Kanye West "Street Lights" Chicago Juke Mashup (808s and Heart Break)

I Hate To Say It, But Common's Universal Mind Control Isn' t That Good!!

So I've spent the whole weekend really trying to get into Common's new album Universal Mind Control, but I just can't. It's just not that good. And it's hard for me to say that, I would pretty much consider myself a Common stan.

First, I think Com' should never rap over a Neptunes beat, especially fake Brazilian funk uptempo tracks. Not only does Common not have the lyrically dexterity (ie flow) to ride their syncopated rhythms, but I personally think Pharell and Chad's drum patterns aren't particularly soulful. And I'm sorry, but Common last two albums were good because they were choke full of soul. I mean, remember the first time you heard those butter smooth strings on the intro track of Be. They still give me goose bumps.

Of course, the album isn't completely garbage. I think tracks like "Changes" and "Inhale" highlight how gifted a poet Common truly is. I also really like "Make My Day" featuring Cee-Lo. While I don't think this funky duo comes close to recreating the magic of their classic cut G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition), I do think that the record is prolly the best song on the album.

At the end of the day I am pretty sure that Common's record label prolly forced Common to drop this album so that they could recoup some of their money during the fourth quarter. But I am not all that excited about it.

The King of Great Calls

Great F*cking Call

I am the king of great calls. I called fantasia as the american idol winner early on in the competition. I called Barack Obama (in early 07) and I called Cee Lo as the future of music. (I got a lot more calls too)

Check my review (especially the conclusion) from contrabandit.com back in the day. (cant believe how long the review is, cant believe we use to do this for free)

don't hate, congratulate


Cee-Lo
Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
Arista
Production: artist

Lyrics: 5
Beats:: 5
Content:: 5
Overall:: 5
Click Here for The Bandits' Ratings Scale

Listen to Cee-Lo get super lyrical on "Big Ole Words (Damn)"

A classic? Cop Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections and find out for yourself

It's hard to deny that hip-hop has been experiencing growing pains. Not only was 2001 a down year on the charts, but neo-soul artists such as Alicia Keys, India Arie and Craig David, all received the hype and media attention that has recently been reserved for hip-hop artists. On the surface things look bleak for the rap game. There is no diversity, too many copycats, and too much mediocrity. Damn, don't it make you wanna holla "Fuck this whole rap thang!"

But hold up. After one listen to Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, the first solo joint from Goodie Mob's spiritual hub and acclaimed lyricist Cee Lo, you might want to reconsider giving up on the old boom bap. In fact, not only has Cee-Lo retuned to the game to save hip-hop, but also he subsequently reinvented the rules by which the rap game is played.

It's clear from the first single, "Closet Freak", that this baldheaded Buddha is intent on paying homage to his musical predecessors like Jimi Hendrix, Roger Troutman, and Al Green. Not only is the video a remake of Earth Wind Fire's classic "Let's Groove Tonight", but Cee-Lo uses the same ingredients, namely electric guitars, extended horn riffs and the all but forgotten tambourine to honor those 70's musical greats that your drunk uncle will never let you forget.

And for those that thought "Closet Freak" was just going to be one of those experimental tracks that garner needed attention for an otherwise lackluster album, think again.

Perfect Imperfections is filled with soul/funk inspired bangers. On tracks like "Suga Baby" and "El Dorado Sunrise (Super Chick)" Mr. Green brings it with gospel choirs, organs and saxophones. Obviously, Cee-Lo hasn't forgotten his days in his parent's's church. Shit, on "Get Grown" Cee-Lo the son of Baptist minsters employs a chorus of folks whistling him to the break down. Come on now, when is the last time you heard somebody whistling on a hip-hop album (And please don't bring up the Yin-Yang Twins' god awful "Whistle While You Twerk".)

Cee-Lo successfully links the past with the present so effortlessly that listeners might forget that are living in the era of mp3s and microchips, and not bellbottoms and Afro picks. You see, musically he is neither spreading himself too thin, nor relying on a steady stream of tired samples. Therefore he refuses to make the same mistakes as some rappers who have attempted to mix musical genres, namely Wyclef's Ecleftic and Q-Tip's Kamaal: The Abstract.

The reason why Perfect Imperfections defies all industry-implemented categories is because Cee-Lo isn't afraid to express himself vocally through melodic song. Of course, cats have been singing on hip-hop tracks for a while now, but people like Biz Markie, Snoop, and Ja Rule have come across in ways that have ranged from comedic to down right disturbing. Instead, Cee-Lo manages to maintain an honest, introspective analysis of soul that simultaneously soothes and inspires the listener.

Cee-Lo's verbal offerings and musical accompaniment on tracks like "Under The Influence (Follow Me)" harken back to a time when African-Americans dominated rock n roll. Remember back when soul inspired rock expressions were the essential foundation of groups like Sly and The Family Stone, Living Colour, and Funkadelic? Whatever Cee-Lo lacks in range and tone, he easily makes up with style and swagger. And really, it is this attitude (case in point Cee-Lo shirtless in his new video) that separates Cee-Lo from artists like Lauryn Hill and Wyclef, who also utilize this hybridism of singing and spitting.

However, Perfect Imperfections oftentimes finds Cee-Lo forcing his spirituality down your throat. While there is nothing wrong with the Cee-Lo's unique brand of secular gospel, Cee-Lo embraces the Lord in a way that seems to be bordering on vanity: "I committed crimes of passion and by my soul was suspected/ of course it was thrown out of court because the creator and I are connected/ he told me, 'to fear not because thou art protected.'" But who can blame him, somebody has got to try to steer the hip-hop generation away from being in engulfed in the flames of eternal damnation.

This point aside, when the disc ends it becomes clear that Cee-Lo has created a masterpiece. Perfect Imperfections not only stretches the boundaries of hip-hop, but it also isn't afraid to reclaim the rich heritage of African-American music that is often relegated to distant memory. While this album may not be enough to redirect the game of hip-hop, it shows you a brief glimpse of what hip-hop can be. And while one can easily anticipate that some may turn their noses up and this new style of hip-hop, one can rest assured that this album will inspire some aspiring artist somewhere to have enough confidence to redirect themselves down the path of quality and substance instead of following the all too familiar path of mediocrity.

Viva La Vida Loca

I don't think my son likes Cold Play that much. Look for more regular updates after the new year.

News For the 21st Century

Damn, I didn't know that MC Breed died. I remember hearing that his kidneys weren't working. Good thing Jasiri X drops the weekly news in a format that fits my attention span.

My Favorite Track From 808s and Heartbreak

"Street Lights"



I love how this dude made a country/blues song to a classic Chicago House/Juke drum pattern. Dope!!

Plus you can tell from the lyrics that Kanye is making that tough transition to manhood. I especially appreciate the hook. I think it highlights how truly difficult it is for black men to ignore the lure of the streets :

i know my, destination
but im just not there in the streets
in the streets
im just not there in the streets
im just no there
life's just not fair

I sort of dissed Kanye for making this record a couple days ago. My bad Yeezy. You came with it on this one.

Man, I'm Really Worried About Kanye!!!

I just got done listening to Kanye's new record 808s & Heartbreak. And man, this dude is really depressed.


I mean, not only are his lyrics pretty depressing, but the album's musical backdrop really sounds like a mix between Portishead's record Dummy and Fiona Apple's first record (I can't recall the name of the album, but it's the one that made her real famous before she fell of the face of the earth.) And I know that that one dude John Byrant tried to help Kanye get his musical bars up a couple records back by having him "study" Dummy, but damn dude, you didn't have to have go all the way to the left with it.

But I think it's a pretty good record, despite it's dark undertones. You can really tell dude is trying to grow as an artist. I really liked "Paranoid" and "Street Light," not because I thought the songs were particularly good, but because you can tell that Kanye is really trying to challenge himself artistically. Gone are the days of the sped up soul sample, and the braggadocio rhyme patterns. Kanye is really trying to be Elvis. Hopefully, he won't go to such extremes to become king.