I just wanted to let everyone know that this is a song and a video that needs to be viewed with a bit of perspective. First of all, dumb ass niggas that can’t think past the club, the block, or fat booty bitches, DO NOT WATCH THIS! Your brain will explode. Second, self-righteous hip-hop nerds who expect to hear me go line for line in a metaphorical circus, DO NOT WATCH THIS! You will be sorely disappointed.
For those who appreciate music with both soul and social commentary, this video will offer an intriguing look into the lives of people who suffer from genocide, starvation and war. It was very important for me to make this song after my travels to London where I had an opportunity to speak to a former child soldier from Sierra Leone. If you listen to the song, I document that conversation. I am sure you will find it as fascinating as I did. In an industry that is dominated by the replication of whatever the last club banger was, this song and video come from unadulterated inspiration provided by the trials of life. Produced by No ID and directed by Konee Rok, I give you “Stolen”. Please write me back with your thoughts, critiques, and insights.
A note from AaronM: I’m super busy this week, my last in New York before I head back to school. So I enlisted ML devotee Jorge from Bang The Box for a guest drop. Enjoy, and show J support with some comments. I should be back with a RT feature next week.
“1, 2 Pass It” was the Premier-produced and only 12” single for the 1995 D & D Records compilation The D & D Project. The track features verses from KRS-One, Fat Joe, Mad Lion, Doug E. Fresh, Jeru the Damaja, and Smif-N-Wessun. Collectively known as the D & D All-Stars, this short lived collaboration managed to yield one of the dopest posse cuts of the era. Notable verses, in my opinion, go to KRS and Jeru but the same cohesion that makes tracks like ATCQ/LONS’ “Scenario” great is also prevalent here. The release was backed by Big C’s “Look Alive,” produced by Diamond D.
The verses on both versions are identical; however, the beat employed in the original versus the remix give each cut a radically different feel. The original maintains that same deep, Rhodes-laced, head-nod vibe that is also present in Premo’s Nyte Time remix of Show & AG’s “Next Level,” on that late night studio session tip. You can also easily draw comparisons to “Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers,” produced around the same time. However, the revision of “1, 2 Pass It” offers a totally different sound, introducing horn stabs that give the track a much more funked-out feel; but still Premier. The drum kits on both versions are also identical, with most of the major differences lying in the backing samples and bass lines. In my opinion, the original beat is more complimentary to the verses and the overall feel of the track.
The video is a who’s who of D & D Studio regulars including cameo appearances from DJ Evil Dee & Mr Walt of Da Beatminerz, Lord Finesse, and Sadat X just to name a few.
While we are trying desperately to put into words what we witnessed on Sunday enjoy another example of Kanye’s genius.. whats the biggest thing going on right now? Olympics.. + clever play on that + puppets on that crank yankers tip= Win.
So, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is one of my favorite shows of all time. I was just watching FX and I saw the best commercial for their new season. I know, remakes of Going Back to Cali are kind of overdone, but they got Jeru the Damaja!!!! Fuck Colin Quinn!! This one is the best.
After the jump is the original LL version which is, without question, one of the best hip-hop videos of all time.
Plus the Colin Quinn version too. I was just kidding earlier. Colin Quinn was a fool for this.
Even Just Bleezy and Green Lantern kick a few bars. If I can take a second to get nostalgic for an era I was too young to experience, isn’t it great to see cats just having fun and passing the mic? Just Blaze actually surprised me with his bars.
