Outkast - Roses

Yeah, I've sucked pretty hard at bloggin' lately, but I'm gonna make efforts to sort this out. So we're back with a banger: Roses.

Outkast are a pretty important duo. Aside from being early pioneers of the southern style, they basically killed it this decade, pumpin' out tune after tune. Roses kinda epitomises everything they represent, their signature beats and bass, the southern vocals, the sense of humour, daring to step out side the boundaries of hip-hop. Outkast are visionaries. On top of this, it's a totally infectious record, Stankonia and Speakerboxx/Love Below FTW.

Too Legit To Quit Vol. IV

So I've been slightly shit about keep t'ings up to date on here lately, but I'm hoping that a visit to The Old Blue Last this Friday will inspire me. That's Friday 16th October, The Old BLue Last, Whorebitch. More info here. I'd also like to take this opportunity to request Sweetness by Michelle Gayle, but I'm pretty sure that ain't gonna happen.

Kelis - Milkshake

Usually, female sex taunts in records are designed to intimidate their opposite sex. Oddly, this record sets other women in its targets with Kelis sayin' she could teach 'em, but she'd have to charge. It's not really that odd, because while performed by Kelis, it was written by The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

At risk of destroying any sensitivities I might have just displayed; this is a good video...

Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya

'Gimme the mic so I can take it away'

This song keeps popping up everywhere! First I heard it out one night, sped up twice as fast (sounded awful). Then I heard a pretty inspired mix of it with Big L's Ebonics (sounded great) from Too Legit's 'Prince Pac'. Then I heard this recording of it from the El Michels Affair on Giles Peterson's compilation Brownswood Bubblers Four. Turns out they got an album out called Enter The 37th Chamber, which is mainly jazz/live band instrumental versions of all the tracks from the Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers. Pretty mellow, but a really good listen. I highly recommend both the Brownswood series, and the The 37th Chamber. I love that way that this cover of Shimmy Shimmy Ya has loads of little kids singing the lyrics and chanting 'Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang'. Pretty much as far away from ODB as you can get.

Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says / Desire

I've always love Monch's complex and aware lyrics; Desire is a great example of this. His unique flow is endlessly satisfying to listen to, check Simon Says;

Appropriately, he was sued for using an unauthorised sample from the film Godzilla for this record; this track is a monster. I think this was his first single 'by his ones'; Desire was from 2007's Internal Affairs album, and has got the sound of an instant classic about it. These have to be some of my favourite rap lyrics of recent years.

"Still get it poppin' without artist & repertoire, 'cause Monch is a monarch minus the A&R..."

Pharoahe Monch will apparently release his third solo album W.A.R. (Let My People Go) this year. He reckons it'll be a "throwback to '93 & '94 hip-hop'. Sounds good.

50 Cent - 21 Questions

I'm a big fan of 50. Mainly his earlier work from Get Rich Or Die Tryin' and some of the records that came out after that. I even saw the flick based on his life story; two fuckin' hours long. Don't waste your time on that, but do waste it on this;

For the life of me I can't quite link the track to the video. I thought it was a nice little love song, but perhaps I got the direction wrong. After watching this video, it can only be about 50 Cent's sexual tension and burgeoning relationship with a fellow inmate 'friend'.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II

'The Infamous' is often hailed as one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and it's definitely up there. And Shook Ones Part II has to be one of the greatest east coast rap records. It's a pretty gritty and violent album, but tells a good story, despite their art college background.

Missy Elliot - She's A Bitch

Another Hype Williams video classic; everything about it looks so evil and bad-ass. I wish I had shades like that and rolled 'round in an XJ220. I reckon this video was made at the height of Hype's amazing visual powers, it's like some sort of gothic Tron.

Plus, Hype squeezes the signature moves (again); wet floors & wide angle lenses.

Too Legit To Quit

Is happening tomorrow night at The Old Blue Last on Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch. It's been a real good party the last two nights, I/we got far too drunk on the first night. We all mounted the stage and looked like complete twats. Don't do like what we gone done, but do get down there and enjoy nothing but 80's/90's hip-hop, RnB, new jack swing and hip-house'. More info here.

R Kelly & Public Announcement - She's Got That Vibe

Kelly is clearly such a potent force and danger to society on the whole, he has to be kept in an 'armed car' at all times, except for when performing.

Regardless of Kelly's menace to ladyfolk the world over, this is a shining example of New Jack Swing. R&B vocals over a hip-hop beat perfected.