“those drums man…the best”
From The Best!, released through FXHE Records, 2016
Archive for the ‘Detroit’ Category
0184 – Omar S – Heard’ Chew Single @ 2:32
Thursday, February 2nd, 20170150 J Dilla – Every Siren on the Donuts album
Monday, February 11th, 2013
It was the 7th anniversary of J Dilla’s passing on Feb. 10th this year, and Stones Throw are re-releasing the Donuts album as a box set of 7″ singles. Pitchfork (I know I’m mentioning them again) did a great review (10!!) of the release and Nate Patrin pinpointed what is always such a great part of any Dilla tune, the siren:
Even the ubiquitous siren he lifted from Mantronix feels like Dilla’s sole property now– maybe because Kurtis never thought to lay it over a mobius-strip revamp of Kool and the Gang album track “Fruitman” (“The Diff’rence”) or a tense, staggered piano loop cut from Martha Reeves’ mid 70s post-Motown solo debut (“Thunder”).
The siren is all over the Donuts album and like Nate says, it’s his now.
Side Note: Armand Van Helden used it first back in 2000, but Dilla used it best.
The Diff’rence 0:09
Thunder 0:29
As I said on March 5, 2006 when I aired these tributes on CIUT. The Best Ever.
Lowsound – J Dilla Tribute Part 1
Lowsound – J Dilla Tribute Part 2
From Donuts, released through Stones Throw Records, 2006 and re-released on 7″ Vinyl, 2013
0147 Kanye West feat. Big Sean – Clique @ 0:45
Monday, January 28th, 2013
“swerve”
If I was 22 still, I’d say the best line was the “all the bad bit$hez” part that I didn’t chop out, but I can’t get away with that anymore.
And I love the whole Big Sean verse yet again, so I’m going with this. The youngun takes on Jay Z right here.
Clique 0:45 – 1:22
From Cruel Summer, released through Good Music, 2012
0145 – Kanye West feat. Big Sean – Mercy @ 1:13
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
“yeah I’m Pari – ehing”
Big Sean’s got that new god flow like Pusha T on this album. Kanye sure can find ’em.
Mercy 0:44 – 1:24
From Cruel Summer, released through Good Music, 2012
0121 Eminem – My Dad’s Gone Crazy @ 1:58
Friday, May 20th, 2011
“If you ain’t got nothing nice to say, then don’t say nuthin”
The last song on the Eminem Show album sees EM at the height of his career. He’d blown up after his single, Stan, a couple years earlier, but on this album he became not only a superstar (Without me) but a Top 5 MC (Squaredance, My Dad’s gone crazy)
Beware: this part is not safe for work, it’s not safe for society :)
Dre on the high hat.
My Dad’s gone crazy 1:58 – 2:33
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
From The Eminem Show, released through Shady Records, 2002.
0115 Francesco Tristano & Carl Craig – The Melody @ 3:20
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011Gets me every time, wow! Forget what you know about techno.
From Carl Craig Versus Les Siecles Orchestra, recorded live at Cite de la Musique, Paris, October 18, 2008
There’s an album too, naturally after this masterpiece.
0054 The Detroit Experiment – Vernors @ 2:53
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
An oldie but goodie, this is one of Carl Craig’s more obscure projects. Here is he hooks up with Karriem Riggins and a host of old and new school Detroit jazz talent to record an homage to their city. This one track on here has been in my Itunes for a while and this part has always stood out. Right near the end, after a synth wave fades out, a bassy guitar loop chimes in. It’s a meeting of the minds between Craig’s techno bassline, Riggin’s hip hop drums, and the pedigree and patience of a jazz legend’s guitar. It all comes together perfectly. It’s always nice being surprised near the end of a song when it gets better instead of just fading away.
Vernors 2:53 – 3:23
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
From The Detroit Experiment, released through Rope a Dope Records in 2003.
Related Links:
0024 Bullion – Wouldn’t it be Nice @ 1:37
Monday, April 13th, 2009
“make babies”
The Spirit of Dilla lives on in the Bullion release – Pet Sounds: In the Key of Dee. This isn’t that easy to find, so if you’re here and you’re a Dilla fan you’re gonna like this. You’ll hear Dilla right away, this could be Track 32 off of Dilla’s Donuts record if he’d chosen a Beach Boys sample. Dilla would have been proud of this I think, as Bullion makes this thing hop. The whole track is only 2 minutes, but the best part is when Bullion amps up the drums and brings in a couple new samples right at the end. Listen for the Run, Run, and the saxophone. This really is pretty bangin’ – in fact the whole record is if you can get your hands on it. So much so it’s time for a Best Parts first, a bonus clip from another track. Peep.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Bonus Clip: Bullion – I just wasn’t made for these times @ 0:44
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
