Amazing mini-documentary on sampling from 1989. Steve Winwood, Andy Partridge (XTC), Tom Petty, Ofra Haza and more are interviewed.
“This Is Ska” is a 1964 documentary on Ska music, which gave birth to Reggae, and is often overlooked as a hinge that much popular music hangs on.
Big crunch cakes out to Dangerous Minds for the tip.
(Source: youtube.com)
“Give The Workers (More Of The Profit)” - Macka B (1995). Prod. by Mad Professor.
Some Words On Why The Beastie Boys Matter So Much To Me:
This was inspired by an article that came out on my folks site Largeup.com today about the Beastie Boys’ connection to reggae music. I left this comment on their article today:
The Beasties truly represented my musical path more than any other group ever. I came of age (11-13) going to see to hardcore bands like Bad Brains and Murphy’s Law, who obviously both had big reggae/ska influences. At the same time, I was being introduced to “The Harder They Come” soundtrack (which includes the “Stop That Train” sample), Eek A Mouse, Steel Pulse, Yellowman and the like. I remember, my boy had all these reggae artist names scrawled on his book bag, and it just had a HUGE effect on me. I went and found all those artists.
After being raised on classic rock, yacht rock and 80s music, hardcore and punk were the next logical step. Then, all the hardcore kids in Boston (where I grew up) took off their Doc Martens, and put on sneakers, started listening to/going to more reggae, ska and hip-hop shows, and called themselves “sneaker boys”. Precisely at this time, I moved to NYC. I never went to another hardcore show again. I got completely obsessed with listening to Red Alert, Stretch Armstrong, Kid Capri and Silver Dee on the radio, and just got consumed by hip-hop. Later on, I went back and caught back up on all these previous phases, which was great therapy.
The Beasties represent the true nature of hip-hop and dj culture to me. The people that started hip-hop (and dj culture), just loved music. ALL KINDS. But the Beasties also had a musical progression that mirrored mine, which transcends any of that for me. The connection between reggae, punk, hardcore and hip-hop is something that I think many people who call themselves “hip-hop fans” just don’t even understand.
You may not know who Winston Riley is, but there’s a good chance you know song above (Ring The Alarm on the Stalag Riddim), which he produced. Riley died last Thursday, after being shot in the head inside his home, and hospitalized since last November.
Riley was also a member of the early Reggae group The Techniques, who spanned the Ska and Rock Steady eras. He also founded a museum, dedicated to Jamaican Pop music in 2007. Sadly, his landmark Techniques Record Store was destroyed by fire last year as well.
Obviously, violence is a major problem in Jamaica, but this makes this turn of events no less sad. RIP.
I used to completely cap on music like this. Now I think it’s great.
SL2 - “On A Ragga Tip” (1992)
“Sha-La-La-La-La-La-La” - Thom Bell & William Hart channeled through Alton Ellis.
I still have this tucked away in a book case somewhere. Classic material. Not a lot of people know how influential the Beastie Boys were with regards to the lifestyle publication world.
Grand Royal was not only the Beastie Boys’ label, it was also their (short lived) magazine.
(via 2tuff)
Know yourself some Bad Manners - This one’s called “Special Brew”
(Source: youtube.com)
#NP - Marcia Griffiths & Busy Signal - Love Is Automatic (Remix)
(Source: youtube.com)
Even the NYPD gets dirty and daggers at The West Indian Day Parade.
Via World Star
Raven Toney from the West Indian Day Parade Brooklyn, 2011 by Simone Serwer. You want to see the rest of these flicks from the parade at Large Up.
I grew up in the Hardcore scene in Boston, Ma. From age 12-15, I was going to see bands like Bad Brains, Murphy’s Law, Sick Of It All etc. In about ‘87 or ‘88, I started to go to more Ska shows, and become more aware of the “Sneaker Boy” phenomenon. To me, it seemed like the Sneaker Boy phase was kind of the bridge between Hardcore and Punk to Hip-Hop and R&B/Soul, really. The Sneaker Boys were these dudes who would still wear Fred Perry gear, and Doc Martins, but would also wear sneakers and regular printed t-shirts. These Sneaker Boys were listening to Ska and Reggae music, which naturally lead them to Hip-Hop. But really though, we were already into Hip-Hop. It just taught us more about that music, ‘cause obviously Jamaican music and Hip-Hop are intrinsically connected. Of course, we all skated too, and so the cultural lines would blur even more.
I’m sure the Sneaker Boy was just a new phenomenon to me, but in actuality, it had probably been going strong for some time. Even being twelve and thirteen years old, I was young to really be up on all this. My cultural education was a slow process.
(Source: youtube.com)
Music is a cycle. Watch/listen to Bob Marley break down a piece of it.
Bob Marley explains the difference between ska, rocksteady and reggae.
