An ode to Hip Hop.

An ode to Hip Hop.

 It was sometime around the beginning of this year that I realised I had fallen in love with a genre, the art form that we call Hip Hop. 

It started off as mere infatuation, a childhood crush, but this year I really caught da feelings. 

During my infatuation period, I remember Kendrick Lamar took me on a sonic journey to Compton, Biggie brought out my inner thug and his feud with Tupac? That was my first step into the History of what was to become my future. 

  It's funny, I'd only just scratched the surface, I had a hell of a lot more to learn. Having read and understood all there was to know about the East Coast vs West Coast feud, the essence of the culture and where it really began.

I discovered that contrary to popular belief, Hip Hop did not begin with Biggie, Pac, Wu-Tang or any of the other names generically associated with the genre. It was conceived before the 90's, the 1970's to to be precise, and rap/emceeing didn't even exist at that time.

pause.

This shall be continued in my next post, of which will be the first of a series I am starting on this here blog.
An introduction to this series was the purpose of this post. I am going to take all of you onto a journey of discovery with me.

It's free, expenses will be covered and life insurance won't be needed so you have no reason to say no.

The discovery we're making is - The history of Hip Hop.
I hope to educate you as I educate myself.
I hope to share a passion of mine with you.
I hope you grasp what it is that inspires me;
what it is that made me fall in love.
I hope you see the beauty in the crud.
The sensuality in the rhymes.
The arousal in the flows.
The climax in the beat drop.
The stimulation in the lyricism.
The vulnerability of the story.
 More than anything, I hope you enjoy it.



Peww pewwww.

Side note: If you enjoyed Erykah Badu's - Love Of My Life; her ode to Hip Hop.
I seriously recommend you listen to Canadian Producer - KAYTRANADA's rendition.
Vibe with it.
When I say he is one of the masters of feel-good beats...
Anyway, that's for another post.

Joey Bada$$.

4:04 am. Summer (K)nights.

If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably seen me chirp a lot about Joey Bada$$, and a lot of his music. That's because he is currently my favorite rapper. He has compelling style and a distinctive tone that I struggle to get enough of.

As well as his music, I love Joey's nonchalant style and the way in which he carries himself. The bucket hats, loosely fitted attire, vintage sportswear and the uncombed Afro (with a comb in it). His walk and his persona. He IS effortlessly cool.

On to the music.

Although '1999' is my favorite body of work from him with 'Waves' and 'Snakes' (feat. T'nah). That wasn't where I began taking in the sound waves of the lyrical talent with the dope beats. 

The first I heard of Joey Bad, was his most recent release 'Summer Knights'. My favorite tracks on that being 'Death of YOLO', '95 Til Infinity' and 'Long Live Steelo'.
I enjoyed the versatility presented in 'Summer Knights' and Joey's growth lyrically and as an individual is evident in this mixtape.

If I was to dissect the components of his music and start off with the beats. Reminiscent and instinctively bop in correspondence beats. There isn't one that I cannot revel in and completely vibe to.

Secondly, the lyrics. When it comes to rap, I prefer lyricism. I'd be lying if I said I don't appreciate the songs created for the sole purpose of heightening your excitement & raising your blood pressure each and every time they get 'turnt up'.

However, I prefer lyricism and Joey Bada$$ executes that bracket perfectly. He is a definite spritz of Febreze for the current gold chains and designer things Hip Hop phase. Not to say he's the only one, Kendrick Lamar's 'Control' verse for example, served the same purpose.

"I know nigga's be trash rappin'. Worried 'bout the trending fashions rather than acending passion". - Joey Bada$$ (Waves).

I am intrigued by his world play and his outlook on life. Additionally, I am excited by the way in which his flow compliments each and every beat that he rhymes over.

I know I seem to always speak of the 90's, at times I have to remind myself that "it's not by force". Regardless, I believe Joey Bada$$ has mastered the feel/style of East Coast Hip Hop back in the  1990's, in his music. Hence I classed his beats as reminiscent. For a relatively young individual he seems to have captured the era, as though his idols reserved it in a time capsule ready for his arrival. A well-established arrival, that is.

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