Shanghaiist: Review: Hip-Hop Journey Mixtape Volume 1

T

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:06:19 +0800

You would think if you're kiwi, you'd plug the Hip-Hopopotamus and the Rhymenocerous

Andy Best

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:51:35 +0800

I'm going to DL the tape and give it a proper listen. Anyone else got it? What did you think?

huacha

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:06:00 +0800

I would second T regarding The Streets, and add Roots Manuva, K'naan, Mos Def (also a solid actor), and 'empirically speaking', large chunks of the Wu Tang corpus. Can't forget the better moments of the Beastie Boys, but we can barely say they're innovative. Being from New Zealand, I'd also add a shameless nationalistic plug for Che Fu and King Kapisi. Jazz is the teacher, funk is the preacher.

T

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:08:30 +0800

Andy - I'm not Fjio, so this is my opinion only, but I'd point to Hong Kong's own (and now sadly broken up) LMF and UK rappers like The Streets and Lady Sov.* None of them try to re-create American beats or posturing, but instead use lyrics and beats to create a soundscape that is undeniably HKG or the UK. *Yeah I know some would categorize them as grime or some other hip hop subculture, but it's beats and rhymes, ya dig?

Andy Best

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:48:30 +0800

The best non-American hip-hoppers are have a unique or highly localized interpretation Fjio Can you give us an example of this ... like, name one or two and say how they are 'localized'? Andy

fjiofojif

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:42:56 +0800

Anybody who has ever heard much non-American hip-hop will start talking in these terms. For whatever reason, empirically speaking, non-Americans just can't do the hip-hop formula. It sounds more funny than anything. The best non-American hip-hoppers are have a unique or highly localized interpretation. Kanye is a great producer and College Dropout was fun, but I agree with Huacha that it's kind of strange to hear him referred to as innovative. What are his innovations?

Andy Best

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:28:52 +0800

Huacha, who do you like?

T

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:48:39 +0800

Well, he is the only one sampling French electro-disco.

huacha

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:12:58 +0800

Kanye West is innovative?

Andy Best

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:09:26 +0800

Not a hip-hop fan? I am, and in that respect, thanks for the post Jake.

nanheyangrouchuan

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:50:41 +0800

You'll lose all of your teeth from cavities listening to that crap.

Andy Best

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:44:49 +0800

If Chinese hip-hop is to really evolve properly however, it needs to bring something more original to the table, rather than attempting to mimic American performers. Why even talk in these terms? Within the American scene there are also artists who churn out the same-old as well as artists like the Wu Tang who are known for innovating. Are American acts who do nothing 'original' mimicing American acts? If Tang Ren Ti is doing something fresh then it means there is a certain amount of innovation in the China Scene ... the scene is small too. In the states how many Wu Tangs or Kaynes are there? I'll have to check out Zuiren ... sounds a bit like one of my faves ..The Ol' Dirty B*stard ... RIP.