O’s Track Of The Week (Christmas & New Years Special): James Brown – Funky Drummer

I can’t stress enough how much James Brown means to me.

Every since the first time I got a hold of my Dad’s Sex Machine: The Bery Best Of James Brown, I’ve been playing his music non-stop since I was a kid. It’s only until my Dad got me this legendary box set called Star Time that I officially became a stan.

Almost five hours of that compilation and I’m cherry picking my favourite tracks, which is like 15. I wish I could do a James Brown Track Of The Week in replacement for O’s Track Of The Week, but that wouldn’t be fair would it?

Now, one of the cheery picks so happen to be arguably the most important song for hip hop music – the Funky Drummer.

With Star Time, I grew up with the 7 minute version. But now that I’ve got James Brown’s entire discography, I now have 3 versions: The 7 minute version on Star Time, the 9 minute version on In The Jungle Groove and the bonus reprise beat with the legendary drum break.

It’s a James Brown record and he produced this track. But let’s not forgot the man who blessed us with the legendary drum break, which has been the most sampled sample in hip hop history: Clyde Stubblefield.

According to WhoSampled, Funky Drummer has been sampled 946 times.

According to my last.fm account, I’ve played Funky Drummer 315 times.

When I have children, no doubt I will be giving them the best of James Brown. This man’s name should may as well be a genre for music.

I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas, and I wish you guys a happy new year.

R.I.P. James Brown!

O’s Track Of The Week: Elzhi – Guessing Game

I found it so difficult to choose an Elzhi song.

The guy has a library of dope verses/songs, it’s just so hard to choose JUST ONE.

And the most puzzling thing is, his last album was in 2008, The Preface. Since then, he’s been doing some pretty good guest verses and a stellar mixtape dedicated to Illmatic (it just HAD to be Elzhi – he’s in my top five!!).

The concept of this song is amazing. Elzhi explains the guessing game in the hook:

I welcome y’all to the introduction
To learn how to play here’s the instructions
A couple rules to show you how the game function
Yo, I’m a take a double, take a double syllable
And split it down the middle so it’s no longer even
The first half stay, the last half leaving
So now the end of the line sound deceiving
So figure out the word that match before I change the meaning

Some syllables were predictable yes. But if this guessing game was an exam, I would’ve failed miserably.

This song is just one of many examples as to why I rate Elzhi so highly.

Seriously, when are Black Milk and Elzhi gonna collaborate again?

O’s Track Of The Week: Imagination – Just an Illusion

I won’t lie to you, when I first saw the music video to this track when I was kid, I asked myself: is this band….gay?

I mean, look at the single art though. Don’t you think it looks a bit suspect? Or is it just me?

ANYWAY (lol), I love this song so much. There was an advert about a collection of 70s and 80s hit songs, and this track of the week would preview for like 4 seconds. So for years, I would wonder how the full track would sound.

I stumbled across one of my friends last.fm library and this track played. Since then, I’ve been playing it.

Last year, I walked into work and I heard this track play on the radio.

And then last week, this track played on the fricking intercom! It must’ve been a sign to be track of the week surely?

O’s Track Of The Week: DJ Luck & MC Neat – Masterblaster 2000 (feat JJ)

I haven’t been showing much love for the 2-step garage genre, so I had to post this one. And believe me when I say that more garage tunes will show up on this blog!

Surely any 2-step garage fan would most definitely heard this one. There’s so many songs to choose from, but this track would most definitely get the most plays.

O’s Track Of The Week: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood (Ed Case Refix)

NOTE: The refix/remix typo is NOT a mistake. It’s the official name of the remix.

I remember posting the original single some time last year as my track of the week, but we mustn’t forget the remix that Ed Case release that is equally as good.

I was listening to my favourite tracks and this particular song just came up on the shuffle whilst I was reading.

 

#OWASTHERE J-Dilla Changed My Life 2014 Photos (ILLA J AND MA DUKES ARE HEAVEN SENT)

I had such a great time at the J-Dilla Changed My Life event last night.

I’ve been to the show for the 5th consecutive year running, and I don’t feel like that run is changing any time soon.

And that’s because every year, I am reminded that J-Dilla is my favourite producer ever.

I WOULD’VE TAKEN MORE PHOTOS BUT I WAS TOO BUSY GOING HAM.

SORRY, NOT SORRY.

MC Prankster Trinigladiata hosting the event.

RulerovZamunda made her own tribute by painting James Yancey onto her shirt.  TALENT!

Ma Dukes addresses the crowd.

Ma Dukes, Illa J and myself in a group photo.

Illa J and Ma Dukes both signed my Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1 CD.

Illa J said he’s looking to come to perform in London a ‘few months time’. I look forward to it!

O’s Track Of The Week: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood feat. Del the Funky Homosapien

This track is an undeniable classic!

The one thing I really love about the Gorillaz is that they represent themselves as a virtual band.

If I was to ever get into the music game, this is how I would represent myself.

Ever since I played this song when it esd released in 2001, it was always gonna going to stick in my head.

Even the Ed Case remix is a classic:

Oh by the way, Del the Funky Homosapien is probably the best rap name ever. Either that or Killaman Twice.

Here’s the music video:

NO SAMPLES WERE USED!

Add that to the list of why this song is so awesome.

 

TRACK OF THE WEEK RUNNERS UP:

Mario feat Nicki Minaj – Somebody Else

Jay-Z – Dynasty Intro

J. Cole feat Nas – Let Nas Down (Remix)

 

 

————————————————————————–

In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.

First post. New beginnings. OisHere to stay.

What’s good?

I’ve been sleeping on the chance to start my own blog for years now. My cousin Aziz has been pushing me to start one due to my love for Hip Hop and my obsession of gigs.

I’m not the one for doing long posts and paragraphs and that. That’s long. I want to keep my blog posts short, sweet and to the point.

For now.

Here is a list of what I’ll be posting about:

• Arsenal (the team I support) and the football world
• Hip Hop (and a pinch of RnB, Jazz, Soul and other genres)
• Music Events (I go to A LOT of shows monthly. Check out for the #OWASTHERE tag on WordPress and Twitter)
• Anime (Bleach. Death Note. Dragonball. Naruto. Hajime No Ippo.)
• Shawn T’s Insanity Workout (I completely Day 3 just now, 57 more days to go)
• Other randoms that I love like Tennis, TV, London life, etc. You’ll find out soon enough.

Yeah Dats Me.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.