Jay-Z and Kanye- Watch the Throne

I have been waiting for this album for a while, as have other avid Jay-Z fans (maybe some Yeezy fans too but they are probably too embarrassed to admit it). I'll just start by saying this, if you appreciate hip hop music that came out in the 00's decade, then you like Kanye, because he has produced some of the most enchanting and legendary albums of the past decade. I would include this one in the mix. I have heard complaints that they are rapping too much about being rich...but what do you expect? They are! And Jigga's past three albums have all pretty much emphasized "celebrating black excellence." They've made it! And they're celebrating. It's interesting because we don't know what Tupac and Biggie would have rapped about had they reached the level of success that Jay-Z has. Jay-z is the trailblazer in respectable rappers making it to the level of business and musical success that he has. WITH THAT SAID. This album is great...here are my favorite tracks.
Otis- this soulful sampling makes you wanna GET DOWN. All my favorite beats come from classic amazing old funk and soul samples...this is something Kanye is very good at (Touch the Sky).
Murder to Excellence- the track where they make the big statement about violence in black communities...back by a greaaattt beat
Ni**gas in Paris- They sample Blades of Glory....awesome.

The Harder They Come

This is the best reggae album ever. Now I admit I don't know that much about reggae, but this album is a GREAT one to get started on. I found out about this album cause I heard Robert Plant tried to get it played before the Led Zeppelin '75 tour. And you know if the Golden God thinks is good...it is. This is also ranked in many circles as one of the best soundtracks of all time. Now, I've never seen the movie, but I'm sure its great. What I really like about this album is that its every other outstanding reggae artist besides Bob Marley, this compilation's so good it doesn't need him. Here are some of the best songs on this album...
Pressure Drop- All Toots songs are awesome, but this album def has the best ones, and this one is at the top.
Pomp and Pride- This is probably my favorite Toots song. Which I became reacquainted with thanks to this album.
Guava Jelly- "Here I am, Come rub up on my belly like guava jelly" BEST. LYRICS. EVER.
Viet Nam- Bob Dylan said that this was the best protest song he'd ever heard.

The Pharcyde- Bizairre Ride II

At the pool this weekend this one older woman asked why there were so many people in Faneuil hall, it was because of some weird little Boston rapper, I didn't say that but I did say "Oh a rap show I think, in which this woman replied "BLECK I don't like rap do you? Too much swearing" ALRIGHT. I hate this attitude towards hip hop. Some of the most intelligent music is hip hop, of course there is awful rap where they are just trying to sound tough and swear unnecessarily, luckily I only listen to exquisite hip hop music...such as THE PHARCYDE. This album (and I'm pretty sure I'm alone in this thought) sounds like a bunch of gay (and I mean that word in the 40's sense of extremely joyful) rappers came together and they're just having a ton of fun, its their first album in the early days of hip-hop, what is there to lose? Its funny, has some great lyrics and stories and the jazz influenced beats really get you into it. Here's some of the best songs from this album:
I'm that type of ni***r- I love the drums and the bass with the "um um well excuse me" added. The best lyric? "I'm that type of ni***r to catch a bullet in my teeth then call you St. Nick dick cause you'll get hung like a wreath"
Soul Flower (remix)-I LOVE this song, the beats great and they make a ton of P-funk references, which I always appreciate and the lyrics... "I got more flava than 7/11 slurpees if Magic can admit he has AIDS, fuck it, I got herpes" HAHA
Passin Me By- the most popular song on the album, and it usually ranked among the best hip hop songs of all time. To me it has this great innocence, he just has a crush on this girl, just give him some attention!!
The skits are also just extremely entertaining on this album like when everyone randomly busts out singing "Quinton's on his way with another J, and its okayyy" now Quinton is memorialized in hip hop history cause he was nice enough to bring his buddies a joint.

3. Let it Bleed

The Stones first album after Brian Jones' death this album displays some of the turbulent times the Stones went through in that time period.
Gimme Shelter- The #1 guest appearance in any song...ever, is Mary Brown in this song. If you listen closely you can actually hear someone go "Wo!" in the background after one of her "Murder!" cries. OH! It gives me chills!
Live With Me- This song is a great sexual plea. And it has my favorite lyrics EVER "My best friend shoots water rats and feeds them to his geese, don't you think there's a place for you, in between the sheets?"
Monkey Man-a great, often underrated song.

2. Sticky Fingers

This album has actually been my favorite Rolling Stones album since I can remember. And I still love it, But Exile and I started developing a closer relationship which has unfortunately put it at #2. BUT it still has my favorite Rolling Stones songs on it.
Midnight Mile- This is one of my favorite Rolling Stones songs. As Keith wrote, this was Mick and one of his most prolific moments. This is a song that really takes you to a different place.
Dead Flowers- This song is fun as hell to sing and dance around too. Keith's bromance with Gram Parsons inspired the country style of this song. And the lyrics are great, "I know you think you're the queen of the underground."
Wild Horses- Another song influenced by Gram Parsons, the perfect summer driving song, and so romantic.
Can't You Hear me Knocking- This song just a good song to groove to, and as a friend pointed out to me, the sax solo is definitly the best part of it.

Balls Deep in the Stones

Excuse the vulgar phrase but it really has described my summer so far. I am currently at the very end of Keith Richards' Life, which has been wildly entertaining. I have had dreams about dating Keith Richards, which has been a little scary and to top it all of I have been listening to some of their various albums over and over and over...so! to celebrate my Stones Summer I would like to share my favorite albums and those songs on the albums...Let's do my top 3, because top 3 lists clarify everything I need to say in a punctual, organized manner.

1. Exile On Main St.

This album ROCKS. Written in a summer the Stones spent in the Mediterranean (for tax reasons) it is all together a ridiculously joyful album.
Here are some of the bests on a great album:
Rocks Off-When the music climaxes and Mick Jagger shouts "The sunshine bores the daylights out of me!" At that moment you'll never be more excited to listen to the rest of an album. AND THE HORNS. They just make you so happy! Which brings me to...
Happy- Keith just randomly wrote this song in one night when he was just hanging out with some of the guest musicians on the album. They got it in something like four takes, one night. And when the rest of the band heard it, it didn't need any changes, because this is one of those great songs that just comes from a night of spontaneous great music from rock geniuses.
Tumbling Dice- This is actually one of my favorite songs. The background singers make it for me, its soulful.