|
 |
Browse Bands by Name
|
|
Or enter a band name below to search:
|
 Bands Main
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— by Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes
Artists: Notorious B.I.G. and Frank Sinatra
Mixtapes: Jon Moskowitz Presents Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy
Representing: New York, New York
The 411: We've heard some pretty remarkable unauthorized pairings via blends, original production and mash-ups in the last few years on the mixtape scene, with Jay-Z and the Beatles leading the pack.
Now Big, who appears on more mixtapes every week than most living artists do, has been teamed up with the original king of New York, Frank Sinatra, by up-and-coming producers DJ Cappel and Smitty. They took Big's a cappellas and matched them with original beats sampled from Frank Sinatra records. Let's face it, though: both Frank Sinatra and Frank White sound marvelous over anything.
Joints To Check For
- "Everyday Struggle/ A Day in the Life of a Fool." Biggie raps over an esoteric-sounding mix of drums and keys, but Sinatra's vocals serve as half the chorus — "a daaayyy in the life of a fool" — before Big comes in with "I don't wanna live no mo'. Sometime I hear death knocking at my front door."
- "Nasty Boy/ For Every Man There's a Woman." It's all about the drums here. When you hear it, you can imagine how Big would've ripped a raw rap over this one. Unlike Sinatra, he probably would've laid down a gangsta tale rather than croon about the ladies. Blue Eyes is held to the intro.
- "Ten Crack Commandments/ Fools Rush In." The producers switch up the vibe this time. The vibe is so much more laid-back than DJ Premier's original — but that doesn't mean Big's voice is any less compelling.
Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week
- DJ Killatone - Walk With the New South 2
- Smoke & Numbers - The Color of Money
- DJ TNT - Bless
- DJ S. Gutta - Streets Illustrated Vol. 9
- DJ Whoo Kid & Mense - The Transporter
- Cutmaster C - Murder Was the Case Vol. 3
- DJ Capone and Tony Yayo - Off Parole
- DJ Envy - Back on the Block
- J. Armz - How to Be an MC
'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar
- Kanye West - "Gold Digger"
- Dr. Dre - "The West Is Back"
- Kanye West featuring the Game - "Crack Music"
- David Banner - "My Gun"
- Game - "Oliva"
- Slim Thug - "Diamonds"
- Nas - "The Honeymoon Is Over"
- Redman - "Gilla Hit"
- Method Man and GZA - "Rush"
- Mase - "Murder's Back"
- Young Buck and Spyda Loc - "I Don't Want No Problems"
Celebrity Favs
"I make music. So sometimes, I may not even listen to current stuff. Right now, I listening to a lot of old joints from the '70s and '80s. That's what's inspiring me. Because the cookie-cutter music that dominates the airwaves right now really sucks," said DJ Green Lantern, who resigned from his post as Eminem's record spinner in April.
The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground
According to sources close to Slum Village, their contract with Capitol has officially expired and will not be renewed. Instead, the group is vying to release music independently on its own label, Barak Entertainment. On July 12, Slum's putting out a mixtape titled Prequel to a Classic (featuring appearances from Kurupt, the Dramatics and Dwele), with a self-titled album following on September 13.
Also coming out of the Midwest, Bizzy Bone's new label, 845 Entertainment, says it doesn't know what his status with Bone Thugs is, but says he'll definitely be putting out a solo album on September 27. The project is said to be already completed and a first single has been named: "Hold Me Down." Another record we may hear early on from Biz is "What U See."
For more on the role of mixtapes in the music industry, check out the feature "Mixtapes: The Other Music Industry."
|
|
|
|
Photo: MTV News
|
|
|
|
