Ever find that when you go out, a lot of hip hop tends to sound the same?

Not the Aussie interpretation of the genre, I’m talking about those shameful nights where you go to some club that will play any hit coming out of Hollywood by the likes of Lil’ Wayne, Chris Brown (when he isn’t practicing his boxing) and of course, Mr. FishDicks himself, Kanye West.

It must be me, but the amount of kick/snare to sub ratio over the last four years has become a sub/sub/clap format to writing beats. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Am I giving more production based jargon that producers use and assume everyone knows what the fuck they are on about? Maybe. Maybe it was Timberland stamping his authority on mainstream American music culture, “THIS IS WHAT RAP IS, NOW CHEW ON IT FOR A BIT THANKS, PAY ME”. Maybe it was Dave Chappelle quiting comedy, maybe it was Chuck Norris and Jesus having an internal battle of wills to make the world a better place… But the simple truth remains:

“Why the fuck does everything sound the same?”

I’ve come to rename the genre of hip hop/rap as pop rap. Or pop crap, depends how you want to look at it, but clearly the innocent and honest approach to writing a beat has died with these folks.

There is a whole other debate on the matter of how music is written and for who? In the case of this review we look at one of the years most premier hip hop albums, written in memory of the late great J Dilla, who sadly departed the world not long ago, bringing the hip hop that took the music as a way of life into a more retrospective and insightful approach (not including fishdick).

I think there was a cry out for something original to come out. I also think that there was a cry out for something with more focus on a beat, a rhythm and tempo being prominent through an LP, something you haven’t seen as much of recently, but is prominent in the likes of DJ Shadows epic “Endtroducing” Nas’s Illmatic” and A tribe Called Quests “Midnight Maruaders”.

Madlib has stepped up to the plate in this circumstance. The cleverly titled (and spelt) Beat Konducta Vol 5-6 is a tribute to the late J Dilla, and quite possibly one of the finest collections of truly worked and well thought out beats I’ve heard in a long time. It has refreshed the original raw sound of hip hop in its developing years. Layered with scratching that is on time, and of similar samples that the hip hop pundits will recognize and call out, this album’s got a myriad of tracks worth listening to. Add that into the mix with some quality production and mastering, and you have an album worth listening to!

I know what you are thinking, another J Dil Tribute album, fucking great, just let him be gone with already. Apart from stating the obvious, I think that it would be a real shame if you gave this album a miss, it really does take every sense of the word “tribute” and provide you with a unique and tasteful selection of beats. I have been fortunate to have good albums to review so far, but I really feel differently about this album. Reminds me of my more innocent years, skating with my brand new Keenan Milton board on weekends, touching boobs for the first time and before red bull ruined everything.

Nostalgia follows…

There are, of course, tracks that are given special mention. These include “In Jah’s Hands”, “Two Pay for Jay Day”, “Floating Soul”, “Lifetime (lifeline)” to name just a few.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good, thoughtful collection of beats, if you are sitting back with friends, back home from a big night out or even out doing your everyday thing, this album goes 360 in a circle of emotions and a kind reminder that hip hop, in its truest sense, is an innocent and raw musical genre, that is a part of everyone’s musical history. Yes, even fishdick West’s.

1. For My Mans (Prelude)
2. The Mystery (Dilla's Still Her)
3. Beat Provider (Through the Years)
4. J's Day Theme #3 (Support)
5. In Jah Hands (Dilla's Lament)
6. Get Dollaz (24-7)
7. The String (Heavy Jones)
8. Two For Pay Jay (No Dough, No Show)
9. No More Time? (The Change)
10. Do You Know? (Transition)
11. Dirty Hop (The Shuffle)
12. Floating Soul (Peace)
13. Infinity Sound (Never Ending)
14. Rolled Peach Optimos (Call Day)
15. The Main Inspiration (Coltrane of Beats)
16. The Get Over (Move)
17. Shades of Pete (Super)
18. King Chop (Top Line)
19. Anthenagin' (?)
20. Sacrifice (Beat-A-Holic Thoughts)
21. Rebirth Cycle (Super Soul)
22. Dil Cosby Interlude
23. Dill Withers Theme
24. First Class (The Best Catalogue)
25. Lifetime (Lifeline)
26. The Electric Zone (Plugged In)
27. So Much (Music)
28. Smoked Out (Green Blaze Subliminal Sounds)
29. Another Bag of Bomb (No Seeds)
30. All Love (The Movement)
31. Detroit Playaz (Gator Walk)
32. Blast (Computer Rock)
33. J.B. & J.D. (Interlude)
34. Never Front (Ears Up)
35. Dillalade Ride (Contact High)
36. Suffer (Concentration)
37. Show Me The Good Life (Chip Stack)
38. Slapped Up (Snap N' Clap)
39. Another Batch (Play It Again)
40. Full Figure Pockets (Pay Jay)
41. Smoke Interlude (Hawaiian Punch)
42. The Sky (Beyond Sight)

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