Posts Tagged Hip-Hop
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March 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 129: Ice Cube – “The Predator”
I rate Ice Cube – big time. Made it work for him in acting (wasn’t/isn’t great, yet isn’t flat out terrible, etc…) but really his true strength, apart from building a business empire, a brand, is his rapping, or even – actually – his writing. Dude is one of the great lyricists in hip-hop. A pioneer even. […]Archive
February 16, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 125: Gang Starr – “Step In The Arena”
This is the sort of straight-up banger that makes me pleased I signed up for and carried on this ridiculous ‘Challenge’. Here I am going through old albums I missed at the time. Mostly finding gems. A few duds. A few ‘who really cares’, a few ‘you had to be theres/time/place’ but mostly finding gems…then there’s something like this. You’d […]Archive
February 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 123: Digital Underground – “Sex Packets”
Yes, yes, I know The Humpty Dance – because who doesn’t? Even people who are sure they don’t know that or maybe don’t recognise the title do actually know that song. But I had never heard the whole album. I had heard one or two other Digital Underground tracks, but never a whole album – and this, their debut, is one of […]Archive
February 4, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 121: Jungle Brothers – “Done By The Forces of Nature”
I know the Jungle Brothers. Love them. But I know them only from single tracks. From their overall sound, from their inclusion in mixtapes and compilations, DJ sets too. I had never heard any of their albums but as soon as I heard this I loved it. Not just the content (the feel and flow) but the production. This album […]Archive
January 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 344
Avantdale Bowling Club, Avantdale Bowling Club (2018) I was sold on this on first listen – I’ve liked most of what Tom Scott has done ahead of this project, but this is the one. And in fact when I reviewed the album I talked about it being the local-act album of the year; more than […]Archive
January 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 116: Queen Latifah – “All Hail The Queen”
I was going to say that I was very much Team Neneh Cherry back in this day – but a) I still am. And b) it wasn’t about choosing sides. I just mean that – for whatever reason – I never listened to Queen Latifah. I was aware of her, heard a song or two, […]Archive
December 21, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 147: Tom Scott (Avantdale Bowling Club)
Welcome to episode 147 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. Now – as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library to access each new episode; or via Anchor/FM you can get […]Archive
December 10, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Avantdale Bowling Club: Avantdale Bowling Club
Avantdale Bowling Club Avantdale Bowling Club Years Gone By Avantdale Bowling Club is the name of the new project by rapper Tom Scott. He was the voice of Home Brew and @ Peace, the Average Rap Band too. A prolific rhyme-artist, Scott delighted in parading juvenilia; displaying awkward truths, social conscience and biting political commentary […]Archive
August 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Film Preview: The Man From Mo’Wax – Exclusive NZ Screening & Afterparty (Wgtn/Akld)
James Lavelle is a legend of electronic music and DJ culture – and his label Mo’Wax has been influential and inspiring. Its story and James’ story are shared in the documentary film, The Man From Mo’Wax. This September in Wellington on Saturday, September 8 at The Roxy Cinema and in Auckland the following week, Saturday […]Archive
June 16, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 399
Madvillian, Madvillainy (2004) So this guy buzzes me the other day, says “What do you make of this record, any good?” And I tell him that Madvillain – the pairing of MF DOOM and Madlib – was golden as far as I was concerned; like a really big deal for me. It arrived when I […]Archive
May 27, 2018 by Simon Sweetman