Update 30 (Quasimoto, Madlib)

The Unseen (cover)

B-b-b-b-b-ack again!
I'm finally here again, had 2 very busy weeks but all should be mellow now ;) I'll try to update my blog more often from now on!



This time I wanted to talk about an album I've really been listening to lately, it's actually somewhat strange but still very, very nice. The album I'm talking about is Quasimoto's Unseen. Quasimoto is an alias of Madlib. The album came out in 2000. It's got kind of funny aspects but also strange features. Madlib actually raps himself on the album, either with his normal voice or a more high pitched voice. The productions on the album are the strongest part of the album by far! Some of my favorite beats on the album are from Boom Music, Bluffin' and Astro Travellin'. The raps are pretty good but mostly entertaining, it's kind of story telling with alot of samples from classic tracks. I'm really excited about the album because it the album was just something new. I still don't know any albums that give this feeling from another Producer/MC. It's a real fresh breath of air. It's something I never heard before on another hip-hop album.

Quasimoto's Character

Here's a list of some tracks I liked alot!
Quasimoto - Low Class Conspiracy
Quasimoto - Boom Music
Quasimoto - Bluffin'
Quasimoto - Astro Travellin'
Quasimoto - Bad Character

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Support the artist by buying his album:
The Unseen album
The Unseen (Deluxe Edition) with instrumentals

Update 29 (Pharoahe Monch, Common, Talib Kweli, Jake One, Freeway, Brother Ali and Quasitmoto a.k.a. Madlib)

Ah snap, havn't updated in almost a week, shame on me. Lots of work at school etc. should be fine after next Friday though.
Nevertheless here's a new update!

Pharoahe Monch, I havn't referred to this MC alot on my blog yet. To be honest I didn't know alot of music of him but this week I've been listening to his album called Internal Affairs. I really liked it so here are some tracks of off it.

Freeway

 

Pharoahe Monch - The Truth (Feat. Common & Talib Kweli)
Definitely my favorite off the album
Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says
Pharoahe Monch - Right Here

Some completely different and more recent music by Freeway, Brother Ali and producer Jake One. Really liked this one track someone sent me by them, so I started to listen some more music by them
Jake One feat. Freeway & Brother Ali - The Truth
Freeway & Jake One - Know What I Mean



Two tracks from a new album I got from Madlib under his alias Quasimoto. The album is partly instrumental and parts with raps, it features Madlib rapping in a high pitched voice (as Quasimoto) The album is actually quite weird but though I really like it, it's really something new! The lines are kind of funny and the production/beats are really the greatest part of the tracks.
Quasimoto - Boom Music
Quasimoto - Bluffin'

Update 28 (Masta Ace, Scarface, Nas, The Firm, Quan)

Random tracks today

Starting off with Masta Ace. He first appeared on the track 'The Symphony' by the Juice Crew (Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane.
Eminem said Masta Ace always has been his nr.1 influence. He has always been a pro in what he does!
Masta Ace - Beautiful

Masta Ace

Just because I think it's a beautiful track, a masterpiece
Masta Ace - Good ol' Love
Another great track.
Masta Ace - Acknowlegde
Some beef with a minor dude called Boogieman or something. He bitch-moved on Masta in a freestyle (well, he wrote his lyrics) He brought Masta shame with this 'freestyle' so this was a diss back, Boogieman wasn't anyone anyways.



Scarface, not the mobster but the rapper. In my opinion one of the best rappers I know from the 'Dirty South'. He's been a member of the Geto Boys. Great rapper!

Scarface

Scarface - On My Block 
Scarface - In Between Us (Feat. Nas) 


Nas, been talking about the legend in a previous post! Just legendary like always
Nas - Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) 
The Firm - Phone Tap 
The Firm is a group consisting of Nas, AZ, Dr. Dre, Foxy Brown and Nature, the group didn't last too long unfortunately. 
Nas - Just A Moment (Feat. Quan) 
 
  

Update 27 (Nas, AZ, Damian Marley, K'naan)

Yea, I'm back!
This time Nas, the legend, the streetpoet.

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, or as we know him, by his artist name Nas or Nasty Nas. Nas grew up in Queensbridge, the same neighbourhood of many famous rappers etc. such as Havoc and Prodigy from Mobb Deep and hometown of the Juice Crew. His father, Olu Dara, is a jazz/blues musician. Two tracks of Nas' first album feature his father playing instruments. He also has a younger brother whose artist name is Jungle.

Nas' first album Illmatic came out in 1994, it was critically acclaimed and still is considered to be an amazing classic in Hip-Hop.

His second album It Was Written was released in 1996. The album was more mainstream based coming from the raw, underground sound Illmatic had.

Nas was a member of the group The Firm (Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Nature with Dr. Dre as their producer) but in 1998 The Firm split up. He also was in Hip-Hop supergroup Group Therapy with B-Real, Dr. Dre, KRS-ONE and RBX.

Update 26 (Big L, Big Pun, DMX, Immortal Technique)

Not alot of time unfortunately, missed yesterday updating quickly today, might be back with a longer post tomorrow!
Today, some old school and some underground new school.

Big L, the flamboyant rapper, king of punchlines!
Big L - Da Graveyard - (Feat. Lord finesse And Jay-Z & Y.U.)
Big L - I Don't Understand It

Puerto Rican Big Pun
Big Pun - You Ain't a Killer

The Dog, DMX
DMX - Stop Being Greedy

I'm a bit surprised I havn't linked this dude yet, one of the greatest in the underground at the moment if you ask me, Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil
Now, really listen to these lyrics, imagine the full story he's telling, to be honest, I found the song pretty scary!
Immortal Technique - You Never Know
Another track with a great story with a twist!
Immortal Technique - Obnoxious

Update 25 (Kool G Rap, Gang Starr, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharaohe Monch, Common, Madlib, J Dilla, Method Man, DMX, Nas, Ja Rule)

Busy weekend, not alot of time but here come some tracks again. Will probably be back tomorrow with a longer post about an artist, which one I'm not sure yet.
Like yesterday, some MC's I've already written about:

Kool G Rap

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - On The Run
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Ill Street Blues

Gang Starr (MC Guru and DJ Premier)
Gang Starr - Mass Appeal
Gang Starr - Full Clip


Mos Def
Mos Def - Napoleon Dynamite
Not yet written about Pharaohe Monch, a great MC in my opinion, featuring Talib Kweli and Common here
Pharoahe Monch feat. Common & Talib Kweli - The Truth
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli - Good To You
Common
Common - Retrospect for Life

Madlib

Madlib, as he said himself, DJ first, producer second, and MC last.
Madlib - Slim's Return
Beat by J Dilla and Madlib MC'ing (as duo named Jaylib)
Jaylib - Take It Back





Another Meth track, this time with Nas, DMX and Ja Rule, I'm not sure on how Ja Rule managed to get in on this track, with names like Nas, Meth and DMX, guess he was lucky. Especially since DMX once beefed with Ja Rule because DMX thought that Ja was trying to imitate DMX's raw, growl-based style. I'm not sure if this all was before or after this track though. The beef's not important though, what matters is a nice track

Method Man, Nas, DMX, Ja Rule - Grand Finale

Update 24 (MF DOOM, Jedi Mind Tricks, Rakim, Method Man)

Not a real lot of time today, so just some tracks from previously mentioned MC's and such!

Jedi Mind Tricks, the Illadelphians
Jedi Mind Tricks - I Who Have Nothing
Jedi Mind Tricks - On The Eve Of War (GZA)

MF DOOM tracks, or should I say King Geedorah?
MF DOOM - Doomsday
King Geedorah - The Fine Print

Rakim, the God MC
Rakim & Eric B. - Microphone Fiend
Rakim - It's A Must

Tracks from Meths first solo album
Method Man - I Get My Thang In Action
Method Man - Sub Crazy

Will be back with more Hip-Hop soon!
Let me hear what you think.

Update 23 (Wu-Tang Clan)

Update number 23 is about the legendary Wu-Tang Clan!
The Wu-Tang Clan is a very influential hip-hop group that originates from Staten Island, New York. The group originally consisted of 9 members: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB) Another rapper who wasn't originally in Wu-Tang Clan but does feature alot of tracks with them is Cappadonna. The group is as said from Staten Island to which they refer as Shaolin Island, some members are from other parts of New York though (Brooklyn and The Bronx)

Awesome Wu-Tang Background with lyrics

The group was founded by ODB and the brothers GZA and RZA with the name Force of the Imperial Master.
The Wu-Tang Clan was formed in 1992, the name was taken from a movie called Shoalin and Wu Tang.
Their first succes was in 1993 with the single Protect Ya Neck. The members that were in the Wu-Tang Clan had a solo career too.

Update 22 (Rakim, Eric B)

Rakim (William Michael Griffin, Jr. born January 28, 1968) another very important pioneer in the sound of Hip-Hop. Rakim is rated as one of the most influential, most skilled MC's ever and has an exceptional flow and lyrical craftmanship.


Rakim grew up in Wyandanch, New York. He began his Hip-Hop career when he was fresh out of high school to record with Producer/DJ Eric B. At his 16th he joined The Nation of Gods and Earths and legally changed his name to Rakim Allah.

In 1986, Rakim started making music with Eric B. as a duo called Eric B & Rakim. They are considered one of the most influential hip-hop groups. Their first album called Paid in Full was very well received by fans and critics. Same happened for their other 3 albums, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and Don't Sweat the Technique. In 1992 Eric B. and Rakim parted.
In 1997 Rakim released his first solo-album The 18th Letter with collaborations with DJ Premier and Pete Rock (DJ/Producer/Rapper)
In 1999, he released his next album called The Master which was also receiver very well.
Later in 2000 Rakim signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label to work on an album called Oh, my God. Due to creative differences Rakim split with the label. From what I've heard in interviews with Rakim etc. is that Dr. Dre and his label are known for their aggressive lyrics and tracks while Rakim has more spiritual lyrics and flows, not aggressive.
Rakim's long anticipated album The Seventh Seal was released in 2009. It received an overwhelming response for the Hip-Hop community. Personally I was really happy to find out Rakim was still an excellent MC like he always was and that he didn't sell out. He kept to his style and and kept it real.
Rakim is known for using alot of rhyming technique's in his lyrics. For example he is noted to be one of the first MC's to use internal rhyming (rhyming words withing 1 line) instead of only rhyming the last word of the lines. Among the Hip-Hop community Rakim is acknowledged as one of the best MC's of all time and I must say I can't disagree!

Paid in Full (1987)
Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
Follow the Leader (1988)
Eric B. & Rakim - Lyrics of Fury 
Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader
The Master (1999)
Rakim - When I B On Tha Mic
Rakim - Waiting For The World To End (DJ Premier)
The Seventh Seal
Rakim - Holy Are You 

Update 21 (MF DOOM, Madlib, Danger Mouse, Ghostface Killah)

It's that time of day again! Update 21 is here.

Today is about Daniel Dumile better known by his most famous alias MF DOOM. Dumile used alot of names such as Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, Metal Fingers (collaborations:), Danger Doom (with Danger Mouse), Madvillain (with Madlib) and Dilla Ghost Doom (with J Dilla and Ghostface Killah)

Dumile was born in London, England in 1971. He and his parents then moved to New York and he was raised in Long Beach, New York. He started a Hip-Hop group with his younger brother and another MC in 1988. In 1993 his younger brother was killed in a car accident just before they would release their album Black Bastards. Dumile and his group were dropped by their label and Dumile stopped his Hip-Hop career.
In 1997 Dumile started freestyling at open-mic events.  Incognito as MF DOOM (MF = Metal Face or Metal Fingers, DOOM from the Marvel Comics super villain Doctor Doom, his mask is also based on this character) He also released some albums as MF DOOM. Operation: Doomsday for example.
Later he started using the name King Geedorah (various spellings) and worked together with the members of the Monsta Island Czars, each member would take a name from the Godzilla myth. They released three tracks. In 2003 he released a King Geedorah album called Take me to your leader and some of the tracks feature MF DOOM.
Later on in 2003 he released another album, this time under the name Viktor Vaughn (also a wordplay on the Doctor Doom character)
In 2004 MF DOOM grouped up with Madlib as Madvillain. They released the album Madvillainy, his first mainstream/commercial succes. Videos were made of the tracks All Caps, Accordion and Rhinestone Cowboy.
In 2005 MF DOOM grouped up with Danger Mouse as Danger Doom and released the album The Mouse and the Mask.
MF DOOM produced and collaborated alot with Wu Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah's and helped producing with two of Ghost's albums.
In 2005 DOOM and Ghost also began recording tracks over beats produced by J Dilla as Dilla Ghost Doom. The group never got to make an official album because of J Dilla's unfortunate death in 2006. 3 days before J Dilla's death he released as an instrumental album including the beats used by DOOM and Ghost.
Madvillain is at the moment busy working at their new album Paper Mill.
Alot of work to be expected from these excellent MC's!

MF DOOM - Monday Nite at the Fluid (Feat. Kurious)
King Geedorah (MF DOOM) - Fazers
Viktor Vaughn (MF DOOM) - Saliva
Madvillain (Madlib & MF DOOM) - Accordion
DangerDoom (Danger Mouse & MF DOOM) - A.T.H.F.
DangerDoom (Danger Mouse & MF DOOM) - The Mask ft. Ghostface
Dilla Ghost Doom - Murder Goons

Update 20 (Gang Starr, JMT, R.A. the Rugged Man)

Today is about the group Gang Starr consisting of MC Guru and DJ Premier. The group Gang Starr was founded in 1985 by Guru with various DJ's and Producers. In 1989 they split up and only Guru continued with the name Gang Starr, DJ Premier (Waxmaster C back then) joined with him and together they continued Gang Starr. They helped pioneer the New York hip-hop music.
In february 2010 Guru suffered a heart attack and went into a coma.
On April 19, 2010 he died. May he rest in peace.
Gang Starr - Who's Gonna Take The Weight
Gang Starr - No More Mr Nice Guy
Gang Starr - Moment Of Truth
Gang Starr- Discipline
Situations like this, will make you think twice,
That's why instead of preaching death in my songs, I breath life, 



Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) Always great tracks, I'm a major fan of their work. AotP (Army of the Pharaohs) was founded by JMT's MC Vinnie Paz (formerly Ikon the Verbal Hologram) JMT consisted of Ikon, Jus Allah and producer Stoupe the enemy of Mankind. Jus Allah split with the group but kept making tracks with them in AotP.

Jedi Mind Tricks - Black Winter Day
Jedi Mind Tricks - Uncommon Valor (feat. R.A. the Rugged Man)

Even though it's a JMT track, R.A. was legendary here imo.

The story he tells is based on his father's war stories in Vietnam.

The story being true makes it so much realer plus the way he spits this track is just

legendary.

Update 19

Today's MC's: Common, Talib Kweli, KRS-One, White Shadow, Rass Kass, Joell Ortiz, Kool G Rap

I actually found this track on accident on youtube when searching for Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Rass Kass and Kool G Rap on one track just had to be good, and I was right if you ask me!
White Shadow feat. KRS-One, Ras Kass, Joell Ortiz & Kool G Rap - Underground


Common, the one I wanted to posted about today. I posted something about him before. In my opinion, Common is really a MC who raps about what he thinks/feels, I'd categorize him as Conscious hip-hop.
Common - I Used To Love H.E.R
This is one of my favorites by Common, the storytelling etc. is just perfect
Common - Sum Shit I Wrote
Common - Ressurection






Now a bit from Talib Kweli. I already wrote about him being in Blackstar with Mos Def. Here are some nice tracks by him:
Talib Kweli - Joy Ft Mos Def - Quality
Talib Kweli - Get By
Not many remixes manage to almost outrise the original in quality, but this one certainly did!
Talib Kweli - Get By (Remix) Ft. Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Busta Rhymes
To be honest, I'm not even a big fan of Kanye and late years Jay-Z but on this track they are spitting pure gold lines!