PICKS POSSE - Week #28
The IP'S PICKS community shares what they're listening to.
Yo! It’s PICKS POSSE time, so sit back, relax, and check the selections. Much love to the crew representing this week. Let’s go.
$5,000 Loveseat: DJ Honda ft. Mos Def “Travellin’ Man (Remix)”
Typing this one live from the Fort Lauderdale airport waiting for a connecting flight, so this seemed like a logical choice. The remix is a completely new song with the chorus and topic being the only connective tissue; I’d go to bat for either version, though, to be honest. Made for a strong 12” for sure. While the OG has a bit more of a somber tone in both music and lyrics, the remix feels a little more playful with Mos seemingly delivering his verses with a hint of a smile and Honda’s pristine beat upping the energy along with it.
Mos was really in the ascendancy by this point and it seemed like he could do no wrong. I have to believe there’s an alternate timeline out there where he becomes a genuine superstar. I’ve always liked DJ Honda’s production style, too—clean and straightforward but it never felt sterile. Happy school vacation week to those who celebrate.
Mephisto Loafer: Jayo Felony “Sherm Stick”
From the short lived ‘90s Def Jam West catalogue is a laidback ode to getting wasted off of PCP. The Teddy Pendergrass-sampled beat makes this song a winner, plus the Jayo Felony lyrics, such as, “Gettin' ready for the next batch/My homie's asshole naked, doin' the muthafuckin' cabbage patch.”
Bunch of people used this Pendergrass sample after this song, but as far as I know “Sherm Stick” was the first. When did we stop caring about people using loops that were already sampled before? I remember that being frowned upon but at a certain point we stopped caring.
SCRO: Kano “I’m Ready”
I never knew this track existed but it’s gotta be one of the best, OG Italian electro fettuccini parmigiana samples of all-time, and without it we wouldn’t know “where it was.”
Robbie Ettelson: Run-DMC “Cold Chillin’ In The Studio with Marley Marl”
Long-suffering fans of the Kings from Queens are likely to wince at the mere mention of the Back From Hell LP, which was nothing short of a gigantic shit sandwich that even a remix with Chuck D and Ice Cube couldn’t save. Thanks to the popularity of their attempt at New Jack Swing, “Pause” (the B-side to “Ghostbusters,” a Miami bass-style remake of Ray Parker Junior’s hit), they enjoyed a brief resurgence of play in the clubs which they immediately squandered.
As they would later tell it, this was a troubled period where DMC was drinking a heroic number of 40 Ozs before lunchtime, Run was smoking all of Hollis’ cheeba supply and Jam Master Jay was getting hassled by the IRS so much that he even started rapping in attempt to throw them off the trail. Somehow, in the midst of this chaos, they wound up at the House of Hits around the time that Marley and LL were cooking-up history, and made a song that was deemed “too good” for inclusion on their fifth album since it was only going to highlight how uninspired the rest of the platter was. Oh, and Russell Simmons seems to fucking detest Marley like a sickness for some reason.
Hello I’m Bobby: Sauce Walka ft. Conway “Dangerous Daringer“
IP has been putting in work this week with multiple heaters per day, so I wanted to make sure I was matching that effort level this Sunday. Sauce Walka isn’t someone that I’m checking for at all (no disrespect), but his voice is unique, plus I like his energy and style in small doses. He got on my radar thanks to a few dope cameos on Griselda projects (Check out the DJ Muggs-produced “Lakers vs. Rockets,” the closing track on Westside Gunn’s Flygod is an Awesome God and his standout verse alongside Gunn, Boldy and Stove Jesus on “Westheimer”).
“Dangerous Daringer” features a guest verse from Conway The Machine and was produced by Daringer. That’s typically a recipe for success, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The beat hooks you immediately thanks to a dope sample of the Ponderosa Twins Plus One’s “Bound,” which itself is a ‘70s soul banger. Actually, their whole album is well worth your time.
“Bound” was originally produced by the O’Jay’s Bobby Massey and rose to sample-hunting prominence thanks to Kanye’s “Bound 2.” Kim K. deserves credit here too for one of her best on-camera roles (not her most memorable work, though—shoutout and wishes of good health to Ray J).
When Yeezus came out, I really didn’t like most of the album outside of “Bound 2” and “Blood On the Leaves.” While the album still doesn’t have much replay value for me, I can appreciate an artist’s need to experiment and it definitely had its moments. I still say “hurry up with my damn croissants” a good amount, though most of the baristas don’t seem to appreciate the reference and probably just think I’m being an asshole. Trying to explain that it’s a Kanye lyric doesn’t exactly help my cause these days.
“Bound” has been sampled a number of times, but these two rise to the top for me. Another fire emoji usage is Tyler The Creator’s “A boy is a gun.” Previous to any of these versions, Large Pro and Madlib (with a lyrical assist from Rapper Big Pooh) unsurprisingly put their own dope spins on it.
Max Makes Music: Elton John and Dua Lipa “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”
I didn’t ask for this.
It just happened.
Dua Lipa has embedded herself in my ear before with “Don’t Start Now.” Same situation, I heard it somewhere out there and kept hearing it. For weeks.
The only way to escape an ear worm is to sing it out. I’m trying. It’s small steps, staying consistent, every day. There’s just something so…perfect about this song. It’s a stripped-down pop candy masterpiece. Hard, sharp bass line that, slowed down, might prove the perfect tonality for a grimy banger (maybe I’ll try that now that Ableton can extract stems!).*
Elton John sets off the verse with lyrics recycled from his hit “Sacrifice,” and Dua bridges to the hook with more repurposed sacrifice, and then—boom—she drops the chorus, a shining, too perfect reuse of “Rocket Man” that, well, does it’s dirty work and now all I can do is walk around singing “and I think it’s gonna be a long long time…”
Somebody put on Black Moon please.
*IP note—Max sent his remix. Check it out below.
Elton John and Dua Lipa “Cold Heart (Max Makes Music Remix)”
Thank you, PICKS POSSE! Once again, I’m blown away by not only the participation, but the execution. I look forward to these posts every week.
Fat shout to everyone tapping in. Updated PICKS POSSE playlist below.
Peace!