Hip Hop culture is something that I’ve loved ever since I was a child. I was born in its epicenter in the Bronx in 1981 and as such, I knew nothing else.

I wasn’t raised on Jazz, Funk, or Rhythm and Blues. Hip hop was, and still is, the soundtrack to my life. In recent years I’ve grown dissatisfied with what passes for Hip Hop.Dancing and partying is ok, but back in its hey day Hip Hop had balance. It spoke to the playboys, dope boys, back packers, 5 Percent Nation of Gods and Earths, and every division in between. These days it seems to only speak to dope boys, strippers, ignorant teenagers, and those infatuated with “swag.”

I was one of the many newly christened old heads lamenting Hip Hop’s death. What I didn’t realize was that the art form that I know and I love was merely returning to its essence.

I recently listened to a new project by Kenzo Digital called the City of God’s Son. I call it a Hip Hop Opera where the art of the sample is used to craft a story out of soundbites, clips, and verses from Jay Z, Nas, GhostFace, Raekwon the Chef, and Biggie Smalls. It’s not only an homage to the sample but also to mid 90’s New York Hip Hop.

If you’re a student of Hip Hop or a late comer to the genre then take a listen.

http://www.cityofgodson.com/