Profane Brings the Experimental Funk on 'Final Version 38' EP

While Canada’s Profane has always delved into the breakbeat-heavy side of the drum & bass spectrum, his penchant for edited breaks have taken an interesting turn over the last few years. In August of 2017, his single “Drughms” sounded like a gospel band doing a number of different drugs during a recording session, but there’s was an off-kilter beauty to the subversive rhythms he employed.

Profane is riding that sound throughout his latest EP for Digital Wreka, Final Version 38. The opening track, “16 Bar Bullethell,” starts out unassuming enough, and while more understated at first, a guttural wail and an amen break falling down a flight of stairs summons a dynamic shift in tension for the track. “Laundromat Bees” is even deeper, with a thumping kick keeping the time for the lazy, drunken guitars and scattered percussion to fill in the dreamy landscape. The Twitch Mug remix of “Drughms” keeps the same energy of the original, with some more vibrant textures and fresher edits thrown in for good measure. A reprise of “16 Bar Bullethell” closes out the proceedings.

Ultimately, for a genre as progressive as drum & bass has been, Profane has found a way to take the sound back to the future, finding inspiration in the old to shape his sound for the aliens picking over our remains. Hopefully, they will see that there was indeed a soul in the machine, and it sho’ was funky!

Stream the full EP below, and cop it via Bandcamp today.

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Skrewtape - Skumbag Millionaires

An unexpected thing happened when I hit the 2013 Jersey Fresh Jam, Skrewtape gave me a copy of Skumbag Millionaires. Seriously, there's a picture to prove that this finally exists. See, if you know Skrew, you know that he's everywhere. Dude's got a great balance of being fun-loving and cracking jokes, but when that crispy instrumental drops, he turns into an animal. Put a mic in his hand and its a wrap. Those two sides mean that he makes a lot of friends and acquaintances, and on Skumbag Millionaires, Skrew made sure that his hip-hop opus featured a sick line-up of some of Jersey's finest spitters and producers. That said, it makes sense that it's been roughly two years since the time I first heard about this project and when it literally hit my hands.

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DJ Nappy's Vestax VCI-300 MKII Review

I keep forgetting to post this up. If you guys fucked with Nappy's Purp & Green mix, here's video from the review I got him to sort for Dogs On Acid, breaking down Vestax's VCI-300 MKII DJ controller, w/ Serato Itch.

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[review] Saigon The Greatest Story Never Told

Yeah, I'm no Saigon fan, but when TRU needed a review of his album, The Greatest Story Never Told, I ended up doing some writing about it. Not the actual content, but the fiasco leading up to it. The one like @Nahshon handled the album work. It's up now, check it out.

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Danny! Where Is Danny

Danny! is the kind of rapper who would prank his father by dropping a gay porno mag in a spot where his mother would find it, only to have to break up the ensuing ruckus between his parents by admitting that he tricked them.

And they'd love him for it.

For the last few months now, the Where Is Danny? question has gone through my head. Dude is a lot smarter than most of the rappers out there, and while the idea of naming his Def Jux debut CD Where Is Danny?, then having the project seemingly disappear way past its release date is either some Definitive Snoozing, or part of a bigger, Kaufman-esque ploy. Maybe Danny! pranked us.

Thing is, once you pop this satisfying Hip-Hop treat into your CD player/iPod/listening receptacle, you'll forget all about being pissed off and just marvel in the wonderment that is Danny!. Beats come straight from the homey Alex Goose, who has a sick combination of devious loops ("I Ain't The Walrus" is a favorite) to my personal favorite, "This Is Your Life (In West Watch-A-Ka-Tella)", which has been kept instrumental, and sounds like the theme song to a classic '70s TV show... on speed. And it works. What's great about Alex's production on this is that it allows Danny to really go in lyrically, throwing anything and everything he wishes at these excellent beats; I remember reading that he wanted to showcase his MC skills this time around, and this connection with Alex really allows him to do so.

Now, I had plans to rock a full review of this, and what you see in red is how it started out. Word from Danny!'s people just came by that this album is to be distributed for free. I'm not sure if Definitive Jux fucked up or what, but you need this album, #musicmonday or not.

DOWNLOAD Danny! Where Is Danny

EDIT So it sounds like IMEEM and/or some writers leaked this version of the album, so it will be retwerked and released. As long as something gets out there for the public to buy, I guess all is well, but that's shitty. With so many leaks that go on, its inevitable... why not just put it out? Their wishes, but I mean, I didn't see any leaks...

EDIT Just peeped this post over on The Nanci O Radio Show... what gives? I mean, from their writing, they made it seem like the decision to leak was made last week - was that still because of the leak fuckery?

EDIT Prefix is also saying its the IMEEM leak that caused this to get dropped for free. For what its worth, albums this good definitely need to be heard, I just hate it when dope artists can't make the ends they should make for their craft. And TBH, it just reinforces my mantra: some of the best albums in 2009 are free.

EDIT And here's the IMEEM link. Damn. Swain's bummed, and has reason to be. IMEEM is cool and a great look, but some of these cats really go in when they have no reason to. Enjoy this version...

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FatLoud Presents HipHop Construction Kit

In 2009, if you're into Hip-Hop and own a computer, you've either tried your hand at production or are a serious producer. Knowing that, what's one thing every producer needs? Fresh sounds. In the never-ending quest to find some new sounds, I recently got the chance to check out a sample CD entitled HipHop Construction Kit, and let me tell you that this has what you're looking for. There's 8 studio-quality kits, composed from damn near 150 Hip-Hop flavored loops. For those of you trying to avoid legal trouble, all loops are royalty-free, so you can use any of these licks anyway you please. The sounds are made to be used in something like 99% of today's audio packages, so whether you use ACID or Fruity Loops, Cubase or ProTools, you can throw these sounds into your software of choice, with no problem. Check out this promo video for more details:



Now, for producers who fancy the dirty, analog sound, this pack might not be for you. I imagine you could fatten up your soul samples with many of these loops, but the sound of this pack is more commercial Hip-Hop, which can work to your advantage. Grab this pack (for the low price of £19.95, which translates to ~$40 or so), and get your freak on. Here are some MP3 demos of what you can do with this HipHop Construction Kit:

Fly Away \ Gang Starz \ Slap

See what I'm saying? For those producers who are trying to build their sound libraries, this should be a weapon in our arsenal, especially for the reasonable price. If you're intrigued, hit up producerpack.com for more details. Shouts to Yasmine for the heads up.

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BGDB Music Review: Jay-Z Blueprint 3

Enigmatik and myself took it upon ourselves to review Blueprint 3, since the leak trickled down yesterday. Hit up this post over on The Boom for our track-by-track thoughts on Jay's latest opus.

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Tanya Morgan Brooklynati [review]

Back in the summer of 1999, I was very green: this was the summer before I went to my lonely year at LaSalle, the summer where I finally used my own hard-earned money to cop shit I loved (shelltoes and Ecko backpacks), which happened to include good music. That summer, my discman played a few discs non-stop: Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star and The Roots' Things Fall Apart. I remember this summer because of these albums - they documented where I was at mentally and emotionally in my life, and, front-to-back, are some of the cornerstones in the next phase of my Hip-Hop evolution.

And, sadly, this is the last time I remember buying albums that I could play without skipping... until now. And on May 12th, you'll be able to cop what I'm calling my favorite album of 2009, Tanya Morgan's Brooklynati. Some call TM our generation's De La or Tribe. I can see that, but really, I just consider them to be ill. They are our Tanya Morgan, the evolution of that female that Common used to love, and has now (seemingly) abandoned. And with Brooklynati, the sound that they've cultivated since Moonlighting has blossomed into a busty, beautiful bombshell, eager to intoxicate and entice with her soothing grooves and insightful lyrics.

Sounds weird? Good. For your Internet geeks who clutch your Jansport packs tight, this one should win you over on beats alone. I threw this on on a rainy night, standing on the busstop, and I felt like I got transported to high school, when I could really ride out with an album, and not just skip back and forth to my favorite cuts or the rawest beats. And when you listen, the niggas are really saying something. Yeah, they do have tracks where they are "rappin' about rappin'" ("Just Not True"), but even those tracks are delivered on an iller plane than what some of these acts produce. The thing is, these are real niggas. If I lived in Brooklynati (which is one place I feel is like a second home), I would crack a brew with these cats and snap on the niggas walking through the hood.

Plus, these niggas are FUNNY! How many acts can throw together a running joke, like a Hip-Hop group that had one hit 15 years ago... then include a song that is their hit!?!? And make it sound like Onyx meets Souls of Mischief ("Hardcore Gentleman")?! Strolling through Brooklynati, you're forever treated to radio station drops and other soundbytes that will keep you chucklin' in between the beats, as if the seed that Prince Paul and De La planted has continued to bloom right in Yancey Park. They aren't just jokes, though - "Plan B" is a true testament for those artists who know they are doing what they are destined to, for its what fuels their drive; the trials and tribulations of being struggling (starving?) artists in today's music scene is broken down with real talk and honesty in "Don't U Holla", but in hearing tracks like the Lessondary crew-posse cut "Never Secondary" (whattup Elucid!?!?), or Blu-assisted "Morgan Blu", and you know that love is there - but, hey, we all need some kind of compensation for the work we do, nahmean?

And I'll be DAMNED if "Without U" isn't our generation's "I Used To Love H.E.R.", which is a dope completion to the cipher, if you understand the name Tanya Morgan.

The number of features include some of my favorites like Phonte, Brittany Bosco, Che Grand, Kay and a host of others, who addsome vibrant colors and voices to this already-stunning piece of material. Comedy, joy, pain, REAL LIFE... this is like a modern-day documentary of Anyhood, USA. I won't call it an opera, for no fat lady is singing... TM's legacy will continue on, and I'll keep bangin' this joint front to back until my wife tells me to cut the shit.

rock the dub gives Tanya Morgan's Brooklynati a 4.5 out of 5 stars for fresh lyrics, timeless beats and a complete, concise package that lives up to all of the hype and acclaim bestowed upon these talented brothers. Grab your boarding pass, the next train to Brooklynati departs... NOW!

For more info on Tanya Morgan, visit their MySpace page. Get some info on their label, Interdependent Media, HERE, and make sure you pre-order and cop the album (or the limited edition) from the IM store.

LISTEN "So Damn Down", "Morgan Blu" (ft. Blu)

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CRUNK!!! Citrus [review]

While I don't drink much in the way of energy drinks or such, I should. I'm hella lethargic, and really just a lazy ass when I shouldn't be (especially with a toddler keeping me in check at the house). So, when my homey over at CRUNK!!!, Regis, let me know that there's a new flavor of CRUNK!!! out there called CRUNK!!! Citrus, I figured, why not try it?

And guess what? It's damn good. If you like drinking lemonade, this is the energy drink for you. It has that sour/tart flavor to it, but it's not overdone at all. It's essentially lemonade with an extra "oomph" to it. Did I feel like tearin' the club up and whompstompin' on some fools? Not necessarily, but I could definitely use this as a fresh pick-me-up before I go take a walk (read: trot/run) with lil' man around the block! Plus, it has none of that artificial nonsense in it, so my ever-growing waistline shouldn't be hampered by any extra additives that you pick up in other flavored waters and drinks.

Now, I only got 2 cans, and my stepdaughter is all about energy drinks and vitamin water and such, so I graciously gave her a can. She was feelin' it - to the point where I almost didn't get my can! She not only preferred this to the original CRUNK!!!, but she dug it more than the other lemon-flavored energy dranks out there, which is wild because she spends damn near a third of her check on that stuff!

All in all, if you want that energy drink that will help you get through a serious session of GTAIV, something to mix your Bacardi Limon in, or just something to get you energized for your daily run (whilst listening to that new DJ A-Trak/Nike+ mixtape) or other activities, rock the dub highly recommends that CRUNK!!! Citrus. YEEEEEEEEEEEAH!

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Lil' Wayne Tha Carter III [review]

So one of the most anticipated Hip-Hop albums of the last 5 years or so is finally here. Does Lil' Wayne finally make good on his "greatest rapper alive" claims, or does he just die slow?

"3 Peat"
It's not really sensical to call a track "3 Peat" when you didn't get the ring on the first two.

"Mr. Carter (ft. Jay-Z)"
Oddly enough, Weezy can't even be saved by a decent Jigga verse and a decent Just Blaze beat. You'd imagine that trio would come with some serious fire, but this is worse than "Hello Brooklyn 2.0".

"A Milli"
Can't help it, I love this beat. I love it so much that I have Wayne's ridiculous lines committed to memory, like "tougher than Nigerian hair", and my favorite, "I can turn a crack rock into a mountain". What kind of boast is that, and how is that possible? Why would you want a crack rock that big?

"Got Money (ft. T-Pain)"
Such a ridiculous use of computerized voices over electronic beats. I didn't think niggas could niggerize computers this bad.

"Comfortable (ft. Babyface)"
What the fuck is Babyface doing on a Weezy album? This track is pretty dope for what it is, except with Wayne's dumb lines ("I got game like EA"). Kanye is mad subdued on the beat, but it works.

"Dr. Carter"
Cold, cold beat. I wonder how much Swizzy got paid for this one. I do find it odd that Wayne is the doctor trying to resurrect Hip-Hop, when he's arguably one of the reasons the shit is dying.

"Phone Home"
I always thought this nigga was an alien. Now he admits it.

"Tie My Hands (ft. Robin Thicke)"
I actually like this one. I was a fan of "Shooter", oddly enough. I can get with this sly Robin Thicke beat. Lovin' that smooth bass.

"Mrs. Officer (ft. Bobby Valentine)"
Why follow up a dope R&B collab with a fucked up one?

"Let The Beat Build"
This beat sounds like Kanye from 5, 6 years ago. I kind of wished this didn't have the drums in it; that sample is cold enough. Dude is getting saved by dope beats, though. EDIT Props to 2DB for uploading the instrumental to this one.

"Shoot Me Down (ft. D. Smith)"
I guess Wayne is going introspective on this? I can't take this anymore...

"Lollipop (ft. Static Major)"
RIP Static.

"La La (ft. Brisco & Busta Rhymes)"
David Banner is a fool for this beat. I do not like Weezy's "I'm richer than y'all, I got a bank full of pride" line. What kind of dizzy shit you spoutin'? This should've been a Bus-A-Bus solo cut. I love this beat!

"Playing WIth Fire (ft. Betty Wright)"
How much did he pay Miss Wright?

"You Ain't Got Nuthin' (ft. Juelz Santana & Fabolous)"
Fab's verse is the truth. The rest of it? Not so much.

"Don't Get It (Misunderstood)"
The only way we misunderstand Weezy is depending on how much lean he drank before he wrote his joints. Why is this track damn near 10 minutes? And is all of that Al Sharpton hate really necessary?

I don't see the point in even trying to bring up Weezy's rhymes. While dude can keep a flow throughout a tune, he isn't the best writer, especially when people try to compare him to a Jigga or Nas. He's not even in that realm. And with albums like this, that contain some hot beats and some dope rhymes, dude hasn't gotten that one classic album yet that's sorely needed to solidify his spot within the game as a true entity. He's just a glorified mixtape rapper, period.

rock the dub gives Tha Carter III 2 out of 5 stars. While there are some dope beats, and Weezy can trip up on a decent line every now and again, there's no way that this is his classic album. Maybe the best album out of his catalouge, but that's not saying much at all.

Burn Deez: "A Milli", "Dr. Carter", "Let The Beat Build"

Tha Carter III is in stores NOW. Boo Goo Doo Boom has also reviewed Tha Carter III, and gave it a more favorable rating than I did overall.

www.myspace.com/lilwayne

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Tyga No Introduction [review]

From what I understand, Tyga is the cousin of Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy, and is signed with both Lil' Wayne and Pete Wentz' labels. Must be nice to have friends/fam in the industry...

"Diamond Life (ft. Crash)"
Wow. Big beat with some odd female on the hook. There's a shitload going on in this beat. In his lyrics? Not so much.

"Coconut Juice (ft. Travis McCoy)"
You ever been drunk on keg beer at someone's house party, and the DJ put on a track that you didn't particularly feel, but you saw all of the ladies getting really suggestive with their dancing to the joint? That's what "Coconut Juice" sounds like to me. Drunken college slut bangers. Travis' verse is so short, it's unnecessary. I guess you gotta sell units some way.

"Supersize Me"
"I stay puffed like the Marshmallow Man"? No thanks. Dude really sounds like everyone and no one at once. Patrick Stump produced this. That's probably not a good idea, no matter how cheap his in-house beats might be.

"Don't Regret It Now (ft. Patrick Stump)"
This beat sounds like the one previous, with weaker synths. Dude goes in a bit lyrically, but his voice and that synth make the message get lost in the sauce. I could do without that hook, too, but you know.

"Pillow Talkin'"
This beat puts me to sleep. I'm not sure if that was the intention, though.

"Aim"
Dude sounds like crap over hi-tempo and mid-tempo beats. I can imagine him in the booth, really getting into his flow... and it makes me laugh.

"First Timers"
I could see this being a decent single for the cool summer nights, with that guitar and laid-back beat. Nice summer love cut here.

"Cartoonz"
Wow. I'm surprised cats are still saying "no homo". Loads of cartoon mentions in here. I'm head-nodding to this beat, but it's definitely not that hot.

"Summertime"
I guess this is dude trying to be the Fresh Prince. Only he's underage and packing Patron.

"Press 7"
You gotta love how semi-decent tracks get ruined by that nasal white boy singing on the hook. Not that this track was that great or anything. I'm just saying, the hook takes it from a -4 to a -24.

"Woww"
I wonder what the extra 'w' is for. Dude said this is a new sound. Then he says "I can make a style out of nothing". Dude says "wow" like Kia Shine does, so I guess that whole "new sound" shit is bogus (especially when he says "I don't think nobody sound like this"; maybe he didn't cop that Kinfolk CD).

"2AM"
Hey Tyga! You wish you were in a coma? Listen to your CD, it'll be the perfect sleep-inducer for when your life's troubles are too much for you, dog.

"Est. (80's Baby)"
His "I"m an 80s baby" track. Punchy kicks in this beat, but again, too much going on in here.

At the end of the day, I am just not feeling this. I didn't have high hopes or anything... and that's probably for the better. I can't even imagine someone actually buying this, unless they felt "Coconut Juice" was REALLY THAT FLY. Which it wasn't. Anyone got Pete Wentz' number?

rock the dub gives No Introduction a 1.5 out of 5 stars. Not much going on here, which is sad, considering the company dude keeps. Whomever greenlit this needs to be fired.

Burn Deez: "First Timers", "Cartoonz"

No Introduction is in stores June 10th. You can preview the entire LP right now over at The Leak via MTV.

www.myspace.com/tyga

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Presto State Of The Art [review]

I love when producers I had never heard of, like Presto, blow me out of the water with something amazing they've created. I love it even more when I get their album in the mail, and it's even slicker than I imagined it would be. Track-fi-track, maayne...

"Listen"
Nice, quick jazzy intro. Sounds like something that would play on the menu screen from a DVD documentary about DJ Premier.

"Conquer Mentally" (ft. Sadat X, O.C. & Large Professor)
Wow. Talk about... wow. That jazz sample is perfect, especially on that cold ass beat. Sadat's verse is my favorite of this one, with him laying out his thoughts on his legacy and space in the game. Both O.C. and Extra P flex their skills as well. Beats like this, from the cuts to the overall melancholy funk this track emotes... wow, I don't know whether to cry or light a cigarette.

"Street Sport" (ft. Ark)
I remember hearing MF Doom use this sample years ago. Just a nice mixture of such a cool, relaxing melody and Ark's mellow fury.

"Pour Another Glass" (ft. Blu)
Another jazzy affair here. Perfect combination on here. I could see this one going off well at a grown ass club, kind of like the spot in D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" video.

"On" (ft. LOWD)
This track is dope, has a nice, dusty break underneath not much else. I'm not that big a fan of LOWD on the track, but I don't dislike him at all. I do not like his hook, though.

"The Pressure" (ft. Raashan Ahmad)
The keys on this sound like Lupe Fiasco's "Paris, Tokyo", but are closer to ATCQ than Lupe could ever be. Raashan sounds like how niggas rhymed back in '95.

"Higher" (ft. Mhax Montes)
I love that dude doesn't go for the big drums on that loop. So many producers would just go to the basic drums, all big and crisp. Nah, Presto keeps it simple, and just let's that soul flow. The fill might make you think it's gonna drop, but the beauty is in that lil' sample!

"Altered States" (ft. Wayward Saints)
Damn. Summer cookout anthem here. That airy keyboard, the flexing on the guitar. "Cool" doesn't even begin to describe it. A crime would be someone rapping to this track. Excellent.

"Mass Quality" (ft. J Theory)
Wow, dude must have a batch of tight beats sitting at his crib. I'm not up on J Theory, but he kicks some dope rhymes over this one. This has a New York feel to it. I love how the beat flips randomly in this one.

"What's What" (ft. Fatlip & Kim Hill)
There's Fatlip! There's some interesting sounds going on in this beat - has a nice, bouncy feel to it. 'Lip does his thing on this, but it's not necessarily his best rhyme. I never really bought him chattin' up chicks - especially after "Passin' Me By".

"Feel Me" (ft. T Weaponz)
Probably one of my least-favorite beats on here. The strings on this don't really go anywhere.

"Part Of Greatness" (ft. CL Smooth)
CL always comes correct over cuts like this. Neck-snappin' vibe on this one, with Smooth caressing the track so slyly. The piano twinkling in this sets it off.

"Let It Circulate" (ft. Dhurti Whoutr)
Another beautiful piano sample. That Nas on the hook works well, too. I'm not sold on dude on the mic, but again, he isn't murdering the track.

"Plain Jane" (ft. Kim Hill)
This beat sounds almost too-hard for this lovely voice... the contrast doesn't mesh for me here. I think she could have coasted over some of those more lush tracks Presto has created.

"Go" (ft. Trek Life)
Some dope inspirational rhymes for the Black youth of today.

"Still Here" (ft. IN-Q)
I love this instrumental. Those stabs sound like fat raindrops on a warm summer afternoon.

"Outro"
Damn. Dude takes it out like a heavy, blunted DJ Krush number on this one. This shit has the ill lurch to it.

"Conquer Mentally (Large Pro Remix)" (ft. Sadat X, O.C. & Large Professor)
Extra P spreads his quality production to arguably the best cut on here. It's not better than the original, but has a nice, gritty feel to it, with that sleazy guitar and those horns. Nice take on this banger.

I used to buy albums just like this in the late '90s! I am so not mad at this. I feel like I did back when I was a teen, taping underground Hip-Hop from college radio, then hitting up mom & pop spots, digging for both the new releases and the sources they would sift through, looking for the perfect beat. Presto has the jazz, the boom-clack, the ear... dude is a producer that more of you MCs need to be giving your checks to.

rock the dub gives State Of The Art 4 out of 5 stars. Most of today's talent bubbles under the radar. Fortunately, with the cameos Presto has pulled, and the obvious talent dude has, he should be making it onto more projects than his own. Let's hope someone is listening to this.

Burn Deez: "Conquer Mentally", "Altered States", "Pour Another Glass", "Still Here"

State Of The Art is in stores June 17th. You can pre-order this album (which comes with a 2nd disc with the "Conquer Mentally"/"On" video on it) on Amazon.

www.myspace.com/prestojazz
www.concretegrooves.com

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Foul Mouth Jerk Streetlight Music [review]

While I love new Hip-Hop, I am an Old School head at heart. When I heard Foul Mouth Jerk's new joint was called Streetlight Music, I was instantly intrigued, hoping that dude really keeps it park jam and fly on this album...

"Streetlight Music"
Has all the pre-req sounds, even throws in that KRS-One "power from the streetlight made the place DARK" sample in there. Nice intro cut.

"The Jerk's Theme"
Hot use of an Eddie Murphy sample. One thing that cracks me up about MCs that brag on the weed they smoke is lines like "chain-smoking $20 sacks"... is that possible? Definitely some "pothead comments" in there.

"NJ Transit" (ft. El Da Sensei)
How can I hate on a track that's a tribute to my homestate. El and FMJ definitely encapsulate New Jeru in this one, especially the Hip-Hop side of NJ. Club Sensations ftw. Even though FMJ now reps North Carolina, you can tell by his dirty steez that dude is NJ bred, through and through.

"Small Town USA" (ft. Masta Ace)
Gotta love when cats show love to the smaller cities in the US that still hold it down when Hip-Hop acts come to perform for them. Sad thing is, I hardly ever see these niggas come to my area. It's always Princeton, Camden, Newark. Trenton, NJ has one of the best arenas in the country, yet I've seen more comedians there than Hip-Hop acts. This is an ill tribute, though.

"Surrounded By Criminals"
OK, who let the stop snitchin' track in the door? Very unexpected, but I guess "streetlight" is more than just block parties and stolen electricity? Regardless, this seems out of place... And yes, they do drop the Biggie sample in here.

"One Room Shack"
I love that loop in this. So damn funky - if they just took that 2-bar loop and made that the beat, shit would have been ON! I remember this one cat I used to work with had a one room shack - well, it was technically a two-room shack, but the 2nd room only had a light and a mic in it. I drank Natty Lights and smoked some fluffy weed up in that spot. Also the first spot I watched Fight Club in, but yeah. You didn't necessarily want to be chillin' over there.

"Neighborhood Drug Dealer"
I mean, I know niggas who dealt drugs back in the day, and I have no beef with them, but trying to play these niggas like they are the working everyman like any other hardworking individual misses the mark completely. And yes, they drop the KRS sample in here.

"Day One" (ft. Grandmaster Caz & TopRamen)
As much as I love the old school, and really wanted to be into this, the beat just kind of plods on. Hearing Caz on a track is always welcome, though - dude hasn't lost a step.

"The Decider"
The only interlude on here is a bunch of "Bushisms" that never gets old.

"Culture Of Life (Jesus Doesn't Give A Shit)"
This track epitomizes "real talk". Dude goes in on our government and everything that we are fucking up today. I like the line about our country being headed by CEOs, giving new meaning to "the executive branch". I have a cousin going to Iraq next month... its such a wild feeling. I hate so much about our government, but they are the ones sending one of my own off to fight in this war. My cousin is a man, and makes his own decisions... I just want him to come back in one piece.

"Played Out"
Dude spends a whole song breaking down shit he liked in the early 90's, with the punchline being that he is played out by today's standards.

"Lost In The Sauce" (ft. Breez Evahflowin')
Sick beat, and these two just attack it. Peep Breez on the 2nd verse, with his seemingly endless comic book references.

"Mr. Green" (ft. Hardy Cooper)
This one is for you ganjalists. I like the Clue reference in the chorus. This one is to be played when you are blowing trees out of a phat water pipe in a college dorm on a lazy afternoon.

"Take The Money & Run" (ft. Tao Principle)
The best thing about this track is the Cutty Ranks sample in the intro.

"The Hard Part (Remix)" (ft. MURS & Gus McGuillicutty)
Solid track, but honestly, there's not much to grab on to here, even though all MCs provide solid verses.

"Monopoly (Remix)"
Surprising track here. A remix where the beat is pretty much taken out. The storyline is accented by soundbites and some cat playing the role of the dude FMJ is speaking. Kind of a like a Hip-Hop radio serial program. I dug this one.

See, there's kind of a ying and a yang with FMJ. While I love his old school aesthetic, and dude is definitely a talented cat on the mic, his virtues can also be seen as his faults. While he is definitely a dope old school head, a lot of the themes and thoughts he brings out have been done time and again. And while he is a nice lyricist, he has some spotty lines in here (e.g. he makes a comment about stackin' "more dead presidents than Mt. Rushmore"; Mt. Rushmore has 4 dead presidents on it, so anyone with a $5 bill in their pocket fits that bill, although that's not what he was trying to get across). I do love that he has the ability to stay on topic for an entire song, but if the topic is played, what good is it?

rock the dub gives Streetlight Music a 3.5 out of 5 stars. FMJ is talented, and when he comes with interesting and off-the-mark topics, he shines. It's when he falls back on unnecessary or, in his words, played out themes where he falters.

Burn Deez: "Culture Of Life", "Small Town USA", "Monopoly (Remix)", "Lost In The Sauce"

Streetlight Music is available NOW! Hit up FMJ's MySpace page for more details on him and how to cop it.

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badmammal carrying a deranged gospel choir [review]

lord knows i miss good idm. badmammal, aka chris matule, is a cat i had only known as doing drum & bass (his track "rickshaw" on this ohm vs. offshore 12" is epic). he hit me out of the blue one day, with a gutter idm/hip-hop hybrid that will see the light of day in the future on rock the dub, and then sent me this cd. carrying a deranged gospel choir is dope, plain and simple. oh, and since he wrote nothing in capital letters on the cd packaging, i am choosing to refrain from hitting the shift key to capitalize any letters in this track-by-track review.

"commando"
a lot of idm cds usually come off with some subtle track that builds to a fever-pitch. "commando" isn't a normal idm cd intro. a cavalcade of guitars, stuttering drums, piano twinkles and loads of other sounds bring on a frolicking, summer day in a dark park kind of vibe. it's almost, dare i say, happy.

"french conversation"
ok, what gives? where is the "techno-nerd trapped in the box" vibes of so many other idm releases? here i get found vocal snippets of someone introducing me to a french convo, and all of the sudden some glitched-out jungle breaks and heavy subs come floating in. the percussive elements in this one bring on a slick groove.

"gonna move"
that guitar in the beginning sounds like the intro to some eye-liner rock song about revenge. but, in typical badmammal flavor, dude brings in the fuzz. damn, the melodies in this one are what intrigues me the most. dude is almost on some aphex twin shit, really working some hypnotic, ear-catching melodies into his otherwise 'out-there' cuts.

"broken amp"
deep drop on that bass when it comes in. i love the horn in this one! very bouncy track, while still maintaining some somber washes in it. one of my favorites on this. downright jazzy in some spots, too.

"beach song"
this is the first song i could truly hear vocals over. some jarvis cocker, tongue-in-cheek ditty about fat people on a beach or some shit. i also see some guitar chick with 80's hair (remember wendy & lisa, who used to play with prince? i don't remember which one played the guitar, but her) playing that riff.

"skydive"
this is that trapped in a box idm vibe i used to get off of autechre tracks. cuts like this are perfect for playing claustrophobic or outer-space levels in games like doom. another fav. i dare someone to make a dubstep rmx of this.

"orange"
do you think dude purposefully made this track 3 minutes and 33 seconds long? doesn't matter. i love the drums in this one. the snare roll gets me every time. i also dig the start-stop throughout this sneaky trip.

"big hills"
this one has garage band written all over it. not in terms of it being crap, it's far from it, but it reminds me of sitting on speakers at my cousin's next door neighbor's house, while his band would be working on their demos and shit. this is like "that jam". really heavy, road trip scenery soundtrack music.

"song s"
this is one of the tracks that was written in austria. i know fuck all about austria, but more people should go there and write dark, drum-drenched ditties like this. that kick is like a heartbeat... on weed!

"redbank"
heavy electro jam. this is like electro-dub, and i love it. dude has a real feel for space within his songs.

"aging digital hero"
that instrument in the beginning transports you to the dojo of a mighty, gray-haired sensei. this is one of those jams that is a sparring match with your master, making sure you still have it...

...and with the way this cd rolls out, badmammal better not lose it. this is an interesting trek through a genre that many might not be checking for anymore. i know i wasn't. now i have to go hunting for more stellar idm like this... or just go buy more badmammal release.

rock the dub gives carrying a deranged gospel choir 4.5 out of 5 stars. it's that damn good. loads of feeling within this release, and it's not just a boy and his pc - real live instruments are played, adding to the digital soul that badmammal has produced.

burn deez: "broken amp", "song s", "skydive", "orange"

carrying a deranged gospel choir is available now for $10 from the goodluck/badluck online store, as well as on cd baby. it's also available on itunes.

www.goodluckbadluck.net
www.myspace.com/badmammal
goodluck/badluck podcast

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Praverb Center Of Attention [review]

I put you guys up on the release of Praverb's Center Of Attention album last week; I have since given it a few spins and I am very impressed. While I can't say I vibe to "Christian Hip-Hop" on the regular (although mad MCs like to invoke the Lord's name), P-Viz attacks it from a different angle. Yes, dude follows Christ and has no qualms about letting you know this, but he isn't being preachy or trying to bash your head in with the Bible, which is what counteracts many of the attempts by Holy Hip-Hop acts. Let's bust out a track-by-track of this dope album...

"Perfect Intro"

That title is perfect; if I was to find a beat to start off my album, it would be this - that slower tempo, with an ill melody that sounds like it's played in reverse. Praverb does what he does best: he breaks down his personality in rhyme, letting you know exactly who he is and what he's about to do, while injecting some dope lyrics and ending up just talking to you. Dude is like a rapping motivational speaker.

"Back In The Days"
No, dude isn't necessarily trying to be "old school" over this Middle Eastern-influenced track, he's just trying to get us back to how we used to vibe to Hip-Hop, mentally. P spits about not necessarily needing to make cake off of Rap, he would rather just perform for the people and create dope music. Thoughts like that are desperately needed these days.

"Freedom To Prevail"
Hands down my favorite beat on this LP. Teddy Roxpin, I salute you for that pitched-up string loop that gets slowed down (think hitting the "start" button on a turntable while a track is playing) every 4 bars. P acknowledges that life on Earth is hell, but finds solace on the mic.

"Dead 2 Sin"
Praverb kicking some heavy Christian lyrics, shedding his old self (like an insect does its exoskeleton) when he takes the Lord in his heart. I could see this one rockin' in a smoky club as well as in church the following morning.

"Rain"
Introspective cuts are always welcome, and P spits about still trucking through his early life, even when the pain and struggle rained and poured over him.

"I Grind, You Grind" (ft. Trinidad)
Hypnotic beat, with some chopped up samples that remind me of somethign 9th Wonder or Preemo would do, P and Trinidad expound on the trails of cats who don't rap for a living, and have to deal with living check to check, which many of us know too much about. They're not spitting it negatively, nor are they ready to flip some birds - it's all about staying positive in this sick, sad world.

"Tatianna"
Praverb gets his Slick Rick on, weaving a tale about a teen girl who gets abused early on in life, and falls into a sticky situation trying to become a model.

"You Know Me"
Praverb pokes out his chest and just goes for broke over a moving beat. I hate the state of Hip-Hop, too, P.

"Time Is Ticking"
I was expecting some kind of Busta Rhymes "THERE'S ONLY FIVE YEARS LEFT!", but Praverb speaks on himself some more, going a bit deeper than he did on "Rain", and gives those some hope, even though we all know our time on Earth is limited.

"Represent"
Another cut where P stands strong and believes in himself, even though life can be mad hectic at times. All about having that gameplan and staying focused.

"Ordinary Day (Remix)"
Gotta love it when a track makes you think it's going to go one way, and then diverts into something completely different. This one goes from P just maxing on any random day, then flips to the trials and tribs of an artist hustling his CDs at the mall he was just going to to pick up a few things. Nice, jazzy samples on this one, too.

"Trading Places (Remix)"
A fine example of the grass not being greener on the other side. P pens a tale where he steps into someone else's life and truly sees that things aren't as easy as we might think they are living in someone else's kicks.

Very solid package here. Praverb executes his messages soundly, not being overly preachy, but also never pulling punches on the points he is making. His flows are slick, and dude can ride a beat like the best of 'em. The only real problem I had was the ending of some of the more-story based cuts. "Tatianna", while a def track and something that many artists don't speak on, seems to kind of just end - all of this pain and madness flows on, and while the ending isn't necessarily a happy one, a lack of retribution is there. The last 2 tracks also seem like they could have been doper with just one more 16 on them, kind of an end-cap. The thing is, that doesn't deter from the overall message, and neither the project nor the tracks themselves ultimately suffer from this. In the end, Praverb is an MC many should look out for, especially if you are tired of the profanity-laced rhymes of so many MCs, or you want some message-driven rhymes that will bang in the whip while still being child-friendly. I'd put this on for my son before throwing in many of the other albums I own. And in 2008, in our sexed-up/bullet-ridden entertainment industry, that speaks volumes.

rock the dub gives Center Of Attention 3.75 stars out of 5. Praverb is a choice MC who feels as though he grew up with you, but instead of lacing a blunt or popping a brew, kept his head in the books and, while he can still catch wreck, is working towards a higher power, all the while still making your neck snap and your hands clap. I feel like it's 1988 all over again.

Burn Deez: "Freedom To Prevail", "I Grind, You Grind", "Rain", "You Know Me"

Center Of Attention is available now from the following spots: iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Emusic. Domination Recordings has also provided a free album sampler that you can grab from here. Highly recommended.

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45 King Vs. Wale "P-Y-R-A-M-I-D (Sammy Bananas Remix)"

45 King Vs. Wale "P-Y-R-A-M-I-D (Sammy Bananas Remix)": Remember when I told you that after the Ghostface Killah Remix EP from Scion A/V that there'd be more to come? Enter The 45 King. If you aren't up on him and his history to the game (from "The 900 Number" to "Stan"), go do your homework. In any case, this track, which I'm giving to you for free, comes from a dope EP that molds old school with new school, from the beats to the rhymes, and is a dope treat for those who are trying to get crunk in the club.

Wale and 45 King link up on 3 cuts here, and each gets the remix treatment. They kick things off with "Roof", which has Wale going in hard over some smooth guitar loop and a fat, '95-feeling bassline. Those basketball references are dope, too. The Rub's DJ Ayers takes the 90PM beat to about 111BPM, and infuses that D.C. Go-Go party vibe that Wale is known for in his native city. Perfect Saturday afternoon cut. This is followed by "Strings", which is just that: a too-tight string section is weaved right atop some hard, crisp drums. Wale sure knows how to coast over these head-nodders, eh? Inflagranti kicks this one into a heavier dance cut, complete with a nasty bass and some wild guitar riffs for Wale's 'ruthless' boasting to murder. We let Wale seckle for a bit, and Pase Rock picks up the mic to revisit "The 900 Number" with a 2K8 version of this classic track. The beat is kept pretty much intact, if nothing it has a 2008 glow over it, and Pase keeps the old-school vibe in tact on the mic. Internets favorite Eli Esocbar takes the reigns for the rmx of this banger, giving the sax sample an electro injection, funking up this anthem for the nightclub. If you aren't vibing to this one, you're dead. Last, but certainly not least, "P-Y-R-A-M-I-D" has that vintage feel with the loops, with what sounds like at least two or 3 samples creating a new school funk band right in your headphones. I can feel my jeans getting a hair tighter, and randomly, an Africa medallion was around my neck! Sammy Bananas closes this one out with a flip of the script, keeping this one straight in the future, with freaky electro bleeps and a pulsating kick keeping the party runnin'.

It's good to hear Hip-Hop remixed well by capable DJs and producers. It's also good to know that someone as skilled as the 45 King can still churn out some bangers when he wants to. Hit up this link for audio and more info on this ill EP.

Big up to Gus for the info!

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Ghostface Killah "Charlie Brown (Guns-N-Bombs Remix)"

Ghostface Killah "Charlie Brown (Guns-N-Bombs Remix)": Pitchfork provided this remix about a month or so ago, hyping up this remix project that Scion AV put forth. You fast rap fans should remember "Charlie Brown" - it was released on an early version of of Fishscale, but didn't make the final cut (due to clearance issues). Well, it looks like the GFK & the Rhythm Roots All-Stars' version of "Charlie Brown" is getting an MP3 release on May 6th, which is also the same day that Scion AV is putting out the "Charlie Brown" Remixes package.

This set takes things to the next level: bridging "fast rap" and the more club/electro oriented sounds, 4 production outfits have been tapped to put their own spin on it. Ed Banger fans will be happy to know that DJ Mehdi (alongside a verse from Mapei) doesn't stray far from the original, but turns it to the left a bit, digging deeper into the original's vibe and making some nice, murky magic. The next remix finds Orgasmic takes Ghost's lyrics and really takes it back to the Electro style. Listening to this version makes me wish I had some cardboard, an adidas tracksuit and some five-finger rings. Yuksek drops what might be the most rave-friendly mix in here, sounding not unlike something Fat Boy Slim would use to get the crowd sweaty. That lil' melody thrown in there is hypnotic, real talk. The above remix from Gun-N-Bombs reminds me of some twisted disco, like Daft Punk on HGH. That initial disco feel is there, but this one comes in with harder-hitting drums, some twisted bleeps and sounds, and some nice glitches on GFK's rhymes.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to talk about being different, and bridging the gap, but no one is truly trying to flip GOOD shit. A lot of the Rap/Rave hybrids I hear ("Pretty Rave Girl" and "Say Yeah", for example) tend to fall flat because it's more Rap than anything else. When you are trying to create that "new" shit, you need to be liberal with both sounds, which is something that Scion AV has definitely done with this one. Word is more acts are getting into the swing of things with this project, so check out their site for more info. And enjoy that Guns-N-Bombs rmx while it's available!

Shouts to Aaron B for the info.

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Y-Love This Is Babylon [review]

I will admit it: while I think Matisyahu is dope, I was kind of concerned when this was billed as being some form of "Jewish Hip-Hop". Word to MC Paul Barnum, I hadn't heard too many artists who wore their religion on their sleeves like that. Thing is, Y-Love isn't like that. The way he infuses his Hasidism is not unlike how Rakim infused 5% knowledge into his raps - he kept the music where you could feel it, all the while still touching on the social commentary he deemed important. Y-Love aims to do this, all the while giving the people something they can dance to...

"This Is Babylon"
First things first, Jake Break does the damn thing with these beats. That wobbly bass, thrown into a bed of snaps and a somber kick, provides a deep bed for Y's intellect. I wish I knew what homeboy was saying in some spots, I guess that's Aramaic he's chanting? His views aren't that far from some of the Babylon-speak that Rastafari dabble in, which definitely works. Nice intro to this CD...

"Bump"
Revolutionary Hip-Hop, 2008. That down home feel to this organ-driven track makes Y get into that pocket with his flows. I love the congas thrown in here. Definitely all about the positive vibes - I could seriously hear this one getting a crowd hype.

"Bring It On Down"
This is a weirder track, sonically. While Y-Love is trying to free the shackled ghetto yout, the beats are on this funky swing, but I am not too keen on the feedback and random synth notes in the background. Still has an appeal to it, though.

"Keep The Party Divine"
Does exactly what the title suggests. The use of the crazy, piercing synth works better here as a wild melody. Y gets a bit deeper into this, with more words and a more complex flow packed on top of this one. I wonder how I can get "respected on 260 dimensions"...

"Check The Technique (ft. Shaanan Street of Hadag Nachash)"
This one is heavy on the percussion, which is a crazy contrast to the plinky melodies on top, and rhymes referencing MySpace. Feel like I'm in a drum circle, and a cat just randomly catchin' wreck over their slaps. Y digs into where he came from and why he's doing what he's doing today. I don't know what language Shaanan Street is rhyming in, and I wonder how long it took him to write that; dude flows nicely in whatever language he is speaking.

"Exhibit A: The Diagnosis"
Interlude leading into the next cut. It doesn't make much sense until you get into the following track.

"New Disease"
This is all about the disease of the mind that our society pollutes us with. I like how Y attacks this beat, I can't explain his style, really. I could see him doing a concept album ala Kool Keith or Prince Paul. Or rockin' over some real sonic craftsmen. He definitely has that talent.

"6000"
This sounds like what Barack Obama needs to be spittin up on the debate block. We need to break the shackles and recreate our society. Heed the words!

"This Is A Test"
Another interlude that makes more sense when the next track kicks off.

"State Of The Nation"
This beat is wild. Jungle-ish, crazy percussion, wild bassline. Y-Love goes off on how he sees our nation right now. I love that 2nd verse, with all the stats he brings up.

"Mind Transit"
"Bombin' ya synagogue like Ahmadinejad". Word? This sounds like a tribal documentary remixed with an inner city frolic. Sneaky funk freak.

"From Brooklyn To Ramle (ft. Saz)"
This beat sounds like something Ghostface would murder, but this is another track rapped in both English and another language. Dope rhymes from Y, again. Introspective madness.

"Mt. Sinai (ft. Super Dane)"
Lovin' that dance hall feel on that hook. This one has a futuristic bop to it. Lovin' the whole platter.

"Mehadrin Rhymin'"
Those eerie melodies get me everytime. This cut is on some stream of consciousness feeling shit. Really frantic. I love it, though, especially how the goes from more downtempo to a faster click. Kind of combines everything that's been established and throws it in one pot.

While I don't subscribe to his religion, I can respect a cat who has found a way to get positive, especially in these trying times. More power to the brother for picking up his craft and using his skills to try and save a few of us. If you like shit from Immortal Technique, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and others who mix a bit of politics into their punch, and you are a fan of forward-thinking sonics, this is right up your alley.

rock the dub gives This Is Babylon 3.75 out of 5 stars. Solid effort, and while I wouldn't bump this on the regular, I would not be mad if it came on randomly. Nice mixture of ill technique and deep thought.

Burn Deez: "State Of The Nation", "New Disease", "6000"

This Is Babylon is available NOW on Amazon MP3. CDs should be in stores on April 29th, 2008.

related:
www.ylovemusic.com
www.myspace.com/ylove
www.thisisbabylon.net
www.modularmoods.com/y-love

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The Hoarsemen Snacks & Catastrophes [review]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - wait, not THOSE Horsemen. The Hoarsemen are a collective out of New York, reppin' "alternative" Hip-Hop (meaning that they pack both turntables AND kazoos) for you lovers of shit that's a bit askew. Is their debut album, Snacks & Catastrophes, dope enough for you to cop? Let's find out:

"Neck Bop"
This cut starts out with some head-noddin' drums and a solid organ melody, which get paired up with MC Long Division's quirky lines and that odd hook, this CD reminds me of what Beck was doing on Odelay, minus the wall-of-sound sampledelica.

"Brown Bag"
This is the lead single. Another solid groove, with dude throwing in words not normally heard on your regular Rap disc (I mean, who rhymes shit like metropolis?), but dude also has some ill things strung together, like this end game on the first verse: "Got to make my name ring bells like a pugilist/Spitting some old hotness like Vesuvius/I sip Bombay, turn clubs to Pompeii/And critics, y'all can all go to Hell like Dante". Not your normal raps, for they take a bit of thought! Also diggin' the New Brunswick drop.

"Feel Mine"
Three songs deep and each is on that mid-tempo, live bop to it. Not that bad, but hopefully the paces changes every now and again. I bet these cats are dope live, especially homey who makes all the weird voices on their hooks. Like who says "OK I'm going to sound like a little kid/weird old man on EVERY hook"? Lyrically, this reminds me of the Anticon heads, but with more rhythm to the flows and less SAT words...

"Pablo McNasty's Revenge"
I miss DJ-only tracks. Even if this is an interlude, this one has a DJ Disk charm to it. If you didn't hear his Ancient Termites CD, you're missing out.

"Dookie Booty"
This one kicks it up a tad - I could see this one going down nice at a beer-soaked basement party. Got that fun vibe to it, not far from cats like Digital Underground back in the day.

"The Ballad Of Three Fingered Joe"
This is more Hip-Hop/Country hybrid than anything Nelly and Tim McGraw could ever come up with. All this track is missing is a verse from Slick Rick as Joe.

"You're Not Allowed To Volunteer Here Anymore"
I think this is one of the first tracks I've heard in a while that mentions Modelo beer. I had those once - the bottles are funny looking, but the brew was sub-par. I was going to do a series of posts where I bought beer, drank them, then reviewed the beers, but I realized that was a trigger to alcoholism. In any case, this one has a funky vibe to it. I love the cut-up phone ringing at the very end.

"The Carnival"
Odd-ass interlude of a carny bigging up the Hoarsemen (mad adjectives abound).

"Snacks 'n' Catastrophe"
Fuzz-box Hip-Hop, complete with kazoos. Grimey, yo!

"Gulps (The Captain Has Bad Dreams)"
Dude who does the captain voice (I'm guessing that's Loosey?) is spot-on. That pitter-patter kick in this makes that beat. Love that low-key bass, too. Perfect bed for the deep-sea themes in this killer.

"Rotgut"
Here comes the bevy of SAT rhymes. You sophmores and juniors need to just study this cut for your verbal section.

"Monkey Heads"
Definitely didn't expect this proto-jungle banger. Lovin' the freaky flavor of this interlude.

"Flavorite"
This one is the closest to a trunk-rattler on this set, with some hardcore scratching alongside a boomin' bassline. I also love dude's rhymes, reminds me of the early '90s.

"Sexshuwal"
Does exactly what it says on the tin - this is a fly cut that would go down PERFECT in a live setting. This would get the crowds rocking, especially those who are full of couples, or those just trying to get buck nasty on a broad.

"City Man"
With the bongo/conga line in this, sounds like a classic break with dude going buck over it. Another block (party) rocker.

In the end, this isn't what I'd normally peep at all, which is sad. It's good to hear Hip-Hop coming from that leftfield side of things, especially when it's not like a crew of guys who are trying to just use Rap as a tool. You can tell The Hoarsemen both love Hip-Hop and are good at what they do, making their particular brand of shit that much more interesting. While I think the CD isn't the best way to take in a set like this (I'd imagine their live shows are a good time), it's definitely a solid base for their budding future.

rock the dub gives Snacks & Catastrophes a 3.75 out of 5 stars. Flippin' Hip-Hop on its ear, these cats bridge a love for what was great about Hip-Hop with a desire to bring in their other influences into the mix, creating a vibrant stew and a funky good time.

Burn Deez: "You're Not Allowed To Volunteer Here Anymore", "Brown Bag", "The Ballad Of Three Fingered Joe", "Rotgut", "Dookie Booty"

Snacks & Catastrophes is available on April 15th, 2008. Check out their website for more information. If you are in the New York area on Thursday, April 17th, check out their album release party at Fontana's Bar in the L.E.S.; aside from the Hoarsemen, live performances will be coming from K Banger, the1shanti, The Woes and a host of others, with drink specials provided by Function Drinks and Svedka Vodka.

related:
Check out this in depth interview with Long Division over at What Now, Then?
www.reverbnation.com/thehoarsemen

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Roni Size/Reprazent New Forms² [review]

It's odd that it's rainy here when I sit down to review this album; it was a rainy weeknight when I bought two important albums in my collection: Reprazent's New Forms (the US, 2xCD version) and V Classic, Vol. 1. I was already into DnB, but aside from Goldie's Timeless album, and a string of compilations from Liquid Sky Records (and tapes I made from the various Jungle shows on WPRB), I hadn't found something to truly latch onto. Roni Size and New Forms was it. The jazz, the lyrics - this opus was a very different approach to the Drum & Bass I was used to. We had real song structure, live instrumentation, and an aesthetic that screamed "we do what we feel works". It went on to be highly lauded, and is one of the greatest albums in DnB history. Now, 10 years later, Size has gone back in and re-edited the original 13 tracks, giving them a 2008 polish, but does it work?

"Railings (2008 re-edit)"
Not bad so far - you can hear the fatter break on this one, with a few synth notes being played under Dynamite's rhymes. The tempo feels a bit slower than I remember the original to be, but that doesn't deter from the cut at all.

"Brown Paper Bag (2008 re-edit)"
You remember this one, right? The video is epic. Again, this one has a crispier feel to it, with some harder drums added underneath. The subtle differences (the random bleeps thrown in, echoes thrown on Dynamite MC's rhymes, etc.) seem unnecessary, this track is vivid enough for those tweaks, but again, I'm with it so far.

"New Forms (2008 re-edit)"
This is where things get kind of confusing. I fucking KNOW this one is slower than the original, and it comes off feeling awkward. It's damn near Breaks-esque, with Bahamadia's rhymes coming across too slow over the track. Wrong move, this one worked so much more when her vocals attacked that faster beat. Side note: did you know that she didn't record her rhymes with Roni? She actually got the info from Size, did her vocals, but when the tape came to Roni, she mispronounced his name... Sykes instead of Size. I forget where I read that, always made me laugh though.

"Let's Get It On (2008 re-edit)"
And then what does Roni do? He takes my FAVORITE cut from the album, and turns it into an interlude. This whole thing about this track is the calm before that frantic storm when the beat drops. But we miss that. Guess he had to make room for something better?

"Trust Me (2008 re-edit)"
Anthem status. This one has been mashing down raves for a long-ass time. It was a staple in '97, and I remember like 4, 5 years ago, it re-emerged, for good reason. Simple melody that murks the crowd. This one is kept relatively unscathed, which is nice.

"Digital (2008 re-edit)"
I was never that big on this cut, but it actually works very well with the new coat of paint on it. Hasn't aged badly at all.

"Matter Of Fact (2008 re-edit)"
This is a classic, and I'm glad he hasn't toyed with this one either. When you want to talk about one of the things that drew me into DnB, it was the manipulation of the breakbeat. This one sounds like Max Roach or someone doing an extended solo, and those classic V/Full Cycle atmosphere sounds always got me. Special sleeper cut.

"Heroes (2008 re-edit)"
When I listen to this re-edit, I keep thinking about DJ Die's "Drop Bear". I really don't remember how the original one sounded, but this cut could get released today and still mash down the liquid crowd.

"Share The Fall (2008 re-edit)"
Another epic cut, "Share The Fall" is all about that big vocal. Roni really just threw a new sheen on a ton of these cuts, which definitely sounds better than what many fans thought this would sound like. I think people were expecting Roni to retwerk these in his newer style, but he definitely stayed true to the originals, for more or less.

"Heart To Heart"
The first of the new cuts is my favorite new cut. This is pure downtempo, jazzy mood music. That sample is pure genius. Loads of emotion gets built into this one, as well... once that sample hits, its orgasmic. Trust we.

"Less Is More"
Unfortunately, more is what this cut needs. Another trip in a Break-y territory, instrumental cut is funky, yes, but doesn't seem to fit into the vibe of what's been established so far. Too funk/electro for this set, in my opinion.

"Down (2008 re-edit)"
Back to the nasty, vocal-driven cuts. I love when this one gets funky. So raw, rugged and refreshing.

"Hi Potent (2008 re-edit)"
This is one I forgot about. I remember the double bass in this, harkening to "Brown Paper Bag" a bit, but that vintage V bassdrop in this was something I guess I forgot about. Big big tune.

"Don't Hold Back"
The new single. Roni trying to recreate today's Hip-Hop production, I guess? Dynamite does his thing on the mic, but this just doesn't even fit into the scope of what this album was about, at all. Disappointing choice.

"Beatbox (2008 re-edit)"
When I made my corny mixtapes, I used to use this as an interlude. I love how they totally re-created a DnB track vocally. So impressive.

"Encore"
This is cool, definitely sounds dope, although I think it would be cooler in concert than it is on CD.

"Destination (2008 re-edit)"
I love that sax sample. It's so simple, but so damn effective. True jazz right there. And he didn't muddy this one up that much. I always loved this being the final cut.

All in all, while I am not totally disappointed in how Roni handled this project, I think it wasn't necessary. For the most part, the re-edits aren't that diverse or special to truly necessitate a release. And I get it, this is a landmark album in Drum & Bass history, but why not do like true landmark albums do, especially in the Jazz world: why not release a deluxe edition, say a 3 disc thing. Make it where the full original release is spanned over the first two discs, and the third can be a mixture of remixes/B-sides/alternate takes - hell, even throw the newer tracks on there, if need be. Don't go in, throw some new clothes on these older tracks and expect the masses to gobble it up. In reality, what this disc does is make me want to listen to the original more (which I COULD if I hadn't loaned it to this chick I used to cop weed off of). Maybe I should buy that instead of this...

rock the dub gives New Forms² 3 out of 5 stars. While it is a treat to hear these classic cuts polished with a new shine, this should have been called New Forms Revisited. Note to Roni: those new tracks are NOT enough to make someone cop this.

Burn Deez: "Heart To Heart", "Destination (2008 re-edit)", "Trust Me (2008 re-edit)", "Hi Potent (2008 re-edit)"

New Forms² is available NOW via Play. For more info on Roni Size and Reprazent, check out the Full Cycle Records website.

Bonus Beats: "Don't Hold Back", LIVE in Milan (Feb. 2008)


Excerpts from their gig at The Scala (London):

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