hip-hop, there's a solid chance you have heard about them. On the surface albums are nowhere into rap grounds and are more of a funk/soul/freestyle. But the beat department of these tracks is what stands out making it an electro-funk album, and - as we know, 'electro-funk' is like a close relative to hip-hop, and all electro-funk classics (such as Planet Patrol, Shannon, Xena, Vikki Love & Nuance) are often put together in mix records and compilations with early hip-hop tracks.

As wiki tells us "electro (or electro-funk) is a genre of electronic music and early hip hop directly influenced by the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machines, and funk."

So, yeah the good old Roland was mostly behind the emergence of 80's electronic music that most of us love so much. And two of those producers who were familiar with it, were Arthur Baker (produced 'Planet Rock') and John Robie (produced 'Lost In Space' by Jonzun Crew'). So they both were on the instruments along with a quintet of vocalists led by Herbert J. Jackson (lead singer), Joseph Lites, Rodney Butler, Michael Anthony Jones, and Melvin B. Franklin. The album produced great tracks, the most notable of them being 'Cheap Thrills' and 'Play At You Own Risk'. Btw few of group members did a reunion with several new and remade tracks in 2016-2018.

3) Last nod I must address to the one and only and legendary Pete Rock. He's the heavyweight of hip-hop game and has released multiple production material since his departure with C.L. Smooth. The batch features Soul Survivor (1998), Soul Survivor (2004) and Petestrumentals 2xCD 10th Anniv. Reissue (2001-2011). Soul Survivor albums consist of many notable guest artists, including CL and provide a good listen and mash-up of funky soul music beats and some slick rhymes by selected all star artists. Petestrumentals is an instrumental album by Pete Rock which consists of beats originally made between 1995-98 and later remixed and expanded. Second disc has also vocal and acapella versions.

+++ so what else is inside the batch? Some solid solo rekkids by guys that are also members of prominent rap groups. Firstly, it's Opio (West coast underground rapper, Hieroglyphics member). Secondly, the Ultramagnetic MCs' Kool Keith (going full lyrically abstract in his 2nd solo), and, thirdly, Wu's Ghostface Killah with his 2004 Pretty Toney. GFK's album was well critically acclaimed and had solid guest artist appearances, but it's biggest minus was considered the absence of Raekwon who had frequently collaborated with GFK in his album before.

For those who are in it for some golden age NYC sound, I got Bronx trio called the Legion. Got their only 90's studio album, the reissue of some lost tracks and one single. In 2019 they dropped their 2nd album which I might cover a bit later in any of future entries. Another legendary trio (of the Boot Camp Click) is O.G.C. - if you love that nitty gritty 90's sound of the likes of Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah and Smif-N-Wessun, then Originoo Gun Clappaz is there for ya. The Storm LP is legendary but to some extent slept on.

Also got digital reissues of B-Boy Samplers from legendary B-Boy Records featuring many dope artists. You can find the discogs entries here and here, and maybe try to cop a cass or LP version for your own collection. I have WEB versions here, 1st sampler has different cover, a shuffled tracklisting and missing JVC Force track in comparison to original LP version. 2nd volume is the same. These samplers were originally released by the UK label Westside Records in 1988 and incorporated some dope B-Boy Records classics of the time. I consider B-Boy Records as one of the most influential yet independent rap labels of 80's. So many good tracks came out of it.

Another I gotta mention, is the Canada's finest, one of those pioneers - Maestro Fresh-Wes. He has released many albums since 1989, and they are dope. But in this batch I have included his recent works.

Also don't sleep on old school entries - Gettovetts is an abstract old school hip-hop, electro band led by Rammellzee (R.I.P.) and it does not sound as you average late 80's rap sound. Man, Zee was well before his time. R.I.P.

And last but not least is Kurtis Blow - America. Single this time. The LP was featured on my debut entry.

As always - preview tracks are below there, and for full ones links are below: