Rap-culture has been in praise of the individual who adapts the most to structures, for individual gain. Success is measured not in the sustainability of the artist’s idea, but how the artist has sustained himself within the constraints of ruling ideas. It is blatantly reported by the successful themselves.
“Truthfully, I wanna rhyme, like, common sense / but I did three mills, I ain’t been trying to rhyme like Common since” – Jay-Z
The credibility in these lines lays in its acknowledging of common sense as an alternative to our ruling structures. Its mere confession achieves praise. Relating to our own powerlessness, we appreciate when the powerful reveal their code. (Being in on it gives us a weird sense of equality, right?)
My notion is that we shouldn’t look to the succesful for the answers we so desperately need. They swallowed their decency, “kept it real,” and learned the game to get where they are. But so much more is at stake than any individual’s positioning.
The troubled, on the other hand, are out of necessity concerned with alternate realities. That’s why they make great artists. Indeed, a personal reality unbearable makes for new ideas that could be of gain for all. In a world we’ve made a dystopia, artists can show the way out.
Even the most high-minded scientists turn to art for inspiration. So let’s focus our attention to the honest artists and give them their due. Now, if I may be excused, I have some serious listening to do. Donny Hathaway all day, baby. Maybe I’ll pop some OC & AG too.
Editors Note: We want to welcome our newest Writer/Blogger on the site: Probably the best lyricist in Sweden B.K.A Kashal-Tee. Welcome onboard!
Basementality TV will be the collective name for all the clipsthat we put out whenCritical reportes from whatever it may be, whether it’s Sweden or abroad, whether it is free styles, poems, music videos and interviews. There will be a lot of unexpected stuff for sure!
First clip is with the Uncut Music Group who Critical met last week in Uppsala. You will certainly see more of them in the near future, they are husselin.
Did I forget one? Or can you do better? Send it and I’ll post it.
The Basement Mixtape series is a compilation of global HipHop acts with the aim of bridging the gap between the old and new, the remote and accessible, it is hard and smooth, and to give lesser-known acts a chance to shine with their better-known counterparts – the outcome of this is a symbiosis of live, raw and uncut 70 minutes of music.
The third installment in the true school mixtape series takes two major steps forward and a insightful step back, bringing original rap over booming beats cut up by DJ Devastate, Mat the Alien and Dj Achilles to deliver the heat this winter.
Featuring artists such as Kool G Rap, Termanology, Rass Kass, Shyheim, Bahamadia, Sean Price and many more, the line up blend the best of both worlds. The underground famous partnering with the up and coming hungry results in an unabridged soundscape fill the 70minutes with hunger, dirt and a lot of respect for the art of hiphop. The mixtape is packaged in an original digifile format and is shipped together with a limited editio basementality t-shirt for a price of 15usd/12eur including worldwide shipping.
Just in case you don’t know who Kev Brown is and need a reminder here is another Random joint :
Basement Mixtape Vol 3 Finally Out!
Basement Mixtape Vol 3 Finally Out!
