Today I am posting 2 compilations at the same time. The reason being that they contrast sharply and I want to give you readers enough variety to keep everyone interested. As usual I have a fair number of compilations along these lines, so I will generally be bringing you the southern underground series one volume at a time. Hip hop scenes below the mason-dixon put forth enough unique sounds that 'southern rap' almost defies categorization. Volume 2 has more 'gangsta rap' and volume 3 has more 'hip hop' but both are varied. Personally I like both styles but I find it's difficult to split hairs. Neither term really does justice to the music. To illustrate the difference between., for example, Black Rhino and Hip Hop Dickheads with such limited language is an exercise that doesn't really do justice to the state of mind which came from the artists. In your opinion, what are the qualitative differences between these 2 sub-genres ? Is hip hop more 'aware' ? Is gangster rap only ego and bravado ? Is it solely based on production style ? Whose studio time is financed with drug money and whose is not ? How are these distinctions fueled by cultural and musical influences in a particular region ? I think we all know the answers aren't simple, but the questions beg investigation. To me, alot of gangster rap displays a greater degree of depth and insight than it is given credit for. The hard-knocks meditation on violence found in 'Don't Kill Your Brother' by Game Boyz is infinitely more meaningful than much of the odd-ball backpacker garbage passed off as 'conscious hip hop'. Sometimes we can get stuck on image and miss the message. Let me hear what your thoughts are, I am curious to know. Feel free to leave some comments, right wrongs, officiate, fornicate, pontificate, stand on your head, and talk about the musical ideas presented here.
Volume 2 -
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3QMW7S13
01 (4:04) Azim - Scream It (Texas 1993)
02 (4:52) E.R.C. - Visitations To Blackland (New Orleans 1994)
03 (4:30) Gangsta Tribe - Diary Of Death Row (Atlanta 1995)
04 (3:06) Black Rhino - Definitions (Texas 1994)
05 (3:25) Dynamic Syncopation & Mass Influence - Dedicated (Atlanta 1995)
06 (5:02) Lowc - Livin' Like Animals (Atlanta 1995)
07 (3:53) G Town Hustlers - What-U-Wanna-Do (Memphis 1995)
08 (3:13) Lethal Conceptions - Foxx Murder One (Texas 1994)
09 (4:28) Mace - O.G. Hustler (Memphis 1995)
10 (3:52) Murder Inc. - Playin For Keeps (Texas 1995)
11 (5:04) Organized Crime - When The Spot Light.. (Texas 1995)
12 (4:57) Trick Daddy & SNS All Stars - Nineteen Ninety Until.. (Memphis 1990)
13 (5:31) Ovatone - Deep In The Mind (Memphis 1995)
14 (3:43) Lil Slim Feat. Pxmxwx & Pimp Daddy - Blunt After Blunt (New Orleans 1994)
volume 3 -
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OWKOKKDL
01 (4:26) Hip Hop Dickheads - How Many Kids (Original Mix) (Tampa 1995)
02 (4:52) Willie D - U Got Homeboys, We Got Homeboys (Texas 1994)
03 (4:27) K-Rino - Four Dimensions Of A Universe (Georgia 1994)
04 (4:50) Al Kapone - Trouble On My Mind (Atlanta 1994)
05 (3:02) South Memphis Kings - Da Real Side Of Me (Tennessee 1991)
06 woops
07 (3:48) Azim - Solo Creep (Houston 1993)
08 (4:45) Greek (S.P.C.) - U Betta Ask Somebody (Texas 1993)
09 (2:07) Lethal Conceptions - Light Tha' Herbs (Fort Worth 1994)
10 (4:25) Jazzie Redd - Mile High Madness (Houston/Denver 1994)(he moved)
11 (4:48) Game Boyz - Don't Kill Your Brother (Houston 1994)
12 (3:55) Street Military - The Episode (Atlanta 1991)
13 (6:28) Lokee - Puttin Niggas On Da News (New Orleans 1995)
14 (0:32) Game Boyz - Words To The Wise (Houston 1994)
15 (5:33) Snake Eyez - Spook N Tha Corna (New Orleans 1995)
16 (4:20) Death - Life As A Psycho (Louisiana 1995)
17 (2:21) Lokee - Mr. Groove (New Orleans 1995)
Enjoy these 2 compilations, I'll be bringing more to your sound system just around the corner so stay tuned!
--Schenectadyfan
This is a phenomenal post Schenectadyfan, both musically (well, I'm assuming, for the most part) and philosophically. As with any piece of literature, much of the depth lies in the eye (or brain) of the beholder, and as such, I think great discoveries can be made when interpreting "gangsta rap" if one tries to actively listen rather than passively hear. Though, due to the primary audience, the genre is often shunned. And the beats (strictly beats) are often simple, overly so, though the samples can spawn from diverse sources, adding to the interest factor. Thanks again, schenectady
ReplyDeleteThanks Kimani! Seems like you followed what I was saying pretty closely. Have you had a chance to listen to these 2 compilations ? What'd you think of the music ?
ReplyDelete--Schenectadyfan
Nice compilations. It is sometimes hard to separate rap from hiphop. The line is not well defined as you have noted... production style greatly affects how a passive, casual listener will classify it. However, most of us realize that you can have deep messages in both types of music as well as shallow, "for entertainment" purpose only" from either type as well. Kimani said it best... it depends alot on if you are actively listening or not.
ReplyDeleteFYI... K-Rino and Street Military are from Houston. Trick Daddy is from Miami, i believe.
Oh that's right, Street Military IS from Texas. Dont know about K-Rino offhand but I'll take your word for it. Nice to know heads are listening to the music and thinking about the post. Thanks for reading!
ReplyDelete--Schenectadyfan
I think that "gangster rap" is either treated with kid gloves or denounced as the devil's music depending on whether or not the critic in question is still in college or recently graduated.
ReplyDeleteStill in college: "gangsta rap is evil incarnate! More Aesoprock, yo!"
Recently Graduated: "Aesop wha? I only listen to Souljah Boy. You're a racist if you dis his rhymes."
The term "gangsta rap" is virtually meaningless at this point, so any attempt to make a sweeping comment about this non-category is bound to be riddled with fallacy, whether it is sharply critical or cheerleading. Nuanced reviews of artists that have been labeled "gangsta" are generally difficult to come by.
i'm 100% sure K-rino is from Houston. I used to live there. Anyway he founded the South Park Coaliton (SPC) (ganksta nip, point blank and tons of others). South Park is a section of Houston that he is from. Street Military is actually from Missouri City (MO city as they often say in their rhymes) which is a small city outside of Houston.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, i always dig your compilations so thanx for your efforts and the dope music!!
Dope comp!
ReplyDeleteDo we have to trust the indication concerning the year, from the ID3 tags or from the post?
Thanks
Vincent, if I made a mistake the id3 tag is almost certainly right. Sometimes I slip up on the year/location info. Which ones are you curious about in particular ?
ReplyDelete--Schenectadyfan
Some of them, but it's not really important, most of the time there is only a one year difference.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Love your comps man!