Kanye and Jay-Z Before "Raise The Throne" : Hopsin, The Game with Keyshia Cole, Trick Daddy

"NEVER LET ME DOWN"   KANYE WEST featuring JAY-Z

On many critic's list of the Top CD's of 2012, appears Raise The Throne, the dual effort of Kanye West and Jay-Z.   But well before the new CD, they teamed up on Kanye's debut "College Dropout" for an inspirational jam that also included John Legend and Tracy Spencer on vocals.  "Never Let Me Down" attacks racism, raises spiritual questions, and promotes family and staying true to who you are.   Easily one of the top rap songs of the last decade, no violence, just a motivational message of hope.  Remarkably Kanye released five singles on this CD:  Slow Jamz, All Falls Down, Through The Wire, Jesus Walks, and The New Workout Plan....but  I think he left off one of his best!

"ILL MIND OF HOPSIN 5"  HOPSIN

Blown away listening to Hopsin's flow even from the hysterical opening line:  "Man I hate rap, but if the shoe fits wear it".   Put on some early Eminem such as "Brain Damage or "Role Model" and you can see so many similarities with the intelligent rhymes, attitude, and even the unique rapping style they both use.   Marcus Hopsin has been a YouTube sensation with his "Ill Mind of Hopsin" songs.   This is version #5 and at this time has over 15,000,000 views!  Great theme of how some youth today place style over knowledge, as Hopsin states "brainwashed by a fake life".  Key lyric:  "but you still out there in the streets thinking you're as hot as can be, without the knowledge to lead, so you just follow like sheep".  Soon, he'll be a household name like that white rapper out of Detroit, what's his name?  Special Thank You to Sarah for introducing me to this song, it comes dedicated to Sarah by her mom!

"GAME'S PAIN"  THE GAME with KEYSHIA COLE

West Coast rapper, The Game, has always recognized the old school rappers who paved the way for his career.  He takes it to the ultimate level with "Game's Pain", probably the greatest name-dropping song of all-time.  Over 20 rappers are mentioned by name or alluded to in the lyrics including LL Cool J, Biggie, Nas, Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane (who both appear in the video).   Keyshia Cole sings the hook and drives around in a souped up lowrider in the video.  One of the most popular videos of 2008, it went straight to #1 on BET.   Fun Fact about Game (he's dropped "The"), this song comes from his LAX C.D. and by only 13 CDs, he beat out Slipknot for #1 in August 2008, the smallest difference ever between the top two selling discs.

 
"TAKE IT TO DA HOUSE"  TRICK DADDY

Memories of the early 90's at the Orange Bowl in Miami, the crowd going wild over a Miami Hurricanes touchdown.  The stadium speakers were blasting "Take It To Da House" by Miami's own, Trick Daddy and The Slip-N-Slide Express.   A party anthem that samples KC & The Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes" and James Brown's "The Boss".   Trina adds a killer verse midway.  You know the party has officially started when you hear the horn section and those words, "Callin my peoples all across the world, This song goes out to all the boys and girls".

Looking Back, June 13th Songs That Trigger Memories, Where Were You?: Jay-Z and Mr Hudson, Gym Class Heroes, Dirty Vegas, George Michael

Music triggers so many memories.   During his recent concert, Kenny Chesney said, "Music might be the most powerful thing we have in our life.   Just hearing a song can remind us so deeply of those moments that changed our lives".    Here's a list of Top 10 singles and memories through the years.

"YOUNG FOREVER"    JAY-Z and MR HUDSON

Top 5 single in June 2010 (2 years ago).    Just about a month before I heard this song, a friend named Tunde told me about a favorite song from the 80's called "Forever Young" by Alphaville.   Of course, I knew Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart's similarly titled song but never heard of this 80's dance track.   No sooner do I hear the original then I hear one of my favorite MC's, Jay-Z, reinvent it! Jay did more than sample the song, he got Mr Hudson to lay down the track with him.   It's a perfect blend of modern hip hop, modern alternative pop, and the kind of feel-good message that I love!   Our bodies may get older but our spirit should always stay "forever young", I know that is my goal.

"CUPID'S CHOKEHOLD"    GYM CLASS HEROES and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy
Top 3 single 5 years ago today!    Do you remember what was happening in your life then?   This song was a favorite of my girlfriend at the time, she loved the beat, the cute lyrics about cooking pancakes for her guy, and who can resist the chorus of "take a look at my girlfriend, she's the only one I've got".    This ex-girlfriend has since married, had a son, and life is going great!   People cross each other's lives for a reason and it's incredible when you can sincerely be so happy for someone seeing their lives reach the potential they deserve.    Trivia:  who is being sampled on this song?    70's English rockers, Supertramp and their hit, Breakfast In America.

"DAYS GO BY"       DIRTY VEGAS

Ten Years Ago Today, Dirty Vegas hit the charts with this electronic dance smash.   Electronica, drum machines, and techno used to be so ultra-repetitive and cold, impersonal, and lifeless that I described it as "headache music".   Thankfully, this style has improved through the last decade.   One of my first favorites was this song I first saw in a commercial.  It became a summer jam that year, I remember playing it on the way to Busch Gardens, heading to Redington Shores Beach, playing basketball in Largo, a road trip to Orlando, feel-good favorite!   I bought my first house that fall, ten years ago, and it will be paid off in February!!

"I WANT YOUR SEX"      GEORGE MICHAEL

25 YEARS AGO this week this was in the top 10.    My memory of this song is actually 24 years ago.   Two of my best friends in Wisconsin were going on a road trip to Florida and invited me along.  This was my dream destination!    When we finally reached the Sunshine State, we headed to Clearwater Beach.   Traffic jam over the Memorial Causeway Bridge and the car ahead of us was filled with 4 of the hottest girls we ever saw (they don't make them like that in Wisconsin, or so we thought at the time).   They had their trunk open, giant house speakers in the back, and they BLASTED this George Michael CD.   The cars was bouncing from the bass!    Needless to say, two months later I left the arctic tundra of Wisconsin and moved to Florida.

Charity Singles: Lauryn Hill with Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, Bono, Rihanna, and John Cougar Mellancamp

"EVERY NATION"   RED HOT R&B ALL-STARS

Princess Diana's death in August 1997 caught the world off-guard.  The beautiful Princess of Wales was young, vibrant, a role model to many young woman, and a humanitarian world leader in charity work.  Diana posthumously received a Nobel Prize for her work in campaigning to ban landmines.   Her tragic death in Paris created a variety of tributes including the biggest selling record of all-time, Elton John's rewrite of Candle In The Wind.   R. Kelly contributed a song to her tribute CD and got Lauryn Hill, Gerald Levert, and Mary J. Blige to contribute.   All of these records raised more money to continue Diana's philanthropic causes.  "Every Nation" is AMAZING!   It never got publicity so if you missed it, enjoy!

"STRANDED (Haiti Mon Amour)"  JAY-Z, BONO, RIHANNA

A friend of mine is originally from Haiti and she has family still living there.  Imagine the horror to hear in Nov 2010 of the massive earthquake that leveled a major portion of the Caribbean island.  The Haitians needed major help and it was great to see some major music artists jump up and help out in the best way they could, using their musical talents to generate lots of charity money for this dire situation.  "We're not going to leave you stranded" was the hookline, Bono and The Edge created.   By the end of the day, producer Swiss Beatz, enlisted Jay-Z and Rihanna to join the collaboration.    The song may feel a little rushed but you can feel their passion and commitment to the cause.

  
"RAIN ON THE SCARECROW"   JOHN COUGAR MELLANCAMP

The American farmer had hit hard times in the mid-1980's.  Major farming corporations were taking over and hundreds of hard working American farming families were going bankrupt, unable to compete with big business.   Foreclosures were becoming an epidemic.   John Mellancamp teamed up with Neil Young and Willie Nelson to start the Farm Aid concerts.   They are on their 26th year and have raised close to $40 Million dollars to help the U.S. small family farmers.  

Which Celebrity Sat Next To Me? Jay-Z, Fergie, R Kelly, Melky Sedeck

"BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY (Extended)"       FERGIE

I've got the greatest Fergie story!    So I'm in the 2nd row for Christina Aguilera & Justin Timberlake's big tour in 2003.    I'm sitting right by the stage and the 4 prime seats to the left of me are vacant for the opening act and Christina.   The opening act was the Black Eyed Peas.   They hadn't hit it big yet and their first big hit currently on the charts was "Where Is The Love" featuring Justin.    Near the end of Christina's set, 3 guys and a short girl with big MC Hammer hip hop pants sit next to us in the 2nd row.    They looked so familiar  :)   I'm sure you can guess, who I got to meet that night!

"YOU MUST LOVE ME"             JAY-Z

From Jay-Z's second CD, In My Lifetime Vol. 1, a hardcore autobiographical track from one of the most intelligent MC's of all-time.   Jay doesn't pull any punches here, documenting his childhood mistakes, check out the opening line to his mom:  "Since my date of birth  brought you nothing but hurt."    Kelly Price is a guest vocalist and takes the song to church with her appeals for forgiveness.    This isn't the GQ, High Roller, Beyonce-marrying Jay-Z, this is the raw MC with intense Brooklyn street rhymes written right after his friend, Biggy, died.   Even if you're not into rap, you've got to appreciate the open, bold intensity of this track.

"BURN IT UP"  (Ft. Wysin and Yandell)           R.KELLY

Robert (R.) Kelly is one of the most underrated superstars in R&B.   Yes, he's famous for many chart topping hits but he's mainly known for his mega-hit "I Believe I Can Fly", his soap opera epic "Trapped In The Closet" and his bizarre criminal accusations.  But at the heart of the matter, R. Kelly is a brilliant, creative producer and performer extraordinaire.    Robert is a classic throwback R&B artist, at the same time he's written some of the most beautiful gospel-tinged epics, and he's not afraid to be creative and mix it up with new genres.   Here he does an amazing song combining hip hop with hardcore reggaeton!   

"BROOKLYN"    MELKY SEDECK

From the HBO Film, Disappearing Act, starring Wesley Snipes and Sanaa Latham, comes this dramatic piano ballad.    Even though the lyrics are heartbreaking, Melky's performance is hopeful and inspiring.     Melky is Wyclef Jean's sister so I'm surprised she didn't become a big star.