It’s been 25 years since Organized Konfusion––that’s Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch––released their sophomore record, “Stress: The Extinction Agenda”. Not only is it one of the greatest underground hip-hop records of all time, it’s a crowning achievement of the genre’s richest decade. In celebration, we’re exploring the stories behind every beat and every sample––at least the ones we know about––that make up the classic Queens LP!
About Conor Herbert
Why We Like It: Freedust’s “Talk To Me”
The title track from Freedust’s upcoming sophomore EP, “Talk To Me” continues the trio’s inspired exploration of swing and retro soul. International collaboration – the three Freedusters hail from Italy, Sweden and the UK – and a love of tradition, heritage and antiquity imbue their pop with a distantly familiar flavour.
Why We Like It: BIG NASH’s “Know Thyself (Freestyle)”
If you’re wondering what kind of artist BIG NASH is, wonder no more: “Know Thyself (Freestyle)” offers a window into the mind of the New Zealand-based emcee. An eerie, brass-laden instrumental underpins his bars on the grind, nefarious record contracts, the stress of his lifestyle and effects on his own mental health.
Why We Like It: Demi Day’s “Reps”
An anthem for the hustlers and the grinders, “REPS” is a monument to ambition and perseverance. They’re qualities close to Day’s heart, evidenced by her pivot into full-time emceeing, a vocation she approaches with all the discipline of a regular nine-to-five.
Why We Like It: Vox Sly’s “Sugar”
Singer-songwriter Vox Sly makes inspired use of jazzy tropes, and the vocals, mired in licks and chimes, are but a piece in his greater musical puzzle. It’s the calmly understated nature of the track – one that all but threatens to disappear at moments throughout, only to rise again with newfound vigour – that endears it so seamlessly.
Dissecting Madlib’s Production on Bandana: Every Sample, Every Beat
It’s been five years since we last heard from MadGibbs, one of hip-hop’s most revered emcee-producer duos. Their triumphant return comes in the form of Bandana, a sophomore record that averts the slump with unbridled excellence. There’s a lot going on in there – let’s take a look at the samples underpinning Madlib and Gibbs’ […]
Why We Like It: Maki & Ceej’s “SumVibes”
The essence of Summer – the indescribable feeling that runs through some of the summer’s most indelible efforts including Flower Boy, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, and Something To Feel. “SumVibes” does the same, juxtaposing soaring vocals with laid-back drawl and pairing savvy songwriting with a sunny disposition.
Behind Doggystyle: The Singles that made a West Coast Classic
As the sun rotates and his game grows bigger, it’s now become easy to forget just how Snoop Dogg became a pop culture legend. It was Doggystyle, his Death Row debut, that catapulted him to the forefront of mid-’90s hip hop. In celebration of a quarter-century of G Funk, we’re breaking down all the samples […]
Why We Like It: Milah’s “Liquor [Intro]”
The easygoing beat fosters her confessionals, teasing out beliefs and insecurities tinted with her charismatic delivery. “Liquor [Intro]” is an exercise in flair, brimming with personality and backed by a candid, conversational approach to “real feelings.”
Why We Like It: KOTH’s “Reign”
Extolling the kind of entrepreneurial mindset that’s made titans of Hov and Diddy, KOTH walks us through the establishment of his empire with a freewheeling flow, his illustrations vivid and hunger tangible.
