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The Plug One 2000s: Beanie Sigel, “The Truth”
87. Beanie Sigel, The Truth Roc-A-Fella Records Released February 29, 2000 These days, it seems improbable that Beanie Sigel, the oft-arrested, thematically-limited Vladtv.com star and indulger of corny beefs with other rap gangstas, was once considered a next-to-blow rookie. The … Continue reading
The Plug One 2000s: Saul Williams, “The Rise And Liberation Of NiggyTardust!”
93. Saul Williams, The Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! Fader Label Released October 31, 2007 Produced by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, The Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! was a noisy salute and vicious satire of black culture, identity, contradiction … Continue reading
The Plug One 2000s: Dabrye, “One/Three”
94. Dabrye, One/Three Ghostly International Released January 1, 2001 With J Dilla’s death and canonization from indie-rock bands to pop machinists, it’s easy to forget that he has long been a source of inspiration for adventurous musicians. Tadd “Dabrye†Mullinix’s … Continue reading
The Plug One 2000s: Lil Wayne, “Tha Carter II”
96. Lil Wayne, The Carter II Cash Money Records Released December 6, 2005 As a launchpad for Lil Wayne’s ascent as a dreadlocked, eccentric purveyor of Southern Gothic, The Carter II has an outsized reputation. Too long at nearly an … Continue reading
Review: Trademark Da Skydiver, “Super Villain Issue #2”
Trademark Da Skydiver, Super Villain Issue #2 iHipHop Distribution Trademark Da Skydiver’s Super Villain Issue #2 is his second official album, but it’s essentially a glorified mixtape with braggadocio freestyles and nominal hooks. Luckily, Trademark’s JETS International, a crew of … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Short Cuts
Tagged iHipHop Distribution, Rhapsody, Trademark Da Skydiver
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Review: Die Antwoord, “$O$”
Die Antwoord, $O$ Cherrytree/Interscope Die Antwoord’s much-hyped $O$ debut is bound to disappoint casual listeners turned off by the jackhammer rave beats of “Wat Kyk Jy?†and Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$ser’s quirky Afrikaans slang. But a closer listen to this … Continue reading
Review: Chiddy Bang, “The Preview”
Chiddy Bang, The Preview Virgin Records Chiddy Bang broke out the blog rap ghetto with “Opposite of Adults,†an ace reimagining of MGMT’s “Kids.†Rapper Chiddy and producer Xaphoon Jones attempt similar magic on The Preview, from flipping Passion Pit’s … Continue reading
The wonderful world of Gucci Mane
Rap Is Not Pop: The Wonderful World Of Gucci Mane Several years ago, I interviewed Radric “Gucci Mane†Davis at the office of his former label, Atlanta indie upstart Big Cat Records. He had just finished a six-month bid for … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged Dirty South, gangsta rap, Gucci Mane, mainstream rap, rap is not pop, Rhapsody
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Review: Skyzoo & Illmind, “Live From The Tape Deck”
Skyzoo & Illmind, Live From The Tape Deck Duck Down Live from the Tape Deck, a collaboration between rapper Skyzoo and producer Illmind, is not only a throwback to classical values, but also a metaphor for “doing the right thing,†… Continue reading
High on arrival: Curren$y, “Pilot Talk”
High on arrival Curren$y strikes one up for traditionalism on Pilot Talk If hip-hop is jazz, then Curren$y can be described as a traditionalist. His debut album, Pilot Talk, is pure braggadocio, with rhymes about fancy cars and free-flowing liquor … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged blog stars, Curren$y, DD172, SFBG, the new traditionalism, weed rappin'
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Why Eminem still matters
This post represents a shift from how I programmed Plug One in the past. Before, I wouldn’t imagine adding a piece about a mainstream artist. But times have changed. Plug One isn’t designed to represent everything I write, but it … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged Eminem, mainstream rap, popapocalypse, rap is not pop, Rhapsody, when dinosaurs walked the earth
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Review: Ski Beatz, “24 Hour Karate School”
Ski Beatz, 24 Hour Karate School DD172 Ski Beatz’ 24 Hour Karate School arrives months after his triumphant production for Curren$y’s acclaimed Pilot Talk. But even the NY veteran famed for his work on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt can’t overcome a … Continue reading
Review: Shlohmo, “Shlohmoshun Deluxe”
Shlohmo, Shlomoshun Deluxe Friends Of Friends Henry “Shlohmo” Laufer is one of the more promising new jacks of the L.A. electronic explosion. Although he hasn’t developed a unique signature yet — which seems key to surviving as a producer, or … Continue reading
Review: Daedelus, “Righteous Fists Of Harmony”
Daedelus, Righteous Fists of Harmony Brainfeeder According to its press materials, Daedelus’ mini-album Righteous Fists of Harmony attempts to “bridge the demise of the magic-inspired martial arts fighters of the Boxer Rebellion to the post modern malady of technology and … Continue reading
Review: Jneiro Jarel, “Android Love Mayhem”
Jneiro Jarel, Android Love Mayhem Alpha Pup Records Jneiro Jarel, who has recently garnered attention for his remix work with TV on the Radio and Maximum Balloon, only recently moved to Los Angeles, but his expansive approach to beat production … Continue reading
Review: Take, “Only Mountain”
Take, Only Mountain Alpha Pup Thomas “Take†Wilson is frequently mistaken as a rookie, but his career actually dates back to the early 2000s and encompasses several under-appreciated works, including 2007’s Earthtones & Concrete. He has developed a highly distinct … Continue reading
Review: The Glitch Mob, “Drink The Sea”
The Glitch Mob, Drink the Sea Glass Air Records Since the middle of the 2000s, The Glitch Mob have taken bass music to the extreme, banging out synthesized jams that bounce like a hip-hop version of Giorgio Moroder. Drink the … Continue reading
Review: Baths, “Cerulean”
Baths, Cerulean Anticon Will “Baths” Wiesenfeld’s debut album leaps from style to style, from Four Tet-inspired folktronica (“Aminals”) to Autechre’s early experiments in ghostly arpeggios (“?”). It contains allusions to L.A. such as Daedelus and Flying Lotus, and the sound … Continue reading
Review: Exile, “Radio: AM/FM”
Exile, Radio: AM/FM Plug Research On his 2009 album, Radio, Exile (producer for Fashawn and Blu, among others) tried to replicate a radio listening session, even interspersing frequency noise and snippets of pop hits amidst loping instrumentals. Radio: AM/FM is … Continue reading
Review: MF Doom, “Expektoration Live”
MF Doom, Expektoration Live Gold Dust Media Expektoration Live captures a MF Doom concert at B.B. King’s in New York. Judging from the track list, which draws heavily from Operation Doomsday, his Madvillain project and MM…Food, the gig took place … Continue reading