Review: Kanye West, "808s and Heartbreak"

Taking a page from Roger Troutman (R.I.P.), Teddy Riley and Snoop, Kanye "Ye" West's newest album, "808s and Heartbreak" recalls the pinnacle of 80s and 90s R&B, utilizing the titular 808 drum sounds that was perfected by the likes of Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Al B. Sure. That being said, this is probably the worst Kanye West record of all time.

I'm not sure how he went from being an underground sensation, producing for the likes of the Molemen to putting out a shit taco of an album. Now to be fair, the songs aren't terrible, but I think they would be better suited for dudes like Ne-Yo or Chris Brown, you know, guys who can actually sing.

West's voice is masked by autotune and a fucking vocoder so much that he totally sounds like a robot. I asked for an album, not "Wall-E," dude. Given the nature of the album and West's tepid attempt to be a hip-hop/R&B star (like R. Kelly), this album pretty much sucks. I don't give a shit what Pitchfork, EW or Newsweek or whoever says. From a hip-hop fan's perspective, this is on some "Blood Money" level of terrible. A turd with a bow tied around it is still a turd, guys.

SoulSchool Remixes

This morning I was listening to one of the most underrated winter albums (more on this later), The Beatnuts' "Stone Crazy," when I was compelled to find the video for "Do You Believe," when I came up something labelled as a "SoulSchool Remix." Like most videos and random remixes you find on YouTube and MySpace, I didn't expect much, but the remix was actually pretty awesome. I listened to more of these remixes and I was pretty impressed. In the last few years, my favorite hip-hop producers have been these bedroom DJs who've recalled the halcyon days of people chopping up their own beats on shitty Tascam and Fostex 4-tracks and not overhyped names that shall currently remain nameless. Anyway, here are my favorite of the SoulSchool remixes.

Nas feat. Q-Tip, "One Love"


Big L, "Put it On"


Alicia Keys, "You Don't Know My Name"


Masta Ace, Buckshot and Special Ed, "Crooklyn Dodgers"


Beatnuts, "Do You Believe"


related links:
SoulSchool Myspace

FLAVALICIOUS 95!! (I mean, 2008!)

NEW MIXTAPe! y0! Download it!!!

1. Jackson 5, “It’s Great to Be Here”/Intro
2. Bad Boy All Stars, “All About the Benjamins”/Love Unlimited, “I Did it For Love”
3. Blackstreet, “No Diggity (Ryan Fresh remix)”
4. Vybe, “Warm Summer Daze”
5. Nas, “If I Ruled the World”
6. Pete Rock & CL Smooth, “I Got a Love”
7. Showbiz & AG, “Soul Clap”
8. Classic Example, “It’s Alright”
9. Mariah Carey & Ol Dirty Bastard, “Fantasy (Bad Boy Remix)”
10. Gangstar/Nice & Smooth, “DWYCK”
11. 7669, “Joy”
12. 702, “Where My Girls At?”/Outro

Summer Jams Video Series: Boogiemonsters, "Honeydips in Gotham (Remix)" and Masta Ace INC, "The INC Ride"

One of the best part about summer jams is that they're built to be anthems. Whether they're topically about ladies (or mens) and partying, they serve to bring together all types of different people to celebrate the human spirit.

Boogiemonsters' "Honeydips in Gotham" was their second single and was lost amidst a sea of other notable hip-hop groups who (though were regarded as flashes in the collective pan) released something of substance in 1995, which was perhaps the last great year for hip-hop.

Masta Ace's "The INC Ride" was also released in 1995 and freaks the same Isley Brothers sample as the Boogiemonsters song. Unlike the Boogiemonsters' jam, Masta Ace's entry into summer jam status is built on chillin' and driving around in your sick ride. In any event, it's still a great song to listen to while you have the AC blasting on your face.

Boogiemonsters, "Honeydips in Gotham"


Masta Ace Incorporated, "The INC Ride"


Bonus: The Isley Brothers, "For the Love of You"

Video #20: Tony Thompson, "I Wanna Love Like That"

So this morning, I was on the bus deciding what video I was going to post today. Eventually I settled on this track from former Hi-Five lead singer, Tony Thompson. As I was lurking around Youtube I noticed all these videos marked "Tony Thompson R.I.P" only to find out that home dude passed away earlier this year. This especially sucks because Thompson had reformed Hi-Five and was working on a new solo record. With that said....

Alicia Keys, "As I Am"

Alicia Keys
"As I Am"
(J)

There's a reason why Alicia Keys was able to edge her way into the number one position on Billboard. There's a reason why Alicia Keys is one of the most recognizable R&B personalities at the moment. "As I Am" is an exciting record and is probably the best R&B album out this year. Even better than that Chris Brown record.

Video #16: Ghost Town DJ's, "My Boo" + Blink 182, "Feeling This"

It's Friday and just because I can do it, I'm -- once again -- posting two sweet videos that are basically shout outs to TGIF.

Video #12: Shai, "Baby, I'm Yours"

you! go buy the superbad soundtrack!!!!

[buy the soundtrack or Jonah Hill f**k you the f**k up]

I don't do this too often, but I'm telling you to go out and buy the "Superbad" soundtrack. See here's the thing: most people who read this blog are probably into bands on Fueled by Ramen, Jade Tree or whatever the hot hip-hop label is nowadays (let's just say Rawkus). But if you grew up on shit like Parliment, Ohio Players, Isaac Hayes or the Dazz Band, do yourself a favor and buy the "Superbad" disc. Why you ask?

Well, as I began working on it, I realized that all the tracks on the original score are played by some pretty top notch dudes, though most of them would go unrecognizable because kids these days don't appreciate the funk [1]: Bernie Worrell, Catfish Collins, Luis Conte, and Bootsy Collins.

The songs themselves aren't half bad either. I'm actually surprised that Steven Soderbergh didn't try to get these players on the soundtracks for "Out of Sight" or the "Ocean's" flicks. But his loss, which will be yours too if you don't buy this disc and get your head straight [2].

[1] For whatever reason, kids don't give a shit about the historical and revolutionary sounds of the funk, which is a shame if you ask me. I mean, who do you think Dr. Dre, Dilla and a handful of other producers milked their style from? Also, just because you listen to Aiden or My Chemical Romance doesn't mean that you can't open up your mind and listen to some Stylistics or The Spinners. What the hell is wrong with you?

[2] That is, if you like the funk.

the non-review review of mark ronson's new ish

I feel that I tend to walk a really fine line between militant ethnic writer and dude-who-calls-people-out-on-their-BS. Obviously, I've made my distaste for a certain local (Un)American Idol pretty fuggin' public, at the same time, I went somewhat batshit crazy over Dawhud and Amy Winehouse's records. That said, I was reluctant to enjoy Mark Ronson's new album, "Version."

For those who don't know, Mark Ronson is a White, privileged, trust fund baby, through and through. This dude was a model (or something like that) who parlayed his family's musical connections (dude's stepfather is Mick Jones) into a somewhat respectable DJ career. Then he put out the fantastic banger "Here Comes the Fuzz," which had the best Wu-Tang records on it. Somehow, he started "producing" tracks for the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and using Sharon Jones' backing band, the Dap-Kings to bring their retro brand of Soul to these English broads jacking the same steez that Lauryn Hill jacked eight years ago.

I have every reason to hate "Version." It's much more derivative of that Pitchfork hipster pop shit that seems to be all the rage. The guests are a who's who of Lindsay Lohan playlist favorites: Maximo Park, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Kenna, Phantom Planet and Kasabian. There are some covers of The Smiths and Radiohead tunes that completely rework how they sound. All of this comes via Ronson's connections which were funded by his mommy and daddy's cash.

Despite all of this, I still dig this record. Maybe it's because I'm a little older, so hearing the same Beyonce song (or Rhianna), has sort of lost its luster, but I really can't hate on this album. It's catchy as all hell and the cover of Radiohead's "Just" is pretty good. I'm bummed that there's an exclusion of emcees on this (save for an Ol' Dirty vocal clip), but maybe Ronson will come around once Rhymefest bitch slaps him for hanging out with permanently drunk British broads.