RUMINATION

I should be making beats instead of blogging, but this can only mean I've officially transformed into Just Blaze.  So, I guess I made it?  Right?Share

SNL & THE ERA OF POST RACISM

First off, I'm dying laughing.  Thank you SNL.  Secondly, I can't help but feel that these skits sum up the future of race relations in this country.  The arrogant, oblivious, and condescending dismissal of the integrity and agency of Durell (really Darrell!) is hilarious yet too true.  Post racism is going to be the death of me.  Pretty soon white men are going to say extremely racist jokes to me and remedy their jokes by saying, "Hey wait a minute Nick, you are half white, therefore you can't be mad or educate me to become a better human being.  Now alley-opp me that stapler!  Hey your name reminds me of that Dave Chappelle skit.  Have you seen that?"  Below is Chris Matthews being myopic, talking about how we have cured ourselves from racism in one year vis a vis Obama.  I rest my case.

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WHY HAVE I NEVER SEEN THIS?

So weird.  With that said, time for shameless self promotion.  Knock my remix of Stevie Wonder's "For Your Love."

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FREEWAY - TIME

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Finally Freeway makes a song that I can endorse.  Usually his gender politics have been too much lately but he drops a few gems on here.  Also, the packaging of his new album is great.  In order to sell CD's or vinyl, you must make it an experience.  Give them a collectible a la the purple tape or iLL-Lit's Gentleman's Kool-Aid packaging.  Peep the video.  Jake One is destroying me right now.  Every beat he makes is perfect recently.

FREEWAY - TIME (PROD. JAKE ONE)

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GRAMMY SNUB

2010 Grammy: Best Rap Album
Common – Universal Mind Control
Eminem – Relapse
Flo Rida – R.O.O.T.S.
Mos Def – The Ecstatic
Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Mos should have won.  I can't stand Eminem anymore.  His music always sounds the same and Dre even gives him simplistic beats that calls into question Dre's passion producing music.  Personally, I think Dre works out too much.  Once you take out the Grammy's bias towards Eminem because he is white and the fact Eminem sales a ton of records because he is white, Mos is the only album on there that could have won.  Then again, Flo Rida would have somehow won.  Damn you elusive Flo Rida.  Stick to smashing oranges. 

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DU BOIS QUOTE OF THE DAY #4

"A classic book is a book that doesn't have to be written again"

With that said, buy this!:  Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880Share

RANDOM TRACKS: MUSCLE GAME

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I'm starting a series where I post old school and somewhat older/really random tracks I have always loved.  This is Muscle Game; a Mario Winans produced track off of Black Rob's first album.  I remember me, Evan Kirby, and Brandon Smart being the only people in high school talking about this song.  The best part of the song is the dropping of the beat.  The most hilarious part of this song is when Puffy (yeah that's what he called himself then) threatens to erase our social security numbers, take our birth certificates out the file, and do that to our whole family.  Thanks Puff.    

BLACK ROB - MUSCLE GAME (click to download)
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JAY ELECT: THE NEW KANE

I am now convinced.  Jay Electronica is the new Big Daddy Kane.  I once told my friend Rolando Brown I see Jay as the new Nas and he was like, "Nah, he's more like the new Kane."  Once I heard Uprock, it was apparent.  Jay, hands down, is the rebirth of Kane.  From wordplay to cadence to delivery, there are many similarities.  Reference for yourself.

JAY - ELECTRONICA - UPROCK (click to download)

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CAMP LO QUOTE OF THE DAY #2

"Diamante catch reflect off the chrome rim / Private stock drenched meat, I can't stop from bubblin' / Ally cat anthem, Always bless the istol / Jungle brown see smoke, complete the Lo official"

- Geeche Suede off of Sparkle (Uptown Saturday Night)

Here is a 96 Diamante for your viewing pleasure (remember, never forget the fuzzy dice):

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DU BOIS QUOTE OF THE DAY #3

"I have loved my work, I have loved people and my play, but always I have been uplifted by the thought that what I have done well will live long and justify my life, that what I have done ill or never finished can now be handed on to others for endless days to be finished, perhaps better than I could have done."Share

CLASSIC HIP-HOP MOVIE INTRO

This intro is clean.  It is one of my favorite movie intros of all-time.  The project that was the Crooklyn Dodgers crafted two classic Hip-Hop songs for two movie soundtracks; Clockers and Crooklyn.  The 1994 trio of Masta Ace, Buckshot, and Special Ed (see video below) for Crooklyn, exemplified the 70s Brooklyn feel and aesthetic while remaining authentically Hip-Hop.  The 95' trio for Clockers was Chubb Rock, O.C., and Jeru Tha Damaja.  This track personified Spike Lee's love for jazz as well as the street appeal the movie, which chronicles drug trafficking in Brooklyn.  Enjoy the videos and the music.  Side note, I didn't really like 9th Wonder's 2007 version so that's why it isn't in here.   

Download the songs, instrumentals, and acapellas from the Crooklyn Dodgers

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MOS DEF - WHITE DRAPES

Off of Mictape Vol. 1, by Michael Sterling Eaton.  The mixtape features Curren$y and the Cool Kids amongst other folks.  I extracted the audio because I love you.  Download it here.  BTW, Creative Control is doing great work recently.Share

DU BOIS QUOTE OF THE DAY #2

For a friend

"But what of black women?. . . I most sincerely doubt if any other race of women could have brought its fineness up through so devilish a fire."
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HOW I LEARNED TO DANCE

Questionmark Asylum is a group from DC.  This song came out in 95 and in Oakland we had The Box.  If you don't know about it, do your research.  I used to see this video with my best friend Will Bonner everyday as a kid.  They dance for the entire video!  I need to film myself at Levende or Reggae Gold and post it.  Trust me, you'll get the same effect.Share

YOU READY? OKAY I GOT THE ECHO!!!!!!

HILARIOUS intro.  The echo is so absurd.  Plus, hearing these safe raps is also hilarious.  One rhyme was about dodging his girlfriend's marriage request. 

Shouts to Wes Mapes (whoops I mean Marsupial Jackson)Share

BEST OF 09

Click Song Titles to Download

These are songs that have been on repeat since I got them.  I thought I would share them with the world and explain why I play these the most.  I still don't have in auxiliary hook up for my iPod in my car, making me auto-technologically deficient.  Thus, I still have to burn mixes (sigh) and these songs are usually on them. 

WIZ KHALIFA - I used to avoid Wiz Khalifa until his Burn After Rolling Mixtape.  He showcases various sounds and lyrical deliveries on this mixtape but the song, When U Find, stands out the most.  The song has a perfect soul sample with no beat.  He samples the orignals' chorus for his chorus.  His subject matter is about how he fails in a relationship.  If he could have went without the line, "and I apologize for sleeping with that freak b***h," he could have had a perfect relationship song where a male rapper finally shows 100% vulnerability and is realistic about the dynamics of relationships.  I have not gotten tired of this song though.  I love it.

Download - Wiz Khalifa - When U Find


JAY ELECTRONICA - As for Jay Electronica's Exhibit C, I really don't even have to explain.  In fact, I won't.

Download - Jay Electronica - Exhibit C

CURREN$Y - Curren$y is easily becoming one of my favorite artists behind Jay Electronica.  I was a late comer, I didn't listen to him when he was with Wayne and some of his mixtapes in 08 and early 09 didn't offer me much because the beats were older hip-hop tracks.  As a producer I have to be brought in by the beat first, sorry.  Life Under the Scope was the track that really grabbed my attention sonically and lyrically.  Between the Ski Beatz (Camp Lo's producer) beat and Curren$y's nonchalant flow, this song is inextricably smooth.  I think Curren$y represents a middle ground between a gritty rapper and a cosmopolitian, Supreme store vandal rapper (think Mickey Factz or Kid Cudi).  Jet's Over Everything slaps and Famous samples Sade so his dichotomous nature is perfect in this day and age.  You decide which Curren$y track you like the most.

Download - Curren$y - Jet's Over Everything
Download  - Curren$y - Life Under The Scope
Download - Curren$y - Famous

Life Under The Scope Video

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CAMP LO QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This is boogie nights, they kept bodies to burnas. Flashy, pazazzy but quick to get Nat Turner."

- Geeche Suede off of Boogie Nights

zSHARE - Camp Lo - Boogie Nights.mp3

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DU BOIS QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We continually set before us the successful rich man as more typical of what America means than the student or the philanthropist or the unselfish man of small income and simple tastes."

Shall we say, "timely?"  I think so. Share

NEW DAT!

My boy Do D.A.T just dropped his first video! The Bridge features another affiliate, rapper and singer Melina Jones.  This is off his debut album, Oakland in Blue.  Congratulations homie.   

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GET YOUR FREEZE ON

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COMMON AND THE CITY

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Common - Next Time


I like when unreleased tracks finally see the light of day.  When I saw this, I was kind of excited because this is a throw away from Finding Forever.  As a producer I'm always interested to hear what a Kanye, No I.D., or Pharrell throw away sounds like.  This song is produced by Karriem Riggins who recently produced one of my favorite songs of 09, Actin' Normal, by Slum Village.  I love the beat but after listening thoroughly, the song gets annoying because of Common's lyrics.  Something people rarely talk about when mentioning Common's music is his disdain for women.  Women are either objectified, vindictive, or need to pull themselves up from despair and victimization.  On Kid Cudi's, Make Her Say, he says, "But they say you be on that conscious tip, get your hair right and get up on this conscious dick" (objectification).  On Testify, the women he describes in the song, masterminds putting her man in jail in a very Greek tragedy way (vindictive).  On Your World, he blames women for their victimization:

Removed from earth, only to return through birth. Knew this girl selling her body, wish she knew what it was worth. Between God and trash, looking in every car that pass, with a walk that suggests head, to milk niggaz she was breastfed, She know dairy so she say cheese to get bread. In the area where it's more weaves and less dreads, kinda scary, amongst thieves and base-heads. Said it was her toes, but I could tell her soul hurt. She was cold turk, growing up she got to know hurt, very well in a world where self hate is overt. Her step-father thought he was ike, so her mother he strike. She got to like, like minded niggaz, who liked crimes and figures, doing white lines and liquor, see hard times had kicked her. In the ass, it used to be thicker. Life is fast, some choose to be quicker"

Step Your Gender Game Up Qoutes from "Next Time":

• "We dipped to the bathroom where she can try my love, and now she a member of the mile-high club.
• "Steppin' into first class, wondering why these flight attendants don't be havin' no ass."
• "In the back they was playin' light jazz, spotted this light plus she had a bright ass."
  

I think pseudo-conscious chauvinism is just as bad as overt, aggressive lyrics because so many pseudo-conscious rappers get praise for being progressive in regards to breaking traditional notions of masculinity.  It's just a new age guise.  Don't let the urban outfitters uniform fool you. Furthermore, his lyrics on this song were pretty bad, elementary and absurdly hilarious.  Yes, this song wasn't supposed to be released, but it was the tipping point for me because I'm tired of loving his beats and having to bypass his lyrics.  He is a good rapper but he has been dropping the ball in regards to women.  Don't forget, the brother is from Southside Chicago and Bishop Don Magic Juan was in the Resurrection video.  Chi-Town is entrenched in pimping.  I'm from Oakland and know that pimp culture has affected how men communicate to and treat women.  Let us pray.       

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THROWBACK: COOL BREEZE

This was my knock.  Plus, this video is so interesting and since the industry has no money, we will never see videos with a budget to try interesting things anymore.Share

NEW 40 WATER

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Two nostalgic posts back to back.  E-40 dropped a new video and it made me think of my favorite E-40 album, In A Major Way.  Yes this is the album that spawned Sprinkle Me, but there is so many classics on this album (well at least to me and my MacArthur BLVD. Brigade).  "Da Bumble," "Dusted and Disgusted," "1 Luv," and "Side Ways."  Not to mention, "Bootsee," "It's All Bad," and 'Chip In Da Phone," are comedic staples.

As for the video, it has interesting visuals, but more importantly, it's refreshing to see him create a "Yay Area" esq track where the African chants replace the Digable Planets sample and infectious drums supplied by his trusty producer Rick Rock, remains the same.  Click the cover to peep where the majority of Bay Area slang comes from as well as checking out his new video below. 

E-40 - Da Bumble

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CLASSIC MATERIAL: 400 DEGREEZ

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I'm going to give myself the title of "G" for this post.  Okay, nevermind my corny ruminations but I'm happy to have experienced 400 Degreez young.  Thank God Cash Money took over the New Orleans scene from No Limit to lend some musical credibility.  Mannie Fresh is one of my all-time favorite producers.  His track record is crazy.  His Mantronix inspired title track, 400 Degreez, is one of the most underrated tracks in Hip Hop.  Thus, download and remember your misspent Friday and Saturday nights, driving in a two toned 83 Celica (if you were lucky), with two friends scrunched in the hatchback, playing Ghetto Children, on your way to Giant Burgers, all while trying to figure what Juve says at 2:18-2:23. 

Juvenile - Ghetto Children

     

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I INTRODUCE MARSUPIAL JACKSON

This is Wes Mapes aka Marsupial Jackson aka Pants Jones aka Thespian Huxtable aka Mulatto Maples aka Vesuvius Mapalinos and numerous names containing the word Mesopotamia.  He is 1/2 of Oakademy, our production company.  This picture speaks volumes and looks how his beats sounds.Share

ELECTRONICA JONES/INDIANA ELECTRONICA

These visuals are amazing.  Where did he get those Indiana Jones clothes?Share

YOUTH TOGETHER MIXTAPE

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My organization, Youth Together, has complied our first mixtape. Themed after our slogan, “Peace, Unity & Justice,” we picked songs that have inspired us as organizers and activists.  Two tracks even feature Youth Together employees, Academic Coordinator/Singer Siaira Shawn and Director of Special Projects/Music Producer Me.  Click the covers to download and if you would like to give a donation for the mixtape, you can here.

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REVOLUTIONARY KING

In a time of war and desperation, a holiday celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King couldn't come sooner.  May we seek his wisdom as conduit of courage and action.  His patience and vision is what needs to be replicated.  Lately I've been thinking about the concept of brilliance and intelligence and how it falls short in changing the world.  What we need is wisdom.  Far too often we become drunk off our own brilliance that we fail to see the importance of reciprocity in human relationships.  Brilliance is talent but wisdom is truth.  I know I may sound like I'm in the Nation of Gods and Earths, but Knowledge + Wisdom = Understanding.  Below is a video of Dr. King talking about war he his disdain of American Imperialism.  His words are virtuous, but more importantly, wise. 

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SUPPORT HAITI | UNDERSTAND HAITI

When I heard about the earthquake in Haiti, I was devastated.  This is a country that is near and dear to my heart because of it's historical significance to people of African decent everywhere.  May this tragedy pull people from across the world together to help and aid Haiti in creating the country it was always intended to be after the revolution.  After the Haitian Revolution, France charged Haiti with reparations for winning.  Never in modern history has the victor of war had to pay.  In the late 1790s, Haiti was charged with the equivalent of $20 billion dollars!  Even with the reparations, Toussaint L'Ouverture sent millions of Francs to the United States an attempt to free enslaved Africans as well as devising a plan to send aid and an army to Africa to end the slave trade.  Haiti's revolution was miraculous, but France, Spain, and the United States have manipulated Haiti ever since; scourging them economically for being the first African Republic in the western hemisphere. 

Please support and send donations to Haiti Action   

Mandatory Reading: The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James

Tonight: Top Ten Social is throwing a benefit at Levende in Oakland.

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WHY IS GIL OFF THE HOOK?!!!!!!!!

He is 60 and is about to have an album that knocks harder than, hell, anybody's.  I’m New Here, due out February 9th.

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LATE CHRISTMAS GIFT

Download :: Nas - Get Down (Special Edition Nick James Remix)
Download :: Nas - Get Down (Special Edition Nick James Remix Instrumental)

Click Image to Have Fun

The reason I called this post a special edition is because of how this remix came about.  I was on Twitter one night and two DJs/producers (DJ Doctor Who and DJ Daislo) I met on Twitter were going back and fourth about a beat.  DJ Doctor Who was contemplating whether or not to send a beat to Daislo and amidst their exchange, I asked to hear it as well.  They sent me the beat and I immediately recognized the sample.  I twitted Doctor Who back, gave him his props and told him I would flip the sample too.  I thought I would do it the following day but I got caught up in getting ready for a two week trip to the Dominican Republic.  I didn't think I would get around to it, but earlier tonight I sat down and made this beat in 20 minutes.  Then, I figured I should do something special with it, so I put Nas on top of it and here it is.  Below is a 3 week exchange chronicling the process.

What's so dope about Daislo and Doctor Who is their love for Hip-Hop period.  I have no idea how they ever heard my music but they have been amazing supporters.  They Twit each other back and forth sending each other beats in their infancy stages up until they create a final product, which I think is an amazing way to use Twitter (they should try Google Wave though).       

Follow: @DaiKatamyisGone & @DJDoctorWho and be sure to check out http://solprecision.tumblr.com

Original Sample: George Benson - "Changing the World"

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LES IS MORE (SUPPLEMENTARY POST)

The response to the 'Les is More" post:

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SOUNDS LIKE A SONG MY DAD WOULD SING

Stream and Download HERE!

I swear my dad raps like this.

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DOCK ELLIS + LSD = COMEDY

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COOL VISUALS

http://www.paranaiv.no/inspiration

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LES IS MORE (FOR ISA & CHRIS)

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I just got the new Ryan Leslie album, Transition, and I think it's addicting (pun intended). His first album was okay but this album Leslie has improved as a producer and a songwriter even though his vocal range is still limited. "Is It Real Love" is catchy (listen below). The simplicity and accessibility of his hooks reminds me of Drake's, So Far Gone. This is one of the few albums recently where the choruses are imprinted in my memory. As a producer, I admit, he is killing it right now. Even Kanye knows (you gotta love and laugh at the swag part):

I made this seminal R. Les post because of two friends, Isa Nakazawa (call her Nakwanza) and Chris "C+" Mueller. They often remark and say I act just like Ryan Leslie, which I think is ridiculous. Maybe I dress more like Ryan than Chris and probably dance by myself in a R. Les manner, but after doing research I realize Chris and Ryan have similar ruminations. See below:

Below is a video done with Yahoo that is interesting if you have the time. It's about seven minutes long. It follows him through Harlem and let's viewers see how he produces music as well as his vision. It has moments I'm sure my friends will reference to make fun of me via him. Weird huh?

I need this! Every studio session I'm in must come equip with white pointed-toe loafers, random model singing my song on the couch, coupled with a staged impromptu video with Chris driving, Isa twitting about the experience in the backseat, and another random model I don't even know in the back as well. This is the part of Ryan Leslie's absurdity that I think is the most entertaining. He reminds me of Floyd Mayweather interview; outrageous but what you've been looking for. 

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HOW HAVEN'T I DONE THIS ALREADY?

Album cover for Aziz's new comedy album. My first instrumental album will have a cover like this. Guaranteed.

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MOONLIGHTING

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WHERE DID THE NIGHT GO

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After a 16 year hiatus, Gil Scott comes back with his unique voice and delivery, coupled with some Kanye-esq production. From the sound of this track, his upcoming album, I'm Here Now, might knock pretty hard. Based off the fun I just had in the Dominican Republic, I need to come out with a track called "Where Did the DR Go."

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MORE MOONEY

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AHMAD JAMAL - THE AWAKENING

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This a sampler's classic. I used the title track as the sample for my Slum Village - Selfish Part 1 Remix. DJ Premiere, Pete Rock, and No I.D. have all sampled this album. Furthmore it is a great listen all the way through. Enjoy it. Check the original sample to Common's "Resurrection" below. 


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