I dedicate this little essay to all these anonymous musicians who brighten ordinary people’s lives, day after day.
In the beginning there was the note. From the note originated the sound. Man learned how to use his body and how to create instrumentals, digging deep into Mother Nature’s prevalent models, constantly revising and prefectionnating his techniques. The trees were some of his tools and the birds some model of organized orchestra.
I wonder if you could stand still for a minute and imagine a world without any kind of music? I couldn’t, because such a silence is rather terrifying to listen to. Taking a solitary walk in a “silent” forest during a Summer afternoon is nevertheless a symphony of birds and bees and other insects and animals alltogether.
Music can take so many forms. We are more sensitive to styles and musical forms that we particularly like. I myself love the kind of music that talks to my soul. It doesn’t always have to come from professionals, it could emerge from anonymous underground Parisian Metro or London Tube players, who are playing all the ways, whether people are taking attention or not.
I like it when an artist manages to make me understand the depth of his music. I like it when I suddenly find myself vanishing into the music and becoming the music itself: my sould becomes attentive, while my head shakes in accordance with the rhythm.
The music and I are then one.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved
Little break
Dear readers,
I am sorry to tell all of you that my blog will take a little hiatus. At the moment, I really lack time to resume writing. Doesn’t mean I lost the passion for my thing. I just need to temporarily take a break. I will be back as soon as possible.
You can always check the archive in the meantime. Wishing all of you the best,
Love,
Isabelle
The invaluable lessons I learnt from 2009
Dear readers,
First of all, I’d like to wish you all a very Happy and fruitful New Year 2010.
A year has gone, a new one has come. Each year gives us the fantastic opportunity to put last year’s events into an objective perspective, enlightening its weaknesses and strong points. Most importantly are the events that taught us something. Sometimes we are very open minded about receiving life’s teachings in full acceptance and sometimes we might neglect some important aspects of it.
Even when you are a focused person with some precise goals, you got to pay attention to detail.
When, for instance, some events become recurrent in your life and you don’t like them, you have to question what exactly makes them happen. Year after year, I think that I was carrying the burden of my past, and by refusing the simple act of forgiveness I kept myself the prisoner of many events. Let me remind you that when you hate somebody, you literally become the prisoner of your object of hatred. This year I decided to apply FULL FORGIVENESS in my life and I saw great changes happenning.
I feel liberated. I am no longer the prisoner of my enemies. I simply let go the past and gave love instead of resentment.
Besides the act of forgiveness, I also decided to be responsible for my thoughts and actions: in short I decided to get rid of limitations and negative thoughts. You might object: how am I supposed to react when events don’t really match my deepest desires? You always have the choice to respond in a positive way. In those “unpleasant” happenings, there might be a hidden blessing.
Acceptance and permanent positive thinking will create positive outcomes in your life…all you have to do is to BELIEVE.
I am very grateful for 2009’s teachings…I am now ready to welcome 2010 with open heart and open arms. Let’s all make the best of it!
Peace and blessings to all of you:)
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved
P.S : hopefully I will be back soon for some more reviews and interviews. I apologize to you for my long absence, as I am very busy at the moment.
Merry Xmas everybody:)
Dear readers,
As you probably noticed, I have been quite busy lately. I’ve been posting less articles, doesn’t mean I lost interest in everything hip hop, though:)
I am grateful for 2009’s teachings and I wish you all a blessed Xmas and a very Happy New Year:)
Isabelle
Two new Eminem joints have been released…
Check out Taking My Ball and Buffalo Bill here.
The flow and lyrical creativity are undeniably here, but I find Em’s voice weird…I don’t get why he choses that kind of strange accent…let me know what you all think…
Taste this flavor of Black Ice!
You like it gangsta? You like it West Coast too? Then this new Black Ice flavor-that consists of the combination of two raw hip hop talents, Ice T and Black Silver- is exactly for you.
The rap game currently possesses a myriad of rappers. However, very few are really talented and true to the actual ghetto reality. Pioneers and rap masters such as Ice T are here to enlighten real street knowledge combined with their musical and instrumental knowledge. They truly know how to reinvent themselves. Their overwhelming mainstream success will not prevent them from offering quality tracks to the connoisseurs. Here you have a dynamic duo, Ice T and Black Silver, here they go, keeping it gangsta and West Coast sounding, carrying the true hip hop spirit.
Rhythmic and electronically combined, The Best Way is built on a dark musical background, enhancing Ice T’s dark vocals. The track is enlightening both Ice T and Black Silver’s word dexterity. If gangsta rap is your way of life or your tremendous passion, you are gonna like this one!Enjoy the dou’s bad boy spirit and nod your head to the track. The Best Way is truly a must hear!
You will find The Hunger in form of a dialog. The track will introduce the listener into the harsh ghetto reality and the daily grand hustle. Learn more about the streets of California and their ghetto survivors.
Out there features Too $hort. The instrumentals are a mixture of whistle, keyboard and violins sounds, spreading a quite surrealistic atmosphere all around. Pimping is the main theme of the song.
On Ice T and Black Ice’s my space account, you will be able to listen to the three songs mentioned above, but you will also be able to enjoy a few typical West Coast videos lead by the hand of rap masters. Enjoy:)
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved
Two exclusive Dogmatic tracks: a glimpse of the Like Coleman Young mixtape
“Swearing is an art form. You can express yourself much more directly, much more exactly, much more succinctly, with properly used curse words.” Coleman Young
Most remarkable persons who impacted black history teach us great lessons of courage and determination. It is particularly because, despite the many obstacles they faced, they knew how to seize the opportunities and to use their numerous disadvantages to their greatest advantage. Coleman Young was Detroit’s first black Mayor. He is famous for fighting injustice and innovating black policies.
Like Coleman Young did in the past with Detroit’s black community, Dogmatic endorses this reassembling role of the Detroit hip hop community, reflecting the 313 in his music , like the true ghetto soldier he is.
Starting on a melodic, nostalgic yet rhythmic sounding musical introduction, Dogmatic will take you into his world with his Godfather track, representing his City with pride. You can’t stop Dogmatic’s unstoppable flow, his scurrilous and confident attitude. Hip Hop lovers will appreciate his strong delivery. “D Towners” can be proud of their representative who manages to draw a realistic picture of 8 Mile. Dogmatic, the “second half” of Promatic, never forgets to pay tribute to the true Mayor of Hip Hop. also know as Big Proof, his long term friend and collaborator.
In Turned Out, Dogmatic offers a very insightful reflection about the current state of hip hop. Appreciate the gifted emcee’s know how, his stormy flow delivery, his goal targetted punchlines on a rhythmic musical background. Get caught into Dogmatic’s word spiral, listen to his words, appreciate his raw honesty in exposing emcees.
Hopefully, you’ve become hungry for more. Dogmatic’s Like Coleman Young mixtape will be out soon. For more info check Dogmatic’s my space account.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved
Coming soon…
Exclusive review of two brand new Dogmatic tracks…it will give you a foretaste of the Like Coleman Young upcoming Dogmatic mixtape:) stay tuned!
Eminem's birthday is in two days…
So happy 37th b’day, Eminem:)
Feel free to add your comments:)
Eminem gives details about Relapse 2 ( Rap Basement Com)
Read the original article and get more info from Eminem himself here.
Eminem recently stopped by his Shade 45 radio station for DJ Whoo Kid’s birthday bash and he ended up giving some details on his upcoming “Relapse 2” album. “Me and Fif did a couple of records, couple of months ago in Vegas, one song for my record and another for his,” Em revealed in an interview.
Em then went on to give details on the 50 Cent collab. “We just wanted to like, I just had an idea to like ‘Yo, why don’t we do something we ain’t done yet.’ And kinda go back and forth, we’ve kinda done it on other records but not to the extent of what we’re doing on this one.”
Before he left, Eminem also talked about production for his upcoming LP. “The way that it’s going now, K’Naan has two [produced] tracks on the record and Just Blaze has four, possibly five…I definitely feel like I’m in a little different space right now. I don’t know, with the last record, it felt like a lot of it had to do with me being sober…With Relapse 1 — a lot of that album, I wanted to rap at fire and do punchlines.”