Islands, Blueprint, Subtitle – 2006-11-06
November 7th, 2006What’s beef?
Beef is when you need two gats to go to sleep.
Beef is when your moms ain’t safe up in the streets.
Beef is when I see you, guaranteed to be an ICU.One more time, what’s beef?
Beef is when you make your enemies start your Jeep.
Beef is when you roll no less than thirty deep.
Beef is when I see you, guaranteed to be an ICU. Check it.
Ok so there wasn’t any actual beef going on last night, but I got a glimpse into some real hip-hop conflict last night at the Islands show.
Subtitle opened the show up and rapped to some pre-recorded beats on an iPod (not sure how hip-hop that is, but hey, dude’s gotta work with what he’s got). He probably did more talking than rapping because he was performing to about thirty people who weren’t that interested in anything at all. As he was talking, he got into how his new record was banned (re: recalled by the label). He went on to not so subtly mention that Madlib, who apparently gave him two beats to work with on the album, had some problem with him using the beats so the album had to go back on the shelf.
I’m not one to propagate beef nor am I one to hide the truth of the beef. Just know that I will be strapped and ready to throw down if, at any point, the beef is thrown down in front of me. Beef or no beef, I’m ready to beef it out. Ok, I just love using the term “beef” to refer to something other than meat. I’m a simpleton.
They see me rollin’. They hatin’.
Patrollin’ they tryin to catch me ridin dirty.
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
My music so loud. I’m swangin’.
They hopin’ that they gon’ catch me ridin’ dirty.
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
So Blueprint was supposed to open the show but when the stage was ready to be rapped upon, he was nowhere to be found. That’s why Subtitle went on first. About halfway through Subtitle’s set, Blueprint rolls in carrying all of his DJ’s gear (but with no DJ).
After Subtitle finishes up, Blueprint starts to do his set by DJ’ing himself while he raps and he seems to be able to handle it just fine. A few minutes into his set, DJ Rare Groove runs on stage and starts doing his thing.
So the story behind all of this was that Blueprint and Rare Groove flew into Seattle that afternoon from Denmark and TSA found some “contraband” on Rare Groove and detained him and Blueprint. They let Blueprint go and he made it to the venue but they wouldn’t let Rare Groove go. I guess at some point they decided to let him out and he finally got to the venue.
I guess it could have all been a ruse but I’m pretty convinced this happened.
Life ain’t nothin but bitches and money,
Cause I’m tha type o’ nigga that’s built ta last.
If ya fuck wit me I’ll put a foot in ya ass.
See I don’t give a fuck ’cause I keep bailin.
Yo, what the fuck are they yellin?Gangsta, Gangsta! That’s what they’re yellin.
Islands truly are gangstas. Gangstas of pop music, violins, bass clarinets, Nord leads, and everything perfect and good in music. They are gangstas in the truest sense of the word. You might even call them OG’s. You might, but you wouldn’t because that would be a lie. Real gangstas don’t lie (lest The Game make a documentary about your propensity for lying and everyone will know what a snitch and a liar you truly are. You don’t want that. Trust me.)
Check the new tunes. Not even the same new tunes they rocked last time. I’m talkin’ ’bout Bucky Little Wing, Quittez, We Swim, and The Arm. These songs make me so excited for the new record to drop. That’s what records to in the hip-hop world. They drop. I like to think that Islands are privy to that sort of slang, though, given their closeness to the hip-hop culture.
Subtitle – 2006-11-06 Crocodile Cafe – Seattle, WA
Download: subtitle2006-11-06.akgc1000s.flac16.zip
MP3 Sample: subtitle2006-11-06sample.mp3
Blueprint – 2006-11-06 Crocodile Cafe – Seattle, WA
Download: blueprint2006-11-06.akgc1000s.flac16.zip
MP3 Sample: blueprint2006-11-06sample.mp3
Islands – 2006-11-06 Crocodile Cafe – Seattle, WA
Download: islands2006-11-06.akgc1000s.flac16.zip
MP3 Sample: islands2006-11-06sample.mp3
November 8th, 2006 at 6:54 PM
fuckin A! thanks for the write up, but the madlib thing was strictly a “you had to be there” moment. It wasn’t meant to be scrutinized on a blog spot. I mean, until I find out different it’s true. But some truths although self evident, should stay esoteric. Thanks for actually paying attention to the show and FYI: LOTS of rappers play off iPods. rappers like murs, busdriver, existereo from the shapeshifters, C-Rayz Walz, Beans, etc all go off iPods or CD-Rs or whatever. I usually go off a laptop, but it crashed 3 days before the tour and we haven’t had 2 days off in a row to get it fixed. Final Words from Nick D. are: “BEEF. don’t start none, won’t be none….”
November 8th, 2006 at 11:45 PM
Well shit. Look at that. Hey there.
This is why I write pretty much nothing but good things about bands I record. Due to the off-chance that they might read and/or comment on something I’ve said.
No disrespect on the iPod comment, man. You could have your beats piping out of an old dictaphone and I’d still bob my head. Also: I can remove anything about the Madlib incident if you don’t want it up on the site. Your call. I don’t want to start any beef. I just want to eat it.
I’m so stoked that you actually commented on my site though. That’s awesome. Shoot me an email (brian@iamserio.us) with your mailing address and I’ll mail you a copy of the recording.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:41 PM
well shit indeed. subtitle if you’re still reading this and want your vancouver set, you could shoot me w/ note also and i’ll arrange a way to get you a copy. (mewow@hotmail.com)
-Jeff
November 9th, 2006 at 10:45 PM
er… shoot me an email and i’ll arrange a way to get you a copy. that’s what i meant to say. :P