University of San Diego Student Radio

So this summer I’ve been listening to a lot of different remixes and I decided I’d put together a little montage of my favorite remixes of some fairly well known songs. But, if there’s one track you must listen to, make sure that it’s the remix of Time to Pretend.

“Atomic (Glass M. Remix)” Blondie

“Killing in the Name Of (sebastiAn Remix)” Rage Against the Machine

“Thunderstruck (Crookers Remix)” ACDC

“Hey (Diplo Remix)” The Pixies

“Gives You Hell (Bloody Beetroots Remix)” The All-American Rejects

“Hold Your Head Up (Soulwhacked Remix)” Argent

“Walking on a Dream (Hiiters Remix)” Empire of the Sun

“Time to Pretend (High Contrast Remix)” MGMT

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This will mark my first album review in which will invoke some negative views from me. I thought it was time for me to change it up for the sake of being known as being one-sided or biased towards writing about my favorite hip-hop/rap albums. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this album review will reveal that not every album I have in my possession is to my liking…i.e. 20/20 by Dilated Peoples. This definitely is disappointing for me because I’ve been a huge fan of Dilated Peoples since the release of Expansion Team in 2001, and just recently I purchased Neighborhood Watch, perhaps the pinnacle of all of their albums.

One of the most pressing matters that must be brought up is the material displayed on the album. 20/20 isn’t as diverse and content heavy as in past albums. Evidence and Rakaa Iriscience seem more concerned about prepping themselves for their own individual career than coming together as a collective group. DJ Babu is one of the most underrated DJs in the industry today but his beats seem to be lacking on 20/20 than Expansion Team and Neighborhood Watch. Both of those albums had cuts that varied from one another so you couldn’t point out a song to me that was similar to the next, which is a major flaw of 20/20.

Appearances frequented by hip-hop/rap vets recruited by Dilated Peoples such as Phil Da Agony, Planet Asia, and Kanye West instead have been replaced with artists I’ve never even heard the light of day including Capleton and Krondon. However, they do manage to recover with guest spots from fellow emcee Talib Kweli and close friend Defari. I’ve set the bar fairly low for their newest release, slated for 2010 and hopefully what I’ll be awoken to will be a resemblance to their 2 past efforts. I fear that from what I’ve seen with 20/20, I feel that Dilated Peoples is headed in the same direction that caused to Jurassic 5 to eventually break-up after 7 years.

My favorite tracks include “You Can’t Hide, You Can’t Run,”, “Back Again”, and “Kindness for Weakness”. These 3 particular songs are the considerable bright spots of the album and contribute to my constant struggle to refrain from pushing the repeat button on my iPod, whenever I set it to 20/20. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even bother listening to the last half of the album and would rather direct your attention towards Neighborhood Watch for your first exposure to Dilated Peoples and what they really represent.

If I’m preaching to the choir or am stirring up any controversy, please feel free to bade me with a simple “I agree with you whole-heartedly” or an exasperated “What? 20/20 is one of my favorite Dilated Peoples albums!” any time you’d like. In essence, I would need corrective eye surgery just to see the true potential of this entire album.

Track: “You Can’t Hide, You Can’t Run”

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Note: This song is also on “Lyrical Mindstate” April 25th show.

With 15 more days till San Diego’s hottest and hippest music festival hits the streets, last-minute contemplators have even more of an incentive to buy tickets:

For Thursday, August 13^th and Friday, August 14^thpurchase your single and two day tickets without paying any service fees.  Yes, you heard right—no additional service fees if you purchase your tickets prior to this weekend!  So rock out to the savings today and purchase your tickets now at http://www.street-scene.com.

Buy them! And check out this Diplo remix of The Dead Weather’s “Treat Me Like Your Mother.” It’s gonna be a GOOD show.

“Treat Me Like Your Mother”

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“So Live!” The Cunninlynguists

“Heard ‘Em Say” Kanye West feat. Adam Levine

“Special” Strange Fruit Project feat. Thesis

“For Pete’s Sake” C.L. Smooth & Pete Rock

“enecS eht no kcaB” One Be Lo

“New York Strait Talk” Gang Starr

“Be Healthy” Dead Prez

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Artwork: Courtesy of fixins.com

Even with an aid of a dictionary, there isn’t one word that can be used to describe Kanye West. We’ve all come to love and hate him, whether embracing his abilities as a producer/rapper or being turned off with his child-like tantrums when he doesn’t get the recognition he feels he deserves. (The Grammy’s) Since he’s crossed over from producer to record selling artist, Kanye has made himself into a commodity in reference to his own music and fashion sense, as seen with him being labeled as the Louis Vuitton Don. He’s never tried to model himself after any one else and claim he grew up in the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago just to gain street credibility.

Beginning with College Dropout in 2004, Late Registration has become one of my favorite Kanye West albums. It not only has a surplus of guest appearances highlighted by Jay-Z but the beats he creates are so brilliant and noteworthy. Every track Kanye lays his hands on is similar to that of Michelangelo and his work on the Sistine Chapel. He’s that accomplished and that talented that I place Kanye with the likes of DJ Premier, J Dilla, Pete Rock, 9th Wonder, etc. The material on every album he’s released has never been stricken with boundaries and Kayne has never been afraid of speaking his mind. He’s never been shy about dabbing into issues such as politics and rapping about how he feels about the Bush Administration or Hurricane Katrina.

My favorite tracks include: “Touch the Sky”, “Roses”, and “Crack Music”. He’s certainly learned how to differentiate himself from the conventional emcee and I’ve always appreciated the content he’s put forth into each and every one of his albums. I believe there should be some type of hip-hop/rap commandment where artists are ordered to listen to their music they’ve recorded and afterwards have producers decide whether it should be released or not. Music is a craft that only a chosen group of people can really develop and make their own, an art form that Kanye has solidified and single-handedly reformed.

When I listened to “Jesus Walks”, I felt it was the first song I’ve heard that placed religion in the forefront. I never quite knew who Kanye West was or what he did to gain so much attention until I read under Jay-Z’s biography. I realized that he was the mastermind behind so many of Jay-Z’s hits and memorable tracks that aren’t considered singles. However, watching interviews of Kanye in the past few years have given me a different impression about him, especially the way he handled himself after losing out to countless Grammy awards. The negativity that he’s faced has never struck him with much adversity though, something I must give him credit and much respect for.

He has definitely become a connoisseur of not only hip-hop/rap but with R & B (808s & Heartbreak) and will continue to dazzle critics and listeners with his charm but most importantly, his voice.

Track: “Touch the Sky”

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According to HARDfest.com:

We were required to shut down Hard Summer at The Forum last night by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They declared the event a “hazard” after seeing concertgoers jumping from the balcony to the floor, along with numerous other potentially dangerous activities. The Inglewood Police Department backed the decision of the Fire Department and assisted in the clearance of the venue.

While we, the promoters, worked with the authorities to consider other options to continue the concert, ultimately they made the decision based on the safety of the concertgoers. We are happy to report that there were no major injuries.

We are offering refunds to all concertgoers.

Ticketmaster Sales:
Beginning Monday, August 10th at 10 am, if you purchased your tickets through ticketmaster.com or a Ticketmaster phone center, the credit card you used to purchase the tickets will automatically be credited. If you purchased your ticket through a Ticketmaster outlet, you will need to go to the point of purchase to obtain a refund.

Groovetickets Sales:
If you purchased your tickets online through Groovetickets.com, a refund for the total face value of your order will be automatically applied to the credit card you used. Please allow up to five business days for the credit to appear on your banking statement.

Retail Stores / Venue Box Office:
If you purchased your tickets through any of the retail stores or from the venue box office, you may obtain a refund by mailing your ticket(s) to:

The Forum
3900 West Manchester Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90305
Attn: Hard Refund Department

Please include the mailing address where you would like the refund check mailed to as well as an e-mail address. Include the payee’s full name for check payment or full credit card information. Please allow up to 30 days for your refund to be processed.

As much as we would love to review Hard Summer’s artists we have to admit there was nothing to review. Crystal Castles were solid and so were Jackbeats, but after only about an hour and a half of music, the Inglewood Fire Marshall and Police Department put a hold on the music due to over crowding, over booking, and some rowdy ticket holders. So we sat and waited, all 10,000 (if not more) of us, waiting for something to happen. After a little more than two hours of waiting, Inglewood Riot squads showed up and we realized the show was done. $80 dollar tickets, an hour of music, and riot cops. The only thing that could of made the night worse was if Nazi’s showed up. TOTAL BUMMER.

Who’s excited?  I’m excited.  Who should be excited?  Anyone who’s going to HARD Summer this coming Saturday.  This awesome lineup is ready to blow minds with DJs that will lay down only the hardest and fuzziest beats and buildups.

THE BLOODY BEETROOTS: If there’s one act I will definitely not miss this weekend, it’s this masked duo’s set.  With a sound and style to rival those of Justice or Crookers, it’s no doubt that these guys are ahead of the contemporary electro curve.  They killed their last appearance at Coachella a few months ago, and I’m positive they’ll serve up something even more epic this Saturday.

“Warp 1.9 Feat. Steve Aoki”

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CHROMEO: These guys are probably the coolest and flashiest dudes on the bill.  I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a big fan of 80s that draws me to Chromeo, but they know how to make their 80s style of synth and funk sound really good. A little fun fact, Dave 1 of Chromeo is actually brother to A-Trak, who is also on the bill for this weekend. If you’re for a little funk to dance to, go see their set this weekend.

“Fancy Footwork”

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BUSY P: Former Daft Punk manager, Pedro Winter aka Busy P has been at the forefront of the recent French electro movement. He also currently owns the Ed Banger record label, which has produced acts such as Justice, Sebastian, Mr. Oizo, and Uffie.  I actually had a chance to see some of his set at Hard Haunted Mansion this past Halloween, and I have to say he’s definitely worth seeing.

“To Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix)

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A-TRAK: Kanye West’s tour DJ and one of the best turntablist DJs around, A-Trak is looking to bring a fresh hip-hop style to the lineup.  I have yet to see him live, but based on his track record I’m positive he’ll show up and rock the place.  If you haven’t already checked it out, look up Ariel’s recent interview with A-Trak to get a better feel for what this guy is all about.

“Say Whoa”

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CROOKERS: I saw these guys last Halloween at Hard Haunted Mansion and they put on a very good show.  The thing I love about these guys is that they can literally take anything and turn it into a hard hitting club hit.  Whether it’s their famous remix of Kid Cudi’s “Day n’ Nite” or their remix of ACDC, these guys know how to crank out heavy hits.

“The Salmon Dance (Crookers Wow Remix)”

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SEBASTIAN: I have seen SebastiAn once before at LA Detour Fest in 2008 and I have to say I liked what I saw.  He may be a little bit more avant-garde than most DJs, but he still puts on awesome shows and sets.  It would definitely be worth your time to check him out or any of his various remixes.

“Motor”

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CRYSTAL CASTLES: This Vancouver based duo has all the blips and synth that anyone can want.  I missed Crystal Castles at Hard Haunted Mansion and hopefully I can get a chance to see them this Saturday.

“Crimewave”

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STEVE AOKI: Steve Aoki has been LA’s premier DJ with his pounding club beats and epic stage presence. The founder and owner of the DIM MAK record label, Aoki’s sounds are found in the sounds of fellow label artist such as The Bloody Beetroots. His set at HARD SUMMER should do nothing less than keep the beat pumping and keep kids moving.

“Licky (Work it Out)”a

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UNDERWORLD: Underworld has been in the electronic scene since the 1980s. If you are looking for the classic, feel good, trancey techno show, this is the set to see. Underworld is sure to bring a less aggressive, yet unique style of music to a line-up that could possibly melt your brain.

“Holding the Moth(Audiojack Remix)”

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“Knowledge be the key/To unlock your brain/And set your mindstate free”.

Before Florida MC, Mr. SOS joined the group in 2002 and departed in 2004, followed by the addition of Natti in 2004, the Cunninlynguists was composed of the tandem of Deacon the Villian and DJ Kno. Hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, the Cunninlynguists have become one of the upcoming groups gaining nationwide attention throughout the hip-hop/rap community. They are in a long line of successful acts from the south including Outkast and the self-proclaimed king of the south, T.I. Their debut album, Will Rap for Food speaks for itself with the different intercuts that focus around Deacon and Kno rapping in exchange for them asking people for money to purchase food.

They have become one of my favorite groups, even when I’ve been severely critical of southern hip-hop music. Both the hyphy movement in the bay area and southern hip-hop have not always sat well with me because I’ve always believed in the adage, quality over quantity. They don’t have a hidden agenda and the material on this album in particular will swallow you whole. Each of their songs have subtle messages that listeners can relate to and take away from, which only a few groups and individual emcees are able to relay across.

My favorite tracks on the album include: “Mindstate” and “Family Ties”. Personal experiences are seen throughout this album by both artists, most notably Deacon the Villian, who raps about losing his sister and changing his ways in order to help support his family and provide an example and leadership for his younger sister. The cuts produced by Kno on this album combine hip-hop with classical and jazz beats. He has also been praised for his remix of Jay-Z’s Black Album, the White Al-bu-lum. Not only have they opened themselves up to hip-hop/rap with this album, they’ve also introduced newcomers who have used their album as an outlet to display their skills, including: Mr. SOS, Tondeff, Cashmere the Pro, Braille, Celph Titled, and etc.

Although this might seem like a stretch, I truly feel that the music that the Cunninlynguists have been releasing for the past 5 or 6 years is really reminiscent of old school Outkast, pre-2004. If you haven’t already heard or checked out an album by them, I heavily emphasize that you should do so immediately. Even though the south has ruled the hip-hop/rap world for quite some time now, the Cunninlynguists stand out on their own because of their continuous efforts to touch upon issues that aren’t one dimensional, something more artists should be more conscious of.

Track: “Mindstate”

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Why you would put a slash in your band’s name is beyond me. Akron/Family. Is it implying you can call them Akron or Family? Akron and Family? Akron divided by Family?

Quibbles with name aside, I have to say that “Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free” is one of the most interesting albums of 2009. “Set ‘Em Wild” is the fourth album by Akron/Family, and is the first album since the departure of founding member Ryan Vanderhoof, who left the group to live in a Buddhist Dharma center in the Midwest. That’s one hell of a way to lose a member.

The first track, “Everyone Is Guilty,” puts the album off to a confusing start, sounding like Battles if they were freak-folk. The song runs long, and is soothing yet jarring, with a hint of shouting tossed in the song. After the first two minutes, things get serious, and you shake your head in amazement at the fact that Akron/Family consists of three members.

The musical ability of Akron/Family could be compared to Manny Pacquiao, pound for pound, they may be one of the fullest sounding musical trios I’ve ever heard. At times you get a vibe sounding a bit like Broken Social Scene, who commands a hefty 19 members.

Standout tracks include “Everyone is Guilty,” which tricks you from the start into thinking you’re listening to something completely different from what you’re actually listening to. If you’re thinking, “that makes no sense,” you now know how I feel about the track. Other songs worth listening to are “Sun Will Shine” and “Creatures,” which sees chanting mixed with electronic sounds and horns.

The end of the album heads into a mellower territory, straying away from the lively introduction, and tends to sound a lot like Fleet Foxes. The entire album manages to sound much more like a playlist than an album, as if the band got together and said, “let’s just make good music, forget what we’re supposed to sound like.” This may just be a luxury of the way their band is arranged, with everyone singing and playing multiple instruments.

Overall, I think “Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free” is continuing a trend of solid spring album releases, and one can hope that this will never end.