Words By Patrick M.

While the timing of Hip-Hop’s death has been on people’s minds since Nas stated his opinion on the matter, I believe its nearest brush with mortality came in the late 90s.

At the time, a newfound schism had emerged, the brutally false distinction between “Rap “and “Hip-Hop.” A variety of things played as factors: East Coast-West Coast overload and humanities’ need to portray themselves as cutting edge led to the emergence of an underground movement. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Chris Smith

It’s Monday morning.

The curse of the working men and women worldwide. You find yourself fighting for five more minutes of sleep even as you stumble to the bathroom with crusty eyes, wondering how you’re gonna get through another week of copiers, cubicles and cornflake co-workers. So on those dreary mornings, I switch on the iPod for one track that is a set cornerstone to my daily playlist: “The Ride of Your Life” by Gift of Gab, one half of the progressive hip hop duo from the Bay, Blackalicious.

To be honest, when the album that this track is on came out, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, I wasn’t checking for it mainly because I wasn’t sure how Gift of Gab would do with a solo venture. But this song changed my mind in a hurry.

When the song opens with the gentle strumming of a harp, you immediately find yourself immersed in the song as if you stepped off a pier and plunged into the ocean. “The Ride of Your Life” is really an intro, an elongated verse of sorts that still hits hard. Gift of Gab manages to deliver it with a sense of urgency, letting his words draw you in and relate to the struggle of just being and living with a purpose. As you listen you wonder if he’s going to run out of breath but he finishes strong and you find yourself mellowing out to the end chorus. It’s hard not to listen to this song and get amped up by it and have hope.

Anything to take your mind off of how much they take out of your check before you get it.

Gift Of Gab – Ride Of Your Life