True Hip-Hop Stories: Special Ed

Special Ed, hailing from Brooklyn NY, best known for “I got it made” and I’m the magnificent” is one of the most influential emcees in Hip-Hop. With the 1989 release of “The Youngest in Charge” album which was an album that was recorded when he was 16. In 1990 he released his album Legal with the singles “come on let’s move it and “The Mission.”
He was later a member of the Crooklyn Dodgers, an ad hoc group who came together to perform for the Spike Lee films titled “Clockers” and “Crooklyn.” His latest release “Still got it made” was released on 2004.

In this video Special Ed discusses the making of his hit recording I Got It Made and some thoughts on Rick Ross & John Legend and the current state of Hip Hop.

True Hip-Hop Stories is a series from D-Nice, a Hip Hop discjockey, beatboxer, rapper, producer, photographer who began his career in the mid-80s with the hip hop group boogie down productions. You can check out his website http://www.d-nice.com

DJ Premier

Premier born Christopher Edward Martin is one of the most influential Hip Hop Djs during the Golden age in Hip Hop. First known as Waxmaster C and eventually got to work with Guru who was from Boston. Guru who had already formed a group called Gangstarr had received a beat tape from Premier in which he liked and invited Premier into the group after it was disbaned from DJ 1,2 B-Down (also known as Mike Dee) with various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark the 45 King. They then released their first single”Words I Manifest” and made an album called “No More Mr Nice Guy.” During Dj Premier’s career he helped pioneered the New York Hip Hop sound during the 90s. Gangstarr also helped to contributed and establshed the sound of rap jazz in their famously hit the Jazz Thing which was featured in Spike Lee’s Film Mo’ Better Blues. Within the years the group had expanded and had affilates with other artist such as Group Home, Jeru the Damaja, Bahamadia, Big Shug, Afu-Ra, Fabidden, Freddie Foxxx, Krumbsnatcha and NYGZ.

Dj Premier’s style of production of that of a typical sound of the New York’s sound and Golden Age in Hip Hop. He pioneered the art of scratching using certain sound bites or sound clips from other artist. His scratching are eventually the chorus of every single song he has produced. He samples from Jazz, Soul and Funk as well as sampling the artist’s past work. In addition to his great memory of Hip Hop lyrics he has scacthed and vocal sampled other artist which will be scratched as a chorus and Premier will add a phrase to the song as he was speaking with his hands. He is one of the most influential Dj in Hip Hip and the most non stop Dj to make hits that are still relevant to this day.

Beat Diggin’ Documentry

Beat diggin is considered a lost art form now days. Records had a profound impact over the years as many djs and producers started to sample which is one of the most fundamental asspects in Hip Hop culture. With lots of keyboard producers now days jammig up to the mainstream airwaves, ther are many other producers who still love to create music but not for the love of making money. As A.G. puts it “Buying old records is a habit.”

Beat Diggin’ is a 30 min documentry featuring one of the best producers who have changed this art phenomenon.

Credits : Jesper from BusyBody Films. You can check his clips and read about other Hip hop related films on myspace.com/busybodyfilms

Chubb Rock – Caught Up (1988)

I need to get my hands on this record if I happen to find it

Chubb Rock is well known for the 1995 incarnation of Crooklyn Dodgers, a rap act duo that featured O.C. and Jeru the Damaja. He first self-titled debut was “Chubb Rock” and 1989s “And the winner is…” Until in 1991 with the release entitled “The One” reached #13 on Billboards Top Hiphop/R&B. 

From the “Chubb Rock” LP featuring Hitman Howie Tee. 

Best Hip Hop Albums from this decade (2000-2009)

Since the decade is coming to a close, I’ve decided to make a list of the best Hip Hop albums of the decade in the year 2000s till 2009. Most of the albums of this decade came out independent and a lot of artists starting to form their own record labels. It was a big deal for independent artists for this decade and a lot of artist started to rebel against the big labels during this period of time. We saw lots of things go down that has impacted society from September 11, Marshall law, War in Iraq, and the first black president into office, and disasters like Katrina. Political artists also had good albums in this decade but they weren’t put on the airwaves on public radio.  In radio terms many rappers felt that they weren’t represented in their own city and others tried to gain recognition. I have read other opinions on the best album of the decade and most people choose Jay Z’s Blueprint as the album of the decade in fact that it was released on September 11 2001, but  I won’t put it into my list because it wasn’t worth of a great album from my stand point or on the greatness instead of how much it sold. Most albums on this list is not about the units that where sold, I’ve decided to create a list based on how great these albums where and they had a profound impact when I was living during these times. So here is my top whatever albums of the decade.

#1: Gang Starr – The Ownerz

#2 : Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 2

The rest is out of order

Del Tron 3030 – Del Tron 3030         

Jedi Mind Tricks – Violent by Design

Reflection Eternal – Train of Thought

 Common – Like Water for Chocolate           

 Jurassic 5 – Quality Control

Binary Star – Masters of the Universe

Dilated Peoples – Expansion Team

Masta Ace – Disposable Arts

The Roots – Phrenology

Madvillain – Madvillainy

Masta Ace – A long Hot Summer

Zion I – True & Livin

Jay Dee – Donuts

Ghostface Killah – Fishscale

J Live – Then what happened?

Mf Grim – American Hunger

Atmosphere – God loves Ugly

Aceyalone – Love & Hate

Reakwon – Only built for Cuban linx 2           

Mos Def – Ecstatic

Jaylib  -Champion sound

Percee P – Perseverance

Mf doom – MM..Food?

Krs one   –  Hip Hop Lives

Blaq poet – Blaq Print

Pete rock – Soul Survivor 2

Large professor – Main Source

Jay dee – The Shining

Edo g and Masta Ace – A&E

Mos def – Black on both sides

Dead prez – Lets get free

Non phixion- The future is now

Cannibal Ox — The Cold Vein

De La Soul – The Grind Date 

I choose Gangstarr’s The Ownerz as my #1 album of the decade because for me it had an impact for me while I was facing some walls in my life and this album has some messages that I can really relate to especially Dj Premier who I considered the best Hip Hop producer since the last two decades. I could listen to this album from beginning to end.

Photography 101

Photography 101

 

Picture I took somewhere in Torrance California.

Intro to the blog

What up people. My name is Sense and I would provide fresh and funky soul for ears for the upcoming years. This is my first post in this blog and Im starting to create a radio, which will be put up once a week in the upcoming months in 2010 which is a start of the new decade and a new era for Hip Hop and journalism. In this blog, there will be about many topics ranging from music, culture, politics (no this is not the Source) and photography. I will be able to share some info and knowledge about everything and it will be discussed on  the radio as well. Be sure to check out the links that I have on this blog like KPFK 90.7 which is a non-profit public radio in Los Angeles in which I am part of the KPFK team as a volunteer.