Kendrick Lamar just won the Pulitzer Prize for music – DAMN. This is significant because he is the first non-classical or non-jazz artist to win the award. First Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in Literature and now this? Should we be surprised?

Not at all because it makes perfect sense. Hip-hop, like jazz back in the day, is music that depicts life on the streets – reality. Hip-hop is unique as it has a distinctly aspirational message. Not only does it embrace sonic dissonance like very few other genres do, Hip-hop has transformed itself into a lifestyle.

As inequality rises the world over, populist ideologies (from the right and left) flourish and movements such as Black Lives Matter dominate our newsfeeds and lives, Hip-hop has evolved from its Thug Life roots to being the universal voice for urban expression.

When you scratch beneath the surface of Hip-hop, as I have been doing lately, you will find layers of familiar emotions: fear, love, happiness and so on. But you will also find an overwhelming sense of unsuppressed existential angst being expressed through Hip-hop into mainstream pop culture for the very first time. It is impossible to ignore. Hip hop is the definitive voice of a generation.

So here’s to Kendrick Lamar and scratching beneath the surface of Hip hop… have a wonderful 420! I hope you enjoy my latest playlist. As always, Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube playlist links are included.

1. Hits from the Bong – Cypress Hill
2. A$AP Forever (feat. Moby) – A$AP Rocky
3. Song For You (Jacques Greene Remix) – Rhye
4. About you – G Flip
5. Schikken (feat. Flmmboiint Frdii) – Spark Master Tape
6. Kal (Future) – Prabh Deep
7. Don’t (Lose My Number Remix) – Daniel Freitag
8. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
9. Lucy (feat. Odie) – Still Woozy
10. Mr. Tillman – Father John Misty
11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Playlists: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

I couldn’t resist starting this Jam with Hits from the Bong…. need I say more?

A$AP Rocky, a member of the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob, brings back to life Moby’s classic tune Porcelain (from the cult classic film The Beach) in this track A$AP Forever. A$AP Rocky’s proud and wicked rhymes are a stark contrast to Moby’s ethereal dreamy keyboards in the background. Strangely half way through the song A$AP Rocky bows out and we cut over to Moby singing about dying, lying and hurting.

Song For You is a sensitive love song by Canadian Mike Milosh of Rhye. In this song he portrays his love affair as one where he deeply experiences his partner’s sorrow and pain. He feels helpless and he keeps repeating “ Why don’t you tell me what you need? Oh, what you need.” Jacques Greene’s subtle remix really brings the song to life! But if you haven’t heard the original, you must.

G Flip – ok… now I must explain – I realise the vocals sound poppy at first but give it a chance. This is the first ever release from the extremely talented Aussie Georgia Flipo who impressed the pants off critics at SXSW. Georgia recorded this track in her bedroom and played all the instruments herself. About You is sparse by any definition – but it is elevated with its dark baseline, sick beat and stunning vocals. Respect.

Spark Master Tape (SMT) is an anonymous rapper. He wears a mask in public, his voice is always laden with effects and he disappears for years at a stretch (2014-2016). Ok so there isn’t much to the lyrics of Schikken – drugs, money, b*tches, guns and chicken soup? But it is very catchy and I dig the mystery behind it all.

I went to a Prabh Deep gig at Above the Habitat a few weeks ago in Mumbai. I was BLOWN AWAY! This man is smooth and his fans are absolutely nuts (in a good way). It was the first time I have witnessed our homegrown hip-hop lifestyle – from clothes, swagger to krumping. Prabh Deep’s super intelligent rhymes are about his experiences growing up in Tilak Nagar, New Delhi and touch on the socio-economic hardships faced by people living in that tough neighbourhood. Although I only understand bits of Punjabi, the energy he exudes on stage especially during this song Kal (Future), was enough to get me jumping (not krumping) up and down. Check out this Class Sikh!

Don’t is the second single off of Daniel Freitag’s debut album Still. He explains it best: “The song deals with loves lost, chances missed and ultimately letting go.” The remix is superb but the instrumentation gets quite sophisticated with maybe a little too much going on in the chorus. That said, I find my head bobs like I am at the Roxbury whenever this plays on my cans.

This is the most intoxicating cover of the 1964 classic You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ originally recorded by the Righteous Brothers. Lee Hazlewood’s baritone voice coupled with Nancy Sinatra’s seductive crooning is a perfect match for this power ballad. I am not sure how I came across this cover but it is truly a magical find as it is almost as if I am listening to this song for the first time.

If you just read the lyrics, Lucy could be just another cute love song. But when you play it, you can see why Still Woozy has a something really special to offer. Sven Gamsky self produced this entire album after he quit a math rock band last year (yes you read that correctly). For me this is perfect Sunday afternoon music.

I may be a bit late to the genius of Father John Misty (FJM), but this song Mr. Tillman is brilliant. The song is a hilarious conversation between Mr. Tillman (FJM’s real name is J. Tillman) and a member of staff at the hotel he is staying at. His idiosyncratic acoustic sound is so refreshing to hear and his lyrics are always sharp and witty.

If I had to choose one song to represent the beauty of the world around us I would choose the medley Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What a Wonderful World performed by the late great Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Whenever I hear Israel singing and playing the Ukulele I smile and find immense strength in knowing how lucky I am to love and be loved in return.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly.
And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true.”

Till next time…

Playlists: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube