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BILLY JAM'S HIP-HOP ROUND UP (4/25/08): CHARTS, NEWS, VIDEOS

IN 2008 HIP-HOP IS A LOT MORE LIKELY TO BE ON HIT THAN SOUND LIKE SHIT

A quick glance at this week's Hip-Hop Top Five charts (all below) from the Berkeley, San Francisco, & Hollywood Amoeba Music locations (thanks respectively to Tunde, Luis, & Marques Newson) further proves what I've been feeling all along this year: that hip-hop is in one of the most exciting and healthiest states that it's been in for a minute. To my ears, nearly every new hip-hop full-length release dropping these days is quality shit. Sure, there's a few lemons here and there, but mostly new 2008 hip-hop is more likely to be on hit than sound like shit.

Another glance at these new rap charts also reveals that hip-hop has arrived at perhaps its most richly diverse stage in its 30 plus years.  It's as if in 2008 hip-hop has all grown up, multiplied, and gone forth and conquered the world (of music) with a wide range of sounds all qualifying as hip-hop today.  From the stripped down, style of Minneapolis' Atmosphere, to the bouncy hip-hop of the Bay Area's Lyrics Born (pictured above) with its funk foundation, to the trippy sounding Danger Mouse-produced new Gnarls Barkley, to the straight-up hard turntable hip-hop beats and cuts of DJ Quest, to the twisted soulful, ten-track, mostly instrumental,  grooves of the new one from the late J-Dilla -- a hell of a lot of musical territory is being covered under the hip-hop umbrella of '08.

HIP-HOP TOP FIVE @ AMOEBA MUSIC BERKELEY

Posted by Billyjam on April 25, 2008 at 08:18am | Comments (1)

AMOEBLOGGER MIKE BEE IN SF WEEKLY + OTHER NEWS ITEMS


Props to San Francisco Amoeba Music electronic music buyer and sometime Amoeblogger MikeBee (left),  aka Mike Battaglia, who pens the Technophilia blog.  He got a really nice one page write up in this week's SF Weekly in their special Listen Up issue dedicated to "local aficionados who help San Francisco navigate a brave new world."

Under the heading "Making a Buzz: DJ MikeBee keeps electronic connoisseurs on their toes," the article, penned by Toph One, gives much love to MikeBee, calling him "a true vanguard in the SF music community" and labeling him a "Renaissance man" for his long list of accomplishments that include being a club & radio (KUSF) DJ, journalist, and label co-owner. To read the article in full either pick up the current SF Weekly and flip open to Page 15 of the Listen Up supplement or read it online at sfweekly.com.

Monday, March 17th (aka Saint Patrick's Day) looks like it is going to be a good day at Amoeba Music for free music when Neon Neon (the group formed by Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals) play a free instore at the Hollywood Amoeba Music (6PM showtime), while up north Peru Negro have an instore performance at the San Francisco Amoeba Music at 7PM.  Speaking of free things from Amoeba Music: coming soon will the new issue of Music We Like, the booklet and online list of the music that folks who work at Amoeba are feeling (Top Five lists etc.). Meantime, check out the last Music We Like  online.

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Posted by Billyjam on March 15, 2008 at 07:28pm | Post a Comment

out today 3/11...

the photographic...snoop dogg...evangelista...them roaring twenties...

Maybe I am bit selfish or egocentric but I think sometimes that certain releases come out just for me. It makes me feel special. We all have our special little secret bands we like and it is always exciting to hear some new band for the first time, especially when you feel like you may already like every band that you are ever going to like.

I have been really obsessed with the Explosions in the Sky for the last couple of years. It is nice to have an instrumental album to escape into every once in a while, for the times you don't really want to hear anybody talking and just need time alone to think for yourself.  It helps me focus myself and think about my life. I often use electronic music on these types of days, but sometimes that gets a little too intense and I need some more smooth instrumental music. I really am starting to sound like some smooth jazz new age dude right now. What is going on? I guess it is sort of like some dude that is into crazy free jazz but every once in a while just needs some smooth jazz. I guess I really should not compare instrumental rock music to smooth jazz. It really is in its own category. I have really worn out my Explosions in the Sky albums, so I was excited to find the new band The Photographic. Their debut album Pictures of a Changing World comes out today. They come from the land of Louisville, Kentucky. And they really sound nothing like smooth jazz.

I seem to go through phases of liking music from one area of the world. For a while I seemed to be listening to a lot of music coming out of Austin, Texas. At the end of last year I was really obsessed with music coming out of Sweden. I don't intentionally go out and try to find bands from one certain city or country, it just sort of happens-- so it might just happen that I all of sudden start liking a bunch of Louisville bands. I thought I would check to make sure I already don't. I did also find out some interesting facts about the city.

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Posted by Brad Schelden on March 12, 2008 at 09:00pm | Comments (2)

(In which Job earns a C+, at best.)


Good morning!*

I slept in a little later than usual, so I don’t have as much time to toss this blog together. Hopefully my innate brilliance will bubble up; if not, I’m sure some well-intended filler and unwarranted bravado will do.

What do I do first thing in the morning, you ask?

…You didn’t ask. That’s not what you were wondering at all? Not at all.

Well… I wasn’t talking to you anyhow. (And shame on you for interrupting!) I was talking to another reader who was wondering what my morning ritual was. Honestly, not everything is about you, y’know.

Anyway, OTHER READER, thank you so much for asking.

What’s that? Oh, it’s for a report you’re doing for school? How delightful!



My morning routine is as follows:

1.) I tend to wake up first. There are exceptions to this rule. I’ve made it through entire days before finally waking up, but again, this is in the minority.

2.) I pet my cat and say mean things to him, sweetly. This is normal. I caress his little head and coo something like, “Morning, little one! I’m going to break your f***ing neck!” He looks at me and purrs. He doesn’t understand English, and is responding to the timbre of my voice. THIS IS NOT ANIMAL ABUSE. I often do the same thing with my boyfriend.

3.) I stumble out of bed, excited to discover which “mystery ache” I’ll have in my joints that morning. What a fun game it is!

4.) I boil water. Boiled water is delicious! I like to add a little tea or oatmeal to mine. Adds some flavor. Délicieux!

Posted by Job O Brother on March 4, 2008 at 11:37am | Post a Comment

(In which Job writes in two worlds.)


"Look Marge - I soaked in it!"

My right hand hurts. I keep bending my fingers back, trying to stretch it, but I’m “double-jointed” – the fingers go all the way back to my wrist – so it takes a lot of muscle-power to stretch the hand, causing me to worry that, in my effort to stretch my right hand, I’m going to injure the left.

I’m pretty sure there’s an ancient, Chinese proverb about this exact situation. If only I’d have paid attention in third grade, when they teach Chinese mysticism and philosophy – then I could quote it. Alas.


My 3rd grade class. Can you find me?

I suppose I should explain why my right hand hurts. God knows I don’t trust you to come up with a reason yourself. I know you, dear reader, and know that your twisted imagination has already concocted an offensive reason for why my right paw aches; something like:

“I’ll bet he was trying to knit a scarf with thick, Rowan ‘Big Wool’ yarn using only a 10 inch, single-point needle!”



You’re sick, y’know. You need help.

The reason my right hand hurts is because I have been addressing envelopes for wedding invitations, using large, calligraphy pens and ornate lettering. It’s my wedding gift to Carrye and Jared, who’s wedding it will be.

Posted by Job O Brother on February 25, 2008 at 11:14pm | Comments (4)
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