Early on this year, Wayne (you already know – wayneandwax.com) introduced us to Skeat’s “Dumelang” – a jam which I think gets played at every New York Tropical, and I’ve heard Geko Jones and Uproot Andy played it several times at Que Bajo?! and other parties, and needless to say, it destroys the dance every time. Big up Wayne & Botswana’s Ruff Riddims for unleashing that, and this “brand new dirrty south african hip-hop” by Double Jay.
Jahdan Blakkamoore feat. 77Klash & Spoek Mathambo – Dem Nuh Like It
Here’s another cut from the BAZOOKA SHOT mixtape, produced by the man Shadetek. This is New York Tropical, Bashment Hype, Dutty House… Brooklyn-Kingston-Johannesburg, serious and ugly!
About two years ago, Papoose was a promising, young rapper with heavy street buzz (countless mixtapes, hot97-radio love, magazine/blog exposure, etc.) and a 1.5 million dollar record deal in the works with Jive Records. Well, the deal fell through, and Pap bragged on subsequent tapes that he kept the 1.5 million from the label, but plans for his debut album The Nacirema Dream never actually materialized. Pap has been releasing mixtapes (and greatest hits from his previous tapes) and newer bits/leaks surfaced every now and then. On this particular track, he’s disgruntled, disgusted with the whole music industry and he’s letting his feelings known, keeping it one hundred/real (as “real” as rappers can keep it anyway.)
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/papoose-_i_jus_want_the_paper.mp3]Papoose – I Just Want The Paper
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/PlayazCircle-HoldUp.mp3]I found this one on my desktop. Playaz Circle with (insert big name/famous rapper) is usually pretty good, but this is the first time I’m hearing the group without Lil Wayne, Ludacris, or OJ Da Juiceman and it’s surprisingly nice.
Here’s an hour long mix Andy did for London’s Diesel U:Music Radio. Grab your passport.. we’re going all over the place. This one is a trip, all sorts of unexpected and pleasant stops — Soca, Dancehall, Merengue, Bullerengue, Coupe Decale, Zouglou, Funana, Punta, Dubstep, Crunk and Enjoy!
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UPROOT ANDY MIX FOR DIESEL U:MUSIC RADIO
TRACKLIST
Not Known – Skream
Mujeres En El Party – DJ Buxxi & Jacky Style
Que Lo Que ta pasando – Kiko DJ
Get Up Stand Up – Bunji Garlin & T.O.K.
Coupe Decale – Dady Mory
El Baile de la Tortuga – Los Alfa 8
Mambo Million – Magic Juan
No Problems – Zion Child
Cookies & Apple Juice – Cam’ron
Kingston Town (Uproot Andy Remix) – Alborosie
Bring It On (Rusko Remix) – Leon Jean-Marie
Mi Alma se Muere Ft. Fuego (DJ Ricky Soca Version) – Omega
What You Know (Hard Times) – T.I.
That Day Will Come – Capleton
Funana Santiago РIz̩
Man A Man – Baby Cham
Unkown – Les Garagistes
Punta Rebane – Chicas Roland’s
Wha-La-La-Leng – Ghislain Poirier ft. Face-T
Hold the Line – Major Lazer ft. Mr. Lexx and Santigold
Faluma Ding – Faluma
Right Now (Chief Boima Remix) – Akon
My Love – Sizzla
[audio:http://negrophonic.com/mp3/MajorLazer-Cash%20Flow_ft_Jahdan_Blakkamoore.mp3]
Major Lazer feat. Jahdan Blakkamoore – Cash Flow
This jam knocks! So good! Major Lazer’s album Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do is out next week, but you can stream the whole thing & pre-order it on their myspace.
Get ready for BUZZROCK WARRIOR coming this September.
DUDES AND GIRLS I JUST WANNA GIVE A QUICK PREVIEW OF THE LAST CHAIN ULL EVER LIKE. IM SHUTTIN IT DOWN.
I told everybody I’m not playing no more anybody wanna try to out do me then we goin at it like next door neighbors. Believe dat
10lbs. 197kts. Very very real I don’t know what fake feel like.$410,000. Hola señor recession proof. – T-Pain
Spotted @ RapRader
This episode of “Gangland” is a crazy documentary about gangs in the Third Ward of New Orleans which get’s even crazier when Katrina hits. It’s definitely pretty sensational but also a compelling and candid portrait of a place and a group of people on the edges of society in a dark moment. It’s 45 minutes, stream it when you’ve got some time.
I keep on hearing voices/Telling me to ball, so I keep on buying Porsches/My watch’s like a portrait, Gorgeous!
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/Gucci_Mane-Gorgeous.mp3]
Gucci Mane – Gorgeous
Gucci Mane is one of the most interesting figures in rap music at the moment, and he’s suffering not only from the general psychosis of being dope but also severe auditory hallucinations. I downloaded “Gorgeous” from cocaine blunts several weeks back, and I just got around to hearing it. According to Noz ““Gorgeous†finds him walking the line between language and commerce obsession by way of voices in his head. We’ve heard the balling as a compulsion defense but never the full on insanity claims.” The beat is great as well, providing a perfect background for the experience that is Gucci Mane.
F*** The Recession, my bank accounts are pregnant!
& & &
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/Hugh_Mundell-Augustus_Pablo_Africa_Dub.mp3]
Augustus Pablo – Africa Dub
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/Hugh_Mundell-Africa_Must_Be_Free_By_1983.mp3]
Hugh Mundell – Africa Must Be Free By 1983
To bring us back to reality, away from Gucci Mane and the Hearing Voices movement, here’s Augustus Pablo’s “Africa Dub”, plus the original tune “Africa Must Be Free By 1983” by Hugh Mundell, a teenage prodigy, who died far too early (1962-1983~ shot to death in Kingston while driving a car with Junior Reid.)Â Hugh Mundell wrote and recorded several albums, some of which were produced by Augustus Pablo. I have yet to hear them.
Speaking of unheard/undiscovered Jamaican reggae – Props to Professor Wayneandwax for the heads up & review. I ordered Dub: Soundscapes and Shattered Songs in Jamaican Reggae from Amazon weeks ago, and still haven’t received it.
Due to the recent election, people feel no need to keep pumping their fists. It’s as if they’ve been tricked to believe that the years of hatred has been erased with one achievement. If you’re one of the ones that fell into this trap, stay tuned… for some post-election rap jams/news from Playboy Tre, who last month dropped a brand new street album/mixtape titled Liquor Store Mascot.
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/PlayboyTre-BreakinNews.mp3]
Playboy Tre – Breakin’ News
My partner Tally put me up on Tre’s excellent 2008 mixtape Goodbye America, which noz called a near classic— I think it’s an absolute classic and one of the most criminally slept on street albums of last year. In a sense Liquor Store Mascot feels as if it should have been the precursor to Goodbye America, rather than the other way around. LSM continues with the same themes, same relentlessness, but it is more dramatic, more nightmarish, and even funnier (Bobby Ray asking “what about HAM Squad? How am I supposed to smoke all these HAMs by myself?” gets me every time.) The themes here, on the track above and on the mixtape about crime, poverty, race, alcoholism, police brutality and the recent increase in gun sales and gun club membership in the Obama era.
I still haven’t fully wrap my ears around the tape or even this track, “Breakin’ News,” which is dense, and Tre is reflecting on deep, serious problems (like Oscar Grant‘s shooting in the Bay) but his flow is so deceptively disarming with that Georgian accent and Southern drawl, the grand social comments (and criticisms of Obama) like “ain’t nothing change in the streets we walk” or “the president’s black but the neighborhood sad” just breeze through, as if they are of no significance– just a drunk talking shit over beats.
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/DJDramafeatLudacrisWillieDaKidBustaRhymes-PeopleWillBeHeard.mp3]
DJ Drama – People Will Be Heard feat. Ludacris, Willie Da Kid, Busta Rhymes
I don’t like Luda, but he’s alright– I have been saying that for a decade. Here, Luda warns the government about trampling voices of dissent and encourages said voices to reassert themselves, after the euphoria and noise. Busta shouts out Obama, empathizes with struggling people, –the starving, the evicted, the unemployed, etc. In the middle, there’s that Willie kid. Why is Barack O’Drama always shouting? We are already listening to our music at very dangerous dBs. Deafness descends upon all of us. Sounds bleeding out of our earbuds and headphones, in trains and buses, the constant blasts of noise in New York, sound levels at clubs are usually over 120 dBs. I was at Que Bajo?! for about three hours last night, and my ears are ringing right now. I was briefly exposed to that wobbly monster Geko was in search of in Colombia. To conclude this, a whole generation is at risk of premature deafness and the DJ business is loudness.
[audio:http://nyc.duttyartz.com/mp3s/Capone-N-Noreaga-DeadBroke.mp3]
Capone-N-Noreaga – Dead Broke
Empty fridgerator and pissy elevators… welcome to Queens? And it’s 1997 all over again! The image of the pissy elevator as a prominent identifying feature in mid to late nineties New York rap is as significant as say the scuffed timbs. I liked Wallabees and Mountain Gear better then.
Recession Rap Jams, mixed with the struggle, alcohol, and the kick!
A few weeks ago, I saw a financial analyst on MSNBC who said that instead of worrying and despairing because the US economy is spiraling downward, Americans should be excited and imaginative, because it is easier to be the winner in an environment where so many people are loosing. In most of the rap world, it’s forever boom-time and the global economic crisis is nonexistent. Openly masking human suffering and frailty with good old fashion American hypermasculinity and boasts about one’s net worth has been the approach for radio-friendly rap artists for years, regardless of the current economic malaise. Even when the world around is crumbling, these artists look beyond, ignoring immediate circumstances and continue to paint pictures of excess. There is no such thing as absurd, excessive balling.
To roughly quote something Hugh Masekela said – if you don’t talk about your people, their plight, injustice, struggle and you’re using their music to get rich and famous, you need your head examine, you will end up in a bad, bad place… well, a lot of people are living in that place already.
After posting that Young Capone track, and listening to the Rick Ross album (which has some surprisingly good and memorable moments) I was compelled to look at the other side of the trap/the majority/what is considered the norm to most rap listeners, or what has larger representation, Hot97 radio-playability (not to say Young Jeezy’s “Circulate” and Cam’rom’s “I Hate My Job” didn’t get played, because they did, but you are more likely to hear flamboyant and splurgy raps and attitude towards the recession.)Â But this batch of tracks also features some relatively unknown/regional/up and coming rappers.
So here it is — Recession Proof Wallets for your listening pleasure. It is pretty nauseating. It slows down in the second half, but really there’s no relief, except for the last track by UGK, adding a degree of levelheadedness and unquestionable swag, everything else here is bloated and unreal, insane and American– so there, consider yourself warned.
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TRACKLIST:
Zshatwa – Fresh (Intro)
Rich Boy – It’s Over
Rick Ross – Magnificent feat. John Legend
Droop-E & B-Slimm – Think Fast
Young Capone – Dopeboyz (Show Out)
Gucci Mane – I’m The Shit
(((Talking That Money Shit Interlude)))
Fat Joe – Cupecakes feat. Benisour
Ju of D4L – Do It, Do It feat. Shawty Lo
KD – I Know U C Me
The Kid Datona – Lately feat. Amanda diva
Busta Rhymes – Hustlers Anthem ’09 feat. T-Pain
Wale – Penthouse Anthem
Pluck – Sick feat. ST 2 Lettaz (of G-Side) & Jackie Chain
UGK – Purse Come First feat. Big Gipp
(((McLuhan takes us out with An Inventory Of Effects)))
Nicki Minaj f/ Lil Wayne – I Get Crazy
Nicki is back! I heard her new mixtape (zshare) over the weekend, and it’s dope, even with all the tags and the DJ yelling all over it like he actually created/owns the music* (where is the producer in that equation?) Props to Nah Right (look there for more joints w/out annoying tags/DJ shouts.) Nicki is delirious over this beat, and we are also blessed with a frantic last verse by Lil Wayne, but it’s after his quick guitar solo.
* most of the time, mixtape DJs are like pests buzzing in the listener’s ears. Showcase the track, keep drops to a minimum, and if anything else, please speak with your hands.
Young Capone – Dope Boyz (Show Out)
In spite of the difficult economic situation, the majority of rappers are still rapping/bragging about getting money and about spending it. You can check his myspace for more, but this is the dopest tune there.
ST, 6 TRE G, and AC Burna – Feel The (Chris Brown)
eXclusive new music from Slowmotion Soundz, produced by Block Beataz so you already know it knocks.
R&B superstar Chris Brown grew up in a domestic battlefield, and eventually/allegedly/recently involved in a lovers’ quarrel with his superstar girlfriend Rihanna which turned violent. It’s heartbreaking and sad, and I can imagine every sane individual who knew this story hope something meaningful and productive came out of the situation–more public discussions (not just in the tabloids and gossip blogs) of a domestic, hidden, and intimate problem. And we have this track here, which is all about driving a nice car with a sick soundsystem.
For another recent Chris brown/pop violence reference in rap music, check Maino’s “Murdergram.” Not productive, but it also knocks – “down for anything even knocking out Suge.”
pic by tatyana-k
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Well, I suggest you subscribe and check out the previous podcast, before we jump into this one.
All set? Alright, here it is-Recession Rap Podcast, a compilation of rap songs addressing the worldwide economic recession/depression, or more generally the everyday struggle and pain of financial pressure, the bread-n-butter hustle (or should that be food-n-gas?) that it comes it. Except for songs like Lil Wayne’s “Real Rap” which clearly is more about the post-Katrina nightmare that is now New Orleans and David Banner’s “Faith” which is about keeping faith and not collapsing or folding under pressure, nearly all of the raps here are directed at the economic suffering that is going on right now.
With that said, I’d also like to add that I did not necessarily/intentionally/exclusively look for a collection of rap voices of depression or voices of the global gloom. In fact, some of the rap jams I have been posting here for the last few weeks are (on the contrary) very funny, and compassionate as well. There’s a lot of struggle and darkness in the economic depression and it’s reflected in the music, but that’s not all it’s about. For example, listen to Cam’ron’s “I Hate My Job”a song which is partly about a “everyday workingwoman,” whose job and workplace is toxic for her well-being ~financially, emotionally, and physically-“Being here 8 hours sure will get you nauseous...” On that same Cam’ron song listen to the chorus –“I put on my pants, put on shoes. / I pray to God, paid all my dues. / I’m trying to win, it seems like I was born to loose / All I can say…” It’s simple and very affecting, the virtue of getting up in the morning, putting your clothes on, one step at a time, and saying your prayer ~something struggling people do every morning, preparing themselves psychologically and spiritually for whatever the day brings, heartbreaks, knockdowns, and whatnot.
All the songs here are in that vein, impressive and amusing. It would have been impossible or just very lengthy if I had decided to cram all RRJs I gathered or posted, but I’m happy with this batch. Download it, bump it in your car/ on your subway ride to work, play at home/ walk in the park, listen and enjoy.
Tracklist
Jahdan Blakkamoore Intro (Buzzrock Warrior coming soon on Dutty Artz)
Attitude f/ Jackie Chain – Money (off T.I.M. (Time Is Money) Warner Bros. Records 2009)
Gangsta Pill – Back Outside (off 4180: The Prescription mixtape, Grind Time 2009)
Cam’ron – I Hate My Job (from Crime Pays, Diplomat Records 2009)
Jadakiss f/ Barrington Levy – Hard Times (from The Last Kiss, Roc-A-Fella Records 2009)
G-Side f/ Shyft – Hit Da Block (from Starshipz & Rocketz, Slowmotion Soundz 2008)
Diata Sya – Saria (from Move It Chaleh! Akwaaba Music 2009)
Joell Ortiz – Bout My Money (off Free Agent, ???, 2009)
Kano – Paper (from 140 Grime Street, Bigger Picture Music 2008)
Rhymefest – Exodus 5.1(off El Che, J Records 2009)
Amanda Diva – Rebels (from Spandex, Rhymes, & Soul, DivaWorks Inc. 2009)
Young Jeezy – Circulate (off The Recession, Def Jam Records 2008)
Lil Wayne – Real Rap (off ???,??? 2009 )
David Banner – Faith (from The Greatest Story Ever Told, Universal Records 2009)
Willie Isz – In The Red (from Georgiavania, Lex Records 2009)
Good Enough!!
