Jay Electronica, 9th Wonder, Tanya Morgan, Che Grand
Last week I got into some real nice underground hip hop, and was playing the same 6 or 7 tracks a lot. I am partial to sample-based jazzy hip hop, especially stuff from the early-to-mid 90’s, so these kinds of beats suit me more, coupled with intelligent rhymes that incorporate a little more flow than most of the laffy taffy BS crowding the airwaves. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any suitable pictures related to this post, just lots of cliche rap press photography and what not, so instead here are some awesome pharmaceutical package designs to accompany this dose of hip hop, originally by Helmud Schmid for Osaka Pharmaceuticals.
Jay Electronica – My World
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I first heard the elusive a few months back at my friend Corey’s crib. Corey always has the good hip hop, and this track especially had my head slowly nodding as I listened to Jay paint an alternate portrait on the same sample source as Nas’ classic track The World Is Yours, one of my favorites. The rainy Brooklyn piano and stripped-down beat paint a dreary but strangely appealing picture, almost like a Scorcese film. If you are as enthralled with this cut as I am, take heart: Jay is recording an album produced by Just Blaze, here’s a video preview (bottom of post), it was also recently announced that he is teaming up with Mos Def and Curren$y on some new material, both should be excellent.
Kev Brown – Allways (9th Wonder Remix)
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I don’t know too much about , but I was initially drawn to this track as a remix by , who is one producer I’ve always really liked. This remix harkens back to The Listening era of 9th Wonder’s production styles when he was a part of Little Brother, my favorite period of his. Kev Brown presents a very interesting angle in this track as well, not quite as misogynistic as “bitches” this and “ho’s” that, but rather sort of confused at his inability to meet women of substance. I’m sure that we all have difficulties making connections with others at one point or another, especially the opposite sex, but it’s rare to hear someone ponder the nature of this in a hip hop track.
Tanya Morgan – On Our Way
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sounds like a female vocalist of some sort…well, it’s actually hip hop duo and . This track has a somewhat grandiose instrumental backing a choppy lyrical flow and a chorus that’s hard to describe, but easy to enjoy.
Che Grand – Trainspotting (ft. Tanya Morgan)
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The afforementioned Tanya Morgan also has this really catchy track with Che Grand, called Trainspotting. More New York swagger in audio format, the beat is light-hearted, like some kind of supermarket music from the 60’s mixed with the beats and flows of People Under the Stairs.
Jay Electronica – Dear Moleskine (video preview)
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