It's been a long time / My #8Essentials

I know it’s been pretty dormant over here recently, but I have never been quite sure what I was going to do with this space.  I loved posting mixtapes, but I'm seeing far fewer mixtapes worth downloading, let alone posting.  I also thought about opening up more about myself, but I don't think this is the place for that, if I ever decide to do it.

I got the idea for a new segment for the blog when I fell down an internet rabbit hole and ended up on GQ’s website.  They have an interesting feature where they ask people what are some of the things that are essential for getting them through life.  Since it’s GQ and they are often talking to celebrities, most of the things that they mention are expensive as hell.  I figured, why not try to see what gets people like you and I through life.  If I'm going to do this I might as well start with myself.  So here goes nothing.

8 Essentials:

1. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The only bad thing about Fridays is that there’s no Jon Stewart on my television.  I really wish they would have episodes on Fridays.  The Daily Show is the only thing on television I can always depend on to make me laugh on a weekly basis..

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
This album is the most influential piece of media on my life, ever.  It’s the only album I remember the exact place I first heard it.  I didn’t really care about music at all until I heard this.  Midnight Marauders and Illmatic are still the only two perfect Hip-Hop albums, I've ever heard.  There's not a single bad or skippable song on either.    Also, you can click on the pic to enlarge the album cover to get a better look at the faces on the cover.  You should checkout Egotrip's oral history for the making of the iconic cover.

The Stuyvesants - The Stuyvesants Remixes

The Stuyvesants are back with another release, but this time instead of instrumentals they have decided to remix classics from A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Amerie, Camp Lo, Nas, SWV and more.

@RBMA Lecture: Ali Shaheed Muhammad Of ATCQ

Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, The Ummah and Lucy Pearl fame sits down on the Red Bull Music Academy's interview couch. This lecture was held as part of Boombox's 5th annual celebration of the life and music of J Dilla in Los Angeles and hosted by Cognito from Frolab.

Excursions: Rarities & Remixes Of A Tribe Called Quest Mixtape

A Note From Mick Boogie

A Tribe Called Quest is one of my favorite groups of all time... in any genre of music. After seeing Michael Rapaport's amazing documentary on the group, I felt inspired to put together a mix and this is the end result. This is NOT a greatest hits mix. This mix is for the true Tribe fans only... the die-hards who know every lyric and remember every interlude. I thought it would be cool to basically create the "lost" Tribe album... with all the rare songs, demos, limited-edition remixes, and collaborations you may have missed over the years. I hope when you enjoy this as much as I do, and hear some things you have never heard before. Special thank you to UNDRCRWN for the amazing artwork.

Music Reviews In A Minute (Retro Review): A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

Music Reviews In A Minute is back to recommence. Please forgive me for the extended hiatus, folks. I know I have a lot of catching up to do. So, because I burdened you with that crazy hiatus, it’s only fair that I treat you to a journey back to hip-hop’s Golden Era with a review of an album from A Tribe Called Quest’s discography. Can’t think of a better way to return to Music Reviews In A Minute than discussing the reminiscent, collective sounds of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammed.  With that said, I went crate digging, pulled out the Midnight Marauders album, grabbed my sidekick 8thlight, and we took an enriched trip back down memory lane - to which I’m requesting that you join us.

While artists like Beastie Boys, Jungle Brothers, and De La Soul, among many, were making their legendary mark in the Golden Era, A Tribe Called Quest was alongside them respectfully. So much that they even inspired actor Michael Rapaport to make his directorial debut with a documentary about the group.

Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest (Movie Trailer)

The Best of A Tribe Called Quest Mixed By DJ M-Rock (@MRockGotBeats)

What's In KRS-One's Bag?

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca And The Soul Brother

Nas - God's Son

Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Mos Def - The New Danger

M.O.P. - Warriorz

A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

J Dilla - Donuts

House of Pain - House of Pain

EPMD - Strictly Business: U.S.D.A. Edition

Gang Starr - Step in the Arena

Michael Rapaport Discusses A Tribe Called Quest Documentary

I can't wait to see this documentary.  A Tribe Called Quest is what made me fall in love with hip-hop.



Special thanks to Jose3030


Thanks for stopping by,

8

Consequence - Movies On Demand 2 Mixtape

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Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Story Of A Tribe Called Quest (Movie Trailer)

Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Story of A Tribe Called Quest is a documentary film directed by Michael Rapaport about one of music’s most influential and groundbreaking pioneers in hip hop.  The story is told by the members themselves as they reunite after two years during the 2008 Rock the Bells tour to deliver sold out performances.  On the tour they re-discover that their own personal differences may overpower their love for the group, countless, hard-core fans, and its ability to survive the pressures of fame, the record industry, and simply pursuing other interests in life.  Rapaport, himself a hard core Tribe fan from the first album, panics when Q-Tip tells him “this could be the last show” after mounting tension erupted at the event in San Francisco.  Thus, begins a journey to go back and appreciate the huge contributions made by Tribe to the “whole structure of hip hop” as stated by Amir from The Roots, one of the many artists in the film influenced by Tribe’s unique sampling and layering of obscure jazz loops mixed with hip hop beats, as well as their playful but clever lyrics.  Chronicles told of songs like “Scenario” and “Check The Rhime” paint a vivid picture of what it was like coming up in Queens as young folks living and breathing hip hop in the early nineties.

A New York native, Rapaport’s lifelong, genuine love for hip hop helps achieve intimate, all access interviews and cinema verite style filmmaking over the course of the 8 months of filming.  Rarely heard stories told by New York’s legendary DJ Red Alert, Native Tongues members like Monie Love, the Jungle Brothers, Busta Rhymes, and De La Soul bring an intimacy to the days when young artists discovered the freedom of artistic intelligence, being who they wanted to be and refusing the box of gangster rap and negative stereotypes.  Other voices in the film include the Beastie Boys, Kanye West and Pharrell.  Serendipitously, Rapaport’s film brings forth a conversation for members of the group to deal with the trials and tribulations they have faced over the years.  As Q-Tip receives critical acclaim for his latest album, Phife is recovering from a kidney transplant and coaching youth basketball, Ali Shaheed is producing hit records and dj’ing across the country, and Jarobi plans to open a restaurant in Atlanta.  The idea of getting back together and going on tour reminds everyone why Rock the Bells was an exception—only it’s the fans who are left thirsty for more.  And this is nowhere more evident than in Rapaport himself whose die-hard love and respect for Tribe Called Quest is revealed in every part of this journey.

Source

Mick Boogie - 93 'Til Infinity (A Tribute To NBA Jam) Mixtape

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01. Mick Boogie - Intro
02. Das Efx - Mic Checka [Remix]
03. Souls Of Mischief - 93 Til Infinity [Remix]
04. Grand Puba - Check It Out [SD50 Remix]
05. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation [Remix]
06. LL Cool J - Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag [Remix]
07. Gang Starr - Code Of The Streets [Kenny Dope Remix]
08. Naughty By Nature - Hip-Hop Hooray [Pete Rock Remix]
09. De La Soul - Breakadawn [De La Soul Remix]
10. Fugees - Nappy Heads [Remix]
11. Erick Sermon - Stay Real [Remix]
12. De La Soul: Ego Trippin’ [Gumbo Remix]
13. Nice & Smooth - How To Flow [Remix]
14. Gang Starr - DWYCK [Horny Mix] (Featuring Nice & Smooth)
15. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y. [Vibes Remix]
16. Fu-Schnickens - What’s Up Doc? [K-Cut Remix] (Featuring Shaq)
17. Original Flavor - Can I Get Open? [Remix] (Featuring Jay-Z)
18. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Creator [Remix]
19. Snoop Dogg - Doggy Dogg World [Perfecto Remix]
20. Das Efx - Real Hip-Hop [Pete Rock Remix]
21. Show & AG -Next Level [DJ Premier’s Nyte Time Remix]
22. Wu-Tang Clan - Can It Be All So Simple? [Remix]
23. Nas - The World Is Yours [Q-Tip Remix]
24. A Tribe Called Quest - The Jam [Grown Man Remix]
25. Black Moon - I Gotcha Open [Remix]
26. Keith Murray - Get Lifted [Erick Sermon Remix]
27. Pharcyde - Passin’' Me By [Fly As A Pie Remix]

Skillz Presents: Hip-Hop Confessions