Speaking of jazzy beats and smooth lyrical content:
Our next entry takes us to the early 90s… about 25 years ago to make you feel old. I don’t have a lot to say about these guys that isn’t relatively obscure. Pete Rock is still in the game as a big-time producer. CL Smooth… not so much. He should be with his voice and lyrics.
This song is about remembering a fallen brother. It’s got a good message overall.
In honor of the North American solar eclipse today, a song written about a solar eclipse. I will not get to see the full eclipse from where I am today, but I know a few people who’ve traveled to be in the path of full totality. I know that pictures won’t be remotely adequate to convey the awe-inspiring imagery, but I’m looking forward to seeing them anyway.
One of my all-time favorite books is “The Dispossessed” by Ursula K. Le Guin. I always have to pause while reading it to soak in the gracefulness of the writing. The entire work is just a tapestry of beautiful sentences. There is definitely a political message embedded in it that makes it difficult for some to read. I suppose that enjoying it is easier if you have a liberal political bent, as I do. When I consider the political aspect, I feel it is a counter to Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” (which also, for me, possesses some beautiful writing). Both books should be required reading for everyone.
Aloha, baveblog readers! Any time you travel twelve hours to get to your vacation destination, you should expect to encounter new things, gain insights, or just wonder at your mental state and/or the world around you. Hawaii has provided all of that for me.
Hawaii has never been on my list of vacation spots. For one, I sunburn easily, so whatever spiritual and psychological respite offered by the tropics would be offset by at least some physical pain. Perhaps I could frame my tropical vacation as some sort of quasi-religious pilgrimage. Anyway, my aunt had booked the hotel 1.5 years ago. Since then, she and her husband divorced. She kept the hotel room and invited my mother to come, and then impulsively invited me. If someone invites you to spend ten days in Hawaii with them, you don’t say no. And thanks to the interconnectedness of today’s modern world, I’ve been able to do my job from the balcony of my hotel each morning, while I drink coffee and take in the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean.
Yoyoyo Old School Heads,
Here we go with this week’s entry. This is from one of the favorite Emcee / DJ duos of the 80s. It’s not everyone’s favorite group, but they are credited with being extremely influential. “The God Emcee” Rakim and his DJ Eric B! Rakim is constantly listed in the top 5 all-time for lyricists. Enjoy!
I may have taken a week or two off, but I’m back baby!
This track comes in hot from the Blastmaster KRS-ONE when he was still a part of Boogie Down Productions (before the unfortunate demise of their DJ Scott LeRock spelled the end of the group). This is one of my favorites from the group. It’s a good example of a positive message and influence within the hip-hop culture even in a time where gangsta rap dominated the airwaves. KRS-ONE has taught at Yale since then and is still massively respected in the hip-hop world. Enjoy!
