Digable Planets: Cool like That
Ah, do you remember when rap music had a positive vibe without all the auto-tuning? During the early 90s to 1999, there was a smart hip-hop culture that was counter to the Gangsta Rap that was popular at the time. People called this smarter movement Alternative Hip-Hop. When I hear tracks like this one, it makes me point my anger at the Black Eye Peas, because they spawned out of this Alternative Hip-Hop. Somewhere, they got twisted into this trance auto-tuned mess we're in today.
Alternative Rap kind of spoke to more intellectual groups than gangsta rap. Both were reactive to establishment in completely different ways. Alternative Rap kind of explained the problems in the black community and tried to give a positive spin. Gangsta Rap was the outcome of those said problems. At a certain point, both of them morphed into the pop music jumbled mess we hear on the radio.
This song is smooth and has a nice vibe to it. The music video is very stylish. The editing is wonderful and it fits into music seamlessly.
Did I mention I still have a crush on Ladybug Mecca?
I was always a fan of Michael Franti/Spearhead/Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.
ReplyDeleteListening to Franti right now, I'm digging it. I'm going to try to listen to some of Spearhead this afternoon and a bit of Disposable Heroes.
ReplyDeleteI want to do a post on Arrested Development (band) if I ever have some time too.
He was also fabulous on Deee Lite's Fuddy Duddy Judge
ReplyDeleteA song from 1992 that could almost have been written today.
Yeah, I can see that being released today with some of the electronic sound effects being updated for day.
ReplyDeleteHis flow is very similar to Chuck D from Public Enemy in this song.
Oh and forgot about the fact that Dee-lite did the grove is in the heart.
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