"and at the end of it all, its you"

In case you forgot, The Renaissance was possibly the best rap album of last year. Here's a couple reminders to check it out if you haven't yet, plus some extra random tracks.

Q-Tip - Official [zshare]

Q-Tip - You [zshare]

Both these songs are great, as expected Q-Tip holds it down lyrically but where this album really stands out is the production. Every beat on this album is absolutely incredible, and there's really no better music to just throw on and relax, or to put on the iPod when you're walking around on these sunny spring days.

Q-Tip - Gettin' Up Megamix [zshare]

A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario (original demo unreleased) [zshare]

A couple bonus tracks, a very dope remix of Gettin' Up and a true gem in the original demo of ATCQ's hit Scenario, not great sound quality but the pure joy of listening to the rough draft of a hip-hop classic like this should be enough for you.

QuESt - Sky Might Fall remix ft. Nero [zshare]

As I've pointed out before, QuESt is dope, and Nero is pretty solid too. This definitely gives the leaked CuDi version a run for its money.

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - And they thought that was hell [zshare]

From Del's recently released album Funk Man available for free on the internets, this song is definitely nice.

Aceyalone - Mr. Outsider [zshare]

Aceyalone - Anywhere You Go [zshare]

Aceyalone - Deep and Wide [zshare]

Three great songs from Aceyalone's classic album All Balls Don't Bounce, probably one of my top 5 hip-hop albums ever. I remember playing NFL 2K5 with my friend Jim back in 2004/2005 and they had "Deep and Wide" on their jukebox thing, and you could customize soundtracks so we made a soundtrack that was just "Deep and Wide" and it would repeat for hours while we played.

Mr. Lif - Pull Out Your Cut [zshare]

RJD2 - Clean Living [zshare]

These two songs were the only others on the NFL 2K5 soundtrack that got any play. 2K5 has a special spot in my heart as not only the greatest football video game ever, but also for having the best game soundtrack ever, and introducing me to some classic underground hip-hop, thank you 2K Sports. Sadly, it was so good that Madden had to buy exclusive rights to the NFL and video game football has sucked ever since. It actually took me a long time to eventually hunt down all three of those songs from the game, so I hope you appreciate what I'm doing for you.

The New Lyricists (Unofficial Mixtape)

I've been sitting on this idea for a while, but I needed enough songs to make it worthwhile. Needless to say, I've got the tracks I needed and here it is: a little compilation I threw together of tracks from Wale, Skyzoo and Young Chris. These dudes absolutely rip every track, check it out.

I'm way too lazy to photoshop any "art" for this mixtape, and I honestly couldn't care less.

Tracklist:

1. Skyzoo - Lyrically Inclined ft. Wale
2. Wale - The Cyphr ft. Young Chris, Freeway & Beanie Sigel
3. Young Chris - Searchin' ft. Wale
4. Wale - 5 Minutes ft. Skyzoo
5. Skyzoo - Do Remember ft. Young Chris
6. Young Chris - Large ft. Wale
7. Skyzoo - Freshfest ft. Wale
8. Wale - Whole Time ft. Young Chris
9. Wale - Nightlife ft. Young Chris & Tre of UCB
10. Wale - No Better Love (Live) ft. Young Chris
11. Young Chris - Searching Remix ft. Wale, Bun-B & QuESt
12. Wale - The Hacksaw Jim Duggan ft. Skyzoo
13. Wale - The Cyphr (Live) ft. Freeway & Young Chris

Download untagged version: The New Lyricists unofficial mixtape
Download it tagged as an album: The New Lyricists unofficial mixtape

"back in my go mode, back in the go-go"

I'll be honest, there's nothing really inspiring this post linking these songs together other than the fact that I just want to post them (and the Wale concert last night). In that respect, I'm gonna give you a couple go-go songs, but other than that this is all random.

Jimi Hendrix - Midnight [zshare]

I don't really think I need to explain a Jimi Hendrix song, but nevertheless I'll say that this song is an incredible showcase of his skill.

Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled Banner live @ Woodstock [zshare]
Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower [zshare]

If you know anything about Hendrix and Vietnam and Woodstock and Bob Dylan, these songs not only are brilliant but show the incredible social power of music and the incredible talent of Jimi to cover a Dylan song (Watchtower) and make it more popular than the original. I forget who it was but some famous artist said after Jimi performed at Woodstock he didn't want to touch a guitar for a year. That's ballin.

Go-Go time:

The Northeast Groovers - Aquaboogie (by Parliament Funk) Live [zshare]

Not *quite* a cover in the strictest sense of the word, but I guess it's an interpolation? Anyways, from a live performance in 1993, this is pretty cool if you like drums. What more can I say? Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop.

The Northeast Groovers - Represent (by A Tribe Called Quest) Live [zshare]
The Northeast Groovers - Sadie (by the Spinners) Live [zshare]

A couple more live performances from that 1993 show, covering one of my favorite Tribe songs and a great classic by the Spinners you may recognize as the sample for 2pac's "Dear Mama"

The Northeast Groovers - You Got me (by the Roots) Live [zshare]

As far as I can tell, Go-Go bands don't have songs unless they're doing covers, so here's another go-go version of a great song. Right now I actually don't know if this is really a cover or if they're just playing but I'm calling it that because I've got nothing else to call it.

[/Go-Go]

Diz Gibran - Truly Yours ft. BJ the Chicago Kid [zshare]

I don't know if I've posted this before, but I'm posting it anyway because he just released a new free mixtape, Soon You'll Understand, available on the internets via google search.

Kanye West - Amazing (live on VH1 Storytellers) [zshare]
Kanye West - See You In My Nightmares (Live on VH1 Storytellers) [zshare]

The whole VH1 performance by Kanye was amazing, if you're down with 808's and Heartbreak, and these two performances are definitely better than the album versions. I've cut off most of the talking/interlude parts, leaving just the music.

KiD CuDi - Sky Might Fall [zshare]
KiD CuDi - Look Up in Da Stars ft. Wale [zshare]

A couple recent tracks by Dat Kid from Cleveland, both are pretty good, I'm glad he didn't actually retire.

QuESt - Bigger Than World remix [zshare]

Why not, I like this song. QuESt is pretty dope, keep an eye out for him.

Wale - The Feature Heavy Song ft Bun B & Pusha T [zshare]

In honor of the Wale show last night, I bring you the final piece in this posting puzzle, also known as "Back in the Go-Go," this song is from Wale's Mixtape About Nothing, one of the best hip-hop releases of last year, without a doubt. Featuring two rap heavyweights in the legendary Underground King Bun-B and Pusha T representing the Clipse, how can you doubt this?

"I do it for the capital, Wale Ovechkin"

Teenage Wildlife

[Teenage Wildlife by Cecily Brown]

Doing things a little differently this time.
First: Posting. Now that's a new concept around here.
Second: Decided to do a theme post. The theme is Cecily Brown. And more specifically Teenage Wildlife.





Iron & Wine: The Sea and the Rhythm [zshare]

This was the first song that came to mind. Sad that I didn't discover it till late last year.
With lines like "Our hands they seek the end of afternoons" and "Your hands they move like waves over me. Beneath the moon, tonight, we're the sea" how can this song not be beautiful? S.Beam does a great job at keeping this song [about sex] intimate, romantic. I wish I was in my car in Chicago right now, driving home at 4a, blasting this song with the windows down.


Lauryn Hill: When It Hurts So Bad [zshare]

I've been listening to a lot of L.Hill lately. I love this song so much. Though it makes me so sad sometimes. "I loved real, real hard once." This definitely fits the Teenage Wildlife theme. Figuring out what love is and isn't... the hard way. Listen.


Air: Playground Love [zshare]

Taken from the Virgin Suicides soundtrack [Watch it!]. Obsession, passion, fear, confusion, playground love.


Amy Whinehouse: Love is a Losing Game (Original Demo) [zshare]

Okay. Okay. Yeah I know. Who likes Amy Whinehouse, right?
And yeah, her racist remarks? I know. Did you see/like Apocalypo? Watch Seinfeld? Inspired by Gandhi's teachings? blah blah et cetera. Getting off topic...
I've always glanced over A.Whinehouse. I didn't like Rehab or the other popular tunes she's managed to pump out. But scanning the interwebs I came across this song and it wasn't at all what I expected. The acoustic guitar makes her voice sound so sincere and callous. It's quite nice.


Jihae: Do I Move You? [zshare]

A beautiful trip hop cover of a great Nina Simone song. I was a little apprehensive about it until I heard the horns blend blending into the sensual feedback, ambiance, and drum machine within the first 20sec of the track. Probably a little too mature for teenage love but the passion is there. "When I touch you do you quiver?"


The Stylistics: Betcha By Golly, Wow [zshare]

No explanation needed. Can't you hear it in his voice? Come now.


Anthony Hamilton: Charlene [zshare]

"Come on home to me, Charlene."
Another heartbreaker. Usual ending to teenage romance.
And the last track to this post.
A.Hamilton's voice is so great. I just wish he made 'better' songs, chose better collaborations, and not be so predictable. Sorry for being so hard on ya, boy. I'm just saying is all.
Oh! Trust me. That is not the case with "Charlene."