Saturday, January 20, 2007
New DVD: "BEAT KINGS: The History of Hip-Hop"
Props to my peoples at Room Serivce for sending me this DVD. If you have any interest in hip hop production, you need to watch this documentary produced by Wu-Tang DJ Mathematics in conjunction with underground hip hop label Nature Sounds. It features pretty much EVERYONE! Well let me qualify that, it features everyone from the East Coast plus David Banner and Alchemist who's from LA but has lived in NYC forever.
It would have also been nice to hear from Dr. Dre (of course!), DJ Quik, Warren G, Cold 187um, Arabian Prince, Yella, E-Swift, Battlecat, QDIII, EA Ski, Shock G, Ant Banks and Bosko from the West coast and Lil Jon, N.O. Joe, Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, Dungeon Family, the Medecine Men, Crazy C and other cats out of the South as well as some of new turks like Scott Storch, Timbaland and Neptunes but the focus seemed to be on prodcuers who do traditional chopped beats n samples style hip hop.
A more in-depth look at various producers' beat-making & production techniques and the studio process would have made this better too but this is still worth watching and maybe they'll get into that in future releases.
Here's more from the press release for Beat Kings:
"Never before has there been such a comprehensive documentary about the art of beat making. DJ Mathematics (of the Wu-Tang Clan) reveals the science behind the origins of hip-hop music with the genre’s greatest producers in the all new DVD, BEAT KINGS: The History of Hip-Hop (Nature Sounds) available on January 23rd, 2007.
Beat Kings is a 66 minute film that gives the viewer an exclusive look into the architects behind the rhyme. Hear it first hand from the musical legends that shine light on Hip Hop’s brightest stars like Jay- Z, Biggie, and Nas. Beat Kings brings the public into the producers private studios as they reveal the secrets behind making hit records. Mathematics interviews stars like Kanye West, Just Blaze, Havoc (Mobb Deep), Trackmasters, Swizz Beatz, RZA, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Alchemist, David Banner, Easy Moe Bee, Prince Paul, and more as Beat Kings chronicles the history of beat making from its early beginnings into the 21st century.
Producers provide information on the equipment they use, how they learned how to use it, and how they developed their style. Veterans will take a look at this milestone DVD as a breath of fresh air, while newcomers will be able to learn the ropes from the legends themselves. Viewers will also have the privilege to hear the producers’ opinions on the current state of Hip Hop music, where hip-hop came from, and where it is going. Respect the Architects, respect the Beat Kings."
The Beat Kings DVD will in stores Jan 23.
On the net: MySpace - The Beat Kings MySpace - Mathematics MySpace - Nature Sounds Buy the Beat Kings DVD
Bonus:
An MP3 podcast/mixtape from DJ Statik Selektah mixing up tracks from all artists featured on the DVD, as well as the original songs that they sampled. (Alternate link: Sendspace)
