Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Magnolia Slim - Dark Side (1995)


This Magnolia Slim aka Soulja Slim record starts with Method Man telling you he's gonna send your ass back to the dark side, which is awesome. This release fits loosely into the New Orleans bounce scene, which is beautifully documented over at Twankle & Glisten. However, as a big-brained ape like yourself might guess, this release tends a bit towards the darker side than any of the other stuff from New Orleans that I've heard. Actually, David Gilmour commissioned this recording after being inspired by "Dub Side of the Moon." Each of these songs is based upon a Pink Floyd lyric.

It has a bit of that eery, lo-fi feel that characterizes the stuff coming out a few miles north in Memphis. As is typical of these lo-fi recordings, vocals are muffled and the occasional double-tracking further pushes the voice into the "supplemental rhythmic instrument" category. Slim's delivery certainly has elements of the sing-song bounce style, as well as that peculiar, Thelonious-esque deviation from the beat. God I love that measured awkwardness. What matters though is that this has that stark, slightly melancholy feel that characterizes everything that I truly love. I want you to listen to this.

And hey, "The Dark Side" has the same sample as that Notorious BIG song. #RIPBIG And also #RIPSlim

Download

12 comments:

quintron said...

Hey, love your website/blog and love it even more now I found Soulja "Magnolia" Slim's rare debut album. I have 2 questions: 1. howd you get your hands on this/convert a cassette to a zip
and
2. what's the general basis of your website. Is it just thoughts or music or something? thanks

quintron said...

lolz actually just the 1st question...you clearly explain in detail your blog...imma fool

Todd said...

I'm pretty sure that I got this rip from Twankle & Glisten: http://twankleandglisten.blogspot.com/

As for ripping a tape, I just did that myself yesterday. You need a cassette player, an RCA to 1/8 adapter, and a computer with audio recording software.

Here's a good tutorial using Audacity: http://www.nsftools.com/misc/TapeToCD.htm

Anonymous said...

hey great site. do have the other tracks? it only uploaded #8-11.

Thanks.

Todd said...

Anonymous, "Dark Side" is only four tracks. The first seven tracks are the "Soulja Fa Lyfe" release.

Anonymous said...

"Actually, David Gilmour commissioned this recording after being inspired by "Dub Side of the Moon." Each of these songs is based upon a Pink Floyd lyric."

Eh? I've actually never heard this story around N.O. before, and it seems sort of unlikely; I think dub side came out some time in the early 21st century. If it's true, though, that's pretty wild, Gilmour was a lot hipper than I thought...

Thanks for the great upload, by the way-
Mikel

Todd said...

The Gilmour thing is obviously a lie come on now

Anonymous said...

Amazing. A piece of gold right here. being in my early 20's I'm sure i wasn't even 5 yet when this song came out. Its no doubt that Magnolia Slim is (was) one of the realest rappers to ever bless a mic. "And I don't have to scream for you to fear me" .. heavy shit right there. never mind that its just a line in a rap song, its pretty much understood that disrespecting Slim while he was alive would mean bad things would happen to you. Other favorite Slim songs include(not limited to) : BALL N CHILL, BOSSMAN, U AINT KRAZY, LAW BREKAZ etc..

Tho I almost know every Slim song by heart, something about this particular track keeps ringing in my head. Who was the second cat that came on after Slim? His verse went hard too. The 3rd cat's verse was stale to me.. I think Slim should have came back on and had 2 verses on this track. The instrumental itself is RAW. Any idea who produced it? Im pretty sure No Limit/ BBTP wasn't even around yet. It goes without saying that if you like songs like this, 2014 radio rap makes you want to vomit. If you like Magnolia/Soulja Slim, than you would probably like Lil Derrick (RIP) also.. Remember, even a pussy nigga can be a killer.. and if you intimidate him enough, he'll be the one to kill you.


BTW, this song sounds really good screwed too ...(slowed down)


Im sipping on crown and just rambling now.. thanks for the upload. To every one who keeps it real, be safe, because pussies hate a real MF.

-d

Anonymous said...

To the author of this blog.. i just noticed that you have Z-RO / Guerrilla Maab content (I raise my glass of crown to you) as well as some Dj Paul/Carmike stuff. I grew up 90's Memphis rap, and I'm really surprised you have nothing from Lord Infamous! (RIP!) Do me a favor, listen to Murder on The Menu- Lord Infamous, aswell as Gimisum - 211/Carmike, Blow A Nigga Ass off PART 1 - Lil Glock/S.O.G, and Run Yo Mouth - MC Mack… if you haven't heard these songs already, you will thank me. Dj Paul produced probably all of those songs and he sampled New Orleans bounce and rap music HARD in the early 90's. Judging by your taste in rap, you will like these songs

-d

Todd said...

Thanks, d. Obviously love Lord Infamous. RIP to him as well. Will check out Lil Derrick since I'm unfamiliar.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, shame about Lord Infamous.. him and Paul were 3 6 mafia to me. Shit will never be the same.. at least they got to reunite before he died..


Just so your not totally lost, some good Lil Derrick songs to look for are GRIND & SHINE, BEEF AINT NEVER SQUASHED, and CBRs, JAGUARS, HUMVEES.. he's got many songs tho, I'm sure you'll like them. And while I'm at it, I recommend "TRU?S" by C-Murder.. its a hard song to find probably because of the spelling, but it's basically C-Murder's cover of Eazy E's song "NO MORE QUESTIONS".. its a raw song, and listening to what he's saying pretty much reflects life growing up in a place like New Orleans or Memphis. Im pretty sure can be found on the "TRU 2 DA GAME" CD by TRU.. but not totally sure..

also an unimportant little fact is Lil Derrick is (was, since he is dead now too) Birdman aka Baby's nephew..

good luck

-d

Todd said...

Thanks for the recs. Digging around on youtube right now.