Things that make me happy... The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Things that make me happy... The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

"Just when you think you know hip hop it surprises you and reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place." - Sydney Shaw, Brown Sugar

Nuff said!!

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Album the Heist was released in August 2012 as a relative unknown but has built momentum month after month ever since. After appearances on Saturday Night Live, a concert tour, and much word a mouth this album is getting lots of recognition.

The Heist is a throwback hip hop album with strong lyrically content. Macklemore flow is so smooth and enjoyable that you might miss the message in many of his song. Some of his songs addresses gay rights, substance abuse, and trying to make it the music industry. But what makes this album stand out is the music. Although the album is straight hip hop he infuses R&B, country, and rock. You can enjoy playing the entire album through and get a different sound each track.

Another great characteristic of the album is the number of collaborations used throughout the album. Each add something different to the Album.

Album Song list

Ten Thousand Hours - Way to introduce "The Heist"
Can't Hold Us - Album's first big hit. Catchy tune and getting lots of airplay. Might be one of the songs of the summer.
Thrift Shop - The next hit. Fun another great hook... Best line of year "This is F@cking Awesome"
Thin Line -
Same Love - Political commentary at its best... on a great dope melody.
Make The Money- Soooo many ill rhymes! "Uncle Sam is
Neon Cathedral - Slowdown with the R&B feel but don't expect a let up on the verses.
BomBom - Why not a instrumental track... and its still hip hop. Genius.
White Walls - This could be remix potential dance hit.
Jimmy lovine - Another future hit... "...rather be a starving artist than succeed at getting f@cked!"
Wings - Another nice track. Good spin class "climb track"
A Wake - An indy feel. Another future hit.
Gold - A bit weak but might still be a pop hit. High school kids might love this one.
Starting Over - One of my favorites on the album. Kinda like therapy... Enimen style.
Cowboy Boots - Really?!? And its fun a song. Too funny!
Castle - Ok track
My Oh My - Nice tribute track...
Victory Lap - Shout out to Seattle. Every town needs an anthem.

Thrift Shop

Same Love

Can't Hold Us

My Oh My

NPR Tiny Desk Music Series (soo good) - Same Love and others...

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on SNL - Thrift Shop

On Letterman - Can't Hold Us

Pros
1. One of the best hip hop albums in years.
2. Macklemore flow is wicked and he's got something to say...
3. The music on this album can keep you listening for hours. This might be a classic in the making.

Cons
1. There are only 18 tracks on the deluxe edition. And we want more.

Fun album for the summer...

SF Guru

Things that make me happy this week... Matisyahu @ Festivals of Lights

Things that make me happy this week... Matisyahu @ Festivals of Lights

What do you get when when you mix reggae, rock, hip hop and traditional Judaism? The beautifully soulful musical artistry of Matisyahu.

Matisyahu is a musician that defies classification.  He is simply an artist that shows music really has no bounds.  My first introduction to this artist was on a NYC TV show where I saw this reggae artist diving into a crowd and he was dressed in a traditional hassidic outfit. First I thought this was a gimmick, but after listening to his album, Light, I realize his skills were legit.  He is known for his hits "King without a Crown' and "One Day" both making it to the top of rock and reggae charts.  But he has many influences in  his music style. Matisyahu musical range include beatboxing, rapping, Jazz styled scat singing, and Judaism Hazzan style of prayer singing.

This past week he played four concerts in NYC for the Festival of Lights at the Williamsburg Music and Webster Halls.  On Thursday night, Webster Hall was packed with adoring fans singing many of his hits and crowd diving from the stage.  As a giant disco driedel hangs from the ceiling, Matisyahu dances, beatbox, and sing most of his hits from his various albums.

Webster Hall - Festival of Light - Youth

One Day

Time of your song

King without a crown

Concert Pros

1. Great band and performance by Matisyahu

2. Disco Driedel... pretty cool actually.

3. Yiddish Lil Wayne guy that came to rap.

Cons

1. No beard on Matisyahu which is a signature look for him. Good music anyways.

2. Venue was okay. Good for this type of concert but a bit warm.

Check out Matisyahu music if you want something a little different this holiday season.

Albums - Light, Live at Stubbs I & II, Youth, Shake of the dust 

Or catch a live show... he is always touring all around the world.

S.F Guru

Things that make me happy... Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Things that make me happy... The documentary called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

It was 1985. Four young men (QTip, Phife, Ali Shaheed, and Jarobi) helped to create a pivot point in the history of hip hop.  Hip hop music morphed into a sound that move past the "battle" or "intellectually immature" rap of that time into music that extended a long history of story telling by incorporating truly improvisational artistry.  The documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe called Quest, produced by filmmaker Michael Rapaport, is now available on video. It chronicles the the history of one of the best rap groups of all time and takes you behind the scenes of the members of the group as they discuss their music, relationships, and the influences that help them create their unique and original sound copied by many of the best producers and beat makers today.

I look at any documentary film in three ways, quality, subject, and impact. The first is the quality of the work. As a person who watches many documentaries, I think this one is one of the best of the year. In a previous blog, I mentioned several others that came out in 2011 both in theaters and on cable. This one tops them all. The interviews are not "soft" where people appear to have an agenda and are telling you what they think you want to hear. The discussion are honest, real, and sometime a bit awkward as they talk about the good and bad times over their 25+ year relationship.  You almost get the feeling that they need to tell this story just to get it off of their chest. Post production there are stories on the internet and twitter about conflicts Q-tip and others have about the portrayal in the film.  This is kinda a good sign that they really got to some real truths in the documentary.

The second way a film stands out is the subject matter.  Look. If you are a true fan of hip hop and more specifically a dedicated fan of the "Native Tongues" then the music alone will please you (if you don't know about Native Tongues... treat yourself to a great Christmas gift and check out the artists). But if you take into account the all the artist featured in this film and the history lesson, then this film will definitely surpass your expectations.

The last way I judge a film is the feelings that it invokes.  For documentaries sometimes they just help increase a person knowledge on a subject. Maybe a few Aha!! moments about a subject that you are not familiar with or perhaps some deeply hidden insights from expert in a field. But best triggers an emotion. And this one... for me... brings out nostalgia. I remember putting on my dashiki even when I didn't quite know what the hell it was just because I saw artist like Tribe and Dela Soul wearing one.  It also fused my love for jazz (yes even at a early age I knew I loved me some Jazz music) with the music of my generation, hip hop.  A Tribe Called Quest produced music that was fun yet insightful, discussing afro-centric topics that until that time was not covered in most type of popular music.  And more importantly Tribe is part of the soundtrack of my and many of my generation lives. For this truly makes me happy.

Pros:
1. Well done documentary... not a propaganda vehicle and they certainly were pitching anything in this video. Real Talk... the way it should be.
2. The music. The soundtrack speaks for its self.
3. Features lots of artist talking about the impact of the music.

Cons:
1. Not enough performance footage although filmed during a tour. Lots of musical documentaries, like Madonna's truth or dare manages to feature lots of performance videos.
2. The group still has lots of tension. Not much of the group chatting together... Its a little sad that you can see the Beastie Boys still doing interviews together and Tribe struggling to work through their issues. At time is painful to watch. Can't we all just get along?
3. Jealousy, hurt, miscommunication and health issues.  Lots of love between the group and they just can't figure out how manage the relationship over the years.

Beats, Rhymes & Life Trailer

The Scenario

Bonita Applebum

What's your favorite A Tribe Called Quest song?

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy... BET Hip Hop Awards Cyphers

Things that make me happy... BET Hip Hop Award Cyphers - 2011 edition (now airing on BET)

Okay sure it is annoying that each year they make up new categories that make very little sense. But the show is still worth a watch.

Is hip hop dead? Nah! For 2 hours once a year BET feature veterans and new rappers on best segment of any award show on TV... The Cypher.  From the DJ in the background to the street feel of the set, this reminds me of raps hey day. Yo MTV Rap style...

So for the real hip hop lovers... check out the rhyme.

Eminem Group (Would have to be the master of this... Consistently great flows every year)

Ludacris and Busta Group (My favorite... Busta gave a full dissertation on this one).

Estelle Group

Chris Brown Group (Chris Breezy letting of some steam)

Rick Ross Group

BOB Group

Most Rapper Representing: Atlanta. But what is always fun to see is the diversity of sounds, flows and people in these cyphers, women, latino, french, even a disable rapper... BET is reaching out.

Which was your favorite?
What was the best verse?

S.F. Guru