Always a welcome track for reminiscing.
Probably the happiest beat on the album. Certainly very uplifting much like "The World Is Yours", and it has quite a bit of heart in it. Really the meaning is in the title, Nas reflecting on some of his friends since past. Typical formula: Amazing rhmes + Amazing Production. Besides the sentimental value, it really is a fun song. Just from the start of vocals, then nas jumps right into the song! The song also holds another quality to "The World Is Yours", that is scratching! Happy beat, strong lyrics, hot scratching for both tracks! There you go, very similar songs, now let's see what makes them different.
A lot of important lines, with some really strong lines that really stand out as they flow right past you, before you know it you are on to the next one. A lot of meaningful ones that hold the same value as the ones that flow incredible. Of course, this is Nas after all, are any of the rhymes wack? No, that would be silly. Nas reflects and recognizes his deceased friends, and some of his older friends since they are no longer with him, for whatever reason. He explains how he kicks back to remember the times and take his mind through memory lane, which is easily relatable as we always like to kick back and reminisce:
I drop the ancient manifested hip-hop, straight off the block
I reminisce on park jams, my man was shot for his sheep coat
Chocolate blunts make me see him drop in my weed smoke
It's real, grew up in trife life, did times or white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes, and knife fights invite crimes
Chill on the block with Cognac, hold strap
with my peeps that's into drug money, market into rap
I reminisce on park jams, my man was shot for his sheep coat
Chocolate blunts make me see him drop in my weed smoke
It's real, grew up in trife life, did times or white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes, and knife fights invite crimes
Chill on the block with Cognac, hold strap
with my peeps that's into drug money, market into rap
Really emphasizes the times he chilled back, but there was also a lot of violence to where he lived, adding two dimensions to the song, yet maintaining that jumpy, positive vibe. That quality is similar to the philosophy I spilled onto the "Life's A Bitch" post.
Peace God -- now the shit is explained
I'm taking niggas on a trip straight through memory lane
I'm taking niggas on a trip straight through memory lane
Really special line. Simple to comprehend, so I think the message is spread abroad. Everyone always looks in their life for what exactly they can do. Some people, like Nas and myself, refer to God for some help. Nas doesn't need his help anymore thus, "Peace God", and has found his true place in the world. That gives a sense of satisfaction, and boosts that happy feel to the song, adding accomplishment to the platter of positive emotions on "Memory Lane (Sittin' in Da Park)". As does the beat of course.
The beat really runs the mood in music, and the lyrics map out specific instructions. These instructions are given to the listener to make their experience true to what the artist wanted to express. However, some thoughts tend to run wild, and stray off course. A natural attention deficit in music, which can lead to something really meaningful.
With that said, the beat of course runs the song to be positive and fun. The 2nd track off Illmatic that is produced by DJ Premier. I shall list the samples first, to help explain each piece of the beat.
"We're in Love" by Reuben Wilson
"Pickin' Boogers" by Biz Markie
"Droppin' Science" by Craig G
"Get out of My Life, Woman" by Lee Dorsey
The organ and the soft vocals are the basic structure of the song. Both sampled from "We're in Love". And the chorus is sampled from Biz Marke's "Pickin' Boogers". And "Comin' out of Queensbridge" is sampled from Craig G's "Droppin' Science". The drums are sampled from "Get out of My Life, Woman". All these great works, which I have become quite fond of each of these tracks, has lead to even greater love for this track. A lot of interesting samples, some just to add touches and fun stuff to the chorus and such. Took Premo a lot of work to get these all to blend, or so I imagine. And of course, to top the track off Premo adds his own scratching to the chorus, giving a really fun jumpy vibe to the song. It is overall a great track, with some insightful words, unique samples, and a fun beat.
Hope this post has taken you down memory lane. Or perhaps the song takes you down memory lane, every time you are sitting in the park.
With that said, the beat of course runs the song to be positive and fun. The 2nd track off Illmatic that is produced by DJ Premier. I shall list the samples first, to help explain each piece of the beat.
"We're in Love" by Reuben Wilson
"Pickin' Boogers" by Biz Markie
"Droppin' Science" by Craig G
"Get out of My Life, Woman" by Lee Dorsey
The organ and the soft vocals are the basic structure of the song. Both sampled from "We're in Love". And the chorus is sampled from Biz Marke's "Pickin' Boogers". And "Comin' out of Queensbridge" is sampled from Craig G's "Droppin' Science". The drums are sampled from "Get out of My Life, Woman". All these great works, which I have become quite fond of each of these tracks, has lead to even greater love for this track. A lot of interesting samples, some just to add touches and fun stuff to the chorus and such. Took Premo a lot of work to get these all to blend, or so I imagine. And of course, to top the track off Premo adds his own scratching to the chorus, giving a really fun jumpy vibe to the song. It is overall a great track, with some insightful words, unique samples, and a fun beat.
Hope this post has taken you down memory lane. Or perhaps the song takes you down memory lane, every time you are sitting in the park.
No comments:
Post a Comment