Monday, December 30, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Rap Czars in sports cars

KEEP  IT OLDSKOOL PRESENTS 
Lyrics of the Day 



  Photo by Danny Clinch


Pete Rock and C.L Smooth  
"The Main Ingredient"

        (2nd Verse) 
I know you wonder what kind of way is that to think:
Put all the wackest rappers on a boat and let it sink
Don't blink; next thing you see you spot is taken
No Jax I'm Fakin' soldiers took the whole reservation
On a scale of one to ten, we move rather swiftly
Want a dimepiece but we'll settle for an eight-fifty
Don't blow mine, your trump card is exposed to pages
Now your beginning's already at the final stages
Pumpin like 12 gauges from a shotgun blast
I never saw people run so fast, aight?
Stay up all night, then sleep all day
Makin big Lucci and would have it no other way
In conjunction, with the function, as stated
Orchestrated by the Soul Brother nickel plated
Tell the judge you were foolish, and try to be lenient

Cause you never had the The Main Ingredient






Thursday, December 26, 2013

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL PRESENTS ORIGINAL TO SAMPLE 

Booker T & The M.G.'s (1967)
"Hip Hug-Her"


Heavy D & the Boyz, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth and Big Daddy Kane feat. Kool G Rap, Grand Puba and Q-Tip (1991)
 "Dont Curse "





Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Red Ryder BB Gun

Keep It Oldskool Presents 
Oldskool Movie of the week
 File:A Christmas Story film poster.jpg
A Christmas Story is a 1983 movie that is based on stories from author Jean Shepherd. This movie is a classic that is always played (sometimes continuously) at Christmas time.
The movie starred Melinda Dillon,Darren Mcgavin and Peter Billingsley.
Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Ian Petrella, Peter Billingsley, 1983
The movie is about little Ralphie (Billingsley) whose mind is set on getting the Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. His parents,teacher  and any adult he tells he wants the gun give him the same reply "You will shoot your eye out"  His parents the chain swearing father (Mcgavin) and doting mother (Dillon) and his little brother Randy get ready for Christmas. Ralphie also fantasizes allot with hilarious results.From school bullies to "double/triple dog dares" Ralphie wants the gun and nothing or no one will dissuade him from getting it.

This movie has so many funny parts such as the "Triple Dog Dare Incident" to Ralphie telling his mother that the curse words he used when fighting a bully were learned from a classmate. The cable network TBS usually plays A Christmas Story on a 24 hour loop during this time of year. Unlike most of the most of the movies Keep It Oldskool posts there are not many who have not seen this movie.

On the off chance that you have not check out A Christmas Story and of course 
KEEP IT OLDSKOOL 





Friday, December 20, 2013

UNDERRATED BUT NOT UNRECOGNIZED

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL SHOUTS OUT THE "ALL UNDERRATED" GROUPS 
Part 1

East Coast

In no particular order these are some of the groups never got the acclaim they should have be nevertheless still dropped great music

 Beatnuts
 Ã­
 Coming from the fertile music grounds of Queens Ju-Ju and Psycho Les who also known for producing music as well as performing. Label "gymnastics" prevented this duo from getting the props that that they richly deserved. The group was instrumental in getting rapper Big Pun known to the masses with the song "Off the Books" The one solace is that most "True Hip Hop" heads know who the Beatnuts are and realize that this group has always been underrated 





Camp Lo 
 
 Camp Lo with rappers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede burst onto the scene with 1997s "Uptown Saturday Night". The duo sporting a retro look with phrases to go along with it had a hit with "Luchini This is It" They were produced by Ski Beats a former member of Damon Dash managed group Original Flavor. Sonny Cheeba's distinct style and delivery was not something that was heard before This group loved to pay homage to the 70s even including "Thelma" and "J.J" from Good Times for one of their videos


Nice & Smooth


Another New York Tandem was Nice & Smooth the duo who made their debut with "Pimpin aint Easy" duet with Big Daddy Kane. The duo with 2 distinct rhyme flows just fit together  from Smooth B's creamy slow paced delivery to the manic rapid fire pace of Greg Nice. The group also was part of one the most recognizable Hip Hop songs ever made "DWYCK"  with GangStarr. Although never really blowing up as they should have the duo did receive more acclaim then most of the underrated groups on this list




Jungle Brothers


The Jungle Brothers consisted of Africa Baby Bam, Mike G and Sammy B. This group which helped spark the house music culture with the song "Girl I'll House You" was also a founding member of the Native Tongues Collective (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah and Monie Love) Hip Hop has one of its most influential groups of all time with ATCQ which got it's start from but in many ways eclipsed the JBeez. The "Straight out the Jungle" album is a classic album. Like the Beatnuts the late comer to Hip Hop is not really familiar with the Jungle Brothers hence why they are on the list as an underrated group







Thursday, December 19, 2013

Deadly Rhymes here's the

OLDSKOOL LYRICS OF THE DAY 







Deadly rhymes, here's the solution
Smoking so bad, I'mma cause a pollution
With satisfaction, baddest action, fatal attraction
Drop you to an improper fraction
Ill insanity, kill like Amity-
Ville horror, as I wipe out humanity
Won't leave a path, a track, a trail to trace
But when you're staring inside a mirror, you see my face
And I'll terrify, so don't ever try
To shake or bake or flake cause I never fry
Letters together sly as a fox clever than ever
Silly ducks write rhymes with feathers
Really dope needles are needed to inject this
Dope cause I'm a death wish, not even Bob Hope's
Rhymes are rugged, soul flooded, cold blooded
You ain't better, you're butter, so just shut it
Here to perform, having a brainstorm, make a rain form
How rap groups run to keep the name warm
Putting heads to beddy-bye like Freddy so get ready
Cause I'mma get crazier than Crazy Eddie
I'm alone but my tone is a sharp tune
Developing pictures in your brain like a darkroom
Rappers are captured and tortured with rapture
In 3-D is a G coming at you
Words in my rap will surprise you like Cracker Jacks
You dig them like Sugar Smacks and bite them like Apple Jacks
Brother, sister, misses or mister
My style is complicated, patterns like a twister
Throws, my shadow grows when I walk slow
Nerds are scared to be heard so they talk low
But I've been urging to drill in your brain like a surgeon
Rhymes so dope and they're busting you up like a virgin
More competitors change to challenger
You need to talk into a mic with a silencer
My defeat is like a mission impossible
My brain is unexplained, not illogical
Tough for a passing pate to assassinate
Guns in your ass so fast, it'll fascinate
You try to duplicate to get up to date
Can't wait to peep my profile on paper, mate
The innovator with greater data, deeper than a crater
Of course, Polo's the boss of the crossfader
The rage is on, my rhymes are airborne
Stage is torn to wreck, my murdering gear's on
Moving a head, never bled inside a bloodshed
Nothing is said, instead heads are dead
G Rap manages styles, taking all the advantages
Putting sucker rappers in bandages
I got a plot so hot it'll tan
I might be cool but I'm far from a fan
Letting you know how it is in show biz
Give me a prince and I'mma a show you a G wiz
Bright as Einstein, brighter than sunshine
Rhymes will intoxicate like moonshine
Total disaster the broadcaster master
Passed ya as the tempo goes faster
Sparks shoot out from the mic when I rhyme ignites
All types of words I write, put in flight
Rappers evaporate to vapor, I drop science on paper
And then build a skyscraper
When I die, scientists will preserve my brain
Donate it to science to answer the unexplained
But as long as I inhale and exhale
I challenge the next female or the next male
What you hear in your ears all appears to be clear
Consider me fear cause I shear ideas
That sticks to the mix, more tricks that a 666
So you better grab a crucifix





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

HUFF AND PUFF AND

OLDSKOOL VIDEO OF THE DAY
(shouts out to NICE and SMOOTH for finally shooting a video to this classic) 


Keep it Oldskool Presents 
Oldskool Movie of the Week
File:Soldiers story poster.jpg
A Soldier's Story is a 1984 movie directed by Norman Jewison. The movie that was based on the stage play of the same name starred  Howard Rollins Jr,Adolph Caesar,David Alan Grier, Robert Townsend, Larry Riley and Denzel Washington.

Harold Rollins


"They still hate you" Is the last thing Sgt Waters (Caesar) says before he is shot to death. African American Capt. Davenport (Rollins) is sent by the Army to investigate the murder in the south on a segregated Army base. Davenport having to deal with racists officers and a tight lipped base has to try to figure out what happened in just 3 days. We find out that Sgt Waters who managed the baseball team was very conflicted regarding race. He despised the "yasa boss" shucking and jiving Negro. He believed the only way to get the respect of the white man was to act the same way as the do/did. The object of Waters scorn was C.J Memphis a great baseball player but as a product of his deep south roots was not the kind of Negro that Waters liked very much. Also Waters had problems with Private Peterson (Washington) a militant 
authority challenging soldier. 
story6



Davenport initially believes that the murderer is of course white especially after hearing that there were 2 white officers on the road with Sgt Waters. This story deals with self hatred as much as it deals with racism. We watch and marvel at how one mans desire to be accepted begins and ends with the tearing down and brutal treatment of another man of his own race.  At the end you are surprised as to who actually killed Sgt Waters and why they did it

soldiers_l

This movie is full of impeccable performances by the actors 3 of whom starred in the original Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway play (Caesar, Washington and actor William Allen Young)  Like today Hollywood did not rush to get this movie made. The director (Jewison) was so eager to get this movie made that he offered not to take a salary.Warner Brothers,Universal,MGM and United Artist all turned the movie down. Columbia agreed to do the movie but only with a $5 million dollar budget. With that small of budget the actors were only paid to scale(meaning the bare minimum) The movie did however make over $21 million dollars.  The movie was nominated for 3 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar) and Best Screenplay. Many have never heard of this movie let alone seen it. I implore any and all to find and watch this movie. It has recently been making the rounds on the Encore cable TV channel.

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL



Sunday, December 15, 2013

Hidden Treasures

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL PRESENTS
Here are some jawns that you may not remember or ever even heard. Tracks that were for whatever reason overlooked KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

 
 
 


Friday, December 13, 2013

THROUGH THE YEARS

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL PRESENTS

"AND THE WINNER IS" 20 YEARS AGO

1993 GRAMMY WINNERS 

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female "Another Sad Love Song"

Toni Braxton

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group  "No Ordinary Love"
Sade

Best Rhythm & Blues Song "That's The Way Love Goes"
Janet Jackson



Best Rap Solo Performance  "Let Me Ride"
Dr. Dre 

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group " Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)"
Digable Planets










Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Sherrif is a

OLDSKOOL MOVIE OF THE WEEK 

File:Blazing saddles movie poster.jpg

Blazing Saddles is a 1974 movie directed by Mel Brooks who also co-wrote the movie along with Richard Pryror. The movie has been classified "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress. The movie starred Cleavon Little,Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman and Mel Brooks.

  The movie’s plot is a former rail worker Bart (Little) while heading to the hangman's noose is give the job of sheriff in Rock Ridge. Coming to town on horseback with a Gucci saddle bag to Count Basie's orchestra Bart feels he has made it. Needless to say the townsfolk whom all seem to have same last name are not too keen on a "N*** Sheriff" Bart enlists the help of a fresh from the bottle Waco Kid (Wilder) to try to stop the plan of Hedley Lamar (Korman) and the not too bright Gov. Le Petomane (Brooks) In between the slapstick comedy there is a message on race relations that even today some still can’t seem understand. There are many standout cameos in this movie Madeline Kahn, Alex Karras and Dom DeLuise

Blazing-Saddles-mel-brooks-17584989-707-360



blazing_saddles_movie_image_cleavon_little_01

  The movie is known for its mostly comic portrayals of racial stereotypes and the absurdity of racial superiority. Mel Brooks really wanted Richard Pryor to play sheriff Bart however, Warner Brothers would not ok that as Pryor at that point had an a reputation as being let's just say "unreliable". Another sticking point was the use of the "N word" which is uttered many times in the movie. Brooks later stated that both Pryor and Little both approved of the usage as to bring realness to the times being depicted in the movie. Also Mel Brooks wanted to push the envelope Warner Brothers tried to get him to make many changes. Mel declined to most of the requests but did relent and take one scene out: 

While trying to seduce Bart, Lili von Shtupp begins sucking on Bart’s arm in the dark and Bart says " I hate to disappoint you, ma'am, but you're sucking my arm"

Some of the more iconic scenes are when The Waco Kid and Bart try to get a closer look at the army that Hedley is building, and the scene showing new sheriff taking a morning walk.



 Mel Brooks had reached out to John Wayne to do a cameo but the western movie icon stated after reading the script "I can't be in that movie but I will be the first to see it" This movie for a host of reasons couldn't be made today. That doesn’t take away from the fact that on Feb 7th 2014 it would be the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic movies ever made. Keep It Oldskool


Monday, December 9, 2013

Nothing to Do

 Bored.com 


  "I am bored there is nothing to do dad" My 15 or 13 year old sons will say to me on day like yesterday in Philadelphia.(snow storm) As I sit on the couch and watch football and they feel the need  to disturb me I decide to tell them what their dad and aunts did when they were bored. It’s not like we had Xbox 360,Playstation 3,Wii and over a million movies to watch (as they do). I had to break it down gadget by gadget.

 Xbox 360, PlayStation etc- In our day our games were called Atari, Intellivison and Collecovison. The graphics were terrible compared to today's standards especially Atari whose basketball game looked like this
File:Basketball Atari 2600 screenshot1a.png

And Football that looked like this :
Atari Football.jpg


Movies to watch (DVDs first run movies) Cable Tv -In our day at most there were 2 VCRs in the houses (parents room and living room) and the price of about $200-$300 they were not to be touched by the 13-15 year old as we may break something "you know you can’t pay for") .Unlike now when a movie that was out 6 months ago (and was popular)  it did not come out on tape for years. We did have some cable channels but not 7 HBOs, Showtime and Starz and a network that played classic cartoons all day long (Boomerang) 
  
File:Nordemende spectra V100.jpg

Vintage HBO Logo


 Now we get to the part where the boys looked at me like I had just asked them to spell "supercadufradulistic". I told them about card games, Uno, I declare war, Go fish etc. I regaled them with knowledge of games like Sorry, Connect Four and even Checkers. Of course they did not understand how we sat there and played "those games".



The great game of Sorry! Parker brothers old game
  Lastly I tell them that our imagination was also something we used on boring rainy days. And even I went "full on Urkel" on them and told them they could try reading a book. Im sure all who are reading this can understand how my suggestions and anecdotes went over with my sons. So the next time your children try to tell you how bored they are now or that there is nothing to do you can use the same strategy that I did or you could just tell them to clean their room


As Always Keep It Oldskool






Thursday, December 5, 2013

The phoniest cats is felonious

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL PRESENTS 
LYRICS OF THE DAY

Black Thought Verse
"Clones"

Yo, I use the mic to slap you in the face and erase your taste 
Disgrace your date put your title to waste 
Dominant lyrical grace, from a place called wild 
Illadelph Isle Pensy, that's the residency 
Consist in currency, my pockets never empty 
Some cats, believe they MC but we know they all fraud 
Do a show in Philly niggaz wouldn't applaud 
Nobody know your record nor who you openin' for 
Can tell your squad's artificial while approachin' the door 
So you should prepare, for lyrical terror that's pure 
Step up to the reservoir, of the soul proprietor style 
Messiah or, the higher law down with Dice Raw 
The matador, shorty connoisseur 
Stompin' whatever you build to the floor 
Similar to that of a dinosaur 
I told you I'm the rap predator 
You insist to imitate, what for? 
Superstar niggaz is ten percent real, ninety percent invented 
For a fuckin' record deal 
Comin' with somethin' veterans can't feel 
I hit you like a steel anvil 
Because you grafted off the next man's skill 
But still I remain mellow, seein' the theatrics of Othello 
Run over tactics of the 
See-L-O/N-E-S fess 
The phoniest cats is felonious (word)






Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Keep It Oldskool Presents 
Oldskool Movie of the week
File:Vacation1983.jpg

National Lampoon's Vacation was released in 1983 the movie written by 80s movie master John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis was an instant smash and starred Chevy Chase,Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall. The movie which spawned a franchise is considered one of the funniest movies ever. The movie was shot on location meaning that the cast had to travel cross country during the filming.
ko national lampoons vacation dm 121003 wblog Vacation Cast Reunites, Thanks to Entertainment Weekly

The movies tells the story of food additives salesman Clark Griswold (Chase) taking his family Ellen (D'Angelo) Rusty (Hall) and Audrey (Barron) cross country to Walley World an amusement park in California. The trek is beset by problems such as the hideous station wagon,a sojourn into the inner city and of course relatives. We see Clark handle each situation with a clumsy abandon. This family unit is pushed to a breaking point with hilarious results. From the Grand Canyon to the desert the Griswold's seem to travel  all over the map.




There was of course a cameo as supermodel Christie Brinkley is tooling around in a red Ferrari that seems to be stalking the family. Also Cousin Eddie ( Randy Quaid) whose daughter says that she was told by her FATHER that she french kisses the best. and Aunt Edna who wines and insults her way along for the ride. In any odyssey there are casualties and this movie is no different. But even the deaths are played up for comedy.





This movie is a "click and stop movie" meaning while flipping channels if you run across it,  you have to stop and watch for a while. The movie spawned 4 sequels: 

National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Vegas Vacation (1997)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003)

The best of being the National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. The Old Navy clothing line had commercials feature Chase and D'Angelo and several of the different actors that portrayed Audrey and Rusty over the course of the 4 films. Some unknown tidbits on or about the movie include:  

(courtesy of http://news.moviefone.com/2013/07/29/vacation-movie-trivia-25-things-you-didnt-know/)

*The original ending had the Griswolds, livid over the closing of Walley World, invade Roy Walley's house, hold him and his associates hostage, and force them to entertain them by dancing and singing Marty Moose songs. 

*As the ending had to be re shot Rusty (Anthony Micheal Hall) had grown 6 inches and in final draft of movie Rusty goes from a few inches shorter then Chevy Chase to a few inches taller then him.

*A reboot has been in the works that would star Ed Helms ("The Hangover") as the grown Rusty, taking his own wife (Christina Applegate) and family on vacation to Walley World, with Chase and D'Angelo to return as his parents.

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL
National-Lampoons-Vacation-e1362095010677