Homeboy Sandman - Hallways (Stones Throw, 2014)

Hip hop is alive. well and more interesting than ever. For real. Queens rapper Homeboy Sandman dropped this album nine months ago and I'm just now getting around to recommending it. Shame on me.

With difficult, educated, and challenging rhymes, he embodies a sort of verbal psychedelia that is few and far between in the rap world these days. His sense of reflection and light hearted-ness is both honest and refreshing. Intelligent, savvy and hip, both the lyrics and production make fun of you, me and him. The joke's on us all.

"I'm a vegan but they never stop callin' me big cheese."

Happy Birthday Jay Dee!

The music world will never stop lamenting the loss of one of the best beat makers / producers hip hop has ever known. A stellar musician loved by all, and one even now recognized by the Smithsonian Institute. His MPC will be on display soon.

Happy Dilla Day!

Fat Boys - S/T (Sutra, 1984)

Its been a Fat Boys kind of week. I walked into the record store and there was a vinyl copy of Crushin'. The next day a friend was wearing a Fat Boys T-shirt, and later another friend posted on Facebook that he was watching "Disorderlies", the classic Fat Boys movie from 1987. This really got me nostalgiac. One of my first tapes was "Fat Boys". I remember taking my walkman to school in 5th grade and letting friends listen to it. It made me feel cool. I also had a tv-dubbed copy of Disorderlies that was watched so many times, it wore out. 

Prince Markie Dee and Kool Rock Ski rapped and Buff Love aka Human Beat Box provided the beats. Alongside Doug E. Fresh, Buff was a pioneer of beatboxing. This is an old school classic, referenced by many later acts like Boogie Down Productions, Jeru tha Damaja and Jay-Z.

They were originally called The Disco 3 when they won a talent show at Radio City Music Hall. Word spread that they ate constantly. Recognizing that they were overweight, their producer Kurtis Blow suggested they embrace it and change their name to Fat Boys. When the debut record was released, it sold 200,000 copies and became the most requested radio jam in NYC. 

Unfortunately, the 450 lb. Buff passed away in 1995 of a heart attack. And, even sadder is that last year the remaining two members played the annual gathering of the Juggalos. Regardless, this is a cool album.

Here's a song about them getting thrown in jail for stealing pizza.


Get it HERE

808s and Dark Grapes II - Main Attrakionz (Type, 2012)

The Oakland Duo of rapper/producer Squadda B and rapper MondreM.A.N. make spacey downtempo hip hop that a few years ago was affectionately dubbed "cloud rap", a sub-genre which hybridizes the most current rap beats with shoegaze and 90's Houston purple drank feel. Alongside this is a lazy and laidback vocal flow reminiscent of cool Philly vibes and classic good time summer tracks. You may be familiar with some of their contemporaries: Lil' B, Clova, Odd Future and Havoc. These performers have been on numerous mixtapes together.

Type has finally issued the best document of their work on vinyl. It shows them at the height of their game and also showcases the talented beat junkies Clams Casino, Friendzone, Marlee B and Keyboard Kid.

Get it Here