Hey Mama

It's bad enough that I'm browsing ONTD and watching the GRAMMYS, but Kanye decided to rob me further of my manhood and made me tear up a bit during his performance tonight. I am now going to go to the movies to watch the new Rambo and then I'll stop by the gym to LIFT SOME WEIGHTS while listening to Wu-Tang.

(Edit: i goofed the headline and the tag the first time this was posted, so go ahead and shoot me)

The Grammys

Music's biggest award show aired tonight (and is actually still running on the west coast) and even if this wasn't my personal favorite year for music, there's still quite a few things worth mentioning. The thing I like about The Grammys, and all award shows for that matter, is that it introduces the masses to something that people might have looked over otherwise. Because of the Grammys, some of our favorite artists like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys got the mass attention they needed to really put their careers into high gear, so even if it is just an award that stimulates money for big companies, it does in turn do the public a service by showing them these artists and the amazing work they do.

I know that most readers of this blog are tired of Amy Winehouse and her oh so played out song "Rehab" but man she is an amazing artist. Her work received a ton of acclaim tonight, leaving with Grammys for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and more. I'd also like to point out that the producer of that album Mark Ronson also won for Best Producer of the Year, and if you haven't heard his work on Back to Black or his own album then you should really check it out. Credit also goes out to Kanye West for wins under Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album. My personal wish was that Justice win for Best Electronic album, but it's okay.

The full list of winners can be found here, now go out there and listen to music.

Top 11 Songs to Start Your Day

In an homage to Spinal Tap, the following 11 songs are my favorite tunes to get me goin in the morning. Some of these songs just make me feel like the day is gonna be good or that for some reason, the rest of the day will be better or bigger than the mundane routine that I'm used to. The rest of them are just fucking intense and wake me the up while I'm on my way to school so that I can sit through lecture for a couple hours.

11. Guns N' Roses - Welcome To the Jungle

This song is awesome, the kind of song that makes you wanna kill someone during a football game. The guitar riff that starts the intro is probably one of the most recognizable bits of music to the American ear. Unfortunately, because it's such a great sports song, it's also probably one of the most overplayed songs in stadiums across the country. This is especially annoying when Gilette Stadium is blasting it while the Patriots are running the ball down our throats. A good song nonetheless...

10. KRS One - Step Into a World

BUKU! BUKU!



This is probably KRS One's most recognizable song and what I have to say does little to pay proper tribute to one of hip-hop's finest emcees. But his forceful delivery on a sharp and percussive beat in this song does as good as Folgers in the morning.


9. The Killers - All These Things That I've Done



The Killers are a personal favorite of mine dating back to high school, and this is probably my favorite song of theirs. The solo bass line with the "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier" mantra is one of my favorite white music moments. The whole song has that "anthem" quality that I look for in a lot of rock songs.


8. Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul

This song has one of the most recognizable first lines in hip-hop that you've probably heard in about a million other songs. Rakim just kills it on this song and it's probably my favorite of all of Eric B.'s beats. A realistic sounding drum kit with real fills in a hip-hop song is always a bonus for me.


7. A Tribe Called Quest (w/ Leaders of the New School) - Scenario

"Raow! Raow! Like a dungeon dragon!"

The bass line is just 3 notes but it really makes this song. All the verses are dope but this is probably my favorite Busta Rhymes verse. And for some reason I just want to play basketball after hearing this song, that's how black it makes me feel.


6. Journey - Don't Stop Believing


One of the most recognizable keyboard intros in popular music, that beginning keyboard riff, the guitar solo, and lyrics are all awesome. This song has a way of making you feel like something epic is about to take place, even if you're just on your way to work, or about to eat dinner (Sopranos anyone?). I've decided to put the Zoo cover version up, just as an excuse to highlight Arnel Pineda and Filipino people again.



5. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit


Vh1's #1 song of the 90's, and probably deservedly so. The opening guitar riff is so awesome. My favorite aspect of this record is the contrast in intensity between the verses and the balls out chorus. The song doesn't just have an anthem quality, it's pretty much the anthem for disgruntled youth everywhere.


4. Jay-Z - Can I Live

"I'd rather die enormous than live dormant that's how we on it"



Jigga's verses are all tight, but the horns on the beat really make the song. Horns on the beat of a rap song always give it a larger than life quality (Roc Boys?) and this song definitely makes me feel like I'm a part of something bigger than myself.

3. Kanye West - Jesus Walks

"I wanna talk to God but we ain't spoke in so long"


If horns make a hip-hop song larger than life, then a choir and strings makes the song truly epic. If I didn't look so stupid, I would do Kanye's Jesus Walk all the way to campus with this song blastin on my iPod. This song pretty much sums up how every young Catholic or Christian feels with so much temptation in the world and conflict in our hearts.


2. The Who - Baba O Riley

"Teenage Wasteland..."


I would say about 75% of the time I always find old school synthesizers to be pretty cheesy in a song. I would also say most of the remaining 25% are songs by The Who. The keyboards on this song are so great and thematic and the synths work as a great drone against the rest of the song. The song was a great fit for the "Invincible" trailer and it's the kind of the song that gives you confidence before a big day.

1. Rick Ross f. Young Jeezy & Jay-Z - Hustlin' (remix)



One thing that all of these songs have in common is a great intro. I pretty much listen to this song just for the intro. The remix is dope because you have two rappers with some of the realest stories in the games rappin' about what they know best. Kat Williams nails his routine on this song, you could do anything whether its walking to school, chillin at the library or flippin burgers at McDonalds and you're gonna feel 10x better about yourself.

So...am I an idiot? Did I leave any of your favorites out? Give me props or shit on me in your comments.