It’s funny how some of these shows come together.
I didn’t set out to do an all hip hop show for this week’s edition of solipsistic NATION. I just picked songs I’ve been grooving to. As I started flowing the songs together for the mix I realized that they were all hip hop tunes.
What’s remarkable about that is that I’m not a fan of most hip hop that comes out these days. I’m one of those people who thinks that some of the best hip hop came out of the 80′s and early 90′s. Oh, sure, there has been some great hip hop since then but I really feel that rap was hamstrung when it became next to impossible to secure the rights for sampling or the bits that come from the deejay. Laying down the most rudimentary beats backed by a cheap keyboard rarely makes for a good song. I miss the sonic brilliance that came from Hank Shocklee and Pete Rock. I celebrate turntablists like Mix Master Mike and DJ Q-bert who defied the restrictions layed down by entertainment lawyers so they could create the best music possible. And yet here I am putting out an all hip hop show. I guess it’s time for me to set my prejudices about my feelings about today’s hip hop aside.
Photo Credit: © Guilhem Reinaud
- DJ Jay C 3 “Hey Mr. DJ”
- DJ Uff Da & DJ Jay C 3 “I’m In Control”
- Malente “Open Secret (Radio Edit)”
- Four Tet “A Joy (Percee P Version)”
- Craig De Maio “The Circus Tent Experiment”
- Zion I & The Grouch “Trigger”
- Roscoe “Mr. Peanut Vender”
- Stereotyp “Big Flows”
- Hi-Tek “March”
- The Visionaries “Talkin’ HandJive (Ft. Shorkut)”
- Acid Reign “Word Em Up”
- Jern Eye “Power Animal”
- Chief Kamachi “Jim Kelly”
- Motion Man “Professional Experts (Ft. Kool Keith & KutMasta Kurt)”
- Edan “Beautiful Food”
- Society of Invisibles “Down”
- Agallah “The Don Bishop” “Ride Out (O.G.G.G.) (Featuring The Alchemist)”
- Mikial “I’m Honest”
- Hairdoo “Freedom”