Outerlimitz – Suicide Prevention (2005)

August 18, 2012
*Galapagos4 Records, Golda Supernova, He.llsent, Kendall Johnson-Smith, Qwazaar, Uncategorized, Zoser, ^Silence
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You know that blurry line in time when it is unclear whether it is really late or really early? I think this ambiguous moment bestows upon you special powers to seamlessly jump into other dimensions and this album is offering up the kind of dimension worth exploring. All I know is that I want to be exploring any astral plane that includes lyrics like, “I’ll turn my soul inside itself then around again then around again.” A dude named Silence lays the beats, or should I say paints the beats across the soundscape of your mind. Qwazaar (Typical Cats) harbors a forceful yet comforting rhyme scheme while He.llsent lends a cool, calm and collected cadence to the mix. The tone of this album would have you believe that something sinister is about to happen but the lyrics actually vear more towards spiritual enlightenment. Of course some shit talking tracks are sprinkled throughout but what good hip hop album goes without some justified shit-talking? Very few. So put some headphone on, bump these beats and get on their level.

*Couldn’t find a d/l link for this one. Maybe one day I will actually learn how to upload my own albums and then I can be worried about the government hating on me…sounds like a good time.

Production: Silence

Features: Golda Supernova, Kendall Johnson-Smith, Zoser

Label: Galapagos4 Records

“Nightmare”

‘On The Inside Out’

‘

People Under The Stairs – The Next Step (1998)

February 28, 2012
*PUTS Records, Assault, Double K, Naimid, People Under The Stairs, Shine 5, Smile-Oak, Thes One
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Can I please die and be reincarnated as a PUTS beat so I can bump infinitely and forever exist as pure dopeness?  I automatically like people better when I find out they are into underground/independent hip hop.  I’m like yesssss you GET it!  I don’t have to sit here and try to explain in words (impossible) why this genre of music is a fast track to my soul.  I went on a date recently and he was playing some People Under The Stairs and I was fucking smitten from this fact alone.  It’s weird to consider the fact that ‘underground’ hip hop has been around long enough at this point that there are veterans of this genre.  And you better be putting PUTS on that list or else your list is automatically kinda subpar.  Thes One supplies the redonk ill beats and both Thes One and Double K lend their rhyming skills to this magical music.  They talk about this little thing that we are all doing called life.  Thes One is mother effing beastly when it comes to sampling.  I have a feeling if I was ever lucky enough to see his record collection jaws would be dropping and drool would be happening. I’m not exaggerating when I say that all their albums are stoopid good but I chose this one because it was the one that started it all.  And thank the hip hop gods that it ever started in the first place.

Production:  Thes One

Features:  Assault, , Naimid, Shine 5, Smille-Oak

Label: PUTS Records

People Under the Stairs – ‘San Francisco Knights’

People Under the Stairs – ‘Wannabes’

Project: Mooncircle – The Moon Comes Closer (2010)

January 17, 2012
*Project: Mooncircle, John Robinson, ^Abnormal, ^Andy Kayes, ^Brazzaville, ^Capella, ^Comfort Fit, ^Daisuke Tanabe, ^Dela, ^Dexter, ^Gards From Kc, ^Graciela Maria, ^Himuro Yoshiteru, ^I.D. 4 Windz, ^Jinna Morocha, ^Juj, ^Kan Sano, ^Killing Skills, ^Lambent, ^Long Arm, ^Myown, ^Nienvox, ^Pavel Dovgal, ^Portformat, ^Puzzle, ^Robert Koch, ^Skyence, ^Sotu the Traveller, ^V. Raeter
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The dualism displayed on this album is impressive.  It has the ability to root you firmly into the present moment while simultaneously taking your soul on a journey through the ether.  This one is solely an instrumental album with beats that melodically curve and wind and intertwine themselves into your psyche.  Interestingly, the inspiration behind this album came from a little girl from Moscow who wanted to go to the moon.  The good people at Project: Mooncircle took on the challenge and made her dream come true.  Not necessarily in a realistic sense but definitely in the fantasy world of music.  For me the experience of this album is reminiscent of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.  It starts off kind of scary, you get hella lost, you feel far away, you meet some dope characters, you get kinda lonely, you learn some lessons and you overcome some things.  Then when all is said and done you return home, safe and sound, and definitely a better person than when you first set out on your journey.  If you have ever listened to a Project: Mooncircle release before then you are well aware of their inclinations towards artistry and genre expansion.  This is an offering that highlights many producers on the PM roster.  Do your self a favor and dose up on some inspired hip hop beats.  You will be a better person for it and become an honorary astronaut.

Production:   Abnormal, Andy Kayes, Brazzaville, Capella, Comfort Fit, Daisuke Tanabe, Dela, Dexter, Gards From Kc, Graciela Maria, Himuro Yoshiteru, I.D. 4 Windz, Jinna Morocha, John Robinson, Juj, Kan Sano, Killing Skills, Lambent, Long Arm, Myown, Nienvox, Pavel Dovgal, Portformat, Puzzle, Robert Koch vs fLako, Sense, Skyence, Sotu the Traveller, V. Raeter

Label: Project: Mooncircle

Skyence – ‘Definition’

Dexter – ‘Telescope’

Shad – The Old Prince (2007)

January 13, 2012
*Black Box Recordings, B & F Kabango, Kamanu, Relic The Oddity, Shad, ^Amiracle, ^Beatdock Saints, ^D. Jung, ^Ed, ^Jewbei, ^M. Johnston, ^Mad Scientist, ^Mantis, ^Ric Notes, ^S. Kabango, ^Slakah The Beatchild, ^Stringz
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*Insert cliché joke about Canada* Okay now that we have that over with we can move on to enjoying the immense talent that is pouring out of a dude named Shad.  Homeboy is so dynamic and shows strength in many arena’s from intellect to humor to introspection to lifestyle commentary.  This album encompasses real life so well.  Our experience here on planet Earth is not just one tone.  It’s sad, it’s happy, it’s exciting, it’s loving, it’s mad, it’s crazy, it’s an infinite amount of things.  Enter ‘The Old Prince’.  This album hits so many different notes, no pun intended.  But really it has a track that can entrain with any mood.  And if the entertainment value weren’t enough then he comes through with his genuine respect for females, family and humanity.  Stand up guy with a stand up offering.

Production: Amiracle, Beatdock Saints, D. Jung, Ed, Jewbei, M. Johnston, Mad Scientist, Mantis, Relic The Oddity, Ric Notes, S. Kabango, Slakah The Beatchild, Shad – ‘Now A Daze’

Shad – ‘Brother (Watching) feat. B & F Kabango’

Funkdoobiest – Brothas Doobie (1995)

January 7, 2012
*Epic Records, Brett Bouldin, Sebastian Rousett, Son Doobie, Tomahawk Funk, ^DJ Lethal, ^DJ Muggs, ^DJ Ralph M, ^Ray Roll
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Pot head, coke head, crack head, hip hop head.  What do all these things have in common?  All out addiction to their drug of choice.  And when it comes to us hip hop heads our highs are provided by boom baps and 16 bars.  Golden era hip hop is like our version of sour diesel, pure Colombian cocaina, freshly cooked crack rocks.  Much like any addict will tell you, the feeling achieved from indulging in our addiction is one that cannot adequately be described using mere words.  It is truly something one has to experience for themselves.  If you are interested in exploring the world of a full body hip hop high I would recommend trying out some Funkdoobiest.  These guys are a prime example of that dank golden era rap that we all crave.  This offering is a lil XXX-rated though so the sexually shy need not apply.  But if you happen to find yourself elated, entertained, captivated and left jonesing for more, then congratulations, you are officially on your way to being a hip hop head.  ”Hi, my name is Jen and I’m an addict.”

Production:  DJ Lethal, DJ Muggs, DJ Ralph M., Ray Roll

Features:  Brett Bouldin, Sebastian Rousett

Label:  Epic Records

Funkdoobiest – ‘Rock On’

Funkdoobiest – ‘Lost In Thought”

Cadalack Ron – Last Known Photograph of Robert Paulson (2009)

November 17, 2011
*Dead Guy Records, Cadalack Ron, Copywrite, Don Chalant, Existereo, Mack of Track, Mestizo, Mista Melo, Serp Dot, Sp Noza, Woozy Medwick, ^Animoss, ^Briefcase, ^Dday One, ^Panarama, ^TNS
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People often joke about the fact that drug users make the best music.  I won’t say that this is a steadfast rule but when I think of my favorite artists there is a heavy undertone of drug use ( ie. Led Zeppelin, Atmosphere, Nirvana, Eligh, Grateful Dead, Del The Funky Homosapien etc.)  There are a million viable reasons as to why this might be true, or more likely it is just a coincidence that we like to pretend has some sort of valid cause and effect relationship.  All I know is that Cadalack Ron falls into this imaginary category of dope drug influenced artists.  When I first heard him rap I was pleasantly surprised as to how intelligent and insightful his lyrics are.  If you have ever seen him before his image doesn’t exactly scream “deep thinker” but hey I guess that is yet another lesson in not judging a person by their physical appearance.  He is definitely doing his part to keep the L.A. underground movement relevant.  BTW I am not advocating drug use, I myself am straight edge in terms of drugs, alcohol, caffeine and diet.  I do however support the right for people to choose to live their life they want to live it.  If that includes drugs more power to them, if not then that is just as well.

Production:   Animoss, Briefcase, Dday One, Mack Of Track, Mista Melo, Panarama, Serp Dot, TNS

Features:  Copywrite, Don Chalant, Existereo, Mack of Track, Mestizo, Mista Melo, Serp Dot, Sp Noza, Woozy Medwick

Label:  Dead Guy Records

Cadalack Ron – ‘ Think Back’

Cadalack Ron – ‘ Gentrification’

Bronze Nazareth – The Great Migration (2006)

November 16, 2011
*Babygrande Records, 12 O'Clock, Bronze Nazareth, Byata, Kevlaar 7, Killa Sin, Phillie, Prodigal Sunn, Sean Price, Timbo King, Wu-tang Clan, ^Dreddy Kruger
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One of my biggest pet peeves is when a track starts and the beat is so fuckin nice and then the emcee starts flowin and just straight up butchers the whole vibe.  In the world of hip hop there are more dope beats than there are dope rappers to do them justice.  The reason I bring this up here is because Wu-Tang and all their affiliates, such as Bronze Nazareth, do not ruin good beats, they enhances them with their smooth deliveries, imaginative story telling abilities and over all raw energy.  Good albums have tracks that are cohesive, ones where the beat and the emcee entrain and become one and the same.  Another thing that is nice about artists who both rap and produce is that they understand all sides of the track.  When someone produces a beat they have a certain vision in mind for that sound and when an emcee hears that beat they have a whole different vision entirely.  When the producer and emcee are one in the same then that vision stays synonymous.  The only one criticism I have of this album is that Bronze sounds so much smarter than all of his features haha.  I guess that was all a really deep and analytical way of saying that this album bumps.  Point blank.

Production:  Bronze Nazareth, Dreddy Kruger

Features:  12 O’Clock, Byata, Kevlaar 7, Killa Sin, Phillie, Prodigal Sunn, Sean Price, Timbo King

Label: Babygrande Records

Bronze Nazareth – ‘ The Pain’

Bronze Nazareth – ‘ Hear What I Say!’

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