Elvis Presley to receive the hip-hop remix treatment on a new album

 
The connection between hip-hop and Elvis Presley has been relatively tenuous since Chuck D discouraged matters on "Fight the Power." Branding the Mississippi-born legend a racist, the Public Enemy frontman  famously opined that Elvis never "meant [a thing] to me."

But for those inclined to draw parallels, Presley was the King before T.I. He was a pioneer in the field of musicians-turned-mediocre actors, and he had swag when it was still called "flair." Plus, anyone who has ever been to Graceland knows that he was a visionary home decorator. If only there had been a "Cribs" during the Nixon years. 

So, it's little surprise that the original King is finally getting a hip-hop remix treatment -- though the remixer in question is sure to raise a few eyebrows, considering he's been known for his work as the musical director in Cirque du Soleil's "Viva Elvis" production. Hence the Legacy Records-released "Viva Elvis: The Album," which provides producer and arranger Erich van Tourneau's answer to what Elvis would sound like were he making music today.

Elements of ragga, punk and hip-hop inflect the compositions, a syncretism that is sure to raise the ire of both Elvis fans and hip-hop listeners alike. In the face of potential critics, Tom Cording, vice president for media relations at Legacy Recordings, defended the record.

"I can understand why the purist may be cautious and hesitant, but the new album is a unique way to bring Elvis' music to a whole new, younger audience," Cording told the Denver Post.

For those keeping score at home, Elvis has been flipped by hip-hop artists several times prior, most famously by Spoonie Gee, whose "I'm All Shook Up" remains a classic golden age cut. Other Elvis-referencing rap songs include Three Six Mafia's "In the Ghetto" and Public Enemy's "Go Cat Go."

And if sampling costs weren't so prohibitively expensive, there would inevitably be a lot more. After all, "Blue Suede Shoes" is just the 1950s version of boasting about one's "fly colored Wallabees."

-- Jeff Weiss

Photo: President Nixon meets with Elvis Presley on Dec. 21, 1970, at the White House. Credit: National Archive / Newsmakers

Comments

[truth to power]

Hey, Chuck D!
That's al right buddy, Hip-Hop has never meant a thing to me!

This album is nothing but a bad idea that will, no doubt sell like cold beer4 on a hot afternoon.

[MauriceColgan]

Elvis Presley purists might like to dwell on the fact Ludwig Van Beethovens exciting and very beautiful piano music is often played on modern instruments far more powerful and superior to those that were available to the great composer.
Elvis's music has survived on scratchy acetate mono 78s, vinyl 45s,33s, cassette tapes,enhanced stereo vinyl Albums,VHS Videos,CDs,DVDs,and the latest high tech innovations.
Decade after decade after decade we get Elvis Presley's wonderful and versatile music repackaged. I'm a 50s Elvis fan evolving into the 21st Century, and marvelling at how Elvis Presley dead more than 33 years has survived all his critics. His sound goes marching on!

[Erik Reese]

It's such a joke when they say, "...the new album is a unique way to bring Elvis' music to a whole new, younger audience.." I listened to the sample tracks and nothing about them made me want to buy any of it (God help what the older generation will think!). I enjoy the music as it was originally made and this new sound that they are generating from it is just another excuse for the record companies to make an extra buck on the name while doing a terrible job trying to emulate a youth selling sound. Call me a purist or whatever, but Elvis had his own distinct rhythm and blues for his own time. Nevertheless, I do enjoy remixes and listen to some regularly. However, I don't think I'll be listening to these ones at all.

[American Girl]

Chuck, you suck!

Elvis is the King...

Yesterday,today,tomorrow.

[Fred Barnett]

How about these hippity-hop morons write their own music?

[Joe]

Why don't these losers write their own music? Oh that's right, they have no talent. Hip-hop and rap are just noise for the mentally impaired and intellectually disabled.

[Aldan]

Hi guys I've listened Suspicious minds, Love me tender, That's all right mama and burning love on the new Album. It's more rock than hip-hop (a few touch of hip-hop but definitively ROCK!)
It,s really actual, new and fresh and GREAT!

Wait before bitching, please!!!