I've
been listening to Hip-hop and soul music since I was born.
Sure I was
exposed to many other types of music, from Latin to electronic
and dance.
I feel lucky to have been born at a point when such great
music exists. I
have listened to music from the 50's and think of how it would
sound re
recorded with today's technology. My mom used to listen to
Natalie Cole and
I really like how she did a cover of her fathers song, "Unforgettable".
This
recoding was reproduced years after Nat King Cole passed away.
Thanks to
technology, the producers achieved a very beautiful "Re-mix";
it was more of
a remake. A re-recording, achieving "time travel" by
being able to bring Nat
Cole to this new version in such hi-fidelity.
I like artists that take advantage of everything that is here
today. The
experiences that were classical, to the early lo-fi self-sampling
artists
like Malcolm McLaren in the early 1980's.
In the early 1990's Dr. Dre converted lo-fi samples into classic
hits. He
used records that were so rare, that no-one immediately screamed
out
"
sample"!. I appreciate a wide range of sound and I am
lucky to have such a
large choice of music to pick from, for whatever mood or situation
in life,
music is there to be sought after and discovered.
One of my favorite styles of music, if not my favorite style
is Hip-Hop.
What a concept, Dj's begin this form of music with turntables.
My generation
does'nt even know how it all began. The lyricist then came
forth and
completed the circle. From street parties to the recording
studios, the
evolution of Soul music had gone from live DJ loops on vinyl
records, to
studio bands, then came exclusive sampling and now is custom
samples and
grooves created by original artists.
I have experienced how easy it is to go the software route
and many
beginners are introduced to music production with the all in
one, studio in
a box with loop kits included; no real creativity there. A
quick attempt at
arranging some pre-made loops and voilà la la instant
gratification. I much
prefer to see people play instruments or make their own loops
with
instruments. Whatever technological advantages exist today
are secondary,
primarily music should sound somewhat human, rather than computerized
or
pre-fabricated.
Another
advantage of lyrical music today is the luck of having "freedom
of
speech", or maybe not. There was a point that was reached
in the late 1980's
and early nineties. That moment was when the powers that be,
would attempt
to censor the lyrics of rappers. A point where Hip-hop was
also maybe used
to test the waters of our political environment. I can barely
remember any
of this but I remember that "The 2 live Crew" was
definitely banned around
me, maybe with good reason. A six-year-old should not be listening
to booty
music, I agree. Now I am almost twenty and I find it laughable
when Sisquo,
Juvenile, lil'' Jon get dirty but I am a young adult and like
that ish when
I'm at the out with friends dancing a bit, etc.
On another note I can study to instrumental Hip-hop, downtempo
or
Intelligent Jungle or Jazz. I really like diversity within
an artists that I
choose; when an artist exemplifies hints of many influences,
it creates a
wider palate and opens up creativity within those who get to
hear it. I
enjoy rough edged urban lyricist who also express a sense of
consciousness
and ability to break molds.
Some of my favorite artists include many of the contemporary
artist on
commercial radio while I'm driving but if I am absolutely insulted
by the
lack of creativity, I wait for a red light so I can insert
a CD that may
include Tricky, Tori Amos, Sunspot Jonz, XTEK Overload, Wu-Tang,
Aphrodite,
Memphis Bleek, JAY Z, early Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys, Portishead,
Scarub,
Haiku d'etat, Murz, Common, Kanye West, Toni Braxton, Beyonce
knowles,
D'Angelo, De La Soul, The Isleys', Mr. Biggs, Roberta Flack,
Ginuwine,
Deltron 3030, early Funky Homosapien, KRS ONE, Dr. Dre, Sir
Mixalot, Rakim,
Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Beatnuts, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte, Brand
Nubians,
Ozomatli, Miles Davis, BB King, Herbie Hancock, Parliament/Funkadelic,
James
Brown, Jimmy Hendrix on BBC, Bootsy Collins, ShapeShifters,
DJ Quick, Shaka,
and Audioslave, Soundgarden. I like a lot of Different styles
of music
including influences from my parents but also enjoy when DJ's
pull out the
sets and play examples of period classics in their niche' of
contemporary
counterparts. For example Hip-hop, strictly from 1981 or 1985
or from a
certain city in any time period that had quality lyrics or
Historical value.
One couple of movies that influenced me were when my older
cousins showed me
Beat Street, Wild Style, Crush, Lyricist Lounge, and Scratch.
I am totally about the evolution of music and sound has evolved
to reach
"
Hip-hop", not a final level but definitely a very advanced
level lyrically
- for the most part most are "decent" although there
is a many artists who
inexplicably get to a successful career and are not worthy
of 1 minute of
fame. For the most part I keep searching and keep finding tons
of artists
like DJ Shadow, RJD2, XTEK and more..
Thanks Isound.com, for letting me express my musical likes
and for helping
me find more of the music that makes me happy.
By -Cynthia Eufratees
School
of Media Arts Radio at Santa Barbara City College.It's the SB
scene and sound
