Road To The Riches - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

G. Rap like the previously mentioned Billy Joel is forever notched in my Top 20 list. His tales of street life coupled with a nasally raspy voice made him a hip hop tour de force for 3-4 years in the late 80's early 90's. He covered subject as various as racism, drug dealing, love and sex in his brief but brilliant career. G. Rap is the prototype Queens MC fierce lyricism and street tinged hip hop. You can see his impact on your favorite rappers favorite rapper from Pun, to Nas, to TI to Cormega. GRap is selected today for his use of the Stiletto sample which is the bridge that connects these two griots. Check out other works by these artists neither one's catalog should be to difficult to acquire.

Tuesday Two Step (Billy Joel - Stiletto)

This is a new feature I'm trying on the blog. Each Tuesday will feature two songs that share a common bond. The bond may be thematic, sonic or in underappreciated classic status whatever the niche they will be shared here. First up is Billy Joel who is thoroughly nestled in my top 20 pop artist of all time. His musicianship is utterly amazing when he gets behind the piano. In his early efforts he seemed so influenced by Ray Charles that the critics called him derivative. As he progressed he developed a knack telling these stories that engulfed the listener and painted a very distinct picture of life of the every man. This song is about the woman who a man loves in spite of the fact that she is ruining him. 45 seconds in hip hop heads will recognize the piano that was masterfully sampled by Marley Marl which leads to our second selection.

I Don't Need No Introduction......

From time my friends and I have these debates on a wide range of subjects from the greatest villain to the worst hero. I have decided to pull back the curtain and allow the world to get a peek at our most recent debate the greatest album intros of any genre. That is so expansive I had to cut my search short and stick the ones that amazed or made an impact culturally or both. Feel free to add your own or comment on what you feel was a funky introduction of how nice ......

Introduction # 3

This intro is from Talib's 2002 release Quality . The intro is so ironic because is the proclamation of greatness from an understated and overlooked MC. The previous release had Dave Chappelle doing an amazing Nelson Mandela impression announcing that when he is chilling out he listens to Reflection Eternal, Hi-Tek and Talib Kweili. Here Dave Chappelle (right on the cusp of super stardom) introduces Kweili as the keynote speaker and runs down a fantastically ridiculous introduction. Full of pomp and circumstance check it out and then check out the album in it's entirety, my personal fave of Kweili's solo work.

I Don't Need No Introduction 1

This song was the first song on the biggest selling album of all time. It announced Michael Jackson's coming as the Greatest Entertainer and helped usher in his two year stranglehold on the pop charts. This song is a true introduction it set the table for the masterpiece that followed and wet the appetite for the musical meal that was and is Thriller. It displayed Michael and Quincy's brilliance for crafting symphonic onomatopoeia pop funk(trademark pending). By the end of the song we listener's were raptured into an African chant that we still can't decipher nearly 30 years later but it feels good. Say it with me mamma say mamma saw mamakusa. Hee hee.

I Don't Need No Introduction Part 2

Let me start by saying this intro is littered with profanity and graphic imagery and I wrestled with posting it. I decided to post it because of the brilliant way it lampoons those overly violent macho recordings that were prevalent in the early 90's(and to some extent still are). Black Sheep were a group of lyrical lothario's who focused on the good times to be had over some of jazziest loops in existence. This introduction/first song is them at satirically sharpest. Enjoy this one won't be up long.

2011 In Pictures....

Out of the dozens of movies I have seen , these are the cream of the crop of the year so far.

Limitless- This film deals with the premise of a pill allowing you utilize 100% of your mental potential. Eddie Mora takes said pill and becomes the man of his dreams, creatively, financially, and romantically. The problem is that when you suddenly have everything, everybody wants to take it from you. The cat and mouse game between Cooper, DeNiro and a number of well used character actors made this film truly enjoyable.

Adjustment Bureau- Matt Damon stars in this romantic thriller about a charming politician who finds the woman of his dreams only to find out that he can't have her. Not because of some other but a group of men whose purpose is to ensure that the Chairman's will be done. The driving point of this film is how far would you go for the one you love would you move heaven and earth ?

Sucker Punch- A young girl is thrown into a mental institution by her evil step-father. While there she hatches a plan to escape the evil orderly/pimp. The plot to recover the tools for her escape provide the opportunity for some of the most amazing action scenes in recent years.

The Mechanic- Jason Statham plays a legendary assassin is hired to kill his mentor and takes on his son as a protege. This film was a well paced action thriller in the vein of the Professional without the awkward tension. Statham plays his usual cool under the collar macho antihero to a T. Ben Foster's anger percolates right under the surface as he struggles to find himself as a new cleaner.

1. 

Amos Lee - Soul Suckers

Catch me While i'm sleeping

Jay-Z had a line from Imaginary Playmates that went something like "you catch on the block bumping some other ish you know some other ish.." I have since heard this line in my head when rolling down the street playing something that I consider truly esoteric. What is shared is a small sample.

Dionne Farris - Food For Thought (Live)

This was on her first album and with Hopeless from Love Jones are my favorite songs from this talented often ignored soul sista. I tell my friends all the time she was the original India Arie with broader material.

Annie Lennox The Hurting Time 2003

I have a special place in my heart for Annie Lennox every few years she does something that I absolutely can't get enough of. This song came in my life when there were so many things up in the air I didn't know whether I was coming or going. I went to Half Price Books looking for some mood music and was drawn to this album with her painted in an ashened white paint and a sullen blank stare. I put it on in the listening station and was hooked by the third song.

New Radicals - I Don't Wanna Die Anymore

I listed this in the previous post and just wanted to share it. This song was on an album that I picked up for the bubbly single but came to love for its tortured lyrics and haunting melodies. I hate that this group came and went in a matter of months, enjoy.

Moody Waters

Mope Playlist

These songs are the ones that are in rotation on those days when I don't feel my usual ebulient self. Music helps me process thoughts and emotions easier so this play list is the conduit to a happier state of mind through the melancholy melodies.

• Slow Like Honey-Fiona Apple Food for Thought-Dionne Farris Like a Star -Corrine Bailey Rae I Don't Wanna Die Anymore-New Radicals Time Waits For No One-The Jacksons Like A Tattoo-Sade Creep-Radiohead The Hurting Time-Annie Lennox

Work Out Playlist

Every site/blog has there list and this blog is no different, but to switch it up personally I decided to pay tribute to my personal faves ala playlist. Playlists that speak to a diverse aspects of my life in song. First up is my workout playlist, these songs are the ones that give that boost when my body wants to quit and my mind is cussing out the machines these songs kick in.

• Butcher Shop- Kool G. Rap
• Who We Be - DMX
• Don't Believe the Hype- Public Enemy
• The Champ- Ghostface Killah
• Survivor- Eye of the Tiger
• Hush Boy- Basement Jaxx
• Hearts on Fire- John Cafferty
  

Stylized Statements

Style is at the epicenter of this epilogue.....(From Take 2 by Julezwinfield)





I first fell in love with clothes in the third grade. My mother took us to the mall to shop for spring outfits and I picked out a couple of ensembles that I thought were bona fide show stopper. One grey and black windbreaker short sleeve set and one in teal and black. I waited till Thursday of that week and broke out the grey piece. My classmates gave their kudos and my best friend RC told me I should have saved it for the zoo field trip the next day. I told him I had something else for tomorrow. The teal outfit received an even greater response. On that day I realized that the right clothing choice at the right time can make a powerful statement. The question is what do you wish to convey? I have had some peaks in valleys in my sartorial journey but I always wanted my dress to reflect my personality. I viewed myself as a mixture of Eddie Murphy, Frank Sinatra and LL Cool J. I am not saying this was a true representation of me in my totality but its a decent snapshot. Frank Sinatra always embodied cool, class and strength and I swore when I had enough money and lost enough weight he would be my style blueprint. Not fashion blueprint because fashion follows trend, season, and function while style leads while respecting trends, season and function. I love to allow formal wear and street wear to mingle together highlighted with various textural elements. Silk and wool, denim and cashmere playing together like a fresh jazz quintet. As we look to spring embrace your personal style let no one enforce their rules and regs about what is hot this season. Blaze a trail of sartorial splendor, intellectual individuality and righteous renewal. Carpe denim.