Smoke DZA uses some uplifting brass to head to upper-most uptown and meet with his connects.
Smoke DZA “Independence Day” (Feat. Al-Doe & Styles P, Produced by Ski Beatz)
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Stalley gets his hops on over some Ski Beatz (& co.) guitar work. Off of Ski’s 24 Hour Karate School Part 2.
From Camp Lo‘s deep archives… this video, off 2009′s Another Heist, went unreleased for reasons unknown. Vintage visuals (in the vein of those ill cops & robbers joints of the 80′s) directed and produced by March 5th and Mark DiVita. “Black Connection 3″ (Produced by Ski Beatz) I gotta break this album out again… cats are stupid nice.
Also, let me say that hearing Jean once again reminds me of how she was probably the first to do the cartoon’ish, cutesy vocal delivery tricks your favorite Nicki is so admired for. I’m talkin’ back in the 90′s before the name change (as noted at the beginning of this post). I’m not sayin’ the bitch bit her steez, but… Jean Grae “R.I.P.” (Feat. Styles P & Talib Kweli, Produced by Ski Beatz) Jean (along with Mr. Len) also paid an entertaining visit to Lord Sear during The Drunk Mix on Shade 45 last Friday, to speak in detail about her new life as a coke whore, “rappity rap,” and to play one and a half new joints off her upcoming release,
From first run-through, we are thoroughly welcoming back-to-back repeat play sessions of this joint…as it is the near-perfect alternative to most things coming out now. Sonically, expect jazzed-out, cerebral music that flaunts the weight of his hometown’s rich musical heritage like a worker ant on a mission (the cat IS from New Orleans ya know), perfect for a night ride around the city or one of those by-myself-meetings Cappadonna was talking about on “Iron Maiden” (ideally, not without your favorite intoxicant(s) in hand). Lyrically, dude is the exact opposite of what most would expect when being told that he’s a “newer rapper from New Orleans”, but in all actuality, Phips is just that, “new New Orleans” rap. The ink on his paper runs deep, with rhyme sensibilities more akin to the “Golden Era” style of Southern rap (ala UGK, Dungeon Fam, Scarface, and Young Bleed – though Bleed arguably falls later on in the 90′s), and much like I’ve said in the past about fellow NOLA spitter, Curren$y, though I would not actually compare the two stylistically, it’s dope to hear such high-quality authorship delivered with a thick drawl. Here’s an immediate favorite out the pack: Tracklist as follows:
Special note…Phips, we got beats for your next shit (inquire within)! Damn PTP has been fillin’ up with gems this MLK day (enjoy it and be safe). Yet another video from Curren$y and the Creative Control team. Easily some of the hardest (and fastest) working cats out… what the fuck else do you want me to say that I haven’t said already?! BUY Pilot Talk II…this is on it and his crew is kinda nice too.
An added bonus:
“Word To These Bo Jacksons” (Produced by Ski Beatz) Kung fu flick wire effects + a pair of Bo Jacks…win. On some real shit, this gets better with every play. Tough!
So the question is, why am I going off on a tangent regarding a “lost art form”? Because the PTP musical offering is the sample-bearing original to Curren$y’s “Hold On”, as leaked from the Pilot Talk II sessions (if anymore stuff like this exists, someone please bless us). Again, that album is fucking ridiculous (no complaints about the re-made version of this song). Curren$y “Hold On” (Feat. Young Roddy and Trademark Da Skydiver, Produced by Ski Beatz) To wrap, PTP says guerilla tactics, 25-8. Fuck it. Sample everything. In the end, you’ve made a banger and that’s what you came into this for…right? Debatable. But don’t stunt your creativity out of fear of a possible lawsuit (a banger is a banger…it’s all promotional material anyways…if you can rhyme on someone else’s hit instrumental for a free mixtape, signed or unsigned, you can do an original joint and throw it out there…just be wise and stay away from major investments for that new beat that is pretty citation-ready). If you get a knock on your door, then don’t act surprised and, by all means, act accordingly (probably with a good entertainment lawyer)…just know that the best thing to come out of the Internet’s assassination of the old world major label record industry is that it’s (we have) created MANY more alternative avenues to take in regard to releasing your music. Selling it is perhaps THE slowest way to put shit out and achieving any type of buzz at this point. Word to being boundless. Anyway, what rapper/recording artist ever got rich from JUST record sales (and not shows at Madison Square, Yankee Stadium and endorsement deals with non-musical entities – for example)?
My stereo was never one to pump much tunes from the south aside from the necessary ‘Face, UGK, early CMB (side note – BG!), and MJG & 8Ball, but every once in a while an artist from the bottom of the map will catch my attention. I gotta say I’ve been caught zoning on Curren$y … my bad Walker, you attempted to put the kid on. Ski Beatz & The Senseis laced most of the production with jazzy, soulful, wholesome plates for the emcee to go in on. Check the proof. Curren$y “Highed Up” An appearance from Raekwon doesn’t hurt either. Do yourself a solid and give this record a spin. Fuckin’ Wikipedia…oh well. Folks, earlier it was stated that the cinematic slang vets from the X, Camp Lo, were appointed to appear on Curren$y’s Pilot Talk II. Well, the finished product revealed a different outcome in regard to two of the three big name cameos to make the joint…Raekwon, thankfully, was present…but no Camp Lo (nor Badu). Now, that doesn’t take away from Spitta’s full length though…pick that up NOW, you’ll thank me yesterday…just would loved to have heard that collaboration happen, especially in line with the zone the rest of the album boasts. It would have been especially fresh since (history lesson ahead) Ski was Camp Lo’s original go-to-guy for the beats (perhaps he always has been)…and now he handles most of Curren$y’s production (with the live musicianship of The Sensei’s). Ah, I’m sure it’ll happen one day (if it hasn’t already)…and if/when it does, you’ll get it here with the quickness. For now, enjoy the above-posted Camp Lo & Ski track you may have not yet heard…off of Ski’s 24 Hour Karate School. I hear this and can’t help but think that NYC needs to learn a little from our Japanese friends in regard to accepting a little challenge in their rap music. These dudes have like 3 more albums overseas than out here…the fuck is that?! I’ll stop before conspiracy mode kicks in. |
Gorgeous Children - S/T (PTP001)
Geng-Grizzly - Screwing Yourself To Live (PTPXSB001) |
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