Another Rough One - The Notorious B.I.G.

           Months back I came across a Big demo tape. This was after I had dug into the mine that is 9th Wonder beats, and after I discovered Nas's Illmatic demo tape, which of course was illmatic. So I thought, "man I should try and find other hidden classics!". I dug for some Biggie and found a small demo tape(link provided under "Find Music"). All quite low quality, most of the 7 songs I don't like. Yet this was the gem!
         

Classic, that is all.

            Now I will assume you already know who The Notorious B.I.G. is. That will save me from what has already been said many-a-time. This track is particularly sick, and we are asked a certain question. "Well who is Biggie Smalls?", by what sounds like some older lady. An appropriate question when creating your demo tape.
            The rap is of course quite remarkable. Big brings those intense heavy bars with perfect delivery, while this shouldn't be a surprise, the track still stands out as this has become of my favorite Big verses. Some lines that show why:

Sippin’ on oh go cold is the rhyme you stole

Puffin' on dime bags and I’ve been told

My words are harder than a brick, chinese arithmetic

A thick stick and my dick

The B.I.G. moves swifter than a ninja

Even on stick ups I'm the masked avenger

Keep my eyes open and the case closed

No eyewitnesses no names I explode

Just the heavy set one with the big gun

And the sweet tongue shaking down everyone

Fighting and fucking the same thing we “stick and move”

Smack the fool and disagree

Recognize the pedigree

Rhyme is mine ‘cause I said it’s me

Rage because you get no praise

I treat you like a derelict with aids

Recognize I don’t fuck with the same eyes

As usual, all the lines were killer, so I just picked some personal favorites! And the beat goes perfectly with this monster of a rap.
             I have no idea who the producer is, as I haven't researched that yet, but man do I love it. It is so perfect. I realize this is basically "Microphone Murderer" with a different beat. However I think this version does more justice, although I love the light/fun feel of the other beat, gives you a good idea of what he was like before he blew up. However, with this sick piano loop, which is just really the slamming of 1 key and drums. It just gives his voice more power than it already has, it is just incredible!

Not So Bad At All - Wax

When you step back, you see life isn't really that bad after all.

            Another favorite from the Scrublife mixtape. Wax gives us a very smooth tune as we exit this musical work. Mainly composed acoustically with other elements thrown in, it is just something to relax to when the weather is beautiful, or you just want to cheer up. This is absolutely one of the best ways to go out on a mixtape. It is very hard not to like this song, as at this point you appreciate Wax's many qualities. This one he sings perfectly, and I appreciate the vocals on this track, over a rap. Sometimes for a hip-hop head you want something that is smooth and constant, and a break from the drums is well received at this point.
            He sings of taking that special someone out, impatient for a date of some sort, relieving all his stress. Regardless of the location, it could be anyway just to see her. He begins with a romantic image, a picnic in autumn as he pours her wine, and he takes in all that life has to offer. Next it is the beach, somewhere exotic, taking her in his grasp. And the moments where he just breaks down to release the energy from his soul, humming along with the tune he creates, it is just magical.
             This track just paints many images in my head. Those of easy times, with lovely women, and just living those dreams we greatly yearn for. The tune relaxes our soul, as we are taken on a journey, where Wax opens up the vault of dreams we keep in our head, and we just look at the way things are, imagining the best. Even the thought of such heavenly events bring happiness to us, even if not experiencing it, because sometimes the music is our best way of ever experiencing something. Of course what makes the track more powerful is when we are reminded of those epic moments, times of pure joy and relaxation. As I was saying, we look at things in a different light afterwards, by the end of the song I am thoroughly convinced that life is indeed, not so bad at all...

Nas Will Rock - Unreleased - Nas

Beat gives you that nostalgia, lace that with Nas' vocals and you
are taken right back into Queensbridge.

            Finding unreleased Nas material has got to be one of the best things ever, so much of it is pure gold. Whether considering it off a mixtape, such as the Illmatic demo; can someone say "classic!"; or anything that wasn't included on an official album. Well after continued work a few weeks ago I came across this. The beat is glorious, and the rap is simply amazing. Nas kills it to bring that old school vibe, as I am certain this was produced around the Illmatic era. With an impeccable flow and some of the dopest knowledge dropped, don't knock this, cause Nas rock well!
            From the very first bar you can tell Nas is going to kill this one. This is a very conscious track that brings a lot of life to perhaps otherwise dead ideas. With incredible imagery of the projects and his daily living laced right in with these philosophies, I found myself fascinated. I'll cover this verse by verse with so much to speak of. In the first verse he speaks of survival and he contemplates the purpose of life.
Also note I will be transcribing the lyrics for you! Couldn't find 'em anywhere else so I figured I might as well put them up.

Low profile, rap style slick as new now

give the crew pounds every time we cover new ground

still survivin' but there's a few down back in the essence

I'm askin' questions on the phone with jail adolescence 

Quiet confessions, the system is applying the pressure

My mind is guessin', is livin' and dyin' a lesson?

But not to be up large with the mirage of cars

Take me off track from what the gods focus on hard

Laid up smokin' cigars motionin' maids 

to bring me toast and eggs kosher 

ice chokers and words to smoke it

Always the culture lives in ultra madness

Devoted coach-bag bitch 

both the average nigga hopes to get mad rich

but what's the purpose? only the gods can watch the earth twist

I'm physically trapped down on the surface, where all the crack lurches

snakes and serpents, foul jakes that search us

clowns with 4 pounds this ain't a circus.

Man what a mouthful. Ha told you there would be some sick shit spit. Nas brings us many instances of imagery that immerse into his world, which is why he is such an amazing rapper, well one reasons. Well from those lines you see other reasons, such as his incredible wordplay. And perhaps my favorite? His thought provoking ideas that he spits with such ease, speaking of his situation here on Earth. He asks himself what is the purpose? Nas feels trapped physically, in need of transcending, to get away from such foolishness. Such as the mirage of cars, that doesn't phase him, but tricks others such as the addicts, and other clowns. 

           

Black clouds over the hood I'm on the corner with the thugs

Late night under the moon they assume i'm slingin' drugs

Cause I'm hooded up thought a G at night wasn't good enough

Pushed ones luck yo they had a brother put in cuffs

Luckily made it out of court comfortably 

Judge said I need a job ain't nothin' comin' free could've got a 1 in 3

I try to school these shorties under me but they can't see

from life to death so know we back to where we never left

The ghetto  it's a damn shame knowin' it's a man game

Shorty thinkin' it's time to make your plans change

All that run around tryin' to chase must've been a year

Been there, it's goin' nowhere Pops told me knuckle up no fair

I wished so many killings could be prevented

Whatever happens it was written meaning God made it

But during life you put your heart in it

Even though it seems we bein' targeted 

Let that brother R hit it

Nas brings up more points, more stories, and rich imagery to us on the 2nd verse. We are introduced to a dark opening, men under the moon in the streets of New York City. Then after some misinterpretation from the others, Nas gets in a mix up, and goes to court. Comin' out free, as the Judge suggests he gets a job, but Nas claims there is nothing out there for him. Then he speaks of the struggle many people face when in the Ghetto, time fly's by success hasn't been reached, so we try and reach new ideas to emancipate us, economically of course. Nas reflects on "shorty's" hopes of trying something new, but it never happened and Olu Dara; his father; told him to take life as it is. Of course, as a young person myself, this is very much a reality to me, just with different circumstances. As a teenager I wanna remain optimistic as I enter the real world, and leave my adolescence behind. And it sucks when you have to face the reality of a situation even if it goes against your positive mindset.  Next, Nas reflects on tragedies of death, but as I mentioned, he accepts it for what they are because he assumes God had it happen. And whatever the matter we should just strive through it and eventually prevail...

I'll be adding more to this post. Discussing the next verse, and the production of course. Enjoy the track for now! A download link should be included in the future.

ALBUM REVIEW: Beats, Weed, & Coffee EP - Rhyme Crusaders

              If you don't know who the Rhyme Crusaders are, all you need to know is that it is basically Rythmatical and friends. Him, Illoquence, and Lorisoul teamed up to make a sick EP! This is a very short work, and the project feels very focused, and doesn't stray to far between the tracks. All are very relaxed beats, ha do I really need to say keys? Lorisoul and Illoquence bring us some smooth deliveries. The vibe is very much: beats, weed, & coffee. All sorta fall into the category of relaxing/waking up. While I am not a coffee  drinker, I do love starting my day to some "jazz-hop", if you will. You can't feel bad listening to this.

The album covers themes of:

•  Falling in love, and what we may tend to do in those situations.
•  Finding your path in life, learning to survive, and more philosophy that inspires us to be greater.
•  Appreciating our friends, and all the times shared with them.
• A lot of references to weed, supporting the relaxing aura that is emitted from this EP.
• Typical rap themes of course: keeping it real, how they have grown with their styles, and so on.

I'll just break down the tracks quickly.

1. We Burn - Starts the EP off lightly, perfect! Lorisoul and Illoquence drop knowledge of life, and they ponder some of life's common mysteries. Each do a good job to get you thinking and think about what to appreciate. And of course, why do they smoke? Well just listen to the chorus when you get to it, should be explained quite well. It is an escape, supporting their dreams as they go on.

2. Man With A Plan - 1st and only vocal sample on the album. Used to good affect. The duo give us the advice they were once given, and how to get through life. After all, how will life run, if you don't have plan. What if you aren't, "buckled and fastened"? Illoquence says the way to go is to just ignore those that put you down, and a lot of it is really in your mind set. Confidence kids! Confidence!

3. Stinky Whores - Okay, the title is really ironic in some ways, when compared to the beat, as the title has negative aspects, but the beat is classy! Mind you it is certainly relevant to the lyrics, because Lorisoul hates his exes. This is a song about a woman he meets, and how this relationship progresses. And when she got to know him, Lorisoul's real side; as he mentions, they didn't meet eye to eye. A very thought provoking track, stirs up a lot of memories for me.

4. Litto Elf Boy - Interlude - This is my favorite track on the EP. Yet it isn't even a song. When I first heard it I didn't know what to expect, but it is so uplifting. The beat is very playful when meshed with the keys. Then you get a bunch of guys dicking around. And my god do I love it. When I listen to this, every time I feel just enlightened, as if I have been given some great opportunity and I leave the track feeling refreshed. Then you just picture the events as they are spoken by these kids. It brings a smile to my face, because you become immersed in the track. The more listens I give it, the more you learn about the story, and what is actually happening. While the context may never be fully understood, it is certainly a joy to listen to these guys have a great time. This one is also the longest on the EP, and it provides a long break before the last track brings it all together. Listening to these guys are just hilarious I'd explain the story, but hey just listen up and have some fun to that track. It is truly delightful.

5. What The Fuck Do We Name This - A nice closing track, with more of that chill jazz-hop. They part with their final words. Listen up, smart messages given!

Tired of reading this post, start listening now! And be sure to check out the other projects on the BC page. All dope masterpieces!
http://rythmatical.bandcamp.com/album/beats-weed-coffee

I highly recommend downloading this, as it is free and too good to pass up in my eyes. It is awesome, I have had it for months, and it is too sick!

Don't Wanna Dream - Lorisoul

A picture to dream on.

Hoping I can find your style in another smile. 

             An extremely lovely opening to this track, a sample of utmost elegance. Lorisoul expresses how his song making helps him release the pain. He is on the theme of a woman with this one, using lots of clever imagery to express his feelings. He mentions how free he feels when rapping of listening to music, releasing the stress on his verses. A simple outlet, that many of us share in one way or another. He says he writes as he is afraid to talk to her. And he continues to mention that often times, in more situations than love, we just stand there with our hands in our pockets. A lot of clever lines spit on this one, props Lorisoul!
            The production was stellar on this track. The introduction as I mentioned before is just beautiful, something about foreign vocals are just addicting. When you just love the sound, even if you can't comprehend the words being spoken, and to be honest I can't even tell what language she is singing. Rythmatical brings some more elements onto this song, during which the instruments fit perfectly. If you listen closely during the vocals, there are elements of piano put right in there! Killin it with those keys once again, god damn! And the build up before the bass drops in quite uplifting. The strings only supply to the increasing beauty and elegance. And then they start to loop, Lorisoul spits, and the bass drops. A very effective way to give power to the song, so definitely another stellar song.

Lay My Head to Sleep - Lorisoul

Fuck a sad song cause I know that my life'll move on.
Man I love that line, quite powerful, gives you that I-can-do-anything attitude.

              Another sick track on No Regrets. A lot of what Lorisoul says on this track is quite motivating and how he has made himself happy, whether it be his mindset or his daily routine. And an interesting sample that is quite fun to sing along to. Another beat to ride along to, and more thoughts to soak in.

A lot of things have happened that I can't accept 
but I've learned to deal with problems without the help of cigarettes
With the weed maybe so, but that's because I think of more creative shit
High up in the studio

Again, that motivation that Lorisoul gives us is awesome! Teaching us to take things and do what is best for is, like knockin' those bad habits!

Now I lay my head to sleep with the beat on repeat the melodies my company.

Ha, I am sure we have all done that, just fall asleep to the music. Great way to go out on the day.

Zonin' bumpin' my head on cloud 9
 livin' without a damn because I barely realize
flippin' the script not givin' a shit
has made me motivated to make feel good hits

A lazy mentality sure. But if it gives us music like this, then I love 'em for it. Because I know this album was no simple task.

And don't be surprised that I came with a dope new thing that my past couldn't bring.

This line makes me very intrigued. What exactly was Lorisoul like before No Regrets? We all have roots, and most of us don't know the half of others. If Lorisoul does have some kind of music out there from back in the day, I would love to hear it.
            A much more motivation song, that puts as ease. Lorisoul gives us that feel good vibe once again, and reassures us in many ways. Fuck the sadness, chill out and listen to the music that helps bring out the good within!

Get to Know: Disko Dave

             This guy is a hell of a producer. I came across him on my instrumental dig, more specifically on youtube. He makes beat videos and I am really loving his style. A typical vid is pretty straight to the point: grab a record, play it, find the right samples, load the sounds and go! He is truly an inspiration and his videos are just sick. He always give us a good look at his equipment in the intro. His beat vids are so good, he has his own little intro beats to really bring you in. He is part of group formed back in '99, The Better Beat Bureau, consisting of not only himself but several other DJs/Producers. Dave says he has been producing since about 2001, and DJing for much longer! This guy is from Virginia Beach, VA, which if you aren't close enough to know, that is the US of A. Something about these beats have really caught my attention and they are truly inspirational, but that is like everything with the underground. You may ask yourself, "if this guy can do it, why can't I?" And the more underground they are the more motivating it can be.
             While I don't know much about this hip-hop DJ and instrumentalist, I can tell you this, you need to check out his youtube channel. I am still very much in the process of finding where I can get his music, but it is almost impossible. I am pretty sure he doesn't like adding download links to anything he makes. Which is understandable. But I'll tell you right now, if I could buy his beats, I would do it just to listen to, after all I am no rapper. So please, if you come across anything, lemme know, you know how to reach me!

In the mean time I have these beats to share!

Perhaps my favorite instrumental that he has made. Just watch, it is like you don't even see it coming. Then you get hit with something so crazy!

Another sick beat, and he explains himself a little more into his process of sampling, and the story behind the instrumental.

The first one I ever watched! I was blown away, because I had never seen the process. This goes even more in depth and you see the beat really come together. Then the rapper, Antagonist Dragonspit spits on it! Illmatic instrumental right here!

That is really all I have, I will make sure to add some links that I find helpful under "Find Music". Wish me luck, hope I can get more of his music out to you guys if/when I find it! Enjoy!

And be sure to check out his channel! It is loaded with a bunch of videos!