Song of the Week - Mathematics by Mos Def

I love the concept of this song, every bar being presented in the context of math, numbers, and stats is really novel and I can't say I've seen anything quite like it before. His line delivery and rap flow is, as always, top-tier and really makes the cleverness of each line shine through. Mos Def is easily in my top 5.

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Song of the Week - Le Bien, Le Mal by Guru

This song's use of two different languages, french from MC Solarr and english from Guru is just such a cool concept and is executed expertly. This track is also just plain good, you can tell because I don't even understand french and I don't need to to realize that Solarr's verses are still great.

The entire album, Jazzmatazz, in general is just formed from a great idea, to mix jazz and hip-hop directly. It's no surprise that something like that would come from the mind of Guru, as Gang Starr helped to define jazz rap as we know it.

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Song of the Week - Make You Feel That Way by Blackalicious

I love listening to this song because it really accomplishes what it sets out to do. Every time I listen to it it's just wholesome fun vibes, it does make you "feel that way". The lyrics, while simple, are pleasant and Gift of Gab's delivery is excellent as always. Xcel does a great job on the production, especially the opening to the song which feels like a nice stretch after opening your curtains on a new day.

RIP Gift of Gab, genuinely one the best to ever do it.

Click on the song name to listen on various platforms (including YouTube where you can listen for free)

Song of the Week - Jazz (We've Got) by A Tribe Called Quest

Everything about this song is just so rhythmic and catchy. When this comes on, it's just impossible not to bob your head to the beat. The piano and snare really work so well together to make the beat bouncy, and the saxophone sample is just so soulful. It's really a great example of what makes a good jazz rap song.

Now, while not really relevant to this song in particular, I wanted to talk about how A Tribe Called Quest, and to a greater extent Zulu Nation and Native Tongues, really exemplify what hip-hop is truly about in my mind. It's about really speaking your mind through music. That is not to say that if a song is just catchy with no story or moral it's bad or wrong. What I'm trying to say is that, at its core, hip-hop is about getting your message out there, talking to the people, and expressing yourself, and I think that A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and similar groups really exemplify this, which is what I admire about them so much.

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Song of the Week - Born 2 Live by O.C.

When I first heard this song, I was convinced that the beat was sampled from a Pete Rock & CL Smooth song, and that's saying something. The chorus is really catchy and the song has a nice premise. It's overall just a nice listen. I will definitely be checking out some of O.C.'s other songs.

Click on the song name to listen on various platforms (including YouTube where you can listen for free)

Song of the Week - If I Had a Day to Live by Funky DL

I absolutely love the instrumental of this song and it's easily my favorite tracks off of Classic Was the Day. The way the saxophone swells paired along with the looping sampled vocals from Biggie, its just phenomenal production work. Not to mention the entire framing of the song which I also really enjoy. I really do believe that Funky DL is a super underrated producer and artist. In fact, he's still making great music today over 25 years later.

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Song of the Week - Just Begun by Reflection Eternal

I actually found this song pretty recently, but I've been listening to it quite a bit. Between Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Talib Kweli, J. Cole, and Hi-Tek there is some serious talent behind this song.

Honestly there isn't much to dive into about the song, it's a really catchy track that has a bunch memorable lines that I can find myself rapping absent-mindedly.

Don't usually listen to J. Cole but thought his verse was good.

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Song of the Week - Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst by Kendrick Lamar

This song is, one of, if not the best pieces of musical storytelling ever. It excels at making you really feel. When I first listened to GKMC and I got to this track, it was easily the most moved that a piece of music had ever made me. It really exemplifies why GKMC is "a short film". There are so many little clever moments and devices that really just sell the stories being told, and it serves as such a great closer to the entire story/message of the album. Easily one of Kendrick's best works.

Excited to watch the half-time show later today.

Click on the song name to listen on various platforms (including YouTube where you can listen for free)

I just finished updating the homepage for my site!

The homepage I had before was literally the first thing I ever made so it was very poorly made and was not responsive at all, so I've made a new one which also looks a lot cooler.

While you're there, my site also has some old art that I've never posted anywhere else as well as some other cool stuff.

Check it out!

https://doogler.neocities.org

Old homepage for reference: https://doogler.neocities.org/pages/old-home

Song of the Week - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

By the first few seconds of this song, when you hear the saxophone sample from Tom Scott you can already tell the song is going to be a classic. What I really love about it, besides the amazing beat, is the narrative of the song where C.L. explains his family tree and his life. It's just so visual, it feels like flipping through a family photo album. The rest of the album also has some more great songs, so I'd recommend you check it out.

Click on the song name to listen on various platforms (including YouTube where you can listen for free)