[I be saying] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

While you be saying YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

Brian Friedman. Choreographer and judge for So You Think You Can Dance?




Nuff said.

This is how we do it.

Yes it is 3LW. You don't even know...

Now if you visit this blog often, you know that old school jams are more often than not posted under the "Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers" headline. But sometimes old school joints are so good, so well put together, so classic to a brotha, [see Montell Jordan's This is how we do it] that all I can do is marvel at their goodness as they boldly play on and show us how's it done. This jam, presented below, is one such example.

For Marisol...

702. Blaque. Destiny's Child [the early years]. TLC. At the time of this song's release the niche 3LW was seeeking to fufill was more than crowded. But as is the case with many an artist, all it takes is a well crafted hit single to get the spotlight on you for a minute, and get a little money in the bank. I came back to this song last night on a bus ride. During my college heydays it was a party starting staple for me and a few special close female friends. [Surprise Surprise] I don't know what I like more: the dated, but novel at the time hiccup bounce of the beat; that all knowing, reassuring, gem of a chorus [also featuring once novel, now dated, or shall I say nostalgic bits of urban slang]; or the harmonizing call and response near the end. [Playaas! Hataaas!...]But I do know this, I'll never grow tired of this song, and it is one of my all time favorites.

Riddle Me This

Doesn't this picture of Patti Labelle at her 63rd[!] birthday bash in Washington, D.C. remind you of somebody's mama standing in front of the nearest wall before she goes out for the night, cause you had to take heed to her request of "baby get a picture of me before I leave"?

Quote of the Day!

"My favorite movie this year was 'Apocalypto,' and I love Mel Gibson...Sometimes I feel a little like Mel Gibson. [People say to him,] 'OK, Mel Gibson, we know [your movie is] the best, but if you shut up, maybe we can give you an award.' I think that's how people feel about me sometimes: 'OK, [your album] was the best.'"-Kanye West

DON'T HATE!

"You know what I hate B? You know? When I be walking through the streets of Los Angeles looking all fly and shit with my giant sunglasses you know, looking fresh to def. Ya dig? And I look and I be like, HATA WHAT YOU LOOKING AT?"

New flava in ya ear!/Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

Old school Bone Thugs N Harmony with some new school Justin Timberlake. I dare you to enjoy any other song more than this today.

My love, thuggish ruggish love (Cousin Cole remix)

Big ups to

Discobelle

for this one!

Heeere we go!

Freestyle rap over the D.A.N.C.E. beat? Go on Chip Tha Ripper. I ain't mad at cha.

DISCOBELLE: Chip’s Justice Freestyle

You should be dancing!

I have a good friend. A long time ago, we used to be roommates. He and I share a fond love for all things music. It was him who turned me on to such things as torrent files, Oink accounts, and good shit for the masses before it was unleashed unto the masses.

Whenever we play catch up I make sure I always ask him what he is digging at the moment. [And sigh with relief that he doesn't ask me the same thing.] On one such occassion he threw out Architecture In Helsinki; he had just seen them at SXSW or something and couldn't keep them off repeat. For some reason the name didn't stick. It went in one ear and out the other.

But that may change as of this morning.

For you see one of my favorite indie dance bands that could have gone and covered an Architecture In Helsinki track which may lead me to go backwards and seek out some original shit all because I dig the cover.

Did you catch that?

And the band I am talking about, of course, is Hey Willpower. As you may recall earlier:

If you ain't hip to Hey Willpower, do yourself a favor and cop the EP. You won't be dissapointed.



Gotta love the choreography breakdowns. Is anyone else feeling the dance revival going on in the indie/hipster community or am I the only one?

So here we are again. Hey Willpower. Heart it Races. Architecture in Helsinki cover. Check it out.

STEREOGUM: Dr. Dog, Soft Tigers, And Hey Willpower! Cover Architecture In Helsinki

Riddle Me This

I am not a music snob.



Just thought I'd come out swinging with that first.

Back in high school [1998-2002, I'm a youngin] I was in love with Spin magazine. No, I did not have a subscription, but I was at my local newstand every month to spend four dollars and some change on a new issue. It was common protocol for me, filed under things one must get done before that first bell rings, such as purchasing some "bomb ass fries" from the roach coach or getting a drink at Starbuck's.

I was just starting to expand my musical palette, and publications like Spin helped me find new music or brush up on shit I need to or was already listening to.

And then something funny happened.

One day the mag just fell off for me. There was no need to get it every month. Issues were, what's the word? Oh yes, lacking, and I came in here and there periodically. Looking at the recent cover for the mag's July issue takes me back to those days back in high school. Am I right or am I right? Amy Winehouse, Career Counseling from Scott Weiland, Patton Oswalt on the Illest Punk Ever, the rise of raunchy Indie Rap, etc, etc. Sure there is an interview with 50 Cent, but whatevs, his interviews tend to be more compelling than his actual musical output.

Am I right or am I right?

Anyways this is the kind of Spin I came to know and love, and I hope they keep it up.

Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep! Tell me what time is it now?

This just made my night, and I ain't even watched the Real World Las Vegas reunion extravaganza thang yet.

EW POPWATCH: When thugs cry: Arissa the rapper

It's like I took one step forward and two steps back and all of a sudden the music I am hearing is coming from another era. Like it's 1990-96 or something all over again.

[I be saying] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

While you be saying YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!




Please tell me I am not the only one who has caught a few minutes of this "gem." I swear, if it's got a black cast, costs less than ten dollars and is on sale at your local gas station or bus stop, my cousin Angela will buy it!

Save the date. Come September 4th, God will be dropping gifts from heaven. Will you'll be there to accept them with open arms?:

"In a moral throwdown of sorts, Master P has decided to release his father-and-son album, Hip Hop History on September [4] to "balance out" a more gangsterish tone of 50 Cent's Curtis album which hits stores the same day. 'My whole thing is to show people that we can still make street music that sells and make people think at the same time," Master P said to BET.com. 'I have a mission to do that.' The first single from the album which is a joint project with P's son Romeo will be "If We Change.'"

And now, some biting follow up commentary:

...

RAPWEEKLY: Master P Plans To Drop Album Same Day As 50

Some people wait a lifetime...

Look, there's no need to lie about it. Go on. Admit it. It's okay, you're not alone. You sorta, kinda like Kelly Clarkson and that is okay. So if you got the time, why not give her new disc a preview spin. It ain't set to drop til late June, so that'll give you plenty of time to decide whether or not it's purchase [or download] worthy. Go on. Nobody's watching.

AOL MUSIC: Kelly Clarkson First Listen

After Hours.

Tell me what it look like, tell me what it is!

This one goes out to all my friends in the know, living it up in New York City.

"They're [Apple] introducing Midnight Mix, a five-part series of performances and DJ sets at the New York City Apple Store's Fifth Avenue location, where noted beatsmiths will keep bodies moving from midnight 'til two a.m. and, hopefully, not break anything of value."

PITCHFORK: Diplo, DFA, Spank Rock Play NYC Apple Store

Here's hoping this Midnight Mix hits the West Coast. I mean could you imagine shaking your tail feather to some block rocking beats at the Apple Store in the Grove? That shit would be mad dope son!

New flava in ya ear!

For Margo...


You know when a song contains the line Girl I got you so wet/ It's like a rainforest / Like Jurassic Park except / I'm your sexosaurus babe, and finds the singer of the song mimicking animal sounds throughout [and throwing in some real animal sounds towards the end], instinct would tell you to run away and press skip with a quickness. But damn it if I'm not a sucker for a slow and smooth R.Kelly joint. So without further adieu, go on and press play on a track I should be ashamed of enjoying, but ain't. R.Kelly. The Zoo. Check it out.



Earlier...

WHOO! ALRIGHT - YEAH... UH HUH!

Video of the Evening!

The Strokes. You Only Live Once.



Earlier...

POP...LIFE!: Tauwan's Top 25 albums of 2006

DJ CLUE...NEW WHITE STRIPES!...CONQUEST!!!

Two tracks from the White Stripes upcoming album Icky Thump leaked all over the internet this afternoon. And while I enjoyed me some You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told), I didn't cream my pants til that song ended and the next one, titled Conquest, began. It's a rollicking, south of the border sounding affair just begging to be placed in the next Quentin Tarantino flick. Check it out.

HYPE MACHINE: The White Stripes-Conquest

I'm a reasonable man, get off my case.

Last July Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke dropped his solo LP. Did I get my hands on it? You best believe I did. Did I love it track for track? Not so much. But I can tell you what I am loving right now, and it is this. Kanye West. Lupe Fiasco. Pharrell Williams. A Thom Yorke/Kanye West collabo. Us Placers. Get in, fit in.

A Moment of Clarity

From Britney Spears to us. Enjoy!


Dear Fans,

I just wanted to reach out to all of you and explain some of the things that I have been faced with recently.

It's so funny how many stories are put out there about people. It's like we all want our side of the story out there as well, but at the end of the day only a few people care to hear what is really going on since the bad is always so much more interesting than the truth. I don't know why, but this is so weird to me. I used to be angry at the tabloids for printing horrible things about me, but now I try to just be numb to what I see. I saw Tyra Banks once get really upset and cry on her show because they made her look fat. We all want a certain image of ourselves out there, and at some point we all do really care what other people think or we wouldn't be here.

Recently, I was sent to a very humbling place called rehab. I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. I was like a bad kid running around with ADD. I had a manager from a long time ago come in and try to direct me and my life after I got my divorce. I was so overwhelmed I think that I was in a little shock too. I didn't know who to go to. I realized how much energy and love I had put into my past relationship when it was gone because I genuinely did not know what to do with myself, and it made me so sad. I confess, I was so lost.

This letter is to not place blame on anyone, although I do see the world with a completely different set of eyes now. Being in that vulnerable state and taken to dinners and parties with friends and finding out later you paid for everything was a huge learning lesson for me. I think the whole problem was letting too many people into my life. You never know another persons intentions or what another person wants. I feel I was too open and looking for answers when I had it all to begin with. I have had to cut so many people out of my life. It is so sad, because if anyone is a family person ... it is me. When I was little I remember every night watching movies with my family and feeling so at peace. Dancing and singing all the time just like a little girl should. Now recently I find with my children that I want them to have that feeling all of the time. I am having to face a lot of things right now since I have children of my own. A lot of insecurities from when I was little are coming up again. It is like we are never good enough.

I know everyone thinks that I am playing the victim, but I am not and I hate what is going on right now so much. Maybe this is the reason for this letter ... to maybe allow people to look at me differently. It is like when you are a real woman and say what you feel and how you think things are supposed to be, that people just say you are a "bitch."

I feel like some of the people in my life made more of some issues than was necessary. I also feel like they knew I was beginning to use my brain for a change and cut some ties, so they wanted to be in more control of my life than me. I think it is actually normal for a young girl to go out after a huge divorce. I think it was a bigger issue because I had not gone out in such a long time. I am 25 and I do still have a lot to learn, and I am going to make mistakes everyday, and I am sure every mistake I make will probably be on CNN or Good Morning America. I am only human people and I love you for still loving me.

I am sitting here at home and it is 6:25 and both of my sons are asleep. I am truly blessed to have them in my life. Everyday is so surreal. Life in general is so surreal and crazy.

I just hope this letter made some of you think a little bit more of me and where I am coming from. I just want the same things in life that you want...and that is to be happy. It is just so weird because everyone has their own perception of me and how they think I really am. It is so weird how stories are told. There is your side, my side, and the truth. Somebody has to figure it out. I guess we will never really understand or figure out life completely. That's God's job. I can't wait to meet him ... or her.

Love, Britney

Quote of the month...
It is ok to disagree with people regarding certain issues. You're not being true to yourself if you succumb to others opinions because you feel guilty.

BRITNEYSPEARS.COM

Dance to the underground!

It's Tuesday May 29, 2007, and I'm still not sick of this song.

The Rapture-Whoo!Alright-Yeah...Uh Huh [Scottie B mix]

Boy looka here

Okay Rihanna, I see you, and well, I don't know what to say. Looks like I'll be purchasing your new album next week. This is a sleek, care free, rump shaking affair. Don't be surprised if this becomes one of THE albums of the summer. Something tells me that gay men and young people everywhere will be feeling this one. Good work. Definitely surprised the hell out of me.



And yes, that is a Michael Jackson sample you're hearing in the background.

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

This just made my Saturday. I can rest easy now.

CRACKED: 15 (Painfully) Unforgettable Cartoon Theme Songs

Big ups Stereogum!

For posting a damn good Polyphonic Spree song that I can actually care about!

STEREOGUM: New Polyphonic Spree - "Running Away"

Play that beat!

Believe me, I adore playing an old school hit like nobody's business, but sometimes there's nothing better than putting on one of your favorite long players, enjoying it for what it is: a tip-top, start to finish "headphone masterpiece".



I will always hold a special place in my heart for Mandy Moore. I realized this a month or so back as I sat on a flight from NY to LA. "Today's in-flight movie is Because I Said So starring Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore." The fact that I sat up straight, turned off my iPod, and plugged my headphones into my arm rest to take it all in took me back to the summer of 2001, when I downloaded the then 16 year old's self-titled album Mandy Moore. Magazine after magazine, page after page, Mandy was getting praised for this 13 song, 50 minute set, and the word "mature" was being tossed around a lot. Prior to this album, Mandy was known as nothing more than that girl who sang that song about candy and drove around in one of those new Volkswagen Bugs in the video despite the fact that she was only 13 or 14 at the time. But with this album she upped the ante, granted she was only 16 at the time, but she had cleared her throat, sang clearly, and let her music and lyrics come from a place that felt genuine and relatable, as opposed to overblown and out of her league. On songs like 17 and Cry, Mandy acts her age, not her shoe size, keeping it, once again, genuine, relatable, and real; downplaying the sex put on display by her peers at the time, and choosing instead to shine a spotlight on what keeps many of us going: direct emotional conact, uncertainty, fear, and love. In other words, reality. And that is what truly makes this album shine. As noted by Amy Linden in her review of the album over at amazon.com, "This isn't great art, but it is enjoyable, disposable pop, and that ain't shabby."
KEY TRACKS: Saturate Me/17/Crush

Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me!

Is that Bjork in the background?

"I wanted to give my own interpretation of it [Baltimore Club Music], which is a little bit of Miami, a little bit of Baltimore house..."-Pharrell Williams


Ooh. I can definitely fuck with this:

Twista and Pharrell-Give it up

FADER: Pharrell Eats Baltimore

Big ups to

Discobelle

for the quote!

Here we are now, entertain us!

Yeah this song has a nice old school [and by old school I mean 1992-1998] MC/2Pac Hail Mary vibe to it, but I still think its just aight, especially when weighed against previous debut singles from The College Dropout and Late Registration. Of course this is all initial. I could probably fall in love with it by the time the album drops, [takes on the voice of Randy Jackson] but I don't know man, I was just expecting so much more.

Kanye West-Can't Tell Me Nothing

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

My little cousin got his first speeding ticket. 65 in an 32 zone. Gotta go pay that $340 dollar sucka off. House is empty. This means I get to perform the Monday-Friday ritual of collecting the mail and placing it on the dining room table for all to sort through and see.

Bigmama got her new issue of JET. Omar Epps is on the cover. And he's in love with...wait? what!? I didn't know Omar is engaged to Kima, KEISHA, Pam, from one of my favorite female R&B groups from back in the day.

Yes, I am talking about Total. And no one else.

A HA! DAAAAAMN HOMIE!

"I’m guessing the new date is due to the lack of buzz around his three garbage singles."

Uh, you think? I still can't get over the chorus for Straight to the Bank. SMH.

NAH RIGHT: Curtis Gets His Shit Pushed Back

Ha-Ha-Hahaha-Ha, Ha-Ha-Hahaha-Ha!

DJ CLUE...NEW JILL SCOTT!...HATE ON ME!!

Who you calling a bitch?

It's been a while since I've listened to Jill Scott religiously, but everytime I come back to her I am oh so glad that I did. Check it out!

VIBE CONFIDENTIAL: Jill Scott Has A Message For the Haters

A Moment of Clarity

Dear Amerie,

So I finally got my hands on your new album Because I Love It, which I hear is out everywhere else in the world except the U.S. of A. [We gotta wait til July to snap it up] But seriously, I am only five tracks in and I felt the need to throw some love you way. Why? Because I love it. The jazz like flourishes, the free-form vibe of it all, and the 80's nostalgia that jumps out here and there is just too much. Sorry I slept on you all this time, caring only for your kurazy singles [which should have led me back to your albums in the first place] AND I apologize for gushing all over Beyonce's B-Day when it is so obvious that the bottom half of her album is a nice little "nod" to your swagger and style.

Play on playa,

Tauwan

FOURFOUR: Because I really love it

WHOO! ALRIGHT - YEAH... UH HUH!

I say, I say SHIT! GODDAMN! I can not wait for this album to drop on Tuesday. I don't know why, I just can't.

IDOLATOR: Leak Of The Day: R. Kelly Shoots Himself Into Space

PITCHFORK: Column: Interrobang (?!) #26/"You Remind Me of Something" b/w "You Remind Me…to Take Birth Control

And in case you forgot:

[Please disregard the fact that many of the women in this video can't "catch the beat"]

MIXTAPE FRIDAYS!

Oh Kels. You truly bring people together. Somehow you have the power to get two to three people who know little to nothing about each other to come together over a few beers, singing and dancing in harmony, and in time, because well, Ignition [RMX] is the shit. And it's also a great gateway song. Once you play that track you got to keep the momentum up and "oh my god this is my jam" type songs in constant rotation, one after the other. Start strong. Stay strong. Right Kels?

RETURN OF THE MACK

1]Fix Up, Look Sharp-Dizzee Rascal
2]Bucky Done Gun-M.I.A.
3]Push It-Salt-N-Pepa
4]Supersonic-JJ Fad
5]Sally "That Girl"-Gucci Crew II
6]Plug It In-Basement Jaxx feat JC CHasez
7]Ch-Ching (Cheque 1-2 Remix)-Lady Sovereign
8]Bellona-Junior Boys
9]John the Revelator-Depeche Mode
10]Disco Infiltrator-LCD Soundsystem

Keep it gangsta. Keep it fresh.

For Your Consideration

I want a new drug. And these fellas might be able to give me what I need.

Chromeo. Fancy Footwork.

I wanna dance with somebody!

Eve. Tambourine.



I love this song.

Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ba-baay! [Part 2]

Seems Rosie O'Donell isn't the only one tackling the tunes of Amy Winehouse. Click below to hear the Arctic Monkey's saucy take on Ms. Winehouse's You Know I'm No Good.

STEREOGUM: Arctic Monkeys Cover Amy Winehouse

At the moment, these boys can do no wrong in my eyes. Seriously, if you haven't copped Favourite Worst Nightmare yet, you are missing out and should get on that.

Riddle Me This

"People don't dance no more, they just lay on glass tables like this."

How come everytime I read yet another article about Lindsay Lohan's Svedka Vodka sponsored 21st birthday-day-Vegas Blowout-Extravaganza, my thoughts go from 'damn that party will be off the hook' to 'I am really, really worried about Lindsay and this whole 21st birthday thing she's celebrating' with a quickness? I get the feeling she won't be sleeping or thinking coherently for about two weeks straight.

US MAGAZINE: Lindsay Lohan’s 21st Birthday Blowout

Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ba-baay!

Yep. Quoting Ashanti.

In this week's edition of Celebs, they're just like us!, Rosie O'Donell shows a little love [and street cred] by bumping some Amy Winehouse and singing along. Correction, bumping some Hot Chip remix of Amy Winehouse and singing along.



Who's Bad?

Oh word?

The following is the tracklist for The Simpsons movie. I don't know what I was expecting, but I will say that I wasn't expecting this:

U Can't Shine Like Me- Lil' Romeo [?]
If You Let Me Go - Jay-Z featuring Omarion [phoned in I am sure]
So Emotional - 1 Chance [1 who?]
High Away from You - Lifehouse [Oh god]
I Don't Wanna Understand - Jennifer Lopez featuring Three 6 Mafia [HA! what a pairing!]
I Believe You - Lyfe Jennings [Can't feel you dawg no matter how much the siblings and BET tell me to]
The Way You Roll With Me - T.I.
Dancing Machine - Maroon 5 featuring Lil' Flip [Again, who's putting these people together?]
Simpson - Beanie Sigel featuring Jazze Pha
Since You Get Off The Computer - Fall Out Boy
Back Again - Kai featuring Akon [Akon will sing on ANYONE'S track]
I Will Kill You - Panic! at the Disco [the title, when coupled with that band, on this soundtrack, looks out of place]
You Gave My Heart - Keyshia Cole featuring Ludacris
The World Is Yours - N.W.A. [Oh word indeed]
In the Rain - Young Jeezy featuring Lil' Wayne
Lockdown - Joe Budden featuring The Game and Mike Jones [Well hello Mr. Budden. Long time no see]
Roll Tide - Ja Rule featuring Lloyd and Nelly [Damn, they even got Ja Rule to headline a song on this joint]
I'm Your Mama - Chris Brown featuring Nas
Go to Bed - David Banner
I Don't Wanna Your Stupid Of Me - Ben Folds [Cause this set was looking incomplete without him present]
Get Off The Porch - Obie Trice featuring 50 Cent and Eminem

For all I know, this sdtrk could kick ass [and I am all for some good hip-hop and R&B singles], I just don't need to hear them incorporated into the movie at all.

A Moment of Clarity

Dear Urban Outfitters,

I don't care how cool this t-shirt is. And I also don't care [though I do appreciate] the fact that for the first time in ages the small size of this t-shirt is indeed a small, and not a medium masquerading as a small. Nope, don't care, cause there is no way I am paying 32 bucks for this homemade silkscreen looking t-shirt. Nope. Not gonna. [Though I did think long and hard about it]

That is all.

Tauwan

P.S. And how dare you taunt me ten minutes later as I walked away from Urban and saw across the street from me a Ryan Adams looking fellow, crazy hair, tight jeans, jean jacket and all, with said Chronic t-shirt poking out underneath. Not cool. Not cool.

Guess who's back.

And now a fine piece of Mexican cinema from the duo they call the White Stripes. Check it out!

Big ups Shaquannah from Newark!

Wednesday night. 12 a.m. MTV Hits. Playlistism. For the moment the videos are coming from a girl they call Shaquannah from Newark, New Jersey. And boy is she hitting them out of the park. I ain't seen a trio of videos this good in a minute. Took me back and kept me more than entertained. See, sometimes music channels do get it right.

"Fun with leather"-
We came in near the middle of this gem:




"Remember in middle school how this was on every five minutes and you stopped and watched it each time. And you didn't laugh at the acting bit in the hospital? That shit was real son. So good..."-
Followed by this:



"Yes. Go on Shaquannah from Newark! This is my shit. I don't care what nobody says. Fantasia's album is good. In fact, I was just listening to it earlier today"-
And then this:



So big ups Shaquannah from Newark! And thank you, thank you very much!

Oh my goooodnesss!

"This Fall, The White Stripes will continue on their quest to play all remaining sixteen states they have yet to travel to. September takes them to eight more, with a few additional stops along the way..."

Including a stop September 19th at the Forum in Inglewood ["always up to no good"] California. Get excited.

MYSPACE: The White Stripes

Big Ups Jordin Sparks!

For completely selling a wonderfully sappy and forgettable "inspirational" track. [A Moment Like This it is not] And for making me look like a little bitch in my kitchen last night as I watched and got a little choked up with you. That shit ain't cute. Here's hoping you take home the top prize.

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

I see God in you

Tyrese Gibson [a.k.a. Black Ty], waiting on the world to change.


"...the world of R&B needed a change, and there were only a few chosen that could do it, R&B needed a pick up, R&B needed TGT..."-Ginuwine

Tyrese Gibson. Elgin Lumpkin. And that nigga Tank. T...G...T! Real R&B STAND UP!

ALLHIPHOP: Rapper/Singer Tyrese, Ginuwine And Tank Form R & B Group

This is the remix.

Diddy, Keyshia Cole, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Kim take a trip to Erotic City on this 80's club leanin' remix of Last Night, a single you should be familiar with by now. Check it out!

Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole, Lil' Kim & Busta Rhymes-Last Night [remix]

The Best Damn Thing?

Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend and Lil Mama's Lip Gloss are two of my favorite singles of the year thus far. And I'm telling you like Jennifer Hudson, that this remix of Avril's hit single feat. Lil Mama is straight fire. Don't believe me? Press play, hear Lil Mama spit, and then we'll talk.

Girlfriend [remix] feat. Lil Mama

Make it rain

Prince. Los Angeles? 7 Fridays in a row starting June 15? Suddenly I don't feel so bad about never making it out to Club 3121 in Las Vegas.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Exclusive: Seven weeks of Prince in Hollywood?

Let Me Ride

I have already shouted my love for this song from the rooftops.

Now we have a video to compliment the rhymes.



Damn. I ain't watched Boyz in da Hood in a minute.

Riddle Me This

File Under: How to debut at the top of the charts!




Did anybody else know that the Bravery had a new album coming out. I mean seriously, I'm all whoa! Really?

Coming soon: that sophomore disc from the boys in Louis XIV.

A Scanner Darkly

So watching MTV Hits from a distance. This video starts and I'm all snapped out of what it is I am doing and think to myself, 'Oh? I can't believe MTV is showing new Daft Punk or Chromeo videos.' And then that reggaeton* beat kicks in. Ugh. And then I see it is a reggaeton video that also features 'D to the E to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S.' Double Ugh. See this is why Fergie released Big Girls Don't Cry as a single, cause other artists pay her mucho dinero to talk on a hook or spout a few bars before track's end.



*Earlier...

[I be saying] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Riddle Me This

Beanie Sigel on Kanye West and Pharrell Williams: Speaking the truth or high/drunk/loaded foaming at the mouth?

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

Taken from one of my favorite MJB albums of all time. Check it out. Mary J. Blige. All That I Can Say.

Video of the Night!

There once was a time [let's just call it summer of 2006] when Lily Allen was in heavy rotation round these parts. Before the hype, before the magazine covers, my boy Justin grabbed a high priced import copy of her debut from the Virgin Megastore, based solely on her cover art and what he heard when he gave it a listen in the store, and boy did we have a gay old time listening to her on the freeway, and chuckling at her lyrics. [Lily to an unsuspecting suitor on track two, Knock Em' Out: "I got herpes. No AIDS. Yeah AIDS!"] And then it fizzled. I moved on. I realized that the disc is a little top heavy and this soulful brit chick named Amy Winehouse [have you heard of her?] came along and rocked my world. Though this may be the case, I still love me some Lily and can't wait to see what happens next. She's cute, she's talented, and as this video below proves, she also hillarious when candid. Check it out:

Rock on wit yo bad self!

Tauwan Patterson here with yet another reason to love Kelly Clarkson:

"I work out when I want to work out; I don't work out when I don't want to work out. After a long day and I'm tired, yeah, a cookie helps. It makes me feel good. It's soul food! There's a reason why it's called that."

Speak on it girl. Speak on it...

Big ups Merce Cunningham!

Male father of two enjoying breakfast with his wife and kids: So how long have you been dancing?
Tauwan: Whoa! What? I mean, yeah. I danced all through college.
MFOTEBWHWAK: Choreography and such?
Tauwan: Yeah. I choreographed some pieces and danced in various groups. My school had shows twice a year and I danced in all of them. But I haven't done anything of the sort since I graduated last year.
MFOTEBWHWAK: What? Well you gotta pick that up.
Tauwan: How did you know that I danced?
MFOTEBWHWAK: You're an elegant walker. I can just see it.

20 minutes later...

Male father of two enjoying breakfast with his wife and kids: Here's my card. When you start performing again let me know. I'll bring some people.

Needless to say, I am in a dancing state of mind today and need to get on the ball as far as picking that shit back up and getting inside some classes is concerned. This state of mind is also why I gotta say big ups to Merce Cunningham. It's amazing that at the ripe old age of 88 this man is still going, choreographing, pushing boundaries, and thinking outside the box. If you ain't hip to Mr. Cunningham yet, well, all I can say is if you don't know, now you know.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Merce Cunningham's playful experiments

YOU DON'T KNOW NANN!

File Under: Quote of the day




"Hip-hop leaves me cold. But there are some people out there who think it's the meaning of life...I don't wanna be yelled at, I wanna be sung to...I never really understood why someone would want to have some gangster from L.A. poking his fingers in your face...As I say, it don't grab me. I mean the rhythms are boring - they're all done on computers."-Keith Richards

A Moment of Clarity

Dear Jessica Simpson,

You are NOT Goldie Hawn.

That is all.

Love,

Tauwan

PEOPLE: Jessica Simpson to Join the Marines – on Film

This is how we do it.

Yes it is Inoj. You don't even know...

Now if you visit this blog often, you know that old school jams are more often than not posted under the "Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers" headline. But sometimes old school joints are so good, so well put together, so classic to a brotha, [see Montell Jordan's This is how we do it] that all I can do is marvel at their goodness as they boldly play on and show us how's it done. This jam, presented below, is one such example.

1:45 a.m. Thursday night, Friday morning. La Cita. Downtown. Peter Bjorn put it down on the 1's and 2's, but unfortunately it's about that time. "Last call for alcohol!" "This will be our last song. And this one's for the ladies. Thank you, and goodnight!" And with that came this jam. And though I had not heard it in years, I still knew all the words to the song and was that guy on the dancefloor trying to shake it like there was no tomorrow, shouting the hook [and the verse, and the bridge] all up in my friends' faces. Good times.



By the way, I can NOT stop playing this song. I think I may have a problem.

Oh Word?...redux

Big ups to the anonymous reader who sent me a fresh, prettier, version of Lauryn Hill's new track Lose Myself. Now this is the Lauryn we all know and love. Enjoy!

Lauryn Hill-Lose Myself [fitter/happier/more productive]

Riddle Me This

Why can't I get stupid, jump up and go crazy when I listen to this record? I am still trying to get what all the fuss is about. It's not that it's bad, I just feel like it's a little monotonous. I don't know. Maybe I am missing something, I mean these folks seem to love it:

PITCHFORK: Miss Diamond to You [review]

And the article that started it all for me:

STATUS AIN'T HOOD: Kathy Diamond's Psychedelic Space-Disco

Oh Word?

A new Lauryn Hill track has hit the net. Love the message, love the beat. Not sure if I am head over heels in love with the key she chose to sing the song in, but all in all, not bad. Eager to see what comes next.

Lauryn Hill-Lose Myself

DJ CLUE...NEW WHITE STRIPES!...ICKY THUMP!!

Ladies and gentleman I present to you the White Stripes doing what they do best: ROCKING YOUR MOTHERFUNKING WORLD!

Enjoy!

The White Stripes-Icky Thump

Keep it on the downlow

Oh Passions, Passions, Passions. Now if you were born in the last 20-25 yrs, I am sure you have caught an episode of NBC's daytime soap Passions at some point in your life. Hell there was even a time back in high school when I watched it sorta-kinda-religiously and could name nearly all of the main characters. But then things got crazy, the actor who played Timmy died, and every other week a new character would step in to play Miguel, Sheridan, Luis, or whomever. It just became too much. That and I got a life.

But strange things happen when you look away. And let's just say I would have never expected Passions to take on the subject of brothers on the "DL" and I ESPECIALLY wouldn't have expected Chad to be the one sleeping around with some Noah looking dude from Noah's Arc looking dude behind Whitney's back. But I guess it would only be a matter of time before somebody went gay on Passions. Sorry to all of you wishing it was Jesse Metcalfe. I know you all must be heartbroken.

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

So after many failed attempts at record stores and online, I finally got my hands on 702 debut album No Doubt this afternoon, one of my favorite albums growing up. I really, really, really wanted to post All I Want [remember that song? That was my jam. Wasn't it on Goodburger's sdtrk?], but couldn't find it anywhere, so this one will do. This was THE slow jam for a little while back in the day, and trust me, I'm not lying when I say I ain't heard this one in a minute. It's nice to have it back in my life.

Unleash the dragon 2: Pushin and Workin

"The Lord Jesus Christ put us on this earth to please these beautiful ladies."

So proclaims one of the suave and subtle fellas of Pretty Ricky on a recent episode of 106 & Park. [Yes peeps this show still exists] Yes, Jesus Christ put you on this earth to please beautiful ladies and of course, inspire young black males everywhere to lock themselves in a room, put on their best fitting wife beaters, let their shorts hang low, and hump an ottoman to and fro. No homo of course. No homo...

Unleash the dragon

the dragon, the dragon, the dragon...



No this nigga didn't...


Oh Sisqo, Sisqo, Sisqo. I don't even know what to say. Should I comment on your hatred with Usher for wearing dragons when apparently you did that first? Or should I take the time to remind niggas that you paved the way for all the R&B being produced today sometime in the year 2000? Or should I comment on the simple my first casio keyboard beat underlying it all? Or should I say something about how this ain't nothing more than an angry rant set to a beat as evidenced by the way the song just ends when you run out of things to say? I don't know man. It's just too much. But that's what happens when you're dealing with the work of a "legend", you're just baffled, and perplexed, cause they spit that fire that just keeps you guessing youknowwhatimean?

MISSINFO.TV: Sisqo vs Usher vs RKelly=”Shiny Chest Beef”…(groan)

And word to the wise: Pretty Ricky better watch their backs. I get the feeling he's coming for that ass next! [No homo or pun intended]

One mo gin'

Cause we ain't sick of her or this song just yet.

IDOLATOR: Leak Of The Day, Part III: Jay-Z Meets Amy Winehouse In Rehab

SAY WHAAAT!

Can't say I saw this one coming...*

Never underestimate the power of middle aged American women, teenage girls, Rosie O'Donnell, and Elizabeth Hasselback. I don't vote, but I'm still rooting for Jordin, though I thought for sure that she was going home tonight.

*Did anybody else catch it in the middle of the episode when Ryan slipped and said Melinda is going home as if it was a joke and they cut right to commercial? No? Just me?

Big ups to

Idolator

for the pic.

Big ups Janet Jackson!

And happy 41st birthday! Still one of my favorites.

The kid stays in the picture

Okay Cassie. I see you. Do your thang girl. We didn't even know you were working on a new album. This ain't bad. Vocals are cool, the tune is light, and you let the beat ride out sans vocals. Good call. And its released just in time for Memorial Day and summer, summer, summertime. Will it stick with me the way Rihanna's Umbrella has? Only time will tell.

Cassie-Sometimes

Around the world in a day!

Sorry 50, but I get more of a fun, clap your hands, snap yo fingers, carnivalesque vibe from this track than I do yours. Just saying. Can't wait for this one to drop.



And remember Kala is in stores August 21st.

In da club redux.

This time with rides and cotton candy!

Girls, candy, a shirtless Curtis, and promotional plugs. Just another one of your typical music videos from the man they call 50 Cent.

Do you know what it takes

In this house we got the time and the energy for American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance [returning next week! I am too excited!], and of course Dancing with the Stars. On last night's let's drag what should be a 30 minute episode into a filler filled one hour results show, one of the guest performers was Enrique Iglesias. Huh? What? What is he promoting? More importantly, where the hell has he been? He's still making music? Okay. Of course I sat up and paid attention. Look, if you know me or read this blog, then you already know that Tauwan likes him some pop music, and more often than not I don't discriminate. Hero, Don't Turn Off The Lights, Bailamos, Be With You. If I were to hear these songs right now, I would sing along and probably enjoy myself and not in some young ironic, hip to be square kind of way. But I don't know about this song presented below. I mean why does it look like it hurts so much to sing that chorus? It's as if I am watching an a capella group cover Enrigue Iglesias, and the lead vocalist just can't cut it. I don't know. And is it just me or does his band wish they were somewhere else? I don't know, this pop song just does nothing for me. Maybe that's why I turned away for a few seconds before coming back to catch the end. Just because...

For Your Consideration

Am I the only one who thinks that this album cover may be more interesting and entertaining than the music contained inside?

Big Girls Don't Cry

Introducing Fergie and her fourth single, hey y'all I can sing. Shot in those final minutes of Beyonce's Irreplaceable video technicolor.

Diamonds are forever

File Under: Quote of the Day



"I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven/When I woke I spent that on a necklace/I told God I'd be back in a second/ Man, it's so hard not to act reckless."-Kanye West, 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'

NAH RIGHT:Kanye West - Can’t Tell Me Nothing (Snippet)

It takes two to make a thing go right

I have a hard time enjoying Ryan Adams' output with the Cardinals and -gasp-I don't own nor am I really familiar with anything he did with Whiskeytown. I don't know why, but I like my Ryan solo, and can appreciate it when he is accompanied by a female vocalist. Maybe that's why his duet with Norah Jones on Jacksonville City Nights grabbed me so. And I, like everyone else, am in love with the Emmylou Harris duets on Heartbreaker. And I can now say that I like this blink and you miss it, slow burning and subdued "duet" with Sherly Crow off his upcoming disc Easy Tiger, Two. Before you go ape shit over him singing with Sheryl Crow, don't fret, she harmonizes here and there and for the most part that is it. Check it out for yourself and get excited for Easy Tiger.

Ryan Adams feat. Sheryl Crow-Two