One of the most amazing things about Biggie’s music was that it was incredibly versatile.

Take Juicy for example:


On Ready To Die, it was a feel good hit, a retrospective story from crime to hip hop, his big pop “get”. It was the least depressing song on the entire record (he ended his first record with the song Suicidal Thoughts, in which he ends up committing suicide on the record, after all). Back in 1996, it was pure magic.

Fast forward to 2002, five years after BIG’s death: Bad Boy fell off, Eminem had blown up, Nelly was relevant, and BIG’s Brooklyn alumni, Jay-Z had made “it”. Obviously, BIG was still missed, and he was remembered, especially by Jay-Z, but specifically on A Dream:


On A Dream, Jay-Z gave us an introspective look on the pain of missing his old friend. Biggie’s first verse from Juicy is sampled here and used in a way that greatly pays homage to the G.O.A.T., where Jay shows that he’s learned from BIG’s mistakes, and understands the pitfalls to a luxurious lifestyle. At this point, BIG went from sounding like a hit party record to a bone chilling prophecy, with the same verse.

In 2006, sampling hit the fan with Girl Talk. The thing about mash ups are that, sometimes they work very well, when both samples go together harmoniously, while most do not, and Girl Talk examples this on Smash Your Head:


In the beginning of the track, there are a lot of hard hitting, nearly dissonant sounds. Then, “it” happens. The great contrast that changes the meaning of the whole record. The Biggie sample (Juicy!) pops up, and then Tiny Dancer pops up, and it becomes a magical party record.

The same verse goes from being a feel good radio hit, to a chilling prophecy, to a party record. What other rapper has ever achieved that through remixes after death?

Shanetron - Album Cover Explorations. Everything is tentative, I’m just having fun, and exploring concepts that have to do with the album

Even Jay-Z has his limits.

Here, in an official Jay-Z music video, is pictured a knock of version of Damien Hirst’s “For The Love Of God”. Jay, we look to you to dangle impossible dreams in front of our eyes. You do it in such a way that your critics think that you’re in a different class altogether. But here, seeing the King of New York, the Maybach Proof himself, fronting with a fake is like finding out that Santa Clause isn’t real and your parents are splitting up, at the same time.

A new shanetron sketch/demo, a definite headphone piece, not your shitty macbook(pro) speakers.

This is for Jaycie Miller.

I can give a fuck about how unethical it is that I even put this together, but these are records that I can honestly relate to and put together a story I lived. Well, that’s what my whole upcoming record is like, but this song is for those days when I have those dreams, and I just want my best friend back. Subject to change. OH and sorry that you have to hear both of these songs again, because I myself am sick of Radiohead (period) and Jay-Z mash ups. But, fuck it man, the dude abides.

Albums That I Am Excited For This Year

Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
Clipse - Til The Casket Drops
Cursive - Mama, I’m Swollen
Dr. Dre - Detox
Eminem - Relapse
Jay-Z - Blueprint III
N.A.S.A. - Spirit of Apollo

I don’t think anything else is for sure or confirmed yet. Like a million people are speculating Arcade Fire, but I don’t really see that happening, seeing as how wishy washy Win has been lately in interviews. And, wouldn’t you think you’d be hearing it in recent shows too? I definitely don’t see that happening. I hardly believe in Detox, but seeing as how Dr. Dre went in on the Eminem’s “Crack a Bottle” and did a drop on a Kardinal Offishall remix, it’s far more believable.

Everything else confirmed though? I’d hardly call my feelings for these future albums “Excited”. Bruce Springsteen has been hit and miss the past decade. Mastadon’s Blood Mountain was a hype machine. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have disappeared off the map. I will need to be swooned to be won over.

Oh, and I imagine the new Grizzly Bear record might be great, based on their last outing as well as Department of Eagles, but they don’t even have a name for a record that’s coming out in “Spring” or May, apparently.

I try not to get excited for these things, and try to just go with the flow, but sometimes I can’t help it. But I hate anticipation and then being let down. Like Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion, with songs about children, love and married life. I just can’t get behind it. Plus the record is so easy. I liked them most for their ability to make cohesive records out of complex songs. This was far too simple for me. Maybe it’s not an entire let down, but it’s certainly underwhelming, and probably won’t get a lot of rotation on my end.

Jay-Z - My President Is Black Freestyle

My president is black, my Maybach too,
I’d be goddamned if my diamonds ain’t blue,
My money’s light green, my Porche’s light gray,
I’m headed for DC, anybody feel me?

My president is black, in fact, he’s half white,
So even in the racist’s mind, he’s half right
If you got a racist’s mind, it’s alright,
My president is black, but his house is all white.

Hova in Cubs gear? Nice.

Jay-Z on Twitter, a self described “Genius”. Sounds like Jay-Z to me.

Shanetron, featuring http://www.myspace.com/theseaswells.

Drop from the new album

Ghostface: Another rapper left for dead, a victim of The Carter Administration.