T.R.O.Y.

Tri-Pack Wafer: Abstract Tribe Unique, Leaders Of The New School, Yaaggfu Front

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT

"I hope one of his peoples could hook him up with a tri-pack/ That's three different flavors/ Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry wafers" -- MF Doom, "Kookies"

Abstract Tribe Unique, Leaders Of The New School, and Yaggfu Front Look Towards The Future

When I listen to Yaggu Front's "Future Shock," I am reminded of Bruce McCall's irreverent and visually arresting presentation from May 2008 titled "Nostalgia for a future that never happened." In this talk (embedded below) the sardonic illustrator and author (known primarily for his many well-received New Yorker covers) discusses his revulsion/fascination with commercial art from the mid-twentieth century that forecasts the arrival of a post-WWII high-tech utopia. You know, hilariously innaccurate and vaguely disturbing visions of flying cars, silver jumpsuits, and robot maids by '87 at the latest. McCall skewers his own source materials by redrawing them in a manner that mocks their naive hubris, implicit jingoism, and subtle creepiness while celebrating their imaginative beauty.

Whether by design or accident, Yaggfu's "Future Shock" also makes me laugh. The deceptively simple, sarcastic lyrics successfully contrast hokey visions of futuristic bliss with the massively disappointing, increasingly hectic realities of modernity. The emcees pull this off so well in fact that I feel emboldened enough to violate the rules of valid criticism. For this review, I am embracing the fallacious yet attractive notion that in any given rap song, sample usage can be regarded as an ideologically-driven decision that mirrors the messages found in the lyrics.

Yaggfu Front - Future Shock

I want to believe. C'mon, the twinkling pianos, the unusually warm and fuzzy orchestral horns - this has to be an intentional, mock Twilight Zone-ish ironic commentary on white-dominated retro-future aesthetics, right? With a few knowing jabs at mid-'80s rap culture and its distinct brand of robotic groupthink and unapologetic fetishism of the latest cars and couture thrown in for balance? The Puma tracksuit as space attire? The 808 as automaton musician? No?

Ok, maybe I'm reaching. But the one discernible message of "Future Shock" I am certain is not a product of wishful thinking is the idea that the heralded future (actually, the present) is still an uncertain, unkind place for the poor and unlucky. For many, this does not constitute a profound revelation. But if Yaggfu are, on some level, poking fun at the upbeat prognostication of The Jetsons by positing wonders like online billing and laser eye surgery as vicious signifiers of perpetual inequity, the song can be viewed as poignant as well. Even more so when race is considered; the post WWII technocratic wonderlands of magical highways and sprawling, mechanized exurbs were not meant to include minorities. Robert Moses was pretty adamant about that.

Afro-Futurists admire artists like Deltron, Dr. Octagon, and Andre 3000 for their neo Parliament-Funkadelic extravagance. Their spacey, scatalogical vaunts and costumed antics are interpreted as signifiers of a forward-thinking movement in the direction of transcendent liberation. The mind-forged manacles and alienation that are the legacy of slavery are figuratively broken by the embrace of the type of technological ingenuity that fueled the careers of Lee "Scratch" Perry and Afrika Bambataa, among others. These are compelling concepts and we should not dismiss these artists as mere daydreamers, but rap's exploration of the future is hardly limited to artless garish solo artist indulgence in cosmic tropes with little to no discretion.

Leaders Of The New School - The End Is Near

Like Yaggfu Front, Leaders Of The New School and Abstract Tribe Unique view the future as a mixed bag at best, with most of the spoils going to the same undeserving heirs who seem to maintain an indefinite stranglehold on wealth. On "The End Is Near" the four future-conscious Public Enemy disciples from the rougher side of Robert Moses' Long Island futureworld impress with a dizzying display of vocal styles. While the normally boisterous Yaggfu Front calmly recite their lines to describe nanotech drudgery, the Leaders are besides themselves with pre-millenial tension. Dinco D spits out non-sequiters just like Uniblab while Charlie Brown is damned near hysterical, carrying on about a coming apocalypse. Busta is surprisingly the voice of reason in this instance. His style on "The End Is Near" (click here for demo version plus other LONS gems) is frenetic even for him but he delivers a sober meditation on the issues of artistic integrity facing the hip hop genre as it morphs into a full-fledged power industry.

Abstract Tribe Unique - Torn

This is also the main topic of Abstract Tribe Unique's "Torn." "Torn" sounds like urgent panic; the hi/low-tech, dusty-but-digital organ sample jettisons Abstract Rude's robust preacherly style towards the firmament. But Abstract Rude's presentation is ultimately very down-to-earth despite his penchant for mystical medicine show theatrics. "Torn" tackles the subject of the future with skill and gracel Abstract rude examines the arrival of the new generation of rappers reared on information overload and bemoans the glacial pace of progress but retains a sense of hope for the dawn of a new consciousness. Flying cars or not. -- Thun

Best Of VLS (Vol.3): "Numerology"

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 03:00 AM PDT

Who really has the time to go through all the VLS blogs out there and siphon out the dope? We're going to go ahead and do that for you. Since I'm always on the hunt for random obscure tracks from the 90's, that I sometimes don't even remember the names of, I've accumulated a pretty expansive VLS collection. I've been a damn good selector up to this point, with music at least, so I don't think you'll be disappointed by the quality that will be presented in this series of compilations.

Now, the last thing we would want to do is to not give credit to the original uploaders. So, I'm going to list a whole bunch of VLS blogs that I have visited, at one time or another, below. If you feel that something here came from your blog, leave a comment. I also would like to note that the tags FTD, BYL, SOUP, BYN, CMS and others have shown up repeatedly through my VLS collection. So, props to them, whoever they are, wherever they are. But, to be honest with you, I can't stand having tags on mp3s. It's an obsessive compulsive keep it neat thing, not a dis, so most tags have been removed.

This is important: Some of these compilations will be posted here and some will be exclusive to the Skypager mailing list. So, if you haven't signed up yet, now may be a good time to do that. Just look for it on the right side of this page and put your email in there or click here. Volume 1 was posted here and Volume 2 was sent out via Skypager. I'm going to try to include the instrumentals if I have them. Also, sometimes I might throw in something that isn't from a single or an EP just to fit the mix or theme. So, no, there was not a 12" release for 7 Degrees Of Elevation. Sorry about that.

Numerology:

01. 3-2-1 - Rock The Ruff Raps

02. 4th Quarter - C-Notes And Grants

03. 5one6 - Dirty Little Bitch

04. 36Zero - Maintain

05. 215 Asasinz - Guarenteed Hot Shit

06. S.C.U. - 1 2 3

07. 5050 - Something Ain't Right (J.Force Remix)

08. B-1 - Verbal Affairs

09. The B.U.M.S - 6 Figures And Up

10. Kreem Team - Three Hots And A Cot

11. Native Nuttz - 40 Oz Of Funk