Words by Jesse Serwer—
This week we’re reviving our long-dormant hip-hop x reggae column Heds and Dreds to discuss the growing trend of ’80s dancehall samples in rap songs.
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Posts tagged: hiphop
Live at the BBQ: Nas Performs “The Don” at South by Southwest
March 19, 2012
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
Nas’ new, Super Cat-sampling banger “The Don” has created quite an uproar—on the radio, on blogs and definitely in the LargeUp offices. We think it’s just about the best rap song of the year so far, and not just because of our affinity for anything Super Cat-related. It arguably captures the energy of the ’90s NYC hip-hop x dancehall cultural clash better than anything on Distant Relatives, the rapper’s collaborative album with Damian Marley, and, after the equally stellar “Nasty,” has us thinking that maybe Nas really is back in an Illmatic zone.
Honor Thy Uncle: Exhibit Celebrates ‘Video Music Box’
March 9, 2012
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Words By Nico Simino—
Throughout the next two-plus months, Brooklyn’s Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art, or MoCADA, will play host to an exhibit celebrating the life and culture of the show that started it all—at least as far as hip-hop on TV is concerned. “The Box That Rocks: 30 Years of Video Music Box and the Rise of Hip Hop Music & Culture” is a tribute to Video Music Box, the pioneering New York City public TV show that was the first outlet to regularly feature hip-hop music on TV. As the show’s creator, host and a producer and/or director of over 400 music videos, “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels‘ influence is still felt throughout the music industry, and 30 years later he’s still producing the show and broadcasting every week. Also pivotal is Ralph’s Caribbean heritage—his parents hail from Trinidad—and his early support of dancehall, years before it gained the support of MTV and major labels.
Lunch Money, “Jah Army Remix” Video
March 8, 2012
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
Rapper Lunch Money has been a known presence in Miami for years, working with people like Ace Hood and doing much ghostwriting behind the scenes, and recently he’s started to gain some national attention as well. Back in November, the son of Inner Circle bassist Ian Lewis hopped on Stephen Marley’s “Jah Army,” lapsing into patois, licking off shots and toasting to Buju and Mr. Isaacs. If his uber-laidback flow doesn’t have you on board with his upcoming F.O.O.D. mixtape, absorb the evocative video, with its “Bam Bam”-soundtracked visit to the patty shop. In the meantime, download his Munchies mixtape from 2010 over at The 305.
Watch: Heavy D Gets the Documentary Treatment
February 28, 2012
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
Heavy D’s death in November at age 44 was sudden and surprising, but BET’s Centric network has already sprung into action with a documentary celebrating the late MC’s life. Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D, premiering this Sunday night (Feb. 26), contains interviews with Will Smith, Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige as well as childhood friends like Al B. Sure! and Eddie F, random associates like Malcolm Jamal-Warner, and Heavy’s parents, Clifford and Eulah Lee Myers, and is narrated by MC Lyte. Good to see that the bio makes some mention of the Mayor of Mount Vernon’s Jamaican roots and his role as a pioneer in blending hip-hop and dancehall (you can get the lowdown on all that and then some in our Heds and Dreds retrospective on the Big Belly Gorgon) as well as his more heralded role as, arguably, the first MC to successfully blend rap with R&B and pop without losing the streets’ love and respect.
