The cliché rapper line has always been “my life is a movie,” but most who choose to rap don’t star in the film day-to-day. Aside from being a part-time writer, I’m also an aspiring emcee and employee for the man, one of many “Blu Colla Workers.” Read the rest of this entry »

Back in sixth grade, I formed my first crush. The feeling was not mutual. One-sided as it may have been, the song which enhanced that adolescent itch was Alanis Morissette’s “Head Over Feet,” from her 1996 ROY album Jagged Little Pill. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll always have a soft spot for Prodigy (||). No matter how terrible, I’ll constantly listen to his new music with an open ear, just for old times sake. As a member of Mobb Deep, P helped make some of the greatest music Hip-Hop has ever seen and he created a formidable solo debut as well. Then circa 2001, Hov dropped “The Takeover” and it was all downhill from there. Mobb Deep’s next two albums released to a critical bloodbath and they re-upped with G-Unit to create 2006′s Blood Money.

The album completely exposed the QB emcee as a now sub-par lyricist armed with nothing more than shock value punch lines and a flow stiffer than the suspension of his Porsche he got as a signing bonus. As terrible as the album was, its first single “Put ‘Em In Their Place” still gets some iPod burn to this day. I have very little explanation for my defense. It’s ignorant as hell, P’s and Havoc’s raps are average at best and the beat is nothing spectacular. But Prodigy’s opening bars just wreck it.

“I was schooled by the hood, raised by the wolves
Trained by the pain, adopted by guerrillas
Gotta tank for a car, ice for a arm
Got tattoos for skin and stars for broads
Gotta buildin’ for a crib, Manhattan for a backyard
Skyscraper ladies, they f*ck me when they man gone”

Aside from these six lines, nothing about the song is repeat-worthy. Yet, I just can’t help pressing back as the beat fades out over and over again. If I start playing it, I don’t stop until I’ve heard it at least five or six times through. Why? I have no idea.

On paper, the track’s everything I ought to hate, especially since I despise 50 Cent and all things associated with him. The lyrics wear out already tired subjects like bank rolls and smashing heauxs. The production isn’t anything special either. But, for some reason, Prodigy’s first few lines make the record for me. Maybe it’s my overwhelming bias or I’m selectively tone deaf. Whatever the reason, “Put ‘Em In Their Place” is a track I’m not proud to say has remained in my iPod for over five years and will probably stay there for the foreseeable future.

Previously: Day 12 – A Song From A Band You Hate

Hate is a strong word, and the brother of Love. Hate is Cain. Hate is the vengeful, rumble-vision demon within us that clouds our judgement and makes us weaker versions of ourselves. I don’t like using the word “hate,” and I avoid it whenever possible. I choose Love.

But let me say, unequivocally, I hate Creed. Read the rest of this entry »

When I was fourteen, my main hobby was obsessively raiding the used CD store. Countless afternoons and allowances were spent devouring every album I’d ever seen on anyone’s list of Hip-Hop classics and my attention rarely diverted to other genres. But in the midst of all the rhymes and beats, I did manage to stumble across a group that still stands as my favorite band of all-time: The Doors. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never been able to fall straight asleep at night. For that reason, the radio has always been a constant companion to my tosses, turns and countless pillow fluffs. Many nights have been spent drifting off to the sounds of the local “Quiet Storm”programming block, until somewhere around 2001 or 2002 when Clear Channel’s ten song playlist could be heard around the clock and I was left to my own devices in finding a suitable replacement. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: Boney Starks

First off, I can’t dance.

Now that we got that out of the way, I can tell you about an amazing song that causes me to willingly make a jackass of myself in public. For the sake of my social status I’m blessed this remained an album cut, but it’s unfortunate that “One Of Dem Nights” never hit the mainstream the way it should have. Read the rest of this entry »

Around third or fourth grade, my mission was to listen to every cassette tape my father owned. His music collection had always been a treasure trove of sorts and having already learned not to mess with his vinyl, the tape collection was the safest choice. Read the rest of this entry »

– In news that flew under the radar, some guy named Osama Bin Laden was killed.

– Tins took us on a trip down memory lane, showing us five of Pac’s most memorable interviews and reminding us of a playoff series for the ages. Read the rest of this entry »

Life has a funny way of putting things back in perspective for you. My sophomore year of college was in full swing and I was totally engrossed in it, to the point that everything else was slowly fading away. Headed back home for Thanksgiving break, my roommate and I made our way through the West Virginia mountains, enduring the lack of cell phone signal that came along with it. I returned to an empty house and an eerie vibe that something was wrong. Read the rest of this entry »

When Nate Dogg passed in March, a disturbing trend emerged. Excuse me, reemerged. As a head-scratching and all-around ugly attribute of Hip Hop, the genre again flashed its uncanny ability to belittle one person while attempting to praise another. I’m sure some super-intellectual, psycho-personal reason explains this, but that remains another battle for another war. Read the rest of this entry »

Graphics: Talia

For anyone who has played sports at any level, it’s always important to practice proper stretching and hydration to prepare for the big game. No amount of electrolytes or muscle therapy, though, can quite get the testosterone pumping like the perfectly selected sonic therapy. Read the rest of this entry »

For the life of me, I can’t find this particular cover story on former Shins’ lead singer James Mercer. The profile of the current Broken Bells lead man says everything one needs to know about his former band’s inherent contradiction: underneath the poppy chords lies a disturbingly dark Mercer. In the aforementioned piece, he denied that he was a nihilist. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy is a relative word. Considering the mud most of us are drug through daily, almost any song is better than hearing your boss continually demand more for less. But if one song were going to pull me out of a funk and take me directly to smile status, it would probably be Todd Shaw’s ultra-classy and extra-inspirational anthem, “Gettin’ It.” Read the rest of this entry »

Once the idea for this 30 day campaign was mentioned, I immediately thought it was a worthwhile endeavor. Quality content is what every outlet vies for in this ever-changing Internet world and this was indeed quality. The list of topics were sent out and naturally my trigger happy persona signed me up for the first topic which crossed my path. Read the rest of this entry »