There’s now a video for the Boombastic single from MoSS that we told you about last week. It features the legends Slum Village, and is taken from producer MoSS’ new album, also called Boombastic. Watch below.
Category: J Dilla
Slept-on albums in retrospect: Raekwon’s – ‘Immobilarity’
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.
Slum Village – ‘Tear It Down’
The impressive new album from Slum Village has been out long enough for any self-respecting hip-hop fan to have heard and purchased it by now. If you haven’t yet, then go do it. If you still need a little convincing, try new single Tear It Down below, which happens to be produced by original member and all-round hero J Dilla.
MoSS – ‘Boombastic’ feat. Slum Village
Slum Village guest on the dope new track Boombastic, from Toronto producer MoSS. It’s from his upcoming album of the same name, which also features DJ Premier and AZ to name a few. Listen below.
Byron The Aquarius – ‘J D I L L A WHAT UP DOE VOL.1’
You can never have too many J Dilla tributes, and this one from producer Byron The Aquarius is a particularly good specimen. Its 13 tracks of solid beats inspired by the much-missed Yancey boy, and you can stream and buy it below.
Slum Village – ‘Yes!’ album stream
After a string of singles, we now get to hear the entire new Slum Village album early, a week before it drops. We knew it had J Dilla beats, but not this many. Not that we are complaining about that. Guests include De La Soul, Black Milk and more, and you can stream the whole damn thing below. Let us know what you think.
Slum Village – ‘Right Back’ feat. De La Soul
The drops from new Slum Village album Yes! have been great so far, but Right Back is the one that has been intrigueing us most, and that’s because it features De La Soul over J Dilla beat once again. Turns out it only has Plug 1 on it, but it’s still dope all round. Listen below.
Slum Village – ‘Expressive’ (video)
No album from Slum Village is complete without at least one track produced by original member J Dilla, and new project Yes is no exception. Latest single Expressive now has a video, featuring Dilla’s little bro Illa J, plus BJ The Chicago Kid, and you can watch it below. Look for the new album coming soon.
Byron The Aquarius & Dillon – ‘KeepDoinYaThang’ (Dilla tribute)
We fuckin’ love a J Dilla tribute, so we were pleased to hear that Byron The Aquarius and Dillon are about to drop their Dilla Dedication EP. The first single is KeepDoinYaThang, which has a definite Slum Village vibe to it. Listen below, and look out for the full EP coming next week.
Frank Nitt – ‘Official Supreme’
The latest single from Detroit rapper Frank Nitt features a beat from long-time collaborator J Dilla. Its from new album Frankie Rothstein, out today, which also includes the usual suspects of those who worked with Dilla, including his brother Illa J, and Slum Village member T3. Watch the video below, then go support that album.