Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

CEASE AND DESIST: FLO RIDA

Hip-Hop is most certainly not dead. There is irrefutable proof of both it’s life and it’s growth posted every single day on this very site. However, there are still some very credible threats to it’s existence. I understand that the term “Hip-Hop” is very broad and that the things that fall under that umbrella are so varied and multi-faceted.  Even the most serious purist can’t really police what is or isn’t part of the culture these days and I accept that a lot of what is Hip-Hop is not a reflection of myself or my generation or those before me. Fine. I get that.

But some shit just ain’t okay.

THIS MF RIGHT HERE: NOT OKAY.

I rebuke Flo Rida. I regret the day his parents met. I resent his lungs for continuing to draw breath, with which his mouth is able to make sounds.  I hate his dog. I HATE HIS DOG.

More after the jump

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CLASSIC: ST. IDES COMMERCIAL COMPILATION

Fuck Colt 45, St. Ides is for the kids! All jokes aside, St. Ides put together a super thorough promotional campaign back in the day with Dr. Dre to push their malt liquor sales to the then-blossoming hip-hop crowd. Looking back on it philosophically, it was a total brainwashing tool to get inner-city youth to drink and drink heavy, but at least some good ass music came out of it, right? I suppose we’ll all have our own opinions on that, but while you think about it, check out Eric B. & Rakim on Real Men Drink (lol @ that song title, there’s many more like it on this comp) and indulge in that O.E.! Lol!

Eric B. & Rakim – Real Men Drink

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Download Various Artists – St. Ides Commercials Compilation (Sharebee)

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MAIYA AND NO PRESENT…GRIMEY VOL. 1

Organized Konfusion – Bring It On

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What’s good Blind I Faithful? It’s your girl Maiya and your boy NO coming to you with our first joint compilation…GRIMEY! We’ve talked about doing one for ages and finally made it happen. You’d think between our typical comps, it might be pretty eclectic or soulful. THINK AGAIN! Most men assume the ladies have to act/look rough to appreciate some old La the Darkman or N.W.A. (a stereotype I proudly defy).   So, NO and I got our hands dirty in the crates to deliver a gritty, grimy, hardcore mix unlike anything you’ll see on the other blogs.

We literally birthed the idea yesterday morning and completed it in an hour last night. Beginning with my Raekwon “Penitentiary” (The new Rae is ill BTW) we tag teamed track for track throughout the entire thing. Between Gravediggaz, Organized Konfusion and O.C., we got something in store for rap fans that frequent Blind I.

Special thanks to $uli for delivering the artwork via NO’s idea.

Tracks/links after the drop.

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LATE PASS | JULY 16, 2009

With all the crack that comes through our way, we’re bound to miss a few:
Little Dragon – Blinking Pigs

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Download Little Dragon – Blinking Pigs (zShare)
Colin Munroe – Start A War

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Download Colin Munroe – Start A War (zShare)
Rakim – Holy Are You

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Download Rakim – Holy Are You (zShare)
Twista – Alright (feat. Kanye West)

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Download Twista – Alright (feat. Kanye West)(zShare)
Jozeemo, Joe Scudda, Chaundon, Big Pooh – Family Affair

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Download Reservoir Dogs – Family Affair (zShare)
Shafiq Husayn – Lil Girl (feat. Fatima)

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Download Shafiq Husayn – Lil Girl (feat. Fatima)

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MICK BOOGIE X TERRY URBAN – THE BEST OF 2008 MIXTAPE

Mick & Terry got busy and made a Best Of 2008 mixtape in conjunction with Cornerstone for the holiday season. You know we had to post this, cause Mick Boogie will be DJ’ing at Blind I’s NYE PROM 09 party here in Chicago! Download link & tracklisting after the jump.

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BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES

This is a documentary that NEEDS TO BE SEEN!!! Blind I is for THE KIDS!!! The generation who belives that Lil Wayne is the todays Rakim or T Pain is todays Stevie or DJ Khaled is todays DJ Jazzy Jeff. This documentary covers everything from the old school to the new, from wack singers and the tricks and trades that they use to make them marketable. If You give a fuck about music. You will watch & eNjOy!

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KAMELEON

In an era where many production styles recycle the same formula, it’s intriguing to hear a beat that you can’t quite categorize. Sometimes when you listen to a track, you can imagine a certain rapper or R & B artist placed over the song. But there are producers that the staff at Blind I enjoy like Flying Lotus and Daedelus that channel their innovation into a more obscure sound, that is distinguishable from your everyday beat on the ratio. This kind of abstract energy inspired Blind I to feature Kameleon, a producer from California that is flying right under the radar.

If the name Kameleon rings a bell, it’s probably because you’ve downloaded some of his music through one of the monthly compilations that we’ve previously posted. Hailing from Southern California, and now based in Philly, Kameleon formed hip-hop group Soul Students during college and honed his production skills in Virginia, the regional hotbed for classically dope beats. Blending sultry soul samples with jazz references and hip-hop, Kameleon has garnered nods from the likes of Talib Kweli, 9^th Wonder Kev Brown and Nottz, all the way to old school vets Roy Ayers. Blind I sat down to pick his brain about beats, rhymes and life.

Blind I: What kind of records do you usually sample? What’s your most obscure pick?

Kameleon: I pretty much sample anything, but I think a majority of my stuff comes from jazz artists since I play bass, keyboard and sax. The weirdest music I’ve probably tapped is some folk music from an artist named Joan Baez that I’m sure you’ve never hear of! I definitely dig deep. But I listen for something that hits my ear just right and I can get that from any artist from any era.

Blind I: What’s your process for creating a beat?

Kameleon: I study music before I use it. I’ll listen to it in the shower, while I cook, when I’m driving- until I understand the song inside and out. I also like to study the actual artist and the intricacies of their music, so I’m not just drawing from something at random. That way, it feels more like collaborating with that artist rather than just stealing their ideas. I like to build from a dope sample and blend it with others on top of any live instruments I may add.

Blind I: How do you describe your sound?

Kameleon: I’m a product of the 90s hip-hop jazz fusion-you know? The Tribe Called quest approach to making the sound that fuels the rapper. I like to make ‘thinking music’ not just a beat. Shit that’s a little more thought provoking and inspiring. I make music that you can play and just reflect. Some of it is smooth. Some of it is more complex. It really depends.

Blind I: Who are your major inspirations and influences?

Kameleon: I’d definitely have to say RZA, 4^th Disciple and really a lot of the early Wu Tang made an imprint on me. Ski Beatz, who produced a lot of old Camp Lo and Jay-Z was also key in shaping my approach to music. I think Dilla is a genius and I marvel at what he does but I didn’t pull that much from him to use for myself because he’s just THAT DUDE and I could never understand how his mind works. Both DJ Premiere and Large Professor are big influences too, but Preemo particularly, because he can take a beat and totally transform it camouflage the integrity of the original song.

Blind I: Who are your top 3 dream collabos?

Kameleon: First would have to be Marvin Gaye without a doubt. The way he built a song backwards and his mind was just ill. He laid all his background vocals down before he sang the lyrics so that’s just a testament to his vision and creativity. My second surprisingly would be Sting. He’s just so abstract and he’s collaborated across the board which makes him versatile. Third would be my favorite emcee, Nas. I don’t always agree with how his albums are put together fundamentally, but at the core he’s just solid.

Blind I: You’ve rapped for almost the entire decade you’ve produced. Are you done with that?

Kameleon: Absolutely done. I find it easier to express what’s on my mind through melody than words.

Blind I: You grew up in southern California but you’ve spent a bulk of your adulthood on the East Coast. How have those influences molded your sound?

Kameleon: I think transitioning from the West to the East definitely helped round out my sound. But when I lived in Cali, people said my music sounded like it came from back East and the same happened when I came over here. But I definitely represent the West Coast through my music. It’s mellow like I am but still intense.

Blind I: What role are you trying to play in music today?

Kameleon: I’m trying to make music for the demographic the industry has forgotten. Like the late 20s early 30s sector that relates to older Nas and Rakim. People tell me that when they hear my stuff it kind of takes them back to that era and moves their soul. I just want to be the portal to the days where rap was only played after 10 on some stations and people weren’t in music 100% for the money you know? Now there are so many artists that are empty pods. Like instant-artists; just add water. Through music, I’m trying to slow cook on the pot, not just add water. Nothing like a home cooked meal.

1. I Am Yours

2. Leaves on Branches

3. Leaving

4. Walk On

5. Leyte

6. Pacific Coast Highway

7. Essence

8. Keep On

9. Planets

10. Kingpin

11. Fire

12. Garfunkle

13. Carnival

14. Knight

15. Stella Artois

16. Strange Fruit

17. Beautiful

Indulge.

Listen to Kameleon’s music Here.

If we’ve piqued your interest and you want to hear more, check Kameleon out or contact him via his MySpace.

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BLIND I ARTIST OF THE MONTH: KAMELEON

In an era where many production styles recycle the same formula, it’s intriguing to hear a beat that you can’t quite categorize. Sometimes when you listen to a track, you can imagine a certain rapper or R & B artist placed over the song. But there are producers that the staff at Blind I enjoy like Flying Lotus and Daedelus that channel their innovation into a more obscure sound, that is distinguishable from your everyday beat on the ratio. This kind of abstract energy inspired Blind I to feature Kameleon, a producer from California that is flying right under the radar.

More and tracklisting after the jump. › Read More…

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CLASSIC OF THE DAY: IT’S THE REMIX, BABY!

Contrary to popular belief, Diddy in fact did NOT invent the remix.
Don’t worry kids. Blind I’s here to help.

Recently, XXL’s site wrote up a comprehensive list of the Ten Best Hip-Hop Remixes of all time. Being a fan of multiple remixed joints over the years, I was interested to see what songs/artists they featured to crack the top ten. Always a great source for true hip-hop commentary and critiques, they didn’t dissapoint, delivering a top ten that I feel is very hard to disagree with. I, however, took the liberty to find these ten songs, the originals, and a little something special to top it all of and educate some of our “younger” visitors who may not be well versed in the history of things. Partake after the jump. › Read More…

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NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

When I was a kid in Cali, my older brother and I listened to a lot of music out of New York. Back then, the East Coast was in the lead and Rap City was in heavy rotation. Even in elementary school, I was buying albums and dissecting them on my pH scale for quality. The hip-hop seed was planted early.

Tracklist and links after the break. › Read More…

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