DP’s “Money”

Classic Madlib production: funky bassline, simple drums, and lots of interpolating. I’m not sure who is directing this, but Stones Throw videos are becoming as recognizable as a Madlib beat…

Speaking of Madib…if you head over to here, you can read about Madlib & Karriem Riggins teaming up to form The Supreme Team; their track “Volta Por Cima” is featured on the elusive Stones Throw Hella International box set, as is the dope, dope Madlib remix to Dilla’s “The $,” which you can download for free from Stones Throw here.

“Sometimes all you need to get by is a girlie…”

Great advice from Dudley Perkins on “Washedbrainsyndrome;” and the album is full of similar life lessons (to be taken lightly I assure you). This track is a good representative of A Lil Light’s sound – casually paced (reminds me of a Dr. Dre beat in slow motion), interesting takes on recycled hip hop topics, and catchy hooks (or lack thereof, I haven’t figured it out yet). “Washedbrainsyndrome” is the classic tale of being brainwashed by a girl; and while I’m not a weed smoker, I’m sure it doubles as a classic tale of being brainwashed by weed – and the troubles that girls (or weed) will get a guy into (similar to Mobb Deep’s “Drink Away the Pain”).

I really like DP’s casual, conversational, and introspective style. This is particularly seen on tracks like “Falling,” “Little Black Boy,” & “Solitude.” The former was included on the Stones Throw: 10 Years compilation and works as a Dudley’s eye- & mind-view of the world around him, physical and abstract. It’s tracks like this that give the impression that Madlib would conjure up a beat and play it while DP connected thoughts together; very impromptu.

“Solitude” is kind of like “Falling” Part II: He ponders knowledge and God, two themes that are seen later in the album (“Forevaendless” & “Lord’s Prayer”) as well on his 2006 follow-up, Expressions (2012 A.U.).

Dudley Perkins – “A Lil’ Light”

Dudley Perkins – A Lil’ Light
Stones Throw (2003)

Reflecting on some of the points that Kyle & I have made about hip hop since TT’s inception, I think Dudley Perkin’s A Lil’ Light is a good follow up; at the very least, it works as an effective contrast to some of the points we made about hip hop as an increasingly image-oriented genre. Hence, I chose A Lil’ Light for a few reasons:

1) Madlib production – Other than Dilla, there a few producers I respect more than Madlib. His sound is hard to sum up – funk & jazz samples; crazy drums; synth-[insert instrument]; and just when you think you figured him out, he’s using live instruments, simultaneously with samples. For some, his sound is an acquired taste (e.g. YNQ); while projects like Lootpack’s Soundpieces: Da Antidote! are palatable upon one listen. Needless to say, Madlib (and his numerous aliases) know music.

2) Dudley Perkins – I got into DP/Declaime only within the previous 2 or so years. I got to the point where I needed as much Madlib as I could get so as I worked my way through his production credits (in no particular order), I got to Declaime’s Andsoitisaid (which I almost picked for this selection). Declaime (Dudley’s emcee alias) is unorthodox, but it’s this quality that makes him perfect for Madlib beats. His voice quality reminds me of Ol’ Dirty Bastard if he could carry a note (which isn’t saying much because Dudley can’t really carry a note himself). It’s his seeming stream-of-consciousness flow that really catches my ear and compliments Madlib’s equally free association-esque production.

3) The marriage of Madlib’s production and Dudley’s delivery and subject matter – On the surface, it sounds like Dudley is as times piecing random thoughts together (a la MF Doom). Enhanced with the production, the album dips into cacophonous abstraction: with synthesized voices; interrupted falsetto chords; talks of prophesy. But then it starts to sound normal…