March
2007
Episode 36 of Upon Further Review!
We’re back to review the world, one item at a time, in Episode 36 of Upon Further Review! In this episode we address more comments about our American Idol episode (who knew so many people felt the same way we did?) before moving on to the show proper: first, we tackle a review request from an enterprising college student about one of the most powerful and influential forms of music in the past twenty years, rap; second, we look at the outrageously funny (and funnily outrageous) comedian/actor Eddie Izzard; and finally, we satiate our hunger for football in the offseason (sort of) with our review of the One For The Thumb podcast. As always, we appreciate your evergrowing involvement in the site and with our show, and encourage you to keep the good vibrations going–there’s so much more out there to review, right?–by telling your friends, neighbors, and close and distant relations about UFR! (“Commodore 64” song is provided by Euphrates (a really cool guy–you can also check him out here) via Julien and the In Over Your Head podcast; as usual, podsafe intro music is provided by Sharif (“You’re My Girl”), outro by David Henderson (“We Gotta Go”).)
Reviewed in this show:
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Eddie Izzard is very smart and funny. He’s one example of someone who “happens to be” (oh Carlin is going to kill me for saying that) instead of it being his act.
When you listen to Eddie you don’t need to know he’s dressed up to find him hilarious. His jokes are witty and his delivery is superb.
Go Eddie Go!
Thanks for the awesome review.
First of all I’d like to thank you for taking the time; and yes you did
> pronounce my name correctly. That said I thought your review of mainstream
> rap had a lot of good points. Yes mainstream rap has fallen away from it’s
> original roots as a music form used to bring awareness to the plight of
> mainly African Americans in impoverished cities around America. There is now
> too much of a focus on the superficial (money, bitches etc.) to the point
> where I myself don’t even listen to the radio cause I’m always annoyed by
> the content of the songs. The worst part is young kids grow up listening to
> this thinking that this rap we have today is all there is because that is
> all they are fed.
>
> When
> Nas named his Latest album “Hip Hop is dead” he was trying to drive home the
> point that original concept of rap as a musical form of expression of
> personal strife as black people and rhythm has changed for the worst. Now
> there is too much focus on the Street hustling aspect of it which is
> important, but, is not the only thing. Rappers like Young Jeezy, Rick Ross,
> Cam’ron hi8s Dipset crew (Juelz Santana, Jim Jones etc.) dominate the radio
>
> You mentioned how you didn’t like the “you sucka emcee…Im so much better
> than you” aspect of rap. Let me clear something up. That whole entire thing
> stems from the battling aspect of rap. All of the great rappers (Rakim, Nas,
> Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Krs-One etc.) are all battle tested emcees. In
> fact, freestyle battling is how rappers make a name for themself to start
> out: by competing with other emcees the goal is to to One up your opponent
> and so Braggadacio and confidence is a humongous part of that. For Exmp, try
> these video links: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fbpLE_QjQQI ,
> http://youtube.com/watch?v=3I0nkTqkb8c ,
> http://youtube.com/watch?v=jwPWuH0grmg
> ,http://youtube.com/watch?v=eAxlQvM_cKg
>
> You were also on point about how white buisinessmen use these rappers as a
> marketing tool in order to make money. Many of those rappers have never
> experienced ‘the hood” and are just walking gimmicks.
>
> You
> made a point about Coolio too. I don’t think to many serious hip hop fans
> take him to seriously anyway. yes there is a lot of sampling of of old
> records by hip hop artists for better or worse. For better: producers can
> end up equalling the quality of the original song and make it their own,
> also, it can introduce young fans to old Soul records they otherwise might
> not have had a chance to listen to. For worse: p-eople may consider the
> producer as stealing the melody if there is no original melody underneath
> the sample. Speaking of the producer, the producer is a huge part of hip
> hop. In fact, producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Diamond
> D, Dj Muggs and the like have shaped the sound of rap music,try getting up
> on those men if you don’t already know of them.
>
>
> I like how you mentioned artists like Nas(one of my personal faves) Immortal
> technique etc. As you probably are beginning to discover there is a wealth
> of talented Emcees on the underground. My personal favorites are: (and you
> might want to give the a listen to) The Wu-tang Clan-*listen to their first
> 2 albums especially (Enter the WU and Wu Tang Forever.)* Nas, especially his
> first album, Illmatic and actually try his whole entire catalogue. Also try;
> Murs, Afu Ra, Mf Doom, Jeru The Damaja, The Gza (wu tang clan) Mr. Lif,
> Chino Xl, Ras Kass just to start out. Also try visiting this rap site:
> http://www.undergroundhiphop.com to expand personal library of emcees.
>
>
> About how your discussion of Jay-Z. I think you have the wrong idea about
> him. He is a very talented emcee, who is style has influenced many of todays
> young rappers. just listen to hid first albums “Reasonable Doubt” and “In my
> Lifetime Vol.1” he has many songs with good content quality
DI: Agreed on Eddie Izzard–he really is an interesting guy, and funny to boot.
Lance: Our pleasure–sorry to hear you’re leaving MSR to pursue other options, but we wish you the best!
Alui: Looks like we’ve officially got our second rap/hip hop expert in the house, to go along with Julien…thanks for the thoughts and feedback! Please keep the comments and review requests coming (which goes for all of you, of course… :) )
T.R.
#$@^%@#$^ submit button…
well, here’s my brilliant comment that i lost because i was so excited to move forward…
great show! had one of the funniest passages yet. so funny i played it back several times, and still play it back now and again for a laugh: greg’s a cappella “jump around” followed by eddie izzard’s stand-up byte. love it!
i hope “The Riches” takes off, b/c eddie izzard is a brilliant comedian – along the lines of Robin Williams in his heyday – and I hope people get to see not only his performance in the show, but the stand-up as you suggested.
and nostalgia is one of the main reasons I know i’ll always enjoy myself when i listen to you guys. the commodore 64 song brought back a flood of gen-x memories. thanks for being a voice for our generation. gen-x is finally coming into its own!
great show, i’ll hit submit now. see you on 37!
Heh…glad you liked it, Chris. And it’s true, Generation X has arrived…for better or for worse, we guess!
T.R.