November 3, 2005

The World is Coming

Thank gawd for soul music. Until recently, I kept my enthusiasm for various aspects of hip hop on the down low. Not wanting to be thought a “wigger,” I often retreated behind the scholarly veil of social anthropology, when all I really wanted was to kick some dope beats.

Perhaps the hip hop landscape has grown so rich and varied that I just can’t hide in whitey’s closet anymore. Maybe I’ve finally broke free from my self-made prison of musical identity politics. Maybe I’d better pick a metaphor and stick with it.

Anyway, there’s this guy, Cody ChesnuTT. He does a mix of styles that is apparently connected with a genre known as “neo-soul” (a grand idea that does not always translate into superior music, judging from some of the other artistes lumped under the term). After his humbly-titled The Headphone Masterpiece came out in 2002, it opened up a lot of doors in my head. I really “dig” where he’s “at,” even though he touches upon subjects like weed, bitches and spirituality, things I couldn’t possibly have any experience with, given my upbringing.

Buy it here.

This review mixes a pretty decent description of the album’s contents, along with lots of subjective assessments I don’t have the energy to argue away. The Headphone Masterpiece is an epic 2-disc CD that’s impossible to excerpt properly, because it’s just all over the place. The liner notes are positively slathered with references to his family and friends, and praises to God – it’s like a frickin’ Dr. Bronner’s soap label. The music is a completely different story. As you will hear, I’m partial to the quieter acoustic style stuff… some of which which may or may not include the contributions of Silverlake’s own Sharif Dumani.

Chris S. made me a copy. At first, I didn’t really like it. Then I couldn’t get some of these songs outta my head.

Cody ChesnuTT – “Enough of Nothing” (0:58)
Cody ChesnuTT – “Serve This Royalty” (5:42)
Cody ChesnuTT w/Sonja Marie – “With Me in Mind” (3:51)
Cody ChesnuTT – “My Women, My Guitars” (3:15)

Rick at 2:55 am

Comments (3)

3 CommentsÈ

I was roasted by Cody Chesnutt!

Comment by Mel Ñ November 3, 2005 @ 12:30 pm
I just now put the name “Cody Chesnutt” together with the name “Cody Chesnutt.” It seems the latter was namechecked in the movie “Me and You and Everyone We Know.” Two girls specifically include a Chesnutt CD as prerequisite for giving a blowjob. When the hero comes up empty-handed, they graciously provide one from their backpack.

Things have really come full circle for me now.

Comment by Balb Kubrox Ñ November 10, 2005 @ 2:10 pm
Hi,

i was the guitar player with Cody Chesnutt and the Headphone Masterpiece. Check out Aaron(also played bass in the band) and My band: THE MOON UPSTAIRS if your interested.
Thanks.

http://www.themoonupstairs.com
or
http://www.myspace.com/themoonupstairs

Comment by Sharif Ñ February 24, 2006 @ 5:41 pm