Elzhi’s manager, Jae Barber, teams up with Gerard Victor to create some nice visuals for El’s remake of Nas’ classic (and my favorite song off Illmatic). You’ll recognize faces like Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″, J Dilla, Proof, T3, Baatin, and others in the footage of Detroit’s legendary Hip-Hop Shop, famously highlighted in 8 Mile.
Well this came out of nowhere. Peep this Dwele directed video for a brand new Slum Village song produced by Karriem Riggins. Seems like there may have been more, but after Baatin’s untimely passing, perhaps the video and song were cut short to highlight Titus. RIP.
Seattle people: Don’t forget that we have our (abridged version of) Rock The Bells on Friday at Showbox Market. Reflection Eternal, Slaughterhouse, Slum Village, Pete Rock, and a few others. Holler @ a Hyphen when you see me there.
(big in Japan)
See, this pains me. I love Slum Village, pause, and not just in a “J Dilla Changed My Life” t-shirt wearing, never heard of them before he died kind of way. Nah, I’m talking about wearing out the dusty cassette tape of Fan-tas-tic, Vol. 1 and then the classic “official” debut, Fantastic, Vol. 2. Sure, there have always been some ehhhhh lyrics here and there in SV releases, but these days, T3 is doing the best writing of his career and Elzhi might be the best rapper in the game…at least bar for bar.
So it hurts that when I was driving home from The Roots & Erykah Badu show last night (more on that in the days to come), I was bumping Elzhi’s ridiculously dope Euro Pass mixtape and heard:
“You never cease to surprise maay/So I, had to go like a worker on a Friday”
–T3 (of Slum Village), “Save Ya”
Well, it’s Friday so I suppose it fits. Sorry T. That song is still an instant classic and y’all make great music, but WLotD can’t play favorites. Gotta call ’em like I see ’em.
You just can’t go wrong with Dwele and Slum Village. Every one of their collaborations has been dope, and this joint is no different. T3 and (the rhyming god that is) Elzhi hop on Dwele’s new single, “I’m Cheatin’.” I would have liked some longer verses, and perhaps a remixed beat…you know, like “remixes” were meant to be…but this is still the jam.
Dwele ft. Slum Village – “I’m Cheatin’ (Remix)”
The D, and the entire midwest region, is really on fire right now…
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