RZA: Man of a Thousand Titles

This is not new news. No. But here it is anyway. I did mention a few posts ago that Bobby Digital is hittin the road. Folks in the know, know that BD is RZA's alter ego. Nice.

RZA manages to keep himself a bit busy these days. The Wu member is also jumpin into the eBusiness world - creating an online chess website. That's cool.

On top of that, RZA has a couple of movies on the horizon (didn't you like his bit part in "American Gangster"?).

I am just giving you a dash of info. There's an article in the New York Times - oh, and there's a vid embedded in the article. Get w/it hip hoppers or it's checkmate. kfox.

Jay-Z's "American Gangster" :: Times Three

I've been listening to three different versions of Jay-Z's "American Gangster".

The Jay-Z version is quite likeable. Good thing he did not really go into retirement, eh? I am a lover of beats and there is a barrage of that. But Hova's real skill is in the lyrics and he does not disappoint (I know that this is all old news, but ... well, I'm tardy).

The next version is from dj extraodinaire Mick Boogie. He mixed up an edition that is backed by tunes from the legendary Marvin Gaye. This is slick. I wanted to listen solely because I love Marvin Gaye and I thought the infusion of both artists would work. It does. What I like about mixtapes is how the songs are arranged in an order that is different than the original. Some of the slower Marvin Gaye beats give a sultry vibe that was absent on Jay's version. You can get a comp download of this one here.

I can't really recall how I got my hands on the Jay-Z and Chief Sneed version. I think it came by way of Oh Word. I just know that I was quick to download it and check it out. I love how each dj makes the song different yet recognizable and still likeable. In Sneed's case, he takes "Roc Boys" and makes it thinner; he removes the horns, which I really liked, but Sneed's version holds strong - or it could be Jay's lyrical presence is that much stronger. Sneed's edition just goes in a direction, that for me was, unthinkable but not in a way that makes me say, why the heck did they do this?

I like the creativity of the mixtape world. I'm glad that copyright restrictions isn't hampering this genre.

Time to get down w/the get down hip hoppers. --kfox

Podcast: Review of the movie "American Gangster"

Podcast topic: Review of the movie "American Gangster"

The podcast hosts are Kim Fox and Darryl Atwell.

Additional links:
"American Gangster" website
Wiki on Frank Lucas
New York - The Magazine article on Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes

I'm experimenting w/the podcast format. My friends and I hold weekly discussions on all things pop culture. This time, you all get to eavesdrop on a portion of one of the conversations. Oh, and there is some element of hip hop in there ... oh, yeah.

You are now in the loop ... hip hoppers, you are now 'bout it!

Stay true, kfox

Don't mind the commercialism ...

Well, this is so commercial and mainstream, but I am getting so hyped about the nationwide release of the movie "American Gangster."

I am sort of drawn to the music, which was produced by Jay-Z.