My 10 Favorite Hip-Hop Artists: Part II, "Big Pun"

If I felt like I might've owed something to Lupe, I absolutely owe something to Pun. I remember the first time I heard him was on an Eazy-E mixtape I downloaded for a song with Biggie & Tupac. I was floored, not only with his talent, but that I had never even heard of him. I need to hear more. A trip to Newbury Comics supplied me with Pun's opus, Capital Punishment, the first CLASSIC Hip-Hop album I ever went to the store and purchased.

It made me realize I didn't know the first thing about the history of this genre. Whereas Rock'n'Roll celebrates its origins and older artists, rap is all about what's new and whose next. Older artists are often forgotten and disregarded for their experience rather than respected for it (How often do you hear a classic Pac joint on the radio? How often do you hear a new Drake song? I rest my case).

And so began a backwards search through classic albums that I continue to this day.

Like learning anything outside of the classroom, its on you to do the research. Discovering Pun inspired me to do my research. Capital Punishment led me to Big L, who led me to Q-Tip & KRS-One, and the deep cuts that go beyond the hits of BIG and Pac.

Now to praise Pun himself. He's one of the best lyricists ever, without making his lyrics complex for complexity's sake. His use of multisyllabic rhymes was unparalleled. His flow is one for the ages. Pun could write songs for all occasions: Songs For the Ladies, Club Bangers, Lyrical Exposés and Gangster Tracks for the Streets.

Point blank: I think he's the best to ever do it. So thank you, Pun. You left far too soon.

You May Have Heard: Still Not A Player – Big Pun

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(I had a lot of issues limiting the tracks to share with you, so I recruited 2 of the biggest Hip-Hop Heads I know, to offer up their personal favorites).

MFP's Required Listening: Album: Capital Punishment

Song: Twinz (Feat. Fat Joe)

Zack's Tracks: Twinz (feat. Fat Joe), Dream Shatterer, Super Lyrical, Glamour Life

Sid's Selections:

My 10 Favorite Hip-Hop Artists: Part I, "Lupe Fiasco"

I feel like I owe something of a debt to Lupe Fiasco. He's the reason I got into hip-hop. Sure, growing up I had a few rap albums (Willenium, Nellyville, Snoop's R&G), but they never inspired me to listen intently, to decipher the meaning and marvel at how an artist's cadence and flow become another instrument intertwined with the beat.

That was Lupe.

The day after my 16th Birthday, Lupe released his debut album Food & Liquor. Armed with a new iTunes gift card, I downloaded the album on a lark after reading User Reviews about how amazing it was. It didn't disappoint.

Lupe's second effort, The Cool, may be my favorite rap album of all time. I still play it from front-to-back without skipping (a sign of a true classic) at least once every other week. It was this album that really began to open me up to the true art hip-hop can offer its listeners. I became bewildered by the scenes the emcee could bring to life, using symbolism and metaphors that would make a high-school English teacher giddy.

Point-blank, Lupe is a nerd. He's super lyrical. His first hit was a skateboarding love story. He's proactive and takes a stand on real issues. When he raps about guns and drugs, he does so like a National reporter, not a faux 50 Cent. And he may be the first great rapper of a new generation.

You May Have Heard: Superstar - Lupe Fiasco

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(I had a lot of issues limiting the tracks to share with you, so I recruited 2 of the biggest Hip-Hop Heads I know, to offer up their personal favorites).

MFP's Required Listening: Album: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool.

Song: Kick, Push

Zack's Tracks: Hip Hop Saved My Life, Put You On Game, Gold Watch

Sid's Selections: Hurt Me Soul, Can You Let Me Know

My 10 Favorite Hip-Hop Artists

I've been in a listing mood lately. For whatever reason, people love lists. They can help bring order to chaos and quantify what is otherwise uncountable. Myself, I love allowing my big mouth to throw my opinions out there, at least when it comes to what I know (or what I think I know).

Before I start, I'll throw out my Honorable Mentions. I wouldn't feel right not giving a shout out to these great artists: KRS-One. Rakim. Outkast. Chuck D. The Roots. Common. Lauryn Hill. Black Star. Redman & Method Man. The Wu-Tang Clan. Kanye West.

Now without further ado, and in no particular order, my 10 favorite Hip-Hop Artists.

10. Lupe Fiasco

09. Big Pun

08. Big L

07. Joe Budden

06. Busta Rhymes

05. Nas

04. Jay-Z

03. Eminem

02. The Notorious B.I.G. /Biggie Smalls

01. Tupac Shakur / 2Pac

I'll cover each one in individual postings. Just wanted to give a little taste of where my mind's at right now.

Common Sense

With only 1 final standing between me and freedom, I'm anticipating posts to become more frequent again.

The recent controversy stirred up by Fox News and Friends against a certain rapper inspired me to revisit my Common collection. Listening to Like Water For Chocolate, Be, and a few spare tracks from here and there, it reminded me how essential it is to revisit the classics.

That said, Fox's claims labeling Common as a misogynist and endorser of cop killing is laughable. Jon Stewart did a great job ripping them, as he always does, so I'll save you my personal rant. Instead, let Common's music speak for itself.

Rock 100

This was one of the most difficult playlists that I've ever created. I could've done this like 100 other ways, but this is what I settle upon. I left out some artists like Bob Marley and Ray Charles, which I cut out for fitting into other genres better than Rock (Marley is synonymous with reggae in USA).

1. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

2. Highway to Hell - AC/DC

3. Dream On - Aerosmith

4. Melissa - The Allman Brothers Band

5. Jessica - The Allman Brothers Band

6. House of the Rising Sun - Animals

7. Respect - Aretha Franklin

8. The Weight - The Band

9. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

10. Yesterday The Beatles

11. Hey Jude The Beatles

12. I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles

13. Piano Man Billy Joel

14. Only The Good Die Young 3:56 Billy Joel

15. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

16. Hurricane - Bob Dylan

17. Night Moves - Bob Seger

18. Old Time Rock And Roll - Bob Seger

19. More Than A Feeling - Boston

20. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

21. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

22. Wild World Cat Stevens

23. The Devil Went Down to Georgia The Charlie Daniels Band

24. Maybellene Chuck Berry

25. White Room Cream

26. Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater Revival

27. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival

28. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

29. Layla - Derek & The Dominos

30. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers

31. Light My Fire - The Doors

32. Life In The Fast Lane - The Eagles

33. Hotel California - The Eagles

34. Free Ride - Edgar Winter

35. Livin' Thing - Electric Light Orchestra

36. Your Song - Elton John

37. Tiny Dancer - Elton John

38. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

39. Cocaine - Eric Clapton

40. Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers

41. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac

42. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

43. Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood & The Destroyers

44. Radar Love - Golden Earring

45. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses

46. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses

47. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses

48. Fire And Rain - James Taylor

49. Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

50. Aqualung - Jethro Tull

51. Hey Joe - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

52. Little Wing - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

53. Imagine - John Lennon

54. Jack & Diane - John Mellencamp

55. I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

56. Living on a Prayer - Jon Bon Jovi

57. Don't Stop Believing - Journey

58. Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas

59. Rock 'n Roll All Nite (Live) - Kiss

60. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

61. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

62. Hot Town Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful

63. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

64. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

65. Can't You See - The Marshall Tucker Band

66. Turn The Page - Metallica

67. Enter Sandman - Metallica

68. Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues

69. Mississippi Queen - Mountain

70. Heart Of Gold - Neil Young

71. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

72. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum

73. (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

74. Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings

75. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney & Wings

76. In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

77. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) - Pink Floyd

78. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

79. Purple Rain - Prince

80. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

81. Somebody to Love - Queen

82. We Will Rock You/ We Are the Champions - Queen

83. Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

84. Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

85. Tom Sawyer - Rush

86. Black Magic Woman - Santana

87. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

88. Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

89. Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

90. The Joker - Steve Miller Band

91. Come Sail Away - Styx

92. The Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy

93. Drops of Jupiter - Train

94. Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

95. Jump - Van Halen

96. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

97. Baba O'Riley - The Who

98. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

99. My Generation - The Who

100. La Grange - ZZ Top

Music Videos: Misery/Words I Never Said

The timing for my 100 List couldn't be better; this post is my 99th, meaning my next will be celebrating the 100th with my 100.

So, I'm sharing a couple music videos I just saw for the first time this week. The first is Misery, from Maroon 5. I checked it out after "The Voice" had me listening to the 4 coaches on YouTube. The video is best summarized as, simply put, Hot & Hilarious. A gorgeous, tiny little badass girl basically kicks the crap out of Adam Levine. Highly entertaining

Words I Never Said, from Lupe's "LASERS," was just released on the Interwebs today. Its got some awesome visuals to go with one of the heavier songs from Lupe's latest.

Also, expect a rant on Steve Carell's last episode on The Office, and those who will be throwing their hat into the ring (Gob? "COME ON!")

The Voice

So, I am in the process of putting together my 100 Songs of the Rock Era, as well as a Summertime Mixtape of hip-hop to mix into what will be Country and Rock Season for me. So before I have those ready for air, I want to share my thoughts on the new TV Series/Singing Competition, "The Voice." (Hit The Link To Watch on Hulu)

I think its AMAZING. Where "Idol" has been stale since the discovery of Carrie Underwood (When was that? I must have been 14 still...), The Voice brings something fresh to the table. They switch up the format in a way that benefits the show greatly.

If you're terrible- you're not getting on TV for the judges to mock you, America to laugh at you and FOX to make money off you. Right off the bat, the contestants are obviously stronger and come from more walks of life than "Idol" would ever be looking for.

Next, the judges double as vocal coaches-- that is, they're competing in this too; looking for

the strongest contestants and then offering their expertise to nurture them into stronger

vocalists. Did I mention the judges are 4 of the biggest and most entertaining singers today? Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are all amazing singers, each who can offer something unique to their team.

Also, coaches are choosing their teams with their backs to the stage -- going solely off the voice. A competition that prioritizes vocal talent over looks? How Refreshing!

Oh and Carson Daly is back as the host. Where's he been? I love that guy!

It'll be interesting to see where the show goes once the teams are built and the coaches get involved 1-on-1, but I have high hopes.

(I've included clips of my 3 favorite performances from the premiere episode.)

My Top 10 Non-Beatles Rock Songs

I read a book a few years back, "Broken Prey," which is part of a series following a detective by the name of Lucas Davenport. Those kind of series are always right up my alley. You get to know the character so well and see them develop far more than in just a single story, and you grow to like them and learn their tendencies. Well, the reason I'm mentioning this is in this particular entry, Davenport's wife gives him an iPod and an iTunes card for $100. So he accepts this as a challenge to create a playlist of the 100 "Best Songs of the Rock Era" (this was back in '05, back when songs were just $.99). Here's a link to his list.

And since Davenport isn't a Beatles Fan, you won't find them on his list. So I took on the challenge of picking my Top 10 Rock Songs, excluding the Beatles. This may be a prelude to my own 100 Song Tribute...

01. Layla - Derek & The Dominoes

02. Purple Rain - Prince

03. Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

04. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

05. Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix

06. Hurricane - Bob Dylan

07. Bridge Over Trouble Water - Simon & Garfunkel

08. Dream On - Aerosmith

09. Night Moves - Bob Seger

10. Tiny Dancer - Elton John

(Note: This is in no particular order.)

Pick for Favorite Album of the Year

(2011's Adventures of Bobby Ray? Singles have won me over, a la B.o.B did)

I will be absolutely shocked at this point if Brad Paisley's This Is Country Music fails to take my top spot at the end of 2011. Early in the year I figured Lupe's LASERS would be in contention- but it didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations (still a really really good album). With the exception of Tyler, the Creator's Goblin due out in under a month and a possible Slaughterhouse album, I don't know of any albums to be released this year that will be able to compete with Brad in my CD-Changer/iTunes/iPod rotation. But- you never know. I didn't see American Saturday Night or The Adventures of Bobby Ray, released the past two years, to claim my top spots in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Take a look at the track list below. The features alone are mind-boggling. Pays to be the Jay-Z equivalent in Country Music. When either hits you up and offers a spot on their next album, you jump at the opportunity.

1.	"This Is Country Music"
2.	"Old Alabama" (with Alabama)
3.	"A Man Don't Have To Die"
4.	"Camouflage"
5.	"Remind Me" (with Carrie Underwood)
6.	"Working On a Tan"
7.	"Love Her Like She's Leavin'" (with Don Henley of the Eagels)
8.	"One of Those Lives"
9.	"Toothbrush"
10.	"Be the Lake"
11.	"Eastwood" (with Clint Eastwood)
12.	"New Favorite Memory"
13.	"Don't Drink the Water" (with Blake Shelton)
14.	"I Do Now"
15.	"Life's Railway To Heaven" (with Marty Stuart, Sheryl Crow, and Carl Jackson)

Friday Grab-Bag

"F.A.N.S." -- Tech N9ne (Hip-Hop)

I'm keeping with my "new music can be good music" kick I was on for Hip-Hop Thursday, at least for this song. First time I really heard Tech N9ne was at Rock The Bells in 2009, and his fans scared the shit out of me. I mean, the "technicians" as they call themselves, are the most dedicated fanbase I've seen. And they were crazy enough that I didn't exactly enjoy Tech's Set. However, after listening to his music on my own in a quiet environment helped me realize how dope this guy is. Here's his roughly 1-week-old ode to his fan base, a song he's given away for those that pre-ordered his upcoming album, "All 6's and 7's." Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting the album's release and the arrival of my pre-order.

***

"Angel Dance" -- Robert Plant (Rock)

Robert Plant's reinvention post-Led Zeppelin has been amazing to watch. First was his delving into old-school blues with a couple different groups. Then was his Country-Folk album with Alison Krauss, that caught everybody off-guard with how well the two worked together- creating one of 2007's best albums. And now, he's leading a new group, Band of Joy, sharing the namesake of his very first band, pre-dating his time with Zeppelin. "Angel Dance," is the first track of off the album sharing the group's name. It has a great sound to it-- something of a southern rock-country-blues mix, and its carried by Plant's still golden vocals.

***

"25 Minutes To Go" -- Johnny Cash (Country)

I've been a Cash mood all week-- debating if my favorite live album is his At Folsom Prison, or The Allman Brothers' At Filmore East. Though I never came to a conclusion, it did leave me playing Cash over and over again (as I did the same with Fillmore last week), with my favorite tracks changing constantly. By now, "25 Minutes To Go," and "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" both have over 20 plays on the Pod and more in iTunes. Nothing beats Johnny's bad-ass-ness, especially live in front of a group of criminals enjoying a few hours of freedom.