Sometimes when you're blogging, you put absurd pressures on yourself such as, I just posted the first new "Outkast" song in years, what could possibly follow up that firey fuego? The answer is "nothing" so I can either go back into blogging hibernation or drop the funkiest psychedelic bootyshaking jam I've heard in the last year; and that's exactly what I'll do.
"Afro Booty Musique" is a song that somehow sounds a lot longer than 5+ minutes. An interstellar journey between the planets shakewatyomammagaveya and FelaKuti, it juggles being just bizarre enough so that you are intrigued with funky enough so that you listen to it over and over again. Fusing together space-age sound effects with traditional drumming breakdowns, this song is probably like nothing you've ever heard before. On Twitter, the artist calls himself an "afro-beat surrealist" which is incredibly fitting and his creation of afrobeat surrealism is something I'm looking to hear more from, at least on days when I want to take spaceship journeys to one of West Africa's finest musical exports.
Rick James. Period. No joke. Mocked by the young, misunderstood by the old, the late Rick James has left a legacy that is more his image than his music. Thanks to some key guidance from my man MC Bob I had a chance to reevaluate my previously shallow misconceptions about a man who should be recognized for nothing but his truly funky music. I dont care who you are, where youre from, or what genre of sounds you like to groove by, this is transcendent music. It may not be positive, and it might not be philosophical, but it is definitely genuine, and certainly upbeat, and somehow that combination of energy and honesty meld into a jam of triumphant proportions. And this holds true for all his jams (except that one with eddie murphy).
Weve seen that there are an infinite amount of ways to appreciate music, and what makes you like a song can be different for every person. So do yourself a favor and revel in a little bit of Rick James, for whatever reason you choose. There is something we can all learn from such a unique spirit, whether you take it seriously or not, anything that genuine and unceremoniously honest is a beautiful thing. So do yourselves a favor and listen to more Rick James. And watch this..
Every dope party needs only two essential ingredients: good people, and great music. That's it, everything else is just superfluous. Without either one of those two, your party can only go so far.
Enter Justin Nealis aka Party Supplies. The one man artist from New York is currently continuing to build a buzz across the blogosphere with his takes on some of the best songs from the last year or two. Each of his remixes is stripped down to the bare necessities of the song, the identifying elements which make that song unique. Party Supplies takes those aspects and flips them, undeniably creating one of the two necessary ingredients of a great party. With a name like his, it's no surprise what he's after, and his name tells no lie. While immediately identifiable, the remixes of Party Supply have a different feel from others that seem to only change a thing or two about the original. Party Supplies take the originals and breaks them into fragments, eventually creating a stained glass reconstruction, bits and pieces here and there coming together to create something new and wholly awesome. Enjoy the three song sampler below and two brand videos of Party Supplies making his tracks live.
Jam and a Half is all about feeling passionate about music. And nothing makes me feel the fire of inspiration like someone who is jammin straight from the heart. While The Chairmen of the Board may have been conceived by record company execs to pump out glossy hits, there is nothing phony about this classic track. The soul quartet made up of General Norman Johnson, Eddie Custis, Danny Woods, and Harrison Kennedy put out a number of albums throughout the 70's, but it was their 1969 hit "Give Me Just a Little More Time" that has proven to be an all time golden jam.
Something in the voice of that General Johnson just gets stuck in your chest and it seems as though the only relief is to wail the chorus as loud as you can. The General's pained moan is heartbreak and you cant help but empathize with the hiccuping hero. My homie Lew Dogg called it desperation. Dripping on every line. It twists his voice until hes squealing on the mic. And the band plays something grand enough to match. Tight knit sound, full compliment of horns, steadyrockin baseline, and keys to match. Simply known as The Funky Brothers, they lived up to the billing. The outro breakdown comes in too silky accompanied with the key rasta brrrrraAAA!!! This jam is a personal favorite and I know many cats who claim the same.
Sometimes we hear songs that we could have sworn we heard before. Like old friends, we hear them and right away feel at ease. Start grooving around a little bit. Might sing the chorus the second time it comes around. Those songs. This is that song. This jamandahalf is a funky combination of an old body with a new heart, a song that is so soulful you're sure it must have been made in a groovier era, yet so current that it somehow fits today's world perfectly.
Aloe Blacc, an artist from just round the ways in LA, has been around for a couple years, starting off as a rapper with DJ Exile, then joining a band, and recently returning to make it as a solo artist. But I'm guessing myself and most people first heard this jam as the intro to HBO's new decently entertaining Entourage copy, How to Make it in America, about two buddies trying to make it in New York. Although the episodes have been largely hit or miss, the intro, featuring this jamandahalf, is the closest thing in TV to a plate of ribs at Red Hill BBQ; it never fails to impress.
Although dripping with a soul not seen in years, Blacc's lyrics reflect these turbulent times. Blacc sings about a man tough on his luck, laid off, and broke, with his only two friends being "whiskey and wine." All he's looking for is a little love, someone to help him, but if you can't do that, a dollar will do. The elegant simplicity of "I Need A Dollar" shines throughout the song. Although trumpets join in towards the end, I wouldn't blame ya if you missed them, entranced by Blacc's effortless crooning.
For that dollar, Blacc has a story to tell. And it's tough to say which is more important, a story or a dollar (probably depends on how hungry you are); all I know is that at the end of the day I hope I have a couple more stories than dollars. But, if troubles come my way and I need a dollar, hope you're ready to hear a story.
Some people say that there are times when music can mirror life as it whips and wisps its course. If that is true I can only hope to have a moment as ridiculously funky as the one Isaac Hayes appears to have for 12 minutes of his life. Now when Isaac Hayes is cheffin up anything on the mic you know the soul is gonna be spread thicker than syrup on Aunt Jemima's very own pancakes, but this is potent stuff man. This is soul music on the jam tip something serious. The band takes the incredible energy of a passing glance and magnifies it into an epic orchestral portrayal of emotion as a fleeting moment plays out. The beginning of the track is a flood of strings as violins and guitar tango the track up slowly. A beautiful and slow duel between the two drips with the sadness of a someone who has lost the person they loved. A blues guitar comes in piercing but distorted like time against the smoothness of the violins and vocals, backed by a light beat, an easy base line, and a few weird space noises for good measure. But as the emotion builds, everybody wants in on the jam: the flute player moseys in and out, the horn section starts feelin the flow, and by the time the organ hits, its a wave of soul.
The groove rolls on like heady swells, up and down, rocking on a heavy sea. Building and subsiding, jumping back and forth between the past and the future right over the top of the present. While the song portrays a hurt that only love can make you know, the jam brings forth a rejuvenation of spirit in a culmination of funky jammin. The closing half of the track is a celebration of what was beautiful in the past as a man walks towards his future; all in one tumultuous musical journey. This epic cut is actually a transformation of the Dionne Warwick (amazing lady) hit from 1964, and appears on Hayes' 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul...yeah its that funky.
This is the first manifestation of a segment me and the Big man like to call "The Jam Behind the Jam." Its a spot where we pay tribute to the legendary roots of music, the artists whose own jams are so powerful and awe inspiring that they in turn spark the creation of other jams. That being said there is truly only one place to start.
Hip hop is a culture that was born out of an oceans worth of musical influences: jazz, funk, soul, blues, and so many more that were woven into the breaks of early hip hop. As both technology and rap stylings progressed, the art of sampling parts of songs to be included cohesively on the track became a staple of the hip hop genre. While rap tracks have sampled everything from Enya to Earth, Wind, and Fire, no artist has been sampled as much as the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. But beyond this, one key song was laid down in that fateful summer of 1969 that would become the most recognized beat in all of hip hop: The Funky Drummer. It was that day that drummer Clyde Stubblefield dropped a beat that was so funky, they had to name the entire track after it. So funky they had to throw in a "bonus beat reprise" of the track at the end of the side. So funky that it has become the most sampled track in rap history.
...there you go. The song has been used so many times that it is ingrained in what hip hop is and will continue to be. The beat creates a standoff: energy, emotion, and intensity; you could see Muhammad Ali steppin into the ring to the beat, ready to square off. In this same way hip hop tracks have been using it to tip off battles or kick off any track since day 1. The whole song is in fact a jam and a half, but if you want to kick right to the beat you can skip to 5:30 or just check out the reprise. Enjoy.
We all got them....They creep up on us...sneankily weaving their way into our headphones...coming on at a party after we've had a couple drinks, playing across your dorm hall...They are there, and no matter how hard you try to deny it, they are jams....jams and a halfs.....maybe even a couple jam and three quarters...naw, that aint even possible.
No matter how much of a music purist/snob you are, everyone's got their guilty pleasures. Those songs/artists that you don't like telling people about. The ones that you listen to with the windows closed and the blinds drawn. But here at Jam and a Half, we're advocating a revolution in music. Sing the music you love. Dance to the songs that everyone else hates. Hype jams even when the world questions...Because in the end, being a jam and a half is not about what Frank your local pizza delivery guy is jamming to, its about what you're feeling in that moment. I'll be the first one to announce that I do, in fact, sometimes like listening to Enya...Moose has an affliction for the sappiest of John Denver songs. There. We said it. That feels good.
This new Jam and a Half comes off of Big Boi's often often delayed solo album, the geniusly titled "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty." On the first listen, Shine Blockas was a disappointment; Big Boi's lyrics don't bite too hard and Gucci Mane continues to sound mediocre....but don't stop there! Give it another run through....feels a little better huh....I've been jamming to this now for about two weeks, and it feels goooodd. Over a Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "I Miss You" sample turned into a beat that drips with soul and swag, Big Boi and Gucci both kill this song. Big Boi, who still has the same mean flow that he did back in the day, is out to show that he deserves his spot as one of the best rappers alive....This jam definitely has it. It has the cool confidence of a rapper who's made it, but is still testing the limits of his talent. It's got a hot new rapper showing that he can keep up with the old guns, and maybe one day be able to teach a young gun the ropes. It's got everything needed to be one of the hottest rap songs of 2009, and could very well take the crown. While I didn't want to admit it at first, "Shine Blockas" is the jam and a half. (Hit read more for a picture that's guaranteed to make you laugh)
Normally this aint my style...I swear, but really I feel compelled to throw it down for Mike J. The king of everything from pedophile jokes to pop is the all time leader in controversial conversational topics, but Im tryin to look beyond the social criticisms. Mike J has been keepin it real musically since he was rockin training wheels and that is why, in his death, I feel like its time to take a stand against the destruction of his rep. We all know the background, and we all know the jams, but it seems like over time we've forgotten some of the hidden classic joints that speckled nearly every album he put out.
The first time I heard this track Im sure I had the same reaction as you all, "What the hell is this?! Oh shit its straight Illmatic, It Aint Hard to Tell!!!" And thus I respected the track enough to listen to it. From there I discovered that, in fact, this goofy love tune is a certified R&B Jam and A Half!! Mikey has always known how to take it down right, but he captures that raw emotion and vulnerabilty in a truly specicial way. The last lick to be included on Thriller has been sampled by Nas, Blackstreet, SWV, BoyzIIMen, and has been covered by the likes of Miles Davis. So if you cant take my word for it trust my dogg Nasir. The hook just makes you wanna get your easy grind on with that special lady, and for its truly magnetic qualities Human Nature earns a spot as a jam and a half.
What’s the last place you took a trip to? Vegas? The Bay? For the brave, or foolish, of heart, TJ? I’m sitting in Charles de Gaulle Airport right now, on my way to see a very special someone in Budapest, but even this has a hard time comparing to the epic journey that the Brothers Isley bring you in their epic jam and a half, Voyage to Atlantis.
Probably the funkiest creation since the sinking of Atlantis, the Isley Brothers made something so groovy and pure that even Midas would have a hard touching it. With a warbled guitar taking you down to the very depths of the deep blue, to a place where only mermaids and old guys with tridents dwell, Voyage to Atlantis tells about a man leaving his lady behind, but promising that he’ll always come back to her…but only if they go all the way together. To where? Atlantis of course, the paradise out beyond the sea.
Why is this a jam and a half? If the first listen hasn’t convinced you, and if hearing this crooned from apt 661L hasn’t either, then you probably should stop reading this blog. Not only is this something even Poseidon would have a hard time not jamming to in his watery palace, Big Boi sampled it in his recent jam Royal Flush (off of his oft delayed solo debut) with Andre 3000 and Raekwon.
The Isley Bros rank up there with the Mario and Luigi. the Halpern lair, and Big Leks and Oscar as far as all time brothers go. Let them take you on a voyage.
After the 25 year old Calvin Harris's debut, I Created Disco, many thought that no matter what he did, he wouldn't be able to capture that unique sound again. They were wrong. His sophomore effort, Ready for the Weekend finds the young Scot perfecting his craft and sound. After the massive summer jam "I'm Not Alone," and the various remixes by some of the hottest DJs around, the hype around Calvin was huge. Full of bells, heavy 80s influence, and mean synthesizers, Calvin 2nd album weaves trance, electronic, pop, and a healthy dose of goofy to create a sound that is familiar, but striking at the same time.
I caught a Calvin Harris DJ set in Hollywood a couple of weeks ago, and was pretty disappointed...I've seen videos of his full live shows, where he has a band, and sings and all that, but the show I saw consisted of a goofy Scotsman and 2 MacBook Pros. My expectations were admittedly very high coming in, and he did manage to get the crowd hyped while mixing in some of his biggest songs (Acceptable in the 80s, You Used to Hold Me). Great crowd, solid venue, but I think everyone left wishing it had been an actual live show. And where was the Humanthesizer?
While his new album has jams for days, the one that sticks out is "The Rain." This is classic Calvin Harris. Starts out with some soul claps and a funky horn melody, quickly drops to a bass line and Calvin singing, and continues from there, grooving along until you find yourself not wanting it to end, like a great movie, or an epic Mario Kart session. With the catchiest chorus this side of YMCA, I guarantee that you will find yourself grooving to this in your room/car/taekwondo class. In fact, I can already see Kai playing this 18 times in a row on an late Saturday night....
Calvin brings fire in Ready for the Weekend, and one jam and half. "The Rain" takes it this time for being an uplifting song that brings people together, while making sure they got their twinkle toes moving. I dedicate it to the Class of 2010, cuz even though we all got a million things going on right now, it might be a good thing to take a seat and smile; everything will be alright...
As always, here is a Download Link and the youtube clip is below. I also added two pictures and a video from the show.
