Reflect

The end of the year...

...Time to reflect.

Last beat of 2008.

Love / Hate

Today: Love / Mind / Control / Cool

Yesterday: Hate.

Let bygones be bygones, is what I'm trying to say.

I just want to be a real boy, they say: "Charl-ye, he keeps it real, boy."

Evidence is DOPE. Has become one of my favourite rappers recently.

A Jungle On Wrist...

...A circus on my neck.

I was watching some guy on Youtube last night and he has a bunch of vlogs giving his opinion on Hip Hop. However, after viewing his videos for about 5 minutes, it was pretty clear that he started it to hate on Weezy and, thus, promote himself.

It got me to thinking about what is wrong with classic Hip Hop critics and what is wrong with the Hip Hop 2.0 followers... Lil' Wayne gives me the best example of what I am trying to say.

A few of the "real" Hip Hop fans favorites are as follows: Biggie, Pac, Jay-Z, Big L, Big Pun, Nas, Rakim, LL, KRS-ONE, Eminem, etc. (Those were put down for argument's sake...)

So they are at the top of their class in terms of: where they were born (NY, Cali, etc), their ability (lyrics, flow, delivery, etc), their longevity, etc. E.g. "Biggie is the King of New York and always will be, his albums / music will never die and his flow was the best ever." 

Now. Where in that list are the Southern rappers? There are none that should be on that list, I hear you say? Ok...

Lil' Wayne is the best in the South, in my opinion. He has the lyrical ability to out-smart most of the new, young rappers coming from the South. His flow is original and dynamic and he can rap over almost everything. He moves with the times and always manages to end up on top. He has artistic integrity, even though it doesn't show on some of his more graphic and swagtastic records. I think his imagery is the best so far this century. He has been around for AGES and is still selling millions of records.

So with all of his corny records aside, I think he has / will reach the title of being one of the greatest in my opinion. Maybe even if it is just due to default - he should be there.

I believe the problem lies with the fact that the Hip Hop 2.0 followers have negated Wayne's ability in the eyes and ears of the underground / "real" Hip Hop scene by constantly supporting the weaker, yet more commercially-viable side of his repertoire. But considering that: He is the President of a huge Hip Hop record label, Cash Money - just like Puffy at Bad Boy. Puffy made those commercially-viable records that everyone bumped in the club / behind closed doors and people didn't respect him as an artist but, instead, a businessman. Whereas, Biggie was the figurehead for real Hip Hop in Bad Boy. Well... Wayne is both Biggie and Puffy in this scenario. He has to run a successful company, make millions of dollars for it to keep afloat and maintain its reputation, which he does. So we can call him a great businessman. But he also has the artistic ability, within him, to compete with the likes of LL Cool J, Eminem, Jay-Z (...record sales, etc...) To me, this makes him incredibly astute and talented. For that, I put him in my list.

Sorry about that... I wrote that kind of fast and angrily and I don't quite know how it came across. I was just getting annoyed by the constant comparisons of people to Lil Wayne, in terms of how good someone is, but the same person will turn around and say Lil' Wayne has no skill. He obviously does. And TONNES of it. So start accepting that he isn't like Soulja Boy et al. and start appreciating.

Future Wife #3 and #4

Kristianna Loken

Sara Varone (she is about 37 now... damnnn.)

As you can probably notice, I don't really "dig" the Hip Hop hunny-type.

Album Art

This is the first draft of Good Food album work by me. Despite its very simple layout, it took me ages to decide what goes where. The colours are from the blog if you didn't already guess - I pretty much use them for everything.

I think its really good. I hope you do too. I know some of you are not sure...

Update from the musical side of things: Max Schaefer performed a first draft of "Peaceful War" (see the beat in the imeem player in the sidebar). It was written and flowed very well and I am pretty excited about the track.

FUCK.

I was having a chill christmas until I logged onto WSHH and saw this...

I'm not going to mention their names, because that is what they want.

Give that money to someone that needs it. Greedy fucks.

See You In My Dreams

I zoned the fuck out on this on this one.

Is that even Hip Hop I am making anymore? I think I managed to reach one of my aims when I first created this blog. I saw that someone wrote "I just went back through all of my old updates and it's funny to see where I was back then" on their Twitter. So I decided to re-read my first blog post. I said that I didn't want to make beats, that I did not have the impetus. I think I proved myself wrong - I've made at least a beat a day, if not more, everyday since.

I also think that I have finally managed to transcend "Hip Hop of our generation and breaks into something unique and uncontaminated by comparisons". Which is a really cool Christmas present to myself, one that I will keep for life too. I guess my skewed genre affiliation has come in handy here. I am not trying to say this is my best beat, probably not by a long way, but it serves as a landmark for my evolving production style.

I guess I zoned out again. I keep listening to the drums and I'm out.

So, this is Merry Christmas to you all (again). If you like the song then let it be my gift to you. And you. And you. Annnd you...

- CH. -

Post Number 50

Come Close (Jay Dee Remix) - Common Feat. Erykah Badu, Pharrell & Q-Tip

Merry Christmas.

You Should Know

Robin (from draft 2 of Tears of our City) and Jus Mic

are going in on this. I'm pretty sure it will be a hit.

That's My Shit!

Everyday I'm Hustlin'... REAL HARD.

Penn

US visa is coming in 5-7 days.

I'm coming, America.

Hey There (Pretty Lady)

Hey there, pretty lady. How you doing today?

There is something I have been meaning to say.

Etc.

You get where I am going.

Deary Me Ramzy

Blogger / Google had it out for Frank Ramz yesterday.

He now has a new blog. Start from scratch. OUCH.

WelcomeToMedusaville.blogspot.com

Up Close

I Should Tell Ya Mumma

ILL.

Tears Of Our City - REDONE

EDIT: Redone on 18th December 2008.

This is the SECOND draft first verse of "In My Hometown" (the name has changed to "Tears Of Our City"). Sung by, my boy, Robin London. There are also bridges after each verse.

If you are interested in being on this track, let me know and I will outline the concept to you.

Enjoy.

We Invented The Re-Draft

One For The Road (2nd Draft)

Remade the shit out of it.

Kind of similar, better structure, different verses.

One For The Road

LUPE. Get at me.

[Potential Outro? - I think it could run on 

for like 5 minutes on its own...

It just makes me want to smile and nod my head.]

I really don't know what it is that is helping me to make at least one beat per day. I think it is the vision that this mixtape could be REALLY good. There are some really talented and creative minds that are channelling their flair into the project - ranging from emcees to graphic designers, from singers to marketing specialists, from hip hop heads to indie kids, from males to females, etc. As the list furthers, so does the vitality of Good Food as an entity.

Preach.

(As the vocals on the beat are trying to say: "Got to have... Patience.")

He's Beginning To Believe

"Man, that song SOOOOOOOO exhausted." - brandUn DeShay - LOL.

"Rediculousbananasultrasuperdooperretarded" - Frank Ramz - LOL.

Cool responses.

They're going to murder it.

Introduction to the mixtape.

Hiroyuki Matsuura is DOPE.

Alexandros Stasinopoulos - BRΙΕFC(eramic)ACE

Haaardbody meets a hard body.

Album of the Year 2008

Fred Hart's tribute artwork for "808s & Heartbreaks".

Click images for bigger view.

So Magnetic

Hmm.

Contemporary Sampling

A couple of new beats, both of which sample newer songs than I usually do - I hope you enjoy them.

Beat Drop #1 - [Upped]

Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy.

[N.B. The beat called "You Are" is going to be the title record. So consider its name to be "Good Food". If you sound like Erykah Badu, or know someone that does, or know her - please get in touch! - you know it would sound PERFECT.]

Good Food Update

What's up everybody?

Firstly, I want to thank those who have shown interest and offered their kind words. Not only do I appreciate it, but I hope to pay (read: give beats) you all for it. It helps me "continue to do my thing", so keep that up for my sake as well as yours.

Secondly, the mixtape is JUST starting - nothing has been finalized, nothing is for certain, so everyone still has an opportunity to be on there.

Finally, I respect the artist's opinion more than most, but part of the reason why I do this / am doing this is because I like the process of "concept building". I don't want to sound like I am "doing a Kanye" and kicking up a fuss, it is just part of the fun I guess.

So far - the plate is empty.

(I use "-" too much.)

Arm Candy

Wear Your Music

click the link above

[Guitar String Jewelry]

Killer idea.

Digital Vinyl

www.myspace.com/digitalvinyl703

(They have a cool style. No fear.)

Pinocchio Story

Best song of 2008.

[EDIT: Slight Exaggeration.]

Unreal

Massive Attack with 'Teardrops'

[Best music video?]

I know you are going to sample it.

About Me

-Trying to find the middle ground between the phrases “million units” and “artistic integrity”

-Began laying out his own album covers long before recording a CD

-Font Whore

Source: John Mayer's Honeyee Blog

Future Wife #2

Kristin Kreuk 

[Deep breath]

Everybody Wake Up

I don't mean to overload you with beats but it is time to step it up a gear and start getting some tracks laid down. So, everybody please wake up - stop sleeping. I am giving you a chance to get some quality beats, for nothing. All I ask in return is that you give me your best material on top of them.

Not Missing You

I thought this could be a cool intro to the 'Good Food'... It is a little esoteric but I think it can work (maybe even on its own?)

Let me know about it.

Existence Is Futile

This is pretty old now but I felt it had to be put up on its own. I put Weezy's "A Milli" on top of it on Myspace but it kind of ruins it for some people, given that the song is SO played out. I want this to go onto 'Good Food' but have yet to find anyone to TEAR it apart. This beats needs to be TORN apart. It has that feel. It is my "emotional banger".

I love it, I hope you do to - let me know.

Charlie Hilton presents 'Good Food'

I have had a few epiphanies throughout the past year convincing me that it is about time I make an album (read: mixtape). I was thinking that I made far too many beats to just let them stack up on iTunes and become reminders of the previous echelon of my producing ability. So I have decided to create the first installment in a mixtape series, it will be called; 'Good Food'.

I realized that with so many people in the world to keep in check, it would be difficult to produce mixtapes that would be completely coherent to one goal or concept. Therefore, I will be choosing things that are of utmost importance to me as the names, such as good food. (N.B. I don't mean Michelin Star cuisine, I am talking about healthy, wholesome meals. Ones that are passed down from generation-to-generation - like i hope the music will be. I also fear that the title will come off as arrogant or pretentious: "Wow, it's his first album and he's already calling himself "good", big-headed fuck..." Well, to be honest, if you see it like that then it will probably bring you back for a second helping just to prove me wrong; so it works out for me.)

I also hate the word: 'Mixtape'. I think the title dooms the project to degeneracy because EVERYONE does it. I guess it is an effective way of letting people know it is non-profit and therefore samples don't have to get cleared (and that the 'tape is free)... But I digress. 

"My food for thought so hot it gives you dudes ulcers..."

- Jay-Z, Blueprint, Hola Hovito

"This is, food for thought, you do the dishes..."

- Jay-Z, The Dynasty, Jay-Z Intro

I guess that didn't really conclude or clarify what I am trying to say here but it is where I am going with it. I want the album to be outside-of-the-box, lyrical, emotion inducing, thought provoking, confusing (at times), well-crafted and, most of all, set a touchstone for projects what lie ahead.

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How It Works

I will continue posting the lasted beats on here, and if you want them let me know. Each beat will go under competition for a place on the album as will every person rapping / singing on the beat. (Hopefully this process will eliminate weak beats and weak performances.)

So please carry on getting in contact with me after the beats are posted with your feedback and I will give you the beat of your choice.

I am looking forward to working with you all. Keep in mind: "Good Food".

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