I’m not a morbid person, but I often consider death.

I can’t find the post, but I once wrote that when I do perish, I want the scene to be similar to Nas’ first verse on “Live Now.” And when they carry me away, I still want a Second Line leading my death march. But when I’m alone and headed down that brightly lit hallway just beyond the pearly gates, I imagine Aloe’s “If I” will be the track I hear in my ears. Read the rest of this entry »

A few years back, I did a post on my little brother and his dry musical sponge. Then, over Christmas, that now six-foot-freshman handed me a pair of headphones across the dining room table – during dinner – that were playing a Gucci Mane song. Surprisingly, I wasn’t disgusted. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever since LeBron James & Chris Bosh migrated down to Miami, it was assumed that it was only a matter of time before Erik Spoelstra was pushed to the side for Pat Riley’s return to the bench. Especially when the Heat started slow out the gate. How was Spoelstra going to get everyone on the same page? He went to the stats to devise a game plan: Read the rest of this entry »

Kanye’s “high end rap music” gets an orchestral touch as the Portland Cello Project does their rendition of “All Of The Lights.” Read the rest of this entry »

Pardon me for using the same picture of Governor and 50 as everyone else, but I believe it’s the only one. Anywho, Curtis seems to be a busy man these days with a holy war against everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure website and completing his new album. Read the rest of this entry »

Going into the 2009 NBA Draft, where European prodigy Ricky Rubio would eventually land ranked as arguably the most intriguing story line of the entire night; Blake Griffin going first overall was already set in stone. I consider myself a basketball junkie, but had no clue who the kid was outside of various YouTube clips. I’ve since familiarized myself with Double R. Read the rest of this entry »

Had Sean Kingston and B.o.B.’s “Hope Is A River” come out a year later, this probably would have been Barack’s 2012 campaign theme song. I can see it now – Barry walking around with his sleeves up, kissing babies, shaking hands and clips of his speeches with this friendly, yet inspiring tune playing ever-so ominously in the background. Read the rest of this entry »

“And I know so much better, and Lord knows if my words don’t come together, just listen to the melody ’cause my love is in there.”

These words preface and set the tone for “The Melody,” the latest single off The Left’s 2010 release Gas Mask. Echoing the above quote, Journalist 103 spits his love and devotion directly in the face of the struggles that life can bring. His bars are plainspoken and heartfelt, and the Detroit representative clearly lays his thoughts and emotions bare on the table for all to see. It’s one of my favorite things about Journalist’s style. Read the rest of this entry »

The master of telling saying & spelling it like it is pops up to recount his recent whereabouts in song and he’s armed with a customary banger from young Lex. “Juice Wea Ya Been” should be on OJ’s highly anticipated Culinary Art School 2 mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

Since he’s quite sure that you already know what the five fingers said to the face, Stalley is upping the ante on his cheek therapy, making his “Slapp” strike harder with an extra “P.” Don’t confuse the spelling with one of those ebonical descriptions a lot of generic Hip-Hop can get bogged down by. No sir. Think thump or pound or even ponder. Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music) is strong enough enough for a backpacker, but made for a rider. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most frustrating things about winter is wearing the same boots over & over, so I’m all for any boot that’s a change of pace. I think I first saw the New Balance H710SB’s on the feet of a guy at the gas station. I normally don’t talk to anyone I don’t know while pumping gas, let alone in the middle of the winter, but I had to know where he got ‘em from. Naturally, he got them “in New York” and he said that he was on his way back up there the next day. He offered to scoop me up a pair and we exchanged numbers. When I called a few days later, the female accompanying him at the gas station said that he was in jail and not to call this number again. Read the rest of this entry »

As in the title of his new album has been announced and will hit stores on March 29th. Something something something, he used Ustream to talk about the project & reasoning behind the title, which you can read below if that kind of thing interests you. Read the rest of this entry »

Theophilus released “Why Even Try” yesterday via Twitter, but it easily could have been a tune snatched from any radio playlist decades ago and tossed into today’s musical fray. Featuring Sara Q of indie rock duo Tegan and Sara, “Why…” sounds electric yet feels hipper than most as Theo does his rap thing while Sara fills in the background with light vocals. Read the rest of this entry »

“Ayo, it’s Tone, crispy like a pair of headphones…”

Starks the saint drops a visual for one of the Apollo Kids songs. Read the rest of this entry »

In life, sometimes each of us needs to sit back and reflect on our lives. Thinking about the past allows us to take stock of our experiences and understand where we must go in the future. In his latest effort “Through The Flames,” Co$$ does just this. Read the rest of this entry »