Ok, I’ve been listening to a few hip-hop gems last week, but failed to write about them because I’ve got to hand out some papers for my finals. So here they are now, now that I have some free time, and after Friday it’s the long awaited summer break so we’ll have more time for music and proper posts (I hope).

The first one is the new sensation Gnarls Barkley, their St. Elsewhere album is indeed fresh as I’m sure most of ya guys have heard it. Danger Mouse is a terrific producer who was also one half of the Dangerdoom project with fave MC MF Doom. This collab with Cee-Lo from Goodie Mob is more than him and Danger Mouse doing their own thing. They have created a unique personality with Gnarls Barkley and produced a very positive album that takes its roots from soul & roots & gospel. Here’s what a reviewer on BBC says:

“The Gnarls album – it’s made me feel full of happiness and joy and hope for a better world and better self…which doesn’t happen that often…I love that feeling when you hear an album and you know its going to be around for a few months, that your going to listen to it and really think about it and feel a bit jealous that you didn’t make it, but lovin’ the fact that someone else did…”

Here’s two tracks from Oakland’s The Coup which are a testimony to the good times. The Coup’s music, like Gnarls, is soulful & funky and has politically conscious lyrics and good musicianship. This album has more than bling bling and ass-shaking bitches we see everywhere and it’s not beats and rap only as some cats do. Boots Riley calls himself a raptivist and their previous Party Music album’s cover has been pretty controversial at the time. However one think I find interesting is they’re on Epitaph a major-indie punk label of Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz, personally no problem for me, but I’m sure many assholes will think twice about it..

Our last man is the man himself, Ice Cube. What can I say, he’s a legend although I’m by no means a NWA or Friday or Gangsta Rap fan. Cube’s got a new CD out now and it’s pretty oldschool as you would have thought. The beats, the style, the chorus, song structure, everything. But don’t you think it’s stale, because I think he does what he does best, check out this song where he talks about rap history over a great sample. I’d still prefer him to trendy MTV rappers any day. 2 more songs on Rock’n'Roll Star mp3blog.

Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley – Transformer
The Coup – Ijustwannalayaroundalldayinbedwithyou
The Coup – My Favorite Mutiny
The Coup – We are the Ones
Ice Cube – Growin’ Up