Nice to see one of my 2007 discoveries still getting airplay: Ferdinand Jozef George, a real Dutch talent; to me that means I didn’t get bored with the album after a short while.
Never expected Marsalis to top the list, but I sure as hell don’t have any complaints about that!
N*E*R*D is a bit of a mystery, cause the album wasn’t a very satisfying experience; glad to see some Roy Hargrove tracks there.
Kinda miss tracks by Alice Coltrane, but hey.. Scrobbling your music is a near-precise exercise
Artists Most Played In 2008 (Last.fm):
Yep, Meshell’s still on top, heheh.. One dodgy concert doesn’t take away my total fanboy adoration of this lady’s total body of work. And Lovely, lovely from her last album? Still WOW!!
Q-Tip’s latest release The Renaissance has been on my playlist these last two months, album still works for me. Good to see my girl Alice on the list, heheh.. Pleasantly surprised by Jose Gonzalez’ entry on this list, fine by me, not gonna play any of his stuff any time soon, tho..
2008 Discoveries
Buika (thx, MissTO)
Alice Coltrane (thx, Will)
Jose James
Keep In Time and Brasil In Time projects
Nina Simone
Just go and have a listen..
That’s it, now on to a new year of listening to great and exciting music!
General Description
Artist/Band: Q-Tip || ||
Album Title: The Renaissance
Year: 2008
Don’t call it a comeback?
How I Got Into This Music
I’m still a total fan of A Tribe Called Quest. Haven’t paid any attention to any of his previous albums, but with this release I thought I’d just give it a try.
Reviews: || || ||
Videos: ||
Have a listen on:
Tracks that got my attention: Johnny Is Dead But what good’s an ear if a q-tip isn’t in it?
Heheh, nice one.. Guitar intro and the chorus are kinda not happening, love the keyboards and bass line.
Won’t Trade
Kinda catchy, enjoyed it the first coupla times, but now it’s almost a bit bland. Weird.
Gettin’ Up
Video:
Great track, so mellow. The keyboard intro/loop is very sweet and the bass just reeks of nostalgia It’s an incredibly simple setup, production-wise, but it’s very effective and catchy. The late great J Dilla in the producer’s seat.
This one of those Walk In The Park tracks, love it!
Official
Very strong scratchwork and samples. Makes me wish D’Angelo was doing the backing vocals. Damn it, the whole song triggers D’Angelo vibes. Like it very much.
You
Think this one’s my favorite track. Now let’s see if I can explain why.
The staccato rap flow. The simple and subtle yet funky bassline. The lyrics trigger some old memories. The very tight setup.
We Fight For Love feat. Raphael Saadiq
Meh.. Just the great bassline, but not really working for me.
Manwomanboogie feat. Amanda Diva
Triggering memories of his Breathe And Stuff period, which is a bit dubious to me. Don’t get me wrong: I liked the track, but like Vivrant Thing it was too much of the Hype Williams videos that turned me off.
Again a very nasty bass..
Move
Video:
Maybe later on I’ll learn to understand and/or like this track. But for now: me no likey.
Dance On Glass
The intro of this track: 1 full minute a capella of pure excellence. And the flow when the music joins in is blissfully well produced.
Life Is Better feat. Norah Jones
Wow! Guaranteed hit, release the track as a single as soon as friggin’ possible!
But.. what I don’t get, is the way the track’s produced: you got the excellent vocals by Miss Jones and somehow the choice was made to use a (very well performed) dedication rap as main theme. It doesn’t work for me; I’d prefer a simple love theme or whatever, but this?
Still, hope they release it soon!
Believe feat. D’Angelo
Heheh.. When will D’Angelo finally represent his shit like he used to a while back? I was lucky enough to see him perform live at the North Sea Jazz in the 90s, but we need to see him in action again!
Ehm.. Back to the track: this is how Life Is Better should’ve been produced. Sweet, laidback and sexy.
Conclusion
Like blkbetty said: this album’s a creeper. It really grows on you. I wasn’t really impressed the first coupla times I listened to it, but then I found myself playing the album over and over, getting a better understanding and feeling of the vibes and stuff..
Wonder if I’ll still be listening to it in three months. Not sure, but for now, it’s a very sweet album to listen to.
General Description
Artist/Band: A Tribe Called Quest || ||
Album Title: The Low End Theory
Year: 1991
One hundred percent intelligent black children
How I Got Into This Music
For me these guys are one of the most important rap groups of the business: A Tribe Called Quest. And this album is another one of my favorites.
Reviews: || || ||
Videos: ||
Have a listen on:
Tracks that got my attention: Excursions
Jazz? Jazzy influences in rap? In 1991? For me, that was one of the first times I paid attention to rap bands using jazz.
Opening bass line, tasty and scrumptious! Vocal samples from the Last Poets. Beats that are hard, beats that are funky
It could get you hooked like a crackhead junkie
What you gotta do to is know that the tribe is in the sphere
The abstract poet, prominent like Shakespeare
Rap Promoter
Just a groovy track, love the guitar riff sample!
Butter
Phyfe on the solo trip, being a total bad boy, heheh.. The man is one of the best rappers with an unbelievable flow. The horn sample in the chorus is Smoothness. Well here comes Flo, with the crazy whip appeal
And I’m all true man, like Alexander O’Neal
Is this really love, then again, how would I know
After all this time tryin’ to be a superhoe
She finally played me, but yo, I’d find another
Cause I got the crazy game and yo, I’m smooth like butter
Verses From The Abstract
Q-Tip AKA The Abstract in his best form. A soft reggae flow with mister Ron Carter on Bass, oooohhwweeeee!! The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket
Wrap yourself up in it, if you love it, then you’ll thank it
One of my favorite lyrics ever.. You could put it on my tombstone, yes please, thankyouverymuch..
Show Business
Nice tempo, sometimes a bit boring, sometimes still interesting. If I’m not mistaken, this track’s the first time they had other rappers on their work.
Vibes And Stuff
The choppy keyboard sample has been used many a time since I heard it on this album. Love it! Great dedication track.
The Infamous Date Rape
A very serious subject, putting things in perspective, I guess.
Check The Rhime
Gotta try and remember where the horn sample’s from.
Classic anthem!!! (repeat to infinity:) Q: you on point, Phife?
P: all the time, Tip
This is a master class in rap lyrics, boys-n-girlz, pay attention! now here’s a funky introduction of how nice I am.
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram.
I’m like an energizer ’cause, you see, I last long.
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong.
Got this one printed on a t-shirt: One hundred percent intelligent black child.
Another shout-along: Industry rule number four thousand and eighty,
Record company people are shady.
Everything Is Fair
Female equality, a flipside story.
Jazz
Another mellowed out track, sweet bass work and nasty horns on the sampler. Back and forth just like a cameo song
If you dig this joint then please come dance along
What?
Momma, this is hurting me fine!! A minimalistic setup: a basic loop and beat, mixed with Q-Tip’s vocals.
A lot of very smart questions: What’s duke ellington without that swing?
What’s alex haley if it doesn’t have roots?
What is hip-hop if it doesn’t have violence?
Scenario
Yeah.. It took me some time to like this chant, but I love it now and it still rocks!
Here’s the video, made by Spike Lee:
Conclusion
The importance lies in the production and choice of samples: jazz is given a serious center stage without being to preachy about it and mixing it all up into a very broad spectrum. It still is an accessible record for the rap crowd while triggering interest from the non-rap crowd.
Also the lyrics: seriously, these guys were setting new standards with the words and vocals.
This album’s a favorite, still prefer Midnight Marauders though.
Go have a listen!
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