I don’t know anybody that doesn’t like old school hip hop. The electro bounce, the fun lyrics, there is just something about Sugarhill Gang, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash etc that warms the cockles and gets dancefloors moving. That’s why I often wonder why there isn’t more contemporary hip hop that overtly references those early days of the genre. We get plenty roots blues musicians and folk groups obsessed with the authenticity of their sound, so why not more early hip hop outfits?
Dream Jefferson don’t exactly fit that mould, but they certainly have an affinity for Bambaataa’s electro beats and for MCing that is more about rhythm and enhancing the danceability of a record than it is about intellectual muscle flexing. They are a Toronto duo consisting of producer/lyricist Corboe and MC Owel Five. Their beats are simple, but hard, and their raps are punchy, energetic and infectious.
The group themselves say that they are rebuilding party rap from scratch, to bring an honesty to it to oppose the “juvenile masturbatory fantasy” that currently powers the genre. But to be honest, I reckon people will be too busy flailing their limbs on the dancefloor to be worrying their heads with thoughts of honesty and realness.
They’ve released their debut mini-album, “Sasquatch Bury Their Dead” for free on their Bandcamp, or you can grab it below.
Connect with Dream Jefferson – MySpace | Facebook | Bandcamp
Dream Jefferson – “Super Rick 24-7 (I’m Splatterhousin’)”
Dream Jefferson – “This is Baskerville”
