There Aint Nothing Like A Brooklyn Girl

I was uploading music onto Imeem one day and came across the music page of 20 year old producer, writer, and rapper Charles Hamilton. As the page slowly uploaded I noticed the multicolored solar systems with swirly lights and lots of distracting graphics. Of course I love the pretty, outerspace, stary, cosmo type stuff but not exactly what you expect to see as the page backdrop for a aspiring rapper. At first glance I'm thinking, "Is this another Lupe Fiasco-I'm going to try the weird kid- outer space- skateboard gimmick?" Actually, its not that at all! In fact, Hamilton's persona and music successfully carve out its own space in the Hip Hop world.
First let me explain how utterly disgusted I am with this years summer "bangers". There has NOT been one song that I can officially say was my speaker blaster for summer 2008. That is, until now. Take a listen to Brooklyn Girls track 3 on the media player below (I'm getting better with technical side of blogging lol) Regardless of when the song was released I think newcomer C. Hamilton may have stepped up to the plate and claimed the title of "Brandi's most played summer track"
Just a few lines from Brooklyn Girls

I'm an uptown boy with Soho flava
The beat is D minor but I'm oh so major
I do my own thing so I owe no favors
Can't do it now then I wont go later

Back to the Basics
OK let's face it. We are amidst a generation of music where beats and instrumentals by far out weigh lyrical content. Hamilton's music is neither conscious nor gangster rap,but it does have that new hip hop generation appeal. Now I know it sounds pretty shallow of me to like music based on beats but this kid produces everything himself. Recently, sampling has become a major staple in the industry with producers such as Pharell, Kanye West, and Swizz Beats meshing the sounds of 70s & 80s hits with new school hip hop to give it a funky updated flair. It should be as easy as adding a little bass, a few other instruments, speeding the tempo, and sprinkling a few dope lyrics over a hot track...right? Wrong! Here's what C. Hamilton has to say about how he chooses to sample music.

"When I sample, I'm not just doing it to sound good. I'm trying to tell a story. To convey an emotion. If I sampled it, there is a reason I sampled it. I believe that music is based on moments, and that there are some moments that people may have missed back in the day. They may have even missed it a year ago. When I sample, I'm giving the artist their respect, while simultaneously creating something new."

Well, he must have a growing fan base considering popular NY DJ Green Lantern helped produce and promote the mix tape.
We all know of Harlem for what it has contributed to modern day African American-culture. Consider this, Hiphop has traveled all over the country sparking movements of all types. Maybe its time for the genre to return to its roots before it goes back out on tour. This is the future! The future consists of artists who can mesh rhythm with rhyme, pop with old school, swag with talent. I'll leave you with this quote.

I want to show the world that I, a Black kid from the hood, can connect the whole world through music. I also want to show the world that my hood is Harlem, the home of the Harlem Renaissance, which gave birth to most, if not all of modern-day art. Harlem is where art lives. The Greek god of Apollo was the god of entertainment. Where's the Apollo theatre?"

Songs iLike
Brooklyn Girl
Don't Touch Me
Superman
Check out this freestyle--
"Hip Hop isn't dead....It just turned 20" lol I like that!