Salve, salve senhoras e senhores e rapaziada em geral aqui do Pega no Meu Blog, este é mais uma Pitadas do Sal, que como de costume, traz o que acontece de interessante no mundo da música. Vamos ao que interessa.

Falta

Essa semana completou 18 anos da morte de Freddie Mercury, em minha humilde opinião o melhor cantor de rock que o mundo já teve. Batizado Farrokh Bommi, foi no dia 24 de novembro de 1991 que Mercury sucumbiu, vítima da Aids, aos 45 anos, em Londres, na Inglaterra.

Mercury, ao lado de seus companheiros do grupo Queen, foi um dos artistas mais influentes dos anos 70/80. Instrumentista dos melhores, iniciou seus estudos musicais ao piano, com 9 anos de idade. No palco, Mercury esbanjava carisma e domínio da platéia. Em 1985, na primeira edição do Rock in Rio, o Queen maravilhou milhares de pessoas que compareceram à cidade do rock.

Em carreira solo, ou integrando o Queen, Mercury brindou o mundo com canções que hoje são clássicos do rock, como We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, Under Pressure, Radio Ga Ga e Bohemian Rapsody , só para citar algumas. Curiosamente o anúncio oficial sobre a doença, que foi diagnosticada pela primeira vez no cantor em 1987, aconteceu um dia antes de sua morte. Na ocasião o cantor declarava: “Quero confirmar que fiz o teste de HIV e tenho aids. Sinto que seria correto manter essa informação pessoalmente para proteger minha privacidade e de todos ao meu redor. No entanto, é hora de todos saberem a verdade esperando que todos se juntem a mim, meus médicos e o mundo inteiro contra essa doença terrível. Minha privacidade é especial e sempre fui famoso por não dar entrevistas. Entendam que isso continuará”.

Melhores

Ainda não havia visto por aí, portanto, essa é a primeira que me cai nas mãos. Uma listinha com as melhores músicas pop da década. Foi o site PopEater.com, especializado em celebridades e comportamento quem divulgou. E como não poderia deixar de ser, uma lista polêmica. Uma curiosidade por conta desta é que a rainha do pop, a diva Madonna foi ignorada da lista.

1. Hey Ya!, OutKast (2003)

2. Toxic, Britney Spears (2004)

3. Since You’ve Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson (2005)

4. Yeah!, Usher (2004)

5. Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue (2001)

6. Umbrella, Rihanna (2007)

7. Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (2004)

8. Hollaback Girl, Gwen Stefani (2005)

9. Cry Me a River, Justin Timberlake (2002)

10.Crazy, Gnarls Barkley (2006)

Show

E neste sábado, 28, os amantes de hardcore já tem compromisso marcado em Balneário Camboriú-SC. O Evento acontece no Open Bar, um dos poucos redutos roquenrou da cidade e contará com a presença de quatro nomes de peso da música independente nacional: Sugar Kane, Envydust, Rancore de São Paulo e os catarinenses do Display.

A parada está marcada para ter início às 14h e na ocasião será lançado o novo CD da Sugar Kane e o aniversário de 6 aninhos da Display. Então já sabe. Hardcore na veia no Open Bar neste sábado.

Por essa semana é só, pessoal. Até semana que vem com mais uma Pitadas do Sal. Até lá.

Ariston Sal Junior

]]> http://walkthiswalk.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/playlist-5/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:43:45 +0000 WALKtheWALK http://walkthiswalk.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/playlist-5/

Music has been my friend on the lonely periods between school, work and home.
Due to that, I felt like I needed to get back on the playlist posts, to try, in my own dysfunctional way, to pay homage to some of my biggest “friends” for the past few weeks.

The Beatnuts - The Originators - Great beats and consistent MC’s. One of the few albums released after 2000 that feels like that early 90’s hip-hop.

Mos Def - Black on Both Sides - Maybe his best record, I haven’t quite explored his music enough to the point of coming to that conclusion, but I can say this album has some of my favorite Mos tracks and lyrics, and the beats really make a difference.

Outkast – Aquemini - Underrated album. Here you find some of the best lyrics Outkast ever wrote as a group. You find a shared flow and a common concept in all the beats…don’t get fooled by the stuff that’s on MTV nowadays, this is the truly southern hip-hop.

Rise And Fall - Our Circle is Vicious - When I started listening to this one, I didn’t know if either I hated or loved it. Now, I know I love it. But not as much as the previous releases.

Also, on my occasional joggin runs, I’ve been doing this thing of choosing one album per run. So far I have come with this selection:

Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury - this records is on its way of becoming one of my favorite top 20 (more like 30 lol) records of all time. I find it the perfect soundtrack for almost everything I do, it sets me up in the right mood. The combination between The Neptunes beats and the bragging voices of the Thornton brothers produced one of the most efficient rap albums ever, from the first track to the last one you get nothing but quality.

Beastie Boys – Ill Communication – My favorite record from Beastie Boys. And I also discovered this is almost perfect for a run, the songs have a consistent flow, creative beats (and riffs) and the 3 MC’s deliver funky raw rhymes that. find almost no match on the other albums. It really is a good album to run to.

Noch mehr Scrubs…immer mehr Scrubs…ganz viel Scrubs…wuhu Scrubs!!!

Tolle “Hey ya”-Version von “Ted” (Staffel 8 Folge 15)
Der arme Ted…immer hacken alle auf ihm rum…;)

You’d be forgiven at the moment for thinking we were nearing the end of a decade. The interwebs have been awash of late with more countdowns, best ofs, top tens and general reminiscences of the 2000’s then you could poke a digital stick at. Suddenly everybody is a critic, and while some of the countdowns have been insightful and thought-provoking, others have been….well, like this one. For the nostalgic, these countdowns are practically memory-heaven. But for those who don’t buy into that sort of stuff, it gets a little tiring. So, what better than to list some of the best (and worst) ‘best-of’ lists currently clogging up cyber-space?

Pitchfork: P2K

Over the past months American music site Pitchfork have taken an in-depth look at the decade in music. Way back in the dark ages of 2001 the site barely existed, but since then has grown to be one of the most formidable online music news and reviews sites on the net. Not only does P2K count down the best albums, songs and music videos, it also features a series of essays detailing some of the more interesting developments in music over the past ten years. Of particular note is the ‘Decade in Indie’ and the social history of the mp3.

Highlights
Best Album: Radiohead- Kid A
Best Song: Outkast- B.O.B.

Paste Magazine: The 25 best Album Covers

Slightly more obscure is Paste magazine’s countdown of the best album covers. It has been argued that as digital sales boom and physical CD sales decline, the quality of modern album art is going steadily downhill (as this cover would seem to prove). Regardless, Paste have put together an interesting countdown, which includes the likes of The Flaming Lips, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire and Lil Wayne. Whoever decided to award Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone cover as number 1 though needs to go back and re-take primary school art classes.

Highlights
Number 1: Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
Number 2: Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion (and rightly so)

The A.V. Club: The 30 best TV Shows

The problem with critics is often that their views on what is ‘good’ differs from the majority of the viewing public. Which is a shame, but it’s also the reason why most of the shows on the A.V. Club’s list of best TV shows of the decade have either ended or been cancelled. Still, it’s a formidable list. The top 3 (The Wire, Arrested Development and the Sopranos) are undoubtedly some of the finest productions since television’s inception, let alone in this decade. Other notable shows include Mad Men, Lost and The West Wing, just scraping in at number 30. The best part of this countdown though is the shitfight in the comments as to what constitutes a ‘decade’. Hilarious.

Highlights
Number 1: The Wire
Number 15: Veronica Mars
Number 22: Six Feet Under

News.com.au: Moment of the Decade

Oh, News.com.au. Purveyor of fine, quality journalism. Not content with simply telling Middle Australia what the best bits of the noughties were, good old Rupert has gone and encouraged everyone to name their own favourites! For anyone that’s ever read the comments to any article on the site, that should be enough to click your way on over. In case you need any more incentive though, today’s category is ‘Killers, Haters, Tools: Choose the Villian of the decade’. Apparently Kyle Sandilands and John Mayer are in the same league as Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Who would have thought? The fun doesn’t stop there. Oh no siree, it doesn’t. For you creative types, you can even have a go at naming what the next decade should be called! An issue of utmost importance, of course. Seriously, the sooner this site becomes paid-only, the better.

Lowlights
Pop Culture
Money
Sex & Life
…actually, just spend a good 15 minutes trawling through the site. It’ll make your day.

Times Online: The 100 Best Movies of the Noughties

Slightly more classy news outlet Times Online went all out and counted down the top 100 cinematic releases of the decade. With everything from political drama Milk to Roman-epic Gladiator to comedy Knocked Up, the list does well to cater for everyone…up until the odd choice of The Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum at number 2 (So really it should have been the best 101 movies). And Team America World Police in the top 5? You must be joking.

In Brief
Number 1: Hidden
Number 16: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Number 34: Finding Nemo
Number 64: Anchorman

Well that’s about it. Some of the best (and worst) countdowns of the best (and worst) things to happen in the noughties. Of course, a quick google search will reveal thousands more best-ofs then the ones here. But really, is there much point? When it comes down to it, who gets to decide that Franz Ferdinand is better than Hot Chip? Or that Monsters, Inc. deserves to place ahead of Pan’s Labyrinth?

Perhaps the best countdown of the decade should go to Hungry Beast. They look at the ten best years of the 2000’s. You can check that out here.

]]> http://rockforfun.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/top-100-melhores-musicas-da-decada-nme/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:18:27 +0000 bustnoris http://rockforfun.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/top-100-melhores-musicas-da-decada-nme/

A década está acabando e não param de surgir listas das melhores coisas destes últimos 10 anos, essa história já ta ficando um pouco chata. Mas a lista da vez é bem legal, novamente a revista britânica NME fez a votação, desta vez para escolha das 100 melhores músicas da década. Legal foi que os brasileiros do Cansei de Ser Sexy entraram na posição 91 da lista, com a música Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above. Ta certo que eu gostaria que algo mais Rock ficasse em primeiro lugar, mas não da pra negar que a Beyonce tocou muito nesses últimos anos e arrebatou uma porrada de prêmios, não faz a minha cabeça, mas a mina é foda. De qualquer forma, tem MUITA coisa boa na lista, escute TODAS!

Veja aqui o Top 10:

1 – Beyonce - Crazy In Love (2003)

2 – MGMT - Time To Pretend (2008)

3 – The Strokes - Hard To Explain (2001)

4 – MIA - Paper Planes (2008)

5 – Outkast - Hey Ya! (2003)

6 – The Rapture - House Of Jealous Lovers (2002)

7 – Klaxons - Golden Skans (2007)

8 – Blur - Out Of Time (2003)

9 – Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) (2005)

10 – Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance (2006)

E a lista completa no link: http://www.nme.com/list/100-tracks-of-the-decade/158050/

Wellington International Ukelele Orcherstra

YEAH

The Hold Steady Almost Killed The Sokol Underground

But it is.  Good God, it’s almost 2010.

*Side note:  It truly is incredible to consider for myself the difference in my life from the year 2000 to today.  I was a junior in college in Lincoln, having a grand old time, and just started dating someone.  I know am a homeowner in Omaha with said “someone” and have a beautiful daughter with her.  And it seems like 2000 was approximately 2 days ago.  Incredible.

So you’re starting to see the inevitable “Best of the ’00’s” articles and blog posts.  I typically am only interested in the music version of these lists.  The one I saw is from–for my money–the most reputable music site out there anymore, The Onion’s AV Club.

When I first saw this link, I couldn’t immediately think of anything really.  But wow–once I started reading through this list, I realized how good of a decade it has been for music.  Perhaps that’s a personal preference, but there are some all-timer’s in there.  For me, age 21-30 was far more influential for my musical tastes than, say, my high school/early college years because it has been the past 10 years where I really branched out and started discovering more genres and getting into a diverse array of music.  But I digress.

Check out the AV Club’s “Best of the Decade” story. Here is their Top 6:

(Why Top 6?  Because #6 is awesome, and I wanted to include it.)

#6:  The Hold Steady, “Separation Sunday”

#5:  Wilco, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”

#4:  Outkast, “Stankonia”

#3:  Radiohead, “Kid A”

#2:  Kanye West, “The College Dropout”

#1:  The White Stripes, “White Blood Cells”

I think that Top 6 is pretty stout, and you could really interchange any of them (although I think the White Stripes are pretty overrated for my taste).  I’m glad that Kanye is where he should be; that album is incredible.  I think due to his increasing douchebaggery has overshadowed just how good of music he puts out there (particularly his first three albums).  Wilco is Wilco, and Yankee is probably their best album.  Stankonia is as influential an album as will be produced in our lifetimes, let alone that decade.  And Separation Sunday is probably my favorite album by the finest rock and roll band in America right now.  Here are some other highlights for me from the list:

#50 – Broken Social Scene, “You Forgot It In People;” #37 – Justin Timberlake, “Justified” (yeah, I said it, but it’s undeniably a great pop record); #34 – Clipse, “Lord Willin’;” #33 – Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism;” #30 – Sufjan Stevens, “Illinois;” #28 – Ghostface Killah, “Supreme Clientele;” #26 – Amy Winehouse, “Back To Black;” #25 – Madvillian, “Madvilliany;” #9 – Jay-Z, “The Blueprint.”

Biggest Omission:  D’Angelo, “Voodoo.”  For my money, one of the best soul albums ever made, and a Top 5 album of all-time for me personally.  It is borderline criminal it’s not on here.

Other omissions:  Common, “BE;” Coldplay, “A Rush of Blood To The Head;” Arctic Monkeys, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not;” Vampire Weekend, “Vampire Weekend;” Kanye West, “Late Registration;” Gnarls Barkley, “St. Elsewhere;”  Al Green, “Lay It Down;” Jay-Z, “Unplugged;” Ryan Adams, “Gold;” The Roots, “Phrenology;” Q-Tip, “The Abstract;” J Dilla, “The Shining”

So where are you at?  What are your top albums of the past 10 years?  What are your glaring omissions?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

A few weeks ago a friend and fellow music writer called Finbarr Bermingham (a fine Irish name) asked me to contribute to a feature he’s running on his blog, where various scribes are picking their top five albums of the past decade.

I put it off for a while as it’s not the easiest task to whittle down everything you’ve listened to over the past ten years into five standout LPs, but then one evening I thought I’d stop procrastinating and just do it. Finbarr was looking for personal choices, not some kind of authoritative barometer of the decade, so I just shortlisted the albums that had stuck with me, the few I can still enjoy after hundreds of plays.

And the top five I came up with? Well, here they are, in no particular order:

Radiohead – Amnesiac
OutKast – Speakerboxx / The Love Below
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther
The Strokes – Is This It
The Knife – Silent Shout

You can read my reasons for choosing them in full over on Finbarr’s blog.

If he asked me to do this in six months time I’d probably come up with five completely different choices, but there you go. If you haven’t heard one of the five I recommend you give it a spin, as they’re (obviously) all extremely good.

And what are your top five albums of the Noughties? I’ll give you a few weeks to post your comment.

Outkast frontman Big Boi joins us to talk about his new album, staying as creatively diverse as possible, honesty as an artist, “Outkast are splitting up” rumors and lots more in a truly fruitful Conspiracy Radio interview. All Outkast fans do not miss these precious minutes with your star!

Eminem & Aftermath’s Denaun Porter steps in to talk in depth about Eminem’s new album Relapse 2, life with a sober Eminem – Eminem’s renewed writing energy – Eminem’s Tim Westwood interview – it was basically about Eminem with a bit on Dr Dre – écoute.

Jay Rock is making major waves across mainstream rap music and he takes time with us fresh out of a heavy studio session to talk about The Game, the hardships of modern living and his passion for the United Kingdom. He even drops several live freestyles suing key words that listeners throw at him – look out for the fish n chips freestyle – priceless.

Edan, the Self proclaimed “Quincy Jones of bad sound quality” was with us delivering what could only be described as an art collage of an interview. Listen as we discuss his latest project ’Echo Party’, his obsessiveness, Vinyl sleeve personalisation, production, past, his favourite Hip Hop albums and energy drink!. He even blesses us with a rhyme and offers a signed coconut to our listeners who can break down the science behind the rhyme. Clue: it is a metaphor, but what was it?

William Cooper, fresh from touring with Killah Priest, steps up to deliver a typically passionate and heartfelt exploration of his new album Beware Of The Pale Horse, the new Black Market Militia album, life with the Wu Tang Clan affiliation and so much more. Pour your hearts out for the emcees that matter.

Conspiracy Of Mind are on the show to introduce themselves to a new audience – with an escalating following and a voice that has helped the strong movement of Hip Hop, Emcee Just-1 and International Beat Master Nevahmind talk all about their debut album entitled “The Grand Deception”. This album is released in January 2010 and features guest appearances from Chino XL, Canibus, Diabolic, Phillip Morris, Adil Omar, Guerilla War Tactix, Dums from ACL, Prince EA, Born Visionz to name but a few. We want your support on this one – read more here – http://www.comhiphop.com/

AND THAT’S NOT ALL!

We debut a brand new and astonishing Chino XL featured track ‘Sabotage’. Set to feature on Conspiracy Of Mind’s debut album, this is just the tip of the iceberg and a strong signal of things to come.

CONSPIRACY WORLDWIDE RADIO pt 1
CONSPIRACY WORLDWIDE RADIO pt 2

Outkast’s Daddy Fat $acks seems to be on the run from greedy Old Uncle Sam.  According to reports, Big Boi, one half super group Outkast, owes over $55-thousand in taxes.  The state of Georgia hit Big and his wife for $55,727 in June in Atlanta’s Fulton County Superior Court.

Pretty sure this will soon be worked out.  Ditching a chain or one of his whips will more than likely erase this problem immediately.  Sell a few more of them pitbull dogs and this matter will be swept under the rug.

Big is also scheduled to drop his solo album Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty in December.  Speaking recently with HipHopWired, he stated,

“The album is done, the solo album.  We just getting the right set up for it.  It’ll be out in a couple of weeks.  The album is in the can, done.  Bringing Atlanta lyricism to the top has always been one of our missions and i’m still coming with them rhymes and saying something too.  Believe me, it’s straight dope.  I take pride in the lyrics as well as the beats and stuff so when ya’ll hear it, ya’ll gone love it, believe that.  Dre is in the studio working on his and we also have started working on the new Outkast album.”

Big will also be collaborating with his partner Andre 3000 on his album on a track called “Looking For Ya” which was produced by Erick Sermon.  He also just dropped the fire new single “Shine Blockas” featuring Gucci Mane.  Check out the heater below and tell us what you think.

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – “Shine Blockas”

Word is that Antwan “Big Boi” Patton owes Uncle Sam $55,727 in back taxes.  The thing that gets me about people commenting on celebrities and their so-called financial woes is that half the time the shit ain’t a woe. 

Big Boi clearly has 56 racks!  The nigga is just lazy.  To you and me, that’s a lot, but that roses smell like boo-boo money can take care of that and then some.

On the other hand, nigga, pay your fucking taxes and be done with it.  Why do celebrities do stupid shit like this?  It’s like when they get DUIs.  We know regular muthafuckas on Twitter who have around the clock car service.  Surely, a member of Outkast can afford the same….and why do they call him “Uncle Sam”?  I have no uncles with a fresh press and curl!

…Vine…in a minute

I’m a little tight on time (and energy) today so I’m bringing you a quick Weekly Thursday Freebie this time. But that doesn’t make this offering weak in fact it’s a must DL for any hip-hop fan. As previously announced, producer extraordinaire Chops has dropped his 2nd out of 3 free mixtapes for download today. It’s a remix album of various artists and shouldn’t be slept on. It just goes to show Chops’ versatility behind the boards. This man’s got the golden touch. He can flip any style. There’s a lot of southern flavor in this one but I think you can find a little bit for everyone.

Tracklisting:

1. CHOPS remix Drake Kanye West Lil Wayne Eminem – Forever
2. CHOPS remix Eminem – Jimmy Crack Corn
3. CHOPS remix 50 Cent f Ne-Yo – Baby By Me
4. CHOPS remix Young Buck – Let Me In
5. CHOPS remix Akon f Styles P – Locked Up
6. CHOPS remix Jay-Z f Biggie – Brooklyns Finest
7. CHOPS remix Jay-Z – The Rulers Back
8. CHOPS remix Scarface – My Block
9. CHOPS remix SLAB f Bun B Paul Wall Z-Ro HAWK Mike D – Da Streets
10. CHOPS remix UGK – Belts To Match
11. CHOPS remix Devin The Dude – Anything
12. CHOPS remix Paul Wall – Sittin Sideways
13. CHOPS remix Birdman f Lil Wayne – Shine On
14. CHOPS remix Young Dro – Shoulder Lean
15. CHOPS remix D4L – Laffy Taffy
16. CHOPS remix Purple Ribbon All Stars f Big Boi – Kryptonite
17. CHOPS remix Outkast – Elevators

Link after the jump!

Get Best Remixes Vol. 2 HERE.

2009 has been a tumultuous year for Gucci Mane, but not nearly as difficult as the economic woes that have crippled families throughout the nation.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the rapper’s family and friends have decided to hold their first annual “Turkey Dinner Giveaway” to feed deserving families in Gucci’s hometown.

According to representatives for Gucci, the event has long been in planning, and despite Gucci’s legal woes, he is intent in his efforts to enhance the holiday season for members of his community.  Gucci stated,

“I’ve had the ability to influence lives through my music.  Now I want to do that through my actions, in the right way.  I hope the community receives these with the thought of a being a blessing to others in whatever capacity they can.”

On hand for the event will be CEO of Mizay Entertainment Debra Antney who manages Gucci.  Other Mizay Entertainment recording artists scheduled to help with the charity endeavor are OJ Da Juiceman, Nicki Minaj, Waka Flocka Flame, Wooh Da Kid, Muffy, Sparechange, and the So Icey Boys.

Gucci Mane and team are also planning to do a Winter Wonderland” Christmas event in December.  Here is the event location for Tuesday’s Turkey Dinner Giveaway.

Obsessions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4525 Glenwood Road                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Decatur, GA 30032

Estuve en casa de alguien que tiene unos vecinos yonkis a los que escucha desde la terraza, porque dan mucho juego. La otra noche  se oía desde su casa:

-”¿Te corto un poco de chorizo?”

- “No, que yo soy más de mordisco que de loncha”

============================================================================

Reflexión de las 5:00 am:

- ¿Por qué te bebes 5 cubatas si con el primero ya no tienes sed?

============================================================================

- ¿En qué piensas?

-  El que el sexo es lo único que nos hace disfrutar sin la necesidad de sonreir

- ah vale, y como estás seria, qué pasa, qué quieres temita?

============================================================================

-¿Mery pídeme un tema de Nirvana..

- Nirvana es al indie, lo que el orco al techno

============================================================================

- Por qué suspiras? estás enamorada, Mery?

- Es asma…

============================================================================

- Necesito emborracharme, mi novia me ha dejado y mi trabajo es una mierda…

- No molan nada los tristes. Y esto incluye a los emo, a los triunfitos, y a los atormentados. Clasifícate y go…

============================================================================

- Pero qué dices tía, Mery, un grupo no necesita drogarse para ser genios.

- Hay grupos que no se drogan, pero son pocos y mal avenidos

============================================================================

- Pero Mery, llamar “puta” a una mujer es ofensivo, sexista y ultrajante.

- Ya pero, secretamente, a todas nos encanta.

============================================================================

- Qué depresión, es que cada vez que leo el periódico me asombra de ver cómo va España. Tú qué opinas, Mery?

- En España no funciona nada. Sólo el Corte Inglés

============================================================================

- Buaa, este sitio es un coñazo.

- Pues te jodes. Al mal tiempo, Donna Karan!!.

- Eres una puta pija

- Es curioso que hayas puesto ese calificativo delante…

============================================================================

P.d. Por alguna extraña y mágica razón,  no aparece el nº de comentarios que hay. Parece ser un error de wordpress y algunos usuarios hemos mandado el ticket de reporte. Pero los comentarios están ahí. Por lo visto no sucede en todos los blogs…

P.d2. Hay que ver cómo son los daneses…

Meet Lee Popa.

Over the coarse of his career as a producer/engineer/remixer, he has made sweet music with Queen, Tool, Korn, Cheap Trick, Outkast, Run DMC, White Zombie and more.

Recently, Lee has been diagnosed with a disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), and in order to continue treatment, he needs your help!He’s currently waiting for a new liver but his eligibility to receive Medi-Cal insurance ends November 30.  Friends and family have asked music fans everywhere to give anything they can to help Lee get the treatment he needs in order to beat this thing.

If you can spare a few dollars or even some words of encouragement, visit SaveLeePopa.com and donate.  All proceeds go directly to Lee and his outrageous medical bills.

SAVE THE MUSIC.

Back in September, the Telegraph published its list of the 100 songs that defined the noughties. Reading through it, I found myself nodding in agreement at times and throwing my arms up in shock and disapproval at others.

A few days ago I tweeted the story to my followers, asking them for the songs that had defined their decade. After a few days work, I’ve come up with 50 of the songs that have defined my decade. These are the songs that, in my opinion, tell the story of the noughties—from 2000 to 2009—and will be remembered for years to come, whether because of their artistry, their controversy, or their relevance.

A few things to remember about my list:

• I grew up with music from both the US and UK, so the list will reflect that fact.  This means you may not have heard of some of these songs.  If not, I highly suggest you listen to them.
• This list is by no means authoritative or complete.  Choosing 50 songs of that define a decade is nearly impossible, as everybody’s songs are colored by their own experiences.  I’m no music critic–just a fan–so keep that in mind.
• The songs are grouped by years, but that’s it; there is no ranking, no rhyme or reason why songs are ordered the way they are.
• The annotations are accurate, as I have done my research.
• Not all songs on here are songs I necessarily enjoy, but may be songs that have simply impacted pop culture in general.
• I tried to only pick one song from an artist–the exception being Justin Timberlake, who appears on the list as a member of *NSync and later as a solo artist.  If I hadn’t, for example, Leona Lewis’s cover of Run would have made the list, as would have Everytime by Britney Spears
• I tried to keep it to five songs per year, but as you’ll see, this didn’t completely work.
• I highly encourage you to debate my choices, comment with your own, and compile your own list.  The more music we can remember, the better off all our playlists will be!

With that, I give you my top 50 songs of the 2000s.

2000
“Bye, Bye, Bye” by *Nsync
A catchy song about breaking loose of a no good lover, it garnered the boyband a Grammy nod for Record of the Year and is arguably their most memorable song.

“Wonderful” by Everclear
“Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now…” sings a boy to his emotionally absent parents. This song got me through the darkest hours of my life.

Britney Spears in her iconic music video for "Oops!... I Did it Again"

“Oops!… I Did it Again” by Britney Spears
The lead single from Britney’s sophomore album, it remains one of the most infectious pop songs of the past 30 years.

“I Hope You Dance” by Leann Womack
Still Womack’s only number one hit, “I Hope You Dance” was—and still is—played at high school graduations across America.

2001
“Island in the Sun” by Weezer
Though it never cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and only charted at 31 in the UK, “Island in the Sun” proved that Weezer was still “hip, hip” and provided some musical escapism in the aftermath of 9/11.

“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?” by Alan Jackson
It’s impossible to discuss 2001 in music with out mentioning Alan Jackson’s moving tribute to the 9/11 attacks. Eight years later, it is still the most poignant song to be written about that day.

“Fallin’” by Alicia Keys
Establishing Keys as the preeminent songwriter of our generation, “Fallin’” captured the 19 year old the Grammy for Song of the Year.

“Ms. Jackson” by OutKast
Not their biggest hit, but for a generation of high school students, “Ms. Jackson” provided a sick beat and a warning about the risks of teenage pregnancy. It also foreshadowed the great work OutKast would produce later in the decade.

2002
“I’m With You” by Avil Lavigne
Lavigne’s work leaves much to be desired, but there’s no denying the emotions behind her lyrics and vocals in this piece, which may epitomize the year between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq.

“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
Released on Christmas Eve, “Beautiful” is arguably Aguilera’s most artistic moment—and the video doubtlessly her most daring. A song that inspired all those “othered” by society.

“Clocks” by Coldplay
It captured the Record of the Year Grammy for Coldplay. More importantly, it was heard in practically every film trailer and television show for the next two years, and it has one of the most memorable melodies of any song this decade.

“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” by Toby Keith
If Alan Jackson penned a moving tribute to 9/11, Toby Keith penned a shameful rallying cry for revenge against… well, he never really figured that part out. Still, even to this day, something about this song compels me to listen.

“Unchained Melody” by Gareth Gates
Admittedly more of a personal choice than anything, for a great number of Millennials (especially those from the UK), Gareth Gates is inexplicably connected with their adolescence.

2003
“Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson
The song that established Clarkson—the first American Idol—as more than a one-hit wonder, she showed the world that she would be around for years to come.

“Hurt” by Johnny Cash
Daring to cross genres and defy stereotypes, “Hurt” introduced Cash—and his amazing collection of songs—to a new generation of fans. It’s also one of the most moving songs of the decade, made all the more jarring because of the parallels with Cash’s own booze-soaked life.

“Mad World” by Gary Jules
Surprising everyone by taking the Christmas number one on the British charts, Jules’ version is arguably the most moving rendition of this song—including the original.

“American Life” by Madonna
Released on the heels of the invasion of Iraq, Madonna coupled it with a video so controversial even she decided to reshoot it. No song defines the Bush years better, proving even in a new century, Madge is still relevant.

“Leave Right Now” by Will Young
The first Idol ever—anywhere—produced one of the most emotional farewell songs in years.

2004
“What Became of the Likely Lads” by the Libertines
As Pete Doherty’s life spun out of control, he penned this lament about a friendship lost. (In this case, with fellow Libertine Carl Barat.) Fittingly, though sadly, it was the group’s last single.

“She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5
Not Maroon 5’s biggest hit, though possibly their most memorable, “She Will Be Loved” defined my first year of college.

“Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson
Say what you will about Gretchen Wilson, but “Redneck Woman” introduced Nashville to the Musik Mafia and brought about a renaissance in country music.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers from their video for "Mr. Brightside," one of the biggest hits of 2004

“Mr. Brightside” by the Killers
Las Vegas’ best resurrects glam rock. Enough said. Though not the first single from the Killers, “Mr. Brightside” is the song that cemented their place in the pantheon of noughties rockers.

“If Heartaches Had Wings” by Rhonda Vincent
You’ve probably never heard of this song, about a woman full of regrets, and that’s okay. Still, it is the best bluegrass song of the decade. Plus, the video stars Miley Cyrus before she was Miley Cyrus.

2005
“Gold Digger” by Kanye West
Kanye is one of the most controversial artists of the decade (to put it mildly), but “Gold Digger” was one of the biggest songs of the year. And rightly so, as it’s just as catchy as the rest of West’s work.

“Baby Girl” by Sugarland
Though released in 2004, Sugarland’s debut single didn’t climb the charts until early 2005, inaugurating lead vocalist Jennifer Nettles as the newest diva in the country music pantheon. On a personal note, the lyrics to this song was the first text message my grandparents ever received; I sent it to them requesting money.

“I’m ‘n Luv (Wit a Stripper)” by T-Pain ft Mike Jones
Admit it—you were singing along with the rest of us.

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day
A song about the death of Billy Joe Armstrong’s father, the video was yet another slap in the face of the Bush administration by the preeminent rockers of the day. The song struck a nerve with a nation growing weary of war.

“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
Blunt’s debut single may have made it hard to believe he is a former soldier, but it introduced him as one of the sappiest crooners of the decade.

2006
“SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake
We didn’t even know sexy had left until Timberlake told us so. With that voice and those beats, though, we believed him.

“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
One of the most romantic songs of the decade, this was the track that finally propelled Snow Patrol to mainstream American success.

“Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
Besides resurrecting 1960s soul, Winehouse’s salute to alcoholism and broken hearts established her as one of the most talented—and tragic—stars of the decade.

“I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks
After being shunned—and threatened—by country music fans for speaking out against the Iraq War in 2003, Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks came back with a vengeance, speaking for disgruntled progressives everywhere and nabbing five Grammys in the process.

“Last Request” by Paolo Nutini
The first single released from Nutini’s inaugural effort, this aching plea for one last night with a lover broke hearts across Britain. Though he’s struggled to find mainstream success in the US, “Last Request” has still managed to win over countless Yanks.

2007
“Rule the World” by Take That
A perfect song to accompany acclaimed fantasy film Stardust, “Rule the World” helped reestablish Take That as a premier British band—and is the song I will dance to at my wedding.

“Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis
The biggest thing to come out of a television talent show on either side of the Atlantic, Leona Lewis scored a massive hit with her debut single, penned by Ryan Tedder and Jesse McCartney. Arguably the most memorable song of the decade, “Bleeding Love” established Lewis as the definitive diva of her generation, thrusting her into the same league as Whitney, Celine, and Mariah. (Note: Yes, it didn’t come out in the US until 2008, but it was a massive hit in the UK in the autumn of 2007—which is when I first heard it.)

“Umbrella” by Rhianna

Rhianna's "Umbrella" was the defining song of summer 2007

An annoying but catchy tribute to unyielding friendship, with this song Rhianna told the world she wasn’t going anywhere. Plus, as the Telegraph pointed out, it provided the perfect soundtrack for a rain-soaked summer.

“Grace Kelly” by Mika
You can’t be faulted if, upon first listen, you thought someone had resurrected Freddie Mercury. With “Grace Kelly,” Mika helped usher in the era of wonky pop.

“With Every Heartbeat” by Robyn
Heartbreaking and infectious, Robyn proved that the Scandinavians are still better at making quality pop records than we are.

“Flourescent Adolescent” by the Arctic Monkeys
Not their biggest hit, and perhaps not even their best song, but “Flourescent Adolescent” still managed to define 2007 for those who rebelled against the previous five songs. Plus, with lyrics like “everything’s in order in a black hole/nothing seems as pretty as the past though/That Bloody Mary’s lacking in Tabasco/Remember when you used to be a rascal?” it was the perfect accompaniment to the onset of the Great Recession.

2008
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Swift’s biggest single up to that point, “Love Story” helped propel her out of Nashville and introduce her to an international audience. It also proved Swift as one helluva songwriter.

“No Air” by Jordin Sparks ft Chris Brown
The best duet of the decade, hands down. Though Chris Brown is now more infamous for domestic violence than famous for his music, the blended vocals of Sparks and Brown illustrate why they’re both young stars on the rise.

“I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry
Offensive to the gay community or an innocent anthem for bicuriosity? Either way, “I Kissed a Girl” was the song of summer 2008 and propelled Perry to stardom.

“My President” by Young Jeezy
Never a huge hit, but there is something special in remembering the election of America’s first black president—a defining moment not just of the noughties, but of modern history. This song is the celebration of a milestone preceded by centuries of struggle.

“Paper Planes” by MIA
No song better describes Britain’s and America’s irrational fear of brown people than does this anthem for immigrants and oppressed minorities everywhere. The gunshots and ringing cash registers only serve to make the song all the more memorable—and relevant.

Beyonce's video for "Single Ladies" is one of the most iconic of the decade. Just as Kanye West.

“Single Ladies” by Beyonce
God, this song is annoying, but Kanye was right—Beyonce did have one of the best videos of all time. Besides, you have to admit, it’s catchy as hell.

2009
“Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
If the noughties defined Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus defined the noughties. Surprising, well, everybody, Cyrus managed to actually produce a quality pop record that, probably unintentionally, embodied the optimism of youth in the Obama era.

“TikTok” by Ke$ha
If you haven’t heard this song yet, go listen. I don’t know what the future has in store for Ke$ha, but this is one of the best night-out-on-the-town songs to come along in years.

“Never Forget You” by the Noisettes
Sure, Duffy’s throwback to 60’s soul is more successful, but nobody, except maybe Winehouse, can touch the artistry of Shingai Shoniwa.

“Just Dance” by Lady GaGa
When I heard this song on the radio in January, I told my best friend it was the first song that made me feel like it was 2009. Turns out, 2009 was the year of GaGa. If the forecast “Just Dance” provides is any indication, the teens will be dominated by Lady GaGa.

“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum
An understated, underappreciated single from an underrated group, Lady Antebellum proves they are the future of country music with “Need You Now.” An aching song about longing for an old flame, it’s the best song Nashville has had to offer in 2009.

Indieghetto si presenta con sei parole e un refuso: “Hip Hip Covers from indie artists” (da myspace).
Si tratta praticamente di un karaoke fatto da artisti più o meno conosciuti o sconosciuti: video con fondali urban style, arrangiamenti ridotti all’osso e canzoni hip hop o hip hip, scegliete voi.
E così la canzone più tamarra dell’estate, “I Gotta Feeling” dei Black Eyed Peas, diventa all’improvviso ascoltabile se rifatta dai Twin Atlantic.

Sul canale youtube di Indieghetto si trovano tutte.
I coverizzatori: The Rifles, I Blame Coco, Kate Nash, Beans on Toast, Jay Jay Pistolet…
I coverizzati: Outkast, Specials, Eminem, Missy Elliot, Warren G, M.I.A….
Che cosa sia considerato Hip Hip e cosa indie non è propriamente chiaro…

Buff1 of the Athletic Mic League
DJ Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies and
have joined forces to create a hip-hop monster
for all of our enjoyment and appreciation.
That benevolent monster is called Crown Royale.
This Q&A features the vocal half of the duo,
Buff1.

“We Gotcha” • Download

∆: Your crew originally formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is also based out of Los Angeles. What inspired you guys to move some of your operations to LA?

“It was a couple things.. boredom. Opportunity. Weather.
I think that kinda sums it up.”

∆: Being from the Midwest myself, I’m curious to how you first became aware of the Beat Junkies?

“Umm, I was just listening as a fan of hip hop music and the name kept popping up, doing cuts for different artists here and there, doing mixes/compilations and such. They worked with a lot of my favorite cats so that introduced me to what they do and their turntablism skills.”

∆: So according to Rhettmatic, your crew was handed a cd of his production, which sparked your working relationship.. what was it about the production that stuck out to you?

“Nothing in particular, it was just really good, haha. I have a dope crew of producers called the Lab Techs and it takes a lot for me to be impressed by beats, but his stuff was dope.”

∆: Was the process noticeably different from working with the Lab Techs?

“A little bit. A good portion of the beats Rhett made were crafted for me. Most of the Lab Techs’ beats I just pick from a batch like everybody else. But the process is the same. I get the beats, write, lay it down.”

∆: Your live show is very critically acclaimed. “Get It Up” sounds to me like an instant crown favorite. Was there a particular attention being paid to the live aspect while creating it?

“That’s just me, it’s just in me. I know where I may lack in content or skills, I make up for it at my shows. When I heard the beat it just sounded like a hype joint for shows. Then a couple shows in, I added the “Get It Up Dance” to the set. You gotta check us out live to see what it is, haha.”

∆: Yeah! That was my next question. In my opinion, that reminds me of the Midwest soul showmanship tradition, very Motown.

“Yeah, man, exactly.”

∆: In what ways to you think growing up in the Midwest influenced your creativity differently from other popular hip-hop regions?

“I think the Midwest influenced me musically. Of course, Motown, but also the brand of hip-hop. Dilla/SV (Slum Village) was a huge influence, still is. There’s also the work ethic that comes from the midwest, the grind, the hustle. And then, once Motown left we all started to make our own history ’cause there’s really no industry here like it in LA, NY or ATL.”

∆: What do you think are the pros and cons of that lack of industry presense?

“Pros: work ethic, it builds a sense of family cuz we all have to help each other, and it leads to the want/need to reach out and not just be known where you’re from. But all that is kinda a catch 22 cuz they can lead to the cons: it makes it a lil’ more difficult to make it out, since opportunities are slightly limited it can lead to a cut throat mentality, and some people feel like they have to go away to make it. I think because of the cause and effect the pros and cons can somewhat be looked at as one and the same.”

∆: Right. I think the pros you just mentioned address this somewhat, but what is it about Michigan that has you guys hitting the hip-hop market with so much dope music? Where does the creativity come from?

“There’s so much dope music and competition it forces you to be dope and hold up your part also. For those that are from Detroit, some may see the D as desolate, not much there. That can lend to some of the creativity that comes from there. I know being from Ann Arbor, there’s really no traditions here. Nothing to fall back on, so we had to kinda make up our own foundation. AML and couple of our comrades were really the only ones making music back in the day so we had no one to look up to making music.”
 

∆: Duos are iconic in hip-hop. what is one of your favorite duos in hip-hop and why?

“I know u prooooobably mean producer/emcee duo but… OUT…. KAST. My all-time favorite musicians ever. Why? Every album they ever put out has been in-house produced, they made “underground” classics, they made “hits”, sold tons of records, change it up everytime from album to album, and Big Boi is extremely slept on as an emcee and (Andre) 3000 is the greatest of all time. Period.
Ok, I’ll give it a rest now, haha.”

∆: I’d like to go through your discography and ask what were circumstances, stories, etc surrounding their creation. Pure.

“I look at that album as if no one never heard me before or may never hear me again, that’s what I want to represent me. AML asked me to do solo stuff and I was a lil’ hestitant at first, but after 2 mixtapes I got in a groove. That album is just very human, good, bad, highs, lows, all that. I said before it came out if it wasn’t well received I may call it quits. Here I am, 2.5 years later still at it, haha.”

∆: Why do you think they asked you to do solo material?

“I’m still tryin to figure that out, haha. If I had to guess, it’s ’cause I kinda encompass all aspects of AML. The humor, the showmanship, the content, the delivery. And at the time I was the only one who had the time/drive to go 110% since other cats had kids, wanted to go back to school full-time, had girls, was working, wanted to focus on production, whatever the case may have been.”

∆: “Pretty Baby” is very vivid in it’s storytelling. What for you goes into telling a good story in song form?

“It has to sound like a real conversation that either you’ve had or you’re having when you’re telling the story. I try to communicate like I’m talking to you when I rhyme anyway so I try to do the same when I tell a story. And it has to sound real and believable even if it’s somethin spaced out and sci-fi or just fiction, or a real event.”

∆: The One & Only Mixtape and Small City Big Name.

“Both were kinda me warming up on the solo thing, starting with The One and Only Mixtape. Both were about having fun and just letting people see what my voice is as a solo artist.”

∆: Why did you go the route of original material vs. covers of other songs?

“Well, I did a lil’ bit of the popular instrumentals, but I also wanted people to know me and I don’t think you can properly do that over someone else’s beats. I wanted to mix it up and make sure you got some of my original material.”

∆: Athletic Mic League Thrill Of Victory, Agony Of Defeat.

“Wow, we goin waaaay back, haha. That was AML’s introduction, really our introduction to Ann Arbor, just to let everybody around the crib know that we rapped, haha. That was just on CD-R burned cds. Then we got good feedback from that so we remixed a couple song and added a couple new ones and made that into The Thrill Is Gone, got it pressed up for real and started to reach out to Detroit and other cities around the Midwest and started getting love on the internet.”

∆: There’s Only One

“My last album was kinda me throwing my hat into the realm of the greats, wanting to be mentioned as one of the best doing it right now. I wanted to stop looking up to the posters on my wall and become the poster on somebody’s wall. It was a lil’ more hubris on this one, but that’s just hip hop, haha. I also continued along the path I already started of speaking on things that other people don’t really speak, trying to again show the many sides of me and humans in general.”

∆: What’s on the horizon for and from Buff1?

“I got another mix comin out next month titled It’s a 1derful Life. Free download mix of a few of my guest appearances from this year and a few exclusives. Then Crown Royale early next year, then a new AML album. And shows/tours all up through and around those.”

Massive Thanks To Buff1 For Participating In The Q&A!
Big Up!

∆

“They were stacked up like my shoes in the closet. It was a lot of things that hit home for me.”

The economic downturn of the country has impacted its citizens in countless ways ranging from a lack of employment to an overall cut in funding or the loss of a position.

Another tragic reality deals with the deceased, as funeral arrangements have always been somewhat of a hefty amount to pay, but for Detroit, there have been over 60 bodies that have remained unclaimed by family in the Wayne County Morgue.  The reasoning is simply due to the fact that they were unable to gather the necessary funds needed for funeral arrangements.

One representative for the morgue stated that some of the deceased have been out there for years.  Footage was released that showed the bodies all gathered together in a freezer.

Shanti Das, however, looks to correct this issue as her non-profit organization, May We Rest In Peace is aiming to fix the problem and make sure that each body is given a proper burial.

Speaking with CNN, Das elaborated on her call to give an assist to the rising predicament for the city as well as the loved ones of the deceased.

“I just wanted to immediately take action. I thought oh my God, we have to try to restore some dignity to these families.”

Her own past weighs in on her strong dedication to others she does not know her family endured financial anguish around the time they were trying to lay her father to rest.

The process is already underway as the organization has been able to raise over $6,000 and have successfully laid six bodies to rest.  Aid came from the music industry in the form of Busta Rhymes and Akon.

Looking into the future, the city of Detroit has made sure to play a factor as it has allocated $22,000 in their fiscal budget for 2010.

Along with the actual burial of the body, there is a ceremony accompanied where people are able to come and give their final respects to the fallen.

Das’ history in the industry has found her working alongside artists such as Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast and many others.  She served as an executive with LaFace, Arista and Universal Motown.

“It’s going to take one person like me and a million others to start shedding lights on these problems. But just because I’m a country girl from Atlanta doesn’t mean I can’t help someone in Detroit.”

Those looking to help out with the cause can head to http://maywerestinpeace.org/ to make donations.

A statement that continues to be challenged is the fact that the youth are indeed the future and should have a voice in today to dictate what will happen tomorrow.  Regarded as being immature, the people of tomorrow aren’t always given the needed to push to showcase their potential and share their opinions.

In the music world an outlet is provided and many have taken advantage.  Up-and-coming rapper Bobby Ray is one artist that has made sure that he can leave footprints in the genre with his distinct sound.

Separating himself from the pact, the 21-year-old rapper comes off as a jack of all trades as he raps, sings, produces and plays various musical instruments.  Just being called an artist would be an understatement for the young sensation.

After a show, HipHopWired was able to catch up with the rapper as he shared his own purpose in music and how he has brought in all races and genders with his musical offerings.

“My intention is definitely to include everybody in on everything, guys, girls, blacks, whites, gays, straights, Asians, Mexicans, whatever, Martians, Neptunian’s.  Sometimes you got to still stay true to your roots. 

I still grew up in Decatur, I grew up in the country, so it’s like, it’s there.  I can grow as much as an artist, but it’s still there I’m always gonna lean on that, if the sound just cut out on a show and I just had to do something I’d probably just rap, freestyle, I try to keep it a real universal sound.”

Initially storming the scene with the track “Haterz (Everywhere)” some may have missed his debut as his sound first came off as another one-time offering from a Georgia rapper, but as time settled, many realized that he was more than a one-hit wonder. 

“I kind of feel like there was a personality, I wrote the song so I feel like my personality came out, so I didn’t feel boxed in. I feel like even being from Atlanta I feel like it’s helpful for me to be from Atlanta, it’s such a looked at area, once again I’m not against an type of music, but I’m all for balance. It’s like if all the music sounded like what I was making I would make fun of it. I just like diversity, I like all kinds of music, Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, T.I., Ludacris, I’m not against anything. Everybody should be themselves, everybody shouldn’t follow what’s working, so that’s kind of my mind state and where I stand on that.”

Weighing in on the excess of party-themed records, Ray insists that there is nothing wrong with those particular songs, but there is a balance needed in order to make sure that listeners aren’t being oversaturated with just one aspect to go by as they are so influenced by music. 

 “It’s all about balance for me, I’m not the type of person to judge what somebody else is doing or say that this is right or this is wrong, but I feel like in the music industry it’s kind of out of balance and I feel like it’s falling back into balance now I’m not against Patrone and swag music but I am against the imbalance of what kids are focusing on I just speak on what I feel. It’s kind of like, there’s obviously a huge crowd of people who enjoy it but at the same time there’s a huge crowd of people who feel like it could be somewhat destructive if it’s not balanced, yeah you can do this but this is the consequence.”

Some people make music in order to pull in a select few, whereas others aim to pull in everybody.  Bobby Ray is an artist that doesn’t want to reach the millions in America, but more of the masses across the entire globe.  Music has no separation.

After a day spent helping to set up NEoN Public, the Video Games Live! pre-show in Dundee yesterday, we came across this talented young gentleman by the name of Edward Shallow, a chiptune busker who plays 8-bit songs using a classic gameboy hooked up to a mini amplifier.

Check out these videos and have a listen. And if you like what you hear. Click on this link to hear some songs from his EP ‘Red Plastic Park’ on Myspace.

One video here and more below the cut:

Outkast – Hey Ya!

DJ Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies and
Buff1 of the Athletic Mic League
have joined forces to create a hip-hop monster
for all of our enjoyment and appreciation.
That benevolent monster is called Crown Royale.
This Q&A features the production half of the duo,
DJ Rhettmatic.

“Get It Up” • Download

∆: How did you and Buff1 meet?

“Basically, I met Buff thru the guys from Now On. They’re all from Ann Arbor, Michigan and ironically, they’re also from the Athletic Mic League. Now On moved to LA a few years ago and I would start running into them at a couple of events and whatnot. Buff would come out to LA and they would introduce him to me and that’s how we met.”

∆: When and under what circumstances
did the idea of Crown Royale form?

“Well, the idea of Buff and myself of working together came from the 2/3 of Now On: Jackson Perry and Dj Haircut aka Mayer Hawthorne. Around that time, Buff just dropped his 1st solo album and they were asking him what’s his next move. And at that same time I was starting to branch off doing production outside of my other group, The Visionaries.

A lot of people knew me more as Battle Dj/Turntablist and not for my production, though I have been doing some production for quite sometime. I actually gave a beat cd to Now On to do some work. Next thing I knew, Jackson and Haircut came up to me and said ‘we would like you to do an album with Buff’. I believe they did the same thing with Buff. He said ‘if I like the beats, I’ll do it’. He already got an in house production team with the Lab Techs: 14KT, Haircut, Vaughn T, etc… so he was spoiled. And those guys got slaps. I knew it was a go when he sent me the first song recorded and done. Luckily he liked my beats, LOL.”

∆: How early was “Get It Up” done?

“Late last year, and that was actually the first song. He recorded the vocals
first in Michigan, then we redid it when he came back to LA.”

∆: How did you guys come up with the name?

“It’s actually a funny story. At the time, we didn’t have a name for the project or group. During that same time, Magestik Legend, another dope MC/Producer from Detroit, wanted to do a group project with Buff. On Buff’s 1st album,
Buff would always wear a crown so Magestik wanted to name the group
‘Crown Royale’. Ironically, I was brainstorming myself with names and all
and I also came up with the name Crown Royale, and literally called Buff
the week after Magestik shot him the idea. And I didnt know that Magestik
hit him up for the idea. I was a fan of Magestik’s work but I never met him in
person, so it was crazy when Buff told me what Magestik approached him with.

Then later on, like 2 months later, Magestik goes to LA. We all met up at Fat Beats LA and during an instore Buff introduced me to Magestik. I really wanted to name the project or group Crown Royale, so we all had a pow wow with Magestik. By the grace of God (and us doing a lot convincing), Magestik was kind enough to let us use the name and in return, we have him on our album. And that’s how the name Crown Royale came about.”

∆: Wooow, lol. Being that Crown Royale is a duo,
what is one of your favorite hip-hop duos and why?

“Mine is GangStarr…..Buff’s is Outkast. But also, I love EPMD, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Run-DMC, Low Profile… I don’t know, we can go on forever. You would have to also ask Buff that question, but i do know his favorite group is Outkast.”

∆: What’s a particular reason you can say about GangStarr?

“It’s easy. The DJ and the MC combo, Guru and Preemo. They’re a perfect example of a classic hip-hop group. Preemo is one of my fav top producers, as well as a DJ.”

∆: What are some artists and songs you’ve produced
that the masses need to be aware of?

“Hmmmmm…….. let’s see….. Divine Styler ‘Triple Irons’ (WordPower 2), Aceyalone ‘Keep Rappin Keep Spinnin’, Aloe Blacc ‘Find A Way’ (B Ball Zombie War comp – Stones Throw)… I’m trying to think… RBX ‘Stop That’. Pigeon John ‘Freaks Freaks’. A lot of stuff are like b-sides and album cuts, I wouldnt say obscure but you would have to know the artists. But I worked with alot of cats that people know. I have alot of stuff that hasnt come out officially yet or it’s in the vault. Let me see…Trek Life ‘All Times’ (Price I’ve Paid)”

∆: Did you produce “E=MC5″ (Key Kool & Rhettmatic
feat. LMNO, Ras Kass, Meen Green & Vooodu)?

“Yeah, that was my 1st official record.”

∆: That was my shxt.

“Word? Thanks. I did that on the SP1200.”

∆: Word. From producing songs for artists to producing a full album,
what is your approach? In particular, your approach for producing a full album.

“Hmmm…that’s a good question. In terms of producing an album, I would try my best to make the album flow from beginning to end. Make it interesting like a good mixtape. Try to make it have sometype of continuity. I would put it together like i was putting a mix routine together. It has to make sense. And in terms of the beats, it varies. When i give a beat to an artist, I either would have an idea or concept or I would just let the artist dictate what he or she wants to write, whatever emotion the beat elicits from that artist. And when it comes to adding scratches, I either ask the artist whats the title or the concept of the song, and I would go base it off of that idea. Unless the artist have something in mind, then that makes it a lil bit easier.

Btw… all you rappers out there that think it’s easy to put a scratch hook together… no, it isn’t. That takes time. Diggin for records, listening to records, writing down phrases, then working on putting it together, then tryin to record the scratches until we get it right. Djs/producers are very meticulous. Just like for emcees that want to get the best take and their best rhymes out there. Us dj/producers are the same, for the most part. I just wanted to add that….LOL.”

∆: Word! What’s on the horizon from DJ Rhettmatic?

“Hmmmmm…..It seems I got alot on my plate now. Well, of course,
the Crown Royale debut album on Myx Music Label in early 2010.
I also have another project that I do with Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill.
It’s a DJ/Percussion combo. I actually finished an ep with Frank Nitty
(Frank N Dank). I’m doing a producers’ album with J-Rawls
of Lone Catalysts. I got a 10″ single that I did with MED
that The Do-Over is putting out in 2010.”

∆: When you say a “producer’s album”, what do you mean?

“J-Rawls and myself will be doing production together and we will be having artists on the album rocking over the instrumentals that we produced. We already have a song with Trek Life & Kam Moye aka Supastition, Renee Neufville from Zhane.”

∆: Damn, dope.

“Yeah, it’s been an off and on project. We recorded already 5 songs,
we just haven’t had the time to work on it. And of course my work with
the Beat Junkies. Beat Junkie Radio, our NIGHTLIFE events… and maybe, one day, a group album (which we’ve been saying for the last 10 years….LMAO!). Mix cds…etc.”

Massive Thanks To DJ Rhettmatic For Participating In The Q&A!
Be sure to check out Part 2 tomorrow with Buff1!
Big Up!

∆

Peace out people’s with the help of  Andre 3000 (Swagger on 3000 Trillion)  and Big Boi