Q-Tip The Renaissance

Damn, I’ve been gone for awhile. No worries though, I’ve been thinking of that good music to bring to you the whole time. Hawaii takes a lot of my time but I can never stray away from what’s truly real to me, MUSIC. Lately I’ve been trying to find the artist who can match the view I wake up to every morning, I’ve been searching for the artists I can wake up to and listen to from track one to track twelve. The abstract one, Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest has been my answer. The Renaissance is the album I am bringing to you, the most diverse album I’ve heard in awhile, I don’t think you can compare his diversity to any artist of late. Q-Tip, with every song brings a vibe of, c’mon everybody feel good and let’s unite. Since I’ve moved to the islands I’ve played his album religiously, my roommates love him and I caught some of the locals nodding their heads to his vibe when I drive by. It’s such a Vibrant Thing that you can’t help but share it with the world; his music is honestly the therapy to my non-existent homesickness. I can’t help but feel every word he spits, whether it is Raphael Saadiq or Norah Jones and even D’Angelo, the chemistry he has with featured artist is amazing. My favorite song on the album happens to be Life is Better featuring Norah Jones, this song sends chills through my spine simply because I didn’t feel like life could get any better then Seattle. I mean there’s a reason why I named my blog Emerald City Lights I have mad love for my city and everyone and thing in it, but there comes a time when people can become stagnant and content with there present being. Not I, I remember when I first listened to Life is Better every word and sound put me in a place where I was at peace with myself. Norah’s sound took me down a couple notches from my day and my over thinking of life.
In Seattle I was content with my being, I was working and writing a lot but in the back of my mind I didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t exploring my outer limits. Honestly, Q-Tip and Norah Jones gave me the confidence to find out how much better life could actually be. No doubt I was a shook one when I was approached with the opportunity to relocate, but listening to this song eased my worries and made me Believe that there are greener pastures out there to graze. Believe, which is the next track on The Renaissance after Life Is Better, is the perfect one two punch for your confidence. I listened to these tracks all the time, until it was time for me to make my decision and because of these songs and Q-Tips album, I feel like I made the best decision I could have made. You never know what life has in store for you it takes a belief in self and the confidence that you can make life better for yourself. Thanks Q-Tip for instilling faith in those who needed a boost to chase their dreams.

Paying Homage to J Dilla

J Dilla thank you for your beats of tranquility, throwing on a Dilla track sets the mood for any occasion. Partying with friends, socializing with people over wine and cheese or alone with that special person, Dilla can make the mood right. J Dilla to me is a cornerstone of Hip Hop, the essence of beautiful music, if you were to look inside a CD case of a Hip Hop artist and open up the book of the artist and view the people responsible for making the song J Dilla might be one of those people. Dilla started as a producer coming from Music city Detroit, in the early 90’s he stepped outside of his boundaries and embarked on a musical mission to open the ears and minds of Hip Hop artists and listeners. During his mission he was able to connect with artists such as Common, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Mos Def and many more. Dilla’s music and vibes along with the brilliant artists he’s worked with painted Mona Lisa’s with sound, the Leonardo da Vinci of music is my comparison of Dilla. No one else in the Hip Hop world was making beats and rhymes of life and had an entourage of highly acclaimed artists who could attest to Dilla’s contribution to Hip Hop.
I only have three Dilla albums Donuts, Ruff Draft and The Shining and all three albums are dope, dope because of the sounds and samples he can lay over tracks, along with Dilla’s rhyming skills he was constantly turning over leaves to stretch his imagination along with the Hip Hop game. One trait Dilla has is the ability to absorb people from different cultures and have them dancing to his sounds, Dilla’s music is universal, it’s very sad we lost a pioneer and an innovator if alive today maybe would have a stronger influence on the music and artist we hear today. If Dilla had one thing to say to every artist in the Hip Hop game I believe he’d say stay true to self and good music will follow. I don’t know J Dilla but I know him through his music and even though I only have three of his eleven albums and EP’s, the three I have, paint a picture of where Dilla comes from when he makes music. Hopefully you to can enjoy J Dilla as much as I do and recognize real music for what it is. Rest in Peace J Dilla and thank you again for leaving your mark as one of the best to ever do it.