Kuti Tuesdays: Fela Anikulapo Kuti & The Africa 70 - Confusion (1974)

This past week, I've been debating whether or not to blow my Fela load too quickly. After all, he has a great catalog of music to choose from. But as I've been trying to decide what was worth putting up this week, all I could really get the energy to do was my favorite. To prepare for Confusion, simply rewind the clocks one year from 1975 to 1974. Nigeria and Lagos are no better or worse, really, as the cover implies brutality and war are commonplace. As our previous spotlight highlighted, Kuti was a leader of the people tired of this state of life. His goals were grand, becoming president of the country chief among them. And to spread his propoganda, Kuti used a unique tool: music. With Confusion, Tony Allen and Kuti's keyboardist begin with a 4 minute flirtation, imitating a chugging train and fleeting emotions of excitement in alternate motions. Then, after a long silence, we are suddenly at our destination, Fela Kuti's grand Afrobeat party titled "Confusion". In a time of strife and struggle, when recorded music was a rarity, Kuti used his position to craft twenty-five minutes of straight up funky dance music. In a climate of economy where less than 30 minutes was all you got, Fela routinely made the most of it. As Fela's voice finally comes forward to emcee the party 14 minutes into the recording, it should already be certain this is oneof your favorite records, as well. Or at least the keyboard line that carries the track out for the final 3-4 minutes.

The keyboard played in the outro, as well as the rolling drums from the intro and outro, were sampled by Mike Love on the "I Know" remix, one of my favorites from Nigerian Gangster. And as an aside, last week's selections were sampled by Common and InI ("Water No Get Enemy") as well as Masters at Work ("Expensive Shit"). Just thought some people might like to know, and I don't think I mentioned it. I'm not sure Confusion has been sampled in any actual hip-hop tracks, but it ought to've been.

A1

Confusion

25:36

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(Note: Most of Fela's LPs are not availabe in their original condition. Because Confusion is only available from commercial outlets combined with the Gentleman LP, I will probably cover that release next week. Like last week, this upload is of the LP in its original format, which I'll continue trying to provide.)

Kurious - A Constipated Monkey (1994)

Yeah I know what you are probably thinking right now. "A Constipated Monkey like wtf yo". Well let me assure you this is dope shit right here. Kurious was featured on the KMD's Black Bastards and this Puerto Rican MC is ready to show the world that you don't fuck with constipated monkeys. Backed by slick beats from The Beatnuts Kurious explodes on the mic with hotness.

1. Spell It With A J (Yes, Yes Jorge)
2. Top Notch (feat. Psycho Les)
3. I'm Kurious
4. Uptown Shit
5. Leave Ya With This
6. Fresh Out The Box
7. Walk Like A Duck
8. Tear Shit Up (feat. The Grimm Reaper)
9. Baby Bust It (feat. Casual)
10. Nikole
11. What's The Real
12. Jorge Of The Projects

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DMG - Rigormortiz

This is the long OOP debut of Minnesota rapper DMG. As with most early Rap-A-Lot albums this does not have individual production credits, but the producer list looks similar to most RAL albums of time and the beats have a rugged g-funk sound to them. DMG drops his unqiue style of rough street rhymes that compliment the beats well. Check out this overlooked classic.

Rap-A-Lot Records (1993)

Produced by N.O. Joe, Mike Dean, John Bido, Big Chief & Scarface

1. Intro (feat. Bushwick Bill)
2. You Don't Hear Me Doe
3. Prelude to a Murdah (feat. Cozy-K)
4. One In the Chamba
5. Pure Dope, No Cut
6. Kiss Yourself Good Bye Bye
7. I Ain't Bullshitting
8. Prison Riot
9. Pay The Cost
10. Psycho
11. I Don't Shit You
12. Rest In Peace (feat. Big Mike)
13. Send Em Smooth
14. Behind The Wall
15. Buck Em Down (feat. 2-Low, Mr. 3-2, 5th Ward Boyz, Big Mike & Scarface)
16. Outro

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LCD Soundsystem - A Bunch of Stuff EP (2007)

Basically it's like a remix album of Sound of Silver , with 6 songs. It's not really better than the original, but it's great party music, I like to put it in the background when I'm having friends over. The first and last song are not "party" music btw.

1. "All My Friends" (Franz Ferdinand version)
   
2. "Get Innocuous!" (Soulwax remix)
   
3. "Sound of Silver" (Carl Craig's c2 rmx rev.3)
   
4. "Us v Them" (Any Color U Like remix by Windsurf)
   
5. "Time to Get Away" (Gucci Soundsystem remix)
   
6. "Us v Them" (live on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic") 
   

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Reggae Friday - Mighty Diamonds - Reggae Street (1981)

Mighty Diamonds run this reggae street and this album is full of vibe, love and rhythm. This group has been sampled by hip hop producers like 9th Wonder and you will hear why. They create music that captures your soul and fills it with all the right energy. Don't pass up on reggae fridays.

1. Reggae Street
2. Shabby Raggy
3. Illiteracy
4. Hunting Ground
5. Stay Far
6. King Kong
7. Atlas
8. Survival
9. Forbidden Fruit
10. Unseen Eyes

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Reggae Friday - Mighty Diamonds - I Need A Roof (1976)

The Mighty Diamonds are one of my favorite reggae groups ever and I usually listen to this album on repeat. This was originally released in 1976 and entitled When The Right Time Come/ I Need A Roof and was on vinyl. Then it was rereleased in 2006 under the title I Need A Roof. They have some of the greatest voices in all of reggae and sing some of the most inspirational love songs ever recorded.

1. Right Time
2. Why Me Black Brother Why
3. Shame And Pride
4. Gnashing Of Teeth
5. Them Never Love Poor Marcus
6. I Need A Roof
7. Go Seek Your Rights
8. Have Mercy
9. Natural Natty
10. Africa


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The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Few rock albums are as important as The Velvet Underground & Nico, and fewer still have lost so little of their power to surprise and intrigue more than 40 years after first hitting the racks. Acceptance as a 'classic' hasn't diminished its awesome power to shock and provoke one jot. A monument to the evil that men (and women) do. It may change your life, or may not, but I guarantee you'll hear music differently after listening to it. Music does not get any more essential than this. Genres experimented with include dreamy pop, garage rock, stripped-down R&B, and understated love songs.

1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting for the Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus In Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son

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Kuti Tuesdays: Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70 - Expensive Shit (1975)

One thing you'll notice each Tuesday is that Kuti generally kept his band name pretty long, and had a lot of fun changing one thing or another to reflect changes in the lineup. One constant of his Africa 70 band was Tony Allen, who I previously spotlighted with a remix LP of a more recent album. Allen handes much of the drumming here and coordinates most of the rhythm section, and really he's just fantastic. As far as Kuti goes, he produces and arranges most of the music as well as writes and sings the lyrics. The band is much bigger than either of them though, and you've really got to admire the intense and tight playing by everyone involved. This cover is a great introduction to Kuti's work, depicting at once the sadness of his countrymen and women's lives and the positive attitude with which they combat it. The A side of this LP is Fela's recounting of a hilarious story involving marijuana, a highly illegal item in Nigeria. Kuti's music led revolutions, and because of this the police were always trying to bring him in. The story goes that they planted a marijuana joint on him for an excuse to throw him in jail, but he managed to eat the joint and was forced to wait until he pooped it out so the police could have their evidence. However, he was able to get ahold of another inmate's feces and was able to use that to escape. Presumably he was pretty stoned while this was going on. The flip-side, "Water No Get Enemy", is more about country politics as it discusses the conflicts that rise from too many people and not enough water. This particular track is sampled by Mike Love for both "Roc Boys" and "Blue Magic" on the Nigerian Gangster mixtape we kicked this Fela thing off with, so you should get a nice dose of it by the end of your Kuti sessions this week.

A	Expensive Shit		13:13
B	Water No Get Enemy		11:00

See you next Tuesday with more Fela goodness!

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(Note: Many of his LPs are no longer available for purchase in their original format or tracklisting, but I'll try my best to upload the originals.)

Kuti Tuesdays: Mike Love - Nigerian Gangster (2008)

Mike Love is a DJ from Chicago. Jay-Z is a rapper from New York. Fela Kuti is the founder and purveyor of an entire genre of Nigerian-African music, Afrobeat. Separated, one is pretty unknown and two are considered at the top of given arts. United? If I'm being honest, I listen to this version of the album more than American Gangster, but that's not exactly why I chose to put this up today. The higher ups here at Radio Retaliation were hoping to get into Fela Kuti, and I offered to make Tuesday Kuti Tuesdays in honor of the legendary musician. Fucking fantastic pun on Ruby Tuesday's aside, while his music is often intensely political I figured first introducing his music as some great beats underneath some great rapping would be the right way for a hip-hop blog to warm up to his music. Over the next few weeks I'll be putting out plenty of stuff from both Fela and his extended family, who continued his legacy after he died. We'll be starting with Expensive Shit, mostly because it's both poignant and hilarious, but as an additional primer here is a great example of just how rhythmic and forward thinking Kuti's output was. Many of these tracks fit right in with contemporary samples: you'll probably recognize quite a few, and I'll try to point out which tracks from this release are from which album when the time comes.

1	Intro		2:45
2	Pray		3:56
3	American Dreamin'		4:56
4	Hello Brooklyn 2.0 (feat. Lil Wayne)		4:06
5	No Hook		2:48
6	Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)		4:29
7	Sweet		3:38
8	I Know (feat. Pharrell Williams)		3:38
9	Party Life		4:32
10	Ignorant Shit (feat. Beanie Sigel)		3:54
11	Say Hello		5:27
12	Success (feat. Nas)		4:04
13	Falling (feat. Bilal)		3:31
14	Blue Magic		4:05
15	American Gangster		3:08

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Havoc & Prodeje - Kickin' Game (1994)

Dope g-funk album from South Central Cartel members Havoc & Prodeje. Prodeje lays down some damn great beats and the flows are real nice on this one. Sure to have your head bobbin.

1. Intro
2. Charge It 2 A Bitch
3. Kickin' Game
4. That's The Way It'z Goin' Down
5. Guess-A-Dad
6. 2 G R Not 2 G
7. All I'm C'in Iz G'z
8. Endo Glide
9. G'z On Da Move
10. Block 2 Block
11. C U When U Get Out
12. Only Lonely Homie
13. Now I Lay Me Down
14. M-Squads Nation Wide
15. G'z Only
16. Outro

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Finale and Spier 1200 - Develop (2007)

Great album from Finale ands Spier 1200. The production is on some smooth, motown influenced, sounds and the lyrics are nice. Some great guest spots and an overall soulful experience so check it out.

1. A New Beginning
2. The Backstory feat. Bilal Salaam
3. Trouble Makers
4. The Ring feat. Jazz, Wordsworth & Invincible
5. Fly Love Song feat. 5ela
6. Life Lesson
7. Frequency
8. Family Portrait feat. Jazz
9. Eye Of The Beholder feat. Invincible & Elzhi
10. The Bigger Picture feat. Supastition
11. All About Us feat. Neco Redd
12. Closing Remarks
13. One Sound Two Feet
14. History feat. Spiryt

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Reggae Friday - Tenor Saw - Fever (1986)

Tenor Saw didn't get a chance to have a long career in music before he was tragically murdered but he made classic reggae music. Fans of Sublime should recognize several songs as Sublime used(or stole, it depends on how you look at it) many of his rhythms and even lyrics. This album is amazing so roll up your spliffs and listen to what Tenor Saw has created.

1. Lots Of Sign
2. Shirley Jones
3. Pumpkin Belly
4. Eni Meeni Mini Mo
5. Roll Call
6. Fever
7. Jah Guide And Protect Me
8. Rub-A-Dub Market
9. Run Come Call Me
10. Who's Gonna Help Me Praise
11. Surely Dub
12. Run Come Dub Me
13. Lots Of Dub
14. Jah Guide Dub
15. Rub-a-Dub Dub
16. Dub Fever
17. Eni Meeni Mini Mo Dub
18. Praise Jah With Dub

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Reach - Corner Speech (2007)

Produced entirely by Copenhagen producer Twelve Beats, Reach has created an album full of soul, R&B, Jazz and combined them with hip hop to provide a compelling album for your listening pleasure. This is an album that warrants several spins when the mood is right so give it a chance.

1. Reach Out
2. Live And
3. Walk The Line
4. Dance In The Rain
5. Pretty Picture
6. KCI
7. Outreach
9. Feelin' It
10. Cold Outside
11. WhoIzzy
12. A Dream


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Mars ILL - Raw Material (2001)

Mars Ill is a duo of the emcee manCHILD and DJ Dust. Simply put, their debut album Raw Material is majestic. DJ Dust's extraordinary turn table and sampling skills will leave you shocked and bewildered. ManChild's style is difficult to describe. He showcases his lyrical dexterity on damn near every single track. He can go from talking about love (Love's Not) to just tearing tracks apart (Mars Ill), while inserting a little social commentary here and there. This album is definently worth over an hour of your time.

Tracklist:

1. Mars ILL
2. Sphere of Hip-Hop
3. We'll Live Underground
4. Black Market
5. Love's Not
6. Monotone
7. Unsound
8. Send A Man
9. Compound Fractures
10. Rap Fans
11. Sounds of Music
12. Who Will Answer?
13. Indulgent Instrumental #1
14. Try Again
15. Touch and Go
16. Indulgent Instrumental #2
17. Sphere of Hip-Hop (original)
18. Fade to Black
19. The Abolition of manCHILD

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J.R. & PH7 - The Standard LP (2009)

Note: This album was not sold in the Americas and was frequently removed from blogs closer to its release, so snatch it while it's hot.

J.R. & PH7 are a production duo from Germany. This sort of release has been really popular in the past few years, and I suppose much like the NBA's influx of European players hip-hop was due for some true international collaboration. However, the problem with most of these tapes is that they usually feature the same rappers talking about the same stuff over the same type of beats, with nothing but new artwork and words on the spine. So in a way, it's hard for me to sell this record to you being that it's yet again more of the same. However, J.R. & PH7 are very good producers, as they lace up all of these tracks with a very smooth sound. Aesthetically this release is similar to Oddisee Mental Liberation LP also released earlier this year. I personally feel this album's vibe a little more, but the quality level is about equal so for anyone that enjoyed that album, here's your second helping. If I were a stateside A&R, I'd be looking to book these guys on some of my artists' tapes ASAP.

Also, doesn't the cover art remind you of our new banner?

1	JR Intro		0:39
2	Rock for Y'all (feat. Supastition & J-Scienide)		4:26
3	Fast Lane Speedin' (feat. Oddisee)		4:40
4	Summer Chill (feat. Edgar Allen Floe)		4:03
5	Interlude		0:35
6	Take It to the Streets (feat. Planet Asia & Rakaa-Iriscience)		3:52
7	Top Rank (feat. Guilty Simpson & Black Milk)		4:36
8	Let's Move (feat. Skyzoo)		3:29
9	Ain't Seen This (feat. 20/20)		3:08
10	Best Flow (feat. Pumpkinhead)		4:01
11	Hip Hop Lives (feat. Edo. G)		3:41
12	The World Keeps Turnin' (feat. Larissa Sirah)		1:33
13	Dreams (feat. Kev Brown, Emskee & Sean Boog)		3:57
14	I Keep on Movin' (feat. Kaze & Edgar Allen Floe		4:28
15	I Don't Know Why (feat. Oddisee)		3:25
16	Zone to da Nightlife (feat. Median)		3:16
17	The End Is Near (feat. The Good People & Larissa Sirah) / New York (feat. Access Immortal)		9:14

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Alucard - Watch Them Fall (2008)

Alucard is an emcee from Brooklyn who is known for doing artwork for numerous artists. This album caught my eye because of its interesting cover. After a handful of listens, I have to say I'm amazed. I think one of the best ways to describe this album and Alucard's style is a mixture of the raw lyricism of Immortal Technique, the aggressive flow of Vinnie Paz, and the and the enticing production of Stoupe (the Enemy of Mankind). Alucard and his barrage of cameos hit HARD. There are many standout tracks, from the alluring We The Ones (ft. IDE) to the gloomy Life Threatening (ft. DJ Jedi), in which the DJ goes on a nearly 3 minute rant about the ills of living. This album is clearly haunting, and probably only fans of horrorcore can truly appreciate this masterpiece.

Tracklist:

1. Intro ft. DJ Jedi
2. Stealth Bomber ft. DJ Jedi
3. We the Ones ft. IDE
4. Rainy Soul ft. Destruments
5. Poison Tester
6. Utopias
7. Oh No
8. Walk In the Park ft. IDE & Midaz
9. Life Threatening Interlude ft. DJ Jedi
10. Vendetta
11. What They Gone Say ft. L.I.F.E. Long
12. Poetry in Motion
13. Clear Face Mask ft. IDE & Critical
14. Full of Hate
15. Octane ft. Savkillz, L.I.F.E Long & IDE
16. Dream of Life ft. Savage Messiah & L.I.F.E Long
17. Don't Get ft. IDE
18. Best of Short Cuts 1-3
19. Altitude ft. Savage Messiah
20. Order of the Dragon ft. Deep, L.I.F.E Long, Relz & IDE
21. Ditmas ft. IDE
22. Daisy Cutters
23. Smiley Face Killers

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Thaione Davis - Still Hear (2009)

Thaione Davis came correct with poetical enlightenment that is effortless and comes from a free flowing that only youth could bring. This album is produced entirely by Rashid Hadee and he brings his signature sound of soulful head nodding music. Definitely one of the highlights of 2009.

1. Still Hear
2. Inside Your Mind
3. Tradesmen (feat. Ben Butter, Iomos Marad, King, J.Hewitt, In...)
4. Bottomline
5. Observation Incomplete
6. Problems (feat. Melatone & Rashid Hadee)
7. The Gambit
8. Confessions Of An Adolescent
9. Subliminal
10. Face Of The Hood (Relax) (feat. Rashid Hadee)
11. Onetwo
12. Leaving Babylon
13. Deception
14. Highest Regards (feat. Rashid Hadee)
15. Purpose

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Rashid Hadee - Dedication (2005)

Do not pass this album up if you haven't heard it. It simply is an incredible piece of music from Rashid Hadee. The production is smooth, soulful and hypnotic with excellent flow and rhymes, all by Rashid Hadee with a few guest spots. Listen to this album, you will listen to it many times afterwards.

1. Dedication Intro (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
2. You Can’t Hide Ft. Augustine (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
3. The Rememberance (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
4. Let Go (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
5. Surrender Ft. Manov War (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
6. Pushers Ft. Sincere, Augustine, Skinny Kenny & Young Valentine (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
7. Six to Seven (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
8. Get You Outta My Head Ft. Young Valentine (Prod. Young Valentine)
9. All I Need You To Do Ft. Augustine & Khallee (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
10. Addiction (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
11. Missing Pieces (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
12. The Xpressway (Prod. Melatone)
13. Plannin’ For Tomorrow (Prod. Rashid Hadee)
14. Mercury Retrograde (Prod. Rashid Hadee) (Bonus)


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Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984)

The title track may be played out a bit, but I'd have to say this is the most universally likeable Springsteen album I've heard. I personally prefer Nebraska because it's so raw, but this is an actual Springsteen with his awesome band studio album. Every track on here ranges from good to amazing. Personal favorite would be either I'm Goin Down or My Hometown. This is the ultimate average joe album, and it showcases why Bruce is the fuckin man. Jersey represent!

1. "Born in the U.S.A." – 4:39
2. "Cover Me" – 3:27
3. "Darlington County" – 4:48
4. "Working on the Highway" – 3:11
5. "Downbound Train" – 3:35
6. "I'm on Fire" – 2:37
7. "No Surrender" – 4:00
8. "Bobby Jean" – 3:46
9. "I'm Goin' Down" – 3:29
10. "Glory Days" – 4:15
11. "Dancing in the Dark" – 4:00
12. "My Hometown" – 4:34

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Now On - Tomorrow Already (2008)

I posted all three album covers for this album because they are awesome and they had one for each member. This is a very dope album from last year with a lot of soul. The lyrics are nothing groundbreaking but hit home and the production goes smoothly through your ears. Check this one out.

1. Here
2. The Answer
3. All You Ever Knew
4. This Way
5. Unwind
6. The A (feat. Buff1)
7. The Willows
8. Tomorrow Already
9. Marbles
10. Catapults
11. Touch (feat. Aloe Blacc)
12. Reprise
13. The Return
14. I'm Changing

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Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling (2008)

Mogwai is one of the main figure of post-rock, which is kinda hard to describe  as genre so I'll just sum it up as instrumental rock . Don't expect any lyrics ,  only the use of the guitar pedals.

I have to admit that this is far from being their best album, and there are some songs that for me shouldn't have made the cut, especially when put with such masterpieces as Scotland's Shame ....

Anyway I fell in love with mostly three songs that -you can guess- I love to blast in the car, especially when, for example, I'm getting home and it's really dark and rainy, at 2 a.m.
Great stuff.

1. I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead  
   
2. Batcat
   
3. Danphe and the Brain
   
4. Local Authority
   
5. The Sun Smells Too Loud
   
6. Kings Meadow
   
7. I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School
   
8. Scotland's Shame 
   
9. Thank You Space Expert
   
10. The Precipice 
    

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Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (2007)

It's some kinda of poppy-psychedelic-bubbly rock. 

I like it. 

I was blasting The Past Is a Grotesque Animal in the car yesterday, great stuff to get you pumped up before a party .

1. Suffer for Fashion 
   
2. Sink the Seine
   
3. Cato as a Pun
   
4. Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" 
   
5. Gronlandic Edit 
   
6. A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger
   
7. The Past Is a Grotesque Animal 
   
8. Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
   
9. Faberge Falls for Shuggie
   
10. Labyrinthian Pomp
    
11. She's a Rejecter
    
12. We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling
    

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Soloplexus - Illusive Avenues of 6 Intrinsic Musicians (2005)

This is a very interesting album. Insight, a rapper who is unfortunately slept on, plays the role of 6 different emcees going through different stages of life. Each emcee has a different voice and a distinct style. Every track is laced with laid-back jazz samples, and all of them lead into one another. But something that may throw listeners off is the sound of each emcees voice. You'll understand when you hear it. Even so, I haven't seen any other emcee do anything quite like this, so I respect this album for it's uniqueness.

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Should I Letem In
3. Mr. Tow Man
4. Do Whachu Do
5. Red Handed
6. The Magic Instrument
7. Bop Ya Head
8. Rap Riddles
9. When Things Go Right Somthin Goes Wrong
10. Me Her
11. Lazy Days
12. Farewell- Be Safe
13. Red Handed (Shinical Remix)
14. When Things Go Right Somthin Goes Wrong (Shin-Ski Can't Go Wrong Remix)

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Black Moon - Enta Da Stage (1993)

Since I have nothing to do, I guess I'll keep these coming. Black Moon's sound can be described as downtempo and gritty. I think the main reason I like this album is because of the jazz samples. Lyrically, they narrate about the usual 'gangsta' braggadocio, violence, and weed. But I think that the production separates this album from others. The sampling is pretty incredible on many tracks (Niguz Talk Sh*t is a great example). Maybe not everyone will enjoy this, but I think that fans of groups like Organized Konfusion can truly appreciate this.

Tracklist:

1. Powaful Impak!
2. Niguz Talk Sh*t
3. Who Got da Props?
4. Ack Like You Want It
5. Buck Em Down
6. Black Smif-n-Wessun
7. Son Get Wrec
8. Make Munne
9. Slave
10. I Got Cha Opin
11. Sh*t Iz Real
12. Enta Da Stage
13. How Many MC's
14. U da Man

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Reggae Friday - Love Joys - Reggae Vibes (1981)

We are all about expanding our musical tastes here and so I will be posting up reggae albums every friday.

Here we have the Love Joys and their incredible album Reggae Vibes. This is what reggae music is all about. Love, vibes, conscious living and that distinct bass, drum and synth rhythm.

1. Studio Man
2. Sweet Feelings
3. Stranger Get Up
4. Jah Light
5. Are You Ready
6. All I Can Say
7. Watch Them
8. Love Is Not A Game
9. Wherever Jah Send Me
10. How Long

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Common (Sense) - Resurrection (1994)

This album is a great introduction to Common, in case you haven't listened to his work before. The ripe production, which mainly uses jazz samples, keeps the listener attentive to the lyrically intellectual wisdom spoken by him. He weaves combinations of irony and double-entendres into his storytelling and paints images with his words. A great album, and if you liked this, be sure to check out his fourth album, Like Water For Chocolate, which if I may add, was the album that made me start listening to hip-hop in the first place. You probably don't want to miss this. This album, indubitably, is one of the finest displays of lyricism in Hip-Hop.

Tracklist:

1. Resurrection
2. I Used to Love H.E.R.
3. Watermelon
4. Book of Life
5. In My Own World
6. Another Night Wasted With...
7. Nuthin' To Do
8. Communism
9. WMOE
10. Thisisme
11. Orange Pineapple Juice
12. Chapter 13 (Rick man vs. Poor Man)
13. Maintaining
14. Sum Shit I Wrote
15. Pop's Rap

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The Roots - Illadelph Halflife (1996)

Considered by some to be their best project, Illadelph Halflife is the third album by the reknowed East-Coast group 'The Roots'. It's a unique combination of lead drummer ?uestlove's impressive drumming, jazzy, laid back production, and the easily recognizable New York style of rhyming. I recommend this to anyone who hasn't heard of this group before and fans of jazz hop.

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Respond/React
3. Section
4. Panic!!!!!!!
5. It Just Don't Stop
6. Episodes (ft. Dice Raw)
7. Push Up Ya Lighter (ft. Bahamadia)
8. What They Do (ft. Raphael Saadiq)
9. ? vs. Scratch
10. Concerto of the Desperado
11. Clones (ft. Dice Raw & M.A.R.S.)
12. UNIverse at War (ft. Common)
13. No Alibi
14. Dave vs. Us
15. No Great Pretender
16. The Hypnotic (ft. D'Angelo)
17. Ital (The Universal Side) (ft. Q-Tip)
18. One Shine
19. Adventures in Wonderland
20. Outro

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Binary Star - Masters of the Universe (2000)

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. In my opinion (don't take my word for it though), it tops Illmatic. The group is made up of the emcees/producers Senim Silla (spelled backwards is 'All is Mines') and One Be Lo (also known as One Man Army). The two met in jail, and decided to use their time locked up to researching about the music industry. While still in jail, with the help of a man by the moniker Decompoze, they created a hip-hop masterpiece.

Sometime in the album, they describe themselves as "two emcees that revolve around each other". I don't think it could have been said better. The two have love for the art of hip-hop and have honed their skills while in prison. They flow effortlessly, and can easily incorporate messages within their songs without letting them go over your head. The production is beautiful, and their mastery of word-play is nothing short of brilliant. It may take few rotations to understand the messages and stories told in this album, but it is worth it. There isn't a bad song on this album. I strongly recommend this to EVERYONE with appreciation for good hip-hop music. DO NOT SLEEP.

Tracklist:

1. Reality Check
2. Conquistadors
3. Solar Powered Intro
4. Solar Powered
5. Slang Blade Intro
6. Slang Blade
7. Binary Shuffle Intro
8. Binary Shuffle
9. Fellowship
10. New Hip Hop
11. Masters of the Universe
12. Indy 500
13. Evolution of Man
14. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 1)
15. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 2)
16. Honest Expression (definently the gem of the album)
17. Honest Expression Outro
18. Glen Close
19. Wolfman Jack Intro
20. Wolfman Jack
21. One Man Army
22. The KGB Intro
23. The KGB
24. Album Outro

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*Note- If you liked this album, cop/download One Be Lo's 'S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.'

Mannish - Audio Sedative (1995)

This is some nice underground shit. Mannish brings the heat and the beats are all dope as fucking hell. If anything check this album out for "Expect That (Bird Mix)". One of the dopest beats ever laid down.

1. That Crazy Intro
2. Impact Of My Insanity
3. Tasha's Room Prelude
4. Tasha's Room
5. Tasha's Room Outro
6. Expect That (Bird Mix) (feat. Real Thorough)
7. Innermental
8. Chain Letter
9. Swarm
10. Jive U The Mann
11. The Shit
12. If Approached
13. Mannish
14. Speaker Skit
15. Speaker Time
16. Expect That (B-Zar Mix)
17. Endtro

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