I really feel for Last Emperor. First off, the dude is smart. He’s got a degree in Political Science/International Relations. Hailing from the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Last Emperor decided to move to New York City to become a rapper. He quickly gained a following and performed frequently at the Lyricist Lounge. This gave him enough popularity to record the track “CIA” with Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and the one and only KRS-One (check below for the download link). Then he got signed by Aftermath Entertainment (yes, THAT label) and became a protégé of THE Dr. Dre. Not a bad resume for a guy struggling to make ends meet. But that’s where the fairy tale ends. By 2003 he was no longer with Aftermath and was instead signed to Rawkus Records, which never released an album by him. His debut “Music, Magic, Myth” finally came in 2003 by way of Raptivism Records.
“The Legend of Bigfoot” is an unreleased album that LE had been working around 2002. It’s now only available as a bootleg, and some of these tracks appeared on his debut album. “Bigfoot” is an amazing album for someone with no budget or real recording contract, and it would prove that LE had a lot to offer. He’s an incredibly literate MC and lots of songs reference pop culture, politics and current events. He makes you think a lot too, and even when he’s just flowing along at a steady pace, you sometimes don’t realize you’re listening to someone spitting some true knowledge. On the opening track, “Secret Wars Part 1” he pits rappers like Nas and Busta Rhymes in a crazy MC battle with comic book characters. It’s weird but it works.
LE has a real gift for storytelling and conceptual songs, showcased on tracks like “Party Crashers” and “Animalistics,” where he portrays himself as an animal in the jungle. It’s all a big metaphor though. The track even has a sample from KRS-One’s “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know.” On “Monumental” he takes a note from the great KRS and becomes a teacher. He’s prone to wordiness sometimes, but if you really listen to what he’s doing on the mic, you’re in awe. “Meditation” is a true standout, a really deep track that will leave you thinking long after it’s over. Things don’t let up with “Heaven,” a soulful track that finds LE talking about death and the afterlife. In a cool concept, he references tons of artists that he’d like to work with up in heaven. By the last track, “Bums,” in which the MC laments his struggles with getting a steady cash flow, you’ve been on a trip. I mean, a real trip. Last Emperor takes you through his psyche and his vast knowledge, and by the end you’re thinking: Damn, this guy knows what he’s doing.
Download Last Emperor - The Legend of Bigfoot
Download Zach de la Rocha, KRS-One, Last Emperor - CIA
Download Snowgoons feat. Last Emperor - Man of the Year
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A great clip of KRS-One talking about the current state of hip-hop (he praises 50 Cent and clowns Kanye West). Check it out:
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Although the VH1 Hip Honors show is old news by now, you may not have heard the audio tracks of the various performances there. Here you have the Tribe, Whodini, Missy Elliot and New Jack Swing tributes. A must peep:
Download
