NEW CASHTIME FAM MUSIC VIDEO - Goodbye

Shot in Soweto, Johannesburg. iLike.
Tittled "Goodbye". Check it out!

Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch The Throne Chopped & Screwed LINK

WATCH THE THRONE receives the chopped and screwed treatment. Is it still good? Check it out...

Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch The Throne Chopped Not Slopped by DJ Candlestick and OG Ron C

>

Read more: http://www.thefader.com/2011/09/02/jay-z-and-kanyes-watch-the-throne-chopped-not-slopped-by-dj-candlestick-and-og-ron-c/#ixzz1XI6LiaUw

***LINK***

Wu Tang & Jimi Hendrix - Black Gold

Wu Tang Vs Jimi Hendrix - Black Gold:

I have struck gold! Came across this great mash-up of Jimi Hendrix and the Wu Tang Clan and affiliates music. Definitely worth checking out!

Can be copped here:
http://monkeyboxing.com/content/tom-caruana-presents-‘black-gold’-wu-tang-vs-jimi-hendrix-–-free-download-album-2011/

One.

Video: Wu Tang Live Switzerland 2011

Wu Tang Live in Switzerland July 2011.

Is the Wu becoming the Rolling Stones of Hiphop when it comes to touring? It's good to see that the clan is still performing to new and old fans. Hopefully they take the complete set on tour to other countries as well. Enjoy.

I must definitelty make it to the Frauenfled Openair Hiphop festival next year. If it's going to be this dope again then it can't be missed.



chief MLU 1.

New joints: No I.D. and Grafh

NEW DROPS! FREE!

New mixtape from Grafh. I have been wondering what happened to dude. Check it:

http://www.datpiff.com/Grafh-Pain-Killers-mixtape.239517.html

No ID has released an interestingly titled EP. A track features Common but it not quite Resurrection or The Black Album. check it out.

http://cocaine80s.blogspot.com/search/label/cocaine80s

Review: Elzhi - Elmatic

So in comes one of the most anticipated projects of the year: Elzhi’s Elmatic.

Even from the title it is an obvious reference to Nasir Jones' classic genre changing classic Illmatic album that celebrated its 17th year release anniversary the other day.

On paper the I must admit that the idea sounds corny: redoing an album that is widely considered as the benchmark of lyricism and not to mention the production work that was done by legendary beat-makers DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Pro and Q-Tip. Basically Illmatic was always going to be a tough act to follow (ask NaS)! 

Will Elzhi pull off the re-making of Illmatic and still make it sound modern and relevant?

Well employing the services of the music band Will Sessions was a great idea. Their live music set brings a new dimension and freshness to the very familiar melodies.  The production therefore escapes sounding dated and then as a special treat some of the songs are extended with longer interpolations from the sampled tracks such an on Life’s a Bitch (featuring Royce 5’9) where after the muted horn solo the band breaks into the classic Roy Ayers’ sampled track –nice touch.  The same goes for the next track “One Love”.

Lyrically Elzhi holds his own:  He follows NaS’ cue on most of the tracks keeping the same song title and chorus. Inside the bars he follows that formula rather loosely, referencing the original verses here and there but   giving himself enough room to express his own point of view and carve his own story-lines. "Detroit State of Mind" is a dedication to his native city interpreting the narrative about the struggles of surviving in the projects of the infamous streets of Queensbridge, New York.

Elzhi is on point on many tracks on this here. Taunting his critics on "The World is yours":

“I’m spiting iller rhymes,
Rougher than gorilla palms,
you softer than chinchillas,
You albums full of fillers,
…
(my) delivery like shipping mail”

 Verdict: Elzhi and the Will Sessions band pulled it off! This joint is an enjoyable listen and it is a fitting tribute to a monumental hiphop release.
On the first few listens it does sound out of place to hear different rhymes to the ones burned in our memory (-lane) with the Illmatic beats but we soon get used to this because the tracks are so dope it doesn’t matter.

After hearing this album I am definitely looking forward to hearing ’Zhi release his own classic one day soon but for now it’s Elmatic...!

Rating: @@@@1/2

I'm OUT!
Chiefmlu

·         The album is available for free download courtesy of xxlmag.com.
or directly through my blog post http://chiefmlu.blogspot.com/2011/05/elzhi-elmatic-mixtape-out.html

·         One Love

Review: Curren$y & Alchemist - Covert Coup

Appropriateley this album dropped on the 20^th of April which is unofficially International Smokers Day. It should come as no surprise since we already know that Curren$y AKA Spitta and Alchemist are some of the biggest weed loyalists in the hiphop game. Is that why they gave out this record for free – well then everyday should be you know what!

On a more serious tip though: Alchemist is already regarded as one of the best producers ever and Spitta has impressed before sharing the stage with Lil Wayne on “Grown Man” and working extensively with another hiphop super producer Ski Beats so it’s safe to say that we are expecting a lot from this EP… a lot of dopeness. Excuse the pun.

Surprisingly unlike on recent projects like Gangrene with Oh No, Alchemist keeps away from the microphone booth leaving the slick talk to Currency and guests. He has his work cut out though producing every single track here.

“BBS” kicks off the EP with a banging beat. Alchemist drops a dope mellow, nostalgic beat as Currency lays down his game in a freestyle flow “It’s that gold BBS flow… never letting up my Jet-living.. I am Trill mutha**** after-all”.  The intro track clocking 2:28 minutes is a short track but one long straight verse no hook and actually so are most of the tracks on this EP.

Things get grimy on track two: “The Type” featuring long-time Alchemist collaborator and infamous friend Prodigy of Mobb Deep.  Currency kicks it off reminiscing how he came up in his hood and remembers how a dame tried to take his focus of the game.
The second verse finds Prodigy fresh from prison reflecting on the game:


“Cant get caught slippin’ they all want to see me fall...
it comes with the territory take the good with the bad,
throw the dice, where they land so be it,
everything aint strategic, sometimes we risk our lives,
sometimes we risk our love, our money and our freedom,
the bullshit we feed it, to see if you gon eat it” 

P has been very busy lately releasing his own EP and realising his controversial Autobiography.

The upbeat “Blood, Sweat and Gears” features long-time Currency collaborator Fiend.  It sounds like Fiend was in a very good mood lacing his verse professing his love for that Kush. Fits the concept of the album I guess .

Things slow down a little on the “Life Instructions” as Spitta shares the budda with another infamous weed-lover no other than Smoke Dza, “Twisting like a Marley, Marcus Garvey on a track… sucks to be you trying get Swag, You gotta purchase this cool”. Alchemist constructs an ill beat out of Rock guitars and pumping drum-breaks.

Like the other beats on this EP, the soulful “Smoke Break” features various sound clips in the background and Spitta is just having fun with it talking that dope talk.

Everyone will have different views but I say the strangely titled (until someone breaks the title down for me) “Scottie Pippens” is the dopest track here. Featuring up and coming Freddie Gibbs. This is the track that has been staying in rotation everywhere simply because Gibbs annihilated this track. This guest rapper  certainly got all our attention and hopefully his next album “Babyface Killa” is going to “equal the same”.


“I dropped out of college and majored in home invasions,
believe I have the balls to clear up all of my altercations”

“Ventilation” is a smooth soulful track. I have to say Alchemist really brought out his A-game on this EP. He is definitely back on form and I am most definitely looking out for him again.  Same goes for ”Double 07”, dopeness gallore.

“Success Is My Cologne” is Spitta sending out a warning to the industry. “I am tired of n***as say they as dope as me, they lying”.  A dope haunting beat is the backdrop.

“Full Metal” is so much on a military-like tip that is just well... Full metal! This track is more in line with the title of the EP: Covert Coup and I guess every artist has had their share of troubles with the music industry. The marching band beat is fire and sound-clips from a (war?) movie pepper the track creating a cinematic effect. Spitta holds his own as he marches on, a soldier on the warpath.
“for that cash, I brought a claim Tag, This mine! ...peepin the scene, I’m about to blow!”

This EP gains a lot from Alchemist wholly producing it making sound compact and whole. It helps that Al has found his sound again. Spitta whilst not being the most ridiculous rapper out there continues to shine when working with ill producers as he did with Ski Beats recently. His unassuming style fits the beats nicely and none of the beats sound like they wasted. 


In short this EP has got me looking forward to new releases from Spitta, Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs. This EP is definitely worth picking. Whether you blaze a blunt or not aint a thing at all. Just spin this and be part of the Jet Living.

The EP clocks 28 minutes. Short but great!

Rating: @@@@

Tracklist:

01 BBS

02 The Type (feat. Prodigy)

03 Blood, Sweat & Gears (feat. Fiend)

04 Life Instructions (feat. Smoke DZA)

05 Smoke Break

06 Scottie Pippen (feat. Freddie Gibbs)

07 Ventilation

08 Double 07

09 Success Is My Cologne

10 Full Metal


........
& I'm out.

Chief Mlu

Moses Molelekwa Foundation

The Moses Molelekwa Foundation based in Tembisa, South Africa received a healthy injection from Hennessy South Africa during a recent dinner in Johannesburg. Check out the video on TimesLive. Hennessy is doing great things.

Bright future for Moses Molelekwa foundation | Times LIVE Multimedia
Bright future for Moses Molelekwa foundation | Times LIVE Multimedia

Moses Taiwa Molelekwa (17/04/1973 - 13/02/2001) Rest in Peace Taiwa.

Elzhi - Elmatic (Mixtape) OUT!

Double XL mag has released the long awaited mixtape from Detroit rapper extraordinaire Elzhi. Dont you just love it when shit drops on time? The mixtape is available for download at xxlmag.com. Check the link at the end of this post. One

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/05/download-elzhis-elmatic-now/

SAMA 2010: Why Driemanskap should have been nominated!

These two videos alone are good enough reason to have nominated Driemanskap for this year's SAMA - South African Music Awards 2011 in the hiphop section but instead they were completely ignored by SAMA crowd. Hard luck gents you wont be getting any SAMA Awards but yall got the fan's hearts and how many artists can say that? One.

Camagu - DRIEMANSKAP

S'phum'eGugs - DRIEMANSKAP

Ft. Macho & Kanyi [OFFICIAL]

Review: Konfab - The Lost Tapes (Pioneer South Africa 2010)

Review: Konfab – The Lost Tapes

It’s not every day that you get some for free -just like that, ma-ha-la. Well it happened when DPlanet put the Konfab disk up for download on the Pioneer.co.za. So what do we have here? It’s twenty tracks of rare slash unreleased tracks, b-sides and collaborations from Mr Konfab the hiphop artist based in Cape Town. These have all been put together into a so called Lost Tapes compilation.

"Who is this rugged ***?", to misquote the man himself...

Konfab’s name has been ringing bells in the Cape Town hiphop scene for a while already gaining him legendary status amongst those in the know.  However besides the odd chance to hear a track via a link on Africasgateway or the Landmynz mixtape I, and I think I am not alone on this one had never heard a full album or compilation from Konfab until now.

So without further ado, I started the playlist and let them speakers bang!

“They Sleep” kicks things off on the compilation with an energetic Konfab stressing that “the media be sleeping on me” over a beat with menacing strings but that does not outshine the lyricist.
“Cynical critics with business interests diss from a distance” claims the chorus and the track is punch-line aplenty with gems such as “you couldn’t drop if I clothes-lined you!”.

Before the end you will have been taken to Maseru, Lesotho with a short effortless switch to Sesotho lyrics plus for bonus heard Konfabs take on George Bush. This is a great opening, a perfect introduction to the MC Konfab. 

A menacing, opera inspired beat creeps in laying the canvas for the next track featuring Oracle Flo. This track continues on the enemy-of-the-state stance whilst the two MC’s send their open letter to the government-of-hiphop regarding the current state of hiphop music. It’s wordplay gallore and a nice chemistry is there as they trade bars over the first and third section.

Things get bouncy on the next beat but it’s actually only a skit.

No time is wasted on the next track with Ben Sharpa of Groundworks fame kicking-it over oriental strings and an edgy rhythm section. Again they address the social ills and politics of promoting war over educating the masses. Punch-lines aplenty on Konfab’s verse – get used to this…

“Hubbab” remix comes up next. The sparse beat allows Konfab’s rapid flow to shine.

On to the second quarter of the compilation... The next track is a killer anthem - KONpliments. The violins create a nice atmosphere as Konfab shows off his multi-syllable flow on the chorus and lyrics are on point ridiculing gimmicky industry rappers. This must be Konfab at his best again switching effortlessly between English and Sesotho lyrics and it sounds dope. Aptly titled Konpliments, this track only deserves compliments.

“What” has a feel of a musical theatre piece as Sketch drops wisdom about Khayelitsha- I think,  Jaak is hard to follow with the off-beat flow but does it even matter? Konfab closes off the track with rapid fire mountain-kingdom dictums. Three languages on one hiphop track? That’s some real South Africa music for you.

“KONtraversealFABetiks Ft. Oracle Flo” we’ve all heard before on the Landmynz compilation which for many people was also their introduction to Konfab back in 2006.  Konfab shows his range of topics referencing from the south to the north pole:
“lyrical scathamiya, I cut Shake-speare  with Shaka’s spear… ask Charles Xavier to save ya”. Dope head-nod track.

“Sick Spirits” made me think of a sudden slap stick section in a movie -well if this was a movie. Featuring VV and Anon they talk about “dishing out acid spit spirits” this track couldn’t just be an excuse to kick multi-syllable wordplay could it? The beat is giddy reminiscing of Rza’s Bobby Digital. I told you this track was on that playful menacing tip.

"Survive" closes of the first half of the compilation.  This is more of a routine track – excuse the pun (marching). The lyrics always on point as usual and the never give up theme of this track is actually quite motivational.

“Swart Gevaar” translated “black danger” sees Kon addressing the ever-burning issue of racial prejudice that we inherited in Africa chanting “we are going to Oranie” which I think was supposed to be a new right-wing sanctuary in the Cape. There are a lot of thought provoking lyrics reflecting on a people who are still trying to brush off the brunt of apartheid and move on. 
A classic Steven Bantu Biko quote fittingly closes this track. RIP Mr Frank Talk.

“Do or die” is another dope track with a dope oriental inspired beat.  It’s a great production and a performance by Kon. 

“Hidden City” picks up when the previously track left off production wise laying nice sonic sound-cloud for the MC. I guess this a concept track and it’s definitely worth listening to a couple of times to grasp the whole concept. This is hiphop ya’ll.

On “Perspectives” Konfab slowly things down as he lays down some jewels for the young ones or at least the way he sees things –his perspective but you got to select your own point of view he stresses. The implied message reminds one of Guru’s (Gangstarr/Jazzmattazz) classic “Choice of Weapons”. Choose yours. Oh, Mrapper ke mmao ha ha!

“Runonsentence”  picking up speed again, more word-play again and this track closes the third quarter. We are getting  there.

“Hobos Advice featuring VV” has nice multi-syllable flows over a dark beast but overall not remarkable for me but this might grow on some listeners though.

Things get jazzy on “Solar Eclipse”. This is another track that demands close listening but you can also just vibe with it with the nice beat and flow.

“Bigger Man” flows in with them flutes and mellow melodies in the background while Konfabs chants his mantra. Does he give a damn?

“Lifelines” is an introspective, facts-of-life track nice vibe to it.  aNon starts the track with a slam poet like cadence setting it up for Konfab:
“This is Africa society, if you a man you don’t cry, or you weak but that’s the irony”

The Fender Rhodes piano beat is nice and chilled.

“Do or Die Remix” closes of this dope compilation. This dub remix is slower with a nice moog bass  dominating the soundscape and Konfab slows down his bars to the instrumental’s BPM as well so that you can hear him louder and clearer ”me spewing and D, EQ-ueing” but the speech is still coded in some parts and I suspect that he knows this happens  because he says he ”sent you a free-throw but you missed it”.

From this compilation it’s clear that Konfab’s MC skills are on that other level and that he has developed a unique style. It testament to his time in the game that he has so many quality tracks to give away for mahala. 

It’s also clear that he is coming from the point of view that we do hiphop for the love and the freedom of expression so we have to respect his choice of production and presentation.  

The production ranges from good to great. Most important is that the production gives space to the MC to exercise his lethal skills. 

The focus lies clearly on the lyrics and delivery so I bet lyrical aficionados will love this compilation but every hiphop fan should check this out. It's worth your time and money (you can actually donate when downloading).

And that is the final verdict! Go pick this up. At the end of the listening I am sure you will be asking random people on the streets: “Yo, when Konfab’s album dropping???”

Get the compilation album here: http://pioneerunit.com/the-lost-tapes-konfab/

Peace

Chief Mlu

MTN SAMA Awards 2011

Kudos...

The South African music industry's premier music awards, the MTN SAMA's released the nominations for this year's awards. Here is what the Rap/Hiphop section looks like:

Best Rap Album

Amu – The Principal

Kwesta – Special Rekwest

Slikour – Ventilation Volume 3 (VV3)

Tuks Senganga – Tshwanelo

Tumi & The Volume – Pick a Dream

Of the top of the head this is a decent list but is missing The Federation who's double cd is a monument in South African hiphop and Driemanskap who made a lot of noise last year with quality production and videos. Also interesting to see no JR.

"The MTN SAMA17 event will be held over the weekend of the 20^th and 21^st May "

link to full lists:

http://www.africasgateway.com/2011/04/13/sama-nominations-2011-announced/

I'm out...
Chief Mlu

DJ Premier Nate Dogg Tribute and Classics

Some gems I found on the DJ Premier blog. Highly Recommended!

#1. NATE DOGG TRIBUTE
DJ Premier's tribute mix to Dog Pound Gangsta crooner Nate Dogg featuring some of the best tracks he blessed in his career. No one can do it better... this is smooth.

WorksOfMart - Nate Dogg Tribute MIX

#2. FRENCH HIPHOP
Apparently this mixtape came out over a decade ago. Plenty of catching up we have to do with the French Hiphop scene. I dont understand what they saying but all I know its dope. Big up to Primo for the dope intro. Uses the same sample borrowed by Lil Sci and Science of Life back in the days - i think the track's name was Hot Banana's? That was a nice summer. Nice.

French Hiphop Collectif Rap Part 2 - Introduced by Primo

#3. STRETCH & BOBBITTO RADIO SHOW 96
A blast from the past. Preem and Jeru appear on Stretch and Bobbitto's late night show to promote Jeru's new album Wrath of the Math. How ill it must have been to hear those tracks for the first time that night. classic Hiphop moment.

Stretch Armstrong Bobbito B-Side Show 1996 feat Jeru The Damaja

And we out
Chief Mlu

Hiphop Classics via Twitter

This week on twitter some of my favourite artists and contributors have been dropping some nice throwback links. Well at least so much so that it’s worth blogging here:

Pharoahe Monch recommends  Jeru The Damaja - The Prophet remix by the one and only PETE ROCK.

[@pharoahemonch jeru - the prophet rmx / pete rock <- incredible -> http://youtu.be/riUUUYHsdS8]

Yo, dont forget to pick up Pharoahe Monch's new album W.A.R. available for download on Amazon for only $2.99! Now thats a bargain.  Support good music yall!
Pharoahe Monch’s W.A.R. album for only $2.99 on Amazon.com.
Here http://www.amazon.com/W-A-R-We-Are-Renegades/dp/B004TP5NTU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302647818&sr=8-1

SWIZZ BEATZ recommends some classic KRS and PE.

[@THEREALSWIZZZ BBBBBBBBXXXXXXXXXX -- krs-one the bridge is over http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-alEhlHSzk&feature=share]

[@THEREALSWIZZZ  (SWIZZ BEATZ) Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vQaVIoEjOM&feature=share  #ILOVE P.E:) ]

And finally a nice link here: check out ?uest discuss Michael Jackson's legacy. This man is a walking music  encyclopaedia!

[@VillainMode (Casey Haynes) RT by @questlove @questlove on michael jackson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZqD_VWBGDE]

And we out...

Chief Mlu

http://twitter.com/#!/chiefMlu

5 AM in the morning...

5 AM in the morning...where you gon' be?

On Blogger making my first post!

No sleep was possible before the first day of the semester. guess its just the way the cookie crumbles. Anyway first post here. Big things are coming... It's a new day!

Chief Mlu signing out!

http://twitter.com/#!/chiefMlu