Friday, June 30, 2006

Throwback Friday #15.


I've been obsessed with youtube and wikipedia for some reason lately. Perhaps it is the accumulation of days I have gathered without working. Yes, my faithful readers, its been one of those weeks. Make that two weeks. The slump will soon deteriorate, but I suppose what's done is done. And what's been done has been a lot of catching up with my favorite television shows as a young'un. A bunch of Disney Afternoon, of course. Captain Planet. But most of all...

The Muppet Show
(and Muppet Babies too, hell why not?)

Easily and without argument one of the best opening TV show themes of all time. Which brings me to this week's Throwback Friday. De La Soul had some major sample issues that plagued their debut, 3 Feet High and Rising. The Turtles sued the group when "You Showed Me" was sampled on a little interlude track called "Transmitting Live From Mars". But that was only one.

The other was a track that eventually made it to the bonus disc of the remastered version of 3 Feet High, released in 2001. It was a bouncy little number called "Double Huey Skit". It didn't get past clearance after it was put on a test pressing for the "Say No Go" single, for obvious reasons (though I am surprised KMD managed to pass with the samples from Sesame Street on their Mr. Hood album). It's the Muppet Show theme, for crissakes. Let's be honest. Jim Henson was and always will be the man, but does he seem like he would be the kind of guy who lets his shit get sampled in rap? Makes enough sense.

De La Soul w/ Double B - Double Huey Skit (sendspace link)

I still have no idea who that Double B guy is. This track is funny though. They kinda sound like muppets a bit. Just like Jim Henson knew how to make adults and children laugh, Prince Paul will always be an underrated producer who knew how to make rap fans and rock fans appreciate what once was considered a revolutionary sound in music. It's a shame they've only scratched the surface of popular music. Perhaps it was meant to be that way.

Peace to Maseo, who's been apparently not been feeling too well lately. No links to a news article right now, but as Wikipedia is reporting, as of June 4th, he was checked into a hospital for liver problems. Let's hope it doesn't get worse, for hip-hop and for the group's sake.

I leave you now with a classic Muppet moment: Buddy Rich vs. Animal!

Cheers,
~*E*~

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Damn, beat me to it.

Seems as if Mike posted a couple of tracks already on Friday. Although I'm sure I'm not even close to being the second blogger to post a new Dilla track from the upcoming post-mortum release, The Shining, I would hope I am at least the first to post this track:

Jay Dee featuring Black Thought - Love Movin' (sendspace link)

I suppose now I've officially contradicted myself after the Louis Logic entry. Dare I insist, this is a rare exception to the rule in my book: It's Jay Dee, people. And this track right here is a monster. Much like a lot of the album's tracks.

You'll see. Come August (I think the release date is the 22nd, not sure though), critics will be lauding this effort as the perfect swan song to the man's career. And I agree. It packs a whallop in a different way than Donuts. They are also two completely different albums.

This was expected, however; Donuts was meant to showcase Jay Dee's production alone, whereas The Shining finally puts him back together for the last time with all the emcees he helped along the way. Common, MED, Busta Rhymes, and our topic for the entry, Black Thought. Four tracks on this album have "Love" somewhere in the title (I think the Monch track of that apt title was leaked months ago if I recall correctly), and this one basically is standard lyrical fare for the Thought. Straight fire regardless, and over some of the most hypnotically hard-hitting production Jay Dee has created, specifically for this album alone. In other words, if you think this track is dope...yeah.

Enjoy, and always support the real hip-hop.

Cheers,
~*E*~

(P.S. - The promobot is ignorable for the most part)

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Headphone masterpieces #10.


Freddie Hubbard - Here's That Rainy Day (sendspace link)

I need a life. I've been getting way into karaoke and now just as I was becoming a huge fan of Sid and Buddy Karaoke at the Galapagos Art Space every Sunday night, its about to end. Tomorrow is the last night EVER. And even though karaoke nights will continue at other locations, such as Bar XII in Midtown, and Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg (not neccesarily the best selection though; different hosts), it just won't be the same. I wish I got to know Sunday nights better.

Karaoke has been good to me for many reasons. I get to go up on stage on a regular basis, make a complete ham of myself without shame, and establish relationships with new people for the better.

About this song: It's actually a duet with Ron Carter. Simple, touching, and chill. Get into it.

Cheers,
~*E*~

Friday, June 23, 2006

Throwback Friday #14.


Eddie Kendricks - The Newness Is Gone (sendspace link)

Kanye flipped a piece of this track by the late great Temptations singer for our Father's Day special, Nas's "Poppa Was A Playa". Before "Bridging The Gap", Nas had written this song in homage to his father, but the track didn't make its intended spot on I Am. It eventually found its way to The Lost Tapes a few years later, and remains one of Kanye's first production credits, going all the way back to 1998.

You can find this track on Eddie's Going Up In Smoke album, from 1976. Although he was still signed to Motown, this would end up being one of his last albums for the label. Obviously the Wall of Sound is in full effect here, layered under his signature falsetto. Enjoy!

Ahhh, I think we're finally getting back up to speed here.

Cheers,
~*E*~

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Hmm, I take that back...


It got worse.


Somewhere right now, Stephon Marbury is laughing. 'Tis a sad day when Marbury is happy. It won't make him any better next season. :-(

Cheers,
~*E*~

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

A rough day for us Knicks fans.


Fuck that dude.

Heroes of the week go to Bill Simmons for telling it like it is, and Marc Cuban who's about five times the GM that Pat Riley will ever be...he speaks his mind, cause he straight cold!

All in all, what an absolutely amazing NBA season. Too bad it had to end a game early. It would have been nice if Antoine "Executing Cartwheels Better Than Perimiter Shots Since '96" Walker didn't now have a ring to call his own. But props to the kid Dwayne Wade I suppose....

Ah to hell with it. This is all small potatoes. I hate all the players on the Heat. They represent all that frustrates me as a Knicks fan. It's one thing with the Pacers, or the Nets. But the Heat is a whole other story. We New Yorkers watched as Riley jumped ship to Miami over ten years ago. He slept with the enemy and never came back. He'll always be that douchebag.

In an effort to alleviate the frustration of seeing a team that really wasn't even that good win it all, I will move on. To a lighter note. Aside from the obvious choice of Lebron, my choice for the playoffs MVPs go to both Nash and Dirk.

I'll end on that.

Next year in Utah!

Cheers,

~*E*~

Monday, June 19, 2006

Who cares about leaks.


Louis Logic - Misery Loves Comedy (sendspace link)

Ignorance is bliss sometimes. I think many of you can agree with me on that, though in a much different aspect I presume.

Anyway, I have in fact posted another one of this guy's songs in the past, but for our friend Mr. Alive's birthday yesterday, I offer probably the best lyrical display Louis has right now. For today's belated edition of The Most Compressed Birthday Presents Ever, we offer you the title track to Louis Logic's new album
Misery Loves Comedy, officially out on Fat Beats Records as of last Tuesday. It's arguably better than Sin-A-Matic, but its those kinds of statements that require a gradual development. Kinda like when everyone said Fishscale was better than Supreme Clientele or Ironman, but in the end it managed to be a stellar release worthy of taking the bronze.

Bad comparison. Point is, let the music take its time. Just because you listen to an album three times in a row in one sitting doesn't mean you've played it enough to proclaim how it will stand over repeated listens. With the quickness and convenience of downloading music, so the experience of posessing the music becomes ever the more disposable. /end rant (due to realizing how I'm just going to end up talking about myself)

I was supposed to go to a Mets game tomorrow but the promise of extremely inclement weather has forced plans to change. So now I'm hoping that a) it either rains REALLY FUCKIN HARD on Tuesday or b) The Drowsy Chaperone is that sensational that I'll kick myself for not seeing it sooner. And believe me, I don't even go to see Broadway shows ever. I think the last time I even saw one was several years ago before I even started college. As oppose to my track record of attendance to major league baseball games which is on the same level of pathetic, arguable more (three).

I wonder how that Bonaroo festival held up.

Cheers,
~*E*~

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Weed wacking.


Nas -
Poppa Was A Playa (sendspace link)

Love you, Dad.

Yo, Jive, I got you for tomorrow for The Most Compressed Birthday Presents Ever. Even though your birthday is today, I must embark to Manhattan tonight, as my bus leaves in an hour.

Hope everyone had a happy Father's Day.

Cheers,
~*E*~

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Headphone masterpieces #10.


Sam Rivers - Beatrice (sendspace link)

Being home is peculiar, to say the least. Thankfully, there is music like this to offer the mind a clean slate, away from the busybodies, construction, and, most importantly at this juncture, sticky summer nights. It's nice seeing family, all in all.

Tonight will be spent dabbling with old friends and for the first time in months, DRIVING. I partook in it early today while shopping for Father's Day, and I can't believe how much I missed it. If only it was my own car and not my mom's. I miss driving around in my car listening to album among album.

That being said, you gotta peep Louis Logic's new album. Pretty fuckin awesome.

This song is dedicated to my friend out in South Dakota. This lovely jazz standard, written by a Midwestern composer coincidentally enough, should be something to make you smile, right?

Cheers,
~*E*~


Wednesday, June 14, 2006

For the Haterzzzzzz (sorry I fell asleep)

Awww what a cute wittle gasface.

Truly, I am fascinated by my surroundings. Thus the reason I felt it necessary to include it in my profile on this site as my only interest. And though it certainly isn't by any means the only one, I have no choice but to insist on its primary relevance in my life.

Distractions. But good ones, nonetheless.

Still gotta work on more of this redesign stuff, fix the page load, all that boring guano you don't wanna know.

To clear up a few misconceptions about my last entry, I do still stand by my statement, as controversial as it might be. You all might be growing question marks out of your ears (god that must hurt), but you need not worry about questioning. Just move on. If Robert Downey Jr doesn't get cast, which at this juncture seems just as likely as it did when I made my initial proclamation, the production will just not be as good. Favreau probably knows it himelf too. It will just come down to money, I guess.

I'll settle for Viggo though if I have to. Just stay away from Tom Cruise, is all.

Beta Kerosene is brought to you today by Bob Saget, the illest motherfucker in a cardigan sweater.

Welcome back to Beta. Now that you've enjoyed that hot new video, let's cut to the chase. Although I have covered J-Zone once before on this site, I have been graced with a hard copy of a remix project he's putting out later this month, and it would make no sense but to jump on the opp. J-Zone is...EXPERIENCED! (at least that's what it reads on the press release) takes the road less travelled of remixing Hendrix and morphing it alongside Zone's unique style of production. I'll leave it up to you guys to weigh in with your opinions, but me? I don't need to say much. I might as well let the music do the talking.

Funky Child (sendspace link)
Shoot Em Down (sendspace link)

Last Wednesday, I had one of the worst days of my life (in recent memory, anyway). Then, in some strange twist of fate, I won a hundred dollars later that night at my usual karaoke hotspot. I was pretty damn close to winning three hundred, but then I looked on the bright side...I still was a hundred dollars richer just for singing modern rock fodder to appease the midtown yuppies.

I guess my point is: I do what I want, and I wear a big smile while doing it. Regardless of how shitty I may feel deep down.

Over and out. You know what I'm about.

Cheers,
~*E*~

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