Life Is A Quest---Love Is A Quarrel...

"The Show" ---The Roots
In 1997, Priority Records released a compilation called In Tha Beginning...There Was Rap. The LP featured a collection of old school hip-hop tracks covered by a variety of rappers who reigned supreme in the mid-nineties. It could have been an ingenious idea (at least from a marketing perspective), but for the most part, the results were pretty damn disappointing. Sean Puffy P. Diddy Combs could have kept his version of "Big Ole Butt", and Coolio's take on "Money (Dollar Bill Y'all)" was equally unnecessary. That said, I always thought that The Roots actually did a pretty tremendous job covering "The Show", a classic hip-hop joint that was originally recorded by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. Hear how The Roots flipped the joint, but be sure to pay respect to the architects by checkin' this video of Rick and Fresh performing a live medley of their tracks.

"Best Part"---Self Scientific
I'm sure that a lot of the hip-hop fanatics in the house are already somewhat familiar with this L.A. duo. Chace Infinite and DJ Khalil may not have gotten much respect when it comes to commercial success, but the consistent quality of their musical efforts has helped them become an essential component of hip-hop's underground for the past several years. "Best Part" is one of my favorite joints from their 2001 LP, The Self Science. Although Chace's rhymes tend to be more thoughtful than the garbage a lot of MCs are spitting these days, it's the production that succeeds in making this track so dope. Khalil killed it, resuscitated it, and laid it to rest all over again with this beat.

"Drunk Man"---Eddie Harris
This tune is perfect for the early morning hours when I'm up smoking one last cigarette before I drag my tired and intoxicated ass to bed. If you give this a listen, maybe you can relate. Eddie played several instruments, but was mainly known as a jazz tenor saxophonist. He released some popular records during his lifetime (1934-1996), but his experimentation with various styles and uncanny sense of humor sometimes caused critics to be skeptical of his work. Don't let that scare you away---this track should give you an idea of what an innovative and electrifying musician he truly was. More info about Harris' legacy can be found here and here.

"Street Of Tears"---Black Heat
Black Heat was a '70s funk group who briefly recorded for Atlantic Records. They only had one song that cracked the R&B Top 50 ("No Time To Burn"), so their music has become somewhat of an obscurity over the years. Sampling artists have sought out their infectious rhythms and grooves fairly often, however, especially their track "Zimba Ku", which has been utilized on joints by Eric B & Rakim, NWA, Kool G Rap, Souls Of Mischief, Pete Rock, People Under The Stairs, and more. "Street Of Tears" is more of a soulful ballad than a funk jam---you may recognize that 9th Wonder flipped it on "3:16" by Murs. Interested peoples may want to start with a "best of" compilation of the group's recordings called Declassified Grooves.

Word From Your Moms:

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."---Mahatma Gandhi

I Amaze And Astound/ Rhythm Up And Down

The wisest people in the world listen twice as much as they speak:

"Brothers On The Slide"---Cymande
Although Cymande's music is frequently classified as funk, their sound was also heavily influenced by jazz, soul, Afro-Carribean rhythms, and many other musical styles. "Brothers On The Slide" appeared on their Promised Heights LP, which was originally released in 1974. It was one of three solid albums that the group released in the early '70s, but widespread interest in the group wouldn't peak until 20 years later, thanks in large part to crate-digging DJs and producers. Their songs have been sampled in joints by Masta Ace, The Coup, EPMD, The Fugees, Smiff-N-Wessun, De La Soul, Busy Bee, Cash Crew, and more. This particular track was sampled by Poison Clan in 1995 for a track called "Peep Da Flavor" that appeared on their Strait Zooism LP. More recently, MF Doom borrowed it for "Cedar", one of the joints on Special Herbs Vol. 7 & 8.

"Flow On (Pete Rock remix)" ---Lords Of The Underground
Lords of The Underground often get overlooked these days, but they were somewhat of a staple of the early '90s hip-hop scene. They released a few successful singles, such as "Chief Rocka", and BET named them Best Rap Group of the Year in 1993. The group got their first viable opportunity after being introduced to Marley Marl, who invited them to record in his studio and helped to craft their unique sound. Pete Rock put his spin on a couple of their tracks in 1994, this being one of them. I don't care what anyone says, Pete's nicer with the remixes than just about anyone...

"Creation"---El Michels Affair
No matter what kind of music you like, I recommend giving El Michels a listen. Soul, funk and jazz fans have finally begun to acknowledge their excellence, and most hip-hop enthusiasts ate up their instrumental covers of several classic Wu-Tang joints, as well as their live collaborations with the group. "Creation" appears on their Sounding Out The City LP, a record you should go forth and purchase without the slightest hesitation.

"When You Come To The End Of Your Road"---Bobby "Blue" Bland
It's misfortunate that Bobby Bland's work isn't more widely celebrated and recognized, especially since he's placed 51 songs on the R&B Top 40 charts throughout the course of his lengthy musical career. In part, this cultural oversight may be due to the fact that only a few of his tracks enjoyed any crossover success on the almighty pop charts. His discography offers a lot of amazing selections to choose from, but I decided on this particular song because it's fantastic and I thought it might lead some of my sample seekers to dig a little deeper into Bland's collection. In case you suffer from drug-induced short-term memory loss, RJD2 flipped this track on his "Final Frontier (remix)". Here's a short bio and discog if your interest has been piqued.

Word From Your Moms:

"In examinations, the foolish ask questions the wise cannot answer."---Oscar Wilde

The Voice Of Reason Somewhere In Between

Aspiring to great things requires beginning with little ones:

As many of you will have heard by now, Alice Coltrane left the earth this past Friday. She was not only the widow of one of the greatest jazz artists of all time, but was also an incredibly talented and innovative musician in her own right. Quite a few sites and blogs have posted tributes in the last several days---some of the best can be found at los amigos de durutti, audiversity, ear fuzz, BEATS and RANTS and/or floodwatchmusic.

Visit Mainstream Isn't So Bad...Is It? to download three live Nina Simone tracks---"Sunday in Savannah", "Mississippi Goddam", and "Why (The King Of Love Is Dead)".

Cop the latest Common joint circulating around the blogosphere ("Play Your Cards Right" ft. Bilal) at Between Thought And Expression.

I may have said this before, but Dee Dee is my hands-down favorite Warwick. Dionne is the only other one I can think of, and she fucked up her relationship with me when she became a "psychic friend" some years ago. Dee Dee, on the other hand, is cooler than a fan. Thanks to la case de l'affreux thom, you can download a few of her songs right now---"I (Who Have Nothing)", "That's Not Love", and "It's Not Fair".

If you're feeling adventurous, you should definitely give a listen to Bird Peterson's remix of "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" (Birdman and Lil' Wayne). Cop it via 1-800-SASSBUCKET.com---at the very minimum it will make for a great conversation piece.

The number of disco tracks I can stand for longer than 20 seconds is relatively small...believe me. However, I recently listened to "Give Me Your Love" by The Sisters Love and discovered that it's a pretty spectacular recording. The Sisters have also been labeled as jazz, funk, and soul, so it may not take a gigantic leap for you to appreciate this song as much as I do. The mp3 is currently available at another night on earth.

If you haven't already copped Raekwon's Prelude To Only Built For Cuban Linx 2, there's a link to d/l it via Berkeley Place. Speaking of The Chef, you can currently download "Trees" (w/Mathematics) @ Nah Right and "Verbal Intercourse" at Moistworks. The latter post also includes some classic Nas joints, lookin' all the way back to "Live At The Barbecue".

33/45 is currently featuring several tracks by The Blackbyrds and Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Maybe you've heard of Jaguar Skills by now---he's the DJ who mixed over 800 hip-hop joints into a set that only lasted about 40 minutes. You can view the complete track list at MistaJam. From there you can head over to Jag's MySpace page, which includes a link you can follow to cop the entire mix.

Some good tunes have been featured over at The "B" Side lately---check out "Open Letter To The President" by Roy "C" and "Super Rappin' Theme" by Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five.

Fans of Smif-N-Wessun/ The Cocoa Brovaz may want to visit from the polo fleece to the jesus piece to cop "Like A Champion" and "Super Brooklyn"..

FPSA is featuring three tracks from Mos Def's Tru3 Magic LP, as well as a few songs from the latest John Legend record, Once Again.

Download two tracks by Junior Walker & The All Stars courtesy of Feel It.

Cop "Smile" by Trae (w/ Styles P) over at The Rap Up. Rizoh also recently posted "Not A Criminal" by Chamillionaire (w/ Kelis).

Format Magazine posted an article about hip-hop album covers that have been inspired by comics---link spotted via the almighty Spine Magazine.

Lastly, peace to Cuts & Rhymes and The Classic Soul Network for givin' respect to Souled On. They are both quality spots, so hit 'em up whenever you can...

I also recently updated the links in the sidebar---show my people some love by paying them a visit.

Word From Your Moms:

"Ten persons who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent"---Napoleon Bonaparte

The Language Of The Unheard

A few essential ingredients for a soulful Sunday afternoon:

"You Ought To Be With Me"---Al Green
This has always been one of my favorite tracks from Call Me (1973), which many soul fans seem to consider the quintessential Al Green album. The LP garnered a fair share of critical acclaim at the time of its release, and also achieved commercial success on the strength of a few hit singles. This is another track that has frequently been mined by sampling artists---perhaps most memorably on the RZA-produced joint "260" that appeared on Ghostface's Ironman LP. One of Ghost's comrades in the Wu, Masta Killa, also released a track that borrowed from the song:

"Pass The Bone (Remix)"---Masta Killa
I might have thought it was reprehensible for Masta Killa to release a track with the same sample as a well-loved joint by one of his Wu bretheren, but it ended up being one of the nicest tracks on his Made In Brooklyn LP. The way that producer Jig Sor flipped the sample was just lovely, and distinctive enough to put an entirely different spin on Green's classic recording.

"Requiem: 820 Latham"---The 5th Dimension
I've played this song for about ten of my "real life" friends so far, and I've concluded (based on observations of my relatively inadequate, and highly bizarre, sampling pool) that this is one of those tracks you either L.O.V.E. or H.A.T.E. I have personally developed a sincere appreciation for this song, despite the fact that I realize something about it might be a bit too melodramatic and overblown for some of my more thuggish peoples.

I first heard The Magic Garden (1967) LP quite a few years ago, and it didn't make much of an impression at the time. I'm a firm believer in the concept of "readiness" when it comes to music appreciation, and at that point, I couldn't fathom assimilating The 5th Dimension into the soundtrack of my life. Unfortunately, I didn't give this song a genuine listen until I heard the way MF Doom flipped it on "Krazy World" (from the King Geedorah Take Me To Your Leader LP). It seemed to me that Gigan mainly spit lyrical nonsense on the track, but I still had an inexplicable love for that melancholy, repetitive little beat . Obviously, I was pleased that Doom also released the instrumental version of the joint (on Special Herbs Vol. 3 &4) as "Benzoin Gum". Thought I would up that track, too, just in case some of you still have haven't copped it...

"Benzoin Gum"---MF Doom

"Wild"---J Dilla
As any serious Jay Dee aficionado can tell you, the Ruff Draft EP is one of his more difficult efforts to acquire. Originally, it was released on Dilla's own label, Mummy Records, and distributed by the German label Groove Attack. The record dropped in 2003, but was available exclusively on vinyl, and went out-of-print rather quickly. The EP marked somewhat of a shift in Dilla's musical perspective, and represented an obvious departure from the sound he had established earlier in his career as a producer for Slum Village, Common, The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, etc.

At any rate, Stone's Throw has announced plans to re-release the effort in March 2007, complete w/ alternate and instrumental versions. After listening to my advance copy, I'm guessing that the reviews are going to be a very mixed bag. I definitely don't think it will be as easy of a sell with hip-hop heads as Donuts or The Shining...we'll see how fucking psychic I am very shortly.

It's highly possible that if Dilla released an album with nothing but squealing pig noises accompanied by samples of a deaf man playing the kazoo, I'd still find a way to justify buying it. As a result, I don't feel qualified to write anything resembling a review. I'm just hoping that 110% of you will do the right thing and actually buy this record when it comes out. Fortunately for you, I decided it would be rude if I didn't post at least one track in the meantime...Appreciate.

Word From Your Moms:

"I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."---Martin Luther King, Jr.

All That Was And Will Be

I could keep offering poor excuses for why this link post is so delayed, but no one really cares that my boss pees herself because she's too lazy to move out from behind her desk, or that my 30-year-old brother won't stop playing with his My Little Pony Collection. I'm assuming that you want your links despite these ongoing conflicts in my daily existence...and I've finally gotten around to obliging you.

As always, let's do this chaotic, disorganized, anarchic, incoherent thing:

This week saw an exceptional Sample Wednesday at Palms Out Sounds, featuring original songs that have been utilized on Outkast joints. Download mp3s by Brothers Johnson, Eddie Harris, Isaac Hayes, Joe Simon, The Five Stairsteps, Allen Toussaint, Miles Davis, and more.

Travis at Wake Your Daughter Up posted a very impressive list of his 100 favorite songs of '06. You can cop every single joint he selected, including tracks by Bootcamp Click, The Roots, Little Brother, Lone Catalysts, Camp Lo, Soul Position, Nas, Jay-Z, J Dilla, Fatlip, Ghostface, Pete Rock, and many more. If you like hip-hop at all, you should definitely check him out: Part One Part Two.

Visit this post at Moistworks to acquire tracks by Joe Bataan, Al Green, Brand Nubian, Irma Thomas, and Toots & The Maytals.

A relatively insightful list of the Top Ten Creepiest Fast Food Mascots is available here. By the way, I now feel validated for being leary about eating sandwiches pushed by that possessed little Quiznos hamster/rat thing.

Download tracks by Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic MCs, and Wu-Tang Clan courtesy of floodwatchmusic. Also, don't sleep on floodwatch's post on RZA over at ear fuzz, complete with a few mp3s from the Japanese version of the Ghost Dog soundtrack.

Speaking of RZA's soundtrack work, this article from SOHH.com sheds some light on his involvement with the Afro Samurai series, and includes a link to view the first episode in its entirety.

Oh Word recently recapped a whole year of their undeniable "bloggy goodness"---don't be a fool and miss out on such treasures as "Crack Week" and "How The Fat Boys Nearly Bankrupted Sbarro" the second time around.

A couple of stellar joints can be copped by way of Afterbirth of the Cool---"People Say" by The Meters and Linton Kwesi Johnson's "Di Black Petty Booshwah".

Most of you have probably seen this already, but here's a blue-light special for the shut-ins: a free album that you can legally download--- Liberation by Madlib and Talib Kweli.

While we're on the subject of Madlib, many of his fans are aware of how frequently he's looked towards Melvin Van Peeble's discography for sampling purposes. Cop a few of Mel's finest recordings via Twelve by Twelve.

If you missed Keith Olbermann's heated reaction to Bush using the term "sacrifice" to justify his brainiac idea to send more troops to Iraq, take a moment to watch the video clip courtesy of Crooks And Liars. I only recommend this to those who can handle the truth...

In other news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested today that Congress may deny Bush necessary funds to send additional troops to Iraq---read more here.

Check out Surviving the Golden Age to download a variety of hip-hop joints by artists such as Brother Ali, Royce Da 5'9, Lord Finesse, Ghostface, and more.

Visit this is tomorrow to download some classic tracks by George Benson, King Curtis, The Heath Brothers, and yet another track by Melvin Van Peebles.

This is stupid, but somewhat amusing---this weird guy plays Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" with his hands. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time it would take to develop such an incredibly annoying talent.

Pay a visit to one of my favorite "new to me" music blogs---Get Downnn. Recently featured artists include Nina Simone, The Coup, Mos Def, Ghostface, and The Clipse.

I'm a little late in delivering this one, but JT at Feed Me Good Tunes recently posted some great songs by the likes of Roy Ayers, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Wilson Pickett, Common, etc.

Download "I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd over at The "A" Side.

Go see my friend Havas at A Three Minute Record to read his James Brown tribute and cop some hip-hop joints that were heavily influenced by The Godfather. The artists featured include Public Enemy, Digable Planets, Pete Rock, Organized Konfusion, Eric B & Rakim, and Brand Nubian.

As you know, there have been an abundance of James Brown tributes on the internet lately---far too many for me to mention. One of the most diligent has undoubtedly been The Stepfather of Soul, who has been posting some phenomenal records ever since JB passed away on 12/25.

Finally, WFMU recently posted a generous collection of mp3s by "a sassy stash of 60s and 70s soul sisters". Download tracks by Ann Sexton, Irma Thomas, Bessie Banks, Linda Jones, Millie Jackson, The Pointer Sisters, Sugar Pie De Santo, and more. Also includes the "Feelin' Bitchy Monologue Medley" by Steinski...

Hopefully you now forgive me for my lackluster ways...

Word From Your Moms:

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."---Shunryu Suzuki

With Your Bad Self

I hadn't planned on posting anything today, but hopefully you're willing to roll with me as I improvise along the way. I have a handful of exceptional joints that I've been wanting to bestow upon you---appreciate...and try not to hurt yourself:

"You Ain't My Brother"---The Soul Shakers
Tobias Kirmayer is a vinyl junkie, DJ, label owner and collector of rare funk records. He's released a few compilations of obscurities, including the collection that featured this particular groove---Movements: 14 Deep Funk Pearls. This is an amazing tune that somehow commands you to get up and get down---all at the same time.

"Gangsta Boogie"---Pete Rock/ Slum Village
I've been holding this one for a little while longer than I should have---it's one of the dopest joints on Pete's Masterpiece 01 mixtape. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that this would rank as one of the most laidback and enjoyable hip-hop tracks I heard in '06. Hopefully you'll agree...

"Mash It Funky (Just James Version)" ---dj BC
As you may recall, this is the same cat responsible for Wu Orleans---a mashup opus of Wu-Tang Clan plus dixie jazz tunes. This groovy lil' tribute to James Brown is one of the best I've heard so far.

"After Laughter Comes Tears"----Wendy Rene
Speaking of the Wu, this soul gem was featured as a sample on "Tearz", a joint from their classic Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) LP. Rene was a Memphis soul singer who originally recorded as part of a group called The Drapels, but signed a solo deal with Stax Records shortly thereafter. This song was released in 1964, and is considered by many to be her finest recording.

"Oochie Wally/ Right Now, Right Now"---DJ Swindle
Some of you will undoubtedly cringe at the thought of this entire mix---AlMatic: Nas Meets Al Green. There are a couple of reasons you may be inclined to prejudge this joint---"Oochie Wally" isn't exactly the greatest Nas track of all time, and some would consider it blasphemous to combine any rapper's lyrics with the sounds of a soul legend of Green's magnitude. As you may have noticed, I'm not exactly a "purist" when it comes to music appreciation. I consider myself more of a realist---if it bangs, it bangs. Don't be too uptight to at least give this a listen...

Word From Your Moms:

"All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff."---Frank Zappa

A Time To Mourn, And A Time To Dance

With New Year's Day being just around the corner, I've been spending some time contemplating what my resolutions should be for 2007. I can always generate plenty of ideas about what I should be doing---the difficulty is in having enough discipline to assure that any changes I propose amount to something greater than a pool of little white lies.

At any rate, the only resolution I'm considering that would be of any relevance to you is that I intend to keep things flowin' in the right direction here at Souled On, and will continue to strive for greater things in terms of quality, content, and frequency. Let's hope (for our collective sake) that I'm not just blowin' smoke up all of our asses...

Anyway, I dug out a few more classics from the crate to tide you over until my next links post. Things get a little slow on a lot of sites around this time of year, but it should only take me a couple more days to serve you a relatively substantive post.

Wishing all of you peace, prosperity, and wisdom in the coming year. Hopefully these tunes will help you get started in the right direction:

"The Message From The Soul Sisters, Parts 1 & 2"---Vicki Anderson
As yet another tribute to the legacy of The Godfather of Soul, I decided to post a track by Vicki Anderson, one of James Brown's Soul Sisters. According to JB's autobiography, he thought that Anderson was the best singer he ever had in his revue. She claimed Anna King's spot in 1965, and continued with Brown until 1968, when she was replaced by Marva Whitney. However, she joined the revue again in 1969 when Whitney departed, and remained until Lyn Collins came on board a few years later.

This particular track by Anderson has been a popular resource for sampling artists---Above The Law, LL Cool J, The Geto Boys, Lil' Kim, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, and Main Source are just a few examples. This is another...

"Son Get Wrec (Evil Dee remix)" ---Black Moon
Released in 1996, Black Moon's LP Diggin' In The Vaults contains several remixes and a few miscellaneous B-sides. In my humble estimation, it's one of the more worthwhile efforts at making the Anderson sample fit nicely into the context of a hip-hop joint. By all means, judge for yourself...

"Tighten Up My Thang"---Soul Children
The Soul Children were composed of Anita Louis, John Colbert (aka J. Blackfoot), Shelbra Bennet, and Norman West. Not only did Isaac Hayes and David Porter form this group, they also co-wrote the majority of their finest tracks. "Tighten Up My Thang" is one such example, a song from their 1968 self-titled debut. I'd venture to say that it's pretty difficult not to like this track---it has a certain infectious quality that makes me return to it time and time again.

As far as the sampling history of this song, right now I can only think of one example---"Fountain Of Youth" by Arrested Development. I'm sure that there are others---drop some knowledge in the comment box if you can remember any of them.

"Check It Out" ---(The Diabolical) Biz Markie
Even though The Biz has always been somewhat of a cartoonish character in hip-hop, I still couldn't help losing some respect for him after repeatedly being exposed to unflattering shots of his plentiful gut on VH-1's "Celebrity Fit Club". That said, I guess my post-traumatic stress disorder is finally going into remission, because I flipped this record today and thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. "Check It Out" is a joint from his 1989 LP The Biz Never Sleeps, and features a sample of Yvonne Fair's version of "Let Your Hair Down". It's hard to imagine that this track didn't somehow inspire Jay-Z's "Where I'm From" (from 1997's In My Lifetime, Vol. 1), although in fairness, Hov's version contained a sample of The Temptations recording of "Let Your Hair Down" instead. It can be argued that Biz's lyrics tend to be a bit sophomoric at times, but throwback joints like this can serve as a reminder of days when hip-hop was infinitely more innocent. Enjoy...

Word From Your Moms:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."---Steve Jobs

I'm Going Away Tonight...

It goes without saying that the death of James Brown is a moment in time which must be respectfully recognized and observed. It's practically inconceivable to imagine what soul, rock, jazz, R&B, disco, funk, and hip-hop would have been without the many talents and pervasive influence of this legendary icon.

It's predictable that over the course of the next several weeks, thousands of music writers and fans will dissect this man's character, and analyze his numerous achievements through a microscopic lens. His personal life will be meticulously scrutinized, as will the validity of his entire musical legacy. He will stand accused of beating, cheating, lying, stealing, and just about any other transgression you can possibly imagine. He will be ridiculed for things like those crazy-looking mugshots, his tattoed eyebrows, and even his outspoken support for crazy-ass Richard Nixon. I don't know about you, but I'm bored with these articles and media segments already.

No matter how great or small our accomplishments, at the end of the day, we are all still just human beings. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more. Although he had character defects just like the rest of us, JB left us with some invaluable gifts of music, rhythm, and dance. I can imagine no greater tribute than sharing a few of these treasures with you:

"There Was A Time"
Just like the song "Think", JB recorded more than one version of this particular track. This one is from his Gettin' Down To It LP, and showcases Brown's extraordinary ability to blend several musical styles within the space of a single recording. This song is highly recommended listening for fans of soul, jazz, and/or funk music.

"Down And Out In New York City"
This track appeared on Black Caesar, a soundtrack to a blaxploitation film that JB released in 1973. This was a very prolific and pivotal point in the Godfather's career. The same year he also released another soundtrack (Slaughter's Big Rip-Off), and his much-heralded LP, The Payback. The emotional perspective on this particular track may come as somewhat of a surprise to "fans" who've only seen the "I Got You (I Feel Good)" side of Brown's discography.

"Get Up, Get Into It And Get Involved"
If the origin of this post hadn't arisen so unexpectedly, I could have used some degree of forethought to offer a more thorough exploration of the multi-faceted nature of JB's musical career. That said, I included this final track to illustrate yet another distinct element of Brown's musical legacy---his ability to make us move. From the dancefloor to the socio-political world around us, JB encouraged us to get out there and do our thing to the fullest extent. Ever notice how many of his tracks include a command to "get up"...and do something??? Like so many of his songs, this particular track has been sampled by a cornucopia of hip-hop artists---most recently borrowed for the Nas joint "Where Are They Now?". In the late '80s and early '90s, Public Enemy and Big Daddy Kane sampled the hell out of it, and The Beastie Boys, Organized Konfusion, Special Ed, and Kutmasta Kurt also took their respective turns utilizing elements of the track.

Although I'm still mourning the loss of one of music's most wonderful and spirited personalities, I'm also comforted in knowing that James Brown will live forever in terms of his influence on music and popular culture. There is no doubt he will be missed, but I have a feeling he would want us to quit cryin', "get on the good foot" and let the celebration begin...

Word From Your Moms (And The Godfather Of Soul):

"The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing"---James Brown

I've Seen Sunny Days That I Thought Would Never End

"Mama Soul"---Harold Alexander

This funky lil' sonic freakout is one of many outstanding tracks from Harold Alexander's legendary Sunshine Man LP. I haven't encountered very many musicians who can masterfully play a flute and make bizarre vocalizations through it at the same time---have you??? Throw in some schizophrenic scatting over a jazzy, soulful groove, and you have one extremely essential recording. If you've heard DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's Product Placement LP, or "Deep In The Jungle" by Blackalicious, you will undoubtedly recall hearing elements of this song in the mix...

"Georgia (dj erb remix)"---Ludacris/ Field Mob

This remix is absolutely bananas. If this doesn't make you snap your neck, then something must be broken...

"Project Jazz"---Hell Raza/ Talib Kweli/ MF Doom

This track is from the mixtape Talib Kweli Presents Blacksmith The Movement, an effort aimed at drumming up some hype for the artists on his record label. As a whole, the release has some distinct low points, but this particular joint is pretty unfuckwitable. It didn't necessarily stand out at first, but this track became an undeniable favorite upon repeated listens. "This is something you're going to be able to pass down to your babies..."

"Fire And Rain"---Bobby Womack

This James Taylor song has inspired cover versions by a relatively diverse array of musicians, including Cher, John Denver, Herb Alpert, Lou Rawls, The Isley Brothers, and Skeeter Davis. I've always been intrigued by the lyrics on the track, but something about Taylor's folky, turtlenecked, lukewarm delivery made the song come across as sappier than it really needed to be. Taylor wrote this song while battling with depression and drug addiction, so a hint of melancholy is to be expected, but Womack's rendition takes the cake because it doesn't make me feel like I'm riding in an elevator. He rescued this track from its "adult contemporary" and "easy listening" status by bringing out the soul that was lying patiently beneath the surface...

I put a lot of heart into these selections, so enjoy. Just some early Christmas presents for my peoples and all.

I know that some of you have your eye out for a new links post. I'll definitely get around to it, but it's a must that I do some partying for the sake of the season. It takes a lot of time to coordinate and prepare for one of those posts, and I don't fuckin' feel like doing it right now ;) More stuff from the crates coming very soon, though...

Word From Your Moms:

"Jazz is the music of the body."---Anais Nin

Take A Walk On My Side

A handful of hot rocks from the pocket of my baggy-ass jeans:

"Oh Well"---The Clipse

"Posse Kut"---The Clipse

"Wamp Wamp (What It Do) (DJ Illipse Blend)"
The Clipse ft. Slim Thug

If you visit a lot of hip-hop and mp3 blogs, chances are that you've had many opportunities to download tracks from The Clipse's latest LP, Hell Hath No Fury. Since the joints from that album are already in heavy rotation on the internets, I decided to post a few tracks that you actually may not have heard yet.

The first two joints are a couple of gems from The Clipse: Lost Tracks CD, while the "Wamp Wamp" remix is from a mixtape called Beats and Rappers that I picked up a short while ago. On the latter track, DJ Illipse blended the song's lyrics with "I Got 5 On It" by The Luniz---a choice that some of you will disagree with, but it sort of takes me back...ya know? I remember a time when that Luniz joint was everywhere---freestyles, remixes, blends, square dances, church socials...you name it. It was overkill to say the least, and I swore if I never heard it again, it would be way too fuckin' soon. I can't explain it, but a couple thousand blunts later, and the shit sounds brand new...

"A Change Is Going To Come"---Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters

Recently, Adam at hahamusic posted Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", in addition to Aretha Franklin's rendition of the song. Quite a few versions of the track have been released over the years, but this is my hands-down favorite.

Baby Huey's version appeared on his only album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend. The LP was released on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label in 1971, but unfortunately, Huey had passed away months prior to this, following a drug-related heart attack in a Chicago hotel room. Afterwards, The Baby Sitters briefly attempted to continue their career by replacing Huey with a teenage girl named Chaka Khan. The rest, of course, is soul history...

"Everybody Is A Star"---Sly & The Family Stone

Who doesn't like this song, and what's your ailment, son?

Word From Your Moms:

"Be the change you want to see in the world."---Mahatma Gandhi

Every Time You Put Me Down I Love You More

I'm not going to serve up one of those pathetic blogger apologies for why I didn't get this post typed up sooner. You know how it is---I'm extraordinarily busy now that it's getting closer to Jesus' birthday and all. I'm having a really difficult time deciding what to get him this year---I mean talk about trying to find a gift for the guy who has everything. I can't possibly buy him another robe--maybe some bunny slippers, but I think he prefers open-toed shoes. If all else fails, he's getting the Jay-Z doll. I'm pretty sure he's secure enough with his masculinity to accept a doll as a gift, and he's been bumpin' Kingdom Come in the Granada lately...

Thank God no one gets overly sensitive about the occasional religious satire in my posts. I can and will apply sarcasm to just about anything, but I never intend to deeply offend anyone's personal beliefs. I've sometimes been concerned about totally pissing off my readership, but yesterday, I had a major epiphany. I received an e-mail from the Christian Bloggers Association, inviting me to join them in their internet crusade for salvation. Apparently the Jesus chronicles garnered Souled On some unexpected shine with the God Squad. That enabled me to realize one very important fact--- no one gets what the fuck I'm talking about anyway...I feel so much better now ;)

A'ight then, I'm sure you want your $#@^!& links before Jesus gets back:

A few worthy soul joints are available at The "B" Side. Download "I'm Gonna Git Ya" (Betty Harris), "My Desires Are Getting The Best Of Me" (George Jackson), and "How Can I Put Out The Flame (When You Keep The Fire Burning)" ( Candi Staton).

As you may know, the new Nas album (Hip-Hop Is Dead) leaked and quickly made its way across the internets. These are the last two tracks I'm going to link from this LP---"Can't Forget About You" w/ Chrisette Michele (via Fluxblog) and "Still Dreamin" (courtesy of Sumish.com).

Also at Sumish, you can cop "Alex", a joint from Ghostface's More Fish LP.

Nerd Litter recently posted a variety of hip-hop mp3s by artists such as Clipse, Gift Of Gab, Immortal Technique, Binary Star, Reflection Eternal, RJD2, GZA, and more.

Somehow this doesn't shock me, but apparently the U.S. imprisons more people than any other nation. Last year we reached a record high--- one out of every 32 American adults was incarcerated, on probation or on parole. Take heed---your grandma's probably next...

Download "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who To Sock It To)" by Marva Whitney at Funky 16 Corners. Also at The Corner, you may want to check out "Take Me For A Little While" by The Mirettes and "Blue Nocturne" by King Curtis.

Before Ghostface's Fishscale LP officially dropped, there was a track called "Charlie Brown" that leaked. Most sites only had a snippet of that joint to post at the time---if you still haven't found the full version, you can cop it now at The Mark Out. The same post features the song that was sampled on the track---Caetano Veloso's "Alfomega".

33/45 recently featured "Short Eyes/ Freak Freak Free Free Free" by Curtis Mayfield.

This is the time of year when most blogs are making their year-end "best of" lists. I usually make it a point to visit some sites who don't "specialize" in hip-hop to see what they are promoting as the best rap records of the year. My Old Kentucky Blog recently posted their list, complete with mp3s by Masta Killa, Hi-Tek, J Dilla, Mr. Lif, The Coup, T.I., Clipse, The Roots, Outkast, and many more. I would have to make a few adjustments if this was my rap-up, but these selections are pretty close to being on point.

I link this for the weirdness factor alone---a claymation parody of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" series, featuring none other than Santa himself. One segment of "Trapped in the CLAUSet" can currently be seen by way of The Daily Reel.

At Tuwa's Shanty, you will find mp3s by Jerry Butler and Betty Everett, Little Milton, Ann Peebles, Little Johnny Taylor, and Muddy Waters.

All Up In Your Earhole is featuring a number of quality joints by hip-hop producer Nicolay.

Evangelical leaders are the topic of "The Word" on "The Colbert Report"---see the clip courtesy of onegoodmove.

An assortment of Roots mp3s are available by way of Le Gouter du Mercredi.

Adam at hahamusic recently posted some tasty joints with a food-like theme---cop such edible treasures as "Ham n Eggs" by A Tribe Called Quest, "Soul Food" by Goodie Mob, "Pass the Peas" by Maceo Parker, and more.

Another nice variety of sampled songs, courtesy of these two posts at This Is Tomorrow.

A couple of tracks from Hell Hath No Fury by The Clipse, as well as two remixes, can be copped at kissatlanta.

The Coup requests assistance from fans, following a terrible bus accident several days ago. It's the time of year when people are the most inclined towards charity, so why not show some love towards Boots and Pam?

Finally---visit Silence Is A Rhythm, Too to download "I'll Be Around" by The Spinners and "Time Is Tight" by Booker T & The MGs.

Until next time, be easy...

Word From Your Moms:

"I drink to sink my sorrows, but the damn things have learned to swim"---Frida Kahlo

Those Who Had Soul Was Told To Clap

I frequently go through phases where I get restless and bored listening to new releases. While I enjoy pursuing the occasional diamond in the rough as much as the next music fiend, I sometimes think my eardrums will explode if they have to be subjected to one more displeasing sequence of sounds. During such times, I tend to retreat into albums and songs in my collection that possess the ability to restore my faith in the power of music. Here are just a few of the recordings I've had on replay lately:

"California Dreaming"---Lee Moses
Although I'm not one to post music solely on the basis of obscurity, part of the reason why I chose to upload another track from Time and Place is because the album is so difficult to acquire. It's an amazing record that is essential listening for any die-hard soul fan, so it seems particularly unfortunate that it's not more readily accessible .

Once again, I found it difficult to select a single track from an album that verges on soul perfection. In part, my affinity for the one I selected stems from the fact that the song itself was never a particular favorite of mine. Since hearing the Moses version, however, I can appreciate this tune on a completely different level. This isn't just a song for me now...it's an entire experience.

P.S. Pay a visit to Breath Of Life this week to download Lee's jaw-dropping version of "Hey Joe", a song that was popularized by Jimi Hendrix.

"Hurry On Now" ---Alice Russell ft. TM Juke
There's something about the soulful, jazzy vibe of this track that I find irresistible. Some of Russell's music has to catch me on the right day and time, but this song can be part of my soundtrack whenever. If you're interested, Alice has a fairly extensive discography. This joint is from an album released in 2004---Under The Munka Moon.

"An Exodus"---Pelican City (aka Danger Mouse)
Long before The Grey Album, Ghetto Pop Life, and Gnarls Barkley, DM was recording music under the name Pelican City. This particular track is from The Chilling Effect, a dark, brooding soundtrack he released in 1999.

"You Want It"---Showbiz & AG ft. Diamond D
I have been listening to my old Show & AG records a lot lately. I guess I find some comfort in their older material, because heaven and hell both know that AG's recent release, Get Dirty Radio, can't quite measure up to some of these classic recordings. Perhaps I expected too much from one of the great microphone fiends of days gone by---and even more from the album's A-list producers (Show, Jake One, Madlib, DJ Design, J Dilla, Lord Finesse, Oh No). Or maybe it's just that rapping about Lisa Stansfield and flowin' over a Culture Club song ain't exactly the best new look for Andre the Giant. Either way, thank God (or, insert deity of your choice) for the memories.

Word From Your Moms:

"The beginning and the end reach out their hands to each other."---Chinese proverb

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."---Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."---Sun Tzu

Racial Superiority Is A Pigment Of The Imagination

All tendencies toward procrastination aside, I proudly present your (almost) weekly linkage report:

You have to admit, this has been a totally disastrous week in terms of race relations. I have somewhat ambivalent feelings about both Common and will.i.am, but I have to give them credit---"I Have A Dream" offers a fairly relevant and insightful musical commentary on what's really crackin' in the "land of the free". If you haven't come across it yet, you can cop this track courtesy of Between Thought And Expression.

Dilated Choonz recently posted a groovy joint by Herman Kelly & Life---"A Refreshing Love". You may not recognize the name, but Kelly is responsible for "Dance to the Drummer's Beat"---a track that was a favorite of many old school DJs, including Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa.

Three fresh Nas mp3s are currently available via Nah Right: "Black Republicans Remix" (w/ Jay-Z, and now Sean Price), "Where Are They Now" (No DJ promo version), and the most overblogged song of the week---"QB True G" (w/ The Game). Note: The latter joint is now called "Hustlers" on the most recent incarnation of the tracklist for Hip-Hop Is Dead.

Speaking of the genre's alleged demise, Skillz just released "Hip Hop Died?"---download his two cents on the subject via Notes From A Different Kitchen.

At Palms Out Sounds, you can score a ton of tracks that have been sampled in Pharoahe Monch joints, including songs by George Benson, The Ohio Players, Donald Byrd, Quincy Jones, Patrice Rushen, Bob James, and more.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the ridiculous battle between Jay-Z and Jim Jones. If you're trying to follow this whole thing more closely than I am, you may want to check out this comprehensive "diss anthology", brought to you by The Rap Up. And by the way, if you're in search of the Rasputin's Stash song ("Mr. Cool") that was sampled on Jones' "We Fly High", look no further than 1-800-Sassbucket.

If your Ghostface doll hasn't had anyone to play with lately, you should consider purchasing the new Madvillain figure when it drops in January.

Millie Jackson fans may want to head over to all up in your earhole to download "The Rap" and "It's All Over But The Shouting". Two other songs, "All The Way Lover" and "I Feel Like Walking In The Rain" can be acquired at Feel It.

I have made mention of Rotary Connection on more than one occasion. Recently, their cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" was posted at Silence Is A Rhythm, Too. If you've heard "Hova's Song" by Jay-Z, you will easily recognize this song as the sample source.

Speaking of original songs that have been sampled, O-Dub is currently offering a few Willie Hutch songs that were used in hip-hop joints. He also posted a pretty nice "Mr. Me Too" remix (by Z.A.K.) that blends the Clipse joint with "Honey Dove" by Lee Fields---download it here.

More sample madness is available courtesy of Jzzy at The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Within the confines of a single post, he posted a generous number of original songs by Otis Redding, Dionne Warwick, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, Galt MacDermot, Nina Simone, Maceo Parker, and more.

The Low End Theory has resumed posting on the regular---be sure to pay them a well-deserved visit.

Some of you evidently appreciated that Showbiz & AG joint that I posted a while ago---"Hold Mines". I figured that some of you may be interested in copping a couple of joints from AG's latest LP, Get Dirty Radio. Grab "A Giant By design" and "If I Wanna" at download.com.

Travis at Wake Your Daughter Up recently posted some interesting thoughts and information on what the RIAA has been up to lately.

Download "Doctor's Advocate" by The Game via Moistworks.

The Stepfather Of Soul blessed us with a classic track by Oliver Sain---"Bus Stop".

Before I go, it's necessary that I express gratitude to a few blogs who've been kind enough to throw some link props my way. Respect to Oh Word, sneakmove, hahamusic, los amigos de durutti, Exploration of Music, Sound Experiment, and floodwatchmusic, and anyone else I may have inadvertantly forgotten.

Word From Your Moms:

"One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings." ~Franklin Thomas

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace, bitches...

Some Of My Friends Be Like A People With Stems

Hope this post finds all of my peoples phat and happy...

As for myself, I've just been relaxin' and blowin' mad smoke...observing the holiday and enjoying the opportunity to take a few days off from my usual routine. It was a pretty strenuous ordeal to move my ass up off of the couch just now, but it was probably about time to alter my listless state of inertia anyway. Now that I'm finally back on my grind, let's go ahead and do this damn thing:

"E.V.A."---Jean-Jacques Perrey
This song is a funky, spaced-out jam that has been harvested repeatedly to provide a foundation for numerous hip-hop tracks. Here are just a few examples:

"Lower Da Boom"---The Artifacts
Tame One and El Da Sensai have both fallen off somewhat since they went solo, which makes me wonder if the babies have any idea how great these two were in the day. This track is right in time with the theme of today's post---all hail the Mary Jane. This is somewhat of a love song for those who like to "romance the plants" every now and again...

"Same Ol' Thing"---A Tribe Called Quest
Although this track offers a somewhat different perspective on marijuana use/abuse, I would argue that this is still a highly dope joint from one of hip-hop's finest crews ;)

"Just To Get A Rep (Video Version)" ---Gang Starr
Guru and DJ Premier also utilized "E.V.A." to craft one of their most beloved and widely-known tracks of all time.

Additionally, "E.V.A." has been sampled on a host of other tracks, including songs by Erick Sermon, Ice T, DJ Spooky, Lord Finesse, Dr. Octagon, and more.

Check out Perrey's impressive discography here.

Finally, I can't leave the building without giving a nod to my loyal soul fans:

"I Miss You"---Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
Comparatively speaking, the soul ballads I post generally get more play than anything else I upload. Most of you thugs are obviously a little more emotional than you care to admit...This is an undeniable classic that most of you should recognize. It enjoyed some success on the charts in the '70s, and more recently, Kanye sampled it for Jay-Z's joint with Scarface, "This Can't Be Life".

As always---be easy, kids. Blaze these joints and hold 'em in your lungs until we meet again...

Word From Your Moms---

"One's condition on marijuana is always existential. One can feel the importance of each moment and how it is changing one. One feels one's being, one becomes aware of the enormous apparatus of nothingness---the hum of a hi-fi set, the emptiness of a pointless interruption, one becomes aware of the war between each of us, how the nothingness in each of us seeks to attack the being of others, how our being in turn is attacked by the nothingness in others."---Norman Mailer

Uh, yeah...doesn't weed make you write run-on sentences, too???

Don't You Know No One Alive Can Always Be An Angel

"Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"---Nina Simone
You already know how I feel about Nina Simone---she's at least the best thing since Jesus, right? This is the title track to the first Nina record I purchased, a song that remains an absolute favorite of mine. It's pointless to try to describe something of this magnitude with words. Just listen...

"I'm No Angel (Sol-Kaliba mix)" ---Jay-Z
Yes boys and girls, Kingdom has finally Come. This will end the Hova remix series---at least for the time being. I have a whole lot more in the vault, so expect this material at some point following his second return from retirement. I give the whole ordeal about five years to come full circle.

Anyway, this track seemed more than appropriate to throw into the mix today. It's from The Blackest Album, and features the lyrics from "Lucifer" blended with the Nina Simone track above. Every once in a while, there's a hint of method to my madness...

...but then I turn right around and get random with it all over again...

"People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul"---James Brown
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off isn't generally listed amongst the most acclaimed records that James Brown ever released. However, there are a few nice tracks from that album that get overlooked simply because of the company that they keep. This particular song is classic JB material, offering a healthy dose of The Godfather just the way ya likes him.

"You Got 2" ---Triple Threat w/ Main Flow and Black Thought (of The Roots)
Most fans of turntablism probably know the Triple Threat DJs. The collective consists of Apollo, Vinroc, and Shorkut. I know this won't appeal to everyone, but it's a gem for scratch fiends and Roots fanatics. I don't know how many people in the audience are reppin' for Main Flow, but this track can be dedicated to that guy, too---what the hell?

Word From Your Moms:

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."---Michelangelo

"I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking."---Jean Cocteau

All The Sounds Of The Earth Are Like Music

It's going to take me a day or two to put some finishing touches on my next links post. Until then, here's what's happenin' in my headphones:

"What You Don't Want Me To Be"---Lee Moses
There's a relatively good chance that many of you have never heard of Lee Moses, and will make the terrible mistake of passing by the opportunity to download this song. While not exactly a household name, Lee's work has rendered much praise and recognition from soul aficionados worldwide (see O-Dub, for example). The LP that this track comes from (Time and Place) is one of those rare musical offerings that can be thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. It wasn't easy to make a single selection, but this song is gut-wrenching soul music at its very finest. Trust me...you'll be able to feel this one in your spleen.

"Practice What You Preach"---Poets Of Rhythm
Switchin' moods quicker than a manic-depressive crack fiend, I now bring you an uptempo groove that features some truly funktastic breaks. Come to think of it, this track could be a stunningly appropriate theme song for the GOP...if only the Republicans had more soul...Check out The Poets' discography here.

"Hold Mines"---Showbiz and AG
I don't think I'll ever tire of listening to the beat on this track. I'm going to be a little bit biased (as usual), and say that no self-respecting hip-hop fan should be unaware of this joint. I lost my copy of Full Scale several years ago to one of my shady friends who never returns stuff. I finally copped this track again some time last year, courtesy of the almighty Havas.

"It Was All A Dream (Kid Jerzee Mix)" ---Jay-Z/ Notorious B.I.G.
I wasn't in the mood for a Black Album remix today, but I said I'd be hosting Hov joints until Kingdom Come, and I'm one stubborn son-of-a bitch (sorry Mom). This is a perfectly nice blend---cop it.

For those of you who are still searching for a preview of what Kingdom Come has to offer, download "Beach Chair" at Notes From A Different Kitchen and "Trouble" via The Scattermish Bloooog.

Back in a blink with your goddamn links...

Word From Your Moms:

"Don't gain the world and lose your soul...wisdom is better than silver or gold."---Bob Marley

Fight The Powers That Be...

I can think of a billion reasons not to vote today...The whole election process seems more rigged than a professional wrestling match...I hate having to choose between dumb and dumber...My precinct is so bankrupt, they can't even afford to offer cookies and juice anymore...It's supposed be cold tomorrow...I'd rather smoke a blunt...

Over the years, I've often been guilty of using explanations such as these to excuse my lazy ass from exercising my "democratic rights". Although I understand much of the reasoning behind voter apathy in the United States, there are still too many critical issues at stake right now for me to sit on the couch eating pink Twinkies all day. I bitch about all the problems with our government, so I feel obligated to at least try to do my part to enact change.

Don't worry---I'm not gonna beat you down Diddy-style with that "vote or die" stuff. I'm just thinkin' that if I have to give up my Twinkies, the least you can do is skip "The Jerry Springer Show", painting your toenails, shaving a peace symbol onto your Pit Bull's back, or whatever else you had planned on doing...

To help motivate you to move mountains, I've included a few of my favorite songs with a political lean:

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"---Gil Scott-Heron

"Don't Give Me No Broccoli And Tell Me It's Greens (What Happened To Our Rhythm)" ---The Last Poets

"Anger In The Nation"---Pete Rock & CL Smooth

"Can't Truss It"---Public Enemy

"Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"---Marvin Gaye

I consider this selection of tracks incredible, but incomplete. I know that the majority of you are morally opposed (or something) to dropping knowledge in the comment box...but if you change your mind, let the rest of us know what some of your favorite political joints are. Speak your mind...

Word From Your Moms:

"Our only hope is to control the vote."---Medgar Evers

"Alright guys, I want to get out there and vote tomorrow. And not because it's cool, because it's not. You know what is cool? Smoking while you vote."---Jon Stewart

"Hell I never vote for anybody. I always vote against."---W.C. Fields

Our World Is But A Land Of A Master Jam

Recently, it's become apparent to me that the only way to survive in today's hip-hop industry is to prefix your name with "Lil'" or "Young". I have been observing this phenomenon for quite some time, and then I came across this article, which seems to further validate my theory. Although this formula may somewhat stunt the growth and evolution of the art form, the people have spoken---and the people want stupid rapper names. If this trend continues, artists without said prefixes may need to switch up their aliases to appeal to contemporary hip-hop audiences. In order to help some of these guys out, I composed a short list of possible conversions:

Ja Rule = Lil' Sappy: In light of all those "tender" songs with Ashanti, this title seems all too well-deserved.

Kevin Federline = Lil' Brains: Dude and his wife may, in fact, have a lower combined IQ score than any other humanoid couple on the planet, bringing new meaning to the term "double negative". Also, K-Fed has to be kinda stupid to believe he can rap in the first place...

Diddy = Young Cheezy: He's already changed his name enough times without any assistance on my part, but this pseudonym seems more fitting than anything he's come up with so far.

50 cent = Lil' Clappy: As many times as this cat claims to have been shot, how can you possibly question me on this one?

Fat Joe = Young Queasy: Dude's stomach is probably achin' pretty bad after all that food he just ate.

DMX = Lil' Snappy: Is it just me, or is X constantly on the brink of going completely bananas?

Andre 3000 = Lil' Rappy: This half of Outkast has been crooning so much lately, you have to wonder if he still remembers how to rhyme.

Nelly = Young Suck: I never thought much of his music, even when he had the whole world speakin' Country Grammar. The Band-aid thing was unforgivably wack, not to mention the ridiculous beef with Chingy (who should seriously consider renaming himself Lil' Crappy). Talk about a sissy fight...

Okay...this exercise could probably keep going into infinity and beyond, but you've probably had enough of my foolishness by now. On to the links...

If you like hip-hop, R & B, jazz, and/or soul music, you may want to check out The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. It's a brand new mp3 blog with a generous number of song selections currently available for download.

If you haven't paid a recent visit to The Sole Life, you're missing out on two Buckwild remixes---"You Know Now" (Showbiz & AG) and "C'mon Wit The Git Down" (Artifacts w/ Busta Rhymes). You can also cop a couple of Outkast joints remixed by Floyd The Locsmif ("Jazzy Belle" and "Story Tellin'") via this post.

Peep the following videos on Stones Throw's website: "Nothing Like This" (J Dilla), "Take It Back" (Madlib), and "Monkey Suite" (Madvillain).

Download some "soul jazz" by Freddie McCoy ("Gimme Some"), courtesy of Funky 16 Corners.

If you aren't already a fan of John Robinson, you may have respect for some of the producers who worked on his latest album---MF Doom, Madlib, Wale Oyejide, and more. Acquire a few selections from The Leak Edition Volume 2 at The Broke B-Boys.

A few worthwhile collections of photographs can be viewed at Flickr. Check out photos from Soul Portrait, The Vinyl Junkie Pool, and this selection of "really bad album covers".

JT at Feed Me Good Tunes recently posted a few original songs that were sampled in joints by Jay-Z and MF Doom.

I'm hoping that most of you already read ear fuzz, but in the event that you missed the post with tracks by Joe Graves, The Creations, and The Trinikas, make sure you pay them a visit.

Pound For Pound is featuring the original vocal version of Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force's "Planet Rock". Bonus beats and the classic mix are available as well.

Go to The "A" Side to download Johnnie Taylor's "Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day)".

Aunt Doobie and Uncle Sherm used to watch "Facts of Life" all the time. Can't imagine how in the world I missed the bong episode.

As far as I'm concerned, Lyrics Born's "Lady Don't Tek No" is one of the nicest hip-hop tracks ever recorded. Cop it at MP3 4U.

Download Billie Holiday's "Gloomy Sunday" at the incredibly hospitable Motel de Moka.

Ian at Notes from a Different Kitchen posted a lot of new hip-hop mp3s in the past few days . Some of the highlights have been "Hip Hop Is Dead" by Nas, "The N" (also by Nas), and "Corporate Takeover" by Jay-Z. Hit up that last link if you're also interested in The Game's new track with Kanye, "Wouldn't Get Far".

Cop "Lost Ones" by Jay-Z and "Ghost Is Back" by Ghostface at Sumish.com.

Download some live James Brown tracks (from a show in Switzerland, circa 1973) via Ickmusic. At least go check out the photo, and get back to me on why you think The Godfather of Soul stole Geraldo Rivera's moustache for picture day...

There's some really interesting music over at Dalston Oxfam Shop. Can't say you ain't heard...

Finally, hip-hop heads and soul fans alike should see what's happening over at hahamusic. This blog is also in its infancy, but this could become the place to be.

Damn---I hate typing and shit...

Word From Your Moms:

"Only one thing is impossible for God: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet"---Mark Twain

Fresh Out The Fryin' Pan Into The Fire

I know that I can't possibly supply you fiends with enough good music to satiate your carnal auditory desires, so I went back to the crates to unearth some more treasured sounds:

"Something You Got"---Alvin Robinson
Although it seems impossible to sound enthusiastic and weary at the same time, Robinson somehow managed to capture both of those feelings in equal measure on this track. Everyone should download this mp3. Share a copy with someone you love, like your grandma. She'll appreciate it, too---I promise.

If this song sounds familiar to my hip-hop heads, let me save you the mental exertion---RJD2 sampled this record on "Work".

"Good To Me"---Irma Thomas
I'm obviously in the mood for some good old New Orleans soul, and Irma reigns as the indisputable Queen. This particular song is her amazing rendition of an Otis Redding track. Ms. Thomas recorded this tune at Muscle Shoals, and it was originally released on Chess Records. I can't recommend this song highly enough, but I have an admitted bias---it's been a longtime favorite of mine. Hopefully you, too, will be souled on its merits.

"Public Service Announcement (DJ Ernest Borgnine remix)" ---Jay-Z
Yet another bedroom/basement mix of a track from Hova's Black Album. Especially considering how short this joint is, even the haters have to admit that Jay packed a lot of lyrical punch on the track. If you try to front on this, Jigga might just "shoot at you actors like movie directors".

"The Bodega"---Skyzoo/ 9th Wonder
I don't know enough about Skyzoo to say a great deal about his skills on the mic. This joint comes from a mixtape called Cloud 9: The 3 Day High. I get so caught up in 9th Wonder's beats that I usually have unconditional love for his projects and productions. This is no exception...

"Feel the Beat"---DJ Dub/ J Dilla
"Beat 6"
"History"
All three of these joints are from DJ Dub's mixtape: J Dilla: Legacy Volume One. Dub is one of those DJs who likes to shout himself out a little too frequently for my personal taste, but overall, this is a relatively solid mix. I don't know about you, but I still miss Jay Dee. Dead or alive, I love that brotha like a pork chop.

Word From Your Moms:

"When the water starts boiling, it is foolish to turn off the heat"---Nelson Mandela

You Wouldn't Understand If You Stood Under It

Since I'm still putting the finishing touches on my next links post, I thought I might be a good blogger, and hit you up with a few extra-special joints in the meantime:

"If Time Could Stand Still"---Ella Washington
This is a beautiful track by a soul sista with a wonderfully unique voice. If you're diggin' Ms. Washington like I do, you can also check out these resources.

"Moment Of Clarity (Pete Rock remix)"---Jay-Z
I can honestly say that Pete rarely disappoints me. He's an amazing DJ and producer, in addition to being an exceptionally accomplished crate digga. I may be in the minority with this, but Eminem's production on the original joint didn't particularly impress me at all. However, if there are any Stans in the audience who want to argue that Em is a better producer than Pete, I'm always up for a good debate ;)

"Throw Your Hands Up"---Eightball & MJG w/ Outkast
This isn't my favorite Outkast joint or collabo by any stretch of the imagination, but I was bumpin' some grooves earlier, and this song ended up in the mix. I'm one of the few people who isn't hatin' all over Idlewild, but I admit that I miss the days when Big Boi and Andre 3000 sounded like this---just plain durty. No matter how hard I try, I can't snap my neck to "Hollywood Divorce". Call me shallow, but sometimes the head-nod factor can be rather essential...

Word From Your Moms:

"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."---Oscar Wilde