Episode 196 : The Absence Of Light

"...I see you."

- Ras Kass

This was an episode which didn't mystically guide me to each record in the mix - I had to work for my inspiration! On another birth month show, we have some great new releases studded amongst some older gems from my collection - keeping it in the Hip-Hop and funk lanes.

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Playlist/Notes

FirstRepair (ft. Camp Lo, Akil of Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Ras Kass, and The Holy Thief) : DAP

I wanted to include this track an episode or two back, but it was only on streaming services and not yet available for purchase - but finally it's here, and rightly opens the episode. An all-star cast of MCs come together on an urgent-sounding beat for this ode to Black respect and unity, specifically centred around the ritual of giving dap. FirstRepair is a non-profit organisation focusing on the cause of calling for reparations for slavery on a local level, and one of their latest projects in the release of this album "The Reckoning : Freedom Songs For Reparations". An essential track I'm glad to be able to share here, and hopefully one that will make you look into the message and reality behind it.

[The Architect] Mista Sinista : Sseriouss!! (Instrumental Remix)

Were it not for my big digitisation project, this beat could have easily languished on my shelves for years more, but right now this The Architect remix on a 12" from one of the legendary X-Ecutioners crew gets to breathe! I'm not sure if this is available digitally, but you should be able to pick up an inexpensive vinyl copy if you hunt around.

DJ Jazzy Jeff : Scars

We stay on a serious vibe as we enter the first mix, with an absolute beast of a track from Jazzy Jeff's 2018 "M3" album, with Rhymefest and Dayne Jordan on vocals. I'm not even going to go deep into the lyrics as I wouldn't do them justice - this a track to close your eyes to, take it, and digest in full.

Javotti Media, Talib Kweli, Maino, and St. Laz : Go Brooklyn

This has a real live flavour to it, a refusal to tidy up the occasional timing variation in favour of letting the sound of a DJ go undiluted - those cuts and scratches aren't mine, but a part of the actual production as featured on "Notes From The Underground". Javotti Media is credited as the artist on the digital purchase, but as far as I can tell, that's the name of an organisation, with Talib, Maino, and St. Laz being the actual artists on this. The video version that you may already know is a bit more straightforward in terms of presentation, but the lyrical performance is just the same as the MCs speak on their own relationships to the titular legendary borough.

Sadat X : On Tha Come Thru

It seems mad now that some people ever believed Grand Puba was essentially carrying Brand Nubian - the depth of Sadat X's solo catalogue equals that of his talent. Here we visit an LP which is somehow almost twenty years old, 2006's "Black October" for this Beatminerz-produced gem, a strong album cut on a project packed with great producers.

Public Enemy : Gotta Do What I Gotta Do

I was a huge Public Enemy fan growing up (still am, of course), but I have to admit being confused when this track came out - the production and instrumentation sounded incredibly different from pretty much everything that had gone before. I didn't know how difficult and expensive it had then become to produce the kind of sample-dense material which they'd previously been well-known for, in contrast to the more stripped-back approach here. In retrospect though, it's a great cut from the "Greatest Misses" compilation (half new tracks, half remixes) that sounds perfect as the soundtrack inclusion it ended up being when it appeared on the "Trespass" OST, with the incomparable Chuck D in fine form.

K-Def : Blind Run

New Jersey production veteran showed just how much he can slice up a sample with this reworking of a similarly-named track that has been visited by many, many producers before, but not quite like this. It's short, but a highlight on the album "Willie Boo Boo The Fool".

All Hail Y.T. (ft. Ladyy) : Let Me Ride 2021

I love both the original "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre from "The Chronic" and Parliament's "Swing Down Sweet Chariot", and I feel that this record does justice to both. Producer Milo Utu keeps a Hip-Hop vibe while folding in an even heavier P-Funk flavour than Dre's track, and while Y.T. could have easily stuck to the original subject matter, he goes much wider and deeper. Ladyy does a great version of the original hook, and caps off this great homage from the "V-12 Soul : Deluxe" LP.

George Duke : Reach For It

Going all the way back to 1977 for this fire, the title track of one of two albums jazz-funk legend George Duke released that year. This funky cut with Duke's expert guitar work has been sampled a decent number of times, though not as many as I might have thought, and made an appearance in the score of the documentary "American Pimp" - as far as I can tell, purely on the vibe of the instrumental rather than any lyrical/thematic connection. As a bonus, you get the legend Stanley Clarke on bass on this undeniable classic.

Lakim : I'm Rick James, Bitch...

Full sampler annihilation of a classic Rick James track which most of you will recognise, with the bounce and tempo being miles away from the original - best exemplified by the completely altered rhythm that makes the signature vocal like flow like "get/her...off-thestreet". Virginia's Lakim chops this one mercilessly, and it actually runs a little bit longer than you hear in this mix - get the 45 or Bandcamp versions for the whole track, plus BoomBaptist's "Jerry Mane" on the flip.

Lord Finesse : Hip 2 Da Game (Remix)

One of Lord Finesse's most loved singles gets a remix here courtesy of fellow DITC member Buckwild, who adds some boom-bap to a melodic soul sample which you may recognise from another New York Hip-Hop track released the same year - great minds think alike and all that. While I got this remix on "Buckwild Diggin' In The Crates Rare Studio Masters : 1993-1997", it's actually also on the original 12" single, so if you can find a copy of that 1995 release today, thirty years on, then you're winning there.

Abstract Orchestra : Once Upon A Time

I've always loved the full-circle nature of a sample-based Hip-Hop track later being covered by a live band, which is what we have here. Leeds' Abstract Orchestra do a fine job of interpreting Pate Rock and J Dilla's work on the track of the same name from "Fantastic, Vol.2", amongst a selection of other covers on "Fantastic 2020 V.2". There's also a "Fantastic 2020 V.1" album, with the tracks from the original Slum Village LP spanning both releases. 

Sir Michael Rocks : Just For You

I've read someone saying this is tough to get now due to sample clearance issues, which is a shame as Mikey's flow over this George Duke is a match made in mixtape heaven. Rocks is half of Chicago duo The Cool Kids, who were on their own vibe from the jump, and he is very much is his own lane of flyness on this track from the original version of his debut solo mixtape "The Rocks Report". Legal issues aside, producer PX gave him a great soundtrack!

Cookin' Soul x LE$ : Day Dreams

LE$ and Cookin' Soul did a great job on the 2014 "ACE" mixtape, which drew inspiration from the film "Paid In Full" - itself inspired by (though not a faithful telling of) the true story of 1980s New York drug figures AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. Calling back to the fantasies of the character of Ace and the dreamlike sequences in the film, LE$ takes that seed and spins his lyrics out from there, but speaking about his own career. Cookin' Soul blesses him with a beat that balances the groundedness of the guitar with the ethereal gliding of strings, perfectly complementing the rhymes as he does throughout the project.

Anthony Danza (ft. Seattle's Key, Joe Fresco, and Ladyy) : Signed & Sealed

I've only got up on Anthony Danza's stuff this year, but I've been playing him heavy and fully expect his name to be prominently towards the top of my "year in review" playlist. This Seattle MC has been putting in that work for years, with an extensive catalogue that draws heavily from the vibes, sounds, and lifestyle of the eighties - and the era looms large from the second you read the title of this album, "Reaganomic". He graciously shares the spotlight here to put some other MCs on, taking the first verse expertly before ceding the mic. Production-wise, the beat from The DARE Program is perfect late-night riding or mix show material with a nice funk guitar lick in the mix, while others on the LP are more heavily on the synth vibe. The album is a recommended listen, especially for those of us raised in the aesthetics of those times.

The Last Emperor : Let's Ride

Philadephia's The Last Emperor always felt like someone whose popular recognition even amongst the core Hip-Hop audience never quite matched the level of respect he gets from his peers. He's worked with KRS, Dr. Dre, and more, and had well-remembered tracks like "Secret Wars" but is still unknown to too many. His debut LP from which this track is drawn was entitled "Palace Of The Pretender" in Europe (which I how I know it), but the original US release is "Music, Magic, Myth", and the strong production roster throughout spoke to the level of regard those in the know held him in. Da Beatminerz come through here with a beat that's knocking and chunky at the bottom yet light and breezy up top with the guitars, and Emperor matches the relaxed groove with an easily-understandable flow and a thoroughly positive message.

[Kenny The Seagull] Mandela & Sisulu (Dr. Oop and Two-B) : Instrumentals Like These

Artist names are absolute gold on this one from top to bottom! It was Manchester veteran Pressey who put me up on Dr. Oop, as I mentioned all the way back on Episode 26, and just like then, he still isn't on production here! Nice beat all the same, from the "Daze Like These" 12".

Fashawn : Peace

Another record I was aiming to include last month! I shaped the final segment of this episode to work towards this new single, giving it a chance to shine and close proceedings. Fresno's Fashawn is someone that, though my own fault, fell off my radar, but I consider this track a wake-up call! Not to be confused with the excellent track "Peace Treaty" he recorded with Murs, this is a call for peace across the board - though looking at where we stand in history, it would be natural to wonder what we'll have to go through to get there.

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Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!