What's In Your Deck? #3
Your Weekly Top 5 Music Picks
What are ya'll listening to this week? Here's what I got.
1. Jean Grae--The Grae Mixtape
She's been called the "hardest lyricist in NYC," o.k. she was called that by me, but once again I mean it. I really mean it. The mixtape is just that. A few old cuts, a few new ones, some freestyles and just ill ramblings throughout. With all the goofy shit going on in rap, Jean is a breath of fresh air. She's not a player, she's not a thug, not a pseudo-intellectual, not a killer, not a nerd, not a bling bling obsessed beeyatch, she's just that woman on the street who can rhyme better than you. Snatch this one up if you can find it. Chris Rock could quote some of this shit if he wants to start defending rap again. (jean-grae.com)
2. Ojos de Brujo--Bari
I've had this record for over a year, and just a couple of months back it was reissued with a limited edition remix disc. Ojos de Brujo is a "flamenco con hip hop" collective out of Barcelona, Spain who make some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard in my life. I don't recall owning a record that has stayed in my deck as long as this one here. If you can't really picture flamenco meeting hip hop in a Barcelona back alley, that's your problem because somehow these folks make it work. I first heard them when a good friend named Julie de Rossi returned from Spain in mid-2002. She was telling me all about these cats and I just couldn't get my head around it--like you're probably thinking right now--until I heard it. Tragically my girl Julie was killed by a drunk driver one month ago, and that made me put the remix disc away and grab this one up again. It already hit me in the heart over a year ago, now it's just tugging at my heartstrings telling me everything will be o.k. It's that kind of record, that kind of band. Raw emotion like nothing else on the planet. My daughter Eva loves it too. Download it if you must, but word has it that someone has picked up Bari for a domestic release but I don't know who. (ojosdebrujo.com)
3. Swishahouse--The Day Hell Broke Loose 2 aka Major Without a Major Deal and Rap-A-Lot and Big Tyme Present The Day After Hell Broke Loose
It's kind of a complicated story, one I don't really like getting into, but I guess I should give you a little background. Some years ago, a crew was started in Houston called the Swishahouse. They basically came up doing the slowed down mixes ala DJ Screw, but they put some marketing and promotions behind theirs and really helped spread the slowed down sound beyond Texas. I think it was 1999 that they released their first above ground, regular speed CD, The Day Hell Broke Loose. This record was a classic due mostly in part to the firey beats composed by Big Tyme. The sounds coming out of the speakers were like nothing I had ever heard come from Houston. They were like Bomb Squad meets Screw. Just ill funky and hard to get out of your head. Well, recently, during the production of The Day Hell Broke Loose 2, Big Tyme and the Swishahouse split ways and Big Tyme went to Rap A Lot. Swishahouse remixed the record and added some tracks and Big Tyme took some of the original tracks and recorded some new ones and both came out within the last two months. The result is three CDs of fire (Swishahouse released their screwed and chopped disc with their regular speed disc). Mike Jones and Paul Wall hold down the majority of the Swishahouse release, with Slim Thug, Magno and Kyleon all popping up more than once. Scarface, Devin the Dude, Bun B., Chamillionaire, Mike Jones and Billy Cook all show up on the Rap-A-Lot release, but the real surprise on this one is Dolla aka Da'Costa. He's all over the record and should have a record under Big Tymes new Rap-A-Lot imprint sometime soon. Lookout for this. (swishahouse.com or rapalotrecords.com)
4. DJ Wally Sparks--Mississippi Vet: David Banner Unleashed
This here should be called David Banner: The Ultimate Collection. Wally Sparks did his damn thing digging up all these classics new and old, the production he did for other artists and all the hard to find collabos. Banner fans will be happy to get their hands on a gang of these tracks. There's joints on here that I didn't even know existed. All the latest singles like "Crank It Up," "Might Getcha" and "Like a Pimp" are represented alongside tracks like "Don't Get Fucked Up" with Banner, Busta Rhymes and Bonecrusher, "What the Feezy" with Supastishun and the classic Crooked Lettaz cut "Get Crunk" featuring Pimp C of UGK (who incidentally might be getting out of jail sooner than we thought). This shit is on point from start to finish and is a great way to get your Banner collection up to speed. This man is everywhere. I got mine in the new issue of Ozone Magazine (ozonemag.com) but you can get yours at djwallysparks.com.
5. The Streets--A Grand Don't Come For Free--Vice Recordings
It is indeed in my deck, just so you know. I just can't figure it out yet. It's definitely way different from Original Pirate Material, like not as jammin' to me yet, but the songs are just as interesting. I can't even finish this. I just don't know what the hell to say. I'll come back to this in a week or two.
So what's in your deck?
Damage Control Radio's Tight Tight Ones for 04/26/04
TW | Artist/Song | Label |
1 | Bavu Blakes f. Paul Wall, Myonne, and Money Waters |
|
"Play the Role" Rmx | ||
2 | Dolla aka DaCosta f. Lil Ron and Slim Thug |
|
"Life" | ||
3 | Money Waters |
|
"So I" | ||
4 | Balance |
|
"Hustler" | ||
5 | Warlords f. Paul Wall, Magno, and Mouf |
|
"Underground Railroad" |
You can also listen to what's in Matt Sonzala's deck by checking out Damage Control Radio every Wednesday nite/Thursday morning 12am-3am on 90.1 FM in Houston. Listen to the live stream at kpft.org or kpftx.org.
Message Matt Sonzala and tell him what's in your deck
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The 2-Way
Replies: 19
posted by: dookie d @ 04/27/04: 10:10 AM EST
i hate that jean grae shit
love that swishahouse
the streets to me aint gonna work stateside
and i have yet to hear the other stuff but since matt said so its gotta be worth a listen ima try to get em right now
posted by: Suzy Q @ 04/27/04: 10:10 AM EST
Matt, I got a chance to buy that Sylk Smoov "CatAction 25-8" CD you had on your list before and I am very impressed. That St. Louis rapper still got it! He is more mature musically and lyrically than his fellow St. Louis brethren. Anybody interested please check out his website: www.catactionmuzik.net
Matt even gets his props there!
posted by: SamKinetic, Washington @ 04/27/04: 11:11 AM EST
Say Matt, I been reading your stuff for a while. Glad to see you on thecrusade. I normally just lurk around here, but I have to say I heard a few things about that DJ LT DAN MJ CD and after I read your post on it I ordered it. That shit does have me tripping. You are right it is some crazy shit. Michael doesnt sound like Michael and that is good. Keep holding it down.
posted by: scavone @ 04/27/04: 12:12 PM EST
1)bobby caldwell - open your eyes/do for love
2)bill withers - just the 2 of us/grandma's hands
3)lil john, jay z, don scavone - brush ya shoulders off remix
4)jean grey - the grae album
5)anthony hamilton - where i'm from
posted by: babygirl @ 04/27/04: 12:12 PM EST
1. Dwight Trible - Living Water
2. The Isley Brothers - Beautiful Ballads
3. Marvin Gaye - I Want You
4. Roberta Flack - Feels like making love
5. Minnie Riperton - Perfect Angel
posted by: Wally Sparks @ 04/27/04: 12:12 PM EST
Thanks for the kind words Matt... preshate dat fa sho.
posted by: gracie @ 04/27/04: 02:02 PM EST
What's up on that Flamenco hip hop? My sister lived in Salamanca and Madrid over two summers and is also a Flamenco dancer...she'll flip on this shit...Keep it comin' and meantime, where can i get more?
posted by: Brian Bartholomew @ 04/27/04: 02:02 PM EST
Greetings Mateus!
Luv H TOWN and all who beat those streets.
Just started rotating
1. MACKIN SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS" from Mac Mall, one of my "buy without peepin" artists. Never disappoints with his mouthpiece.
2. Still cannot put down the DON SCAVONE EP. Every track LOVELY! Got the delivery of a seasoned vet. Hope he dont sleep on rolling out the other 10 tracks. That boy can flow over breaking glass!!
3. Swishahouse THE DAY THAT HELL BROKE LOOSE. Micheal Watts and the team do it again, watertight!
4. Steely Dan ROYAL SCAM. Every track a classic. The source for alot of classic Cube trax.
5. Strawberry switchblade LIKE YESTERDAY. Some 80s pop shit sung by two very wierdly dressed girls but the track is straight hypnotic. If you gonna have a one hit wonder then this should be it.
Peace y'all
posted by: queenbee @ 04/27/04: 02:02 PM EST
that ojos de brujo is the bomb! you completely got on a world music kick. top 5 this week are as follows:
1. ojos de brujo - bari. can't stop listening to this one.
2. new sector movements - #6 is my jam! please, please send me the track listing for this one. i can't keep calling my favorite song right now #6!
3. frikiyiwa - collection 2. if you don't have this one, you'll have it soon. one of my favorite world music CDs bought in the past few years. afropop from paris.
4. gotan project - la revancha del tango. a must in one's music library.
5. taipei lounge - this one was on my first top 5 list i have ever done on this site, and it is making another appearance. such a great CD. on high note records out of taiwan. just a great compilation of great music from all over.
peace matt.
posted by: Baby Tech @ 04/27/04: 05:05 PM EST
1. Kai Alce House mix
2. Sneaker Pimps- Becoming X
3. Jamiroquai- Return of the Space Cowboy
posted by: MattSonzala @ 04/27/04: 06:06 PM EST
Jeah, I had to go a little international for y'all this week. That Streets is real interesting and Ojos de Brujo is the best thing going ont he entire planet. Brian it looks like I Need to hear some Strawberry Switchblade. What the deal? Message me and lemme know where to get it... Thanks to all y'all for posting up, now tell all yer friends to do it too.... PEACE matt
posted by: Shay from Capetown @ 04/28/04: 09:09 AM EST
1. Gidi Gidi Maji Maji
2. Lil Flip
3. Kanye West
4. Toome
5. Code 9 dub
posted by: biz 3 ben @ 04/28/04: 12:12 PM EST
man, your taste is on fucking point. jean grae is on some next shit and anything with ugk on it is pretty much gold in my book. need to peep that ojos de brujo joint, though. good lookin' out!
playlist:
1. diplodocous - epistemology suite 12"
2. jean grae - grae album
3. bathtub skit on the new ghostface record.
4. madvillain "madvillany" lp
5. swiz - hell yes i cheated lp
posted by: Phyllis Press at Def Press @ 04/28/04: 01:01 PM EST
Today I am listening to the trigger happy Geto Boys.
1. We Can't Be Stopped
2. Mind Playing Tricks--remix versions
3. Al Green Anthology
4. The Double Black album-DJ Cologne
5. All the latest news and words from Charlie Braxton!!!!!!
posted by: MattSonzala @ 04/28/04: 01:01 PM EST
yoooooooo swiz was the shizznit...
posted by: MattSonzala @ 04/28/04: 01:01 PM EST
And man I just got that Diplodicus! Hollertronix is off the chain.
And there's that girl Phyllis! TRIGGA HAPPY MUTHA FUNKIN GETO BOYS!
You know there's a new Geto Boys record coming from Face, Willie D and Bushwick right???
posted by: El Keter @ 04/28/04: 03:03 PM EST
1. Time Machine 'Slow Your Roll'
2. Danger Mouse & Jemini feat. Cee Lo & Tha Alkaholiks "What U Sittin' On ( DM's 26'' Remix )"
3. Automato 'Automato'
4. Sankofa 'The Rosetta Stone'
5. Ghostface Killah 'The Pretty Toney Album'
posted by: fastlance @ 04/28/04: 06:06 PM EST
Good shit as allways Matt, felling your list, I see wiley didnt make it though, haha!
but I gota say im sorry about your friend but im sure that makes the music much more intense
peace
posted by: MattSonzala @ 04/29/04: 11:11 AM EST
Yo man Wiley will make the list soon. I am still getting into it.
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