Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon, RZA and Slick Rick: The Sun
Deleted from Bulletproof Wallets (Epic, 200*)
(Editor’s note: Ever since he worked at the original Sound LIbrary in the East Village, Jared Boxx has become one of the city’s favorite merchants of grooves, as celebrated for his record knowledge as he is for a disposition a gazillion times sunnier than what you’ll find at some other boutiques. Outside of his new store – Big City – Boxx stays busy as part of the Bump Shop crew, guesting on radio and dropping his own killer soul mixes. For his summer song post, Jared went with one of my all-time favorite Wu-related rarities. –O.W.)
to shine a light on my favorite summer jam.
Not an easy task, but grab some cold funky lemonade and let’s go..it’s summertime.
All versions of George Gershwin’s masterpiece “Summertime” would do just fine.
Hard not to not choose, Sly Stone’s “Hot Fun In the Summertime”
or Quincy Jones & Valerie Simpson’s amazing rendition of “Summer in the City”
Kool & the Gang’s “Summer Madness”
has to be on the list, perfect song for any long hot summer night
I recently imagined what it must have been like to hear
“Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers for the first time, in the summer of 1976,
or having in the tape deck Zapp & Roger’s “Computer Love” in that summer of ’85
Public Enemy’s “Fear of a Black Planet” changed my life in the summer of 1990.
and Spike Lee presenting new possibilities with ice cubes in “Do the Right Thing”
Hard to imagine the summer of ’91 without DJ Jazzy Jeff’s & the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”
or ’92 without Organized Konfusion’s “Walk Into The Sun”
95’s anthem “How High” by Redman & Method Man, is also a top contender
I stumbled across “Ballin” by Above the Law from their “Livin Like Hustlers” L.P. recently,
and also deserves a honorable mention.
but Soul-sides followers for me, the winner has to be…
“The Sun” by Ghostface feat. Raekwon, Slick Rick & the Rza,
reminding us of who is really behind all this summer fun
The Sun
Fantastic choice Jared.
“I wish that there were 2 more like you”…I still laugh at that one.
I hope to visit your shop at the end of the summer when I visit NYC.
Top choice, JBX, and nicely written. I remember loving this track when it came out. It was a welcomed flashback to old Wu gift for gab.
There can’t be a summer soundtrack without the sound of reggae in there somwhere though 😉
Bravo once again my friend. Oh, how can I forget to thank you for putting that record in my buy pile several summers ago…
Great pick, Jared, good write up too. It’s definitely right next to Jazzy Jeff’s “Summertime”, in my book, even though they are very different, they still got the summer vibe to a tee.
peace
verge