Another Cheesy Gem

I'm feeling like absolute shit today. I'm battling some kind of deadly virus, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.

The UMC's draw influence from groups like Biz Markie and De La Soul, keeping the positive, fun vibe in hip hop at a time when the g-funk era was taking over. Wildpitch rappers Haas G and Kool Kim released Fruits of Nature in 1991 but were doomed from the start and split shortly after their second, more hardcore-themed album Unleashed in 1994.

Blue Cheese
Jive Talk

The West Coast Wu-Tang

Back in the mid-nineties I spent most of my teenage years in apathy of the school events and socializing, devoting most all of my time to my skateboarding passion. I must have spent every dime I made from bagging groceries and cooking hoagies on skateboard videos (old school VHS). The great thing about all those videos was that the pros got to choose their favorite songs to play during their featured montage of tricks, which ranged from punk to hip hop and sometimes even country.

I discovered Hieroglyphics when a commercial (yes, some of these videos even had advertisements) for a snowboard company had one of the gnarliest underground hip hop tracks I had ever heard. That track turned out to be a song featuring Del the Funky Homosapien called "At The Helm". This song ended up being the anthem of my summer.

Third Eye Vision was one of the most innovative albums to come out in 1998. Hieroglyphics is a super crew consisting of Del, Casual, Pep Love & Jaybiz (The Prose), and Souls of Mischief along with producer Domino. It's a bulkly album with numerous stand out tracks and almost no fillers with back and forth, top notch rhyming from all members. Although they're from Cali, their style resonates more from east coast artists and sample heavy beats (a rarity when most were opting for a more stripped down, clean production). Definitely a hip hop classic. Pick this album up if you ever come across it. You won't be disappointed.

You Never Knew
At the Helm
Oakland Blackouts

Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats

It's no secret that producer Madlib is one of the few jazz enthusiasts left in present times, evident in his numerous hip hop beats and experimental Yesterday's New Quintet albums, not to mention his father is a famous jazz singer. At the request of Stones Throw head-honcho Peanut Butter Wolf, Blue Note graciously allowed Madlib to create an album of remixed songs from their back catalog. I can imagine that Madlib must have felt like a kid in a candy store.

Shades of Blue isn't a jazz/hip hop-fusion album like Guru's Jazzmatazz. All but one track is instrumental. Most of what Madlib does with the tracks is rearrange the sections and add a drum loop, but despite the simplicity of it, it's a nice gateway album to the sources of the cuts, which include Andrew Hill, Donald Byrd, and Horace Silver. This is one of my favorite albums to play in the background of conversations and reading, which perfectly blends two of my favorite musical genres.

Distant Land
Stormy
Song For My Father

Little Brother, Big Controversy

Little Brother had high hopes for their softmore effort in 2005. It was to be their breakout album into the circus that is mainstream rap music. It received mixed reviews, most notoriously from The Source magazine, which was originally to give it a 4 and a half mic rating, but was lowered due to internal disagreements. Unfortunately the group split with their producer 9th Wonder recently, most likely due to the disappointing sales and creative differences between the two parties.

Nonetheless, The Minstrel Show is a pleasurable concept album comparing modern day rappers to black-faced performers of the early 19th century, satisfying the populace with gang glorification, female exploitation and not to mention terrible lyrical delivery. Phonte's flow meshes well with 9th's choppy, lo-fi production while Big Pooh provides his two cents worth.

Lovin' It
Say It Again
All For You

A Bright Idea + some DJ abilities = Classic Material

I gotta represent with a post about a dope group from my hometown once in a while. Ever since Atmosphere blew up about four or five years ago, the majors have been stalking the Twin Cities for similar musicians to sign, but most artists here have stayed true to the independent scene that nurtured them.

One of my favorite DJ/MC duo outta St. Paul is Eyedea & Abilities. Both men are veterans of the battle arena (Eyedea's most notorious was winning HBO's Blaze Battle and Abilities has won DMC regionals) and breath fresh, relieving air into the hip hop game. Their debut album came out in 2001 which seems like so long ago when I reflect on it today, almost makes me feel old (*sob*). Seriously though, albums just aren't as stitched together and as cohesive as this one anymore. I love concept albums with a central theme and songs that weave together like a rug on a loom. This is how albums are supposed to be listened to! Back to back, no track skipping, no bullshit. Just beautiful music that evokes feelings you couldn't get any other way.

Music Music
Liquid Sovereignty
On This I Stand

Since We Last Spoke...

Wow. Where to begin with a guy who borrowed his stage name from the cute, lovable droid from Star Wars? RJD2, who was a record collecting DJ nerd out of Ohio, began his music career DJing parties and making beats for the infamous MegaHertz crew until he was signed to Def Jux while shopping beats to record labels. I'm sure you've heard at least one of his cuts off his debut 2002 instrumental album, Deadringer in about 10 different Wells Fargo commercials.

While I treasure my autographed copy of Deadringer, I have a much higher appreciation of his second, more experimental album, Since We Last Spoke. I mean, he's sampling 70's sludge-rock, 80's synth, and combining it with funky hip hop beats and it fucking mashes together like ice cream and peanut butter (mmm...)!

Fuck all these "indie rock" musicians. This is what the future of music should sound like.

Exotic Talk
1976
Through The Walls

Now Hear This

In my humble opinion, indie hip hop really took off at the dawn of the new millennium (Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Slum Village, Reflections Eternal just too name a few). The Unspoken Heard released their debut LP Soon Come... in 2001 on 7Heads recording label (also home of J-Live) to much critical acclaim.

Asheru and Blue Black are two very educated rappers who have a fond love of hip hop. Blue Black produces most of the record with lots of chopped piano samples and groovy beats. Asheru has a solid delivery that never bores. You can definitely hear similarities to Pete Rock's sound on this record, which is probably why I like it so much :)

Truly Unique
Theme Music
Elevator Music