MIXTAPE 103 – BEAT JACKS + REMIXES 3

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 88 – THE JENA 6

For those of you who have heard, today is the day of the nationwide protest in Jena, Louisiana for the freedom of Mychal Bell and the rest of the Jena 6.

If you’re not totally up on this situation, listening to this hip-hop podcast should remedy that. This show contains, in part, an interview with Brother James Rucker of ColorofChange.org. But that’s not the only voice you’ll hear. A few days ago I posted a call for messages from the community on this situation, and got literally dozens of calls, which I’ve also added into the mix. You’ll hear people from California, Chicago, NYC, South Africa, Canada, London, and beyond. Rappers, filmmakers, label presidents, students, and everything in between.

Hopefully you dig this one. Thanks again to Color of Change, thanks to every single person that called, and every single person that is continuing to get the word about and fight for positive change. As you listen to this, a few thousand of our brothers and sisters are marching the streets of Jena, LA. The least we can do is make spread the word.

Note: To all college/community radio people: This episode is completely FCC clean and ready for airing. If you do

Hip-hop Artists/Personalities that appear in the show:
NYOIL (hear snippets of his “Jena 6″ in the intro and outro)
DJ Mr. King – myspace.com/djmrking
Vell Rob – cdbaby.com/vrob
John Robinson (President of Shaman Work Recordings) – shamanwork.com
Nick Cicero of Cicero Pro Audio – myspace.com/ciceroproaudio
Jahmil XT Qubeka (Filmmaker)
Michael Miraflor of Hip-Hop and Advertising – hiphop-ads.com.
Mad Anthony – Designer madanthonynyc.
Agent M of Blunt Beats Radio bluntbeats.com.

Beats:
Suburb – Untitled (first heard at 0’20)
Mobb Deep – Temperature’s Rising Remix (first heard at 1’55)
Madlib – Mind Touch (first heard at 5’20)
RJD2 – Weatherpeople (first heard at 9’40)
Dilla/Pharcyde – Runnin’ (first heard at 23’55)

Participate in the Campaign.
The Jena 6 campaign at Color of Change – www.colorofchange.org/jena.

Also: Note that Mychal Bell is still in jail. You can send him postcards and letters of encouragement at:

Mychal Bell
Inmate, A-Dorm
LaSalle Correctional Center
15976 Highway 165
Olla, LA 71465-4801

A few moments of your time can really brighten this kid’s day.

Post this on myspace, facebook, email this, whatever it takes.

Free the Jena 6.

MIXTAPE 41 – RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Well, I had to do it. Today’s show contains more than a few joints that a lot of people out there would consider blasphemous. That’s fine. Before you call Focus on the Family on me though, (happened once before), think for a second about shit like the crack epidemic, about Katrina, about Sudan, and then tell me that there’s no good reason that people should feel like they’ve been shut out. Let’s move.

Mobb Deep feat 50 Cent – Pearly Gates. Exile on the beats here. This is the joint that was censored by Interscope – as in you can’t even get this version that you’re about to hear here in stores. I mean, you’ve got Prodigy saying shit like that he’s going to “see [Jesus] when he sees him” or that he’s gonna beat Jesus up “like the movie” (I’m assuming he’s talking about The Passion of the Christ). But of course, I don’t know what happened in the movie because I didn’t see it, because of the White Jesus factor.

Also, why are people whining about Fiddy singing on hooks? I think he sings good hooks. Please leave Fiddy alone. Dude wants to sing, let him sing. He’s had a rough life. Poor guy.

Thanks to Jon at SIC for getting me this one. www.soundincolor.com

Sin Sizzerb – If God Close the Gate. Sin once again brings some fairly complex lyricism. Not complex like Ghostface, say, but more like complex like when you were in English class and your teacher would make you interpret poetry and shit. A lot of Sin’s more recent shit seems to have a lot of symbolism going on, which I can hardly argue with. Dude comes off as a pretty well-read individual, aside from having a unique-ass flow. Anyone interested in hearing a Sin Sizzerb interview up here? Hit up the comments and let me know. sizzerb.com.

L Jamar – Here Comes the Sun. I like the sample, I like his flow, but this somehow sounds almost too cheerful. I mean, it’s a great song, but I mean, a happy rapper? Who the fuck wants to hear a happy rapper?

Anyway, this song is pretty much loaded with 5% wordplay and ideas. Like I mentioned in the show, on the off chance that you didn’t catch that terrible-ass issue of the Source where they did a “history of the Nation of Gods and Earths” feature, you pretty much have to educate yourself on this shit if you want to continue listening to rap. I really don’t mean to insult anyone out there with this knowledge, but I know there are a lot of “oh man I found this great hippity-hop show on the interweb and its run by this guy who almost sounds white” people out there, and I’m really just looking out for you. I tell you because I care.

Sorry, back to the track. Track is hot, the album comes out soon, and from what I’ve seen of it so far, I recommend it. Maybe we can mash out an interview with L as well. www.5percent.org.

Akir - Urban Sprawl. Yes, this instrumental has been getting around a little bit – I think that just speaks to Exile’s talent. You’ve heard Akir here before, and you know his tendency to drop the political science on you. I’ll leave this one alone here, because you already know that it’s quality. www.myspace.com/akir.

Oh – sidebar - the remark I made in the show at the end about Akir having some supposed “beef” with JWs didn’t really come out right – so ignore it. Dude is obviously not saying anything of the sort, as you’ll notice if you listen closely. My bad. So no offense to any Jehovah’s Witness out there, especially not my Aunt Lucille.

John Robinson – Hit Me Ruff Draft. Come on, it’s John Robinson. This one comes off of The Leak Edition Vol 1, which incidentally features a lot more hot material. Be on the lookout for more of this shit coming soon. Shouts to JR for linking me up with this one. shamanwork.com.

Cheyeah, that’s it for this week. Holler at me with any feedback in the comments section, or whatever. Look out for even more hot shit coming your way like quick snap. Peace.