Episode 34 - Don't Sweat The Technique
Don’t Sweat the Technique
The times are changing for hiphop. The raw, funk break and heavy lyricist sound of the late 80s and early 90s doesn’t carry the genre forward today. Just ask New Yorker columnist Sasha Frere-Jones (although if done right we could “Tream ‘Em Right” like Chubb Rock all over again).
Despite the drastic transitions in mainstream hiphop of our day to the sounds of four on the floor pop disco, some golden age artists are still putting in work. Raekwon just released his phenomenal part II of Only Built For a Cuban Linx. Ghostface is still holding it down and Goodie Mob reunited four a tour. And our very own, homegrown and foundational Souls of Mischief plan their own return to the sage of futuristic old school flavor with the upcoming Montezuma’s Revenge. Representing for the Hiero imperium, Tajai blesses the mic near the end of the show to give us the word on the new album and drop some history on what Souls of Mischief have been up to the past 15 years (wow). Honey Knuckles and myself, Z Note, open it up, venturing forth from Eric B and Rakim’s “Don’t Sweat the Technique.” Expect the straight up funk paired with the synth, always poeticized by amazing lyrical patterns and flows. In true independent and grassroots spirit, we also have a bit of fuzz on this week’s recording. But just think you’re listening to a tape!
Many parenthetical thoughts for this show. Definitely a them to be revisited. Tell us what you think in the comments.
Show tracklist
Eric B. & Rakim/Don’t Sweat the Technique/Don’t Sweat the Technique
instrumentals from Ultimate Breaks and Beats/Instrumentals
Honey Knuckles in the mix [Start 00:11:35]
Eric B and Rakim/Paid in Full (Coldcut Remix)/Paid in Full (Deluxe Edition)
Main Source/Lookin At The Front Door/Breakin’ Atoms
Quantic/Ticket to Know feat. Ohmega Watts/12″
Organized Konfusion/Fudge Pudge/Organized Konfusion
Visionaries/Love/12″
Jurassic 5/Jurass Finish First/Quality Control
Hieroglyphics/At the Helm/3rd Eye Vision
DJ Jazzy Jeff/Mystery Men feat. Last Emporer
Black Star/Re: Definition/Black Star
Common/The Sixth Sense/Like Water for Chocolate
Onra/My Comet/12″
Z Note in the mix [Start 00:56:20]
Kurious Jorge/I’m Kurious (Pete Nice Remix)/12”
Positive K/A Good Combination/Back to the Old School
Mad Skillz/The Nod Factor/From Where???
The Roots/Dynamite!/Things Fall Apart
Souls of Mischief/Never No More (76 Seville Mix)/12”
Pete Rock/Get Involved/Petestrumentals
J Dilla/Over The Breaks (instrumentals)/The Shining
Pharoahe Monch/Agent Orange/Desire
Roots Manuva/Witness (1 Hope)/Run Come Save Me
DJ Spinna/More Colors Feat. Elzhi/Sonic Smash
Heavy D. & The Boyz/You Ain’t Heard Nuttin Yet/Big Tyme
EPMD/It’s My Thang/Strictly Business
Main Source/Live At The Barbecue/Breaking Atoms
Lords of the Underground/Madd Skillz
Leaders Of The New School/Sobb Story/A Future Without a Past…
X-Clan/Xodus/Xodus
Rodney O & Joe Cooley/U Don’t Hear Me Tho/Fuck New York
Interview w/ Tajai from Souls of Mischief [Start 01:34:00]
Souls of Mischief/Tour Stories/Montezuma’s Revenge
Souls of Mischief/Proper Aim/Montezuma’s Revenge
Souls of Mischief/’93 Til Infinity/’93 Til Infinity
The times are changing for hiphop. The raw, funk break and heavy lyricist sound of the late 80s and early 90s doesn’t carry the genre forward today. Just ask New Yorker columnist Sasha Frere-Jones (although if done right we could “Tream ‘Em Right” like Chubb Rock all over again).