Artist: Little Brother
Song: Shake It
Album: Okayplayer: True Notes, Vol. 1
Mood: Relaxed
When autumn hits, I tend to listen to songs with a larger musical range. Maybe it’s the change in the weather that makes me feel more sophisticated and contemplative (which, clearly, I am not). Or perhaps it’s just that autumn is boring, and I spend more time listening to music; therefore, I have to listen to better music. Whatever the case, I do some of my best listening in autumn.
Lately, I’ve been going back through some of my old CDs to find good music, and I stumbled upon Okayplayer’s “True Notes, Vol. 1.” It’s a hip-hop lover’s dream- some of the best “underground” artists with some of the bigger names in hip-hop, such as The Roots and RJD2. Their songs are great, to be sure (and I’ll probably review one of theirs next week), but at the moment my favorite is Little Brother’s “Shake It.” 9th Wonder, their producer, puts together a nicely-layered track- there’s the obligatory old-school R&B sample, the looped vocalization, but it’s the drum pattern that sets this one apart from every Kanye West wannabe out there. The drums are reminiscent of early ’90′s New York hip-hop- fast-paced high-hats, a staggered bass drum, and some tight snares. On top of the excellent beat are Rapper Big Pooh and Phonté, whose lyrics are as on-point here as ever. The song manages to be at once laid-back and club-worthy, thanks to 9th Wonder’s immaculate beat making. So whenever you want a song that’ll put you in a mellow yet upbeat state of mind, try this one out. It’s hip-hop at its finest.
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