If It Ain't A Break....

Hip hop is a beautiful art form. DJing, rapping, writing, bboying, all of the other wild shit that goes into and comes out of it has inspired myself and people the world around since it's inception. And please understand that I do not mean that which is strictly hip hop - hip hop has always been much more than just rap music. Soul. Funk/ Rock. Breaks and lovely samples, classic bboy records, love shit. All of the best parts of all of the best kinds of music. Skim the top and make into some golden memories. Hip hop is the experience we all have, all perspectives, when we shift our lens and view the world in our own way - reinterpreting the environment and confronting people with it, provoking people or provoking emotion. Skating or graffiti are two immediate example, but making beats, or DJing a jam and reading the crowd, dancing, battling.... each aspect requires uniqe skill, innovation, technique, style, on and on. The same could be said for other areas of life and music, but hip hop holds innovation and individuality high. All said, big for me.

On that note - some nice hip hop music for you all out there.

The Residents - Open House

( HIP HOP / RAP )

Representing equal parts Toronto and Long Island come the Residents! Intro cut features Ron Swift over some nice classic style boom bap done right, and it doesn't stop with proper chops and loops until the LP finishes up. Along the way Muneshine and Saint (who both rap and produce on this) meet up with some friends, including Shad, Ohmega Watts, Edo G, and Illmind. Nothing groundbreaking, but don't get it twisted - this is some true school rap music. If it ain't broke...

DJ Sammy Jam - Sofa Sunday Mixtape

( HIP HOP / SOUL / RAP )

By way of the two homies Teekay and DJ Cosm of Dragon Fli Empire (illustrated above by Pearl Rachinsky) I came across a mix coming courtesy of DJ Sammy Jam from Finland - and it is on point! The DFE boys are featured on this mix, alongside some great rap, soul, and hip hop music. It's that classic style of mixtape that I can never get enough of. It's a vinyl mix too, as far as I can tell. Bonus points on that one. Either way it's worth a listen or two at the least.

That's all I have time for now but there will definitely be more hip hop to come. Stay tuned.

Tracklistings are in the comments.