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Whose Rhymes Are The Deepest? Tahir Hemphill’s Hip-Hop Word Count Has An Answer (Video)
July 18, 2013
You’ve probably argued with folks about which emcees’ rhymes displayed lyrical skill… and whose were garbage. Ever wish you had some statistical standard by which you could settle the argument? Well… Harvard University’s WEB Du Bois Hip-Hop Archive Institute Fellow Tahir Hemphill wanted the same thing – a way to mathematically measure the educational level of Hip-Hop lyrics. The result: Hip-Hop Word Count, an online searchable database with over 40,000 rap songs from 1979 to present. The application figures word count, average syllables per word, average letters per syllable, longest polysyllabic word, and educational level needed to grasp the meaning of a song’s lyrics. Hip-Hop Word Count also counts “cleverness” (use of similes, metaphors, cultural references, and rhyme patterns). The final score is a number between 0 (illiterate) to 20 (post-graduate degree).
So, how do some of rap’s standards measure up? Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend†scores 16, as does Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents 2.†The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Warning†gets 11, and so does Lil Wayne’s “I’m Me.†50 Cent’s “I Get Money†comes in at a 7.
The program can also find out when a particular word or phrase (like references to champagnes or the word ‘Hater’) first appeared in a rap song and how many times it has been mentioned since.
PLUS: Using Hip-Hop Word Count and its features, Hemphill makes some interesting observations about the state of Hip-Hop and society above. Bonus clip after the jump below.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Human Interest, Technology, Videos | 
Tags: Hip-Hop Word Count, Tahir Hemphill | 
1 Comment »
Large Professor on ‘The Combat Jack Show’ (Video)
June 6, 2013
A three part interview with Large Professor on The Combat Jack Show, and we got all three parts for you right here (parts 2 and 3 after the jump). Large Pro (in part 1 above) speaks… in response to props given for him changing the game, on meeting Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, and more.
Marco Polo feat. Big Daddy Kane – “Nite & Day’
March 14, 2013
It was just a few days ago we posted new joint from producer Marco Polo featuring the God Rakim called ‘What’s Wrong’. He’s back with another gem called ‘Nite & Day’ with another hip hop legend in Big Daddy Kane. This particular joint finds the ill producer flipping Al B. Sure’s 1988 R&B classic ‘Nite & Day’ while BDK spits the appropriate bars to make this joint pop properly. This joint will appear on Marco Polo’s forthcoming free-LP “Newport Authority 2†as Marco states “I’ve recorded so much quality material over the last few years and I really want to share it all. It couldn’t all possibly fit on “Port Authority 2â€; hence “Newport Authority 2†came to be.â€
DOWNLOAD: MARCO POLO FEAT. BIG DADDY KANE – NITE & DAY
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Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, Producers | Tags: Big Daddy Kane, Marco Polo, Newport Authority 2, Nite & Day | No Comments »
Marley Marl Recreates The ‘Classic Recipe’ For MC Shan’s ‘The Bridge’ (Video)
March 14, 2013
In this episode of Classic Recipes, the legendary producer explains and demonstrates how he created the beat for MC Shan’s “The Bridge,” one of the most memorable beats in hip hop history. As always, along with the beat programming tips and composition/production techniques he also gives us the lowdown on where and when the music was originally created.
Marl recalls the moment he first met MC Shan and recorded “Marley Marl Scratch,” and also remembers when legendary rap radio personality Mr. Magic rejected a Boogie Down Productions record that was submitted for airplay on WBLS-FM, later resulting in the feud between the South Bronx crew and Marl’s Juice Crew.
“The Bridge” was originally created using the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer and the Korg SDD-2000 Sampling Digital Delay. Marley Marl programmed the beat by triggering drum sounds (the kick and snare) from the TR-808 into the SDD-2000, giving the track a unique sound and feel.
In this video he recreates the beat using the Akai MPC Renaissance; instead of just sampling The Honey Drippers’ track “Impeach The President” intro drum beat, Marley completely reprogrammed the beat from the kick and snare right down to the “Ladies and gentlemen” voice intro. Along with adding some ghost notes, he reversed The Magic Disco Machine’s “Scratching'” record to create the stabs and gritty noises you hear at the beginning of “The Bridge.” – Dubspot
WATCH: MARLEY MARL RECREATES THE ‘CLASSIC RECIPE’ FOR ERIC B & RAKIM’S HIT ‘ERIC B IS PRESIDENT’ (VIDEO)
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Posted in Hip-Hop, Producers, Videos | Tags: Classic Recipes, DJ, DJs, MARLEY MARL, MC Shan, Studio session, STUDIO SESSIONS, The Bridge | No Comments »
Talib Kweli Appears On Snoop’s GGN Network (Video)
March 14, 2013
Talib Kweli stops by Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion aka Nemo Hoes‘s GGN Network to spit rhymes & speak on a variety of topics from the difference between the early New York & California hip hop scenes, emcees they respected like Jeru Tha Damaja, Das Efx, Rakim, KRS-ONE, Souls Of Mischief, Freestyle Fellowship, & more.  A key point of interest in this interview is how Snoop Dogg & Talib Kweli explain how both of their son’s favorite rappers introduced them to newer artists like Wiz Khalifa & Ab-Soul. The GGN Weather Girl explains how she likes fat guys…..
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Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: GGN, Interview, Network, Snoop, Snoop Dogg, Snoop Lion, TALIB KWELI | No Comments »
Elzhi Speaks On Being Influenced By Ice Cube, Meeting Eminem & Proof, & The Detroit Hip Hop Scene (Video)
March 6, 2013
One of my favorite emcees coming out of Detroit was interviewed by the good people over at Hard Knock TV. In this in-depth two part interview interview Elzhi talks about how Ice Cube was the first rapper to make him want to rap after referencing classics like “America’s Most Wanted”, “Kill At Will” & “Death Certificate”. Elzhi also speaks about being a student of the game having studied emcees like Lord Finesse & Rakim before getting detailed about the early Detroit hip hop scene where he first met Proof & Eminem. Check out part two on friday under the hood….
WATCH: ELZHI SPEAKS ON J DILLA, DR. DRE, NAS, KENDRICK LAMAR, & HIS NEW ALBUM (VIDEO)
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Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: Detroit, Detroit Hip Hop, Elzhi, Hardknock, Hardknock TV, HardknockTV | No Comments »
Styles P – “Holiday Any Emcee” (Video)
October 3, 2012
Styles P with the video for a banger from his mixtape “Diamond LIfe Project.” We told you about it here. In case you missed that post, we link it again below (and you should go get it… it’s FREE). Dope visuals by DPTV Films. As for the track… Styles went IN! And that Rakim sample for the hook is sick! – Ojones1
***Jayforce’s note****: “The instrumental is from rapper NINE’s 1995 single “Any Emcee” off of his LP entitled “NINE LIVEZ” back in the day. Beat diggers will easily recognize the Spinners 1972 classic “I’ll Be Arounnd” that was sampled. Check the video for NINE’s “Any Emcee” track below too….
Alias x Fakts One – “Sorry” (Video)
July 17, 2012
Emcee Alias (of OVM) and DJ/Producer Fakts One (best known as one-third of The Perceptionists, with Mr. Lif and Akrobatik) team up for “Second Chances” (due out August 7, 2012) – a digital album that apologizes 1) for the wackness some have called “Hip=Hop” over the past few years AND 2) because they “shouldn’t have left you…without a dope beat to step to” (Eric B. and Rakim…RESPECT)! Both artists took a hiatus from the industry – in large part to focus on Fatherhood, which more than trumped the prospect of “staying in the game to fight the good fight” at the time. But now…they’re baaaack! “Sorry” is a feature cut on the upcoming release. Check out the hilarious music video above, and download the clean (e.g. radio-friendly) audio version here.
DOWNLOAD: ALIAS X FAKTS ONE – SORRY (CLEAN)
Roots Picnic Recap 2012 (Video)
June 11, 2012
This is a recap of the 5th Annual Roots Picnic on Philadephia’s festival pier at Penn’s Landing. On-stage acts riding with The Roots included De La Soul, Yasiin Bey, and Rakim! Certainly one of those you-had-to-be-there events, but this recap video gives you a good taste of what went down.
Posted in EVENTS, Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: 2012, De La Soul, Picnic, Rakim, RECAP, Roots, Yasiin Bey | 1 Comment »
BLITZ – 4/24/12: Natural Highs
April 24, 2012
Bloodstone – “Natural High”
HEADLINES
Man Says He Accidentally Shot His Girlfriend While Hunting Wild Hogs
Deion Sanders’ Estranged Wife Pilar Arrested & Booked Following Domestic Incident (Mugshot)
The Denver Broncos Are Replacing Playbooks With iPads For The 2012 Season
More Mexicans Are Returning Home, Fewer Are Immigrating To The U.S.
Jennifer Hudson Called In As A Witness In Family Murder Trial
Half Of Recent College Grads Are Jobless Or Underemployed
Philadelphia Plans To Close 40 Public Schools In 2013
Los Angeles Gang Patrol Unit Under Investigation For Forming Their Own Gang
Deion Sanders Accuses His Estranged Wife Pilar Of Assaulting Him In His Home Via Twitter
How Are So Many College Grads Underemployed?
Flying Object Propels Itself By Flipping Inside & Out In The Air
The Best Accidentally Sexual News Bloopers
Man Electrocuted While Trying To Urinate On Subway Tracks
Future NFL Hall Of Famer Brian Dawkins Retires From The Denver Broncos At Age 38
The Next iPhone Maybe Housed In ‘Liquid Metal’
New Company Backed By Google Execs & Director James Cameron Plans To Mine Asteroids
Rakim Says “We Need A Few More Kanyes”
Studies Show That In Restaurants, Race Does Matter
NJ Governor Chris Christie Says ‘Good Riddance’ To The Brooklyn Bound Nets Basketball Team
Brain-Dead Woman Gives Birth To Twins
Secret Service Prostitute Scandal Casts Unwanted Spotlight On Columbia
DJ Premier Speaks on album with Nas, Slick Rick, and the Legacy of Guru (Video)
December 14, 2011
DJ Premier speaks on his album with Nas that’s still in the works, working with Slick Rick for the first time ever for the song “Need Some Bad”, & reflects on his Gangstarr partner Guru’s life & legacy. Hardknock TV does some great interviews, but I was surprised that the interviewer was unaware that DJ Premier has worked with Rakim before. Maybe he was wondering about DJ Premier’s absence from Rakim’s Seventh Seal album…
Blackstar Bring Out Jay Electronica In London (Video)
May 10, 2011
Blackstar reunited in London for a show alongside Rakim & De La Soul on the bill. What most of the London fans didn’t expect was Mos Def & Talib Kweli bringing out Jay Electronica on stage
Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: BlackStar, De La Soul, Jay Electronica, Live Performance, Live Performances, London, mos def | No Comments »
BLITZ – 4/7/11: Back Wit Da BLITZ
April 7, 2011
(Rakim Voice) “It’s been a long time…we shouldn’t have left you…without a strong BLITZ to prep you! Times up…sorry we kept you!” We’ve been speeding the last few days, but we’re ‘back’ with the BLITZ! News & information from around the web in just a few clicks. Hop up on it!
Song Of The Day: Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul
Goin Way Back Show: The Year Was 1987
March 27, 2011
Digital Underground’s Money B is a Philly native although many people think he’s from California because of his legendary group. Check out his recent podcast with DJ 69 dedicated to classic hip hop from 1987. Apparently he’s going to do a podcast counting up ever year some of the best hip hop from those years. Additional commentary & tracklisting under the hood……
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, Radio | Tags: Classic Hip Hop, DJ 69, Money B, PODCAST, The Goin Way Back Show, The Year Was 1987 | No Comments »
Guest Column: ‘Face It. Hip Hop Is Grown’ by Kool Kila
March 11, 2011
Face It. Hip-Hop Is Grown.
Face it. Hip-hop is grown. Hip-hop has BEEN grown. And rap music is a full-fledged genre now. You can see hip-hop’s influence everywhere, fashion, movies, food, toys, etc. with both young artists and veterans alike. Grandparents can recite Run DMC, T.I., Public Enemy and Snoop Dogg. A few select radio stations across the country now play classic rap songs lightly in their rotation. XM/Sirius satellite radio has a channel dedicated to “old school.†And artists like Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Whodini, Sugarhill Gang constantly tour. As a matter of fact, Public Enemy tours abroad in Africa and Europe more than they do in the US.
Posted in Cover Story, Hip-Hop | Tags: Editorial, Guest Column, Kool Kila, Let's Face it. Hip Hop Is Grown | No Comments »
J. Cole – ‘Nothing Like It’
February 27, 2011
J. Cole did this thing with this freestyle joint right here. Maybe I’m getting old or something, but I still believe for the type of artist J. Cole is he curses way more than is necessary in his music. He’s not M.O.P., but his body count with the cursing is pretty high. I think he needs to stay passionate with his verses but I can tell he throws in the curses in an overt attempt to delivering an memorable line or two. Rakim didn’t curse alot but you still felt his verses & he was still gangsta nonetheless. If Ra cursed too often we may not have considered him one of the greatest ever because the message would have gotten lost in the profanity. Be passionate but don’t underdo it. Settle in but don’t force it. Maybe I’m wrong, but if I am please excuse my old man rant. In any case J. Cole did his thing with this joint right here though.
