16 Bars on Amazon Prime

 

I'm going to be honest--I had no idea Speech's documentary 16 Bars was available on DVD. I've just ordered a copy. And the good news is that it's also on Amazon Prime, so if you have Prime, check it out now! Here's a link to the DVD on Amazon, which also contains a link to the video on Prime. I will have my thoughts once I watch the film. Looking forward to it!

And while you're at it, check out the soundtrack here! Speaking of things I didn't know, I was not aware a CD had been produced for the soundtrack--so now I have bought that as well.

Ninja Turtles Theme "Everybody"

 

I'll be honest--I was under the impression I had managed to track down every commercially released song from either Speech or Arrested Development. But I am always happy to be proven wrong, because that means there is a song I've missed and thus new Speech music! Here's one featuring Speech with Metis, WISE, and JAMIL from a 2003 version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From what I've been able to gather, this was the theme for the show for a season or two, at least in Japan. And it appears this soundtrack was only released in Japan as well. It's no "Ninja Rap" (just kidding) but it is pretty catchy! This version is not the best quality, but it's the only I can find, so it'll have to do!

Thanks to Kel for pointing this one out to me!

Soundtrack Classics - Papa Luv It by LL Cool J

Continuing with the LL theme this week comes another one from The Show Soundtrack.  This was right before Mr. Smith hit and was in the same vein.  I liked it!

Soundtrack Classics - Everyday Thang by Bone thugs

Since I talked about it yesterday it only seemed right to post this one today. A classic from Bone's peak, featuring all five members (Flesh had signed to Def Jam by this point), and showcasing the harmony they were known for.

Soundtrack Classics - 2Pac "My Block"

In the 90s, we didn't really have mixtapes the way we do now, at least not if you didn't live in New York.  But what we did have was soundtracks.  It seemed like every other week another hip hop based soundtrack would drop, and typically each one had at least 3 to 4 classics on it, although you typically had to dig through a lot of garbage and R&B songs to find them.

One of the better soundtracks was from The Show.  Method Man and Redman's first major compilation "How High" came from here, and there were tracks from artists such as Bone thugs, Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Warren G, Onyx, and some solid cuts from Def Jam label B-teamers as well (The Dove Shack, Jayo Felony, and South Central Cartel).

And then there was "My Block," which to me was a classic.  This song was later remixed for the "Until the End of Time" release, and remixed rather well, but I still like the original.  If you've never heard it you've been missing out!

Soundtrack Classics - MC Ren - Who Wanna Be the Villain?

"Who's your top ten, is it MC Ren or MC Shan?"  - Nas, "Hip Hop Is Dead"

Nas posed the question and I'm guessing the answer from most fans was neither.  Nonetheless, I've always kind of liked MC Ren's solo stuff, even though he talks an awful lot about people getting pounded in the you-know-what.  Still, when you want a dark West coast album for the winter, you can't go wrong with Ren, especially his The Villain in Black album.

Here's a song from the soundtrack he did around the same time of that album - I'm guessing this was left off  though I don't know why, as it would have fit perfectly.  I also love how the guy that created this simple video for YouTube incorporated that cover.  This is "Who Wanna be the Villain" from the soundtrack for the film Original Gangstas, which I've never seen - but it sounds horrible!