The Beat Konducta Madlib has unleashed a new edition of the Mind Fusion series, named African Earwax. A tiny run of 30 physical copies were manufactured and snapped-up at a recent Rappcats pop-up shop in L.A., complete with hand-drawn designs from MF Doom cover artist Jason Jegel, but you can stream the whole thing in its digital form below. Dope as always.
Listen here.
Mass Appeal by Gang Starr is right up there in our top 3 favorite hip-hop songs of all time, possibly at number 1. It sent a tingle down our spine then to hear that the latest episode of the often-incredible Magnum Opus series from Complex is dedicated to the track. We get to hear from DJ Premier hinself, plus a host of others from his inner circle, each helping to paint a picture of how the classic joint got made, and its impact since. Shame we’ll never get to hear stories from the much-missed Guru. Watch below right now.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was always going to be difficult to top, even for one of the best artists amongst the nine men that made up the Wu-Tang Clan. By 1999, the world had already been blessed not just with Raekwon’s classic debut some four years previously, but also superior albums from Ghostface Killah, GZA, Old Dirty Bastard, Method Man and Cappadonna. The pressure on Rae to turn-in something as good as his debut must have been thick, even if no one dared to mention it.
When Immobilarity did drop, it was given something of a lukewarm reception from fans and critics alike. Listen again in 2015 however, and its actually a pretty good album, and arguably better than the genuinely disappointing proper sequel to the classic debut, 2009’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II.
What seemed to bug people most at the time was how little this seemed like the other Wu-Tang solo albums so far. There are no guest spots from Ghostface, and in fact Method Man and Masta Killa are the only two official clansmen to appear. And perhaps most noticeably of all, there are no beats by RZA.
Looking back, this was actually a good thing. A lack of guests gave Rae the space needed to focus, and write with enough confidence and weight to carry entire tracks on his own, the way that Ghost has always been able to.
Moving from RZA production also added some variety, away from the occasionally stale beats that he was sometimes guilty of making, even if the little-known producers on the album were usually just trying to ape his style. Its no coincidence that the nicest beat is the Pete Rock produced Sneakers, hinting for the first time just how good Rae sounded over beats from skilled beatmakers outside of RZA. By Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, the line-up of producers had become diverse enough to include everyone from Dr Dre to J Dilla, via Erick Sermon, Alchemist, Marley Marl and more.
Other standout tracks include Friday, My Favorite Dred and Live From NY, each of them filled with the same vivid imagery that helped maintain Rae’s reputation as one of the best storytellers in the game.
If you slept on this album in 2009, dust it off and have another listen. You’ll be surprised at how good it sounds.
The legendary Stezo is back in our ears, thanks to unearthed material from boutique/re-issue label Dope Folks Records. Listen to Here To School Ya on the link below, then buy it when it drops.
Listen here.
The Dopplegangaz have unleashed a free new EP named Parts Unknown, including the recent single Scintilla. Both the vocals and production from Matter Ov Fact and EP sound mad nice, and you can stream the whole thing below.
Take one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. Get them in the studio with one of the best producers to emerge in the last few years. Watch the magic happen. Thats roughly how we hope the newly-announced Time? Astonishing! album from Kool Keith and L’Orange was put together. Anyone who copped the Persona compilation album from Mello Music Group will have already heard them as a team, but this could be one epic album when it arrives. J-Live appears on first single The Traveller, and you can hear it on the link below. Watch this space for more news.
Listen here.
Its been another good week for hip-hop writing and journalism, with many of the usual suspects writing the best material. Here’s a round-up.
DJ Screw: A Fast Life in Slow Motion by Lance Scott Walker
Whether you are a fan of his music or not, the impact DJ Screw had on rap in his all-too-short life is huge. In this well-researched and extensive article, the writer pays proper tribute, telling the full story of Screw’s come-up, without focusing too much on his abuse of Lean and subsequent death. Read here.
The Selective Memory of Rap Fans by Robbie Ettelson (Unkut)
At a time when a lot of classic albums are celebrating their 20th or so anniversaries, Unkut points out how others are being forgotten. He singles out the X Clan album To The East, Blackwards as a prime example, and how it was a project of way more significance than most care to remember. Read here.
GZA Speaks: The Lost Art of Lyricism by GZA
He may be pointing out what most of us already know, but its interesting to have a first-hand opinion about the state of rap lyrics from one of the best rappers still working today. The highlight comes at the point where GZA explains how two different artists would interpret the same simple subject matter. Read here.
We’ve previously posted the first couple of dope singles from the new Vursatyl album Crooked Straights, and as it turns out, De La Soul legend Maseo likes ’em too. He’s put together a mini-mix of the album’s highlights, which you can hear below. Look out for the full album coming soon on BBE.
Oddisee interviews are rare, but when they happen, we’re always pleased to find out that he’s exactly what we imagine him to be: humble, laid back and insightful, just like his music. Truly one of the most creative rappers and producers of the last decade, if you haven’t yet copped new album The Good Fight, you need to click here right now. Watch the interview with Pete Rosenberg below.
This unearthed gem is a project recorded in 2004 by the incredibly-named producer Wally What and NYC indy rapper Breez Evahflowin’. It never saw a proper release, but is finally now available for your listening pleasure. Its dated a bit, but is still worth a listen, and even features a guest spot from Immortal Technique. See further down below for the full story courtesy of the Breez Evahflowin’ Bandcamp page.
“The story starts with a tour of the Carolinas. NYC’s Breez Evahflowin, C-Rayz Walz and Boston’s MC Akrobatik were promoting the compilation album Detonator records volume 1. In Charleston SC thanks to DJ Kurfu Breez & C-Rayz meet a young dread head producer by the name of Wally What? That night the rare and extremely difficult to find ‘Zelda’ freestyle was recorded.
Over the years that follow Breez would continue to collaborate with Wally in SC and then in Boston where Wally relocated. A few years later they would end up sharing an apartment in Bed Stuy Brooklyn where more tracks were created and the concept of the theme album began to take shape.Wally delivered track after track of intense sounds. Breez used this canvas to verbally illustrate his growing frustration with the War on Terror and the ruling administration at the time.
There were ambitious plans for an LP, a tour, a book and more but, as can happen, life got in the way.
Out of necessity, Breez moved to North Carolina for a few years. Wally moved to Baltimore. Though the digital age made it possible for the collaboration to continue from a distance, it never quite got back to becoming what it originally was.
Wally & Breez have gone on to find happiness in life as Husbands & Fathers.
They still keep in touch and take jabs at each other over social media every football season (Breez=Steelers, Wally=Ravens).
10 years later for your consideration is the concept as fleshed out as it is going to be.
The vocals a little harsh at times, some beats are raw and unfiltered.
The message still very strong and resonant.”
