This track, taken from Jay-Z’s classic 1996 album Reasonable Doubt, contains one of my all time favourite hooks sung by R’n’B royalty Mary J. Blige. It has a languid ease and perfectly compliments the dexterous, playful rhymes. For some reason it has been running about my mind for the past few weeks.
Jay-Z:
/RjK
I’ll admit it – I’m completely bottling artist number 600. I just can’t pick one that represents the journey so far. Something new or old, obscure or cheesy. It’s too hard. Probably I should just man up and stop over thinking it!
I chose this track today for a couple of reasons (on top of the fact it’s a great song). Roni Size is a DJ from Bristol and that’s where I will be spending the weekend. I’m very much looking forward to watching Ireland play at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
Secondly, my host for the weekend and old university housemate managed to fall asleep while watching Roni play live many moons ago, which was quite a feat! In his defence it had been a very long couple of days. At the same gig another buddy (who will also be in Bristol at the weekend) asked two songs into his set “why is the warm up act playing Roni Size songs?” All in all, it was a fun and very memorable night.
It’s taken from the 1997 album of the same name, which when I first came across it was just about the freshest thing I had ever heard. Heroes, a track which I have already posted would be in my top handful of tracks of the 90’s.
Roni Size – New Forms:
/RjK
As 365 days nears the milestone of reaching the 600th artist to be featured (599 and counting…) we have been taking stock of what has been posted so far.
As part of this process I realised I had only posted one New Order track so far. Their legacy and lasting impact on the new music I hear today merits more than that.
Look out for artist number 600 in the coming days. Let me know if you have any suggestions…
/RjK
Today finds me in a rather sombre mood and so the late, great Jeff Buckley seems a fitting choice. This is a cover of a Leonard Cohen classic and is taken from his startling debut album Grace.
It’s not a cry you can hear at night, it’s not somebody who has seen the light, it’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah…
Jeff Buckley – Grace:
/RjK
I have been on a real 90’s kick since realising I am part of the Wonderwall Generation and posting the Oasis classic Champagne Supernova a couple of weeks ago.
This is a cheesy hip hop classic of the era. I love the band name, just the wrong side of preposterous which is just the right side of perfect for a Hip Hop group. Also, the intro here is just ridiculous but great at the same time. All my guilty pleasures seem to have a healthy does of excess about them!
/RjK
*Artist #599
I had been racking my brain trying to work out where I recognised the Fela Kuti track I posted last week from. It finally struck me that it was this gem from InI. It was produced by Pete Rock who, along with DJ Premier and J.Dilla, is one of my very favourite hip hop producers.
I love how languid it sounds and also can’t help but admire his imagination managing to take the Afrobeat classic Water no get enemy and end up with this is quite a leap!
/RjK
*Artist #596
Posting Oasis last week got me to thinking about Britpop. Those happy 90’s! Supergrass were a band who knew how to make a radio friendly pop song and this is a perfect example. A pretty good video too here, is the intro a little homage to Queen?
Have a great weekend. This is something to help it come a little quicker and help run out the clock this afternoon.
Can you hear us pumping on your stereo?…
/RjK
There are two reasons why Oasis have been on my mind recently. Firstly, I was at a pub quiz and one of the questions was “what were the band Oasis originally known as?” The answer is at the bottom, kudos if you know it, it was news to me.
Secondly, someone referred to the Wonderwall Generation in my company (I am kicking myself that I can’t remember the exact context, I think it was sporting). It made me smile initially and then I realised it was a pretty apt way to think of the mid-90’s and probably that I am not far off being a part of said generation.
I have somehow only featured Oasis once so far, posting the peerless Slide Away what is now nearly two year ago! Champagne Supernova is also a classic and perhaps a slightly unappreciated one compared to Don’t look back in anger and Wonderwall, the two biggest hits off the seminal 1995 album (What’s the story) Morning Glory. True story – it was the first ever CD that I owned.
Someday you will find me, caught beneath the landslide in a champagne supernova in the sky…
There is the added bonus of a pretty epically 90’s video here too…
/RjK
**Oasis were originally know as The Rain
Will Smith* – Gettin’ jiggy wit’ it (GPF)
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air!
I was inspired to post this by last week’s guilty pleasure, He’s The Greatest Dancer which this samples extensively (and in fairness to pretty good effect). I was in two minds though until I saw the video (it’s frustrating that I wasn’t able to find a better quality one) and then couldn’t resist.
/RjK
*Artist #579
The New Radicals* – You get what you give
I am at home for the weekend visiting my family. Somehow this made it on to my father’s dinner mix last night! I had completely forgotten about it. It is something of a pop gem and 90’s throwback (with a video to match), really bringing me back to my school days.
Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson, Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson…
/RjK
*Artist #575