The G.O.A.T. on the boards mixed with the Neo-Soul gawd and a couple of the illest emcees of their time sprinkled on the top. The result is the funky, baby I miss you, track “Reminisce” from Bilal’s debut album 1st Born Second. Every day is Dilla Day, celebrate!! Dilla laid the foundation and Mos Def and Common played back up to Bilal’s silky smooth vocals.
When The Roots dropped Undun, it was to mixed reviews. Me? I never listen to em, I approach each Roots project on it’s own merits. I listen and let it absorb without judging it by Illadelph Halflife standards. I mean, that album changed my whole outlook on what a Hip Hop album could sounds like. I believe in the Roots as a group and accept their visions for each project they release. Undun is no different, for me each song stands out. The guests all add their own sound to the album. K.R.I.T., Dice Raw, Truck North, they all drop jewels, but I think my 1A favorite verse on the album comes from Greg Porn on “The Otherside”
I’m sitting on top of the world, ready to jump off
Thinking of various ways to break a gun law
Thinking that enough is enough
But still I want more
Thinking how I’m paying with fire that burnt my young boy
Any means necessary, dont give a damn
So every night, I’m on a flight that never lands
Be an asshole when the shit hits the fan
Or bet your life on a bluff and a bare hand
Can’t win, Can’t lose
Dead em gas, leave em leaking fuel
Either way the market moves
Cash rules, Kings, Queens, Prince and Princess
Every night I’m crossing lines that ain’t the finish
Every thought as dark as a glass of fucking Guinness
Common joined by Bilal and back by A Black Girl named Becky in Oslo, Norway in 2000 on tour for Like Water For Chocolate. I was lucky enough to see Common perform this album a couple times, the best was at Red Rocks in Colorado when he performed with his Boo of the time, Erykah Badu, in fact as per the set list here, she pretty much performed the songs that Bilal performs in Norway. And his band, A Black Girl named Becky was incredible, one of my all-time favorite shows. It’s dope that Funkit has this recording of the show….enjoy….
1. Time Travelin’ [6:15]
2. Heat [3:05]
3. Nag Champa [2:10]
4. Invocation [1:59]
5. Respiration [3:20]
6. Dooinit [2:46]
7. Coldblooded [2:56]
8. Sex Machine [5:20]
9. freestyle [1:07]
10. Resurrection [2:51]
11. Still DRE [1:18]
12. (introducing the band) [3:03]
13. Ghetto Heaven (with Bilal) [5:33]
14. Soul Sista (with Bilal) [6:19]
15. Funky For You (with Bilal) [8:19]
16. I Used To Love H.E.R. [4:49]
17. The Light (with Bilal) [5:39]
18. DJ Dumi plays around [1:40]
19. Thelonius [2:38]
20. The 6th Sense [4:32]
21. The Love Of My Life > I Know You Got Soul > freestyle > solos > FINALE [18:48]
As he gears up to release his Starship Connection EP onFrite Nite, Teeko drops off his remix to Bilal’s “Cake & Eat It Too” from Airtight’s Revenge. A remix initially done to kick off a project Plug Research was working on for the album. The project was scrapped but Teeko still releases the remix to the public for their enjoyment. Props to FRSH SLCTS on their return and helping let this track loss on the world
Producer/Emcee 7even:Thirty, reppin’ Vintage Noize, just loose this remix he did of Bilal’s “Robots” track from Airtight’s Revenge. 7even:Thirty also drops a verse, I think I’m going to replace the album version with this in my Bilal playlist…….I can’t even remember how the original goes right now, I’ve had this on repeat for like 2 hours