But it was what came next that launched the Beasties into an as-yet-unknown realm: Adam Yauch laying down the funky, punky bass — over the drum beat from The Turtles’ “I’m Chief Kamanawanalea (We’re The Royal Macadamia Nuts)” no less. And then the lyrics kick in… “People how you doing there’s a new day dawning?”

And that’s when you really knew shit was about to change.

Indeed, 25 years ago, when Check Your Head first dropped its essential lessons on down, we realized just how much further the Beastie Boys could push hip-hop. Beyond fighting for their right to party on License to Ill, beyond their 180-degree about-face Paul’s Boutique — a postmodern masterpiece if ever there was one — the Beasties ingeniously reinvented themselves yet again with Check Your Head, by breaking out their own instruments, with MCA on bass, AdRock on the axe, and Mike D on the drum kit.

Not that the Beasties were total shredders on their instruments, but few played with as much heart, particularly Yauch, whose heart remains infinite, even beyond his departed human form. And his Check Your Head bass lines reverberate in tune with that aura. It’s when we really started to feel that eternal side of Yauch, on songs like “Gratitude,” “Lighten Up,” “Something’s Got to Give,” and “Namaste,” which sound more influenced by Buddhists than by Beasties. And then on the other side of his karmic spectrum, Yauch leads his brothers on some punk explosions too, the first time the Boys explored their early roots on a studio album.

Of course, Check Your Head doesn’t soar to classic status if it ain’t hip-hop. And the Boys bust rhymes to dope-ass beats with the best of ’em. For a college kid, just learning about all the wonders that resided in my funky heart and soul, the Boys were my leaders in the pursuit of down – my funky bosses. If three guys who looked liked scrawny Jewy me, who kind of played instruments, could know, just know, that they we’re the illest of the ill, had more bounce than a funkin ball, and were cooler than cucumbers in a bowl of hot sauce — then maybe I could know as much too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4jWgRBVkvA&list=PLnH1CB9xsqNG8Bfv3bwQI0UW4nZBXGj6T

The post 25 Years Later, the Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head Is Still Dawning appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

“DAMN. is an album that captures not just the frustration of an artist but the collected thoughts, worries, pain, and fear of a generation. The hope is that we ultimately come together in a triumph of persistence in the face of certain doubt. This album may have been Kung-Fu Kenny’s introduction, but it was Kendrick the philosopher rhyming to us all along.”

Albeit, The Heart Part 4 didn’t make the cut for his fourth studio album titled DAMN., but the loss of the track is understandable once you take a dangerous, lustful, brash, and introspective journey through the world as Kung Fu Kenny sees it. If you were disappointed by his two previous releases, To Pimp A Butterfly and Untitled Unmastered — he artist dabbled in space funk, and jazz-tinged melodies — then you’ll be in for a treat since this is effectively the evolution of the gritty 20-something we last saw on Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City.

“Hail Mary, Jesus and Joseph/
The great American flag is wrapped and dragged with explosives/
Compulsive disorder, sons and daughters/
Barricaded blocks and borders/
Look what you taught us.”

Across the entire album, there’s plenty of dynamic assistance on the boards from producers such as Soundwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and virtuoso Ricci Riera who built the beats. TDE’s label head, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith also brought in the likes of The Alchemist and 9th Wonder on the team. Their talents make an album coming together make for an album that’s already an instant classic for fans of real hip hop.

DAMN., for the most part, is an incessant jab masterfully thrown from a boxer who knows he’s the best — but wants other rappers to try their luck for his own amusement. Lamar also jabs at targets that range from the likes of Geraldo Rivera, his Fox News cohorts, top rappers, and anyone who dares to touch anyone he loves. With an almost-breathless flow filled with multi-syllable rhymes, he lays down verses that drip with venom towards anyone who dares to challenge his claim of being “the greatest rapper alive.”

On ELEMENT., Lamar betrays a scathing perspective on his last musical venture, and particularly, anyone who mistook his kindness for weakness: “Last LP, I tried to lift up black artists / But there’s a difference between black artists and wack artists.” With LOYALTY. we see KDot linking up with pop princess Rihanna over a beat laid by hitmaker DJ Dahi. This track emphasizes the merits of placing your faith in a higher power over the pursuit of earthbound baubles. However, Kid Capri reminds us all with a booming voice that could be from God himself that “What happens on Earth stays on Earth!”

The album’s last song DUCKWORTH., is a true-life tale of how the butterfly effect of something as innocuous as giving out free food to gain favor can very well save one’s life. With chopped vocal samples of electronic band Hiatus Kaiyote, 9th Wonder crafts a schizophrenic landscape for Kendrick to take us on a journey of fate.

Long ago his father, who worked at a fast food restaurant, had his life spared by TDE boss Top Dawg when the eatery was knocked over. Kendrick makes the album come full circle in the style of Usual Suspects. We are given a rundown of events that very well could have ended with Lamar losing his father, and falling into gang life. The gunshot heard at the end of the album takes us right back to square one where the album began. Effectively, the album began with Kendrick being killed by what we can believe as bad fortune of his own, only to survive at the climax of the album due to the good fortune of his father.

DAMN. is an album that captures not just the frustration of an artist but the collected thoughts, worries, pain, and fear of a generation. The hope is that we ultimately come together in a triumph of persistence in the face of certain doubt. This album may have been Kung-Fu Kenny’s introduction, but it was Kendrick the philosopher rhyming to us all along. DAMN., is exactly what we need right now, an album where a rap god with limitless creative talent reminds us all that he is still just a man.

The post Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is the Album We Need Right Now appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

When rap first transitioned from underground parties to recorded music in the late 70’s, America was knee-deep in malaise era cars. Times were tough if you were an aspiring rhymer, and you couldn’t just pick up a new Porsche. Not that a sissy German car would have done to represent your flow on the streets. No, the first rappers needed something with style, bling, and above all, presence.

In 1979, it was hard to find something with more presence than Detroit iron. Masses of chrome, corduroy bench seats, and hoods longer than some modern cars – these rides had all an MC would ever need. And while Cadillac and Chrysler certainly had cars with class, it was the Lincoln Continental that was the first to be dropped in a hip hop record.

The year is 1979, Sugarhill Gang is the group, and Rapper’s Delight is the 7” single. While not the first recorded rap song, and certainly not the first ever performed, Rapper’s Delight was the first to brag about cars. In fact, the Sugarhill Gang could only wait till the second verse to spit out their love of the big Conti. Cadillac didn’t have to wait long to get into the rap game. A “sunroof Cadillac” is name-dropped a scant 2 words after the Continental.

It’s not hard to see why the Lincoln was the first car in rap. When new, the Continental was nicer than my current apartment, and handled almost as well. Miles of sheetmetal, steering like a cruise ship, and suspension that acted more like a waterbed – these 1970’s land yachts were end-all-be-all in American luxury. Today, Lincoln’s are still peppered into rap lyrics by Frank Ocean, Macklemore, Kanye and more. Whether this is out of a sincere love of boat-like Detroit steel or if they are simply keeping the tradition alive is not for me to say…

The post The First Car in Hip Hop appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.