constantly fighting against the powers that consciously control the subconscious of the masses
the supahvillain rants ish
Sunday, January 27, 2008
...Digging in Myspace [2]
thanks to the mighty mr mass for this. a brilliant hip hop album by rhymefest with beats sampled from MJ/Jackson5 classics. this shit is hilarious, genius, definitely worth listening to.
straight outta my hometown, lagos, i give you an underground hiphop mixtape - mic worx - the 007 project. 7 007-themed tracks for the year 2007 featuring some of the best emcees and producers in nigeria. totally raw shit - a must-listen for true hiphop heads.
As they year 2007 concludes the Lagos, Nigeria, Hip-hop underground scene is on a collision course with Her majesty’s secret service finest: James bond agent 007. Venomous and Bigfoot, the MIC WORX production duo direct this aural epic with samples jacked from the vaults of MI-5, neck-breaking basslines and their signature pounding drums.
Vodka martinis - shaken not stirred - beautiful women, international intrigue and espionage are lyrically conveyed my some of the best lyricist you’ve never heard of. Mi Fliss (Nuff Noize) delivers some of the raunchiest lyrics to the theme of ‘Octopussy’ where he juggles his numerous groupies with 8 arms while he “works his pelvis like Elvis’s leg” and tells how the girls “went from you cute but broke to damn Fliss I’m horny”. Thus single-handedly earning the Parental advisory tag.
"On Live and let die" Dasuki (of The Kaliphate) gives an alternate vision of the 007 myth reshaping James bond and as the introspective reluctant hero “My charm makes it hard to suspect/ the gross deception…Got a lot of respect/ but deep down I’m ashamed to be a part of this mess/ …truth be told I’ld rather be left/ to stroll home but in this life I guess that’s inside of a lex/…that’s why I don gun-proof suit armour/ and die from knife wounds you call it ironic but it’s really karma”. Psalmurai and Animus also deliver in That raw unadultrated Kaliphate flavour - unparallel delivery meets witty lyricism.
Karma seems to be an underlying theme as Mr. Rae and Teckzilla (Ill Alliance) revisit the main 007 theme as a cautionary tale of the gangster life starring a 2007 Lazarus slain and resurrected in the dreams of his murderer and like the hook says “Karma is a bitch/ Your past sins are resurrected/ going for a swim?/ the waters are shark infested/ who let the beast out/ they live in all of us/ heres a twist to the tale of the man called lazarus”.
Deck The Nexus and Enigma (Str8 Buttah) trade razor sharp darts on Intellects (007 mindstate). Deck sets it off with the instantly memorable “Aiyyo, My mind travels landscapes and vegetations/ stay on the rise like helium through elevation/ professor Deck-avier the one last genius/ paralyse every emcee in an 8 mile radius/and when they was ill I granted them euthanasia/ perform surgeries on mics without anesthesia…” and enigma blacks out on some “…never basic or evasive though the cypher is hypothetical/ the lyrical demon is six hunderd and sixty six steps ahead of you/ ain’t discussing lame digits with two zeros and 1 seven/ royal casino stakes crushes when putting your head in…” ish.
GQ and Gemini, over the lush strings of ‘you only live twice’, tell tales of a second life in christ walking the tightrope between cautionary tale and gospel rap, gracefully, without coming off preachy. Mr. Rae (Str8 Buttah) shows up again on “Moonraker/Heartbreaker” with a new branch to the mythology of his everchanging persona the moonraker/heartbreaker - half-time/space wanderer, half-unfaithful lover. Don-P (of the grand emperors) and Azeez (The Kaliphate) Deliver the compilations finale in ‘Eyes shut’ a fitting conclusion name dropping 007 references in slippery style Don P sets the tempo for you to press replay when it all ends.
The beats are the real stars of this mixtape as the maestros BigFoot and Venomous show on every track backed up with help of nostalgia and the aura of one of pop cultures favorite sons. The 007 Project is a must hear for lovers of hiphop, bond and everyone else who bothers to read this. Word to Ian Fleming.
Track Listing 1. Lazarus ft. Ill Alliance (Str8 Buttah) 2. Octopussy ft. Mi Fliss (Nuff Noize) 3. Intellects (007 Mindstate) ft. Deck The Nexus and Enigma (Str8 Buttah) 4. Live and let die ft. Psalmurai, Dasuki and A9mus (The Kaliphate) 5. Moonraker/Heartbreaker ft. Mr. Rae (Str8 Buttah) 6. You only live twice ft. Gemini and GQ 7. Eyes shut ft. Don P and Azeez (Grand Emperors/The Kaliphate)
been a while but rotation must continue. enter soweto kinch's "a life in the day of B19 - tales of the tower block" - another jazz/hip hop (UK) hybrid album. to be honest, i've never really gotten into UK hip hop and i don't even know where to begin to search for quality stuff. so when a workmate (who i introduced to madlib) gave me the album a month ago, i was skeptical but ended up surprised. boy, there's so much good shit out there i don't know about. this is soweto's 2nd album, released in 2006. it is the first instalment of a two-part concept album documenting the lives of three inner-city birmingham men which IMHO is way nicer than his first album "conversations with the unseen". the quality i admire most in an emcee is his ability to tell stories and that's what this album does superbly. it's a concept album, so you'll have to listen to it from track 1 to 15 in that order, to really feel it - well, probably only the jazz-tuned mind. my favourite tracks: everybody raps (13) - maybe its because of the public announcer-rapper with a hardcore yoruba accent spitting rhymes, i don't know. padz (7) - this is a parody of mtv cribs showing how material and silly the world is. love gamble (5) - the story of the misfortunes of adrian. word-from-your-moms ish.
just found this mix by dj jaguar skills there's a lot of random stuff going on at myspace. some dope, some wack! this one is dope! get it here or here.
been listening to this album a lot while coding, at work. when it comes to hybrid theories, this one sure delivers - fusing mainstream jazz with hip-hop, R&B, rock, reggae, plus more. buckshot lefonque was a musical group project of the man in the pic, branford marsalis. this is the first album of the group, released in '94. from what i've read, it wasn't well received then. i think the people of '94 smoked crack then if they weren't feeling this ish - especially since it had a lot of premo on it. me? i was too young to feel it. jazz wasn't my thing. top tracks? the whole album is tight and fela gets sampled on i know why the caged bird sings (3).
been terribly busy these past few weeks. work+life ain't easy. and so busy too has been the supahvillain but he hasn't forgotten about you. after an emotional weekend, the supahvillain is back! thank goodness for the music - always there to protect him from anything depression-related. presenting mix #2: bad women
supahvillain - bad women (mp3) supahvillain - bad women (stream) tracklist 1. boondocks - skit (guess hoe's coming to dinner) 2. big l - no endz, no skinz 3. mf doom - hoe cakes 4. eminem f/ denaun porter, 3 - maxine 5. john legend - used to love u 6. cage - scenester 7. kanye west w/ jamie foxx - gold digger 8. dave chappelle - skit 9. the offspring - she's got issues 10. common - skit (like water for chocolate) 11. mos def - ms. fat booty 12. dilated peoples f/ devin the dude - poisonous 13. madvillain - fancy clown 14. michael jackson - who is it? 15. metallica - turn the page 16. jay-z - 99 problems
don't ask what/when/why. just enjoy! ps: got problems getting the mp3? try here then.
it's march already?! enter the humble magnificent, jewish-american hip hop head (dj/producer/emcee), edan. influenced in his childhood by the beatles, his style is a blend of 60s rock, funk, and hip hop (now that's some psychedelic ish!). Beauty And The Beat, released in '05, is probably his best release yet but i wouldn't know cos this is his only stuff i've heard. but i know one thing - dope beats, dope rhymes, dope mixing! my top tracks? in no order: i see colors (3), fumbling over words that rhyme (4), torture chamber (6).
did that some time during the holidays when i was bored sick. a reply to obi's top 5 dead or alive photoset which is based on a video of the same name by jin. of course the list is subject to change but at the moment, it's those 5! just a couple of videos on why numbers 1 and 3 are sick. freestylin' at it's finest!
sorry, meiko's time is up. if you liked it, you might want to consider buying it or maybe you could pester me ;) ok since it's j dilla month, to commemorate his passing, i have put up his masterpiece, Donuts, released just 3 days before his death. it'll be in the radio for the rest of february. it's probably the best hip hop instrumental album i've heard. my top 3 tracks in no order are:workinonit (2), lightworks (13), two can win (17). it's all in the music. enjoy the donuts!
yesterday, the supahvillain managed to find some time to compose a valentine day themed mix. his first public-released mix. no fancy tricks in here. this mix is designed for all the emotions of love and cuts across a variety of genres. be it the lovers, the loners, the hopers, the cheaters, the miracle-seekers, the doubters, the wankers, or all of the above, there's something in there for all. to enjoy this mix, for each song, release the appropriate persona/memories from your inner being. it's all in the words. i always manage to get cupid looking stupid on a val's day but i have a feeling he's gonna get me this time :) happy valentine!
supahvillain - wussy mix (valentine's day special) - mp3 supahvillain - wussy mix (valentine's day special) - stream track list 1. kris kristofferson - the last thing to go 2. bonnie tyler - holding out for a hero 3. martha & the vandellas - i'm ready for love 4. india arie - i see god in you 5. marvin gaye - i want you 6. minnie riperton - lovin' you 7. 3 doors down - here without you 8. john legend - she don't have to know 9. tuface f/ freestyle - ole (thief) 10. lauryn hill & bob marley - turn your lights down low 11. george benson - nothing's gonna change my love for you 12. method man - i'll be there for you/you're all i need to get by (pd mix) 13. enigma - gravity of love 14. haddaway - what is love 15. mac band - roses are red 16. stevie wonder - i was made to love her 17. aloe blacc - arrive 18. sade - the sweetest taboo 19. femi kuti - beng beng beng 20. tenacious d - f**k her gently
edit: a val's mix has been released by pb wolf and will only will available for a short time. get it here.
the month of february is also dedicated to my man dilla. time does moves fast. i can't believe it's been a year since the beat master supremo passed away. j dilla’s rarely heard masterpiece "ruff draft" will be officially re-released as a deluxe 2-CD set with bonus vocal tracks, interludes and instrumental. some bastards have already leaked it. please don't be tempted to download it! wait till march and buy the album. most of the profits will go to his surviving mother. with dilla's one-year remembrance, a lot of tribute mixes are up and about the internet. the best of them has to be from the funky president, j. rocc. i've haven't been a huge fan of j. rocc but this mix is hot! and heavy! feel the legend of j dilla!
to celebrate their 10yr anniversary, stones throw released a 2-part album titled Chrome Childrenwhich features tracks by its various talented members. the first part, which i anxiously waited for, was released october last year and needless to say it rocks. it wasn't as hot as i expected but it's a good way of sampling what the label is all about. if you can, and don't own it already, i recommend you buy it.
the second one has just been released today - free on the internet and i'm currently downloading it now as i write. you'd think it'd be stupid for a recording label to release albums for free but it only shows it's not about the money but about the fans, and the passion for the music. it's labels like these the music industry needs. labels that once a while show a token of appreciation to their fans. labels that deliver true music. thank you stones throw! grab it now here - just like the Liberationalbum, i can't guarantee it will be free for long. on a side note, after various experiments concocting hip hop mixes, the supahvillain is planning a wussy mix for vals day. hopefully, it will be released a few days before vals day. first he needs to do the hard part - decide what tracks will make the list.
i just added a radio.blog to the sidebar. i'll be uploading tracks of new albums i get for whoever cares to listen.
i just recently bought the album Zenkyoku Shu by Meiko Kaji. if you're a fan of the movie, Kill Bill, then you would have already heard her music - it was the song playing during the credits titled Flower of Carnage (Shura no Hana). to describe her music, think sade/dido in japanese - a good review of the album can be found here. better still, just listen for yourself - she makes japanese sound beautiful.
while i've been struggling creating innovative mixes with my crappy hercules controller, my mentors at stonesthrow, peanut butter wolf, j-rocc, and egon have released another mix - a tribute to the late james brown.
its a 3-part mix and the songs are sampled from, and inspired by the godfather of soul. it's another quality hip-hop mix from the guys, and i was listening to it all through while composing that lengthy simulacra post.
finally! no more mouse and keyboard for me. the little baby for baby Djs (like myself) has landed. it's a small step towards what i've wanted to do for a long time but never had the time thanks to the fact that i also always wanted to be a games programmer. now that that goal has been accomplished, i can concentrate on turning another dream into a reality - learning to play a musical instrument! it's the Hercules DJ Control MP3 controller (what a lame name). got it off a seller on amazon for about 60 quid. traditional Djs might go like "wtf!", "piece of crap". i know. i'd love to go the turntable route and be like my mentors, peanut butter wolf, madlib, j-rocc, and the rest but i've got my reasons: i'm a noob, it's what i can afford at the moment, and vinyl is losing the war to digital technology. this is where is piece of hardware comes in. this controller is meant to be used with mixing software such as VirtualDJ (which comes with it), PCDJ, Traktor, and many others. Most pros use Serato, and FinalScratch. i've had VirtualDJ for quite a while and been getting familiar with it, but i've had to use the mouse and keyboard and it just didn't feel right - thats why i bought this newbie controller. at the moment, i'm focusing on beatmatching/mixing techniques creating mixtapes like these. VirtualDJ allows you to record your sessions to mp3s (pretty sweet). hopefully if i get any good with it, i'll upgrade to a much better controller like the DAC-3, and also upgrade to a better mixing software like what the pros use. anyway, i'm off to play with my new toy.
holidays are over and i'm slowly easing my way back into the daily hustle of a coder. happy '07! looks like it's gonna be a good year. i for one am looking forward to a lot. from album and videogame releases, to the new ghost in the shell (SAC) movie, to new episodes of Heros, to GDC 07, to the elections, to juve's return to serie a, to getting a pay rise :), to getting my company's current project out (pity i can't talk much about that except that it's a very interesting tech. demo and it's under NDA). what a kick-ass way to start the new year with a solid collab. album by one of my favourite MCs, talib kweli, and my favourite producer, madlib. titled "Liberation" released on new year's eve.
as usual, kweli, living up to his name (literally and figuratively - his name meaning "student of truth" in arabic), delivers his usual thought-provoking rhymes on point with madlib's uber-superb beats always guaranteed to put a smile on my face. i'm always at loss for words whenever describing madlib's music. a good review on madlib that i've come aross can be found here. the writer, hua hsu, says "If beauty is in the eye of its beholder, then I'd be very interested in whatever it is that Jackson smokes when he makes his records". nuff' said. The best thing about this album is that it is free! yes you can download it at www.rappcats.com together with the CD covers, legally and free of charge. so what are you waiting for? click-click-click! The bad thing about the album is that it's short - just 9 tracks. i guess it's what you get with a free album from two quality hiphop heads. enjoy '07 - i'm glad i made it, believe me! peace.
EDIT: this album ("Liberation") is longer available for download. it was only free for the first week of '07, i guess as a new year's gift. nonetheless it will be released later this year but you've gotta pay for it now.
okay... yesterday i managed to get a copy of nas' new album hip-hop is dead. listening through, a particular track caught my attention titled can't forget about you featuring a certain chrisette michele. the voice of this lady blew me away. she's got that classic jazz sound reminiscent of billie holiday. obviously the best female vocals i've heard since lauryn hill's magic soul even surpassing jill scott and badu if you ask me. this comes at a time when i've started appreciating jazz/hip-hop fusion mainly thanks to madlib (check out shades of blue - the remix of the blue notes). still on hip-hop is dead, she also sang the chorus on still dreaming which featured kanye west. after doing some more research, i found out she did the vocals on jay-z's new song, lost ones. sadly apart from some live shows she's done, that all she's got so far in her repertoire. good news is this is only the tip of the iceberg but she's definitely won me over and i hope she continues positively not like that crap song in the video on her website. she recently signed to def jam and i'll be looking out for the release of her debut album. and by the way...damn! she's beautiful - more than i expected when i heard her - i mean check her out!
