Forgotten Treasure: Dipset “More than Music” (2005)

Dipset is synonymous with the last great crew takeover from NYC’s rap scene. Led by veteran KillaCam, the Dipset movement spread quickly through mixtapes and huge hits fueled by montrous beats from Just Blaze and  then newcomer Araabmuzik. (peep this article for the extent of the crew’s influence – link)

Well although I started off not fully understanding their approach (keeping computers puting!), I must admit I warmed up to the sound and I found myself sporadically spurting Santana’s ”EY!” in random situations. I dare you to listen to this excellent tribute mix (link) and not snap your neck to the onslaught diplomats bangers. But two songs are not featured on this immaculate mix and coincidentaly they are the two songs that turned me into a believer.

To me, More than Music, is the real dipset anthem, a raw beat from Heatmakerz with sped up soul vocals done right, like they say ”this is a movement, this is more than what you people call music”. The self-aggrandinzing and bravado is fully justified with this ”powerful music that we bring to the people” that resounds in the whip or blows out speakers.

”Don’t Fool with the Dips” has a Montreal connection as NDG’s prodigal son A-Trak completely muders the beat and features expansion team dipset members. Not to blow up the sample, but he uses a serious reggae break and scratches his way to glory. You can feel that the MC’s stepped up their bars and really got it in, so the track keeps you hyped up from the killer intro to the dazzling scratch outro. I was so excited to find a copy of the 12-inch locally that I just had to play it out in my 24 Hours Of Vinyl (dip)set.

The Dip recently reunited for a final show but although Santana and Jones did well on their own with their respective hits, these two songs really represent the crew at its finest. I award them diplomatic immunity (pun pause!) for their achievements and will just keep on blasting their music regardless of the looks I get as I scream ”Dipset!” at the top of my lungs!

DJ Asma

A Montreal native with West-African roots, Antoine started developing a love for records when his father passed his collection of French, African, Caribbean and Brazilian classics onto him. Ever since, the collector turned selector has spent countless hours in musky basements both here and abroad (Dakar, Lima, Paris, Quito, Rio) in the never-ending search for the perfect beat!