Artifacts

Artifacts were on my mind. The sun will still shine. Artifacts were on my mind.

You should already know, or will know, that I write about hip hop with a nostalgic, analytical and critical tone. Around 1996-2001, I became disillusioned about my precious hip hop. I wasn't impressed with some albums, directions artists were taking and a few other things got to me. I was sad to hear Artifacts broke up after their second album. That news came about at what I thought was the worst time.

I knew about Artifacts as early as 1993 when I saw their name on a Nubian Crackers - Do You Wanna Hear It 12". I liked the song even though I knew nothing about the artists. I've heard it said that MCs are hungriest, literally in some cases and figuratively, just until the release of their first album. Not to downplay their work after 1993 but Artifacts were their most lyrically raw on that track.



As much as I hold their first album near and dear to me, That's Them didn't move me as much. I understood the production was varied but the imprint of Between a Rock and a Hard Place was firmly planted in my psyche and it took me years to remove from my CD want list! However, I will say that The Ultimate is exactly that for me.



A friend of mine told me that Artifacts reunited at either a recent Rock the Bells or Rock Steady Reunion. I wished I was there to have seen that and to be part of the crowd`s reaction. I probably would've lost my voice yelling in joy.



I won't raise my voice in telling you that Artifacts were one of my most respected groups. These paragraphs of praise did that for me. With them broken up and the state of hip hop nowadays, I definitely feel caught between a rock and a hard place. Luckily we have a great piece of recorded hip hop from a great group to help us get by.



The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 2-3am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

Below are some podcasts to bring you up to speed.  Click here to download them and more.

The Suite Delight - March 11, 2014 Playlist:

1. The Roots - Proceed III feat. Bahamadia
2. Maestro - Stick To Your Vision
3. Classified - Quit While You're Ahead
4. Marco Polo - Back to Work feat. Artifacts
5. Moka Only - The Taste
6. DJ Format - The Place feat. Chali 2Na & Akil
7. Miles Jones - Coast to Coast feat. Kae Sun
8. Poor Righteous Teachers - Easy Star
9. Das Efx - Kaught In Da AK (Remix)
10. Zion I - We Got It
11. Dujeous - All M.C.'s
12. Substantial - That Damn Good
13. DL Incognito - The Masses