Hip-hop music was born almost 30 years ago on the streets of the Bronx in New York City. In its earliest form, hip-hop was nothing more than a DJ, an MC (master of ceremonies), two turntables and some bass-heavy break-beats blasting out of a set of speakers. Certainly, the pioneers of those bygone days - figures like the Grand Wizard Theodore, Afrika Bambaataa and DJ Kool Herc - could not possibly have imagined what hip-hop would become: a cultural phenomenon. Today, what passes for hip-hop in America in 2006 is little more than a perversion of the articulate and powerful methods of expression that hip-hop has traditionally embodied.
With this column, we want to bring you our classic hip-hop picks - records that embody the sound and expanded the scope of hip-hop in amazing ways. As Redman once said, "We're gonna reminisce on that old shit/So light your spliffs up and let the funk be your guiding light."
Skrilla's pick: Outkast "ATLiens" (LaFace Records, 1996)
Over the past decade, Big Boi and Andre 3000 (of Atlanta's famous hip-hop duo, Outkast) have made a name for themselves by thoughtfully experimenting, bucking hip-hop trends and continually reinventing their own sound. Nowhere are these tendencies more apparent than on Outkast's oft-overlooked sophomore release, "ATLiens."
As the title (Atlanta + aliens = ATLiens) suggests, "ATLiens" is a voyage through both the real and earthly and the unknown and spiritual. It is a musical voyage that is at once deeply contemplative and inescapably sad. Lyrically, Big Boi and Andre are at their most melancholy; flipping complex rhymes that deal with the negative perceptions of their art, the state of the black community and the sense of loss that comes with growing older.
On "Wailin," for example, Andre's voice softly croons, "Growin' old/Fat titties turn to teardrops as fat ass turns to flab/Sores that was open wounds eventually turn to scab/Trees bright and green turn yellow brown/Autumn caught 'em/See all them leaves must fall down, growin' old."
The strength of "ATLiens," however, does not lie solely in the depth and poetry of Big Boi and Andre 3000's lyrics. To the contrary, the impact of the duo's verses is heightened by amazing production courtesy of the Organized Noize team (also responsible for TLC's hit "Waterfalls"). Indeed, it is Organized Noize's eerily down tempo and jazzy space-age production, itself a combination of live instruments and old soul samples, that ultimately ties "ATLiens" together and makes it a classic. Of course, not everyone will agree. Big Boi, for one, is prepared for the haters and announces from the start, "Go 'head and diss it/While real hip-hoppers listen."
Birdgang's pick: Pharcyde "LabcabinCalifornia " (Delicious Vinyl, 1995)
If you ask the Pharcyde, it's all about the funk. Their second album, "LabcabinCalifornia," brings the true essence of hip-hop soul to another level. After a killer first album, they had to keep it unique if they wanted to raise the bar. Luckily, they did just that.
This album is full of beats, rhymes and life, all of utmost funky flavor. They sing, they rhyme and they drop more lines than Will Smith in his heyday. This is real hip-hop music. You can't forget their impeccable production, which matches their verses precisely. They even slip a few love songs in the mix that could bring the hardest gangsta rappa to his knees.
"Labcab" is a milestone album in hip-hop music. It's the type of album you can listen to without skipping a track, or even a verse. You won't hear them rhyming about gold chains or chrome rims. These mainstream MTV emcees have much to learn. Pharcyde's Booty Brown tells them, "10 years in the trade ain't enough/You can't cut it/I let you take a swing but you bunted."
Pharcyde represents everything good about hip-hop music. With their unique funky style and positive influence on the hip-hop world, they are iconic figures that will be remembered, especially for this album. Listen to it.
Skrilla and the Birdgang's weekly hiphop show, "Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop," airs Thursday evenings from 10 p.m. - midnight on WVAU. Check it out.
