A week after his collaboration with Rakim hit the streets, Marco Polo returns with a smooth Al B. Sure flip featuring Big Daddy Kane entitled “Nite and Day.” Polo’s upcoming free project Newport Authority 2 will showcase a bunch of tracks with legendary emcees that couldn’t be cleared due to samples. Shout out to Al B. Sure on this one for the sample and the scratches from Shylow.
Port Authority 2 will drop this spring on Soulspazm Records.
Bravo, Ms. Keys. To celebrate her birthday, Alicia Keys went back to the early 90s when house music reigned to get lyrical and production inspiration from Crystal Waters and Cajmere. As someone who grew up in New Jersey where house music had a heavy influence, this was a real treat.
“I’ve been so overwhelmed by all of your birthday love that I HAD to do something extra special for you! Love to you!!! Big shout to Crystal Waters for your inspiration!… New Music!! B.N.M Part 2!!!!” – Alicia
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A simple (and familiar) melody proves the backdrop while Raekwon’s narrative does the rest. I can’t help but wonder how this would’ve sounded chopped and/or sped up, but I’ll assume that was tried and the final product was from the “Why mess with perfection?” line of thinking. Be on the lookout New Year’s Day for Rae’s announcement on his next album.
RAEKWON “NEITHER OF US”
When LL Cool J dropped “Ratchet” a few weeks ago, the track was deservedly panned by critics and fans alike. One of my colleagues went as far as to claim LL was completely washed up. Well, LL heard the naysayers and has returned with a much better effort in “Take It.” LL’s career found new life in the mid 90s when he hooked up with the Trackmasters for the multi-platinum Mr. Smith album. For 2012, the production looks back to 1980 for a beautiful, majestic ballad off The Jones Girls’ 1980 At Peace With Woman.
The Trackmasters can’t claim credit for touching it first (I believe that credit goes to Royal Flush’s 1997 “What A Shame”), but they flip it for a butter-smooth template that serves perfect for LL’s vintage serenades to the ladies. Hold off on those calls for LL to stick to acting. The Jones Girls got LL sounding young again.
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LL COOL J FT. JOE “TAKE IT”
Do we have a potential “Soundtrack of the Year” on our hands? The second track off RZA’s Man With the Iron Fists continues the gritty, vintage Wu feel of the first while bringing together more emcees. The initial slowed down sample will be familiar to beat junkies as Southside Movement’s ” I’ve Been Watching You.“ Credit due to Frank Dukes and S-1 for their work on this one.
G.Huff and Vice Souletric’s first salvo from their upcoming Are We There Yet? EP tackles the serious issue of domestic violence. The track is rooted in a real-life narrative, as explained by G.Huff.
“Tears In A Bucket” is a song that is based loosely on an event that took place not too long ago involving an acquaintance of mine. Domestic violence is a subject most artists shy away from, but I felt we could bring light to this issue in a dope way, without being preachy, and still making good music. I hand-picked male vocalist, JTronius, and female R&B singer, Alison Carney to add authentic emotion to the track. The sample Vice chose for this beat provided the perfect backdrop for the story I told. I think this song will hit home with both men and women.”
Said sample is none other than Regina Belle’s classic “Baby Come to Me,” and vocalist Alison Carney’s singing makes this track an even marriage of Hip-Hop and R&B. Are We There Yet? is set for a July 3 release.
G.HUFF X VICE SOULETRIC X JTRONIUS X ALISON CARNEY “TEARS IN A BUCKET”
In his latest “Doggisode” music video, Snoop Dogg pays homage to the old school by interpolating Suzanne Vega’s classic “Tom’s Diner.” Since it’s a pool party, close-up shots of the bikini-clad, beautiful women of Brazil abound for the entire four minutes.
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If you are a fan of hard funk, you adore Yvonne Fair. Starting her career in the 60s as a member of the Chantels and later with the James Brown Revue, Fair’s big break would come in 1969 when she signed with Motown. She recorded a duet with Marvin Gaye and dropped a string of funk singles in 1974 (“Love Ain’t No Toy,” “Walk Out the Door If You Wanna,” and “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On”). This lead to her 1975 debut The Bitch Is Black, which hit big in the UK with the Top 5 single “It Should Have Been Me.” It would unfortunately be her only Motown LP.
The Bitch Is Black would re-emerge amongst a new generation in late 90s on Jay-Z’s In My Lifetime Vol. 1 courtesy of Diddy’s in-house producers The Hitmen. Listening to the album track “Let Your Hair Down,” an early pause in Fair’s lyrics leaves a brief few seconds of music that are melodic and slightly ominous. Those few, seemingly inconsequential notes would transform into one of the best tracks off Vol. 1.
Jay-Z is rightly doing a lot of self-reflection and forward-thinking with the birth of his daughter Blue Ivy, but it’s always good to remember where he’s from.
YVONNE FAIR “LET YOUR HAIR DOWN” (SAMPLE AT :55 MARK)
JAY-Z “WHERE I’M FROM”
“You gon’ learn today…”
DJ Omega and Ty Kidd are blessing crate diggers early this year with a 49-song collection of samples from Wale’s career. Instead of testing your knowledge, these guys make things easier by blending the original with Wale’s rendition. From Phil Collins and Aretha Franklin to Angela Bofill and Kut Klose, this tape is a great offering of decades worth of music history. Check the few samples beflow before downloading.
THE MOMENTS X WALE “GIRLS/BACK YARD BAND/PRETTY GIRLS”
ANGELA BOFILL X WALE ”TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
PAUL MCCARTNEY X WALE X MMG ”JET/SELF-MADE”
Camp Lo’s remarkable debut, Uptown Saturday Night, ranks as one of the best produced Hip-Hop albums of all time. Much of producer Ski Beatz’s brilliance comes from his selection of soul, jazz and funk samples. One standout example comes from A Little Spice, the hit debut from UK soul trio Loose Ends.
Formed in 1981, the group would find their first success in 1985 with their #1 Billboard R&B single “Hangin’ On a String (Contemplating).” The success caused their label Virgin to repackage their debut, which was released in the UK in 1984, to include “Hangin’ On a String” for a U.S. run. The title track, “A Little Spice,” with its mix of Caribbean grooves and smooth jazz arrangements, would catch the ear of Ski Beatz and become the basis for Camp Lo’s lively house party jam “Rockin’ It.”
Loose Ends would have a successful throughout the 80s, releasing four more albums and charting with the singles “Slow Down” and “Watching You.” After disbanding in 1990, the group reunited to contribute to the 1998 Pete Rock single “Take Your Time.”
LOOSE ENDS “A LITTLE SPICE”
CAMP LO “ROCKIN’ IT AKA SPANISH HARLEM”
