Tag Archive for 'Common'

I Am Listening To: Skillz - Million Dollar Backpack

Published
by
neal
on October 6, 2008
in Music
. 0 Comments

SkillzI’m not really familiar with Skillz. According to Wikipedia he’s been active for a while as an artist and ghostwriter. I first found out about him via NothingButEverything. I watched the video for Be Alright and I was hooked. I sent the link to Nick and he felt it too, ‘decent feel good track’. It was so laid back that when I got home I decided to peep the whole album, Million Dollar Backpack.

The album features a ton of producers including DJ Jazzy Jeff and ?uestlove. Black Thought, Common, and Freeway are the only named guests.

My favorite cuts:

So Far So Good - Reminds me of a Slum Village cut.

Sick - Great brag track. I dig the beat and all the references. This would be good for a dance battle.

He Don’t Own Me - What is it with handdrums? They are so hot right now!

My Phone - Another name dropping brag track like ‘Sick’, but about girls. Builds up to a great ending.

Hold Tight - The horns do it for me and the rhymes are tight.

Be Alright - Like I said, it’s smooth and upbeat.

Preachin To The Choir - Remember story tracks? This is a rare treat these days.

The Bottom Line: The album has some solid tracks. But as LeVar Burton would say, you don’t have to take my word for it.

Wanted - TXT Message Review

Published
by
neal
on June 27, 2008
in Comics, Movies and TXT Message Reviews
. 2 Comments

Angelina Jolie, Common, Morgan Freeman, Terrence Stamp, and … Mr. Tumnas? That’s the cast of Wanted, the latest comic book movie to hit the box office. Longtime Podcast listeners might recall that I have reviled this film for the past six months or so, in large part due to my disapproval of the changes made during the adaptation. I was worried they would destroy on screen something that was so well executed in print.

In order to substantiate my prior opinions, I took in the 5:15 PM screening this afternoon. My post-flick txt (<160 characters) to Nick below:

Audience was all old people and a crying baby. Action was good, Jolie looks busted, Freeman pulls a Sam Jackson. Still fails to convey the point of the book.

my rating

Flo Rida - I Will Not Ride Your Elevator

Published
by
neal
on February 20, 2008
in Music Videos
. 3 Comments

Flo Rida’s single Low is doing pretty well. I mean, these days having T-Pain’s vocoder-riding ass anywhere near your track seems to grant instant success. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that homeboy’s new single Elevator features non other than super producer Timbaland. As usual, I’ll give you the lowdown and examine the beat, video, content, and vocals.

The Beat: The intro piano line sounds like it was stolen from a daytime soap. Fortunately, it doesn’t last long and Timbaland promptly dispenses a Promiscuous Girl grade beat. The subtle synth line works really well against the snaps. Are you dancing yet?

The Video: Whoever styled this video has a great sense of humor. The elevator girls are well cast and the ‘hood rat’ has the best facial expressions. The dancers look like they got lost on the way to a Sir Mixalot / MC Hammer video shoot. The whole “Elevator” thing is funny without being overdone; Aerosmith would be proud. And did you catch the GMILF at the end?! Negatives: a little too much product placement (watch, Gucci bag, iPhone etc), celeb cameos (Rick Ross and like every other dude from MIA) were extensive, and too many shots of Flo Rida’s lame tattoo.

The Content: Basically Flo Rida is saying that regardless of what kind of girl you are. Golddigger, classy dyme, or hood rat - he can do you right. Does this sound like well worn territory to you? It is. Every rapper has one of these “I love all types of women” tracks. Remember Girls Girls Girls by JayZ or E.I. by Nelly? The major difference here is that Flo doesn’t use punchlines - just pop culture references like “drop that top model body.”

The Vocals: Flo can’t ride a beat like Nelly or JayZ, but, I’ll take homeboy over Akon, T-Pain, or Hurricane Chris anyday. Also, his delivery is pretty clear.

The Bottom Line: The hook is simple enough for your grandma, and maybe that’s enough to make this track a hit. A great video certainly can’t hurt either. Enjoy this one.

Alicia Keys - Like You’ll Never See Me Again is FIRE

Published
by
neal
on November 15, 2007
in Music Videos
. 1 Comment

I like Alicia Keys. Yup. Remember You Don’t Know My Name, If I Ain’t Got You, and How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore? Aside from long song titles, I can’t fault Keys on much. Her last single No One wasn’t my style, but that’s irrelevant. Her new single Like You’ll Never See Me Again is like a shot in the arm for me. I needed this track.

The track itself is pure A Keys. The snapping and the slow beat are both well utilized. Vocals are on point, the chorus has this strained feeling to it, and the doubles aren’t overdone either. A Keys makes sad sexy.

Video wise, Alicia has never looked better. She has this neck vein popping during the video - I’m not sure if she is really feeling the song or what, but I dig it. The straight hair? Yeah, I’m aroused. The only product placement in this video is the (Nokia?) cellphone - a recurring element of Key’s videos.

Common, the most overexposed dude in hiphop after Will.I.Am, plays the male lead in the video. Are they dating or something? She was in his new video too. I think this all started with Smokin’ Aces.

The Verdict? HEATROCK! I am putting this into heavy rotation on my playlist.

Podcast Episode 007

Published
by
nick marino
on November 13, 2007
in Podcast Episodes
. 6 Comments

The three media amigos discuss Lupe Fiasco, Common, Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Avatar Book 3 Chapters 8 and 9, Jennifer Aniston, Air Guitar Nation, Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale, some other comic books, sadness, life, pain, dirtiness and so much more.

 
 AudioShocker #7 [54:51m]: Play Now | Download