This is as live as it gets. For hip-hop producer (and sometimes-MC) Chops, this is that moment of truth where he breaks out of the basic beatmaker box and elevates to virtuoso status: the student becomes a master. With his debut solo album Virtuosity (Vocab/GoodVibe), the Philly titan of tracks throws the producer-as-artist LP concept onto the chopping block and carves up a masterpiece. Taking a cue from rap legends like Pete Rock and Marley Marl, Chops collaborates with an impressive group of some of today’s most captivating microphone personalities (Talib Kweli, Raekwon, Ras Kass, Mystic, Planet Asia, Phil The Agony, Grand Agent, Bahamadia), and exposes some fresh new voices (L Dorado, Kev Turner, CMNR, Dave Ghetto.) Chops says, “Part of the reason for making this album was to pair up with different types of artists to show my versatility of styles."
The extraordinary skills of Chops “the Magnificent Butcher” have been praised by a few super-producers who know a thing or 1200 about crafting hip-hop classics: cats like DJ Premier, RZA, Kanye West, and Daz Dillinger. Chops’ universal studio styles collect props coast to coast from LA to Chicago to NYC. Thoroughly composed and virtually sample free, Chops’ top-notch productions forge a revolutionary sound on an epic scale, galaxies away from humdrum four-bar loops.
Chops has already made hip-hop history, on the low, with his group the Mountain Brothers (also including Peril-L and Styles), when the trio became the first Asian-American hip-hop group ever signed to a major label, though they eventually released their album independently. And with hip-hop culture about to catch a serious case of Yellow Fever — word to Yao Ming — Chops is unintentionally at the forefront of a movement.
Chops’ love for the art of noise started when he was a kid. In grade school he began learning to play various instruments — first horns and guitars, and later keyboards, synthesizers and drum machines. With the focus and discipline of idol Bruce Lee, Chops honed his craft, picking up some lessons about chord progressions and music history along the way. Relating his creative approach with Lee’s fighting style, Chops says, “He’d take different tactics and apply them to his own body, and use what worked best for him to make his own personal system. That’s what I do with music. I try to listen to as much different music as I possibly can and incorporate what I like about it. It keeps you free. The more I take in, the more my range grows.”
Like many young beatmakers, when Chops began making hip-hop music he would lift sounds from old records. But his location presented a unique problem. “In Philly, it happens over and over where somebody in New York will come out with the same sample that you just used, but they’ll have it all over the radio.” That dilemma helped inspire Chops to take matters into his own hands and use sounds from instruments he played himself. “Plus, with all the ideas in my head,” Chops says, “It’s easier and a lot more fun than sampling from records.”
The Mountain Brothers’ 1998 debut album Self, Volume 1 was an underground critical smash, with much of the acclaim focused on Chops’ organic, ’70s funk-type production that drew comparisons to hometown heroes The Roots and golden era greats like Native Tongues (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest) and vintage Primo (Gang Starr) and Large Professor (Main Source).
Virtuosity expands way beyond that respectable and reliable sound — it’s evident from the cinematic orchestral maneuvers of the album’s intro (“Git Dat Mutha”). Sounding something like a TV show theme song, the opener prepares you for an hour of high drama. (It’s no wonder that Chops, a hip-hop John Williams, is looking to pursue film scoring.) There’s an interesting contrast of styles and tones here, from hardcore B-boy bangers to smoothed-out soul sessions. The Butcher meets the Chef when Raekwon asks that old musical question “What’s Fuckin Wit Us” (answer: not a damn thing), and the Wu-Tang swordsman swings with a force not heard since Cuban Linx. Newcomer singer/MC L Dorado addresses faulty females on “Trouble”, while Grammy nominee Mystic raises romantic possibilities on “No Pressure.” Next-big-rapper Planet Asia is in top form on the ode to living large “Niggarachi,” doing such an uncanny Slick Rick tribute you can almost hear an eye patch on his head. Other outstanding lyrical pow-wows include “Comin’ From the Lower Level” (Phil the Agony, Ras Kass and Talib Kweli), “Blockbuster Smash” (Grand Agent), “Thoroughbred” (Mountain Brothers), and “B-Girl Session” (Bahamadia). Jay-Z beat supplier Kanye West takes a break from his Roc-A-Fella duties to pull a verbal swerve on “Changing Lanes.” And since Philly, like San Francisco, is a true DJ town, naturally turntablists are also deep in the mix: check the cut contributions from DJs Babu, Revolution, Jay Ski, Excel and Kwestion. Even the instrumental interludes (with all instruments played entirely by Chops) are killing you softly, perfectly setting the right mood to segue from one song to the next. This is how it should be done — Chops’ style is identical to none.
Virtuosity the word is defined as (1) technique or skill (which the name Chops refers to as well) and (2) having a love of art. Virtuosity the album shows that the Magnificent Butcher has all that and then some.
Chops has been bringing you some of the hottest remixes all year long what better way to top it off than to bring "Its Going Down 2" in conjunction with Bun B & DJ Lt Dan. The album has notable appearances from Slim Thug, Chingo Bling, Magno, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Ying Yang Twins, and many more.
The CD/DVD combo pack features unreleased songs, remixes, concert footage, freestyles, upcoming hit songs, and much much more. 2 jam packed disks with nearly 2 hours of video and 80 mins of music, by the way all original production by mega producer Chops.
Also look for Chops production on the new Freeway single which features Atlanta's own Lil Jon.
1. mike jones paul wall gt - you don't wanna (produced by CHOPS)
2. paul wall - sittin sidewayz (remix by CHOPS)
3. magno - magnificent bout his cash (produced by CHOPS)
4. bun b f/ baby and lil troy - neck of the woods (remix by CHOPS)
5. bun b f/ mike jones, slim thug - represent h-town (produced by CHOPS)
6. bun b f/ slim thug, 2pac, youngbloodz - whatchu lookin at (produced by CHOPS)
7. chingo bling, lucky luciano, stunta - draped up (produced by CHOPS)
8. ugk - one day (remix by CHOPS)
9. ying yang twins and CHOPS - wait (remix by CHOPS)
10. gucci mane, young jeezy and CHOPS - icy (remix by CHOPS)
11. bun b, boosie, webbie - show ya tattoos (remix by CHOPS)
12. bun b & mddl fngz - 4 o'clock in the morning (remix by CHOPS)
13. body head bangers f/bun b, mike jones - 24s (remix by CHOPS)
14. kiotti - 29th st hustler sampler (all production by CHOPS)
15. young jeezy & bun b - over here (remix by CHOPS)
16. CHOPS - come up offa dat check (produced by CHOPS)
17. ugk - belts to match (remix by CHOPS)
18. ugk - ride my car (remix by CHOPS)
19. froze only, bun b, mike jones, twista - yo cadillac (remix by CHOPS)
20. kiotti - 29th st hustler sampler pt2 (all production by CHOPS)
SNIPPET:
http://www.southwest-connection.com/new ... echops.mp3
Anmelden
FAQ
Suche
ist ganz cool..gefällt mir
...Aber die Beats sind seeeeeeeehr gut!!! 
mach noch paar sachen mit druff das die cd voll is.