Summertime- Demps

Ah, summertime.......

Relax, think, and esape

           One of my favorite summertime tracks, how appropriate. The beat is really one of those feel good tunes, and Demps brings some pretty hot wordplay and such. Since we live in the same area, I really connected with a lot of the lyrics and such. Just can't help resist that line:

Nothin' like Dalton in the summertime

Double true to that. Indeed a summertime feel to it. One of relaxation and a lot of good imagery to set your mind free. The chorus is great too, once again so many good words that just say, it is summertime. Days of running under the sunshine, and nights dreaming above the stars. Or days that seemed to last forever, whether just vibing out to music or whatnot. This song is here to tell you that summer is just that So many perfect memories of summertime. With a bunch of hot lines you can't go wrong with this song. The chorus just hits the spot:

The winds in my hair in the summertime heat

I feel good rappin' to a summertime beat

Fancy lifestyle fresh kicks on my feet

Summertime's wheres my mind finds its retreat

Really puts a lot of summer feel into every line. The 1st in that simple feel of summer, that you are really outside enjoying the weather, the simplest way to enjoy it. Then of course you can be rappin' or doing other work, that is another part of summer, doing things during summer that just feels good. You also feel good and just comfortable with who you are, you may be living any lifestyle with any pair of shoes, but it will always feel fancy during the summertime. And the last line is just a given of summer, that is where I imagine everyone finds there retreat. That is the time when you can just lay back and take it all in. My mind can unwind and just finally get on track with what I want in life. Maybe that is what summer is all about. Perhaps that is when we finally get to dream with our eyes open. We just have all that time to really consider what is important to us and what we can do better ourselves, and better plan to live a happy life. Even if you aren't living a fancy lifestyle you can at least relax in the summertime heat, and get to that fancy lifestyle of yours, whatever that may be. That fancy lifestyle can be what our personal success is, or of course taken literally, it is a life of leisure and wealth. Which is what we all want. However, we all have our own definitions of leisure and wealth, which makes everyone success different from everybody elses. Yep, the chorus is pretty damn good.

          Another interesting part of the song is how the verses really change throughout. The 1st verse kind of establishes him as a rapper, just a lot fun put in his lines, and he really puts out that he may have what it takes to be a great rapper. Then the 2nd verse really puts a lot of sense into the summer theme in relation to the chorus. He speaks of what he was, and how he has changed and that his foundation of himself has completely changed since then. And he is happy with this change, and that he has found himself without need of correction. That is really a true look at summer, at this point we have no struggles and all we can do is just look at ourselves in the past and dream of what is ahead. Without the stress of normal life, we feel like we have no other corrections for ourselves. As we have just completed something amazing, such as a school year. So what now? Well nothing but celebrate, and just enjoy the summer. That you see, is the time we reminisce and look backwards and ahead. The 3rd verse really completes the feel, also parallel to the end of summer as well. By the end, there isn't much to do but hangout and get ready to spread out like graffiti on a train. Again, the dreams that we plan for ourselves, ready to go out and chase our goals. Summer is that important, gives us the time to establish ourselves, and get ready for what is ahead, looking at how we used to be and improving upon ourselves based on what we know. So enjoy your summer while you can, it feels like forever away, but before you know it. It will be the end of August.
           He does a great job introducing the beat. As it just starts up he says:

With a beat like this. I can't imagine that'd you'd feel bad

The beat is really jumpy and gives you that a really great feel. A good use of synths, and a huge assortment of other electronic sounds. Nice feel to it, however that is required of a summertime track, it needs to make you feel good. Summertime is exactly that. Most summer jams should help us with my whole summer philosophy above, helps us think while keeping our overall emotions happy and positive. 

A true track of gold. Something I never want to forget as I get older.

Illmatic Closing

           Perhaps the greatest hip-hop album of all time, that is most certainly debatable. However, it is no doubt an incredible work of art. Made by what I think the greatest rapper of all time. Everything about the album is so real and so well done. Including some of the realest depictions of QB street life, the rawest beats, and no doubt some of the best raps I have heard in my life. However I can't forget that it has that nostalgia feel at this point in time. Considering I haven't actually had it since it came out, I have had it for less than a year. And because it is so old it sort of takes you back and imagine all sorts of things. That is why Illmatic isn't just an amazing album, it is personally an untouchable project, because of that old-school mystique. The new stuff can't have that quality yet that would be impossible. Yet, in 30 years the years between his albums will come together, and all blend to make something you can't decipher. But for now that is why Illmatic is Nas' best album. The realest album of his. Although don't get me wrong, all his stuff is very real, that is what makes Nas my choice for best rapper. He has an amazing flow, rhymes, and has perhaps the longest consistency of any MC ever. About 20 years rapping and he hasn't sold out or changed his style(not that changing styles is bad, see Kanye West).

This album will be timeless. When you have Nas on the tracks, and production from Premo, Large Professor, L.E.S., Q-Tip, and Pete Rock it is supposed to be timeless.

Now we can only hope that Nas can release something like Illmatic again. However, like I said it has that older feel to it. And in fact almost with all his albums you can ask, "but is it as good as Illmatic?". Maybe that Illmatic was sort of a curse. Think about it, with a legendary debut it is hard to out do it, although it is common for the 1st album to be people's favorite. Yet we can always hope to see Nas come back, although he is still keeping it real, despite his success, making great music. Again time will tell!

Hopefully you enjoyed this review as much as I did, I hope you found a similarity of interests in the tracks covered.

It Ain't Hard to Tell- Nas

           A nice finisher to Illmatic. Nas drops some illmatic lyrics explaining his raps and the kind of quality they are, a typical message of rappers. Not that I like the boastful part of rapping, but if it is high-quality then of course I won't mind, because they are bragging the right way. Ha, if that sounds right. Anyways, a great rhythm with one of the catchiest drums I ever heard. Not only having that boom bip feel, I think that shall be a new hip-hop term! But the beat basically goes....
           CRAZY! Produced by Large Professor, the drums really run the show with the beautifully altered vocals being played at the same time. And that bassline is killer to! Also the "AH!" thrown in there you will probably here something very similar to it in a lot of hip-hop songs. Interesting whether just similar, or the sample is used I don't know, regardless that yelling can be found in a few Common sounds, as well as others I am sure. The drums just go like this!

ba-boom boom bip boom boom bip! I know, really complicated! But seriously, something about it just gets you jumping.

The LIST of samples:

• "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson 
• "N.T." by Kool & the Gang
• "Long Red" by Mountain
• "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by Whatnauts
• "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke
• "What Do You Want from Me Woman" by The Blue Jays
• "Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus

The beat is absolutely terrific. With the synths; sampled from "Human Nature" jamming in the background with Nas and the drums and bassline go on. During the chorus you get the vocals and that jazzy feel. "Long Red" is the sample that contains the "AH!" and the killer beat from the drums. Drums also from "Slow Dance" & "N.T.", with I believe the brass you here from "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?". A lot of samples going on and I am having quite the time to break them all down I will try my best. "Slow Dance" was used for some of the bassline from what I can tell. Last but not least, "Sorcerer of Isis" was used for more drums. I am guessing that leaves "Human Nature" with the vocals, I am not entirely sure. What Do You Want From Me Woman" is used for the brass you here. Man difficult to decipher. However, certainly a lot of sampling went into this piece really taking you everywhere in music. 

Definitely a great way to go out on this album. But I'll sum up my thoughts with the now-traditional closing. 

Represent- Nas

            A bouncy fun track to add to the already successful life of Illmatic. Has a lot of clever lyrics from Nas and an interesting theme. Basically Nas tells us how he represents himself and his friends, and how he is part of QB. Telling us a lot about the daily life. Whether:

...any day could be your last in the jungle
Get murdered on the humble, guns'll blast, niggaz tumble
The corners is the hot spot, full of mad criminals

As you can see there is some hostility where he lives. And it is better he sticks with his crew. He also introduces what he is about:

Yo, they call me Nas, I'm not your legal type of fella
Moet drinkin, marijuana smokin street dweller
who's always on the corner, rollin up blessed
When I dress, it's never nuttin less than Guess
Cold be walkin with a bop and my hat turned back
Love committin sins and my friends sell crack
This nigga raps with a razor, keep it under my tongue
The school drop-out, never liked the shit from day one

His comment about school has always intrigued me. Considering he has a ridiculous vocabulary, and has the incredible flow to match multi-syllable words that even I don't know the definition of. That always blow me away. While he introduces his life and his character, he not only represents himself, he represents all his friends. A quality that makes the song fun, all his friends singing the chorus! Adds a lot of life to the track. Also including a long list of people he worked with, or knew. Another way to REPRESENT!

          The production is tight. The xylophones are really something that add a light feel to the song. While the drums are simply from Premo. Produced by him, he sampled Lee Erwin's "Thief of Baghdad". Listening to the actual song is quite a treat, the songs quite feels like it contains 10 songs. A lot of interesting transitions in that beautiful competition. In fact, I am listening to it for the 1st time so I can tell you about it. OH! It just changed pace again. The piece sampled it towards the beginning of the track. So there you have it one great production and a genius sample, considering how obscure it is within "Thief of Baghdad".  He was for sure digging in the crates to find this one! Made in 1924! Can't believe it, bravo Premo!

One Time 4 Your Mind - Nas

            The beat just sounds evil from the start. Not a whole lot to say about this one, just some illmatic rhymes, and a fantastic flow. Nothing special, but still a killer track. A lot of the song is just about him chillin'. Really just what Nas does in his leisure. The beat is really something to chill to. Also some cool punchlines, and he really does well to throw out some lines to boast how he works hard, and succeeds in his rap. Large Professor and Nas have a nice call and response chorus. Large Professor also produced the track.
           The many lines he throws out are all genius. Whether he is chilling out:

I grab the buddha, get my crew to buy beers
And watch a flick, illin and root for the villian, huh
Plus every morning, I go out and love it sort of chilly
Then I send a shorty from my block to the store for Phillies
After being blessed by the herb's essence
I'm back to my rest, ten minutes some odd seconds
That's where I got the honey at, spends the night for sexing
Cheap lubrication, Lifestyle protection

Or maybe he is working hard as an MC, to chill for later:

Think I'll dim the lights then inhale, it stimulates
Floating like I'm on the North 95 Interstate
Never plan to stop, when I write my hand is hot
And expand alot from the Wiz to Camelot
The parlayer, I'll make ya heads bop Pah
I shine a light on perpetrators like a cop's car
From day to night, I play the mic and you'll thank God
I wreck shit so much, the microphone'll need a paint job

Here you see he likes to chill a lot, but when he starts rapping his hand is hot. Implying his lyrics are hot, or in this case Illmatic.

            Definitely a laid back tune. Produced by Large Professor, with a very deep bass line. A track to lay back and just start nodding your head to. Sampling Gary Burton's "Walter L". "One Time 4 Your Mind" samples the melody.  Really the chorus brings out the intensity and sinister feel from the song.

Definitely a killer, listen one time for your mind!

One Love - Nas

Classic Track from Nasty Nas.

Great story, and some of my favorite lines in Hip-Hop.

           And a story is told. It is very hard to say this is my favorite track from Illmatic, but that's the magic of Illmatic. I can put any song from it to another album, and that could be my favorite off that new album. However, that is not the case, and I value every track from this album. So what does this one bring to the table? Looking at our roster of tracks, this one brings ultimate story telling. As well as holding other qualities that make Illmatic such a compete project, including incredible lyricism, and some classic old-school quality production.
           The production gives it a dark feel to it. Which really complements Nas' violent and gritty lyrics, or either way they really come together. Produced by Q-Tip, it has that nice boom bip feel on the drums, really something to make the song more addicting. Catchy, but in no means a low quality. A lot of keys play giving it that mysterious quality, while the loud kick in the drums give you that sinister feel. The horns are a nice touch as well, subtle, but great. Really unique beat, not alot of different instruments, but really feels like there is a lot going on with each piece in the beat. The main portion sampled for "One Love" was "Smilin' Billy Suite Part 2" by The Heath Brothers. The drums are ripped from Clyde McPhatter's "Mixed Up Cup", and Parliament's "Come in out of the Rain". The chorus is sampled from Whodini's "One Love", however Q-Tip still sings the chorus in Nas' version. A lot of interesting samples again. 
            The beat really does compliment Nas' lyrics. There is a whole bunch of different information spilled over the track. I don't need to break down the story, but if you listen it is comprised of the gritty lyrics. That puts the song as pretty serious, with a lot of beef between his friends and other people he knew in his projects. And just like "The Genesis", the intro really puts you into the scene You have Nas' friends chillin' outside one day, and one man gets a letter from Nas. That transition is reallly effective, because Nas is able to put you right into the story. How? With that intro. Sure when listening to the rest of the song you can picture most of it. Yet, with all the conversation you are put right into the Projects, and then Nas takes you through the letter, rapping of course. Basically, the into helps set the stage for the verses. I'll put my favorite lines up:

But yo, guess who got shot in the dome-piece?
Jerome's niece, on her way home from Jones Beach

The crack-heads stalking, loud-mouths is talking
Hold, check out the story yesterday when I was walking
The nigga you shot last year tried to appear like he hurtin' something
Word to mother, I heard him fronting

And he be pumping on your block
Your man gave him your glock
And now they run together, what up son, whatever
Since I'm on the streets I'm gonna put it to a cease
But I heard you blew a nigga with a ox for the phone piece
Whylin on the Island, but now with Elmira
Better chill cause them niggas will put that ass on fire

So stay civilised, time flies
Though incarcerated your mind (dies)
I hate it when your mum cries
It kinda wants to make me murder, for real-a
I've even got a mask and gloves to bust slugs for one love

A two day stay, you may say I need the time alone
To relax my dome, no phone, left the 9 at home

So I comes back home, nobody's helping shorty doo-wop
Rollin two Phillies together in the Bridge we called 'em oowops
He said, "Nas, niggas could be bustin' off the roof
So I wear a bullet proof and pack a black tres-deuce"

I took an l when he passed it, this little bastard
Keeps me blasted he starts talking mad shit
I had to school him, told him don't let niggas fool him
'cos when the pistol blows the one that's murdered will be the cool one

Shorty's laugh was cold blooded as he spoke so foul
Only twelve trying to tell me that he liked my style
Then I rose, wiping the blunts ash from my clothes
Then froze only to blow the herb smoke through my nose
And told my little man that I'm a go cyprose
There's some jewels in the skull that he can sell if he chose

Now, that is a lot of lines. So certainly, a lot of personal favorites. I can't stress it enough, this is Nas on a track from Illmatic, so any lines I picked were just things I personally liked such as, "Word to mother heard him frontin'"! Love that line.

Definitely a longer track off the album, longest in fact. With some interesting production from Q-Tip, and as usual Nas destroyed it, while bringing a specific story and another experience of the QB projects to Illmatic.

Timeless