Helsinki-based producer Fatgyver has released this track from his upcoming album ‘Talk to Strangers‘. The beat is nice and funky, and features Raw Poetic and the always-reliable Blu. Check it out below.
Category: News
Our fears for the new Cannibal Ox album
Cast your mind back to 2001. Years before Run the Jewels, El-P was already a hero of New York’s underground hip-hop scene. Four years had passed since the release of the seminal album Funcrusher Plus from his group Company Flow. But in the short years since then, the group had disbanded, and that late-90s golden era of independent hip-hop labels had started to die fast. Bobbito’s Fondle’em Records was on its very last legs, and even Rawkus, the label that had released Funcrusher Plus and so many other incredible records in such as a short space of time, was in decline.
El-P was doing everything he could to keep the spirit alive though, and by now his Definitive Jux record label had built up solid momentum as the new flag-bearer for all things quality indy rap. In the next few years, Def Jux would release a run of incredibly creative hip-hop records that would gain critical praise and cross-over appeal, and breath new life into a sub-genre that tended to get pigeon-holed rather pointlessly as ‘alternative hip-hop’.
The line-up of talent on the label was a mixed-bag of new voices and established ones, often bringing out the absolute best in artists like Murs, Mr Lif, Aesop Rock, RJD2, and El-P himself. Def Jux would eventually shut up shop less than a decade later, but the legacy it left is still felt today, especially in the spirit of modern independent hip-hop labels like Rhymesayers and Mello Music Group.
Back to 2001, where Def Jux put out their finest release of all; Cold Vein, the debut album from Cannibal Ox. A genuine game-changer, it was a record that embodied everything the label stood for, and was about as far as you could get from a commercial rap record. Fans loved it, critics loved it, and it was instantly hailed as a classic.
And then, nothing. We’ve since had a handful of impressive solo albums from both group members, Vast Aire and Vordul Mega, but no full length album post Cold Vein (we aren’t counting the live album from 2005).
We all got pretty damn excited then when it was recently announced that the group would soon be dropping Blade of the Ronin, a brand new album at last. Our hopes were crushed again however, when it became obvious there would be no input from El-P.
It’s unfair to say that El-P’s production was the best thing about Cold Vein, but it was certainly the driving force, and the most overtly refreshing and unique element of the album. There is no doubt that Vast Aire and Vordul Mega are incredibly gifted artists and writers, and the hip-hop scene has been itching to get more records from both of them. But take El-P’s soundscapes out of the equation, and it will be hard for the new album to make anywhere near the same impact as Cold Vein.
Blade of the Ronin does have some good things going for it. For starters, and as already stated, both members of the group are superior rappers. The guest list also happens to include spots from Elzhi, Artifacts and a certain MF Doom. But on the leaked credit list, there’s still not a single mention of El-P anywhere. Production duties seem to be resting on the unknown Bill Cosmia instead. And with all due respect to Bill, when we read that, our hearts sank even further.
To try and make another album like Cold Vein would of course be a mistake anyway, and even if they did get El-P, his sound has changed dramatically since 2001. But without him at all, we fear this may be one long-awaited return that might just disappear without much of a trace. We hope to be proved wrong, and that come March, you’ll be seeing us eat our words.
UPDATE: The group recently previewed the MF Doom featuring track Iron Rose. It’s pretty good, so those words we hope to be eating may be consumed sooner than we thought.
Blade of the Ronin is set for release on March 3. Pre-order now.
Random YouTube man puts pictures to Dilla’s classic Donuts
Hip-hop music videos just ain’t what they used to be, and they weren’t that great even when they were. They still have a place though, but what do you do when you want to put pictures to a work that never had videos, years after the fact?
If you are video maker Houston Loves J Dilla, you make your own video by stitching together hours of random footage. But when the music you are working with happens to be J Dilla’s Donuts, one of the most revered albums in hip-hop, you have to tread carefully. Thankfully, the boy has done good.
Coming off more like a short film, the clip illustrates the entire 43 minutes of the Donuts album, gifting us a respectful and skilful pastiche of an absolute classic. Watch below for yourself and let us know what you think.
Dilla Day 2015
February 10, 2006. For many hip-hop heads, it was the day the music died, for it was the date that the great J Dilla passed away. His legacy lives on in all of us though, and for several years since his death, his mother, the much-loved Ma Dukes, has organized the annual Dilla Day event.
The 2015 edition is leaving Dilla’s hometown of Detroit for Miami instead, and the confirmed line-up of artists is already incredible. His old group Slum Village will be there, as will frequent Dilla collaborators Talib Kweli and Madlib, plus the legend Pete Rock. Other guests include Black Milk, whose music has been inspired by Jay Dee, alongside Joey Badas$$, Camp Lo and more. That adds up to a fine selection of talent paying their respect to one of the greatest of all time.
This year the event is also being extended to an entire weekend, from February 5-8. Tickets are available from here right now. Peep the flyer below for more.
Here’s why 2015 will belong to Action Bronson
It’s that time of the year when everyone looks back at the best albums from the last twelve months. It has been a stellar year for hip-hop, but we prefer to look forward, and predict that 2015 will be the year of Action Bronson. Here’s why.
Firstly, obviously, there’s the music. Bronsolino is one of the most talented rappers to break onto the scene in the last few years, finally managing to distance himself from those early Ghostface Killah comparisons to emerge as a unique and brilliant artist in his own right.
If all goes to plan, early 2015 will finally see the release of the long-awaited Mr Wonderful album. Details are still short (save for a recent tracklist announcement from the man himself), but if the epic, cinematic single Easy Rider is a sign of things to come, this could well be an instant classic.
Some would argue that Bronson’s music is too much gimmick; full of dumbass tales and stupid shit. In reality, his songs are the work of a master storyteller, weaving intricate narratives in a way matched only by the likes of MF Doom, Slick Rick and Ghostface himself. It takes a sharp delivery and advanced writing skills to do this type of hip-hop well, and Bronson has cracked the formula.
The music isn’t all craziness and shock tactics either. Bronson’s lyrics can often take us down darker and more serious streets, like on Alligator, from the incredible Saaab Stories. What starts out as casual snippet of the life and times of Bronson and his girls, then moves on to something more sinister, covering everything from abortion, cancer and death, to how baby turtles make their entrance into this troubled world.
Music aside, its Bronson’s personality that stands out as the other reason why he’s likely to be huge next year (no pun intended). Like his music, on first inspection the way the man looks is misleading. A big dude, covered in tats with a wild beard isn’t exactly a classic hip-hop look (Rick Rubin being the exception).
When he opens his mouth though, it’s clear this is a complex thinker with many layers of intelligence. He’s also savvy, knowing how to pick projects in way that will ensure they go viral, like his appearances in the hilarious Fuck, That’s Delicious culinary tour videos for Vice, and those crazy live shows where he’ll jump on top of a truck or leave the venue to go get food, all while still performing.
Action Bronson the character then is almost now more important than Action Bronson the musician. But with both feeding off each other, in perfect sync, what we have is an artist destined to step out from only being known by those in the know, and breakthrough on a whole new level very soon.
This time next year we guarantee you’ll be reading about Mr Wonderful in the top albums of the year lists. We can’t wait to sit back and watch what happens in the meantime.
Here’s some awful Christmas rap. Happy Holidays!
Christmas music is pretty wack, even in hip-hop. There isn’t much to choose from in the way of festive rap classics, but we’ve done our best to list a few of the best from a very bad bunch. Some you’ll know, others you might have forgotten, some you may never even have heard before. Consider this our holiday gift to you. We won’t even ask for anything in return (perhaps a few shares would be a nice touch though).
Cold Chillin Christmas by the Juice Crew:
Santa’s Got a Muthafuckin’ Uzi by Mr. Lif:
Christmas in Hollis by Run D.M.C:
Merry Muthafuckin’ Xmas by Eazy-E:
Watch DJ Nu-Mark on the latest Rhythm Roulette
Mass Appeal have steady been bringing us new episodes of Rhythm Roulette in recent weeks, and they reserved the final episode of 2014 for Jurassic 5 producer DJ Nu-Mark. Known for having a huge vinyl collection of his own, it wasn’t too much of a surprise to hear that he was already familiar with some of the records he picked out at random.
After a quick listen to all three pieces of vinyl, Nu-Mark gets to work, and its not long before he has crafted a nice little beat. It helps of course when you happen to have a sick studio at your disposal, with Nu-Mark making full use of everything from Maschine to his Serato set-up. The result is dope, and you can hear it below.
DJ Nu-Mark’s latest album with Slimkid3 is out now.
Will work for food: Questlove gets animated in a classic story
The aren’t many storytellers in hip-hop better than Questlove. Close to three decades of touring with The Roots and making music with the biggest names in the game have armed Philly’s favorite drummer with a ton of industry stories, and his people at Okayplayer are now animating them for our pleasure.
Watch below as Questo tells the long-running tale of his mission to sample the soul food of legendary singer Patti LaBelle. Chasing the culinary dream to the point of damn near obsession, at one point literally working for food, the messed up situation eventually has Questlove thinking that Patti’s promise of a good feed is nothing but smoke and mirrors. It’s one of the funniest industry stories we’ve heard, delivered personally by one of the nicest guys in hip-hop.
Review: Run the Jewels live in London
It’s no secret that we fucking love Run the Jewels and everything it stands for, and last night we caught them live in London for a show that sold out weeks ago.
The crowd was a healthy mix from every walk of life, proving just how many people Run the Jewels’ music is reaching. From classic-era heads who’ve been with El-P since Company Flow and Def Jux, to those just being introduced to the crew now – perhaps thanks to Killer Mike’s incredible commentary on the situation in Ferguson and beyond – the entire venue was charged with anticipation throughout the set from the warm-up deejay.
When El-P and Killer Mike took to the stage, the crowd went absolutely nuts, and the seasoned vets gave us exactly what we came for. That raw aggression we hear on wax translates perfectly to the live stage, with both rappers having enough energy to put artists half their age to shame.
All of the best tracks from their two already-certified-classic albums were included in the set, each one feeling as comforting and familiar as the kind of songs we’ve had as our favorites for years, which is all the more amazing when you step back and remember we’ve only been blessed with music from Run the Jewels since 2013.
Good live hip-hop shows are few and far between, but this was one that no doubt left a lasting impression on everyone who stepped out into the freezing cold London night when the show had ended, still buzzing about what they has just witnessed.
RTJ2 is out now on Mass Appeal. Read our review here, and our thoughts on the incredible upcoming Meow the Jewels project here.
Watch Oh No sample video games in the latest Rhythm Roulette
The new episode of Mass Appeal’s brilliant Rhythm Roulette series features one of our favorite producers, Oh No. Although sometimes lost under the huge shadow of his brother Madlib, Oh has proved himself to be one of the most consistent beat makers of the past decade, crafting incredible sounds for his own albums, and on classics by Mos Def, Guilty Simpson, Murs, Talib Kweli, MED and many others.
In a twist to the normal process, Oh No visits a video game store to make his three selections, where his hands fall upon Karate Champ, Nascar 99 and NWO/WCW Revenge, all for Nintendo 64 (remember that?).
Back in the lab, Oh No gives each game a play, and seems to have some trouble figuring the controls for the wrestling joint. He then starts working his magic, and before long we have a credible beat, sourcing a loop and various vocal stabs from the games.
Check the video below to hear the end result. All we need now is for his older brother to take up the Rhythm Roulette challenge.