Can't think of a the last time I reviewed a track that wasn't hip-hop. Funny enough, I discovered this track thanks to just that very art, right off Common's "Be". That album is just damn good, but I'll get to that some other day. From the original to Common's "Faithful", it only makes sense you hear those similarities. Last time I did a soul post was probably the Whatnauts, and man since my instrumental dig I just love soul more and more every time. What can I say, it just gives you that ultimate feeling, appropriately-titled genre I suppose. DJ Rogers is a nice addition to my small collection. His voice is a bit more powerful than some of the singers in the Whatnauts, but they get me goin' either way.
Of course the topic is quite clear. A man needs his woman, he'll do anything he can to keep her and show his love to her. Another good thing about soul, it just sorta lifts your spirits with the heart that holds a positive message always. This one holds a very smooth groovy rhythm, nothing too corny however. Of course today if I am listening to soul you get weird looks, especially in my age, but the music is too good I don't care. With that said, the singing on this is absolutely killer, you can really feel how much the man gets lost in this music, losing all control definitely shows how deep the artist's passion runs into his music. And knowing how sincere and truthful it is just adds that much more power to every word.
Other elements to look forward to are in the very middle and end of the song. Their is a sick solo, which you will probably hear on several hip-hop records, especially Common's "Faithful". This adds that funk I was talking about, which gives you time away from the vocals, before you are sucked back in. One particular note I'd like to make is how loose the song becomes. When I say this I speak of the shattering of the song's pattern; that being the song's structure of verse and chorus. When Mr. Rogers here goes out at the end with soul-shaking cries. That quality is just so liberating when taken out of the song's structure, I just get lost in it. Damn how I love soul.
So yeah, if you think you like soul, go for it. Some might not be my taste, but that is what exploration is for. After all, why am I writing this? Ha I won't even try to answer that, I'll keep this short.
Album is It's Good To Be Alive, released in '76. I can't find the thing anywhere, but once I take a trip to the record store, maybe I'll get some success.
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.
Recently I have been interested in discovering a lot of Soul/R&B. And this song has really become something special to me. I can only wonder where I can find a larger library of songs, such as these. However I can manage that some other time, for now I find peace with this masterpiece. As you may already know, this piece was sampled in "Late", which led to my discovery of "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" afterwards. It is such a good track stand alone, and quite a bit different considering the fact it was sampled. Despite the fact I have been listening to Late Registration for so long, I never looked up the sample for "Late". Well I am very happy I did!
The song is by The Whatnauts, a trio of soul singers, and this showcases their abilities very well. While the track is very old, it was a hot single back in the day. Reaching #14 on the R&B charts. I myself don't care about the numbers at all, I really could care less about who is famous and who isn't. My point is, it was popular back in the day, now hiding in the libraries of music, and personally I have found it to be popular with my ears, as with people back in 1971! Perhaps the reason for my positive reaction, is because I don't hear enough soul and can make no comparison.
Regardless of that fact, the track is beautiful. What true soul should be, something that soothes you and connects with you on an incredibly high emotional level. The singing is so beautiful, and they put so much life into every word. Whether singing softly and slowly, or that ear-gripping "i'll erase away!". You really can't explain this it is just terrific singing. The lyrical content doesn't need too much discussion, but they of course discuss a girl, one whom "always gets pushed around". The whole message after listening is perhaps this: be real with yourself, and never alter your image because of others. You may change, but just remember don't do it to fit in. In a world so clouded by layers of materialism and the concept of fitting in, it's nice to see somebody staying true to themselves.
The music is very slow, of course. Those same harps from "Late" are back, however there are some different elements of course. The difference is the guitar in the background, the strings may be different. However, they sound all together like very distinguished. The drums may be different as well. It is certainly hard to actually decipher all the sounds between "Late" and this song. Still, the track makes good use of the drums changing in intensity as the vocals go up in volume. Also the strings are a nice addition and the harps lace with the other instruments to create some real magic. Whatever stands out for you, it is being elegant either way, touching the heart and warming the mind.
The Whatnauts have certainly grabbed my interest in Soul, and I hope to discover more. Hopefully this post explained my variety in music is a bit more vast. More to come, more to explore. Songs like this really mend the heart and balance the soul. This also explains my favorite aspect of sampling: the discovery of older music, otherwise hidden jems.
Hope you connected with the message, and more importantly, found happiness in listening.
Not only my favorite track off Late Registration, but my favorite track from Kanye West. Which is something to say when I like all of his material, and love most of it. However there are many reasons as to why I love this track inparticular. While before I had mentioned the many emotions covered by Late Registration, there were also alot of themes. Late contains a variety of those emotions/themes. Examples of those are:
Annoyance- The lyrics give the feel that Kanye is being irritated by all that goes on in a typical day, the messaged is easily relatable because of his word choice.
Laziness- A perfect match with annoyance, this goes right along with the daily problems. What annoys him, he deals with it. How, by just ignoring it and partying. Which also matches the order of the verses.(1st: Getting bothered by the problems), (2nd Verse: Ignoring them, and just saying, "fuck it!")
School/Work: When I said this song could be relatable. damn did I mean it. Being a student myself I could definitely connect with what he mentions in the first verse. After all don't we all just hear our mothers(boss, teachers, actual mothers) nagging on us, when we already know we don't wanna be broke when we our 31.
Late- Being late has many different feels to it. It could make you stressed, panicky. However, this song chills you out, with all the above mentioned, this track blends it all together. It all comes together, personally giving me the feel that I'm tired of all these deadlines and I don't care if I'm late, it's time to ignore the world and pay attention to the music.
Hopefully this helps you understand what I get from Late, and how all these feelings blend; regardless of an otherwise negative attribute; to make you actually feel good.
The beat is the first thing I will always feel. The strings play and then the harps introduce themselves slowly. The bass drops and the drums kick in. The strings then relax and the drums, harps and that beautiful sample; which I shall discuss in a second; carry you through the verses. While everything is crafted magnificently and orchestrated beautifully a real jem in this track is the keyboarder, of whom the name is not given. While having no rhythm with the actual beat it is just beautiful to hear in the background. Making the song more entertaining, making it greater to listen to multiple times. The keyboard also adds a lot of soul and jazz to the whole production. As do those gorgeous vocals, thank to Penafire. Another track on Late Registration where his vocals stand out. Also the vocals from the sample "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" by the Whatnauts. While the line, "little girl please stop your crying" is true. Kanye not only used those lines, but when you here" 'cause i'll be late for that", that is actually "i'll erase away". Truly incredible the way he used those lyrics with his beat to make you hear what he wants to hear! The sample is tuned and sound like a female, beautiful. While this happens Penafire sings, "that!!!!!". This adds a whole beautiful and jazzy sound to it. And the lyrics will sound just as nice.
There are so many images and ideas that run through my mind when listening to these lyrics. I feel everyone can connect with this track and its lyrics. Anyone that goes understress and faces alot of deadlines. The rhymes tell you to just enjoy yourself, and forgot about what you have to get done. While I absolutely love to sing along to this song, these are my favorite lines:
Stop all your blood cleat cryin', I was flyin'
Made it to school with barely 'nuff time to sign in
Yeah, I hear the alarm, yeah, I hear you mom
Yeah, yeah, I don't wan' be broke when I'm thirty-one
They said the best classes go to the fastest
Sorry Mr. West there's no good classes and that's what yo' ass get
Not even electives? Not even prerequits?
You mean I missed my major by a couple of seconds?
The whole section of that verse suits me well. While I did mention I was a student, I don't have problems with grades, but damn I always hear somebody reminding me I have to get something done.
The rest of these lines are just ones I particularly enjoy:
With the freshest hoes, the professors know
We about to get real unprofessional
Yo, I'll be there in five minutes, five hours later
I'll be there in five minutes, go 'head ride with it
That last bit just has procrastination written all over it. Perhaps the story of my life. Regardless, enjoyable material.
Another quality of Late is the showcasing of Kanye's emotion in the lyrics. With themes of annoyance, and laziness he puts a certain tone in his words, stretching out the last syllable. And that "auhahaha" is just terrific. A friend and I always just say that line when it comes up, it just entertains the hell out of us. Things like that are just unexplainable moments of joy I find in a lot of his music. Whether it is the humor, the emotion, the beauty, or whatever meaning I get out of this song, it makes me appreciate this work. Something special and unique to add to the library of Classics.
