Rappers usually do tributes to hip-hop when they have nothing original to say or express. But Yelawolf and Big K.R.I.T. are an exception because they’re not pandering to people who turn up their noses at Drake (well, maybe a little). Rather, they’re just providing a counterweight to their Gucci Mane/Chamillionaire stuff.
Besides that, how often do Tela and Group Home get shouted out on the same track?
D-Stern grew this beard during the 1998-99 NBA lockout
In case you’ve been living under a rock this summer, lockouts have been all the rage. After 4 ½ months of lockout chit chat, yada yada yada, the NFL is back. The Eagles and Patriots have been acquiring free agents and malcontents like they’re hotcakes. With the symbolic signing of the new CBA on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, the NFL should now be entering its version of the Pax Romana. Phew. At least now we don’t need to worry about a rise in crime.
The NBA is another story. It looks like there ain’t gonna be a season, and it’s a shame because I think a lot of us really wanted to see the Heat lose not one, not two, not three—ah, you know how it goes. And what about seeing the Artist Formerly Known as Ron Artest sporting a No. 15 Lakers jersey with the word PEACE on the back? Maybe he’ll suit up and join former Laker Jordan Farmar in Israel. It was a great season, and the league’s ratings soared in the Finals, but the situation is getting really ugly. If you check out the league’s website, you won’t see a single image of a current player. The NBA is now suing the players. The players are going to file a motion for dismissal in the coming days. Oof. Lawsuits no bueno. Current players aren’t helping their case. Michael Beasley is acting up again, this time at the Dyckman Tournament in Washington Heights. Former players are at it too. Samaki Walker was pulled over recently and tried to eat marijuana. Darius Miles, another NBA burnout, tried to get a loaded gun past airport security. Miles should just stick to cameo appearances in Ryan Reynolds films. So…it looks like there isn’t going to be a 2011-12 NBA season, and that’s just a shame. But hey, at least some of our stars will play somewhere else. I’d personally love to see D-Wade take his talents to China.
Knxwledge’s Hexual Sealings LP (think about it… done? OK) starts off with a remix of Musiq Soulchild’s “Be Friends” that isolates the neo-soul elements and butters them up nice. An equally suave Darien Brockington remix follows. Much of the new disc from the Philly beatmaker falls under ‘grown and sexy,’ but it would be a mistake to brand Hexual Sealings as just neo-soul. Knwxledge can’t resist minimalist remixes of Nas’ “Book of Rhymes,” J Dilla’s “Let’s Take It Back,” and Andre 3000’s verse from “The Art of Storytellin’ Part 4.” A remix of “Heart of the City” pointedly cuts Jay off at “Where’s the love?” The common thread is organic, addictive beats that give each acapella a second life, often a hot and sweaty one.
A year later, Perseus’ remix of “Record Collection” is a seven minute blissful ode to the 80s pop-tinged fun of the original. It will appear on Record Collection 2012, a collection of remixes due out September 5. You can also listen to the Plastic Plates remix in The Magician’s Magic Tape 13 mix below. It starts at 3:57.
After the break, you’ll find several cuts recorded at Mr. Ronson’s gig at the Enmore Theater in Sydney, Australia on March 11, 2011.
Sometimes, it’s frustrating sifting through piles of musical shit on Soundcloud for properly mastered remixes; most of the time (all of the time), I wish there was a law prohibiting anyone from adding Avicci-esque beats to a song; but every day, I wish that bros didn’t have access to Fruity Loops. Luckily, I was cut out for dirty jobs and found this gem. Yuksek remixed Noah and the Whale’s Life is Life which was originally a melodramatic anthem (still awesome) and provided a deft hand in creating a dance-hall number that doesn’t destroy the underlying structure that Noah and the Whale provided. This is one of the more solid remixes I’ve heard lately and I really love the transformation given to the song, I’m definitely going to keep my ears peeled for more of Yuksek’s work.
