Back To The Roots

Today, I bought Dr. Dre's '2001' album. You're probably surprised because you're probably assuming someone who loves hip hop would already have it... I forgive you for thinking that. I have had most of the songs before but through illegal downloads... SHOCK! However, seeing it for £1.99, can you blame me? I also bought a double Ghostface Killah album set consisting of 'Ironman' and 'Supreme Clientele'.

After listening to a few songs from each, I just couldn't help but notice - particularly with Ghostface - how important the lyrics are. With Dre, the production often draws some of the attention due to big sounding beats, often bass heavy, or atleast kickdrum-heavy. But with Ghostface, The RZA strips the beats down almost to a bare minimal. That's not to say it's not very good, it's brilliant! Sharp strings and clever 30 year-old-samples help give it a dark and spooky feel to it. But this also helps not steal the limelight from Ghostface when rapping, therefore the lyrics are at the fore.

Recently, I have grown tired of and disillusioned he modern rap (See Birdman's 'Priceless'). Over-produced tracks, kickdrums that pound your head (in a bad way) and almost indenticle synth lines (See Tinchy Stryder's 'Catch 22'). I have been buying and listening to older stuff, from N.W.A.'s 'Straight Outta Compton' and Wu-Tang Clan's '36 Chambers' to Mos Def's 'Black on Both Sides' and Nas' 'It Was Written'. Not only those, but also rappers who have been around for a while, but their newer stuff, such as Talib Kweli, Bun B and Ice Cube. But out of all the Artists in my iPod, The Roots have been played an awful lot recently. I'm not that familiar with their older stuff, but their most recent 'Rising Down' is an absolute masterpiece! Any album with songs like 'Rising Up', 'Rising Down', 'Lost Desire' and 'I Can't Help It' should be considered great, and dare I say it, classics. But what makes these great, is not just the lyrics but the beats. Each one has infectious beats, in particular 'Rising Up' with Go-Go like drums and brilliantly fast-paced bells accompanied by snares (don't get confused with snappy computerized drums in all hip-POP songs, these are REAL drums) over the verses just makes it a joy to behold. I would also just like to give a quick mention to a show stealing verse by Dice Raw... My favourite line of his is "My mother had an abortion for the wrong child". One of my favourite guest verse ever.

Signing off, Ryan 'The Infidel'