The radio's back! With my new officemate came FM 97 and all of their popular music. Such as:

"I Kissed a Girl" - 7:59 AM, 9:19 AM, 1:41 PM & 2:30 PM
"Take a Bow" - 8:12 AM, 9:34 AM, 11:13 AM & 2:01 PM
"Pocketful of Sunshine" - 8:20 AM, 10:04 AM, 11:31 AM & 2:15 PM

The box was cut at 4:00 PM, so I'm sure each hit got another run prior to rush hour. I also could've probably churned out similar data for "Leavin'," "In Love With a Girl," and that lousy, Oldies 96.1 inspired Kid Rock song.

On the flip-side, WLAN does offer a request-a-song feature on their web page (I'm your DJ now, Princey!). I marked the "Closer" checkbox the last two days and they did manage to squeeze in the Ne-Yo tune this afternoon.

Labels: music, work

For some reason, I’m still a sucker for a cap game. I’ve been collecting PepsiStuff Points for the last few months, routinely banking my 18¢ codes in hopes of freely downloading the summer’s hits from Amazon.com. Sucker.

First problem: This summer’s releases have been whack. When Miley Cyrus is 1 of 5 highlights on PepsiStuff’s home page, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

Second problem: Amazon has been selective with its PepsiStuff offerings. Just this last week, I scored only 1 summer jam of the 6 under consideration due to PepsiStuff availability issues. The download was the ColdPlay hit... but these sophisticated bands just give you their music now, right?

Bottom line? You’re better off soaking your Cheerios in Pepsi… maybe washing your hair with Pepsi… so you can rack up 60 for a vintage Pepsi Tee.

Labels: music, rants

Madonna just won’t quit. After all these years, who would have thought that she would be the artist delivering the soundtrack to Mallory’s first unprompted pop-song sing-along: “Tick tock, tick tock.” Alright, for future reference Mal-Biz, here’s your Triple-B Madonna Mix Tape:

Side A
4 Minutes
Get Into The Groove
Borderline
Ray of Light
Crazy For You

Side B
Music
Holiday
Who’s That Girl
What It Feels Like For A Girl
This Used To Be My Playground

Labels: Mallory, music

I'm about to vouch like I haven't vouched in a while...

And what product better to set it off with than the Dr. Pepper I'm A Pepper Air Freshener? This scent was just recently installed in the Swag, but I'm predicting an impact on pop consumption. Quite frankly, I could see a one-can swing, one way or the other.

Less new to the Swag is Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. Let's call Fiasco Auto-Lupe because I've been wearing this one out over the last month. I would think even the non-rap fan readers of this blog might like tracks like "Superstar," "Streets on Fire," and "Little Weapon."

Thinkin' Arby's? If so, I'd like to direct your attention to the Chicken Salad Sandwich with Pecans. Don't bother clicking, here's the scoop: Freshly prepared chicken salad, made with grilled chicken, apples, grapes, celery, toasted pecans and mayo, with green leaf lettuce on thick sliced honey wheat bread. Almost enough to forgive them for the Oven Mitt.

And lastly, why not chill out this summer the old-fashioned way - via cool breeze? This Larson Screen Away Storm Door has me clamoring for some hot summer days. Should the heat get overbearing however, and the AC (and subsequent AC-lung) becomes very necessary, spare a second only and vamoose! The screen's gone!

Labels: music, vouchers

Well, after slamming the Grammys earlier this week for honoring the olds, I guess there's no excuse for me bumping my new Thriller 25 album like its 1983. I'm always a sucker for a remix (the Best Buy edition features 6) and it's never a bad idea to have a physical copy of the best-selling album of all time. It's impossible to grasp that 7 of the 9 tracks on Thriller were top 10 hits, having been released rapid-fire between November '82 ("The Girl Is Mine") through January '84 ("Thriller"). Plus, having the CD puts the lyrics to "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" at your fingertips... "You're a buffet/You're a vegetable"... he might win Grammys but he won't win Yo Mama!

The remix segment of the album is worthwhile. I think one will.i.am production would have been suffice, but the Pea successfully breathed new life into "The Girl Is Mine" and totally revamped "PYT". "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" features Akon and is okay, further carrying this one-note-pony's career-by-collaboration. I might like "Beat It 2008" better with a sidekick other than Fergie. Obviously, the do-over I was looking forward to the most was Kanye's mix of "Billie Jean", and he delivered his signature (pre-euro-synth) sound without compromising the original flow and feel of the song. The album closes with a so-so unreleased track and a quality house mix of the title track - "For no mere mortal can resist the evil of the Thriller." (Into maniacal laugh, in deep echo.)

Labels: music

Since most of America was busy returning from their wives' grandmothers' house and tuning in to the Wizards/Suns late-night tilt during the Grammys airing, here's what we missed:

• Rehab pays: With 5 trophys, Cra, I mean Winehouse cleaned up
• The Gramophones? Ancient acts Hancock, Springsteen, Chaka, Gill and The Eagles win
• The BBD goes to: They actually have a Best R&B/Rap Collabo cat?!?
• Foreshadowing? Obama trumps Clinton
  
• Man, I been waitin' all night now: The definitive Kanye performance on YouTube

Labels: music, tv

What's that Shannon? Let The Music Play? Like I have a ch... wait! My office mate is moving to her own office (with radio) and a new hire will be moving in. Suddenly, the relationship I've forged with adult contemporary is on the rocks. This could get messy...

First of all, Rose, why do Alicia Keys and Corinne Bailey Rae still only have one song each in rotation? Keys couldn't even drive when "Falling" came out. "No One" is the joint. "Trouble Sleeping" ditto. They're not Business Radio enough for you?

Now don't even try to recapture my soul with Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up." It was better the first time when Aaliyah featuring Slick Rick sang it!

Anymore, It's like I don't even know you... Thousand Dollar Thursday winners struck it rich in the AM and PM this week?

How could you? I thought I told you I only want new stuff from Enrique Iglesias that includes sound effects from a game room. The Ping Pong Song was pop at its finest, and the best use of table-game audio since Blackstreet's "Good Life" dropped in a billiards break. But you passed over the table tennis track, instead serving this "Somebody's Me" mush.

Speaking of mush, there's Meatloaf that can be sliced and served with onions and barbecue sauce that unsettles MJ. And then there's Meatloaf that attempts to recreate entire hokey, down at the dixie high school musicals in four minutes and some seconds that unsettles myself. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is pure torture.

This split is getting ugly, and the Rose knows it... Tracey Chapman followed immediately by Corey Hart. Wow, a whole 4-song catalog between them. You know what? We're through.

Labels: MJ wants to be on my blog more, music

Ghouls, goblins, gremlins... nothing is as gory as what Lou from Carpet Mart did to the legacy of Ray Parker Jr.

The Fray knows How to Save a Life? I know some flavorful hard candy that is unimpressed.

This Colbie Caillat's a breath of fresh air... her CD has been Targeted.

Despite decades of business radio friendly material, Hall & Oates are by and large inconspicuous on 101.3. However, their ad for an upcoming holiday ablum has me thinking the Rose's H&O tolerance levels will soon intersect my own.

I know the game, I watch it unfold. If someone strikes it rich with a thousand dollar cash prize in the AM, never test that Free Money Machine in the PM past $250. He'll devour your gusto like a bag of cheezy doodles at an NBA draft.

Speaking of game-play strategy, most know to call "S" first on a Wheel of Fortune "Things" puzzle. But making "R" your first choice on an "Occupation" puzzle is nearly as solid a play.

If Phil Collins were a baseball player he would lead the league in Slugging Percentage. He hits often and he hits hard. Bat him 4th with confidence.

The Fray knows How to Save a Life? Why didn't you just say so? You'll tour with Smashing Pumpkins.

Labels: music

Recapping VH1 award shows on Blogger.com may not be hip hop, but there's not a building tall enough around Lakeview Drive on which to spray this entry. The Honorees were hip hop though, and the "You ain't hip hop" skit served Tracy Morgan well as host.

I can't quite figure out though why award shows keep inviting performers who struggle in a live setting. The opening tribute to Honoree Missy Elliott was littered with them - Tweet, Keisha Cole, even Nelly Furtado was weak. T-Pain was awful, Lupe Fiasco forgot a few lines and Busta Rhymes was insane (although entertaining I must admit).

The show picked up from there. As usual, the old men in the room proved to hold the mic with supreme authority. The likes of Whodini, Teddy Riley, Busy Bee, KRS-One, Phife Dawg and Q-Tip delivered the old school goods to be expected at a Hip Hop Honors show.

The highlight for me was Kool Moe Dee's "How Ya Like Me Now" verse during the New Jack Swing tribute. Moe was a few pounds to the good physically compared to when he dropped the title track to solo album #2 back in '87, but he was pretty close vocally. He also seemingly buried the hatchet with LL (who appeared as a presenter) with a lyric swap out. Moe, or at least the Treacherous Three, has to be in line for an '08 Honor, right?

Here’s your Hip Hop Honors ’07/Blah, Blah, Blog Official Mix (and I do mean) Tape:

Side A

1. Award Tour - A Tribe Called Quest
2. Five Minutes of Funk - Whodini
   
3. Gossip Folks - Missy Elliott
   
4. Groove Me - Guy (New Jack Swing)
   

Side B

1. What's My Name? - Snoop Doggy Dogg
2. Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie - Fantastic Freaks (Wild Style)
   
3. We Got Our Own Thang - Heavy D and the Boyz (New Jack Swing)
   
4. I Left My Wallet In El Segundo - A Tribe Called Quest
   

Labels: music, tv

Gloria Gaynor wants us to know very badly that she will survive. She's fairly non-descript on post-survival life. For all we know, her strategy backfired.

Who is this Tears For Fears and their "Everybody Wants To Rule The World?" Uhh yeah, it was better the first time when it was called "Rule" and Nas featuring Amerie sang it.

Save for Summertime by JJ+FP on Flashback Fridays, the Monster Mash is the closest thing to rap the Rose is going to drop. This haunting tale only serves as a reminder that real holiday music is merely weeks away.

Patch knows a relentless business radio blitz for their staple Buzzword is the key to owning family fun night. You want a piece of Saturday night Milton Bradley, you pony up to the Rose.

After reading the speculation in this article, the brilliance of Pootie Tang's musicianship is even more evident. Sa-da-tay!

You know what Duncan Shiek? Asthma's not to be taken lightly. How about we get your uncle Iron to put you in the Camel Clutch? Then you'll know what "Barely Breathing" really is, one-hitter.

If today's copyright rules applied in '79, do you really think Chic greenlight's sampling of "Good Times" for an anecdote about a friend's mom's bad cookin'? (Recounting... I understand about the food baby-bubba but we're still friends.) Maybe so.

Don't call it a comeback! Revivals by The Eagles and REO Speedwagon are instant classics. Hard to find new releases with vibes like these.

Labels: music

TINWA digs "Good Life". Old Man likes "Stronger". So, considering the weighty role I played in launching that Bear, I might as well go on record as blogging "Champion" is my top track on the new KanYe.

It makes me think of my dad's Archway Cookie Route like no hip-hop anthem before it. The Route may have ended up a wash-out, but it was a glorious risk. And with a freezer packed with Apricot Filled, Dutch Cocoa and Iced Oatmeal, one not without reward.

Plus, "Champion's" hook may trump De La Soul's "Eye Know" as best use of a Steely Dan sample. Hey, I like some of his stuff (that's for Witt, hope my blog's signal reaches Winchester). In fact, I Limewired "Kid Charlemagne" and gave it a few plays. The "Is there gas in the car? / Yes, there's gas in the car." line sounds like it belongs in Weird Al's "Trapped In The Drive-Thru", when in Wikireality, the lyric hints at the downfall of a famed LSD chemist. Oh, do tell, Steely.

Other Graduation thoughts:

• Big fan of the packaging. The tri-fold cardboard jacket was sealed differently than your typical CD and was easy to open.
  
  
• Also dig the artwork. That Bear has come along way, no? I still haven't decided where to hang the poster.
  
  
• I personally don't think 'Ye needed to alter pronunciation of "good morning" prior to the last verse of track 1 just so that it would rhyme better with Valedictorian and Delorean. For more unnecessarily detailed analysis of Mr. West, the MC, click here, here and/or here.
  
  
• The disc opens with a strong run of 6 tracks and closes with 5 solids. I recommend routinely skipping 7 and 8. I'd cut 7 some slack if it would show up on the CD deck as 7*.

Labels: music

There's hope. Heard 'em say on MSN:

"If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music. I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out any more solo albums." -- 50 Cent

I need you right now... I beg all of you to help pull the plug on 50's career. Mr. West's Graduation can be pre-ordered on iTunes even as we speak. Or join me in line at Wal-Mart on 9/11 for the unleaded 'Ye. Just don't download, go out and buy the record.

What I'm trying to figure out is how this competition can end up being close? Is 50 even relevant to those who thought he at one point was relevant? Can hardcore steel-squeezers still respect the Culligan Man? 'Licia Keys better talk some sense in him.

On the flip-side, the SnyPod reminds me regularly that Kanye's the best thing going. You can't even tell MJ nothing. Throw in a collaboration a week and pandering to the internets crowd, and you figure West's popularity has dipped into fans of other genres. Sorry Mr. Jackson's gone.

Labels: call to action, music

"... I'll stir-fry you in my wok..."

Oh, sorry. I was just listening to the Blah, Blah, Blog Mixclusive Fremix of the Beastie Boys' Intergalactic.

The Beasties conveniently enough feature an "A Capella Download Page" on their web site - complete with BPMs. After several hours of GarageBand dragging and dropping I think I finally got a beat that's popping. I struggled mightily with the post-export volume level, so an adjustment might be necessary... for which I apologize profusely.

Listen/Download (thanks for the ZShare tip Todd): Intergalactic (SnyPod Mix)

Labels: music

As my week without an office-mate winds down, so does my Rose Radio independence. Pandora, it's been a blast:

Old Man was right...
The best thing about Pandora is exploring/discovering new music. I've also realized that I'm much more receptive to discovering new music while listening at work, since solid background sound is the main objective and singing along to familiar tunes ain't happening. I took the most artist/song notes (Palmer would be proud) while listening to my Kaskade Radio and Consequence Radio stations. The former for some house stuff, the latter for some bearable contemporary rap.

Most appropriate track...
"Busy Doing Nuthin" was played yesterday on my Special Ed Radio station. We know this simply as a Biz Mark album cut from the early 90's, but the Genome knows it as:

Features Of This Song
east coast rap roots
swingin' beats
consistent rhyme patterns
clean lyrics
acoustic drum samples
an electric bass riff
prominent horns
the heavy use of funk samples
a dry recording sound
thin orchestration
lyrics by a famous rap artist
These are just a few of the hundreds of attributes cataloged for this song by the Music Genome Project.

Poppin' the hood...
The only list letdown I experienced was my 3rd Force Radio station. Looking to smooth things out a little, this didn't quite peg my brand of jazz. I wish you could pop the Genome's hood and take a look at some checkboxes. Since most level-headed music fans dig thick orchestration, what if "thin orchestration" in the above features list could be unchecked to further refine your station's mix?

Speaking of the Genome...
Isn't creating a New Edition playlist like giving the Genome a day off? If I create Keith Sweat Radio will all the songs be sung through a pinched nose? Is there a group putting more stress on the Genome attributes database than the Beastie Boys?

I miss the wrap...
Pandora's design used to feature full-site ad-wraps, which I actually liked. These were usually appealing designs that would refresh the look-and-feel every few songs. I wonder if their backers pulled given the cloudy future of Pandora and similar sites.

• Pandora
• The Music Genome Project
  
• The only way Flood will consider any of this
  

Labels: music, work

10:09 - Just To Feel That Way - Taylor Hicks
Hicks kicks off The Rose's 9-to-5 business radio Idol coverage. This song is a great improvement over "Do I Make You Proud," but I still expect it to be the day's worst Idol offering.

11:03 - I Wanna Be Inside Your Heaven - Carrie Underwood
While her finale-winning single is occasionally spun, The Rose is mum on any of Underwood's award-winning country tunes. I think the adults would bump the twang, hopefully The Rose will reconsider.

11:10 - Waitin' On The World To Change - John Mayer
John Mayer can't be pleased to have this otherwise decent pop tune associated with Sanjaya Malakar. I hope it's a temporary association.

11:21 - Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
The original A.I. gets a play. Her voice hasn't dominated the workplace airwaves as much lately. Either The Rose has cut back on Clarkson joints, possibly due to the arrival of new business radio friendly Idol releases, or I am confusing them with that other highly repetitive station.

11:33 - It's Not Over - Daughtry
The Rose started rocking Daughtry's premier effort just last week. While it pushes the business radio format, it's a nice, fresh addition. Unless Patsy dusts off 'Tasia's "Baby Mama," "It's Not Over" will be the day's best Idol track.

1:24 - Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
I really liked this song the first year it was out, but it's second-wind is wearing me out. Thanks for unveiling it to the adult-contemporary audience Ayla Brown!!

2:10 - Change - Kimberly Locke
Season 2's Locke had a great, underrated debut single with "8th Wonder." I consider newly-released "Change" a sophomore slump.

2:24 - Black Horse and a Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
McPhee's performance of this song down the stretch of AI5 helped her reach the finals. But to a greater extent, it put KT Tunstall on the charts. Throw in solid follow-up "Suddenly I See" and Tunstall is hitting her stride. McPhee? Haven't heard from her (although others have).

3:10 - Street Corner Symphony - Rob Thomas
This song has nothing to do with American Idol. I just thought I'd highlight it as the most horrible song to be played at least twice a day on business radio stations across the U.S.

4:09 - Just to Feel That Way - Taylor Hicks
What? Will Hicks and his lousy ditty be the only repeat Idol performer today? Every Rose has its thorn I guess.

4:33 - Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Well, this kind of shoots holes in my earlier KC comment. It's a solid tune at least.

What did they miss?

• I understand that "Sorry for 2004" and "Truth Is" are probably too R&B, too old and never popular enough to find spots on business radio playlists, but I would like to occasionally hear either Ruben or Fantasia's season finale feel-gooders. The other 3 seem to wind their way into the mix from time to time.
  
  
• I downloaded Elliot Yamin's debut single "Movin' On" last week and surprisingly dig it. It would be a clutch addition to the Assault, but it's probably not adult-contemporary enough.
  
  
• It's not that I'm achin' for him, but Clay Aiken was not to be heard from today. Surprising since his new song gets plenty of run and is actually listenable.
  
  
• After thankfully being replaced as the Idol send-off soundtrack, "Bad Day" has been losing some steam. Will Daughtry's "Home" catch on and eventually become a mainstay?
  
  
• "Paula is missing." So said Seacrest last night and so says The Rose today. Her various hits have pretty consistently popped up at least once a day. She'll be featured on "All 80's Friday" I'm sure, but I would've preferred a little "Cold Hearted" today.

Labels: AI, music, tape-delayed blog

I've really been enjoying these two new-to-me sites lately:

www.pandora.com
Pancakes recommended this streaming music site to me and since it is apparent the Old Man won't be blogging about it anytime soon, I thought I'd share the magic of Pandora with you. The service is free and simple. Type in an artist or song and a stream of songs is generated based on songs with matching criteria in Pandora's vast database of tunes. My "Run D.M.C. Radio" station first plays a Run D.M.C. song, often rarely heard album cuts, then jumps to the likes of Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Eric B and Rakim, etc. Run D.M.C. songs are mixed in with more frequency since they're the group originally entered. Give it a try.

indexed.blogspot.com
Heptagons, x-coordinates, bar graphs... all on 3" x 5" notecards that make you think and oftentimes laugh. I find this to be a clever and very unique blog. And how about the process: Scan in an index card and post to blog, if it receives heavy feedback, offer the same graphic on a tee-shirt. Check it out.

Labels: music, web design

The General

First off, the real "General" is Sherman Douglas. No one ran Jim Boeheim's show quite like Sherm, and Douglas enjoyed a nice little 12-year NBA career. Nevertheless...

Did you see Bobby Knight punch that kid? Look at that balled up fist in the picture! How can this be referred to as "raising a chin", "flipping up a chin" or "a quick lift?" He punched him! But let's not get technical, Bobby was just helping the kid be a more confident player. Hey, I agree the kid is now oozing with something, but it ain't confidence!

The Radio

The honeymoon's over between me and that Warm 103. At 11:00 AM today, they flipped the switch. Contemporary adults no longer want to hear "Unwritten" or "that McPhee song that no one knows the actual title to or artist of" 5 times a work-day, they want to hear Christmas music and Christmas music only. Not only are these songs so 6 months ago, they're so 10:59 AM this morning ago too.

Let's check the math: Today's November 15th and Warm claims they will play these cover-bands non-stop through the season, which is probably January 1st. That totals 48 days, which means I'll be wished a Merry Christmas in so many ways roughly 13% of the year.

Maybe they need some help understanding how inharmonious this proportion is... whose chin needs raised?

Labels: music, rants, the college game

Since moving to a new shared office environment, Warm 103 has become part of my work-day. As usual, my thoughts are random:

Ads in heavy rotation

• The Phil Avillo spot didn't work for the state as much as it worked for me. PA didn't send in a marine.
• The Wawa "wah" pedal thing drives me nuts.
• Sounds like the York Revolution hired the Piston's PA guy to do some voice-work on their ad.

DJ Mix

• West is back in the mornings, Garder takes you from AM to PM and Sten is now on 106.7.
• I think Melanie's playlist is decent - she throws in some good 80's stuff.
• This jury's still out on the afternoon guy.

The Tunes

• It's funny how these Soft Rock stations frequently mix in songs that were on trendier pop stations a year ago... why not just play these kinds of songs when they come out?
• Occasionally they drop a slogan that goes something like "From John Mayer to Phil Collins to Rod Stewart"... thanks for the variety?
• And they're not kidding about Phil Collins - I think I might have to start a spreadsheet on him.
• The Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow duet is still a station fave. Strangely enough, "cocaine" is not edited out. I guess Contemporary Adults won't go crazy if they hear the word.
  
• For some reason, Tracy Chapman is averaging 1.5 spins a work-day.
• Keep that Ambrosia coming!
  

Today's Trivia

• I'm not terribly proud of this, but I nailed the lunchtime trivia question today. The answer? MacDonald Carey.

Labels: music, rants, work

Last night’s Hip Hop Honors show on VH1 was a bit of a disappointment. The show lacked the spirit and energy the ’05 version brought, but I guess it’s difficult to imagine the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ice Cube (the rapper), or Rakim having fun in any way, anywhere. I missed the first half-hour (MJ and her Dancing with the Stars), so maybe I’ll connect better with the Beastie Boys and MC Lyte DVR’d performances.

Plus, the guests seemed only willing to commit to reading a few lines off of a teleprompter rather than perfoming. Except Black Thought from The Roots… the show was basically a Black Thought cover concert. If the Roots are never officially Hip Hop Honored by VH1, they’ll at least get a Contributor ribbon.

Another strange thing was the way VH1 edited out words like “drugs,” “crack,” “guns,” and “gat” from the performances. This was during the 10:00 hour on a cable channel! Not to mention there’s no way those words should ever be censored. And considering the content presented on network TV every day of the week at any hour, I’m pretty sure I’d have to Bring Da Ruckus were I the leader of some sort of coalition. Shame On a VH1. On the plus-side, this might eliminate 50 Cent from Honoree consideration since the majority of his songs are actually titled "Drugs, Crack, Guns, Gat."

I may have learned something though from presenter KRS-One (naturally). I never really thought about it, but he pronounced Rap to be an acronym for Rhythm And Poetry. Of course he also once said “…the Blastmaster KRS-One, short for poet,” which is makes no sense. So I wonder, has this common term truly originated from an acronym? Or is this an acronym like “DMC stands for devastating mic control” or “MC means move the crowd”? Curious.

Anyway, here’s your Hip Hop Honors ’06/Blah, Blah, Blog Official Mix (and I do mean) Tape:

Side A

1. Eric B. Is President – Eric B. and Rakim
2. Cha, Cha, Cha – MC Lyte
3. Paul Revere – Beastie Boys
4. Planet Rock – Afrika Bambaataa

Side B

1. Boyz in the Hood – Eazy-E
2. It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
   
3. C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan
   
4. Rock Box – Run D.M.C.

Labels: music, tv

Finally someone's rapp'n' 'bout skat'n'. Lupe Fiasco (his father was a prolific African drummer, & his mother was a gourmet chef!) bridges the skateboard and hip-hop cultures in his new track Kick, Push:

He couldn't understand it, branded
Since the first kick flip he landed
Uh, labeled a misfit a bandit
Ka-kunk, ka-kunk, ka-kunk
His neighbors couldn't stand it
Soooo, he was banished to the park
Started in the morning wouldn't stop 'til after dark
Yeah, when they said it's gettin' late in here
So I'm sorry young man, there's no skatin' here

I like it. But the boys in blue love it... it's like a 2-for-1 sale at Harassments R Us.

Oh yeah, and SK8 or Die!

Labels: music