2016

2016 was a year to remember. 

Ever since hosting college radio in 2000, I thought about new music through a perspective of my own top 10 charts. It's how I distinguished the new music I was listening to from the old.  A few times I wrote blogs listing my top Hip Hop albums of the year and  reported weekly to College Media Journal (CMJ).  Some of it was based on promos the radio station received and most based on music I was checking for on my own. The last time I hosted a radio show was in 2008, a week before finishing school and moving on. The fun of being inundated with new music, listening to the unknown, rotating music live on air, and sharing my thoughts about music for eight years straight is how I continued to imagine music I accumulated post radio dayz. Its also what I wrote about from time to time on this blog under the #LHHSCharts and #HHbeAtz10 tags. In 2017, its time to let that go. 

There is so much music out there. Every morning I turn the ignition in the ride and connect the auxiliary cord to listen to Southern Vangard radio, other podcasts, or a CD...or whenever I setup my iPOD for a run around the track or gym...Its a process free from my routine on radio to now as a casual listener. Especially when I discover music I want to replay a few times. It could be a record I pull from neglected crate...some mp3 files lost in folders disorganized after years of CD burns and downloads. I'm interested in being more patient with my music. More time to explore the details and remember the process I fell in love with before music and our access to it became an all-you-can-hear affair. Back to a time when I'd look through my father's record collection...to a point where a Weather Report album cover would came alive in my dreams.  

I've conducted a lot of interviews with eMCees, beatmakers, writers, poets, and groups for radio and web.  The same way I remember charting music is the same way I imagine questions I would ask today if I could.  I'm a big fan of interview shows and podcasts and getting the chance to understand the interviewer and the kind of story they're trying to pull from the interviewee. I love that process and the preparation and research that goes into it. I'd like to find ways to channel that interest more and research what I'm listening to. Not just when something new comes out, but for any record at any given time. I look forward to using this blog to take time and document the stories of music, including some of my own.  A process that's free from any sort of structure, time frame, and any order of charts, real or imagined...a process more conducive to someone who simply loves music.

With that said its time to close the book on #LHHSCharts. The collage of records above that pretty much defined my 2016 is the last of this idea of imagining top 10s inspired by the radio dayz...

Before the new year, I finally listened to A Tribe Called Quest's We Got it From Here, Thank You 4 Your Service.  A line from Nate Denver off Grimm's American Hunger album came to mind..."there's no Tribe Called Quest if there is no Phife". I was only able to listen to the new ATCQ once wondering what it took to finally happen.  It made me wonder if everything happened when it was suppose to or if we simply ran out of time at the dawn of a new era in this country. It made me wonder more about a Phife record than anything else and what he envisioned beyond the Ventilation LP...free from the anticipation and constant expectations of an ATCQ reunion that maybe was never meant to be in the first place. 

Nobody hits on Hip Hop nostalgia and life to me like Junclassic. The ((Father's Day)) song he composed in 2016 to Wun Two's production had the emotion and power of a ((Dear Mama)) Pac track to me...to me it spoke for sons who grew up watching their fathers put in work and stand up to the insurmountable responsibility and resilience of doing their part to hold a family together through struggle, tragedy, set backs, and success.  Better than Fiction Too is the kind of record that's gonna last my whole life which is how I've gotten to know Junclassic's music since day one. Better than Fiction Too is soul music with the poetic grit of of the Hip Hop we've come to love out of NYC since the beginning.

ScHoolBoy Q...The Blank Face LP is brilliant. Many of us that came up on Hip Hop in the early 90s in the Southwest were hit by that \/\/est Coast influence before anything else. For me it came by way of Ice Cube, Eazy E, NWA, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Warren G, Too Short, E-40, Rappin 4 Tay, MC Eiht/CMW, Cypress Hill and others. Much of it channeled through some of our favorite films, Boyz in the Hood, Menace II Society, etc.  The mayhem of Pac's demise made me realize that the \/\/est went beyond what made it popular in the early 90s...the void of losing Pac introduced me to eMCees like Ras Kass, Hiero, Cali Agents, Paris, everything out of Stones Throw a few years later, Dilated Peoples, Sevin from Sacramento, and many more...through their sound I thought about styles differently and learned to appreciate the ground work of groups like Freestyle Fellowship, the Pharcyde, J5, Souls of Mischief and other eMCees/groups I never would've known about if I didn't search. I love thinking about what TDE records means in that context now and what they'll mean later. Especially since I'm more preoccupied enjoying TDE's music than trying to decipher the wordplay and beat production. The beats are an ill anomaly to me and makes me reflect back on Organized Noize production, the Dungeon Family, and ATLiens. I wonder about the magic of sampling listening to TDE...a scrapbook of what the \/\/est coast has experienced and what it has to offer today. Beyond the state of California, TDE makes me think about what Marc Spekt of Broady Champs said on a Southern Vangard interview session describing Hip Hop as fine art.

When I hosted radio and worked as program manager, I decided to do two things when it came to Soul music. One was set aside a slot specific to Soul music (shout out to Mz. Soulshine) and also bring everything together during my own slot...Soul, Hip Hop, Blues, Jazz, Funk, everything...whether released generations prior or present...only rule was that it go together real smooth and connect. I called my time slot The Representation Show/Soul Session and together it turned into 4 straight hours of all the music I could gather in time to go on air. Also the playlist always had to be unique, never duplicated. I also collaborated with fellow radio djs combining music slots and crashing concepts together for an unexpected marathon of anything we felt like rotating and talking about (shout out to the Moleman Rawk$hop). This year no record reminded me of the Soul Session days more than Maxwell's Black Summer's Night.  Especially when I discovered Stuart Matthewman was involved with the sound. Its one of those records that I'll revisit often.  A reconnection to everything I loved about Amel Larrieux rotations, Carl Thomas, D'Angelo, Sade, Dwele, Goapele, Alice Smith, and many other voices.  Maxwell is one of a kind.

With The Greatest X by Reks, we're talking about the best Hip Hop record to drop in 2016, period. Its appropriately titled and reflective of all the unsung-blue-collar-hard-hat work that Boston eMCees like Reks have put into the game over the past many years.  This record got anthems and is a collaborative case of organized rhyme. It goes beyond what you can burn on just one CD...a double disc respectively with enough weight to equal any three 2016  album releases combined. The Greatest X reflects the competitive lyricism with undeniable beat production that comes with having the right to stake claim to the crown. Beyond that its tied together with the storytelling of a for real eMCee....the King... Reks...the greatest unknown.

I'll wrap it up talking about four other records that made 2016 what it was for me.  While Young Roddy's The Kenner Loop got me through the start of 2016, it was Isaiah Rashad's The Sun's Tirade that got me through a summer of decisions and time I needed to regroup.  Masta Ace's The Falling Season is easily up there for one of 2016's best records and one of my favorite records of all time. Its what Masta Ace does...one of Hip Hop's greatest storytellers of Top 5 caliber rhyme... a music man of many scripts...his songs are definitely films in my imagination.  J Cole's 4 Your Eyez Only is how I actually started 2017 but the track not included on the record ((False Prophets)) is how I made sense of the remaining weeks in December reflecting on 2016.  It definitely gave me a chance to organize many faces, stories, and situations experienced throughout the year. I still need to reflect on what Cole's album means to me so I'll let time do its thing.  As for the last album on the collage, I included a record I've written about already...Elzhi's Lead Poison.  The last no. 1 album to grace the top of LHHS Charts.

With that said, here's to a new beginning of the Tape Decks blog. A new way of thinking of what I feel like writing about next when it comes to music. This is an end to the LHHS Charts and the HHbeAtz10 days and the beginning to responding to this simple question more often..."what are you listening to?"

Sincerely 2016,


Lee

p.s. This one is for the vinyl, CDs, digitals, & cassettes.

#LHHS10 2016 Elzhi Lead Poison

#LHHS10 2016

June 7, 2016

click on image to enlarge*

About half way into the year, here's the latest #LHHS10 update.  

#LHHS10 is a top 10 break down of my favorite Hip Hop listenings.  It dates back to the Lee Hip Hop Show #radiodayz and charting to the College Music Journal (CMJ).  Charting is a process radio djs participate in to report their top 10 albums or singles in rotation.  When I was on the radio CMJ sent magazines to program directors that included Hip Hop and other genre airplay listings from college radio stations around the country.  

LHHS stands for "Lee's Hip Hop Show". That's what I called my Hip Hop radio program when I started broadcasting on KRUX 91.5 FM in 2000.  A couple of years later I renamed it "The Representation Show" and "Soul Session". During the eight years I was on air, I charted the free music KRUX received from promoters, record labels, or directly from the artists themselves.  Access to music was costly for a broke college student so it helped to be a part of what was referred to as a record pool. Today #LHHS10 is a music chart I created in memory of my radio program and to continue finding time to share, document, and write about music I love and continue to discover today.

This week I saw a 2016 interview with Mya on YouTube and she talked about how much has changed when it comes to radio and how people access music. Her thoughts of new R&B being extinct from radio was interesting to me since I was thinking the same thing a couple weeks ago listening to Jodeci's Diary of a Mad Band. On popular charts like the Billboard it appears all R&B groups have gone fishing. On the Billboard's latest top 25 R&B, there are no groups, only solo artist. Mya also discussed the pros and cons of today's digital music market. We've heard what artist don't like about downloading for years but whats interesting is how much digital continues to grow and render traditional marketing methods obsolete for certain artists.   

I still like to buy CDs.  I collect vinyl too but since last year I stopped to catalog and listen to what I've collected over the past fifteen years. On my desk I have a stack of CDs I've listened to since the start of 2016.  I pulled most of the CDs from storage so that I could listen to them again, reflect, and organize them in three stacks I identified as classic, cool, or trash.  In terms of store bought music, that day is dead.  I haven't bought a CD from a store since last year. I've been a frequent buyer since my teenage years so for me that's a big change.  It made me realize how less interesting stores become with less music. This year, all my purchases have been done online through Amazon for physical CDs and Bandcamp or eMusic for the digital.  YouTube also has an endless search of full albums that can be accessed for free on any mobile device.  Get connected to an auxiliary cord in the vehicle and you're set.  At first I wasn't interested in listening to full albums on YouTube.  The idea of being detached from appreciating an album cover, tracklist, and liner notes felt disposable. However, in the past couple of months I've changed my mind to stream certain listens during workout time or a long drive. 

I haven't updated this blog since the beginning of the year after wrapping up 2015.  I've posted a few tweets but made no effort to reflect and write about the music I was listening to.  It makes me feel like the year is speeding by. I love how I think about the music I'm listening to, especially from an artist or group I've been listening to for a while.  I've had a collector's spirit since childhood so the stories have always mattered.  As a kid it seems like I had all the time in the world to become absorbed in what I liked.  And there was nothing like simpler times between headphones connected to my Sony cassette walkman... 

listening to Dre..

listening to Pac...

listening to the Wu.  

Those moments are memories I value as part of my own history with music as a fan. When I found a spot on air I attempted to record every show on cassette.  Writing today feels like an extension of why I wanted to preserve those radio programs as moments that were all part of the listening process. Watching 'I Am Ali', towards the end of the film viewers hear a clip from the recordings Ali made of himself talking to his children over the phone.  In the clip he we hear Ali telling his family... "If anybody ever wonder why Muhammad Ali making these tapes, it's cause history is so beautiful..."    

Reflecting and thinking about music also opens up the chance to do a different kind of digging that's focused on research and the stories behind the music.  For example, when I revisited my Pistol Politics CD by Paris and returned to the Guerilla Funk Recordings site, I found out about a compilation project from a new member of the Guerilla Funk family who goes by DJ Justice.  His compilation album is called Man of Steel. Looking back at what I wrote in January about Pistol Politics it reminded me to check in.  Music occupies a powerful space in our lives, especially when we think about what it inspires us to do.   

Moving forward, here are the notes for the latest #LHHS10 chart...

When it comes to new releases, 2016 didn't really jump off for me until I heard Elzhi was coming out with a new record titled Lead Poison.  I heard about the new record through Junclassic's Twitter page.  Junclassic is an eMCee out of Southside Jamaica Queens and when he's not creating his own classic music he's tuned in putting people on to who he listens to.  I was introduced to Elzhi's rhymes on Dilla's Welcome 2 Detroit solo debut and more when he joined Slum Village for the Trinity (Past, Present, and Future) album.  At the time I also read an article where someone referred to Elzhi as the "Detroit" Nas.  At first, the connection wasn't there for me in so far as style, but I thought about it every time I heard something new featuring Elzhi.  This was reinforced listening to his debut a couple years after Dilla passed when the The Preface dropped.  When Elzhi dropped Elmatic though... For anyone not familiar with Nas debut Illmatic we're talking about one of the greatest albums of all time.  Released in 1994 tracks like ((The World is Yours)) have a place in my life's soundtrack.  From the beats to the rhymes Nas and Pete Rock captured a universal feeling with that single.  To me, everything about the creation of Illmatic, from the production to the book of rhymes and the videos that were like short films made it a timeless record for 1994.  

Elzhi's Elmatic, to me, went beyond a tribute. In detail, Elzhi rewrote Illmatic as a Detroit story.  Sound wise its the art of sampling in reverse with the live band Will Sessions covering the original beats.  Will Sessions are straight outta Detroit and one of the baddest bands I've ever heard because of the way they express Illmatic's sound. Similar to the Illmatic view of Queensbridge, the Elmatic videos shine light on Detroit's style and Hip Hop history.  Listening to Elmatic I felt like a kid in 94' again watching Nas's ((It Ain't Hard to Tell)) video.  In it, calm and cool as ever Nas rhymes soul deep in the now to a Large Professor beat sampled from Thriller sounds of the early 80s.  Elzhi's Elmatic also took me back to the article I read years ago that compared Elzhi to Nas. To me, Elmatic represented something unique about the soul and relevance of Detroit when it comes to Hip Hop.  It also made me rethink the art of sampling and how to turn a homage into a concept of music rememory.  

It made me wonder what a Watt's Illmatic would sound like;  

or a New Orleans Illmatic...

or who would be capable of pulling off an H-Town State of Mind...

I think of Planet Asia's ((Fresno State of Mind)) track. He was the first to do it.

With Elmatic we gotta recognize how much work went into translating the slang and relocating New York into a ((Detroit State of Mind)).  Elmatic is a project that can only live once and it speaks to the power of Illmatic's inspiration.  But man... even that title...Elmatic... quoting SV... it's fan...ta...serro.

Going back to Lead Poison by Elzhi I have this album at no. 1 for my 2016 #LHHS10.  The title and cover speak to 2016...from the power and fear of the pen to the biological oppression of a U.S. water crises. In 2016,  Lead Poison is a labor of art, from how its arranged and connected track for track to the complex back story we learn from Elzhi's interviews promoting the record.  Lyrically, it's not politically loud but there's an art to Elzhi's storytelling and how its put together. The title of the album itself is politically charged to me, as is the artwork just based off of where this record is coming from.  As I listen to Lead Poison it brings memory to Dilla and Elzhi's verses on ((Come Get It)) from Welcome 2 Detroit.  I also think of a track I must have listened to a thousand times on repeat over the years...((Love It Here))... thinking back to Elzhi's hook..."...but I love it here, just think if I wasn't here, my uncles and cousins here, my struggles and come ups here..."  Lead Poison is no. 1 cause you won't find many eMCees releasing another album like they were just getting started; each time giving people's imagination a much deeper perspective of what Detroit's rhyme writers are capable of.

Following up with no. 2, I got The Kenner Loop by Jet Life soldier & Good$ense general, Young Roddy.  There was no other record I listened to more so far this year then The Kenner Loop.  When it comes to Jet Life, it was  the New Orleans villain Trademark Da Skydiver that led me to an abundant online stash of Curren$y downloads, Jet Life compilations, the LE$ and Cookin' Soul tape, and this year debut from Young Roddy, The Kenner Loop. Years from now, reflecting back on 2016 I will remember and hear this album.  In addition, nothing beats the access fans have to more Jet Life  and Good$ense affiliated music on Dat Piff Mixtapes and plenty of YouTube media including The Kenner Loop documentary. 

I've kept the Paris Pistol Politics on the charts. If how I charted was based on which records bump down others, Pistol Politics would not be moved.  Eventually I'll have this one listed under my 21st Century Hip Hop Classics tab cause its #timeless.

Oddisee, man... what can I say?  There's a lot artist can learn from Oddisee when it comes to the music biz, digital responsibility, and the world as a platform to an eMCee's brand.  He's an incredible story of what it means to be unique and to "do you" like Slum Village said.  With the Alwasta EP, even though it's only seven tracks its deep enough to be in conversation with any other eMCee's full length.  Therefore I added it to the #LHHS10.  Oddisee is one of the few artist on my radar that just as easily could top my #HHbeAtz10 instrumental charts.  Check for Alwasta for free download from Oddisee's Bandcamp site.

For the life of me, I can't keep up with Moka Only.  At the same time I can't complain.  I just know any day I feel like listening to something out the Moka Only archive that I haven't heard yet there will always be something to purchase.  This year I decided to start with his newest record São Paulo.  It's dope... first listen no skips and by the end I wanted to know more about the record and dig back to listen to everything I missed.  To learn more about each track on São Paulo visit Moka Only's Bandcamp page.  Here's Moka Only's notes on one of my favorite feel good tracks on São Paulo ((One One))... “This is just some whimsical shit written for people that have lost and learned how to keep going. Keep your eyes on the silver linings. Feel it."

Next up I got a record from the beautiful mind of Saul Williams Martyr Loser King.  Listening to him spit ((Think Like They Book Say)) on Sway in the Morning reminded me how much he's inspired going back to his 'Slam' film.  His art breathes with a revolutionary spirit that I think people tend to lose track of when it comes to the arts.  It's honest, strong, consistent, and something to think about when we reflect on the value of our own expression and what we're doing with it.  Martyr Loser King is a landmine in your brain.  Tap into it. 

On deck for the remaining #LHHS10, I got Sevin's Purple Heart... I've said it before and to me, Sevin is among the \/\/est's best on the mic.  Last year he set off on a spiritual journey with his camp H.O.G.M.O.B. (Hooked on God Ministry Over Bizness) to spread the gospel to every hood they could reach across the nation. Purple Heart is progression of Sevin's concept records with the word of God that brings life to every track.  Next, I added Royce Da 5'9's Layers to the #LHHS10... just a dope record. The intro ((Tabernacle)) is the most personal I've heard Royce go though there's a lot I missed early on from his discography.  During the #radiodayz I got introduced to his music through the Premier produced 12' single ((Boom)).  This collab reached a pinnacle in 2015 with the release of the DJ Premier produced Adrian Younge sampled PRhyme.

Two records remain from the 2015 #LHHS10 and that's katO1O's On the Cusp and PE's Man Plans God Laughs. I wrote about both of those projects in the last #LHHS10 post. 

Coming up, I'm listening to the latest from the Yancey family with the posthumous Dilla The Diary release (that track ((Trucks)) tho'!)... I'm also setting up my summer for the international collab between Junclassic & Wun on the Better than Fiction Too album. 

Here's to a return to reflect and just write.

Til' the next blog...hopefully sooner than later.  Peace. #LHHS10

-lee aka repshowhost

#LHHS10 Charts 2016

#LHHS10 Charts 2016

See the list to the left of the screen when you view the full web version of the blog

Moving forward for 2016, I updated the #LHHS10 Charts with records I got the chance to check out in the 4th quarter of 2015.  At the top I have Paris 'Pistol Politics', a timely double disc release.  It's the best Hip Hop record I've heard from a \/\/est coast eMCee in a long time.  What's great is the opportunity fans have to hear Paris' perspective with what's going on today not only through the album itself but through interviews and the promotion he's been doing to get the word out.  Pistol Politics sounds incredible and the social commentary educates listeners with no thoughts attached to label control or industry.  It's about as honest a perspective people will hear from Hip Hop when it comes to police brutality, the economy, racism, US leadership, issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement and other battles. The quality of the music and message is consistent with what Paris has delivered over the past three decades.  I'm hopeful this means more from Guerilla Funk Recordings in 2016 as I also heard Paris talk about plans to release a new George Clinton record.  Regardless, Pistol Politics is one to revisit again and again in the coming months and years, just like with everything else on Paris' catalogue.  You can stay informed and up to date at guerillafunk.com.

Next up is the most talented Kato1o of Crown City Rockers who dropped On the Cusp in October.  It's a dope followup to the Natural Phenomenons record and another addition to everything great about the creative output from members of Crown City Rockers. You can spend a lot of time learning and listening to everything they've worked on as a group, solo, and through collaboration (check for Raashan Ahmad, Woodstock, Headnodic, and Max MacVeety) . The Roots are my all time favorite Hip Hop group, but there's no doubt that Crown City is in that echelon if not even better considering their efforts to branch off and deliver solo projects such as Kato1o's On the Cusp.  It's an incredible record, inspiring sound, and you can check out the music and more at Kato1o website kato1o.com.

On the list, we're keeping it \/\/est Coast, CA with the release of 90059 by Jay Rock.  Definitely one of the year's most anticipated records for me personnaly and I dug the opportunity TDE gave fans to purchase an autographed CD copy.  With the video release of ((Money Tres Deuce)) it was on.  Rock has one of the most distinct voices in Hip Hop and along with the rest of the Black Hippy family is carrying the torch for something special out of LA.  Especially for artist representing Compton.  In this case though, Jay Rock is taking us straight to the source... \/\/atts, 90059 zip code.  Through Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), I hear a lot of influence on the millennials from the legacy of voices like Tupac Shakur and other artist from the Death Row days including Dre, Snoop, the Dogg Pound and the Warren G-Funk Long Beach crew...but also there's an element out of the dirty south I hear inspired by the Organized Noize sound of the 90s... I've always felt that way ever since listening to Good Kid Mad City and especially with 90059 on tracks like ((Gumbo)) produced by J.LBS.  Keeping up with TDE over the years has been like watching the students of southern CA graduate to the world stage that once dominated the 90s. I'm looking forward to continuing to hear Jay Rock master his representation of \/\/atts story and I hope we hear more growth in terms of speaking on it's history and culture.  Similar to how New York heralds the Bronx, I'm hopeful there's something more the world can learn about \/\/atts.

Keeping the #LHHS10 going was the latest release from Public Enemy Man Plans God Laughs which dropped Summer of 2015.  It took me a little bit of time to pick it up.  It was actually the audio book by Stuart Scott Every Day I Fight that inspired me to not let the year pass without tuning into the world's greatest Hip Hop group.  There is a moment in Scott's audio book, where the narrator repeats the phrase "...man plans, God laughs..."  and something about Scott's connection to Hip Hop's narrative inspired me to purchase PE's album.  In condensing the record below 30 minutes the group, to no surprise, accomplishes more with less.  While the listening time is shorter the experience is enduring in its message.  A statement we can enjoy, think and talk about, learn and understand. 

For 2015's 4th quarter I also got the chance to check out Curren$y's Canal Street Confidential which got a dope sound, not to mention a feature from one of the illest international producers in the game, Cookin' Soul.  I'm intrigued by Curren$y's story coming out of New Orleans as a No Limit soldier and coming up to become a Jet Life captain.  Through Curren$y over the years I've became fans of eMCee's like Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy, and a network of other artist I can now tap into whenever I need something to listen to in the ride.  Listening to Jet Life also takes me back to the Chicago + Jacksonville connection that Chapter 13 captured in the earlier part of the century.  That's where my mind goes and it makes me wonder how much of Chapter 13 may have inspired what we're hearing today... there is a real distinct sound, in both instrumental and subject matter that Young Valentine, Rashid Hadee, and the Neblina family were speaking on in the first decade of the 2000s. I like to think about that energy regardless if there's any connection cause its exciting to hear this style coming out of New Orleans and the success of Jet Life over the years... keep winning in 2016.

After that for #LHHS10, I added the Jadakiss record Top 5 DOA... it's a conversation fans of Hip Hop love to have and I dug the promotion run with the mixtape and just hearing Jada come back stronger and healthier than ever...A lot of good hardcore New York energy on this record, especially in the production from Swizz... ((Jason)) is a problem!! And its the ((You Don't Eat)) video that had me thinking Creed with Jada back in the ring. In addition for the charts I was locked into the Game Documentary 2 double disc album and the  high caliber force he carries for Compton's control of the microphone in 2015. Straight Outta Compton took the box office by storm and it was great to see that history connect through bonafied eMCees like The Game. 

For 2016 charting I also decided to extend consideration for mixtape projects as there was no mixtape I was looking out for more than Houston's LE$ Steak x Shrimp 2.  Datpiff.com became a primary source for the daily listen throughout the year (especially with the new app!) and on my radar was LE$, definitely.  Next up I got Sean Price's posthumous Songs in the Key of Price record.  I can only imagine where the Brownsville Bomber was going with this effort and appreciated Duck Down for releasing this project as a mixtape, 30 tracks deep.  He's a microphone barbarian and lyrical shooter, defines hardcore Hip Hop and has the most hilarious concepts and title comparisons...from the previously released Mic Tyson project to the titles I thought about and laughed when I saw the tracklist of Songs in the Key of Price, ((Sean Shank Redemption)).  When you get the chance, look up the Seanwuar impression with Pharoahe Monch. Rhyme in peace Sean Price.  

Last but not least, I added Sevin's I'll Wait album.  Sevin is one of my all time favorite eMCees and his latest effort is far removed from the lyrical spirit of previous H.O.G.M.O.B. releases.  The acronym stands for Hooked on God, Ministry Over Bizness.  I first heard about Sevin through my cousin who did a lot of work with the church aspiring to become a pastor out in Fresno, California.  I've been in tune with Christian eMCees ever since meeting the founders of Holy Culture over a decade ago when I did college radio.  They opened my attention to a nation wide network of some of the most talented eMCees, beat makers, film makers, web developers and marketing professionals.  A lot of high quality work with a platform that seemed to do a good job of promoting everything dope about the Christian Hip Hop community.  However, I found out about Sevin directly from my cousin.  Didn't notice any promotion on Sevin's music from anywhere else other than from Sevin himself and his ministry team.  Sevin's purpose is admirable in thinking about his outreach around the country and the world and the power he scribes through the pen to rhyme, inspire, and help change the negative outlook of the gang affiliated or anyone in need of prayer.  On I'll Wait though, he takes a chance (a leap of faith) into his vocal range delivering a spiritual soulful record... all singing.  I recall listening to a Sevin interview and him mentioning his goals to develop in this area of his creative expression... he's explored his vocal range on several songs in the past.  I included I'll Wait on the charts because it sounds incredible and it represents something bigger than what "fans" expect from the artist they follow.  I'll Wait represents something far more personal for this particular artist and their spiritual journey.

Before we get 2016 going, I wanted to share these thoughts mainly to organize myself and everything I had the chance to hear in the final months of 2015.  I'd like to keep the #LHHS10 charts up to date more often and stay balanced between the music I listen to from the past and what's new.  Even though its been eight years since I've been on air, the fun routine of keeping up with the latest listens is still there and stronger than ever.  Especially now as I utilize the blog to exercise my writing skills and document some thoughts to look back on someday. 

Looking forward to a more patient and thoughtful 2016.  One track, one album at a time. 

-Lee

repshowhost@gmail.com

Pistol Politics & Man Plans God Laughs

#LHHS10 Adds for September 2015

Added two new #listens to the #LHHS10 Charts featured to the left side of the blog.  More information on Pistol Politics by Paris at guerrillafunk.com and Man Plans God Laughs by Public Enemy check out publicenemy.com.

2015 LHHS Charts 10 | #LHHS10

 2015 LHHS Charts 10 | #LHHS10

It's been a while since the last LHHS Charts update.  A busy start to 2015 but never too busy not to put on some new music to start a day or close the night.  It's February 2015 now, and after hearing the latest from Raw Poetic and DJ K-Def from ReDefinition Records I felt it would be a good time for an update.  Their record, Cool Convos in Quantum Speech set off 2015 for me.  In thinking about that, it also had me reflecting on what came out at the close of 2014 that I've been listening to lately.  

This begins with talking about Good Morning Vietnam III, The Phoenix Program by MF Grimm and Drasar Monumental.  For me, I'm not sure I can be convinced of a better 2014 record than GMVIII.  Whether we're talking about wordplay, production, the creative process attached to this record as the conclusion of a trilogy, and everything else connected to why we consider what we consider great or better than the other... for me this record is in a Hip Hop conversation of its own, that perhaps is better left for people to listen to and absorb over time, rather than expecting for others to pick up on it.  I don't know.  What I do know, is as I change my top records list for LHHS (featured to the left of this write up), I got GMVIII above it all.  I can't even think of what it's going to take to replace this record from that spot.  While I listen to everything as its own project, if I'm asked, "what was your favorite record of 2014..."  I'm going with GMVIII.  Let's see what 2015 delivers. 

The next record is from an MC that deserves continuous praise and that's Junclassic.  Especially in his involvement with producers and what he's connecting through his music.  On his latest masterpiece, Words are Weapons, we got Maniac on the beats.  This record waste no time from one track to the next and with each feature.  Everything about it to me, is dope.  And if its your first time listening to Junclassic's music, its a perfect place to start as I encourage that listeners retrace their ears back to a discography worth listening to, sharing, and talking about.  Jun's also hard at work with the visuals providing fans with his physical presence if you look him up on YouTube.  

Other records I've enjoyed include the remix project by Ali Shaheed Muhammad with Souls of Mischief on the There is Only Now, originally produced by Adrian Younge, who's also attached to the real dope Phryme record between the legendary production of DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9.  In addition, really loved the interview on The Combat Jack Show with J Cole and what we learned about his latest effort with the 2014 Forest Hills Drive record. Other mentions that I want to get into include what I've been hearing from MC Melodee of La Melodia through multiple projects she put out in 2014 including the Crunch Time EP and of course the Zion I crew who's latest EP The Sun Moon and Stars is on my list to check for.  People been active these days on EP projects.

On top of that, I missed out on a lot of other records I hope to hear soon.  But this is where I'm at for my charts and what I've enjoyed in the past few months.  You can see the lists to the left of this message (scroll down).  Having just got my hands on the Lord Finesse SP1200 Project, Large Pro's touch on the Mega Philosophy record, Apollo Brown's .38 project, and one I've got on repeat by the incredible production of IV the Polymath, When and Where, I've decided to separate a top 10 exclusively for instrumental projects called #HHbeAtz10.  I've accumulated a few projects to kick off the top 10, including some incredible work I've been listening to via the Fresh Produce camp with the Beatphonics crew.  

This post if anything, is also a note of thanks to all artist, groups, producers, eMCees that continue to bless our troubled times with the peace, joy, and creative therapy of music.  As Malcolm X said, "history is best qualified to reward our research"... this includes our music.   

Peace.    

((Get Hip)) by PUTS / 1Track@aTime 7.5.2014

1Track@aTime 7.5.2014
((Get Hip))

PUTS.  People Under the Stairs.  This duo consist of Thes One and Double K.  I first heard of this group during our early years on KRUX from co-host and college radio DJs like Justin aka Kooch and the 12s people brought into the booth.  This group, PUTS... man.  One of the all time greatest.  The best.  They're a duo to reference anytime we're talking about HH legends, especially out of the state of California.  During the early part of the millennium right around 9-11, I started learning about a bunch of groups from out West, like Cali Agents, a lot of the Good Life artist, Madlib and the Lootpack... everything off Stones Throw including my favorite from Declaime AndSoItIsSaid... Emanon, the BLX crew, 4th Avenue Jones, one of my all time favorite MCs ever...OMNI (from BLX), of course J-5, Aceyalone, all the Heiro crew, Zion I, and the list goes on and on and on... radio rotation of music like this was well represented on 91.5 FM at the time.  

When it comes to People Under the Stairs... man... With 12 Step Program, this is their 9th record and I can't think of any disappointing PUTS albums...  It's not like some artist that experience sophomore slumps, or break up records, make up records, or those records that were caught in the creative lockdown of the "powers that try to be, but will never be" Hip Hop... PUTS music is simply dope.  When we talk about consistency... and the concept of creating from the core...that's what I hear when I'm listening to PUTS.  And if you've never heard of PUTS, you've got 9 albums to work with... so get familiar (doesn't count solo works/collabs, etc. when you start doing your research). 

You can hear rotation from the new record that ogsv brother Dune dropped on the Fresh Produce mixlr online radio program ((click here to listen)) ...peep the latest program Show#21 which broadcasted live July 6th.  You'll hear our 1Track@aTime rotation of ((Get Hip)) and what is the first single off the record ((1 Up Til Sun Up))...you can check out the video for the PUTS single on YouTube.

1Track@aTime's focus on PUTS was right on time for Dune to promote the upcoming event further North in Albuquerque, NM that will include PUTS, Lyrics Born, Afro Classics, and Scarub of the Living Legends... July 26, 2014 at Sister. 

Aside from that make sure to search the net, learn about PUTS through Google, YouTube the videos, interviews, and check the history...especially the PL70.net website to learn more about their mission and their approach to true independence from the corrupted music industry.  No other music has called to be independent from the traps of the music business like Hip Hop and I hope there is more to learn from Thes One's vision and artist that are connected to that mission.  I hope it lasts just as long as they have and that common fans out there come around to supporting these movements whether its through purchasing the music (whether hardcopy or digital), buying the merchandise, passing the word, checking for events, working the music into rotation somehow, TALKING about groups like PUTS and PL70.net, creating content around these ideas, etc.).

Set PUTS at no. 1 for the LHHS Charts this summer... the first time this has changed since Asheru dropped Sleepless in Soweto.

Peace.

Keywords + Tag = PUTS | People Under the Stairs | Thes One | Double K | California | Get Hip | 1 Up Til Sun Up | 12 Step Program | Michael Turner | Christopher Portugal | PeiceLock70 | PL70.net | Fresh Produce | B.Dune | Fresh Produce Show | Las Cruces | New Mexico | 1Track@aTime | classic Hip Hop | Los Angeles | eMusic | independent Hip Hop 

((The Dark Trinity)) by The Roots / 1Track@aTime 6.14.2014

1Track@aTime 6.14.2014
((The Dark Trinity))

Back in March I got a $25 dollar b-day gift card from the folks I work with and I decided to save it for the next trip to my favorite music shop in El Paso, All That Music.  I had been holding off a trip to All That Music until I was able to make a copy of a mixtape I was working on for them... wanted to pass the owner George a copy of the Lee Jun-fan Tape, Tao 1 (click here for more info).  A couple years back after stalling on getting the mixtape together it was George who led me to a section in the store where I found the Xavier Cugat Viva Cugat record to start off the project.  I was waiting on a very specific sound and the Cugat LP was it.

With a  copy of the mixtape in hand, I made my way out to All That Music for a lunch break dig.  After greeting George at the counter I went straight over to the vinyl Jazz section to look for some Weather Report.  Found a piece from 72' and flipped through the discount LPs and found some Flip Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and a few other dollar records I set to the side.

One of my missions was also to pick up the new Roots album ...and then you shoot your cousin.  Though I know CDs are cheaper at a spot like Best Buy, I didn't feel like risking the chance of not finding a CD copy in the two disorganized skeleton racks they've got over there.  It's something I experienced when I thought they'd have the Kweli record.  I bet soon, on stock will mean the handful of CDs underneath the candy rack as you make your way out through the check out line.  If you gotta walk past refrigerators to get to the music section... then yeah, we're definitely in what theorist and financial people have been predicting would be the end of the CD purchase as we know it.

This past week I've been listening to the new CD from The Roots.  A fan going back to Do You Want More?!!!??!... I'm more than 20 years in listening to Hip Hop's longest running band and one of, if not the only band that can speak for a level of consistency that you just don't find amongst bands, not only in Hip Hop but any music for that matter.  Every Roots project is deep and connected to each other by this running track list that ends with track 181 on their latest effort.  Even back when records like Phrenology were catching flack from critics, it was experiencing the record live that helped me understand its value outside of how people were responding initially.   With their latest effort, The Roots challenge listeners, including fans like myself who may have had certain expectations.  And as consumers of music culture who doesn't have expectations?  Especially for fans who's expectations in many ways have been trained either by corporate marketing, region bias, or even the artist themselves who attempt to commit to the success they feel got them to where they are.

With ...and then you shoot your cousin, before I knew it the record was over.  It's short and my first rotation through I wasn't sure what track to pass on to the Fresh Produce show.  What I did know was I wanted to listen to it again and would need to give this record some time.  After viewing some the visuals below I liked what Questlove says about the record and its exciting to see a group like The Roots in a position where they could challenge expectations and give fans a work of art that is not defined by what other groups or artist in their position are doing to quote on quote, stay relevant.  The expectations with ...and then you shoot your cousin provoke thought in a time when it may not be expected from the channels we consider popular or commercial.  Especially for products we identify as commodities which has been the case with many artist that don't last.  And as a fan of The Roots, this record is a musical statement moving forward and it gives listeners the impression (and artist the option) that even at that level, there are choices that can be made for the sake of art and music is no exception.  Especially Hip Hop.

For June 14th on the Fresh Produce show, we focused on track no. 179 of more than two decades of The Roots.  It's called ((The Dark Trinity)) featuring Dice Raw, Greg Porn and of course Roots front lyrical gunner Black Thought...the all time greatest MC in my book.

You can hear a recording of the Fresh Produce show on the mixlr showreel and can peep other selections from around the globe at the Soundcloud archive show No. 18.

Here are several videos to check out for ...and then you shoot your cousin.

The Roots ...and then you shoot your cousin added to the LHHS Charts 6/15/2014.


Keywords + Tags: The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, ...and then you shoot your cousin, Black Thought, Ahmir Thompson, drums, Questlove, Tarik Trotter, Kirk Douglas, Captain Kirk, Kamal Gray, keyboards, James Poyser, keyboards, Frank Walker, percussion, Frankie Knuckles, Damon Bryson, Tuba Gooding Jr., sousaphone, Mark Kelly, bass, the legendary Roots crew, The Dark Trinity, Greg Porn, Dice Raw, All That Music, George Reynosa, Do You Want More?!!!?!, Fresh Produce, The Fresh Produce Show, B.Dune, repshowhost, repshowdigital, LHHS Charts, Hip Hop, hip hop, bands, hip hop bands, 1Track@aTime, 1 track at a time, mixlr, soundcloud, longevity

((Can't Stop, Won't Stop)) by Blu feat. The Step Brothers (Alchemist & Evidence), Tristate & Planet Asia of the Du Rag Dynasty, Donel Smokes, Chace Infinite of Self Scientific & Krondon from Strong Arm Steady / 1Track@aTime 6.7.2014

1Track@aTime 6.7.2014
((Can't Stop, Won't Stop/Summer Time))

The artwork for the single ((The West)) is what caught my attention... popped up on Amazon.com's recommended list... big fan of Blu's work since Below the Heavens... Been missing out since the Piece Talks and the Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them project with Exile.  I was first introduced to Blu's music through the Exile produced ((Narrow Path)) 12' promo B-side ((Party of Two)). 

There was something about the announcement of Good to Be Home being a double disc, along with the artwork, that really put this project at the top of my listening priorities for the summer.  Being my intro to Bombay's production, I spent a few days on the first side... windows down sun up driving around.  Rides to and from are listening sessions for me so I gave Side B its time deciding on the pacific storm of ((Can't Stop, Won't Stop)) for the 1Track@aTime segment.  It features everyone listed on the subject title of this post.  Also rotated ((Summer Time)) from Side A featuring Arima Ederra.

With one of the dopest album art concepts of the year (credited to Joseph Martinez), this record is one to ride through track for track... the \/\/est was my first introduction to Hip Hop as I defined it after NWA's time and into the life's work of its immediate members Cube, Dre, & Eazy.  Their sound is embedded in how we remember certain experiences and through Blu's Good to Be Home, listeners hear that influence... Good to Be Home is a timeless record, creative and one to ride to. Its a concept worth packaging on vinyl, cassette, and the little bit of life left on CD.    I'll be returning to Good to Be Home in the future as a reminder of how much I enjoyed listening to the CDs the first time.

Peace to B.Dune for featuring the track on the Fresh Produce mixlr radio show... you can hear the 2-hour program at Fresh Produce/mxlr.  For a snapshot of other rotations check out the Soundcloud.

2014's the number, another summer...

Good to Be Home added to LHHS charts 6/15/2014*


Keywords + Tags: Blu, Good to Be Home, Bombay, Azulito's Birthday Cake, Joseph Martinez, Stop the Violence, Can't Stop Won't Stop, The Step Brothers, Alchemist, Evidence, Tristate, Planet Asia, Du Rang Dynasty, Donel Smokes, Chace Infinite of Self Scientific, Krondon, Strong Arm Steady, The West, Fresh Produce, Exile, Below the Heavens, 1Track@aTime, repshowhost, Pacific Ocean, Fresh Produce, The Fresh Produce Show, Summer Time, Arima Ederra, Bombay 

((Inner Monologue)) by Talib Kweli / 1Track@aTime 5.31.2014

1Track@aTime 5.31.2014
((Inner Monologue))

My intro to Kweli's discography began with Black Star, one of my all time favorite records, followed by Train of Thought.  Around the time of Quality and Beautiful Struggle I had the records but couldn't remember them like I could the Black Star debut and Train of Thought.  With exception to one of Kweli's biggest songs, ((Get By)).  In between Beautiful Struggle and Liberation record with Madlib our university was blessed with a free live show by Kweli which turned up my interests for the upcoming Eardrum record and the Reflection Eternal project that I gotta return to someday, Revolutions Per Minute with Hi-Tek.  Big fan of Hi-Tek's sound and the Teknology installments.  Similar to what happened between Quality and Beautiful Struggle, there's not a lot that stands out to me from Gutter Rainbows to Prisoner of Conscious. I need to backtrack and listen to Gutter Rainbows again. 

After listening to Gravitas, I'd like to get back to Gutter Rainbows.  Gravitas is a cool record.  For the 1Track@aTime, I decided to focus on my favorite track, the intro, ((Inner Monologue)).  One of the qualities I liked most about Gravitas was how it was packaged and the liner notes in the booklet.  Inspires more time and interest with the CD.  I learned the speech on the ((Inner Monologue)) track is from Neil Gaiman.  Kweli mentioned a speech he heard from Neil Gaiman at the University of Arts and how it inspired what he envisioned for Gravitas.  I also dug the production from NC's Khrysis of the Justus League on ((Inner Monologue))... overall an ill introduction to an independent release.

What drew me closer to checking for this record prior was the interview on the Combat Jack Show with Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, James "JDilla" Yancey's mother and Kweli... Also it was ill to see Kweli on the Arsenio Hall show which was cancelled most recently.  Gravitas sounded incredible on TV and it was cool getting the chance to see Kweli on a mainline platform representing for an independent project.  It was also his introduction on Maurice Mobetta's project that pressed me to track Gravitas down.  It was available nowhere locally so I checked it out through Amazon.  If you're not sure about Amazon Prime and are shopping a lot online I'd definitely recommend it.  Overall savings with the free shipping and almost next day delivery options (2 days free).  It reminds me of a music store in Los Alamos when I was working there a few years ago during the summer...they had a store in town connected to a sandwich shop called Gordons.  Anything that popped up on the catalogue (which was just about everything from Lone Catalysts to Common's Like Water for Chocolate) would arrive within two days.  On stock, their collection was light but orders arrived quickly. When it comes to the disposable life of  retail, the CD is on life support today.  There are options if you still collect though.

Listed Gravitas on the charts (see to the right).  One for your collection or as a gateway to tapping into Kweli's past releases.  The hardcopy is worth the investment.  Cover art is dope... interested in knowing who did it.  Also Kendra Ross on the vocals.  If you don't know click here.  This one is going out to the old Soulshine radio show from back when... Make a note to check for her debut New Voice.

Since ((2000 Seasons)) for me.  Talib Kweli.

Check out the Sway in the Morning show, Kweli talking about the business of streaming and "extending the life of a record..."... Also below, the Rare Portraits video!

Keywords: Talib Kweli, Kweli, Inner Monologues, Neil Gaiman, Gravitas, Khrysis, Justus League, 9th Wonder, Javotti Media, Combat Jack Show, Maurice Mobetta, J Dilla, James Yancey, Brookly, Ma Dukes, Reflection Eternal, Black Star, Hip Hop, lyricism, Kendra Ross, Fresh Produce Show, mixlr rotation, Rare Portraits, Sway, Sway in the Morning, streaming music

((Out of Nothing)) by i.deals / 1Track@aTime 4.25.2014

1Track@aTime 4.25.2014
((Out of Nothing))

Closing out the semester for the summer break the final 1Track@aTime on KRUX 91.5 fm for Spring 14' was dedicated to the sophomore release produced by IV the Polymath featuring Jondis on the mic (i.deals), i.deology.  This was a follow up to the single rotation back in March of ((Due To)).  A dope project from the creative duo ... they go by i.deals and if you've never heard their material I highly recommend going back and working your way up to i.deology.  It begins with the i.deals EP and the Spill record and several other tracks including one of my all time favorite, ((1,2)) off IV's Drum Machines Have No Soul project.  I've been keeping up with IV since the No Sleep days, several of his projects including the latest i.deology have been released as cassette tapes... a throwback to the portable players from back when...the mode, direction, play, and stop days!  The track we featured is titled ((Out of Nothing))... a dope concept that makes me think of Hip Hop, starting from scratch, independent thought, and as it relates to music... creating new ideas.  In so far as how it relates to IV, I think about his approach to production as a musician.

We also featured an instrumental from IV titled ((Proceed)).  This track was dedicated to the birth of two baby girls, one being our Brother Dune's baby girl Lil' Aria out in Las Cruces, New Mexico and the other our Brother Gravity's neice, Lil' Gia in New Jersey.  Both arrived to the world on the same day and I called it!  Hahahaha.  I felt ((Proceed)) captured that sound and just a whole new step forward for the families in our lives.  This program's definitely dedicated to them and B.Dune's taking the time this week as a father to represent for the listeners.

In addition to labeling this record under the 1Track@aTime category for the blog, we're also labeling it under LHHS charts, No. 2 effective May 2014 which you can view to the right.

p.s. to purchase a copy of the i.deology digitally or as cassette click on the album cover above! 

Ceremony

Ceremony No. 1

Before the 13' closed out I got the chance to check out the latest from Raashan Ahmad Ceremony.  It currently sits at no. 1 of my favorite current listens.  Each record is just as great as the next.  Got familiar with the audio through an exchange online with a cpklla (Yahoo Messenger alias) who put me on to Crown City Rockers through a track called "Side Step" about a decade ago or so... I didn't realize it, but the Mission record I discovered at the KRUX 91.5 fm archives (and later lost) also featured the MC (Raashan Ahmad) who would eventually top my all times list as favorite MCs, next to Black Thought, Grimm, stic.man, etc.  If you missed Ceremony like I almost did, don't postpone any longer, check it out!

Hoping to prepare a year in review mixtape for 2013... so much music, so little time. 

Damu the Fudgemunk

Damu the Fudgemunk

One for the charts... always checking in on the latest from Damu.  First introduced to his work through my late big Homie DJ S.A. through a classic record by Y Society Travel At Your Own Pace.  As a big fan growing up of producers like Pete Rock, Large Pro, Q-Tip, Premier, Organized Noize, etc. Damu's sound is a standard on its own... a discography worth studying til' the next project.  Spur Momento Trailer For Extended Play set the tone for my drive out to New Mexico to visit the Olde Post.  This record is for the beats audience out there and anybody that can appreciate an instrumental masterpiece.

Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam Pt. 1 & 2

MF Grimm & Drasar Monumental

The only way I was able to get to the audio for the GMV2 audios was through wax.  The Good Morning Vietnam debut was available for download as an entire single track on eMusic, which is what I been listenin' to on the way to work for a good while now.  On vinyl it included all the records tracked along with the instrumentals.  I learned of the Golden Triangle release setting up a Twitter handle for the HHA page.  I couldn't find the record on eMusic where I found the download for the first so I ordered the vinyl and digitized the songs through what I call an audio scribe (transcription) process from wax to mp3 file.  Took shots of both LP covers with a camera (as seen above) to tag the mp3 files.  

Soon as I bought my first set of Numarks about 13 years ago, the sole purpose at the time was to collect beats since most of the instrumentals I wanted were being sold on wax (wasn't as familiar with downloading yet as this was around the time I got my first personal computer).  RZA & the Liquid Swords, the Unseen record by Madlib (Quasimoto), most Dilla records, Five Deez, Fat Jon, J Rawls, Pete Rock, Primo, Diamond D, tha Liks and E-Swift tracks were all available as instrumental from sites like Turntable Lab, Sandbox, UGHH, Dusty Groove, etc.  My first vinyl purchase was in Albuquerque, an Originators EP and Ras Kass's Anything Goes/Jack Frost 12'.  Without much regard for trying to learn how to use my set to mix, scratch, or blend, I first started looking for software to digitize the wax into the new CPU I got... I had no clue what I was doing, but as is the love for beats, I ended up figuring it out.  After trial and error, asking radio shack, friends, etc. and discovering the AIPL Singulator free software program, I figured out what I needed to do, from the RCA cables, adapters, the CPUs soundcard, etc.  Later on I'd switch to Adobe Audition's software to complete the process at a much better quality of sound, which for me includes keeping everything you'd typically hear listening to a record off the plate... on the mixer I increase the bass level.  That's how I like to hear it and how I want it transcribed into digital form.  Clear, heavy, and with the fire burning sound from the needle rotation. 

First listen for 2014 is gonna be MF Grimm and Drasar Monumental's Good Morning Vietnam 2, The Golden Triangle. Good Morning Vietnam Pt. 1, in my opinion, was the best album I'd heard from what I remember checking out in 2012.  A short, flawless record... twenty minutes sounding like a lifetime.