The Fusion – Old School, New School – Vol. 1

I’ve Got To Be embodies the essence of myself so much. It’s like I wrote it before I was born. Then there’s “Kids” these days…. And all days yesterday and tomorrow?! They blindly listen to the witty wordplay of Hip Hop, yet sound like dufobots themselves. Arguing stupid isht like, “Don’t nobody wanna hear that old played out music. We wanna hear some rap music! Yeaaaaah!”

Sorry to break it to you  “shorty” but the artists and producers who get paid millions to create the Hip Hop songs you love are neck deep in the songs and genres from yesteryear. The same ones you love to hate on. Listen and learn! The moisture behind those partially tone def ears might dissipate if you discipline your aural vacuities long enough. Now that I think about it, I’m actually far from being sorry.

And to the vinyl-y disconnected, remember… Leave the hissing in there, don’t take it out!

This one is produced by Manti

The Power and Beauty of Sankofa. When a Black Man goes back and gains knowledge and inspiration from those who came before him.  Bringing forward something new and innovative, while being a reflection and re-emergence of His roots. When any living, loving, breathing being does so, we get great landmarks of life changing cultural melodies like these two here, that Live forever.

I remember hearing Wake Up Everybody quite often as a youngster. So many songs heard since then had kinda drowned out the memory and left it in the subconscious. Listening to Jaheim caused me to wonder where the beautiful music that inspired “Fabulous” came from. After all, it sounded so familiar. Now, as a matured man, listening to The Blue Notes is having an entirely different impact!  It’s shocking that the song came out in 75 but the words were written for the problems of today……. And tomorrow if we don’t Wake Up. What was happening back then to create the need for such a song that’s still happening now? And what am I going to do to fix things?

Thank you KayGee, Ja, Rayne and all the rest for extending the Love and Message of Harold and Teddy.

Flawlessly Produced by KayGee

The way Ron describes his woman’s character, his feelings for her and how they treat each other, is the epitome of a God level relationship! Songs like this match the vision that I hold sacredly in my mind. It reminds me to keep the passion and hope for Love alive. What’s really cool about this one is that I heard The Isley Brothers perform this live. In this particular performance, the words were changed from referencing a woman, to serenading The Most High directly.

Which brings us to Tha Crossroads. Bone definitely did this song’s legacy justice. Who better to sample such a classic arrangement than them? Bone Thugs-n-Harmony were projected as violent thugs and even devil worshipers. By their own voice and actions, along with the industry’s exploitation trauma program. This song reflected their creative and spiritual maturity that put all of that nonsense where it belongs… I remember this song was one of the true “cross-over” hits as well. It didn’t just help Bone Thugs cross over. It was part of the bridge that carried Hip Hop itself across. Proving once again just how much all genres, races, classes and generations identify and relate to the culture. I even remember this song having most of the old folks who couldn’t dare stomach Hip Hop, singing the words and valuing the message. I wonder how many of them knew that they were listening to their favorite heartfelt jam from 1975.  Well after reading this, they’re gonna pull a Chris Rock and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on us, like…

“I knew something was up!”

Flawlessly Produced by The Under-rated, magical, 6th BTNH member, DJ U-Neek

Bruce and The Range urged me to NEVER believe them! On top of that, the song is a sonic pleasure to listen to. The piano, the strumming, the drumming, the vocals and the mix all stood together harmoniously to get the message across beautifully.

12 years later, Mr. Shakur arrives. 2Pac did a superb job in capturing the essence of an already iconic, life changing song. This one was so good because the track was recreated, not sampled. This is very important. It’s how I produce most of my sample driven tracks. In this case, it was kept nearly identical to the original. Although the original is in a class of its own, in many ways these two have both become equal in popularity and cultural impact.

Thoughtfully Crafted and Produced by Big D The Impossible