HIP HOP CLASSICS - Gang Starr/Guru - 'You Know My Steez' / 'Loungin'

HIP HOP CLASSICS - Gang Starr/Guru - 'You Know My Steez' / 'Loungin'

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Hip Hop Classics y'all.....straight outta Surrey Heath!!

Gang Starr - 'You Know My Steez' (1998)

Last week I just managed to catch the tail end of a fascinating radio biopic on BBC 1xtra, of the life and times of talismanic MC, Guru, one half of one my favourite Hip Hop groups, Gang Starr. Fascinating because I'm a big fan but it also gave an insight into controversial events (which I had no idea about) that what went on before his untimely death to cancer in 2010, aged just 43. 6 albums and a career spanning 15 years, DJ Premier was Guru's long time friend and DJ, becoming one of Hip Hop finest acts. So it was quite a shock to hear that from Guru's death bed, he had apparently written a letter requesting that DJ Premier be disassociated with his name. In the latter stages of Guru's career, he had started working with another producer called Solar (not MC Solaar) which he met on his Jazzmatazz side project. And it's this producer, that Guru's family believe penned this disputed letter, also claiming that Solar banned the family from visiting Guru in hospital. Which Solar claimed was all Guru's request, no one really knows the truth but same say it was a lovers tiff!? Bizarre!

Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal

The show ended with the vintage, straight head bobbing track, 'You Know My Steez', from the classic 1998 'Moment of Truth' album, which I immediately revisited the next day. Guru's intelligent and distinct monotone flow along with Premier's phenomenal skill as a DJ, made them a class above. Like a good wine, it has matured well and sounds as good now as it did 15 years ago. 

Guru - 'Loungin' feat Donald Byrd (1993)

The show mentioned that next year will see the 20th anniversary (yikes) of Guru's famed Jazzmatazz vol 1 album. Not only did he pioneer the idea of marrying Jazz samples in Hip Hop but he was also the first MC to flow over live Jazz. Unique and innovative at the time, 'Lougin' is a fine example of this, courtesy of horn blower Donald Byrd.

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sfw Pada 04:54 1 Komentar

HIP HOP CLASSICS - Gang Starr - 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight?'

HIP HOP CLASSICS - Gang Starr - 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight?'

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Who's gonna take the weight? Forget the diet, treat yourself to a great slice of wholesome old skool hip hop.

Hip Hop Classics

Gang Starr - 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight?' (1991)

This is the first Gang Starr track I heard and probably my favourite, taken from 1991's Step Into the Arena. An MC, for me has to have style and delivery which Guru had in abundance and in DJ Premier you have one of the best DJs around. The track was groundbreaking for the reason that it showcased their phenomenal talents, with Guru's smart and conscious lyrics conveyed in that unique monotone of his and the intricate turntable skills of DJ Premier. The Martin Luther King speech intro declares it's political intent, backed up by Guru's conscious flow and held together with a gem of a Jazz loop (Maceo and the Macks' 'Parrty') throughout and you have yourself an absolute beast of a track.

'Guru is on the mic and Premier is the anchor'

I remember listening to this at the time thinking, "this has just taken the game to another level", especially (and my favourite part) when DJ Premier executes his scratch solo towards the end of the song. Sublime!


Gang Starr - 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight'

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sfw Pada 22:00 2 Komentar

Marlena Shaw - 'California Soul'

Marlena Shaw - 'California Soul'

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Recollection Collection......musical memories recalled with affection!

Marlena Shaw - 'California Soul' (1968)

Oh yeah the sun's out, I'm driving windows down (finally) to some friends BBQ on the beach down in Santa Monica, longboard on the roof and all is sweet.....Uh what's this? It's a massive tail back, I've just come off junction 4 of the M3 near Camberley and I'm heading to work. Bubble well and truly burst!

This song is perhaps overplayed, on so many summer compilations and was once used, to my horror, on a KFC advert but I love it! As it does evoke the sort of feeling of sun, heat and dreamy escapism that us Brits frantically and often vainly pursue every summer.

I came across 'California Soul' through a sample used on the Gang Starr track, 'Check the Technique' and it was a good while later before I heard the Marlena Shaw version. Through Hip Hop I discovered so many old Soul, Funk and Jazz tracks as a result of the samples used and listening to the originals often felt like I was revisiting old friends.

Marlena in a saucy number...phwoar!

Marlena Shaw - 'California Soul'
Gang Starr - 'Check the Technique'

Looking for some more sunshine? Camberley Soul right here!!

sfw Pada 22:39 6 Komentar