Blogarhythms

Hip-Hop as a culture isn’t known, either by its active participants or outside observers, for an abundance of hugging. Oh sure, physical contact of every stripe, from violent altercations to illicit sexual encounters, have been given microphone-time by countless emcees over the years. But how often does the word “hug” pop up in a rhyme?

Despite what those statistics might show (and I’m far too lazy to produce such statistics myself) the real truth is that there’s a lot more hugging going on in the Hip-Hop community than all those rappers are letting on. One of my mom’s most cherished memories was receiving a giant bear-hug from Flavor Flav of Public Enemy back in the day. And I myself have in fact hugged my fair share of rappers over the years.

Granted, the most common sort of Hip-Hop hug is the uber-manly, one-armed, back-slap-while-gripping-fists variety which the participants would probably be too embarrassed to even admit was a hug. But I’m calling shenanigans on all that macho bullshit right now because I know a hug when I see one goddammit. So you can save your “no-homos” for somebody else.

Former Scienz of Life frontman Lil’ Sci knows that Hip-Hop culture needs hugs way more than another “party like a Rockstar” incitation, and that mainstream culture could probably benefit from the wholesome, nurturing embrace of positive Hip-Hop too. So, heeding the sampled vocal intro which states “the music is the only way you can do that,” Sci quotes K.M.D. leader Zev Love X from “Figure of Speech” by way of a hook for “Love, Hugs, and Hip-Hop Soul,” the jumpoff track from Elevation, the new album from What’s the Science?, his and Carlos Niño’s new collaborative effort.

Carlos Niño & Lil’ Sci (What’s the Science) “Love, Hugs, and Hip-Hop Soul”

Built on an uptempo clatter of drums, percussion and claps accented by a tangle of violins & synths and twined with pulses of undulant upright bass, “Love, Hugs, and Hip-Hop Soul” finds Sci citing classic Hip-Hop lyrics and proclaiming Hip-Hop’s near divine power for inspiring positive change like Erykah Badu on “The Healer.” And the song’s lyrical juxtaposition of Hip-Hop purist philosophy and progressive social policy is mirrored in the production’s balance between dusty, bass-heavy beats, Jazz and avant-garde experimentalism is a handy encapsulation of what the duo has in store for listeners on the remainder of the album.

Relying as much on robotic electronics as the off-kilter organics of Jazz, Funk and Soul, Los Angeles-based DJ, musician and producer Niño’s beats should please anyone familiar with his catalog (with Ammoncontact, The Life Force Trio, Build An Ark, Hu Vibrational, etc) while providing a surprising change of pace for heads whose knowledge of Sci’s doesn’t extend beyond his early output as part of Scienz of Life . Sci is still dropping jewels on tracks like “Natural Scriptures,” “Circulate” and “Honor, Courage, and Karma/Infinity of Rhythm” featuring a fiery guest-verse from Prince Po of Organized Konfusion, but the beats, which marry Prince-esque keys, syncopated Boom-Clap-influenced beats, icy synths, big sub-bass tones and multiple movements help him attain new heights of musical elevation.

Both the title and tagline of this blog might be references to math of different kinds, but I’ve always enjoyed science more than math in any kind of educational setting. Lil’ Sci and Carlos Niño’s work in the field is just another point in science’s favor. And while I doubt the two did any research into the actual science of hugs (it exists, look it up) it shouldn’t take a Bunsen burner and a lab coat to recognize the positive effects a dose of auditory affection like this one can have.

P.S. - While Fabian Ammon of Ammoncontact is in the above photo, he’s not a member of What’s the Science. Photos of Niño and Sci were just a bit hard to come by.