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Yearly Archives: 2007
Pharoahe draws gun, waits for “Desire”
When will Pharoahe Monch’s album come out? It’s been eight years since 1999’s Internal Affairs, and nothing but promises since. In 2001 there was the "Agent Orange" single, which was supposed to kick off a Rawkus album that never came out. Then there was talk about him signing with Def Jam (or was it Aftermath? Can’t remember). Then he signed with SRC/Universal, and dropped "Push" last year as the prelude to the long-awaited Desire. Nearly two years in the making, it’s already been pushed back numerous times.
In the meantime, Pharoahe is keeping the rap heads chattering with an Internet-only video, "Gun Draws." It’s written from the viewpoint of a bullet, but that’s nothing new: remember the mid-90s trend when rappers used to personify guns? (See Nas.) But hey, it’s Pharoahe, and it’s a nice track.
Lifesavas bring “Gutterfly”
Man, people always sleep on the Northwest scene. Yeah, everyone laughs at Sir Mix-A-Lot, but that didn’t keep Lil Wayne from biting his style on Dedication II. And what about Grayskul, Vitamin D and the mighty Oldominion crew?
Well, no one takes Lifesavas for a joke. In 2003 their first album, Spirit in Stone, drew major notice and respectable sales, thanks to its release on Quannum Records. Their new album, Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack, will take it to the next level. It’s a full-fledged blaxploitation musical a la Prince Paul’s A Prince Among Thieves. Vursatyl (Bumpy Johnson), Jumbo (Sleepy Floyd) and DJ Rev Shines (Jimmy Slimwater) play characters who, according to the bio, "fight their way out of the perilous confines of a mythologized Portland, Razorblade City, in away that’s reminiscent of the creation myth behind man a hip-hop partnership in the history of the genre (from OutKast to Tribe Called Quest)."
In addition to beats from MC/producer Jumbo, Jake One, Oh No and Vitamin D contribute tracks. The guest list ranges from rap vets Camp Lo, Smif ‘N Wessun and dead prez to black rock giants Fishbone and Vernon Reid. Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack is scheduled for release on April 24.
Live: Lady Sovereign, 1/08 at Mezzanine
Donut MCs = ch-ching! Yep, you heard all about Lady Sovereign vs. Jelly Donut on Pitchfork, TRL, Perez Hilton, et cetera. But how was the actual concert? Jonathan Zwickel reports. Continue reading
Ras Kass petitions for label freedom
Okay, we’re a little slow here at Plug One. I’ve got a full-time job (as a real journalist, mind you), and so does most of my crew. So we don’t always post the latest bloggerati crazes when they pop off. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know about them, seen?
So as I learn to post things in a timely fashion (i.e. not take over a week to write up newsy items), I look for inspiration from around the Web. Today I noticed via hiphopdx.com that Ras Kass is circulating a petition requesting his release from Priority/Capitol Records/EMI.
Who cares about Ras Kass anymore? Back in 1996 he was one of leading voices in hip-hop, banging out classics like "Nature of the Threat" and Soul on Ice. But after 1998’s Rassassination he hasn’t been able to release any material on Priority besides a few promo singles (including "Home Sweet Home," which touched off beef when producer Alchemist subsequently re-sold the beat to Jadakiss for the hit single "We Gonna Make It"). Two slightly different promo versions of his third album, Van Gogh and Goldyn Child, circulated in 2001. Neither saw proper release.
Hall of Fame elects Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
I don’t like to make a big deal of "hip-hop firsts." After all hip-hop culture is such an international phenomenon that even your grandmoms knows about it.
Today, however, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five became the first hip-hop act elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (And no, hipster dummies, Blondie doesn’t count.) The Bronx sextet — Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Scorpio/Mr. Ness, Kid Creole, (the late) Cowboy and Raheim — joined a 2007 slate that also includes R.E.M., Patti Smith, Van Halen and the Ronettes. That, my friends, is pretty cool.
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R.A. the Rugged Man hits the road
Every music conclave has its underrated cult favorites. Pop kids have Pink. Rockers have Butch Walker. Emo-metal kids have the Deftones. Indie hipsters have…well…the whole fucking genre. And hip-hoppers have R.A. the Rugged Man.
Who is R.A. the Rugged Man? He recorded an underground classic with Biggie back in the day ("Cunt Renaissance"). He makes weird and trashy cult movies and used to write a column for Mass Appeal. (Does he still do it? I don’t know…I stopped reading the magazine a while ago. And no, I’m not dissin’.) And he’s a dope MC that sort of sounds like your pappy bitch-slapping you. And now he’s coming to a stage near you…depending on where you live.
Review: Oddisee, “Foot in the Door”
Amir “Oddisee” Muhammed first came to light on Jazzy Jeff’s 2003 album The Magnificent. Now, after years spent working at Jeff’s A Touch of Jazz studios, the D.C. rapper and musician steps out with a full-fledged debut. Continue reading
2007 brings Kweli and Madlib’s “Liberation”
On New Year’s Eve, fan favorite Stones Throw closed an amazing 2006 by posting a free album in tandem with Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music Label.
The album, a collaboration between Kweli and mystery achiever Madlib, is called Liberation. Kweli has talked up the nine-track EP-length set on his MySpace page for months. As recently as December 5, he wrote, "So I know I know, I said Liberation will be out in November. I like to be a man of my word and believe me, I really tried! There are just politics with putting out a free album that I wasn’t ready for. Everyone has to be on the same page, and I got a lot of business on my plate right now." But all’s well that ends well.
Liberation, which can be downloaded for free here (with additional artwork) and here is, in Kweli’s words, "a straight ahead, sample driven hiphop record, from two of the best doing it." It marks his second underground release following the Blacksmith: The Movement mixtape in November. His new album, Eardrum, was scheduled for release last fall; it is now tentatively set for February. Meanwhile Madlib is working on a new Madvillain collabo with MF Doom.