[2005: Trap Origins] [ATL Legacy Rap] Suga Suga (K-Rab) – Do It With No Hands & [ATL ’96] Outkast – JazzyBelle (Remix)


For this honorary first “Hip-Hop Origins” we highlight “Do It With No Hands.” My Atlanta folk may remember this well-known local trap banger, born out of the “snap music” crazed era of the mid 2000s in Georgia. This song, and many others like it [See Maceo: Nextel Chirp, remember Crime Mob?] released around 2002 through 2008 were the forefathers of the Trap EDM genre. The trap-style beats and the lyrics that usually talk about…well, trapping and the hood highlighted a time when ATL and Southern Hip-Hop were on fire and highly sought after to produce the next hit.  Don’t get me wrong, Atlanta is still the premiere ground for hip-hop, rap music and breakout music artists (and now actors as well), however the magic that surrounded the city and rap’s mentality here has changed since those days.

Our second is a rare remix of Outkast’s “Jazzybelle” originally released in 2006. Outkast is well-known as one of the groups that put Atlanta on the map in terms of music as a whole. As such they are widely acknowledged and celebrated by Atlantans and worldwide. Fans of the group were overjoyed when Outkast returned to the stage and began touring in 2014.

Other artists and groups born of the mid-2000 era of Atlanta hip-hop:

D4L
Crime Mob
Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boys
Young Jeezy
T.I. (was on the scene prior to then)
Outkast
Usher
Rasheedah

[THROWBACK] [Alternative / Chill] Washed Out – A Dedication // [Ambient / Vacation] Bent – Always (Ashley Beedle’s Mahavishnu Remix)


Got two throwbacks for y’all to relax to today. The first is from electronic group Washed Out‘s “A Dedication” which channels a very alternative rock kind of feel, almost reminiscent of Radiohead or Coldplay. The simple chords of the piano mix well with the soft, echoing vocals and in a way that’s sure to lower your “own” BPM and put your mind at rest.

Next is a very old ambient-style tune I first heard probably more than 10 years ago. Ashley Beedle’s Mahavishnu Remix of Always by Bent captures everything from the original and puts a truly amazing ambient house spin on the song. Combining many of my weaknesses: “old-timey” sounding sampled vocals (see also Parov Stelar, Yolanda! Be Cool) soft piano chords and synths that take one to beaches, islands, sunlit archipelagos, with glistening sparkly beaches somewhere, I don’t know, tropical. At least for a moment anyways; I could see myself flying a plane with this on, or maybe scuba diving to it. Enjoy.

[Special Thanks:] iLLUMiNOUS music breaks top hit count from 2014!


Thank you to all those viewing, reading, sharing and supporting my blog, iLLUMiNOUS Music. Over a span of just 4 months, I have already broken my record of total number of hits for 2014.

Going further into 2015, I hope to continue to highlight and bring good music to those that are willing to listen, willing to experiment with things that are different and are willing to broaden their horizons. If there is anything anyone would like to see more of, do not hesitate to let me know!!

Thank you all,

-Darris

LoveRance – “On Her” (VIDEO)


Ooh, another single from LoveRance. Been a long while since he dropped anything!

[Hip-Hop/Rap:] BJ The Chicago Kid (feat. Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q & Punch) – It’s True (Remix)


Check out this remix of BJ The Chicago Kid‘s single “It’s True” receiving backup from the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and Punch. This rap track was “It’s True (feat. Schoolboy Q” originally released by BJ at the end of last year in late December and received critical acclaim. The remix does not disappoint either. [NOTE: The video in the link has sped up the song due to copyright issues, search the web for the original version of the remix or buy the song itself and support your music artists)

The original song:

[Hip-Hop Throwbacks]: [Rap w/Trance Sample] Jeezy & T.I. – F.A.M.E. // Gucci Mane – Dope Show


Our two throwbacks today are from the hip-hop genre, as we revisit two standout tracks from ATL’s Young Jeezy, T.I. and Gucci Mane. The first is “F.A.M.E.” from Young Jeezy’s Thug Motivation 103: Hustlaz’s Ambition, the sequel to TM 101 and 102. Comprised of some very unique, even calming beats, the track samples major trance artist, Above & Beyond’s “Air For Life,” a collaboration with fellow trance artist Andy Moor. This results in quite a moving track with none other than The Rubberband Man himself, T.I. delivering some great verses as well.

The next track is an old-favorite off of Gucci’s mixtape Lean, which he released in 2013 alongside two other mixtape projects, Gas and Molly. The three mixtapes are praised as being some of Gucci’s better works and his workmanship and resolve to putting out constant quality music as all three mixtapes were released at the same time. This business model is nothing new, artists the likes of Soulja Boy, Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ B “The Based God” and many more also rode the hype of releasing constant streams of music and mixtapes, helping to keep them in the media spotlight and of relevance to hip-hop as a whole.

[EDM Origins: House / Disco House:] (2004) Junior Jack – Da Hype & Stupidisco (Dare Me)


The progressive house throwbacks “Da Hype” and “Stupidisco (Dare Me)” from Italian house DJ, Junior Jack, withstand the test of time and are shining examples that foreshadow EDM’s launch into mainstream America. The building progressive rhythm of both songs are characteristic of house at its core and capture the spirit of many “early” EDM songs.

Electronic and dance music released in the early to mid-2000s catalyzed the evolution of the genre and certainly were ancestors of the soon-to-be popularized “dubstep.” Released back in 2004, “Da Hype” is forever a favorite of mine; it was part of the first real collection of EDM and house music I had acquired…back then would’ve been about 9th grade. Several years after I was introduced to the genre (when I was 10 or 11) but about two years since I’d really gotten into the scene (mainly from video games soundtracks w/EDM: Need For Speed Underground, SSX 3 come to mind).

I am forever grateful for my exposure to artists such as Junkie XL, LCD Soundsystem, BT, Deep Dish, DJ Tiësto, Röyksopp and many more that solidified my interest in EDM. Artists like these were pioneers of the genre and helped drive it to what we know today. We musn’t forget however, that quality is always over quantity. The ubiquity of electronic music today is refreshingly satisfying, but we should all take note of the sheer originality and creativity expressed during those years and even earlier before.