Category Archives: Hip-Hop

All things relating to hip-hop

Great CD Artwork 2

Great CD Artwork 2

More classic hip-hop album covers

Now, even though the artwork for these hip-hop albums may be creative and fresh, that necessarily doesn’t correlate to the actual content within the album. The MC’s are always reliable in producing some creative artwork; you know, putting some thought into how they want their material to be presented. The MC ususally is very hip to the art & design scene – most rappers just want to have an album with their jewels and women. Enjoy below:


– Yes, these two are very odd, but they produce great music; that is what drugs will do to you


– Q-Tip can always be counted on producing some interesting artwork, and music to match


– Cypress Hill was big in the 90’s, and now in the 00’s (in the future, how will we refer to this decade???) they are big in the alternative Hip-Hop scene


– T.I.’s Paper Trail album cover is somewhat creative with the artwork, I guess he is practicing being ‘reflective’; a lot of people do that in jail.


– LL Cool J’s Exit 13 is a very creative album cover, impressive. I never heard the album, and don’t even recall it being released.


Also, check out some of the worst hip-hop album covers by Honolulu Hip-Hop; some of it they got dead on with the bad Photoshop, layering of expensive cars they can never afford – while some are kinda questionable.
Check it out here

Peace.
.:: LiBM ::.

Great CD Artwork

CD’s tangibility

Great CD artwork

The Audio CD will soon be replaced by digital downloads (iTunes, Napster) or by credit card sized items that act as a prepaid phone card; go online, scratch the back of the card, and download the album to your digital music player of choice. These steps are inevitable as the Internet age has made the physical CD obsolete as the medium’s message has changed, digitally speaking – the audio digital music device is the message (iPod, Zune), no longer the CD. One thing that will be missed from the tangible feeling of CD’s is the album artwork – which in the past few years have made a resurgence as record labels look frantically for ways to hold onto the traditional model. I am sure we all can recall a time when one of the best part of buying a CD was ripping the plastic, and opening the album artwork to see the credit, the pictures, lyrics, etc. That was a personal feeling and connection between the purchaser and the artist; which gave the CD far more relevance than the audio on the optical disk could ever have. Enough about that, here are some classic album artwork, all the way from the vinyl to the plastic:

Michael Jackson – Dangerous
Michael Jackson - Dangerous

Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist

Kool & the Gang – Still Cool

Radiohead – Hail to the Thief

Van Halen – 1984

Kanye West – Graduation

I will miss this aspect of the music experience – as the last CD I recall buying was Kanye’s Graduation … even thought the iPod’s Cover Flow is cool, it just can’t ‘touch’ the affect of a physical CD.

.:: LiBM ::.

Just like music

Just Like Music

Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye, this song is smooth ass classic hip-hop funk – something to do a lil’ two step to. If you don’t know who either of these two guys are, leave this site now and go to wikipedia/youtube, lames.
Erick Sermon is still doing production work I believe, and the great late Marvin Gaye’s works live on in sampling.

The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World

The most Beautifullest thing in this world

Apart from ‘beautifullest’ not being a real world, Keith Murray provided a lyrical dose with this debut track that focused on a simple boom bap beat, and raw lyrics. Released in the mid 90’s, this song was well received as this was a time when lyricism was promoted in the mainstream. Now, Keith Murray is working on new material, but unfortunately like most that reappear after long hiatuses, he probably won’t fit into today’s climate, but can’t stop from trying. Production by the great Erick Sermon of EPMD fame.

cD Records: I Honor You with 1Luv


Art by Venomx

Some great concept records

Many rappers can rap: talking about their ice, cars, hoes, and such – anyone can do it. But what distinguishes a rapper from an MC is their ability to tell a story; for 3-4 minutes to take you on a mental ride through their lives and how they see it. To feel their emotions: elation or pain, bliss or remorse, concept records have pushed the artform ahead, as rappers have stretched the boundaries of imagination.

Nas – One Love

– This was the song that got Nas on the hip-hop light as it was his first major music video. Even Mobb Deep was up in it

Canibus – I honor You

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2yuIUxv9E

– Sick concept

Lyrical Weights: Canibus @ Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

First, this song proves that hip-hop lyricism doesn’t need a hardcore beat – take out the vocals, and this song is a very light and soft instrumental; fitting for an R&B record or even adult contemporary.
Second, add in the vocals, and this is one of the craziest songs of all times with insane metaphors and similes – I must have heard this song numerous times, and I still get chills and shivers; no one is currently going in like this.  Canbus really took it to the next level on this and has to be the best song of his career.

Tupac Abstract Art

Tupac Abstract Art

No better time than to present to present some Tupac abstract art.  The net is buzzing since the image above shows someone that is similar to the great rapper; all the Elvis-like individuals that believe that he is still alive, are clinging to some hope.  However, let me remind you that faking your own death is a federal offense, and if he were to do it, then it would have been wise for him to seek habitat in a country that does not have extradition treaties with the U.S.

Anyhow, enjoy!

Guide to Music: Flobots

Guide to Music: Flobots

Alternative Hip-Hop gets picked up in the mainstream

Flobots are an Alternative Hip Hop band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000. To date, they have released two albums (counting Onomatopoeia) and one EP. Flobots found mainstream success with its major label debut Fight with Tools (2007), featuring the single “Handlebars”, which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.

“Handlebars”

Gotta give it up to this alternative hip-hop group for being on a major label (Universal Music Group) and focusing on real lyrics.  Support real hip-hop and not that bullshit on the radio!

.:: LiBM ::.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flobots

Guide to Music: Jay Electronica

Guide to Music: Jay Electronica

That real music that you missed isn’t gone, its just harder to find …

Jay Electronica is a rapper and producer known for his use of percussion-less film soundtracks as a background for raps, his abstract lyrical style, and his associations with Erykah Badu, Just Blaze and Nas. He produced the first track, “Queens Get the Money”, on the 2008 Nas album Untitled. The unconventional nature of much of his music, and the lack of conventional release methods for that music, have since 2007 made him the object of much attention. He is perhaps best known for the piece of music Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge).

Eternal Sunshine

Renaissance Man

Posers feat. The New Royales … BIG TUNE!

.:: LiBM ::.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Electronica

O’Reilly defends Palin and the Right over Eminem lyrics

O’Reilly defends Palin over Eminem lyrics

What is interesting about this is that O’Reilly goes in a tirade about liberal attacks on the right by using a song by Eminem (who does not subscribe to liberalism). Trying to make a mountain of a mole – only thing he is accomplishing is generating more buzz for Eminem. Only been 80 some odd days and the right is losing their mind over their loss of power.

Hall & Oates: Hip-Hop’s favorite source to sample

Hall & Oates: Hip-Hop’s favorite source to sample

Some background if you don’t know -and if you don’t know, then you really are not up on your music game, but Hall & Oates are a pop music duo made up of Daryl Hall and John Oates.The act achieved its greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed “rock and soul.” They are best known for their six #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Rich Girl”, “Kiss on My List”, “Private Eyes”, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”, “Maneater”, and “Out of Touch”, as well as many other songs which charted in the Top 40. They have sold 80 million albums worldwide.

They have one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop industry, here is just a list (which I think is outdated):

* 1989 – “Say No Go” – De La Soul
* 1993 – “V.S.O.P” – Above the Law
* 1996 – “My Crew Can’t Go for That” – Trigger tha Gambler
* 1996 – “So Deep” – Dan-e-o
* 1997 – “I’ll Do Anything” – Heavy D
* 1998 – “I Can’t Go for That” – 2 Live Crew
* 1999 – “Can’t let go – C-Note
* 2000 – “Can’t Go for That (Remix)” -Tamia
* 2000 – “After Party” – Koffee Brown
* 2001 – “Traffic” – Stereo MC’s
* 2002 – “4 Myself” Mac Dre ft. Devious and Dubee
* 2003 – “Sunrise” – Simply Red
* 2003 – “Take Me to Your Leader” – King Geedorah
* 2004 – “I Can’t Go For That/Happy People Remix” – Notorious B.I.G. / R. Kelly (“Happy People” samples Spandau Ballet’s “True”)
* 2005 – “Wait Til I Get Home” – C-Note
* 2006 – “Give and Go” – Girl Talk
* 2006 – “No Can Do” – Tech N9ne
* 2006 – “Can’t Go On” – Örten

and here is the track:

Get up on your music game people!

.:: LiBM ::.