Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Hip-Hop Editor, Rickey Wright FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * Word for Word: Talib Kweli of Black Star * New and Notable: Method Man and Redman, Inspectah Deck, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and the "Fight Club" soundtrack by the Dust Brothers * Gettin' Jiggy Wit It: Danceable Hip-Hop * Editor's Choice: A Tribe Called Quest * Artist Essentials: A Tribe Called Quest WORD FOR WORD: TALIB KWELI OF BLACK STAR **************************************** "This project is a statement that's made within the community, not one that exists in the music industry. When you hear rappers rapping, they're rapping to other rappers. If they claim to be representing the streets and they're rapping about helicopters, then what is that?" --Talib Kweli Read more of Amazon.com's interview with Talib Kweli and Mos Def at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=ts/feature/3559 NEW AND NOTABLE *************** "Blackout!" Method Man and Redman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001QGPS/entertainmentsit One of the year's most anticipated releases, "Blackout!" is packed with explosive power. With production input by the RZA, Erick Sermon, and others, this sprawling work gets its wit and wordplay across with maximum impact. "Uncontrolled Substance" Inspectah Deck http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K073/entertainmentsit Our survey of new Wu-related releases continues with the solo debut by Inspectah Deck. Despite the absence of the RZA's production style, Deck still shines. "Few other MCs," writes Amazon.com contributor Oliver Wang, "are more effective than Deck at creating evocative street-level images with single line strokes from his lyrical stylus." "Nigga Please" Ol' Dirty Bastard http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K3GK/entertainmentsit Scour the hip-hop bins--and those of any other genre--and you're likely to find nothing quite like Dirty's second solo joint. Collision-course rapping, outbursts of song, convincing if contradictory proclamations, and beats by the Neptunes, Irv Gotti, and the RZA come together in a hilarious, unhinged trek through one man's altered reality. "So... How's Your Girl?" Handsome Boy Modeling School http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001ZWEF/entertainmentsit Rap, turntablism, trip-hop, and Prince Paul's trademark offbeat humor meld on this ingenious collaboration with Dan the Automator and a dozen or so of their best friends. Too much of a good thing? Not when the likes of Mike D, DJ Shadow, Money Mark, and Grand Puba are in the house, along with samples from Three Dog Night and Chris "Get a Life" Elliott. "Fight Club: Original Motion Picture Score" The Dust Brothers http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JJMA/entertainmentsit Much sparser than their mixing-board work for the likes of the Beasties and Beck, "Fight Club" nonetheless is an intriguing glimpse of the Dust Brothers at work in another idiom. A bleak though interesting listen, "Fight Club" leans heavily toward techno and industrial sounds; don't be surprised to find this sample-happy disc a source for samples itself in the not-too-distant future. GETTIN' JIGGY WIT IT: DANCEABLE HIP-HOP *************************************** Before hip-hop was about being hard it was about dancing. Popping, locking, and breaking were the dances of choice, and while groups like the Rock Steady Crew became famous, everyone was doing it. There's no doubt that hip-hop has changed, but there's still some you can dance to. Check out Amazon.com's list of favorites. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/feature/-/2618 EDITOR'S CHOICE *************** "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" A Tribe Called Quest http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000004WA/entertainmentsit "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" is a mouthful of a title, but its acknowledgment of movement as a basic human endeavor suits A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 debut perfectly. In conjunction with some of hip-hop's most sublime grooves, its rhymes capture countless small and large moments, from hunting down a fish sandwich in the wee small hours to subtle expressions of the group's spirituality. ARTIST ESSENTIALS: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST *************************************** One of the 1990s' most influential hip-hop groups, Tribe's impact continues to be felt in the wake of their breakup. Check out Amazon.com's list of Tribe's essential recordings--some of the decade's most important and entertaining music. Rap & Hip-Hop ****** You'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Rap & Hip-Hop Music section at Rap & Hip-Hop ******
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