JG Choice Cut: J. Dilla "Rebirth of Detroit"

In this series of posts, Tortoise General Staffer JG selects a song to get posted on the blog and reviewed by me (Dag Diligent). "What a great idea" - nobody.

So this track isn't really fair and kind of breaks the tradition of this series of posts. Why? Because JG is SUPPOSED to pick songs that I wouldn't normally listen to so that I can be delighted by something new. Today we are going with a track from someone I like, and a song that I definately would have listened to. I have not heard this song yet, but there is a good  chance that I will like it. Great choice JG, you've ruined everything.

"So why not juss pic something else lol #oddfuture #houseofstyle #mtv" - you (on Twitter).

Well, the system is what it is and I can't really go against it. Plus JG is from Detroit, and I've got to give that city some respect for their major contributions to hip hop.  Not to mention that Dilla is the best and I would like to hear any of his shit. Let's go...

WHAT THE HELL? That was just a trailer! A good trailer! But still a trailer. For something that came out like two months ago. I know you Detroit guys love this (so do some Philly guys (me)), but give me the whole track, JG. No trailers.

I'll find it myself...

"Dillatroit"



Now that's good shit. Refreshing. "Army platoon shit! Welcome to Detroit. Welcome back to the unit." Hahaha! You got Bullwhipped. I got bullwhipped. What a good song. Classic video.

Everything works in this song. That beat should be put up as example of what to do behind the boards. Would you expect anything less from Dilla? No. He's a heavyweight. This is legacy shit.

Supa Emcee, Nick Speed, and especially Guilty Simpson kill the shit and we're left with a classic. Dream Team shit.

IN CONCLUSION: I forgive you JG, for sending me a trailer instead of a song. It led me to a track that I should have already been spinning.

DILLATROIT SCORE 9/10

We Got Something New: Black Milk "Welcome (Gotta Go)"

We Got Something New: Black Milk "Welcome (Gotta Go)"

--Official Stats--
Artist: Black Milk
Song "Welcome (Gotta Go)"
Album: "Album of the Year"
Release Date: December 25, 2009


I know that this isn't exactly new, in fact it's super old, but give me a break it's new to me. There's a lot of hip hop out there and we have to listen to all of it. Plus, all of the staffing problems we've got around here, all the frequent accounting "errors", and all the deadlines with this blog make it difficult to get anything accomplished. It's a wonder that anything is ever published here okay.


So now that we got that out of the way let's get to this track. If you don't know, Black Milk is a MC and producer combo from Detroit. He's made plenty of good tracks and put in a lot of heavy work with his peers from the Detroit River coast. He's got five solo albums and has put out tons of other tracks that you have probably heard. It's all good.

So in 2009 he was promoting his album entitled "Album of the Year" and leaked this song:



Really good right? I mean like REALLY GOOD. I know how you feel, it's like we can breathe a sigh of relief that someone somewhere is making good (and real) hip hop. So what works? Well, the beat is amazing. I don't know, it reminds me of that old Wu shit, but at the same time it's kind of got that new-wave feel. Pure Detroit. Listen, I don't even know what I'm talking about. It's just good okay? Okay? Good. Good job to Black Milk.


Next, on to the lyrics. Black Milk comes correct. He does all kids of respectable representing and he throws all kinds of good lines:

So Detroit like on Belle Isle,

So Detroit like seven mile

also:

Tears fall fast when you (can't) catch the laughter out this rap madness

Tryin to catch a break, but it ain't comming fast e-nough

This the laughter, happiness, smiles

when you show you better than n---az, and people see how

and they recognize now (yeah) you ain't nothin to fuck with-

with, no cosign wit, no nothing

started from the ground up, then

now up there 'round industry n---as

but I play the game: handshakes, give me dap

"Yo, what up doe?"

But I'm feelin like fuck those lames

The whole song is just fire. Check for it. Go on, do it. Black Milk's album "Album of the Year" dropped like two years ago, so you should have already bought it you deadbeat.

Score: 10/10