MIXTAPE 110 – STATE OF THE RAP UNION

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So if there was a State of the Hip-Hop Union, I think one thing that we could probably count on would be that unlike any previous or current administration, we would get the straight, uncut reality of our current status. I mean, there would still be lying about what sort of dirt people did in the past or how many guns/cars/etc dudes owned – but yeah. I would tune in to watch that.

So the idea behind this is people from different angles telling us what our current situation is – some of them more indirect than others, some of them more violent than others, and hey, some of them even have some recommendations for us. Enough from me, let’s see what they have to say…

Stereolab – Neon Beanbag I think I must have been the one person at KUCR that never actually played any Stereolab. Probably because I never really listened that much – my mistake. Everybody go out and buy Stereolab. Off the 4AD and Rough Trade 2008 Sampler, which is ridiculous. stereolab.co.uk.

Young Jeezy – My President feat Nas. Leave it to Jeezy (yeeeeeeeahhhhh) to make a song where he praises a presidential candidate, damns the current president, and raves about his blue lambo in the same breath. I like this song.

East Coast Avengers – Kill Bill O’Reilly. I really wanted to get this episode out like four days ago, but technical difficulties prevented that. As I say in the episode itself – this track placement comes with zero disclaimers or apologies. I figure that in a genre where threatening other rappers for nothing is the norm – threatening somebody that actually deserves it is pretty sensible. ちなみに、the girl at the end probably deserves an award for best line in the song. East Coast Avengers is made up of Esoteric, Trademarc, and DC the Midi Alien. eastcoastavengers.com.

Mic Legacy – So Ghetto feat Rapper Big Pooh. The instro on this is like the musical embodiment of the Minstrel Show cover plus being in church. myspace.com/miclegacydafuture.

Crooked I – Paper Planes Remix/Block Obama. I’m not exactly sure what the official title of this cut is. About 80% of the stuff this dude is talking about is totally ridiculous – including the random diatribe on claiming that stealing songs is “not hip-hop”. I’m not saying that stealing music is a good thing, but seriously, it seems like every time I turn around someone is telling me that something is “not hip-hop”. Eating broccoli is not hip-hop. And co-opting the “Change” line? There’s got to be something wrong with that, but I can’t hate. Anyway, this song is hip-hop, and it is over the Paper Planes riddim, which makes it extra good. myspace.com/crookedi.

Elzhi – Colors. Come on, it’s Elzhi. There’s something sort of surreal about this song – not just the imagery. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s a great song. You might need to play it back a few times to actually get what he’s doing. myspace.com/zhifi.

Invincible – Locusts feat Finale, wsg Gwen Mingo and Ron Scott. Welcome to the reality that is Detroit. There’s a video to this as well – I’ll leave my commentary on this one out and just let you read the interview. Thanks to Sweeney Kovar for this one (and the one above, come to think of it). Album sounds like it’s definitely worth a purchase. emergencemusic.net.

The Stranglers – Golden Brown. Apparently everyone else and their mom has discovered this song recently and are trying to make beats out of it, but if you want to hear a proper drug song done properly by proper white people (nothing against Pink Floyd, I like you guys too), this would be a good joint to track down. myspace.com/thestranglers.

See, told you I was back on track, sorta.

MIXTAPE 103 – BEAT JACKS + REMIXES 3

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So this episode should answer all questions about who I voted for. Let’s cut the typing and do the rundown, shall we?

(but before I do that – remember that you can embed this episode in your myspace, blog, etc! Look above!)

Mobb Deep – Shook Ones (MF Doom Remix). I don’t think I need to say much about this one. The original was great, this one is possibly greater. Doom is just stupid as a producer. Who needs extra drums? Classic. I won’t be mad at you if you rewind just for this one. myspace.com/mfdoom.

Zero 7 – Somersault (Dangermouse Remix feat MF Doom). And Doom shows up as an MC this time. I had a very good friend once that played Zero 7 incessantly whenever I was at her place. I probably know all the songs from their first CD by heart, and I don’t even know what the album cover looks like. One of the odd joints out where Doom actually attempts to tell a(n ostensibly) coherent story. Simple, but dope production. Don’t get it twisted though – Zero 7 is great by itself. myspace.com/zero7.

Amplive - Video Tapez (feat Del the Funky Homosapien). Off the Zion I member’s somewhat infamous Radiohead – In_Rainbows remix album. There are obvious comparisons to be drawn to Dangermouse’s Grey Album, but it’s still a good (and free) record. It raises a lot of questions (doesn’t everything nowadays, though?) about media ownership and rights, as well. myspace.com/amplive.

Donwill - Camp Cupcake. Off the Beat Thieves Vol 2 record. I will leave the title alone and say that I dig this cut.myspace.com/donwont.

vicolude – Daedelus - Playing Parties (Yesterday’s New Quintet – The Stars Remix). Featuring a very prominent figure from my childhood. Okay, who am I kidding – my teenhood and nascent adulthood.

Daedelus - Obama 2008 feat Shariq and Taz of Sa-Ra. This song is so ridiculous it’s not even funny. Wait, it is. This is the jam, official, game over, I could play this 20 times and it would make a great episode. I don’t know why they have to be so dismissive about my mother’s opinions – I think she may very well have voted for Obama. I should ask her. By the way, if you ever get the chance to see Daedelus – do so. It’s brilliant.myspace.com/daedelus.

Donwill - Go Head (beatjackee = Wale Oyejide). I’m not sure what Mr. Oyejide is doing about the inevitable mixup between him and the other Wale, but I’ve always dug the former’s production. Look for more Donwill soon, by the way, as soon as I get that Suburban Sprawl record…

Q-Tip – Breathe and Stop (Iain Haywood remix). More solid production work from Iain – dig the saxophones! What, you’ve heard his stuff before, right? Do your homework. myspace.com/12pads.

Muja Messiah – Paper Planes (feat Manifest). M.I.A. gets the beatjack treatment this time (about time, that Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol 1 was pretty much grand larceny – can we get a Vol 2, by the way?). I obviously like this song. I guess I should be a little troubled that the “activist” message has been lost in this version, but really activism is for pansies anyway. myspace.com/mujamessiah.

I kid.

Bonus cut –

Cappadonna - Slang Editorial (Madlib Remix). Or at least that’s who it’s credited to, I just happened upon this track while I was mixing this episode down. Remember Cappadonna? That dude was cool. I’d listen to a Cappadonna record. Apparently he actually made some records, but all I remember hearing about him after Triumph was that he was driving taxis. myspace.com/madlib.

That’s this episode…what’s good?

MIXTAPE 94: TRAVIS

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You could probably say that there is some sort of skewed-ass social consciousness theme in theme in here, but no official concept this time. This is the Travis Episode, because my friend Travis is in the hospital and I want him to get healed up soon so we can continue partying. Stay strong, famo.

On to the episode.

Intro Beat: Beewirks – Make It Happen. This isn’t the first time dude has placed on a Mixtape Show intro. myspace.com/beewirks.

Sha Stimuli – The N Word. Two dollars says most of you didn’t realize what was going on until a few bars into the first verse. This is inevitably going to bring up controversy, which is brilliant. What do you all think of this one (the theme, I mean – musically it’s beyond dispute that dude has talent). As far as n-word alternatives, I’m a fan of the word “family” in all its iterations – famo, fam, etc – or “dude”, as anyone who reads this site often can probably surmise. “Brah”, however, is not okay unless you are an islander, period. myspace.com/shastimuli.

Duo Live – Caught Up (feat Talib Kweli). I coulda cut the outro short on this one, but it’s just too nice. This is my first time hearing of dudes, but apparently they are really on their grind nowadays. Sounds good to me. myspace.com/duolive.

M.I.A. – Paper Planes (remix feat Bun B and Rich Boy). All three of these artists should be on your “man hol up these people go hard” list. I gotta say, after Arular dropped I was a little mild on M.I.A (Piracy Funds Terrorism went way harder) but this last album is just the business. Then you add Bun B AND Rich Boy to the mix? Too much. Plus this is at once the catchiest and most violent hook in recent memory. I gotta do a post about M.I.A.’s show sometime soon. miauk.com.

Guru – Cuz I’m Jazzy (feat Slum Village). Well, the production on this cut doesn’t exactly belie the title. Apparently this was a very good week for music. Dig the synth violins in the chorus. gurusjazzmatazz.net.

Scienz Of Life – Build Wit Me (feat Baretta 9). John Robinson is one of the most positive people I know. This is an old 2001 cut from the ATL days, showing us all that you don’t need to go crazy with the drums because sometimes the sample just wants to be left alone. And what’s with the bonus beat outro? myspace.com/scienzoflife.

Nicolay and Kay – Stop My Way (feat Mic of The Legendary KO aka K-Otix). As seen before way back in Ep 16, Mic graces the B-side for the N&K concept project single. I wasn’t quite sold on this cut until that whistle synth came in – then it was game over. Great cut. Too bad I didn’t get hold of this one in time for the Love Episode. And the outro is some of the most ignorant shit I’ve heard in like two days. myspace.com/nicolay.

Outro Bonus Cut: Bomani – Read A Book Remix (feat Hueman Prophets) (snippet). If you wanna hear the full version, you’ll have to check Bomani’s myspace! I think most people remember the video and song from this, but not too many people actually know who is behind the song. This song is totally different from the original, but for some reason the end of the last version is really hilarious to me. I’ve got to admit that I haven’t read most of the books on these dudes’ lists. Somebody should make a dance to this song.

And we should start a Mixtape Show Book Club.

MIXTAPE 78 – BOUNCE TAPE 3

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Bounce Tape 3, ladies and gentlemen. The form continues to evolve. This episode takes you from reggae to hyphy to suburb rap to ragga-punk to crunk to damn son just listen.

And again, there’s only about a week left to nominate the Mixtape Show for the best music podcast in the 2007 Podcast Awards. Nominating, and encouraging others to nominate, will help make sure that we can keep bringing you this quality, informative (okay so soulja boy is not that informative but still) material.

How To Nominate This Podcast
Step 1: Click here: Vote for the Mixtape Show
Step 2: Scroll down and fill out the Podsafe Music box (third box from the bottom on the left).
   Podcast Name: The Mixtape Show
   Podcast URL: http://mixtapeshow.net
Step 3: Fill in your name, email (they won’t spam you – it’s just to make sure we don’t cheat) and any comments.
Step 4. Hit “submit”.
Step 5. Get on myspace/facebook and force others to do the same!

Okay, enough plugging. On with the show:

Collie Buddz – Come Around (Benja Styles remix). Infinitely tougher than the original. Pretty much all Philly DJ Benja Styles does is make these reggae remixes of these joints, often weeks before the general populace has even heard the damn things. You’ve heard him here before. myspace.com/benjastyles

Turf Talk – Broke Niggas (produced by Droop-E). Pilly at Nation of Thizzlam said it best – Turf Talk is one of the few people out there who can whisper an entire track without sounding really creepy (cf. Ying Yang Twins). myspace.com/turftalk

Cool Kids – Gold And A Pager. This is the joint right now. You are excused for not knowing about this hipster-rap duo, but you shall henceforth not be excused…from..uh…not knowing about them. Kids are already blowing up – it’s just a matter of time now. Complete cosign on this cut. Shout outs to Nelson for linking me up with the track. myspace.com/gocoolkids.

Some faceless Brazilian girl – Baile Funk 3. This was bootlegged off of the M.I.A. Piracy Funds Terrorism mixtape, again. I actually had another track I wanted to play that utilizes this same riddim, but I couldn’t find it and well you know how it goes. Only the people who actually speak Portuguese would notice anyway, and if you don’t – just assume they’re talking about something unbelievably nasty.
Team Knoc – Fruity Pebble Punk Rock. The chopped violin samples just matched too well here. I really wanted to give you the whole intro, but I couldn’t really justify doing it on this tape. Trust me – you need to track this cut down just to hear the intro. “Some people go dumb, but I go smart, because I’m in college”. Is there an official dance for this? myspace.com/teamknock.

M.I.A – Come Around Remix. At least, that’s what it’s called on her blog. It seems like it should be called “Come Down“, but M.I.A’s writing is basically incoherent. Either way, good track. myspace.com/mia.

Soulja Boy – Crank Dat Soulja Boy (Superman). Seriously, if you can’t appreciate how cool this song is, get off of my fucking website. You heard Soulja Boy in the last bounce tape, and really there’s just something amazing about the fact that this kid really isn’t a great rapper or producer, but he’s just got a knack for making catchy songs and dances that don’t really make any sense (watch me crank that robocop? is that a dance? yes it is). In other news, there is a dance called the Spongebob. myspace.com/souljaboy.

Meko, Dangerous Rob, Lix, Montana, Chaotic, and J-Tripz – Ballin (Atlanta Mix prod by Don Vito) (Mixtape Show ADHD edit). Shouts to Lix and Eddie from F-Pac records for this cut. I had to chop a couple verses out of this one. Favorite 16 on this track – the last 16 (J-Tripz?). Trust me. myspace.com/fpackokujin.

Ding Dong - Go Away (We Don’t Like You!). This song is ridiculous. Punk rock + dancehall + people telling somebody to go away = Recipe for awesome. Ripped from M.I.A.’s blog. myspace.com/dingdong.

So there’s this week’s show. How are you all this week?

Make sure to join the facebook group if you haven’t already – a lot of good music is being tossed around in there. Join the party.