Devotion #15

I had an idea in mind for this week, but was going to post a bit later than usual. Then I got a twinge of laziness and contemplated taking the week off and not posting at all, but later decided that I would throw something up that was altogether different from my original idea. Confused? So was I. But I got things figured out earlier today when thinking about how slept on rapper/singer/instrumentalist/producer/DJ/family man Count Bass D is. Hip-Hop culture should be ashamed of itself for not recognizing cats like this more, instead of upholding the thuggishness, materialism, and pretentious, I-am-hip-hop-hear-me-roar posturing that permeates much of the airwaves and discotheques. Okay, so maybe they aren’t “discotheques,” but when Soulja Boy, the Shop Boyz, and that whole brand of coonery get more shine than artists who are putting in three and four times the effort for a fraction of the return, then something is out of order. The rap game is out of order, radio is out of order, fans are out of order, Patrick Masterson is out of order, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is out of order*, Mitt Romney is definitely out of order, and I’m probably out of order, too, for taking time to rant about some oft-discussed but barely-remedied bullshit instead of checking out this Thai Aroma menu and ordering dinner. I hear you knocking, spicy catfish, and you’re coming in loud and…um, spicy.

As for Dwight Farrell (d/b/a Count Bass D), if you don’t know, he’s a rap veteran crafted from the left-center field, Madlib/J Dilla/Kankick/MF Doom/Oh No/Jneiro Jarel mold – near-mastery and heavy exploration of the drum machine; samples both dusty and known-like-the-back-of-your-hand, painted polka dot and turned inside-out; just the right touches of experimental instrumentation; and off-kilter rapping with couplets that don’t always rhyme and bars that could be filled with two words in one line and ten words the next. If you’re not feeling Count Bass D, then I pity you. You’re a sucker, and we can’t be friends**.

Count Bass D – “Seven Years,” featuring Dionne Farris and “Make a Buck” – Dwight Spitz (High Times 2002)

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” – Act Your Waist Size (Fat Beats 2006)

* “The neutrality of this article is disputed.” I bet.

** Of course we can still be friends, silly. Here’s a symbol of our friendship…

MF DOOM – “Rhymes Like Dimes” feat. DJ Cucumber Slice – Operation: Doomsday (Fondle ‘Em 1999)