the list...2008...

The Huge Hefner Chronicles - Diamond D

waup & watis...

it can be difficult to maintain in the face of adversity, but as the the youngest godren told me earlier, "life is a challenge."

what is worth having that is easy?

supporting hip-hop that mainstream outlets continually tend to ignore is a challenge on many levels. finding media outlets that legitimately & consistently cover it is definitely a challenge. this is not to say that none exist, they're just not out in the open. makes sense, since the music/culture that they cover & perpetuate is also not usually out in the open.

hip-hop is a legitimate global culture & peeps still front...

i don't get mad anymore. i'm working on building instead. those of us who dig the cultural foundations & the music that reflects such things need to come together on the + side of the nonsense. simply complaining about legitimate &/or perceived wackness does shit. the wack has been around for years & has yet to go away. some of us dig the same, some of us don't, whatever you dig, support it...

that said, here are the '08 albums.

• Anthology: B-Sides & Unreleased - AZ
• Crazy Like A Foxxx - Bumpy Knuckles
• Da Ol' Jersey Bastard - Tame One
• Dueces Wild - Vast Aire
• Eleventh Hour - Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
• Final Call: The Lost Tapes - AZ
• Generation X - Sadat X
• Intellectual Violence - Keith Murray
• Jeanius - Jean Grae
• Live Hard - The Show & A Experience
• Main Source - Large Professor
• Maximum Strength 2008 - KRS-One
• Megagraphitti - Vordul Mega
• Murs For President - Murs
• N4L - AZ
• NY's Finest - Pete Rock
• Pro Tools - GZA
• Puff Puff Pass - Keith Murray
• R.A.G.U., Pt. 1 - Raekwon And Ghostface United
• R.A.G.U., Pt. 2 - Raekwon And Ghostface United
• Rising Down - The Roots
• Separate But Equal (Drama Free Edition) - Little Brother
• Street Creditability - Street Life
• Sweet Lord - Murs & 9th Wonder
• The Formula - Buckshot & 9th Wonder
• The Gathering - Living Legends
• The Huge Hefner Chronicles - Diamond D
• The Movement - D.I.T.C.
• The Show - E.M.C.
• U.G.P. (Underground Prince) - Tek
• Universal Mind Control - Common
• Untitled - Nas
• Violenttimes Day - Smooth Da Hustla
• Vulture's Wisdom Vol. 1 - Opio
• We Mean Business - EPMD

this list was originally supposed to be made up of albums that i was already aware of. in researching the releases i knew about, i came across quite a few that i didn't. this was a very revealing process to me. as a creative & someone who actually gives a damn about quality, seeing this many albums from this many people is very encouraging.

hip-hop will not die...

F.P.C.

Find'em..Peep'em...Cop...Cop...Cop'em!

get at me!

PEACE
...be calm...

the list...2007...

Rare Earth B-Boy Funk, Vol. 2 - J-Ro

from the mid '90's on it would seem that hip-hop music got away from itself culturally. it would seem that radio doesn't really give a fuck about the cultural aspect of the music. it would seem that certain artists, for whatever the reason, decided to get $$$ at all costs w/o regard for basic ideas of being original (not biting), not going commercial, etc.

i'm saying it would seem repeatedly because working on this list presented plenty of physical evidence to the contrary. i've been hearing different complaints over the years about the quality of hip-hop music & the cultural absence of what makes the mainstream. there is a basic problem w/the argument that hip-hop has fallen off or is dead. the people that seem to hold on to such ideas the most vigorously are people who look to mainstream outlets for direction.

hip-hop never has been mainstream. occasionally hip-hop culture is so popular that it reaches into mainstream. the reality is that the core of the culture is where it always has been. if you do not comprehend such things, then you likely are among the group who trusts mainstream to do right by hip-hop culture. stop fooling self...

hip-hop is not dead. hip-hop is not dying. hip-hop is fine, just don't expect to have it spoon fed to you by the mainstream. that would not serve the interest of those who maintain the status quo. hip-hop is irreverent, outspoken, underground, off the meter, etc. hip-hop is not supposed to be safe. hip-hop music does what the various other music genres do at their core: speak to the masses. very often the messages are deemed threatening or distasteful. hip-hop music is freedom speaking. you can believe it's just entertainment if you want.

the truth is that no media is just entertainment. there are people who don't want this to be commonly known.

here are  the '07 albums...

• ...And Justus For All - Little Brother
• 8 Diagrams - Wu-Tang Clan
• Break Glass... - Polyrhythm Addicts
• Casualties Of War - Boot Camp Clik
• Desire - Pharoahe Monch
• Finding Forever - Common
• Getback - Little Brother
• Hip Hop Lives - KRS-One & Marley Marl
• How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul??? - P.E.
• Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future - Guru
• Lightning Strikes - Aceyalone
• Mos Definite - Mos Def
• My Last Good Deed - A-Plus
• Over Time - Hieroglyphics
• Psycho Therapy - Psycho Les
• Rap-Murr-Phobia - Keith Murray
• Rare & Unreleased - D.I.T.C.
• Rare Earth B-Boy Funk Vol.2 - J-Ro
• Red Gone Wild: Thee Album - Redman
• Representin' - MC Eiht
• Return From Mecca - X-Clan
• Rhyme Pro - Rob O
• The Album - Smif-N-Wessun
• The Best Kept Secret - Ultramagnetic MC's
• The Big Doe Rehab - Ghostface Killah
• The Dealers - Phesrock & DJ Lex
• The Grudge: Fuck The Industry - Tame One
• The Orchestral Files - Jean Grae
• Tom C3 Presents... Saga Of The Simian Samurai - TomC3 & Prince Po
• Undeniable - AZ

F.P.C.

Find these albums. Peep their content. Cop the albums you dig.

support those who strive to perpetuate the core of hip-hop culture. if you don't see/hear it, stop waiting. don't complain. go...go...go...

go find it & make it known to others!

get at me when/if you can...

PEACE
...be calm...

the list...2006...

Prettyblack - Prince Po

finally...

it can be a personal challenge for me to finish things that i begin. i won't get into the details as to why.  to my knowledge the list is now straight & correct based on the resources previously listed.

keeping the words short, here is the '06 business...

• 4:21... The Day After - Method Man
• 818 Antics - J-Ro
• Affiliated - MC Eiht
• Alter The Chemistry - Black Moon
• American Me - C.L. Smooth
• Angelz W.I.T. Dirty Faces - Living Legends
• Beats and Places - P.E.
• Black Magic - Swollen Members
• Black October - Sadat X
• Bring That Beat Back - P.E.
• Citrus Sessions Vol.1 - Mikah 9
• Collabs Tape - Kool Keith
• Compton's OG - MC Eiht & CMW
• Firewater - Tha Alkaholiks
• Fishscale - Ghostface Killah
• Game Theory - The Roots
• Get Dirty Radio - A.G.
• Good Game: The Transition - Saafir
• Grand Imperial - Aceyalone
• Hidden Treasure - Last Emperor
• Keep It Gangsta - MC Eiht
• Larger Than Life: Collectors Edition Vol. 1 - Defari
• Legendary Music Vol. 1 - Living Legends
• Life - KRS-One
• Magnificent City - Aceyalone
• More Fish - Ghostface Killah
• Murray's Revenge - Murs & 9th Wonder
• Music To Gang Bang - CMW
• Natural Born Hustler - Street Life
• Nogatco Rd. - Mr. Nogatco
• Prettyblack - Prince Po
• Rebirth Of A Nation - P.E.
• Separate But Equal - Little Brother & DJ Drama
• Spazmatic - Tame One
• Strategize - Shabaam Sahdeeq & DJ Revolution
• Street Music - Defari
• The 5% Album - Lord Jamar
• The Commercial Free EP - Little Brother
• The Commi$$ioner - Kool Keith
• The Commi$$ioner 2 - Kool Keith
• The Da Vinci Code: The Vatican Vol. 2 - Raekwon
• The Format - AZ
• The Impossible Mission: Operation Japan - De La Soul
• The Last Stand - Boot Camp Clik
• The Resident Patient - Inspectah Deck
• The Return of Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagon
• The Vatican Vol. 1 - Raekwon
• The X Files - Smif-N-Wessun
• True Magic - Mos Def

as always F.P.C....

Find!

Peep!

Cop!

support the artists. being creatively successful is a great challenge. it has grown more challenging over the years. the industry itself is not all that supportive of art & it isn't hard to hear what happens when listeners don't support those who live & breathe art...

stop complaining about it & do something constructive...

PEACE
...be calm...

visions of beauty...3 eye style...

i had to cop a replacement digicam the week before last. i've been using the Coolpix S550. the battery door on the current 1 will not stay closed. not a good look. this is especially true since the media slot is in the same location. i'm usually pretty good at rigging things when they break, but this was a clear no fix.

i was able to make contact w/Nikon using their twitter feed (nikonusadotcom) & will be sending the original in for hopeful repair service. the warranty period ended back in January of this year, so i'll have to come out of pocket. i'm not too mad. these things can happen.

it would appear that 1 of the godren got at the camera while it was sitting on 1 of the tripods. ultimately it is my fault for leaving the digicam out where it could be easily accessed. in a way this works out because every member of the 4fam will have a digicam once the original gets repaired. it's quite interesting to see their visions of what is interesting & how they like to capture it.

i grew up w/cameras, so capturing images is part of the way i live. a DSLR is definitely in the plan, but for now it's P&S. my challenge is to learn how to use the technology to present my vision to other humans. capturing just the right image can be frustrating at times, but it is ultimately rewarding. it teaches me to appreciate the intracacies of the universe more.

how?

even though i now wear glasses, my eyes can still see things at times that the camera is not able to capture. the human eye = the original camera & my memory/mind serves as the infinite media.

makes me glad i have a long memory...

PEACE
...be calm...

the vinyl until it's final...

yesterday was a great born day. i got to share 1 of my greatest pasttimes w/the rest of the 4fam. we took a trip to 1 of my favorite spots in the Illadelph for diggin'.

i actually went to the spot w/a list. that was the 1st time that's ever happened. back in the day i used to just roll to the store w/the intention to pick up some choice vinyl. now i keep a list. thank you technology.

actually, thank you technology 2X. thanks to all these digital interfaces for DJing. cats are wholesale dropping their vinyl collections. i'd like to take this time to say thank you to anyone who has liquidated their vinyl collection. your efforts have done wonders to the price of vintage vinyl. keep up the good work...

so, what got gifted?

The Brothers Johnson - Blam!!

Brick - Good High

Chic - C'est Chic

Carl Carlton - Carl Carlton

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out In Bootsy's Rubber Band

for a super short mission, this was not a bad grab. the collection has grown over the years. i remember when i could keep all my vinyl in 1 crate. the 45's need major work & my 12" stock could definitely use some additions, but i'm always going to grab LP's whenever i can.

watitis!

PEACE
...be calm...

PEACE & BLESSINGS: focusing on the legacy...

today i recall the album that brought me into listening to Gang Starr on a regular basis:

i own all the albums except for the 1st 1. i honestly cannot figure out why i don't have that 1 in the collection yet. either way, Step In The Arena is still my favorite of all the Gang Starr albums. Daily Operation is important to me too, but if challenged to choose between the 2 i'm staying w/SITA.

it's kind of irritating for the oddities surrounding the personal situation w/GURU's health & family to be floating about, but i am focusing on the + that is this artist's true legacy. all the albums, cameos, etc. that this talented human blessed us w/will remain w/us in the physical realm. so few truly appreciate the messages provided by creatives. it is rarely just entertainment. those who are proficient at such communication provide these messages w/what appears to be great ease. perhaps this is where the confusion comes from. GURU's messages will continue to do the work that he did in the physical.

if you have no idea what hip-hop sounds like &/or you meet someone who has this as a problem, Gang Starr would be a great way to introduce them to some quality hip-hop music. w/6 albums you really cannot go wrong unless you just don't dig this kind of hip-hop.

Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal...

infinitely...

PEACE

...be calm...

the list...

Brand Nubian - Fire in the Hole

i didn't forget about the list of 2000-09 hip-hop albums. in fact, i'm working on it right now. i noticed a couple of weeks ago that there were some errors w/the year on some of the albums. this was the fault of the operator not the source(s).

speaking of sources, now seems to be a good time to share some links to what i've been using thus far:

Discogs

Discogs is getting better & better at detailing the works of musical artists. you can even find catalog #'s for releases. this is excellent for making sure you have a specific release, especially when looking for scarce releases. details are always helpful.

allmusic

allmusic is good if you'd like to get some details & a review. the site provides award & chart info as well as catalog #'s for releases.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is essentially a catch all. it is what it is. i'm not mad at it as a source at all. sometimes it will have info that the other sites don't. this seems to be more true of some obscure releases.

& now back to the list...

what i'm doing right now is going through the entire list & verifying all the years. when that's done i'm going to fix what needs to be on all the previously posted years. the '06 list of albums will follow.

until then remember...

F.P.C.

Find it...Peep it...Cop it. support the artists who create the sounds that you dig. how else are they going to continue to create what you dig?

get at me.

PEACE

...be calm...

mediavore testaments...

there is this strange & IMO foolish notion that downloading on the web STOPS peeps from buying media.

i must emphasize the word F-O-O-L-I-S-H.

w/the abundance of releases for various types of media. it is very often beneficial to get some idea of how good something is before you fork over your $$$. i cannot stand a bad movie at the theater. even though i'm strictly Netflix now, i still cannot stand a bad movie. when i was spending $100/wk on vinyl i hated getting an album w/1 good song on it. a booty 12" isn't that bad even w/2 you can kinda write that off...maybe even enjoy the cover art [SHRUGS]. a whole album is not functional like that.

you can't return wack media 'cause it's wack. you're stuck w/some ga'bage that you don't want & can't pawn off to anyone else in good conscious. whether you're a phile or a plain old consumer, you're supposed to just take that loss while the corps exec buys big houses & phat rides w/your $$$.

let me be very blunt here: FUCK THAT!

moving away from the rams i have to say that the corps are still getting it wrong through the RIAA & the MPAA by trying to scare peeps. adapt. get a grip & K.I.M.

so, on to the real mediafeast...

i copped the director's cut (DC) of Afro Samurai. this joint is tight. i believe i rented it from Netflix originally. i have such long lists of media to cop. this joint had to be priority owned. i was kinda salty after i ordered 'cause i didn't realize Resurrection had been released. i have to cop the DC of that later...

if you haven't seen the original joint yet, do peep it. if you have seen it & don't own it yet, do click on the image/link(s). if you've seen the feature jawn let me know how you dug it.

get at me...

PEACE
...be calm...

DFingas in the house...

watitis?

i'm working on video concepts for fuel from Diesel Funkin' 08, 09, Raw Fuel, & Pipeline.

Diesel Funkin' 06 & 07 still need attention & Raw Fuel II requires a listen through of Diesel Funkin' 09.

i find it rather difficult to refrain from creating new fuel when in the Refinery. to stop creating just doesn't have a natural or appealing feel to it. in some ways i'd rather keep moving forward than to go back to address the older tanks. the problem w/just ignoring the older catalog is that there are creations there that i can still get quite excited about. as w/most things it all comes down to balancing it out.

as the facebook status says, i'm working in progress...

on that note peep Caulreap Idoaut...


as always, commentary is welcome. get at me...

PEACE
...be calm...

in the lab w/3 minds...

i'm working on incorporating the other 3 members of the 4fam into Refinery projects. i figure it's only right. there's too much creativity to ignore...

Dr. Ceemo & Feek X come w/some real ill biscuits on the creative tip. besides, i figure the best way to pass on what i've learned over the years is to get them involved. when it comes to technical operations, hands on is usually the best way to create high comprehension levels.

these dudes are asking me for 1200's & whatnot. how can i be mad at that?

Dr. Ceemo asked me to put MC Shan's Down By Law on his media player...

i have to say i'm impressed, because he doesn't listen to everything that i listen to. he digs jazz, blues & house music. i asked him once why he didn't dig hip-hop like he does other genres. he told me because it is difficult to follow the lyrics on much of the hip-hop that i tend to dig. knowing this made his request for Down By Law even more interesting. he really digs Living In The World Of Hip Hop...

imagine that...

much luv for the 4fam...K.I.M.!

PEACE
...be calm...