MADLIB & FREDDIE GIBBS - SHAME

Right, so- simply, this is the best song I’ve heard this summer. It’s making me so happy. The sample- The Manhattans’ 1973 ‘Wish That You Were Mine’ combines with Freddie Gibbs’ rapping to make this an epic track from Madgibbs’ Shame EP (that being the second collaboration between workaholic machine producer Madlib and Freddie Gibbs). The first was Thuggin’ and can be found here.

For those who don’t know, Madlib’s behind some of the rawest soul slash mashup hip hop shit to grace physical formats since J Dilla. Part of Jaylib with the late J Dilla and a prolific producer, you should check out Madlib Medicine Show which runs to over a dozen volumes of beats, spits, spats and crazy if you don’t already know him.  

Meanwhile, BJ The Chicago Kid sings beautifully on ‘Shame’. Smashed together with Gibbs’ majorly explicit, uncompromising rapping, he punctures that machismo one night stand posturing and turns it into something tender, smooth and sexy. After 40 listens, I can confirm that the BJ The Chicago Kid’s hook may have been sent from god.     

Star Slinger

The new J Dilla I’m not so sure of exactly, but Star Slinger (Darren Williams) has picked up that very impressive title by rigorously working samples into re-invented modern hip-hop/soul. 24 and from Manchester, he says he trawls second-hand record shops endlessly for the best samples. They are mainly 1980s, although span the genres: alt-rock (Prefab Sprout) or perhaps snippets of Musical Youth. There is a rich cultural tapestry; the material being difficult to spot, typical of obsessives like Slinger. ‘Who Sampled?’ anyone?

Anyway, the musical heritage at play is merely the stage. The sum of the parts is a variety of dreamy imaginings, rooted by funky loops. Slinger occasionally uses that fuzzy drift between samples like Dilla did. The one that makes it sound like you’re moving back and forth between radio stations.

Teams vs. Star Slinger - Punch Drunk Love *Part of 12" EP on MEXICAN SUMMER.* by Star Slinger

Star Slinger - Slow 'N' Wet by Star Slinger