yes it is quite lovely in my atmosphere...

This post is the *official* interstate 8 space/stars/sky/martians/future/robots post. I figure, if so many hip-hoppers are taking this "I'm from outer space" angle, I might as well do a little chronicle of the (unexplained) phenomena, word to Fox Mulder. Honestly, not all these tracks fit the theme exactly but they do all contain lines stating their not-from-earthiness.

Ced Hughes - Polite Rap Song

This is the source of the title quote, and is one of my favorite Ced Hughes songs, which is actually saying a lot considering What Up Tho?! is one of my favorite mixtapes. Anyways, despite the atmospheric lyric, I'm posting this song because it has what I refer to as the "moment." For any song to be good, or worth listening to over-and-over again, it has to have that moment that makes you really notice it. Sometimes, the moment doesn't actually happen, but the song teases you the whole time with brief glimpses and never actually hits it (example: Gnarls Barkley - Open Book). Anyways, for me the moment when the beat swings up and Ced jumps in for the third verse is the reason I keep listening to this song. Check it out.

David Bowie - Space Oddity

A classic space song detailing the happenings in the mind of Major Tom as he experiences outer space. Probably one of the earliest really popular space-y songs.

K-Os - Mirror In the Sky

From Atlantis: Hymns for Disco. I honestly can't say if this truly fits the space theme, but this song is awesome and the whole album is awesome, and his new album YES! is awesome, so buy it (like I did).

B.o.B. - Starship Strobelite

The adventures of Spaceman BoB as he searches for a Strobelite honey. Just a very entertaining song all around.

KiD CuDi - Embrace the Martian (Round Table Knights remix)

I honestly wasn't a big fan of Embrace the Martian when I first heard it on A KiD Named CuDi, but this remix has changed all that. Usually, I'm not a big fan of CuDi remixes because they usually focus on Day N Nite and they pretty much always make it worse, so this is a refreshing chance to catch a CuDi remix that actually improves on the original.

KiD CuDi - Sky Might Fall prod. Kanye West

The early version of the CuDi single, great production by Mr. West, sorta makes me wonder what could've been if the KiD from Cleveland had done all the vocals for 808's. Beatwise, this song fits right in with Kanye's production on that album and of course KiD CuDi shows his skills on here. I'm certain that the album, when it comes, will be one of the best of the year.

Drake - I'm Still Fly

This is an amazing use of the Big Tymers song, and Drake puts down some very solid lyrics. Great moment a couple minutes in when he "wastes" some lines, if you're not looking for Drake's lady-killers like Best I Ever Had, this should fit right in your library.

U-N-I - Hey Neighbor

Alright just get on the spaceship and go. A pretty dope song from the Cali-based duo U-N-I, from Before There Was Love, the prelude mixtape to their album, A Love Supreme. This song and Night Nurse are my current favorites from them, and both the mixtape and album are definitely worth a listen.

I had sorta hoped that I could showcase a little bit of hip-hop history regarding the outer space theme, but I seem to have completely missed that target. Oh well, good music all around anyways.

I come in peace, but I need y'all rockin with meeeee, pleeeeease, embrace the martian, and this is how it sounds...

"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"