Carddeck_P's Def Jam RAPSTAR Top World Rankings (as of December 8, 2011)
image

"Astonishment is our natural state of mind." - Paul Harris.

"Style is what an artist uses to fascinate the beholder in order to convey to him his feelings and emotions and thoughts." - Stanley Kubrick.

"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." - Bruce Lee.

"If ya ears hurt, you shouldn't listen. That means you artificial and my style'll poison ya brain tissue." - Black Thought

"I also believed that comics were capable of more than just making people laugh. So in my themes I incorporated tears, grief, anger, and hate, and I created stories where the ending was not always happy." - Osamu Tezuka

Behold an unaired performance of The New Style by Adrock, Mike D, and the *sigh* late MCA (with Mix Master Mike on the wheels of steel) from the incomplete third season of Chappelle’s Show, uploaded by co-creator/writer/exec-producer Neal Brennan.

Beastie Boys are a part of my soul (they’re in my personal TOP 3 all-time favourite bands). And due to countless great memories related to their music, I’m having considerable difficulty dealing with MCA’s untimely departure (hence my being a little late to post anything about it). Of course, I never knew the man personally. But I just had to say something on my tumblelog to honour the awesomely raspy-voiced performer, knowledgeable filmmaker/cinephile, and Buddhist/humanitarian that was the great Adam Yauch. I also realize that this dope rough cut is a depressing reminder that we now live in a world of entertainment where Beastie Boys and Chappelle’s Show are long gone, never to return. But at least we now know that these 2 great tastes that go great together did in fact cross paths for one brief and ill-tastic moment on a boat during a chilly day in New York City.

As indicated by the marker at the very beginning of the vid, this was filmed on December 4, 2004: exactly 24 days after I finally got to see these music legends/hall of famers perform live in what was their first and ultimately last appearance in my hometown of Ottawa, Ontario. And from behind the front row centre barricades (which I was happily leaning over all night long), while the Beasties were getting the crowd to rap the lyrics to Paul Revere, I actually got to slap hands with none other than the super chill MCA who was walking through the vicinity (very true story). It was an absolute thrill then and is a fond and bittersweet memory now.

Mr. Yauch, you and your cool grey hair are incredibly sorely missed. My thoughts remain with Adam, Mike, and all of your family and friends. Namaste.

Edit: I wrote this post late last night when the embedded video was still working and published it via my queue. So I wasn’t aware that the inhuman toolboxes at Viacom have been yanking every copy out there due to non-ill licensing issues (really? The man is DEAD, you assholes!). So here’s a working link in the mean time (DL the vid here and keep it forever). And as an apropos placeholder, I embedded a live performance of Sabotage from the Beasties famed 1999 concert in Glasgow, Scotland. So fuck Viacum (and may the Internet continue to set this Watergate straight).

(Source: reddit.com)

#Beastie Boys#Dave Chappelle#Chappelle's Show#Live Performance#New York
Potato

The Roots - The OtherSide (feat. Bilal Oliver) [Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon: 2011-12-06]

A web exclusive clip showcasing a tremendous live performance of undun’s superb 6th track (and a vintage style Roots composition that belongs up there with some of the band’s greatest creations). Always a treat to peep these incredibly talented gentlemen performing live on late night network TV (and at their own nightly gig, no less). Everyone across the board kills it here: Thought performs both of his ill verses from The OtherSide and then (like the human rhyme style replicating machine that he is) executes Greg Porn’s excellently dark third verse to perfection. Then there’s Captain Kirk blacking out on electric guitar, not to mention Poyser and Kamaal totally feelin’ it on the keys (James even cracks a smile near the end). And finally, the illa-5th dynamite back-and-forth between Bilal and Kirk during the track’s extended home stretch, leading into a ?uesto-led crescendo finale (I imagine this is how The Roots will be performing this joint while on tour). Can’t wait to get the chance to peep this (and other wonderful moments from undun) live in person, hopefully sometime next year. Be sure to cop the new album (my CD copy is currently in transit, packaged together with this super sweet Roots tee). “That’s when we’ll settle up the score!”

#The Roots#Bilal#undun#Late Night#Jimmy Fallon#Live Performance
Potato
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
60 plays

The Roots - Quills (Live on BBC Radio One’s Worldwide Show with Gilles Peterson)

We get dramatic / there you have it / my batting average / a vault full of classics / assault is all classic / Thought, put ass backwards rappers in a small package / yo, experience is all that is cuz I’m well established / me and the mic in matrimony like a marriage / the technique in your reach / if only you can grab it / for me, it’s automatic / it’s natural, we that thorough / poet for hire, pack metal

-Supreme lyricist, Black Thought, flipping the LP lyrics to the Phrenology joint Quills on the fly ever so slightly, as The Roots crew all contribute their precisely tempered sounds to this live radio performance from 2002.

#The Roots#Phrenology#Live Performance#BBC#Gilles Peterson#2002
Potato

Slum Village live soundcheck (circa 2000-01).

This is just too beautiful. Any fly-on-the-wall type viddys regarding my favourite artists immediately become part of my all-time favourite virals, and this behind-the-scenes soundcheck is no exception. Just watching Dilla tweaking his legendary MPC 3000 onstage is a sight to behold (them live beats had me nodding my head, yo). Damn, what I would give to have seen Jay Dee and the original SV live and direct (unfortunately, they never came near my Canadian neck of the woods).

“It’s supposed to be in stereo” - Jay Dee fiddling with his valuable beat-making equipment (the master’s aural canvas, if you will).

Peeping all these casual convos (and watching Baatin running around enjoying the music) makes you feel like you’re there just kicking it (such a privilege). And ya gotta love that last second Radio Shack run for 1/4 inch gold-plated adapters (note Dilla carefully placing his MPC in the SUV’s trunk…and Conant Gardens blasting in the whip, whoooo!). Seriously, back in the day if I ever walked into a Radio Shack and saw Dilla there looking for electronic accessories…that would have been a massive trip, to say the least (and it would’ve made my hip hop life complete). R.I.P. Jay Dee/J Dilla and Baatin.

“It don’t get no live’r than this!” (c) The late and immensely great Dilla Dawg.

#Slum Village#J Dilla#Baatin#T3#Live Performance#Soundcheck#Hip-Hop#Radio Shack
Potato

The Roots - The Christmas Song (Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon: 2010-12-21)

If I had to choose only ONE aspect of the holidays that I absolutely must experience every year to make this festive time truly complete, it would have to be listening to Nat King Cole’s legendary rendition of the Mel Torme composed Christmas classic, simply and aptly titled The Christmas Song. Not the snow, presents nor the decorations. Mainly because that song magically conjures up crystal clear images of each and every one of those staples and more, all by itself (wherever you may be).

No words can describe how the opening high pitched notes puts a smile on my face or the timeless sound of the King (and the G.O.A.T. singing voice) doing his classy thing like no one else has done before or since. And if you’re a fan as well, then I’m sure you know that song off by heart and note for note with much love and admiration. Not even a snifter of Carlos I Imperial brandy consumed while chilling by the fireplace makes me feel as warm inside as that song does.

So you can imagine my overwhelming excitement when I heard earlier this week that my all-time favourite band would be performing my all-time favourite Christmas Song on Late Night (?…!!!!!! —> Me). I managed to catch the west coast airing of said performance, and have now peeped the above viddy enough times to give the following breakdown of the holiday greatness on display:

  • Black Thought: the greatest MC alive and one of the be(a)st to ever hold a microphone (“I never use a cordless, or stand applaud-less / sippin’ chlorophyll outta ill silver goblets”). Tariq shows here (much like during the amusing “Slow Jam The News” bits) that he can also carry a smooth tune, something that MANY rap lyricists cannot do to save their lives. A subdued and classy performance by a dynamite wordsmith and an underrated crooner.
  • Kamal: When Mal-dog set things off with those iconic synth strings-style lead off notes, I was instantly sold on the rendition. I’ve heard Kamal recreate many classic joints over the years via his magical keyboard (namely on tour as part of the classic “hip hop 101” segments at live Roots shows). And to this day, dude never ceases to amaze me.
  • ?uesto: Subtle sounds on the drums and cymbals is all we hear from Mr. Thompson in this live performance. Like snowflakes falling ever so slightly.
  • Knuckles: The yang percussionist to ?uesto’s yin drums, Frankie handles the wind chimes here, sprinkling a touch of magic over the proceedings.
  • Owen: On bass guitar. Very subtle notes for ambiance, coupled with the funny/chill look that’s always on Owen’s face when he’s playing.
  • Tuba Gooding Jr.: Adding some subtle subterranean sounds to the composition, much like he always does.
  • James Poyser: The melodic keys master of the Soulquarians nails the solo piano section (although I’m sure it was a piece of cake for that dude). Poyser and Kamal together are like a dynamic keys super tag team, no doubt.
  • Captain Kirk: The electric guitar genius (and I told Kirk as much in person when I got to shake his hand at a Roots show), freaking the solo strings section of The Christmas Song to perfection. And let’s not forget the dreamy end notes that beautifully takes the listener home again.

How many other bands do you know that can masterfully perform ANY genre of music (having now added traditional holiday music to their repertoire) on top of their own extensive critically acclaimed catalogue? The list is VERY small, no doubt. Hence, The Roots truly stand in their own realm, first in the hip hop world and now on the mainstream TV platform on which they’ve been proudly displaying their immense talents without artistic compromise. And this beautiful performance of The Christmas Song is the snowy icing on the holiday cake, no doubt.

So if you haven’t already, press play to thoroughly enjoy this Legendary rendition (one that will no doubt become a part of my annual holiday tradition) of IMO the most magical Christmas composition ever created.

“And although it’s been said, many times, many ways. Merry Christmas…to you.”

#The Roots#Late Night#Jimmy Fallon#The Christmas Song#Christmas#Live Performance
Potato

N*E*R*D - Hypnotize U (Live on Letterman)

“Pharrell. Oh my God. Good gig.” (c) Dave

Straight zonin’ if not a bit hypnotizing, much like the blank stares on the faces of the girls sitting pretty in rows in front of Skateboard (oh wait, now I get it). And based on every track I’ve heard (via live performance viddys) from Nothing, Pharrell and Chad (and Shay, I guess) are CLEARLY going for the female audience/demographic with this LP (although P said as much in an interview a few months ago that I’m too lazy to locate at the moment). Love how Chad is wearing a space helmet hat to add to the quirky weirdness of this piece (actually, it’s nice that Hugo showed up at all). Also, the fine folks at theNeptunes.org mention that this joint is produced by Daft Punk. Word? Word.

Nothing streets on October 19th November 2nd as part of an already fully loaded Fall music season. Although hopefully someone snatched the CD from Dave’s hands in order to rip and upload the oft-delayed album online for all to enjoy ahead of time. Hopefully (seriously, I needed this LP back in the summertime, although now it’s shaping up to be a near winter release). Touch it girl, touch it girl, touch it girl, ahhhhh…

#N*E*R*D#Nothing#Late Show#David Letterman#Live Performance
Potato

The Roots & Q-Tip masterfully covering N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton (but this time not in front of a network TV studio audience and as a result gloriously uncensored) as part of the 2010 Hennessy Artistry Series event in Chi-town this past weekend. Dope job as usual by Thought and Tip (who have tremendous live chemistry). And Kirk kills Eazy’s part yet again! Damn, I really want ?uesto and crew to start covering other N.W.A hits now. And I certainly hope that The Bad Lieutenant and The Abstract took this unique opportunity to do a live performance of Ital (The Universal Side) aka their fabulous tag-team duet from Illadelph Halflife. Cheers to the Henrock!

(Source: 2dopeboyz.com)

#The Roots#Q-Tip#Hennessy#Artistry#Series#Event#2010#Live Performance
Potato
“You are now rocking with the best….” The Roots: live set-list from exactly one week ago in Montreal on 2010-06-30 (according to the notes I was taking on my mobile throughout the show): Web (in the darkness) Thought@Work (stage lights on) How I Got Over Here I Come (w/ Late Night theme song variation at the end) The Fire Star Long Time Mellow My Man ?uestlove solo Jusufckwithis Fan-tas-tic (SV interlude) Tuba Gooding Jr. solo Break You Off Fela Kuti tribute —-> Amazing! Perhaps my favourite point of the evening Interlude (don’t remember exactly what they played here…FYI, I was hammered) Don’t Say Nuthin’ You Got Me Captain Kirk solo Get Busy The Next Movement The Seed 2.0 Black Thought freestyle Boom! Legendary stage time: 2 hours (give or take 5 mins)

“You are now rocking with the best….”

The Roots: live set-list from exactly one week ago in Montreal on 2010-06-30 (according to the notes I was taking on my mobile throughout the show):

  • Web (in the darkness)
  • Thought@Work (stage lights on)
  • How I Got Over
  • Here I Come (w/ Late Night theme song variation at the end)
  • The Fire
  • Star
  • Long Time
  • Mellow My Man
  • ?uestlove solo
  • Jusufckwithis
  • Fan-tas-tic (SV interlude)
  • Tuba Gooding Jr. solo
  • Break You Off
  • Fela Kuti tribute —-> Amazing! Perhaps my favourite point of the evening
  • Interlude (don’t remember exactly what they played here…FYI, I was hammered)
  • Don’t Say Nuthin’
  • You Got Me
  • Captain Kirk solo
  • Get Busy
  • The Next Movement
  • The Seed 2.0
  • Black Thought freestyle
  • Boom!

Legendary stage time: 2 hours (give or take 5 mins)

#The Roots#Set list#Live Performance#Montreal#June#2010
Potato
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
30 plays

The Roots w/ Ice Cube - Straight Outta Compton (Warm-Up Song/Pre-Song)

You are now in tuned to the sounds of the legendary:

  • ?uestlove as Dr. Dre (street knowledge intro)
  • Ice Cube as Himself (love those mutha-mutha edits, O’Shea)
  • Black Thought as MC Ren (flawless as usual, with more clever lyrical edits)
  • Captain Kirk (who busts through the door and kills it!) as Eazy-E
  • The Legendary Roots Crew recreating the classic Dre/Yella beat (note perfect, as always)

Recorded live before the May 28, 2010 edition of Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon (featuring Ice Cube as guest, sitting in with The Roots).

And while I’m at it, here are some highlights of Cube’s Late Night appearance:

  • Live medleys of Check Yo Self and It Was A Good Day (backed by The Roots).
  • Cube trying to explain to the naive host what a scag/scallywag is (haha).
  • The underrated Arabian Prince getting mentioned when Jimmy pulled out this vintage N.W.A photo.
  • Ahmir (?uestlove) talking about how he and Tariq (Black Thought) met while Thought was rapping the lyrics to N.W.A’s first album in the lunchroom of their high school (“If it weren’t for N.W.A, you wouldn’t have The Roots!” (c) Ice Cube).
  • And my favourite part: Before all of the above took place, Cube entered the stage to the awesomely raw sounds of The Roots covering the hook of The Nigga Ya Love To Hate from Cube’s five-mic rated, Bomb Squad produced masterpiece: 1990’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted —-> still dude’s best solo recording ever IMO. Because just like Common said to Cube on the greatest diss track of all-time: “You ain’t made shit dope since Amerikkka’s Most.” Ironically, that viewpoint can also be applied to Com’s transformation over the past decade from elite lyricist to Hollywood ladies man, but I digress. I still have The Bitch In Yoo (in particular, this version) on cassette tape, recorded off college radio back in ‘96 (when he was still known as Common Sense aka the ill side of Rashid that appears to no longer exist).
  • As for said intro track, I’ll bet that’s the first ever network TV appearance of The Nigga Ya Love To Hate (not exactly a lead single/radio friendly track). And the obligatory curses (i.e. “FUCK YOU, ICE CUBE!”, “You don’t like how I’m livin’? Well, FUCK YOU!”) were censored for the TV broadcast, of course. EXCELLENT song choice as usual, ?uest! Way to constantly use your platform to creatively go where no TV house band has gone before. In this case, to remind the public of who Ice Cube was before the wack-ass “Are We There Yet?” days.

“I can’t believe you did that!” (c) ?uest @ Kirk after the Captain’s unexpected, hilariously spot-on Eazy-E rendition.

(Non-televised live track via ?uestlove’s SwiftFM)

#The Roots#Ice Cube#Late Night#Jimmy Fallon#N.W.A.#Live Performance
Potato

William Shatner & Lin Yu Chun - Total Eclipse of the Heart (Live on Lopez Tonight)

The (hopefully) future Governor General of Canada (yes, please) performing his classic talk/singing style to hilarious effect (yes, kids, that’s Captain Kirk’s singing shtick and always has been). Peep Shatner and Nimoy’s crazy spaced out albums from the late 60’s (recordings that are so awesomely bad that they’ve transformed into gems) for further mesmerizing proof: “A girl with kaleidoscope eyes!”

The clip itself was thoroughly enjoyable on a similar level, to the point of warming one’s heart (with joy, laughter or a cocktail of the two). Keep this Shat-caliber content up, George, and I just might have to tune into your show one evening…no, probably not…maybe after Conan (the lead-in lineup is starting to work its magic). And I know that this vid is everywhere, but I gotta rep for the greatness that is The Shat, really I do (as both a Canadian and a Star Trek: TOS die-hard, it IS one of my duties).

#William Shatner#Lin Yu Chun#George Lopez#Live Performance
Potato
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
9 plays

Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine (Live Version)

  • Double Bass - Ron Carter
  • Drums - Tony Williams
  • Piano - Herbie Hancock
  • Saxophone - George Coleman
  • Trumpet - Miles Davis

Recorded live at the Philharmonic Hall at the Lincoln Center (New York City) on February 12th, 1964.

#Miles Davis#My Funny Valentine#Live Performance#1964
Potato
Late Night w/ The Roots (Mixtape) Ain’t that the (triple) truth (Ruth!). And what a lovely LP cover. Courtesy of DJ Heat comes this very much-wanted compilation (hopefully the first of many) of every single Roots hip-hop collabo/live performance on Late Night to date!!!!! The all-supa-star track-listing (with all live instrumentation masterfully provided by The Legendary from the 2-1-5) includes the following live performances: The Roots – How I Got Over (Live) Ludacris – I Do It For Hip Hop / Last Of A Dying Breed (Live) Mos Def – Casa Bey (Live) Beastie Boys – So Whatcha Want (Live) Black Star – History (Live) Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock (Live) Ghostface – Baby (Live) f. Raheem DeVauaghn Wale – Pretty Girls (Live) f. Black Thought Raekwon – Catalina (Live) f. Black Thought 50 Cent – Baby By Me / Do You Think About Me (Live) Clipse – Popular Demand (Live) f. Black Thought Clipse – Grindin’ (Live) f. Black Thought Rick Ross - Magnificent (Live) Q-Tip – Barely In Love (Live) Goodie Mob – Soul Food (Live) Public Enemy – Bring the Noise (Live) f. Black Thought Blakroc - Dollaz & Sense / Tellin Me Things (Live) f. RZA DL the entire incredible package at 2DOPEBOYZ to enjoy the greatest band on late night doing what they do best. Damn, Christmas 2K9 just keeps on giving! Can’t wait for the next live Roots compilation. Seriously, I really can’t; wish I had a time machine to peep what The Roots crew have in store for future live performance collabos.

Late Night w/ The Roots (Mixtape)

Ain’t that the (triple) truth (Ruth!). And what a lovely LP cover. Courtesy of DJ Heat comes this very much-wanted compilation (hopefully the first of many) of every single Roots hip-hop collabo/live performance on Late Night to date!!!!! The all-supa-star track-listing (with all live instrumentation masterfully provided by The Legendary from the 2-1-5) includes the following live performances:

  1. The Roots – How I Got Over (Live)
  2. Ludacris – I Do It For Hip Hop / Last Of A Dying Breed (Live)
  3. Mos Def – Casa Bey (Live)
  4. Beastie Boys – So Whatcha Want (Live)
  5. Black Star – History (Live)
  6. Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock (Live)
  7. Ghostface – Baby (Live) f. Raheem DeVauaghn
  8. Wale – Pretty Girls (Live) f. Black Thought
  9. Raekwon – Catalina (Live) f. Black Thought
  10. 50 Cent – Baby By Me / Do You Think About Me (Live)
  11. Clipse – Popular Demand (Live) f. Black Thought
  12. Clipse – Grindin’ (Live) f. Black Thought
  13. Rick Ross - Magnificent (Live)
  14. Q-Tip – Barely In Love (Live)
  15. Goodie Mob – Soul Food (Live)
  16. Public Enemy – Bring the Noise (Live) f. Black Thought
  17. Blakroc - Dollaz & Sense / Tellin Me Things (Live) f. RZA

DL the entire incredible package at 2DOPEBOYZ to enjoy the greatest band on late night doing what they do best. Damn, Christmas 2K9 just keeps on giving! Can’t wait for the next live Roots compilation. Seriously, I really can’t; wish I had a time machine to peep what The Roots crew have in store for future live performance collabos.

#The Roots#Late Night#Live Performance#Compilation
Potato
"And I’m a legend in my own grind / look at y’all, just a legend in your own mind / I let the drum talk to me cause it won’t lie / a lot of rappers try to kill it but it won’t die / I keep ‘em coming back to fill it like a dough pie / to be the low guy / dress up and smoke to this / grand imperial, hall of fame material / Black General Riq-Kufriti / name, record, serial / my thang highly glam-able / I bang like a hammer do / swine flu, bird flu, every type of animal / I’m immune to Tamiflu / and I’ll be damned if you would say I’m bananas / who I bring is intangible / lyrical Jet Li, working on your requiem / step in the party, er’rybody scream that’s him / push a fast B-M, black great gatsby/ if this the last day and times, I’m the cashier /"

And in an effort to transcribe every new Black Thought guest verse on Late Night, here are Riq’s lyrics that were delivered during the live performance of Grindin’ by the Clipse (which wasn’t televised but you can watch it here and follow along if you like to see if I made any misinterpretations). This is perhaps my favourite group of bars (so far) that the lyrical beast from Philly has penned exclusively for the musical acts on Late Night. These rapid-fire bravado bars are straight killing sh!t on a massive scale. And with the Legendary Roots crew doing a flawless recreation of the classic Neptunes beat for Grindin’ (in particular, Knuckles on percussion and Kamaal re-creating the echoey tongue clacks via the keys), the entire live performance (starring Pusha T, Malice and The Roots) is incredibly bangin’ and raw to the bone. I can only hope that more classic hip hop joints are re-imagined on Late Night, complete with The Roots providing the soundscape and Thought dropping a brand new guest verse.

Speaking of which, when Raekwon was on the show a few weeks back, I couldn’t help but hope that he would perform a classic joint from the RZA-produced masterpiece that is Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Could you imagine Incarcerated Scarfaces featuring Black Thought (with The Roots on the beat)? *hip-hop-gasm* Of course, Rae ended up performing Catalina from Cuban Linx Pt. II (which is a fine joint from a worthy LP sequel and the best hip hop album of 2009), complete with a guest verse from Black Thought (transcribed here by yours truly). But man, if you consider yourself a true head and you’re somehow not watching the musical magic occurring every late weeknight on NBC, then you’re straight missing out, money. And to my fellow lyric heads out there: in this strange world where the most talented group that hip hop has to offer gets an opportunity to shine every night on national TV while putting some amazing spins on existing compositions from every music genre, we are ALL the big winners here (so please enjoy AND appreciate it while it lasts). Again, with Conan masterfully handling The Tonight Show and The Roots laying their creative fingerprints all over Fallon’s show, we are in the midst of the best late night talk show landscape in history. Well, that is of course if this HORRIBLE rumour doesn’t come to fruition.

#Black Thought#Clipse#Late Night#Live Performance#Hip-Hop Quotable
Potato

Wale featuring The Roots - Pretty Girls (Live)

From the November 10, 2009 ep of Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon

Pictured in the screencap (L to R): Owen, Black Thought & Captain Kirk

#Black Thought#Jimmy Fallon#Late Night#The Roots#Wale#Live Performance
Potato

Grey Daze Theme by Polaraul

J_Digi's Profile Page
Powered by Dailymotion