AL "GREENS"

Dilla Celebration

One of the first tracks I wrote for the mixtape after I spit to RJD2's Ghostwriter. Originally it was an assignment for my hip hop class at Vassar (crazy right...); we were supposed to write a response to Hip-Hop by Dead Prez. My group, at the time, picked Souls of Mischief's '93 'Til Infinity instrumental; a beat which I had never heard before (I know I lose points for that... I guess I just never got into Souls Of Mischief). I loved it.  The week that i got the assignment I spent so much time fuckin bitches and makin money that I completely forgot till the day before it was due...a day which had planned to be completely out of my mind on shrooms. It was great. This beat became a soundtrack for my trip. I walked around with one headphone in, tuned out to the world, doing everything to the rhythm of '93 'Til Infinity. My most vivid memory of this trip was me hanging out of my fourth floor dorm window in Noyes (not literally hanging for my life, but definitely in a reckless and half hazardous manner) and blasting the beat on my roommate's speakers for everyone outside to hear. It was beautiful. I felt one with God. And then all of a sudden the first verse just poured out of me. I don't even really remember writing it (except for the "is it just everything I just said instead"). I then proceeded to eat more Cap'n Crunch than I've ever consumed in one sitting and promptly passed out. 

I wrote the second and third verse maybe a week or so after along with the hook. This song (actually, even the first verse itself) in a nutshell sums up how I feel about hip hop today. With each new record that comes out today, there is always some new form of hateration explaining why it cannot be hip hop. Its retarded. The fact that hip hop started with some niggas from the projects jumpin around singing: " i said a hip hop the hippie the hippie/to the hip hip hop, a you dont stop/the rock it to... (Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" for all ya'll that don't know) and rappin about color TVs and a bunch of shit they wanted but ain't have, should indicate that hip hop doesn't always have to be conscious and relevant but does include that flamboyant, playful, and materialistic aspect. The concept of the cipher itself is a space where anything goes, and acceptance into the cipher is not so much based on what you say, but how you say it and how you make everybody else feel your shit. If you can make the crowd move, then you have permission to move the crowd. This is not to say that there aren't sellouts, nor that hip hop is anywhere near as good as its "golden era"; its just to say that people are too quick to judge and say something has no place in hip hop. It makes them unable to appreciate and learn from the many aspects of a particular song that are in many ways taking hip hop and music to an entirely new level (new song structures, styles and sounds etc.) outside of the lyrical realm. This is just my appeal for the public to look at the entire package. Take it all in. Remember that hip hop is characteristically contradictory before you try to dichotomize new music into hip hop and not hip hop. Think about all the people who have passed through hip hop, all the people that have influenced hip hop, and then listen. BUT Ive rambled enough (even though I'm not sure how clear i was), I hope the song explains my thoughts better (they usually do). And I hope you all enjoy. Please comment. Please tell your friends. This is stil.movement. Bitch.

Hip-Hop?

Groundation

Buy a CD copy - http://www.reggaeroast.co.uk/shop.php

Download from iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/roots-uprising/id341936446

Reggae Roast are proud to present ‘Roots Uprising’ the first feature length release on their newly formed label. Over the past 2 years Reggae Roast Promotions has solidified its position at the top of the UK Reggae scene by running some of the most talked about events in the capital. Exel &amp; Moodie have been joined by special guests including: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Collie Buddz, Sly &amp; Robbie, Finley Quaye, Mad Professor, David Rodi- gan, Suggs (Madness) and many more. The Reggae Roast crew are now working on some highly anticipated releases, building on the strength of their ever popular monthly live session.

Roots Uprising was created as a realisation of the vitality within the UK Roots music industry. Since starting Reggae Roast events in 2007 Exel &amp; Moodie have worked alongside some of the most talented producers, singers, MCs and musicians in this country. The aim of this album is to show that Reggae music is as alive as ever, over 30 years after its creation and continues to grow from strength to strength.
The track list reads like a who’s who of British Reggae and features a selection of well respected artists such as Adrian Sherwood and Brother Culture, alongside emerging talents including Dub Terror and Ramon Judah. Throughout the 12 carefully selected tracks the piece glides through organic Roots, digital Dancehall, hard hit- ting Dubstep and uplifting Steppers. The album in seamlessly mixed by Exel &amp; Moodie, using authentic sound system techniques and dubbed-out samples.

Roots Uprising is a prime example of the versatility, and distinctly vibrant style that Reggae Roast has become synonymous with; a consistently positive and conscious message combined with earth shattering bass-lines and booty shaking beats. Two major features of the album come from UK Dub pioneer Adrian Sherwood &amp; the new-found kings of digital Roots; Mungo’s Hifi.

Mungo’s Hifi and their outstanding Scotch Bonnet imprint are responsible for a large part of the bestUK releases over the past few years. They have subtly managed to create a perfect blend of authentic Reggae vocal tracks, mixed with the toughest Dubstep bass lines featuring top ranking artists such as: Movado, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Top Cat, Tippa Irie and many more. The Mungo’s Hifi track ‘Under Arrest’ features Reggae Roast’s very own MC Ishu and is a brilliant example of their dance-rocking style.

Another outstanding feature comes from Adrian Sherwood, a loyal supporter of Reggae Roast and mentor to the group. Adrian Sherwood is best known for his Reggae / Dub productions on his On-U Sound record label. Over the past 20 years he has worked with many of the great Reggae artists, including Jamaican dub pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. They produced the classic album ‘Time Boom X De Devil Dead’ and Sherwood's support helped relaunch Perry's career. He has just finished another amazing album with Mr Perry and continues to secure his place among the greatest contributors of British Reggae music.
Keep your eye and ears peeled for more exciting events and releases from Reggae Roast - “The next Generation in UK Reggae sounds”.


Intro

Buy a CD copy - http://www.reggaeroast.co.uk/shop.php

Download from iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/roots-uprising/id341936446

Reggae Roast are proud to present ‘Roots Uprising’ the first feature length release on their newly formed label. Over the past 2 years Reggae Roast Promotions has solidified its position at the top of the UK Reggae scene by running some of the most talked about events in the capital. Exel &amp; Moodie have been joined by special guests including: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Collie Buddz, Sly &amp; Robbie, Finley Quaye, Mad Professor, David Rodi- gan, Suggs (Madness) and many more. The Reggae Roast crew are now working on some highly anticipated releases, building on the strength of their ever popular monthly live session.

Roots Uprising was created as a realisation of the vitality within the UK Roots music industry. Since starting Reggae Roast events in 2007 Exel &amp; Moodie have worked alongside some of the most talented producers, singers, MCs and musicians in this country. The aim of this album is to show that Reggae music is as alive as ever, over 30 years after its creation and continues to grow from strength to strength.
The track list reads like a who’s who of British Reggae and features a selection of well respected artists such as Adrian Sherwood and Brother Culture, alongside emerging talents including Dub Terror and Ramon Judah.

Throughout the 12 carefully selected tracks the piece glides through organic Roots, digital Dancehall, hard hit- ting Dubstep and uplifting Steppers. The album in seamlessly mixed by Exel &amp; Moodie, using authentic sound system techniques and dubbed-out samples.

Roots Uprising is a prime example of the versatility, and distinctly vibrant style that Reggae Roast has become synonymous with; a consistently positive and conscious message combined with earth shattering bass-lines and booty shaking beats. Two major features of the album come from UK Dub pioneer Adrian Sherwood &amp; the new-found kings of digital Roots; Mungo’s Hifi.

Mungo’s Hifi and their outstanding Scotch Bonnet imprint are responsible for a large part of the bestUK releases over the past few years. They have subtly managed to create a perfect blend of authentic Reggae vocal tracks, mixed with the toughest Dubstep bass lines featuring top ranking artists such as: Movado, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Top Cat, Tippa Irie and many more. The Mungo’s Hifi track ‘Under Arrest’ features Reggae Roast’s very own MC Ishu and is a brilliant example of their dance-rocking style.

Another outstanding feature comes from Adrian Sherwood, a loyal supporter of Reggae Roast and mentor to the group. Adrian Sherwood is best known for his Reggae / Dub productions on his On-U Sound record label. Over the past 20 years he has worked with many of the great Reggae artists, including Jamaican dub pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. They produced the classic album ‘Time Boom X De Devil Dead’ and Sherwood's support helped relaunch Perry's career. He has just finished another amazing album with Mr Perry and continues to secure his place among the greatest contributors of British Reggae music.

Outro

All City's Metro Theme Remixed on the 90's hip hop tip.

Groundation

buddhabeats760

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