The Abstract...

"Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden,

We used to kick routines and presence was fittin'.

It was I the Abstract"

-Q-Tip - Check The Rhime

 As a black man, many people assume that I keep up with the new hip-hop (well it's really rap since it possesses none of the basic elements of hip-hop but the MC'ing, that's neither here nor there*-) and R&B (well that music that a singer kinda sings and talks randomly and Future or Trey Songz are featured on). This is never the case. Outside of Drake, and people I see mentioned on Twitter I'm pretty oblivious to current "urban" music. Well, that would mean current mainstream "urban" music. It doesn't inspire me as the music used to. Maybe I'm getting to the point where I'm old and don't have the ear for the current wave. Don't get it twisted, I have consumed much ratchness but not in excess as I did in my teenage years and early 20s.

I just wanted to throw some dope music out there for people to explore and maybe find something they dig. My taste has becomes more abstract the older I get. Hell, I'm currently listening to The Who - Live at Hull. It's a live album recorded in 1970. For those who don't know, The Who is the group whose songs are featured in the opening theme of all the CSIs. Below, I'll list some dope music to try. Some may be weird to you, some may be dope to you. Hell, I don't know your taste. Hell I just know mine and what's dope is dope. Much of it won't be new or much of it may be current music. Some things you probably already listen to. ENJOY!

Toro Y Moi - "Say That"
Dope artist actually out of Columbia, SC who's making big everywhere outside of SC. Discovered him about 4 years ago. Made an interesting cover of Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal's - "Saturday Love" that you can find on an EP titled, Freaking Out.




Nirvana - Unplugged
Full of very good and abstract covers or Christian, 80s early grunge, and folk songs. Only a handful of their hits were covered but it's still an album I listen to about once a month to this day. This album debuted roughly 20 years ago. That's saying a lot.




Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane
Not even going to say much about them. Everyone has heard of them and know this album is a classic. One of the few albums of any genre that can be played from front to back without a track being skipped. Only albums I persona
lly can play like this is The Blueprint by Jay Z, 112's debut album and Ready To Die by Biggie. Hell I've even seen Maroon 5 in concert like 6 years ago. I must admit I do not listen to their current music though.




Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go
An album that's in my current rotation. I just can't stop listening to it. I'm in amazement that "urban" people haven't gotten their hands on this gem. If you swear by a JT or any other R&B artist killing the game, I promise you that you'll like this album. I'm not even going to explain what it sounds like. Just go listen to it. He even has a song with Kendrick. Will you listen NOW?




The Police - "Message In A Bottle"
Actually, I like most if not all of The Police's music. Post punk, and slightly pre new wave rock music infused with reggae/ska. Well if none of that made any sense, oh well. For some reason I listen to this song constantly on Spotify. I don't have a clue why though.




John Mayer – Continuum
This shouldn't be an abstract album to many. Each track on this album will make you think that John was spying on your life. "Gravity" is simplistic but yet sooooo deep. My favorite track is "Bold As Love", a cover of a Jimi Hendrix tune. Yeah I dig Jimi as well.




The Doors - Waiting For The Sun
I've always had a strange habit of listening to my favorite hip-hop album and then Googling the original sample of the tracks. When I first heard Kanye's production on "The Takeover", I had to find out where the f*ck did he get that sample from. And that began my fascination with Jim Morrison and The Doors. I actually listen to most of their LPs but this was the first album I listened to. I was hooked ever since.




Funkadelic/Parliament - "I'll Stay"/"All Your Goodies Are Gone"
Both of these are songs I've found due to researching samples on tracks I listened to as a teenager. Lead me to listen to numerous of their albums on Spotify and it's unreal of how many bass lines and drum patters I recognized while listening. They changed hip-hop in a major way.






Minnie Riperton - "Les Fleurs"
Many know Minnie soley for "Lovin You" and the memorable high pitch note she elegantly hits towards the end of the tune. I truly don't remember how I've ran across "Les Fleurs" but it seriously made me immediately take out my phone to Shazaam it. Evidently, this was one the first songs she recorded as a solo artist. Beautiful, colorful song.




Those were just a snippet of the things I randomly listen to. I'm open to listen to many things. I left a lot of things off the list such as Coldplay, Smashing Pumpkins, Talking Heads and the list could go on and on. Don't be afraid to try something out of your element. It's open my eyes to so many things and also to so many people I'd never hold a conversation with. Step outside of the box. I'm sure it won't hurt too much.