The Once & Forever King

Hey, long time no blog. Sorry for the delay I've been a bit un-inspired as of late. I don't really like doing album reviews (I figure everyone likes or dislikes a record for various reasons my opinion shouldn't really mean a damn thing) so I wasn't gonna sit here and grade new ones from Drake, Travie McCoy, The Roots, Eminem, or Maroon 5's new single although if pressed...they're all dope. But with today June 25th being the one year anniversary of my idol's passing I all of a sudden felt the need, more importantly the want, to write something. I'm not gonna wax poetic about how great he was as a entertainer and performer, how his singing talent may be the most underrated of anyone in the modern times, or how he electrified audiences the world over (including yours truly, who's 1st concert EVER was MJ @ MSG in '89 - WHAT!) or even that I was moonwalking around family living rooms since I was 9. I figure the man had a nearly 50 year career if you don't have your own favorite "Michael Moment" then you're either A) void of all joy in your life. B) have VERY specific and absurd tastes in music. Or C) you're exactly 1 years old.

In any case I decided I was gonna throw out a Top 10 list, Letterman style as to what exactly made Michael Jackson the "King Of Pop" (and all that "self-proclaimed" stuff is bullshit, cuz everyone proclaimed that). Hopefully you all enjoy, and I know I ask for feedback from time to time, but I'd def love for you guys to throw in anyones you think I forgot (or you wanted to share anyway).

Top 10 Reason Michael Jackson was, is and always will be KING:

10) He created nothing, and innovated everything. While we all know Michael as an incredible dancer, he didn't actually invent any of his signature moves; not "The Robot", or the glides or even "The Moonwalk". But what he did do was execute these moves in a way untouchable by anyone else, to the point that their actually creators gave up ownership to MJ (this is a theme that will come up again).

9) The Jackson 4 - yea exactly! Would they be nearly as memorable if Jermaine and Tito were singing lead? I think not.

8) Motown 25. No one before or since has polarized a moment or performance the way he did that night. And certainly no one has solidify their "I HAVE ARRIVED, DAMMIT!" moment any better.

7) "He made Thriller" (Dave Chappelle voice)

6) I'm pretty sure he did more for motorcycle jackets (fashion wise) than even the Hell's Angels could do. Think about it, how many jackets were bought after "Thriller", "Beat It", "Bad"...

5) HE SHUT DOWN SMOKEY ROBINSON!!! It's a little known story, but the great singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson (of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles fame) originally wrote the song "Who's Loving You" for himself (and his group). Berry Gordy had them record it w/o Smokey's knowledge as just a demo track except...well...young Michael sang the shit out of it. Berry brought in Smokey to hear the demo (not knowing Smokey was planning to record the song himself) and after hearing the track, well we all know who ended up w/ the song. As I said in point 10, Michael innovated everything into his own, to the point where you had no choice but to call it his).

4) Usher, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Ginuwine, Lenny Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Missy Elliot, Mike Posner, Musiq, Pharell/N.E.R.D., Jay-Z, Omarion, Robin Thicke, Slash, Fall Out Boy (I could keep going but I think you get the point)

3) HE MADE THRILLER!!! (my voice) Not talkin about the song, not the music video. I'm talkin about THE WHOLE DAMN ALBUM! 9 tracks, 9 hits, 9 classics. That kinda thing is unheard of, especially in today's world of one download wonders. AN ENTIRE ALBUM?...WITH ALL HIT RECORDS?...WHAT?!?!?!

2) The one thing I can say Michael w/o question truly created was the "music movie". As MTV came to be and this new media force gained strength MJ without question took that bull by the horns, refusing to not out-do himself from "video" to "video". From the futuristic laser lights of "Rock With You", to the space show that was "Scream" and everything in between, Michael didn't release singles or music videos, he created new "EVENTS" the that held the world hostage. Then there's always "Thriller" to this day (where George Lucas and James Cameron have taken computer effects to a world that "Tron" couldn't have even computed) that mini-movie remains the greatest video of ALL-TIME (no bullshit it came on as I was typing this post and literally I completely shut down all focus, b/c of the two and a half minute dance break, Jason Derulo ain't doin that shit)

1) 4 DECADES OF GREATNESS! Not many artists in any art form can take credit in shaping and molding the youth of the World over across 4 decades. From the time he was a child dancing around with his brothers until the day he died prepping one of the biggest live concerts this world would ever know, Michael Jackson held us all by our ears and eyes. Regardless of what you thought of him on a personal note, no one could doubt his talents (as proven by the fact that after he died literally everyone that tagged him as some sort of oddball monster, immediately jumped on the we miss our genius bandwagon). MJ's legacy spans all the way to my grandmother (lookin' good in her 80's) to my mother/father, aunt's and uncles and probably biggest through me. We all have our own favorite Michael moments, from he and his brothers on The Ed Sullivan Show, to him unveiling the robot on The Jackson's performance of "Dancing Machine" on Soul Train in the 70's. From kids standing in front of TV sets like Catholics for mass from the Pope in the Vatican for the premiere of the "Thriller" video, to kids (me) gliding and moonwalking all over Bar/Bat Mitzvah whenever the DJ played "Billie Jean". From the Maculey Caulkin jokes after the brilliance of the "Black or White" video to the pop/punk covers of "Smooth Criminal" and "Beat It" by Alien Antfarm and Fallout Boy respectively. No one can question the impact Michael had no just on pop music, but pop culture. We all, artists and fans, owe him for the gifts of art he gave us during his time on this Earth. And I for one, am eternally grateful. Long Live The King!!!

Peace Up, Peace Out!

This May Cost Me All My Gay Friends (but it must be said)

Lady Gaga is not original or a trendsetter! There I said it.

"Call me a hater if you want, but mashing together 5-6 images that were controversial and original when they were first done 15 years ago, does not make you controversial or original now. Sorry!"

I tweeted this (@KAGe5242) and put this up as my FB status after I saw Lady Gaga's video for "Alejandro" for the first time this past weekend. As I say in the title of this, it may cost me every gay friend I have (and a few of my straight ones too, you know who you are I won't shout you out) but Lady Gaga isn't a trendsetter, at least not for this video. OK, maybe that's a little harsh, I should say that she's really just a trend re-setter. The video for "Alejandro" is nothing more than a regurgitation of images we've seen from the true pioneers of female pop over the last 15-20 years. I know I may sound like some crotchety old man in saying this (which is really fucked up since I'm only 2 years older than Gaga) but I can literally match Gaga's latest shot for shot with previous videos from the likes of Janet Jackson and Madonna (especially Madonna). Hell, even the song itself sounds like a lazy attempt to re-vamp Madge's "La Isla Bonita".

The video wouldn't have even bothered me that much if not for all the critical acclaim she's been gathering for it being so provocative and innovative. I've had friends tell me that they've never seen anything like it before, such jaw dropping imagery, then I show them 5 of the videos for songs that were on Madonna's "Immaculate Collection" and suddenly "Alejandro" just seems like "Alex". Some friends and critics alike have even tried to down play the similarities between this video and those prior by saying she's just paying homage and updating the looks created by the past pop divas. I can certainly understand that. Hell even Christina Aguilera's new video looks like a softcore Skinimax at 3 AM version of Madonna's "Human Nature" video, but the difference is neither the critics nor Christina are trying to claim this as groundbreaking art. And as for the notion that Gaga is updating and upgrading her predecessors, sorry to tell you but changing a cone bra to a couple of assault riffles isn't really evolution.

Look I like Gaga. I believe she's incredibly necessary for pop music especially female pop music. I find her refreshing and her style while completely random and at times fucking nuts, one thing it is not is boring, that is until now. Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" falls short plain and simple, and she's only got herself to blame (yep can't even blame the label for this one, they wanted to release "Dance in the Dark" as the single). She's continued to top her own antics from award show, to live performance, to music video. But as even Madonna and Janet found out eventually the re-invention machine eventually taps out and you're forced to resort to old tricks (and in this case their someone else's old tricks). Unfortunately for Gaga it happened before she even got to her official second album. I don't doubt that Stephanie will make a glorious come back with her sophomore release and completely mind fuck us all by coming out with an image and style more wholesome and "Girl Next Door" than Jessica Simpson's during her debut release (and really, isn't that the only way she'd be able to shock anyone at this point). But as for "Alejandro" being an innovative piece of art, I'm gonna have to disagree and call it a sad attempt at a sequel of a once great movie franchise (think Rocky V).

Peace Up, Peace Out

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VH1 Hip Hop Honors: Dirty South (a retro diary)

For the past week I've been working on a post that should be quite a doozy, but it isn't quite ready yet (mainly b/c I'm trying to keep it from being a damn novel, y'all gotta be sick of that by now), in any case between birthday shots (last Friday was the big 2-6) and PS3 I came up with a great idea to take its place in the mean time, a live retro diary. Ok, it's not actually my idea, it's more of an idea I'm stealing from one of my fav. sports writers, "The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100519&sportCat=nba) but since this is about a music show and not a basketball game, I'm considering it an original idea. Since I couldn't watch the show and use this thing to give an immediate play by play of the night's festivities, I decided to take notes as I watched the 9pm - 11pm telecast, to post as one long running tagent to go along with the show moment for moment. In other words, it's a running commentary on this years attempt by VH1 to honor hip-hop's often neglected litter brother, the Dirty South. So without further delay, lets get this thang crackin, SHAWTAY!

9:00pm - As much as I love the idea, there are already some major flaws w/ VH1's Hip Hop Honors: Dirty South. 1) Should've probably taken place in ATL (it's in LA). 2) Love Craig Robinson, but a Southern comedian probably should've hosted (he's from The Southside of Chicago though so that I guess should make him a worthy host?)
*SIDENOTE: Do we really need to recognize Luke AND 2 Live Crew? I mean that's like honoring Teddy Riley AND Guy AND Blackstreet.

9:05 - Luke's running through his "pussy poppin' classics". Late 80's scrippas must be havin flash backs.

9:15 - The opening roster says they're honoring Rap-A-Lot Records outta Houston, but no Scarface?

9:20 - Totally forgot Juvenille started out on Rap-A-Lot not Cash Money.

9:21 - Irony levels at an all time high, having the hot new rapper from Toronto, Canada (Drizzy Drake) covering Pimp C's rhymes during Hip-Hop Honors for the SOUTH!

9:23 - Well thank God for these sponsors. I was a little worried this was gonna be paid for by KFC, Jared the Jeweleria and some random auto body shop. Luckily it's mainly just Taco Bell - apparently when VH1 says Dirty South they're not bullshittin'.

9:26 - Jonah Hill introduces Jermaine Dupri; reppin' for all the Bar & Bat Mitzvahs that have blasted "Welcome To Atlanta" over the last 8 years.

9:28 - JD really hasn't aged since he put out Another Bad Creation...DAMN!

9:29 - In his pre-taped interview JD just said he was "better than Def Jam"...yea, OK...Well if Dem Franchise Boys "In My White Tee" was his first signing that really made him feel like it was what the South should sound like? Then what in the blue hell took so long for you to put them out?

9:30 - DFB bouncing around the catwalk of the stage right on top of each other. JD should really tell'em they're not still doin club shows in the A.

9:32 - JD spittin "Money Ain't A Thing" (again Hov is a no show to the event, keepin the streak alive at FOREVER!). That album was trash, but that song is a lifetime classic.

9:34 - Bow Wow performing "Jump" w/ JD. Somehow they're both the exact size of Kriss Kross when that song came out.

9:36 - I know majority of the audience knows Bow Wow better, but wouldn't having Kriss Kross perform "Jump" be even bigger for nostalgia sake?

9:36 - And this is why I love Diddy. Even @ the Hip-Hop Honors: Dirty South he still figures out a way to get himself involved. Can't Stop, Won't Stop!

9:39 - Commercial for Bow Wow's upcoming movie "Lottery Ticket". Looked so good, I'm now actively anticipating his next album.

9:40 - Craig Robinson just cracked a joke on some 3rd runner-up in a Ciara look alike contest & she has NO IDEA.

9:41 - Master P's son Romeo (formerly of Lil fame) just came out to intro the No Limit General. Looks like he's been using the USC gym to get his swole on. Damn shame he didn't work on his jump shot, otherwise he might've been able to stay on the team.

9:43 - "You can't trust a theif, but you can trust a hustler" - Master P. Things that make you go "uuuuuuuuuuhhhh" (na-na na-na)

9:45 - DAMN, TARIJI P. HENSON IS FINE AS HELL!!! (she's presenting)

9:45 - Damn they brought out all the No Limit Soldiers, they even got Mystikal outta jail.

9:47 - Silk the Shocker is killing it on stage & not in a good way. Kinda wish they had Apollo's Sandman appearing.

9:48 - Silk & Trina got a combined 2 minutes on stage so that Gucci Mane could do a song NO ONE in the audience knew. (hilariously sad)

9:50 - MYSTIKAL IS STILL A BEAST!!! Who knew he would've been the saving grace for the Master P set. Someone get that man in a studio, we need a "Shake Yo Ass (part 2)" for the Summer ASAP.

9:52 - While we can all crack jokes about Master P now, no one can front on how dope No Limit was during their run (not even this music snob). Someone get me a tank chain!

9:54 - Craig Robinson just called Brady & Ray-J a "mega-talented duo". More like talent and a half.

9:55 - T.I.'s yellin & reppin' the A like he's about to go do a bid, not like he just came home from one. Damn how do they not have him performing?

9:56 - ATL representers: Gucci Mane, Bone Krusher (yea, I know, pick your jaw up & get that look off your face. I can't explain why they have him performing wither T.I. actually there for you, sorry), Yin Yang Twins (maybe one of the most underrated rap acts from ATL...ok, maybe not underrated, but they can damn sure get you party hype). ATL's line-up tonight should've been Outkast, T.I. and Ludacris - kinda failed there VH1.

10pm - Nelson George is a genius in hip-hop and urban culture, go look him up. He discussed the history of the soul of hip-hop in Atlanta, far more eloquently than any ATL rapper could.

10:02 - Dirty South slang really will confuse the "Wakka Flakka outta you".

10:04 - Timbaland up next. Probably the most deserved of tonight's honorees. Tim said he's too big to be boxed into pop and/or hip-hop genres - CHURCH!

10:05 - Something tells me the Timbaland set is gonna be a bit of a letdown. No fault of his or VH1 but he's got way too many songs, with way too many stars & they just keep showing Missy perform.

10:09 - Behind the Music: Eve, commercial just aired - little premature, wouldn't you say?

10:10 - Bun B doin his part in "Big Pimpin" - still dope.

10:12 - Fab's turn - meh

10:12 - Freestyle Steve on "The Way I Are" - he's not even on the actual song.

10:13 - Keri Hilson singin the hook, pitchy as hell and w/ a bad mic. Luckily she's way too fine for me to care.

10:15 - Turns out Missy's section actually saved the set. "Get Your Freak On" followed by "Work It"? Damn, my seated dancing got me sweating like I was grinding at a basement party.

10:16 - Seriously, enough is enough. Can someone please force Missy & Tim back into a studio together? Hip-hop desperately needs that dynamic duo back and puttin out that fire. Trey Songz is doin what he can to bring VA back post C. Breezy but IDK if he's gonna be enough.

10:21 - Sorry folks, always believed it & it's still true, Kelly looks finer than Beyonce (Kelly's currently on stage along side David Banner - who's crazy enough to think Mississippi still has a chance to make noise in hip-hop)

10:21 - Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire (well at least we know he's still alive) perform to rep Texas. Granted they should've have Bun B. & Scarface come out but all in al TX did their thing. I can't believe it but somehow, Houston put together a better/stronger/smarter line-up than ATL for Hip Hop Honors: DIRTY SOUTH!!! Seriously, who was in charge of the ATL booking?

10:29 - Donald Glover intro'ing 2 Live Crew. Funny dude, dope MC - go look him up: Childish Gambino/MC dj (www.donaldglover.com)

10:30 - I stand corrected on my previous statement, 2 Live Crew may be one of the most necessary & influential acts EVER in hip-hop. Theier fight for free speech in music allows for your favorite artist to do what they do.

10:33 - Not to mention they're the reason I was able to feel up on a girl's booty for the 1st time in the 6th Grade. "WHO DAT, WHO DAT HOOCHIE MAMA?!"

10:35 - 20 years later 2 Live Crew gets rewarded for cussin' & songs about "coochie poppin" while Tipper Gore's marriage crumbles amid rumors of a sex scandal. See what happens when you act like the moral majority, children? God bless America & God bless Hip-Hop.

10:39 - Oh...that's right Craig Robinson's the host, hadn't seen him in like...the whole damn show. Totally forgot, my bad.

10:40 - Damn, either Chilli is REALLY tiny or Lil Wayne's baby is gonna be the size of LeBron, cause Lauren London is stacked (both on stage introducing the next pre-taped interview with Atlanta's Organized Noise).

10:42 - Organized Noise/Dungeon Family is a beast. Outkast, Goodie Mobb, TLC, Cee-Lo, Ludacris - DAMN!!!

10:44 - OH SHIT NELLY LIVES!!! Him & Murphy Lee (dressed like Big Boi circa '98) did Outkast decent justice.

10:45 - Watchin' "POW" makes me really sad Goodie Mobb can't squash their beef.

10:47 - Asher Roth just ran on stage to perform Luda's "Saturday". The entire audience responded by looking around as if they were wondering why the security wasn't running to get the "drunk white kid" off the stage.

10:50 - Watching the Organized Noise set (aka a glorified Outkast concert) again makes me wonder who was in charge of booking the Atlanta acts & how quickly after the 1st rehearsal were they fired.

10:53 - "What ever happens in Miami, never happened" - Craig Robinson finally says something both funny and clever. Not to mention true, I've got a few friends (and their wallets) that wish this were the case.

10:53 - Apparently Trina's really tryin to give up her scrippa past for this new glammed up Diva of hip-hop look - good luck.

10:55 - Once again ATL is gettin' out-rep'd at a celebration for the DIRTY SOUTH (WTF?). Miami brings out Trina, Flo Rida (ok not a top choice but his singles are def more current & popular than any of the ATL's folks), Rick Ross & Mr. "We Da Best" to shut down the show.

10:56 - Damn, DJ Khaled is even out out "hype mannin'" Lil Jon, what is this world coming to.

10:58 - And just for good measure MIA brings out Pitbull to make sure even the light-skinned "I got Puerto Rican in my family" girls were shakin their ass.

11PM - Craig Robinson screams some sort of good night to the crowd to finish off his grueling night of "hosting".

Well thats that, the 6th installment of VH1's Hip Hop Honors has come and gone. And once again, this year's was a bigger disappointment than the year before. It's not for lack of effort but by not having a large number of the acts your honoring actually appearing I'd say it's pretty damn hard for anyone to take it completely serious. It's great in theory but I think it's a little bass ackwards. Maybe Viacom shouldn't host a hip-hop ceremony on their network that didn't start airing videos by black artists until like 8 years ago (just a thought for starters). In any case, it's like what a High School teacher might tell her student; "good effort, nice idea, but you just didn't fully think through the idea." So for next year, I'd suggest this, let the biggest hip-hop radio DJ's produce the show. Thats right Big Boy, Angie Martinez, Funk Master Flex, Ed Lover and whoever blasts the lastest Wakka Flakka Flame in Atlanta and Ace Hood in Miami should have full say over the event from beginning to end. And maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to actually watch the artists record the songs you're honoring actually perform the songs they're being honored for. Again, just an idea, I'm just spitballing. See you next year!

Peace Up, Peace Out

Love of the Leak

It's damn near Summer, and as we all know "It's the most wonderful time, of the year" (at least for music any way). All the hot summer anthems flood the radio...er, MySpace pages. Your artist's new videos are put in heavy rotation on the music video channels (actually I mean the YouTubes, Hulus, Vevos and artist's websites). And all the albums we've been waiting for all winter finally hit the record stores...or really are put up on iTunes for fans to cherry pick through. Ok yes, the way we enjoy our summer music has changed (no I'm not bitter, ok maybe just a little) but nevertheless it's still a great time to be a music fan.

But my favorite change in the way we get our heads up on music is the "unofficial leak". You know, when a song comes out either online or some late night radio show, and the artist comes out publicly to say that they didn't ok it's release but other then the initial statement they never REALLY try to find out how it got out (assuming it actually is wel received, if it tanks then they're ready to sue every 16 year old with a computer and internet access). In any case we've already seen some great leaks and early releases alone this week, here are some of my favorites:

Drake released his newest "single" of the often delayed "Thank Me Later" (this title is getting more and more brilliant, cuz with all the delays and release push backs we might not be thanking him sooner than 2011 - thank you I'll be here all week). In any case "Light Up" feature's Jay-Z and has the latest and greatest in hip-hop going back and forth, Drake talking about the trials of his "come up" and Jay tryin to let him know what's yet to come. In any case it appears that Hov's appearance forces Drizzy to step his game up unlike any other Drake lyrical co-star has yet to do. If this is what "Thank Me Later" is really going to sound like Drake really might have some "Thank You's" coming sooner (at least from me anyway).

The self-proclaimed master of "uncorny pop", Mike Posner, has finally released his first official single on J Records. The man who once had his following fiening for the perfect "Drug Dealer Girl" recently released his single and video for "Cooler Than Me" for his debut. This electric dance anthem doesn't stray too far from this mix tape hits that made him a well known name amongst college kids over the last couple years. With features with the likes of Kid Cudi, Big Sean and Wale already in his back pocket, Poser's debut might be dope enough to make me if not forget, at least overlook the face that he went to Duke, and if that happens, shit...look out JT, you might wanna get back in the studio real quick.

Lastly, we've got "Mr. I Don't Mean To Interupt" that's right - Kanye West. His new release "Power" is speculated to be the first single from his highly anticipated 4th album in the College Dropout started series "Good Ass Job". "Power" sounds just like a pre-crazy (actually still crazy just not "drunk as hell on MTV" crazy) record full of heavy drums intertwined with smooth soulful samples. In any case, Mr. West shows how you SHOULD come back after a major social fuck up (Chris Brown we're ALL looking at you). Take a few months off, stay as far away from the spotlight, and when the world has damn near forgotten your name drop something so undeniably hot that the only negative the public remembers you doing is dating Amber Rose (seriously 'Ye, her fades damn near better than yours). In any case, had other "urban pop stars" followed this rule maybe him singing the national anthem at a boxing match wouldn't further make him and his career a laughing stock.

Long story short, I know there are tons of other leaks and debut's that have come out recently the likes of Vampire Weekend, Curren$y, Big Sean, Ne-Yo and even The Roots have tipped their hands with regards to their new music. But if this is what we've got coming to us, then regardless of how you choose to pick up your tunes, bogus leaks, legal downloads or even (gasp) archaic physical album puchases (I know crazy that someone would actually leave their computer for their music) - then this is gonna be one hell of a summer.

Peace Up, Peace Out.

Golden Gods: The Higher Concept (THC)

As I said in my last post, I'm happy to see and more importantly hear, that the glitz and glamour of hip-hop is starting to give way to not just a general consciousness but a return to lyrical content taking the pole position over just a "hot beat". Just as I said artists like B.o.B., Kid Cudi, Travie McCoy and Lupe Fiasco are working on taking over the charts, the alternative hip-hop soldiers are still carrying the banner strongly below the radar of mainstream radio and video.

In this post I want to introduce you to Staten Island's own The Higher Concept. Now I know what some of you may be thinking "Wait, three white guys from New York, making conscious rap. Wow, thats great cause we didn't have enough Beastie Boy try-to-be's already" to which I say "that's just racist sir/ma'am, and you should be ashamed of yourself". Tekst (stop stumbling over the "kst" it sounds like TEXT), Matty J & IB Profyn immediately put a stop to what ever Eminem "white rapper" joke you might want to make, though there are certainly some similarities between the group and the Grammy award winner. Like the 8 Mile MC, they carry the same word play capability and intelligent lyrical design, but maybe more importantly than that, their content carries the purity, honesty and weight that would assumed to be reserved for the likes hip-hop Mt. Rushmore nominees of De La Soul, KRS-One or A Tribe Called Quest.

The flows of the 3 MC's vary as greatly as their looks, creating this call and response between their verses, the likes of which I haven't heard since Jurassic 5; and this is just part of what makes them and their music so distinct. Through a mutual friend I had the pleasure to watch these boys perform live as they opened for another friend's band and damn near broke my ankles jumping on the THC bandwagon. Their energy and enthusiasm to perform is immediately felt by their crowd which of course just gets them even more amp'd. It's like their use their audience as their own personal hype men (and women, to be fair). The Higher Concept looks to show the world at large that the Wu Tang Clan isn't the only contribution Staten Island has to make to the history of hip-hop, and with them having opened for acts like Kid Cudi and Grammy nominated hip-hop duo LMFAO it won't be much longer till they succeed. If this is where my favorite genre of music is working toward, then the title of their recently released newest album couldn't be any truer, "Life's Good".

Peace Up, Peace Out

The Higher Concept:
Tekst
Matty J
IB Profyn
website: www.thehigherconcept.com

Death From Below: The Rise & Conquer of Alternative Hip-Hop

As defined by Allmusic.com, Alternative Hip-Hop is, "Hip-Hop groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta, bass, hardcore, and party rap. Instead, they blur genres - drawing equally from funk and rock, as well as jazz, soul, reggae, and even folk". Ain't that quaint? I'm not writing this to give some long lecture about the history of underground hip-hop (not this time anyway) but just to point out a trend I've happily noticed and quite enjoy. I think it's official, alternative hip-hop has officially taken over hardcore/gangsta rap as the culture's sound of choice; and IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

Look, I'm 5'8, skinny and grew up in the suburbs of Bergen County, New Jersey. While I may have worn sagging baggy jeans, Tim's, oversized jerseys and (to this day still) rock ALL my hats with a slight lean, there hasn't been a hardcore or gangsta bone in my body. I'm a smooth brotha, a bit of an artistic nerd so to speak, but still a proud member of the Hip-Hop Culture. For far too long has my love for 50's blues, 60's soul, & 70's classic rock, 80's hair metal and pop, and 90's alt. rock been viewed as laughable and corny in comparison to just listening to the mainstream hip-hop of the past two decades. I mean is it wrong to to know all the words to "Juicy" and "Elanor Rigby"? Can I not get looked at like I suffer from multiple personality disorder when my iPod shuffles from DMX to DMB? That's all I'm lookin' for.

I'm not saying that "self-snitching" (yep, that's what I call drug/gangsta rap now - think about it) doesn't still sell in the hundreds of thousands (rarely does anything sell in the millions anymore, thanks Steve Jobs!). We still have guys like Jeezy and the Bawss Ricky Rawss, but the number of outlandish iced out chains (for those out of the loop "iced out" = lots of diamonds, welcome to the loop), and jeans 8 sizes too big are slowly giving way more and more to fitted jeans and brightly colored shirts, jackets and sneakers made by designers from Japan we won't hear about for another 5 years. But more importantly than alternative hip-hop taking over the look of the mainstream, it's taking over the sound as well.

Artists like N.E.R.D, Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B. and Kanye fuse elements of funk, jazz, rock and classic soul into their music, picking up the torch and moving forward from where their predecessors such as De La Soul, The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest had been walled in by major record labels and mainstream media. Breaking through the ceiling that once held their brand of the culture in the bassmeant {see what I did there ;)} with music critics, college kids and hip-hop's hippies. These new princes & princesses of rhyme are going far beyond using the standard issue kick and bass beats as the canvases for their musical masterpieces. Artists like The Knux fusing alternative metal or Wale blending in DC go-go music to create their signature sound show that hip-hop isn't meant to all sound like it came from one or two places. Even Dem Franchise Boys do their part (however small it may be) by bringing the ATL snap sound into the forefront.

But it's not just the new young pups that are running in this pack of progression. Alternative Hip-Hop O.G.'s (Out-Of-Loopers, Original Gangsters. Yes I know this may sound hypocritical in language but just go with it) are looking to re-make their mark in the movement. Common (formerly Common Sense) was just another struggling rapper from Chicago trying to show that lyricism and social conscience had a valid place in the "Straight Outta Compton" hip-hop America. Now he's got multi-platinum albums to his credit and stars in really bad romantic comedies with other hip-hop legends. The Roots, a guaranteed head on the Alt. Hip-Hop Mt. Rushmore, have gone from stringing moderately successful mainstream singles from album to album to now being the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (don't count the host against'em, it's a hell of a gig). Hell even the "King of New York" Jay-Z keeps himself rel event by making himself more alternative. He creates a hip-hop concept album (American Gangster) a feat never thought possible in hip-hop, on last years "Blueprint 3" he stepped out of the conventional comfort zone to work with artists/producers like MGMT and Mr. Hudson, and in regards to his next release he's already come out and said:
"... it's not gonna be a #1 album. That's where I'm at right now. I wanna make the most experimental album I ever made."
We've even gotten our alternative little fingers in other genres with acts like LMFAO taking over electronica/dance with their Grammy nominated album "Party Rock" and of course the progressive culturally influenced hip-pop record from M.I.A. that gave us the hit "Paper Planes"

Just as the party rap of the genre's inception gave way to rhymes with a message by the likes Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five or Public Enemy, which gave way to gangsta rap of Tupac, the Circle Of Rhyme continues to spin. We have now reached a time where hip-hop is this new fresh blending of styles and sounds breaking away completely from what was; into what can be. So my non-gangsta brothers and sisters let us pick up our arms, or better yet Ghetto Blaster. Feel free to enjoy your Eminem and your Elvis Costello in peace and harmony. No longer shall we be nervous to create a party mix with Huey Lewis & The News, Grizzly Bear, and Method Man. Go forth and wear tight jeans (just not hipster tight, that shit still ain't cool), high top sneakers with color combinations that no one ever thought possible, hell even go get a high top fade with a couple parts in the side, apparently even those are coming back. OutKast's "Speakerboxx/The Love Below" being the best selling rap album EVER (11+ million copies) and Kanye's "Graduation" first week ass whoopin' of 50 Cent's "Curtis" have made one thing clear, OUR TIME HAS COME!!!


Peace Up, Peace Out

The Yin & Yang of Auto-Pop

Last week I was listening to "Freeze" by T-Pain, mid-way through the song I realized I was singing the lyrics to Ke$ha's "Tik Tok". Now you may be saying to yourself right now "Ken, how'd you know the words to 'Tik Tok' without having the actual song on as a guideline?" - to which I respond, fuck you. Don't judge me, that song is catchy as hell.

It wasn't so much that the two songs were able to match up, we've all done that from time to time. Tempo, rhythm patterns, chord structures; music is practically a set of finite math equations (just go with it), it's inevitable that patterns would match, and songs would synch up regardless. But the more and more I tried this between Ke$ha and T-Pain songs the easier and easier it got. It was with this that I realized something, T-Pain and Ke$ha...ARE THE SAME DAMN PERSON (duhn, duhn, duhn).

Ok obviously I don't mean that literally, she being a blonde white girl from Nashville/L.A.; him a "Nappy Boy" from Jacksonville, FL. But musically, they're total friggin' dopplegangers. The facts are staring us listeners face to (obnoxious sterosunglasses wearing, lazy semi-coked up "looking" eyes, glitter soaked) face. Both artists, for however popular their music may be, produce catchy yet forgetable pop songs. Yes I know that sounds like I'm being a walking - er, blogging contradiction but forgetable in this instance means longevity (I mean when was the last time you were out and heard "I'm In Love With A Stripper"). Both "singers" are a poor man's (with access to an expensive Pro Tools program) version of artists that paved the way (for whatever its worth) within 12-18 months of their own release.

For the self-proclaimed "Rappa Ternt Sanga" (yep, that was the name of T-Pain's debut album, SMDH), it was Akon who released his "Trouble" debut 18 months prior, introducing the R&B/Pop/Hip-Hop loving masses to auto-tune being more than a toy to clean up pitchy vocals, but as a full on artist creator. The "Bartending Stripper" lover, Pain, decided he'd step his game up a notch and with a few clicks of the mouse turned himself into this generation'a Zapp & Roger. (I hesitate to put that reference in there afraid that not many of you have any idea who in the blue hell that is. Normally I'd make some dickish music elitist comment, but since this blog is still pretty fresh and I could really use the support, I'll just say go wikipedia them). As for Ke$ha I think its pretty obvious that she's doing everything in her power to hold on tightly to the Gaga coat tails of pop friendly diva in training with a hint of crazy and a twinge of sexy, in a 3 AM you've been casually eye fucking one another off and on for over an hour, and while you're pretty sure you'll walk away from the experience with more than just a story to tell, you just gotta see if she's as big a freak as she looks, kinda way - she's hitting stronger on the bat-shit crazy scale than pop royalty in the making one. But again "Tik Tok" is REALLY FUCKING CATCHY.

In the end, the biggest reason these two fit side by side in the pop music universe is because they had the foresight to take what was meant to be a simple production tool and turn it into a gimic the likes of which we haven't seen since Kriss Kross and backwards pants. They've turned their vocals into a additional piece of the songs production helping to make it function even better as a singular entity. We forget about the lyrics ("...just zip your lip like a pad lock" again, SMDH), refuse to let our heads break down and over analyze and allow our hearts, feet and asses simply enjoy it for what it is.

Now as far as I can tell, the only place these two Hip-Pop&B powerhouses differ is in their staying power. While no one will ever confuse T-Pain for Stevie Wonder, the man has taken his auto-tuney goodness through hell fire and back, even surviving a movement against Robo-Hip-Hop led by President Carter himself, and continues to make radio friendly club bangers and guest spots on everyone's album that wants a little extra Johnny 5 alive on their hook (again, go wiki that shit, then go watch it, cuz its a classic - "Los Locos kick your ass, Los Locos kick your face, Los Locos kick your balls into OUT-TER-SPAAACE!!!) Sorry for the tangent, but um...back to the lecture at hand...Ke$ha has yet to prove that she can even stick around to see the Sophomore demise most artists in her position come across. But I can tell you this much, I know I'll probably be mixing up her lyrics with another T-Pain song should that second album ever see the light of day, cause damn that shits catchy as hell!

Peace Up, Peace Out