At the end of
2009, Side One and I will part ways, but it’s been a great
year and I want to thank John for this awesome opportunity.
I’ve been able to write about music I love, and you can’t
ask for much more than that. Stick around, though, I’ll have
a best of 2009 list coming up, and John has many more indie
tricks, action photos, and great writing up his sleeve.
NEW JAMS:
:CunninLynguists
- Close Your Eyes (Featuring Grieves, Geologic, Macklemore):
CunninLynguists
have been gaining in skill and popularity since their 2001
debut. Just released, Strange Journey Volume Two is
the second installment in their on-the-road concept album
series, and another album that will add to their popularity.
Close Your Eyes features a lilting backbeat, sensual
female refrain vocals, and three incredible indie MCs
relating their experiences on tour. If you want to know what
it’s like to be a rapper on tour, just give this track a
listen.
:Kam
Moye - Life Line (Featuring One Be Lo):
North
Carolina’s Kam Moye, also known as Supastition for the
stellar second track above, has released his first solo LP,
and it has a driving, reflective theme that pulls the
listener into his world. Kam turns phrases in this track
with confidence and a certain swinging sarcasm that bears
the mark of a professional - and he is one, having rapped on
tracks with KRS-One, 9th Wonder, CunninLynguists, Akrobatik
and many others. This album above all is serious, and you
should seriously buy it.
:Nicolay
And Supastition - The Williams:
:People
Under The Stairs - Check The Vibe:
As one of
underground hip-hop’s most consistent groups, People Under
The Stairs has a legacy to maintain and they do so on
Carried Away by taking it back OLD SCHOOL. They explore all
the old styles, from electro-funk rap ala Bambaataa to
Boogie Down Productions with versatility and humor. Check
the Vibe is one such ode to the golden era of rap with
live instrumentation, homage lyrics to growing up, and
classic old school tropes like word-reversal and
call-and-response. Yo, People Under the Stairs, 1988 called
... and it’s jealous!
FLASHBACK PICK:
:Pete
Rock And CL Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (TROY):
You know you’ve
got a classic golden age track on your hands when you need
only reference it’s acronym and get nods of approval.
There’s not much to say about this gem, except lean back,
nod your head, and revel in the kind of sincerity that only
the early nineties can supply.
Leah Manners is the host of KOOP's (91.7 FM) Hip Hop
Hooray, which airs on Sundays from 2pm to 3pm. If you'd like to contact
Leah in regards to her
writings here at Side One: Track One then please do
so
here.
- Leah Manners
-
Unless
otherwise expressly stated, all text in this blog and any
related pages, including the blog's archives, is licensed by
John Laird under a
Creative Commons License.
