Olas un Bekons

Digital Cratediggin' With OuB [Day 10]

Added 2020-11-23 14:09:54 +0000 UTC

Whudup everyone!

I am back with new cratediggin' selection - some West coast, funk/soul, old school and east coast, UK hip-hop in this one. Also one Swedish hip-hop boom bap release. Some rare, some less rare. Some classic, some less classic.

So here are my 3 mentions -

1) Kool G Rap and DJ Polo were a part of Juice Crew. One of first rap supergroups of artists united under a label. However, Kool G Rap's lyrics pretty much stood out of other now classic Cold Chillin' material. He wasn't incorporating parody and mimicking elements into his raps like Biz Markie, he wasn't tryin' to impress the ladies like Big Daddy Kane. However, he was about thuggish, crime inspired and dark lyricism via the storytellin' approach. The latter was also evident by other great Cold Chillin' rappers such as Biz Markie, Masta Ace, and Big Daddy Kane to some extent. So this was something not previously evident in NYC. Of course there was gangsta rap in mid-late 80's rising, but G Rap's thug rap was something ideologically similar but a bit different. G Rap and Polo released 3 dope albums together, all are classics. 'Road to the Riches' with that greatly compliant sample of Billy Joel's 'Stiletto' is one of my most favorite rap tracks of all time. Providing a taste of Harlem/NYC street life, dope incremental storytellin', great samples, a bit of controversial material (that 3rd album cover is something worth mentioning), these albums are certified classics and succeed to drop in valuable lessons from time to time. Not so easy to cop (especially the first one) these days, though. Nonetheless, they are must have is you consider yourself a golden age hip-hop collector.

2) If you're a break dancer or a fan of funky music, there's a chance you have heard about the Mexican. Originally, the funk-rock track by the British band called Babe Ruth (didn't know baseball was popular in the UK) was released in 1972 (around November btw). It became a massive b-boy/b-girl anthem approximately a decade later and was frequently heard on the streets of New York. Therefore, it was no surprise that around 80's, when breakdance hit it mainstream, it started to get its first cover versions. First ones to cover the great choon were 'Bombers' - disco-funk group from Montreal, Canada in 1978, but I guess the first directly b-boy influenced recreating was by Jellybean Benitez. The tune was faster than Bombers' (thinking of breakdancers I guess), and the sleeve cover was inspired by mainstream emergence of another hip-hop element - graffiti art. I haven't done a research of which tune has been more used when breaking, but my stake would still be on the original. However, Jellybean wasn't near done after his 1984 LP and singles. He shifted farther from hip-hop inspired themes and went in electronic/house department, producing few worldly hits from time to time. Some heads might remember him as Madonna's ex, but I think he did much more than that.

3) There are few vinyl's I love to play more than once from time to time. When I feel like recharging and just chilling, and listening to music on wax. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Straighten It Out is one of those few. Coming as the 2nd single from that LEEEEEEGENDARY 1992 album 'Mecca and the Soul Brother', A side features the track's vocal, remix and instro. Both A1 and A2 are solid as fvk. Side B provides alternate beat escapade for those who into T.R.O.Y. (rap golden age 10/10 classic). My guess is, that Mecca hasn't got Gold or higher RIAA status because its sales were surprisingly measly. What do we learn from that? Maybe, that indicated P Rock's and CL Smooth's dope and intelligent delivery was not suit for mainstream rap of the time. Sir Mix-A-Lot, TLC, Kris Kross, Arrested Development, PM Dawn, (MC) Hammer peaked higher and I guess they were just better suited. Our story heroes; however, got unmeasurable and priceless love from the streets. Sheeeit, if I had to choose between aforementioned artists, it would take 0.00002 miliseconds to pick Mecca, T.R.O.Y., and Straighten It Out. That the gem I value. Maybe it's just me on one corner of the room, and maybe that's the pop-culture on another.

+++ Talkin bout honorable mentions, I was borderline including The Pharcyde - Ya Mama in top 3's. It was not as big as Passin' Me By from their debut LP, but I still love it. So that's the West Coast alternative rap classic for y'all. Also there's some LA G rap with the presence of Ice Cube (Westside Conection, Da Lench Mob), some old school (Grandmaster Flash & The F5, Whistle & The Showboys. Btw Showboys' Drag Rap more or less weirdly was kicking the streets of Southern US cities such as Memphis and New Orleans. This must be to some extent influential in the emergence of the Southern gangsta rap. Showboys were from Queens, NYC. Also, there's a comeback album by 90's Seattle rap legend Kid Sensation. Available on digital formats only as per now.

Also there's some UK hip-hop of late 80's (Grand Groove) and late 90's (Quakes). Grand Groove was an early manifestation of innovative UK electronic music with Cut-Up hip-hop experimentation. A must have, a must hear.

On the more international tip, there's a Swedish boom bap album from 2012, that's deserved more mention among hip-hop heads. Give it a listen, yo!

And, as you know me, I tend to be keen on East coast raps. So there are two more you might not have heard about - firstly it's Malik Ameer with his strongly political hip-hop album 'Grapetomania'. Album was poorly received, its weak side was Ameer's flow and delivery but it's great side was lyrics. Maybe give it a try and tell yourselves. Secondly, it's a vinyl single of BLVD Mosse, a crew from Trenton, NJ that dropped 2 ill singles in early 90's. Trenton + early 90's means dopeness. Produced by Tony D (R.I.P.).

Moving across the state line but technically staying on the East coast tip, there's some raw shit from Philly's finest - Ram Squad. R.andom A.ccess M.oney was their 2001 album, their 1st major release after many low run albums that by now have solid following. Their Ballers track even had the video version.

Last but not least - funk elpee. People's Choice - 70's funk band from Philly (I guess it could easily compete as the capital of funk music of late 60's and all 70's). My fave track of this is the Cold Blooded and Down Right Funky. It was sampled in one of my fave Canadian rap albums of late 90's. Overall, not much sampled LP over the years, but it deffo needs a revival rite now and is worth a bump through your speakers of headphones.