I’m scratching my head, wondering why in the hail someone would steal Mac Dre‘s tombstone. The Thizz Entertainment founder, Bay Area legend, and style icon (put your stunna shades on, pimp) was killed in a Kansas City drive-by last year in what many say was an escalating Bay-KC beef that has claimed many lives, including KC rapper Fat Tone, for whose murder Bay Area rapper Mack Minister is being held. So who really knows if it was someone from “the other side” delivering some sick insult or just the work of some overzealous Stupid Doo-Doo Dumbass? Frequent Dre collaborator AP believes it’s the work of a fan, specifically a “white fan—motherfuckers shroomed out,” as he opined to sohh.com. Whatever the case, it’s a yadida-goddamn shame.
Fans of another lost hiphop hero can take home a monument of their idol—specifically The Shining, the posthumous release by the late J Dilla. After the head-swirling instrumental brilliance of Donuts, it’s great to hear MCs rocking over that Dilla Dog production; in particular, Common reminds us why we love him, bringing a cocky Chi-Town b-boy swag to the vintage vibe of “E=MC2.” Pharoahe Monch delivers some uplifting “filet of sole” music over the dusty strings of “Love,” and it comes off great. I’m kinda bored with the happy boho Monch; I wanna hear him goin’ hard, gettin’ in someone’s ass again—uh, so to speak. Black Thought makes a rare non-Roots appearance as well, only fitting after Thought’s touching eulogy to his friend on Game Theory‘s closer, “Can’t Stop This.” Dilla is no slouch on the mic, either. I always thought he was underappreciated as an MC; his subject matter was always bling-centric cockiness, but his wordplay and beat-riding skill were at times exceptional. So is Shining a life-changing record? Much as we might want it to be, it’s not, but it’s damn good and does Dilla’s catalog proud. If you need an album to make you stay indoors for days, try Slum Village‘s Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1 or Dilla’s own Welcome 2 Detroit.
Speaking of the Roots, were you aware that ?uestlove has offered the Billy Preston role (look it up) to none other than former State Property soldier Peedi Crakk? I’m guessing this means that Malik B isn’t back for good, so they need a new MC. I never woulda seen that one coming, but I ain’t mad at all.
Saturday, September 9, slide on your best vines and dip out to the 15th Annual Virgo Party, held at McCaw Hall in Seattle Center. The Virgo Party is a long-running tradition for Seattle hiphop’s grown and sexy, and this year the evening’s proceedings are hosted by BET’s Mad Linx, and cuts spun by all-star DJs Funkdaddy, Mr. Supreme, and Lovesick Larry. The dress code is strictly fly: I’ll be accepting donations at the e-mail below if anybody wants to help me buy a pair of knee-high polo boots or maybe just some now-or-later gators… don’t let ’em bite ya now! 