Friday, February 29, 2008

VIDEO: THE ROOTS "75 BARS"

Maybe this will lead to Black Thought finally getting his props as one of the best. In a world of Jim Joneses (Jonesi?) and Soulja Boys, this is a breath of fresh air. I just miss the pitbull tenacity of olden days where MCs just attacked the mic like it fondled their younger sister. And The Roots' Black Thought definitely possesses that. Also, lack of a hook...good move. The dependency on a catchy hook/chorus is another problem with hip-hop nowadays (yes, that's the grumpy old man in me). Crisp drums + ominous bassline tuba + superb lyrical effort = the best song I've heard in 2008.

As for the actual concept of the video, I can see MTV filing this one right next to Public Enemy's "By The Time I Get To Arizona" and the original version of Brand Nubian's "Wake Up" in the "Hell No" category. I don't eve know if BET will play it as there's no dance associated with the song...unless there's a dance called "Light A White Hostage On Fire." I wouldn't know as I'm not into arson...or dancing.

Let the controversy storm begin...



Via Idolator via On Smash

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I HATE R&B A/K/A WHO STOLE THE SOUL?

One of the saddest things is the death of R&B/soul. Every R&B singer sounds the same. Maybe they have different voices but it's all the same style. They all try to overdo it. Honestly, I think the last song I heard that had any driblet of soul was "No Diggity." Why? Its foundation is in that sacred-meets-secular style that sired soul. (Holy alliteration, Batman) R. Kelly? While I enjoy his comedy, he lacks soul. And I don't mean rhythm or "blackness." I mean there's no guts, heart, balls, soul in there voices. Terence Trent D'Arby had more soul than R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Usher, you name it. Somewhere in the 90s, R&B decided that it wanted to be more hip-hop. They eliminated that last shred of the musical texture left over from the 80s and made synthesized it. Thanks for nothing.

What brought on this post? I don't have cable and I'm between Netflix shipments. So I began digging through my roommate's VHS collection. I stumbled upon a blank tape. To my surprise, it was Otis Redding on Ready, Steady, Go!, the British counterpart of American Bandstand. He plows through 3 songs in a row and just keeps going and going, then he brings Eric Burdon of The Animals on. And Burdon kills it, but not like Otis. They just don't make them like they used to.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

TRACK REVIEW: "EVERYONE NOSE" - N.E.R.D.

Here's the thing: I never like club songs. I'm not a club guy. (I think I had a couple of issues when I was 17 but that's about it.) While they're often used as the single on most albums, I think club tracks are alway throwaways, just unnecessary filler. What do they give us? Shitty lyrics that sound like they're written by a horny fifteen year old over the latest lukewarm R&B tunes.

But as the old saying goes: never say never. This brings us to N.E.R.D. and their latest song, "Everyone Nose." I'll try to break down the recipe for you:

2 parts Bomb Squad-style layered drums and bongos
1/2 teaspoon Miami bass style call-and-response
1 cup electro bassline.

Aside from the joy found in The Bomb Squad tendencies, there's a message. (A club song with a message? And the message isn't "I'ma kick it to you/Then I'ma stick it to you/You like how I dick it to you") Like Melle Mel and the Furious Five's "White Lines (Don't Do It)," the message here is simple: ladies, have a good time. But go easy on the cocaine, which I think we can all stand by, unless you're Bobby Brown.

"Everyone Nose" by N.E.R.D.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

WE GOT IT FOR CHEAP VOLUME 3 PREVIEW


2008's most eagerly anticipated mixtape, The Re-Up Gang's We Got It For Cheap Volume 3, can be previewed on their blog.

Friday, February 1, 2008

DEAR GOD.....

Thanks for the early birthday present. Yeah, it cost a LOT of money. But it will be worth it, esp. after the Mets win the World Series. I feel like there are some similarities between this and the Schilling trade that, in a sense, turned around the constant mopey Red Sox and their (now insufferable) fans. This is just what they need to get over the hump.

This is good. We had to give up Carlos Gomez who was quite promising last year, but sacrifices are made in times of war.

I will now start saving up for my Santana jersey t-shirt. (Jerseys are always polyesterish and just don't feel right)

Thanks again.

J.W.

P.S. If you're not going to fix the Knicks, please throw the Raiders a bone. Different city but still shitty.