Good hip hop exists if you look hard enough.

It’s refreshing to see that there are still a grip of passionate folks creating hip hop music that stays true to its sonic roots (dope beats, fresh rhymes). I thought I’d take some time out to post a few lesser-known albums I’ve discovered and have been feeling lately. Best of all, they’re FREE.

I’ve been saying that the future of music is free, and I wholeheartedly stick to my nostradomical prediction. 2009 was the year of the free digital EP/LP, bet your download time that the trend continues into 2010 and beyond. Also, the artists pissed off about their music being digitally bootlegged are fighting a war they will never win. Let it live and embrace it. I’d rather be heard than not, how about you?

And to all those folks creating “hybrid” hip hop, stop kidding yourself, it’s not hip hop. That is, if you subscribe to the foundation the music was built upon.

These are my “humble” opinions. If you disagree, let’s have an educational discussion. Now on to the albums. » Continue reading…

For the love of sampling.

I dug up what appears to be 10 minutes of a work-in-progress version of the documentary Copyright Criminals. It consists of a few interviews that weren’t included in the final cut and features the likes of Eyedea & Abilities, Saul Williams, DJ Vadim, Sage Francis, Pete Rock, Bobbito, Shock G, and more. Worth taking a look at to get the views of other musicians who’ve sampled and continue to sample without concern for “the law.” This piece also goes into sampling on deep, artistic level, referencing the past works of history’s greatest composers and how “sampling” existed during their time.

Prince Paul produced a Souls of Mischief album.

Can you believe what you just read?! Prince-mthrfkcn-Paul produced the latest Souls of Mischief album Montezuma’s Revenge that dropped on 12/2/09. No way in hell did I ever think this collabo would have been possible today–I think a blood vessel in my forehead popped when I found out. Fell asleep at the wheel on that one. Folks, if you don’t know, this is the same Prince Paul who produced the classics “De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising” and “Gravediggaz: 6 Feet Deep.” Not to take away from Souls as they are lyrically gifted dudes, but I’ve yearned for a ’93 til infinity style album ever since well..’93. I’m gonna take a breather now and enjoy this gem. Cop it and support great hip hop–we need more collaborations like this! Check out the video for the single “Proper Aim” below. » Continue reading…

Beat Diggin’: A dusty-ass documentary.

Beat Diggin’ is one of the most raw and honest documentaries I’ve ever watched on the subject of crate diggin’, sampling, and beat production. It explores some of the methods and workflow of hip hop’s finest producers. I’ve wondered why this hasn’t seen a DVD release. Pure speculation, but I’m assuming the dudes behind it were either passionate about this film enough to let it live on as art or it wasn’t respected at the time of its making. Major props to them for capturing some great hip hop moments of the 90s. Guest appearances include Da Beatminerz, D.I.T.C., and a few other NY legends.

Copyright Criminals: To sample or not to sample.

Over the last two decades or so, sampling has been a controversial and touchy subject in both the hip hop community and music industry in general. Is it ethical? Is it essentially stealing? Is sample based music not “real music”? Lots of questions, tons of opinions. For those of us that create sample based beats, Copyright Criminals dives into a bunch of these issues. I was lucky enough to check out a free screening at a local community college and needless to say, loved every minute of the film. It’ll be on the PBS series “Independent Lens” in January 2010 for those that don’t have a local screening available. Some thoughts and the trailer below. » Continue reading…