Not all hip hop this year was about the joys of smoking weed or stealing the names of infamous drug dealers. When it comes to hip hop, one of the best gifts you could get is a real Quality concept album. And this year we were lucky; two of hip hop's most talented groups released concept albums, and good ones at that.
The Roots - Undun
In one of the year's most anticipated albums, The Roots give us the tale of a life told backwards. From death to birth, we get to hear some really beautiful hip hop, and not less than four bitter sweet classical instrumental pieces, showing off a more mature Roots than ever. And it doesn't only show in the way they utilize their music to convey emotions or situations, it's in the words of Black Thought too.
"It's only human to express the way you really feel/but that same humanity is my Achille's heel", he raps. In it's core Undun is a very human album, mixing life's highs and lows as seen by ourselves in the middle of it. Sometimes triumphing, sometimes mourning, the group find themselves bragging about greatness and acknowledging their flaws all in the same song. They have made a very good job of showing off life in it's ever changing form, and still keeping it all assembled into an album. This is what makes Undun what might be their best album up 'til now. Sure, it doesn't have the same amount of singles as How I Got Over, which had more songs able to stand out all by themselves. But Undun is so much more of an album. It thrives when listened to in it's entirety, and it's a great listen.
The Roots are at their absolute best on tracks Sleep and Make My. Make My feels like a confession, freeing both the listener and the rapper through regretful musings about life in the face of death. Sleep feels so authentic it's frightening, a haunting reminder of the relationship between sleep and death. All together, the tracks form into one of the most listenable albums of the year.
Notable tracks:
The Roots ft. Big K.R.I.T. - Make My
The Roots ft Aaron Livingston - Sleep
And while we're on the subject of sleep, let's present another one of the best hip hop albums of 2011:
Cunninlynguists - Oneirology
Cunninlynguists have returned to what they do best, concept albums, and it's as good as ever. Last time the group played around with a consistent theme, one of my all time favorite albums saw the light of day (can anybody say A Piece of Strange?).This time around the theme is told by the name of the album, Oneirology (the scientific study of dreams). The album is a dark journey through the innermost parts of our minds, with dreamlike, fragile melodies and poetic raps.
Of course Cunninlynguists couldn't keep themselves from throwing in some critical material against society. And they're doing it in very interesting ways. Hard As They Come sounds like typical hip hop braggadocio at first listen, but a closer look at the lyrics unveils Deacon The Villain, Natti, and Freddie Gibbs portraying the three really most dangerous and harmful characters of society: alcohol, cocaine, and AIDS. There's also the smart Murder, contemplating what would make people accept and approve of killing. This through taking the voices of nationalism, murdering in the way of war, and of course religion, and 'holier' ways of killing.
Although the lyrics are on point, Kno is the one stealing the show with the detailed production. Through his beats he is perfectly embodying the complex dreamstates, especially on tracks such as Embers. And with this, they brought some well needed Quality to thirsting hip hop fans.
Let's not talk about what kept me away, let's talk about what brought me back. Blitz The Ambassador decided to release the first single off his next LP, and keeping good music to myself would be selfish. Mixing hip hop and afrobeat, Blitz explores the roots of himself and the music he loves. With the help of Les Nubians he's made a colorful track with his trademark powerful flow that will make you feel the rhythm down your spine. And this is just the beginning. The upcoming LP will be something big.
Blitz The Ambassador ft Les Nubians - Dear Africa
New album Native Sun will drop on May 3. While waiting, you can download this single here for free.
In this age of information, we're used to know almost everything about the artists we listen to. Thanks to twitter, paparazzi and the thought that the more we get the more we'll want, we now get to know what Diddy's drinking (Ciroc) and why Kanye never turns the caps lock off (he's too lazy). There are G.O.O.D. Fridays and Monster Mondays when artists drop a new song once a week.
Jay Electronica doesn't do that.
If Jay is feeling generous, he'll give us one new song, and then disappear again for months. You won't see him twitter about what he ate for breakfast anytime soon. This may drive us thirsting fans crazy during the long dry periods of no music, but when he actually drops something, we forget about those long months in a heartbeat. His absence leaves us wanting. And now, Jay has finally given us another hint that he's alive, and that debut album Act II is real, and on its way. This he does without letting us hear even one verse of his. Cold blooded.
Instead, Jay shows us some behind the scenes-work with LaTonya Givens. The two of them have collaborated earlier on Guru tribute Jazzmatazz, and her voice matches the often darker tones of Jays tracks perfectly. I believe that for every rapper there is a singer that fits just right musically, and for Jay Electronica this seems to be LaTonya Givens. Beautiful.
Mr J Medeiros is back, and he's back with a really powerful song. We haven't heard much from him in a year, but now his next album, Saudade, is finally on the way. Medeiros is starting it off with the single Nothing Without Providence, standing out with his special voice and powerful lyrics.
Now, he was good before, but judging from this song he's grown even more during this last year. It sounds as if he's coming more into himself, and it's usually at that point in an artists career that they drop some really good stuff. Knowing who you are and where you're going is important, not only for an artist. Mr J Medeiros knows this: 'and if I don't know who I am, I could fall for anything'. The production is made by The Stare, and equally amazing as the rest of the song.
Release date of next album Saudade is TBA, but shouldn't be too far away. You can buy the single on bandcamp while waiting.
Good music will alway be good music, but it's not without a little pain in the chest that I notice how this blog is in great lack of new hip hop lately. Now I love funk and blues just as much as the next man, but hip hop do got a special place in my heart. However, there's been a drought in that category lately. Let's make up for it with some new ATL flavor, and let Spree Wilson love you better. Then watch me revive the hip hop section on here in the next few days.
Spree Wilson - Love You Better
Next project from Spree, The Never Ending Now, is on its way.
Remember that guy who made the De La Vega song a while ago? He's back already, and he got another great song with him. As the title tells, this is more of a song for getting ready for a night out, and a refreshing alternative to those tired ol' black eyed peas songs. I love it when an artist can make a song like this without compromising on the quality. That talk about good 'underground' emcees not making partysongs is old now.
Smoothness. Songs named after some kind of liquor tend to be a lil more ignorant than i bargained for, but I'll let this one slide. Ab-Soul and Kendrick Lamar are way too good on this one. Their flows blend nicely into the warm and hypnotizing beat, making this a perfect song for those chilled out weekends. And accordingly to the song, preferably with a bottle of Moscato.
I think most of us are pretty tired of walking into a restaurant to hear the radio blast the same five pop songs over and over again. What if they would play the kind of music we liked instead? Imagine going to your favorite restaurant, and instead of hearing Rihanna forgetting her name, we could listen to Dilla and Pete Rock. Thai restaurant Kafe Yen (located in San Diego) apparently had the same thoughts going through their head, because now they got their own mix, made by DJ Icewater.
The mixtape includes chilled out tracks by Dilla, Nujabes, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Madlib and others, making this mixtape fit in just as good in your home, as in a restaurant.
The Bangkok Street Mix - DJ Icewater
Restaurant Kafe Yen can be found at 4516 Mission Blvd San Diego, CA. Make sure to visit whenever you are nearby.
