Hip Hop culture #2

As far as I know "Paris Tonkar" was the first book relating the french graffiti scene. In 83 tags appear in Paris with crews like TCA, TCK and the famous PCP.

In 85, the BBC Crew (Jon, Ash2 and Jay) start to paint on walls @ Stalingrad. According to HH pionners like Dee Nasty (Zulu nation france) or Gabin Nuissier (Actuel Force) this is were all began.

In 86, the first subways and trains were burned and the painters start to be organised to avoid to be caught.

This book is definitly a "must have " for every graffiti fan, out of print for ages, you really got to catch it if you meet this "holy grail" in a second hand library. It features Bando, Azyle, Stem, Dea, Oeno, Nasty, Banga, Boxer, Jon, Ash2, Skki, Lokkiss, Mode 2, Darco and the FBI crew, Epson, Torpe, Numéro 6 and many more....

I've scanned my favorites pictures, and they speak louder than words....

















I will also recomand the video "Dégradation volontaire" staring the train painters scene in Paris in the mid 90's, if you want it just send me an email, I 'll send you the Divx .

Leave you with this track to illustate this post:
Fabe -Ca fait partie de mon passé

Peace!

Back in Business!

Back after 3 months of hard work in my festival.....
As I'm back with you guys, I need to find a rap banger to celebrate!

Let's go back in 97 with my favorite track of this long awaited LP from one of the best duo in the rap history. EPMD is an acronym for "Eric and Parrish making dollars". After their terrific album called "business never personal" released on Def Jam in 92, in which was introduced the Def Squad Family (Redman, K.Solo, Das Efx, Hurricane G), we had to wait 5 years for a new LP.

It's been worth to wait, probably my favorite album from this band from Brentwood, NYC. They were supposed to tour around Europe and make a stop closed to Lyon, France last spring but we're still waiting for them....Too bad!

Anyway, I'll leave you with "Ritcher scale" from my private Wax collec'. Please note that I'm selling the LP clean copy of "Back in Business", I'm talking about the DJ version on Def Jam, not the pic cover. Don't sleep cos' this is getting rare!

Peace!
EPMD -Richter scale

Most Wanted 12'

You got to listen to this track! Insane headbanger right here!!!

Mr D Original -Now you da man

I discovered that one on a JR Ewing mixtape, don't know that much about Mr D Original, don't even heard anything else from this emcee. The production on Now U da man is done by Solar and was released on Jihad Records in 95.

This track always appears in the 12' wantlist of the mid 90's nerds deejays I belong to and I never saw that wax for less than 25usd on the bay.

Anyway this is one of my fav indie track with the G-Dep "heads over wheels" and I'm still looking for it, as I never spend more than 15€ in a 12 inch I think I won't get it very soon.

Before I leave you out I just want to mention once again this crazy label which is called Jihad records, obscure indie label wich dropped crazy indy shits like "Language of the Drums" by Raw Division or "Whoses eyes" from Hollow Point.

Strong track? Na?

Roots Manuva -UK warriors-

One of my favorite track from this english mc signed on Big Dada, the hip hop branch of Ninja Tune.
Everybody knows the banger "Witness", "Juggle tings proper", "motion 5000" or "Dreamy days". This track UK warriors only appears on the 2002 remix album Dub come save me and got definetly the best riddim he used so far.
Check it out:
http://rapidshare.com/files/31854940/Roots_manuva_UK_warriors.mp3.html

I also remember driving to Geneva to see Roots Manuva gigg in l'Usine, we had great time exepted the multi bordrers controls and police checkings. Yo Arpe!

Zapp & Roger heritage

The band Zapp & Roger is peraphs best known for its huge electro-funk hit "More bounce to the ounce" co-produced by Bootsy Collins and covered by EPMD in the early 90s. This band also appears on the 2Pac hit "California love" produced by DrDre in 95.

Zapp & Roger released 3 albums between 80 and 83 called I, II & III. This groupbelongs with Evelyn Champagne King, Cameo, Midnight star or Shalamar to this "synth-funk" groups that really were on the hook between 1980 and 1983.

In France this "electro-funk" or "post pop disco" or whatever you call it remains as the favorite style of music for these kids who live in the public housing areas (also called banlieues in french or projects in american). These kids our new president (son of a bush, son of a bitch!) wants to eradicate. To these people electro funk from the early 80s is for music what Air Max shoes or the Lacoste polo-shirt is for clothing.....

I leave you with a song "93km/h" released last year, from Les Cautionneurs, a french rap band who probably grew up with the music I just talk about, this song is in my opinion a very good example of this Zapp heritage using vocals recored through a talk box fed by an electronic synthetiser:

http://rapidshare.com/files/31065113/03_93_km_h__radio_edit_.mp3.html

Also from my private 7inch collection a track from 81 from Quincy Jones "Ai No Corrida" with this distinctive synthetised sound that characterizethe early 80's:

http://rapidshare.com/files/31068130/Ai_no_corrida_-quincy_jones.mp3.html

Peace!