Monthly Archives: April 2010

THAT NEW YORK SOUND

That New York Sound

Flwrpt / That New York Sound

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Tracks / M.O.P. – Ante Up / Gang Starr – Full Clip / Big L – Platinum Plus / AZ – The Come Up / Big Noyd – Air It Out / Mobb Deep – The Realest / A Tribe Called Quest – Lyrics To Go (Remix) / Busta Rhymes – Survival Hungry / Camp Lo – Krystal Karrington / The UN – Cake / 45 King – Bongo / Onyx – Shut Em’ Down / LL Cool J – I Shot Ya / Nas – Nas Is Like / Jay-Z – Friend Or Foe ’98 / Kool G. Rap – First Nigga / Wu-Tang Clan – The Projects / Sauce Money – Pregame / The Murderers – Murderers / Mad Lion – Take It Easy / 45 King – Matilda / Notorious B.I.G. – Kick In The Door / Capone-N-Noreaga – Invincible / Jeru Tha Damaja – Ya Playin’ Yaself / Black Moon – Who Got Da Props / Grand Puba – Amazing / 45 King – Barry

UBIQUITY

Ubiquity

Review / This album marks the change in Roy Ayers’ sound, it also marks the beginning of the Ubiquity era. Ubiquity was his new band, together they created a sound that was never duplicated (in my humble opinion). This LP reflects the sound of jazz, funk, and a little soul…it’s serious in its approach, and packed with nothing but hardcore grooves. It’s also known that on this record, for the first time, Roy Ayers used the fuzz on his vibraphone to create an effect that had never been heard before, the fuzz was known mainly for being used with guitars at the time…so that experiment was not only successful in its output, but it was innovative and groundbreaking as well.

Design / Ubiquity…present, appearing, or found everywhere. I think this cover, in part, just about sums up the definition of the word. I’m always a fan of 70′s cover design that uses tricky photo techniques, simply because these effects were created without the use of computers/photoshop. But this is an intriguing cover overall, from the overlapping repeat imagery, to the slanted typography (which appears to be Futura Extra Bold). The intense stare given off by Ayers in the portrait clues us in to the fact that this will be a statement album. And it totally was.

Info / Artist: Roy Ayers / Album: Ubiquity / Year: 1971 / Label: Polydor

Roy Ayers / Pretty Brown Skin

Roy Ayers / Love

Roy Ayers / Hummin’

ANTE UP

Wednesday…the day that we all need an extra boost of energy to help us pull through the rest of the week. Well, here’s my contribution to your energy boost, the edited Sesame Street version of M.O.P.‘s “Ante Up”. Enjoy…

SIMPLICITY OF EXPRESSION

Billy Cobham

Review / Drummer Billy Cobham usually brings high energy on most of his albums, Simplicity of Expression is no exception. Here he experiments with some latin influenced tunes, and fuses the sound with jazz…I think he was successful for the most part. Unlike some other drummers, Cobham had what it took to create a solid album, from the arrangements, to the songs with vocals. Some of the vocalists on this lp had interesting voices, which drew me in. Take note to the frequent change-ups and influences from other genres of music.

Design / I really dig this cover. The graphic crop of the background image just beneath the eyes is interesting, followed up by the exact same image in the foreground to reveal the full facial “expression”. Another cool thing about the image double is that the color of Cobham’s shirt was altered to blue. The type treatments are on point as well, understated due to the focus on the photography, but detailed and nicely set on the top left and right corners. Notice the intricate detail of the capital letters.

Info / Artist: Billy Cobham / Album: Simplicity of Expression / Year: 1978 / Label: Columbia

Billy Cobham / Pocket Change

Billy Cobham / Bolinas

Billy Cobham / La Guernica

Q-TIP DROPPING JEWELS

This is a quick interview with the legendary Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest). It was filmed in one of my favorite record shops here in NY, “Big City Records”. If you haven’t been there yet, you definitely want to make sure you check them out.

SUMMER

Summer

Classic R&B tracks for you and yours. This should hold you all down for the summer!

Flwrpt / Summer

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Tracks / Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Stevie Wonder – Black Man / Michael Jackson – Rock With You / Jean Carn – Was That All It Was / GQ – Disco Nights / Bernard Wright – Just Chillin’ Out / Luther Vandross – Never Too Much / Patrice Rushen – You Remind Me / O’Bryan – Doin’ Alright / Diana Ross – Telephone / Mary Jane Girls – All Night Long / Keni Burke – Risin’ To The Top / Chaka Kahn – I Know You, I Live You / Stevie Wonder – Do I Do / The Jacksons – Can You Feel It / Loose Ends – Hangin’ On A String / Don Blackman – Heart’s Desire / Janet Jackson – Pleasure Principle / Bobby Brown – Don’t Be Cruel / New Edition – If It Isn’t Love / Al B Sure – Nite and Day / Bernard Wright – Who Do You Love? / The System – Don’t Disturb This Groove / Guy – Groove Me / CeCe Peniston – Walk On / Jade – Don’t Walk Away / Soul II Soul – Back To Life / PM Dawn – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss / Michael Jackson – PYT (Demo) / Fatback Band – Groovy Kind Of Day

R.I.P. GURU

Guru

My condolences go to the Elam family. Guru (Keith Elam) was a member of one of my favorite hip-hop groups, Gang Starr…he passed away April. 19, 2010 at the age of 43. Rest in Peace Guru. The music will live on.

Gang Starr / In Memory Of…

DAVID RUFFIN

David Ruffin

Looking dapper, the voice of the Temptations, David Ruffin.

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