Blogarhythms

Before I jump into today’s regularly-scheduled-a-rhythms I want to send a special shout-out to Lifesavas, Chali 2na, Boots Riley, Mr. Lif, all the guys from Galactic, and everybody else milling about, for showing myself, Emeyesi and 12XU such hospitality at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston this weekend. I have to single out the homies Vurs and Jumbo of Lifesavas, and Chali 2na, for their indulgence in “back in the day” yarn-spinning, and the frank, and at times enlightening, discussion about contemporary attitudes toward music, particularly Hip-Hop, and how those attitudes affect artists, listeners, and the community at large. It’s always a pleasure to have a real, open dialog with people who are such big fans and students of the music in this day and age. And it’s refreshing to know people still approach their careers in the industry with a genuine love of the art, a desire to be the best artists they can be, and a drive to reach people in a profound way.

Since I had a decidedly Hip-Hop-centered weekend I might as well stick with the theme for today’s post and keep it Hip-Hop-related. In fact, I’m even gonna keep it Okayplayer-related! No, Japanese disc jockey and producer DJ Deckstream isn’t an “Okayartist” but his new album Deckstream Soundtracks does feature Okayaffiliates Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco, in addition to the likes of Bahamadia, Camp Lo, Dred Scott & Adriana Evans, Aloe Blacc, Zion I, Pep Love, Moka Only and others. Camp Lo, who have been on a roll this year with their Black Hollywood album, the “Ticket for 2″ 12” with Ski, and guest-verses with the aforementioned Lifesavas, sort of murk the whole record with the piano-fueled pimpery of “Touch of Mink.” But none other than Talib Kweli continues his post-Eardrum run of dopeness as well, spitting high-velocity raps about finding your own zone and maintaining it, and lightheartedly scatting, over an atypically uptempo Jazz track on “Keep in the Pocket.”

Listen to “Keep in the Pocket”

A veteran of the Canadian Hip-Hop scene emcee/producer Moka Only shows up again as half of a new duo with Saskatchewan-based emcee, beatmaker and skateboarder Def 3 on the new Dog River CD. I got pulled into the disc by the production, featuring eerie flutes, a heavy bassline, dusty drums, a harpsichord, and a subtle vocal sample, of opening track “What Now!” And while the record is unremarkable from a content standpoint, with Moka and Def sticking to the tried-and-true traditions of simple braggadocio, “keep it real” pledges, and tales of their struggles as artists trying to make it, the diverse selection of flavorful beats supporting the rhymes demands listeners pay attention. While it might not be backed by one of the illest beats on the disc (though that ghostly whine makes it sound like something one of the Wu-Elements would’ve made back in the day) “Sunshine” still grabbed my ear when Moka inexplicably referenced Okayplayer and name-dropped Tanya Morgan’s Von Pea on the track.

Listen to “Sunshine”

Coincidentally the song also name-checks Abstract Rude and Sean Price, two emcees praised during the marathon backstage conversation at the Paradise this weekend. And that brings it all full circle.

-El Keter