I finally got around to turning on my desktop computer that I have neglected in the age of laptops at coffee shops. I scrolled through my Hip-Hop folder and found an old 9th Wonder folder with remixes I haven't heard in a while. I used to love his bare bones soul remixes like the Mobb Deep one above. 9th definitely was an inspiration when I started out remixing. This collection isn't anything from The Listening or the Minstrel Show; it's plenty of rare songs you may have overlooked or didn't have because you weren't an avid downloader back in 04 (torrents and zshare wasn't even poppin back then).
Murs has knack for pairing the most obscure collaborations. He has done songs with E-40, Shock G and even WWE wrestler, Joe Cena. Now he brings someone I've always been entertained by, Suga Free. My favorite Suga Free quote of all time is, "Girl be sure to scrape that booger off your coat before it freeze up and cut somebody." His verse on this song is hilarious. This verse finds him speaking of his disdain for women who don't do courtesy flushes.
Below is some classic Suga Free to understand my amusement.
I've been wanting to do a post about David Banner and the perception versus the reality of conscious rap for a while and this song provides me the perfect opportunity to do so. People often ask me, "Who do you think is the most conscious rapper or who realest to the struggle?" I usually respond with David Banner. People always wonder why I don't say Mos or Talib and I explain to them the following analysis. David Banner always has songs that provide a good analysis and message, especially before he got an album deal. Even though he has made songs that were stereotypically mainstream and mundane (i.e. Play), I applaud him for who he is outside of limelight more so than his music. To me, the most important aspect of someone is their actions. I've always been amazed how Nas, Common, and Talib sound like geniuses on the mic but their interviews are lackluster when someone asks them a question regarding the very issues (crime, poverty, racism, etc.) they rap so eloquently about.
On the contrary, when David Banner speaks, I listen. Banner is more compelling off the mic than on. Maybe it stems from him being student president at Southern University or going to graduate school to get a masters in education, but he seems to have more sense and conviction in an interview than on a track. Fortunately, this project sounds like it's going to bridge his talent as a concerned Black man from the south with his strong mic presence as an emcee. I'm happy to see David Banner partnering with 9th to create a project that represents his passion. From his work with youth in Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina recovery, and setting up consistent services to his community, I always use him as an example over men who claim to be "conscious" yet reek havoc with their actions behind closed doors.
After a Blitz the Ambassador show in Berkeley, me and the staff of MVMT (Rolando Brown and James Bartlett) were riding in my car heading to yet another Blitz the Ambassador show in SF and were knocking this song. Now, I am producer and yes, I know I say that a lot like how Tracy Morgan's says "I am a lawyer" while impersonating Star Jones, but I say that to reinforce that I don't care too much for lyrics. I like Jay Electronica, Nas and a few others, but I'm rarely impressed by rappers thus I tune them out. Rolando on the other hand, lives for lyrics. He is a rapper. Him and I need to make an album called, "I'm the Rapper, He's the Producer", but I digress. While listening to this song by Laws, Rolando goes on a tangent that went something like this:
Yo man! Why didn't he just keep the third verse. I mean, that verse is good but not the other ones. I don't get it. And the chorus? I'm shining man? Come on. Yo, I bet he was in the studio and everybody was just like "Ah yeah that's dope" and kept bobbing their heads because he's the only cat with money in the studio or something.
This conversion is why I posted the video. I saw this video after this conversation and had to laugh. I guess Rolando is psychic. This video is exactly what he was talking about. As for me, I like the song because 9th Wonder finally made a beat that I like in a long time. I've been feenin for some The Listening 9th for too long. This is his best beat since Carolina Agents. BTW, Laws, Rolando and I both see promise in you so keep doing what your doing. At one point we even brought up your name in the same sentence as Big L so you can't go wrong there.
