So I am talking with my buddy ICECrush, and he hits me up with a message telling me to go to this site called, "Stars & Stripes Project". He doesn't really give me much insight as to what the heck I am viewing, but I know my man ICECrush always has something interesting to show me, whether it is shoes, music, or some other random crack up cartoon he has found on the internet. Anyway, I get on this site, and I start browsing around, and finally come upon the "Download" section of the site. I roll over to the download link (which is conveniently hosted on zShare), and wait my fifty seconds in anticipation for a mixtape that I truly don't know anything about. From the looks of the site, it looked like it was well done, with all the heavy duty artwork and what not, so I figured, "Heck, why not download it!?"
So I open Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined in my iTunes, and my ears are graced by the beautiful mixing of an unknown musician that goes by the name of Adrian Champion. I asked ICECrush where the heck he had found this guys music, and he answered with one word... "Twitter". I guess it really is good for something, seeing as it has led me to Adrian Champion. Now I am someone who gets into grooves when he listens to music, so when I hear something I like, I play it a ton! Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined has been playing on my iPod, iTunes, and car radio for the past day, and I have decided that since Adrian's mixtape has brought me so much pleasure (to my ears that is...), why not do a review on the album!? I don't know if Adrian Champion has done any other mixtapes, but he somehow was able to meld and mash some of today's hottest musicians (and some old musical acts that dropped it like it was hot back in the day), with the ever so beautiful rock tunes of The White Stripes.
The White Stripes (for all who really don't know much about Rock) have been around for a while. They have claimed tons of success from albums such as their self titled LP The White Stripes (1999), to their second release: De Stijl (2000). Then in 2001, the band hit it big with White Blood Cells, and followed up that album with an even better one: Elephant (2003). Elephant is their most popular and by far their best piece of work. Their 2003 release was followed by another fantastic album entitled, Get Behind Me Satan (2005), which got 4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars on Rolling Stone. Their 2007 release was nowhere compared to their 01', 03', and 05' LP's, but nonetheless, Icky Thump was still a solid production out of The White Stripes. The White Stripes have been in the music industry for a long while, as you can see, they have already released a whole bunch of albums, all of which have reached critical acclaim, and recieved fairly positive reviews on Rolling Stone. Their Garage-Rock musical style has attracted many musical listeners from around the world, and from all different age groups. In my opinion, The White Stripes will go down as one of the better Rock groups to ever grace the music industry with their presence.
Now, I hope that in the very near future, Adrian Champion and we hear at Tha Good Life Reviews will be given the opportunity to do an interview with him. I know he gives us some insight as to what and how he thought of making the mixtape, which is quoted below and can be found on the site "Stars & Stripes Project". The fact of the matter is that what Mr. Champion created was something that truly graces the ear, and at the same time, is able to amp you up and really get you into the music. You all know how I feel about mashups and remixes, and I think they are great! I have never, in my entire life, heard a solid twelve track mashup mixtape in which I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every track. The mixtape is definitely one of the best ones I have heard in a very long time, and I advise you to all click on the download link below and give this guy a listen! I promise you, you won't regret the fifty second wait time on zShare, it is totally worth it!!!
Adrian Champion's Thoughts On The Making Of Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined:
"I was late jumping on The White Stripes bandwagon. But, when I heard "Doorbell" a few years back I became an instant fan. That raw, classic sound was so fresh to me. I went straight to iTunes and downloaded the whole album. It wasn't long before I owned everything they'd ever released.
What really got me was that I wanted to sample almost every song. But, I couldn't just shamelessly sample their whole catalog. Plus, I had just decided to move away from sampling and focus on writing original music. So, a remix project seemed like the thing to do, and the idea was born.
I started digging through my collection and fitting all the pieces together. My goal was to use only samples from The White Stripes and a cappellas from classic songs and my favorite emcees. And of course, I had to rap on one of the tracks myself, with my man Brian Jacobs on the hook.
So there it is, hip-hop fans, meet The White Stripes.
Fans of The White Stripes, meet hip-hop."
— Adrian Champion
Track Listing For Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined:
1. Bombs Over Orchids / Outkast / Blue Orchid + B.O.B.2. Icky Says / Pharahoe Monch / Icky Thump + Simon Says
3. Ante Up Every Way / M.O.P. / Offend in Every Way + Ante up
4. Turn it Up / Kanye West / I Want To Be The Boy... + This Way + Wouldn't Get Far + Selfish
5. Ms. Doorbell / Mos Def / Doorbell + Ms. Fast Booty
6. Cash Run / Notorious B.I.G. + 2Pac / Cash Grab + Runnin’
7. Got Yourself a Cannon / Jay-Z / Cannon + The Takeover
8. Jolene's Ether / Nas / Jolene (Live) + Ether
9. One More Corner / Common / One More Cup of Coffee + The Corner
10. Dangerous Love / Busta Rhymes / A Martyr for My Love For You + Dangerous
11. F*cking Apples / Eminem / Apple Blossom + Just Don't Give a Fuck
12. Tha Countdown Blues / Redman / St. James Infirmary Blues + The Saga Continues
13. Stars & Stripes / Adrian Champion + Brian Jacobs / Truth Doesn't Make A Noise
To All Those Rock Fans Out There, I Highly Suggest This Mixtape... AND For All You Hip-Hop Heads Out There, I Will Give You The Same Advise I Gave The Rock Fans... THIS MIXTAPE IS FOR YOU!!!
Trailer For Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined
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3 comments
I'm a huge White Stripes fan and you make some valid points about them. Cool. But, I don't know about the hip hop thing...it doesn't get my gravy flowing. Honestly, I'd rather just listen to the original riffs.
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Oh, I hear ya! The original songs are really great, and I grew up on oldies and rock and roll. I really loved this tape, it has been on my car radio/iPod for the past couple of days.
Anyway, thanks for the comment, I am sure that the tape isn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed it!
The album is smoking. Check out the video of Adrian Champion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdTCyOHmbHc
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