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"Feature Audio" is a unique section where you will find songs that you may not have heard before, or other types of music that have contributed to the evolution of modern hip hop. It is our attempt at being eclectic, both within and outside the boundaries of hip hop.
SPECIAL: LFG Presents Sayre ft. Will-I-Am of the Anti-Matter Men - Stone Tablets to Street Corners
Produced by Dembs for LFG productions, this is the first LFG compilation album joint to be posted anywhere. A song about the spirituality and immoratality of art. Again, leave comments on discussion board.
You might have missed: The Roots, Common, Mos Def, Dice Raw, Jazzyfatnastees, and Flo Brown - Hurricane
This one is fairly new - from the Hurricane soundtrack - but sadly it is a great song that may be forgotten because it doesn't appear on a "hip hop album." Nevertheless, it is a great collaboration of some of the best artists in the world.
The Foundation: Bob Dylan - Hurricane
It may be a totally different genre of music, but Bob Dylan's lyrics and storytelling ability are certainly influential to hip hop. Other than the obvious comparisons to the above collab, this song closely parallels the format and goal of Common's "A Song for Assata."
You might have missed: Del The Funky Homosapien - Del's Nightmare
His new album is getting mixed reviews, but this song off the cassette-only release Future Development is an unquestionable masterpiece. Del compares the record industry to slavery with unmatched detail. If you haven't heard it, you're missing out on one of the best underground songs of all-time.
The Foundation: Cannonball Adderley - Sticks
This track is taken from the album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. He and his brother Nat helped popularize the Hard Bop movement, which brought jazz to a wider audience than it had ever been exposed to before.
You might have missed: Aesoprock - 1,000 Deaths
If you are completely lyric-oriented, you may be familiar with Aesoprock's work. However, most hip hop fans aren't. He is able to combine poetics a la Illogic with a delivery similar to Sole, and yet make an overall sound that may be more accessible to mainstream ears. This is a song off his EP "Appleseed."
The Foundation: The Meters - Cissy Strut
As requested, here is some material by the Meters, who produced some brilliant funk during the late 60's and 70's. How many hip hop loops could you take out of this track? Now imagine a whole Meters album...
You might have missed: Bahamadia - Innovation
This is a laid-back track from Bahamadia's debut album entitled Kollage. She shows nice wordplay, and should really be recognized as one of the top female emcees out there. Go back and give this album a listen, and look for her new project due out later this year.
The Foundation: Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues
Well, what can you say? Here's the greatest singer of all-time. Even though it's a completely different type of music, the personality and emotion displayed in this track is what emcees should strive for.
You might have missed: The Coup - Underdogs
Brilliant and poingnant song about the plight of welfare mothers. Boots at his absolute finest. This song will strike deep in the heart of anyone who has known poverty. It might bring a tear to your eye so don't listen to it around your boys.
The Foundation: Bessie Smith - Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Although you may not directly see the relation to hip hop here, this is some of the earliest recorded "Black" Music. Bessie Smith was the most famous jazz singer in the world in the 1920's - unfortunately she has been all but forgotten by today's generation.
You might have missed: Public Enemy - What You Need is Jesus
A gem from the He Got Game soundtrack, with political and religious connotations. This album was ignored for the most part by critics and fans. While you're listening, go to the articles section and read the piece on PE.
The Foundation: Nina Simone - Ain't Got No / I Got Life
Not only has Nina Simone been sampled by hip hop artists, but she is the definition of a soulful singer. This is where current artists should look for inspiration. This particular song shows the difficult conditions a black woman had to live through when it was written, yet she still puts a positive spin on life.
You might have missed: Kool G Rap and DJ Polo - Trilogy of Terror
Here's an emcee who has been slept on throughout his career. He's still doing it, and still being ignored. Anyway, his earlier music gave birth to the style that emcees like Mobb Deep use today. If you don't understand his influence, you need to check this, and get the album "Road to the Riches."
The Foundation: Grover Washington, Jr. - Black Frost
Heard this beat before? Organized Konfusion borrowed it on their first album for the track "The Rough Side of Town (Southside)." Washington is more modern jazz, as opposed to artists like Miles Davis, Coltrane, and Thelonius. But don't confuse him with Kenny G, this record came out in 1975 - Grover Washington is a pioneer.
You might have missed: Andre Nickatina - I'm a Pisces
While never given the respect of strictly underground heads, Andre Nickatina (aka Dre Dog) has remained an important part of the bay area rap scene for years. Don't dismiss him as just another gangster - he's got a great flow and some interesting things to say.
The Foundation: Isaac Hayes - Walk on By
Isaac Hayes has been sampled by numerous hip hop giants - everyone from Public Enemy to Dr. Dre. This classic, along with "Hyperbolicsyllabicesquedalymistic," make Hot Buttered Soul (1969) a must-have for any soul listener.
