Sometimes, a slow jam every now and then ain’t bad. R Kelly used to be the master if you ignore all the other stuff. Yeah. He can still hack it on the mic. Though when he and the died way too young Aaliyah teamed up for “At Your Best (You Are Love),” that was great stuff. Aaliyah was awesome. R.I.P.

Chris Brown has that vibe too. His hit song, “With You” is just really special. It seems to get played all the time on Hot 97 and for good reason. The lyrics are good meshing well with the background music. That’s how you get that classic R & B sound. It definitely works.

Guess that’s the kind of mood I’m in. It can’t always be high tempo even for myself.

Chris Brown: “With You“

You can always find great rappers. It’s just that usually the most talented are incognito or dead. At least there’s still Nas and Kanye West. Kind of makes me think sometimes of how truly blessed we were last decade with what the rap game was like.

RIP 2Pac. RIP Biggie. RIP Big Pun AKA Big Punisher. Ah. Another great local product from the NYC representing the Boogey Down. With swicked lyrics, Pun’s 1998 Capital Punishment album went triple platinum. I still got that album on old cassette back in the dinosaur days. Me and the crew used to blast it all the time.

Truth be told, there’s not a bad song on it even though “Still Not A Player” got all the press. Pun and Fat Joe teamed up with cameos from Funkmaster Flex, Busta Rhymes, Prodigy, Miss Jones and Wyclef Jean. 

For Pun, he died young much like Pac and Biggie. However, it wasn’t from a stray bullet but rather from obesity passing away at 28 from a heart attack on February 7, 2000. In some aspect, that’s kind of sadder because if he’d taken better care of himself and stayed on a diet that had him drop 100 pounds, there’s a good chance Pun would still be around doing his thang.

Nobody ever said it was fair but hey. He became a huge star and lived the life many of us could only dream of leaving a legacy. Or like the latest Air Jordan commercial with the message, “Become Legendary,” Pun did. Maybe not to the extent of predecessors Pac and Biggie but certainly was on that path.

His former partner Joe’s still around putting out the occasional big hit. He’s good but doesn’t come close to Pun’s mic skillz. Few were better.

Let’s look at some other big hits from the one and only Pun:

Big Pun: “Beware”

first song on the 1998 album coming strong.

Big Pun: “Twinz (Deep Cover)”

a classic sound with an awesome scene and the words to go with it.

Big Pun: “Twinz (Deep Cover remix)”

another pretty strong remix from gifted youtuber Darkshadez.

Big Pun: “Punish Me”

i still think this track is off da hook. Definitely one of the best songs ever by Pun! With great chorus stuff from Miss Jones. :D

Big Pun: “How We Roll”

You know I’m well known like Al Capone, fully blown like Ton’ Montana
In a zone, sittin on chrome, stoned sippin on cham-pagna

Big Pun: “How We Roll“-Original fea. Ashanti

both are really good but the original is a little livelier and more kids in it. Very cool.

Big Pun: “25 to Life”

pretty deep stuff.

Big Pun: “Whatcha Gon Do”

pretty cool footage and shots. Greatness.

Big Pun: “Capital Punishment”

this is a dope track worth its album title. You can’t always say that for album covers. But hey. It was triple platinum!

I pretty much came to the conclusion that I could listen to all of Pun’s stuff and link it up. That’s how great a rapper he was. Gone but never forgotten. Just like the others.

Given yesterday’s circumstances with the unjust not guilty decision acquitting three NYPD officers of murdering Sean Bell outside a strip club following a bachelor party, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song summing up things in our city.

N.W.A. was one of the best rap groups ever as the outstanding trio of Easy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre teamed up to create an amazing hard core rap sound. As many would attest, quite a few of their hit songs were controversial addressing serious issues they experienced as teenagers in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Compton, California. 

One of their biggest hits was “F*** Tha Police,” off the Straight Outta Compton 1988 release.

You can pretty much figure out what the song was about. I’ll shed more sentiments later on this as well as the Bell case which is a total travesty.

So, you want a successful rap video. Well, these days outside of having notorious rapper Akon or producer Timbaland, tossing a couple of fallen rap legends into a remix of a hit song which was good to begin with ain’t a bad alternative.

Precisely what rapper The Game, 50 Cent and G-Unit Records did with fly track, “How We Do.” How hot was this song? Off the charts as it was blasted before b-ball games in the Bk. A kickass warm-up track for players to say the least along with whatever gangsta shit you could find.

It’s little secret that I’ve always been a diehard 2Pac supporter. So, any song which includes Mr. West Side and former NWA’s Eazy-E I’m all for. With The Game including Eazy’s former sidekick Dr. Dre as well in the mix, it’s just killer. Love Dre. Speaking of which, Snoop Dogg’s coming to Key Span Park this summer too. Yeah. I’ll find my way there.

Now, I’ve seen remix videos before with Pac and the clips are always great even if they’re the same. It just works. Well, to say the least, they did a great job again with California’s Thug Life and Eazy-E. I still maintain that somewhere, Pac’s kicking it with some blunts, hot chicks on a lounge chair by the beach in the Caribbean.

So, what ya think?

Anyway, I’m going to link up both the original and remix because this song is pretty dope.

The Game fea. 50 Cent, Eazy-E, 2Pac: “How We Do Remix”

the footage of Eazy being chased by the police is epic.

The Game fea. 50 Cent: “How We Do”

the start of the original is great with a classic shot of Dre with smoke coming out of his mouth with a car in the background before some dice switch to The Game with even more cool shots before headed out.

I was checking out some cool stuff last night and it got me to thinking about how talented Wyclef Jean actually is. The 35 year-old Haitian who once teamed with control freak Lauryn Hill and Pras as The Fugees has done very well going solo.

He cannot write his own lyrics and sing different styles such as rap, hip hop, rock and reggae but has the ability to play three instruments including guitar, piano and drums.

There’s plenty to respect about the man who calls home in South Orange, New Jersey. Jean’s been very active in giving back to his native country. I think what I admire most is his message in some of his songs as he’s very quick to pay tribute to those less fortunate often shouting out. Something not always seen in the industry.

That said, let’s take a look at some of his best tracks including recent big hit “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)” featuring Akon, Lil’ Wayne and Niia off his 2007 album Carnival Vol. II Memoirs Of An Immigrant.

Wyclef Jean: “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) ”

a very well constructed song/video about the everyday struggles of a girl who gets deported. Akon references Wu Tang Clan’s notorious 1994 hit C.R.E.A.M. with his “Like Wu, Cash rules everything around me” during the chorus.

Wyclef Jean: “Riot (Trouble Again)“-Live in Dallas, Texas

this is most excellent. Very powerful message in the words too.

Wyclef Jean: “President”

this is a live version at the University of San Francisco which took place last month as he references Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during a very strong performance. His guitar playing is extremely good in this. This song has a rock/reggae feel which can appeal to almost any music fan out there.

Wyclef Jean: “Fast Car”

When that fast car picks you up

You will have no choice

You may hear the tires scream

But you will have no voice

Sweet sixteen I see them leaving the scene

Crossing the street she won’t see seventeen

Wyclef Jean: “Gone Till November”

nice tribute here.

Wyclef Jean fea. Mary J. Blidge: “911”

just a great song in which he and Mary J. Blidge combine for an ultra cool sounding track.

Today, I feel like taking a look back at some old rap tunes which were good in their heyday. A different style of rap. So let’s just get to it:

Craig Mack: “Flava In Ya Ear”

remember this one? A pretty solid track. Craig Mack was sporting the cool Tampa Bay Lightning jersey. In listening to him rap, he kinda sounds a little like DMX. Go figure.

Public Enemy: “911 is a Joke”

this video has to be one of the most comical hands down. So much going on. Classic Flavor Flav! :rofl:

Public Enemy: “Fight The Power”

a classic throwback with a powerful message. It was prominently featured in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing.

Public Enemy: “Give It Up”

another epic Public Enemy track. People forget just how good they really were.

Public Enemy: “Rebel Without A Pause”

listen to Chuck D on this as he just rips it up on the mic! He had a great style.

Is there such a thing as a perfect song? Many rock critics would scoff at that notion. Even the most talented musicians can never satisfy everyone.

As an avid music fan who appreciates many different genres, I’m not one of those cynics who rains down on everything like a violent thunderstorm. Like most out there, I certainly have my favorites even if it can be a wide selection ranging from classic rock, heavy metal, alternative, pop, R & B, reggae to rap/hip hop and oldschool.

There’s just so much out there which makes music so great. This isn’t your favorite sports team which can just “Crash and Burn” (cue the lyrics from Savage Garden) breaking your heart. However, at the same time, great bands break up a lot which can be just as gutwrenching for legions of supporters.

My all-time favorite rock band has always been Guns N’ Roses. Combining an amazing rock n’ roll heavy metal sound with memorable lyrics sung by Axl Rose’s raspy voice, they truly had everything a diehard rock fan could want. From the eccentric frontman’s high pitched screech to Slash’s ridiculous guitar solos while wearing a top hat and smoking a cigarette, GNR was the kind of group which just totally kicked ass and took names.

While there shall always remain lots of discussion about how the band’s biggest two icons clashed leading to its demise, you can’t ever exclude the other three original members Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar/backup vocals), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) as each were very gifted and helped combine to formulate one of the great sounds of the late 1980’s to early 1990’s.

“It’s So Easy” (no pun intended-really) to cite numerous songs which became huge hits which are still played on rock stations today as if the original band is still together. It’s been over a decade approaching Use Your Illusion II hit “14 Years” since they ripped up arenas creating plenty of chaos along the way courtesy of the unpredictable Axl.

Whether it’s great tracks from Appetite For Destruction, the Illusions or the much overlooked GNR Lies, you can’t really go wrong.

They not only made great music which grew timeless but some memorable videos as well which frequently were at or near the top of MTV’s Top 20 Countdown (before the station turned its back on music). Songs such as “Patience,” “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City” became iconic.

Perhaps maybe the most complete GNR song with a totally amazing video was “November Rain.”

If you’ve ever heard or seen it (who hasn’t), then you know how much time and money was put into the making of it. This probably was where Axl lost his bandmates going way overboard when it came to the making of their videos.

Still, if you liked art, then November Rain off Use Your Illusion I had plenty of it almost morphing into a mini-movie featuring then Axl girlfriend Stephanie Seymour at what was supposed to be their wedding only to turn into a funeral complete with what else but a “cold November rain.”

In many ways, a song Axl actually wrote back in 1983 with LA Guns was perfect foreshadowing of the whole Chinese Demoracy escapade which is now at least a decade running without ever being released. If ever there was a symbolic quote, it’s this gem from then Guns’ founding member Tracii Guns:

“When we were doing that EP for L.A. Guns, like ‘83? He was playing “November Rain” — and it was called “November Rain” — you know, on piano. Way back then. It was the only thing he knew how to play, but it was his. He’d go, “Someday this song is gonna be really cool.” And I’d go, “It’s cool now.” “But it’s not done”, you know, he used to say. And, like, anytime we’d be at a hotel or anywhere, there’d be a piano; he’d just kinda play that music. And I’d go, “When are you gonna finish that already”, you know? And he’d go, “I don’t know what to do with it.”

Well, it only took eight years. Starving GNR fans who have seen the new act which is actually quite good could only dream because then Democracy would’ve been out already. There’s been enough leaks to feed the hungry in South Africa and other third world countries.

So, will it ever come out? What do you think?!?!?!?!?!

In the mean time, kick back and enjoy one of the all-time great orchestrated videos complete with conductor:

Guns N’ Roses: “November Rain”

Some of the poetic words to a masterpiece:

I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time…on my
own
Sometimes I need some time…all alone
Everybody needs some time…
on their own
Don’t you know you need some time…all alone

Maybe Chinese Democracy will never come out as already stated here and on plenty of GNR fan sites by frustrated Gunners but songs such as November Rain truly do last forever.

It’s been kind of a lazy Sunday where I didn’t get much accomplished. Watched the Ranger-Devil game which New Jersey got to OT to guarantee themselves home ice in the Battle of Hudson opening round which starts Wednesday night. The Devils took the shootout too.

This isn’t a hockey entry. So I’ll save that for later. This is the video segment where I pick a video or two or three depending on absolutely nothing. Hey. At least I’m honest!

I was looking at some old GNR stuff from when they first started out playing The Roxy. God. Were they something. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with one of their songs. They had IT.

Considering that there’s never much to get excited these days for way too loyal Gunners like myself and younger brother Justin, it’s always cool to watch or listen to their classic stuff. Chinese Democracy is never going to come out. I don’t even know why Axl toured the past couple of years with the new talented band. I mean what’s the point? I went to some great concerts but if the album is never going to be released, it just seems like we’re being strung along.

I got a Santana concert coming up this Tuesday at MSG the night before the NHL playoffs. So that should be great since I’ve always been a fan of him. I’ll post a review at the appropriate time.

In any event, I thought I’d change it up this time and go with a Timbaland song I like entitled, “Apologize.”

It’s been played plenty on Hot 97.1. So I’m sure many will know it. It’s not the longest track but the words work taking on strong meaning and the video itself is pretty weird. Interesting to say the least.

Timbaland fea. One Republic: “Apologize”

A few of the dope lyrics:

I’m holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
And I’m hearing what you say but I just can’t make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you’re sorry
Didn’t think I’d turn around, and say…

I need to run out and figure out what’s for dinner plus another errand. Maybe I’ll do some more video stuff after.

See ya around.

A decade ago, Busta Rhymes had some hot sh*t out. Along with a unique hip hop sound, he put out some ridiculous videos which were off the charts.

I don’t know what was better. “Dangerous” or “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See.” Both were and still are awesome in their own right.

Busta Rhymes: “Dangerous”

This is seri—-ous

We could make you deliri—ous

You should have a healthy fear of us

Cause too much of us is danger—ous

Busta Rhymes: “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”

Do you really want to party with me

Let me see just what you got for me

Put all your hands where my eyes can see

Straight buck wylin in the place to be

If you like that classic oldschool sound, then are you in for a treat today cause I’m in one of those moods to review one of my all-time faves from back in the heyday when sh*t just didn’t matter.

I always dug Method Man’s style. He was just insane on the mic throwing out crazy ass lyrics at a rate faster than Jose Reyes on the basepaths.

Back in 1996, Meth reigned supreme producing some big hits including this favorite track, “You’re All I Need.” With also outstanding vocals from Mary J. Blige, it was a winner. And I like Mary J too regardless of whatever she did in terms of HGH shipments.

The music’s the thing and she’s got one of the best voices.

They also did a remix on this song which became pretty darn big at the club scene. I should know!

They just don’t make dope tracks like this anymore. So do yourself a favor, sit back, relax and enjoy it:

Method Man fea. Mary J. Blidge: “You’re All I Need”

no surprise that the video’s pretty hot as well. Greatness personified.

And here’s another from Meth which is just off the charts:

Method Man: “Release Yo’ Delf”

i remember when some teams used to come out to this. It was this along with The Fugees’ “Fu-Gee La,” and a bunch of other cool stuff.