Tip of the twelve gallon hat to DB Tha General for Ghetto Cowboy from his latest album because, more than any other form of entertainment, Gangsta-Rap is a continuation of many of the themes prevalent in the Western movie; be that the classic American Westerns of the 30s, 40s, 50s and early 60s, Sam Peckinpah's Mexico films, the more lurid Spaghetti Westerns of the late 60s to mid 70s, and even a satirical parody like Blazing Saddles * :
My n*ggas end shit, period, GOT!
You runnin' off at the mouth, my bullets is gettin' hot
You want me to take him out? John F. in the drop"
DB Tha General - Ghetto Cowboy
(From I Shine, We All Shine album; 2012)
There'll surely come a day when old Western themes become the sample choice du jour for Rap producers, and that day really needs to result in someone spitting over the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composed theme from John Ford's 5/5 classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance which Gene Pitney later recorded after Ford dumped the original song from the movie's OST :
(From Only Love Can Break A Heart album; 1962)
(* Forget his touted Juice remake, Soulja Boy needs to star as sheriff Bart in a reworking of Blazing Saddles.)
Hopefully, westerns havent been used enough(or to their full potential at least) - Kool Moe Dee, Will Smith, that one Tragedy video, that song with Kurupt off Doggfather and the Doug E Fresh video you linked to that time are the only other examples I can think of. Shits ripe for the plundering.
ReplyDeleteI think the 2012 rap droughts starting to tip on, the NHT Boyz tape was a little patchy but that and new DB has me optimistic. Man DBs the dude.
Wild Cowboys and Hang 'Em High by Sadat X.
ReplyDeleteDamn I forgot the pinnacle of stetson rap.
ReplyDeleteI love Puba but that theres the greatest Brand Nubian solo, its just more of an album imo.
if you enjoyed downbeat spaghetti westerns like The Great Silence, you should give Cut Throats Nine a go, blud.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/Q7jLM4uHcJM
I agree with donal, DB is the shit. Stoked that I live near him, but can't say I'll venture into his turf on my whip (a fucked-up mountain bike) anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteDone - Reel To Reel >>>>>
ReplyDeleteViva Django - that looks fucking incredible.
Nyquil - you should go there on your mountain bike because it'd be physically impossible for him to be able to hide under that waiting to kill you like he did when he hid under the dude's car before jumping out and shooting him in the Upgrade 'em 2 video.
Ah now. I put everything in my alias I dont put nothing in my government. Nyquil if you bump into DB at Walmart or whatever, ask him how someone goes about getting "grandma game".
ReplyDeleteReel To Reel doesn't have this landmark conscious rap moment though: "I'll free the Haitians off the boats and give 'em the finest ocean liners, I hate brothers thats walking but mentally they in recliners"
lest we forget ::: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ORLq1zSNow
ReplyDelete