mixtape maestro (2.0)

Tucked away in the closing third of Peter Bjorn and John’s Living Thing lies the underappreciated treasure “Stay This Way”, a lackadaisical reflection on one’s existence (“In my ridicule I thought that I was something special/ In spite of ordinary dreams/ But you end up getting tired of doing psychoanalysis of yourself”) that simultaneously brews a faint flickering of being a touching love ode (“You can only do as much in little time/ If you’re up for sharing I can split up mine/ ‘Cause it makes me happy”).

Geeky Valentine sentiments aside though, the track’s main pull lies in it’s production: a drowsy, snap-accented doo-wop arrangement (think a sluggish “Stand By Me”) that treads along so heavily, even the pregnant pauses between it’s punctuating bass plops feel like they weigh a ton. Despite that unappealing description, it’s a great sublime groove, one you could easily lose your thoughts in…and one that (with a little remix tinkering from producer DJ Jazzy Jeff) surprisingly comes across quite pleasantly when supporting a trio of emcees respectively wishing that they could have stayed ‘Toys R’ Us kids’.

The latest cut to leak from Mick Boogie’s highly-anticipated mixtape re-imagining of Living Thing (due August 27th), this Jeff-helmed revamp cleverly splices together original lines “I don’t wanna grow up” and “‘Cause it makes me happy” to form a brand new hook and inspire some fond childhood-recalling memories (including references to Nintendo 64, “Knight Rider”, lunchboxes, Hot Wheels, “TGIF”, sneak viewings of BET’s “Comic View”, freeze tag and, yes, “Do You Like Me?” notes) from featured rappers Big Pooh, Phil Nash and Chaundon.

DL: “Stay This Way” (alt)

DL: “Stay This Way (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)” (alt)

Peter, Bjorn & John‘s early ’09 single “Nothing To Worry About” may have lacked an irresistable whistle hook for us to endlessly dig, but what it did house (the ferocious stomp-clap drum beat, that catchy-as-hell kiddie hook) was sufficient enough to guarantee it “instant favorite” status. The only problem? That nagging feeling that the production would have worked much better supporting a rapper’s sharp sixteens, rather than the band’s non-threatening indie chirps.

That fantasy becomes reality thanks to this awesome Kickdrums remix, the first taste of a forthcoming Mick Boogie-helmed remix(tape) of PB&J’s entire Living Thing album. Totally omitting PB&J’s presence, this 2.0 version instead plants the original’s best elements alongside the rhyming team of Wale, Young Chris and Rhymefest.

Not really the hip hop dream squad we would’ve first picked, but they service the joint just fine, especially Rhymefest, whose track-stealing ending verse (“‘At parties I part seas/ These partly emcees/ Could hardly tempt me/ You entry/ Level, beginner…”) only reminds us how sad it is that he remains such an underappreciated talent after all these years.

Look for Boogie’s Re-Living Thing on a blog near you on August 1st.

DL: “Nothing To Worry About (Kickdrums Remix)” (alt)

Capping all the MJ hysteria bubbling to the surface this past year, Rhymefest and beatsmith extraordinaire Mark Ronson hooked up with a handful of noteworthy artists and to-be-heralded producers for the classic mixtape album: Man In The Mirror. Set up as a dedication to the King of Pop with Rhymefest and friends rhyming over amazingly chopped up takes of classic Mike joints, don’t be fooled into thinking this collection is corny because it’s sure to be one of the most talked about and overtly hailed “albums” of the first quarter (the hilariously spliced “conversations” between ‘Fest and MJ, alone, justify this as a must-hear!!), while giving the ridiculously under-respected Rhymefest the public boost he needs for his highly anticipated, forthcoming sophomore album, El Che.

Think I’m suffering from the “UK Press Over-Hype Syndrome”? Peep just a few of Man In The Mirror‘s many great highlights:

“No Sunshine” – Over a stirring soul loop of young Michael’s “Ain’t No Sunshine” remake, Rhyme spits on the downside that arises when you’ve achieved the fame you spent an entire life seeking. “You ever wanted something so bad ’til you got it/ And it loses all the magic and it just don’t feel exotic?”, ‘Fest queries, the emotion-heavy ferocity in his voice dictating that this is an experience he understands first hand. Finally grasping the spotlight ends with the unearthing of an unforeseen monster hidden inside him, directing his life into a downward spiral lit up with murder (at least in the poetry sense) and greed, with Mike’s fiery wailing illustrating Rhyme’s descent into madness.

DL: “No Sunshine” (YFH)

“Foolin’ Around” – On a far lighter note, this number takes a playful look at infidelity. Based on a sample of The Jackson 5′s “Don’t Let Your Baby Catch You” from 1972′s Lookin’ Through The Windows, Rhymefest cleverly excuses his cheating ways (“I was blessed with a brain and a dick, that’s fine/ Only got enough blood to use one at a time”), shrugging it off as part of man’s nature (“If he don’t cheat/ He must be gayer than the ‘Kids in the Hall’”) as he dishes out men’s many tricks to keep their affairs hidden. For him, he chooses to conceal the phone numbers of his other women under the guise of “male buddies”; though, he quickly realizes that that idea is hardly fool-proof when his main lady uncovers a criminalizing piece of evidence (“What the hell is these?/ Cause they ain’t Timothy’s panties”).

DL: “Foolin’ Around” (YFH)

“Breakadawn” – This one utilizes the dreamy “I Can’t Help It”-swiping sonics of De La Soul’s “Break a Dawn”. Here, Rhyme and featured guest Alpha reflect on Jackson’s super success and the impact he left on their lives (“I remember watching ‘Moonwalker’ so many times/ To get the ‘Smooth Criminal’ lean I broke the rewind”) while the silky voice of “Stop Me” singer Daniel Merriweather takes a brief stab at the moonlit Off The Wall midtempo.

DL: “Breakadawn” (YFH)

Won over yet? If not, you have no soul. For the rest, pick up the crazy-hot mixtape here via one of my new favorite blogs, Critical Acclaim. While you’re doing that, I’m going to put on my old Thriller jacket and sit through my umpteenth viewing of “Moonwalker” so I can practice my own interpretation of the “‘Smooth Criminal’ lean”.

Rhymefest, the Grammy winning co-writer of “Jesus Walks”, has woken up on the wrong side of the bed from the sounds of this Lil’ Jon-produced track, a glimpse of what’s to come on his second album, El Che.

Pushed by Jon to “put me in the mind of some Public Enemy” over militaristic marching drum beats and murder-minded synth basslines, Rhyme busts through the suffocated production spewing pissy frustration at the public’s general silliness. “All of us is killing our children/ Sold Myspace for $500 million/ Sold Youtube for $1.6 billion/ You in the projects fighting over a building,” Kanye’s buddy spits in inflamed ire, putting gangstas to shame by idolizing what he feels are the true hardcore (Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X). Later he mocks us for shedding more tears for Anna Nicole Smith, a “whore” he matter-of-factly proclaims, than the much more tragic casualties of the on-going war.

Amping up the battle rhyme precision and politically-based lyricism that prevailed on his acclaimed, but largely ignored, debut album, Blue Collar, “Angry Black Man…” finally adds a sense of depth lost in hip hop’s current rap/ rock revival. Forget “partying like a rock star”, it’s time to truly rebel like one, Rhymefest announces on this tense cut.

Angry Black Man On A Elevator (Prod. by Lil Jon) – Rhymefest