Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
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Looking at some of the most overlooked and under-appreciated hip-hop from the 70's to today.
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
1M ago
I've been after this release for so long, I was beginning to doubt its existence. Like, sometimes a record is at the top of your Want List because it strikes such a powerful chord in your soul: an amazing piece of music you can't do without. And sometimes it's just because it's eluded you for so long that it starts to become an obsession. This, for me, is the latter. It's no masterpiece, but it's been my white whale.
And I don't think this started out super rare, like an independent white label that was only released in super limited quantities, possibly in a limited ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
1M ago
Another new year, another new Father MC write-up. You think I've run out of material, no not yet. In fact, this is arguably one of the most important songs in his discography, the fulcrum point of his public image and lyrical direction, from Mr. "Live Life Lovely, Love the Ladies, Live Life Correct" to the aggressively sexual "I put my milkshake on ya tummy." The legend goes that Andre Harrell pushed Father MC in the romantic direction. We've already seen he started out on a fresher tip with his First Fleet Crew; but he blew up making records like "I'll Do For You" and ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
1M ago
What's up, gang? I know it's been a little while since my last post. I wound up taking a few unexpected sick days this holiday season. But the good news is that I've spent the time building up a list of topics I'm excited to write (and vlog) about this year. So let's jump right into it! For the belated start of our new year, how about one... none of you were waiting for? ?
No, but stick with me here. This is an interesting one. Remember Pseudonym, the indie Ohio MC whose early tapes I wrote about in 2019? I capped that off by saying how h ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
3M ago
(Santa Claus takes the D train to Brooklyn this year to help Stetsasonic give the gift of music. Happy holidays, everybody! Youtube version is here ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
3M ago
(Okay, forces were definitely conspiring against me getting this particular video to you guys, but it's here now - the Children Of the Corn's Welcome To the Danger Zone 2LP from Dust & Dope! Also a run-down of some other releases and interviews I've worked on, including an upcoming indie Philly restoration. Oh, and yes, I know it's almost Christmas and I am still planning to get a holiday video up in time for that, too. ? Youtube version is here ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
4M ago
Aw yeah, it's about that time of year again, and Luke Sick is back with a new solo album on Megakut Records. It's called Tacked Out In the Gamma Light, and produced entirely by the homey QM. I have to confess, even after listening closely to the album, which uses the phrase in the opening track, I'm not exactly sure what he means by the gamma light. Stage lights maybe? Or he does have a line that goes, "convulse, turn into the Hulk." I mean, I feel like it's an Ultramagnetic MCs reference. "Technic twelve hundreds are combined to rotate swiftly left to righ ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
5M ago
(A legit horrorcore group that for some reason never gets mentioned. Youtube version is here. Happy Halloween ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
6M ago
In 1992, an indie New Jersey rap crew put out their first record under the handle 2 Hard Ta Handle called "That Girl," which combined kind of a pop dance track based on Alicia Myer's oft looped "I Want To Thank You" (Father MC and the Fu-Schnickens used it that same year). After that, they toughened up their image and came out as Ready Ta Roll with two harder and more impressive 12"s: 1993's "The Real Hip-Hop" and 1994's "Drug Game." After that, they split up, though their lead MC, Supreme, carried on into production, doing a bunch of stuff for bigger artists like AZ and LL Cool J ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
6M ago
You may remember me posting a review of an instrumental album by producer Unagi saying, "listening to this gets me more excited to check out a vocal album." Well, I guess he was listening, because - while he has occasionally rapped on songs before - he's just dropped his first proper vocal album where he's both the MC and producer. Now, real quick, just in case I've got any residual influence left, I want to say: I think Special Ed and Slick Rick should record an album together. Okay, now watch this space in 2024.
Meanwhile, back to the new Unagi LP. It's called Termi ..read more
Werner von Wallenrod's Humble, Little Hip-Hop Blog
7M ago
(Fake singles, a lost album and children's birthday parties? Youtube version is here ..read more