Shine - Revolutionary Rhythm

They all chasin' dollars cause they too scared to chase dreams

          Another sick track from Revolutionary Rhythm, I have no idea as to when they are coming out with another album/mixtape. So they drop a random song here and there and this is one of them.
         A nice exchange between these two. All about finding inspiration, chasing dreams, and making all that into a solid reality. There is just a lot of nice real messages spread on this one. And I absolutely love the way Predom carries on this track. He probably holds my favorite verse on this track. Of course when you hear the first couple bars on Abstrakt's verse that is just as crazy. These guys really are a revolutionary rhythm. One of my favorite lines:

Givin more of what you askin find the same passion in rappin', providin different answers

This is what a lot of people need to realize with music. Everyone has a passion about something and you need not put others down simply because your definitions contrast. Appreciate what people love, and be happy they care about something as much as you do.
        The production is also exquisite. Right when I heard the drop with those strings I just fell in love with that loop. And that hint of soul under the music, that nice humming. And this another drum beat that kicks hard and adds that bounce in your step. Nice work to Suhnraw.

Keep track of their soundcloud, as I myself often miss when they put up a new song. Support something this real, peace!

Realism - Flow Patrol

         Track was perfect for another rainy run today. The combination on this is perfect, two young artists collaborating to make something ill! This really gives me that classy boom bip feel to it, the sampled dialogue is pretty nice, and that killer piano tune is quite nice. This jazzy feel gives you a good way to picture everything Flow Patrol says, which is quite a damn lot.
          Flow Patrol absolutely destroys it. When I first heard him I was blown away. All you can do to appreciate his style is just listen more, which is a favor to yourself. It is quite the treat we have been given all this free music, and then you look at the shit hop you have to pay for today. Not that all is good or bad in either scene of hip-hop. The jumps he makes are great, and he does a good job of using some solid vocabulary to take us on some journey. The fact that he spits out so many words and most rhyme in some way gets him a lot of respect from him. I'd like to focus on the 2nd verse's first couple of bars.

My flows opposed to the orthodox I'm on top of the box

And that shows I show off? Of course it's not.

No long talks at talk shop I'm on the inbox blocking

The whole flock won't stop till I'm forced to drop stocks

I ain't a pop rock star no shock jock riddling gridlock with Hitchock

This shit from the birds is fist full of bitches to list off

I'm drinking spritzer with the twist off tops

And liberal with shit talk lock in Fort Knox

And caught with a box of gold blocks 

I'm at a spot under which I've fought and lost

But it costs not another dollar that I've got

They chose us so pop off I'm lost real talk

Like the prism divised I'm torn as a divisor thought

No cross, the ones we lost dictate the rise in cost

No hate but lives is lost reinstate your pride in talk

Of the late and greatness I have fought

Absolutely incredible, still can't even decipher that very last line. Regardless of comprehension, this is a masterpiece the whole damn thing rhymes, he makes excellently broad arguments, putting his 2 cents into everything. He cleverly gives us images of success, and he puts good meaning into all of this. There are so many good things to look at in this verse. Whether it be the "drop stocks" line in which he establishes himself as an honest successor to the "flock" which pokes fun at other successful artists, as they listen to their recording companies. This is much better delivered than just saying you are better and have more power. In this manner Flow Patrol shines as he shares his views in a truly unorthodox manner, as not many could deliver a verse like this today. Man, this verse holds the skill that Life's A Bitch material would, and that is not downing the value of that classic song of a classic LP. While maybe "Life's A Bitch" is more nostalgic, sentimental, and possesses a more proper tune to reminisce to, both works contain high lyrical value. 

          Jamie made a really nice beat as I said. That horn sample is incorporated perfectly, and the vocal sample is some really addicting loop that I can't comprehend. Perfect for walking through the town on a dark night, gives you that serious feel, track carries a lot of power with it. As soon as the drums come in your step gets heavier and man you just feel badass. Man, what a trip dude. 

Faithful to the End - DJ Rogers

        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.

ALBUM REVIEW: Beattape vol.1 - Foner

           I downloaded this about a week ago. And this is one of my all time favorite beat tapes now. I absolutely love Foner, and I only had Lost and Found for awhile, I got One Love, and then this. This was by far my favorite, although I am not sure why. This tape has absolutely got me in its grip, from its mellow grooves to its goose-bump samples, everything about this is simply epic.
           I won't lie, I can't really tell too much difference in style from producer to producer, yet there are some things I can sorta pick out. With Foner he just uses some awesome samples. All his beats hardly feel like loops, as I may have mentioned before, that is the problem I have with getting 9th beats. When I get those they are usually looped by some guy and uploaded to YouTube, but life goes on. Foner is from the motherland, and he samples Russian commentaries and throws them onto his songs. I don't know why but I just love the Russian language. However, he usually samples American music, which may seem weird, but in terms of soul I think it all happened in the USA, but I can't say I am certain of it.
           I can't really get over how much I am in love with this tape. Every damn song got a 5 star rating within a couple of days, which I usually don't go about doing till I know I really think the song is that good. This has been listened straight through all week, about 17 times. Every beat brings absolute beauty and we got some tear-jerkers in their. You know, that hit of soul you get that is just so powerful it just shakes you up. I'll cover some of my favorites, which is hard to decide. And I might be doing some beats justice with an entire post.

Hi!:  Possesses that very smooth rhythm with that taste of funk, absolutely amazing to listen to!

Roads: This one is near perfect, it starts so slow and elegantly. Then as your progress through the music, you are just brought into something more intense.

Open Up Your Heart: The first very prominent vocal sample we listen to. Just a nice rhythm to it, with that loop of guitar notes and keys laying the background. Then oooh! We get that outro of jazz that I will always love. It holds the same useful jazz tone that "Life's a Bitch" cornet piece held.

Not Over: Great intro from a source that remains still unidentified to me. Nice loop of jazz and wandering vocals. The affect of rain and a couple arguing, and they may have mended their problems right after the music starts, but we'll never know. Those elements sorta set the mood for the piece. It really is nice to listen to on a rainy day, as you might imagine.

Dreams Come True: I really love this one, simply because I know I have heard that tune before. Whether the original sample or another song I don't know where I have heard it, but damn it is nice. Has those sincere strings paired with some soulful lyrics. Very  nice.

Cuz I Luv U: This tune has no vocals, so it is solely for vibing, and damn you can do that. The bass line is ill, and that piano loop does magic to the beat. This song holds a nice uplifting rhythm for the whole time. Then that sharp section of piano just adds to it, a little variation goes a long way.

There's Nothing...: Boy if you don't recognize this sample you are crazy. You almost instantly pick it up from Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls" right when the beat drops and that beautiful humming comes pouring through the speakers. Before long you break out into a touching song, with those strings again, paired just right to the sample. Then the sampled singer really let's it rip and man do I fall in love with it! Sweet song, Foner really kills it, bringing a new sound to a sample already well known.

Distance: Oh this one is just a loop that I can't resist. Dropping right into the beat with that elegant touch of strings. And the sample is chopped so perfectly, what can I say I am a sucker for soul samples. I just can't help love that singing.

Bye?!: When I mentioned tear-jerkers. This one did it. My god that tune just pulls all the beauty from my head, and the only way it can flow is from my eyes. This one makes me reminisce of all the beautiful things I have ever known in life. This one brings me back to my childhood, while I may be young, there is already so much behind me. It is hard not to like this track, no matter what I am doing, I just get so lost in thought and have an incredible attack of nostalgia, the memories flow on this one, what more can I say. Foner places this track perfectly, leaving me with maybe my favorite just because of how much it affects me. Then I am just left as the beat breaks out, all those memories dug up fade out with the music.

Your link:
http://foner.bandcamp.com/album/beattape-vol-1

Motivators - A Tribe Called Quest

         Loves this track since the first time I heard it. A good reason to like Beats, Rhymes, & Life, a really cool album with interesting production, often overlooked, but not seen as a disappointment like The Love Movement. One of the best directions they took was adopting Consequence onto this LP. He works well with the Tribe, staying strong on the tracks. This is also when The Ummah was formed, and the late and great J-Dilla joined the Tribe with production. This track is simply a nice vibe, with a bit more boastful lyrics than we might have seen on People's. However, you come to recognize style differences through their discography, but only you can decide to experience that, so we'll get to the track.
         Now for anyone who read my very first posts, which would be concerning Late Registration, a lot of qualities I stressed where Kanye's emotions and tones he used to add more to the music. Well in this song you see Consequence very effectively changing his pitch which just makes his verses so much more powerful than ever. His voice is just such a unique tool, and when you are considering the vocals of the Tribe you know how original this track will sound. The reason I love this track is mostly because of Consequence. He basically steals the show with his rhymes and brings the energy to the track! With great wordplay as well!
          You will notice the production is much different from other albums. It leans a bit more away from the jazz and rawer sounds, they keep it fresh with some funky sounds, and amp things up with some less natural sounds. You hear that gentle flow of the keyboard in the background. And I don't know much about drums specifically, however in the wise words of Waju, "but I'm trying to learn!". My point being, J Dilla is a god of a producer, but I really don't know how hard that stuff is. All I know is the drums sounds great, never heard bad drums really. The cutting on the track is mad ill, along with that small taste of guitar riff! As you can see, while their style has changed, the Tribe has definitely not fallen back. Go for a taste of Beats, Rhymes, & Life. It is a damn good album!