The Lunchtime Listening Sessions #1
The Corner’s new weekly feature will supply you with the finest new and classic, local and international music. Today we take you back in time with Buckwild and O.C, provide newness via Wiz Khalifa, Currency and David Dallas, and tune out with some Dilla. Hit the jump for the first instalment.
1) The Dusty Record
Buckwild feat. OC – Burn Me Slow
Still Diggin Composition EP (1998)
O.C. and Buckwild were one of several top-class combinations D.I.T.C had to offer. Along with Showbiz and A.G, and Big L and Lord Finesse, Diggin In The Crates were an instant recipe for quality from every angle in the mid to late 90’s.
Burn Me Slow is just one shell in the group’s arsenal of classics. The looped key’s and O.C’s homage to weed smoking provide for a quality atmosphere, and take the listener back to a more discerning time in hip hop. It’s strange to think this track doesn’t sound old, even when it was released 11 years ago. Check the herbal metaphor.
2) Top 5 Rookies of ‘09….so far.
Wiz Khalifa & Currency – The Checkpoint
How Fly Mixtape (2009)
“I never put my foot on the brake, oh no”
Has ‘mixtape’ become another name for ‘independently-released-digital-album’? Well, judging by the quality of the free online releases this year, yes it has. The difference is, ‘mixtapes’ are free. The title is also just another way of saying ‘hype-building-before-signing’, but then again, that all depends on if you’re good enough for that title. Now, these two are.
Besides various other parallels to Drake’s So Far Gone, How Fly shows that as individual artists, Wiz and Currency are more than ready for a full-length album. The two are different in their delivery, Currency with his southern drawl and focus on flow, and Wiz with his clear, technically sound verses and knack for hooks. In 15 tracks the pair provide a diverse range of sounds to one of the best projects this year, be it ‘mixtape’ or ‘album’. Both highly anticipated ’09 rookies, this project will no doubt further propel their buzz to dizzying heights.
It was difficult to choose just one song from How Fly, but The Checkpoint stood out right from the beginning with its simple soul loop and general melancholy feel.
3) New Zealand Spotlight
David Dallas – Front To Back
Something Awesome (2009)
“Don’t know the verse, then repeat the chorus…..”
We recently gave you a heads up on D dot Dallas’ overseas exposure. This follows his trip to SXSW earlier this year where he convinced Americans that it’s sweet to listen to hip hop from over here, and that we are in no way influenced by Australian artists’ strange attempts at creating something of note.
Beside Young Sid, David Dallas kills everything else in NZ right now. Check Something Awesome when it drops next week.
4) Got Beats?
J-Dilla – Milk Money
Jay Stay Paid (2009)
