Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Tomorrow: Classic Rap Attack World Premiere





































Tomorrow I'll be posting a classic world premiere moment in Mr. Magic Rap Attack history. In the meantime, just think about what this concert must have been like -

Digable Planets = Timeless






















I was working on some music with Anonymous the other day and we got in to talking a little bit about Digable Planets. What we agreed 100% on is how TIMELESS their music is. The track that we wound up talking the most about was this one right here -


New York is reddd hot! I feel like "timeless" really is the best word to use to describe the legacy of their work. You could put this track on today and it wouldn't sound the least bit dated. If you've heard this track a million times, just imagine you've never once listened to it. If I hadn't ever had the pleasure of hearing it and somebody told me it was a brand new rap album, I'd lose my mind! You really couldn't do that with the majority of rap classics. I'm not really sure why, but maybe it's this - when a release comes out and has such a heavy impact, there are countless imitators and the sound winds up getting done to death.















Maybe Digable Planets were just on a plane, doing something that wasn't easily carbon copied. The thick bass lines, elaborate productions and the overall vibe... it's a chemistry between three people doing their own thing and doing it well. They also knew exactly how to marry visuals to their music to portray their image. None of that is easy, so they stand out as being refreshingly unique, and I find myself lately going back to their work quite a bit. If you are a Pandora Radio user, try out "Digable Planets" radio... just don't get pissed when they play "Pacifics" as much as I do.


Howlin' Wolf and Leon Haywood

Two new quality reissues on the way from my boys over at Get On Down. I know they have a ton in store for 2011. It will be my pleasure to hear about all the killer stuff they have in the pipeline.

Howlin' Wolf - The Howlin' Wolf Album























It's not often that an album disavowed by its own author at the time of release goes on to become considered a modern classic. Yet that's exactly what happened with Chicago blues legend Howlin' Wolf's 1969 LP The Howlin' Wolf Album, a release that has since attained mythical status due to the controversy behind it.

Released on Cadet Records, a subsidiary of legendary imprint Chess Records, The Howlin' Wolf Album was a radical experiment for a well established artist: attempt to integrate electric instr
uments and psychedelic arrangements into his revered signature blues sound. The result was an album that Wolf himself initially disregarded on the now infamous cover, but one that has won a speci
edicated music aficionados thanks to its unique mix of traditional blues and electric rock elements.

Get On Down's reputation for high quality reissues continues with The Howlin' Wolf Album, which features a special Stoughton vinyl pressing with audio remastered from the origin
al analog tapes for optimum sound quality and comes packaged in a
paste-on style jacket featuring the album's famous original artwork.

Get On Down • In Stores-March 22nd, 2011



Leon Haywood - Come And Get Yourself Some
























Almost two decades after its original release in 1975, the smooth, sensual bass groove of Leon Haywood's "I Want to Do Something Freaky to You" was an unmistakable, constant presence on radio airwaves across the country—although tthe song itself was not.

Thanks to Dr. Dre, who sampled Haywood's hit for his own smash single "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" in 1992, a new generation of listeners were introduced to the Texas-born soul and funk singer, whose biggest hits (including the Dre-sampled track) appear on Come and Get Yourself Some. "I Want to Do Something Freaky to You" was the centerpiece, becoming a Top 20 hit on the Pop charts, but the album reflected Haywood's talent for mid-tempo, laid-back R&B with songs like "This Feeling's Extra Rated" and the bold, funky title track.

A rare treat for soul/funk collectors lucky enough to find it, Come and Get Yourself Some becomes the latest classic title resurrected and refurbished by Get On Down, featuring a sparkling new audio transfer from the original analog tapes and presented in a digipak case.

Get On Down • In Stores - March 22nd



Thursday, March 31, 2011

John Leguizamo x Hip Hop























Which of these two clips is a worse use of hip hop in a John Leguizamo movie?

This


or That


Shouts to my buddy Leigh who went to see The Pest in theatres!

The Legendary Villain


Up until late last year, I had never heard this one. I can confidently say that my life has improved upon hearing this hidden gem. Goddddd damn! A friend of mine just got in touch with the Legendary Villain himself. Hopefully I'll have more to report on that matter sometime in the future!

By the way, it was quiet here the past week 'cause I was in Hawaii. What a journey that was. From the cold Northeast to some sort of Paradise. Back to life, back to reality...