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It all started with dance. The practice of isolating and extending the musical breakdown in a song to keep the crowd movin' was originated in and exported from Jamaica, but the art hip hop music was born, bred, and cultivated in New York.
A song break is, typically, where the instruments and melody pause to highlight a rhythmic fill. The way-back-when DJs caught on that it was the breaks of disco, rock, and funk records that really got the party out of control, so they'd buy two copies of the vinyl and mixed the same song together to repeat the break and to manipulate the sounds. Simultaneously, the role of an M.C. (Master of Ceremony) developed. The M.C. simply energized the crowd with rhythmic, improvisational flow, call-&-response, and rhyme.
And there's your hip hop.
The KINGS OF HIP HOP is an excellent double CD compellation of some of the mavericks who kicked off distinctive sounds and approaches to rapping, writing, and producing (actual song creation).
For the first CD, world famous producer DJ Premier (most noted for his ruckus beats on GangStarr songs), serves up a collection of old soul and R&B songs that are, surprisingly, not known for being highly sampled, but rather for simply being incredibly good songs that influenced and set the stage for the emergence of hip hop. DJ Premier's selections (including Grover Washington Jr., Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, Percy Sledge, Rufus, and Chaka Khan) give a glimps into the kind and style of music that many black Americans are exposed to while growing up - a soulful, funky orientation that facilitates a penchant and inclination for complex bass and drum patterns.
Former Scratch Perverts member, Mr. Thing delivers classic hip hop cuts for THE KINGS OF HIP HOP's second disc. Early and mid '90s tracks were more jazz and melodic based rather than today's rap hits (non-sample produced), which are often dull, flat, unoriginal, and synthetic. Mr. Thing brings back the greats, like Eric B. and Rakim, EPMD, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Grand Puba, Big Daddy Kane, and Brand Nubian. These songs are fun, loud, colorful, positive, and most importantly, danceable.
Unfortunately, the only Native Tongues submittal is De La Soul's 'The Bizness' featuring Common Sense. While there are two fantastic tracks by Ol' Dirty Bastard included, I would've preferred for one of them instead to be something by A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, or The Black Sheep - it's quite possibly a clearance/money issue.
Coming full circle, hip hop and dance music converge on all kinds of levels. In the beginning, Afrika Bambaataa sampled Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express', and the black dance club scene was commonly referred to as 'hip hop & house'. Today, the latest fusion is Drum & Bass / Garage.
Go cop this album, gank it, rock it - whatever slang the headz are using at the moment - just go get KINGS OF HIP HOP.
yes, yes y'all...
rapsterrecords.com - bbemusic.com-- review by Ursula Williams
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