Comments on: Who’s bringing New York back?

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Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:03:08 +0000

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By: EmAy

EmAy — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:20:35 +0000

Damn son. I feel you 100% on this post. Production is crucial. And I don’t think that some people are realizing this like you’ve said. I think a lot of them consider a certain style to be “New York” and just sit on that without developing an original style. An example would be Primo, as soon as I hear a Primo beat, i know it’s him because he’s so original and unique when it comes to the sounds he chooses. And originality isn’t even THAT crucial to me, if you sound like someone else, it isn’t a huge deal as long as you’re dope at it. But if you seem to be imitating someone, AND you’re wack at it, then something is wrong. I believe that’s what’s happening for a lot of the East Coast artists. I’m not from NY, but a lot of my beats are highly influenced by the New York and Detroit style.. and when it comes to bringing New York back, we’ll see what happens. I don’t think the labels are giving some of these artists a big chance when it comes to promoting their cities. A lot of my favourite East Coast artists are STILL unsigned… We’ll see what happens, I’m not too educated in that area. haha.

By: Dart_Adams

Dart_Adams — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:51:45 +0000

To me, there are a fair amount of NY emcees doing the damn thing Joell Ortiz, Emilio Rojas, Donny Goines, Mickey Factz, Torae, Skyzoo, and the list goes on. They have excellent production as well…the problem lies with the “bring NY back” mindset period. The definition of winning is getting on the radio and selling so that means that any NY rapper that’s trying to “win” needs to change their rhyme style or the kind of beats/sound they’d normally go for in order get spins (i.e. MIMS “This Is Why I’m Hot, DJ Webstar “Chicken Noodle Soup”, & Maino “Hi Haters”). If NY kept it identity and focused on making quality music and selecting the beats from the producers in NY still making fire in the NY Hip Hop aesthetic they wouldn’t be in this predicament now.

BTW, I like Joe Budden’s normal production but the beats on “Padded Room” were a significant step down from “Padded Room” released months previously. The “Slaughterhouse” project production is sick so far. Nice write up.

One.

By: soulsupreme

soulsupreme — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:23:25 +0000

@Alpha-bet I really feel like Los Angeles and the Midwest (Detroit especially) are making some of the most amazing music right now, experimental or otherwise. It’s not in a box or formulaic. When I hear Flying Lotus, Sa-Ra, Exile, Black Milk or Denaun Porter I can hear the influences but at the same time their pushing the music somewhere new. Even in the The South, Nottz and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League are making dope beats too. I’m waiting to see who the new up-and-coming beat makers from New York will be because right now its a really short stock.

Thanks for the comments, appreciate it.
peace.

By: soulsupreme

soulsupreme — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:06:26 +0000

@Sho & @Knowledge of The Union

You both make great points:

1) Southern artists do stick to a fewer producers and because of it the album is much more cohesive.
2) Good lyrics over wack beats make wack songs, but for me a good beat can carry wack lyrics. Dope beats, dope rhymes, that’s all it takes, in that order.

NY hip-hop is definitely missing that consistency in their releases. It’s more of let me get a good 1st single, rather than lets make a cohesive album like (i.e. Blu & Exile). I hope Torae and Marco Polo do something different with the Double Barrel project, but based on what I’ve heard so far its not looking good.

Thanks for the comments, appreciate it.
peace.

By: Knowledge of The Union

Knowledge of The Union — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:23:30 +0000

I totally agree. Good lyrics over wack beats make wack songs, but for me a good beat can carry wack lyrics. I’m not sure if the problem is everyone trying to hearken back to the golden age, or if it’s that they think their shit don’t stink so they can make whatever wack beat with a NYC boom-bap feel and it’s automatically good. NY cats are too lazy. Not that other regions are putting out straight gold (Detroit/Midwest notwithstanding), but it’s like NY really forgot how to make good music. Dope beats, dope rhymes, that’s all it takes, in that order.

Sho is right also. Few rappers can pull off that “beat from everybody” approach to an album. Rappers need to get back to working closely with a few producers per album. I haven’t heard Ross’s newest album yet, but his last one was ill and cohesive. Ross ain’t no genius, yet he knows how to make better albums than most cats out there on the mainstream level.

By: Alpha-bet

Alpha-bet — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:16:17 +0000

Lot of the producers bring the best new york ‘SOUND’ now is not even FROM NY. That plays a part, speaking as a producer from the midwest, your influences from the east, south & west all hold the same weight. They grew up on Tha Dogg Pound’s Dogg Food the same as Black Moon’s Enta da Stage. So alot of time those producers ear my be a little more diverse, as you can see most of the producers killin it now are from the south or midwest.

Good read & article

By: Sho

Sho — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:28:16 +0000

lol Nas-itis. The Rick Ross album is dope. I think the South sticks to producers that give ‘em hits, so the album has an actual feel to it. While new york just sounds like a mismatch of aight beats but the album has no flow to it.

Jeezy/Shawty Redd
T.I./DJ Toomp
Ross/JUSTICE League

On each of their albums the producers have like 5 tracks on each album.

By: Reyn

Reyn — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:28:04 +0000

Keep it Moving… dope as usual @soulsupreme