Black Star - Definition

Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
You must know Karate or think your soul is 'Bulletproof' like Sade
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
An' maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary

The late 90's were awesome for hip-hop! One of my favorites is Black Star, made up of two MCs who went on to make big, big names for themselves individually: Talib Kweli and Mos Def.

I listen to their 1998 debut quite often, but it was recently brought to the front of my mind while watching this awesome Vox deconstruction of rap by Estelle Caswell. If you've not seen it you should watch. Like right now. Thank me later.

You're welcome. Also, check out Estell's playlist on Spotify. It's awwwwwsome.

Logic feat. Big Lenbo - Young Jesus

Okay, now take a trip inside my mind like you was off to Venice
It’s me and B-I-G L-N-B-O cooking like chemists
Take them back to way back when like Dennis, The Menace
Causing mayhem on the come up like a young apprentice
Smoking weed and getting higher then a flight attendant
Hip-hop descendant, gold Jesus on my pendant
Got to pull it out for everyone that’s in attendance
Okay, back in the day as a college park tenant
Still can’t believe I didn’t get a shorty pregnant
Man. that’s the definition of a life sentence
A whole lot of beef, no bread, no lettuce
Cause I couldn’t keep it in my briefs, man that’s pathetic
Fuck all that back and forth, this ain’t a game of tennis
I'll be in my mothafuckin' chamber like the senate
Scared to go outside but I know I can’t prevent it
I'm, forever alone in my mind
See I’m a self-diagnosed hypochondriac
Either at the crib, or on the tour bus is where you'll find me at
Yeah, I know that I’m livin' like I got it okay, yeah
But I swear that I'm not that neurotic over here, yeah

It's been a little while since we've had some hip-hop here on TMIS, so let's fix that. At the beginning of "Young Jesus" Logic, the self-styled Young Sinatra, intones "What up Bobby? This that 95 shit right here. Take 'em back to the 90s!"

And, that, friends, pretty much sums up what you're about to get, a 90's inspired hip-hop track that hits like it's a collab between Swollen Members and The Wu-Tang Clan. Good stuff. He's got a new album "Bobby Tarantino" out, but I've only been able to give it a brief listen, but it's solid.

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Miike Snow feat. Run The Jewels - Heart Is Full (Remix)

Please don't knock over my heart
Cause my heart is full of you
Yeah, my heart is full of you
I don't worry 'bout tomorrow
Cause my heart is full of you
Yeah, my heart is full of you

iii has been out for a few months now, and it's a been a solid return for Swedish dance rockers Miike Snow. My favorite track from the album is, as you might guess given the way things are going this week, a collaboration. And, yeah, we've got Run The Jewels again. "Heart Is Full", which was also the first single from iii, combines dope beats, some sweet soul vocals and a nice "intro" from Killer Mike.  The video, sans RTJ, is a nice bit of scifi action too.

Upcoming Shows

DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels - Nobody Speak

We the best
We will cut a frowny face in your chest, little wench
I'm unmentionably fresh, I'm a mensch, get correct
I will walk into a court while erect, screaming "Yes!
I am guilty motherfuckers, I am death."

So, it's looking like this week's going to be all about rap team ups and collaborations! He's my entry: a new one from the amazing DJ Shadow, one of the only DJs I've ever seen rock an outdoor festival stage during the day using only turntables. It's been, oh about five years since we've heard from him and the hype around his new album, The Mountain Will Fall, is growing by the day. As you might expect. We love our Shadow! On "Nobody Speak" he's teaming up with Run The Jewels (who can also rock a daytime festival stage) and it's funky, horny goodness all around.

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Bones & Beeker - Each Time I Die

I was livin' in some other life
Another time I guess
Inside a different mind
A million eyes deceive
and quickly fade away
oh no
The shape I take and walk another line now

There is something haunting and familiar about this song. I can't place my finger on it, but I know I like it. Those groovy horns and funky beats would make a great backdrop to a Day of The Dead second line, or, something you might hear on the backlot of a particularly hip carnival. Bone Daddy (the skull-faced and red suit wearing bobble head on my desk) approves!

The rest of the tracks on their self-titled album is a bit different, with kind of an island meets hip-hop meets lounge feel that's quite nice; if a bit hard to define. If you like this and are interested in more, give "Lupine" a listen.

Upcoming Shows