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Diggin in the Digital Crates: October · by Sach O
New feature coming soon
Writing in depth pieces about classic records takes time. Talking about modern rap is boring (except if it’s talking about new Jay/Wu/Beanie material) and talking about which celebrity got arrested is so asinine it might give you cancer. Listen to these albums instead.
Best known among Hip-Hop fans for her funky take on “California Soul” which provided the backing for Gangstarr’s “Check the Technique”, Marlena Shaw stands as way more than a convenient sample source. Her debut album (which includes said take on California Soul) is an excellent mix of Motown-style giddiness, rough funk and smooth jazz-pop that somehow manages to sound coherent. It’s Marlena’s powerful and versatile delivery that keeps things together making this essential listening for anyone interested in R&B’s adventurous side.
Sounding like early Santana crossed with the incredible Bongo band on a particularly funky day, Candido’s “Beautiful” is a funky selection of dance-floor ready Latin jazz that’s just begging to used in a Quentin Tarentino chase scene. While the focus is on Candido’s superb percussion, the horns, organ and sax players all get love with extended showcases and the funky bass keeps things on time and on point.
While I generally liked the same albums as the rest of the blogosphere last year (Roots, Clipse, Ghostface), none of those records got as much play around my crib as The Team’s World Premiere. Hailing from Oakland California, The Team (Clyde Carson, Kaz Kaizah with the occasional verse by Mayne Mannish) are to smooth playa rap as the Clipse are to cinematic coke rap: the next shit. Building on a mix of Bad Boy smoothness and funky Oakland grooves, the Team throw in copious amounts of ecstasy and weed and the results are spaced out futuristic grooves and high-octane slappers which make for one of the most interesting listening experiences in a minute. There’s no crime-talk going on here and the lyrics pretty much focus on getting high, getting laid and getting around The Bay area which works to the group’s advantage: when’s the last time you heard an album that’s decidedly NOT gangsta but that doesn’t fall into cliché positivity either?
Give this one a shot. Maybe you’ll think I’m crazy but you just might like it too.
Mary Jane Girls – In My House (Best of)
Aaaaalllllllll niiiiiigghhhhtttt looooooong! Even if you’ve never heard of the Mary Jane Girls, chances are you’ve heard the Mary Jane Girls. Their mega-hit “All Night Long” has been looped and chopped by everyone from Big Daddy Kane to LL Cool J to Redman, always to fantastic results. A side project of Rick “weed is a helluva drug too” James, The Mary Jane Girls compare favorably to Prince’s Vanity Six, not to mention to the other dozens of pre-fab girl groups of the era. This greatest hits disc misses out on a few key album cuts but the trade off comes in the form of extended 12-inch mixes sprinkled throughout the album. All songs written and arranged by Rick James. All songs funky.
John Miles – Stranger in the City
If I was serious about this production shit (a part time hobby, not yet about to be taken to the maximum) I wouldn’t be giving out any good samples but what can I say? I’m generous like that. John Miles is the kind of overblown radio-ready 70’s rock that was eclipsed by Punk, Disco and New Wave by the end of the decade. But for all it’s pomp, Stranger in the City has some surprisingly dope songs including the title track and the album ending Music Man, both of which are ready for a Just Blaze/Kanye/Heatmakers treatment. Rock Star, Roc Star…same thing at this point.
Yeah Clyde Carson’s made some bangers.
Speaking of Bay Area rap are you familiar with the music of Husalah and The Jacka?
— E aka Fidel Cashflow Oct 9, 02:27 PM
Yeah, I’m a big Mob Figgaz fan. I’d do a write up on them but I’ve probably heard less than 10% of their material, they drop a LOT of albums. My only beef with them is that they could use a little more quality control since their stuff has some filler, but most of their material is slamming. My favorite album of theirs was Jacka, Hussalah and Ap.9’s Mbb Trial with Andre Nickitina.
I read an article with Cormega recently and he wanted to release a Jacka album so more cats out East could get wind of their steez. I could see that working.
— Sach Oct 10, 12:43 AM
This is what I dig. A decent eclectic mix of music. Ha. The Mary Jane Girls, I remember that, Red Alert did mix that with U.T.F.O. on the Kiss MasterMix. It looks like they’re on the set of In Living Color in that picture you used.
— Jay B Oct 10, 12:54 AM
Sach,
Lovely little selection here. Looking forward to giving that Marlena Shaw a virtual spin later on.
I’m going to give The Team a go on the strength of your recommendation, but I gotta admit, I’m feeling dubious: I’ll let you know.
Cheers,
Dan
— Dan Love Oct 10, 05:30 AM
Any plans to upload the rest of the albums as zip files? rar files don’t play nice on my computer…
— Amye Oct 10, 10:24 AM
Oh yeah Mob Figaz have some dope tracks as a collective but there’s a lot of filler too.
I think Husalah and Jacka’s solo albums have been more consistent.
— E aka Fidel Cashflow Oct 11, 12:13 AM