Quite noticeably to the immediately leaning left you will witness a rather familiar sketch, (for those encumbered in the world of debauchery of course), the fantastic work of Ralph Steadman. This image fits all to snug when announcing the return from our hiatus, famous for it's ultra-visual portrayal of the masterpiece "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by the late Hunter S. Thompson, this depicts our brief summer stint to a crisp as we embarked on several journeys throughout the past few weeks hanging from the cusp of sanity. Commingled with birthday bashes, tropical weddings, and frantic foggy fiascos, the Pimpin' Pens familia had such a full platter of substances to devour we decided to let some of our newest blog soldiers catch up on these fine works before dropping more bangers on the masses. Now fully recuperated, enjoy some exclusive new assortments and varieties as we crash land in full force.
Dizzee Rascal: "Dance Wiv Me"
The Game and Travis Barker: "Dope Boys"
That beat rides, add that live percussion and your gone...
Bonus Junts....B-B-B-Bonus Junts!
Upon hearing the new Weazel record, I was definitely feeling the last cut on the disc entitled "Don't Get It (Misunderstood)". The track immediately triggered my diluted memory, an all too familiar sample, so I decided to go digging for some of the other dozen or so fucking artists that have used this same song/sample:
Lil Wayne: "Don't Get it"
Mood: "Karma"
Nina Simone: "Don't let me be misunderstood"
The Animals: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
Posted By Los Diablo for Pimpin' Pens
Monday, June 30, 2008
Hail the Hiatus: P-Pens Returns From the Sun
RZA AS BOBBY DIGITAL: DIGI SNACKS REVIEW
Its been a long time coming, and digi heads worldwide have been waiting for another installment to the highly acclaimed series of alter-ego spinoff projects from the Abbott of the Wu Tang Clan, the Rza. Perhaps my all time favorite hip hop album was the first Bobby Digital in Stereo, released in 1998 at the pinnacle of the Wu's dominance in the rap game. Bobby Digital in Stereo was groundbreaking in that it was light years ahead of its time as far as production and lyrics were concerned. It was the gangsta rap embodiment of a Stan Lee Comic book, equipped with all the makings of a sci-fi inter-stellar martial arts extravaganza. The imagery that the Rza was capable of evoking was truly visceral and inconoclastic to say the least.
Fast forward now ten years later and you have the Rza's latest incarnation of the Bobby Digital saga. I went to my local CD store and bought this CD the day it came out without any compunction whatsoever. As a matter of fact I bought it without even giving it a cursory listen. I even chose to pass over the latest Three Six Mafia disc, The Last 2 Walk in favor of Prince Rakeem. That is how much faith I have in the Rza. I normally exercise a good bit of discretion when purchasing CD's, especially when you can get them for free. But I still believe in the old days of purchasing CD's. The anticipation that arises after you tear the outer packaging to find the artwork, credits and other hidden knick knacks. The Digi Snacks album however, was conspicuously absent of any cool supporting materials other than the actual CD - which wasn't even an enhanced CD, which both the Rza and Wu have been known to interlace their discs with from time to time to add to the freshness.
On the critical side of things I am sad to say that his latest offering did not live up to my expectations, but then again who am I anyway? In my mind Rza has the artistic license to do whatever he feels fit, and he exercises that right on this offering. The lyrics are onpoint and razor sharp as ever, but in my mind it is the production on this album that holds it back. Aside from the cohesive lead-single "You Can't Stop Me Now," the album as a whole sounds a little disjointed, and downright bizzare. I give him props for pushing the creative boundaries of hip hop, but this shit is even a little too "progressive" for my tastes and you won't find a more staunch and fervent supporter of the Digi movement than yours truly. It's the type of album that you don't mind bumping by yourself just so you can soak up the darts (lyrics) that he is spitting, but you do feel a little akward blasting it out of your speakers at the stop light next to some fine birds (females)-fearing that they think your a wierdo. Much of the album has a jazzy feel to it - I don't know wheather it is Erykah Badhu or Macy Gray who laces the choruses on a few of the tracks, but whoever it is is prominently featured.
The last quip I have about the album is the lackluster choruses and hooks. For instance "Booby Trap" is actually a pretty fresh song but the thing that ruins it for me in the end is the choice for the hook. On "Booby Trap" he spits: "I lounge like a hungry jaguar, into aqua, trying to catch a fish that multiplies like the magwai" - you got to love that. Another out of place contribution comes from the southern emcee/producer David Banner on "Straight out the Block," where Banner helms the production looping some Jay-Z vocals. On this track Rza sounds a little out of his element as if he is trying to cater to the dirty south. Digi Snax also could have benefitted from some more Wu Tang guest appearances- the only member featured was Inspectah Deck and he did his thing. I guess I feel like it is time for Rza to make a return to his gangsta rap roots and come out a little more hardcore à la Gravediggaz style. In the meantime, I will be more than happy to continue bumping this out my tweeters. Other prominently featured guest appearances come courtesy of the Black Knights and Beretta-9. Still, amidst all the nonsense out right now, this album is a breath of fresh air. If I came off like a hater, I apologize. I in know way shape, form or fashion claim to know more about music than the almighty Rza and I will always defer to his greatness. Buy the album
Enzo on the Post
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Atlantic Amazon : Elite Wave Riders Crush the Pororoca
So the other day I was once again confined to a comfortable station on my couch enjoying a rather exquisite spliff, allowing me to mimic zombies and basically sift through satellite channels. When engaging in such an act, I tend to clutter the brain with nonsense so rarely acquired throughout the usual "grind", (of course exceptions will be made for any games, sportscenter, or comedy). At times, these ventures require some sort of assistance, luckily my youngest brother was also in a similar state of mind and casually shifted our viewing focus to some surfing documentary. That's when it hooked me.
I was not aware something of this magnitude existed, nor the fact that there were actually maniacs with balls large enough to attack this aquatic beast of nature. Twice a year, between the months of February and March, the Atlantic Ocean waters roll up the Amazon river, in Brazil, generating the longest wave on the Earth. The phenomenon, known as the Pororoca, is caused by the tides of the Atlantic Ocean which meet the mouth of the river. This tidal bore generates waves up to 12 feet high which can last for over half an hour.
What was witnessed during this fantastic session of greenery were a group of surfing extraordinaries spitting in the face of Poseidon himself, riding this ginormous wave for 20 minutes at a time. One fucking wave for almost half an hour, bonkers! It basically bugged me out to the point I needed to do a piece on it, enjoy.
Bonus Shit! I had to throw this in, I had to.
Weezy F. Baby: "Mr. Carter" feat. Jay Hova
Posted By Los Diablo for Pimpin' Pens
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Pimp Comedy:
Lavell Crawford - "Crack is Wack"
Lavell you killed it on this one homie.
Posted by Rico for Pimpin' Pens
Insights and Highlifes: Review and Interview from the RawDawg Torrance Stephens
America's backyard is a culinary masterpiece served over an eclectic array of flavorful scents and spices. When all is said and done, and the gluttons have feasted, there remains a beautiful lining of leftover crumbs and ingredients typically overlooked but adorned by the elite as the most important proponents of all the dishes, the metaphorical "love" that went into every entrée, the heart of the country, the dirty fucking south.
Acclaimed author Dr. Torrance Stephens (Raw Dawg B the All M-I-T) delivers his blend of political opinions, satirical views, and straight hard body perspectives with a dash of southern comfort in a truly compelling collection of essays, "Dirt Behind My Ears". Entrenched with a libertarian position, (not liberal you numbnuts, visit the Cato Institute for clarification), on the gritty undertones on everything from music, fashion, and women to politics, the economy, and bitches, Dr. Stephens provides a refreshingly dope angle amidst all the extremely bias nonsense floating around the factory now of days. I mean, dude has a Ph.D. and he's rocking some sick aqua nikes and lampin on a rifle posted up over acres of backwoods for the cover of the book, tough.
While seeing eye-to-eye with every viewpoint is inherently impossible, ala Einstein's theory about this unique universe, Dr. T.S. hits it right on the money with his comparison of the Republican Party's excessive spending to that of the Democrats of yesteryear. (I couldn't agree more, they did a great job cutting taxes but how about controlling cash flow fellas?) One of my favorite pieces in the book was a small contribution entitled, "Sacraligi-Fried", where Stephens concludes the essay with the fact that you should always have "bread" at the crib because it would be sacrilegious to have a gorge of a meal without some bread to go with it, nah mean. The piercing perceptions laid out across the canvas are anything but mundane. Calling out all these new cliché phony rap acts as the age of the fuckboy and alluding to Hitchcock's "Birds" in another entry allowed me to certify this book as a b-b-b-banger, Pimpin' Pens stamp of approval homie!
So, Dr. Stephens crafts a fine piece of work allowing us to reconsider some of the world events that we have so prematurely brushed off this decade. From our country's overreactions to minuscule events blown out of proportion to our under appreciation for the loss of certain greats like Richard fucking Prior, Dr. T.S. drops some valid opinions on how we so conveniently forget to clean up the dirt behind our ears.
Review by Los Diablo for Pimpin' Pens
Bonus-Bonus-Bonus Bitches! Exclusive Pimpin' Pens Interview With Dr. Raw Dawg Buffalo Stephens Himself:
*DISCLAIMER: The following interview was composed from 3 sets of questions, a few from each of us here at Pimpin' Pens. - With that being said, behold the realness spewing from this exclusive Q&A session with the All-Mi-T!
For the lames out there who aren't aware of the infamous Rawdawg Legacy give us a quick little bio.
Well mane, Memphis born and bread. Although folk been up in this camp since age 17, I'm still a Memphis mac first and foremost. I was born and raised in Castalia Heights, but moved down a few blocks away to south Parkway, then to parkway terrace. I guess it all started then. No detail with dirt, but I did have a pool in my backyard and gave the fi'est parties in flip town back in the day. Folks just started calling me all - mi- T. Used to be tBone. But the greatest good proffered divinity for your folk, being god by nature and such.
Then I went to Morehouse. Can't mention dirt – let's say I ran shit and kicked it there BDS (Big dic style too).
Whats' a typical day for the allmighty starting with the "Breakfast of Champions"
how did that come about and who are you musical influences.
Well really, when I had a woman, it would be her, followed by me tending to my kids. Used to coach aau basketball and lil league base ball. Had my boys since 4 to 14 then they went to high school. And the breakfast, just a morning cocktail. Tequila with a shot of hot sauce, mainly on weekends - like I said I got kids. Other wise that with a deuce deuce, what gives folk?
Used to be a time I'd go to Emory University, or Morehouse school of medicine, write some papers for scientific journals, wrote some grants, and I can't forget the travel to and from to Africa. Been blessed folk. Lived in Nigeria, Seneghal, Ethiopia and South Africa, and been to a host of other African Countries.
But I have to read a couple few news papers a day, check my investments, clean my guns, check on my flowers and walk my 11 acres. Most importantly kiss my kids and tell them I love them. Talks to a few ladies at night – I'm finished with dames and broads, write and read some history, philosophy or what not. A good day means we make a few songs so I can ride around in my pick up listening to them.
You were in the midst of a milestone in music history. What was the Memphis music scene like back in the day and what are you views on the current state to Memphis Rap.
Well most of the folks that made it were basically hit the clubs as DJs. Chanting of fat beats, or they were basically selling stuff on the streets. Like *ball & MJG, Skiny Pimp, Gangsta Pat, DJ Squeeky, Tom Skeemask, Criminal Mane and folk like that. And in the clubs, strip clubs included, all you heard was Memphis cats dropping Memphis ling of Memphis heavy bass and strong high hat beats. You could go to Overton Park on Sunday and everybody would be slanging tapes. It was cool then. The only problem was like I said, the Bluff city, one-town, flip town or Memphis was click tight and none of them folks wanted to work with nobody or else they would be literally tearing the club up. Then there was the fact that pimping was bigger than hip hop at the time and more loot could be made from that.
You mention that you bump a lot of NWA and Oldschool Memphis shit like Playa fly, Gangsta black, - who else do you consider you fav. emcees/groups.
Well Three six, UGK, Mos Def, Reakwon of the Wu, Jean Grae, Rakim, Big L, , Immortal Technique, and mayb a few more. But of the new cats, DG Yola, and many of them folk my boys Mook B and Born Immaculate be lacing beats for on Bankhead.
What drove you to pursue a writing career, and who are some of your favorite authors and books. Are you into Hunter S. Thompson, Burroughs, Vonnegut or any of the "Beat writers?"
Truthfully, don't really favor none of them folk. Me like, uh, Voltaire, Langeston Huges, Iceburg Slim, Herman Hesse, Albert Camus, Pablo Neurda, Countee Cullen, Sterling Brown, Nella Larse, Edgar Poe, Trey Ellis, Maya Angelo, Alexander Dumas and Aniss Ninn (sp) are some of the few that come straight off the dome, ficton and verse that is, but I really prefer history and philosophy and science. I really dig Chekih nta Diop, Hegel, Satre and and thinking folk like them.
What music do you bump that isn't of the rap/hip-hop genre?
Tchacoskivy (love William Tell overture and 1812). Linton Kwesi Johnson, Gil Scott and Of course my favs, Funkadelic and Prince. And jazz, Sade, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson,. Love me some Zepplin, Lynard Skynard, Almon Brothers, Steely Dan, you name it I love muzk. Al Green.
You often claim South Parkway, describe to me the urban backdrop of South Parkway. Any memories of you as a rambunctious youngster with soon to be future rappers getting into trouble on the streets of South Parkway. Also I hear the term SPV thrown around a lot, but never was able to decipher its meaning. I figure it is an acronym for something, but what?
I was one of the only folk to have a pool in my backyard, so I gave parties and it was the shit. Eating Paynes BBQ smoke sausages and Jack Pyrtle Chicking and drinking Fight Cock Whiskey and chiefing – the life.
We just kicked it and its close knit. My best friend to this day folks founded the 4th largets black ins company in America and 12 largest black bank. So those with loot AND WITHOUT LOOT AND INBETWEEN KICKED IT LIKE FOLK. But its raw dawg folk, if u can make it in Memphis you can make it any where. Everybody think they the shit.
Well me is click clack. Every body know everybody. Im from Shophertown (sp like a car driver) in between Castalia and Glenview park. Memphis is a town were slang is created, from folk and main, to calling everybody Jones – generic. Like pimp jones, Gay Jones, weak Jones. Ect. We also make phrases. My books are all about Memphis and my charcters are mainly Memphis niggas. We used to say "Fast N gamin, never changing". Or pimp was professional in the management of a prostitute, until I came up and we spelled it PPIMP (putting paper in my pocket." So Three 6 made a lot of loot off of stuff all cats said in the clubs, like "Tear the club up:, "Make a stang – we used to have cats from cali and NYC come up in our camp thinking we slow, so we play the slow card and jack them – not me of course never.
You've been on the peripheries of the Memphis hip-hop music scene since practically its inception. I'm sure you've seen a substantial amount of emcees come and go. In your mind, is there one enduring quality that an emcee might posses that separate them from the rest of the herd. It's amazing how many talented young artists have fallen by the wayside over the years.
You've inspired the Pimpin Pens crew to become more politically conscious with your blogs and their socio-economic and political slant. What newspapers, and magazines help form your passionate opinions and social commentary.
The Wall Street Journal, I love political op-eds, used to watch and adore the mind of the posthumous William Bucly, The Paris Review, the Economist, the Jersulum Times, Das Speigal, Miami Herald, Atlanta Jounal Constitution by default, Finincial Times, and some other papers mostly in Africa.
I understand that you are an avid NPR (National Public Radio) listener. What is it about NPR that you find so appealing?
Original no slant eporting on things that make a man think. And the use great grammer and sentence structure. I like my kids to listen to it instead of the fuckboy shit on the radio and it may lead to a semi descent vocabulary for them one day.
I see that you've recorded over 7000 songs since 1987; do you have formal training in any musical instruments?
Since 1984. I read and write music. Played in jr and high school band – precussion. Was the Tympani, chimes, bells and marimba player during concert season. Other wise tenor drums and cymbals – love cymbals, they loud. And sang in church choir growing up since a youngin'.
You hold yourself and your community to very high standards, do you ever get into disagreements with your folk in the rap game regarding the often less then savory material found in their records.
Yes I do, a lot of these fol are merely studio or microphone gangsters. The True True don't even desire to get down lie that. Lie when Jeezy gave a scholarship for a thousand dollars – laudable true, but It will barely buy books,I done seen Jones drop 17 stacks in a strip club. That's fouls fuck boy shit to me, so I mentioned it at a press conference he had bragging on his 1 stack scholarship – wasn't taken well and I will leave it at that.
There you have it, Raw Dawg at its finest courtesy of the one and only Pimpin' Pens familia!
IF YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW CHECK OUT SOME OTHER TIMELESS VENTURES INTO THE CEREBRALS OF RAPS UNDERGROUND ELITE:
Mr. Sche Interview
T-Rock Interview
Lord Infamous Interview
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
FUCK YOU ANALOG KNICCAS WE BE DIGITAL
In commemoration of Bobby Digital month here at Pimpin Pens' its time to lace you fools with some tru space age pimpin if I do say so myself. When it comes to futuristic rowdy bounty hunter style raps, nobody freaks it better than my main man Rza from the slums of Shaolin. He goes by many aliases'-Bobby Digital, Prince Rakeem, The Abbott, Bobby Steels, RulerZigZagZigallah, Rzarectah and maybe even more that I can't seem to recollect off the top of the dome at the moment. This dude is widely considered the single most influential producer in the rap game. I however, like to think of him as one of the most underrated emcees the rap game has bestowed upon us. In his early formative rap years his style was real in-your-face raspy and raw like Ol Dirty, as evinced in his verses from the early recordings of the Wu Tang satellite group, Gravediggaz-as well as the seminal magnum opus Enter The Wu 36 Chambers. However during the period of around 97-98 he started to slowly metamorphose into his spliff smoking, chickenhead groping, alter-ego Bobby Digital. Bobby Digital, as Rza explains it, is a self-proclaimed hethon and reveler in all things debauchery. In the never released (and widely discoursed by fans) film Bobby Digital he transforms into his menacing alter-ego through a botched experiment in his laboratory with a new synthetic blend of herbs to lace in his blunt, thereby undergoing the radical transfiguration from Rza to Bobby Digital. Perhaps my favorite album of all time is Rza's debut: Rza as Bobby Digital in Stereo, because of its capability to magically whisks me off into a whimsical world of blunts, sherm, bitches, superheros, Volkswagen Bugs, phaser beams, gamma rays, cyborgs, hard-to-spot microdots and all things bugged out. Some people might say that the Rza was set trippin (too crazy) on this release, and that he strayed too far from his Rzarectah roots. I applaud him for his balsy efforts and take my hat off and commend Rza for his grandiose vision of a world where analog cats fall by the wayside and only the tru digital shoguns persevere. Enjoy this musical medley of some of Rza's finest work, and witness the slow evolution of his style from Rza to Bobby Digi, as I chronologically ordered these videos to showcase the metamorphosis. If you don't feel this shit I don't want you loitering around here no more. Catch up with your kind-my team is a magazine of M-16's-remember that! "Try to use my name but that's fatal, try to claim my fame but thats fatal, bite through your jugular vein, thats fatal."
The Enzorectah is in your sector, protect your necks kniccas.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Ghostface Killah - We Celebrate Official Video
HOLY SHIT BIG GHOSTDEINI IN THE FUCKIN' BUILDING! AHHHHHH! Check out ya main man, fifth brother up in the clan, Pretty Tony doing big monster-don style as usual. Ghostface gets things poppin' - balling like a maniac, going beast-mode berserk rocking some sheep's wool-laced type robe in the middle of the club on some Sheik Prince, Sultan tip. One of the greatest of all time,soak up the Supreme steelo spillin' from the Iron Giant as he hacks machete-sharp gashes out of the track, mauling the beat to mince meat.
Of all the clan members, the most flamboyant besides Mef of course, GFK has always held it down with back to back classics since the 96 Iron Man purple tape, conjuring up some of the most flavorful, ingeniously esoteric, encrypted lingo, terms that only true, streetwise Wu Blood kin can decipher, appreciate and comprehend. Nuff respect due...
BONUS VIDEO: The UGK Rendition of "We celebrate" - "Trill Niggaz Dont Die!" Feat - Z-ro
Posted by Rico"I can holla at the birds like Dr. Dolittle" for Pimpin' Pens
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Served Up to Burn Up: Quick Darts From Oh No
The other day, while I was hovering through our favorite state of mind called the "zone", my mood craved a musical enhancement to further elevate the realm I was lounging on. To my utter surprise, and oh so conveniently placed, was the 2004 debut banger from Stones Throw Records big dog Oh No, "Disrupt". Now, since his original release this west coast producer/emcee has emerged as a true boss hog sampler, (no shit he's Madlib's younger brother), and proven beyond an inkling of a doubt he should be fingertips away for any vinyl monger, especially when referring to his latest efforts.
So as a sick lil snippet of dope from the Pens that Pimp, here's some Oh No junts for the moment:
Oh No's Classic Banger: "Move" feat J-Dilla and J-Rocc
Oh No: "Cosmos" off the pure potent record "Dr. No's Oxperiment"
Yo Los hit em with the Ox Broil, serve it up!
Oh No: "Ox Broil"
Nuff Said
Posted By Los Diablo for Pimpin' Pens
