Metal Lungies

You already know we’re fans of Black ELement here at Metal Lungies, now I linked up with EL for a proper interview. Black talks about his meeting with Talib Kweli, his favorite New Jersey and Boston rappers, among other things.

ML: First of all, the meaning of the name. How did you come up with the name Black ELement? What does it mean to you?

Black ELement: Well there are 4 other elements of hip hop, graffiti, mc-ing, b-boying and turntablism. I’m the forgotten element, black people created hip hop as a form of self expression and a way to get through the day. My name is a homage to the culture’s creators.

ML: What rappers would you say have influenced you? Go into detail – this is always something I find interesting.

BE: I was heavily influenced by various emcees, besides the obvious (Jay, Nas and Biggie), I’d have to say I went to Rawkus Prep School as far as where I picked up the most. Mos Def showed me that soulful and funky music is still relevant, Talib taught me consciousness, Big L showed me swagger and Pharoahe Monche showed me how to think outside of the Box. They were the foundation of what molded me into what I am today. Outside of the Rawkus family, I would have to say that Outkast was a HUGE influence on me musically due to the fact that they pushed the envelope on every album they dropped. That’s something I admire and aspire to do throughout my career.

ML: I read in your bio that you got a chance to meet Talib a few years back. Tell me what that was like.

BE: I met Talib when I was 16 at a Common show. I was really nervous cause I was scared that homey was going to be a asshole and crush a younging’s dreams [laughs]. But Talib was real cool, when I told him I spit, he left me with the simple message “Do You. Don’t let anyone dictate your art.” and I have taken that message to heart every time I make music, I always do what I feel.

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Via Eskay by way of Rafi

The duo perform “The Matrix”, followed by Pharaohe performing “Let’s Go”. The energy level here is crazy, and the live band is tight. I gotta see them live, seriously.

Speaking of which, Black has a few live shows this month posted to his MySpace:

Nov. 6 – @ Revival, Toronto, Ontario – with DJ House Shoes & Elzhi

Nov. 8 – @ Sonar, Baltimore, Maryland

Nov. 15 – @ The Knitting Factory, L.A., California

Nov. 18 – @venue TBA, Atlanta, Georgia

If you haven’t already, check out our Alchemist Beat Drop, featuring picks by DJ Premier (!) and Black himself.

This is easily the best thing I got out of CMJ Week. I met Magestik Legend at Fat Beats. I was talking to the crew there (what up to DJ SAV*ONE and The Audible Doctor, who produced the Brown Bag AllStars joint from awhile back) and they passed me a copy of his mixtape. He later came out himself and made sure I had a copy as well as his number. Adamant but cool, like anybody on their hustle should be. Now, I had been getting copies of stuff all week and about 95% of the music I get from unknown artists just plain sucks (I still listen to all of it though!). To my surprise, Magestik Legend’s Free doesn’t suck at all and actually kicks ass.

Magestik is original and clever without the gimmicks (not pointing any fingers, you gimmick-ass rappers know who you are). The first song, "The Legend," isn’t just a laundry list of brag raps. Rather, he references the Bible, ancient Greece, ancient Egypt and other "legendary" whatnot. His skills also show on "In N Out". On the first verse, he talks about everything in him, ending every line with "in me" and on the second verse, he uses "out" in every line. OK, that’s a little gimmicky, but it’s still dope how he pulls it off.

Unlike most underground rappers, Magestik Legend can actually write a hook, a rare skill. His greatest asset by far is his flow, which is constantly changing and always bonkers. He’s easily on par with most dudes in today’s underground scene.

The production, soul samples and the like,  is done by mostly unknown producers. The only name I recognized was Nick Speed. The beats are far from amateur though. There aren’t any that you’re going to tell all your friends about tomorrow, but it doesn’t have that cheap mixtape sound either. Magestik has the perfect backdrops to go nuts.

Definitely don’t sleep. You can stream it here too.

Download: Magestik Legend – Free

Peace to Magestik Legend!

I got an email a few days ago from Chicago emcee Nico B promoting this EP he put together. I don’t normally post stuff by people who don’t reach out to me directly, but this album is ill. Sabada Gigante is Nico’s tribute to salsa legend Hector Lavoe, produced entirely by DJ Noble. The beats are dope, all based around Lavoe samples, and Nico is pretty nice on the mic, although he does quote classic lyrics a bit excessively at times (lemonade was a popular drink in the 90s and apparently still is!) Can’t forget that fantastic album cover either.

I got into salsa pretty recently through the great Willie Colon compilation, A Man & His Music: The Player, and I’ve been wanting to flip salsa samples for a while. This EP is a breath of fresh air and very welcome on a shitty winter day, highly recommended. You can stream tracks off the tape at Nico’s MySpace too, if you’re not sold.

Download: Nico B – Sabado Gigante EP

Let me leave you with Hector singing “Periodico de Ayer” in 1978:

Note from AM: I’m pretty busy with midterms right now, so I’m bringing back Jorge from Bang The Box for a guest post in the Remix Tuesdays series. Read his last post here.

Huge respect to AM for inviting me back to guest on the Mighty Metal Lungies, but enough pleasantries, let’s get back to business.

From the first lick of Odetta’s “Sakura,” you should know exactly what this is, it’s a classic without need for argument. Spencer Bellamy’s seminal “Tried By 12” was snapping necks left and right in ’96 with its entrancing yet moody melody and Des’ ominously cold flow. I could break his verses apart line-by-line, but the citation and analysis of the clever wordplay contained within would extended for pages.

Originally touching down on Bellamy’s own 10/30 Uproar, the single was picked up by Chocolate Industries in ’98, and licensed to Ninja Tune in the same year. The beauty of Chocolate Industries backing this track was the onslaught of remixes that followed suit. Enlisting an A-List of abtract and forward-thinking producers for the double twelve, both labels capitalized on the beginning of the glitch-hop movement that is huge today — 10 years later. The release included flips from Ko-Wreck Technique (Push Button Objects & DJ Craze), Phonecia, The Herbaliser, Funkstorung, Autechre, Squarepusher, and Nick Fury to name a few.

Today you’re going to get served up with the video, the original and some of my favorite alternate mixes from that piece of deleted catalog. I’m all about spreading that rarity wealth and all of these hold special places in my history for one reason or another. They not only represent the classic sound, but what was the next business during that era.

Download: East Flatbush Project – Tried By 12 (Original Mix)

Download: East Flatbush Project – Tried By 12 (Ko-Wreck Technique Mix)

Download: East Flatbush Project – Tried By 12 (Autechre Mix)

Download: East Flatbush Project – Tried By 12 (Nick Fury Mix)

Download: East Flatbush Project – Tried By 12 (Squarepusher Mix)

I was going to make it 4 and not 5, but that Squarepusher mix is too funky to be slept on. Playlist all that shit, put it on blast, and enjoy.

Remix Tuesdays forever.

It’s finally here.

I don’t have to say anything, do I? We’ve been featuring Black for a while now, search the archives if you want some more of his older tracks.

DOWNLOAD THIS.

Download: Black ELement – A Major Minority

If you haven’t already, now would be a good time to stop sleeping on K. Sparks. This week’s track is laced by Moe Productions. Says the man,

This record is real laid back on some jazz/Hip Hop fusion tip…It covers various topics from police brutality to me dealin with my own personal inner demons…Moe Productions did the beat, and it’s real captivating…Nostalgic will be a song that is put on The Blue Tape…I plan on droppin that project along with The Red Tape within the same time frame…The Blue Tape will consist of various laid back jazz/Hip Hop fusion songs produced mainly by Moe Productions…I’ll make sure ya’ll get that as well when it drops.

Sounds like K Dot grabs every hot producer no one’s ever heard of and makes a whole mixtape with him.

K. Sparks – Nostalgic (produced by Moe Productions)

Looks like my complaining paid off! Here’s a DJ Ophax-produced free from K. Sparks where he gives a shout out to everyone’s favorite hip-hop blog, Metal Lungies (at about 2:24 mark). You can ignore all the rest of the sites he mentions. Major props to K. Sparks!

Download: K. Sparks – Blogology Freestyle (produced by DJ Ophax)

My apologies, EL, I promised I’d post this a week or two ago. I’m dealing with a lot of school work right now, so I’ll be scarce around these parts for a bit.

Oh,  and don’t sleep on Jelani neither. (Peep his free album, Wait, You Can Rap?!?! here)

Download: Black ELement – Quiet Nights (ft.Jelani)

A Major Minority is still on its way, and we’ll hear a revised album release date soon hopefully.

01.) Get Ya Ass Up! (Intro)
02.) Heltah Skeltah – Everything Is Heltah Skeltah
03.) Brooklyn Academy – Raise Ya Hands (ft.Jean Grae)
04.) Fresh Daily – Get Over
05.) D. Black – The Come Up (ft.Skyzoo)
06.) 50 Cent – Make A Movie
07.) Supastition – Thankful (ft.Kil Ripkin)
08.) Naturel – The Bullets
09.) K.O. (K-Otix) – 48 Seasons
10.) Torae – New Blood (ft.Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas & Fresh Daily)
11.) Fortilive – The Come Up
12.) Broken English – Different World
13.) Skyzoo – Lyrically Inclined (ft.Wale)
14.) Naps N Dreds – Do What I Should (ft.Copywrite)
15.) Quan – Geez Like Deez (ft.Rapper Big Pooh)
16.) Naturel – Resurrect
17.) 8th W1 – A Fool’s Lullaby
18.) Faro-Z – Clap Ya Hands
19.) A.P.E.X. – One More Time
20.) LL Cool J – Queens (ft.Prodigy, 50 Cent, Kool G Rap, & Tony Yayo)
21.) Wannabe? (Outro)

I actually haven’t heard this yet since my internet is fucked with a tiny download capacity, but trust if it’s Illmind, then it’s dope. Great selection of recent Illmind produced tracks. I’m impressed by the way he and Jake One balance the mainstream with the underground. An example to follow, to be sure. Oh, and Illmind has a blog, but you already knew that.

Download: Dub MD & Illmind – Blaps, Rhymes & Life Mixtape