Mo' Better Beats

Rip It Up, Issue 235, 1 March 1997, Page 26

Mo' Better Beats

DJKOOL Let Me Clear My Throat (BMG) Here’s an essential purchase for fans of the old school hip-hop. DJ Kool goes right back to the 80s hip-hop/go-go scene, and has proved his credentials. Lacking big time distribution, he’s remained trapped in the underground; however, that should all change with this 97 re-release. This collection of songs is recorded. live, and it kicks. Tracks include 92’s ‘Twenty Minute Workout’, 95’s ‘I Got Dat Feelin’’, and two versions of ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ — the original Mark the 45 King mix, and last year’s ‘Old School Reunion Remix’. featuring Biz Markie and Doug E Fresh. FUGEES The Score — Bootleg Versions (Sony) With the Fugees blowing up oh-so-large around the world, the group are capitalising with an extensive tour. Hence, this stop-gap filler in lieu of a new album. But I ain’t complaining. This eight-track EP contains all the remixes you’d want — all on one easy CD. From their 94 album, Blunted on Reality, comes ‘Nappy Heads’ and two versions of ‘Vocab’. The rest are from last year’s The Score: a Steve Marley remix of ‘No Woman No Cry’, and a live version of 'Killing Me Softly’, recorded at the Brixton Academy in London. DA BRAT Anuthatantrum (Sony) With her first album, Funkdafied, Da Brat became the first female solo rapper to achieve platinum success, and she’s still the biggest solo female rap artist today.Considering she's done it all without shaking her rump, batting her eyelashes, or using any of those other cheap shots that so easily beguile naive reviewers like myself, makes it a major achievement. Her second album is also solid, and don’t let her current hit single, ‘Sittin’ on Top of the World’ fool you. That’s about as clean and nice as she gets! The album mix is a lot tougher, with lots of cussin’ on all 10 tracks. Krayziebones from Bone Thugs N Harmony joins in for the spliffy 'Let’s All Get High’, and TLC’s T-Boz does (magnificent) vocal duty on ‘Ghetto Love’. The album is produced by Jermaine Dupri (sampling everyone from Public Enemy to .Sting), and co-written by him and Da Brat. BABYFACE The Day (Sony) As the Grammy-winning writer and producer of just about everyone (Boyz II Men, Mariah . Carey, Toni Braxton, Aretha, Whitney, Madonna and — what? — Eric Clapton), Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds deserves a little of the limelight for himself. Deserving it and getting it are two different things, however, and : Babyface doesn’t quite have that ‘X’ factor to become a big star. No denying his talent though, he writes and produces all; tracks — with the exception of ‘This is For the Lover in You’, originally a hit for Shalamar in 1981. Such is the power of Babyface: for this cover version he pulls' Shalamar (Jody Watley, Paul Hewett, and Jeffrey Daniel) back into the studio for backing vocals, as well as getting a guest rap from LL Cool J. If you’ve enjoyed any of the work Babyface has done for others you’ll love.this, his. fourth solo album. Finely crafted R&B Soul.' / ; ■ - ; - / GINUWINE, : The Bachelor •. - (Sony). God, this dude looks so pretentious on the cover (combined with his dopey name) you have to wonder how seriously he takes himself. Still, we should judge the man by his music, not his look, and he does have the talent. He’s written or co-written every track, with the exception of his stripped-down version of Prince’s ‘When Dove’s Cry’. Evidently inspired by Michael Jackson’s Motown 25 performance, Ginuwine delivers a nice blend of soul, R&B, and a touch of hip-hop. . VARIOUS ARTISTS Tribal Stomp II (Tangata) Their first sample compilation . was well received and this should easily match it. Tangata are committed to showcasing New Zealand talent (Emma Paki and Maree Sheehan broke through as. a result of the first Tribal Stomp) and already In the Whare have gained some prominence through their live performances (their hip-hop reggae styles sit well with the funk of artists like Logan Campbell and Brent Turner). There’s a broad range of soul too, with ballads from Russell Harrison, D’Bre, and the intriguing 7Aside. Keeping the language alive, the album also includes waiata from Rosita Young and Mere Taylor.

VARIOUS ARTISTS NBA at 50 (Mercury) This ‘officially licensed product’ not only includes a 40-page NBA booklet, but also 15 tracks by a host of artists who have performed at the NBA basketball games over the years. It’s kind of a weird collection, interspersed as it is with soundbites from big games between tracks, but it’s good. Kurtis Blow raps ‘Basketball’, Zhane do their version of ‘Good Times’, and Chrystal Waters sings ‘lf You Feel Alright’. There’s also Bobby Womack, Naughty by Nature, Le Vert, and a live rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ from Marvin Gaye, recorded before he died (well, it couldn’t be after could it?).

RASHAN PATTERSON Rashan Patterson (Universal) Having co-written hits for Tevin Campbell and Brandy, you can’t blame the guy for striking out on his own. With this, his soulful 14-song debut album, he proves he has the voice to match his songwriting talents. Album opener ‘Stop By’ is a funky bass-driven come-on, but Patterson shows his versatility on the acoustic ‘Where You Are’. ‘Can’t We Wait’ is a tender ballad, but Patterson redeems himself from the schmaltz with the old school soul of ‘Don’t Wanna Lose It’. MA-V-ELLE Show Me Heaven (Sony) Ma-V-Elle are a three-piece female harmony group with a lot of soul and just a touch of gospel. Together they have a sound that is sublime, all the more promising when you realise these 16-year-olds wrote the song themselves. This track has instant radio appeal, and I can’t help thinking they’re destined for greatness. You don’t hear me say that often! ' ' VARIOUS ARTISTS Absolute Funk (Warners) A couple of years ago Myles put together a series of highly successful compilations called Absolute Disco which, aside from the usual obligatory 'fillers’, were a great collection of 70s disco. But of course all. the purists and trainspotters had to whinge about all those tracks that weren’t included, the ones they would have put on if they’d been putting the compilation together. Little did we know, Myles (actually I’m guessing) was jotting down our suggestions and this is the result. Absolute Funk has a broad mix of 70s and 80s anthems, some more ‘rare groove’ than others. The only dud track is the Dazz Band’s 'Let it All Whip’, which , was never that great, but the other 16 are all pure gold. An essential purchase; Artists include: Average White Band, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Grandmaster Flash, Patrice Rushen, Commodores... VARIOUS ARTISTS Pure Disco (Polygram) Another fine compilation, this one released partly in association with the Hero Project. Compared to Absolute Funk, this one is more of the ‘Priscilla’ variety. Twenty of 'the greatest disco classics’ from artists such as Gap Band, Lipps Inc., Barry White, Village People, Donna Summer, and — yes — ABBA. Very groovy indeed, and if you’re still not over the 70s (legions of you, it seems), this is the perfect compact compilation.

NICK D’ANGELO