Video: Glassjaw Acoustic Live at the Apple Store (2003)

had the urge to hear this again... i was revamping my calendar project and was fiending for a listen!

Dilla Month: "Time: Donut of the Heart"

Three years after the death of legendary producer... blah blah blah.

He's great, I just don't think I really need to write an intro. You should already know... apparently Shepard Fairey does too.

Anyway, I didn't think I'd write a post on this subject, 'cause there are so many other posts and parties going on honoring his memory this month, but I found these two videos today on this post that relate to my favorite beat off Donuts: "Time: Donut of the Heart"



If you've been lucky enough to have gotten a mix CD from me in the past 3 years this song was probrably on it. Today while poking around on Pitchfork, and reading about the new Dilla compilation coming out, I found this blog. It's 'Dilla' month and since there were 31 tracks on Donuts, every day a few bloggers break down each song SUPER nerd steez in: what it means to them, the history of the track, the sample, etc.

Here's what I found out:

1. I never knew where the break for this song came from.



Jackson Five - "All I Do is Think of You"

2. I never knew this song was about sex... I mean I guess I could see it now with all the moan-y vocal samples, but I just thought it was a great touch and a great way to pull the song together.

3. I never noticed how often he switches up the tempo in the song. Well I mean of course I did, but I never knew it was such a 'revolutionary' thing to do in a song.

4. I never thought a Korean indie band would cover this song!?! Brilliant!



Bulssazo - "Time: Donut of the Heart"

They also do a shoegaze cover/remix of Common - "The Light" (produced by J.Dilla). Peep the myspace.

RIP to James Yancey.

Video - Bootsy Colllins Bass Solo

Random find today, but one of the G.O.A.T. bass players ripping it up. In my opinion, he's no doubt one of the godfathers of funk. Bootsy was a key player when collaborating with James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic during the funk explosion.

Murs EPK

Murs EPK from AlwaysHustle.com on Vimeo.

My favorite living rapper from LA.

A few discrepancies tho: they said this is an EPK (electronic press kit) but it's not really promoting a new album. All the tracks are off "Murray's Revenge", which came out over 2 years ago.

Seriously, what's up with all the major labels? Why sign the hottest underground guys and keep them on the shelf. When am I ever gonna hear Saigon's "The Greatest Story Never Told"? Seems like a better idea to keep things indie these days... unless you got a few bangin' ringtones on your album.

But I think Murs really did earn his stripes as the hardest working rapper in the game - for one reason: there's never been a touring underground hip hop festival until Paid Dues came along. If and when his album does drop I really hope it doesn't sound like this.

Lil Wayne - "I Feel Like Dying"

This has been my favorite song for the past two weeks. I thought I'd share it because it took me completely off guard and makes me like Wayne even more. For a more commercial southern rapper, this song is incredibly poetic while being very dark and deep. It's obviously about drugs ... but when did (black) rappers get so emotional about them?!?! I didn't know Wayne spit about this type of 'white-boy' stuff. In terms of subject matter, it reminds me of something I'd hear on a Cage, Necro or even Eminem track... very impressive!


Been bumping the Carter III a lot too... best track by far is "Mr. Carter" ft. Jay-Z, although the one about sleeping with female police officers is classic too.

Until hearing the Drought 3, I was honestly never a fan. I tried listening to The Carter 1 & 2, and I'm still not feeling those Manny Fresh/southern styled midi keyboard synth beats.

I heard about this because apparently he's being sued by the singer of the band Karma for not clearing the sample. Which is pretty stupid because this is a mixtape track and was never officially released. The controversy is that he still preforms it live. More on that here.

The original break: Karma - "Once"