Let the Drums Take Me There......

Here's something I wrote awhile back about a very influential person in Hip-Hop....

It’s 12:12 A.M. and I’ve been pondering writing this note for past week or so because I didn’t know how to approach writing this so here we go. I remember in February of 2006, I heard J-Dilla had passed away. I was devastated about his passing. I’m not going to front I didn’t know about dude like I should until his death. I went through his discography and saw all the people he worked with and seeing that he contribute to my love for Hip-Hop and what it stood for. Just looking from the Pharcyde to De La Soul and seeing the songs he produced, I could remember where I was at hearing those records and I cherish those memories because it was apart of my childhood. I remember just listening to those songs and just noticing how the drums just stood out from any other hip hop producer like he was making his sound stand out and giving Hip-Hop that smooth but that snear kicking sound that makes the MC say some of illest shit you would ever hear. Dilla came along during a time where Hip-Hop didn’t have a sound nor direction because people including myself was so caught up in the whirlwind of West Coast Sound we forgot about the essence of where everything had began. Dilla would take some of the most off the wall samples and just put his twist on them and make a record that just took it there Note: (Pharcyde “Runnin”). Dilla was the one that held it down for awhile before that second run came along for the Realness of Hip-Hop.

So back to his death, I remember when Common came out with the album “BE”, I think that was his present to the world before he left because some of those records he made it was as if he knew he was leaving soon and just wanted to be apart of a masterpiece. With songs like “Love Is”, and my favorite “It’s Your World” it’s like besides Common telling a story over the beat, it was if you didn’t need Common because Dilla gave him the blueprint to his words with just painting a picture with the beat. I remember just letting all the windows down in my car and just letting that song play constantly because it was as if he was living right on Dupont St. and seeing what I seen everyday. Another memory I have is being in the car with my Ex-girlfriend and she would get mad at me because I would just play that song so much ,but it’s songs like that that makes you zone out and just reflect on things and thinking what’s next for you in this game we called LIFE. So with this being the month he passed and was born, I just been listening to his music and just appreciating that I had to chance to hear one of the greatest if not the GREATEST and the impact he left on the listeners, producers, rappers etc. So in conclusion he will be missed greatly and I will let the Drums Take Me There….

D.I.T.C. Jay-Z "Addicted To The Game" x The Jackson 5 "Give It Up"

This Jay-Z song is one of my personal favorites. This song is unreleased, but spread like wild fires once it was out and was on everyone's mix CD in high school. I hope you enjoy the music. PEACE!!!

Soulful Sounds in Cinema....

Back in the 70's, you had a lot of movies that hit the silver screen with Soul and R&B artist doing the scores to the movies. The artists grasp different moments from scenes in the movies that a instrumentation couldn't do. Looking back to that era, it seemed great to see black artist being embraced to show their talents in a movie and most importantly seeing the genre expand besides on urban radio. With this post I'll pick some of my favorite songs from cinema and give you a back drop from it. Enjoy!!


Willie Hutch "Foxy Brown Overture"

Mr. Hutch ruled the 70's with his soulful compositions from movies like "The Mack" to "Foxy Brown". Willie really embraced the struggle Foxy had to go through the movie trying avenge her boyfriend's death. While the composition plays, Willie comes with this soulful plead to Foxy to keep pushing and don't let him down. Even though the song is short, Willie gets his points across with the horns and strings assisting him...sound so soulful don't you agree.

Phyllis Hyman "Magic Mona"

The late great Phyllis Hyman blessed her presence with the soundtrack "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh". It was a lot of great records on this soundtrack, but "Magic Mona" steal the cake. The record embodied the character in the movie which was Mona the the Physic. The record has a real big majestic sound, and the lyrics behind the composition is great. It gives you the same feel that the character Mona gives you with her big personality in the movie.

Marvin Gaye "Don't Mess With Mr. T."

I mean do I have to say his name really?? This man contribution really put this movie on top with his soulful voice and willing to embrace the identity of the movie, and make it his life so the music could come to life. With the "Trouble Man" Soundtrack, it wasn't a lot of singing. It seemed as if Marvin watched the movie and took different scenes or characters brought their character to life through his music. With the song "Don't Mess With Mr. T." He digs into the character "T" and his background of being the one not to be messed with,  because he's coming back to get revenge.

James Brown "The Boss"

The Godfather of Soul put his larger than life but his demanding attitude in this soundtrack "Black Caesar". "The Boss" was a great record off the soundtrack, and also gave a  anthem for people who thought they were bosses as well. This song proved to be a crossover into reality for some and becoming a instant classic.

I could go on and on and on...but I'm not. I'll you let go guys go dig up some more songs, and enjoy more of then for your own convince. I hope you enjoyed this post. PEACE

Todd Smith At His Finest.....

If you're old enough, you remember when LL first hit the scene and he shook the rap world up. As time went on, it just seemed as if the fire wasn't in him anymore, and he went for a softer approach dealing with the ladies. This is some audio I came up on, and for the old LL Cool J fans, I'm sure this won't let you down. ENJOY!!!

My Ipod Shuffle

No need for me to say nothing about this post, the music says enough....

D.I.T.C. Black Milk "Losing Out" & Cam'ron "Let's Talk About It" x The Alan Parsons Project "Let's Talk About Me"

Yes...people...YES it's that time again...my favorite post D.I.T.C. . I've been playing the record "Let's Talk About Me" by The Alan Parsons Project for sometime. I always said it would be dope if someone sampled it. Well it happen finally, Black Milk blessed his talents bring the record back to life and Cam'ron compliments the sample by putting his signature Dip Set sound on it by slowing down the sample and put his Simple Simon flow all over it. I hope you enjoy it

Peace!!!

JMJ...

I know I was suppose to write on this like week ago, but to me, sometimes you have to sit on a thought and let it grown until it's the right time for it to blossom. With this post, I'm not going to give you info on his life, his career, and etc, because you can Google that. What I'm going to do is write on the impact he had behind those two turn tables that sparked a magical time in Hip-Hop and the culture.

Jam Master Jay a name that's held highly when it comes to Hip-Hop, he's had a great effect on everyone he's touched personally to someone just picking up a RUN-DMC record. I can remember as a child sitting in my living room, and watching RUN-DMC nodding my head to the song. But what caught my eye was JMJ (Jam Master Jay) and what he was doing in the background. JMJ didn't rap but he brought a element to the group that RUN or DMC couldn't do and that was bringing those two turn tables to life. JMJ would be on stage holding his own right along with RUN and DMC but scratching, and rocking the crowd and keeping them in tune with the MC's. It got to a point to where people loved what he was doing so much they have to give him his own spot during the set.

I can talk about it all the day, but you have to see it for yourself


JMJ didn't only contribute his talents on the turntables but as knowledge about original. When Hip-Hop was first introduced, you had groups dressing in these weird, crazy, and kind of disturbing costumes.

Like this...

Yea weird right. When JMJ saw this, he told the group that we need to be original, and go against the grain. With that being said, they came with the black hats, Levi jeans, all black leather outfits, and their infamous Addidas sneakers with no shoe strings. With that move, it proved that being original and against the grain works when you're building on the art and you want to see it continue the grow. Most importantly, other MC's start creating their image so they could have their identity, and be able to stand out.

The impact Jay made on the art of Deejaying was powerful. It was other DJ's that came before Jay like Grand Master Flash, Dj Hollywood, Red Alert, and others that did it great, but Jay showed that you could your create your own identity using your that talent. The way he cuts, and blend records was incredible, but most importantly controlling the crowd without having to say one word. Other DJ's like DJ Scratch, Kid Capri, Minster. Cee, and others built on what Jay started took it another level.

Even though Jay has been gone for some time now, his presence is felt when you see a DJ in concert, or you hear a old RUN-DMC record, and like DMC said, "You'll see Jay again my friend!"