A Tribe Called Quest came out with their new CD “We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your
service.” It is a big deal: 1. Because it’s the A Tribe Called Quest and it’s
their first album in 18 years. 2. The death of Phife Dawg this year (an
original member of ATCQ). He has verses in the album and helped with
production. 3. Lastly, because it is ART. Hip-Hop needs this. This is music.
This is creating something with a message, with a purpose, with passion to
create Art.
I’m guessing that a very few will listen to the whole album,
so here are my favorite songs off the album. Featured Artists include – Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, Jack
White, Talib Kweli, Busta Ryhmes, and Consequence. Sampled – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Elton John, and
others I don’t know.
1.
Conrad
Tokyo feat. Kendrick Lamar – This is the most famous song so far. Very different
than today’s production of Hip-Hop it’s amazing. Kendrick of course kills it. There
is like a 40 second organ piano solo. This song is dope.
2.
Lost
Somebody feat. Jack White – This Song is for The Phife (The whole album is
though). Starts off with this ominous
Bass guitar, which soon adds this beautiful piano. This is the most beautiful
song on the album. Q-Tip comes in and rips it with great flow. And the Chorus
is beautiful. This is probably my favor Jarobi verse on the album.
3.
Ego feat.
Jack White– Again starts with this Bass Guitar and starts to build with
like a violin in the background. Song doesn’t really start till about 52 seconds. And they completely switch
it up. Very smooth. I’m fascinated with idea of egos. I tend to have a big one
lol. The lyrics in the song are very cool with regards to the title of the
song.
4.
The
Killing Season feat. Talib Kweli, Consequence and THE Kanye – Kanye just does
the hook, but it is perfect. Talib starts, it’s a little different, but song
really starts at 45 seconds. Consequence’s
flow after Kanye’s part makes this song for me. The beat is so smooth and
amazingly different from today’s Hip Hop.
5.
The Space
Program – This is also so different. I think it shows the excellence in
Q-Tip’s flow. They use such a simple beat but they have this constant like
organ or something. But Q-Tip’s flow is what gets me. The Lyrics are so awesome
even though he has such great flow. That’s what makes these guys so special.
Every song has a message. That is ART.
6.
Kids…
feat. Andre 3000 – Andre starts off the song. Not your typical radio song,
but if you keep listening it just gets better and better. Listen to the song a
couple times. The chorus is awesome. If you are expecting a Fetty Wap style
hook, it’s the complete opposite. At about 2:00 Andre 3000 and Q-Tip go verse
for verse. It is a song that I can stop nodding my head up and down. I
literally can’t stop. It is Hip Hop.
7.
The Donald feat. Busta Ryhmes – Busta starts
with this Jamaican accent verse. I love Busta. I think he is hilarious. NEXT,
The Phife comes on for verse 2. R.I.P. He is great. I love his voice. The beat
has this paino in the background that will change at times, with a very simple rhythm
with drum kits. At about 3:00, the song
changes up, the outro gets a little weird but I love it. They put in this
electric guitar that kills it. This song could be directed to a certain Donald
lol.
Hello peeps. So Hip Hop you hear on
the radio sucks right now except for a couple artists. But this whole movement
of Future, Designer, lil yachty, Kodak black, etc. It has people negative about
Hip-Hop. I wouldn’t classify those artists as hip hop, more like Trap Pop music
hahaha. I enjoy listening to them when I’m out. I’m not trying to be a complete
hypocrite.
What’s missing from Hip-Hop right
now? The answer is Art. Hip-Hop is lacking a passion for Art. Artists who
create music for political movements, and combine different sounds from all
genres. That’s what makes Hip-Hop so amazing at its core, the combination of
all kinds of music. I have always been attracted to Hip-Hop artists that make
music for the love of music and influencing people. Instead of the Capitalism
of Hip-Hop that really started in the mid 2000’s. “Hip-Hop Artists” right now, are
just making music to become famous and make money. Capitalism has a direct correlation
with Hip-Hop and how Hip-Hop has spread ideologies across the board. I believe
that Hip-Hop once stood for a counter culture, but now it is just a way to make
money. Instead of the artists like Grand Master Flash, Biggie, Tupac, Eric B
and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Sugar Hill Gang, Wu Tang Clan, etc. that seemed to
make music because it was life. That doing no other thing in life was as
important as making music.
The
people today who I believe make music because it is an art. Pharrell Willams
and N.E.R.D., Kendrick Lamar, J-Cole, Eminem, Kanye West, Yelawolf, Asher Roth,
Chuck Inglish, Common, Big K.R.I.T., Wu Tang, Dr. Dre, School Boy Q, Anderson
Paak, Consequence, and I am sure I am missing a lot. These are the only ones
coming to my head right now. If you know of some please share and comment.
If your goal in life is to become famous or get
filthy rich, well you lose the purity of Art, the purity of expression, the
true musicianship of Music. I hope you become famous or filthy rich because of
your passion to do something, to affect people, to affect change. I try to
bring that to Acting.
Thank You, Spencer.
ps. I write based off of emotion. I do not check my work very often. I apologize for grammatical errors.
