#TapeDecks2020 The 2020 Best of Tape

Lee's Favorite Music of...2020 Tape Decks
#TapeDecks2020

Got the idea when Barack Obama dropped his annual "Barack Obama's Favorite Music of 2020". At first, I planned to copy design the template exact, around 30 tracks, then I got the idea of what this blog is all about...the nostalgia of the tape and recording those tracks on both sides. This of course is an extended version, still representin' for both sides, A & B. Instead of the album shout outs (there were so many in 2020!) I decided to focus on just tracks and that's what I'll be doing every year. I credit that to the good folks over at Southern Vangard podcast radio (shout out to DJ Jon Doe & South Memphis East McLemore Meeks!)...also much love to OutdaboxMedia, Hip Hop Battlefield and a few podcasts out there including Hard Knock Radio and Mark Maron's WTF podcast for putting me on to some notable records through their conversations with the earth's creators. Even though I take deep dives and unpack whole records, this was more convenient to reference more artists/songs, especially as much time as I dedicate to Southern Vanguard dial and their exclusive rotation format...From one podcast to the next, the common fan accumulates a ton of listening homework wanting to absorb it all. It's a dump god movement going on outside and if I was still on radio it would be overwhelming to keep up. My audio contact these days is through those rides to and from, the workout times, gettin' busy in the kitchen with the headphones on, hours upon hours of lesson planning and grading and those out the class responsibilities that just gotta get done...music is always there. My second wind, my mind motivation. This has became even more pronounced during this treacherous pandemic. While there's things to be thankful for in this life to continue to connect, create & appreciate, I'm also in thought of those we had to speak with in spirit this year. Death was around every corner in 2020. This tape is about life & memory. God bless the dead. 

Respect to everyone listed on this tape. There's never room for it all. These tracks right here though, definitely hit me in the heart. 

Peace Hip Hop, can't stop, won't stop 2020.

check.

Lee  

Southern Vangard tracks...
'Dominican Church Eucharist' Codenine x Karate * 'God Tier' Supreme Cerebral feat. Napolean Da Legend x Rasheed Chappell x Rob Deniro * 'Remove 45' De La Soul feat. Styles P, Talib Kweli, Pharoah Monch, Mysonne, Chuck D x Supa Dave West * 'Falling Apart' Supastition * 'Smoke & Mirrors' Elzhi x Monica Blaire x JR Swiftz * 'Starks' Josiah the Gift x Freemind x DJ Jon Doe * 'On Won' Senor Kaos & Illastrate x 4-Ize * 'Think of the Lox' The Lox x Westside Gunn x Benny the Butcher x Large Professor * 'Numb Out' Ghost of the Machine & DJ Proof x Fredo Crespo

Tape Decks tracks...
'White Belt' stic * 'Phoenix Suns' One Be Lo * 'Roots of Blue' Blu & Exile* 'Unreasonably Doubted' Jay Royale* 'Amazing Grays' Goodie Mob* 'Gold Frames' Le$* 'No Lames' Curren$y*

There's No Place Like America Today

There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield

"One of the most famous pictures (Margaret Bourke-White) took shows African-American men, women, and children lined up outside a flood relief agency. In striking contrast to their grim faces, the billboard for the National Association of Manufacturers above them depicts a smiling white family of four (and their dog) riding in a car under a banner with the ultimately ironic slogan "World's Highest Standard of Living. There's no way like the American Way." source

Recommended reading: Traveling Soul The Life of Curtis Mayfield by Todd Mayfield

Word...Life 94'

Word...Life

O.C. 94'

"I just remember working so hard on all of the songs, not just "Time's Up." We couldn't afford lots of studio time, so I had to come to the studio ready to bust. Finesse pushed me to take everything further too. He wanted every bar to sound perfect, as if it came directly from the mouth of a black God. Finesse pushed me and taught me how to be the best I could be as a vocalist. When we were making "Ga Head," I remember there was this 36-hour session where I kept re-laying vocals over and over, and Finesse was editing the beat. But I think that dedication is why the record holds up so well. It was worth it!" - O.C. source

From the Ruins

From the Ruins
Azteca

"Though their longevity cannot rival Santana's, their influence is felt as deeply. Azteca was the first Latin group to hybridize the sound, bringing in a fuller band and mixing in elements of jazz and funk. From the Ruins is a recording of their 2007 reunion concert, in honor of Coke Escovedo. But, there's little to give an indication of the year. The sound is still solid early 70s, a badge that the band is definitely proud of. As Pete says early on in the record: "Sounds like 1972, doesn't it?" - Hank Willenbrink source

Recommended reading: My Life in the Key of E by Pete Escovedo

Liquid Swords 95'

Liquid Swords
Genius/GZA

Feel like I spend what feels like a lifetime immersed in the classics. Timeless records we go back to that occupy the space between my headphones again and again. There's a lot of albums like that. Records I've kept on tape, Vinyl, CD's with cracked covers held together sandwiched between a stack of other CDs. Now days its all there, digitally. This one right here, Liquid Swords man. Learned recently that Denys Cowan of Milestone DC Universe was responsible for the cover art. This a big deal for a kid who discovered Milestone during middle school. Checking back frequently at local comic book shops to see when the next issue would land only to get lost looking for what was a short lived existence on the bins and shelves of spaces around town. I've read and watched a bunch of interviews and realize I missed the liner note unaware of all the players involved behind the Milestone DC Universe and connection to this record. Extending my appreciation and respect to Denys Cowan. Can only imagine all those worlds coming together or it being obvious at the time that this collaboration was what it was. Thinking of the inspiration one can trace and track over the years. Shout out to Grimm.

It's not clear in the liner notes, but I gotta assume that this here is the work of Cowan in addition to the cover!

The Baltimore Housing Project

 

The Baltimore Housing Project

Jay Royale

Hip Hop will always have a story to tell. Hip Hop is a product of it's environment. It's a deeper social lesson and connection to geography. Jay Royale for me is an introduction to a voice from Baltimore by way of the good folks of Southern Vangard Radio...that's how I heard about Jay Royale. A true wordsmith & everything a fan cares about if you were immersed in the timeless word play of some of the greatest eMCees that Hip Hop got to offer. No need to reference a specific eMCee or decade or none of that, cause at this point, if you listen to a Jay Royale record you hearing something new that's in the conversation with anything great you've heard before. I got access to his record digitally. But I know me, and this one of those I gotta feel. Purchasing options at the bandcamp: Jay Royale Bandcamp

#kruxlife 2006

#kruxlife 2006

My 1st turntable & mixer...rotating the goods.

Illmatic Symphony

Nas & the National Symphony Orchestra Live from the Kennedy Center Illmatic 94' 20 years later (click on image)

Times is Illmatic

Illmatic the world is yours edition

How I like to listen to Illmatic. So many parts to the story. These are just a few of those pieces. Times is Illmatic...

State of Podcast listening 2020

State of Podcast listening 2020

Since the last post update about podcasts I'm currently listening to the list definitely got deeper. One in particular that I want to highlight since it brought me back to a familiar space is Way Down in the Hole with Jemele Hill & Van Lathan. The program takes us through each episode of The Wire! It's slowed me down though since I've decided to revisit the actual episode and watch it again before moving on to each episode of the podcast. These days that's easier done than said. I've got each season on DVD (those big block cases) but have been able to access the high resolution stream on Amazon Prime which contributes to a new experience revisiting The Wire. Matter of fact, it brought me back to this vision I had a few years ago to create a mixtape for each episode of The Wire. I was able to tap into the first episode of the mixtape series I created titled Tapes & Wires. You can check out the old post right here about that, includes cover and the tracklist click here. But this is more about what Jemele and Van got going on, cause they definitely got it going on with this concept and a lot of brilliant ideas in the way a podcast can be structured to engage listeners but most importantly to keep the conversation interesting for themselves. Nothing is more disengaging then a podcast that loses its purpose or as Combat Jack used to say, extends the lay offs for too long. Gotta keep it pushing, but it's a lot easier when the podcast got a purpose like with what Jemele & Van got planned out. Plus, just judging from the first three episodes, they definitely breaking things down and bringing some new information and conversations to the universe of The Wire. I'm about as OG as it gets when it comes to being a fan of The Wire...I started watching the show on its day 1 debut during my college years since a while before that I had already invested all my time with The Corner when I  caught notice of the program through my fandom of Charles S. Dutton's work and then of course Sean Nelson from Fresh. You can tune into the archive and each new episode of Way Down in the Hole at this Spotify link: click here.

Honorable mentions that have made their way into my podcast channels include the following:

Bishop Chronicles click here

My experience with this program goes back I'm sure to a past update, but I want to make sure to pass on the Spotify location since that's where you're going to find the latest and the greatest from the Black Dragon of the \/\/estside!! If you got a podcast out the Bay Area that I should be hearing over this one, I dare you to present yourself to the center of the dojo! Cause really, I don't see anyone running that territory other then the Bishop of Hip Hop!

The Gangster Chronicles click here

A dope platform for who I consider a curator of stories and perspectives from gang culture with Alex Alonso and Death Row affiliates Reggie Wright, Jr. and Big James McDonald who's insight is as raw and conversational as it gets. What's great is you get three brothers in the room having an honest conversation, each of them sticks to their guns and aren't concerned with modifying who they are for the sake of the audience. You find your place in what's being said and keep it moving. Great podcast, award winning podcast, nothing like it! Its got me on my subscribed Spotify game right now!

Super Duty Tough Work Podcast click here

I heard about this podcast from the good folks and #1 podcast on my list Southern Vangard! This one is definitely verified, two Hip Hop aficionados with experience to understand the game inside and out, especially from the independent side of things! Blueprint & Illogic giving ya'll game and some of the illest conversations with some of our favorite artists out there through their cheat code sessions.

Sands on Sports with Grap Luva click here

Sports wouldn't be able to shine the way it do without Hip Hop. Especially when it comes to hoop, football, and boxing. I love how J Sands brings us closer to some of Hip Hop's most notable eMCees and beatmakers through a conversation about Sports and the Hip Hop culture. When it comes to time the game clock is on as soon as the intro comes in with Grap Luva for the 1st, 2nd, halftime, 3rd quarter and 4th. J Sands if you don't know is one of the illest eMCees in the game! Check in with Pittsburgh's own!

Underground Society Murder Master Music Show click here

When I found this, it took me back to AM radio. Straight up. It's about as terrestrial as it gets when it comes to Hip Hop. I challenge ya'll to find an archive that's as deep as what the host Prez has presented out there. Includes a connecting line to their man in France on the interviews. But yeah, guaranteed to learn something new about this Hip Hop universe running through this archive and weekly interview updates. Stretches across the map, underground to the mainstream and in between. Respect to UGS Life.

Democracy Now click here

Not a podcast, but in the days of joke news networks out there, I got it listed to tap into real conversations and especially after I saw folks like Ilyasah Shabazz make there way through for an interview or any other notables that just don't seem to have a place on other news networks out there that get fat over 45's every waking tweet & move. On Democracy Now, you're more likely to be educated on what's going on as opposed to being manipulated or filled up with processed nonsense.

Gimme That Volumes with Robert Rodriguez of Wanted Records click here

I found out about this program through a plug from the Soul Rebel Radio family which included finding out about George Miller's program. While you gotta dig through the mixcloud archive to find each volume, it's worth the search. You won't find a .45 vinyl session quite like this. It's timeless so it really don't matter that it's old cause the rotation is mindblowing. A crate diggers dream right here. Tune in for the ride...if you can find it. The "click here" above takes you to one volume of many. You're on your own finding the other volumes though!

There's a few more additions to the list! In the past I've mentioned my top of the list with Edge of Sports podcast, Break Dances with Wolves, the Premium Pete Show, Making Contact, Marc Maron's joint, The Collision with Dave & Etan, Hot 107.9 ATL, Sway's Universe, 24/7 Hip Hop, my dude Bill Burr, and the list goes on & on.  So if you're ever in need of something to listen to run through one of these programs and check in! Peace.