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The 8th album from Cypress Hill, Rise Up, is due April 6th via Snoop’s Priority Records/EMI. The crew gets a little help from their friends, like Everlast, Pitbull, Marc Anthony, Daron Malakian, Evidence and Alchemist, and we bring you a behind the scenes snippet of the title track… Green screens? hmm.
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Emerging from a time when West Coast rap went into deep hibernation, Strong Arm Steady has worked over the past seven years to help California not only reclaim its rightful title as the hip-hop capital of the world, but also to redefine its signature sound. Krondon, Phil Da Agony, and Mitchy Slick, all witnesses to the rise and fall of Death Row, seek to breathe new life into the West Coast rap movement, infusing their creativity, open-mindedness, and musical prowess into the medium and refusing to fall prey to the unfortunate, ubiquitous “gangsta” stereotypes that have come to characterize the scene. With two albums due out this year–the Madlib-produced In Search of Stoney Jackson and the decidedly more streamlined Arms & Hammers–Strong Arm Steady is set to remind music listeners that SoCal is just as musically vibrant as it was during the pre-Schwarzenegger days.
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The best part of what I do is all the music I get to listen to; the worst part is all the music I have to listen to. And yes, there were plentiful letdowns this year. Sure, you have your Phoenix, your Jay-Z, your Yeah Yeah Yeahs, your Gaga– all huge artists whose work was really really solid. But they, and a few more, were largely in the minority in ‘09.
Besides all the boring, trend-chasing releases, there were moments of triumph and originality. These projects, perhaps niche or weird, do show that smarts and musicianship can still prove successful. These artists lacked MTV airplay, features in Rolling Stone, and major radio support, but the actual music, unlike this year’s trite hits, will likely age well in the coming years.
As I sink deeper in age (and curmudgeonism), I find myself sucker-punched by music with one commonality: Soul. Heartfelt songs that get you in the gut can’t be denied. Here are solid releases that, for one reason or for many, struck me hard in ‘09. …MORE
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