Music To Hack To

August 11, 2009 12:41 PM

"In a hotel room in Florida during the summer of 2008, we were given an exciting preview of a "Nintendo Mixtape" by burgeoning rap group, No Question? As we listened, we felt like Mario must have felt during his first ingestion of a fire flower. In other words, we knew immediately that this was some good shiz."

I wasn't able to dig up much more info on this group other than their MySpace page. See also the relevant Twitter feed. There's more information available at www.nintendomixtape.com, including credits. [via Reddit]

posted by kableh (58 comments total)

yes, this is surprisingly good.
posted by shmegegge at 12:52 PM on August 11, 2009

yeah. this is fantastic. thanks!
posted by threetoed at 12:54 PM on August 11, 2009

I must respectfully disagree.

(And I'm a thirtysomething manchild who loves video games and chiptunes and hip-hop--if anybody was going to like this, I'd think it would be me.)
posted by box at 12:57 PM on August 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

Previously: Ocarina of Rhyme from Team Teamwork (note: the 8tracks.com link is dead).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:04 PM on August 11, 2009

Ambitious, pretty tight lyricism, good chippage. Not sure if I'm in the right headspace, but that's not their fault.
posted by everichon at 1:13 PM on August 11, 2009

I think I am getting old.
posted by milarepa at 1:27 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

This just crashed my browser so hard... SO HARD.
posted by hermitosis at 1:28 PM on August 11, 2009

yaaaay, a _MACOS folder.

The music is nice.
posted by boo_radley at 1:30 PM on August 11, 2009

listen, if you don't like this so far, listen to the gauntlet track. if you still don't like it, then alright. but that track is tight as shit.

wizard is about to die.
needs hip hop badly.
posted by shmegegge at 1:30 PM on August 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

It appears that postmodernism has finally produced something that partially mitigates its very existence.
posted by sciurus at 1:31 PM on August 11, 2009

Several people on the Reddit thread (which seems to have been posted by someone who works on the site--what does Reddit think of self-linking?) mention that the Flash on the nintendomixtape page contains a stack overflow that can crash Flash/Firefox.
posted by box at 1:32 PM on August 11, 2009

I enjoyed. Good MCs, unlike a lot of stuff released these days. By which I mean to say kids today, no respect, lazy MCing good for nothings, get off my lawn.
posted by Go Banana at 1:33 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Per shmegegge's advice: YT link to 'Gauntlet' (NSFW language).
posted by box at 1:34 PM on August 11, 2009

jesus, this site is getting hit hard. I recommend downloading the tracks now before the inevitable site shutdown.
posted by shmegegge at 1:37 PM on August 11, 2009

Well...I'm not about to deny the tight rhymes. But, in all honesty, it's the Nintendo soundtrack that lowers this stuff to "novelty" status. And not good novelty. Just ain't workin' for me.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:37 PM on August 11, 2009

It appears that postmodernism has finally produced something that partially mitigates its very existence.

What on earth does that mean? In fact, what is it that you think "postmodernism" means? (Not that I want to drag the thread down that well-trodden path)
posted by sleevener at 1:38 PM on August 11, 2009

Here, I'll get it back on track.

Will the folks who think this is good rapping give me an example of a few bars, or a couplet or a quatrain or something, that they think are especially good? If you were going to submit it to that favorite-verse thing in The Source (yeah, I know), which verse would you pick?
posted by box at 1:42 PM on August 11, 2009

Nah bro, this is post-postmodernism. The first post is silent though.
posted by scrutiny at 1:43 PM on August 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

YHBT, sleevener.
posted by sciurus at 1:44 PM on August 11, 2009

I can't get the Flash on the website to play, but I listened to the Youtube "Gauntlet" track. I literally cannot follow the lyrics. I feel a little like Lisa Simpson in Australia: I know these words, but this rap makes no sense. Which is fine, because I enjoy the flow, even if it the pace and rhythm does feel a lot like watered-down Slim Shady (or maybe just D-12).
posted by uncleozzy at 1:44 PM on August 11, 2009

fffffffuck T&C Surf Design that brings back some memories
posted by boo_radley at 2:01 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

This and Nintendub, my summer jam nerdery seems complete.
posted by june made him a gemini at 2:08 PM on August 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

For those who want Nintendo rock, but aren't big fans of rap.
posted by Midnight Rambler at 2:09 PM on August 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

Good shiz indeed. Thanks much. I listen to The Advantage all the time when I'm clickety clackin' on the ole glow box, and I think this will definitely be good music to hack to.

I think there's something really special about NES music for people from my generation. I try to listen to lots of different styles of music, but with the exception of music from various nintendo games, I don't really know of anything that I've loved consistently since I was 5 years old.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 2:11 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Bah to the naysayers, I am enjoying this a lot :) Thanks!
posted by utsutsu at 2:13 PM on August 11, 2009

solipsophistocracy

I knew that you would be about my age after reading your comment, and I feel the same way.
posted by utsutsu at 2:15 PM on August 11, 2009

A few more video-game-themed hip-hop songs:

Del the Funkee Homosapien - Proto Culture
Molemen f. Slug, Aesop Rock & MF DOOM - Put Your Quarter Up
Beanie Siegel - Mac Man
posted by box at 2:18 PM on August 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

you are fucking. kidding. me. a song about video games featuring aesop rock, MF Doom and Slug? Jesus christ, it's like someone took my personal hip hop dreams and made them real.
posted by shmegegge at 2:20 PM on August 11, 2009

Chromelodeon
posted by greta simone at 2:23 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Worth a listen, but that's about it. I probably wouldn't listen to it again. Too yelly & not enough flow. The production is on point in spots though. It's like the rappers are raw enough to be annoying, but not to be grizzly. It isn't really bad, it just isn't worth a second listen. You know, they could use a female voice on there. I just imagined Ladybug/Apani/Jean/etc coming over one of the beats in between them, and that would help.
posted by cashman at 2:29 PM on August 11, 2009

Dont forget YTCracker's NerdRap Entertainment System which, in a similar vain, you will either hate it or love it. I love it. He raps about Surge!
posted by Sprocket at 2:29 PM on August 11, 2009

all the gimmicks love you in new york.
posted by the aloha at 2:35 PM on August 11, 2009

I liked listening to the Gauntlet theme but it would have been better without those guys swearing in a weird drone over it.
posted by darksasami at 2:40 PM on August 11, 2009

My 2600
posted by EvaDestruction at 2:41 PM on August 11, 2009

This isn't nerdy, but it is homemade remixes and I'm enjoying it lots:

Neil Young Remixed.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:46 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Box: Are you saying that the only kind of rap that is good has superior lyricism? Because there's pretty great fun party rap with goofy or simplistic rhymes put across well by strong voices with good timbre and bangitybanging beats behind em.

Jesus this Moleman track is sick.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:48 PM on August 11, 2009

Video games + hip hop = chocolate + peanut butter. It's either "meh" or "fucking genius." Human Video Game by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
posted by jabberjaw at 3:01 PM on August 11, 2009

Didn't mc chris do a rap with the Gauntlet theme as the backbeat like, seven years ago?
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 3:02 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

DOOM - Lightworks
posted by ageispolis at 3:18 PM on August 11, 2009

I liked listening to the Gauntlet theme but it would have been better without those guys swearing in a weird drone over it.

I know, right? I mean, what the hell were even doing on your lawn in the first place?
posted by dersins at 3:26 PM on August 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

If you're talking about Neil Young remixes, I gotta give props to Flagrant Fowl, and their fantastic Tambourine Dream remix album (not a link to audio downloads, just the tracklist). This album makes me happy like nothing else. And as a downer to that upper: The Joe Beats Experiment presents: Indie Rock Blues (and the whole album is on YouTube).
posted by filthy light thief at 3:27 PM on August 11, 2009

DJ Format with Abdominal & D-Sisive are a little more dance-dance-revolution than Nintendo, but still amusing.
posted by anthill at 3:37 PM on August 11, 2009

Fuck off. Seriously, just fuck the fuck off. I'm a total badass jesus music mutherfucker and I know for damn sure that this is shit with bells and knobs right off, on the ground and totally darned pointless.

Godamn nerd website bullshit.
posted by i_cola at 3:39 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

I don't approve of this
posted by i_cola at 3:40 PM on August 11, 2009

You don't say.
posted by june made him a gemini at 3:48 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Looks like I need to point people to the little known and seriously under appreciated Street Fighter Soundtrack. Yep, that movie had an awesome soundtrack.

As far as the linked group goes, it's pretty good.

you are fucking. kidding. me. a song about video games featuring aesop rock, MF Doom and Slug?

As a related anecdote; I have a friend who built his own arcade cabinet full of borrowed ROMs. He is a DJ/MC and is in the know of plenty of talented people. At one point someone from Company Flow/Def Jux had gotten a hold of him so they could use his machine to sample the plethora of 8-bit goodness on there. He declined. I think it was about the time El P got tired of sampling Blade Runner.

Also, could someone please tell me wtf lazy MCing is? Do you mean as in the slower style? Because that's all it is, a style.

Jay-Z in 96
Jay-Z in 06

It's just a different flow.
posted by P.o.B. at 4:55 PM on August 11, 2009

Box: Are you saying that the only kind of rap that is good has superior lyricism? Because there's pretty great fun party rap with goofy or simplistic rhymes put across well by strong voices with good timbre and bangitybanging beats behind em.

No, not at all. And I couldn't agree more. There's lots of stuff to appreciate in hip-hop music, whether it's a good sample or talented scratching or a great emcee or even the drum programming or whatever. But while a good emcee might have a great flow with relatively simplistic lyrics or great punchlines with a horrible voice, I think a great emcee comes with something closer to the total package. (Same deal with great hip-hop: somebody like Ras Kass is a great emcee, but he's never made a great album because the tracks aren't good enough. Premier consistently makes great tracks, but he doesn't always work with great rappers.)

I dunno--the party rhymers I like are mostly people like Tha Liks, The Beatnuts, that kinda stuff. While it's goofy, I wouldn't say it's simplistic. It might be dumb, but it's not stupid. Even a couple of fighty shouters like M.O.P. include punchlines like 'I used to sling hard rocks, but now I'm packin' heavy metal.' Even if I sign off on 'To me, MC means 'move the crowd',' I don't know if I necessarily agree that these dudes can rock the party that rocks the body, y'know?

The most appealing part of the No Question? tracks I listened to, for me at least, was the loops and the drum programming. I don't think those dudes are terrible emcees, but I sure don't think they're exceptional ones. I was hoping that people who do think they're good emcees might, y'know, make a case, win me over. Because like I said, this seems like the kind of thing that I'd like.
posted by box at 5:00 PM on August 11, 2009

Well said, Box. For these guys, I think they kick their knowledge better than most, but the Nintendo samples get old after about, mmmmm, 30 seconds. There's no hook. I only listened to a few tracks, but I heard nothing that made me want to get me up out of my chair, or go Michael Bolton-style in my car on the way to work (yes, the one who works at Initech, not that no-talent ass-clown). And, for background, I was all over the NES and the SNES (and even Pick Axe Pete on my Odyssey 2 and Wolfenstein on my Apple 2+). My iPhone has as much Jay-Z as it does live Hendrix on it, but this stuff ain't going alongside them.
posted by Lukenlogs at 6:50 PM on August 11, 2009

I just put this on my iPod and had a listen. While I agree somewhat that the samples get old, "Gremlins" and "Wheel of Fortune" transcend the gimmick for me. Those are some nice beats.
posted by Hoopo at 7:01 PM on August 11, 2009

dersins: "I mean, what the hell were even doing on your lawn in the first place?"

    RAPPERS? IN MY DUNGEON?
IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN YOU THINK
            FREE CRYPT CHECK!
posted by boo_radley at 7:11 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Don't forget Madhatter's 8-bit Bullshit album.
posted by deusdiabolus at 8:28 PM on August 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

box: "The most appealing part of the No Question? tracks I listened to, for me at least, was the loops and the drum programming. I don't think those dudes are terrible emcees, but I sure don't think they're exceptional ones."

a completely solid point. I think most of us listen to different types of hip hop in different ways, and have said so here. This stuff falls squarely into my "really love the beats and the MCs are mostly abstract vocal rhythms flowing over the beats" category. It's the kind of category that Aesop Rock, for me, occasionally fits into, and Cannibal Ox, Company Flow, Big Pun and DoseOne almost always fit into. At those times, the MC might as well be speaking in pre-verbal gutteral tongues for all I'm hearing the lyrics. But, I think that's a talent, too. And for what it's worth, I dig these guys in that light.
posted by shmegegge at 7:40 AM on August 12, 2009

You should all really check out Supercommuter. Their new album is coming out soon, but available for early download with preorder.
posted by Sprocket at 8:58 AM on August 12, 2009

deusdiabolus: "Don't forget Madhatter's 8-bit Bullshit album."

This is basically fantastic. I wish I didn't recognize all the songs right away, though. It makes me feel like I done wasted my life.
posted by boo_radley at 11:00 AM on August 12, 2009

the beats? totally sick. loved them. please, moar.

the rhymes? meh. I was expecting alot more video game fanservice. instead, I got a pile of the same-old uncreative braggadocio that makes most rap lame.
posted by phredgreen at 7:59 PM on August 12, 2009

http://www.last.fm/music/Waajeed/_/Tetris

Better.
posted by radgardener at 5:26 AM on August 13, 2009

dun duhduhdun duhduhdun duhduhdun duhduhdun, duh-dun-dun DUN. DUN. DUN.
posted by shmegegge at 8:14 AM on August 13, 2009

Finale - One Man Show Remix feat. Casual
Super Brooklyn - Cocoa Brovas
Mario Bros Freestyle (Sage Francis)
posted by cashman at 5:45 PM on August 15, 2009