Neo-Soul 2 Soul

Since most of the recent Hip Hop releases are floating in the toliet, my playlist has been filled with Neo Soul. 

Male/female duet cuts, especially, have been on heavy rotation. This entry of Tuesday Tunes is dedicated to the Neo Soul pairings that are ruling my headphones at the moment.   Turn up these picks, dance with your sweetpie and just when they least expect it… grab their booty like the perv that you are.

Anthony David, Algebra & Phonte - “4ever More”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQDcJBrLcNQ

This song makes me want to smile and do a back drive into a field of daisies. The “I shine, you shine” (Smif-N-Wessun) and “Forever-ever, forever-ever?” (Andre 3000) Hip-Hop references are a nice touch.  The video looks like they had a ball filming it. Ok, the wardrobe is honestly laughable(Did you see homie’s tux jacket? It looks like he’s wearing it inside out. And does sistagirl have royal blue braids? What the ham sandwich is going on?!)  BUT I love the song.   

 

Jill Scott & Anthony Hamilton - “So in Love with You”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w90V6GDrq9U

 

Well go ‘head Jilly from Philly!  This song feels like an old school classic. Very Al Green-ish, right? Usually Anthony Hamilton’s tone annoys me but I’m really diggin’ his upbeat flow in this one. Definitely my feel-good song for the spring/summer.

Kindred the Family Soul – “Far Away”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdODuw5SZnE

Lovely couple that makes lovely music together. I like a lot of their songs but this is my favorite because I generally feel like this every single day at work. I wanna be like Kindred when I grow up!

Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo – “Nothing Even Matters”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEq3qMLToM

While listening I began thinking about the artists’ careers and that distracted me from lovely excellence of the track.  Lauryn Hill (damn, girl!) … D’Angelo (damn, yo!).  All I can do is shake my head. “It’s funny how money changes situation…”    See my brotha-from-another’s blog re: Lauryn – http://dlt90s.com/2011/01/04/spirit-of-the-boogie/

Sade & Jay-Z – “The Moon and the Sky (remix)”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adOUY8Ue9LU

Sade is my all-time favorite singer so, of course, I had to include this surprise collaboration. What other rapper has enough status and capability to deliver such a grown and sexy vibe?  (Hmmm… Well, Common could have pulled it off. He’s definitely grown and sexy. Umph! hehe)

 Wait a minute! Today’s Tuesday Tunes looks like a playlist from a dimly-lit coffeehouse on “Spoken Word” night. I can smell the damn shea butter and Egyptian musk right now. lol (No disrespect to my poetry peeps. I love yall flaky asses. ) Neo Soul is an awesome genre but I need that KNOCK!  Let’s go, MJB!… 

Mary J. Blige, Diddy and Lil Wayne – “Someone To Love Me”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOGTb9yDsR0

All my peeps know I’ve bumpin’ this song since it was leaked a few months ago and I’m still lovin’ it. Mary’s voice is so powerful that I’ve heard this song a million times but I still feel compelled to throw my hand up like I’m testifying.  I don’t want to seem like I’m one of those people that prefers the “sad Mary” (SN: she’s rumored to be going through a divorce) but I FEEL the pain in her voice and her pain is sounding pretty damn good. This soul aint Neo, this is pure Hip-Hop Soul at its best!

Interesting that no matter how far I stray, I always come back to my first love: HIP-HOP!!!

Kiddie Show Criminals

This Saturday morning my intentions were to sleep late but I was awakened at the @ss crack of dawn by the irritating squeals of my beautiful offspring. Since I’m up I check out some Saturday morning kiddie shows and begin to wonder how many of the show’s stars may have a secret criminal background. Kid show stars are humans too, right? Just because they provide G-rated entertainment doesn’t necessarily mean they have a G-rated lives when they’re off the clock. I’m not one to prejudge but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these peeps appear on the news tonight. Here are some characters I look at with a slightly raised eyebrow.

• Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town

This show is odd anyway but this character is especially disturbing. Why does his chin make me cringe? Robbie seems like he has a secret sex chamber stocked with a variety of nipple clamps and latex bodysuits… WAIT! This pic is suspicious also.

Hmmmm… Ok, the verdict is in. That isn’t a young girl it’s really a 37 year old madame from Russia.

• DJ Lance Rock

Love ya, Lance but I think you are a hustla. But not the typical street corner bum, I can see Lance slangin’ designer drugs to supermodels and moguls from Abu Dubai. Look at that pic. He looks like he’s saying “Pssst, I got that new sh!t, fresh outta the lab. I’m calling it Foofa. ”

• Gordon from Sesame Street

I don’t mean to pick on the few brothas in children’s entertainment but I bet Gordon from Sesame Street is running an illegal afterhours spot. His joint would have liquor flowing all night, a couple C-Low games going, scalawag chicks twerking it and a dude doing tattoos in the back. lol And I just found out Gordon’s real life name is Roscoe. Yep, “Roscoe’s Boom-Boom Room” !

• The Fresh Beat Band …Yes, ALL of them

Initially, I predicted the lanky White guy that calls himself a rapper (“Twist”) would be arrested for getting drunk and streaking but this whole crew looks like they’d let loose at a frat party. The Fresh Beat Band will be featured on the remix of LMFAO and Lil Jon’s ‘Shots’. “Shots, shots, shots….Everybodaaayyy!”

How can I not mention the true kiddie show star con, Paul Reubens, bka Pee Wee Herman

Last weekend I saw “Pee Wee’s Playhouse on Broadway” and enjoyed it! Generation X-ers will enjoy a blast from our past but still get chuckles from the hints of adult humor.

Shoutout to Cowboy Curtis.

He looks like he could hustle suckas in a pool game in Roscoe’s Boom-Boom Room. haha

Tuesday Tunes – Lil’ Less Wayne

 

Young Money and their captain, Lil Wayne, came through town for the “I Am Still Music Tour” Sunday night and it lead me to think of his career over the years. I like some of Wayne’s verses and songs but I wouldn’t consider myself a Tunechi fan.  At one point he was featured in damn near every song played on the radio/video stations and it used to irk the shi!t outta me. It didn’t irritate me because I was hatin’ on his success, it irritated me because some of the songs were perfectly fine without him. It seemed that others felt Wayne was mandatory for a hit and that simply wasn’t the case. The theme of this Tuesday Tunes is:  Songs That Would Still Be Hot Even If Lil Wayne Wasn’t Featured On Them.

1)      “Girls Around The World”  AND  “You”– Lloyd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CGNcLZcnaw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpD-56UqT14

Ok, I don’t dislike Wayne’s verses in these songs but they didn’t NEED Wayne. The tracks are genius old school upgrades accompanied by sweet lyrics. And Lloyd lays the vocals down like butter. Wayne was like a side dish in these songs. 

2)     “I Cant Believe It” – T-Pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBE0sQC5L8

Quick question, what the hayle is he talking about?! I really dig this song (one of my faves from T-Pain) but even Autotune couldn’t make Wayne sound good in this one. He sounds me like a robot with a mouth full of… nevermind.  

3)      “Let It Rock” – Kevin Rudolf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0n4eMGXAyk

Everyone that knows me knows that my music preferences include Pop music. I sometime listen to “mix” stations so I was familiar with the song and already liked it before I heard the one that included Lil Wayne. After I heard his verse, I didn’t like the song anymore. Annoying delivery and silly ass lyrics. “Wayne’s World/Planet Rock/Panties drop/At the Top…” * blank stare *  Booooooo! And why do rappers wanna be rockers and why do rockers wanna be rappers??

4)      “Turning Me On” – Keri Hilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNvbS0XUZWU

Miss Keri was a budding solo artist and I’m sure everyone thought she needed Wayne on this track to get herself established in the game. It may have worked but it seems like he didn’t want to ‘waste’ his good material on her cut.

5)      “Look At Me Now” – Chris Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gyLR4NfMiI

Hold on. Wayne is in this song? Damn, after Busta smashed his verse I forgot about Weezy F.  haha

[SN: I predict that Chris Brown’s album sales will be through the frickin’ roof. He’s got 50-leven blazing singles already. Hell, I almost never buy new music but I’ll make an exception and cop F.A.M.E. ]

 As I said I like some stuff by Weezy F. Baby so I will include my favorite features:

1)      “Fireman”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y0ChoYgSek

This is by far my favorite Lil Wayne song. Many would say Wayne rose to one of the top rappers with “A Millie”. Not hating on A Millie. It’s a good song (well, aside from the “every woman is sour” lyric. That part is gay to me.) but “Fireman” was my ish.  [SN: VEVO is so f'in’ huff! Not only did they edit this video but did they blur out a butt that was wearing a thong? Seriously?! lol]

2)      “We Takin’ Over” – DJ Khaled

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9g2szHsoz0

Yoooooo! Wayne massacred this one. Shining on a track with T.I., Rick Ross and Fat Joe is a pretty impressive feat. (Birdman doesn’t count. haha) When the song first dropped, I would rewind just his verse. Yeah he ‘kilt’ it!  Oh and props to Akon for owning the chorus.

3)      “Shine” – The HotBoys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxvkdhoHVWg

Am I the only one that misses the Hotboys??? I want a reunion! Yes, with Juve, my boy Manny Fresh and even BG and Turk.  Lol … Anyway, during the Hotboys reign Juvenile got most of the fame but Birdman Jr. stepped up to the plate with this one.  “All these karats like I’mma fuckin’ vegetarian… Dog, I got cake like everyday my birthday.”  Haha! With word play like that how could you not love that kid?

Fin. 

P.S. Ok, ok. I’ve gotten some friendly beef from peeps that are mad at me for only posting music on Tuesday and not blogging about “EVERYTHING and NOTHING” like I used to. The truth is I’m too busy to blog more frequently. It’s not that I don’t have plenty of material to sound off about. * whew * I have pleeennnnttty to say but unfortunately, I don’t have plenty of time to match.  But anyway, thank you to all, ummm, seven of you that actually take time to visit this blog. lol * BIG HUGS*

Tuesday Tunes – Bob’s Big Hair

As a child, I remember the occasions that my moms would take me out to eat at what I thought were ‘real restaurants’. One location I remember was Bob’s Big Boy on Loch Raven and Taylor (which is now IHOP). That restaurant chain has been gone from Bmore for eons but the image of that little chubby kid is still embedded into my mind.

While watching several videos I noticed a trend of artists jackin’ Big Boy’s hairstyle. This Tuesday Tunes is dedicated to artists that were so daring with their hair that they didn’t mind looking like Bob’s Big Boy in their videos… and the songs are pretty cool too!

 

El Debarge – Lay With You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2ItWYzbSw

I’m impressed by El’s comeback. The grown and sexy yet fun vibe of his latest work is right in the middle of the bubblegum “Rhythm of the Night”-El  and the sing your panties off in “Secret Garden”-El. However that hairstyle made me question whether he fell off the wagon when he shot this video. All jokes aside, El looks and sounds GREAT.

 

Fantasia – Doin’ Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6EVk2yHTk

Wowers ‘Tasia! How can you hate someone that can rock a hightop fade and a french roll at the SAME time?! That’s amazing! LOL … Oh but I must say that her makeup is gorgeous in this video. She looks really cute. Bangin’ shoes too!

 

Chrisette Michelle – What You Do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAM0BAn9Fro&feature=relmfu

*too busy staring at “Derwin” to comment*

 

Janelle Monae – Tightrope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc

Who says weird chicks cant dance? Ok, she’s crazy but she’s a musical genius and on the floor she gets it IN! Her footwork is mean!

 

Bruno Mars – Grenade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs

Not only did Bruno share the stage with Janelle at the Grammy’s they apparently also share the same beautician.  What did the world do before Bruno Mars? Isn’t this dude, EVERY-damn-WHERE nowadays?!  Turn on Mix 106, there he is. Turn on VH1, there he is. Turn on the Soul Train Awards, there he is! Others current music stars make headlines by going to jail and living in a giant egg for two days but Bruno is sneaking in from the sidelines for a takedown. Watch!

Pancakes, love and bacon grease!

P.S. Is it me or does VEVO frickin’ suck?

Tuesday Tunes – “The Queens from Queens”

Since I recently had the pleasure of meeting two of my Hip Hop heroines, this Tuesday Tunes entry is dedicated to them.  Give it up for the Showstoppas…

SALT-N-PEPA

 

Yes, we all love their hits “Push  It”, “Let’s Talk about Sex” and “Whatta Man” but, let’s be real, we’ve heard those songs enough to last a lifetime. I’ll give props to some lesser known S-N-P songs that came to mind.

-My Mic Sounds Nice
http://new.music.yahoo.com/salt-n-pepa/tracks/my-mic-sounds-nice–793519
This is probably my favorite S-N-P song. Delivery is crisp, lyrics are sassy and clever, and the track is jumpin’ (Some of the earliest Go-Go used in Hip Hop).  
Fun fact: “Hot, Cool, and Vicious” is the first album I bought with my allowance money. Haha I got it from Kozy Korner (remember that joint?) and I actually had to sneak and buy it because my mother banned me from listening to “Push It”. Haha

Yes, they autographed the actual cassette tape that I bought in ’88. This ancient artifact should be hanging in a museum or something.

 

-Everybody Get Up                                                 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KokcxYENvHM&NR=1&feature=fvwp
This cut is hot but the video is special to me because as a preteen I used to rehearse the dance steps with my friends. (*smh*) Nothing says cool like ripped jeans, leather jackets and meeting in a dark alley to have a dance battle. LOL

-None of Your Business
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q96-e042bk
This one isn’t one of my favorites but I just felt like telling people to MIND YOUR BUSINESS! ha

 

Shoutouts to the female Rap groups that were ‘inspired’ by S-N-P  back in the day(I’m not going to say they were bitin’ but in some cases the shoe fits) : 

Finesse and Synquis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYt9nbatek0&feature=related (audio)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn0nlgMb6Fo&feature=related (video from Video Music Box. Wowww)

JJ Fad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3nPLoODtGU

Sylk Times Leather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJFT2H_numA&feature=related
Hold up… Did these chicks sample “Push It” in the first verse? Violation!

If you don’t realize that Salt-N-Pepa were one of the most influential groups in Hip Hop you need to be slapped with a big ass dookie rope chain.

School’s out!

Tuesday Tunes – 90′s Dancehall HipHop

While unwinding for the night, I had my playlist on shuffle and landed on Mad Lion’s “Shoot To Kill”. After I threw my hands in the air while making a seriously ugly mug, I remembered the wonderful genre of Dancehall Hip Hop.  

When I was regularly blogging I’d do Music Mondays but I’m going to kick off an impromptu “Tuesday Tunes”. (Yeah, I just made that sh!t up. hehe) This weekend’s Tuesday Tunes is dedicated my favorite riddims of Dancehall Hip-Hop (namely of the 90s). To keep this post from being too lenghty I’ll only list a few for now…

Dancehall HipHop heads know that I can’t mention the mighty Mad Lion without mentioning this banger…

Mad Lion “Take It Easy”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1lOyTFsJs
“Too many suckas and not enough time…” I love that line. ha

Immediately the next song that came to mind was a cut from the original Dancehall ‘Don Dada’…

Super Cat “Ghetto Red Hot”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_awAKW445g
The popular version of this song is actually the Hip Hop remix not the original album version. Speaking, of remixes we can thank Super Cat for introducing the video world to Biggie in the remix of “Dolly My Baby” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u5m_LfiXzM

Rayvon “No Guns, No Murder”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RoyID2oQ08

Lil Vicious “Freaks”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy39Sl1i5ls
This joint got me doing the Pepperseed hard! Anyone know how old Vicious is now?

Capleton “Tour”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbPf2bubB5w&feature=related
Dope use of the “Children’s Story” track and also has a good message.

Patra featuring Yo-Yo “Romantic Call”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ2mPlxgoSw
My favorite Patra song is “Queen of the Pack” because she shows she can toast on the mic with the best of ‘em but this one is more Hip Hop. (R.I.P. Pac)

Once again this isn’t my favorite song by this artist but it fits the category of the entry:

Shabba Ranks featuring KRS One “The Jam”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QmnQwjLl_k

All the dancers in the Shabba video reminded me of this one:

Worl-A-Gurl “No Gunshot”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPZjGfuzjD0
LOL! What tha hayle?! … Nice idea, bad execution.

This scary ass dude was kind of a one hit wonder…well this wasn’t really a hit but I loved this cut! :

  Jackal the Bear “For Real”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr-IAjiFmsQ

A little local MD flava. Remember these cats:

Born Jamericans “Boom Shak a Tak”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNqzXAchMGA

Haha @ Prince Dajour(sp?) at WPGC. Nice ponytail!

 

And on that note “Sayonara amigoooooooooo…”

Dollar Store Don’ts

Ok, I’m back to blogging! No big return speech. I’m just jumping back into it. Here we goooo…

My day job caters to children and I’ve made a habit of buying little fun treats like stickers to make the kiddies happy. On my Facebook and Twitters pages I posted about co-workers that take the stickers to decorate their computers/desks instead of leaving them for the kids. (Grrrr!) Before I got overly annoyed by the selfish adult @ssholes at work, I remembered that I bought these particular stickers at a “dollar store” so it’s not that serious. Aren’t dollar store wonderful?  
 

 
Just when I was quietly praising dollar stores for having everything, I began to think about things that probably shouldnt be purchased from there. Yes, dollar stores are blessings for us with tight budgets but there are some products that I’m just not broke enough to buy for $1. This entry is dedicated to…

Top Things NOT to Buy From “The Dollar Store”

Meat and other foods found in the refrigerator – Yes, I’m aware that you can go to a fast food spot and purchase sandwiches for a buck (actually those are also very questionable) but there’s something extra disturbing about a packet of lunch meat that costs a dollar. *cringe *

Condoms – NO…Just no.
(This also applies to the condoms at beauty supplies shops that have no English on the box.)

Toys for a child over 5 – It’s very tempting to pick up cheapo toy from the dollar store especially since the kid is probably just going to break it anyway. But while your pockets will be happy, that child may not be. I’m personally traumatized by memories of bootleg toys. I was given “Farbie” dolls with long ponytails which I soon discovered was completely bald in the middle. Farbies could never fit Barbie’s clothes and shoes right, either. And the most fun was how easily their head and limbs randomly popped off. Don’t torture the child. For the love of God just go to Target!

Razors – You’d be better off taking a butter knife to shave unwanted hair.

Clothing – There aren’t many dollar stores that offer clothing but some do have a small selection of tshirts, socks and/or undergarments. If you are a brave and desperate soul that takes a chance at buying clothes from a dollar store, be sure to buy them ten sizes too big because that sh!t is going to shrink like a ding-a-ling in Antarctica.

 

“Dolla, dolla bill y’alllllllll! “