The end of the month signals two things. One, rent’s due in a few days. Two, it’s time for another installment of Crew Love. For obvious reasons, we all enjoy this post as it gives us a chance to highlight songs that we can simply back and say we enjoy as fans. Read the rest of this entry »

End of the month so you know what it is. Crew Love, snitches! As we get ready to flip the calendar, we mark another month in the books by pointing out a few tracks that provided fuel for the working fire. In fact, the November Crew Love will be the last of 2011 (the year flew by, huh?) Read the rest of this entry »

Fall is upon us, already. Which means we’re one day closer to 2012′s end of days and not many steps closer to an NBA season. So, to help you cope with the fact we’re all dying soon and the NBA season won’t be starting on Monday like it should have, we’re offering up a selection of songs that have stayed in rotation for us over the last month or so. So watch the leaves change, drink your apple cider and enjoy the Crew Love October Edition. Read the rest of this entry »

With another month in the books, we open our playlists to share the songs that provided the fuel for August. Read the rest of this entry »

Many days I thank Allah that we, The Crew, don’t actually work together in an actual office space. As evidenced from the 25 Essential Summer Songs list and previous Crew Love entries, the conflicting sounds blaring from everyone’s cubicle would ultimately sound like a bad 7th grade band recital. Read the rest of this entry »

Been a while since we shared Crew Love hasn’t it? Don’t worry, we’ll start convening more frequently in an effort to do them more often. Read the rest of this entry »

Of course, there was plenty of material that we planned on posting on Thursday. But when the news & updates started coming in about Michael Jackson, the music stopped.

Of course, new tracks & videos didn’t literally cease hittin’ the net. It was just that, in a peculiar way, the only thing you could actually hear was the King of Pop’s music, be it audible or simply in your mind.

I told Adam last night, I like to think that my dad’s generation had James Brown to transcend all conceivable barriers through music & dance. Our generation had Michael Joseph Jackson.

He was a pop culture icon. At his peak, he was a true star whose name was recognizable even in parts of the globe where traditional media outlets were not. Influential & inspirational, he music will forever outlive him & remain as his legacy. What more can be said about the greatest singer, dancer & entertainer of our time?

Therefore, we take it to the music as the Crew shows their Love, The Michael Jackson Edition.

“Beat It”: The man’s musical influence has spanned over three generations and his music still holds value today. — K1NG

“Wanna Be Startin’ Something”: This song changed my life, as I learned to dance to it. It’s the high hats, horns and the classic chant, “Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa, Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa.” — Darius Sinclair™

“I Want You Back”: The emotion he was able to put into his vocals, the stage presence he had…even at 11 years old, MJ would blow some of these new jacks out of the water. — Amp

“I Can’t Help It”: Don’t front – you rocked the glove, the red jacket and busted out the moonwalk…we all grew up with The King, and I grew up to this Stevie Wonder-produced gem (later sampled for De La’s “Breakadawn”). — Jason Hortillas

Moonwalker, the movie: Dude turned to a Transformer at the end…and killed Joe Pesci and gave me more reason to want to be him. — David Dennis Read the rest of this entry »

We decided to switch it up a little for this edition of Crew Love. Instead of giving you the music that inspires us, we chose to share a few url destinations that we like to spend reading. Consider this Crew Love: The Sites We Like Edition.

David D.

Filmdrunk — Vince is simply the funniest writer I’ve seen on the internets. Pretty much every post about the ridiculousness of Hollywood is literally LOL material. Peep this classic post about the origins of Swine Flu: “Look, all I’m saying is that if a few babies had to die in order to make Willowreferences timely again, so be it.”

MZ

Straight Bangin — Joey mixes Hip-Hop, Politics & Sports for an enjoying read. Reads like Pitchfork except he actually sounds like he likes rap music. All this from a Michigan alum…whodathunkit?

True Hoop — Henry Abbot covers the NBA from all angles & has only gotten better since linking with ESPN. Search Who Is William Wesley, which alone is enough reason to check out the blog.

Jason H.

Mets Blog — I’ll admit I’m jealous that Matt Cerrone gets paid to blog about my favorite baseball team, the NY Mets. But as an early follower, I’ve seen the site grow from a personal site to now Read the rest of this entry »

The soundtrack to our daily grind, all in a nice & neat format. You know what it is © Cliff Harris. It’s Crew Love.

Corey Bloom

C-Rayz Walz & Swave Sev – “The Family Crest”

This has to be one of the iller tribute songs I’ve heard, done by one of favorite MC’s for one my favorite duos. C-Rayz and Swave Sev pay homage to Gangstarr with cleverly worded web of the albums, songs, productions and musical significance that built the legacy. More than anything this song has sparked my annual Daily Operation or Mass Appeal debate which has dominated my playlist…Daily Operation.

Z-Man – “Street Creed Need Me”

Z-Man spits so much relevance on this one the whole song is a quotable. Topics cover the spectrum and the wordplay is seasoned with too many flavors to favor. Off the Machete Vox sampler Sneak Preview the DNAE Beats produced banger is undisputable, plus you can’t front on the title.

S. Cadet

Pac Div – “Shut Up”

This is the song of the week already and we didn’t hit the weekend yet. I might have to sneak into the studio Read the rest of this entry »

That’s K’s setup. Remember K.? Watch for the reappearance soon.

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve done one of these but we are sorely due. The Crew was summoned via email to throw together some lines & links regarding what’s on their current playlist. This is the type of stuff they came back with, what keeps their hearts pumping like Reeboks, word to Lamont Coleman. A few selections from the soundtracks of their respective daily grinds.

Enjoy, but if you want to, take it a step further. Put together a few songs from your current playlists and give everybody so lines & links in the comments. Just like you feed off our listening habits, we take in your contributions as well.

Khalid Strickland

Rick Ross – “Mafia Music”

I’ve never given a shit about what other people think, which is why I can shamelessly appreciate this joint. Though it’s been digressed by the sideshow that’s going on, Ross can add improved lyrics to his already great ear for beats.

Un Pacino Feat. Prodigy – “7th Heaven”

Speaking of rappers we’ve banned ourselves from liking, Prodigy lends an assist on this gutter track by his man Un Pacino. Alchemist has been on a roll with the hot instrumentals, and this joint is rock-hard crack.

LC Weber

Foreign Exchange – “Take Off The Blues”

This Valentine’s Day, spritz on that Beckham “Signature” or Sean Jean “Unforgivable” — as recommended by L and LC — and play this beauty… I promise great things in the Between-The-Sheets department. But… Read the rest of this entry »

Intro By Jesse H.

We all have that select playlist that we know is better listened to in the privacy of our own headphones. Those select cuts that we love, but we wouldn’t dare throw on at a party for fear of the crowd carrying you away and burning you at the stake. Well, we’ve decided to pull back the curtain, swallow our pride and let you all in on a few of those tracks that we’d rather you’d not know we bump in a little segment we’d like to call the “Hate That I Love You” playlist.

Matt Mundy

Papoose – “Pop That Chain” & Akon Feat. Lil’ Wayne – “I’m So Paid” — I’ll cop to it : I love basically anything with a vocoder.

Sure, it’s overdone. And sure, it usually masks suspect – at best – singing ability. But damn if I don’t fuck with T-Pain, Akon, ‘Ye, and Weezy on the regular. Shit, even Papoose vocoder songs get regular burn on my iPod. And you know what? I’m only about 2/3 ashamed of it.

Landon A.

Polaris – “Hey Sandy” — Holy shit did I love Nickelodeon when I was a kid. The Adventures of Pete and Pete especially. That’s why I keep the theme to it on hand, to remind me of when I was a brat. However, if a homeboy strolls up to check on what I’ve got in rotation I’ll quickly answer with a failsafe “Wu-Tang!” Then quickly crawl back to Thursday afternoon, 1994 with a bag of Ruffles and some red Hi-C drank. Read the rest of this entry »

Well the day of reckoning is finally upon us. Many have been waiting for this day since November 2, 2004 and we’ll all witness history one way or another. Whether it’s going to be an African-American President or a female Vice President, history will be made. With the last two elections having been decided by electoral votes and hanging chads, nothing is guaranteed. Read the rest of this entry »

Contra™

Jay-Z – “Regrets”

“I think I’m touched..this whole verse I been talking to your spirit…a little too much.”

Life is shorter than you can fathom, children. Anybody out there you’ve got anything to say to, say it now while they and you are here, because a skipped heartbeat will close that window and draw those blinds on you faster than you can imagine.

Sway – “Still On My Own”

This is one of those songs that really embodied a huge chunk of my mentality about four years ago and as such helps me mirror back to better clarify my projections for the future via that retrospect. Plus Sway is good peoples and I respect his hustle.

Isaac Hayes – “The Look of Love”

Classic. Point blank. R.I.P.

Landon A.

Cool Breeze Feat. Sleepy Brown – “Weeastpointin’”

As I attempt to hold onto what’s left of the summer, it’s tracks like this that make it not so much of a chore. Even if I am listening to it on the way to my 10am class. Read the rest of this entry »

How do we make it through extremely busy weeks trying make sure that we bring it to you each & every post?

As superheroes, we have certain tracks on repeat @ the highest volume while we our keyboards just cry away.

Ladies & gentlemen, Crew Love once again.

Chris “Preach” Smith

Tragedy, Havoc and Large Professor – “Funk Mode”

A white label gem with a Large Pro beat that’ll crack your neck three ways. Tragedy at his grittiest. One of Havoc’s best verses ever. This track was key to my Memorial Day playlist.

David D.

Hot Styles Feat. Yung Joc – “Lookin Ass Aggin”

Once again, a healthy dose of ignorance in heavy rotation. “Scooby Dooby Doooooooo – Mike Vick Lookin’ Ass Aggin”

Ghostface and Raekwon- “The Hilton”

I hate it when people say that all of Ghost’s albums were great except Bulletproof Wallets. This album had some great songs, dammit! Listening to the latest Rae and Ghost collabo supposedly from the OBCL2 made me wanna revisit this underrated gem.

Darius Sinclairâ„¢

Rell – “Somehow Someway”

Rell is one of the many lost talents left in the debris that was Rocafella Records. But with a “perfect” track such as this, one wonders how he went without an album being dropped. With his vocals and harmony displayed in this mixtape joint, just imagine if awesomeness like this was extended to an album. Somehow, someday.

2Pac Feat. Notorious B.I.G. and Dramacydal – “Runnin’” (The REAL one, with all police references removed)

I bumped this song the day of Sean Bell trail results. It’s fitting subject content and decent Big and Pac’s verses give it replay potential. This is a rarer track; about 15 years old. But it reminds me on how far our society hasn’t moved from policy brutality. R.I.P.

AmpGeez

Lovestink (Jack Splash & Cee-Lo Green) – “Gangsta Boogie”

Funky. With Cee-Lo stepping back in His MC shoes & Jack Splash on the beat & the hook, this 70′s inspired jam all but forces you to get your boogie on. And even though it’s great to hear Cee-Lo spittin’ bars again, the track itself, bursting from the seems with horns & handclaps, is the true attraction. Put this song on & make room for the Soul Train line.

Cam’ron Feat. Nicole Wray – “Do Your Thing” (OG Version)

Originally the first single off of Killa Season, clearance issues got this joint replaced with an inferior version. Half the appeal of this one was the classic EnTouch, “Too Hype” hook, of course flipped DipSet style…”Put on My vest, Can’t believe they’ll start this mess…” Trust me, Killa goes in on this joint.
Read the rest of this entry »

We were going to do a regular “Week That Was” but decided to go about it a little differently. Instead of showing you what we posted on here this week, the choice was made to let you see & hear what fueled us & our work through a grueling week.

So I asked the Crew, “What album/song are you listening to right now?”

And the responses varied.

Call it “Crew Love.”

Chris “Preach” Smith

Non-Phixion – If You Got Love

Pete Rock serves up yet another butter-soft beat. In the process, Non-Phixion solidifies their underground legend with compact yet layered lyrics. This has been my background music for writing as of late.

Contraâ„¢

The Roots – “Clock With No Hands”

As a loner and a roamer of the world, I often find solace in this song. It’s a very beautiful painting of the harsh realities I’ve encountered across the globe; the fragility of human relationships and the entrapment of an overactive mind. It’s a deep assessment into the philosophies that govern the balance between self-sufficiency and dependency on those you keep close to you, be they friend or foe, over Kamal’s keys and ?uestlove’s drumkit…

Jay-z – Heart Of The City

1.”You not feeling me? Fine. It costs you nothing, pay me no mind.”

2.”What you eat don’t make me shit.”

Plus, I’m missing NY like a muhfucka right now…

Lenny Williams – Cause I Love You

I gotta agree with David’s comment on samples. I reserve my comments on what Face did to this song. Anyhow, my girl in Ontario brought this back about three weeks ago. Hasn’t got off the playlist since. Smooth shit. Gets crazy nightime spins.

Dirk Diggahoe

Nas – The Message

“A thug changes & love changes, and best friends become strangers…”

Sick beat which Nas proceeds to tombstone.

OutKast Feat. Goodie Mob – Git Up Git Out

Amazing backdrop for one of Hip-Hop’s most memorable motivational songs.

Hector Lavoe – Aguanile

Beat is impossible NOT to dance when you hear it. Hector Lavoe is a musical genius.

Busta Rhymes Feat. Jamal, Redman, Keith Murray, Rampage & Lord Have Mercy – Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad

Everybody rips it over a haunting beat. One of the greatest (albeit slept-on) posse cuts of all-time. Read the rest of this entry »