The Mighty 4 is a legendary bboy-centric Hip Hop event, which made its debut in Denver last year with great success.
Given that success, it looks like we are to be blessed again! The Mighty 4 is back in Colorado.
This important thing to note is its THE MIGHTY 4 WEEKEND, and that events are scheduled throughout the entire weekend of May 15-May 16th.
The tentative schedules looks something like this...
Friday May 15th 5-8 pm: The Mighty 4 Park Jam and Meet & Greet (Skyline Park 16th & Arapahoe S)
Friday night 8 pm-?: The official Mighty 4 Pre-Party DJ Chonz, Byze One, Phoreyz.. (Club Zen) Sat May 16th The Mighty 4 12-8pm: The Main Event (Club Beta 1909 Blake St.)
Also, The Signtologist is going to be making two separate appearances this upcoming First Friday.
The first will be at THE ART OF CREATION. This is basically a fundraiser which will feature a ton of customized Oakley Sunglasses which have been worked on by some of Denver's top paint-jockey's.
This album is part promotional mixtape for Bluntville blunt wraps, and part Out Tha Box Radio. But for the most part its just a bunch of new Sid Fly music, usually with him taking the first verse (which is nice.)
So light up a ton of grass! And journey into the smoke cloud space ship world of the man who puts the High in Ground Zero Movement's"MHC".
Press Play.
Sid Fly ft. Whygee & P.A.A.S. "The Weed Song"
Denver is "The Land Of Tha Lost". This is the type of shit that makes me wanna hear more Sid in the future, dude is timeless, and on some next shit.
"The Ruler's Back" really takes me back to the MHC days, and has me reminiscing of the old Ground Zero Movement music that used be all over the place, invoking images of McNichols Arena, Mile High Stadium, and their successors. Some true bridge music, bridging the gap as things come and go and shit.
"The Weed Song" , there was a little hype for this one, and it doesn't dissappoint! This is my favorite song on the album, a classic!!! Its Sid Fly, P.A.A.S., and Whygee, and its THE WEED SONG! Just Press Play as far as that one guys, and prepare to press rewind, too...
Not sure who made that beat for "Goin Back 2 Cali" (NO Biggie), but its ILL. Sid Murks. Song is dope, Sid talks about his Cali roots and love for Cali. "Die Anotha Day" evokes some of the best of Scarface, or Z-Ro. With a great beat that is part Colorado, part Texas, and maybe not either? (not sure who made this one). This is another one of my favorite songs on the album, classic.
Most of my favorite songs on this were the solo tracks, where Sid was doing his thing all by himself over some space age beat work. (Like on "Land Of Tha Lost" for instance). Sometimes dude reminds me of Saafir (Like on "Mile Hi Mile Hi" for instance), but for the most part its just Sid Fly, he is a unique rapper.
It was even better than I thought it would be, in fact Karma is now on my radar as one of the most valuable MC's in the state. Make SURE you pick this up. Here are some of the standout tracks on the album.
Karma ft. Duce Wyld, 800 The Jewell, and F.O.E. "Welcome"
I'm Here: Karma Kind of Reminds me of Jeezy, in a good way.
Trapped in Memory: Ill Beat, Its got a Crazy Lo-Fi Sound like a Movie Soundtrack, Some Sci-Fi shit. Karma continues to bless the overdubs, and continues to sound like Colorado's Jeezy (in a good way).
Block Star: After a great transition out of "Trapped in Memory", this cut immediately changes up the vibe, Lil Trouble and Karma sound good together.
By the time F.O.E. jumps on the track I am already thinking this mixtape is gonna change the game in Colorado, so to speak. I'm gonna be pumpin' this over, and over, and over again.
Chevy Music: Another solo track, this one showcases a less aggressive style from Karma. He still continues to bang out some thick and well thought out overdubs, and this beat is another classic from JTM Music.
Element of Surprise: More of that cinematic production that I'm feeling. Savier takes the first verse, and perfectly introduces the son. Man, JTM has got depth, the way they continue to bring new Rappers onto the stage throughout this journey is dope, its like some old school Wu Tang shit or something. DEPTH!
Savier also produced a lot of the beats on this album!
Diamond: Probably the catchiest and most radio ready song on the album. It varies back and forth between a radio friendly hook, and some gritty, CO_Centric, Rap Music, on the verses. But when I say "catchy" I don't mean R&B, R&B and Singing is something you won't hear on a lot of JTM songs, and I respect that.
(When they do sing its on some dope "Devin The Dude" like shit, or its in a sample or a choir or something, as part of the beat.)
REAL HIP HOP!!!
Dead Or Alive: The Bon Jovi Song!
Dudes crunk up some Bon Jovi, and make an instant classic in the process. This track was the blog hit, that was all over the internet last year.
Its also a crowd pleaser, which Karma and F.O.E. have been known to perform at shows.
THAT COLORADO SOUND!
Huggin: This throwback funk beat is perfect for this semi-posse cut, it really allows you to layback and just close your eyes and focus in on each rapper over a three minute period of time.
Great song, kind of sounds like some 90's G-Funk, like it could have arrived in a time machine.
Just A Touch: Great finger snaps, every thing about this beat is... Smooth. Another radio ready song, this time one that is more aimed at the ladies (no craigslist hookers).
Classy.
Jazztrap: The song is called Jazztrap, motherfucker.
Its all about the bassline on this one.
Welcome: An Ironic name for the last song on the record. This shit right here?! Probably my favorite cut on this whole thing, this shit is as hard as if Dre and 2Pac has worked together more back in the early 90's. So its sound like The Chronic/All Eyez on Me/Daz Dillinger Beats, which is to say its a combination that hasen't really been done so perfectly, ever. And its Some COLORADO shit!
Welcome amounts to my favorite song on this whole album. A reminder that what I just listened to was a 5 star mixtape.
The album comes in at about 33 tracks, but most of them are actually 15 second drops from other JTM Music affiliates and what not, the full length songs are the meat of the album, and are rewindables through and through.
Again, make sure you check this one out. And stay tuned for much more from Jewell Tyme Music.
BONUS:
Karma ft. J Money, Vonny Loc, and B Blacc "Huggin"
This is the debut album from the late DJ Spell aka Brian Caufield, who was murdered last month in LA. It was released just a few weeks prior to his death.
The album is called BLAZY DAYZ, and its really really dope. My man really came a long way on the beats during the last few years of his life, and this album is really a pinnacle piece of work and it really perfectly captures the unique sound he had been working on his whole life. Its still 4/20 for 30 more minutes on the west coast. This is the perfect album to end your holiday with, its a great stoner-centric instrumental album that will take you through the mind of a producer from California who is enjoying his frequent trips to the medicinal stores that are now legal out there.
This is exemplified by the song titles, each song being named after one of the many medicinal strains of marijuana that is sold in the shops of Southern Cali.
"I'M USUALLY IN THE STUDIO WORKING ON TRACKS, OR PAINTING. I LIKE TO HAVE FUN AND GO PLACES IF NOT, OPEN TO WHATEVER COMES ALONG MY PATH, I'M VERY OPEN MINDED LOVE LIFE AND HATE IT TO. IT'S THE BALANCE OF SITUATIONS, MY FRUSTRATION MANY THOUGHT'S IM CONTEMPLATING. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON MY CLOTHING COMPANY AND RECORD LABEL FOR THE LAST TEN YEAR'S AND EVERY DAY HAS BEEN FOCUSED TOWARD'S THAT. LIVING AND ELEVATING THE MOVEMENT."
You have no idea what you are about to witness. Watch the whole thing, its all happening on the two televisions hovering over the dude.
Press Play.
This is literally the future, and DJ Vajra is running laps around time and space right now.
The Jimi Hendrix of DJ's lives in Colorado. Nobody is doin' shit like this.
(In case you are unfamiliar with this type of thing, dude is dj'ing music videos in the same way he would two records, only he is actually making battle routines out of the videos, some of which he custom made just for the visual effect.)
(Some of these battle routines that he has made custom videos for are actually visual representation of his award winning work from earlier this century.)
Most of you have heard of Naeem Oba by now if not by way of searching myspace then by way of his work with local MC Whygee... So from Minneapolis Minnesota In honor of Dead Prez - Let's Get Free... TCCR gives you Naeem Oba's Symbolism Mixtape... This release is Colorado Rap Report Type shit! Revolutionary Hood Music with a meaning. I would like to start off by saying this mixtape is full of classic beat selection(Dilla Joints)... Naeem takes time to touch on a lot of subjects on this mixtape from Religion... to the reasons to "Shoot Your TV" ...If I was to suggest a track that defines the tone of the mixtape it would be "Out There" with lines like "Vain Image Like Christ Painted White" and "Angel With Broken Wings Love To Smoke And Drink" Oba's Educated Militant Approach to Hip Hop is one that reminds the listener of passionate Alex Jones Radio Show or that Famous William Cooper Novel "Behold A Pale Horse" we all know and love. This Mixtape Screams Black In America...
Brian was murdered last week in LA. He had many ties to the Colorado Hip Hop Community, we will be featuring a ton of his work all month in his memory.
Some of the video footage was even filmed in Denver, you maybe will recognize the Saxophone player in the montage. (And also the dude who throws money is his hat.)
This is a dope production, and a collaborative effort that involved many people in Colorado, the beat I believe was made out of the video of the guy playing Saxophone, dope shit.
This album bangs, from the very beginning when it kicks off with "Still Never Happy", it proves itself to be a major player in what is a re surging California underground.
California? Whoops, wrong state right?
Well lucky for us, Colorado's own DJ Low Key got together with Tiron recently, and the two of them decided to work on "Ketchup", as a mixtape featuring DJ Low Key on the 1's and the 2's.
DJ Low Key had been sending us previews and updates for months before this one was released, and has been extolling each virtues non-stop. Download it for free, and you can see for yourself just why. You can preview a couple songs below...
For years now,DJ Low Key has held it down, as one of the most prolific professional Hip Hop DJ's in Colorado. His work ethic and professionalism is 1920's. The motherfucker is real tough.
And for years now, he has teamed up with DJ Sounds Supreme in an effort to create the perfect club night, one that nobody could ever accuse of being "fake" or "sell-out" or whatever all these DJ's think they need to do to get booked.
They set out on a mission to play the music they liked, to attract the people who liked the music they liked, and therefore attract the type of people they like. (what a concept right? ;-)
What happened was the Best Hop Hop Party in Denver and one that has been going strong now for years (not even sure how many? I think I remember a milk bar? Dancing strippers on Broadway?)
Do yourself a favor and reinvigorate your weekend by making a habit out of this Colorado Classic.
Hit us up @ thecoloradorapreport@gmail.com if you need help finding The Funky Buddha.
Just the other day he opened up for the Denver Nuggets on the floor of the Pepsi Center.
Keepin you posted for 2009, F.O.E. is going to be a big deal this year. On to the review...
F.O.E. "Back Up" (Produced by 800 The Jewell)
Back Up: This is a great intro, which invokes 2Pac "Hail Mary" in its production, and features a nice vocal orchestration throughout, great overdubbing. It only clocks in at 1:30, and every second is gripping.
Should Been Had A Deal: This song has a great message, and the feeling is just right. It sound like all the frustration that its name implies, very heartfelt. Memorable
Plastic: This is some hardcore, head nodding shit. F.O.E. really grabs your attention with his lyrics and flow, and then hands the mic to Young Doe on the second verse, who does a great job of bringing this song to a close. The song serves its purpose, separating the real from the fake.
Time On My Hands: This is my favorite song on the album, F.O.E., Meezly, and 800 The Jewell provide a memorable hook over some crystal clear hi hats and xylosynths. It goes down. The bridge in the middle (after the 1st verse), is a defining breakdown, which had me hitting rewind button.
Itz Me: This song takes more of an upbeat, DJ Quik type of feel, and B Blacc ushers in the track, which makes for a nice transition. By the time the hook starts, and the backgrounds chimed in, I had a new favorite track. But its apples and oranges, comparing this to Time On my Hands, so I guess I have two favorites.
Can't Go For That: Love the beat, maybe my favorite beat on the album. I'm a sucker for electric guitars in Hip Hop, and this shit has some nice electric guitars. The bass line is really nice.
Friend: Similar to 800 The Jewell's "CTI" with its "Amadeus Amadeus" theme this message to "All The Haters" takes on a remake of a classic, but this time its the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under The Bridge". The result is a great use of sampling, as they invoke a fan favorite into a Coloradocentric sound that sets a much more somber tone then the early nineties RHCP.
If U Da Bomb: Maybe the most radio friendly of all the songs on the album, this one sound kind of like JTM's version of "A Milli", Only I like it more than "A Milli", and it sound like some straight up Colorado Rap Music. It features B Blacc on the second verse, and he really lights that shit up, damn. The whole thing is classic. Being that this is my favorite song on the album, and being that its Radio Ready, why isn't this on MTv? Should be. The "If U Do Bomb" has been lowered, and slowered throughout the whole track, its a dope effect, done to perfection.
Overall this album has a great amount of continuity. I like how it sounds like a band, playing similar instruments throughout, with similar harmonies on each song. But every beat is well made, and each one speaks for itself. So its really a treat to listen to F.O.E. orchestrate his solo effort over and over again with all this consistent quality in the beat production.
A great introduction to the music of Jewell Tyme and F.O.E., who are currently getting ready to put out a ton of sequels, debuts, and collaborations this year.
And "If U Da Bomb" is my shit.
BONUS:
F.O.E. ft. B Blacc "If U Da Bomb" (Produced by 800 The Jewell)
F.O.E. ft. Street Lyfe "Friend" (Produced by 800 The Jewell)
I'll admit, when I heard Improv (allegedly) beat Yonnas in a beat battle last year, I thought to myself "Bullshit, Fluke, etc..."
But when I heard his beat I said "Damn this motherfucker might be like a lost member of The Procussions or some shit"
Not sure I still feel that way after listening to Omotion, but I'll get into that later.
I'm gonna review this shit backwards. Since that is how I listened to it, from finish to start.
The End:
Honestly, this shit is pretty hard. For all its faults, the energy on this is aggressive as hell, and I like that. Not bad at all. The production is of top notch sound quality, Harmonicas and Banjos aren't really my thing in Hip Hop, but it works here.
Improv somehow manages to stay in the pocket the whole time, I could have sworn he was gonna trainwreck, but it never happened.
Yollo:
This beat sounds like something Fergie would get her hands on, so, no...
But then the Bass Line comes in. I can't really dismiss this song for two reasons, that bass line is nasty, and Improv has some nice heartfelt lyricism going for him on this one.
Overall, not my thing, but not bad. I can see a different listener base than myself going nuts over this song.
Old World:
This song could have been a lot better. I feel like it was overdone. A little too much going on with the productions, a little too loud and noisy. There is this annoying hiss on it. And it could have used some chord changes. Improv is in the pocket though, I like his double time flow, its nice.
Demons:
I was hoping this song would be a little more, demonic. The intro would have made a dope beat. Again, maybe a little too much sound layered in there, maybe could have been stripped down a little. Just the piano at the beginning is all you need. And some better drums.
When the song switches up half way through though, it gets a lot better (and a lot more demonic). Again, Improv comes extremely aggressive on this shit, his anger is what carries the song.
Really Real:
If you are gonna use that much Synth you gotta have some practice first, the beat would have probably been really dope without the Synth, but with the Synth it is just noisy hot garbage. Improv raps are good on this shit though, and I like the Texas influence on the Hook.
I Call Your Bluff:
The hook is way too noisy. The rest of the beat is really nice though, props. I just wish Improv had written some more inspired lyrics for this one. On most of his other songs, that's not a problem, but on this one I feel like the poetry kinda missed the mark.
Bboysnchicas:
How boring, MC's should leave the BBoy music to James Brown. Rapping about breaking is, played out, and annoying. I'd rather just watch Break EFX and DJ Vajra anyday.
Down Girl:
I like this beat a lot, and Improv definitely found the proper path for this one. He is in the pocket, with well written rhymes, and overall this whole song is great. Surprisingly, this might be my favorite song on the album, because I feel like others had more potential, but were overdone. This one was just right, very cohesive. And he said "Bitch"! Yes!
Angel:
My favorite beat on the album, hands down. This is the type of beat I wish Improv would stick too, more simple, less noisy, sweeeet. I can't say I'm feeling what he did with it though, way too lovey dovie sentimental for me. But hey, the young girls probably go stiff-tits over this shit. But the FEEL of this song is nice, its radio ready, its Hip Hop, it gets props. But I feel like a different rapper could have done something much better to this beat.
A Beautiful Thing:
Sick Bass Line, another great beat. This is my other favorite beat on this album. Probably my favorite "pure Hip Hop song" on the album. Down Girl is on some other shit, but this the straight Boom Bap. I dig it. I can't really stand Improv's "swagger", :-) , but you can't knock the dude either, he is balls out with it.
A Balanced Life: 123-123-123-123=FAIL
Can't Give It To You:
Its missing something. Its like, I don't know, I should like this song, but I don't. The Drums knock, the rest of the beat isn't bad at all, I just don't like it for some reason. It comes from a different galaxy than I do, I guess. But those Drums are nice.
Miss Hedonist:
Improv's radio hit, the one KTCL made slightly famous. I don't like it. Too cute. Stop singing dude. Unless of course you want a career on Rock and Roll radio, which you just might.
The Beginning:
Not a good way to start the album, the beat is the epitome of what I don't like about Improv's production.
The songs that weren't my style, had too much Techno sounding production infused with Rap, or too much Rock and Roll in my Hip Hop Cereal. When I say "Techno" I mean that a lot of the beats sound like something Fergie would go over, on some Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love" production.
Also the spoken word pieces I could do without.
But i felt compelled to weigh in on each and every song, which must be a good sign. There were hardly any "I can't even listen to this" moments, where I didn't want to write anything.
The Mix/Mastering was great, very professional, but unfortunately that can also push the flaws of some of the beats to the fore front. So iffy beats, they just become louder, which is not good. But still, most people in Colorado don't have sound quality like this, for what it's worth.
Overall, this is a classic album, definitely I can tell he put a lot of work into it. Not really something I would bump, but for the right audience, this is a reallly good album.
