Machine Gun Funk - The Notorious B.I.G.

           Well hello again, thought I'd return with some good classics, and go back to some official stuff, taking a break from the underground, or at least for a few minutes. We already know the deal with Mr. Smalls. He was a legend. A raw creative MC that you don't see everyday. And you certainly don't see anything like him today. I listen to him when I wanna hear some sick flows and bob my head to some classic beats. This is one of those tracks.
            He reaches you with words on multiple levels, certainly not everyone can relate to this kinda style. With certainly a more gangster appeal, you can't always say you live every word he spits. Which is why you come for that head bobbing sound. Not that I don't love reciting some parts of this song. Me and one friend will always go out on that, "what's love got to do!" that piece is pure classic. And I always get goose bumps when he spits that helicopter lawn. You came to hear an MC tear up the mic and just glide on his superb flows. And that is exactly what this song is about. The beat makes that even easier.
            Boom bip, boom-boom bip. That is all my head tells me. Another neck snapping beat. And the song is appropriately titled. You got many images of gun violence and other forms of conflict. But that bass line is the perfect amount of funk. And that loop through the chorus is just fun to lip-sync and full out yell. Ha man, just a fun song. This is just one of Easy Mo Bee's works that helps make Ready to Die a classic. I'd say check out that album, but who hasn't? 

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!

EML Update: Music Overload

           Recently I have been on a music overload, still am in fact. My library has doubled in 2 months, in the almost 2 years I have been getting it. Getting 11 full albums, and then 10 mixtapes. I made a list of it and it came out to be a day worth of music out of the 2.2 days I have. So not only have I been really busy with school and regular life, man music has been crazy. I was just happy to have time today to make the previous post and this little update.
            The reason I got so much is really because of the albums I bought. Usually I never get that many. I got all sorts of stuff, just on the 10th I got 5 more albums. Ha usually I never do that to myself, but I don't always have an opportunity to buy music when I want it, so there I go.
The 11 Albums:

• Nas's Street's Disciple
• Ben Kweller's Sha Sha
• Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
• Common's Be
• The GZA's Liquid Swords
• A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders
• Daft Punk's Discovery
• Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
• A 3 Disc Set of Nat King Cole: Unforgettable
• 2nd Disc: Hit that Jive
• 3rd Disc: Jivin' With Jarvis

I have had a good time with Street's Disciple, 36 Chambers, Be, and Midnight Marauders. All of those I have given close listens, Be and 36 Chambers probably feeling the most complete. Street's Disciple was actually a great attempt at a double-LP as it is hard to master those as just a solo rapper. Midnight Maruaders was awesome, and I gotta give that one another go sometime. Liquid Swords has been orphaned, and I hope to adopt it again once again! As I really haven't listened to it. 

The latter 5 albums I have acquired just on Monday. Discovery is amazing, have listened to it fully multiple times, but never in one go, as I have fallen asleep. D'oh! 

Nat's stuff still gettin' into it, and Black Star is still waiting!

The 10 Mixtapes.

• Mac Miller's The Juke Box 
• And the High Life
• Nas's Illmatic Demo Tape
• Biggie's Demo Tape
• A collection of Nas's Unreleased
• Nas's The Lost Tapes 1.5, all remixes produced by Cookin' Soul
• 9th Wonder's The 144 -144 Instrumentals from 9th Wonder that are simply amazing. 5.4 hours of content on that bad boy! That is what has kept me so busy.
• Aer's Water on the Moon
• Mac Miller's I Love Life, Thank You
• and another Nas collection, of remixes, unreleased, and collabs. Pretty sick.

Only really listened to The Juke Box, which was honestly terrible, except for the tracks I liked were quite amazing, Big's demo tape was short but decent, 9th Wonder's stuff is absolutely amazing, and The Illmatic Demo Tape is by far amazing, it is like discovering a 2nd Illmatic. Everything else still needs some attention.

So yeah quite the music kick. 

I hope to do some finishing tracks to People's if I have time, and then go on with random tracks for awhile. Perhaps do a cover of 9th's material and give an overview. Doesn't mean I am back for a post every other day, but I hope to do at least 10 a month ha ha. 

The World Is Filled - B.I.G.

        The Notorious B.I.G. A true MC. As I am sure I will get to my personal views of him in some other post, I would like to get to that some other time. As this is absolutely a favorite song of mine! Let's see why right now!
        The 1st time I heard it, it must've been on Pandora Radio. Right from the beginning I was caught. The exploration of music will always lead you to some unexplainable feeling on occasion. Such is the case here my friends. The beat just grabs me, wouldn't let me go, and made sure I was paying attention to appreciate every little bit it had to offer. Perhaps I can describe this feeling. Have ever had a song that just stops you? Exactly what this was. New material, that just appeared on Pandora, and blew me away.
        So what exactly is the beat like? Well the feel of it is indescribably incredible. But what I can describe to you is why it always leaves me feeling good. The beat itself is pretty simple. Makes it easy to just ride with the beat, which I find with a lot of old school rap. The bass line is absolutely incredible! Also the beautiful vocals from Carl Thomas only top this production off. I find his addition to the song runs parallel to Tony Williams vocals on We Major. Both carry the chorus strong by themselves with no other singers. Which really lets you admire their singing. The beat itself could not be felt the same without the lyrics.
        I wanna keep this post short so I shall say this! Everyone absolutely destroys this song, having a lava hot flow. This may sound ridiculous but Puff Daddy's verse is my favorite. Not that I credit him for anything, except a chill voice that goes perfect with this beat. Now I imagine B.I.G. wrote his verse, but there is nothing that actually credits him to that. Despite the fact he probably didn't write his verse, it was just so laid back, and I love rapping right along with that verse every time. As for Biggie's verse, what can you expect? Straight fire, with hot lines throughout. Although the editing to his voice sort of turns me away, still great however. So that leaves Too Short's verse, which he puts a lot of emotion into the words than any other rapper on this track. Plus his rant at the end is quite humorous and I always find it interesting. The whole song is basically a pop and gansta rap style. You'll find the lyrics contain a lot of boasting, but keeping on subject with pimps & hoes. Which really helps chill you out, imagining a wealthy life with no worries, obviously erasing all the stress. The Too Short rant really ties together the song at the end, putting the words straight-forward. Definitely a track I recommend to chill out.

In fact, one of my favorites to blare from the speakers, when I'm home alone lying down on the couch, watching the world outside the window, as I reflect on the day's work accomplished. When I can only dream on what lies ahead...