This Is What Gangsters Dance To...

After partaking in quite a bit of what Bob is having, I was seriously contemplating the thought of delaying this post until at least tomorrow, but because I love my readers so damn much, here the hell I am. Enjoy...

At Ear Fuzz, you can download two songs by The Staple Singers---"Let's Do It Again" and "Chase". They also just featured a couple of joints from the latest Cunninlynguists LP (A Piece of Strange). You definitely want to check out "Nothing To Give": http://www.earfuzz.com/.

For the jazz fiends, there are three Charlie Parker mp3s available for download at The Unwanted Gaze---"A Night In Tunisia", "Bird's Nest", and "Bebop": http://unwantedgaze.blogspot.com/2006/02/charlie-parker.html.

No Frontin' did you a very large favor by posting Syl Johnson's "Sorry 'Bout Dat". If you've never heard his music before, get familiar:
http://songz.blogspot.com/2006/02/hes-been-hangin-round-for-days.html.

I should have mentioned this previously, but Checkerboard Chimes posted "One For Ghost" by J Dilla several days ago: http://checkerboardchimes.blogspot.com/2006/02/at-last.html.
This was the beat used on Ghostface's "Whipped With A Strap", a bootleg joint you can download at Unkut.com (along with other tracks by Ghost and Raekwon): http://www.unkut.com/2006/02/rae-and-ghost-united/.

More J Dilla tracks at The Sole Life:
http://solelife.blogspot.com/.

ORTF is featuring 3 classic hip-hop joints---"Ten Crack Commandments" by Notorious B.I.G., Kool G Rap's "Riker's Island", and "Survival of the Fittest" by Mobb Deep:
http://ortf.blogspot.com/2006/02/j-roc-dealer-de-crack.html.

Download "Sex Machine" by James muthafuckin' Brown at Awesome Until Proven Guilty:
http://patandtravis.blogspot.com/2006/02/saturday-night.html.

An impressive collection of drawings by the genius that was Leonardo da Vinci can be found here: http://visi.com/~reuteler/leonardo.html.

"Is This Love?" by Bob Marley is available at Veritas Lux Mea:
http://thetruthenlightensme.blogspot.com/2006/02/basketball-diaries.html.

Widely appreciated amongst hip-hop heads, ATCQ's "Bonita Applebum" was recently posted at Soul On Ice (see 2/25): http://obifromsouthlondon.blogspot.com/.

Spliff Huxtable is the spot if you want to download instrumental versions of your favorite hip-hop joints...and besides, who can resist a blog with a name like that???:.
http://www.spliffhuxtable.com/?m=200602.

The Patriot Act renewal is getting closer to being passed:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/2/28/153853.shtml.
I wouldn't want any of my readers to be less educated than the fuckers who keep passing this shit, so I'm posting a link where you can read the Patriot Act in its entirety. This will make you much more of an intellectual than all the bald, caucasian men with glasses you've ever voted to represent you:
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html.

Moistworks has posted some excellent material lately, including songs by Sly & The Family Stone, The Staple Singers, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, and more. Also, be sure to check out the excerpt of an interview with Marvin Gaye: http://www.moistworks.com/2006/02/for-spl-too-far-gone-my-dad-is-dead.html.

No less stellar was Oliver's collaboration with Mark Anthony Neal over at Soul Sides. The post was in honor of Black History Month, and featured songs by Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway, the Emotions, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, Billy Paul, and others. The tracks selected are some incredibly powerful songs---the kind of music you can feel all the way through to your bones. Something you definitely don't want to miss:
http://soul-sides.com/2006/02/another-mansoul-sides-collabo-get-into.html.

Clanton's latest rant over at Loosie made my fuckin' day. This should be required reading for anyone who believes anything that the Bush administration says or does: http://www.loosie.com/words/archives/2006/02/000616.php.

Last, but not least, is one of the most beautiful songs ever rumored to be about heroin addiction, as sung by one of the greatest soul singers of all time---download "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Aretha Franklin at Dilated Choonz: http://dilate.choonz.com/index.php?id=177.

By the way---I was only joking. You really can't dance to most of this shit...

After He Took Everything From You He Could Steal

If I felt at liberty to truly express myself, I could speak volumes about George Bush's uncompromising stance in support of a recent decision allowing a company operated by the United Arab Emirates to take over operations at six major U.S.ports:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/21/port.security/.

I would be inclined to point out how puzzling it is that Bush has threatened to utilize his veto power to stop Congress from enacting legislation to prevent the transaction. His impassioned response seems awfully suspect, especially considering the fact that he claims to have been ignorant about the whole matter until just recently:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8FU9QTG2.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_up&chan=db.

I might also have a thing or two to say about my unbridled enthusiam for the fact that the ACLU, amongst others, are calling for Dubya's impeachment (as a result of the questionable legalities surrounding the National Security Agency's wiretapping "efforts"):
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/2/21/163845.shtml.

However, I have to be cautious about getting too revolutionary up in here. I have to remember that we aren't as free as we used to be---and I'd suggest checking this book if you even begin to disagree:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556525559/104-3552737-7403909?v=glance&n=283155.

A couple of months after I started Souled On, I started getting a lot of traffic from government officials. It was rather laughable to me, because my readership was so small as to render my opinions insignificant. I still can't really imagine why I was garnering that sort of attention, but something about that shit is scary.

I believe whole-heartedly in freedom of speech, and my gangsta side tells me that I can say whatever the fuck I want, whenever I want. Another part of me, however, fears that "the man" is going to come and kidnap me any day now. My right to a trial will be conveniently "overlooked", and I'll end up imprisoned in some remote place where the guards are even uglier than Lynndie England:
http://www.downwithabsolutes.com/wp-content/lynndie.JPG.

So forgive me if I occasionally feel the need to bite my tongue. It's probably just the weed causing this paranoia...really. Or is it???

While you're stuck pondering that, I'm gonna move on to some other shit...

Download "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" by Nina Simone at 2 1/2 Pounds of Bacon: http://fastbacker.blogspot.com/2006/02/little-more-calm.html. If you have any tolerance whatsoever for 90's indie rock, you may also want to check "In This Hole" by Cat Power, included in the same post. This will be way too soft for some of you, but there's no denying the understated beauty of this track.

I may not have had occasion to say so before, but I fucks wit reggae. Moistworks just posted a few classic reggae cuts---most notably "Daddy" by Toots & The Maytals and "Like A Rolling Stone" by The Wailers: http://www.moistworks.com/. Today's post was also pretty nice, featuring songs by Malcolm McClaren, Roots Manuva, Monie Love, Definition of Sound, a Neneh Cherry remix w/ Biggie, and much more...

At TMWSIY, you can download a couple more tracks from Coldcut's Sound Mirrors LP. I ain't gonna lie--both of these tracks kind of rub me the wrong way. I'm posting a link anyway, out of respect for your right to self-determination: http://tmwsiy.blogspot.com/2006/02/mirrors-sound.html.

On Presidents' Day, Trees Lounge posted several tracks with a presidential spin. Download joints by Blackalicious, Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, Eric B & Rakim, and the Pharcyde:
http://trees-lounge.blogspot.com/2006/02/merry-presidents-day.html.
By the same token, Marathonpacks posted David Ruffin's "I Could Never Be President" in honor of the holiday:
http://www.marathonpacks.com/2006/02/david-ruffin-i-could-never-be.html.

Palms Out Sounds has posted too much good shit to even bother mentioning specifics. Go there, and peep that Lance Drummonds video while you're at it: http://palmsout.blogspot.com/

I've developed a strange crush/fascination thing with Angry Black Bitch. She's intelligent, humorous, foul-mouthed (yet eloquent), and...well...bitchy. What the fuck's not to love?:
http://angryblackbitch.blogspot.com/.

ANABlog is currently featuring a track I consider to be amongst my favorite soul joints---"The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind) by The Dells: http://www.analogartsensemble.net/2006/02/dells.html.

Chuck D (along with numerous other artists) is scheduled to perform at Cindy Sheehan's anti-war concert, "Bring 'Em Home Now":
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/2/22/174821.shtml.

Cop "Black Sweat" by Prince at Musique Sous Influence:
http://docteurgonzo.blogspot.com/2006/02/work-it.html.

"Speed Law" and "Mathematics" (two tracks from Mos Def''s Black On Both Sides) are available at Indoor Fireworks:
http://indoorfireworks.blogspot.com/2006/02/young-bloods-cant-spell-but-they-can.html.

I've wanted to feature Banksy's artwork since I first started doing this blog, so today's the day. For those who aren't familiar, he's a UK graf artist whose anti-corporate ideology, political imagination, and cultural wit make his artistic expressions too incredible to ignore. Check his website here: http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html.

I think Stephanie McKay's voice is phenomenal, but I haven't met many people who even recognize her name. As I result, I was pleasantly surprised when "Sadder Day" turned up on The Number One Songs In Heaven (see post on 2/20). Now that you have the opportunity, don't sleep a second longer:
http://www.londonlee.com/blog.html.

Grandgood recently posted a great throwback joint---"Foolish Mentality" by 12 Jewelz (produced by DJ Greyboy): http://www.grandgood.com/random.html. Other recent posts include a Wu-Tang concert review, updated information about Sony's "dishonest practices", and words to the poem that Saul Williams recites on his MTV2 commercial.

Okay---I'm outta time, so that's gonna have to end this shit for today, family. Be easy...

Didn't I Give You Everything?

When I posted my most recent nonsense a few hours ago, I forgot to mention one very important thing. "Didn't I?" by Darondo was the greatest song I downloaded this week. Props to O-Dub. Go grab it for your damn self---it's good for the soul:
http://soul-sides.com/2006/02/darondo-he-gave-you-everything.html.

Face The Furious Meltdown

On several different occasions during the past week or so, I've encountered articles and/or news stories about George Bush's declining approval rating:(http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/2/10/221514.shtml).

All I can say ---it's about fuckin' time...Political commentators are seemingly amazed that only 40% of Americans are still in Dubya's corner, while I'm wondering how he manages to maintain that much of a stronghold over the sheeple in this country...

More than anything, it perplexes my mental that 39% of us are still satisfied with the economy. How can that be? Where are they conducting these polls? In nursery schools? Mental institutions? Elitist country clubs? This part of the population must be unaware that we currently have the highest trade deficit in the history of our nation: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11270337/.

They must not realize the astronomical cost of the war on Iraq (based on oops!---faulty intelligence):http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182.

They must not comprehend how bleak our economic situation really is: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/view/letters/2410248.shtml.

One could make the argument that some of the economic misfortune that has befallen this country is not Bush's fault. However, no one can deny that if we weren't spending an infinite assload of money on "the war on terror", fighting his imaginary "axis of evil", we'd be in a much better position to recover our financial losses in other areas. No matter which side of the debate you find yourself on, you still gotta admit---we're muthafuckin' broke, son...

"Ball of Confusion" by The Temptations made a poignant political statement in its day. Listening to it now, it's intriguing how history truly does repeat itself. Download the track at Best Foot Forward: http://www.bestfootforward.info/.

I'm sure that's enough preaching for quite a few of you, so on to less important things:

At ::work for it::, you can download "I'm Sorry Miss Jackson", a Jadakiss/Styles P diss aimed at 50 Cent. If you've been awake you know that I'm not all that hyped about beef, but sometimes the drama queens need love, too: http://benlovesmusic.blogspot.com/.

Several sites paid tribute to J Dilla by posting various selections in mp3 format. Here are links to a select few:

Broke B-Boys: http://brokebboys.blogspot.com/.

callmeMICKEY: http://callmemickey.blogspot.com/.

Nah Right: http://www.nahright.com/news/.

Soul On Ice: http://obifromsouthlondon.blogspot.com/.

The most extensive collection I found was at Mental Combat---46 tracks available for download: http://mentalcombat.blogspot.com/.

Cop "A Lil' Story" by Inspectah Deck (prod. by RZA) at STYLES.BY.THE.GRAM. http://stylesbythegram.blogspot.com/.

2 Minutes of Bliss 2 updates with classic joints by Booker T & the MGs, Eddie Jefferson, Rita Marley, and more: http://twominbliss.blogspot.com/.

Three tracks by the legendary Charles Brown at The Doors of the Kingdom:http://doorsofthekingdom.blogspot.com/2006/02/charles-brown-dark-knight-of-soul.html

Old school Mr. T video encouraging rugged, yet bejeweled, individuality: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2693368?showw=no&refsite=7182&htv=12.

I've reported Jesus sightings in the past. So in all spiritual fairness, I feel compelled to link this article about a fish that has the word Allah in Arabic on its side: http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=81091042765.

I'm really diggin' The Sole Life. Some of the artists recently featured include Kool G Rap, Large Professor, ATCQ, Common, and Black Star: http://solelife.blogspot.com/.

Some questions we just don't want truthful answers to---like, "does my ass look fat in these pants?". If you're thuggish enough to handle brutal honesty, you can send a photo of your posterior to be posted on this blog. Readers will give you the skinny on the amount of junk you're carting in that gigantic trunk of yours: http://hillaryjohnson.typepad.com/howsmyasslook/.

Okay---that shit should keep you suckas busy for a minute. Be easy...

One Day, Everything Changed

R.I.P. Jay Dee (aka J Dilla)---one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time died today. I had sincerely hoped that news of his death was just a vicious rumor, but Stones Throw posted this memorial:
http://www.stonesthrow.com/.

Read more here: http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5355.

Peace to all of his fans around the world...

Through The Mirror Of My Mind

Upon doing a Google image search for photographs of Diana Ross, I came to realize that, at some point, my girl began looking more like a drag queen than an actual woman. I've developed a complex, multi-faceted theory about this slowly evolving process, but ultimately, I blame Michael Jackson. He must have used the powers of his Jesus Juice to convince her that gender confusion can be utilized as an effective remedy for declining popularity/record sales. Michael has seriously fallen off since becoming a white girl, but I'm thinkin' that Diana just couldn't foresee...

Anyway, don't get all pissed off or anything---I love Diana, too (so much so that I chose not to post any of the aforementioned incriminating photos). I have some Supremes records that should charge me with assault and battery, 'cuz I scratched the crazy shit out of those bitches. One of my favorites has always been the song "Reflections", which just so happens to be available for download at Silence Is A Rhythm, Too:
http://siart.blogspot.com/2006/02/funky-fridays-mixed-bag-i-have-no-time.html. It's my sincere belief that this song should already be in your collection, but just in case we got some peoples from the short bus along for the ride...

Download Nas and Jay-Z's "Twin Towers" at 1-800-Sassbuket.com:
http://sassbucket.blogspot.com/.

Treat Williams recently quit fuckin' off long enough to update with some mp3s by Showbiz & AG, Audio Two, The Alliance, and Three Times Dope. Even though the Super Bowl is (finally) over, his lunatic stream-of-consciousness ramblings posted while watching the game are a must-read for...just about anyone. Hilarious and weird...Linkage on the right.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, anyone try making a fruit helmet for their dog or cat? I didn't, but it's never too early to start making preparations for next season. Check this bizarre how-to guide: http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2006/02/halftime_crafts.html.

WFMU's Beware of the Blog recently posted a Batman and Robin LP that you can download in mp3 format. The music was performed by members of Sun Ra's Arkestra and Al Kooper's Blues Project, making this truly classic material---don't sleep:
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/02/sun_ra_and_the_.html.

Amusing footage of Sly Stone being interviewed by Dick Cavett. Dude was high as hell, son: http://www.devilducky.com/media/40872/.

Download dope mixes by Cosmo Baker, DJ Eleven, and DJ Ayres at Lemon-Red: http://www.lemon-red.org/blog/.

The ODB Remembrance Mixtape is available for download at Wu-Tang Corp: http://www.wutangcorp.com/.

While we on tha Wu, you can cop two Ghostface Killah tracks at From The Polo Fleece To The Jesus Piece---"Face Off" (w/Scarface) and "My Guitar": http://jesuspiece.blogspot.com/.

A couple of Ice Cube joints from The Predator are available at Clockwork: http://yourmansandnem.blogspot.com/2006/02/guerillas-in-mist.html.

Remember when Dr. Dre remixed "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones? Download it here, because if nothing else, it serves as somewhat of an interesting topic for conversation:
http://myexbestfriend.blogspot.com/2006/02/super-something-with-queen-stones.html.

Are you reading Palms Out Sounds and Notes From A Different Kitchen? If not, I feel sorry for you---they are both far superior to the shitty little blog that you're reading right now. (Am I humble or what?) Links for both are in the Sites I'm Souled On section.

My buzz is wearing off, so you know what that means. I'll get at ya soon, though...

(What's with all the weird slanguage I've been using today ???)

Too many trees, too little imagination, I guess...

Hearts Don't Mend...Brothers Turn Enemies

I had already decided before typing this post that I wasn't going to feature too much in the way of politics. I suffered through the State of the Union address last night, even though I went into the whole ordeal knowing that George Bush is an ass clown who would have nothing relevant or truthful to say. Ultimately, this is nothing but a waste of our precious time. I could easily convey the "State of the Union" in a few words or less---our shit is totally fucked up. End of story.

So today, I'm mostly about the music, except for a couple of extraneous items I wanted to include...

Top Ten Project Censored News Stories of 2005:
http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0127-01.htm.

R.I.P. Coretta Scott King:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5180053.

Now for the musical linkage:

Breath of Life is featuring joints by Lauryn Hill this week:
http://www.kalamu.com/bol/.

"Funky Dudley" by Dudley Perkins is currently available at Largehearted Boy (see Daily Downloads section on 1/31):
http://blog.largeheartedboy.com/.

Reading Ear Fuzz is often an educational experience, so I check it pretty religiously. Recently, I was introduced to a group I'd never heard of---Black Merda. They evidently proclaimed themselves to be the first Black rock band. Don't know if that's entirely true or not, but either way, these songs are undoubtedly an interesting part of musical history:
http://www.earfuzz.com/.

Two classic joints by Sacred Hoop are available for download at The Rookie: http://www.soothsayrecords.com/rookie/.

"Intergalactic Beatbox" by Mike Relm has been posted at MP3 4U:
http://www.mp34u.com/songCard.php?posting=3446.

You can download two songs by Dee Dee Warwick ("We're Doing Fine" and "I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do") at The Number One Songs In Heaven: http://www.londonlee.com/blog.html.

Freemotion is offering several mp3s through their latest post. Some of the artists featured are The Alkaholiks, Babbletron, Quasimoto, and Colossus. Link to tha right...

It may not be evident from reading this blog, but my musical taste extends well beyond the genres of hip-hop and soul. One of my very favorite artists is Tom Waits, who simply defies categorization. Check out this "idiot's guide" to his career, which includes a generous number of mp3s for free download:
http://jefitoblog.com/blog/?p=602

Grandgood posted an excerpt from The Dead Emcee Scrolls by Saul Williams: http://www.grandgood.com/random.html.

Check Soul Sides for a very nice post on "anti-love songs". Two of the featured tracks are from ?uestlove Presents Babies Making Babies: Misery Strikes Back...No More Babies. The other song is O-Dub's personal selection to represent this theme---"When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You?" by Marvin Gaye. Hit it from the right...

The Visioneers did their own version of "Runnin" by the Pharcyde. Cop the mp3 at Best Foot Forward:
http://www.bestfootforward.info/.

Lastly, beef. Apparently we can't all just get along. I thought about going on a rant about how ridiculous all of this, but Joey at Straight Bangin' expressed my general feelings on the subject---and rather eloquently. The link is to your damn right, but let me simplify this for you:
http://www.straightbangin.blogspot.com/.

I think most beef is lightweight retarded---but because I'm such a deeply conflicted human being, I'll leave you with links to a couple of the hottest disses circulating around the internets:
"240 Bars" by The Game (versus Spider Loc):
http://nahright.com/news/2006/01/28/new-game-freestyle-240-bars/.
and "Book Of Daniel", MF Grimm's attack on MF Doom:
http://www.spinemagazine.com/index.php?task=.

Peace.........?