Quick: think of a hip hop song that addresses urban farming or vegetarianism. You might have a tough time… doesn’t most of the music associated with this style revolve around glorifying gangstas? Not according to the organizers of this weekend’s sixth annual Organic Hip-Hop conference: “Just as Hip Hop as a culture was birthed in activism with the goal of saving lives, we seek to continue in that tradition by providing an alternative lifestyle that will garner better physical as well mental and spiritual health.”
Legendary hip hop group The Roots remind us that they’re still a force to be reckoned with despite their mainstream-friendly daily duties backing up Jimmy Fallon as his house band. From their upcoming album of the same name, “How I Got Over” blends a socio-political message about brotherhood and lending a helping hand where “someone has to care,” with a breezy radio friendly hook. The music video was directed by duo Alex Bergman and Maxim Bohichik of BBGUN.
DJ Mayhem and MC Mouthmaster Murf, the duo behind the band The Anomolies have gained some fame and the adoration of nerdcore hip hop and action film fanboys alike in the past for their epic rap summarizations of classic blockbuster movies such PREDATOR and ROBOCOP. They’re back brilliantly again and this time apply their lyricism skills to “Arnie” and TERMINATOR 2.
Brett Domino and Scott Peavis, two of the Brett Domino Trio, nerdify Hip Hop by performing this medley of rap classics such as “Rappers Delight” and “Jump Around.” They are using the Stylophone beatbox, which reproduces sounds that were originally created, not by a computer, but by a MAN, or less dramatically, beatboxing champ, MC Zani, winner of the 2008 Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championships.
Love him or hate him, one thing is for certain: you’ve talked about Kanye West this year. He’s the arrogant buffoon who bullied a teen girl in front of millions. He’s the rap star who at the top of his game turned his back on hip-hop’s school of thought and made a techno-pop album where he sings. He’s remarkably annoying.
I’ve been watching on repeat lately the music video for Brooklyn rapper Blitz the Ambassador’s single “Breathe” from his new album Stereotype, an iTunes Hip-Hop top ten chart (without label support! Dang, someone sign him UP! ). Before moving to the States for college at Kent State University, Blitz’s musical style was strongly informed and influenced by his experience growing up in Ghana surrounded by the sounds of Afro-Beat and Highlife, as well as playing djembe in drum circles. Speaking of style, if “Breathe” is any indication, he’s got that and then some. The music video and the sound, backed by his band Embassy Ensemble, is brimming with head-nodding, shoulder-shaking, foot-tapping energy.
Blitz recently composed the original score to the PBS documentary, BRONX PRINCESS, which chronicles a Bronx-bred teenager, Rocky Otoo’s journey from New York City to Ghana to reunite with her chief father.
Disembodied heads replace the traditional turntables and drumset in this awesome must-watch video by beatbox crew Neurosonics Audiomedical Laboratory. The production quality is remarkable. It’ll turn your head!!
The New York Times today ran an interesting story on an old topic: beef between rappers in the hip-hop community. The article focuses on Joe Budden, a new school rapper, and Raekwon, a 90s rap relic, famous for being a member of Wu-Tang Clan.
Budden has built a following, and a means of attack, via the internet. He actively posts YouTube videos and Tweets about other hip-hop artists. Raekwon, however, is one of the old guard. Then rappers talked shit about one another over the radio or on bootleg records. Times have changed.
After Budden’s recent internet attacks on Method Man, another member of Wu-Tang, Raekwon fought back with fists and camera. He and his entourage jumped Budden, beating him badly. This time it was caught on video and will likely surface online giving Budden a taste of his own medicine. Hip-hop stars are fighting via new media. How very savvy.
This week’s top five music videos circulating around the Internet tubes. They all share a certain upbeat sound which is perfect for sunny summer weekends. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
1. The theatrical music video for Australian duo Empire of the Sun’s (Luke Steel from The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore from Pnau) catchy electro-pop tune “Walking on a Dream” was shot in Shanghai and directed by Josh Logue.
