A frequently updated site dedicated to music videos, interviews, artists features and general interest in and around, but not limited to, the Hip Hop and Soul culture.
Today Johnny Blaze, the Ticallion Stallion, the Iron Lung, Mr. Mef, Hot Nikkels or commonly known as Method Man turns 50 years old.
Although you wouldn't think it to look at him, the Wu-Tang artist and actor has been making music and appearing in movies for 28 years. Often seen as the breakthrough solo artist from the Wu, Mef today celebrates his 50th birthday and below are a collection of some of his music videos as well as a mix by Brooklyn Radio's DJ Stikmand.
VinRican chose an absolute monster of a classic for his latest #WaxOnly series with Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele from 2000. At a push, this is possibly my favourite record from the Wu-Tang Clan's extensive discography. Awesome.
Once again, Power 106 Los Angeles' VinRican continues his #WaxOnly series celebrating anniversaries of seminal records in Hip Hop. This time he takes a look at the Juice soundtrack which turned 25 years old last week. There are some classic records on here including Eric B. & Rakim's "Know The Ledge" and Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem" to name a couple.
The skit at the start of the video is a nice touch too. Check it below.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Mobb Deep's seminal album "Hell On Earth". Many regard this as one of the best follow LP's in Hip Hop. When "The Infamous..." is the former, I'd have to agree. In fact, personally, this is my favourite of the two. I play "Hell On Earth" much more anyway.
To celebrate this release, as he does with many other albums, VinRican of Power 106FM plays through some of the classic samples beside the tracks they ended up on. This is the latest in a long line of videos he's put together. Well worth checking out.
Watch the video below and peace to Havoc and Prodigy.
September 13th 1996 was the day Tupac Shakur took his last breath in Las Vegas, six days after being shot multiple times in a still unsolved case. Today, in 2016, is the 20th anniversary of his passing and only seems like yesterday that it happened.
Tupac was genuinely one of my favourite artists growing up and it was a really sad day for me when he died. I never get involved in the debate of who was the greatest rapper to do it because ultimately it doesn't matter and it all comes down to opinion. He was much more than just a rapper. I prefer to call him an artist and activist.
He was often contradictory with what he put in his music but he was always memorable. That's why his music still resonates today. Other than music, he was a great actor with a number of movies under his belt including Above The Rim and Gridlock'd which are personal favourites of mine. And of course there is Juice, his debut in movies. That is a classic.
Anyway, just a few words from me to note the occasion. 20 years have passed by so fast and this is an unfortunate milestone to mark it with. I'll always be a fan.
Rick Ross and The Joker in the video for Purple Lamborghini
The build up to the release of DC's next movie in the extended cinematic universe has been one of the most rampant campaigns we've seen for a long time. Suicide Squad has had numerous trailers, TV spots and extended character profiles since the teaser of the film a year ago at San Diego Comic Con.
Another route Warner Bros has taken, which is often neglected these days, is the accompanying musical soundtrack. Made up of a majority of new music and a few covers, there have already been four music videos released. Two of these dropped in the same week in June, the third on the day the movie hit cinemas and the fourth a few days later.
The videos so far are from twenty one pilots with "Heathens", Ty Dolla $ign, Logic, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons and X Ambassadors with "Sucker For Pain", Skrillex and Rick Ross with "Purple Lamborghini" and Kehlani with "Gangsta".
All the tracks feature in the actual movie and for the most part fit extremely well, showing that some thought was put in to the compilation. Jared Leto even reprises his take on The Joker in the video for "Purple Lamborghini". Watch all four videos below. We may even see more. Who knows?
It's been 15 years since the release of Masta Ace's classic album "Disposable Arts" but a few years ago in 2013 the album was re-issued by Below System Records out of The Netherlands. Packaged with the album was a making of the album documentary that was only recently put online and premiered by Ambrosia For Heads.
Stories behind the tracks are discussed with Ace himself along with a number of the producers and artists featured, including Stricklin, Wordsworth, Punch, Rah Digga, Domingo, Xplicit and DJ J-S1 to name a few. This is a really interesting watch if you're a fan of Masta Ace and what sparked his return to music after a six year break and the obstacles Ace and his team faced just to put the album out.
By now, I'm sure most of you will have heard the awful news of the passing of Sean Price of Boot Camp Clik. The only details that have been disclosed are that he passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday 8th August. He was only 43.
It's taken a couple of days to digest but I wanted to share a few words of my own. An influx of tributes and words about Ruck flooded social media over the weekend and rightly so. It seems whenever any artist is taken so soon that nothing but positive things can be said about the individual. This time it's legit.
Sean Price was loved. His music was and is remarkable but this time it's more than music. Anyone who knew him personally or met him at shows or in interviews will attest to how charismatic, hilarious and humble he was. He definitely wasn't humble in his rhymes though!
I was lucky enough to meet him at his show in Manchester late last year and spend some time with him on his early morning trip back to the airport. I tagged along to make sure Didjit didn't fall asleep at the wheel! Although P had little to no sleep after his show, he was nothing but gracious and funny the whole time. I'm happy I had those few moments with him.
He made amazing music, was a top tier lyricist, had a great live show and had the big personality to boot. I think many would agree that he is a massive loss to Hip-Hop and the friends and family he left behind. Rest in peace, P.
His new mixtape "Songs In The Key Of Price" is due to drop in a couple of weeks which makes the timing even more tragic. Check Peter Rosenberg's Real Late tribute mix below.
Once again, Complex add another great episode to their series of web episodes "Magnum Opus". This time they take a look at the classic record "Mass Appeal" by Gang Starr. DJ Premier himself, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Stretch Armstrong and Lil Dap all add their stories and memories of the record among others.
RIP Guru.
Watch the episode below and check out the video for "Mass Appeal" beneath that.
Legendary producer, DJ, emcee and core member of D.I.T.C., Lord Finesse is the first guest on Dubspot's "The Beat Bang Theory". Finesse talks to Dubspot instuctor Shareef Islam about sampling vinyl, his preferred equipment to build his music with and also demonstrates with Ableton briefly.
Complex return with a new episode of their series "Magnum Opus". This time they look at the making of LL Cool J's classic record "Rock The Bells". Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, DMC and others share their memories as well as LL Cool J himself.
This past weekend in Miami where Dilla Day was being held, WatchLOUD caught up with a few artists and asked for their first impressions of Jay Dee. M-1 of dead prez, Ski Beatz, Camp Lo and Slum Village shared their memories.
ESPN Films' 30 For 30 series presents the first Lil' Joint from director Spike Lee, "Ray Allen/AKA Jesus Shuttlesworth".
In this short film, Spike revisits his seminal basketball movie "He Got Game" with talk of a possible sequel and chats to Ray Allen, who was the star of the film, along with other players about the recent introduction of nicknamed jerseys.
A project which I believe may have gone under the radar is the self titled album by The Pharcyde's Slimkid3 and Jurassic 5's DJ Nu-Mark. Straight away those two groups should grab your attention. It's strange to me then, that this album had no build up or sense of anticipation. A shame, especially when you give it a listen.
Production is solely provided by Nu-Mark with Tre's unmistakable voice in tandem. The guests on the LP are crazy too with the likes of Murs, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Diamond D, J-Live to name a few. Check out the two music videos they've dropped since July below.
Complex continue their fantastic web series "Magnum Opus" with the making of Common's classic Jay Dee produced track "The Light". As well as Common himself, they talk to the song's inspiration Erykah Badu, fellow Soulquarian James Poyser, Detroit's Frank Nitt and even Bobby Caldwell, whose own song was sampled for the record.
They also talk about the creation of the video with its director. Erykah Badu, who appears in the visual, even addresses the joke that any man she's involved with ends up in crocheted pants!
If the video isn't showing below, please click the link that takes you to the Complex page directly.
Almost a decade after the initial release, Complex take a look at the making of the seminal Texan record "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall.
We hear from all involved in the record including the producer Silah who made the classic beat, the co-founder of Swishahouse Records Michael "5000" Watts as well as other Houston representatives.
I wasn't aware that there was an original version of this without Mike Jones on it or the subsequent rift it left between Paul Wall and Chamillionaire. A great watch.
Check the doc below and also the video for the song by Dr. Teeth after that.
WATCHDEEZ.BLOGSPOT.COM has turned one today so just thought I'd say thank you to anyone who's checked it over the past 12 months. Also a big thank you to all the artists and friends who have made material that I've included on the blog. I really try to include music that doesn't necessarily get the coverage it deserves. Of course, there are a fair amount of mainstream inclusions but I genuinely enjoy everything I add on here.
Please continue to check back and share if you can. And I know you can. ;)
I'll try to keep it interesting.
Thanks.
Gez
Now, here's a music video for you to enjoy from Marco Polo and Torae!
