Song of the Week: Take Notice - J Dilla feat Guilty Simpson

Take Notice - J Dilla Feat Guilty Simpson - Ruff Draft

The sound of this song is like it's album title, rough. It's slow and minimal, the keys and electronic aren't over the top or overwhelming. The whole sound is incredibly refreshing after listening to a lot of more modern pop which can be heavily overproduced and bogged down with too many odd loops and electronic samples. The song immediately establishes a nodding rhythm and sticks to it. J Dilla's attitude certainly comes through on the song and is even better illustrated by this blurb (from the youtube video)

"J Dilla introduced Guilty Simpson to Stones Throw by saying, "You should sign him." He was signed."

Enjoy.

Album Of Note: Jake One - White Van Music

I was going to do a song review of Jake One's "God Like" but i decided to stop messing around with tracks (Trap Door, and The Truth were both on White Van Music) and just recommend the whole album. His production work is usually compared to MF DOOM's but I would say there's a big difference between the two, with Jake Ones being more rooted in instrumentation funk and soul and DOOM's being much much weirder and varied in sampling and sound (Compare these two DOOM Beats. Here and Here.) In an age where most pop is a mash of overproduced electronic synthesized noise (which can be done well: Dan the Automator, and the Gorillaz) it's really refreshing to hear a full live sound with a compliment of horns, woodwinds and bass. It reminded me a little bit of the "Suite For Ma Dukes" Orchestra playing J-Dilla beats. Its a full well realized and very dramatic sound.