Best of 2009
February 9, 2010
As I’ve been on a blogging sebattical for several months now (my bad), I never got around to giving a proper “Best of” list for 2009 albums. Keep in mind these are records that My Bass Rocks messes with, and while most are straight hip-hop/rap oriented, there are some that expand this genre (and then some). Without further ado, I give you MBR’s Best of 2009 List:
Dilla + Big Pun = Yes Please
February 9, 2010
Cookin’ Soul: “Big Dilla (mixtape)”
To commemorate both J-Dilla’s 36th birthday and the 10th anniversary of Big Pun’s passing on February 7th, the good folks at 2DopeBoyz put together a nice tribute for two of hip-hops greats. Filled with knocking Dilla production and classic Pun wordplay (both from previous work), this is one of the better mixtapes to drop in recent memory.
Peep the tracklist after the jump..
Project Boy
February 9, 2010
Joel Ortiz: “Project Boy (Prod. DJ Premier)”
Even thought it’s a radio rip, you get the idea here. I’ve always wanted to hear Ortiz over Premier (or even Slaughterhouse please), and the outcome is as ill as I was hoping…I don’t know what it is about Brooklyn MC’s over Preemo, but it seems to work every single time.
Off Joel’s upcoming debut Free Agent, which drops on March 23rd.
Props Premier Blog
Happy Birthday Dilla
February 8, 2010
1974 – 2006
Yesterday marked James Yancey’s (aka J-Dilla, Jay Dee, or Pay Jay) 36th birthday, so happy belted to one of the greatest to ever do it. His influence is unparalleled to this day, and his legacy lives strong within the hip-hop and soul communities.
Turn It Up!
Previously: Best Dilla Beats Ever
Treat Her Like a Lady..
February 6, 2010
I’ve been waiting on this one for a minute…Once I saw this 12″ some moths ago and passed, I’ve been on the hunt ever since. This is a pretty rare release from MC Peaches (not to be confused with Peaches) off Bumrush! Records (1988). Both sides are ill, with the slight advantage going to the title track “Treat Her Like a Lady” (sampling The Temptations’ track of the same name). No diss to the flip with “Commin Straight Rollin Hard” (w/ “Pass the Peas” loop), which holds it’s own on this monster of a 12″.
Listen to both tracks off this 12″ after the jump:
Jaylib vs. J-Rocc
February 4, 2010
Back in like 2003, my good friend Stephen Wonder put me on to this promo CD that Stones Throw released simply titled Jaylib vs. J-Rocc. I was a big fan of both Madlib and Dilla, and was blown away at the concept of those two beatsmiths putting together an album. I never managed to grab a copy of the OG promo CD, and have been waiting for an official digital release for years…Glad to see the good folks at the Stones Throw heard me loud and clear. Enjoy!
Is Stones Throw Back?
February 1, 2010
After a couple years of waiting for Stones Throw to get back in rhythm, I have a good feeling that things are starting to turn around for the label. With recent disappointments from the underground staple (i.e. James Pants and Baron Zen), I recently read their current/upcoming lineup through a promotion in the new Waxpoetics and it looks like this:
Strong Arm Steady: In Search of Stoney Jackson
Dam-Funk: Toeachizown
Guilty Simpson & Madlib: OJ Simpson
Guilty Simpson killed it with his debut back in 2008 (review), and I’ve been waiting on Toeachizown for years now. Could this mean there’s some momentum for the label moving forward? Hip-hop heads would love a strong 2010 from Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, and the rest of the lineup, so here’s hoping they continue dropping classic material. Madvillainy 2 would be a nice touch…Come on son!
I just picked up the new Strong Arm Steady today, so stay tuned for a review.
Brooklyn We Go Hard
February 1, 2010
This weekend I came across one of my dopest jazz finds yet, with Roy Ayer’s classic He’s Coming (Polydor 1971). While Mr. Ayers is mostly known by the masses for his later material (i.e. Everybody Love the Sunshine), this is the type of record for groove diggers like myself. For instance, every time I hear “We Live in Brooklyn, Baby” I bug out pretty hard…Not only because I grew up on Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides, but mostly how infectious (and raw) the track is overall (drums?).
If you’re not up to speed on this gem (late pass for me for sure), be on the lookout because it’s definitely worth the wait.
Baseline Closes
January 30, 2010
R.I.P.
Just when I started to fall back in love with hip-hop, Just Blaze goes and closes shop. Baseline Studios was one of the most important creative melting pots for influential artists across the genre, which is why this news comes as a little bit of a bummer.
Baseline played a giant role in the second wave of Roc-A-Fella fame (post Blueprint), and for that alone we all owe Just, and the numerous MC’s that walked through the doors, a moment of silence.
Cold Turkey..
January 30, 2010
As it’s been over two months since I last touched this blog, I feel an excuse is necessary to the good amount of people who still visit this site on a daily basis. I’ve been through some intense changes in my life recently including leaving my last job and jumping aboard a new (and very demanding) gig, so apologies are definitely in order.
I admit these past couple of months have been pretty overwhelming, but as the smoke starts to clear more and more with each day, I realize why I’ve kept my site a priority for so long. Not only is My Bass Rocks a creative outlet for me, but it also gives me a chance to share my experiences as a DJ in one of the most musically-rich places in the world.
So, if you’re down to let me continue MBR like it never left, I’d like to pick up where we left off…You know, the latest music news, dusty groove finds, album reviews, and (of course) the occasional video throwback.
