The Quest Begins: "Get By" by Talib Kweli and "Homecoming" by Kanye West

June 20th, 2012

The Quest Begins

I have been unemployed from City Year for 6 days, in which time I have begun my process to play music and figure out my life. If I want to play music I need to transcribe and get my technique together. 

My biggest strengths to this point are as follows:

1. I have an intermediate understanding of music theory.
2. I own a keyboard, 3 amps, and stumbled upon a PA system. I can now play a gig equipment wise.
3. I have a good sense of rhythm and can play chords.
4. I can read lead sheets.
5. I can improvise.
6. I can drive.
7. I am usually not a dick to people. 

My biggest weaknesses to this point are as follows:

1. I have very small connections in the Boston area.
2. My ability to sight read is limited.
3. My technique is amateurish at certain levels and needs to be improved upon. 
4. There are many conservatories in Boston i.e. many other piano players who are much better than me.
5. There are fewer places to play especially in the genres that I play in.
6. I have no regular employment at the moment. 

Because of these things, I am calling this the summer of transcription. I will transcribe something, anything, every single day. For those friends who do not know what transcription is, transcription is when you learn literal versions of recorded music. I personally like to write down my transcriptions, but it can just be listening and memorizing what an artists plays. 

The reason why this is important is because in order to be great at any art you must be able to speak the language. Not only speak it and get by, but speak it well. It is important to emphasize words and phrase just as it is to line them up correctly. 

By transcribing, you literally learn how to speak, or in my case, play like someone who is a master or significantly better. 

And so, by transcribing I will 

1. Hone my technique by recognizing what I need to focus on.
2. Learn more songs.
3. Increase my improvisational vocabulary.
4. Develop my melodic and harmonic understanding.

You might be asking, "So how can I get involved?"

Good question, world!

You can support, berate, suggest, encourage, yell or comment at me. I figured the people around me, whether it is in physical proximity or those I have encountered in my life, can provide me that extra motivation and kick in the ass I need to get this work done. I will post each day exactly what I transcribe and, if available, links to the music itself to see if you can follow along. So lets get started.

Transcription #1

"Get By" by Talib Kweli & "Homecoming" by Kanye West

"Get By" is a based on the song "Sinnerman" by Nina Simone that rapper Talib Kweli sampled, changed key, and rapped over. 

"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone off the album "Pastel Blues"

There is an interesting history of how "Sinnerman" has been used in different media, as it has been sampled by a number of artists and background for a number of films and TV shows. I remember the first time I heard this song it was in the remake of "the Thomas Crown Affair" with Pierce Brosnan during the last major chase scene. I thought it was a very fitting song for the scene.

Regardless, the song "Get By" samples it and there are a couple of awesome versions of it. The first below is the original music video by Talib Kweli. The next video is a unreleased single by Kweli with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mos Def, and Busta Rymes

Music Video of "Get By"

"Get By" with Jay-Z and controversially some other underground rappers of the time: Kanye West, Mos Def, and Busta Rymes

I did a rough diagram of the piano line and the chords that make up the piano part, which repeats as the sample in the song. I choose to transcribe this song because not only is it a killin' contemporary line, but I am learning it for a potential performance with the group I am playing with currently, the Space Monkeys. 

A rough write up of the two songs

Below that we have "Homecoming" by Kanye West. I'll be honest, I was listening to "Get By" on youtube and on the right side they had "Homecoming" and decided to keep moving to the next one. Everyone has heard this song at this point, but it will be a progression that I'll take a little time to get through. Below is the music video.

Tomorrow, we will be moving onto some BAM courtesy of Charlie Parker  so stay tuned.