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Rap track round up · by Sach O
Rap rap wrap.
Let’s talk recent singles and standouts.
Jay-Z – Show me what you got
So the Jiggaman’s first single “leaked” and now Def Jam is all in a tizzy. Somehow I doubt it: if a pirate had gotten hold of the masters, why not leak the whole thing instead of conveniently dropping just the first single? Buzz-building publicity stunts aside however, this is probably as good a Jay-Z single as we’re going to get and admittedly, it’s better than I expected. Just Blaze comes through with the classic Rumpshaker/Public Enemy loop while a backing band goes nuts Rich Harrison style. It’s not “that next shit” the way I Just Wanna Love U or Izzo were, the kind of song that’ll define production for the next few years, but it’s also a definite step up from Bonnie and Clyde 03 and Change Clothes which were embarrassingly disposable.
Oh, and Jay-Z raps about something or other, but honestly the results would have been pretty similar with any number of current emcees. I’m still happy he’s back though, if anything so there’s a mainstream New York artist worth writing about.
The Game ft Ice Cube, Xzibit, Snoop Dogg – Strip Club Remix
The original version of this track sounded like a Dr Dre-50 Cent duet which was simultaneously hilarious, laughable, entertaining and just plain weird. Fuck name dropping, the Game is appropriating vocal tones, that’s some method-actor shit. To add to the bizarre vibe, Scott Storch basically delivered a Dre track: stomping 4/4, twinkling keys and grandiose synth-strings. Hell, even Andre Young might have wondered if he produced this and just forgot about it. Biting aside, the beat was pretty great and carried the song which is also the case for this remix. Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg sound tired and depleted but aren’t particularly painful while Xzibit surprisingly unleashes FURY on the track reminding us why we cared about him half a decade ago. Sure it’s a 16 bar verse, but it’s enough to make this the definitive version of the track. Now if only Xzibit’s own material were that nice…
Xzibit – Concentrate
…which it isn’t. In what seems to be a recurring problem nowadays, Xzibit’s lead single is all beat with a throwaway rap. I used to hate Rick Rock circa 2001 when he was supplying cheap G-funk to Fabolous and Jay-Z, but his new Hyphy sound is surprisingly dope, combining chaotic clutter with huge sparse drums. Unfortunately, Concentrate feels like hyphy-light, far too restrained for its own good. The use of Hindu chanting is clever, but the beat sounds unfinished, lacking the buzzing synths and counter melodies that made E-40’s Yay Area so appealing. Of course, it doesn’t help that Xzibit’s flow is completely stilted and that he sounds bored on his own song. Maybe The Pack could have done something with this.
Hi-Tek ft Bun B, Devin the Dude, Pretty Ugly, Dion – So Tired
Not the official single, but definitely the highlight of Tek’s new album, So Tired merges Midwestern soul with Texas’ long tradition of laid back reflection to spectacular results. The individual elements alone seal the deal: Hi-Tek is proving to be the most underrated producer in the Midwest, Bun B could very well drop a “Fix” quality album full of deep thinking and everyman appeal if he so chose and Devin is still one of the most underrated rappers in the world. Pretty Ugly’s verse would have gone to Pimp C or Scarface in a perfect world, but even he can’t fuck up something so trill. Extra bonus points for the inclusion of one of the rare rap guitar-solos that doesn’t come off as corny.
Snoop Dogg – That Girl ft Pharell
A semi-authentic Blue Carpet Treatment advance leaked to the net and while it’s obviously missing announced tracks and partially cribbed together from mixtape material, it also contains a couple of standouts. Probably too laid-back for a single, this Neptunes jam recalls Allure and other lush ballads that constantly frustrate rock-journalists in love with the Tunes’ electronic-bloops. The subject matter is pretty self evident and Snoop won’t be winning any Pulitzers for his writing, but smooth rapper+smooth beat=successful track in any case.
Comments for "Rap track round up"
Word is that the Game remix is a cut n paste hack job by some DJ, not an official remix. Apparently the Xzibit verse is recycled from one of his old tracks.
— ian Oct 8, 06:34 PM
I am tremendously disapointed at this news.
Here I was hoping that he might flow like that on 1 or 2 tracks from his own album.
— Sach Oct 8, 07:50 PM
Not a Game fan, nor cheering for 50 Cent. I think you’re right though, Ice Cube’s verse sounds like something I heard on Laugh Now Cry Later… but no, I’m not going to listen to it again to confirm that.
— SJ Oct 9, 04:11 PM
Xzibit’s performance of one of his other songs on Letterman’s show made me look @ the album a little differently.
it’s on here: The Rap Up
— esbee Oct 9, 06:47 PM
Digable Planets – Black Ego has gotta be the best hip hop guitar solo out there.
— hullabaloo Oct 24, 05:03 PM
Def Jam’s own people are the ones leaking Jigga’s tracks, but I’m sure you found that out by now. A well placed female employee sent me the explicit version, instrumental and radio edit as well as the title track; I expect more to come.
— DJ Flash Oct 26, 03:49 AM