Like The Pharcyde and Souls of Mischief, Tha Alkaholiks sounded so East Coast that I was slightly disappointed I couldn’t claim them as my own.
The first album is fantastic but the second one not so much. I remember being in New York in the summer that Likwidation was to drop.
The group appeared on Funkmaster Flex’s radio show and the nearly the whole album was played on air that night.
I was going to buy it for Hip Hop Drunkies alone but their track All Night had be impatient to get to the store.
Fitz and The Tantrums
I did some quick detective work and discovered the song was recorded by Fitz & The Tantrums.
It sounded like Daptone Records, The Rumble Strips or something Mark Ronson would have produced.
I can identify with the message of the song while I groove my ass off!
I like the blue eyed soul angle of the song too. I especially love the video and the way Fitz dances. There's a funkier Robert Palmer thing going on in his moves. For as much as I Love the song and played it many times on my show, I've never had as many technical problems while playing a song like I did for Breaking the Chains of Love. I almost thought the song was cursed. I could count nearly 5 times I played it and something would go wrong! I take pride in being the first to play their music at Concordia University's radio station. I look forward to hearing further Fitz.
Santana – Santana (1969)
Santana’s blending of Latin rhythms and rock music may not have interested me in the past while I was listening to hip hop.
Within the last 11 years of hosting my radio show, rock music from 1964-1975 has been a primary focus for me.
Within the last 11 years of hosting my radio show, rock music from 1964-1975 has been a primary focus for me.
The first Santana album lays down the foundation for what we are to expect from the group. What an introduction!
On the subject of introductions, hip hop was in its infancy in the early 1970s.
It is impossible to think the late Jimmy Castor and crew were not influenced by the sounds and work of West Coast wonder Carlos Santana.
It is impossible to think the late Jimmy Castor and crew were not influenced by the sounds and work of West Coast wonder Carlos Santana.
Kelis
I’ll always have a place in my heart and music collection for Kelis.
Who knew the multi-colored haired young woman screaming at men like me a decade ago would be so near and dear to me?
She exploded on to the scene with Milkshake and I couldn’t resist her Tasty album.
That forced me to revisit Kaleidoscope and seek out Wanderland.
There is a possibilty that people don't know how great a song Acapella is.
Like Erykah Badu, I respect her creativity & eccentricities and check for her anytime she has something new.
If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.
Below is a podcast to bring you up to speed. Click here to download it and more.
The Suite Delight - April 15, 2014 Playlist:
1. Valique – Taking Your Seat
2. Pleaser - Bateria Virtual (DJ Enredo Remix)
3. Greenwood Rhythm Coalition – Rise Up
4. Tim “Elder” Lee – Disco Insert
5. Mr. Scruff – Get A Move On
6. William Onyeabor – Better Change Your Mind
7. The Souljazz Orchestra – Ya Basta
8. Ikebe Shakedown – Tame The Beats
9. Kelis – Glow feat. Raphael Saadiq
10. The Clonious – Emora
11. The Boombap Cats – Interlude (Dilla Tribute)
12. Tall Black Guy – Mon Amie De’Troit
The Suite Delight - March 4, 2014 Playlist:
1. Kokolo - Soul Power (Lack Of Afro Remix)
2. Kelis - Trick Me
3. Nickodemus – 2 Sips & Magic (Second Sky & Thomas Blondet Remix)
4. The Souljazz Orchestra - Celestial Blues
5. Fabolous - So Into You feat Tamia
6. DJ Honda - When You Hot, You Hot feat. No I.D. & Dug Infinite
7. Fashawn - LIfe As a Shorty
8. Oh No - Beware feat. Cali Agents
9. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix) Featuring Diamond D
10. Souls of Mischief - Good Feeling
11. De La Soul - Afro Connections At A Hi 5
12. Moka Only & Chief - Crickets
13. Grand Analog - Take It Slow (Spaces & Places)
Etta James - Tell Mama
Etta James' Tell Mama album, back by the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, ironically and unfortunately placed her somewhat in direct competition with Aretha Franklin.
Although James' bluesy vocals were raw and powerful enough to put her on par with Franklin, Franklin was already anointed Queen of Soul from as early as 1967 when she recorded for Atlantic Records.
I remember seeing brief footage of her funeral on the news. I'm thankful that due to her surge of popular culture media exposure, her talent and legend did not go unnoticed.
KRS-One
With the slight exception of The Roots or Femi Kuti, no concert, hip-hop or otherwise, has managed to dethrone KRS' impact on me.
To see the icon performing live in front of you is worth the cost of admission.
KRS is such a seasoned performer. Few MCs have the charisma and stage presence of KRS. I know that, the audience knows that, and most importantly, he knows that.
Depending on who you ask that was present during Montreal's hip hop scene in the 1990s, some would say the 1993 De La Soul/A Tribe Called Quest/Souls of Mischief show is the greatest hip hop show this city has ever had.
I unfortunately did not get to see the 1993 show mentioned above. I did however have the privilege of attending the greatest hip hop concert of my life and KRS-One was a major factor for that night being so memorable.
I unfortunately did not get to see the 1993 show mentioned above. I did however have the privilege of attending the greatest hip hop concert of my life and KRS-One was a major factor for that night being so memorable.
One thing is undeniable. KRS has what it takes to make any performance memorable.
Thanks for '94 as well as the H.E.A.L & Stop The Violence Movements Kris.
D-Nice was also an important member of Boogie Down Productions.
Boogie Down Productions pioneer Ms. Melodie passed away in 2012.
Boogie Down Productions pioneer Ms. Melodie passed away in 2012.
RIP Scott LaRock & Ms. Melodie.
If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Most artists could only wish to do with their albums like what Lauryn Hill did with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
I'll admit to being slightly disappointed with that album because she did not rhyme as much as I would have liked or needed. I was in desperate need of a classic hip hop album at that time and would have accepted one from anyone who stepped into the arena for the quest.
I knew she could have done it. I had high hopes for her, like a handful of others, and knew that if she dropped a HIP HOP album, it would have rocked the world as I knew it and cracked the earth in half for good measure. Miseducation is a classic in its own right even if she didn’t drop sweet 16s all over the album like I would have wanted.
The XX
The Matthew Dear remix of VCR by The XX is the best song I've heard from the group.
The XX were as popular as Phoenix when I became Concordia University radio station RPM Director and I was curious to catch one of their Montreal shows.
I only knew Matthew Dear because of the 2010 release Black City.
Curiosity made me explore his other work and I discovered his wonderful VCR remix.
During an Aux 33 Tours record sale, my DJ friend and I were in agreement the remix was nuts and even inquired about whether or not it was pressed to vinyl.
Thankfully we can hear the remix anytime we want, as should you.
Cypress Hill
I remember being blown away by their debut CD.
I was in high school and the album was near flawless to me then as it is now.
B-Real’s voice was unique, humorous and underground at the same time.
The production is incredible. Similar to my surprise in learning GZA was The Genius, I couldn’t believe The 7A3’s DJ Muggs resurfaced to make those phunky beats. It took me a long time and distance to find my CD copy of their debut. I took an excursion-like trip to the West Island of Montreal to visit a record store and was pleasantly surprised to see it waiting for me. I’m on a quest to get all of De La Soul’s 12" singles. I could see myself doing the same for Cypress Hill’s releases.
I was in high school and the album was near flawless to me then as it is now.
B-Real’s voice was unique, humorous and underground at the same time.
The production is incredible. Similar to my surprise in learning GZA was The Genius, I couldn’t believe The 7A3’s DJ Muggs resurfaced to make those phunky beats. It took me a long time and distance to find my CD copy of their debut. I took an excursion-like trip to the West Island of Montreal to visit a record store and was pleasantly surprised to see it waiting for me. I’m on a quest to get all of De La Soul’s 12" singles. I could see myself doing the same for Cypress Hill’s releases.
King Curtis
Whoopi Goldberg received the Academy Award for playing the psychic medium through which Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore’s characters communicate. I dreamed of receiving an Oscar for years. If I do receive an award as prestige as the Oscar or the gold statuette itself, I will remember to thank Curtis Ousley in my acceptance speech.
If it’s not already obvious, I’m big on playlists. While preparing to fill in for The Goods, I was conscious of the fact a handful of artists would repeat from the August 2010 visit. If I decided to take a firm stand, Wilson Pickett, The Shocking Blue, James Brown (via Marva Whitney), Ramsey Lewis and King Curtis would not have made it onto the March 2012 playlist.
Curtis in particular, not only made the shortlist of apparently vital artists I must play on The Goods radio show but was played twice. In 2010, James Brown had the honor of being doubly played. I was aware he was taking two spots on the pluralist but allowed for it anyway. The couple of King Curtis choices were too good to pass up.
I have Death of Vinyl to thank for putting me on the path to Sweet Inspiration. I heard the song’s opening bars, realized what I was hearing and was in wonder of the uncommon talent of King Curtis. Do you think I left that vinyl behind when I came across it during my CMJ 2011 trip? Upon my first time coming across the Sweet Soul album after knowing what was on it, I copped it with sweet delight for The Suite Delight. Aside from the song being an original sample, Sweet Inspiration is a beautiful song that makes it painfully clear the world lost a major musician in King Curtis.
On the subject of samples, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth fans owe King Curtis a debt of gratitude for creating a hip hop classic.
I believe what kick-started my King Curtis quest was discovering he did a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love from a compilation. It was destiny for me to discover that track because at the time I was dabbling in late 1960s/early 1970s rock, soul, jazz, funk and world music. For the soul jazz musician to cover the heavy Led Zeppelin cut peaked my curiosity.
King Curtis was the equivalent of Ray Charles being talented enough and capable to record various genres of music. King Curtis has recorded traditional jazz, soul, soul-jazz, funk and rock in his unique style. It is safe to believe he was also the equivalent of Motown’s Funk Brothers by playing on many Atlantic singles and albums. I’m sure delving into the Atlantic Records discography for his name among credits will be dizzying.
My father had The Best of King Curtis album in the house but it would take me to be almost as old as he was when he bought the album for me to understand the magnitude of his music. I learned he was shot in New York. It is either a coincidence or fate that I end up blogging about buying and playing the records of the guy on my father’s record. Regardless of the case, King Curtis' music is indeed a family affair where I'm concerned.
As I was leaving Death of Vinyl on Record Store Day 2013, a customer approached me with three albums in his hands.
Two of them were of King Curtis.
He asked me which of them was of prime importance and if I could chime in about them.
Upon seeing the live King Curtis album, I pointed to it.
As mentioned on The Goods podcast, I heard the live version of Them Changes on The Deep End with Nick Michaels and was blown away.
The other King Curtis album was a release of Sam Cooke covers.
I explained that King Curtis on Atlantic/ATCO is my main concern. I was already on the road to collecting King Curtis records since 2010 so it would be no surprise I would add nearly any Atlantic Records King Curtis I would find.
In addition to the Instant Groove and Sweet Soul, I added King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West on vinyl and CD.
The store had some of his other Atlantic albums that I already owned and told him what treasures each one held.
Stéphane Moraille
I saved copies of Montreal Mirror magazines to review them later.
As the host of a radio show, I want to learn more about the bands, genres and music that are a bit foreign to me and catch up on what I didn’t know musically.
One day while going through them, an article and photo about a powerhouse vocalist from Montreal came to my attention. The article was promoting a concert performance that I immediately regretted missing. I decided I was going to get familiar with her music any chance I got since I didn’t see her perform live like I would have wished.
One day I was shopping at one of my favorite record stores, Death of Vinyl, and the owner showed me a box of 12” singles. He was aware of my preference for strong female vocalists and told me to take my pick. The box was filled with dance music classics and among them, a bunch of Shauna Davis songs popped up. I remembered the name from the Mirror article and realized I just found more Stéphane Moraille music. I took them all and was especially blown away by her delivery on Into You.
I remember the day I was in my apartment and listened to the Florida Water CD from start to finish. I kept rewinding Honey most of all.
I still find it amazing that from the day I read the article about her, to the two copies of Florida Water, the Shauna Davis 12” singles at the store, the Glee CD brought to my old radio station on the show after mine, to the phone call with the artist herself, I was destined to be surrounded by Stéphane’s music this year.
One of my highlights was that I talked to Stéphane Moraille over the phone. I’m one of the most star struck people I know so that moment was bliss.
For some reason during the conversation, I started thinking about the future. I imagined her being the province’s Aretha Franklin, Shirley Bassey, or simply the Grande Dame of Montreal music in years to come.
Stéphane Moraille is gifted enough to be Montreal music royalty one day. I’ll continue to check for her music whenever I can and follow her musical evolution.
Greatest Hip Hop Verses
I had been contemplating posting my Greatest Hip Hop Verses for a long time.
I had issues with stating these were the greatest because it could have meant I have heard all the hip hop verses in my life, narrowed them down to these as the greatest I've ever heard and there will be none afterwards.
I didn’t really like the gloom, doom and definitive tone this statement could make but after 25+ years of hip hop in my system, I’m good.
The focus now is on the greatest, life-altering, mind-blowing verses I've ever heard to date. When I think of these lyrics, I consider them to be Shakespearean in magnitude.
This is some of the finest, modern-day poetry I've ever heard from my years as a hip hop head.
Melle Mel – The Message
No one has described the destitute state of poverty-stricken urban societies better than Melle Mel in The Message. The only thing more devastating than the truth of his 1982 lyrics is that the problems he rhymed about still plague those societies.
Kool G. Rap – The Symphony
If I could have done a Superman and turn back not only the hands of time but the world on its axis, I would have loved to have made Kool G. Rap’s verse end The Symphony. Regardless of the roster order, Kool G. Rap’s verse is simply unforgettable and strong contender for best of his career.
Mr. Scarface – My Mind’s Playing Tricks On Me
I was aware but cared little to none about Southern hip hop back in the days. After hearing Mr. Scarface’s verse on My Mind’s Playing Tricks On Me, I had to put my bias to the side. No one has described the cause and effect of insomnia better or more brilliantly.
Big L – Yes You May (Remix)
A good number of hip hop’s greatest verses were done by great MCs during their initial debut on the scene. When I first heard Big L’s Yes You May (Remix) verse, I couldn’t believe he was not already signed and putting out music. I will always be thankful to Lord Finesse for introducing us to Big L via that 1992 track. With lyrics like that, I wanted more music from the young man. We would finally get a Big L full-length in 1995 and unfortunately lose him and his lyrics in 2000.
Redman – Hardcore
Redman was a beast when he hit the hip hop scene in the early 90s. His verse, originally from the EPMD cut, made its way onto his own classic debut Whut? Thee Album.
If anyone wants a lesson in alliteration, listen to what Redman does during this track. I would learn and know the term for what Redman does in that song years later. I believe it is to this day the best use of alliteration ever in the history of hip hop.
Nas – Live At The BBQ
This was our first taste of Nas. He would again work wonders on MC Serch’s Back to the Grill and his own Halftime before delivering hip hop one of its greatest albums. With lyrics like this, I knew he was going to do big things.
Andre 3000 - Elevators (Me & You)
I believe that Andre 3000’s final verse on the song is the best verse of his career, to date. The delivery and rhyme pattern stand the test of time.
Big Pun – Off The Books
Aside from releasing a classic album before his passing, Big Pun had many memorable guest appearance moments on many tracks. Off The Books is possibly the best verse of his career. The way he blesses that Beatnuts banger reveals his true gift which was an incredible flow on whatever track he rhymed on.
Lauryn Hill – Ready or Not/Ready Or Not (Salaam's Ready For The Show Remix)
Lauryn is the only lady lyricist on this list. When I say Ready or Not, I mean both the original album version and the Salaam Remi remix. Her verses on The Score’s How Many Mics and Fu-Gee-La are a couple of contenders but can’t come close to Ready or Not.
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Part. 2
Finally, I cannot forget Prodigy's Shook Ones verse from this list.
Hip Hop Record Label Tribute
When discussing quality music of the golden era hip hop history, most look at the album's artists, groups or producers as responsible for the classic status.
One must look at the record labels responsible for their role in providing the classic hip hop music as well.
Although there are no longer a multitude of hip hop record labels to speak of today like some 20 years ago, this is the time to remember and recognize those that released the classic artists, groups and producers that we debate as greatest of all time now.
These labels in their own right are the greatest of all time and should be familiar to all self-respecting hip hop heads.
Jive Records
Below is the podcast of the hip hop record label tribute.
The Suite Delight - December 9, 2014 playlist:
1. The Sugarhill Gang - Apache
2. Sweet Tee - I Got Da Feelin'
3. Def Jef - Give It Here
4. Steady B - I Gotcha (Philly Extended Remix)
5. Leaders of the New School - Case of the P.T.A.
6. Apache - Hey Girl
7. Kid'N'Play - Bounce
8. Main Source - Fakin' The Funk (Remix)
9. Eazy-E - Only If You Want It
10. Nice & Smooth - Harmonize
11. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - Sleepin' On My Couch
12. Michie Mee & L.A. Luv - Jamaican Funk
13. The Geto Boys - My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me
One must look at the record labels responsible for their role in providing the classic hip hop music as well.
Although there are no longer a multitude of hip hop record labels to speak of today like some 20 years ago, this is the time to remember and recognize those that released the classic artists, groups and producers that we debate as greatest of all time now.
These labels in their own right are the greatest of all time and should be familiar to all self-respecting hip hop heads.
Sugar Hill Records
Jive Records
Wild Pitch Records
Tommy Boy Records
Ruthless Records
Profile Records
Def Jam Recordings
WEA (Warner Brothers Records, Elektra Records & Atlantic Records)
Feel free to request songs and artists below in the comments section below as well as on Twitter, Facebook.
Visit the Mixcloud page to listen and the Podomatic site to download them and more.
Visit the Mixcloud page to listen and the Podomatic site to download them and more.
The Suite Delight - December 9, 2014 playlist:
1. The Sugarhill Gang - Apache
2. Sweet Tee - I Got Da Feelin'
3. Def Jef - Give It Here
4. Steady B - I Gotcha (Philly Extended Remix)
5. Leaders of the New School - Case of the P.T.A.
6. Apache - Hey Girl
7. Kid'N'Play - Bounce
8. Main Source - Fakin' The Funk (Remix)
9. Eazy-E - Only If You Want It
10. Nice & Smooth - Harmonize
11. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - Sleepin' On My Couch
12. Michie Mee & L.A. Luv - Jamaican Funk
13. The Geto Boys - My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me
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