Tag: JAY DOGGZ

The BXtraordinary One: The Introduction of Alex Villafaña

Refreshing, ambitious, someone with actual talent, not the usual thing that you hear everywhere else and definitely an extraordinary one with a voice that represents hunger, wanting to succeed, but also being thankful and showing love to those he appreciates. Not forgetting where he comes from and where he is going. Alex Villafaña is a dope upcoming artist from the Highbridge section of The Bronx whose also a current Hostos Community College graduate. I personally had the honor of meeting this dude over a year ago when we were in the same Linguistics class. Of course, his image makes him noticeable and hard to ignore but with a voice over a fresh and polished hip hop/trap beat, Villafaña keeps your attention. The homie who you can definitely sit down and actually have a discussion with about hip hop, a Jay-Z or a Nas album two, he’s definitely what I would call, according to one of his songs, the “BXtraordinary” one. His mixtape “Looking For The Title” explains it all. It’s a body of work that’s about a young man whose trying to find his way and who is on his way to the top at the same time. Taking and learning from what life is giving to him, not forgetting where he comes from, using that to make him both a better person and artist. His latest single, which is a freestyle joint called “Nas Album Done”, is something just a little more dope though. So short, so simple but straight to the point. Love to witness dope talent from my hometown. More reminders that not all rap is wack, especially ones who can actually rap. To check out his music, his SoundCloud is Alex Villafana, add him on Facebook at Alex Villafaña and follow him on Instagram @villianhustle.

The Story of UTFO: Dedication To The Educated Rapper

It was a normal day. As usual, I was scrolling down my Facebook news feed until I got a notification from a post in the Tools of War group. It was a shared picture that belonged to Mix MasterIce. He was holding a hand that belonged to The Educated Rapper being hospitalized. I saw all of the comments that were positive and hopeful so I too also was hoping that he will be okay. This morning I woke up to the same thing as usual, go to my Facebook and find out the Educated Rapper has passed away from cancer from a friend who posted it. Absolutely shocked and devastated about the news. Another great loss in hip hop. For those who need a quick educating, UTFO is a hip hop group from the 80’s who was known for their classic hit “Roxanne, Roxanne.” The song was a B-side of their other hit “Hangin’ Out.” UTFO stands for Untouchable Force Organization and consisted of four members. There’s Kangol Kid, the guy who was known for rocking the freshest Kangol hats, even still to this day he does, Doctor Ice, Mix MasterIce and of course, the late great Educated Rapper. Before the group, Kangol Kid and Doctor Ice were both originally known as The Keystone Dancers in Brooklyn and were dancers for another hip hop group, Whodini. UTFO signed with Fred Munao in 1984 for Select Records and the group’s hit “Roxanne, Roxanne” was produced by the R&B group, Full Force who appeared as the bullies in the hip hop classic film “House Party.” Their classic “Roxanne, Roxanne” was the beginning of a mid-1980’s war that had two different Roxanne’s in question. There was The Real Roxanne and then it brought the attention of then 14 year old, Roxanne Shanté from Queensbridge, who was Marley Marl’s protégée at the time and it started what they call the “Roxanne Wars.” UTFO’s song has the most answer records in hip hop history. Roxanne’s answer to the record “Roxanne’s Revenge” made her an instant legend in the game. The song was released in late 1984 and became an instant hit with 250,000 copies sold. After the “Roxanne Wars”, the Educated Rapper didn’t appear on the group’s second album, 1986’s “Skeezer Pleezer” for his own personal reasons, except the song “Pick Up The Pace”, which was featured in the movie Krush Groove. After everything, the guys went their own separate ways to pursue their own thing. They are still very active today with producing, writing, DJ’ing and dancing and The Educated Rapper graduated from college, actually living up to his name. Also, Kangol Kid, along with Shaunda Lumpkin, founded The Mama Luke foundation, which is hip hop’s way of fighting against breast cancer. With just one popular song, UTFO’s legacy in hip hop will still live on and remain forever, as well as The Educated Rapper. Rest In Peace. Much Love!

Bigger And Deffer: The 30th Anniversary

Another hip hop classic that has reached 30 years. Coming from Queens, LL was still a young, ambitious, and fresh faced guy on the scene. On June 2nd, 1987, LL released his second album “Bigger and Deffer.” Compared to his debut “Radio”, BAD was definitely what the title says, bigger and deffer and so was LL himself. Still not quite there yet as far as growth as an artist, LL still had the cool and laid back personality, he still had the style but this album was still a step further than his previous. Besides the singles, the album was full of braggadocio, lots of DJ scratches, and a “rap ballad” that was the first to be commercially successful. The album also reminds me of Jazzy Jeff and Will aka The Fresh Prince with its early hip hop days sound, when hip hop was just beginning to become something much more bigger. The beginning of a golden era. It’s not a top 5 LL album, but it’s definitely an album I’ll recommend when it comes to 80’s hip hop.

Wu-Tang Forever: The 20th Anniversary

As a hip hop fan and lover, sometimes I feel like it’s impossible to keep up with so many different albums that are out there, whether new or old. Today, June 3rd, 2017, I find out that it’s the 20th anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan’s second album “Wu-Tang Forever.” First thought that came to my head was “Yo! I never really sat down and heard this joint from start to finish. Immediately went to my YouTube app, typed in the name of the album in my search engine and finally gave it a listen. I saw the playlist has 27 songs in total, so I knew this album is a double disc joint. As I’m listening to it, I honestly wasn’t impressed right away. I guess I have to give it a few more listens because to me the production alone, I wasn’t a fan on. The second half of the album is amazing though. How crazy is that? It definitely balances the album out for me. For me, this album gave all 9 members an equal amount of time to have their own personal shine. A few guest appearances, lyrics about consciousness, influence of the teachings of the Five Percenters, and of course in true hip hop fashion, gotta give us stories about the harsh realities of the ghetto. What I love most about the album is that you can feel how closer and stronger the Wu is as a unit, as a group, as brothers, as a family. The title is definitely fitting for this album.

Everything Is Everything: The Legacy of Lauryn Hill

She was only 18 years old when the world got the chance to see and know this young girl. She appeared on the 1993 movie Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. Then, when she was in high school, she was approached by Pras Michel, the cousin of Wyclef Jean to join a hip hop group who named themselves The Fugees and released only 2 albums. Then in 1998, she released her debut album, which is considered to be one of hip hop’s most highly respected and classic albums of all time. With her smooth and beautiful singing voice and a hard to ignore, hard hitting, in your face, rap style that caught the people’s attention, Lauryn Hill is definitely someone in the industry who is well respected and loved. With hits like “Killing Me Softly”, “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, “Everything Is Everything”, “The Sweetest Thing”, “To Zion”, or even “Ex-Factor”, Lauryn was not only a hip hop superstar but she also gave us that 1970’s soul and lyrics about love, compassion, life and gave us knowledge, she was also considered to be Neo Soul as well. She had a sound and style that was sort of similar to Erykah Badu’s or D’Angelo. I think I speak for a lot of hip hop fans when I say that it would be dope for Lauryn to drop another album. People Have been speaking about it for years after she left the spotlight after her 2002 MTV Unplugged performance. It was one of MTV’s most memorable moments. Lauryn opened up her heart and said a lot of things that she was feeling while dealing with the industry and what it did to her spiritually and mentally, freeing herself from burden and pain while she spoke her stories and sang her songs. Of course, there’s also another side of Lauryn that was often spoken about. Stories of her showing hours late to her own shows and disappointing fans but still being able to put on a great show, Lauryn still remains one of the greatest to ever do it.

The Life and Celebration of DJ Scott La Rock

Yesterday on May 19th, 2017, the legendary DJ Scott La Rock finally gets his dedication and respects right here in The Bronx. Right on Kingsbridge Road, which is way Uptown on the 4 train, there was a street name celebration for the legend himself. DJ Scott La Rock was part of one of hip hop’s dopest crews who goes by the name Boogie Down Productions. Boogie Down Productions had its members The Teacha himself, the Blastmaster KRS-One and another DJ, who is also doing photography as well today, named D-Nice. 30 years ago, back in March, the group’s debut album “Criminal Minded” was released and five months after its release, Scott La Rock was tragically killed which changed everything within the group. KRS-One eventually went solo and even started going by “The Teacha.” BDP’s debut album not only had the combination sounds of both hip hop and reggae music but the album touched on subjects about the conflict of Where hip hop first derived from in the 80’s, which is where the classics “South Bronx” and “The Bridge Is Over” talks about. Being at that celebration was just something that was definitely an iconic moment for me just like so many other moments in my life. It was also something that made me proud of being from The Bronx. Made me proud as a hip hoppa. Even though I’m not from that particular area in The Bronx, it’s still something that was well overdue for the fallen legend. So nice to see fans, his family and other hip hop legends like Kool DJ Red Alert again, hip hop’s very own first MC Coke La Rock, Jazzy Jay, who is incredible on the turntables, and later on Popmaster Fabel, who is a dope pop locker and dancer. Hip hop is definitely deserving of so many things and more. I’m just happy I’m alive to have these experiences instead of the ones when it All first happened long ago.

What A Good Look. Kim Goodlook Seabrook

*ALERT*MEDIA*BLOG
It is said that laughter is good for the soul, so when I was invited to a comedy show to hear a Spoken Word Artist, I thought, hmmm this will be different. I had know idea how different…

The Black National Theatre of Harlem housed What To Do Ent. comedy show hosted by JC Best in conjunction with comedians OC the Bus Driver and Kenny Woo.

The opening act was a Spoken Word artist by the name of Kim Goodlook Seabrook. Seabrook is a Bronx native Spoken Word artist and radio personality. You can find her weekly on one of  New York City’s budding internet radio stations, I AXIS Radio. With her show Keepin’ it 100 with Kim and Della.

As the night got on its way and following her introduction from JC Best, Kim seemed to float out onto the stage, very poised and confident. She immediately surveyed the crowd and attached with the audience. Kim performed three pieces that night, Cocaine, A Woman’s Identity and Got Dam. The three pieces were very different in content but the same in rawness and reality.

The first piece, cocaine, as u would guest was creative writing about the opioid drug. It spoke of how it seems to be your friend in a time of despair however, just like all fairweather friends it let’s you down in the end. The twist and metephores GoodLook used was so vivid, at one time I literally felt chills as she performed. The second piece was dedicated to all woman kind. Kim relayed the message of don’t lose yourself being a wife, a mother an employee or whatever capacity it is you’re in day to day. The message was always remember to keep your identity as a woman first.
Ms.Seabrook did not forget about the men who was in attendance, she delivered a bold piece titled Got Damn, which focused on the struggle of the Black Man. Seabrook spewed so many truths and nuances about being a Black Man in America it received a standing ovation when it was over. This piece touched on nagging baby mothers, police harassment and much more, not to give too much away, this piece touches and goes into the depths of trying to survive in Amerikkka as a Black Man. Got Damn!
Once Kim bowed out from her performance, there were murmurs in the audience of wows and she’s deep along with she was a show all by herself. Sitting in the audience and to hear and see people’s genuine reaction to her tells a truth I couldn’t make up. Kim Goodlook Seabrook is a force to be reckoned with in the spoken word realm. Her sensual voice her command of tje stage and her piuse and cadence is unmatched. She is a humble person who exudes great energy. I recommend everyone see her live performance, you will not be disappointed. Until you get a chance to hear her live, listen to her pieces on SoundCloud…

Written by Sugarhill Sky.
*No funds were given or services bartered for this write up.
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Sugarhillsky13@gmail.com

Share My World: The 20th Anniversary

“…And the most innovative female singer of our decade…. Many have describe her as the paramount, the most soulful, the most prolific…. Who else is accepted in the streets as well as by their peers?” says the man of the voice that is being played in the beginning of this classic album. Behind the masterminds of Trackmasters’ very own Tone & Poke, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis have also put this magic into creating this hip hop/R&B masterpiece that we all know and love today. After the street girl persona on “What’s the 411?” and the personal, heartfelt, dark and depressing but deeply loved and appreciated “My Life”, Mary steps out on her own, away from Diddy to share her world in a totally different and new light that showed a more positive, uplifting and hopeful Mary with an attitude that was still looking forward to more positive things in life. 20 years ago on April 22nd, 1997, Mary J. Blige released her third album, “Share My World.” With an opening statement that best describes Mary’s impact and contribution to music, the intro further goes on with previous hit songs and award show appearances in which she won in her career at the time leading up to a perfect current new moment in her career that starts off with a Mobb Deep sample loop and “I Can Love You” comes in. “I Can Love You” is the second song on the album and the second single released in July 1997. The song features Lil’ Kim and it’s a song about convincing a man how she’s a better lover for him than the current woman he’s with. The music video takes place in a random woods in a abandoned little house and there’s a party going on. In the middle of the party, Mary notices the man she was with hanging out with another woman. She walks away mad in the end. The next song “Love Is All We Need” is the first single released from the album but the third track on the album. An inspirational and uplifting song about loving one another and being in peace with each other. It samples Rick James’ “Moonchild.” It goes both ways though, one as lovers and the other as a people. The song features Nas. There’s a hidden version without Nas but the music video takes place in a downtown office in NY where Mary plays as fashion designer, then as an important woman on the job or an executive and then as models ripping the runway and the video ends with her on the roof of a building rocking a fly fur coat. “Round and Round” is a top 5 joint on this album to me personally. Thanks to DJ Premier, it has the same sample loop as Jay-Z’s “D’evils” on his 1996 debut, “Reasonable Doubt.” The song definitely has that underground NYC hip hop sound with a dark like scary tone like a villain’s theme song but with a heavy bass hip hop beat and Mary’s raw and raspy vocals. It’s in true Mary style. “Share My World” starts with an interlude about appreciating Mary’s beautiful blackness. An interlude that turns into a song about appreciating Mary for who she is as a black woman. Being the man who loves and appreciates her for her natural beauty and features and not for what she’s not. Mary has stated herself that during this album, she wanted to touch on subjects that talked about appreciation for her looks because she was in a relationship with someone who complained she was “dark or light enough” and that she had hair that was either not “straight, long, or nappy enough.” “Seven Days”, the fourth single released from the album and ironically, the seventh joint on the album about a friend who turns into a lover. Guest appearance from George Benson who appears in the music video playing guitar and singing at the end. “It’s On”, which was written, produced, and featured by R. Kelly is a love making song. “Thank You Lord (Interlude)” a lovely short ballad skit that was written by Kelly Price. So soothing and beautiful. “Missing You”, a slow ballad about missing someone’s presence but she’s not “in love” with him. “I’m not in love, it’s just some kinda thing I’m going thru, goin’ thru, goin’ thru and it’s not infatuation, ain’t nothing goin’ on between me and you, me and you, me and you but I dream about it every night baby, wanting you here with me and making love to me….” The first verse says it all. “Everything”, the third single released but the eleventh joint. One of Mary’s signature songs. Samples The Stylistic’s 1971 hit song “You Are Everything” but has a whole new twist to it. The music video takes place in Hawaii where Mary is looking beautiful in different hairstyles and looks and can’t forget to mention the very underrated So So Def Remix featuring Jermaine Dupri and Roc. The remix got inspiration from D-Nice’s “My Name Is D-Nice.” In the beginning, Mary says “I’m Mary J. Blige, I’m, I’m, I’m Mary J. Blige.” The music video was similar except she’s not in Hawaii, it’s just her, JD and Roc dancing all over and a bunch of Mary’s faces are all over the place repeatedly. The hip hop soul queen’s crown sits more comfortably on her head for that one… big time! “Keep Your Head”, another personal favorite of mine off the album. This song has a similar beat to Nas’ remix to “Street Dreams.” It also has that hip hop vibe like “Round and Round” and “I Can Love You.” Another song about staying positive and trying to stay positive. Mary almost goes into storytelling style like Slick Rick about how she tries to be a more positive individual herself. “Can’t Get You Off My Mind” is another dope hip hop song that features The LOX. Mary gave them their first taste of success when she introduced them to Diddy back then. “Get To Know You Better” is my top favorite on the album. This song gives me Neo Soul vibes. I love everything about this song. The bass, the beat, the vocals, it’s easily the best one. Mary goes into her positive spirituality mode again on this joint. “Why do we go thru things unnecessary, why can’t we understand that our love is the key….”, my favorite line in the song. The chorus puts me in a trance and I get lost in the stacking smooth vocals. I love it. “Searching” is my second favorite on the album just for the sick hip hop beat and the clever way Mary basically remade the Roy Ayers song with the same name and she even got into her 1970’s soul singing Ways by scatting the same way Roy’s song sounds. Mary’s ability to bring hip hop and soul together, this song is the perfect example of that, in fact, it’s a top 3 example of Mary’s songs with the perfect combination of hip hop and soul to me. “Our Love”, a beautiful Natalie Cole remake and the album ends with “Not Gon’ Cry”, which was originally on the “Waiting to Exhale” soundtrack back in 1995. “Share My World” is my second favorite Mary J. Blige album because I loved it’s positive attitude, emotional honesty, underground NYC hip hop/Neo soul sound that to me was far more interesting to me than “My Life.” Everything about this album is absolutely perfect and the beginning of a new and improved Mary. 20 years later, Mary is still sitting very high on her throne and has a new album releasing in 6 days. This album is definitely on the list of a lot of people’s top Mary J. Blige albums. Definitely a classic right here. From start to finish. Mary, Mary, Mary…. live ya life girl!

Redman Meets Reggie Noble

One of Jersey’s very own. To me, he’s one of hip hop’s most underrated rappers of all time. Very little appreciation for someone with so much energy, flow and bars on the mic, also can be alongside Wu-Tang Clan’s very own Method Man. They call him Redman, Reggie Noble is the birth name. My very first time actually getting familiar with him was the “How High” movie. Very funny and still hip hop with a bangin’ soundtrack that fit the times and the movie. I also got to experience his music because of his 1992 album “Whut? Thee Album.” My first time hearing the album, I instantly fell in love with it’s hardcore sound and heavy bass beats and samples. Kinda reminds me of a Gang Starr album. To come from a place where there are other hip hop heavyweights like Queen Latifah and Naughty By Nature, it’s safe to say that Redman should be getting the same recognition. I personally never hear about a Redman discussion or been in One with other hip hop fans. I personally don’t know too much of his discography but I can definitely discuss how much of a monster he is on the mic. I especially can never get over joints like “Da Rockwilder” with Method Man and “Tonight’s Da Night” and “I’ll Bee Dat.” Those are Redman’s most standout joints to me but the man is can spit and bring that fire like no other. His wild personality and comical ways is what keeps the people’s attention on him. Watching or listening to Redman is literally like Redman meets Reggie Noble.

The Abstract Poetic: The Legacy of Q-Tip

This man’s contribution in hip hop is what makes him the legend that he is today. Started off in a group, went solo, also DJ’s, produces, act and has a pen game and voice that’s easily recognizable when you hear it. Definitely someone whose one of a kind and shares the same zodiac as me. Someone whose a huge influence to me both personally and creatively, he also told me to my face that he liked my style, and I could never forget that. He goes by name Q-Tip aka The Abstract Poetic. The story of Q-Tip begins back in the 70’s when he was a child living in St. Albans, Queens and met his would be close friend, almost brothers and group mate named Malik Taylor aka Phife Dawg. Together these two were peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard, they’re one of hip hop’s greatest duos together on the mic. Fast forward to 1985, Q-Tip gets his name and it represents “on the Queens tip.” At this time, he also had another name as a solo artist named MC Love Child and would occasionally team up with high school friend and DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and together they were a rapper and DJ duo. They made demo tapes along with Phife, he was known as Crush Connection but the group, later on known as the group we all know and love today as A Tribe Called Quest, was fully complete when Jarobi joined and Phife only joined because of Jarobi. They got their name in 1988 when the Jungle Brothers gave them their name. The Jungle Brothers is another legendary hip hop group who also attended the same high school. The guys signed a demo deal with Geffen Records and created a 5 song demo that was later included on their debut album the year. Before their debut album released, Q-Tip appears on 2 songs on the Jungle Brothers debut album called “Black Is Black” and “The Promo.” The group signs with Jive Records and on April 10th, 1990, also Q-Tip’s 20th birthday, “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was released. The album was a very youthful, friendly and uplifting but dope. Frontman Q-Tip being heard on most of the songs. We didn’t start to see the real lyrical side of the group until 1991’s “The Low End Theory.” This is album is my favorite Tribe album because majority of my favorite songs from the group are on this album, “Midnight Marauders” was the perfect album though. No skips, it was a banger from start to finish. “Beats, Rhymes and Life” had a more laid back vibe and it introduced the sounds of the late great J Dilla. It also introduced is to Q-Tip’s cousin Consequence. Definitely gotta get used to him when listening to that album. “The Love Movement” isn’t an album I’m crazy about but it’s ironic that the word “love” is in it’s title but it was the beginning of the end for the group but they reunited in 2006 and recently released their latest album “We Got It From Here, Thank You 4 Your Service” 5 months ago. It’s an incredible album I heard only twice. I like to wait until the hype slows down a bit to enjoy things. Gotta find the right time to without everybody throwing out their opinions while you’re still getting used to it. Outside of the group, Q-Tip had a dope solo career on his own. He’s appeared on other’s people’s projects to write, produce and collaborate on songs. He created The Ummah, a production team with Ali Shaheed and J Dilla, he acted in Poetic Justice only in the beginning of the movie, and on “Prison Song” along with Fat Joe and Mary J. Blige, he was featured of Janet Jackson’s “Got Til It’s Gone” on her 1997 “The Velvet Rope” album, he produced “One Love” for Nas on his “Illmatic” album, Mobb Deep’s “Give Up the Goods” and the list goes on. Can’t forget to mention his solo music. With singles like “Vivrant Thing”, “Breathe and Stop”, “Gettin’ Up”, “Move”, “Life Is Better”, just to name a few. His solo stuff is nothing like Tribe’s and that to me is make Q-Tip great at what he does. Finding your own identity when it comes to your solo stuff and not it reminding the fans of the group you were in. Same energy and voice but a different vibe completely. Recently, he hosts his own radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 station, which is called “Abstract Radio.” His goal with the show is not to keep up with what’s trending but instead find ways to bridge the gaps into one and celebrate good music altogether. With so much that he has accomplished, Q-Tip is easily one of hip hop’s greatest of all time for being part of a group that introduced Jazz sounds samples in hip hop. His incredible creativity and style is timeless and it’ll always be celebrated. They don’t call him The Abstract for nothing.