Bloggerhouse and WYDU | Hip-Hop Blog

WYDU’s Year in Review: Trav’s Top 50 Albums Part 2 (1-25)

by Travis on January 27, 2012

Well look here, Trav is done with his favorite albums, and it’s still only January. Of course I haven’t even started on my top 100 songs yet, but hell, I got the whole year for those. Without further ado…

25. Apathy – Honkey Kong!
Buy

Apathy came back hard in 2011, bringing his trademark style with him. Ap has not changed much since I first heard him back around the turn of the century, so you know what to expect with Honkey Kong, but I’m not complaining. The only thing I can really say bad about the album is that it sounds more like a collection of good songs than a solid album, but I’ll take that over a crappy cohesive sounding album any day.

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Mixtape: Bloggerhouse presents: Backpack Essentials Pt. II (Mixed by Eric)

by Eric on January 26, 2012

As it usually does around the first quarter of each year, my listening habits always revert back to the “Golden Era”. However, what’s different then prior years, is that in 2012 I’ve taken to the task of uncovering (with the assistance of Crates of Ag, Jaz & Werner Von Wallenrod) the overused category of what is known as “random rap”. Quite interesting and very intriguing this task has been and continues to be. Here, I’ve blended together some of my favorite “finds” over the last month or so as Bloggerhouse presents Pt. II of the “Backpack Essentials” installment. Hit the jump for tracklisting..

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Gensu Dean – Jointz

by Eric on January 24, 2012

Dallas based SP1200 producer Gensu Dean is preparing to release his debut album “Lo-Fi Fingahz” February 28th on Mello Music Group. To introduce Dean, the razor sharp DJ Chief-One has put together a dope mixtape of Dean’s production including work with Sadat X, Crooked Lettaz, and Large Professor. Hit the skip for link and tracklist….

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Diamond In The Rough: Down To Erf

by Eric on January 23, 2012

“Down To Erf” EP – Down To Erf (Not On Label)

“Learn To Earn”

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“Formation”

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Strangely enough, the last “Diamond In The Rough” post that I did featured Brass Tacks’ “Hidden In Sight”/”Ice Breaker Classic”, little did I know the connection between the ‘Tacks’ classic single and this EP from fellow Canadians, Down To Erf. Comprised of emcee Mathematik and two producers, Wall & Steel (or “Steely Dan & Wal”) as credited on Down To Earf’s “white label” EP, Down To Erf dropped a phenomenal product in 1998 with this untitled gem. Lone emcee, Mathematik would later carve out a solo LP one year later in the form of “Ecology” (Beat Factory), of which 3 tracks from the LP and a remix of “Rhyme Training” can be found.

As previously mentioned, the connection arrives via the production for the Brass Tacks single, as it was indeed laced by the production duo of Steely Dan & Wal a.k.a. Erf Productions, whom also laced the majority of Math’s “Ecology” as well as product from the equally dope Sic Sense, Dream Warriors and underground favorite Saukrates. My whole week, musically, has been based around tracking down the Erf’s discography. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the duo is also responsible for much of Citizen Kane’s production. Don’t know how I almost overlooked that, being that Citizen Kane’s “Blackrain” and it’s remix from the “Epic EP”, “Elements Of Mind” (which, oddly enough, would be just as welcomed on the “Down To Erf” EP).

Anyway, let’s speak on the Erf’s EP. Bottom line, sh*t is entirely too dope to be slept-on! I really have fallen in love with mid-nineties Canadian Hip Hop over the last few weeks. When you account for Citizen Kane, Brass Tacks (minus the EP, which was fairly disappointing), Frankenstein, Down To Erf and even the Sic Sense 12″, “Positional Bypass”/”Onementality”, it’s criminal just how overlooked our brother from the North were/are. Mathematik is simply ill, very intellectual rhymes intertwined with an effortless, silky smooth delivery. The productions from the “Erf” duo are as laid back and breezy as a warm April afternoon.

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Mixtape: Bloggerhouse presents: Mandatory Gym Music Vol. 1 (Mixed by Eric C.)

by Eric on January 20, 2012

Most of my mixes that I’ve completed thus far for Bloggerhouse have a general “theme”. Whether it be “The Best of 92″, “The Buckwild files” or “Ode To Evil Dee’s “One”, I generally follow down a specified path. However, with “Mandatory Gym Music”, the tracks that I’ve compiled for this blend are nothing but stuff that’s floated around the “Most Played” list in Itunes for the last few months. Most know that I compete as a Natural Bodybuilder and this mix has been the “juice” that’s fueled my workouts recently. Keep in mind, my taste may not be ideal to yours, but I guarantee you, this will serve as a good “partner” while you’re at the gym. Enjoy…

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WYDU’s Year in Review: Trav’s Top 50 Albums (and mixtapes, street albums, ect)

by Travis on January 20, 2012

As I try to knock out the rest of the year in review before the end of the month, we’ll kick it off with MY favorite (note I didn’t say best, but my favorite) albums of the year. Overall it was a cool year. Some new blood on the lists, some old favorites and some stuff I would have never thought I’d be listening to. Here is the fifty through twenty-six….

50. Hus – Cognac Fruit
Buy

One of the hardest working emcees in the game, Hus is back with probably his best solo release, in Cognac Fruit. It does contain some remixes of past songs (like most of his projects do) but the new stuff is exactly what you would expect from Hus or Tha Connection which he is apart of with SmooVth.

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“Review”: Ran Reed – Respect The ARchitect

by Eric on January 19, 2012

“Respect The ARchitect” – Ran Reed (No Sleep Recordings, 2011)

“Fatal Attraction”

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“Wack Tapes”

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I know this jammie, “Respect The ARchitect” from underground favorite Ran Reed has been a long time comin’. Although I don’t quite recall hearing Ran during the height of his career (the mid-nineties), One Leg Up’s noted releases from super-producer, Nick Wiz, and his 3 (!) volumes of the “Cellar Sounds” series has opened a lot of doors to gain insight on the lyrical wizard that is, Ran Reed. Also, it should be noted that No Sleep has dropped a sh*t ton of goodness However, only unveiled as a CD release thus far, I can only imagine the demand the for the vinyl when it hits the shelves.

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Eric’s Most Played For The Week (The Semi-Obscure Edition)

by Eric on January 18, 2012

1. “Hidden Insight” (Classic Mix) – Brass Tacks

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Found On: “Ice Breaker Classic”/”Hidden Insight” 12″ (Star Point Tactics, 1996)

I know that I’ve written about this track before, but I gotta’ say, over the last few months “Hidden Insight” has quickly propelled itself into my “Top 5 Tracks” of all-time, no exaggeration! The production, courtesy of virtual unknowns, Wall & Steel (“Hidden Insight” seems to be their only “credit”) is simple, yet very effective, thanks to a hard-hitting bassline and filtered horns that echo ever so lovely. The duo (I’m guessing, from their pics on Discogs), also released a somewhat disappointing EP shortly after the release of this 12″, “Star Point Tactics”, and currently stands shoulder to shoulder against Citizen Kane as my favorite act(s) to emerge from Canada! Maaan, this track is a perfect representation of why I loved the mid-nineties so damn much..

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Eric’s Top 100 Tracks of 2011 (10-1)

by Eric on January 12, 2012

10. “Sun God” – Doc Singe f. Branesparker of Freestyle Professors

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Found On: “Kiss Of The Beast” (Ascetic Music)

Damn, damn, damn, one of the most instantly gratifying and appeasing tracks to us old headz who can’t seem to let go of the “Golden Era” was Doc Singe’s “Sun God”. With the lyrical reach out from Branesparker of Freestyle Professors, “Sun God” could have found itself higher on this list had I heard it a bit soon than the start of December. Boom Bap is alive and strong!

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Interview: Confidence (of Rashad & Confindence)

by Eric on January 10, 2012

Confidence. The name can refer to several ideas and concepts. Apply it to the world of beat-making and you have a term that exudes high standards and carefully composed compositions. What a fitting name for a hip hop producer who has just that! When Confidence was around 16 back in 1993, his brother decided to cop some Technic 1200’s the first summer he started working. If you couple that with hundreds of hip hop records, the beginning stages of Confidence’s career was about to take off. After dabbling with scratching for a while, sampling came into the picture. Bob James was a big influence and after copping one of his albums, “Heads,” the sample game was next in line. From there, it was all about a 4 second Gemini sampler and some records/drum breaks to get an understanding of how hip hop music was produced. This would provide Confidence with the framework on where he is today.

At the end of 2010, Confidence released a 16 track remix album of 90’s classics. This album was received with open arms and garnered a lot of attention from people far and wide. With over 6,000 downloads and features on KevinNottingham.com and 2dopeboyz.com, Confidence’s work is finally getting the praise it deserves. One of the biggest breaks for Confidence came in 2011 when he linked up with the CEO of Ill Adrenaline Records who has a recording artist by the name of Beneficence. He put out one of the top underground records for 2011.

2011 was the year of Rashad & Confidence. Rashad linked up with Confidence online after listening to one of his remix tracks off of Recon. From there the two discussed doing more than just recording a track. A classic was in the works and after numerous months of putting in work and crafting masterpieces, “The Element of Surprise” was made. This epic record hit worldwide November 29th, 2011…Distributed through Fatbeats and put out by Ill Adrenaline Records. As of January 2012, The Element of Surprise is the #1 seller for December on Undergroundhiphop.com receiving a Five Star review from listeners worldwide. Recently I caught up with Confidence to touch upon his recent acclaim, influences and future projects, ‘Con is a good dude man….

Eric: So why a producer? Why not an emcee? Also, who were some of your
earliest inspirations that led you into production?

Confidence: I’ve always considered myself musically inclined. My parents forced me to play piano when I was four. At the time, I didn’t know that would lay the foundation for where I am today. Emceeing was cool, but I was always drawn to the music first, then the lyrics. I still am to this day.

Coming up in the 90’s there was a lot of inspiration to draw upon. I’d say some of the earliest influences were the music of EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Gangstarr, Beatnuts, Diamond D, Lord Finesse among plenty of others. The beats and the rhymes all influenced my love of the music which carried me into the production side of things.

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