Recently, I posted a few tracks that made me sick to my stomach. Since then I’ve decided I am no longer going to listen to that stuff (or post about it), it’s not worth it. I end up listening to it and then want to shoot myself in the foot so I stop thinking about it. Also, I don’t think anyone that reads my blog appreciates that music, even if you do, too bad.
Since I posted a few tracks that I really disliked (and probably made you puke in your mouth a little bit) I thought I’d do you guys a favor and give your ears a little treat. Below are a few songs that I like and I think you will too.
The1Shanti – It’s That Time
Straight outta Brooklyn, The1shanti is droppin’ some knowledge when he spits. I’ve listened to a handful of his tracks and enjoy almost all of them. “Played your hand, bitch! Now I’m callin’ it!” (I love that line). I’ll post more of his music soon.
Kidd Skilly – Undercover Superstar
I know Skilly has made some tracks that a lot of us don’t really care for, but there are many reasons why I support his music and this track is one of them. I posted this particular version of the track because it has his lyrics; hopefully you can listen and read at the same time. He spits some real shit with creative word play. This isn’t my favorite Skilly track but I think it is one of his better ones. Peep it.
Two more tracks you guys should check out.
The1shanti – Nothing
Kidd Skilly – Indian Dance
I just noticed none of these tracks are really “Urban Desi”. The artists are so I guess that will have to do.
Let me know what you think. Enjoy.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Are you serious?
It’s been a while since I’ve listened to any Urban Desi music so I figured today I would, now I kind of wish I hadn’t.
I’m beginning to think that this genre of music is not my cup of tea. I haven’t given up hope just yet but after today I’m beginning to sip some of that Haterade. I’ve listened to over 20 different tracks today and I’m going to cover my top 3 worst tracks/videos of the day, in no particular order.
The Bilz & Kaashif – Turn the music up
One word, cheesy! Go to 2:48 of the video clip and you will know exactly what I am talking about. Funny thing is that I actually think these guys have the right idea. By the “right idea” I am referring to the music they produce for their target demographic. It’s hard for me to imagine any males actually value their music but I can certainly see teeny-bopper girls lovin’ this. Kaashif is a little flamboyant but I can see him having a career in the Urban Desi industry, he seems like an entertainer. In my opinion, the other two guys should get out of the spotlight and work their magic behind the scenes. They should stick with their concept but get someone else to do the job, maybe some young guns to appeal to the younger audience?
Sona Family – Taali
This crew reminds me of a blend between City High and Black Eyed Peas. I actually like the group, the girl is kind of cute and she can sing, which is usually a winning combination. The guy’s seem like they have a little hip-hop swag in them but had to give it up to sell records. I was listening to another track, “Broken Dreams” and the first guy is flowin’ about him and music; he goes on to say “…underground rap and r&b ain’t Asian friendly” That may be true but I wish they would’ve stayed away from tracks like “Taali”, go to 2:05…ride the rickshaw, seriously?
Blitzkrieg – Narm Kalja
I really wanted to leave him off this list but I couldn’t help myself, this shit was kind of whack bro. Get off that k-i-s-s-i-n-g, it is not your destiny. Still better than the other two tracks, by far.
Do people actually watch these videos for entertainment? And do these videos make everyday people fans? These are three pretty big names in the scene; they are on a lot of radio shows and do a lot of marketing for their projects globally. They have captured the ears of their audience and have earned their respect. We may not hear their music on this side of the pond but I’m assuming it gets airplay in the UK, Canada and India. The indo population is denser in those regions but damn - the rickshaw, the motorcycle, and the bow n arrow. Are these tracks actually embraced by the majority?
Unfortunately, there is a lot of whack music on the airwaves, not all of which is Urban Desi. Acts such as, Mike Jones, Soulja Boy and DJ Khaled have all made us turn the music down, but at the end of the day they were successful. These mainstream artists have made a lot of money selling their souls and now they can do whatever they please. I can’t hate on anyone for the paper chase, but say there isn’t much money. After everything is all said and done, is the Urban Desi scene actually that lucrative?
I really want to know what others think about this. Does anyone feel the same way I do or is this stuff entertaining to you? Do the tracks mentioned above seem enticing to you or anyone you know? Does it add any value to the album or the artist?
I’m beginning to think that this genre of music is not my cup of tea. I haven’t given up hope just yet but after today I’m beginning to sip some of that Haterade. I’ve listened to over 20 different tracks today and I’m going to cover my top 3 worst tracks/videos of the day, in no particular order.
The Bilz & Kaashif – Turn the music up
One word, cheesy! Go to 2:48 of the video clip and you will know exactly what I am talking about. Funny thing is that I actually think these guys have the right idea. By the “right idea” I am referring to the music they produce for their target demographic. It’s hard for me to imagine any males actually value their music but I can certainly see teeny-bopper girls lovin’ this. Kaashif is a little flamboyant but I can see him having a career in the Urban Desi industry, he seems like an entertainer. In my opinion, the other two guys should get out of the spotlight and work their magic behind the scenes. They should stick with their concept but get someone else to do the job, maybe some young guns to appeal to the younger audience?
Sona Family – Taali
This crew reminds me of a blend between City High and Black Eyed Peas. I actually like the group, the girl is kind of cute and she can sing, which is usually a winning combination. The guy’s seem like they have a little hip-hop swag in them but had to give it up to sell records. I was listening to another track, “Broken Dreams” and the first guy is flowin’ about him and music; he goes on to say “…underground rap and r&b ain’t Asian friendly” That may be true but I wish they would’ve stayed away from tracks like “Taali”, go to 2:05…ride the rickshaw, seriously?
Blitzkrieg – Narm Kalja
I really wanted to leave him off this list but I couldn’t help myself, this shit was kind of whack bro. Get off that k-i-s-s-i-n-g, it is not your destiny. Still better than the other two tracks, by far.
Do people actually watch these videos for entertainment? And do these videos make everyday people fans? These are three pretty big names in the scene; they are on a lot of radio shows and do a lot of marketing for their projects globally. They have captured the ears of their audience and have earned their respect. We may not hear their music on this side of the pond but I’m assuming it gets airplay in the UK, Canada and India. The indo population is denser in those regions but damn - the rickshaw, the motorcycle, and the bow n arrow. Are these tracks actually embraced by the majority?
Unfortunately, there is a lot of whack music on the airwaves, not all of which is Urban Desi. Acts such as, Mike Jones, Soulja Boy and DJ Khaled have all made us turn the music down, but at the end of the day they were successful. These mainstream artists have made a lot of money selling their souls and now they can do whatever they please. I can’t hate on anyone for the paper chase, but say there isn’t much money. After everything is all said and done, is the Urban Desi scene actually that lucrative?
I really want to know what others think about this. Does anyone feel the same way I do or is this stuff entertaining to you? Do the tracks mentioned above seem enticing to you or anyone you know? Does it add any value to the album or the artist?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Lazarus
I’ve been talking a lot about “Urban Desi” artists and haven’t been giving the recognition to desi artists as a whole. Well, today “I’m going to let the game know” about an American born Pakistani rapper who goes by the name of “Lazarus”, and rightfully so (In the “New Testament” Lazarus is two separate people).
Apparently, Laz is a doctor and a rapper. No, that was not a typo. We are talking about a suburban desi kid who spits real hip-hop while sticking to the traditional path and making his parents proud. I heard about this guy a few years back when I went to Wayne State but I never paid too much attention to him. For that Lazarus, accept my apologies. I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due and although he may not be in the “Urban Desi” scene, I thought a desi hip-hop artist would be an interesting topic.
The first time I heard one of his battles, my initial assessment was “Brown Eminem”. I know, very high praise being that Eminem is in my top five of all time. But I do not regret that statement. In “8 mile”, Eminem played the part of Jimmy “B Rabbit” - A white boy who struggles to earn respect among his peers, mostly blacks. Also, I may not know why Eminem was nicknamed “B Rabbit” but if I were to make an assumption, I’d have to say because of the incredible amount of energy, like a rabbit. Until I heard Laz, I haven’t heard anyone come with such fire since Eminem – significant lyrics, passion, and emotions are all felt when you hear his rhymes.
My favorite scene in “8 Mile” was the last battle, when Eminem embarrasses Papa Doc in his own environment. This reminds me of Laz at Belle Isle, tearing into these alleged “rappers” and it remains evident who wins every time, suburbia. You can just tell his opponent is dumbfounded when Lazarus goes first. Dude is shook; he doesn’t know what to say. Can you blame him? I mean, he was battling someone with knowledge and awareness behind his words; he uses multiple syllables and countless metaphors - all without referencing guns, bitches and violence - to fluster his opponent whenever the opportunity arose. That’s like taking out a guy’s knees in a fight and he still tries to fight back. At that point the bell rings and the fight is over, with several unsuccessful attempts at degrading him over topics such as racial stereotypes, the judges have spoken and raise the hand of the winner, Laz. If his opponent was smart he would’ve thrown in the towel as soon as he realized he was going to make himself look like an ass, in retrospect, I give props to Papa Doc for making a wise decision.
Question, “If this guy has so much talent, why don’t we hear him on the radio?” I’ll answer my own question - for many reasons, hip-hop is dead, no one really knows who the fuck he is, and outside of hip-hop heads no one really cares for his music. But that is not to say he does not get any recognition.
The Discovery Channel did a special on “the real 8 Mile” and Lazarus was featured. We saw him jump out of a stretch limo followed by his entourage as if he were Diddy. We also saw snippets of him in the studio, the classroom, on the set of making a video, numerous battles (even one against his professor in Anatomy) and him promoting his new album on WJLB. Pretty cool, but in my opinion the most attention-grabbing part of the “special” was when we got to see him in the lab with Royce da 5’9 (at the studio in Canton, I thought that was kind of cool). For those of you who don’t know, Royce is Detroit’s unsung hero. He is one of the few who possess the talent but didn’t opt for the mainstream route, or maybe it’s because mainstream didn’t choose him, who knows. Either way, I think it’s great to see a Desi artist work with respected individuals such as, Royce.
Unfortunately for Lazarus, Royce and many other artists, America is more interested in tracks like “Lollipop” and “Apple bottom jeans.” Fortunately for Lazarus, he lives up to his name and leads two very different lives. And his day job will most likely blossom far sooner than his rap career.
Check out a few youtube clips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Ncaih2wIo -"Let the game know"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwos_qQAaUQ&feature=related - "godflow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98HAMtYjFAs&feature=related - Lazarus in Anatomy class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbVtmbTaCEQ&feature=related - freestyle friday battle on channel 95.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C84BCLdUFHU&feature=related - freestyle friday battle on channel 95.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfq95nUvONk&feature=related - on WJLB
There are many more clips on You Tube if anyone is interested..
Apparently, Laz is a doctor and a rapper. No, that was not a typo. We are talking about a suburban desi kid who spits real hip-hop while sticking to the traditional path and making his parents proud. I heard about this guy a few years back when I went to Wayne State but I never paid too much attention to him. For that Lazarus, accept my apologies. I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due and although he may not be in the “Urban Desi” scene, I thought a desi hip-hop artist would be an interesting topic.
The first time I heard one of his battles, my initial assessment was “Brown Eminem”. I know, very high praise being that Eminem is in my top five of all time. But I do not regret that statement. In “8 mile”, Eminem played the part of Jimmy “B Rabbit” - A white boy who struggles to earn respect among his peers, mostly blacks. Also, I may not know why Eminem was nicknamed “B Rabbit” but if I were to make an assumption, I’d have to say because of the incredible amount of energy, like a rabbit. Until I heard Laz, I haven’t heard anyone come with such fire since Eminem – significant lyrics, passion, and emotions are all felt when you hear his rhymes.
My favorite scene in “8 Mile” was the last battle, when Eminem embarrasses Papa Doc in his own environment. This reminds me of Laz at Belle Isle, tearing into these alleged “rappers” and it remains evident who wins every time, suburbia. You can just tell his opponent is dumbfounded when Lazarus goes first. Dude is shook; he doesn’t know what to say. Can you blame him? I mean, he was battling someone with knowledge and awareness behind his words; he uses multiple syllables and countless metaphors - all without referencing guns, bitches and violence - to fluster his opponent whenever the opportunity arose. That’s like taking out a guy’s knees in a fight and he still tries to fight back. At that point the bell rings and the fight is over, with several unsuccessful attempts at degrading him over topics such as racial stereotypes, the judges have spoken and raise the hand of the winner, Laz. If his opponent was smart he would’ve thrown in the towel as soon as he realized he was going to make himself look like an ass, in retrospect, I give props to Papa Doc for making a wise decision.
Question, “If this guy has so much talent, why don’t we hear him on the radio?” I’ll answer my own question - for many reasons, hip-hop is dead, no one really knows who the fuck he is, and outside of hip-hop heads no one really cares for his music. But that is not to say he does not get any recognition.
The Discovery Channel did a special on “the real 8 Mile” and Lazarus was featured. We saw him jump out of a stretch limo followed by his entourage as if he were Diddy. We also saw snippets of him in the studio, the classroom, on the set of making a video, numerous battles (even one against his professor in Anatomy) and him promoting his new album on WJLB. Pretty cool, but in my opinion the most attention-grabbing part of the “special” was when we got to see him in the lab with Royce da 5’9 (at the studio in Canton, I thought that was kind of cool). For those of you who don’t know, Royce is Detroit’s unsung hero. He is one of the few who possess the talent but didn’t opt for the mainstream route, or maybe it’s because mainstream didn’t choose him, who knows. Either way, I think it’s great to see a Desi artist work with respected individuals such as, Royce.
Unfortunately for Lazarus, Royce and many other artists, America is more interested in tracks like “Lollipop” and “Apple bottom jeans.” Fortunately for Lazarus, he lives up to his name and leads two very different lives. And his day job will most likely blossom far sooner than his rap career.
Check out a few youtube clips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Ncaih2wIo -"Let the game know"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwos_qQAaUQ&feature=related - "godflow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98HAMtYjFAs&feature=related - Lazarus in Anatomy class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbVtmbTaCEQ&feature=related - freestyle friday battle on channel 95.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C84BCLdUFHU&feature=related - freestyle friday battle on channel 95.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfq95nUvONk&feature=related - on WJLB
There are many more clips on You Tube if anyone is interested..
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