Unreleased Ghostface

Download: "Ghost Deini" (Original, Uncleared Sample Version)

We all know the Ghostface classic "Ghost Deini" off Supreme Clientele, but did you know that a better and gullier version of the song existed? I didn't until I downloaded acompilation of unreleased music (mostly due to sample clearence issues) made by Think Differently mainly for the original version of "The Champ" which was kinda weak. Anyhow, I was pretty blown away by this. Highly recommended.

Ahmad Jamal: The Grandfather of Hip Hop

This is the first post I've made which could be considered informative and interesting, so fucking read it. To the best of my knowledge, the breaks and drums heard in early hip hop songs were sampled from James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic. But fuck early hip hop songs, right? The best hip hop in my opinion was made in the early/mid-nineties, and the guy responsible for many of that era's (and other era's) greatest beats was legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Jamal's compositions have been sampled extensively by some of the games greatest producers.

Here is a catalogue of his sampled work to the most of my knowledge:

1. "Misdeameaner"

Hip Hop Uses: Gangstarr- "Soliloquy of Chaos" (DJ Premier)
Black Moon- "Black Smif N Wessun" (DJ Evil Dee)


2. "I Love Music"

Hip Hop Use: Nas-"The World Is Yours"(Pete Rock) (at 5:00)



3. "The World Is A Ghetto"

Hip Hop Use: Fat Joe-"Shit Is Real (Remix)"(DJ Premier)



4. "Awakening"

Hip Hop Use: Shadez of Brooklyn-"Change"(Mr. Walt)



5. "Swahililand"

Hip Hope Use: De La Soul-"Stakes Is High"(J Dilla)(at 7:30)



6. "Pastures"

Hip Hop Use: Jay-Z-"Feelin It"(Ski Beatz)(at 1:11)



7. "Dolphin Dance"

Hip Hop Uses: Deda-"Can't Wait"(Pete Rock)
Common-"Resurrection"(No I.D.)



8. "Theme Bahamas"

Hip Hop Use: Nas-"I Gave You Power"(DJ Premier)(Can't really here this one, but its in there)



9. "Poinciana"

Hip Hop Use: Binary Star- "New Hip Hop" (?, Decompoze maybe)

Album Review: "Operation Take Back Hip Hop"- Craig G and Marley Marl

This is the second Marley Marl album in as many years that would have been good in the 80's, this time with freestyle legend Craig G on the mic. The album with KRS-One was pretty much garbage but its also been obvious for some time now that KRS has lost his marbles. In any event, Craig G and Marley are far too irrelevent to ever "take back hip hop," but will this at least appease the purist types on the internet?

1. Intro

I thought Craig G and Marley Marl were going to take back hip hop with some old school flava but apparently they've built a robot to do it for them.

2. Reintroduction

Wow this is just bad all around. The beat hurts my ears, the lyrics suck, and the hook is laughable.

3. Quality Work (Feat. Will Pack & Rakaa)

I swear this is exactly like the last song, all the way down to the shittyness. An extremely annoying beat (this one full of goofy, space-sound-effect noises) and rhymes about how rap sucks now (Craig actually says "monkey see, monkey do" on both).

4. Made The Change

This one uses the Biggie voice sample. Couldn't have seen that coming. This one has a fruity flute sample on it too. What the fuck happened to Marley Marl? Or should I say, who the fuck does he send to the record store to find samples for him?

5. Deep Down

This could pass for a song from the early 90's. Not a good one, but still.

6. We Gets It In (Feat. Talib Kweli)

Talib Kweli spits the same verse he's been spitting his whole career (you know, about the "institution" and shit). For what its worth this is maybe the best song eyt.

7. Just What I Need

This is the first beat that wasn't hard to listen to. Craig G raps about the state of hip hop again. Believe it or not, "Dey Know" > shitty tracks by old rappers about how hip hop sucks.

8. All Seasons

The beat is mostly pretty bad on this its just like the same note of an organ keyboard every four beats but I like the piano that kicks in there. This song is also about money and seasons or something but most importantly not about bad rap music which is a plus.

9. War Going On (Feat. Cormega)

For this one, I'm actually gonna predict the Prodigy voice sample. I can't prove I did that, but needless to say, I was right. Cool I know.

10. Skates

This beat is kinda chill but holy shit Craig G is bad.

11. Stay In Ya Lane (Feat. Sadat X)

Ah back to the whining about hip hop. This time, let's bring in Sadat X, because that guy sure can still rap.

12. Open Ya Eyes

This beat is alright I guess. The raggae inspired hook and Craig G yogurt references, not so much.

13. Regrets

This is just that same, over used, obnoxious horn sample over and over again. Craig G doesn't really even rap over it at all.

14. Not A Word

Pharoahe Monch would kill this shit.

15. Rock Dis (Feat. KRS-One)

KRS and Craig G trade rhymes. This would be pretty good for an interlude type thing. I'm just trying to find a silver lining at this point.

16. Don't Make Me Laugh

A failed attempt at an intimitating, gully sounding track.

17. The Day The Music Died/How About The Mic (Feat. Cold Heat)

This one I actually enjoyed and not just in a hypothetical scenerio way. The first song is about what it would be like if artists from other genres acted like hip hop artists, kind of like that one Ghostface song where cartoon characters are fucked up druggies and whatnot. The second is on that same, thug rappers can't rhyme premise, but the beat is good and Cold Ice is kinda nice. A good way to end an album, albeit such a bad one.

Overall:

Well that was just awful. The worst album I've reviewed on here by a long shot. In 17 songs it has one that I'd listen to again and about 13 that I'd kill myself if I heard it again. Neither of these guys, especially Marley, have anything to prove at this point and should just hang it up.

Best Songs: "The Day The Music Died/ How About The Mic"

Another Roots Post

Download: "The Grand Return" (Feat. Dice Raw & Wadud Ahmad)

Some heat rocks from the legendary crew. This would have been one of the best songs on the album had they put it on there but I guess since it all goes to iTunes anyway it doesn't really matter.