Kappa Tow On The Panty Side...My Brother

GUEST POST TODAY!!!
(Ed. Note: Since I am without a doubt flu-infested, we at the Funk would like to present the musings of K-Boogie aka Keith Boogs aka TiVo aka...So check 'em out and enjoy the madness - Brother B)

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Yo yo,

Thanks for having me over here at The Funk. I go by the name of K-Boogie, and that’s only because all the better names were taken. Though I am thinking about calling myself Ill Smith.

By now, you’re familiar with the written ramblings of one Brother B, homeboy extraordinaire. Me, I’m new to the world of the blog, but I‘m hoping to spark some dialogue (Oh snap, let me rhyme ‘Dog‘ and ‘Fog‘ real quick and give me a Swizz Beat, and we got a hit!).

I’m not nearly the crate-digger that you have found B-Deenie and DJ Mentos to be, or if I am, the crates just aren’t as old. I like funk and old soul, but I’m not versed in it like these cats. So my musings won’t take you back past your first pair of Gazelles.

Do you have Da King and I lyrics stuck in your head and think you’re the only one? Fear not. I own a TDS Mob 12-inch record. I know which group Chino XL was in before he went solo. And Butcher Shop was my favorite cut off of Road to the Riches. I thought I would go to the grave with all of this information taking up valuable brain space. But thanks to The Funk, I’ll drop in once every week or two to warm it up a little bit, and share some of this previously pointless knowledge. Hopefully you out there will spit back and take solace in the fact that someone else owns the Home Team album and isn’t embarrassed to admit it.

Enough with the small talk.

Hip-hop milk carton

Now that I have the platform, maybe The Funk Readers (y’all need a name… funk loyalists? Funkenstanksurfers?) can help me answer a few questions that have been bugging me over the years.

1. Weren’t there four members of A Tribe Called Quest around the time I Left My Wallet in El Segundo came out? I know there were, because -- sadly -- I have the video on tape. What happened to Jarobi?

2. Remember when MC Hammer was cool, pre-U Can’t Touch This? Didn’t he have a sidekick named 2 Bigg MC? How come when Hammer graduated from Turn This Mutha Out to 2 Legit to Quit and expanded the entourage to several dozen, 2 Bigg disappeared? Not that I liked the guy. I just felt good knowing they made shiny suits that large. Dude was keeping some sequin company in business all by his lonesome.

3. DJ Scratch was definitely an upgrade, but don’t think I don’t listen to Strictly Business and wonder what happened to EPMD’s DJ K-LaBoss. If anyone out there can help me with this one -- Went to culinary school, left to teach ESL in Greenland, had baby mama drama -- I will sleep more soundly at night.

The nameless verse-busters

Two more things have been bothering me, especially since I saw a stripper named Jazz shake her fine beige booty to Toni Tony Tone’s (did I get the correct vowels?) classic Feels Good last week.

“Most ladies the mellow, quite a nice fellow, met 3T here to rhyme acapello…”

Who is that dude? Sure, Google might be able to answer it. Ohhla.com possibly. But I’m counting on you folks, because word of mouth is everything in hip-hop.

We’ve always been able to count on hip-hoppers to let you know who they are. Most great MCs mention their name or give you a clue somewhere in the song, which is great if you first heard it off some label-less dub tape your man left at your crib. An MC will tell you who he is (Ed. Note: Phil Da Agony abuses this requirement), his alternate MC moniker, his DJs name, his crew and the label he’s on. What other musical genre can claim that? You never heard Bonnie Raitt shout out her bandmates and big up Capitol Records, did you? (This just makes me think of that Chapelle’s Show skit where he plays Nat King Cole pouring champagne on some hottie, chanting ‘King Cole Records beyotch!”)

So Toni Tony Tone, as the great Catashtrophe said, called an MC to make their R&B song hype. And dude had the nerve not to mention his name!

Same goes for the guy who busts a verse on Salt N’ Pepa’s Shoop. “Big tall lover 6-2, wanna get with you…” That guy. Again, no name. No ‘Salt N’ Pepa feat. Herby Luv Bug’ or whoever on the album credits either.

What’s that you say? Why do I claim real hip-hop and then talk about Shoop? (Does Fresh Prince shoulder shrug). Uh, because it uses the same beat as Ice Cube’s original Check Yourself.

Just an observation

Late on the B-side of Del’s first tape, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, he says something to the effect of “If I ever dissed an MC, it was one with a name…”

On Del’s second album, No Need For Alarm, he has a song called Wack MCs, in which he disses a nameless MC, as per hip-hop tradition.

New School Banger of the Week

Okay, actually I don’t have one for this week because I’m listening to this 165-song mix B made called High Skool Hits, which covers about 92-96 in rap. But whenever I post, I’ll share the relatively new songs -- and probably some lost ones -- that are worth checking out.

Here are my three for the week:

Rat Race - Gift of Gab
Oh My God - Masta Ace feat. The Beatnuts
On the Eve of War - Jedi Mind Tricks feat. The GZA

That about does it for my first foray, only because I don’t know how long these jawns are supposed to be. But I’m looking forward to both sharing and hearing what you have to share about this music we love.

K-Boogie also writes about fantasy sports at www.rotogods.com, under the pen name TiVo.

"Boy, You Better Put Some 'Tussin On It"

Sick And Tired - Nappy Roots
Bring The Pain - Wu Tang Clan (Method Man)
So Tired Of Being Alone - Al Green

Today, for a short post we bring you three tracks about being sick, tired, and willing to kick some serious ass if I don't get better soon. The last part isn't really true but you get the idea. So enjoy and be merry and drink a rack of stuff cause it's the official St. Patty's Day. Not that crap that DC pulled last weekend.

*In lue of such suck-a-tude being inflicted on yours truly, I'll leave you with the entire Bigger & Blacker Album MP3 (the Tussin stuff comes in around 27:20). Should make some of you laugh. Made me laugh, but then my coughing took over.

**Remember, if you are at work/around the chil'rens, sport some headphones, cause it's pretty raunchy and I'm not trying to get anybody fired. Except for K-oz, cause he needs a new job anyhow.

Cough, Cough, Sniff, Sniff
Brother B.

Heal Yourself From The Self Destruction Cause We're All In The Same Gang

Self Destruction - Stop The Violence Movement
We're All In The Same Gang - West Coast All Stars
Heal Yourself - Human Education Against Lies

Today we'd like to kick a little self awareness at The Funk. We have three of the more known "Posse Protest" tracks that were done in the early 90s to try to help combat the spread of Black on Black/Brown on Brown/etc. violence that was (and still is) plaguing the nation. So, in an effort to try to bring back some of the socially conscious hip hop (Mos Def/Talib/Dead Prez notwithstanding) into the minds and ears of the hip hop community, we here at The Funk present the above tracks.

Self Destruction is one of those songs that you could listen to over and over again (aka Kevin Simonds it) without it really getting tired. I looked for a history of The Stop The Violence Movement but all I could come up with was,

"The same year, during a BDP/Public Enemy concert, a young fan was killed in a fight; galvanized into action, KRS-One founded the Stop the Violence Movement and organized the all-star charity single "Self-Destruction," which raised half a million dollars for the National Urban League in 1989. "

The cultural significance of this song, that we need to wake up/change our ways before we are all dead and gone still rings true to this day. With all of the staged beef between 50 and his list of "enemies", BIG/PAC/BIG L/JMJ/Etc., now more than ever it seems that Stop the Violence needs to be reintroduced to the younger generation. Enough with my rant, check out the lyrics and you tell me if they still apply today.

Hell, if you think about it all three tracks need to be reintroduced to today's youth who think killing others for fun is just a way to get points in a video game. Here are the other lyrics for you to check out. Do yourself and the kulture a favor and send these songs to as many folks who listen to hip hop as you can think of. We need to do something.

But I'll leave it at that for two reasons. 1.) Nobody really wants to deal with problems unless they somehow affect their personal space, and 2.) I forgot to renew my Preachers Permit, hence the Brother B instead of Reverend B. Paperwork was never my strong suit.

Sorry for the shortness/lack of discussion/info today. I'm apparently infected with a rare form of the flu that can only be cured by bangin' beats and a hot young woman. HIYO! I should be better soon. :)

Take it Lyte.
Brother B.

* Here is a link to the "Self Destruction" video. It may or may not work depending on your browser or media player.

Still Slappin' Suckas Silly

Busted Loop - YaggFu Front
Slappin Suckas Silly - YaggFu Front
Hold ‘Em Back - YaggFu Front

Tuesdays are normally pretty slow here at The Funk, what with the watching of 24 and finishing up of the International Economics homework that yours truly did last night. Thus, I don't like to exercise my brain too much on Tuesdays; might overload that mamma jamma. But being that today is a slow day, I figured that I'd change up the program and get this office "hype-ta-field" (new slang alert!) and bring back some classic 1990's hip hop at the same time.

So today, we bring you some choice selections from that sort of lost in the shuffle group out of NC, YaggFu Front. Here is a brief bio on the crew from Muze UK:

"Despite the unfriendly acronym (Y'All Gonna Get Fucked Up [if you] Front), and their grisly personal tags: D'Ranged & Damaged, Jingle Bel and Spin 4th, this Norfolk, Virginia trio offered an interesting take on hip-hop. They came together at university, with an educative platform that provided them with more effective ammunition than gun-toting gangsta rappers. There they worked as DJs on North Carolina college radio before uniting as a trio. Using live instruments, including horns and piano, they perfected a stimulating blend of sharply observed lyrics and clever samples. Their first release was the excellent "Looking For A Contract", which detailed the lives of starving rap aspirants. Comparisons to A Tribe Called Quest notwithstanding, their debut album was also an excellent, intelligent affair. There were comedic moments too, not least "My Dick Is So Large", a thinly veiled parody of egotistical rappers. Nevertheless, their style was generally expressive."

I remember first hearing The Brothers Yagg during my stint at the all boys boarding school called Woodberry Forest in Orange, VA. Short story version: 8th grade, boosting auto radios, partner got hemmed up and sent to juvee, I told my pops about it, was sent to Belarus on a mission to help Chernobyl cancer survivors, came back and for the summer was at Woodberry until freshmen football started. Needless to say, I kept my self out of trouble ever since. But while at Woodberry, I met this cat Tony from Orange who had a few tapes that we'd listen to while we were supposed to be studying. YaggFu was one of them.

When you listen to Yagg, you can tell almost instantaneously that they were kicking live int he early 1990's. The horns, the drums, the rhymes...all scream cross colours, starter coats, and high top fades/half locks. There debut album is pretty good for the time period, but it's nothing groundbreaking. But I like it mainly because it takes me back to a place in space where rap music was still "commercial free" for the most part. Artists, although sounding similar at times, still had creative control on most of their work submitted to major label executives. But I also like the LP because of the jazzy funk sound that it encompasses. If you remember these cats/have their album, you've prolly heard the choice cuts that we picked out. If not, take a listen and let me know what you think. As far as VH1's "Where Are They Now?", Spin 4th kept doing his thing after the Fu disbanded. Check it out here.

Side Note of medical proportions: I think I'm coming down with whatever has been inflicting my parents and co-workers for the past 3 weeks, so if the posts get a little thin this week, yawl will know why.

Side Note of medical proportions 2: Mentos was discussing earlier about how he could remember stuff from old school music videos but had trouble remembering crap in school and that if there was a PHD in Hip Hop, he'd be Dr. Mentos. Well I looked around the net and couldn't find a particular PHD in Hip Hop Science but did find a few classes that are taught at various universities. One for example is this one, at George Mason University about 30 minutes from my house. Does anyone else think that a PHD in Hip Hop would be a good thing? A viable thing?

Anyhow, I'll do my utmost best to post some new stuff this week, but if I end up like my mom, I'm down for the count for about a week. Hopefully Keith Boogs aka TiVo will be able to contribute this week. If not, check out some of our regulars for the latest on good funky type music and ramblings.

Straight Bangin'
Raissa's Head
Low End Theory
Xanax Taxi
Entobofin

For Funks Sake!
Brother B.

Monday Sampling Madness

I Got My Mind Made Up - Instant Funk
Welcome To The Terrordome - Public Enemy

Two Sisters Of Mystery - Mandrill
By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

Sing A Simple Song - Sly & The Family Stone
Brothers Gonna Work It Out - Public Enemy

Every once in a while, we here at The Funk will explore the great and ever dissappearing art of sampling. I know that sampling isn't a dead artform per se (underground cats still do it), but as we are all aware, today's popular rap music doesn't sample anything, well except for other rappers styles but that's another discussion.

So today we'd like to dive into some of the original compositions that were sampled by that seminal Hip Hop wondergroup, Public Enemy. Here is an excerpt from the history (not His Story) of PE:

"Musically, Public Enemy were just as revolutionary, as their production team, the Bomb Squad, created dense soundscapes that relied on avant-garde cut-and-paste techniques, unrecognizable samples, piercing sirens, relentless beats, and deep funk. It was chaotic and invigorating music, made all the more intoxicating by Chuck D's forceful vocals and the absurdist raps of his comic foil Flavor Flav."

So today we'd like to pick out a few thangs for you to funk to. Enjoy.

First up, we have "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk. I had heard this track on the radio station (Majic 102.3) before but never had a copy of it to actually listen to. It is a pretty funky song (they were after all Instant Funk), but in that funky disco sort of way. But it's still good. The lyrics, well are not really important cause the purpose of this track is to get as many scantily clad women on the dance floor to shake their money makers. But seriously, this album could go down as having one of the most "interesting" covers. Way to go boys. As far as the PE track goes, "Terrordome" is one of those hype songs that deserve to be played before every home basketball game to let the opponents know that it ain't gwan happen in this here gym. We used that back in my day. Bangin'.

Secondly, we have Mandrill's "Two Sisters of Mystery". From the get go, you can hear the sample, which from my humble opinion is one of the coolest tracks that PE ever did. The ferocity of the track mixed with the message behind it make for a powerful socially relevant track. Here is a sample of the lyrics:

I'm countin' down to the day deservin'
Fittin' for a king
I'm waitin' for the time when I can
Get to Arizona
'Cause my money's spent on
The goddamn rent
Neither party is mine not the
Jackass or the elephant
20.000 nig niggy nigas in the corner
Of the cell block but they come
From California
Population none in the desert and sun
Wit' a gun cracker
Runnin' things under his thumb

A pretty powerful track from a powerful group sampled by yet another powerful group for a powerful song.

Finally, we have Sly Stone's "Sing A Simple Song". Man I loved this track. The upbeat rhythm, the "Yeah Yeah Yeah", just everything about it screams out funk. I would have loved to be in the studio for this recording. The familiar break is towards the middle. Can you name the other songs that used it? Anyhow, PE hit a note with "Brothers Gonna Work It Out". I seem to remember an incident in the late 80's down in Virginia Beach involving some black youth and the VA Beach Po-lice. Anybody remember that? Or was that for "Terrordome"? Here is a pretty insightful and dope review of PE's "Fear of A Black Planet" album that hits on this track's maestro fresh wes-ness (old slang alert!)

Side Note: There are soooooooo many different records that PE (i.e. The Bomb Squad) used in their sampling endeavors that it would prolly take up a month or so to get through them all. The Bomb Squad's mantra I guess was, "The More Shit, The Better". I was (still am) a fan of their production style, even if they were responsible for Young Black Teenagers. Where is Hank Shocklee these days anyhow?

RANT WARNING!:

So this morning, Keith Boogs, Mohammad and myself decided to go into the District to grab a bite of breakfast with our visiting BAN brother Jamar. He's in town as a "guest" of the Duke Basketball program and had some tickets to the final in the ACC tourney. He was staying downtown at the Mariott off of Constitution Ave and L streets. So anyhow, we meet up at Springfield Mall to catch a ride with Keith so that we didn't have to park 3 cars. We get going on 395 N to get off on 12th street to get to the hotel. Well apparently if it's a holiday in the Nation's Capital, all roads that lead into the central part of the city are closed to oncoming traffic. That's cool and all, but seriously all of the main roads to get to where we had to go were blocked with DC's finest. So we had to call Jammer James and tell him to have a nice time at the game and we'd holler later on. But here is my beef with the DCDSS (Department of Stupid Shit), it's St. Patrick's Day. That's not a real holiday. We don't get a day off (forget for a moment that this year it fell on Sunday) of work for it. In fact, there are certain requirements if you are to go outside of your house on St. Patty's day to avoid being physically assaulted. And for this, you close down half the DC roads? Jackassedness (new slang alert!). God help us when they have a Baseball game downtown. The only time when St. Patrick's Day is cool is when you are in another city (Savannah, Chicago, etc.) and you can actually get around the town. But of course, St. Patrick's day has turned into an excuse for barkeeps to play House of Pain's "Jump Around" all dag gum day.

Anyhow, that'll bout do it for Monday's Sample Madness. Hope it was as good for you as it was for me. Shout out to The RMC women's basketball squad for making the NCAA D3 final four, and to Hurt/Beth/Jamie/Francel/Marcus/Renee/Chad/et. al for being some cool peoples. I'll get back up with yawl soon.

Side Note Two: Look for sometime this week for a post or two by Keith Boogs aka TiVo on the musings of a Corporate Worker/New Husband & Dad/Hip Hoppa. Should be some good stuff.

Never Sleepin'
Brother B.