The Kool Skool

Wednesday, 7 January 2009

"Can't fool me my mind is free!!!" Real Reality TV

Here is a selection of independant films dealing with the state of Hip-Hop music and the many people asking valid questions about where the music is going, and why.

Quan Speaks on Nas, Cam'ron, Stop Snitchin & Hip Hop
"For real, I'm not perfect, but I know for a fact that some of the shit that some of these n"*&@s (Studio Gangster Rappers) is doin' out here and makin' kids think its cool? It's fucked up and wrong and I feel a really strong way about it" - Quan

What is a N*&*a? Pt. 1

Minister Abdul Muhammad asks "What is a n"@+a, n%*£@r or negro?" at N.O.I. Mosque Maryam in Chicago. This fascinating lecture is very relevant to the Hip-Hop community as a whole and it deals with the subconscious words, imagery and actions that are prevalent, reguritated and go unchallenged in modern day "Rap" culture.
Part 2

Part 3

Turn Off Channel Zero -trailer

Turn Off Channel Zero - Full Length
A grass roots documentary discussing and trying to confront the negative images and stereotypes of Black people as they are portrayed in the US mainstream media, featuring Professor Griff (Public Enemy), Paradise (X-Clan), Davey-D (Hip-Hop Journalist) and many others. A must see. Hip-Hop Elders taking a stand and being counted for the culture.

Turn Off Channel Zero

Tuesday, 6 January 2009

The Missappropration of Hip-Hop Culture

DJ Fingers, better known as a member of the Foundation UK Hip-Hop group the Sindecut and as a Producer, is presently in the process of creating a new project. The Misappropriation of Hip-Hop Culture is multi-faceted piece of work, dealing with the commercialisation and asset stripping of the soul of the Hip-Hop culture, and the degrading of it as a creative movement for social good.

Here is a rough preview dealing with some of the fundamentals of the project.

The Hip Hop Matrix

"Hip-Hop music and its accompanying Culture is thoroughly embedded in post-modern society. Having existed for over 35 years as a diverse, vibrant culture, it has now developed a reluctant association with the term ‘gangster rap’ by means of the mainstream media." - DJ Fingers

Monday, 5 January 2009

"They made a video for that?!!!!" Part 1

DJ Fingers of the Sindecut was talking the other day about how in the UK it was impossible to see Hip Hop videos in the old days. In the early 90's in New York they had "old school videos" on Video Music Box, and how for me it was always like "they made a video for that?!!!" So here are a few you might have missed too.

Marley Marl ft. Juice Crew - The Symphony II
(Master Ace, Craig G, Big Daddy Kane, Little Daddy Shane, Kool G. Rap, )
(The 12" mix is much better and Little Daddy Shane (B.D. Kane's little Brother) should have NOT been on this. Supposedly Kool G. Rap rapped until the tape ran out, the original version was about 15 mins long, although it could have been the Symphony 1...)

The D.O.C. - The Formula (Official Video)
(Texan rapper D.O.C. over cheesy Dre keyboardzzz. The intro is hilarious, "Go Malik, Go Malik Go!!!" Obvious dis against MC Hammer, there were alot of MCs dissing him in videos back then, 3rd Bass, Run DMC, De La Soul etc.)

Joe Ski Love - Peewee's Dance
(Ahhhh songs about dance crazes!!! Ice-t doing the Peewee at 2:42)

Boogie Boys - You Ain't Fresh
(Kid Delight R.I.P.)

Lakim Shabazz - Need Some Lovin'
(New Jersey 5%er Lak drops knowledge on positive track from his 2nd album)

Breeze - LA Posse
(Another LA emigre was hot in the L.A. scene in the N.W.A saturated late 90's)

Biz Markie - Something For The Radio
Uploaded by rikma. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Biz Markie - This is Something for the Radio
(Dance step classic, "yo Biz where's the raps????")

Gang Starr - Step in the Arena
(Step In The Arena is definately in my top 10 albums ever, Little Dap in the chains. Premier with the mellow cuts)

Shucks One The Kool Skool Interview with Dr. Butcher (DJ/X-Men/Producer)

Hip hop history is a rocky word of mouth terrain, with many a foundation participant overlooked, or edited out of history. Dr. Butcher (not to be mistaken for producer Joe ‘the Butcher’ Nicolo) is just such an example. The Corona Queens native was born in the thick of the golden era amongst the best, LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, Large Professor, you name em’. Contrary to popular belief, it was the real Dr Butcher NOT DJ Polo that did most of G-Raps cuts, and his hand-skills won him a spot in the X-men (the original X-ecutioners). Not just handy at slashing up wax, over the years he’s also produced the Artifacts, Kool G Rap, Akinyele, MF Grimm, Coolio and several video games, commercials and movie scores, ‘New Jersey Drive’ being one.

Tableturns“Hip hop on Wax” (remix)

Dr. Butcher, Akinyele, Rob Swift and Large Professor

Dope cover by Skam2

In 2004 he dropped the “Hip hop on Wax” (remix), a Queensboro’ who’s-who posse cut with Akinyele, Rob Swift and Large Professor on Tableturns Records. The good Doctor has a bunch of tricks in his blood-splattered apron, so we got an appointment and this is his diagnosis.

Shucks One: What was the early scene in Queens like?

Dr. Butcher: It was crazy! I was about 8 years old and had little contact with the Bronx scene. But with the music attacking your ears from every direction you were forced to take notice. My neighbours were DJ’s. From block parties to house parties every crew was trying to out do the others sound system. Being so young I wasn’t allowed to attend the block parties due the violence associated with the music. At home I created my own scene…. Hahahahah! I convinced my mother to buy me a Gemini mixer (no turntables) for Xmas and would pretend to be the world’s greatest DJ.

LL Cool J can't live without his Radio!

How long have you been Djing?

Minus the days of pretending… (Laughs), I would say about 20 years. I met some friends who had equipment and were looking to start a rap group. I figured it would give me access to the equipment and joined on as an MC. Whenever possible I would jump on the turntables until someone kicked me off…hahaha! Fortunate for me I was surrounded by a couple of excellent DJ’s for that time. One named Cutmaster Vinni Vince and the other was [LL Cool J’s DJ] the ORIGINAL Cut Creator, not the imposter! Just so happened that the original Cut Creator’s name was Phil and the LL Cool J imposter was named Philpot. So when LL says Cut Creator Philly Phil he is actually referring to the original, but due to professional differences they parted ways and the then road manager Philpot took over as the "new Cut Creator." The original Cut Creator actually laid the scratches for “I Need A Beat” and “Dangerous” [from LL’s 1st album ‘Radio’]. Everything thereafter was performed by Jazzy Jay and [another of LL Cool J's DJ's] Bobcat. That’s the original Jazzy Jay from the Zulu Nation. To my understanding Rick Rubin and him are good friends. He used to do a lot of Rick’s scratches hence, [T La Rock’s] "Its Yours".

The Original Jazzy J from the Zulu Nation and

Did you go to school with LL Cool J and Kool G Rap?

I actually didn’t go to school with either. LL and I met at a talent show that my high school was sponsoring. I was 14 years old at the time. We hit it off well and after the show decided to form a group with another rapper named Royal Rich Little. The group was called the Extravagant-3. Man that sounds old school! Hahaha! LL is one of the best and most prolific writers that I have ever met. I was introduced to Kool G Rap through a mutual friend who was in a group with him called the Rapperteers. Both being from Corona, he and I quickly became neighbourhood favourites. Our relationship developed from there.

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road to The Riches

Is it true you did a lot (if not most of) the cuts on the first two Kool G Rap and Polo albums?

No. Marley did the scratches on the “Road to the Riches” album. I did mostly everything thereafter. “Wanted Dead or Alive” was my DJ debut. Funny thing was Kool G didn’t even know I could DJ. I remember talking to him about Jazzy Jeff one day and told him that I could also get busy. He thought it was a joke until the day he visited my crib and told me to show him something. He thought it would be a good idea for the group to have a rapper of his calibre team up with a DJ on the level of Jazzy-Jeff. Next thing I know, I was in the studio showcasing for Eric B. [Kool G Rap] told me that I was going to be the new Dr. Butcher and the rest is history.

How do you feel about not only getting no credits, but also no shout outs on the albums as they were both legendary?

G Rap and I are better than shout outs, so it never bothered me. Everyone knew me as Dr. Butcher so the shout outs meant little. He gave me recognition within the songs and that was good enough. It was all in the spirit of making good music. Most people don’t know but I am the ghost rapper on “Jive-Talk” [on ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’]. He, I and Large Pro were just having fun that night and they kept about a minute’s worth of my vocals at the end of the song.

Did you tour with G-Rap?

I performed with him a couple of times. For me, the most notable show was a performance at the Apollo featuring Ice Cube.

Was that the legendary night King Sun tried to get on stage and get Cube?

Not to my knowledge. The only drama that night was K-Solo getting booed off the stage... hahahahahaha. I remember Redman Djing for him and he kept saying to me "I can't wait ‘til my album drops".

Hit Squad representer K-Solo

You met Large Professor while working on “Wanted Dead or Alive”, what was it like working with all of those guys?

The Extra P - Large Professor

Magic. Everyone was at the top of their game. Like [the Chicago Bulls] Pippen playing with Jordan. You had Large on the beats, G Rap on the mic and me and the tables. We never wanted to leave the studio. I was in college and Large was still in high school. Every session was an adventure. It felt like Def Comedy Jam most nights. Nothing but laughs. Having fun is how we created good music.

Rare Large Professor & Dr. Butcher in the Studio in the early 90's

Did you do a lot of production for people back in the day?

No. My production career started after the completion of “Wanted Dead or Alive”. Large and Polo suggested that I get involved on the production side of things since I had a natural ear. He (Large) let me borrow an SP-1200 until I was able to purchase my own. My solo production debut was the intro track for the Artifacts’ first album “Wrong side of the Tracks”.
I had previously collaborated with producer C4 on the LL Cool J song “Soul Survivor” from the “14 Shots To The Dome” LP. Things took off from there, including movie scores, video games and TV commercials. Large Pro and I teamed up after his departure from Main Source. When that ended due to his label woes, I hooked up with Akinyele. We toured together for about six years.

As an original member or the X-men [X-ecutioners], did you ever enter the seminars, DMC, ITF?

No. Looking back I probably would have done very well in those competitions, since I like to perform live. Battles are all about the unpredictable and being able to execute under pressure. I am at my best under pressure. A battle is like a boxing match. You have to be prepared to go 12 rounds. That’s how we (the X-Men) prepared for competitions.

Dr. Butcher tear up the wax at WKCR's Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito show.

Are you still a member of the X-men/X-Ecutioners?

No. Both crews have disbanded. At the end of the day we're [Akinyele’s original DJ] Rob-Swift, [1994/95 DMC US & World Champion] Roc-Raida, [1990 N.M.S. Superman DJ Champion] Steve-D, [1995 DMC East Coast Champion] Mister Sinister, [EPMD’s original DJ] Diamond-J, Total Eclipse, Johnny-Cash and Fatman-Scoop. We’re all still Xmen/X-ecutioners for life!

Total Eclipse, Mr Sinista Rock Raida R.I.P., Rob Swift

You’ve done production for Akinyele and MF Grimm. Can you talk about that?

M.F. Grimm

They are both very easy to work with. They require little direction. You can give them tracks and they will give you songs. From a producer's standpoint it makes life easy. It allows you to be more creative as you feed from their ideas. After creating a track and listening to it a million times you get exhausted for ideas. Hearing something new in the form of a song gives the music new energy. I have been surrounded by talent my entire career. I guess that why I have such high standards when it comes to working with new artist. I want the artist to approach the music with the same intensity that I do. Never settle for less is my motto! If it can be better then make it better. You only get one first impression.

DR. Butcher at The Butcher Shop

What is your view on the state of hip hop?

Hip hop is no longer a state, it’s more like a country. I love it and look forward to working with artist from all parts of the globe and to continue working with new artists and release a few solo production projects independently. At this point in the game it’s all about building a catalogue. The first is “The Good Doctor presents” mixtape and “The Butcher Shop of Horror” album. Bottom line is you will be hearing something from me in the very near future...

New Dr. Butcher & Understanding "In This World" Digi-12 now available!

Fresh from the vault, Dr. Butcher and partner in rhyme Understanding come together to release their first digital single from the upcoming album "From the Vault". This material is truly classic; recorded during the 1990's and found just recently. Both tracks are produced by Dr. Butcher and featuring verses from Understanding, instrumentals included. Look out for the full length album later this year on Domination Recordings.

Peace Shucks One

Top 10 for Streetypography Flickr.com Group

Here is the www.flickr.com group "Streetypography"'s top 10 of the last quarter of 08'. The group is dedicated to photos of interesting typography of any kind found in the street. Enjoy!!!

(To see the original photos, photostream and titles click on the white text below the image)

Photo By: LaMesah's photostream

Photo By: R.A.M.O.N.E.'s photostream

Photo By: .::rosiero::.'s photostream

Photo By: jimandkarla's photostream

Photo By: BH-THE BOYS' photostream

Photo By: theyardie's photostream

Photo By: Matthew Gidley's photostream

Photo By: sabeth718's photostream

Photo By: SHUCKS ONE ID's photostream

Photo By: The Voice of Eye's photostream

If you would like to submit some photos and they fit within the remit of the group please feel free to contact the group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/745474@N21/

The opinions expressed in these photo are not nessicarily those of the Kool Skool, they are just being shown for people to appreciate. The photos are being shown as a platform to promote the photographer, and remain the sole property of the photographer.

www.dopepose.com Party in Switzerland

European Old School Hip Hop photo website celebrates its anniversary in Switzerland

DOPEPOSE - THE PARTY
-----------------------------------
at Coupole Bienne, Switzerland

LSD - German Hiphop Pioneers
live in concert

KayZee (ch) - salsa smurf
Zambo (ch) - early drum comp.madness.
JeeNice (b) - ladies with attitude
Cutmaster Gb (d) - forgotten treasure
Shoolomate 508 (ch) - boom boom rap
CeoMüller (ch) - hip house
Samhattan (ch) - dance lession
RickSki (d) - rap pop coversongs

...photostudio and shop.
every DJ half an hour!