By shelz.
Welcome back folks. Planet Ill is here with another week of covers, remixes, freestyles and every other type of pilfered tune we could think of for your listening pleasure. Since we are in the middle of the holiday season and generosity is the name of the game, we’re going to give you a heaping pile of songs larger than the mountain of mashed potatoes on your Thanksgiving plate. But before we get to that, I have a few words about beats, rhymes and life.
Even though we haven’t heard from “the group,” Q-Tip says A Tribe Called Quest does not support Michael Rapaport’s documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life. The documentary, a very personal look at the group that covers two years of break up to make up during their once thought never ever to happen reunion during the 2008 Rock the Bells tour, is scheduled for release in 2011.
*Sigh
This is tremendously disappointing. They said getting back together wasn’t in the cards but it happened anyway, then Rapaport announces he was catching every bit of it on camera. Tribe fans were busting at the seams when the trailer surfaced. Now this? Tip says the story may have become a bit fuzzy in the editing and Rapaport is rushing. I hope this can be worked out. The story should remain true to the subject so everyone can walk away knowing the piece was fair. Reach a compromise fellas, we want this film to have a happy ending.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand, sonic grand theft. First up we have Catherine AD and her cover of my least favorite song on Sleigh Bell’s Treats, “Run the Heart.” It shocking how different than this is from the original. Calm, cool, breezy. It drags a bit at points, but the overall feel is quite beautiful.
Catherine AD – “Run the Heart”
CatherineAD – Run The Heart (Sleigh Bells Cover)
Grafh manhandles “Roman Revenge” like the beat is a mere suggestion of where he should be going; a suggestion he decided not to take. He’s very ADD here, with a wisp of Nicki’s left over schizophrenia. The lyrics are gross, disrespectful and well… monstrous. Lol@humping your neighbors. Make sure you listen to all of this. It would be funny if it wasn’t so foul.
Grafh – “Show Off Again”
The Cons takes Pete Rock’s “I Got A Love” and throws a suit and tie on it, but this one isn’t shiny. He runs back his history and explains why he is where he is. His flow is crispy as ever, so is his drive to make it to the top. I’m not sure if he will ever make it, but I do like what he’s done with this beat.
Consequence – “Suit and Tie Theory”
Consequence-Suit_and_Tie_Theory-2dope
Sad Brad Smith digs up Slick Rick’s classic “Hey Young World” and turns it into a languid reggae piece. It’s cute if you’re not one of those traditionalists who gets all up in arms about non-rap rap covers. Then you won’t like it. It’s not the greatest, but it reminds me of sunset on the surf. Enjoy.
Sad Brad Smith -“Hey Young World”
Hey, Young World (Slick Rick cover)
Next is Naledge from Kidz in the Hall spitting over Mobb Deep’s “Keep It Thoro.” You can’t miss with this track, but this freestyle just makes me want to hear the original.
Naledge – “Thoro”
Moving on we have Curtains over Lil Kim’s “Queen Bitch” track. One day dudes will run out of ways to call themselves dope, but until then expect the big ups to roll on. His girl is hot. She has an over-priced bag (he did not say he bought it though) and his watch is frosty. Is he better than you? I don’t know, but he thinks so.
Curtains – “Queen Bitch Freestyle”
Curtains-Queen Bitch Freestyle
Jon Connor is a dope emcee. If he’s not on your radar, he should be. This week we have him over the Em and Wayne helmed “No Love” which once upon a time was the Haddaway dance track, “What is Love.” I can’t hear this song without thinking of Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell, so I can’t take Connors sourness too seriously, but he’s still dope.
Jon Connor – “Generation Next Freestyle”
Jon_Connor-Generation_Next_Freestyle-2dope
This is one misty song. It hardly sounds like “Rebellion.” But maybe that’s the point. Benjamin Leftwich’s hazy laid back delivery is quite rebellious against lyrics about fighting and lies. If the tension in the original was born of struggling with sleep, this version is the dream. Arcade Fire fans, what do you think?
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – “Rebellion”
Follow shelz. on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/shelzp
Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill
Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion
Follow us on Networked Blogs
2 thoughts on “And The Beat Goes On: Catherine AD Runs, Benjamin Leftwich Rebels and Q-Tip Says No”