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Surreal Life
Nearsighted nerds with ill nicknames. Cats wearing Vans and...
Can I Have
Pharrell Williams' new dolo offering "Can I Have It Like That" is not...
Mos Def
Many in the black community feel that some Americans would sooner...
STAY TUNED
Read Tanya Morgans - Stay Tuned review by Will Dukes on Pitchfork Media.
ONE BE LO
I hate hype. Many rappers smacked with this label inevitably disappoint me...
RARE ESSENCE
"You know the crazy drum action on Amerie's 'One Thing'? It's that."
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GRANDMASTER CAZ
Grandmaster Caz, DJ/MC of the infamous Cold Crush Brothers, the crew that most...
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Pieces of Me EP
(Rare One)
3.75/5
Rea McNamara
Before going down to Washington, D.C. for a one-week vaca, my friend Kizzy (who did a year at Howard University) urged me to check out The District's go-go scene. "What the fuck is that?" I asked her. "You know the crazy drum action on Amerie's 'One Thing'? It's that."
Henceforth my introduction to DC's best kept secret. A form of funk that emerged out of the area in the mid-seventies, go-go is a true representation of the tastes and experimentations that were occurring within the era's black-power-ala-one-fist-in-the-air urban culture - the energetic combination of polyrhythmic percussive elements like congas and cowbell that reflect the then fresh awareness for African Diaspora roots, contrasting with the slapping bass lines, rhythm guitar riffs and shouted-out call and response Parliament-like vocals that characterize the funk genre.
Rare Essence has been involved with the scene one way or another for the past twenty something years. Like fellow innovator Chuck Brown, the group is mostly a popular live local act that cut the odd EP or LP every so often.
Their hit cover version of Ashlee Simpson's 'Pieces of Me' is amazing. Hooked up with chill yet distilled go-go rhythms, the song turns the torch song of a whiny teen star with Karen O aspirations and Irish jigging moves into something a little more soulful - a down-to-earth contemplation on finally finding real love with someone that can understand you despite all the neuroses.
The rest of the EP is disappointing in how the live cuts are obviously 4 to 5 minute excerpts from 10 to 15 jams. While 'Yes, Come On" is cool for its "C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-come on" chorus, the band's take on LL Cool J's "Headsprung" and R Kelly's "Thoia Thong" come off as by the book exercises in turning popular hip hop hits into go-go 'lite' jams. The EP showcases then how important it is to fully experience Rare Essence in the live setting, as well as being a nice introduction for those interested in finding out what this Chocolate City shit is all about it.
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