Amadeo vs. 80’s babies (at least those born after 85)
“A certain administration which I won’t call by name took the arts out of the schools, and that left the brothers out on the street with nothing, so they went to the turntables and started rhyming. Then they had a way to express themselves, and that’s the birth of hip-hop.”
Isaac Hayes
So I was out and about this weekend, enjoying myself, taking in some Hip-Hop and all that good stuff. I went to see Kweli on Friday and all I can say is…Good God Damn. I’ve seen a few shows lately (not all of them Hip-Hop) and dudes may have been the longest one of all. You know an artisit is good, but it’s when you hear several of their songs in a row and realize, “This cat has mad bangers!”. Even the joints he put together over other peopls beats. For instance I hope somewhere there’s a mixtape or something with him rocking over the “This is why I’m Hot” beat. A good emcee can infuse something wack with the right ingredients to make it real. Every time I hear that beat from now on in my mind I’ll hear:
Niggas lie a lot
Niggas lie a lot
Niggas lie
Niggas lie
Niggas lie a lot
Not to mention the fact that dude rocked for an hour and a half. So that was great, fricking awesome. So what could I have to gripe about? Well here’s the deal. So, some really good songs were played by the Dj before the show started. This Dj was spinning like he knew I was in the room and he wanted to impress me. Only problem: as I looked around I saw that alot of people weren’t feeling everything he played. I’m not talking about something so obscure that you need an internet connection, a shovel and Kool Herc guiding you to find it. I’m talking about things that everyone I know who loves Hip-Hop knows. Look, when the Sound Bwoy Burriel remix comes on you get your punk ass up. You don’t stand around and with a vacant look on your face. That wasn’t the only song that didn’t get the proper respect. As I stood there wondering what was going on (I mean it’s a Kweli show, they should appreciate these songs), the answer came to me. A Little Brother song came on and the place went crazy and I realized…it’s not that they didn’t feel it…they didn’t know it! These were a bunch of young cats! The same thing happened when Kweli’s Dj played some old joints like Boyz n da Hood by Eazy E (Jumped in the fo’ hit the juice on ma ride/
I got front back, and side to side). I could have wept right there. Every one knew “The Message”, kind of like it was something they were given on a required listening list. They didn’t know alot of the stuff from in between though. That’s like knowing that people landed on Plymouth Rock and then knowing Indians got casinos. The stuff in the middle was what helped to make it. You can’t just throw that away. I guess what really gets my goat is not knowing the Boot Camp joints. All of them knew every Biggie song and I am a holder of the “Biggie rode the wave” torch. Not a knock, but Biggie has been said to have brought attention back to the east as far as Hip-Hop goes…not true. Biggie came out after Black Moon, Smif -n- Wessun and Wu-Tang. There were others, but these cats, especially Wu-Tang recharged the East Coast. West Coast was hard core, but not gritty, these dudes were gritty. Even the beats sounded like they had sand and glass particles in them. They also helped to bring on the era of “The Crew”…everybody started coming out in large numbers. After these cats came out then Biggie hit and luckily for him everyone was looking this way when he did. Hell I remember the Supercat joint with Biggie in it…and Puffy rhyming like he had something stuck in his throat. It’s important to remember things like that. As much as I’d like to forget The Special Ed album that came out after he was on the Crooklyn Dodgers joint…I can’t. These are cats that might know Del from the first Gorillas LP, but not if I played “Catch a Bad One” and that is just ri-god-damned-diculous. If this persists I’ll have to start a pirate radio station or something. Learn something you young folks.
I just thought this was a bmore thing…but ur right. It’s the later-80s babies. The DJ part of the show is integral to me. and it’s really only fun if everyone around you also does the ‘Oh.Shit.No.He.Didnt’ stop, hand to forehead, head down bob to the music, then break out into that era’s dance’ thing. Speaking of LB…
Comment by So...Wise — July 30, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
so I’ma see you @ the LB show right….
Comment by abRock — July 30, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
actually last year i saw some young cats rapping along to 93 to infinity and it almost made me weep.
you are correct about Biggie though. He was not the end all and be all there was a definete movement back to the east in that 93-94 era. It saddens me that they dont know the sound bwoy burriel remix. next you’ll be telling me they dont know lefleur leflah eskoskha “Guess who, chump, punk, your brain jus blew Its the originoo gun clappa two”
Comment by jdid — July 31, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
oh and lets not forget that Jeru and Nas also held it down for the east in that era too. man that was a classic hip hop era
Comment by jdid — July 31, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
You know I really wanted to go see that show but I found out about it at the last minute. Its good to know that he is a good performer though. Did you see Lupe when he was here for Artscape. He surprised me.
Comment by beautyinbaltimore — August 2, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I wonder which administration Hayes was talking about. hmmm…
Comment by GC — August 2, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
I feel old saying this, but I feel sorry for kids now growing up with this crap music. LOL.
Comment by Miz JJ — August 2, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
i can say we a have a dj or three who bring it. they rock that wack shit in the regular clubs. however when i want to hear them actually spin music, there’s a spot or two to hang at. i love those places. music is music and not bullshyt
Comment by aquababie — August 3, 2007 @ 3:54 am
“That’s like knowing that people landed on Plymouth Rock and then knowing Indians got casinos.”
I used that in my class today. I owe you royalties.
Your whole post was the truth. That third Special Ed album will always go down as a HUGE disappointment for me. I remember being so amped and then after listening to the album having to accept the fact that Special Ed just wasn’t “that dude” anymore. I played that album a lot hoping that it would get better, but it never rose above mere mediocrity. Luckily that Raekwon album came out right around the same time and became the album etched in my mind when I think of 95. It’s also one of those album that you knew was a classic straight out of the gate.
Comment by Cinque — August 3, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Niggas lie a lot
Niggas lie a lot
Niggas lie
Niggas lie
Niggas lie a lot
Bwahahhahahah. Loved that
But today’s musical climate is heavily influenced by mainstream radio, MTV, and BET. Unfortunately young people here and see popular music and are swept up in its unfortunate rapture. They don’t think and explore for themselves. They let themselves get influenced by what some radio disc jockey or some Countdown show dictates to them.
Sad.
Comment by Coffey — August 3, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Niggas lie a lot.. Classic.
Its a tragedy, the quality of our ears. Hip Hop became superficial sometime down this glorious road.. Every little song and dance, we hype that trash now and thatswhy we have true- to-life one0hit- wonders every month. Thats why we have songs that are hot for a week and then you never hear of the artist again.. Its funny BIG might not be the best but surely one of the most influential emcees in my era. But ( the main reason i commented,) I gotta throw you some respect on shouting out them brothas in the Wu, also in between acts like Onyx, who in that same time frame added something to fill the void of our historical eaSt coast rap music.. Even I sometimes ( if not heard enopugh) forget about these dudes. WE dont treasure our music like our ancestors- justr thought about that.. Love your blog dude- im new to the blog thing and i appreciate your vision. -Q. peacenluv
threadingroots.blogspot.com
Comment by -Q. — December 11, 2007 @ 7:35 pm