From Toronto, With Love

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Stacy's mom really had it going on

I don't know about you guys but this song has got to be one of the songs that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It is unforgettable, it's funny and it's pretty melodic.

The music video, directed by Chris Applebaum, features numerous comedic acts demonstrating a boy's efforts to get closer to his girlfriend’s mother, played by the stunning-goddess-like Rachel Hunter. Also, the music video and song pay homage to The Cars, rock band that emerged in the late 1970’s, and their song, “Just What I Needed”.

I hope I really surprised you with this one, what can I say? I’m never going to let go to these moments of music.

Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom

The Cars - Just What I Needed

Monday, January 10, 2011

Throwback: The Pimp Juice Era

I don't know about some of you but my favourite rapper used to be Nelly. I didn't exactly find him lyrical, the deepest or heck even just the best out there but I knew one thing, he made good music that I can have a good time too.

I was a white little boy with minimal knowledge of the English language wearing clothes from Goodwill but I loved the sound he had. His music is forced by some unforgettable hooks and nonsense verses that you couldn't help but love.

I actually believe Nelly changed commercial hip hop for the fact that he was singing on his songs and that's when the Ja Rule Era spawned. It should really be called The Pimp Juice Era because Nelly dictated the billboards and the clubs. When I come to think about it, Nelly came into the game with his own sound and when they greeted the success so well, everybody was sounding like Nelly. Much like many trends in Hip Hop.

If you are 20 to 25 years old, I will not believe you if you claim that you didn't like these songs.

Nelly - Country Grammar

Nelly & The St. Lunatics - Ride With Me

Nelly & Kelly Rowland - Dilemma

Nelly - Pimp Juice

Nelly - E.I

Nelly & Tim McGraw - Over And Over Again

Nelly - Flap Your Wings

Nelly & Jaheim - My Place

Nelly, Diddy & Murphy Lee - Shake Your Tailfeather

Nelly - Hot In Here

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Raje Shwari: Uncredited

Raje Shwari, Indian born, is an American contemporary R&B and Indian music singer and songwriter. She has appeared on several songs by hip hop musicians. She was signed to Beat Club Records by Timbaland but is no longer with the label because she didn't renew her contract due to their differences. Actually I'd be pretty mad if I did work for some major artists and never received the recognition I should of have.

Why am I doing a post on her? It's pretty simple, let me post the songs she's laid vocals on and you should understand why.

Slum Village & Miss Jade - Disco (She makes a cameo in the video plus she's singing)

Jay-Z & Kanye West - The Bounce (Yeah, it's her again)

Nas & Pharrell - Angel The Flyest (Yes Yes)

Petey Pablo & Raje Shwari - Country Style

Of course there are probably other songs which she had laid her vocals on. I must tell you this that her voice in the background gives the songs such of an authentic vibe. I find it really cool. Also, I didn't post "Indian Flute" because it's already on this blog.

Oh to answer why I posted her it's because Slum Village, Jay-Z, Kanye, Nas & Pharrell are some of my favourite artists.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

The Twilight Zone or should I say The 5'9" Zone!

Royce Da 5'9", Detroit Hip Hop recording artist, is probably one of the most underrated rappers in the industry. He is mostly recognized due to his association with Eminem, his famous dispute with Eminem and group D12, recording mainly with DJ Premier, Nottz and Carlos "6 July" Broady, as well as ghostwriting (writing songs for other artists) for the likes of P. Diddy and Dr. Dre. In recent news, he's also a member of rap group Slaughterhouse which features other underground heavyweights Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I. He has left a mark in the underground with his successful mixtape series, The Bar Exam, and has released several albums to further solidify himself as one of the elite rhyme sayers of the Hip Hop world. This one fellow is slick plus this overpowering delivery of his syllables that doesn't make it hard to believe that he can hold his own on songs featuring other elites.

In this particular song, Royce delivers one awesome story with a template bounding similarities to Twilight Zone episode. (Click Twilight Zone to know what it is) The video is directed by Rik Cordero. All Slaughterhouse members make a cameo.

"Last night we had a one night stand but when I woke up in the morning I missed you, you see, all I'm saying is can I see you again? Cause when you left you took a part of me with you."

Story telling at it's best.

Royce Da 5'9" - Part Of Me

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Before He Was LOL-ing, He Had SOUL!

For the last couple of years I have witnessed the R&B scene turn from being sensually-potent with deep figurative speech elaborating the blissful feel of the art of love making to converting the passions of human nature into a meaning-less facade.

Don't believe me? Turn to your favourite radio station and seek the top ten songs, the men either sing about performing sex and the women sing about relationship problems.

The problem lies in the human characteristic for this evident lust for greed. Greed turns artists into selling themselves. I'm positive that these artists grew up idolizing artists like Marvin Gaye, Luthor Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, Sade, Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Gladys Knight, Chaka Kahn, Stevie Wonder, Micheal Jackson, Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin and etc. With influences as wonderful as the previous legends mentioned before how can the state of such a incredible art be at such a horrible condition?

My greatest example is Virginia's own, Trey Songz. This artist completely lost himself in the battle against greed. He is an amazing singer with an incredible first album to back up my claims. He came into the game with comparisons to R.Kelly and the support of Aretha Franklin. It still leaves me confused and bitter at the fact that I can't figure out where this gentleman went wrong! How could he of have gone wrong? Present R&B stars who are receiving overwhelming attention from the market (mostly females in their teens) release albums that in ten years won't be remembered. SEX SEX AND MORE SEX will be the demise of an art form that has soothed the hearts of millions of men and women and holds the dearest memories has turned into a melodic-porno genre of music.

Before some of you disagree with me, I want to clear things up, there are still artists who are continuing the legacy of the genre but you must keep in mind that these artist aren't getting the appreciation they deserve which only enforces the point of this post.

I am going to post every song on Trey's first album titled, "I Gotta Make It".