Songs of the Week

Stan (Live) - Eminem Ft. Elton John

The Dido version is just fine but these days this recording of the live 2001 Grammy performance with Elton John handling hook duty is in constant rotation. Easily one of the best hip-hop songs of all time, the intensity and emotion is maintained, maybe even enhanced live and John's keys add a slightly different but welcome punch-up to the beat. Plus the unexpectedness of these two collaborating makes the whole thing quietly colossal.


Is That Your Chick? - Memphis Bleek & Jay-Z Ft. Missy Elliott & Twista

Been awhile since you heard this one hasn't it? This has been popping up in shuffle like it's new recently. Classic rap at its misogynistic best. The Jiggaman, while being one of the coolest people alive, also has something of a mean streak, highlighted the most in this instance. Knowing what we know now--Jay fucked Nas's baby mama (mean streak)--this song is without a speculative, gossip-mongering doubt three verses of thinly veiled I-took-your-girl shots missiles at Nas. Just vicious. And if you think Jay didn't [try to] take care of his Roc fam, here's a prime example of why you're wrong, as he gifts this to Young Memphis the apprentice to use as his own single. It's also a prime example of why I scratch my head during the frequent Bleek trashing here and there. Of course Hova flows on this the nastiest, obviously, but Bleek does damn good too: "Close the door/act like you been in a drop-top on the open road before/fix your weave, then fix me/ever gave head doin 160?" Fuck the haters Memph, I'm checking for your comeback. Just make sure you kick it off with something as flame as this.

Songs of the Week

West Coast - Coconut Records

Homesick just when I thought I was sick of home. Oh, wait...from New Jersey. Oh well, the PCH sounds like a much better place to be right now. Some day, perhaps.




What We Know - Miles Fisher

Miles is a struggling actor with an uncanny resemblance to Christian Bale AND Tom Cruise, whose credits include Superhero Movie and an upcoming [yet another] Final Destination sequel. Soooo yeaaaa, not doing too hot. He also sings, and while I can't really lay claim to his acting skills yet it's a real shame that he's flying under the radar in this field because he's got a great voice. He has an EP with a great cover of previous Song of the Week, Talking Heads' "This Must Be the Place" (Youtube the video, you'll see what I mean about that Christian Bale comparison), and this song, which is admittedly pop as hell and a little...odd. But I love it, and for some reason it's been in constant rotation this week. Enjoy.

Songs of the Week

Change Is Gonna Come - DMX
*So apparently the Sam Cooke sample got this taken down. Listen here: http://www.thelifefiles.com/2011/02/07/new-dmx-change-is-gonna-come-prod-by-swizz-beatz/
If you really fuck with it, leave your email in the comments*


Is this real life? DMX actually sat down in between jail bids (he's currently serving out a year for GodKnowsWhatThisTime; his 7th or 8th term) and made a song? A decent...wait, a HOT song? How? Is it 2001 ? Credit Swizz Beatz for being a good friend. You can't keep a grown man clean but throw him a good beat, lock him in the studio and that old greatness might resurface. I was quite skeptical when this dropped a couple weeks ago as part of Swizzy's weekly #MonsterMondays fake ass G.O.O.D. Friday free music initiative. Fast forward a few minutes later and I'm actually downloading it. Then fast forward to the other day, when I played it like 12 times in as many hours. My cynicism is warranted, for those who aren't in the know regarding how Dark Man X spends his time these days. He hasn't released an album in almost five years now. In that time span not a single loosey either, and if so it was so bad I mentally blocked it. Add the fact that he's probably spent more time in prison than his actual home, assuming he hasn't sold it for crack money. But man the lyrics...aren't terrible. Far from it. (Not perfect either though: "Industry's moving in a different direction/kinda like a bitch with an erection" ...*Shrug*) Can X get clean and pull a Recovery? (To be honest he could probably top Em in bottom of the barrel woe-was-me-ness). Let's hope Swizz keeps his man on his toes when he gets out. More like this please.


1997 - Dom Kennedy

"1997, I wrote my first rhyme/'I wanna marry you' is what I told my first dime/had my first drink, rolled my first dime/and I knew I was that nigga for the very first time."
This guy' s next. When he blows remember the Connoisseuraus told you. From the Westside with Love. Download it. That is all.

Songs of the Week

*Songs plural because at 4420 and counting you simply can't choose one*


Pandemonium - Rick Ross Ft. Meek Mill & Wale

The Boyz in the Hood intro is too cool. When you hear Ricky Rozay's now trademark Australian chick whispering "Maybach Music" before the beat drops you can't help but get excited and thankfully the track lives up to it. A sick beat that's mercifully NOT produced by some double L dude from the South that you may have heard of. Ross continues to step up his bars ("Armadillo cigars, killers who like to play golf/heroin transactions with Russian shots of the Smirnoff") and with recent Maybach Music Group signees Wale and Meek Mill proves that he may be able to pull off a hot label after all, cause those Triple C's dudes are not it (Don't know what I'm talking about? Exactly).  He already proved he was here to stay after managing to steal some summer spotlight for himself from Drake and Eminem last year; I'm already excited to see what the Boss has in store for 2011.

And to highlight my eclecticism...

This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - The Talking Heads

Not much to say about this besides it being one of the best songs of all time. Yea, I said it. Been banging this for the past two weeks like it was new or something [1983]. Enjoy. Peep the cover by Miles Fisher too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G29d6RDSK1c