Train of thought: (n) - the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as to the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.
Ihad a chance to go checkout Dubfire last night, courtesy of The Womb. All I can say is that his DJ sets are sounding eerily close to Ricardo Villalobose. I don't know if it's because minimal techno in Europe is starting to take life on its own, but I had no idea Dubfire was going to play techno at all. I always associated Deepdish with the stuff they played in the late 90's.......progressive house and trance. To me, Deepdish and Max Graham were indistinguishable. But a few grammy's later and all of a sudden we are seeing Dubfire move closer and closer to the rawer sounds of underground techno and distancing himself from the signature sound he was known for.
There HAS been backlash at Dubfire in the past for "selling out" and jumping on the minimal techno bandwagon. But as Mateo Murphy couldn't have said it any better: Fame is a double edged sword; there are people who are going to like his recent material just because he’s famous, and there are people who are going to hate it for the very same reason.
I try not to get too political in my music ramblings. To me, I don't care what musical background you came from, what matters is if you are making and playing great music NOW. It's not like Richie Hawtin was listening to techno in Detroit when he was 8 years old. At some point, sounds and styles progress. The Dubfire backlash I have seen now very much resembles the backlash Mauro Picotto faced in the early 2000's when he stopped playing trance and began playing Chris Liebing and Adam Beyer records........at the end of the day, you can't please everyone.
What I do know for certain is this: based on last night's experience......Dubfire ain't no joke. I have gone to many shows in my life, and last night he played some of the rawest and stripped down minimal techno I have heard in recent years. In a nutshell, I had an amazing night.
Below is a clip of him playing at the Detroit Movement party. That track you hear is Richie Hawtin's "Spastik".
Today's date comes as a historic one for America. A black president finally gets inaugurated. What does this actually mean for America and the world? Absolutely nothing. Let me be the first to tell you that there is a government within the government, and while this man may be black, he will not be able to steer foreign policy back on track because the system was built to fail. It was built for the Military-Industrial Complexes to keep the status quo. You may as well inaugurate a Chinese guy or a green guy for all I care.
Democrat or Republican? Does it even matter anymore? They're both two wings from the same bird.
I've been listening to some old school westcoast hiphop classics lately, as I haven't put my ears to the ground in the hiphop world for over 10 years now. Ever since I discovered Detroit Techno in 1996, I shifted all my disposale income in buying underground techno records as opposed to buying hiphop CD's. To be honest, I don't even know good these days as I am so far behind. What I do know, is that there was some incredible songs in the early to mid 1990's from the Westcoast that I will probably listen to for the rest of my life. While many people started getting into hiphop from the New York influence, I was attracted the sounds of the West. In particular, during the early 1990's, the sounds of G-Funk was prevalent in most of the westcoast tracks you would hear on radio or on pirate radio. The distinction can be heard in the high-pitched synthesizer riding in the background during the hook. Many years later, I discovered this sound was actually created from old Roland synthesizers using a sinewave patch, transposed to several octaves higher. I remember picking up my first rap cassette from Music World in 1990 which spawned a 6 year obsession to the music, before slowly moving on to electronic music. So in no particular order, I've decided to compile a list of tracks I grew up listening, courtesy of YouTube.
Foesum - "In the Wind" This is one of the more smoother tracks that came out in the mid 90's when the G-Funk sound was arguably at its peak. The entire genre pretty much withered away slowly after the dismantling of Death Row Records. Nonetheless, it's still a classic. DJ Glaze is the shit in this.....
Eazy E - "Real Muthafucken G'z" This was one of the biggest diss tracks I have ever heard. It features Gangsta Dresta (BG Knoccout's older brother), and is 7 minutes of pure bliss. This was released in 1993 at the peak of the Dre/Eazy beef. Classic lines in this song include the now famous "motherfuck Dre, motherfuck Snoop, motherfuck Deathrowwwwwwww" line that you hear being sampled endlessly by other rappers. Definitately one of my all time favourites from the West. Song was released on E's "It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa" album.
Above the Law - "Black Superman" These were the guys who got me into rap at 10 years old. I remember going to the nearest cassette tape store and seeing their tape lying in the new releases section (there was not "hip hop" section to the store at that time). It was an album called "Livin' Like Hustlaz" which was made in 1989 but released in 1990. It was heavily influenced by Dr. Dre's productions, and some even argue that ATL were really the ones responsible for creating the "G-Funk" sound that eventually made Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg famous. Apparently Dr. Dre stole that sound and eventually created "The Chronic" album with it 2 years later. Anyhow, this is one of my all time favourite tracks from them called "Black Superman" which is actually from their album Uncle Sam's curse.....an all time CLASSIC.
MC Eiht - "Streiht Up Menace" I can't say i'm a very big fan of MC Eiht. Even though I had two of his albums, I found the best song of his was not even from his album at all, but on his track that was released as part of the "Menace II Society" soundtrack.The beat is quite minimal in nature with a simple piano chord and one synth. I find it to be one of the smoothest rap songs I have heard in a long time. In the movie, you won't be able to miss this track as it plays during the credits at the end of the flick. A classic, a classic, a classic.......there isn't anyone I know that doesn't like this. Even chicks like this song.....
Mad CJ Mac- "Come and Take a Ride" I will never forget when this album came out. Still to this day is one of the albums that I still listen to even though it's been on my repeat playlist in the ipod. I can't get enough of this.....Whatever happened to CJ Mac anyways? Mac was signed to Ruthless so I assume he fell off shortly after Ruthless Records folded. Anyhow, "Come and Take a Ride" has the typical sinewave patch synthesizer that rides throughout the song.
Anotha Level - "What's That Cha Say" I remember losing this tape years ago and I had the hardest time trying to find a replacement for this. Luckily thanks to Youtube, i can just stream this online. Anotha Level was not gangster rap but a group that made feel good summertime music. Listening to this song reminds me of smoking trees as a teen in my car and listening to this on my beat up car.
Souls of Mischief - "93 'Til Infinity" Souls of Mischief from the famous Oakland based Hieroglyphics Crew (along with Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Pharcyde, and Casual). I am pretty positive you have heard of this song at some point in your life. Unless you've been living in a hole in China for the past 20 years you would have heard of this song at, whether it was in someone's car, at a house party, at a club......whatever.....this is probably their most famous song. And rightfully so. I love this.
Dr. Dre - "Fuck Wit' Dre Day" I LOVE THIS SONG. Released on Dr. Dre's first album in 1992 and was the first time Snoop Dogg was introduced to mainstream listening ears. Listen to how high Snoop's voice sounds lol.I know "Nothin But a G Thang" was the more popular song off this album but I this was my favourite track on the album by far. Check out the lady singing during the hook. I will never forget his famous line in this song "We have your motherfucken record company surrounded......put down the candy and let the little boy go".....
Ice Cube - "Ghetto Bird" Ghetto Bird was released on Cube's Lethal Injection album. Aside from "Today Was a Good Day", I can't say he has topped himself in terms of quality of music. If you ever watched Menace II Society, you will hear the instrumental version of Ghetto Bird during the credit openings when it shows clips of the Watts Riots. The term "Ghetto Bird" really speaks about helicopters that fly over California African-American communities.
Domino "Getto Jam" Released in 1993 by Domino, a St.Louis born crip member residing in Long Beach California. Was friends with many of the California rappers including Snoop Dogg and Foesum, but later released his own solo album which spawned his most famous hit from back in the day called "Getto Jam".
The Dove Shack - "Summertime in the LBC" If you enjoyed smoking trees with the top down, driving around the city and needed something to listen to, this would fit right into the formula quite nicely.......
Ice Cube & Dr. Dre - "Natural Born Killers" Probably one of the more violent anthems from the "Murder Was the Case" album released by Death Row Records in the mid 90's. This was the first track that Cube and Dre put out together after their feud in the N.W.A. Sticking to their roots of violent gangster rap, they pulled no punches in this one. Several references were made to the L.A Riots and the Reginald Denny beating, including lyrics such as "So fuck Charles Manson, I'll put him out the truck, hit him with a brick and I'm dancing".
Havoc and Prodeje - "The Hood Got Me Feelin'" This was a classic G-Funk track from Havoc and Prodijy from South Central Cartel. Not to be confused from Havoc and Prodigy from Mobb Deep, these two are strictly from the West.....listen to this hook!
Spice 1 - "Trigga Gots No Heart" Spice 1 is probably one of the hardest cats to come out of Oakland. His signature style is straight violent music. His first album "187 He Wrote" is now considered a classic. One of the tracks on that album is "Trigga Gots No Heart" which was also featured on the Menace II Society soundtrack. Spice 1 was recently shot and in critical condition but is now on his way to making a full recovery.
R.B.L Posse - "Don't Give Me No Bammer Weed" RBL Posse, or Ruthless By Law Posse consisted of Mr.Cee, Black Cee, and the Hitman. They represented San Francisco (one of the rare artists to make it big out of there) and released the highly claimed "A Lesson To Be Learned" album which included hits like "Don't Give Me No Bammer Weed", "Bitches On My Ding Dong", and "I Ain't No Joke". My personal favourite from this album was hands down "Don't Give Me No Bammer Weed" which was released in 1992. Sadly, Mr. Cee was shot and killed in a gang related shooting, followed by the death of another RBL Posse member, The Hitman, who was also shot and killed in another gang related incident. Although R.B.L Posse is now no more due to their members dying, they are still considered as one of the original groups coming out of San Francisco that made it big.
Warren G - "This DJ" Many will know him as the guy who produced "Regulators". He is also Dr. Dre's stepbrother, and was also the one responsible for introducing Snoop Dogg to Dr. Dre prior to signing him. Warren G's lyrics were less aggressive in nature, and quite frankly, I think his production skills are superior to his rapping skills.
OFTB - "Crack 'Em" O.F.T.B. at one point were rising stars that were poised to be the next big thing coming out of California. For whatever unknown reasons, they simply fell off and disappeared despite cranking out quality music. This is one track that made them semi-famous called "Crack 'Em" produced by fellow Blood member DJ Quik.
Eazy E - "Boyz N Tha Hood" The original version of this song was released on Eazy E's 1988 album "Eazy Duz It", but I found the G-Mix release on his 1993 album more pleasant to the ears. Check out the sinewave patch used during the hook. This is pretty straight forward Eazy E lyrics. Don't be expecting anything philosophical here....
DJ Quik - "Can't Fuck Wit' A Nigga" Former Death Row member DJ Quik was not only beefing with MC Eiht, but at one time was also beefing with Everlast from House of Pain. This song featured Hi-C and KK.
Cypress Hill - "I Ain't Going Out Like That" This was released on their second album in 1993 called "Black Sunday", which I believe was probably their best album. I know there were a lot of old school hits on this album including "Insane in the Brain", and "Throw your Set in the Air", but to me this was the rawest track on the album. To date, they have sold close to 17 million albums and probably the most successful hispanic rap group ever formed.
Da Lench Mob - "Guerillas Ain't Gangstas" It's Da Lench Mob, the same guys that made "Guerillas in the Mist". Need I say more about this group?
EA Ski - "Blast If I Have To" Arguably one of the best producers to ever come out of California, E-A-Ski was originally a producer in Oakland, making beats for Spice 1, Luniz, B-Legit, Sam Quinn, and Too $hort. Eventually turning to the microphone himself, EA Ski began to rise to fame with album such as "Straight Business" and "One Step Ahead of Y'all". Personally, my favourite track of his was "Blast If I Have to".....
2pac - "Can U Get Away" A rap love song composed by former Digital Underground member, and arguably the most popular export to come out of California. The song is written as a story from 2pac's point of view, where he tries to get with a girl that has an abusive man. Smooth beat, sick lyrics.....my favourite 2pac track by far to date. It was released on Pac's 1994 album "Me Against The World" which to this date is my favourite album by him.
Twinz - "Eastside LB" Two brothers who were part of the Snoop Dogg and Warren G crew. No one understood why they only released one album and were never heard from again, despite showing promise. "Eastside LB" was the more smoother of the tracks from the album. A personal favorite of mine.
Paris - "One Time Fo' Ya Mind" Paris is one of my favorite rappers of all time. Well educated with an Economics/Finance degree from University, Paris was poised to do great things before he decided to pursue a full time rap career instead. Despite releasing incredible albums in the early 1990's, Paris never made it to the big time due to his political lyrics. While others were rapping about getting high and getting together with girls, Paris spoke about poverty, religion, politics, and the corruption of the US government. My personal favorite tracks from him of all time was "One Time For Ya Mind". Cold lyrics, cold beats. CHECK THE PIANO RIFT.
Tha Alkoholiks - "DAAAM" No introduction needs to be made for Tha Alkaholiks.....this is one of the most incredible beats I have ever heard! Classic 90's westcoast track.
BG Knocc Out & Gangsta Dresta - "DPG Killas" ONE BIG MASSIVE DEATH ROW RECORDS DISS. BG calls out the DPG and the whole crew. Fuck I love this song....
Pharcyde - "Passing Me By" Hailing from South Central Los Angeles, the Pharcyde made waves in the westcoast hiphop scene with their fun and party atmosphered music. Their first album "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde" was hailed by many as one of the best hiphop albums in the westcoast of all time. Their second release had hits such as "Runnin'" and "Drop", but the album itself failed to garner as much interest and hype as their original album. Nonetheless, I would have to say "Passing My By" was their more popular song that hit the mainstream waves.
