I’ve decided to stop doing the big long blog posting for music purchases/reviews. I will just put them up as I listen to them.
Now this album – I’ve actually had for a good minute….I just feel the need to post it. For me, it’s right behind Nas, as rap album of the year – and the mixtape he came out with earlier.
Ghetto – Freedom of Speech
Ladies and gentlemen – if you do not know what grime is – it’s basically hip hop turned up to Brixton hooligan levels. The beats aren’t like normal hip hop beats – they are usually rougher around the edges….and the lyrics are somewhat faster as a norm. But – Ghetto is NICE – LYRICS FOR DAYS, MONTHS, YEARS. In fact, line for line…..it’s fair to say, given he is an English emcee, he could be called one of the best emcees in the world. Elzhi is probably the only one staying with him in the pattern department. Not a perfect album – but worth the pick-up and the extra change as an import.
Ghetto – Ghetto Gospel
The mixtape he came out with prior to the album above. If you don’t pick up the album (and you should) – go to iTunes and find three songs off this mixtape – it should encourage you to cop:
1. Intro: So Damn Dedicated, 6. Hero feat. Devlin (another hella nice UK MC) – the beats is crazy, 7. Driver’s Anthem – the nicest rap song I’ve heard all year….dope ass beat….lyrics – sweet baby JEEBUS in the cradle. 9. CPB – just nice. 11. State of Mind – the hook is eh….but once again…the lyrics. 14. Test – LYRICS.
Who, right now, is nicer line for line, than this guy? One thing I also like about this guy, as well as UK MCs – they are very descriptive……and if they describe a crime of some kind….unlike like American rappers…there is a very high likelihood that they actually did what they claim. It’s more….real.
In August 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He pursued a very aggressive cancer treatment that included Whipple procedure[1]surgery and experimental chemotherapy; however, in August 2007, he was told the cancer had metastasized to his liver and spleen, which meant it was terminal. He then started palliative chemotherapy, intended to extend his life as long as possible. At that time, doctors estimated he would remain healthy for another three to six months. On May 2, 2008, a PET scan showed that his cancer had spread to his lungs, some lymph nodes in his chest and that he had some metastases in his peritoneum and retroperitoneum.
On June 26, 2008, Pausch indicated that he was considering stopping further chemotherapy because of the potential adverse side effects. He was, however, considering some immuno-therapy-based approaches.[2]
On July 24, 2008, on behalf of Pausch, his friend (anonymous) posted a message on Pausch’s webpage stating that a biopsy had indicated that the cancer had progressed further than what was expected from recent PET scans and that Pausch had “taken a step down” and was “much sicker than he had been.” The friend also stated that Pausch was “now enrolled” in a hospice program, which is designed to provide palliative care to those at the end of life.[3]
The “Last Lecture”
Pausch delivered his “Last Lecture,” titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” at CMU on September 18, 2007.[13] This talk was modeled after an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical “final talk,” i.e., “what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?”
Before speaking, Pausch received a long standing ovation from a large crowd of over 400 colleagues and students. When he motioned them to sit down, saying, “Make me earn it,” some in the audience shouted back, “You did!”
During the lecture, Pausch was upbeat and humorous, alternating between wisecracks, insights on computer science and engineering education, advice on building multi-disciplinary collaborations, working in groups and interacting with other people, offering inspirational life lessons, and performing push-ups on stage. He also commented on the irony that the “Last Lecture” series had recently been renamed as “Journeys”: “I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it.”[14]
After Pausch finished his lecture, Steve Seabolt, on behalf of Electronic Arts, which is now collaborating with CMU in the development of Alice 3.0,[15] pledged to honor Pausch by creating a memorial scholarship for women in computer science,[9] in recognition of Pausch’s support and mentoring of women in CS and engineering.
CMU president Jared Cohon spoke emotionally of Pausch’s humanity and called his contributions to the university and to education “remarkable and stunning.”[16] He then announced that CMU will celebrate Pausch’s impact on the world by building and naming after Pausch a raised pedestrian bridge[17] to connect CMU’s new Computer Science building and the Center for the Arts, symbolizing the way Pausch linked those two disciplines.
Finally, Brown University professor Andries van Dam followed Pausch’s last lecture with a tearful and impassioned speech praising him for his courage and leadership, calling him a role model. [16]
Watch The Last Lecture below…If it doesn’t make you look inside yourself then nothing is there
Wonder what Zach De La Rocha has been up to these past few years? Me too…I dont know all the details but I do know an EP was just released by him and The Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore a.ka. One Day As A Lion. The first song on the EP Wild International is fucking great. Its classic Zach. Definitely one of my favorite releases of the year. My only beef is that it is so short I could use a full LP of this stuff…
Brendan Canning – Something For All Of Us…
The second release from the Broken Social Scene presents… series. Brendan Canning is one of the many masterminds of the Canadian Indie rock movement. I will say this album doesn’t stand up to the first release by Kevin Drew. Although if you like mellow rock that is just that mellow rock. No real agenda, no fancy tricks but its not bad. If you like BSS then its worth adding to your collection.
Murs and 9th Wonder – Sweet Lord
Get your copy of Murs and 9th Wonder “Sweet Lord” for free at the link below:
Main Core: New Evidence Reveals Top Secret Government Database Used in Bush Spy Program
Salon.com has published new details about a top secret government database that might be at the heart of the Bush administration’s domestic spying operations. The database is known as “Main Core.” It reportedly collects and stores vast amounts of personal and financial data about millions of Americans. Some former US officials believe that “Main Core” may have been used by the National Security Agency to determine who to spy on in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
Interview with Tim Shorrock, author of the article on Salon.com, “Exposing Bush’s Historic Abuse of Power.” He is an investigative reporter and author. His latest book is titled Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing.
Well….like the title says – this is going to be a big one. Let’s get to it.
Nas – Untitled
Where do I go with this? I’ve looked at a lot of the reviews for this album, and as par for the course – people are all over the place. The LA Times basically trashed it…..some other reviewers loved it. My take is this: Where was this album about 4 years ago with he put out Street’s Disciple. The beats still aren’t Jay-Z quality in selection….but I can live with what made the album. I mean on ‘Make the World Go Round’even Chris Brown sounds good on the album – not that he is a bad singer…but a Nas album? It’s actually a decent look for the one of the two “commercial” singles a major label release like this would have. The ‘Hero’beat brings Nas back into what I’m used to….a BIG beat…a good female chorus….hard drumline – Polow tha Don did Nas a solid on this beat – very good single. Are either of these song political? Hell no….but if it helps to push pop shit over to get this into people’s homes – there are worse ways to do it. The real talk is basically every other song on the album, starting with ‘Queens Get the Money’and on to the Busta Rhymes assist on ‘Fried Chicken’….to his Obama backing ‘Black President.’
I won’t go thru all of the highlights. One thing I will say – he has a great theme/message for the album….and believe or not, he actually sounds even doper and more mature than he used to. The lyrics are crazy nice up and down the album. He has a nice mix of regular ‘I’m ballin’talk and the sociopolitical talk (lots of this.) One of the top 3 albums he’s made…and easily the best of 2008. I’m not going to say Nas is nicer that Mr. Carter…Jay is a natural superstar and master lyricist. Nas isn’t a superstar in the “Glastonbury’sense, but in terms of using the medium of rap music, in its original state – as an INFO-tainment tool – he is the best we have, maybe even ever (at least commercially.)
4.75 out of 5 – Essential selection of the week…month….year….thus far. (If when you pick up a copy…see if it has the bonus track “Like Me” on it…..if not, then find it – it’s worth your time)
Beck – Modern Guilt
Dope. I know some are lukewarm on it. But man…..I’m feeling this. I love the Dangermouse production. The lyrics are a little dark….he seems a bit, I don’t know, deceived….or tired…whatever it is – it comes across nice on the songs. It’s not his very best, but it’s still doper than most. Beck has attained that top-notch status. I mean….has he made a bad album?
4.25 out of 5
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Another dope album by the Brooklyn based – Minnesota raised band. Very Springsteen – very honest, but not too heavy to bring you down. I have a feeling that they are GREAT live for some reason.
4.25 out of 5.
Slept-on picks of the Week:
London Elektricity – Power Ballads
Originally came out in 2005. OFFICIAL drum and bass – how I missed this? I don’t know. Usually I don’t want or need vocals on my d’n'b….but this album shows me that you CAN make it work, if done correctly and with a talented singer like Liane Carroll. Heavy instrumentation…..not just a laptop and Ableton Live 6. Real drums and a bass. BBC’s Radio 1 Xtra named them best live drum and bass act in 2007. Only thing about that – they hadn’t actually played a live show in two years. “Out of This World” is the standout. DOPE.
5 out of 5 – great drum and bass, very soulful….good for DnB beginners
Primal Scream – XTRMNTR
Ill. Deathly ill. I can see how I made it past this album – it was 2000…..I was still finding my ear at that time…and I really didn’t get it yet (not that I have it all down now…I’m still learning.) Eight years later – I know what the fuss is about. Great album….very fuzzy electronic punk rock – heavy political (anarchy) themes all over.
4.5 out of 5 – glad I bumped into this album
Throwback(s) of the week: Talking Heads (1979 to 1983 – the Brian Eno era, except for Speaking in Tongues)
The Fear of Music
For some reason I felt like some Talking Heads…but they are incredibly hard to explain. This one is kind of in a post-punk mold. “Life during Wartime” is the star here……a must listen
Remain in Light
My favorite Talking Heads album, and probably one of the favorite albums ever. It’s just a dominator. Every song is money…..with the Fela Kuti-inspired Afrobeat polyrhythms. This album is so dope…even VIBE magazine listed it as one of the most important albums ever. Not just Rolling Stone or NME or Spin………..VIBE. ‘Once in a Lifetime’is the dimepiece here…..the bassline kills it.
Speaking in Tongues
Another flamer thrower. This one is more straight forward…..well, at least as straight forward as the Heads can be. Some nice R&B inflections in each song.
If you have any official….official……..official albums I need to check out or review…..hit me up on the comments.
It’s been a long time coming, but Elzhi is finally set to release his proper solo debut The Preface on August 12. Produced almost entirely by Black Milk, The Preface shows one of the finest lyricists of his era entering raising the bar for emcees in 2008. Elzhi has been relentlessly recording of late, and while this release took longer than many of his fans had wished to see the light of day, look for the follow up The Feed to hit shelves in 2009.
In the meantime, look for the following tracklisting to give you more than enough food for thought until then:
1. Intro (The Preface)
2. The Leak (Feat. Ayah)
3. Guessing Game
4. Motown 25 (feat. Royce Da 5′9″)
5. Brag Swag.
6. Colors
7. Fire (Remix) (feat. Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Fatt Father, Danny Brown, & Fat Ray)
8. D.E.M.O.N.S.
9. Save Ya (feat. T3 of Slum Village)*
10. Yeah (feat. Phat Kat)
11. Transitional Joint
12. Talking in My Sleep
13. The Science (feat. Fes Roc)**
14. Hands Up
15. What I Write
16. Growing Up (feat. A.B.)
Produced by Black Milk
*Produced by T3
**Produced by DJ Dez
also in Hip Hop News
Murs will be dropping a free album wit 9th Wonder called Sweet Lord prior to his album Murs For President
As of 1 April 2008 according to the Okayplayer website it has been announced that Pete Rock will collaborate with Madlib. This could turn out to be one of the most hugely anticipated partnerships since J Dilla and Madlib who crafted the classic,’Champion Sound’under the moniker Jaylib.
LETS KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!
Anything K?
****YES!!!!**** BIG UPDATE ON THE ELZHI ALBUM:
I happened to Google ‘Elzhi’….and a fell upon two things. A dope blog and Elzhi’s Europass mixtape hotlinked to it. It has a lot of the songs (some unmixed) that will be on The Preface. Peep the blog and download the album – it’s one of dude’s top posts on the right hand side.
Now that telecom immunity has passed, how can the Democratic Congress redeem itself?
Impeach Bush and Cheney.
End funding for the war in Iraq.
Open up a real debate over universal health care.
Abolish the Bush tax cuts and restore economic fairness.
There’s nothing they can do. They’ve blown every opportunity.
This is a poll that I just saw on a website called The Nation. I’m not going to directly criticize the site, because well….for one they do a decent job for the most part. And for #2, EVERYONE has a poll of some sort.
But what I don’t understand is why they do the polls in the first place – they are complete bullshit.
Let’s check out the one above.
Now the question is asked of whether the Democratic Congress can redeem itself after the telecom immunity ruling. So they list some options. They go thru them.
Choice #1- Utterly ridiculous. Impreaching the President NOW……this far down the line? Really?
Choice #2- This is a non option. For one, we are never leaving Iraq. Look at the signs – multiple Western oilcos got large NO-BID agreements (excluding like 40 other NON Western companies…interesting) to basically pull up the black gold. The UAE has decided to forgive all of Iraq’s debt – if this is not a sign, I don’t know what is……I mean Shell and BP are drilling everywhere in the world…..but the UAE forgiving like $7 billion in debt? You don’t wipe that much away for nothing. Mark my words – Baghdad will look like the Dubai of the desert in 15 years. YOUR kids will come to Baghdad as adults to travel at leisure in 20-25 years.
Choice #3- What exactly is real debate for universal healthcare? It won’t work – believe me, if the hospital systems could find a way to charge you more than they do now, they would. They have NO interest in losing money, or even making less of a profit.
Choice #4- I mean…I guess. They help the rich…so what? You think rescinding a tax is going to fundamentally change anything?
Choice #5- This option is just nihilistic ..and stupid.
Look….the only way to kill the telecom immunity ruling….is to……(drum roll) – fight like hell to get it rescinded. I mean….the options are just peacemeal and somewhat retaliatory, either ridiculous as options or completely unrealistic.
Polls are psychologically rigged. They ask you to make choices that are either relatively (or soon to be) media relationally in hindsight, or not based in a tangible reality. Then they use the result to tailor future content towards the “winning” vote. And so trains you to vote idiotically, based on miniature, baseless opinions.
I can’t even focus at work right now. No tunes – no good tunes to space out at work for. You can only listen to so much of the stand-bys like Radiohead.
Today, I had a thought – 2008 has been a subpar year for music. I immediately need to validate this thought in some way….so I need to find a trusted site that would give me a nice consensus to seal in my heavily subjective thought.
I went to Metacritic. Thinking to myself that over half the year is already done, I expected to be wrong about my statement.
i was right. As I sorted the top review albums by score – I had a feeling of “I was totally right on that”, yet a bit surprised and actually saddened.
For those of you that don’t know, Metacritic is basically a music/movie/DVD review tally site – they take all the reviews for a particular work and they generate a score strictly based on the the average scores of the combined reviews. It’s actually a pretty fair system. If I’m feeling apprehesive about a selection, I might consult the site, especially if the selection is a bit older than 3 or 4 years (they go back to 2000.)
So….I’m sorting all the scores so far in 2008. And I’m disappointed from the jump. Most of the albums on the top of the list have one of the following qualities: a former Beach Boy, something with Nick Cave, metal, actually been out for a while as singles and/or EPs, generally blah.
I realized that “generally blah” was the order of the year thus far. I mean there are a few gems: Nick Cave, Portishead, Robyn ( I KNOW it’s pop…but it’s good pop), Fleet Foxes, a few of the dubstep releases I’ve copped. There have been some decent releases: Shearwater, Sigur Ros..other some of the stuff I reviewed previously that was released this year. And they’re a a few more I really enjoyed like Natalia Clavier, Flying Lotus, or the new Beck, which I will be reviewing in the next day or two. But for the most part there has either been a lot of blandness or disappointments (The Roots, in a sense), or better yet curiousities (i.e. Coldplay).
I’m actually feeling more compelled to travel back in time – which is why you’ve been seeing a lot of throwbacks and 70s funk compilations…or Gilles Peterson podcasts (CRUCIAL). And if 2008 continues on its current trend…..I may have to keep the DeLorean in 1974 for a little while.
No real reason for me to go forward right now. And don’t even get me going on hip hop in ’08 (on the whole – HOT GARBAGE.)
With that being said – if any of the handful of you that read/write on this blog think I need to hear something you’ve determined to be crucial listening (and it was released in 2008), please post a comment with the album(s) or EPs…..I’ll find the CD, listen, and review it for the blog.
