Weapon Is My Lyric: September 2009

Friday 25 September 2009

Dirty Diggers - The Haters / Thats Why

"..Until the mike serves a purpose as a therapist's chair, I'm heavily scared and stumble forth unaware, punching the air, a prearranged victory, maintain the love and avoid the void of sympathy.."

Dirty Diggers (Young Max and Pat Stash) released Freakishly Strong in 2005.

For the Haters:

Download mp3

Thats Why:

De La Soul - Held Down

"..When I'm watching the news, and my Daughter walks in and choose, to ask, 'Why were all those people on the floor, sleeping, covered in red?', I told her 'They were looking for God, but found religion instead'.."

De La Soul are the type of artists who consistently manage to amaze with the quality of their lyrics. I could have put up dozens of tracks, but I've started with this track from "AOI:Bionix".

Brand Nubian - Concerto in X Minor

"..I kinda blessed so I wrote this manifesto for life, Co-signed by the others with a knife.."

Taken from the classic "One for All" LP (1990).

Download mp3

I was going to post "Brand Nubian" from the same LP, but I'm not a great fan of it, I just wanted to link it into "rigor Mortis" by Cameo:

Download mp3

Can't mention Cameo without offering up this gem from 1986:

Braintax - The Grip Again

"..Why they want my village?, can't grow corn here, They claim god's hand, but another mans steers, I'm sure of that from the red sea to mount ararat, thinking about packing C4 in my haversack, taking back my self respect and my dignity, maybe if you were living here you would feel some affinity?.."

This is one of the things I love about hiphop, and this is real brain food released by UK legend Braintax, from his Panorama LP (2006). A thought provoking tale about a Palestinian suicide bomber...I doubt this got much radio airplay.

BInary Star - Honest Expression

"..Ultimately, martial art means honestly expressing yourself...it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky, or I could show you some really fancy movement...But to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly...Now that, my friend is very hard to do.."

Fantastic vocal sample to start. Taken from an underground classic, "Masters of the Universe" (2000). This track features more truth than 99.99999% of anything released previously, or since. The lyrics are as on point and relevant today as they were about 10 years ago...

"..I ain't hardcore, I don't pack a 9 millimeter, Most of y'all gangster rappers ain't hardcore neither, Whoever get mad then I'm talkin 'bout you, Claim you fear no man but never walk without crew.."

Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump

"..Now I rock a house party at the drop of a hat Yea...And I beat a biter down with an aluminum bat, A lot of people they be Jonesin' just to hear me rock the mic, They'll be staring at the radio stayin' up all night.."

Featured on the "Paul's Boutique" LP (1989), a release that was pretty much ignored after all the hype/hysteria over "License to Ill 1986".

Download mp3

The boys have also proved beyond all doubt that all it takes is 3 mc's and 1 DJ (especially if that DJ is Mixmaster Mike...)

Friday 18 September 2009

Stinkin Cold....

"..And when I'm on the mic, I never stutter or stumble
'Cause I'm a Jungle Brother, straight out the jungle.."

Off work feeling rubbish with a stinking cold, healing myself through the power of music...

Grootna - I'm Funky:

Download mp3

Freestyle Fellowship - Inner City Boundaries:

Download mp3

MC Solaar - Caroline (I can, and often do, listen to the horns after the last verse on constant repeat):

Download mp3

United Future Organization - Loud Minority:

Download mp3

Monday Micharu - Hear Between the Silence:

Download mp3

Manu Dibango - Weya

Download mp3

Buari - Karam Bani:

DOwnload mp3

Jazz Not Jazz - Free The Funk

Hustlers of Culture - Stax of Phat Trax E. P.

Just been listening to Med an JRocc's "The What", and had a major flashback to The Hustlers of Culture, UK Style, 1992.

Dug out the "Stax of Phat Trax" EP, dusted it off, and it's on....

The Hustlers of Culture - Funkin Pussy:

Download mp3

The Hustlers of Culture - Crumbs Crikey:

Download mp3

I've got loads more hustlers tracks, I will have to dig them out and give them a listen. Here's the track that kicked this off...

Med & JRocc - The What:

Saturday 12 September 2009

The Wascals - The Dips/Hard Rhymes

"..I got different races in different places, different dips every single time, you never see the same faces.."

After J Swift finished producing the legendary Pharcyde LP "Bizzarre Ride II..", he headed straight back into the studio to work on the debut LP of "The Wascals", a young group very much in the J Swift/Pharcyde vein.

After producing a couple of well received 12"'s the group split and the LP never saw the light of day, only to be finally released in 2007. You can pick this up from amazon.

The Dips:

Download mp3

Hard Rhymes:

Zhigge - Toss It Up

"..We're here to teach a little and Entertain...Course all work and no play is a strain, on the body and the brain cell, thats why we're coming from the heart, can't you tell?.."

A 1992 release, this was Zhigge's big single off a self titled LP that seems to have been largely forgotten (A mixture of good tracks and very bad tracks!).

Friday 11 September 2009

Bedroom Produksionz - S.E.L.F

"..Everything you get you gotta work hard.."

Released in 1998 by the relatively unknown Bedroom Produktionz.

Mop Top - Move Your Body

"..Whether you like to flow slow or you like it fast, I'm hitting harder than Joe Jackson whipping Michael's ass.."

An overlooked track on the B side of the "I'm Alright" 12" (1996), this features samples from Notorious BIG and Ill Al Skratch, and was sold to me by DJ 279 (Shout out to Simon and Mo @ Jingles).

Storm - Playing The Field

Underground UK hiphop classic from 1991 (featuring DJ Cutmaster Swift - LEGEND). I thought this was a bit hard to find, but I've just seen this for sale at £100 on Discogs. If anyone wants to take mine at that price, then get in touch...

Liberty Grooves - Freestyle Frenzy Vol 2

The short lived center of the UK Hiphop universe that was right on my doorstep, Liberty Grooves was a fantastic record shop/label that put out the much sought after Freestyle Frenzy LP's.

Big Ted used to serve behind the counter, when i can find his "breaking the Silence" 12" I will post it (love this track but can't find it at home anywhere - it's driving me mad!)

MC Serch & OC:

Download mp3

Organized Konfusion:

Downlaod mp3

Mad Skills:

Download mp3

Common:

Thursday 10 September 2009

Dead Prez - Summertime / HipHop

I love this new track (wishing we had the weather to go with it), but I was amazed that this was a Dead Prez song. It's good, but.....It can't touch their seminal track "Hiphop". One of those tracks that when you first hear it, smacks you upside the head and demands your attention (big up to DJ 279, Choice FM, Friday Night Show).

Chords - Luckiest Man Alive

Can't stop listening to the lastest LP from Sweden's finest - Chords - "The Things we do for Things".

Darren Deere - Just Watch Me

"Watch me baby I'm gliding..."

This is incredibly cheesy for me, but as much as I'd love to hate it I can't. One of those tracks that never fails to put a smile on my face.

Produced by Cox and Steele of the Fine Young Cannibals, and featuring a vocal contribution from singer Wincey - previously heard on Monie Love's "It's A Shame", this was Darrens only recorded output (1991).

Download mp3

It also "Borrows" heavily from another favourite of mine (How to Dance - The Fatback Band)

Mental Giants - Akbars Groove

"..We have the lyrical skill to make an MC write out his own will.."

A true underground classic, this track only features on the 1994 Jamalski LP "Roughneck Reality".

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