#RZA Productions

[demifiendrsa]

Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Final Season Trailer

The third and final season of Wu-Tang: An American Saga will premiere on February 15, 2023.

Poster

[afrotumble]

[officiallekoolchampagne]

Last week we were the proud sponsors of the premiere screening of the new #wutangclan documentary by the #Rza & Gerald Barclay!

Hosted at the prestigious Lincoln Center in New York City!

Special impromptu performance by #YDB

[erik-powery-for-america]

We Made It  "We Made It"  https://youtu.be/tWf1tMa5Ia8?si=PG8Tx_X4JlgWDZIp via @YouTube  :  Produced RZA fpr Razor Sharp/Wu-Tang Productions. #RIP Superb & Chip Banks

[fuchsiaamorouscoils]

❤️ ODB's verse and ❤️ Masta Killa's verse

(I'm currently very perturbed and ticked off so I'm listening to this especially hard)

[kicksaddictny]

Nike x Wu-Tang Clan Reunite for an Iconic Sneaker Grail Release

Twenty-five years ago, a sneaker legend was born. Now, Nike and the Wu-Tang Clan are teaming up again to officially re-release one of the most sought-after sneaker collaborations of all time: the Nike x Wu-Tang Clan Dunk.

This release brings back the iconic Black and Pollen colorway of the Dunk Hi, channeling Wu-Tang’s signature “Killa Beez” vibe with bold color-blocking, premium leather, and the unmistakable W logo embroidered on the tongue label and outer heel. It’s a nod to the original that’s sure to excite collectors and hip-hop fans worldwide.

“These Dunks are important to me and the Wu-Tang legacy because of the cultural impact they’ve had since their original release,” says Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. “For many years, the sneaker world was reserved for athletes and some entertainers, and Nike recognizing us in this way is a testament to hip-hop and our contribution to culture.”

Emerging from Staten Island, New York, in the early 1990s, Wu-Tang Clan brought their gritty lyricism, kung-fu references, and innovative production to the world, reshaping hip-hop and influencing fashion, film, and art along the way. Their impact transcends music, inspiring communities and generations globally.

Similarly, the Nike Dunk started as a basketball staple before gaining streetwear and skateboarding cred, ultimately becoming a street-style icon. This collaboration between Nike and Wu-Tang Clan celebrates the history and legacy of both, creating a new chapter in streetwear culture that resonates across genres.

As RZA puts it, “The shoe has already carved out a legacy as a silhouette people were striving to possess, and now thousands of people will have a chance to own a pair. These sneakers are a trophy.”

Mark your calendars—the Nike x Wu-Tang Clan Dunk will be available globally on November 9 via SNKRS and select retailers. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to own a piece of hip-hop and sneaker history.

[lboogie1906]

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (July 5, 1969) known by his stage name RZA is a musician, rapper, record producer, actor, filmmaker, and author. He is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost all of Wu-Tang Clan’s albums, as well as many Wu-Tang solo and affiliate projects. He is a cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. He has released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for side projects. After forming the Wu-Tang Clan, he was a founding member of the horrorcore group Gravediggaz, where he went by the name The RZArector.

He is known for his music production, with a style that includes the use of soul samples and sparse beats that has proved highly influential. The magazine The Source placed him on its list of the 20 greatest producers in the magazine’s twenty-year history. Vibe listed him among the top 8 greatest hip-hop producers of all time, and NME placed him on their list of the 50 Greatest Producers Ever.

He was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was named after the Kennedy brothers Robert and John Fitzgerald. He called his given name an “honorable” name, given the legacy of both Robert and John. He has a younger brother, Terrance Hamlin, better known as the rapper 9th Prince, and an older brother named Mitchell “Divine” Diggs.

From ages three to seven, he spent summers in North Carolina with his uncle, who encouraged him to read and study. He was introduced to hip-hop music at the age of nine, and by eleven, was competing in rap battles. He relocated to Steubenville, Ohio to live with his mother. He spent weekends in Pittsburgh, where his father ran a convenience store.

He married Eboni Mills (2000-09). He married Talri Rabb (2009). He has ten children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[1997thebracket]

Round 1D

First Cell Phone Photo: Imagine a time when you carried a Nikon CoolPix in a protective case to capture your most momentous occasions... now count how many pictures of sandwiches are in your phone's camera roll. On June 11, 1997, Philippe Kahn captured a historic moment using his Motorola StarTAC mobile phone, his laptop and a custom software application he had developed. The photo was of his newborn daughter, Sophie, and it was sent to friends and family to share the joyous moment. This pioneering act marked the birth of "instant visual communication" through mobile phones, laying the foundation for the proliferation of camera phones and the way we share images in the modern digital age. Kahn's invention and the "first cell phone photo" it produced hold a significant place in the history of photography and mobile technology.

Wu-Tang Clan's Wu-Tang Forever: Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released in 1997. This double album is a seminal work in the realm of East Coast hip-hop, renowned for its dense lyricism, gritty production, and intricate storytelling. It features all nine original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah; the album's production, largely handled by RZA, is characterized by its distinctive blend of soulful samples and martial arts-inspired sound bites. The album not only solidified the group's status as one of hip-hop's most influential acts but also expanded the boundaries of the genre, offering a complex and multifaceted exploration of themes like street life, spirituality, and the struggles of urban existence. While sales did not match their late peers Tupac and Biggie, critics were largely more favorable to Wu-Tang: Melody Maker wrote "It had to be this big. It didn't have to be this good. Every single track is a detonation of every single pop rule you thought sacrosanct. Wu-Tang Forever is one of the greatest hip hop LPs of all time."

[gerogerigaogaigar]

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?

The debut album by Jimi Hendrix and crew is a stunning piece of psychedelic rock. Heavy blues guitar licks are the standard fare here. It lacks the full extent of jazzy exploration that Hendrix's later albums show, but it is still an incredible album. Being the first album from an artist who was always exploring and evolving I'm confused why it is his highest rated album on the list but actually I know why, it's because Are You Experienced has all his biggest hits. The people at Rolling Stone are children after all, jingling keys gets them more excited than artistic expression ever will.

The Beatles - The White Album

Are you fucking kidding me? I honestly thought we were past the point where I would have anything bad to say about the albums on the list. I mean this is supposedly the 29th best album of all time? The White Album is an infamously bloated mess, and what's left when you pate it down still isn't their best work. Correction, the stretch of songs that includes Wild Honey Pie, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weep, and Happiness Is A Warm Gun is actually their best work. The last of those four being one of my all time favorite Beatles songs. There are some moments of charm but this album is tedious as fuck and includes some of their absolute worst: Glass Onion, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Birthday, Yer Blues, Revolution 1, and of course Revolution 9 should be stricken from reality. This list should be stricken from reality. What a fucking albatross I have wrapped around my own neck.

D'Angelo - Voodoo

My thoughts on this album are very much the same as I had for Brown Sugar. Every song is good, but the album goes on too long. There is a little more variety here and I think the production is a little richer in a way that makes it more listenable, but it is very long. The highlight is probably Left And Right for its features from Redman and Method Man. I actually wouldn't have minded more features. This album is begging for a little more hip hop influence. Either way every D'Angelo album is better than the last and he has a pretty strong starting point. I hope I don't sound too mean I really do like this album I'm just an ADHD queen who cannot focus if an album keeps the same tempo for too long.

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

I'm willing to bet most everyone already knows this is the album that defined East coast hip hop. I've talked about the features before: sparse beats punctuated by haunted piano loops, intense focus on virtuosic flow and rhyming. What Enter The Wu-Tang brings us that no other album can is the entire Wu-Tang Clan all at once. From the slums of Shaolin the Wu-Tang Clan strikes again the RZA, the GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspecta Deck, Raekwon The Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, and the Method Man. Also Masta Killa and 4th disciple but they aren't listed in the opening of the song Method Man for some reason. The cast of rappers is huge and they all seem to share an incredible delight for the kung-fu kayfabe badass personae that infects the album. And with so many distinct voices on the record it is constantly dynamic, almost manic, in its pace. Plus Enter The Wu-Tang is just full of iconic songs, over half the album is certified hits. No other hip hop record bombards you so constantly with such a huge collection of raw talent.

Patti Smith - Horses

Patti Smith marries art rock poetry with punk rock vulgarity in a way that both makes apparent her role as an early punk artist and leaves her standing somewhere outside of punk itself. Both of the nine minute tracks, Bird land and Horses, take us through a surreal melange of avante garde and 50s rock and roll. The violent cover of The Who's My Generation takes the song and tears it to shreds ending on Smith saying "We created it, let's take it over". And of course there's the lesbian punk anthem Gloria which is a near complete rewrite of a Van Morrison song with the sexual aggression turned up to eleven. All of the covers and musical quoting make the album feel like a quilt made of all the things that influenced Smith's poetry and music. It's the desire to rebel and the feeling of salt of the earth country folk and the musings of a poet all wrapped into one package.

Carole King - Tapestry

Carole King was one of the most prolific and influential songwriters of the 60s so when she sat down to record her own album she brought a decade of experience with her. Tapestry was technically her second solo album, but her debut was poorly produced and didn't showcase her talents well. Tapestry fixes this. It is a time machine to the heyday of 60s pop rock with a fine veneer of nostalgia. Tapestry consists almost entirely of new songs with the exception of Will You Love Me Tomorrow?, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman which King gets to record for the first time in her own voice. The combination of tin pan alley arrangements and Kings unadorned and powerful voice make Tapestry a standout album in the world of 70s adult contemporary.

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Whoa really? I was super certain they were gonna put this at number one. Well at a much more modest twenty four here's the most overrated album of all time. Okay yeah I'm gonna trash this album just for fun but it is good, really good. It's just that the praise heaped on it is totally undeserved. So first the good. Sgt. Pepper's is a fantastically jaunty psychedelic tinged album with incredible variety that genuinely shows off each individual member of the group at their best. What it isn't, though, is new or innovative or something that every other band was rushing to copy. It definitely helped bring psychedelic music farther into the mainstream but they were at least a year behind. You know what fuck the negativity I'm doing a 180. The little psychedelic elements, heavy use of sitar, vocal distortion, and the general air of goofing off make Sgt. Pepper's a delightful and easy listen. The wilder ends of the album, the vaudeville Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! The showtimey bounce of When I'm Sixty-Four or the orchestral freak out on A Day In The Life are kinda what make it. The Beatles manage to seemingly get lost in weird bullshit only to reign it back in. It's a fun album and I've already written too much about these fuckers so bye.

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico

They were a bunch of classically trained and beat poet types backed up by avant garde singer Nico and managed by Andy Warhol. The Velvet Underground were basically destined to do what they did. Their debut record strikes a weird tense balance between psychedelic rock and minimalist drone as well as being one of many origin points for punk (take a shot every time I say something was an influence on punk music and you'll die). No part of this album isn't a stand out moment from the very beginning where Sunday Morning fakes you out into thinking this will be a normal psychedelic album to the nearly eight minutes of discordant violin on European Son that closes out the album. Nico's vocals add a surreal icy flair to the tracks she sings on and the production is so raw that it feels like the album is deteriorating as you listen.

The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die

The prophetically titled Ready To Die is amazing for showing the actual range of emotion simmering under the surface of 90s hip hop kayfabe. The bravado is always undercut with lyrics that remind us that Biggie knows how far he's come and how fast it happened. He want to present badass machismo but he can't help rapping about a deep underlying depression. Even on the obligatory sex skit the kayfabe falls apart as Biggie and Lil Kim can't help but break into laughter at how stupid the bit is. Biggie's technique is also immaculate. Not only is he good at doing complex rhymes but he can sell very silly lines very well. The line "I got techniques coming out my butt cheeks / sleep on my stomache so I don't fuck up my sheets" lives rent free in my head.

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

A lovingly crafted blue collar opera. A street life fairytale. The sweeping highs of Americana come crashing back to earth in a fit of reality. Born To Run is desperate, romantic, dramatic. Every line, every riff, every piano fill is there to make you feel something. There's so much fear and desperation expressed in these eight songs. And they are beautifully composed. There's a true love of rock and roll and a love of the rebellious attitude it represents but with an underlying fear that rebellion isn't actually an escape. As much as I love Nebraska I have to admit this is probably Springsteen's best album. This is one of the best albums period.

[airadam]

Episode 172 : Yield To None

"Do you wanna be dope, or do you wanna deal it?"

- Common

All Hip-Hop at a nice steady pace - but a varied platter of vibes - for this episode, as I celebrate my birth month! 

Great personal news : I'm very proud to be included in the new "Hidden Histories : Black in Manchester" resource by Parise Carmichael-Murphy - have a read!

Twitter : @airadam13

Twitch : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs : GT3

From the car-themed "Members Only" 2019 collaboration between Meyhem and Cypress Hill DJ/producer DJ Muggs, this track integrates the sound of some very angry engines as an additional instrument/element of what is otherwise an extremely sparse bit of production - drums and bass only. Meyhem is laid-back and comfortable at this pace, crafting a track that even those of us without a Porsche on the driveway can appreciate - well, as long as our speakers or headphones deliver the goods!

[RZA] Raekwon : Can It All Be So Simple (Remix Instrumental)

You might detect a little sonic garbling where I was using Serato's "stems" feature to try and remove the vocal samples in the hook, but other than that here's the glorious sound of a hard-to-come-by RZA instrumental of a track from the monumental "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." LP. Rae, Ghost, and RZA took their track from the Wu-Tang debut LP which was already a classic and subtly made it a little darker, a touch rougher and a little less nostalgic. A masterful remix and rewrite.

Roc Marciano : Ridin' Around

A very different kind of rider music to the opening track, but still with an ominous bassline which helps carry the vintage crime vibes perfectly. This is a deep cut from Roc Marciano's seminal solo debut "Marcberg" album, with his gangster wordplay on full display atop a track with more drum action than on much of his later work.

Showbiz & AG : Trapped

This is one of those records which, despite being by a highly respected group, has likely slipped under your radar. The DITC production legend Showbiz is here under his original name (you can find much of his other work credited as simply "Show") alongside his day one MC AG on this late-night creep number from the 2012 "Mugshot Music" album.

Planet Asia ft. Prodigy : Stick & Move

If you love your dark, underground NYC Hip-Hop, you might have heard this sample used elsewhere, but for the current episode this is the slow, menacing, bi-coastal track that gets the nod. Fresno and Queensbridge in combination as Planet Asia and Prodigy (RIP) go back and forth over an Evidence beat on this 2005 release. Not even a hint of going for the pop audience here, just gutter from start to end. Got to respect it.

Mud Family : Itchy Town

I've been holding onto this one for absolutely years! I first heard this on a "Radio Zero" show courtesy of Dave The Ruf, and it's a dark, brooding piece of UK boom-bap from this highly-regarded north London crew. Centred around the MCs Chester P, Skinnyman, and Mongo, they released their core work in the late 90s and early 00s, with this absolute beast being on their very first wax release, 1997s "The Mud Files, Vol. 1". Production on the EP as a whole is credited to Deckwrecka, Firebomb Fritz, and Mad Money Wah - not sure who did what on this cut, but I applaud them for cooking up a track that still bangs after over twenty-five years!

DJ Premier : Dee Ell P

It's been over a decade since DJ Premier gave us a "Beats That Collected Dust" collection, but there's a good reason for that...as he correctly points out, the beats that end up included have to be given time to collect that dust! With that said, the third edition is out now, and is a good digital pickup while the (likely pricey) vinyl works it's way through distribution to the shops. As for the title of this selection from the new release, I haven't deciphered it yet. "The LP"? Was it a track meant for Large Professor, perhaps? Probably overthinking it - just enjoy the master of the MPC 60 going back into his vaults.

Mabanua ft. Kev Brown : Holdin' It Down

I had completely missed this but was introduced to it by none other than Kev Brown himself when he played it on one of his "Beats 'n' Stuff" shows on Twitch! While he drops plenty of unreleased material, he'll throw in overlooked gems from his discography like this one, a collaboration with Japanese beatmaker Mabanua. Given that Kev is on the mic all the way through, I can only assume that Mabanua did the production here - even though it has that Kev Brown feel in spades!

De La Soul ft. Common : The Bizness

An old classic from some of the greats. If you don't already have De La Soul's "Stakes Is High" album, you can now easily buy digitally or stream it, so get on that! This track has, apart from one regrettable homophobic reference from Common which the label partly censored, bars upon bars of heat on a self-produced track that you can't help but nod your head to. I can also think of at least three Hip-Hop tracks that sampled/scratched lines from this one, which is a sure sign of a piece of work that has your peers paying attention!

Blu & Exile : Berries and Juices

You can't help but bop to this, Exile's beat has an undeniable bounce and while Blu does say "beat so sweet that I ain't even gotta do s--t", he unquestionably lifts it to that next level with a couple of chilled verses. Bonus points for the "Coming To America" reference 🙂 Take heed to the title of the album this is drawn from - "Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them" - and apply that sentiment to not only this duo but all the artists you enjoy!

pH7 ft. Access Immortal and DJ Roger Rekless : New York

A long-lost track that only resurfaced for me during the Great Digitisation of 2020-2023! A trans-Atlantic collaboration with German artists pH7 (Cologne) and DJ Roger Rekless (Munich) coming together with Bed-Stuy MC Access Immortal for a jazzy number with solid boom-bap underpinnings, tight cuts, and an overall clean and refreshing sound. You can find this on the somewhat obscure "Blazing Heat" EP,  

Ilajide : Ayerloom

Taking it back (ok, not that far back) to 2015 for a beat from "Latex", the first solo LP by one of my favourites, Ilajide of Clear Soul Forces. That drum beat could have come from an 80s Hip-Hop classic, as could the rest of the sounds on the track - and yet, as a whole it doesn't seem of that era. This Detroit beatsmith isn't afraid to go after a certain sonic hardness that other producers might shy away from in the modern era, and it's that banging aggression that helps set him apart.

Kuartz : Glitch In The Ghost

Local beat legend Kuartz released his new LP "Hybrid Dialects" this month, and it's a collection of bassy, techy, angular production that is well worth spending your hard-earned cash on! This was the first track I heard from it, which he debuted earlier in the year at Manchester's WORKINONIT beatmakers event - it was so raw that I had to ask him for an advance copy 😁 I've played it on Twitch a couple of times but now here it is as a taster for the album.

Grand Agent ft. Liv L'Raynge : Ooh-La-Lah

I hadn't heard this for absolutely ages until pulling it out earlier this month, which is a sign that no-one I've been listening to has been playing it either! Grand Agent collaborated with Oxnard production wizard Oh No on the "Under The Circumstances" LP which this track is drawn from, and the album has the husky-voiced MC Liv L'Raynge as the featured guest - with this track being her standout performance. She burns it down on the opening verse over Oh No's heavy beat, and really steals the whole show to be honest!

Coyote ft. Shaquille O'Neal : 3 Lokos

I first heard an excerpt of this on Instagram - not sure it was on Shaq's page, but either way it sent me to go ahead and find the full version of this new single! Coyote is the pairing of Ladies Love Guapo and Ricky Blanco, neither of whom I know already but they both spit rugged on this track, which they produced alongside Brian Lee and on which they were specifically going for a hardcore 90s feel. I know, I know...you want to know about Shaq. Well...he kills his verse. The doctorate-holding four-time NBA champion has been recording since 1993's guest appearance on "What's Up Doc?" by the Fu-Schnickens and his "Shaq Diesel" LP, and despite a long break he comes out spitting with that hunger! 

K-Otix : World Renown

Classic underground Hip-Hop right here from 2000, and now available along with the rest of the "Universal" LP on Bandcamp, so no reason not to put some dough in the artists' pockets! You might hear this record and think NYC, but nope - this is a Houston record! It might have been releaed on Bronx Science record, but the skills are all Texas-raised. The incredibly memorable beat comes from the man known as The ARE, who has also done some amazing work outside the crew, and Damien and Micah take the vocal reins. Big record.

DJ Spinna : Surely (Instrumental)

As we move with the wind-down, here's a beautiful track from the studio of DJ Spinna, taken from the instrumental release of his solo debut on BBE, "Here To There". With Ovasoul7's vocals gone, the guitar of the late UK jazz guitar legend Ronny Jordan and the programming work of DJ Spinna get to take centre stage, giving the track a different dimension.

Method Man ft. Ghostface Killah : Afterparty

An appropriate record to end the show with! A dope sing-songy exchange between Meth and Ghost starts the track off, and the melodic approach pops up throughout the track in between straight up bars over a smooth beat from a producer credited simply as "Q", but better known to most as Qur'an from Da Youngstas (sorry, can't bring myself to put the incorrect apostrophe in!) Still my favourite track on "Tical 0 : The Prequel", just as it was on first listen.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

[byneddiedingo]

Coffee and Cigarettes (Jim Jarmusch, 2003)

Cast: Roberto Benigni, Steven Wright, Joie Lee, Cinqué Lee, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Joseph Rigano, Vinny Vella, Vinny Vella Jr., Renee French, E.J. Rodriguez, Alex Descas, Isaach De Bankolé, Cate Blanchett, Michael Hogan, Jack White, Meg White, Alfred Molina, Steve Coogan, Katy Hansz, The GZA, RZA, Bill Murray, William Rice, Taylor Mead. Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch. Cinematography: Tom DiCillo, Frederick Elmes, Ellen Kuras, Robby Müller. Production design: Dan Bishop, Mark Friedberg, Tom Jarmusch. For Jarmusch fans only. Coffee and Cigarettes, a collection of 11 black-and-white short films in which people sit at tables and drink coffee and smoke cigarettes, began as semi-improvisatory shorts spun off from Jarmusch's features by their crew and cast members and friends. Starting with Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright essentially winging it in "Strange to Meet You," the collection evolved from a series of shaggy-dog sketches into more structured narratives with a few motifs echoing throughout. The most structured is certainly "Cousins," in which Cate Blanchett plays two roles: the soigné movie star Cate and her blowsy cousin Shelly, who resents Cate's privileged life. They meet in the coffee shop of a luxury hotel, where Cate patiently endures Shelly's sniping until she's called away for an interview. Shelly has been smoking throughout their conversation, but when she lights up after Cate leaves, a waiter tells her that smoking is forbidden there. The episode "Cousins?" is a parallel story in which Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan, two British actors trying to make it in the States, meet for coffee, during which Molina reveals to a very unimpressed Coogan that he has done genealogical research which proves they are distant relations. After an excited fan asks for his autograph, Coogan becomes more and more condescending toward Molina. Then Molina receives a call on his cell phone from Spike Jonze, instantly deflating Coogan's ego to the point that Molina leaves him to pay the check. Amusing as these vignettes are, they don't rise much beyond the level of anecdotes, and some of the other episodes, such as the ones in which Jack White demonstrates his Tesla coil or Renee French fends off a too-attentive waiter, fall flat. Still, if you don't expect too much, there's an evanescent charm to the whole project.

[rainydawgradioblog]

threegoofballsreview: Halloween Albums

This week, the three of us reviewed what we listen to around the Halloween season. From genres like Horrorcore and Dark-Ambient to more fall/autumn listens, we each reviewed our favorites that we enjoyed during the spooky season.

Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep

It only took about 30 seconds of 6 Feet Deep for me to realize that it wouldn’t be the deadly serious, disturbing clipping. brand of horrorcore, but more like the off-kilter, strangely funny Jay-Z’s verse on “Monster” horrorcore. I almost expected them to start rapping “goblin, ghoul” on half of these songs. Gravediggaz is a four-man rap collective out of New York, composed of Prince Paul, Frukwan, Too Poetic, and RZA of Wu-Tang fame. However, they all charmingly dubbed monikers for their Gravediggaz personas: The Undertaker, The Gatekeeper, The Grym Reaper, and The RZArector respectively. 6 Feet Deep is Gravediggaz's debut album, released in 1994. The four rappers offer a variety of flows and deliveries across the album; on “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide”, RZArector attacks the beat with a characteristic aggressive flow. On “Detective Trip (Trippin’),” as he’s describing his twisted perspective on a cocktail of drugs, he begins stuttering and slurring his speech. Just as it seems like he’s about to lose the beat, he finds a way to keep with it, resulting in one of the most interesting, exciting flows I’ve ever heard. The Grym Reaper comes with an over-the-top, almost cartoonish approach to his verses that certainly took me aback on my first listen but quickly became endearing. The production ranges from groovy, bass-heavy neo-soul, to classic grimy East Coast boom-bap, to deep-fried rage beats that sound like they could have inspired the likes of Playboi Carti. From the avant-garde production and blood-soaked tongue-in-cheek lyricism to the killer rapping performances, 6 Feet Deep is a staple of the horrorcore genre and a deeply enjoyable listening experience for the Halloween season.

Death Grips - Bottomless Pit Released in 2016, Bottomless Pit is the Californian experimental hip-hop trio Death Grips’ 5th studio album. The tracklist opens with the eerie, high-pitched guest vocals of American singer Clementine Creevy, repeating the mantra: “I keep giving bad people good ideas”. Her voice is quickly swallowed by a deafening wave of distorted guitar and driving drums, attacking the listener and destroying everything in its path. MC Ride’s manic rapping bleeds through this chaotic beat and creates a menacing presence, making the listener feel as if they’re being chased down a dark alleyway. While this horrific, chaotic energy continues throughout the album, the band weaves in catchy melodic lines and memorable hooks. The beats are, for the most part, more conventional than your average Death Grips album, with electronic drums and repetitive, listenable melodies. For this reason, songs like “Eh” and “Bubbles Buried In This Jungle” may be considered some of their most accessible. That being said, Death Grips doesn’t lose their experimental edge on this album. On “Hot Head,” Ride spits a belligerent verse of gibberish and the bass on nearly every song could blow your speakers out. After banger after banger, the album ends with its title track, “Bottomless Pit.” The downright evil guitar-driven beat, monotone delivery, and gruesome lyrics make this song extremely disturbing. The vivid horror makes me feel like I can taste blood in my mouth as Ride repeats “this pit is bottomless.”

Acetantina - Carmen Winstead  When it comes to a concept album, there are many themes and stories that can be told. One of the more strange ones, however, came from the vaporwave scene in 2021: Carmen Winstead by Acetantina (known now as Kaizo Slumber). As the last record released under the Acetantina moniker, it’s an album with a creepy ambiance, interlaced footwork rhythm, and many video game references. Based on the creepypasta of the same name, many of the tracks reference events from the story Carmen Winstead, interpreting those events into songs. Though you don’t need to read the story to understand the album, knowledge of the story adds to the mystique Acetantina is trying to present. Take the song “Manhole Incident”, the song that I think shows the correlation between the two media the best. The Manhole Incident is where a group of girls push a girl named Carmen Winstead down the aforementioned manhole, killing her. The track is a slow track that feels like you are trudging through that same sewer that Carmen was pushed down into. Its use of a Wii sample and how it is distorted gives this track an uneasy atmosphere. “Body Parts” is another example of the album relating to the original story. As Carmen died, her body had been hurt severely, being covered in sewage as they removed her from the sewer. The track instrumentally uses a choir synth with a unique time signature at the start, full of high energy. As the track progresses, it slowly loses its energy until it dissipates at the end. There are a lot of other tracks that I find add to the album that don’t relate as heavily or have more abstract meanings to the original story. “Blindside” is the second track of the record, being this glitchy blend of percussion that sets the mood of what is to come. “They Pushed Her”, references the story, and is this more ambient track with a stuttering vocal sample. The ending track “Carmen” encapsulates the whole album with just one song, more upbeat while still rooted in its dark ambiance. Overall, I think this album is a great balance of creating a dark atmosphere while creating pockets of upbeat moments. A high recommendation if you are looking for something more electronic.

clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned Horrorcore is one of the most common genres that gets brought up if you are trying to find horror-themed music. Its use of lyrical rap to convey a sense of morbid horror makes any record of the genre fascinating. One of the modern groups to really revive the genre in the 2010s is clipping.. Composed of Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Snipes, and William Hudson, clipping. is the gold standard of the genre horrorcore. Starting as an experimental noise rap group in 2012 with their album midcity, their experimentation allowed them to not only bring these insane instrumentals to rap over, but lyrical storytelling in their rap songs. clipping. has two albums that fall under the genre of horrorcore, There Existed an Addiction to Blood in 2017 and this review’s album Visions of Bodies Being Burned in 2020. While I do enjoy There Existed an Addiction to Blood, Visions of Bodies Being Burned is my go-to album to prepare for any spooky occasion, a more concise experience. Each track that clipping. presents feels like its own horror story, whether it be the instrumental or the lyrics, every track feels very distinct. “Say the Name” is the easiest groove to get into, as Daveed raps over the vocals of the album name. It is a full experience from start to finish. “96 Neve Campbell” has the feeling of a classic slasher film. The feature on the track Cam & China sing about how they are murderers out to get you, using the sound effects of knocks at the door as if they are right outside. My favorite track on the album right now is “Something Underneath.” It starts with a low, humming drone and becomes this unhinged experience of percussion and noise as Daveed raps at a fast tempo. It is the best showcase of what clipping. has to offer, lyrically and instrumentally. “Make Them Dead” gives nods to the root of the group, with this loud harsh noise instrumental as Daveed raps a dead chant over the track. “Check The Lock” is this story of a man being gang stalked and his paranoia, with this reverb percussion lining it all, and is one of the more popular tracks that I recommend if you want a quick listen. “Eaten Alive” is the most abstract track on the album by far: it becomes this collision of sound as if something is rustling through an unkept attic. “Enlacing” ends the record with a more basic beat, with this beautiful sample as if you just survived the night from the terror. These guys are the best when it comes to an effective horror album. My highest recommendation for you is to go listen to this album, it's something immensely unique.

SpaceGhostPurrp - Blackland Radio 666 Pt. 2 I was made aware of Raider Klan and SpaceGhostPurrp by diving into the Lil Ugly Mane discography. Lil Ugly Mane notably had one of the very few features on a SpaceGhostPurrp album. I kept his name in the back of my mind before discovering Blackland Radio 666 Pt. 2 featured on the Dismiss Yourself label. For a netlabel primarily focused on the genre of HexD/DnB, it was quite odd seeing it on there, so I had to check it out. Blackland Radio 666 Pt. 2 by SpaceGhostPurrp was released in 2016 and is a sequel to Blackland Radio 666 Pt. 1 from 2012.  Delving into the album, my biggest critique is its lyrics by Purrp. If you want someone saying they’ll make love with women, kill them, and then worship the devil for 41 minutes, this would be for you. I feel it gets quite repetitive, especially some of the longer songs on the album. However, a lot of it is saved by the beats Purrp raps over, which he produces himself. The second track of the album, “Purrp, The King of Kings”, is what I can only describe as a track haunted by an evil spirit. The track is this distorted synth pad with a minimal bass as Purrp raps with these flanger effects going off, creating this feeling of malice. “T.R.I.L.L.” has this crunchy percussion throughout the track, keeping the song as a mess of distortion. “Revenge Pt. 2” has one of Purrp’s more notable lyrics, as he describes a killing spree of murdering everyone he sees no matter who, and how the devil took his soul and led him down this path. “So Icey Goth La Flexicos” is a track without Purrp, featuring Chxpo & Black Kray instead. They both give great performances and it really stands out compared to the rest of the album while still incorporating a haunting beat of the previous songs. While I do think this record has its flaws, I can’t deny that listening to this feels like a vengeful spirit is following you and poisoning every beat and vocal. A great recommendation for the days leading up to Halloween.

[ardl]

Beatdown wasn’t the capital-R-revolutionary tornado of boom of Nation of Millions, or the OG hardcore of Criminal Minded, or the rap-as-arena-rock of Raising Hell. They didn’t have the Adonis charisma of LL Cool J or Artemis sultriness of MC Lyte. It didn’t have the spirit-moving-on-the-face-of-the-waters Genesis 1:1 godliness of Paid In Full. They weren’t invited to be on “Self Destruction.” You couldn’t pin down one essential character of the MCs, and they didn’t have the Janus interchangeability of EPMD.

Nobody tried to do what Ultras did, but a lot of cats did in different ways. The compressed, fractured stream-of-consciousness inform Ghostface, Monche, Aesop Rock, De La Soul, and all the weirdo/space/paranoid underground shit like Jedi Mind Tricks and their legions; DOOM, Company Flow, and everyone they birthed — Ultras are the Godfathers, Part Zero.

In production, they were the amphibian leap from loops and breaks, between Old and New School: Ced-Gee’s chopping, panning, sequencing and arranging of hundreds of samples. No Ultras, no 3 Feet High and Rising, no RZA, no — everything. And De La, Tribe and others seemed to spring forth fully formed in the new sound, like Athena from Zeus’ skull, the Ultras show how we got from the yes yes y’all era to there — but also veering off at drunken speed in their own lane.

[fred-the-curator]

Révélations sur 'Enter The 36 Chambers' : Secrets inédits du premier album du Wu-Tang avec Le Boug Arknow DJ Flexta et Olivier Nguessan

Révélations sur 'Enter The 36 Chambers' : Secrets inédits du premier album du Wu-Tang avec Le Boug Arknow, DJ Flexta et Olivier Nguessan   Le Boug Arknow et DJ Flexta accueillent Olivier Nguessan (ancien journaliste dans les pages du magasine RER) pour une revue de l'album classique du Wu-Tang Clan "Enter The 36 Chambers" dans le cadre de leur série de podcast "Revue Véritables Albums".  C'est surement l'un de mes groupes fétiches et celui qui m'a le plus marqué dans ma jeunesse donc même si je croyais tout connaître du Wu et de cet album mythique, j'en ai encore appris quelques secrets grâce à cette échange de passionnés et connaisseurs de surcroît. Sorti en 1993, "Enter The 36 Chambers" est le premier album du légendaire groupe de hip-hop de Staten Island, le Wu-Tang Clan. Cet opus est considéré comme un des albums les plus influents et importants de l'histoire du hip-hop. Avec son style brut et agressif, ses samples de films de kung-fu, ses productions lo-fi et les flows uniques de ses 9 MCs, cet album a posé les bases de l'esthétique du Wu-Tang qui allait révolutionner le rap. Des morceaux comme "Protect Ya Neck", "C.R.E.A.M." ou "Method Man" sont devenus des classiques instantanés. Le Boug Arknow, DJ Flexta et Olivier Nguessan, en grands connaisseurs de hip-hop,reviennent en détails sur la genèse de cet album, son impact et décortiquent les raisons qui en font un monument musical incontournable, près de 30 ans après sa sortie Le concept de l'album s'inspire fortement de la passion du groupe pour les films de kung-fu, en particulier "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" de 1978 et réalisé par Liu Chia-liang, qui raconte l'histoire d'un homme cherchant à maîtriser les 36 chambres du kung-fu pour atteindre l'illumination. Métaphore du travail entrepris par RZA pour amener Ghostface Killah, GZA, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, U-God et Cappadonna jusqu'au succés et bien plus...Wu-Tang is Forever ! Le titre "Enter the 36 Chambers" fait donc référence à ces 36 chambres légendaires de Shaolin, lieu d'entraînement des moines dans les films. Cela symbolise aussi la maîtrise du flow, des lyrics et des beats  par les membres du Wu-Tang. Au-delà de l'imagerie martiale, le chiffre 36 revêt aussi une signification spirituelle pour le groupe, basée sur des corrélations numériques avec ses 9 membres et les enseignements ésotériques de la Five Percent Nation, un mouvement afro-américain influencé par l'Islam. Musicalement, l'album se démarque à sa sortie en 1993 du rap West Coast gangsta qui domine alors. Là où d'autres enveloppent l'auditeur dans un univers de gangsters et proxénètes, le Wu-Tang s'inspire de l'esthétique des films de kung-fu pour immerger dans un monde de guerriers du verbe.  L'album donne l'impression d'une session live brute captée dans un sous-sol, avec des morceaux aux sonorités crues et agressives entrecoupés de skits renforçant la cohésion et l'identité du groupe. Un témoignage urgent sur les réalités violentes des ghettos de New York. "Enter the 36 Chambers" lance la mythologie du Wu-Tang Clan, neuf rêveurs de Staten Island (surnommé Shaolin) liés par une philosophie spirituelle et martiale commune, sublimant l'art du rap en pratique guerrière. Un appel initiatique à entrer dans leur univers. via Blogger https://ift.tt/2vNrP8x May 17, 2024 at 09:00AM

[themovieblogonline]

A Look at RZA's "One Spoon of Chocolate"

Gget ready to dive into a drama that's been simmering for over a decade! RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan's mastermind, is back in the director's seat for "One Spoon of Chocolate," a film that promises a gritty mix of love, danger, and second chances. This movie boasts a cast that's as hot as a fresh batch of cookies. Shameik Moore (who you might know from "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse") takes the lead as our ex-military convict seeking a new life. Joining him is the iconic Paris Jackson, ready to prove her acting chops on the big screen. Throw in a supporting cast featuring heavyweights like RJ Cyler (from "The Harder They Fall") and Blair Underwood ("L.A. Law"), and you've got a recipe for a seriously compelling movie. A Long Road to the Screen Here's a fun fact for all you movie buffs: "One Spoon of Chocolate" has been a long time coming. RZA's been cooking up this project since way back in 2011! That's thirteen years of simmering ideas and crafting a story, which means there's a good chance this film will be a true passion project for the director. With that kind of dedication, you just know it's bound to be something special. The official synopsis keeps things a little mysterious, hinting at love, danger, and enough trouble to fill a whole plate. Knowing RZA's background in music and storytelling, we can probably expect a film that's equal parts heart and grit. Will it be a heart-wrenching drama with a touch of streetwise wisdom? An action-packed thrill ride with a surprising emotional core? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: with RZA at the helm and this talented cast on board, "One Spoon of Chocolate" is definitely a movie to keep an eye on. A Chef with a Vision This isn't RZA's first foray into filmmaking. He previously directed "The Man with the Iron Fists" back in 2012, showcasing his knack for combining action with unique visuals. His follow-up, "Love Beats Rhymes," explored the world of rap and poetry, proving his versatility as a storyteller. With "One Spoon of Chocolate," it seems RZA is aiming to deliver a powerful drama that will resonate with audiences on a deeper level. While we haven't gotten a taste of the final product yet, "One Spoon of Chocolate" has all the ingredients for a delicious cinematic experience. RZA's vision, a stellar cast, and a story that's been patiently simmering for over a decade – this is a recipe we're excited to try. So, keep your eyes peeled and your spoons ready, because "One Spoon of Chocolate" is sure to be a movie you won't want to miss! (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)   Read the full article