Sometimes what these new, fangly artist types do is just not ok.
I bought the new Talib Kweli album while I was back in the States because I was in Borders and had time to kill and why not buy four new CDs, right?
Right.
Some of you may remember what a fan I am of Talib and what he's done . In which case, you also probably remember how obsessed I am with Al Green's song "Simply Beautiful" because it might just be the best song ever recorded.
What I'm not so cool with, however, is combining the two. I'm fine with rappers using a few MJ tunes (ex Nas with "Human Nature"), as long as its done with full respect towards the parent generation in question. And I'm even cool with the cheesy use of some Bill Withers samples in an occasional Will Smith song or two (although I would never buy them). What I am NOT ok with, however, is the MASSACRE of my FAVORITE SONG EVAH! By an artist that I respect!
So the rest of the album is pretty damn good, honestly. I'm happy with it. In the Blackstar duo, I was always more for Mos than I was for Talib, but the latter has pleasantly me surprised me with his rhymes. But seriously. You just can't sample "Simply Beautiful" and make it into a rap song. What was Talib thinking?
To me, that's sacrilegious.
But, to end on a postive note, I'll tell you why I like the album. As with all rap albums that I like (with only a few exceptions that embarrass me), it's about postiive messages and not about guns and gangsters. So here's an excerpt from "Get By," a pretty motivational song:
We keeping it gangster say "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy" and "stayin crunk"
Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunk.
Yo, I activism - attackin the system, the blacks and latins in prison
Numbers of prison they victim black in the vision
Shit and all they got is rappin to listen to
I let them know we missin you, the love is unconditional.
Even when the condition is critical, when the livin is miserable
Your position is pivotal, I ain't bullshittin you.
Now, why would I lie? Just to get by?
Just to get by, we get fly.
The TV got us reachin for stars
Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for parts.
Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
Saturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the Father.
They need somethin to rely on, we get high on all types of drug
When, all you really need is love
To get by.. just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by.
Of course, it loses some of its greatness when its not put to music, and it may make a lot less sense, too. But it's pretty impressive.
I just recently have gotten somewhat interested in hip-hop, but still to a very limited degree. I am not too down with the type of stuff that is on MTV, like the "bitches and ho's" type of rap/hip-hop, but have been more interested in some indie type stuff. What I know of Talib, I like. I have an album by a brass band/hip-hop group from Madison (The Youngblood BrassBand) and Talib did rhymes on one track. I LOVE The Roots (and they are on the same label right?). Atmosphere out of minneapolis is really great too. Minneapolis has a pretty good hip-hop scene right now for being in the heart of the midwest. Ok, that is enough.
I am emphatically anti the "bitches and hos" stuff.
The Roots kick ass. Although they're going downhill. That's normal, I suppose, after so much time.
"Pimps up, ho's down"
-Sorry, all the "bitches and ho's talk made me think fo this documentary thing a friend told me about , titled the quote above. Funny stuff.
I believe you are mistaken with your theory about the Roots "...going downhill...". You are more than entitled to your opinion (Key-riste, this is your site, it is all your opinion), but I would assume that your assesment is based on their move towards a more rock/hip-hop fusion (not to be at all related to Rock-Rap'e' ). I am not familiar with everything by the roots, but based on my knowledge of "Things fall apart" and "Phrenology", I would say that to most hip-hop purists the former proves to be a stronger album for that genre, whereas from a purely artistic and creative viewpoint, the latter is a step, if not two, above. I think "Things...", is a little easier to sit back and enjoy, but "Phrenology" has more to offer.
...that's all I got.
Justin - I agree with you if we are simply discussing their last two albums. Yet The Roots and I go way back, all the way to their sophmore 1994 release "Do You Want More?" which remains, for me, one of their two best albums. Granted, I can't say I was there from the very beginning (1993 - "Organix") but who was? "Organix" is not the best, and "Do You Want More?" was their groundbreaker.
Regardless, I found "Illadelph Halflife" to be their strongest card...a very rare event indeed. Few groups have a lesser 1st album, a great 2nd, and an even better 3rd.
I do find "Phrenology" rather hard to listen to. I still like it, but I will admit to having been disappointed. What I like about The Roots is their cool, casual sound, which I think was missing from "Phrenology" and was obviously rampant in "Things Fall Apart."
Still...nothing beats "What They Do" on "Illadelph." The Roots at their finest.
Word, I am unfamiliar with anything prior to "Things..." so I have nothing else to say, other than Thank You and I will have to check that out fo' sho'.
PS- I know what you mean about the cool causal sound - mostly missing (The Seed2.0 has it 100%) from Phrenology and running rampant in "Things..."