Funky Technician

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Funky Technician is great snapshot of late-1980s pop culture. Littered throughout are references to Saturday-afternoon kung-fu movies, Nintendo, Eddie Murphy, as well as a free-for-all of funky samples from the likes of James Brown (most notably on "Here I Come" and the Black Caesar loop on "Bad Mutha"), Lee Dorsey, and the Honeydrippers. On tracks like "Funky Technician" and "I Keep the Crowd Listening," the "slick brother with a fade and a half-moon" flows confident and casual over DJ Premier-produced breakbeat standards from heavily mined rap resources like the "funkiest man alive," Rufus Thomas. Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth exhaust most of their tricks two-thirds of the way through the album, but Finesse's boasting and Smooth's beats do have their place in the hip-hop history book. --Todd Levin

Average customer rating:

The Funky Technician
Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth
Manufacturer: Wild Pitch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Return of the Funky Man
Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop
Breaking Atoms
Road To The Riches
The Awakening

ASIN: B000KG4A96
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Lord Finesse's Theme Song (Intro)
Baby, You Nasty [New Version]
Funky Technician
Back to Back Rhyming
Here I Come
Slave to My Soundwave
I Keep the Crowd Listening
Bud Mutha
Keep It Flowin'
Lesson to Be Taught
Just a Little Something
Strictly for the Ladies
Track the Movement
Baby, You Nasty [12" Version]

Product Description

It was a simple formula, bring together one of the East Coast's finest rappers with some of the most clever track masters in Hip Hop, then add in a stellar DJ, and the results are bound to be exciting. "Funky Technician" was just that, an excellent album of battle rap with Lord Finesse simultaneously claiming and proving his immense skills over a set of funky backing tracks that used the familiar James Brown blueprint, but delivered it with unobtrusive class and innumerable displays of deft turntable wizardry. DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, and DJ Mike Smooth himself all contribute classic tracks, meanwhile, Lord Finesse is dropping rhymes to rank with Rakim and Kane. For example, on "Just a Little Something" with a raft of prizewinning multi-syllables: "Now I'm the constabulary, great in vocabulary/I'm no joke, when up against any adversary." Finesse is fresh and imaginative on nearly every line, and invites A.G. (aka Andre the Giant) for a guest spot on "Back to Back Rhyming." There were a lot of great rap records coming out of New York around the turn of the decade, though, and Funky Technician" never got the attention it deserved. Now after being out of print for years, this masterpiece album is finally re-released in it s full glory and even includes the 12" version of "Baby, You Nasty" (produced by DJ Premier), never before available on CD. This is a must-have for any fan of classic golden-era Hip Hop.

Album Description

It was a simple formula, bring together one of the East Coast's finest rappers with some of the most clever track masters in Hip Hop, then add in a stellar DJ, and the results are bound to be exciting. Funky Technician was just that, an excellent album of battle rap with Lord Finesse simultaneously claiming and proving his immense skills over a set of funky backing tracks that used the familiar James Brown blueprint, but delivered it with unobtrusive class and innumerable displays of deft turntable wizardry. DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, and DJ Mike Smooth himself all contribute classic tracks, meanwhile, Lord Finesse is dropping rhymes to rank with Rakim and Kane. Finesse is fresh and imaginative on nearly every line, and invites A.G. (aka Andre the Giant) for a guest spot on 'Back to Back Rhyming.' There were a lot of great rap records coming out of New York around the turn of the decade, though, and Funky Technician never got the attention it deserved. Now after being out of print for years, this masterpiece album is finally re-released in it's full glory and even includes the 12'' version of 'Baby, You Nasty' (produced by DJ Premier), never before available on CD.

Average customer rating:

Lesson To Be Taught!
Groundbreaking, Funky, CLASSIC
"forgotten" classic
nice with..and with..
the pillar of early 90's bronx rap!

Funky Technician
Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth
Manufacturer: Jcor Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Runaway Slave
Good Fellas
The Awakening
Hatred, Passion & Infidelity
Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop

ASIN: B00005NGWZ
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Lord Finesse's Theme Song Intro
Baby, You Nasty (New Version)
Funky Technician
Back To Back Rhyming
Here I Come
Slave To My Soundwave
I Keep The Crowd Listening
Bud Mutha
Keep It Flowing
Lesson To Be Taught
Just A Little Something
Strictly For The Ladies
Track The Movement

Amazon.com

Funky Technician is great snapshot of late-1980s pop culture. Littered throughout are references to Saturday-afternoon kung-fu movies, Nintendo, Eddie Murphy, as well as a free-for-all of funky samples from the likes of James Brown (most notably on "Here I Come" and the Black Caesar loop on "Bad Mutha"), Lee Dorsey, and the Honeydrippers. On tracks like "Funky Technician" and "I Keep the Crowd Listening," the "slick brother with a fade and a half-moon" flows confident and casual over DJ Premier-produced breakbeat standards from heavily mined rap resources like the "funkiest man alive," Rufus Thomas. Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth exhaust most of their tricks two-thirds of the way through the album, but Finesse's boasting and Smooth's beats do have their place in the hip-hop history book. --Todd Levin

Customer Reviews:

Lesson To Be Taught!.......2006-11-17

Alright 1st off... DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, & of course Mike Smooth handle all the beats! If this were only an instrumental record you should've bought this by now. Lord Finesse came correct!!! His punchlines are extremely tight and his perspectives stand-out. Even if you're a hard to please head, I'm confident that you'll find this LP to fit your criteria for classic status. If you don't already have this, by all means get it whenever you come across this. If you do infact own a copy, re-discover its purity as a Hip Hop album for the ages. Peace!

Groundbreaking, Funky, CLASSIC.......2006-06-20

Lord Finesse, the funky brother, has to be one of New York's most criminally slept-on & un-appreciated artists to ever come up. The DITC legend has been going for round about 13-14 years and STILL he does not get the props and recognition he deserves. 3 classic LP's and a notable remix album, Lord Finesse is straight consistency, I guarantee you'll never hear a weak verse. Although it is debated that yeh Lord Finesse does lack the complexity and the ability to switch up the speed of his flow like others, it can not be argued that his funky, double-rhyming style is next to none! when he starts to talk, any true hiphop fan knows what they're in for...
"Funky Technician" being Lord Finesse's debut is an absolute timeless classic. Released in 1990, originally, it sounds as fresh as fresh can get. With the seemingly endless use of funk-legend samples, like James Brown, the beats are the most notable significance of the album. Well what do you expect? Hip Hop LEGENDS; DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz & Mike Smooth handle the production (Yes, and you slept on this?!)and produce some of their best work yet, if not THE best. The relationship between Lord Finesse and the flawless production, is unexplainable. They suit perfectly, I don't think they could have created a better sound.

There are 12 full-length tracks and 1 skit (the intro) on here, and not one single track can be dubbed "weak" or even "average". Every one is likely to BLOW YOUR MIND!

1. Intro (the intro to the funk, prepare yourself)

2. Baby You Nasty (produced by premo), is one of Lord Finesse's most recognised songs, with Finesse talkin' about just why he is the man, and the funky technician.

3. "Funky Technician" is my personal favourite, with Diamond flippin' one of my favourite samples of all time (also used on Das Efx's - They Want efx & others). Similarly, you can bet lord finesse is untouchable here. CLASSIC, peep it and you'll see.

4."Back To Back Rhyming" (Produced by Showbiz) features fellow DITC legend AG. The charisma and chemistry demonstarted by both MC's on this track is just phenomenal, a boom-bap classic.

5. "Here I Come" (Produced by Diamond) is straight FUNK, with finesse rippin' it over one of the most laid-back and jazzy beats on the album. With James brown on the cut, you know what's up...

6."Slave to my soundwave" (produced by Mike Smooth)is the most up-tempo track on the album. With finesse speeding up a little bit accordingly. flawless.

7. "I Keep The Crowd listening" (Produced by Diamond) is also one of the more laid back tracks, with Rakim on the cut.

8. "Bad Mutha" (produced by Diamond) uses one of James Brown's most famous and memorable samples (check Nas-Get Down). "I don't front and pretend cause thats imaginary, I get funkay with the use of vocabularly...". Enuff Said

9. "Keep It Flowing" (Produced by Premo), again features DITC affiliate AG. HARDCORE FUNK, more uptempo, AG & finesse demonstrate how it's meant to be done, prepare to be captivated.

10. "Lesson to be taught" (produced by premo) has a very "charming" vibe about it. With finesse droppin' knowledge about the importance of school, and the alternative route you can take. peep.

11. "Just a little something" (produced by Showbiz), as the name implies this is the shortest track, with only one verse and then finesse shoutin' out to those he holds dearest

12. "Strictly for the ladies" (produced by premo). 3 words - OH MY GOD! One of premo's best beats, check the vibe! Symbols, heavy bass and a ridiculous sample is what your brain will endure. Prepare for the ride...CLASSIC "Now girls step up to this"

13. "Track the movement" (produced by Premo)veryyy jazzzzy. One of the album's most satisfying tracks, with the beat switching up from time to time. Premo lays the foundation for finesse to kick the knowledge before the end of one of the best debuts, ever.

If you still haven't heard this, HURRY UP! 16 years is better than never, and get ready for one of the most charismatic, funky and hardcore hiphop albums you will ever have laid your hands on. Please do not sleep any longer. PEACE!

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 10/10
Replay Value - 10/10

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews!

"forgotten" classic.......2006-04-07

Funky Technician (Wild Pitch 1990)

In the early 90's, Lord Finesse was the freestyleking of New York, and for those of you been around for awhile, you might remember his legendary acappella verse from New Music Seminar, where he dissed Mr. Funkyman from Lords of the Underground (Lord Finesse was namely the original 'Funky Man'.) Already in 1990 he debuted with this great record, Funky Technician. It didn't became an instant classic, but in later years it has slowly appeared to that status, at least in my ears.

With production from Diamond D, DJ Premier and Showbiz, plus a featuring by A.G., this was kind of a D.I.T.C.-record, and the first one too. Everyone were fresh this time, but there's something' very refreshing `bout the simpleness here. Primo's beats was the most impressive, both him and Diamond used many well known samples, especially James Brown, which was used a lot during this timeperiod, and there's actually two samples from the music to the movie Black Ceasar. DJ Mike Smooth also produced a great song, if you if look at the cover, you'll actually see that Finesse and Mike Smooth where a duo that time. As a DJ, he was a part of the group (like Eric B. & Rakim, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock etc. etc.) When it comes to the rappin', it was simple but entertaining, and Lord Finesse's strength has always been punchlines. He was a "slick brother with a face and a half moon", and he could really spit. There's no more hocuspocus than that, this was before the gimmicks took over.

Funky Technician are recommend for all true fans of hip-hop. Not every track here's a classic, but check out "Back To Back Rhyming" and "Keep It Flowing" they still sound as funky today as they did 16 years ago. Show this Bronx-rapper some love and buy a "forgotten" classic.

nice with..and with.........2005-06-30

Lord Finesse caught uncanny wrek on this LP in cool indifference to the hostile (first) Bush Administration...he's nice with the mic and he's "nice with his clothes off." Deads nearly all rap LPs today.

the pillar of early 90's bronx rap!.......2005-04-26

this is a hip hop classic! the first reviewer summed it up very eloquently.