mixtape maestro (2.0)

To have Wu Tang MVP’s Ghostface, Method Man and Raekwon all together on one track, rocking their usually winning thug-in-love swagger atop a shimmering ’70’s soul loop, made “Our Dreams”, an early preview of the trio’s highly anticipated joint offering Wu-Massacre, an immediate win; and if we had to point out the track’s true star, hands down it would have to be “hook guest” Michael Jackson (the song samples his 1975 solo hit “We’re Almost There”), melting our hearts all over again with the awe-inspiring ways of his then-16-year-old pipes.

So why, after noting all the praise-worthy elements the original has, do we consider a remix version replacing MJ with Alicia Keys the better grab? Simple: A better production polish.

The one thing keeping us from completely loving the original was it’s mixtape-level beat-crafting: More specifically, the awkward chorus-to-verse transitioning. Whether this was done on purpose to retain a certain street edge or was an early rough draft misstep ultimately left alone doesn’t matter, because the jarring cuts completely erupt the song’s flow.

Thankfully, the “Ant Acid Mix” rights this distraction, mashing M/G/R’s verses with Alicia Keys’ cover of “Almost There” (a bonus offering from last year’s The Element of Freedom) with far smoother (and therefore aurally satisfying) results.

Hear the original here, grab the “Ant Acid Mix” and the full Alicia cover below.

Wu-Massacre drops March 30th.

DL: “Our Dreams (Ant Acid Mix)” (alt)

DL: Alicia Keys “Almost There (Michael Jackson Cover)” (alt)

Uncategorized 70's, alicia keys, cover song, east coast rap, ghostface killah, method man, michael jackson, raekwon, soul sample, wu-massacre, wu-tang clan

Just in time for last week’s obsession with all things Halloween-related (we know, we’re a little late here, but…so what), Imogen Heap (better known these days as the best part about Jason DeRulo’s otherwise forgettable current-hit “Whatcha Say”) performed a cover version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for a radio event, and in the context of a haunting piano ballad with Heap’s breathy yelps attaching a bone-chilling sense of tension to every single syllable of the song’s spook-filled lyric, it registered as a surprisingly amazing rendition of something that would seem un-cover-able.

Incidentally, it was when listening to her version, that we discovered an intriguing, and oft-overlooked, aspect to the original that had never once caught our attention in the billions of time it had met our eardrums over the years.

Now, we get that when one thinks of “Thriller”, it’s quite difficult to try to disassociate it away from being the musical foundation behind one of the greatest music videos (and choreography breaks) of all time, but has anyone ever really just listened to the song? We mean, like, REALLY LISTENED to it?

It’s an actual song about monsters that are killing people, yes, but has anyone ever noticed the cleverly pimp-ish way MJ sneaks in lines about how he’ll be the one to save you from the horrors of ghouls and goblins if you just cuddle with him, before dishing “I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try/…So let me hold you tight and share a…thriller with me tonight”.

Past all the sheer (but oh-so-brilliant) absurdity of Halloween-time frights and a Vincent Price “rap” clothed in a post-disco R&B/ funk boogie, “Thriller” was also all about MJ trying to get in some girl’s drawls!!! (Instead of “Thriller night”, think “Thrill-her night” and it’ll all make sense).

If nothing else, this new revelation only re-reminds us of the pop genius that MJ was, especially considering the fact that if one of today’s big-named pop or R&B male artists had attempted something like this first, you just know that in an effort to not appear so corny, the monster shtick would have been greatly toned down with the sex element hyped the hell up (with a likely far less memorable, and expensive, video clip to accompany it).

DL: “Thriller (Imogen Heap Version)” (alt)

Uncategorized 80's, cover song, imogen heap, live performance, michael jackson

LL Cool J has always had this amazing ability to go years without dropping anything really worthwhile, then out of nowhere bust out with a gem that makes you re-realize how much of a respectable hip hop icon he is. His latest release, the MJ-tributing “Billie Jean Dream” is one of those records.

Atop “BJ”’s still dynamite instrumental, LL relates a dream-inspired fantasy in which he’s viewing the world through Mike’s eyes, and through crisp lyricism, he effectively reminds the bling-adorned emcees of today that when it comes to swagger, no one on the corner could beat the King of Pop.

“Iced out glove on a Bentley wheel/ Look at how I’m spinnin’, your boy’s so real/ Number one in the world, imagine how it feel/ To hit up Sony for a billion on a deal”, he opens, one of many highlights of a solid single verse that references everything from MJ’s shrewd businessman chops (“Buy out the Beatles/ Tell Paul to chill…”) to how he might have felt towards the overabundance of Mike wannabes in the current pop/ R&B market (“All of y’all emanate from one source/ Try to imitate it, but you can’t pull it off”).

A brilliant nod from one G.O.A.T. to another, this easily lands as one of the best MJ tributes we’ve heard so far in a year sure to bring plenty more. Hell, it’s so good, we’ve now actually become super excited for LL’s next project. Color us surprised.

DL: “Billie Jean Dream (MJ Tribute)” (alt)

Uncategorized 80's, freestyle rap, ll cool j, michael jackson, mj tribute

This past weekend, understandably, saw countless MJ tribute/ covers emerging all across the Web as various artists, producers and DJ’s scrambled to their respective studios, anxious to pay some sort of musical homage to their idol. And while we promise that this site won’t be housing too many of them, we couldn’t pass up on sharing one of the best of the bunch: The Roots and Erykah Badu’s dazzling rendition of Mike’s 1972 solo hit, “I Wanna Be Where You Are”.

Erykah has pulled off great remakes in the past (highlights from her stellar ‘97 Live album included amazing takes on Mary Jane Girls’ “All Night Long”, Heatwave’s “Boogie Nights” and Chaka Khan’s “Stay”), and this gem, recorded prior to her guest appearance on last Friday’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, is no different, raising your spirits to a blissful crest with it’s hypnotizing merging of her expert vocal performance and The Roots’ jazzy support groove.

DL: “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (Michael Jackson Cover)” (alt)

Uncategorized 70's, cover song, erykah badu, live performance, michael jackson, the roots

You’ll never EVER be forgotten

DL: “Remember The Time (Siik Remix)” (alt)

DL: “ABC (Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix)” (alt)

DL: “Scream (Dave Jam Hall’s Extended Urban Mix)” (alt)

DL: “P.Y.T (Demo)” (U-Tern Edit)” (alt)

Uncategorized '90's, 70's, 80's, beatnik, dave hall, duet, grown folks R&B, janet jackson, k-salaam, michael jackson, R&B, remix, siik, u-tern

If we had to pick one track we were most excited about from Discovery’s long-awaited debut, aside from recently realized addiction “So Insane”, it would have to be the album’s proposed cover of Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”.

It’s no secret how much we adore cover songs around here, and it should be stated that we geek off crazy over anything Jackson-related (hell, we give Rebbie Jackson’s underappreciated hit, the MJ-assisted “Centipede”, at least one good spin a week), so yeah…the idea of this definitely excited us.

Then we actually listened to it.

Now, don’t get us wrong, not all of Discovery’s remake effort is tragic as there’s a certain delight in the sound of “I Want You Back”’s familiar bassline slowly moving to the forefront in the intro, followed by an exciting explosion of shimmery electro-pop noise around the :30 mark. But shortly after that arrives the beginnings of this strangled, computerized croon and instantly, it’s like someone pierced our joy balloon with a rusty shank.

We understand how difficult it might be in grown men perfectly replicating the bright chops of a young Michael Jackson, but couldn’t the Auto-Tune/ vocoder effects (or whatever the hell was used here) been passed over just this once?

We’re still Discovery fans, but we have to give this one a low grade just because it let us down so hard.

DL: “I Want You Back (Jackson 5 Cover)” (alt)

Uncategorized 70's, auto-tune, cover song, discovery, electro-pop, indie pop, jackson 5, michael jackson

With every other young male pop or R&B singer making it their purpose to record Michael Jackson-esque tunes, the King of Pop himself will seem like a trend follower when he launches his own inevitable comeback. The latest single to feel like it was left on the Off The Wall editing room floor is “Nasty Girl”, a halfway-pleasant disco-soul entry from R&B newcomer Sterling Simms.

All wah-wah bass, teasing guitar and falsetto lust, “Nasty Girl” expertly takes on the groove of late ’70’s R&B but ultimately lacks the joy and wonder that made those arrangements so illustrious and timeless. Getting the vibe only somewhat right, Simms and his producers settle for a uniform stab at neo-disco that doesn’t carry the sinful fire and innate sensuality the sound is known for. The stiff premise snags onto lame New Jack Swing lines (“The way that dress is on your body/ It ain’t no secret what I wanna do”) and a singular attempt at Prince-like double entendre that’s dead on arrival (“I can see it in your face girl/ That you really wanna come”) while Simms’ lifeless vocal fails to excite against a vibrant arrangement that’s stuck in first gear.

Most of the problem with neo-soul is that the artists’ of it’s ilk were too retro to appeal to modern listeners but not retro enough to really be all that satisfying. Even though “Nasty Girl” would apply more in a neo-disco context, Simms still falls into the same predicament. A little more effort and this could’ve been an electric affair, instead it’s noticeable shortcomings make it feel ten times worse than it really should be. I guess if cats keep doing Michael this badly, the real MJ won’t have to try so hard to win our embrace next time.

Uncategorized 70's, disco, michael jackson, R&B, retro, sterling simms

Uncategorized 80's, acoustic, chris cornell, cover song, michael jackson