quick post

Hmmm.. I may convert this blog to become a blog about music I'm listening to, and also updates of Manchester United. My two strongest passions.

But before I get into a proper post, as I'm too far behind in my course to do so, I'll just summarise.

Lynwood Rose- inventive, creative, cool. Music from D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq and Q-Tip. Catchy jazz-infused, melodic jams. 8/10

Busta Rhymes- Back on my B.S. Disappointment. So you wanted to try something different, fair enough. This effort though is kind of like the musical equivalent of a variety pack, where you only like 1 flavour. Uninspired, and Busta's flow is only good when he gets back to his standard rapid fire spitting. 3/10.

Ocean's 7- They released a mixtape. Promised much, but left underwhelmed. JD hogs the limelight too much on the mic. Some smooth moments, but too formulaic and pop. Still has potential, but the jury is out. 6/10

Currently listening to:

Quite Nyce "Hello...my name is Quite Nyce". Nicely chilled beats, good flow that isn't repetitive. Pays attention to the production level, which is always important in an up-and-coming. Has left me anticipating his forthcoming album, so the mixtape has done its job. 8/10.

Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal

We played terribly, started with Giggs up front with Rooney, though Giggs spent most of the game either on the left side or too deep. Rooney was essentially a lone striker. We were outplayed in most facets of the game, gave up possession too easily. Evra was our best player by far. Arshavin scored a mad goal, but we won due to a dubiously given penalty, and an unbelievable Abou Diaby own goal. No pressure on him, but I guess he was caught in two minds, whether to head it away from goal, or behind for a corner. So we chalked up an important but flukey victory.

Music inspired

Heh i love a good pun- inspired. 

For a while I haven't been as heavily into music as I used to- the excitement of finding new artists/groups died down for a while as I stopped looking. But now... it's like a breath of fresh air. It feels good. Now I have so much new music that I'm genuinely excited to listen to I don't know how to fit it all in.

Shout out to Sharebee- so many great websites use this service to host files for free (legal!) sharing.

And for the first time, I'm gonna start giving ratings for albums. WOW, excitement. I can feel it.

Anyway following on from my previous post, listened to Kid Cudi's album "A Kid Called Cudi". It was a fairly solid effort, decent production values, but there aren't any memorable tracks other than the single "Day n Nite". A lot of mileage is taken from the same beat as well, which makes the album sounds a tad monotonous after a while. The singing-rap style Cudi has is fresh, but like milk left on the counter, only for a short dose before going stale. 6/10.

It may have taken me 2 whole days of searching, but I copped the Tanya Morgan album "Brooklynati". The trio members hailing from Brooklyn and Cincinnati (hence the album title), met through an online forum okayplayer.org. They hooked up back in 02/03 and have slowly been gaining momentum since then, with an EP release.

"Brooklynati" is hot. You can even take a tour of their virtual city here. Fresh beats, fresh rhymes with interesting use of jazz instrumentation, their flow is assured and addictive. Their sound stands out in today's hip hop market, by reaching out to the old school and encapsulating how hip hop used to sound like. Maybe because they're not constantly brand-dropping (hello, Kanye), and maybe because ADDITIONALLY, they've also avoided constantly talking up some fake braggadocio gangsta/hustla/pimp/smackin' bitches BS (ahem...Half a dollar...). The measure of a man isn't whether they're driving a Cadillac/Range with or without D's on that bitch, whether they're rockin' LV and Gucci. Man, these days rappers rap about what brands they can buy their GIRL (Usher's "Love in this Club" for example). 

TM's sound has been critically acclaimed as this decade's De la Soul/Tribe Called Quest. High praise indeed. It is no surprise then that their record is reminiscent of De la Soul and The Roots of the mid-late 90s. Production is very tight, and the key is that each song focuses on something different musically. Their use of instrumentation in their hooks- a horn section here, a bassline there, a different beat everywhere, is testament to their real talent and musicianship. Their rapping style is flexible and feels like the glove to the beat's hand, such is their flow. The album is diverse but subtly so. No pop formula here ie. here's the single, here's the slow jam, here's the gangsta song. The focus is on the music and the rhymes together, which is a weakness of alot of hip hop albums that focus too much on posing and spittin' game.

The one criticism that can be levelled at Brooklynati is that a lot of the songs are around the same mid-tempo beat. If you're not in the mood for this, then the album can grow tired after a while- like after listening to half the album. But I bet most people find a song that they will bang on repeat, and the funny thing is it will be a different song to other people's selections. My current faves are "On Our Way" because it draws you into the album, and "Bang & Boogie". Album of the year so far- 9/10.

Currently listening to-

Tanya Morgan- Brooklynati

Looking forward to-

Lynwood Rose (yep, haven't listened to it yet)

Ocean's 7 (a supergroup including Jermaine Dupri, Usher, Nelly, Trey Songz, Johnta Austin...) are releasing a mixtape at the end of the month. Youtube them. Hot.

Busta Rhymes- Back on my B.S.

Johnta Austin- will you ever release your album Ocean Drive?!?!?!?!?! FFS I got "Turn it Up" in 2006 and you still haven't released the album yet!

Musical update

But first, I finally know how to add stuff (ie. games) to my jailbroken ipod touch. After almost embarking on this uber convoluted way, I found a way that was super simple, literally one button. 

It's all good. Now I have to delete music off to make room for the games! Lol

Anyway, I'm excited because I've just discovered a new group that nobody else I know has heard of. They're originally from Ohio, US and have been around since 2003. Their sound is fresh in the hip hop world, distinctly chilled out and fusing jazz rhythms with faintly old skool beats. I found them while I was on a 9th Wonder/Common/Q-Tip/The Roots tangent. They have a new album called "Brooklynati" that I'll hopefully cop today if it's out. I have my doubts I'll find it seeing as it was only released in the US 2 days ago.

Call me late, but I'm discovering Kid Cudi now. Having only briefly heard of him via his hookup with a certain Kanye West on 808s' "Welcome to Heartbreak", I just started checking his 2008 mixtape released by West's label GOOD Music. 

Also (but wait, there's more!) found a side project composed of D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq and Q-Tip! Mate, let me tell you. Fire. The production ability of that lineup alone is mindboggling, let alone the instrumentation and vocal talents. From what I've heard this is perfect for the evening. Apparently Common and Q-Tip are gonna collab together soon.

A new weblog called rockthedub is worth looking at. I'm digging the weekly downloadable playlists of the newest cuts, mixtapes and vids. Also, prohiphop and XXL are good to keep up with news. 

Currently listening to-

Kid Cudi

Tanya Morgan 

Lynwood Rose

Gotta find more- 

Little Brother

PS. Changed up the socks. No lesbian cloud for me. I want my money back.

Discovering hidden gems

On a whim, one day I decided to buy the DVD of "The Chris Rock Show" Seasons 1 & 2, which date back to 1997/98. While the comedic material is typical of American humour, sometimes hilarious, sometimes a chuckle, always loud, shouting and as subtle as a bulldozer moving fine china, the ridiculous lineup of RnB/hiphop musicians that played on the show is improbable in its depth, quality and taste. 

First up, the DJ/Musical Director that Rock signed up for his show was none other than Grandmaster Flash, one of the originators and innovators of the modern hiphop movement starting in the 80s, and an oft-cited inspiration or influence of modern day artists. Rock himself grew up listening to Grandmaster Flash, and Flash was the first person he signed to be on board his show.

But to the performing artists. The first artist to perform on the show was D'Angelo with Raphael Saadiq and ?uestlove (of the Roots). After that there was a slight misnomer with Cake performing "The Distance". But then, the following artists performed, in order WITHOUT skipping a single show:

-D'Angelo

-Cake

- Maxwell

-Erykah Badu

- Puff Daddy & Ma$e

- Wyclef Jean (only just having turned solo after the disbandment of the Fugees)

-KCi & Jojo

- Missy Elliott

-LL Cool J

-Busta Rhymes

-Bobby Brown

- Rakim

-Mary J Blige

- Usher

- Salt n Pepa

- LSG (featuring the renowned voices of Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill)

Remember this list of artists is compiled against the backdrop of 1997/98. All of them without exception are superstars of RnB, whether it be from the past (Bobby Brown, Rakim, LL Cool J) to present day superstars (Wyclef, Puff Daddy, Mary J., Usher, Busta, Maxwell...) Although Grandmaster Flash must have had a hand in the selections, but look how many of that list are now superstars of the present, back then only just getting established. People used to say Chris Rock's comedy was ahead of his time, but I figure his musical taste was ahead of its time.

While I'm at it, I can't believe the Roots are the in-house band for Jimmy Fallon on the Late Show. Fantastic! Love the Roots! I'm yet to watch a show seeing as I only realised this fact, but apparently they're going to cover lots of musical genres not just hiphop, to display their versatility. Should be an intriguing watch.

"The Game- LAX" A Review

Part 1.

The Game “L.A.X”

The third album from West Coast rapper The Game, aka Jayceon Terrell Taylor, is a varied and somewhat inconsistent effort. This is to be his last studio album before retirement, by the rapper’s own statements, and he hasn’t hesitated to bring in an all-star ensemble to help him go out with a heavyweight finale.

The Game is an artist that engenders a love-or-hate stance that causes much heated debate on hip hop fansites. Much has been made about his lyrical style which the detractors state he incessantly name-drops while he boasts about his association with the stars of the rap world: Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Biggie, Easy-E etc. While admittedly this did get irritating on previous albums, this has been toned down, but more importantly, when he does drop names it is usually relevant to the statement The Game is trying to make.

The title of the album shares the title of LA’s airport. The symbolism is lost on me, except perhaps the fact that LAX (the airport) was pretty busy with all the guest artists arriving to put their contributions down.  This album is not so much a celebration of Westside rap, but rather a statement to clear some room for the Westside, in amongst the oversaturation of Southside and East Coast on the charts over the last few years.

It is a welcome relief that The Game has moved on from The Beef and the falling out with 50 Cent/G Unit and Dr. Dre. In a very brief synopsis, The Game was paired with 50 Cent and G Unit in a PR exercise, designed to help The Game and G-Unit rise, taking advantage of 50 Cent’s new fame after the success of 2003’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. The Game rocketed to prominence with 2005’s critically acclaimed The Documentary, and was dubbed the Next Big Thing from the West since Dr. Dre himself. Shortly after the release of the album The Game was kicked out of G Unit for alleged disloyalty, which resulted in multiple diss tracks, mixtapes and assorted controversies. This dominated 2006 and was the main theme of The Game’s second album, The Doctor’s Advocate, which was lyrically strong but commercially unsuccessful.

With heavy throbbing bass grooves, heavy kick on the bass drum, The Game reintroduces old skool beats and structures to an audience more used to one-hit wonders, and that 21^st century phenomenon, the one-hit pop rapper. Anyone care to remember the name of two songs that Souljah Boy released, or Dem Franchise Boyz, or UNK, or Rich Boy? Anyone care? Exactly.

---

Next up, I'll actually deal with the tracks lol.

life. in moments. in music.

How often it is that you relate to a song. That completely encapsulates how you feel, when you have no idea how to express it in words.

I recently wrote 25 things about myself that I thought people didn't know about me. It's all over facebook, everyone's doing it! But it was therapeutic. It's interesting, I'm not much of a blogger but I do enjoy writing whenever I do get around to doing it.

I feel like I don't have a rudder, or direction. I have no clear goal for the future in terms of my career. I feel like I don't have a clear goal for the future in terms of my relationship. I feel like I don't have a clear idea of who my real friends are.

How to Disappear Completely- Radiohead

- I will write a review of The Game's last album LAX. The main reason I write this here is that it will force me to do it. It will be a nice change to write something that's not all "me, me, I, I".

Bestfriend

[Musiq] Nowadays I don't understand
Why my love doesn't love me like she used to before
Now lately the sun just doesn't shine and my paradise is gone

Cause most of the time
We argue and fight
Over things that doesn't really matter
Lord knows that I tried
To give all my love
So what should I do?

[Carol] You got to understand it's all about give and take
You can't be so demanding
Things won't always go your way
If you just give it time
And think about her feelings
Then things will work out fine
Learn to make her your best friend

[Musiq] I hear what you saying but my girl she's always
Complaining and and blaming me for things I'll never do
And I don't know what, what it is that I did that was
So wrong to make her feel I'll ever be untrue to her

Cause most of the time
We argue and fight
Over things that doesn't really matter
Lord knows that I tried
To give all my love to her
What should I do?

[Carol]
You got to understand it's all about give and take
You can't be so demanding
Things won't always go your way
If you'll just give it time
And think about her feelings
Then things will work out fine
Learn to make her your best friend

See what you need to do is stop catching attitudes
And just try to take the time to hear her out
Stop being so defensive and try to be more attentive to
Show her you respect what she's talkin' 'bout
Cause you know how us women can be and when we
Feel threatened we react instinctively
When our emotions have grown to its high
We can tend to just let it control
Our lives

[Musiq] Well all right I'll try next time I'll try a little tenderness
Even make sure that I give her more complements
Maybe I could practice on being more patient
And compromise for my baby yeah yeah.

[Together]
If you want her in your life
Then you got to be willing to try
See it's worth the struggle
Cause in the end she will always
Be your best friend yeah.

---

Cos I love you
And I never want to stop trying for you
I want to be your best friend.

lovin' it

I must thank my baby for really introducing this song to meeh... :p

Clearly, this is new for me
Get excited when you're here, my dear
Make no mistake you are all I see, sugar
My vision's never been so clear
We both know that I been runnin so long
This time I won't let me leave
Please be patient
Hesitation aside
We're almost where we need to be

But in the meantime, let me say what's on my mind
Baby, I....

I think we've got somethin' special
Girl, you and me
Together, we'll take over the world
You know I love ya I need you so
So happy I just wanna let everybody know

Think back to the time
When I was scared to let it show
Havin' too much fun with this and that one
Now that you're mine (huh yeah..)
Somewhere along the way, everything fell in place....

----

Funny how love works.
Sometimes it's when we're the furthest apart
That I realise
how close we are.
It scares me but that's ok.
How much you mean to me.

poignant. in 9.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I...
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

---
such a simple song, beautiful in its simplicity.
the meaning changes if i interpret this as a song for two people.
but am i the bold or the italic?

i wish it was easier. a text tonight, and it means all the difference in the world.
when i said i wanted to feel special some time, the cost was 9 words.

i miss you

Where did my baby go?
I wonder where he ran off to
I miss my baby so
I'm calling but I can't get through
Please tell that boy if you meet him
That someone's longing to see him
Where did my baby go?
I wish that he would get back soon (get back soon)

I'm searching for the lover I knew
Have you seen him?
Where did he go?
Feels like I've just lost my only friend
Flames subsided, colors faded
Love just got so complicated
Wish that I could see him smile again
So if you see him out there, tell him I'm still here
Waiting for the day when he will reappear

Where did my baby go?
I wonder where he ran off to
I miss my baby so
I'm calling but I can't get through
Please tell that boy if you meet him
That someone's longing to see him
Where did my baby go?
I wish that he would get back soon (get back soon)

Maybe I know I was wrong and I
Ignored him for too long and I
Didn't even notice when he slipped away
Maybe while I lay fast asleep then
Out into the night he creeps
I'll leave the light on, so he'll come back someday
So if you see him out there, tell him it's not fair
That life's just not the same when he's not here

Where did my baby go?
I wonder where he ran off to
I miss my baby so
Just what am I supposed to do?
Please tell that boy if you meet him
That someone's longing to see him
Where did my baby go?
I wish that he would get back soon (get back soon)

message in song

Last night was the worst night
Beginning of the end
Or maybe it began
Before it here we go again
Things got so dramatic
Things got out of hand
We said words we couldn't imagine
I don't understand

There you go with the same old thing
When things go wrong you always seem to blame me
Now I would like to find what secrets hide in your mind
Where the end will go
Will I ever know
Heaven only knows....

Make this night the best night
It's time for second chance
Turn the beat up on repeat and we can start to dance
Sometimes when we talking words
Drowned on by the sound
Let's get back to touching, we'll get back on solid ground
Let's hold hands
Like the young romance
Let's first kiss like the moment we first did
Can we make love
Like way back in the day love
We can lose control, baby don't say "no"
Heaven only knows...

Will you come back to me?
Heaven only knows
Will you come back to me?

Make this night the best night
It's time for second chance
Turn the beat up on repeat and we can start to dance...

Heaven only knows

special

Strangely I feel a connection with you babe
Oddly enough I crave for it to remain purely
More authentic than I've been used to
Surely this can't be something that's taboo cause you

Got it like I like it and I feel the need to say
Baby it's forever and I really mean to
Make you feel as special as I see you baby
Never have I ever been around someone
Who makes life so free and life so fun
And as crazy as it may sound, I ain't joking baby

Cause when I'm in those arms of yours
I'm so gone
The things I like
Can't tell me it's not right
When I'm with you
I lose myself and no one
Can make me do
What I can't wait to do when I'm with you

Really I get inspired off you baby
Truly I feel alive from you
And you're the only
No one else can duplicate you
I'd leave the one I have I know
It's sad but damn you

Got it like I like it and I feel the need
To say baby it's forever and I really mean to
Make you feel as special as I see you baby
Never have I been around someone
Who makes life so free and life so fun
And as crazy as it may sound I ain't joking baby

Cause when I'm in those arms of yours
I'm so gone
The things I like
Can't tell me it's not right
When I'm with you
I lose myself and no one
Can make me do
What I can't wait to do when I'm with you

The times that we've shared together
Are some of the best times of my life
I wish you were the one
I could be with forever

Cause when I'm with you
I don't want tomorrow to come
And if I had my way
I'd spend every day and night in your arms
So let me lay here
And feel what happiness feels like
And wish for it to last because

Tomorrow it's back to real life
Until then
I'll just keep dreaming

Cause when I'm in those arms of yours
I'm so gone
The things I like
Can't tell me it's not right
When I'm with you
I lose myself and no one
Can make me do
What I can't wait to do when I'm with you

---

My eyes they make you cry
Are you seeing in them
The depth of the pool of my soul.
Can you look
And see the reflection mirrored,
The mirror image
of two hearts?
Beating together
Mine cannot exist without yours.


-----

How can we have come so close to the edge of the abyss
When it's clear that what we both want
Is each other?