Talib Kweli is back with some heat that goes beyond commercial radio, yet can work for commercial radio. His latest album ‘Fuck The Money‘ just hit my inbox and I’m digging what’s going on.
He spits thought provoking word play effortlessly as expected, speaking on the industry and his evolve state of dealing with it. Money, as the title says, is of no importance. We all know that Talib has always been pro indie movements, giving the metaphorical finger to commercialism. This is a bit different because of his matured state.
Speaking of that, bless up to the Brooklyn soldier! He had celebrated his rotation at ‘Soul In The Horn‘ with one of NYC hottest Dj’s Natasha Diggs + DProsper + Jessica Care More and others for Jessica’s latest album Black Tea : The Legend of Jessi James.
Check it out Talib’s new album and download it here for free while it last… http://kweliclub.com/products/talib-kweli-fuck-the-money-digital
We are the Brooklyn Word baby, real unfiltered truths… if we see a culture vultures, we shoot em down!
The past Sunday at Milk River (coincidentally in my hood) the much talked about battle between FREDRO STARR & KEITH MURRAY went down.
I been hearing about this joint for a minute but thought it was just talk. You know, get people hyped for nothing. Off the strength, I figured Keith would win if he stuck to his style. I peeped a few recent sounds to see what the flow was sounding like.
Though it was different from what it used to be, with the battle as a focus and studio time to practice, his lyrical content and dexterity was bound to win right???
Don’t get me wrong, I always liked Onyx and Fredro’s grit. He wasn’t lyrically gifted in terms of spitting shit that made you think “he got bars”, you fucked with Fredro and crew because they got you hyped and ready for war.
But it’s been a minute and I haven’t heard much on the underground scene that popped like that, so who know’s.
Let’s get to this battle.
Round 1 goes to Fredro:
Keith started off shaky taking the mic instead of allowing a coin toss, if i had cake on this I’d be mad. He was showing signs of recklessness. Was he drinking, smoking, something deeper. Shit I don’t, but he wasn’t at his ‘Most Beautifullest’. The delivery, mess ups, repeats… I felt bad for him.
He seemed like he needed help, the awkward transition of him putting on a deadlock wig and rhyming like KRS was difficult to watch. I pressed pause for a minute to think, do I want to finish and diminish my childhood memories of one of the flyest sounding emcee’s…
I continued and it didn’t get better… sad day for hip hop fans.
Fredro on the other hand, came out with the energy that he’s known for easily and instantly creating the first crucial blows of the evening. His bars were ok but not on the level of most average battle rappers. I get that they do that everyday, practice/battle so I’m not holding it against him, just pointing out the obvious.
If Keith was on point or at least somewhat sober, he could have easily won that round. Another awkward moment was the adding a beat to the match. Thats cool if it just flows according to the DJ’s discretion, but it was starting and stopping. The first beat was mad wack and that didn’t help one bit. Regardless, Fredro caught that body in the first round.
Round 2 goes to Fredro:
Things got lightly heated, some pushing, a few refs getting caught in the action. Keith, went back at Fredro with a little too much passion which didn’t translate well over the mic. The rhymes were not well thought out and rudimentary. He had a few light jabs but that was it.
Fredro pretty much won this pretty clean, getting on him being a dust head. Damn, is that what’s going on? Shit, I don’t know but damn… Keith could have had a new career if he was on point. Even if he loss, but that’s not what happened.
Keith’s lyrics is sounding a little clearer though, a little bit more decipherable. It’s like he’s slowly realizing that he’s being bodied and has to start fighting. He takes the mic from Fredro and the ref’s have to ease things down a bit.
Fredro points out that Keith Murray is lying when he said he beat Tupac’s ass (and I thought it was a closeted truth). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DdR2UBYnFY But now that I think about it, that slur filled interview did seem a little suspect hmmm. More crackhead jabs drop from Mr Starr followed by Keith forgetting lyrics or something even Fredro trying to tell him to come on, say some shit but in a helpful way.
This is the point where you never want to be. I know it took some of the steam out of Fredro, cause you want to hate the person your battling. But when they don’t seem all there, you feel bad which weakens ya shit quite a bit, in regards to the intensity.
Round 3 goes to Fredro:
Keith at this point is sounding at his best for the night. This is how he should have started, well sorta. The old flow was sorta there, but the bars was out dated and sloppily delivered.
Fredro returned with a well delivered flow upper cutting Keith for the knockout when he had the but silenced. This is exactly what should have happened since the beginning, no beat battle. Keith returned with a follow up that was even more like his older style. Not having a beat allowed him to get the verses out at his pace, though it was to late….
Congratulations for both artist for actually doing it. It wasn’t some overhyped celebrity match, it was mad hoodie and organic. I wish the best for both and congrats to Fredro.
We are the THE BROOKLYN WORD… unfiltered authentic realness, if we not connected to it, then we speak it!
UPDATE: Of course after it all went down, the hip hop community expressed their opinions on the battle. They pretty much didn’t hold back, pretty much calling Keith ‘washed up’. Now, if you read my recap I kept that shxt 100 and true to the core.
I personally thought Keith was on drugs and just didn’t care enough to handle the battle seriously. When I think of Keith Murray, I think of one of the flyest emcees on the mic that was a real spitter. I never heard him do wrong for the most part, so I was mad disappointed when having to witness Keith (an emcee that I thought would demolish most of these new artist and battle rappers) actually appearing sub par. It was a mind fuxk and tough to come to grips with.
Vladtv did a few pieces following up with Keith Murray and Murder Mook. Check for yourself and share your thoughts. I appreciated Keith for standing up and owning his fault. He said it was prescription drugs/medicine plus alcohol that contributed to his loss. Who knows what happened, I was just glad to see him more level headed and he expressed his self well. That gave me hope that maybe there will be a come back, it sounds like it. Team Murray all the way, but trust mad respect to Fredro and his accomplishments which are admirable, good dude right there.
Earlier this year, Chicago’s MC Tree blessed me with a spoken word exclusive. I wrote all about it so not gonna get to deep, but it was dope. The acapella tale was a gritty picturesque example of Tree’s versatility and connection to the street.
So I did what any inspired “lover of dope shxt” would do, got creative and designed textured sound around the life of it. 75% was actual sounds recorded in Chicago (ex. weather, traffic, city noise…) in order to keep the authenticity intact.
I didn’t quite understand Trap till I heard him and then viewed it as more than a sound of youth, but rather a sound of expression. It’s the modern blues, todays generation’s way of dealing with the daily shit. Tree, an O.G. in the scene, delivery and flow is perfectly relatable to not only to the youth but all ages. It resonates with how we all feel and see the world at times.
On one end it it can be viewed as reckless, carefree and unabashed. No different from when rap first hit the streets, rather a little after. The sound began, it evolved and various cities interpreted it in their own way, expressing raw feelings that were the same.
No history lesson right now, but its all to say it’s come full circle to the ever popular commercial sound that is played 24/7 on radio, TV and ever other media form.
Now how is Tree tied into all this, well he one of the few that nurtured the Trap culture in Chicago. Do ya homework and get the real scoop. All the best secrets tend to come to light.
Click the pic link above to read more and peep the show we did this past spring.
Still in my:
“I should have been in Cancun, Mexico get to the airport and my damn passport is expired. Fuxk… so i’m in the studio in Brooklyn and flipped this joint” phase.
SHAME – TYRESE | Deep House Mix prod. by Gibril Kuyateh
I’ve been feeling the SHAME track for a minute now and finally had a moment to freak this joint. I didn’t have the time to add the flute and more keys, but thats coming. Felt like that can be an alternative version as I don’t want to rush it and shxt.
I did some editing to the video as well, making it black and white and slightly over exposed to to give the look a different experience from the original. Denzel Washington did his thing directing the video, Tyrese rocked it with an incredible performance along with Jennifer Hudson the everyone in the video.
Its the perfect track for the dance floors, enjoy! – #mrkuyateh
Download here…
New projects: have a remix for The Weeknd “OFTEN”, check it out…
Also plan on dropping some music on iTunes/Traxsource/GooglePlay and all other music platforms viaGIKU MUSIC and their amazing distribution network.
Holla wit budgets if you looking to do studio business…
I should have been in Cancun, Mexico get to the airport and my damn passport is expired. Fuxk… so i’m in the studio in Brooklyn and flipped this joint.
The Weekend is pretty dope and it’s been a minute since I remixed a track of his (below). I wanted to keep the original essence in it and not change it up to much. I added my typical layers of flavor to give it a dance feel that I’m comfortable moving to. If i’m not nodding my head, I can’t fuxk wit it.
Download here...
New projects: have a remix for SHAME / Tyrese that i’m going to be dropping by Monday. Just have to add keys and record myself playing the flute with it. If it sounds straight It’s dropping. I did something else, but can’t remember what.
Also plan on dropping some music on iTunes/Traxsource/GooglePlay and all other music platforms via GIKU MUSIC and their amazing distribution network.
Holla wit budgets if you looking to do studio business… #mrkuyateh
The other tracks:
Deep House Mix – The Weeknd – Echoes Of Silence
listening to this now, I like it even more than when I did it originally. It has a good flavor and balance. I was in a zone while playing the keys because I don’t remember doing it. I sounds pretty good, like I know a track is good when I forget that I did it and enjoy it. Regardless, check it and decide for yourself.
The Weeknd – Kiss Land ReMix w/Lyrics
listening to this now, its boring. At this point, i was testing out different methods of remixing and did something quick and less original. I can be honest about that, hearing it with a more experienced ear. But i’ll let you decide…
Get ya head right, turn the equipment on and fire up that computer.
The Brooklyn Word (TBW) invited Gibril, one of BK’s hardest working African’s reppin’ Ghana, to the Crown Heights dojo (yes his name is Gibril as well).
A few weeks prior he asked if I wanted to do a remix for his M1 featured track “What You See”. I said it sounded like a dope idea and that I’d check it out which I did. We’ve been talking about linking for years, but things were aligned with both our schedules.
After listening and thinking about it, an idea do something fun sparked in my head. Partly because it creates creative/artistic competition and expression. Not to mention that I’m a very fair warrior who doesn’t mind being in the “sound pit” with all of you dope ass producers that’s catching this contest.
So I told him, “lets open it up to everyone, but i’m still gonna submit” and proceeded to unveil the mini multi-media/brand concept that you now see. I kept it 100, saying I want to be apart of it but I’m completely cool if another producer wins. He got amped, like thats what’s up boom, TBW filmed him a week later.
We discussed his latest project “Gibril & BRC present The Foreigner – JJC (deluxe)” and the plans to expand the remix contest.
REMIX CONTEST
GIBRILVILLE & BRC are having a remix contest to the single “WHAT YOU SEE ft M1”.
Click downward arrow on Soundcloud player to Download the vocal stem/layerhere
Listen to the original track:
Please Upload your remix to soundcloud/social media with the #whatyouseeremix + #thebrooklynwordhashtag.
Follow Gibrilville on Twitter + Instagram & don’t forget to add us!
The winner will be selected based on talent and production quality.
The winner’s remix will also be featured in the Music video. DEADLINE: Sunday August 16, 2015 12:00AM EST
Basically he wants you to go in and flip the track into a dance/club/disco sound banger! Take that advice and roll with it.
Have fun and make sure ya hashtag is correct, rock it out! – The Brooklyn Word
This past weekend, Hip Hop lost a soldier. I was caught off guard because Sean Price (aka Ruck/ Ruckus, Mic Tyson…) is on of my top 10 spitters.
Brooklyn Vocab: Spitter – different from an emcee, in that they go hard consistently with bars that take time to understand. You often have to stop, rewind to get the gist of whats going on. Or you laugh at the wordplay and how it was constructed. Typically a spitters bars is witty, intellectual and tells a story of who that person is and what they are capable of doing lyrically. They are dope at freestyling off the dome (off the top of the head) and handle their own, respected by their hip hop peers… (eg. KRS-1, Black Thought, Eminem, Buckshot, Mos Def, Red Man, Ras Kass, Chino XL, Kurupt to name a few)
Flashback: I was going to Murry Bertraum when Duck Down started, catching the crew on Video Music Box. I bounced to Hampton, Va. a few years later and copped The Heltah Skeltah album in 95‘ adding it to my strong collection of CDs (lol, i still have em. almost every dope and underground east/west coast hip hop cd from 90-95’). Been a supporter of his and Rock since then.
I’d often throw his tracks on our Radio Show (The GiKu Experience Radioshow in Brooklyn/ GKXRS) and was planning on reaching out to Duck Down for an interview with one of Brownsville’s funniest and realest spitters.
Outside of supporting his music since the early release of Heltah Skeltah with his partner in crime Rock
(cont)… we both shared a love for vintage Polo. Now for yall thats not from BK, the Polo culture was started by the Lo-Lifes (LL) general Thirsting Howl:
an early 90’s NYC posse/gang that mostly wore high end Ralph Lauren, which was boosted in large groups (20 – 40 heads) from dept. stores around the east coast. They were the pretty boy thugs, in that they dressed the best (i’m bias), but they also shaped the fashion in hip hop and globally. Many Lo-Lifes back in the day were also Decepts (another posse/gang that ran the streets of Brooklyn)
I’m not sure if he was a LL (will ask my peeps to confirm), but I know he had mad peeps that were. And over time, he definitely fuxked with the LL’s and rocked with Thirstin, being that they were from the same hood. All that to say, I’m a bit bias favoring those that understand collecting vintage pieces like myself.
That for some BK street reason, adds a bit more credibility to your character. As you kinda gotta be a G, to rock the real authentic shxt.
Gaining more prop points the further you go back with the art. I been dipped since 93′ but back to the topic at hand.
Dipped: Lo slang for rocking “no horsey” but strong vintage and exclusive polo pieces on the daily)
So we know he was a Decept, rocked Lo, is a spitter that was apart of the Golden Age of hip hop (the early 90’s). But outside of the brutish personality that will punch ya jaw off, who is he?
Big up to my man and fellow Lo Head @TTKfor the dope Angelic Decept artwork of Sean P. He also provided the photo on the main page capturing @Meresone dedication piece to SP.
While there are many writers and unexpected music properties covering him because its trending, we are covering it because he is a brother of The Brooklyn Word. What he represented is exactly who we are, an unapologetic medium of cultural truth. The under dogs of commercial appeal, but champions in our own rights who give the finger to the blind and unawakened.
Well, I compiled some of my favorite clips of Sean Price aka Mic Tyson. Enjoy, listen to the sounds, laugh at his crazy ass and experience a deeper side of Sean Price…. #mrkuyateh
Who Is The Real Sean Price?
Candid interview where you get an idea of who he really is. “I can relate because we grew up watching the same thing. It’s a Brooklyn/NYC thing, we all did… #mrkuyateh”
His funny side…
Sean Price as “Seanwuar vs Pharoahe Monch”
Sean Price plays tennis with Dru Ha…
Sean Price as Sean Ross “The Joy Of Painting”
Sean Price as Tyrese singing on the bus.
Food shopping with Sean P.
The time he punched a guy through the pizza shop window lol.
Freestyles…
Freestyle on Tony Touch’s Shade 45 with Black Thought (The Roots), Sean Price (Heltah Skeletal), M1 (DeadPrez), Illa Gee, A.G.(D.I.T.C), Lil Fame (MOP)
Adrian Younge is a beast and the industry is taking notice! Is he the next Questlove? Time will tell. If you asked, he’d probably say that he just want to be Adrian Younge.
One thing is for sure, his movements are very similar in terms of industry respect that spans past the music industry, they both are conceptual creators (which is why I get em, being that i’m a branding/marketing guy), they both are very structured and dedicated to sound excellence. There are a few others but to better understand where I’m going with this, one would have to understand who he is.
Before we get into his latest project 12 Ways To Die featuring Ghostface, lets play a guessing game.
TRIVIA:
Guess who did the composed the original score for the rerelease of Black Dynamite in 2008 and composed the soundtrack for the Black Dynamite cartoon on Adult Swim?
Guess who also edited the film?
Yup, Adrian Younge!If you didn’t know, now ya know. Here is the official video of “Rise Of The Ghostface Killer” off the first album Adrian Younge presents 12 Reasons to Die.
Also catch the 2 part cartoon series that was created for the original album after you finish reading this post (placed at the bottom).
It will prepare you for the energy of Adrian.It will prepare you for the energy of Adrian and his multi-dimensional artistic mind.
On July 10, 2015 the New York Times showcased his latest review in their Press Play section,
Listen to press play allowing the stream to play as you read (not sure how long they keep it up, but if link becomes inactive, make a comment and i’ll update).
Linear Labs (LA based label headed by Adrian Younge) handled their business during this albums construction. I’m very impressed with the attention to sound detail and live instrumentation. Fuxk what anyone says, it gets 2 thumbs up!
In 2015, you don’t find producers that go as deep with the production process. That dedication is a hip hop rarity, when everything is so digital and disconnected from roots of sounds.
I’m going to follow this up with another article that will go deeper on the topic but this brothers head is definitely in tuned to the greater musical force. The type of force that makes classics and push the art of production forward.
I’d also like to thank Andrew Lojero at Linear Labs for sending over the promo package of sound, dope shxt #salute.
So let’s get to this joint! You should head nodding right about now, if my earlier instruction to press play were taken…
Powerful One: Intro is banging hard, sounds like it was inspired from a track of one of my favorite 90’s groups, Portishead “Mysterons”. Similar structure, thats only noticable for a couple of measures. That’s just my opinion, being that I haven’t spoken with Adrian to see what inspired the process. If that’s the case, it’s definitely a head nod of respect towards them and not anything else. The mainstream is unaware of Portishead, music heads knows what.
Check for yourselves…
The video for “Sour Times” has the same energy as the Rise Of The Ghostface official video. Once again, nothing wrong with it as the essence is paying homage to the late 60’s early 70’s psychadelic hippie erotica/spy/suspense type films. Kudos again, as the sound is identical to the energy that RZA often used… brilliant.
Return Of The Savage ft. Raekwon + RZA: I’m enjoying the story telling flow of both Rae & Ghost. It’s the return of the savage, so listen to the flow in context to the concept of the project. Damn, would have been dope if RZA hopped on, but i guess it would have been too expensive… he’s hollywood priced for a branded rea$on.
King Of New York: This is a beautifully sounding piece that continues with Adrian on the bass leading the sound. Those tight snares are sweet especially with the track switch up. Once again, they flow works with the concept.
Rise Up ft. Scarab: The high energy of this track is in my opinion consistently moving. Its pushing the sound, pushing the speed and intensity of the artist. Scarab freaked it appropriately.
Daily News: This joint is one of those offbeat/rhythms that I love hearing. The off timing works for a dancers mind. My footwork would be crazy to this, while rocking vintage polo and dancing kicks. Offbeat rhythms are always a good thing as they challenge the mind, It’s like musical math. Often heard in jazz (the swingbeat…) it makes sense that this track made the cut, letting the real music heads know that he takes this art to the heart.
(listening to it some more) Oh ok, its more of an interlude in spoken word reported like the news. Creatively dope.
Get The Money ft. Vince Staples: The drums and that bass is just heavy and nasty, digging it. It’s hard to find these when digging, so props when it’s replicated with a modern twist. Vince handled the beat, he should rock more stuff like this. Ghost sounds a different than usual, but every artist does depending on where they are at in their lives. I would have like to hear my bragadaccio from Ghost with that strong delivery. Lets see how the rest goes…
Death’s Invitation Interlude: I like the story and the music coinciding accordingly
Death’s Invitation ft. Scarub, Lyrics Born & Chino XL: Excited to hear Chino, haven’t heard him spit in years. He was a lyricist and often spoken when names like Ras Kass popped up. intellectual spitter that would have ya mind spinning.
The speed of it all is dope, i like the dark and uncommon flow. The shit is trippy, i’m ready to pop some shrooms and shit. Love it though, hip hop in the 70’s sound is working.
Let The Record Spin Interlude: I keep thinking RZA about to spit, damn he could have hooked Younge up.
Let The Record Spin ft Raekwon: The church organ and that tight drum kit is hitting. Shit needs to be played loudly. You all have to remember this is live music and it sounds so good. It reminds me of the this track by MC Tree Gee… I gotta listen more closely for further analysis. Not saying it was appropriated, Tree used a sample, Adrian is playing live.
BlackOut ft Raekwon:
Resurrection Morning ft Raekwon and Bilal: This is #1 of my top 3 tracks up here. Bilal can’t go wrong with adding him. He does abstract without boundary vocals better than anyone. Raekwon is maintaining his classic flow. Aight Adrian, I hear what you doing brotha… this is a true jewel right here. Ghost levels are recorded a little low or something, cause his energy isn’t matching Rae in the last few tracks I heard.
Life’s A Rebirth ft. RZA: I like the unpredictable sound direction, its like a melodic sound explosion. Breaking it down is like doing a so-du-ko puzzle, possible when you take your time. Impossible when you rush and overlook subtle tones and switches. Aww, RZA still narrating and not rhyming. But he got a dope voice for it…
Conclusion: I like it, respect the energy and effort that went into the conception. The creativity and embracing the late 60’s/70’s sound is admirable. We don’t see enough of this level of musicianship anymore. I think he’s a new breed of producers who are multi-disciplined (like myself). They produce, are into films, play instruments, a true renaissance men and I can’t wait to see what’s cooking up next.
Oh yea, I co-sign!
More coming cause Linear Labs is bringing straight flavor! Did y’all peep that Delfonics video they did #Dopeness… #mrkuyateh #brooklynLoHead #staydipped
She hits you with another sound banger. You smile, looking up occassionally and continue to sweat to the grooves of Natasha Digg’s.
Thats what it’s like, every time she rocks! I straight up co-sign, finding myself drenched in sweat holding a camera in between shots.
The blissful selections are a music tastemakers paradise. Or anyone that just loves good fuxking music. She definitely hits the spot. And did I mention, shorty be is a 45’s specialist. Yup, Natasha is versatile with it. Whether on digi decks.
music tastemaker are music lovers that practically orgasms over the best of the best in sounds and is very refined in taste and well versed on various genres/labels/artist/years ... similar to a sommelier but with music.
Ep.1 part 1
Dj Natasha Diggs + friends Kendra Foster & Maurice “MoBetta” Brown as they join in for a first… The Brooklyn Word VIDEO MIX to Karen Young’s “Hot Shot” (West End Records 78′).
Ep.1 part 2
An intimate sound session with Kendra Foster & Maurice “MoBetta” Brown.
Kendra Foster
Singer w/ D’Angelo and the Vanguards + Songwriter on Black Messiah
voice like butterflies dipped in lace effortlessly serenaded the crowd. It was at that point that I began to melt. I’m a tastemaker and music moves me, so I’m pretty picky on what I like and how I want it delivered to my ear. Premium top shelf quality, no bottom shelf sounds. If it’s a raw and untamed artist, I bypass the professional sound and focus on the level of passion delivered. If a pro, then I do expect ‘almost perfection’ with a narrow margin for error.
Her voice is dope and feels good to the soul. It moves the youth in you,
perfectly balancing its effect evenly among the diverse crowd.
Men and women nodded, in that soulful way that we head nod, to a melodic star.
Maurice “MoBetta” Brown
Grammy Award winning trumpet virtuoso + Producer
When I walked into the spot that night, it was hott. Dope party hottt, sirens blaring hott.
MoBetta was on stage, trumpet in hand wailing along with the music.
Then swinging it away for quick breaths and the funkiest head nod,
you seen all day. All of a sudden he started rhyming, spitting bars in between trumpet wails.
I love it, I miss this. We don’t see guys like this enough.
See MoBetta is one of those trumpet players thats just gives
everything fuxking he got, in every note.
You feel the communication…
It’s that artistry that’s missed.
It’s that level of musicianship that is dying.
That level of dedication to where you are one with your craft’s weapon.
He is one with his trumpet and voice and production.
Let us all strive to these levels and higher.
Good music such this, musicians like this, singer like this, dj’s like this,
What is “The Brooklyn Word TV/Radio“?
Is a series of short films shot/edited by DJ Gibril Kuyateh that follows dope ahead of the curve artistic, musical and technological movements from dope people that he knows around Brooklyn and NYC.
The Brooklyn Word 