hip-hop posts

N’Dambi

Sunday, November 28th, 2004 by Paul Irish

neo-soul // contemporary r&b

N’Dambi got started as vocalist with the big afro, backing up the soul siren Erykah Badu. Her solo albums sound like what you’d expect from Sunshine Anderson, India.Arie, The Princesses Nubiens, or Erykah — laid back grooves with an upright bass, a scatting vocal line, and a head-nodding chorus. “Call Me” snuck itself in my head after listening to my man Maze’s radioshow. It’s a standard song structure, but it’s got definite head-nod appeal. Her gentle voice injects subtle but solid emotion that gets right down to the soul of it.
It’s a red-light drizzly night outside, but you’re in where the vibe is swingin’.

N’Dambi – Call Me

Bahamadia

Friday, September 24th, 2004 by Paul Irish

dropped out hip hop // dub hop

Icy spicy quiet sizzlin’. You know this song. At least, you’ve heard it sampled before. Bahamadia, the philly princess, emerged as the protege of Gang Starr’s Guru, and dropped this single on the hip hop world. I picked up this remix from Jazzanova’s new Mixing record. (hot shit) This sexy little track has appeared in some quality hip hop grooves before. I’d love to tell you what, but I seriously have no idea. I need you all to help me out on this one.
What was this moist ‘n drippy soul-filled hip hop song sampled in?

Bahamadia – uknowhowwedo (Ski Remix)

C-Mon & Kypski

Thursday, September 23rd, 2004 by Paul Irish

jazzy funky breakbeat // big beat

Funky sample heaven. C-Mon and Kypski is a German Dutch (thanks, guys!) group that throw together incredible constructions of samples and breakbeats into some very accessible and groovalicious tunes. From their website: “Their energy – containing musical ancestors such as jazz, hip hop, soul, funk and more – is definitely exploring new territories while staying continuously dynamic.” I like that. And damn it, I like this song: “Shittybum” (featured earlier on Waxy) would blow me away by itself, but it’s completely overshadowed by the coolest music video ever. Wait up for the Space Invaders sequence. It’s badassss.

Spike Jones, watcho’self. This music video is one of the freshest bits of musical/video artistry I’ve seen.

C-Mon & Kypski – Shittybum


C-Mon & Kypski’s website

Dabrye

Saturday, September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

experimental hip-hop // abstract downtempo

Fresh rhythm. Pounding slow dropped-out grooves. His sound has a good amount of reggae influence. This is hip-hop everyone can love, if they do love real hip-hop. Perfect to get yo’ crip walk on to. Dabrye toured with Prefuse 73 a bit ago, and the two share a similar sound.
Get yo’ glad rags on and join me, thug.

Dabrye – Smoking The Edge

Ty

Wednesday, August 18th, 2004 by Paul Irish

hip-hop // broken beat // funk

Hailing from the Big Dada imprint of Ninja Tune, Ty is a new and powerful force in hip-hop. His beats meld together some of England’s best musical export (Downtempo) with the upbeat feeling of east-coast hip-hop. A very accomplished rapper and beat constructor. My favorite MC from across the lake, Roots Manuva, lends his lyrics to this “refix”.
You can’t listen to this track and not shake your ass.

Ty – So U Want Morre (Refix feat Roots Manuva)