The year was 88'. Fades, big chains, and finga waves were in effect. Shoes with no socks, Aiddas, Troop, and LaConSportif jumpsuits were in. N.Y. was on top of the rap game. Doug E. Fresh is the name. It was 1985 when he and then partner Slick Rick rocked the world with "La Di Da Di." The two combined to give birth to one of the hottest club (party then) jams on vinyl. Pure brilliance. With Slick Rick spittin' and Doug E...well...spittin', it was a match made in heaven. Then both decided to test the solo waters as all the great combinations do. Doug E. Fresh got with the Get Fresh Crew and released "The Worlds Greatest Entertainer" in 1988. Now the album got lost in the shuffle and let me give you a few reasons why.With all these hip-hop classic albums released in the same year, including Doug E. Fresh's album, it's easy to see what happen. But in my opinion, "Keep Risin' To The Top is by far the symbolic song that makes me think of Doug E. Fresh as bonifide in the rap game.
Now before I go too far. Doug E. Fresh's greatest hit was a hit before he sampled it (well at least in Chicago, Keni's song peaked at no. 63 on the R&B charts in 1982). Does anybody remember the man on the far right? Well take a look everyone. That's Keni Burke!!! Yeah, I know your saying who the hell is that. Well in music history he's someone. As member of the teen group The Five Stairsteps he recorded the song "O-o-h Child" which became a huge hit in 1970. The group enjoyed major success for the next 5 years and then became erased by another relatively famous band The Jackson Five. But anyway as rap usually does it makes the irrelevant relevant and PRESTO... Keni's back again. Well at least for crate diggin' purposes. Anyway, let's kick it off with the songs and then I will present to you the video seen all around the world. I hope you enjoy.
Keni Burke - Keep Rising to the Top
Doug E. Fresh - Keep Risin' to the Top
And now...let's get some old skool video crackin' up in dis' joint!!!
Cee-Lo Green!!!! Say what you want about the brother but he can SING has tale off. I've recently listened to a song from a forthcoming album titled "St. Elsewhere" by Gnarls Barkley . This is a unique project in which he breaks from the traditional "down south" soul funk. It is a bold endeavor, but I'm glad he is challenging himself as an artist. Anyway, the Gnarls Barkley Project is a collaboration between Cee-Lo and DJ Dangermouse. For those unfamiliar with DJ Dangermouse he is the man who put out the infamous "Grey Album" which featured Jay-Z's lyrics from the "Black Album" over sampled material from the Beatles. His album was met with swift resistance from a powerful music label and the "Grey Album" and anybody who downloaded it was squashed from the earth. But he moved on, collabed with MF Doom and now Cee-Lo and look what at what daddy brought home. I introduce to you:
Just want to say right off the bat, this isn't officially an MP3 post. However, every sunday it will be. "You Stole It Sunday" will officially point out the songs that were hits yesterday and made hits today. So lets start this post off with thief...uh...sampling artist number one...Kanye West.
I wonder what band he enlisted to play the song because to be honest Kanye's version of the song is quite nice in comparison to Mayfield's song. Anyway, I love both versions of the song and I though you would too. That's why I'm linking these up for 7 days or 25 D/Loads. Whichever happens first. Enjoy.