Lamont's Lists

The Year was 1985...

2012-02-13T13:44:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com By that time I was in full Run-DMC mode. Wanting nothing more than to be a certified B-Boy. Hooked for life on hip hop -- blown away by the Kings from Queens, LL Cool J, Soul Sonic Force and the Beastie Boys. But one day when my boys weren't looking, and I had a moment to just chill, this young lady came along and managed to stop me in my tracks. Into the mix went You Give

Chipotle Grammy Ad - Nice Piece of Work

2012-02-13T10:59:00.001-05:00

via esquire.com

Don Cornelius, Smooth Operator on Behalf of Soul

2012-02-02T22:11:00.001-05:00

via nytimes.com

Etta James - Sunday Kind Of Love - YouTube

2012-01-20T11:56:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2012-01-18T15:44:00.001-05:00

For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more. via en.wikipedia.org

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums of 2011

2012-01-08T21:18:00.004-05:00

Questove and the Roots finally got their shine in 2011 I know this is a little more than a week late, but for those who care, below is my take on the top rap albums for 2011. To be honest, it took me a while because I had a hard time coming up with them. There were a few factors working against me. On the one hand, let's face it, there was not that much great material out there to work with. On

The Soul Controllers

2011-11-17T10:30:00.001-05:00

via blog.worldsflyest.com

MOBILE MONDAYS !!!!, D.J. Mr. Elite : A Musical Tribute To Heavy D -...

2011-11-17T10:28:00.001-05:00

via mobilemondaysnewyork.tumblr.com

Watch the Cradle

2011-11-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

via watchthecradle.tumblr.com

July 1986 - 25 Years ago these guys changed the world

2011-07-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

‪The Roots And John Varvatos

2011-07-09T01:10:00.001-04:00

via youtube.com Two of my favorite things come together.

'Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest': Movie review

2011-07-09T00:58:00.001-04:00

via latimes.com

The Hip-Hop Word Count: A Searchable Rap Almanac

2010-12-22T22:53:00.001-05:00

About this projectThe Hip-Hop Word Count (HHWC) is a searchable ethnographic database built from the lyrics of over 40,000 Hip-Hop songs from 1979 to present day. The database is the heart of an online analysis tool that generates textual and quantified reports on searched phrases, syntax, memes and socio-political ideas. The idea to build the Hip-Hop Word Count came out of having hundreds

Gift Rapped - This Is A Crazy Idea

2010-12-09T10:09:00.001-05:00

via giftrapped.com

J-Live – Undivided Attention [EP]

2010-12-06T22:26:00.001-05:00

via thesmkaexperience.com

Adrian Champion Presents: Stars & Stripes - The White Stripes Reimagined

2010-11-26T22:49:00.001-05:00

via starsandstripesproject.com

Jay-Z Signs Jay Electronica To Roc Nation

2010-11-14T21:46:00.001-05:00

via omgmusic.com That's Major.

Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake - A History Of Rap

2010-10-01T00:26:00.003-04:00

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - A History of Rap: Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake & The Roots - Video - NBC.com

The grand 'Taxonomy of Rap Names'

2010-09-21T23:50:00.001-04:00

via kissmyblackads.blogspot.com Highly Entertaining. Thanks for sending Deebeezy.

“Empire State of Mind” Covered by the Glee Cast

2010-09-15T14:06:00.001-04:00

via thehiphopupdate.com I think this song has gone mainstream...

Guest Blogger: Evan Swittenberg - "The Top 10 Rapper's Right Now"

2010-09-04T21:07:00.000-04:00

So, my 16 year old son Evan has a pretty high hip hop IQ. I mean, he's as enamored with today's lame rappers and as any other teenager, but he does have an interest in the broader culture and a healthy respect for old the school MCs who've made rap what it is today. I like his curiosity and his interest in what these guys are saying, how the music gets made, and how it impacts him and his friends

Nike Air Max Wavy “Copper”

2010-08-19T20:10:00.001-04:00

via kicksonfire.com Nice!

Hip-Hop's Cash Kings 2010

2010-08-17T22:59:00.001-04:00

via forbes.com

Rock the Bells

2010-08-05T22:57:00.001-04:00

via rockthebells.net I'm Amped Up.

Review: Rick Ross - Teflon Don

2010-07-23T15:15:00.012-04:00

Ross Serves Up Another Luxe, Mostly Pleasing Helping Of R&B Flavored Yacht Music.We may be living in times of great uncertainty but here's one thing that I know for sure: Rick Ross is very rich. He and his (also very wealthy) friends, including Diddy, Jay-Z, and Kanye West, reinforce this fact incessantly across the 11 sprawling tracks on Teflon Don. I guess I should give Rick credit for sticking

Review: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty

2010-07-21T12:35:00.005-04:00

It's hard not to greet the arrival of a Big Boi solo album with pangs of regret. The project itself serves as a depressing reminder that hip hop supergroup Outkast is still on hiatus, seven years removed from Speakerboxx/The Love Below (yes, I am going to pretend that Idlewild never happened). More than anything, we wish Andre would stop drifting about, dabbling in all manner of artistic pursuits

Hip Hop New Release Dates July 2010 & Beyond

2010-07-15T10:43:00.001-04:00

via thehiphopupdate.com Posted via email from lswittenberg's posterous

Review: Drake - Thank Me Later

2010-06-10T22:52:00.010-04:00

Heartthrob Holds Back, Sings Too Much, Comes Up Short On Hotly Anticipated Debut"Thank Me Later" was expected to be the formal unveiling of Drake as rap's newly anointed King. The official passing of the torch to the Millennial Generation's valedictorian. A hip hop golden boy with movie-star good looks, rock star swagger, and pop star accessibility; Drake was groomed on Nickelodeon, nurtured on

My Problem With Luke

2010-05-19T17:16:00.006-04:00

Why I Can't Support Including Luther Campbell As A VH1 Hip Hop HonoreeI don't want to offend my fellow hip hop fans down South again, like I've done so many times before, but I'm having a lot of trouble getting behind the honorees for this year's Dirty South edition of VH1's Hip Hop Honors.For sure, my East Coast bias is well-established. I like my hip hop with a distinctly New York aesthetic;

Me And My iPad

2010-04-21T23:45:00.001-04:00

by Lamont Swittenberg After Two Weeks Of Living With The iPad In The Real World, The Device Proves To Be Worthy of The Hype So I’ve been living with my iPad for a little over two weeks now and to quote Justin Timberlake, “I’m lovin’ it”. For a status-seeker like myself, it feels great to be the ultimate early adopter. I haven’t felt this popular in years.

Grace Tape 2 USB - A Nice Weekend Project For Me

2010-04-16T13:52:00.001-04:00

via gracedigitalaudio.com Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Geek Out: Lands’ End and L.L. Bean’s Preppy Resurgence

2010-03-23T16:49:00.000-04:00

Geek Out: Lands’ End and L.L. Bean’s Preppy Resurgence

March 10, 1997: Where Were You The Day Hip Hop Died?

2010-03-10T13:00:00.007-05:00

Where were you when you heard that Biggie had passed?I was in an airport. It was a Monday morning March 10, 1997, and I was returning home after having spent a lovely Sunday shopping and enjoying some time off with my wife. It was before the age of knowing everything instantly, so without access to a TV, I was blissfully unaware of what had happened two nights earlier. I had spent that particular

I'm Sick Of Winter

2010-02-22T22:18:00.003-05:00

As usual at this time of year, I begin to suffer from the pain of too much winter weather. After a while, it just gets the best of me. It’s so omnipresent, so relentless. Day after day it’s there, waiting to pounce on me every time I leave the house. I can’t take it anymore. I’m crying uncle. I’m sick of snow, especially the dirty, icy snow that lingers forever. I’m sick of coats, scarves, gloves

50 Observations About Food

2010-02-04T16:50:00.001-05:00

The older I get, the more I prefer Salsa to Catsup.There is nothing that can be made better, that cannot be made better with a few drops of Texas Pete Hot Sauce.Please, take it easy with the mayo.It’s actually comical how much cream cheese bagel shops tend to slather on bagels, even when you only ask for a “smear.” My local shop tends to add enough to feed a family of 4 for a week.I’ve never

Highly Skilled MC's At Work...Jay Electronica "Just Begun" (Live)

2010-01-25T20:50:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com Jay Electronica, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. This makes me want to push myself to go out and see more live hip hop. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Dr King Tried To Love Somebody

2010-01-16T23:09:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

I Will Have To Check This Out Just For Nostalgia's Sake...

2010-01-15T10:16:00.001-05:00

via nolongerempty.com Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

What’s More Annoying Than A Name Dropper? A Place Dropper

2010-01-08T17:02:00.003-05:00

The Annoying Use Of “Dropping” As A Self-Branding TechniqueLet’s face it, nobody likes a name dropper. These people have been around since the beginning of time and they’ve always been a nuisance. The good news is that most of us are quick to spot name droppers and to call them out on it. Sometimes we do it to their faces: “Do you have to mention how you and Steve Jobs go way back every time

J. Cole - Losing My Balance

2010-01-05T21:30:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com This kid is the real deal. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Mos Def's History Music Video

2010-01-04T16:10:00.001-05:00

via mtvmusic.com Real Hip Hop. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Google Nexus One Phone Speculation Hits Critical Mass

2010-01-04T10:45:00.001-05:00

--> -->--> --> -->Is this the week Google (NSDQ:GOOG) drops Nexus One, its supposedly game-changing Android mobile device? If all goes according to plan -- and by "plan," we mean endless, unconfirmed speculation -- Google will introduce Nexus One at a press conference in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday. Google hasn't confirmed as much but has told various media outlets, including

Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek – The RE:Union Mixtape

2010-01-02T17:46:00.001-05:00

via 2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com Get yours while it's hot! Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Jay-Z "On to the Next One" Video.

2010-01-02T16:06:00.001-05:00

via gather.com "MJ at Summer Jam / Obama on the text / Yall should be afraid of what I'm gon' do next." Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

One of Nike's Best Campaigns in a long time.

2009-12-21T13:04:00.001-05:00

via youtube.com Still loving those MVPuppets. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #1 Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003) - Outkast

2009-12-13T22:11:00.003-05:00

It’s one thing to attempt to do something different, it’s another thing to succeed wildly at it. From the moment I first heard “Hey Ya” I knew we were in for a roller coaster ride. Andre 3000 crooning’ and playing guitar? Crazy right? For the rest of his side of the album, Andre kept pushing further and further off the deep end, channeling Prince, Cameo and Rick James, and pursuing whatever

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #2 Graduation (2007) - Kanye West

2009-12-13T22:05:00.006-05:00

I have a lot of patience for talent and talent is something Kanye West has a lot of. For “Graduation”, it’s critical to strip away the artist in order to appreciate the artistry. Nobody composes big, celebratory hip hop tracks like Kanye. And on “Graduation” he was firing on all cylinders, improving on his impressive first two albums with inventive samples, lush instrumentation and pulsating

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #3 Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (2003) - 50 Cent

2009-12-13T22:00:00.005-05:00

The 50 Cent character we know today, the part-time rapper, full-time brand manager, hawking everything from Vitamin Water to cologne, is nothing like the guy from 2003’s “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’”. That 50 Cent delivered one of the greatest pieces of gangsta pop music you’re ever going to hear. “Get Rich” was a brilliant collection of menacing club tracks, laced with sweet hooks and phat baselines.

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #4 The Black Album (2003) - Jay-Z

2009-12-13T21:57:00.004-05:00

When Jay-Z announced that “The Black Album” would be his last he put self-imposed pressure on himself to deliver a something over-the-top for his grand finale. I don’t know if it was the renewed sense of urgency or the rush of attempting the impossible, but it’s obvious the incentive worked. Hov delivered in spades, “The Black Album” was indeed a tour de force. It helped that Jay-Z was able to

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #5 Tha Carter III (2008) - Lil Wayne

2009-12-13T21:52:00.011-05:00

For some Lil Wayne is the second coming. For others his madcap rhymes are nothing more than a garbled mess, cleverly packaged as new millennial avant-garde hip hop. For Me “Tha Carter III” was validation of something I already knew but didn’t want to admit. Wayne was a thrilling emcee whose talents could no longer be denied or contained. “Tha Carter III” was the culmination of a five year run

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade. #6 The Eminem Show (2002) - Eminem

2009-12-13T21:49:00.013-05:00

“The Eminem Show”, the third album from Eminem’s remarkable trilogy, was to me his finest. At 8x platinum, it was definitely his most successful. Much more than commercial accolades however, Em wanted respect; recognition from hip hop aficionados that he deserved to be mentioned on rap’s short list of elites. The record was his all-out attempt to leave his mark on the genre. I’d say: mission

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade

2009-12-13T21:46:00.011-05:00

#7 Food And Liquor (2006) - Lupe Fiasco From the start it was apparent that Lupe was not going to be your average knucklehead rapper. “Kick Push”, his effervescent debut single was the tip off that he was seeking higher ground. The sublime shout out to skate culture was contagious, coasting along on a jazzy mid-tempo groove and sweeping horns. For the full-length album, Lupe proved he had much

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade

2009-12-13T21:39:00.014-05:00

#8 The Fix (2002) - ScarfaceWe all knew from his Geto Boys days that Scarface was a standout rhyme slayer. The cagey veteran has seen a few things in his day. Plus with a voice fantastically suited for gritty storytelling, he’s always been capable of spinning a compelling narrative. But few of us knew that he had “The Fix” in him so deep into his critically acclaimed yet modest solo career. What

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade

2009-12-13T21:30:00.011-05:00

#9 Phrenology (2002) - The RootsStill waiting for the great Roots album? The signature effort that defines their careers and solidifies their legacy? Clearly you missed “Phrenology”. If The Roots had disappeared after “Phrenology”, I’d still count Black Thought, Questlove and the crew among my favorite all time groups. “Things Fall Apart” and “Do You Want More” may have had more highlights, but

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade

2009-12-13T12:48:00.011-05:00

#10 Stillmatic (2001) - NasAfter giving us the best album of the 90’s with “Illmatic” Nas’s career was derailed by a series of luke warm follow up efforts. Then, just when we were about to write Nas off, Jay-Z picked a fight with him and the rest is history. Nas responded with “Ether” the lead single from “Stllmatic” that blistered Jay with sharp-tongued jabs to his ego and instantly returned Nas

The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of The Decade - #11-25

2009-12-13T11:28:00.009-05:00

The Rest Of The Top 25The Blueprint – Jay-Z – So many hits, so many extraordinary verses, so much classic material. Jay could have ended it here and still been considered The G.O.A.T. Stankonia – Outkast – This one softened the world up for “Speakerboxx”. It was every bit as good really, just shorter. St. Elsewhere – Gnarls Barkley – Hip hop loosely defined and brilliantly

Is Tiger Woods An Idiot?

2009-12-03T23:02:00.009-05:00

Is Tiger Woods an idiot? The answer to this question is critical for shaping my worldview. In general, when famous, powerful men have been caught cheating on their wives, my knee jerk reaction has been to sneer and cry out: “what an idiot”. Mark Sanford, Elliot Spitzer, Steve McNair, the list goes on. All of these men took foolish chances, made sloppy errors in their cover up attempts and paid

DJ Hero puts a spin on music gaming - The Boston Globe

2009-10-29T10:47:00.001-04:00

via boston.com Mixed reviews for DJ Hero. It's tempting, but I can't see myself dropping $120 for it. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Our Favorite Little Luxuries: Finally Boat Shoes For Fall « Luminosity Marketing

2009-10-09T12:14:00.001-04:00

by Lamont Swittenberg Anyone who knows me, knows I hate cold weather. I’ve never understood why people get excited about fall just because they get to wear sweaters. Doesn’t that mean it’s gotten too cold to go out without covering up? How could that be a good thing? No, I prefer warm weather and its associated apparel: tee shirts, cargo shorts and my all

The Top 10 Rap Songs About New York City

2009-09-23T16:57:00.017-04:00

Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind", featuring the vocal stylings of Alicia Keys is a big wet kiss shout out to New York City. Extolling all that is righteous about New York, Jay's occasionally clever punchlines save the track from itself when it threatens to go from anthemic to sappy. Seeing Jay-Z perform this song several times over the past few weeks got me to thinking about the many other rap

Summer 2009: The Pictures

2009-09-21T23:47:00.001-04:00

via flickr.com Summer 09 was short but fun. Let's see what fall has in store. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2 by Raekwon reviews

2009-09-16T22:12:00.001-04:00

lswittenberg loved it on September 16th : Chef Raekwon has cooked up the Wu Tang banger we've been promised for far too long. It's like 1995 all over again. And that's a good thing. » Review this album Comment on this review Tweet Edit review Delete review

The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z reviews

2009-09-11T13:12:00.001-04:00

lswittenberg liked it on September 11th : It's good, but BP3 falls short of classic. So what, I'm just glad Jay's still making music. Rather than nitpick I choose to simply enjoy it. » Review this album Comment on this review Tweet Edit review Delete review

No Homer: 10 Hip-Hop Icons Simpsonized « Format Magazine Urban Art Fashion

2009-09-10T15:59:00.001-04:00

via formatmag.com Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Ten Rappers With College Degrees

2009-09-02T22:51:00.016-04:00

To offset the devastating news that Roxanne Shante made up the whole story about her having a PHD from Cornell I offer you this list of 10 Rappers whom I'm pretty sure are on the level. There are plenty of rappers who attended college but never graduated, including Diddy, Ludacris, Plies, and a ton of others. But I think this is a list of actual degree holders. Since this is the internet, I don't

"I don't wear it for Pharrell / I wear it 'cause I'm for real" Babe Pirate Store starts tomorrow.

2009-09-02T22:36:00.001-04:00

via us.bape.com A Bathing Ape Pirate Store Starts Thursday, 12pm; 286 Lafayette st, btw Prince and Houston; SoHo Starting tomorrow, the silverbacks of Japanese street wear are setting up shop for just five days, bringing with 'em discounts of 50-70% on select archived & factory second helpings of their frequently colorful polos, tees, buttondowns, jackets, and highly sought-after,

Thanks Rhapsody. The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z

2009-09-01T21:32:00.001-04:00

via rhapsody.com Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Roxanne Shante Gets Her Ph.D. Paid for by Warner Music

2009-08-25T16:35:00.001-04:00

via theroot.com The R-O-X-A-N-N-E gets hers. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Jay-Z announces benefit concert at Madison Square Garden

2009-08-24T22:35:00.001-04:00

Rate + Share Email Print Jay-Z announces benefit concert at Madison Square Garden August 24, 2009 Jay-Z announced plans Monday to unroll his "Blueprint 3" album with a special concert at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 11 to benefit the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. The concert - on the same day as Jay's album, featuring

Music - When Rappers Collide - Joe Budden vs. Raekwon, in Cyberspace and Elsewhere

2009-08-14T23:48:00.001-04:00

It was curious, the sling encasing Joe Budden’s right arm on Wednesday night at the Canal Room — curious and uncommented upon. For a rapper so given to transmitting even the mundane details of his life to fans, the omission was notable. Skip to next paragraph Blog ArtsBeat The latest on the arts, coverage of live events, critical reviews, multimedia

Loso's Way by Fabolous (lswittenberg Music Review)

2009-08-13T22:49:00.001-04:00

Loso's Way by Fabolous Review lswittenberg wasn't impressed on August 13th : Rap's Chris Weber shows flashes of genius but again disappoints. Here Fab's superb flow is stifled by bland production and lukewarm cameos. Post new comment via musebin.com Posted via web

50 Cent And Joe Budden Lead Your Hottest MCs In The Game Votes

2009-08-12T09:32:00.001-04:00

via mtv.com Further evidence that hip hop is dead. 50 Cent and Joe Budden? Seriously people? Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Top Fast Food Reviews by Chefs - Esquire

2009-08-11T23:04:00.001-04:00

via esquire.com In-N-Out Burger voted best fast food in America by guys who should know...chefs. I have to question the merits of any list like this that doesn't include Chick-fil-A. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

Pixton™ - Create web comic strips online

2009-08-11T12:02:00.001-04:00

via pixton.com Fun way to create comics if you have good writing but lack design skills. Posted via web from lswittenberg's posterous

The Top 10 Rap Songs That Sample Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T10:00:00.011-04:00

Some mourn in silence, some celebrate by dancing to classic tunes. I write rap lists. Here is my List of the 10 Best Rap Songs to sample Michael Jackson. Enjoy.LamontLamont's Lists June 2009The Top 10 Rap Songs That Sample Michael Jackson1. Izzo - Jay-Z (From "I Want You Back" / Produced by Kanye West) - This is the song that ignited Kanye's career, setting off a string of hits where he would

The 10 Greatest Lyrical Performances Of All Time

2009-06-24T22:43:00.010-04:00

Lamont’s Lists June 2009 What’s up peeps. Here is my attempt at capturing the 10 greatest lyrical performances of all time. This was really an impossible task. Clearly I have not heard every rap song ever recorded. So I am sure I have missed quite a few gems from lesser-known artists and from B-Sides material from some of my favorites MC’s. I also realize that this is a highly subjective

Keep Your Mouth Shut.

2009-05-25T10:42:00.006-04:00

Lamont’s ListsMay 2009Keep Your Mouth Shut. And Other Etiquette Rules For New Jersey Transit CommutersThe other day on my way home from work in Manhattan, a rather large guy squeezed in next to me as the fourth passenger in a four way seat (a flagrant violation of commuter etiquette). Sensing that he might be the chatty type, I quickly began fumbling around for some avoidance signals (started

The Best Of Biggie

2009-01-14T22:06:00.015-05:00

Lamont's ListsJanuary 2009The Top 10 Songs By The Notorious B.I.G.In recognition of the January 16, 2009 Release of “Notorious” I bring to you my “Top 10 Songs By the Notorious B.I.G.”. Truth be told, I should have done this a long time ago. As a massive Biggie fan, it’s something I’ve been meaning to do but never got around to. The hard part was narrowing his catalog down to my 10 favorites. I’

The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2008

2008-12-11T13:21:00.028-05:00

Lamont's ListsDecember 2008 The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of 2008 I can't front. I had a hard time coming up with my Top 10 Albums for 2008. Maybe it's because I just don't listen to as many albums as I used to given the singles-driven world we live in, or maybe it's just that there weren't that many great albums out there to choose from. But anyway, here's my obligatory posting of the best of 2008.

The Recession Playlist

2008-11-30T15:07:00.011-05:00

Lamont’s ListsDecember 2008The Recession PlaylistI read an article recently in the New York Times that discussed how, during tough economic times, pop music tends to adjust itself accordingly. Ballads and bluesy numbers sell more during downturns as opposed to the up-tempo, party tracks that prosper during periods of growth. Think about Young Jeezy’s recent release “The Recession” or Kanye West’s

Hip Hop Is Dead

2008-10-27T19:47:00.017-04:00

Lamont’s ListsNovember 2008The Top 10 Reasons Why Hip Hop Is DeadSo last month I wrote about how hip hop is “Alive And Well”, opining that, despite a few ominous signs, we really shouldn’t worry about rap music’s future as a cultural force. Well, truth be told, those ominous signs might be more troubling than I let on. Below I give to you “The Top 10 Reasons Why Hip Hop Is Dead”. Depressing?

Alive And Well

2008-09-24T11:43:00.001-04:00

Lamont's Lists - October 2008The Top Ten Reasons Why Hip Hop Is Alive And WellEvery time I look up these days, I hear some lame music critic or glass-half-empty old timer mouthing off about how hip hop is dead. Albums don’t sell anymore, the music all sounds the same, there’s no real emcees, yada, yada, yada, the yammering never stops. Fear not, I say. Rap music is just fine and it will endure

The Barack Obama Playlist

2008-06-12T22:33:00.001-04:00

Lamont’s ListsJune 2008The Top 10 Hip Hop Songs For The Barack Obama Campaign PlaylistAt the conclusion of Barack Obama’s speech on June 4th in Minneapolis, the night he clinched the Democratic party nomination for president, his organizers blasted Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” throughout the arena. It was a nice touch, a very powerful song, from a great American songwriter with boundless

2008-02-06T23:03:00.000-05:00

Lamont's Lists February 2008The Top 10 Rap Love Songs1. I Need Love - LL Cool J (Bigger And Deffer 1987)Yeah, I know, you saw this one coming. But come on, who doesn’t love “I Need Love”? None of LL Cool J’s lengthy collection of accolades and awards is as impressive as his invention of the rap ballad with this little ditty in 1987. That simple piano loop was cheesy but irresistible and I’m

Lamont's List - November 2006 "The 10 Most Influential Rap Songs Of All Time"

2006-11-02T22:18:00.001-05:00

Hello folks, below please find the latest installment of Lamont’s Lists, "The 10 Most Influential Rap Songs Ever”. These are the tunes that rap shall be forever indebted to… the ones that set the stage for hip hop to become as we know it today. Shout out to my man Dave Gugino for challenging me to compile this one. Please enjoy responsibly. And as always, feedback of all kind is much

2006-04-13T00:51:00.000-04:00

2006-04-13T00:28:00.000-04:00

Lamont’s Lists#21 Written: August 28, 2002The GOATSNOTE: THIS LIST IS NEARLY 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE SINCE REFINED MY THINKING. I FEEL COMPELLED TO DEVELOP AN UPDATE. STAY TUNED FOR A REVISED LIST THAT WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE EMINEM AND NAS. IT WILL ALSO SEND JAY-Z WAAAY HIGHER ON THE LIST...The Top 10 Rappers of All time“Cause who is number 1, if not best then better? Here’s a hint: the 18th

The 10 Greatest Rap Albums Of All Time

2006-04-13T00:19:00.001-04:00

Lamont’s Lists #25 Written: February 12, 2004 The Albums The 10 Greatest Rap Albums of All Time 1. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) – There’s no such thing as a unanimous pick when it comes to something like selecting the best album of all time, but with Nation of Millions, P.E. nearly pull it off. A riot on wax, it was a once in a lifetime piece of art

2005-09-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

Lamont’s List #37The Top 10 Rappers In The World…Right NowSeptember 2005“N****’s know the champ is in here. Took it from crack to rap, now he put out 2 anthems a year. And I just wanna rock for a century. Then chase the book with the documentary”.1. Jadakiss – “The Peoples Champion”After years of putting in work, Jadakiss has finally climbed all the way up the ladder to claim the title of “best