What’s real hiphop?

Recently RA The Rugged Man and RUDE Jude a host on a satellite radio station went totally ape crap on each other over what defines hip-hop based on MC hammers legitimacy.  As usual in these sorts of things both sides have good points, but most cats lose sight of their point based on their own preferences and biases. Sorry folks unlike the highlander there can be more than one correct answer that is in this instance.  See Hammer was both Hip-hop and Pop as is Kanye.  Every genre of music worth two cents will eventually have a marketable cross over element.   Besides there is no rule in hip-hop that says you can’t be corny,campy,outlandish etc….. hell if there was the genre would be a lot more rigid but since it is a do yourself type genre everyone is open to express themselves using the primary elements of hip-hop as a back bone.  Now does this mean hip-hop is a shapeless amoeba defined by the whims of it’s participants?  I would have to say both yes and no.  Yes it is defined by its  artist using the media but every form a music has a basic structure to it and certain elements that make it what it is.  Think about it rock has various elements but a million genres, whereas folks try to limit hip-hop to this rigid idea of what they want.  Why not just support what you like so the artist will keep making that kind of music and avoid what you ain’t feeling.  Here is my dime store  breakdown such that it is;

Wale Hip-hop Savior or hipster hype

Wale Wale is ill in my opinion as a lyricist but I have never been a big fan of the whole DC Go Go sound that he has been rhyming over.  I know that is really one of the cool things about him he has a regional flava to himself.  So maybe Wale is really a nice emcee and I am just not a fan of Go Go.  Being old enough to remember kid and plays  crappy usage of this with their garbage lyrics to match was doesn’t help not to mention doing the but.  Looks like Go Go is trying to sneak back in the national spotlight and is it me or did the lil wayne remix of Nike Boots leave you wondering WTF.  Anyway I am going to listen to more of his mixtape.

my radio station:

I am going to place a fan driven radio station on this site for largely independent music.  This is not revenue based site so if you don’t want the promotion of your material for whatever reason on this site.  Please contact me at frd_freeze@yahoo.com

Low Budget Soul

If I can ever get my sound to work correctly in the world of word press.  I will place a musical post on this artist.  Low Budget Soul is another great group from the UK.  They have classic boom bap beats with sultry R&B grooves that help any hard body get they groove on. LOL

Here is their bio found on their website: http://www.futuristicamusic.com/lbs.html

Hiphop Albums you must have from 2007

1. Devin da dude “Waiting to Inhale” : If you are unfamiliar with the work of the hiphop Richard Pryor meet Rakim.  Then you are in for a treat.  The cool thing about Devin is that he tales stories that are emotionally vulnerable and comical that we can relate to and laugh at.  He also does something unique to the world of Hip-hop by selecting a rand of instrumental tracks that have real instrumentation rather than the sample heavy or other synth dominated sounds we are used to.  All in All I keep coming back to this album when I need to relax or just laugh at life.

2. EL-PEE:  I will sleep when your Dead:  I am a fan of the abstract when it is done well and El-PEE outdone himself here.  With his punk meets hiphop vibe he creates a great follow up to Fantastic Damage which I found to be hard to listen to.  This new album is a great return to the wall of sound sample style of the bomb squad refreshing in the creativity drought that hiphop has faced as of late.

JAY ELECTRONICA IS RELEASING SOMETHING ON CHRISTMAS

Word on the Internets is JAy Electronica is droping a joint on Christmas.  Peep him out this cat is on E Badu’s Control Freaq label.  The cat is mad ill, I can’t wait to hear something new from him.  He has the kind of flow that just captivates you.  Jay drop a full Length soon.

RIP Pimp C

I would like to give my respects to the family of Chad Butler.   It goes without saying him and his homie Bun B helped set the foundation for what would later turn out to be southern hip-hop.  We are talking real southern Hiphop not just southern club music but the true sounds of their corner of the south. 

Now that that is said, I can’t help but wonder if this is another lean caused untimely death or just a random existing condition.  According to the media it was natural causes that was still a tuff turn for Pimp C since he just got out of the clink and released his first charting album with partner in rhyme Bun B.  Either way it goes it is truely an untimely demise. It is always sad to see someone turn a corner only to be cut down in stride.

RIP Pimp