Monthly Archives: November 2008

fp…bklyn!

Saturday: November 29, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 1 Comment

flwrpt tumblr



I set up a mini-blog a little while ago to archive all things creative and interesting. Check it out when you have some time. (You can get there by clicking here)

Peace.

Flipped. v4.0

Monday: November 24, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Flipped 1 Comment

flipped

The Message
A classic hip-hop track, and the original that inspired it. This is also one of my favorite beats of all time.

Check it out…

Original:

Flipped :

Kon & Amir.

Sunday: November 23, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video 1 Comment

The Fabulous Dramatics.

Thursday: November 13, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Soul 1 Comment

Artist: The Dramatics
Title: Watcha See is Watcha Get
Year: 1972
Label: Volt
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.75/5.0

Front

Review
Detroit! That’s how to describe this LP. Obviously the best album from the Dramatics, and it was their first. They had a really strong presence, and in my opinion…they were the anti-Motown sound coming from the D. As much as I love the Motown sound, it was refreshing to hear a group from that era who found their own sound. Really good lyrics, really good music. For these guys it was about their lifestyles, expressed through music.

Check out the sound!

Get Up and Get Down

Hot Pants in the Summertime

In The Rain

Design
I think that this is a really nice illustration. It reminds me of those old-school encyclopedia illustrations. It’s really a different look than you’d expect from a 70′s male soul group…but that’s another awesome thing about these vintage record covers, they not only tried to be innovative within the music, but they even pushed the boundaries of what the album cover should be, look like, feel like.

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Additional info on Dramatics

Flipped. v3.0

Tuesday: November 11, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Flipped 1 Comment

flipped

The Message
One of the most challenging types of samples to uncover…GOSPEL samples…why? Because in almost every gospel song you get vocal chants of “Thank You”, “I Give Thanks”, “Hallelujah”, “Lord”, etc etc…random people shouting, in most cases the voices are unrecognizable (may not be a star on the vocals, could be a reg. member of the church making a guest appearance). Anyway, the point is to say that I live for this stuff, discovering great music, and WHERE it came from. But in the case of this Flipped, I don’t have a definite original. Sorry about that.

Not many hip-hop producers sample from gospel records, however, this producer featured in Flipped v3.0 took a BIG risk in sampling some incredible gospel vocals, tambourines, and piano stabs, creating an all-out holy-rolling shout session through the form of a hip-hop instrumental, definitely taking it to church! This is not an easy task but this was pulled off brilliantly!!!

Check it out…

Original: N/A

Flipped :

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba

Monday: November 10, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video 2 Comments

She died in Castel Volturno, near Caserta, Italy, in the evening of 9 November 2008, of a heart attack, shortly after taking part in a concert organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organization. In his condolence message, former South African president Nelson Mandela said it was “fitting that Makeba died doing what she did best – singing.” (source: Wikipedia)

My condolences to the entire Makeba family…may she rest in peace!

(thanks for the heads up Bay!)

Lucky Me.

Friday: November 7, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Boogie 3 Comments

Artist: Donna McGhee
Title: Make It Last Forever
Year: 1978
Label: Red Greg
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.5/5.0

Front Cover

Review
Lucky me! My mother was a huge fan of Donna McGhee back in the late 70′s, so this album was passed down to me from her. I didn’t have to pay, search or trade for this record. It’s an amazing disco record, produced and written by two of the best cats in the game (of disco music), Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael. Their string arrangements are super nice, as well as the keyboards. I have to jump out there and say…Barry White pulled heavy production influence from Patrick Adams (on the low though). Do your homework, make your own call on that one…

Donna does her thing here, setting the tone for a lot of other female vocalists that followed her era (in the disco realm). But in all honesty, the production is what sold me on this record. Pay close attention to the tension build ups, and the releases!

Check out the sound!

Make It Last Forever

Mr.Blindman

It Ain’t No Big Thing

Design
Not particularly a cool album cover. Looks pretty low-budget and last minute. Donna’s pretty face saves the day here!

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Additional info on Donna McGhee

Hope.

Wednesday: November 5, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 3 Comments

Congratulations to Barack Obama! He did it…we ALL did it! This is the HOPE ep, a few tunes I compiled to celebrate this victory, this HISTORY…

HOPE

HOPE

1. New Day

2. Change

3. Keep

4. Light

5. Victory Horns

Child Prodigy of 81.

Monday: November 3, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Boogie, Funk, Jazz Leave a comment

Artist: Bernard Wright
Title: ‘NARD
Year: 1981
Label: GRP
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Front

Review
This has to be one of the best 80′s LP’s. Bernard Wright was only 16 years old when he released NARD’, but with the support and collaboration with legends like Weldon Irvine, Don Blackman, Dave Grusin, Marcus Miller (the list goes on), he was able to create a masterpiece that not even Wright himself could creatively or musically surpass ever again in his career (as far as his later releases are concerned).

Here, he spreads out the sound. Jazz, Boogie, Funk…some of it could even begin to fit into that Cosmic Funk sub-genre. These arrangements are amazing, the journey through this record is quite clear, the build-up definitely reaches a satisfiable zenith.

As far as talent, Bernard was waaaaay ahead of his time! Waaaaaay ahead. He had a lot of support, no doubt about it, but he definitely owned this sound, earned his stripes, set his mark, and his presence was still felt as THE (with conviction! lol!) artist of this LP. Bottom line.

Enough of my verbal drum-rolling…listen for yourselves…

Check out the sound!

Master Rocker

Just Chillin’ Out

Haboglabotribin’

Bread Sandwiches

Design
A simple album cover, but a dope album cover. Peep the coordination of the jacket with the type at the top right. That font is quite nice as well, although I’m not totally sure what is off-hand, can’t eyeball this one. The use of that hot magenta calls much attention to the title of the album, small detail, but detail. Another nice thing is the tension created between Nard’s fro and the placement of the typography…especially with his head tilted slightly to the left. Again, just a nice, un-forced design.

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Additional info on Bernard Wright

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