Thoughts From The Rap Nest
vol 22-001 Set it off like the movie.
Thoughts
These are my thoughts, yo! from the Rap Nest that is. Coming at you live and direct like the Nonce from the Paris of the Prairies, sunny Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada. This will be the first of a weekly news letter sharing my musings about all things rap and for the record it is all rap, just ask the homie Ceschi. The aim of this email newsletter is to like Nice and Smooth said “take it from the old to the new” and highlight a couple newer releases and reissues and recap a classic release. Add in a top 5 things I am listening to right now and there you have it. I hope you subscribe and spread the good word.
-chaps
Record Report 1
Two of my faviourite rappers are back together Gruf and Yy on this one. They are responsible for some of the most classic prairie rap songs ever made (like this one and that one) Civil defences is one of the hardest tracks in a minute. When it comes on, I want to kick holes in fence boards, crush a 40oz and tag up the city. Just that youthful joy and rage expressed in a concise way that makes sense with the wiring of my brain. When the drums hit I loose my mind. I go nuts, it is beautiful. This is a perfect track and one hell of a way to start an album. Rob Crooks is criminally slepped on as a music genius. His production on this album is perfect. It allows the mc’s to shine but offers a lot of layers and complexities for the listener to lose themselves in the nuances of the melodies and sequencing. Saskatoon Folk Rap Records/Audio Recon
Record Report 2
Foolish Immortals-Illustration
Jeff Spec, yes the same one that was once known as Intellect and Farm Fresh was in his tape deck, teams up with one of the true masters of records and one of the greatest rappers to come from the fresh coast, Birdapres to deliver a short yet perfect record. One that has stayed in heavy rotation since it arrived in the mail. It is simple and in its simplicity lies its greatness. It says Jeff Spec on Beats/Rhymes and Birdapres on Rhymes but if I was a betting man and I tend to think I play it pretty safe, I would bet that Birdapres picked all the samples. I could reach out and confirm but rap is best when it is discussed in half truths, mis-rememberings and intuition. Or so I tend to think it is anyways. See Him Glowing is the jam. They are all in fact jams and the record flows really nicely. You should get this record but don’t be an idiot and buy the green vinyl variant save a few bucks and buy the timless black vinyl version. It will age much better and you won’t feel like a loser playing it when you are 60 and your grandkids are clowning you. Black Buffalo Records
On a weird sidetone, I wrote my thoughts about the above two records while listening to this album and it is super dope despite what Epic thinks.
Top 5
Curse Ov Dialect - Dark Days Bright Nights
Steel Tipped Dove - Call Me When You Are Outside
Pen Theif Records - Winter Collection 2022
Sole & Dj Pain 1 - Post Amercian Studies
Classic Material
This will probably be the most important album for me all time. Most important because it literally changed my life as it took me around the world and introduced me to pretty much all the homies. I am super excited that this was finally released on vinyl and cassette after only being released originally on cd in 2001. Believe it or not epic let me rap on this and we got dissed in Hip Hop Infinity by Jason Seagraves -"This is especially true of CFCrew, a tandem that bring forth a horrendous performance that sounds more like a naysayer mocking Canadian emcees than an honest effort.” First off we were not a tandem we were a trifecta, second of all I wear this diss with honour. I need to make this into a shirt. Anyways enough about me this album is incredible. My Jams are Thought Process (which we once performed three times in one set in Minneapolis at a sold out show we headlined and got mobbed at after) Dog Shit Tired (my brother always quoted the sample about getting your teeth cleaned in India for some random reason and that has always stuck in my head) and Dave Steib (because I love baseball and always think of him finally getting his no hitter in Cleveland after all those close calls). If you somehow have never heard this album like the homie sign one, what the hell is wrong with you?
Closing Ramblings
I host two weekly radio shows Third Verse on CFCR 90.5 fm in Saskatoon Saskatchewan every Wednesday 9 -10:30pm CST and You Know The Rules on UMFM 101.5 in Winnipeg Manitoba every Sunday Night 10-11pm They are pretty great and you should check em out.
Also i got some cool shirts, poster and hats in the Ugsmag Shop if you want that fly shit.
**legal disclaimer all records and songs were run through the RAP NEST 5000 SUPER ANALYTIC COMPTROLLER MACHINE that is certified by the I.A.A.R.R.A (International Association of Analytical Rap Recordings Analysis) in layman’s terms, it means the machine is never wrong.
Catch you next week with more thoughts from the rap nest.
Peace
-chaps
This was a welcome sight in my inbox, homie!
👏👏👏