Drop Knowledge...Not Bombs

And we could kill a whole show"

?uestlove, also known as Questlove, (born Ahmir Khalib Thompson) is most well-known for being the Afro'd drummer of hip-hop band The Roots. He has also produced music for artists such as Common, D'Angelo and the legendary Al Green.

Growing up in Philadelphia, he was surrounded by music from a young age, as his father was Lee Andrews of the 1950's doo-wop group Lee Andrews & the Hearts. He began drumming at the age of 2, and used to tour with his parents at various shows across the country.

However, he was not a member of a group until he met one Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought). After he graduated from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he and Trotter formed a band that was first called The Square Roots, then The Roots. With the addition of Scott Storch on keyboards, Malik B on vocals, and Josh Abrams on bass, the group released their debut "Organix" in 1993, recorded at a live show in Germany.

After the release of "Do You Want More ?!!!??!" in 1995 and "Illadelph Halflife" in 1996, The Roots received recognition for their efforts winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for 2000, with the song "You Got Me" (ft. Erykah Badu). ?uestlove's skill was demonstrated in the final moments of this track, with a huge solo. The song and award helped showcase the talents of the group, and made the album "Things Fall Apart" go platinum. With the release of "Phrenology" in 2002, "The Tipping Point" in 2004, and "Game Theory" in 2006, The Roots have become more successful, and bridge the gap between hip hop and rock, giving a unique sound, helped by production by ?uestlove.

?uestlove has featured on songs/albums by Joss Stone, Christin Aguilera, Blackalicious, Erykah Badu, Dilated Peoples, N.E.R.D and Common.

?uestlove contributes hugely to the trademark sound of The Roots. As producer and drummer, he is influential in making them who they are as a group. I first began listening to them after the release of "The Tipping Point", and can say that they fill a niche in hip hop-they are not reliant on synthesized beats, and create their own instrumentals, giving a warm sound that can be appreciated by any hip hop or even rock fan. Any of their albums a worth a try, and Black Thoughts flow is breathtaking, matching with the jazzy, live instrumentals of the influential group. They are also fantastic live, and are considered one of the best live groups in the genre.

From the album "Game Theory", the song Don't Feel Right ft Maimouna Youssef demonstrates ?uestlove's skills:

"Me say live de life ya love
And love de life you live"

From the opening bars of his underground hit Come Around, New Orleans born, Bermudian bred Collie Buddz (born Colin Harper) lets the world know where his interests lie. It's pretty obvious. Although this song was first released as an underground hit in 2004 in my homeland of Bermuda, it has only just garnered attention from international music fans. Beginning rounds in Europe, this song has infiltrated the African continent, and will reach America, if it hasn't already. This man is not just supported by his record execs-he is supported by an entire country. For Bermuda, this song is free publicity, proving that Jamaica is not the only island in the world that can produce greatness. Oh, and did I mention he's white?

For reggae and dancehall fans worldwide, Collie Buddz has provided a pure dance tune, with its massive baseline. Soundsytems, DJs and music television worldwide have been playing this song to the limit, although many yet are unaware. Industry greats such as the legendary David Rodigan, Bobby Konders of Hot 97 NY, Mighty Crown Soundsytems (from Japan) and Jabba of MTV Tempo and Hot 97 NY have all saluted Collie Buddz. David Rodigan even performed a speech in honour of the next reggae great at a soundsystem clash in Bermuda between himself and Souljah One. He is taking the world by storm, brick by brick.

However, Mr. Buddz is no one-trick pony, and he is determined to prove this. Tracks such as Mamacita (of which a video will soon be released-I've seen it, brilliant) Tommorrow's Another Day (from which the quote is taken), and Fresh Start all showcase his limitless talents. He even featured with rap superstar Lil' Flip on Tell Me, from his new release "I Need Mine". Also, a track with the stunning Beyonce, a remix of Ring the Alarm, has been released. He will be the next Sean Paul a-like, and, fittingly has been compared him, along with Super Cat and Gentleman.

So, the next big thing? The simple answer...yes! Breaking into radio, however is crucial. Unfortunately, the radio edit of his hit Come Around leave out the true heart of the song. So, check out the numerous remixes, one with Busta Rhymes, one with Young Buck and Tony Yayo, with yet another featuring an ensemble cast of Aztec, B-Real (of Cypress Hill), Shaggy and Paul Wall (who has a cameo in the Come Around video). He is also on various reggae compilations, such as Ragga Ragga Ragga 2007 . They are all excellent demonstrations of rappers who can convincingly feature on a dancehall tune.

But, you ask, where can I get his music? The best bet is I-Tunes of course, but Yahoo Music has just premiered Mamacita. His videos are playing in constant rotation on BET in the US and MTV Base in the UK. His website http://www.colliebuddz.com/ is worth checking out for news, and his MySpace account www.myspace.com/colliebuddz also features other artists from his Harper Digital imprint. The site http://www.vybezalliance.tv/ also features other up and comers from Bermuda, such as the local celebrity C'Daynger with his hit Bun Down De System.
So check him out, and buy the tune. He's the next big thing outta Bermuda, and the next big thing in dancehall music in general. His album drops on July, 3rd, from Sony BMG. Just wait for the herbs to come around...

Timbaland. Most of the readers of this blog (if there are any) will know him from his current string of chart toppers, producing songs by Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtardo, Jay-Z and the Pussycat Dolls. However, despite only truly coming into the public eye in the last year and a half, Timbaland (nee Timothy Mosley) has been around for about a decade.
Timbaland first came onto the music scene as a DJ, called "DJ Timmy Tim". How Nineties is that? Timbaland was also a member of "Da Bassment" crew, featuring DeVante Swing, Ginuwine, with Missy Elliot and Melvin Barcliff, aka Magoo. Interestingly, Timbaland was also friends with Pharrell Williams, and they were in a group known as S.B.I or Surrounded By Idiots.

Timbaland's first breakthrough came with R&B persona Ginuwine, on the album Ginuwine...the Bachelor. This album showcased the talents of both artists, and was the first to demonstrate the "Timbaland sound". The bassline was entirely new, with no samples used, and snare and kick hits that were extremely distinctive. It had a beat made up of short, strong sounds.

Timbaland was also responsible for the debut album from Bubba Sparxxx, from his (now failed) Beat Club Records label, and Justin Timberlake's first solo album, Justified. Timbaland also produced various tracks for the debut album of The Game. During 2006, Timbaland had seven singles receiving massive airplay worldwide: "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "All Good Things (Come to an End)" and "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado, and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack", "My Love" and "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around".

Timbaland is now a huge celebrity figure, building up an empire in just over ten years. His production is often key to the sucess of the song, and he is often credited as a featured artist, as well as producer. He can also overshadow the artist of the song, and becomes the actual "star" of the song.

For any fans of Timberlands current work, I would strongly suggest any of his albums, with an overall production level that is extremely high. Although his current album Timbaland Presents Shock Value doesn't seem to be living up to his reputation, his older material is definately worth a listen. His albums with rap partner Magoo are fantastic, with Under Construction Part II standing out, with brilliant beats and a good handful of contributing artists. He is also a relatively good lyricist, although I suspect that he has now grown too big for his proverbial boots.

However, any fans of well-produced hip-hop/R&B/pop should truly give his material a try. He's blurred the lines between hip-hop and R&B with his production technique. His older albums are better as he is more down-to-earth, whereas today he seems to see himself quite highly. But who knows? Any comments-is Timbaland as good as he thinks he is?

To start a segment on modern rap/hip-hop music producers that I'll be writing about, I've chosen the unimitable Dr. Dre (nee Andre Young).

Brought up in the gang-controlled streets of Compton in LA, starting with the World Class Wreckin' Cru, Dre took samples from tracks by legendary artists such as George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, creating a sub-genre called G-funk, which smashed into the rap music scene in the early 1990s. He was helped by his half-brother Warren G (known for his Regulate ft. Nate Dogg). Immediately chart topping, rappers such as Snoop Doggy Dogg (as he was then known) released songs like the true first G-funk song Deep Cover in 1992. This single introduced the world to the now infamous artist, whose laid-back, relaxed "drawl" vocal style fitted well with Dre's beats.

G-funk was characterised by its slow, heavy bassline, which came from the funk music it sampled. It also used female backing vocals, with a hypnotic groove. Dre slowed the beat down and, using a synthesizer, built up the different layers. It used a keyboard lead, which characterised the genre.

In 1992, Dr. Dre released his classic The Chronic. This defined the genre, and is considered one of the first "classics" from the rap genre, and put Compton on the map, paving the way for rappers such as The Game. Singles like Nuthin' But A "G"-Thang epitomised the talent found in both Dr. Dre and his protege Snoop Doggy Dogg. This release was totally different to other rap albums out at the time. It wasn't politically charged like Public Enemy, or party music like the Beastie Boys. It was the first foray for gangsta rap, and a new style of lyrical content.

As a founding member of N.W.A, he produced their first album, Straight Outta Compton, which managed to sell over 2 million copies, with an absence of airplay due to the explicit lyrics.

Dre also introduced the public to a young white rapper, called Marshall Mathers aka Eminem. Marshall's "Slim Shady" stage persona gave Dre a new style, more upbeat, with an emphasis on a rolling, fast bassline, and heavily synthesized loop, best demonstrated in the track The Real Slim Shady, from Eminem's first album.

His release of 2001 in 1999 was only his second release, yet it again showed the public what Dre could to, both lyrically and as a producer. He has also contributed to albums by The Game, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Rakim, Busta Rhymes and Eve.

In 2004, Dr. Dre was ranked #54 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, truly showing the impact he has had on the music world, both as a producer and a rapper. Always surrounded by controversy, he truly is one of the best producers music has ever seen. We can only hope his delayed release Detox is as groundbreaking.

"And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too,
I'll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon"

Released in early 2003, I picked this CD up from a record shop in London Gatwick. As I just foraging into the huge sub-genre that is dub reggae, I thought this would be a pretty good starting point, as I knew the original Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. Boy, was I right!
This is, by far, one the most listened to CDs/MP3s in my collection.
The first thing a listener will notice about this album, is, of course, the bassline. From "Speak to Me" right up to "Eclipse", it stands out, laid back, relaxed and dubtastic. As with most dub releases, this is the most important factor. With a good set of speakers or headphones, it sounds fantastic.
The vocals on this album have to be mentioned as well. Featuring guest vocals such as Gary "Nesta" Pine, known for featuring on Bob Sinclair's reggae singles, and the Meditations, it doesn't, as I first thought, leave anything wanting. Easy Side All-Stars don't consolidate anything, and leave the original Roger Water lyrics, which are brilliant and defined the Pink Floyd sound of the 1970s.
What really strikes me most about this is how well it works. When I first bought it, I thought it try it out, and I'll admit that I was unsure. But tracks like "Money" and "Time", classics in their own right, were redefined into a genre that I now know and love. "Money" truly shows the effectiveness of this work by Easy Star All-Stars, with the bassline and drums fitting brilliantly with the vocals.
This is a must buy, and for any fans of dub artists like Dread Zeppelin and Scientist, it should truly be checked out. Although some Pink Floyd fans may consider this blasphemy, it is worth every penny, even if you're not a reggae fan.

Buy it, listen to it, love it