Congratulations are in order to Don’t Talk To The Cops for making the cover of the Stranger’s year-end ‘Best Music We Heard In 2011′ issue. Check the article here or check out footage of the actual show. On Saturday, February 4th, Trashed is hosting the record release party for their new album Let’s Quit at The Baltic Room.
You’re missing out if you’ve never seen them live. Unlike many hip hop artists who seem content to phone it in during their concerts, DtttC & are a group that have to be seen in person for the full experience. No one’s naming names here, but a lot of major rappers could learn a thing or 8 about showmanship from emcees BlesOne & Emecks & live DJ/hypeman El Mizell. It’s infectious, energetic, fun music that makes the audience want to sing & dance along & be part of the show.
While you’re waiting for their show next month at The Baltic Room, head on over to the Don’t Talk To The Cops! website for tons of free music, funny videos & all sorts of other media, or check out their Facebook to stay current on all the goings-on. Also make sure to tune in to El Mizell as he hosts Street Sounds every Sunday from 6-9pm on KEXP & his regular column, My Philosophy, in The Stranger.
And now, without further ado: Don’t Talk To The Cops! top ten favorite songs of 2011!
We dance!……Ya know it!
10. Blu – Doin’ Nothin’ (ft U-God)
The lyrics are crazy, the bassline is crazy, the mixdown is crazy, U-God’s hook is crazy. This is underground hiphop at it’s best.
9. Jazmine Sullivan – I Am Not A Robot
This song is about a subject me & emecks talk about almost daily, how technology can make you start to feel like you’re not real if you let it take over your life. On this track Jazmine actually sounds like she’s slowly dying, it makes you wanna cry if you don’t have a robot heart.
8. Ciara – Take Me With You
The best Ciara songs are always the unreleased ones for some reason, but thankfully they still get leaked. This song is that straight up Prince Purple Rain sexiness.
7. R Kelly – You Are My World
This was the demo R Kelly recorded for Michael Jackson before he passed, then leaked on the internet earlier this year. Not only is this a beautiful song, but it’s R Kelly doing his best MJ impression. And when someone does an MJ impression you gotta do one too. On the road we changed all the words of this song to sing about a cemetery we drove by in all our best King of Pop voices.
6. Aloe Blacc – Lovin’ You Is Killin’ Me (Video Version)
This is such a bboy jam! It feels like I’m at the Root Down in LA. The emotion in the singing is just as powerful as the drums, this makes for a deadly bboy combination.
5. Nas – Nasty
Nas over a Salaam Remi breakbeat is always gold. They always somehow pull off songs together with an old school feel that doesn’t feel dated. This song also makes us wanna break(dance) & go off, & the transform scratching on the bridge is classic!
4. Pure – Touch It, Bring It
This song is kinda nuts, we love this cause it reminds us of an underground Blaqstarr mixtape. It’s hypnotizing in the best way & sounds like there’s a dark secret buried somewhere in there.
3. Das Racist – Michael Jackson
“A million dollars! Ya feel me??” Das Racist is the first rap group to come out in a long minute with a new style of delivery that’s really dope & infectious to us. This song is just way too raw, pure rawness. It makes us excited about hiphop.
2. Malice & Mario Sweet – Happiness (ft Choklate)
It’s almost ridiculous how much we love this song. This feels like the anthem for anyone frustrated & overworked, but with a hopeful spirit for moving on in search of that personal happiness. But take caution, listening to this song may make you quit your punk ass job.
1. Raphael Saadiq – Just Don’t (ft Yukimi Nagano)
This is a perfect song! The way this is mixed sounds so warm & vintage, Raphael channels Motown but it also has a little Tony Toni Tone feel… appeal…to it. The way all the music comes in is arranged so dope, it instantly pulls you into the emotion of the song.
Bonus:
Here are some highlights from DtttC’s ‘old’ (March 2011) album, Regular Show.
