stand out tracks : Ego trip, your head is reeling, (Ballad of) The Hip Death Goddess
A very discreet band with elements of san frascico late 60s psychedelic age or with a hint of Grateful Dead/Jefferson Airplane if you will. Hailing from boston, Ultimate Spinach throughout there's a heavy use of delay effects creating the illusion of a timeless hallocenigenic trip. "mind flowers" on their second album "Behold and See", is a fine example effects like distortion, and delay, can conjure up other worldly visuals with or without the use of hallucinogenics. the whole album is worth a gander as it's seemingly a gateway to the psychedelic late 60s.
Eyedea and abilities// E&A //2004//Rhymesayers-Epitaph//
Stand out tracks: Kept- Now- Paradise - E & A Day
Hip Hop has come a long way, and with that has come trasformation in style of the sound. Nowadays its easy to tune out as soon as a Hip Hop artist is on the tv or the radio. lets face it, we're living in a time where hip hop is barely recongnisable/visible from its "upbringing". I remember being questioned quite a while ago whether i'd thought hip hop is dead? If you look hard enough your always going to find rare artifacts begging to be listened to.
Eyedea and abilities are no different to that fact. Wasn't so long ago I came across this gem in a local record store. What initially grabbed me about their second LP "E&A", was not only the instrumentals that had a sense "Company Flow ", or "Cut Chemist" to it...But lyrics delievered by the talent of Micheal Larsen, aka Eyedea. Its not just them furious speed, but the thought behind what he states unravels narratives of deception, and heartache. As well as other matters which coming from myself would sound trivial, but from Eyedea engages you. Eyedea and DJ Abilities prove its not a matter of being Black to gain attention, look good, or to be able to rap and scratch... It's how you perform.
Starting off with a few Hip Hop classics in the form of late 80s/early 90s native tounges era of hip hop. This was one of the crucial points in hip hop history, and the transition in its sound/style. A collective of groups (i.e. A tribe called quest, De la soul, Black sheep, Jungle brothers and substancial amount of other artists) paved way for a new style of hip hop with a 'jazzier' twist. Not only a change in sound, but in culture/spiritlism/socialism/ and general aspects of life through lyrics.
De La Soul // 3 feet high and rising // 1989 // Tommy boy recs.
Stand out tracks: Jenifa taught Me - Me, Myself and I - Eye know -Buddy -The Magic Number - Say No Go
Plug one opens up this track inviting us into his world of expressionism. The term "Daisy Age" was the movement De La Soul proclaimed towards their liseners. As a coming of age for peace, love and unity.
"Greetings, girl, and welcome to my world of phrase I'm right up to bat, It's a Daisy Age and you're about to walk top-stage so wipe your Lottos on the mat..."
The whole track has a sense of innocence and charm. Not just through the sesame street-like instrumentals, but also through the use of lyrical expression. Especially with Trugoy the Dove's verse which has its charm:
"May I cut this dance to introduce myself, as the chosen one to speak, let me lay my hand across yours, and aim a kiss upon your cheek..."
Queen Latifah // All Hail The Queen // 1989 // Tommy boy recs
Stand out tracks: Ladies First- Princess of the Posse - Come into My House - Evil That Men Do
Queen Latifah's verse is authoritive and sets the standards:
"The ladies will kick it, the rhyme that is wicked, those that don't know how to be pros get evicted, woman can bear you, break you, take you..."
Whilst Monie Love elaborates that women are just as capable as men. Saying that, more important because of their role in humanity.
"...Strong, stepping, strutting, moving on rhyming, cutting, and not forgetting ,we are the ones that give birth to the new generation of prophets because it's Ladies First"
The video depicts feminism,racism and sexism with vast visuals of African/Black Panther history. With Monie Love and Latifah being the teachers of post-mdernism.
A Tribe Called Quest // Peoples Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm// 1990 // Jive recs
Stand out tracks: Bonita Applebum - Ham 'n' Eggs - I left my wallet in el Segundo - Can I kick it?
"...Satisfaction, I have the right tactics and if you need 'em, I got crazy prophylactics
So far, I hope you like rap songs, Bonita Applebum, you gotta put me on."
Q-tip is re-nowned for his intellectual dialect. Along with his smooth, sultry vocal tone. Which was perfect for a track sampled with Rotary Connection's "Memory Band",and to Roy Ayer's production on Ramp's Daylight. Which, in it's entirety, already sounds smooth. As a debut single from their first Lp, they took a softer "jazzier" debut, rather than the typical case with Hip Hop arists/group where they evoke a narcissistic side of themselves. Usually "there's no competition" syle of rap.
"Bonita applebum" conveys Q-tip in the stature of the alphamale confronting his woman of interest. By intialising her through her psychical attributes (applebum), the listener can visualize a woman of sexual desire, rather than a romanticised prospective. Raising debate to whether this track is for the chauvinist man, or the smooth charmer with a heart.
This is the official blog page Godwin Magnolia. Here you'll find various forms of music which are more or less below the radar. As well as reviewing Lps/Singles/Eps, I will give an insight to their history and various other musicians which may be to your liking. I used to be one of those people always stressing about the profanities corperations like MTV communicated to the masses. Call it a revelation, or knock on the head, but there's sounds out there that have reignited my faith in music. Here's my chance to share my discoveries, enjoy.
