Like I said yesterday, my big Summer “holiday” weekend was pretty uneventful. I certainly didn’t hit the road and travel (unless you count walking around the block) anywhere of significance like American’s are “supposed” to do on such occasions. But if I did, New England (and the Northeast in general) is the area to be if you want short-term travel options.
There’s something comforting in the knowledge that cities like Boston, Providence, Albany, New York and even Philly are no more than a few hours away. And while that proximity to so many metropolitan centers doesn’t do anything to lower the cost of bus tickets or the sky-high price of gasoline, or make finding transportation if you don’t own a vehicle any easier, it still makes the world feel a little smaller, and makes one feel like more of it is “home.”
Such is the case with New England cities especially. I mean, we all share a football team, so why not exhibit some regional brotherhood from time-to-time? That’s probably why I’ve a tendency to give Hip-Hop artists from nearby Providence love when I get the chance. Well, that and my best friend lived there for years so the city seemed “special” to me. Of course it helps that some truly talented cats — like Los Angeles transplant Shawn Jackson, whose long-awaited debut full-length First of All… drops today on Tres Records, for example — have called the city home.
I say long-awaited because I’ve had an eye, or more-so an ear, on Jackson for a hot minute. He first came to my attention via a Mary J. Blige-sampling tune called “Dream Come True” which he recorded with Providence-based DJ and producer Mekalek of the Los Angeles/DC/Providence-bred trio Time Machine back in 2004, which I reviewed positively on Imageyenation and spun to death on the radio. While Mek’s dusty beatwork certainly stood out it was Jackson, who I thought exemplified classic braggadocio punchline Rap while simultaneously exhibiting the sort of personality and accessibility that could appeal to “the streets” and fans of commercial Rap, that made an impression.
I soon discovered Jackson had been active on the Providence underground scene under the moniker Soul Kaliba, although I wasn’t really up on his material to that point. He soon graced more Mekalek beats on the producer’s Live & Learn CD and spit alongside Time Machine and People Under the Stairs on their limited edition remix of “Tuxedo Rap.” But with no album forthcoming in the ensuing 4 years I gave up on the prospect. So I was pleasantly surprised to see he had a record on the Tres Records release schedule a couple months ago. And while he’s escaped the nation’s smallest state (just like my best friend coincidentally) and returned to his (and my) native California, I still look at him like I did in ‘04; as a “local” kid done good.
Mekalek is present on three of the album’s thirteen tracks and Giant Panda member Newman (who partners with Jackson in the duo New Jack Hustle) is responsible for beats on two more. Of their contributions, “Gold Medal Kids” featuring Comel of Time Machine and Beloved kicking tales of groupie love alongside Shawn over Mek’s splashy cymbals, trudging drum programming and spacey synth sweeps, and Newman’s rattling break-driven “Backstage” are my favorites.
Labelmate Ta’Raach shares his production and mic skills on “Man Up,” a signature Detroit-style banger with ethereal keys, synth-bubble bass, a cracking kick-snare combo and a Junior interpolation. And Fly Ty & Chordz of LA-based production squad Jack Sample lay down throbbing sub-bass and squelchy synths over boom-bap-meets-boom-clap programming on “Soopafly” and the first single “Feelin’ Jack.” But the dopest beat on the album might be the understatedly soulful bass-heavy thumper Oslo, Norway-based newcomer J. Rose laced Jackson with on “Hate Down,” a rolling Jazzy affair replete with swelling horns, vibraphones and wah-wah tweaks where Jackson shines, glorifying in his own dopeness.
Shawn Jackson “Hate Down”
Shawn Jackson “Feelin’ Jack”
I thought Newman produced another one of my favorite tracks, the deceptively bouncy (because it’s so ruggedly confrontational) ’70s Soul/Jazz looping “Fix Ya Face” as well. But as it turns out it was actually put together by the aforementioned Jack Sample dudes and Snowman Jack, the third member of their team. I don’t know if I’m just getting old, or I saw “wman” in a name and jumped to conclusions, but shout outs to eagle-eyed reader Rooster Kris for pointing out the mix-up.
In 2008 dude still strikes me as the same street-savvy backpacker who’s likable despite his embodiment of the stereotypical self-aggrandizing, shit-talking emcee that he did in 2004. And while I wish he’d have dropped his First of All… sooner, he couldn’t have picked a better year year to come at the Hip-Hop game from that perspective since so many of his like-minded contemporaries — like Blu (not to mention C.R.A.C., his group with Ta’Raach), Black Spade and Kidz In the Hall, et al — have already found favor with fickle listeners sporting similar styles and points of view.
4 Comments
Add-Mmm
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I have a love hate relationship with Providence. Seems like an artist needs to be inducted into the “hall of acceptability” before being recognized as worth your time. Which is a shame cause a lot of real good music comes from there but sometimes never makes it to a larger audience. I guess you could say the same for every city though.
sweeneykovar
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FEELIN JACK’ II http://www.divshare.com/download/4897741-d73
STRATEGIES’ FEAT GUILTY SIMPSON remix http://www.divshare.com/download/4897742-78e
BRAND NEW SONG CALLED ‘BEAUTIFUL DAY’
http://www.divshare.com/download/4897740-4b2
Rooster Kris
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Snowman did that “Fix Your Face” joint. He has beats! That dude Newman dude “First of All”. All that business is the bizness though. Buy this people. You’ll love it. The real is back.
El Keter
Permalink
Nice catch Rooster. I was positive the credits said Newman produced “Fix Your Face.” But I went back and checked and they do indeed credit Snowman (and Ty and Chordz) for that joint. My eyes must be broken.
I’ll be fixing the mix-up, because I want the right people getting their props.
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