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HERE, LISTEN TO THIS

By Kevin Young

KEVIN YOUNG
The Post and Courier

Columbia native Robert Ford, also known as hip-hop’s N’Telligence.

South Carolina is a small state, after all, so this week, Preview touches base with Columbia native Robert Ford.

In the midst of promoting his album on cyberspace, Ford's hip-hop alter ego, N'Telligence, lent us his ears. This, in exchange for a little promotion. He gave us his take on a few tracks.

With his album getting praise in the hip-hop world, Ford wanted us to mention his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/nteli, and the Web site www.kevinnottingham.com, where you can download his debut album, "Black Boy Lost," for free.

With production by some of hip-hop's royalty to complement N'Telligence's deft storytelling abilities, "Black Boy Lost" is well worth a listen.

Also, did we say it's free? Now let's hand the spotlight over to N'Telligence.

Big Daddy Kane — "Ain't No Half Steppin' ": Maaaan ... Kane is one of my favorites. This reminds of the days when I had to sneak tapes into the house so that my mom wouldn't toss my tapes in the trash. I used to get my Kane on in the mirror and practice the whole Scoob and Scrap thing. Definitely one of my favorites.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZB7Zrk9BB0 or the keywords "Daddy," "Kane" and "Steppin' " will take you to a video of hip-hop's smoothest of smooth operators.

Isaac Hayes — "Walk On By": If people really knew how many hip-hop albums used this record, man. ... One thing that I can say about Isaac Hayes is that he had his own lane with the music. He was like the Thelonious Monk of this genre of music. Every time I hear this record, I think about that old "Dead Presidents" movie. RIP to one of the greatest ever.

If you'd like to see the "Black Moses of Soul" make this Burt Bacharach song his own, use the keywords "Hayes," "Walk" and "By," or copy and paste the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5tqAbrZeX0.

Johnny Cash - "Folsom Prison Blues": Did they use this in a movie recently? Hmmm. ... I saw the Johnny Cash movie not too long ago. I've been meaning to listen to more of his music, I just haven't had the time.

Listen to this Johnny Cash classic at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWsuVuw5JO4, or use the keywords "Cash," "Folsom" and "Blues."

A-Ha — "Take on Me": Germany. Oh, Germany. I'm a military brat, man. I remember hearing this record when my dad had us in K-Town (Kaiserslautern) in the '80s. They used to have one radio station that we could understand, and I used to love this record man. I just put this on my iPod a few weeks ago. Don't tell anyone. They may take my "rapper" pass away (laughs).

If you have a sudden craving to see this groundbreaking video, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzUD7FKcBk, or use the words "A-Ha" and "Take" to help in your search on YouTube.

The Foreign Exchange — "All That You Are": Nicolay and Phonte (of Little Brother) are dopeness. This is one of my favorite joints from their "Connected" album. I started recording my project around the first time I heard this album. Nicolay did one of the Bonus Cuts on my album. I want to get more work in with him. ... Shout out to N.I.C. I wish him the best.

Listen to this track at www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3TPGfCz5LM or type "Foreign," "Exchange" and "That" in the browser to hear why N'Telligence praises Nicolay's work.

N.E.R.D. — "Everybody Nose": Heavily slept on. ... The N.E.R.D records are some of producer Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo's best work. A lot of people don't know that one of their first beats was for the early '90s R&B trio SWV (Sisters With Voices). It's amazing being a fan of the game to see how far people can come with persistence.

"N.E.R.D." and "Nose" or the link www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA1HB_yJii4 will lead you through the haze of this club hit.

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