I'd like to hear an art student's analysis this album art.
Facing off today in the album gauntlet will be five powerhouses. All five are great but which will come out on top? *Hint* - The winner will have some kind of combination of the words white or black.
Provided below will be my favorite song off of each album and that album's cover art (or lack thereof, you creative bunch of Beatles).
1) The Beatles' "The White Album"
Above, somewhere in the white space is a video that has bits from The White Album. Enjoy!
2) Metallica's "The Black Album"
3) Jay-Z's "The Black Album"
4) Prince's "The Black Album"
This one is not going to win, sorry Prince fans.
5) The Hives' "The Black And White Album"
And the winner is.....
Ah, finally some color
Was there ever any doubt? If you disagree, feel free to leave an angry comment!
There is a reason movies like 8 Mile or Save the Last Dance are successful. They both feature a main character doing something they are not supposed to be good at.
Anything having to do with rhythm or flow is often foreign in a white person's culture. The following performers show that there are a select few that can make you forget their skin color.
From most expected to have rhythm to the least I have compiled an entertaining list of those who make people like me jealous for being able to execute a dance move other than the robot.
Or those who can rap/sing over a funky beat and not sound like a stiff, uncomfortable businessman.
Number one on the countdown goes to the Black Keys' project band Blakroc:
1) Blakroc's "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)"
For these two white guys to produce a bumping rap beat is impressive to say the least. Now if they rapped the verses too, I would've been blown away. I think they can be forgiven though considering the quality of music the Black Keys produce.
2) Some crazy drummer:
He's got some serious moves considering he's the drummer for a middle aged cover band. Thanks to him I was able to ignore those golden jackets and focus completely on his drum playing which is like nothing I have ever seen.
3) Jamie Lidell's "Little Bit Of Feel Good":
Now if you had to guess where this guy is from what would you say.......?
England? I didn't think so. When I first heard this song I had no idea what he looked like and just figured he was the next Prince. I guess you could call him Prince's prince.
4) Beastie Boys' "So What'cha Want"
OK so three guys from New York get together to form a rap group. No big deal. How about three white guys with their roots in hard rock? Ya, the Beastie Boys are the coolest band ever. And are still going strong. I don't think it would be a stretch for me to say that no other trio of white people will have anywhere near the success the Boys have had.
5) Matisyahu beat boxing off his "Live at Stubb's" album:
I'll let Wikipedia do the talking for the source of Matisyahu's unexpected talent: "Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), better known by his Hebrew name and stage nameMatisyahu (Hebrew:מתתיהו) is an AmericanHasidic Jewishreggae musician." That's quite the combination.
Now we just need an Amish person to make it big and my list will be complete.
Ah, to be a famous athlete. In peak physical condition, making millions of dollars, and becoming so famous people on the other side of the world wear jerseys with your name on it.
But like any celebrity, having seemingly everthing is never enough. Thanks to this sentiment, many athletes have tried their luck in the music industry with mixed results.
Did any of them make the wrong career choice? I'll let you be the judge.
1) Baseball player Bronson Arroyo covers "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls:
Hmm I guess they should've worked on those chords a little more in practice. No one wants to go to a concert and hear a song restart.
2) Boxer Manny Pacquiao featuring some comedian covering John Lennon's "Imagine":
Unlike the Arroyo video, I actually sat through the whole thing. If you want to see a better Pacquiao performance, check his rendition of, "Sometimes When We Touch." Or just watch him knock people out.
3) An original song by Shaq. This one is brilliantly titled, "Shoot Pass Slam."
He really went out of his element with this one. A basketball player rapping about basketball? Unheard of.
4) Los Angeles Laker's Forward Ron Artest's, "Champions."
No one can doubt that Mr. Artest has passion. Anyone who saw his antics which had him suspended for the rest of the 2004 season, can attest to that. This video has over 1 million views and is featured on the most recent installment of the NBA 2k series.
But in case you forgot what made him a household name, prepare to be amazed:
He knew what he was doing. Every rapper needs to get some street cred from somewhere. Ron achieved his by going into a bull-like rage and attacking anyone who looked at him the wrong way.
When a musical artist runs into a writer's block, (ouch! ....... I apologize for that joke) they often turn to everyday occurences or whatever is moving them at that moment as a source of inspiration. This is why there are so many songs about specific girl's names, break up stories, and getting drunk.
All of those are directly related. You fall in love with a girl, her name is the title of your song. You break up with a girl, and you're so overwhelmed with emotion you come up with a brilliant song title like American Hi Fi's, "The Breakup Song."
And finally, like any self respecting man, you drink away all of your problems and use the drink as a song title. Now, this drink is your new girlfriend. At least for now.
Here are the best:
1) Reel Big Fish, "Beer"
Then again, most artists don't really write about their feelings so I've decided to compile the top 4 songs about alcoholic beverages. And instead of being emotionally deep, they're quite the opposite.
4) Ying Yang Twins, "Grey Goose"
Maybe one day someone will understand my reference at a party when I say, "Aint no Koolaid in my cup." But I doubt it.
3) Shwayze, "Corona And Lime"
That moustache can really sing.
2) Snoop Dogg, "Gin And Juice"
I'm always cranking this song whenever I'm driving with the windows down. As long as I'm in my white-suburban neighborhood.
1) G. Love & Special Sauce, "Cold Beverage"
G. Love earns the #1 spot because he shows that in order to write a great song about alcohol, one must also include non-alcoholic beverages for the kiddies. Thanks G. Love!!
Often compared to the epic symphonies composed long ago by those such as Beethoven and Bach, gangster rap is poised to live on far past the current generation. Artists such as Young Jeezy and Lil Scrappy cleverly combine similar themes of money, women, and how to survive in the world.
I'm sure at this point you're wondering, "How could I compose such a masterpeice?" Well, it's a good thing you're reading this. Simply follow my step-by-step guide and you'll have so much money you can throw it around in your music videos in no time!
And trust me, I'm the most gangster person I know.
Besides this guy:
1) Develop A Beat: Without a deep pulsing bass and at least 16th notes on the hi-hat, you have little chance of creating a great song. Then, if you ever feel the beat is becoming a little repetitive, just put in some gun shot noises. *Note: Using a real gun in the studio is not necessary, though recommended.*
2) Think Long And Hard About Lyrics: This is the most important part of any gangster rap song. First, think about what has been concerning you lately. Is it money, women, or a combination of the two? Once you have decided, make sure your words rhyme, (at least some of the time) and you're good to go.
Consider using an echo effect at the end of each phrase. If you repeat the same word, it rhymes twice!
3) Obtain a Catch Phrase: Some examples include, "Jeah", "Burrr", or laughing like a school girl. Be creative here because if it's good enough, pre-teen youths from suburbs everywhere will copy you. And that's where the money is.
Finally....
4) Get a R&B Singer to Sing Your Hook: If you can't sing, it's no big deal.
