What happened to the type of spit that used to help a fellow out - Ka

 ....a simple right or left...

 Deciscions - Ka

 My latest TV obsession is First 48. It is hella depressing but I just cant stop watching it. It conjures up a bunch of stuff for me. One of the things l think about is decision making. So many of these kids just make the wrong decision and it ends up changing the lives of lots of people. Sometimes those decisions seem innocuous, routine, and in some cases, relatively innocent. When we were younger man Gil used to say "Life is all about decisions man" and those words are definitely applicable to what goes down for the suspects on that show.

Which brings me to Ka. I first heard this minimalist spitter on one of the Gza's albums. He was impressive, but did not stand out to me. His song, Decisions, from the dope Grief Pedigree album is a deeply simple rhyme that mainly consists of him juxtaposing different alternatives.  He even keeps it going through the chorus.

Combeback Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 - Illacoin

"It's madness nikka, and there's no anecdote
There's a thin line between Jordan and Manigault" - Illacoin 

Illcoin - Keep it Street feat. Sadat X

Illacoin offering up a his views on the often elusive and subtle differences between success or failure that exists in the hood.  

Vomitspit - Common

Envisioning the hereafter, listenin to Steve Wonder
On a Quest for Love like the Proceed drummer 

I strike like lightning and don't need thunder

Inhale imagination and breathe wonder... - Common 

Invocation - One Day it Will All Make Sense


Lonnie on just some good o'l fashioned, wholesome braggadocio. Rudy Ray Moore, Muhammad Ali
, and the like, would all be proud.

"..had to tell my son 'cut that bullshit off' them ain't videos that's physcological warfare" - Phnote of Little Brother

  Lupe Fiasco - Bitch Bad

When Nas released I think I can, there were a few over-educated Hip-Hop journalists that viewed it as oversimplified and not lyrical enough. They felt as if, the last verse in particular, were addressing things that were common knowledge, and doing so in a non-complex manner. I felt as though they all completely missed the boat, and feel that many will do the same with this Lupe song.

Lupe employs a simple delivery and calculatedly non-verbose piece of work here in an effort to not have his point missed. I say to my students all of the time when they are writing, "Who is your target audience? And why isn't your tone, voice, and language a reflection of that"?

It is clear that is not a problem for Lupe. From Dumb it Down and American Terrorist, to S.L.R and that shitty song featuring Trey Songz Out of my Head , it is clear that Lupe is intentional when weather he is writing up, or down, so to speak.

I do however hope that he only employs this style and tone occasionaly as he could run the risk of beging to sound like KRS-One eventually did, sanctimomius and preachy.

I am sure however that will not be the case.

The bottom line here is that Wasalu has put together a great story that illustrates a number of issues here. First, the lack of understanding on how to raise a child. I am a die hard hip hop head, and I have a full understanding on what within the genre I can and can't let my daughter listen to, bottom line. Like Saigon once said:

"I listen to rap to but wouldn't let my kid listen to that 

Cuz if my kid listen to that, then it's a wrap

Nikkaz replaced wisdom with materialism

I get on the beat and preach about imperialism..."

Next the fact that these images and sounds are not only impacting young girls, but boys too!
Lastly, the obvious lack of overall thoughtfulness of some of the rappers who are putting out music these days.

Since his first album Lu has been transparent about his feelings about the word bitch and and it's useage in the genre.

"Now I ain't tryna be the greatest
I used to hate hip-hop... yup, because the women degraded
But Too $hort made me laugh, like a hypocrite I played it
A hypocrite I stated, though I only recited half
Omittin the word "bitch," cursin I wouldn't say it
Me and Dog couldn't relate, til a bitch I dated
Forgive my favorite word for hers and hers alike
But I learnt it from a song I heard and sorta liked" - Lupe Hurt Me Soul from Food & Liquor

I happen to love the way Lu goes the extra route and shows what happens when that little confused boy and misguided girl both grow to be teens/young adults and have to learn how to interact with each other.

"Simple ain't it, but complicated."

"I'm aiming automatic guns at nuns" Nasty Nas

 Sticky Fingaz - Oh My God

This joint is from Sticky's vastly underrated 2001 solo debut album. It came on my phone while I was jogging walking the other day. I always loved this joint, but listened to it differently this time around. I have been doing a bit of reading and watching about the universe, the law of attraction, etc.


He's not the first rapper to on this topic, nor the first to use the style of question and answer on the same song. Many have represented their inner conflicts via a back-and-forth with their subconscious, God, good, etc.

For starters, I am pulling this song out of context of the album itself. Blacktrash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones, in the spirit of Prince Paul's Prince Among Thieves and more recently The Roots Undun, is meant to be heard in a progression from beginning to end. Do yourself a favor and buy this album. An incredibly well done piece of artwork. Sticky does a wonderful job of channeling the right amount of wonder, angst and desperation into the voice of Kirk as well as the authoritarian God voice.




 


Oh My God lyrics
C'mon man, oh, my fucking god man
Oh shit, what the fuck did I do?
It's all, it's all my fucking fault man, it's all my fucking fault
Fuck man, fuck am I doing man, why man?
Why God, why did you have to take her? Fuck

Why? Why? Why God why?
Everything I love always seem to die
Answer me, speak to me, I don't hear you
Answer me, motherfucker I ain't scared of you

Is there even a God? Do you even exist?
What I gotta do to speak to you, slit my wrists?
I'm talking to a God that I can't see
Can you see me? Can you see me?

Are you confused my son, and scared?
Let me make things more clear, so you're more aware
Fuck, who was that? All this shit is freaking me
It is I God, did you not say you wanted to speak with me?

Bullshit I am talking to myself, I'm going insane
You are talking to yourself, we are one and the same
It can't be, must be the drugs, I'm high
And if you are, then why are we born if we live to die?

Is there life after death? What were we before birth?
Why is this whole earth plagued and cursed?
Is killing a sin, is there life in other planets?
Is adultery wrong, did you write the ten commandments?

Excuse me my son, one question at a time
We were never born, and we will never die
In the essence, there's no such thing as death
How could I write commandments and not have them kept?

The soul is eternal you just change form
Then you come back with a new face on
You can not limit love unless you lack understanding
To answer you, yes, there is life in other planets

The future's a mystery the past is history
Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present
Life is so simple unless you make it confusing
The wise will understand this and the clever will use it

Wait God, there is so much I want to ask you
God, God, where are you? God I need to talk to you

If you could talk to God, exactly what, what would you say?
If you could talk to God, exactly what, what would you say?
If you could talk to God

Tell me, are there psychics that can speak telepathically?
Yes, but if you use more than one tenth of the minds capacity
I can't think, I feel like life going down the drain
In the streets, everywhere I am surround in pain

Don't think, your thoughts are just that thoughts
Your feelings are real, erase what you been taught
Feelings are the language of the soul, the soul is truth
I speak through you to aware the youth

But why let the suffering go on why not just stop it?
In order for anything to exist, so much is opposite
How can there be left if there was never right?
How can something know death if it never knew life?

How can you lose, if nobody won?
How can it be dark if there was never a sun?
That which is not grandeur, the soil still blessed
Form must exist for part of them self to manifest

But I never asked to be born, I hate my life
And if you are God, dammit then show me the light
And tell me, what's the meaning of life?
The process of all life is an ongoingNever-ending process of recreation of self
Is God a He or She is there one true religion?
I'm the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and Ending
We are all one and everything is living

If you could talk to God, exactly what, what would you say?
If you could talk to God, exactly what, what would you say?

"No Homo"

 Murs - Animal Style

With Frank Ocean revealing that his first love was a man, many in the media, both mass and social, were giving Hip-Hop credit for finally having an openly gay artist. Well, there are a few problems with that. Sure, Frank is a part of Hip-Hop culture, but he is not an MC. Also, he did not necessarily "come-out" as being gay. We can conjecture that he is bi-sexual but that is it. I am waiting for an MC to come out before I start to give the historically misogynistic, sexist, homophobic genre credit for being open minded.

The whole event made me think of Animal Style by Murs. This is a chilling tale about two high school boys who were in love and unfortunately paid a cost for that love. The internalization of homophobia, organized religion, and societal pressure are all present in this tale. The ending however may surprise you.

Murs impeccable storytelling and skillfully measured flow are on full display over this track. The pacing, intentional pauses, and matter of fact tone make this song seem like a movie playing out in your head. The video only adds to his words and embolden his message. He even goes a step further displaying his range as a thespian and shares a kiss with the lead actor in the video.

Murs for the win.

"It's still a love song" Jean Grae

Love Song - Jean Grae

As someone for whom Soul was my primary music before the emergence of hip-hop, this Jean Grae song really really grabbed me.

The South Africa born, Brooklyn bred, spitter used the first verse from the Stylistics Stop Look, Listen as her intro, then rapped over a remixed version of the 1971 classic. She chose to adlib and respond to the falsetto stylings of lead vocalist Russell Thompkins.

I would not rate this as her best work from a technical standpoint. Jean's lyrical acrobatics have been displayed on many other tracks. This post isn't about flow though. This song is a really raw, and passionate narrative.

She really opens up on this song and accepts her missteps and naivete without attempting to rationalize her actions. She succinctly concludes each verse with a matter of fact tone, perhaps hopeful and defiant in spirit, "still a love song"

The song is also has some technical aspects. What begins as a story told in third person point of view, later slips into first person.

"She cries until the river dries and leaves her dead and cold

Packs up her things and leaves behind what I thought was gold was only gold-plated

Thinking of all the other ones I coulda just left and up and dated

Single after four years

Starting over never easy

But it takes some time to realize your own worth

Come into your own

Play your mental rebirth

She starts penning some better poems

Straighten up her bank account

Likes to take herself out

I'm getting better at it

I've had a few relationships

But still too young and dumb enough to call it quits"

She also intentionally switches from first person to third person during the last parts of the this verse only to confess later that, "Maybe it's easier to talk about this shit in third person.."

Well done Ms Grae.

"Hardcore, to make the borthers act fools"

Dead Man Walkin - Dutch and Spade feat. Beanie Mac

This record is just goes hard. I remember listening to this on a DJ Clue tape and could not stop bobbing my head. I had kind of heard of Dutch and Spade before through Major Figgas but certainly could not name a song of theirs. Having fellow Philadelphian the Broad Street Bully on the track only added to the hardcore-ed-ness of the whole affair.

The version I found on You Tube has a bit more variation in the beat than the the Clue tape version so I am trying to find a good way get that version on here.

Drake Daddy Kane?

"Why should I give off a gangster contrast
When I can rap about gettin some ass..." - Big Daddy Kane

Since my rotator surgery the only exercise I can get is walking. During one of those recent walks I was listening to a of off Drake's So Far Gone mixtape. It is a really good song set to one of the beats from Kanye's 808 songs and Drake does his thing lyrically. This is when Drake displayed more lyrical balance as an MC. While listening to it my mind went through my it's normal gyrations ...... (why doesn't Drake rap like this more often, why do good rappers get signed to a major label and lose their authenticity, bla, bla, bla... )when suddenly, I thought, Big Daddy Kane.

All of the Golden Agers that give Drake a hard time for being sweet, need to dig in their respective crates. I am not comparing Drakes skills to Kanes. Big Daddy Kane has a number of classic records and is in most people's top 7 rappers of all time. B.D.K was more transcendent, one of the main users of the multisylabic rhyme schemes during his time. The reality is that there are some grounds for comparison. They both have flow and lyrics.  Drake is no lyrical pushover and also brought something new and refreshing to the game for his era. Kane came into the game with a hardcore persona while Drake did not, both are good looking guys who have charm and charisma that goes across gender lines. Both recognized said female appeal and began to release songs aimed and that particular demographic.

Interestingly enough both never really needed to go as far as they did to capture the female audience as their original stuff already had that balance.

Additionally, they both got defensive after fans grew weary of their, ahem, "making songs just for the bitches". Drake has countless references to this in his post So Far Gone releases, and I stumbled up a Kane interlude from the 1993 release, Looks Like a Job For...

Dope rhyme, but you can hear his defensiveness throughout.

Double Trouble - Eminem and Royce the 5'9"

Nothing quite like good ol' fashion bar sharing between two MCs. I have written before about the roots of this type of exchange and how good it can sound when done well.

There are a few artists that still get down like that here and there, although they don't do the harmonize rhyming old schoolers did.

Bad Meets Evil by Royce the 5'9" and Eminem has a few examples of this type of back and forth. One of my favorite tracks is A Kiss.

If you can get past the gratuitous misogyny and violence you'll see the that these two displayed real chemistry with their flow. They also managed to slip in lots of over-the-top humor on this solid beat.

"What happened to the type of spit that used to help a fellow out?"

I plan on doing a series of posts on simple, straightforward songs. Narratives that aim to raise awareness, educate or teach a lesson. I am determined to name these series of posts after an old DOOM line but I can't remember it for the life of me! Something like, "What happened to the spit that help a brother out?"edit: my buddy found the line for me. It was from Vaudeville Villain.

Anyway, just listend to K- Solo's Your Mom is in my Business. Not his best work, Fugitive and Drums of Death were better overall songs, but this song has an important place.

This well crafted narrative is focused, clean and to the point. Cutesy world play would almost get in the way of the authors message. I love these old songs where rappers feel compelled to wrap it up with a moral or lesson.

"See, I know you girls, I know you girls, I know you girls, I know you girls
Mothers love you, and they're concerned
But if you don't solve your own problems, then how can you learn?
And guys, if you're in a relationship like this
Don't be afraid to tell your girlfriend tell your moms to mind her business"

There was always time space for songs like this years ago. Part of what made the era golden...diversity.

Delivery - Public Enemy

As a high schooler Chuck D's voice always struck me as what a mans voice should sound like. Set aside for a minute what he stood for and represented-just his voice. Deep. Rich. Bellowing. Commanding.

Then you have they way he delivered his lyrical content. He made hearing him absolutely unavoidable. You could not casually listen to Public Enemy. The Bomb Squads bassliness force you to bob your head and their samples came at you from all angles. And just when you thought things couldn't get more confusing, in comes the Rhyme Animal to grab you by your neck and spit in your ear.

From there he uses run-up-on-you delivery to drag you from track to track by said jugular. His delivery is like an angry, poetic sports broadcaster. At first his flow may strike you as one dimensional, however that is not completely true. Its true that in him, you can hear elements of MC's that came before him- playing around with intonation, lowering and raising his voice as needed. It also true that many of his contemporaries had left that Melle Mel-ish style behind. I should also note that when P.E. made their debut, Chuck was already older than most his peers entering the game.

I'd be remiss if I neglected to mention the contributions of Flavor Flav. Some may remember him as simply a hype man but if Flav had 7 words to deliver during a song he would spit those individual words with the passsion and intention. No two cents have ever been more impactful.


I decided to go with the the 3rd verse of the 4 verse Rebel Without a Pause from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back. It captures the essence of all the parties that contribute that epic delivery of Chucks. X's scratching. Bombs Squads terrifying track. Flav's two cents. Perfect.

One of a kind.