SOPHIE :: Numbers

I've really been feeling the work released on Numbers by artist SOPHIE. Numbers is a club & record label, ran by a group of house // electronic DJs including Jackmaster. It has dropped a couple of songs with SOPHIE which are blowing up in numerous mixes.

The production is very broad. The song "EEEHHH/Nothing More To Say" has a poppy and upbeat feel, where in contrast the track titled "Elle" - released on Numbers, is darker with Hip-Hop at the core. Whatever your fancy, SOPHIE brings heat with every release to date. A personal favourite in my iTunes at the moment, and I'm looking to go to a live set in the future. I have linked a couple of mentioned tracks below. Check out more if you haven't already on SoundCloud.
 
 

Nas :: Illmatic

For this post I thought i'd focus on Illmatic, my favourite Hip-Hop album. As i'm typing this up I have Illmatic playing in the background. It's hard to believe this album is nearly 20 years old, and nothing reminds you of that more than the album artwork of Nas as a kid, fading into a street in Queensbridge, New York. Most people reading this will probably know Illmatic is Nas' first and, arguably his illest record. It's even coveted in the industry as, 'one of the best hip-hop albums ever'.

In my opinion, Illmatic sums up urban life in NYC during the 80-90s. Hailing from Queensbridge, Nas incorporates the struggle of making something of yourself in the concrete jungle that is New York. The realness which he expresses in the record is flawless, and in a wise & fitting way. From the lyrics, to the album's structure, to the artwork... Illmatic is the perfect hip-hop album, which covers all dynamics.

Even though I don't dislike a song on the album, I do have my favourites. "N.Y State of Mind" // "Memory Lane" // "The World is Yours", are three of the stand out songs for myself. 

"N.Y State of Mind" comes forcefully into the album after the intro. Nas lets us know he's not messing about through some hard hitting lyrics. 'I'm like Scarface sniffin' cocaine. Holding an M-16, see with the pen i'm extreme, now. Bullet holes left in my peepholes, i'm suited up in street clothes. Hand me a nine and i'll defeat foes'. This is wrapped up nicely in a DJ Premier beat, - see my previous post for the admiration & thoughts I have on Gang Starr & East coast hip-hop.

Other favourites are, "Memory lane" & "The World is Yours". Both are more subtle beats, but still feature strong lyricism - 'Suede Timb's on my feet, makes my cypher, complete'. Presenting the culture of Queensbridge to the audience. Illmatic is a musical treasure, and an album best used to educate people on hip-hop. 

Below is the track "The World is Yours", listen out for that Timb's reference.