No matter what you think about 2 Live Crew, there is no denying that they understood the visual medium. Now that rap has gone so mainstream that Bangs gets Honda commercials, it is only a matter of time before a savvy popcorn manufacturer re-appropriates this for an ad campaign. Listening to this song once a […]
POSTED IN
Better known as the sample for “Public Service Announcement,” Just Blaze pretty much lifted a straight loop from “Seed of Love,” a 1968 cut from Chicago psych-rockers Little Boy Blues. Better than both the Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino film and Cody Chestnutt’s “The Seed.” Arguably as good as Jay’s version, minus the tortured politics […]
POSTED IN
  Jimmy McGriff knew how to get down. Download: MP3: Jimmy McGriff & Junior Parker-“No One Knows (What Goes On When the Door is Closed)”
1 Comment | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN
  Maybe it’s because I’m convalescing on a Saturday night , as weary as Weezy’s hook, or maybe it’s my time-tested affinity for gangster melancholia, but right now, I’m ready to go with “My Life” as my pick for the best rap single to see radio play in ’08. I’ve always found the auto-tune craze […]
16 Comments | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN
Heard at Nate Jones’ very awesome BBQ yesterday, “Poison” is this week’s Weekend Song. Why? Because if you don’t like “Poison,” you probably have no soul and will be sentenced to a hellish eternity where Justin Timberlake is the highest manifestation of R&B music. Question for the day. Is any revelation more damning than Ronnie […]
10 Comments | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN
While New York has gotten rocked by thunderstorms all day long, our weather in Los Angeles is picture-perfect. 80 degrees, spectacular sunshine, fulfilling every cliche you could ever conjure about the SoCal summer. Unfortunately, while my friends are headed to the beach, I’m on deadline furiously attempting to finish a Rock the Bells preview for […]
3 Comments | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN
Hadn’t heard this burner off of EPMD’s first comeback record, Back in Business, in a hot minute. Randomly, it came on a friend’s car last night,  and subsequently started an impromptu rap-a-long, as indeed, this is “da joint.” Question to ponder: have any two worse rappers made as much great rap music as EPMD? Download: […]
14 Comments | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN
Required listening on this lovely Los Angeles Saturday night is “The Groove,” an absolutely infectious new cut from Danny Swain, the South Carolinian MC/Def Jux signee who still can’t get El-P to release his damn album. No disrespect intended, El Producto, but this kid is a lot better than Hangar 18. Since I’ll be reviewing […]
1 Comment | Leave A Comment
POSTED IN