Icon. Probably an overused word. But fully deserved in this case. Gil Scott-Heron’s instantly recognisable street poetry comes to the fore in this Makaya McCraven remix. It takes the brooding, sinister energy of the original and raises it onto a vaguely beautiful plain. Extra points for flute.
The original:
Bonus album: impossible to post about Gil and not get this out there. Jamie xx made a full remix album based on I’m New Here. The sound of 2011. Full taste.
A dollop of tuneful 90s Parental Advisory rap for you today. Plinky piano and tight bars from Jeru. He’s a Brooklynite, and his real name is Kendrick Jeru Davis – which is pretty cool. A master of the album artwork game and a decent rapper too. First some solo work.
But what really set me onto this guy is this absolute classic by none other than Groove Armada. A different style, a little sweeter, but no less impact. Let this one have its way with you – you won’t regret it.
I don’t want to brag but I saw De La Soul in New York last week. For me the standout track from their latest album is (by a mile) Drawn – but I made a new discovery. Pain. It’s a modern-sounding throwback rap track featuring a cheeky verse from Snoop Dogg. What’s not to love?
Photo credit: foto_di_matti
*GUEST POST*
Nujabes is my go to escapism music. His floating, uplifting beats interspersed with punchy guest lyrics take you away. He’s attributed with having had a big influence on the Tokyo hip-hop scene – he ran a couple of record shops and was a prolific producer and performer before his untimely death in 2010 – and his material sounds as good now as it did a decade ago. Modal Soul showcases the range of his production and collaboration, and is truly timeless stuff. Tanoshii.
Al
Message from Harry: like what you hear? You can find Nujabes and tonnes more of my favourite rap on this playlist called, Favourite Rap.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Not Lupe’s most famous, but my favourite. Kick, Push is a lovable little rap track about finding love on a skateboard. “Just a rebel looking for a place to be.” Aren’t we all Lupe. Aren’t we all.
The album is Food & Liquor, check it out if you like what you hear.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Today we are going back to 1994 for a West Coast hip-hop classic. Fun fact for you, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg are cousins. I guess that’s why they have the same surname.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Some more old-skool rap coming at ya. 2000 is Grand Puba’s 2nd album, confusingly released in 1995. Smooth vibes. My picks from the album are Back Stabbers and I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are). If you recognise the latter, it’s probably because you played Tony Hawk’s Underground 2.
Shout out to Guy Perkins for the heads-up.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
So much crap has been written by and about Kanye that it can be a little hard to remember why anyone should care. This album and the two before it are the answer. The man is a talent. This is a throwback to a classic 2007 album. Champion. The Glory. Flashing Lights. Homecoming. If these tracks don’t deposit you firmly in your happy late noughties happy place then there’s something wrong with you.
P.S. I know he’s really a goatee man, but Christ have you ever tried to find 30 artists with moustaches. Genuinely difficult. Can’t wait for December – got some great new music for y’all
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Some old school rap you say? Sure. 80s New York rap royalty, the DJ/MC pairing know how to tear it up. A cool double bass riff, some funky looped brass and Rakim’s bars is what this track is all about.
They managed 4 albums over 5 years before they broke up to pursue solo careers. But what a 5 years that must have been.
harrysmusicalemporium.com 