6.29.2014

((My People)) by J Rawls / 1Track@aTime 6.21.2014

1Track@aTime 6.21.2014
((My People))


For June, the main record to check out on my list above all others was The Legacy by J Rawls which I heard about after stumbling across the ((Bills)) track featuring Masta Ace on AllHipHop.com.  J Rawls, along with artist like Madlib, ID4Windz, Oddisee, Fat Jon, Hi-Tek, 9th Wonder, Damu the Fudgemunk, Tariq L, of course Jay Dilla, MF Doom, Algorithms, Kev Brown, DJ Spinna, Thes One, Alchemist and so many others were amongst beat makers I listened to post millennium after a hall of fame sound of the 90s that shaped the soundtrack of our lives.  My favorites at that time included producers like the RZA, Premier, Pete Rock, Havoc, Jay Dilla, the Large Professor, Organized Noize, E-Swift, Dr. Dre, Ski, Questlove, Muggs, Q-Tip, and other legends I'd learn about later from other collections such as DITC camp's Lord Finesse, Buckwild, Diamond D, and many others.

Amongst the producers of the 21st century, my listening collection of J Rawls was constant.  Each week at NMSU's KRUX 91.5 fm you could catch Rawls on Repshow rotation, either through a new vinyl single from 3582, the Lone Catalysts work, his solo/collaborative efforts, such as the classic Essence of J Rawls, and other projects through Shaman Work, side projects with MCs from West to East, and the list goes on.  Though I was a huge fan of Black Star, producer Hi-Tek, I identified the heart of Ohio's sound with J Rawls collecting both song + instrumental versions of what online retailers like Sandbox, UGHH, Turntable Lab, or Dusty Groove had on stock.  And as the use of digital sharing increased, it's how I got access to Histories Greatest Battles, Campaigns, & Topics, and other soul-focused projects such as the Essence of Soul

To this day, I'm amazed at the lineup of MCs/vocalist I discovered through Rawls productions, especially microphone front gunner J Sands, who represents Pittsburgh and is one of the dopest MC/poets you either know or don't know.  It's why when I decided to focus on J Rawls this month for the 1Track@aTime segment, I had to include rotation with his partner in rhyme.  In many ways, celebrating Rawls, we also get the chance to celebrate the best of so many other MCs/producers that are regarded as Hip Hop's alumni.  

For June 21st, 1Track@aTime on the Fresh Produce show focused on ((My People)) featuring production by Rashad, who prepared a beat supported by one of my favorite songs by Eddie Kendricks ((My People))... (listen here).  In addition, to ((My People)) from The Legacy album (you can hear it above through Soundcloud or click on links), host B.Dune also followed up with rotation from the Hotel Beats Vol. 1, tracks ((Casina)) and ((Standown)).  The online mixlr program then closed with ((La, La, La)) featuring Donte from Mood, Piahkahn and of course lead Lone Catalysts MC J Sands off the Good Music record from 2005.

The purpose of this 1Track@aTime for June was also to make sure we don't let the month pass without getting our copy of The Legacy, which you can purchase by visiting polarentllc.com.  Make sure you to see the About Us to understand the importance of the company for Ohio, and its connection of course to fans of J Rawls that want to stay up to date on new projects and purchase the latest from Rawls, The Legacy.

Once I've heard the entire record we'll return to discuss its place on the LHHS charts which you can view on the left side of the Tape Decks blog.  Currently includes Asheru's Sleepless in Soweto at the top of the list.  Best record I've heard so far this year!

You can peep the show reel for the June 21st Fresh Produce mixlr radio program with host B.Dune by visiting the following link: Fresh Produce mixlr Show#19.


Keywords + Tag =  J Rawls | Lone Catalysts | J Sands | 1Track@aTime | The Legacy | Fresh Produce | mixlr | Asheru | Rashad | Donte | Mood | Piakhan | Good Music | My People | Eddie Kendricks | Cincinnati | Pittsburgh | Essence of J Rawls | Hip Hop Alumni | Histories Greatest Battles Campaigns and Topics | Hip Hop producer | PhD | Bills | Masta Ace | ID4Windz | Lord Finesse | Diamond D | Fat Jon | 3582 | Hotel Beats | Hotel Beats Volume 1 | Hotel Beats Volume 2 | Pete Rock | DJ Premier | Madlib | Questlove | Ski | Buckwild | DITC | Oddissee | Polar Entertainment LLC | Casina | Standown | Fresh Produce | Dune | Deasy | The Radio Shack

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