Tag Archive for Hip Hop

Sean Born and Dunc* – Work it Out

This track is from Dunc, part of Maryland group DTMD (I posted a great track of theirs a couple of years ago). They are from the same part of the world as blog favourite Oddisee and it was on his Twitter feed that I spotted it.

I really like the smooth sample and matching rhymes. Also, the video is kind of cool in a rather offbeat way.

DTMD:

DTMD/RjK

*Artist #735

A$AP Ferg* – Hood Pope | (NAT)

This is so damn catchy! I have been unable to get it out of my mind all week. It is taken from A$AP Ferg’s recently released album Trap Lord.  Ferg is part of the Harlem collective A$AP Mob which also includes the seemingly ubiquitous A$AP Rocky.

I also can’t help but be reminded of Bone Thugs N Harmony’s Crossroads, which is (mostly) a good thing.

A$AP Ferg:

Asap Ferg/RjK

*Artist #728

Mos Def – Umi Says

This is one of my favourite hip hip tracks. I can remember recording it onto a cassette from the radio and being utterly beguiled by it’s mellow, hypnotic sounds. Still to this day if I am feeling a little agitated (which is more often than I would like) it is one of the first tracks I think of to put me back on an even keel.

I have been meaning to post it for ages but especially since posting Mos Def a few weeks back. It is taken from his excellent 1999 debut album Black on Both Sides.

Mos Def – Black on Both Sides:

Mos Def - Black on Both Sides/RjK

Shadez Of Brooklyn* – Change

This was a track that I discovered during while binging on Hip Hop over the weekend. I hadn’t hear of the band before but I really enjoyed it’s simple hook and languid rhymes.

Shadez of Brooklyn:

Shadez of Brooklyn/RjK

*Artist #722

 

A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum

I have been in a bit of a Hip Hop mood over the past few days. This was as a result of not posting any trac ks from the genre in a while and a conversation I had earlier in the week about 2013 Kanye West versus the 2004 version. I don’t think he has ever really approached the heights he reached in The College Dropout but my friend begged to differ.

Anyway, these factors instigated a binge over recent days during which I was reminded of this classic track by pioneers A Tribe Called Quest. It is taken from their spectacular 1990 debut album People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.

A Tribe Called Quest:

A Tribe Called Quest

/RjK

Clear Soul Forces – Strangers In The Night

This track from 2013 discoveries Clear Soul Forces makes it two Detroit tracks in a row. I really like the simple hook and some impressive lyrical dexterity here.

Even though the Motor City may be ailing it’s music has shaped my playlist in 2013 just about more than anything else (and I don’t even mean Motown – this is an ever present that by now I take for granted).

Whether it is Theo Parrish, J Dilla, Black Milk or Moodymann it seems like a disproportionate number of Detroit artist have gotten my musical attention recently.

Clear Soul Forces:

Clear Soul Forces/RjK