Champion Sound

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

It’s still a Dilla Day here at MikeSchpitz.com. Some of you might have noticed the new header well, I updated it in preparation of the release of my new project, Mike Murder, which is completed and will see a May release. But back to Dilla Day. I was talking with my guy Trumaine about Dilla’s project with Madlib, Champion Sound and figured this was the perfect week to revisit the album. I heard one of the beats are their, Starz, on both Dilla Jawns and DillMatic and fell in love with the beat. I remember listening to Champion Sound back when it first came out but I wasn’t a big fan. During this relisten, I enjoyed it more, particularly because hearing Dilla rock the mike brings back a lot of good feelings. I’m still not in love with this album even though Dilla and Madlib heads would probably castrate me for saying so. I just prefer the Dilla sound from Common’s Like Water For Chocolate and Fantastic Volume 2. Having said that, there are definitely some ill cuts on here including Starz. I’m not really a fan of Madlib on the mike either but that beat carries the song for sure. Before I say too muc and offend a nation of hip hop heads, check out Champion Sound. It’s another solid project in the Dilla catalog that requires a listen. Check out Starz below. The beat is crazy.

RIP Dilla

DillMatic

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

It’s Dilla Day, two days in a row. I have been sitting on this mixtape for a while but figured in the spirit of yesterday’s post, I would check this mixtape out. I gotta start off by saying that I don’t really like mixtapes like this. I’m not really a fan of remixing a bunch of songs with other beats. Once in a while it’s cool but EVERYONE does it. I’m sitting on a Big Pun and Dilla mixtape right now too that I am a little worried about checking out. This mixtape is cool though. Some of the beats laid under the vocals don’t sound great but I guess the tape is cool for what it is. I mean it’s hard to make Nas and J Dilla sound bad. Anyway, check it out. Happy Hump Day to all and shout out to Squeek Boogie for the mixtape.

Nas and J Dilla “DillMatic“

Dilla Jawns

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

I came across a little surprise this weekend in the form of The Roots reproducing some J Dilla tracks for a project called Dilla Jawns. This project is similiar to the Sandwiches project they put together late last year. This shit is going to be an aspiring emcees dream to come across all these J Dilla instrumentals replayed by The Roots. It’s officially out for free download so, here is a link for your listening pleasure. Hopefully, The Roots new album, How I Got Over will drop soon. We NEED that. In the meantime, enjoy Dilla Jawns

Download Dilla Jawns

Hoes

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

I wanted to share a little afternoon classic with everyone to spice up this LONG Monday. Thanks to my guy Derrick, I have been singing Slum Village’s joint Hoes for the last few days. This joint is one of my favorites off Trinity, very dope. J Dilla did his thing on the beat of course. Happy Monday once again and enjoy. RIP J Dilla and Baatin

Think Twice

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

Happy Monday to all. I guess Classic Shit Friday’s spilled over to this morning because I’m bumping one of the greatest artists of all time, J Dilla’s Welcome 2 Detroit. I remember when I ordered this album online back in 01. The cover art is still the shit to me too. I think a lot of people saw Dilla as a real underground, backpack cat but Welcome 2 Detroit was raw and grimey. Dilla spits some rather aggressive bars talking about guns and shit. I am not a huge fan of some of the features on this album but the fit nicely with the title and the feel of the album. My favorite cut to this day is the remake of Donald Byrd’s Think Twice. I get the same feeling every time I hear this joint and end up singing it for a couple days. Think Twice is a perfect way to start the week off, feeling good. Enjoy some laid back, smooth shit this morning. I also included Donald Byrd’s version which is very dope too.

RIP J Dilla

Dooinit

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

Classic shit Friday’s is still in full effect. Today, I took a trip back to 1999/2000 to listen to Common’s classic Like Water For Chocolate. This was an album that was very heavily played in my circle of friends when it came out. This album marks many important moments for me. Not only was this when I fell in love with Common’s music but this album was one of the albums that shaped my hip hop palate and it really introduced me to J Dilla as the producer and emcee and his group Slum Village. Thelonious is still one of my favorite songs to this day. Like Water for Chocalate is flawless from beginning to end. Everything is on point from the features to the beats. Needless to say it is hard to really pick a favorite song but for today I’m jamming Dooinit a few times mainly because Common is talking hella shit. This is also one of my favorite beats on the album as well. Happy Friday to all and enjoy some more classic hip hop. I hope Common can recapture some of the essence of this album for his new project.

History

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

Mos Def just dropped a new video for his joint History produced by J Dilla, which features Talib Kweli. This song has an incredible message. “You can’t see where you’re headed until you know where you have been.” Not that any particular year is better than any other to make a change but I believe that a lot of things need to start changing for the better including this rap shit.

RIP J Dilla

Keep Holding On

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

I guess it’s just one of those weeks that has me feeling nostalgic but I went back a few years to Slum Village’s album, Detroit Deli. This is actually my least favorite project from SV but it has some gems on it. Selfish seemed to be a pretty big song for them as well. Especially in light of Slum’s new EP, Village Manifesto that dropped digitally yesterday, I figured listening to some SV was fitting. It’s funny how everytime you listen to an album, a different song strikes you. Today, my joint is Keep Holding On. I think it’s because of Elzhi’s cold, sick with the flu flow that he drops but what he is saying is crazy and hits close to home. This is one of Slum’s most personal songs where both Elzhi and T3 address their losses. Makes you count your own blessings. Happy Hump Day to all and enjoy some Slum Village. Make sure you purchase your copy of Village Manifesto as well. I listened to it a week or so ago and it is really dope. Some vintage Slum shit with potent rhymes. It’s good to hear Baatin back on the mike with T3 and Elzhi too.

RIP J Dilla and Baatin.

Y????

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

“Pops in my head the proverbial questions, Y????”

I asked myself the same questions damn near every day. WHY?? Why does gas cost 3 dollars a gallon? Why does milk cost over 2 dollars a gallon?? Why do I keep spending money on Jordans??? There are a lot of Whys out there that seem will forever lack a logical answer and The Pharcyde captured it perfectly on their song, Y? I have listened to Labcabincalifornia countless times but it seems to strike me differently every time I listen to it. Some days, I’m really feeling She Said, Runnin, Drop, Splattitorium but today Y? just struck a cord. Maybe with all that is going on in the world, the financial situation or the state hip hop is in but so many things that those dudes were talking about back in 1995 are still so true. It is the concept of timeless music. I am pretty sure when I listen to The Pharcyde 15 years from now, a lot of the shit that they are saying will still hold weight and be relevant. Think about that shit for a minute. It’s incredible the power of music. Anyway, enough preachy preacher today. Sit back and listen to a hip hop classic from one of the most creative groups of all time, The Pharcyde, Y? I also included the Jay Dee Remix which is VERY ill too.

Slum Village Dope Man

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

It’s like I said, I don’t know what’s going on today but a lot of cool shit is happening. No shot to Elzhi at all for using this picture, I just like it. Everyone knows, Elzhi is my hero. Anyway, I just came across a “new” Slum Village song I have never heard before called Dope Man and it is DEFINITELY Dope Man. I typically don’t post this much shit in one day but if there is this much cool shit dropping, I might turn into a straight up blog. Slum’s new album Village Manifesto will be out soon. HOPEFULLY. Listen and download, Slum Village Dope Man

Slum Village-Dope Man

RIP J Dilla and Baatin. Love you both

MikeSchpitz.com

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