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, click shall we?

(but before I do that – remember that you can embed this episode in your myspace, website like this blog, this site 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 75 – BACKPACKER / SUMMER IN LA!

Hell yeah. It’s summer, therapist and you know what that means: pool parties, approved less clothing, see and college rap music. There is definitely a Los Angeles sound within the college rap/backpacker rap subgenre – if you’re into categorization – and this show is all about that. Perfect, fun summer music – download this one, grab the chucks and dickies, and bump it.

And while you’re on the computer, don’t forget to join our facebook group!

Tracklist:

Giant Panda – One Time. I remember being really excited about this release when I got it a couple years back, and for good reason – it’s hot. I actually was supposed to catch them at a quasi-legal show under a bridge in some weird back alley somewhere in LA, but there was sound trouble and one of the neighbors snitched, so the promoters moved it to a club and what do you know, I was all like 19 and stuff and it was 21+. So I went home. Dope record though. myspace.com/giantpanda.

Oh – did I mention that a summer episode went down last year, too? Check it out here.

Aesthetics Crew – LA Opinion. LUKE SON WHAT IT IS. I met Luke, one of the members of AC back what, two years ago?, and he told me that he was in this rap group called Aesthetics. He never let me hear any of it, but I kept hearing about them, and seeing stickers on freeway onramps. Like 1.5 years later, dude decides to send me a couple LPs and the CDs and what do you know, it’s nice. Last I heard they were working on some new material. Look for it in like 2015. myspace.com/aestheticscrew.

Shout outs and respect, by the way, to Nasty Nes.

People Under The Stairs – Eat Street. Even if you don’t like rap music, this pretty much lays some of the more infamous food joints in the LA, on some tourguide status. The Roscoe’s was an obvious, but I must say I prefer their waffles. Gus Jr also gets the stamp of approval. I actually interviewed Thes One of PUTS a loooong time ago on this very hip hop podcast – check it here. myspace.com/peopleunderthestairs.com.

Crown City Rockers – B-Boy Remix (feat Planet Asia, Zion I, The Grouch, Chali 2na, and Mystic). In a scene full of me-too groups that are trying to do this whole live instrumental hip-hop thing, Crown City Rockers stand out as one of the few groups that take it beyond gimmicks and really put some soul into the art form. Plus they’re nice people. I first met them at a show we threw at UCR back when I was still doing that stuff, and they basically did the damn thing. And all you producers should definitely take a look at their site, where they’ve uploaded all of the acapellas for Earthtones – for free. Shouts to Rashad and everyone at Basement for getting this one to me. crowncityrockers.com.

intro cut: Sunny Outside (In LA…) by Voice.
outro beat: Soul Slam by Alf-Alpha.

So that’s this week’s show. Hella busy around here – don’t forget about the video podcast! Artists, VJs, whatever – holler at me, and everyone else – let me know what you want to see on the show!